Scallop Salad with Lioco Chardonnay
Summertime and Dinner Salads It’s summer in Minnesota and our thoughts turn to cool crisp wines and light dinners out on the deck. We had a taste for some scallops tonight, so I searched for good looking dinner salads featuring scallops. The folks at Lioco had sent some wine samples earlier this spring, I had … Continue reading
Do Big Rich Cabs Really Go With Steak?
A wine dinner is a great opportunity to challenge your assumptions. With an open mind, you might be surprised! My confession? I thought I would hate all the big, rich cabs. To my surprise, several were very nice. Now I just need to figure out how to ferret them out. After juggling multiple work schedules, … Continue reading
A Nice Budget Mourvèdre
You might like to try a Mourvèdre, but you say you don’t have $50 burning a hole in your pocket? How about $15? I wanted to see if I could find a Mourvèdre (French or American) that is widely available and less than $20. I haven’t found a French one yet, but the Cline Cellars … Continue reading
Unti Vineyards: Italy in Sonoma
If you visit Sonoma add Unti Vineyards to your list. If you like food friendly wines (less oak, lower alcohol, more acidity) don’t wait to visit, just place an order. Even if you’re not ready to order, sign up for their mailing list; their newsletter offers a glimpse of their personality with plenty of tongue-in-cheek … Continue reading
An Exceptional Pairing: Cool Climate Syrah & Lamb Chops
One of my favorite pairings is a cool climate Syrah with grilled lamb chops, and this one was exceptional: Anthill Farms Sonoma Coast Syrah and Star Thrower Farm lamb chops. Wow! I had planned a vegetarian dinner for Meatless Monday, but I realized Julie had an evening commitment. It was my chance for lamb chops … Continue reading
A Favorite Winery – Wind Gap Wines
When you pull up to Wind Gap you might wonder if you are at the right place. You made it to Forestville, a sleepy little town near Santa Rosa, CA. You see an old fruit processing factory and there won’t be a tour bus anywhere in sight. In fact you’ll have to call ahead … Continue reading
Stuffed Squash – round two & Peterson Cabernet Sauvignon
I think I have my next pairing challenge: find an all vegetarian meal that really needs a Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah as a partner at the table. This post is a step in that direction, although it’s a step sideways as well. The Rulo Cab was interesting with the stuffed squash on Meatless Monday. We … Continue reading
Sonoma Images
I recently had the opportunity to spend a weekend in Sonoma – November, after the grapes are in and crush is mostly over. Here are a few images from the Russian River Valley and the Dry Creek Valley.
What pairs with Ryme Aglianico?
Aglianico has been a new experience for me this summer. This one comes from Ryme Cellars, a small winery in Sonoma. I hadn’t opened this one earlier because it has an alcohol listed at 15.8%, and that often translates to a really big, rich wine. Now that the weather in Minnesota has cooled off … Continue reading
Robert Craig Wine Dinner at Pairings Food & Wine
There are lots of places in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area that offer wine dinners. A favorite of ours is Pairings Food & Wine in Minnetonka. The restaurant offers a nice, casual bistro atmosphere; but Chef Michael pulls out all the stops for the wine events. This week we had a dinner with Adam Glatt from … Continue reading
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