Champagne Wednesday in Napa

Today I headed out to Napa to pick up a shipment at Domaine Carneros and some wine Jim had ordered from Buoncristiani Family Winery. I planned my trip to Domaine Carneros to coincide with lunch time. I enjoyed a glass of 2006 Vintage Brut (cheers Loren) with a cheese platter which included Oregonzola Blue from the Rogue Creamery in Oregon, St. George- a cows milk cheese- from Matos Cheese Factory in Santa Rosa and Grand Cru Gruyere Surchoix from Roth Kase in Wisconsin. There were also pistachios, figs and craisins. The weather was in the high 60's and I sat on the patio knitting and nibbling. I wonder if I could get Jim to move to Napa. I could grow to like this.

Retreating in South Lake Tahoe

This past weekend, which started on Thursday night, I headed out to South Lake Tahoe to Camp Richardson for the Camellia City Stockine'ettes Knitting Guild retreat. I had blast!! Cindi and Beth coordinated the retreat and did a great job. There was plenty of knitting, food, fun and camaraderie.

Those of you that know me will be amazed I brought my walking shoes and went for a walk on Saturday. It was great getting outside in the fresh air, I just needed to adjust my speed for altitude. I walked for 2o minutes and came upon this view. Isn't it wonderful!
This is a picture of Historic Camp Richardson where we stayed and played.

These are views just down the road. The retreat was a great time for meeting other knitters in the guild and sharing. I can't wait until next year!!

Really

Really. Blogging every Friday night about champagne - excuse me- sparkling wine. Sorry folks. What was I thinking? Anyway Fridays may be on Friday, Saturday or whenever. I can't commit. My life is not consistent.
This week Champagne Friday was actually on Wednesday. We enjoyed a lovely sparkling pinot noir. Not Jim's favorite as it is somewhat sweet but of course that leaves more for me. Again it was a Mumm Napa Valley. We are club members and have a back log to drink. The suffering that must happen here at Casa York. Friday we actually enjoyed a Bremer Family Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. We have yet to find a Howell Mountain vineyard we don't enjoy.

Champagne Friday

My friend Lisette has a wonderful blog Tete-a-tete where each Tuesday she has tea. Her photography and dialog is wonderful and inviting. If you're not a tea drinker after reading her blog I think you might try tea and become one. Yes, I like tea but I am thinking I might expand and add to it with Champagne Friday's. What's more wonderful then adding a little sparkling wine to your weekend so enjoy Tuesday tea with Lisette at http://www.bylisette.blogspot.com/ and join me on Fridays for a little sparkly. Today's bubbly is a Mumm Napa Cuvee M Red from Napa Valley. It's a smooth red "Champagne". Enjoy. We are.

Channeling Goldie

Years ago when the children were small and I was a major volunteer in Arlington, Texas we had a wonderful babysitter named Goldie. Goldie was in her late 60's and her husband had recently retired from Skaggs Albertson's as a baker. His and (her salvation) was his garden. In that garden he grew tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, garlic, squash, cucumbers, potatoes and more. Goldie would can as much as she could and for us she would make hot salsa. And our family liked it hot. The initial jars would start out saying hot and then become hotter. I don't know what it is but just because you add more jalapenos does not make it hotter.
I have become Goldie. With each succession of hot salsa I have made I have added more. Initially sriracha sauce, then jalapenos and this latest batch is a combination. In about a week I will know if I have finally gotten it right. Of course tomato season is about over. But it has made me think about Goldie and what a wonderful and caring person she was.

Napa Sunday

Yesterday we set out to Napa to pick up some wine and do a little wine tasting. Our first stop was at Mumm. The weather was wonderful and we sat outside and enjoyed tasting a little bit of champagne. This is a picture of the grapes growing at Mumm. Everyone is Napa is playing a waiting game as to when to pick the grapes. The weather was very wet in the spring and has been unusually mild and the grapes are staying on the vine longer then norm.Onward we went to Joseph Phelps to pick up some wine we had order and to do a little tasting. Everyone at the winery is talking about the 2008 Insignia and how great the ratings might be.
After that we headed up to Deer Park Road and the Bremer Family Winery. They were offering a vertical tasting of their Claret from 2002 to 2005. Our favorite was the 2004. They were also serving brick oven pizzas. I had a very tasty caramelized onion with garlic and Gorgonzola cheese pizza. Jim got a sausage and tomato basil pizza that he did not offer to share with me.
Our last stop was at Ladera which was new to us. As a club member of Chappellet we are also able to do tastings at several other wineries. We decided to make an appointment and check out Ladera as it was just up the road from Bremer.
It is a beautiful property and the wines were great. I think we are now a member of their wine club.

My New Hobby

Casa York Salsa and Spicy Pickled Carrots