Wine Tasting - The Sense of Touch
Touch is an important category of taste sensation. This is where we try to feel the wine on the palate. Here we seek to find impressions of such things as texture, body, temperature, and astringency. The aftertaste, finish, and length of a wine are all things we feel on our palate. We are looking for how the wine feels in weight (light, medium, full) and texture (silky, coarse, velvety). Try to observe how long the sensations last in your mouth. Most will tell you the longer it lasts, the better the wine!
Locals - A Collective Tasting Room
Come visit us at Locals located at the gateway to Alexander Valley in the once sleepy hamlet of Geyserville. Locals is a collective tasting room featuring the wines of 6 local boutique wineries. Taste over 30 unique wines from talented and noted neighborhood winemakers. These are small-scale producers making premium quality and hard to find award-winning wines.
While sampling these unique selections, discover the works of area black and white photographers, listen to music from local Sonoma Country musicians and be intrigued by Locals whimsical collection of art moderne wine accessories. It all combines to create an eclectic and tasty environment.
www.tastelocalwines.com
707.857.4900
yummy@tastelocalwines.com
Battle of the Appellations
December 2002
Congratulations to Meador Estate and Rodney Strong, January winners of WineCountry.com Battle of the Appellations Contest!
Date:
December 18, 2001
Location: TASTINGS
RESTAURANT , Healdsburg, CA
Chef: Derek McCarthy
Winner: Rodney
Strong
Vintage: 1999 Pinot Noir
Appellation: Russian River Valley
Food Pairing: Red wine marinated lamb chops with
blue lake beans and pomegranate
Winner: Meador
Estate
Vintage: 2000 Dry Chenin Blanc "Old Vine"
Appellation: Monterey
Food Pairing: Spiced Ahi seared rare with wood-grilled
porcini
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The Rodney Strong 1999 Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley was chosen hands down as the perfect pairing to Tastings' red wine marinated lamb chops with blue lake beans and pomegranate. As with both dishes the food prepared by Tastings was absolutely exceptional. Head chef, Derek McCarthy truly understands the art and science of mixing exotic flavors together to not only tease your palate, but surprise your taste buds with some of the most well blended and beautifully served meals. This 1999 Pinot Noir from Rodney Strong is a medium-bodied wine with hints of dark cherry and pepper which enhanced the spices of thyme and rosemary of the lamb; but the surprising fruitiness of orange and raspberry mixed incredibly well with the pomegranate seeds of the sauce.
Tastings Restaurant is one of Healdsburg's best kept secrets, which may not be so secret. The food is entertaining and the ambiance forces you to believe you have stepped out of the world of cement parking lots and into a private treat.
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WineCountry.com highly suggests that you invite the delicious and food friendly wines of Meador Estate and Rodney Strong to your next dinner party, as well as placing Tastings Restaurant on your must see list during your next visit to the Wine Country.
Tastings Restaurant -- www.tastingsrestaurant.com
Meador Estate -- www.meadorestate.com
Rodney Strong -- www.rodneystrong.com
Review Other Award WInning Wine & Food Pairings
