Haitus & Back Again!!

Hello again. I have decided to keep doing this Blog. I hope a few people will have the time to read it and possibly learn a thing or two about medieval winemaking, present winemaking and current amazing wines.


Today's medieval wine tip: "Archaeological evidence suggests that the earliest known wine production occurred in Georgia around 8,000 BC, with other notable sites in Iran (freaking Iran, REALLY?!)and Armenia dated 7,000 BC and 6000 BC, respectively. The archaeological evidence becomes clearer and points to domestication of grapevine in Early Bronze Age sites of the Near East, Sumer and Egypt from around the third millennium BC." (Wikipedia)

Below-my dream house surrounded by very old vineyards in Aigle, France...sniff.....

Aigle, a castle in the vineyards

Set in the middle of a vineyard, Aigle town is protected by a medieval castle that has been transformed into a museum. The nearby Montreux Golf Club and Parc Aventure provide unforgettable moments.

Château d'Aigle

Surrounded by vineyards, Aigle town (415 m) is located at the entrance to the Rhone valley. Its 12th-century castle controlled the valley and the access to Pays-d’Enhaut.

Aigle Castle has been painstakingly renovated and presents the collections of the Vine, Wine and Label (of wine bottles) Museum.

Scoured by the foehn, the grapes of this vineyard are very mineral. Using fully matured grapes, the wines taste of caramel. The Aigle vineyard produces red and white wines, essentially Chasselas, Gamay and Pinot, under the controlled origin appellation Aigle AOC. (http://www.region-du-leman.ch/en/alps/aigle)


Present Life: Recently I have had the pleasure to try Stoller Vineyards Pinot Noir Rose. It is a lovely rose with hints of strawberry, rose petals, cherry and a touch of cream. However, this is not distributed outside of the tasting room unless you do an online order. Rose is absolutely amazing in the summer and pairs well with many foods (fish, veggies, cheeses, chicken, fritatta, crab and lobster and salads). If you can't try this, be adventurous an try a rose from your local wine shop! Find a knowledgeable employee to find what you like.


2011 Harvest:
I have accepted a harvest internship position with Rivers Edge Winery in Elkton, Oregon! I am very excited to work with Mike and Vonnie Landt. I start in in October.

Moved to Oregon!

We moved to Oregon to be in/closer to wine countries!! =) Not to mention moisture, more oxygen, sea level and green all year!!!

So let me know where you have been in Oregon (wineries, wine bars etc) that has blown your mind!!

Hmmm, I dont know what the heck to write

Well at least in the summer in Colorado I have no desire to drink red wine. However, I have had some good affordable whites! The Big House white blend is quite tasty and the Silverbirch Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is a great one and got great point/rating. So try one!

Rainy Wine & Mead Festival

Well it rained, but we still went. It was a good little event and I got to talk to the founder of the Colorado wine country. He was a knowledgeable and kind old Italian (I think Italian) man. I know, I am a wine squint! Shut up!

Just a little wino tip for all of you: Do not drink coffee before or during drinking wine. I forgot this since I was cranky about the rain. Coffee kills your ability to properly taste wine.....for about an hour and a half!

New Job! Wine Consultant for Baroness Wines!!

I got a new job with Baroness Wines (Colorado distributor) as a part time wine consultant. I will be working at one of their accounts which is Davidson's Wine & Liquor on Colorado Blvd in Highlands Ranch/Centennial. I will be helping customers pick wines! Also, I get continued wine training, free wine to taste and a great staff to work with. I am totally STOKED!!!!

This picture shows you the beginning of my training which is a friggn case of wine!!! Awesome......

Oh, and you can see some of my medieval influence in my furniture....but be prepared for some Renaissance Faire pictures after Sunday with Mead in hand!

Wine Homework with a Glass of Prosecco & St. Germain Liqueur....

First the tasty interesting part....I love St. Germain Liqueur. I had it for the first time in a Denver bar on Broadway.

St. Germain Liqueur is made from:
The blossoms in question are elderflowers, the man un paysan, and the cocktail a stylishly simple creation made with St-Germain, the first liqueur in the world created in the artisanal French manner from freshly handpicked elderflower blossoms. Neither passionfruit nor pear, grapefruit nor lemon, the sublime taste of St-Germain hints at each of these and yet none of them exactly. It is a flavor as subtle and delicate as it is captivating. A little like asking a hummingbird
to describe the flavor of its favorite nectar. Très curieux indeed, n'est-ce pas?

A shot of that in a glass of Prosecco is HEAVEN, and definitely helps with homework......kinda

I can't help it if my homework is RIVETING!!!!! That's right ladies, gentlemen and etc, Microbiological Spoilage of Wine and its Control.......do contain yourselves.....it's tacky to get over excited!

That's right! Cabernet Sauvignon pomace (left overs from crush, seeds, skins, stems) made into a gluten free (I am gluten free) flour!! Awesome!

I made homemade pasta for the first time. Gluten free and high altitude! Rick is Italian too, so no freakn pressure there!! There should be a bloody cooking medal for that type of cooking.

No, it's not pretty. However, it was quite tasty and my favorite color, PURPLE! =) Suddenly I want the pasta attachment for my kitchen aid mixer. You just can't get it as thin as you need to with a roller and 2 glasses of Green Truck Chardonnay in ya!! Yes, I am a little like Julia, a lot of wine for me and way less for the food!

Rick and I made a Yellow Tail Cabernet Sauvignon tomato sauce with fresh herbs from my garden. It went very well with it. OH! I also added a few drops of white truffle oil on top for some earthy decadence! Mmmmm.

Now on to mastering the thickness of the pasta!