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

Barolo Winegrower: Nicola Oberto and Trediberri

Nicola Oberto – Trediberri I met Nicola Oberto at a La Morra (one of the towns in the Barolo district) winetasting in early June 2013.  In a room full of Barolo winegrowers from the La Morra, Nicola stood out. What a passionate young man, eager to tell his story. I enjoyed talking with him and … Continue reading

#NWTW: Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

Try Something New! #NWTW will definitely force you out of your rut, whatever it might be.  I had pretty much given up on Australian wines, feeling they were all too ripe and too oaky.  Just not my style.  Wrong! This week’s assignment was to find a Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra (Australia).  Wine from Coonawarra seems … Continue reading

#NWTW Falanghina with Calamari & Shrimp Salad

Minnesota Spring is so short-lived.  We seem to linger, locked in winter through April and suddenly it’s 80 degrees.  Maybe that’s why we jump to spring-like meals at the first hint that winter has lost its grip!  We had 6 inches of new snow overnight, and by the afternoon, a combination of snowplows and warm … Continue reading

#NWTW: French Sparkling, NOT Champagne

#NWTW: French Non-Champagne Sparkling Wine The #NWTW wine of the week this week is sparkling wine from France, but not Champagne.  For much of France, the wines are labeled “Crémant”, but this doesn’t apply exclusively.  As long as it was made in the same method as Champagne (Methode Champenoise or Methode Traditionnelle), we would be … Continue reading

Agnolotti al Plin & Favorita

It’s the final week in the food bloggers competition hosted by the Tourist Office of Langhe and Roero.  This week’s ingredient from the region is Agnolotti al Plin.  We love homemade pasta at our house, but truth be told, I’ve never made Agnolotti.  Never too late to learn! Agnolotti al Plin is a pasta traditionally … Continue reading