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Dear Kelly,
I hope you enjoyed a wonderful summer, complete
with some entertaining al fresco--maybe a picnic
outside with cheese, fresh crusty bread, charcuterie
and red wine; or a casual outdoor dinner on your deck
with your neighbors and some grilled colossal
shrimp.
As always, summer seemed to go by way too fast. I
spent a lovely week in the Outer Banks last month
(where beer or a refreshing gin and tonic fit the bill
more often than a glass of wine, I have to say). This
summer, I have also had the chance to dine at many
great DC area restaurants, meet and chat with some
of the area's top bar and wine talent, and write a
bunch of articles on my findings (which is part of the
reason I sort of slacked on these newsletters the last
few months.)
Now, September is here (soon to be October, one of
my favorite months.) Days are shorter, nights are
crisper, and tastes turn to seasonal--and often fuller-
bodied--foods and beverages. Maybe that means
you're trading your crisp white for something rounder
and fuller; or your picnic rosÈ for an inky Syrah. Lovers
of the suds may crave Oktoberfest brews or stouts
rather than summer ales. And those who prefer spirits
may find yourselves reaching for the brown, woodsy
stuff (whiskey, bourbon, scotch, etc) instead of gin or
vodka.
This month's edition of Kelly's Grape Times gets you
set for the upcoming season. Learn about some picks
you may see on the "interesting bottles" section of a
restaurant wine list. Read my Cocktail Corner for a
drink suggestion that's just right for fall--not too light,
not too heavy, and with a GREAT backstory. You can
also catch up on my latest articles in Wine Enthusiast,
Imbibe, Modern Luxury DC, Cheers and The Tasting
Panel, in case you missed them. I'll also have some
info on my upcoming appearances on TV and at a
foodie show in DC.
Thanks for checking in this month! Enjoy!
Cheers--
Kelly
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Wines Off the Beaten Path
What's on that "interesting wines" section of the wine list anyway?
Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing several of
DC's top sommeliers to get their take on
interesting/different/out of the ordinary wines. Several
wine regions kept cropping up. Portugal is usually
associated with fortified, sweeter Ports. But the
country's Douro region is also becoming more well-
known for mid-priced reds, that are usually blends
made with the same grapes as Port (Touriga
Francesa, Touriga Nacional, and Tinta Roriz, for
example). They have a great balance between
showing red fruit flavors, and a bit of wood, yet they are
restrained enough to pair with a variety of foods. You
can buy many for under $10. Look for Dow's Vale
de
Bomfim, or ask your wine merchant for
suggestions.
Southwest France, particularly the Languedoc-
Roussillon, is also a treasure trove for hidden gems
that are typically rustic and made with red grapes. Try
Mas Cal Demoura, or the NÈgrette-based
Chateau
Bouissel from Fronton, close to the Spanish
border.
Finally, just picking a wine with a grape that you can't
pronounce
can be an adventure. Try to find Txacolina,
Blaufrankish, Agiorgitiko and Rotgipfler on a
restaurant wine list or at your wine store. Don't worry--
if you can't say it, sip it instead!
Here are some other bottles to look for:
* 2007 Pierre Boniface Apremont White from
the Savoie
* 2007 Gavalas Katsano/Gaidouria White
from Santorini
* 2007 Palacios Mencia/Syrah "Petalos" from
Bierzo
* Tenuta delle Terre Nere Nerello
* 2005 Mascalese "Guardiola" from Etna
* Ewald Gruber Sparkling Gruner Veltliner "Punkt
Genau" from Weinviertel
* Domaine Tselepos Sparkling
Moschofilero "Amalia
Brut" from Tegea
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Cocktail Corner
The Moscow Mule
Designed to kickstart vodka sales in the United
States, the Moscow Mule was created by John G.
Martin, who acquired the first U.S. vodka distillery in
1939 (the well-known Smirnoff). Martin nicknamed the
new product "white whiskey," to better appeal to
imbibers used to the brown booze. This drink became
popular in the 1950s, and really helped to put vodka
on the map.
The basic recipe calls for vodka (to make it really
authentic, use Smirnoff!), fresh lime juice (I've seen
recipes that have anywhere from 1 tablespoon to 1
ounce, and I always believe you can't go wrong with
more lime), and ginger beer. This last ingredient is
key. Ginger beer, which is nonalcoholic, by the way,
gives the drink a bitey ginger kick that ginger ale just
can't match. Look for Fentiman's or Reed's brands, in
the ethnic section of your grocery store (on the
Caribbean or Latino shelves), or at a gourmet shop.
The Moscow Mule
2 oz. vodka (preferably Smirnoff)
1 oz. fresh lime juice
3-4 oz. ginger beer
Fill a tall glass with ice. Add the vodka, fresh lime juice
and ginger beer, and stir well. Garnish with a lime
wedge.
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See Kelly Live!
Upcoming appearances
I have a few upcoming appearances. Here is some
info:
On October 14, 2008, I'll be appearing live on the 11
AM
show on Fox 5 DC, discussing pairing
wines with snack foods (just in time for football
season!) If you are in DC you can catch me
live on the air during the 11 AM hour. You can also
watch it live on their website, or download it after the
fact, from www.myfoxdc.com.
On Saturday, November 8, 2008, I'll be teaching a
wine seminar at the Metropolitan Cooking and
Entertaining Show held at the Washington
Convention center. My seminar will take place from 2-
3:30, and the show is open 10 AM-7 PM Saturday, and
11 AM-5 PM on Sunday. (If I'm not enough of a draw to
bring you out, know that the headliners will be Paula
Deen, Giada DeLaurentiis!
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Kelly Magyarics Wine Consulting will make your next
event special. If you are planning a private or corporate
gathering,
whether it is a wedding shower, birthday party, get-
together with
friends, or a business promotional or employee
motivational event, consider
Kelly Magyarics Wine Consulting. Our interactive,
educational wine tastings
and classes
are a memorable and unique 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 seven 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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