In case you missed it, there was a Showdown ThrowDown last nite in the Twin Cities between two of Music’s Hottest Blonde Bombshells – Lady Gaga & Carrie Underwood.  Gaga at St Paul’s Xcel Enery Center and Underwood at the State Fair…hmmm.  Love ya Carrie, but the state fair, really?  Gaga was so hot, she added another date to her Twin Cities schedule and squeezed in another show at the Xcel last nite – pretty cool.

While it truly wasn’t a showdown at all – unless you consider Underwood’s gun slingin’ leather belt she was wearing part of the ThrowDown Attire - my vote for Best Performance goes to Queen Gaga.  No, I didn’t see Carrie’s performance AND Gaga’s…I was only game for the raunchiest show in town, The Gaga.  Incidentally, which is a perfect follow-up to my previous ‘How to Make Love to Wine’ blog. 

Taken from Lady Gaga herself:  “I hate the truth.  I’d prefer a giant dose of Bullsh-  any day before I’d rather hear the truth.”  So, this is my review of the show with wine pairings to boot. 
Hey Gaga:  Are you ready to ‘Show me Your Teeth’?

A friend of mine said before hitting the show last nite, “The best way to describe Lady Gaga’s Show last nite (she played the nite before also) is by saying, it was a Fiasco!”  And now, after seeing it…I get that.  But, I loved that aspect of it at the same time!  Crazy, out of control, just out-right sick and twisted, but isn’t that why we all went?  It’s like never being able to pass by a car wreck, we all have to SEE what’s inside – something grueling, disturbing and a bit sick.  That is the Queen Gaga.  And the fans, just as sick, demented and unleashed as their performer.  From little girls 5 yrs of age and up to someone’s grandma sitting next to me – the show brought out the best, worst and most scantily clad audience of the state.  Yet somehow, Gaga’s message of:  Equality, Bi-Lovin’, Acceptance and Inner Monster Release – applied to almost everyone in the audience.  At least that’s what the roar from the crowd implied.  So I thought…what the h- am I going to pair to this, a Monster Ball of sorts, when it comes to Wine & the music of Ms. Gaga?

So I asked and here’s what I got…

After checking out these hot mamas and their drinks, I thought – I must get deeper on this subject.  So I tore it apart song by song. 

Starting here with ‘Disco Stick’ :

 

Hmmm, let’s see.  We don’t necessarily need to talk about the meaning of ‘Disco Stick’, I think we covered that in “How to Make Love to Your Wine” last week.  So, we pair to the wines that may apply to the action involving a ‘Disco Stick’ of sorts.  I know, not exactly Al Green y’all, but it could refer to that baby making moment that has you all hot and bothered. 

What wine puts YOU in the mood?  That’s for you to answer, but I have one region in mind that may apply to the situation at hand.  Let’s take a wine from the Girl’s Video above… Veuve Clicquot.  While I’m not necessarily a fan of the juice from Clicquot that comes to the U.S. (remember, what we get here in the U.S. has more sugar) – I AM a fan of a creamy, luxurious, slippery Champagne.  Completely applicable to Ms. Gaga’s ‘Disco Stick’, don’t chya think?

Next.  A Wine to Drink when all you want to do is:  ‘Just Dance’

Dancing, moving, gyrating – whatever you want to call it.  It’s a feel good kind of move, right?  Whether it’s Disco, Hip-Hop or Country – it makes the world go ’round and if we didn’t have our own Lady Gagas to jam out to, what would we have?  And wine…helping the world to become better dancers, right? 

What Wine Makes YOU want to ‘Just Dance’?  Again, bubbly fits into this category, but for me – something fresh, fun and exciting plays a pretty even part for opening my chakras.  I pick a delightfully, cheery, green and grassy New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.  Much different from my heart throb region of Savis, the Loire Valley reeking of mineral and chalk, I like New Zealand for their fresh, brite, sunshine-y, grassy attitude.  When it’s cold and dreary here in the great Midwest come January, I reach for a nice pick me up.  I do, in fact, enjoy Whitehaven’s Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough.  A smile for under $15, where could one possibly go wrong?

And last, but certainly not least… One of my favorite Gaga songs and really, quite the act, Sir Alejandro:

You heard it here ~ What Grows Together Goes Together!  Looking for a cool new way to practice your Spanish?  Check into Rioja Rehab and call me when you’re out!  My pick for something dirty, twisted, meaty and maybe even a little bloody – check out one of my favorite regions in Spain: Rioja.  The grape here peeps remember is:  Tempranillo.  Full of soot, sometimes poopy but always delicious.  One of my favorites ~ Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserve.  Oooohhh so gooood and still a rock ‘em, sock ‘em wine for under $30 – a real winner! 

Moral of the Story:  Dirty with personality. 

And, shouldn’t that sum it all up for us here, Ms. Gaga?  I’ve decided, I like you.  I’ll keep you plugged into my IPod for a while.  ‘Cuz you make me want to dance, sip, disco and more.  Thanks for a fab show and thanks to all who I enjoyed it with!  Overall, a killer performance by one hot lady (or man, whatever?).  Hope you like the pairings…of course, they’re for you to choose, these are just some starters.  Drink what you like, and drink it with style! 

Now turn up that music and GET TO DRINKING!!!

Shake n Bake, I’m back from the Hot State of Georgia!  Hope you all had a chance to catch up on my stops and eats along the way while in Atlanta.  With so much good food to enjoy, a fabulous five days of relaxin’ + great friends to enjoy it all with – our trip to Atlanta was a success.  And the best part, we finished our trip off with a little more Sting.  So yes, we’re back on the Sting trail, but this time with some great LIVE CLIPS from the concert, very close up!  Check out these very up close and personal videos of Sting and the Philharmonic Orchestra (aka:  ’The Queen’s Orchestra’ – For more on the Twin Cities Show…See Sting Blog Below).

I’m still searching for the perfect wine, in fact…I’ve had a lot of great recommendations, all from HUGE Sting fans, but I’m still on the hunt to satisfy completely, MY Sting/Wine Connection.

Monday, June 28th – we had the distinct pleasure of being ‘wow’d’ for the second time this summer – all in one week – by the Great Mr. Gordon Sumner, (aka: Sting) this time from Chastain Park, just inside the city limits of Atlanta, Georgia.  With a whoppin’ 95+ degrees and well, the humidity so thick you could cut right through it, and the amphitheatre bursting at its seams with 6,000+ peeps, the surroundings were some of the best I’ve seen a large act perform. (Well, outside of Red Rocks- that’s a hard one to top.) The crowd equipped with hand fans, many with personal misters, the sticky humidity and heat had you wantin’ anything but red wine, sorry guys.  In fact, the big hit of this hot summer night in Atlanta called for the south’s Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka.  While I’d most likely like a crisp cool glass of white wine, the Firefly was surely the ticket for cooling this Sting Crazed Crowd down.  Not that you couldn’t order a full bottle of wine in a plastic ‘yard’ (hello, Vegas!) at the amphitheater, our clan was all on board for something just a little more “south” if you know what I mean.  The show was great, all within the first ten rows of seating, Sting was front and center shakin’ his 58 yr old pa-too-ti with no shame.  While I was looking for a little something different than our Minneapolis show, just one week before, the exact same concert was played down to song order and stories.  All fine and still fab, but I could have used a set list change.  Yet then again, how many peeps travel from MSP to ATL in one week to see Sting?

Tonite as I write, I am sitting with a fat glass of Rioja.  One of my favorite Spanish producers:  Montecillo.  An old school favorite with depth, dirt and personality.  It’s a kind of ‘ra-cha-cha!’ booty shaker.  In fact, I’m enjoying a little sheep’s milk, Garrotxa cheese with my Rioja, while hummin’ “Desert Rose” – how appropriate!  Maybe that’s what Sting needs for pairing… a booty shakin’ wine?  Let’s stop pretending we’re all so serious after all – we’re here to just enjoy ourselves, right?  So maybe Sting needs something that makes you ‘Shake n’ Bake’.  Not just a little, but one that really gets the blood flowing.  And, I’m sticking with that as my final answer…does he need red or white?  I’m not here to say.  It’s up to you after all – so pick up that wine that makes the booty shake and get it going, because Sting can entice anyone to shake it once you’ve watched his hips sway to and from….am I right, or am I right?

Drink What You Like and Like What You Drink!

Check out these LIVE performances from Chastain Park, Atlanta, Georgia – June 28, 2010 – ALL in HD!!

Sting.  There are only a few folks in the world that can get by on one name alone.  The few that come to mind are:  Price, Pink,  Meatloaf and Sting.  (You’re thinking…How did Meatloaf get roped into that crowd, right?)  And Sir Sting, a category all his own.  One can only fully understand if you’ve been to a live performance of his.  Even as I’m not the world’s biggest Sting Fan (that would be my husband), I have to admit, it’s hard not to find him incredibly sexy for a guy at 58!  Not to mention, his music is iconic, his performances are real and his musical abilities are something of another league. 

I had the pleasure of seeing Sting on Monday nite at the Xcel Energy Center in St Paul.  Spoiled by my husband’s ability to always pull off any arena’s best seats, I had a direct view of the evening’s performance.  ‘Her Majesty’s Orchestra’ and ‘The Biggest Band he’s ever had’  is what he called The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra upon his opening Monday nite.  With a full set of 45 members behind him, Sting’s performance was a dreamy, romantic start to my week.  With several of our friends and family in the audience, it was hard to focus on anything but the grandeur sounds coming from what was in front of us.  Sting, who stood alone on stage, drifted from song to song with stories as to how and why each was written and constructed.  With a catalog as big as the arena itself, songs from almost every era were sang.  ‘Every Breath you Take’, ‘Roxanne’, ‘Desert Rose’, to his opening song ‘If I ever lose my Faith In You’ – each song came with a dramatic performance by the orchestra.  Featuring several musicians from the group including a violinist, a trumpet player and a clarinet player – each song performed by the orchestra seemed to display a different part of the melody that I had not heard before.  Some more invigorating and dramatic, while others rather soothing and swooning.  And Sting, with his voice as clear as I had ever heard it, was front and center.  A lovely concert, really. 

Of course, when I have written about music in the past, I have always tied in wine to match the performance that I had been to the nite before.  I suppose I lacked a little yesterday, still reeling from the previous nite’s concert, thinking all day…What Wine is Best Suited For Sting?  My inspiration for my wine choice not only comes, this time, from the concert itself and of course, Sting, but also from a wonderful girlfriend of mine who we caught up with after the show.  When we had mentioned that we had just been to Sting, she gasped and said, “No!  Really?!”  Wow, was my first impression, thinking how dramatic her expression was.  But, after sleeping on it and sitting with the conversation that followed her gasp about Sting and how every woman I knew would like some sort of ‘encounter’ with Sting, I thought about what a crazy affect this man had on so many.  Sorry guys, this one is for the ladies!  At an age where only a few men can live of his age in that ‘Sex Appeal’ category (IE:  Sean Connery) –  Sting definitely fits the bill.  The man exudes a romantic, soft, tender side with a mysterious ‘tantric’ appeal that not many musicians can emulate.  His rather handsome, tanned, yoga-leaned body doesn’t really hurt his case either.  So when you put it all together, sit back and take a long drink of his music, you think…only a wine as luxurious can pair to a man like Sting.

My pick… When one uses the word ‘luxurious’ to describe wine, the first grape that comes to mind is Chardonnay.  Not necessarily an Old World Chardonnay either.  Something with a little weight and body to it.  A fat creamy center with a bit of sugar.  Something with elegance, richness and can easily slip down the gullet without thinking too hard.  One wine comes to mind when I think of this description and it was certainly the way I could have described it the first time I had this wine. 

Kistler Chardonnay.  Kistler – a winery from Sonoma – is one that I rarely drink.  Why?  Because it is ridiculously over priced, allocated and one of those particulars that I sometimes think, and teetering on,  ’Is it worth the money?’  And definitely not one that I put in the ‘Buck-For-Buck’ category.  The first time I had it, I had to split buying the bottle with four other friends, that’s how ‘over priced’ we thought it was.  But once we opened it and took our first sip, I remember thinking ~  ‘Oh, now I get why this wine is so coveted in California’.  With a total California-like style and produced for only those who have enough money to afford it, it fits in that ‘Mercedes Benz of Wine’ category.  Luxurious.  Creamy.  Refined.  Silky.  And lastly, Well-Branded. 

This is the wine I would pick to drink with Sting, if he ever asked me (and of course my husband!) out for a glass of wine.  Kistler Chardonnay.  His smooth, luxurious tones make you want to lay back, relax and drink over priced Chardonnay.  And this is a positive critique, by the way, of both the Chardonnay and Sting.  Sting is man that could probably compel any ‘woman’ to buy over- priced wine, and that’s why I paired the two.  Both, a very special occasion ‘treat’ if you’re looking for one.

Overall, the performance lovely and a job well done by Her Majesty’s Orchestra.  Salut to you Sting!

The Minnesota Orchestra out does itself year after year with a multitude of fabulous events.  This year’s Simply Unforgettable Symphony Ball was no exception.  For the 53rd year of its existence, The Symphony Ball managed to fill the Minneapolis Depot with over 600 of Twin Cities finest.   Attired in black tie and gorgeous floor length silk gowns, a legendary Minneapolis depot was packed to the gills with folks sipping and noshing on fabulous cocktails and finger foods.   The walls of the depot aligned with floor to ceiling silk banners showing the silent auction pieces below, where items were feverishly bid on attendees.  Fabulous auction lots from African Safari trips to 6 L bottles of wine, the number of auction items took over a half an hour just to quickly peruse.  And if you were actually interested in an item (like we were), the number of folks waiting to outbid you were lined up so deep that it was almost a chore to get back to re-bid on your interest.

If one was impressed with the opening reception, they were certainly floored upon entering the dining room.  A room set and designed to follow a three course dinner with live musical performances, the crowd buzzed with excitement.  Here, the event became an even bigger success after dinner with a fabulous display of community support flooding the live auction floor.  While I was quickly outbid of my favorite auction lot ~ Last Chance! (4 tickets to one of Oprah’s last tapings, first class tickets there and a stay at the Sheraton, Chicago), I was certainly not disappointed, finding that I could have never hung with the $10,000 price tag that it ended up achieving.

If you haven’t had a chance to go Minnesota Orchestra’s Symphony Ball, make a ‘must do’ in The Twin Cities if you’re a local.  Spend the time one year, donate to one of our city’s most fabulous organizations and keep the music alive with your community support.  A truly memorable experience and sincerely, a lovely lovely evening.  Thanks to all who put this year’s event together, (Ms. Georgia Thompson)!  A delightful evening was had by all.

Apparently not!

Last nite as Bon Jovi and his team of five hit the stage at the Xcel Center in St Paul, the lights honed in and the crowd jumped to their feet. With a full house, a truly packed 18,000 strong, the Twin Cities came to get a little Bad Medicine from one guy by the name of John Francis Bongiovi.  While the crowd was seriously row to row chucked full of screaming fans, my husband and I laughed as we looked at our immediate neighbors on floor level.  I said to him, “Now I know what others are thinking when we go to Dave Matthews concerts!”

With a collection of women screaming every time Bon Jovi swirled his hips to the right (oh and to the left), to the 50-60 year old pot bellied men accompanying their wives, the crowd catered more to the Budweiser stand than any other beverage counter on site.  With the holding of one another from behind, swaying to and from to the words of some of his slower ballads (you know the look!) – I felt like I was back in Wisconsin at a VFW dance.  Pretty funny. 

However, it was exactly what the doctor ordered.  If you were looking for someone to give Love a Bad Name or you wanted to recall the words of Bon Jovi’s ever-famed Livin’ on a Prayer - you got it.  It was nothing shocking.  And, exactly what I thought it was going to be.  From Jon’s unbuttoned leather shirts, the drummers cut off sleeveless black t-shirts to Richie Sambora’s red leather snake skinned pants (still fitting!), the band was exactly what I had pictured.  Every word, I mean every word was sang by the crowd remembering it like it was yesterday.  All the way down to Lay Your Hands On Me sang by Sambora, the words evoked memories of the lusty Bon Jovi posters I had hanging from my walls in high school! 

The Star Trib, I’m afraid, had it right this time.  While they are horrible at trashing every single band that comes to the Twin Cities, I think they got it exactly right last nite when they wrote:  Bon Jovi like Applebee’s.   Like I said, you got exactly what you were looking for.  From the big rock, all sing along choruses to the hot booty shaken of Bon Jovi and Sambora’s sexy leather jackets – they probably put on a performance like that every nite.  Not too bad for a group of rockers who have still managed to keep it in shape at 50 years old! 

And, to cinch it all up.  The wine pairing…well, it paired beautifully to the loose, over-sapped out, fruit bomb with absolutely no boundaries – just down right slutty - 2007 Turley ’Cedarman’ Zinfandel from Howell Mountain that we had for dinner.  Since our return home from Burgundy, my husband hasn’t been able to get back into Pinot Noir just yet, so when he suggested a Turley Zinfandel we both giggled and said, ‘why not!’  And, to not much surprise the wine was exactly what I thought it was going to be.  Going in with some expectation for delivery – knowing that the ticket price was high – it was right where it was supposed to be for Turley’s wines.   Over the top, sweaty, loose, booty shakin’, certainly suave and easy enough to sing along to.  And, if you had a second glass, you wouldn’t even be able to say your name (16.3% alcohol!!)  Bon Jovi and Turley’s Zin would have been best friends.  Fun to drink, but I’m not sure I need to go back – for a long time!

If you didn’t get enough and want to wake up tomorrow morning with the same Jovi hangover, he’s there again tonite!  Some, I’m sure as back for seconds, but just as the Trib said this morning…It’s going to be interesting to see how he’ll change up the same play list of songs.   

Rock on Bon Jovi, Rock ON!

While we’re still on the topic of music and wine, I thought I’d share a super cool video from an event that MY favorite musician put on with a couple of peeps back in November of 2009, from Napa.

Dave Matthews, according to me!, is one of the greatest musicians to ever live.  I love everything about him.  His music, his philosophies on music and life, his ’swag’, and his lyrics.  I have been a fan forever.  I have been to over 30 something concerts and have seen the guy in a zillion states across the U.S. 

This past November, I missed a ‘once in a lifetime’ chance to attend an event offered to American Express members that showcased the music of Dave Matthews, the wines from Mondavi with director of wine-making, Genevieve Janssens and James Beard Award Winning American Chef, Josh Besh. 

I thought this was super cool, PLUS you get to listen to Dave talk about the connection he has for music, wine and life.  He mentions, also, his little vineyard in the south.  Take a look, and see what he chose to play for this special group of people and the private dinner. 

Click here to see video!  It’s the 3rd video in called:  A Different Note.

All in one month, I feel like I’ve seen it all.  From my ventures starting in Croatia, to a quick trip back to the U.S.,  a delayed flight to Paris, ALL of Paris, to the world’s largest Burgundy tasting, and back home to Michael Bublé.  Really?

It’s been a whirlwind.  And, it’s been fun!  To top it off, Michael Bublé’s performance last nite at St Paul’s Excel Center really put the cherry on my sundae (if you know what I mean).  Not only was he everything that I thought he was going to be as a performer, but he delivered more.  It has been a long time since I’ve seen a concert that you actually felt like the performer really gave a rat’s hiney about his audience. 

My husband and I see a lot of live music, I mean really…quite a bit.  From all the big names to the small guys like Bela Fleck and Flight of the Concords, we really try to see a lot of performances here in the Twin Cities. There have been some really great acts that have come through Minneapolis, from Beyone, George Michael, Sting, Bon Jovi to the upcoming Dave Matthews concert – but none so far put on the ‘heart-string’ performance that Mr. Bublé did last nite. 

Michael’s charm, sense of humor, to his winky show stoppin’ performance was more than I had given him credit for before walking into the Excel last nite.  He seemed to connect to almost everyone in the crowd, stating he could see everyone to the top row while the light’s followed his points to the nose bleeds.  I, I, I…think I like him.  He started out by saying that some may call him ‘a chic kind of guy’ or that most of the men were dragged to the show with their wives, but MSP yelled in dismay proving him wrong as at least ten guys in the first two rows screamed, “I dragged HER here!”

None was truly better, however, than his prance down the isle row where my mother-in-law got to ‘touch’ Michael while skipping to his perch in the middle of the arena.  From his spot, he sang “Home”, one of my favorite Bublé songs (see? I didn’t even know I had a favorite BB song?!).  He made you fall in love with his music, his passion for his industry and his life.  Saying thank you over and over, stating that the Twin Cities was his favorite place to perform, he stole the show and maybe a few hearts. 

The ending act, with curtains closed, without a mic, and simply stated…a perfect Bublé alone, in front of the entire Excel, sang to the top of his lungs his ending verses.  Pretty killer.  It actually brought a tear to my eye. 

If his job was to sing with sincerity, as he said earlier in the nite, job well done Mr. Bublé.  And, in that case…I’ll take a fine glass of Bublé with that! 

I’m not a music critic but I sure do like listening to music while drinking good glass of wine and since NO WHERE in the Twin Cities serves a nice glass of wine at a theater or arena, I’ll just have to crank the Bublé at home with my bubbles! 

Cheers to you, Michael!

Minneapolis Rock City – KISS’s new song title – at least that’s what Paul Stanley said last Saturday night when they rocked, yes rocked! the stage at the Target Center downtown Minneapolis.

Let me first start out by saying, who is this guy who writes the music reviews for our local Star Tribune?

The Title of his Review for the KISS Concert read: Hottest Band in the World still cool (to some, anyway)

www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/69495057.html

Seriously, who has the cahones to write such garbage about rock n’ roll royalty, like KISS?  Was he at the same show with the rest of us?  As the proverbial horse poo piled high within his review, he progressed to dig himself an even bigger hole in the following blog that he wrote about the band’s two new members (Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer) :

www.startribune.com/blogs/69510782.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU

Did the crowd seem to care that they weren’t the originals?  From my standpoint…no way.  The music just as heart stoppin, blood curdling, and obnoxious as ever.  The new members fit in and played their parts, perfectly!

As some wanted to discuss the desire to see the old band members back on stage, making sure the new guys fit into the band were not my concern…In fact, the most I was worried about was seeing something fall out of Gene Simmons skin-tight, nasty-ass, leather-winged costume from the 5th row/center stage!  And my fear of Gene Simmons flesh eating the crowd, soon was lost after his mesmerizing fire-breathing, leather hip boots lured me in, forcing me to watch every movement of their garnet eyes.

From Paul Stanley’s crowd pleasing taunts, to the pyro flame throwers launched from his guitar, the show was an absolute smash!  Yes, many fans were dressed in their KISS garb with probably a couple more lbs. squished into their pleathers than the 30 years prior to, but their 10-14 year old kids sure didn’t care.

I saw KISS for the first time when they came back in full make-up to shock ~ Detroit Rock City @ Tiger Stadium in 1996 with their KISS ASYLUM Tour – opening act, Stone Temple Pilots!  An absolute freak show, but seriously – has always been in my top five of concerts (as still is!)  Do I think that they had the energy this past Saturday night like they did back in 1996? ~ fo’ sho’!  And the two newest members replacing Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, played the part just as they were hired to do.  Not a flaw – even the leggy struts and the mouth movements on stage were on cue with Gene Simmons serpentine-like tongue flashing the side of Tommy Thayer’s throat.  And yet, none was more on cue that Gene’s blood-gushing classic drool.  Once having bitten the heads off bats to bleed his way through his act, this was a little safer rendition with thick red dye oozing from all sides of his 60 year old mouth.  Spectacular, I say! 

The point is – we all came to see KISS and…we got KISS!  In full make-up, in prime condition and shouting it louder than ever.  While I might be opposed to seeing Gene Simmon’s ‘Love Gun’ much closer than the 5th row, all of which we would not stop touching on the inside of his skin tight suit for fans up front, I would never pass up a chance to see these guys again.  60 baby?, if you can still jump, kick and harness your old ass to the top of Target Stadium and sing like a rocker half your age, then I’m down to start drinking their potion.  I tease that some of these guys are probably gurgling Jack Daniels before the show, but KISS may just surprise us all with a grande collection of Bordeaux amongst their treasured libations on the Rock N’ Roll Tour Bus?  One may never know and I’ll bet they’ll never tell.  Leave the mysteries like these to the impending minds of wine drinkers.  As to the comments about KISS being too old and ’still cool, to some’ – we’ll leave those ridiculous reveiws up to the bozos who continue to write bad music rants and don’t care to be entertained, like our buddy from the Trib.

And if you liked the show here in Minneapolis…Shout it, Shout it, Shout it out Loud!! 

Bruce Hornsby, an unbelievable musician with a piano full of music ten miles long, graced Minnesotans with a stellar show on November 1st.  Including hits from his newest album ‘Levitate’ and some of his old standbys that never seem to fade like ‘The Way It Is’ – the list of songs played for the night lasted almost 3 hours worth of play.  His somehow seamless energy and intertwining melodies had the small theater of O’Shaughnessy on the St Catherine Campus in St Paul rockin’.  While most came to see the great Mr. Hornsby himself, there is no doubt that his funky crew of five, the Noisemakers, round out Hornsby’s ability to shake it up on a sleepy Sunday night in the Midwest. 

So, while tapping my foot to the sounds of one of music’s coolest legends, I found myself wondering ‘what wine is best suited for a guy like Hornsby’.  I kept thinking – pedigree, tradition, hand-crafted, unique and absolutely stellar.  With tying it in for the holidays, here’s what I came up with:  Tokaji.  A great Hungarian sweet white wine from the Tokaj region of northeastern Hungary.  Talk about hand-crafted, long lasting and of absolute hierarchy, this is it.  One of my favorite producers from the region to boot:  Istvan Szepsy.  Even as the wines under his hand share this harmonious sweetness to the palate loaded with stewed apricot and honeysuckle they also continue to hold a brightness to the over picture that keeps them fresh and succulent.  Perfect for the holiday season as the pumpkin pie hits the table and also, as rare as the wine and the producer is, can be found at my friendly neighborhood wine shop ~ South Lyndale Liquor located on Lyndale and 54th in south Minneapolis. 

Try one out and experience greatness.  If you have any Hornsby, don’t be afraid to try them both on for size (the wine and the tunes) – surely, it won’t disappoint and might even have you tapping your foot before your glass of liquid gold disappears. 

And to you, Mr. Hornsby, thank you for an outstanding performance and rockin’ new album.  It’s sure to be a part of my holiday mix as the season comes with entertaining and late night dinner parties.