One of the best things about being a sommelier is that you are never lacking for dinner companions. My friends often invite me over for a meal with the expectation that I will bring a wine to suit the occasion and cuisine. I consider this the best of all possible worlds: I get fed for free AND show off?? Sign me up! I wanted to recount a few of these recent get togethers in order to demonstrate 3 favorite principles of food and wine pairing.
Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to act as guest blogger for City Wine Tours, providing the blog post below. You can check out the original post here. Although the wine shops are closed today, this guide will defrinitely come in handy over the next few days and for festivities year round (I hope!).
Have an amazing holiday - hope you will be sipping something awesome!
Attention holiday shopping procrastinators, still stuck for that impossible someone on your shopping list? Was there one host or hostess you had forgotten to get a little something for? We at City Wine Tours have the cure for what ails you. That’s right it’s our last minute holiday wine guide! Something to carry you through the Christmas festivities, New Year’s Eve and even those belated January holiday parties (I myself have three on the agenda already.)
No matter what your holiday quandary we have a wine for that!
Dear Le Baron Bouge, 
You know that you have been the love of my life for quite some time. You were my first: your esoteric brilliance, diversity, eclecticism, sincerity... how could a girl ever really find something comparable? I am sorry to say my darling, that things have changed: I've found the one I've waited for - he's taken my heart from you. No longer do I have to travel to Paris for a sampling extravaganza and adorable staff. Alas, my love, you have been replaced. Say hello to my new favorite wine bar: Bin 26 Enoteca.
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According to a recent piece on National Public Radio, Moscato sales have skyrocketed in the last 2 years. Hip-hop star endorsements, low price point and a healthy dose of residual sugar are a few of the contributing factors. Some might dismiss the entire variety as frivolous; this decade's answer to White Zinfandel. However, I would argue differently: there are a number of Muscat based wines which are gorgeous, sophisticated and well priced (under $25 a bottle).
Yeah....that happened. Don't ask me how but via the beauty of the twittersphere, I became the lucky recipient of a goody bag of meaty goodness courtesy of Rocky Mountain Organic Meats. Chief Operating Officer Rod Morrison liked the way I wrote and offered to provide his delectable product if I would agree to create some pairings.
Sometimes hot is good: your cute neighbor; the summertime jam you just can't get out of your head; that viral video on youtube; that killer marketing campaign. And then sometimes hot is bad: like this absurd hit wave currently washing over the country (thanks a lot global warming!). The kind of heat that's downright painful: your sweat has sweat. So what does one do under such circumstances? Switch to lighter than air lagers? Not a chance! As much as I do love the occasional Narraganset or Miller Hi-Life (it is the Champagne of beers after all), I'm a wine girl at heart. My solution? Bone-dry, super racy wines that cut through this oppressive sultriness like a hot knife through butter:
Its all well and good for wine bloggers to promote their favorite pours, but how does one go about finding them? If you live in the greater Boston area, I have provided a link to my favorite local spot. However, there are a few handy dandy rules that can help you determine whether your local package store is up to snuff or if you need to find another pronto.
Stuck in a drinking rut? Time to declare your independence from your everyday wines, and try something new. Not just new, but crazy, cool and unconventional. If our forefathers were brave 
enough to bid adieu to British oppression, the least you can do to pay homage is to step out of your comfort zone:
