Over four days I dined on food from some of the best chefs in the Big Easy as well as some up and coming culinary superstars. I stopped in at one of my favorite New Orleans eateries, Louisiana Bistro, where Chef Mars served up course after tasty course.
Just last night we gathered again, friends with food, wine and cheer for our last wine tasting of the year.
Prior tastings, however, took place that I need t...
Diane and Ken Wilson own the Wilson Artisan Wineries as well as the Grape Leaf Inn. There are eight wineries all totaled and I visited three of them, starting with Matrix Winery. Formerly Rabbit Ridge Winery, the Wilsons purchased the property in 2007.
Jan thought it had a great, spicy nose and lots of plum on the palate. At $15, she thought it was a great value. Ken loved the nose, too and found caramel and cherries on the palate and liked how it paired with sausage. Tony called it a very nice Pinot and said it drank more like a $30 bottle.
I haven't been on a ski lift in decades and I've never ridden one on a mountain without snow. We gathered at the Roundhouse Express to take the lift to Roundhouse Restaurant at the base of Mt. Baldy for the Festival's Martini and Caviar party.
Chris gets quote of the night honors with "I'm not angry at it." He called it light and bright. I thought it had a pretty nose and was fruit forward, but a bit thin. For Brian it was "truly terrible."
On a recent visit with five other writers to Jacksonville, Florida, each of us was stunned by how much this city has to offer. Please enjoy this glimpse of the first day and a half.
We began the next morning with a visit to Mas Tinell. Mas Tinell's new home also features an ultra-modern 11 room hotel with windows designed to resemble cava bubbles
She wanted to feature sparkling wines that represented a sense of terroir. She re-paid the loan as soon as she could so she could make the winery uniquely hers.
