Author: Nancy (CSW)

Sipping Vermouth

Today we are sipping something a bit different for us – vermouth. We recently tasted a vermouth crafted in California and two made in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Both are infused with botanicals and fortified, but they taste very different. We received both as tasting samples. I used to think of vermouth as exclusively an ingredient in cocktails, I […]

Celebrating #CabernetDay with Concannon Vineyard

Today we are happy to be sipping Cabernet Sauvignon from Concannon Vineyard in California’s Livermore Valley and celebrating #CabernetDay. Yes, it’s another of those wine days! We enjoyed grilled lamb burgers and a burrata salad with tomatoes and basil along side this bright Cabernet, which we received as a tasting sample.  The days have become noticeably shorter – sunrise is getting […]

doqi Kisi, Kakheti

Today’s cellar note takes us to the country of Georgia on the eastern shore of the Black Sea. Georgia lies south of Russia and north of Turkey and Armenia. Azerbaijan lies to the east. This is a region with an ancient history of winemaking dating back at least 8,000 years. Along with that history comes the qvevri, a large, oval […]

Organic Wines, Under $14, from Domaine Bousquet

Argentine winery Domaine Bousquet continues to make outstanding wines using certified organic grapes in Tupungato, Uco Valley, Argentina. Two of the wines in this group are part of Domaine Bousquet’s Premium Varietals line of wines made using organic fruit from estate and purchased from vineyards in the Uco Valley. The third wine is one of two wines in the Virgen […]

A Visit to Peju Winery

Before visiting Peju Winery in Napa Valley’s Rutherford AVA I knew the winery primarily for its distinctively-pruned sycamore trees arching over the driveway leading to the winery. I always look for them as we drive along Hwy 29.  Click on individual photographs in galleries to view. Close to return to the post. Our first taste of Peju wine came in […]

Serra Cafema: Luxury Along the Kunene River

In our experience, a safari camp located along a permanent river in Namibia is unusual. We’ve enjoyed a stay on the rim of the Fish River Canyon, but the river was dry in most places. Our stay along the ephemeral Hoanib River provided endless wildlife viewing opportunities along its dry riverbed. We’ve stayed adjacent to the red dunes of Sossesvlei […]

Left Coast Summertime Sipping

If you are anything like us, right now the search is on for bright white wines, rosés and sparkling wines to enjoy as summer temperatures soar. Add affordability, sustainability and relatively low alcohol levels and all of the boxes are checked for summertime sipping. Today we have four such wines to share, all of which we received as tasting samples. […]

Tinto Figuero Tempranillo

We took advantage of a cool spell, relatively speaking, to sip some Tinto Fino, aka Tempranillo. These three lovelies offer a comparison of vine age, winemaking and aging from Spain’s Ribera del Duero. We received these wines as tasting samples. Ribera del Duero is a rugged wine region north of Madrid that takes its name from the Duero River, which […]

Mix Up Your Summer Sipping

I don’t know about you, but hot summer temperatures can make me lazy. I prefer to keep food preparation simple and the same applies to summer sipping. Pouring a glass of chilled wine is about as simple as it gets, but it’s also fun to mix things up a bit on occasion. I have a couple of suggestions for refreshing, […]