by Christine | Wine Friday
In these days of high unemployment and global financial crisis, it’s nice to relax with a bottle of wine that doesn’t break your pocketbook. I’m here to sort out the memorable from the truly awful, and each bottle is under $10 unless noted otherwise.
Today I’ve got three white wines. Yes, despite the fact that I am a red wine whore fan, at times the food, the day, the palate cry out for a white wine. I’m not entirely sure when, but my husband makes sure to point out all the signs. Like, he opens a bottle of white wine and pours it for dinner. That’s usually a really good sign that it’s time for a white wine. So, without further ado, here are the three that have managed to sneak onto my dinner table in the past couple of weeks.
It’s A HeadSnapper Pinot Grigio 2011 D.O.C. Trentino, Product of Italy Alcohol 12.5% by Volume, $9.99 at Vons
On the Label: “When a wine is so memorable that it makes you do a double take, you know “It’s a HeadSnapper.”
“Zesty and floral, our Pinot Grigio has delicate notes of honeysuckle and figs which finish with a crisp, soft note. Enjoy its refreshing finish with wood-fired quatro pizza or simply as an aperitif.
*WARNING: MAY CAUSE WHIPLASH”
My Take: In my opinion, people in the wine industry should not try to become standup comics. Neither should they try to be “cute” with their labels. Honestly, it took me several years after seeing my first “HeadSnapper” label to actually get up the nerve to buy one.
On the one hand, the subliminal message of the label could be, “hey, we don’t take ourselves too seriously and neither should you” – but it could also be saying “we’re a really bad wine disguising ourselves with a funny label”. I finally got up the nerve, in spite of the label, to give it a whirl.
I liked it. Crisp, refreshing, just the way a Pinot Grigio should taste. I didn’t taste any figs or honeysuckle, but it was a nice, clean wine that was in no way offensive.
My Rating: ~ Drinkable Plus ~ Yeah, technically that’s not a rating, but it didn’t quite elevate itself up to Very Drinkable so I had to come up with something else. Drinkable Plus seems to work for now.
Toad Hollow 2010 Unoaked Chardonnay Francine’s Selection, Mendocino County 
Alcohol 13.9% by Volume, under $10 at Vons.
On the Label: “2010 Unoaked Chardonnay. Clean, crisp and full flavored with hints of mango and melon and a rich, creamy mouth feel. Pair with herbed chicken, braised pork, grilled shellfish, sushi. Also great with goat cheese and gouda. A treat for the senses!
“Seriously crafted from three Mendocino County vineyards that produce clean, bright flavors in Chardonnay. Whole cluster picked and pressed into tanks, racked and chilled to 52 degrees F. Slow fermentation process to retain fruity characteristics. Absolutely no oak!”
My Take: Okay, okay, no oak. I get it. Though why they would brag about leaving out an important (to me) part of wooing the chardonnay grapes is totally beside me. Though I do understand there are fanatic Chardonnay drinkers out there who actually prefer the stainless steel taste in their Chardonnay and in fact, am friends with more than a few, I do believe this is just a fad and will fade with time. My fondest hope is that there will be a middle ground – not the huge buttery, oaky Chardonnays of the 1980s (which was a fad in itself), but something milder, and without the metallic taste so often prevalent in the unoaked Chardonnays.
My Rating: ~ Thiscloseto Very Drinkable ~ Yes. Despite my rant above, this is close to being a Very Drinkable wine. Not too metallic (but that does creep in a tiny bit to my personal palate) but drinkable. Despite the cutesy label (with Mr. Toad, in waistcoat and walking stick, lifting a glass to the sky), too – I guess after the HeadSnapper label, this one was mild in comparison. At any rate, all you Unoaked fans will appreciate this one.
Fetzer Sundial Chardonnay 2011 The Earth Friendly Winery™ Pioneers in sustainability; Established in 1968. 14% less carbon emissions. Alcohol 13% by Volume. Under $10 at Vons
On the Label: “Renewal. With each new vintage, I recall why I enjoy making wine. Starting fresh each spring energizes me. My sense of personal renewal shows in our popular Chardonnay. This is a wine with a medium body, full of easy-to-drink flavors of apple, pear and tropical fruits. So when the day is done, I like to relax and refresh with good friends. Our Chardonnay is always invited. Perfect with most fish dishes and white meats like chicken or pork.” Dennis Martin, Winemaker
“Fetzer now uses lighter glass bottles, runs the winery from mostly green energy, recycles, the list goes on…enhancing our heritage of sustainability.”
My Take: There is so much wrong with that back label that I’m stumped as to where to start. I’m not sure, for instance, that I want to know what part of Dennis’ sense of personal renewal shows in the wine. Is it the sweat of work well done? *shudder* And how about where he “invites” his friend, Chardonnay, to relax with him – and then CONSUMES said friend? It’s just – disturbing. But for me, the icing on the cake is their trumpeting of their “green” practices. If you have to shout about it on the label…*shakes head*. I suppose it is a good thing that I make a practice of NEVER reading the back label before I buy.
My Rating: ~ Very Drinkable ~ When all is said and done, Fetzer Sundial Chardonnay has been a favorite of mine for over 20 years. They’ve kept the price low, which means I can still afford it, and it’s a solid producer, year after year. What’s not to like?
As usual, this is just my honest opinion and depend upon my mood, the weather, and what cycle the moon is in. Your taste buds will differ. Thanks for dropping by! I love your comments – what new wine (or old favorite) have you enjoyed recently?
~ Until the next time, cheers – and remember to drink responsibly! ~
Demon Soul, Blood Dreams and Demon Hunt are all available for the Kindle! Have you fallen into the Caine Brothers’ world yet?
My Rating System: Undrinkable, Barely Drinkable, Drinkable, Very Drinkable, and the ever popular Stay away! This is MY wine, you slut!
by Christine | Writer Wednesday, Writing
I’ve been neglecting my reading. No, seriously, and that’s another reason why I started Writer Wednesday on my blog. To find authors I REALLY want to read. I picked up Kendall Grey’s Inhale quite a while ago, and haven’t read it. *headdesk* Stupid me. Because I started it today and it’s fantastic. I don’t know where it’s going, but I already love the world. And Gavin. (Serena has to be all wrong for him. Just saying!)
Kendall Grey. Ain’t she awesome?
Anyway, here is the interview I did with Kendall. Enjoy!
CAA: What made you decide to write a novel?
KG: Like a lot of people, I read TWILIGHT and thought, “I could write a book!” I often wonder how many writing careers Stephenie Meyer launched with her series.
Of course, very few of us reach the level of popularity that Ms. Meyer did. It took me four years to get my first book published, and it’s still nowhere near perfect. Every time I open INHALE, I see all the things I did wrong. A writer’s work is NEVER done, but as long as you learn from your mistakes, you can only get better.
CA: Why whales? Please tell us what you do!
KG: Whales became my passion in 2006 after I took an education course (I’m a former teacher) about Situated Cognition. The theory is that people do best when they’re fully immersed in the topic or skill they want to learn. To prove the point, our class went out on a whale watch boat every day. We learned about the whales in their natural habitat, and then we taught passengers on the boat about the animals. In the course of a week, I fell totally and madly in love with the humpbacks up there in Massachusetts.
When I got home, I hit the Interwebz and soaked up everything my wee brain could absorb about whales. I went into schools (and still do) to talk to kids about what they can do to help whales. I’m a freakish fanatic. I plan my vacations around where the whales are at any given time.
When I decided to write, the heroine and hero were no-brainers. Passionate whale biologist meets gorgeous, young Australian rock star dream guy? Hell, yes!
CA: That sounds fan-FREAKING-tastic! How many books/short stories do you have planned for this series?
KG: The JUST BREATHE series is a trilogy, so just three books. I published four short “Ephemera” stories that complement the books, and I’d like to put out one more of those. There’s a character whose storyline got blown wide open at the end of JUST BREATHE, and I’ve already started writing his book, too. As long as these Elementals and Sentinels keep talking to me, I’ll keep writing about them. 🙂
CA: And that’s totally awesome. Where would you live, if you could live anywhere in the world?
KG: Either Hervey Bay in Queensland, Australia (where the JUST BREATHE Trilogy takes place) or the island of Maui. Both places are gorgeous, and both boast some of the best whale watching in the world. 🙂 <– See how I did that? I brought whales into that question. It’s how my brain works. HA!
CA: LOL! Okay – Name 3 simple joys in your life.
KG: Aside from my three Demonlings, I get great joy from writing, whales, and sewing. Not necessarily in that order.
CA: More whales, lol! If you could have dinner with any famous person, living or dead or fictional, who would it be and where would you go to eat?
KG: That’s a loaded question! I’d love to have dinner with the hero of my books, Gavin Cassidy. Really, I’d love to just sit across from him and stare for a day or two. This vegetarian might even be willing to go to a steak house with him. 😉
As for a real person, lately I’ve been reading about Che Guevara. That dude was some kind of intense. It would be really interesting to have a conversation with him. About anything.
CA: From what I’ve read, I’d be happy to stare at Gavin for a couple of days, too! Ahem. If you could give just one piece of advice to a writer starting out, what would it be?
KG: Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you can’t do. You can do any damn thing you want. Just do it well.
CA: Name one thing your fans would be surprised to learn about you.
KG: Most people are surprised I was a middle school teacher. Probably because they can’t imagine my obnoxious mouth flapping at sweet, impressionable 12-year-old kids. HA! The truth is, I *loved* teaching, and middle school kids are so freaking fun.
CA: Is there anything else you’d like to talk about?
KG: I’d like to thank you for inviting me to visit your blog today, Christine. You’re an awesome host. 🙂
CA: Aww. That’s so sweet of you! (Your $20 is in the mail, lol!)
Okay – that’s the interview. Let’s get a gander at the cover of Just Breathe, shall we?
Just Breathe, 3rd novel in the Trilogy
And the blurb, of course…
WARNING: This book contains graphic language, sex, and violence. NOT SUITABLE FOR READERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18.
He made a deal with the devil to save the woman he loves…
After a terrible accident rocks the foundation of their relationship, Australian Sentinel Gavin Cassidy and whale biologist Zoe Morgan call it quits. Gavin can’t forgive himself for shattering her trust, and being with the sexy rock star is killing Zoe. Literally.
But love—and duty—are powerful motivators, and alliances are forged in the most unlikely places. With the key to salvation locked inside the mind of an unconscious child, Gavin must find another way to snuff out the Fyre Elementals before millions of humans die, or make good on his deal with the devil and lose the one he loves. Again.
*The author will donate all profits from the sale of the JUST BREATHE trilogy to programs that educate people about whales and the challenges they face.
JUST BREATHE is live at:
Kendall is ALSO sharing at her blog http://www.kendallgrey.com about her first donation to help educate people about whales. Go to her blog and check it out!
Thanks, everyone, for stopping by. What do you think? Does the Just Breathe trilogy intrigue you as much as it does me?
~ Until the next time, cheers – and remember to drink responsibly! ~
Demon Soul, Blood Dreams and Demon Hunt are all available for the Kindle! Have you fallen into the Caine Brothers’ world yet?
by Christine | My Garden
This is the first year I’ve planted a true winter garden – I mean, planting in November and December is not something I usually do. But the bug bit, and the beds had been dug in with soil from the mulch pit. The weather was beautiful and showery, so I planted.
Some early lettuces got eaten. Broccoli is holding up well. The cherry tomatoes that hubby has nurtured and trimmed back are still providing us with yummy fruit, though the skin is thicker than in the summer.
Cherry Tomatoes in December!
We worked in the garden on the 29th, and worked hard. Planted onion sets and cabbage and lettuce. Pulled out the insidious morning glory. Weeded. Ooohed and aaahed over the bell peppers, which are still flourishing.
Maui onions. They barely had roots to them – had to plant them in bunches. Will thin later.
Bell Peppers planted in April or May, 2012
Rescued lime trees from opportunistic plants. Spent hours (or so it seemed) in the chilly sunshine as a family, working to make the yard even more gardentastic.
When we woke up the next morning, it looked like it had snowed over night. Whaaa??? Not something that I’m used to in So Cal. We’d been hit with a HARD frost. Not just frosted car windows and rooftops and bare patches on the front yard; oh no. This hit us right in the Maui onions. The Sequoia strawberries. The – gasp! – year-round basil! Even the pansies were flattened by frost. My heart almost stopped.
My onion bed – frosted!
Frosted strawberries!
The parsley has a smattering of frost, too…
After the sun came out fully and warmed everything up, the garden looked – to this San Diego girl – happy. The rose bushes gleamed, their foliage dark and shiny. Even the pansies seemed to relish the cold, waving their bright little heads and standing up straight and tall. Only the basil had black spots that needed cutting away. The onions survived, as did the strawberries and the lettuce (which totally shocked me) and the cabbage and the broccoli.
Today we bought more onions (red onions, this time). Two types of lettuce. More broccoli, and cauliflower. The hubs even bought a tomato plant, though I told him it was far too early to plant tomatoes.
Red leaf lettuce, butter lettuce, two types of onions, and an Early Girl tomato in a Red Flyer wagon.
Two new beds. Hubby says they’re for tomatoes. We shall see!
There have been ups and downs, but so far? I’m loving the drama of my winter garden.
I love hearing from you! Do you garden (when you can)? What is your favorite vegetable or fruit to grow? I’m always looking for something new to plant!
~ Until the next time, cheers – and remember to drink responsibly! ~
Demon Soul, Blood Dreams and Demon Hunt are all available for the Kindle! Have you fallen into the Caine Brothers’ world yet?
by Christine | Wine Friday
In these days of high unemployment and global financial crisis, it’s nice to relax with a bottle of wine that doesn’t break your pocketbook. I’m here to sort out the memorable from the truly awful. Today I’m talking about Holiday Wines – those wines I reach for when creating a memorable meal, and under $25.
Kendall Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Pinot Noir 2010 Alcohol 13.5% by Volume; $16.99 on sale at Vons
On the Label: “Vineyard selection makes a difference. Our Jackson Estates Grown Pinot Noir delivers black cherry and raspberry fruit with velvet tannins found in our hillside grapes that intertwine with plum and spice from our benchland vineyards. The wine was aged in French and American oak barrels that impart a hint of vanilla and cedar aromas.”
My Take: Funny, but as I’m writing this my hubby said to me, didn’t you already review that one? Yeah, well maybe! I suppose I need to keep an index of the wines I’ve reviewed. Hrm. At any rate, this wine paired beautifully with a big bowl of Cassoulet (the New Year’s Eve dish of choice). The depth of the wine dealt with the spice of the meats, and all around it was a wonderful pairing. Of course, in my book it’s hard to go wrong with Pinot Noir!
My Rating: ~ Very, Very Drinkable ~ and not a bad price, considering.
Stag’s Leap 2011 Napa Valley Chardonnay Alcohol 14.1% by Volume; $22.99 at
Vons
On the Label: “At Stag’s Leap Winery, we appreciate wines that enhance conversation and artisanal foods. This Chardonnay is a story of balance, a delicious intersection of richness and minerality that benefits from the classical standard of viticulture, care of the land, and winemaking that is as relevant today as it was in 1893 when the winery was established.”
My Take: It was Christmas Eve, and I wanted a special wine to go with a simple dinner. I was making home made pasta and a rich garlic cream sauce, with broccoli alongside. So I splurged on this wine, as usually Stag’s Leap is out of my budget. (But it’s Christmas, Mr. Scrooge!)
I really, really liked this wine. It cut through the richness of the creamy sauce, enhanced the flavor of the broccoli, and rounded out the meal beautifully. Truly a delight to be shared on special occasions.
My Rating: ~ Stay away! This is MY wine, you Slut! ~ Another white to add to the Slut Status! Woo!
Thanks for dropping by, please know that I LOVE having you here. As is usual, the ratings of these wines are my opinion only and can be affected by the weather and the late night news. Your taste buds will differ.
~ Until the next time, cheers – and remember to drink responsibly! ~
Demon Soul, Blood Dreams and Demon Hunt are all available for the Kindle! Have you fallen into the Caine Brothers’ world yet?
My Rating System: Undrinkable, Barely Drinkable, Drinkable, Very Drinkable, and the ever popular Stay away! This is MY wine, you slut!
I LOVE hearing from you, so please leave a comment, okay?
by Christine | Uncategorized
Today kicks off my Writer Wednesday feature. I’ll be showcasing writers with interviews, guest blog posts, blurbs of their latest books, and so forth. For my inaugural guest, please welcome author Patricia C. Lee!
Patricia, let’s get down to the interview. (Rubs hands.) No, don’t squirm. This won’t hurt!
CA: What do you write?
PCL: I write fantasy/romance now, but have written literary short stories as well as one-act and full length plays (one of which was staged at a theatre regional festival in 2006).
CA: Other than writing, what is your favorite creative endeavor?
PCL: Hmmm, well I love to bake (is that classified as creative??) In my house it’s almost a necessity (my hubby is a HUGE cookie monster LOL!). I used to do a lot of cross stitch but that’s put to the wayside for a while because once I start a project I keep at it. This then takes away from my writing. OH! And I’ve only just recently got into making book trailers and I find that I LOVE it!! In fact I like it as much as the actual writing. If I could make money at it, I’d do it for a living!
CA: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be?
PCL: As corny as this sounds I love living in Canada, and if I could afford it, I’d live in Parksville, British Columbia in an instant.
CA: Name three joys in your life.
PCL: Without sounding too esoteric, my health is number one. I know too many friends and family members that have major health issues and I am so thankful I don’t. Other than that, I’d have to say reading (duh, of course), my hubby and my cats. Ohhh, and can I add wine to that too!!
CA: If you could share a meal with any author or any literary character, who would you choose, and what would you serve?
PCL: Literary character is a stumper because there isn’t one that stands out over the other. As for author, Sidney Sheldon, my all-time favorite. Since he’s passed away, well what would you serve a ghost!! But seriously, if he was alive, umm, I make an awesome Beef Sirloin tips in mushroom sauce that my husband says could be on a restaurant menu. That served over butter noodles, accompanied with baby spinach salad, and to finish off the meal my show-stopper – Black Forest Cake (spoken about in hushed and reverend tones LOL!!)
CA: WOW – that sounds totally yummy!
CA: Is there anything else you want people to know about you?
PCL: Well, as you can see I have a somewhat warped sense of humor. But I do take my writing very seriously because I believe if people are going to spend their hard-earned money on my books, then I had better make sure it’s the best it could possibly be.
Thanks for answering. See, that didn’t hurt, lol! Now, let’s get to the book, shall we?
Here’s the Cover:
Here’s the Blurb:
Destiny’s Present (Book 2 Daughters of the Crescent Moon):
The sorceress Narena has done many things for Leisos – advised the king, helped heal a young girl and sent a prince forward in time to save his life. Now, to protect her people, she may have to sacrifice herself, her lover, her child. Maybe even all three.
She hunts for the one who threatens the royal family and the throne of Leisos. And also seeks the daughter taken from her at birth. There’s only one problem. They might be one and the same. What she finds on her quest is love and hate, loyalty and betrayal, and a revelation that will change her life forever.
Ardis is a warrior and former captain of the king’s army. His allegiance to the throne lives in his blood – as does the secret he carries. He will protect both at all costs. Even if it means killing Narena – or someone she loves.
Here’s where you can find Patricia! Go stalk her, if you don’t mind (because I know she won’t mind, lol!)
Website – http://www.patriciaclee.com/
Blog: http://authorpatriciaclee.com/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/authorpatriciaclee
email: authorpatriciaclee@yahoo.com
BUY LINK: Destiny’s Present
Thanks for dropping by, Patricia – the book looks totally awesome! I’m loading it up on my Kindle as we speak.
oOo
Are you interested in being on Writer Wednesday? Drop me an email and let’s talk!
oOo
~ Until the next time, cheers – and remember to drink responsibly! ~
Demon Soul, Blood Dreams and Demon Hunt are all available for the Kindle! Have you fallen into the Caine Brothers’ world yet?
It’s A HeadSnapper Pinot Grigio 2011 D.O.C. Trentino, Product of Italy Alcohol 12.5% by Volume, $9.99 at Vons
