Thursday, September 19, 2013

Sept 19, 2013 - Holiday Dinner Wine Pairings - hosted by Ms Kim and Mr.Alan

Sept 19, 2013 - Holiday Dinner Wine Pairings - hosted by Ms. Kim and Mr. Alan

Theme:  Holiday Dinner Wine Pairings
Our hosts are from That Computer Chick, Wines and food pairings selected by Scott B. of Baked in East Cobb.  Hilarious stories and entertainment from Miss Kim.  Ask her about the time she fixed someone's iPad with ketchup.

TWITs Tasting Notes:
1) 2011 Picket Fence Chardonnay $12.95 @ Baked
Russian River Valley, 13.5% alcohol
Food Pairing: Shrimp and Grits - with Andouille sausage and pan gravy
the oaky-ness of the chardonnay balances out the flavor of the shrimp and grits.
TWITs said:  buttery, balanced oak, not too oaky.  light, not too heavy.  just right.  perfect for "grimps and shits"

2) 2010 The Dreaming Tree Crush (red blend, Central Coast CA) $12.95 @ Baked
Geyserville, CA 13.5% alcohol, Red blend by Steve Reeder, Dave Matthews
78% Merlot, 13% Syrah, 6% Zinfandel, 2% Petite Sirah, 1% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon
Food Pairing: Lemon & Garlic baked chicken with smoky green beans
TWITs said:  I had not heard very good things about Dreaming Tree wines, but now that I have tried this, I am impressed and I like it!  spice, cinnamon, smoky berry, like a pinotage!

3) 2008 Gnaughty Vines Zinfandel - Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma-  $13.95 @ Baked
Manteca, CA (near Hillsburg, which is also near Kokomo Wines (which we love)) 15% alcohol
Food Pairing: Roasted Beef Brisket with Polenta
TWITs said:  Peppery nose, spice, dark deep fruits, cassis-bomb

4) Castello Del Poggio Moscato D’Asti – Italy – $10.95 @ Baked
Provincia de Pavia, IGT, 7% alcohol
Food Pairing: Salty Spicy Pork with portabella mushrooms and asparagus
TWITs said:  wine is sweet, light, cool, refreshing, sugary legs

5) 2012 Cigar Box Reserve Malbec – $10~12
Mendoza, Argentina 14.1% alcohol
Food Pairing: Kim own recipe of shredded chicken and tomato bowtie pasta
TWITs guessed several of the recipe ingredients, Kim says it has tomato, porcini mushrooms (soaked in gran marnier), zucchini, sundried tomato, a bit of jalapeno, coriander, cumin, shredded chicken, etc.
Kim says the secret to a great tomato sauce is to include a piece of chicken w/skin and bone in the sauce. We can attest it was delicious!!!










And because it's "Talk Like A Pirate Day"...


Sunday, September 1, 2013

September 2013 - Museum of Design Exhibit: Barrique: Wine, Design, and Social Change


Barrique: Wine, Design, and Social Change

Sunday, September 15, 2013 - Sunday, October 13, 2013

This exhibition spotlights a wine barrel (barrique) recycling project taking place at Europe’s largest residential treatment center for young men and women recovering from drug addiction and social exclusion. Located in San Patrignano, Italy, the 1,300 residents of this treatment center learn professional skills – including viticulture, wine making, and woodworking – and produce more than 450,000 liters of wine each year, aging it all in 230 liter French oak barrels.
The fact that these barrels can be used for only three years led the community of San Patrignano to develop an innovative design project for the recycling of old wine barrels. They reached out to thirty well-known designers and architects — including Marc Sadler, Karim Rashid, Angela Missoni, and Alessandro Mendini — asking each of them to design a piece of furniture using wood reclaimed from wine barrels. Then, the residents of San Patrignano crafted the pieces of furniture out of old barrels, effectively demonstrating how design innovation can be used to achieve social good.
The furniture crafted in this project was displayed to great critical acclaim at the Salone del Mobile in 2012 and will be on display at MODA in 2013 as part of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ “Year of Italian Culture” in the United States.