My Resolution
Happy 2020! Welcome to a new decade! It’s that time of year when I always resolve to be healthier in the next year; I welcome the opportunity to reset. But according to Time magazine, the health guidance we receive today might be totally out of date in a decade! An example of this is that 10 years ago, we were told drinking in moderation was good for your health and heart. However, the latest guidance coming out says any alcohol is bad for you!
That’s a bridge too far for me. I enjoy toasting life’s celebrations with a glass of bubbly. I love savoring the perfect wine pairing with a meal. Or sharing a bottle of wine with friends on the deck. As Robert Mondavi put it “Wine has been a part of civilized life for some seven thousand years. It is the only beverage that feeds the body, soul and spirit of man and at the same time stimulates the mind...” I will not be giving up wine in 2020. But I have resolved to be more mindful when I drink wine.
What does that mean? Admittedly, it sounds like something a pretentious Hollywood A lister would say. First, let me tell you what mindful wine drinking is NOT. It is Not pouring a glass of wine at the end of the day to relax, receiving a work email, responding and realizing your glass is gone without you having tasted a sip. It is NOT pouring the rest of the bottle in the glass because there is so little left; often to my chagrin what appears like a little in the bottle could have been another glass, another day. It is NOT having the waiter refill your glass merely because he is pouring. It is NOT having another glass of wine at the winery because you are thirsty, and the wine bottle is closer than water.
Instead, mindful wine drinking IS inhaling the bouquet. Savoring the flavor in your mouth. Enjoying the finish. Finding the perfect wine to serve with your meal. Understanding where the wine came from and how it was made. Is it paradoxical that I am associated with VineDication and advocating mindful drinking? I don’t think so and here is why.
VineDication curates wines according to your taste palate. No more crappy bottles of wine you bought based on a label. VineDication helps you select the right wine to enhance the flavors in the meals you are serving. And we bring you hidden gems of wineries that do so little in production, their fine products will never make their way to a grocery store. Our partners are not huge impersonal businesses but more often than not, families that grow grapes and make wine organically on their property.
So that’s my resolution. In the spirit of being mindful, I did not open bubbly at midnight last night because I wanted to go to bed (we did celebrate with a nice meal and wine earlier). I will likely have a glass today to toast the new year but I am pretty sure the champagne stopper will be used.
Here is what I am serving for dinner. One of the southern traditions I love is eating food for good luck on New Year’s Day. Ham and black-eyed peas are traditional. Some years ago, I stumbled upon a Southern Living recipe for Hoppin John that I just love. I will be serving that up with white cheddar grits. Here are the recipes:
Hoppin John
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup chopped smoked ham
1 medium onion, chopped
2 (15-oz.) cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
2 (10-oz.) cans diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Directions
Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat; add ham and onion, and sauté 3 to 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Stir in black-eyed peas and next 3 ingredients. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in cilantro. Serve immediately over White Cheddar Cheese Grits.
White Cheddar Grits
Ingredients
2 cup Chicken Broth
2T Butter
1/2 cup Quick Cook Grits
1 Cup / 4 oz White Cheddar Cheese, shredded
Directions
Bring broth and butter to a boil over med-high heat. Whisk in grits. Return to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 5 min stirring occasionally. Stir in cheese until melted.
This award winning Cabernet Sauvignon will perfectly complement the smoky ham and spiciness of the Hoppin John. https://www.vinedication.com/our-wines/cabernet-sauvignon-pearmund-cellar
Clearly, I am not giving up wine in 2020 but I intend to more fully enjoy my wine. I am thinking about signing up for a wine class so I can better help you make mindful choices as well. Happy New Year and all the best in 2020! Cheers!