So I’m in Grapevine, TX for business and I decided to pack very light. I had my clothes for the next day in my cargo pants pocket and my laptop bag with me. With security I wasn’t going to chance bringing a razor with me on the plane, especially since there’s a convenience store across the parking lot from the hotel. I stopped in, spotted a cheap disposable razor and decided to kill some time browsing the liquor store portion of the convenience store…which is about 3/4 of it. I was only there for one night so I didn’t want to pick up a six pack and was contemplating a 22oz bottle of Chimay. This is when I spy a sign on the cooler door that says “wine to go.” I was intrigued, since well…it’s a liquor store. Wouldn’t all of the wine be “to go?”

That’s when I spotted them. The cutest little single glasses of wine packaged in adorable little glass shaped plastic bottles. Copa Di Vino or Cup of Wine if you want the translation came in three varieties – Cabernet Sauvignon, White Zinfandel and Pinot Grigio. Perfect! Three mini glasses of wine? I think I can take care of that.

The Cabernet Sauvignon had been chilled…amateurs…so I set that one out to reach a drinkable temperature and decided to start with the White Zinfandel. I peeled back the foil seal (only the classiest of wines when I’m on the road) and was smacked in the face with a sickeningly sweet aroma. I already know this is going to be too sweet for my taste. But I will not run from a wine in fear before at least giving it a chance. Yep, I was right. It tasted like what I imagine the red liquid in hummingbird feeders to taste like. That’s about as good of a description I can come up with. Sugar water with a hint of alcohol. Strike 1.

Alright, round 2. Pinot Grigio. Same classy foil seal. This one smells like burnt plastic. Tastes like…I’m not even sure what it tastes like. But I can tell you it’s not good. Yeah…no…I got nothing. Strike 2.

Round 3. Cabernet Sauvignon. I’m fearing the outcome of this one. Please let this one be drinkable! *fingers crossed* Alright, so far this is turning out better. It actually smells like Cabernet Sauvignon! It’s not a strong aroma but I do detect a hint of black currant. I don’t know if it’s because the other two were so terrible, but this one is actually drinkable. A light grape and raspberry flavor that finishes with a hint of black currant. I might actually finish this glass! Ball 1.

Don’t let the adorable packaging fool you. Just because it’s cute doesn’t mean it’s good. This also seems to apply to my dating history… Anyway…cheers to the marketing genius that thought of putting this “wine” in cute single serve, resealable plastic glasses.

On a scale of “this tastes like piss” to “oops, I just drank the whole bottle” I would give this a “If piss had an alcohol content I’d seriously consider it instead of this.” Would I buy it again? Hell no. Maybe as a gift for someone I didn’t like…

Final Grade: D- (Would be an F, but the Cabernet was at least worth finishing the glass.)

Wine club notes:

There was a time when California wineries sold Chardonnay under French names.

Some labeled their bottles “Chablis,” while others opted for “White Burgundy.”  This, of course, infuriated the French.  Over time, with much cajoling and no small amount of litigation, non-French wine estates abandoned the use of those words, opting for the simple grape varietal name – which still sounds French and somewhat sexy.

In those earlier years, Australian vintners also bottled their own versions of “Chablis” and “White Burgundy.”  Only in the land Down Under, those wines were made not from Chardonnay, but rather from Semillon.  In fact, for many years, Semillon was the most widely planted white grape variety in that country.

Perhaps the best expression of Aussie Semillon and Chardonnay is achieved when the two varieties are blended.  The 2011 Hilldale Rise “Sem-Chard” is a tasty example, at once rich and refreshing, in a word, one might call it delicieux.

Tasting Notes:

Grape Composition: Semillon & Chardonnay              Aging Vessels: Assorted Oak Barrels

Grape Source: Select vineyards in South Eastern Australia

Aromas and Flavors: Buttered apple, lemon, melon, vanilla and toast

When to Drink: Now through 2015

This Aussie beauty offers notes of buttered apple, lemon, melon, vanilla and toast.

Food pairing suggestions: shellfish, or creamy clam chowder.

My Thoughts:

I will admit, I’m a bit behind on reviewing this wine.  I didn’t get a chance to jot down my first impressions as I drank the first glass.  I’ve been working on a paper for class that has been driving me crazy.  Anyway…In the name of stress drinking I dub thee “Sem-Chard” worthy. Except I hate the term “Sem-Chard.”  It makes it sound like the wine had some sort of developmental disability.  You’re drinking wine here people.  Say the full name.  Or at least give the good old college try.  This isn’t a Bud or Natty Boh where it is acceptable to use pet names for cheap beers.

Name rant aside…this wine did have pleasant hints of apple, vanilla and a wonderful oaky taste.  I love a good oaky Chardonnay.  Un-oaked Chardonnays?  Rubbish.  I drink Chardonnays because they have a pleasant woodsy, hang out in the backyard feel to them.

Food pairings?  I suppose some shellfish would go well with it.  Some sea scallops seared in lemon butter would be fabulous.  What did I pair it with?  French toast.  Why yes, yes I did drink this for breakfast.  Don’t hate.  You would have too if you knew that this is the perfect Semillon-Chardonnay to pair with French toast.  You’re just jealous you didn’t think of it first.

On a scale of “this tastes like piss” to “oops, I just drank the whole bottle” I would give this a “Yes I did drink the entire bottle with breakfast.  It was a lot of French toast!  And home fries, and scrambled eggs… Gotta wash it all down with something.”  Would I buy it again?  Definite maybe.  Australian wines are always hit or miss for me.  If I came across it at the liquor store I’d definitely remember it and if I was being indecisive would probably grab a bottle because I know it’s pretty decent.

Final Grade: B+

This is where we get into the “and sometimes beer” part.
Here is what 21st Amendment Brewery has to say:
Like Lady Liberty, we stand for independence and perseverance. In the pursuit of innovative beer, there is no obstacle too great. No journey too long. No fruit too gigantic. This American wheat beer is brewed with real watermelon, for a flavor that’s surprisingly crisp, dry and refreshing—summer in a can.
Hell or High Watermelon Wheat is our summer seasonal beer available from April through September in six pack cans and on draft. We start by brewing a classic American wheat beer, which undergoes a traditional secondary fermentation using fresh watermelon. A straw-colored, refreshing beer with a kiss of watermelon aroma and flavor.

Alcohol Content: 4.9% by volume Color: Pale Straw Bitterness Units (IBUS): 17
Bittering Hops: Columbus Hops: Magnum Yeast: Top Fermenting Ale Yeast
Flavor: 100% Fresh Watermelon Pure Malts: Two-Row Pale, White Wheat

My thoughts:
I discovered this on my most recent trip to The Chelsea Tavern in Wilmington, DE. My kid brother and I try to meet up once a month and do dinner and drinks and hang out. He lives in Philly, I live in Baltimore…Wilmington works. We’re big fans of Chelsea Tavern. Typically we don’t repeat restaurants when we have our monthly outing, but this one is a keeper.

Anyway, The Chelsea Tavern has a ridiculous beer selection. At the moment they have 1 cask beer, 30 draft beers, 111 bottled beers and 18 canned beers. So when the bartender asks me what I want to drink I glaze over slack-jawed for a moment and say, “I’ll have one of those,” as I randomly point to a tap on the wall. I saw it was a wheat beer. I love wheat beers. I figured I had made a decent choice.

When my beer arrived it looked like a watered down Hefeweizen. Hmm… I took a hearty sniff and there wasn’t much going on aroma wise. I hesitantly took a sip. Light, crisp, refreshing after an hour and 45 minute drive that should have taken no more than an hour. I wasn’t wowed, but I wasn’t rethinking my choice either. The watermelon flavor wasn’t overpowering. It was just a hint of an aftertaste. It was relatively pleasant to sip on while waiting for my brother and his roommate to arrive.

I was just finishing off my pint when they arrived. So I moved from the bar to a table outside with them. My next beer choice was unavailable, so they ordered me another Hell or High Watermelon since I had run to the car to grab something.

The second one? Not so much. The watermelon taste caught up with me. All I could taste was fake watermelon flavor. It seriously tasted like someone had dropped a watermelon Jolly Rancher in my Hefeweizen. (I love Hefeweizens. Hence the repeated reference. Don’t eff with my Hefeweizen!)

I haven’t yet come up with a beer tasting scale yet, so we’ll rate this one as “Tastes like the end of a summer picnic. The kind you don’t want to linger too late at because then is starts to get weird. And not the good kind of weird.” Would I buy it again on purpose? No. Would I drink it if I was at a summer picnic and I had a choice of this or Coors/Bud/Miller Light? Absolutely.

Final Grade: B-