The South Beach Wine Club
We Know How To Party!

We aren’t just another wine club - we provide our club members with everyday wines along with a daily blog full of great wine information. Our articles are full of wine news, pairing suggestions, restaurant reviews, and party tips designed to help wine buyers ranging from complete novices to experienced drinkers looking for the next best bottle. Sure, we want you to purchase a membership to The South Beach Wine Club, but we also want you to stop by every day to see what's on our minds. And once you're here, we hope you comment on what you read.

The club is designed for those who like to enjoy wine every day and those who know that wine helps make a party great - no matter what size! But who has time to make that extra trip after work to the wine store, trolling through endless bottles of wine? You should spend your time enjoying the wine, so we pick great bottles at great prices for you. No more guess work!

We keep it simple - 3 different tiers: 2, 4 or 6 bottles per month.

The price is listed in the total price - no hidden shipping costs at check out.

Customize your shipment to be all reds, all whites, or a mix - because you never know.

Perfect gift for those busy friends who always like to have a bottle of wine around.

Regularly updated blog to provide you with helpful party tips, wine suggestions, and pairing ideas.

South Beach Wine Club Blog:

Winter, Pasta, and Wine

Author: Randy  //  Category: Uncategorized

 

Maybe it was my stomach grumbling. Maybe it was the thought of the rigatoni and meatballs I had for dinner last night. But one thing is for sure – that even in South Florida, winter, pasta, and wine go hand in hand. Think about it for a second – when deciding on a pasta or a wine, the first question you have to ask is red or white. So once you figure out the answer you have both your sauce and your win narrowed down. Plus, the pairing is just so darn easy – hearty pasta dishes easily satisfy just about any crowd. And there is no need to stick to the standard standard spaghetti or angel hair Bring something new and exciting to the table. I mean, why not? Pasta all pretty much cooks the same – all you need is the pot and boiling water.

  • Bow-Ties: The Italians call them farfalle (butterflies). Either way, they work beautifully with creamy white and pesto-style sauces. Their little tucks and folds trap the bits of garlic and herbs in the sauce, bringing a lot of flavor to every bite.

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    • Spirals: For a more adult version of macaroni and cheese, try these springy, whimsical noodles tossed with a rich, elegant cheese sauce.

    • Ribbons: Don’t have time to make lasagna? These long, fluted noodles offer the curly-edged flair of lasagna, but can be served simply topped with a hearty meat sauce.

    Thick or thin, straight or curly, pasta always pairs well with a good glass of wine. For hearty and meaty red-sauced dishes, try Chianti, Barbaresco or Merlot. For Alfredo or cheese-sauced dishes, a Chardonnay – either a crisper French style, or creamy California style. Either will offer a rich, dense body that’s sure to hit the spot.

    No, Prosecco, Asti, and Moscato d’Asti aren’t the same wine

    Author: Randy  //  Category: Uncategorized

     

    This past weekend I celebrated my grandmother’s 80th birthday AND the Fourth of July at Disney World. I was asked to bring “White wine that was low in alcohol, and perhaps something to toast with as well.”  In order to kill two birds with one stone, I immediately decided to pick up Italian sparkling wine.  And wanting to be able to please family members who enjoy different degrees of sweetness, I purchased bottles of Prosecco, Asti, and Moscato d’Asti. Everyone enjoyed the bottles, but I continued to hear the same question over and over: “Aren’t Asti and Moscato d’Asti the same thing?” My only response was to suggest taking another sip of each in order to decide the answer. But for you, my audience, I’m happy to go into detail about the wonderful world of light Italian sparklers.

    An added benefit of these wines is that they offer a great way to bring a Champagne-esque feel to any occasion without draining your wallet. One reason these wines are less expensive than French Champagne or high-end sparkling wines from other regions in the world is because they’re made by the charmat process, a less time-consuming and labor-intensive process than the more elaborate methode champenoise used to make higher-end sparklers (I’ll save the specific differences between these two methods for another article).

    It’s important to not to think of these wines as princely pretenders to the Champagne throne, but rather, more playful and less well-bred knaves with their own brand of charm. While Champagne can be rich and elegant, these wines are frivolous and refreshing. Champagne can be a little dry and little tight-fisted with the fruit, but these Italian sparklers playfully offer it to you in spades. Not to mention the fact that while Champagne is usually around 12.5 percent alcohol, Prosecco, Asti, and Moscato d’Asti are usually no more than 7.5 percent alcohol.

    When chilled up nicely, Prosecco, Moscato d’Asti and Asti taste especially great poolside, dock-side or anywhere outdoors as the temperature climbs – such as Disney World in July. And, with their happy bubbles, they’re also shoo-ins for celebrations any time of year, as they offer an expensive yet highly respectable way to bring sparkle to grand occasions, such as holidays, weddings, New Year’s Eve – or your grandmother’s 80th birthday.

    The three range in sweetness-Prosecco is generally a little drier than Asti, while Moscato d’Asti is usually the sweetest of the three. They also range in the intensity of bubbles. Asti is fully sparkling (spumante), while Moscato d’Asti is gently sparkling (frizzante). Prosecco can come in either spumante or frizzante styles.

    prosecco

    Prosecco is made from the Prosecco grape and most often produced in Italy’s Veneto region. Light, crisp and refreshing, this easy-to-love sparkling wine goes well with many foods. Chicken salad, Eggs Benedict and other light brunch and lunch dishes make for winning combinations. However, like many sparkling wines, Prosecco shines when paired with just about anything, not to mention that it is great for making Bellinis.

    moscato-dasti1

    Made in the Piedmont region of Italy near the town of Asti, Moscato d’Asti possesses just a hint of sparkle along with peachy flavors that appeal to those who enjoy a little sweetness in their sip. Light and refreshing, it’s usually low in alcohol, making it tailor-made for sipping on a warm day. It pairs especially well with fruit desserts.

    asti

    You have probably enjoyed Asti under another name; years ago it used to be called “Asti Spumante.” Now it’s simply “Asti.” Like Moscato d’Asti, this sparkling wine also is made near the town of Asti from the Moscato grape; the difference is that it’s a little less sweet and it sparkles more fully. It pairs well with dessert, though anyone who likes sweeter wines like White Zinfandel will enjoy it with their entree, too.

    South African Wine is Patio Perfect

    Author: Randy  //  Category: Uncategorized

     

    While South African wines are enjoying some long-overdue recognition in the wine world, most of them remain virtually unknown to the casual wine drinker. But whenever a wine flies under the radar screen, value hunters should take a closer look. In the case of South African wines, you can find distinguished sips at bargain prices. Winemakers are doing great things with Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Shiraz – all perfect patio sips as barbecue season hits full swing. And as the hot days of July lead into the hotter days of August, you’ll really appreciate the whites on sticky evenings when it’s too hot to think about firing up the grill. That’s when a salad and one of these bright, refreshing wines will be just the ticket.

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    What’s even better is that South Africa is considered part of the New World, and so bottles are labeled by varietal. Despite labeling practices, South African wines lean more towards Europe and the Old World when it comes to style which translates into wines elegant in fruit and oak and not heavily fruit-forward or overly oaky. Also, reading the label’s fine print can pay off; regions to look for include Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Constantia.

    If you’ve ever tasted a flat and seemingly boring Chenin Blanc and said “not for me,” you should give this grape another go in its South African style. While these bottles offer plentiful melon and tropical fruit flavors, their underlying mineral notes add sophistication. Lively and refreshing, they’ll go well with fish on the grill, especially if it’s sparked with a little lemon and herbs. This wine will also make a lovely aperitif to sip before dinner with a few nibbles – may I suggest pairing a glass with slices of melon wrapped in thin slices of prosciutto.

    Although Chenin Blanc is historically the white-wine grape of South Africa, it’s the country’s Sauvignon Blancs that are especially making a splash among the world’s wine lovers. Winemakers are producing bottles that brim with lively herb and citrus notes and are more easygoing than all-out zippy New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs. More lively than French versions from Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume, South African Sauvignon Blancs offer a great balance of acidity and fruit. For a sublime summer pairing, grill up a colorful array of summer vegetables to serve alongside a fresh Caesar or tomato salad, a selection of cheeses (goat cheese and Gruyere will go especially well with Sauvignon Blanc), and plenty of crusty French bread.

    As for reds, South African Shiraz is on the march with vineyards producing wine with beautiful dark-fruit qualities, plus hints of chocolate, spice, and a warm, earthy appeal. Yes, you get a lot of bang for your buck with these bottles.  And just as South African Sauvignon Blanc can offer a refreshing break from New Zealand versions, South African Shiraz is a fine addition to your usual selection of Australian Shiraz.  It won’t have the spice you’re used to, but these wines are great with burgers, chops, sausages, and steaks hot off the grill. The wine meshes especially well with anything flavored with garlic, onions, and just about any herb seasoning.