The Green Wine of Italy

Tocai is an aromatic dry white wine that is made from the grapes of the same name. It is grown in the Fuilia area of Italy and it is named after small eccentric glasses it is served in Italian taverns. The glasses are small and look like juice glasses. The grape is also sometimes known as Sauvignon Vert which translates to mean "green wine." It is also grown in Chile and France. The name is pronounced Toe-Koi.

Tocai is not to be mistaken for a Hungarian wine called Tokay. These two wines are very different and in fact the Hungarian wine maker sued the Italian wine maker to exclusively own this name and lost. There is also a Japanese saki type wine known as Tokei. Tocai is quite different and is strictly grown in Italy.

This fussy and eclectic grapevine only grows in certain types of cool climates. It is rarefied because it is vulnerable to disease, much like Pinot Noir, and it often will rot if not grown near Fruilia. This is one of these wines that suffer if the crop is too big so most growers only keep a couple of the vines on their vineyards. The harvest for Tocai grapes is small each year. This is why the wine it creates is expensive and also very much prized by wine tasters.

The wine it creates is a pale yellow and often is strongly aromatic of pears, citrus and wild flowers. The beverage also has a clean, slightly crisp finish that is very fresh and dry on the palate. It is a sharp, yet perfumed wine that is quite strong. It goes great with sushi, Japanese food, grilled clams, and shrimp. This wine is usually of a very high alcohol content - 14%. It is also of a slightly thicker consistency than most wines. This means too that it stands up well to spicy cuisines such as New Orleans, Chinese, or Thai food.

Tocai is drank as a fancy wine in North America but in its native Spain this is a very pedestrian beverage that is drunk regularly the same way that we drink orange juice in the morning. The locals that drink it tend to eat it with humble foods including omelets, cheese, pork, and beans. It also pairs exceptionally well with chicken, fish, and pork. It is a serviceable cooking wine as well and excellent for frying up garlic onions.

The grape is usually harvested young which means midsummer. It is drunk young which means that it is not usually aged for long or at all. It grows best in sunny locations with well drained soils and in climates that have cold nights. That is why it grows so well in the mountains in Chile.

Other names for this thick and oily dry wine include Tocai Bianco Tokay Italian, Blanc Doux, Sauvignon à Gros Grains, Sauvignon de la Corrèze, Trebbianello, Sauvignon Vert, Sauvignonasse, Malaga. His wine is often mixed with Tokay, Tokay d'Alsace, or Tokaji which is a wine that is indigenous to Hungary.

About the Author

Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in travel, international cuisine, and fine wine varietals, such as Pinot Noir and Tocai. For a wide selection of wines, please visit http://www.wineaccess.com/.

French 75- A drink Irresistible

For the party animals, French 75 is a known name. It's basically a cocktail prepared from gin, champagne, lemon juice, and sugar. If Vodka is used instead of gin, it may be referred to as a French 76. French 75 is a refreshing drink which makes you feel as glamorous as a character in Casablanca. Though it is generally made with gin and champagne, other versions can be made with cognac or rose champagne.

The history, is as interesting as the drink. It was discovered by French air force pilot Raoul Lufbery who was part of Escadrille Américaine air fighting unit. Legend has it that he liked champagne, but wanted something with more of a kick to it, so he mixed it with cognac which was readily available. The combination was said to have such a kick that it felt like being shelled with the powerful French 75mm howitzer artillery piece, also called a "75 Cocktail", or "Soixante Quinze" in French. The French 75 was popularized in America at the Stork Club.

The drink tastes best when served very cold,

Ingredients Required for Making French 75, for a Single Person

• 1 lemon • 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) gin • 1 1/2 tablespoons (3/4 ounce) fresh lemon juice • 1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) simple syrup • 1 cup ice cubes • 1/4 cup (2 ounces) dry sparkling wine, such as brut Champagne, chilled

How to Prepare Mix the gin, sugar, and lemon juice in a shaker half-filled with ice cubes. Shake well. Pour into a collins glass. Top with the champagne. Stir well and garnish with the orange slice and the cherry.

For more information visit http://www.planforme.com/know-your-drink/wine-cocktails.html

About the Author

A person who loves to share his views on food, drink and party.

Cocktails: Deli Mix for Perfect Kicks

Cocktails are usually referred to a style of mixed drinks. Nowadays the word cocktails mean mixing of two or more types of liquors with one or more fruit juices and flavors. The origin of cocktails is said to be in the 19th century. In 1806 an American Magazine published that a cocktail is stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water and bitters… Gradually the term cocktail became very famous and trendy. Usually it is made of gin, whiskey, rum, tequila, brandy and vodka.

Martini is considered as the first modern cocktail. In 1887, the recipe of Martinez which is similar to the Martini was given as Old Tom Gin, sweet vermouth, a dash of maraschino and bitters with a slice of lemon and two dashes of gum syrup. Now modern Martini is made of gin and dry white vermouth garnished with an olive. This cocktail is famous and has become very popular world wide.

There are wide varieties of cocktails available. It differs from region to region and bartender to bartender. Even the same names of cocktails may differ in taste because of the difference in the ingredients. There are beer cocktails in which other alcohols are mixed. You can find variety of cocktails made by mixing brandy or cognac. Such cocktails include Brandy Alexander, Brandy Manhattan, and Brandy Sour, Crunk Juice, Jack Rose, Four Score, French Connection, Horse's neck, Incredible Hulk, Panama, Paradise, Orgasm, Pisco Sour, Piscola, Porto Flip, Singapore Sling and lots more. There are cocktails with cachaca like Batida, Capiriniha, Caju Amigo, etc. Cocktails with gin are Alexander, Bijou, Bronx, Chocolate Soldier, French 75, Gibson, Hanky-Panky, Lime Rickey, Gin Sour, Pall Mall, Paradise, Pink Gin, Tom Collins, White Lady, Smoky Martini, Salty Lady, Ramos Gin Fin, Royal Arrival, My Fair Lady, Old Estonian etc. Different varieties of cocktails are available.

Mixing cocktail is considered as an art. The taste of the drink depends on the way of mixing the alcohols with fruit juices or milk or cream with flavor. Cocktail shaker is a device that is used to make the drink chill before serving. This device is used to mix the alcohols with ice. There are around three different varieties of cocktail shakers are available they are the Boston Shaker, the Cobbler Shaker, and the French Shaker.

Like beer glassware cocktail glasses are also there. A glass with a cone shaped bowl on a stem above a flat base is usually used to serve cocktails. For cocktail enthusiasts glasses like highball, tumbler, white wine, beer mug or shots can be used.

Nowadays cocktail parties are the best ways of celebrations. One can make such parties more enjoyable with some good ideas like inventing new recipes, new layered styles, new garnishes etc. Just enjoy cocktail party with new varieties of drinks, fresh juices and garnishes. There are many websites and publications which offer with tips on new recipes, and inspirational ideas to make cocktail party a grand.

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