Thanks to our friends Valentina and Gian Franco, the dynamic couple behind Nonna Urban Eatery in Old Town Scottsdale, we got a head start on our Cinco de Mayo celebration last night. The fresh and flavorful summer menu was paired with three wines from Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico. What a treat. We started with an aromatic Montefiori Rosado of Sangiovese paired with corn chowder, followed by Paolini Sangiovese Grosso (slightly chilled 👍) paired with pork loin before finishing with Cava Maciel Apogeo Nebbiolo paired with dark chocolate mousse & salted caramel. The pairings were absolutely spot on. Valentina told us she went out on a limb with the dessert pairing and I’m glad she did…it was so delicious! The wines were very good and now we’re thinking of visiting Valle de Guadalupe to check out the wine scene. We can always count on chef Gian Franco to create an inventive menu and Valentina to pour us something delicious to pair with it. Dining at nonna is always a highlight of our time spent in Old Town Scottsdale. It was wonderful to hear Valentina’s laugh and see her visiting with guests. Be sure to check out Nonna when you visit! @nonnascottsdale @villamontefiori @cavamaciel . . . #nonnaurbaneatery #mexicanwine #bajacalifornia #valledeguadalupewine #valledeguadalupe #rosado #sangiovese #nebbiolo #foodandwine #wineanddine #summermenu #oldtownscottsdale #scottsdale #scottsdalefoodie #arizonaspringtime #wineoclock #winetasting #winenotes #wino #winetravel #winetraveler #arizonasunshine #arizonadesert

The spring menu at Sel Restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale is outstanding! We enjoyed a lovely meal and a stellar bottle of Bourgogne a couple of nights ago. The evening was warm and we enjoyed a leisurely dinner on Sel’s patio. This afternoon we’re relaxing with another glass of said Bourgogne in the shade of our patio at the nearby Inn we’re calling home at the moment. We’re still loving the wine. 💕 We were out in the desert for a morning hike yesterday and enjoyed a canal walk this morning before meeting a friend for lunch. Cheers to good food, good wine and good friends! @domaine_alain_chavy @selrestaurant . . . #domainealainchavy #alainchavy #pulignymontrachet #bourgogne #bourgogneblanc #chardonnay #frenchwine #vino #foodandwine #wineanddine #springmenu #oldtownscottsdale #scottsdale #scottsdalefoodie #arizonaspringtime #burgundylover #wineoclock #winetasting #winenotes #wino #winetravel #winetraveler #vindebourgogne #goodwine #whitewine

This is my style of Cabernet. Lots of red and dark fruit aromas followed by ripe blackberries and red cherries with background notes of alfalfa hay and hints of cedar. Tannins are drying and fine in a just-medium body. So elegant, so delicious! Sourced from the Montecillo Vineyard in Sonoma’s Moon Mountain District planted at 2,200’ elevation, dry farmed, planted in the 1960s. I hope you’re sipping something delicious! @bedrockwines . . . #sonomawine #moonmountain district #mountaincabernet #mountainvineyard #mountainwine #drinkcalifornia #drinklocal #californiaadventure #californiacabernet #californiawinelover #winegeek #winelover #winetime #wineoftheday #winenotes #winetasting #wineoclock #instawine #foodandwine #wineanddine #singlevineyardwine

Super springtime sipping! This gorgeous blend shows lots of ripe pear aromas and flavors along with a floral component and a citrusy, stony finish. Nice acidity keeps the flavors and finish fresh and clean. It pairs as perfectly with a sunny corner of the patio this time of year as it does halibut tacos. It’s a winner! Hope you’re sipping something delicious! @daverowines . . . #healdsburg #drycreekvalley #lodiava #familywinery #biodynamicviticulture #italiangrapevarieties #winetasting #winetime #winefun #winepairing #tacosandwine #halibuttacos #winenotes #tastingnotes #wineoclock #wineoftheday #winelover #whiteblend #californiawine #californiawinelover #sonomawine #localwine #drinklocal #drinkcalifornia

We made it a sparkling weekend! 🍾 Champagne Alexandre Le Brun is a small producer making champagne only from grapes grown by the family. The total production is small, just 1000 cases according to the retailer, which is why I ordered this champagne. The merchant goes on to note Champagne Alexandre Le Brun farms only 7.5 acres spread over 22 plots in 8 villages. Some of the Pinot Meunier vines were planted in 1902. This Extra Brut 100% Chardonnay is sourced from a single plot in Chouilly. It is precise with aromas and flavors of brioche, toasted almonds, lemon and gravelly minerality. It’s almost steely, but with plenty of weight and lots of acidity. The bubbles are tiny and persistent, as is the long finish. So lovely to sip with or without food. 12% abv. $69 I wish I could say our food pairing was up to the elegant standard of this champagne, but we enjoyed a high-low pairing with a rustic mushroom and chard frittata. This gorgeous champagne elevated our simple meal. I hope you’re sipping something delicious! 🥂 . . . #champagnealexandrelebrun #champagne #champagnegrower #champagnelover #champagnehappyhour #champagnelife #blancdeblancs #champers #chardonnay #sparklingweekend #weekendwine #wineanddine #foodandwine #winelover #winegeek #winenotes #tastingnotes #instawine #instaphoto #wineoftheday #wineoclock

Whew, we’re having a heatwave! 90º degrees in April is too warm, even for Peter. 😉 Leah Jørgensen to the rescue with her stunning Blanc de Cabernet Franc. It’s complex, textured and so refreshing. And it’s so versatile. We enjoyed it with cochinita pibil tacos for several evenings then stir fried Udon noodles. Wowza, just the wine for delicious food and a warm afternoon on the patio. You should check out Leah’s wines. My other favorite is her Gamay. 💕 It’s darn good. Hope you’re keeping cool and sipping something delicious. @leahjorgensencellars . . . #cabernetfranc #cabfranc #cabfranclover #oregonwine #applegatevalley #womanwinemaker #womenwinemakersrock #womeninwineoregon #womeninwine #womeninwinemaking #winelover #winetasting #wineandfood #wineanddine #wineandtacos #tastingnotes #winetime #instawine #winegeek #wineoftheday #winenotes #winelife #winetravel #vino #wineoclock #friyay #fridayfeeling #fridayfun

Well, this disappeared in record time. We shared with friends and family last night and most took a sip then said something like, “This is really good, what is it?“ We love discovering new wines and sharing them. This 2018 Haliotide Extra Brut Rosé is 100% Pinot Noir sourced from Topotero Vineyard in Avila Beach (SLO Coast, San Luis Obispo County). The base wine was fermented and aged for 9 months in neutral French oak before spending 30 months in bottle developing those gorgeous bubbles. 3g/l dosage. Gorgeous ballet slipper pink color, generous bubbles with hints of brioche on the nose and mixed berries on the palate. Very good acidity provides a clean finish. 12.5 abv. Only 100 cases made. California wine rocks! I’m so glad we have two more bottles. 🥂 @haliotidewines . . . #californiawine #californiasparklingwine #sparklingwine #pinotnoir #traditionalmethodsparklingwine #siplocal #drinkcaliforniawine #drinklocal #wineanddine #winefun #winetime #wineoftheday #wineoclock #instawine #instaphoto #winegeek #wino #vino #tastingnotes #coastalwine #singlevineyardwine #haliotidewine

What a morning for a vineyard hike! We began with a cup of coffee and the stunning view of the Vaca Mountains from Ray and Eleanor McCrea’s former home at Stony Hill Vineyard on Spring Mountain. Our hike took us down to a small planting of Syrah then up the mountain through Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and finally Gewurztraminer. Winemaker Jaimee Motley led our group through the vineyards accompanied by Michaela, the estate director and the cellar master, Renee. Of course we sipped wine along the way and learned the history of this extraordinary site. Farming is certified organic with biodynamic certification expected soon. The vineyards are alive with cover crops and the vines have awakened from their winter slumber. Evidence of the recent Glass fire is obvious around the vineyards, but so is regrowth. This young team is passionate about continuing the legacy of this historic site. We finished with a delicious lunch, good conversation and excellent wines. Thanks for the beautiful introduction to this extraordinary site! @stonyhillvineyard . . . #napawine #napavalley #springmountain #springmountaindistrict #organicvineyard #organicwine #organicviticulture #biodynamic #syrah #riesling #gewurztraminer #chardonnay #cabernetsauvignon #vineyardhike #womenwinemaker #womanwinemaker #vineyardlunch #vino #winetime #winefun #vineyardfun #wineanddine #mountainvineyard

No way! Yes, whey! Couldn’t bring myself to pour the whey down the drain after making ricotta, so I used it to make pizza dough. So good…it added a bit of complexity to the taste of the crust. Mozzarella, prosciutto, tomatoes, chili flakes. Another simple meal paired with a complex white wine. The A-R Ribolla Gialla is one of my favorites every vintage. We’re off to a delicious start with our springtime food and wine pairings. I hope you’re sipping something delicious! . . . #freshricotta #homemadericotta #ribollagialla #varevineyard #arnotroberts #napavalley #napawine #californiawine #californiawinelover #siplocal #drinklocal #winelover #winelife #pizza #wineandpizza #winegeek #wineoftheday #wino #vino #winewinewine