8th Annual International Alsace Fest Preview

When most people think “winter whites,” images of department store linen sales may pop to mind, but the first thing I think of is wine. Nothing perks up a dark winter day better than a crisp white wine. If you’re a fan of fragrant and luscious whites, the 8th Annual International Alsace Varietals Festival is for you.

This year’s event takes place February 9 through 10 in Boonville, Calif., located in Anderson Valley — the wine sweet spot of Mendocino County — tucked between rolling hills, coastal ranges and many exceptional wineries and vineyards.

READ MORE HERE... 

Books 2012- What I Read in Print and E-ink

Last year I received a Kindle for my birthday just before I left on a three week trip to Italy. It's funny, I would not have bought the device for myself but it really was the perfect gift since one of my greatest packing challenges is deciding how much reading material to bring.

The Kindle came in very handy during a lengthy flight delay in Frankfurt and when I got snowed in Rome. There were great challenges in travel transportation last year, but having a Kindle made waiting tolerable. Faced with a 5+ hour delay in Frankfurt in January, I downloaded the 600 page Steve Jobs Bio and the time passed very quickly, plus I was thankful I did not have to lug around that beast of a book in print. I love the portability of the Kindle when I travel, but miss having the hard copy books for my bookshelves. A few months ago I won a Kindle Fire--so now I have two Kindles and all the books on my first kindle show up on the Fire. Although I much prefer reading on the flat non-back lit screen of my first Kindle.
Note to Publishers: I’d pay extra for a bundled print book that included all formats including audio, so I could read anyway I choose.

This year several friends published books, and my book, Leave the Lipstick, Take the Iguana, a travel anthology I edited, came out as well. So cheers to all the readers, writers, and editors who make the world a better place to wait --especially in airports.

2012 Book Stats
Total Read: 57
Print: 31
Kindle: 26

My Jess Walters Jag--

Around the middle of May I downloaded The Financial Lives of the Poets by Jess Walter and spent two days glued to my Kindle reading it. This lead me to seek out more of his work and I also read Citizen Vince on my Kindle. But as soon as I as saw the cover for Beautiful Ruins, I knew I had to have the real thing. I’ve spent time in the Cinque Terre, back in the days before it became inundated with Steveites, and their guidebooks. I love having the actual book, and what a great satisfying read it was. I found the characters in Beautiful Ruins so strong that I had a hard time keeping them out of my mind as I read other books afterwards.

Favorite Reads of 2012:
Green Water, Green Sky by Mavis Gallant (published in 1959)
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter (2012)
The Financial Lives of Poets by Jess Walter (2009)
Miami by Joan Didion (1987)

Read with Caution:

Akhmed and the Atomic Matzo Balls by Gary Buslik -- This book will spin your head like Linda Blair in the Exorcist.

Don’t Get What All The Fuss Was About:
A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer

Tell me...What did you read last year that was memorable and worth recommending?  Let me know below. I’m always looking for a good read. 

Where Can You Get the Best Views of Napa and Sonoma?

The best views in my opinion are from wineries where in the event it’s a cloudy or overcast day you can always console yourself with a glass of wine and imagine the vista before you. But seriously, some of the best views are at found at wineries and here is my list:

Napa
Sterling Vineyards—
When you have to take a gondola ride to reach the winery you know a stunning view is on the agenda. Sterling is perched 300 feet above Calistoga, and the panoramic views of Napa Valley are indeed tremendous.

VinRoc—
Call for an appointment first and and then make your way up to VinRoc for the most extraordinary views of the valleys and vineyards below Atlas Peak. This tiny winery is well worth the drive up the long and winding road.

Silverado Vineyards—
Sunset on the terrace at Silverado is a guaranteed “peak experience” for those seeking the best views across the valley. From any angle Silverado has a vista worth viewing.

Sonoma
Gloria Ferrer Winery—
Enjoy sweeping views over the vineyards and of the valley from their tasting room patio. Nothing pairs better with a fine sparkling wine than a great view and you’ll find both here.

Everett Ridge—
This birds-eye view of Mount St. Helena, the surrounding mountains and valley below, is one of the best you can get without being airborne.

One Must Do Activity in Wine Country?

Anyone interested in the essence of the wine county should experience making wine and food first hand. It’s both practical and fun.

For ardent oneophiles or even casual wino’s the must-do activity is make your own wine. Blending sessions are an entertaining way to learn and create your own bottle. The Conn Creek AVA Barrel Room in Napa has barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon representing the diversity of American Viticulture Areas in the valley. The Cabernet barrels are grouped according to five fruit complexity profiles— Soft, Supple, Complex, Rich and Bold. Everything you need from blending beakers to corking is provided. The first step is to taste from each barrel and note what samples appeal to you most. Then after you have an idea of what blend percentages you’d like, you fill your beaker accordingly and try it in the large tasting glass. The tricky part is converting your percentages to millimeters, but don’t worry, calculators are provided.

At Raymond Vineyards in the Blending Room you can also create your own blend, design your own label and order a case made to your specifications.

Once you make your wine, you’ll probably want some cheese to pair with it. Luckily, the other must-do activity I recommend is making cheese, and you can learn how to do that with Sheana Davis, at The Epicurean Connection in Sonoma.

Top 5 Okanagan Food Experiences

Center-- Chef Remington at the Hooded Merganser.
Upper right and Lower left -- dishes from Hillside Estates Bistro

If you are going to WBC13 you are naturally looking forward to learning what the Okanagan has to offer in terms of wine -- but you have to eat too and you will not be disappointed with the cuisine of Penticton and the surrounding area. Last July I toured the region as a guest of Tourism Penticton and Wine Country and here are my top 5 picks for best eats in the area.

1. The lamb from Chef Bruno at the Vanilla Pod Restaurant

Moments of brilliance like the lamb chop (upper left above, but photo does not do it justice) that Chef Bruno of Vanilla Pod prepared defy description. But I’ll try...  it’s pure lamb essence practically whispered in my ear. Baaa...baaaa...Mmmmm. The lamb tasted so “clean” it’s flavor distinct yet subtle.  Chef Bruno procured the lamb from local producer and it tasted as if all he did to prepare it was wave a hot wand over it’s lamby perfection. As any Chef will tell you it’s the pure fresh and local ingredients that are the foundation of any great menu. But it takes great talent to turn those ingredients into something sublime. Bravo Chef Bruno.

2. The salmon from Chef Remington at the Hooded Meganzer

Naturally I came for the wine in Okanagan, but the vibrant food scene in Penticton and the surrounding valley were a surprise bonus to me. At the Hooded Merganser, the airy lakeside restaurant at the Penticton Resort, I marveled over another stand-out dish--the golden beets and candied salmon created by the charming Chef Remington as part of a multi-course wine paring menu he prepared especially for our group.

3. Cheese and Charcuterie pairings at Tin Horn Creek

The cheeses we had as part of a tasting spread at Tin Horn Creek was incredible and a complete wow moment--and I live in Northern California, one of the foremost cheese hot spots this side of France. So I am a bit spoiled by all the goodness available in the Bay Area. But the quality and variety is very high in the Okanagan, so be prepared to get your cheese buzz on and be wowed.  

4. Seasonal salads and deserts at The Hillside Estates Bistro

Another dining standout was the Bistro at Hillside Estates Cellars -- fresh, seasonal, and inventive dishes presented in colorful platings that were as beautiful as they were delicious. 

5.The Gewurtzraminer Slusshie at Kettle Valley (okay not exactly a food--but still!!)

In every post of I’ve written about the Okanagan I have mentioned the Gewurtzraminer Slusshie at Kettle Valley, I know, I know,  I have a bit of an obsession with this, but trust me, it will rock your world! Go. Slurp. And report back to me.

Oliver Garden

The Oliver Garden!

I saw this place on our way through Oliver to Tin Horn Creek and although we did not eat there, their sense of humor alone makes it my kind of place. At least I think it’s supposed to be a joke!

Oh Canada

I don’t know why Americans have this strange perception of what Canada is all about. Yes people are polite, but is that a character flaw? I think not. We could certainly learn a lot from our neighbors to the north. The people I met were smart and funny and very engaged in their pursuits to make the best wine or meal or create a hospitality experience that they could be proud of, not out of competitiveness but out of the sheer satisfaction of doing so. It’s the kind of satisfaction that comes from doing your best and then pushing it one step further. It’s like everyone there is in pursuit of an 11 on the Spinal Tap dial but they are seeking it with grace not sheer volume.

I’m looking forward to experiencing the all the Okanagan valley has to offer again in 2013. The venue is in one of the most dynamic settings of any WBC location yet. You can see vineyards from the conference hotel!  I think it will be one of the best Wine Blogger Conferences of them all. And remember...if you miss out on WBC13 in Pentiction...you’re an idiot!


DETAILS:
Vanilla Pod Restaurant
Hooded Merganser
Tin Horn Creek
Hillside Estates Winery & Bistro
Kettle Valley Winery

TRIP PLANNING DETAILS:
Tourism Penticton & Wine Country
1-800-663-5052
Email: visitors@penticton.ca

RELATED POSTS:
Top Ten Reasons You Should Go to WBC13 in Okanagan
Okanagan: What’s The Signature Grape?

Ajvar Smackdown

After discovering my long lost Croatia photos that I posted here, I also found a post on Ajvar that I never got around to posting. I present it to you now--The Ajvar Smackdown-- a taste comparison of Ajvar.

Ajvar is a wonderful pepper and eggplant relish that I discovered on my first visit to Croatia. It’s the perfect complement to vegetables and most of all meat--especially the tasty sausages called cevapis that I tasted in Croatia.

When I came back from Croatia I went in search of Ajvar locally. Depending on where you live, it is not hard to find, but sourcing the true flavor of Croatian Ajvar proved more elusive. Luckily I did find a few examples and Mia Salazar was kind enough to send me a jar of Podravka made in Croatia, along with her grandmothers recipe so I could try making my own.


The Ajvar Smackdown Line Up

1. Zergut Mild Ajvar

2.  Trader Joe’s Red Pepper Spread- AKA: The Bright Orange Ajvar
3. Podravka Hot Ajvar
4. Homemade:  From Croatian grandmother’s authentic recipe as shared and translated by Mia Salazar.

Results:
I found the Zergut was too sweet and the Trader Joe’s color was distractingly neon orange with too much vinegar aftertaste. I must also note neither one was made in Croatia, both the Zergut and Trader Joe’s were imported from Bulgaria.

Winner:

The clear winner in the jar ajvar was Podravka. I liked the texture and the hot spice level. It also had an ingredient the others lacked -- paprika! Of course! That’s the tipping point!

Podravka: Thick, spicy and a bit of smokiness

Homemade Ajvar:

My attempt at making Ajvar from scratch was not so successful. It came out way more eggplantay than peppery and in fact it reminded me more of a caponata style of relish my Italian grandmother used to make. Actually it was not really like Ajvar or Caponata, it was it’s own hybrid, not necessarily bad, but not the true Ajvar I was hoping to make.

The glowing orange Ajvar from  Trader Joe's

I made roasted potatoes and lamb sausage to taste with all the all the Ajvar contenders. By the way, if you love broccoli as I do, you’ll love it even more with Ajvar.

Croatian Wines to try with Ajvar:

I think both reds and whites are great with Ajvar.

Thanks to Mia Salazar for her generous sharing and translating of her grandmothers recipe and also for the winning jar of Ajvar.

I plan to bring one empty suitcase to Croatia when I return in March to fill up on not just the outstanding wine, but also the olive oil and of course the Ajvar.

Croatia: Memories Lost and Found

Half way through my trip to Croatia in October 2011 my Lumix digital camera died. Actually it was the battery; it would no longer hold a charge. So I tossed the camera into my bag and used my iPhone for the rest of the trip. This week, more than a year later, I finally got a new battery and what a surprise when I turned the camera on and found Croatia lingers on in several hundred photos and a few video’s I completely forgot I'd taken.

Oh Croatia, you really got under my skin. And seeing these pictures makes me fall in love with you all over again. Luckily, I'll be visiting you again soon in March for the 2013 International Wine Tourism Conference and Workshop in Zagreb. I'm looking forward to rekindling our romance.

Here are some highlights from my lost “film roll" plus a lost video from the 2011 Chiavalon olive oil harvest in Istria. You can click on the headings below to bring up the related posts.

L to R-- Me, Lavinia Spalding, Kimberley Lovato

My fellow travel writers - we are actually triplets separated at birth.

 Sibenik

Konoba Dalmatino in Sibenik

The Food and Wine at Bibich! 

Be still my heart. The outstanding food pairings presented at Bibich winery was a rare event, not usually available to the general public. But the fabulous wines are available in the U.S. from Blue Danube Wine Company so you have no excuse not to try them. The pictures I took below are the same as the pairings Anthony Bourdain was so effusive about on his last season of No Reservations.

Pag and Paski Sir Cheese Factory

Sage infused Paski Sir -- Best cheese EVER! 

Chiavalon olive oil harvest of 2011 in Vodnjan, Istria

Zadar

If you missed my posts on Croatia the first time around here they are again--Enjoy.
Links to Croatia Series:

Overview: Croatia Series Preview: Zivili!

Croatia Part 1: Bibich Dégustation

Croatia Part 2: The Splendors of Split

Croatia Part 3: Šibenik Caressed by the Sea

Croatia Part 4: Zadar, The Perfect Date

Croatia Part 5: Pilgrimage to Pag: Land of Paški Sir

Croatia Part 6: Istria--Truffles, Olive Oil, Prosciutto & Wine!

Croatia Part 7: A Taste of Zagreb
Croatia Part 8: Eli's Caffé in Zagreb--Wake Up and Smell the Coffee