Holidays – Ward Kadel

Speedy Holiday Wine Recommendations

December 13, 2011December 13, 2011Vinopanion: Ward Kadel - @drXeNoLeave a comment

The holidays get busy. You barely have time to shop, decorate, make food, attend parties, try not to get drunk and, OH YEAH, still work! All of this stress adds up, manifesting itself in strange ways and differently within each person, as evidenced by the varying types of "holiday spirit" seen in the photo on the right. You don't have time for this! Your time is too precious to waste upon wondering which kind of wine to bring to coworker Aaron's holiday party and wait, is it Aaron or Erin...CRAP, you're so stressed you can't even remember! It is with these conundrums in mind that I have constructed my Vinopanion holiday wine recommendations and pairings, listed below. Short, sweet (or dry!) and to the point. Let's drink.

The Mutineer Magazine Holiday Comedy Festival

December 7, 2010December 7, 2010Vinopanion: Ward Kadel - @drXeNo5 Comments

Those loco wit' the cake kids at Mutineer Magazine (Twitter) have rounded up some holiday misfits and done it again: set the stage for yet another massive blowout of fine beverage festivities! Ever resourceful in the comedy department (witness Editor & Loco Alan Kropf's (Twitter) brilliant 2010 American Wine Blog Awards presentation (sort of) alongside compat Ben Morrison (Twitter)) The Mutinous crew has assembled an A-List of comedians to entertain your mind as your palates and gullets are treated to a regular bevy of fine beverages. The tasty drinks provided in quantities surely above any 2 drink minimum, will be courtesy of Don Roberto Tequila and Jacuzzi Family Vineyards (Twitter, WineLog), the awesome location for this event. I had the pleasure of visiting Jacuzzi and tasting their well-made Italian varietals back in 2008 on the Pops & Son 4th Wine Trip. Good stuff and a beautiful Carneros AVA estate. The lineup of guests include Jonathan Goldsmith, Natasha Leggero, Bryan Callen, Ben Morrison (of course), Daryl Wright, Greg Wilson and Ben Gleib.

Having trouble pairing Thanksgiving yums?

November 10, 2010November 10, 2010Vinopanion: Ward Kadel - @drXeNoLeave a comment

Le Wine Buff Thanksgiving pairings - EnjoyBordeaux.com

...then let Le Wine Buffs do it all for you! It's that time again, where everyone eats hours earlier than usual, groans, collapses around 7pm and then finishes up the late night with a whole new plate, yup...it's Thanksgiving! I've spent *months* coming up with painstakingly precise food and wine pairings for my portion of this article, literally until all of the skin was...ok, you're right, I didn't. In reality, I sat on the couch and drooled, thinking of all of the super tasty dishes that I had every year growing up, lovingly prepared by my supermom, Mama Donna.