The Martini Club Welcomes Smexy Books & A Box O' Wine

Welcome to another rousing romp with The Martini Club. When you think about sexy cocktails, you might envision a frosty martini glass. Or perhaps a shot of tequila with lime and salt (and licking the salt from Hugh Jackman's bicep.......uh........)

What was I talking about? Oh yeah. Sexy drinks. A frozen margarita? Scotch? An elegant bottle of red wine? Typically a cardboard box doesn't pop into your brain. But wine in a box doesn't have to mean this....

Boxed wine could also mean this....

See how elegant she is? So refined. Really.

Anyway, the surge in popularity of boxed wine (which is basically wine in a plastic bag inside a cardboard box) is due to various advantages. The boxes hold more wine. They don't break like a bottle. They're easy to open. And they chill quickly. If you're looking for a good party option, this could be it!

I knew right away when I decided to do a post about boxed wine that I had to call Mandi, Connoisseur O' The Box. I know from drunken tweets, embarrassing Facebook pics and thinly veiled references in her blog (maybe not that thinly veiled) that Mandi is on Team Box and enjoys this wine with her gal pals. So I thought she could recommend some good ones for those of us looking to dip our toes into the brand new world of....cardboard!

Take it away, Mandi!

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(An aisle of boxed wine! I know! I’m excited too!)

When Penny wrote me an email, that started with “Hey Sloshy,” I knew we had something special going on.

I love wine. I love cocktails. I love beer. (Are you understanding the sloshy part now?)

[Quick note from Penelope.....photographic proof of former statement.....]

[Back to Mandi....]

I adore getting together with friends. Having some drinks and just chatting about everything and anything.

[Another quick interruption from Penelope....more proof that Mandi and her friends enjoy having drinks together....what the hell is that thing on her head?]

[Back to Mandi.....]
But above all, my one true love – is boxed wine. Is it because I’m a redneck? Possibly. Because it is cheap? Well, yes. But there is more to it!

The Almaden Cabernet is one of my all-time favorite wines. And yes I joke about how I only drink boxed wine, but remember I’m Sloshy! I have gone to numerous wine festivals, and have been drinking wine, both boxed and bottled for many years. And while I’ve fallen madly in love with some malbecs out there, whenever I go back to my beloved gold and black box, it is like coming home. Boxed wine stays fresh for so long! Bottled wine gets a weird, molasses type flavor if you have to re-cork it (let’s face it though- when I open a bottle of wine, the cork never goes back in).

For those special occasions where it might not be appropriate to slurp from a box, here are my recommendations for bottles of wine:

J. Lohr Cabernet
Ménage a trois (I bought it for the name, but it has become a favorite)
Francis Ford Coppola Malbec
Kendall Jackson Chardonnay

Are you a boxed wine drinker? What are some of your favorite wines?

[Final comment from Penelope.....this is the cutest pic ever! I think Mandi's dad is King O' Boxed Wine!]

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Thanks, Mandi! First, I must say that the black and gold box (which would be perfect for Steeler's games) is veryyyyyy sexy. Or smexy. Also, I love Coppola wine! I can't wait to try these out.

For some more recommendations, check out this article from Epicurious.

Also, The NYT did a taste test...hee hee!

And here's one more from Real Simple Magazine. 

I'm trying Mandi's rec for the Coppola Malbec. Here is Francis Ford Coppola wishing all of you a Sloshy Sunday!

Sloshy Sunday To All!

Penelope