Design.Wine.Dine.

Wine Wednesday – Wine Tasting 101

{Top two contenders for this evening}

While I LOVE wine, I’m not completely versed on how to conduct a formal tasting with guests or even on my own.  I wouldn’t consider myself a novice, but I’m certainly not an expert either.  It’s not that I have a hard time detecting whether or not I like a specific wine, but defining my opinion using the proper terminology is definitely a challenge for me that I’m always eager to practice and overcome (wink, wink).  Is it buttery?  Oaky?  Too acidic?  Is there a hint of barnyard or apricot?  Having been a self proclaimed Franzia expert in college (I can’t believe I’m admitting that), graduating to the adult world of real wine has been a joy in my life.  While wine tasting can be intimidating at times, finally reaching the point at which you can detect the presence of a specific fruit or chocolate on the nose is a thrilling experience.  That being said, it’s been a while since I’ve done a Wine Wednesday post and when I saw Megan’s “Wine Tasting 101” post from last week on the Hope at Home blog, I knew I had to share it with another audience.  I was thrilled when she gave me permission to repost her tips and she is my first ever official guest blogger – YAY!

PS: For those of you unfamiliar with Hope at Home, it is the at home wine tasting program of ONEHOPE Wine.  They seek to bring the joyous wine tasting experience to your home, work, bridal shower, charity fundraiser… you name it.  While 50% of the profits from ONEHOPE Wine always benefit partner charities, with a Hope at Home event an additional 10% can go to the charity or fundraiser of your choice.  Now THAT is a cool idea for your next 1/2 marathon or blogger meetup 🙂  Currently the program is exclusive to California, but check in for updates.

And here we go…!

“We obviously LOVE wine. We’re around it a lot and it’s a big part of what we do on a daily basis. We also know that wine can come off intimidating at times. Don’t let the average wine snob fool you with their opinions. What really matters is taste. If you like what you’re tasting, keep enjoying it! Drinking wine is meant to be fun, not stuffy! The way we conduct our Hope at Home tastings are casual, but still informative. We aren’t experts by any means, but we are familiar with the basics. So in honor of our favorite day of the week, Wine Wednesday, we wanted to share a few tips for your next ONEHOPE Wine tasting party.

Pour: Use a simple glass to evaluate the wine. Because you want as little distraction from the wine as possible, try to stay away from elaborate cut-crystal or opaque glasses. Give yourself about a 2 ounce pour (¼ cup) into a stemmed glass so there’s room to swirl.

Look: Take a look at what you’re about to taste. The appearance and color will tell you a lot about a wine. Intense, deep color―particularly in a red wine―indicates how full-bodied it will taste. Although sediment is possible in older bottles, wine should be clear and free of cloudiness.

Smell: We’re getting closer to the good part! Give your glass a swirl to release the aroma, then put your nose just inside the glass and inhale. If you aren’t detecting anything, cover the glass with your hand, swirl, uncover, and immediately inhale. Try to detect the wine’s characteristics. Is it fruity? Earthy? Floral? Spicy? After you narrow it down, it will be easier to further refine your description. For example, if you are getting fruit on the nose, do you detect citrus, berries, or tropical fruits?

Taste: Finally… our favorite part, the tasting! You’ve probably come across some tasters that suck in a little air with the wine, then slosh it around in their mouths. Well this may look and feel a little funny. Just remember to breathe in and out when you are sipping to help aerate the wine and enhance the flavor. While tasting, consider body and texture, sweetness or bitterness, acidity, tannins, and the overall balance. Lastly, be sure to focus on the wine’s “finish”―how long its essence lingers on your palate after swallowing.

All tips aside, just have fun and enjoy yourself. That’s what wine is for anyways, right? Cheers!”

– Megan Brandt
Hope at Home – Social Media Manager

Just a few additional tips that I wanted to add… First and foremost, wine is always better with food!  Meats, cheeses, olives… don’t be afraid to get creative and explore different options with different wines.  Hope at Home partnered with Cupcakes Couture in Manhattan Beach for cupcake and wine pairings that were TO. DIE. FOR.  If you’re hosting a wine party and want to get creative like this, just make sure to check to see what flavors compliment the wines you’ve selected as sweet treats tend to lend different flavors when paired with wine.  A little lesson we learned with the cupcakes – stay away from cream cheese frostings, but have a ton of fun playing around with chocolates, berries and citrus.

Additionally, I decided to take my wine education to the next level and just ordered this book, written by Kevin Zraly.  Kevin started the Wine School at Windows on the World (the restaurant atop 1 World Trade Center) in 1976.  The program was an overnight sensation and has gone uninterrupted through both the World Trade Center bombing in 1993 and the ultimate demise of the Trade Centers on September 11, 2001.  To date over 17,000 people have graduated from the program.  His story alone gives me the chills, but his book is the most famous wine tasting guide in the world and comes very highly recommended.  I can’t wait to start reading (and tasting!)… after finals 😉

{Last four photos by Torino Creative}

The Art of the Bar Cart

I’ve got a huge crush on bar carts at the moment.  When stocked full of colorful spirits, a stylish ice bucket and some gorgeous cocktail glasses, they simply add so much character to a space and a sense of effortless entertaining to a home (something I’ve vowed to get better at in 2012).  Additionally, they’re also a tremendous conversation piece: a place to display a set of heirloom glasses, that gifted bottle of Scotch from a special occasion, a jar of olives or bitters from a mom and pop shop during your latest travels, a gorgeous piece of art hanging above… the list goes on.  While we opted for more of a substantial wine bar/buffet when we moved into our place and have since run out of space for one of these beauties I’m completely re-inspired to spruce up our “bar tray” this weekend.

Bar Cart

{Lamp – ORANGE, Cart – Arteriors Home, Champagne Coupes – Kate Spade, Book – Cocktails by Amy Saaco, Wine – ONEHOPE Spakling, Coasters – Jonathan Adler}

Inspiration Images
-Original sources and more here–

Wine Wednesday

In October of my junior year in college, a friend’s mom visited one weekend, gave me a bottle of Witches Brew from Leelanau Cellars and it’s been a fall tradition ever since.  A spiced red wine that is best heated up, Witches Brew’s fills your home with the aromas of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg and is best served on a chilly fall night.  Since it just cooled off here (substantially), I’m looking forward to heating up a batch of Witches Brew tonight, which only seems appropriate for the last Wine Wednesday before Halloween… and just maybe we’ll carve a few pumpkins too 🙂 What are your favorite fall traditions?

* Leelanau Peninsula is Michigan’s wine growing region just northwest of Traverse City.  Not only is the wine produced there fantastic, but Leelanau County is also home to the Sleeping Bear Dunes which was just voted the most beautiful place in the United States.  Northern Michigan is truly one of the most gorgeous places I’ve ever traveled to and if you ever have the chance to visit, take it!  Happy Wine Wednesday and cheers to great wine from my home state 🙂

Wine Wednesday

Wine and cheese are two items we always have on hand in our household.  Whether it’s just the two of us for a relaxing night in or a casual last minute get together with a few guests, a great bottle of wine and a platter of 3-4 delicious cheeses sets the perfect tone for effortless entertaining.  I’m not sure if it’s the fall colors over the weekend in Michigan or my cousin’s 2012 vineyard wedding brainstorming session that got me excited about wine parties, but I’ve really come back to California with an itch to host a slightly more formal wine tasting this fall that would include more than just four people.  I’m thinking cheeses, meats, olives, gourmet mac & cheese and even cracker crust pizzas… YUM!  Check out some of the images below that have me completely inspired (and hungry) this morning 🙂

{Cracker crust pizza, red wine and a fabulous raised cheese platter.  Love!  Image via}

{Delicious assortment!  Image via}

{One of my personal favorites: bite sized gourmet mac and cheese.  Mmm!  Image via}
{Gorgeous!  Image via}
{I love the idea of using a slate as a labeled cheese platter.  Image via}

{Cleaver!  Cork spreading knives to fit with the theme.  Image via}

{What a great idea!  Chalkboard runner with labeled pairings.  Love!  Image via}

 

Wine Wednesday

Last Wine Wednesday I talked about ONEHOPE Wine’s lovely Chardonnay and their October Breast Cancer Awareness initiatives.  I hate to double up on posts about the same wine, but this update is just too exciting for me not to share 🙂  As of the 1st, ONEHOPE has launched a new Facebook tab that allows you to see how many mammograms for underprivileged women have been provided as a result of their Chardonnay sales this month.  Additionally, ONEHOPE is donating $1 for every Facebook “like” during the month of October.  How great is that?!  Check out their tab in real-time here.  If you’re not a big wino like me, at least “like” their page, share it with some friends and see the impact you’re having on women who can’t afford regular breast cancer screenings.

Are there any other cool companies out there that you know of that are promoting breast cancer awareness this October?  Send them my way… I’d love to hear about them!  Cheers!

Wine Wednesday

It’s been a while since I’ve done a Wine Wednesday post and I was really planning on saving this one until it was officially October, but I just couldn’t help myself this week.  I know I’ve talked about ONEHOPE Wine in the past here, but since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and 50% of the profits from this Robert Mondavi Jr. crafted Chardonnay benefit that great cause, I figured it was the right time to talk about one of my favorites.  Being that I’m not the biggest fan of an overly-buttery Chardonnay, I love that this one (with fresh aromas of apple blossom and honeysuckle – mmm!) has a fairly light finish with the flavors of crisp pear and apple.  Pair this wine with broiled or grilled seafood, poultry dishes and a wide assortment of cheeses.

However, what I think I might really love the most about this wine is that for every $100 raised in October from the sale of ONEHOPE Chardonnay a mammogram is funded to an underprivileged woman for early stage Breast Cancer detection and prevention through the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  If you purchase the wine online you can see exactly how much money has been raised and the direct impact you’re having on women’s lives.  Additionally, if you book an at home wine tasting party through their Hope at Home program during the month of October, one free mammogram is donated to a woman in need.  I LOVE everything about this program.  How amazing is it that you can have a huge impact on someone’s life by hosting a wine party with some friends?  Grab a few ladies, host your own Hope at Home party, raise a little money for charity and make a difference.  I’m super excited to see how much money is raised next month.  Check in here for updates throughout the month of October.

Check out a few great ideas for hosting a Breast Cancer Awareness Wine Party below as featured on Amy Atlas’ blog.  Doesn’t she just always have the best ideas?  Cheers!

 

{City Guide} I Left My Heart in Austin

Last Thursday I left for Austin City Limits for a long, Texas weekend with the ONEHOPE Wine team (wine sponsor of this year’s festivities).  I was hoping for a relaxing few days of music, wine and sleep following a treacherous week of finals, but I was in for a little surprise.  I FELL IN LOVE with Austin.  Every moment that wasn’t spent enduring the 104 degree heat in Zilker Park (watching the likes of Coldplay, Arcade Fire and Foster The People – can we say best music festival ever?) was spent scouring every inch of the Texas city I’m just dying to get back to.  Future home?  Yes please!  Check out a few of my favorites below:

Disclaimer: Our trip was overly food-filled so scroll down and get hungry… and then book a trip to Austin – STAT!

FOOD

{Located on South Congress, Home Slice Pizza offers some of the best pies I’ve ever tasted.  As a Chicago style deep-dish girl, I thought there was no way I’d fall for their famed New York style, but I was so, so wrong.  Something else to love?  Check out their menu for the perfect beer and wine pairings for each of their ‘zzas.  Home Slice knew the path straight to my heart}

{Home Slice: White Pie with Spinach: Olive oil, garlic, mozzarella, ricotta, provolone and romano.  This particular pizza came highly recommended by several Austin friends so I just had to give it a try.  SO. GREAT.  I was worried that the ricotta would weigh down the thin crust (and the flavor), but every bite was just as fresh and bursting with Italian zest as the bite before.  The garlic absolutely makes this pizza.  My ‘chef’ father always says, “when in doubt, throw in another clove of garlic” so I’m a huge fan of the stuff and this picture is making me seriously hungry all over again}

{Home Slice: Italian Meatball and Bell Pepper: Italian meatballs, bell peppers, mozzarella. This was one of their Pizza by the Slice options (that change daily).  With a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, this pizza has everything you could ever want… Savory meat, crisp peppers, a perfectly balanced sauce and a tiny bit of spice.  The flavor was so amazing that we ordered another slice to split.  Hey!  It’s thin crust.  Less carbs.  Right?}

{I’m the world’s biggest shameless female burger fan…  and I’m not kidding.  I make an honest attempt to try burgers at the locally famous joints in every city we travel to, but hopdoddy Burger Bar might have just won my lifetime award for BEST burger EVER this past weekend – twice over.  Created to “honor the perfect union of beer and burgers” hopdoddy offers several craft beers (including my new favorite: Bucket Head IPA) to pair perfectly with their all natural, daily ground, hormone and antibiotic free Black Angus.  Does life really get any better than this?  Umm… try one of their milkshakes and you’ll see}

{hopdoddy: The Prime Time: Perfectly prepared Kobe beef, slightly sweet caramelized onions, a touch of horseradish to give it just enough kick and a mouthwatering homemade steak sauce.  The scent reminded me of Christmas Eve at my parents’ house with a prime rib roast in the oven.  Simply amazing.  No “Prime Time” knockoff will ever compare}

{hopdoddy: Buffalo Bill: Bison, Blue Cheese, Frank’s Hot Sauce, Apple-Smoked Bacon, Sassy Saucy.  I think I bit into this burger and said, “is this a joke?”  The flavor was so incredible that we finished the entire thing before I could even snap a shot.  I’m usually a little leery of bacon on burgers simply because if it isn’t prepared perfectly, it has the potential to ruin the entire meal.  Obviously, hopdoddy pulled through with perfect prep in every way.  Perfect zing with the perfect level of rich blue cheese (not overpowering) to create a perfectly balanced burger. Perfection}

{hopdoddy: Oreo Shake: Homemade spun custard with real whipped cream and Oreos.  HEAVEN.  This was the single best milkshake I’ve ever had in my life.  I’m pretty sure the homemade spun custard is the secret, but I’ve never tasted anything like it}

{Snack Bar was a fun, little retro restaurant we dropped into for breakfast one morning.  They describe their cuisine as “globally inspired, locally sourced, chef-driven and made with organic, raised-right & natural ingredients.”  Love it already.  The menu offers everything from Avocado Quinoa to Egg and Gravy Biscuits so there is a bit of something for everyone.  The casual environment is super inviting with a kind, hospitable staff.  Awesome spot!  Why the Michigan map you might ask?  Every table had a map of a different state under the glass and we happened to sit with Lady Mitten that morning.  I’m definitely taking it as a sign of Austin welcoming yours truly with open arms}

{Snack Bar: Egg & Gravy Biscuit:  Housemade buttermilk biscuit, two farm eggs any style, meat-free dirty cream gravy.  Don’t judge.  This was a Texas weekend and I was going to eat like a Texan.  I’d never had meat-free gravy before and was a little worried it would be lacking flavor, but I was pleasantly surprised.  GREAT dish (if you’re a fan of biscuits and gravy, of course)}

{Snack Bar: OhM Sandwich: 2 over-medium farm eggs, cheddar, bacon or avocado (get both!), lettuce, tomato & onion, sourdough.  My perfect breakfast, right there.  Unreal sandwich.  Mouth. Watering.  Get it}

{W Hotel/TRACE: Grilled Cheese Sandwich: Deep fried in pig fat and sliced into perfect bite size pieces.  Can’t say that I’ve ever had someone offer me something “fried in pig fat”, but one piece wasn’t going to kill me.  Absolutely incredible. Creamy inside with a perfectly crisp outside…  It isn’t offered on the restaurant menu, but was part of the VIP section food at ACL on day one.  We were all really hoping it was going to be there on day two and three but it’s probably better that it wasn’t ;-)}

Other eateries to visit: Franklin Barbeque (World Famous BBQ), The Salt Lick Driftwood (BYOB)

SHOPS

{I’ve been looking for blue mason jars EVERYWHERE at a reasonable price and have had the hardest time.  I finally found some at this amazing antique/thrift store, Uncommon Objects.  I could have taken home a million other vintage finds, but sadly my suitcase (and bank account) just weren’t big enough}

{Uncommon Objects: I can just picture a wildflower centerpiece in these vintage glass medicine bottles}

{Uncommon Objects: Wire baskets = LOVE. Vintage Edison bulbs, chemical jars and candlesticks.  As much as animal head/skull decor freaks me out, I could have definitely brought home a pair of antlers (or two).  Getting them on the plane would have been a nightmare, however.  TSA had a Ball with my mason jars… no pun intended}

{Uncommon Objects: Vintage costume jewelry.  Gorgeous green!}

{I can’t help it… I just really love West Elm.  And after hearing about their Austin store a TON over the course of the last few weeks in the blog world, I had to drop by.  Out of all of their stores, this one is my favorite – complete with a super friendly staff}

{I think my shelves might need a revamp ;-)}

Other shops: Anything on South Congress… tons of little boutiques with great clothing and decor.  I could have spent an entire day on that street but sadly we only had an afternoon.

SITES

{We took a stroll around the state capital.  It was beautiful to say the least and there is just so much state pride in Austin and throughout Texas – It’s contagious}

{Gorgeous}

{I came across this old, deserted florist during one of our walks to the festival.  It still had the original glass and paint and the inside was covered with dead plants hanging along the rafters that had long been left to wilt away.  It was as though someone packed their bags and left town one day and this is all that remains.  I would just love to fix that place up and call it my own}

Other sites: University of Texas (what a FUN school), Lake Travis (I’ve heard it’s beautiful, but we were unable to make it), the downtown Austin bar scene (hundreds of bars – old and new – line the streets near UT).

Unfortunately, we couldn’t see EVERYTHING in Austin, but we will definitely be back for more.  I was blown away by the friendliness of the people, the sense of welcome that I received and the overall lifestyle which is a world of difference from LA.  I’m very lucky to live where I do, but I’ve got to say, I left my heart in Austin.

xoxo
Meg

Pink and Bling

I’ve got to say, until Friday I never knew that a bright pink + diamond themed wedding could possibly be so elegant and enchanting.  Pink and bling are just really not my thing, but the start to our wedding filled weekend (as mentioned here) was completely stunning and filled me with so many great ideas for floral clients that aren’t into traditional containers and an ivory color palate.  Additionally, I tend to get some push-back when I suggest varying centerpieces from table to table (half with flowers and half with candles or half with tall arrangements and half with short, etc.) because I think the concern is that the room will suddenly look too sparse or uneven when that isn’t the case at all.  Some variation adds visual interest without becoming “too much” (as this gorgeous reception proved) so I’m excited that I now have the perfect example to present to clients.

{Floating candles at varying heights set the romantic mood for dinner and drinks}

{Gorgeous array of both low and stemmed glass containers atop a lucite platform with rows of candles}

{One of the tables without a floral centerpiece… several candles atop rose petals kept the theme consistent and romantic}

{Incredible menu… and the napkin rings were bracelets that guests rocked all night and later wore home}

{I love the idea of integrating “giving back” into a wedding and I also love the idea of sending guests home with a bottle of wine… They found the perfect balance and selected this wine (one of my favorites!) and the faux diamond toppers with pink tags were just perfect}

Summer Saturdays

Last week was completely chaotic and while it wound up successful, I was a little unprepared for the famous “6 Man” tournament/celebration to sweep the beach on Saturday.  Instead, we played it a little more low-key with some much-needed rest and recovery and by hitting up a few of our favorite restaurants.  Martha’s in Hermosa Beach definitely tops our list of favorite breakfast eateries in the LA area and this weekend (as always) it did not disappoint.  With a stunning beach view, we sipped on mimosas and split our two favorites: The Montecristo and Stuffed French Toast special… just what we needed to put an end to the week.

{Delightful beach-side mimosas}

{Before Martha’s, I’d never had a Montecristo… I was really missing out!  Layered sliced turkey, sliced ham, melted cheddar and swiss on grilled egg-dipped sour dough.  Served with raspberry preserves and syrup for dipping. Aaaaamazing!}

{The Stuffed French Toast special varies from day-to-day.  Saturday’s was stuffed with peaches and cream cheese and served with a side of chicken jalapeno sausage… an utterly perfect combination of sweet and spicy}

Wine Wednesday

While I’ve got a bit of a summer Sauv Blanc obsession, there’s almost nothing I enjoy more than a great red.  Enter Radoux-Ferriere, an utterly perfect blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.  Cab, Merlot and Cab Franc are typical components of Bordeaux style wines, however Syrah is not and that is exactly what sets this elegant and complex blend ahead of the norm while putting a California spin on tradition.  Barrel aged and meticulously blended for 24 months, the resulting rich chocolate and raspberry flavors make Radoux-Ferriere the perfect pair to red meat and other rich foods.  We enjoyed this on a recent weekend night-in with a plate of assorted cheeses and I can still remember every bit of the unforgettable savory flavor.  Enjoy Radoux-Ferriere, available exclusively at ONEHOPE Wine beginning next month.  Cheers!

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