Gosh this was good. Pasta alla Norma with Hamel Familty Isthmus. Cooking with family and enjoying a meal together is the best! I hope you’re sipping something delicious. @hamelfamilywines . . . #sonomawine #sonomavalley #redblend #winelover #winetasting #wineandfood #wineanddine #wineandtacos #tastingnotes #winetime #instawine #winegeek #wineoftheday #winenotes #winelife #winetravel #vino #wineoclock #californiawine #californiawinelover #biodynamic #biodynamicviticulture

#samples When it comes to red wines Pinot Noir is by far the one I enjoy most. It is that combination of red and dark berries and earthy berry bramble flavors floating in a relatively light body with fine tannins and lively acidity that draw me in. They’re perfect sipping on their own, but are very good-friendly. Today on the blog we share our tasting notes for three Pinots from well-known Pinot Noir specialist Siduri Wines. Each wine has its own character and they offer excellent value for the price. All were spectacularly delicious with mushroom pasta. I scored wood ear mushrooms at the farmers market and they made an interesting addition to regular old creminis. I just sautéed them with onion and garlic, added crème fraiche and cream and tossed them with bucatini. So good. I hope you’re sipping something delicious! @siduriwines @jacksonfamilywines . . . #pinotnoir #pinotnoirlover #pinotlover #willamettevalley #willamettevalleypinot #oregonwine #oregonwinelover #andersonvalley #andersonvalleypinotnoir #santabarbaracounty #santabarbaracountywine #californiawine #californiawinelover #winefun #winegeek #wineanddine #winewinewine #winelover #winenotes #winesoftheday #summersipping

We opened this Two Shepherds Pinot Meunier last night and absolutely loved the cranberry, raspberry and pomegranate flavors with interesting savory and cedar notes. It’s so juicy and refreshing, especially when slightly chilled. In addition to being a blending partner with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in champagne, Pinot Meunier also makes a gorgeous still red wine - at least in the capable hands of William Allen. We will keep this wine in our summer rotation for sure. It was perfect with grilled pork chops, corn pudding and heirloom tomatoes. I hope you’re sipping something delicious! @twoshepherdswine . . . #pinotmeunier #redwine #summerredwine #summersipping #hopkinsvineyard #rrrv #russianrivervalley #sonomawine #naturalwine #winelover #winetasting #wineandfood #wineanddine #wineandtacos #tastingnotes #winetime #instawine #winegeek #wineoftheday #winenotes #winelife #winetravel #vino #wineoclock

#samples We’ve been sipping some delicious examples of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley. Three are vineyard designates and one is sourced from several vineyards in the RRV. All are well made, balanced wines and typical of the variety. Our blog post today shares a bit of background on Davis Bynum the man and the winery, which has been owned by Rodney Strong Wine Estates since 2007. Aside from tasting wines that are new to us, it is always fun to read the story of the wineries and the people behind them. This was no exception. I hope you’re sipping something delicious! @davisbynumwines This beautiful tablecloth was made by the talented ladies @penduka_namibia. I bought it during our first visit to Namibia and love the memories that using it brings back. . . . #davisbynum #russianrivervalley #sonomawine #chardonnay #sauvignonblanc #pinotnoir #pinotnoirlover #californiachardonnay #drinkcalifornia #drinkcaliforniawine #varietalwine #winefun #winetime #winenotes #winelover #summerwine #summersipping #instawine #winesoftheday #winegeek #vino #wino #eatanddrinklocal

I hear it’s officially summer! 😎 It certainly feels like summer here and we have just the thing to keep us cool…Failla Chardonnay, Fort Ross-Seaview, which just happens to be my favorite Failla Chardonnay. It’s bright and stony, stony, stony with nice body and lots of acidity. Perfectly balanced to my palate. So sippable and the perfect accompaniment to everything from grilled salmon to chicken and even grilled lamb. It’s a stunning Chardonnay. Happy summer and I hope you’re sipping something delicious! @faillawines . . . #coolclimate #chardonnay #sonomachardonnay #sonomawine #fortrossseaview #sonomawinetasting #sonomacoast #winelover #wineoftheday #instawine #summersipping #summerwine #summersolstice #summersolstice2022 #longestdayoftheyear #winenotes #winelover #winetime #winefun #varietalwine #californiachardonnay #californiawine #eatanddrinklocal #drinkcaliforniawine #drinkcalifornia

We have been on a bit of a varietal wine roll of late. This Jolie-Laide Melon de Bourgogne sourced from Rodnick Farm in the Chalone AVA is stony and citrusy with a ton of acidity. Just the style of wine I love to accompany warm weather. Oysters would have been the perfect pairing, but the chances of either of shucking oysters is zero. No worries, it also paired well with a variety of salads over several days. I’m looking forward to the 2021 vintage, which is on the wine rack and unlikely to remain so for long. You will probably see a picture of it here before summer is out, unless we forget it like we did this bottle, which I snagged one evening when I went to pick up a pizza @guantonioswoodfired. We need to get back there for pizza and not pizza. I hope you’re sipping something delicious. @jolielaidewines . . . #melondebourgogne #chaloneava #rodnickfarm #californiawine #californiawinelover #siplocal #whitewine #varietalwine #winelover #winetime #winewinewine #tastingnotes #wineandfood #summerwine #winetraveler #wineoclock #winenotes #summersipper #instawine #winelover

There are many reasons to love Tablas Creek’s wines: history, impeccable winemaking, outstanding tasting experiences at the winery and the foundation of everything they do - care and attention in the vineyards as evidenced by their Organic, Biodynamic and Regenerative Organic certifications. In addition to blended wines, TC makes many varietal wines. Over the years I have learned not to underestimate the complexity of blends, but complex varietal wines that can stand on their own always draw me in. The large number of varietal wines Tablas Creek makes is one reason we joined their wine club. 2019 Tablas Creek Vineyard Roussanne is bursting with aromas and flavors of honeysuckle, ripe melon, guava, citrus and spices. It’s a bit pithy with juicy acidity, rich roundness and long stony, dry finish. What a gorgeous wine and an excellent opportunity to learn what this variety, often used in blends, tastes like on its own. Roussanne was fermented for nine months in a mix of small wood, large neutral foudres and stainless steel. Roussanne is known for its ageability, not that we gave this wine the opportunity to age. We have a serious lack of discipline when it comes to aging the wines we purchase from Tablas Creek. Oh well. I hope you’re sipping something delicious. @tablascreek . . . #pasorobles #pasowine #pasowinelover #pasorobleswinecountry #adelaidadistrict #roussanne #rhonewine #rhonevariety #vinblanc #whitewine #organic #biodynamic #regenerativeviticulture #regenerativefarming #varietalwine #winelover #winefun #winetime #instawine #wineoftheday #foodwine #springwine #summerwine

This simple meal felt so indulgent and tasted so delicious. Champagne Lanson Brut Rosé is one of our favorites. We love the lively bubbles, generous fruit in the mid-palate, abundant acidity and the clean, stony finish. And the price is relatively easy on the pocketbook. We love the creamy goodness of Cowgirl Creamery’s Mt. Tam cheese. We’re all in for asparagus this time of year and find them very wine friendly when oven roasted, especially when wrapped in prosciutto. Local apricots are in season and they’re delish. The only thing that didn’t quite cooperate was the very warm evening. No complaints though, it was a delicious meal and we are already looking forward to more Lanson Rosé this evening. Hope you’re sipping something delicious. @champagnelanson . . . #champagnelanson #champagnelife #champagnehappyhour #champagnelover #champagne #champagnerosé #champers #champagneeverything #champagneislife #rosé #roséchampagne #pinkwine #winelover #winetime #wineandfood #winefun #winetasting #winetraveler #instawine #instachampagne #outdoordining #winewinewine

Some things that were already pretty great get even better with age. This is one of them. . . . #chablis #chabliswine #chardonnay #chablispremiercru #chablis1ercru #chablislover #chardonnaylover #fourchaume #bourgogne #winegeek #wino #winetime #winetraveler #whitewine #goodwine #wineoclock #singlevineyardwine #winenotes #instawine #levindechablis #lechardonnay #thelastbottle