Box Wine and Pizza Party

3 Liters of Shiraz

Surprise party at an unknowing victim's place. The Shiraz turned out to be pretty decent. Very simple, with the usual characteristics of a shiraz, peppery and fruity, blackberries and cherries maybe. Definitely something I would have for a party at $9.99 at Trader Joe's ($2.5 for a bottle). Some even say it is better than two-buck-chuck! What more can I say.

Georgian Wine candy

A note on these Georgian wine candies that sparked an incredulous conversation. First, what do they look like (the consensus was to do with beads - although I thought the little tails made them look like triple headed something).

Second, what do they taste like. They actually taste really good! Looks can be deceiving. They taste like nuts wrapped with thick fruit leather. Last, they are made from wine! Wine is cooked for hours/days until they thicken to a paste. Nuts are stringed (yes) and dipped into the wine goo several times much like making candles and voila! Candy!

Apparently they have a name. Churchkhela! Learn how to make your own here! Too good.

Strings of nuts dipped in thickened wine

Yummy Alternative: Mango Margaritas

Regular

BBQ chicken is the shit.

Glimpse of pizza making process!

Calzone topped with fatty bacon

African pizza

Two faced pizza by two faced friend

Pile of leftover = Lunch tomorrow!

Viura Macabeo

Viura

DIY Spring roll table

 I got this at Trader Joes the second time I saw it. At first, I had thought it might be a region name but was looking for a new grape to add to my Quest list, so I went home, did my research and came back a second time, satisfied.

Viura or Macabeo, is a white grape widely grown in the Rioja region of Spain. Here is an article by Jancis Robinson, (Author of The Oxford Companion to Wine and The World Atlas of Wine- both of which I just obtained!)

Marqués de Montañana Viura 2009

Spring roll!

Floral and green apple. It has a full body and is rather silky. Taste of apricot and green apple, which maybe makes it a little on the under-ripened side (although some look for those qualities!). It is fresh with good acidity and overall good! (Especially for 4.99!) OOO

I can definitely see it being used for cooking instead of the usual sauvignon blanc. It might even add more flavors to the dish!

We were making Vietnamese style spring roll with roasted chicken wrapped around sugar cane, basil, lettuce, shredded carrot and glass noodle. Simple home made Vietnamese style dipping sauce with fish sauce (the key is the lemons!). Very yummy.

Going Kosher

Kedem Cream Red Concord (Kosher)

Now this is what I call Grape juice. Hailing all the way from New York state, it is ruby red in colour and sweet smeling. Not surprisingly, it smells strongly of grape juice. This sweet wine (is it really a wine?) is incredibly easy to drink (9% alcohol!). It makes me wonder if there was any sugar added? Honestly, this is straight grape juice that was spiked. None of the complexities. O

This wine is made from Concord grape (common table grape), Vitis labrusca and that explains plenty about the taste. This grape to known to have thin skin which detached easily from the fruit. Since wine gets their flavors from the grape skin (tannins), this then limits the flavors that the wine can have. This native American has been described often as foxy.

Do you taste me?

Foxy: the odors and tastes of wines made from many of the American species of grape (i.e. vitis labrusca). A flavor substance called methyl anthranilate is partially responsible for this characteristic. A foxy wine smells and tastes like Concord grape juice. (From the Chicago Wine school website)

Nothing foxy about this one although I am still not sure what they mean by foxy (thinks of a fox). Hmm.

It is a little sweet for me and has this stickiness mouth feel and taste (like sap) that I am not a fan of (foxy?).  Probably will have it as a dessert wine (only 3.99 at Trader Joes!) next time.