"Zin-fully Delicious" Fair Oaks Ranch Zinfandel, 2012

Let me start off with saying that while Fair Oaks Ranch Zinfandel may not be the absolute best in the world, but, it is quite scrumptious, especially on a rainy Wednesday, Spring night in May. It was also delightful in a warm early Spring night in March. The truth is, this zinfandel is surprisingly perfect for a light toast or simple,  sipping, splendor.
Light, with buttery tones merge with a light tannin essence. Breathe in the fruity bouquet, and let the garden hues take you away with just enough oak to bring you back down to earth. Light, gentle, mildly-dry and perfect for one of those nights when you are not in a bold-red mood or seeking something other than a cool-white.

Cheers!

Fair Oaks Reserve Zinfandel

Winery: Fair Oaks Ranch

Varietal: Zinfandel

Region: USA » California

Cost: between $9 and $15

Online Wine Merchants; A World of Wine at Your Doorstep

When it comes to loving wine, there is absolutely nothing more fantastical than receiving a shipment of wine to your door. It is like Christmas morning and Santa Claus is a vintner. 

We have found that the opportunities that online wine distributors provide wine lovers with a plethora of opportunities to experience a world of wine in the comfort of their your home.  It is very frustrating to stand staring at wall upon wall of wine in stores only to leave even more frustrated over having 1) paid too much 2) dissatisfied 3) wanting to venture out into new varietals but, confused as to what to buy. Imagine the fun you could have by hosting your own monthly wine tasting. Invite a few friends or family members over and experience the newest shipment together.  What better way to learn the lingo by comparing and contrasting varietals and yes, have fun. Another major plus is that you will not spend more than $50.00 for a great night of wine tasting. I once asked a sommelier "what is the best way to become you?" To which he replied; "Just start experiencing wine." 

Thus far, we have enjoyed four different wine merchants. We have acquired a wonderful selection that we will continue to share with you over the next few months. There are a couple wine distributors that we have on a waiting list, but, for now, we are quite pleased with the four that we will share with you. Admittedly, we owe our new wine tasting adventure to Groupon. All but *one* of the wine distributors was through Groupon.  The rest is history. Let's explore shall we? The world of wine is right at your doorstep!

Heartwood & Oak offers either wine by the bottle, specially selected cases of red, white or mixed and also a wine club. Enjoy wine packs from $79 for 6 bottles to $149 for 12. Heartwood and Oak also offer occasional deals whereby you can choose your favorites from the hand-picked mixed cases. The deal that we obtained from Groupon also gave a generous $50 voucher to be used towards your next purchase. The one downside to Heartwood and Oak is that I have yet to see a free shipping offer. The wine selections have been wonderful and we have yet to uncover a distasteful wine yet. Toscana Red, Columbelle French White are a couple of my favorites and we both enjoyed Fair Oaks Zinfandel. 


Splash
My relationship with Splash Wines began with a Groupon special, 15 bottles of wine for $69 (plus shipping and handling). This particular collection was called the Wine Discovery Pack, and it has been delightful. I recently wrote about the Mare Vine a delightful red from Portugal.  As a way to say thank you Splash contacted me and offered an additional special 15 bottles for $98.00 (this was the total price!) For the most part, the second shipment was delightfully different from the first collection.


Wine Insiders 
Another Groupon deal brought 12 glorious bottles of incredible red wine to my door for the low price of $79 (shipping extra). We have thoroughly enjoyed Burke Family Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2013 Monarch Glen Merlot to name a few. So many wines, such little time. From Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay to Pinot Noir, Italy to Argentina and all the way to New Zealand, Wine Insider has a world of wine waiting to tease your tastebuds. 




*Virgin Wines*
Virgin Wines is the one online merchant that was not obtained via Groupon. As I began exploring some of the wine clubs and mixed pack options, I decided to give Virgin a try. There were many others, such as WSJ (Wall Street Journal) and a couple of others, and then I realized that depending upon where you live determines which distributor will be your provider. It is quite okay, as the selections are outstanding. Along with the glorious reds that I ordered through VW, they did something that I think goes along very well with a budding sommelier, they provided wonderful tasting note cards. I have yet to sample any of the delicate reds that came with my order, but, I have this sense that they will be sublime. Imagine receiving award winning wine, delivered to your door for only $69 (plus shipping and handling)? Needless to say, I am really looking forward to a summer of wine tasting parties and sipping through some spectacular summer nights.

Go ahead and splurge and while you are at it, save yourself some significant dollars on the fruit of the vine. Imagine all the tasteful soiree's or romantic dinners, picnics and yes, cookouts you will enjoy this summer. You will be the most impressive host/hostess on the block.

Special tip: An additional plus to investing into the variety of online wine merchants is that you always have last minute host/hostess gifts on hand. What better way to say that someone matters than to gift them with a beautiful bottle of wine?
Cheers!

Mare Viva, Living Water...Portuguese Red

How can I not begin this vignette without making a reference to "Water into Wine." Many Christians believe that He is living water, cool refreshing water. So it is with the Portuguese and their 1,000+ years at perfecting wine.  I salute you all with a glass of Mare Viva red wine. Smooth, with a little bite, yet, flavorful, subtle buttery taste, intermingled with fruit and closing with a nice dry finish.

This is one of my acquisitions through Splash Wines a fun family operation that believes in sharing what their family has come to love after many years in the business. What better way to toast with people around the world than vicariously through an online wine distribution, service? I look forward to bringing you more of my Splash collection in coming "vignettes." 

“his lips drink water, but his heart drinks wine” 

― e.e. cummings     

  

A Mother's Day rose_Franciscan Merlot

A nice Franciscan Merlot as only Copper Rock can serve! So much wine... So little time

Boroda Founder's Wine Cellar

"What is the definition of a good wine? It should start and end with a smile." William Sokolin

Cheers from Mary  E and Roxanne. The day started out with just a simple, "what shall we do today" and ended with, let's go up Red Arrow Highway! Our travels brought us to the wine trail and Boroda Michigan, home of Boroda Founder's Cellar. It was a great way to kick off a Saturday girl's day. In all honesty, (and this is nothing against the vintners in Michigan, Illinois and Indiana) I cannot make myself really like Midwestern wine. It lacks the fortitude and umph that I have come to appreciate. The quaint aspect of a local winery is the endearing aspect of a wine flight at Boroda, but, aside from that, let's just leave it as "quaint."

There is one exception to this Michigan winery rule and that is "White Pine Winery."  
"The discovery of a wine is of a greater moment than the discovery of a constellation. The universe is too full of stars. B. Franklin, 1700's"

Vino Vignettes

A vignette is a "brief evocative description, account, or episode." So it is that I invite you on my journey through the vineyard of life and enjoy the escapades through wine, champagne and general  sipping splendor. I will bring you a variety of wine as experienced first hand and with grand enjoyment.

By the way, I love to take pictures of light reflecting through the glass...a little eroticism or little wine porn you might say.

Move over Martini, Tini-Apple Pie Is In Season!

Steve and I went apple picking yesterday at Twin Maple Orchards in Galien Michigan. We had a wonderful time! The weather was absolutely perfect there was an abundance of apples and friendly people all there for one purpose to walk among the apple trees. Whenever I pick apples directly from the tree, I cannot help but think about the poem by Robert Frost,  ¨After Apple Picking.¨ The beautiful sentiment in the poem speaks to the time in our lives and during the year when we settle in and rest by fireside as we slip into our winter slumber.

There is a wonderful reference in poem where it speaks to the bruising of apples and how basically nothing is wasted. ¨No matter if not bruised or spiked with stubble,

Went surely to the cider-apple heap.¨ 

As we were waiting for our ride back on a hay rack pulled by a small tractor, the string on the bag broke and apples rolled away. Steve refused to let those that bruised to go to waste, so we picked up every apple that rolled away. He kept every apple he picked on his picking journey. As we returned to our house we separated those that were bruised from the perfect ones. I immediately started thinking about all the things I could do to put the bruised, the ones that should be outcast, how could I turn them into glorious treats to be enjoyed by fireside. It is then that I came up with it. Tini-Apple Pie, or Apple-pie-tini. I give you mixology of the year! 

3 apples peeled, (bruised are perfect) cored and sliced
1 tsp of lemon juice
1 tsp of simple sugar syrup
1 shot of Premium Ketel One Vodka

Place all of the aforementioned ingredients into a blender. Puree all of the ingredients until they are as smooth as possible. Slowly separate the juice of the puree from the puree. Set the puree aside for either making a cake, freezing for an apple sorbet, or eat it straight as apple sauce. 
You will attain about 8 ounces of pure, fresh apple juice. That juice will be the very thing that sets the ¨tini¨ into huge! 

Apple pie version or the girlie version: 
3 ounces of premium juice
1 tsp of simple sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla 
1/8 tsp cinnamon
2 oz. Premium Ketel One Vodka
Ice for shaking 
Pour it all into a shaker, shake it as you would a martini, pour into chilled martini glass and serve! OMG! it is liquid apple pie! 

Apple Pie-Tini or should I say a Robert Frost! 
3 ounces of premium juice
3 shots Premium Ketel One Vodka
Ice for shaking 
Pour all of the aforementioned ingredients into a shaker. Pour into a chilled martini glass and serve! Just the right fruity taste and enough wow to keep you warm through a cold autumn night!