We are spending the weekend near Solihull with Jo and Ian (and three noisy, good natured boys). Jo asked me to bring a bottle of Chilli Wine, and who was I to refuse? We drank it as one of many alcoholic drinks, started shockingly early, whilst playing board games. The best was like Pictionary, but Lego-based. Claire was in her element. Her Lego ice hockey rink was obvious once she had pointed out the individual elements.
The Bonfire Wine went down well. I think both Jo and Ian used the word 'delicious' several times. They each claimed to be able to taste the chilli. Tommy, aged not-quite-13, was allowed a little glass and becomes the youngest person yet to have more than a small taste of my wines.
Showing posts with label Bonfire wine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bonfire wine. Show all posts
Wednesday, 23 May 2012
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
Bonfire Wine - Bottle 4, 24th April 2012
Rachel was particularly keen that I bring a bottle of Bonfire Wine to Spout Cottage. Whilst she enjoyed it, this wine proved remarkably unpopular with Ann and Duncan, and I suspect that Nick did not much like it either. He complained that it tasted too earthy - all the taste was at the back of the tongue - and that there was no similarity to real wine. I disagree. I enjoy its dryness and sparkle, and think it one of my best.
It accompanied moussaka, most of which I made, though Claire did the topping when it was clear I was sinking rapidly into a bad mood brought about by cooking.
The most notable part of today, however, was towards the end of our ten mile walk. After a field full of cows, we came to the inevitable muddy lane. Trying to do my best impression of Jesus walking across the Sea of Gallilee, I sank ankle deep in cowshit - much to the amusement of the resident farmer. I suspect my boots, trousers and jacket will never fully recover.
It accompanied moussaka, most of which I made, though Claire did the topping when it was clear I was sinking rapidly into a bad mood brought about by cooking.
The most notable part of today, however, was towards the end of our ten mile walk. After a field full of cows, we came to the inevitable muddy lane. Trying to do my best impression of Jesus walking across the Sea of Gallilee, I sank ankle deep in cowshit - much to the amusement of the resident farmer. I suspect my boots, trousers and jacket will never fully recover.
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Bonfire Wine - Bottle 6, 4th March 2012
This was a celebratory bottle of wine. The reason was simply that it was the first night this year where we have had time to have a roast dinner. Every other weekend evening in 2012 either we have been doing something or one of us has been ill. So it has been wonderful to have a day where nothing particular has been planned.
I spent most of the day making orange wine (details to be posted shortly) and some it shovelling horse droppings in the sleet. But the space to be able to do this has been pure luxury.
We drank this bottle to a full chicken roast, shared with Julia, whom we invited over on a whim. Both wine and company were excellent. The chilli in this wine makes all the difference: it provides a lift, making a good wine fabulous.
I spent most of the day making orange wine (details to be posted shortly) and some it shovelling horse droppings in the sleet. But the space to be able to do this has been pure luxury.
We drank this bottle to a full chicken roast, shared with Julia, whom we invited over on a whim. Both wine and company were excellent. The chilli in this wine makes all the difference: it provides a lift, making a good wine fabulous.
Sunday, 27 November 2011
Blackberry - Bottle A3, 12th-26th November 2011
It is a rare thing indeed that I have a bottle open for a fortnight. However, so little of this was drunk at the Book Launch, that when I got it home I bunged in a cork and left it in the hallway.
This Saturday marked its re-opening and (naturally) completion. Between the four of us (Sooz and Andrew are her post-Thanksgiving) we made swift work of a bottle of Bonfire wine and needed something else to accompany our Turkey Thai Curry. In fact, we made swift work of this too - aided and abetted by a DVD of Ethel Merman and the Muppets, which was delightfully silly. Then someone suggested opening a bottle of Redcurrant ...
This Saturday marked its re-opening and (naturally) completion. Between the four of us (Sooz and Andrew are her post-Thanksgiving) we made swift work of a bottle of Bonfire wine and needed something else to accompany our Turkey Thai Curry. In fact, we made swift work of this too - aided and abetted by a DVD of Ethel Merman and the Muppets, which was delightfully silly. Then someone suggested opening a bottle of Redcurrant ...
Saturday, 26 November 2011
Bonfire Wine - Bottle 2, 26th November 2011
I blame Claire. This flavour should have been spaced evenly over a period of twelve months. Instead, we have now had three bottles in November. Sooz and Andrew are here, and Claire was keen to introduce them to chilli wine. In fact, this bottle has been less spicy than the other two, but is still good.
I have spent the day making beer, under strict supervision from Andrew. It is far more complicated than wine, and I suspect that this is a one-off. But then I thought a similar thing about making wine, and look where I am now.
When I have not been making beer, I have spent the day reading 'Pigeon English' in preparation for Book Group (good, but too derivative of 'The Curious Incident ...') and worrying about my future. Happy days.
[NB - There is a lacuna. I shall post Elderflower Bottle A3 when I feel able.]
I have spent the day making beer, under strict supervision from Andrew. It is far more complicated than wine, and I suspect that this is a one-off. But then I thought a similar thing about making wine, and look where I am now.
When I have not been making beer, I have spent the day reading 'Pigeon English' in preparation for Book Group (good, but too derivative of 'The Curious Incident ...') and worrying about my future. Happy days.
[NB - There is a lacuna. I shall post Elderflower Bottle A3 when I feel able.]
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Bonfire Wine - Bottle 3, 20th November 2011
Suitably, Bonfire Wine has proved to be an explosive brew. This bottle woke Claire up on Thursday night as it popped its cork. Into the fridge it went, until tonight. Then, whilst I was bottling mhy rhubarb wine, it exploded again - causing a certain amount of jumping in surprise and looking for the gun shot.
This is a delicious wine, though. Fizzy (obviously) and fruity, but with a strong chilli taste. It went well with a sausage and brown lentil casserole, served with cabbage, artichoke & potato mash and a suitably hot horseradish sauce. This, after a lazy day of reading the latest P J Tracy, and watching the first episode of season 2 of 'The Killing'. Crime fiction is where it is at.
This is a delicious wine, though. Fizzy (obviously) and fruity, but with a strong chilli taste. It went well with a sausage and brown lentil casserole, served with cabbage, artichoke & potato mash and a suitably hot horseradish sauce. This, after a lazy day of reading the latest P J Tracy, and watching the first episode of season 2 of 'The Killing'. Crime fiction is where it is at.
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Bonfire Wine - First Bottle, 5th November 2011
This bottle of wine was doubly appropriate. We drank it both on Bonfire Night and on the occasion of Ellis's first birthday celebration. I had a 190 mile round trip to the party, so could only drink half a glass, but that half glass was marvelous. It is a dry, fizzy red wine with many flavours including a strong taste of chilli with just a hint of heat. The assembled guests, of whom there were several, all said they enjoyed it too (though, curiously, I did not see any having a second glass).
Keith, Lee and Robert ushered us into the garden and set off a gazillion fire works which fizzed and hissed and banged and exploded into an array of colours, leaving the air thick with smoke. It was a lovely day and evening, and the best part of it was seeing Keith and his family so happy and settled.
Keith, Lee and Robert ushered us into the garden and set off a gazillion fire works which fizzed and hissed and banged and exploded into an array of colours, leaving the air thick with smoke. It was a lovely day and evening, and the best part of it was seeing Keith and his family so happy and settled.
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Elderflower - Bottle A2, 25th-27th June 2011
The adrenalin was up on Saturday night and we needed something to bring it down. Half a bottle of Crab Apple wine between us didn't quite pass muster, so I opened this bottle too and did not get to bed until after one - which is virtually unheard of.
We each had a glass on Sunday late afternoon in the garden, enjoying a rare genuinely hot day. The garden is looking fecund and I suspect the courgette plants are plotting to declare independent statehood shortly. As lunch had consisted of flat breads and lettuce, a glass of this and my 'tasting' glass of Bonfire wine had the desired effect, and we set off for our curry with Rachel and Duncan somewhat wibbly.
The last of this bottle was finished on Monday with that well known light summer meal to have on a warm day - sausages, mash and onion gravy. Cooking often makes me irritable, but Elderflower wine helped.
We each had a glass on Sunday late afternoon in the garden, enjoying a rare genuinely hot day. The garden is looking fecund and I suspect the courgette plants are plotting to declare independent statehood shortly. As lunch had consisted of flat breads and lettuce, a glass of this and my 'tasting' glass of Bonfire wine had the desired effect, and we set off for our curry with Rachel and Duncan somewhat wibbly.
The last of this bottle was finished on Monday with that well known light summer meal to have on a warm day - sausages, mash and onion gravy. Cooking often makes me irritable, but Elderflower wine helped.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)