Drink Up, Chow Down

Let's face it, we're going to be social distancing for a while, so we might as well make the most of it. Here are a few picnic-friendly favorites you can enjoy outside with or without a meal. So, grab a bottle and remember to sit at least six feet away from your drinking companions. Barone Montalto Pinot Grigio, Terre Siciliane IGT You can find this refreshing tipple for under 15 bucks a bottle. It is great on its own (although some goat's cheese and crackers would be an ideal picnic pairing.) Notes of peach, citrus and mango coupled with bold acidity and a clean kick of alcohol on the finish make this wine deliciously easy to drink. And drink. And drink. Chill before serving. Bunan Moulin Des Costes, Bandol I adore Bandol wines and I'll proclaim it to anyone listening. It's one of the most underrated yet quality-producing regions in France, which means you can actually still get a decent bargain for some stellar wines. This inky beauty exudes...

It’s day 3482 of the lockdown and you’re on your 3 rd  virtual happy hour of the day. What are you pouring? Here are the lockdown lovelies that I’m enjoying this week — all from Spain, and all under $20.  If bubbles are called for (and let’s be real when aren’t they?) I’m a big fan of Cava Vilarnau .  Made with traditional cava grapes (Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel-lo) I find this energetic sparkler to be insanely drinkable with hints of pears, apples, grapefruit, brioche and wet pebbles. It’s big, bright and balanced with a refreshing clean finish. Pair with spicy noodles for a rich contrast. Fancy a big red instead? Meet the Ace Kicker , a juicy blend of Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Petite Verdot, Tempranillo, Graciano and Garnacha. This bold beauty is the perfect pairing to a cheese plate or a creamy bowl of carbonara. Gentle tannins give her a lovely chewy quality while notes of bright red fruit, tobacco, vanilla and dark chocolate round out the profile. A l...

Congratulations, you’re knocked up! If you’re like me and waiting to tell friends and family until well into your second trimester, you’re going to have to get creative with how you hide that you’re not drinking. Here are some ways that worked for me. 9. The trusty “I’m on antibiotics” excuse will only get you so far. Use it just once per social circle (although, you can use it for about two weeks, so that helps.)  8 I’m hungover! This was my favorite. You can use this one a couple times per social circle. (And if you think of morning sickness as a kind of hangover, you’re not even really lying…)  7. I’m driving! Drive everywhere so nobody can question your abstinence. If people are ride sharing, say you have to leave early so you’ll take your own car.  6. I’ll get this round! Offer to buy the drinks. Order yourself a sparkling water in a short glass with lime. Tell people it’s a vodka and soda. Boom. (If they want a sip, say you have a sore throat...

If you've read my blog before (hi Mom!) (jk, she doesn't read my blog) you might recall my love of Nino Franco Rustico NV Prosecco . It's a lively and lovely sparkler on its own, but it also makes a mean brunch cocktail, like the cherry-almond-flavored Summer Kir . So, what else can we mix it with? The leaves are turning (except in LA) and the weather is getting cooler (except in LA) so I experimented with a warm fall flavor. Presenting the Maple Cinnamon Sparkler. Grab your favorite sweater and start mixing. You'll need: Sparkling wine Maple Cinnamon simple syrup A Champagne coupe Pour the bubbles into your glass, spoon the syrup (I used a generous two spoonfuls) over it and serve with a cinnamon stick as a stirrer. Fall in a glass Why Nino Franco Rustico NV Prosecco ? It's fresh and elegant with light peach, citrus and honeysuckle notes and a wonderful creamy quality. It finishes tight and clean and it's one of my sparking go-tos....

  The Tokaj wine region is best known for its world-class dessert wines - but that's only half the story. Led by Furmint, Tokaj's dry wines are quickly gaining recognition and respect beyond Hungary's borders. I had the pleasure of tasting a dry Furmint recently: the classy Oremus Tokaji Dry Mandolas 2016. The historic Oremus vineyard has been under Vega Sicilia (swoon!) ownership since 1993 and has been producing a high-quality oak-aged dry wine from the Furmint grape. I thought this wine was a spectacularly elegant and easy sipper. On the nose, you'll find notes of vanilla, apple, white flowers and even a bit of brioche and wet pebbles. On the palate, it's a clean, zesty wine with a rich, round and surprisingly long finish. It has oodles of bright acidity and mouthwatering hints of citrus and stone fruit. Dream pairing: peel-and-eat lemon butter shrimp. Or a scallop risotto. Or a rich piece of goat cheese. Or all of the above. What's yours? Grab ...

See ya mimosa? Bye bye bellini? Meet your favorite new bubbly cocktail, the Summer Kir. Sip sip hooray! You'll need:  Sparkling wine Cherry almond simple syrup A Champagne coupe For the bubbles, I prefer the mouthwatering Nino Franco Rustico NV Prosecco . It's fresh and elegant with light peach, citrus and honeysuckle notes and a wonderful creamy quality. It finishes tight and clean and it's one of my sparkling go-tos. Founded in 1919, Nino Franco is one of the oldest estates in Valdobbiadene, and they have definitely perfected their prosecco over the last 100 years. (I used Root 23 Cherry Almond simple syrup in this recipe.) Pour a generous splash of the simple syrup into your glass, then top slowly with the wine. Garnish with a cherry or an orange slice. Repeat every day until winter... Cheers!

Livermore Valley is one of California oldest wine regions, although still rather under the radar. Its first commercial vines were planted in 1840 and nowadays it is home to over 50 wineries. One of those, the lovely Murrieta’s Well , is a true California original. I recently had the pleasure of tasting through some of their catalog along with their winemaker Robbie Meyer and my friends at Snooth . Murrieta’s Well specializes in terroir-driven, limited production wine blends that showcase and complement the Livermore Valley terroir and its many microclimates. Its first vines were planted in 1884 with cuttings from Chateau d’Yquem (see my blog about visiting them!) and Chateau Margaux (no invite yet…) The 2017 Sauvignon Blanc was a great way to start the tasting, especially in summer. Its mouthwatering minerality coupled with its floral and even tropical fruit notes make for an elegant wine, with a lovely zing of crisp acidity. A balanced beauty for sure. It was...

First of all, great name, right? Real Nice Winemakers is the brainchild of wine industry veteran Anthony Van Nice. He and his sommelier friends wanted to create wines that were truly representative of the Willamette Valley, and that also delivered great Oregon quality at a great price.  Because of that glorious trifecta of taste, quality and price (oh – and philosophy, but that’s messing up my trifecta analogy…) they’re my wine spotlight today. I dig them and I think you’ll dig them, too. They currently have two wines on the market: Black Magnolia Pinot Noir (in collaboration with Laurent Montalieu of Solena Estate) and Shallow Seas Rosé, priced around $22 and $18 respectively. I found the Pinot Noir to be elegant and light with oodles of red berries and savory notes of leather and light tannins. The bright acidity gave this wine a solid backbone, while the darker earthy tones provided for a surprisingly long finish. This wine is a prime exam...

Celler de Capçanes is hidden away about 100 miles southwest of Barcelona in the small D.O. Montsant. Originally known for their kosher wine, nowadays their catalog also includes an incredibly diverse (and delicious) selection of bottles at lower price points – and of arguably equal quality – than their more famous cousins from down the road in Priorat. Winemaker Jürgen Wagner of Celler de Capçanes Tasting through the 2016 vintage with winemaker Jürgen Wagner was an absolute treat, with the standouts for me being the four “la nit de las garnatxes” wines: the quintessential master class in terroir. Each of these unique garnachas is grown in four distinct soils: sand, clay, limestone and slate, and one can absolutely taste the difference.  The lightest of the lot, the one grown in sand, possessed a simple elegance and an almost crisp quality, while the clay version was bigger, bolder and wilder with excellent structure. Limestone was the most refined of the...

I recently tasted some of the Loveblock Wines catalog along with the winery's founder and CEO Erica Crawford. The meal was sumptuously paired by the (aptly-named) Marcel Vigneron at Wolf . Chef Marcel Vigneron Erica's passion for the wine came through even before the first sip. Loveblock is grown high above Marlborough's Awatere Valley, with Erica and her winemaker husband Kim focussing on low intervention farming to ensure the wine reflects this extraordinary terroir. And in a way that ensures future generations can enjoy this remarkable land, too. Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc Loveblock's commitment to ethical farming and viticulture even makes its way onto their bright label, reflecting the simple wildflowers and dandelions that grow between the rows of grapes. Now, let's get to the wine! 2016 Sauvignon Blanc: This old world-style beauty woke up slowly and elegantly. It is a delightfully- restrained example of a Marlborough SB, with subtle waves o...

Mexican tequila and mezcal may receive most of the acclaim - but there's plenty of great wine coming out of Mexico, too. I recently spent time in Valle de Guadalupe and can't recommend it highly enough. About two to three hours drive from San Diego, the region is exceptionally tourist-friendly with generally good roads (although a 4X4 vehicle is recommended for some of the harder-to-reach spots, and in bad weather.) Most of the larger wineries offer public tastings, but there are plenty of small boutiques where an appointment is essential. (There are over 100 wineries in the valley — and that number grows impressively every year.) If you're planning your itinerary, here are some notable standouts in the area that I loved. To drink: Vena Cava - the wines are good and the location is fabulous. (They built the winery into a cave with a boat as a roof...) Lechuza - this is my absolute favorite in the area. Spectacular wines made with care, passion and elegance....