Wine Refreshers to Beat the HEAT
A few weeks ago we posted a recipe for a wine smoothie on our Facebook page. We thought it was such a great idea that we’ve complied a few recipes of delicious wine chillers! Try them out and let us know which is your favorite.
- 1 cup red wine
- 1/4 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt
- Pop everything in your blender
- Press the “on” button
- Drink
- 1 bottle (750ml) of white wine
- 2 cups of frozen mango chunks
- 2 cups of frozen pineapple chunks
- Throw it all in a blender together and blend until smooth or the consistency that you like.
- Serve with fresh fruit slices or add maraschino cherries for some color.
- 1, 12 oz bag of frozen raspberries
- 2 cups milk chocolate wine (or a red whine)
- 1 cup almond milk (optional)
- 3 cups ice
- Blend all of the ingredients together
- Try to not drink the whole thing at once. Brain freeze!
- 1 small orange, peeled and segmented
- 2 large ripe mango, diced
- 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
- 2 cups very cold fruity white wine
- squeeze of honey
- 2 cups crushed ice
- Add the orange, mango, pineapple, wine, honey and crushed ice to a blender
- Puree until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into white winegoblets and serve.
“Battle of Wine” Festival
Ever felt so in love with wine you wanted to bathe in it? Well, the attendees at La Batalla del Vino did yesterday – literally.
An annual festival in Haro, Spain, the “battle of wine” takes place on June 29 and involves dunking, throwing and water-gun-squirting wine at everyone. According to Decanter, 130,000 litres of wine were used, and all but 3,000 of which are donated by the participants. The tourists and locals who participate arrive in white clothing and leave, well … purple.
Before the fun and games, the festival is a bit more serious as it follows century-old traditions such as a procession with the mayor and pilgrimage to the patron saint of Haro. And of course, as with any good party there is great food involved too!
So how did this crazy and awesome festival originate? According to Decanter:
“There are various tales for the reason that wine is thrown at the celebrations…. Some claim it pays homage to a 13th century land dispute between residents of Haro and those of neighboring Miranda de Ebro, which ended with a wine fight.”
Whatever the reason, it looks like a lot of fun… and a lot of wine.
Wine Pairings for your Favorite Pizzas
Summer is officially kicked off, and an outdoor gathering with friends, pizza and wine sounds like the perfect way to spend a warm July evening. If you’re wondering which wines compliment the sauces and meats on your favorite pizza, look no further. Though opinions will vary, I’ve found several main themes that most sommeliers seem to agree on for each. Take a look at the list below, then get your summer party started!
Margherita: Both Chardonnay and a dry Garnacha rosé are excellent pairings. Don’t get too complicated – a classic Zinfandel will work well on the red side.
Sausage: Dark and spicy, Syrah is the ideal choice for a fennel-driven sausage pizza. Also try Pinotage and Sangiovese.
Hawaiian: A slightly sweet Riesling matches surprisingly well, its sweetness enhancing the flavors of the ham and pineapple.
Pepperoni: You’ll need intense flavors to counterbalance the strong pepperoni. Try a full-bodied Primitivo, or the popular red Sangiovese.
White-sauce: Creamy pizza brings out the creamy notes of Pinot and Chardonnay. Also try Dolcetto, which really blends with the green herbs.
BBQ: With the sweetness of the sauce you will want something fruity. Argentine Malbec and Touriga Nacional pair very well with both a sweet or smoky barbecue.
Sources:
http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/wine-pairings-for-pizza-toppings#!slide=1
http://winefolly.com/tutorial/pizza-wine/
http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2013/02/ask-a-sommelier-best-wine-for-pizza-pairing-good-italian-wine-advice.html
Applegate Valley Wine Trail
