Des Moines Wine and Food Connection

Leftover Wine

I know there are many of you who believe it is sacrilege to open a bottle of wine and not finish it. This story is not for you. For the rest of us though there are occaisons when finishing the bottle just isn't feasible. Perhaps the next evening one has obligations and the next you just don't feel like a glass. What to do with this leftover wine? If I, your trusty wine guy haven't finished a bottle within 4-5 days of opening then I prefer to use these wines for cooking. Whether the wine is a red or a white I'll stick it in the refrigerator. White wines are great for using as marinades for chicken or fish. Add some herbs and spices or perhaps some Dijon mustard. Put the lot in a Glad Storage Bag. Leave it for 20 minutes, two hours, or overnight and you're good to go. Whites are also good for deglazing fry pans and making quick sauces. Turn the heat up to cook off the alcohol, scrape loose the cooked on bits, add some capers, salt & pepper, turn the heat down and reduce, and you've got a great sauce to pour over pan fried pork chops or a piece of fish.  

In The Glass

Boekenhoutskloof 2007 The Wolftrap is a South African blend of Syrah (60%), Mourvedre (39%) & Viognier (1%). Modeled after a southern French Rhone-style blend, this wine has a spicy, meaty nose with strong cracked pepper notes. A perfect wine for game and grilled meats, this bottle is one you should have in your rack during the coming bar-b-que season. This food and wine guy will. Casa di Vino plans to keep it around all summer.

Howard Bernstein
Owner, Casa di Vino
Wine and Food Guy
Des Moines Wine and Food Connection  

In Your Ear

Everyone knows the influence Des Moines Wine and Food Connection has on the world's eating and drinking habits but what about our listening habits? Are your ears getting the proper daily aural nutrition they need? Proper balance of bass, harmony & lyrics? If not then you need to run down to your favorite music vendor and pick up "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today". The first collaboration in nearly 30 years between techno wiz Brian Eno and David Byrne, former Talking Heads tunesmith. Great music, superb harmonies & hooks that get into your head. This is a wonderful disc that will give your ears the sound nutritional balance they deserve and need. Check it out or stop into Casa di Vino. It may be on the sound system.  

Howard Bernstein, Owner                                 

Casa di Vino

Wine and Food Guy, Music lover

Des Moines Wine and Food Connection 

Best Birthday Wines

What better way to celebrate a birthday than with fine food and fine wine?  Casa di Vino featured my birthday wine picks for our last Tuesday Tasting--a twice monthly event that has become a great way to try new wines and talk with a wine expert about the foods that go best with them.  That's not me, by the way.  That's my wine guy, and hubby, Howard Bernstein.  Anyway, we poured a few of my favorites, including:

Four Vines 07 "Naked" Chardonnay--a crisp, unoaked Chard that is great with roast chicken

Pillar Box 07 White, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Verdello and Chardonnay that works well with appetizers such as stuffed mushrooms and mini quiches

Angeline 06 Gewurztraminer--a great wine for any type of Asian or spicy food

Gran Sasso 07 Sangiovese--a light-bodied Italian wine that is one of my favorites for pizza and pasta

Casal de Tonda 06 "Grillos"--a Portugese Red that is fun for hamburgers or other red meat

Castle Rock 06 Zinfandel--an all-purpose red wine that is great by itself or with any type of meat

As one of our customers stated the other night, you can learn a lot about a person by what they drink.  If you think you've discovered a secret about my wine drinking habits or want to just share your favorite birthday wine with us, let us know by posting comments here on the Des Moines Wine and Food Connection Blog.

Laura--the birthday gal!
Sidekick to Howard, wine guy
Casa di Vino Wine Shop
Des Moines Wine and Food Connection

Eating Des Moines: Basil Prosperi's Lucca

Laura and I visited Lucca last night for the first time. Owned by Steve Logsdon and named after his grandfather Basil Prosperi's birthplace in Tuscany, Lucca is Italian at heart but international in style.  Long, narrow & sparsely decorated, with an open air kitchen and bar in the center of the space, the ambiance serves to put focus on food and conversation. An evening of socializing without distraction.