First row: Catherine Bass, Viv Wright, Nancy Toppan, Mary Bryant and Terry Gilberti; Second row: Pete Toppan, Ken Bass, Roy Bryant and Mike Gilberti.
Wine Tasting winners: first place, Pete and Nancy Toppan; second place, Catherine and Ken Bass.
Nancy Toppan
St. Patrick’s Day, on March 17, remembers one of Ireland’s patron saints, St. Patrick. It largely celebrates Irish-American culture in the United States.
Heard It Through The Grapevine celebrated St. Patrick’s Day at the home of Terry and Mike Gilberti.
In carrying out the leprechaun folklore of little bearded men, wearing a coat and hat, appetizers were cheese ball leprechauns and Irish leprechaun hats made of seedless cucumbers, provolone cheese and red peppers and mixed munchies. The most traditional Irish cuisine eaten on St. Patrick’s Day is corned beef and cabbage, roasted Irish red potatoes with carrots, Irish soda bread and rye bread with Irish butter. Famous Irish whiskey and bourbon appeared in desserts of Irish crunch cake, bourbon sour cream cake, triple chocolate whiskey cake, Sock It To Me bourbon cake and whiskey bread pudding.
We didn’t leave out the wine. After all, it was a wine tasting event. In first place was Nancy and Pete Toppan’s Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Estate 2013. This bold style Cabernet Sauvignon displays great complexity and structure. There are aromas of dark berry fruits and plum on the nose with chocolate and vanilla on the palate. Wine Enthusiast rated this wine 90 points. In second place, Cat and Ken Bass’s Bold Andean Moon took Malbec to impressive heights. This stand-alone varietal is medium bodied with jammy blackberry and plum fruit flavors. Rich cocoa and earthy spice characteristics add complexity and segue gracefully to a persistent finish. It is the perfect partner to spicy smooth dishes. Viv Wright’s OG10 Prosecco DCC Italia placed third with its fruit and flower aromas. This bubbly Prosecco is light, frothy and spritzy.
“May your troubles be less and your blessings be more and nothing but happiness come through your door.”
Yeah, it’s St. Patti’s Day. Everyone’s Irish tonight.