Cupcake Moscato!!

Greetings and Happy Holidays!! I hope everyone is wrapping up their holiday shopping and preparing to spend time with family and friends. On this cold Atlanta day, I bring you another great find and a potential Christmas gift for a fellow wine lover. The wine of the day is Cupcake Moscato D'Asti , which entered my life last month when I made a trip back to the Brick Street Cafe, in Greenville, S.C. The wine was a suggestion by the waiter and he swore that it was something that I had to try. So, I did.....

.....and when I did, I instantly loved it! The memory of my first taste came back when I opened a bottle for dinner last night and yet again, it reminded me of the Moscato D'Asti that I wrote about awhile back (9/3/11) but minus the champagne bubble/ taste. Instead it is a smooth taste of sweetness with the added smell of soft fresh fruits, which I love. The best part is the cost is just under $11.00!! So, if you are stuck on gift ideas ( for me :-D) or that special friend I would suggest a bottle (or a case) of Cupcake Moscato or other assorted wines.

Happy Sipping and Happy Holidays!!!

"Champagne Life"

Living the "Champagne Life".......I am sure you have heard the song or expression. Personally, I love the song by Neo because it has a great feel/beat to it and it talks about enjoying life to the fullest and just doing the damn thing regardless of what people say. One verse in particular defines a good time as " a nice meal and a good wine" and this is where my inspiration comes from this fine beautiful and relaxing Labor Day weekend.

Thursday night held true to Neo's definition and it helped me remember that its the simple things in life that make me smile and feel good.  So, on this night I made ( yes, I cook folks!!) bourbon salmon, red beans and rice, and asparagus. Then to seal the deal, I paired dinner with a glass of Saint'Evasio Moscato D'Asti (2010) and..... OMG.....I was in heaven!!!! Anyone that knows me can agree that I am a very modest person but I had to give myself a high-five for this meal because I had to profess out loud "man this is good".

Meal Details:
In case you were wondering, the salmon was purchased from Publix and the guy at the seafood section did not lie when he said that the bourbon (pre-seasoned) salmon was one of their best sellers. He also said that people get angry when they do not have it and I can honestly see why. The seasoning was perfect and the salmon was fresh, which is a given for Publix. The asparagus was also great because instead of just sauteing it in butter, I added a little orange juice (yes) because it creates a nice caramelized finish, and of course some salt and pepper and.......mmmmmm!! The red beans and rice are pretty easy as well, but it was like that night everything was just great......or was I just hungry? Either way, it was an experience.

Now the wine.......Moscato D'Asti DOCG deserves its own entry but I will include it here because it sealed the meal thanks to its perfect combination of sweet fruit, smooth taste and a little bubble of champagne; and the bottle is very grown and sexy. I know I said the Moscato Bug Juice (See "Fine Wine" entry) was good but this stuff is great!! I remember asking the clerk at the wine store for a suggestion and he suggested the D'Asti and he was right on the money. We will see what other inspirations come to me this weekend by way of cookouts and seafood boils.

Happy Labor Day and happy eating!!!!!!!!!

Follow-up ~ Fine Wine

(Picture by Vinivino.com)

Hellooooo (echo voice) there! I hope everyone is doing well. Again, work has had me MIA, but what can you do? Although I have been missing I have not been short on experiences, just time. So, lets get to it!!! This past weekend a friend recommened my first (great) red wine experience and it was suprisingly delicious.

The red wine that I dare to share is Apothic Red.....mmmmmmm. At first I will admit that I was aprehensive and concerned that my face would tell the truth (if it was too bitter) before I could, but to my suprise it was a pleasant discovery. The taste was sweeter than I have ever tasted with a red wine but it still had a subtle taste of dryness, which was not too bad. Therefore, I am excited to share the experience and to happily proclaim that I have graduated (a little) to grown folks wine :).

More to come this weekend as I will be venturing out to try new wines at The Colors of Wine, in Atlanta !! I am sure after this venture I will have plenty to write about; however, I encourage you to continue to send me your suggestions.

Fine Wine

Greetings! I truly hope that everyone is having a fantabolous 4th of July weekend! As you prepare to indulge (or if you already have) in the traditional 4th of July cookout, think of me as you do. I had my portion of cookouts on Saturday, and it was good! Needless to say I also had my share of ribs, chicken and peach cobbler to last me for a minute.

Also this weekend, I had a wine experience that is worth sharing, and I know my (white) wine
drinkers will appreciate this. The wine of mention is ....Bug Juice Moscato (2010) and boy is it good! For me, a good white wine is sweet and tastes of apples, peaches, grapes etc.. Furthermore, the smell of it creates a sweet and floral aroma in the glass. Then there is the taste, which can only be described as perfection, because it is soft, sweet and smooth; and dares to leave you with a memorable experience.....and this was that!

I will be the first to admit that I am still a "baby" when it comes to fine wine, but thankfully I have experienced wine drinkers that love wine and are willing to share their good finds. Now I will also admit that I am not a fan (yet) of reds but I am always open to trying new things ( if it is not bitter...eeewww). So, if you have any suggestions on great reds or whites please share!