So many events, so little time, friends. We have your events here! This past Saturday marked the beginning of October, and that means it is once again yes, Virginia, its Virginia Wine Month. This month vineyard crews, cellar rats, harvest interns, assistant winemakers, and winemakers themselves are spending long grueling hours harvesting their fruit, getting it fermented and turned into wine before it gets its rest over the winter. For the Virginia wine fans, there are lots of events including harvest festivals, wine dinners, bonfires, live music, food trucks, and even a few opportunities to stomp on grapes a la Lucy in Italy. (You know that you want to. Just admit it.)
Good Day, City Vino, fans! Your somewhat humble (sorta, kinda) blog writer, Kathy, is glad to be back writing after a several week health hiatus. Yes, it started with mild COVID, which I had managed to elude for two and a half years. Then on its heels, a severe sinus infection chaser. My sense of smell and taste were altered for a good three weeks, but it’s all coming back to me, so let’s get to it and talk wine! Woo!
July 14th, le Quatorze Juillet, marks the date that we know by the name “Bastille Day,” or as known in France as “La Fête Nationale.” In the City Vino's 2019 Facts About Bastille Day Blog, we provided some facts about the events that occurred on that date in 1789, in Paris, and about the celebration itself. Every year, we use this day to provide a tasting of French wines to you, our local customers. While we don’t need an excuse to do this, it’s always fun to associate a tasting with a somewhat, sorta, kinda, and perhaps notable date, right?
Take a trip to Sancerre, which is in the Centre région of the Lorie Valley, the center of France for one of your wines. It is coming to the height of summer, and the weather is finally heating up. A high acid, medium body, food friendly wine, with a little chill on it, would be perfect for June! After all, the farmer’s markets are bringing in those raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb, crisp lettuce, and melons. All of which will sit well next to your glass of Pinot Noir. (You thought I was going to say Sauvignon Blanc! Got ya!). Pinot Noir out dates Sauvignon Blanc in Sancerre. Why Sauvignon Blanc is better represented now? Come in and ask, there are more stories to share with you. But on to summer and white wine this weekend!
Father’s Day is once again upon us, and to that we say, “Choose Red for ‘Fred’.” Pun totally intended. Whether your father is named Fred, George, Paul, Ringo, or John, this year consider the gift of a red wine, or two or twelve.
