Happy New Year! 2016, geez where does the time go?? I’m sorry for the radio silence, I spent the holidays unplugging with family and friends at home, with a jaunt down to Cabo to ring in the New Year. But I’m back, and ready to share what I’ve been drinking with you all! On Christmas day we started the festivities with this light and bright…
Tra Vigne has been a Napa Valley institution for the better part of my entire life (28 years to be exact). Sadly they are closing their doors as of December 20th. While I was home over Thanksgiving, I went not once, but twice to savor their amazing “mozzarella al minuto” for the last time. The mozzarella is literally pulled the “minute” you order and…
I have a wine to convince all of the Chardonnay-haters out there that this grape has so many redeeming qualities!! While some members of the older generations might remember Chablis as the generic term for many jug wines, traditional Chablis is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes hailing from the Chablis region in France in northern Burgundy. This cooler climate region is actually closer to…
I recently spent a weekend in L.A. visiting my oldest and bestest friend. As we both originally hail from Napa, we set out to see what the L.A. wine scene was all about. We headed out to Malibu. First up, Malibu Wines. We tasted through their Estate flight. The wines were fine, but nothing outstanding or worth purchasing. The vibe was very corporate, the hospitality…
It’s here, it’s here! T-day! Are you ready? Recipes prepped, table set, wine chosen? If you’re looking for any last minute inspiration, my friend Molly from Dunk and Crumble is sharing some amazing recipes and asked me to jump in with suggested wine pairings. Check it out on her blog here! I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving! Wine and cheese, just two…
It’s a toss up, but Thanksgiving might just edge out Christmas as my favorite holiday. It’s the official kick-off to the holiday season, it’s my favorite meal, and I love the tradition of it all. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to appreciate the wine pairings that go along with it as well. I had so much fun hosting a Thanksgiving wine tasting for a…
Something new and different for me this week! My friends came over last night and I grabbed a random bottle from my wine stash. I honestly can’t remember when, where, or how I came to acquire this bottle of wine, but I was pleasantly surprised! You’ve probably gathered that when I’m not drinking CA wines, I tend towards France. But Spain is quickly becoming a…
My family friends live in New Jersey and offer a wonderful respite from city life. My “country home” as I like to call it; comfy and cozy and every visit is capped off with a delicious, home-cooked meal. And when I’m really lucky, there’s a bottle of wine pulled from the cellar! Last weekend we enjoyed a bottle of Lewis Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. Everything…
If you have a Halloween party this weekend and are looking for something tasty to bring, look no further than these easy-peasy oatmeal cookies! The pumpkin-caramel takes them to a whole new level, chewy centers with crisp edges! I happened to have a leftover jar of pumpkin caramel from last year’s pumpkin season; if you can’t find you can sub in Trader Joe’s fleur…
My brother hosted a BBQ to share the spoils of his recent hunting adventure. He cooked up quite the feast including venison and quail as well as store-bought skirt steak for those less-adventurous. I made a version of my favorite salad (arugula, nectarines, goat cheese, and tomatoes) and we had grilled veggies and potatoes on the side. It was one of those perfect Napa Valley…
