Treat Mom to Hello Kitty Wine - Get 10% Off Your Order!

Finally, two of my greatest loves have converged-Hello Kitty and wine, and just in time for Mother's Day! Hello Kitty is a global pop icon with fans of all ages, and she can be found on an ever-growing selection of lifestyle products. Now you can find her on a new range of exclusive wines! These delicious wines are bold and iconic, cute and chic. Hello Kitty’s essence is celebrated with this sophisticated collection produced by Torti “L’Eleganza del Vino” and PAROLVINI Wines. 


While cards and flowers are always a nice idea, why not give your mom a gift she will really appreciate. This year, give your mother the ability to transport herself to the magical world of Hello Kitty. Whether she uses it to complement her favorite dish, shares it with a group of friends, or just grabs a glass so she can chill out after a long day, this wine is a decadent gift that will encourage the rest and relaxation every mom deserves. No matter what bouquet she enjoys, Hello Kitty wines can supply it.  Choose from sweet pink, pinot noir, rose, white, and more. Bottles are available in singles or fun party packs. 

This awesome product is an officially licensed by Hello Kitty, so you can be certain you'll be seeing your favorite kitty in all her splendid glory. They currently ship to California, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, New Mexico, North Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Virginia, and Washington DC. If you live in a state where it can't be shipped, don't worry! This unique wine is also sold in stores nationwide. Be sure to check their store locator for an establishment near you. If  you're looking for the perfect gift this Mother's Day, Hello Kitty Wine is the perfect choice. It's cute, fun, and sure to make women of all ages smile for more reasons than one. And if you want to grab a bottle for yourself, whether you're a mom or not, go for it! I won't judge! Hello Kitty Wines are great everyday and a fabulous way to celebrate any occasion. They are also amazing gifts for any Hello Kitty fan.

***Discount Code***

If you're ready to try Hello Kitty Wine for yourself, now if the perfect time to make a purchase. Just use the exclusive code NEWAGEMAMA to get 10% off your order just in time for Mother's Day!

Celebrate the Father's Day with Evolution Sparkling

Father's Day is only a few weeks away, and it's a fun excuse to celebrate! Sokol Blosser Winery, one of Oregon’s oldest and most innovative wineries, has a low-priced ($20) and bursting with flavor sparkling wine, Evolution Brut Sparkling, that is bright and delicious to uncork whenever a cause for celebration strikes!

I like to try different wines.  I'm never sure what I'm going to like beyond sweet red wines, which are my favorite.   Now, I'm not much of a wine drinker, I mainly like to cook with wines, exploring the different subtle flavors with each recipe, but the Evolution wines are a nice treat for an occasional celebration.

One wonderful choice for Father's Day is the Evolution Brut Sparkling White Wine.  Evolution Brut Sparkling is a nice dry wine. This is due to the bubbles and acidity in the finished wine.  which makes a vibrant wine that dances on the palate.  This sparkling wine has aromatics of apricot, green apple, Bosc pear, as well as hints of white peach and citrus with a slightly creamy mouth feel. White it's dry on the pallet, it finishes crisp and clean. 

This was an excellent blend and the perfect compliment to any Father's Day dinner.  It has a light, sweet taste that doesn't leave behind any bitter aftertaste, and it's not too strong for a lightweight like me.  The price is right too.  These are quality wines that you can enjoy with spending a fortune. Be sure to grab a copy for your dad this Father's day and celebrate in style.

Wine Pairings Perfect for #Easter from Noble Vines

Easter is right around the corner, and nothing pairs more deliciously with a well-cooked ham or lamb dinner than a luscious glass of wine. Rooted in the belief that not all vines are created equal, Noble Vines harvests several wine varietals that are perfect pairings for Easter dinner.

Ham for Easter?

·         Belle Ambiance Chardonnay ($10) –With essences of melon, citrus and toast, the acidity of this well balanced wine is the perfect accompaniment to match the salt in ham

·         Noble Vines 242 Sauvignon Blanc ($11.99) – The sweet-and-salty richness of ham pairs best with wines that have a touch of sweetness. With hints of white peach, green melon and lemongrass, this wine will accompany an Easter ham scrumptiously

Lamb For Easter?

·         Noble Vines 337 Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.99) – This California wine displays aromas of blackberry, currant and lightly roasted coffee intertwined with black pepper spice accents. This tannic wine and bold meat interplay to create a delightful duo

·         Gnarly Head Authentic Red ($12) – A blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah and Malbec, this wine contains lush hints of blackberry, cherry, raspberry and spice. With the body to stand up to lamb, Gnarly Head Authentic Red is the perfect companion for this savory meat

My Thoughts

I like to try different wines.  I'm never sure what I'm going to like beyond sweet red wines, which are my favorite.  Noble Vines sent me two different blends to test out. It was a difficult choice narrowing it down to two samples!  Now, I'm not much of a wine drinker, I mainly like to cook with wines, exploring the different subtle flavors with each recipe.

   Noble Vines 337 Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.99) – This California wine displays aromas of blackberry, currant and lightly roasted coffee intertwined with black pepper spice accents. This tannic wine and bold meat interplay to create a delightful duo

Noble Vines 242 Sauvignon Blanc ($11.99) – The sweet-and-salty richness of ham pairs best with wines that have a touch of sweetness. With hints of white peach, green melon and lemongrass, this wine will accompany an Easter ham scrumptiously

Both of these blends are excellent and the perfect compliment to any Easter dinner.  They have a light, sweet taste that doesn't leave behind any bitter aftertaste.  The price is right too.  These are quality wines that you can enjoy with spending a fortune.

Visit Noble Vines online at noblevines.com and on Facebook.

Stocking stuffers for the cook in your life from Trudeau Kitchen

Hung by the chimney with care, holiday stockings can hold some of the best gifts of the season. Both affordable and just the right size to stuff the stockings of the foodie, home chef, baker, wine lover, and culinary wiz, here are a few of our favorites from Trudeau:

Set of Five Star Cookie Cutters

Festive stars are one of the most celebrated symbols of the holidays. Ideal for cookie dough, fondant, pastries, shortbread or creating decorative fruit slices, this all-star gift pack of 5 cookie cutters are made of stainless steel with a fashionable coral color finish. The fine edges make it easy for slicing and expert decorating. Cookie cutters conveniently nest together for compact storage. SRP $11.99


Daisy Wine Charms

The perfect floral bouquet to add entertaining charm while easily differentiating one guest’s wine glass from another. Twelve tastefully colored blooms made of soft and durable silicone to fit any sized stemware. Simply wrap the flexible tail around the stem and press-fit flower to hold. The Daisy Wine Charms can be tied together with one stem when not in use and placed in a vase for decorative storage. Comes packaged in playful gift box set. SRP $11.99 *Available upon request.

International Wine Charms

Easy to identify International Wine Charms are great conversation starters and a perfect sophisticated touch to at-home entertaining. Set of 6 unique charms hang from stemware and feature five of the finest wine regions including: Italy, France, Argentina, Australia and California with a sixth charm representing the world wines. These stainless steel charmers are equipped with a soft-touch backing to protect delicate glassware. SRP $11.99

Flex Pot Clips

Keep cooking utensils from causing a mess on the stovetop with this must haveFlex Pot Clip. It clips onto the side of a saucepan or stockpot to hold the utensil, eliminating the need for a spoon rest. Drips go right into the pot instead of on the counter or stovetop. The silicone pads protect your pot while the silicone around the opening keeps the utensil from slipping. Made from heat-resistant silicone and stainless steel. Comes in red, blue, or green. SRP: $8.99

Zest Grater

Perfect for adding citrus-packed flavor or a light garnish, the Trudeau Zest Grater features a retractable handle which doubles as a protective sleeve for safe and convenient storage. Blades are honed to an optimal cutting angle. The zest grater comes in a bright green/yellow color that coordinates with lemons and limes. SRP $9.99


Multi-Use Tie Wraps

Plastic tags and twist ties can present a hassle as they may be easily misplaced or ruined. Trudeau’s Multi-Use Tie Wraps are the ultimate problem-solver for sealing all types of bags and more. Flexible and reusable, these leaf shaped ties are made of temperature resistant silicone. Simply wrap around the opening of a bag and thread through the hole to ensure closure and freshness. Dishwasher safe. SRP: $6.99 *Available upon request.


Universal Dripless Spout

This amazing Universal Dripless Spout allows a clean easy pour from any bottle! 100% dripless keeps both bottles and hands clean and oil free. Graduated silicone stopper fits majority of bottle sizes and comes with a cap for storage. Great for your favorite brands of olive oil! 5-year warranty. SRP$11.99

Connect with Trudeau

Wesbite - Facebook - Twitter

My Thoughts

I was excited to get to try out all of these great little kitchen gadgets. Each one of them found a home in my kitchen in no time and was being used.

The wine charms are adorable and a great way to be able to mark wine glasses when you have friends over. They were well made, easy to put on, and very cute.

The multi-use tie has been a lifesaver when the bread tie goes missing and we need to get the bag closed so the air doesn't get to it. The tie was easy to use, even my kids could figure it out.

The zest grader did a great job zesting. I've never really used a zester, so I didn't know what to expect, but I used a lemon peel on it to test it out. I really liked the fresh lemon scent when using it.

The flex pot grip was AWESOME! Especially when making a sauce. I didn't have to set it on the counter and keep leaving little stains. It dripped into the pot and I was happy to not have such a mess to clean up later!

I haven't had a chance to try out the dripless spout, but looking at it, it does appear to be universal to different bottles and would go on easy. Its soft and would be easily washable if changing between different oils and dressings.

And finally, the cookie cutters. I haven't made cookies yet with them, but I do plan to soon. They are made of a nice metal and come in 5 different sizes. They have a rubber coat around them and are sharp enough to go through the dough, but wouldn't cut little hands.

All of these are really great products and would make great stocking stuffers for the cook in your life.

Enjoy Kobrand Wines this holiday season

Connect with Kobrand Wine and Spirits

Website - Facebook - Twitter

My Thoughts

I have tasted several of these wines so far and have been pleased with each one. The Sparkling Sweet Moscato was really good. Probably my favorite! I've never liked sparking or carbonated drinks, but I really liked this wine. It was sweet and the bubblyness added to the taste. 

I also tried the Sequoia Grove Cabernet. I'm not always a fan of red. I don't like the dryness to them, but this one was good. I was surprised by how much I liked it. I preferred this one chilled with a little but of ice in it. It smelled really good. I couldn't get over that as I sipped it.

The last one I tried (so far) was the Capasado Moscato. This was as good as I was expecting. Moscato is usually a wine I get nervous about buying. I've picked up some brands and couldn't stand the taste, but this one was very flavorful and sweet. It's one I would pick up again when having guests to share with them.

I'm looking forward to trying the tines I didn't get a chance to yet. I have no doubt that they will be as good as the ones I have tried so far. This is a company I will be keeping my eye on and checking out other wines they have in the future.

The Tasting Room

Online wine shopping: a privilege of the new millennium. We’ve all
at liquor stores in the past, but the nearest one doesn’t always have the best selection,
or the best prices for that matter. They have limited shelf space, and store employees
don’t always recommend bottles we’ll enjoy. Liquor stores are focused on volume and
margin (it’s not their fault rent is expensive) so many of us pay a premium and still end
up choosing the yellow-labeled bottle with the kangaroo in the front of the store. But
Tasting Room seeks to change that.

I joined Tasting Room, the fastest growing wine club in the nation, after reading about it
on Huff Post. The innovative service provides access to more fine wines, educates
you about the wines you like best, and sends you wine they know you’ll enjoy based on
your experiences with each bottle. It’s kind of like Netflix, i.e. “because you chose light
citrus dry whites, here’s a bottle of Gruner Vetliner you’re likely to enjoy,” and their
recommendations are on point.

To discover which wines are best suited for you, Tasting Room sends over mini tasting-
size bottles of wine, which is when the fun begins. After receiving your tasting kit, log on
to the site and you’re guided through a fun and interactive survey, which pits the wines
against one another. Just select the wines you like best, and Tasting Room will generate
your Wine Profile which acts as a guide to tell you which wines you tend to gravitate
towards (in both red and white categories) as well as the regions they come from and
the foods with which they pair well.

The profiles are fun and packed with useful information, but the best part is the wine that
follows! You’ll receive a 12-bottle case of different wines tailored to match your
preferences every three months for about $12 a bottle. I drink more than 1.5 bottles a
week so I customize the frequency, which you can also do on their site. You can also
customize your shipment size, and contents (all reds, all whites, or just select your
favorite bottles). I just keep rating subsequent shipments, and they automatically send
me a mix of light dry whites and bold earthy reds because that’s what I like according to
my Wine Profile (and my taste buds). I have yet to receive a bottle I did not enjoy.

Not to mention, every bottle comes with a satisfaction guarantee so if you ever receive a
bottle that doesn’t suit your palate, they’ll issue you a wine credit with which you can
purchase another bottle from the extensive (and yummy) collection on their website. Just
under 10 bucks to join (that gets you your tasting kit) and you can cancel at anytime.
UPDATE: The folks at Tasting Room are extending a special discount just for our
readers. Follow this link to get your tasting kit for just $6.95 (originally $39.95)!

Ozeri Prestige Electric Wine Bottle Opener with Aerating Pourer and Foil Cutter

The Ozeri Prestige Electric Wine Opener makes opening wine bottles easy while entertaining your guests at the same time. Designed for home and restaurant use, its latest generation battery now opens up to 80 wine bottles with the gentle push of a button, all on a single charge. The Ozeri Prestige Electric Wine Opener is completely cordless and includes an elegant recharging base with an LED charging indicator. The Prestige also ships with a free aerating pourer to enhance aromas and a compact foil cutter to remove wine seals. The Ozeri Prestige Electric Wine Opener opens both natural and synthetic corks. It also boasts a new ultra light-weight design, a faster motor and an ergonomic rubberized soft grip for effortless handling. Use it at home or take it with you to impress your hosts and guests before the first sip.

Connect with Ozeri

Website 

My Thoughts

I was excited to try out this wine opener. At home, all I have are the simple cork screw manual ones. I've pinched my fingers too many times. I removed this from the box and without even reading the instructions, placed it on the bottle of wine and opened it. 

That was EASY! I was pretty impressed at how easy it was to use this product. It will make wine opening much easier in my life--and I have no complaint about that.

I buy cheap wine, so I was curious to try out the areating device that came with it. So, I sipped my wine first and then used the aerater. I could tells a difference in taste. Useing the aerater device gave the wine a smoother taste.

Very awesome product that I would recommend to any wine drinker. In fact, I'm already thinking about gifts of this product to the wine lovers in my life.

Review: Noble Vines

 

 

Noble Vines

Not All Vines Are Created Equal

Over centuries, vintners have carefully singled out the most admired vines, naming each vine with a unique number to identify its exceptional attributes. Here in California, we've planted a selection of these vines exactly where they will flourish best: in select locations on the red soils and cobblestones of our family-owned vineyard in Lodi and on the gentle slopes of our cool-climate estate in Monterey.  Our wines honor these treasured vines and the blocks in which they are grown, chosen because their refined, classic qualities have stood the test of time.

Noble Vines offers a portfolio of six wine varietals that make for delicious wine pairings: 337 Cabernet Sauvignon, 181 Merlot, 446 Chardonnay, 667 Pinot Noir, 1 Red Blend, and 242 Sauvignon Blanc.Thinking about what to serve for Easter brunch and dinner?  Noble Vines' chef has created three brunch recipes & wine pairings:


EDAMAME HUMMUS CROSTINI WITH GREEK YOGURT, PRESERVED LEMON & MINTPair with refreshing and fresh {Noble Vines} 242 Sauvignon Blanc

Makes 24 pieces

Crostini:
3 ea pita bread, each cut into 8 triangles
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
½ tsp salt
pinch ground pepper

Hummus:

12 oz frozen shelled edamame

2 cl garlic

2 tbs tahini

3 tbs fresh lemon juice

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

¾ tsp salt

½ tsp ground cumin

Garnish:

1 preserved lemon (or zest of 1 fresh lemon)

5 oz plain Greek yogurt

10 leaves mint, finely chopped

• Preheat oven to 375f and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a bowl toss pita triangles with oil, salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer on baking sheet and cook until brown and crisp, about 5-7 minutes.
• Place Hummus ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and puree until very smooth. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed to reach the desired consistency.
• Remove the center and pith of the preserved lemon and discard. Finely mince the skin. Combine with yogurt and mint.
• Spread hummus on each of the pita chips and spoon a bit of yogurt on top. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Make Ahead: Hummus and yogurt can be made up to 3 days in advance and refrigerated

ASPARAGUS AND MOREL HASH

Serve with balanced and lush {Noble Vines} 667 Pinot Noir

Serves 8

3 slice apple-wood smoked bacon, diced

1 ½ lb potatoes, cooked and diced

3 tbs olive oil

2 cl garlic, chopped

½ onion, diced

4 oz dried morel mushrooms, soaked in ½ cup warm water

½ fennel bulb, diced

1/2 red bell pepper, diced

1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and diced

3 tbs finely chopped fresh parsley

salt and pepper, to taste

• In a large sauté pan cook bacon until crisp. Add potatoes and cook until crisp and well browned. Transfer to a platter and keep warm in the oven.
• In the same pan, heat the oil and add the garlic and onion. Sauté 2-3 minutes. 
• Drain the morels and discard the liquid. 
• Add morels, fennel, pepper and asparagus to the onion mixture and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes more.
• Combine vegetable mixture with potato mixture, toss with parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper.

MAKE AHEAD CHEESE SOUFFLE

Serve with creamy and bright {Noble Vines} 446 Chardonnay

Serves 8

¼ cup room temperature butter

1 oz butter

3 tbs flour

1 cup milk

2 tsp Dijon mustard

5 oz grated cheese, about 1 cup

4 egg yolks

salt and pepper to taste

7 egg whites

• Using room temperature butter, coat the inside of 8 six-ounce ramekins. 
• In a small saucepan melt butter, whisk in flour and cook for 2 minutes. Add milk, whisking constantly, and simmer until thick, about 2 minutes more. Remove from heat, stir in mustard, cheese and yolks. Season to taste with salt and pepper and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Cool to room temperature.
• Whisk whites to soft peaks. Gently fold whites, one-third at a time, into cheese sauce, gently folding together until combined.  
• Pour mixture into prepared molds, arrange refrigerate for up to 4 hours before baking.
• Preheat oven to 375f. Bring a kettle of water to a boil.
• Place soufflés into 2 9x13-roasting pans and place in the oven. Pour the boiling water into the pan so that it comes half way up the ramekins. Bake until puffed and golden, about 20-25 minutes. Do not open the oven door during cooking. 
• Remove from water bath and serve immediately.

Make Ahead: In addition to being made ahead, once soufflés are baked they can be held in the water bath for up to 10 minutes before serving.

Visit Noble Vines online at noblevines.com and on Facebook.

Our Thoughts

I like to try different wines.  I'm never sure what I'm going to like beyond sweet red wines, which are my favorite.  Noble Vines sent me the 181 Merlot and the 242 Sauvignon Blanc. It was a difficult choice narrowing it down to two samples!  Now, I'm not much of a wine drinker, I mainly like to cook with wines, exploring the different subtle flavors with each recipe.

181 is classic Bordeaux-style Merlot, elegantly opening with aromas of cherry, blackberry and sweet herbs. Fresh fruit flavors of black cherry and ripe plum fuse seamlessly with hints of spice leading to a lingering and luxurious finish. With balanced tannins and acidity, this medium-bodied wine is a perfect companion to oven-roasted turkey, Italian sausage, braised short ribs and mild to medium hard cheeses like Port Salut, Edam and Gouda. 

242 Sauvignon Blanc exhibits vibrant aromas of white peach, green melon and lemongrass. Medium bodied with a round mid palate and bright acidity, this refreshing wine offers flavors of guava, passion fruit and a hint of lemon zest. 

The 242 I thought had a bright initial bite with a smooth, pleasant finish.  The 181 definitely had a darker flavor than the 242.  I could have sworn I tasted a hint of cocoa in there too!  Whether or not that's actually in there I don't know, but it reminded me of cocoa.  I'll be trying the 242 with my next lemon-chicken creation, and the 181 with some beef. New wines always give me great recipe ideas!

Review: CalNaturale Products (The Mommy Juice Boxes)

by Tara.

Disclosure: I received sample products to try in order to write an honest review. There was no financial reimbursement.


I'm not a mom--not a traditional one, anyway. My kids are of the four-legged variety, but they can still be a handful, so I was pleased to see they have a "mommy juice box" for us now...so on one of those hectic days, I can grab myself something fortifying and drink it at the dog park.

The best part: Some of the "juice boxes" contain wine! And I'm a wine addict.

Introducing CalNaturale Wine. It comes in two wine vintages: Cabernet Sauvingnon and Chardonnay.

Pros:
--It tastes like it should, and it's 13% alcohol, unlike those weak 9, 10%s you buy in your local liquor store. Yea, I look at that before I buy any wine. I mean, why drink wine if it has no effect? I like to get a little buzz on or at least enough intake to get sleepy. Thus, the term nightcap.
--It's disguised. You can drink this just about anywhere. NO, I don't recommend ever drinking while driving or working with machinery, but as I said above, you can take it to the park and no one be the wiser. After all, nobody expects wine to be in a cardboard container.
--It's made with Organic grapes.
--It can be thrown in a basket and taken on a picnic without worrying about breakage or spillage or making the basket unbearably heavy.
--The carton aka Tetra Pak is made from paper, renewable, comes from trees, recyclable.
--The carton also requires less than half the energy consumed in the process of making glass bottles.
--This is truly the most environmentally friendly wine you can buy.

Cons:
--Like most wines, it contains sulfites. Be sure you don't have an allergy. If you are able to drink just about any wine you buy from the store, however, you should be good with this one.

Once you drink all your wine, depending on how much you imbibed, you may need a pick-me-up the next day. ;)

Introducing CalNaturale Svelte protein/energy shakes. The protein comes in four flavors: chocolate, vanilla, cappuccino, spiced chai*. The last one is slightly different from the previous three.

They all taste fabulous as cold as possible. I find I preferred them before I worked out. Did they give me an extra boost? Hard to say as I wasn't very tired to begin with, but my treadmill time didn't feel as long or as unbearable as usual, and I certainly loved the taste.


Pros:
-If you're lactose intolerant, like me, these were made for us. NO MILK.
-Organic
-Same tetra boxes mentioned above, grab it, throw it somewhere, open when convenient, recycle.
-Contains organic complex carboyhydrates that metabolize over a longer period, meaning sustained energy, not a quick burst. This could be why I wasn't sure. It's subtle, but it's there.
-Can be a meal replacement. (I love food way too much to attempt that. LOL)
-The spiced chai one contains 16 grams of protein to the 11 grams of the other three.
-GLUTEN-FREE
-20% of daily fiber aka "keeps you regular". You don't to carry that around all day, you know.
--Each drink has a positive message for women. You grab the container, you read it, you smile.

Cons:
-If you have a strong aversion to soy milk, I don't think you'll like these. They do have the soy milk texture and aftertaste. For me, as I said above, this was a good thing though. As a lactose-intolerant person, I drink soy milk.

As you can see, the pros far outweight the cons. My personal favorite in each category: I loved the vanilla protein and the Chardonnay wine. And I have to add, as someone with extreme food allergies, I had no negative reactions for any of the drinks listed above.

I recommend these products.

Disclosure: I received sample products to try in order to write an honest review. There was no financial reimbursement.

Wines of Portugal

*Product was received for free in exchange for an honest review.*

While a handwritten card and flowers are always appreciated, why not give your mother flowers in a different form? This year give your mother the ability to transport herself to the golden plains and beautiful mountains of Portugal with fresh spring whites and pretty rosés from Portugal.

Whether it be used to complement her favorite dish, share with a group of friends, or simply to relax on the couch after a long day, a wine from Portugal is a distinctive and decadent gift that will encourage the relaxation every mother deserves.

HERA is the Queen of Goddesses . . . The Goddess Hera symbolizes beauty and marriage.  The HERA wines each exhibit their own beauty with a perfect marriage of varietals, fruit and balance.  Wines for lovers.

The HERA Rose is a “Vinho Verde” of salmon color obtained from red grapes, vinified by the classical method of the white wines.  It is a fruity, semi-sweet, harmonious, fresh and versatile, ideal for the celebration of the emotions, the passions . . . for the lovers; a wind for the most relaxing moment s of all who fall in love for Life!  It is another wind in the path of the cosmopolitanism that characterizes the range “HERA” . . .

______

CASA DE VILA VERDE: Located in the town of Lousada in the Vinho Verde region, Casa de Vila Verde is one of Portugal’s oldest estates.  The same family has been producing wine on the estate since the  middle of the 17^th century.  The winery was completely modernized in 1996, adapting advanced technologies to the traditions of the region.  The winery currently has 40 hectares under cultivation characterized by granitic soil, poor in organic matter and slightly acidic.  Unlike many Vinho Verdes currently on the market which are non-vintage and coop produced, Casa de Vila Verde is a true estate wine.  All grapes are grown at the winery, and the different grape varieties are harvested individually taking into consideration the climate, soil type and ripeness of each.  Each year this special wine is produced from the best combination of the different varietals.  The result is a Vinho Verde that is more complex and elegant than anything else in its category.


To purchase authentic Portugese wines, please visit: http://www.winesofportugal.com/us/

Our Thoughts:

I received two Vino Verde wines to try, the HERA Rose and Casa de Vila Verde White Wine.  I am not a great wine drinker – I do like an occasional sweet red wine, but I LOVE to cook with wine and want to learn more about pairing wines with food.

The HERA Rose is a nice semi-sweet salmon-colored wine – a little dry, not overly sweet, and leaves a nice smooth aftertaste.  I’ve enjoyed it after evening meals, and my mother liked it as well.

The Casa de Vila Verde White Wine is too dry and not sweet enough for my drinking taste, but I do enjoy cooking with it.  I have made a few dishes to which it adds a very nice flavor.  I love history, too, and I think it’s really cool to cook with wine made on an estate that’s been around for 400 years!

 Pictured is the lunch I made yesterday for myself and a guest; a chicken & apple stir fry made with the Casa de Vila Verde White Wine served on a bed of leafy greens, and then finished the meal with a taste of the HERA Rose.

***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. The opinions expressed in the review are my own and were not influenced in any way.***