Wine Talk

Great Wine in a Portable Bottle

Saving the Planet

We are always looking for ways to take our wine safely on the trail, right? So I have stumbled onto one of the best yet. While saving the Planet I can enjoy a great red wine, ride without worry of breaking glass, and enjoy a good wine on the trail. Life changing. The wine is red blend from Paso Robles, a region in California where the climate and soil are great for red wines. Paso Robles was awarded the Wine Enthusiast Wine Region of the year award.. based not only on the wine but also for innovation and excitement… shown here for sure.
So back to the bottle.

Recycle

Again the wine is great, you would not know it was bottled in plastic and paper, but because it is you can totally recycle this bottle, and save the Planet, while saving your horse from an unexpected cut from falling over on your saddlebags and breaking the wine bottle.

Insides

So here is the inside of the bottle… isn’t is crazy?

Outside/Inside

Totally dismantled.
I took this wine on my campout in Salome and it was perfect. I am had to please with wine, it has to be good or I wont buy it, so for my horse outings it has been hard to pack on my rides. This was just the most incredible find, packed for safety, and so delicious. I am sure you can think of many places this packaging will come in handy.
I purchased mine at Safeway, and while at Total Wine this past week it was there also.
Enjoy the safety of your new world.

Posted By Sharon Grannis on April 14, 2014 |Filed Under: Wine Talk •

WHAT Wineries in AZ?

So who knew, between the cactus, sand and ever scorching sun…. grapes.

Cornville, just a bit west of the middle of AZ is this small town without any corn that we could locate, but a valley of artisan water that has just the right climate for growing grapes.

The heat was on, the monsoons threatening and I went wine tasting. What else do you do in 100 plus heat?

Along a beautiful road, down a valley with lush plant life, smack dab in the middle of the desert lies this completely inviting winery, Javelina Leap.

The tasting room inviting with a western flair. Annie our pourer was very informed about the wine and valley in which they are located and so willing to share with us why this valley is great for growing grapes.

Cynthia and Rod Snapp are the owners and winemakers, this is a self portraiture of Cynthia which is located in the Arizona room behind the bar. The wine is a work of love and can be tasted in the wine.

This is a great winery with wonderful reds, the Syrah and Merlot my favorites, and the Zin rolling in right behind.

The grounds are beautiful, the pourers informed and welcoming, the wine wonderful. I enjoyed my visit, cant wait to go back as I sit here tonight enjoying my Syrah while recalling my visit. You can find them at http://www.javelinaleapwinery.com/

Posted By Sharon Grannis on July 8, 2013 |Filed Under: Featured, Wine Talk •

Goats, who knew?

On our adventure to locate bears, we drove to Fossil Creek which was closed due to the extreme fire hazards in AZ.

On our adventure to locate bears, we drove to Fossil Creek which was closed due to the extreme fire hazards in AZ. But when one trail closes another opens… and look at the incredible find along our trail! A creamery that was in full milking when we arrived.

This is Hope or maybe it is Faith, oh I forget but I am sure she will forgive me. These goats get milked twice daily and there are 41 of them!

So it seems that the “girls” know that in the bowls are the best food on the ranch!

They run from their housing area to the milk stands and jump right up to enjoy the yummy treats!

The Fossil Creek Creamery is also home to many Llamas who fleece is used for creating many things.

The Fossil Creek Creamery is also home to many Llamas in which the fleece is used for creating many things.

So inside the pretty glass doors, is a bounty of goodness. Taste testing in encouraged! I tasted it all, Chevre, the soft goat cheese, Havarti the hard cheese that I was only familiar with until my visit, and the most yummy fudge made from goats milk! They have several varieties of Chevre and I selected the 3 that I knew would pair well with my favorite wines, Strawberry Jalapeno, Shiraz Berry and Lavender Pepper. There was no way that I was leaving without the Peanut Butter Chocolate fudge, so creamy and fresh! We bought 2 bars of soap, that smell of fields of lavender.

So inside the pretty glass doors, is a bounty of goodness. Taste testing is encouraged! I tasted it all, Chevre, the soft goat cheese, Havarti the hard cheese that I was only familiar with until my visit, and the most yummy fudge made from goats milk! They have several varieties of Chevre and I selected the 3 that I knew would pair well with my favorite wines, Strawberry Jalapeno, Shiraz Berry and Lavender Pepper. There was no way that I was leaving without the Peanut Butter Chocolate fudge, so creamy and fresh! We bought 2 bars of soap, that smell of fields of lavender.

If you find yourself in Strawberry Az stop in and spend sometime with John, Joyce and the 41 girls. If you cant make the trip you can find them at www.ranchatfossilcreek.com

Posted By Sharon Grannis on July 6, 2013 |Filed Under: Featured, Wine Talk •

Super Moon at Leonees Cellars

Last night we, sister Lauren and I, enjoyed a wonderful evening at Leoness Cellars great food, wine and the incredible moon over the vineyard.

Last night we enjoyed a wonderful evening at Leoness Cellars great food, wine and the incredible moon over the vineyard.

This restaurant is on the patio of the vineyard, great food and incredible views.

My attempt to photograph the night moon over the vineyard. I promise to get better at this.

Light by man and light from above…

Posted By Sharon Grannis on June 24, 2013 |Filed Under: Featured, Wine Talk •

Cougar Wine Blending Event

Cougar Winery held its blending event last night and Val, Cooled and I attended.

Cougar wine blending event

We all come in, sit at the table full of glasses, bottles of wine, crayons, paper, beakers and this? I know I am in trouble, four bottles of wine, glasses empty and then science project? Right, drunk girls who didn’t do well at science sober.. we wont win the event for sure. We ended up using this paper for passing notes to each other.

We picked Julian to blend our choices of wines, she is a lover of red wines and sounded like she knew what she was talking about. Val and I took notes and drank the mixtures while Cooled drank water and spied on the competition.

These ladies came all the way from Illinois and have been friends for 40 years. A true testament to the power of female friendship. We raise a glass to you.

Val and I continue our “taste testing” pretending to know what we are doing and saying things like, ” a bit buttery, I taste pepper, dry, has a bite” and so on. I start playing with Tim Title my mascot from work.

Wine is blended, we pick our favorite, we are now well on our way of being intoxicated, and we are asked to create a label for our wine! Now we know what the paper and crayons are for! Really! This should have been before wine.. as you can see for yourself. Cooled tells me ” isn’t funny how adults draw just like children” I am thinking drunk adults are just like children..
So here is our bottle’s label, its a Cougar, not a rabbit and yes it really was the best we could do. No we didn’t win best bottle.

Now we have to pitch our wine to the competition. Lets sacrifice the pretty one, young, adorable great hair, grand idea. She does a great job, talking about our blend, which is called “Love @ First Bite” due to the bite at the beginning. Thanks Julian, great job!

Competition is stiff and they are working the crowd.

Table 8, our girls from Illinois, have created a wine that speaks about their friendship and call it The 3 Amigos, a blend of 3. She does a great job and the story of the ladies is making us all so happy.

Wine is left on the table and as my mom always raised me to waste not want not, I continued my “tasting” and personal blending. Tim sort of got ignored.

Winning bottle for design, I think, as I have a photo of them holding this up.

So as quick as it began it ends, I cant recall who won the blending, but I am sure it was a worthy candidate. I leave a bit more educated about blending but still not sure about that wheel thing. Next time I will surely attack my night a bit different.
1. Draw the label before wine.
2. Taste and pour out remainder in glass.
3. Eat prior to event.
4. Taste and pour out remainder in the glass.

Posted By Sharon Grannis on June 9, 2013 |Filed Under: Featured, Wine Talk •