Today (29/10/03) on the Dublin Life show on News Talk 106 FM, after the 3pm
news, Martin will be talking about wines for Halloween parties.
Those familiar with football agent Eric Hall will know his favourite
adjective is 'monster', used mostly about the salaries he negotiates for
those he represents. Halloween is a bit like Eric in that it's larger than
life (undead even), unsubtle, in yer face and er...monster. So if you are
planning a party, swap your usual elegance, subtlety and good taste for
full on taste, brash, kitschy and fun.
The
kids will OD on sugar and artificial colourings, but the adults will need
some hearty food to keep out the cold and some monster reds and ghoulish
whites to wash down such classic Halloween specials as pumpkin soup, deep
fried bat wings and bloody vampire burgers.
Plenty
of countries make gutsy reds and the key is alcohol levels of at least
13.5% a.b.v. and more plus a spicy taste. Classics grapes for this include
zinfandel from California (even the basic Gallo or Glen Ellen have 14%
a.b.v) or it's Southern Italian twin primitivo. The Australians
weigh in with plenty of shiraz and grenache that would do the trick while
very little seems to get out of Chile these days without at least 13.5% on
the label. Carmenere is the grape to go for there. Neighbouring Argentina
also has plenty of malbec and shiraz that would go down a treat. Those stylish
French tend to be make more subtle wines but read the small print on
Southern French appellations like Minervois or Coteaux du Languedoc and
you may come up trumps. Chateaunef-du-pape will have the requirted punch
but sadly a price to match.
Spain is pumping out some great value
wines these days and one
with the right style and alcohol for the occasion and a suitably unsubtle
label is Tesco's 'Huge Juicy Red', D.O.
Calatayud, €9.49, 85/100, a gutsy 14% garnacha (grenache)
made by kiwi MW Alastair Maling in Northern Spain. Cruz de Piedra from
Oddbins and Dunnes would also fit the bill but without the tacky label.
Whites
are less appropriate for cold winter nights but I'd go for a full throttle
oaked chardonnay from Australia or Chile. The example tasted on
today's show is Tyrrell's Long Flat Chardonnay
2002, 85/100, about €10 and widely available. However if you
are in Tesco's pick up Jacob's Creek Reserve Chardonnay 2002 which
has more oak and is on special at €10.99, a reduction of €2.
Those
looking for Halloween recipe ideas should go to http://www.rexanne.com/hwn-food.html,
which has links to lots of sites with ideas including http://www.bertc.com/recipes.htm
which has gross recipe ideas like seal brain fritter or vomit
vinaigrette.
For an interesting historical background
and to find out about how Halloween started as a 5th century BC Celtic
festival check out Halloween -- The History and Customs of Halloween
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