Pas de Deux Sparkles

There are some dishes and desserts that can garner fame.  My mom has always been an amazing cook.  If you know her, and it’s your birthday, you can count on something special.  Especially if you like coconut.  Mention of her coconut cake causes friends and family to audibly sigh.  It is a guaranteed show-stopper, a cake that needs a special partner.

Coconut Cake (sans frosting)

You can’t have a celebration without bubbles.   So when we got together to celebrate my brother-in-law’s birthday, I planned ahead and chilled a bottle of bubbles, Pas de Deux from The Biltmore Estate.  Translated, the name means “a dance for two” and it is, indeed, an excellent partner.

I admit that I was hesitant.  Because this sparkler is considered “sec,” one with a higher residual sugar content, I wasn’t sure if I would like it.  I generally like my bubbles dry, but with the cake, this was perfect.  Pale yellow with a bit of green, lovely little bubbles, and a great nose.  Sweet cream and citrus.  On the palate, intense perfumed fruit.  Maybe tropical?  Guava?  Something round and soft with a citrusy finish.  I thought grapefruit, they say lemon.

It doesn’t take many turns around the dance floor to know if you’ve partnered well.  A great partner makes you spin and shine in ways you didn’t know you could.  The wrong match can lead to bruised egos and toes.  Pas de Deux made an already fabulous cake even better.  I would imagine its dance card would fill up quickly at any celebration.

*{Disclosure: I was provided with these wines from PR Firm, Folsom & Associates. All statements and opinions expressed in this article are my own.}

Something to Celebrate

Tonight we will say goodbye to 2012 and hello to 2013. Most of us will celebrate with bubbles and friends. We have been practicing around here. I took a class in sparkling wine recently which was great preparation. Champagne, Prosecco, Domestic, or Cava, there is a bottle for every palate and every price point.

I recently received a sample of sparkling wine from Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. Using the Methode Champenoise, this 2008 Blanc de Blancs is aged 24-30 months before disgorging. This wine has great acidity, citrus and green apple. The bubbles are small and elegant which yield a great texture and finish. If you are wanting to celebrate with a domestic wine, this is a great option. Looking for other options? I’ll get to that.

So what were we celebrating? Well, a few things. One being my brother’s visit. Another being the reason I have not mentioned other specific sparklers. At the end of 2011, I had just begun writing. I had posted maybe a dozen pieces, with most viewed only by friends. In 2012, I have begun receiving samples, have received invitations to fabulous events, and more importantly, have met amazing people in the industry. I have learned so much from them.

With their encouragement and example, I have grown in the social media world, and I am now writing for other publications. So, for other bubbles ideas, head over to Back9Network, a multi-media golf and lifestyle publication, where I have been writing weekly posts on wine and spirits.  So grateful for all of you that have taken the time to read my banter, for all that I have learned, and for the relationships I have made.

Wishing you a fabulous holiday and may 2013 bring you much joy.