Everyone enjoys a little something now and then, this also goes with drinks. I'm sure given the trouble with Coronavirus, everyone's liver is probably in a form of trouble. So for those who don't have troubles with their liver, here are a few cocktails and mixed drink ideas for up and coming parties or to help keep up with the Jones'.
Believe me. I know how this sounds. I want to preface this by saying that I am in no way trying to judge anyone's lifestyle nor am I trying to make myself seem superior for not drinking. It's just a boundary that I have that I want people to respect.
If Covid-19 hasn’t taught me anything else, it’s a new appreciation for wine. It sounds really bad when I say it out loud, but I drink (almost) every day. I used to only drink alcohol socially, but one day I saw an article on Facebook that changed my outlook on drinking forever. It said that the antioxidants found in red wine could significantly reduce the chances of catching a cold. I’m not sure how the words “could” and “significantly” can coincide, but it was on Al Gore’s Internet, so it must be true… maybe. This news excited me so much because I catch a cold every year sometimes 2 or 3 times even during the summer months. No one likes being sick, but I especially hate having a cold. Regardless of the medicine I take, the symptoms persist 7-10 days, and while it’s a God-awful feeling, it isn’t bad enough to take time off from work considering the sick leave rate of 8 hours per month. I’m sure there are other foods with cold-fighting antioxidants, but wine is so much more fun. There are many places nearby with inexpensive choices: Trader Joe’s, Aldi, Total Wine, grocery stores, and local sellers. It’s now a permanent fixture on my weekly grocery list; and no, I haven’t had a cold since.
Wine therapy can be defined as a series of refinement strategies that employ red wine and must. Must is the repeatedly crushed fruit juice that consists of the skins, seeds, and fruit stems. The substantial part of the must is called pomace and generally produces up 7–23% of the must's absolute substance, making it the initial step in the winemaking process (A History of Wine as Therapy, 1964). A beauty treatment born in France to obtain the most from the antioxidant, toning, and detoxifying properties of grapes promptly escalated to the rest of the world, notably in Italian wine lands (A History of Wine as Therapy, 1964).
The Perfect Pairing
What comes to mind when you read those words? The answer may seem like it would be different for everyone. But let’s be honest, wine goes great with just about everything. Wine is the part of the pairing that makes the meal. There are a few key factors that may be able to pin down exactly which pairing you might go for and which is the perfect match for you.
As one of the original alcoholic drinks of contemporary human civilization, wine has imparted itself into practically every significant religion of the world. Since the birth of time, the doctrines of Europe and the Middle East gradually embodied this “nectar of the gods“ into their observances, declaring its fame and continuity throughout generations and millennia of individual growth. During great courses of time, the recipe of wine was secured as a mystery of religious faiths and influential established families of Sumerian and Egyptian authorities (Fuller, 1996). When wine eventually reached Ancient Greece and Rome, it created an original set of gods and rites focused on this compelling alcoholic drink (Fuller, 1996). As those ancient civilizations collapsed, wine worked to withstand the dark and middle ages under the preservation of Jews and Christians, instructed by various wine displays in the Bible (Fuller, 1996).
“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” - The Hobbit
My favorite part of the Holidays is the feasting and merriment. Spending hours with friends and family over shared bottles of wine and tables full of decadent food. Growing up, my family always did a traditional Christmas meal with turkey, casseroles, and pies. However, in the last few years, we've started something new that I think will stick for many years to come. On Christmas Eve I create massive charcuterie boards and we pop open several of our favorite wines from our favorite label: Lazarre.
Consider placing an unopened bottle from holidays ago? Consider bestow a last-minute because of an unnecessary custom to arrive somewhere with something? If reading Wine. All the Time taught one thing, consider making a subjective decision choosing a bottle? Does the thought of Consumer-mas and consider buying a red blend?
The holidays are here! That means overeating, gift-giving, and family quality time. With family comes different personalities and this may bring some awkward moments. What do you do when your aunt asks you why you are thirty and still single? Who will stop your grandfather from talking about politics? Family is great, but they come with some baggage, so what do you do? It is simple, pour yourself some sangria and grab a snack. This is the perfect combination for surviving the holiday season.
