Nancy (CSW), Author at Pull That Cork

Hyland Estates: Two Oregon White Wines Perfect for Any Season

October 26, 2015 by Nancy (CSW) 2 comments

Pair white wine with fish and chicken, red wine with red meat. Sound advice, even if it is a bit general. Some would add: drink white wine when the weather is hot, red wine when the weather is cool. This statement I too mostly agree with, except that I really enjoy drinking white wine any time of year. So, as the weather begins to cool, I’m not yet ready to make the switch to mostly red wines.

Harvest Lunch at Jordan Vineyard: A delicious tradition

October 16, 2015 by Nancy (CSW) Comments are Disabled

For six weeks in September and October of every year, Jordan Vineyard celebrates the year’s harvest and the bounty of their gardens by preparing delicious Harvest Lunches. Jordan Russian River Valley Chardonnay and Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon accompany the buffet, which changes depending on what is fresh in their gardens.

Celebrating With Bubbly From Brazil

October 6, 2015 by Nancy (CSW) Comments are Disabled

There is nothing like a glass of sparkling wine to make any occasion a bit more special, even (or maybe especially) a weeknight evening. On a recent Friday evening we enjoyed a bottle of Salton Intenso Sparkling Brut that we received as a tasting sample.

Two Interpretations of Santorini Assyrtiko

September 22, 2015 by Nancy (CSW) 2 comments

It’s always a happy day when we are fortunate enough to receive wine samples for tasting. It presents so many new possibilities. Most times the wines are ones we have not tasted before. We may or may not be familiar with the grape varieties, but even if we are, every winemaker’s interpretation of a variety is unique.

Arancini Paired with Etna Rosso for #winePW

September 11, 2015 by Nancy (CSW) 18 comments

I was so happy to see the following post on the Wine Pairing Weekend Facebook page: “Invitation: Let’s Talk Scorched Terroir — and Volcanic Wines — for #winePW ” The invitation for the September wine pairing weekend came from Camilla Mann, who blogs at Culinary Adventures with Camilla. As host for the month’s pairing, she chose the theme for the pairing.

#WBC15 Pre-Conference Excursion: Discoveries Along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail

September 8, 2015 by Nancy (CSW) 3 comments

The 2015 Wine Bloggers’ Conference (#WBC15) is what brought us to the Finger Lakes wine region. Every year the conference, which is organized by Zephyr Adventures, is held in a different wine region and provides attendees the opportunity to dive into the details of the region.

Our experience began with the Pre-Conference Excursion on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. The excursion was limited to only 50 bloggers, so early registration was a must. The Seneca Lake Wine Trail, and its over 30 winery, distillery, meadery and hard cider producer-members sponsored the excursion.

A Trio of Argentinian Wines Perfect for Summer Sipping

August 21, 2015 by Nancy (CSW) Comments are Disabled

Summertime for us often means simpler meals, but not simpler wines. Rather than preparing an oven roasted or braised dish, we might grill chicken or pork in our backyard. Sometimes we simply prepare a charcuterie board, add cheese, bread and a variety of accompaniments. Then, we sit in the quiet of our backyard and enjoy the evening.

Celebrating Portugal: Amêijoas na Cataplana paired with Soalheiro Alvarinho for #winePW

August 7, 2015 by Nancy (CSW) 17 comments

Our August Wine Pairing Weekend took us to Portugal, thanks to this month’s host, Christy Majors, who chose the topic. The theme instantly reminded me of the trips we have taken to the Açores and Madeira Islands along with memories of the delicious food and wine we enjoyed while there.

Riesling: Right At Home in New York’s Finger Lakes Region

July 30, 2015 by Nancy (CSW) Comments are Disabled

Situated just south of Lake Ontario in New York state, the Finger Lakes American Viticultural Area (AVA) is named for the long, slender lakes created over successive waves of glacial activity beginning over one hundred-thousand years ago. Retreating glaciers carved out the lakes as they moved south.

A Sampling of Okanagan Valley Wines — Just In Time For Summer.

July 23, 2015 by Nancy (CSW) Comments are Disabled

Thanks to the generosity of one of our wine friends, we recently tasted a group of wines from Canada’s Okanagan Valley. Our friend Stephanie travels to the British Columbia wine region regularly to visit friends and of course taste the wine. She recently made such a trip and returned with wine, some of which she generously shared with a group of her wine friends. We were happy to be included in that group.