Celebrate Christmas In July With Norman Love Chocolates

If you are like me, you love all things about the holidays. And when the heat and humidity of July rolls around, it is fun to take a mental escape and fast forward to December. Many Southwest Florida business owners are doing the same. Celebrate Christmas in July with Norman Love Chocolates and a sneak peek at the new holiday collection.

Norman Love Confections is a famous local chocolatier who has become internationally known for his artful and tasteful creations. This month they are doing a couple of exciting things for chocolate lovers and fans of the brand. First, that sneak peek at the 2024 Holiday Collection.

Here it is. Gorgeous right? If you go into one of the local chocolate salons you can actually taste some of the new collection. In addition, you'll be privy to some of the other holiday goodies that are being offered this year.

Also, the team at Norman Love Confections will be playing “Secret Santa” and hiding “tokens of love” in random boxes at all six Norman Love Confections’ locations throughout Southwest Florida. If you happen to find one of those tokens, you'll be the lucky winner of a 25-piece Signature Collection gift box.

Finally, there is a 20% off sale on the chocolatier's website. I can't resist a good sale, especially if it is on shoes or chocolate. If you need to send a gift, whether it is personal or even corporate, now is a good time to do so. Who doesn't like chocolates that are both beautiful and delicious?

This should get you ready for the holidays while providing a little relief from the summer heat. Even if it is only in your mind.

Thanks to Alma de Cattleya for sending me free bottles of wine in exchange for a fair and honest review.

There are many factors to consider when enjoying a glass or bottle of wine. One of the most important this time of year is temperature. Chilling wine is essential. It might sound simple, however, there are a few guidelines or standards to help give you the best tasting experience.

If you want to chill with wine and friends this summer, chilling wine is essential. Here are some tips for Wine Wednesday.

Don’t be afraid to chill your reds. In fact, most of the time they are served too warm both at home and in most restaurants. You may've heard serve red wine at room temperature. However, that was by European standards, often cellar temperatures, not summer (or anytime) in Florida standards.

The ideal temperature for red wine is about 65 degrees. It only needs about ten minutes in ice or the refrigerator to bring it down a few degrees depending on how warm it was to start. If a red wine is too hot, you will only taste the alcohol.

If it is too cold you'll also miss out on the fruit and other sublties. I look at it like this. You can always warm it up in the gass if you get it too cold. If you start too warm, you don't have anywhere to go.

When confirming alot of the basic information I write about, I often double check my memory and notes. The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil is one of the sources I use. If you are wanting to learn more about wine, this is a good resource that covers alot of topics.

Almost everyone knows white wine should be chilled. But like the reds, there is a sweet spot to get the most out of that bottle. If it's too cold, it stunts almost all of the flavors. White wines should be served between 45 and 50 degrees.

I have a wine sleeve in the freezer. If I'm serving white wine, especially outside, I typically put the bottle in the sleeve to keep it cold. If it's too cold, simply cup the wine glass in your hands to warm it up a few degrees.

There is some debate in wine circles as to the proper temperature to serve Champagne and sparkling wine. Some experts recommend the same temperature as still white wines. Others suggest a little colder, as low as 43 degrees.

If you let sparkling wine get as warm as 54 degrees, which some are fans of, the wine can often taste richer. So if you want to get really technical, consider the food you are serving Champagne and other bubbles with. Will fruit, acid or richness compliment that food better?

If you just want to enjoy the wine, I say start at the coldest. Then observe how the flavors evolve in the glass as it warms up. To me, that is part of the fun of discovery when enjoying wine with friends and food.

Finally, here are some examples. Three refreshing ways to chill with wine this summer.

Cheers to Wine Wedneday.

Drink Responsibly.

Breathless Blanc de Noir This sparkling wine comes from Sonoma. It was founded by three sisters in honor of their mother. It’s billed as wine for all the moments in life that leave you breathless. This is predominantly pinot noir. The bubbles are fresh and fine. It’s dry with flavors of red berries and good with salty snacks and soft cheese. $39

Alma de Cattleya Sauvignon Blanc This wine also comes from Sonoma and is made by a female winemaker, Bibiana Gonzalez Rave. I also tried her new Alma de Cattleya Rose which had beautiful strawberry notes. The sauv blanc has lots of citrus and grapefruit. As it warms up a bit there is a lovely peach flavor. It’s fantastic. $22

This red wine comes from Chile. It has some pepper and hints of leather when slightly overchilled. As it warms up it gets fuller in its texture, with flavors of blackberry and dark fruit that linger in your mouth. It’s a good one for both grilling and chilling. $36