This year’s wine selections are a plethora of different varietals from the Napa Valley, Russian River Valley, Anderson Valley and Sierra Foothills. Some are safe selections and some I chose ass experiments to see how they would pair with Thanksgiving fare. So is there rules for selecting the right wines for your Thanksgiving dinner? There…
Category: Zinfandel
Acacia House Revived Into High-End Restaurant & Resort in Napa Valley
Las Alcobas, the controversial resort just north of Saint Helena has revived a piece of Napa Valley history by renovating the old Victorian Acacia House into a comfortable, friendly, fine dining restaurant ran by Top Chef Masters winner and The Next Iron Chef competitor Chris Cosentino. I have only lived in Saint Helena for four years, and…
Durant & Booth Tasting Salon – A Piece of Napa Valley History in Oakville
Durant & Booth has closed their Oakville tasting salon as of June 10th, 2018. However, their wines are still available on Vivino. Durant & Booth Tasting Salon is relatively new to the Napa Valley but the building that houses the tasting room is a historic gem. Located in the small town of Oakville, lies Oakville Grocery, a popular…
What Wines are Winter Wines? Wine Pairing in a Winter Wonderland
What wines do you think go best on a blustery day or night, rain and snow falling like crazy? I feel like summer disappeared so quickly, I didn’t have time to pull out the jackets and sink into hibernation mode. One thing I do notice is that my palate changes through the seasons like clockwork….
VGS Chateau Potelle Tasting House & Gardens – Food & Wine Pairing
Last week I was invited to do one of my favorite things, a food and wine pairing. What could be better on a post-election Wednesday than some exquisite food bites from a Michelin-starred restaurant paired with elegant wines? After a rough week of political rants and a nation on edge, I was certainly looking forward…
Visit to Venge Vineyards – Small Production Wines with a Relaxing Atmosphere
Venge Vineyards is a small production winery featuring many 90+ point wines and a nice quiet atmosphere for tasting by appointment only. Venge sits on 25 acres off the Silverado Trail about 1-1/2 miles south of Calistoga. The tasting room, located behind the production facility, is a quaint little cottage with a cozy sitting area…
2009 LaFond Pinot Noir – Blue Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates
Since I am not currently in the Napa Valley, I have found myself cooking more and more. One of my favorite, quick appetizers is bacon wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese. I have prepared several versions of these, including goat and gorgonzola, but the harder blue cheese seems to work the best. I chose the…