A Toast to Elvis with Elvis
By Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady
All my slightly older cousins loved Elvis, but I was never a fan. Not until I tried Elvis Presley ALL SHOOK UP Special edition 2004 California Sauvignon Blanc. Once that cool wine touched my lips, I was a fan.
A few sips, and I had the grove. The mellow feeling that made me want to dance. I wanted to Rock and Roll.
The “All Shook Up” label is designed to tie-in to the Broadway musical of the same name, which “looks ready to be a big Broadway hit.”
2005 is expected to be the year of Elvis. With wine like this, I hope the beat goes on for a long, long time. The light aromas of peaches, lemons and limes washing over the pretty nose of this Sauvignon Blanc, make this is a wine that will encourage your taste buds to dance. Sweet flavors of stone fruit and honey, balanced with crisp citrus flavors complete the flavors in the mouth. In a forward, fruity style, “All Shook Up” Sauvignon Blanc offers a fresh, clean expression of this food-friendly white.
For immediate enjoyment, pair this wine with Elvis’ favorites like deep-fried okra, Southern style green beans, or country ham steak with cabbage. I can just imagine Elvis drinking this with peanut butter and banana sandwiches. And of the best background music for drinking is by the King himself.
Since his death, Elvis record sales have tipped $1 billion dollars. Over 600,000 people visit Graceland each year. But I bet there will be even more wine sales and dedicated Elvis drinkers than that.
In fact, maybe this is a new trend. There have been celebrity perfumes, salad dressings and more. But imagine every rock star having a wine named for him. I will drink to that.
Who dreamed up Elvis wine? The savvy people at Graceland Cellars.
Graceland Cellars is proving that good wine can also be fun. Launched as a tribute to the King of Rock ‘n Roll, Graceland cellars wines are firmly planted in California innovative winemaking. Grapes are picked in full ripeness, generously full and rich. The line has not gone Platinum yet, but has won many medals, including
2004 International Eastern Wine Competition-Gold
2004 Riverside International Wine Competition-Silver
What’s next? Micky Jagger wine to drink with big lips? Yellow Submarine wine under the Beatles label? I don’t even want to think about the ingredients in Ozzy Osbourne wine.
www.gracelandcellars.com
More Notes for Wine Wizards
OLDMAN’S GUIDE TO OUTSMARTING WINE: 108 Ingenious Shortcuts to Navigate the World of Wine with Confidence and Style
By Mark Oldham
Penguin Original $18.00
Received the Georges Duboeuf Book Award of Year at the annual Beaujolais Nouveau luncheon in New York
RENAISSANCE GUIDE TO WINE AND FOOD PAIRING
By Tony Didio and Amy Zavatto
Alpha Books
How to Pronounce French, German and Italian Wine Names
By Dianna Bellucci
They also include a bonus of Austrian, Spanish and Portugese Wine Names
Luminosa Publishing
www.howtopronounce.com
THE LITTLE BOOK OF CHAMPAGNE
by Christian Pessey
Flammarion Publishing
THE LITTLE BOOK OF COGNAC
by Christian Pessey
Flammarion Publishing
Australian Wine Vintages 2005
The Gold Book
By Robin Bradley
www.gold-book.us
The Guide to Colorado Wineries
By Alta and Brad Smith
Fulcrum Publishing
www.fulcrum -books.com
DISCOVERING WASHINGTON WINES
By Tom Parker
An introduction to one of the most exciting Premium wine regions
Ranconteurs Press
www.reconteurs.com
Hidden Wine Country
By Marty Olmstead and Ray Riegert
Ulysses Press
www.ulyssespress.com
TOURING TEXAS WINERIES
By Thomas M. Giesla and Regina M. Giesla
Scenic Drives along Texas Wine Trails
Lone Star Books
www.texaswinetrails.com
ACCESS CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY
A guide that leads you street by street into the Heart of the Wine Country
Updated by Donna Peck
Harper Resource
www.harpercollins.com
GREAT TASTES MADE SIMPLE
By Andrea Immer
(author of Great Wine Made Simple)
www.broadwaybooks.com
WINE FOR WOMEN
A guide for buying, pairing and sharing wine
By Leslie Sbrocco
William Morrow/HarperCollins Publishers
www.lesliesbrocco.com
www.harpercollins.com
Cocktails
Low-carb Cocktails
All the fun and taste without the carbs
By Marlene and Chuck Koch
Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady is executive editor of www.travellady.com and recently founded www.chocolateatlas.com as an outlet for her other passion.
