Vinity Case

I have a few wine shops that I frequent and each serves its own purpose as well as its own price range.  I have one that I stop by if I need a recommendation and don’t mind spending a little more for the occasion.  This particular wine shop is run by a guy who talks with his teeth together which gives him kind of an accent which I refer to as “the know it all” accent.  I do believe he lays in wait for me to enter so he can breakout his glossary of latest and greatest wine terms.   I always take a deep breath before entering, but I am willing to endure him because he knows his stuff.  

Long story even longer, basically I asked him for a Rose recommendation and he but a hat box on the counter!  He said (teeth gnashed together) “This Rose is divine.”  And it is. ..plus it costs around $28.00 for the equivalent of 3 bottles.  If you have a picnic or pool party where glass is frowned upon, you can’t go wrong with the Vinity Case.

Wineberry Box

Wine.

Who knew that boxed wine could look and taste so good? Check out Wineberry's take on wine in a box:




With wine offerings from classic French regions, a capacity equivalent to 4 bottles per box, and 3 weeks worth of freshness once opened and refrigerated, what's not to love?

Inexpensive Wine Choices

Wine.

Trader Joe’s Three Buck Chuck has reigned at the leader in cheap yet palatable wine for years now, but it seems that they have a bit of competition…Whole Foods has entered the race as well with their Three Wishes Wine.



I found this article particularly helpful in distinguishing between what works best in the world of ultimate vino frugality. No need to waste even $3 on making the wrong choice.

And keep in mind, you are probably not going to pass up on an Opus One for Charles Shaw or Three Wishes. But they are perfectly fine for table wine and cooking wine centric meals like Boeuf Bourguignon.

Lighten the Mood

Fun Find for a Wine Party.

A great standby theme for a party is a Wine and Cheese tasting...as well it should be. Wine = delicious. Cheese = delicious. Wine & Cheese = Happy Dance.

The one drawback of a wine & cheese party is that it's been done a million times and imparts the idea of being stuffy, so it's always a good idea to mix things up a bit. Which is where Bob's Your Uncle comes in. I've long been a fan of their cheeky humor in greeting cards, but their wine paraphernalia is equally amazing. Here are some of my faves:


Wine Tasting Coaster Pad
Each pack of 48 tear-off paper coasters is printed with fake wine descriptions...all of which are funny with a hint of risque.

Letterpress Coaster Set

Or if you'd like to have a more permanent set of coasters with the same kind of humorous wine descriptions, you can also choose this letterpress version (printed on pulp board).

Gift Bags
And just because you are a guest doesn't mean that you can't bring the fun. These wine gift bags will make your host very happy that they invited you.

Tough Times call for Tough Measures…

Wine.

With the economy taking what seems to be a never ending nose dive over the past few weeks, many people have started looking at their budgets more closely. Unfortunately, the first thing to get the heave-ho is extracurricular activities. But as you will hear Hip Hostess say time and time again on this blog, “You don’t have to give up what you love, you just have to become more creative.”

I read an article on Slashfood.com about one company taking a socio-economic situation and turning lemons into lemonade and I immediately started doing back flips in my head. Recession Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from California sells for around $5 a bottle. The company says they taste like $10 wines, explaining that the value comes from using lighter-weight glass bottles, saving on shipping costs and using a recycled synthetic closure instead of a cork.

I recently tried the wines and would venture to say that they taste just as good as most $15 dollar bottles, especially the Merlot. Here is a Hip Hostess suggestion so you don’t have to cancel your holiday get together with friends or family because of the economy. Make the economy work for you. Serve Recession wines in nice decanters and whip up some of Hip Hostess’ suggested appetizers and enjoy. --b

A Novella Idea

Wine.

Vino Novello wines are on their way to a liquor store near you. They usually arrive sometime in early November (around November 6th).

To break it down, it is an inexpensive wine limited in quantities, only available for a short time and must be partaken of immediately. Don’t wait for New Year’s Eve to toast to the new and fresh. Throw together some pasta with Italian bread and your new found bubbly wine and you have the perfect reason to get the party started.

All YOUNG wines, regardless of where they are created, are made by sealing uncrushed grapes in large vats with carbon dioxide to facilitate fermentation within the grapes themselves. This process creates wine that is slightly bubbly. If you want to sound ultra chic you can throw around the term Frizzante which is Italian for half the bubbles of a full sparkling wine. The above result is a fresh but transient wine that is limited in quantity and doesn’t improve with age. Novello wines are meant to be enjoyed before December 31st of the harvest year.

Best part, you can do it all over again in a couple of weeks when Beaujolais Noveau hits the stores. Just insert cassoulet in the place of pasta. --b

Break Out the Vino

Wine.

Wine makes a great gift. It’s portable. It’s festive. It’s appreciated. Wine can be quickly gift-wrapped and tied with a bow. And best of all wine is easy to find.

But how do you pick out just the right wine for a gift, here are a few guidelines.

$10-Casual Acquaintances.
Co-workers, Dry Cleaners, Housekeepers, Dog Walkers, Friend of a Friend
This might sound cheap, but buying wine for a few dozen people adds up to several hundred bucks. White wine is usually a safer bet than red. Look for wines from countries where quality and value go hand in hand. A couple examples of this would be Pinot Grigio from Italy or Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.

$20-Good Friends
People you enjoy spending time with or your boss.
Bottles that cost around $20 are about right, which means you can find wines that are new, exciting or not your ordinary Cabernet. You could try a California Grenache Blanc or Malbec from Argentina.

$30-Intimate Friends
People with whom you would want to share a bottle or three.
Give wines you wouldn’t pay the extra dollars to buy for yourself and that everyone would enjoy trying. On this level you can definitely get personal, such as, choosing a year with special significance or labels that reminds your friends of an inside joke. --b