Apples to Apples

I don't know why, but I've been in the mood for a beer recently. The problem is, I just don't like beer. So I've settled for hard cider.

Cider is actually closer to being a wine, than a beer. It's made by pressing apples instead of grapes, but the yeast and fermentation is similar to the wine-making process. It's referred to as cider, by the way, in most countries. During prohibition Americans started making a non-alcoholic version of cider that became popular. The term "hard" was added to distinguish the non-alcoholic from the alcoholic variety. (I thought that was an interesting piece of trivia.)

My cider of choice is Angry Orchid, but I thought that might be because the grocery store carries that brand. So when I had the chance to go to the Wine Store, I picked up something different. It's Spire Mountain Draft Cider, made in Washington. It has a really great aroma, very applish with a light lemon. I could sniff it all night. The taste is slightly sweet and a bit tannic. (Do you use tannic to describe cider? Or should I just say that it has a little sour aftertaste.) It's easy to drink, and I find that I finish the bottle very quickly. I probably won't buy this brand again, though.

Maybe I should try to make my own hard cider.

No cupcakes

When I was at the wine store, I picked up a cute little mini-bottle of Baileys Mint Chocolate with the intention of using it for cupcakes. Tonight I decided that I couldn't bake with it until I knew what it tasted like. I mean, that's just common sense. So I put a little bit in a shot glass to sip, and then poured a bit more on my ice cream. Unfortunately, there's none left for the cupcakes. It's a shame, too, because Baileys Mint Chocolate is very, very good.

Whatcha listening to?

At our knitting group, a friend and I got to talking about the different podcasts we listen to. Now that I'm commuting to work (my drive can be anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour each way, depending on the whims of traffic), I've been listening to even more podcasts.

Some of my long-time favorites podcasts have ended. Meaghan of Stitch It! recently decided to spend more time with her family and less time recording. I've listened to her for so long that I felt like I was losing a friend when she made  the announcement. There have been a few other podcasts that have just faded off this past year.

Luckily, there are several new shows that I've found. And surprisingly, not all of them are knitting. Here's a brief summary of what's on my ipod. By the way, all of the podcasts can be found on itunes.

FIBER-RELATED:

The High Fiber Diet Podcast - This was the second podcast I've found, and by now I feel like Coggie and Sarge are members of my family. Lately there's been a bit of language that bothers me (I have my own little soapbox, and Sarge has gotten me up on it a few times), but I just can't let go. Family is family. Besides, Coggie is funny, informative, and I love her style.

Knit Obsession with Zknits - She's only putting out a show every month or so, but it's worth catching them when they come out.

Knitting Brooklyn - This is a brand-new podcast. She talks about knitting, spinning, and anything else that pops into her head. My big negative on this is that she refers too much to other podcasts - I don't listen to the same ones that she does and even if I did I'm not sure I want to hear her talk about them. I'd rather hear her own stuff. On the other hand,  I love that she's so close to where my daughter is - I recognize many of the places she talks about. So I may stick with it.

Knitting Pipeline - Paula talks about knitting, nature and bagpipes. Plus she actually met Elizabeth Zimmermann. (How cool is that?)

Subway Knits - A knitting podcast by a NYC teacher - how could I not love it?

Never Not Knitting - This is an extremely well-done knitting podcast by an extremely talented designer.

FIBER-FREE:

Betty in the Sky with a Suitcase - Although I didn't read her book, I've always enjoyed Betty's stories that she's collected while working as a flight attendant.

The Crush - This is one of my two wine podcasts. I've learned a lot from Whitney and Christina, although they do make me feel rather old and un-cool.

Escape Pod - Science fiction stories. Do I need to say anything else?

The Moth - This is always the first podcast I name when someone asks me for a recommendation. It's true stories, told by real people. Sometimes the people and stories are everyday tales, and sometimes they're incredibly amazing. I have a dream that someday I'm going to attend a live Moth event in NYC.

Pub Songs Podcast - It's all Irish/Celtic music, with a lot of geeky spoofed songs added in. It's wonderful. Plus Marc Gunn reminds me of one of my favorite cousins (Charlie) - I'm not sure why, but I think of Charlie every single time I listen to this podcast and it makes me smile.


Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me - I just started listening to this podcast. It's a public radio call-in show that's very funny and very up-to-date. I also get a kick out of hearing the technical advisor for the show is Robert Newhouse. I know it's (probably) not one of my relatives, but I still get a kick thinking it might be.

Wine for Normal People - Everything I know about wine, I learned from Elizabeth.

Moscato D'Asti Casa Sant'Orsola

I treated myself to this bottle of wine because it was on sale (just $7.99 at Total Wine this week). Even off sale it's only around $10, so it's a very affordable "splurge."

Moscato D'Asti is a sweet, sparkling wine. I don't know if it's true for all of the Moscato D'Asti wines, but this bottle comes from Italy. I like the bubbles, although the pop started me when I uncorked it.

I had trouble identifying any notes on my nose, especially at first when the wine was still very chilled. I blame that on my sinuses rather than it being too delicate a wine since the next night I was able to detect a fresh fruity scent with musty after notes of pineapple and mango. The taste is very sweet and bubbly, followed by fruit - peaches and slightly citrus. I did drink it by itself, as my dessert, although it would pair well with real desserts or fruit.

Although it was very sweet even for me, I'll probably get it again. I'm giving it three stars. (The third star is mostly because of the price.)

• 1 star = It was okay but nothing special
• 2 stars = It was good and I liked it
• 3 stars = It was good and I'd buy it again
• 4 stars = I really, really like it, enough to call it a favorite
• 5 stars = It's mine, all mine! And I don't want to share.

Sheffield Tawny Port

I like port. So when I needed a sweet red wine for my Thanksgiving cranberry relish, naturally I looked for a bottle of port. I found one from Sheffield Cellars that wasn’t too expensive, so I decided to try it.

This is a Tawny Port, which means it’s been aged in a wooden barrel (in this particular brand, an oak barrel). As it ages, the wood gradually turns the red wine a more brownish, or tawny, color. (This is, of course, a very simplified explanation, based on my simplified understanding. You should probably go google it if you want a better, more detailed explanation.)

The aroma was heavily oak and prune. Sometimes I have trouble distinguishing the subtleties in an aroma, but there was nothing subtle about these. I also found a faint mustiness that made me think of the Regency Romances I indulge in, where the men always seem to retire at the end of a meal to enjoy their port while the women go off to gossip together. This is definitely a man’s port (compared to the sweet port that remains my favorite).

The taste was sweet without being cloying, with black licorice and something that made me think of my PopPop’s pipe. It tasted like Thanksgiving, which is very weird considering (1) we don’t drink port on Thanksgiving because (2) we don’t really drink any wine on Thanksgiving.

I definitely liked this port, and I’ll probably treat myself to it again. I'm giving it three stars.

• 1 star = It was okay but nothing special
• 2 stars = It was good and I liked it
• 3 stars = It was good and I'd buy it again
• 4 stars = I really, really like it, enough to call it a favorite
• 5 stars = It's mine, all mine! And I don't want to share.

Funf Riesling

 I'm blaming (crediting?) this wine purchase on one of my knitting friends, Sean. He had first mentioned this wine to me, pointing out that it would be worth buying just because the bottle was pretty and the name was cute. Supposedly I'm beyond buying wine just because of the bottle. But apparently peer pressure still works. Because when I saw this wine on sale at the grocery store as buy-one-get-one-free, I came home with the two bottles.

It's not bad. Slightly sweet, and very fruity, it seems like a nice cheap white wine that went well with the salad I had the first night, and with the leftover pizza I drank it with the next. I will say that I like the bouquet better than the taste; but then, I usually do.

So anyway, this was pretty good wine. I'm giving it two stars.

• 1 star = It was okay but nothing special
• 2 stars = It was good and I liked it
• 3 stars = It was good and I'd buy it again
• 4 stars = I really, really like it, enough to call it a favorite
• 5 stars = It's mine, all mine! And I don't want to share.

Wine for Normal People

I have been sick for the past week, so I haven't been in the mood to try any new wines. But I did discover a wonderful podcast about wines, called Wine for Normal People. It is hosted by Elizabeth, who despite being a Sommelier with years of experience in the wine business is able to talk about wines without making the rest of us feel dumb. Her co-host is Rick, who is a computer nerd that just happens to like wine. It works out really well between them: Rick asks the types of questions that the most of us would like to, and Elizabeth explains the answers so that even I can understand. I think my favorite episode so far (I went back and listened to everything) was episode six. Elizabeth explained some of the terms used to describe wine, such as earthy, minerality, and acidic. I loved the way that she used situations to tie memories into the wine terms. Really, you need to go listen to this podcast. It's fantastic.

A Virtual Party

This weekend's wine was a gewurztraminer from Washington Hills Paradise Peak. (Please don't ask me how to say gewurztraminer. Even after listening to The Crush, I don't get it.) This bottle was opened, by the way, so that I could take part in a virtual taste testing party. I've joined a Ravelry forum group that combines fiber and wine. (I know, real friends wouldn't let friends knit drunk, but we're only virtual friends.) Anyway, our current topic is wines from Washington State, so I had to have a glass of my Paradise Peak in order to hang with the cool kids.

So anyway, this was pretty good wine. I'm giving it three stars.

• 1 star = It was okay but nothing special
• 2 stars = It was good and I liked it
• 3 stars = It was good and I'd buy it again
• 4 stars = I really, really like it, enough to call it a favorite
• 5 stars = It's mine, all mine! And I don't want to share.

The aroma was nice and fruity (grapefruit and pear, maybe). It had a light, bubbly taste. It was slightly sweet, and citrusy, with a hint of spices. I started out with it very cold, and as it warmed up it seemed to be sweeter. (Now that I think of it, was it sweeter as it warmed up or as I drank more?)

I paid around $9 for the bottle, so it was a pretty good bargain. A good wine to go with the jalapeno-cheese stuffed chicken breast I had it with, but it would be even better sitting out by the pool. (I have to find a way to disguise my wine glass so that I can do that!)

If your heart is warm with happiness, you'll need a glass - if sorrow chills your heart, have two! (Hannu Lehmusvuori)

This weekend's wine was a recommendation from my daughter. It's one of her "go-to" wines that she described as being worth twice the price. And she was right. It was great.

I'm talking about Red Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon. I bought a bottle of 2008 at my local Publix store for just under $10. Red Diamond is a Washington cabernet sauvignon, blended with a light touch of syrah and merlot. It's a nice, dark ruby color, with a spicy aroma. In some of the reviews I read, the aroma was described as leather, heavy cherry, and even chocolate. I didn't pick any of that up, but I've had blocked sinuses all week so you can't really trust me.

You can trust me that it tasted yummy. It was smooth (the reviews called it velvet) with a heavy berry taste and a lingering spicy finish. Some of the reviews described a dark chocolate taste, which I didn't catch but may have been why I liked it so much. It was terrific with the cheese pizza, but I think it would also be a nice sipping wine for an evening of knitting or socializing.

This is going on my list of wines to buy again.

Monday morning wine

Over the weekend I opened the bottle of Conundrum that's been chilling in my refrigerator since May. (Has it really been that long?) I had purchased this bottle after my Wine 101 class on the recommendation of the instructor. My question to her had been, "Is there anyway to keep a bottle of wine from going 'off' if you don't drink it all the first two days, since I'm the only one in my house that would be drinking?"  I hate to buy a bottle of wine for myself, knowing that I'm going to be wasting most of the bottle.

Her solution was for me to buy a smaller half-bottle with one of the new Stelvin screw caps. After I drank that bottle, she said for me to wash out the bottle and save it. Then when I opened a bottle with a cork, I could use a funnel and transfer half of it into the smaller bottle to be saved. The screw cap would keep the wine good for a longer time period.

So I bought the Conundrum mainly for the bottle. Which is kind of funny because I took the class so that I wouldn't be buying wines just because of the bottle. But she had assured me that Conundrum was a pretty good white wine (I like whites) and it would be a good possibility as my personal "house" wine.

Well, she was right that it was a pretty good wine. The Conundrum, out of California, is a blend of chardonnay, viognier, muscat, and sauvignon blanc grapes. It's a nice crisp white. I thought it had a nice floral aroma, and a bright floral taste with maybe a little lemon and an herb finish. According to reviews, there's a bit of honeysuckle in the aroma and a taste of honey, but I didn't catch that. And even though it was good, and would be very nice sitting out by the pool on a hot day, it isn't going to make it on my list of favorites.

And by the way, I had found a bottle stopper at Williams-Sonoma that has a great seal so I don't need to transfer the wine in order to save it.

Quickly, bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever. (Aristophanes)

This week's wine selection is Condado De Eguren Tempranillo. My friend Paula's husband had recommended a tempranillo for me to try when I first got interested in learning about wines. Tempranillo is a grape grown mostly in Spain. When I asked at the wine shop, they recommended the Condado De Eguren as a good tempranillo. And as usual, I liked their recommendation.

 I drank this room temperature, and ran it through my aerator first. My first thought was that it was a very light wine. Researching tempranillos, I learned that they do tend to be light, with low alcohol and heavy acid. The Condado De Eguren was a dark ruby, with a fruity nose. There may be a little bit of leathery notes, but I'm really going more on my research than what I noticed since my nose is still just learning. I did find the taste to be soft and fruity, and almost sweet. I thought it left a puckering feel, which might actually make sense with a high acid content.

All in all, I liked this wine. It's a good sipping wine, which isn't how I normally think of a red wine (other than my favorite port, of course). In the class I took, they recommended having a favorite "house" wine in both the red and white as you build your wine cellar. This tempranillo just might become my house red.

Happy Fourth of July!

Everyone celebrates in their own unique way. This year, my way was blueberry pancakes for dinner, followed by a glass of my favorite port for dessert. Please don't judge. At least it was red, white, and blue.

The Macchia Port Dangerous (2007)  is one of the wines I purchased at the Wine 101 class back in May. It really is a wonderful wine. I will be buying another bottle, since this one was finished up tonight. Produced by California's Linsteadt Vineyard in Armador County (in the Sierra foothills), the Dangerous Port is made with zifendal grapes. (I really don't understand the significance of some of what I just said, but it's stuff that wine-lovers are supposed to know.)

To me, Dangerous Port is a very fruity, sweet drink with a spicy twist. It should be served warm - and trust me on this. The bottle was accidentally put in the refrigerator, so my first few sips were chilled. The port was much better after I had left it sitting on the table for a while; it had a much rounder taste. It makes a wonderful dessert on its own, but it is even better paired with dark chocolate.

I like to drink wine more than I used to. (Vito Corleone in The Godfather )

With my friend Mary's help, I was able to mark off one of my 50 by 50 goals this evening. The two of us attended a Wine 101 class at Total Wine & More. We had a really good time, and I learned a lot.

The class started with a "bonus" taste of a German Riesling (Dr. Heidemanns). It was a great start, and I ended up bringing home a bottle. (So did Mary.)

We went over the basics of wine tasting, starting with how to open a bottle of wine. Once the wine is opened, there is a lot more than just swigging it down. But they walked us through the process slowly, and soon I was swirling my glass and admiring the aroma and bouquet with the best of them. I had a little more trouble identifying the different flavors and tastes. After a while I figured out that if I nodded wisely and murmured "hmm, oaky with complex layers" the others in the class would agree with me. Either I understood more than I thought I did, or everyone else was as confused as I was.

We had the opportunity to try four different white wines (a pinot grigio, a viognier, a chardonnay, and a chenin blanc) and four different red wines (Kitchen Sink Red, a pinot noir, a shiraz, and a cabernet sauvignon). I normally buy a bottle of wine based on what the bottle looks like (don't laugh, it's true!), so it was very exciting to be able to taste and compare the different types of wine. The fact that they selected some of the better examples for us to try helped, I'm sure. (Surprisingly, the prices weren't as high as I expected for good wines. All except the Martin Ray Cabernet Sauvignon (my favorite, naturally) were within my price range.

Our last wine of the evening was Macchia Zifendal Port ("Dangerous"). All I can say is YUM! A bottle of this came home with me. And I will not be sharing it.

I have to say that Total Wine (at the Wellington store) puts on a fantastic wine class. In addition to the ten types of wine we tasted, they provided platters of cheese and crackers (huge selection) and pizza for us to snack on in between the glasses of wine. We were frequently reminded to be responsible as we tasted the wine (don't drink and drive!), but they were generous with the wines that we liked.

I plan on taking more classes as they are offered.