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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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  • 12 days of Wine 2022

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The Scenic Route 2021 Day10 & 11, L'Ecole, Lenne Estate, Bells Up, Utopia
The Scenic Route 2021 Day10 & 11, L’Ecole, Lenne Estate, Bells Up, Utopia
The Scenic Route Day 9 Columbia Gorge to Caprio Cellars
The Scenic Route Day 9 Columbia Gorge to Caprio Cellars
The Scenic Route 2021, Day 2 Monterey to Sonoma
The Scenic Route 2021, Day 2 Monterey to Sonoma
The Scenic Route 2021 the Overview
The Scenic Route 2021 the Overview
Generations and stability at Red Willow Vineyard
Generations and stability at Red Willow Vineyard
The story of the iconic Red Willow Vineyard Chapel
The story of the iconic Red Willow Vineyard Chapel
the story of Red Willow Vineyard
the story of Red Willow Vineyard
The beginnings of Nebbiolo and Syrah at Red Willow
The beginnings of Nebbiolo and Syrah at Red Willow
Ancient Soils at Red Willow Vineyard
Ancient Soils at Red Willow Vineyard
Red Willow Vineyard – The Chapel Block
Red Willow Vineyard – The Chapel Block
The Scenic Route, Day 8 Columbia Gorge, Hiyu
The Scenic Route, Day 8 Columbia Gorge, Hiyu
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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

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Last year, we visited Moscato di Scanzo in the hil Last year, we visited Moscato di Scanzo in the hills North of Bergamo, Italy. This is the 2nd smallest DOCG in Italy. Tucked into the 31 hectares that this DOC spans near the city of Scanzorosciate are small vineyards growing a rare red Moscato grape. The wines are made in the appassimento style, producing a rich, sweet, balanced wine that pairs as easily with blue cheese risotto as with dessert. The views are stunning, the wines delicious, and the people warm and wonderful. We began our visit at Col de Paste in the eastern end of the region in Tribulina. After meeting the Conzorzio President Francesca Pagnoncelli Folcieri and several other dignitaries, we enjoyed wines and beers of the region before our guides, Federico Bovarini, & Therése Lönnqvist, led us on a vineyard tour. Our second stop was Moscato Martinelli Cascina S. Giovanni, where we were greeted by the estate owner, Daniela. This modern winery is juxtaposed against the ruins of San Giovanni nei Boschi, the Ancient Church of St John in the Woods. The small church was likely built in the late 900s. We tasted Moscatos from 8 of the wineries in the region before enjoying a lunch pairing of blue cheese risotto and a fruit tart for dessert. Then we were off to Scanzorosciate to visit Francesca’s home and winery, Villa Pagnoncelli. This historic home, built in the 17th century, has been in her family since 1890. The ceilings are covered in beautiful frescos. After visiting her cellar and catching a glimpse of “The Pharmacist’s Vineyard,” their family vineyard on the steep Monte Bastia, we say goodbye to this beautiful little valley. Read the whole story on Crushed Grape Chronicles (Link in the bio to the site in the bio. Find the article under "Stories"). @moscatodiscanzopagnoncelli @moscatomartinelli @consorziomoscatodiscanzo
December 1st – International Maratheftiko Day #M December 1st – International Maratheftiko Day #MaratheftikoDay Have you heard of Maratheftiko? Maybe you know it by one of its other names: Vamvakada, Vamvakina, Pampakia, Mavrosportiko, or Aloupostafylo? No? Well, you are not alone. This was not a grape I was familiar with, either. Mratheftiko is a red grape from Cyprus. It is considered the dominant grape in Cyprus, but nevertheless, it is rare and is also of high quality. To review the geography, Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean surrounded to the north by Turkey, to the east by Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, and to the south by Egypt. The island is about 140 miles long and 60 miles wide at its widest point, covering 9,251 square kilometers (or 5748 square miles), and holds about 1.2 million people. This grape was first mentioned in 1893 by a French Ampelographer but virtually disappeared for a century. About 30 years ago, it was rediscovered, and this rare variety covers only 5% of the planted vineyard lands in Cyprus. The berries of this grape are large, and bunches are susceptible to powdery mildew and millerandage (where the berries of the bunch do not ripen together, leaving harsh green berries in the same bunch with ripened berries. In addition, this grape (unlike most wine grapes) cannot self-pollinate, as all of its blossoms are female. To combat this, it is often interplanted with the Spourtiko grape, which flowers at the same time. So, this is not an easy variety to cultivate. As a red wine, it is velvety and rich with notes of dark cherry and forest berries, coffee, chocolate, and vanilla from oak aging. You will also find delicate floral notes (think violets). With all this richness, you also find fresh acidity that makes it pair well with foods. Go with Mediterranean foods like eggplant or lamb, mushrooms, tomatoes, pine nuts, black olives, and herbs. Now, where to find one? That’s the trick! Some smaller wine shops carry this variety. Remember, if you ask, you increase the demand! Happy Maratheftiko Day!
Support us on this Small Business Saturday and fin Support us on this Small Business Saturday and find a great gift for the foodie in your life! Our "Tempting Spoonsfuls" recipe and pairing books make the perfect stocking stuffers! They are available on Amazon! You can find the link in our bio! Happy Holidays!!! #TemptingSpoonfuls #smallbusinesssaturday #stockingstuffers #wineandfoodpairing #smallbiterecipes
This is a historic bottle. One of just a few made This is a historic bottle. One of just a few made from the vineyard at Vittoriale degli Italiani, the home of the famous poet Gabriele d'Annunzio. We visited in October of 2022 and were gifted this bottle by the Valtenesi DOC, after tasting through over 50 Chiarettos (rosés). This wine is primarily Gropello. Alright, I'm going to close my eyes, take a sip, and allow my memories to transport me back to the shores of Lake Garda. *Want to learn more? You can find more on Crushedgrapechronicles.com just search for Valtenesi! @consorziovaltenesi @valtenesiinrosa #winemediaconference2022 #travelinabottle
Chilean Carménère and Charquican to celebrate Ca Chilean Carménère and Charquican to celebrate Carménère Day
November 24 – Carménère Day #CarménèreDay C November 24 – Carménère Day #CarménèreDay Carménère, that grape that found its groove in Chile! For decades, this grape was mixed in with Merlot, and it was not until 1994 that it was discovered that about 1/3 of the plantings in Chile that were believed to be Merlot were actually Carménère! This grape came to Chile in the mid-1800s from Bordeaux, where, at the time, it was often used in Bordeaux blends. The name comes from the French word "Carmin," which means crimson, the color of the vine's leaves in fall. Before the spread of Phylloxera, this vine was ground in the Médoc of Bordeaux and was considered one of this region's original six red grapes. Phylloxera and Oidium (powdery mildew) all but wiped this grape out in France, but it ended up mixed in with varieties taken to Chile, where it thrives. Carménère claims Cabernet Franc and Trousseau as parents. Flavors Sour cherry, tart raspberry, green peppercorn. This grape is known for its pyrazines, a compound that can give you green pepper notes in a wine. Depending on the style and the region, you can find dark fruit notes, smoke, and dried herbs. Pepper notes like jalapeno or poblano and richer notes of chocolate, leather, tobacco, and forest floor. In Chile, the practice used to be to get the grapes very ripe to rid them of these green notes; this, of course, raised the alcohol level in these wines, making rich, jammy wines. Today, more and more Chilean winemakers are embracing these green notes, balancing them, and creating wines with deep complexity. Pair this with rich meat dishes of steak, lamb, or pork. Grilled steak with chimichurri sauce is a great go-to! Try it with a mole or a range of foods with peppercorns or peppery spice. Vegetables lean into peppers and legumes with an added tang from olives or capers! In our book “Tempting Spoonfuls – Small Bites Paired with Wines from around the Globe,” we paired Chilean Carménère with Mini stuffed sweet peppers with a mole sauce! Visit CrushedGrapeChronicles.com to find our book and see more on Chilean wines! Happy #CarménèreDay
Turkey day at our house. Super simple semi-homema Turkey day at our house. Super simple semi-homemade dinner. (No cleaning the house needed, table set for 2, watching Holiday Baking Challenge while we dined) The wines...J.Wilkes 2016 Brut Rosé Santa Maria Valley and a Domaine Bousquet 2021 Reserve Pinot Noir from Tupungato Argentina * Received as a media sample (organic grapes from a winery that has since become Regenerative Organic Certified) Nesting, feeling grateful and enjoying a quiet day.
We pregamed last night with this Vermentino from @ We pregamed last night with this Vermentino from @serwinery Today is a nesting day. A day to quietly be grateful. There will be turkey and fixins' but cooking in pj's, without the stress of a photo shoot or company. You might get photos, but they will be unplanned and created out of the joy of the moment. Wishing all of you who celebrate a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Late last month, I had the opportunity to do an on Late last month, I had the opportunity to do an online tasting with James Marshall of @tenuta.licinia. The story behind these wines is fascinating and perhaps a bit confusing. These wines are a fusion of things: A Belgian Lawyer and his Oxford Oxford-educated grandson, making wines in Tuscany, with Bordeaux varieties made in a Burgundian style. They focus on expressing the soil in the wine and have been fine-tuning their winemaking since 2013, not releasing a wine until 2019. We tasted wines from their Sasso di Fata and Montefolli vineyards. These vineyards are planted to Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. We found beautiful, elegant rose notes in the wines, so we paired them with a bacon-wrapped filet and a rose petal sauce. Find the story on CrushedGrapeChronicles.com through the link to our site in our bio.
November 16 – Beaujolais Nouveau Day (3rd Thursd November 16 – Beaujolais Nouveau Day (3rd Thursday)#BeaujolaisNouveauDay Beaujolais Nouveau Day is celebrated around the globe. This wine is traditionally the first wine released in France after the harvest and this cheerful fresh wine is a reason to celebrate! This wine is made of Gamay grown in the Beaujolais region that is south of Bourgogne. While there are 10 Beaujolais Crus (St-Amour, Juliénas, Chénas, Moulin-à-Vent, Fleurie, Chiroubles, Morgon, Régnieé, Brouilly and Côte de Brouilly) that make delicious wines that age beautifully, Beaujolais Nouveau is made in a different method, through Carbonic Maceration. In this method, the grapes are carefully harvested and placed in tanks whole (no broken berries.) The tank is then filled with Carbon Dioxide. This causes the berries to ferment inside their individual skins! This retains fresh fruit flavors in the wine, like cherry and raspberry and also adds additional flavors that might include, cinnamon, banana and bubble gum (I always think of Bazooka!) There are festivals all over Beaujolais, but you can celebrate even if you cannot get there! Many cities and towns across the globe will have celebrations and if there is not one near you, celebrate on your own! Grab some friends some snacks and some bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau which hit shelves around the globe on November 16th this year. For pairings, keep it light, festive and French! Think creamy French cheeses like camembert, ham, saucisson, terrines, cornichons, paté…It also goes well with fish and light chicken dishes! Happy Beaujolais Nouveau Day!
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