Meet Sciaccarellu, Niellucciu, Carcaghjolu Neru, and Minustellu from Corsica!
If you’re looking for something new and exciting to liven up your wintry days, or maybe looking for something a bit romantically French just in time for Valentine’s, how about a new to you French grape or region? Honestly, it’s been a miserable January here in Southern California with fog and fires and wind and power outages, and now it’s drizzly with major storms on the horizon. So we’re ready to travel –by glass anyway –to Corsica, a French island in the Mediterranean Sea that offers unusual wines made by uncommon grapes like Sciaccarellu, Niellucciu, Carcaghjolu Neru, and Minustellu. Continue reading →
Get Sideways in Santa Barbara County at Garagiste Festival 2/8 and at World of Pinot Noir Feb. 28
After a dry January (in more ways than one), I’m ready for a WET February! How about you? Tis the season for wine festivals and festivities and yes I am here for it! Here’s a few events on my radar — including a series of creativity workshops I’m leading that are inspired by books and include guided wine tastings!
First, Feb. 8! Who’s headed to the Garagiste Festival Continue reading →
“The soul of a wine is when it speaks to a place. If you don’t have that, then you’ve missed everything. And that quest is why we’re so fired up to be here.”— Paul Hobbs
These wines are made near the oldest known winery– a cave that dates back over 6,000! Nothing like starting the New Year with something that’s new and actually very very old! Continue reading →
What pairs with Mexican food and the celebration of your sister’s life? That was my challenge when we returned from a walk to the beach at sunset where we tossed stones into the sea with messages. We were hosting a celebration of life for my sister who would have turned 60 on Tuesday, Jan. 7.
Throwing a stone into the sea for Laurie, my sister; photo by Claudia Miklas
We grilled tritip, we made beans and rice, heated tortillas, had chips and salsa, and friends brought enchiladas, tamales, and more. We had Mexican beer and limes, plus tequila, and margarita mix.
But what did my friends want? Wine! Wine chosen by their friend the wine expert! Specifically red wine to go with tritip with Mexican chili seasonings, and all the fixings for burritos or tacos.
So what wine? It felt like a momentous decision. It felt like a monument decision. Trying to decide what wine really brought her loss home to me in a way that nothing else had yet. And that we drinking a toast to her and not with her. Continue reading →
Happy New Year’s Eve! If there’s any day out of the year that calls for sparkling wine, this is it! In fact it’s even National Champagne Day — whatever that means! Sparkling wine is made in every wine region of the world– and since wine is made in every state in the union, I bet you can find a sparkling wine made everywhere in the US also– and one for every budget!
rockfish and cava from Spain
In 2024, we published MANY articles featuring sparkling wines and pairings! (I knew we like to write about sparkling wine, but wow, so many!) In review, here are some ideas for you– sparkling wines from around the world and the foods we enjoyed with them!
Albert Bichot Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Réserve from France
Zurab (in Georgian ზურაბ) is a Georgian man’s name that derives from the Persian name of a legendary warrior associated with the acts of bravery and courage. Today that bravery and courage is expressed by these protesters. At Zurab Gvaladze Wine Cellar, a small family winery in Imereti (Western Georgia), Zurab Gvaladze took the eco-warrior’s role to turn the winery founded in 1900 by his great grandfather into a commercial one in 2016 that stays true to traditions
9diDANTE vermouth cocktails– like an Alpine sip of summertime anytime!
I used to belong to the dry gin martini club where the role of vermouth was a rinse of the glass and a swift dump. Or just open the vermouth and wave it over the martini glass. Vermouth smelled nasty, and I couldn’t imagine tasting it alone, or wasting a good gin by mixing it with something else. That opinion has changed in recent years as I have discovered high quality vermouth– vermouth worthy of your palate alone and in your cocktail glass!
As they say for New Year’s, out with the old and in with the new!
wine predator.............. gwendolyn alley 