Wining through the holidays…

It’s that time of year again. The “holidays”. You throw a party, or you go to a party. For a huge meal. It could be a traditional roast turkey, accompanied by stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Or it could be roast goose or duck, or a Honeybaked ham. Or (shudder) a turducken.

Regardless of what you, your friends and family choose to share, it’s going to be a big meal with a lot of different elements, so you’ll want to choose wines that will enhance and not conflict with the flavors found in your meal. You can play it safe and offer Chardonnay or Pinot Noir with your turkey, but how about trying something different to spice up your feast?

The Goddess of Wine tends to favor wines with good acidity to counter the fatty content of many of the tasty accompaniments to a hopefully moist and well-seasoned turkey. Oh, and I tend to lean more towards red wines, so here are some suggestions, all of which are locally available.

Key to Wine Country Returns to Santa Barbara

Exclusive wine and food weekend in Santa Barbara County December 5 - 7

BUELLTON, CA – The Santa Barbara Vintners is pleased to announce the dates and schedule of experiences for its winter Key to Wine Country experience weekend December 5 - 7, 2014.  Three days of unlocking exclusive events and offerings at nearly forty wineries and vineyards throughout Santa Barbara’s scenic wine country makes for the perfect wine and food lover’s weekend.  Keys to unlock Santa Barbara’s wine country are valid for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and can be purchased online for $100 per person at www.sbkeytowinecountry.com.

Wining with Pere Ventura...

The Goddess of Wine was invited to lunch at Il Grano Ristorante Italiano for a special tasting of Pere Ventura Cava. Fourth-generation winemaker and proprietor Pere Ventura Vendrell charmed us as he told us his family history and led this intimate group of wine writers and retailers through the wine tasting.

Pere's family wine heritage dates back to the late 19th century when his great-grandfather, Manuel Montserrat Font, helped produce the first bottles of Spanish Cava made in the traditional French method. In the early 1900's, his grandfather, Pere Ventura Peracaula, was a distinguished enologist, acquiring knowledge and experience in Dijon and working in the most prestigious Champagne houses, including Moet, in order to bring modern production techniques to Penedes and establishing benchmark quality for Cava.

Pere's father, Jaume Ventura Montserrat, continued the family tradition, and encouraged his son to become part of the family business instead of following his vocation to the priesthood. Pere brings his deep spirituality and a strong sense of identity to his wines. Each bottle is sealed with a rendering of his handprint, symbolizing his personal guarantee. Salut!

Wining Miscellany...

The Goddess & JD

The Goddess of Wine hasn't been doing much writing lately. There's been so much going on, it's been overwhelming. So, here's a quick recap:

First, I left the earth job. Yep, retired several years earlier than originally planned. It's all Goddess of Wine now! A bit daunting, but wine gigs are coming in, so I know I can make it happen.

Second, because I now have time during the day, I've gone to wine events that I would have previously covered by proxy via JD. He's been at some of them, too, but he's been busy consulting at various places, so it's lucky I've been available.