Past Tours
Palate Worthy, Wallet Friendly Wines
Even without a worldwide recession, many of us feel a pinch in our wallets in January. Not only do we spend more then usual in December, but most of us make less! It's bad enough that business seems to come to a standstill during December, but it never seems to truly wake up until March. With the economic forecast looking glum, Small Lot Wine Tours wants to make sure you do not compromise your quest to drink wines from small producers while looking for a wallet friendly wine.
This Month's Tour: Varietal is the Spice of Life!
I grew up a Navy brat. Being a military brat almost always means an adventure. One such adventure that I had as a Navy brat was the opportunity to live in the Philippines for three years. We lived on Subic Bay Naval base where I went to school on the base from 4th through 6th grade. One thing sailors are known for is picking up wives during their travels. Therefore my class was filled with kids whose mom's were from all over: Italy, Korea, Japan, and of course, the Philippines. Not only were there kids from all over the world, but from all over the US;, Virginia Beach, Seattle, Pensacola...anywhere with a coast. My three years in the Philippines were some of my happiest. I was exposed to different foods, fruits, languages and fortunately for me, I had parents who taught me to not only accept these new and different things, but to embrace them. I was raised by parents who truly believed that variety is the spice of life. This month I honor my parents by celebrating variety in wine. Believe it or not, there is more to Napa Valley then just Cabernet Sauvignon. And as wonderful as Cab is, there are some equally wonderful and interesting wines in this valley. Please come on a journey with me as we discover them.
Tour This Month's Wineries:
Graeser Winery
Verismo
Buoncristiani
Charbay
Check out food pairings with this month's wine:
Varietal is the Spice of Life Cheese Pairing
Grilled Peaches wtih Prosciutto, Burrata and Honey
Grilled Pepper Crusted Flank Steak with Salsa Verde
Piedmont Stuffed Peppers
Chocolate Tart
Zintastic!
The first varietal I fell in love with was Zinfandel. My first job and introduction to wine was with Franciscan Oakville Estate. I didn't even know what a Merlot was or what made red wine red or white wine white. Fortunately Franciscan had a large portfolio, including Mt. Veeder, so I was introduced to all sorts of varietals, including Zinfandel. The Franciscan Zinfandel was jammy, while the Mt. Veeder Zin was peppery. I loved both sides of the spectrum.
Over the years I lost touch with Zinfandel. I just wasn't enjoying them like I had ten years ago. I don't know if it was all the zins trying to behave like cabs, or the sensation of my nose hairs burning from the huge alcohol content. Whatever it was, I just didn't get Zin anymore. But then last year I attended the "Good Eats" event at the ZAP fest and suddenly Zinfandel made sense to me. The reason being is that every zin at the Good Eats event is paired with a food. When paired with food, Zinfandel makes sense. The Zinfandel seemed to make every dish taste better and vice versa. Whether a winemaker wants a jammy zin, a peppery zin, a 17.1% zin, or a claret style zin, in the end, zin needs to be with food. This isn't a new trend. This isn't something that ZAP discovered. The family meal is how Zinfandel found its way to the USA.
Well over 100 years ago Italian immigrants brought Zinfandel root stock to the states with them. They often planted the zinfandel amongst a smorgasbord of other varietals and planted what is called a field blend. The grapes were planted sort of haphazardly. They were harvested, crushed, and fermented together. However, the dominant grape was usually Zinfandel.
Sadly, most of field blend vineyards in Napa have been torn out to make way for cabernet. (Casa Nuestra owns one of the last remaining field blends in the Napa Valley). As cabernet became king, zinfandel was demoted to a mere peasant. But last year a group of Napa wineries decided to form the Napa Zin Trail to bring recognition to the family grape. And this month, Small Lots Big Wines features Napa Zinfandel and the family meal with which it was meant to be enjoyed.
This month we've created our own Napa Zin Trail:
Food Pairing for this month's wines:
Urban Wines
st people when they think of Napa think of big vineyards, large estates, stunning views and, of course, wine. Very few people come to Napa and think, “I think I’ll hit the warehouse district.” This months goal is to put that very thought in your head. The gateway to Napa (that area between American Canyon and Napa proper) is very industrial. But what we have to remember is that wine is Napa’s industry! Those “scenic” industrial parks are full of wonderful wineries. So before you venture out into the country side, spend a little time in “urban” Napa Valley. You won’t be disappointed.