campaigns : Campaign Archive

It's a mix of one bride and groom, a beautiful Syrah, and a drunken guest, all at a Sonoma winery-no it's not a Harlequin romance novel, but a wedding I attended during this fall's harvest.

So a wedding at a winery in Sonoma, California, what could be more romantic than that? I was thinking that anyway when my friend Dave, asked me to go to his cousin's wedding at Nicholson Ranch. It was September and the wineries would be harvesting their latest creations and I couldn't wait. Like all romance novels, err, weddings, there are unique characters wound into an almost too beautiful to be real setting. The sun was lowering itself as the bride and groom said their vows under a flower-embellished arbor among the vineyards. There was a glint of emotion in the groom's eyes and voice. The bride was beautiful in a shoulder less dress that reportedly was a copy of the one worn by Marcia Cross. The four bridesmaids all wore a different shade of purple. In the background was a hilly knoll of grass that had turned into straw. A family friend officiated and the vows were quickly exchanged. Once the bride and groom strolled down the aisle the guests luxuriously walked through a thick carpet of rose pedals toward the reception that was held in the courtyard of the winery. White lights flanked guests overhead. I kept wondering if I had stepped into a photo shoot for Wine Spectator magazine. Round reception tables were dressed in white and purple floor length tablecloths that blew in the wind. Heat lamps blazed near the tables and the guests found their seats. Wine was flowing around the table and that's when the star appeared. Of course, the star beyond the bride and groom. The object of my attention was dressed in deep purple and sparkled against glass. When I gazed intently at it I thought I was being winked at. The aroma was a mix of my favorite cologne and luscious raspberries. I became intoxicated by the scent. It wasn't enough just to look at it and breathe in the aroma. I had to have a taste. I drank in the warm glow of plush berries and perfume. This, I decided was what they meant when they described a wine as being perfumy. I imbibed in a full glass of the 2004 Bennett Valley Syrah, and was so thrilled to have found a wine soul mate that I barely noticed the drunken guest sitting next to Dave.

She was loudly clanging the wine and water glasses and eventually aroused enough attention in the bride and groom that they kissed. I was so enthralled with the wine that I just smiled and sank in the sparkle hoping some of its star power would glow inside of me.
You can find the wine at http://www.nicholsonranch.com/syrah.shtml

2004 Bennett Valley Syrah (listed $35/bottle)

GOOD FINDS FROM THE SAN DIEGO BAY WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

There were many interesting merchants at the San Diego Bay Wine & Food festival that was held in November. Here are some of my favorites.

For the girly-girl in me the Sence Rose Nectar was a stand out. A non-alcoholic product, it can be added to sparkling water for a refreshing drink or mixed with spirits like vodka, tequila, cognac, or rum. The website (www.sencenectar.com) says it's made with "the aromatic and flavorful extract of the Kazanlak Rose". It mentions that it has vitamin C and can be used as a juice or soft drink alternative. The reps said you could find it at Whole Foods.
Celebration Cellars out of Temecula, California, (www.celebrationcellars.com) offers wine labels etched with star's names like Madonna or even your own name if you'd like.
I found Traverso's 2003 Syrah at last year's event and still find it intriguing. It's a double gold medal wine.
If you're looking for a wine holder that will draw attention at your next dinner party, check out Wine Rocks (www.gainsburgwinerocks.com). Sharon Gainsburg, an artist, began sculpting 25 years ago and when she started working with natural stone, she created wine holders made out of stone that are not only beautiful but are said to be able to retain the coolness of a room and thus keep the wine at an even temperature.