I’ve been holding on to this bottle of white Port since the Prager family shipped it to me some months ago. I wanted to make sure that I was prepared — both mentally and culinarily — before I cracked the seal. I also wanted to make sure that I opened the bottle at the right time and in the right place: I wanted to make sure I was surrounded by loved ones with which to share this wine adventure. A family product like Prager Port deserves such attention and occasion.
Even if you’ve looked up the restaurant and planned your reservations in advance, it can be all too easy to miss SHED in the thriving downtown Healdsburg restaurant scene. It’s just off the main drag, far enough down the block that you can’t quite see it and — oh yeah — it’s shaped like a SHED.
If it weren’t for the al fresco seating out front, you could easily mistake the building for a furniture shop or even a warehouse. But once you’ve found it, you’ve found a slice of foodie heaven.
After my exceptional experience with Benziger Family Winery Merlot I knew I had found yet another reputable wine producer that I can afford to experiment with. I mean, if they can excel at something that, until recently, has been bland and boring in my book (note: I no longer feel this way about the right Merlots), then I knew I could trust them with my Sauvignon Blanc fate. And, again, Benziger, you’ve surpassed my expectations…
Along with Wente and Chateau Ste Michelle, Chateau St. Jean is another wine producer that has established itself as a regular in our cellar. I first fell in love with CSJ after tasting their standard Chardonnay — totally Cal-oaked to perfection — and I have to say I knew the love was real after tasting their Pinot Noir. Light and lively, there’s nothing serious about Chateau St. Jean’s Sonoma County Pinot Noir — it’s simply easy drinking for any night of the week.
I was on a mission the day I chose Chalk Hill Estate Chardonnay. A mission to find a Chardonnay with a little bit of old-world funk to it. You know, that kind of “taste the farm from the fertilizer on up” kind of funk. It’s the same kind of craving you get for stinky cheese, truffle, or even rare meat. You know what I’m talking about. And if you don’t, well, grab a glass and pour a little Chalk Hill Estate Chardonnay and experiment with me…
