Drink Up, Chow Down

I was lucky enough to score a private tour of   Château Lynch-Bages   during my visit to Bordeaux earlier this summer. (Thank you to the Twitter-friendly staff who handle their marketing!) This Pauillac icon has been producing wine since the mid-eighteenth century and was classified as one of the 18 fifth growths in the Bordeaux classification of 1855. The Château has passed through several families since then, but has now been in the Cazes family since 1938. When visiting the Bordeaux area, it’s easy to be impressed by the ultra-modern technology, the shiny wine cellars and sparkling new vat rooms, but what impressed me most about Lynch-Bages was their devotion to preserving and celebrating the past. They’ve dedicated plenty of prime Pauillac real estate to creating a museum on their property to house their old equipment and share the winemaking stories and traditions of past generations. Their old press, sorting table and vats teach us an important wi...

Deep below the famous chalky Champagne vineyards in northeast France is where the real history of the area can be found. And, while the villages are charming and picturesque, it's the natural caves and cellars below ground that are truly astounding. Krug As a wine student, one reads about them, but now having visited them puts the astonishing terroir into a new perspective for me. They've housed secret medieval abbeys, kept soldiers safe in both World Wars, and, of course, they've allowed some pretty sacred bubbles to age in calm style. Until we perfect time travel, we only have these profound bottles to take us back into our history. At Krug , I met one of the few remaining Champagne riddlers, working quickly, quietly, in methodical and ancient rhythm. It was also here that I saw bottles that have been resting since 1880, regardless of all that has come to pass above ground.  Resting, Krug At Perrier Jouët , it was the commitment to creating ar...

I've been visiting Paso Robles on the stunning central coast of California at least twice a year for about seven years now. And each time, I discover new wineries. There are currently over 200 wineries in the area, many of them smaller boutique operations. Unlike Napa, it's still quite common to walk into a tasting room and be greeted by the owner or winemaker and have them walk you through their wines personally. There are a number of gems in the area, but this blog post isn't about those. It's about the handful of hidden spots a little further off the traditional wine trails. Our first stop? The fabulous Via Vega . Open most weekends, winemaker Larry is a legend and the reason we keep coming back visit after visit. Ask him about the Giants this season. Or anything at all, really. He's hilarious, genuine and passionate. They sell big reds for fair prices. I especially enjoy their Los Amigos and La Perla wines, and if you ask nicely, they'll even let y...

The drink of kings, the toast of queens. Champagne is synonymous with class, culture, (and a splash of hip-hop). Recently, Champagne’s shift to more accessible, has meant that actual wine lovers can savor the delicate bubbles, too. This push by Champagne houses to bring their non-vintage cuvees to the mass market really picked up momentum in the last 50 years. Nowadays, one can buy most favorites at local grocery stores. Or, head to your closest wine or even Champagne-only bar, another common sight. If you want the tiny bubbles, you don’t have to go too far to find them. But what is Champagne? Take the terror out of the terroir by knowing a few simple facts. (Also, impress your family and thank me later.) To be called Champagne, sparkling wine must be produced in the Champagne region. (Sorry, California.) Most Champagnes are made with a blend of just three grapes: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay . (Please, just don’t be that person who obsesses over the percentages of t...

Join me on my quest to drink in some of the world's most random bars. Road trippin' in Southern California? The next time you find yourself Palm Springs way and in need of a stiff one, consider heading to the incredible Ski Inn - dive bar extraordinaire, just miles from the Mexican border, in forgotten Niland, California. Wendel, tending his bar It's a good hour from Palm Springs, but well worth the trip. (There's absolutely no public transportation, so at this point, it would be a good move to make friends with a designated driver.) Continue east into the desert towards the Salton Sea , another forgotten California destination that is as eerie and unique as it is remote and surreal. You may not want to go in the water, although I'm assuming the countless dead fish will help you come to that conclusion on your own... The Salton Sea has an astounding history and is a must-see phenomenon. Something fishy, Salton Sea That said, we're here to drink...

Mixing cocktails in large quantities for party pitchers isn't always simple. The mighty Pimm's cup is no different, so here are a few tips. Go boozy! Ignore the 1 part Pimm's to 2 parts lemonade suggestions, and go with an easy 1 part Pimm's to 1 part lemonade ratio. (With a splash of ginger beer, to taste). I prefer a slightly sweeter lemonade option, like Minute Maid, and a more natural ginger beer option, like Reed's. Thinly sliced cucumbers are a must, as are mint leaves and halved strawberries.  For my my recent pitcher, I also added blueberries (1 cup), orange slices (1 orange), lemon slices (1 lemon) and the juice from one squeezed lemon.  Success!  Make sure you add enough fruit to every glass - and be sure to enjoy the alcohol-infused fruit afterwards. (Vitamins!) What are your Pimm's tips? Tweet me @LAWineGal. Cheers! 

I've said it to anyone who will listen — the  Wally's Wine  Grande Marque Champagne tasting is one of my favorite annual events in LA. And last week's fabulous event certainly lived up to that claim. They spread out a little more this year, using the pool area below the main deck, which was a great idea and meant one never felt crowded while sipping fine bubbles and nibbling decadent bites. (The good life...) And in spite of the proximity of the inviting pool to the even more inviting Champagne (and some killer high heels), all seemed on their best behavior. :) I discovered the NV Taittinger Prelude — which is an amazing NV bottle for around $80. It is delicate and refined and everything one wants in a bottle of Champagne, for an amazing value compared to vintage Champagne. Other notables were the glorious 2006 Cristal (and the amazing staff at the table who let me, ahem, sample more than once or twice...) as well as the mighty 2004 Dom Perignon . Thanks,...