I.C.Fashion

I.C.Fashion
Photo Credits: Irene

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Vino for Uno!


Oh, yummy wine! How much do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

I wish I could say that I was writing this post in the midst of a good swirl and sip, but I'm not. However, that might make for some interesting word choices on my end. As I mentioned in my bio, I'm a wine addict. Not in a wino kind of way but in the sense that I pretty much only drink wine instead of liquor and I love cooking with it! It has a presence in my weekly life, especially on the weekends whenever there's a gathering of my fabulous ladies. But, overall, I really just love drinking it... No hangovers, an endless variety to choose from, the way it compliments my favorite eats, the way it makes me feel.... How can you not love wine?

While I drink a seriously wide variety of wines- I love to try something new whenever possible, checkout my  top faves that are always on repeat along with my pairing suggestions.

* And please for the love of Dionysus, do not expect to find Moscato on my list.







Valentin Bianchi New Age Vino Bianco
If you love Margarita's then you'll love New Age Bianco! It's sparkling, citrusy, mildly sweet, refreshing, and an ideal compliment to any sunny California day. I suggest this as a perfect "transition" for new wine drinkers!
Serve It: Bring your bottle to a nice chill in the freezer, and serve it in a chilled glass with a twist of lime and then garnished with the lime wedge.
Pair It: Mexican & Thai

Pleasingly smooth and a tad spicy, this is hands down my favorite Merlot! Aside from the Fetzer brand, I love pretty much anything from Coppola Wineries. In addition to drinking it, I reccomend splashing a bit of this in the pan when making seared pork chops or in spaghetti sauce for a sultry flavor.
Serve It: At room temp to get the full bite.
Pair It: With your favorite pizza pie! I love meaty spicy pizzas, like Margherita Pizza with Pepperoni so this amplifies the Italian essence.



2010 Coppola Sauvignon Blanc
Citrusy and smooth with a nice kick of zest at the end. I find myself enjoying this wine mostly during the afternoons, when I want something easy on the palate and packing an even flavor. I've tried a few SB's, but found them to be a smidge bitter.
Serve It: Nice and chilled
Pair It: Seafood & Mexican



My OG wine! Once you get past how to pronounce the name. Say it with me: Ga-wurtz-tra-myner or Ga-wurtz for short. You can pop the cork and pour yourself a nice glass of sweet goodness. Unlike several other dessert wines, Gawurtz is not syrupy sweet, so you don't feel like you're glucose loading while drinking this and eating dessert.
Serve It: Either Or- Chilled or Room Temp
Pair It: With Cheese, Fruit (Berries, Grapes), and Chocolate



Santa Rita 120 Cabernet
I came across this Cab on one of my hunts for a new wine. After I spotted that it was rated 85pts (the same as the other wine I was eyeing) AND it was 12 bucks cheaper, I couldn't pass up that deal.   Not only is 120 Cab easy on the palate crisp and lighter than merlot, it has an awesome back story to it:
"According to legend, 120 patriots, exhausted after a long, hard battle during the fight for Chile’s independence, reached the land belonging to Santa Rita. On that fateful night in 1814, these forces of liberty found refuge in the estate cellars. Today, within these same cellars, our award-winning 120 wines are crafted to honor their heroic character. These are young, elegant and fruity wines, perfectly balanced with soft tannins and good acidity. Exceptional value makes “120” an outstanding line of wines for everyday drinking."
Serve It: Either Or- Chilled or Room Temp
Pair It: With hearty comfort foods like Beef Stroganoff, Casseroles, Juciy Burgers

* Do you have a favorite wine that I should try? I wanna know!

2 comments:

  1. You know who this be!November 11, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    I LOVE the NEW AGE & Coppola (Yellow Label)!
    Thanks Irene (= Someone once told me that you'll never be able to know what type of wine you like until you "try" them out for yourself. There's no need for ME to "try" anything... now that I have YOUR suggestions on hand! Awesomeness to fullest & keep em' coming!

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  2. I haven't tried any of these yet. But I can't wait to try the New Age! Thank You! xo V

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