Merlot

I used to really not like merlot. I'm not sure why. Perhaps because it has a somewhat unique (to me) taste. I don't know what changed things, but I find merlot works for me more and more. 

Last night I made mahi mahi and went to my newly purchased holiday wine case* to see what might best accompany the fish.

*Every year, a local wine store offers a special holiday wine case, which is twelve bottles for $149. It always includes a bubbly, a dessert wine, and then a mix of red and white. This year's case offered a prosecco as the bubbly (score!), and a port (whoohoo!) - as far as bubblies and dessert wines go, those are my favorites. Then, the red/white mix was heavy on the red, which also suits my taste. The case just had the perfect mix for me, and is such a great price. Plus, it comes with a description of each wine as well as a pairing recommendation.

To my surprise, the bottle that was recommended to accompany fish was a merlot. Huh? A red? With fish?

The description said that the fats in the fish can stand up well to the strong flavors of merlot. The description was right.

I'm enjoying a lovely merlot from Washington State called Red Diamond. The description at Total Wine is at the bottom of this post. The best part about it? It retails for - get this - $6.97. That's right. I did quite the double take when I saw that, because this does not taste like a cheap wine at all. I would happily give this as a gift or serve it to guests.

Yay for merlot! (and, one of the distrinctive flavors of merlot is chocolate, so how exactly did I not like this before?)

Washington- This Merlot opens with a beautifully knit blackberry, cherry and spice scented nose with a toasty oak background. Sweet fruit on the palate is complemented by medium-bodied but firm tannins.

I am the special occasion.

Several years ago, I wrote an article for a local magazine about local wine shops. I disctinctly remember one of the wine consultants talking about how women tend to buy cheap bottles to drink now and nicer bottles to give as gifts or save for a special occasion. She liked to tell her clients that, "you ARE the special occasion."

She is so right. Ever since, I have reminded myself of that every time I open a bottle that cost a little more than I might usually spend, or that I'm not sure I can finish before it turns into vinegar 

If I wait until I have someone else available with whom to share a bottle, months could go by before I try something new. So, I open a bottle whenever I feel like having a glass of wine, I use my trusty wine stopper to get a good three to four days (sometime a week) out of it, and I make no apologies.

After a recent milestone, when I graduated from a very long graduate school program that was fraught with stress and disappointment, one of my gifts was a care package of sorts from my friend Jane. It contained a bottle of wine, a cranberry scented candle (that is crackling as I write this), a box of godiva chocolates (!!!), and this:

That's right, it's a hand painted wine glass that says things like, "I'm awesome," "Cheers to me," and "I deserve it!"

RIght on! I AM awesome. I DO deserve it. And lest you think I am being conceited, I feel I should share that when I was growing up, for a long time, I was awkward and out of sorts. I was teased horribly as a kid. I spent many years with very low self esteem. So to be able to proudly say heck yeah, I rock! is a big deal for me. 

I supposed this really isn't a post about wine, but enjoying this glass of merlot tonight and using this glass remind me of just how far I have come in life, on a personal level. I am happy with who I am, with the life I have made for myself, even with all of the mistakes and missteps. I still kick ass. 

Par-tay

I'm having a party. It's kind of a big deal. All of my favorite people are coming. They are gathering to help me celebrate a milestone. Kind souls have been asking what they can bring to contribute. I have waved them off; I would really like to treat them to a nice evening as a completely inadequate, yet totally heartfelt gesture of thanks for their friendship and support over the years.

Today I went beverage shopping. My problem is that I have no clue how to gauge quantities when purchasing beverages for 40 or so people. I looked it up online, but the estimates I found (that each guest will drink 2-4 drinks per hour?!) seem grossly exaggerated. I will generally have 2 or so drinks over the course of the evening. Maybe three if I don't have to drive. Most of my friends are the same way, and the few who might have more will be balanced out by the few who will have less.

That still leaves me without knowing with any confidence if I have purchased enough.

Here is what I have so far:

• one mixed case of wine (three pinot noir, three red blend, three sauv blanc, three chardonnay)
• eight bottles of bubbly (prosecco)
• three cases of beer (one full case of yuengling, one mixed case of sam adams, one mixed case of harpoon)
• three cases of bottled water

I will be adding various bottles of regular and diet soda. My friend Irene, who has graciously offered to open her home as the locale for the party, is also making iced tea, punch, and coffee.

That seems like a lot to me, but I constantly second guess myself. I would hate to run out, or to make my guests feel like there isn't enough to enjoy without feeling guilty. 

Here is what my haul so far (plus a few bags of paper goods) looks like:

When in doubt...

According to Glamour magazine, when in doubt on what wine to choose, look for a Sauvignon blanc from New Zealand or an Oregon Pinot noir.