Think food/wine gift baskets or is it better to have something which you can keep?
Is it tacky and cheap to show up for an adult friend’s b-day party without a small gift (bottle of wine/liquor, gift card, etc).
I personally have never shown up to any type of party without something (food, wine, flowers) but apparently alot of people think its okay. I think you are a cheapskate and a boor if you attend a birthday party for a close friend with no gift and/or birthday card.
It’s our 2nd Christmas together and I’m desperate to come up with something thoughtful and creative to get my SO (0 or less). He’s 39, software engenieer, techie, loves gourmet food, wine, cheese, already has all the latest gizmo’s and gadgets, loves movies, history channel buff, computer games…
Any ideas???
Going to be in Paris then wanting to travel from January 3-8th with my girlfriend. We really want to go to wine country. We love the great food, wine and ambience of the Napa Valley region. What area comes close to that or probably bette than that? Thanks.
Otherwise, consumers coming to the style for the first time will be mislead into believing this is the way it was always intended to taste.
Currently there are no restrictions, for example, on producers of Brunello or Amarone from altering the traditional style with the generic, modern "international" style of winemaking.
What suggestions would you give to regulators for distinguishing between a traditional and a generic "international" style of wine on the label?
For example, say the combination of grape X from region Y traditionally equals style Z that has less alcohol, tannin, or fruit forwardness, and the modern generic style takes it in the completely opposite direction, with no indication on the label of the divergence from the original model. This is at least misleading as to what is meant by style Z, especially for a newbie having it for the first time.
Here are some links:
http://www.thewinenews.com/octnov00/cover.html
http://www.castellobanfi.com/features/wnew17.html (last paragraph)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunello_di_Montalcino (last paragraphs)
Even a regulated area still allows significant variation in style from traditional to "international" within that appellation. And as the the first article notes, rules in Brunello have changed numerous times in the last 2 decades (and are relatively young in the history of Brunello to begin with).
I’m advocating a distinction between an international and traditional style on already regulated labeled wines.
Perhaps even a voluntary distinction on the label between a food wine and a social wine (high alc, low acid, over-oaked international style fruit bomb) would be nice.
another link:
http://www.winemag.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=A3017EE5269F4DDAB7210B3F969DA475