Grape Experiences | swirl.sip.savor

Weekend Wine Under $20 ~ Bubbles with Bacon Popcorn – March 7-9, 2014

Posted on March 6, 2014

It’s almost Friday and you are already thinking about your weekend plans and perhaps which wines to purchase. Weekly, I post two recommendations, one white and one red, for your weekend choices which are usually under $20. On occasion, I pair a wine with scrumptious recipe…like this week. We’re pairing bacon popcorn with bubbles and you must try this!

I am a huge popcorn fan and one of my favorite beverage with that crunchy snack is a glass of sparkling wine - especially if I’m watching one of my favorite shows! Recently, I found this recipe for Bacon Popcorn and just have to share it with you. It’s couldn’t be easier to make and will satisfy any popcorn lovers need for texture, salt, cheese, and of course, the magic ingredient…bacon! Paired with a special Sofia Blanc de Blancs from Francis Ford Coppola Winery your taste buds will thank you!

**Sofia Blanc de Blancs 2012 - I popped the flip top of the can of chilled Sofia Blanc de Blancs (purchased) while at an Oscars 2014 viewing party doubling as a charity event at a local theatre. Yes, this can with a straw was a mini version of the bottle and if you haven’t had it already, I suggest you do since it’s a great way to smuggle in a bit of bubbles during a movie if you know what I mean! I was a but suspect of the can idea, but the blend of 82% Pinot Blanc, 8% Muscat, and 10% Riesling made it worthwhile and I look forward to opening up a bottle soon!! What I enjoyed were the fizzy, fresh mouthfeel of raspberries, apples and pears and a nice finish. The fruity effervescence was a terrific counterpoint to the bacon popcorn (recipe below) - just try it!! And for $5, you can’t miss!

Bacon Popcorn

Print recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup bacon grease
3/4 cups unpopped popcorn kernels
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
3 tablespoons bacon bits (optional)
1 cup shredded cheese (optional)

Directions

Step 1
Measure the bacon grease and place in a 6 quart pot over high heat.
Step 2
Add one or two popcorn kernels to test. Once the kernels begin popping, add the remainder of the kernels and cover with a lid.
Step 3
As the popcorn starts to pop, shake the pan back and forth constantly to keep the unpopped kernels on the bottom where they can pop.
Step 4
When the popping slows down, remove the pan from the heat and let it finish popping.
Step 5
Pour the popcorn into a large bowl or paper sack. Season with half of the seasoned salt and stir. Taste before adding more salt!
Step 6
Toss popcorn with bacon bits and shredded Cheddar cheese for an extra special treat.
Step 7
Enjoy with a lovely glass of bubbles!

Cheers to the weekend! ~ Cindy

Posted in Recipes, Sparkling Tastes, Wine Reviews | Tagged muscat, pinot blanc, riesling Leave a comment

Bottlenotes Launches Restaurant Week for Wine in Chicago, Denver and Washington D.C.

Posted on March 2, 2014

Bottlenotes, in partnership with Anna de Codorníu (one of my favorite sparkling wines from Spain), Trivento (Argentine portfolio), and Rhône Valley Wines will soon host launch parties in Chicago, Denver and Washington D.C. to celebrate the start of their third annual Taste Around Town “Restaurant Week for Wine”. Launch party attendees will have the opportunity to taste a wide variety of the wines that will be poured during Taste Around Town and to enjoy light hors d’oeuvres.

The launch party is open to the public and tickets are $40 each. However, since you’re one of my favorite wine lovers reading this post, you can receive 30% off of the price in any of the three cities by using the code GRAPE30 when ordering your tickets! Information for ordering is on the Bottlenotes site.

LAUNCH PARTY INFORMATION:

Chicago Launch Party – Monday, March 24, from 6:00-8:00 p.m

SUB51, 51 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60654

Washington D.C. Launch Party – Tuesday, March 18, from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Veritas Wine Bar, 2031 Florida Ave. NW #1, Washington D.C. 20009

Denver Launch Party – Wednesday, March 19, from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

1515 Restaurant, 1515 Market St., Denver, CO 80202

Taste Around Town which runs from March 24 – April 6 in all three cities invites wine enthusiasts to head out to restaurants and wine bars to discover great wines from France, Spain, and Argentina. Participating venues will feature select wines by the glass, in tasting flights paired with food and/or by the bottle throughout the two-week program. The following list includes many of my favorite restaurants and wine bars but check out the Bottlenotes site for the complete array of venues for you foodies and wine lovers!

Chicago’s favorite restaurants and wine bars, include but are not limited to:

HUB51, Reel Club, Nacional 27, Summer House, Saranello’s, Petterino’s, Di Pescara

Dillman’s, Bavette’s, Gilt Bar, Au Cheval

GT Fish & Oyster, Perennial Virant

Roka Akor (Chicago and Old Orchard), Naha, Eno Wine Bar, 676 Restaurant, Salpicon,

Del Frisco’s, III Forks, Thalia Spice, The Portage, The Monarch, Chez Moi, Carriage House

Washington D.C.’s favorite restaurants and wine bars, include but are not limited to:

Acacia Bistro , Asia Nine, Brasserie Beck, Café Dupont, Jardenea, Kellari

Lillies Restaurant, M Street Bar and Grill, Rasoi Indian Kitchen, Terasol

Veritas Wine Bar

Denver’s favorite restaurants and wine bars, include but are not limited to:

1515 Restaurant, Arugula Ristorante, Ast D’Italia, DiFranco’s, Delizios

Limon, Randolph’s Restaurant and Bar, Southern Hospitality, Tapaz D’Jerez

The Corner Office, Volta Boulder, Yanni’s, Zink Kitchen and Bar

Are you a social media aficionado? Bottlenotes is giving away prizes to everyone who participates in Taste Around Town via social media (That’s you if you answered “yes”!) Click here for a complete list of prizes (They are really worth your time to do this!). Use #tastearoundtown on Twitter so everyone can follow your wining and dining experiences. If you have further questions, message @bottlenotes.

How can you make this food and wine experience even more fun?

1. Be sure to browse the list of participating restaurants and wine bars on the Bottlenotes website (you’ve already done that I’m sure!).

2. Round up your friends who won’t want to miss this!

3. Make a reservation (not required by highly recommended) on Open Table by clicking the “Book It” link next to each restaurant listing.

4. Dine or sip (why not both?) at your restaurant(s) of choice, and choose glasses, flights, or bottles of the three wines at the bar or when ordering off of the Taste Around Town menu.

5. Spread the word on social media using #tastearoundtown. Share your tasting notes and ratings of each features wine at Bottlenotes.com or on the Bottlenotes iPhone app, Facebook, and Twitter!

Bottlenotes always does a fantastic job making this wine and food event fun! What’s not to love about savoring wine, trying new restaurants, sharing your experiences on social media, and hopefully receiving a prize…bonus!? Don’t forget to use GRAPE30 when ordering your tickets to the launch party in any of the three cities so that you can receive a discount! And I can’t wait to read your tweets!

Cheers to another terrific experience for foodies and wine lovers alike! ~ Cindy

Posted in Events and Travel, Regional Wines, Restaurants | Leave a comment

Weekend Wine Under $20 – February 28-March 2, 2014

Posted on February 27, 2014

Beginning this week I’m renaming the post title to reflect the price of the wine reviewed…and if my choices are a bit above the $20 mark? Well, it will be entitled “Weekend Wine Around $20″! But you get the idea…I’m trying to keep these quality driven recommendations at a price you can afford.

You may also have noticed the winesearcher.com widget on the right side of the page. If you are intrigued by a particular wine and would like to find out where you can purchase it, simply put the name of the wine and vintage year in the space provided and press “enter”. Online sources will be displayed and from there you can hopefully locate the wine in your area. By the way, this is not an affiliate program, so I’m not getting paid for each click – I have added the widget for your convenience.

Some wines which I review may not be available when you use the search engine. They may be wines I tasted at a trade event and not yet available, wines which are only available via the winery’s website, or unavailable in your state. Just give yourself permission to learn about a new wine, grape, or region – and you have to admit, wine education is always a “grape experience”~

And now…this weekend’s wines for under $20!

**Morro Bay White Oak Estates Sauvignon Blanc “Sur Lie” 2012 – This Sauvignon Blanc from Morro Bay Vineyards in Acampo, California is a perfectly nice wine at a reasonable price. With colors of pale lemon and green, aromas of citrus, lemon, and honeysuckle wafted from the glass. Loads of citrus including more lemon, lime, and pineapple on the palate with a touch of minerality and a clean, crisp finish were lovely and this wine could be paired with a variety of light appetizers or just to sip while pondering what to make for Friday night’s dinner! “Sur lie” indicates that this wine was aged on its lees which is the sediment of dead yeast cells that gather at the bottom of the tank once fermentation is completed. Aromas and flavors are enhanced and sur lie ageing may give more body and complexity to the wine. I purchased the Morro Bay Sauvignon Blanc at Whole Foods for only $10 ~ a terrific value for a weekend or even everyday wine.

**Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 – This past weekend I attended a party where this lovely bottle was on the wine bar for guest enjoyment. Loving wines from the Alexander Valley in Sonoma County, I was happy to pour myself a glass and “cheers” to the evening with good friends! You’ll love the aromas of black cherries, vanilla, and plum as well as tastes of blackberries, rich red cherries, more plums, and spice. I enjoyed the tobacco notes with a touch of smoke which helped balance the fruit on the palate. The smooth tannins and structure were just what I expected from a wine from Alexander Valley Vineyards and the price? $19.99 and most likely, less… ~

Cheers to finding affordable wines! ~ Cindy

Posted in Wine Reviews | Tagged cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc Leave a comment

The Master Class Tasting at Tre Bicchieri 2014 – Highlights in My Glass

Posted on February 24, 2014

The Grand Hall in Chicago’s Union Station was abuzz with an Italian vibe on the afternoon of February 11. Gambero Rosso was proud to present to the wine trade and media the best Italian producers with their latest award winning wines from many regions in Italy. The Tre Bichierri 2014 World Tour was launched in 1988 with the guidebook to Italian wine, Vini D’Italia Guide. Each year, tasters from Gambero Rosso travel and taste wines throughout Italy to find those worthy of their “one, two, and three glasses” designation and the Gambero Rosso website offers a list of the winners. Congratulations to these wineries which produced some of the most interesting Italian wines I have tasted. Now if I could just work on my Italian language skills so that I can converse intelligently with these brilliant winemakers!

I was invited to participate in a Master Class, Maestri Vignaioli, held prior to the trade tasting. Marco Sabellico, editor in chief of Vini D’Italia Guide, led a select group of participants in our own wine journey through some of the most unique Italian terroirs. The regions of Veneto, Piedmont, Tuscany, Lazio, Marche, Basilicata, Sicily, and Emilia Romagna were well represented with wines (and two spirits) from small to medium, independent, and family run wineries. Low yield in these vineyards result in high quality production. Wines are made using traditional hand harvesting methods, sustainable practices, and more so that each vintage can express the characteristics of the terroir and of course, the personality of the grape!

During the presentation, each winemaker or owner added their own perspective of the wines offered, their process of vinification, history of the region, and what makes their winery different from the others. Participants tasted twenty two outstanding wines and each was special. But what I absolutely loved about this tasting was that there were wines produced from grapes I knew existed yet had never had the opportunity to taste…and I have a few standouts of my new grape friends as well as some of my old favorites to share with you. Below, the name of each winery and region are in bold with a link to their website which you should absolutely check out for more information about their viticultural techniques, terroir, and environmentally conscious mission.

Daldin Spumanti (Veneto)

Valdobbiadene Extra Dry Vidoro – My first wine of the day just had to be a glorious Prosecco! With citrus, green apple, floral, and fruit forward notes, I loved the zesty finish…and I kept going back to this glass during the tasting!

Rubinelli Vajol (Veneto)

Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2009 – Raisins, earth, spiced apple, red and black berries, perhaps some blueberries and raspberries tickled my nose and satisfied my palate…are you enticed yet? This concentrated, high alcohol Amarone from the Corvina grape was rich and delicious.

Guado al Melo (Tuscany)

Guado al Melo Bianco 2011 – This wine from the Vermentino (or Rolle) grape was blended with Petit Manseng. I loved the high acidity, salinity, balance, and easy drinking qualities…the winemaker referred to this as their “coastal white wine”… And yes, please! I’d love to sip this on the coast of Tuscany with you ~

Trappolini (Lazio)

Lazio Rosso Paterno 2010 – Consisting mostly of Sangiovese this wine is meant to be enjoyed while young. A classic wine with tastes of rich cherries, smooth tannins, and balance was just what I loved and appreciated.

Conti Malacari (Marche)

Conero Riserva Grigiano 2008 – Rich and red, this wine from Montepulciano grapes is from revered old vines and the winemaker shared that it is considered a “workhorse” with its low maintenance. I loved its austere and aristocratic tastes and with its fresh finish, I felt well, quite, royal…

Cantine del Notaio (Basilicata)

Aglianico del Vulture La Firma 2010 – With elegance and balance, this red wine of the Aglianico grape, one of my new favorites, was just delicious with its complex aromas of fruit, chocolate, and spice. As the top label of this winery, there is a strict selection of grapes which are grown on slope side vineyards in volcanic soil.

Ferreri & Bianco (Sicily)

Sicilia Catarratto Brasi 2011 – Ahhhh, I was thrilled to taste and enjoy yet another grape with which I was unfamiliar: Catarrato which is widely grown in Sicily. The mild, spicy aromas led to lemon, lime, and pineapple tastes with a fresh, snappy minerality which I love so much.

Salut to appreciating the excellence and quality of the wines from these unique boutique wineries in Italy! ~ Cindy

Posted in Events and Travel, Regional Wines, Sparkling Tastes, Wine Reviews, Wineries | Tagged Aglianico, cataratto, corvina, petit manseng, prosecco, sangiovese, vermentino Leave a comment

Cheers to the Oscars with California Wine Region Events and Movie Locations

Posted on February 20, 2014

I love movies and am particularly excited about this year’s Oscar Night since I saw so many which have been nominated for a variety of awards. When I noticed this press release, I just had to edit it a bit and share with you all. Plan on attending one or several of these events held throughout the year in California. Raise your glass to an award winning wine and an entertaining film – another perfect pairing!

Cheers! ~ Cindy

SAN FRANCISCO, February 2014 PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — As the Oscars draw near, wine and film lovers can pair their favorite passions in California wine country. With Oscar parties and film festivals, Wine Institute invites you to see the films and experience many California wine regions’ Hollywood connections this awards season and visit locations where some famous movies were shot! View upcoming film-related events at Discover California Wines .

Oscar Parties and Film Festivals in Wine Country

Napa Valley hosts its 26th Annual Napa Valley Academy Awards® Telecast Viewing Party on Sunday, March 2, beginning at 5 p.m. in downtown Napa. More than 20 of valley’s finest restaurants will pair tasty treats with wines from local vintners. You can also gear up for the Oscars on March 1 at The World of Pinot Noir “Hollywood & Wine Seminar“ in Santa Barbara. This blind tasting pits the favorites of wine experts and winemakers in the film “Sideways” against the 2012 documentary “Somm,” a movie which focuses on the exciting and challenging world of passing the Master Sommelier Exam. Sunset magazine wine editor Sara Schneider will lead a discussion on what these two movies tell us about the position and power of wine in our culture.

The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival takes place March 5-9 in San Luis Obispo wine country, on California’s Central Coast following Oscar weekend. Recently dubbed by MovieMaker magazine as “one of the best film events in the country,” the festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

Film fans visiting the Golden State this spring can check out the Sonoma International Film Festival April 2–6, 2014, now in its 17th year. This five-day event offers wines from Sonoma vintners and cuisine from local artisans and celebrities such as Bruce Willis, Susan Sarandon and Robin Williams who have walked the festival red carpet. Further north is the Mendocino Film Festival, May 29–June 1, 2014 with a film screening at The Madrones center along with open houses at local wineries offering new release tastings and food pairings.

Or plan ahead for the next Napa Valley Film Festival Nov 12-16, 2014, which boasts tastes from 150 local wineries or the Santa Barbara International Film Festival which just wrapped up for this year but has its 30th annual event Jan. 22-Feb, 1, 2015.

California Wine Country Movie Locations

When you think of wine and movies, the first one that probably pops into your mind is “Sideways,” which made Pinot Noir a main character. Its 2005 Oscar success has inspired wine lovers from around the world to visit Santa Barbara County’s wine regions . Use the Sideways Wine Tour Map to follow the path forged by Miles and Jack in this beloved movie.

Napa Valley plays the starring role in the 2008 film “Bottle Shock,” which shows how, in 1976, underdog wine region California triumphed against wine world Goliath France in the historic “Judgment of Paris” blind tasting. Shot in many locations across Napa Valley and Sonoma County, the film focuses mainly on Chateau Montelena, whose Chardonnay caused a global shockwave. Take a “Bottle Behind the Scenes Tour” at Chateau Montelena, where you can taste and visit winery scene locations, discuss movie fact versus fiction, learn about the actors, and hear stories from the set.

While on your cinematic vacation in Napa Valley, check out Staglin Family Vineyard in Rutherford, where portions of “The Parent Trap” were filmed. Other nearby wineries take the spotlight in “A Walk in the Clouds,” such as St. Helena’s Beringer Vineyards and Duckhorn Vineyards.

Francis Ford Coppola shot vistas throughout Napa Valley for “Apocalypse Now,” but he keeps vast movie memorabilia from that and other films at his renowned Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Sonoma County. Sip a glass of wine as you marvel at Don Corleone’s desk from “The Godfather,” the original car used in “Tucker: The Man and His Dream,” and even a few shiny gold men named Oscar. You can also check out Academy-Award winning costumes from “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” and the Neon Cocktail glass and bar from movie-musical “One from the Heart.”

Sonoma County also caught the eye of another legendary director, Alfred Hitchcock, who turned the rugged coastal town of Bodega Bay into a character in “The Birds” more than 50 years ago. Starring Tippi Hedren, the film is set in this quirky community, which features the Tides Wharf restaurant, where you can still today grab a bite of fresh seafood and local wines, such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. While in town, stop at the “Birds” themed visitor center before heading to the nearby town of Bodega, where you can visit film sites such as the Potter School and St. Theresa’s Church.

For more information on California wines, wine regions and winery activities visit Discover California Wines.

Posted in Events and Travel, Random Thoughts, Regional Wines, Wineries | Leave a comment