Camarillo Barrelworks co-owner Chris Brown behind the register
Wine, wine, wine.
That’s all I do right?
Actually, I drink quite a few sips of beer too! Continue reading
Happy 2nd Anniversary to Flat Fish!
Author Archives: Gwendolyn Alley aka Art Predator
A Duckhorn Vertical for #MerlotDay Paired with Pomegranate Rosemary Braised Lamb Shanks
Duckhorn Vertical paired with lamb shanks with pomegranate gravy on mashed potatoes
It’s time to give merit where merit is due: much maligned MERLOT.
Well, maligned about 15 years go. That is one seriously long lasting hangover!
People in the know KNOW that merlot is the way to go if you’re looking for a mellow companion to a heavy hitting meal. From lamb to duck to salmon to tuna steaks to prime rib, MERLOT marries fruit with herbal notes to make your meal merry.
Godfather III: Turley Zin vs Barricone Primitivo #ItalianFWT
Turley Zin and Barricone Primitivo
Having started out in wine working the tasting room at Ridge Vineyards (which at that time was outside on a picnic table under a deck!), I’ve long been a fan of Zinfandel. My writing partner, Sue Hill, grew up in an Italian family making ravioli by hand and drinking Pesenti Zinfandel from Paso Robles.
Knowing there’s a relationship between Primitivo and Zinfandel, we proposed to the Italian Food Wine Travel group to take a look at Italy’s Primitivo and ask “Is Primitivo The Godfather of Zinfandel”? Continue reading
Godfather Part II: A Preview of #ItalianFWT and a Comparison of Miraflores Primitivo and Zinfandel
Miraflores Zinfandel and Primitivo
I knew they were supposed it be one and the same, Continue reading
Celebrating with 3 Bottles of Bubbles and Bisque: It’s My Bloggoversary!
As the world waits with baited breath for the results of the 2020 US election, there is still much to celebrate. We have a democracy. Even with rampant voter suppression, a record breaking number of us voted.
And there are personal reasons too to celebrate.
Thanksgiving, Solstice, Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Years are all on the horizon.
Comforting Montinore’s Biodynamic Lagrein and Teroldego Paired with Instant Pot Italian Pot Roast (recipe)
Montinore and pot roast
As the nights and days cool, and the green leaves go gold and and fall to the ground, our attention turns to comfort food and wine to go with it.
For Sue and I, that means Italian food. Nearing the end of a long Spring under lockdown, when we were released but still concerned, we went for these three red blends made from Italian grape varieties from Four Brix, Lucas and Llewellyn, and Montinore.
Now here we are solidly in Autumn, but at another transition: it’s Election Day, and a good time to once again turn our attention to comfort food and wine, which again means Italian. Later this week, we have Primitivo and Zinfandel from Miraflores in El Dorado, then we compare and contrast a Turley Zinfandel with an Italian Primitivo. We’re pairing these wines with food inspired by The Godfather movies.
But today, we again turn to biodynamic Montinore (and that’s not because, based on all of my friends talking about day drinking today, you can drink more biodynamic wine without getting a hangover!) Continue reading
wine predator.............. gwendolyn alley 