Label Lust

While I never buy wine solely for the label, I certainly get giddy over a great design. Check out a few of our recent bottles---featuring stylish and clever branding with juice just as tasty to match (pleasing tongue, nose and eyes!):

"The Raven"

the Bourgeoise gentleman of Bugey.

a toast, to "the little April wine"

À la Sofia

Ah, Coppola's Sofia Mini! Très chic, oui?!

I've been constantly amazed by the growing accessibility of wine to consumers. While I agree that the de-snobbifying of the seemingly esoteric wine world has been fabulous, I can, on occasion, get a little miffed with unnecessary gizmos that look like they came straight off an infomercial (see also: The Hip Sip... don't even get me started.)

Enter Francis Ford's answer to grocery store ease: single-serve cans [with straws attached!] of California bubbles. Eating pizza and don't want to get those Reidels smudged with finger grease?! Crack open a 6 pack of these bad girls to compliment those PBR tallboys. The mini is perfect for a covert picnic operation ('cause hey---they look like petite Coca Cola cans, and who'd drink bubbly with a straw anyway?!) and certainly an entertaining party novelty. The mini is an easy-sipping 11.5% alcohol from a non-traditional "blanc de blanc" blend of Pinot Blanc, Riesling & Muscat. The big-kid's bottle features the same grape varieties in variant percentages. Now this is a de-glamification I can get behind!

Red Wine Time!

Autumn! My brain just flipped the switch from white to red. I literally woke up yesterday with a changed craving (because, you know, who doesn't think about wine first thing in the morning?) The sunlight is fading as summer slips away, and soon I will be enjoying a luscious glass of Cabernet Franc by the space heater fireplace. 'Tis the season for comfy scarves, red meats, fabulous films, and warm sweaters. I love sweaterrrs! These things combined with the atmospheric charm of Fall are best paired with gripping red wine and close friends.

Happy Autumn.

La Couleur de l'Amour

If love has a color, it's crème de cassis. If love has a smell, it's that of champagne. And if love has a flavor, it's kir royale... Ah, the Kir Royale...

Big surprise, the stunning cocktail was originally crafted in France (see also: French, the language of love.) It's simple & elegant; champagne + crème de cassis---basically the recipe for a love potion. If you just can't bare to tarnish that beautiful champagne that's been chilling in your fridge, use instead any nice little bubbly and you have love potion no.2, the Kir Pétillant. Hold on to your butts my friends, this' gonna be a passionate summer. Use with caution. ♥

To Life!

The World's Most Important Wine Book

...is a comic! I seriously can't wait for the English release of Drops of God on October 4. Read the hilarious article from Gilt Taste HERE. I know I sure swoon over a man's decanting skills---soooooo hot.

♥ Devon

Classy Enough for the Back of the Van

Evita models a bottle of Charles Shaw Cab Sauv.

Creative Uncorkage

I neglected to pack a corkscrew on vacation... It could happen to anyone. When faced with the dilemma, we had to get creative in opening a bottle of Château de Vaugelas (from Corbières > Languedoc > France.) Since we'd had a glass the previous night, there was a bit of airspace in the re-corked bottle. After scouring the hotel room for a possible thin, sharp or blunt object, I opted for a tube of mascara. Two minutes of pounding later, the tattered cork floated stubbornly in the bottle, and we finished every last sip before embarking on our first night of celebratory vacationing.

step 1 : you've forgotten your corkscrew! realize your simpleton oversight.

step 2 : stare at the bottle in annoyance.

step 3 : furiously forage around for a tiny hammer-like tool.

step 4 : mascara?

step 5 : hammer the cork in.

pound pound pound. it's not working.

pound pound pound. grrr........

step 6 : success! genius! haha! uncorking a bottle wine with a tube of mascara? they said it couldn't be done. they thought me insane! give yourself a well-deserved high five and a pat on the back.