Drinks & Matchups

3 Refreshing ways to Survive the Summer!

*Prosecco - Prosecco has gone from regional obscurity to widespread fame overnight, largely because this pale-white Italian sparkler offers such a terrific combination of quality & price(our go-to, Zonin, runs about $12)It takes so naturally to cocktails. Pair it with peach jice for a bellini-or with pomegranate or melon juice. If you're in a refined mood, try it with a dash of sparkling water, a shot of St-Germain elderflower liqueur & a twist of lemon.

*Rare Brews - New Standbys, two of our favorite craft beers are made only once a year
Firestone Walker Solace: Hybrids of odd styles are popping up across the country, but this California beer is a brew marriage that actually works. The cross of wheat enhanced Belgian saison & German hefeweizen intensifies flavor & spice in a lighter beer (firestonewalker.com)
Dogfish Head Festina Peche: Sour beers are all the rage in craft brewing, but to many taste like pickle juice. Not so with Brewer Sam Calagione's summer-only offering, which is based on an acidic German style & made with peaches. It pops with the tart zing of good lemonade, with an added kick (dogfish.com)

*Forgotten Wines-Dinner or Lunch Companions
-2007 Arger-Martucci Vineyards Viognier: the nose is all sweet, soothing honeysuckle; the palate runs clean with stone fruit & a soft finish ($22 arger-martucci.com)
-2008 Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc: the smell of wet straw & the taste of light tropical fruit are fused into a strong, balanced whole ($12, drycreekvineyard.com)
-2008 Dashe Cellars Dry Riesling: smells like summer rain perfumed with orange blossom and spice; tastes of apricot ($20, dashcellars.com)

Must-See MatchUps

**June 12 England -vs- USA:::The US has never been more threatening, fresh from beating Spain & having already scared the bejesus out of of Brazil, could upset. David Beckham's torn Achilles will keep him out, but England is on the rise again, if Wayne Rooney can stay fit, could go far.

**June 12 Argentina -vs- Nigeria:::The tournament's 2 most dysfunctional-and dynamic-teams: Nigeria's ragtag collection of fading stars, now under new coach Lars Lagerback. Both teams are ready for the psychiatrist's couch; not a game for the faint of heart.

**June 20 Brazil -vs- Ivory Coast:::A potentially titanic clash: On paper, Ivory Coast is Africa's best team, but they have yet to show it on the field. And while Brazil may be a wonderful combination of skill and steel, they're also in the toughest qualifying bracket, the so-called Group of Death, with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. They can't afford to lose this.

**June 29 Spain -vs- Brazil:::Spain should cruise through a weak qualifying-round bracket, but all that will change suddenly if Brazil blunders & qualifies only in second place in their preliminary-round group. In that case, the dream final will occur in the first knockout round: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Xavi, Iniesta & Torres of Spain facing off against Brazil's Lucio, Gilberto Silva, Filipe Melo, Kaka, & Luis Fabiano. A nightmare for them, magic for us.

SMILE! Be kind too everyone that crosses your path this week! :)