Tag Archives: Wine

Mini San Luis Obispo Getaway Part 2 of 5

Posted on April 30, 2011 | 1 Comment

Before getting on our way to stop number 3, we hung out a bit at the downtown Paso Robles park.

Paso Robles park.

Same park.

The toddler loves playing in sand.

Another view of same park.

Heading back to our car.

Heading out.

To get back on the road.

To stop number 3.

To stop number 3, which was just a short drive from downtown Paso Robles.

Flags.

Any guesses as to what this place is?

Side front.

Front.

It’s a brewery. Firestone Walker Brewery, Paso Robles.

Top front.

Left front.

Open hours.

Signage.

I ordered the sampler.

The sampler.

Pale 31 and Double Barrel Ale.

Pale 31 and DBA.

Union Jack and Walker’s Reserve.

Union Jack and Walker's Reserve.

Looking good from all angles.

Looking good.

From any angle.

Cheers!

Cheers.

Some beer notes.

Notes.

Though I’ve only recently started to like beer and all its awesomeness, I quickly learned about Firestone Walker beers from various online sources. It was quite the treat to have this opportunity to stop by their brewery, as both wifey and I had never tried any of their beers up to now.

Alas, a lack of time prevented me from ordering much wanted glasses of a Double Barrel Ale and a Union Jack.

All gone.

We wanted to sneak in another winery visit before getting to our hotel in San Luis Obispo.

Going in.

Stop number 4 was Bella Luna Winery, Templeton. The toddler quickly felt comfortable inside the tasting room, immediately getting into doing a jig.

Doing a jig.

Cheers!

Cheers.

Tasting.

Getting some exercise.

Getting exercise.

As well as getting in some singing.

Singing.

As our driver, wifey tasted very little of each wine sample, but she enjoyed what she tasted for their overall “European” quality. I knew what she meant – no fuss, quality wine.

Wine.

Some winemaker notes.

Notes 1.

Notes 2.

Notes 3.

So glad to have discovered this winery. We truly appreciated the tasting room ambience and service. The toddler had quite the bundle of energy that needed to be released, and thankfully, Kevin was the epitome of mellowness. We would have absolutely understood if he had requested that we reign in the toddler’s energy release, but he was so cool with everything.

We will for sure return to this winery.

Cheese.

With that, we were off to our next stop. A place recommended by Kevin just for the toddler.

Getting back on the road.

And it was literally right down the road. Though we were now pressed for time, we knew we had to check out this recommended stop, stop number 5.

Always Grateful,

~Andy

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Mini San Luis Obispo Getaway Part 1 of 5

Posted on April 30, 2011 | 1 Comment

Last month, wifey, the toddler, and I spent a weekend in San Luis Obispo. Prior to the trip, the daily hustle and bustle were getting to us a bit, so we hoped that this mini getaway would provide some respite.

Off we go on a cloudy morning, driving by rolling green hills.

Off we go.

Before we knew it, we had arrived at stop number 1:

San Marcos Creek Vineyard, Paso Robles. We had visited them for the first time last year and knew that we’d be back.

Stop number one.

Once again, we enjoyed their wines and their tasting room service.

Hello.

Said hello to some animals afterwards. Hello, peacock.

Hello, peacock.

Hello, geese.

Hello, geese.

Goodbye, geese.

Goodbye, geese.

We stretched our legs a bit before getting back on the road.

Good balance.

Good concentration.

Good bye, San Marcos Greek Vineyard. We’ll be back soon.

Time to go.

Stop number 2:

Downtown Paso Robles.

Stop number two.

Walking around.

Walking around downtown.

Looking for a place to grab lunch.

Continuing to roam around.

Decided on this place:

Let's check this place out.

Odyssey World Cafe, Paso Robles.

Part of the menu cover.

Getting ready to order.

In line to order the food.

The toddler squeezing some lemon.

Hello.

Grilled salmon salad.

Grilled ahi tuna salad.

Kid’s corkscrew pasta noodles.

Pasta with cheese.

Roasted vegetable wrap.

Roasted vegetable wrap.

The food was awesome. Kudos to wifey for discovering Odyssey World Cafe.

Now we were ready to get back on the road again for stop number 3.

Heading back.

But not before stopping for some sweets.

Candy shop.

Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, Paso Robles.

Candy.

Our loot.

Score.

With sweets in hand, we were now ready for stop number 3.

Always Grateful,

~Andy

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2008 Ridge California Geyserville

Posted on April 2, 2011 | Leave a comment

We recently tried the 2008 California Geyserville from Ridge Vineyards of Cupertino, CA, courtesy of some relatives who brought over a bottle during a get together a while back.

This wine is a blend of mostly Zinfandel.

2008 Ridge Geyserville.

2008 Ridge Geyserville.

Wifey and I were immediately intrigued by its spicy and peppery taste profile.

2008 Ridge Geyserville.

2008 Ridge Geyserville.

We couldn’t get enough of this wine.

2008 Ridge Geyserville.

Wifey and I have similar tastes when it comes to most things. Especially with wine. After all, she’s taught me pretty much everything I know about wine. I’m fortunate to have such an incredible wine tasting partner.

Always Grateful,

~Andy

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2006 Concha y Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Savignon

Posted on March 30, 2011 | Leave a comment

We were thankful for many reasons this past Thanksgiving, not the least of which was the chance to enjoy a bottle of the 2006 Don Melchor Cabernet Savignon by Chile’s Concha y Toro Winery.

2008 Don Melchor Cabernet Savignon. 2008 Don Melchor Cabernet Savignon.

This wine was a generous and thoughtful gift from a friend, who knew that wifey and I greatly enjoy a smooth Cabernet Savignon.

2008 Don Melchor Cabernet Savignon.

While enjoying a glass of this memorably smooth, sublime wine, I couldn’t help but think about my past and current friends, as well as the multiple, related topics of friendships, true friends, and the trials and tribulations of maintaining meaningful relationships. Seriously, these topics are kinda funny, strange, and perhaps kinda sad for both wifey and I. Thank goodness we’ve got each other, that we’re unequivocally each other’s best friends. Cue the emo music, please.

2008 Don Melchor Cabernet Savignon.

It’s been way too long since I’ve last talked to this person who gave us this wine. I’m going to make a point to check in and see how it’s been going and to, again, thank my friend for this awesome, memorable wine.

Always Grateful,

~Andy

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Recent Drinks from Trader Joe’s

Posted on March 27, 2011 | 2 Comments

I never really knew about Trader Joe’s (TJ’s) prior to meeting wifey. Now it’s the main store where we shop at. There are three TJ’s stores close to us, each within a 10-minute drive, so the one we shop at on a given weekend simply depends on what we’ve been up to and where we’re at.

Each of the stores has an animal mascot hiding somewhere in the store. If found, a prize can be claimed. Our toddler loves searching for the mascots and has gotten quite good at it.

Here’s a store mascot looking quite comfy.

Trader Joe's mascot.

This was an easy place to find Kirby the frog, as he typically hides in really tough-to-find spots.

Celebration after finding Trader Joe's mascot.

The toddler did quite the celebratory dance after finding Kirby.

TJ’s has been a great go-to place for wifey and I to try out relatively inexpensive drinks, and we recently tried out three different ones.

First up: the 2006 Trader Joe’s Coastal Cabernet Savignon.

2006 Trader Joe's Coastal Cabernet Savignon

 

2006 Trader Joe's Coastal Cabernet Savignon

Thanks to wifey and the times spent with wifey’s father, I have an appreciation for all wines that are drinkable, serviceable, and affordable. And this wine, at less than $5.00, was just fine as a table wine.

Next, the Peach Amour de Paris Sparkling Wine.

Peach Amour de Paris Sparkling Wine Peach Amour de Paris Sparkling Wine

Peach Amour de Paris Sparkling Wine

We had this sparkling wine on New Year’s at my parents’ place. It was sweet. It was peachy. Yeah, I liked it a lot.

Last but not least, the Villa Carlotti Prosecco.

Villa Carlotti Prosecco Villa Carlotti Prosecco

Villa Carlotti Prosecco

We had a gathering of friends a while ago where we served this very good prosecco. It must have been a brut because there was no hint of sweetness to it. Just crisp and refreshing.

Though I can play a wine snob effectively, I’m thankful to have had wine mentors like wifey and her father.

Always Grateful,

~Andy

 

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