Wine Bags mean you can take it with you

Carry-on liquid restrictions have put a damper on the favorite method for bringing home a bottle of wine from travels. Putting wine in your checked luggage is just asking for trouble, unless you can pack it well and make it leak proof.

BottleWise wine bags are the new best way to pack bottles, safe enough to check through. It holds each bottle in a padded and leak proof pouch, and snaps two bottles together. Then stuff it in your checked bag. The separate cover makes it presentable as a messenger-style bag on its own, for gadding about town with wine in tow. When it's not in use, it can fold flat so it doesn't take up too much precious packing space.

Wine X Magazine did a review with some good details, but the site was down as of this moment. Suffice to say they tested it by throwing it out a second story window, and it survived nicely, thank you.

Super Bowl Sangrias

Super Bowl parties are another great venue to mix up a fresh batch of Sangria. Sangria is a lively, wine-based party drink that has a reputation for fruit and fun! It is easy to make, easy to drink and a welcome addition to basic beer and brats at any shindig.

Best Party Sangria Recipe

This Sangria recipe is perfect for big parties - always a favorite, you may consider doubling the recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rioja, Zinfandel, Shiraz)
• 1 Lemon cut into wedges
• 1 Orange cut into wedges
• 1 Lime cut into wedges
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• Splash of orange juice
• 2 Shots of gin (or rum)
• 1 Cup of sliced strawberries or raspberries (may use thawed or frozen)
• 1 Small can of diced pineapples (with juice)
• 4 Cups ginger ale

PREPARATION:

Pour wine in the pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon, orange and lime into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) and pineapple then add sugar, orange juice and gin/rum.

Chill overnight. Add ginger ale, berries and ice just before serving. If you'd like to serve right away, use chilled red wine and serve over lots of ice.

Remember that the best Sangrias are chilled around 24 hours in the frig. - allowing the flavors to really marinate into each other.