A  spontaneous romp in the wild flowers with Tulip refreshes my spirit.  She hops through the tall grass like a jack rabbit and hides from me.  If she finds a low-trunked oak tree, a steep hill or a rock outcropping she climbs to the top as fast as she can.

She’s joining the Easter Parade for Dogs at Landmark Vineyards this year.  Also check out their  free concert series starting next month. Enjoy a glass of wine, play Bocce ball and picnic on their stunning grounds.

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This lovely, elegant yet comfy, tasting room is a favorite of mine. It’s the type of place where I feel relaxed as soon as I walk in the door.  The ambiance is like being a guest at some one’s French farmhouse.  As soon as I walk in, the staff members look up and smile, and I feel genuinely welcome.

Education is always top tier at Arrowood.  I find myself hanging on to every word from Raymond and Bob, two of the best wine educators in the industry.  They don’t just describe the wine they enlighten me.

A few key components to Arrowood’s philosophy…the wines taste like they just came out of the barrel, they are unfined and unfiltered, made from organic grapes (estate & sourced) and all of their wines are elegant and balanced.  They have a French influence but they balance old and new world style. I can drink every one of their wines now but at the same time, even the Chardonnays are made to age.  They still use all natural cork…the best money can buy (1st cut off the cork tree)…I am a pure cork proponent.

Upstairs, a new lounge is being designed, with a terrific view.  In just a few weeks, I’ll be able to lounge on couches and ottomans or sit at a table for two and enjoy a tasting.  Arrowood is only 30 minutes from my house, so I’m planning to join their wine & cheese educational program when it is launched later this year.  What a fab place to learn about pairing cheese!

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I’ll be visiting Landmark Vineyards later this week (first time). I’m particularly intrigued by their grounds, all the dogs in their pictures, the summer carriage rides and their on-site accommodations.  However…now I’m looking forward to their wines.

Look what I just found!  Breaking News…

Wine Spectator, March 31, 2009
03/31/2009

Wine Spectator
March 31, 2009 Issue

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Courtesy of Schramsberg.com

I enjoy an occasional glass of sparkling wine, especially with brunch or appetizers. My favorite brunch bubbly is a Napa Sunrise.  My favorite appetizer pairing is oysters at Greystone Restaurant with their Brut flight.

My new favorite tasting and tour is Schramsberg (in northern Napa County/Calistoga area).  Tour guide, Todd Pippin, massively increased my interest and enthusiasm towards bubbles (or beads as the French say).

Family and winery history is as important to me as the wine I taste.  I found myself strongly drawn into the story of the fascinating Davies Family, the eccentric Jacob Schram, the menus from White House dinners displayed in the lobby and the Robert Louis Stevenson connection. Todd’s warmth, humor and story telling ability puts him in my Top Tour Guides List.  When Todd lyrically and seamlessly quoted a lengthy, beautiful passage from Steveson’s book, Silverado Squatters during the grounds tour, I was immediately swept into the romance and history of Schramsberg Vineyards.

In the caves tour, Todd deftly demonstrated riddling; he took lessons from the famous house riddler, Ramon Viera. (Ramon’s been there 33 years and never called in sick!) Todd also showed off the mile long cave that was hand dug with picks and shovels in 1870. The last stop was the exclusive, warm, library-like tasting room with paneled doors that slid shut to create a private room.  Tall perfectly shined champagne flutes created a sense of flash and festivity even before the wine was poured.

I didn’t think it was proper to swirl a champagne flute so I asked Todd how to prepare sparkling wine to fully taste it.  He shared this tip with me.

1. Smell and sip directly after the wine is poured. (Note how it tastes.)
2. Holding the flute by the stem with one hand, gently roll the flute back and forth over four fingers (palm up) to warm the liquid (and open up the flavors).
3. Smell
4. Sip and leave on tongue for a moment.
5. Swallow.

I was thrilled to finally taste explicit flavors (honey, carmel, apple) that I had previously lost in the bubbles.

You must have an appointment to tour and taste at Schramsberg because their driveway/parking area is narrow and small (and a fairytale-like setting).  Reservations also guarantee a peaceful, educational and satisfying experience.

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Courtesy of Dry Creek Vineyards

Dry Creek Vineyard’s wines are easy to find because they make 100,000+ cases per year. When a family-run winery gets this big, important decisions have to be made…many wineries end up being sold to large corporations (Beringer and Mondavi for example).  At Dry Creek, 2nd generation owners, Don & Kim Wallace made the significant decision to not only retain their winery but to make changes that will set their wines apart.  They are now focusing on Fume Blanc and Zinfandels; they’re sourcing 100% of their Bourdeaux grapes from the Dry Creek Valley to show off the AVA’s characteristics; making small lot vineyard designated wines (an exciting trend that I’m seeing everywhere) and sourcing their Chardonnay from the Russian River AVA (which gives it a specific profile).

Dry Creek’s white wines are especially wonderful for people who want to get to know what a complex wine is all about.  My favorites for this exercise are the dry Chenin Blanc ($12), dry Fume Blanc ($14.50 and which is the same grape as Sauvignon Blanc); and a dry Russian River Valley Chardonnay with smooth creamy oak tones ($20).

The family’s other passion is showing off the Dry Creek terroir’s affinity for growing great Zinfandal. (There is a vineyard with some gnarly old vines just a few steps away from the tasting room.) The Heritage Zin ($17) has a little Petite Sirah in it which gives it a beautiful inky purple-red color. My favorite is the 2006 Old Vine Zin ($28), I’m looking forward to pairing it with food. Speaking of pairing, I bought a dry dessert/aperitif wine, Soleil, ($25) that reminds me of cheesecake. (Dessert wines are not available every year.)

You’ll find a lot of wines to chose from when you visit the tasting room and you might find crowds on a Saturday in the summer.  But if you visit off-season or mid-week you’ll be able to taste in relatively peacefulness.  (If Matthew is there, ask for him, he’s an amazing host and wine educator.)

Another plus is the picnic grounds.  You can buy a bottle or glass of wine and enjoy it under the trees.  Bring your own food!

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Courtesy of Pragerport.com

Aging in the barrel is the same thing that happens in a reduction sauce. Peter Prager

The Prager website invites guests to “come in for an informative port experience”. When I arrived at this tiny tasting room, Peter Prager (the winemaker) was casually leaning on the kitchen sink counter.  I told him that GirlwithaGlass had an appointment. He hollared up to Jeff Prager in the loft.  Jeff bounced down the stairs, in his baseball cap and pony-tail to greet me.  The Prager boys and I talked about their father (now known as Grandpa to the third generation), port making, and pairing food with port (a great interest of theirs).

If you enjoy a special, educational and intimate time with a real winemaking family, this is the place for you.  The ports are dry and food friendly with lots of perceptable flavors for easy pairing…carmel, walnuts, hazlenuts, and coffee for example. You can purchase Mom Prager’s candied walnuts to go with your port. I’m looking forward to pairing the Tawny and White Ports and writing about them soon.

Happy 100th Birthday this weekend to the founder and “Grandpa” of Prager Ports.  (He hangs out at the tasting room on weekends, so maybe you’ll get to meet him.)

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GirlwithaGlass did the food/wine pairing at a recent event.  300 people representing restaurants, lodging, wineries and other wine-related industries toured the amazing Castillo di Amorosa. Then they joined me, Amanda (a fabulous Wine and Culinary Specialist) and Trent (worked-in-wine-since-he-was-13-years-old and winemaker-to-watch) for  wine education and tasting.

The theme was An Authentic Wine & Food Pairing Experience.  I called it that because  the food was donated and then matched to the Castillo’s available wines.  I thought of it as no different then what I do when I go to a restaurant.   Everyone had a great time and loved the pairings.

Try them at home!

• Roasted pig with herbs…(mostly garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper), garlic olive oil & bread with Sangiovese.
• Potato Leek Soup (creamy and buttery) with an oaky, buttery Chardonnay.
• Aged Cheddar Cheese with Cabernet Sauvignon (soft tannins a must!)
• Aged Bleu Cheese (lighter style) with a Dolcino Gewurztaminer (my absolute favorite pairing!)
• Pinot Grigio with assorted dips and chips (artichoke dip, cucumber dip were especially good.)

There was a dessert bar with a Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon. (Tip: the best way to serve this wine is to pour a little over French Vanilla Ice Cream.) Yum!

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At year-end, my husband gives his best clients a gift of wine and/or Wine Country Chocolates. He gives me a list and a budget and off I go to wine country.  This year we gave wines from ZD.

I was delighted when one of his clients called and raved about the ZD Pinot Noir.  Interestingly enough, he and his wife were planning a wine country visit when they drank the ZD.  They were very enthusiastic about the Pinot Noir and added ZD to their list of wineries to visit.  I am delighted when I hear about a great wine experience that I was a part of!

ZD is a great winery to visit and has a terrific web site.  Tell them GirlwithaGlass sent you!

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High above Santa Rosa in Northern California, there’s a hidden winery loved by locals. Paradise Ridge is a known for its weddings, wine and sunsets.  Amanda, the Wine Club Coordinator and Culinary Specialist is one of the best wine educators I’ve ever met.  She introduced me to the concept of pouring a wine in a 375 ML bottle with appetizers or first courses.

On Christmas, we poured a lot of great wines, but this pairing blew us away.

Ode to Joy, Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, 2005 Russian River Valley. Paired with Pear & Cranberry Salad.

On the bottle, there is a dedication: In honor of Marijke Byck-Hoenselaars — dedicated to sharing the love of music, art, poetry and all things beautiful.

The property was originally a ranch where Walter & Marijke raised their children.  Marijke ran the winery until her untimely death in a car accident a few years ago.  Paradise Ridge Winery is celebrating its 15 year anniversary in May 2009. Her husband and children continue to run the winery. (Thanks to Martha who answered the phone on New Year’s Eve and gave me the history.)

Unfortunately, the 2005 is only available at the winery, put give Amanda a call and she’ll set you up with a perfect pairing for the 2007, that you can get online.

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I was fortunate enough to be invited to a participate in a short film made by Australia’s Penfolds Wine. It was filmed at Cellar360 in San Francisco.  This is my friend Nikitas and I enjoying a 14-year old Shiraz.

(The film will be on their global website in January.  Sign up for my Tip the Glass friends and I’ll let you know when it’s up!)

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