A Lovely Spring Break in Indiana

Its Spring Break! After destroying myself on a massively strenuous backpacking trip, or what others would call a meander through the woods, it was definitely time to settle back to my spot on the couch for a little R and R. The California Collection lingering in my fridge needed to go, and its not risotto season anymore, so down the hatch! Mike came by for some post work TV and brought along his last bottle of on sale Beringer from the Thanksgiving of Awesomely cheap wine. ( I say that with nostalgia since i miss being able to buy these in bulk at such low prices.) It was a lovely Pinot Grigio with a nice smooth mellowness. It was a touch sweet, but it contrasted nicely to the slightly drier, fruiter Savingon Blanc I started the night with. I'd give this bottle a 4.5 for value; how can you beat $2.50 a bottle? For taste its more of a 4, probably a 3 really, but I can't get over how yummy it is for how cheap it is. Or Indiana is just messing with my wine pallet, they do love their sweet table wines.
On a completely unrelated note, tonight is going to be our very own bicycle brewery tour! There might only be one brewery on the tour due to laziness, and my lackluster appreciation for the Lafayette Brewing Company: Peoples. There should be some good photos to come!

Tuesday night TV and wine

 What else is there to do on a lazy Tuesday when all motivation has left the building but crack open whatever wine has been hanging out in the fridge and check the TV for new episodes of Portlandia and Archer (or at least episodes that are new to me)? Especially when a food coma has set in from demolishing some awesomely seasonal Shamrock Shakes. For this exciting occasion I pulled out the second tier Vinho Verde (I'm hoarding the good stuff, it'll pop up on the blog a little bit later. Espiral brand, that I had Mike pick up from Trader Joe's for me for a little under 5 bucks a bottle, is a a good stand in for my favorite type of Vinho Verde. Light and crisp, its more of a summer drink, but I'll drink it anytime I get the chance. For under 5 bucks this bottle is a great value, I'll give it a 4.5, with a 4 for taste. This was a great bottle to start the evening.

Unfortunately, I made the not so great decision to switch bottles midway through to a bottle of California Collection Beringer wine that I picked up for about 4 dollars from Payless last week when I was food shopping. While I was looking for a bottle of  light, drinkable white, I should not have followed up one of my

favorite with a savignon blanc. This wine wasn't sweeter than the Vinho Verde, but it somehow contrasted really poorly to my first glass. I think i'll have to try it again on its own before I can make a real decision on it. It seems like a wine that would be good with dinner as oposed to an accompaniment to some tv time. After this thanksgiving when Beringer wines went on sale for $2.50 a piece for a few varieties of deliciously drinkable wines, thus making my holiday season, I can't just write them off.

I'd also make a note, that yes, those are Ugg slippers behind the bottle. And no, they are not mine, they are Patrick's. :)