Delicious food, wine and conversation at The Red Hen tonight! Georgian red #wine, rigatoni with fennel sausage, spinach paccheri with duck leg sugo, white port to go with dessert (mocha budino). Great idea, @nycreba!
Author: itswinebyme
An Elixir That’s Still Present Even When I’m Not
When life gets in the way of wine, it’s comforting to know wine will still get me through. That’s my corny poetic way of saying that I’ve neglected this tumblr for the past month. Fortunately, wine is still a big presence in my everyday life. So as a way of diving back in, here’s what I’ve been up to:
- I’ve tasted some delicious wines thanks to the generosity of new friends.
- I even enjoyed some Cabernet!
- I celebrated the arrival of Spring with some sunshine in a bottle.
- And I’ve started contemplating taking the WSET Advanced courses, but instead of weekly sessions here in D.C., as an immersion course at the Napa Valley Wine Academy. The only thing stopping me is a lack of funding now that Spring release season has killed my budget. I wonder if they give scholarships to non-industry people. 😉
Looking forward to paying a bit more attention to this tumblr again as this minor obsession continues. Here’s proof, courtesy of a fabulous friend:
Pursuing Balance In New York
Comparing two Kutch wines at the IPOB conference in New York on Feb. 23
Today is the annual In Pursuit of Balance conference in San Francisco and here I am at my desk, fidgeting, stalking #IPOB on Twitter and Instagram, and wishing I was there – even though it was only a couple of weeks ago I was fortunate to attend the New York event.
I heard Ted Lemon give his Keynote on the history of California wine, followed by a seminar on how winemakers try to achieve their goals of “balance.” A few hours later, I took full advantage of the public tasting with 33 California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers.
As a non-industry participant, it was fascinating to hear winemakers talk about their decision-making processes, and then taste the wines that corresponded to their achievements and falters. It was as if I was eaves-dropping on their private club. Those who have followed IPOB know that the entire industry does not necessarily embrace this group, and as Food and Wine Magazine Wine Editor Ray Isle teased in his introduction to the panel discussion, he thought he was coming to the “IPOB Church” and it was “nice to know this was a discussion and not a cult,” which gained laughter from the audience.
The “Getting It Right” panel moderated by Food and Wine Magazine Wine Editor Ray Isle (left), winemakers Andy Peay, Bradley Brown and Jamie Kutch, and Sommelier Raj Vaidya (right).
Rajat Parr, the famed sommelier and winery owner who hosts the event with Jasmine Hirsch of Hirsch Vineyards, was clear to point out prior to the panel that the purpose of IPOB is to have a “discussion among friends” and it’s about “learning from each other… It’s not a fight against someone, not a ‘we’re better, they’re bad,’ it’s not that.”
As a first-timer here (these events began in 2011), I believe they were successful in that. Here are 33 winemakers who all have similar goals. This is not just an opportunity for them to have internal dialogues and market their wines to the industry, but a very approachable way for enthusiasts like myself to learn. Follow this up with the opportunity to taste and have individual conversations with the winemakers during the tasting portion of the event and you can’t deny it’s a fun experience for your mind and your taste buds!
The group has posted videos of their seminars on its website. If you’re a fan of these wines, it’s worth the watch.
A magnum of the 2014 Red Car Rosé is chilled during the IPOB tasting in New York.
Ode to Yum
There are certain wines you drink that once you finally agree to stop inhaling their wonderful aromas inside the glass and actually succumb to tasting, they will envelop your inner soul. Sure, the palate springs to life with a dance of almost-balanced acid and tannins while big bold fruit and subtle earth wrap themselves around your tongue. But this wine is still a baby. A 2012. I don’t have a cellar, or a wine fridge or a cold basement for that matter, so for the time being, drinking my wines young is probably my smartest move. And while I’m more than pleased I opened this bottle of Bedrock Pagani Ranch Heritage on this frigid Friday night, I’m quite jealous of those who will get to drink this several years from now. It’s a good thing I still have another bottle.
Cheers!
Final Thoughts On WSET 2
About three months ago, I wrote down some immediate thoughts following the WSET 2 exam, and while I have known my results for the past two months and posted them on other social media outlets, I failed to do so here.
I wanted it to feel official, so I patiently waited for my certificate to arrive. And then I waited a little longer. But today I have no excuse to keep waiting. It’s really official: I passed. And not only did I pass, I did so with “distinction.” For some icing on the cake, I did much better than I expected: a 96 percent (which means I only missed two questions).
I realize that this is considered an easy course, and many folks (especially those in the industry) don’t even bother with it before jumping into level 3, but as a girl with a passing interest that turned into a passion, I’m really quite proud. And excited for where this journey will take me!
Voila:
Video Preview: Somm Into the Bottle
Can there be any other business where there’s so much bull shit?
– Carole Meredith (@LagierMeredith)
The winemaker has a quick cameo (but I assume a much larger role) in this preview for the new documentary: SOMM: Into The Bottle (a follow-up to Somm). I’ll let the trailer speak for itself, but let’s put it this way, Summer 2015 can’t come fast enough! Both Eater and Wine Folly have details!
Photo: A Glass in New York
Starting the evening off right in New York. #wineporn (at Aldo Sohm Wine Bar)
Photo: Wine Delivery
My first #wine delivery of 2015 is all about California. {enfield tempranillo, matthiasson napa white, rivers-marie Pinot and jolie-laide grenache/syrah} #happiness #noterroirsttilt
A Wine for the Season
I found a fabulous everyday, bring-to-a-party, serve-at-a-celebration bottle of sparkling rosé. It’s a Domaine Rolet Père et Fils Crémant du Jura. And for about $22/bottle, I had no qualms about going back and buying a few more bottles (which I’ve now taken to almost every brunch or party I’ve attended for the past month).
It’s from Jura. That’s the French region southeast of Champagne recently described as what wine journalists talk about to gain some “counterculture street cred.” It was also the only bottle from Jura at a local shop. And while picking up some other wines, I bought a bottle out of curiosity.
I decided to serve it to a friend who came over for a festive evening of cheese, meats and wine. The intention was to pour a glass to toast the evening and then move on to some red wines. That plan quickly changed, as we laughed, ate and chatted our way through the entire bottle.
When I brought it to a brunch the following week, a person at the table who declared she didn’t drink sparkling wines, refilled her glass a few times. That bottle was quickly diminished by the table, too.
Here’s what makes the wine worth your while (especially if sparkling wines aren’t your favorite): There are very little bubbles. Those that are there settle quickly and only provide a brief bit of effervescence in the background. It’s acidity balances the tart fruit flavors leaving a dry and crisp finish. While light in body, the fruit-forwardness of this sparkler gives it a solid elegance.
I haven’t decided if this will be my choice for new year’s eve, but I plan to be drinking this many times in the new year. Cheers to 2015!
Photo: Tuesday Night Happiness
Tuesday night happiness. #winesofinstagram #wineporn
It's Wine By Me! 