And other lessons I learned about the winter holidays. It’s so much better to be an adult. Wine gift giving made easy. Do you remember when you found out there isn’t a Santa Claus? It’s a light bulb memory for me. I was drinking ice tea with my father. He was barely 27 years old at the time. I was eight. The Beatles were playing in the background. I was on the heels of the worst Christmas ever. I opened my presents on the sly Christmas tree and knew everything I was going to open. It created the worst Christmas ever. Or so I thought.
Feeling very grown up sipping black iced tea (ewwww), I was confident enough to start discussing Christmas in the middle of summer with my father (I should’ve known that in itself was an omen). Waxing poetic on what I thought would be great gifts for me, I stood there dropping hints as subtly as a torpedo ready to detonate. Hand on my hip, all weight on my left leg I spoke with confidence. “And wouldn’t it be amazing if Santa got the message”. As I waited for my father’s response, my weight shifting from one foot to the next. My eyes wide open in hope and expectation, he sighed. “Kelly, you do know there is no Santa Claus don’t you?”. My eyes got bigger, maybe even watered a bit. I waited. The Beatles are singing “All You Need is Love” the music blaring. My Dad starts dancing in the kitchen. Shaking my head, I looked at him. Pleading silently, “Please let him take it back. Please make it not be true.” That was the day I got sick on basic black iced tea. Never able to drink it again. The memory and experience stayed with me. That hot summer day, listening to The Beatles was truly the worst Christmas memory ever.
It doesn’t matter what your memory of finding out there was no Santa. The reality is we are constantly playing him in so many aspects of our lives. The goal, to create that magical feeling of love within the element of surprise and fascination. I’m much older now, but I still get excited by great gifts and love to share them with people I care about.
I’ve carefully vetted these gifts and have truly gotten something out of each and every one of them. I hope you do the same. And hurry the hell up if you are still shopping! Time is short.
Decanting while you relax in a beautifully modern way. Perfect for a wine gifting, the Aura wine glasses. No more endless swirling! Pour a glass of your favorite red and use the spill-resistant glasses to aerate your wine in the glass. No messy pours to clean and single serve is the perfect way to decant for 1 or two people. Comes with a black holder for each glass. Available here: Aura Glass on Amazon Prime for speedy delivery.
Party Sips! The Coravin Wine Preserver is a premium wine gift. Being a video producer and wine writer, I find it difficult to always get the most out of a wine the first time I taste. I love the luxury of being able to return to a bottle without it being compromised. Coravin has provided me this joy. Easy to use (read the directions) and efficient for those who prefer to sip at their leisure. You can even bounce between a few bottles open at once. It’s a wine gift they won’t forget. Get it here.
Travel Wine Bags – Months ago I received a starter pack from Bee Smart Travel. Honestly, I wasn’t sure these travel wine bags would be worth it. It’s a pretty basic design. Plastic on the exterior, velcro on the bottle to seal it and protect if it leaks in your luggage with a double roll-up closure. So I tested it over the past six months. Two trips to France, one trip to Spain and another to Italy. Each and every time they performed well. No leaks. No compromised bottles and the price is right. At just $19.97 this wine gift is a traveler’s delight! Get it here or on Amazon.
The Ultimate Wine Lovers Wine Gift. Insights on Paso Robles.
How do you get to know a region well? Through the stories about winemakers and vintners. Learning why someone got into the business of wine is fascinating. A discovery of their winemaking process, what makes them tick, makes the wine taste even better! This coffee table sized book on Paso Robles is a stunning pictorial on the region. It provides insights on the tastemakers and makes the perfect wine gift for those who love the insights behind the label. Eloquently written by Paul Hodgins and photographed by Julia Pérez, it’s a visually compelling piece on this important wine region. Get it on Amazon.
Celebrating 40 years of amazing vintages, a Napa Valley favorite of mine is Raymond Vineyards. To mark this milestone they’ve created the best of the best. It celebrates five generations of winemakers since 1969. The elegant Cabernet Sauvignon exemplifies the hard work and tradition the Raymond family has embraced for decades. Aged in 100% new oak for 19-months this opulent red delivers on taste. Scintillating mouth feel, mocha, rich red fruit and a finish that leaves you wanting more. Ready for gift giving at $40.00. Find it here.
Because sipping wine should always be convenient. Govino wine glasses are reusable and holiday themed. We love to use these when playing bocce because you don’t have to worry about spills or breaks. It also fits your hand as good as a glove. They compliment picnics, evenings at friends or your holiday get together. Get them here.
Traveling to Sonoma & Napa Valley has never been so easy when you have the right guide. Fodor’s does it again with their Napa & Sonoma guide. Venture into the smaller towns in the area including St. Helena, Healdsburg and Yountville and find out why this region is one of the most magnificent wine regions in the world. From the path less traveled to insiders information on restaurants and wineries you need to visit Napa and Sonoma. Get it here.
Whether it’s hostess gifts, New Year’s gifts or holiday gifts, each of these has a unique place in the eyes of the gifted. Now be the Santa in your world!
Alice Tetienne of Champagne Henriot Organic is important, but not necessarily the best. It is but one part of the equation. We have to be
Barodlino has a rich history in both wine and culture. There is no better Rosé that takes the beauty of the region and expresses it than Chiaretto Rosé.
Could it be that this region, today known as the Fastest Growing Wine Region in the United States is the world’s next Napa Valley? This is Idaho Wine Country.
The 55 judges awarded silver, gold and grand gold medals to wines from 25 countries.
At the beginning of March, in the @paysdocigpwines region of Southern France, over 1,200 #rosé wines from across the globe competed for the highly coveted @concoursmondial de Bruxelles medals. The @vinolok_global international Revelation Trophy was awarded this year to a rosé wine from #Italy – Y by 11 Minutes Rosé – produced by @pasquawines in #Veneto. Well done!
The Winners of the International Wine competition on Rosé for 2023 are in:
The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is an international wine competition that takes place annually and is considered one of the most prestigious wine competitions in the world. The competition is held in a different location each year, and it attracts thousands of entries from winemakers around the world. The focus of the competition is on identifying wines of high quality that are representative of their region and grape variety.
In recent years, the competition has added a separate category for rosé wines, recognizing the growing popularity and diversity of this style of wine. The competition judges rosé wines on their color, aroma, taste, and overall balance, with the aim of identifying the best examples of the style from around the world.
Winning a medal at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles can have a significant impact on a winery`s reputation and sales, as it is widely recognized as a mark of quality and excellence. The competition also provides an opportunity for winemakers to receive feedback from a panel of international experts, helping them to refine their techniques and improve their wines.
Winners link is: https://resultats.concoursmondial.com/en/results/2023
Congrats to all the Rose producers who participated!
#WineCompetition #winetasting #rosé #winelover #trendingwine #whattodrink #concoursmondialdebruxelles #paysdoc #montpelier #france #Veneto #winemedals #thewinesiren #wineoclock #winerating #winejudge
When great viticulture is an obsession you chose wisely and well. @vitnerd for @lecole41 on sustainability, great viticulture and award winning passion for vines.
WATCH WITH LINK IN BIO: SADIE DRURY - VINEYARD MANAGER
Sadie Drury is a Walla Walla native who has been passionate about agriculture since her first job of picking strawberries at the age of 12. In 2007, Sadie decided to combine her passion for agriculture with her love for wine by attending the Center for Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College and pursuing a career in viticulture. In 2008, Sadie started an internship at Ciel du Cheval Vineyard where she moved up the ranks to Assistant Vineyard Manager. Sadie joined the North Slope Management team in early 2013 and took over the reins as GM later that year. She currently manages 6 vineyards including the famed Seven Hills Vineyard. Sadie is the current Chair for the Washington State Wine Commission. She is the 2019 Power’s Sabbatical Recipient, the 2020 Washington Winegrowers Erick Hanson Memorial Grower of the Year, and a 2021 Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker.
#WashingtonWine #WallaWalla #lecole #Viticulture #sustainable #Sustainability #Vine #winelover #DrinkSustainable #TheWineSiren #SevenHills #wineeducation
https://www.youtube.com/live/PiWKkhnre94
The Ritz, Paris.
A destination since 1898, the Ritz Paris is one of the most iconic hotels in Paris.
There is no better place to return with a couple of my most cherished friends and begin our dinner and catch up session with an exquisite bottle of Extra Brut
Champagne Barons de Rothschild. Made from Chardonnay 60%;Reserve wines, the majority of which
are kept in their perpetual reserve (solera) 40%,
Pinot Noir 40%,
Grands and
Premiers crus 85%
Dosage 1.5 g/L
Ageing 4 years minimum
Exquisite perlage enhanced by notes of minerality and salinity, the brioche like aromas reveal notes of pear and fig. Delightfully well balanced its arômatic finish satisfies. This beauty is cellar worthy and will reveal its riches for years to come.
The stunning facade has a place in history since 1705. Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the most famous architect of the Baroque period, drew the initial design for Louis XIV.
The luminaries who frequented the hotel were many, Marcel Proust, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. Many are the writers and artists inspired by the Ritz in their work as well. Hemingway for The Sun Also Rises and F. Scott Fitzgerald for Tender is the Night. In fact, the hotel’s “Bar Hemingway” was named for the author.
For 💋🍷💋#TheWineSiren a return to the Ritz is a return to the incredible history of Paris and a moment of great drinks and bites with dear friends. From the moment you cross the threshold the inviting aroma and views of luxurious surroundings envelope you.
Do you Ritz?
Photos
1. The Ritz Paris champagne. Pure deliciousness. Notes below.
2. The stage is set at your entrance. Visuals and aroma envelope your senses.
3. Cherished Parisian friends to share the experience with.
4. The stage is set at @barvendome
5. Fresh truffles with French fries
6. Probably the best steak tartare on the planet. Served mild, spicy or extra spicy . Texture and rich flavor abound.
7. Just one of the lovely cocktails served.
8. The vibe at Bar Vendome
9. The Hemingway Bar . Very few seats and always packed.
10. And the regroup at the end of the evening. This is where memories are made.
#Paris #ritzparis #TheWineSiren #champagnerothschild
From Carcassonne to Montpelier the beauty of @paysdocigpwines shines through. I`ll share more on my newest discoveries when I`m back in the US .
The bar @hotelricherdebelleval .... incredible. Have you been?!
#winetravel #winetraveler #thewinesiren #kellymitchell #wine #winelover #ginlover #barsofinstagram #beautifuldestinations #wheretofindme #france #montpellier #justdrinks #cocktailtime
Learn about new products, wine travel tips and the latest on wine, food and fab.
Learn about new products, wine travel tips and the latest on wine, food and fab.
