April, 2005
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Contents  >  Your Entertaining   >   Your Entertaining II
When the movie Sideways came out, I had to see it.  It was filmed in an area of California that I have always been fond for its beauty and, of course,  its wines. And, if you saw the movie too, you know that  the lead character, Miles, had a passion for Pinot Noir.  Watching him gush over the complexities of this wine was a pleasure. And now Pinot Noir sales have surged across the country. How wonderful--yet somewhat odd.  It took a fantastic film to open up the eyes and palates of all you potential fellow wine geeks. Nonetheless, you can now enjoy the experience of learning and tasting Pinot Noir.

In my wine tasting seminars I match wines with moods and situations. I have introduced many people to Pinot Noir, by telling them about how versatile it is. I call it the "Everything wine". The Pinot Noir grape has a taste so versatile that it goes with almost any kind of food.  Because of this, it is a good order choice when you are out to dinner and want one bottle to compliment all the different dishes everyone has ordered. It goes with chicken, pork, beef, Salmon and light pastas too.  It's also a perfect "Dinner Party Red  to bring to the next one you're invited to. (Or serve at the next one you host. The reason it is so versatile is that it is low in tannins, and has a fruity spicy quality that compliments so many different flavors.)

A few tips about Pinot Noir:

-Try Pinot Noir from Oregon, and from the Mid Central Coast of California. This delicate grape doesn't grow well in hot climates, and does particularly well near the ocean breeze.

-Just so you know, French Burgandy wine, is Pinot Noir. That's an easy one to remember next time you have that intimidating wine list in your hand.

-Pinot Noir is so versatile that it is also used in the making of Champagne, along with the Chardonnay grape. Look for "Blanc de Noir  sparkling wine. It may have a slight pink color to it and is usually from California, and is made from Pinot Noir.
PINOT NOIR, THE PASSIONS AND THE PRACTICALITY
When you are serving wine to a large group, don't use those huge balloon type wine glasses. You'll find that a bottle of wine doesn't go too far, and you may only get four glasses out of it. Try an all-purpose glass, which is about 8 ounces. Use these for either red or white. Your wine will stretch further and your guests can keep better track of just how much they are really having.
Listening to Your Heart

Purple Potion Adds Flair to a French-Style Fête

How to Host a Wine Party
by Stuart Glasure
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Having company on short notice?  No need to whip up a fancy dessert.  A quick trip to the fruit stand for some fresh strawberries placed delicately in a fancy dish creates a beautiful centerpiece and treat.
Your Life! Magazine All rights reserved.  Copyright 2004, 2005 Your Life! Media
What about that first rose you received? Or the little hat your baby came home from the hospital in? It's the sight, the smell, the feel. These things are an expression of you, and your precious memories flow from these thoughts.

Artists want their works to reach your senses - to perhaps soothe or assault you. They want your senses to send messages to your brain - messages that may leave you laughing, crying or both!

They want to touch you through their personalized form of art - and these art forms then become your art forms as you embrace them with all of your senses.

Art comes in many forms, from museum-quality oil paintings to refrigerator drawings from your budding Picasso. What if we added music to your memories and classified it as art? Is there a song out there that reminds you of your first lost love? Do you still play *your* song on your anniversary? Many musicians reach you through life experiences, they create music that is shared with millions. Music is another art to help preserve our lives. Musicians take their passions or experiences and verbalize them, hoping to influence and connect with others that have had the same experiences.

It's not easy to become a musician who can successfully bring passion to you through song. "That was what kept me going," says new artist, Aslyn, "the feeling that I had connected with someone through the offering of song. That was my fuel. And it still is."

Aslyn's music is her own personal collection of memories that she has chosen to share with the world. It's her life, but many women can relate to her lyrics of lifes experiences. Listen to her musical art. Feel her passion. Embrace your own memories and see if what Aslyn (and other musicians) say has a place with your senses and with your memories. Listen to your art.

About: Aslyn's debut Album Lemon Love, includes a dozen disarming songs that are the musical equivalent of a short-story collection, or as Aslyn puts it, "stories of love found and love lost, of loyalty ruined and masks mistaken, of the ironic freedom and glass box of religion, and of the desire and passion for an unknown tomorrow." Enter to win 1 of 50 Aslyn CD's at http://www.guerillamom.com/go/go.php/aslyn9 and hear Aslyn at http://www.aslyn.net
Listening to Your Art
As women, many of us like to cling to our memories. We want to hold them dear, to share with our children, maybe grandchildren or selfishly - save them all for ourselves! We take pictures and create scrapbooks, we make home movies for future reference and we treasure tangibles that will bring back our rememberances.
Purple Potion Adds Flair to a French-Style Fête

Paris, a place known for "the good life,  is filled with the very finest in culture, entertainment, dining and shopping. When you can't enjoy the experiences in person, why not bring the city's grandeur into your home by hosting a Paris-themed cocktail party.

Take your inspiration from one of the most socially noteworthy times in French history -- the Art Deco period. Turn to the lobby of the luxury four-star Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris for great ideas. With its hand-painted ceilings, grand chandeliers and purple motif, the hotel's lobby, restaurant, rooms and bar resemble a trans-Atlantic ocean liner that ferried travelers between Europe and New York in the 1920s and 30s.

You can easily recreate the hotel's distinctive look in your home with a few items from your local arts and crafts, poster or party stores. Drape velvet or purple fabric over the tables and chairs, fill glass vases with purple lilacs or lilies, and hang posters that feature geometric designs and bold colors representative of the era. Fashion, transportation and destinations were popular motifs of the time.

For the menu, you can find many delicious options in most French cookbooks. Serve simple hors d'oeuvres with a French flair. Warm breads with sliced meats and cheeses including Brie, and quiches and tarts are good options.

Make the party memorable with special drinks. Hilton, the hotel company credited with inventing the Pina Colada (at the Caribe Hilton in Puerto Rico in 1954), now introduces the "Long Purple,  a cocktail as chic as the hotel where it was created.

"The Long Purple is a mix of very different and unusual flavors to obtain an exceptional taste,  says Thierry Atger, resident mixologist at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris. "Our guests enjoy the cocktail at the hotel's Purple Bar and often request the recipe so they can serve Long Purple once back at home."

Here's the recipe:
* Long Purple
Vanilla vodka (1.5 ounces)
Black currant liqueur (0.75 ounces)
Pineapple juice (2 ounces)
Cranberry juice (2 ounces)

Served with red fruits in a highball glass, the drink is usually enjoyed for its fruity taste and fun color. "It goes with everything,  says Atger. "You can drink it fresh at any time of the day."

And, when you make it to Paris, be sure to stop by the Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris to pay homage to the birthplace of what will soon become your favorite drink. The hotel is in a great location -- just a short walk to the popular sights and shops of the famous Champs Elysees.

For more information about the Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris log on to www.arcdetriompheparis.hilton.com

Courtesy of ARA Content