Drink Up, Chow Down

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....

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...