Wine Down this Valentine's Day

We know, you’re still waiting on your tax return to be deposited into your account, but that doesn’t mean bae is going to understand a less than spectacular Valentine’s Day. Well have no fear, we have a sure fire way to bring the romance, save the pockets, and look out for your love’s health at the same time.

Every girl loves chocolate and wine, if she doesn’t you might want to reconsider who she is as a person. Why not do something healthy for your heart without pulling out all of the stops this holiday. As stated by Women’s Health Magazine in the “9 Healthy Benefits of Chocolate,” “In a 9-year Swedish study of more than 31,000 women, those who ate one or two servings of dark chocolate each week cut their risk for heart failure by as much as a third." Women's Health

Talking about healthy hearts,  red wine also reduces heart attack risk and heart disease among other things including . Studies show “Moderate drinkers suffering from high blood pressure are 30 percent less likely to have a heart attack than nondrinkers. “ For more information please see Food and Wine

We recommend trying Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet Wine. It's a nice red wine that's not too fruity or dry and  pairs very well with a spicy steak or a hamburger. 

You don’t have to have chocolate or wine in the traditional way, how about showing off your culinary skills in a dark chocolate chilli or better chocolate wine? The options are limitless.

Ingredients

1 bottle Zinfandel wine

1 1/2 cups whole milk

1 -ounce quality milk chocolate, finely chopped

Cocoa powder, to garnish

Directions

In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat boil the wine until reduced by half.

Meanwhile, bring the milk to a boil. Place the chocolate in a small mixing bowl and pour the reduced wine over the top and whisk making sure all of the chocolate is melted. Pour half of the hot milk into the chocolate mixture and whisk to blend.

With the remaining milk, froth with a hand blender or a milk frother.

Pour the chocolate wine mixture into small cups and spoon some of the milk froth over the top, garnish with cocoa powder and serve hot.

Recipe courtesy Michael Chiarello

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/michael-chiarello/chocolate-wine-recipe.html

This holiday don’t stress over planning an extravagant night, stay in and enjoy a quiet night catching up on Empire drinking some nice wine and dining on good chocolate.

Wally Wally World: The Good, The Bad, The Affordable

Wally Wally World: The Good, The Bad, The Affordable

Walmart is known around the world for so many things whether its their everyday low prices, being a one stop shop or for folks twerkin’ by the milk.  But one thing is for sure Wal-Marts are everywhere (even in DC). So we decided to do some of the leg work and taste and review the good, the bad and the affordable wine selections at our local Walmart. So whether you are trying to score some “cheap wine” in between the struggle period (after ballin in the New Year and before W-2’s) or if it is just the nearest place open when its just one if those days;  we’ve got you covered! R.B.L. Hold Ya Down!

The Good

• Bella Rosso Italian Sweet Red Wine was really delicious it was sweet, red and bubbly and its only $7.97 this gets our Wal-Mart Favorite Star! It is quite comparable to the Stella Rosa (which is also available at Wal-Mart for at least $3 cheaper than Total Wines.)
• Menage a Trois Cabernet Sauvignon ($12.47) is a full bodied cabernet in Walmart similar to the Gumdale Cabernet reviewed in our pairings post, great for pairing with burgers and red meats.
• Duplin Sweet Muscadine Wine is so tasty and sweet, I just love it, it tastes just like the muscadine grape, it takes me back to being a kid picking and eating them straight from the grape vine! It gets our Walmart Nostalgic Seal of Approval at only $7.97 a bottle!
• Riunite Lambrusco, I would buy this again without hesitation! Its bubbly, sweet, tasty and its just $5 bucks! This would be a great wine to serve at your next get together because its tasty and cheap! A sure crowd pleaser, I haven't mat anyone yet who doesn't like a Lambrusco!

The Affordable
We had to venture out and taste the cheapest on the shelf! 

• A $2.97 Oak Leaf Chardonnay is a great value for a Chardonnay and it’s the cheapest with the most ABV out of the list at 12%. So you definitely get the most bang for your buck!
• Alongside, that is the Oak Leaf Red Sweet Wine ($2.97) its slightly sweet but pretty good if you like your red wines smooth but not too sweet.
• Lucky Duck at $3.97 is the cheapest Moscato on the Wally World shelf and it is pretty good; smooth and fruity but not bubbly like its cousin Moscato D'Asti, however, its not bad at all for the price.

The Bad

• Schmitt Sohne Riesling ($9.28) not my favorite Riesling by far it was very tart. Generally, I like a Riesling that is semi-sweet but this one was lip smacking tart and it left a sour aftertaste. 
• Chateau Morrisette Blackberry Wine ($9.47) probably wouldn't buy again unless it's to cook with maybe to make a nice glaze reduction over pound cake; but as for having a glass I will decline.