Mustard: Not Just a Pretty Face
The Napa Valley is beautiful to visit at any time of the year. Each season has it moments that are amazing. Right now, the vines are “resting” and have been cut back in preparation for the growing season. Temperature changes are what stimulate the growth, and presently it is chilly. Bud break, the initial beginning of growth happens, generally around St. Patrick’s Day. We are still a good month away from that time.
What you will see at this time of the year, which can be amazing, is the vast fields of yellow mustard in the vineyards. Rows and rows of bright yellow flowers fill many of the vineyards and peak around this time of year. Glorious bright yellow that spans acres of trimmed vineyards dot the valley. This is what the vineyard manager terms a cover crop. It is more than just a "pretty face."
There’s a Castle in Napa Valley
When visiting the Napa Valley, many people center their experience on wine tasting and the enjoyment of the beautiful vineyards along with the views. Rightly so, as it is one of the premier locations on the planet to offer such great wine and beautiful vistas. Yet there is more to see and do.
One of those experiences is a visit to Castello di Amorosa. Which literally means “Castle of Love.” It is a real castle built from authentic materials to replicate a medieval Italian castle. The visionary and owner is Dario Sattui. This was his dream to honor his Italian heritage. He did so with authentic old, handmade materials shipped from Europe to the U.S. in 200+ shipping containers. These containers held old bricks, building materials and furniture. This is a magnificent structure that spans eight levels (four above ground and four below) and has over 100 separate rooms. It even has a prison and a torture chamber. The construction began in 1994, and the castle opened its doors to visitors in 2007. This is the real deal!
Food & Wine at Holiday Time
December is upon us and the time for season celebrations abounds. With friends, family, and co-workers, it’s time to set the table. It’s time to enjoy one another and toast to the season! Wine is a welcome addition to the holiday table.
As a starter, sparkling wines set a festive spirit and brighten any event. There are several types of sparkling wines, and their bubbles will set the stage for a festive mood. They can be modest in price or expensive. One of my favorites is Prosecco, ranging in price from $10 to $25. I have a preference for Ruffino. Cava is a Spanish sparkling wine and can be quite lovely and modest in price. There are several California producers of sparkling wine such as Roederer Estate and Mumm. Of course, there is always Champagne. This is the proper name for sparkling wine from the Champagne region in France. One of my favorites is Veuve Clicquot Brut. And, of course, one could always splurge on a bottle of Dom Perignon.
Wine of the Year for 2017!
This year’s wine of the year from Wine Spectator is Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot, Three Palms Vineyard! Congratulations to the fine winery and winemaker!
Each year Wine Spectator chooses the top 100 wines from the thousands of wines they taste. This year alone, the writers of the magazine and staff tasted through over 5000 wines as they endeavored to provide reviews and synopses of the wines for their monthly publication.
Wine Country Fires
It’s been a while since my last blog. A lot has happened since the first of October. It was not anything I anticipated. Moving to wine country was the dream and never did I ever envision what ignited on the night of October 8th. It was supposed to be four days of family and visits throughout the valley to enjoy fine food and wine. As you are very much aware, that could not happen with the wildfires that broke out. The Diablo winds ripped through the valley and left real tragedy in its path. With speeds of up to 70 miles an hour, the winds pushed the fire and sent many scrambling for safety. 43 people lost their lives, and thousands lost their homes. We were fortunate – evacuated, yet returned home to only ash clean-up.
Thanks to first responders and firefighters, much remains the same in the valley. The valley is open for visitors and ready to make everyone who comes feel welcome. The countryside is still beautiful, and one would not necessarily even see the path the fires took during a visit to the wine country.
Pinot Noir Tear
Palates change. I have seen my own appreciation for different varietals evolve over time with the wines that I drink. When I was young, we had Liebfraumilch at the table – also know as “The Little Blue Nun.” My father was German; and this, in his mind, was appropriate for a young palate. I then fell in love with Kendall Jackson Chardonnay – which, by the way, is the number one selling Chardonnay in the U.S. No, it is not Rombauer, as popular as that wine is. Then I moved on to Merlot, Zinfandel, and so on up the ‘tannin scale’. By the way, there is a great blog written by Tim Gaiser, Master Sommelier, summarizing how he describes the journey of the palate. It’s called The Evolution of a Palate.
As of late, I have been on a Pinot tear. It has captivated my palate, and I am looking to explore and taste as many as possible. This exploration of Pinot is what led me to Failla Wines, near Saint Helena in Napa Valley. Failla is a small, boutique winery that flies a little under the radar. I had become aware of Ehren Jordan, the owner and winemaker at Failla, through his work at Turley. He led the winemaking team for several years and took the opportunity to shift gears and direction. His first vintage under the Failla label was back in 1998.
Cabernet and Chocolate: A Match Made in Heaven?
Just this past weekend, I had the pleasure to attend a luncheon and tasting at a winery. The dessert that was served was brownies, and a friend said all he wanted at the moment was some more Cabernet to go with his brownie. He said it was a great pairing. Let me say, maybe not.
Below are Karen MacNeil’s comments (she is the author of The Wine Bible) on the pairing of Cabernet and Chocolate:
Vérité Wines: In Search of Consistent Perfection
Vérité is a winery in Healdsburg, California that takes on perfection as their goal at every turn. The winemaker himself brings diligence to each step in the winemaking process, even down to the selection of the wood for the barrels. This is their ambition. The efforts are clear – there is a big commitment to quality.
Wine: What’s in the Glass?
The first evidence of wine consumption has been traced back to China in 7000 B.C. In 2007, researchers at UCLA discovered the first evidence of a winery in 4100 B.C. According to an article in National Geographic, what we know to be the oldest winery was founded in ancient Armenia.
So wine is an age-old friend, deeply woven into many rituals. You know that, yet do you know what is in your glass? What are the constituents of wine?
Donelan: A Family Affair
Donelan Wines is a family winery that takes great pride in delivering quality wines for your drinking pleasure. The venture began back in 2000 under the name of Pax wine. I originally joined the mailing list after visiting the industrial setting winery for a tasting. Their Syrahs were getting high marks from reviewers, and that always peaks my curiosity. I am not one to take it solely on a critic’s review and need to try the wine firsthand. The wines were wonderful then, and they continue to deliver with every year.
This is a working winery located in Santa Rosa. It is situated in an industrial setting that is home to several smaller wineries. The driving force in the winery is Joe Donelan. It is his vision and passion that set the stage for these winning wines. Joe has been quoted as stating that quality is the most important goal with every vintage. The scores and accolades the wines receive demonstrate his commitment. He is supported full time by his two sons, Tripp and Cushing. Tripp is the Director of Sales, and Cushing is the Director of Marketing. This is what really makes it a family affair.