Get Naked at Twin Brook!

Woo-Hoo!

Naked Chardonnay back on the shelves just in time for the holidays, tree trimming (just WHERE is that handprint ornament from 1995??), and a little something to come home to after cattle chute shopping. Is there really a better way to relax? Well, maybe with a little Spice Wine...

Holy revelations, Batman!
We received a few cheeses to sample for holiday pairing from the Town Clock Cheese Shop in Gap, one of which was a Mango Ginger Stilton. I automatically went for the Vignoles, which paired great, but the Spice Wine took the cake! Hoping we are able to get some more of that in the tasting room for December. Trust me, you just have to come in to try it for yourself, honest!

Winding down, Consiglieri and 2008 Merlot will not be much longer for public enjoyment. Sadly, we are down to our last few cases of each, so find your way in to grab some before it is all gone. I am positive I can speak for many, the '08 Merlot will be sorely missed! I appologize for not blogging about this sooner, but it had gained quite a "cult" following before it was even bottled.

Back to the Naked Chardonnay!
Why naked you ask? Well, in case you haven't had the pleasure of experiencing a naked chard., it is not fruit that has been bruised in the buff... just aged in a steel tank, no oak. It retains all of the delicate taste of the fruit, with a crisp dry edge. Still a little green around the edges, this Chardonnay has the potential to carry on the lighter yet very fruity depth of our previous vintages. Available on the shelves now, it will be even better just in time for holiday company.
Wait, better saved for yourself after the company has left? Hmmmm...
Nope! This is a wine worthy of the great company I will keep! (YES! That is a shout out to my wonderful friends and fam alike!)

BOTTOM LINE:
Get in to visit us! We have a nice selection of wines to fill any list; dry, off dry, and sweet.

NOT SURE WHAT TO BUY?
We LOVE to tell you about wine! Just ask, and we'll help you choose the perfect variety.

NEXT UP!
Well, it may be an unsubstantiated rumor - but I thought I MAY have overheard Tim mention that Springhouse White was soon to be bottled??? He may put the kibosh on this later. Maybe it is ME who is starting the rumor??

STOP IN, ASK QUESTIONS, DRINK WINE!!!

What's for DINNER, Mom?

SORRY GUYS!! None of Mom's world famous Chicken Enchiladas with Salsa Verde tonight!

What can we grab on the way home?? Dare we use the coveted Wawa hoagie coupons from a school fundraiser, or save them for another more perilous itinerary?? Pasquale's Pizza IS on the way home, and cheese steak calzone DOES sound good...

Next burning question that just may alter the time/space continuum; What wines do I have stocked at the house?

Hey, you can't blame me for trying to pretend dinner was NOT a rushed decision made on my way through town.

We can still enjoy our hastily acquired food on the real everyday china, all sit at the table (after everyone has SCRUBBED their hands thoroughly) and eat like civilized human beings. A nice glass of wine imparts the feeling that I had this all under control all along.

The stress of meal planning is almost universal this time of year. Just Mad Lib it:

"I have been so busy with__________ (activity) that I have no time to chop_______ (plural vegetable) or pan sear_________(cut of juicy meat), much less consider making___________(starchy carbohydrate you shouldn't eat, or have any business adding massive amounts of butter to)."

Blame it on baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, rototilling your garden. You can even blame it on daylight savings time! That extra hour of daylight still has us all fooled. I am constantly glancing at the clock only to gasp - "Holy cow!! Where did my late afternoon escape to; and, what can I pull off as dinner in the next 15 minutes??"

So, getting to the point, my schedule for the next few weeks is particularly precarious and I must plan accordingly. So, without further adieu here are my picks for pairing a wine to make dinner at least FEEL like, if not taste like I slaved over the stove all day.

Out of the ordinary:

Hoagies and OCTORARA ROSE' (-OR - Subs or Grinders; depending what part of Massachusetts you originate, or what the remainder of the states you hail from that subscribe to one of the trio)

I dare refer to this as my "Hoagie wine", so as to not offend Tim, or anyone else here revolving in finer wine circles. Amazingly enough however, the acidity of the wine balances with the traditional oil and vinegar, and the subtle hints of Cabernet Sauvignon compliment well with the peppery capicola and hard salami. Since it is a lighter Cab, it won't overtake the deli meats, rather punctuate them. I did lure a few unsuspecting participants with the unmistakeable and unrelenting bouquet of genuine Italian hoagie in all it's magnificent glory (I appologize to my customers that appeared right after I enjoyed said hoagie - it does tend to linger) to try it with a few wines and Octorara Rose' was the unanimous pick.

I must also add that the Octorara Rose' won SILVER at the San Diego wine competition!!

Congrats to Tim, and all who work endlessly to produce fabulous wine!

Stop by to give it a sampling - a lovely Rose' wine from both Cab's Sauvignon and Franc, a little lighter that what you might expect from a Cabernet. The brief science behind it is: the lighter vat "bleedings" from 2008 Cabernets blended with a little of the 2007 Cabs resulting in a light Cabernet, still with a nice oaky toast and Cab pepper - but not so deep a red to eclipse lighter fare as pork, or Italian chicken dishes.

The rest of my "fast food" from home and abroad pairings I will be trying for the duration of baseball season, and Twin Brook concert picnics:

Pizza (white): Pinot Gris (soon to be released!)

Pizza (red): Consiglieri

Cheese Burgers: Strasburger Red

Hot Dogs: Blossom Blush

Cheesesteaks: Cabernet Sauvignon

Sloppy Joe's: Icebreaker Blush

Mac N' Cheese: (add a little dried Basil) - Pinot Gris

(top with some Sofrito or salsa) - Chardonnay Reserve

If we all just close our eyes and savor every sip with a family meal, all will be right with the world, no matter WHAT'S for dinner!

Cabin Fever!

It's that time again - time to hide indoors from the negative wind chills, time to say "I will eat better this year - starting tomorrow", time to start planning your Super Bowl Party snacks!! Well, we have started pairing junk food with wine @ Twin Brook. I will be able to elaborate more on this in the immediate future, for the time being my wine tasting must be halted. Post surgery meds do not mix well with alcohol! However, I can lay the ground work for what is to follow!



Why do certain foods and flavors pair well with some wines and not others?

Acids and flavors in wine can react with different components in food. Oaked whites like Chardonnay will make magic with things that are creamy or buttery. White chocolate, alfredo sauce, and cheeses match up nicely due to the presence of lactic acid in the wine.
So far, we have tried cookie dough with different wines, and found Vignoles to pair excellently!
Conversely, the Cayuga did not blend well with white chocolate or the cookie dough. It's higher acidic nature made the buttery flavors taste more like cheese. Not a good pairing!

We are still amazed with the Bellavitano from The Town Clock Cheese Shoppe, it pairs with every wine we try it with!! Just the right balance of creamy, fruity, and salty; it is the chameleon of the cheese world!

Next on the sample platter: buffalo wings. More on that soon!

Try your hand at pairing things!

We have ideas of what should pair well, but only taste testing will tell for sure! One of my favorites is Lindt's white chocolate with coconut paired up with an oaked Chardonnay, Vignoles, and Vidal Reserve. The tropical fruit and pineapple flavors in the Vignoles and Vidal make for a pina colada taste with the coconut especially!

Salud!

no wine before it's time...

Yay! More time to blog!! Look for more babble to come out in the next 2 weeks. Unfortunately, it all comes out of a broken leg and being stuck on the couch.
I have been stressing lately over not having time to even blog 2 sentences, I guess I jinxed myself!
Now, to weed through all the ideas swimming around in my head...