I have been a fan of Steve Matthiasson’s wine for a while… I remember first tasting his 2013 Matthiasson Rosé while having lunch at Zuzu in Napa, where I savored every sip of the wine and its bright grapefruit and minerally flavors. Made with a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Counoise, it’s the type of wine that’s versatile enough to drink on its own or to enjoy with food. I loved it!
Although not always the case, accommodations can sometimes make or break a vacation. We’ve all been there before… a place that looks so great in photos can be a complete let down in person. Luckily for us, Nick and I chose well for our honeymoon. In fact, the places we stayed were a huge highlight, such as the beautiful Phoenix Resort, Belize, located in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye!
Gruner Veltliner and Riesling, the two prominent white grapes of Austria, aren’t necessarily the first varietals that come to mind when thinking of Santa Barbara County wine. It’s true that Chardonnay dominates most white production around here, but that doesn’t stop Graham Tatomer from making high acid, mineral-driven, Austrian-inspired whites that are killing it in CA.
It’s no secret that I love all things Italian. After having lived in Rome many years ago, I am always on the lookout for a little Italian-inspiration here in California. Luckily, one of the area’s best Italian restaurants, S.Y. Kitchen, is located just 35 minutes outside of Santa Barbara in the small town of Santa Ynez.
What’s better than being surrounded by nature at a beautiful eco-lodge in the Belize jungle? Taking advantage of all the amazing sites and adventurous outings in said jungle, of course! Belize was the perfect place for our honeymoon, because as much as Nick and I like sitting by a pool and reading a book, we also really love exploring and wanted a little more action… and Belize had plenty.
When Nick and I were planning our honeymoon in Belize, we knew we wanted to incorporate rest and relaxation with a good amount of adventure. Our first destination proved to be the perfect balance of both – not only was our eco-lodge a great home-base for adventuring in the Belize jungle, but it was also a fantastic destination for unplugging and unwinding.
A couple of weekends ago, I was able to attend an advanced screening Somm: Into The Bottle, the follow up documentary to 2012’s popular Somm movie. Although the movie Sideways had an effect on the wine industry (sorry, Merlot), I think it’s safe to say that Jason Wise’s 2012 documentary, Somm, has been even more influential by introducing people to a different side of the wine world.
Immediately following our spectacular visit to Williams Selyem over the holidays, my family and I headed five minutes up the road to MacRostie Winery, a beautiful winery located outside of Healdsburg in the Russian River Valley. Specializing in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, MacRostie Winery was started by longtime winemaker Steve MacRostie. A native Californian, Steve started making wine in the area in 1974 after studying enology at UC Davis, later establishing MacRostie Winery in 1987.
El Niño is definitely here in Southern California, as evident by all this crazy rain! Making up for lost time, I guess. It actually rained a little bit while we were in Sonoma Valley over Christmas, although not to this extent. Rain or shine, spending the holidays in wine country is really great! This year, my family rented a house in Guerneville, a colorful town located in the heart of the Russian River, where we enjoyed sipping wine in front of the fire, playing board games and, of course, exploring the area. Just wonderful!
As you know from my last post, my family and I spent Christmas in the Russian River town of Guerneville enjoying some much needed family time and relaxation. Of course, one of the benefits of spending the holidays in wine country is having access to so many great wineries, so we had to take advantage.