Wine Giques

ABC's

It was Emmy weekend here in LA, which meant the usual slurry of suites full of free gifts for celebrities, fancy cocktail hours, and a couple of fundraisers.  Since there was the usual slim chance that I'd get invited to a gift suite (given that I'm not currently, nor was I ever, starring in a television show), I went to a fundraiser instead, for a cause near and dear to my heart:  Step Up Women's Network.  It was a lovely event, called "Vegas In LA,"  loaded with silent auction goodies, raucous faux-gambling tables, and lots and lots of food and wine. 

I, of course, was there for the food and wine.  Many, many California Central Coast wineries pouring little tastes of their wares.  And many, many women sauntering down the aisle asking "do you have any Chardonnay?"

Hold your horses.  Tie them to the Hitching Post, if you must.

Come on, girls.  It's time to learn your ABC's (Anything But Chardonnay).  The Central Coast happens to be the home of one of the greatest of the "Rhone Rangers:"  Randall Grahm and his Bonny Doon Vineyard.  Not only does Mr. Grahm have the quirkiest, most interesting winery website on the planet, he also makes a range of extremely quaffable summer wines that should be a part of any witty wine girl's repetoire:  Pacific Rim Chenin Blanc (Loire Valley-style, crisp pear and quince, looks great with those Manolo's); 2004 Il Circo Erbaluce "La Funambola" (roll that off your tongue after a couple of glasses -- you'll sound perfectly Italian); and my personal favorite, Big House Pink.  Mr. Grahm is also a big proponent of screw-cap bottles, which are no longer the province of the Thunderbird set.  For a short missive on the wondrous properties of screw caps, visit Epicurious.

So put away your corkscrew, forget that Labor Day is coming, and plan a little picnic in the sunshine for yourself and a few of your favorite wine-drinking friends. Form your own band of "Rhone Rangers."  And next time you go to a party, you can ask "Do you have anything BUT Chardonnay?"

BTW, Mr. Grahm happens to make a lovely Chardonnay, as well.  Shhh. 

Wine Etiquette

What Emily Post neglected to tell us:

1. If you want a glass of wine (or bottle for that matter) order one. Don't wait for your indecisive (and cheap) girlfriends to come to their senses. Note: Going to the bathroom en mass is so last decade!

2. Sauvignon Blanc is a much better match for that chicken salad than iced tea.

3. There is nothing wrong with a red wine stain (or two) on your blouse. It shows character. There is more to life than Chardonnay.

4. Refrain from asking your waiter for extra corks so you can make a trivet.

5. Show your partner some wine prowess. Order something that you can both wrap your lips around - how about a Nebbiolo, Malbec, or Super Tuscan?

Have fun - you only live once and Ms. Post would want you to do it right the first time!

Lady's Night

Call me a restaurant widow. Call me untethered or bored. My husband is working tonight... and my daughter is at camp... so, I went out to dine.
There is nothing I like more than going alone to a good restaurant with good lighting. I can choose whatever it is that speaks to me from the menu and choose a wine that I think will fit the bill. Tonight, at Murphy's in Virginia Highland, I found just what I was looking for and a great wine tasting list.

The beauty of dining solo is the autonomy it affords. No need to hold back  - no companion to entertain. Just me, just the food, just the wine. I can be a complete geeky ass about anything I want or say nothing at all. I am more inclined to the former than the latter.

Chateau St. Michelle Eroica 2004 was the wine of the evening. I love the clean citrus and pear flavors  and what I describe as a "tea" finish. This is the astringent feeling you get on your tongue when you drink tea - stripped almost... and clean.

Tattoo

My friend Sue who worked for Chandon for years and years always drank "bubbles". We were in Aspen for the Food and Wine Classic, everyone drinking this exotic drink or the other but, she wanted something sparkling. The girl knows what goes with everything - Champagne, Cava, Prosecco, Sekt or just sparkling wine.

Bubbly does go with everything from Appetizer to dessert. It is a great libation, too, when your palate is tired from everything else. That is why, my girlfriend, Karen, and I recently chose Champagne as our drink of choice when we needed something to go with...tattoos.

Both of us, tattoo virgins, wanted a celebratory drink and also something that would make us a little more bubbly and a little less tense in the "chair". Veuve Cliquot was the perfect choice.

Veuve Cliquot is from the Champagne region of France and, therefore, is a true Champagne. It is made from all three Champagne grapes, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay.
I like the nice balance of fruitiness and yeastiness - plus orange is my favorite color which makes the bottle all that more appealing.

Sparkling wine which is what Champagne is called in the US comes from all over. Some notable sparklers that won't break the bank are: Gruet from New Mexico, Gloria Ferrer from Sonoma, California, and Chandon, from Napa, California.

A Month Without Wine???

Commitment is a sticky thing. Or maybe the problem is that it has a hard time sticking...

Exercise, getting my taxes done (yes, it's August), and posting to this blog are all things I have made a vow to do. I went to Pilates once this month. I looked at my tax files. Guilt was not enough.

A month without wine???

No, it's not possible, not for me anyway. I drank wine in the month of July - just didn't write about it.