Wine Outlook

The other day at work, I continued my experimentation in sangria making. The time before when I made it with pineapple, mango juice, and peaches, I was struck with the urge to give watermelon a go. Turned out to be a pretty good idea, one worth repeating in your own kitchen.

Watermelon Sangria
*Half of a small seedless watermelon, cut into very small pieces
*Half a can of cream soda ( I used diet, but I think regular would be better)
*Bottle of sparkling wine

Mash the watermelon until it’s nice and juicy, then add soda and wine. Freeze for an hour, pour, and enjoy.

Watermelon Sangria

This post is from a dinner about two weeks ago, but I couldn’t not share. The first course was my second go at a delicious preparation of scallops I got from a trusty wine cookbook: The Perfect Match. You season them with olive oil, sea salt, and thyme, then sear quickly on both sides. The sauce is made with morel muchrooms, sun-dried tomotoes, and shallots sauteed in Chardonnay and a little butter, with more thyme. Therefore, they are ideal dining companions for a slightly buttery Chardonnay.

The main course was courtesy of BK–perfectly seared lamb served with a medley of zucchini and seps (kind of mushroom) drizzled with a bit of the Zinfandel. The wine was another older vintage from Rosenblum, one with a cult following. In 1888, a vineyard was planted behind St. Peter’s Catholic Church up in Sonoma County, within the city limits of Cloverdale, with soil of black loam and its fair share of gravel. Among the wines taken from the library, the 2002 St. Peter’s Church Zinfandel was the most expensive. Quite a splurge, but it was one of my favorites I tasted (and I was reimbursed). This time the nose brought me smoke, vanilla, and blackberry with tons of chocolate, pepper, and spice on the tongue. It was thick and delicious, and I only wish there were more.

2002 St. Peter’s Church Zinfandel, Zinfandel pairing

Last night’s member appreciation party seemed to go quite well, though I don’t have much to compare it to. At the Fogarty club events, I always had to work in the tasting room, far from the action (and the cookies). However, this time I ran a register, while kind souls brought me little tastes of library wines. I even got to slip outside once, where there was live music and more pouring stations. And at the end of the night, I had the chance to buy some of the older vintages, coming home with two of my favorites: the 2002 Rosenblum Monte Rosso Zinfandel and the 2002 Rosenblum England Shaw Syrah. Spending that paycheck before I even get it!

On another happy note, this was the first Saturday morning I’ve had free since I moved to California. The few that I wasn’t working were taken off for specific purposes, such as the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Today, however, I walked over to the Redwood City Farmer’s Market and took my time browsing through produce, flowers, and other fun items. My trip home was much tougher, loaded down with goodies such as tomatoes, squash, an olive boulot, and peaches that might make it into a cobbler later, maybe with some dessert wine.

2002 Rosenblum Monte Rosso Zinfandel, 2002 Rosenblum England Shaw Syrah, Redwood City Farmer’s Market

Yesterday I got a very exciting delivery, something I’ve been wanting for ages and finally broke down and ordered. It was “The Chosen Collection”– all 7 seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in one boxed set with new special features, interviews, etc. Now. Before you go calling me crazy either because

A) You don’t understand why I would want it in the first place…(Hey, I feel you. I was a doubter once, too, thinking it was a silly kids’ show and would ashamedly buy the dvd’s for my brother. Until I actually watched it and realized the genius of Joss Whedon and his ability to turn plotlines about vampires and demons into metaphors for life)
–OR–
B) You’re wondering what the heck this has to do with wine…

Let me explain. I had a brief moment of guilt, when I was slicing through taped cardboard, where I wondered if I was cheating. Part of the joy of collecting is the chase, the search. Whether it’s digging through dusty, unalphabetized shelves trying to find that one book of poetry or trying on 10 pairs of shoes until you find the perfect ones, there’s beauty in the act itself. Now do you see where I’m going? My little wine cooler is (over)stuffed with bottles, but most of those bottles represent memories. Some travelled with me across Mississippi and then across the country, many were bought at wineries after lovely afternoons of tasting, and some were generously given to me by friends or others in the wine biz. Some are old friends and some I can’t wait to try. (more…)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, collecting

If you have loved ones far away and would like to share wine with them, shipping is not the only answer. Good thing, because it’s illegal to ship to many states, plus there’s the extra cost and worry that the wines could freeze in the winter or cook in the summer.

I bring this up as my sweet mom called me last week, trying to be sneaky, asking what wine I would buy for someone within a given price range. Turns out, she wanted to get me a bottle for Valentine’s. Well, I finally took advantage of her generous offer, via the Bevmo website. I found the wine online, she paid, and I picked it up the next day. This could also have been done by phone, for those areas without internet-savy stores.

As for my bottle, my mom had mentioned sparkling, and I’m never one to turn down bubbles. I tried to think of something I wouldn’t normally buy myself, so I got the Moet & Chandon White Star. It’s one of those wines everyone knows, and I know I had some ages ago, but can’t really remember what I thought. Although after going to see Legally Blonde last night, in its final week before heading to Broadway (and finding it unexpectedly funny and smart), I’m thinking I should have gone for some pink bubbles. Elle certainly would….

But I’m happy with my selection. Thanks again, Mom!

Bevmo, White Star, sparkling wine, wine gifts, Legally Blonde

I am very pleased to say I just made my first online wine purchase. Though I fear this may be the start of a dangerous habit…

Our next theme for the winetasting group is Riesling, and I’ve been wanting to try one from New York (especially the Finger Lakes AVA) for some time now. I’m not very patient, and after not finding any in several stores over the past week, a rather dim light bulb went off in my head.

Lenn of Lenndevours kindly steered me in the direction of three different wineries, and I chose Dr. Konstantin Frank, as the name stood out from some of my previous reading.

Let’s just hope it gets here by next Tuesday. Otherwise, I’m pulling out my old Guntrum standby–the Yellow Fantasy.

p.s. I also added a bottle of Cabernet Franc to my order,while I was at it, for the sommelier who says she’s coming to visit me.

online wine, Dr. Konstantin Frank, New York wine