Last Minute Mixer: St. Germain Cocktail

We've showed you the best budget bubblies, taught you how to uncork them right and even offered up some delicious pairing apps... but we're not done yet! In the name of "last minute" planning (which is where my own life is at right this minute) check out this NYE Mixer for a St. Germain Cocktail:

Ingredients

2 parts Brut Champagne (or other sparkling wine)

1/5 parts St. Germain

2 parts Sparkling Water or Club Soda

Directions

Stir Ingredients in a tall ice-filled Collins glass, mixing completley. Garnish with a lemon twist.

2011 Brings "Pairing Party Mondays"... and Proscuitto Wrapped Pears!

We love to throw a good party, but we also know how stressful and tiring hosting can be. There's so much to plan, so much to clean, so much to cook and so much to pair... though those latter parts are where we can help!

That's why we're kicking off a new series in the new year called "Pairing Party Mondays," where we'll team up with some of your favorite food bloggers to introduce you to the best of both worlds - cooking and wine pairing.

And even though its not technically Monday (or 2011 for that matter), we're anxious to get things started. Afterall, New Year's Eve is rapidly on the move and we're sure many of you may be hosting parties and likely have not even thought to plan your menus! Well, fear not our little Boulud's... Lisa Matthias of "The Novice Nosher" has prepared a delightful and easy-to-make Proscuitto Wrapped Pears that boast elegance without hindering your time or budget.

Prosciutto-Wrapped Pears
Ingredients
• 2 pears (use Bosc or Bartlett)
• 1 packages thinly sliced prosciutto

Directions
Slice the pears around the core so that you have about 4 pieces, then slice those in half. Cut or split the prosciutto in half with your hands. Wrap each slice of prosciutto around each piece of pear; the prosciutto will overlap, just place them overlap-side down on the plate and arrange to your liking.

Winobee Says: Cured meats, like proscuitto, often have a intense characteristics, and when matched with the fruitfullness of pear, provides a fragrant, delicate, sweet and balanced flavor. Your wine should match these characteristics. Try pairing with a dry sparkler, like Ferrari, from the Trentino region of northern Italy.

Tasting Notes: This bubbly is made from 100% Chardonnay and has a finesse all its own. Its ultra dry texture leaves a long finish on the tongue, but balances with fruity flavors like apple and pear that piggyback off this particular dish.

Cost: $16.99/bottle
Where to Buy: J.J. Buckley Fine Wines

Food + Libations... now, you can ring in 2011 with ease! For more fun food recipes, visit The Novice Nosher!

Budget Bubblies for New Year's Eve

Let's be honest, the lingering question of what to sip at midnight leaves many of us notoriously reaching for the finest of French bubbly simply for the fact its "tradition." But enjoying the holiday hoopla in style doesn't mean having to break the bank (I mean, aren't many of our resolutions to "save" in the new year?) Check out some of our fun, flirty and frugal suggestions on kicking off 2011 in style, featured yesterday on Redbook!

Verdi Spumante
Best value wine offering a delicious sparkle and zest accompanied by a soft, fruit-forward flavor.

Cost: $4.99/bottle

Where to Buy: BevMo

Mionetto "Il" Prosecco

Combines notes of citrus, pear and floral with a light effervescence that doesn't overpower the palate. Simply sip as-is or whip up a cocktail using vodka, triple sec and pineapple juice. You'll love the versatility!

Cost: $9/bottle

Where To Buy: Wine.com

Pommery POP

Unravel the bubbles of this uncomplicated champagne in a perfect, party-portable size. These 187mL bottles are great for individual consumption (who wants to share anyway?) Simply pack a few in your cooler, grab a straw and bypass the flutes!

Cost: $9.99/bottle

Where to Buy: 67Wine

Banfi Rosa Regale

Softer than champagne, this light wine is made of brachetto and blends rose and raspberry aroma notes with a sweet, appealing touch of berry on the palate. It's a perfect option to bypass dessert for at your dinner party or to toast with at midnight!

Cost: $19.99/bottle

Where To Buy: BevMo

Segura Viudas Reserva Heredad Brut Cava

This brut cava adds elegance to any soiree. It's thick Absinthe-green glass and emblazoned solid pewter crest is enough to catch the eye, but the blend of Macabeo, Parellada and Zarello grapes within offer a satisfying fruit intensity and perfumed bouquet.

Cost: $23/bottle

Where to Buy: Wine.com

Uncork Your New Year Right!

Christmas is over, so who's ready to pop the cork on a bottle (or two) of bubbly later this week? Me! To get the best out of that bottle, here are a few tips on where to buy, what to serve and how to mix so you can uncork your new year right. The only thing left will be to pop n' pour!

• CALCULATE: A (750 ml) bottle of bubbly will pour approximately six glasses. You should plan on one and a half to two glasses per person, per hour. For a toast— one glass per person usually suffices.

• BUY: It’s best to buy wines in stores with a high turnover. Bottles could be on retailers’ shelves for months and could get overheated.

• BRING: Bringing a bottle of bubbly is a wonderful way to say thank you to your host if you are a guest. Stick it in a festive bag and you’re ready to roll!

• CHILL: It’s recommended to chill your bubbly well — either in a refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours or in an ice bucket for about 30 minutes. For a quick fix you can cool it in the freezer for 30 minutes as well.

• SERVE: The recommended glass for sparkling wine is the flute. The flute is tall and elongated, and perfect for young wines.

• POUR: A glass of bubbly should never be poured more than half full. This insures that it does not get too warm sitting in your glass and the head space gives you room to appreciate it.

Check back tomorrow for our top budget bubblies to ring in the new year right!

Holiday Libations: Sparkling Ginger Daisy PUNCH

Tis’ the season for delicious libations, which can often lead to excess calories. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes its fun to have little good binge with all things delicious! But if your anything like me, you're probably attending countless holiday soirees where those food and drinks can easily add to your waistline. So why not make a few more conscious decisions to avoid having to crash diet at the new year?

Word to the wise, bypass the heavy eggnog and serve something fun and festive that doesn't mean having to load up on lots of calories. Opt for a delicious sparkling wine cocktail, like this Sparkling Ginger Daisy PUNCH, which bypasses high quantities of fruit juices that can contain a considerable amount of unnecessary sugar. It's perfect for entertaining and will inspire guests to help themselves without the excess guilt.

Sparkling Ginger Daisy PUNCH (serves 8)

• 1 cup gin
• 1 cup ginger liqueur
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 1/3 cup grenadine
• Approx. 2 cups Mionetto Prosecco Brut

In a large punchbowl, stir together gin, ginger liqueur, lemon juice, and grenadine. Add large chunks of ice to keep everything chilled. Add the Mionetto, and stir again.

Serve with a ladle, and consider keeping a bowl of sliced ginger next to the punchbowl for guests to garnish their own drinks versus rimming individual glasses with unneeded sugar.

ADDITIONAL TIP: If you're looking to cut calories even further, try diluting the required amount of lemon juice with 50% water.

12 Days of Wino: Albarino Wine

It's officially the week of Christmas and today we "wrap" our 12 Days of Wino with with the most perfect gift for the hostess with the mostess!

Redbook Magazine listed gifting a bottle of booze as the #1 last minute holiday gift idea and we couldn't agree more! So why not break the tradition of traditional whites, like Pinot Grigio andChardonnay, and pick up a food-friendly Albarino, an aromatic white wine that shows the perfect token of gratitude for hosts of this year's festive soirees.

Quickly growing in popularity, Spain's Albarino is easy to drink and pairs well with the holidays most beloved dishes. The wine is rich and expressive, with peach and apricot notes, crisp and refreshing with intense fruit flavors, including a blend of granny apples and citrus.

Try: Martin Codax 2009 Rias Baixas

Cost: $12.99/bottle

Where to Buy: BudgetBottle.com

12 Days of Wino: Vac U Vin

The clock is ticking and you officially have just over a week to finish up all your holiday shopping. And if you're anything like me, you likely come home from the hustle and bustle of it all to relax with a glass of vino.

But being the fabulous single gal I am, there's no way I'm consuming an entire bottle to my seemingly-drunken lonesome self (well, at least not this week) so rather than re-cork my wine, where it'll likely quickly spoil, I've opted for this [wine] lifesaver.

The Vac U Vin Wine Saver is the easiest, most afforable way to preserve opened wines. Its unique pump design allows you to remove air (and oxygen that spoils wine) and also offers a vaccum indicator which emits a click sound when the correct vaccum point is reach. It seriously helps save bottles upon bottles and will forever change your life... but, seriously!

Cost: $13.99 - $29.99 (depending on style purchased)

Where to Buy: WineStuff.com