Fresh off of 3 weddings in 3 weeks (one being mine!) and a quick minimoon getaway to Washington wine country, I feel like I’m in need of yet another vacation. Our wedding weekend was one of the MOST wonderful, fun and happy weekends of my life, but no doubt that all that celebrating has left me a little exhausted. Just because I am a little worn out doesn’t mean I’m going to let those last few days of summer slip by without a bit more summer fun, though! It’s absolutely beautiful in Santa Barbara and the perfect time to catch up with a few friends to recap the wedding (sneak peek below)!
Even if you’re new to my blog, it’s probably pretty obvious that I am a fan of wine and cheese… I have been known to occasionally make a meal out of wine and a cheese plate (don’t judge), so it was only fitting that my bridesmaids threw me a wine & cheese tasting themed bridal shower. 11am lemonade and quiche? Nothing wrong with that, but a happy hour wine tasting party is definitely my style… they know me well!
In fact, my shower in San Francisco was so cute and perfect that I have to share the details with you here, in hopes that you use these tips to throw your own Wine & Cheese Tasting party!
It’s another sunny day in Santa Barbara – what to do? Perhaps a little exploring, wine tasting and noshing on something tasty… sounds like a great plan to me! There are endless possibilities to do the aforementioned in this town, but if you’re looking for something new and different, check out a walking tour from Eat This, Shoot That! I promise you don’t have to be a tourist to enjoy it.
Outside of the wine world, Jeff Fischer is known for his longtime career as a voiceover actor, most famously known for playing his alter ego TV character in the series, ‘American Dad’ (see below). Over the last several years, though, Jeff has turned his passion for wine into a full blown second career. As the owner and winemaker of Habit Wine Company, based in Los Olivos, Jeff has managed to become quite a talented winemaker, producing sought after small-batch Santa Barbara County wines. Cartoon character and winemaker… not many people have both on their resume. Ha!
Why Santa Barbara is a great place for wine
Having added ‘blogger’ and ‘writer’ to my credentials these past couple of years, it’s always an honor when I’m asked to write for other blogs and publications. For the past several months, I’ve been a regular contributor to Club W’s The Juice blog, sharing information on all things Santa Barbara — like where to taste in The Funk Zone and understanding the differences between Santa Barbara’s five AVAs. For my latest contribution, I’ve shared what I think makes Santa Barbara such a kickass place for wine. Is it the setting? The climate? The people? All of it, really… read on for the whole story!
Sunshine, water, bbqs, picnics, and fun… summer is indeed here! You know what that means… it’s officially rosé season. Although I tend to think you can drink rosé any time of year, there’s no denying that it’s way more enjoyable when the weather’s nice. So, to kick off the summer… ahem, rosé season, here’s a wine that I’m digging these days and think you will too: Liquid Farm Mourvèdre Rosé ($24).
Last month at Pebble Beach Food & Wine, I had the privilege of attending a couple of really interesting wine seminars. The grand tastings and fancy dinners may get more attention and hype, but the educational seminars at PBFW are definitely worth checking out as well! The first seminar that I attended was ‘The Allure of Wines of Greece,’ led by a panel of several Greek wine aficionados. Wine and food at 10am? Why not!?
I love finding new discoveries, especially when they are perfectly suited to the season. Springtime usually sees the reappearance of rosé (let’s be honest, rosé never goes out of season for me though!) and white wines to go with the sunshine and longer days. Even though those are great this time of year, sometimes you just need to switch it up. Since I’m not much of a beer drinker, I’m always on the hunt for great cider… So I’m glad I recently discovered a new cider out of San Francisco called Brooks Dry Cider, created by Brooks Bennett.
Well, it was another fantastic weekend of Champagne and caviar dreams at Pebble Beach Food & Wine. Quite literally… bubbly and caviar were everywhere! This year marked the 8th edition of this over-the-top wine and food extravaganza, bringing over 300 of the world’s top wineries and 100 celebrity chefs together for one celebratory weekend. Just like last year, it did not disappoint!
Although it’s not quite summer, it sure feels like it down here in Southern California (the side effects of a winter with no rain, I guess). One thing I always try to take advantage of when the weather gets nice is eating outside whenever possible! Nick and I are big fans of throwing on some tunes, opening up a bottle of wine, and chilling on the deck while we grill something on the bbq. Okay, okay… while he grills up something. :)