Thursday Happy Hour: Cocktail Recipes, Drinks, Music, and Good Times

Lodi Zinfandel

Annual Quest for Zin

I get lost in Lodi, California. Easily. It's south of Sacramento. East of San Francisco. It's burgeoning wine country. But it feels more like miles and miles of farmland.

Somewhere along the way, we've made it an annual road trip. So I have no excuse. But boy is it flat.

We've chosen to drive the 7+ hours north because the trunk can hold many more bottles of wine than a suitcase. Buying wine from the hands that sealed it is somehow magical.  Lodi zinfandels are our special treat: big, juicy, and inexpensive complexity to get dizzy over. But it seems the secret is out. Lodi zins are everywhere -- in San Diego, anyway.

It may be time for another home blind wine tasting with friends. Who's in?

2007 Rudolf Müller Eiswein (Ice Wine)

Drip, Drip, Drip

Though we still have massive amounts of snow on the ground in the midwest, the steady trickle off the roof means one thing: The thaw is here. And it couldn't come any sooner.

I am more than ready to toast the beginning of the end of this icy season by opening a bottle of Rudolf Müller Eiswein with my sweetie.

I made some simple crostini with toasted baguette topped with blue cheese and drizzled with honey to counterbalance the sweet and intense flavor of the eiswein.

Hooray, spring is on its way! We've made it (almost) through another Minnesota winter.

Blason de Bourgnogne Crémant Rosé

Books and Bubbly

It all started five years ago. Amy suggested a few of us moms get together monthly for a book group. She'd already chosen our inaugural read, The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.

So it seemed fitting, a half-decade later, that we all cozied up in Monica's fabulous home theatre to watch the movie version starring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana. Seems like many of the books we've shared have become Hollywood blockbusters, and finally—with a tongue-in-cheek superior air—the seven of us can actually say, "Oh, I read the book."

Monica, the gracious hostess that she is, prepared theatre-style popcorn on her stovetop. And I poured the bubbly: Blason de Bourgnogne Crémant Rosé.

Rosemount Shiraz 2007

Winter Barbecue

One sip of an intense and fruity Rosemount Shiraz, and the craving hit me: baby back ribs, creamy coleslaw, and cornbread muffins.

I couldn't convince anyone to clear the snow from the outdoor barbecue, let alone cook outside. But I wasn't about to wait for July. Anyway, this shiraz might seem a little heavy in the heat of summer.

But in the winter, the cozy, fruity and rich Australian red holds up superbly to the dry-rubbed and barbecue-sauce-basted, oven-broiled racks.

As I licked my sauce-stained fingers, I imagined warm evenings outdoors by the barbecue: Only a few more months to go.

Casa Silva Viognier 2005 (Organic)

The Lure of Ratings

At the restaurant with my friend, I was lured by two things on the menu:  a rich mac-n-cheese made with white cheddar, bacon, and scallions and a white wine noted as "organic" and "RP 90 pts." 

A perfect pairing!

I've been on the lookout for an extraordinary organic wine for a while now. So when I saw one with premier wine critic Robert Parker's approval, my mouth said Yes. Surely someone with a world-renowned nose would know better than little ol' me about what kind of wine I'll like.

Mark West Pinot Noir 2007

Date Night In

I've reinstated Friday fondue nights. This tradition began when my older two daughters were still in diapers. And I'm not sure why it ever ended.

Here's how it goes:

My husband and I feed the kids a simple dinner—mac-n-cheese or chicken nuggets from the freezer—and later, after they're fast asleep, light a few candles and cozy up to a savory treat: Cheese fondue with plenty of baguette, cubed salami, and roasted vegetables.

And, of course, the perfect bottle of wine to go with it—this time a 2007 Mark West Pinot Noir.

Salneval Albariño 2007 Spanish White Wine

Home Cooking (Far from Home)

"There's a new Filipino restaurant downtown!" I texted Eric as soon as I read the restaurant review. "Let's take the kids."

"But I don't like Filipino food," my Filipino husband joked.

One of the things I first noticed about Eric's family was how food was such an integral part of it. You couldn't enter his parent's house without being told—not asked—to eat. And you didn't leave without a heaping plate of leftovers under aluminum foil: Lumpia, pancit, adobo chicken. Yum.

But after moving from San Diego to Minnesota, far from the home cooking of my mother-in-law, authentic Filipino food became a rarity. That is, until last Saturday night.

Marietta Old Vine Red, Lot No. 50

New Friends and Old Vines

Each time we go to our neighborhood restaurant, we often run into old friends and are introduced to new ones. Barstools are rearranged, making room for a gathering.

Kate the bartender sets two napkins in front of us and smiles warmly. "What can I get you?"

My husband usually goes with some form of Bourbon. I'm less predictable. But when I can't decide, I have a back-up plan: The house red.

The house wine at most restaurants is a cheap, unnamed bottle. At Spasso, it's something different. Inexpensive, yes. But also delicious. Marietta Old Vine. A spicy red with dark berry notes, it's an amazing value for an exceptional wine.

Conquista Torrontés 2008 and Guacamole

Wine and Survival

If it weren't for the warmth of friends and neighbors—and friendly invitations to share a bottle of wine—I'd probably give in to my propensity to sleep the winter away. So when my next-door neighbors called with an impromptu offer for dinner at their place, I seized the opportunity.

Social connections are the key to survival in the Minnesota tundra. A glass of crisp Torrontés and some fresh, yummy guacamole doesn't hurt, either.

Coppola Winery Director's Cut Cabernet Sauvignon

Like a Fine Wine...

Two of our oldest, closest friends were visiting, and as we were planning a warm and cozy dinner in—a sharp contrast to the numbing cold outside—my husband turned to me in anticipation. “How about we open that bottle tonight?” Instantly, I knew exactly which bottle he meant.

Wines tend to go in and out of our wine cabinet within a few weeks. Except for one—a 2000 Francis Coppola Director's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon we picked up ten years ago while wine tasting in Napa Valley.

Champagne Cocktail

Embracing the Old and the New

After eating a ton of appetizers -- including an experimental bite of seared foie gras; afterall, 2010 is the year for trying new things -- with two of our favorite people, we roll over to an old school hotel bar. Sinking into a dark, vinyl booth, we take it all in.  The hazy paintings of lounging women, the piano player who apparently can play anything, the mustachioed bartender in suspenders, the older couple dancing.

Why don't we get out more often? 

The server suggested a beer, martini, or a Champagne cocktail. Seriously? Yeah, I'll have one of those. Then recreate it for you later.

Here's to an amazing 2010. Cheers!

Electra California Orange Muscat Wine 2007

Serious Cleaning

From the dead pine needles on the carpet, strewn silver tinsel that seems to multiply, and remnants of ripped-open Christmas presents, my house was in desperate need of an overhaul.

But after hours of scrubbing, sweeping, mopping and dusting, I was in desperate need of some relaxation.

Time to replenish with some squares of very dark chocolate with a glass of fruity effervescent Muscat, a gift from my friend Sally.

Chateau Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Let the Noshing Begin!

With the seemingly endless stream of holiday parties this time of year comes the equally endless array of chips, dips, crackers, and cheese spreads. (And, of course, the subsequent vow to hit the gym come January 1st.) But nevermind that for now—let's enjoy the snacking while we can.

And while we're at it, how about a fruity glass of Sauvignon Blanc with a homemade cheese spread?

Mulled Red Wine

Baking and Simmering

The weather outside is frightful. Dreadful, really. Right now it's about 4 degrees, and despite the beautiful blanket of snow on the ground, I'm especially grateful to be indoors. And baking. The two week countdown to Christmas is on, so it's time to pull out the cookie recipes of Christmases past and get to work measuring, mixing, and rolling.

First, though, I'll need to do a bit of simmering--mulled wine, that is.

Penfolds Koonunga Hills Shiraz-Cabernet 2006

Second Chances

Last Sunday night, too tuckered to prepare a family meal at home, I suggested we take the kids out for dinner. It was blustery, perfect cause to visit our favorite Irish pub with its dark wood paneling, dim lights, and steaming, savory meat pies.

Set to order my favorite Shepherd's Pie, covered with a crust of creamy mashed potatoes, I surveyed the wine list and settled on a Shiraz/Cabernet blend from Australia. The wine was served in a homey, stemless wine glass, a fitting touch for the cozy surroundings. But on first taste, I was disappointed. A slight bitterness worried me that I'd made a poor choice.

But that all changed—after my food arrived.