My Mélange

A Vineyard in Tuscany : A Wine Lover's Dream

Every once in a while a book comes along that grabs me- one that I don't want to put down, that I want to get through.

This was one of those books.  This was one of those times.

A Vineyard in Tuscany, Ferenc Maté's memoir is about his (and his family's) trials and tribulations of acquiring an abandoned property in Montalcino, Tuscany, restoring it and creating a vineyard from scratch!

As fate would have it, he was lucky enough to be offered help and advice from his neighbors- none other than Banfi and Gaja- two of the biggest wine giants in Italy!

The author had me rolling on the floor on more than one occassion. 

Not wanting to "give everything away" - let's just say some of his funniest stuff involved single-handedly bringing down part of his rebuilt house at the hands of a crane, trying to get deer from eating his vines, over-filling the barrels with their first elixir and creating a grape explosion of huge ( and messy) proportions and almost destroying his property- trees, vines and chicken coup- in an entire chapter dedicated to his learning to use the tractor with four-hundred ninety-seven levers.

And if he wasn't lucky enough already- his wines get rave reviews and he unearths treasure after treasure on his land- both of the historic Etruscan and the culinary variety.

This memoir is a romantic style Under the Tuscan Sun- with the addition of a vineyard- and more descriptive, humorous prose.

If you like Tuscany, Wine and Laughter- you'll love this book!

What is one of your favorite memoirs about Tuscany?  Or Italy?

Puccini and Pinot

Let me take a moment to apologize for the large gaps between wine recommendation posts.

Trust me when I say, it is not that I give up drinking wine for large periods of time.  

Au contraire.

Usually what happens is that I get into the habit of drinking my favorites, which have all been previously discussed. One of three events have to occur for me to try something new.

1.  I run low on my stash and get bored with my favorites so, venture into something different.

2.   I try something new at a restaurant, fall in love and make it my personal quest to find the exact wine that I enjoyed.

3.  I get wine gifted.  This option is of course my favorite, as my wallet's contents still stay in tact.

Well, this time we have a combination of numbers two and three. This means I have two new wines for you today!

The first is an Italian red wine, a simple table wine really, but delicious and simple none-the-less. Plus, I am a sucker for a pretty label and a name that makes me long for my favorite part of Italy. 

Villa Puccini Toscana 2004 scored an 86 by Wine Spectator, which puts it in their *best value* category.  Here is the description:

"Aromas of blackberry, coffee, raisin and cedar follow through to a full-bodied palate, with silky tannins and a long, rich finish. Sangiovese and Merlot. "

You can find this beauty at an online retailer for around $10.00!  A steal in my humble opinion and was a gift that was most appreciated!

The next one is a find from our last dinner date.  I took one sip and fell in love.  Bursting with strawberry flavors, this Pinot Noir is from the Burgundy region of France.  You may be familiar with this well-known producer for his Beaujolais-Nouveau and his very colorful labels.  Georges DuBoeuf Pinot Noir Reserve 2005 was $8 a glass at the restaurant, but only $12.99 at my local wine shop.  

You know I try to keep the recommendations under $10, but sometimes you need to splurge a little.  And this is worth every penny of the three-dollar overage, in my opinion of course.

This one is a great basic table wine and would work great with cheese, chicken, pasta and salmon.  I had it with pork and felt it worked just fine.  May not hold up to a steak though.  

Be especially careful on this one.  Make sure you pay attention to both the Reserve and the year as this can make a big difference in the wine.

Have you tried any good wines lately?  Please share...

Glühwein : German Mulled Wine

Every culture has its own version of mulled wine. The concept is basically the same, though the ingredients may vary a bit.  Some call for star anise, others omit the orange and many may call for a different type of red wine as the base.

Whether it is called mulled wine, spiced wine or  wine brulée, they all have one thing in common...they taste scrum-deli-icious!  And it warms you from the inside out.

My BGF (like BFF, but meaning best German friend) Elke, was kind enough to share her Countries version of this treat, mainly served around the holiday season.  You can find this on offer at just about any German Christmas market worth its weight in pfeffernussen.

It is called Glühwein.  Pronounced gloo-vine.

Here is her family recipe:

Glühwein

3/4 cup water

34 cup sugar

1 cinnamon stick

1 large seedless orange, cut in half

10 whole cloves

1 bottle Merlot

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In a large pot, heat up wine and the juice of one half of the orange.

Cut the other orange half into 1/2 inch slices and add to the pot along with the cloves.

In a small pot, bring water, sugar and cinnamon stick to a boil, reduce to simmer for about 30 minutes, until thick and syrupy. 

Add to wine and serve!

Let's toast with an authentic German cheer...Prost! or Zum Wohl!

And a very Merry Christmas Eve....

Have you ever tried mulled wine?  How do you prefer yours?  What culture holds your favorite recipe?

Les Deux Rives

Translation in English, The two banks.

What does it really mean to me?

It means a cheap and delicious French red wine!

How cheap?  $6.99 at my local wine shop.

How delicious?  I liked it so much, I went back and bought several bottles.  Even used one as the base for a fabulous Boeuf Bourguignon.  Recipe to follow shortly.

This wine is a Corbières Rouge.  A blend of Granache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignan.  It is best served cool, not chilled, and is very fruit forward.

Here is the description  on the label:

"  The vast vineyard of Corbières stretches along the beautiful Mediterranean coast of France from the ancient Roman capitol of Narbonne in the north through the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains in the south.  It is one of the last great French vineyards to be discovered for the quality of its wine.  The wine is rich, full and packed with ripe berry flavors."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

This is one of those NOT to be missed.  It is a steal under ten bucks, but at less than seven, it is pure highway robbery!  

Salut!   Cheers!   Cin-cin!

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Brunello di Montalcino

It has been awhile since I have done any wine recommendations. Guess I've been sticking to some of my old favorites, of late.

But our friends invited us for a special treat of the libation kind.  A Brunello di Montalcino.

Brunello is made of 100% Sangiovese grape, which is one of my Italian favorites.  These wines are aged in oak for at least 3 years or more, making them more expensive than their Chianti counterparts.

Brunellos are a bit more deep in color and richer in texture and flavor than Chianti as well.

Fattoria dei Barbi, is the producer of the wine. They are located in Montalcino, which is near and Siena.

Italian Wine Merchants, has this to say about them:

"The Colombini family has owned property in Brunello di Montalcino since 1352, and they established Fattoria dei Barbi there in 1790. Today, Barbi's 100 hectares of vineyards produce over 700,000 bottles of wine annually! The vineyards are composed of galestro with components of lime and argillous soil, and they enjoy ideal southeast exposure. At the bottom of the hill, below the estate's vineyards, sits the Taverna dei Barbi, a restaurant that places the winery in a very select group of producers offering the opportunity to dine on the premises. At the head of the Barbi estate today is the legendary Donna Francesca Colombini-Cinelli, although she is now partially retired and has entrusted the responsibility of the estate to her son Stefano. This new generation is careful to maintain family traditions while also incorporating numerous modern changes. Offering wines ranging from the respected Brunello Riserva 'Vigna del Fiore' to the Brusco dei Barbi, this producer is sure to enjoy a long, successful future."

I am not going to spoil this one by giving away all of its details.  Instead, I highly recommend you give it a try for yourself.  And let me know what you think.

Sangria

You all know I am a wine lover, but even I can't bring myself to pop the cork on my favorite Cote du Rhone or Chianti in the  blistering heat of the summer.

No, at that point, it is time for something cool and refreshing. But still alcoholic.

I like to make Sangria.

I know, I know.  It's not French or Italian.  But we all love Spain too right?

Yeah, it is still ok to love other parts of Europe!

Sangria, is like fruit punch with wine, named for the word sangre, meaning blood, in Spanish.  This could be due to its dark ruby red coloring.  It is typically served at parties, picnics and informal gatherings in both Spain and Portugal.

courtesy of MarthaStewart.com

There are hundreds, probably millions, of Sangria recipes floating around out there, most of which consist of fresh fruit, red wine, fruit juice, brandy, ice and some type of carbonated water.

Some versions of white Sangria, called Sangria Blanca, are made with white wine peaches, sliced strawberries, even blood oranges. 

Mmmmm.

Sangria is so quick and easy to make, you can prepare it well ahead of time and you can double, even triple the recipe for parties! 

But, the best part about making Sangria is that you can use a basic recipe as a guide and then experiment with what you think might taste good - add a little twist of your own.  Use what you have on hand, and you might just find that you create your new favorite.

Obviously it is important to use a good quality wine for your Sangria  and make sure it is chilled before using it in the recipe.  Use a Rioja if you want to remain true to the Spanish version, but any dry red will work.  Just make sure you like the taste of it!

For a white version, try a Pinot Grigio or a Sauvignon Blanc. 

Here is a basic recipe I used to make a delicious Sangria, found on MarthaStewart.com

 

Summer Sangria

4 oranges, 2 juiced, 2 halved lengthwise and slices crosswise
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup brandy
1 bottle dry red wine, chilled
2 lemons, thinly sliced
2 cups seltzer or club soda
Ice cubes, for serving

In a large pitcher, combine orange juice, sugar and brandy.  Stir well until sugar is dissolved.  Add wine, orange slices, lemon slices and seltzer.  Stir to combine.  Fill glasses with ice before serving.  Serves 8.

 

I prefer to chill mine in the fridge for at least a few hours so all the flavors can mingle, but hey, that's just me!

Ahhh, summer refreshment doesn't get any better than this!  Salud! 

 

>>Other great recipes to try are a Peach White Wine Sangria or the Party Sangria.

>>For more delicious, authentic, creative Sangria recipes visit Spain Recipes or Wine Intro.

 

 

La Crémerie

Tucked into a tiny space in the Odeon area on the Left Bank of Paris, is a great little wine bar that I visited on my last trip, called La Crémerie.  You may be wondering why a wine bar would be called The Dairy? Well, the building in which the wine bar is housed, used to be a dairy.

When you first walk in, you see a few tiny tables, walls lined with wines, with a focus on organic varietals, and a bar with a few stools lined up. 

 

A fire engine red vintage meat slicer takes center stage at the bar as well as hams, salami and sausages from France, Spain and Italy, dangling from the original hand painted ceiling.  Even though we did not order any meat, we still got to see big red in action!

We arrived right before the afternoon lunch crowd, and the owner informed us that most of his tables were reserved, so we had a seat at the bar.  Because of Paris rules and regulations, you must have a little bite to eat with your wine, which is always just fine with me! 

We ordered wine by the glass.  I sampled an organic red.  I was forewarned of the earthiness and the sediment, but I loved it. 

The menu is handwritten in French on a small blackboard, but the owner helped us along with translations.  After what seemed like forever to decide, we agreed upon a plate of marinated vegetables dressed with olive oil and herbs.

And you can't possibly be drinking wine and not sample some cheese.  Though I don't remember the name, it resembled a Brie.

The tiny cave filled up while we were dining.  It became a loud, bustling, convivial, well...wine bar.  Since he is also open to the public selling the wines that line the walls, people drifted in and out making wine purchases, perhaps to go with their own lunch in the Luxembourg Gardens, which are not to far.

Whether you are in the area and need a bottle of wine or you are hungry and want a nosh, this wine bar should definitely be on your short list!

La Crémerie

9 rue des Quatres Vents
75006, Paris
Metro: Odeon

Open Tues-Sat, 10:30am-10:00pm.
Lunch 12:30 - 3:00 pm
Dinner 4:30 - 10:00pm

 

Wine and Cheese Pasta

You may remember last year we went to a local wine and pasta event in my area called Pasta, Primo, Vino.  Well, we decided to go again this year and we were not sorry.  This year we tried a winery we had never been to called Applewood.  The pasta they were serving was so delicious, I decided to share it with you.  I like to call it a wine and cheese pasta.  But they titled it Blue Cheese Baked Pasta.  Whatever it's named...it sure is rich, cheesy and just plain tasty!

The pasta is made with Applewood Riesling, which is great on its own, but works so well in this dish.  It serves 8.

Blue Cheese Baked Pasta

1 lb. pasta, bowties, large shells (I used the campanelle)
2 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup Applewood Riesling (or whatever Riesling you have)
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 cup whipping cream
3 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups crumbled blue cheese
1 Tbsp minced fresh chives

Preheat oven to 350.  Butter a 13x9x2 inch baking dish.  Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until on the very firm side of al dente.  Drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.  Add flour and cook for 1 minute.  Do not allow it to brown.  Gradually whisk in wine, then milk and cream.  Simmer until mixture thickens slightly, whisking occasionally.  Reduce heat to low and add the cheddar cheese and 1 cup of the blue cheese.  Whisk until cheese is completely melted.  Add cooked pasta to sauce and toss gently to combine.  Transfer mixture to the buttered baking dish, sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup blue cheese.  The prepared dish will look like this..

Bake until sauce begins to bubble and the pasta starts to brown, about 25 minutes.  Sprinkle with chives right before serving.

Serve with a simple green salad and a chilled bottle of Applewood Riesling.

Taverne Henri IV

I was lucky enough to find this little wine bar, a stones throw from my hotel on my solo trip to Paris.  The Taverne Henri IV is nestled at the far end of the tranquil Place Dauphine, steps from the Pont Neuf. 

It was a perfect spot for me to grab just a little bite to eat and a glass of wine at odd hours.  I would bring my journal and write about my experiences while noshing on the homemade fare.

Sandwiches, quiche, cheese and charcuterie plates are all on offer, as is almost any kind of wine by the bottle or the glass imaginable.  Bistro fare,all at deliciously low prices.

My first visit, Phillipe the owner and manager served me a fruity Beaujolais and a quiche that looked more like a souffle.  Yeah, it was that big.

A few nights later, I happened to overhear a few Americans.  Somehow, we all introduced ourselves and before long, we were like fast friends that had known each other for years.  We drank and talked (and drank) until the wee hours of the morning.  Phillipe was gracious enough to keep the place open much longer than normal closing time.  He often joined in on our fun, though he did not know much English. He would gently quiet us when we were being too loud.  There were people that lived upstairs.

It was a night I will always remember.

On the morning I left Paris, I was faced with an unexpected 15 minutes before my taxi was to pick me up.  I immediately hopped over to Taverne Henri IV, for a last little nosh standing at the bar and to thank Phillipe for his wonderful food, delicious wine and for making a lone American girl with a journal feel welcome in a strange communal French wine bar.

Upon returning to Paris last year, even thought I was staying the Marais, I knew I had to return.

The food was better than I remembered and the place was very busy.  We stayed until it cleared out a bit.  As luck would have it Phillipe was conversing with a couple from Brazil that spoke French and very good English.

Again, somehow we got brought into the conversation.  We drank and talked about everything from their travels to their lovely Brazil (and the men talked soccer).  Before we left, we had exchanged email addresses with the lovely couple.

The whole time Phillipe and his wife had been waiting on us.  I was dying to find out if he remembered me.  Even though it had been 2 years, I was willing to try and find out.

I know enough French to get me by, but not enough to explain who I was to Phillipe.  But his lovely wife seemed to know English pretty well.

I called her over.  I explained.

"Two years ago, I came all week with a journal, one night, stayed late, bunch of noisy Americans, he kept the place open....Did he remember?"

She translated for Phillipe.  As the French words danced out of her mouth and into his ear, he looked at me and I could see the look of recognition come over his face along with a warm smile.

He remembered. How nice.

I left that night with a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

So, next time you are in Paris, stop by for a bite, a glass of wine or just to make some new friends.

What about you?  How does a place become one of your favorite haunts?  Have you ever made friends in a similar way, when you least expected it?    

Taverne Henri IV
13 place du Pont-Neuf
Paris, France
01 13 31 43 54 27 90

A trip to Provence...

photo courtesy of CellerTracker

In a bottle.  Le Paradou , is a French red wine, a Cotes du Luberon, that was named for a 400 year old mas, farmhouse in Provence.  It is a custom blend of Syrah and Grenache from vines near Apt, in Provence.  So, if you close your eyes, take a sip, and savor the flavor, you can be transported... to the lavender fields, olive groves and grape vines in the South of France.  This one has a bit of sediment, that didn't distract from the taste, but you may want to decant it before serving.

Fruity and spicy, with a deep, dark, plummy color, this one is a bargain at $10.99.

You can purchase here or here.