*Sigh*  I swore I’d be better about blogging… but then, I missed  my week and frankly, was embarrassed that I’ve become such a bad multi-tasker.  I mean, really… how hard is it to whip up a few words about my vino adventures on a bi-weekly basis?  Especially for someone like ME… who is an incessant chatterbox by nature… you’d think that tapping away at a keyboard in a stream of consciousness would be easy therapy…

Regardless, I lagged again.  And again, I do my Joey Tribbiani finger quotes, “I’m saaawwwrreeee”.  Sad face. {if you need on refresher on Joey… click here}

Well, I only have a few posts left – it’s all coming to an end… I’m going to miss this outlet of blogging… Maybe if you’re lucky, I’ll share my Pinterest boards with you and you can follow my vino adventures in the form of pictures vs words.

This weekend {as in, this upcoming weekend… which some people might consider “next weekend”… but I feel like it’s correct to say “this coming weekend”…} will be my FINAL Jessup tasting. *Gasp*  SAD DAY.  It really is all coming to an end!

I wanted to do something a little different – my bschool friends and Tar-jay chums all know me well enough now to :: 1) know that quality time with me = quality time with vino… and 2) know how delicious and drool-worthy Jessup wine is.  It’s time to expand my horizons and reach into the pockets of my social network to introduce new people to the wonderful world of Jessup!

Turns out, my friend’s father is quite the vino lover and has a solid collection of all sorts of great bottles – young + old, near + far… and lo and behold, there was a bottle of Jessup Sauvignon Blanc chillin’ in his house.  And turns out, his next-door neighbor is a Jessup wine club member and keeps close tabs on the Napa community.  So this weekend, I’ll be bringing Jessup to Casa de Poindexter to do my final tasting in the company of my MN bestie Kaitlyn, my chum Emilie, her awesome parents, and their awesome friends.

The menu is in the works, but during our planning dinner I noticed one thing that Mark {aka Em’s pops} + I have in common :: we love to graze.  Small bites of everything + tasty vino = best. meal. ever.  So we’re forgoing a fancy pants coursed dinner and just going with really delicious, perfect pairings.  A little of this, a little of that.  Mmmmm-hmmm.

I’ll leave the rest of the deets for my recap but here’s all you need to know b/t now + then ::

• This Saturday, 7pm-ish … it’s on like Donkey Kong…
• Casa de Poindexter w/ the Poindexter entourage
• Chard | Petite Sirah | Cab Sauv | Table for Four | Zin Port –> amazing line-up, I know….
• There will be truffle involved.

Til then… I’ll leave you with my current obsessions ::

• Comique Revolution Blanc :: Cut the fluff, yo.  Or, at least that’s what the bottle says.  At under five bones a pop, this stuff is legit.  A little lighter in body than I prefer… but tasty none the less.  Peach | Honey | Apple… it’s like a Viognier w/ a Pinot Grigio body.  I like it as dessert…
• www.tastingtable.com :: not that I even need any more blogs or daily email updates to follow, but I really do love this recent find.  Food culture daily, indeed.  Now, if only they can get an Minne version going… our restaurant scene is poppin’ enough to get some national blog attention.  Sheesh.
• Vincent’s :: Speaking of Minneapolis eats, Vincent’s is a fave.  It’s across from my office and on the way towards my car, so it’s location is dangerous enough.  But then you tack on their $4 vino HH {and we’re not talking Ecco Domani Pinot… they serve legit French delights by the glass} + the best fresh baked bread on Nicollet Ave {perfect for soaking up olive juice!} + friendly bar staff and you have something called a bad habit that is just so so good.

Um… bt-dubs, I’m not proof-reading this one.  Don’t tell me about any typos, I’ll die of embarrassment.  Ignorance is bliss.  Just write me comments on how much you’ll miss my posts when I retire my bloggerdom.

Xo.

Jess

Usually I travel in the morning, but my trip to Tampa brought me to Newark Airport in NJ (just outside of NYC) in the afternoon and I headed straight to Vino Volo.  Based in the San Francisco Bay area, this company is located in many major airports and they take their wine seriously.  Current airports include this massive list:

-          Baltimore (BWI)
-          Detroit (DTW)
-          New York (JFK)
-          Newark (EWR)
-          Oakland (OAK)
-          Orange County (SNA)
-          Philadelphia (PHL)
-          Sacramento (SMF)
-          San Antonio (SAT)
-          San Francisco (SFO)
-          Seattle (SEA)
-          Washington, DC (IAD)

Straight from their website, they describe their concept as:

“Vino Volo aims to revolutionize how people experience wine. Each store is a comfortable post-security retreat for air travelers, combining a cozy wine lounge, restaurant, and boutique wine shop. Vino Volo (derived from “wine flight” in Italian) offers wines from around the world by the glass, in tasting flights, and by the bottle for guests to take home or have shipped. Operating successfully in airports across the nation, Vino Volo is the only airport wine bar and wine retail concept with a depth of experience and a proven track record.” www.vinovolo.com

I found the bartender to be extremely knowledgeable and friendly; someone you can really discuss the qualities of wine with.  The menu offers small bites that are suggested to pair with white, red and sweet wines.  The wine list is extensive for an airport establishment, offering glasses or carefully arranged flights.  Each glass or flight is served with a helpful coaster indicating the wine, cost of a bottle, country of origin, winery, grape, year, tasting notes and suggested food pairings.  Very helpful if you want to pocket this and take it with you on your trip to remember later!

Even more helpful is the fact that you can purchase bottles to go.  Before you head out for a trip, invest in a bottle you know will be good for your hotel room or resort, don’t pay the expensive fees there!  They also produce small, airplane-size bottles to purchase individually.  Now, I thought I was told that you could bring these to drink on the airplane.  The flight attendant told me otherwise, so be careful!

All in all, at the airports listed above, a good wine experience is waiting out there for you.  Bon Voyage!

I never understood this idea, and am even more perplexed in realizing this is probably a fairly old thing. According to my sources, the heart-shaped cheese hails from France. The French are pretty traditional about their food, especially cheese, which leads me to believe this notion has been around for a while. I can only imagine, a century ago, a lonely French cheesemaker pining for the lovely maiden that frequents his cheese shop. Unable to summon the courage to tell her how he feels, he whips up a heart-shaped Camembert and presents it to her, hoping his intention is loud and clear. Ah, l’amour. I personally have never tried a heart-shaped cheese. But for those of you willing to take the plunge, there is plenty to chose from that would pair nicely with a glass of Jessup wine: Coeur de Berry, Coeur d’Arras, Coeur d’Avesnes and a few American versions as well. Remember, you can always get out your heart-shaped cookie cutter and take it to any cheese you like (maybe you’ll get points for being creative too).

There is still time to take advantage of the 
Valentine’s Day Gift Pack | Jessup Cellars!

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

CHEERS!

There are, however, a few gifts that might make my wine country life more complete if I were lucky enough to have that dream come true. Here are just a few items that would be on my wish list:

• Joe Montana’s House in Calistoga. So what if it’s $49 million? The photos are incredible and for that much money it must include hang-around time with Joe and a big crew to take out the garbage.

• A pass that allows me to cut to the front of the line at Taylor’s Refresher without anyone getting mad at me.

• Speed bumps on the road in front of my house. Warning signs of mudslides, oil spills or nails in the road might do the same thing; I am flexible.

• Delivery of pastries (including those English Muffins, yum!) every day from the Model Bakery. A cappuccino, too, while we are at it.

• An instant populated wine cellar. Easily accomplished if each winery in Napa sent me just one bottle care of this blog. I promise to try it and share with my friends and family.

• A magic stop light that, once activated, would allow me to stop all surrounding traffic in order to make left hand turns onto Highway 29.

• An exorbitant offer from someone who is just driving by our house and decides they want to buy it. Then we could have a family meeting so that we could respond with an emphatic, “No!”

• The miracle wine glass repair sphere. No matter how badly shattered or chipped the wine glass is, stick the pieces in and voilà; a new expensive-looking glass.

• Karma signs out in front of the house. Instead of saying, “No Winery this Lane” or “Tasting Hours 11-5,” the karma sign would tell potential visitors whether you feel like having them or not. The sign could flash, “Sorry, Not Today,” or “Lucky You, We are Here and Feel Like It, So Come On In!”

• Every winery selling out of all the wines that they want to sell.

OK, so this list is similar to one I compiled not long ago that included motorcycles, a case of La Tache DRC and a date with Sandra Bullock. Probably not going to happen. No, NOT going to happen and I am glad for it (well maybe not the DRC part).

We are all in our own special place and that is a daily gift.  Remember that when in Napa, you are in a place that people come from all over the world to experience the gifts the Valley has to offer.

All I want is time — time with my family and friends, time to spend in wine country, and the satisfaction that this is all I need.

Cheers!

Our first stop was to a winery I had never heard of before, Mi Sueño.  We were greeted by a laid back gentleman named Tom, who showed us around the winery, opened a couple bottles and shared some great stories with us.  My favorite at Mi Sueño would have to be their Chardonnay.  I’m not really a huge Chardonnay drinker, but this was delectable!  Check out their website for the complete description, they totally nailed it.  Fun fact, the Mi Sueño winery is literally around the corner from the Jessup Cellars winery!

Another stop we made was to the oh-so-famous Silver Oak.  I had never actually been to their winery, but my Uncle is a HUGE fan of their wine so I had previously tasted it.  Let me just tell you that their latest collection of Cabernet Sauvignon‘s are something you don’t want to pass up.  We tried their 07 and 08 Alexander Valley as well as their 07 Napa Cabernet’s.  Each one is the type of Cabernet you wish you could cuddle up with and enjoy next to a warm fire.

Our last stop (saving the best for last) was, of course, Jessup Cellars.  Every time I walk in through the door of their tasting room I am reminded how friendly, happy, and inviting their staff is.  We were greeted by Bob Clark himself (finally got to meet him!) and immediately we felt like family.  Christina took fabulous care of us, started us off on the 2010 Sauvignon Blanc and led us through a magnificent wine journey to close out the night.  Even in the winter, that crisp and fruity Sauvignon Blanc makes me happy inside.  If you don’t have a bottle yet, you need to get one.  A couple others we tasted were the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2008 Manny’s Blend, and of course the 2008 Juel; which I think gets better every time I have it.

I know I talk about Jessup a lot, after all I am an ambassador, but in my honest opinion out of all the wineries we went to in our latest trip, Jessup is the only one who consistently nails it with each wine.  Their breadth of knowledge and selection are next to none, and no matter which type of wine you prefer, rest assured Jessup has the perfect flavor for it.

When was the last time you visited the Napa Valley?  Have you been to Jessup’s tasting room lately?  Leave a comment and let me know!

We’ve enjoyed having two interns for the month of January from Augustana College in South Dakota.  Read below as they share their experiences from a day of blending their very own wine.

I made my own wine today!  Bay took us to the winery, set up what looked like a chemistry lab with glasses and funnels and cylinders, and guided us on how to blend our very own wine.  We were given four different wines to taste separately – Louer Cabernet, Shooting Star Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Sirah.  We took notes on what each smelled and tasted like.  I personally put faces next to my overall feelings about each wine – … …   A very scientific system, I know.

We were given a brief write up description of each varietal and instructions as to what we were would be doing.  Bay covered the rest…so the tasting began…ok here’s what my personal thoughts were:

• Louer Cabernet =
• Shooting Star Cabernet =
• Cabernet Franc =
• Petite Sirach =

Next, Bay gave us a few suggestions as to what the proportions should be that we blend together based on our preferences of each individual wine.  He emphasized being creative and “just going for it”, so that’s what I did.  Here is a Trial 1 for your viewing pleasure:

• % Louer Cabernet = 15
• % Shooting Cabernet = 45
• % Cabernet Franc = 20
• % Petite Syrah = 20

Now the job was to use our graduated cylinders and funnels to measure the accurate milliliters of wine.  After pouring the precise proportions of each varietal into an empty glass, I took the first sip.  Hmmm…pretty tasty…A little dryer than I’d like, so Bay suggested decreasing the percentage of Cabernet Franc and Petite Sirah.  Here’s Trial 2:

• % Louer Cabernet = 15
• % Shooting Cabernet = 60
• % Cabernet Franc = 10
• % Petite Syrah = 15

Swirl, swirl, swirl…sniff….ooo la la!  Smooth, chocolate, coffee, mocha…o goodness gracious that is a beautiful smell!  Sip…well now I don’t know…not as smooth as I had anticipated and much more earthy than I can handle.  Time to tweak the measurements a little more.  Trial 3:

• % Louer Cabernet = 5
• % Shooting Cabernet = 65
• % Cabernet Franc = 10
• % Petite Syrah = 20

Hello, my masterpiece!  This one went down as smooth as silk and smelled delightful…we have found the winner!  Now time to bottle…We poured each percentage of wine into a much larger graduated cylinder.  From there, the vino went into it’s beautiful unmarked bottle.  Bay helped us fill it the appropriate amount, and then we even got to cork our own bottle!  Then came the tricky part…naming our blend.  After much thought, deliberation, and frustration I finally named my blend “Will Intern for Wine”…seems fitting for the last (official intern) day of a wonderful experience

We helped Dani and the girls in the office a little in the afternoon while it poured outside.  Later, we had the opportunity to go with Bay to an outside tasting at a hotel in Napa.  He wasn’t sure what to expect, because wineries usually don’t do tastings at this particular hotel.  I was excited to the see how this business venture would play out.  We set up shop in the lobby area and let the people come to us.  We had a great time chatting with people doing tastings and loving on Jessup’s wine…Bay provided us with much wisdom to take with us in our future.

Now time for some delicious supper…along with a glass or two of wine

Cheers!

Cork Ball by Virginia Phillip Wine Shop & Academy

Happy New Year Jessup fans!  I saw this post a while ago on The Party Dress blog.  It is a great place for inspiration for those who like to entertain.  I thought it was a very inventive idea for using up all of those Jessup wine corks (I know I have glasses full) in a way that can add interest to the wine center of your home.  This project was created by the Virginia Phillip Wine Academy located in West Palm Beach. FL.  All you need is a styrofoam ball, a hot glue gun, and a ton of corks to get started!

See the original post with instructions here.

2011 was filled with many new experiences and my Jessup Cellars involvement was clearly the brightest star in its center. Through this relationship I was given the ability to share not only my own personal love for the Napa Valley and what it has to offer but also being given their vision of what they see “in the business”. These experiences will last a lifetime….I am very lucky in this regard.

I look forward to a continued strong relationship with these tremendous people and also to enjoying more of their fantastic wines year in and year out! I am joining the Jessup Cellars Wine Club in January 2012 and I encourage all of my readers to do the same.

Since my professional life has made it difficult for me to post my regular blog here during the normal cycle in the last few weeks with the other Jessup Ambassadors, I felt strongly about writing one more before the end of 2011.

Below is the culmination of some reading and a bit more researching I did surrounding the health benefits of wine (since I like to enjoy it so much). I found it fascinating, I hope you do too!

Health Benefits of Wine

Many claims about the health benefits of wine have been made by medical experts and touted by the medical industry. How true are they?

The most famous claim is the French Paradox, which was commercialized on 60 Minutes in 1991. It was based on research conducted by Dr. Serge Renard from Bordeaux University, which is located in one of France’s main wine-producing regions. According to Dr. Renard, the French have a diet that is high in saturated fats, consuming 4 times as much butter and 60% more cheese than the average American (hmm, guess I might have some French in me?). But oddly, they suffer a relatively low incidence of heart disease compared to Americans. Dr. Renard attributed this to the ability of red wine to help prevent heart disease. (Another glass of Red please!)

Of course, there are other differences between the French and American diets. For instance, the French eat slightly less in a day than Americans do, and they consume 75% of their meals at home, while Americans consume nearly half of their meals outside the home, often at a fast food restaurant. However, subsequent studies have backed up Dr. Renard’s advocacy of wine’s health benefits. (Another glass of red please!!)

Red wine contains resveratrol, which has been shown to lower blood sugar and increase longevity in some animals, but not conclusively in humans. Both red and white wine contain antioxidants, which have all sorts of mildly beneficial effects, like improving brain function and reducing stroke risks. (Yet another glass of wine please!!!)

Additionally, numerous studies have shown a “U-shaped effect” when graphing longevity against alcohol consumption, in which moderate drinkers of 1 to 6 drinks per week were shown to live longer than either individuals who drank heavily or individuals who abstained. (I am ready for a glass of Port please!!!!)

Another report from 1998 shows that moderate wine consumption reduced the risk of stroke in test subjects. Beer and spirits did not produce a similar effect. The authors of the survey attributed this to the flavonoids and tannins contained in wine. (More plusses for wine!!!!)

While moderate wine consumption may be good for you, don’t look to wine on its own to counteract the effects of an otherwise unhealthy diet. Dr. Philip J. Goscienski points out that the French also consume more leafy green vegetables than Americans. Green vegetables are high in folic acid, which lowers blood pressure and the risk of heart attacks.

Like any alcoholic substance, too much wine can produce other negative effects, such as hangovers and liver damage. According to India Parenting, 5 glasses of wine a week has been shown to be optimal for enjoying wine’s health benefits, without overdrinking and suffering the negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption.

Lucky for me I have learned how to avoid hangovers when drinking wine…the liver thing? Well so far so good.

A Very Happy and Healthy New Year to you and your families!

Raise another glass of red (or white) and say…….CHEERS!

Here is a cute idea for a gift to pair with the perfect bottle of wine for any vinofile on your list:

Spit Bucket Essential Wine Kit

This three part kit is adorable with a set of wine coasters stating: see, swirl, sniff, sip, savor, and smile (the perfect reminders for anyone enjoying wine).  A set of three reusable wine stoppers giving you the peace sign are also included.  My favorite part of this set: the vinodote a set of cards with a tasting game that will add a bit of fun to any wine tasting or holiday gathering!  Check out more details at Spit Bucket.

My lovely friend Elizabeth hosted her first Minneapolis cookie exchange :: an afternoon fete of homemade cookies + apple cider + warm, perfectly spiced mulled vino.  Mulled vino?  I realized that I had an idea of what mulled wine would taste like, but I actually have never had any.

Her recipe was simple + delicious :: spices steeped in warm red wine with a dash of sugar.  I totally digged it.  {Dug it?  Why does that sound so weird…}  Turns out, she once spent a very cold winter in Eastern Europe and in lieu of street carts of chestnuts… they have street carts of mulled wine.  In an effort to stay warm, she stayed warm + tipsy sipping on hot vino totties.  On a 20 degree Minneapolis day… her homemade vino creation hit the spot.

I felt inspired from Elizabeth’s craftiness and nerded out a bit on mulled wine facts.  I heart Google.  Did you know…

• The word “mulled” simply means heated and spiced.  Hence… other liquids can be mulled… like AJ.
• The main ingredients are vino + cinnamon… but you can get fancy and add things like vanilla, honey, almonds, cloves, nutmeg, and even chocolate shavings {yes please}.
• Simmer down yo.  You need to keep the temperature at a nice even 160 degrees… anything over 167 will burn off the alcohol… which may or may not be a good thing for certain folks.
• Apparently you can brew a big batch and keep it on hand for awhile.  The spices act as a preservative and will keep your vino spicy + fresh.
• While it’s totes acceptable to walk around Europe with your mulled vino, you might want to be more discreet with your mulled wine roadie here in the States.

Enough mulling about mulled wine.  Here’s a fancy pants recipe from Williams-Sonoma you can share at your own Holiday Cookie Exchange.  Enjoy.

Ingredients:

• 12 whole cloves
• 2 nutmegs, cracked into pieces with a hammer
• 2 bottles (each 750ml) dry red wine
• 1/2 cup sugar
• Stripped zest from 2 oranges and 2 lemons, plus more zest for garnish
• 3/4 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 cinnamon sticks

Directions:

Tie the cloves and nutmeg pieces in a small square of cheesecloth {bt-dubs… any recipe that requires a cheesecloth instantly seems to complicated for me…}, or put them in a large metal tea ball.

In a large nonaluminum pot, combine the wine, sugar, orange and lemon zests, orange and lemon juices, and cinnamon sticks. Add the clove-and-nutmeg bundle. Heat over medium-low heat until steam begins to rise from the pot and the mixture is hot, about 10 minutes; do not let it boil. Remove the clove-and-nutmeg bundle. Keep the wine warm over very low heat until ready to serve.

Ladle the wine into cups or heatproof glasses, garnish with the citrus zest and serve warm. Serves 8 to 10.

*nom*nom*nom*… don’t be jealous that I have cookies to munch on all holiday season long   at least you can partake in my current obsession {that’s right… I only have one this week… I’m obsessing less and less nowadays…}

STACY’S SIMPLY COCOA PITA CHIPS :: soOOooOo… these things are total game-changers.  You have no idea what to expect when you see them, and then you pop one in your mouth and it’s a total flavor explosion like no other.  I discovered them during one of my Whole Foods grazing rounds and I’m totally hooked.  But get this… during another Google-nerd-out session, I discovered that Stacy’s also has GINGERBREAD pita chips.  wwwwwhhhaaaa?????  AMAZING.  How do I get these things???  Will my Amazon Prime membership get them to my door in two days???  must. find. gingerbread. pita. chips. now.

*Xo ::

Jess