Wine Wednesday: William Chris Vineyards 2024 Pétillant Naturel Rosé

 

I went wine tasting at William Chris a few weeks back and will probably be spending the next few weeks describing their wines. But I'm getting a little ahead of myself. 

My first introduction to WC was at Dos Olivos in Buda. I'm still exploring Texas wines and I especially enjoy wineries here that are committed to using only grapes grown in the state. 

I will always love California wines, but I want to expand my horizons. 

When you sign up for a tasting at William Chris you're immediately given a glass of Pét Nat. I wasn't holding out a lot of hope for it, honestly, even though I'm fascinated by the whole Pét Nat process, because it's a rosé and far too many Texas rosés are sickly sweet (to my taste). But this was nice. NOT too sweet--even though the predominant notes were watermelon and strawberry. 

It was cloudy, which is what you expect from a Pét Nat, with an (also typical) slight funkiness. Pét Nat is the original sparkling wine, with minimal manipulation, no added sugar (and yes, sometimes it's STILL too sweet!) and only one fermentation which is completed after it's bottled. It's typically sold in a swing top bottle, rather than a cork, and it's actually very similar to hard cider. 

In the POUR DECISIONS books, Allegra tries very hard to convince Bianca to put out a Pét Nat because it's quick!

https://books2read.com/Pour-Decisions

Romance Writers Weekly ~ Keeping Plots Fresh ~ #LoveChatWrite

This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked to, "How do you keep your romance plots fresh and exciting, especially when writing a series?"

You know, I think this is actually less of a problem in a series than if you're writing stand-alone books. If you're writing a series in which each book focuses on a different set of characters, it's not as likely that they're all going to be dealing with the same issues in the same way. And since you've created them all as unique people and since the plot line usually grows from the character, rather than the other way around, it's not generally a big problem. 

I think it's more tempting when you're writing stand alone stories to recycle troupes or plotpoints because you don't have the same kinds of constraints. But perhaps that's just me. 

Now, hop on over to Jill Haymaker's page to find out how she deals with keeping plots fresh. And don't forget to check out her up-coming book, Montana Pines Search for Love

Pre-order now! Montana Pines Search for Love is now available for pre-order with a release date of September 1st.

Tuf Brody is searching for his long-lost brother and a place to call home, Lacey Westwood has avoided caring too much since that small boy she met when she was eight left and took part of her heart with him. When their journeys bring them together, will they find the courage to open their hearts to romance?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FL4RLDQV

Games We Play Omnibus 2

The DiLuca Brothers

https://books2read.com/DiLucaBrothers

The Atlas Beach Chamber of Commerce’s innovative mentoring program—partnering successful business owners with some of the newer start-ups—has just what food truck owner Carly Meyers and baker Stephanie Sands needed to get their businesses off the ground: The Delectable DiLuca Brothers. 

These Jersey Boys might be cocky, but cooking's not their only talent, and the kitchen's not the only place where they'll be turning up the heat.

Musical Monday: The Fall (Cody Johnson)

 

So, I've been hearing this song a lot lately. It's apparently a "Tesla Favorites" which means my car has been playing it on rotation unless I choose a different "channel". I kind of like it, enough to have added it to a bunch of my book playlists, but I'm not sure I'm onboard with the philosophy. It sort of sounds like the guy is saying that yes, he's hurt other people and generally not been all that good as a person, but it's okay, because it was worth it to him. 

I dunno. Maybe I'm wrong. I'm feeling extremely jaded at this point in time. If anyone has a different take on it, I'd love to hear it. So, tell me what you think...

Wine Wednesday: Wente Vineyard 2023 Central Coast Chardonnay

 

So, Wente Vineyards (which is pronounced like Twenty, only without the initial T) is located in Livermore, one of the few California wine producing areas that I've never been to. 

You always think there will be time, don't you? 

I nearly went, several years back. I was on a road trip with a friend of mine (author Kinsey Holley) and we could have detoured there. We talked about it. But it was a Sunday and we were driving back from Reno to Vallejo (along with everyone else on the planet, or so it seemed) and so we chose not to. 

Vallejo is just outside of Napa and we were going to Napa the next day, so it didn't seem like a bad decision at the time. But what can you do?  

Anyway, having read about Wente, I'm even more sorry to have missed it. Apparently, Wente is "the oldest continuously-operated, family-owned winery in the country.

If I'd known then that I'd go on to write (some of) the Pour Decisions books, I would definitely have made more of an effort! 

The website is pretty informative: https://wentevineyards.com/ I especially found it fascinating that "75% of all California Chardonnay stems from the Wente Clone."

Anyway, the wine that I tried is the Central Coast Chardonnay, which wouldn't have been grown in Livermore, anyway. I think I missed out when I lived in the Central Coast (Paso Robles) because other than Viognier, I stuck mostly to red wines, particularly zinfandel, which I think Paso does better than nearly anyone else. 

But I digress.

Unfortunately, I did not keep great notes on this wine. I did notice that it was straw colored, mildly buttery with a hint of minerality; that there were notes of  apple and pineapple on the nose; and that it tasted of apricot and vanilla.  

I paired this wine with butternut squash mezza luna in a brown butter sauce. 

Romance Writers Weekly ~ Seasoned Summer ~ #LoveChatWrite

This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked to, "How do older characters experience summer differently — and how does that shape their love stories?"

You know, this is an interesting question. My initial response was, well, they've got more baggage, but that's an oversimplification. I think, on the whole, they're less impulsive. They may be more wary, or they may be more cognizant of life's fleeting nature, and thus more determined not to waste time unnecessarily.  One of my favorite "seasoned summer" scenes takes place in the fifth Oberon book, Touch of a Vanished Hand. Marsha and Sam aren't the main characters in this book, but they definitely experience a very romantic summer--even getting engaged atop a Ferris Wheel. They're an older couple--she's mid-thirties, he's mid-forties--which (not gonna lie) seems pretty young to me, at this point. They've been in love for about a year, at this point in the series, and Sam is eager to make their relationship official. Marsha, on the other hand, is anxious. She doesn't want to make another mistake. 

Now, hop on over to Jenna Da Sie's page to find out how her older characters experience summer!

Touch of a Vanished Hand

Oberon Series, Book 5

Sinead Quinn has always been something of a drifter.   But now, with her ex-husband trying to blackmail her, and her ex-boyfriend's widow trying to put her in jail, she has no choice but to go to ground.  What better place to hide than with your family?   After all, what are sisters for?  Especially when you're a twin.

 But the first rule of hiding out, is to keep a low profile.  And that does not mean kissing your sister's boyfriend (even if he can't tell the two of you apart); rescuing a troubled teen; or taking a highly visible job as hostess of Oberon's most celebrated new inn.

 Adam Sasso has always dreamed big.  But big dreams beget big complications.  First, his goal to turn the vineyard he inherited from his grandfather into a world-class winery is threatened by a mysterious saboteur.  Next, his plan to run the finest bed & breakfast Oberon has ever seen, is broadsided by a hostess who wants to run him.  Finally, it seems his fondest wish, of finding love-everlasting with the soul mate of his dreams, is about to go up in smoke when he can't convince her that they're destined to be together.

 This summer, it's going to take all the wizardry in Oberon to craft a happy ending for the drifter and the dreamer.

https://Books2Read.com/TouchHand

Musical Monday: Palisades Park (Freddy Cannon)

 So, we're still working our way through my Summer Playlist. Last week I mentioned having gone to an amusement park with my cousin, and I guess I should have mentioned that the park in question was New Jersey's own Palisades Park. 

I actually grew up only a couple of blocks away--ON Palisade Avenue--and another early memory is the way that every Sunday afternoon throughout the summer Palisade Avenue turned into a parking lot with cars trying to get in or out of the park. It was actually kind of annoying, especially when people would try and picnic on our front lawn! 

My father also ran the miniature golf concession there, so I always felt very connected to the park. I was very sad when it closed. 

Wine Wednesday: Sweet Cheeks Sauvignon Blanc

 

So this was a very interesting wine. It's one of the few wines my husband also liked! He termed it "delicious and drinkable". 

I chose to pair this wine with Indian-TexMex fusion cuisine. I don't go for very spicy food, but you can't really combine those and expect bland. So, obviously, there was some heat and this wine stood up well to it. It's a very full bodied wine--odd for a Sauvignon Blanc. It's a pale straw color. Very floral nose with hints of candied orange rind and pineapple. The lingering finish had notes of burnt orange, ruby grapefruit. Really delightful.