Riesling

It's National Riesling week and while you could enjoy a discount on European Riesling at a number of restaurants in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, and Las Vegas, you can just as easily celebrate by sipping a bottle in the comforts of your own home. I highly recommend my current Riesling of choice, the 2007 Schloss Schönborn Estate Riesling. It's a juicy, drinkable white with a slight sweetness. The aroma is peachy, the taste minerally, and the finish crisp and light. Riesling is an excellent between season wine because it pairs with light salads and heartier dishes. I enjoyed Schloss Schönborn on a warm day at the park and was surprised at how smooth and friendly it was. How do you feel about Rieslings? What will you drink to toast Riesling week?

Inspired by Market-Fresh Mixology, I decided to make a cocktail that features one of Spring's most popular fruits: strawberries. When I found this recipe while browsing cocktails on Food & Wine's website, I assumed it would be absolutely delightful.

My predictions were correct: this fruity concoction is light, refreshing, and easy drinking. The pureness of sweet strawberries is the defining flavor, but fresh lime juice provides a balancing tartness. Because the vodka is not overpowering, it's the perfect cocktail to enjoy on a hot day. If strawberries are in season at your farmers market, I strongly suggest you give this drink a try. Trust me, you won't be disappointed! To get the recipe please read more

I used to be one of those people who avoided Rieslings because of their overly sweet nature. However, I have since learned, from bottles like this 2006 Affentaler Blue Monkey Riesling, that dry (not sweet) Rieslings are abundantly available.

Crisp and clean, this lush white was smooth and highly drinkable. With a tart, puckery finish and a fruity aroma, the wine was exceptional chilled and delicious paired with homemade pesto.

At only $14.99 the fun bottle, complete with embossed blue monkey, makes a wonderful hostess gift. What do you think of Riesling? Have you sipped a dry varietal?

When shopping for white wine, I usually steer clear of overly sweet Rieslings. However, one Riesling I can't get enough of is Eroica. It's a rich, fruity wine from Washington state that is developed with a complex mix of old-world meets new-world techniques. The grapes come from many different vineyards to make the perfect blend. It's bold but refined with citrus flavors and a slight mineral finish. I love that the wine is named for Beethoven's third symphony, an interesting tidbit that elevates this bottle to supreme sophistication. It would pair well with light appetizers at Thanksgiving dinner; a crisp, thin crusted pizza; or a delicious, raw seafood bar.

I'm not exactly sure why, but I usually avoid Rieslings when I'm shopping for white wine. I can never remember if it's pronounced re or ree, and worry that each bottle is going to be sickeningly sweet. However all of these fears and insecurities were blown out the door when I tried Wolf Blass's 2006 Yellow Label Riesling. Produced in Southern Australia, this wine is beautifully crisp and very citrusy. I shared it with the girls in the office and we were all wonderfully surprised and appreciative. It's a dry Riesling that will pair wonderfully with spicy seafood, raw shellfish, or a light pasta. With its affordable price (under $12) this bargain wine is one you will definitely want to try.

This weekend Jimmy and I headed to our friend's house for a night of poker, wine, cheese, snacks, home brew and more. We all bought in to the game at $20 a piece and I was out way sooner than I anticipated (I had 2 kings and there was nothing but junk showing, what were the odds that the other guy would have 2 aces, especially since another guy had 2 aces in the hand before?!?), which was maddening, but did allow me to take the time to peruse the wine and snacks selection. One of the wines, Dr. Beckermann Piesporter Michelsberg Qualitätswein which was picked up at Trader Joe's for under $5, ended up being super nice and refreshing. It was definitely one of the sweeter rieslings, but nice, not syrupy. It had hints of pears and peaches, but was lacking a mineral/acidic quality. I felt that it would pair well with a spicy dinner, and luckily there wasn't that much left, as I probably would have unknowingly drank the entire bottle. Not worth going out of your way to track down, but if you see it, definitely pick up a bottle (or two).