For Spring, try Salade Niçoise and this cheeseboard with red or rose wine from Languedoc #Winophiles
What wine region stretches “from the rugged coastline of the Mediterranean Sea to the dramatic peaks of the Pyrenees mountains” and “is one of the largest wine regions in the world” boasting “a breathtaking mosaic of vineyards, olive groves, and medieval villages” that “make it the archetypal Mediterranean wine country?” France’s Languedoc– this month’s Winophiles these with host Martin Redmond Enofylz. He introduces the May theme of Languedoc by saying that the Languedoc’s “diverse terroir, combined with a Mediterranean climate characterized by warm, sunny days and cool breezes, provides the perfect conditions for cultivating a wide range of grape varieties.” But we love it because we love Grenache and the Languedoc also loves Grenache!
In Italy May 2024! Wine Travel to Toscana, Sicilia, Campania
The landscape north of Rome is lush and flower filled on the right and views of the ocean and islands dominate the left. I drove up mostly along the coast a little over an hour, and then headed toward the hills and Saturnia, home of some of the most beautiful hot springs in the world. As a hot springs aficionado I would know– and yet my previous trip here I only had time to ogle them from afar and not soak in them. That will change this trip as I am staying here for longer and with a more relaxed schedule.
Traveling over multiple time zones is confusing to mind, body, soul, and electronics. Some are more perplexed than others, some sleep like a baby, and others are given super power to just keep going and going and going and going much like the Energizer Bunny (yep I’m in the Energizer Bunny Category — hence this blog post! But then again, fading fast and might just hit publish on some deranged idea or a missive full of typos! ) Continue reading
Ventura Viognier from Ojai Vineyard, Wildflower Winery Paired with Oysters, Cheese, Duck
The Final Friday in April is Viognier Day (vee-ON-yay and vee-OWN-yay). DNA profiling at University of California, Davis in 2004 revealed viognier, a white grape, as closely related to two Italian red grapes: Freisa, and a genetic cousin of Nebbiolo. No wonder it has such attractive aromas!
Celebrating World Malbec Day with 3 Wines from Argentina Paired with Blue Cheese and Mushroom Smothered Smoked Pork Loin
Like Tannat finding a home in Uruguay from Europe, Malbec is another transplant from France to South America that is doing exceptionally well there. On April 17 in 1853, Argentina’s wine industry transformed when French soil expert Michel Aimé Pouget showed Argentineans how to adapt French varietals, including Malbec, to Argentina. Wines of Argentina created Malbec World Day on April 17 to celebrate Malbec from Argentina and “to position Argentine Malbec as one of the most prominent in the world.” Every April 17th, and throughout the month of April, look for different activities around the globe about Argentinean Malbec.
Wine has been made in Argentina since the 1500s, and today Argentina is one of the top five producing wine countries in the world. Continue reading
Uruguay Tames Tannat: Pisano, Montes, Ballena, Giménez Méndez with Charcuteríe, Smoked Prime Rib
While Tannat came from France to northern Uruguay, it is in this small South American nation wedged between Argentina and Brazil that Tannat has made a name for itself. Pascual Harriague brought Tannat vines from his native Basque region to Salto, northern Uruguay in 1870. Harriague’s fate is tied so intimately with Tannat that it became known by his name, and
Tannat Day is held annually today, on the 14th April –the day Harriague passed away in 1894.
Oh hi, hybrids! Adam Tolmach Experiments with UC Davis to replant his Ojai Vineyard with hybrids
How can farmers and winemakers mitigate against possible disasters imposed by fire, drought, pests, weather?
The climate crisis and increased heat globally has changed weather patterns; the seemingly ceaseless and dependable summer coastal California fog is less dependable. The ever present threat of Pierce’s and other disease vectors is worse with the stress of global warming. Increased intense heat in the vineyards along with drought conditions further threaten grape vines.
One answer to these myriad problems? Hybrid grapes farmed in experimental ways like what Adam Tolmach is doing at The Ojai Vineyard with vines from UC Davis planted in 2017.