The Wino's Bottle of Grosgrain Grenache

A Healthy Pour

Boozers, it's been a minute. She's not sure what happened but somehow 6 years went by without one single unbelievably interesting post from The Wino. Thankfully, The Wino's sister reminded her that she used to be The Wino and more or less suggested that The Wino should make a comeback as The Wino. So that's exactly what's happening. At this very moment. Right now.

To mark this very special occasion, The Wino has decided to open a bottle of Grosgrain 2020 Grenache. The Wino was supposed to share this bottle with her friend Courtney. She promised, actually. Anyway, here The Wino is being a very bad no-good friend and cracking open the bottle like the boozy-mc-boozer she is. Courtney is no where in sight. Promise broken. Will the friendship survive? Boozers, we'll just have to see.

But The Wino digresses, what she really wants to tell you is that this wine is motherfucking delicious. And she wants to describe the tasting notes to you like a badass sommelier. But she can't. Instead, she's going to have to cough up some pathetic phrases that will, undoubtedly, confirm that she has not spent any of the past 6 years honing her wine tasting skills. 

Grosgrain 2020 Grenache grapes are from the Walla Walla Valley, an American Viticultural Area located within Washington state and extending partly into the northeastern corner of Oregon (Thank you Wikipedia, The Wino actually purchased this bottle of wine in Walla Walla but apparently had no idea where she was). The wine is a light red that's tart and peppery with a lovely puckery tannin. OK, how was that, Boozers? The Wino can tell you're impressed. But don't be. According to the winemaker's description the wine has notes of crushed raspberry and cherry, and savory, Provençal herbs. Right. Of course it does. The Wino was just about to share that with you.

Anyway, The Wino will now open the bottle and probably drink the whole thing herself, in her backyard, with her cats. Not with Courtney.

A' votre santé, Boozers

What's The Wino Drinking: Evodia 100% Grenache

Boozers, The Wino, for so many vapid reasons, is super in to budget-friendly wines that don't suck. And her latest find, 2014 Evodia, certainly fits that bill. She admits, she was initially attracted to it because of its distinctive blue label (Boozers, would you expect any less?), but she brought it home (a) because it was 100% Spanish Grenache, which The Wino loves, and (b) its price was oh-so-very-nice. It's deep, dark berry fruit is enhanced by herbal, peppery, crushed-rock notes. It's lovely, Boozers. And you can get it at Safeway (if you're in Seattle) for somewhere between 8 and 10 bucks. Dreamy drinking, indeed!

Cheers.

These Glasses Seem Gigantic

Boozers, is it just The Wino or do these wine glasses seem ridiculously large? They are Riedel glasses designed for drinking Cabernet Sauvignon. The Wino had to buy new ones because she broke all her other wine glasses (you know why).

The Wino, of course, knows that certain shapes and sizes enhance the wine drinking experience. And she knows that shapes and sizes can get pretty granular in terms of red vs. white, or Burgundy vs. Cabernet, etc. What she did not know is that the size could be or needed to be so very, very huge. What's The Wino to do? It's simple, Boozers, she's going to do what any good boozy-boozer would do: crack open a nice bottle of Cabernet and start drinking.

UPDATE 6/7/2016: The Wino just ran into this article via The Kitchn about wine glass shapes according to Sommeliers. Yes, Boozers, there's a bit of science backing the idea that the shape and size of your glass enhance a wine's flavor, but the notion that you need the 'right' glass to properly enjoy wine is primarily marketing hype from Reidel used to promote its fancy glasses.

Yup, The Wino totally fell for that marketing hype when she originally wrote this post. The joke's on her. C'est la vie! She at least feels vindicated by the article. She was right, her new wine glasses are indeed unnecessarily large. 

Riedel Cabernet glasses juxtaposed with a standard IKEA red wine glass. Huge, right?

What's The Wino Drinking? Momokawa Pearl

Eighteen percent alcohol, boozers, so consider yourselves warned. Momokawa Pearl unfiltered sake tastes like a piña colada without the sickly sweetness. It's rich and tropical, and it's rice wine. Kanpai!

The Wino Thinks You Should Stop And Buy Some Wine

Boozers, yesterday's weather was a tease. It was a clear, sunny, 60-degree day. It felt like spring. The Wino went for a run around Greenlake and optimistically washed her car (ha!). Today's weather, on the other hand, is an excruciating reminder that it's still winter. In short, it's rainy and cold as shit. The upside? There's wine. And super-fantastic places to shop for wine. For example, there's Esquin and The Wino just happens to be in the neighborhood...

Waiting at a red light.. Behold, Esquin!

Magical Mince Pies

Boozers, even when a mice pie is not very good, it's still pretty darn good.

The Wino tried making her own in December and has failed to post about it until now. Here they are in all of their improvised glory (please forgive the medicore photo). The Wino had neither the baking equipment nor the skill to do a proper job but they ended up turning out OK. The Wino swears that all of her friends said they were delicious.

Favorite Boozy Places: The Pig and Butcher

The Wino has been meaning to post about The Pig and Butcher for months now but for some reason she's been unable to make it happen. Perhaps she was drunk. Perhaps she was lazy. Probably both. In any case, she is now ready to loudly sing The Pig and Butcher's praises.

The Pig and Butcher is one of The Wino's favorite boozy places in London. Located in Angel just a short walk from the Tube, this fine establishment has a gorgeous, reasonably priced wine list and a gastropub menu that, The Wino swears, when eaten, warms the soul like a cashmere sweater on a cold, damp January afternoon.

Loads of places use the word, "gastropub" to describe their food but the Pig and Butcher actually delivers on the word's promise and frequently goes well beyond (Don't even get The Wino started on establishments who call themselves "gastropubs" and use it as an excuse to charge a higher price for really bad food.). Pig and Butcher diners are treated to exquisitely executed pub fare and creative comfort food with layers of flavour always served with a dollop of mustard and perfectly paired with a glass of wine or beer. Glasses are never empty as the service is attentive, friendly, and efficient.

Tartare with Quail's Egg and Grilled Toast

A glass of Mont Rocher Carignan pairs perfectly with just about everything.

Crispy Fried Wiener Schnitzel with Celeriac Slaw and Dijon Mustard