Book signing recap at Cornerstone Cellars

We had a great turnout for my first-ever book signing party at Cornerstone Cellars in Napa Valley this past weekend. In my novel, Where I Want to Be, the main characters visit the Cornerstone tasting room in Yountville. It was the perfect venue for my event!

In between chatting with my Wine Country friends and answering questions about my book (no, it’s not autobiographical!) to new fans, I took the chance to taste through the current line up of Cornerstone wines:

2011 Stepping Stone Napa Valley Riesling ($20/bottle): Yes, it’s a dry Riesling! This wine has a fresh and lively attitude with bright citrus notes and an alluring finish.

2011 Willamette Valley Chardonnay ($40/bottle): Lots of Meyer lemon on the palate with a kiss of vanilla and a long finish citrusy finish. This would be an amazing complement to fresh crab. Mmmmm….

2010 Stepping Stone Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($35/bottle): This delightful Pinot Noir is young and fruity with notes of ripe raspberry, cranberry, and juicy strawberry. Vanilla and spice are super-subtle on the finish. Very easy to drink!

2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($65/bottle): This brand-new release has “drink me” written all over it. The rich and complex palate offers delicious notes of dark red berries and dark chocolate supported by velvety tannins. (I went back for seconds of this one!)

2010 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon ($80/bottle): This wine has such a gorgeous perfume that becomes more pronounced with every swirl. Think blackberry jam, fresh sage, and black licorice. On the palate, a mélange of ripe dark fruits charms the taste buds with a finish that lingers seductively until your next sip. A little age on this wine will help smooth out the sturdy tannins. I tasted the 2009 vintage of this wine on Sunday night and it is divine. But it is also quite youthful; it was even better the second day. Don’t forget to decant!

If you're going to be in the Napa Valley this weekend, please visit the Hill Family Estate tasting salon on Saturday, 12/7 from 2-4 PM for my second book signing event!  Click here for more info.

Crazy about Cab Franc

Of the Bordeaux varieties, Cabernet Franc has always been a favorite of mine. Usually a tad bit lighter in body compared to Cabernet Sauvignon, Franc generally offers supple tannins; a ripe, fruit-forward palate; and a hint of exotic spice. I have blogged about Cab Franc from boutique producers such as Titus, Crocker & Starr and David Arthur; now I can add Cornerstone Cellars to that list.

The 2010 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Cabernet Franc is an approachable Napa Valley red with distinction. With savory aromas of red pepper and dried herbs, it is quite different than its Cabernet Sauvignon counterpart. This Franc offers super-smooth tannins, bright acidity, and luscious red berry flavors. Blended with 8% Merlot, this wine is aged in 100% French oak (50% new). It is youthful and bright; enjoy it now or hold on to it for a couple years.

Cabernet Franc is a unique wine because less than 3% of Napa Valley vineyards are planted to this varietal.  Cornerstone produces less than 800 cases of Cab Franc and sources the fruit from vineyards in St. Helena and Carneros. It was a great match for the homemade spaghetti Bolognese with sautéed mushrooms and fresh basil I cooked for dinner last week. At $35/bottle, this wine offers value and food-pairing flexibility. Find it in their Yountville Tasting Room, which is mentioned in my debut novel Where I Want to Be: A Wine Country Novel, or order it directly from their website. Cheers!

Stepping Stone Rosé dances to its own beat

For my sister’s birthday party last weekend, I was assigned the task of bringing wine (it should come as no surprise that I insisted on this responsibility). It’s something I always do, whether I’m asked to or not (sometimes if only to guarantee there will be wine worth drinking). I brought six bottles to the party: two whites, two rosés (one sparkling), and two reds.

           

With its pretty pink hue and lively label, the 2012 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone “Corallina” Napa Valley Syrah Rosé ($20/bottle) was a huge hit. The name is a mouthful and so is the wine itself!

Gorgeous raspberry and wild strawberry scents burst from the glass with the same incredible intensity the acidity has on the palate. Juicy, ripe strawberry and red currant flavors dance delightfully along the taste buds. That being said, the painting featured on the label is called “Wine Dance”, by artist Janet Ekholm; the joyous energy it evokes and its bright colors match what’s inside the bottle perfectly. It might make you feel like dancing! 

Aged for five months in neutral French oak, this tasty wine is both complex and refreshing. The Corallina is quite unique in that the Syrah grapes are farmed with the intent of making a Provençal-style rosé; it's not a pink wine by default. It finishes bone-dry and you’ll notice a lingering desire for another sip.

Corallina makes an excellent party guest! (Even if she isn't around for very long.) This coral-colored wine was phenomenal with everything from the grilled chicken and vegetables to the fresh burrata cheese and balsamic-glazed asparagus as well as the tri-tip. It would also be terrific with seafood. I love rosé for it’s pairing potential, even when enjoyed with nothing more than a sunny afternoon and a comfortable place to sit.

This wine was received for review purposes from Cornerstone Cellars. Please order your Corallina Rosé here (it's on sale through 5/31/13 for only $16/bottle). Cheers!

Wine of the Week: Stepping Stone Napa Cab

Now that the temperatures are cooling and the time has officially changed, it is definitely Cabernet Sauvignon season...

When I was asked last night what my favorite wine is, I prefaced my answer by saying that I drink all different kinds of wine—but it's true. What I most enjoy drinking is usually determined by my mood, what I'm eating, the time of day/year; thus my "favorite wine" is changes by the week. All that aside, I'm a Napa Cab kind of girl.

And I don't make any apologies for my wine preferences. I'm a California native who is very proud of the wines we make here. Yes, I like French wines, Argentine Malbec, and Spanish Rioja, but I will always support California producers first and foremost. 

Last week I tweeted about being accused of having a palate “tainted” by California wine. I found this comment both patronizing and condescending—and it really rubbed me the wrong way. Criticizing someone's wine palate is just as bad as saying you don't like their new hair cut or their butt looks fat in those jeans. If you don't have anything positive to say, don't say it all. (Which is why I only blog about wines that I like and recommend to my readers.)

On that note, I have nothing but positive things to say about the 2010 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($35/bottle). It was definitely my favorite wine of the week!

This new release from Cornerstone Cellars is bursting with bright red fruit. Aromas of red currant, raspberry, and black cherry leap from the glass. It is deep red in color with good concentration. With the first sip, flavors of pomegranate, mocha, and mint leaf entertain the palate. Tannins are lush and well-integrated; the rich mouthfeel is balanced by good acidity. It’s a Cabernet Sauvignon that is approachable and lively, with a long lingering finish of blueberry, vanilla, and cocoa. Blended from four vineyard sites including Howell Mountain and Rutherford with a small percentage of Merlot from Oakville and Carneros districts.  

I shared this wine with a friend this past Thursday night; we enjoyed it with a lovely home-cooked meal of risotto with pancetta, roast chicken, and arugula. (Thanks again for cooking, Danielle!) Delicious dinner, dynamite wine!

Sample received for review purposes from the winery.

Stepping Stone Pinot Noir pairs well with a movie

During the few years that I lived in the Napa Valley, I always considered taking wine when I went to the movies. My friends said they always did it, and, to be honest, I would expect the theaters in wine country to serve wine in the first place. After this weekend, I can say that I have successfully smuggled wine into a movie theater (just don’t tell the folks at the Century Larkspur Landing).

But seriously, when they’re warning you to turn off your cell phone and keep quiet during the film, they don’t say anything about refraining from drinking your own wine. Besides, we weren’t the only wine drinkers in the theater! I noticed a guy sitting near us holding a wine glass. Alas, this post could also be titled, “When to take your own wine, part two”. (Part one referred to when to take your own wine to dinner, but since movie theaters don’t serve wine…)

It’s almost Halloween and the movie pickings are slim (unless you like scary movies). A friend and I decided to go see “Seven Psychopaths”, which I agreed to because it was supposedly a comedy and it had a great cast (including Christopher Walken, Colin Firth, and Abbie Cornish). Everything is better with a great bottle of wine; in my bag, I stashed the 2010 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Pinot Noir ($35/bottle).

*Although a wine with a screw-cap is ideal to take to the movies, this wine has a cork closure. I keep a wine key in my glove compartment for times like these. If you try this [at the theater], please use caution when cutting the foil in the dark!

I forgot the GoVino cups, but even out of a paper cup, the Stepping Stone Pinot Noir is a delight. It has a pretty perfume of raspberry, wild cherry, dusty rose, and the telling aroma of fresh earth that I associate with most Oregon Pinots. On the palate, the cherry notes are complemented by vanilla, spice, red currant and soft tannins. Bright acidity and a long finish of juicy red berries makes this a great wine for sipping solo or pairing with all kinds of foods (it would be great with pork, ahi tuna, or anything with mushrooms).

“Seven Psychopaths”, which consisted of some funny parts and a few very gory scenes, might not be a must-see in my book, but I definitely recommend you try this wine.

Made with grapes sourced from 6 of the appellations within the Willamette Valley of Oregon under the tutelage of Tony Rynders, this Pinot Noir was matured in French oak (35% new) for 13 months. Unlike its more complex, age-worthy companion [the 2010 Cornerstone Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($50/bottle)] the Stepping Stone Pinot is designed to be enjoyed in all its youthful glory.

I love the label art, too! It seems appropriate for such a pretty, whimsical, and lively wine to be labeled with a painting called, “Color of Life”, by Oregon artist Janet Ekholm.

This wine was received as a sample courtesy of Cornerstone Cellars. Need a wine tasting recommendation? Read my post about the Cornerstone Tasting Room and go visit them in Yountville. Cheers!

Stepping Stone...these wines totally rock!

Earlier this week, a friend of mine posted the following question on Facebook: “What is your favorite tasting room and why?” She has received 18 comments so far…

One response was Schramsberg because of its “historical and haunting” beauty; another said Buena Vista because the outdoor area there is “beautiful and quaint”; and a few people supplied the name of a room in their own house (maybe they don’t live near a bunch of terrific tasting rooms?). I noticed how these answers had more to do with the location and setting of the tasting room, and there was no mention of the wine. Hmm.

There are many variables to consider when answering this question, including wine selection, price (tasting fees and the cost of the wines), ambiance and setting, timing (do you have to make an appointment or go for a tour?), and location. I have a different “favorite” for each of these criteria!

Although I love destination wineries with beautiful views and a relaxed atmosphere (like Terra Valentine or Pride Mountain), my favorite tasting rooms are the ones that are easy to get to, don’t require an appointment, and offer a good mix of wines (both in price and style). If this is what you’re looking for in a tasting room, then Cornerstone Cellars is the correct answer!

Cornerstone Cellars is on the main drag in Yountville, centrally located in the Napa Valley. There’s no need to make an appointment; you’re not forced to take a 90-minute tour; the staff is super-friendly; and the wines (which range in price from $18-$125) are fantastic. Plus, when you’re done, you can hop across the street to the Hope & Grace tasting room (another one of my favorites) or go for a bite to eat at one of Yountville’s award-winning restaurants (without even having to get back into the car!). There are actually 6 different tasting venues along Washington Street—you could easily spend a few days wine tasting [on foot] in Yountville alone. (How’s that for minimizing your carbon footprint on your next trip to Napa?!)

Since my first introduction to Cornerstone Cellars at the Pinot Days event in SF, I have loved every single Cornerstone wine I’ve tasted including the Corallina Rosé, the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, and The Cornerstone Cabernet Sauvignon.

Most recently, I enjoyed the Stepping Stone Rocks! White and Red wines. For $18 a bottle, these wines are incredible! Designed as “house” wines, the blend is different each year, and the exact composition is kept secret. In fact, I did not read the tasting notes prior to writing this post, so I was curious to see what varietals were used in each wine.

When I sampled the 2011 North Coast White Rocks! over the weekend, the fragrant perfume of this wine was suggestive of an aromatic variety that you don’t see that often in California. This particular vintage is a blend of Gewurtraminer and Chardonnay (a blend that I don’t think I’ve ever seen before). The Chardonnay brings depth and tropical fruit flavors while the Gewurz adds crisp acidity, melon, and spice notes. This is an awesome wine to sip with spicy appetizers (it would also be great with Mexican dishes).

The 2010 North Coast Red Rocks! drinks like a Super Tuscan-style blend twice its price. So I was surprised to read just now that it’s a blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, and Merlot (so much for my blind-wine tasting skills, ha). Syrah is very pronounced in the nose, which offers savory aromas of roasted meat, spice, and berry compote. The palate is full and luscious; black cherry, vanilla, red currant and white pepper components intertwine seamlessly. With smooth tannin and good acidity, this wine was the perfect match last night for ratatouille and it would be an ideal wine for pizza.

All of the Stepping Stone by Cornerstone wines offer great value ($18-$35/bottle). I received mine as samples from the winery, but they are available to taste and purchase [alongside the eponymous wines] at the Cornerstone Cellars tasting room. They’re open 10-7 everyday, so go visit them and tell them I sent you.

Maybe it will become one of your favorite tasting rooms, too!