Todd Fusco, Manager of Corkscrew in Urbana, is here with a Yorkville Savion Blanc, for today's Whet Your Whistle.It's a short, 3:30 piece. They talk about an organic wine, no pesticides, herbicides, and have sheep do the mowing.
Whet Your Whistle Wednesday welcomes Brian Bowman from Sunsinger Wine and Spirits.The wines were from California and Crete. One was Alexakis Malvasia Aromatica, the other was (possibly) vangrieve de rose.
Billy Bell, lead bartender/mixologist from Emerald City in Champaign, is here for today's Whet Your Whistle.
Todd Fusco, manager of Corkscrew in Urbana, is here for today's Whet Your Whistle.
Nick Bland, of Corkscrew, in Urbana, is here for today's Whet Your Whistle.
Brian Bowman of Sunsinger Wine & Spirits is here for today's Whet Your Whistle.Predicador 2007 and Amon-Ra are the wines they sample.
Watch Sun Singer Beverage Director Brian Bowman on The Morning Show this morning around 8:40 on WCFN. Brian will be sampling Madeiras during the Whettin Your Whistle segment. Tune in to learn why Madeira was the most prestigious wine during the 18th and 19th centuries in America.*from Sun Singer's facebook page.
Andy Borbely from Seven Saints is showing you how to make the Sazerac. It is known as the first cocktail.
You'll need rye whiskey, bitters, a sugar cube and herbsaint to make the drink.
The holidays are upon us and what better time to give thanks and celebrate with friends and family? And when I think of celebration, I think of bubbly; there's nothing more welcoming than handing folks a frothy flute of sparkling wine as they walk in the door. Your guests immediately feel appreciated, as well as at ease.
I know what you're thinking: sparkling wine, specifically Champagne, can be expensive. But wait, what about a sparkling wine, made exactly the way Champagne is made? Cava (which means "cave") is the Spanish version of Champagne. And unlike Prosecco, which is bulk fermented in large stainless steel tanks (with added Co2 for the fizz), Cava gets its bubbles from the naturally occurring secondary fermentation in the same bottle.
Kila Cava 2008, made by Vins El Cep, is my new favorite bubbly because it's dry and toasty, mimicking Champagne and has flavors of apple, citrus and a touch of grapefruit. It effortlessly cleanses the palate with its bubbles and goes with a wide variety of food. Now it's not going to make you forget Dom Perignon, but at the price, it's a house bubbly that you can democratically pour for everyone, including cranky old Uncle Bob.
"From Vins El Cep, a winery founded in 1980 by 6 historical families in the Penedes and producers of Marques de Gelida. KILA Cava is produced from 472 acres of vineyards, more than 6 years old, in six different communes. The blend of indigenous varieties includes: 35% Macabeo, 40% Xarel-lo and 25% Parellada. The final cuvee is personally selected by Jorge Ordonez and aged for 12 months after it completes its secondary fermentation. Typically fresh and crisp with great acidity and bright flavors of pear, apple and citrus. A perfect choice for any celebratory occasion and especially delicious with Asian influenced dishes. It's KILA!" - The Importer
Drinks with Andy: NYEAndy talks about bubbles...
2011 is right around the corner. If it's your turn to host the NYE party you probably need some drink ideas. Well, here you go.
Sam and Bryan pair the perfect cheeses with the perfect winesSam Samet from Piccadilly, and Brian McKay from Art Mart.
Master Mixologist Andy Borbely from Seven Saints in Champaign shows us a unique liqueur only found at Seven Saints!Which isn't exactly true, since it's also at Radio Maria.
A Central Illinois winery is serving up a drink that both Democrats and Republicans can cheers to. The Walnut Street Winery in Rochester has created political wine.
Winery owner, Loren Shanle, says the red and blue sealed bottles have the same blush wine inside, but the labels make all the difference. One is sold as GOP wine with a cartoon elephant on front. The other, features a donkey. It's, of course, for the Dems."We've had people come in and say 'I like that wine'. I'll say 'Which bottle would you prefer?' I've had people say 'I'd rather not say.' One person last year said they were an Independent and the ladies poured out both," says Shanle.
If the wine sales are a reflection of next week's election results, the winery says Republicans have the upper hand.
Last year the Walnut Street Winery created "Barackoberry" wine. It never hit the shelves, however, because the federal government wasn't crazy on the idea of the President and alcohol being linked so closely.
Brian Bowman talks bubbly in advance of the 7th Annual Wine Tasting EventHe brings in Laurent-Perrier Brut L-P, and talks about the event tonight.
Sam and Brian show us great wine and cheese pairings.
