Chamomile

Chamomile for Comfort

Zinfandel

[ZIHN-fuhn-dehl] Grape that is considered California's red-wine grape because it's not widely grown in other parts of the world. Zinfandel vines were brought to California in the 1850s. By the 1880s this variety was rapidly gaining acceptance by California growers, and it is now that state's most extensively planted red grape. Zinfandel is vinified in many styles, which vary greatly in quality. One popular style is White Zinfandel, a fruity-flavored white wine that's usually slightly sweet and ranges in color from light to dark pink. When made into red wine, Zinfandel can produce wines ranging from light, nouveau styles to hearty, robust reds with berrylike, spicy flavors, plenty of tannins and alcohol.

Jack-o-lanterns

A few ideas for some nontraditional Halloween pumpkin carving!

Oysters

These days, oysters are an expensive luxury, which makes it difficult to believe that they were once the food of the poor. They are available all year round but are best between October and February, when the sea is cold. Oyster-lovers prefer to eat them raw from the shell, sprinkled with a little lemon juice, but they can be eaten cooked. Try grilling them briefly in their half-shells, sprinkled with shallots and a little butter.

Oregano

Oregano for Happiness

Decanting

[dee-KANT-ing] verb: done either to separate the wine from any sediment deposited during the aging process or to allow a wine to breathe in order to enhance its flavor. When decanting an older wine, care should be taken not to disturb the sediment. A horizontal position keeps the sediment from disseminating throughout the wine. Once the foil and cork are removed, gently wipe the mouth of the bottle. Then begin slowly pouring the wine into a decantur, placing a strong light (a candle is charming, but a flashlight is more practical) behind or below the neck of the bottle. The light lets you see the first signs of sediment, at which point you stop pouring. You

Dill

Dill for Good Spirits

Tannins

noun:[TAN-ihns]Any of a group of astringent substances found in the seeds, skins, and stems of grapes, as well as in oak barrels, particularly new ones. Tannins are part of a grouping technically called phenolic compounds. They are important in the production of good red wines because they provide flavor, structure, and texture and, because of their antioxidant traits, contribute to long and graceful aging. Tannins often give young wines a noticeable astringency, a quality that diminishes as the wine ages, mellows, and develops character. Tannins are detectable by a dry, sometimes puckery, sensation in the mouth and back of the throat.

Elderberries

Elderberries are not commercially grown but can easily be found growing in the wild. Pick the heads of the berries and be sure to wash them thoroughly before using. Elderberries are a well-known and popular choice for homemade wine, cordial or syrup and their flavour also combines well with blackberries to make sauces or syrup for fools, ice creams and sorbets. Apple pie is delicious sweetened with elderberry and even duck and pork is complemented by its flavor.

Grenache

noun:[gruh-NAHSH] grape that comes in both red-wine and white-wine varietals. When used by itself, the word "Grenache" refers to the red version Grenache Noir, one of the world's most widely cultivated red grapes. The Grenache grape does well in hot, dry regions, and its strong stalk makes it well suited for windy conditions. It ripens with very high sugar levels and can produce wines with 15 to 16 percent alcohol. Grenache wines are sweet, fruity, and very low in tannins.The vine originated in Spain where it's called Garnacha; and is the most widely cultivated red-wine grape.

Catnip

Catnip for Intoxification with Love

Eclectic

adj.: decorating using more than one design style, borrowing of a variety of styles from different sources and combining them.