Have you ever wanted to try your hand at bartending? Having been one in the past I can tell you that half of what you believe is true, and the other half is only half true. That being said, if you do want to give bartending a try, there’s a new contest just for you, and the winner gets a trip to Portugal. The Sandeman Mix It Up Challenge wants you to create a cocktail using the Sandeman Founders Reserve Porto, take a picture and send them the recipe along with a photo. Here’s the press release I was sent:

There are few things as satisfying as creating a perfect cocktail—but sitting on a beach in Portugal has to be one of them.  With this in mind, the Sandeman Mix It Up challenge is looking for cocktail enthusiasts to create an original cocktail that includes Sandeman Founders Reserve Porto, for a chance to win a trip to Portugal and a visit to the world-renowned Sandeman Cellars.

The submissions will be judged by Sandeman representatives and Dalio Calado—an acclaimed Portuguese mixologist and cocktail expert—based on taste, creativity and originality. While port has been an aperitif and high-end bar staple for years, it is experiencing a dramatic resurgence in the world of mixology, due to its rich color and perfect flavor profile, and we are excited to see what fans of the drink come up with.

To participate, simply visit the Mix It Up tab on Facebook.com/SandemanPorto, and click “Enter Here” to  submit a recipe and a photo of the original cocktail by June 15th (11:59:59 PM EST).

Having never been to Portugal, I for one plan to try and track down a bottle of the Sandeman’s Founders Reserve Porto and see how rusty my drink making skills are. Good luck and advanced congrats to whomever wins.

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So I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t really use vintage charts.  Now that’s not to say that I don’t pay attention to what the vineyards, wineries, and wine makers are saying about particular years, and I’ve certainly found different years of the same wine to be better or worse, but I don’t as a general rule look to a vintage chart before making a wine purchase.

Now that’s not to say that I don’t think vintage charts don’t have value, because they do, but most of us just don’t carry one around with us.  However, that’s changing thanks to smartphones.  Sites like Wine Spectator are now offering apps that allow you to take vintage charts with you wherever you are to reference them with just the touch of a button.

So, with that in mind, I ask you my readers – how do you use vintage charts?  Do you look to see what years are good for a wine you’re looking for before buying?  If so, how well is it working out for you?  Leave me a comment letting me know how you use vintage charts and at the end of the month I’m going to pick a comment at random and that person will get a 1 year subscription to Wine Spectator.

I look forward to reading your comments and good to everybody.

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To enter the sweepstakes readers need only to become a fan of “Austria.  Official Travel Info.”  on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/austriatravelinfo. The winner and a guest will receive a seven day themed vacation package of their choice valued at $4,500.  The sweepstakes invites fans to explore all that Austria has to offer by choosing from vacations oriented toward “Food and Wine,” “Art, Architecture and Design,” “Nature, Outdoors and the Alps,” or “Classical Music and History.”  Facebook fans can receive an additional sweepstakes entry by tweeting about Austria on Twitter using the hashtag: #itsgottobeaustria.  The contest runs now through January 15.

More information and official rules can be found at http://www.itsgottobeaustria.com or via Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/austriatravelinfo.  Contest is open to residents of the U.S., 18 and over.

Good luck to anybody that enters and if you win let me know…or you know, take me.

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