Saturday, February 28, 2009
Some New Wine For Your Wine Rack
Since I am in Wenatchee this weekend, I was treated to another wine tour in the valley. The first place we stopped at was Martin-Scott Winery a few miles out of town. The winery is perched up on a hill giving a good view of the Columbia River and surrounding mountains.The tasting room is warm and cozy. There are many windows revealing the lovely view. In the summer, it would be really great to bring a picnic to enjoy out on their patio. They also have space available to rent for dinner parties or weddings.
We tasted three different red and white wines. The wine that stuck out the most to me was their Viognier. It was absolutely delicious. I purchased a bottle to add to my wine rack. I also enjoyed their Cabernet Sauvignon immensely.
I’d like to return there again sometime when I can actually enjoy the lovely landscaping without being cold.
Labels: Washington State Wine, wine rack, wine rack store, wine tasting
Obsessed with Hawaii and Wine Racks
Like I mentioned before, I love Hawaii and would live there if I could. My mother is the same way. She has even almost convinced my father to purchase a vacation home there. Since the housing market has tumbled, he’s being thinking in investing in real estate. The only problem is that the plane tickets are always going to be pricey. You could fill up a whole wine rack for the amount of one ticket.My mother and I went shopping yesterday to pick up some groceries. While we were strolling down a main isle my mother stopped and said, “I just smelled Hawaii.” We looked around and tried to find the source to no avail. We continued on but ended up walking down a neighboring isle. Then the smell hit us again. We just had to find the source. We searched and smelled laundry detergents, dryer sheets, and then I found the display. The heavenly smell was coming from one of those plug-in fragrance things. The package was emblazoned with the Hawaiian state flower, the hibiscus. My mother grabbed the package and threw it in the cart. I looked at her and said, “We are so pathetic.”
Labels: hawaii, hibiscus, wine rack, wine rack store
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Cool Wine Labels on the Wine Rack
Like I mentioned before, I have a habit of choosing wine with neat labels. Since many other people choose that way too, wineries have become more and more creative with their label designs. I found a webpage listing 25 different bottles with unique labels.Some of these bottles use artsy labels and other think a little more out of the bottle. I think the coolest design is the wine that comes in a box that can be turned into a lamp. This embodies the idea of reusing everyday materials creatively. There is also an embroidered label. I like how they used texture. You don’t see that too often.
There is also an interactive label in this set. The label has the name of the winery and “I’m only drinking with you because…” followed by a space you can write in. You can fill in the blank with anything. Maybe you put on there “…my wine rack needs is too full to fit this bottle” or “…my other date fell though.”
Labels: wine labels, wine rack, wine rack store
Wine Racks and Guilty Pleasures
I have many guilty pleasures. Making many trips to my wine rack during the week is just one of many. It seems like a lot of these guilt inducing have to do with eating. I love sweets. My sweet tooth is bigger than the state of Alaska. I suppose I feel guilty because eating sugary foods because I know they are not good for me.Chocolate is definitly my favorite anti-diet food. Anything with chocolate is good: ice cream, cake, cookies, or candy. To keep myself from eating too much I don’t keep it in the house.
Besides eating, my other guilty pleasure is shopping. Even though I have a hard time finding clothes, I love shopping. I love to find new fashions and hunt down good bargains. I have not been able to indulge lately because we are on a budget.
My last guilty pleasure is video games. I play them too much. I know I should use my time more effectively. It is also a very expensive hobby. I couldn’t even guess how much money I have spent on video games and systems through the years.
Labels: chocolate, Shopping, wine rack, wine rack store
No Mold on My Wine Rack
We are preparing to take off again this weekend. We are going to visit my boyfriend’s parents in Eastern Washington. It’s going to be a quick trip because my boyfriend isn’t going to take any time off work. Since I don’t like coming home to a dirty house, I have spent the evening cleaning. I am procrastinating from finishing the dishes.The worst part of washing dishes is dealing with old food containers. I had noticed our Tupperware supply was dwindling this week. I figured out where it had gone after I started clearing out the fridge. There were about 5 containers hiding through out the fridge. They’ve been hiding out for a while because most of them were moldy. I hate cleaning moldy containers because it really grosses me out.
That’s the really nice thing about wine, you don’t generally don’t have to worry about it molding on your wine rack. But you do have to worry about it turning to vinegar.
Labels: cleaning, wine rack, wine rack store
Not Your Typical Wine Rack Experience
I have never been to a spa but this one might be worth looking into. A spa in Japan is offering a special red wine spa treatment. Could this be a wine facial perhaps? Or maybe wine is served with a mani-pedi? It is actually a pool full of red wine you take a dip in.The Japanese spa industry is very competitive so owners are becoming more and more creative with their treatments. They claim this wine spa has health benefits such as relieving fatigue, skin moisturizing, and anti-aging properties. Wine isn't the only drink the Japanese are bathing in. Green tea pools are also a popular spa treatment.
I for one find this kind of gross. How do they keep something like this sanitary? I already am weary of public pools and at least public pools have chlorine. Also can you imagine how this would dye your bathing suit?
I think I’ll stay on the sidelines with this one and just drink the wine off my wine rack rather than bathe in it.
Labels: red wine, swimming, wine rack, wine rack store
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Special Glasses to Go With My Wine Rack
Even though I am the “glass-breaking queen” I have built myself a rather nice collection of wine glasses. The most special are a set I got in Germany. They are a traditional white wine glass with a thick green, ringed stem.I purchased a set of four glasses during a stopover on our ride down the Rhine River. Up until then we hadn’t seen any souvenirs so we spent a lot of money there in St. Goar. Along with these glasses I got a beer stein and some small items for friends. What was great was that every store we went into had samples of their homemade peach brandy. I really wish I had smuggled some of that back too.
These glasses traveled all the way from there to Paris and then home to the States. None of mine or my family’s delicate items broke. To this day, I still can’t believe we managed that.
I now I have six because I inherited two more after my grandmother passed away. Even though I have had them for four years I did not once drink from them till tonight. For the occasion I broke out a Riesling off my wine rack.
Labels: white wine, wine glasses, wine rack, wine rack store
Buying Wine Racks is Easier than Buying Shoes
I have been on a mission to find new sneakers. My old Reeboks really need to be retired. They are full of holes and just look grimy. I love them to death, but it is time to move on. I think most people take buying shoes for granted. Because of my size 11 feet, shoe shopping is nightmare.I now know what stores carry higher sizes so my shopping trip can be more streamline. Today I hit up the local Fred Meyer. They have a very large selection of athletic shoes in my size. I was actually able to try on 5 different pairs. I rarely have that luxury.
It came down to two pairs of Adidas. Both fit well but I had to choose just one. One was more attractive looking, would go better with jeans, but they were more expensive and less practical for the gym. The other pair had thicker soles, $20 cheaper, but they were ugly and would not match anything. After much deliberation I chose the better looking pair.
This type of choice I make with my wines as well. Should I fill my wine rack with one expensive wine or a few inexpensive wines of lesser quality? I usually choose the latter.
Labels: shoes, Shopping, wine rack, wine rack store
French Wine For the Wine Rack
While I was in Paris a few years ago I didn't drink much French wine. Looking back on it now, I wish I had. I also wish I had taken advantage of all the different cheeses. France was the last leg of our European trip so I was pretty worn out and ready to go home when we arrived in Paris.The French were actually quite rude like how they are stereotypically portrayed. I arrived hoping that the stereotypes were incorrect but was sorely disappointed. Next time we go I will make a point to blend in better so we won’t be such obvious tourists.
One of the positive experiences I did have reminded me of home. One evening I was walking back from an internet café and someone saw my Washington State University t-shirt and said “Go Cougs” to me. I wished I had stopped and talked to them further.
Now that I gotten more involved in wine culture, I see what I missed out on. As well as being the most famous country for wine productipn, they are the world’s largest wine producer making up 34% of the world share. Even though they produce so many bottles I don’t have any on my wine rack. Maybe I am subconsciously rejecting French wine because of my bad experiences in Paris.
Labels: french wine, traveling, wine rack, wine rack store
Does the Wine Spectator Affect Your Wine Rack
When I am shopping for wine for my wine rack, I always see tags giving the Wine Spectator the score. Wineries also brag about their high scores on the back of the bottles. Besides knowing that the higher the score the better, I am not sure what the number means.Every year, Wine Spectator reviews more than 15,000 bottles through blind tastings at their offices through out the world. Most bottles are sent to them to be tasted but they also spend thousands of dollars a year buying wines that were not submitted.
The wines are graded on a 100 point scale. Here is the score break down:
95-100 Classic: a great wine
90-94 Outstanding: a wine of superior character and style
85-89 Very good: a wine with special qualities
80-84 Good: a solid, well-made wine
75-79 Mediocre: a drinkable wine that may have minor flaws
50-74 Not recommended
In 2008, 19,500 wines were reviewed at 5,300 received 90 or more points. To get the top 100 list the wines were narrowed down by four criteria: quality, value, availability, and excitement. They claim no equation determines the final selections, rather the choices are based on the editors judgment and passion about the wine.
Labels: wine rack, wine rack store, wine spectator
Monday, February 23, 2009
Had too Much Wine Off the Wine Rack? Grab a Snuggie!
So I usually like to talk about really cool products/invention I see on the internet or TV. Today I am going to talk about something that is absolutely ridiculous, the Snuggie. I swear the inventor must of fell and hit his head on a wine rack to think this was a good idea. I watch a lot of re-run TV shows, so I am subjected to a lot of crappy sales commercials. This morning, I saw the commercial for the Snuggie again.Basically this product is a large blanket with sleeves. This is ridiculous in of it self because it is basically a backward robe, hardly a new invention. The commercial claims it will help you save money on your power bill because it is warmer and more functional than a blanket. The armholes allow you answer the phone, hold a baby, and read a book! For some reason, I can’t remember struggling with these activities while using a blanket. Maybe I’m just special?
The best part of the commercial is where a family is wearing these at a sports game. They look crazy. Why wouldn’t you just wear a jacket like everyone else?
Labels: Shopping, wine rack, wine rack store
Banyan Trees: Not a Good Material For Wine Racks
Thanks to my blogs on Hawaii and oak trees, I was reminded of the really cool trees I saw in Hawaii. They are called banyan trees and they are a type of fig. I saw a lot of them in Waikiki and surrounding parks. They looked so foreign to me. Almost like that they were from a different planet.They are originally from India and flourish in warm climates such as Hawaii. One of the most famous trees is located at Lahaina's Courthouse Square in Hawaii. The tree is nearly 150 years old and covers one third of an acre. The largest tree is located in Kolkata, India and is over 200 years old.
Their aerial roots characterize these trees. These roots hit the ground and grow into thick trunks. These trees are a home for many birds and are alive with noise. You do not want to stand under them for very long.
Banyan wood probably wouldn’t good material for wine racks. There is some mythological stories that say the trees are inhabited by spirits and demon like creatures. The last thing you want is a haunted wine rack.
Labels: hawaii, traveling, wine rack, wine rack store
Inexpensive Wine For Your Wine Rack
I was first introduced to Saint Laurent Estate Winery with their Syrah Rose. That wine was the bottle that helped start me down the red wine path. I enjoyed it very much and also enjoyed the price tag at $14.99.Recently we broke out a bottle of their Lucky Red we had been saving on our wine rack. I was not as impressed with this wine. Also, it proved to be undrinkable the next day even after we vacuum sealed the bottle so we had to dump half of it. Perhaps if we had been able to finish it off it would have justified the $14.99 price tag.
The winery offers over 10 different types of wine including 4 whites and 6 reds. The vineyard is located in Malaga, which is south of Wenatchee, Washington. They have a tasting room there and in Quincy.
If you’d like to support a Washington State winery I’d suggest giving them a try. If your wine rack is in need of a Rose, they are the people to go to.
Labels: cheap wine, Washington State Wine, wine rack, wine rack store
John Steinbeck and His Wine Rack
John Steinbeck has become one of my favorite authors. For whatever reason, I was not introduced to his writing until I searched out his most famous novel, The Grapes of Wrath, in college. I think I was the only person who never had to read Of Mice and Men in high school. From the first book, I was hooked. From there I moved on to East of Eden, which I also enjoyed even though it was pretty heavy reading.I didn’t have a chance to start reading him again until after I graduated college because I was so busy doing assigned reading. When I returned home I went to the local library and searched him out. That’s when I found my favorite Steinbeck book, Cannery Row. It focuses around the antics of four bums and the lives of their friends in Monterey, California. What’s funny is that I mentioned this to my mother and she told me I had actually been to the real “Cannery Row” in Monterey when I was young.
I think I really like Steinbeck because his writing is simple but incredibly powerful. He is amazing story teller.
Right now I am reading Tortilla Flats, which I received as a gift for Christmas. It’s about a bunch of Spanish paisanos. They love wine and drink it so fast they’d have no use for a wine rack. I am enjoying the book but it is nowhere as good as Cannery Row.
Labels: books, john steinbeck, wine rack, wine rack store
Hawaii: Better Than a Full Wine Rack
I am obsessed with Hawaii. We took a trip there after Christmas two years ago. I make a comment everyday about how I want to go back. I think it is starting to grate on my boyfriend’s nerves.Hawaii is more known for Mai Tais than wine so I wouldn’t suggest going there if you were looking to pick up some wines for your wine rack. But if you are looking for warm beaches and great food, it is the place for you.
We spent a week on the island of Oahu in Waikiki. We were hardly in our hotel room and always made sure to swim in the ocean at least once a day. We took a tour of the whole island and visited the Dole Plantation. There we were introduced to this heavenly substance, Dole Whip. It is a non-dairy pineapple soft serve dessert. I was hooked with the first spoonful.
You cannot find Dole Whip outside of Hawaii and Disneyland parks. There is a cult following on the internet trying to figure out how to make it at home. I found out that I can order the dry mix and put it in our ice cream maker. It’s kind of expensive at $35 for a 5 pound bag of mix but it’s great to make it up when I just can’t get Hawaii off my mind.
Labels: hawaii, mai tai, wine rack, wine rack store
No Debt Hanging Over My Wine Rack
Our President Obama says he is going to cut the deficit in half in ten years. I hope this is true but sometime I wonder how unrealistic statements like this are. Currently are debt is at $10,815,725,055,261. I don’t even know much that is. Nearly 11 trillion? I wonder if this include the new stimulus package. I guess it probably doesn’t really matter, it’s just another drop in the bucket at this point.In an attempt to make this number make more sense, you can divide this huge number by the population of America. Each American’s share of the debt is over $35,000. This includes babies, the homeless, and the elderly.
I’m just glad that my family and I are financially secure. My parents always spent responsibly and passed those values on to me. I hate how the responsible people have to suffer the most thanks to this economic mess. Responsible people are losing all their hard earned investments and retirement. My stocks have plummeted so far I just want to hide under my wine rack until they go back up again.
The humor in this is that you can actually donate to the public debt if you feel so inclined.
Labels: saving money, wine rack, wine rack store
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Enjoying Wine off my Wine Rack and the Oscars
Tonight is the big night for Hollywood at the Oscars. Everyone will all be dressed up and glammed out. They’ll be wearing dresses and jewelry that cost more than some people’s homes. I guess watching these sparkling stars gives us a chance to forget about the growing poverty in this country. I like how an old college professor put it, “Rich and famous people love to give awards to other rich and famous people.”I am not rooting for anyone movie or actor in particular. The only movies I saw that were nominated were Slumdog Millionaire (which was awesome), the Duchess, and Wall-E (also awesome).
I, like most people, like to see what the actors choose to wear. Most of them are perfectly dressed but there are always a few mishaps with an outfit or choice of makeup. These mishaps are always the highlight of the show.
It must feel really amazing being clothed in those designer gowns. The closest I ever got to anything designer made was some Versace sunglasses I ended up returning because I couldn’t justify the +$200 price tag.
Well, I guess I’ll just sit back and relax with a glass of champagne from my wine rack and hope that someday I’ll be able to purchase some designer items.
Labels: award show, champagne, wine rack, wine rack store
Good Time to Find a Great Deal on Anything. Including Wine Racks!
I love a great deal. One of my favorite things to do is find that perfect blouse or pair of shoes on clearance. Finding these deals unexpectedly is even better. I just found a really cute shirt at the mall for $4. The deal was so good I bought two. I think that is probably the best deal I have ever found. Stores are trying to rid themselves of the winter clothing to make room for the spring lines. If you have been putting off shopping, now is the time to go.
Thanks to the tanking economy, just about everything is on sale. You can also peruse businesses' going out business sales for some good buys. I stopped by the local Circuit City that is closing down and picked up some DVDs that were 50% off. I probably will be back in there again to purchase some blank DVDs because they were marked down too.
The Wine Rack Store also has many pieces on special. Right now you can purchase a 56 Bottle Modular Wine Rack for only $99.95! Big bottles or small bottles, this rack can handle it and it comes with free shipping. You can check out all the great super sales here.
Labels: electronics, sales, wine rack, wine rack store
Check Out the Oak Trees While Filling Your Wine Rack
Napa Valley is known as wine capital of the United States. Growing up there, I didn’t really see it that way. The vines were such a constant sight that they don’t have much significance to residents any more. I think these vines also cover up the beauty of the valley. People tend to pay attention to them rather than the green and rocky rolling hills. As a child, I would liken the hills to sleeping giants. I could make out their faces and hair in the piles of rocks and trees.One really cool feature of the valley is the ancient oak trees. They decorate the valley and upper hills. Father out from the town, you can find untouched groves of them. Some I have seen are absolutely huge. There are some in my grandfather’s neighborhood that are taller than a three story home. With the height comes long reaching, gnarled branches. Sad thing is many of these trees are being cut down because of continued development.
If you ever make it down to Napa Valley, look past those vines and see some of the valley’s original natural beauty. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed by the view or any of the new wines you have found for your wine rack at home.
Labels: napa valley, wine rack, wine rack store
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Choosing the Sun over my Wine Rack
The county I live in is full of well maintained parks and recreation areas. After running some errands (we picked up some bottles of wine for our nearly empty wine rack) in town, we stopped at a local lake. Well, I’d call it a glorified pond because it isn’t very large. There is a nice dock we were able to sun ourselves on to try to regain some vitamin D lost over these last dark months.In the summer, the dock is where I like to swim from. I prefer swimming in the deeper water away from the beaches and reeds because that is where the dreaded "swimmers itch" lurks. Also there are fewer people and loud children in that part of the lake. I like to put on goggles and try to find things people have dropped in on accident. We have found dog toys, an office chair, playground equipment, cell phones, jewelry, and lots of fishing gear.
I am a pretty hardcore swimmer. My first swim in that lake last year was in May and my last was in September. Both were chilly but fun. I can’t wait till it warms up cause I am want to go swimming so badly.
Labels: swimming, Washington State, wine rack, wine rack store
Friday, February 20, 2009
Not as Easy as Assembling a Wine Rack
The sun was shining this morning and my bike was calling for me from the garage so I had to go for a ride. I decided I would try to tackled at 20 mile round trip. The most I have done so far was 15 mile ride.
I knew I was in trouble as soon as I started down the main road. Even though I was only in second gear, I felt like I was in third. I soldiered on figuring that I would gain more energy as I went along. This spare energy never showed up. Half way to the park that was supposed to serve as my half way point, I called my mother. She was willing to pick me up in town when I was ready.
I made it to the park and enjoyed the view for a while. The picture above was taken with my iPhone. I then got back on my bike headed towards town. I figured it would only be about 3 more miles into town but it turned out to be closer to 7. The road seemed a lot shorter by car. I was exhausted by the time I was picked up.
Now I am just lazing around the house. It’d have a lot more energy right now if I had just stayed home and assembled a wine rack. They hardly take any time at all the build and you do not need to use tools or glue.
Labels: cycling, wine rack, wine rack store
Did you Fall and Hit Your Head on the Wine Rack?
We’ve all had those nights where we raided the wine rack to have a good time with friends. I’ve done it plenty of times. But none of these times have I ever managed to permanently ink myself with a tattoo. Some of the tattoos I have see on the internet beg the question, were you drunk when you chose that one off the wall? Because if you were sober, you probably would have stayed far away from that dirty tattoo joint.I find nothing wrong with getting a tattoo. I would like to get one myself someday. I just have a problem wrapping my head around some of this stuff people choose to put on their bodies. Do they think it is going to wash off? My favorites are the ones that actually contained misspelled words.
On the other side of the coin, I have seen some really amazing tattoos. Literal works of art. Unique and not chosen out of a binder 15 minutes before you have it started. The problem is that there are about 500 awful tattoos for every beautiful one.
I will continue contemplating what I want and plan on thinking about it for awhile before taking a trip to the tattoo parlor. I will also spend a good amount of time researching the artist. If he’s spent his whole career tattooing Mickey Mouse, I’ll move on to someone else.
Labels: tattoo, wine rack, wine rack store
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Can I order an Unbreakable Wine Rack Too?
The wine-gods have been listening and have granted my ultimate wish: unbreakable wine glasses. These “glasses” are made of a new material called Kwarx (very space-age sounding) and were launched in Hong Kong at the 2006 Vinexpo.The dinnerware company, Mikasa is the only company selling them right now. The new substance is being manufactured into six different types of glasses. The glasses come in a unique shape which can be seen above. This new angled bowl is supposed to make it easier to pour the right amount and make the aromas and flavors release faster
The recipe for Kwarx is being kept a secret. The material is supposed to retain the luster and transparency of glass and remain unbreakable. According to Mikasa, the glasses are the most transparent in the world, due to the fact that they are completely colorless. They also remain shiny and sparkle wash after wash.
These glasses are expensive. They are about $10 a piece. I think I may just stick with my cheap glasses and spend the extra money on more expensive wine for my wine rack.
Labels: wine glasses, wine rack, wine rack store
“Green Wine” for Your Wine Rack
We here at the Wine Rack Store like to be environmentally conscious and appreciate it when other businesses strive to be. One of these great businesses is a winery located in Gonzalez, California. Constellation Wines is going to build the largest solar power installation for any winery in the world. The solar panels will cover 170,000 square feet and generate 1,700,000 kilowatt hours per year. This will be enough to power 50% of the winery’s energy needs.
The winery does not operate much in the summer so the extra electricity will be exported to the local community. This should power 25% (1,695) of the local homes. These solar panels will offset a huge amount of carbon dioxide (1.6 million pounds), sulfur dioxide (1,600 pounds), and nitrogen oxide (2,900 pounds) every year.
I hope more wineries will continue to switch over to green power. I will try to make sure in the future to look to fill up my wine rack with the green-powered wines. I hope you will consider purchasing more green-powered wines as well.
Labels: enviromentally friendly, wine rack, wine rack store
Wine Racks Can’t Fix All Cravings
I am the Queen of Cravings. I always have a hankering for chocolate, pickles, or other random foods. Right now I have really been wanting some cheap boxed juices like the kind we all had in childhood. I found some at the grocery store today although they weren’t the exact kind I was looking for. I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t actually make the type I am looking for anymore.So I was glad that I finally found something similar and that they were extremely cheap. You can’t beat six juice boxes for a little over a dollar. They are much, much cheaper than my favorite wines on my wine rack.
After I got home I opened one up and had a drink. That flavor took me down memory lane. It made me remember warm summer picnics and elementary school lunch time. It is really funny how you associate certain flavors and aromas with certain memories.
The only problem with these drinks is the sugar content. There is as much sugar per serving in that juice as there is in soda. The one nice thing about wine on my wine rack, albeit that it's more expensive, is that it doesn’t contain nearly as much sugar.
Labels: chocolate, memories, wine rack, wine rack store
Some Inexpensive Champagne For Your Wine Rack
As I mentioned before I enjoyed good priced champagne on Valentine’s Day. It was Cuvee 21 by Paxet. Paxet is based out of Spain and manufactures many types of champagne and a few white wines. I actually think this may be the first Spanish wine I have tried. The brut champagne we had was only $14.99.It had a very fruity flavor, which I love. It would pair well with a light dinner, cheese, or fruit. I didn’t explore the flavor with food because I drank it outside by a bonfire.
The problem I seem to have with champagnes is that I have a hard time telling the difference between them. This one did not stand out on my palette anymore than anything else I have tried. I wonder if this is a common problem especially for people just starting to analyze wine flavors.
So if you would like to add some good priced champagne to your wine rack, give Paxet a try.
Labels: cheap wine, wine rack, wine rack store
Maybe She Should Have Opened a Bottle Off a Wine Rack
This video has been making the rounds on the internet as well as on TV. It is a woman in a Hong Kong airport screaming and freaking out because she missed her flight to San Francisco. I know many people, including myself, have wanted to throw a tantrum thanks to an airline ruining my plans. But just like everyone else, except her, I have kept it to myself. Perhaps she should of calmed down be visiting a wine bar and ordering the best bottle of Chardonnay off their wine rack. I really hate the whole process of flying. I am the first to admit I am not a good flier. I get really nervous before boarding. I get a rush of adrenaline and experience what I liken to be a version of the “fight or flight” syndrome. As soon as I get on the plane and sit down I am usually fine. I will continue to be fine as long as we don’t hit any turbulence. If we start to shake around I usually begin to freak out and convince myself we aren’t going to make it.
Perhaps on my next flight coming up in March, I should visit the airport bar and ordering the best bottle of champagne off their wine rack before we take off.
Labels: air planes, wine rack, wine rack store
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Coupons For Wine For My Wine Rack
In an attempt to save more money I have turned to coupon clipping. I have been finding most of my coupons online as well as in the local newspaper. So far I have managed to save a little bit.The biggest problem I have run into is that the online coupons are not for things I need at the moment. To remedy this, I am printing out all the coupons I think I may need in the future and store them. To keep organized I keep them in envelopes sorted into general categories. When I get ready to go to the store, I just look through to see if I have anything applicable. To get the best deal I try to buy the item with a coupon while it is on sale.
Maybe if the wine industry wanted business to pick up again they could release coupons too. I am definitely more compelled to fill my wine rack with wines on sale from the grocery store so coupons would probably convince me to buy a few more bottles.
Labels: coupons, saving money, wine rack, wine rack store
Champagne from the Wine Rack For Valentine’s
Besides breaking out some champagne off of my wine rack, my Valentine’s Day was pretty uneventful. We had an old college buddy out to visit so anything romantic was out of the question. We spent most of the day showing him around the Kitsap Peninsula.We took him down to a beautiful beach in Seabeck. I wanted him to see the spectacular view of the Olympic Mountains from there but they were obscured by clouds. Since the weather was nice we took a stroll on the beach. I also managed to trip on a rock and cut my hand on an oyster shell.
I ordered one of those silly heart shaped pizzas for dinner. Not the best companion with champagne from my wine rack. Since it wasn’t raining we had a bonfire in the back yard. But alas, I forgot to buy marshmallows for smores. We finished off the night with some lemon drops and Robin Williams Live on Broadway. Although not a romantic day, it was still quite enjoyable.
Labels: champagne, mountains, wine rack, wine rack store
Leave Some Room on Your Wine Rack
Port Townsend, Washington is a beautiful place to visit year round. We usually try to visit there during the summer but we had the opportunity to go out there this weekend. It is only about an hour drive but it feels worlds away when you have been cooped up inside all winter. I also noticed for the first time signs for a few wineries on the way. I made a mental note to come back and do some tasting to see if I can find some bottles to add to my wine rack.The downtown is full of specialty stores and is very picturesque. It contains a nice little wine shop. There is also a pizza joint called Waterfront Pizza that serves some of the best pizza I have ever had.
The real hidden gem in Port Townsend is Fort Worden State Park. The state park has many activities for everyone. There is a sandy beach which is great for summer time recreation such as sandcastle building and if you are not afraid of the cold, swimming. There is also a rocky beach which provides tidal pools which can be explored. There is a light house located in the park and is occasionally open for tours. Since this was the gate way to the Hood Canal and Puget Sound a large military base was constructed here before World War I. All that is left are large cement structures which are fun to explore.
So if you are suffering from some cabin fever and maybe want to stop to fill up your wine rack on the way, Port Townsend is a great place to visit.
Labels: Port Townsend, Washington State, wine rack, wine rack store
Conquered by my Wine Rack and Green Mountain (Again)
After reviewing the trail map of my local Green Mountain, I realized we had not explored nearly as much ground as first thought. We decided to try to make it to the mythic vista mentioned on the map again. This time we brought my mother along because she enjoys hiking as well.The weather was great. On the drive to the trail head we saw the Cascades to the east and the Olympic Mountains to the west. We chose to try this other trail head because it was closer to the vista. We examined the sun-bleached map at the base of the mountain and then took off.
After the first 2 miles we started to wonder if we were on the right path. We were supposed to make a 1000 ft elevation gain and so far we hadn’t gain any vertical footage. I brushed it off thinking we might just gain it all really fast at the end. At 4.5 miles and no sign of the vista we had to turn back because we needed enough day light to go back. I left the mountain feeling defeated again and exhausted from an unplanned 9 mile trek. I was also sorely disappointed that I didn’t get to the see the amazing view I am sure the vista was harboring.
I came home and headed to the wine rack to check for some champagne to help the aching in my feet. I was defeated by the wine rack as well because I had forgotten that I had finished off the last champagne bottle during the weekend.
Labels: hiking, Washington State, wine rack, wine rack store
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wine Racks and Cooling Racks
I see every holiday as an excuse to bake. Valentine’s Day is no exception. I am just glad that I actually have a real kitchen at my disposal rather than the small kitchenette I was in last year. So far I’ve baked a couple dozen homemade sugar cookies and heart shaped cakes. The cookies came out really well but the cakes are a bit misshapen. I decorated them all today with various shades of pink homemade frosting. My clothes are covered in sugar. It got a bit tedious decorating because I had planned on a friend coming over and helping but she came down with a cold at the last second.
I think I may have given myself diabetes with all the sugar I have ingested today. I need to find some more people to give all these treats too because I am easily tempted to put my diet off for a few cookies. Since I have already had so much sugar, having another cookie with a glass of champagne off my wine rack tonight won’t make a difference.
Labels: baking, diet, wine rack, wine rack store
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Wine Racks Aren’t Playthings but Legos Are
As a child, Legos were my favorite toy. I built absolutely everything. I had pirate, western, and even space themed sets. I would also mix everything to together and see what I could come up with. I used to make whole towns and one time even made a movie about a town being attacked by aliens. I still have that on a video tape somewhere I think. Legos really expanded my imagination and storytelling ability. It is a great toy for any creative kid.My mother hated these little plastic bricks. She’d always step on them or suck them up in the vacuum. They are also wickedly expensive considering they are just made of molded plastic.
At Legoland in England, the tallest Lego tower ever built was constructed last spring to commemorate the 50 year anniversary of the toy. The tower stood 100 hundred feet tall and was constructed with nearly half a million blocks. I have boxes and boxes of Legos but I can only dream of making a tower anywhere near that length. I could perhaps make a neat wine rack.
Labels: toys, wine rack, wine rack store
Dusting Off the Wine Rack
We are having a house guest this weekend so I am in super-cleaner-mode. I generally keep a clean home but I like to put off cleaning the shower and dusting. I still smell like the bleach I doused my bathroom with today. I hate the stuff but it works wonders on just about any surface. I feel like a need a gas mask in my bathroom though because the room doesn’t ventilate well and it makes me dizzy after awhile.My least favorite house chore is dusting. I absolutely hate dusting. The dust gets into my nose and my nose is stuffy for the rest of the day. I guess I must have an allergy to it but it only bothers me when it gets disturbed. One big dust trap is my wine rack. To prevent such build up I should attack with the dust rag more often. Or perhaps I could just drink the bottles off the wine rack sooner so they don’t have chance to gather dust. That sounds like the best plan to me.
Labels: cleaning, wine rack, wine rack store
Is Your Wine Rack Not Making a Big Enough Statement?
If your friends are no longer impressed by your massive wine collection on your wine rack, why not outfit your home with one of these. It is a chandelier made up of your own wine glasses. When you are entertaining you can casually pluck a glass off of it and serve your friends.Although the idea is pretty simple, it’s pretty awesome. Light is given off by a single light bulb in the center. The chandelier isn’t just an art piece. It provides storage and a drying rack for your wine glasses. The lighting will change depending on what types of glasses and colors you use.
They come in three different finishes and sizes: holding up to 16, 40, or 76 glasses. I don’t currently have a high enough ceiling to accommodate something like this but I think it would be neat to own in the future. It is such a simple design you could probably make it yourself if you were a good enough metal worker. No his final question, will it match my metal wine rack?
Labels: gift, wine glasses, wine rack, wine rack store
Like Fruity Wine On Your Wine Rack?
I really enjoy white wines that contain fruity flavors, especially citrus ones. This summer I was introduced to a Sauvignon Blanc by Kim Crawford Wineries. It was purchased at my local wholesale retailer but should be easy to find anywhere else.I am not practiced enough to pick out all the subtle flavors wines contain but I was able to find a few different ones in this bottle fairly easily. First off, the smell is not something I had encountered before. It was very citrusy. Upon the first tasting the grapefruit flavor is the most obvious. You can also make out other citrus fruits as you continue drinking.
When I drink it reminds me of summer. I enjoyed drinking it with fruit and cheese. I think it would be a great addition to any wine rack if you enjoy light, fruitier wines.
The Kim Crawford winery is located in New Zealand and has been producing wine for nearly a decade. They have won many awards and Wine Spectator gave the Sauvignon Blanc 91 Points.
Labels: fruit, New Zealand, wine rack, wine rack store
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
A Wine Rack Would Make a Good Bird Perch
I enjoy feeding the wild birds around my home. I like to sit and watch them eat, fight, and sing to each other. I have been feeding them all winter so many have come and actually stayed for a long time. I probably have about ten different species taking advantage of the free seed. My favorite is a little house wren that shows up on occasion. It is about the size of a golf ball and has a tail that sticks straight up.The downside of having all these birds around my house is the morning chorus that echos from all around. The robins begin after sunrise out on the lawn. They are tolerable because their song is fairly quiet. All was fine until we were awoken at 7 am this last weekend to a whistling noise outside. Being half awake and confused I thought it sounded like a child blowing on a whistle. After lying there for awhile I figured out it must have been some kind of bird I hadn’t heard before making a racket out in the rhododendron bushes outside my window.
Later on in the day I found a website that matched up bird songs with bird types. I listened to all the species I had seen and finally found out what it was. The bird is called a varied thrush. They are easily seen throughout the region. A flock arrived at my home a couple of weeks ago and has been enjoying the bugs in my lawn.
I hope these morning calls outside my window don’t become a habit of these birds. Would wine corks from bottles off my wine rack make good ear plugs?
Labels: bird watching, birds, wine rack, wine rack store
Snowing on my Wine Rack Parade
I woke up to a nice surprise this morning, snow, again. And it is still snowing this evening. It isn’t unheard of to have snow in February but it doesn’t happen too often or fall this thickly. It is starting to stick to the roads and will soon make driving difficult if it doesn’t melt by tomorrow. Luckily I got my errands done early.I think tonight I’ll have to break out some champagne off my wine rack to chase my winter blues away again. I just can’t believe how it could be so beautiful and warm this weekend and then drop snow on us like this a few days later. Nature is a cruel mistress in the Northwest. You can never trust the weather forecast and never know what the weather is going to be like until the day of. I love living in Washington State but the weather tends to eat away at my soul in the winter.
Labels: snowing, weather, wine rack, wine rack store
Monday, February 9, 2009
Aerating Wine Off Your Wine Rack
Certain flavors and aromas are locked within wines until they are exposed to air. This exposure to air is called letting the wine breath or aerating the wine. With exposure to the air the flavor will change, soften, and the overall characteristics should improve. As with everything else, all wines will react differently.Wines will generally respond well to 15 to 20 minutes of aeration. However, if the wine is young and full of tannins, then it could take up to an hour to aerate properly. Older wine has a different set of rules because it has a smaller window of perfection.
There are two different vessels that will aerate wine properly: a decanter or a wine glass. Just leaving wine to aerate in a bottle isn’t sufficient. You do not necessarily need a fancy glass decanter because a pitcher or flower vase will do the job just as well. The increased surface area is the key to allowing more air to make contact with your wine.
Hopefully these aerating tips will help you enjoy the wine off your wine rack to its fullest potential.
Labels: aeration, red wine, wine rack, wine rack store
Think of the Wine Racks at the Grammy After Parties
Last night, the 51st Grammy Awards was presented on CBS. The award show is put on by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. The award ceremony consists of performances by prominent musicians and the presenting of dozens of awards to deserving artists.The most notable award of the night, album of the year, was won by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Considering Plant was the lead singer in the biggest rock group ever, that win should not come as a surprise. The other award I was interested in was rock album of the year. Cold Play, one of my favorite bands, won in this category with their Viva La Vida.
I did not watch the performances because I didn’t have much interest in the featured musicians but I heard many favorable reviews this morning.
We all know that the award shows only occupies the first half of the night. Afterward everyone kicks off their stiletto heels and heads for the after parties. I can only imagine how fast that champagne was being pulled of those wine racks either in celebration or in an attempt to drown the feelings of defeat.
Labels: award show, music, wine rack, wine rack store
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Walk Away Those Wine Rack Calories
Since the weather continues to get better and better I took the opportunity to get out for a hike yesterday. I may live on a heavily populated peninsula but there is still a lot of wilderness left if you take time to find it. One of these places left is called Green Mountain. It is only about 10 miles from our home but it feels like a world away.Green Mountain may not be much more than a glorified hill but it houses many nice hiking and biking trails. The crispness of the air was invigorating and the chill felt great on my skin. I had never been there before so we were not sure what paths to take. I decided we should try to gain as much elevation as possible in hopes of finding a nice spot with a view. Sadly we were not rewarded with a view because of the surrounding trees.
Even though we were in the woods we were reminded, however, that we were close to civilization because we could hear the lunch whistle blow for the local naval shipyard.
We ended up hiking about 4.5 miles. This means we burned nearly 700 calories. That’s like over seven glasses of wine off my wine rack.
Labels: excersise, hiking, wine rack, wine rack store
Try Something Not Off the Wine Rack
I do blog a lot about wine, wine cellars, and wine racks but I also enjoy having a well stocked liquor cabinet. My favorite drink of the moment is the lemon drop. I received this recipe from my boyfriend’s mother and it is absolutely superb.Dangerously Delicious Lemon Drop:
Sugar, for rim of glass
Lemon slice, for garnish
1/4 cup Vodka
1 tablespoon Triple Sec
2 tablespoons Lemon Juice (freshly squeezed is better)
1 tablespoon Lemon Syrup
Place sugar in a saucer. Moisten the rim of a martini glass with a lemon slice. Dip rim in sugar. In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, triple sec, lemon juice, and lemon syrup with ice; shake well. Strain into prepared glass.
The key to this drink is the lemon syrup. It adds just the right amount of sweetness and lemon flavor.
Lemon Syrup:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
Grated zest of 1 lemon
In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 1 cup water; bring to a boil over high heat. Add lemon zest; reduce to a simmer; cook for 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover; let stand overnight. Store refrigerated in an airtight container, for up to 2 weeks.
I made them for a Christmas party and they were a hit. I think my guests drank more of these than the champagne off my wine rack.
Labels: lemon drops, recipe, wine rack, wine rack store
Friday, February 6, 2009
Three Places Not to Put Your Wine Rack
Wine is a fickle liquid. It will be cooked if exposed to too much light. If moved around, its sediments will be disturbed possibly changing the aging of it. It will age too fast or not fast enough depending on the temperature. Lack of humidity can dry out the cork and let air into the bottle. Keeping your wine rack out of certain places will help protect it. The three worst places are the kitchen, garage, and attic.Dangers abound for wine in the kitchen. Temperatures constantly change because of cooking. Dishwashers and garbage disposals vibrate their surroundings. Kitchens also house the refrigerator which is a beast in of itself. It is not wise to keep wine in the refrigerator long because the temperature inside is not constant so the continual change can damage wine.
The attic and garage are bad wine storage places for the same reason, temperature change. The attic has such varying temperatures because heat rises up there in the summer and it is freezing in the winter because it isn’t as well insulated. The garage may not vary as widely but every time you open the door the temperature will change. It also is not as well insulated. You also run the risk of mice chewing on your corks.
Labels: humidity, temperature, wine rack, wine rack store
The Coolest Wine Rack is Located in Las Vegas
I am a habitual watcher of the travel channel. I love watching No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain and various travel shows. I watched one about Las Vegas the other day. Much of the show was spent of profiling some of the wild restaurants that do business down there. One of these restaurants is called Aureole.Tourists are drawn to Aureole because of the world renowned chefs it houses and because of their enormous wine rack. This isn’t any regular rack, it is a tower, the largest in the world to be exact. It is a 42 feet tall glass enclosed structure. The tower houses 10,000 bottles of wine. Two women known as “wine angels” will retrieve the wine via a rope system.
Considering the fine collection this restaurant has to offer, it is definitely a place wine lovers should visit if they are ever in Las Vegas. They have opened a sister restaurant in New York as well but it does not boast the same wine collection.
Labels: Las Vegas, wine rack, wine rack store
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
My Other Wine Rack Store Blog Helper
I am not the only bird owner in my family. My parents own a Senegal parrot named Bailey. They are her third and last owners. Like a lot of parrots, she thinks she is the head of the household. The fact that we let her run amok in the house probably does not help her ego. She maybe a small parrot but she has a huge personality.She is quite a dancer and especially likes it when you dance along with her. She really likes cabinets full of anything colorful. She will just sit and gaze into a cabinet for hours. She seems to have a particular attraction to Tupperware. I am not really sure what that is all about.
She has learned to imitate the squeaky door we usually exit the house out of. As soon as she sees us grab our jackets or hears us put on our shoes she will start making the squeaky noises and squawking. If she had it her way, we’d never leave the house.
As you can see she can take a good photo. She was a real good sport about sitting on this wine off my wine rack.
Labels: pets, wine rack, wine rack store
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