Miami Food Blog

Photo by Paula Echevarria

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Pick your poison: red or white. Or maybe you would like something of the bubbly variety. The Miami International Wine Fair had it all. Choose a country then choose a wine. The Miami Beach Convention Center was transformed into a map of wine importers, wine makers and the average joe looking for that perfect glass of vino. 

After sampling more than my fair share of variety I formed my own conclusions about where the wine industry is going.

"Try the Malbec" one sharply dressed man beckoned me.  This was not the first I had heard of this delectable beverage. It was the talk of the town. "Miami is one of the largest markets for Argentinan wine." I nodded, not surprised. The South American country produces more that 70 percent of the Malbec grapes in the world. I am assured by more than one import group that this is the wine to watch for; with a growing popularity in restaurants it is sure to be popping up on more shelves of local wine stores.

Then there was Reserva 1831 a sparkling wine that is filled with flecks of gold. It retails at $130 a bottle, I'm not gangster enough to drink this on a regular basis, but it's fun and fresh.

Next: Miami Winery. President Alexis Parades assures me that not only is the fruit grown in Homestead, but the wine itself is fermented and bottled in Miramar. They do not use any grapes but instead make a wine out of lychee, guava and mango. Across the room I found the Florida Orange Grove Winery, which also produces wine from such fruits.Florida-based wines. are delicious and different.

No one will label you a heathen if you choose the wrong wine to pair with your lamb shank. But if you choose a red Bordeaux that makes the juicy meat sing -- you could quite possibly be looked at as a savvy individual, well-versed on how to enjoy the culinary intricacies of life. WineLifeStyle is a company that's dedicated to making you into an anti-heathen by bringing its traveling wine tastings to your private events.

Julie Mushett handles the wine portion and Elizabeth Guerra of Relish will bring the food. All you have to do is provide the venue (your home, office, or brothel) and 10 to 100 of your closest friends. WIth packages starting at $35, WineLifeStyle offers an easy, affordable way to learn something new and have fun while you're doing it. Whether wine is your choice of poison or not, it won't hurt to know what a Dolcetto is.

WineLifeStyle recently came by the <i>New Times</i> office to give us a taste of, er, a taste and we took some flicks. Check out Grilled Duck Breast with BBQ Blueberry sauce, a 2007 Pinot Grigio, and homemade Almond Shortbread Cookies - not in that order - after the jump.