Margarita and a Manicure

Pimm's Fruit Cup For 2 pitchers, serves up to 8 Pimm's Fruit Cup is a great cocktail to serve before a night of going out. It is easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time. It is a beautiful looking drink which you can put your own personal touch on with garnishes. You can split the recipe between 2 pitchers to make it easier to handle. 1 liter bottle of Pimm's #11-1/2 cups Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice1-1/2 cups of Cointreau or TripleSec1 liter bottle of Ginger Ale1 small Cucumber thinly sliced1 bunch of Mint, stems removedAny combination of Seasonal Fruits desired, sliced (optional) Directions: Combine Pimm's, lime juice and Cointreau in a large container or pitcher. Add mint, cucumber and fruits. Place in the refrigerator for 1 hour min. Add ice and ginger ale just prior to serving or into each individual glass. West Side For 2 pitchers, serves up to 8 The West Side is for those who do not like overly sweet cocktails. This recipe can also be made in prepared in advance. You can substitute the citrus vodka with other white spirits like gin or rum to make an equally delicious cocktail. 1 liter bottle of Citrus Vodka 4 cups of Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice 2 cups of Simple Syrup* 1 bunch of Mint, stems removed 1 16-ounce bottle of Club Soda or Seltzer Water Directions: In a large container or pitcher lightly muddle or press the mint leaves. Add citrus vodka, lemon juice and simple syrup and refrigerate for 1 hour minimum. To assemble the drink, fill a cocktail shaker halfway up with the prepared West Side, add ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a martini or cocktail glass and top off with club soda. * Simple Syrup is made by combining equal parts sugar and water. This can be done by heating sugar and water on the stove top until all sugar is dissolved. You can also make simple syrup by using superfine sugar (also known as instant dissolving) and stirring the mixture until all is dissolved. Excerpted from You Didn't Hear It From Us: Two Bartenders Serve Women the Truth About Men, Making an Impression, and Getting What You Want, by Dushan Zaric and Jason Kosmas. Copyright © 2006 by Dushan Zaric and Jason Kosmas. Reprinted with permission by Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Available at www.simonsays.com.

For Kate Hudson's Sun-Kissed Look"Try my Light Reflecting Bronzer. It's a unique three-in-one palette in shell, sand, and bronze. Apply it to your cheeks, forehead, and chin with a blush brush, over your foundation or primer." Sue Devitt, who creates looks for the Versace and Dolce & Gabbana catwalks. Light Reflecting Bronzer in Beausoleil, $30, 888/870-1150, suedevittstudio.com For Renée Zellweger's Rosy Cheeks"To give yourself the 'lit up' effect, look at the color of your cheeks right after a workout, then buy a blush that's one shade brighter. Try Inner Glow, just on the apples of your cheeks. Tap it on with your fingers and blend it in with outward strokes." Alison Raffaele, a former celebrity stylist who counts Alicia Keys and Kirsten Dunst among the fans of her makeup line. Inner Glow in Glamorous and Graceful, $25 each, 800/301-4654, alisonraffaele.com For Eva Longoria's Dewy Sheen"Nothing lights up the face like a hint of shimmer, but to avoid an overdose, apply it to only one or two parts of your face. My Shimmer Brick can be used as a highlighter on cheeks or eyes." Bobbi Brown, who started selling lipstick to Bergdorf Goodman in 1991, has become one of the most recognizable names in the business. Shimmer Brick Compact in Pink, $38, 877/310-9222, bobbibrowncosmetics.com For Scarlett Johansson's Mile-Long Lashes"Channel your inner Brigitte Bardot with false lashes. They're easier to wear than you think: Cut the strip in two and use the half with longer lashes at the outside corners of your eyes. This'll give you a more natural look. Andrea lashes #53 are my favorites." Carmindy Bowyer, one of the stars of TLC's What Not to Wear. Andrea Modlash in #53 Black, $3.25 per pair, 800/378-4786, drugstore.com For Jessica Simpson's Smoldering Gaze"The hot look now is smoky eyes. Start by applying a neutral base all over the eyelid, up to the brow. Next, use a light color on the entire lid. Then take a charcoal gray or a navy blue and apply it generously on the top outside corner of your lid. Don't forget the eyelash curler and mascara." Paula Dorf, whose products have been used by the likes of Sandra Bullock and Mandy Moore. Eye Color Glimmer in Prism and Midnight, Eye Color in Hussy, $19, 888/472-8523, pauladorf.com For Cameron Diaz's Red-Carpet Lips"Coat your lips with a little concealer, then outline them with a red lip pencil. Take a fabulous blue-red lipstick and apply it to the whole mouth. Finally, dab a silverized gloss--or gold if you're wearing gold jewelry--at the center of the lower lip. This absolutely puts you into party mode." Laura Geller, a frequent contributor to QVC. Crease-Less Concealer in Medium, $28; Dual-Ended Lipstick and Liner in Cherry Bing, $17; Lip Gloss in City Lights, $17; 800/625-3874, laurageller.com

Q: How did you become involved in the wine business? A: I met a friend, Lucie Morton, a young viticulturist who was running her family's vineyard, and my husband and I helped her pick grapes. Morton had a small press and we ran our pickings through and got the juice and she suggested that we get some small winemaking equipment and try and make wine out of it, which my husband did over the winter in our garage. It wasn't very good, but it got us hooked and we planted some vines the next spring and it went from there. Q: What were some of the hurdles, if any? A: There weren't any except trying to learn about this new business of wine grapegrowing, but there were many friends starting out at that time in the late 70's and early 80's and we had a lot of company on the learning curve. Q: What do you love most about your job? A: Everything except the expense of operating a winery. This is Oakencroft's 24th year and we are the oldest winery in Albemarle County. When I began in this business there were five wineries in Virginia. Now there are over 100, most with modern and very expensive equipment. I love drinking our own wine and meeting the customers in our Tasting Room and seeing them enjoy the fruits of our labor. Q: What advice do you have for someone who wants to do what you do? A: Start with a big bank roll and get expert advice on site selection and grape clones and be sure that you have experienced help in the vineyard and winery. Q: How are women changing the wine industry? A: I don't think that they are changing it but adding to it because there are more women owners, winemakers, viticulturists and expert wine educators. Q: What are some of the misconceptions about women and wine? A: I haven't found any except that we now know that women choose and buy more wine than they used to and tend to drink what pleases them rather than what the experts say they should drink. Q: Which of your own wines is your favorite and which wines do you generally prefer? A: Asking me that is like asking me which is my favorite child! I tend to like lightly oaked Chardonnays and Viogniers and Merlots. Oakencroft Vineyard & Winery, 1486 Oakencroft Lane, Charlottesvile, Virgina, 434-296-4188, oakencroft.com.

Introduction: Why a Wine Book for Women? If you're reading this, my guess is you enjoy wine. Whether you indulge regularly or only occasionally, reaching for a glass is a welcome pleasure. From cocktail hour to the dinner table, wine signals celebration, recreation, and relaxation. I think we can all agree, however, that wine can be a mystery. You know you like it, but often don't quite know why. Wine for Women is here to answer your questions and empower you to squeeze more enjoyment from each bottle you drink and dollar you spend. Need help making smart buying decisions or just want to be more confident navigating a wine list? This book is for you. If you're a time-challenged cook who enjoys wine with meals, this book is also for you. Interested in creative, entertaining ideas to share wine with family and friends? You're in the right place. Penned with passion for wine, my practical guide is ideal for busy women who love to eat and drink well. Depending upon what you want to learn, you can either skim for tips or dive for details. While I offer serious wine information, my book doesn't take itself too seriously. Remember, wine is fun! Are "Men from Bordeaux and Women from Burgundy"? You may be asking "Why a wine book for women?" Is the battle of the sexes now played out over dueling glasses of Chardonnay and Cabernet? Hardly. The point of this book is not to create a vinous male/female divide but rather to highlight wine information that is relevant to most women's daily lives. (Men reading this book--congrats for being secure enough with your feminine side to pick it up.) As the majority of wine buyers and drinkers in this country, women comprise the largest slice of the enological pie. According to the non-profit Wine Market Council, women now account for nearly 64 percent of all wine consumers. "Women are very key to the future of the industry," says John Gillespie, the organization's president. I agree, which is why I've written this book. The female skew shouldn't come as a surprise when you consider that women are generally the household shoppers. As national wine buyer for the retail chain Cost Plus World Markets, Mark Albrecht knows the power of the female consumer. "Eighty percent of our customers are women. I find they're very adventurous when it comes to wine and enjoy exploring bottles from all over the world." A recent study conducted for California's Canyon Road Winery concluded that women are more involved with wine than men. Of the more than one thousand wine drinkers surveyed, more women than men drink wine at restaurants, by itself as a cocktail, and in celebratory situations. Wine for women is not a status symbol or a collector's item; it's about enjoying life with family and friends one bottle at a time. What Women Want to Know: Buying, Pairing, and Sharing During my career as a wine writer and speaker, I would often be approached by women who wanted to know more. The idea of a wine book for women crystallized in my mind but I needed to understand what, if anything, would make the female perspective on the subject unique. After compiling research done by others and conducting my own interviews and surveys, I discovered the majority of women are less focused on wine ratings, vintage charts, and acquiring bottles. Forget the notion that women sip white while men slurp red (women actually drink more red than white these days). It is not about what's in the bottle but how we approach what's in the bottle. Women tend to be interested in personal recommendations, food ideas, and helpful tips on finding wines that simply taste good. As a result, you'll find chapters organized into sections I've called THE BIG THREE: BUYING, PAIRING, and SHARING. This is what we do with wine--head to the store and buy something to drink that night, take it home to serve with dinner, and uncork it with our family and friends. Buying sections are focused on how to buy wine by taste and style, and highlight wine regions as they correlate to what you might actually see on store shelves, hence the focus on wine labels. Pairing sections offer practical, everyday advice on enjoying wine and food together. They come complete with shopping lists and Design-a-Dinner suggestions for people with busy lives, or for those who want easy meal ideas. Sharing sections address common questions about storing and serving wine, giving wine as gifts, and entertaining with wine from casual picnics and brunch gatherings to once-in-a-living celebrations. Wine is an intimidating subject, but it doesn't have to be. When I first started learning about wine I as afraid to open my mouth if I couldn't correctly pronounce the name of a wine or region. But my desire to explore overtook any embarrassment and I simply asked lots of questions and pointed to the bottle I wanted. The wine doesn't care, right? Now, even when I can't say something perfectly, it doesn't matter. I buy it, try it, and remember it for the next time. That's the beauty of wine information, which I think of as building blocks. Each time you learn something new, it's like placing one block on top of another. Over time, you build up layers of knowledge and confidence. If you walk away remembering just one thing each time you open this book or taste a new bottle, you've succeeded and so have I. From the book WINE FOR WOMEN: A Guide to Buying, Pairing and Sharing Wine by Leslie Sbrocco (lesliesbrocco.com). Copyright 2003 by Leslie Sbrocco. Reprinted by permission of William Morrow Cookbooks, an Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.