Friday is Corn on the Cob Day! We thought the perfect way to celebrate this day was a festive barbecue on a warm summer day. According to IntoWine, wine has become increasingly popular as a refreshing summertime choice instead of the commonly thought beer choice. They have recommended some great wines to pair with your barbecue.
Zinfandel. Nothing goes better with All-American barbecue than All-American Zin. Their recommendation is the 2005 Shenandoah Vineyards “Special Reserve” Amador Zinfandel.
Rosé. Their recommendation is the Château de Puligny-Montrachet Bourgogne Rosé (Pinot Noir) (approx $17). There’s nothing better for a barbecue in terms of refreshment and ability to span the range of whatever you put on the grill: sausages, red meat, vegetables, seafood…
Rosé of Cabernet or Merlot. They recommend the 2006 Rosé de Chateau Haut Bailly (Approx $15). A very rich and full-bodied rosé; it is very dry with a lingering aftertaste and a fresh, vibrant palate impression of raspberries and blackberries. This wine has the strength of red Bordeaux to handle barbecued meat, while the crisp acidity is perfect for the heat!
Today is Cinco de Mayo! In celebration of the Mexican national holiday we have found some tips for pairing wine with your favorite Mexican dishes thanks to eSSORTMENT. Wine is not usually the first concoction you crave when thinking of a spicy meal, but wine has recently taken a forefront in being paired with many Mexican and South American dishes! There are several varieties of wines today that pair well with spicy, ethnic dishes. Here are our favorites!
A tangy, spicy shrimp or seafood dish prepared with garlic, cilantro, or onions pairs well with Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Soave or a German Riesling
Chili often has tomatoes as the shining star to its base. Try pairing it with an Italian Sangiovese or a Zinfandel.
Rich, cheese enchiladas, burritos and other combination dishes with a heavier sauce base match up well against classic Italian Chianti, a sweet Zinfandel or a classic German Riesling.
Here is a video of Roland Marandino from our Best of Italy Wine Dinner Thursday April 15, 2010. We also have some picture up on our Flickr and Facebook accounts, so make sure to check them out!
Music 101 with the White Tie Group.“Old Friends” with White Tie Group, jazz trio. Presented by the Pittsburgh Symphony Association, Music 101 is a lunchtime lecture series of informal presentations on Tuesday, April 13th. It provides the community with opportunities to hear personal insights from PSO musicians, conductors and key personnel. Come to Heinz Hall for this free event open to the public. Doors open at 11:15 a.m. for lunch. Reservations are not necessary. For more information visit Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.
Best of Italy Wine Dinner at The Carlton. On Thursday, April 15th Roland Marandino, the Wine Ambassador for Cecchi Winery and Sartori Winery visits The Carlton Restaurant to present a “Best of Italy” Wine Dinner. Enjoy three wines rated over ’90″ points including a blockbuster Amarone/Chianti comparison course. This is an evening that will please the palate and Roland is sure to entertain and educate you about the world of Italian Wine!
Swan Lake. The most popular of all classical ballets is coming to the Benedum Center April 16th-April 18th. Swan Lake is the ultimate tale of betrayal and everlasting love. It’s an emotionally charged production that will take your breath away. Don’t miss the excellent show! Stop by the Carlton Restaurant for dinner and a free limo ride to the Benedum Center. For more information visit Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.
Today is National No Housework Day. No trash, no dishes, no making beds or washing laundry, AND no guilt! Give it a rest!
A perfect way to treat yourself on this guilt free holiday is to sit down with a glass of dessert wine after dinner. They are the perfect way to complete your meal. This is unlike the more acidic, lighter wines enjoyed during a meal. Acidic wines open the palate, sweet wines close it.
Easter is this Sunday and many people will be serving ham for dinner. It can be hard to find a wine to pair with this meal because ham is both salty and sweet with the glaze. Listed below are Winery Adventures top five recommendations for Wines that pair well with Easter Ham.
1. Scarlet Sunrise: White Rock Vineyards and Winery in Goodview, Virginia. The fruitiness of this Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Merlot blend would be wonderful with a sweet glazed ham.
2. Reflections of Lake Erie: Arrowhead Wine Cellars in North East Pennsylvania. This crisp, dry wine is the perfect complement to your Easter dinner.
3. Cin Zin: Henke Winery in Cincinnati, Ohio. A fruity Zinfandel that pairs beautifully with your ham without overpowering the glaze.
4. Semi-Dry Riesling: Bowers Harbor Vineyards in Traverse City, Michigan. The subtle sweetness of this Riesling will highlight the flavors of your ham.
5. Laurel Blush: Laurel Mountain Vineyards in Falls Creek, Pennsylvania. This crisp and refreshing blush would be a wonderful addition to your Easter dinner table.
Jess Jackson Portfolio Wine Dinner at the Carlton Restaurant. Sample some of the best offerings from the extensive Wine Portfolio of Jess Jackson on Tuesday, March 30th. It is sure to make for a great night with one of the dominant players in the California Wine industry.
The Wizard of Oz. Bring the whole family to experience the classic musical with Dorothy and her friends. This week only you can travel over the rainbow at Heinz Hall. Enjoy dinner at the Carlton and get a free limo ride to the show!
Pens vs. Lightning. Cheer on your Pittsburgh Penguins as they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday, March 31st! The game begins at 7:30 so be sure to start your pregame activities at the Carlton before heading over to the Mellon Arena or stay for the game!
Stanley Cup on Display. Don’t miss the opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with the Stanley Cup! It will be on display at the History Center and Sports Museum from April 1-4. As part of the display, fans will also get a chance to take their photo with 10 individual trophies earned by the Penguins throughout the years. Visit www.heinzhistorycenter.org as more details become available.
Once a year everyone gets a chance to make up their own holiday. That day is Friday the 26th. We have decided to call this holiday “Glass Half Full Day”. In honor of this very important holiday we would like the take note of some unique wine glasses. The following websites show examples of wine glasses most of your friends probably won’t have.
As the dark winter months come to an end everyone seems to be in need of a fun splash of color. A great cure for your winter blues is a great springtime sangria! It’s refreshing AND half the calories of most other fruit drinks.
Here is the Basic Red Sangria recipe from sheknows.com
Basic Red Sangria recipe
Ingredients:
1 bottle (750 ml) red wine (Spanish table wine or merlot work fine)
4 oz. Grand Marnier or simple brandy
1/3 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
1/3 cup fresh pineapple juice (optional)
Ground cinnamon to taste
1 orange, sliced into rounds
1 lemon, sliced into rounds
1 lime, sliced into rounds
1 half apple, unpeeled, chopped
Directions:
In a large bowl or pitcher, combine wine, brandy, fruit juices, cinnamon and fruit, reserving some fruit for garnishing. Let chill for at least one hour. Pour over plenty of ice. Garnish with remaining fresh fruit.
The Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Parade is this Saturday, and though this is typically a beer drinking holiday, there are some great wines out there perfectly suited for a great St. Patrick’s Day celebration! Here’s a good list for you to start off with from VinVillage.
Try wineries that began with Irish vintners like Murphy-Goode, which was founded by Tim Murphy, Dale Goode and Dave Ready, DuMOL Winery, owned by Kerry Murphy, or Owen Roe Winery in Oregon, named after the seventeenth century Irish Patriot of the same name and owned by Jerry Owen and Irish-born winemaker David O’Reilly. Or perhaps you would like to try the wine from Limerick Lane Cellars, who has also sold fruit to another winery of Irish heritage, Gary Farrell.
Friday is Corn on the Cob Day! We thought the perfect way to celebrate this day was a festive barbecue on a warm summer day. According to IntoWine, wine has become increasingly popular as a refreshing summertime choice instead of the commonly thought beer choice. They have recommended some great wines to pair with your barbecue.
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