“We are excited to be back in Southern California with another slate of remarkable and innovative wineries from almost every California AVA,” said Garagiste Festival Co-founder Doug Minnick in a press release. “The Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure offers one of the most unique wine discovery opportunities available in the LA area.”
At a cost considerably less than a tank of gas for a trip to wine country, Southern California wine enthusiasts will congregate once more July 22 and 23 at the Garagiste Wine Festival’s Urban Exposure where they will taste wine from some of the best up and coming micro-production ‘garagiste’ wineries from across California, Continue reading →
What is it about Sauvignon Blanc that makes it so appealing, especially in the summer time? Is it the way Sauvignon Blanc goes so well with salads and other tastes of summer? Is it the notes of gooseberry aka “cat pee”? The jalapeño jelly? Grapefruit? Lemon lime? White stone fruit? Pine resin? Grassy herbal notes? Depending on what you prefer, and what glass you use, there is a Sauvignon Blanc for you! Continue reading →
In this corner, Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc from Touraine. And in that corner, Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux’s Graves. Let the competition begin! First, a straight tasting. And then pairing with Grilled Pesto Stuffed Chicken and an amazing fried goat cheese salad!
Vive la France! Even before our Declaration of Independence, the Kingdom of France secretly shipped supplies to the Continental Army, and two years after July 4, 1776, that alliance was solidified with a treaty in 1778. On July 14, 1789, the French followed suit in declaring their independence from the monarchy, and here in the US, we often think of Bastille Day on July 14th as “France’s Independence Day.” But in France, Bastille Day is known as La Fête Nationale. Just like our July 4 Independence Day, celebrations include speeches, military parades, and fireworks to mark the anniversary of the fall of the medieval fortress, Bastille, in Paris, on July 14, 1789. And wine of course! Lots and lots of wine!
Of course you could celebrate with French sparkling wine from Champagne wine — or scroll down and check out Sosie Wines, which twins French sensibilities and style to grown French grapes in California terroir.
For a summer time celebration, it’s grill time! Sue paired four meats — fish, beef, pork, and chicken–with different sauces, and Marshall grilled them. Continue reading for all of the details!
Orange wines for summer times? No, I don’t mean some sort of orange juice infused wine or wine cocktail (although you can find some darn good juicy cocktails here!) Far from it. Orange wines are white wines made with the kind of skin contact typical of red wines– there is no orange juice involved at all. Usually white wines are made with brief contact with the skin; the juice is immediately pressed off. That extended skin contact tints the wine so that it has a deeper hue, almost an orange or even amber color. Often, orange wines are made in amphora which are large clay or concrete vessels.
With summer in full swing, and backyard gatherings back post-pandemic, it’s time for summer craft cocktails! We have six craft cocktails createdby Sue Hill for you featuring Ventura Spirits: Wilder Gin, Opuntia Cactus Pear Brandy, Strawberry Brandy, and from Sideyard Shrubs: Peach, Prickly Pear, and Fingerling Lime. Plus three bonus cocktails: one with Sideyard Shrub with Corvezzo Organic Prosecco, and two Continue reading →
Queens of Langhe: Mother Daughter Duo Anna and Valentina Abbona of Marchesi di Barolo on a ZOOM with me
Introducing the “Queens of Langhe: Mother Daughter Duo Anna and Valentina Abbona of Marchesi di Barolo!” We first met on an early morning Zoom on Women’s Day in March, and I used my Coravin on the three wines to preserve them for the day when Sue and I could pair them appropriately — which we did a few weeks later with osso bucco. Then I met them in person in LA at a big Barolo and Barberesco tasting! From Italy’s Piedmont, and the CANTINE MARCHESI DI BAROLO, please welcome Mother Daughter Dynamic Duo Anna and Valentina Abbona!
wine predator.............. gwendolyn alley 