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I have to say, after almost a year of living in the Napa Valley, I don’t get the unspoken and sometimes over-spoken rivalry between Napa and Sonoma. All wines from either of these regions are bounce-off-the-walls delightful, so can’t we just all get along? If Berlin can drop their walls, I think we, as wine country inhabitants, can drop our attitudes about the “other” valley. If you still want to hold on to your grudge out of principal then fine, blame your sojourn to the “other side” on the blossoming trees and mustard that are going on all over Alexander and Knights Valley. Their sights are quite different than what we’ve got going on our side of the hump. Just like the wines, both are dandy in their own right and worthwhile of seeing and experiencing on many levels. Wine aside the 5+ mile long tree tunnel that you will coast through as you approach those valleys is almost as remarkable as Washington DC’s cherry blossoms. So grab your bike or buggy, and a buddy and see what all the fuss is about. I’m done ranting, on to the wine! One of the nice things about White Oak’s neck of the woods is the expansive feel of the land there. Farm country abounding. So when you belly up to the tasting bar, you could just as easily be in a tasting room in Tuscany, in your own little wine world. They have an amazing outdoor setting for casual picnicking, racks for your bikes, and a total "room with a view" inside of the tasting room. As you sip your slurp-worthy delights you can gaze out the gi-normous picture window behind the wine-barista. Cari-Anne my faithful wine dog companion was right at home nuzzling up to winery patrons outside as I imbibed indoors. It’s no secret that I love my hound, but I fell in love with a species of a different varietal on this tasting day. The 2008 Russian River Chardonnay was a scent like no other with a taste to match. Some of the sweet-tart tendencies of apples blended with a smooth wallop of pear - yum, yum. Zingy and smooth, all in one swig. The 2007 Alexander Valley Zinfandel rocked my wine world. If I had to sum it up in one low-brow word I would say “toasty!” If I had more words I would say: toasty, toasty, bro
wn sugar roasty. Light on the tongue yet beyond robust in taste. I wanted to slip-slide-away with a bottle of my very own. When I thought it couldn’t get any better I was poured a taste of the 2005 Alexander Valley Reserve. A dandy desert type of wine, without all the obnoxiously overly sugared hype. It was sweet like candy and caramel corn (that’s what it conjured for me) but smooth and highly drinkable like only a good wine can be. So if you want a light desert style wine this one is a beaut. Well, that’s all, wine folks. For me, I ended the day biking back to where I came from, with a great appreciation for the “other” side of the wine tracks. We are all lucky to be living here in our collective wine country. Whether you’re from the Napa side or the Sonoma side, nobody can argue that we make some of the best wines in the world and we get to enjoy them in one of the most beautiful spots around, so get out there and enjoy all the vino that is just a hop, skip and a scoot away. Wacky WineSense Rating: 4.7 grapes!
Yes I love red wine. So, I’ve said it, again. And again. When I grow tired of speaking it, I just smile. More times than not the evidence is written all over my grape-stained teeth. I may not be a proud woman but I’m an honest one. I’ll use this next moment to share some more of my honesty around red wine. While the word Relic can conjure images of craggy old cobwebs and dirt, and stinky old people, the name now conjures something so much sexier ever since I got the chance to slurp some of Relic’s wine. My personal favorite is the Artefact. You can start to see trend with naming conventions but don’t let that sway your wine swilling ways. This hot little Cab, Petite Verdot, Syrah blend is a dandy one. It is stacked in flavor, berry and licorice among them, and it’s downright chewy. I was tempted to slam it down in one, not-so-smooth swig, but I was surrounded by other, more polite wine swillers, so I resisted the urge and sipped and then savored it. So dust off those dated memories around relics and revel in some of these wines. You’ll be glad you did. Wacky WineSense Rating: 4.6 Grapes!
I’ve always been a broccoli and green beans kind of gal, but as time passes the more whimsical I find myself. As such I started dabbling with sprouts. Alfalfa, Brussels, more Brussels. Damn those things are tasty boiled up in the comforts of my own home, where nobody would mock me for eating such an unglamorous veggie. Then as I frolicked about town, trying to be the taste of my town I noticed an odd movement in the restaurant world. One that involved (gasp!) Brussels sprouts. These went well beyond your average bake and boil varieties that I had been toying with. These were sexy and saucy sprouts. Buttery and basking in bacon in some instances. I am no longer a closeted sprout fan. I figure if they’re a semi-regular menu offering at such St. Helena culinary hot spots like Cook and Press I am safe to admit my addiction and I suggest you do the same. While you can find these delightful mini-heads of lettuce looking vegetables all over, these two varieties are my favorites. Cook is in the number one position with Press coming in as a close second. I don’t know what the heck they are actually doing in the kitchen with this stuff, I just pray it’s legal. Here’s what I taste. Cook’s variety: sliced and sautéed in butt
er and lots of garlic, then grilled in some type of contraption so that they are lightly crisp and toasty on the outside while not being mushy or overdone on the inside. Surely there are other spices and secrets rolling around in there, but I get so lost in the explosion in my mouth I loose my train of thought while eating. Press’s variety: almost as equally buttery, toasty brown, though not crisp like Cook’s. There are big chunks of bacon (sans all the fat, heavy on the pork) laced within, likely scored fresh off the bacon bar. I will tangent for a moment. I never thought I would live somewhere that ups the standard oyster and cheese bar ante for something like a bar full of piggy delights, who knew! Anyhow, either place you sample this oft overlooked veggie you’re in for a treat. I suggest you shovel some gushy spouts in the toddlers' mouths and get out there and score some of your own. Wacky WineSense Ratings: Cook: 4.9, Press: 4.7
Sure, all that glitters is gold (at least that’s what us gals hope to be true), and sparkling is for diamonds, 4th of July sparklers and the American’s version of champagne. I love all of the above and especially when they happen all in one sitting on a very good night. Keeping this in mind you can see how ecstatic one might get when confronted with the prospect of being tickled red (we’re talking about wine here) instead of white or rose. Luckily that's exactly what happened when I slid into Mumm Napa to celebrate a birthday that will remain numberless. I was enchanted by the view which was a given, as I sat perched on café style tables ensconced in sun and mustard. If only they served appetizers and chocolates with my bubbly I might have camped out all weekend long at this spot. But there were many notches on my tasting trail to be checked off so I kept my visit brief and got right down to business. I loved, loved, loved all things Cuvee M – especially the Cuvee M Red. It was sparkling and red and not soda which in and of itself was remarkable. But that’s nothing compared to the taste. A jammy explosion of decadent cherry-cranberry fruit flavors with an ever so sweet tendency. This is the kind of wake up call I love to answer. My snoozing taste buds were awoken with this baby. The regular shaded variety of Cuvee M was also a delight. Creamy and dreamy. Sweet without being too sweet if that makes any sense at all. If it doesn’t it just trust me or truck your way to Mumm and taste for yourself. I’m pretty certain you won’t be disappointed regardless of which bubbly you decide to slurp down. I left feeling utterly giddy with my last taste of the DVX 2000. Creamy finish, browned toast scent and a delicious toasted marshmallow figgy essence lingered on my mouth at the end of my very pleasing and all too short taste of this bubbly. Mumms need not be the word when it comes to the sparkling wines at this joint. Blab all you like, that’s what I plan to do. Wacky WineSense Rating: 4.7 Grapes
While the winery name has long since changed (from Niebaum-Coppola) and Godfather memorabilia has vacated the premises, one thing hasn’t changed – the wine. Still good, reliable, tasty pours to be had at Rubicon Estate. And while I was as sad as anyone to see all signs of Francis leave the building, his legacy of winemaking still lingers large. Just don’t come here looking for signs of Hollywood because they have all but been relocated to a more Northern zip code at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery. But fear not wine-horts. The grounds are still gorgeous if not more sparse than you might remember, and a lot of the rubber neckers that use to linger large on the property hoping to get a glimpse of the filmmaking icon have stopped lurking, leaving a more serene experience behind. But onto the vino, there are many to mention but I am going to focus on one of my favorites – the 2006 Cab Franc. For some reason just typing its name makes me all heady and tingly. Old world charm, new school buzz. That’s what came to mind as I sucked this savory delight down. A fruity plush cherry-berry mouthful with a bang. And I would be remise to not mention the hint of spice that bounced off the walls of my wine goblet, all of which caused me to remember one too many nights of sucking down fine red wine during my Godfather 1,2,3 day/night long showings. Some memories are hard to forget and maybe that’s how it’s meant to be. So enjoy this wine amidst the comfort of your own home and boob tube or any which way you like it. Wacky WineSense Rating: 4.7 Grapes!
A fabulous lotus-like fountain greets you as you enter the grounds of the Franciscan's welcoming wine spot. The layout offers many nooks and crannies to get lulled into, from the main tasting room that’s anchored by a-frame ceilings and a roaring fire place, to the more studious wine library (great for group tastings and special events). I immediately found myself drawn to one of the cozy outdoor cabanas where you can linger a little or a lot as you soak up the scenery and sip fine wine. Book this baby up if you have a hen party or male bonding extravaganza on the horizon. In doing so you'll be able to sip like an elitist at a red velet rope club, but better. You're nestled in the wine country with real friends, what could be better? Well the damn fine wine for starters. I was feeling whirly and whimsical so I made it a white wine affair (though there is much red to choose from too). The Cuvee Sauvage won my aching heart, instantly. It was a pear, apple, honey extravaganza. balancing both light and savory tendencies. It slip-slided right down my wine tube with glee. Yum, yum, yum. The Sav Blanc was a sheer delight too. A limey-lemony-melon moondance of a vino that caused me to bust a move right out to my very own wine cabana. Wacky WineSense Rating: 4.5 Grapes!
Admittedly when I decided to visit the famous Tedeschi Vineyard, otherwise known as Maui's winery, I was wary, and downright snotty. I expected to be grossed out by cheap, overly sweet pineapple wine. I was expecting something along the quality lines of my Mad Dog wine era in college. I was caught with my bikini down, and quite pleasantly surprised to suck down the Hula O' Maui Sparkling wine. The hula girl on the bottle just confirmed it would be nothing more than wine fluff stuff. I had to slurp down more wine just to be certain, then I had to eat my words because the bubbly was downright delish. Light, tingly, refreshing, not too dry, not too sweet with the ever-so-slight essence of pineapple. I have to ask myself why we can be so judgemental (ok me!) about wines from other parts of the globe. Writing them off as nothing more than frilly counterparts. Thankfully this wine woke up my tastebuds and opened up my mind to a world of wine beyond our own Napa Valley. The Mele Syrah was not too shabby either. It woke up my dozy island tongue on an early morning wine call right before I hiked up Maui's famed crater. Both were spellbinding in their own way. So if you happen to find yourself traveling, or you feel like letting your fingers do some walking to the web, check out the Hula Sparkling wine. It'll change your mind about wines that are mined from prickly fruits that have been relegated to Pina Coladas, which in case your wondering, are also quite dandy here, along with the honus (Hawaiian Sea Turtle). Wacky WineSense Rating: 4.3 Pineapple Grapes!
I have to say, after almost a year of living in the Napa Valley, I don’t get the unspoken and sometimes over-spoken rivalry between Napa and Sonoma. All wines from either of these regions are bounce-off-the-walls delightful, so can’t we just all get along? If Berlin can drop their walls, I think we, as wine country inhabitants, can drop our attitudes about the “other” valley. If you still want to hold on to your grudge out of principal then fine, blame your sojourn to the “other side” on the blossoming trees and mustard that are going on all over Alexander and Knights Valley. Their sights are quite different than what we’ve got going on our side of the hump. Just like the wines, both are dandy in their own right and worthwhile of seeing and experiencing on many levels. Wine aside the 5+ mile long tree tunnel that you will coast through as you approach those valleys is almost as remarkable as Washington DC’s cherry blossoms. So grab your bike or buggy, and a buddy and see what all the fuss is about. I’m done ranting, on to the wine! One of the nice things about White Oak’s neck of the woods is the expansive feel of the land there. Farm country abounding. So when you belly up to the tasting bar, you could just as easily be in a tasting room in Tuscany, in your own little wine world. They have an amazing outdoor setting for casual picnicking, racks for your bikes, and a total "room with a view" inside of the tasting room. As you sip your slurp-worthy delights you can gaze out the gi-normous picture window behind the wine-barista. Cari-Anne my faithful wine dog companion was right at home nuzzling up to winery patrons outside as I imbibed indoors. It’s no secret that I love my hound, but I fell in love with a species of a different varietal on this tasting day. The 2008 Russian River Chardonnay was a scent like no other with a taste to match. Some of the sweet-tart tendencies of apples blended with a smooth wallop of pear - yum, yum. Zingy and smooth, all in one swig. The 2007 Alexander Valley Zinfandel rocked my wine world. If I had to sum it up in one low-brow word I would say “toasty!” If I had more words I would say: toasty, toasty, bro
wn sugar roasty. Light on the tongue yet beyond robust in taste. I wanted to slip-slide-away with a bottle of my very own. When I thought it couldn’t get any better I was poured a taste of the 2005 Alexander Valley Reserve. A dandy desert type of wine, without all the obnoxiously overly sugared hype. It was sweet like candy and caramel corn (that’s what it conjured for me) but smooth and highly drinkable like only a good wine can be. So if you want a light desert style wine this one is a beaut. Well, that’s all, wine folks. For me, I ended the day biking back to where I came from, with a great appreciation for the “other” side of the wine tracks. We are all lucky to be living here in our collective wine country. Whether you’re from the Napa side or the Sonoma side, nobody can argue that we make some of the best wines in the world and we get to enjoy them in one of the most beautiful spots around, so get out there and enjoy all the vino that is just a hop, skip and a scoot away. Wacky WineSense Rating: 4.7 grapes!
