Wine: Weekly Download (from Napa County!)

This week's weekly wine download comes from one of the most eminent wine regions of California, Napa County!

Had a fantastic weekend camping out and hoppin' and poppin' along the Silverado Trail and tasting some outstanding wines!

Over the course of the weekend I got to hit:

• Black Stallion Estate Winery

• Monticello - Corley Family Vineyards

• Pine Ridge Vineyards

• And last but certainly not least Chimney Rock Winery

All of these estates were fascinating to taste, and even more so to visit as you move through the valley and see how microclimates affect the different growing conditions of the wine.

Napa is one of those places you have to do at some point if you want to understand the historical context of wine making in California, and really the United States.

The thing I really enjoyed about this weekend was learning more about Cabernet Sauvignons that I normally don't drink a lot.

Napa put Cabernet Sauvignon on the map, and to be able to taste in one of the top Cabernet producing regions in the world was magical.

Cheers to a good weekend of enjoying the beauty of California, its rich bounty of wonderful wines!

Safe travels to all this week!

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Wine: Weekly Download

Just catching up with last weekend, and dropping a weekly wine download.

Found THE spot at The Cheese Shop in Carmel!

Three wines and some cheese for $16? Let’s just say, I’ll be spending a lot time in Carmel...

Also checked out Scheid Vineyards’ tasting room in Carmel, which was a blast.

Quick tip from Kris’s Wine Sense:

A lot of tasting rooms in the US (will have to cover tasting rooms in Europe in a separate post) have a standard tasting menu and an estate or reserve tasting menu.

I personally don’t do an estate or reserve tasting menu until I’ve tried the standard tasting menu, because if the wines on the standard tasting menu don’t grab my attention or are something I enjoy, I don’t see myself spending the money on the reserve.

On the flip side, sometimes tasting rooms will have wines and wine styles on the reserve menu that you might not be able to taste on the standard menu, so take those opportunities to try the things that you enjoy!

Be intentional with your palate and your pocket book, and try stuff that you’re interested in and drawn too. . Also, don’t be afraid to push the limits, and try something that is outside your comfort zone!

Cheers

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Wine: Weekly Download

Weekly wine download:

Checked out Carmel Valley and one of the wineries there, Boekenoogen Wines, and had a nice little tasting, although my palate is still recovery from a nasty little cold that knocked me out for a week, hence the lack of posts.

Nothing a little wine won’t fix!

Stopped in Paso Robles last night, and perused through some Spanish varietals of Diablo Paso which provided the perfect amount of spice to free up the sinuses. They are famed to have the best Tempranillo in Paso and this doctor concurs!

After getting a quick recommendation I rolled over to Indigene Cellars and got to sample some great Reserve Pinots (actually picked in Carmel Valley from up the road) and good Sangiovese.

Raymond, the owner, knows how to pour his wines and make you feel welcome in his spot. . After a little wine this weekend and kicking this cold, current priorities of work: more wine. I mean Christmas shopping... Two birds with one stone? Lotta bottles going in the stockings this year!

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Joshua Tree - Image Winery

The other night, while hanging out in Joshua Tree, I got to enjoy one of my favorite wines from this year, Imagery Winery Pinot Noir.

I was fortunate enough to visit them back in March when I was scoping out different wineries in Sonoma County.

What I remember best was how I was the only one there, yet they pulled out every stop to make sure my wine tasting experience was five star, regardless of who I was.

Also, got to meet their head winemaker, Jamie Benziger, who gave some insights and context in how they distinguish their wines, and gave me some great recommendations on where to go next.

Needless to say, I'll be making a visit back to Imagery Winery very soon…

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Fashionably Late...

Like wine? Yep, me too. Show up late to all the parties? Two things we have in common.

That’s why I put together a short list of four holiday wine picks that can show up fashionably late but still deliver in style.

Check it out in my stories on Instagram, and get a couple ideas for when you’re at the grocery store tomorrow at 2:59pm and the store closes at 3 pm and dinner was served at 1…

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Sweet Moments and Celebrations

When life gives you those sweet moments to share with those who matter most to you, celebrations are in order.

And what better place to celebrate in than New Orleans.

Thanks so much to Phil and Jean for the bottle of Veuve Clicquot that we all got to share in!

Having been to Champagne, France, when you open a bottle of champagne, and not just any sparkling wine, you have a little greater sense of appreciation for the people who crafted these fantastic products.

Even more fun is being able to share insights and stories from these places you’ve been to and being able to explain the why behind the wine.

Not to mention, dining at little local eateries like Oak Oven Restaurant just adds to the ambience of an evening out.

P.S. Happy birthday to the big guy, UK. Tonight will be quite the soirée!

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Pairing: Cabernet Sauvignon/Turkey Chili Mac

Picked up this little gem last week at The Wine Cellar and Tasting Room fall sale, and I must say I was impressed with its hint of spice.

The perfect companion to SOFlete meal prep Turkey Chili Mac tonight. Just because we’re on on a diet, and it’s a school night, doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun and a lotta flavor. After sippin’ on euro wines for a while now, I can say the bolder flavors and earthy undertones of this Cabernet Sauvignon were a welcomed breath of fresh air.

Stay tuned for more of these soon

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Travel: Worlds Largest Weinfest

World’s largest Weinfest! Another tick off the bucket list.

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In Search of Grand Cru

Constantly in search of Grand Cru.

In French wine making, they have this term.

It’s called Grand Cru.

Only the best vines, planted in the best locations, with the best soil, with steep elevation, that get the best sunlight and produce the best grapes can be called Grand Cru.

There’s something to be taken from this concept, excellence.

The French realized early on that only the best conditions will produce the best grapes

I think we can use the same logic in our own lives.

If we want to produce our own best grapes, we need things like a lot of sunlight (good vibes), established roots in good soil (the environments we choose to put ourselves in), and changes in our elevations (constantly pushing ourselves to new levels).

Yea sure, you can make ok grapes with all the basic elements and a little sunlight. But once you go to make the wine, it’s not going to taste as good as it could be.

We can choose to seek out those conditions that are going to produce Grand Cru grapes in our lives.

And just like the wine, I’d be willing to bet when we produce Grand Cru in our lives, it tastes pretty good!

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Travel: Weinfest

“But do you have the meats?”

“Yea. I got the meats. I got all the meats.” .

Over the past 10 days I embarked on a culinary, enological and cultural adventure: Weinfest!

Everyday was a chance to try some fastidiously crafted Rieslings, Blanc de Noirs, Sekts, and a few other German specialties.

Thankful I got plugged into an awesome crew here that could show me the ropes, help me navigate the wine selections, and steer me away from the soggy schnitzels.

It also made me super grateful for being able to find people in new places that you can connect with.

I don’t know where you look for what you seek to find, but I’ve found if you invest in the people and experiences around you you’ll be amazed what you find around the corner.

Good food, great wine, and awesome people are what good times are made of. .

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Bittersweet Blog Post/Bittersweet Riesling

Bittersweet today, kind of like this glass of Riesling, closing the chapter on one notebook, and starting a new one tomorrow.

This notebook has been through a lot with me, and has been there to help keep my mind right and stay focused on the tasks at hand.

I’ve been fortunate enough to spend some time around some high performers, high achievers and highly effective people (read “not me” lol), and what I’ve noticed is their use of a notebook to keep their thoughts organized.

The notebook will never lose its place in the office or in the field.

Couldn’t think of a better way to sum up 18 months of using the same notebook than sipping on some bittersweet Riesling to toast the last chapter and christen the new one.

Cheers to good notebooks and good wine.

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What is My Fascination with Wine?!

A lot of people ask me what my fascination with wine is. So I thought I’d take a moment to share with you what keeps me always coming back for more:⠀

Wine absolutely intrigues me. I love stories, especially about wine, and I love seeing where myth, legend and history all blend together to become the story behind a varietal, vineyard, or even a singular vintage.⠀

To me, wine is infinitely complex. It’s uncharted territory. I could spend a lifetime learning everything about wine and never know everything. Which makes it my final frontier. It’s not about how much I learn about wine. It’s about the process of learning about all the wines. It’s the person I can become by focusing on wine and learning what I can.⠀

Lastly, wine is just fun. It’s fun to taste, fun to try and compare different styles, and there’s never a lack of options and varieties. To some people wine can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. I think the trick is just start tasting and learning. That’s the fun part.⠀

What do you enjoy most about wine?

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Transylvanian Wine

Oh snap! You thought I was going to go to another country and not taste some local wines?

I gotchu

Check out these bad Larries I had down in Székesfehérvár, Hungary!

Oh and one of them is from Transylvania. Yea, bats and Dracula Transylvania. Not geographically located in Hungary, but when someone offers you Transylvanian wine, you say more please.

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Aperitivos Before the Weekend Wine Report...

Anyone else happy it’s friyay?? In celebration of crushing another week, and to toast the weekend, I’ve (finally) compiled your WEEKEND WINE REPORT.

Over the weekend I’ll be dropping some wine knowledge bombs and showing you the best of Tuscan wines.

In true Italian style, this will be a drawn out affair. So to get everyone loose before it’s officially the weekend, here are some Aperitivos that will get the juices flowing and ripen the moment. Hopefully this gives you a little weekend inspiration and gets you in an “enjoy the moment” mood as we move into the weekend.

Click here to savor the Aperitivos!

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Wine: Justin Wine Cabernet

This just in.....Justin Wine Cabernet is my wine of choice for tomorrow! It has a smooth complex with an even balance of acidity and tannins, all at a great price!

At around the $20 price point a steal for its class of wine! The least you can do for all the time you put into that turkey, is pair it with a nice bottle of wine! Thankful for all the wines this year! Cheers!

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Wine: la Vieille Julienne

The best things in life are worth waiting for. I’ve been holding on to this pretty lady right here since I got back from France last month and it’s almost time top to pop her open...

On the Wine Menu tonight: la Vieille Julienne

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Wine and Cheese: Southern Whey

All the wines. All the cheeses. And all the flannel.

Thanks to Southern Whey for the cheese!

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Well Made Wine and Well Made Podcasts: GuildSomm

I really enjoy a well made glass of wine.

I don’t like to jump on my high horse and tout my laurels about vintages, I just thoroughly enjoy the multifaceted characteristics of not just well made wine, but the wine industry in general. I find it fascinating how much time, energy and a little bit of luck goes into developing those inky and bold reds that I find myself drinking right now.

There’s nothing wrong with beer. I enjoy a good “craft” beer every once in a while. But for me wine will always be infinitely more complex and has infinitely more possibilities for flavors, composition and body.

I recently listened to a podcast episode by GuildSomm that featured Dave Phinney who is a wine maker out in California. This podcast episode “Big Visions” not only deepened my relationship with the wines Dave has produced, such as the infamous Prisoner Wine Company but also I appreciated his story of being a craftsman and refining his craft over the past 20 years.

He finished off with three points that I’ll close with:

1. Show up on time and if you agree to do something, do it.

2. Put your head down and work.

3. Don’t believe your own press.

If you like wine and want to hear the story behind wine, you should listen to the GuildSomm podcast and follow my Instagram too! But you should also listen if you like a good story. I think we all like good stories.