What are you doing New Year’s Eve?

So tonite is New Year’s Eve, ushering out the old year and decade and welcoming in the new. Tonite, we’re just having a low-key evening including dinner out with friends and maybe back to their place. At the moment, I’m just leaning towards Dick Clark / Ryan Seacrest and some tea at midnight. It’s been a crazy busy year, full of travel and change. I’m hoping if I usher in the new year calmly, then 2010 might reflect some of that calm.

What are you doing? There are a lot of options, and I’ll point you in the right direction to find lists of parties. Don’t forget, the new Mynt Martini is now open on Fountain Square. I expect the place to give Tonic a run for its money, although I’ll take vintage cocktails over creative martinis any day. Amazing location though! If anyone goes, I’d love for you to write me up a review!

On to festivities:

• MetroMix has compiled a pretty good listing of the larger New Year’s Eve celebrations.
• ZipScene is listing over 130 New Year’s events. You have no excuse for not finding something to do. Bootsy’s and Red are included on that list.
• The Wise Owl Wine Bar in West Chester (sorry, no web site yet) has a fairly low-key New Year’s Eve event. You can RSVP online or call them at 513.889.2500.
• CityBeat has everything listed, from parties, to hosting your own dinner party, to a worst-case scenario survival guide.

And in case you overindulge – hey, it happens! – you can count on a free taxi ride home. Mothers Against Drunk Driving is sponsoring free taxi rides home as long as you’re within the 275 loop. The number to call (write this down) is 513-768-FREE.

Image by Flickr User Waldo Jaquith
via Creative Commons

Announcing WBW #65: Snow Day!

Wow! I have to say it’s kind of cool, hosting the first Wine Blogging Wednesday of a new decade. I should probably have picked something profound, something relating to New Year’s / New Decade resolutions and change. But no – because I’m cold. Here in the midwest, it’s freezing. My friends in DC were recently under a couple of feet of snow, and over Christmas, folks were shoveling here in Cincinnati as well. You know what? I hate snow. But growing up, I always loved a snow day.

But let me back up a moment. If you’re new to WBW, I should probably explain what’s going on. Way back in 2004, my friend Lenn at the New York Cork Report started up a virtual tasting event he called Wine Blogging Wednesday. The idea being that people interested in wine, the world over, would coalesce each month around a single theme. People would then submit their blog posts or email in reviews, and those would all be organized and shared. It was a hit. Many editions later and here we are at Wine Blogging Wednesday #65.

This month, even if you’re in warm sunny Florida or Los Angeles, I want you to look out your window and imagine Snow. Snowmen, snow balls, igloos, snow trucks, snow … cold, cold snow. Then I want you to imagine what that makes you want to drink. Do you want to curl up in front of your fireplace with a port? Maybe you want to pull out a cabernet sauvignon or a big juicy zin and then put on your snowsuit. Are you a glutton for punishment and you’re pulling out a chilled riesling before heading out to build a snowman? Are you inspired by vintners who are braving frigid temperatures to make icewine?

Image from Flickr: karenwithak via CC

In this particular instance, I’ll even allow you to branch a little away from wine if you want. With a valid story behind you, there’s no reason you can’t pop open a cognac, a brandy, or even bourbon. Imaginary “bonus points” for anyone with a wonderful Snow Day story of their youth , a great photo of snow and wine, or even a Snowman and wine!

WBW 65: Snow Day! will take place on Jan 20 (which is in between my trips to the sunnier side of our nation). Please send your info to me at wbw65@wine-girl.net. If you blog, send me a link. If you don’t have a blog, that’s okay too. You can email me your Snow Day review and story and I’ll include it in the overall roundup that will be posted a few days later.

So there you go. Have at it, everyone! Build snowmen, drink up, and keep warm!

Happy Holidays!

It’s been quiet around here. Why? I’m in the sun. I left on Dec 18 for an extended trip to Florida. I spent several days in Key West (I’d like to move there) and now I’m relaxing in Boca. Regular programming will resume after Dec 28.  In the meantime, I leave you with the view from Key West’s Mallory Square at sunset:

Wine Shop Wednesday: The Most Expensive Wine in the Bar

This week we welcome Bryant Phillips to Wine Shop Wednesday. You may remember Bryant from Sturkey’s or Chalk. Currently you can find him out at the excellent Wise Owl Wine Bar in West Chester. If you’re anywhere near IKEA, you’re near the Wise Owl. Stop by and have a drink – it’s worth it. I visited last week and fell in love with the place.

Last week I got into a conversation with two of our guests about a particular wine.  In itself, this fact is not unusual; however, this wine happens to be on our list for $274.  We discussed the varietal composition, heritage, etc.  But after they left, I was still thinking about our 2006 Bodegas El Nido conversation even into the next day.

The wine is made by Aussie Winemaker extraordinaire Chris Ringland in the rustic dry region of Spain called Jumilla.  I usually tell people that El Nido is the Granddaddy of obnoxious Spanish wine.  I think that is a misconception though.  El Nido is more like your rich Uncle who lives in the city, drives a Porsche, is a consummate bachelor, and slips the kids an XBOX 360 for Christmas, even though they might not deserve it.

From the satin label to the inky black color, this wine exudes cool.  It’s capability to cellar for more than a decade is impressive, but so is it’s ability to be consumed right now, attributed to its powerful yet balanced structure and depth.

Contest Winners Announced!

We have winners!

Thanks to the awesome generator over at Random.org, we have three winners for the Stanley Steemer Red Wine Remover. Carla (1), Arlene (6), and Liz (8), I’ll be getting in touch with you via email to arrange getting you the package.

If you ladies would be so kind as to comment back at a later date and let us know how the product works out for you, that would be fantastic as well.

Congratulations!