Wine Mixed Drinks

June 20, 2008

What are some wine mixed drinks that I could possibly try out this weekend for a party I’m throwing? - Brandy in Tulsa, OK

Wine is definitely a versatile drink which can co-exist perfectly with other types of alcohol. Mixing wine with various other substances can sometimes lead to very interesting effects. This allows you to explore this ancient drink in depth which the gods Dionysus and Bacchus came to enlighten us all. Brandy, here are a few wine mixed drinks that will keep you staggering around all summer long.

Say you’re in a fiesty to mood to conquer all that is before you with your charm and charisma… here’s a wine mixed drink that will put you in control.

Champagne Napolean

.5 oz. Curacao
.5 oz. Grand Marnier
.5 oz. Maraschino liqueur
Your Favorite Champagne

Mix your ingredients together with ice in your favorite mixing glass. Now strain into a chilled champagne flute. Fill with cold champagne. Consume. You are now the defactor ruler of the party.

Every had one of those days were you just wanted to give the finger to the world? Try this wine mixed drink for a quick pick-me-up.

Weep No More

1.5 oz. Cognac
1.5 oz. Dubonnet
1.5 oz. Lime Juice
Several Dashes of Maraschino Liqueur

Again shake, shake, shake with ice and strain this happy mixture into a chilled cocktail glass. Wala! You are now pure undeniable sunshine that will put an ultra-bright smile on everyone’s face that you meet.

What if after a day of relaxing by the pool you need a stiff drink to get you in the mood to party? Well you can’t get more stiff than this…

Bamboo Cocktail

2 oz. Dry Sherry
2 oz. Dry Vermouth
Several dashes of Angostura bitters
Ice

Stir these incredible ingredients together with ice in your handy mixing glass. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass and you have exactly what you need to quench the summer heat and put you in the mood for pure, uninhibited fun. Cheers!!

What is a Wino?

February 27, 2008

Hi Wine Virgin, how are you?  What is a wino? I’ve always heard this term before but I never really knew why people said it or what it meant. - Susan in San Luis Obispo, CA

Ahh my favorite, yes this describes me well. Ever since I had my first glass, I new I would never stop but only turn into more and more of one with each and every passing day… I’ll be a wino forever. But I have to wonder. I mean it’s really not that difficult to figure out from the context of a sentence what a person means by a certain word is it?

Here’s an example. Suppose you’re sitting down at a bar with one of your friends and she leans over to you and whispers “Oh that so and so is such a _____!!” Now, consider for a moment that even though you may not be too familiar with the adjective in which she used to describe this person. You can tell by the tone in her voice and the expression on her face whether what she said was good or bad, right?

Ok, good, so imagine that we are out together and I lean over to you and basically say the same above statement, with the same mysterious adjective… but I have a frowning, disapproving look on my face with an accusatory tone in my voice. On top of that, the term I use is closely related to the general nature of what is being discussed about how this person is acting. So to make it bright and clear, I say, “You know what?” “That so and so is such a wino!!”.

This is said as the person in question stumbles around completely hammered, drooling and mumbling to anyone that is within shouting distance about how much they want to bring about world peace and save god’s children. Make sense? Now pick up a glass and join the wino club!!

The God of Wine

February 27, 2008

This is something that I have always had a question about, who was the god of wine? Was Dionysus the god of wine or Bacchus the god of wine? - Lydia in Milwaukee, WI

The simple answer is that both were. Here is a little ancient history of wine for you. Dionysus was the Greek version of this uninhibited lover of life and drink while Bacchus was the Roman name given to the same deity. They both represented not only the intoxicating power of wine, but also the social and beneficial influences that this strange drink had on society. They were considered to be promoters of civilization, lawgivers and lovers of peace and their divine mission was to bring an end to care and worry.

Both Dionysus and Bacchus were known for the lewd behavior of their followers who worked themselves into a craze during wild festivals and parties. Talk about the perfect place to lose one’s wine virginity. Also, Bacchus was the deity of agriculture and the theatre and he was also known as the Liberator, freeing a person from their normal self, by madness, ecstasy, or wine.

So now you know a little juicy bit of wine trivia that you can tell share with all of your friends, just let them know where you got it and tell them to stop by with their questions and curiosities. A toast to the god of wine!!