Is there anything wrong?

I have been wondering this for a while but never got round to blogging about it. It has been prompted by my wife's great love of white wine and the number of bottles we have been consuming of late. It has caused me to ponder - is there any difference between a cork and a screwtop?

There was a time when the screwtop was the sign of a truly awful vino - maybe a Liebfraumilch or a dodgy Valpolicella. But now nearly everything comes with the easy access option. I am no wine expert but I am intrigued as to whether using a cork makes any difference to the quality. Or is it just pure snobbery?

I wonder if it could be extended to grappa too. Although I like the reassuring "pop" of a cork stopper. There is something almost scientific about opening a bottle. You feel like you should pour it into a test tube and watch the fumes fly...

Holiday present

My brother and sister-in-law have just returned from holiday in Crete and as a present brought me a bottle of something called

"Grappa Ma Raki"

Somehow I dont hold out much hope for this one.........

A rare sortie

It is unusual for me to travel on a Thursday night. Usually, I like to stick close to home and be able to enjoy a glass of wine or two withing 'stoating' distance of my house. But sometimes the call of the wild - or, more precisely, a good meal - can be too great. It was thus last Thursday.

I was called to a friend's house to sample Chinese cuisine of the highest order. Won ton soup, followed by a wonderful beef dish, sweet and sour chicken, satay prawn skewers, Singapore noodles and probably a few other things I have forgotten. And all in good company. Where else could I hope to hear about people being attacked by a hippo in Botswana, discuss whether Rod Hull was murdered by emu AND listen to a tale or two about gay pornography.

A great night indeed.

Long time, no grappa

You know, I can't actually think of the last time I had a grappa. That, for me, is a bad sign. It is a sign that life has become too serious and there is not enough nutty nonsense going on. There was a time when I lurched from one grappa-daze to another.

True, my Thursday night regular outings have mostly been at the Chinese of late where, sadly, grappa is in short supply. Still, there is no excuse. I have my fine collection building up at home. I must make a return to using it very soon...