Tuesday 22 May 2007

Ol' Red Eyes Is Back

I’m struggling a bit today. My eyes feel gritty, having over-dosed on the Eye Dew (blue) last night. The whites have gone from the bluey whiteness so beloved of housewives in soap powder adverts, to looking like road maps. My voice has deepened to a ‘bar-room baritone’ from too much drinking and laughing (and probably too much shrieking loudly, but I don’t want to think about that right now).

The Italian Wine Dinner last night was fantastic. I knew we were on for a great night when we started with a prosecco which was wonderfully fresh and light. Prosecco is rapidly becoming my favourite fizz. Why drink one bottle of champagne, when you can drink four bottles of prosecco for the same money? When the chap talking about the wines mentioned the huge increase in sales of prosecco recently in this country, H started shooting me meaningful looks, as if my personal consumption was solely responsible.

There were two white wines – a delicate, peachy Pinot Grigio, and a very unusual Soave, that tasted of apricots, with a creamy finish (who needs desserts when there are wines like this!). I haven’t drunk Soave since I was in my twenties. We used to put it in the fridge with the one and a half litre bottle of Lambrusco, and chill it so much that you couldn’t really taste anything.

The reds were interesting too. There was ‘a nice Chianti’ (thankfully not served with liver and fava beans) which all the women at our table liked, and a big, syrupy, alcoholic Barolo, which all the men preferred.

Finally, there was something I have never drunk before - a red Valpolicella dessert wine. I’m not a big fan of 'stickies' but this was very pleasant – a bit like sneaking a slug of undiluted Ribena straight from the bottle.

I think I need to stay off the juice tonight, or until my voice goes back to its normal pitch. I have spent the day sounding like a female impersonator. If I had better hair, clothes and make-up, I might look like one too.

13 comments:

Stay at home dad said...

With the 1 1/2 litre Lambrusco? I bet it was entertaining round at your place.

I had a sparkling red once. That was, er, pleasant, too...

Mutterings and Meanderings said...

Soave, God, I haven't had that since I was a student.

There is a dessert wine I like that used to come in bottles with a sun on the glass. Can't remember what it was called though...

The Secretary said...

Change your contact lenses darling - when my eyes are gritty I have normally slept in them for a week - changing/cleaning them makes all the difference.

lady macleod said...

I'm feeling a bit tipsy from just reading your review... I best have some tea and check my eyeballs.

Pig in the Kitchen said...

my head is throbbing in sympathy DM, have you recalled why you were shrieking loudly yet? Any salacious details to pass our way? HOW can you get rat-arsed on a school night, I barely get through the day without a hangover. Did you have a nap?!

dulwichmum said...

Darling Drunk Mummy,

One of the midwives who looked after me in hospital having my son was called Valpolicella. I wonder what her parents were thinking of?

You know I am serious don't you?

rilly super said...

drunkmummy darling, I feel as if I was almost there with you and jolly well done for reporting back so soon. I wopuld go back to bed now if I were you dear.

This 'road map eyeballs' condition is a remarkable phenomonen isn't it. A friend once told me my eyes looked like a road atlas too. I thought she was just being metaphorical but then she asked me to stand on my head because she was travelling north to south and couldn't get her bearings with me the right way up

The Good Woman said...

I have confidence that, had you avoided the Valpolicella, you would feel fine. In South Africa we refer to these dessert wines as 'soeters' and the only thing they can guarantee is a 'babelaas' the next morning. You, my friend, have a babelaas!

But it sounds like the evening could just have been worth it!

Omega Mum said...

Like your 'Bad Mother's Club' piece. Very amusing. Well done.

MommyHeadache said...

Sounds like that wine binge was a bit of a laugh, but I congratulate you on even getting out of bed. If I'd drunk that mix of wines I would have a thundering headache and the desire to stay in a dark room all day eating Kettle Chips.

Akelamalu said...

Sounds like a great party! I like all those wines. :)

Drunk Mummy said...

SAHD - the one and a half litre bottle of Lambrusco was considered a refrigerator basic in those days. They were fun times - at least I think they were - I can't quite remember.

M&M - that was exactly what I thought about the Soave. This one was 100% Garganega grapes - which apparently makes a difference. It was really good stuff.

Secretary - I wish I could do that, but I don't wear them. Maybe I should have rinsed my eyeballs.

lady macleod - I should have had more tea myself, and a little less wine.

Pig - sadly no salacious details to report. I was shrieking loudly, because that's what I usually do when I am drinking and laughing a lot (according to my husband).

Dulwich Mum - what a fabulous name! Was she big, sweet and alcoholic?

Rilly - That's hilarious! Having eyes like road maps is no fun. Neither is being made to stand on your head!

Good Woman - 'soeters' and 'babelaas' - how exotic they sound.
My 'babelaas' was definitely worth it!

omega mum - thank you!

emmak - I did have a toasted bacon and egg sandwich for breakfast. Kettle Chips would have been a good idea too.

akelamalu - they were great wines. Made me think about buying a few more Italian wines for the Drunk Mummy Wine Vaults.

debio said...

oh for a hangover caused by italian wine - I wish....