Paired: Graham Beck Brut Rosé & Girls' Album

graham beck brut rosé

For Valentine's Day, I couldn't think of a better pairing than Girls' Album and the Graham Beck Brut Rosé. "Lust For Life" is one of my favorite songs ever. It's such a silly "girly" song, while still being beautiful and even a bit poignant. The lyrics just fucking get me. It's all about having a boyfriends, wines, suntans, beach houses, pizzas-- basically everything I live for. It's the best song for putting on repeat and drinking too much wine with your girlfriends with and dancing your ass off in the living room.

The Graham Beck is a super dry and bubbly Rosé from South Africa (man, I am ON ONE with these South African Rosés lately). The color of it is the most beautiful, perfect, soft salmon. I'm not a huge fan of pink, but god damn do I love a good salmon hue. And it's so delicious. This 54% Pinot Noir and 41% Chardonnay blend tastes like a bright summer afternoon munching on watermelon and fresh picked grapefruits in a bikini with your best friends. The carbonation is bold, which I love, with a really fresh finish. Overall, this is a very enjoyable wine. Even my boyfriend, who is not a huge fan of sparkling wines or Rosés, had two glasses. 

You can pick up the Graham Beck at Whole Foods. Might have to pick up another bottle for lunch, with a pizza and a beach house, preferably. 

Stop Bitching & Start Drinking: Four Dates For Valentine's Day

The worst part about Valentine's Day is how much single people bitch about it. I bet you're like, "Easy for you to say, unsingle cunt." I understand that, but as the "the wine glass is half full" kind of woman I am, even when I was single, I loved Valentine's Day because Valentine's Day is an awesome excuse to get drunk. So stop bitching and start drinking. Here are four excellent dates for you this Valentine's Day.

Damilano Barolo Cannubi 2008

The Cannubi is your best friend. Like your best-best friend you've been best friends with since your guys' other best friend got you hooked on shoplifting from Bath & Body Works in junior high. The two of you have been through everything together. Parents, hook-ups, AOL screen names, getting drunk and pissing in their bedroom wastebasket senior year of high school. They are super outspoken and at times even brash with you, but at the end of the day, there is no one you'd rather be curled up on a couch with. There is no one better to be one-on-one with in your pajamas watching For A Good Time, Call..., or catching up over Anchorman, or laughing over really cheesy late night Skinamax (just like you did on the pull out couch in their living room for your adolescence). 

Tasting Notes: Bold and springy on the bouquet, like fresh cut grass right before PE. The palate is more like eating plums from your front yard after school, with hints of cherry and leather. The tannins are barely there, like dust in the air after rediscovering your old collection of Goosebumps books. This wine is amazing, and it has the 92 point rating to prove it.

Ross Test: Nice and soft, like a throw blanket for your soul.

Esporão Reserva 2009

The Reserva is the person you know you shouldn't be calling, but you can't help yourself. They grabbed your ass in a bar one night years ago and you've been periodically getting together ever since. They're emotionally unavailable but so god damned charming and handsome and, let's be honest, the best big spoon you've ever had.  And sometimes, you just need to be spooned. And sometimes, that spoon may or not fork you. And sometimes, you need to be forked! Their big arms just wrap around you, and their crotch fits so perfectly against your ass. And isn't that what Valetine's Day is about? Being wrapped up in bullshit and getting forked?

Tasting Notes: Strapping and sexy from start to finish. This is just such a powerful wine, with big black fruits on the bouquet and palate. It's super solid, and muscular, in a "Whoa, do you want to protect me and keep me warm forever? Or at least until we have sex and we both know you need to go home?" sort of way.

Ross Test: Strong, but that's probably how you want it.

Berlucchi Cuvee '61 Rosé

Yeah, I know Drake told us no new friends. But fuck that. You wanted to hate this bitch when you first met her, but you couldn't. For the exact reasons you wanted to loathe her, you are now in love with her. She is super pretty and bubbly, breathing life into any room she walks into. Everyone wants a taste of her; they want to drink up her entire sparkling personality. And though you just met, you find yourself canceling dinner plans all over the place to party with her. She's just so fucking fun. 

Tasting Notes: This is If Victoria's Secret "Strawberries and Champagne" was a wine. It smells just like it, and tastes like it. Like if it tasted it the best ever. It's medium-bodied but so light, with just barely ripe strawberries and well-balanced acidity. And with all that effervescence?! GOD DAMN. It's so fucking good. I want to do this every night. 

Ross Test: Don't do it.  You can't handle this bitch in high quantities, probably for your own health.

Charles & Charles Cabernet Syrah

This is the guy in a hoodie you've been dating for three & a half weeks. Don't get me wrong, it is a very nice hoodie. It's almost, too nice of a hoodie. Because he's super casual, but also super smooth. That makes things confusing. Like, it feels like you guys are a couple but no one has said anything about being a couple. You guys do super couplely things, but everyone is being really cool about it. At first, you're like, "Oh no, Valentine's Day. Do we? Do we not? Are we serious? I can't tell?" But of course you guys do Valentine's Day. He's going to show up in a hoodie, smelling all woodsy, wearing that warm-ass boyish smile that has you dreaming about eternity.

Tasting Notes: The bouquet is punchy yet inviting, full of blackberries with slight floral and coffee notes. It's like he has a crazy, edgy wit, but also a really genuine heart. That same sentiment stays on the palate, but once you dig a little deeper you can taste that along with all those berries, there is a nice toasty flavor. Which makes sense since he's going to be keeping you warm. Hopefully for forever. Fingers crossed.

Ross Test: Totally easy-going and smooth. Very enjoyable.

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Happy Valentine's Day, little lovers. I hope you get really drunk on wine, and don't take Vicodin and end up dancing on a bar and then puking all over like I did in 2007 cause holy shit, that suuucked.

What are you Ross Testing this Valentine's Day? Tell me about it in the comments or hashtag #RossTest so I can see what's up. 

Paired: Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé & The Endless Summer Soundtrack

Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé
Price: $8.99
Retailer: Wine.com

Today I am pairing the Mulderbosch Cab Sauv Rosé withThe Endless Summer soundtrack. It’s a no brainer, and here is why.

First, It is eighty-something degrees here in Los Angeles. It is straight up eighty-something in January, which decrees an endless summer if I’ve ever decreed (I haven’t). And Rosés were made for summery afternoons: cold, bright, and the color of a bed of flowers.

Secondly, Mulderbosch is a South African wine. Drinking it makes me feel like I’ve traveled across the world to sample a beautiful varietal that is familiar, yet completely new. Much like when surfers Mike Hynson and Robert August visited South Africa to surf. I mean, it’s not like they’d never surfed a fucking wave before, but they were surfing South African waves. CALIFORNIA NATIVES SURFING FOREIGN WAVES, DUDE. JUST LIKE YOUR GIRL, M.ROSS.

And I am loving this South African wave I am currently riding. Especially with The Sandals in the background. As a surf-rock aficionado, I can say this is one of my favorite albums, conjuring beautiful 16mm Bruce Brown beach fantasies in my brain. It’s pure afternoon drunk magic right now. I am on vacation, forever

Tasting Notes: When I first opened this bottle, I poured it and immediately dove in, which was a mistake. This is one of the few wines I’ve had that really do take time to open up, and taste completely different if you let them breath a bit. Once it’s had some time, you get a really nice, bright bouquet of cherries, strawberries and a little herb-ness. I really love the palate because although it is a fairly straightforward Rosé, it has incredible balance. It’s rich yet refreshing, with light berries and ample acidity. Very enjoyable, one of the best Rosés I’ve had in sometime.

Ross Test: Pass! I could see myself chugging this entire bottle without an issue in 110 degree weather next to a pool in Palm Springs in a couple months.

Adriano Adami Garbel Prosecco

Adriano Adami Garbel Prosecco
Price: $15
Retailer: BevMo

Obviously I was celebrating New Year’s like Big Pun. OBVIOUSLY. Like you expected anything less.

We popped a lot of bubbly in the hot tub last week, but the only one that everyone agreed could not be shaken up and sprayed all over me, was the Adriano Adami Garbel Prosecco.

This Prosecco is probably the best Prosecco I’ve ever had. I didn’t get a chance to hit the bouquet because we were Ross-ing the shit out of this, but the palate is perfectly tart and crisp, with hints of melon and apple. I wish I could tell you more, but my notes got thrown in and tore up by the jets, so just trust me on this one. TRUST.

Ross Test: PASS. WITH FLYING COLORS. TAKE IT TO YOUR NEXT HOT TUB GATHERING. OR CLASSY EVENT WHERE YOU’RE MAKING MAD TOASTS. OR JUST BRING IT HOME FOR A NIGHT WITH YOU AND YOUR CAT. NO MATTER HOW YOU DO THIS PROSECCO, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE AN AMAZING TIME DOING IT.

Hard Chillin Cidar Recipe

HARD CHILLIN CIDER
• 8 cups apple cider
• 1 1/2 bottles of Hogan’s Dry Hard Cider
• 3 12 oz. bottles of Reed’s Extra Dry Ginger Beer
• 2 1/2 cups of Maker’s Mark Whiskey
• 1 lemon juiced
• Orange bitters, to taste
• Garnish with orange slices & cinnamon sticks

This punch was a total hit. There’s a ton of alcohol in it, and you seriously can’t taste any of it. I got seven full grown adults awesome trashed on this. It was such a hit, I don’t think I’ll ever host an event without it.

Posted on December 1, 2013 .

Chardoncrayyy Bourbon Punch Recipe

Chardoncrayyy Bourbon Punch
• 2 bottles of chilled, not oaky/buttery Chardonnay
• 1 12-oz. bottle of chilled Rose’s grenadine
• 2 & 1/2 cups of chilled Bulleit bourbon
• 1 cup chilled orange juice
• 1 cu.p chilled cranberry juice

• 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
• 7 cups of ice cubes
• 2 12-oz. chilled can of Sprite
• 1 cup chilled club soda

Don’t let this punch’s Barbie coral pink color fool you— this shit is not fruity. Also, don’t be put off by the excessive Chardonnay. As you know, I’m not really that into Chardonnays, but this is soso good. A huge crowd pleaser that is refreshing and light but will get you fucking drunk

Posted on December 1, 2013 .

Wine Time: Harvest Girl Syrah

Wine Time reviews cheap wine with HG blogger Marissa A. Ross. This week’s review features Harvest Girl Syrah, as well as special guest Alexis DuPre (Jackie Johnson). Directed & Edited by Bennett Smith. Featuring “Siberian Girls” by Monster Rally. Catch more of Marissa and Alexis’ misadventures in Tangents & The Times: The Series.

Wine Time: La Granja 360 Tempranillo Garnacha

Wine Time is a monthly review on cheap wine with HG blogger, Marissa A. Ross. This week’s review features La Granja 360 Tempranillo Garnacha. Directed & Edited by Bennett Smith. Special thanks to Mike Bauman. Featuring "Lava Flows" by Monster Rally. Catch more of Marissa’s misadventures in amateur wine tasting on her blog, Wine. All The Time. Video best viewed in 720p HD.

View original post on Hello Giggles here!

Wine Time: Bianco Pinot Grigio with Molly McAleer

Wine Time is a weekly review on cheap wine with Hello Giggles blogger, Marissa A. Ross. This week’s review features Francis Ford Coppola Presents: Bianco Pinot Grigio. Directed & Edited by Bennett Smith. Special thanks to Molly McAleer and Mike Bauman. Featuring "Blame" by Monster Rally. Best viewed in 720p HD.