How about a drunken stumble down memory lane?

[missdiane]

So my parents are taking up wine drinking, kinda. The doc is encouraging it to replace the one-beer-per-day that Dad has since wine is reputed to be healthier. That and since Mom's allowed too, there they go. Now here's the thing, they're not about to go full fledged wine experts and I know fully that they wouldn't ever like any dry wines. So I recommended a few reasonably priced sweet and dessert wines to get them going like Pacific Rim Riesling and an orange muscat wine that I like. I don't drink much wine (or other booze) myself and I don't like dry ones either. They went by my recommendation and so far like what they've tried. For the full health benefit, I'll have to wean them over to red wines (starting with encouraging them to make a sangria with a decent red instead of buying the pre-made stuff)

My brother, also no wine expert, told my parents that they should go find one of his favorites - Canei. I chuckled because hell, back in the 80s, it was cheap stuff. Basically it's the soda pop of wine. Emily had never heard of Canei so I went looking for the commercial - behold the oh so classy ad

Watch on YouTube

I googled and evidently you can find it...somewhere...and it runs about $7 for a regular bottle or $12 for one of them thar big bottles. It also amuses me that on their site it says that it "is made of various sorts of grapes." lol Really? Eh, whatever was on sale at the Sav-a-Lot, I'm sure.

Oh and they have an updated ad - evidently nowadays it's popular in places like Harlem. Heh.

Anyway, now I have an earworm that's stuck in my head. Not the Canei ad, but from what was under it on YouTube. Remember Riunite from the same era of cheap "various grapes" wine? And now I'll get it stuck in yours - MUAHAAHAA

Watch on YouTube

Ah yes, I do often fret about what wine to have with my Taco Bell. Now I know! In case you're wondering - yep, they're still around too. Even cheaper than Canei.

Comments

[vysila]

I so remember the Riunite ads. It had such a Love Boat sound to the jingle.

Never heard of the Canei label before, though.

[missdiane]

The damned jingle keeps cropping up in my head. I was standing and chopping vegetables and found myself humming. Argh! lol

Maybe Canei was a midwest thing? Who knows. My brother has crap taste, clearly

[threecee]

I remember when my father was advised to have a glass of wine before supper to help him relax. His attitude toward alcohol was always that it "tastes like medicine" and he would not drink by choice. They asked the liquor store clerk for the cheapest wine that "didn't taste too much like wine." I was fourteen and I was there. My teenage psyche still remembers the shame.

[missdiane]

Awww lol but yeah, I can get his attitude somewhat. I think I'd have worded my request a bit more tactfully, though

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, I remember drinking Riunite on ice. Ick or Boonesfarm Strawberry Hill wine. Ick.

Reds are considered 'healthier' than whites, but they are also pretty dry. I would start them off with a Fetzer Gewurztraminer. It's relatively inexpensive and fairly sweet. Then you can go from there. If you need some suggestions, let me know.

[missdiane.livejournal.com]

Boones Farm! LOL!! I remember that stuff too! Though since I'm a little younger, I was in the era of those crappy Bartles & Jaymes wine coolers.

I was thinking a gewurztraminer would be one they'd like. If you have any brand recommendations for reasonably-priced sweet reds, I'll take em! I was wondering if I could send them some wines from Terhune Orchards near Princeton. I actually somewhat like their semi-sweet Rooster Red
http://terhuneorchards.com/rooster-red/ Interestingly, even though their Farm House White claims to be dry, I like it as well. It's a good pick for when Emily and I want to share a bottle since she dislikes sweet wines http://terhuneorchards.com/farm-house-white-2/

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

As a rule, reds aren't all that sweet. I will have to put my thinking cap one. :D

[veganhothead.livejournal.com]

Ah, I remember the Reunite commercial and thinking "who has wine with TACOS?" Even though I was very young I knew tacos called for soda or beer.

Sagrias are a great way to get someone used to red wine. Plus you can eat the fruit afterwards :)

[missdiane.livejournal.com]

And fried chicken! It goes with errrrrything! lol

I should make a white sangria. I'm not a wine drinker but some boozy fruits might be fun

[plant-lady60.livejournal.com]

Let's not forget Blue Nun, though I liked the Stiller and Meara radio ones, they were kind of funny! :)

[missdiane.livejournal.com]

Wow the CLOTHES in that commercial! lol!

[plant-lady60.livejournal.com]

I know, right? What a riot! :D