Who needs the pressure of New Year’s Resolutions? Instead, commit yourself to checking out these top wine & spirits trends during 2013…in the company of good friends, of course!

1. Drink smarter. The world of wine is immense. From learning the basics to discovering new frontiers, wine education is sure to elevate your enjoyment and excitement about wine. Bottlenotes.com recently highlighted some top classes around the country.

2. Bottled cocktails. Want to avoid getting stuck forever mixing cocktails at your next party? Mix up some bottled cocktails ahead of time! Purchase 32oz glass bottles and try our favorite recipes, with a bit of filtered water added to simulate the natural watering down effect of ice cubes. Chill, serve, and go enjoy your party! 

3. Sherry. Yes, Sherry. These divine fortified wines from the famed Jerez region of Spain run the gamut from dry, light and refreshing to sweet, rich and decadent. Bloomberg.com recently recapped NYC’s first ever Sherryfest, an event that proved testament to the resurging popularity of this classic wine. Try selections from the renowned Williams & Humbert.

4. How sweet it is. Drinking dry wines all the time can be, well, dry. Sweet wines – including whites made from Moscato and a wide array of red blends – have catapulted to the top in terms of sales and popularity. Try some budget-friendly options, including Roscato and Cavit Moscato.

5. The mystique of Mezcal. This distinctively smoky spirit is made, like tequila, from the agave plant in Mexico. However, that may be where the similarities end.

This niche spirit is showing strong growth in the U.S., as it continues to appear on fine spirits and cocktails lists around the country. If you haven’t discovered it yet, 2013 just might be the time. Try the artisanal Los Amantes.

It’s true – the holidays can be the most hectic time of the year, between assorted festivities and planning for the New Year ahead. Here are 10 Tips to help you keep your sanity this season, in delicious and convivial style.

1. December is finally here and for many of us it is starting to get chilly. So why not warm up with a mug of Hot Toddy while cozying up with a great book?

Ingredients:
1 oz The Irishman Original Clan Whiskey
1 Tbsp honey
Juice of ¼ of a lemon
1 cup hot water
1 serving of your favorite black tea

Preparation:
Coat the bottom of a mug with honey. Add the whiskey and lemon juice.
Prepare your favorite tea, pour into the cocktail glass and stir.

2.  It’s okay to indulge a little, and there is not greater indulgence than baking a tasty batch of Double Ginger Crackles. In addition to being delicious, these cookies fill the air with a delightfully festive aroma.

3.  During the insanity of the season, it’s helpful to have a handful of go-to recipes that are quick and easy but don’t taste like shortcuts. Risotto may sound difficult, but this Italian staple is actually quite simple to make. The main secret? Keep the chicken stock warm as you add it to the rice. This Risotto with Artichokes can be served on its own or as a hearty side dish. 

4.  The holidays are a perfect time to think of others and spread the joy. Join Cavit Collection Wines and No Kid Hungry on their fight to end childhood hunger in America.

5.  During this hectic month, it’s important to take some time to wind down. Movie nights are a great way to relax, especially with some hot cocoa with a hint of Los Amantes Mezcal. To keep with the holiday theme, how about watching Love Actually?

6.  When friends stop by unexpectedly to drop off gifts, we find ourselves impromptu hosts. To entertain even the most last-minute guests, keep on hand some Toasted Herbed Walnuts and chilled bottles of Lunetta Prosecco. Your friends will be impressed by your host/hostess prowess. 




7.   Need a last minute gift? How about a bottle of sparkling wine? Ferrari Brut is a delicious Metodo Classico (traditional method – think Champagne) sparkling wine from Italy that will really impress even the most finicky gift recipients. Make it more festive with one of the following wrapping tips from TheKitchn: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/5-diy-wine-wrapping-tutorials-180735. We even have a tip for two bottles: http://bklynbrideonline.com/16430/diy-projects/diy-wine-bottle-wrap/

8.   With so many things to do throughout the week, it is always helpful to take some time on weekends to cook a meal that will last for a couple of days. Our Italian Veal and Mushroom Stew is delicious fresh and even better when re-heated.

9.   While it is winter here on the northern hemisphere, our friends at the Santa Rita Winery, in Chile, are enjoying warm summer days. Plan a visit to Chile to escape the cold and taste some delicious wines. Visitors to Santa Rita can look forward to accommodation at the estate’s luxury hotel, the Casa Real, with its breathtaking 100-acre gardens, its magnificent museum housing a breathtaking collection of pre-Columbian artifacts, or enjoy dinner at the property’s landmark restaurant, the Doña Paula.

10.   Need a refreshing idea for adult stocking stuffers? 187ml single-serve bottles are the perfect fit, and you can find fun options to suit any wine lover.

As autumn settles in across the U.S., it brings to many areas the promise of a new harvest of seasonal fruits and veggies. One of the most popular fall favorites is the good old apple, as American as…well, you know! From Washington state to Michigan, New England to Virginia, countless varieties of apples ripen to perfection, fueling the beloved pastime of apple picking.

Across the Atlantic, in the rolling countryside of Normandy in northwest France, a similar apple culture has existed for hundreds of years. Here, it gives rise to the famed apple brandy called Calvados, the most well-known producer of which is Boulard. Join us for an introduction to this distinctive spirit, including how it’s made and creative ways to enjoy it!

Calvados Cocktails:

- The Apple Martini
- The Golden Apple
- The French Connection
- September Sunrise

Some additional apple recipes:

- Making Apple Butter
- Boulard Calvados Apple Tart
- Caramel Apples
- Calvados Chicken

September is back to school time…wine school, that is. Learning about wine can certainly seem like a daunting task. With so many grape varieties, regions of origin, producers and wine styles, it’s sometimes difficult to make sense of it all. We have some tips to make learning about wine easy and – most importantly – fun!

Tasting like an Expert
The first and most delicious step in learning about wine is training your taste buds. Successful wine tasting comes down to three fundamental things: developing a consistent method, tasting frequently, and creating your own personal tasting vocabulary. Following the link for more tips on how to become a tasting expert: http://www.palmbay.com/wine_tips_tasteexpert.asp

Pronunciation Guide
With thousands of wine grapes, endless wine regions around the world and a myriad of languages, some wine words can seem impossible to pronounce. But don’t be intimidated! We created am audio “cheat sheet” with some common wine terms. Our suggestion is master one per day. (Rumor has it that enjoying a glass of S. A. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Erste Gewächs makes pronouncing the name of this delicious German wine a bit easier.)

• For audio of wine terms, visit: http://www.palmbay.com/audio_search.asp

• For our visual pronunciation guide of select Italian, French and German terms, visit:
http://www.palmbay.com/wine_tips_pronunciation.asp

• Jeremy Parzen of DoBianchi.com also knows how hard pronouncing grape names can be, so he asked
several winemakers to help with his pronunciation project. Check out the videos at
http://dobianchi.com/about/italian-grape-name-pronunciation-project/

School Supplies
No back to school program is complete without preparing all the necessary school supplies. In addition to having pen and paper at hand, and you also need to know the ideal temperature and glassware for the wines you will study. http://www.palmbay.com/wine_tips_quick_sips_0210.asp

**THE SUBJECTS**

History
Wine is one of the oldest beverages and some illustrious individuals have been involved in wine production, including President Thomas Jefferson. A few of our very special wine estates and their owners, however, can also find themselves in the history books:
http://www.palmbay.com/wine_tips_quick_sips_0410.asp

Geography

Learning about wine can take you on a virtual trip around the globe. Keep track of it all with our beautiful hand-rendered wine region maps:
http://www.palmbay.com/retail_image_gallery.asp?Action=Type&Filetype=Maps

Math
Don’t know how much wine to purchase for a get-together? The rule of thumb is 2 glasses per person and each standard 750ml bottle has about 5 glasses. So you can use the formula below to calculate how much wine you will need: X (number of guests) x 2 (glasses per person) ÷ 5 (pours in a bottle). So, for 30 guests you would need: (30 x 2) ÷ 5 = 12 bottles.

If you are hosting a wine tasting, the pours should be much smaller and you can get up to 10 servings per standard bottle.

English
Improve your wine vocabulary by visiting our Dictionary of Wine Terms:
http://www.palmbay.com/wine_tips_general.asp

Share
Have questions, comments, or want to connect with fellow wine lovers? Like our Wine Explorer page on Facebook and join the community! And don’t forget to check back to our Events page for upcoming tasting opportunities in your area.

Cheers!

Whether you are a vampire, werewolf, shifter, fairy or just plain human, Sunday’s season finale (http://www.hbo.com/true-blood/index.html) is a great reason to invite friends over and party like you’re in Bon Temps. So here are a few tips for having a bloody good time.

THE COCKTAIL

This is an easy one…True Blood-y Mary! The lemony character of our recipe is as refreshing as one of Pam’s zippy one-liners. And in addition to being delicious, our recipe is also skinny – only 120 calories - so you can enjoy a drink without worrying about your ready-for-close-up figure.

2 oz Voli Lemon
2 oz Tomato Juice
1 tsp Horseradish
1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
2-4 Dashes Hot Sauce
Pinch of Salt & Pepper
Celery stalk, olives and lime wedge

Build over ice and stir. Garnish with celery stalk, olives and lime wedge. Salt & pepper rim on glass

THE DISH

To give your party an authentic Louisiana feel, serve your guests a traditional Jambalaya. This spicy Cajun rice-based dish is easy to make and simply delicious. Did we mention that it will also feed up to 15 people? So don’t be afraid to invite EVERYONE over.

Jambalaya

1 tbsp. oil
3 tbsp. butter
3 c. rice
3 lbs. shrimp
2 lbs. hot sausage
2 med. onions
7 toes garlic
2 tbsp. parsley
3 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce
6 cans water (measured in the tomato sauce cans)

Remove sausage from casing and fry until brown. Drain and set aside.
Sauté onions, garlic and parsley in butter in a large pot until onions are soft. Add tomato sauce and cook until thick, about 15-20 minutes. Add water and cook about 10 minutes. Add sausage. Cook for about 15 minutes. Add shrimp and cook until shrimp are pink, about 10 minutes.

Let mixture come to a boil. Add rice and cook covered on low heat for 30 minutes or until rice is cooked. Stir after 15 minutes.

To make the evening even more decadent, serve it your favorite fried chicken.

THE WINE

Roscato Rosso Dolce’s delicate sweetness and slight frizzante pair beautifully with the spiciness of this dish. Its brilliant ruby red color will have your guests wondering if you found them some authentic True Blood.

THE GUESTS

With plenty of food and drama, you can invite just about everyone you know. Just make sure to separate all teams to avoid major conflicts. We wouldn’t want a shifters versus werewolves situation to break out in your living room.

THE GAME

The stakes for the Season 5 finale are high, so why not make a game out of it? Here are some suggestions:
-    Have all guests write possible outcomes before the beginning of the episode. The person who better predicts the episode’s events, will be crowned the winner.
-     Create a True Blood trivia game by making cards with memorable quotes from past episodes and having your guests guess who said them.

THE SOUNDTRACK

To set the mood before the beginning of the episode, have the True Blood soundtrack playing when your guests arrive. The three volume soundtrack includes artists like Bob Dylan and Beck as well as Cajun-tinged ballads.

http://www.amazon.com/True-Blood-Original-TV-Soundtrack/dp/B0024OW1L6

Summertime is unofficially here and it’s time to get creative! Whether you’re lucky enough to have a pool or just wish you did, why not throw a fun pool-inspired party?

Inflate some beach balls, arrange bright towels and pool umbrellas around your yard or home, turn on the sprinklers (outside only!) and most importantly, serve up a few tasty drinks for you and your friends.

These wine and cocktail ideas will set the mood for the ultimate pool party this summer; pool optional!

With Easter and Passover just around the corner, it’s time to gather family and friends 

around a festive holiday table. For wine lovers, no great feast is complete without the right bottles to enhance the meal. Perfect pairings will transform a delicious meal into a celebration your guests won’t soon forget.