Tag Archives: Alexander Valley Vineyards

Wines of Three~So Mote It Be ~My Top Halloween Picks of 2019!

“I put a spell on you…because you’re mine. “

~ Jay Hawkins

Hey party people! It’s that special time of year when a chill’s in the air, frost is afoot, and it’s not just the pumpkin that’s getting lit! 🎃

Each year, I look for two things from my All Hallows vintages: Label art and/ or contents. While the label art is the first thing to catch my eye, what’s inside the bottle actually matters; you don’t want to be sipping swill at your gathering. Breathe easy, there’s no danger with these three wines.

**Click the video below to find out more about these great wines! 👇🧟‍♀️** yes, there is a video there!

My top picks for the season – no particular order:

Prayers of Sinners – A spooky little blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Merlot, this moody offering from Washington State boasts flavors of violet, cocoa, and dark fruit such as blackberry. It pairs well with braised beef, hellfire roasted peppers, and devilish molten chocolate cake. At a price point of around $10.99, this wine will steal your soul. It was sumptuous in my glass.

7 Moons Dark Side Red Blend – A haunting seven layer blend of Syrah, Merlot, Petit Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Grenache, it screams of robust flavor and texture. Swirling aromas of rich chocolate cherry, blackberry, and vanilla dance with the cherry Coke, creamy milk chocolate flavors on the tongue. It plays well with barbecue chicken, caprese salad and many Asian foods. Be not afraid, the price point is $19.99. The only trick to get this treat is to open the bottle.

Sin Zin – This wicked wine is straight up, 100% Zinfandel from Alexander Valley Vineyards in Sonoma. Known for their other worldly Zins, this wine is aged in the cask for fourteen months in American Oak which gives aromas of spice and earthy notes and conjures flavors of black cherry, plum, black pepper and chocolate. It pairs well with spicy braised beef, lamb or venison, tomatoes, eggplant, mushrooms and olives. The price point of $17.99 – $19.99 makes it a potion to die for.

Wherever you plan to haunt this year, make sure to sink your teeth into a great wine or two.

Have a safe and happy Halloween! 👻🍷🎃

Cheers!

©️Copyright The Wine Student, 2019

Mac n Cheese Monday!

Ok, so it’s more about the wine than the mac and cheese but Rosé doesn’t start with M! 

My girl is home from college and as a budding gourmet, she wanted to experiment with a simple but yummy mac and cheese recipe. So which wine would be interesting? 

A few days ago, HubbyDoug came across a 2016 Alexander Valley Vineyards dry Rosé of Sangiovese. We’ve enjoyed many of AVV’s offerings in the past but a Sangiovese Rosé was what peaked his interest. Who was I to say, “Bah!”? 

Rosé is made from black grapes and its production is similar to red wines, but fermentation is at lower  temperatures, and is taken off grapeskin contact after only 12 to 36 hours so that the wine doesn’t become too deeply colored or tannic. Most red wines maintain skin contact for more than two weeks (for richly flavored wines). 

This wine was amazing with the combination of Jarlsberg and Monterey Jack cheese; it cut through the creamy butter vibe with a refreshing acidity and wonderful light fruity quality. To try to assauge our guilt, we added a nice combination of sweet green peas and broccoli to the mix. 😉

I’ve often enjoyed a crisp, bubbly Prosecco with dishes that are this creamy and rich, but this Rosé was a surprising and wonderful alternative. And for summer, Rosé is a fun change of pace. Think pink!

Cheers!