Year: 2019

White

Hidden Vineyards Zenit

Hidden Vineyards Zenit paired with Acorn Squash with Cranberry Compote & Feta
December 11, 2019

Do you ever have one of those nights where you look around the kitchen and realize you have the most random ingredients and no idea what to do with them? This was one of those nights. However, I happened to get an Eating Well magazine in the mail that day and while I was flipping through it, I found a recipe for acorn squash with cranberry compote and feta. Thanks to Thanksgiving and a random assortment of leftovers, I had exactly what I needed to make this dish and I had just the wine to pair it with. Last week,…

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Red

Hidden Vineyards Zweigelt

Hidden Vineyards Zweigelt paired with Roasted Vegetable Pizza
December 4, 2019

It was one of those nights where there was so much to do that having to think about dinner just seemed too hard. That’s right! It was frozen pizza night! I’m really digging the fact that you can get cauliflower pizza crust in the frozen section of so many stores now. Making my own at home was one of my least favorite things to cook. This was a totally new wine for me this week. I had never even heard of Zweigelt before, so I was eager to learn more. Named for it’s creator, Professor Fritz Zweigelt, this grape was…

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Red

Hightower Merlot

Hightower Merlot paired with Brisket & Duck Fat Potatoes
November 20, 2019

The days are ending very early on this side of the world right now. It was time to start thinking about adding a little bit of winter weight. I generally stick to sweet potatoes when cooking at home, but I was accidently delivered some regular white potatoes this week. However, this worked out perfectly as I still had plenty of duck fat left in the fridge from the duck I roasted a few weeks earlier. I let my husband choose the wine this time and then I set to work. My husband chose a Merlot from the wine fridge to…

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Red

Barnard Griffin Mammoth III

Barnard Griffin Mammoth III paired with New York Strip Steak and Sweet Potato Fries
October 30, 2019

This week’s wine marks a very significant happening for me. The journal that I purchased to log my wine tastings is now officially complete. This wine marks the final entry in that journal and completes a journey that began almost two years ago. I’ve learned quite a bit since I originally bought the journal. I know the difference between Syrah and Petite Syrah. I know never to scoff at a wine blend. I know that Rosé is more than just summer water.  My journey won’t be ending here though. I’ve already purchased a new wine journal from Wine Folly, an…

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Red

Realce Tempranillo

Realce Tempranillo paired with Paleo Steak Tamales
October 16, 2019

Once I found a recipe for paleo tamales, I knew I had to have a Tempranillo to pair with it before I made them. As luck would have it, that’s just what came in my Wine Awesomeness box this month! With the rain season setting in full blast this week in Seattle, some comfort food sounded just about perfect. I’m always excited to try a Tempranillo wine. When living in Texas, it was one of the only varietals that grew well there. It became my go-to for a while, especially when visiting a winery or just trying something new. I…

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Red

Barnard Griffin Cabernet Sauvignon

Barnard Griffin Cabernet Sauvignon paired with Pancetta Deli Sandwiches
September 25, 2019

You can really tell the seasons are changing when one week you’re reviewing Rosé, the next week it’s Sauvignon Blanc, and the next it’s Cabernet Sauvignon. This Cab is another out of the box one from our wine club with Barnard Griffin. This marked one of the first nights that it actually felt a bit chilly. It was rainy most of the day and by the evening; we were just looking forward to some comfort food. Luckily, we had some Pancetta and my husband felt like frying it up. Cabernet Sauvignon feels like a comfortable old stand-by at this point,…

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White

Crownthorpe Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

Crownthorpe Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc paired with Sticky Chipotle Ribs
September 18, 2019

The label of this wine had me feeling nostalgic, just like the feeling of the last week of August. School buses are back on their routes. Leaves are just starting to turn orange and red. The days are ending just a tad bit sooner than they had the week before. It’s that feeling that makes you put on your favorite record and finally delve into that book you meant to read all summer long.  Sauvignon Blanc is an old favorite of mine. It’s usually very approachable for someone new to wine. It has a fun name, light color, and no…

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Rosé

Reginato Malbec Rosé

Reginato Malbec Rosé paired with Salami & Provolone
September 11, 2019

The end of summer was upon us, but that doesn’t mean the Rosé had to stop flowing! This bottle is just what I needed to kiss summer goodbye with. It was still nice and warm outside, so I was able to enjoy this one out on the deck and soak in the last little bit of sun and shiny lake views. This sparkling Rosé was packaged in a lovely bottle that had my hands itching to open it up. Malbec is not the most popular grape to make Rosé with. Grenache, Sangiovese, and Syrah are the more common styles. However,…

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Red

Anemoia Cabernet Sauvignon

Anemoia Cabernet Sauvignon paired with Pork Country Ribs and Roasted Broccoli
August 7, 2019

Seeing this deep red cab in the middle of the summer made me almost long for chillier days. Almost. It’s been a fairly wet summer here in Seattle so it wasn’t fooling me yet. I’ll be honest; the label on this one was kind of throwing me off. It looked kind of like an earthworm and not in the least bit appetizing. But, once the country ribs were on the smoker, I was more than excited to crack it open. While everyone knows of Cabernet Sauvignon, I thought I might do a bit of a deep dive on this grape…

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Rosé

Gateway Vinho Verde Rosé

Gateway Vinho Verde Rosé paired with Pad Thai
July 17, 2019

Time for another rosé week! With all of the traveling around that my husband and I had done recently, we did not have the energy to cook. We knew just what the future held and that was Pad Thai from our favorite Thai place, Bua 9. If you’re ever visiting Seattle, I highly recommend stopping in or getting your own takeout order from this little restaurant in the Columbia City neighborhood. Since I could wax poetic about my love for Rosé endlessly, but I’m sure no one would relish in reading that, I started my research with the origin of…

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