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Dear Kelly,
Happy (almost) Heart's Day! This month's edition of
Kelly's Grape Times offers some traditional as well as
not-so-traditional Valentine's Day tips and ideas. I'll
share my favorite sparkling wine recommendations
from all over the world, as well as wines to pair with
different kinds of chocolates. I'll also include links to
two Valentine's Day-related articles I just wrote: one
about suggestively named bottles of wine that will be
sure to make sparks fly; and another on rose-inspired
cocktails that allow you to sniff and sip your flower
bouquet, instead of just staring at it!
Whether you are spending Valentine's Day with your
significant other, your friends, or even just relaxing
with a glass of wine and a good book, I hope you take
some time to pamper yourself--with chocolates,
flowers, or (my personal fave) a great glass of bubbly!
To my loyal readers--thanks for continuing to support
Kelly's Grape Times. And to my new subscribers--
thanks for signing up, and I hope you
enjoy my wine tips, suggestions, and articles!
Cheers--
Kelly
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Break Out the Bubbly!
Sparklers for Valentine's Day (or any day...)
I love sparkling wines, and I truly believe they are too
good for save just for celebrating. I read a quote once
that said something along the lines of "Don't save
Champagne for a special occasion. Champagne
is the occasion."
That being said, I do also drink sparkling wine on
days like
Valentine's Day, because in my mind, there really is
nothing more romantic than lots of trails of small
bubbles slowly rising in a gorgeous flute. Here are my
favorite sparklers:
* Domaine Ste Michelle Blanc de Blancs: This
traditional method sparkling wine (one that's bottle
fermented, as Champagne is) from Washington state
is a
winner, and a definite steal around $10. Blanc de
Blancs, or "white from whites," means that a sparkling
wine is made from 100% Chardonnay. This wine has
gorgeous apple, pear and apricot fruit, with just a
touch of yeastiness.
* Zardetto Prosecco: Made in Italy from the
grape of the same name, Prosecco is tank fermented.
So while it lacks some of the yeastiness and
complexity of traditional-method sparkling wines, it
has lots of fresh fruit (apples and citrus) and
refreshing acidity. The Zardetto is around $13, and
can be enjoyed on its own, or with pomegranate juice
for a beautiful sparkling wine cocktail.
* Mumm Cuvee M: French Champagne house
Mumm has a winery in Napa, where lots of award-
winning bubbly is made. The Cuvee M has luscious,
decadent fruit, a pinkish tinge from the 43% Pinot Noir
that's included, and flavors of white chocolate, ripe
peaches and vanilla. It retails for $17, and is a great
choice to pair with lobster or scallops this Valentine's
Day.
* Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label: Veuve
Clicquot is my "go-to" choice for can't miss
Champagne. If (like me) you really enjoy the doughy,
bready aromas and flavors that a fuller-bodied
Champagne can have,you'll love this classic.
And at around $35 a bottle, it's still relatively easy on
the wallet, compared to other bottles of the real thing.
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In the Media
Latest articles
I have been busy updating my wine
blog,as
well as writing wine-related articles. Here are links to
my latest work:
"Nice
Bouquet: Rose-Inspired Cocktails for Valentine's
Day," Wine Enthusiast, February, 2008
"Sugg
estive Sips," Wine Enthusiast, February, 2008
"Banish Bottle Boredom," Wine Enthusiast,
February, 2008
Read more of Kelly's articles
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Sweets for Your Sweet
Kelly's take on wine and chocolate
Wine and chocolate. Some people love it, while others
think it's a contrived gimmick that doesn't work. Here
are some pairings I have used in "wine and
chocolate"-themed wine tastings. Feel free to take
them with a grain of salt (or with a dark chocolate
truffle...)
* Tawny Port and chocolate with nuts and/or
caramel: In my opinion, there is perhaps no better
chocolate match than this one, especially in the dead
of winter. The rich nutty and caramel notes in the
Tawny Port work so well with this kind of chocolate,
while the decent acidity in the wine keep you going
back for another sip. Try producers Osborne,
Cockburn and Graham from Portugal, or one of the
Australian producers making "Port", like Illaparra.
* Moscato d'Asti and white chocolate: While
white chocolate isn't actually chocolate, it's super
sweetness goes well with this sweet, slightly spritzy
wine from Italy. The wine's bubbles refresh the palate
from
the confection's richness. Look for Villa Lanata or
Bartenura.
* Red Zinfandel and dark chocolate: If you like
a glass
of good Cabernet with dark chocolate, then I
encourage you instead to try the
chocolate with a glass of red Zinfandel. My
rationale? The bit of residual sugar in red Zin left over
after fermention matches the oh-so-
tiny bit of sugar in otherwise bitter dark chocolate. It
also helps that red Zin often has some delightful berry
notes that taste darn tasty with dark chocolate. My
favorite red Zin producers are Ravenswood, Ridge
and Cline.
* Orange Muscat and chocolate with orange or
lemon flavors: This is no-brainer if you like citrus-
flavored chocolate. It really is a match made in
chocolate heaven. California's Quady Winery makes
two great
orange Muscats--Essensia and Electra, at $22 and
$11 a bottle, respectively.
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If you are planning a special event, whether it is a
wedding shower, birthday party, get-together with
friends, or a business promotional event, consider
Kelly Magyarics Wine Consulting to make your event
complete. Our interactive, educational wine tastings
and classes
are a memorable option for your next gathering. Kelly
holds an Advanced Certificate in Wine and Spirits from
the WSET (Wine and Spirit Education Trust), and she
has been offering wine tastings for private and
corporate events in the DC area for over six years. Just
see what our clients are saying about us.
Check
out www.trywine.net
for more information, email us
at trywine@gmail.com, or call us at
703.203.9463.
Feel free to pass this along to
other wine lovers you know!
And don't forget about Kelly's other services. She is
available for freelance writing, wine list creation and
management, and wine and food pairing consultation.
Cheers, and happy sipping!
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