2013 Fields Family Wines Tempranillo: A Lodi Tempranillo whose savory character evokes Rioja Fruit for this wine was sourced from the first Tempranillo vineyard planted in Lodi. It was fermented on native yeast, and raised in neutral French oak. Bottled unfined/unfiltered. Dark ruby color with exuberant black cherry, cigar box , plum, damp earth…
Lugana: Italy’s (Mostly) Hidden Gem #ItalianFWT
During a trip to Italy last month, I wanted to try as many “new to me” wines as possible. The most memorable of the many white wines I tried was from the Lugana DOC. The theme for this month’s Italian Food Wine and Travel (#ItalianFWT) is unique towns of Italy. Well if you know anything…
Wine of the Day: 2012 Bruce Patch Wines “Take Five” Red Blend
A fruit driven Sonoma Valley red blend that’s a real crowd pleaser! The Bruce Patch Wine “Take Five” Red Blend was inspired by one of the most performed jazz tunes of all time, Dave Brubeck’s legendary song of the same name. This wine was blended from five grapes — 50% merlot, 20% syrah, 18% malbec,…
A Taste of Cinque Terre Food And Wine
My wife and I are vacationing in Italy for a few weeks! We’re taking the Rick Steves Best of Italy In 17 Days Tour and adding on a few more days in Rome and Positano. For the last couple of days we’ve been in Monterosso del Mare. Monterosso is the largest of the five towns that…
Wine Of The Day: 2013 Josetta Saffirio Langhe Rossese Bianco
Rossese Bianco is a grape native to the Cinque Terra region of Italy. It made its way to the Langhe in the late nineteenth century, and was rediscovered in old vineyards of Monforte in the mid 70s. The Langhe Rossese Bianco DOC was established in 2011, acknowledging it as a grape variety native to…
Wine of the Day: 2013 Urbano Cellars Cotes du Clements
Urbano Cellars sourced fruit fro this wine from the Bokides Ranch, which lies within the Clement Hills AVA which is located within the SE corner of the Lodi appellation. Clements Hills is characterized by rolling hills that emerge out of the San Joaquin Valley to form the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is distinguished…
Wine of the Day: 2014 Seed Wine Red Blend
Seed Wine is a boutique winery crafting less than 200 cases of wine annually. Fruit for this wine was sourced from high elevation cool climate vineyards in Mendoza. It was raised for 16 months in new French Oak in Mendoza’s oldest wine cave. My tasting notes follow: The wine is an opaque ruby violet…
Caprese Stuffed Roasted Eggplant and 2013 Josetta Saffirio Barbera d’Alba #ItalianFWT
The theme for this month’s Italian Food Wine and Travel (#ItalianFWT) is Fall in Italy. And since today, October 1st is also World Vegetarian Day, I decided to bring a vegetarian dish – Caprese Stuffed Roasted Eggplant to our virtual table and pair it with the 2013 Josetta Saffirio Barbera d’Alba! On My Plate When…
Wine of the Day – 2014 Seed Malbec
Seed Wine is a boutique winery crafting less than 200 cases of wine annually. Fruit for this wine was grown in the prestigious and rugged Altamira district of the Uco Valley from 42-year-old ungrafted Malbec vines grown in well-drained alluvial clay, limestone and gravel soils. The cool, high elevation vineyard is situated at the extreme…
Five Great Regions For Spanish Garnacha #SnoothVT
Last week I celebrated Grenache Day by I participated a virtual tasting of Garnacha (as the grape variety is known in Spain). The tasting was organized by Snooth. Easy-going Garnacha is 2016’s red wine grape du jour. While savvy growers have brought Garnacha to all corners of the globe, there are five distinguished designations of…