I’ll admit it up front, I’m late with this entry (sorry Joel!). But I just couldn’t resist the topic: “choose a wine, any wine, that you love to unwind to and tell us about not only the wine but what makes the experience special and relaxing for you!” I mean, how could I pass that up?
And yet, I’m having a hard time pinning down just one wine that I turn to to unwind. My issue is, different wines exemplify comfort to me depending upon the context. So, in true Swirling Notions form, I’m going to take a simple question and make it much more complex by answering it from several different angles.
* On the First Day of Summer (Unti Rose) — Unti’s Rose is made from Grenache (and occasionally Mourvedre) grapes, which make it floral, fruity and full-bodied in a classic South-of France-meets-Dry-Creek-Valley style. On the first day warm enough to linger outside into twilight, you’ll find Christopher and me nestled in our Adirondacks on the edge of the garden, sipping this rose and drinking in the first taste of summer in utter bliss.
* On a Picnic (Preston Vineyards Madame Preston) — We take picnics seriously out here in wine country, both with visitors and on our own with our family of three. And although we experiment often with new places around the region, Preston Vineyards is like our second-home-we-wish-we-had. They’ve discontinued bocce ball on the weekends, so our trips are now much more subdued . . . except for reining Noe in with the prosciutto . . . and we’ll often just pop open a bottle of Madame Preston—a blend of the white Rhone varietals Rousanne, Viognier and Marsanne—and enjoy the laid-back beauty of the day with nothing to distract us but the bees buzzing in the lavender or the birds chirping in the olive trees.
* Eating Crab (Clos du Bois Calcaire) — Crab may not be considered your average “comfort food,” per se. But I love the way it binds everyone at the table, forcing each to slow their pace as they wrestle with the shells, humbling even the haughtiest as crab juice squirts them in the eye. And even though this is a paper-bag-tablecloth dinner, I enjoy pulling out a wine worthy of white linen; my favorite is a complex, Burgundian-style Chardonnay like Clos du Bois Calcaire. Dip a claw in lemon-butter and truffle salt, take a sip of Calcaire, and tell me you could get any more comfortable.
* Gathered Around the Fire (Forth Syrah, Hanna Sauvignon Blanc) — Our friend, Mr. Eloquent, is somewhat of a pyromaniac, which works out well on the cool summer evenings we enjoy here in wine country. We’ll gather around their fire (or our own . . . lit in a fire pit hand-me-down from, you guessed it) and often imbibe a bottle made by someone sitting in very close proximity. It could be a Cabernet Sauvignon from Mr. Eloquent’s own Nous Deux Vineyards, a Syrah from Forth Vineyards up the road, or an ever-delightful Hanna Sauvignon Blanc.
* With a Winter Braise (Clos du Bois Reserve Cabernet) — Could I prattle on about braises any more? I won’t delve too deeply into this comfort fix, since you’ve heard me talk about it all winter long. But a hearty, beefy braise with a hefty, fruity red—with a bit of spice is nice—is comfort through and through for me. I’m partial to the Braised Short Ribs with Orange and Olives paired with the Clos du Bois Reserve Cabernet from Alexander Valley. It has fine structure and ample fruit, without being too austere for this homey dish.
* With Pizza on a Weeknight (Clos du Bois Tempranillo) — I always have a hard time giving an answer to the question, “what’s your favorite food?” But truth be told, I think pizza may top the list. There’s something simple and satiating about a pizza crisping in the oven on a busy night, and the big “ahhhh” that seems to fill my body as I sink my teeth into the ooey gooey goodness of a slice. To me, these unpretentious moments call for unpretentious wines, of which our favorite at the moment (OK, it’s been our favorite for about a year now) is the Clos du Bois Tempranillo. With full flavor, solid balance and a finish that entices you to linger, it’s a perfect wine for chilling out with on a weeknight.
Check out Joel’s upcoming Wine Blogging Wednesday roundup (he’s late too . . . due to becoming a proud new papa!) on Wine Life Today.
8 Comments
Thank you so much Lia . . .
What kind of wine goes with MY favorite food? Chicken or pork tacos in “unfried” corn tortillas, homemade refried beans, homemade salsa and homemade chips.
Or do we just do beer or margaritas?
steph
p.s. Noe is adorable and so big.
Steph . . . I think I’d go with beer and margaritas as the best match with those tacos–wow do they sound GREAT! Although if you wanted to try a wine, the tempranillo that I rave about all the time would actually be a good fit. And so funny you should say Noe is “so big.” That’s just what she says herself ;-).
“So big” . . . my kids did that too, with their hands wide apart. Very cute. I miss them - the little people my older adult kids used to be. And the 6 year old . . .wow, he is growing up too fast.
As to wine and Mexican food - I was just curious because it just didn’t seem right. I think Mexican beer and/or margaritas are best.
My bro-in-law is Hispanic . . . I’ll ask him if wine is part of his culture. He is a great cook.
Hi Noe!
Great submission Lia and glad to see you on OpenWine also!
The round up is posted now and I was later than you so, to use an incredibly tired phrase, its all good!
http://blog.winelifetoday.com
Oh, and make sure you play the video while reading the summary! Cheers!
Steph . . . I think you’re right on with the margaritas and beer.
Rosemary . . . Noe says, “hi!” right back.
Joel . . . You’ve got a fantastic community there at OpenWine. I urge everyone to check it out!
Looks perfectly straight to me. Of course, I’m also the type of person who allegedly [ahem! allegedly] agree with everything.