by Holli Edwards

South Dakota is not considered on the leading edge of the trends - but this is not a bad thing, especially in this case!  In the Best of Year 2008 edition of Wine Enthusiast Magazine, and featured on their website,  is a story regarding wine now being served in rubber tipped baby bottles.  A restaurant in New York City, La Cave de Fondus (they feature a cow sipping wine from a baby bottle on their website) is serving beer and wine in these bottles modeled after a restaurant in Paris who creatively went this route to forgo paying tax on wine served in wine glasses.  Nursing your drink brings on a whole new meaning!

by Holli Edwards

With the holidays quickly approaching you may be thinking that it’s too late to bring the “WOW” factor to your party - not the case.  It’s the little things that people remember, so don’t resign yourself to a ho-hum get together just yet!

Some easy tips:

• A few spruce twigs and cranberries go a long way.  Fill wine glasses or vases with fresh cranberries and add a votive candle.  Fill a vase with water and add cranberries and floating greens.  Utilize an assortment of different containers, it makes things more interesting!

• Ask the deli staff at your local grocer or winery for gourmet cheese suggestions.  Pairing cheese with cranberry jelly, compotes, honey and other garnishes are a great way to introduce guests to something new.

• Serve your desert(s) in a wine glass and if using whipped cream, add a little nutmeg and cinnamon for a more festive look.

• Don’t be afraid to ask your local liquor store or winery for beverage ideas.  Let them know what you will be serving to get pairing suggestions - that’s what they are there for!

• A great party needs a big “surprise,” such as a signature drink that will have everyone talking.  At our recent holiday gatherings we featured the Red Assarita, a very festive red, white and green holiday drink that’s easy to pull off.  Have these displayed in wine glasses when guests arrive and the party will soon be hopping!  More signature drink ideas are provided in the link following, or come up with your own (it’s fun to perfect the recipe!) http://www.prairieberry.com/wine-know/index.php?id=20

• Be creative and have fun in the preparation.  Most importantly, be sure to “test out” the wine offerings and signature drink before guests arrive.  And, you’ve just added a little “jingle” to the mingling…Cheers!

by Sandi Vojta-Winemaker

I find myself drawn to wines produced by family’s who have been in the wine business for several generations.  I know that winemaking is who they are and that they are truly talented to be successful in such a volatile industy. 

One such family is the Seghesio family that immigrated to Sonoma County, CA in the late 1800’s from Italy.  They brought their family winemaking tradition to America along with several Italian grape varieties such as Aglianico (pronounced “ah-LYAH-nee-koe”), which actually originated in Greece.  They are one of the few wineries in North America that produce Aglianico.  The Aglianico grape produces a very powerful, full bodied wine with firm tannins, enabling it to be cellared for several years.  I recently enjoyed a 2003 Seghesio Aglianico.  It had an incredible deep garnet color with an equally deep plum nose, nice tannin structure, allowing an impressive finish. 

Wine Spectator just released their top 100 wines of 2008 and Seghesio Family Vineyards made #10 with their 2007 Sonoma County Zinfandel.  Did I forget to mention their Zins aren’t too shabby either?

Cheers!

Sandi