Whether you like sweet wine or dry wine, there is a sparkling wine that will fit your palate. Just because it has bubbles, doesn't mean it's sweet. Sparkling wine can be dry (labeled as "brut") or off-dry ("sec" or "demi-sec"). The sweet versions are good for starting an evening out accompanied by a toast. Drier versions work well when pairing food.
In this country, Chardonnay is probably the most well-known of all the white varietals. It's a staple on most wine lists and in every wine shop. The flavor can range from oaky and buttery to crisp and steely. Depending on the region it comes from, the wine will taste entirely different. Try fettuccine alfredo with a solid Chardonnay for a great pairing.
Beyond Chardonnay, we have Pinot Gris. Yes, this is the same thing as Pinot Grigio - It's a "po-tate-o/po-tot-o" situation. This white tends to have more mineral notes and nice levels of acid (when done right). Generally speaking, it's a solid food wine for that reason.
Sauvignon Blanc is another way to go, in terms of white wine. This varietal tends to have huge levels of acid (again, making it great for pairing with food), in addition, it has interesting flavor profiles — depending on where it's from. For example, a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc smells and tastes zingy, green and highly herbaceous. When compared with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from California, it will taste nothing alike.
Viognier is a great white to pour in the spring and summer months. It tends to have notes of rose and honey on the nose. To follow that, well-made examples have a tendency not to disappoint on the palate.
Stella's Lounge, our new "downtown dive," is a mixed bag of sorts. The food - with more vegan than meat options - is incredible. The beer is cheap, with a limited selection, but the menu has more than 200 whiskeys to choose from. The wait staff, hired based on personality, is tattooed, dread locked, pierced and witty. You can play a number of classic arcade games in the back, and the jukebox has its share of Talking Heads, The Clash and The Ramones - in fact, it might be the one bar left in all of Grand Rapids that Gaga doesn't have in her glittered fist. But the hidden gem of your libations list might be the Sangria. When you order a Sangria at Stella's, you get it in a mason jar and that suspiciously sweet, surprisingly delicious flavor is none other than Mad Dog 20/20. I had vowed never to drink Mad Dog again after learning that even if you are declared the victor, no one really wins the Last Man Standing contest when Mad Dog is involved. However, Stella's has somehow made America's favorite bum wine into something not only tolerable, but desirable. Equal parts "Red Banana" and "Grape" mixed with sour, juices and house red wine (Big House Red, if you were curious), it's like spiking a punch bowl all over again. The best part: $4. Always. - J. Bennett Rylah
Sangria is available year-round at Stella's Lounge, located at 53 Commerce Avenue in Grand Rapids, for $4. (616)742-4444, stellasgr.com.
Cocktail of the Month: Grand Woods Lounge's Woodstini
Written by Rebecca Lee
Box up your winter coat and don the printed sundress eager to escape your closet; spring has arrived, and summer draws near. Exchange the stale, nightclub air for an evening of lounging next to a charming outdoor fireplace, gazing at the electric city lights, and sipping Grand Woods Lounge's signature cocktail-the Woodstini.
Available in three flavors-raspberry, orange, and orange-raspberry-the Woodstini combines real fruit and Stoli Orange Vodka for a splendid burst of flavor. After soaking the raspberries and/or mandarin oranges in the vodka, one of Grand Woods' bartenders pours the mixture into a martini glass and serves it over ice.
For those desiring tartness over sweetness, the raspberry Woodstini is recommended, while the orange version draws those with more of a sweet tooth. The fruity flavor of the Woodstini largely masks the bite of the vodka and makes the drink especially "dangerous," according to Megan Franko, manager and bartender at the Woods.
Since the opening of the Grand Woods Lounge, the Woodstini has triumphed as the signature cocktail, especially during the spring and summer months.
"When spring and summer comes, people seem to really enjoy it," Franko said.
Whether the appeal stems from the vodka-soaked fruit, ice-chilled liquor, or transparent orange or red hue, the Woodstini definitely makes for a popular, cheery, outdoor drink.
The Woodstini is available year-round at Grand Woods Lounge, located at 77 Grandville Ave SW in Grand Rapids, for $7, or $6 during happy hour from 2-6 p.m. (616) 451-4300, woodslounge.com.
It's only April, but September will be here in no time and people will be asking, "So, what did you do over the summer?" For some of you, the answer might even involve an essay.
My answer will be two simple words: "Beer Tours."
The Michigan Brewers Guild has organized a series of special VIP tours and tastings at member breweries around the state this summer. They're free, but to participate, you've got to be a Michigan Brewers Guild "Enthusiast" member, which costs $25 but also gets you a nifty "Beer Nut" T-shirt, discounts on beer at member Brewpubs, VIP status at Brewers Guild events and some other perks. While there is no additional charge for the summer tours, reservations are recommended and attendees must show their Enthusiast card.
In a few cases, the number of tour members is limited so check out the information below, which is provided to REVUE by the Brewers Guild.
The Summer 2010 schedule begins April 24 at Jamesport Brewing Company in Ludington and ends Saturday, July 31 at New Holland Brewing Company in Holland, and visits more than a half dozen Guild member breweries.
The tour lineup includes:
