“Eat, Slay, Rosé, Repeat” – RoseSeason Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. You will notice that rosé wines start crowding the shelves at your local wine store. Rosé’s slight fruit tastes as well as light crispness make it a great wine to enjoy …
“Wine is sunlight, held together by water. “ – Galileo Southern California evokes memories of Hollywood, miles of beautiful beaches, sunlight and coastal highways of which driving legends are made. Add acres of vineyards in beautiful Temecula Valley to that picture and you have a …
“If most American cities are about the consumption of culture, Los Angeles and New York are about the production of culture- not only national culture but, also global culture.”- Barbara Kruger
For the past 3 years, I have had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Los Angeles frequently and experience the food and wine culture in this beautiful city by the Pacific. On a recent trip, I was introduced to A.O.C. – a food and wine partnership featuring culinary expert Suzanne Goin and sommelier Caroline Styne. Located on West 3rd street – tucked in between Beverly Hills and West Hollywood – A.O.C. features inspired wines by the glass and small plates ( www.aocwinebar.com ).
A.O.C. hosts a beautiful bar, patio and dining areas that are well positioned for the flow of lively conversations with your dining partners. This is a popular spot and I would recommend making reservations early in the week to be a part of the A.O.C. scene.
Summer is the start of the rosé season and I chose to sample one of the A.O.C. featured offerings. Domaine Turenne Camille Cotes de Provence rosé 2015 is a featured wine by the glass ( www.domaineturenne.com ). This is a mild salmon colored wine with a fresh cherry nose. It is a medium bodied rosé that has an easy finish and a hint of herbal tastes. I paired this rosé with a cheese platter featuring a Cremeux di Citeaux from Burgundy, France. The cream and light mushroom flavors balanced well with the crispness of the Domaine Turnee Camille rosé. This rosé is a blend of Cinsaut, Grenache and Syrah. It is the Cinsaut that adds body. Syrah provides a touch of spice and Grenache is a versatile grape for blending.
The vineyards for this offering are in the famous Côtes de Provence which is known for a wide variety of excellent rosé wines.
This is a great rose for the summer. At an average of $25 per bottle, this is a solid rose for you to enjoy with light summer foods. If you are local to LA or have a chance to travel there soon, spend an evening at A.O.C. It’s a fun engaging space with great staff.
Remember to drink what it is that makes you truly happy and always think positively!
Drink Responsibly!
#aocla #wbc2017 @westthirdstreet
“I am an African. I owe my being to the hills and the valleys, the mountains and the glades, the rivers, the deserts, the trees, the flowers, the seas and the ever-changing seasons that define the face of our native land” – Thabo Mbeki South …
“Tradition, Authenticity and Innovation.” – principles of Pascual Toso April 17, 2017 is Malbec World Day! This is the perfect day to learn about the development of exceptional Malbecs from Argentina which is thought to be the most important and impressive grapes grown in …
“Give me books, French wine, fruit, fine weather and a little music played out of doors by somebody I do not know.” – John Keats
Prior to Prohibition, much of the wine consumed or made in the United States was done so in warehouses that were located near major urban centers such as New York or San Francisco. As drinking tastes and neighborhoods have evolved, urban wineries and bistros are gaining in popularity. Zin Zen Wine & Bistro was established in 2006 as the first fine wine and food establishment nestled in Adriatica Village in McKinney, TX. On a beautiful Saturday afternoon in January, after a full morning of activities, I made the trip to Zin Zen with a few of my family members.
Adriatica Village is on the west side of McKinney. The wine bar is an intimate setting featuring over 80 different wines, daily menu specials, and regular musical performances. The bistro has an incredible art-deco wall next to the stage made up of crates with unique designs from the various wineries and vineyards. The seating is comfortable and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Zin Zen also hosts weddings and other special events. The owners at Zin Zen are active in the community with their support of multiple organizations.
On our visit, I tried a flight of West Coast Chardonnays; Byron from Santa Maria (www.byronwines.com), Girard (www.girardwinery.com) from Russian River Valley and Talbott “Logan” (www.talbottvineyards.com) from Santa Lucia, Highlands. Zin Zen features an assortment of flights to choose from for those of you who have a streak of adventure. Zin Zen flights have fanciful names such as “Zinful Zins,” “Whimsical Whites” and “Vive la France” being three out of their 11 pairings.
Byron is a buttery Chardonnay with lots of fruit forward aromas of orange and pear. The wine palate features hints of spice and minerals. It is a complex Chardonnay and averages between 91 –93 points in the various critic reviews. The grapes are harvested in Santa Maria at the Byron Nielson Vineyard. This vineyard has been in existence since 1964 and produces estate wines. Byron Chardonnay averages $25 per bottle and is a good wine if you like a little of the buttery taste, with an abundance of fruit to balance it out.
The Russian River Valley region is known for several vineyards that produce high quality California terroir Chardonnay. Girard Chardonnay is a bright; acidic white wine that has a hint of French Oak tastes without exhibiting characteristics of butter. Instead, this wine has hints of orange, lemon zest, and pear with a creamy finish. The Russian River Valley has a cooler climate owed to a nightly layer of fog. This cool climate allows the grapes to ripen at a slower rate. At $19 per bottle, this is a great wine for everyday drinking.
The last wine in my flight is a creamy, complex “Logan” Chardonnay from Talbott. Talbott produces Chardonnay that is either sourced from vineyards in Sleepy Hollow or the Santa Lucia Highlands. The is a complex Chardonnay with a rich French Oak and butter taste. It has a floral bouquet of pear, apple, and citrus. There is a mild level of acid leaving a full, rich taste on the palate. This is a long finishing Chardonnay that can be enjoyed with food or alone. This is also a reasonable offering at $23 per bottle on average.
My family chose pastas and paninis as our lunch meal, and they were excellent. Zin Zen offers a wide selection of freshly prepared foods for both lunch and dinner. They also offer meat and cheese trays for those times when you want something light to pair with your wine. Check out their website or like them on Facebook to be notified about upcoming musical performers as well.
If you are leisurely looking for a relaxing environment on an afternoon or enjoying a late-night date, visit Zin Zen Wine & Bistro. Try one of their flights and I am sure that you will find a few new selections to add to your cellar.
Remember to drink what it is that makes you truly happy and always think positively!
Drink Responsibly!
#wbc2017 @zinzenwine @talbottvineyard @girardwinery @byronwinery
“ CELEBRITIES, consumer brands and countless TV shows are deemed successes or failures based in part on their “Q Scores,” which measure familiarity and mass appeal. If wines were accorded similar ratings, I’m certain that Sancerre would top the list.” – Lettie Teague, The Wall …
“Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.” — Benjamin Franklin Louisiana is well known for its excellent food and mixed drinks flowing freely –especially during Mardi Gras. Louisiana is also home to several small breweries, wineries, and distillers. During …
“When Pinot producers get it right, the wines have it all: gorgeous aromatics, silky texture, bright acidity and supple tannins. What’s not to like?” – Natasha Hughes, MW
Twice a year the Willamette Valley Wineries Association (www.willamettewines.com) tours the United States to offer samples of outstanding wines from some of best winemakers in the Northwest.
Dallas and Austin, TX were fortunate to be included in the 2017 Pinot in the City tour featuring over 60 winemakers from the Willamette Valley area. As the name implies the Pinot Noir varietal was the featured attraction.
The beautiful Westin hotel hosted Pinot in Dallas on January 24th. 65 wineries provided samples of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris and sparkling wines overlooking the City lights.
Former professional cyclist and restaurant worker, John Grochau stood out in a crowded field of exceptional winemakers. John stands out for his simple love of the terroir of Oregon and he represents this in winemaking techniques.
Grochau Cellars (www.grochaucellars.com) wines are the culmination of several years of enjoying the food and wine cultures of France as well as that of Portland.
Grochau’s 2015 Commuter Cuvée Pinot Noir is a strong offering suitable for everyday meals.
The Commuter Cuvée Pinot Noir is an annual first season release blend from multiple Willamette Valley vineyards. Grochau Cellar sources grapes from 15 organic and sustainably-farmed family vineyards across the valley. This wine has a light nose of cherry and lavender. Commuter Cuvée Pinot Noir is a bright, juicy and fruit-forward wine with a taste of cherry, cola and spices. Grochau believes in creating craft food-friendly wines that are a welcome accompaniment for everyday meals such as chicken, salmon and pizza.
PositiveVines Helpful Hint: Pinot Noir was first planted in the Willamette Valley in 1965. Wine Enthusiast magazine selected Willamette Valley as the Wine Region of the year in 2016.
Averaging $19 per bottle this is one of the more price friendly wines coming out of Willamette Valley. Grab a couple of bottles of Grochau’s Commuter Cuvée Pinot Noir and enjoy them this week.
#wbc2017 @wvwines @grochaucellars @grochau_cellars @westindallasdowntown
Regina Jones Jackson – Guest Blogger Founder & Principal Wine Consultant Corks and Cuvee Dank and dusty are words one might use to describe a wine cellar. The days of cobwebs and dusty residential wine cellars are a thing of the past. Let me …