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robin@42aspens.com
Crushed Grape ChroniclesCrushed Grape Chronicles
Adventures in Wine Exploration
the stories behind the vines
  • CGC Home
  • The Stories
  • the places
    • Australia
      • Hunter Valley
      • Mudgee Wine Region
      • Shoalhaven Coast
      • Southern Highlands
    • California Wine, Wine Makers & Winery’s
      • Los Olivos, California
      • Paso Robles, California
      • Santa Barbara County
      • Napa Valley
      • Sonoma Valley
      • Temecula Wine Country
    • Central Coast Wine Country, a flash trip in 6 days
    • France, the wine regions
      • France, Alsace region
      • Champagne 101, the region
      • Côtes de Bordeaux
      • the wines of Alsace, France
      • the wines of Bordeaux, France
      • the wines of Champagne France
      • the wines of Languedoc Roussillion
    • Discovering Italy the Wine Regions
      • Abruzzo on Italy’s East Coast
      • Italy-Friuli-Venezia Guilia & the Colli Orientali
      • Vini di Valtellina
    • Oregon Wine Country
      • Willamette
    • Yakima Valley Wine
      • Red Willow Vineyard
  • the Philosophies
    • Biodynamics in Wine Production
    • Champagne & Sparkling Wine
  • Food & Wine Pairing
    • Tempting Spoonfuls: Pairing single bites with glorious wines
    • Food & Wine Pairing Recipe Videos
  • from dirt to glass
    • Wine Basics
      • the grape vines
      • the grapes
      • the seasons
      • the Wine harvest
      • the winemakers
      • Wine Faults
    • Crushed Grapes & Open Minds, Event
    • 12 Days of Wine, a holiday Wine list 2019
    • 12 Days of Wine, a holiday Wine list 2020
    • 12 Days of Wine, a holiday Wine list 2021
    • Uncommon Wine Festival at Vista Hills Vineyard 2018
    • Top Places to Taste Wine in California!
    • The Scenic Route 2021
    • The Scenic Route, a Flash Wine tour
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Larner fete, how it came to be
Larner fete, how it came to be
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Larner Vineyard Special Vintage, Dedication
Larner Vineyard
Syrah Panel Santa Barbara Vintners April 2016 Episode 2 – Michael Larner
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The Vision – The future of Larner Vineyard and Winery
Michael Larner speaking on Syrah.
Listening to the Vine
Michael Larner at Larner Vineyard
The History of Larner Vineyard & Winery
Larner Vineyard Sunset
Michael Larner- Heat Spikes in Ballard Canyon
Wine Country, Santa Babara Beckmen Vineyard
Steve Beckmen, Vine Thining 101
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Syrah, Michael Larner, Ballard Canyon AVA, from Dirt To Glass

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Tempting Spoonfuls: Pairing single bites with glorious wines (On Sale Now on Amazon)!

Tempting Spoonfuls: Pairing single bites with glorious wines Paperback – August 29, 2022

Tempting Spoonfuls: Pairing single bites with glorious wines Paperback – August 29, 2022

crushedgrapechron

Sardegna is the 2nd largest Island in the Mediterr Sardegna is the 2nd largest Island in the Mediterranean off Italy’s western coast. It has 2000 kilometers of coastline and peaks reaching over 6000 feet. We are focusing on a grape that was new to me - Monica Nera, a red grape that may was given its name by the Camaldolese monks. Dolia Monica di Sardegna DOC from Cantine di Dolianova On the nose, I got red and black fruit, licorice, a bit of cocoa, rosemary, mint, and star anise. These were all primary notes, nothing from aging. It was fresh and less complicated in my mouth than on the nose. This is a wine to enjoy young and with food. We paired it with Fregola risotto with lamb and a red pepper sauce. You will find the recipe in the post. Head to CrushedGrapeChronicles.com for the whole story! #wine #wineandfood #Sardegna #Sardinia #MonicaNera #MonicadiSardegna #ItalianFWT
Last night's delicious dinner. Why didn't I share Last night's delicious dinner. Why didn't I share it then? I was too busy enjoying it. (I kinda love it when that happens.) The 2018 Sta. Rita Hills Chard from Brewer Clifton was delish! #sogoodIforgottoshare #santabarbara #Sta.RitaHills And cause I'm thinkin' of you Christine! #Chardcore
Evening snacks...how's your day going? #relaxatio Evening snacks...how's your day going? #relaxationtime #wineandfood
Tempting Spoonfuls – small bites paired with win Tempting Spoonfuls – small bites paired with wines from around the globe What flavors and aromas do you find in wines from around the globe? We break down 12 wines from popular regions around the world and give you an idea of what to expect! Then we go the extra mile and give you a pairing idea. Just a bite. You know, a Tempting Spoonful! You can get the glossy-covered 104-page book with drool-worthy photos or The E-Book version Both are available on Amazon #temptingspoonfuls #WineAromas #WineBooks #wineandfood #discoveringwinecountry
Well? Are you having any fun? It's Friday and it Well? Are you having any fun? It's Friday and it's Aperitivo time! #aperolspritztime
Isabella Pelizzatti Perego was one of the first pe Isabella Pelizzatti Perego was one of the first people to greet us in Valtellina. Her family’s history in wine dates back to the 1860s when Isabella’s great-great-grandfather Giovanni founded Pelizzatti winery. But tragedy does not discriminate, and it fell upon this family when Isabella’s grandfather was diagnosed with cancer in the 1970s. The family had to sell the brand and some vineyards. Her father, Arturo, worked hard to restart the family business. In 1984, he was able to buy back many of their vineyards and regain their cellar in Grumello. The new name for the winery? ARPEPE for his initials, Arturo Pelizzatti Perego. As we tasted her wines, she noted that they always want the fruit to be the most important note in the wine. They do long fermentations in wood and find that it keeps the wine more harmonic from the beginning. We tasted their * Rosso di Valtellina 2020 * Grumello Rocco de Piro DOCG 2017 And * Sassella Stella Retica DOCG 2017 To learn more about ArPePe, its history, and its wines, visit CrushedGrapeChronicles.com. You will find the full article and video of our tasting there! @arpepe1860 @vinivaltellina @zephyr_wine #Valtellina #Italianwine #NebbiolooftheAlps
Ornella & Cinzia greeted us at the Bettini table f Ornella & Cinzia greeted us at the Bettini table for the tasting in Sondrio. The two sisters run their family vineyard with their brother Pietro. Established in 1881, they are among the oldest companies for Valtellina wines. Ornella & Cinzia are 5th Generation! Bettini is located in the Valgella region in San Giacomo di Teglio. They also source grapes from growers they have been working with for decades or more. They poured for us: Bettini Valgella – Vigna la Cornella Valtellina Superiore DOCG 2018, from the small Cornella vineyard that sits at about 600 meters. Bettini Prodigio from the Inferno sub-zone. This Valtellina Superiore DOCG wine was a 2017 vintage that is produced only in the best years. Bettini Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG -Vigneti di Spina 2018 Bettini was one of the first to bottle Sforzato in the late 1950s! From the Spina vineyard in the heart of the Valgella sub-zone. They also do a Sfursat, which we tasted later that night at dinner. The 2018 Bettini Sfursat ages 15 months in 225-liter French Oak barriques. As to pairings? The sisters suggested the Sforzato with a warm fire and maybe some blue cheese. If you are dining, enjoy it with game meats, aged Casera cheese, or Bresaolo. The sisters were charming, and it was lovely to taste with the family of such a historic winery in the region. Read the whole story and see the video of our tasting with Ornella and Cinzia on CrushedGrapeChronicles.com #Bettini #Valtellina #italianwine #nebbioloofthealps @f.llibettini @vinivaltellina @zephyr_wine
Aldo Rainoldi is a small winery in Northern Italy’s Valtellina wine Region. Aldo is a name that is important in the Rainoldi family. In the 1920s, Aldo Rainoldi was a wine merchant in Valtellina. Fast forward a generation or two, and his grandson, also Aldo, completes a degree in Oenology and Viticulture and returns in the late 1990s. He and his wife Michela, now run this family winery based near Chiuro. Michela was behind the table, greeting and pouring. She shared with us 3 of their wines, all versions of their Nebbiolo, the specialty of this region. Learn more about their wines and see the video at CrushedGrapeChronicles.com @vini.rainoldialdo @vinivaltellina @zephyr_wine #Wine #NebbiolooftheAlps #Valtellina #Rainoldivini
Davide Fasolini’s energy is palpable. Tall with Davide Fasolini’s energy is palpable. Tall with ginger hair, a beard, and glasses that seem held up by the ends of his smile, you can feel his energy, excitement, and passion as he waits to tell you about his wines. His smile and energy are contagious. He is one-half of the founders of Dirupi. He and his partner Pierpaolo Di Franco were childhood friends who met again as they finished university with degrees in enology. As we tasted the wines, Davide wanted me to know more about the sub-region the vineyards were in. The altitude, he said, was very important. Vineyards range between 270 and 700 meters above sea level, and the altitude is important in keeping the freshness in the wine. On their website, each tech sheet has a sketch of the vineyard blocks on the terraces indicating their altitude. In early November, they will have 10 different tanks from 20 different vineyards in their cellar, each different and amazing in its own way. You could tell he couldn’t wait! Learn more about Dirupi and their wines of Valtellina at CrushedGrapeChronicles.com. @dirupivaltellina @vinivaltellina @zephyr_wine #Italy #WMC2022 #Valtellina #chiavennasca #nebbioloofthealps
We used to do our monthly Chi O Alum bookclub at @ We used to do our monthly Chi O Alum bookclub at @marche_bacchus. Views of the lake, and we would start with lattes and end with wine. Catching up today was a dream. We were so involved catching up that I missed a photo of the lake AND of us! Here's to catching up more often (and to bottomless mimosas!) #sistersonpurpose #oldfriends
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