THE SECRET INGREDIENT FOR A ROMANTIC VALENTINE'S DAY.Byline: Larry Lipson Obviously, every alcoholic beverage alcoholic beverage Any fermented liquor, such as wine, beer, or distilled liquor, that contains ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, as an intoxicating agent. When an alcoholic beverage is ingested, the alcohol is rapidly absorbed in the stomach and intestines because it does not brand would have you believe that theirs is the best drink for a romantic Valentine's Day Valentine's Day: see Saint Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day Lovers' holiday celebrated on February 14, the feast day of St. Valentine, one of two 3rd-century Roman martyrs of the same name. St. . But the people behind Agavero tequila tequila Distilled liquor, usually clear in colour and unaged, made from the fermented juice of the Mexican agave plant. (See agave family.) It contains 40–50% alcohol. ($30) have a better argument than most. They tell us that this 100 percent blue agave blue agave n. A blue-leaved Mexican agave (Agave tequilana var. weber) used especially in making tequila. tequila is blended with the Damiana damiana (däˑ·mē·ä·n flower. And that the Damiana supposedly has been ``known for centuries as a powerful aphrodisiac aphrodisiac Any of various forms of stimulation thought to arouse sexual excitement. They may be psychophysiological (arousing the senses of sight, touch, smell, or hearing) or internal (e.g., foods, alcoholic drinks, drugs, love potions, medicinal preparations). .'' So they recommend that Valentine's Day dinner twosomes end their meal with Agavero and dark chocolate. Personally, I prefer tequila with lime before dinner. But Agavero, because of its subtle sweetness, lends itself particularly well to meal endings. It is also smoother than most tequilas. Agavero's secret mixture -- a blend of anejo and reposado tequilas aged separately in charred, white oak casks -- dates back to 1857. At that time it was created by Lazaro Gallardo, founder of Los Camichines Distillery, Jalisco, Mexico. Generations later, it's still hand-crafted in the same manner it was 150 years ago. SENSIBLE GUIDE: Probably the best aid to purchasing wine for the everyday buyer is the 2007 edition of Andrea Robinson's ``Wine Buying Guide for Everyone'' (Broadway Books; $12.95). Here's a sensible, no-frills approach to choosing wines from the intimidating thousands of bottles available. This is Robinson's fifth edition, now with some 800 listings. Noticeably, she doesn't bother with vintage dates and explains why. These are the wines that you'll find most frequently on store shelves and in chain restaurants. Being top-selling wines, they are fairly consistent year after year. ``Most wines do not get better with age,'' she asserts, ``so why wait?'' She lists them alphabetically by type and varietal, gives each a price range denoted by dollar signs, and notes their taste and value scores (zero to 30). She also indicates whether the wine will be any good days later if unfinished. Some even get better, she notes. If you're a wine snob or serious collector, forget this guide. It's simply a handy book for people who like wine and need a little help with the selection process. NEW RELEASES: From L.A.'s own San Antonio Winery The San Antonio Winery is the only remaining winery in the city of Los Angeles, and has operated since 1917. It only produces white wine. However, it does not grow the grapes at its Los Angeles location as its former vineyards have been developed with dense industry. comes its 90th-anniversary bottling, a 2002 red blend of syrah, petite sirah, grenache and mourvedre titled Heritage ($24.95). Get it at the winery's downtown store, 737 Lamar St. Information: (323) 223-1401 or www.sanantoniowinery.com. ... You won't find a much better sauvignon blanc than the latest from New Zealand's Kim Crawford, his 2006 ($17) is now on the shelves. Information online at www.kimcrawfordwines.co.nz. ... In time for a bubbly Valentine's Day from Spain are Segura Viudas brut Brut, Brute (both: br  t), or Brutus (br rose ($10) and extra dry (which is slightly sweet, $10). Information:www.seguraviudasusa.com. ... From Bordeaux, there are a couple of real bargains, Premius 2002 Rouge and Premius 2005 Blanc, the former a merlot and cabernet blend and the latter a sauvignon blanc and semillon blend. They're both priced around $10 a bottle. Information: www.ymau.fr. SIPS AND NIBBLES: Grgich Hills will celebrate its 30th birthday with an 07/07/07 party at 7 p.m. at its Napa Valley Napa Valley, Calif.: see under Napa. Napa Valley greatest wine-producing region of the United States. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 2990] See : Wine estate in Rutherford. Its wine club members can attend for $77. But it's $20 more for the rest of the attendees. Information: (707) 963-2784 or www.grgich.com. Larry Lipson, (818) 713-3668 larry.lipson(at)dailynews.com |
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