birthday celebrations

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

We toasted her with Rebel Girl and Rose Ole and a delicious cake with a buttercream peony. We told stories about our love for her and hers for us. Finally, at 1:00 am the birthday girl headed off to bed. Overwhelmed and happy.

I was glad that my wine was part of the celebration. Happy Birthday, Nanny.

– Posted From My iPhone

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

Frankly, I always think that wine is an appropriate gift. But in this case the Birthday Girl (which is always capitalized at my house) will be 102.

Yes, I have decided at the last minute to visit my grandmother for her birthday this weekend (though her birthday is tomorrow. GO Nanny!) This is why today’s post is so late. I have been calculating cost benefit analyses about whether to fly or drive (15 hour drive/flexibility of having own vehicle to explore wineries and cheapness even if including rental car and gas v. trying to get a reasonably priced flight less than 48 hours out) – driving won.

So if you know of any good wineries along major highways from Chicago to Virginia through the states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland or Virginia please let me know..

I am reachable on Facebook and Twitter!

Oh, and Nanny will be getting wine…. and maybe I will be sharing with the cousins too….

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Marguerite Barrett
Contributing Writer

Today is my mother’s birthday, and in addition to wishing her a happy birthday, I am also gifting her with six large bottles of Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth.

Not your standard birthday gift, I’ll grant you, but for my mother, who “came of age” in 1950′s America, a great martini is a thing of beauty – not to be trifled with.   To make a great martini, you need great gin and dry vermouth – and for decades the only choice for serious martini drinkers has been Noilly Prat – the king (le roi?) of dry vermouth.  I guarantee you, those martinis they are downing in Mad Men?  They’re all made with Noilly Prat. 

Unfortunately, Noilly Prat announced earlier this year that they are “changing formulas” – abandoning the dry formula favored by American Martini connoisseurs (like my mother) in favor of the sweeter European-style “original formula.”  

Seriously.  

This is akin to the “New Coke” debacle of the 1980s.   

So make room in the pantry, we’re stocking up!   Happy Birthday, Mom.

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Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

Wasn’t that considered the ultimate in the 1980′s? Champagne wishes and caviar dreams!

Coming from an unusual family (if you know me, you may stop laughing now… I mean it!) you realize that wine was part of family events.

The first time that I received a bottle of wine as a gift I was 16. A bottle of champagne (ok, sparkling wine, those were the days that we didn’t know any better…) for my Sweet Sixteen. That birthday I also received my first diamonds.

My family never had a ton of money, but they knew how to make an event special. My diamonds were tiny little chips of earrings and a ring from my parents (The thought was that I wouldn’t be in any particular hurry to run out and get diamonds in any form, as I already had them…). My grandparents gave me the champagne. It had a plastic cork.

But I considered myself the grandest of girls. And certainly no one else in my class at Lockport Senior High School got jewelry and wine. Perhaps it should have been a sign of things to come, eh?

Why do I mention this? Today is the 27th anniversary of that Sweet Sixteen.

Champagne is still my favorite wine for celebrations. This year, like in the past, I have to watch my pennies. So I am trying to decide which Champagne is my best option.

Tell me what you think that I should choose and why and cross your fingers that I can find it for my birthday dinner.

I still feel special everytime I open a bottle of champagne.

Naturally, this year, in lieu of champagne I will accept nomination to to Wine Blogger Awards. Nominate us at will… Merci. And thank you in advance…

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