Sangria Season

Finally the weather is warming up... You know what that means - Another excuse to drink! It is the perfect time to break out the sangria. Sangria is my favorite outdoor drink, with its perfect light, crisp finish accompanied by an assortment of fruits. And it's so easy to make on your own ! I like to experiment and blend a whole bunch of wines together. The best part is, you can buy cheap wine in bulk because after you let it sit with the fruit it tastes amazing!

Recipe for perfect sangria
- Buy two double bottles of wine you like , (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio) it all depends if you want a red mixture, white mixture, or a blend of the two. I typically like to use merlot and put a little Pinot Grigio inside.

- Then you pick the fruits. I like to use apples, oranges , peaches and the secret is pears! Adding a few pears really brings out the taste

- A secret I learned from a friend is boiling a little water with cinnamon and putting that into the mixture as well. It really makes a difference

-After all is done, pop it in a cool place. The longer it sits, the more fruity taste the sangria will acquire.

- Pour yourself a nice glass, sit back, and enjoy the start of summer ! Don't forget to eat the fruit - it's the best part !

Change things up at bit...

Getting sick of going bar hopping? Try some some wine activities! There are a number of places to try in the North Jersey area that will mix things up in your life.

1. Uncorked, Totowa, NJ - I recently came to here have a glass of wine with my friends. It is a wine bar, but they also have a full stocked bar (all liquors and beer) so everyone will be happy. You can sip wine by the glass or buy it by the bottle sitting at their high top tables, or lounging on their couches. They are located next to Kafe Neo, so as you enjoy wine, you can indulge in food as well because they offer to serve their food at Uncorked. It is definitely a classy alternative, and the average glass is about $8 to $12, but if you have the option to buy a bottle, making a glass as little as $5.

2. Warwick Winery, Warwick, NY - Although this is in NY, it is a must to go to! The best time to go is in the fall, when the leaves start to fall and the apples start blooming. You can buy wine by the bottle, and sip away outside and enjoy the beautiful ambiance. You can also buy desserts of all kinds and go apple picking!

3. Your Own Winery, Riverdale, NJ - This place is brand new and looks awesome! I have not got the chance to try it yet, but this summer I will definitely hit this new hot spot with my friends. At Your Own Winery, you are able to create your own wine! You start by sampling different wines at their wine bar (for free) until you pick one that you like. After that, they give you a ready-to-ferment kit so that you don't have to crush grapes with your feet! Then the process starts, taking 6 to 8 weeks, and making  3 to 4 trips to check in and handle the next step in completing your wine. But at the end of it all, you choose everything, right down to the label, and it is your own, unique wine.

Wine on Wine on Wine

Italy is the world's top producing wine country, so I figured it would be next. They produce an average 4.5 million tons of wine a year! Now that is something to think about. Italy grows grapes in just about every region of the country. One of the most popular kinds of wine that is familiar to us that they specialize in is Pinot Grigio. Italians are known to always have a glass of wine with dinner, especially as they indulge in large meals with their families.

After going to Bottle King, and asking what they recommend for a reasonable price from Italy, I picked, "Fontana Candida Pinot Grigio 2011." It is just around $10 and can easily be paired with stir fry, creamy sauce dishes, or any type of fish. I would definitely recommend this wine for a family dinner, or to give as a gift!

Some Like it Dirty

.... Martini's that is! If wine isn't cutting it for you this Saturday night, spice things up a bit. Get together with some friends and make some fun cocktails. Personally, I do not like dirty martini's ( not a fan of anything olive reelated) so I prefer sugar based or fruity cocktails. I recently made a funfetti cake martini. It was so easy and fun. The recipe was simple, and basically only consisted of alcohol.

6 ounces Pinnacle cupcake-flavored vodka

2 ounces white chocolate liqueur

4 ounces heavy whipping cream

4 ounces white creme de cacao

4 ounces amaretto

Sprinkles (optional)

This recipe makes about 3 Martini's. Enjoy!