Recent food intolerance tests have left me without the ability to consumer table sugar for at least 6 months, but the good news for me is that agave and Stevia are on the good list.

Short note: Agave is the plant from which tequila is made, it is also a naturally occuring sugar that you can purchase in syrup-form that is absolutely delicious. Once this is all over, I trust I’ll use it more often in general. Stevia, which is the most common of the two these days, is a naturally occuring sugar from the Stevia plant that has a minute amount of calories (just be careful to check labels because sometimes Stevia is mixed with other sugar derivatives such as malodextrin.)

To make  this margarita, opt for a bottle of Silver Tequila… for branding purposes, I usually choose Patron. I’m choosing silver because sometimes gold and Anejo undergo the addition of caramel and/or the barrels the tequila was aged in were generally used for brandy/whiskey/scotch, etc before hand leaving behind a malty residue (for me, Malt is also on the bad list.)

Recipe:

1 jigger (1.5 ounces) of tequila
Spalsh Lime juice
1/2 tsp of Agave syrup or Stevia (or more if you like them sweet)
Club soda to fill the glass

Garnish with a wedge of lime and voila! Easy enough, right? If you like it stronger, feel free to add more tequila, just beware that sugar can cover up the taste of alcohol and considering National Margarita Day is a Wednesday this year, you might want to take it easy.

Cheers!

In general, the short research I did about the day revealed nothing significant to report… but I figured it best to leave a couple tips on “How to Celebrate” and “Why to Celebrate.”

#1: Because…wine is amazing. Whether you are drinking First Growth Bordeaux, or Australian Shiraz, what’s most important about the wine in your glass is that you enjoy it…. OK, we’ve heard that one before. Why not take this day to celebrate a special bottle you’ve been meaning to open?  After all, you know what they say about keeping special bottles of special occasions? They either end up going past their prime or you don’t have enough attention span available to appreciate the wine.

#2: Think of the health benefits! You are helping your heart, your waistline, your fight against cancer, your fight against Alzheimers, your relaxation, and, potentially, your overall happiness because drinking wine with friends is always better than drinking it alone.

#3: It’s a chance to learn something new. Whether you’re a card-carrying member of the Century Club, or not, wine is always a business in which you’ll learn something (a new producer, region, grape, style, etc.)

A couple great ways to learn something new: Hop into a local store and see what sort of in-store tastings they have today. While you’re there, grab a bottle off the shelf you haven’t seen before.

Drinking at home not your style? Drive down to your local wine bar and grab a wine-by-the-glass with which you’re unfamiliar. Certainly the sommelier or bartender will help guide you through the list.

#4 Try out a new recipe you’ve been meaning to cook up for a while and taste-test a variety of wines to find the best fit.

As for me? I’ll be celebrating drink wine day on a flight to Chilean wine country. Lucky for me, international flights generally mean free wine… I imagine it will be something cheap… but I will also bet it is something Chilean and chances are I haven’t had it before so at least I can mark one off my list!

How will you be celebrating today?

Now, before we everyone decides the best decision really is to start following the moscato craze, let’s review.

First of all, the markets listed are actually not Asian, Europe, and the US, despite what the study will have you believe. The target research markets are actually just Germany, Britain, the US, and China. Naturally, the US should be given the same weight as just Britain or Germany, this makes complete sense.

According to Decanter, the study says:

Significant minorities in each country said their ideal wine would have less than 12% alcohol.

In China this was most noticeable, with 91% of drinkers saying their desired level would be 8.5-10.5% by volume.

In Britain, 22% said their ideal wine was 10.5% or less, with similar numbers in Germany and the US saying the same.

The preference for lower alcohol is most marked in the younger generation. In China the survey found that women, and those aged 18-39, were more likely to say their preferred level of alcohol was 5.5-8%

A similar demographic was found in Britain, with 27% of the 18-39 age group saying their preferred strength was 10.5% or less.

What “a signification minority” means is another story. I have a few issues with this study. To start, who did they ask ? If they asked knowledgable wine consumers, those consumers would likely understand that their chances at finding a wine under 10.5% (or even under 6%!) alcohol isn’t very easy, especially for someone that prefer their wine sweet. To that point, I have found that a lot of people blame wine for horrible hangovers if it is involved in their night of drinking, but poor wine has received a bad name. It is not beer and should not be consumed as such. Higher amounts of alcohol means smaller servings. Do the people who were polled in this study understand that a lower alcohol wine might mean sacrificing quality?

Of course, we’ve heard for years that consumers prefer lower alcohol wines, but, especially in the US, their purchases suggest otherwise. While I’m sure you can find them, it’s not likely you’ll find many made here that are low in alcohol and because Americans have a generally “sweet” palate, they look for those jammier, bigger wines.

I wonder how many consumers actually checks the alcohol content when purchasing a bottle of wine…. with the exception of college students who are looking for a good buzz on a Friday night.

Thoughts?

Bottlenotes was among the first wine websites to launch it’s iPhone app that allowed users to log their favorite wines, search for ratings, food pairings, user reviews, etc. and judging from the quality of that app, I have no qualms introducing you to their newest app: Daily Sip Deals.

This newly launched, free app gives users the opportunity to identify nearby wineries and, in turn, those wineries are able to offer deals to the app’s users…it’s sort of like Foursquare for wine lovers only. A quick run-through shows that  most wineries offer discounted tastings and/or tours, or special discount on bottles purchased from the tasting rooms. It’s a great way for anyone traveling wine country to discover nearby wineries and, perhaps, at a discount. For wineries, you can list your tasting room and special for free as well.

So far, the app is only tracking wineries in Napa, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, Oregon, and Washington, but any US wine region is able to be uploaded – could the CT wine trail be next?! Eventually, I hear, they plan to expand the app to other countries as well.

The downfall: the app is currently only available for iPhones and/or mac products (us Android users are out of luck again!) We can only hope they’ll let the rest of us play soon.

No worries, though. You can still have a wonderful meal at home that will impress your sweetie’s palate and it may even help increase their opinion of you…at least for the night.

Start with the classic, oysters. When shucking at home, you have to be careful that you are purchasing oysters that are meant to be consumed raw. A safer bet is to grill, steam, or bake the oysters and add appropriate condiments. To dress, make a light minogne sauce (champagne vinegar, shallots, and some sugar) and add a dollop of cavier. On the side, bake some asparagus in the oven using a drizzle of olive oil, and cover with sliced almonds – two more foods for you there.

For dessert, a natural choice is chocolate, but for a touch of something different also opt for dried figs or maybe opt for these chocolate covered figs.

Pair the whole thing with an aphrodisiac drink: Champagne.

My current go-to has been Gosset Champagne Brut Excellence NV ($32) after I received it for a Christmas gift from Palm Bay. It’s a blend of Chardonnay (42 %), Pinot Noir Premier and Grands Crus (45%) and Pinot Meunier (13%) and is a great example of a Champagne that really lets the acid from the grapes come through and balance the biscuit notes.

For a touch of something fun, you can always pick up one of my personal favorites, Beau Joie Rose NV The medieval bottle is sure to add a little something extra to the night. The rose is a blend of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay. It is slightly sweet, but is still fresh and fruity and has hints of rose petals in the nose. In a word, it screams romance…perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Of course, I have to also recommend GH Mumm Brut Cordon Rouge NV (full disclosure, I work with them.) I actually had the chance to try this wine for the first time at the Mohegan Sun Winefest, though, and I was thoroughly impressed. Tropical fruits, vanilla, and caramel would make it a perfect match for dessert….they even recommend you saber this one.

By this time next week, I will be putting the final touches on the suitcase I prepared for my travels to Chile (for work, in full disclosure.) It’s going to be an amazing trip! So far, the trip includes:

Of course, we heard some fuss over English sparkling wines last year when they planned to name their sparkling wines a name that looked shockingly similar to Champagne, Brittagne, (though it was pronounced entirely different) but there wasn’t much else that came from that ordeal. In fact, many of my industry peers don’t even remember that ordeal.

Decanter, however, recently reported on English wine again. It appears that England will soon be awarded its first single grower designation. Camel Valley Vineyards has applied for  PDO designation for its Darnibole vineyards. The owner, Bob Lindo, says that this slate subsoiled vineyard produces a distinctly different version of the Bacchus grape than other areas in England.

Let’s back up… the Bacchus grape? My brief research reveals its a third generation grape created in 1933- a gross between a Riesling and Sylvaner cross and Muller-Thergau. I have nothing against crossed grapes, after all, one of my pet grapes, Zweigelt is also a cross and wasn’t created long before the Bacchus grape…but it does seem to me that many should have a general idea of what the Bacchus grape tastes like and is capable of before someone is allowed to claim it tastes different when sourced from one, particular vineyard.

Evidently it is widely grown in England, but I’m still skeptical.

According to Decanter,

In order to be designated Darnibole Vineyard, wines will have to be 100% Bacchus with no acidification or de-acidification, no sweetening and with a higher natural alcohol.

Grapes must be hand-picked, must be made at the adjoining Camel Valley winery and most importantly, Lindo said, it must be compared with previous vintages to ensure typicity.

Once it is approved, Lindo will be able to call his wines ‘Darnibole Quality Wine’ with no requirement to include the word ‘English’ on the label.

Intriguing. Evidently, Camel Vineyards Bacchus wine is an award-winner…it’s too bad it’s not one you’re likely to find on our own shores.

Canada is fighting back. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (FIFA) is developed new amendments to Canadian Ice Wine laws to help consumers around the world to recognize fraudulent bottles. This is a welcomed move from the Canadian Vinters Association, currently laws for labeling Canadian ice wines vary which can be confusing for customers abroad and nationally.

Ice wine fraud from all countries (i.e. Canada, Germany, etc) is highest in China – the result of bulk ice wine shipments being doctored to increase quantities – but this is a worldwide issue. These new laws will require that only ice wine made from grapes frozen on the vine before harvest can use this terminology. Currently, some producers may label wines as ice wine that were frozen after harvest.

The new amendments are currently under a comment period (ending February 14th,) but if all goes well, we can expect to see the new labels by the end of this year (how confusing for us WSET students!)

Despite recent reports that the health benefits of red wine may has been slightly altered by my alma mater, I’m not ready to give up the notion that red wine helps the fight against heart disease.

For this special occasion, I’m going with a wine that I think will pair perfectly with another indulgence that’s simply good for your heart… chocolate.

In short – I’m going for Syrah. Truth be told, right now I’m in Myrtle Beach and judging from the wine lists I have seen in the past few days – offering “red, white, or pink” only, I’m not hopeful I’ll find something mind blowing. Though there is one wine list that might be of interest. I can tell you that I will be looking for a Syrah (or a Syrah based blend) from the Left Bank in the Southern Rhone, though I cannot tell you this is what I will find… Naturally, I choose this region because wines from this region are typically characterized as having aromas of dark dried fruits, such as prune, chocolate, and deep berries. Sold.

With this, I will be pairing a variety of specialty dark chocolate bars from Enjoy Life!  They’re soy free, dairy free, oil free, deliciousness… unfortunately they are not sugar free, but what fun is chocolate without a little sugar anyway? The best part about the chocolate, besides the fact it is virtually allergen free, is that it really allows you to taste chocolate without feeling overwhelmed by fillers and fake elements.

How will you be showing your support today? Cheers!

Truth be told, I am a Cincinnati Bengal’s fan – after all, they do have sweet helmets – but we all know what happened there….

Anyway, I thought it would be appropriate to pit the two teams against each other in a “drink-off,” featuring drinks from each state. Unfortunately, Massachusetts has yet to develop a prominent wine region to look to, so let’s just stick with beer. Having attended many a Beer Summit in Boston, I’ve had the pleasure of tasting many of their delicious brews. Living in New York city, I’ve had the same opportunity with those from New York State. Here are my top picks for both sides.

Massachusetts

Sam Adams - Can’t go wrong here. This craft beer is always a go-to and really helped to put craft beer on the map before anyone else. Best part is, it’s widely available. Th Winter Lager isn’t my favorite, but the winter pack is delicious…if you can still find it. If not, I would recommend going straight to the Coastal Wheat of the traditional, Boston Lager. Both crowd pleasers that are sure to please an audience of all palates.

Wachusett- This brew isn’t as widely known as some others from Massachusetts, but perhaps that’s a good thing because then there is more for us! Opt for the Blueberry Ale and the Ryde Beer for a taste of something different that will intrigue your guests.

Harpoon Brewery - Another obvious, but delicious choice is Harpoon Brewery. Their famous Watermelon Ale isn’t quite in season yet – but their UFO White is always a great choice to stay from the obvious. Also try out the Celtic Ale for something distinctly Massachusetts.

New York

Brooklyn Brewery:  Brooklyn Brewery has really put itself on the map in the past few years. Here, opt for the Brooklyn Pilsner for traditional and the Black Chocolate Stout for something special. Of course, if you’re in the area, stop by the brewery to purchase a growler – you’ll likely need a lot of these beers.

Heartland Brewery: This mini-chain has been a favorite of mine since I first laid eyes on it in 2009. While my favorite beer – the Smiling Pumpkin Ale – isn’t being served this time of year, there are plenty of delicious choices available all year round. Opt for the Red Rooster Ale and the Harvest Wheat Beer. Each can be purchased in growler form from one of the restaurant locations.

Captain Lawrence: This beer will make you feel like a sailor in the best way possible. Can’t go wrong with the Liquid Gold (just look at the name!) it’s a spicy German-styled beer with orange flavors. Not your style? Try one of the Smoke from the Oak style beers – it’s an oak aged smoked porter …choose from wine barrels, brandy barrels, port barrels, bourbon barrels, or rum barrels… definitely a special treat!

No matter which team you’re rooting for, you can be sure you will be drinking like a winner. Don’t forget the mini hot dogs and 7-layer dip…it wouldn’t be a football party without those two!