The Wining Woman » Administrator http://allidoiswine.com/blog The Wonderful World of Wine, Travel and Food Thu, 10 May 2012 22:04:59 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Spring Time and That Means Rose Time http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2012/05/10/spring-time-and-that-means-rose-time/ http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2012/05/10/spring-time-and-that-means-rose-time/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 21:59:52 +0000 Administrator http://allidoiswine.com/blog/?p=365 Continue reading →]]> Every spring I love to try new rosé wines but sometimes, it isn’t easy to find new varieties. Now, that I am in Florida and I am finding my way around the different wine shops including the supermarkets that carry wine, I have been doing my spring time search.  So far, I haven’t found that many but did come across the Barton & Guestier 2010 Rosé d’Anjou for a mere $10.50.
I thought this wine would be a nice one to start off the evening with our friends and decided to quickly chill it in our freezer (I don’t usually do this or recommend it.) Well, here’s a good reason not to do that. We actually headed out for dinner and I completely forgot about this wine until we returned. When I opened the freezer to get some ice cream , there was the bottle frozen solid like an ice pop!
Well, here it is the next day, completely thawed out, and I figured why not have a glass with my pizza lunch? The wine had a terrific pink salmon color and a very fruity and spicy nose. Produced in the western Loire Valley of France this wine is made primarily from Cabernet Franc and Grolleau grapes. The winemakers left some residual sugar in this wine keeping the wine’s finish sweet and light. I enjoyed the body of this wine along with its fruitiness and good acidity that was quite refreshing.  I am so glad that  I didn’t ruin this easy drinking wine.
I’ll be on the lookout for other roses and will remember to keep them out of the freezer.

Cheers,
The Wining Woman

All the Best with Zita Keeley

Zita’s Guide to Wine and Life- A Different Kind of Wine Book

]]> http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2012/05/10/spring-time-and-that-means-rose-time/feed/ 0 All the Best with Zita Keeley http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2012/04/21/all-the-best-with-zita-keeley/ http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2012/04/21/all-the-best-with-zita-keeley/#comments Sat, 21 Apr 2012 19:08:30 +0000 Administrator http://allidoiswine.com/blog/?p=362 All the Best with Zita Keeley TV show sizzle (promo)

]]> http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2012/04/21/all-the-best-with-zita-keeley/feed/ 0 Worth the Wait http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2012/04/16/worth-the-wait/ http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2012/04/16/worth-the-wait/#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 01:22:28 +0000 Administrator http://allidoiswine.com/blog/?p=356 Continue reading →]]> Well, I have been out of print for a while now but hurray- I am here and there are some great things to report about.
First of all, my book has been published! “Zita’s Guide to Wine and Life – A Different Kind of Wine Book”  is available to order online at www.buybooksontheweb.com (or click here) and you can also email me if you would like a signed copy (at info@allidoiswine.com) My co-author Carolyn Kourofsky and I will be having our first book signing in Rochester NY on the evening of Tuesday May 15th. You can go to www.womenforwinesense.org for more information and to register if you can make that. We will also be having a book signing in a local wine shop in Rochester area on the evening of Wed May 16th. If you would like a book signing in your area, please email me.

In addition, the sizzle reel (that is the short promo video) for my new lifestyle tv show “All the Best with Zita Keeley” is on our All the Best website and You Tube or click here. The first show will be completed shortly and will be airing in the Fall of 2012. We are so very excited about all that is happening. We thank you for your support and encouragement and hope you all watch!All the Best with Zita Keeley TV show

Cheers,
The Wining Woman

All the Best with Zita Keeley

Zita’s Guide to Wine and Life- A Different Kind of Wine Book

 

]]> http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2012/04/16/worth-the-wait/feed/ 0 Follow me to Florida http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2012/03/18/follow-me-to-florida/ http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2012/03/18/follow-me-to-florida/#comments Sun, 18 Mar 2012 23:58:01 +0000 Administrator http://allidoiswine.com/blog/?p=353 Continue reading →]]> Well, you might have wondered what has happened to me and this blog (I hope so anyway.)
I have spent the last few months packing, moving, unpacking, traveling and just trying to settle in to our new home in Florida.
Presently, I have been back up North working on our new tv show but am headed back home and ready to get this blog up and running again.
So please keep checking for new updates as I will be back…
thanks for your patience and cheers,
The Wining Woman

]]> http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2012/03/18/follow-me-to-florida/feed/ 0 Palmaz Wine Dinner http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2011/11/22/palmaz-wine-dinner/ http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2011/11/22/palmaz-wine-dinner/#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:27:50 +0000 Administrator http://allidoiswine.com/blog/?p=346 Continue reading →]]> Join WWS New Jersey for this very special Palmaz wine dinner.

The Turtle Club
936 Park Avenue
Hoboken, NJ
|201-710-5960

Wednesday November 30, 2011
7:00-9:00PM

Palmaz Winery is a boutique winery in Napa Valley. These wines are limited and not easy to come by. Alan Greenberg from Palmaz Winery will be leading the event and presenting each of the four wines we will be having that evening. This is a unique opportunity to explore the wines of Palmaz Winery and have them with specially chosen dishes that showcase these special wines.
Wines to be Tasted
2009 Palmaz Chardonnay – ceasar salad with shaved parmesan and garlic croutons
2007 Cedar Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon – pasta course
2007 Palmaz Cabernet Sauvignon – marinated skirt steak w roasted potatoes
2001 Palmaz Cabernet Sauvignon – chocolate cake of the day
Registration for this event is mandatory as seating is limited. Please register online by clicking the link below by November 28th.
Cheers,
The Wining Woman
]]> http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2011/11/22/palmaz-wine-dinner/feed/ 0 Cruising Back to the Wine World http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2011/11/14/cruising-back-to-the-wine-world/ http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2011/11/14/cruising-back-to-the-wine-world/#comments Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:01:29 +0000 Administrator http://allidoiswine.com/blog/?p=339 Continue reading →]]> Time has a way of moving rather fast sometimes and I just realize how long it has been since my last blog post. I will try and make up for that lapse.

I recently returned from a cruise through the Panama Canal. What an amazing experience that was. It’s incredible to think that 100 years ago without all the technology that we have today, something that grand and significant was developed. Until now, only the smaller cruise ships could make it through but within 2 years new locks for the bigger ships will be ready. There will be a site to see.

Spending 10 days on a cruise ship was just like spending 10 days at a 5 star hotel. Food, drink, dancing, shows and yes, exercising! The food was surprisingly good throughout the ship but we were still able to leave without gaining any weight. (That’s thanks to walking back and forth and up and down the 14 story ship!)

The wine program on our ship, the Island Princess was pretty good. Their onboard Sommelier led 2 different wine tastings that were well attended. They also have a good discount program that allows you to choose any wines from their lists (it is simply based on price point so with our package we could choose any wine under $45.) There were lower prices packages and a higher one as well. While I had thought we’d make it through our 12 bottles for the week, we actually left the ship with a bottle of bubbly we did not consume. Thank you Jann and David (our ship had 2 Sommeliers as they were transitioning from one to the other.) We loved talking about wine together every night.

Now I have returned to see that there are numerous bottles of wine that I consumed in the last month that I need to report about. This is going to be a busy month.

Cheers,
The Wining Woman

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Zita Keeley’s Wine School

 

]]> http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2011/11/14/cruising-back-to-the-wine-world/feed/ 0 Napa Valley Wine Event http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2011/10/12/napa-valley-wine-event/ http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2011/10/12/napa-valley-wine-event/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:19:05 +0000 Administrator http://allidoiswine.com/blog/?p=336 Continue reading →]]> I am missing out on a Napa Valley trip this year but, I can’t complain as a cruise to the Panama Canal instead is not a bad alternative.
But, being Napa I wanted to let you know about an upcoming wine event taking place from Thursday November 17- Sunday November 20th, 2011.
A celebration of Food, Wine, Fun benefiting the Culinary Institute of America, St. Helena Scholarship Fund.  Flavor! Napa Valley is a four-day extravaganza of farm-to-table fine cuisine, world-class wines, and the fun that is had when these elements come together in America’s premier wine region. It will be held at:
The Silverado Resort & Spa
1600 Atlas Peak Road
Napa, California
707.257.0200

http://www.silveradoresort.com/

Call or go to website for tickets

Cheers,

]]> http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2011/10/12/napa-valley-wine-event/feed/ 0 Cloudy Bay Under the Stars http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2011/10/02/cloudy-bay-under-the-stars/ http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2011/10/02/cloudy-bay-under-the-stars/#comments Sun, 02 Oct 2011 21:22:53 +0000 Administrator http://allidoiswine.com/blog/?p=328 Continue reading →]]> The weather has been atrocious in New York but, thankfully, Mother Nature was good to Cloudy Bay and the Gregory White PR firm who planned an amazing wine dinner outside at the Elizabeth Street Garden this past Thursday.
Cloudy Bay’s winemaker, Sarah Burton, made the trip all the way from New Zealand to share the brand new 2011 vintage of Sauvignon Blanc and a few other Cloudy Bay gems with us. While we waited for the wonderful catering staff of Silkstone to reset the table for the 25 or so guests (earlier, they had it set beautifully under some trees until the skies opened up  so now they were setting up along the drier paved walkway) we sipped and chatted and munched on fabulous passed hors d’ouvres.
Once ready, the table setting was stunning with stringed lights above and an actual herb garden planted in the center of a very long wooden table. The chef told us we were to pick and choose herbs that we liked to compliment her food. What an interesting concept this was although I realized by the end of the meal that I never did pick any herbs.
Sitting down with our glasses of Sauvignon Blanc, Sarah told us how the 2011 was 2% barrel fermented- very controlled – to make the wine fleshy. She remarked how freshness and acidity were very important for her wines. I found this Sauvignon Blanc full of delicious grapefruit with great texture and definitely crisp acidity. Retail cost for this wine is about $25.
Our first dish of smoked bluefish with grilled breads and an assortment of pickled and fresh vegetables was accompanied by a more aged Sauvignon Blanc, the To Koko 2006. This wine was 100% barrel fermented with wild yeasts for 18 months but only 10% new oak to give the wine elegance and texture. I loved the wine’s minerality and spiciness. It definitely had a lot of finesse for a Sauvignon Blanc. Retail price $55.
Next, was our main course of braised rabbit with baby artichokes served with a salsa verde. This was paired with the Cloudy Bay 2007 Chardonnay. Hand-picked grapes, 100% barrel fermented with 20% new oak and wild yeasts as well, this, too was an elegant wine with good minerality and a smooth finish. This could be a wine that ages well. Retail price approx: $29.
Next we had our cheese course of bleu cheese , figs and walnuts served with Cloudy Bay’s 2009 Pinot Noir. Nice strawberry and sour cherry with leathery and chocolatey notes. Costing about $39 this is a really nice Pinot.  Sarah told us how different clones of Pinot were used for the wine. The grapes were hand-picked, went through an initial cold soak for 3 weeks and natural yeasts began the fermentation. 20% of the grapes were whole bunch to increase the wine’s spiciness. All of the grapes then went into oak barrels half of which were new oak. After about a year of aging in the oak, the batches were blended. This is the wonderful world of winemaking.
Our evening ended with a dessert of caramelized peach tarte tatin with fresh mascarpone and the Cloudy Bay Riesling. (A special treat that Sarah brought as it isn’t available in the U.S. other than NY.) Lemony, nice and fresh with 30 grams residual sugar and only 101/2% alcohol this was a delicious finish for a most spectacular night under the stars.

Cheers.

The Wining Woman

Please vote for our blog daily
Zita Keeley’s Wine School

]]> http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2011/10/02/cloudy-bay-under-the-stars/feed/ 0 It’s Wine App Time http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2011/09/24/its-wine-app-time/ http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2011/09/24/its-wine-app-time/#comments Sat, 24 Sep 2011 14:46:35 +0000 Administrator http://allidoiswine.com/blog/?p=323 Continue reading →]]> I did it. I gave in and upgraded to an Iphone. I have had it for about a month now and frankly, have not enjoyed it very much. First, I had sound issues and had to get it replaced. While that should have been a simple “swap” at the AT&T store where I purchased it, I was sent to the Apple Store where I had to sit for a half an hour (even with an appointment) until someone could help me. After being told this should have been done at my AT& T store (duh!) and it’s not something they usually do there (what? – you sell these things!) the rep did make the exchange. All this for a phone.

These past few weeks, I have been playing around with the features to see if I can get used to it. I added lots of free “apps” including Facebook, Twitter, Linked In as well as food, wine and travel ones.
Yesterday, I decided to look at the application “WineStein” – for food and wine pairing. They refer to it  as your personal digital sommelier in your pocket. With just a few clicks through various icons, you will get a list of wines with descriptions as well. The more details you can give for your dish, the more specific your wine choices will be. The database of wines is impressive and is updated on a regular basis. I really had fun with this and definitely recommend it to you food and wine lovers.
This app alone is making me want to keep my Iphone.

Cheers,
The Wining Woman
Please vote for our blog
Zita Keeley’s Wine School

]]> http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2011/09/24/its-wine-app-time/feed/ 0 Falling for Autumn Wines http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2011/09/15/falling-for-autumn-wines/ http://allidoiswine.com/blog/2011/09/15/falling-for-autumn-wines/#comments Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:41:18 +0000 Administrator http://allidoiswine.com/blog/?p=319 Continue reading →]]> Back from the shore and ready for Fall! Join us for a WWS Wine Tasting Mixer!
To celebrate the end of a very hot summer we are dedicating our fall event to autumn wines!
Join us at The Clam Broth House on Sept 21st to taste some great fall wines, mingle and meet new people. This event is great for those of you just wanting to check out the group and see what its all about. This will not be a formal event, however, there will be plenty of wine for tasting!
Don’t forget our web page everyone! We have new member perks available! Also don’t you want to see what we’ve been up to? Like us on FB, we post everything going on our page.
www.womenforwinesense.org

Wednesday Sep 21
Clam Broth House- Hoboken, NJ
Meet at Bar 6:30PM
Join event 7:00PM
RSVP IS ESSENTIAL – REGISTER ONLINE

Cheers,

The Wining Woman

Zita Keeley’s Wine School
Please vote for our blog


 

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