The Swirling Dervish

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December 4, 2019December 4, 2019 theswirlingdervish

More than a Blending Grape: Cabernet Franc Deserves the Spotlight!

November 13, 2019 theswirlingdervish

The Liquid Gold Wines of Lugana, Italy, Meet Mexican Cuisine at NYC’s La Palapa

November 11, 2019 theswirlingdervish

You Paired that with What??? Sea Scallops and Palo Cortado Sherry

November 8, 2019November 10, 2019 theswirlingdervish

Spicewood Vineyards: A Taste of Texas for Wine Pairing Weekend (#WinePW)

November 7, 2019 theswirlingdervish

Celebrating 100 Years of Nino Franco #Valdobbiadene DOCG Prosecco

October 18, 2019 theswirlingdervish

Drinking the Colors of Fall – Plus a Few Surprises! (Photo Post)

October 8, 2019October 9, 2019 theswirlingdervish

Brazilian Bubbles and Birthday Cake

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Happy #CabFrancDay! My latest post features awesome wines from @chateauniagarany in NY and @pejuwinery in Napa Valley. We paired both wines with a few dishes and they stood up well! The Chateau Niagara reminded me of a Chinon from the Loire Valley: tart red fruit profile with a little more weight on it. And the floral aromas were divine! The Peju Cab Franc reflected its Napa Valley pedigree, with ripe, lush black fruit, chocolate and coffee notes. All components balanced so well that I didn’t notice the 14.8% alcohol. Tasting these two excellent wines side by side was exciting and illuminating. It reminded me that varietal Cab Franc is multifaceted and reflects the special places where it grows. There’s no doubt in my mind that it deserves the spotlight and the starring role! What are you sipping to celebrate? . . . #cabfrancday #morethanablendinggrape #napavalley #newyorkwine #chateauniagarawinery #peju #cabfranclove #cabernetfranc #familywinery #sustainablefarming #americanwine #wineblogger

More #CabFrancLove comin’ at ya! Tomorrow is #CabFrancDay, a time when we celebrate the virtues of one of the greatest black grapes. While most of us are familiar with Cab Franc’s role in blending (think Napa and Bordeaux) did you know it grows in Argentina, in the foothills of the Andes? This version from Luigi Bosca is full of ripe black fruit and balanced by crisp acidity. Of course it’s great with a steak! My husband’s colleague from Buenos Aires always brings me a bottle of wine when he visits; I loved this one! And did you also know that some really creative winemakers craft a white wine from Cab Franc? @leahjorgensencellars in Applegate Valley, Oregon makes one of the most delicious wines I’ve ever tasted: notes of Rainier cherries on the finish, which lasts (seemingly) for days. If you’re curious about Cab Franc, join the celebratory chat tomorrow, 12/4 at 8:00 pm ET to learn more. And don’t hesitate to add your two cents’ worth - we’d love to hear about your favorite Cab Franc wines! . . . #morethanablendinggrape #lovecabfranc #womenwinemakers #applegatevalley #lujandecuyo #oregonwine #argentinewine #winelover #leahjorgensen #luigibosca #winefriends

Have you ever wanted to bake a batch of cookies but found yourself short on some key ingredients? That was my dilemma over the weekend: my sick husband was craving peanut butter cookies but I had not enough flour and only one egg in the fridge! Thanks to this great recipe for Small Batch Peanut Butter Cookies from @livewellbakeoften I was able to whip up a dozen small delights in about 20 minutes! Those cookies are long gone but I will definitely make another batch soon. And I can’t wait to explore more of what Danielle posts on her blog! P.S. They made awesome ice cream sandwiches with a scoop of @haagendazs_us dulce de leche! . . . #homemade #cookiesofinstagram #livewellbakeoften #peanutbuttercookies #quickandeasyfood #snackable #cookiemonster #quickfix #christmasbaking #snackattack

As we ramp up for #CabFrancDay tomorrow, I’d like to share two wines special to the Derv’s heart. Why are they special? Well, they’re made by friends of mine! Way back when I started the blog, I looked for opportunities to connect with people in the wine world. I was new to social media, and had little idea of how to build a following. Thanks to a few folks I met early on, the next few years were much smoother sailing! Lori from @dracaenawines and @exploringthewineglass was one of the first wine people to welcome me to the community, and we bonded over our love of Cab Franc. Through her, I made the acquaintance of David Stannard of @paradiserescued in Bordeaux. He encouraged me to post recipes that made great pairings with Cab Franc. So, what I’m getting at is, wine is all about the people. I’m thankful to have met so many generous, kind souls in this community, and am delighted to celebrate their Cab Franc wines. Cheers to you! . . . #cabfrancday #morethanablendinggrape #dracaenawines #paradiserescued #bordeaux #pasorobleswineries #winelover #winefriends #goodpeople #b1ockone #wineblogger #sharingiscaring #givingtuesday

As we get closer to #CabFrancDay I thought I’d share some of the different versions I’ve tasted. Did you know that Cab Franc is the grape behind this sparkling rosé Crémant de Loire? Made via the traditional method (as in Champagne) this lovely La Cravantine is dry with flavors of plum and cherry. Perfect for your next holiday celebration! And at $23, it’s an affordable luxury. I always have few bottles on hand and you can too: available via @moorebrotherswinecompany NY store. Join the chat this Wednesday 12/4 at 8 pm ET and follow #cabfrancday to add your favorite Cab Franc stories! . . . #cabfrancday #bubbles #traditionalmethod #domainefabricegasnier #sparklingwine #winelover #morethanablendinggrape #holidaywine #rosé #LoireValley #lacravantine

Guess what’s coming up on December 4th? It’s #CabFrancDay! One of my favorite varieties and can’t wait to participate in the chat Wednesday night. Are you a fan too? Join the convo from 8:00 to 10:00 pm ET. We’ll be talking about why Cab Franc deserves props as a varietal wine, not just a blending grape. I’m excited to share notes on these two wines from @pejuwinery and @chateauniagarany Hope to “see” you there! 🍷 . . . #morethanablendinggrape #chateauniagara #pejuwinery #cabfrancday #cabfranc #cabernetfranc #napavalleywine #newyorkwine

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