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Picnic on the beach |
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Notes from Wine Country
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By Lorena on
7/31/2009
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When I’m not in the office, working on this blog, I am taking full advantage of the beautiful beaches we have around our wonderful state. A day at any west coast beach is relaxing and enjoyable but have you ever stayed for the sunset? A sunset picnic on the beach is absolutely gorgeous, not to mention incredibly romantic. Block out Friday or Saturday night this weekend and invite the one you love out for dinner on the beach, while watching the sun sink into the ocean. Throw together a salad topped with raspberry vinaigrette, some roasted chicken and vegetables and bring it together with a sparkling wine like Verdi Spumante (comes in green apple, peach and raspberry flavors), Korbel Sparkling Rose or Martini & Rossi Prosecco. White wines also pair well with sunset picnics. Try a Ruffino Orvieto, Chateau de Fontenille, Burgans Albarino, or Selbach-Oster Kabinett. It is important to remember that whatever wine you choose for your picnic, it shoul ...
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“Your wine has great legs!” |
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Notes from Wine Country
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By Lorena on
7/30/2009
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At a wine tasting this weekend, the guy I went with told me my wine had “great legs.” To be honest, I thought he was trying to compliment me but hadn’t been able to get the right words out. My expression must have given away my thoughts because he went on to explain that the phrase simply implies a wine is of good quality. “Legs” or “tears”, as the French call them appear on the sides of the wine glass when the wine is swirled. I had never heard anyone describe wine using this phrase before so of course, I researched it when I got home later that night.
Come to find out, the implication behind the phrase is a myth. No one is positive on the origin of the phrase but it has to do with a phenomenon called the Gibbs-Marangoni effect. The “legs” or rivulets as they are more officially named have ...
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Australian Chardonnay |
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Notes from Wine Country
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By Lorena on
7/29/2009
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I recently read an article complaining about the lack of quality in low priced Australia Chardonnays. Curious, I called Dave Malone, the wine consultant at our Tallahassee (Thomasville Road) store to see what he had to say. Because Australian wines are really approachable, he sells a lot of them, especially to people who are just starting to explore wines.
While the popularity of Australian wines has suffered some over recent years, consumers should not lose sight of several producers who continue to excel in these tough conditions. Just because Australian wine isn’t the “hot category” does not mean there are not several great values to be had below the $20 price point. What I try to remind our guests is that the Australians have a style all their own: big, flamboyant, fruit-driv ...
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Belgian Beers |
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Notes from Wine Country
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By Lorena on
7/28/2009
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Many fine beers are brewed across the globe but few come close in comparison to Belgian beers. Beer is a major piece of Belgian culture. In fact, many of the small towns brew their own signature beers. Since wisdom and experience come with age, we can assume Belgium knows how to brew a beer since they have been brewing beers since the Middle Ages. Belgians take great pride in their creations. Belgian beers are often bottled the same way a fine wine might be, in a tinted, darker bottle to limit the beer’s exposure to light, and sealed with a cork and a metal crown cap. According to Wikipedia, Belgians drink an average of 93 liters (20.5 gallons) of beer a year. Almost every Belgian beer brands a glass that emphasizes certain qualities. For instance, a beer might choose to brand a goblet so the consumer may inhale the beer’s aroma while taking a drink.
There are many different types ...
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Shake up your summer nights with flavored Mojitos! |
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Notes from Wine Country
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By Lorena on
7/27/2009
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Mojito cocktails have re-emerged as a hot summer cocktail trend this year. Mojito cocktails pair perfectly with Florida favorites like paella, grilled shrimp, grilled chicken or Cuban sandwiches but can also be enjoyed singly. Most have tried the original Mojito (lime and spearmint) but have you ever considered adding flavored rum? ABC carries a wide variety of flavored rums so you are bound to find a few flavors to try. Just be sure to watch the sugar content since flavored rums already have a bit more sugar in them than regular light rum. Add Malibu Coconut rum or Cruzan Vanilla for a sweeter Mojito or Bacardi Orange or Limon for a citrus kick. You can also use Sprite instead of soda water or add fruits like strawberry or pineapple for variations on the classic cocktail. Make the occasion special with top shelf rums like Mount Gay, Matusalem or Flor de Cana.
The Mojito is a fun cocktail to make sin ...
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Sunday Brunch |
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Notes from Wine Country
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By Lorena on
7/23/2009
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Brunch gives you an excellent excuse to enjoy cocktails on Sunday morning without presumptuous stares. So why not get some friends together this weekend and host a relaxing brunch on the patio before the summer afternoon heat sets in?
When hosting a brunch, keep in mind how many people will be attending. Be sure not to include menu items that are labor intensive, like omelets, for larger groups. Keep it simple. That way you, like your guests, are able to relax and sleep in before the rat race starts up again on Monday. Include fruit and some kind of bread item, whether it be waffles, banana-nut bread, muffins, etc. Quiches are also a popular brunch menu item incorporating both eggs and meat. Plus, quiches can be made heavy or light.
< ...
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Wine Tasting in Gainesville |
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Notes from Wine Country
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By Lorena on
7/22/2009
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Are you tired of drinking the same wine? Ready to try something new? ABC gives you the opportunity by hosting Wine Tastings at various locations throughout the state each month. Last Thursday evening, guests enjoyed tasting and learning about different wines at the store in Gainesville. Here are some pictures from the delightful event.
Dave Chandler, Wine Consultant in Ocala and Pete Shipley, Assistant Wine Consultant in Gainesville.
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Guests were invited to explore a Cigar and Beer Tent outside the store. (Adam Shugan, Assistant Manager in Gainesville and John Elgin, Store M ...
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The summer flavors of vodka |
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Notes from Wine Country
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By Lorena on
7/17/2009
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You know we're big fans of flavored vodkas around here--they're a great way to enhance a mixed drink (citrus flavored vodka in a cosmopolitan or screwdriver, for example) or to add an unexpected twist to an old favorite. You can even create signature drinks by using one as a secret ingredient. We especially like them in the summer, when the fruit-flavored vodkas, for one, can be added to fruit juices for really cool, light, summer drinks.
A few years ago I created one I called a South Beach Sunset by using orange juice and mango vodka, with a half-ounce of DeKuyper Raspberry Pucker to top it off. It's still one of my favorite summer drinks.
Make a Moscow Summer Night by pouring an ounce of Kahlua and 1½ ounces of Van Gogh Chocolate Vodka over ice in a tall glass, and add hazelnut coffee. Make it a White Night by adding milk.
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France: the last chapter (of this trip) |
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Notes from Wine Country
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By Lorena on
7/16/2009
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Our final visit was even further south in the beautiful mountaintop vineyards of Cornas in the Rhone Valley. Here we met one of the great winemaker/owners of the area Jean-Luc Colombo. Monsieur Jean-Luc loves to be out of doors, so we spent a good part of our visit trekking up and down the very steep slopes of his vineyards, which have spectacular views of the Rhone River Valley and the villages and castles below. Jean-Luc is very aware of the unique terroir of this area including the woods and flowers, animals and insects which, as part of the cycle of nature, help make the wines of Cornas so distinctive. And he absolutely hates irrigation, which he claims gives a false impression of the vintage.
For dinner we went back to J ...
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Notes from Wine Country
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