Hanging Out at Pont du Gard & the Best 4€ Gas Station Wine Ever

Arles Market Day You can spend your time on a European trip visiting museums, restaurants or wineries, but if you miss a market day experience, you’re missing out on a glimpse into local life.  Wednesday is market day in Arles, so we decided a picnic would be in order. (click on any photo to start … Continue reading

Châteauneuf-du-Pape of Course

No trip to the Southern Rhone would be complete without a visit to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Note this town doesn’t have the variety of shops found in some of the other Rhone wine villages.  We had a fun time and would certainly recommend spending a day, just know that the town is about the wine and not … Continue reading

Touring Gigondas

When you’re wine touring in the Southern Rhone, you should plan a day in Gigondas.  The village is charming, the surrounding area is beautiful and then there are the wines! Gigondas is one of the Rhone Cru villages, the second tier in Southern Rhone wines. The Cru Villages name their wines for the village, and … Continue reading

Southern Rhone & Domaine Rouge-Bleu

If you’re thinking of visiting the Southern Rhone, you should consider a stay at Domaine Rouge-Bleu.  The estate is in the Cotes du Rhone and is close to all the towns you might want to visit: Rasteau, Cairanne, Gigondas, and of course, Chateauneuf-du-Pape.  They have three beautiful B&B rooms overlooking the vineyards.  Thomas and Caroline … Continue reading

tangent sauvignon blanc shrimp with fresh citrus sauce

#SauvBlancDay w/ Shrimp & Citrus Sauce

Happy #SauvBlancDay ! I have got to be crazy.  Julie and I board an airplane to Europe this afternoon.  We should’ve had takeout pizza last night.  But today is #SauvBlancDay, and Sauvignon Blanc is Julie’s favorite wine.  We joke that every day is #SauvBlancDay for her!  I had to find an “easy, quick” recipe so … Continue reading

Fear: Love Wine, Hate to Write

#MWWC9 Fear I’m not a writer.  I don’t have a novel inside.  I’m not compelled to write.  I started my wine/food blog as a way to explore social media, but writing always has been and continues to be a challenge.  Food and cooking?  Great.  Wine?  Love it.  Photography?  Great way to hone my eye and … Continue reading

viognier shrimp calamari garlic ramp pesto fettucine

Garlic Ramp Pesto on Fettucine with #NWTW Viognier

The #NewWineThisWeek assignment was Viognier from France.  I spent some quality time with a variety of Viogniers this winter, so I didn’t feel a strong pull to participate this week.  Along came Saturday, and I just couldn’t resist.  I stopped by a local wine shop and picked up a $9 Viognier from the southern Rhone.  … Continue reading

Idlewild arneis

BBQ Chicken part 2: Pairing with Idlewild Arneis

Which White to Pair with BBQ Chicken & Sweet Barbecue Sauce? As part of #NWTW, we were testing out Zinfandel with an easy grilled chicken breast smothered in sweet barbecue sauce.  Always curious to find both red wines and white wines to pair with food, I wanted to try a white wine with the same … Continue reading

Bedrock zinfandel chicken barbecue bbq

#NWTW: Zinfandel with BBQ Chicken

#NWTW: Zinfandel #NWTW (New Wine This Week) is fun, but it does involve working on a deadline.  If I don’t finish by Sunday evening, I’m out of luck until the next wine and the next week!  This week: Zinfandel.  It isn’t new to many American households, but I’ll happily share my experience with my buds … Continue reading

Goat Daube and Lioco Pinot Noir

The Tail End of Braising Season We’re well into spring in Minnesota, so I’m racing to use up the last of the braising meats I picked up at our winter farmers markets (held indoors).  That said, we still have plenty of cool days where a nice warm stew or braise is perfect.  Today we have … Continue reading