My cousin-in-law on his never-ending quest to convert me into a pinot drinker invited me to come taste through the lineup of pinots at Rivers Marie. While there’s no actual tasting room open to the public, if you can get your hands on a bottle of these wines I promise you won’t be disappointed. We started with their two 2012 chardonnays. Light, balanced, easy to…
Wine Wednesdays – Tasting at Vine Cliff Winery
While at home I got to stop by and check out the new tasting room for Vine Cliff Winery. While the winery estate is located in Oakville off of Silverado Trail, this new tasting room just outside of St. Helena is a great place to stop off and taste while cruising up highway 29. And with Dean & Deluca right next door, it’s a great…
Wine Wednesdays – Wine Tasting at Aubert
I’m home for the week, celebrating multiple occasions including my 10-year high school reunion (!!!) and a dear friend’s wedding. From the moment I landed I’ve been drinking some amazing wine! Last Friday we were treated to a special private tasting at Aubert in Calistoga. Known for both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, we tasted through some of their best including the 2012 Larry Hyde…
Wine Wednesdays – Kendeis 2012 Roussanne
I enjoyed this wine on the 4th of July with grilled lobster, zucchini with mint, parsley, and Parmesan, and grilled romaine. The juicy, creamy wine was the perfect compliment to the rich, buttery lobster! Having little experience with Roussanne, I was pleasantly surprised by this wine; heavier bodied, with a golden straw-yellow color. The nose was a burst of butterscotch and browned butter. The…
Gluten Free Lemon Bars for 4th of July!
Happy 4th of July!! I hope everyone is enjoying the 3-day weekend. I’m out at the beach celebrating with lots and lots of rose 🙂 Highlights from last year at home For anyone that has a bbq, picnic, or party to attend this weekend I would highly recommend making these lemon bars. They feel a little more wholesome with a gluten-free almond meal crust, minimal…
Wine Wednesdays – Breezette 2013 Rose
How is it possible it’s July already?? ‘Tis the season for rose! I enjoyed a Cotes de Provence rose by Breezette while out at the beach this weekend. Simple, not something that needs to be over thought, the most important part of picking a rose for me is making sure that it is completely dry. I tend to hedge my bets by picking bottles lighter…
European Holiday Part 3 – Perfect Ending in Paris
After our 3 days in Beaune we took the train to Paris for the last leg of our trip. We stayed at the Hotel Universite in Saint-Germain, a nice contrast to our last time in Paris in the Marais. Lucky enough to have visited Paris a few times in my life, this time was all about finding those unique, non-touristy experiences in the city, visiting old…
Wine Wednesdays – 2012 St. Michael Eppan Pinot Grigio
Hi all, happy Wednesday! For my first weekend out at the beach we picked up a “cheap and cheerful” white wine to accompany our dinner. Little did I know that this pinot grigio would surprise me! I typically pass over pinot grigio as I tend to find it underwhelming, overly acidic, and falls flat compared to other favorites. However, this wine really stood out. St….
Summer Bucket List 2014
With the official start to summer kicking off this weekend, time feels like it’s flying! June already?? Summer is over in a matter of weekends! So, to ensure I take full advantage, I wanted to put together my first summer bucket list. I’m hoping that by putting this out there I will take the time to check these off, and enjoy every minute of the…
An Afternoon at The Cook’s Atelier
One of our most memorable experiences of the trip was certainly our cooking class at The Cook’s Atelier. Marjorie and her daughter Kendall are expats from Arizona living the dream in Beaune. They launched their business with cooking classes and supper-club format dinners and in the past year have expanded to include a beautiful wine store and retail space in addition to their teaching kitchen…