wine tasting

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Do you have a house wine? I always love having an old standby favorite on hand in a quantity that ensures we can serve it over and over again at a variety of occasions. We tend to change up our house wine based on what great wines at great values we find, but we usually have one.

This summer, our house white wine is Cline Cellars Viognier. We love Cline wines, and we were able to find this Viognier at Bin Ends for $8 a bottle. It’s definitely always worth looking at stores like this for wine bargains!

Cline Viognier

Cline Viognier has all that I love about Viognier, those ripe peach notes, hints of pineapple, vanilla, and a round and decadent mouthfeel. It goes well with all sorts of food, and since it has good body, it would make a great winter white as well.

In all of my trips to Sonoma, I have never visited Cline, but I am hoping to get there this month. The countdown to wine country is on!

If you had to choose a house white wine for your home, what would you choose?

Tags: Cline Viognier, house wine, Viognier, wine, wine lover, wine of the week, wine tasting, Wine Wednesday

This Wine Wednesday I bring you a favorite Wine of the Week in addition to a new favorite Boston restaurant, one that I can’t stop talking about and thinking about and planning year-round visits to.

On Friday night after a cocktail and an appetizer at Legal Oysteria, we decided to take advantage of the warm summer night and our free parking with a wander around Charlestown. We love anything near the water, so the Navy Yard was an obvious choice for strolling and taking in the sea air. After a little walking, I found myself hungry again and remembered that the Navy Yard Bistro and Wine Bar, a place I had wanted to try forever, was nearby.

We bypassed outside lines and grabbed a seat at the dark and cozy bar, instantly loving the friendly vibe and maritime feel of the place. It reminded me of bars we visit in Ireland, and it felt so comfortable.

I also really loved their wine specials and by-the-glass wine list, especially when I discovered a North Fork wine as one of the specials! I grabbed a glass of 2013 Bridge Lane Rosé and paired it with a big, steaming bowl of Steamed Mussels with Leeks, Garlic, White Wine, Lemon, and Shaved Almonds.

2013 Bridge Lane Rosé

 

 

Navy Yard Bistro

Mmmmmm. We had the very end of the dark bar, it was Friday night, and the wine and mussels were the perfect treat. The wine, made from my beloved North Fork Cab Franc, was perfectly dry with strawberry and herbal notes, and of course, it went great with seafood. The food was absolutely amazing. My husband had a pork special which was completely decadent and delicious. Friendly, knowledgeable service paired perfectly with both!

As you know, I love my North Fork wines, and I love that the Navy Yard Bistro and Wine Bar actually offered one by the glass, a rare occasion when we are out. I can’t wait to add more of this wine as well as the bistro into my life.

Tags: 2013 Bridge Lane Rosé, Boston, Long Island, Long Island wine, North Fork, North Fork wines, rose, summer wines, wine, wine of the week, wine tasting

“As I ate the oysters with their strong taste of the sea and their faint metallic taste that the cold white wine washed away, leaving only the sea taste and the succulent texture, and as I drank their cold liquid from each shell and washed it down with the crisp taste of the wine, I lost the empty feeling and began to be happy and to make plans.” ~ Ernest Hemingway

Cold white wine and oysters might be the most simple but best combination on earth, and the pairing makes for the perfect seaside meal. I was recently invited to Row 34 to attend a Martín Códax Albariño wine dinner. I learned that the wine is called wine of the sea, and being basically obsessed with the sea and wine, I knew this was a wine dinner I couldn’t miss.

Martin Codax Albarino

My husband and I were greeted warmly at Row 34 with glasses of the 2012 Albariño, and right off the bat, I could see why they call it wine of the sea. This bright, summery wine is crisp and dry with notes of apple and citrus, along with nice minerality and salinity that makes you feel like you’re sipping it at the beach. The acidity is not off the charts, but it is definitely there and it makes the mouth water. Acidity and balance make this Albariño a great food wine.

row 34 oysters

We started off by pairing it with some oysters, and we were happy to see how delicious citrus and mineral notes paired with briny oysters.

Once we sat down, we were treated to a summery feast with flowing Albariño. On the menu was an unpictured Striped Bass Crudo with Herb Salad and Crispy Shallots. Once again, the wine went wonderfully with the fresh, sweet fish, and the caramelization on the shallots was a sweet, buttery touch.

Next up, we had Brown Butter Lobster with Corn, Tomato, and Basil. Can you go wrong with lobster and brown butter? The Martín Códax Albariño may pair even better with lobster than it does with oysters. The acid in the wine balanced the buttery lobster beautifully.

brown butter lobster

To finish off the meal, we were served a fruity and light dessert, Lemon Pound Cake with Fresh Local Berries. It was sweet, easy, and fresh, just like Summer. The lemony notes in the wine played nicely with the lemon cake, proving that this wine can indeed pair with an entire meal.

lemon pound cake

While we said our goodbyes, we were each sent off with a bottle of this delicious wine of the sea, tucked neatly into the most adorable wine bags made out of recycled sails. I thought this was a genius idea; I can’t wait to reuse the bag!sail cloth wine bag

All in all, the Martín Códax Albariño dinner was a fantastic way to spend a summer night, and the wine is the perfect expression of the season. It’s a great boat wine. Smile

This dinner was complimentary. All opinions are my own.

Tags: albarino, seafood wine, Spanish wine, Summer wine, wine, wine dinner, wine of the week, wine tasting, Wine Wednesday

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