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Meet Roshambo, A Winery Worth Tasting

partysugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 06:00:14 -0700

It's hard for a young, new drinker - who knows nothing about it - to get into tasting wine. There are thousands of different types of wine and a special vocabulary to discuss it, not to mention how many wineries are pretentious, snobby, and rude to uninformed tasters. Luckily there are hip, fabulous wineries like Roshambo - my new favorite winery - that cater to this once overlooked demographic. Roshambo was founded on the "simple idea that serious wines became, well, a little too serious." Recently I had the chance to check out Roshambo's tasting room in Sonoma. To learn more about the wine, the tasting room, and their fun take on the stuffy industry, click the "Start" button.

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Happy Hour: Oreana Winery "?"

YumSugar — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 12:46:11 -0800

The other day a good friend came over for a bit of chit-chat catch up (it'd been awhile since we'd hung out without other people). She's a great guest and showed up on my doorstep with a bottle of Oreana Winery's "?" wine. She chose the wine for its striking label and appealing price (under $10). Apparently it's called ? due to a tank snafu that blended two wines. The back of the bottle states:

Mistake or fate, I pondered this as I removed the hose from the stainless steel tank. The wrong tank: lot 1203 and lot 419 were now one. Once destined to be bottled individually, now and forever fused. A phone call to a mentor elicited a quick response, "Varietal wine? What for? Blend it man and blend it well." So be it, I decided, and reached for a glass to see what blue ruin had been created by this mishap.

Not being ones to turn down adventure, we gave it a try. Since it was a "mistake" and under $10, I figured there was no way it would be tasty, but I was wrong. The flavor ended up being well-balanced and smooth, with a bit of a peppery undertone. It wasn't an amazing wine, but it was perfect for the occasion. I would definitely try it again and besides, the bottle is quite a conversation starter. It would pair nicely with rare meats and as the winery suggests, "your own favorite culinary error."

Note: My friend found this 2005 blend at Trader Joe's, however you can purchase the 2004 blend (this accident has been happily reproduced for several years) online.

Out and About: Virginia's Oasis Winery

PetSugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:30:27 -0800

Bring your leashed dog wine tasting at the boutique Oasis Winery along the Blue Ridge Parkway. People can sample wines from chardonnay to cabernet sauvignon, and pets can sniff around on a tour! It's open daily, year round (except Christmas and New Years) and features a three-tiered, heated deck for those wintry days, plus private wine cabanas with a view for the VIPs.

Bonus tip: Gather up at least six friends and do the I Love Lucy Wine Experience, where you get to crush grapes with your bare feet in real wine barrels! Your pooch, however, will have to sit this one out.

Have You Ever Taken a Tour of a Winery?

partysugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:00:31 -0700

Happy Hour: E & J Gallo Winery

YumSugar — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 11:59:41 -0800

This morning, as I was waking up to NPR, I heard that winemaker Ernest Gallo died yesterday at age 97. In college I became pretty familiar with the Gallo name (Boone's Farm anyone?), and knew that it was created in order to bring inexpensive California wine to a growing market. What I didn't know was that the original Gallo recipe was borrowed from pre-Prohibition pamphlets found in the basement of the Modesto public library. With the recipe under their hat, the brothers (the J stands for Julio who passed away in 1993) rented a rundown building and hoodwinked everyone in their family to make wine for 50 cents a gallon - the going rate at the time was $1.

To celebrate their lifelong legacy, pick up your favorite bottle of E&J and raise a toast in remembrance. The one pictured is their Cabernet Sauvignon, which is a full rich wine with tones of black cherries, spices and currants (it's also light-years away from Boone's Farm).

If You're Drinking This Holiday Season, Go Green

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:28:54 -0800

To me, being healthy involves more than exercise and a balanced diet - I also try to live in ways that are eco-conscious and sustainable. I recycle, eat organic and local food, and do my best to cut down on waste. I feel better knowing that I'm helping preserve our planet, and a good state of mind is essential for healthy living!

This philosophy shouldn't stop at cocktail hour. Luckily, there are more choices than ever before when it comes to organic alcohol. Since the holidays often involve parties and grand meals, why not choose responsibly made alcohol if you're imbibing this season?

To see a list of organic spirits, beer, and wine, read more.

Tru Organic Vodka ($20). Tru vodka is made from organic ingredients, and the company plants a tree in Central America for every bottle sold. The company uses less glass to produce its bottles, and the glass that is used is recycled. Top that off with a synthetic cork, soy-based ink, and packaging that converts into a shelf and you've got yourself a carbon negative rating! Aside from its straight vodka offering, choose from lemon or vanilla flavored vodka too.
Casa Noble Tequila ($40-130). Award-winning Casa Noble is made from 100% organically farmed Blue Agave plants and is USDA certified organic. All the tequila is made harvest-to-bottle on the Casa Noble estate where water usage is carefully monitored and organic cleaning products dominate. Choose from silver, resposado, anejo, single barrel resposado, and single barrel anejo.
Juniper Green Gin ($20). Juniper Green has the bragging rights of being the first organic gin ever, and is made using organic ingredients like grain, juniper, and coriander. Besides being USDA certified it also has certification from the British Soil Association for its use of sustainable farming practices.
Papagayo Organic Rum ($28). The organic sugarcane used to make Papagayo single estate rum comes from small family farms in Paraguay, and the rum is distilled using organic practices. Available as a white or spiced rum.
Benromach Organic Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($60). The raw ingredients of Benromach are all organic, and the company is certified by the British Soil Association. Though it's not reclaimed wood, its casks are made from materials that come from sustainably managed forests.
Parducci Wine ($12). Parducci wines are not only affordable they are made using organic grapes from family owned farms and come delivered in eco-friendly packaging. The Parducci estate uses solar and renewable energy to power itself, as well as sustainable farming practices.
Domaine Carneros Sparkling Wine ($30). Made from organic grapes, bubbly from Domaine Carneros is also vegan. (If you didn't already know champagne and sparkling wine has animal products like egg whites in them.) The winery uses solar power and is a big fan of composting.
Wolaver's Organic Ale ($10 for a 6-pack). Wolaver's uses organic ingredients and its sustainable farming practices include the use of bio-diesel fuel, free-air refrigeration and relying on local ingredients. The company also donates profits to research in organic farming. There are eight varieties available that include pale ale, oatmeal stout, and alta gracia coffee porter.

A Fab Wedding in Sonoma, CA

FabSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:00:22 -0700

We've been talking weddings for the past few months and the time has come for the big day to finally happen. It's a lot of planning, emotions, and stress but every wedding I've gone to has always been special and fun - two things I will strive to make mine. We thought it would be fun to show you some real-life weddings this week so up first is a wedding I attended last month in Sonoma, CA.

The bride, Stefanie, and I went to high school together so it was really cool to witness her tying the knot. The super-cute couple lives in San Diego so their wedding had to be in nature. It turned out to be the perfect warm and breezy day at the Sebastiani Winery where their ceremony and reception took place. Here are the romantic (and fashion) details:

Who: Stefanie & Craig
Where: Sebastiani Winery, Sonoma, CA
When: April 27, 2008
What the bride wore: Lazaro gown, Stuart Weitzman shoes (gift), veil handmade by a bridemaid's mom
What the bridesmaids wore: Champagne-colored dresses by Banana Republic, gold metallic shoes
What was Fab: The winery ambiance outside and in, the bow on the side of the bride's dress and the lily in her hair, the tear-jerker vows, the barrel-surrounded dinner room, the bride and groom's saucy dance moves, the steak, the dessert table, and the endless pour of wine, of course.
Where to next for Stefanie & Craig: Honeymoon in Australia

To see lots more of Stefanie and Craig's wedding, read more.

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Cheers to the happy, beautiful couple. Speaking of, a big congrats to Molly who got married over the weekend! To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.com.

Photos courtesy of Megan Holly Clouse Photography

Happy Hour: Red 2005

partysugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:15:26 -0800

Worried about what wine to pour for Valentine's Day? Have I got the perfect bottle for you!

St. Francis Winery's 2005 Red blend is a spectacular wine at a shocking price. When I served this smooth-bodied wine to a girlfriend on Monday night, she guessed it was at least $25 a bottle. However, this succulent blend of five varietals - Merlot (58 percent), Syrah (25 percent), Cabernet Franc (9 percent), Cabernet Sauvignon (6 percent), and Zinfandel (2 percent) - is only $10. Produced in the Sonoma Valley, Red has a ripe fruit flavor, a spicy undertone, and robust aroma. It's wonderfully easy to drink and, since it's a table wine, it pairs with most foods from pizza to pasta to steak.

The modern, stylish labels (there are actually 12 different designs) were created by Jeffrey Caldewey, a renowned wine label designer. If you are looking or a great value wine, I highly recommend Red. Has anyone else tried it?

Cheers To Miner Wines

partysugar — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:03:31 -0700

For my birthday I invited a small group of friends to join me for a wine tasting in Napa. We visited a few wineries, but our favorite was Miner family vineyards. The excellent PR girl had arranged a private tasting and tour, complete with a surprise birthday cake for yours truly! Our guide, the jovial and informative Jaime, began by giving us a sampling of the Miner Sauvignon Blanc and Rosato. Next we moved on to the Sangiovese and the Pinot Noir - both of which were outstanding. However the best wine was the limited edition Benedetto blend series. A smooth and bountiful red, this wine was like heaven in a glass. Jaime lead us through the wine making rooms and into the Miner caves. Nestled in the base of a small mountain, the caves hold thousands of aging barrels of wine. We sampled a 2006 Malbec which they plan on using to make their signature blends. Later he showed us the private cave dining room where we had an impromptu birthday party. If you are planning a trip to wine country, Miner winery is a MUST stop. If you won't be coming to California anytime in the near future seek out these wines at your local wine shop. Miner wines have been served at the White House so I can guarantee you will not be disappointed. To check out the entire gallery of images from my trip there, read more

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Happy Hour: Before & After

YumSugar — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:15:48 -0800

My sister recently found herself touring wineries in Napa Valley and much to my surprise, she brought me back a bottle of Cosentino winery's Avant et Apres. Although technically marketed in the dessert wine category, Avant et Apres was created as an aperitif and is therefore a nice complement for both appetizers and dessert (in fact the name actually means Before & After). Since it contains hints of apple, honeysuckle, cream and citrus, it will pair nicely with spicy Asian foods or served alone for dessert.