Torrontés Varietal

Argentina is widely known for their wonderful Malbec. Yet just as wonderful as Malbec, Argentina grows a lovely white varietal Torrontés. This varietal is not highly recognized by The United States, but is one that should not be overlooked. The  Torrontés varietal is considered to be the best of its kind. The wines made from the Torrontés grape have been the visiting card of Argentine Wine Producers and have lead to many international awards. As it has progressed in the international market, it has become the emblematic white wine of Argentina.Torrontés is the most distinctive of all Argentine wines, including both white and red. The reason being is that Argentina is the only country to produce it.

Recuerdo Wines produces a beautiful Torrontés cultivated in La Roja. Due to the Famatima Valley Wine Region, where Recuerdo grows its grapes, the quality of the fruit is very high. For Recuredo this is a new and exciting varietal that they hope to share with the world.Torrontés is high in both citrus flavors and smells. Peaches, lemons and Asian fruits are high characteristics of this wine.

With summer just around the corner this is a perfect wine! Not only does it pair well with light foods but it also has the aroma of a wonderful summer night. So next time you are looking for a light white wine, or have Argentina on your mind don’t forget Recuerdo’s Torrontés.

http://www.recuerdowines.com/the_wines/

Music and Wine

I just recently found out that Napa Valley will be hosting their very own music festival this summer!
Not only is it close to home, but the line up, in my opinion is amazing! They are featuring a wide selection of music, that lets almost anyone fit into the atmosphere. The festival will be for four days, but as far as I know you will be able to purchase either 3 day passes or 4 day passes. Tickets just went on pre-sale today and will continue selling up to the date of the event which starts on May 8th!

I definitely think this is something worth checking out! Great location, great bands and wine! What more could you want!

To check out the schedule go here:
http://bottlerocknapavalley.com/bottlerock-schedule.html

To check out everything else go here:
http://bottlerocknapavalley.com

Cheese + Wine = Perfection

In my opinion the one combination that never fails to get old is cheese and wine. This combination is beyond a doubt one of the best delicacies in life if you can pair the two correctly. Sadly I believe finding wonderful cheese at a decent price is definitely more difficult than finding wonderful wine at a decent price.

Recently, while spending the day in downtown Sonoma with a co-worker I was introduced to a cute little cheese and wine shop titled The Epicurean Connection. Not only was the environment friendly and inviting but the staff was quite helpful! This shop offered great wines, tasty lunch options, cute trinkets and best of all phenomenal cheese! To top it off everything was decently priced! I will definitely revisit this lovely shop the next time I am looking for great cheese! The staff will even let you sample each cheese to find the right pair for your wine.

Next time you are in Napa be sure to check this gem out!

http://www.theepicureanconnection.com

Garnet 2010 Pinot Noir

Tonight I opened a bottle of Garnet Pinot Noir to end the week of perfectly. This a wonderful wine with a lovely cherry aroma and taste. Their is no dryness or overwhelming oak taste to this wine which lets it flow down quite smoothly. It has a 100% silky taste which leads to finsihing your glass quite quickly. In my opinion I think this is a wonderful wine for a great price! At only 15 dollars a bottle at your local Bevmo this wine will not disappoint. This wine will pair well with many things from Chinese to fish. Or if you are like me and want to wind down the week on a good night, this does just the trick. I give props to Alison Crowe for her wonderful winemaking skills! This wine is definitely one I would recommend and look forward to buying my next bottle!

Check out their website! http://www.garnetvineyards.com

Southern France

This past summer I spent a few weeks traveling through southern France along the Rhone River with my grandmother. We took a cruise that explored all aspects of France but focused mainly on wine. Before my trip, I found myself intrigued by wine and the industry, but thought nothing more of it than another product made in the United States. After traveling to France and experiencing wine in a whole new light I became not only intrigued but also fascinated.  In France I saw how wine was a part of the daily culture, the atmosphere, and all aspects of living. We visited many wineries, big to small and I was able to view the major differences in the production of wine in the United States, and the production of wine in France. At the time I did not know a lot about wine but being in the presence of wine and wine enthusiast's it allowed me to catch on quickly and learn more than I could have ever dreamed. In my opinion I think the most intriguing part about wine is sitting down at a table with a group of people of different backgrounds, stories and life experiences and opening a bottle with them. It is amazing how each person has something different to say, and how just tasting a glass of wine can lead to so many different conversations. My trip to France was the trip of a lifetime and I can not wait to explore other countries and their wine.

Facebook??

Over the past two or three years Facebook has become more than just a social networking sight for acquaintances and family. Facebook is now a great marketing source for most companies and plays a major role in advertisement for all local businesses. Although the wine industry has always been a little behind on the newest marketing strategies, most wineries now have their own Facebook profile which are updated quite frequently.

One of the biggest suggestions I can make to the wine connoisseurs out their is to add your favorite wineries and wineries of interest to your Facebook friend list. By doing this you will be updated with all of the local events taking place, new wines being released, price cuts and so much more!

Even if you are not a wine connoisseur, but you are planning to visit a winery or two, I would always recommend to check that wineries Facebook a few days before your visit! This will help to inform you of any special event taking place that day and overall give you a glimpse of what to expect. Most of the time you do not need to be a Facebook member to check a businesses Facebook page; so why not?

Here are just a few Facebook Pages to check out! All great wineries and informative Facebook profiles

1) https://www.facebook.com/ramsgatewinery

2) https://www.facebook.com/Chappellet.Wine

3)https://www.facebook.com/pages/Promise-Wine/150303085022875

9 Generations of Winemaking

Bernard Portet has been carrying on his family tradition of making wine and now continues to make wine all around the world. He also has his own line of wine here in Napa Valley titled Heritance Wines. Watch this video and get a small introduction into his wine making process!

http://www.heritancewines.com/