The Japanese were the first to try this year's much-anticipated Beaujolais Nouveau-- Japan is the wine's biggest importer and gets the first taste each year due to its time zone.

But it is the French who pay the most attention to this unique wine-- they make up more than 50 percent of its overall sales.  Critics who've already sampled this year's release say they've found its aroma "surprising."  Paris wine merchant Thierry Plenyet told the Associated Press, "There is a lovely aroma of black fruit. This is what characterizes it. Quite pure. And as for the taste, it's doesn't taste of wood, it retains a lot of freshness."

It's a Wisconsin tradition, cranberry wine at the Thanksgiving table.

Described as cranberry juice with a kick, the wine can also be used to prepare the holiday meal.  Eileen Splitt, manager at the Three Lakes Winery, says she bastes her turkey with the wine, adding that it also makes a "wonderful gravy."

Forget the bread this National Sandwich Day and celebrate the centuries old culinary delight with a drink.

These aren't your childhood treats but a new adult twist on the staple of our youth.  Rum maker Flor de Cana asked mixologists around the country to create cocktails with a sandwich theme, the results: PB&J, BLT and Cheeseburger cocktails.

November 2nd is known around the world as The Day of the Dead, the end of a three day celebration honoring those who have passed on.

The tradition is popular in Catholic countries but no one celebrates the dearly departed like the Mexicans.  Known as El Dia de los Muertos, the day is filled with many festivities-- several of them culinary based.

The day isn't meant to be somber, on the contrary it is meant as day of celebrations.  In Mexico, The Day of the Dead is a time to feast and party, a chance to celebrate living by honoring the dead.  The holiday has slowly made its way north of the border thanks in part to America's large Mexican immigrant population but also through the efforts of purveyors of Mexican goods.

The Brooklyn Brewery is dangerous, or at least its launch parties are.  The first thing you’re told as you step up to the Brewery’s spacious wooden bar is, “Hold on to your glass – it’s yours for the night.”  Whereupon the evening commences with a first glass of one of Brooklyn Brewery’s utterly drinkable drafts.

Every couple of months, Brooklyn Brewery celebrates the uncorking of a beer from the Brewmaster’s Reserve Series.  This fall’s beer is Cuvée Noire, a Belgian strong ale made with a complex combination of malts (including German two-row pilsner malt, British chocolate malt, British black malt, and American black barley), German perle hops, and

We recently asked the folks at [yellow tail] what makes a great wine based cocktail.  We were looking for something exciting and fresh that could stand up to any mixed drink.  Even more important, we were looking for something sexy, more young people are drinking wine and we decided it was definitely time for a makeover.  

Before you cringe at the thought of putting ice in your glass of wine, think about this: we've been using wine in cocktails for more than a century.  Vermouth, the second ingredient in a classic martini, is a fortified wine flavored with aromatic herbs and spices.