Summer is coming to an end and the Fall season is about to begin, and I am excited. Not only for the beginning of harvest and some great weather, now we have a weekend trip set up for the end of September and of course, it involves wine. If you follow our Anything Wine page then you read our day trip story down the page here. We visited Peddler’s Village in Bucks County Pennsylvania, and while there went to the Chaddsford Winery tasting room and were quite impressed with thier wines. Well, we did the write up about them and thier winemaker Eric Miller read it and sent us a nice Email thanking us for the story and suggesting we let him know if we were ever in the area. After our visit to the tasting room we had already decided to research... »View More
Added Friday, August 29, 2008
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It is time for some wine “babble”! Yea, babble. Just some straight nonsense talk about enjoying some wine.
Well folks it is finally here! Labor Day weekend, the unofficial end to summer, back to school season starting and one last hurrah before the carefree days of summer go away. It is two days until the picnic on Sunday, but already we are starting it out right. We are enjoying a glass of Silver Oak 2003 Alexander Valley Cabernet. I’m not sure how you are starting your weekend, but for me it doesn’t get any better than this. Back to the weekend. Food is being prepared as I type and most of the shopping is done. A few things still need to get picked up tomorrow and hopefully no last minute items on Sunday, but we do... »View More
Added Friday, August 29, 2008
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Well Labor Day is almost here, the unofficial end of summer. We all know it means back to school and shorter, cooler days, but it’s not nearly over yet. The good stuff is just starting..warm sunny days with no humidity and cool nights that are great for sleeping. Some of the best weather is in the fall. Now, back to Labor Day, it is time to plan our annual picnic. We host it every year, rain or shine and I mean rain or shine. One year it downpoured from a tropical storm that made it’s way up the coast from Florida and we set up tables in the garage, strung some Xmas lights around and probably had one of the best times we have had. Grilling was a bit difficult and it was challenging to not have wet burgers trying to transport... »View More
Added Thursday, August 21, 2008
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Napa Valley Grapegrowers Forcast 2008 Harvest
At a press conference held on August 13th at famous Larkmead Vineyards in Calistoga. Napa Valley Grape-growers unanimously that 2008 harvest will be an exceptional vintage with pristine grapes. Yields are expected to be lower than average after a season of extreme growing conditions. Napa Valley Grape-growers Director Jennifer Kopp Putnam said “With the many weather challenges facing the California wine industry in 2008, Napa Valley grapegrowers were prepared with the technology, expertise and experience necessary to navigate a difficult year and produce one of the most successful vintages in recent memory.” A side note, Sonoma County growers are also expecting higher quality grapes with lower... »View More
Added Sunday, August 17, 2008
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Wine of the month for August is appropriately timed with the annual release of this wine which is normally during August. It is Bogle Phantom, a red blend produced by Bogle Vineyards of Clarksburg California. Most of you are probably familiar with the Bogle Vineyards line of wines, they make a wide variety of wines that are usually readily available, but the Phantom is a bit harder to locate on the shelf. Bogle makes Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, as well as a port in addition to this month’s feature “Phantom”. I love the name as much as I love the wine, it’s mysterious and exciting at the same time. I am currently drinking the 2004 vintage, although... »View More
Added Tuesday, August 12, 2008
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Yes…I know I have been slacking off this summer with our BBQ page. It has just been such a great and busy summer, I have not had much time. Well, let me give you a quick and easy trick for corn on the cob which in most of the U.S. is now at in it’s peak season.
Go to your local farm market and get some fresh ears of corn. You can grill just a few or a few dozen depending on your need. To prepare the corn cut off the bottom stem and the pointed tip so your ears have flat ends. Remove any loose outer leaves, do not strip the corn. Fill a large pan, big enough to cover the ears of corn, with cold water and allow the corn to soak for 15-20 minutes. Heat up the grill to medium temp and cook the ears turning frequently. We also use a spray... »View More
Added Tuesday, August 12, 2008
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I was thinking today while I was shopping around on my lunch break just how big the wine market has become in the last few years and I don’t mean just wine. We all know the wine market itself is huge and the vast selection of wines there are to choose from when visiting the local liquor store, but I am talking about the wine related items. I am truly amazed. Years ago if there was one type of wine cooler at the store, maybe a 12 bottle cooler that was a lot, now you have 30, 40, 50 bottles with dual zone cooling readily available. Yes, larger units can be purchased too, just not at every retail store where the smaller versions are available. And what about the variety of corkscrews? Today I saw a vertical opener? Never saw that one... »View More
Added Tuesday, August 12, 2008
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We hosted a gathering at our house this weekend in honor of a family engagement. What a great time! We met a lot of fantastic new people that we look forward to spending time with in the future. We had gorgeous weather, lots of terrific food and best of all; we had such help from everyone. Folks manning the grill, cooking the clams, cleaning up, helping in the kitchen. It all just ensured a smooth event. Just need to take a few minutes and tell you about the homemade sangria that the father of the bride to be made. A huge vat of red sangria, it had to be 7 or 8 gallons of liquid… well, let me tell you it had to be one of the best sangria’s I have had in a long time. Restaurant quality and then some.
It was a huge hit and only about 2 gallons... »View More
Added Sunday, August 10, 2008
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What is better than the end of the workday? Maybe the end of the workday on a Friday? The end of a workday on a Friday and you are on vacation for a week? Now I am talking, except today is Monday. Yep, Monday, but I still enjoy the end of the day. There is something to be said about the end of the workday, no matter what day of the week it is and being able to come home, relax and wind down with a nice glass of your favorite wine. Completely different than a weekend, just a glass to wipe the bad parts of the day away. Kick up your feet, relax and remind yourself, I work so I can indulge in a nice glass of wine once in while and forget the rat race. Now that’s what I am talking about!!
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Added Monday, August 4, 2008
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Wow, can you believe how quick summer is passing us by? It is August already. I know there is still a whole month before September and even then the official start of fall is still a way off, but there is something about August that starts a landslide effect. I remember being a kid and panic setting in that school would be starting before I knew it. The reminders are everywhere in August, the back to school sales, the shorter days and the dates on the calendar moving faster than they did last month. Well, I guess I am glad I am an adult now, not just because I don’t have to go back to school, but because I have a passion and appreciation for wine in my life. I had no idea that wine would be such a fascinating hobby. There is so much... »View More
Added Monday, August 4, 2008
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