Tag Archives: Wine

Budget-Friendly Organic Wines for Earth Day

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Disclosure Statement: This post contains affiliate links. When you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.

Have you ever wondered about organic wines? Are they really that much better? Are you doing right by Mother Earth by buying organic wine? So many questions, and more than I can unpack here today, but I’ll do my best to skim the surface and give you a couple good organic wine labels to look for.

When I eat certain organic produce I usually taste a difference with better flavor. But price is also a factor in my food choices, as is size/yield (anyone ever seen those super tiny mandarin oranges? I just can’t bring myself to buy those). Lots of variables to consider with no cut and dry answer, and everyone has their own unique needs and situations.

It’s smart to recognize all things are not necessarily as they seem, and it’s worth investigating some facts about organic practices before buying whole hog into the organic religion. This article from Tiffany at frugal food/healthy living blog Don’t Waste the Crumbs has some interesting information on what “organic” actually means (as it pertains to the United States Department of Agriculture, not necessarily other organizations/countries) and how allowances in practice vastly differ from what is portrayed through their marketing claims.

While there is a lot of debate and controversy over conventional vs. organic farming practices, one thing (I think) we can all agree on is the need to care for the earth and not just decimate the soils supporting our beloved crops. Amen?

Here are two wines I picked out to spotlight in honor of Earth Day. Both use organic grapes and both are very reasonably priced at under $14/bottle. I have tried both Natura and Bonterra brand wines in the past and very much enjoyed both (I originally tried a Natura Carmenére and an unknown red from Bonterra).

Bonterra Merlot 2021

Bonterra Merlot 2021

Bonterra Merlot 2021

  • $11.49/bottle at Total Wine
  • Organic grapes from California
  • 13.7% ABV
  • Deep ruby with blue tint, fairly opaque
  • Aromas: blueberry, plum, black cherry, fig, bay leaf, savory meat, cinnamon, dusty cocoa
  • Medium or Full Body, juicy, plush wine with well-integrated tannins
  • Moderate mid-palate
  • Moderate finish

Natura Malbec 2020 Emiliana Vineyards

Natura Malbec 2020

Natura Malbec 2020

  • Organic grapes from Rapel Valley, Chile
  • $12.99/bottle at wine.com
  • Full body, 13.5% ABV
  • Medium ruby color but lighter around edge, more red tint (no blue)
  • Medium acidity
  • Dry
  • Soft, gentle tannins
  • Aromas/flavors: red fruits (currant, cranberry), black cherry, pepper, braised tomato, earth, leather, spice, gravel, herb, mineral
  • Moderate to long finish

I’ll admit I wasn’t overwhelmed with these particular two wines, but that could be due to my changing tastes and expectations. I wouldn’t say either was a bad wine at all – they just lacked layers of complexity. They do improve after being open for a day and getting a little love from oxygen. And I think they would do well with some pizza or other food to accompany and improve them.

Still, if you would like to drink organic wine in a budget-friendly price range, these are worth checking out. Both labels also make several other varietals. See other Natura wines here and other Bonterra selections here. Wines that are available through my wine.com affiliate link can be found here.

A cool feature at wine.com is that you can filter your search for “green” wines, which includes organic/biodynamic/sustainable wine producers. Check out their other organic offerings here.

Organic wines offer a product that purportedly benefits the land, crops, and our bodies. When you purchase an organic wine, you’re encouraging farmers to continue using organic and sustainable growing practices. And it’s nice to know that drinking an organic wine does not mean you have to pay a premium, unlike with other organic products at the supermarket. 🙂

Are there any organic wines you enjoy? Let the rest of us know in the comments!

Red Purists, Take Note: The Allure of Australian Chardonnay

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Disclosure Statement: This post contains affiliate links. When you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.

This Aussie Chardonnay May Make You Rethink Your Red Wine Only Allegiance

Most wine drinkers fall into the two main camps of red wine drinkers and white wine drinkers. While some are “all or nothing” red or white drinkers, I’d venture to say many of us prefer one camp over the other, but we don’t exclusively identify with just that one type of wine (ahem, politics, anyone?).

I myself prefer red wine over white. It’s usually much more interesting to me and also the health-promoting polyphenols are found in the reds, not the whites, so it’s for that reason also.

However, Chardonnay is a white wine that surprises me at each new encounter and causes me to question my red-wine-only preferences. It is such an intriguing grape, expressing itself in the glass in countless different ways. I’ve become fascinated with it lately, and my goal is to become better acquainted with it. #winegoals

Chardonnay is a noble white wine grape that is grown all over the world and does well in a variety of climates. It can be aged in oak barrels, which impart notes of vanilla, coconut, etc. or in stainless steel tanks, which do not impart any flavors and allow the wine to express itself in an unadulterated fashion. Some Chardonnays undergo malolactic fermentation, a process whereby malic acid is converted to lactic acid, and this results in the unctuous, buttery notes you sometimes get in a Chardonnay.

Penfolds Max's Chardonnay Adelaide HillsIn keeping with my little Aussie theme this week, I’ve got a wonderful Chardonnay for you (not Yellow Tail). 😉 This Australian Chardonnay I tried recently made me weep with ecstasy made me stand back and take note of how serious and attention-worthy some white wines can be! It’s from the Adelaide Hills region in South Australia. Penfolds notes that it is “A contemporary style Chardonnay, fresh and finely structured. This wine delivers pure fruit flavours balanced by bright, crisp natural acidity and complexity afforded from time in barrel.” According to Wine Folly: The Master Guide (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases), some Aussie winemakers are – get this – bridging the gap between the two style camps of oak-aged Chardonnay and stainless steel Chardonnay, and combining the two in their bottles of wine. A great idea I can get behind because the wine it yields is outstanding!

Here is the scoop on the Penfolds Max’s Chardonnay 2018:

  • $20.99
  • Pale straw color
  • Full body, 13% ABV
  • Modest acidity
  • Aromas/flavors: stone fruits, baked apple, lime, grapefruit, rose, white flowers, balanced by compelling minerality
  • Moderate finish, good warmth and acidity on the finish

So, whether you fancy white or red, look around for this Chardonnay when you want a wine that is beautiful, strong, elegant, and endlessly intriguing.

How about you? Do you have an Australian (or any) kind of Chardonnay you love? Do tell!

*Unfortunately this particular wine is out of stock at the moment on wine.com. 😦

But when I asked for some other similar recommendations, these were mentioned. 🙂

Please note I have not personally tried these yet, but they sound great and are in keeping with the style of the Penfolds Chardonnay. Until then, keep your eyes peeled for this wine or try the following!

McMinnville Wine + Food Classic 2023: A Review

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On Friday, March 10th, I got up early and hit the road to make the journey down to McMinnville, Oregon, where the 30th Annual McMinnville Wine + Food Classic was taking place. I had not been since 2019, so the absence had definitely compounded my excitement.

This event goes for three days (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, and is a fundraiser for St. James School in McMinnville, OR. You can purchase tickets for as many days as you like. They even offer shuttle service from downtown McMinnville to the Museum.

McMinnville Wine + Food Classic 2023, Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. Photo courtesy Eagle Eye Droneography.

McMinnville Wine + Food Classic 2023, Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. Photo courtesy Eagle Eye Droneography.

There are tons of wineries, but also distilleries, cideries, meaderies, breweries (all the eez). There is obviously food, and a handful of artisans and crafters. You can peruse all of the 2023 participating vendors here.

I tried numerous pours of wine. I would have loved to have tried some other alcoholic products but stuck to my original plan (maybe next year).

Your ticket purchase includes two tasting tokens. At most places, one token is equal to one pour, but for certain specialty and library wines, two or even three tokens might be required. I wound up purchasing 15 additional tokens, and that was MORE than enough. Having an additional day or two to try more wines would be ideal but I could only attend one day.

Tasting tokens for the McMinnville Wine + Food Classic 2023, Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. Photo courtesy Eagle Eye Droneography.

Tasting tokens for the McMinnville Wine + Food Classic 2023, Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. Photo courtesy Eagle Eye Droneography.

I obviously was not able to try every single wine and winery at the festival, but out of the ones I did, here are five wineries and their wines that stood out to me, and that you would not be remiss in checking out. Please note that at some of these vendors I only tried one pour, so this is based on the limited amount I tried that day. I also would have loved to have purchased more bottles but, alas, budgets. 🙂

  1. Denison Cellars 2019 Björnson Vineyard Pinot Noir: This wine really captivated me. Their Pinot was elegant, complex, expressive, beautiful. I sure wish I could have tasted their full line-up but I was trying to spread my tasting tokens out to try more wineries. Time to plan a private tasting at their vineyard in Salem! From the tasting notes: “The resulting wine is deep ruby in color and displays aromas of black cherry, pomegranate, and cranberry. With hints of cola and all-spice, the ripe, velvety tannins provide structure for rich, mouth-filling volume. Flavors of dark red fruit persist into a lingering finish.” $48/bottle. *Of special note for Oregonians: FREE LOCAL DELIVERY for those in Yamhill County, Salem, and Portland with any 3+ bottle purchase. I cannot wait to return and taste more of their wines.
  2. Patton Valley Wines 2018 Lange Vineyard Pinot Noir: Patton Valley has been a brand for over 25 years, but at the moment they are a nomadic winery with no permanent tasting room. I think that’s cool because I’m sure it allows them to save a ton of money and put that towards great winemaking; plus it’s a chance to get creative and have some fun, different tasting options. This was a delicious Pinot Noir I decided to take home as well. $55/bottle. According to the tasting notes, it has a “lush red fruited nose” and a “broad and silky palate.” This is a winery whose offerings you must try if you’re into specific Pinot Noir clones from particular Willamette Valley area vineyards. Visit their website to order wines and to learn where they are pouring.
  3. Domaine de Broglie 2019 Clone 777 Pinot Noir: Established in 2019, Domaine de Broglie is a more recent newcomer to the Dundee Hills AVA. This estate is owned by Francis Ford Coppola and was previously Vista Hills Vineyard. At the 2023 McMinnville Wine Competition, this showstopper wine took home Best of Show, Best Red Wine, and Double Gold! Uh-huh. Here are the tasting notes, you’ll see why: “Aromas of mushrooms, cedar, and forest floor mingle with sweeter aromas of vanilla coffee. A savory, well rounded palate counterpointed with notes of strawberries, red fruit, and salted caramel. An outstanding wine, showcasing the range of expression found in Oregon Pinot Noir.” $62/bottle, 100% Pinot Noir. This wine is music in a glass! This is the indulgence bottle. I did take this beauty home. (I also recall a tried a very enchanting Chardonnay).
  4. Rue Cler 2019 Rocks Syrah: Oh, wow! This is one I will be buying in the future, so intriguing and delicious. $48/bottle, sourced from Noble Rock Vineyard in Milton-Freewater, OR. From the tasting notes: “Black fruit takes a backseat to savory meats, crushed violets and brine…. Huckleberries and wet stone give great acid that lingers on the finish…. Decant to discover layers of earth and umami in your glass.” If you like wines with savory flavors and plenty going on, you’ll love this! Side note: I did not try their Walla Walla Syrah, but one of my tasting companions did and she kept going back for more sips. 🙂
  5. Siltstone 2021 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir: What I especially enjoyed about Siltstone Wines was they make a very good, very drinkable Pinot Noir for $24/bottle. You’re greeted with aromas of cherry, red fruit, and vanilla spice on the nose, and flavors of cherry cola and plum on the palate. The wine is medium-bodied with balanced tannins and a soft smoky finish. As much as I love ultra-fine, premium Pinot Noirs, I just can’t afford them all the time, and I’ll bet you can’t, either. And while $24 for a bottle of wine is a lot for many people (especially right now), when you look at overall pricing for good quality Pinot Noir, you’ll see that it’s very difficult to find GOOD stuff like this in this price range. This is a bargain for lovely Pinot Noir. I also would love to try more of their wines someday.

This event is a great way to get acquainted with a variety of fantastic Willamette Valley wineries all under one roof, and a great excuse to do something fun with your friends.

Have you been to the McMinnville Wine + Food Classic? If so, what did you try and like there? Comment below!

McMinnville Wine + Food Classic 2023, Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. Photo courtesy Eagle Eye Droneography.

Definitely the best dressed guest! Photo courtesy Eagle Eye Droneography.

At First Blush: Evoke Winery Heralds First Day of Spring

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A Perfect Springtime Sipper: Evoke Winery’s Blush Wine

At last, it’s the first day of spring! Release the doves and explode the confetti! Seriously, give yourself a pat on the back for getting through the winter. Western Washington has it pretty easy weather-wise compared to many other parts of the world, but the increase in daylight hours and sunshine so far has been more than welcome.

Sure, spring brings its fair share of rainy days for the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a new season; one of freshness, greenery, new growth, colorful and sweet-smelling flowers. Clearly, we need a wine to match the fast-approaching debut of daffodils, cherry blossoms, and tulips. And I cannot think of anything that epitomizes spring better than Evoke Winery’s Talk Flirty to Me Blush Wine.

Yes, you heard me correctly, I said blush wine. And why not? When was the last time you had a blush wine, or, have you ever even had a blush wine? I remember the bygone era when my parents kept boxes of Franzia White Zinfandel (blush wine) in our basement fridge.

And no, blush wine is not rosé. Read on for the juicy details….

Rosé wine can be made in a range of styles from dry (no sweetness on the palate) to sweet (where, obviously, you taste sweet). Pretty much all wine grapes, even red ones, have white flesh inside, not red (Alicante Bouschet is a notable exception). So a rosé wine is made by allowing the red skins to impart some color (longer time contributes to more intense color) to the grape juice, but then the skins are separated from the juice and do not ferment with the juice as it becomes wine (otherwise it would be red wine).

Blush wine, on the other hand, can have pink color like rosé, but instead of being dry it is sweet, with stronger fruit flavors and softer texture. Blush wine in particular is a good route to go if you are just starting out in wine (it’s sweet, aromatic, approachable) but experienced wine drinkers should not overlook the vernal charms of blush wine, either.

To be honest, I am not a huge rosé fan. There have been some standouts, but they generally leave me annoyed, because I see the pink color and naturally expect some sweetness, then I’m let down by drinking dry white wine with pink color. It messes with my brain! Blush wine is more my cup of tea (er, glass of wine).

I love “serious” wine – wine that offers up so many aromas, flavors, and textures you have a lot to ponder as you consume it – but I also really love it when people have FUN with wine and get creative with names and descriptions. Case in point: Evoke Winery, based out of Hood River, Oregon (which used to be called Naked Winery years ago – see my post on their Chardonnay from back in the day or their Oh! Orgasmic Barbera). I love their motto – “Northwest Wines for Fun People.” They can be silly with their wines because what is in the bottle, truth be told, is SERIOUSLY GOOD WINE. No need to try and impress or come across as serious – the wine speaks for itself.

According to their website, “Evoke Winery is an Oregon-based winery with a big personality – and a little something for everyone. From full-bodied reds (like our Penetration Cabernet Sauvignon) to the best-tasting rosé wine (like our fan-favorite Our Cliché Rosé), it’s our mission to make feel-good wines for whatever the times.”

Those words couldn’t be more true. Check out their wide selection of wines, there really is something on here for every palate.

Evoke Winery has three tasting rooms in Oregon (Hood River, Bend, and Seaside) and one in Vancouver, Washington, which just opened a few days ago. Lots of great options and excuses for getting out and seeing what the fun is all about.

Evoke Winery Talk Flirty to Me Sweet Blush Wine

Stop it, you’re making me blush!
Photo courtesy Evoke Winery

So on to the wine at hand:

  • Evoke Winery Talk Flirty to Me Sweet Blush Wine Columbia Valley 2020
  • $28/bottle
  • 13.5% ABV, Residual Sugar 6
  • Varietals used: Viognier, Muscat, Petite Sirah
  • Aged 3 months in stainless steel
  • Medium body, semi-sweet
  • Soft and dreamy, low acidity
  • I got aromas/flavors of strawberry, peach, and orange blossom. Heavenly!
  • Evoke says: “Evokes notes of marmalade, peach rings, and hitting your data limit.”
  • Evoke also suggests pairing this with strawberry shortcake or rhubarb strudel à la mode.

This wine smacks of springtime perfection. Just writing about it is making me thirsty!

Happy First Day of Spring, readers! Go try some Talk Flirty to Me Sweet Blush Wine and share it with your favorite flirty people IRL.

Special thanks to Shelly at Evoke Winery for your enthusiasm and help answering my questions! 🙂 
Flowers

Out of the Shadows, Ex Umbris Syrah

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Here is an Irish blessing for you:

Remember to Forget

Always remember to forget
The things that made you sad.
But never forget to remember
The things that made you glad.

That is something I handle well with wine… I never forget to remember the wines that made me glad. 🙂

While today’s wine is not Irish, it’s made by a gentleman named David O’Reilly at a winery named Owen Roe (I’m guessing there’s some Irish there). 😉

Since it is still Washington Wine Month, it’s only fitting I introduce you to another of my tried-and-true go-to wines (wow, that was a heckuva lotta hyphens): Owen Roe 2020 Ex Umbris Syrah Columbia Valley.

The first time I had Owen Roe wines was at a now defunct wine bar in Fremont. This was among my earlier wine tasting experiences and I just loved every single Owen Roe wine I had, and took home most of them, including the Ex Umbris Syrah. Ex Umbris is Latin for “out of the shadows.”

Here were my tasting notes on the 2010 Ex Umbris:

“Virtually flawless Syrah. Delectable. I want more!”

And, amazingly, I still share those same sentiments in 2023!

According to the winemaker, Ex Umbris was first made in 2002 “… after a wild fire struck the vineyard’s surrounding hillsides. The residual ash and smoke resonated in the Syrah grapes, creating a very memorable wine.” Thus they produce this Syrah every year in keeping with the style of the first vintage. Just to be clear, this does not mean you taste wildfire smoke, not at all.

This is one of my all-time favorite Syrahs, Washington or otherwise. I keep going back to it because it is consistently great and at a very comfortable price for such a high quality wine. Everyone I’ve recommended it to or gifted it to has loved it. And the wine doesn’t lie – winemaker David O’Reilly carefully selects only premium Syrah grapes from top Washington vineyards in Columbia, Yakima, and Walla Walla Valleys for this wine.

Owen Roe Ex Umbris Syrah wine

I love the script on the label. Brings back memories of taking calligraphy in middle school.

Here are the details and my impressions of the wine:

  • $17.47/bottle at Total Wine, slightly less at Costco, $21.00 at winery
  • Deep ruby color
  • Full body, 14.1% ABV, mostly dry
  • Aromas/Flavors: Plum, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, pepper, clay, floral
  • Lush, full fruit flavors, touch of spice, vanilla on the palate
  • Soft yet strong background tannins that offer good support in the wine
  • Good, balanced presence of acidity
  • Long-lasting, gentle finish

In sum, this is a fantastic introductory teaser to the epic level of quality that Washington Syrah can achieve.

I really need to do a road trip and visit their tasting room in Wapato, WA. Not only do they specialize in Washington reds like Syrahs, Cabernet Sauvignon, etc., but also in Oregon reds like Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs. Some of the best of both states, and my top favorite types of wine. But alas, when? Think I’ll go pine away for now….

Anyway, you can purchase Ex Umbris Syrah at Total Wine and certain Costco locations, and obviously through the winery itself. In fact, if you’re a really big fan, you can purchase a case of Ex Umbris directly through the winery and each bottle comes to about $12.42/bottle (before tax, etc.). Unbelievable! (Sadly, this option is sold out at the moment). 😦

So for those of you who prefer red wine to green beer, Guinness, or Bailey’s, raise a glass of Ex Umbris Syrah and proclaim, Sláinte!

Sources
1. Cavoto, Erin, “50 Best Irish Blessings to Read Aloud on St. Patrick’s Day”, The Pioneer Woman, March 1, 2023, accessed March 15, 2023, https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/holidays-celebrations/g35219151/traditional-irish-blessings-prayers/?slide=14

How to Survive (and Thrive!) at a Wine Festival

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I love wine festivals. I love the excitement of a gigantic room filled with a dazzling array of wines waiting to be tasted and interesting and fun people to talk to about wine. I love strolling around, perusing the tables with their bottles all lined up, many flanked with medals for various wine awards, being loaded up with pours, swirling my glass, downing divine liquids. Heaven!

But I don’t love the toll the higher than normal amount of alcohol takes on my body. Personally, two big glasses of wine (no, not this kind) spread out over the course of an evening, is my limit (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases). And I have zero desire to try and break personal records here.

So how do you enjoy a wine festival without going overboard and waking up the next day with a raging headache, empty wallet, or other ill fates? In short, regret?

McMinnville Wine + Food Classic March 2019

McMinnville Wine + Food Classic, taken March 2019 at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. No, they didn’t let us climb in the planes.

Fear not, it’s not impossible; you can have your wine and drink it, too! Remember you are not here to compete; you are here to do as many tastings as your body will allow you to do comfortably. A wine festival is kind of a weird amalgam of speed dating and a trade show. But done with balance and moderation in mind, it’s great fun. 

I lay before you my wine festival wisdom! In no particular order…

1. Have a designated driver. Non-negotiable, and probably the most important consideration. Even if you don’t “plan on drinking that much” – it’s just best practice to have someone assume this responsibility.

2. Go with friends. Obviously if you have a DD the assumption is that you are going with friends. It’s hard to see people in person these days (life, busy), so it’s almost a superhuman feat when we do get ourselves together. Make this experience worthwhile and enjoy this time with your friends.

3. Make friends. Get chatty (that won’t be hard after a few sips). 😛 Don’t be obnoxious, but you’re in a room with a bunch of fellow wine lovers – swap stories. Make more friends!

4. Hydrate. Alcohol dehydrates you. The rule is at least one glass of water for each 5 oz. glass of wine. Take it seriously. Bring that water bottle and use it. Keep refilling it.

5. Take away the pain. Bring an OTC pain reliever in case wine headache sets it.

6. Take notes! Since I’m on my phone enough already I prefer to take wine tasting notes with a pen and basic cheap spiral notebook. That works for me. Do what works for you. Snap photos with your camera, use your favorite app, etc. 

7. Set a budget and stick with it. Also take into account your wine storage situation at home. You might not have room right now for a whole extra case of wine.

8. Mind your blood sugar. Go with a fairly full stomach, but not so full you don’t have room for wine. Bring bland crackers like water crackers to clear your palate and some salted nuts & dried fruit to elevate your blood sugar should the need arise (and it will!). Bring funds for meals and snacks, depending how long you are there.

9. Pace yourself. This is not a race! Relax. Easy does it, tiger.

10. Don’t just swallow your wine. Those of you wine tasting pros, keep reading. Those of you less familiar with proper wine tasting form, a quick lesson:

Take a sip, keep it in your mouth while you swish it and swirl it around, letting all the details of the wine register on your tongue and through your retronasal olfaction (your sense of smell that comes up to your nose from your mouth). Trill the wine, sucking some air into your mouth while you have wine in your mouth to aerate the wine. The air will actually help encourage the release of more of the wine’s aroma molecules. Then swallow. Exhale through your nose with your mouth closed for even more aromas.

For Olympian-level trilling action (and also plenty of talking), check out WineLibrary TV for endless examples of trilling and expectorating. 🙂

11. Don’t be afraid to spit out your wine (“expectorate”). Ask your wine server for a dump bucket. You can try a lot more wines without getting buzzed if you do this. It lets you get 90% of the picture of a wine, although you do miss out on the finish a little, since you are not swallowing in this instance (“finish” is how a wine concludes after swallowing, or the end experience of a sip of wine). BUT you still get all the information you need about the wine’s body, structure, and flavors. So it’s a win-win (wine-win?).

If you are really digging the wine you’re tasting, swallow; if not, spit.

You can also just take a small sip, savor, and swallow your wine, then dump the rest of your pour into the bucket to save your alcohol bandwidth for other wines.

12. Know and own your personal limit and practice acceptance. Remember, you absolutely cannot sample every single wine from every last winery here, and you won’t. Enjoy the ones you pick and remember that just leaves more for another time. Don’t be afraid to throw in the towel when you are truly done tasting for the day. Stop before your body starts complaining loudly!

And remember, palate fatigue is real. Our palates start to tire after tasting a high number of wines. This is when everything starts to taste AMAZING and when you frequently decide to purchase wine (naturally!), so just remember that when you bring home that bottle and it doesn’t taste quite as AMAZING as you remember it tasting at your beloved wine festival. This is why it really is better to only do so many tastes at one time, because you truly can’t enjoy the wines to their fullest with a muddled palate.

How about you? Have you been to any wine festivals? Love ’em? Hate ’em? Fun stories to share? Comment!

A New Favorite: Bacovino Sangiovese + Recipe

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Bacovino Winery: Creating Beautiful and Bountiful Wines that are Truthful Expressions of Washington Terroir

If you’ve been drinking wine long enough, and tried a good handful of varieties, you get it – we all have certain wines that are not at the top of our favorites list. I’ve mentioned a time or two that I could care less about Pinot Grigio (ugh, even saying it gets me annoyed, ha ha). Well, the red wine equivalent of that for me has tended to be Sangiovese. When doing a red wine tasting, no matter where, the Sangiovese is often my least favorite wine. Yes, sometimes they’re OK, but I’m not usually compelled to purchase a bottle like I would a tried-and-true Cab or Syrah.

But that all changed at Bacovino Winery. My typical aversion to Sangiovese toppled when I tried this particularly wowing wine.

Bacovino Winery opened its tasting room in November 2021 in Tukwila, Washington, which is literally the first city bordering Seattle to the south. Owner and Winemaker Randy Brooks is an ardent fan of Washington grapes (me, too!) and is committed to honoring the character of each grape variety through the highest quality winemaking. You can read more about his winemaking philosophy and practices here.

I have been in the tasting room several times now and every time I have gone in I am treated extremely well by friendly, knowledgeable people, and I enjoy some truly special and delicious wines. The wines are outstanding examples of Washington terroir. My personal favorites are their Viognier, Merlot, and – whoddathunkit – Sangiovese (I will post on these other favorites in the future!). In fact, their Sangiovese might be my favorite of their wines, and it is definitively one of the best Sangioveses I have ever had.

So how does one of my lesser favorite red varieties hop to the top of my “MUST DRINK” list?

This is not a typical Italian/Old World Sangiovese with sky high acidity, brisk/coarse tannins, and even a touch of bitterness. This is Washington/New World fruit that has been made into a very pleasing and drinkable wine. It’s got the lightest amount of sweetness, round and present fruit and spice notes, and balanced acidity, alcohol, and tannins that make it exceedingly food-friendly. As a native Washingtonian it probably comes as no surprise this is my preferred style.

Hooray, I finally found a Sangiovese I LOVE!

Here are my impressions and some details of the Bacovino 2018 Signature Sangiovese:

  • $32/bottle
  • Medium garnet color
  • Medium body
  • 15.05% ABV
  • Aromas/Flavors: Cherry, Currant, Fig, Tomato Leaf, Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Licorice
  • Moderate acidity: just right!
  • Tannins pleasantly robust and blend perfectly with the rest of the wine
  • Lovely finish

This wine is distinct and fabulous on its own, but I wanted to challenge myself so I decided to research a great food pairing for this wine, and I found one. Eating Well’s Cheesy Marinara Beans taste like something you’d order at your favorite Italian bistro but are quite easy and affordable to make (plus vegetarian and gluten-free, if you prefer such things) – all bonus virtues right now with inflation!

Here is the recipe. This dish went GREAT with the wine!

A great food and wine pairing tip to remember is that Sangiovese is an ideal mate for foods with tomato sauce.

Go do a tasting at Bacovino, get some of this Sangiovese, make this recipe, and you will be one very happy camper. Don’t be surprised if you discover some new favorites yourself! 🙂

Speaking of cheese, Bacovino offers a veritable plethora of community events and classes, from live music to paint nights to floral arranging workshops to CHEESE classes! Haven’t you always wondered how to make all the different types of cheese (while eating them, no less)? I personally have not taken a class yet but it is on my to-do list. 🙂 Definitely check out these wonderful classes for a fun activity.

Fight Inflation: A Tempranillo for Under $10 + Free Wine Tastings

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Talma Tempranillo Scores Big For a Few Bucks

I think it’s safe to say that everyone has now felt/is still very much feeling the effects of inflation and has modified their spending and consumption to reflect what they can realistically do with their limited dollars. We are definitely opting for more vegetarian dinners such as beans and rice, or eggs and toast (and no, we haven’t had a problem finding eggs, thank goodness). Eating one less meal out or using a cheaper source of protein (did someone say tofu?) all adds up and helps our poor wallets not be quite so emaciated.

Inflation doesn’t just affect our food choices, it affects our entertainment funds and even what type and how much alcohol we can buy.

And, I don’t know if any of you wine tasters have noticed lately, but some wineries and tasting rooms are charging exorbitant amounts to taste these days (I paid $30 for a tasting at one place in Oregon last year), and it doesn’t always even go towards a bottle purchase. 😦 I understand they are trying to make a profit, but, yikes and ouch!

Oddly enough, for a wine aficionada, I don’t actually drink a HUGE amount of wine, so when it comes to spending money on wine, I would often prefer to spend more on a few higher quality bottles than on a glut of vino cheapo. But that’s not at all to say I am resistant to a really good price for a good bottle of wine!

So if you’re wondering if there are any places left offering FREE tastings, let me give you some great news: yes, yes, there are! (*Hallelujah Chorus*). Your local Total Wine & More store offers FREE tastings on certain days of the week! OK, perhaps not everyone’s store does, but for those of you who live near one and are hankering to try some good wines (as well as spirits!), head on down.

For other ideas on where to taste for free in the PNW, see my page Places to Taste.

I tried this Talma Tempranillo at a Total Wine free tasting one Friday afternoon, and even

I love this label! Talma Tempranillo from Spain.

in the tiny plastic sample cup, it was aromatic and awesome and begged me to take it home. 🙂

Here is the scoop on this fun find that overdelivers for the price:

  • $8.99 at Total Wine
  • 100% Tempranillo from Spain
  • Medium ruby color, semi-opaque
  • 13% ABV, medium body
  • Moderate acidity, mostly dry
  • Medium tannins
  • Aromas/Flavors: upon first opening, I got cranberry, currant, bay leaf, pepper. Upon further swirling/decanting: black cherry, raspberry, blackberry, herbs, Bandaid (this aroma is attributable to Brettanomyces yeast), orange, earth, leather, almost a floral aroma, cedar
  • A fresher, juicier style of Tempranillo, this is a fairly young wine that hasn’t seen a long time aging or excessive amounts of oak.
  • Finish/Conclusion: intriguing cola flavors on the finish. The finish is rather short-lived but that doesn’t detract from the otherwise positive traits of the wine, like the nose, good balance of acid/alcohol/sweetness, and overall great flavor and smoothness.

I hope you enjoy this Tempranillo as much as I did, and that you’re able to find a free wine tasting near you soon!

Has inflation changed how much alcohol you consume or the price point of the alcohol you buy? Comment if you like.

Charcuterie with my Cuties and Wine for Valentine’s Night

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Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope however you are celebrating today that you are feeling the love. ❤

If you are thinking “I’d like to make this day a little extra Valentine-y” but don’t want to go down the usual routes; if you need inspiration for a dinner that is delicious, interesting, fun, and relatively inexpensive (it’s utterly flexible), and is also something slightly fancy for the love holiday, look no further. It also does not require a reservation, parking, dressing up, and the like. It’s great for one person, for a couple, or for as large or small a group as you desire. So if that’s you this Valentine’s Day, I’ve got you covered.

One of the great things about wine is the special company it keeps with food. And the illustrious charcuterie board (a.k.a. Lunchables for Grown-Ups) has become the golden standard for enjoying with wine. In case you need enlightening, a charcuterie board is simply several types of prepared meats served with various cheeses, crackers, breads, nuts, olives, fruit, assorted condiments like mustard, jam, etc. all presented together on a large serving platter.

During the pandemic, when we were not eating out because restaurants were only offering to-go, I decided to throw together an epic smorgasbord with anything and everything charcuterie-related: several types of cheese and crackers, a couple salamis or other meats, sliced pears, berries, grapes, nuts, etc. I also bought several bottles of wine to pair specifically with the cheeses I had selected. We dined al fresco.

The kids LOVED it, because they got to eat cheese, crackers, and salami for dinner, and put what they wanted on their plates. I loved it for obvious reasons and also for the rare praises instead of moans and complaints from the picky eater cohort.

We did this a couple times and since it’s been a while, I decided it would be fun to do it again for Valentine’s night.

I slaved so hard in the kitchen… opening up packaged stuff and putting it on a platter, I’m exhausted… 😉

I’ve got a cheese collection from Costco (the Kirkland Signature Cheese Flight they sell around the winter holidays) which features the following cheeses: cow’s milk cheese from Belgium, aged cow’s milk cheddar from England, goat’s milk cheese with honey from Spain, sheep’s milk pecorino cheese with truffles from Italy, and cow’s milk cheese with tomatoes, onions, and spices from the USA.

When you make a charcuterie board, you can use whatever cheeses you like, but to keep it interesting, aim for:

– three to four (or more!) different cheeses
– a mix of soft, semi-soft, and hard cheeses
– a mix of different types of milk (e.g. sheep, cow, goat)

For wine, I went with a black pinot and a white pinot (literally Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc) from different AVAs (American Viticultural Areas – unique designated wine grape growing areas) in Washington and Oregon. According to Erin Doman, all Pinots (Noir, Gris, Blanc, Meunier, etc.) are mutations of the same variety.

We’re drinking Skagit Crest Vineyard & Winery Pinot Blanc from Washington (specifically the Puget Sound AVA) and River’s Edge Winery Barrel Select Pinot Noir from Oregon (specifically the Elkton AVA, one of Oregon’s newer AVAs). You can pair almost any wine with various cheeses (more on that later), but for this article’s sake I am just focusing on these two elegant beauties.

Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc grapes both make lighter bodied wines with moderately strong acidity (makes your mouth pucker) so they work especially well when paired with creamy cheeses. Some wines are great on their own and some are meant to be drunk with food. These wines are delightful each on their own and they shine bright with the cheeses.

The River’s Edge Pinot is bursting with juicy, plush aromas of dark cherry, blueberry, spices, and something woody. My favorite cheese match with the Pinot Noir is the Italian pecorino with truffles. The truffle notes in the cheese really complement the mushroom notes in the Pinot Noir. So earthy and complex, I love it! This is a great Pinot Noir for wine drinkers who like full flavors and good substance (like me, ha ha). 🙂

Skagit Crest’s Pinot Blanc is an exceptional companion to cheese! It is like smelling a springtime wedding: flowers hugged by some robust honeycomb, lime, grapefruit, and a little gravel. On the palate there is excellent acidity with no astringency or harshness, moderate alcohol and flavors of stone and citrus fruits. It’s very similar to Pinot Gris/Grigio (same grape, just French and Italian names), but I love this subtly different and refreshing change from typical Pinot Gris. For cheese partners, the Belgian cheese and the Spanish honey goat cheese were both great with this wine.

I am hoping to do more food and wine pairing recommendations in the future, but for now would highly encourage you to seek out these particular wines and enjoy them with some cheese. Bon appétit!

Daze of Wine and Roses: An Indulgent Pairing of Chocolate Truffles and Sparkling Wine for Valentine’s Day

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Disclosure Statement: This post contains affiliate links. When you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.

It’s no secret I love February — it may still be winter, but at least for me it is a short month filled with a whopping three big holidays of ultimate feminine spoiling: my birthday, Valentine’s Day, and my wedding anniversary all happily fill this month of love. February is cozy, sweet, dreamy, and I love all 28 days of it! 🙂 In the same way Christmas lights and decorations help lift the gloom of dark December, so Valentine’s

Gettin’ ready for Valentine’s Day with premium chocolate

Day (in all its cheesiness) makes February more fun and gives us a great excuse to enjoy some chocolate and drink some wine! Although none of us here NEED an excuse for that. 😉

But the world of chocolate and wine pairing, though. Yikes. It’s like stepping into a flavor minefield if you don’t have good direction. A pairing can either send your taste buds into flavor ecstasy or quickly banish them to foul pairing hell. So what to do if you would actually like to try and achieve flavor bliss?

First, think of your food and drink like paints on a palette or musical notes — you are composing specific “works” based on the combined qualities of your ingredients. In a nutshell, food and wine can either create complementary pairings (where the weight, textures, and flavors complement or agree with each other) or contrasting pairings (where the weight, textures, and flavors have opposite characteristics and create  exciting dynamics through contrast). An example of a complementary food and wine pairing would be ribeye steak with Cabernet Sauvignon (heavy, rich, full-bodied). A contrasting example would be pad thai with Riesling (both light, but spicy against acidic and sweet). 

But for now, let’s just keep it simple with a delicious complementary pairing that will delight both wine noobs and experts alike.

You’re just too good to be true… can’t take my eyes off of you….

Let me introduce you to Banfi Rosa Regale, an Italian sparkling red wine from Piedmont, Italy. It is made from a red grape known as Brachetto. Yes, it is sweet and bubbly like soda pop, BUT it offers great structure, fine perlage (tiny bubbles equal higher quality in sparkling wines) and enough acidity to make it elegant and sophisticated and oh so enjoyable. The aromas of red berries, orange, and rose are hypnotic, and the sweet but slightly tart flavors of strawberry and raspberry that unfold on your palate with drive you crazy and keep you coming back for more. I first tried this wine at a business networking event when I worked at a chamber of commerce, and it was pretty much all I could think about that evening — how utterly amazing this wine is! I still feel that way, and that is why I think you should stock up on this wine for Valentine’s Day!

(goes to pour herself another glass because it’s too… freaking…good…)

Heaven, I’m in heaven…

Now, that wine was amazing on its own, but wait, things are about to get even better when it meets its sweet match! This wine will get along VERY well with milk chocolate. I would personally applaud your choice of Seattle Chocolate Milk Chocolate Truffles (which is what I paired with) but you could also have great success with other brands of milk chocolate you enjoy. The creamy sweetness of each are tantalizingly divine together. I literally taste vanilla whipped cream. Wow! 

Speaking of chocolate, the aforementioned Seattle Chocolate Company has some of the best-tasting chocolate in the world (prove me wrong) and they have a great factory tour which is a fascinating education in all things chocolate. I even got to touch fresh, raw cacao fruit before the beans get roasted. Since I especially love exploring subtle flavors and aromas in wine, I really enjoyed blind tasting through several of their delicious chocolates and trying to guess the flavors and ingredients. Their store also carries a number of fun pairing ideas of their chocolates matched with various Washington wines. Do check them out if you’re in the greater Seattle area!

So there you have it: milk chocolate with Brachetto for the Valentine’s Day win!

Happy Valentine’s Day, sweet readers! ❤