http://www.pbpulse.com Log on. Live it up. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:05:35 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I never meant to fall for you. I thought I knew what I wanted! I know my “type!” A 2005 Napa Cab for $20-$25. And yet I couldn’t help but notice you. You quietly whispered “Hawke’s Bay.” I knew of your reputation. I thought you were out ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-reviews/red-wine-wine-reviews-swirlgirls/2010/03/08/bottle-review-2002-matariki-quintology/ More: "Dry" Gwen's lessons learned | Dispatches from "Sweet" | Festival scores a touchdown Our weekend at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival offered ample opportunity to try great wine. From $9 Patch Block Merlot to $330 Louis Roederer Cristal, there was certainly something to please every palate and ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-reviews/2010/03/05/sobe-wine-highlights-our-favorites-from-the-festival/ More: "Dry" Gwen's lessons learned | SoBe wine highlights | Festival scores a touchdown Dry did a pretty great job of outlining what she learned at the SOBE Wine and Food Festival. I only attended one seminar but wanted to share the lessons I learned. The more wines you try, the more ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-events/2010/03/04/sobe-wine-and-food-dispatches-from-sweet/ I like dictionaries. In a house that’s only 900 square feet, I have two: one on the bookshelf in the living room and one on the nightstand next to my bed. I prefer to look up the meaning of a word using the tangible version rather than the electronic one, because ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-culture/2010/03/03/wine-word-of-the-week/ [caption id="attachment_44708" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="SoBe Wine & Food Festival Grand Tasting Village"][/caption] More coverage: SoBe wine highlights | Dispatches from "Sweet" | Festival scores a touchdown Sweet and I spent a fantastic weekend in Miami for the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. The festival, now in its ninth year, was a ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-events/2010/03/03/south-beach-wine-food-festival-lessons-learned/ We have been busy little wine critics the past few months and wanted to share with you several wines we’ve tried lately. Don’t worry – this is the culmination of the past four months of swirling. Interventions not yet needed. All of these wines were sent to the Swirl Girls ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-reviews/white-wine-wine-reviews-swirlgirls/2010/03/01/tasting-round-up/ It was a night to remember: Our first Swirl-Up with what turned out to be SG fans who know how to have fun and know their wines! You can check out photos from the Swirl-Up here. The Capital Grille in Palm Beach Gardens hosted our event on Wednesday night, and the ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-culture/2010/02/26/capital-grille-hosts-first-swirl-up-its-a-huge-success/ If rich, spicy and powerful make you weak in the knees and are enough to seduce you, then perhaps you’ve got sinful tendencies… or, more appropriately, zinful tendencies. Let me introduce you to the irresistible 2006 7 Deadly Zins. ($17.99 at ABC and Super Target; $16.99 at Publix) This powerhouse of a ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-reviews/red-wine-wine-reviews-swirlgirls/2010/02/22/bottle-review-2006-7-deadly-zins/ Vanessa Patel sure knows how to put on a fantastic wine tasting. The owner of A1A Wine & Spirits organizes a free tasting once a month at her Palm Beach Gardens store. Wine is Patel’s passion, and the proof is on her shelves. She specializes in high-quality, low-production ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-events/2010/02/22/dry-gives-an-a-to-a1a-wine-tasting/ In record time, our first Swirl-Up sold out! We're crushed to turn people away, but please don't fear! We're hoping to make this a recurring event! If you're a restaurant that is interested in hosting a Swirl-Up, please contact us directly at SwirlGirls@PBPost.com. http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-events/2010/02/17/swirl-up-sold-out/ While recovering from a recent surgery, I had the great fortune to be visited frequently by wonderful friends who flocked to my house for mindless movies, homemade dinners (by them!) and cutthroat games of Scrabble. And as they came, I opened bottle after bottle of wine, probably with the hopes ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-reviews/2010/02/16/two-reds-two-whites-two-roses-for-59-58/ Ready, set, stand by the phone – you’re not going to want to miss this event. It’s the Swirl Girls’ first Swirl-Up. Come for the wine (and the food), stay for the laughs and the fun. We're excited to have a fun, educational and extremely yummy night. We can't ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/2010/02/12/come-and-be-a-swirl-girl-or-guy-for-a-night-at-our-swirl-up/ [caption id="attachment_43349" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Ice wine production with frozen grapes is shown at the L\'Orpailleur vineyard in Dunham, Quebec. In late fall, grapes are picked and placed in suspended nets until temperatures fall well below freezing at which time they can be pressed. (David Boily/AFP/Getty Images)"][/caption] Last week, we gave you ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-culture/2010/02/11/wine-vacation-dreamin-part-2/ There’s a romantic meal coming up for you on the 14th, and your date likes wine. Problem is, you’re not really up on the wine/food pairing thing. Allow us to present the Swirl Girls’ Guide for the Clueless Guy. We will take the guessing out of it, so you can ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-pairing/2010/02/09/swirl-girls-guide-to-the-clueless-guy/ [caption id="attachment_42881" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="The vineyards of Mendoza are putting Argentine wine on the map."][/caption] Even as we enjoy the best weather of the year, it's hard not to start the new year without dreaming just a bit about upcoming vacations. While Napa, Sonoma, Bordeaux or Tuscany are no-brainer wine-lover winners, ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-culture/2010/02/05/wine-vacation-dreamin/ Whether you’re rooting for the Saints or the Colts, we’ll bet chips and dip, chicken wings or chili is on the menu, too. It’s logical to expect beer served alongside them. But how about guests who prefer grapes to hops? With the help of Dry and Earthy, here's some help ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-pairing/2010/02/03/touchdown-wine-and-super-bowl-foods-are-a-hit-together/ The first annual Latin American Vinofest kicked off at Delray Beach’s Art & Jazz on the Avenue on January 28. I’ve certainly never seen so many malbecs or carmeneres in one tasting and it was a great opportunity to try these lesser-known varietals. The event closed down a few blocks ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-events/2010/02/01/delicious-malbecs-at-delrays-first-vinofest/ We don't like to boast, but there's something extremely gratifying about flipping through Wine Enthusiast magazine and settling on the page where our favorite, neighborhood restaurant is featured in half-page glory. We knew (and loved) La Sirena long before it made print for WE's special restaurant issue, where they uncover ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-culture/2010/01/28/amazing-wine-and-food-at-la-sirena/ Thursday evening in Delray Beach is going to be HOT, HOT, HOT! The first annual Latin American Vinofest will shut down Atlantic Avenue for a tasting of wines from some of the best-known wineries in South America. This is the first event of its kind in South Florida and a ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-events/2010/01/27/try-latin-american-wines-at-delrays-first-vinofest/ Event Listing: Directions, more For the wine lover interested in helping Haiti, go to PalatePress an online wine magazine, and bid on any of the donated lots of wine. All the money will go to the American Red Cross. Or, if you have special bottles of wine, you can donate the ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-events/2010/01/25/drink-wine-help-haiti/ Last week I wrote about local classes for wine enthusiasts. But what about those wanting a more advanced level of study? The wine industry has many nationally and internationally recognized certification programs. While some of these programs offer introductory courses for enthusiasts and professionals alike, more advanced certifications are often ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/2010/01/22/wine-101-local-classes-for-aspiring-professionals/ I suppose I read Love by the Glass under all the wrong circumstances. The book is probably best savored through delicious meals and intriguing wines or perhaps on a wonderful vacation somewhere. Instead, I devoured it in the hospital as my food and water were pumped into me while ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-culture/2010/01/19/love-by-the-glass-a-delectable-read/ [caption id="attachment_41186" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Total Wine Advocate, John Morse pours the first wine of the evening."][/caption]It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Total Wine’s consumer education classes. I think they are a fun way to try a variety of wines while learning the basics of a featured region’s ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-reviews/red-wine-wine-reviews-swirlgirls/2010/01/14/great-value-wines-at-total-wine-southern-hemisphere-class/ Having just spent occasional evenings reading “Wine: An Introduction,” by Joanna Simon (wine correspondent of Britain’s The Sunday Times), I thought it plenty worthy to recommend and share some of its highlights with you. It does a superb job of covering many aspects of wine – styles, grapes, tasting, food pairing, ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-culture/2010/01/13/book-review-wine-an-introduction/ New Year’s inevitably comes with a host of resolutions to look better, feel better and be better. It’s a time to examine where you are and where you would like to be. Most of these resolutions fall by the wayside before the end of January, usually because doing them ... http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/swirlgirls/wine-events/2010/01/12/wine-101-local-classes-for-enthusiasts/