For many of us most dedicated gourmets, connoisseurs and aficionados, the name John Williams often brings to mind the amazing classical compositions and film scores that we so closely associate with some of the greatest movies of all time, from Star Wars to E.T. and from Indiana Jones to Jurassic Park.

But in the world of Napa Valley wine making, there is a John Williams whose celebrity status and notoriety is perhaps equal to the renown and respect held by “The Maestro” in the music and entertainment scene.

Introducing the world of wine’s very own John Williams, owner and proprietor of Frog’s Leap Winery the Napa Valley’s majestic and near magical, Rutherford, CA.

What sets “THIS” John Williams apart from so many of his competitor vintners, is the degree to which he is absolutely dedicated to create some of the world’s finest, premium quality wines, while simultaneously creating a “work environment” that is fun, relaxed, calm and downright therapeutic, while the wine making process itself is extremely environmentally friends, or “GREEN,” as well.

The “Frog’s Leap” approach is to create a warm, positive, enjoyable working space where everything from heartfelt humor to truly human hospitality is presented and reflected in the attitudes and experiences of the wineries workers, visitors, customers and associated professionals that work along side “Frog’s Leap” as it endeavors to utilize only the very highest quality, organically grown grapes along with the tested, tried and true, traditional artisan winemaking techniques that produce the world’s finest wines, specifically reflecting the wineries specific character and quality of soil and climate.

Williams, working alongside winemaker Paula Moschetti, manage to hand-craft an amazing annual production of nearly 60,000 cases Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Zinfandel.

In William’s own words “We will produce wines that deeply reflect the thoughtfully chosen soils and climates from which they emanate. We will respect our surroundings, maintain good stewardship of the land, uphold our commitment to the principles of sustainable farming and seek a deeper understanding of the natural living systems around us.”

William’s continues “We will be ourselves, constantly professional, balanced with humor and an exuberant passion for life. As a wonderfully diverse family we will come together to share ourselves with honesty and genuine hospitality. We will hold our position as leaders in the Napa Valley wine community with the utmost regard. Our responsible and generous nature will precede us in all our endeavors.”

In conclusion, William’s explains “We will succeed as a business, measuring our success with unique criteria. We will both respect and challenge conventional wisdom, growing our company the way we grow our vines. We will enhance the quality of our lives and the lives of those who work with us, never forsaking our belief that wine is a wonderful part of life, not life itself. Frog’s Leap will leave a legacy!”

Sounds pretty great to me and tastes even better.

Cheers!

Signing off at Pigging out!
Rocco “Boss Hog” Loosbrock

Apparently, both the alcohol content itself, as well as the naturally occurring “phyto-chemicals” or organic plant compounds, found in wine, have been clinically proven to reduce the risk of various forms of heart disease and cancer, as well as effectively slow the progression of numerous neurological and degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease.

However, too much of a good thing can potentially turn a delicious, life enhancing and sustaining celestial elixir into something a little more like danger, so over-drinking the fruit of the vine can prove to be detrimental to both your health and safety.

As with anything wonderful in life, “All Things Within Measure Should Be The Motto Of The Day, as alcohol abuse is a complex, slippery slope that can sneak up on those who use their “vino” to escape problems and mask feelings.

Basically, as a general rule of thumb, two glasses per day seems to be the optimum number to aim for, without having to pull out the calculator and mathematically take into account factors like body weight, how much you’ve eaten before drinking, your metabolism, etc.

Also keep in mind that we are talking about the traditional sized 5 to 6 oz. wine glasses when we speak of a drink, not 12 to 16 oz. glass.

For years, medical researchers have documented that moderate amounts of alcohol can be very helpful in raising your HDL (Good Cholesterol) while naturally thinning your blood, thereby, helping to lower your blood pressure.

Meanwhile, naturally occurring, organic “phytochemicals” that are found in wine, such as flavanoids and resveratrol, act as powerful antioxidants and prevent molecules known as “free radicals” from causing dangerous cellular damage in the body.

Resveratrol has also been shown to prevent blood clotting and plaque formation in arteries by altering one’s lipid profiles and plasma viscosity. Resveratrol also produces extremely potent anti-thrombotic agents that can potentially improve cardiovascular health and lower the risk for coronary heart disease and in some studies, successfully helped to reduce tumor incidence and hindering the body’s development of cancer.

Because the skins are left on the grapes during the fermentation process, red wines will naturally contain more Resveratrol than white wines. Also, when comparing “red to red” and “white to white,” those wines produced in cooler climates will naturally have more resveratrol than wines from warmer climates. Therefore, those red wines hailing from cool climates will quite logically have the most resveratrol.

Signing off at Pigging out!
Rocco “Boss Hog” Loosbrock

It seems that all the latest fashion is gourmet cupcakes. Every time I turn around I see a new boutique cupcake shop sprout up, with exotic and familiar flavors varying on a daily basis. With this new trend comes yet another delicious item that costs three dollars a craving, which in the end can run up a hefty bill. Also how many times can you visit any of those little shops, sit underneath the multi-colored umbrellas and not seek a different scene or a new adventure with the same delicious treats.

A few solutions have actually already been presented to the general cupcake loving public to these two problems. One is the surge in cupcake cookbooks with everything from Martha Stewart to simple designs to easy bake. I’ve read a few articles and recommendations on cookbooks, the easiest way to save money on my newest addictive habit is clearly baking them at home. The second answer, the part about a new twist to an old adventure I discovered when reading about a new little cupcake shop in Palm Springs. This new place has decided to pair their trendy gourmet cupcakes with wine, a great little nook for an afternoon getaway.

Now this is an idea I can work with, I might not take a few hours out of my day to visit this new little shop out in the desert. But I might just bake one afternoon and invite some friends over for cupcakes a la moi and pair them wines. I have no idea what cupcakes are going to go well with what wines having never thought about pairing the two items before so what better way to make informed opinions for the future but to use Coastal Vineyards many Samplers! The beauty of the idea is that there are so many different types of wines to choose from and no afternoon ever has to be the same.

For example I could throw one with wines from The Gourmet Food Clubs Wine Club . I provide the wine, call up a few friends letting them know to bring their baked gourmet cupcakes and we can start pairing. With something like Red Wine of the Month Club we could let the wine and cupcake combination be a surprise. But if you want to be more prepared for what the outcome might be maybe try a Cabernet Wine Club sampler and have friends make chocolate cupcakes. Or maybe try the Chardonnay with coconut cupcakes (my personal favorite), or even maybe something like the Pinot Noirs with Red Velvet. Like I said, I have no idea what to pair flavors with but that might be half the fun of this new adventure finding what you like, what tastes amuse you. I sense my afternoons this spring and well into the summer are going to be sweet and relaxing.

-Lesley Lopez

Face it, wine is something to be enjoyed, not scientifically dissected in a laboratory by a specially trained team of clinicians.

Mankind did not spend hundreds, if not thousands of years, constantly seeking to perfect the process of “vintnering” a vast and veritable variety of vibrant vintages, each uniquely delightful and delectably delicious wines, just so some up tight, “uber-serious,” straight-laced, pucker-faced aficionado could show up and “out-connoisseur” the rest of the gangly gaggle of snooty snifters.

NO … wine was meant to be enjoyed because it tastes good, makes you feel good and you simply like it!

So, it should be no real surprise to discover that wine tasting is meant to be more of a fun and exciting adventure, not a University Final Exam with your chance of you graduating, hanging on each and every academically correct answer.

Please don’t ever allow yourself or anyone else for that matter, to take the fun out of the journey, worrying if you have the perception and acumen to distinguish between aroma # 3,762 and aroma # 5,821. The truth is, it’s all about taste, and in fact there are only 4 different tastes on this planet, sweet, salty, sour and bitter.

So you are only experiencing various combinations of these 4 tastes, combined with the unique aromas and scents experienced as your taste-buds and sense of smell work as a team to enjoy the “TRUE” wine experience.

Remember, it’s all about how the wine tastes to YOU and you alone. There is no right or wrong answer, you are always right because in this game, there are no rules, no score and no competition, so you automatically win before you ever begin. Just 1 question per wine tasted. “Do you like it?” If so, that’s totally awesome. If not, no problem, simply move to another wine until you find a one that you do.

It al comes down to the “Seven Simple Steps,” or what I like to call the “Seven S’s.”

See: Hold the glass of wine at a slight angle above a while tablecloth, towel or piece of paper. What colors and clarity do you see at the shallowest edge of the wine, where the distinction between wine and glass is practically indistinguishable?

It is a clean and clear purple or red color that becomes nearly transparent at the very edge where the wine become the thinnest possible layer upon glass? If so, you have yourself a good quality wine that has held up well to the process with great integrity. If the color is somewhat brownish or full of sediment, then you are most likely looking at a wine that has seen better days and is now beyond its prime.

Swirl: Proper wine glasses are specifically designed to allow you to give each glass a nice, hearty swirl in the glass without risk of spillage, so that the true essence of the wine can properly evaporate and mix into the atmosphere within the glass and create a better “nose” or aroma.

Sniff: OK, don’t be shy, it’s time to truly be “nosey” and stick you nose into that glass and take a nice, intoxicating inhalation of the atmosphere within the glass, to allow your nose to play it’s part in the “50-50” team partnership that it shares in REAL wine tasting.

Breathe deep and then hold it in. What do you initially detect in the first phase of the sniff? Now what additional aromas begin to reveal themselves over time? Do you smell fruit and if so, is it red fruit like strawberry or purple like grapes and berries. Perhaps there is a citrus aroma or maybe even a hint of spice, wood, leather, musk, cinnamon, chocolate, or vanilla. Do you like it?

Sip: Now it’s time to finally get intimate with the wine. Take a sip and allow it to flow over your tongue and taste buds, sinking into every nook and cranny of your mouth and beginning to express itself through flavor.

What do you taste? Is it sweet and fruity or possibly a bit acidic, with a mild kick or bite to it? Now that you are both; smelling and tasting the wine, what additional complexities have been opened up to your senses with both nose and mouth in play? What gentle and playful subtleties now begin to make their presence know, as the wine sits in your mouth for a moment! Again, do you like it?

Swish: ahhhh, now this is my very favorite pat of the entire experience. By swishing the wine vigorously around in your mouth, the final complexities come forward to play their hand in this unique and mysterious nectar and there is no telling how many different little hints and tinges will be released for you to revel upon and enjoy with delight. Mmmm.

Spit or Swallow: And now my least favorite portion of the entire experience. For parting is such sweet sorrow an either way, the wine is either going to be swallowed up or cruelly spit out into a receptacle, and there is very little you can say that makes this sad phase of wine tasting reality feel nearly as poetic, romantic or polite and the earlier phases.

So should one choose to ‘Spit or Swallow? There appears to be approximate 79 distinct opinions on the subject, but in an effort to keep things both simple and civil, here’s a way of deciding that most people find quite reasonable.

If working professionally for a winery or a client that is being professionally represented as an aficionado or connoisseur, then definitely “Spit” in order to keep your wits, tongue and taste buts sharp and fully, clearly aware.

However, if you are simply hanging with some friends having a good time, then let’s once again remind ourselves of why wine was created in the first place. To DRINK and enjoy so please, drink away, allow the wine to reveal its own, final inner essence as it becomes a part of your inner essence and state of consciousness. Swallow by all means then!

Summarize: Here’s the thing to remember, your summarization is only for YOU and you alone, to decide if you actually, truly like, enjoy and want that particular wine. Who cares if you know all of the proper vintner terms or winery vocabulary? That’s not important at all. What is important is that you are 100% totally honest with your self and your own personal tastes and not in any way manipulated or influenced by the opinions of others.

If YOU like it, then for YOU, it’s a great wine! However, if you don’t like it, it really doesn’t matter if it is a very rare collector’s vintage and $12,000.00 per bottle … if you don’t like the way it tastes, then walk away and leave it for someone else who may truly like it.

I hope that helps! No go out there and enjoy the adventure of wine tasting and be sure to take the time to really let the experience saturate your entire being. Relax and loosen up your clothes as much as possible, taste the wine with your eyes closed and in a quiet, calm and peaceful environment.

Also, don’t forget to start with your lighter wines and then progressively move to your richer, moodier broods and clean your palate between each wine by drinking water and eating a small cracker or piece of French bread with a nice slice of mild cheddar or jack cheese on top.

Cheers!

Signing off at Pigging out!
Rocco “Boss Hog” Loosbrock

Swine and Wine Club

With the ever-growing popularity of baconfreak.com’s Swine and Wine Club, I was thinking, how could we get as many people together to enjoy two of the finest things in life; bacon and wine. Why not try a Swine and Wine Party.

First, set the date, time and location. I was thinking a Sunday afternoon, not so late that you and your guests are feeling the effect the following morning.

Second, you need lots and lots of bacon.
Baconfreak.com has a wide variety of different bacon products. One specific kind of bacon that caught my eye was sun-dried tomato bacon. Why not pair the bacon with fresh mozzarella, on a toasted baguette for an easy light snack. Another easy and tasty bacon appetizer was something I found on Cooks.com. This recipe combines scallops, bacon and a sweet and sour sauce. Also, choose a few types of bacon to cook up and serve by themselves for your guest to enjoy, because what party isn’t complete without a few sweets to go along with the other food. Keeping with the theme of bacon, how about trying Bacon Chocolte Sueyts. These delectable delights pair the salty, savory flavors of bacon with the sweetness of dark chocolate for an unmistakable taste.

Lastly, to complete the swine and wine party, you are going to need the wine. I am going to suggest a wide variety of wine to complement the different flavors of the bacon and food, and suggest when hosting a swine and wine party yourself, doing the same. To match with the freshness of the bacon and mozzarella a nice Pinot Noir with its richness should bring out the flavors. With the Bacon Chocolte Sueyts nice Merlot would be a great match.

The most important thing to remember about a Swine and Wine party is to enjoy the good food, the good company and good wine.

Signing Off and Pigging Out,

Rocco “Boss Hog” Loosbrock

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The Oscar’s is a night that can make a winner out of anyone. This Sunday is like the Superbowl for movies and moviegoers alike.  The beauty of an event like the Oscars is that any kind of party to get together can be suitable. To celebrate the 82^nd Oscar’s ceremony, I’ve decided to give my friends an opportunity to wear that old cocktail dress that’s hiding in the back of their closets.

Taking my cue from the celebration of the ceremony just miles from my own house, I may not get a red carpet but dinner and wines are definitely a must. With this year’s award ceremony recognizing the work of Meryl Streep with a Best Actress Nomination for her role as Julia Child in Julie & Julia what better choice for dinner than something from her cookbook itself.

More importantly than the French cuisine though would be to find a perfect French wine to compliment the food itself. Keeping true to the spirit of the awards being in California as well as our French dinner, a bottle of wine or two from the vineyard Lyeth might be perfect. Lyeth, a Coastal Vineyard’s favorite, is a vineyard located in California that’s traditions; processes and inspiration all come from France. My well-dressed guests are going to be treated to a dinner fit for the stars.

Now it’s time for the award show to start. To make the viewing of the actual awards a bit more entertaining for my guests I have two things planned. A betting pool, costing the price of a ticket to the very first Oscar’s of five dollars to participate. The guest that guesses the most winners correctly would win the money.

While the guest or guests to guess the correct winners for the top categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screen Play would win their very own Oscar. I plan this prize Oscar to be a bottle of wine. Maybe a bottle from Rotta, yet another featured vineyard in the Coastal Vineyard Wine Clubs , one of the oldest vineyards in California being founded only nineteen years before the first Oscar ceremony in 1927.

I might place one of the Rotta wines within an Oscar themed gift bag, taking a page from last year’s Oscar bags that actually did include a bottle of wine for celebrities. Or I could create Oscar statues out of bottles of Chardonnay , already a golden light color and perfect in shape and color for the craft. Coastal Vineyards features a great wine club for Chardonnay’s of just California wines that would be perfect for keeping in our California Movie theme.

Fancy Dresses, dinner, prizes and plenty of wine throughout the night the 82^nd Oscars are going to be fun even for those of us on the outside of the Kodak Theatre. The winner of the night … anyone enjoying the show with me.

Lesley Lopez

Signing Off and Pigging Out,

Rocco “Boss Hog” Loosbrock

Be sure to visit our Wine of the Month Club by Clicking HERE!

Here’s one of the best kept secrets in the wide and wonderful world of wine. If you choose to take advantage of this insightful “Insider Information” you are guaranteed to experience an adventure that will create life-long memories that you will cherish forever and ever.

The truth is, if you really want to enjoy a complete tour of the entire Napa Valley Wine Country, without all of the loud crowds, long lines and high energy agitation, distraction that literally thousands of people can some how manage to bring to one of the nicest, most peaceful, relaxing and absolutely gorgeous environments on Earth, be sure to check it out during the winter months!

The Napa Valley Wine Country is a veritable wine wielding winter wonder-land during the off season, but I’m talking “Cool” because of how awesome the experience is, NOT with regards to the weather or the temperatures that you’ll experience.

Remember, this is the California Coast, where the wine is ALWAYS absolutely spectacular and where the gentle and peaceful Pacific Ocean can always be relied upon to keep the things relatively temperate and pleasurable year round.

You may want wait till around 10 am to allow the day to warm up just a little bit before you arrive, though I warn you, you will most definitely miss out on some spectacularly amazing sun-rises that will take your breath away.

Likewise, using the same logic and reasoning, you may want to leave just an hour or so after sun-down to avoid the eventual nippy chill that will settle in over the evening, put if you choose to stay longer, you will be surprised that’s it’s just not as cold as you might have feared.

Coming a bit later and leaving a bit earlier will still afford you way more time to get around and see everything, as there simply isn’t any traffic, crowds or lines to slow you down from doing  whatever it is that you may want to do.

Harvest has already completed its annual cycle and the barrels, tanks and in some cases (pun intended) special boutique bottles have already been put to bed to be woken again much later in the future, so this is a perfect time to actually get a chance to talk with these expert vintners and winemaking craftsmen and craftswomen and get all of the inside information on what to look for over the next few years in the world of wine.

Here’s another big plus for you. In order to effectively entice crowds to come visit the Napa Valley outside of the typical, traditional wine country touring season, the prices of absolutely everything from the wine itself, to the restaurants and shops and from the local hotel accommodations to the local night-life is greatly reduced and in some cases (pun once again, intended) a steal compared to regular season charges.

The average daily temperatures in January will hover around 50 degrees and then will begin to start rising toward the 60s by mid February and March. The winter rains turn hills the most gorgeous deep green while the dormant vines almost look like Halloween decorations, very mysterious and almost magical set off by the lightly misty skies and lack of crowds and noise.

Hint – hint … the very same posh and prestigious restaurants that you would normally have to wait an hour to get a table at … and then another 30 minutes to order your meal, will now have an entire staff of smiling faces, absolutely thrilled to see you and your business and willing to bend over backwards to ensure that you enjoy your experience, at prices that are most definitely worth joining in with the big group smile!

Meanwhile, the attention and help that you will get from the various shop owners and wineries themselves will allow you to fully grasp what it’s like to be royalty or among the rich and famous “Beautiful People” that you have always read and heard so much about.

Keep in mind that while wine tasting is a year-round pastime, it’s wise to g ahead and call ahead in advance to ensure whether or not the particular winery tasting rooms that you are interested in will be open at the times you want to arrive and remember that in the off season, some of these tasting rooms are available by appointment only.

If you’re truly ready to experience an amazing adventure in class, culture and absolutely astounding natural beauty and grace, I highly recommend you try exploring the Napa Valley Wine Country during the winter months at least ONCE in your life time. I promise you, that once you give it a try, it certainly won’t be the last time you do so!

Cheers!

Signing Off and Pigging Out,

Rocco “Boss Hog” Loosbrock

Be sure to visit our Wine of the Month Club by clicking HERE!

Happy Valentine’s Day everybody! Today truly is a very happy day for wineries and special production vintners all around the world, who have come to truly and totally LOVE Valentine’s Day.

This appreciation of the “Holiday Of Love” comes from the fact that this is one of the very few days of the year when people are more likely to be drinking wine and usually drinking a much better quality of wine than that which can quickly an simply be “picked- up” at the corner “Gas Station Mini-Mart” or the gigantic, generic corporate “Mega-Mart” warehouse emporium.

That means this is one of those especially rare times of the year when people have a chance to actually experience a truly great glass or three of premium quality wine, as they fall in love and “into line” with the traditions and spirit of “Valentine’s Day” and all that it has come to stand for.

So how can these adventuresome folks who usually drink beer, Jack and 7, rum and coke or are normally teetotalers, best be served (pun intended) on this special day?

How about a simple guide to the 5 Best Wines, guaranteed to take Romance well beyond Valentine’s Day!

The best way to effectively and successfully use this guide; is for you to do a little bit of honest soul searching to most honestly determine precisely where you and your LOVE are on the wide spectrum of wine appreciation.

To help simplify the process, let’s simply break the entire range down into four very easy to recognize categories: Novice, Sophisticate In Training, Intermediate Aficionado and Consummate Connoisseur.

Novice: The novice or relative novice to the “wonderful world of wine” is most definitely in for a real treat by introducing themselves to either an enchanting Chardonnay if a nice   White Wine is preferred; or an alluring Zinfandel if the traditional Red Wine is the choice and personal preference of the special couple.

Of course, since Valentine’s Day is a Holiday resplendently decorated in both red and white, you really can’t go wrong with either one of these excellent wines.

Chardonnay is by far the most popular white wine on the planet. It enticingly exudes and  expressing itself in an amazingly wide range of aromatic flavors and essences,  from its lush, rich and  buttery oak overtones, to the vibrantly fresh and fruity flavors of apples, pears, citrus and melons, leaving a luscious and long lasting positive impression upon the palate.

So many people deeply LOVE Chardonnay, that it has come to be known as the official wine of deep love, and that sounds like a great place to start … and to finish.

Zinfandel is by far the most charming and versatile red wine on the planet Earth, with an exquisite flavor and exceedingly alluring aroma, that with finesse and grace can easily pose equally as comfortably and believably as blush or rose frequently favored by most wine novices.

Come experience this enticing air of complexity and mystique, drawing you into a vast multitude of mouthwatering essences displayed by this uniquely multifaceted wine.

Sophisticate In Training: For those people who regularly enjoy imbibing a nice glass of wine now and again, the Cabernet is the perfect choice of a Romantic evening of passion.

Cabernet This sophisticatedly fruit flavored wine has just enough seductive sweetness to make it both luscious and adoring, without being overtly sweet. You’ll thoroughly enjoy the intoxicating, subtle hints of everything from the most flavorful expression of black currant, blackberry, black cherry, cassis, and raspberry, with the musk-like allure and essence of tobacco, cedar, oak and even dried herbs and spices.

People these days so often over-use the erotic expression “an orgy of decadent flavors,” however, in this case, the assertion is quite well founded and completely true!

Intermediate Aficionado: The Intermediate Aficionado who has been loyally drinking wine for an extended period of time now has earned the right and privilege to move up the sultry sensuality of Syrah. Even the very name of this wine is both exotically charged and erotically alluring.

Syrah is a full bodied, dominantly lush and luscious, deeply scarlet colored wine, rich, dark and heady, commonly emanating the aroma of floral and fruity fares from black currants apple, cherry and blackberries to raspberry, citrus, blueberry and plums. What is even more spectacular is the mesmerizing finish, often lingering with a hint of chocolate, vanilla, oak, coffee, all-spice, cinnamon, anise and even a slight touch of pepper.

This is perhaps the most delightfully decadent red wine on Earth with a lush texture and impressive after-taste that, very much like an amazingly wonderful lover, continues to call you back again and again … and each time, it only gets better and better!

Consummate Connoisseur: For the Consummate Connoisseur, may I introduce you to the magically mystical Merlot, where the mythical wonders and glory of “Mer-lin” and “Came-lot” com together in a perfectly balanced blend, equaling this eminently enticing elixir known to human-kind only as “Mer-Lot!”

Merlot is a distinctly delectable, medium-bodied red wine with an amazingly wide range of explosively juicy fruit flavors ranging from cherries, currants and blueberries to black cherries, plums, and blackberries, often exuding an alluring essence of vanilla, oak, spice, coconut, musk, caramel, truffle, tobacco, mint or even slight sprinkling of black pepper.

The tannin levels in merlot are intentionally kept low, leading to a much smoother, less dry and acidic aftertaste than many people have commonly come to associate with and expect from a premium quality red wine.

This wine is so smooth and luscious, rich and decadent, that it will transform both your consciousness and your sense, literally blowing your proverbial socks off … along with other items of clothing that may be deemed in the way or unnecessary for a party of two!

Cheers!

The idea of wine is essentially romantic for many of us. Personally when I think of wine and romance, the first thought that comes to mind is that Cleopatra seduced Mark Anthony on the Nile with this ancient wine that can still be found today. There’s no doubt that wine is romantic, it’s the drink of choice at proposals dinners in every chick flick ever created. So for the most romantic day of the year wine should be present, but it’s not just the drink that can spice up your special couples day.

As I’ve late, I’ve become a fan of USA’s White Collar. Aside from the main plot of the series, in the pilot the main character “Neal Caffrey” escapes prison just months before finishing out a four-year sentence. He is searching for his wife that apparently is leaving him. What he finds in her place is an empty bottle of wine.

It is explained that the empty bottle was a symbol of their relationship, it was a fancy bottle refilled with cheaper wine as a sign that they knew things would one day get better. Neal spends the better part of the first few episodes trying to figure out what hidden messages the bottle might hold for him. Being a hopeless romantic, I loved this idea and this story so much it got me thinking.

Valentine’s Day can be an expensive holiday, but you don’t need to spend tons of money to be romantic. Also you don’t need to just be romantic one day a year, but one soapbox at a time. Currently I have an empty bottle of 2008 Monterey Chardonnay and a full bottle of 2006 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon.

Both wines are featured at Coastal Vineyards, specifically chosen from the California region and emphasis boutique and special qualities not often found at your local market. This already puts me a step ahead of the game; the wines themselves are special and not found in everyday markets.

The empty bottle can be used to leave a message in a bottle, a clue for your significant other. Taking a book out of Neal’s book, maybe it can be a wine from Santa Barbara region like many of the Coastal Vineyards wines tend to be because that’s where you met, or a place you both love to go? Write right on the label or stick a rolled up note into the empty bottle itself. Or use the empty bottle as a vase for a single red rose, no matter how romantic a dozen are a single rose is always somewhat more romantic. Leave the bottle in an obvious place, the dining room table or the bar? Or put it on a tray with breakfast in bed before you leave for work. Either way the message might be a delightful surprise. Now personally, I would use my full bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon with the romantic dinner.

Cabernet is often described as the king of wines and considered to be a great pairing for meats and cheeses. This leaves many options from comfort foods like four cheese macaroni to a grilled steak. The meal and the personal note would all depend on personal preferences but romance can come in all sorts of packages. This year might be a great year to venture into the realm of classic with a twist, wine and empty wine bottles make a great way to set up a memorable evening.

Lesley Lopez

Signing Off and Pigging Out,Rocco “Boss Hog” LoosbrockBe sure to visit our Wine of the Month Club by clicking HERE!

By Lesley Lopez

Not being an avid football watcher, there isn’t much I know about the anticipated game this Sunday. I have discovered this year it’s a match up between the Colts and the Saints, though even after some research on the teams themselves I still don’t really know which is favored to win. Aside from that I know that football is better experienced on a larger television and in groups, or so is the reasoning behind throwing a Super Bowl party.

When it comes to the party, I’m the quarterback of planners. Walking into any supermarket, I’m faced with the traditions and staples of all Super Bowl Sundays. Tortilla Chips, salsas, crackers, soda and beer in stalks around any market send the clear message: this is all you need for a successful party.

Not that I don’t agree, you could have a great party with just the essentials of what is right next to all the cash registers at your Vons. Not to mention the key selling point of no preparation time needed, just pull open the bags and set out the cans and you’re done. But this year, I want to stray off the beaten path and try a few things differently.

So veering away from the stalks of sodas, I headed towards the fruit section of the market. This year, I was thinking punch bowls of sangria for drinks. I picked up some pineapple, peaches, granny smith green apples, lemons and some ginger ale. Also on my way back towards the check out stands.

I caved and picked up some bean dip and chips because who can really have a Super Bowl party without tortilla chips? A new snack idea occurred to me. Recently I discovered a smoked mozzarella cheese from Boss Hog a part of the Swine and Wine Club featured through Coastal Vineyards and Bacon Freak. The gourmet cheese would be a perfect addition to either bean dip or a new twist on a platter of nachos.

Using a great bottle of wine from Vina Robles, featured as one of the Coastal Vineyards Wine Club selections I would be making chardonnay sangria.

Now it might take some time to cut up all the fruit but not only can the pieces be used for the sangria itself but also for a selection of slightly healthier finger foods! Dumping all the chopped pieces into a bowl, I can pour in the wine and some of the ginger ale and presto like magic the sangria is finished.

I might even venture to make another bowl with a Merlot wine also featured in the Coastal Vineyard Wine Club. But maybe throw in some berries, club soda and triple sec into that one.

The possibilities are endless when making sangria, which means that my new Super Bowl tradition can be trying something different every year. Though, tasting the sangria with my new nachos I might not wait until next year’s Super Bowl maybe I’ll have a Oscars party too!

By Lesley Lopez

Signing Off and Pigging Out,

Rocco “Boss Hog” Loosbrock

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