All posts by Nadia

Food and wine enthusiast, Jersey Shore Local
Wine Feature

Gnarly Head 1924 Red Blend 2014

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Gnarly Head 1924 Red Blend 2014

Region: Lodi Region, California

Wine Enthusiast: 90 points

Vivino app rating: 3.8/5

Average Price: $11

Amazing value and amazing taste! The dark ruby colored wine is smooth and full of spicy and licorice tastes and aromas. The blackberry and raspberry notes are mesmerizing. I was so happy drinking this wine. It literally made my night.

Some cool tid bits about the winemaking:

Fruit for Gnarly Head 1924 Double Black was harvested during the cool night hours and then delivered to the winery. Following de-stemming, the grapes were fermented slowly in stainless steel fermenters and then pressed gently into stainless steel tanks. The wine was then racked onto a combination of French and American oak to age for several months to further develop layers of complexity in the final blend.

The Gnarly Head 1924 Red Blend pairs well with spicy meats, lamb, and any meats smothered in BBQ sauce!

I really like this red blend a lot, and I believe the Vivino rating is so underrated! I would rate this wine a 4.0/5. The value is awesome and my husband and I agreed that it is a smooth, inviting wine! Give the Gnarly Head 1924 red blend a try!

 

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Holiday Dining Favorites at the Jersey Shore

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With Christmas around the corner, we are all looking to find some favorite holiday dining spots to eat and be merry at! Look no further; I am outlining my favorite spots to eat at the Jersey Shore that give you the best holiday dining scenes that will be sure to get you in the spirit! All restaurants have gotten the “nod” of approval with 70% or above!

BRUNCH WITH SANTA

This is a great way to “see Santa,” get in the holiday spirit, and eat some great food. The American Hotel in Freehold and The Mill in Spring Lake Heights each put on a great Brunch with Santa event two Sundays each December. Both are brunch buffets with awesome variety in foods that will please everybody. Breakfasts, chafing stations, desserts, you can’t go wrong! Make sure to book your reservations since these spots always book up fast! This year, both venues offer their brunch with Santa on 12/11 and 12/18. Our ratings: The American Hotel 70% and The Mill 81%

HAVE SOME 1980’s ORIGINAL ITALIAN

Jimmy’s Italian Restaurant in Asbury Park is one of the best Italian restaurants in the area. It opened in 1982 as a place “where good friends meet.” This old school Italian restaurant was opened so that you did not have to travel to New York City for some authentic Italian food! It is amazing all year round, but there is something magical about this little restaurant come Christmas time. They string the bar area with lights that make you feel like you are stepping back in time. The ambiance really makes you feel the Christmas spirit, and on top of that, the food is delicious. The stuffed veal chop is by far the best entrée on the menu. Come step back in time and enjoy an Italian Christmas! Our rating: 84%

A RAVEN INSTEAD OF YOUR FOUR CALLING BIRDS

The Raven and the Peach in Fair Haven is spectacular all year round, but they definitely know how to amp up the Christmas atmosphere in an elegant way. I just love the old school vibes this restaurant gives off, and the food is so delicious. Catch a drink by the piano bar afterwards made by the legendary bartender there. Be sure to check them out! Our rating: 87%

Hope everyone enjoys the holiday season!

paul-xmas

Merry Christmas from us!

Wine Feature

Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

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Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Region: Alexander Valley, California

Wine.com: 90 points

Vivino app rating: 4.5/5

Average Price: $90

Drinking the Silver Oak Cabernet is a real treat. It is smooth, oaky, and full-bodied. The winemaker states:

Our 2012 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a lively and full-bodied expression of Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from an exceptional vintage. It has a lovely garnet color and opens with aromas of black currant, orange zest and raspberry. These aromas are framed by nuanced notes of vanilla, marshmallow and cocoa, eliciting an effect reminiscent of chocolate-covered berries. The attack is rich and gives way to a mid-palate with breadth and depth, supported with refreshing acidity and integrated, dusty tannins. This wine has power with an unusual vitality and structural balance. Given proper cellar conditions, this wine will provide drinking pleasure through 2034.

This cabernet pairs beautifully with steak, veal, and lamb.

I really like this cabernet a lot, however if you want to speak about price to taste ratio, I think you can easily find a cabernet this awesome for a little less. Don’t get me wrong though; the silver oak cabernet wine is amazing. I would rate this a 4.3/5. Whatever you do, please do not pay a dime over $75 for this wine because if you do, I can promise you that you are getting ripped off. Give this one a try and remember, “Life is a Cabernet!” Salute!

silver-oak

Life is a Cabernet
Life is a Cabernet
Article, Wine Feature

Wente Morning Fog 2013 Chardonnay, Your White Wine for the Fall

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Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay 2013

Region: Livermore Valley, California

Wine Enthusiast: 90 points

Vivino app rating: 3.8/5

Average Price: $13.99

It’s Fall, but sometimes you just aren’t ready to give up your white wine just yet! The best wines for the autumn are the wines that offer some cinnamon or vanilla notes, and that is what the Wente Morning Fog 2013 Chardonnay offers. The Wente winemaker notes on wine.com states,

Enjoy aromas and flavors of green apple and tropical fruits, balanced by subtle oak, cinnamon and vanilla from barrel aging. With a mouth-filling body and balanced acidity, this wine delivers a medium-long, refreshing finish.

A little oaky, but definitely full-bodied and refreshing, this Wente Morning Fog 2013 Chardonnay is very enjoyable especially for the price point.

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Chardonnays pair well with chicken and shellfish; if you’re pairing with cheeses, go for the gruyere or provolone.

I’m picky about my Chardonnays, and this Wente Chardonnay, in my opinion, is very nice. I would probably rate it close to the actual Vivino score, but a tad higher at 3.9/5. Go enjoy your white wine this Fall and have a great Wine Wednesday!

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The Seven Deadly Zins & Why You Must Try a Lodi Zinfandel

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The Seven Deadly Zins 2013

Region: Lodi, Central Valley, California

Wine Enthusiast: 89 points

Vivino app rating: 3.9/5

Average Price: $13.99

The Seven Deadly Zins is a bold wine with deep color and smoky aromas and flavoring originating from Lodi. You can taste the grape and berries. It is a smooth, smoky wine that I enjoyed very much!

Zinfandels in general can pair well with beef, lamb, poultry, pork, and can be served with a heavier cream sauce.

Vivino rates the Seven Deadly Zins wine a 3.9/5. I am leaning more toward a 4.0/5. I really enjoyed the full-bodied characteristic of this wine and the smooth smokiness. But hey, they do say Lodi makes amazing Zinfandel. But what makes Lodi Zins so special?

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Why Lodi Zinfandels are so Special

California in general is known for making good Zinfandels, but “Lodi produces nearly 1/3 of California’s production (winemag.com).” Lodi is located inland of Sacramento and is the northern portion of California’s Central Valley. The old vines here have been cared for by families for decades. That is what makes Lodi Zins so special. The vines are some of the oldest around. A lot of their grapes are used for white zinfandels, but when they make the reds, they’re red sole Louboutin types of fabulous. Ha. Additionally, the difference in temperature from day to night helps the grapes flourish. The days are hot and nights cooler in this region.

I credit my Uncle for getting me in to Zinfandels, and he doesn’t even know it! He gave me a glass of zinfandel without me realizing what it was and said, “do you like it?” It was great. And since then, I started my Zinfandel exploration. No one brings a Zinfandel to the party; no one says that is their wine of choice. It is always Cabernet or Merlot, sometimes Malbec. But Zinfandel? Not so much. It is a great choice of wine though, and most red lovers end up liking Zinfandel a lot.

Lodi is up and coming and I encourage you all to dabble in Lodi Zinfandels! Comment below with your favorite Zinfandels!

all smiles for the seven deadly zins
all smiles for the seven deadly zins
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Halloween Trick or Treat, Pair your Wine and Eat!

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It is almost Halloween! Whether you’re an adult trick-or-treater, a parent who sneaks some candy from your child’s stash, or the person who just eats a bowl of candy with a scary movie, I’m sure you’re going to have some wine with your Halloween candy! Wouldn’t it be fun to experience the height of each candy’s flavor and pair your wine? For those of you who don’t know, I am obsessed with pairing wine with my food, so why not pair with my Halloween candy? Lord knows I will be treating myself to some M&Ms and Snickers bars! These are not set in stone as there can be some debate or variety of wines that pair with each, but below are some popular Halloween candies with their wine pairing!

candy-bars

  1. M&Ms– This popular Halloween candy can pair well with medium or bold reds. The rule, so I’ve heard, is the darker the chocolate, the darker the wine. I would pair my M&Ms with a nice Zinfandel. I like the Sledgehammer Zinfandel priced at an average of $10 and of course the Lodi Zins are excellent as well. Teaser: stay tuned for my next wine Wednesday blog looking at what makes Lodi Zins so special!
  2. Snickers– Pair this chocolate and nut candy with a Port. Rumor has it that this Portuguese sweet wine is a dreamy pairing. I’m picky with the Ports, but I would choose a Fonseca Bin 27 averaging in price around $16.99.
  3. Reeses Peanut Butter Cups– Let’s get a wine that will accentuate the nut in peanut butter! Holy Nuts! Again, like with the nuts in Snickers, a Port may be best!
  4. Hershey’s chocolate– The staple of chocolate candy! You can do a Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon here. I’d go with the king Cab since I may be secretly partial to it. Cabernets are my favorite wines so I can probably rattle off many of my favorites! Go for the St. Francis Cabernet, average of $16 or the Decoy Cabernet, average of $17. If you’re a Pinot Noir lover, Meiomi (about $20) or Kendall Jackson (about $17) would do beautifully here.
  5. Sweet Tarts– For all you white wine lovers, I would pair these sweet and sour tart candies with a German Riesling. Yes, here comes my favorite as your recommendation! Relax Riseling would be my pick here, averaging at $9.99 per bottle.
  6. Candy Corns– Here is the epitome of Halloween candy in both flavoring and appearance. Chardonnay or Moscato would do here, so pick your poison! A Beringer Founder’s Estate Chardonnay averaged at $8 or Bartenura Moscato from Italy, averaged at $13.
  7. York Peppermint Patties– Cabernet for the win! Dark chocolate and mint pattie flavoring will optimally pair with a cab! Incase you did not like my suggestions above, I’ll throw out the Josh Cabernet Sauvignon on this one. 😉
  8. Twizzlers– Sometimes, a girl just needs her Champs! Pair your twizzlers with your favorite champagne and cheers your way in to November. As you may remember, I am a Prosecco girl so here I would choose the La Marca Prosecco, about $13. Of course, all of the expensive champagnes are amazing too, but I am staying on the economical side; we can save those pricey Dom Perignon bottles for a really special occasion outside of Halloween candy gorging. 😉

Obviously, there are many candies in the world, and I only listed 0.0003% of them. Ha. Comment below with specific candy and wine pairings you may be curious about or another of your favorites that I missed! Have a happy and safe Halloween!

 

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Wine Feature

Meiomi Pinot Noir 2014

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Meiomi Pinot Noir 2014

Region: Sonoma, California

Wine Enthusiast: 88 points

Vivino app rating: 4.1/5

Average Price: $19.99

It’s wine Wednesday again and this week, I am writing about Meiomi Pinot Noir 2014. What a pleasant surprise! Once my husband saw the screw top on the bottle, he said, “Oh no, it has a screw top? It can’t be that good.” Well, if you’re one of those people who equate screw tops with cheap wines in price and taste, please look the other way on this one because Meiomi is a win! Meiomi Pinot Noir is garnet in color and has flavors of blackberry, dark cherry, mocha, and vanilla. It is such a smooth and uplifting wine! There is also an aspect of oak that gives this wine an edge over other Pinot Noirs. There is just something soothing about this balanced and delicious wine!

Have your wine and drink it too
Have your wine and drink it too

This wine pairs well with pork or lamb, especially with stronger flavors. If you’re feeling in a fish mood, you can get away with enjoying it with salmon.

Meiomi Pinot Noir with rack of lamb
Meiomi Pinot Noir with rack of lamb

I would rate this wine exactly how Vivino members have rated it, a 4.1/5.0. It is absolutely spot on. If you’re a Pinot Noir lover, go try this wine; if you want to start drinking Pinots, start with Meiomi! Happy Wine Wednesday!

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How to Pair your Pumpkin dishes with Wine

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It’s finally Fall! If you’re like me, you’re so excited for the changing of the leaves, the crisp, cool air, football season, and of course pumpkin everything! You got out your pumpkin candles and have your pumpkin creamer ready for your coffee. You went to the grocery store and got pumpkin spice and every pumpkin item possible to make sure you are fully emerged in pumpkin season! You start noticing that your meals are revolving around it too; you’re eating your pumpkin pancakes and oatmeal for breakfast, pumpkin risotto for lunch, pumpkin raviolis for dinner, and pumpkin pie for dessert! Now, you just need the proper wines to pair with it! YES, you can pair wine with your favorite pumpkin meals. This is your guide on how to pair pumpkin dishes with wine.

I was inspired to write this when I made a pumpkin pancake dessert with salted caramel ice cream and maple syrup drizzle. I was pairing wine with my dinner and decided I should also pair my wine with the pumpkin dessert that I just made. Here’s what I came up with.

pumpkin pancake with salted caramel ice cream and maple syrup drizzle
pumpkin pancake with salted caramel ice cream and maple syrup drizzle

You can be a little flexible, in my opinion, with your pairings and base it more on the type of wine you like within guidelines. There is no rule for pairing with pumpkin; the pairing is chosen more based on the preparation. I would pair the dessert above with a German Riesling wine. A medium bodied, dry riesling compliments the pumpkin spice flavor well. For affordable rieslings, I really enjoy the Schmitt Sohne Relax Riesling. It has a fruity flavoring and natural acidity. Here, you can also do a Chardonnay or Pinot Gris. Chardonnay, especially new world, is a great Fall pairing wine in general.

Moving away from the desserts, if you’re looking to have something along the lines of a pumpkin risotto that I mentioned above, a Prosecco is a great pairing there.If you read my previous champagne article, you will remember that Prosecco hails from the Veneto region. Proseccos have a light, refreshing, and crisp taste associated with them and would pair excellent with a pumpkin risotto.

Pumpkin ravioli? I would do something a little more full bodied and heavier to pair with the tomato sauce here. If you are a white wine person, choose an Alsace Pinot Gris. If you are a red wine person and really prefer not to choose a white wine (I personally like red wine better than Pinot Gris), you can get away with a Syrah. The Clarendon Hill 2009 Syrah is one of my favorites.

Pumpkin soup? I would choose here a white wine again with some acidity and body to it. A Napa Valley Chardonnay with notes of apple and pear or vanilla would do beautifully here. I recently enjoyed the Walt ‘La Brisa’ Chardonnay from Sonoma. For a more easily accessible and a little bit less expensive chardonnay, Beringer makes nice ones as well as Hess.

I think you get the idea! You can eat your pumpkin and have your wine too. Pairing wine with food is a great way to dine. If paired correctly, the wine accentuates the food and flavors, bringing the meal to a whole new level. There is no reason you can’t do it with your favorite Fall flavor, pumpkin, too. Enjoy pumpkin season!

Enjoy your Pumpkin season! <3 Nadia
Enjoy your Pumpkin season! <3 Nadia
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50 Shades of Champagne & Why you’ve been Drinking it all Wrong

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Everybody loves a good glass of champagne to celebrate an occasion or cheers at midnight on New Year’s Eve, however champagne is a little bit more complex than the clinking of glasses during a celebration, and you most likely have been drinking it all wrong.

  1. The glass makes a difference– Coupes are out and tulip glasses are in! Why? Tulip glasses help preserve the bubbles and keep their concentration focused with less surface area no matter the cost or brand of champagne. The general rule about the bubbles is the finer the bubbles and the longer they go up the glass, the finer the product. For the test, we poured a Moet champagne into a coupe glass and a $6 prosecco in to a tulip glass. After almost an hour, the tulip glass preserved the bubbles and fizz in a concentrated area while the Moet looked almost flat because the bubbles were so dispersed. Some restaurants are still serving the coupes, but most of them have started using them for martinis. Interesting backstory on the coupe glasses; the coupe glasses were supposed to be modeled after Marie Antoinette’s left breast. Make sure you’re drinking your bubbly, no matter the price, from a tulip glass!me-and-moet
  2. Don’t shoot the cork out– This one does not make a difference with the taste of the champagne, but is definitely important with champagne etiquette. Everyone loves to hear the huge champagne bottle pop, which signifies that it is party time, but there is actually a correct way to open a champagne bottle. The last thing you want is to open a bottle of champagne in a restaurant and have the cork hit the ceiling (yes, my husband did this before haha). First off, there are always six turns to unscrew the champagne cage on the cork. Always six! The cage stays on, and you should be placing your hand over the cork, slowly turning the cork until a quiet, controlled pop occurs.
  3. Know the Lingo- There is such thing as label lingo on champagne, and not all champagnes are the same! Let’s first talk about sweetness level. Ultra brut is bone dry. If you hate any hint of sweetness, you need an ultra brut. Extra brut is still very dry, but not bone dry. Brut is the most common and designates a somewhat dry sparkling wine. Extra dry is probably my favorite. It is still somewhat dry, but sweeter than the extra brut if that isn’t confusing enough! Ready for more confusing? Sec means “dry” in French, but these bottles are sweeter than extra dry. Demi-sec is a sweet sparkling wine, and lastly, doux is the sweetest option. The other lingo you should look out for is where the champagne is from. Champagne is from France, and they tend to be the driest. Cremant is a sparkling wine made outside of the Champagne region in France and are also dry. Cava is Spanish and is typically dry and smoky. I personally am not a cava fan; it is my least favorite champagne type. Prosecco, my favorite, is the most common type from Italy in the Veneto region. It is often sweeter than cava and cremant. Lastly, we have the California sparkling wine which is the sweetest and easiest to drink.champagne-fountain
  4. Choose your grape wisely– What? Champagne is made of grapes? Yes, it is, and there are all different kinds. Blanc de blancs are crisp and refreshing wines made of white wine grapes. Blanc de noirs are richer and made from red wine grapes although the actual wine is still white. Rose is what we all know it as! Pink in color made from a variety of different grapes that give off fruity and berry flavors. Admit it, we all love a good rose from time to time! NV means “non vintage” and includes a blend of different grapes harvested from different years.
  5. Pallet cleanse away! When you are not sure what to drink, have champagne! Champagne can pair with almost any food. If you decide on a different drink with your dinner, you can keep the champagne as a pallet cleanser. Finally, here’s your excuse to double fist! Marilyn Monroe bathed in champagne, so there is no reason why your tongue can’t bathe in it as well.

Well there you have it, the 50 shades of champagne and how to drink it to maximize your taste buds and the tastes of the actual wine! As Winston Chruchill said, “Remember it’s not France we fight for, but champagne.” Have your champagne and enjoy!

A special thank you to Leslie Britt, the sommelier at The Lodge at Woodloch for the excellent champagne tasting and education. I definitely learned some extra facts that I never knew before and hope you did too.

Check out more about Leslie and the wine at Woodloch at http://www.thelodgeatwoodloch.com/wine-list/

me-champagne

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Gotham Packs the House for the Hall and Walt Wine Dinner

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What is  better than a food and wine pairing dinner on a Thursday night? Gotham in Red Bank, New Jersey packed the house on September 22nd to serve a delicious four course meal brilliantly paired with Hall and Walt wines from Napa Valley. The lovely Renee Linares, representative of Hall wines for the Northeast, guided us through the wine journey for the night.

Before we get into the wonderful event hosted by Gotham, let’s talk a little background on Kathryn Walt Hall. Kathryn grew up in a family that made wine, but also very much enjoyed it herself. Other than her success with her wineries, Hall was also the United States ambassador to Austria and an attorney. We are so happy she began her wine journey because these wines are amazing. Walt is her maiden name and Hall is her married name, and all the wines are spectacular.

For the first course, Gotham served up a proscuitto wrapped melon, mache greens topped with fresh calabrian chili flakes. The fresh, sweet melon was a great compliment to the natural salt in the proscuitto.  The chili flakes added a nice flavor and kick to the light, refreshing first course appetizer. The proscuitto wrapped melon was paired with the Hall sauvignon blanc 2015, Napa bottle. Great bottle with flavors of citrus, melon, and white peach. Wine spectator has given this wine 90 points.

The second course served was the pan seared scallop with autumn squash saute. Scallops were cooked perfectly. I loved the addition of green onions topped on the squash and vegetables. The Walt ‘La Brisa’ Chardonnay 2014 Sonoma was excellent. This chardonnay was not too oaky and was a very pleasant and easy drink. Fresh fruit flavors of apricot, peaches, and honeysuckle fill your mouth. Wine spectator gives this wine 89 points. I love chardonnays that lack the overly oak taste, so this one for me was excellent.

Braised veal with homemade pasta and truffle made its way to us for the third course. Pasta was al dente, and the shredded veal was tasty and tender. Parmesan cheese topped the greens over the pasta which was a nice touch. This third course was paired with the Walt ‘La Brisa’ Pinot Noir 2014 Sonoma. Brilliant bottle with flavors of berries and spicy aromas. This wine was smooth and paired very nicely with the veal course. Wine Spectator rates this wine a well deserved 90 points.

Lastly, saving the best for last, was the sliced skirt steak marinated with seven herbs and served with scalloped potatoes. Steak was served medium rare, and the seven herbs really added a fine, mouthwatering touch. This course was paired with the king of red wines.
A 2012 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa was served; it was absolutely delicious and smooth. It had flavors of dark berries and aromas of currants, dark chocolate, blackberry, and oak that were all vibrant and strong. This wine is rated 92 points by Wine Spectator and has absolutely become one of my favorite cabernets.

A strawberry dessert was served with wafers and cream to end the night on a sweet note.

Overall, the wines paired with the courses were fantastic and were the highlight of the night. The food was also good and palatable. Based on this, we would return to another Gotham wine dinner. We loved the winery selection. Hall and Walt Wines gets an A+ in our book. A special thank you goes out to Renee Linares for the Hall and Walt education.

 

 

 

 

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