Ginger Prince with smoked egg salad on a croissant
It’s Rosé All May, and it’s time to say hey to summer with the Ginger Prince hailing from the cool granite highlands of the Strathbogie Ranges 90 minutes northeast of Melbourne, in the heart of Victoria, Australia. A high-altitude and cool climate region, Strathbogie Ranges are built from 360 million year old boulders on a huge granite peninsula pushed up from the ocean. Continue reading
2 classic CA Chardonnay with shrimp
“What do you mean, Chardonnay Day?” Sitting in the midst of a Ventura County vineyard, we were taking a break from the hot sun and the rather intensive work of shaping the over grown goblet vines back into something that resembled trees. Our break, of course, included wine and sandwiches from Fillmore’s Roan Bakery. But no Chardonnay, I remarked, and “What about Chardonnay Day?” I asked.
The appropriately named Rick Bakas came up with the idea of Chardonnay Day following the success of Cabernet Day. Now, just about every wine you can name off the top of your head has its own day.
And Sue Hill and I are happy to try to celebrate all of them because Continue reading
Mauzac? No it’s not a typo for Muzak and no surprise that it’s an unfamiliar grape for most people! Mauzac is a rather rare grape–only 8k acres in 2000 grown in southwestern France, especially Gaillac and Limoux. It is also one of the lesser known of the seven white grapes permitted in Bordeaux, overshadowed by Sauvignon Blanc and semillon. Mauzac offers Continue reading
In the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon. Troon farms as if the world depends on how they do it, and the resulting wines pulse with vitality. Not only are they certified biodynamic by Demeter–which means they are also organic– but they recently earned the first “Regenerative Organic Agriculture” in Oregon and a Slow Wine Snail award in the about to be published 2022 edition of Slow Wine Guide which you can purchase here. Continue reading
inspiring SLOW WINES FROM CA
Sitting on volcanic tuff overlooking the plains of southwestern Umbria is the town of Orvieto, one of the oldest in Italy, dating back to the Etruscan period over 3000 years ago, in the landlocked Umbria region in central Italy known as the “green heart of Italy.” Home to the wines of Orvieto DOC, the town of Orvieto is known as the “City of Wine” because it is one of the most ancient cities of the world that has been dedicated to wine production throughout existence with tunnels and caves for making wine dug through the volcanic stone. In fact, the word for wine comes from an Umbrian word “vinu” says Attila Scienza. The cool caves were perfect for fermentation of the sweet white wine that made the region famous; in the 13th century, this thriving metropolis housed 30,000 people, more than in Rome!
In the 17th century, when the Pope repaired an ancient aqueduct, it was said: Continue reading
favorite foods for sauvignon blanc
Spring means my garden is full of nasturtiums, lemons, salad greens, mint, lavender, roses, and rosemary! The volunteer tomatoes are just getting rosy. And pairs so well with spring? Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre, in the Loire Valley, it’s ancestral home! Even though it is fall right now in New Zealand where the grape has made its mark, New Zealand and the rest of the world including Chile is paying attention to this zesty, herbal white wine because the first Friday in May is Sauvignon Blanc Day!
Sauvignon Blanc flowering in Fillmore, Ventura County, CA April 2022
So what are some of our favorite pairings for this food friendly wine?
wine predator.............. gwendolyn alley 