Following the wine country wildfires, returning to the keyboard has been hard. What to write that would be healing, pay tribute to the incredible work of firefighters and first responders, and celebrate the spirit of community and hospitality that is bringing wine country back so fast? Then it hit me: wine country comfort food
The knock-your-socks-off end-of-summer pairing is a no-heat, no meat even, match with Napa Cabernet or really any favorite red wine with some grip and spunk. Tomatoes+basil+Cabernet=music for your mouth.
In this heat, we need summer bubbles and roses to cool things down and perk up our palates for all that delicious summer salad and grill fare. I have recently discovered some great bottlings that are made even greater by their bargain price tag …
First, ditch your snobbery about Riesling. A lot of people hear Riesling and they think “sweet” and “no thanks.” My theory is that as soon as people spot the traditional long, thin bottle, they have flashbacks to Liebfraumilch.
It is a big week on my home turf, gearing up for Auction Napa Valley 2017. This community effort led by the Napa Valley Vintners raises money for local community health care and education–$170 million to date! I could not be prouder to be part of a home town that leverages our most famous and globally-coveted product–wine
Tasting wine like a pro with the 5 S’s of tasting isn’t just for the pros. YOU need to use this technique too.
I love the heady style of Champagne with its scents and flavors right out of a French patisserie. So how about a Mother’s Day taste-test of several such bottlings to explore the style in-depth. You in?
A quick quiz on the main styles of bubbly to test your fizz-spertease.
