fixation friday: wine-o

Welcome to the end of the week friends! It's that time again, time for me to think long and hard ::insert Peter Griffin Laugh:: about what I'm fixating on this week.

I've already discussed my fixation for Pearl Jam, and to be totally honest I'm still fixated on them. I can't stop thinking about the show. Add to that the fact that I've been reading a book I purchased for Mike at Christmas about the band, that I'm almost finished reading, you've got a full blown obsession going on over here. Better late than never right?  I also may or may not have dug out a ton of CDs this morning, thus fully loading my 10 disc changer with only PJ CDs (minus 3 slots left for Foo Fighters and and Eddie's solo projects - I'm a freak).

Instead of saying the same shizz over and over I'm going to talk about the other thing I've had on my mind not stop since probably last weekend and that's my beloved obsession with WINE!

Wine-O At Heart!

I'm going to blame my current craving for the lovely drink of the gods squarely on Eddie Vedder. From the moment he walked out on stage last weekend, toting his trademark bottle of wine and notebook I've been craving some red wine. If you've never been to a live PJ show, know this. Eddie drinks at least two bottles while performing on stage. I'm oblivious to how he doesn't get dehydrated doing that. I love me some red but I usually walk around after drinking it feeling like I look like Fire Marshall Bill. [Side note: I loved In Living Colour in my teens!]

obsessed with this image • via • Peace, Love, Eddie and Wine

I wasn't alone in my craving, Mike too was ready for some red wine as well. We decided to do what any sane crazies in need of a fix would do and snag a few cheap bottles of wine at Target and our local grocery store on a Wednesday night.

Truth be told Mike and I really don't drink a lot during the week. When fall rolls around we have a bit of a tradition on Thursday nights - we get a bottle of wine to share with our dinner and watch our favorite tv line up on NBC. It's a fun, date night like tradition we've tried to keep going.

This week we got a bit reckless, and bid farewell to our usual schedule. Instead of Thursday - we got our wine on Wednesday and I declared it WINE AND PIZZA NIGHT! We enjoyed our food, and great conversation and our wine on the front porch. This is a new tradition I could definitely get used to, especially after a long work day.  Front porches aren't just for happy hours folks!

 not bad for cheap wine and a store bought deli pizza right? • via turnedup2elven

After dinner I watched a movie and relaxed on the couch, and did what any normal person does and instagramed about it.

Cheap Wine and a movie - What to Expect When You're Expecting {it was cute} • via turnedup2eleven

I love most wine. Red and White alike, but I will be honest I hate sweet wine. Hate it. It gives me acid reflux and a headache and I just can't handle it. Don't ever try to serve it to me, I'll pass it up every time. I'm also not a real big fan of Chardonnay - I just don't like it. Last time I had it, hang over from hell.  I also love my wine to be crisp. I'm a big fan of Pinot G - most will say that's sweet and I have had some that I had to turn away from for being too sweet. But in the end if it's light, crisp and chilled just right and NOT overly sweet. I'll love it long time.

Reds however, are my favorite. I love a full bodied red. Zinfandel is the best. The wine we purchased on Saturday was pretty cheap, and the cheapest bottle was actually better. The first was a mixture of Zin, Chard and Merlot but was way too sweet. I don't think I've ever had a red that sweet... I will not be purchasing it again.  The wine Mike snagged was much better (pictured above).

I'm a firm believer that you don't have to buy the BEST wine. Sure there are some amazingly delicious expensive wines out there but you can find a favorite on any budget.

My go to Wine for any time is Gnarly Head's Old Vine Zin. Like I said I love my Zins. It's usually about $9.99 / bottle at our local store, often times maybe $14.99 depending on where we shop. But I love it. It might not be the best but it makes me happy. That's all that matters. We served this at our wedding, thats how much I love it. I loved the left over bottles even more! I like a wine that makes me crave steak, or pizza. Reds do that to me all the time.

via google

This time of year - I look forward to the cool weather and the holidays. Mike's sister and brother-in-law come in town from Colorado and Thanksgiving always becomes a bit of a wine tasting. We each purchase a bottle to pass around and share and it warms my heart and my cheeks to try the different brands. This winter we are supposed to head to Colorado to visit them for the first time and I hope that the same tradition will be happening again.

I. LOVE. WINE! Love it. Especially this time of year.

Do you love wine? What's your favorite type, and brand? I'm always open to suggestions!