Sparkling Wine

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

Easter is upon us and this year I thought it would be fun to offer a few more choices in different categories. Hopefully you will see a few surprises.

WHITES

1. Vouvray: Les Lys Vouvray 2015

Made from 100% Chenin Blanc this is an off-dry white with notes of delicate perfume, stone fruit and tropical fruit, a hint of almond, and a pleasant dose of honey. It has low acidity and a soft, round finish. This wine pairs well with sweet and salty honey-glazed ham with a side of scalloped potatoes.

2. Riesling: Boundary Breaks Ovid Line North 2014

The nose on this Finger Lakes Riesling offers scents of honey, wax, and peach. This off-dry Riesling has fine texture and pleasant, lingering flavors and is very well balanced. This wine can easily take on not just salty-sweet ham, but smoked kielbasa, hard boiled eggs and horseradish.

3. Pinot Gris: Willm Pinot Gris Reserve 2014

The Willm Pinot Gris has a golden color with a very faint pink hue

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.

Okay, I admit it. When I go to Hoaks out on the lake, I usually order a simple lager or pilsner beer with my fish fry (still my favorite since childhood) because it is such a classic match. But (duh) I do like my  wine and I was pondering what would I pair with a fish fry take-out at home?

If you are someone who is looking for a quieter, smaller, more intimate New Years Eve that doesn’t involve loud crowds and boy bands, I have a suggestion.  Why not have a few friends over and enjoy some champagne with traditional appetizers, and watch a classic film to boot?

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.

I chose three wines that will pair well with somewhat traditional holiday menus. I picked a red, a white and a sparkling white that will be sure to make the "Bah, Humbug" groaners in your family shout out with glee.

Until now, we have basically ignored sparkling wines this summer (or I should say I have) which is really not fair. After all, summer is a simple, casual, easy going yet celebratory time when the informal becomes more appealing. Case in point is the Babarosa Prosecco, an Italian sparkling wine that is not sophisticated like Champagne, but is easy to drink, pleases many palates, and pairs well with many dishes.

This Prosecco is an extra dry wine (which in the sparkling wine world means semi-dry) so it has a hint of sweetness. The color is bright golden, yellow like the summer sun. Peaches and pear with a faint citrus aroma draw you in as the fizz tickles your nose ever so gently. The taste is fresh and bright like ripe, crisp apples complemented by more citrus and stone fruit. I enjoyed this Prosecco with Swiss cheese and crackers and also tried it with chocolate. It pairs very well with Linguine and White Clam sauce.

The Fair is nearly over, summer is coming to an end, so