Sunday Dinner

I really enjoy cooking. The only problem is that I am a super picky eater. But being able to cook for myself is allowing me to expand my horizon and experiment with different foods and flavors. And it's been really fun!

On today's menu is Rosemary Chicken with Asparagus and Roasted Potatoes. The Asparagus is cooked in oil and lemon with some pepper. I wrap it in tin foil and put it in the oven with the potatoes. The potatoes laid in boiling water for about 10 minutes before i put them into a pan with olive oil, garlic, rosemary and pepper. 

  
The end result was pretty good. And with some Bartolo Mascarello Dolcetto, who can complain?! Happy Sunday!!

Christmas Recap

This Christmas was filled with even more good wine than the last, ranging from the familiar Altare and Vietti wines to less familiar Comte Lafon and Lechenaut. They all range in quality and price, and of course some were better than others.

I love decorating the table in the dining room. We rarely sit there, which makes eating there special. For christmas it's always silver, white and a little bit of green, as you see in the picture above. 

  

 Larigi is one of my favorites. Altare is always a good choice. And Christmas is about family, and I consider them part of mine. Elio, Lucia, Silvia, Leone and Polpetta!

New Year 2014: Felice Anno Nuovo

It's been a good year, with lots of good wine, great food and incredible people.
I've tried more new wines this year than the year before, met new people in the wine industry and tried different types of winery work. Safe to say it's been an amazing year "wine wise". 

Hopefully next year will be equally great or perhaps even better. Maybe I'll get to try Harvest, something I always miss due to school. Since I graduate in May, I hope that I'll be able to go to Harvest, even though I'll have to go to the gym everyday if I want to be any help at all. 

 

Thank you to everyone who made this year great! Especially my friends in Italy! I miss you guys and hope to see you soon!

Felice Anno Nuovo!

Christmas Eve

In Norway it's tradition to eat what we call "stick meat" which is lamb, and it does not really go with any wine. But we chose Bartolo Mascarello's Barbera, because of all the wines, Barbera is one of the ones that goes best with "stick meat", but most importantly, it's because Maria Teresa likes Lamb.

The wine was amazing as always, smooth and easy to drink, yet complex, and you can tell it was made with love and passion.
More winemakers should make wine like this, and if you ever have the pleasure of meeting Miss Barolo Mascarello, she will blow you away with her enthusiasm for her work and her passion for the grapes and her wine. And if you don't get to meet her, Alan will probably show you around, and he is also wonderful, sharing Maria Teresa's passion and enthusiasm for the wine.

Flatiron Wines

Flatiron Wines in New York is a little wine shop with a surprising selection. It can be hard to miss this New York Gem, but it is a must to go if you are looking for good wines. 
The Italian section is larger than many other stores, and you can find both Elio Altare and Bartolo Mascarello. 

The French section holds the "cheaper" Comte Lafon, but also many other great wines, if you are in a Burgundy kind of mood.
The wines are fairly priced, and their selection fairly wide. 

Check out their website for more information. 

DIY Gift: Cork Key Chain

When visiting someone, I try to bring something. This time, I brought Key Chains for everybody. Easy and simple, yet a nice gesture. You can see how to make them here.

Winemakerselfie

 

 

Friday Pizza

Pizza Wine with Friday Pizza

Friday Pizza is served @Cantina Granveien. 

We try to serve Pizza every Friday, always home made, with fresh mozarella and prosciutto. With the wine, we usually serve a Dolcetto or Barbera-- a strange combination maybe, Pizza and Wine, but PizzaWine has become a well know term in Cantina Granveien and it's guests.

 (For those of you who don't know, Cantina Granveien is our house) 

Today's Pizza Wine: Bartolo Mascarello's Dolcetto. Divine. Superb. Wonderful. 

Summer 2014

The calendar is filling up, mostly with wine visits. Earlier, Italy has been the only place on the agenda, but this year I am expanding my horizons, and the adventure continues in France. The whole family is renting an apartment in Beaune, allowing me to experience wine there as well. 

I believe we are visiting Louis-Michel Liger-Belair, and attempting to visit a few others. One of my favorites, Matrot, is high on my list of wineries to visit. 

foto: piemontegirl

elio altare, summer 2012

And, of course, Piemonte is on the agenda. As previous years, Altare is first on the list. Bartolo Mascarello, Vietti, Cavallotto and Ettore Germano are also on the schedule. We are trying to add some new wineries to the list, since we rarely visit new ones, but I love seeing old friends again. 

With the vacation fast approaching, the excitement is growing and growing. I can't wait!!