It’s always a good sign when you wake up alone, in the buff, and there’s a half-empty bag of dark chocolate chips spilled all over the floor. Apparently, good times were had by me last night! So, do you remember when I mentioned that I live next to a charming creek? Well, it’s swelling to never before seen levels and threatens to flood my cottage. I think some dude from the Sonoma Fire Department was just in my back yard checking out the scene. Should I fear it? No. Who can be frightened in a cottage when there’s chocolate and nudity? It’s all sexy sweet up in this hizzy and there’s only one thing that will swell this party to never before seen levels of good times…and guess what that is? Wine! While driving to work the other day, a few things occurred to me: I live in wine country; I work in the wine industry; I write; I drink wine. Clearly, I am qualified to ink my own wine blog. Um, hello? Calling all bottles: I’m ready to quaff. Dig my latest page: Kat’s Chai ( Pronounced SHAY) When good wines go to my head; hopefully empty, next to my bed.
It’s no small factoid that over 80% of wine drinkers are woman in their thirties buying Chardonnay under $10 a bottle. Hmmm. I like to think of Chardonnay as the gateway grape to more interesting varietals with more exciting flavor profiles. I like the reds. I like the BIG reds with fine extractions, balance and finesse that showcase their unique terroir. I prefer wines that are drinkable now but age worthy; cough, as if I keep a bottle longer than an evening but, if I had a cellar, I’d have that baby chock o’ block full o’ the finest.
But back to Chardonnay: I want to celebrate the inaugural wine blog launch of Kat’s Chai with a varietal often overlooked, snubbed and dubbed as the weaker sex: Chardonnay.
Tonight’s Quaff:
Valley of the Moon, Chardonnay, 2005
Cost: $15-$20
Valley of the Moon Chardonnay drinks like a green apple kiss. The mouth feel is velvety and smooth with notes of crisp, ripe fruit accompanied by accents of vanilla and spring cherries. This is a light wine that lacks the cloying, buttery characteristics often associated with the big “C” varietals.
Suggested Food Pairing:
Braised Tofu & Black Bean Soup; Sauteed Spinach with Garlic; Grilled Papaya on Crostini.
Suggested Musical Pairing:
Phoebe Snow’s Poetry Man
