Trying out Rodney Strong Vineyard Wines #spon

Posted on November 11, 2012 by Jamie

About a week and a half ago I was invited out to Tar and Roses in Santa Monica for a lovely dinner with Robert Larsen, communications director of Rodney Strong Vineyards.

He invited me out to introduce me to the Rodney Strong Vineyards line, and teach me a bit about their vineyards.

Rodney Strong Vineyards was founded in 1959 by Rodney Strong.  It would become Sonoma County’s 13th bonded winery.  They have expanded since then and now include 12 estate vineyards in Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, Chalk Hill, and Sonoma Coast AVAs.

In 1989, Rodney Strong Vineyards became apart of the Klein Family, and owner and proprietor being Tom Klein.

Their tasting room is located at:

11455 Old Redwood Highway

Healdsberg, CA 95448

and is open from 10am to 5pm daily with tours at 11am and 3pm.

Their wines include:

Single Vineyard: Alexander’s Crown, Rockaway, and Brothers Ridge Caberet Sauvignon

Reserve: Symmetry Meritage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Estate: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc

Sonoma County: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay

AVA Alexander Valley Vineyards

So during our meal from Tar and Roses we had a bit of everything to choose from including: oxtail dumplings, balsamic glazed ribs, ricotta gnocchi, autumn salad, and pork chops, and a shellfish pot we also happened to try a few wines.

1st one: The Estate Charlotte Home Sauvignon Blanc

Being more of a white wine drinker, I must say, this sauvignon blanc was a favorite of mine.  It was refreshing, delicious, and went down smoothly.  It had a bit of a savoring taste for me to enjoy after I took my first few sips.

Once our appetizer dishes were set aside, and the pork chops arrived on scene we then tried out the Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and the Knotty Vines Zinfandel (just think of how many fun names you can come up with this one!)

The Pinot Noir definitely had a nice aroma to it, and is a favorite for so many.  But when asked between the two, since I did try them back to back, I choose the Knotty Vines Zinfandel.  It went down smooth, the flavors were there, and it was my chosen wine.  It will definitely be one I will be picking up when serving a red wine to guests.

And then I got to take a bottle home with me: The Rockaway: Caberet Sauvignon.  The evening we brought out the bottle of wine we made a nice dinner of pork tenderloins with asparagus and sweet potatoes.  We poured our wine, and had ourselves a delicious meal.

I was really looking forward to trying out the Cabaret Sauvignon since Rodney Strong Vineyards is known for their Cabarets.  The Rockaway definitely had a kick to it.  The instant I poured I noticed the color, and it was close to black so I knew it was going to be rich in flavor.

And then I had my first sip.  Instant kick, and it had cabaret sauvignon written all over it.  This is the type of wine that is meant to be served with a red meat item, or a nice dark chocolate dessert.  For the cabaret sauvignon drinkers, you will love this wine.

My SO said it was very bold and rich, unpretentious yet full of flavor with no bitter lingering aftertaste.

My thoughts on the wine: The Rockaway definitely had a kick to it like no other wine I had tried before.  It was a good “kick” per se, however, with it’s full flavor, and richness in being a Cabaret Sauvignon this is still a wine I truly have to work up too.  I was actually surprised it was labeled as a Cabaret Sauvignon because it reminded me of those merlot flavor qualities.

Disclosure: I was provided with a meal, and a tasting of the Rodney Strong Vineyard wines mentioned above.  All opinions are my own or my SO’s.

 


Categories: Life, Product Reviews, Travel, Wine | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Movie Review: Lincoln

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Jamie

This weekend Lincoln is coming to a theater near you, and for any history buff, this is a must see.

Lincoln isn’t your typical Abraham Lincoln story, and it gives you more of a perspective of the times way back then.  Lincoln focuses upon one aspect of   Lincoln’s career with the process of the 13th amendment.  And yes, even then, Republicans and Democrats were going back and forth with one another.

But this was one movie I was very happy with.  The movie was a bit slow for me in the beginning, but about halfway through I was hanging onto every word, and looking forward to the debates within the house between the representatives.

The movie really depicted the times.  I was mesmerized with the scenery in a lot of the scenes.  Whether at the White House, or on the battlefield, this movie really showcased history.

And Daniel Day Lewis made for a GREAT Lincoln, and they made sure to emphasized on his “height.”

I wouldn’t be surprised to see this movie up for a few Oscar nominations.

Disclosure: I was provided with a screening of the movie Lincoln by Dreamworks Pictures.  All opinions are my own.

 


Categories: Fun Stuff, Life, Movie Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

CRAFTED Vendor: Limor from Soft Peaks Confections

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Jamie

I have a weakness when it comes to CRAFTED.  Want to know what that is?  It’s related to any food vendor I find there.  I love their food products, and I have even been known to just stop in to grab and go when I crave a certain food item.

So I am delighted to bring you Limor from Soft Peaks Confections today!

Salted Caramel from www.softpeaksconfections.com

That’s right.  French Macarons!  Yum yum yum!  Read the interview below:

Tell me about your business:

We are a mother-daughter team that decided to give up the corporate world and follow our passion for pastries. We fell in-love with macarons while in Paris and wanted to make them even better!

We believe that macarons should speak for themselves We believe in allowing fresh/local ingredients to determine our macarons’ flavors and colors. They do not need any food coloring to give them flare or artificial flavoring to make them a delight. We believe that when great ingredients are used, no additives of any kind are needed.  That’s how Soft Peaks Confections came to life.

We also decided to give it our own flavor twist. Aside from using ingredients we feel safe to give to our family members (side note, all of our macarons were created for a specific family member), we thought that macarons could be taken to the next level, so we’ve created an apple pie macaron, a raspberry kettle corn macaron, and our newest flavor, caramelized bacon and banana macaron.

From her booth at CRAFTED

 

How did you get started in making macaroons?

After encountering macarons in Paris we knew that this was our calling. It was love at first bite! When we got back home we started experimenting with recipes and with making this tasty yet very temperamental cookie. We both took classes to give us some background in making them but we were mainly self-taught.

When did you decide to make it a business?

We decided to make it a business last December (2011) when we started getting buzz from friends and family about our macarons.

They’re French Macaroons, is this where you’re originally from or no?

No we are not French but we embraced the French love of fine food.

What has your experience been like at CRAFTED, thus far?

We love being at Crafted. We think that this amazing project truly is unique and full of great opportunities. Crafted enables us, a small business that’s just starting, to get great exposure, constant feedback, and to actually get to know our customers and develop relationships with them. Crafted also allows the community to build a place that is extraordinary in its core values. Emphasizing handmade items, that are all made in the US and mainly all made locally in the greater Los Angeles area provides true talents to shine. It also provides tools to our customers to do things on their own either by doing demo’s at the demo area, or make & takes at individual booths. It is a wonderful wholesome experience for both the vendors and our patrons.

What are the prices for your macaroons?

We offer our macarons at Crafted in a 5 macarons assortment. Each package of 5 macarons costs $10.  We also offer gift baskets, party favors, and catering to events. Gift baskets vary by size and quantity of macarons and so do the party favors. We customize each order to our clients request. You can find pictures of previous baskets and events on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/softpeaksconfections)

And for my lucky Minnesota Girl in LA readers.  The first 5 readers that stop by her booth at CRAFTED and mention that’s where they read about her will receive 10% off their purchase. So I’ll see you there this weekend? =)

 


Categories: Cooking, Fun Stuff, Life | Tags: , , , , , , | 3 Comments