Hi Tourers and Tasters! Happy Monday! In the holiday spirit, we thought it would be fun to ring in this mid-December week with a wine quiz! How much do you know about wine?
A. How many gallons of wine are produced from one acre of grapevines?
B. How many calories are in a four ounce glass of red wine?
C. How many grapevines generally make up an acre?
Post your answers to one or more of the questions in the comment section below!
Two very different wines were on our table last night--the first is going to be in one of our wine clubs: the Pessagno Lucia Highlands Vineyard Pinot Noir, and the second was in one of our wine clubs: the Hannah Nicole "Le Melange Blanc". The Pinot won 92 points from Wine Enthusiast, which said "This sturdy, full-bodied Pinot could almost be a Grenache, it's so big and strong. Yet, strangely, there's a silky elegance that tells you it's Santa Lucia-style Pinot. Offers waves of raspberries and cherries and oranges, brightened with zesty acidity." It bolsters our view that wonderful wines are coming out of the Monterey County--nuanced with flavor. I tasted a bit of strawberry in the mix of rich fruit--did you taste this wine as part of your wine club? We'd love to hear about your tasting notes!
The "Le Melange Blanc" is from Contra Costa county--east of San Francisco bay and is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. I loved the aromatics from the Viognier and the light, unoaked flavors of the Sauv Blanc fermented in stainless steel. Both wines went well with asian-style fish, seared and served with wasabi slaw, jasmine rice and Chinese pea pod salad with miso dressing and sesame seeds.
Touring & Tasting -- The Premier Guide to Wine Country -- is happy to announce that our brand new Spring 2012 Edition will be on newsstands next Tuesday, December 20, 2011!
We wanted to give you, our loyal blog and social media followers, a sneak peak at the beautiful cover that will grace newsstands through May of next year.
In this edition we introduce new sections, including a feature on the famous Languedoc-Roussillon region of France. And we've discovered a fantastic way to tour and taste there--on a self driven, luxury cruise boat!
Editor in Cheif, Wendy van Diver, also explores in depth, the Willamette Valley wine region of Oregon, in her Editor's Tour and has many recommendations for places to visit there! In fact, CLICK HERE to enter our "Spring 2012 Editor's Tour Sweepstakes" for a chance to win a fantastic two-night stay at The Allison Inn & Spa in Newberg, with a Tasting Passport for free tastings at all the Willamette Valley, Oregon wineries featured in this new issue! You are the very first to hear about the new sweepstakes, so ENTER TODAY!
We hope you enjoyed the preview of the new issue, but we couldn't give it all away :) Check your local newsstands on December 20, 2012 for the Spring 2012 Edition of Touring & Tasting! The digital version will be available shortly after that -- don't worry, you'll be the first to know :)
Have you enjoyed a wine from any of our recent wine club shipments or from our wine store recently? Send us a glowing review of one or more of them and you will be entered to win two bottles of sparkling wine--just in time to celebrate the holidays!
The winner will be drawn and the shipment mailed on December 15th--so email us today with your review (photos appreciated also).
Our Touring & Tasting elves are working hard to get the wine gift baskets sent by Christmas! We have new gift baskets this season, stuffed with yummy wines like the 92 Point 2007 Calcareous "Twisted Sister" Syrah, freshly baked wine biscuits from Los Olivos, organic roasted pistachios from Santa Barbara Pistachio Company and other gourmet treats! Order by December 15th for Christmas delivery and free shipping!
I waited 'til I saw the sun I don't know why I didn't come
I left you by the house of fun
I don't know why I didn't come
I don't know why I didn't come
When I saw the break of day
I wished that I could fly away
Instead of kneeling in the sand
Catching teardrops in my hand
My heart is drenched in wine
But you'll be on my mind
Forever
Out across the endless sea
I would die in ecstasy
But I'll be a bag of bones
Driving down the road along
My heart is drenched in wine
But you'll be on my mind
Forever
Something has to make you run
I don't know why I didn't come
I feel as empty as a drum
I don't know why I didn't come
I don't know why I didn't come
I don't know why I didn't come
Today in the Touring & Tasting office, we had the opportunity to taste a new wine! entwine is the result of merging Wente Vineyards, the country's oldest continuously operated family-owned winery, and The Food Network, a popular network, magazine and website. This new California line emphasizes the way family, friends, food and wine all come together to make a meal more than just a meal, to make it an experience! Make sure to check out the interactive website dedicated to entwine!!
This afternoon in the office, we tasted the 2010 Chardonnay. The chilled wine is perfect on a hot day like today! The wine has a lovely nose and is crisp with flavors of apple and pear with just a touch of oak. It's cool and refreshing!
My favorite part? The food pairing suggestions on the back! Gourmet suggestions of goat cheese or roast chicken alongside easy, familiar suggestions of potato chips and grilled cheese!
I can't wait to try the other 3 wines in the line, the Cabernet Sauvignon, the Pinot Grigio, and the Merlot!
Have any of you tried entwine yet? Let us know what you think!! Post pictures of yourselves drinking entwine on Touring & Tasting's Fan page or email them to katie@touringandtasting.com and be entered to WIN in our weekly wine contest!
I lost all of my vanity when I peered into the pool
I lost all of my innocence
When I fell in love with you
I never knew a man fall so far until I landed here
Where all of my wounds they turned into gold when I kissed your hair
Now come to me Hannah
Hannah won't you come home to me
Hannah won't you to come home to me
And I'll lay down this bottle of wine
If you'll just be kind to me
Ask her why she cries so loud
She will not say a word
Eyes like ice and hands that shake
She takes what she deserves
To celebrate her emptiness
In a cold and lonely room
Sweep the floor with your long flowered dress
If you cannot find a broom
Now come to me Hannah
Hannah won't you come home to me
And I'll lay down this bottle of wine
If you'll just be kind to me
She's got hair that flows right down
Right down to the backs of her knees
Her Papa he was a preaching man
And the Lord is hard to please
So she comes down from the Ozark hills to these very streets to roam
With a banjo and a bible and a fine tooth comb
Now come to me Hannah
Hannah won't you come home to me
And I'll lay down this bottle of wine
If you'll just be kind to me
I'd walk one mile on this broken glass
to fall down at your feet
Oh Hannah you're the queen of the street
I climb the tree with my Hannah-lee
My intentions they were pure
Oh the breeze did whip and I lost my grip
And I tumbled towards the earth
Where you never would guess who it was that stood below
And His name I would never tell
But His eyes were clear
And His arms were strong
And He caught me as I fell
Now come to me Hannah
Hannah won't you come on to me
I'll lay down this bottle of wine
If you'd just be kind to me
Now I'd walk one mile on just broken glass
To fall down at your feet
Hannah you're the queen of the street
Hannah you're the queen of the street
She's all laid up in bed with a broken heart,
While I'm drinking jack all alone in my local bar,
And we don't know how,
How we got in to this mad situation,
Only doing things out of frustration
Trying to make it work but man these times are hard,
She needs me now but I can't seem to find the time,
I've got a new job now on the unemployment line,
And we don't know how,
How we got into this mess
is it god's test,
Someone help us 'cause we're doing our best,
Trying to make it work but man these times are hard
But we're gonna start by
Drinking old cheap bottles of wine,
Sit talking up all night,
Saying things we haven't for a while
A while ya
We're smiling but we're close tears,
Even after all these years,
We just now got the feeling that we're meeting for the first time
[x3]
Oooooo
She's in line at the DOLE*
With her head held high (high)
While I just lost my job but
Didn't lose my pride
But we both know how,
How we're gonna make it work when it hurts,
When you pick yourself up,
You get kicked to the dirt,
Trying to make it work but,
Man these times are hard,
But we're gonna start by,
Drinking old cheap bottles of wine,
Sit talking up all night,
Doing things we haven't for a while,
A while ya,
We're smiling but we're close to tears,
Even after all these years,
We just now got the feeling that we're meeting for the first time.
Ooooo [x3]
Yeah.....
Drinking old cheap bottles of wine,
Sit talking up all night,
Saying thing we haven't for a while,
We're smiling but we're close to tears,
Even after all these years,
We just now got the feeling that we're meeting, for the first time
ooooo...., yeahh for the first time
(ooooo....), oh for the first time,
Yeah for the first time,
(just now got the feeling that we're meeting...
For the first time)
[x4]
Oh these times are hard,
Yeah they're making us crazy
Don't give up on me baby
Mmm...dear, I love you dearly, but don't forget trouble I,
used to find, and it was, in your mind...yeah
I got red blood, and I got blood red wine Which I bring you,
when the snow is heavy on the ground If you say where go
I'll just, wrap my cloak around
You say that every man you ever had Has been obsessed
with you and I, wanna prove an exception To the role, that
you lay down Babe, please don't make me cry, 'cause
there's a little pain inside..iide Yes my darling now you can't
expect me always to hide...
I got red blood, and I got, blood red wine Which I bring you
when the snow lies heavy on the ground If you say we'll go
Why-ow... let me, let me, wrap my coat around
Yeah, that's right You see that every time well the lines must
rhyme And every verse, be in the same old time Does it all,
have to rhyme? But there go, and that's a place that you will
never... You said to remind of the girl I used to know, and
used to love, yeah
I got red blood, and I got blood red wine Which I bring you,
when the snow lies heavy on the ground If, you get cold I, oh
wrap my, coat, coat around My, my, my, my don't you stay,
on that, that snowy ground...
Good Morning Wine Lounge!! The results are in! The winner of our weekly drawing goes to...Brent & Terrie from Arkansas! Congrats you two, and your wine party kit is on its way!
Photo from http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/best_places_USA/
Good Morning America voted Michigan's Sleeping Bear Dunes the "Most Beautiful Place in America"! Visitors can find activities for any season, hiking and canoeing in warm weather and skiing and snowshoeing in cold weather. While you're there, stop by the nearby Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery to see why the "Most Beautiful Place in America" is also one of our favorite places to Tour and Taste!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
" It was taken in October 2009 on my third visit to Great Britain. I’ve been an English history fan since I was a little girl, and I figured that one way to celebrate one of those “milestone” ‘0’ birthdays was to go to a city I love…and that is London. So that is me, on the first full day, standing in front of the infamous Tower of London. And I was on top of the world!!"
"This is a picture of my husband and I at St Francis Winery in Sonoma Valley. The scenery is beautiful, the events are spectacular and the wines amazing. They also have some of the friendliest employees in the Valley!"
"Here is a picture from our August family vacation in wine country. Our daughter Rachel, 9, is apparently trying to convince the grapes to grow faster at Foppiano Vineyards."
5/19/11 Sandra-- San Jose, CA. Her post 6/2/11 Guy--Las Flores, CA. His post 7/14/11 Teresa R Her post 7/21/11 AnnE Her post 8/1/11 Greg His post 9/1/11 Brent and Terrie Their post
It could be you--send in your photo or video to be in the drawing!
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