Random wining...as usual...

The quarterly wine dinner extravaganza took place at FAB's Corner Cucina on the 21st. Manager and wine aficionado Amelia and Chef Ian once again put together an interesting and delicious meal with brilliant wine pairings:

Lamb chop perfection!

2005 Domaine Terlato-Chapoutier, Australian blend of Shiraz and Viognier paired with a perfect lamb chop sitting on diced butternut squash and complemented with a mint yogurt sauce. A spicy Shiraz from the vineyards of Central Victoria brightened with a boost of Viognier for aroma and balance, as often practiced in the Côte Rôtie. The grapes grown in this Austrialian vineyard were planted on 19th century French rootstocks, another nod to the French tradition & influence in this new world wine. This wine is a collaborative effort between two renowned wine families; Chapoutier from the Rhône Valley in France, and Terlato family of Napa Valley in California. Delightful!

Wining by proxy...Austria Uncorked & Drink Ribera, Drink Spain...

A few months ago, the Goddess' First Acolyte, JD, ventured to the SLS Hotel for concurrent tastings - Austrian wines and Spanish wines from Ribera del Duero. It took him a while to report, but here it is!

As is often the case, the events were at a hotel in a busy, hard to reach area with no real parking other than the valet at the hotel. I turned over the truck. A person in front said that while the Austrian group was not validating parking, the Spanish group was. Since Austria closed first, I went in the direction the person indicated for that. Spain (and validation?) would come later.

I was not too knowledgeable on Austrian wines so this was going to be almost entirely new ground.

Random wining...

Every time I complain that I don't have enough time to write about all my wine adventures, it just sounds like bragging...but JD and I have been all over the place!

8/20 - Showed some support for SSH at a small tasting of mostly local wines at J. Hamilton Wines (actually at The Plug Nickel) in Westlake Village, about whom there will be a separate post. Got to spend a bit of quality time chatting with noted winemaker, Norm Stafford, whose 2006 Humaliwo Ventureno blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc was full of chocolate and spice. Norm was the winemaker/consultant for several of the wineries there that day, and it was interesting to see how he dealt with different grapes and styles of wine.

Exciting news from Four Brix Winery!

So exciting! My friends at Four Brix are having their Grand Opening on September 17th and 18th! You should go!

Four Brix Winery, part of the Ventura County Winery Association, celebrates the Grand Opening of its urban winery and tasting room.


Ventura County wine lovers have an excuse to sip and celebrate California Wine Month this September with the opening of Ventura's only full-fledged winery and tasting room. After two years at the Wine Yard in Thousand Oaks, Four Brix Winery is celebrating the Grand Opening of its new winemaking and tasting facility the weekend of September 17th.

Four Brix Winery Grand Opening Weekend
Saturday & Sunday, September 17-18 from 12 noon to 5pm
2290 Eastman Ave. #109, Ventura, CA 93003
Open to the public Wine Tastings $10

Guests will have the opportunity to join Four Brix Winery's wine club at the "Founders Club" level, which affords members the ability to self-select each wine for their wine club shipment. "Founders Club" membership will only be open through Grand Opening Weekend future wine club members will receive standard shipments of newly released wines and will not have the ability to change the wines in their shipments.

Local art displayed throughout Grand Opening weekend. Light hors d'oeuvres, cheese plates, and charcuterie available for purchase. No reservations required. More information email the winery.


Cheers and congratulations! The Goddess and JD will be there celebrating, too!