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 →
Hillsides surrounding the vineyards at Sanford and elsewhere in Southern California are covered in bright yellow mustard flowers; the barley cover crop was chosen to draw excess moisture from the soil in this rainy year.
Looking for a wild flower show? With a side of wine?
If so, head to the Santa Barbara Hills in April… and if you’re lucky you’ll also catch the Vintners New Release Spring Weekend more here.
Along the way you will be thrilled by spring green hillsides with yellow mustard, splashes of patches of orange poppies, strips of purple vetch, asters, lupine, and others, plus fields of orangey-yellow fiddleneck along with vines budding out in Chartreuse and Peridot near deep emerald oak trees with bright shiny leaves. Continue reading →
Mammoth Mountain’s record breaking snow January 2017
In California, we have had a long wet dark winter with epic rain and snow.
record breaking rain in Santa Cruz mountains
You’ve probably read about it in the news if you haven’t experienced it yourself.
And while it’s almost March, it’s not over. Winter is not over.
from Chair 14 at Mammoth
my family and I at the top of Mammoth Mountain
Mammoth Mountain’s epic snow in 2017
I know, I know, technically, winter kicks the bucket in three weeks on the equinox Monday March 20 at 3:30am PST and the days will once again be longer than the nights. But there will be more rain and more snow. You can bet on it.
SO WE HAVE THREE MORE WEEKS OR MORE OF WINTER NO MATTER WHAT THE GROUNDHOG OR THE ALMANAC HAS TO SAY!
And while you might be distracted by the Super Bowl, the Grammy’s, the Oscars, and maybe Mardi Gras if you’re lucky (and I happen to be lucky enough to have an awesome Mardi Gras party in Ojai next week to look forward to…)
SPRING and SUMMER TIME PARTIES AND BBQS ARE A LONG WAY OFF!
What to do? How to fend off the darkness, the boredom, the tedium of more snow and rain? How to survive the final three weeks of winter and that first cold month of spring?
Not a trivial wine for trivia night!
Our answer? Host a game night for friends and family with grilled cheese and fun wine!
For our wines, we chose two: Black Light 2015 white wine blend that comes with a flashlight and Q and A, a red Bordeaux blend. like Black Light and Q and A both from Rubin Family wines!Keep reading for a review of Black Light White and Q & Red along with how to make some fabulous grilled cheese sandwiches!
Looking for an Earth friendly and budget friendly red wine? Recently Que Syrah Sue and I tasted the 2012 Syrah, Carmenere, and Cabernet Sauvignon from Montes Winery which dry farmed (note the cobwebs on the water spigots?) and is certified under the Wines of Chile Sustainable Code. These wines retail for under $20 making them perfect candidates for Earth Month festivities. Look for the distinctive angel iconography on the Montes Winery label which began when owner Douglas Murray survived two near-fatal automobile accidents;
the angel symbolizes the winery’s philosophy to be a positive force and influence.
Happy Valentine’s Day! As Art Predator and Wine Predator, I’m on the prowl for good wine and good adventures! May your Valentine’s Day be full of joyous adventures with fine wine, good times, and good friends!
Have an adventurous Valentine’s Day! Cheers!
Remember to celebrate Valentine’s Day every day with romance, adventure, and fun! That might mean sparkling wine and fancy dinners or something as simple as a heart shaped bagel and a foot rub!
How do you like to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Will you be opening any special wine? We began our celebration last Sunday with steak and lobster paired with Chalk Hill Chardonnay and Cantara Cellars Franknvine, and we’ll keep celebrating over the ling weekend with wine from Steven Kent (leftovers from tomorrow’s tasting!) and Chile too!
No matter how you celebrate Valentine’s Day this year–with red, white, rose, or bubbles!– a toast to YOU, my readers and subscribers! Cheers!
Oh and can you help ME go on an adventure? Just vote here for me to go to Chile where I will blog my heart out for you about the food, the wine, and the adventure!
Welcome to February Fun –the Fat Tuesday edition where I’ll share details about this week’s events.
Tue. Feb. 12 Fat Tuesday
Thu. Feb. 14 Valentine’s Day
Thu. Feb. 14-18 Valentine n Wine, Ventura County
Fri. Feb. 15 Twitter Tasting 4-6pm PST Steven Kent Winery
Sat. Feb. 16 Garagiste South Tasting, Solvang
Thu. Feb. 21 City of Bordeaux Twitter Wine Party
Fri. Feb. 22 Dark and Delicious Petite Sirah Tasting, Rock Wall, Alameda
Tue. Feb. 12 Fat Tuesday!
Did you know today is Pancake Day? Do you know why? (And what do you pair with pancakes??) According to wikipedia, during Lent, people often give up rich foods including butter, milk and eggs, key ingredients in pancakes. Because so many people would use these ingredients up by making pancakes the day before Lent, it became known as PANCAKE DAY! (What do YOU pair with pancakes and syrup? Riesling? Something sparkling and a bit sweet?)
While I suggested pancakes for dinner to my husband, Chef Tim Kilcoyne at The Sidecar Restaurant is doing it up right with gumbo and oyster po boys and more–with oysters from the Jolly Oyster, of course–and my husband has got his hopes up for that!
Th Feb 14-18 Valentine n Wine, Ventura County: Starting on Valentine’s Day and going all weekend is the third annual Valentine n Wine passport weekend event in Ventura County. Continue reading →
wine predator.............. gwendolyn alley 