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Malbec is a purple grape of French origin that is now most prominently associated with Argentina, especially from the Mendoza growing region in the western part of the country, in the Andes foothills near the border with Chile.Malbec wines tend to have robust tannins and an inky dark red/purple color; while they used to be secondary wines in French blends they have come into prominence in the last 20–30 years thanks to Nicolás Catena Zapata, who planted Malbec vines at high altitude. When y …

Many people love Port, Sherry, Madeira, Banyuls, and Marsala, but so few really understand what fortified wines are (the hint is that all of the wines listed in this sentence are fortified). These wines are often used to cook and deglaze, and are also enjoyable sipped - but what is fortified wine? Simply put, fortified wines have had a distilled spirit added to the mix. It’s usually brandy because brandy is made of grapes, like wine, instead of grains like m …

Mother’s Day is around the corner so it’s time to start planning how you are going to help mom kick her heels up and relax. We recommend creating delicious, custom cocktails to fit mom’s taste. Check out these great Mother’s Day cocktails and make a nice, big batch so you can get in on the relaxation action. Bloody Mary Ingredients to serve 6 people: 3.5lb beefsteak tomatoes 0.5 c seafood cocktail sauce 0.25 c Worcestershire sauce 1.5 tsp Worcestershire sauce …

Wine is delicious no matter how you pour it, but why not do it right? One of the most glamorous aspects of wine is the ritual of serving it. The assortment and classifications of wine can be overwhelming for many people starting out in their love affair with wine, but serving wine properly is a simple way to infuse your evening with class and even impress your friends, and the wine will actually taste better. There are three things to consider when serving wine:GlasswareDifferent wines aff …

In our home region of the Midwest, the seasons are finally changing and bringing with them spring showers. Winter is officially behind us so it’s time to put away our cold weather whiskey and reach for something lighter. Okay, so we probably won’t hide the whiskey until fall, but the anticipating coming of spring offers the opportunity to delve back into spring wines and the foods that they complement. Spring vegetables include English peas and asparagus, used in light dishes that are fil …