Minnesota Visits Domaine Jean-Louis Chave – St. Joseph & Cellars
On a visit with Erin Cannon Chave, we crossed the Rhone from Tain L’Hermitage to Mauves, in the St. Joseph appellation. The difficulty of farming on the hillside (cliffside?) of St. Joseph is clear as as soon as you see the steep slopes and terraces. Cultivated for centuries, many of these hillsides were abandoned after … Continue reading
Minnesota Visits Domaine Jean-Louis Chave – Hermitage
A question came up at our Chave tasting in Minnesota: “If we’re in France, can we visit?” Erin answered that they aren’t really set up for visitors, but if we would be in France to send her an email. If she would be available, she would be happy to have us visit. Lucky us, we … Continue reading
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Visit to Minnesota
When I attended the Domaine Jean-Louis Chave visit & tasting at Sunfish Cellars in August, I had no idea it would lead to something more. The lucky folks who attended enjoyed an evening with Erin Cannon Chave. Erin is married to Jean-Louis, the current head of this historic family of winegrowers from the Northern Rhone … Continue reading
Possession: Entry Denied
Paris. A dark and stormy afternoon threatened to put a damper on our plans for the day: Notre Dame cathedral, Ste. Chapelle, then a walk to one of the museums nearby. As we exited the Metro, drizzle became a steady rain. Glad for a respite from the rain, we enjoyed Notre Dame. To think it … Continue reading
CSA Box + August Garden Panic = Meatless Monday
Meatless Monday is your friend when your garden is producing volumes of tomatoes and your CSA box is full. Can you pair a meatless meal with an intense, tannic red wine? Yes! Beet Green “Pesto” First: my sincerest apologies to all speakers of the French and Italian languages. My nickname for this “pesto” is Beet … Continue reading
Summer is Slipping Away, Start Your Weekend Right!
Check out free shipping wine deals on premium wines. If you’re located in a Northern Climate, you know that summer is fast disappearing. In Minnesota, we are already seeing the first red leaves on the sumac bushes. While we still have some nice weather, make sure you start your weekend properly. We started ours with … Continue reading
Labor Day – Don’t Give Up on Summer, Don’t Give Up on Chardonnay
We know summer is nearly over because the local sweet corn has lost its magic; big kernels, and sometimes even mealy. We can’t help ourselves, we still buy it. Just like the photo below, the sweet corn goes into the background. Luckily, the veggies in our garden and CSA box are still going strong. In … Continue reading
#CabernetDay
OK, so all these goofy celebration days have started showing up. They don’t always make sense. Enjoy Cabernet based wines in August?? Whose idea was that? Once you decide to just go with it, you can have a lot of fun! Nicholas Kolnik organized a #CabernetDay event at Sunfish Cellars, a favorite Twin Cities wine … Continue reading
Basil Tasting
I always go overboard with the basil in our kitchen garden. We have 5 plants, 3 varieties for two people! How different do the various types taste? Tonight, we did a basil tasting. We made little skewers of cherry tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella drizzled with balsamic vinegar and sunflower oil. Did you know that … Continue reading
A Meal Made for Pinot Noir
Pork Chops Stuffed with Cherries & Mushrooms, Grilled Salad on the Side If there ever was a meal constructed for Pinot Noir, this would be it! The combination of cherries and mushrooms echo the main aromas and flavors of the wine. The pork is a nice medium body, not too heavy, not too light, also … Continue reading
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