In my quest for the perfect Passover cocktail to share with you for today's 10-Minute Happy Hour, my first instinct was to phone a friend. Since she converted to Judaism as an adult, I thought she would forgive my ignorance and be able to give me the inside scoop on what a kosher cocktail might look like. Her hard and fast answer was, "We don't really drink cocktails. We just drink wine and champagne."  Hmmm, I thought, that's a start.

It was 'polenta party' time at Faith's house last week, and she served it with a delicious dish of beef braised in red wine. My mouth is watering already. So, the big question we pondered was, what wine or rather what wines to serve alongside this robust, meaty, yet creamy dish. Here are some thoughts on how to choose wines to go with this meal, and some specific budget picks.

Item: The Spiegelau IPA Glass 
Price: $24.90 for a set of two
Overall Impression: A fun splurge for hopheads and beer geeks

You know a beer has made the big time when it gets its very own glass. There are slender pilsner glasses, snifters for your quads and barleywines, and now a specially-designed glass to maximize the hop-tastic experience of drinking your favorite IPA. Pint glasses and beer steins are so yesterday, people.

Spring officially arrives this week, and what better time for the release of Amy Stewart's delightful new book, The Drunken Botanist. As you're planning your garden, foraging for wild plants, or simply looking for a good cocktail recipe (and cocktail party conversation topics!), you don't want to miss this entertaining and illuminating guide to "the plants that create the world's great drinks." More

Wine of the Week: 2011 Esporão Reserva White
Region & Country: Alentejo, Portugal
Price: $19

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend a lunch and tasting with the winemaker in charge of white wines at Esporão, the very talented and charming Sandra Alves. More

Q: I've grown up with an appreciation for good liquor and cocktails, and I would like to stock my bar with more than gin and whiskey. I have weekly dinners and brunches, and would like to give my guests options for drinks and cocktails. Recommendations?

Sent by Dani

This time last year, we shared 15 great non-alcoholic drinks to have with a meal. But the possibilities don't end there. Here are 10 more alcohol-free beverages to sip with your food, whether it's a casual supper or a fancy dinner party. More

Dry-Farmed is a wine word you sometimes hear used to describe how the vines are cultivated. Do you know what it means? More

Everyone loves to clink a green drink on St. Patrick’s Day. I enjoy color-coded cocktails and party-themed sips as much as the next gal, but it still has to taste good.  To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, you could simply add a little green food coloring to your beer — or you could recognize you are no longer a college co-ed and toast the day with this classic green cocktail instead.

Forget the beer for a second — let's talk about the very cool, very well-designed beer labels that adorn many of our favorite beers. Sometimes it seems like breweries put as much work into creating a beautiful label as they do into the beer itself! Do you ever save these bottles for their labels?