Margerum Winemaker Dinner – July 29 at Bistro Aix
July 17, 2011
Join Bistro Aix in their beautiful private dining rooms for a fun "summer style" winemaker dinner featuring a wide selection of Margerum wines and a sophisticated picnic-inspired menu from Chef Tom and his team.
Start off with Margerum’s Pinot Gris along side a variety of passed hors d’oeuvre "salads". Then enjoy the Margerum "Sybarite" Sauvignon Blanc served with a fresh Heirloom Tomato & Watermelon Panzanella. A Grilled Fish and Farm Vegetable dish will be served with the Chukker Cabernet Franc blend, followed by the Margerum M5 Syrah blend and an Eden Farms Pork Spare Ribs entree. For dessert, the Picho "Reserve" Cabernet Sauvignon will be paired with Housemade S’mores.
Posted in Events | Tagged Bistro Aix, Santa Barbara, Wine Dinner | Leave a comment //Virginia Viognier: A Tasting. Part One Of Two
July 16, 2011
This last Thursday (7/14/11), I was given the the unique opportunity to participate in a wine tasting unlike anything else I’ve ever been involved with before. The tasting itself actually ties in quite nicely with my coming trip to this years Wine Bloggers Conference in Charlottesville (details to follow). All the wines were indeed from the great state of Virginia.
Now I don’t know about you, but for me Virginia, when I think about it for any great length, doesn’t immediately conjure up images of wineries and vineyards. However, the people at VirginiaWine.org are doing everything in their power to change that perception.
They approached me a few weeks ago (mainly due of my participation in the WBC) to join a Twitter tasting of 6 different Viognier wines over the course of 2 hours. It sounds like a long time, but I promise you it’s not!
I’ve participated in a couple of Twitter tastings before, but never with as many as 6 wines. The basic premise is that over the 2 hours, each of the 6 wines will be given 20 minutes for everyone to taste and “tweet” their notes online. Some, as I do, also post photos along the way. It adds a much more visual aspect to the whole thing. I know to some it may sound like a big wino nerd-fest, and I’m not denying that, but it’s a great way to share your opinion online and gain an insight into the thoughts of others.
Franciscan Estate Wine Dinner at Ruth’s Chris – Ponte Vedra
July 15, 2011
Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Ponte Vedra Beach have teamed up with Franciscan Estate Winery and put together a five course wine pairing menu from the three decades old Napa winery. All of Franciscan’s winemakers have left their individual marks, but all have remained true to Franciscan’s signature: bold wines with the rare combination of rich, vibrant flavors yet fine, supple texture. They’ve paired some of Ruth’s classic dishes with a few of Franciscan’s award winning wines; like their Sliced Tomato & Mozzarella Salad with the Franciscan Sauvignon Blanc, the Lamb Chop & Mint with the Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon or the NY Strip paired with the Franciscan Magnificat.
Join Ruth’s Chris on July 20th at 7:00pm. The price is $89 per guest, not including tax or gratuity. RSVP by calling (904)285-0014 and informing the hostess you would like to reserve for the Franciscan Wine Dinner.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House Wine Dinner
814 A1A N., Suite 103
Ponte Vedra Beach
FL
32082
2009 Cazin Cour Cheverny Cuvee Renaissance
July 15, 2011
This article is part of Gary Vaynerchuk’s Feature from his Daily Grape website.
Grape
:100% Romorantin
Rating:
90- Points
Price:
$16 MSRP
Gary’s explanation why:
Anyone who has watched my wine shows over the last 5+ years know that I’m constantly pushing people to try new and different wines. This wine may transcend that mission better than any other. Romorantin is an ancient varietal dating back to the 15th century, and François Cazin is "the man" in Cour-Cheverny. I’d tasted the 2008 Cazin Cour-Cheverny on episode 19 from Tangled Vine Wine Bar & Kitchen and fell in love (http://dailygrape.com/videos/15-french-whites-from-a-hot-new-york-city-wine-bar). Following that tasting just a couple months back, this 2009 Cuvee Renaissance reaffirms what makes Cazin so darn special. Off-dry with just a touch of sweetness and great minerality, this is nerdy wine to say the least. You won’t find it at just any local wine shop, but I’d strongly urge you to add this to your wish list, hunt it down, and enjoy with any lighter summertime fare like oysters and delicate fish dishes.
Gary’s tasting notes:
Heavy minerality on the nose. Little hints of mustard, pine cone, and forest floor. Nice hint of residual sugar, but not too much. Very vibrant and clean. The kind of wine I like to drink with summer time food on the porch by the pool in the Hamptons. A nice summer time into fall white wine.
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Posted in Reviews | Tagged Daily Grape, Gary Vaynerchuk, Romorantin | Leave a comment //Why I Think Google+ has the Potential to Kill Facebook
July 13, 2011
There’s been so much flying around the Internet with regard to Google’s new social service (Google +), that I thought it warranted a quick post.
I don’t want to drag this article out too much, after all this is a wine website; but with me taking such an active interest in social media, I thought it was worth letting you know some of my insights:
Google seems to be listening to its audience (customers), unlike Facebook.
I’ve always said that Facebook’s lack of customer service will be its downfall. You can’t just go around making changes which affect the accounts and sometimes privacy of millions, without pissing a few people off. Zuckerberg seems to be all about “social” and “sharing”; but when it comes to sharing with its users its privacy policy, and making its settings more socially acceptable, it fails. Badly. Or in the words of Stephen Colbert "…he values his privacy much more than he values yours."
Maybe the problem is that Facebook views it’s users as just that. Users. People whom should be grateful for using its social service for free, instead of what they actually are; a vital component to the success of its platform.
Facebook provides zero customer service no matter whether you’re an average user, or a company spending thousands on their ads. To me there’s fundamentally something wrong with that.
This isn’t to insist that Google is to provide a panacea for all these problems; but at this stage I think people are ready for any type of “change”.
[NB: I could have made a political joke there about “hope” and “change”, but I resisted. I think I’ll pat myself on the back for that.]
Celebrate Bastille Day at Bistro Aix – Thursday July 14, 5-9pm
July 13, 2011
Storm the Bastille with Bistro Aix for France’s *Fête Nationale on Thursday, July 14th…and go ahead, eat cake (and crêpes, and drink Champagne!)
Enjoy dining specials galore such as their popular Jambon et Fromage Crêpes with Mustard Sauce, or fresh Bacon Farms Salad with Twinn Bridges Poached Farm Egg, House-Made Bacon and Dijon Vinaigrette. One of Chef Tom’s favorites, a Bouillabaisse with Maine Lobster, Blue Hill Bay Mussels, Shrimp and Oak Fired Fish, is a treat anytime, and save room for dessert, a Daquoise…crunchy almond meringue layered with chocolate mousse and almond buttercream.
Posted in Events | Tagged Bastille Day, Bistro Aix, Jacksonville | Leave a comment //
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