Prosecco: Delicious, Affordable Bubbly Instead Of Champagne

If you want to celebrate the holidays with affordable bubbly, look to Prosecco. It’s great for toasting, for serving with lighter courses—from seafood to chicken and turkey to pasta—and for enjoying as an after-dinner drink. It’s a wine that pairs well with spicy foods, including Chinese, Indian, Thai, and other Asian cuisines. And because of…
Continue reading “Prosecco: Delicious, Affordable Bubbly Instead Of Champagne”

TIP OF THE DAY: Valentine’s Day Cocktails

If you don’t have romantic plans for Valentine’s Day, how about inviting friends for cocktails? You can set up a bar buffet with pitchers of three or four red or rosy cocktails: Bloody Mary Cranberry Mimosa Cosmopolitan Crantini   Other options: Mulled wine, perfect for February. Kir, white wine poured atop crème de cassis (blackcurrant…
Continue reading “TIP OF THE DAY: Valentine’s Day Cocktails”

A Mimosa Cocktail Bar For Brunch, New Year’s Eve, More

[1] A Mimosa with orange juice, plus Pomegranate, Pink Grapefruit and Mango Mimosas (photo © Pampered Chef). [2] Transfer the juices into carafes before adding them to the ice bucket. Amazon has four 750ml carafes for less than $30. [3] A Grapefruit Mimosa is special when made with pink grapefruit juice. Here’s the recipe from…
Continue reading “A Mimosa Cocktail Bar For Brunch, New Year’s Eve, More”

TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: Sekt, Sparkling German Wine

Whenever the topic of Champagne comes up, for special occasions, gifting or fizzy cocktails, we like to remind everyone that there are delicious—and less costly—alternatives to Champagne. Consider these more affordable bubblies at half the price or less: Asti Spumante and Prosecco from Italy. Cava from Spain. Crémant from France. Espumante from Portugal. Sekt from…
Continue reading “TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: Sekt, Sparkling German Wine”

TIP OF THE DAY: Make Your Own Cold Duck Wine Blend

Looking for some summer fun? At the end off a party, instead of opening up new bottles, make a blend of the ends (not dregs*) of existing ones. This idea for party fun (or just-the-two-of-us-at-home fun) was inspired by a memory of college drinking…of a students-and-winos-only sparkling concoction called Cold Duck. What the duck is…
Continue reading “TIP OF THE DAY: Make Your Own Cold Duck Wine Blend”