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When going to the beach you are most concerned about what beach you will be going to, bringing the correct equipment, who will be going, and finally what you will be bringing to eat and drink.  For this post lets talk about what you should bring with to drink and eat.  Isn’t this the most important?  Beaches stand for summer, the hot sun and fun.  When you bring food and drinks along it must compliment these three things.

First beaches stand for Summer.  In the summer we think of long relaxing days filled with good friends and family with out a care in the world.  Some foods that may help take you to this place would be a simple BBQ.  This includes things like burgers, hot dogs and sausages.  These are things that everyone can enjoy and are simple to make.  The wine you pair with these should compliment these simple dishes and good company.  Try a dry Rose or a Zinfandel.

Second the beach is the most enjoyable when the sun is hot and the sky is blue.  This means you need a way to stay cool.  My suggestion is to make a simple salad topped with shrimp or chicken.  Then pair this with a Sauvignon Blanc or a slightly dry Riesling both chilled.  I also suggest lots of water as well!

Finally the beach is a place to have fun.  With all of the games and activities surrounding the beach it is never hard to find something to do.  My fun food of choice would be a seafood boil.  These are fun and simple to make and are great for a group of people.  Pair this fun food with a fun wine like a sparkling wine or a Vinho Verde and everyone will be having a good time.

Remember when going to the beach to bring the proper dinnerware and glasses.  There are plenty of non breakable items to choose from out in the market place that will serve your food and drinks both in a fun and elegant way.  So go grab your suit some food and a bottle of wine and enjoy the beach while the summer lasts!

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Wine and a meal
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When planning a meal there is always a reason behind what you are making.  It may be something simple as you are low on time it may fancy because of a special occasion , it may be themed or one of many other factors.  One of these driving factors behind your meal may be wine.  That is correct wine can frame a meal !  Wine can help create a template on where you would like to take your meal and how the diners will experience it.  Here are some ways wine can frame your meal this evening.

Wine has the ability to to help steer the flavors of the meal.  If you speak to any sommelier they will tell you that certain wines pair better with certain foods due to things like acidity levels in the wine, how sweet the wine is, how spicy the food is, along with a number of other factors.  This being said if you decide to drink a Merlot this evening  it may not pair well with every food therefore helping to steer your food choices.

Frequently we have theme’s for our meals.  This can be because of a special occasion or time of year or just for fun.    When you chose a wine it can help you decide on your theme.  For example if you chose a Rioja from Spain it may be a great opportunity for a Spanish themed meal or Tapas party.  Maybe, you run across a pineapple wine from Hawaii which would lead perfectly into a Luau.

These are just two of many ways that wine can frame the meal you are going to prepare for dinner this evening.  So remember wine isn’t just a part of the meal it may actually help to plan your next meal.

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Photo Taken From Tripadvisor

Why should we be excited about wine?   Most of the time when a beverage comes up in conversation or you read about it, the only thing that is said about it is if it was enjoyed and would we drink it again.  Wine is more Than a rating or comment.  Wine can help sway  our travel plans, our meal plans, and even who we spend a evening with.  Not only can wine do that but most of the time when wine dictates these things we are sure to have a wonderful and enjoyable experience.

You ask how can wine sway us in our travel plans?  Many people make travel plans based on a wine region ( Yes I am one of them).  You may say how boring.  However, quite the opposite.  Some amazing wine regions are in some amazing and beautiful locations.  Check out Napa or Sonoma or how about Washington State or Oregon.  If you are in the mood for something more far flung escape to Argentina, Chile, or South Africa.  These places not only have amazing wine but amazing sites to explore.  So for your next vacation explore the region where your favorite wine comes from.

You also may ask how can wine sway us on our food choices or the company we keep for the evening.  You will find that many people may chose a cuisine to cook or restaurant to visit based on the wine they enjoy or the wine lists the establishments possess.  Pairing the right wine with the right food can bring about a depth and enjoyment in the food and wine you can’t always find by themselves.  Not only that but who we chose to share these experiences with may be dictated on if that person enjoys wine or what kind of wine they enjoy.  Who, wants to go to a restaurant you have being dieing to try with a wine you have been dreaming about only to find out that the person you are with doesn’t really care.  This may ruin some of the experience.

So as you can see wine is more than a beverage that tastes good.  It is something to get excited about.  It can help to sway our experiences and shape the people we hang out with and the food we enjoy.  It is a powerful persuader but a extremely enjoyable one !

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Wine and food pairings are a delicate, artistic, difficult and easy task.  Yes I know I contradicted myself.  However, the ultimate goal in pairing wine and food is to have them compliment each other.  The amazing thing is that there are wines that match perfectly with every food variety and type.  There are even wines to drink before dinner and wines to drink with dessert or as a digestive.  Sometimes the most fun is to experiment and to pick a wine you like and pair it with whatever you are eating.  You may not always have the best results.  However, you will learn quickly what wine to pair with what you are eating.  Trial by error if you will.

If you have never experienced a wine dinner then you should.  This is where the whole point of the meal is to pair each course with a different wine  in order to showcase the wine and food.  I recently experinced one of these at the restraunt Wildfire with wines from Ferrari-Carano.  I highly recomend this experience.  You will have the opportunity to see how wine and food can truley pull out the best charactistics of each.  Not to mention great food and wine.

So next time you are making dinner plans do a little research on what wine will compliment  your meal or just experiment.  I garuntee you will enjoy the experience.

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Most of the time when you see the phrase wine pairing your mind drifts to wine paired with food.  However, it can be something else completely.  No I don’t mean wine paired with Cheese or chocolate (However, both great options). What if we expanded the concept of wine pairing to mean simply to enhance your wine experience.  By doing this we expand the possibilities.  An example of this would be to pair your wine with a film.  Imagine picking up a independent film to watch and a wine made by a boutique winery, or how about a foreign film paired with a wine from the region where the film was made.  Other ideas include pairing your wine with music, a book you are reading, or a region of the country you are visiting.  This would allow you to experience your wine in a way you wouldn’t if it was had by itself.

When we are able to expand our perception of a concept and idea I think only then are we able to fully explore the possibilities.  Once we are able to see pairing as a larger concept only then will we be able to fully pull out all of the nuances and intricacies that wine has to offer.  There is more in that bottle than just wine.

Where else can you pair your wine besides at the table

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