For The Love Of Port

I'm not saying I don't have my own quirks about food too (and maybe they annoy my husband or others around me). I'm picky about certain things, but that has gotten better as I've gotten older. I also do have my own favorite dishes that I have a hard time getting away from, but only at certain restau...

Peter, I do see your points. But I do think there is something to be said for trying new things. Of course there is no arguing with one's taste. I have a friend whose husband orders a chicken caesar salad almost everywhere we ever go for dinner, and it bugs the daylights out of me--why, I can't say....

Pete, I'll tell you why I make my own pizza: Sometimes instead of the Americanized version of pizza, with its thick crust, loads of sauce and cheese and tons of toppings, I want a more Italian version with thin crust, my own choice of cheeses (usually 2-4 kinds), little to no sauce (most of the time...

Well, why not? It can't be any rainier than here, that's for sure. And the traffic sure as heck can't be any worse.

Maybe I should just MOVE over there.

LOL. Well, who knows, maybe we'll all organize a trip to the UK to meet up with all the Port lovers over there one day, eh? Of course, if they held a big tasting it might be an enticement....

Yes--Tempranillo is my favorite red wine, and when I found out that the grape is also used in Port, I thought "Well, no wonder I like it". Must be something in that grape that agrees with me.

I picked up a bottle of 2007 Vale do Bomfim red wine made by Dow. Quite dark in the glass, almost black, with a lighter rim. Smells like Tempranillo, peppery and dark, maybe earthy or smoky, fruit in the background. On the palate, it's a bit too...something...too bitter maybe? First sips were nice, ...

LOL, I don't know...I may just challenge you to an arm-wrestling match should we ever meet at a tasting in the future.

Unfortunately I had to miss the Wines of Portugal tasting, so I'll be sure to do my best to be at the Madeira one. Here's what they were pouring, in case anyone is interested. (Prices indicated are prices for club members versus those for nonmembers). 2008 Grinalda, Vinho Verde, Colheita Selccionada...

Okay, so I succumbed and spent a few of my dollars that I've been holding so tightly to. For weeks there has been a bottle of 2004 Quinta de Roriz starting at me from the shelf at Whole Foods. It was the only bottle left. For weeks I kept looking to see if anyone bought it, and no one did. After thi...

Whoa, Derek. I have no choice but to pull out a Bugs Bunny quote: "Them's fightin' words" (Or 'woids', as Bugs would pronounce it)

Have there been any whisperings of those Ports heading across the sea? I've been faithfully gripping my Port dollars in anticipation.

I'll be sure to take notes. I have never had Madeira, so I'm sure my notes will be inscrutable. But I'm sure it will be fun nonetheless.

I have never been to Cirque--have you? Would like to to know what you think of it.

Some noteable quotes from the Wikipedia article about Prohibition: "Wine historians also note that Prohibition destroyed what was a fledgling wine industry in the United States. Productive wine quality grape vines were replaced by lower quality vines growing thicker skinned grapes that could be...

I read this on a winery's blog and it struck me funny, thought I would share. Wine Fact of the Day - The Wine Brick During prohibition, a product called the 'Grape Brick' was sold to thousands of wine-starved households across America by wineries looking to recoup their loses. Attached to the 'brick...

For anyone in the area who is interested, Fine Wine and Cigars in Redmond is holding two tastings in the near future that I thought might be of interest: Wines of Portugal - Saturday, June 5 2-5 p.m. Wine 101 - Madeira - Wednesday, June 16 6 p.m. (Requires a reservation) Their website to contact the...

If I'm making it myself, I like goat cheese, roasted red peppers and sun-dried tomatoes. For restaurant pizzas, one of my favorite combinations is mushrooms, sausage and pineapple. This is reminding me that it's time for dinner.

I think those are pipes that pump Port directly into a holding tank in my house.

Anyone can blend just like anyone can cook. But not everyone can make a perfect omelet (or a really great blended Port). It takes learning and practice. That was what I meant in my original post.