Middle Sister Rebel Red

Perfect for Burritos, Burgers, Chili, Ribs or a bowl of soup!

Blend- This fun red is a mix mostly of four favorite red varietals: 38% Zinfandel, 34% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Syrah, 2% other reds


Taste- The flavor is ripe red and dark berry fruits like plum, blueberry and blackberry a dash of black and white pepper with a splash of crème de cassis. It is a fruit forward wine so expect too much, but when paired with simple food it's a fun red.

About $10 a bottle- Nothing fancy here!

Beak & Skiff Vodka

Local Vodka near Skaneateles New York? Yes it's available and at a recent gathering based on the numerous murmurs of approval it required personal sampling with very positive results. This apple derived vodka has a pleasant flavor with a hint of apple in the nose but the characteristics of vodka. If your pantry needs a quality 80 proof vodka this is the perfect buy local option. It is nice simply on ice but would lend itself well for all your martini inspired concoctions. About $30 a bottle!

New York Salmon Run Cold Brook White

My good friend Bob turned me on to this wine several years ago and it has been a consistent product year in and year out. This New York state table white is a blend of Chardonnay and Riesling. Salmon Run Cold Brook White is a proprietary blend, which is off-dry and very appealing with its fruity intensity, moderate acidity and smooth finish. With luscious aromas of citrus and melon, Cold Brook White makes an ideal everyday white wine. Coldbrook lends itself to afternoon sipping or paired with lighter fare. At Around $8 a bottle it is one of the more reasonablly priced New York wines!

Petite Petit nothing little about this wine

This is the perfect gift wine. The label alone is like a greeting card and screams celebration! Just make sure you buy more then one so you to can get into the festivities and see what this big California red has to offer. According to the winery Petie Petit is a blend of 85% Petite Sirah and 15% Petit Verdot. The wine is dark purple and opens with a very inviting violet and plum-like bouquet. On the palate, this medium bodied wine is quite silky and smooth. It displays very jammy black current like flavors with notes of dry blackberries and vanilla as well. The finish is dry, and lingers slightly. Aged 14 months in French oak. The price is around $17 a bottle,higher then I generally advocate but this is a memorable bottle of wine!

47 Pound Rooster Chardonnay

OK here we go! The first wine on my list is Rex Goliath 47 pound Rooster Chardonnay. The name of this wine was an immediate attraction. This wine is from Monterey County, California. It is a nice and fruity California Chard, with fairly bold apple and pear flavors. The wine also has hints of tropical fruit like pineapple and melon and a touch of caramelized vanilla it has been aged in proprietary French oak. This free range bird comes in under $7 a bottle so it's a worth while gamble. For food pairing it would go very well with grilled Salmon over wilted seasoned fresh spinach or for that matter a nice fettuccine Alfredo! However addmitedly one is a little easier on the waistline and the heart then the other! Cheers!