5.28.2012

Bubbly Updates

{Life lately according to my iPhone photos}

Last weekend I flew down to San Diego for my brother's commencement ceremony. I couldn't be happier to see my entire family there and I am so proud of my awesome brother. Watch out world, we have a recent graduate!! 
Below are some snapshots from my iphone. Most of them are through filtered lenses and special effects. I guess you can say I got a little carried away with the fun and quirky Hipstamatic App. ;)

{Some post-bubbly celebration -- '99 Perrier Jouet + matching stemware (I'll review this soon!)}

{The recent grad + my beautiful mom}

{Sibling love}

{My dad + me :)}

Hope you had a fantastic weekend! xx

Cheers,
B


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5.11.2012

Things to be Bubbly About :)

{Remembering to actually stop and smell the roses}

Despite two midterms (one of which that had a average score of 45%), quizzes and assignments, I'd like to think that the good parts of this week outweigh the lows.
I received my official offer letter for Jordan in the mail just yesterday.  I also found out my official start date for my seasonal employment there - not until August 27th! The news made it really sink in for me and the thought became very real! But I'm very excited and of course will be continuing with this blog (as long as the winery permits) to keep all you posted on my new adventures! Oh, and Randall Graham of Bonny Doon Vineyards (I did a review of his rosé here) came to speak in my wine seminar class this week. It was great - he has a lot of really interesting things to say (more on that in a later post). So, yeah - overall a good week, I'd say.  It is always important to remember that there are many things to be bubbly about. :)
Other highlights:

{A pretty leaf-pattern on my latte makes studying a bit more bearable}

{Top: Beer for our Iron Brew competition in Brew lab. Bottom: My awesome beer-brewing team!}

Have a fabulous weekend. What are you bubbly about?

Cheers,
B



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5.02.2012

Crazy About Rosé!


{With the warm weather and the bay breeze in the air, it makes me realize there's nothing better than sipping on a good Rosé on days like these}

The other weekend I went to a Rosé tasting with some friends from the V&E program (short for Viticulture and Enology).  We each arrived to the tasting with a Rosé but were instructed to keep the wine bottle wrapped in the paper bag it came in, so that the label could not be seen.  Then, one by one, each of us blindly tasted each wine. Alongside good company, close friends, and yummy snacks, it was a perfect way to spend a beautiful Saturday afternoon. :)

We casually evaluated each wine, comparing each type. Some were Rosés made from Syrah, others Grenache. There was even one made from Malbec grapes. This time I'd like to share with you all the wine I contributed to the tasting, the Ponzi Vineyards Pinot Noir Rosé, mainly because its the one that I liked the best. And surprisingly enough it was the crowd favorite at the tasting. I have to admit, I have the unfair advantage of asking Davis's local wine expert (owner/buyer of local wine shop) his personal favorite. ;) But I am glad I took his advice...because this one is very special and worth checking out!

{A very great, light, rosé with the most beautiful hue of pale pink. Available here}



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4.11.2012

Bonny Doon '11 "Central Coast" VIN GRIS DE CIGARE Rosé- Rad!!

Bonny Doon Vineyards is the product of Randall Graham's hard work over the years. This rosé is a blend of traditional Provençal grapes such as Grenache and Mourvedre with small amounts of Roussanne and Cinsault. This is a seriously fun rosé with the most beautiful pale pink tint.
 

Brooke's Rating: 88 (Super Rad) Like, so rad that I am going back to buy more :)
When I tasted this wine, I thought it had the right amount of acidity to be sofisticated yet still retains the fruit's origins of the Grenache grape.  It reminds me of a true Provencial Rosé, like ones I have sipped over warm summers, relaxing in the South of France. (ahhh)
More info on their website here.

Cheers,
B
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4.06.2012

Four Drinks For Low-Calorie Fun


Happy Friday!

Today marks the end of the week, say you've decided to go out and celebrate a little by meeting up with some friends for a drink.

{Très chic bar set up}

Here's a list of four of my recommended drinks to order if watching the cals. The best advice I can give is that it's okay to indulge every now and then, but it's important to take everything in moderation.

1. Sparkling Wine / Champagne

Go figure, a wine blog that chooses bubbly as a top-pick. But seriously, a  4-oz. glass
of bubbly is only 85 calories! (What's not to like about that?) Opt for Brut styles with
less sugar = less calories.


2. Still Wine

 Red or white, most glasses of wine contain 125-150 calories per serving. Plus,
red wine has free radicals which have seen to be beneficial to our health!


3. Vodka + Club Soda With a Splash of Cranberry Juice
 
When you feel like a cocktail, try this refreshing mixed drink, under 100 calories.


4. Sour Apple Martini

 Cocktail hour doesn't have to get sour, but try a sour-apple martini, approx. 150 calories.

My advice?

This may seem obvious but avoid drinks that contain lots of sugars or ones that are syrup-based. These sweet concoctions are loaded with calories, not to mention they will send you off into a sugar-induced coma aka 'sugar crash' sooner or later. Also, be aware of what you're drinking and go for the low-cal fun.

And another thing to consider is alcohol content. In most cases, like beer and wine, the majority of calories in these drinks are from the alcohol. (Less alcohol = less calories). Because of this, you'll see that in 'lite' beers, they usually have a lower alcohol content. And if you've tried a lite beer to its original version, you've probably also noticed it tasted more diluted--this is because it is!
The market for lite beers is super popular but has not been too successful in the world of wine (more on that later).

Images via {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
Cheers!
-B
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4.04.2012

The Prisoner -- 2010 Napa Valley Red Wine


I've been wanting to write a review for this one for quite some time now! I finally got my hands on this wine. I've been a fan of Orin Swift's Papillion and was curious to try one of their other well-known wines,  The Prisoner.


Brooke's Tasting Notes  
This wine packs a power-punch of super-ripe berries with a smooth, sweet and supple finish. I have heard this wine is a sure-fired crowd pleaser and after trying it, I believe it! I think that this wine markets to many tastes, like people who like big Zins, a lot of this having to do with the detectable levels or residual sugars. 

Brooke's Rating:  For a sort of hodge-podge of grape varietals + residual sugar wine, I give this wine a B-. I'd drink it again if someone gave it to me (and probably enjoy it) but I don't think its worth the value.
My other recommendation? Splurge a few more bucks and stick with Orin Swift's Papillon or if you can find it, get the Nickel Head.

Composition
44% Zinfandel
26% Cabernet Sauvignon
18% Syrah
  9% Petite Sirah
  2% Charbono
  1% Grenache

Have you tasted this wine? If so, tell me what you think!

Cheers,
B
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3.31.2012

2010 Cote de Brouilly --Chateau Thivin




When I saw this in a local wine shop I couldn't help but get super giddy inside, as it immediately took me back to the time I visited that very winery in France.  It was a wine I simply could not pass up, as I recall very fond memories of my most recent trip to France to this Burgundian winery.
The photos below are ones I saved from my trip to France, circa two years ago:


Brooke's Tasting Notes:  
This 2010 Chateau Thivin, Cote de Brouilly (website here) exudes notes of red raspberries on the nose, with a slight sweet cranberry, lingering finish. I like the fact that this light-bodied, easy-tannic wine really shows the true terroir of the Gamay fruit on the Beaujolais soil from which this wine originated.

Review Date: March 30th, 2012
Region: Burgundy
SubRegion: Beaujolais
Appellation: Cote de Brouilly
Grape Variety: Gamay
Aging: In oak casks for six months


What would you pair with Gamay?


Cheers,
B
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3.29.2012

Breaking News--I Have a Job!!

 {Jordan Chardonnay, 2008}

I wanted to share with you the exciting news! Yesterday I accepted a job offer at Jordan Winery. I will officially be working the 2012 Harvest after graduation. I'm absolutely ecstatic about this amazing opportunity and it was exactly what I was hoping for.

 {iPhone Screen shot of email I received}

I look forward to expand my knowledge in the wine industry and to learn more about premium wine production... but reality is coming closer and Spring Break is coming to an end.  A challenging last quarter at UC Davis awaits - wish me luck in my studies and getting through my advanced Enology courses.

Thank you all for your continued support of my blog!

Cheers,
B


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