Sweet Wines with Your Sweetheart Series: Stella Rosa Moscato D’Asti

Hi Smiley’s and Wine Enthusiasts!

I am back with another Sweet Wine. This wine is indeed a SWEEeeet one but I have truly enjoyed it. The wine that I have for you this week is a Moscato D’Asti. Anytime you see D’Asti, know that the wine will be an Italian wine with a hint of effervescence.  Asti is a province in Northwest Italy. Due to the wine being sweet and low in alcohol, it is considered to be a dessert wine.

Tasting Notes:

Wine: Stella Rosa, L’Originale Moscato D’Asti, 2018

Bouquet: Green Apple, Orange/Citrus

Taste: Apricot, Honey, Effervescence. The sweetness of the wine is not overbearing.

Clarity: Clear, No legs

Pairing: Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries: The chocolate on the strawberries hi-lited the effervescence in the wine. The bitterness of the dark chocolate and the sweet wine blended together so eloquently causing a nice melted chocolate effect on the palate.

Vintor’s Pairing Suggestions: Fresh Fruit, Spicy dishes and Desserts

I hope you enjoy this wine and wine pairing as much as I did. I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised. Until Next Week, XOXO, Smiling Danny

Salud’

 

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Sweet Wines with Your Sweetheart Series: Sparkling Rose’ by Cupcake Vineyards

Hi Smileys!

Are you ready for Valentines Day? This month I thought that I would do a Sweet Wine Series. So each week this month I will be trying out sweet wines and leaving tasting notes right here on the blog. Consider this my labor of love as many of you know I am not a fan of sweet wine.

This week I tried the Sparkling Rose’ by Cupcake Vineyards. Unfortunately, I assumed that this would be a sweet wine especially since I found it displayed with the sweet wines; however, it is not sweet at all! This wine reminds me of a dry Prosecco. The good news about that is that this wine makes a great pairing wine for fruit and a great base for wine cocktails. The Vintor’s notes state that this wine delivers notes of raspberry, strawberry and floral. I didn’t pick up any of those notes. The Vintor also suggests pairing this wine with shrimp ceviche or fresh blooms. I tried this wine with shrimp and didn’t particularly care for it but I did enjoy it with some blueberries and grapes.  I also made a nice wine cocktail with this wine. I think that you will enjoy it, especially for those of you who enjoy spending Valentine’s Day with your friends as well.

Tasting Notes:

• Sight: Effervescent, Rose Gold
• Taste: Dry Prosecco
• Bouquet: Didn’t pick up any distinguishing notes
• Pairing: Raspberry Sorbet

Recipe: Galentine’s Cocktail/ Sparkling Wine Float

• Champagne/Sparkling Wine Flute
• 3 Tablespoons of Talenti Raspberry Sorbetto
• Cupcake Vineyards Sparkling Rose’

Add 3 tablespoons of Sorbet to your flute. Top off with Rose’. Salu’d.

Adding the sorbet to this wine definitely makes this a sweet treat. I hope you enjoy this wine cocktail recipe with your loved one, your friends or as a special treat for yourself.

Salu’d, XOXO Smiling Danny

 

 

Wine Pairing Wednesday: Pick a Red and Gift Wrap

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year…..

And as wonderful as it is, I am not a fan of gift wrapping. I love the Christmas Season: The Reflection of Christ and His Birth, Christmas Carols, Hot Chocolate in front of the Fireplace, Romantic Hallmark Movies, Christmas Lights, Giving Gifts and all! But wrapping gifts and trying to find that perfect moment to wrap the gift without the others seeing what they are getting isn’t my favorite. This year I decided to take a bit of advice from a past blog post and add a little HOLIDAY CHEER to my wrapping time. Tonight, wrapping hasn’t been so bad. In fact, I found it a little soothing. So once again, my theory has been proven true that WINE MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER!

I hope you are enjoying the beginning of the Season and spending time with those you love and care about.  This time passes so quickly and oftentimes we get so wrapped up in the mundane details of preparing that we don’t actually take the time to enjoy. Make those memories while you can because we won’t always have the time to do so.

Merry CHRISTmas and Happy Holidays from my Family to Yours,

XOXO, Smiling Danny

Pairing: Red Wine of your choice, Holiday Music, Gift Wrap and Those you Love.

Salu’d