"Would you like some cheese with that whine?" That's what hubby says when he thinks I'm being a little grumpy. This is a very rare thing of course.
What I'm really talking is wine; that smooth and silky alcoholic beverage that goes with just about anything and any occasion. One of the things I get to do since I'm not working a full-time job is go to the occasional wine-tasting class at a local university thru the Continuing Education department. Hubby and I have attended two of these classes and I find that I can now spell wine and may be able to tell you the names of some of the grapes and that Bordeaux is in France. I'm kidding. I really did know that. I can also find Qatar on the globe (but it takes me awhile).
Tonight's class was Bordeaux 2005. What I didn't know is that a Bordeaux wine is a mixture of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes and that the year 2005 was one of the best years ever. Apparently, the moon and stars aligned.....sorry about that. Actually it was a dry summer and fall without high temperatures and that defined the almost "perfect" conditions for grape-growing.
The Bordeaux wines we had tonight were incredible! Bordeaux wines are mostly red wines but we started off with a white wine. Unlike most white wines, it wasn't sweet and fruity. It had some depth to it and had more of a dry taste. I had a refill. The red wines were awesome. Hubby was really into the reds that had a larger percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. I favored the ones with more Merlot grapes. Hubby drank my refills.
OK, if you're not into wine, I humbly apologize. That's enough of Wine 101. I'm still buzzing from guzzling (I mean sipping) the wines that were presented in class tonight. About halfway thru class, I was wondering why the presentation seemed to be moving on the wall. I finally realized the presenter was using animation. DAMN HIM! That's evil when folks are drinking. At least he didn't grow two heads and I'm glad hubby was driving. Please realize that I'm an easy drunk. Thank goodness for the bread and cheese they provided.
I used to think all wines had to be sweet. I've come a long way. Now I like them to be red and dry but I'm opening up to rose and white wines. I'm not a wine snob yet and will probably never achieve that status but I've learned a great deal from these classes. Try one if you can. I've also noticed that many retail stores that sell wines (e.g. World Market) will occasionally have wine tastings and these are usually a little cheaper.
Yes I like wine but I also like beer and tequila and homemade rum cakes. I make a mean rum ball at Christmas. Maybe I should start selling them to support my wine-tasting classes ;-)
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
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5 comments:
I think you've seen that I've been on a Mike's Hard Cranberry kick this summer.
I like most reds (soft, velvet and BIG would be my faves) and a few whites. I like cheap beer (Blonde Bombshell one of my not-cheap faves) and most gin drinks. I dislike Vodka.
As you can see, alcohol and I apparently get along quite well. How embarassing!!! :)
Hum. I've never tried Mike's Hard anything. Maybe I'll give it a try. I grew up Baptist then I recovered. I seem to be drinking more as I get older not less. Maybe I'm the one that should be embarrassed.
Scotch, please. Neat, warm if possible.
THAT is my kind of continuing education. I just don't understand why they didn't offer classes like that as part of my liberal arts degree. I think I would have been far more well-rounded. :)
@Mac - Hum, never tried warm scotch. Maybe if someone else is buying ;-)
@Chat Blanc - I think wine-tasting should be part of any university curriculum. After all I took Bowling for one of my Phys Ed requirements. Unfortunately, Bowling wasn't available the next semester so I took Boot Camp. Ouch!
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