5.2003'
cHoiiifay
G ¡/i
Guide
efore you R SV P for another holi-
gay soiree, do you know what you’ll
bring your host or hostess? Yes, a
wine is a perfect choice, but how do
you know which one to select? Even if you
know what you like, consider these tips from
vino aficionado Wixxly Clarke of Portland
queer wine bar Cmsh.
Playing it safe: Zinfandel. “Most people say
they like a dry red wine, but they really like the
Zinfandels because they have a lot of sugar and
probably the highest alcohol content— which
always makes for a gixxl party," chuckles
Clarke. California Ravenswotxl is a gcxxl
choice at an economical $10 or so.
Going into the red: Pinot Noir. "Pinot
Noir is the thing Oregon does— and does fan
tastically!” exclaims Clarke, who suggests local
varieties make especially great gifts for out-of-
staters. With bottles around $35, Clarke rec
ommends liKal vineyards Elk Cove, Andrew
Rich and Cameron.
Wetting your white whistle: Pinot Gris.
Oregon’s own Big Fire winery offers a little
white wine for about $15. For the wine snob,
Clarke’s tip is a “gorgeous” California Camus
Conundrum, setting you back about $24.
Holiday hazard: Chardonnay. Overzealous
U.S. consumption has made this vino a no-no.
In other words, Clarke says, out of fashion.
Wine opine: Riesling. Sweet enough for a
beginner, complex enough for someone who
knows grapes. About $16.
Erudite effervescence: sparkling wine. Hard
to find at the market, but available at places
such as Cmsh is Italy’s new Villa Teresa from
Prosecco Veneto. “The only decent organic
wine,” notes Clarke. And only about $10-$ 12.
Trendy and smart: grappa, baby, grappa.
What to bring?
Stop your wining
Grappa is the new Chardonnay for queer party gifts
by
T im o t h y K r a u s e
“For the fag who knows what’s new
and wants to kx>k sophisticated,”
remarks Clarke of the clear, brandy
like libation made from leftover
grape skins and seeds. Very dry and
very high alcohol content—a Un
tie is going to last a long time and
therefore makes a perfect treat for
your someone special to savor long
after the party’s over. About $29
gets you a bottle of Clear Creek
grappa prixluced right on (go fig
ure) Northwest Trendy-third.
Complement compliments:
cheese, please. For a special
touch, bring along cheese. Any
kind, says Clarke, though his
favorite is lixrally prixluced
Juniper Grove.
The bottom line: listen up.
Personal recommendations are a
great way to chixxse wine, says
Clarke, who is happy to offer sug
gestions over the phone. And for
the casual consumer, ignore the
year. “Old dix;s not necessarily
mean gixxl,” he says. “Often old
just means old— and no one’s
going to be checking.”
Then he adds, laughing, “Some
times it boils down to just whatever
the cute guy is drinking." j H
COLD DOWN EASY
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©2003 C00RS BREWING COMPANY GOLDEN. COLORADO 80401 • BEER • CNW000350
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O
K, maybe you or your party-
throwers don’t drink wine. (“It’s
graping on your nerves.") Or maybe
you’re just looking for something unique to
take to a special dinner. In either case, Wild
Life partners Larry Whitacre and Steve Pick
ering have lots of suggestions for “Shirley
Temple" party presents.
Potluck good luck. Why not present your
signature dish in a special vessel that you
leave behind as a gift? Throw your homemade
bread into a rustic rattan basket lined with a
pretty tea towel, together for $15.50. Or dress
up store-bought nibbles by sharing them in
Japanese Kotobuki dishes— four small, multi
colored, flower-shaped dishes for $24.
Settle for petals. Make a tried-and-true
flower arrangement a little fancier with an
aluminum ring vase from Simply Designs.
This $14 99 shining beauty is retro-chic.
Effervescent presence. From margaritas to
martinis, bubbleglass stemware from Global
Amici creates sparkling party conversation. Each
glass a * t s $6.99-$ 11.99 and comes in various
colors. Check out the matching pitchers, too.
Post-party wind-down. If your party pal has
everything in hand, why not offer that gracious
goodie help winding down after the big to-do?
Try Confetti Bubblebath from European Soaps.
A $3.99 pack is enough for two soaks. |H
CRUSH offers bottles of wine to go, including
numy /rreuTapped selections, at 1412 S.E. Morri
son St., 503-235-8150. W ild L ife offers home
furnishing and deem at 3962D S.E. Hawthorne
Blvd., 503-236-3862.
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