Tag: Chardonnay

New Zealand Chardonnay – Villa Maria Vineyards and Winery

My second wine in the Villa Maria tasting series is a Chardonnay from the Marlborough region of New Zealand – the 2015 Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Chardonnay (www.villamaria.co.nz).     New Zealand has two islands that cover 1000 miles and 11 wine regions. The Marlborough 

Barrel Oak Winery – a taste of Virginia with a salute to our canine friends

“We could in the United States make as great a variety of wines as are made in Europe, not exactly of the same kinds, but doubtless as good. (1808)” – Thomas Jefferson Wines are produced in 221 different American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) across the United States. 

Turkey and Wine Pairing – Part 2

Turkey and Wine Pairing – Part 2
“Some people serve red wine with Thanksgiving dinner. Some people serve white. My preference is ‘lots of’.” – Crabby Road
For those of you who still need to purchase a turkey, you’re running out of time! For those of you still needing to buy wine for your Thanksgiving feast, here is part 2 of the turkey and wine pairing series. In the first blog I focused on red wine pairings. For this second blog I am focusing on white wine pairings.
In one of my earlier blogs, I reviewed a Chardonnay by Josh Cellars vineyards that is a great pairing for most any poultry dish. Today’s blog will feature La Crema Chardonnay (www.lacrema.com). La Crema winery produces a wide variety of Chardonnays from various wine growing regions including Monterey, Sonoma and the Russian River valleys. We will focus on La Crema’s Chardonnay from Sonoma Valley.

                                                                                         La Crema Chardonnay
PositiveVines ‘HelpfulTip: Sonoma Valley is known as the birthplace of wine production in California. Just north of San Francisco, the earliest vineyards in Sonoma survived major epidemics and prohibition.
I am a big fan of Chardonnays that have a bold taste and La Crema fits the bill. This Chardonnay has hints of citrus fruits in both the smell and taste. Customers also noted vanilla and plum flavors lingering on the palate. La Crema is aged for 5 months in French and American Oak barrels. The predominance of French Oak imparts a buttery, creamy finish. The slightly fruity sweetness lends itself well with the Turkey and Stuffing spices.
La Crema Sonoma Chardonnay averages $16 at most stores. Many stores run specials this time of year since it is such a popular partnering with holiday meals. One hidden gem for wine sales is World Market. This surprisingly fun store frequently runs specials on La Crema wines.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your family traditions and don’t be afraid to start new ones. Let me know what you think about the wine! Post to my blog or email me. I’m always thrilled to hear from wine enthusiasts.

Remember to drink what it is that makes you truly happy and always think positively!

Drink Responsibly!

Try a new Chardonnay for the Summer

Try a new Chardonnay for the Summer

How many of you have gone to the store seeking out that new bottle of wine, only to be overwhelmed with the selection? Do you retreat back to the familiar? Be honest- we all have!!! Most weekends you can find me at one of our