Hang all the mistletoe, I’m going to get you drunk this Christmas…

The holiday season is in full effect and I’m sure that you've already attended your fair share of Christmas parties. There are still a few days until Christmas and with the New Year fast approaching a person can get partied out. That frozen punch mix and ginger ale or plain jane champagne toast doesn't quite excite the palate like a good cocktail, especially a wine cocktail. We decided to make the sacrifice of trying out a few recipes that may help you get into the holiday spirit.

Mulled Apple Cider

-1 Bottle Cranberry Apple Juice

-1 750ml bottle dry red

-1 Sliced Orange

-1 Cinnamon Stick

-8-10 cloves

-2 Tablespoons Honey

-1/2 cup sugar

This is the easiest apple cider you could ever make.  In a crock pot, mix all of the ingredients together and let warm on high for 1 1/2 hours. Use a ladle to serve this warm drink and enjoy. If you want it sweeter, just add more sugar. It can’t get easier than this or tastier! It’s perfect for those warm and cozy parties by the fireplace.

Champagne Punch

1 (750ml) bottle of Champagne

½ cup of sweet and sour mix

½ cup Simple Syrup

Festive frozen fruit (Strawberries, raspberry, cranberries)

What better way to ring in the New Year than with this quick and flavorful champagne punch. It’s  easy to make and great to share. This drink will have you and your guest toasting way past midnight. Combine fruit, sweet and sour mix, and simple syrup in a glass. Slowly add the champagne, stir slightly and 3.2.1...Happy New Year!

Wine and Coke

1 (750ml) bottle of cheap red wine

1 liter of Coca-Cola

2 lemons; sliced

At first this combination  scared us, we weren't sure how this would turn out.  The next time you have a bottle of cheap red wine that doesn't quite satisfy your taste buds, add a can of Coca Cola and some fresh lemon slices even if it’s not the holidays. This drink was surprisingly tasty and a sure crowd pleaser at any holiday gathering.

Just Peachy Queen B

1 bottle of Peach Moscato

½ cup of Simple Syrup (equal parts water and sugar;  stir; bring to a boil)

3 shots of coconut Ciroc

½ cup of peach schnapps

2 tbls of sweet & sour mix

1 fresh squeezed lemon

This drink was so good, it was definitely one of our favorites. It was peachy, sweet and tangy. Its so good you might forget that you’re drinking wine and spread a little more holiday cheer than expected. Mix all the liquids together. Shake. Add the sliced lemons. Serve chilled.

ENJOY!

Happy Holidays!

Wine and Food Pairings 101: Order Up

Wine Ain’t Nothing without a Food to Pair it With

OK, this is not totally true. We can enjoy a glass of wine all alone without a morsel in sight but truth be told wine and food go together like Bey and Jay. Food and wine are allies and should compliment each other not battle for the spotlight like Kim and Kanye, it should just be natural. So with the cold weather nearing fast lets explore some of our favorite comfort food take outs. So get ready to fall  Drunk in Love with these food pairings just as we did ...or Nah?

Pairings are all about your taste preference, however, some foods have a way of changing the taste of wines depending on with what they are paired. For instance, a Shiraz paired with a Parmesan cheese brings out the fruitier flavors and Shiraz paired with a spice like Rosemary brings out menthol flavors.  So choosing a good wine to go with your next meal  is very important and can mean sweet success or a bitter disaster.  This does not mean every wine should taste sweet, however. There are many different taste of wine, wines can be light and fruity, rich and oak, earthy, dry or even spicy (we’ll get into that at a later time).  Whether you’re going out or staying in be sure to try one of our recommendations with our favorite takeout foods!

Shiraz and Pepperoni Pizza

Every man, woman and child loves a good pizza night! And with these cold dreary nights quickly approaching ordering out and bundling up at home sounds so comforting! Add a bottle of wine and it gets all the more cozier! We tried pepperoni pizza paired with the berry and oak forward flavors of Shiraz. The spice from the pepperoni coats the mouth and allows for the flavors of the Shiraz to smooth across the tongue. Be sure to add a little Parmesan to your slice!

Cabernet Sauvignon and American Cheddar Cheese burger

This is a common duo and boy is it good! I’m not a huge fan of Cabernet but pair it with a juicy greasy cheddar cheeseburger and you can’t go wrong! As a rule of thumb red meats and red wines tend to compliment one another and with the addition of cheddar cheese to the mix, it is just so scrumptious. Next time you’re out and have a taste for a big juicy cheeseburger feel free to class it up a bit and order a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon to go with it!

Champagne or Sparkling Wine and Fried Chicken

Are you as surprised at this one as we were? This combo is very tasty and it is making quite a movement! So slide over chicken and waffles, here comes Champagne and Chicken! (Actually, we think there is enough room on the plate for all of thee above!) The crispiness of the golden fried chicken compliments the bubbly taste of a champagne. We tried fried chicken with a Korbel Sweet Rose Champagne and it was delicious! Although I am a spice fan you should probably avoid the hot sauce on the chicken for this pairing and just enjoy the crunchy fizzy flavors of this unlikely pairing!   

Riesling and Chinese Takeout

There is nothing like good Chinese food and a movie to pass the time for a fun night in. Why not enjoy some delicious General Tso’s Chicken and Pork Fried Rice along with Virginia’s own Williamsburg Winery 2012 Governor’s White Riesling? The sweet and spiciness of the chicken blended very well with the light fruity flavor of the Riesling. The spicier the food the better the wine! We also tried this wine with a little bit of beef and broccoli and it was not a favorite. This wine definitely pairs better with a spicier food, the beef and broccoli didn’t enhance the flavor. 

Death to Moscato

We love Moscato!



I repeat “We love Moscato" but ever since Waka’s song, No Hands, “DJ turn me up, ladies this yo jam, I’ma sip Moscato and you gon’ lose them pants” it seems as if this go to drink is getting a little played out. I can remember a time when bottles of Moscato flooded the club like Belvedere.Once the hip hop culture embraced this beverage, people couldn’t help but indulge on a regular basis. It seemed at times it was the only wine being drunk in the urban/hip hop community. I mean everybody and their momma was dying to get a glass of this sweet wine. “And a glass of moscato, For the girl who’s a student, And her friend who’s a model, Finished the whole bottle.” (Drake, Do It Now)
Moscato is a sweet, fizzy white wine made of the Muscat grape family and generally has a low alcohol by volume (ABV). Its supple flavor is fruity yet crisp and often contain aromas of peach and apricot. Needless to say,we love everything sweet and that definitely includes Moscato. And although we love this sweet fruity, light wine, I think its time we explore something new. Moscato is our generation’s “safe” wine of choice, everyone knows that it’s good and with that we limit ourselves to trying new wines that are just as good if not better. Here are some of our other favorite sweet to semi sweet fruity wines that can easily rival Moscato.



Ice Wine: A very sweet white wine with an intense concentration of sugar and flavor, aromas of grape and apple. With low-to-mid alcohol by volume, ice wine is made from frozen grapes while they are still on the vine and later gently pressed so that the sweetness is natural. It’s a dessert wine so less is more and should only be consumed in small amounts. When it comes to sweetness this ranks highly and remember to chill before serving.


Riesling: A sweet white wine generally with honey and peach aromas and flavors. There are various makers of this wine and its’ taste can range from semi-sweet to very sweet based on the location grown. German Rieslings are some of my favorites.


Stella Rosa*: A sparkling, semi-sweet red wine. This effervescent wine comes from the Piedmont region of Italy. Bright and refreshing, it showcases pomegranate, crisp red pear and apple-rhubarb pie flavors


Concord Grape Wine: A semi-sweet, intensely “grapey” flavored dark red wine. It is very light in taste and fruity. Works well in a Sangria. Its mid-ABV and light taste makes for a good nightly cap or nice summer evening wine.


Port ~Tawny Port Wine: Semi-sweet and strong red dessert wine, sweetened during fermentation. Name derives from its Portuguese origin. With a high alcohol volume be careful with this one, it sometimes packs a punch. Mixing the Port and Concord wine together makes for a good balance, just add a few chilled fruit and Delizioso!


Prosecco: A dry, sparkling, semi-sweet white wine with aromas of peach, and golden apple. The least sweet of the wines but a nice sparkling wine with a little kick, very similar to a champagne.

**Ordered by Level of Sweetness. Wines actual sugar level and ABV vary by producer and region.
*Producer Name . Not Varietal.

Jackson-Triggs Vidal Ice Wine


Variety of Sweet Wines