Cocktails

Although Prosecco has been around a long time, its popularity has grown in the last couple of years. It is viable alternative to more expensive champagnes and sparkling wines and is a "go to" item for holidays and special occasions. It is no wonder that Prosecco is a natural for Mothers' Day. You can toast mom or make Momosas for the Mother's Day brunch. Alternatively, you can also make delicious cocktails and punches as well. Here are a few examples.

Bellini

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• 3 (16-ounce) bags frozen peaches, thawed
• 1 teaspoon grated orange peel
• 4 to 6 (750-ml) bottles Prosecco or other sparkling wine, chilled
• Orange peel twists, for garnish

Stir the sugar and water in a large saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Cool completely.

Puree the peaches and orange peel in a blender with 1 1/2 cups of the sugar syrup until smooth. Strain through a fine-meshed

This holiday season I have opted to repeat my blog from last year because the films obviously remain classics and the pairings still apply.

It is the busy season at Premier, so I am just doing one large blog for the Holidays. I have listed 10 of my favorite Christmas movies with one bonus film many of you probably have never seen or heard of, but should take a look at. For each movie I have suggested a wine or spirit to go along with your viewing pleasure.

1. A Christmas Carol (1951): My favorite all-time Christmas movie with the incomparable Alistair Sim. It’s full of dark, brooding, Victorian London along with cheery snowy street scenes and lovely carols. A figgy and nutty Tawny Port like Niepoort Ten Year is just the thing to sip along with a slice of Christmas cake or pudding as you view this ideal Christmas movie.

2. A Christmas Carol (1984): My second favorite version of Dickens’ classic with wonderful set

Nearly two years ago I went on a trip to Italy to drink wine. I know... it’s a tough job.  Anyway, one night my colleagues and I were at a little bar in Tuscany and I tasted a Bellini made from Prosecco and fresh pulp from peaches picked that day. It was juicy, slightly bubbly with a beautiful pink hue and it tasted delicious.

Every year at this time, many people struggle with the dilemma of what to toast with at midnight on New Year’s Eve.  There are several choices depending on style and of course cost.  Some people like a classic Brut (driest of dry) from Champagne France while others like a very sweet Asti from Italy.  Others opt for something in-between like a semi or off dry sparkling wine Prosecco confusingly referred to as “extra dry”.  For those in this latter category looking for something different than the “go to” Prosecco or Asti, I recommend the Jaillance  Cuvee Imperiale.

One of my favorite Christmas time films is a somewhat obscure gem called Holiday Affair which stars Robert Mitchum and Janet Lee. Although it seems odd to cast Robert Mitchum in a seasonal, romantic comedy, the big guy is actually very effective as the independent, down on his luck department store clerk. 

“The bitters are excellent for your liver, the gin is bad for you. They balance each other.”-Orson Welles (said to have been commenting on the Negroni).

What exactly is a Negroni?

The Negroni is mixed drink said to have been created in Italy about a century ago. The drink is considered an apéritif (I prefer it before dinner, although it may be soothing after as well).

The ingredients are actually very simple; gin, sweet vermouth, and the bright red/orange Italian bitter liqueur Campari in