"Are Those Stars In Your Eyes?" No, just a star in my wine.

"There is no need to wait for darkness to appreciate the stars. For even in the brightest day they still twinkle above you. If you have to see to believe, then you don't understand the universe." Mary E. Rapier

This wine star was reflected by a nice Dona Paula Malbec  last night while enjoying an stellar dinner at Skip's located in New Buffalo Michigan. Skip's is a nicer, fine, yet casual dining experience just on the edge of New Buffalo as you are heading up the Red Arrow Highway. You will not want to miss out on their Rib Eye special. Wonderful food, service and atmosphere.
They also have a wonderful outdoor European Market on Saturdays and Sundays from May to October. A great way to spend a weekend. Don't forget to keep exploring up Red Arrow Highway.

Shady Creek Winery, Michigan City Indiana

“I feast on wine and bread, and feasts they are.”

Michelangelo (1475–1564)

This past weekend Steve and I attended the Taste of Michigan City. It was a nice normal community affair. It did a great job of introducing locals and summer tourists to some of the wonderful things this lakeside community has to offer. One such gem is Shady Creek Winery. I have to admit that I have heard of the winery, but, have never visited as I have found local wineries that offer wine tastings to be a bit of a disappointment. Although they might be nice when you stumble upon them, seeking them out is not my cup of tea, or glass of wine if you will. Also, I have found that Midwestern wines leave me feeling that a great grape was probably wasted in the making of said wine. 

Well, all that changed yesterday. Steve wanted to sample a local brew and asked if I would like a red should they have wine. Sure, why not, who am I to pass up on a gentlemen offering me a glass of red? He came back with a local red wine. I found that I really enjoyed it, despite it being served in a plastic Dixie cup. I inquired and discovered that it was from Shady Creek Winery in Michigan City. The volunteer for the Taste clearly loved spending time at Shady Creek and suggested that we pay it a visit. So, we did...right away. We left the Taste and traveled 4 short miles down Highway 12 to Indiana 212 to Tryon Road. A lovely establishment in the middle of the country. 

Steve and I found it to be a very friendly, welcoming  place. Not only is the venue comfortable and cheery, the staff truly loved what they do. Tyler took over our tasting and entertained us with stories of the Winery. He shared information such as where the grapes come from and how the winery came to be. Most notably, I discovered the reason why I favored Shady Creek wines over other local wines and that is because a predominance of the grapes for the red wine come from California. So, bring together great winemakers and great grapes and you get a great wine. 

Our favorite of the 6 wines tasted was the Syrah, with grapes from Lodi.So, we lift our glass to Tyler, and the crew for a wonderful Saturday afternoon. We are looking forward to our bottle of Syrah and are certain that Shady Creek will become one of our favorite places to just sit back and relax. We will be back! Cheers! 

"Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance." --- Benjamin Franklin

Shady Creek Winery

2030 Tryon Road

Michigan City, IN 46360

219-874-9463

Sol y Luna Cabernet es Muy Bueno

"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth." Buddha

After a long walk along the Lake Michigan shore and driving up Lake Shore Drive, one cannot help but feel the connection to the earthy reality that Sol Y Luna delivers to the palate. Unexpected connection to the experience of the day. Cathartic really. Watching the sun slowly setting over the west and witnessing the moon rise over the east all before the first glass careened down our throats brought the oak, yet buttery smoothness to rest in the underbelly. 

Sol Y Luna es muy bueno indeed. This Cabernet Sauvignon was acquired through Splash Wines and comes to us from Curico Valley in Central Chile.

Champagne Reflected In the Glass...

“There comes a time in every woman's life when the only thing that helps is a glass of champagne.”  Bette Davis

No major words or prose, just a cute little celebration upon our late night arrival to Poughkeepsie to begin yet another chapter in the life of two who found romance in the most unlikely of places. In keeping with the theme of "Vino Vignettes," We lift and toast to Champagne Reflected in the Glass. 

The bottle of LaCantera Carinena Reserva 2006 was the first bottle of wine that we sampled from our Virgin wine club shipment. It was late and we were just looking to wind down after a very long drive. I was ever so delighted to have brought a couple bottles with us on our trip. Immediately after opening the bottle we poured and didn't give it ample time to breathe. The first sip was a bit metallic in taste, but, as my experience shows, that is typically because it needs to breathe. After a few minutes, I resumed my sipping to discover a very fruity, dark fruit, black raspberry with a hint of plum, swirled with a very smokey fine cigar finish in the back of the throat. It was delightful and as you can see by the Champagne reflection that he was in fact very pleased with LaCantera Carinena, Reserva 2006. This wine is rated at 87 points and while some complaints were found online, most were favorable just like ours. 

Geja's Big Bold Red, 2012

"A person with increasing knowledge and sensory education may derive infinite enjoyment from wine."  - Ernest Hemingway

Geja's Big Bold Red, comes to us from California. A private reserve, and grown out of a world-famous vineyard guarantees that you will experience over 40 years of wine making expertise with each sip. This hard to fine vintage is of the rare red blend (a blend of unusual, or rarely seen blends of grapes) is a special treat when you happen to come upon it. The average price is around $15 and is typically more affordable as well as available through one or more of the featured wine delivery services that are highlighted in this blog. 

In the mean time what does this flavorful wine mean for you the wine lover? Well, it brings you a bold, yet light, dry wine. The first sip leaves your tongue tantalized and right on the edge of sensory overload. 

A rich claret color. At first you sense a smooth, caramel, buttery essence, it the bouquet, then it quickly moves into a dry, dark cherry swirl on the palette finishing with a burst of earthy florals. 

(Steve's response: ¨It isn't like many of the other reds that we have had, it is like being covered with a warm blanket, that cozy feeling, when you just settle in.)

Pairing: Personally, I believe this would be perfect with an intense French bread, a variety of cheeses, followed up with high quality dark chocolate. Is it possible that there is a connection between this Bold Red and the world-famous Geja's Fondue Restaurant in Lincoln Park, Chicago Illinois?

Be ready to have your senses awakened and your body, mind and spirit, blanketed in comfort as Geja's Big Bold Red lingers on your tongue and fills up your senses in a very dynamic way. 

Wine Has Its Benefits...Cheers!

“Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.”

-Benjamin Franklin

From Harvard studies to the American Heart Associations stamp of approval; the benefits of moderate wine drinking can make a difference. So, grab your favorite Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet and proclaim, CHEERS!

Benefits for Diabetics: Israeli researchers discovered that when diabetics consumed a glass of red wine every night they reduced bad cholesterol and protected their overall heart health.

Go ahead and Live Longer: A Finnish study over a 29 period of time Wine drinkers have a 34 percent lower mortality rate than those who consume beer or other alcoholic beverages. 

Reduces the risk of heart attack and heart disease: A 16 year study by Harvard studied 11,711 men. The published research indicates that moderate wine drinkers suffering from high BP are 30% less likely to suffer heart attacks than those who do not imbibe.

Where your grapes come from makes a difference so it seems. Red wine tannins provide procyanidins which are prove to protect the human heart from disease. Researchers at Queen Mary University in London published research. Hint: Southwest France and Sardinia has more procyanidins that other wine locals. 

image:fringewine.blogspot.com

Wine drinkers have a lower incident of cataracts. Researchers in Iceland found that moderate drinkers have a 32% lower risk of cataracts than nondrinkers. Those who consume wine are 43% lower incident of cataracts than those who drink beer. uts Risk of Cataracts

Lower your risk of developing colon cancer! Moderate consumption of wine, in particular the red varietals cut your risk of colon cancer by as much as 45% according to researchers at Stony Brook University. 

Keep that brain active! Columbia researchers discovered that brain function in moderate drinkers does not decline as quickly as nondrinkers. So, go ahead grab a nice pinot noir from the South of France, pick up a little crossword puzzle and keep that brain power going strong. 

Great Glass of Wine: It is reflected in Wine Art

“Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.”  Ernest Hemingway 

How do you tell of it is a great glass of wine? Well, it is all in the reflection, of course. #wineart. Try it, you won't regret the experience. Aside from the glorious images that dance upon the table, you do not experience this until you have imbibed in a few succulent ounces. One, you know you enjoyed the wine because you want to see it dance in the light. Two, you know it was good because you want to linger in the full sensory experience. Wait til you see the rainbows and orbs that white wine creates.