Gin-gria
A Cooler California Cooler I am old enough to remember (but not legally drink) the original California Cooler of the 80s. It was made from actual wine, not “malt beverage” and clouded with real fruit pulp. Basically a white wine sangria in 12 oz. bottles. I will say without reservation that they were delicious. But ...
Sonoma Wine Tasting 101
A Primer for Neophyte Oenophiles Wine tasting. Just the sound of it can make you feel all indulgent and romantic. But it’s not that simple. What If I said there were one hundred wineries within a 10 mile radius of where you are standing right now? Many of them you’ve never heard of. And, the ...
Death in the Afternoon
Death in the Afternoon is not your grandma’s champagne cocktail. You won’t find this at Sunday brunch, where it would most likely be unwelcome anyway. It’s a drink that Hemingway himself invented and it’s got teeth – perhaps even fangs.
Winter Wine Lineup
What’s your favorite winter wine? We asked our friends to share their secrets for the holidays …
Callaway 2008 Winemaker's Reserve Old Vine Zinfandel
We enjoyed flights of self-selected whites and roses and reds while gazing over Temecula’s vineyard. Then in a splurge of indulgence (and maybe giddiness), we bought one of the most expensive ones, Callaway 2008 Winemaker’s Reserve Old Vine Zinfandel. I don’t want to say what happened next.
Mad Dogs & Englishmen 2006
My quiet house suddenly smelled amazing, and I knew I had to mark this blue moon night with a glass of big, well-bred wine, a fiery Spanish red by the name of Mad Dogs & Englishmen.
What's Your Favorite Food and Wine Pairing?
The descriptions of wines were original and distinct. But the selection of small plates and wine pairings really did us in. Every sip, every taste, every pairing was such a rich experience at this new wine bar in San Diego, CA. We want to recreate it at home.
Little Black Dress Pinot Grigio
I try not to be a sucker for labels. So when I was offered a glass of this Pinot Grigio with a cute name and little hanger on the front of the bottle—blatantly marketed toward the female wine shopper—I was prepared to hate it. But I didn’t.
2007 Bell'agio Chianti
I bought this bottle of Chianti as a joke. The classic Tuscan wine in a wicker basket seemed like the perfect kitschy touch. The big surprise? We actually enjoyed it.
Bonterra Chardonnay 2007
Inspired after trying to pronounce the ingredients on my store-bought loaf of 100% whole-wheat “bread,” I transformed into my alter-ego, Betty Homemaker, and set out to make the perfect loaf of homemade bread. And eat it with a perfect glass of chardonnay.
