Purple Cowboy - Cabernet Sauvignon @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $10.99 (Target)

And so, the tide recedes.

To say that I've had an eventful past seven months is an epic understatement.

In between my last entry and now there have undoubtedly been innumerable pleasurable bottles of wine, many of which were consumed during a time of enormous heartache, difficulty, disappointment, confusion, and utter life questioning, sleepless nights. If it had not been for good friends and family who build my solid foundation, and a resolve to not become another defeated person (woman), I'm sure I would not have consumed, but would have been consumed.

Before I delve too deeply into the details, first, the wine.

I came across this little beauty while in one of my absolute favorite guilty pleasures--Super Target, (the "super" being superfluous since ALL Target is super in my opinion...I digress). The descriptive label boasted of both cherry and cola flavors -- cola? So, in essence, we're comparing this Cabernet Sauvignon to cherry coke --- needless to say, sheer curiosity overtook any logic behind my buying power, and I immediately placed the bottle in my red cart.

The smell does have a certain Robitussen familiarity about it. I mean that in the absolute best way. In the same manner in which Robitussen cough syrup is cherry-esque, I would say this wine embodies the same quality. It's not sweet but there's a stone fruit palatable bitterness about it. There's almost a hint of eucalyptus vapor, probably adding to the cough syrup resemblance. It's a difficult wine to describe, my one critiques is that the dryness can be a bit overpowering. This is a completely full-bodied wine, definitely not for the faint of heart. If you're brave enough to follow-through, you'll find a beautiful blackberry flavor lingers on your tongue, inviting you back for more. Intriguing, complicated, absolute perfection for this moment.

Back in December, the final nail was hammered into the coffin of my marriage. After a long thirteen months, after enduring yet another brutal fight, I finally found the courage to admit to myself, to my ex-husband, and to the world, that I couldn't stand to live another miserable day feeling "less than."

I've spent an inordinate amount of my young adult life feeling less than. One failed relationship after another, I've frequently been made to feel less than, and when I chose to get married, I felt I had finally escaped the cycle. I worked hard, harder than I've ever worked at anything to resolve difficult situations and cultivate a sense of ease but more importantly, a sense of love in the home I had created.

But, as one of my favorite Wilco songs simplistically says in the most articulate of ways, "I thought that if I held you tightly, you would always love me like you did back then," suddenly became the absolute truth. It became clear that this person's anger and rage towards me were never going to cease. The name calling, the hurtful words were only going to get worse and more painful. I was paying the price for someone else's mistakes.

Perhaps, after many, many years, these kinds of troubles can be resolved in a marriage, but within the first year, coupled with all of the other difficulties, I felt as if I were barely surviving as it was. I couldn't sleep, my entire immune system was incapable of functioning properly. The stress was literally killing me slowly. And for what? At the end of the day, I didn't even have a partner, I had a roommate who lived down the hall who I slowly felt less and less for until I finally felt absolutely nothing at all.

It took a long time for me to finally find the courage to end it before it would end me. I was afraid of what people would say --- shocking, I know. Many of my closest friends were entering parenthood or blissfully newlywed, how could they understand? Then, of course, there's the sting of the divorce stigma -- and after only thirteen months?! The horror! Somehow, I felt guilty that I couldn't handle the "pressures of being married." I had somehow convinced myself that what I was going through was completely normal---but is walking on eggshells out of fear around the one who's supposed to love you most, normal?

Probably the most difficult thing to come to terms with in the whole situation was the fact that I truly wanted to be married. I've wanted nothing more my entire life than to have my own family and feel the security of having a home full of people who love you and whom I love -- no matter what. I felt like a complete failure for not being able to resolve all the problems and make the situation work.

I moved out just before the holidays, my stuff lay in purgatory between my old home, my parents' condo and storage. I spent Christmas and New Years Day alone--and if it weren't for a couple of amazing friends, I would have also spent the two Eves' alone, too. Thankfully, work was amazingly busy so I was able to fully dive into this distraction.

That is, until I got laid off.

Yes, just after the holidays, I got laid off--I couldn't have been more devastated. Not only had I in the New Year, moved into a new apartment specifically chosen for its proximity to work, but I also had worked the holidays rather than going home and grieving my loss. My marriage had failed and I had failed at the only real job I had ever had. The kind of hell I fell into is indescribable. "It's a fresh start," literally everyone I know, said. Yes, I would agree, but nothing could have prepared me for losing absolutely every part of my past life. My divorce might have been my decision, but it was nevertheless a complete destruction of the person I had become. My getting laid off was the last piece of my former life to part with. Perhaps it hit me worse only because it wasn't at all on my own terms.

Luckily, during this difficult time, I found solace in a new found hobby --- no, not drinking an extraordinary amount of wine or other liquor---but, I began, for the first time ever, distance running. The one stroke of good luck I had in January, brought me in as a last-minute fill-in for a runner on a relay team in the Ragnar relay series. Running 200 miles in a 36 hour period from Miami to Key West, our team of 12 conquered an incredible feat at the start of the new year. If it weren't for this experience, the friends I made doing this and the new-found hobby, I'm fairly certain I wouldn't have caught the next wave--

I'm a big believer that we are all floating in a giant body of water, waves come along and pick us up, carry us for a while, the energy coming ever-closer to entropy...to slowly end at shore, or die abruptly in the waters...only to be carried into another wave that will lead us further into The Journey.

So, after my whirlwind adventure running the relay, after getting laid off -- my luck finally began to change.

Out of nowhere, my former employer called to re-hire me. Under better terms (and salary), I hopped back on-board doing what I've been doing -- and actually feeling appreciated for the kind of effort I bring to the job at hand.

Out of nowhere, a former love is slowly becoming a new love all over again. Organically. That's probably the most exciting thing, the prospect of starting all over again, all over again, with someone who during "round one" (as I affectionately call it), I was pretty damn convinced was the one I'd end up with -- if it weren't for a bunch of outside circumstances (distance, too much travel, burgeoning careers, life). And I would have been lucky to have ended up with him.

As he so eloquently put -- "right bus, right seat, wrong time" -- couldn't agree more and I absolutely cannot wait to see where this bus (wave) will take me this time.

Cupcake Vineyards - Red Velvet @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $8.99 (Total Wine)

Life has a *charming* way of throwing gas on the fire just when the flame has smoldered to coals, doesn't it?

Luckily, we have wine.

As rich as a mouthful of caramel centered milk chocolates, Cupcake Vineyard's "Red Velvet" wine delivers on decadence. I do find it a bit too overpowering for everyday drinking or when accompanying a meal, but it is delicious all on its own.

For people (like me) who are not particularly keen on sweet dessert wine, this is a welcome substitute. It holds up well on its own, with rich berry and cherry flavors and very little dryness. I would consider pairing it with a dessert or with light appetizers. I could absolutely see this being served at a wine bar to welcoming palates.

The last six months have proven that you can never be certain what's around the bend. I'm a tried and true over-analyzer and no matter how hard I try and predict the outcome of different situations, I'm always pretty surprised. I'm an "organizer" by career and mentality, and it drives me crazy when things don't go according to plan. It's not that I'm uptight per se, but I do enjoy a certain amount of predictability in the assorted variables that can transpire from day to day. In my moments of shear frustration, my husband will quip, "Well, isn't this life?"

Nothing has prepared me for what life has thrown my way as of late -- kids, marriage, new career, custody battles, merging career, additional work, financial woes, a move, a new pet, significant weight loss, unexpected blessings, a million weddings and babies to celebrate...

To provide each individual variable with the appropriate amount of attention and response has proved mind numbing. Maybe it's just me, but I'm not accustomed to change all at one time. I'm someone who almost requires a waiting period between significant events, but, as life has shown, that isn't always an option or possibility.

It also doesn't help that when I get my mind wrapped around a particular endeavor I can't help but try and accomplish it immediately (see: moving), thankfully my husband is exactly the same way. We may not have the majority of things in common, but we can absolutely agree on accomplishing a common goal as soon as is humanly possible. (re: neurosis).

After all of this, all I can say is, THANK GOD for wine!

Casella Mallee Point - Chardonnay 2009 @@@@ (4 Corks)

Retails: $7.99 (Total Wine)

Chardonnay has become a new favorite. It has managed to diminish my cynicism towards white wines with its crisp yet buttery, fruitful flavors. This Australian white is no exception, beautifully composed with nuanced flavors that shift from buttery, honey, to apple-tart and very light acidity. It's the perfect compliment to this evenings' existential musings.

To set the scene:

I'm home with the kids after a hell-acious week, that, aside from being strenuous on the work-front, has been intensifying on the home-front due to an escalating custody battle brewing---I'll spare you the details, but in essence, it can be boiled down to a lack of cooperation on the opposing party's side to the extent that we had to hire legal council to remedy the situation. Yes, three weeks before my wedding, this is the kind of egregious battle I'm still having to fight. But, we press on. My fiance is enjoying his bachelor party out with his sister (best man, yes we're not traditional), and I'm home, drinking a bottle of Chardonnay while the kids drift into what will hopefully be a restful slumber and I work on some last-minute wedding details, which led me to the following...

My parents sent me a disc of old photographs of my relatives -- many of whom passed away ages ago. I teared up over the people I didn't have enough time with, or had no time with at all. The photographs of my grandmother who passed away from breast cancer when I was a small child; my great grandparents whom I never had the chance to meet; my mother's father who exists as a mix of small clips and snaps in my memory due to the illness that kept him distant; my three Great Aunts, the last of whom just recently passed in body, but whose mind had long been taken by Alzheimer's. (the photo includes, from left to right, my Grandfather, aforementioned Grandmother and Aunt, and Uncle during WWII)

I have always lived far away from my family. I realize it's not abnormal for people to have grown up far away from their families' roots -- to be displaced from the people who have handed down legacy, heirlooms, traditions, secrets. My folks come from absolute opposite ends of North America -- my mother, a native to Quebec, Canada with a giant, true-blooded, Catholic French-Canadian family. My father, a son of the Deep South (Gainesville, Georgia).

We had our tiny, bi-lingual family nestled in the suburb of Cape Elizabeth, Maine--the compromise after my parents married -- moving my mother into the USA but close enough to drive home.

Every vacation, we made the trek to either end of the continent to visit family. It wasn't that we didn't make the effort to maintain family ties, but the distance, the distance made me feel completely alien to either halves. I was the only New England-er. For the most part, I hardly gave it a second thought, this was just expected for being so far away.

There are coping mechanisms, of course, when your family is so far away, your friends really do become your family and for that, I am truly fortunate.

The whole notion of Family. Legacy. Heritage. Tradition. have really hit me now, at the three week mark before my wedding.

I've been completely blown away by how many relatives I haven't seen in years have written, I mean hand written, me messages of wishes and hope in addition to making the journey to me, here in Florida for my wedding. Perhaps I've been unnecessarily withdrawn from either side, either way I'm so moved by the response.

As I was "thumbing" through the photographs on my computer, I just became overwhelmed by the legacy, the tradition that I am apart of, but never felt apart of...but I'm really starting to.

Fetzer - Merlot @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $6.99 (Publix)

Strong oak flavor with a tinge of smoke in the aftertaste, Fetzer Merlot is a solid medium-bodied wine that I am enjoying from my new space in the home. Yes, I've reclaimed a piece of it for myself, it's every (wo)man for himself here at the abode !

When you live in a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom condo with your fiance, space can get a little tight. Although we are fortunate to own a home that encompasses an astonishing 1200 square feet, even still, there could always be more room. When his two children spend the weekends with us, they take over the spare bedroom (and every other available corner). My fiance likes to occupy the living room (that's where the xbox lives). So, that leaves me with few options for a space of my own --- the kitchen (standing room only), the bathroom (an obvious no), or the bedroom (no wine allowed).

I took it upon myself to reclaim a forgotten corner of the condo -- the porch (or lanai as we call them in Florida). One weekend, I took an entire afternoon to scrub every corner of the porch to make it livable. After removing the cobwebs, sweeping the dust and appointing it with some colorful lanterns and a giant fan for the especially hot summer days, I uncovered a small sanctuary. I've dubbed it the "girls club" -- Roxy, my dog, and I can now sit in peace and quite in the giant papazan chair doing as we please--drinking some wine, reading a magazine and in this case, blogging (the wifi reaches out there !) Sometimes, it's not that you need space, it's just that you need a space...

We're in the process of becoming the primary care givers for his two elementary school aged children, two boys ages 7 and 9. It's a long story of how we came to this point in the road so I'll spare the back story, a culmination of the past two years. In essence, things weren't working out with them living with their mother (his ex-wife) for a number of reasons and so, over the past few months, my fiance has been coaxing her into mulling over the idea of exchanging custody rights. To our surprise, two months ago she filed on her own accord. In a month, we'll have the court's official decision.

Where am I in this sudden shift from fiance to step-mom? I'm excited, but it's a bittersweet sort of excitement. I don't know a single person in this same situation and hardly anybody knows how to react to the news. I know that you single guys and gals out there in your mid-twenties (or older) are staring, mouths a-gape at the thought of coming into a situation like this. At one time, I, too, literally said I felt I was "much too selfish" to take care of another human being. But of course, at some point you grow up. At 26, almost 27, I've lived a very full, very incredible life--I've seen and experienced things that most people have not at my age -- and I don't see that stopping just because I'll be helping to raise two children who aren't mine by blood, but whom I love all the same. The adventure of life doesn't have to end just because you have children !

So, to each one of you who has said, or has thought at some point, "wow, that sucks" or "oh, you poor thing," your pity is hurtful. You wouldn't tell your pregnant friend "wow, that sucks" if she told you she was pregnant, would you ?

I knew my fiance had kids from the first day we began dating so I have been fully aware for quite some time of what I could be getting into. For him, it's the first time in six years that he'll be able to reclaim his place as full-time father and provide his children a stable, loving home life. That's a pretty exciting thing for someone who has missed out on many milestones due to the current circumstance and I can't wait to be there for the rest. Yes, it will be challenging, but regardless of whether they are your own or not, children are a challenge. Period.

Life is all about encountering new challenges and learning how to coexist and learn from them. And when times get tough, or require a bit of thoughtfulness over wine, I've got my new space to retreat to.

Grão Vasco - Dão 2007 @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $8.97 (Total Wine)

Portuguese is the sexiest language on earth. With my background in French, I can't make heads or tails of what they're saying but damn, it sounds good. On some occasions, my team and I have produced videos translated into Portuguese. Our voice over artist, who is located in Brazil and enjoys sending me drunken emails during Carnival time (which apparently happens more than once per year), had the most incredible sounding Portuguese voice. It seems that the native timbre and rhythm of the language can make absolutely anything sound exquisite, even something as sterile sounding as business meetings in Orlando (just an example).

This wine is as seductive as a Portuguese voice over. I can't quite figure out what the grape could be but the blood red color, bold fragrance and lilting flavor that seems to dance across my palate keeps making me gravitate towards my glass. This is a man's wine. The intoxicating aroma is almost like a cologne. It man-handles your taste buds into submission with a powerful earthy flavor that fades into a tart cherry essence momentarily before leaving your tongue desert-dry.

There's something mysterious about this wine. If you're the kind of drinker who enjoys a bold red, you absolutely must try Grão Vasco. Apparently "Dão" is a region in Portugal known for its red wines. Although, my research has suggested that this region typically produces mild reds, this one is absolutely the opposite. I've had some success with Portuguese wines in the past but this one might take the cake. Enjoy!

Robert Mondavi Private Selection - Cabernet Sauvignon @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $8.99 (Total Wine)

Rich, almost velvety on the tongue, this Cab gives you more than you bargain for. Cabernet Sauvignon gets a bad rap. It's frequently brushed off as the "neophyte-drinker's" red. I happen to find that there are quite a few Cabs that deserve their time in the sun. Just check out the other Cabs that make my list.

I was recently speaking to a potential print vendor who, as it happened, was fairly well-versed in wines. I get hounded by printers who want our business. At least weekly, I have a sales rep wanting to "get together for lunch," "have a moment of my time" to tell me the wonders of their printing capabilities. And, as usual, after a 20-minute pitch about web presses and 6-color processing, I finally get them to cut the shenanigans and get real. This is where the true business relationships come from---getting real with your potential clients/vendors and showing them who you really are (kind of a like a first date, right?).

Probably about 15 years my senior and married to a woman who wrote for a high-end cruise line, this vendor had traveled the globe as her passepartout to some of the most mouthwatering wine venues on the globe---in addition to other remarkable locales that most of us only dream about. In fact, he had actual been to the famed Chateau Le Fit in France. He gave me recommendations on location in California to visit on my honeymoon (yes, we're thinking about hitting up California to visit San Fran, Big Sur, Sonoma and Napa) but he certainly did have strong opinions about Cab. Oh, and, every bottle he loved was well within the $40 range. But, another part about client-vendor relationships, you gotta talk the talk and honey, I can talk the talk.

Don't hate the Cab. It's one of the most universally grown varietals. It's also the most common "house red" you'll find in bars and restaurants---so if you're looking for un verre somewhere random, you're likely to get a Cab. Embrace the Cab, my friends. Several, like this one, will deliver a smooth, rich, indulgent wine. It's like the comfort food of wines, never underestimate the power of a familiar, glorious glass of cab.

Pilot Mountain - Sweet Red Muscadine Wine @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $7.99 (Total Wine)

First off, Pilot Mountain's Sweet Red Muscadine Wine is the most beautiful light red color. My fiance mentioned that it would be the perfect Valentine's Day wine; it just glows within the glass. As I've previously blogged, I'm a fan of muscadine wines but my father is an even bigger fan. He says it reminds him of his childhood in Georgia, picking muscadines off the vine. I always stock up on muscadine wines from San Sebastian and Lakerdige Winery (both local to Florida) when he's in town, this one may have to make the list.

This sweet muscadine wine is beautiful on its own as a dessert wine. I wouldn't recommend trying to pair it with food except for maybe some brie. It's a delightful find, even if I'm typically true to my red wine affinities, I'm not opposed to the occasional "dessert" glass (yum!) If you know somebody who has a giant sweet-tooth and may not be the biggest wine drinker, I'm sure they would approve of this varietal (here's lookin' at you, Missy Midden).

Pepperwood - Old Vine Red Zinfandel @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $4.99 (Total Wine)

Pepperwood's Old Vine Red Zinfandel tastes like a film noir---dark, mysterious, smoke-y. As far as Red Zins are concerned, this one has a particularly unusual flavor that I find really intriguing--existential even. I'm sure Albert Camus would approve.

Like most Red Zins, this beauty packs a powerful aroma and a full-bodied, savory flavor. This is a wine best served solo or with an accompanying appetizer, perhaps some sinfully rich dark chocolate or some mild cheese--and, of course, plenty of l'amour. As my friend, Amon Focus would say, this is a wine to truly knock the pants, urm I mean socks, off someone. I would call it a "Valentine's Day" red --- if you're on a first date with someone who you know enjoys a robust red, you're likely going to hit it off if you serve this one up. Bonus: if this is a first date, you won't be dropping beaucoup-bucks trying to impress him/her either.

For true red wine drinkers, this red won't disappoint. I love a powerful red wine, one that completely embodies all senses--that softening of the world's edges, that tantilizing fragrance wafting from your glass, the lingering oak flavor on your tongue. This wine satisfies all of that criteria. What I find particularly interesting is the strong oak flavor present in this Zinfandel--there is hardly any fruit flavor.

Drink up and enjoy, my friends, for this bottle's under $5--heck, buy 2!

Sobon Estate - California Hillside Zinfandel (2008) @@@@ (4 corks!)

Retails: $10 (Total Wine)

While browsing the shelves at Total Wine in pursuit of the next round of blog entries, I came across this little number, displaying a stick-on sign announcing that this bottle had been "recently featured on Oprah." Hey, if it's good enough for Oprah, it's certainly good enough for me.

This is probably the first time in the history of Wine on a Dime that I've ever reviewed a bottle that was priced at $10 (really over ten if you count taxes) and boy, was it worth every drop.

I would compare the experience of drinking this wine as to that of consuming dark chocolate: smooth but harboring a powerful array of flavors that fills your palette. It's a full-on sensory experience. Dark cherries and chocolate are present from start to finish with the tart, pucker-y tannins delivering a final blow to your tongue. It's fabulous alone (or with chocolate!) but if you're planning on pairing it with a meal, I would stick with steaks and other super-savory meals.

For those who do not shy away from powerful, flavorful reds, this is a must-try!

Lindeman - Shiraz @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $6.99 (Total Wine)

Give this Shiraz ample time to breathe and you will have yourself one indulgent glass of red! At first taste, this wine left me unimpressed, however, after ample breathing room and a little patience, this wine delivered surprisingly good results. This is an important rule for all red wine drinkers to uphold--ALWAYS give your red time to breathe, to bring out its flavors, its complexity, its personality...
I don't deal with grief very well. My entire life my family has lived far away from me. One half of my family lives in the Southern United States while the other half is located in Quebec, Canada. Even into my young adult life, I've somehow found myself many times in long distance relationships---the only exception being my current relationship, to whom I am engaged to be married. I moved to Florida in part to seek a warmer climate, but also to become more acquainted with my Grandfather. I just found out today that he has endured a 3rd stroke (he is 91 years old).

By my saying I do not deal with grief well, by no means do I intend to say that I am in hysterics. I simply do not react how most would expect. There are no tears. It seems that almost every major crisis has been brought to my attention over the phone. In each moment of intensity, I lose my breath, a ball welling within my throat. The response is delayed---days away I might finally feel the release.

I'm saddened to the point that my hands shake and I have a difficult time concentrating and forming my words---this entire blog entry has taken me much too long to write. Constant re-wording, re-working, re-imagining what I mean to say, simply because, I can't find the words.

The first time he had a stroke, I was a day shy of graduating from college. Now, I'm looking forward to my marriage and I feel privileged that it seemed he would be around. Now...who knows. I'm hopeful, he's a fighter even at 91, but I'm worried. And I just can't find the words...

Lindeman - Merlot @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $4.87-$6.99 (Wal-Mart / most grocery stores)

First off, I have some very exciting news. This past month my live-in boyfriend and I became engaged! On 12/4/09, he proposed at the dog park where we met (yeah, we met at the dog park, no, he does not have a dog, he was there with his sister---I have a poodle). It was pouring rain out, we were supposed to be going out to dinner and a movie and he took a "wrong turn" and suddenly we were at the place where we met. He dragged me out of his truck and dropped down to one knee in the pouring rain and said: "This is where I first asked you out on a date and this is where I'd like to ask you to be my wife." Funnier still, I got engaged around 6:30pm, it wasn't until 9:30pm at night before I could get a hold of either one of my parents. Mom was in Quebec visiting relatives and Dad, recently retired, is in a folk band and had practice. I must have called both of them about 100 times a piece until I finally got someone on the phone--there was no way I could allow myself to call anyone else until they knew. To bide my time while waiting and re-dialing, I browsed wedding dresses on The Knot while killing a bottle of Kitchen Sink red wine.

In other exciting news, I've teamed up with the good ladies at Silly Goose Travel , two co-workers who have a passion for food, travel and all the wonderful things in life. From time to time we will be guest blogging on eachothers' websites.

Back to the wine... Lindeman's Merlot was probably one of the first wines I ever sampled. My parents always kept it in-stock at our home due to its inexpensive price tag and flavorful presence. My Grandfather and Step-Grandmother, here in Florida, have caught on to this brand and so there isn't a cocktail-hour-visit with them that doesn't include a Lindeman's bottle.

I recently became re-aquainted with this Australian varietal when Wal-Mart put them on sale for $4.97 a bottle (!!!) Full-bodied and bold, Lindeman's Merlot is full of rich berry and tannin flavor. For the price, you really can't beat this wine for its richness and complexity. I've sampled wines priced at x10 the amount that haven't tasted as beautifully as this Merlot.

Casella - Malle Point Shiraz @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $5.99 (Total Wine)

As usual, Total Wine's "Wine of the Month" has not failed me. Almost always priced under $10, Total Wine's monthly selection is almost always stupendous, this is no exception.

I've never been a huge Shiraz fan. Frequently, they're too sweet or acidic for my tastes. This one is very well balanced. Very aromatic, hints of vanilla and cinnamon fill your nostrils. This Shiraz is full-bodied, slight smoke-y flavor with a nice bit of dryness in the finish. There's an interesting, warm, butterscotch flavor within the palette which is especially unusual. It's a smoldering, seductive quality about this wine that makes it difficult to not stop at one glass. Enjoy!

Nobilis - Vinho Verde @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $5.99 (Total Wine)

Refreshing is the word that best describes this Portuguese wine. Almost crystal-clear in color with a faint gold tinge, this extremely light wine is a true rarity. It's the perfect summer wine. Even a few days after being opened, it retains its fresh flavor.

Champagne fans will definitely enjoy wine, it tickles your tongue with a faint effervescence. It's not overly sweet and has a pleasant dryness that isn't overpowering. The only remarkable flavor is a balanced sweetness, almost like a granny smith apple (the green ones). It's really unusual, I haven't tasted anything like it before. Then again, I'm not horribly familiar with Portuguese wines, nevertheless, for the price it definitely should be commended for its originality.

Vinho Verde is a very subtle wine, you could easily getaway with serving it at lunch. It's definitely an easy crowd pleaser. It's also of a lower alcohol content than most (around 9%) so don't feel too bad if you drink it all in one setting!

Spier - Pinotage/Shiraz (2008) @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $6.99 (Total Wine)

I hate Miami.

In the past year I've been to Miami no fewer than five times, all for work purposes, and every time I find it repulsive. Most people would clamor for the opportunity to spend time in this glistening land of fake boobs, money and never-ending parties...not me. Yet, every time I go, I psych myself up for a "fun" time that never ends up happening. This past week I found myself at the current "it" spot, the Fontainebleau, for a conference. Yes, in these economic times, I was sent to a five-star resort in Miami. Don't even get me started on that bit of hypocrisy...

Anyhow, so in this plasticine land, I was holed up in a 5-star hotel where security guards tell you not to take photos for fear of "disturbing the guests..." as if every over-paid celebrity/doctor/poseur was not there to see and be seen...where a glass of wine costs no less than $13. A. GLASS.

I arrived at 8pm on a Saturday at the Fontainebleau. The gliteratti were just starting to filter in

It's not that I hate big cities... I love Boston, love Paris, love London, love San Antonio, (hate NYC)...I hate feeling like I have to be someone else in order to enjoy my time there. So, you can imagine my happiness when I made the 4-hour trek home where I could enjoy my BOTTLE of wine---priced well below $13.

I digress...so Spier's Pinotage/Shiraz is excellent. Full fruit flavors subtly engulf your tongue, leaving a nice, dry finish that's not overpowering. Swishing the wine in your mouth, you'll discover a lovely, spicy taste in your cheeks. One must never forget to 'swish.'

Rosemont - Cabernat/Shiraz @@@@ (4 cork)

Retails: $5.97 (Total Wine)



Rosemount's Cabernet/Shiraz mix encapsulates what it is to be a blended red. Gorgeous, flavorful presence on the tongue with a dainty application of dryness as the penultimate flavor. For the price, you can't ask for a more enjoyable wine. I'm absolutely shocked at how delicious this wine is for the price. Even the "look" of the bottle signifies a "couture" wine--a delightful pentagonal shape with a simple royal blue label. I would highly recommend this wine for any other opportunity where wine is an appropriate gift.

Coastline - Cabernet Sauvignon @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $8.99 (Total Wine)



Coastline's Cabernet Sauvignon actually has quite the informative label. As the name implies, Coastline Cellars is all about its coastal California location: the fertile valleys caressing the Pacific ocean, the sweet breath of the ocean creating the perfect atmosphere to cultivate grapes...to me it sounds like prime real estate.

It also mentions something about Franciscan Friars being the first to cultivate grapes here...not sure if this is factual, I'll have to consult Wikipedia later...

Let's get down to taste: definitely heavy on the plum flavors, slight peppery taste with a hint of dryness in the finish. A very flavorful wine, it will absolutely overpower delicate flavors, however, it's the perfect compliment to a hard day's work. My honey had a glass waiting for me when I returned home today, I knew there was a reason I kept him around. Today is Tuesday. All I have to say is forget Mondays as being the hardest, I think Tuesdays are the new Mondays. Here's to wine, the perfect apres travaille aperitif.

Le Cep - Cotes du Rhone @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $8.99

Drinking French wines makes me feel as if I need to be sitting at a bistro overlooking the Seine, wearing a ridiculous beret and smoking foul smelling cigarettes while waxing philosophic about Camus' L'Etranger. Poetic, yes?

I was an art major in college, the kind of college kid who couldn't wait to be un-institutionalized and released into the world. Senior year couldn't get over fast enough, but I had no direction and almost moved to Paris to be a starving street artist all for the sake of authenticity. I could see myself working for mere sheckles, in my French beret, drinking wine at lunch and holding a paintbrush in one hand while chain smoking in the other.

Ahhh what a pipe dream.

Cotes du Rhone wines come from the Rhone region in France where grape cultivation is said to have started in 600 BC. There is some serious wine tradition going into these bottles. There are several appellations in the Rhone region, the names of which are divided by where in the valley they grow and what tradition they come from. The northern sub-region is known as Rhone Septentrienal, the varietals produced here are developed from Syrah and Viognier grapes. Southern sub-region is referred to as Rhone meridional and includes a variety of reds, whites and rose wines blended from a many grapes. Cotes du Rhone happens to be the largest appellation by volume in the area and can come from either sub-region, however, it usually denotes a lower-priced wine so typically it will be made of grapes grown in the Southern region.

This is a beautifully composed red wine. Like many others in its region, it exhibits rich flavors of dark chocolate and plum with a distinct tannin flavor in the finish. My recommendation is to consume this bottle in one sitting, the flavors tend to vanish slightly when left open to air for too long---then again wouldn't it be considered unpatriotic if a Frenchman didn't consume a whole bottle in one sitting?

Hardy's - Merlot @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $3.99 (Total Wine)

Shockingly lucious for a wine priced under $5!

Beautiful, full fruit flavors create a bouquet of tastes to be enjoyed. Berry, ripe cherries, tart pomegranite whisk away to reveal a smoke-y flavor that lingers within your entire palette. It's thoroughly enjoyable and delightful by itself but is even more enjoyable with a flavorful meal. My one word of advice is to not let this wine breathe too much. It is best consumed in one sitting, the flavors become a little less pronounced, the tannin flavor begins to take over. Otherwise, enjoy this super-cheap, excellent wine!

Gumdale - Chardonnay @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $6.99 (Total Wine)

It seemed fate that I should have a positive Chardonnay experience with Summerfield, and low-and-behold Total Wine's "Wine of the Month" is a Chardonnay. With July whisked away and into August, temps in Florida are still in the high 80's, low 90's. It's been rainy and miserable this summer in the Sunshine State. Good wine is keepingn our morales high and spirits up.

It was long believed that the Chardonnay grapes were a mix between Pinot Noir and Blanc. However, recent DNA studies have concluded that Chardonnay is in fact a result of Gouais Blanc and Pinot combinations. Of course, the Romans are to blame, it is believed that Gouais Blanc came into the posession of the Romans by way of the Balkans. It was widely cultivated by peasants in France closely with the French aristocracy who preferred Pinot varietals. Chardonnay grapes were born.

Gumdale has yet to truly fail me. The Chardonnay is no exception. Crisp, fruity and very smooth, Gumdale's Chardonnay is a beautifully composed wine. Just enough body and flavor to compliment a meal or hold its own solo, Gumdale Chardonnay is a MUST for both hardcore red wine drinkers and white wine enthusiasts alike. White wine, for me, usually fails when not paired with a meal, the flavors of food can dwarf its flavor. I have truly enjoyed sipping this wine during cocktail hour just as much as I have while devouring a sumptuous repas. Enjoy!

Real Sangria @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: ? gift, though I've been assured it's under $10

I live with my boyfriend and one of the many bonuses to being in this living arrangement is that he completely embraces my (absurd) obsession with cheap wine. I haven't been horribly successful in getting him into drinking wine on a regular basis, but I have introduced him to the joys of sangria.

As a very sweet surprise, he bought us a giant litre of (so-called) Real Sangria to sample and write about. According to the bottle is imported from Spain, not sure how factual that is but still an interesting attribute. Like I've said, I live in Florida, it's August and it is SO time for some refreshing wine-infused beverages. This one hits the spot for sure! He even compared it to the best sangria ever at our favorite restaurant, Ceviches in Sarasota. I wouldn't go that far, but it's still an impressive bottled sangria. Unlike other bottled varieties, this one actually has a strong fruity flavor with just a hint of dryness. I think the strongest attribute is that it tastes fresh, it doesn't have an overwhelming mass-produced, bottled taste to it. It is smooth and refreshing like a good sangria should be.

Final Words: With a handful of ice cubes, this is an excellent summer treat!