Basic bubbles transformed into faintly floral libations, worthy of a Valentine’s toast! And who needs caviar and yachts? Sorry Robin Leach, but I’d prefer to celebrate with a California brut and burrito any day! I will say the attempt at fancy flower adornments was different in taste than I imagined. If I had a do-over, I  would rinse the buds to remove the strong syrup essence (It just reminded me too much of helping my Dad pick up garden clippings as a kid). They were for sure aesthetically pleasing, and would make a good garnish for parties or springtime celebrations. If nothing else, a worthy conversation starter…  and who wouldn’t love to tell the kids there was a sea anemone in their drink?

The Champagne itself proved to be the brightest point of the beverage as it was is from one of Napa’s best- Domaine Chandon. I have been lucky enough to visit the  Napa Estate of Chandon several years back, where I did a wonderful tasting. What a cool experience, full of  fantastic varietals. (Not to mention our server resembled & sounded identically to Snoop Dog, no joke) It really did make the visit more enjoyable…

Chandon boasts a well-rounded protfolio of excellent Champagnes, produced in the French style, or méthode champenoise from their original vineyard- France’s Moet & Chandon. These guys have a 250 year Champagne crafting history up their sleeves. I have also been fortunate enough to visit that Estate and glad I did! Truely a great winery to see either in Europe, or maybe more feasibly in California. They offer a spectacular, tour-worthy property, and of course amazing tastings. Check out the details & some scenic pics at, http://www.chandon.com/. If you’re in Napa, it’s a must stop. This one is a perfect celebratory toast for any holiday, though Valentines’ day is a pretty good excuse too. I hope you enjoyed yours & had some chocolate while you were at it… Cheers! 

Intriguing also is their background. This winery boasts its official namesake after Saint Francis of Assisi, who is known as the protector of the natural world. Well, I should think that will come in handy with 600 acres of precious grape vineyards. The name was also chosen as an ode to none other than the Franciscan Order, who has been the given credit of bringing European grape cultivation to the New World. Well, I for one will raise my glass to that, cheers!  The soil in which their vineyards thrive is known as a ‘terrior tapestry’ offering varied microclimates, elevations & soil composition, which produces down-right, perfect grapes.

Last, but nowhere near least, are their green operation efforts (you probably guessed that was coming if I am writing about them) but it’s true, and they were awarded for their dedication. Many wineries implement water conservation & recycling, but additional to this, St. Francis is also dedicated to recycling in general & environmentally responsible packaging; their bottles are 100% recycled. They also care to protect the land for the next generations to follow, and so have planted 110 acres of trees, and outfitted their wineries with solar energy. I think Saint Francis would be quite proud!

You can view picturesque shots of their Sonoma estate on their website, www.stfranciswine.com. Also, you can see their full portfolio of wines; I for one am looking forward to trying their Malbec & Cab Franc next….

I hope you too are able to enjoy the weekend with a good glass!

Blanc de Noirs is made from 90% Pinot Noir & 10% Chardonnay grapes. I am a sucker for a dry, French rosé Champagne, though I do not find them often around here. When I originally saw the rosy hue of this Blanc de Noirs, I was eager to try. It was exactly what I hoped- dry, smooth, yet complex, with hints of bright fruit that linger with the tiny bubbles of every sip…

It is a favorite for any celebration. Gloria Ferrar offers a well-rounded portfolio of sparkling wines & estate varietals including, several Pinot Noirs, Merlot, Chardonnay & a Rosé. I can find the Blanc de Noirs at my local grocery and it is quite affordable (I’ve seen it range from $15 to $24).  This makes a great housewarming gift, brunch or holiday beverage (though I would NOT make this one into a mimosa!), or toast for any worthy occasion; even a road race! 

Gloria Ferrer is also devoted to sustainable vineyard managment. This means they focus closely on creating biodiversity within their estate, maintaining soil through composting, water management via recycling, and energy conservation. See more of what their vineyard has to offer, http://www.gloriaferrer.com/. Next time you’re at the store, pick up a bottle, pop the cork & find a little reason to be bubbly one day, very soon.

Enter Vin Parfait. Literally French for Perfect Wine, and so I decided to see if I agree. Vin Parfait is a newly launched, CA boutique winery offering both a red blend & a Chardonnay, and we tased both. Started with the white. I found it to be light, crisp, with some minerality. Surprisingly not sweet, even though this Chard is blended with 3% Riesling and 2% Muscat. I rarely find a Chardonnay blend that I enjoy, but this one was very refreshing and would go perfectly with some shrimp pasta! (and even the goldfish crackers I managed to be eating at the time…that’s a close second, right?) This blend was aged in French oak, but you you’ll only find a hint of oak flavor here.

Next the red (sans the goldfish crackers this round). This is a blend of 44% Cabernet, 26% Zinfandel, 13% Syrah, 11% Petite Sirah, and 6% Merlot. All CA sourced grapes, also aged in French oak. Now this is a smooth, easy-drinking red! This blend offers definite hints of blackberry, is not too tannic and has a subtle spice at the finish. I preferred the red over the white, and think it can be served with just about anything from pizza, child-sized snack crackers, to a grilled steak.

Perfection is subjective & so is tasting wine. Though I can say these wines priced each at $12.99 are perfect for the price!  Though newly launched, I look forward to the next Vin Parfait varietal release. I have a feeling only good things are to come from this winery….

I have my short list of favorites, but I relish in finding new, smaller, or noteworthy wineries to add into the mix. The wineries I lean towards usually have a warm history preceding them, which makes the wine feel personal and even more enjoyable.

And so I discovered The Dreaming Tree. I have to say it came highly recommended by my dear pal Al & she knows a good red. So, I had to try it, and glad I did.

What is so special about this CA red? As I see it, making wine is much like making food; it takes both precision & passion, and when it’s executed well, it’s an art. And art hits close-to-home for this winery. Co-produced by seasoned CA wine-maker Steve Reeder, and none other than Dave Matthews…the musician indeed. Steve Reeder’s résumé pretty much defines my wine palate. On that aforementioned list of my most favored, his creative hand was involved in making three of them.

Currently, he is VP of Winemaking at Simi Winery in Healdsburg, CA. If you haven’t tried their wines, do! I not only like both their whites & reds, but they produce a dry rosé that is really good! If that wasn’t enough, he formerly worked at Chateau Saint Jean of Sonoma, and they happen to make one of my favorite Chardonnays on the planet. I can’t imagine as an avid wine connoisseur, Dave Matthews would lend his time, efforts & name to anything mediocre, so I’m interested! They produce a Chardonnay, red blend entitled Crush (from his song perhaps?!) and a Cabernet. I decided we should go with the cab for starters…

At $13, I wasn’t sure what to expect & was better than I thought. Dry, yet enough fruit exists to finish smooth & linger-on. It left me wanting another sip, and as Dave Matthews has described his wine, it is meant to drink now, not meant to collect dust in your cellar, and I like that…and I don’t have a cellar!

What I like even more is the Dreaming Tree endeavor is focused closely on sustainability…I can’t keep stressing it enough folks!!! Each of us creates such a large footprint on the environment, and if it’s possible to enjoy our favorite wines and reduce our impact simultaneously, please sign me up. Dreaming Tree prides itself on bottling their wines in light-weight bottles (50% lighter than standard!) that are manufactured with clean-burning, natural gas. Their lovely, earth-toned labels are created on 100% recycled paper & inscribed by black ink printing = (no bleach, with reduced toxins and heavy metals). Last but not least, their corks are all sourced from sustainable farms. They have their bases covered. I say give them a try & you can also check their website for local retailers in your area (www.dreamingtreewines.com).

I look forward to sharing a bottle with family over the holidays & may cue-up some Dave on my Itunes while I’m at it; Cheers to you!

If you can’t make it out to Pannikin for the tea, Tea Forte online also offers a nice catalog to order from. Loose-leaf allows you the ability to include any combination of tea & herbs within the basket at a time. I sometimes mix herbal teas with a plain green tea called green twisted-spears, which adds some flavor & much needed caffeine! I’ve even added straight mulling spices to some varieties for a spicy, seasonal flavor.  To each their own, and to each good health & happiness!

What wouldn’t compliment cozying-up this chilly SD winter better than a cup of glögg? Only thing I can think of is a cup of my Mom’s! I remember the spicy smell of cloves and cinnamon filling our house growing up, when Mom was preparing her famous Swedish glögg brew for holiday parties. This festive adult beverage comes in many versions, but I think her recipe using blackberry brandy is a classic to share and enjoy. It packs quite a punch, so I’d keep a close eye on Grandma this Christmas…

MV’s Famous Swedish Glögg (batch for large parties, 20-30 servings):

Wrap all spices, sliced oranges, and raisins into pouch with cheesecloth, tying the pouch at the top. Fill large pot with gallon of water, add spice pouch and sugar. Heat until a rolling boil begins, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove cheesecloth pouch, but first squeezing excess liquid from pouch back into pot. Remove the pot from heat and allow to cool slightly. Then add the liquors (vodka, brandy, Burgundy).  Return pot to heat and gently simmer until glögg is desired drinking temperature. Do not let the pot come to a boil! Serve hot in mugs. Store leftover glögg in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Also, you can reheat the spice pouch in a separate pot of water to fragrance your home for the holidays!

Time to cozy-in with a warm mug full and enjoy the seasonal spices, cheers to you and yours this season!

 Cheers!

On this chilly & windy Santa Ana evening, I decided to batten-down-the-hatches, light some holiday candles, & crack open a new red wine. Next in my rack is a 2009 Syrah from Babcock Winery & Vineyard in Lompoc, CA. I know Babcock for their solid whites & dry rosé, so decided to give their red a whirl. Under the Radar Syrah is just that!  A satisfying, dry & inexpensive red (BevMo for about $15). A little ‘green’ still & maybe a bit more aging, but I ran it through the aerator twice & voilà. This was a good deal from a great CA winery, cheers!