Joseph Handler Sweet Red Dornfelder Wine

On a recent trip to Trader Joe's the other day to purchase "2 Buck Chuck", we decided to try a wine that was being sampled. The wine we sampled was Joseph Handler Sweet Red Dornfelder grown in the region of Rheinhessen, Germany. I have to admit that when I first saw this wine, I immediately decided I didn't want to taste it just because it said sweet red. But after I asked the server about the wine, he informed me that it was not as sweet as the label would have you think. The label had listed a alcohol content of 9%, I assumed it was going to taste extremely sweet. But to my amazement, it was not that sweet. It has a slightly sweet, fruit taste with a hint of dryness. It pairs well with everything and also great for just drinking by itself. In one word, I would have to say this wine is AWESOME!! I would definitely recommend this wine to anyone who enjoys a good glass or three. I haven't seen it anywhere else, so if you are ever in Trader Joe's be sure to pick a bottle of this awesomely delicious wine and at $5.49 you won't regret it!!

Vitamin Water

I saw vitamin water in the grocery store recently and my first thought was oh boy, another water!! Don't get me wrong, I drink alot of water. I never was too much into the flavored waters though, I'm more of a plain, unflavored water drinker until I broke down and gave the vitamin water a whirl. I usually prefer beverages that are unsweetened. But this one really surprised me. I had the vitamin water XXX with acai, blueberry and pomegranate. It was very refreshing and not overpowering sweet. It was a real thirst quencher. I also liked that it was naturally sweetened and didn't contain artificial sweeteners which I personally do not care for. I'm looking forward to trying a few more flavors that they offer. Both reasonably priced and refreshing!!

Carolina Blonde Beer

On vacation I was searching for a new beer to try and come across Caroline Blonde. Made by Carolina Beer Company located in Mooresville, NC just north of Charlotte. Carolina Blonde is a full-bodied golden ale that's smooth and refreshing with a hint of fruitiness and its not heavy at all. I really enjoyed drinking this beer at the lake on my vacation. I look forward to having this beer again and would like to try other varieties that they offer.

Beers of Mexica Fiesta Pack

So I was shopping in Sam's Club the other day and come across a the Beers of Mexico Fiesta pack and just had to try it. There were four Mexican beer varieties included in the box: Dos Equis Amber, Dos Equis Lager, Tecate and Sol.


Per my previous post on Dos Equis Amber, it has a very smooth, rich flavor that is not a all heavy - it's GREAT, Love it!! It definitely ranks as one of my favorites. Dos Equis Lager on the other hand has a milder flavor and not as bold. I prefer the darker amber to the pale lager version.

Tecate was not a bold as Dos Equis Amber but was crisp with a slightly bitter aftertaste. A good tasting beer that I would definitely drink again.

Lastly, I tried the Sol. It wasn't too bad. It very light tasting and reminded me of Corona. But it's not one I would rush out to buy, but would drink if it were included in a variety pack such as this one.

So if you are ever in the market for a fiesta pack of beer, I highly recommend you give this one a try. Overall I enjoyed all the beers in this pack and was not at all disappointed. It's always fun to try new beers, you never know what you might discover and it always help if the pack has one of your favorites included!!

Franzia - Wine in a Box

Yes, you did read the title correct. Franzia wine in a box - wow - I didn't think I would ever try that one. But, I finally broke down and picked up a box of wine. After several trips to the store looking at wines, I purchased the Franzia Sunset Blush. To my amazement, it was actually very good. I think just the thought of drinking wine from a box made me a bit skeptical. But I have to admit, I'm actually looking forward to trying the other varieties! The wine was very refreshing, has a light strawberry flavor and very easy to drink. It was as equally good as more expensive brands in a bottle if not better than some others I have tried in the past.


The box is an added benefit, it stays fresher than a bottle once opened. Now, I have to admit I usually don't have open bottles of wine just sitting around, once they are opened, they are usually finished off!! But there are rare occasions when you may want just one glass and don't want to open a bottle, in that case this box is PERFECT! I had my box open for quite a while and I have to say each glass tastes just as good as the first one.

So if you are a little hesitant because of the box issue, I say, go for it and give it a whirl..you won't regret, it's well worth trying!!

Cinco De Mayo

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I felt the need to write a post about my two favorite mexican beverages to celebrate the day. On the beer side, I would have to say you must have a Dos Equis Amber or two to celebrate cinco de mayo. It has a very smooth, rich flavor that's not at all heavy. Although I prefer it on draught, it's one of the few beers that taste equally as good from the bottle.

On the other hand, I would also have to recommend the original margarita. Another one of my personal favorites. I recently started using a new recipe that does not contain store bought mixer. Now, I know I've been making them wrong all these years!! Just a simple recipe of equal parts, tequila, triple sec, lime juice and finish it with simple syrup to taste. Put those ingredients in shaker along with ice and serve. Marvelous to say the least!! I'm sure it's equally delicious served frozen as well but I prefer on the rocks. Hope you have a wonder Cinco De Mayo!