Gearing up for a terrific Fourth of July holiday? Already know which grill wines you’ll be pouring? Great! Because this year we’ve got something a little different for you to add to that case of wine you’re taking away with you….

Hop on over to Wicked Local today to find out how our Forefather’s toasted the signing of the Declaration of Independence – and the wine you’ve likely been missing out on!

Have you ever tried Madeira? What about with each course of your meal??

With summer schedules coming into effect and the summer warmth finally landing on our New England shores, it’s time to bring wine news to you in a briefer package. Starting this week, we’ll be delivering wine news in ~ 200 words or less, offering something to whet your whistle as you daydream about weekend beach adventures ahead, but nothing to keep you from getting out by the early closing bell.  Here goes!

WalMart to resume wine/liquor sales: Tisk, tisk. Don’t you prefer to support fine wines shops who provide expertise, find boutique selections you don’t see everywhere, and offer these at the best price they can -  all without donning a horrifyingly bright-blue smock?

Gallstones less likely among wine drinkers: The latest in wine/health news suggests a glass of wine or two a day can prevent the formation of gallstones. Another good reason to toast to health!

LATE-BREAKING insider rumor: Gruner Veltliner and Godello are identical twins!

** Can anyone confirm these (verbal) reports? **

We started to revisit the topic of food and wine as a match made in heaven a few weeks ago… My family wine taste-off of sorts interrupted us for a week last week, but with the fourth of July grill fest soon to come, it seems prudent to re-tune the station to another of our Supper Swap success stories! So without further ado, here we have Episode #2 of our Supper Swap series: Black bean sliders!

The first time I tried my “Summer is Coming” black bean sliders recipe out on my fellow Swappers I discovered “it needed a little… tweaking”, in the words of Tom Hanks in You’ve Got Mail. Not to worry. I excel at taking a base recipe and fine-tuning it for future endeavors. I discovered Sandra Lee’s recipe lacked a bit of bite, sweetness and texture. The food processor process I employed the first time out of the gates ground everything to a paste;  the flavors of each individual component couldn’t possibly show through once “grilled”. (I also learned the grill is not the cooking tool of choice….) Here’s what I came up with as an alternative to this fast summer savior:

Ingredients – black beans (30 oz), 1/2 sweet onion, 1/2 cup of whole beets, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, 1 egg (white)

Directions – Pulse the beans LIGHTLY and in batches in your food processor. Place in bowl. Then pulse 1/2 cup of beets in your processor. (This adds additional flare, color and sweetness to the burgers without being over the top for those who may shy away from beets.) Dice sweet onion into small pieces by hand. Combine, adding black pepper and salt to taste. Then combine with egg and crumbs. Form patties.

Use a skillet to cook each side (about 4 or 5 min/side), til done.

Makes 5 Servings for a large burger, or about 7 sliders.

Serve on a large English muffin and – the key – use Greek yogurt as the topping. Add mango salsa for additional panache!

So, what wine works?

I had a bottle of the Nuevo Mundo Cabernet/Malbec on hand the first time I tasted these re-vamped burgers – and have lived to tell the tale again and again (just ask my poor colleague…)!  But I’ve also given them a whirl with a Syrah-based Cote du Rhone as well as the Crios Syrah/Bonarda and been oh-so-satisfied. Basically, you want a lush and mouth-filling, deep, dark fruited red wine with a touch of herbaceousness and spice. Other blends that would work happily are the SNAFU (CA) and the Portteus Rattlesnake Red (WA). Or try a good old-fashioned, dark toned, (with chocolate subtones) Malbec!

The point is, these burgers aren’t shy, but also offer a touch of spice and sweetness. A wine with dark but lush and sweet fruit or undertones (e.g. the chocolate thing) makes for a great pairing.

What other wines would you pair with such an easy-to-make, satisfying, hearty meal?

You read correctly! There is one great, (arguably) new, spot in Cambridge, MA bringing the thunder when it comes to every important aspect of a nice meal out.  Curious what place has captured my attention and enthusiasm?

Click on over to WickedLocal today to get the inside scoop on Craigie on Main!

Where do you go out to eat to be utterly satisfied?

An eclectic array of wine news/events to share this Friday, so I’ll skip to the “good stuff” and hold my pen as much as possible so you have time to investigate these for yourself.

Twitter magic reveals great Decanter/YouTube video. Check out this video to discover Decanter Editor Guy Woodward’s take on “the risers, the fallers and the surprises of the 2009 Power List”.  It’s quite tasty – even without a glass of wine to accompany it! (And remember, Twitter is a crazy, fun world where you can soak up all kinds of juicy tidbits like this one shared by @melissadobson! Be sure to follow me if you aren’t already!)

Argentine’s spread the “gospel of wine” – Christmas comes early! Wine & Spirits Daily reported this week that the Argentine government is investing in its small wineries. I’m not sure how hard hit Argentina is by the “global recession” but I can’t shake a finger at any country ramping up their wine program – particularly when they are already on solid footing! The extra dough shows just how large a role the wine industry plays in their economy. Giddyup!

Local charity leverages it’s giving power – Boston area wine event, July 25! Join Housing Family as they work to support the Rodman Ride for Kids, “an umbrella matching gift charity raising funds to help at-risk children in Massachusetts.” School might be “out” this week, but giving – and wine tasting – is in! For just $15 per person you can join in the fun at the Dockside Restaurant in Malden. Call 781-322-9119 for tickets or more information.