What are you opening for the 4th?

I'm going with all-American wines, of course. For red wine, I think I'll stick with Foppiano's Lot 96. Since it was mentioned in this forum several weeks ago, it has become my everyday red. I really enjoy it and it is a good example of how opening for an hour or two before drinking changes a wines profile.
For white wine, I don't know yet. I'll be in Virginia, on Mobjack Bay, so will probably go with a local Virginia wine, maybe a chard/semillion blend or seyval blanc, both of which I think VA does a nice job with.

1997 Ridge Lytton Springs. Leaving town on Sunday so that may be the only one I open this weekend. My next white wine will probably be a Sancerre.

As a person who spent part of his youth growing up in the USA, my sentiments still run high. My own choice will be for one of the USA's finest sparkling wines.....

Schramsberg, Brut Rose, Mirabelle, North Coast, n.v.: A sparkling rosé, made by the methode Champenoise. Pale peach-pink in color, showing a light note of yeast to highlight strawberry, raspberry and red apple notes and, on the finish a most appealing note of stewed pears. Drink now-2011. Score 92. (Tasted but not blind 16 May 2009)

One disclaimer - even though fireworks are fully legal here in Israel, I will not be using any. Reminds me too much of gunshots and with those I can live comfortably without.

Best
Rogov

[James Roscoe]

I always think that July 4th is a fine time to remember our French allies without whom the US would never have become independent. I think a nice CdR might be in order.

I always think that July 4th is a fine time to remember our French allies without whom the US would never have become independent. I think a nice CdR might be in order.

You make a very good point, James. So good, in fact, that I now feel bad saying "of course" in reference to opening American wines in my initial post. (Do I recall correctly that you were a History major?) As a matter of fact, a French wine might just be quite appropriate and I will have to see what's available downstairs this evening.

I always think that July 4th is a fine time to remember our French allies without whom the US would never have become independent. I think a nice CdR might be in order.

Following through on that thought, we could also recognize the significant contributions of two native Poles, Casimir Pulaski and Tadeusz Kosciusko (sorry for the myriad missing diacritical marks and any spelling controversy), by opening a few Polski Pivo or a bottle of Zubrowka Vodka.

Mark Lipton, patriot to the core

I always think that July 4th is a fine time to remember our French allies without whom the US would never have become independent. I think a nice CdR might be in order.

How about an American version, produced in honor of the French one?

The 4th of July is my wedding anniversary. Hopefully we'll be opening 2001 Ridge Lytton, the wine we used in our ceremony. I have lots of 2004 Bordeaux (our wedding year) but I don't think it's ready yet. Maybe next year.

The 4th of July is my wedding anniversary.

Happy 5th Anniversary, to you both, Matt!

[James Roscoe]

I always think that July 4th is a fine time to remember our French allies without whom the US would never have become independent. I think a nice CdR might be in order.

How about an American version, produced in honor of the French one?

If I could find your product in suburban MD, then that would be a big 10-4 good buddy. Unfortunately wherever I find a supply of ESJ in a store nearby it dries up and they never seem to get it back in stock.

Sour grapes over here

No set plans, though I do have a couple of old US wines in the cellar - maybe a good excuse to extract them from their slumber.

Have fun

regards

Ian

Sour grapes over here

We do know some folks from the UK but living in the states who always make sure they are out of the county on July 4th! I couldn't believe it but they are quite serious about it.

I always think that July 4th is a fine time to remember our French allies without whom the US would never have become independent. I think a nice CdR might be in order.

How about an American version, produced in honor of the French one?

Just you wait...

Probably German riesling (because I'm away from home and that's what I have with me) although maybe I'll buy some American beer.

Probably I'll open a Chateau Montelena Estate cabernet sauvignon from the late 1980s.

-Paul W.

As a person who spent part of his youth growing up in the USA, my sentiments still run high. My own choice will be for one of the USA's finest sparkling wines.....

Schramsberg, Brut Rose, Mirabelle, North Coast, n.v.: A sparkling rosé, made by the methode Champenoise. Pale peach-pink in color, showing a light note of yeast to highlight strawberry, raspberry and red apple notes and, on the finish a most appealing note of stewed pears. Drink now-2011. Score 92. (Tasted but not blind 16 May 2009)

One disclaimer - even though fireworks are fully legal here in Israel, I will not be using any. Reminds me too much of gunshots and with those I can live comfortably without.

Best
Rogov

This I can understand. I was sitting with some members of the Combined Reconnaissance Intelligence Platoon (CRIP), on whom I was doing a story, enjoying a beer on a lovely afternoon at an outdoor "cafe" in the hamlet of Bao Trai, RVN. Some of the kids began shooting off some fireworks. Mostly firecrackers. After a few minutes we noticed that something was ricocheting off the walls near us. Someone was shooting at us. We hightailed it back to the MACV compound.
The next 36 hours or so were not pleasant. Mortar rounds were lobbed into the compound - which was only about 100 yards across - on a fairly regular basis. And there was more or less constant automatic weapons fire directed at us for that period. The compound commander called for help. He was told that there would be none. Everyone had their own problems. This was January 30, 1968. At 0300 hours on January 31 the Tet Offensive began. We were between the Cambodian border and Saigon. Of course they could have overrun us if they wanted us. They didn't.They just wanted us to stay put.