Hotcha Summer Nights with a Glass of Red Wine

August is a month that sizzles, thanks to high temperatures, lots of greenery, a healthy dose of sunshine, and long, languid nights. But if you’d like to ignite a lustful late summer rendezvous then pop open a bottle of red wine and see what develops.

Hands down, red wine is said to be the drink of seduction. A study performed at the University of Florence discovered that red vino may actually increase sexual desire in women. The report indicates that by heightening blood flow to erogenous areas, women may become more amorous. And the study reported that red wine tends to stimulate desire in women in their forties, fifties and sixties more than those who are younger.

Red wine also affects men by increasing blood flow and escalating testosterone levels. But keep in mind, too many glasses of red wine and the libido takes a nosedive.

Your Brain on Wine

Another explanation for the erotic kick red wine supplies may be linked to the stimulation of your brain’s hypothalamus, which controls body temperature, hormone levels and basic human functions including your sex drive. Either way, this aphrodisiac works best in moderation with a max of two drinks, which works out perfectly if you’re sharing that bottle of red wine. 

Something else to consider, sniffing red wine might be considered foreplay. Wine aromas stimulate that hypothalamus and certain smells trigger the libido. For women, it’s the aromas of earth, wood, cherry and licorice that can fuel desire, so serve her a rustic Zinfandel, an earthy Barbera or a musky Pinot Noir. For men, it’s more baking aromas (seriously) like caramel, butter, orange and vanilla that prove to be arousing. Pour him a glass of Syrah, Moscato or Tawny Port to sip and savor for a provocative August evening.

Cheers!

Joy

Celebrate Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day

Time for another wine celebration! Saturday, July 18^th is National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day. We’ve enjoyed the pairing of these sweet yet biting flavors for centuries, in desserts and wines.

Strawberries date back to ancient Roman times, while the first garden strawberries were grown in France in the late 1700s. Early Americans found a surplus of wild strawberry plants in the New World and began using them in simple pioneer foods.

The rhubarb plant has been cultivated for thousands of years. According to legend, a gardener carried the rootstock to New England in the early 1800s, but housewives didn’t accept the plant until it proved to make a good pie filling, hence its nickname “pie plant.”  In the 1940s, rhubarb was ruled to be a fruit for the purposes of regulations and taxes since American cooks used it mainly to make into desserts

Strawberries, which come from the rose family, provide sweet, juicy flavors wrapped in a berry aroma. Mix that with the oh-so-tart taste of rhubarb, and a strawberry rhubarb wine should offer up sweetness with a burst of refreshing tartness.

This is a “drink when ready” wine; aging does it no favors. If you’re looking to pair it with food, opt for spicy pork or roasted chicken, spinach salad, and flan or shortcake for dessert.  Or just chill a bottle and enjoy on a hot summer afternoon.

~ Joy

Memorial Day’s Past – Pull Out Those Summer Whites

It’s that time of year when a bold red wine just doesn’t seem quite right after a long, hot, sultry day.  It appears that our grandmothers had it right – Flaunt your whites after Memorial Day – Here are just a few of the summer white grapes/white wines to cool down with.

Chenin Blanc Grapes

Chenin Blanc is not a grape that’s really raved about, despite its French pedigree, but it's one of the most adaptable and blendable grapes out there, and it relies on the winemaker to make it memorable. A Chenin Blanc wine can be crafted to be sweet and honeyed, minerally and refreshing, or crisp and sparkling. It all depends on what style you like, so find a Chenin that appeals to you, chill it down, and enjoy liquid gold on a hot summer’s evening.

Black Muscato Grapes

White Muscat Grapes

Muscat/Moscato grapes are grown around the world and can range in color from white to almost black. In fact, Muscat is not just one grape variety but a family of grapes, with over 200 varieties. With its sweet, floral aroma, Muscat is an unforgettable wine. 

As of last year, Moscato, the new white wine darling of the industry, became the third most popular white wine in the U.S.  The grape can be crafted into a light, dryer wine, or as a sweet, sparkling like the Italian Asti Spumante.  Grab a bottle – or three, chill well, and put on some Don Ho & Tiny Bubbles....

Riesling Grapes

Riesling grapes are mainly recognized for the sweet German wines they can produce.  This is another grape with a floral nose, wrapped around the flavors of pineapple, honey and citrus. Riesling can also be crafted in an off-dry style and still maintain that fruity flavor, plus a wonderful, crisp finish, which is so welcome during the sultry, summer weekends.

Sauvignon Blanc Grapes

Sauvignon Blanc is French for wild, white grape. (In other words, it is an indigenous grape in Southern France.) And it’s well named because Sauvignon Blanc is not your stuffy, pretentious kind of wine - It was one of the first wines to be bottled with a screw cap.  The flavors range from grass, to melons, to tropical fruit, and the aromas vary from lemons, to herbs, to minerals, and yes, sometimes cat pee.  Sauvignon Blanc is usually crafted as a dry wine, with a light, crisp, finish; or winemakers may aim for more spicy, floral flavors with a smoky, flinty finish – Fume Blanc, anyone?  When blended with Semillon grapes, a sweet, late-harvest Sauternes can be the result, to be enjoyed as a sweet, summer wine.

So, with those hot, muggy days upon us, now’s the time to stock up on some cool wines to banish your thirst, and pair wonderfully with those fresh-from-the-garden meals. Now, pop a cork, chill out, and Enjoy!

~ Joy