Wine Wednesday: Heath Sparkling Wine 2021 Ebullience

 

The label for this wine refers to it as copper-colored. It's not. It's a lovely rose gold color. If you're getting married, or launching some super chi-chi company, this is the wine you want to be toasting your new endeavor with. It's delicate and soft and--thank you, wine gods--not sweet. 

I mean, look. I am NOT a brut girl, but if I want a sweet sparkling wine I'll drink moscato. 

The nose has an almost syrupy, candied cherry smell reminiscent of Amarena cherries. And, as anyone who's read Dream Under the Hill can tell you, I LOVE Amarena cherries. 

Still, the nose is not all sweetness, there's a hint of burnt orange peel in there as well. 

The taste is off-dry. The bubbles don't last very long, unfortunately. Which, yes, is a little disappointing. There's a pronounced orange juice/peach nectar flavor to it. Very juicy. But, contrary to how that probably sounds, pleases DON'T make Mimosas or Bellinis out of this wine. It won't hold up to the juice; you'd just be wasting your money. 

I'm serious. Drink it on its own. You'll get a similar experience--only better.

All in all, it's really a very nice wine. As you might imagine, I think it would go great with Brunch or Tea. But a REALLY high end one. It puts me in mind of caviar blinis or Eggs Benedict with truffle sauce. 

I've paired it with seafood stew, garlic bread and salad, however, and it's absolutely lovely. 

This wine hasn't exactly pushed its sister, Euphoria, out of its FAVORITE SPARKLING WINE status (there's those annoyingly short-lived bubbles to deal with) but it's really enjoyable, all the same. 

Romance Writers Weekly ~ Travel ~ #LoveChatWrite

This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked, "If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?"

Ooh. That's a tough one. I've already been to most of the places I've wanted to go. And the ones I haven't been to yet, are either not very good places to go atm, or places with environmental issues that give me pause. For example, I'd love to see the Northern Lights, or go eagle watching in Alaska, but I don't love it as much as I hate being cold. Likewise, when I had the opportunity to go to Machu Pichu, I was just recovering from pneumonia. And I decided I was more fond of breathing. 

However, I do have a trip to Washington State planned for the not so distant future to celebrate the release of the POUR DECISIONS trilogy. I know. What's the connection, right? Well, one of my co-authors, Kate Davies lives in Washington and has set up an event at a winery there. The winery is the connection. 

My first trip to Washington took place many years ago when my daughter was an infant. She lives there now, but I've never been back to the Olympic Peninsula. That would also be a fun trip. 

But overall, nowadays, I'm a lazy traveler. So I think the next big trip I plan should be a cruise.

Now, hop on over to Brenda Margriet's page to find out where she'd like to travel. And don't forget to check out her book, Suspect Attraction.

NEW RELEASE!

Now available in paperback and e-book.

A silver-haired charmer with a shameful secret. A broken-hearted matchmaker with a guilty burden. And a bewildering disappearance that could wrench them apart.

Regina Blynde knows Seth Updike is trouble the minute he strides into Blynde Dating Agency. That’s trouble with a capital T—tantalizing, tasty, and tempting. 

Resolved never to risk loving someone only to lose them again, Ginnie keeps things strictly professional and matches him with a wealthy widow.

Who promptly goes missing.

Ginnie’s search for the truth makes it impossible to avoid Seth. And when he sets out to woo her, she finds him too hard to resist. 

But as the evidence mounts up and mysterious circumstances multiply, Ginnie must face a shocking fact—she’s falling in love with the prime suspect.

https://books2read.com/SuspectAttraction

POUR DECISIONS

A New, Multi-Author Series Coming Soon!

BOOK ONE RELEASES IN JUST ONE WEEK!

Meet the Martinelli sisters: Rosa, Bianca and Allegra. These partners in wine have just inherited a once-storied winery in the heart of Napa Valley. They’re living the dream, right?

 

Not so fast! Because, as it turns out, not everybody is happy for them. And that includes their Uncle Geno who’d assumed the property would come to him.

 

There are hoops to jump through, barrels to get over, and a mountain of regulations they'll have to scale. But the sisters are crushing it—and we don’t just mean the grapes. They’re making wine, falling in love, and working together to restore their inheritance to its former glory, one pour decision at a time.

https://Books2Read.com/Pour-Decisions

Musical Monday: Mariachi Serenade (A Walk in the Clouds Soundtrack)

 

This is one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite movies. I was going to say one of my favorite wine-themed movie but, while it's that, too, it fully qualifies as a favorite movie all on its own. And this song...it's from one of the best scenes in the movie and is a great song all on its own. I am a huge fan of serenades. Specifically, I love Serenade as Seduction. I love men serenading the women they're "courting" I love incorporating that element into books. But this song has been endlessly helpful as I write my book in the POUR DECISIONS trilogy. 

And speaking of poor decisions. A book title that includes an ACCENT? Yeah, I never want to do that again. 

Coming Soon!

Meet the Martinelli sisters: Rosa, Bianca and Allegra. These partners in wine have just inherited a once-storied winery in the heart of Napa Valley. They’re living the dream, right?

Not so fast! Because, as it turns out, not everybody is happy for them. And that includes their Uncle Geno who’d assumed the property would come to him.

There are hoops to jump through, barrels to get over, and a mountain of regulations they'll have to scale. But these sisters are crushing it—and we don’t just mean the grapes. They’re making wine, falling in love, and working together to restore their inheritance to its former glory, one pour decision at a time.

https://Books2Read.com/Pour-Decisions

Wine Wednesday: Grape Creek Vineyards 2022 Prosperity

 Another wine with a cutesy name. Prosperity is a meritage--Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Petit Verdot. Or does the inclusion of Syrah invalidate the meritage label? I do not know. 

But moving on. This wine is unexpectedly high in tannins--unexpected by me, because that's not what I've come to associate with Grape Creek wines. But I like it so--winning!

It took kind of a long time for the nose to develop, which leads me to think that this is a wine that would benefit from decanting. I might try that and come back with a follow up later. 

This is yet another garnet colored, light bodied red. I feel like Grape Creek specializes in those. There's a lot of mixed berry jam notes on the nose along with some pimento and maybe a hint of leather? I taste key lime and blood orange, which makes it sound sharper and more acidic than it is. 

It's a surprisingly soft wine. I definitely would not pair it with a steak, or a burger,, or anything too strong or heavy. Honestly, I think this is a wine that would go well with smoked turkey/cranberry salad, or a calzone. Maybe a BBQ'd brisket, Huevos Rancheros, or spaghetti with a tomato-crab sauce. 

Also, I know I've probably posted this already, but this is the Meritage song, one of my favorite song lyrics of all of those I wrote for Que Sera, Syrah. 

I am the very model of a California Meritage

(sung to the tune of I Am the Very Model of a Model Major General) 

I am the very model of a California Meritage,

(A word that combines merit in a portmanteau with heritage).

I’m only made from “noble” wines, those vintned from a Bordeaux vine,

’Cause that is what it means to be a California Meritage.

 

You start with two or more of these particular varieties

Cabernet (Sauvingnon or Franc), St. Macaire or Carménère,

Malbec, Merlot, Petetit Verdot, or possibly some Gros Verdot,

For that is what you need to make a California Meritage.

 

You have to use the very best of these specific vintages,

Adjusted with a sweet finesse like all the best of marriages,

To best ensure my taste is great, no single grape can dominate,

’Cause otherwise I will not rate as a California Meritage.

 

I’m known for being robust with a silky-smooth complexity,

I’m good to drink while young but I’m renowned for aging beautifully,

I’m more than just a simple blend, and that is why I am a TREND!

I am the very model of a California Meritage.

Que Será, Syrah

By PG Forte

Buy Links: Que-Sera-Syrah

They may be keeping secrets and telling lies, but a little white wine never hurt anyone.​ 

Allegra

It’s not every day that you inherit one-third of a winery. I should be on top of the world, floating on Cloud Wine, as they say. Instead, don’t you just know it? I’m about to make one of the biggest mistakes of my life. And that’s saying something. My family has always viewed me as something of a screw-up, not always fairly. But in this case? They’re not only dead right about me messing things up; they don’t even know the half of it. Yet.

Complicating my quest to redeem myself, earn my sisters’ respect, and help them turn our winery into a straight fire success, is my low-key relationship with Sheriff’s Deputy Clay Romero. Sure, there are risks involved in sleeping with the enemy, but ‘what’s meant to be will find a way,’ right? And whether Clay believes it or not, I know we’re fated. With a capital F.

Clay

We’re Capital F somethin’ all right; but I don’t think it’s fate. Ever since Legs (AKA Allegra Martinelli) blew back into town, I’ve been flirting with disaster. Literally. I doubt that woman’s ever met a rule that she didn’t want to at least bend. And, as luck would have it, it’s my job to try and stop her. I love my job, and I think I love her. But there’s not enough wine in Napa to convince me that I’ll be able to hang on to them both. 

Legs keeps likening us to Romeo and Juliet.  And as I keep trying to remind her; that kind of story tends not to end well. I’m sure there are exceptions, but are we gonna be one of them? I guess we’ll find out.

Releasing on May 27, 2025​​

Romance Writers Weekly ~ Writing Environment ~ #LoveChatWrite

This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we've been asked to, "Tell us about your favorite writing environment." 

This question is actually a no brainer. I've written in a lot of cool environments--from coffee shops to cars, from funky hostels to luxurious five star resort hotels or amazing Air B&Bs in some of the most beautiful locations in the world. And, all in all, I have to admit most of the time, I prefer writing from my home office.

HOWEVER, my favorite writing environment ever was aboard a cruise ship. We sailed out of San Diego and spent five (I think it was five) days at sea on our way to Hawaii. This was very many years ago, and our group included my husband and kids, my parents, and my youngest brother. 

The kids were involved in all sorts of youth activities. I have no idea what the other adults did, but as for me. I took my laptop up on deck every morning after breakfast, found a shady spot with a view of the ocean--convenient to the endless supply of coffee that was hand-delivered to my table periodically by helpful stewards! And I wrote. Every day. Between breakfast and lunch and then again between lunch and dinner.

Occasionally one (or more) of the other adults would stop by to see how I was doing and ask if I wanted to join them in some other activity instead. Spoiler Alert: I did not.

Occasionally, I'd spy one or the other of my kids passing by with a group of their new friends. Newsflash: They did NOT ask me to join them--nor did I expect them to.

In short, everyone spent their day however they/we wanted. And, of course, we all met up with one another for meals. It was peaceful and idyllic (other than the occasional seasickness) and I was wildly productive. The book I was working on is the one featured below, and which remained one of my favorites for a very long time.

Check it out, if you'd like.

Now hop on over to Jenna Da Sie's page to learn about her favorite writing environment!

A Taste of Honey

Oberon, Book 4

For Lucy Greco Cavanaugh, life is a dream come true.  She has it all. The perfect family. The perfect husband. The perfect marriage. What more could she wish for?  Other than the chance to do it all again. To experience once more the agony and ecstasy of falling in love with the man of her dreams. To recapture the joy and uncertainty that comes with starting over.

​

As far as Dan Cavanaugh is concerned, his life has become a nightmare. His storybook marriage is on the line when Deirdre Shelton-Cooper, the runaway daughter of a former girlfriend arrives in Oberon intent on proving Dan is her father. Even though he's convinced the girl's claims are false, Dan decides his only chance to keep from losing everything lies in keeping her very existence a secret from his wife and family.

 

But, sometimes, what you don't know can hurt you--and those you love. When Deirdre, masquerading as a surfer girl named Monica, accidentally hooks up with their son, Seth, Lucy and Dan are left to wonder: has their perfect, fairy-tale romance, turned into a classic Greek tragedy?

 

Sometimes you get exactly what you wish for.  And it's more than you'd ever dreamed.

https://books2read.com/TasteOfHoney

Music Monday: Only the Wine (David Gray)

 I love this song. It's a great writing song; it's gentle yet evocative. It has such an early 2000s feel to it. But, even so, it is sooooo Que Sera, Syrah.

Que Será, Syrah

By PG Forte

https://books2read.com/Que-Sera-Syrah

They may be keeping secrets and telling lies, but a little white wine never hurt anyone.​

 

Allegra

 

It’s not every day that you inherit one-third of a winery. I should be on top of the world, floating on Cloud Wine, as they say. Instead, don’t you just know it? I’m about to make one of the biggest mistakes of my life. And that’s saying something. My family has always viewed me as something of a screw-up, not always fairly. But in this case? They’re not only dead right about me messing things up; they don’t even know the half of it. Yet.

​

Complicating my quest to redeem myself, earn my sisters’ respect, and help them turn our winery into a straight fire success, is my low-key relationship with Sheriff’s Deputy Clay Romero. Sure, there are risks involved in sleeping with the enemy, but ‘what’s meant to be will find a way,’ right? And whether Clay believes it or not, I know we’re fated. With a capital F.

 

Clay

 

We’re Capital F somethin’ all right; but I don’t think it’s fate. Ever since Legs (AKA Allegra Martinelli) blew back into town, I’ve been flirting with disaster. Literally. I doubt that woman’s ever met a rule that she didn’t want to at least bend. And, as luck would have it, it’s my job to try and stop her. I love my job, and I think I love her. But there’s not enough wine in Napa to convince me that I’ll be able to hang on to them both. 

​

Legs keeps likening us to Romeo and Juliet.  And as I keep trying to remind her; that kind of story tends not to end well. I’m sure there are exceptions, but are we gonna be one of them? I guess we’ll find out.

​

Releasing on May 27, 2025​​

Wine Wednesday: Heath Sparkling Wine 2021 Euphoria

 This is my favorite sparkling wine at the moment. It's a light gold, dry but not Brut. It's light, and bright and has an absolute abundance of TINY bubbles. There's a pronounced peachiness in the nose and on the palate, along with hints of white tea, lemon meringue and a very faint floral note. Apple blossoms, perhaps? 

It's an anytime-you-want-sparkling-wine wine. And, much as I love me some mimosas I wouldn't add anything to this wine. It's perfect as is.

But I can't help referencing the carbonation with this classic song.