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Happy Hour: 2005 Prinz Von Hessen Riesling

partysugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:15:11 -0700

I love trying new wine, but sometimes it's intimidating and expensive to pick out a random bottle at the store. One great way to learn about wine is to order interesting varietals while dining out. If you enjoy the wine, make note of the name and label, then look for it at your local wine shop. That's exactly how I came across this smooth, deliciously-drinkable 2005 Prinz Von Hessen Riesling ($11). My sister enjoyed it with a sandwich at 'wichcraft and later she spotted the same bottle at Bi-Rite market. She thought it was so good, she gave it to me and said, "Drink this. You'll want to write about it."

She was right! It's the perfect Riesling - it's tart and acidic with notes of citrus and melon. It has a nice buttery color and lingering finish. It's not sweet at all, but it's slightly off-dry meaning it would pair wonderfully with sweet or spicy Asian-inspired dishes. Have you ever purchased a bottle of wine that you first sipped at a restaurant?

Happy Hour: Red 2005

partysugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:15:26 -0800

Worried about what wine to pour for Valentine's Day? Have I got the perfect bottle for you!

St. Francis Winery's 2005 Red blend is a spectacular wine at a shocking price. When I served this smooth-bodied wine to a girlfriend on Monday night, she guessed it was at least $25 a bottle. However, this succulent blend of five varietals - Merlot (58 percent), Syrah (25 percent), Cabernet Franc (9 percent), Cabernet Sauvignon (6 percent), and Zinfandel (2 percent) - is only $10. Produced in the Sonoma Valley, Red has a ripe fruit flavor, a spicy undertone, and robust aroma. It's wonderfully easy to drink and, since it's a table wine, it pairs with most foods from pizza to pasta to steak.

The modern, stylish labels (there are actually 12 different designs) were created by Jeffrey Caldewey, a renowned wine label designer. If you are looking or a great value wine, I highly recommend Red. Has anyone else tried it?

Happy Hour: Jeriko 2005 Brut Sparkling Wine (It's Organic!)

partysugar — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:00:03 -0800

At a recent sparkling wine tasting, I was lucky enough to sample the only "green" sparkling wine in the United States. Jeriko's 2005 Brut sparkling wine is a luxurious bubbly made from 100 percent organically grown grapes. A blanc de blanc - white wine derived from white grapes - made in the French Champagne method, this wine is effervescent and light. Rich, crisp, and delicate, it's a compelling sparkler with a soft finish and nice dryness. If you are looking to sip wines made from organic grapes, get yourself a bottle of this limited-edition wine. I would pair it with raw oysters, French fries, thin-crust pizza, or chocolate cake.

The Look For Less: Charlize Theron's 2005 Golden Globes Dior Dress

FabSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 03:00:22 -0800

At times, Charlize Theron plays it safe on the red carpet, but the 2005 Golden Globe Awards was definitely not one of those times. The Christian Dior strapless gown she wore was awe-inspiring. Two years later, it's still modern and fabulous. Just because Charlize paid thousands for her gown (well, she probably got it for free, but you know what I mean), doesn't mean you have to.

To see the look for less, read more

Jovani's Elegant Strapless Gown ($350) would look amazing as a maid-of-honor or black tie dress; basically any event where you must look your absolute best. The neckline is sweetheart, the iridescent hue is similar, and the bottom is mermaid-like, just like Dior's version. Make yourself the Charlize of your chi-chi event!

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Happy Hour: 2005 Domaine Felines Jourdan Coteaux du Languedoc Picpoul de Pinet

partysugar — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:58:39 -0700

A few weeks ago I waltzed into my local wine shop to see the gracious owner Jason. I was home alone for the week and wanted a delicious and refreshing bottle of white wine to enjoy all by myself. He pulled me aside and gave me this bottle! If you have yet to build a relationship with your neighborhood wine guy, use my free bottle of wine as an example: do it! I drank the smooth, crisp wine with a zesty bite and dry finish in one sitting. Naturally I had to share this wine with you, but when I started to read the label I got a little confused - I'm fluent in Spanish, not French. Luckily I talked to a very informed wine snob friend and got the lowdown:

Coteaux du Languedoc refers to a region in the South of France.
Picpoul de Pinet refers to the type of grape or the wine varietal.
Domaine Felines Jourdan is the name of the winery.
Generally Picpoul de Pinets are light, fragrant, and floral wines that work well as a bright apperitifs or paired with seafood.

Flashback to 2005: Where Is the Honda Dog Car?

PetSugar — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:00:39 -0700

Back in 2005, Honda featured a minivan that was made for you and your best friends - furry and non-furry alike. With passenger seating for up to six people, you'd think there would be plenty of room for Fido to ride along without any problems. But Honda thought that having an abundance of room wasn't enough. The "Dog Car," based on Honda's "Wonderful Open-Hearted Wagon" (or W.O.W) concept, had a spot for your pooch either right up front in the dash or in the second row seat in a popup dog crate that folds down into the floorboards when not in use.

Even better, the "Dog Car" offered wider doors and a floor-mounted seat belt to secure your larger breeds. My question is: where are you, Dog Car!? Although this was a concept in Japan four years ago, it would be amazing to check this out now. I'm sure there are plenty of dog owners that could benefit from the car's safety features and the convenience of having a builtin crate for your dog to ride easy. If the "Dog Car" were real, would you consider driving it?

Speed Read! Jon Stewart Takes on Rogue Warrior Sarah Palin

TresSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:30:58 -0800

Jon Stewart explains that his problem with Sarah Palin has nothing to do with her looks or her family. - Daily Show
Texas may have accidentally banned all marriage when it banned gay marriage in 2005. - The Frisky
Sexist man alive Jon Hamm is missing from People's Sexiest Men Alive list. - Best Week Ever
Conservatives are over Carrie Prejean thanks to her sex tapes. - The Daily Beast
Old law still bans women from wearing pants in Paris. Ouf! - Telegraph
John Kerry's daughter Alexandra was arrested on suspicion of DUI. - TMZ
Brush up on New Moon before you see the movie. - BuzzSugar
Literary Review's bad sex in fiction award. - Guardian
Computer nerds strip for charity. - Huffington Post

13 Under $20 Wines Perfect For Hostess Gifts

partysugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:15:34 -0800

Do you have an iPhone? Then stop what you're doing right now and download the Nirvino (my preferred online drinking community) wine ratings guide. With over one million wines listed by name, price, grape varietal, flavor profile, region, and producer, the wine application is an amazing resource to always have at your fingertips.

Not only does it provide food pairing suggestions, but there's also lots of fun lists to browse. Food Network's Aida Mollenkamp shares her favorite wines to drink while cooking, Sommelier Mark Bright rounded up his top bottles from Whole Foods, and yours truly has even created a list!

I headed to Safeway to pick out the best wines - all of which are under $20 - for hostess gifts. I've tasted and enjoyed these wines and would bring them to a party. Be it a birthday bash at Hog Island oyster farm, an intimate Thanksgiving dinner, or an upcoming holiday soirée, there's a bottle for every occasion. To check out my list, keep reading.

Sugar Bits – ITV Fined £5.68m

PopSugarUK — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:55:05 -0700

ITV have been fined £5.68million for their phone-in scandals. It has also been revealed that The Catherine Tate Show should have won a British Comedy Award in 2005, but it is thought Robbie Williams was promised by ITV that Ant and Dec would win to secure his attendance and get him to present the award. They will return the award. – BBC
Louise Redknapp is pregnant! Congratulations Louise! – Mirror
Madonna will kick off her world tour in Cardiff this year. – NME
Liv Tyler and her husband Royston Langdon have split up. – PopSugar
Peaches Geldof is to star in Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds new video. – The Sun

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Wine World Reels As 2 Buck Chuck Wins Award

partysugar — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 10:13:38 -0700

Wine snobs all over the country are still fuming over a blind tasting in which Charles Shaw's 2005 Chardonnay was voted the best tasting California Chardonnay by the judges at the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition. You may have heard this already, but so many people have been asking me about it that I couldn't let it go unnoticed! The shocking results were leaked on June 28th and declared "Two Buck Chuck" - as the wine is affectionately called due to its $1.99 price tag - the highest scoring white wine. The official verdict shows that 64 judges awarded "Two Buck Chuck" the prestigious Double Gold award, placing it first over 350 other Chardonnays, and in the top of the entire pack of 3,029 wines.

There are those who feel that the results should not be taken into account as the judges are not true, trained wine professionals.

The California State Fair competition is dismissed by some critics as representing broad-based consumer tastes rather than the palates of true wine connoisseurs.

Whether the outcome will be taken seriously or not, one thing can be certain, thousands of cases of this Chardonnay will be purchased. To be a part of the hype head to your local Trader Joe's and taste for yourself. At just $1.99 a bottle, you can buy one for all of your friends!

Source: The Press Democrat
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