A Barrel Full of Wine…and a Giveaway!
Getting back to the daily grind after the holiday season can be difficult, but the fun doesn’t have to end just yet. There’s no better time than now to plan a weekend getaway, which is why we’re excited to tell you about an upcoming wine tasting event happening right in our backyard!
On January 30th and 31st, more than 20 El Dorado wineries will open their cellars for a rare opportunity to taste wines straight from the barrel during their “Bring out the Barrel” weekend – oh, and did we mention we have three 4-packs of tickets to give away?
Wine lovers will have the unique opportunity to talk with local vintners and learn about the winemaking process from vine to barrel to bottle.
Here are a few tips from the El Dorado Winery Association to help you get the most out of your barrel tasting experience:
- Barrel samples taste different than aged wine from a bottle
- Imagine how the wines will soften and become more complex through aging
- Look for “big picture” qualities like fruit flavors, tannins and balance
- Swirl, sniff, sip – and don’t be afraid to spit
- Learn from the winemaker: Ask about wine varietal, barrels, etc.
The event will take place from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. both days and will feature wine tasting, light food pairings and the opportunity to purchase “futures” of limited quantity wines. Visit the El Dorado Winery Association Web site for ticket prices and more information.
Leave a comment here or on our Facebook Fan page with your favorite food and wine pairing. We’ll pick three winners at 3 p.m. on Friday!
Brooke 
Christine 
Jake 
Jenna 
Jon 
Kim 
Kris 
Liz 
Sallie 
Sarah 
Shelly 
Vanessa 
Not necessarily my favorite but it’s pretty good. Tonight we are making pork loin with La Ferme Julien white AKA the Goat.
I love dark chocolate and Syrah together. I just had that pairing this holiday season and it was wonderful!
I love a good spicy Zin with an red sauce italian dish that can bring out the spicy pepperery flavors! Yum.
Can’t go wrong with an old standby of french bread, Brie and a good Pinot!
I love fozen mascato with more mascato!
I’ll take a good Rib Eye with Blue cheese and a good zinfandel any day with a spiced molten cake. My favorite meal!
Herbed halibut roasted with butter and lemon served with Pierre Janvier’s Jasnieres – Cuvee du Silex (a perfectly light, un-oaked white from the Loire Valley). I’d serve the halibut with crispy roast potatoes and buttery/lemony grilled asparagus.
My parents are non-commercial El Dorado County winemakers, and the region’s soil and elevation is very conducive to fabulous wines!
On Valentine’s Day…petite sirah port and a high quality chocolate…Yum…in so many ways!
Yummy! I enjoy pairing a slice of blue cheese with a glass of Radee Pineapple Ambrosia. Sweet, savory and oh so good!
At a winery in Healdsburg, I loved the port (though I’m not sure what type of port) with dark chocolate. We even indulged in a bottle even if it was outside our budget. Yum!
7 deadly zins and some mac n cheese !! I know it sounds pretty redneck but i like it =)
I love chocolate fondue and a bottle of Zin … yummy!
I have two favorites: the Veuve Clicquot with spicy Thai or Chinese food and syrah with bbq shrimp. Yummy! I love lots of the others’ choices, too…
Nothing like a nice dark chocolate and a good cab… a great dessert…
Steak and Zin are always delicious.
foie gras and sauternes. heaven.