Well, here are 3 reasons to give the Tree Of Life Semi–Sweet Kosher Pomegranate Wine a try:

 Charm – “Straight –Up”

I’m not going to lie – Semi-Sweet Kosher Pomegranate Wine was not high on my list of wines to try.  But surprisingly, it’s not as bad as some might imagine.  Is it sweet? Yes.  Is it fruity?  Yes.  Is there a buyer for this wine?  Certainly.  The Tree Of Life Semi–Sweet Kosher Pomegranate Wine is something that will appeal to the “non-wine drinker” who is interested in drinking wine. Why? This wine is very fruity, not dry in the least, and tastes just like Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice – no joke!  My Dad is someone who I would consider a “non-wine drinker”, but I do know that he enjoys the heart-healthy antioxidants and taste of cranberry juice – so something tells me he’d like this wine too!  On a side note, my wife and I thought that this might hit the sweet spot with BBQ foods.

Beauty – “Shaken, not Stirred”

One of our favorite martinis in the whole world is a Pomegranate Martini.  But the key to making an incredibly good Pomegranate Martini is to use Pama.  Pama is a phenomenal Pomegranate Liqueur, but it sure ain’t cheap!  A 750ml of PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur can easily set you back nearly $25.  For less than half the price ($12.99 MSRP *sample for 750ml), I was curious to see if the Tree Of Life Semi–Sweet Kosher Pomegranate Wine could be used as a substitute.

Voila!  It totally works as a cheap alternative to PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur.  I’ll admit, it’s not quite the same, but it’s close enough that by the second (or third) martini, no one will tell the difference!  One martini, two martini, three martini…Floor!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur * Sub w/ Tree Of Life Semi–Sweet Kosher Pomegranate Wine
• 1 1/2 oz premium vodka
• 1/4 oz orange-flavored liqueur
• lemon zest for garnish

Preparation:

1. Combine all ingredients into a shaker.
2. Add ice and shake vigorously.
3. Strain into a cocktail glass.
4. Garnish with a lemon zest.

Creativity – “The Fiesta”

For the last creation, we thought we’d make a more adventurous concoction and transform our new fruity friend into Sangria.  If you’re looking for a great book on Sangria, you just might want to check out Sangria by Mittie Hellmich. This book is full of festive and tasty recipes.

Here’s the Sangria recipe I created with the “Tree of Life”:
2 large California navel oranges, sliced
2 large peaches, sliced
2 large nectarines, sliced
2 tangerines, sliced
2 lemons, sliced
2-4 oz Triple Sec (Orange flavored liqueur)
Remainder of chilled Tree Of Life Semi – Sweet Kosher Pomegranate Wine (*Approx. ¾ of a bottle left).
12 oz chilled club soda
Crushed Ice

First, cut up all of the fruit.  Next, grab a festive pitcher that will be large enough to hold all the fruit and liquid.  Place the fruit into container; add an entire 750ml bottle of chilled Tree Of Life Semi–Sweet Kosher Pomegranate Wine and the Triple Sec.  Place in refrigerator for 2 hours or more to allow everything to marinade.  Once ready to serve, add the club soda to the mixture.  Grab a few festive glasses, fill with ice, and pour the Sangria.

The result was just pure, refreshing, fruit enjoyment!

All in all, it was fun coming up with different ways to serve the Tree Of Life Semi–Sweet Kosher Pomegranate Wine.  I’m sure we could have come up with more, but we only had one bottle to work with.  Although we thought this wine worked best in our martini recipe, if you crave sweeter style wines, this might be exactly what you’re looking for.

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This past Friday though, the four of us were finally able to settle down into our familiar festivities.  And on this warm summer evening, we also welcomed two new faces to the mix.  The first was an energetic and electrifying pre-dinner visit made by our newest Fancy Dinner Friday Mascot – “Spaceman Storm Trooper”.

Spaceman Storm Trooper got things off with a bang – that’s for sure!  But for some reason, our 6 year-old son was nowhere to be found…hmmm?!

Our other special appearance was made by a bottle of 2007 Boeri “Martinette” Barbera d’Asti DOC Superiore that I received as a sample.

“Martinette” is the name for one of Boeri’s oldest Barbera vineyards.  Both the location and microclimate are very conducive for the production of Barbera grapes.  The Boeri estate uses several steps in making their Barbera d’ Asti.  In July, they first start with the “thinning” of the grapes. Harvest then begins at the end of September where clusters of grape bunches are selected and collected into small wooden crates.  Next, the grapes are then gently pressed. Afterwards fermentation (with the grape skins still on) occurs for about 7-8 days in barriques, where the wine is ultimately allowed to rest for the next 12 months before bottling occurs.

The result is a tantalizing, Super-poli grip of a wine. 

Right out of the gate, this wine absolutely fills your mouth, adhering to your teeth and gums, giving your taste buds a vigorous workout.  This is definitely not the kind of wine that you want to drink prior to your six-month dental exam if you hope to get out in less than 15 minutes.

The 2007 Boeri “Martinette” Barbera d’Asti DOC Superiore delivers an impressive jab of bright red fruit, accompanied by sweet spices through its finish.  I was also picking up a violets vibe and a very interesting slate & stone mineral-like finish.  All in all, it worked absolutely fantastico with a plate of thin spaghetti topped with a mixture of meatballs, grilled Italian hot sausage, and marinara sauce.

3 Stars out 4.  The 2007 Boeri “Martinette” Barbera d’Asti DOC Superiore is a distinctive and  gripping red that can moonwalk alone, but will really have your taste buds pulsating when paired with a variety of Italian foods!

(MSRP $10)

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All three of these red wines are products of Spain and all three tasted like minerals and rocks to me – more specifically, wet metallic stone.  Not that I’ve spent much time with rocks in my mouth, but there was an almost flinty kind of thing stirring around that completely overpowered any fruit and spice components that these wines might have possessed.  Although I embrace the infinite tastes and qualities offered by different types of wine, I have to admit that I’m a bit challenged by this characteristic.  For now I’ll keep an open mind, but in the case of the 2004 Oriel Setena  (MSRP $18.50*), the 2007 Vina Gormaz Tempranillo ($9.99) and the 2007 El Jamon Tempranillo ($9.99), the metallic quality was acting more like kryptonite robbing these wines of their ‘super powers’.

2 Stars out of 4.
* Sample

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And with nothing but clear blue skies, amber waves of cool night air, and a few shades of Spanish wines to taste test, we all agreed that dining al fresco would be a perfect and relaxing way to ease into the holiday weekend.

To kick things off, we started with a few cocktails…

…and made our way through some tangible heaven that consisted of Spanish Manchego cheese, Extra Sharp Provolone and a little something from Trader Joe’s that I personally never had before called Samosas.

If you’re not familiar with this popular TJ’s appetizer, it’s a flaky layer of pastry crust that houses a dollop of tangy, Indian-inspired vegetables in the center.  These crusty little triangles are totally addictive and if you’ve never tried them, you should definitely pick some up on your next visit to Trader Joe’s.

Before we could all just sit back, kick-off our shoes and bark at the moon, we decided to collectively review a few Spanish wines that I received as samples.

First up, was the 2008 Recorba White Wine from Rueda, Spain ($11 MSRP).

This white wine is a blend of 60% Verdejo and 40% Viura grapes that are from 60 year old vines located in La Seca, which is a small location in the heart of the Denomination of Origen Rueda.

So, what was everyone was sayin’ about the 2008 Recorba White Wine?

“A little bit effervescent, great fruit acidity.  Reminds me of a really good Sauvignon Blanc.”

“Awesome, razor-sharp acidity.  Really great lime and orange peel/tropical flavors.”

“I like this wine a lot and would definitely recommend it to a friend.”

“Clean, fresh – a perfect Spring or Summer white wine.  Very good.”

Personally speaking, I’d hook myself up to an IV and have it pumped through my veins on a hot summer day if I could.  I gave it – 4 Stars out of 4.  Paula was also a big fan of the 2008 Recorba White Wine and wanted to give it 3.5 Stars.  Unfortunately, we don’t do half stars here, so Paula opted to go with 3 Stars out of 4.  Both Ryan and Mrs. WineLife365 were in agreement and awarded our Spanish delight 3 Stars out of 4 as well.

Verdict: We all loved the 2008 Recorba White Wine.  Some a little more than others, but in this case, majority rules:  3 Stars.  It’s a terrific buy!

Our second wine of the night was from the same producer – it was the 2008 Recorba Red Wine ($11 MSRP).  This particular wine comes from Spain’s well-known Ribera Del Duero wine region.  The 2008 Recorba Red Wine is made of 100% selected Tempranillo grapes.

So, did everyone love the 2008 Recorba Red Wine just as much as the 2008 Recorba White Wine?  Here’s what we had to say about it:

“Nice vanilla and red berry flavors with a soft finish.  Good ‘starter’ red.”

“No flaws.  Just a more light-bodied wine than I was hoping for.”

“Doesn’t quite excite me in the same way that the white did.”

“If you enjoy a nice, clean, mild red wine for warm weather sipping – this is nice.  Should serve at 58 degrees F.  It’s a red wine drinker’s white wine for the summertime.”

This wine was a hit with Ryan – he gave it 4 Stars out of 4.  Paula, Mrs. WineLife365 and I all gave it 3 Stars out of 4.

Sorry Ryan…majority rules:  3 Stars.  The 2008 Recorba Red seems best suited for many as a starting pitcher rather than a closer.

Ok, I’m starving!  Can we eat now?

Caprese Salad (Fresh mozzarella, tomatoes & basil drizzled with olive oil)

Pisa Tower Salad (Eggplant, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, marinated roasted sliced red peppers tossed with chopped greens and balsamic vinaigrette)

Grilled beef tenderloin served at a perfect 140° f by Chef Barry

Don’t bother counting calories or fat content

Night, night! Sleep tight!

Thanks Paula and Ryan for a fantastic evening!

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When it comes to cheap wine these days, the choices are endless:  One can choose from boxes, jugs, magnums – heck, there’s even wine that comes in a one-gallon paint can!?  And it’s all right there in aisle 10, waiting to be picked for one long and twisted weekend with some good friends.

One of my most recent and pleasant discoveries in this aisle of broken dreams was the 2007 Ampakama Syrah from San Juan, Argentina.  For those who wouldn’t dare drink wine from a box or touch a wine bottle with a screw cap, fear not, it comes packaged in a 1.5L glass bottle with a real cork closure!  It sells in most parts of the US for less than 10 bucks, and the best part – it actually tastes pretty darn good!

The 2007 Ampakama Syrah is a bottle rocket of juicy red-berry flavors fueled with a respectable amount of black pepper and herbal spices.  My only complaint is that it comes up a tad short before the expected big finish.  Nonetheless, the 2007 Ampakama Syrah is far from being a dud and should rise to the occasion with anything off the grill, or whatever else you’ve got cooking in your backyard this weekend.

3 Stars out 4.  For what works out to be less than $5 per 750ml, this juice ain’t half bad!  BTW – the 2008 is also a safe bet.

So…What inexpensive wines are you bringing to the BBQ this 4th of July weekend?

Cheers!

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