Archive for the ‘Cause for Celebration’ Category
Monday, January 25th, 2010
With Valentine’s Day coming up, every lover over the age of 21 will be thinking about choosing the perfect bottle to say “I love you.” But what makes a wine romantic, exactly? Is it the flavor? The nose? The label? Maybe a special pairing?
I asked a simple question of a half-dozen winemaking experts: What is your most romantic wine? The answers were just as varied and personal as love itself. Here are the 6 responses, to help you get focused on your own quest for liquid romance.
John Garlich, BookCliff Vineyards:
I think of our 2007 Cabernet Franc Reserve as being our most romantic wine. It is smooth like satin and goes quite nicely with a dark chocolate truffle. Just add a candle and you are good to go.
Kitri McGuire, Sokol Blosser Winery:
Our “most romantic” wine is our Meditrina. Named after the Roman goddess of Wine & Health, Meditrina is a blend of Pinot Noir, Syrah and Zinfandel that is round, soft, and juicy. This blend is extraordinarily food-friendly, and will pair well with many romantic meals. Plus, it’s a perfect gift for the “goddess” in anyone’s life!
Susan Sueiro, Gundlach Bundschu Winery:
The most romantic wine we produce at Gundlach Bundschu has to be the Estate Pinot Noir. With aromas of dried roses and sandalwood, the texture of silk and flavors of berries and spice, this is a sultry, beguiling wine. It pairs beautifully with salmon, pork and other lighter fare, and really, no one wants to eat anything too heavy on Valentine’s Day.
Valerie Andrews, Oak Mountain Winery:
Our Frisson Sparkling Wine is a great Valentine’s beverage. It has a romantic Victorian label and frisson means “an Intense Moment Of Excitement”. It is 100% Sauvignon Blanc.
Hennie Bosman, Sandihurst Winery:
Which wine is the most romantic? The dark, spicy, complex and intoxicating Pinot Noir? Or is it the refreshing, aromatic and intriguing Riesling? Maybe as far as Valentine’s Day goes, it is both. To me, these two wines represent the Yin Yang of the wine world — “complementary opposites within a greater whole” (Wikipedia).
Stuart T Smith, Torea Wines:
Fairhall Downs Sauvignon Blanc is our most romantic wine as it has many layers. Just as you think you have got to the bottom of the wines mysteries another layer comes into view — as it is with true love.
So there you have it: Romance tips from 6 wine experts. If you have a favorite romantic wine, please weigh in with your own expert opinion below. After all, you’re an expert on love, aren’t you?
Prost!
Tags: romance, wine, wineries
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Monday, January 11th, 2010
We’re not actually going to propose that you drink wine with your Wheaties, but since January is National Hot Tea Month, we did want to point out some interesting parallels between two of our favorite beverages:
First, both wine and tea appear to have real health benefits. Clinical studies have shown that tea can help lower cholesterol, reduce plaque and boost the immune system. Meanwhile, the cholesterol-lowering benefits of wine have been well-documented, and newer studies hint at wine’s potential for reducing the risk of heart disease and even slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s. 
Secondly, both wine and tea are complex beverages with thousands of variations and thousands of years of history. Wine lovers who can talk for hours about nose, finish, and mouth feel will find much of the same sensory stimulation when they begin exploring Pouchong, Silver Needle, and other varieties of tea beyond the Earl Grey standard.
So this month, while you’re waiting for the clock to strike 4:00, why not experiment with a new beverage obsession? Tea rooms are a great place to start your education, much like you probably learned about wine by visiting tasting rooms at your favorite vineyards. To find a tea room near you, try the searchable directory TeaMap.com.
Or, pour yourself a glass of wine tonight and check out a few tea-related websites. Among our personal favorites are Teas Etc. and Teavana. Both offer lots of easy-to-digest information, plus easy ordering if you’re ready to take the plunge.
Prost!
Tags: health, tea, wine
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Friday, October 23rd, 2009
We’ve always said there is nothing more relaxing than a nice glass of wine … except maybe a great massage. That’s why we’re looking forward to National Massage Therapy Week, Oct. 25-31. It’s a chance for us to offer some bottled relaxation to the pros who keep us happy and healthy all year long.
 Okay, we know what you’re thinking — and all we can say is, stop that right now. We’re talking about legit massage here, and we are true believers. If you’ve never tried it, you’re missing out on a key aspect of any holistic health regimen.
If you’re intrigued, check out the American Massage Therapy Association for a directory of certified therapists in your area. And if you’re a regular, be sure to show your therapist some love next week. Schedule an appointment and surprise him or her with a bottle of wine. We’ll bet they keep you on the table a little longer than usual!
The next time you’re in Miami, check out our therapist, James Castillo. He’ll be the best part of your vacation.
Got a therapist you’d like to recommend? Give them a shout-out in our Comments section below. Or better yet, post their website so others can find them, too. We’ll pick three therapists, at random, from those submitted below and mail them a free prost!card in your name. As for the bottle of wine, that’s up to you!
Tags: special weeks
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
Wish there were some great way to celebrate Hump Day each week — something better than just muttering the words “Happy Hump Day” when you walk into the office?
Well, we’ve got an idea.
 At Prost! Productions, we don’t believe the good times in life happen only on the weekend. Work, too, can be a source of joy and satisfaction, if we just remember to watch for the moments that matter.
That’s why we’re proposing a Hump Day Toast at close of business every Wednesday. Raise a glass of wine to one person who has made your work worthwhile in the past seven days. Maybe it’s a new customer you just landed, an IT person who found your lost files, or just the guy in the next cubicle who remembered your name on the very first day. The point is to find people you appreciate — and let them know.
We’ll be offering our first Hump Day Toast this evening on Twitter. Follow us @prostcards to see who it is and what we’re drinking. Better yet, offer your own toast, and mark it with the hashtag #humptoast so others can enjoy it too.
Prost!
Tags: hump day, special days, thank you
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Sunday, October 11th, 2009
Okay, all you oenophiles, we know you can recommend the perfect pairing for line-caught Chilean sea bass vs. the farm-raised variety. Big deal. In honor of National School Lunch Week, Oct. 12-16, we’ve dreamed up a much tougher test.
John F. Kennedy proclaimed the first School Lunch Week back in 1963, and it’s been observed in mid-October ever since. The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is the major cheerleader behind this annual observance, though we suspect financial backing is provided by the hair net industry, which is pretty much wholly dependent on lunch ladies all across America.
Naturally, SNA recommends milk for lunch every day, and since we’re lactose intolerant, that got us thinking: If the recession sent us back to school for some major job re-training, what on earth would we drink? Please take a moment to enter your suggested wine pairings in the “Comments” section below, and we’ll refer any disagreements to our favorite sommelier. Thanks for your input. And as always, Prost!
Monday:
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Thursday:
Friday:
Tags: special weeks, wine pairing
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