Cotes du Rhone Parallele 45, $9!

When I first started experimenting with red wine, I happened upon the Cotes du Rhone Parallele 45. Unmistakable with the large "45" on the label, this wine packs a lot of value for your buck. I have to admit, I'm not a big fan of French wine making, but then again, I can't afford the really good stuff! If you're looking for a no nonsense introduction however, Parallele 45 exhibits excellent fruit, subtle tannins and good acid. Every vintage I've tried from this maker going back to 2001 I've thoroughly enjoyed.

Cheers!

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Wine Cork Recycling

If you're a regular wine drinker like myself and environmentally conscious, you likely have a LOT of wine corks lying around. The corks are great reminders of bottles past but they can also be a Martha Stewart-esk project for your next rainy weekend. I created a trivet out of my favorite bottle corks several years ago, it makes a wonderful yet functional accent to my dinner table. How very metro-sexual of me! I'm in the process of filling a large demijohn with the rest.

Not crafty but still want to do your part for the environment? Your local Whole Foods store will take your corks and recycle them for you. If you've ever seen cork flooring, it's beautiful and primarily comes from recycled cork.

Cheers!

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Red Wine Stain Removal

It was bound to happen sooner or later, the dreaded red wine spill... Fortunately I addressed the spill quickly with a little warm water and soap, but it was also a dark carpet so I'm sure I missed a little. A little curious, I did some searching for the unlucky few that spill on a lighter carpet. I enjoyed this post though I'm not crazy about the domain name! Nonetheless, I offer up a twice over re-posted red wine stain removal secret:

Mix a little soap and a little hydrogen peroxide together. You must use BOTH ingredients. Spray, pour, or dab the mixture on the stain

One warning: Since peroxide is a bleaching agent, the remedy could potentially bleach some colored fabrics. Always test a small patch before going hog wild with this miracle recipe!

Cheers! (carefully)

Wine-O's Hangover Cure

I learned decades ago when enough, was "enough", but occasionally I'll push the boundaries in the name of fun. Unfortunately that leaves most of us a little hungover the next day. Coffee is an essential part of my morning, every morning, but did you know a cup before bedtime will chase the headaches away? I've tested this theory on myself several times as well as friends, it works like a charm. After a night of fun and frivolity with wine, a simple cup of coffee will save the day. It must act as a charcoal of sorts, filtering out toxins from the liver, oh and it tastes good too. Be sure to drink some water as well. Give it a try, let me know what you think!

Cheers!