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
Paris: Eiffel Tower Food Tour
Take Away Message: Go to Paris. Stay in the 7th Arrondissement. Take the Eiffel Tower Food Tour early in your trip and eat well for the rest of your stay. Thank us later. Julie and I were planning a long awaited trip to Europe this summer. Julie had not been to Paris since 1977 (!) … 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
Piemonte Training
In just a few days, Julie and I will be spending a whole week touring the Langhe, a district within the larger region of the Piedmont (or Piemonte) in Italy! I had the opportunity to do some on-site “research” earlier this summer during a weekend stop mid-way through a business trip. Over the last few … 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
Dinner on the Farm
Have you attended a farm dinner yet? There are some pretty fancy ones that are also very expensive. $200 per person? Sorry, not here. However, there are likely some in your area that are reasonable, and you’re sure to have a good time. Meet your farmers, and learn where your food comes from! One piece … Continue reading
Certifications
