Festive Wines and a Beautiful Gift Basket

 

Francis Ford Coppola Winery's 2012 holiday gift basket is back and more decadent than ever. It's a tongue-tingling, heartwarming, nostalgic package of goodies that makes a thoughtful gift for holiday party hosts, clients, friends, family and all wine and chocolate lovers. The basket is available onlineand includes:

· A bottle of Francis Ford Coppola Winery's Diamond Claret

· A bottle of Francis Ford Coppola Winery's new Diamond Red Blend

· A box of holiday treats: chocolate covered cherries, pistachios, salted almonds, holiday jelly beans

· The Night Before Christmas book

· A mason jar containing a winter scene: a funky snow globe-style addition to classic holiday decorations

 

 

Diamond Claret

A full-bodied and delicious red blend to welcome crisp weather and savory fall foods, such as roasted poultry and game, savory mushrooms and hearty squashes. And beautifully presented.

About Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Francis puts it best, saying the winery is “a wine wonderland, a park of pleasure where people of all ages can enjoy all the best things in life – food, wine, music, dancing, games, swimming and performances of all types. “A place to celebrate the love of life.” Among the many unique attractions at the property, Francis Ford Coppola Winery features wine tasting, two restaurants, a swimming pool and a movie gallery.

www.FrancisCoppolaWinery.com

Remember, please drink and serve responsibly.

Another Delectable Coppola Production

The time of year is perfect to discover the delightful and wines of Francis Ford Coppola Winery. May we suggest:

Diamond Chardonnay: The classic California Chardonnay offers depth, richness, distinctive spice notes and a smooth, creamy texture. It pairs well with Fettuccine Alfredo, orange chicken, and pork tenderloin with peaches: an ideal white wine to make the transition from summer fruits to fall flavors. SRP: $16

Votre Santé Pinot Noir: A wine with light, elegant texture perfect for pairing with light meats and fall pasta dishes. Intriguing aromatics of incense, cinnamon and tea leaves are followed by bright, lively flavors of red cherries, raspberries, cranberries, earthy minerals and cloves: a feast of fall’s sweet spices. SRP: $14

Diamond Claret: A full-bodied and delicious red blend to welcome crisp weather and savory fall foods, such as roasted poultry and game, savory mushrooms and hearty squashes. SRP: $18

Also try the their new Diamond Red Blend, a very delicious balance of Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot.

http://www.franciscoppolawinery.com/wine

Please always serve and drink responsibly.

 

Affordable Wines that are Music to Your Palate

 Steve Reeder (left) and musician Dave Matthews (right) share a passion for making wine at least as strong as their fervor for drinking it. Based in the lush wine region of California, Dreaming Tree Wines vows to make quality wines accessible to everyone.

As their website says, they make wines for people to drink; not for people to put in their cellars.

 Their wines include: Chardonnay, Cabernet, and Crush-- a Red Blend, of which Steve says:

"For Crush, Dave and I hand-selected a special blend of our favorite varieties to create a red wine that pulls you in with notes of smoky berry and a pop of raspberry jam. Around the dinner table or out on the patio, it’s a wine you’re going to want to share with your favorite people.” 

The Chardonnay is crisp, light (but with personality) and dry.

And here's a toast to Dodger and Moose!

http://www.dreamingtreewines.com/?month=7&day=31&year=1979&x=85&y=15

Remember, always drink and serve responsibly.

A Family of Friendly Wines, Fluent in French

Clos du Bois wines are not just affordable, they are immensely enjoyable. For example, the North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon begins with Blackberry and vanilla smokey aromas and then segues into deeper notes of Black Cherry and Roasted Coffee that add up to a sophisticated full-bodied red.

 Prefer white? Try the crisp California Pinot Grigio  with the snap of freshly-washed linen fluttering in the sunlight.

"Made in America. Fluent in French." is more than their slogan. It describes the very essence of these delightfully fluent wines.

A Wine for Every Day

Clos du Bois, from Sonoma, are affordable, stylish, luxury wines, including Chardonnay and a wide selection of varietals such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, perfect for home entertaining, hostess gifts, picnics or for a night out. Winemaker Gary Sitton is passionate about crafting wines that capture the seemingly unlimited array of flavors and aromas that Sonoma County has to offer; his passion is reflected in every bottle of Closdu Bois.

Priced between $11.99 and $14.99 a bottle, these wines are not only wonderfully tasting, they are eminently affordable. Each makes the perfect companion to a variety of foods.

 

http://closdubois.com

Please remember to always drink and serve responsibly.

Four For Dinner, or Lunch, or Supper, or Brunch, or...

Here are two delightful, uncomplicated wines to have with any meal any time you feel like it. California-based The Naked Grape launched this Fall with four easy-to-enjoy wines: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Pinot Noir is a medium-bodied, rich red with flavors of black cherry and blueberry. The Ponot Grigio is a crisp white wine with the aromas of pear, lemon and honey while the Chardonnay is a smooth white wine with aromas of pineapple and peach. The lush Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied with the fragrance of plush blackberries.

 These are wines that need no rules and since they are priced at around $9.00 a bottle, neither do you. Enjoy!

www.theNakedGrapeWine.com

Remember--always drink and serve responsibly.

Apothical

    

Here is a rich, luxurious wine that will  reward your senses with a velvety mouthfeel and smooth finish. Apothic Red 2008 California's Winemaker's Blend is a mix of spicy Zinfandel with smooth Merlot and lush, dark Syrah. There were lighter yields as a result of well below normal winter rainfall and an extended April frost that reduced quantities in many regions of California. But these conditions  were followed by an ideally mild summer and fall meaning the lighter yields and small berries resulted in exceptionally high quality of grapes of complex, concentrated flavors and aromas. Wine lover's will just enjoy the inspired taste of a truly delicious and thoughtful wine. 

 $14 for a 750-ml bottle

http://www.apothic.com/wine.html

Handy Wine Buying Guide

Good Better Best by Carolyn Evans Hammond is a handy guide to popular wines. The book is light enough to take with you when wine shopping and includes sparkling wines, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, blends, dessert wines, and many other categories.The references are quick and to the point and will help the novice and more seasoned wine shopper.  The book focuses on bottles priced up to $15.00.

Published by Alpha, a division of Penguin Group. Price: $12.95

Redwood Creek: Robust and Delightful

                       




If you are looking for an easy-priced wine to enjoy without a lot of fuss and ceremony, consider Redwood Creek Wines. This California Winery makes a point of saying their wines are rich and flavorful and more at home on a mountain top than a table top. But that doesn’t mean the taste isn’t delightful and pleasing. Choose from a velvety Merlot, a crisp Pinot Grigio, a citrusy Sauvignon Blanc or a medium bodied Chardonnay and rich Cabernet Sauvignon. Or perhaps a refreshing and lovely White Zinfandel to hurry Spring into the garden.

We tried the Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc and found both to be very pleasing and comfortable with a variety of foods. On the table outside as well as in.
                                           http://www.redwoodcreek.com/

Wine or Chocolate? Wine AND Chocolate!

Valentine’s Day often brings about a small dilemma—present your beloved with a gift of delicious chocolates or a bottle or two of delectable wine?   Nicole Hitchcock, Turning Leaf Winemaker has a suggestion—why not couple the  chocolates with wine? Here are some of her pairing suggestions to give chocolate a new significant other.

Dark Chocolate, paired with Turning Leaf’s 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon
  o  The richest of all the reds, this wine boasts notes of vanilla and brown that perfectly complement   the bitterness in darker chocolates.

Milk Chocolate, paired with Turning Leaf’s 2008 Merlot
   o  The fruitier character in this Merlot brings out the natural, bright flavors in classic milk chocolate.

White Chocolate, paired with Turning Leaf’s 2008 Chardonnay
   o  A twist on the common red wine & chocolate pairing, the acidity level in drier whites, such as Chardonnay, cuts through the sweetness of white chocolate making for a more balanced bite.

Sounds interesting and this is an idea we have been seeing more frequently—pairing chocolates with wine or fine spirits. It certainly is a way to please multiple zones of your beloved’s (and your) palate.
  
                                                http://www.turningleaf.com/