Live Long, Sexy and Strong....by Drinking Red Wine

Check out the yummy benefits of drinking red wine!

"While your health-freak friends spend hundreds of dollars on weird miracle fruit juices, you can sit back and relax. As it happens, your red wine habit might just be the key to staying young longer.
 
The health benefits of red wine are greater than you might think. Besides having antioxidants, fermented foods are good for digestion and alcohol itself has also shown some surprising traits over long-term moderate use. Discover the health benefits of red wine and how much you should consume to live well."  read more...

Call me for my top four favorite "live long, sexy and strong" favorites!

Complex aromatics of plum, spices with vanilla oak tannins.

Bold and mature red wine with red fruits, oaky, spicy flavors.

 Expressive nose of red berries with a spicy and round finish.

 Flavors of black currant, green pepper, musk and spearmint in the attack.

Wine Pairings with Fish

Pairing the right wine with fish can be tricky.  Check out this great article:

"Learn what wines pair best with the four different groups of fin fish. From flaky tilapia to steak-like swordfish, there are a range of potential wine pairings. Beyond just the choice of fish, the sauce and fish preparation affects what tastes best when pairing wine with fish."
read more

Contact me for some great choices currently offered by WineShop at home.


Wine with Flaky Fish

Fleur Bleu 2012 Verdelho

Somersville Cellars 2011 White Meritage

Medium Textured Fish

Mariana Vineyard 2012 Sauvignon Blanc

Meaty Fish
Halcyon 2011 Chardonnay

Strongly Favored Fish

Grand Cadeau Rose Sparkling
Halcyon 2011 Pinot Noir (thanks Julie!)

What is a Wine Consultant? What do you do exactly?

Every wonder about what it is I do?  Take a read from the Huffington Post...

WineShop At Home, a company with a mission to take the intimidation out of learning about wine and the wine buying experience by holding a casual tasting in the comfort of people's homes.  Think of it as a Tupperware party for wine.  Yes there is a sales pitch, but it's a soft sell.  You get to try before you buy.  No one is judging your knowledge about wine or what you're tasting in the glass.  It's all about being in a relaxed atmosphere that encourages enjoying wine rather than analyzing it.

read more....

This has been great year for me with WineShop.  Let me know if you know of anyone looking to make a little extra money with a fun and flexible job.

Chops and Halcyon Chardonnay - Smoky and Toasty

Mom and dad were in town as we tried another primal dinner paired with wine. None of the four of us are "wine experts", but based on the food pairings recommended by WineShop on the tasting card we gave it a whirl.

For those unfamiliar with a primal diet - it's a whole foods approach to eating that eliminates modern processed foods and limits carbohydrate intake.  This time we chose the Grilled pork chops, grilled carrots (from Mark Sisson's Quick and Easy Cookbook) with the raw kale slaw I'm addicted to (lcbo.com).  Decided to pair it with WineShops Halcyon 2011 Chardonnay.  This wine was good and well received when it came out, but fellow consultant and friend Julie Shepard and I think it has recently been even better! It is a classic Chardonnay with a nice toast on the finish.

The meal!

Chops and Carrots - Mix ancho chile powder (I had Chipotle on hand), cumin, cinnamon and salt. Add 3 T of melted butter.  Pour half over carrots and half over chops.   Grill.

Also on the plate is a mushroom that a generous neighbor pulled out of her garden.

Raw Kale Slaw.  One of my favorite salads. Raw Kale Slaw Recipe

The meal was delicious. We liked the smoky taste off the chops and carrots with the toasty finish on the Chardonnay.  This white wine stands up nicely with a meal with big flavors.

Thanks to Nuno for the photo!

Primal +wine

I am a few days in to my primal cooking journey. Adding to the challenge, I was keeping in mind what wine I would serve with the dish!  

For those unfamiliar with a primal diet - it's a whole foods approach to eating that eliminates modern processed foods and limits carbohydrate intake.  A spicy sausage dish caught my eye from Mark Sisson's Quick and Easy Cookbook. I decided to pair it with WineShops Frisch Gewürztraminer. While I'm not usually a fan of sweeter wines, I was hoping the spiciness from the meal would pair well with the wine.

- Spicy pork sausage cut bite sized wrapped in lightly steamed cabbage leaves, toothpick, dipped in grainy mustard

- Sautéed portobello mushrooms in olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes

- Carrots and celery in dip; spinach, parsley, mayo, lemon juice, scallions

The meal was delicious. The wine was well structured and sweet, yet paired well with the spiciness of the meal!  Yum!  Thanks to Nuno for the photo!

Beverage Tasting Institutes Award Winning Wines!

WineShop at Home's Somersville Cellars Red and White Meritage were awarded World Wide Championship metals this week! Call me now before these wines sell out! These are two of my FAVORITES!

If you haven't tried them yet, lets schedule a tasting soon.  Both Somersville Cellars 2011 White Meritage and the Somersville Cellars 2009 Red Meritage are currently in one of the tasting samplers!


The Beverage Testing Institute, founded in 1981, awarded a GOLD metal to the Somersville Red Meritage (Rating 90 points: Exceptional) and SILVER metal to the Somersville White Meritage (Rating 86 points: Highly recommended).

BTI's site with Somersville Cellar's Red Meritage GOLD award

BTI's site with Somesville Cellar's White Meritage SILVER award

Start your Holiday Shopping Here!

The holiday shopping season is here!

With the 2012 WineShop at Home Holiday Gift Guide, I have something for every wine lover on your list.  Make your selections and email (debra_gomes@me.com) or call me (919-448-8398), I will take care of the rest. Plus, if you order early, it will only take 3-5 business days to deliver!

From stocking stuffers, artisan wines, 3, 6 or 12 month wine club membership, personalized wines and personalized gift boxes, lead-free crystal stemware, decanters, gift baskets and much more.

Also, if you would like to schedule a holiday wine tasting, let’s talk soon! This is a great time of year to gather your friends and try some fantastic wines before you buy in the comfort of your home! The cost of a 12-person tasting is just under $50 (including tax and shipping).

I look forward to working with you this holiday season. Please call with any and all questions.

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Debra Gomes, 919-448-8398