LL | Saturdaze the Wine Class Way

California Wine 101

At the start of spring, I wanted to take a more “tastebuds-on” approach to my wine studies. Despite the wine books on my nightstand that were constantly reminding me of all the reading I needed to catch up on, I decided a wine class would be the perfect way to switch things up.

For $20 per person, I could taste a few selections at one of DFW’s wine retailers (a brand I used to work at). So I purchased two tickets for a popular class uncovering Napa and California wine selections and invited a fellow wine-loving friend to make my Saturday outing complete.

Here’s what we tasted:

• Titus - 2017 Napa Sauvignon Blanc | $25

• LIOCO - Sonoma Chardonnay | $20

• 16x20 - 2016 Sonoma Chardonnay | $45

• Paso Ranches - Bourbon Barrel Zinfandel | $20

• Philippe-Lorraine - Napa Cabernet Sauvignon | $30

Top three faves

• Peter Paul - Sonoma Pinot Noir | $30

• Austin Hope - 2014 Paso Robles GSM (35% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 35%, Mourvèdre) | $55

• Barnett Vineyard - 2016 Spring Mountain Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon | $90

• Giuliana - Prosecco | $17 *tasted in the store after class

Here’s a few things we learned:

• Cabernet sauvignon is the most planted grape in the world, but chardonnay is the most planted in California.

• Sauvignon blanc makes a great cheese pairing because its high acidity cuts through cheese fat and oils.

• California chardonnays are known for that oaky barrel taste, while chardonnays from other regions focus more the flavors of the fruits.

• New Mexico is another big region in the U.S. that is known for wine.

• California produces the majority (over 80%) of U.S. wine.

Tried any of these selections or taken any DFW wine classes? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

LL | Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival

Wet Yer Whistle w/ Whiskey & Wine

Ya’ll, I love me a good festival! Whether it’s Coachella in Cali or Taste of Atlanta in The A', you might find me and my crew meandering around, mixing and mingling, seeing the sights and, of course, tasting the treats.

But sometimes I just want to luck up on something local. So last year when I heard about “the most celebrated cuisine and beverage festival” in North Texas, aka the Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival (FWFWF), you know I was in there like swimwear! Needless to say, bottles were poppin’ and it was super packed, and after attending three of the six signature events, my family and I had a toasty good time.

Thinking of getting your taste on this year? Here’s some must-knows for festival first-timers.

GENERAL

• Date: Thursday, April 4 - Sunday, April 7

• Format: This FWFWF is comprised of six signature events. You have to purchase tickets for entry into EACH event — unless you rich, rich and can pay for the Weekender Pass (which totals to about $480 after tax).

• Events: 1) Tacos + Tequila; 2) The Main Event; 3) Desserts After Dark: 4) Culinary Corral; 5) Burgers, Brews + Blues; and 6) Ring of Fire: A Next Level Cookout.

• Price: General Admission, which is all that is available right now, ranges from $50 to $75 per event (without tax). All Early Entry tickets are sold out this year, however, the Weekender Pass grants early admission into all six events.

• Time: Some events are at held night, with times ranging from 6 - 11 p.m., while others are held during the day, with times ranging from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

MY 2018 EXPERIENCE - 3/6 EVENTS

The Main Event - Friday

This is the FWFWF’s largest and most expensive event - with General Admission tickets sitting at $125 a pop. Although I’m virtually poor and wasn’t blessed with a sugar zaddy to silently fund my expensive taste, I really wanted to attend this event and just happened to luck up with Early Entry tickets from work. Can we say stoked!?

Upon arrival, there was a wait, but as soon as we got inside, my mother and I grabbed our branded plates and glasses and started making our rounds. Our first dish, Filet Mignon & Lobster from Bob’s Steak & Chop House, set the tone for a high-caliber experience, and at every turn, there was wine to be had.

Selections we really liked:

• Neyers - Chardonnay

• Torres Familia - 2012 Altos Ibéricos Reserva

• JP. Chenet - Rosé Dry

• Puramun - 2016 Chardonnay

• Sterling Vineyards - Blanc de Blancs

Desserts After Dark - Friday Night

Once we left The Main Event we went straight to Desserts After Dark to get our sweet tooth fix. The space for this after-hours event was so nice, complete with warm fire places and accent whiskey barrels. I can say it was the perfect way to end the night. Desserts galore and whiskey-infused drinks were abound. If you’re not a big whiskey fan, you might lose interest in the mixed drink offerings after the first or second drink, but I was surprised at how much I really liked the few that I tried. Although I can’t remember ANY desserts that I didn’t like (they were all scrumptious), here are a few honorable mentions:

• TX Whiskey - Pineapples Upside Down Cake

• Stir Crazy - Chocolate Cupcakes

• Gold Ribbon Confections - TX “Dugout” Pie

Rise + Dine (now branded as Culinary Corral) - Saturday

Brunch is my favorite mealtime, so of course I was feelin’ this event. Although somehow someway I missed the mimosa bar, I can say it was pretty fun and the food and drinks were really tasty. Foodwise, there were several interesting dishes, including Fried Duck and Waffles from Bonnell’s Restaurant Group and escargot garnished with egg and pesto (from a vendor I can’t remember), as well as some delicious mixed drinks.

Favorite sips:

• Effen Vodka - Cucumber Vodka Spring Morning Fizz

• Beso Del Sol - Pink Sangria & White Sangria

• J - Brut Rosé

• Gruet - 2012 Gilbert Grand Reserve

• LangeTwins - 2017 Estate Grown Moscato

OTHER COMMENTS & CONCERNS

My only greedy-girl complaint was that I didn’t get a full-on “happy ending.” For the price of these tickets, I kinda expected to return home super stuffed and super buzzed, but that wasn’t really the case. So in a way, I almost felt like I could’ve taken the money I spent on tickets and had just as good of a time at another wine venue or restaurant — but then again maybe I’m just fat and like to eat.

Another somewhat inconvenience was that some of the events were extremely packed and not as easy to navigate through. For one event, the weather was pretty sucky and a lot of the vendors that were supposed to be outside had to be relocated inside, further congesting the space. In future years, I’m looking forward to it expanding or using bigger venues with more space for patrons to meander around and new vendors to showcase their offerings.

All in all, my family and I had a lot of fun! Although The Main Event was my ultimate favorite, this year I plan on only attending the newest event, Ring of Fire: A Next Level Cookout.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS YEAR

If you are thinking about going this year, I would recommend attending at least one of the following:

• The Main Event - Friday Evening, April 5

• Culinary Corral - Saturday Morning, April 6

• Burgers, Brews + Blues - Saturday Evening, April 6

• Ring of Fire - Sunday Afternoon, April 7

And if you decide to go, be sure to leave a comment below!

WW | 2018 Favs

2018 Was a Doozie. Good Thing There Was Wine

I know it’s March, dang near April, but I thought, “Why not start with a list of some wanders from 2018.” Technically, we’re still fresh into the New Year - since January and February were just practice months, am I right!? So if you are looking for some good finds to celebrate the spring try these out!

*Disclaimer: I couldn’t wait to officially review these selections (hangs head in shame), so this is a short list. However, they were delicious, and that’s motivation enough to share.

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Gruet Sauvage — Blanc de Blancs

• Origin: Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Type/Blend: 100% Chardonnay

• Alcohol Vol.: 12.5%

• Taste: Sparkling, dry, clean

• Flavors: green apple, lemon & grapefruit

• Retail Price: $20 | I Paid: $7.29 (on clearance)

Fun Fact: “New Mexico now has more than 60 wineries and produces 900,000 gallons of wine annually.” (Carpe Travel)

Seven Daughters — 2017 Moscato

• Origin: Piedmont (region), Italy

• Type/Blend: Moscato, 100% Muscat

• Alcohol Vol.: 7%

• Taste: Fresh, fruity, bright

• Aromas: Peach, honey

• Retail Price: $14 | I Paid: < $14 (on sale)

Fun Fact: “Muscat is the only fine wine grape that doubles as a table grape.” (Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association)

Rinaldi ReDream — Malvasia Frizzante

• Origin: Piedmont (region), Italy

• Type/Blend: Red Wine, 100% Malvasia

• Alcohol Vol.: 7%

• Taste: Pleasant, sweet, frothy

• Flavors: Honeysuckle, raspberry, citrus, cherry

• Retail Price: $20 | I Paid: $20

Fun Fact: “The [frizzantes] have small, light bubbles which are much lighter than those you will find in other sparkling wines like Champagne or wines made using the Méthode champenoise.” (LoveToKnow)

Jade Cove — 2016 Sauvignon Blanc

• Origin: Marlborough (region), New Zealand

• Type/Blend: Sauvignon Blanc

• Alcohol Vol.: 13.0%

• Taste: Crisp, Dry

• Flavors: Citrus, tropical fruits

• Aromas: Honey, guava, lemon, dried herbs

• Retail Price: $12 | I Paid: $12

Fun Fact: “Due to its location, New Zealand vineyards are the first on our planet to see the sun each day.” (Grape Collective)

W.B. Bridgman — 2016 Riesling

• Origin: Yakima Valley (region), Washington

• Type/Blend: Riesling

• Alcohol Vol.: 12.1%

• Taste: Crisp yet perfect balance of sweet & dry

• Flavors: Mangos, peaches

• Aromas: Peach, floral

• Retail Price: $14 | I Paid: > $14 (on sale)

Fun Fact: “William B. Bridgman was one of the first to plant wine grapes in the Yakima Valley.” (Precept Wine)

Cuttings — 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon

• Origin: Oakville, CA

• Type/Blend: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon; 20% Blend of Petite Sirah, Syrah and Zinfandel

• Alcohol Vol.: 15.4%

• Taste: Deep, rich, complex

• Flavors: Blueberry, dark cherry, cocoa

• Aromas: Fresh roasted coffee, black currant, vanilla bean, brown spice, wild berries

• Retail Price: $55 | I Paid: $13 (on clearance)

Fun Fact: “Inspired by the age-old method of using cuttings from idyllic sites for the propagation of new vines, this Cabernet Sauvignon showcases some of our favorite hillside vineyards.” (The Prisoner Wine Company)

Are you itching to try these sips? Let me know your thoughts.