Wine Seminar: St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

A winery in Sonoma County, California, founded in 1971, they offer a variety of wines for every palate.

2012 White Splash $11.99
A blend of four grapes, it smells like a boxed wine in my opinion.  It lingers on the tongue, is very fresh and is incredibly light.  I can see drinking this with food, in the summer. Slight acidity and would be good with chicken. **1/2

Sonoma County Chardonnay  $12.99
This wine has no major acidity, it's not sweet at all, but has a thick fruity flavor.  Its very light, but full power! It leaves room for food.  Excellent wine. ***

Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon $14.99
Hand-harvesting grapes, this dark wine produces a lot of tannins, currant and spicy oak.  It's not a strong nose, but has a strong taste. It produces warmth, is full bodied and shows a lot of fingers along the glass! ****

Sonoma County Merlot $13.99
This to me is a typical Merlot.  It's a sour and dry, good and balanced.  It is a strong black fruit with a spicy herb with vanilla. It has very little tannins and is of no interest to me. *

Sonoma County "Old Vines" Zinfandel $14.99
Fruit from vines 50-100 years old, this raiseny and high-alcohol/high-sugar spicy, aromatic easy drinking wine is full of flavor and very enjoyable. ***

Sonoma County RED SPLASH $8.49
This budget wine has a dark cherry blended nose to it. It's thick, delicious and has slight tannins. This wine makes me hungry! ***1/2

While not an outstanding winery, it is often carried in Californian restaurants.  I equate it to some of the better wines of my local Finger Lakes.

Birthdays & Tequila

Chicago had a nice birthday party for her daughter.  We first started at with a THREE HOUR dinner at the Olive Garden, and then the party moved to her apartment.

I brought tequila.

Tim got drunk. Chicago gave him a windy pep talk.

And by the end of the night, the birthday cake (uneaten) got used in a food fight. Hmm.

Evening Runs -- in the snow!

While I love running, and I love running in the snow.. I don't LOVE love running in the dark.  But some nights require it!

Game Night

Enjoying the group with games & wine...

Mom's Trip to Florida

My mother recently went to Florida for a week....

Catty Times

Be scar(r)ed.

Niagara Falls, Canada

Spent the afternoon and evening in Niagara Falls, Canada with James.  Checked out the sights on Clifton Hill, even if it was incredibly cold.  Bought a funpack ticket to do amusement games, mini-golfing, ferriswheel, roller coaster & wax museum.  Was a wonderful day.  Even had a great steak and baked chicken wing dinner at Boston Pizza.  After, we hit the duty free shop and each bought $100US worth of alcohol for the upcoming parties.

View from ferris wheel

 Crossing the Rainbow Bridge

Wax museum

Happy companion

Crossing back over the bridge, with alcohol!

Mini-golfing

LaTrenda's Pimp Palace

New Years, Part Deux.  Partying it up with the friends.

Parties / Dancing / Drinking

Love....

Running

These warm days bring a smile to my face.. as I take advantage and run my heart out..

Volleyball Fridays

Even if I'm no longer on the volleyball team, seeing them in action for the first time in a long while was nice....

Wine Seminar: Antinori Family Wines 10/19/2011

Some of my notes from a very old seminar.  The "gio" is pronounced JOE, as in Pinot Grigio.... These wines are best when warmed up a little.  Any wines with acid should be paired with acidic food.... chianti with pasta with a red sauce.

Campogrande Orvieto $10.99
Smells acidic, sharp, no nose. This is a great food wine.  It's dry, bites strong on the sides of my tongue.  It's good to eat with cheese. **

Cervaro Della Sala Chrdonnay $24.96
Butter flavor to the nose, butterscotch taste to the tongue.  Six months in oak, it's an acidic food wine. ***1/2

Santa Christina Sanguivese $8.99
Very spicy scent, high alcohol content, some tannins. It's a straight forward, boring wine. *

Peppoli Chianti Classico $17.99
Mostly Sangiovese grape, it has a menthol nose, good bite, straight forward tannins.  It has low acidity, high stringency, and would be great with a fatty steak. **1/2

Guado Al Tasso Il Bruciato $26.99
It has a strong scent, great taste of cherries and dark berries.  It's absolutely delicious. ****

Tormaresca Bocca Di Lipo Aglianico $28.99
This chocolate and mushroom nose, strong tannic wine has a full flavor. I loved it. ***1/2

Wednesday Night Dinners

As part of one of my New Year's Resolutions, I am making a delicious home cooked meal on Wednesdays..... part of my way to try and connect more with the process.

Harper

She's such a troublemaker...

Happy New Year!!!!

Surrounding by loving friends... with FIVE bottles of Champagne... Happy New Year!! Love, me.. :)