Wine Tour 2010....just the beginning!

My Trip in pictures.

First Stop, Robert Hall in Paso Robles- http://www.roberthallwinery.com/

A new discovery was made here. A vintage Port, very tasty! Also a 2007 Rhone de Robles awesome! Thanks!

My friends at J Lohr! Thank you Diane for the glasses and you were right we did break one....And Jeannette was a wonderful hostess, thanks for the great pours.

The POM and the PAU Cuvee Awesome! This winery could become a habit.

http://www.jlohr.com/

 

You know the story here. Thanks again Jane!

http://www.concannonvineyard.com/

Steven Kent Winery in Livermore Valley

http://www.stevenkent.com/

Great Chardonnay, if you like the old school kind. 50% Malolactic Fermentation and oak aging gives it the creamy buttery flavors I have learned to love! And don't forget the 100% Petite Verdot big flavorful red. Then there was the Cheese....Beecher's Flagship- Washington- Cows milk. A semi hard cheese with a robust nutty flavor and a slight crumble. SO GOOD!

Thank you Patti for all your help!

If you happen to stop by and visit any of my friends tell them The Wino Sent you, Cheers!

Bitter Sweet...The discovery and the mission.

It is that time of year again, wine road trip! I have learned a lot since last years trip to the California wine country and this trip is shaping up to be the best to date. There is just one problem so far....

Last year I discovered a white wine that made me say "OH MY GOD!" yes, a WHITE wine... It was Concannon's Viognier, (Vee-Own-Yay) it was full bodied high in alcohol, it had honey suckle and peaches on the nose and totally made me think of drinking the juice from a can of peaches except without the sugar shock...SO good! My guy and I bought a bottle last trip... That was our mistake, ONE bottle! Ever since that one bottle I have been on a mission to find another Viognier that stands up to Concannon. No such luck.

Regions for Viognier: France- Northern Rhone- Condrieu

Southern Rhone- Cotes Du Rone, Costieres de Nimes

Washington State -Yakima and Columbia Valley

California- Santa Barbara and Monterey

This year our wine road trip has started up in the Paso Robles area and the Livermore Valley (home to Concannon). I have cash and I am ready to buy a case of that heavenly white wine! I know I can't believe I am going crazy for white....

Yesterday was the day and I was so excited when Jane in the Concannon tasting room poured me a taste of the Viognier....WHAT THE *&%$!*#! HAPPENED!? This was not the wine I remember! It was good....but tasted more like a Chardonnay/ Sauvignon Blanc blend....it was light and refreshing with a "hint" of honey suckle and peach....more like you took a white table wine and put a frozen peach slice in it...BOOOOO! 

I still love Concannon and highly recommend  the Cabernet and the Captain Joe's 2006 Petite Sirah, Awesome reds! Also Concannon has updated their tasting room and has a beautiful building. Ask for Jane, She has worked there for 15 years and is knowledgeable, helpful and very nice. There was no Viognier purchase this year...

 

The mission continues for a Viognier that will make me want to pray...

The Elephant....

OK there is no Elephant. I know I have been missing in blogging action....some of you may have noticed and perhaps given up on me. Please give me another chance! I am not sure why I disappeared...I have been trying to get a baking business going, http://www.shishisweets.com/ and that has been interesting and time consuming. Also I have been focusing on working out...that could change when it is too hot to move around. Also I have a new baby! Well she isn't so new any more and not such a baby at 18 months. This is Brandy.

So stinkin cute right!?

Enough of that, I will try to be here more often in the future...