During a recent wine writer's online tasting, with a new start-up company called Brixr.com, I had the chance to check out a fairly innovative wine tasting format. Basically, Brixr puts together "tasting packs" for people to buy truly a "taste" (50 ml) of different wine collections, with the idea being that consumers can "try" before they buy.

I ran through the Rhone Inspired Tasting Pack and sampled six wines priced at $25 for the pack, with the sample wines ranging from $20-50 for the full bottle. Want to read the full Brixr review? Check it our here.

If you happen to be a fan of Gundlach Bundschu, then you will want to get acquainted with their Rheinfarm Vineyard Mountain Cuvee, if you haven't already. This Gun Bun wine presents a balanced blend of Merlot, Cabernet, Syrah and Cab Franc. Garnet hues, an earth-driven, ripe berry nose and plenty of lush fruit on the palate make this a wine worth finding. It boasts dark blackberry and a touch of currant on the palate with a smokey undertone and a dash of minerality. Rich density, bridled power and a smidge rustic, this is the red wine for a grilled steak, burgers or brats.

Looking for St. Patrick's Day entertaining ideas? Check out About's Guide to Entertaining, Donna Pilato, for some tried and true Irish themed party planning or family party tips.

Barbara Rolek - Eastern European Food Guide, brings a tasty Hungarian beer bread to the table. The dough in this no-knead, one-rise recipe for Hungarian Beer Bread can be formed into rolls or loaves, but I like them as sticks or pretzels best. Their crunch makes them good candidates for cocktails or, what else, more beer! Translate this into a healthier snack by using white whole-wheat flour instead of all-purpose.

If you swap pork for beef in this hearty Polish recipe for smoked pork butt and cabbage, you have a dead ringer for corned beef and cabbage. Leftovers can be turned into soup or another meal over noodles.

Colleen Graham - About's Guide to Cocktails brings some serious St. Patrick's Day libations:

Irish Martini - Simply add a bit o' Irish whiskey and you have transformed your favorite Vodka Martini into a lucky libation.

Everybody's Irish - Here is a cocktail that will get everyone in the spirit of the Irish. The mix of Irish whiskey with Chartreuse and crème de menthe results in a green cocktail that is quite delightful.

Jen Hoy - About's Guide to Macrobiotics offers up Green Smoothies for St Patrick's Day:

Ultra Green Smoothie

Mango Pineapple Green Smoothie

Elaine Lemm - British Food

St Patrick's Day can be long with all the celebrations and parades, so make sure you start out with a good breakfast. A Full Irish with bacon, eggs, sausage and potato Fadge and a couple of slices of Soda Bread will keep you going.

Bryce Eddings - Beer

Let's look beyond Guinness this year for our St. Paddy's day stout fix. Here are the different styles of stout from cream to Russian imperial.
A Layman's Guide to Stout

Is emerald green beer what you're looking for to make St. Patrick's Day complete? Here's a step-by-step guide to making green beer.
How to Make Green Beer

Molly Watson - Local Foods

Braised Cabbage couldn't be easier: gently cook chopped cabbage in a bit of butter and salt for a meltingly tender, richly flavored side dish perfect to serve with roast meats of all kinds - including corned beef or roasted lamb.

Or try a tasty Cabbage & Potato Casserole.
This recipe calls for the potatoes and cabbage to be cooked with a bit of cream and topped with cheese for a hearty dish, perfect for a vegetarian nod to St. Patrick's Day.