Valentine’s day is essentially the celebration of a good pair, and what better way to acknowledge that than by pairing two of my favourite gustatory delights.  I have asked my wine friends to share their perfect matches so that you can woo your Valentine with wine and chocolate.

The best thing about Valentines Day this year? It falls on the weekend. That’s the perfect excuse to wake up not only to chocolates, but wine too! (technically of course, you could wake up to wine on a work day but in this case, you get to enjoy the option of staying in bed whilst you drink it.). Anyhow, there is going to be no better way to start your Valentines Day and woo your loved one this year than with a glass of fizzy stuff and a sweet treat to match. Champagne is, of course, the perfect bubble to start the day but unless you are a sadist or have no taste buds, champagne, (even the sweetest style, demi-sec) just doesn’t work with chocolate and the most sweet treats. Thankfully, lightly frothing, delicately sweet Michele Chiarlo ‘Nivole’ Moscato d’Asti ($17.99 at select BC liquor and Private liquor stores) does the job very nicely thank-you and its fresh perfume and low alcohol mean you can safely finish the bottle without the threat of a hangover by noon. The grapey, musky aromas of the Moscato grape blend perfectly with chocolate and if you really want to impress your loved one you can create your own perfect pairing as follows: dip some ripe strawberries in melted dark chocolate and let them set over-night in the fridge. A bowl of these chocolate-covered strawbs and a glass or two of moscato when you wake up should give you all the energy you need for your Valentines morning. Preferably a long Valentines morning in bed……

Mark Shipway – Wine Instructor & Department Head The International Culinary School
at The Art Institute of Vancouver

Sometimes, an odd couple is the most endearing—and the most memorable.

Sure, chocolate is gorgeous. I love it. Often. But give me a taste and tongue-touch experience that’s new and exciting, and I achieve euphoria.

Take the first time I had Inniskillin Riesling Icewine from the Okanagan with gorgonzola cheese, for example. When those flavours and textures came together in my mouth—Ka-Boom—true love. To this day, I have a very difficult time finding a pairing that will give me the same feral, sensory rush.

$34.99 will get you a 200ml bottle of the Inniskillin Icewine (10% ABV)at most B.C. Signature Liquor Stores.

Kathleen Rake – Click Media Works / Between the Vines wine blog

Seguras Viudas Lavit Rosado Brut is my favourite dry pink sparkling wine. Spanish and simply the best value sparkler on the market in the under $20 range. Cherry and mineral on nose and palate. Sadly, this might be the last Valentine’s Day that it is available as it is being delisted in the BC market in favour of its slightly sweeter-tasting Brut Rosé sibling. Its still in Government and Private stores – get it while you can. Its one of the 10 wines that I couldn’t be marooned on a Desert Island without, especially for romantic interludes with a bite of two of Green & Black’s dark cherry chocolate.

Paul Rickett – Purveyor of great wines at Bowen Island Cold Beer and Wine and blog

Black Cloud isn’t the kind of name you’d associate with Valentine’s Day but around the household here in the Okanagan Valley, it’s the name of our 2006 Pinot Noir that we love to pair with dark chocolate.

Our Pinot is more robust than the average Pinot.  If Pinot Noir is usually described as ‘feminine’ then this Black Cloud is a female body builder.  Big, bold and rippling with flavours of currant, plum and clove.

It almost goes without saying, white chocolate or milk chocolate would be squashed by this wine.  We choose the Dove 71% Dark Cacao bar to nibble on while we recline on the sofa polluting our minds with network television and sipping Black Cloud. Then we turn to each other, lock eyes, and sigh contentedly, submersed in fond rapture.

It’s available at fine retailers (listed here ) and through our website by dropping us an email.  Currently $19.99.

Bradley Cooper – Winemaker and Blogger

Twenty-four years ago I received a parcel from Germany containing a weirdly delicious item.  It was a Ritter Sport Yogurt chocolate bar, and the exquisitely tangy sweetness wrought by the union of plain white yogurt and creamy milk chocolate has become a lingering obsession.  Only a tangy and slightly sweet wine can work with it. I recommend the Pfaffenheim Pinot Gris from France; its flavours are ripe and late-harvest-like in their honeyed tropical intensity, yet the wine retains only the softest kiss of sweetness to balance its mouthwatering acidity.  Yes, we have the wine if you have the chocolate.

Rose Siemens – Manager & Wine Guide Whatcom Wine & Spirits and Grape Squeeze blog

I hope that these great pairings give you oodles of ideas to enrich the romance (or drown out the ridiculous commercialism of this Hallmark endorsed holiday). Either way, we don’t really need a reason to enjoy chocolate and wine as it is an occasion to itself.  Cheers!

*The winner of the Sweet Valentines Giveaway was Betty Weeds!  Congratulations and I hope that you get some great ideas from this post!

I can’t say this for certain, but there is a good chance that if you follow my blog you have a proclivity for wine and naturally the food that accompanies it.  Be it a stilton and honey with Williams & Humbert Walnut Brown Sherry, a Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape with duck (or just about anything, really) or almost any champagne with popcorn and truffle oil, wine pairings are a real treat.  But with Valentine’s day around the corner, we’re thinking about the chocolate pairings.  Nina Pousette, of My Chocolate Tree,  has graciously offered to woo the heart of one lucky reader with her exclusive artisan chocolates.

These lovely little gems are hand decorated, dipped, and molded with love by Nina.  Nina is a bubbly character who brings smiles wherever she goes!  A Vancouver raised chocolatier who was trained at some of the most prestigious culinary institutes in France, she combines the pride of her craft with as many locally sourced ingredients as she is able.  For example, her lavender truffles are infused with fresh lavender from Langley, BC.

A 13 Piece Box of Chocolates ($32 value)

I could go on and on about the virtues of her chocolates, but I am sure that I already had you at chocolate.

Here is how you can indulge in some of these exclusive treats:

Check out My Chocolate Tree’s website and leave a comment below telling me which one of Nina’s Chocolates you would like to pair with a wine.  On February 10, I will randomly select one reader to win a gift certificate for 32 pieces of mouth watering deliciousness (a $60 value, see above photo for a 13 piece box) to spend at My Chocolate Tree!  The gift certificate can be redeemed immediately for Valentine’s Day, or for winter 2010 (as she does not always have chocolate available).

Feb 3, 2010: I have decided that you can get an extra entry just for tweeting about this giveaway!

I still get a little ’shelf shock’ when I walk into a wine store filled wall to wall with shiny bottles of wine.  As I maneuver through the aisles like a kid in a candy store I tend to gravitate towards the wines that are familiar to me, but the best wines are always the ones recommended.  In addition to reading reviews by other wine writers, I like to make friends with local wine shops, wineries, and fellow wine lovers; They always have some great suggestions so I asked them if they would help me make a list of 12 Bottles (plus one more to make it a baker’s dozen) that are sure to please your palate as you deck the halls with reds and whites.

Bottle #1: A wine to encourage the Christmas spirit

A fantastic seasonal wine sipping situation can be enjoyed during the hanging of the outdoor Christmas lights. Choose a bold red wine with loads of ripe fruit and at least 14% alcohol to keep your blood from freezing; I like the Sabor Real Tempranillo from Spain for $17. Drinking from a nondescript opaque plastic cup is essential to keep the neighbours from judging you. I also recommend a robust crunchy snack that can be eaten with stiff and possibly dirty fingers; try Stacy’s parmesan garlic & herb pita chips. Yes it will take longer to hang the lights, but you’ll feel warmer and less inclined to utter expletives.
Rose Siemens – Manager & Wine Guide Whatcom Wine & Spirits and Grape Squeeze blog

Bottle #2: A tree trimming party wine

Our choice for a Tree Trimming Wine would be Road 13 Vineyards Pinot Noir ($22.99).  It is a light bodied wine with a silky texture.  Earthy, savoury and fruity, perfect for appies and festive activities.  Think filo wrapped brie with a little cranberries and orange zest.  Mini tarts filled with fig and goat cheese, aged gouda cheese on pecan crisps.  These are quick and easy appies to make or similar items could be purchased.  The wine is available direct from the winery, VQA and private outlets in the lower mainland and Alberta.
Korrine Bremmer – Road 13 Vineyards

Bottle #3: A wine for the construction of a fruitcake

Lucien Albrecht Cremant d’Alsace Brut Rose, NV is a Pinot Noir bubbly that is a super deal, around $25 and available at private wine shops, sometimes at BCLDB stores. It’s pretty pink colour will enhance the bright, glistening pile of candied cherries and fruits you must chop for fruitcake, and the bubbles will mirror all your twinkly lights. Dry, with red fruits and a bit of baked brioche and toasted almond on the palate, it?ll match well with the dough you sneak out of the bowl – yes, even fruitcake dough with its fruit, nut and vanilla essences.
Allison Markin – All She Wrote Consulting

Bottle #4: A wine to impress the whole family (even the tough to please!)

Marc Tempe Alliance 2003 is a naturally farmed blend of Pinot Blanc, Riesling and Sylvaner. Complexity from the bottle age is sure to impress your sommelier friends while the goldilocks acidity will keep your ‘patio wine’ swilling family at bay as well. You shouldn’t have any trouble pairing it with the turkey but I suggest sticking a glass in everyone’s hand as they come through the door. ($26 from private wine retailers)
Jeff Bashford – Farmstead Wines

Bottle #5: A wine to go with your Turducken

2007 Le Clos Jordanne Pinot Noir Village Reserve, V.Q.A., Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada: Bursting with gorgeous vanilla-infused cherries and plums in a liquid package of pleasure. The price is as low as you get for this quality so why not enjoy yourself and loosen up (your purse strings). Layered, medium-bodied, complex and lovely. A long finish. We should be proud as Canadians because this rising tide lifts all the boats. This wine would be perfect for Christmas dinner, whether you’re having turkey, goose, roast chicken or lamb. $25.00  Score: 91/100.
Natalie MacLean – Editor of Google’s top-rated site for wine and food at www.nataliemaclean.com

Bottle #6: A Cawston, BC Christmas dinner Wine

It would be hard to believe that the hard working folks at Cawston, B.C’s Orofino Vineyards didn’t have Christmas dinner in mind when they crafted their Orofino 2007 Pinot Noir. Full bodied and smooth, this wine exhibits an excellent combination of new and old world sensibilities. Hints of cherry and strawberry will dance on your tongue as you tuck into your turkey and dressing. Perfect wine for pairing with poultry, but it’s spicy nose will agree very well with more earthy foods as well. Other than friends and family, this wine is the best possible addition to your holiday dinner table.
Christopher Reid – Manager of Broadway International Wine Shop

Bottle #7: A wine for the ‘Q (and a recipe too!)

Blow the snow off your BBQ and fire up a couple of thick strip loins. Invest in some good ones with the money you save on this killer value of a wine (Almansa Reverva-Piqueras Castillo de Almansa 2003). Dress them simply with a sprinkle of Montreal Steak Spice. I like to drizzle some wine on them first just to make the spice stick to it. And besides, it’s cold out there, so a drizzle or two for the cook is permitted. I recommend the wine for dressing the steak, the cook and–should there be any left when the steaks come off–the dining table, is a voluptuous, full bodied blend of Monastrell, Tempranillo and Garnacha. It has a surprising personality and finish for a mere $12.99 at a BC Liquor Store and a complexity worthy of a wine of twice the price. You will pick out generous notes of red fruit—cherries and plums in particular—with a dash of vanilla, herby spices and a hint of black pepper..
Three or four minutes to a side will preserve a core of moon-howling rareness that a beef loving wine like this calls for. Meanwhile, have your sous-chef sautee some thickly cut mushrooms in butter and pepper. Dash the pepper in the melted butter for a while before tossing in the mushrooms in order to extract the lustful pepperiness that the wine and the steak call for.
A roasted red bell pepper dressed with olive oil and oregano that has sizzled alongside the steak morsels will be a tasty accompaniment.
Bruce Gurney – The WineBeard (My Daddy)

Bottle #8: A home for the holidays wine

I was very excited when I first tried Hillside Estate Old Vines Gamay Noir 2007 last year at the annual Naramata Bench tasting in Vancouver last year. Gamay is a grape that tends to get sidelined in favour of the more glamorous Pinot Noir but in fact it can produce equally delicious wine. This version from Hillside Estate suffers from not one of those negatives, being both light & elegant yet concentrated in flavour and extremely well balanced. Hillside’s new winemaker, Kathy Malone, shows a delicate hand and coaxes bright berry fruits, mineral & earth flavours from the fruit supported by a vibrant acidity and subtle, refined oak. This wine really does set the bar for Gamay in the Okanagan and I can only hope others will want to emulate the style.  It will pair perfectly with the traditional Turkey dinner being a light enough red to not over-power the Turkey yet with enough fruit and acidity to stand up well to the cranberry sauce. Its underlying earthy qualities should play nicely with the supporting flavours of the brussel sprouts, sausage meat and stuffing and the tannins are soft enough not to clash too much with any sweeter sides like butternut squash. ($24.99 at selected private wine stores)
Mark Shipway – Wine Instructor & Department Head The International Culinary School
at The Art Institute of Vancouver

Bottle #9: A party wine

Going to an informal social or potluck where you add your contribution to the kitchen counter? Cantina Tollo Sangiovese in a one litre bottle is a great value contribution that is pretty tasty as well. Sangiovese is the grape used to make Chianti so it goes with most Italian foods like pizza and pasta.  Cantina Tollo also do three others in the same series – Rosso and two whites – Trebbiano and Pinot Grigio.  These wines are also great if you are hosting a larger event over the Season. Super-affordable at $12 in most private wine stores (not in LDB) so its easy to be generous – take two!
Paul Rickett – Purveyor of great wines at Bowen Island Cold Beer and Wine and blog

Bottle #10: A Wine to transport you to warmer places

Take a mid-Christmas-season break from the short bread, cheese balls, and egg nog. Instead, load your plate with chicken souvlaki, kalamari, Greek salad (with lots of feta cheese, of course) and tsatsiki. Pair the works up with a glass of 2008 Boutari Moschofilero (less than $20 in B.C. liquor stores) from Greece. It’s crisp and citrusy and just plain yummy. You won’t be sorry!
Kathleen Rake – Click Media Works / Between the Vines wine blog

Bottle #11: A wine that’s worth the splurge

LaStella Winery: 2006 “Maestoso” Merlot is for splurging. An extremely sinfully, ridiculously low yields of 1 ton per acre. Like the best merlots from around the world: planted in heavy clay based soils. Collectible item: less than 214 cases produced, very sought after and hard to find. $85.00 a bottle and paired with the most expensive cut of meat possible…
Mika Muzychka – Enotecca Winery & Resorts Inc. / La Stella Winery

Bottle #12: An un-wine-ding from the holidays wine

Inniskillin Vidal Commemorative Edition Icewine is the perfect ending for your holiday celebrations: soaked into holiday figgy pudding, paired with hard cheeses or simply on its own! A luscious nectar pressed from naturally frozen grapes on a cold winter night, it’s only fitting to share this treat huddled inside on snowy nights. Celebrating the spirit of the Vancouver 2010, a portion of each bottle supports our Canadian Olympic team. Available at BCLDB stores for $59.95, in Alberta at a suggested retail price of $59.99, in Ontario at LCBO stores for $59.95, and in Quebec for $65.05. For more information, please visit www.inniskillin.com.
Kate Crothers – Coletta and Associates

Bonus Bottle: A Boxing Day treat while you rest your feet

It’s on sale! Normally $840 for a case of 12, Kelowna’s Rollingdale Winery has its lovely, certified organic, Sweet Tooth Series Pinot Noir Icewine on sale for $300 a case, or $180 for six bottles. Order online, then when you’re done with bargain shopping and battling crowds for your half-price calendars and the leather boots you’ve been eyeing, drop the bags in the hall and break out a bottle. Apricot jam on the nose, strawberry and cream on the palate, it’s darn yummy. (Rollingdale Pinot Noir Icewine)
Allison Markin – All She Wrote Consulting

I hope you find a few wines to suit your holiday festivities from this yummy list– I know that I have!  I would like to thank all of these wine-friends for adding some direction with their juicy wisdom.  Have yourself a very merry Christmas and I toast to you a glass of holiday cheer.

Are you stumped over what to get that hard-to-shop-for wine lover on your Christmas list?  If you think that all they want is a bottle of wine (I’m not going to lie here– they DO) you’re probably wondering if they are dreaming of a red or white Christmas.  A bottle of wine doesn’t have to be the only gift that a oenophile will appreciate; still buy them a bottle of wine and here are some wine-y gifts and tips that I came across that are sure to please.

The Corkscrew

Don’t be fooled.  Chances are that Rosé Rosey didn’t develop her appreciation for the vintage while uncorking bottles with her teeth.  If she is like me, she is likely a curator of an extensive corkscrew collection: winged ones, battery operated ones, fancy screw pulls, roundlets, and a variety of novelty corkscrews that look like (and are as useful as) pez dispensers.  Unless she is a self professed corkscrew collector, she probably doesn’t need all of these.  BUT if you must… my favourite is the sommelier’s knife and I don’t think a wine lover could have too many of them: one for the kitchen drawer, one for the purse, one for camping, one in the bedroom (romantic moments should never be interrupted by running to the kitchen for a corkscrew), one for the office….

The Bottle Stopper

What’s that?

The Outdoorsy Romantic Gift

Question: Where is the best place to enjoy wine?  Answer: Anywhere.  Joe Merlot has this figured out.  He is not confined to the gas fireplace or the candle lit dinner; he dreams of sitting on the edge of a cliff with a glass of Chateauneuf.  Roughing it shouldn’t be drinking wine out of a tin cup, if he doesn’t have one already he needs an unbreakable wine glass.  I came across this great karafe so that he can bring the nicest wine to enjoy on his mountain peak, and this wine picnic backpack to carry a whole romantic meal.

The Thinking Wine Drinker

When not drinking wine, Petit Sara is usually found reading or watching movies about wine with a glass of well, you know.  My all-time favourite book is Red, White and Drunk All Over written by my wine crush, Natalie MacLean and I have no doubt that Sara will feel the same.  A new read that I can’t wait to get my hands on is a ‘vinthology’ of wine making exploits by one of my winemaker heroes, Randall Grahm Been Doon So Long. (I just realized that this post is beginning to read like a love letter…)

Moving on to the motion pictures:

• Sideways (and include a bottle of Pinot Noir or a Merlot to be sassy)
• Bottle Shock (A story about the how a California wine took the world by storm)
• A Walk in the Clouds (A personal sappy favourite and I think Keanu runs in it)

The Techie

Gamay Ray can usually be found pounding the keys with a glass of sherry by his side.  He is googling the latest gadget or the latest award winning vintage so what better gift than a wine USB drive?  I’ve seen these at some specialty wine stores like Liberty or Everything Wine or you can also order these nifty stocking stuffers online.  It comes with a software for Ray to use to keep track of his cellar and to look up countless bottles of wine.  Goodies like wine ring tones (not sure what those would sound like: a cork popping?  bottle breaking?), wallpaper, and links to wine clubs and organizations will keep him busy for hours.

I hope this little list sparks some ideas as you make your way to the malls or computer or wherever you do you shopping these days.  Feel free to comment with more ideas or tips to share.  Above all, be sure to include a bottle or two of something to share (responsibly) together over the holidays.  Come back soon as I am working on a Christmas wine list that you won’t want to miss!

I always say that you don’t need a good reason to drink wine; drinking wine is an occasion of its own.  But there is no better reason than to drink for charity.  Adoptive Families Association of BC is one of those organizations who has this figured out.  Wine on the Mountain is an annual event held at Grouse Mountain that attracts wine lovers, local celebs, foodies and firefighters with a common desire to support adoption services.  The fund raising goal of this evening was to raise $100,000 to support an organization that finds “forever families” for children, and the gift of a son or daughter for parents.

We were greeted at the base of the mountain with live music and canapes as we awaited our “chariot” (the cable lift) to transport us to the idyllic snow covered peak of Vancouver.  The first glimpse of snow of the season is always the most magical isn’t it?

As I traveled from table to table I was greeted with gustatory delights to pair with a multitude of wines enhancing flavours and textures.  Desert Hills had a 2008 Gewurztraminer that I enjoyed for its floral notes of rose water with a lychee sweetness and also a 2005 Mirage that paired deliciously with a short rib served nearby.  I had some wine-gasmic experiences with some Big Bold Reds: Hanz Herzog ” Spirit of Marlborough” 2001, Castello di Bossi 2003 Chianti Classico Riserva “Berado”, and Gianfranco Alessandria VDT L’Insieme 2004 followed by a gnocci with some cinnamon and creme freche that made my eyes roll back in my head.  Some Rieslings from the fellas serving 8th Generation, paired well with their sparkling personalities and some citrusy fish.  I wandered through the tables filling my plate and tummy with a white bean cassoulet with duck con-fit & Merguez sausage, a mackerel amuse-bouche, some spicy ahi tuna, cheeses, and a heart stopping pork belly while sipping some of the over 100 different wines.

Two words: Chocolate Cellar.  Oh yes.  A room full of chocolates and dessert, fruit, and friendly wines had my attention several times as I ran back to pair certain wines with different cupcakes.  Research, my friends.  Daniel Le Chocolat Belge had a table covered, I mean, c-o-v-e-r-e-d in different chocolates.  My senses were tingling with glee!  Two of my favourite cupcake pairings was a red velvet cupcake with a Mad Housewife Cabernet Sauvignon, and a lemon cupcake with the Mad Housewife Chardonnay.  Another Mad Housewife cupcake sampler was Taylor Jukes from Virgin Radio.  We shared our tasting notes and nibbled on the tower of iced delight.

A wall of wine and some firefighters hit the stage to generate some bids for the live auction.  The wall of wine is a temperature controlled cellar filled with 100 bottles of wine from Wolf Blass.  It was gorgeous.  But not as gorgeous as the firefighters.  The auction was for these fine (and I mean FINE) gentlemen to come cook and serve dinner for eight in the winner’s house with a case of wine from Rollingdale Winery.  The bids mounted higher and higher and faces were fanned as shirts were peeled off and women cheered.  The arousal of our senses were hightened.

I finished the evening with some liqueurs from Giffard with Kristi Gordon from Global.  I was enamoured with the Poire Williams which is a 43 proof treat with a whole pear in the bottle.  Sparing me from my glazed eyed bewilderment, the guy serving us explained that the bottle is tied to the branch when the pear is still a bud and is removed once the pear has matured making a truly remarkable conversation piece.

The evening wrapped up at about 11 and we decended the mountain with aching feet and satisfied palates.  A little rough math tells me that between the silent auction and the live auction, I am confident that the goal of $100,000 was met.  The evening was surely a success with many happy, rosey faces and I do believe that what went on tonight will benefit many children and families for years to come.   To find out more about adoption and how you can support BC Adoption visit their website or follow them on twitter @bcadopt.

When a day goes so perfectly, it is hard to find appropriate words to express my gratitude.  When that day is my wedding day, I find myself at a complete loss of words.  In a scene framed by God’s beauty, surrounded by vines, and a vista overlooking a valley that gives life to each grape, I married the most wonderful man.  My passion of wine and the love of my life converged, and the symbolism of the setting deepend the meaning of our vows.  We stood at the top of that hill at Michel-Schlumberger and we might as well have been on the top of the world.

When we arrived at Michel-Schlumberger the previous day, we were greeted by the friendly staff who were a little bit frantic about a power loss.  We had driven by a tree that had fallen on some wires on our way up to the winery that had knocked out most of the power to the Dry Creek valley.  Ah, the tension between the land and technology rested for a while on that day.  Although I said the staff was a little frantic, I say this in a context that is miles away from the frantic disruption that I am used to experiencing in the city.  We all sat outside with a couple of guests and discussed places to eat that night (of which there was no shortage and we could have spent a month here and gained a lot of weight before we had experienced all the food the valley had to offer).

After getting set up in the guest suite, we drove to the town of Healdsburg to eat some ridiculously good food.  I mean, Lobster rolls, calamari, and ceviche so delicious and mouth watering that a west coast girl such as myself was in Heaven.  Then, hoping that the power was restored by the time we were finished indulging ourselves, we rolled back up to the winery in the dark.  And it was dark that greeted us.  No matter.  Sometimes the greatest moments are a result of circumstances beyond our control– this was one of those moments.  By the lights of our cell phones, we searched the winery high and low, through cupboards and drawers, for a flashlight.  Which we found in our bedside tables. With that light, we found some tealights and matches and enjoyed the most romantic evening in our suite.  I believe I had a 2002 Michel-Schlumberger Pinot Noir with rich notes of jubilee cherries, and hints of cinnamon.  I can still almost taste that wine if I close my eyes…

The next morning, after an official tour of the winery, I took off to get my hair done and Brent set about trying to calm his nerves.  One of the ladies from the office came to help me with my dress,  and brought me a Pinot Blanc while I waited for the pastor and photographer to arrive to calm my nerves.  Jim Morris, the Director of Consumer Sales and Marketing, who arranged this whole magical event for us, rang the big old estate bell with gusto to indicate to the groom that his bride was on her way up the hill.

Our ceremony was beyond what I had dreamed or imagined, Jim live tweeted the vows and even a Goodyear blimp suitably flew by!  Our pastor shared sage advice and encouragement with us and we had a communion with, of course, Michel-Schlumberger Pinot Noir.  Communion wine should always be this good.  After the ceremony and the pictures, we went to eat another embarrassingly good meal in Healdsburg at Zin.  We even had our first dance in the town square!  Every Tuesday evening in the Summer, the whole town of Healdsburg gathers in the square to listen to jazz and blues while they dance, drink wine, and eat picnics.  A friendly toothless man offered to take a little video of our first dance.

Again, we rolled our bloated and over-satiated selves back up to the winery.  As tasty as it was, the decadent chocolate fudge sundae might have been a delicious mistake.  We toasted a perfect beginning to a wonderful life together with the superb champagne from Jim and after a deliriously fantastic day, we promptly dozed off in a deep ’schlumber’.

The pictures are amazing, but much like my words, they hardly do the day justice.  Jim and the winery staff were so gracious and wonderful and as we left, I felt a pang of sadness to leave this slice of heaven that they shared with us.  A huge thank you to everyone at Michel-Schlumberger for making our special day even more special than we could have ever imagined, and another thank you to all of our ‘guests’ on Twitter for all of your warm cyber wishes.  Both me and Mr. Winebard are swelling with joy (and good food) from all of the warm memories that we shared!

For more pictures, click here for a slideshow put together by our photographer.

Hear ye and gather ’round as I share with ye a tale of two scallywags who took th’ plunge an’ hitched themselves at th’ Winery o’ the Twisted Oak.

(Must change back to ye olde English, cuz my pirate speak be rusty and the online pirate translators aren’t much help.)

Jeff “El Jefe” Stai made an offer that was hard to refuse when he suggested that we say our vows at his annual Skullz release party,  so we spent an afternoon thrift shopping and assembling our pirate fan fare to have a rehearsal pirate wedding.  After El Jefe kindly allowed us to use his shower after our harrowing motel experience the night before, we bedecked and adorned ourselves in pirate fashion and proceeded to the Cave Loot at Twisted Oak.

The winery is near the town of Murphy on a hill dressed in vines speckled with ripened fruit and crested with a twisty 350 year old Californian blue oak.  Scallywags and Wenches were running amok with excitement to preview the winery’s treasured wines.  Tours were being led through the caves below, where barrels were plundered by thieves (A device used to suck wine samples out of a barrel is called a Wine Thief) and the Twisted Few Wine Club members sampled wines to be released next year.  The cave was suitably dressed with sculls, gold, jewels, and rubber chickens.

The crowd was jovial and festive and my dear scurvy swab (who, as you know, knows only a little about wine) volunteered himself to lead a tour through the caves.  He had followed a few tours already and was confident that he had grasped the important notes to share with the crew. I was so proud of him, that I followed along and poured the tastings as he fielded questions with the sage suggestion to ask Jeff when they return to the crush pad.

We sampled:

• Sir Ron Yay (What it sounds like.  A tasty blend of Syrah and Viognier)
• Torcido (a twisted little Grenacha)
• Petite Sirah (and the only thing little about it is the name)
• Parcel 17 (a killer wine, but a smaller yield this year.  Snatch this one up fast.)
• The Spaniard (Brix Chix says it all)

As the afternoon sun beat us down, er, beat down on us, the time for the crew of looters to witness our vows drew near.  We gathered around the crush pad and the Captain El Jefe sharpened his sword, I had another glass of wine, and Brent ate another chicken wing.  We spoke our vows as follows:

“I,  Captain Brent, take thee, Karen to be me wench.  To supply ye with chests of treasure and to protect ye from hostile boardings.  Through rough seas and calm, through shipwrecks and scurvy.  To listen to ye as ye babble on about interwebs and empty bottles of wine.  And on the nights of revelry [as that night turned out to be], when yer account of sobriety has been overdrawn, I shall come forth and carry thee home [oh, so true...].  YARR.”

To which I replied with:

” I, Maid Karen, take thee, Brent to be me scurvy swab.  To bring thee thy sword and tend to ye after battle.  Through fierce battles and calm, through bar fights and keel-haulings.  To listen to ye as ye babble on about the Mariners and empty bottles of ale.  And on the nights of revelry, when yer account of sobriety is becoming overdrawn, I’ll ensure thy goblet is flowing with run, grog, and swish.  YARR.”

With that, we exchanged eye patches.

Brent, Me, and El Jefe

I would have loved to share a video of these sacred vows, but the camera failed.  Not once, or twice, but three attempts to film this scene of romantic bliss failed.  We do have pictures and fond memories of the intimate moment we shared at Twisted Oak.  El Jefe’s bounteous hospitality derserves many cheers and endless wishes that his cask may never be empty.

The night of revelry continued with friends (Thea and Liza) at the Murphy’s Bar with bottles of wine and Karaoke.  It carried through a cemetary that fascinated me with memories American cinematic folklore all the way to El Jefe’s house where we drank from his cellar until my, er, account of sobriety went bankrupt.

A huge thank you to El Jefe for his generosity in hosting us at his winery and house.  And gracias for the rubber chicken “El Polo Loco” who enjoyed his travels with us throughout Sonoma and Napa.

In a few short weeks, my fiance and I will be leaving to get married.  Naturally, it will be in wine country– Napa or Sonoma.  Napa would be my first choice because I work in wine and my fiance works in auto parts.  I think that’s clever, but it’s beside the point.  We really want to make this happen as simply as possible on vineyard; between the vines.  To be more specific (due to local laws), we plan on saying our vows with only a pastor and a photographer present.  That’s all.  I’ve got the dress, the shoes, and the guy, but we still need a vineyard on which to make this official.

I am inviting vineyards in Napa and Sonoma to consider hosting our entourage of four on August 18, 2009 for our vows.  We seek a very intimate setting surrounded by the glorious beauty of vines so alive and ripe with symbolism.

My K.I.S.S list:

1. Rose bushes at the end of the rows of vines
2. Picturesque location for Wedding photos
3. Can accommodate four people for about one hour on Aug 18th
4. No staff, or event space required from the vineyard

BONUS: Will hold a video camera for 10 mins or be our witness

***Please note that my K.I.S.S list isn’t set in stone. If you think that your winery and vineyards have something different to offer, I invite you change my mind!***

If you would like to invite us to get hitched on your land, you can email me at winebard@gmail.com with a brief description of your winery and why your vineyard would be perfect for our special day.  I will be posting the entries on WinebardWeds as they come in and notifying the chosen winery on August 14.  The official announcement will be made on the wedding day, followed by a post of how it went.

Please email me no later than August 13 at 4pm PST, this bride has some planning to do!

* If you are Media and would like to participate in spreading the word, please link me so that I can include as a participant on here.  I also have a button for you to add to your blog.

[Wine is] a living thing. I like to think about what was going on the year the grapes were growing; how the sun was shining; if it rained. I like to think about all the people who tended and picked the grapes. And if it’s an old wine, how many of them must be dead by now. I like how wine continues to evolve, like if I opened a bottle of wine today it would taste different than if I’d opened it on any other day, because a bottle of wine is actually alive. And it’s constantly evolving and gaining complexity. That is, until it peaks, like your ‘61. And then it begins its steady, inevitable decline.  – Sideways

There are two elements of wine that cause my imagination to run wild with romanticism (aside from the imbibing part): the barrels and the vines.  Today, the vines became so very alive to me as I studied them from several vantage points.  On our way to Sonoma/Santa Rosa for the Wine Bloggers’ Conference, Kathleen Rake and I feasted our eyes on the fields and fields of vines from our plane.  They were neatly combed into perfect lines covering the countryside in patches and on the hills the vines wound  in soothing patterns like a green zen garden.  Each field was as unique as a fingerprint.  As we drew closer to landing, I could see some fields were younger and the infant vines were spread further apart, reminding me of hair transplants.

Once we had landed and the rogue cab driver drove us along past the vineyards, Kathleen leaned over and asked me if I could hear them calling out to me.  If they could call out, I would hope that they would shout directions to our driver who took us to two wrong hotels before we had to Google directions for him.  But while he gave us the scenic route, my mind wandered some more as we passed by vines who stood like a chorus line, dressed in luscious green leaves with their arms wrapped around each other as if they were about to can-can.  There were other vines pruned so neatly like soldiers with their crew cuts standing at attention, and some appeared more unkempt with their arms flailing expressively as though they had already indulged too much in their own juice.

California vines are so much like celebrities, and their wine is the music or performance.  Over dinner, we discussed the art of wine and how some are like canned music that is easy enough for listening to that it appeals to many without actually being great music, and others are more experimental and crafted in their appeal to an experienced appreciative audience.  Larry Chandler challenged my understanding of terroir to be more than just the earth in which the wine arose, to encompass the influence of all factors that make a wine unique (perhaps using ‘terroir’ for lack of a better word) but the conversations kept returning to the experience– the story and the relationship, to the wine.

The art of appreciating wine starts with understanding yourself and what you love and don’t love, and then adding a story.  Consider the last time you had a wine experience that stirred your senses: Where were you? Of what did it remind you?  How did the wine come alive?  From the hands that tend the soil to the hand that raises the glass, we breathe life into and from every wine we encounter.