red, red, wine

Hi there! How is your weekend coming along?

Mine started out fabulously, thanks! Last night, my dear friend Shannon, and I decided to treat ourselves to a little wine tasting in downtown Florence at The Wine Seller. It was our first trip to the wine boutique, which was cozy and welcoming! We ran into old friends and even made a couple new ones. The best part, of course, was the wine! We sampled a sweet German Riesling, an Italian Rosé wine, a Spanish red, a California Cabernet, and a California Red Zinfandel. My pick of the evening was the California Red Zinfandel-red, dry and strong…just how I like it! I typically prefer dryer, red wines, though you won’t see me turn down any glass that’s handed to me! My favorite lately has been the Shiraz/Syrah variety. You just can’t go wrong with a spicy, powerful, red wine! We ended up leaving with about four bottles of the good stuff-2 organic reds, a fruity white, and a chocolate red dessert wine! Shannon twisted my arm and is making me cook dinner next weekend so we can try ‘em out.

Cheers! (sorry about the terrible quality–this is a phone pic!)

Not only is wine delicious, but it also has health benefits. Surprise! Studies has shown that wine can prevent cardiovascular disease and dementia. It’s also full of antioxidants that can lower bad cholesterol and prevent blood clots.  Of course, this only applies if you drink in moderation, because too much alcohol will  increase your health risks. In addition, too much wine can cause weight gain and the dreadful hangover headache. The recommended amount of wine a day is two glasses a day for men, and one for women. Like the saying goes: “A glass of wine a day keeps the doctors away!” Right? What is your favorite wine?