Wine Tasting Evenings

The NorthWest Technology Center is once again sponsoring wine tasting evenings.

Beginning 28 January 2008 with a selection of robust red wines, then 4 February 2008 we will taste several of the blushes and, finally, on 11 February 2008 the freshest of whites will be showcased. If you have specific wines you would like to try, email this website.

Meetings will start at 6:30pm in The Runnymede in downtown Alva. You must be 21 years of age to participate and bring proof of age each meeting.

So, enroll at the Technology Center (580-327-0344), mark your calendars and prepare for the most fun you will ever have with homework !

Xplorador Chardonnay 2005

Concha y Toro produces this very nice chardonnay from the Central Valley of Chile.

It is very yellow in appearance with aroma of green apples and pineapple. The taste is round in the mouth but still crisp and pleasant. Since this wine is aged in stainless steel vats, there is no hint of oak so the fruit is bright and forward with a whisper of vanilla near the finish.

I am normally not a white wine drinker, but this one could turn me into a "switch drinker!"

What wine do I serve with Thanksgiving dinner?

"What wine do I serve with turkey?"

Here are some simple guidelines:
1. Serve just one white wine, or one red and one white wine.
Keep it simple. This helps guests not accidentally mix two different wines.

2. Serve wines that go with almost any food.
Your dinner will have a huge range of flavors, from spicy, to rich, to everything in between. So you want flexible wines with some fruit.

3. Serve great, affordable wines.
Most of your family are not wine experts. Help them enjoy the wine by picking simple, easy to drink wines. If you are a big wine fan, save your $50 a bottle favorite to relax after the holidays.

Recommendations:

From our stock, we have several choices, all under $15.

White wines:

• Rosemount Traminer Riesling - long our favorite recommendation
• Columbia Crest Sauvignon Blanc
• Columbia Crest Gewurztraminer
• Bolla Pinot Grigio

Red wines:

• George DeBouf Beaujolais Villages
• Camelot Pinot Noir
• Xplorador Malbec

Enjoy!

Spirited gift choices

You have lots to choose from, if you'd like to give a liquor gift set this year. When you come in, be sure to look around on the very top of the shelves for all nifty gift packs.

Everything from shot glasses, to poker chips, to a lovely wooden chest.