In anticipation of St. Patty's Day, I wanted to highlight a true Irish Meade this week. For those of you unfamiliar with Mead, it is an ancient honeyed wine that has been circulating for centuries. If you've been to the Bunratty Castle in County Clare, you will recognize this particular Mead as the second Mead served in the Castle's lower quarters, the first Mead being a warm, mulled red Mead that I've yet to find for sale anywhere. Maybe it was the fog, the chilly November air, or the wait to gain entrance to the castle itself, whatever the influence this was by far the very best Mead I've had the privilege of trying. The Bunratty white Meade is still a tasty treat, and at its best when served slightly chilled, in my opinion.

Wine of the Week: Bunratty Meade (Ireland) $14 originally appeared on About.com Wine on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 23:25:45.

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With just over a week to go for St. Patrick's Day celebrations, About's Food Channel is delivering up some well-themed food and drink ideas. Consider About's Guide to Baking, Carroll Pellegrinell's, Barm Brack - an Irish version of a combination of fruit cake and Christmas Pudding. The fruit in this cake is soaked overnight in black tea prior to baking. Or looking for a green dessert for your St. Patty's Day party? Try this
recipe for Pistachio Cake. It makes an unbelievably moist and tasty cake.

Still searching for Irish inspiration? Then check out Stephanie Gallagher's Irish Soda Bread Recipe. This American version of Irish soda bread is sweet and cake-like. It makes a lovely companion to Irish stew or corned beef and cabbage.

Need something green for St. Pat's then Stephanie's also offering her Watergate Salad Recipe. Though she admits, "There is absolutely nothing authentic or Irish about this St. Patrick's Day recipe, except its green color. This retro salad has been a favorite for parties and potlucks since the 1970s and will add a touch of whimsy to any St. Patrick's Day celebration."

From Kevin Weeks - Cooking for Two

There is nothing more Irish than Guinness. Made using water from the Liffey River, it is one of the most famous beers (specifically a "stout") in the world. A staple of English (and Irish) pub fare is Steak and Guinness Pie, a wonderfully hearty meal on a cold and blustery March day. Be sure to buy an extra pint or two to wash down the pie.

Photo Courtesy Paul Poplis/Getty Images

St. Patrick's Day Blogathon originally appeared on About.com Wine on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 23:42:39.

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Just as iPhone wine apps are updated with new releases on a regular basis, so the wine apps for iPhones need to be periodically reviewed and updated. So here are the latest and greatest wine iPhone applications available via iTunes.

Ranging from free to $5 an app (with free updates pushed to your iPhone on a regular basis), these wine "companions" are a low risk, budget-friendly way to delve a little deeper into the wide world of wine. Check out the full iPhone Wine App updates or let us know if we've missed an app that needs to be reviewed and shared with other wine lovers.

Wine Apps for iPhones - Reviews and Updates originally appeared on About.com Wine on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 23:40:06.

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About's guide to Italian Food, Kyle Phillips, was boots on the ground at the 2010 Anteprima Vintage Presentations. Check out the latest Italian sips, stories and his lively take on the top Chianti wines and more below.

Overview of Anteprima 2010
Kyle's 2010 Chianti Classico D'Annata Insights
2010 Chianti Classico Presentation: Chianti Classico Riserva Impressions
The 2010 Vernaccia di San Gimignano Anteprima
The 2006 Vintage of Amarone

Chianti Classico: The 2010 Anteprima Vintage Presentions originally appeared on About.com Wine on Friday, March 5th, 2010 at 19:58:24.

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St. Patrick's Day is a terrific excuse to get out of your typical food routine and try things that may not be altogether "familiar." To get you started the About.com Food & Drink Channel is hosting a series of recipes hand-picked for your "all things Irish" celebrations.

The Basic Corned Beef Dinner - comes from About.com's guide to Southern Cooking, Diana Rattray. This is a delicious basic corned beef dinner, made with a variety of spices and vegetables. Feel free to add turnips or cut-up rutabagas to this recipe. Or for those more prone to crockpot creations, check out her Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage Chowder, a quick and easy crockpot soup that offers a delicious way to enjoy corned beef dinner leftovers. Serve this chowder with hot baked rolls or biscuits for a great family meal.

Turning the tables to Tea and Coffee, with About.com's Lindsay Goodwin, who brings a collection of coffee cocktails including Irish Coffee, as well as other easy recipes, like coffee-infused vodka, B-50 shots and the Chocolate Mocha-Tini. For St. Patrick's day, if you want to move past the standard Irish Coffee, then check out the Summer Green Tea Latte, its brilliant green color is the perfect way to celebrate the luck o' the Irish.

St. Patty's Day Starters originally appeared on About.com Wine on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 02:07:08.

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This Merlot from Mercer Estates boasts big flavor and vibrant fruit. The well-developed flavors of cherry and chocolate dominate the palate, wrapped up in a lovely cloak of vanilla. Malleable tannins, soft edges and an enduring finish put the wrap on this delicious red wine treat from Washington. A stunning rendition of all that a Merlot can and should be.

Perfect Pairings: Grilled or roasted beef, lamb or chicken and mushroom based recipes.

Wine of the Week: Mercer Merlot 2007 (WA) $22 originally appeared on About.com Wine on Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 10:32:56.

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Marsala Wine originally appeared on About.com Wine on Thursday, February 25th, 2010 at 22:52:28.

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This Vouvray Petillant from Vigneau-Chevreau is an absolutely lovely sparkling wine from the Loire Valley. Fresh, apple blossom aromatics play the welcome and delicious stonefruit and pear renditions tickle the palate.

A dry, delicate wine that engages the senses with its surprisingly fine bead - adding both a lively, playful spirit and an unexpected layer of powdery complexity, certainly an all occasion wine to keep on hand. Made from the Chenin Blanc grape, this bubbly is palate perfect for the likes of sushi, seafood risotto and a wide array of starters.

Wine of the Week: Domaine Vigneau-Chevreau Vouvray Petillant Brut NV (FR) $20 originally appeared on About.com Wine on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 at 02:24:33.

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Chilly temps and buckets of snow seem to be the name of the game for winter 2010. If you happen to be in the clutch of winter in your neck of the woods, then it may be time to try one of winter's warming wine recipes.

The traditional mulled wine is a savory way to use a red wine that has been open a day or two and is just past it's prime, or combine a dash of red wine and whiskey to come up with the wine enthusiast's version of the Wine 'n Whiskey Hot Toddy - where France and Scotland find some middle ground and a healthy dose of winter warmth.

Warm Wine Recipes - Mulled Wines, Hot Toddies and more originally appeared on About.com Wine on Thursday, February 18th, 2010 at 17:22:53.

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Lamborn Family Vineyards has come up with a Wine Lover's dream, that knocks out a fantastic on-site (your site) "Winery for a Day" party, while raising money for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation in the fight against childhood cancer.

Here's how it works - a silent auction is being run from March 1 - March 5, 2010, via Lamborn's facebook site. The auction winner will gather friends, family or clients to party with the wines and personalities of Lamborn Family Vineyards at an exclusive "Winery for a Day" shin-dig. Lamborn will come to you (anywhere in the lower 48) with a case of their Cab and Zinfandel and take you through the stories, wines and vines that make Lamborn Family Vineyards. Instead of traveling to Napa, the Lamborn winery treks to your neck of the woods and provides a one-stop private wine tasting party - can you think of a better party platform? All money raised via the silent auction will go to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.
Curious to know more? Check out the specs and place your bid for the on-site winery bash here.

Lamborn Family Vineyards Joins the Fight Against Pediatric Cancer originally appeared on About.com Wine on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 at 23:27:08.

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