Wine/Food Matching Parties

Want to have a great get-together where you can eat, drink and actually learn something about the marriage of wine and food? This is something I suggest to my wine students at the college all the time. Invite numerous like-minded people (not party animals) over and ask each to bring a food dish and a bottle of wine they think matches it. Start off by tasting all the wine and food matches, even mixing and matching wine and food for more results. Then discuss why the matches work or don’t. You’ll learn a lot about wine/food affinity and have a great time doing it. After this educational portion of the evening is complete, then you and the group can switch into party mode and indulge. Lots of fun!

Rhone Reds

Gotta love red wines from France’s Rhone Valley at this time of year. Big, bold and spicy, they’re just the things to warm your innards and match the full-flavoured, rib-sticking foods of winter. Most Northern Rhone reds are comprised of Syrah although there is an allowance for a smidgeon of something else. Southern Rhone reds are usually blended. Although numerous varieties are utilized, Grenache seems to dominate the blend followed by Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault. Full of smoky black fruit, pepper, saddle leather, earth and licorice, they’re fabulous with game, rich meat dishes in dark sauces, spicy fare and old, hard, seasoned cheeses. Whether from the north or south, they’re great.

Wine Condoms

Do you practice “safe” wine preservation? Well, according to a mother and son, if they can get the business off the ground with enough funding, you’ll be able to, utilizing a specially designed condom. You heard correctly, a condom. They have come up with a sealer of sorts that fits over wine bottles (can be used for beer too) that is manufactured by a rubber producer in the food industry. Even if a bottle wearing one is turned upside down and left, apparently it won’t leak. The pair also claim the sealers are very light, versatile and mobile, easily carried around in your pocket, purse, etc. Great for concerts, camping, sporting events, etc. where keeping a bottle securely closed is problematic! Wonder if they come in day glow colours!