Hillary and the Blood-Red Bubbly

So, there we were, the Hillary fans, lined up in front of the television, steaming hot homemade pizzas on the the table (the "grownup" pizza -- sauteed mushrooms, onions, garlic and anchovies -- was particularly divine), waiting.   We were preparing for the bloodletting, the ritual resignation of Hillary from her campaign, her handover of the holdout delegates to the Chosen One, Obama.

What sort of libation would be appropriate for the occasion?  Not an everyday event, watching a strong woman in a persimmon pantsuit -- who has come closer than any woman to being President of these United States-- hand over her ambition, while her husband cries in the stands.  Certainly no wimpy old Chardonnay is gonna do it.  It wouldn't be good with the anchovies, anyway.

I fished around in my wine cabinet and came up with a winner:  2007 Lini 1910 "Lambrusca" sparkling Lambrusco Rosso ($16).  Yes, it's a sparkling red wine, produced since 1910 by four generations of la famiglia Lini -- the latest Lini winemaker is a woman, by the way -- in Correggio.  It even comes capped with a champagne cork in a wire cage.  We chilled it, served it, watched as Hillary delivered her speech in a series of powerful, gracious knock-out punches, and drank a silent toast to her:   oddly sad, oddly celebratory, just like the blood-red bubbly in our glasses.  Which was delicious with that grownup pizza. 

As for her weepy hubby, we'll be toasting his speech tonight with a margarita, and perhaps a glass of this.  Hillary, you go girl, and we can't wait to see what Cabinet post you get.