For my dreaded 40th birthday this year we are doing a 40 course meal paired with 40 wines.


Any creative ideas on theme?

Thanks-



p.s.-

you are all invited - nebraska in the summer is intriguing.

.. wheel barrow to port you home! 40!! No, I don't mean age, 40 wines and 40 courses!

.. almost enough to get me there just to see this!!

When is your B-Day? I am summer, too!

DBW

6-27-

The idea was based on an old tradition from Abruzzo in Italy.

The party will coincide with the Nebraska Croquet Open (held in our yard) if that seals the deal for you.

I say this with all due respect...

ARE YOU NUTS?!?

Hope you have a lot of help and a lot of time set aside for this adventure.;

Joe

I recently tasted forty wines over 3.5 hours. It was tough...and we had spit buckets. Also once tried 25 wines at a five hour dinner. We did not spit and that was very demanding.

But if the pros taste 100s of wines a day, why not?

If it were me, I would make the first ten or so Riesling Kabinett paired with little salady appetizers. No vinagarette, but potato salad, broad bean salad, chick pea thingys, raw tomato things...all chilled. Kabinett level Riesling is (1) very refreshing in the summer as an aspertif or starter wine, (2) usually has less than 9% alcohol. You could differentiate them by age and region, e.g. a 2001, 1997 and 1990 from each of the Mosel, the Pfalz, the Rheinhessen and the Rheingau.

With this refreshing starter behind me, I would then launch into the real wine tasting...then you'd only have thirty wines to deal with, and wouldn't even be drunk yet!

PS: What part of Nebraska? You aren't anywhere near Alliance, home of Carhenge, which all Brits should make sure to see if they drive across the USA. It is a replica of Stonehenge standing out in the middle of the prarie. The catch: it is made out of wrecked Cadillacs painted gray! My wife and I visited when driving cross-country in 1998. A true wonder.

cbmac-

We are in Lincoln- the opposite end of the State from the famous Carhenge. We are very proud of our high culture here in Nebraska.

Have a great time. How many days will this fourty course diner-wine last? More than one day I hope.

I had a meal once in Portugal which had more courses than I could count. But course was only one mouthfull. Like a little hor d'ouevre.

So foodwise it is doable. But 40 wines is going to have to involve spitting and lots of water if you want to taste anything of the last 15.

Have the celebration over forty days and forty nights and call it the "Biblical Binge."

************
"I've gotta be honest with you, guys. I need more cowbell."

Did someone say croquet?

VM

cluricaunwines

I am also a 6-27 model!