Irish
Slainte (slahn-che) is an ancient Irish word meaning Good health. It is a perfect toast as you enjoy some Irish delicacies on St Patrick’s Day. Last week I talked about a few of the great whiskeys from Ireland (the birthplace of Whiskey). This week we have to talk about the other great treat from our Irish friends—BEER!! Guinness Stout is synonymous with Ireland and with great beer. Stout is a style of beer that originated in the 16th century. It was an offshoot of the famous porters of England. Irish stout is brewed with hint of roasted barley to give it a smoother taste. There are actually a few different Guinness styles available now. All are made with the same...
Read More
German Riesling – Often Overlooked & Misunderstood
When German wine is mentioned one of two things run through one’s mind. One is extraordinarily delicate, complex, floral wines or one thinks of cheap, sweet mass-market sugary wines such as Leibfraumilch. Among German wine lovers, German wines primarily mean unbelievably good Riesling that are fruity, complex elegant wines that can range from very dry to unctuously sweet wines yet all braced with an acidity unmatched. Most of Germany’s vineyards are in western Germany near the Rhine river or one of its many tributaries. Most of the quality vineyards are on steep valleys that are unable to be machine harvested. This provides a selection of grapes that are of higher quality. The history of German wines go back to Roman...
Read More
Greystone Winery – The Perfect Wine/Food Pairing
Who doesn’t want a quality, well balanced wine to pair with a wonderful meal served up by a great chef? This wouldn’t be possible without two things, 1) A talented winemaker making quality wines and 2) a competent well trained chef. There is a winery out there that is doing its best to make sure we have those two components for years to come. Greystone refers to the Culinary Institute of America located in Napa Valley. The institute is now housed in a magnificent building in the heart of Napa Valley that was built as Greystone Winery in 1889. This building also housed Christian Brothers winery from 1950-1990 after which the CIA bought the building. Now a famous neighbor has...
Read More
Vodka
Vodka is the number one selling liquor item in America! Why? Because of its versatility! Vodka on its own is a clear pretty benign liquor. But when you add it to any of your favorite mixers, it takes on a life of its own, Some of America’s favorite cocktails are vodka based. Martini’s, Cosmopolitans, Screwdrivers, Bloody Mary’s and more! Vodka comes from the Russian word meaning “little water”. Most people think of vodka as a Russian birthright and the birthplace. Tsar Ivan III even proclaimed it so in the 15th century and created the first ever state monopoly on vodka. From these humble beginnings, Vodka has exploded!! Now you can find virtually any flavor of vodka you can think of. ...
Read More