Entertaining in the summer months can be fun as well as challenging; especially for wine lovers.  We all know about sniffing and swirling our wine to bring out the wines full potential when it comes to smell and flavor.  It is part of the overall experience of drinking wine, thus the reason for white wine glasses, red wine glasses and so on.  Well what happens when you want to serve wine on the patio or other cement area, such as around a pool?  That is where the challenge comes in as you have lots of barefoot people running around in the summer that could create a dangerous situation if you have broken wine glasses underfoot.  Although we all do our best to hang on to our wine glasses, accidents do happen; rather frequently at my house,... »View More

Added Friday, July 16, 2010 in Entertaining With Wine Add a Comment

Looking for a fun, light, healthy dessert while entertaining friends in the upcoming warmer weather? I found this fantastic sounding recipe on Eatingwell.com. Made with Chardonnay wine it truly is entertaining with wine right in the food. Follow the recipe below, your guests will all love it whether or not they like wine! 3 cups thinly sliced hulled strawberries, divided 1/2 cup sugar 1 cup Chardonnay 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 envelope unflavored gelatin 1. Set aside 3/4 cup sliced strawberries. Stir together the remaining berries and sugar in a medium bowl. 2. Place Chardonnay in a microwave-safe cup and microwave on High until hot but not boiling, about 1 1/2 minutes. Pour over the strawberry-sugar mixture. Mash the berries with a potato... »View More

Added Tuesday, May 19, 2009 in Entertaining With Wine Add a Comment

We recently had a visit from a good friend of mine who many years back was my mentor and vice president at a major soft drink company we both worked at. Over the years we have kept in touch, at times there have been some gaps, yet we always managed to reconnect. We have both been through some major life changes, and no longer work in the industry. He has since moved several times and is currently living in the mid west. While still having relatives living here in New Jersey, he occasionally returns for visits, and we always try to fit in a visit or at a minimum a phone call. This trip was one of those special times we managed to visit in person. We both have a long standing love of wine going back to the soft drink days when our company purchased... »View More

Added Monday, April 20, 2009 in Entertaining With Wine Add a Comment

Springtime is such an exciting time of year, the plants and trees come alive, the flowers bloom and the grass turns from winter brown to deep lush green. Well, at least in some parts of the country that experience winters as we do. Of course with that come the rains, while it is much needed rain, I tend to wish we could do without it. I keep reminding myself of that old saying, “April showers bring May flowers”. Spring is also alive with many holidays and occasions to celebrate. A fun time to select your wines and food for each occasion, a task any wine lover is sure to enjoy. There is Easter and Passover almost upon us, Mothers Day right around the corner as well as plenty of Communion, Confirmation and Graduation celebrations. ... »View More

Added Tuesday, April 7, 2009 in Entertaining With Wine Add a Comment

The holiday season has come and gone and now we begin the long winter months. I was never a winter person, give me sun and warm weather and I am happy. Well maybe a snow storm around Christmas that melts away and is gone in two weeks, but otherwise that is enough for me. Here in New Jersey that is not about to happen, we can get some real wintery weather with bitter cold, wind and yes, a lot of snow. So if you are not a winter person how do you get through the long dreary months? My way of dealing with it is to always have some kind of entertainment planned ahead so I have something to look forward to. My wine hobby gives me great enjoyment, I did say hobby as it is not just about drinking wine for me. It involves everything from collecting,... »View More

Added Saturday, January 3, 2009 in Entertaining With Wine Add a Comment

Just a little wine related humor…this one is making the rounds on the net: Dear friends, I just read an article on the dangers of heavy drinking…. Scared the shit out of me. So that’s it! After today, no more reading. Here we are… Spring has arrived here in New Jersey, trees are blooming, flowers are popping and yes, pollen is agitating the allergies. Oh well, the beauty of spring far out weighs some allergy symptoms. Anyway summer is just around the corner, and this time of year brings forth so many possibilties for entertaining with wine. The whites and Rose wines full of spring scents such as citrus and flower. Crisp fresh flavors like the newness of the season emerge from the wine as they are emerging in nature.... »View More

Added Wednesday, May 16, 2007 in Entertaining With Wine Add a Comment