The Friday before Fourth of July, a few industry folk got together with the crew at Feast it Forward to experience the  wines of Sullivan Vineyards and Miner Family Wines. This was not just  any ordinary wine tasting though, because the premise of the tasting was  to test out the new Feast it Forward Stolzle glassware line, as well as  experience these beautiful Napa Valley wines through the Coravin—an innovative product that allows you to enjoy wine without pulling the cork.

Enjoy wine without pulling the cork—that sounds crazy, right? Fact of the  matter is, this ingenious technology is incredibly simple to use. Anyone  can easily use the Coravin to enjoy a taste or glass of wine without  compromising the entire bottle. This amazing new product is taking wine lovers and industry folk by storm, and with a second Sullivan Vineyards and Miner Family Wines tasting scheduled in four months from the original tasting date, we will all get to see how the quality of the wine holds up once it has been accessed with the Coravin. Be sure to check back in November for an update on how the wines show!

Our very own Katie Shaffer, Founder and President of Feast it Forward, lead us through 2010-2012 wines from Sullivan Vineyards and 2007-2009 wines from Miner Family Wines, in the iconic outdoor setting of Sullivan Vineyards. Check out the detailed tasting notes below for the first tasting of Napa Valley wines from Sullivan Vineyards and Miner Family Wines using the Coravin.

Sullivan Vineyards
Located in the heart of Napa Valley in Rutherford, Sullivan Vineyards is well known for their Coeur de Vigne—a classic Bordeaux-style Napa Valley red wine with beautiful structure and finesse. This wine is balanced with restrained fruit, and incredibly pleasing on both the nose and palate. Tasting through the 2010-2012 vintages was indeed a treat, and really spoke to the dedication of the viticulturist and passion of the winemaker.

2010 Coeur de Vigne
A savory nose with aromas of red cherry and cocoa give way to a well  structured palate with desirable tannin level, maintained acidity and  beautiful finesse. On the palate, a medium body envelops fruit flavors of  ripe red cherry, dark raspberry and black currant, with notes of dark  chocolate in the background.

2011 Coeur de Vigne
The aromatics of this 2011 vintage are more earthy than the 2010, with aromas of floral characteristics, anise and rocky minerality. The palate is a little brighter, with red fruit flavors of cherry, raspberry and blueberry; subtle chocolate and baking spice make for nice balance. There is also a rocky minerality component to this wine which gives the wine added depth and complexity. The tannins, again, are incredibly pleasurable and smooth with excellent body and a dry finish.

2012 Coeur de Vigne
The youngest vintage of the three, this wine shows more fruit on both the nose and palate. Dark red cherry, blueberry and subtle peppery aromas abound, while the palate brings darker flavors of blueberry, black cherry and blackberry. Nice acid and a luscious body makes this wine approachable, even in its youth. As our Official Sommelier, Christopher Sawyer says, “the 2012 is drinking great for being a youngster.”

Miner Family Wines
Sourcing fruit from the  Stagecoach Vineyard, located  in the eastern hills of Napa  Valley, Miner Family Wines  manages to produce one of the  most elegant Bordeaux-style  red wines in  the valley. The 2007-2009 vintages of The Oracle, an iconic,  well  balanced and beautifully structured wines, are showing beautifully  right  now.

2007 The Oracle
Anise, currant and black cherry fill the aromatics of this eight-year-old wine; a medium body brings notes of tart cherry, raspberry, currant, granite, a touch of roasted coffee beans and restrained oak. Excellent structure and brilliantly retained acidity make this 2007 a prime candidate for continued aging.

2008 The Oracle
Earthy aromas of clay and granite mingle with aromas of cherry on the  nose. The palate brings anise, leather, a touch of clay, plum, and dried  black currants and cherries. A medium body balances the subtle oak  components, finessed structure and dry finish.

2009 The Oracle
The aromatics of this 2009 vintage are bursting with blackberry, cocoa  and pepper; a little younger than the first two, this bottling brings a leaner, more angular body together with notes of black cherry and baking spice.

For more on Sullivan Vineyards and Miner Family Wines, check out our “SHOW” page to see some of the great videos featuring these two incredible Napa Valley wineries!

*Originally published on Feast it Forward.

When it comes to wine, no one wants to drink out of a cheap, oddly-shaped glass. At least—you shouldn’t want to! Here at Feast it Forward we take our glassware very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that we’ve partnered up with Stolzle-USA—a German international glassware manufacturing company—to develop our very own Feast it Forward glassware line.

The moment you touch our new line of Feast it Forward Stolzle glassware, your fingers will recognize the difference. Once you put your nose into the glass, you’ll smell the high level of aromatic complexity of the fine wine you are drinking. And when your lips touch the rim, taking in a sip of that same fine wine, you will taste the difference. Why? Because… The Glass Does Make a Difference.

If you’ve ever enjoyed (or not enjoyed) a glass of wine out of an oddly-shaped, perhaps inappropriate glass, you know exactly what we’re talking about. The nose can be deadened by the shape, the swirl-ability is lacking, and the palate just falls short of expectations because of the the inferior shape. With our new line of Feast it Forward Stolzle glassware, you will never be disappointed by the aromatics or palate of a wine again, simply because of your glassware. Well, as long as you’re putting quality wine in the glass—but of course, we expect nothing less from our friends of Feast it Forward! We know you’re drinking fine wine and that’s why we’ve created this exclusive line of glassware—because the quality of your glass should match what’s inside the glass.

We’ve recently been playing with our new line of Feast it Forward Stolzle glassware, testing out its functionality and feel, and here are just a few things we’ve noticed…

These glasses are sleek and sexy—they feel good between your fingers and are nearly weightless, even when full with wine. Despite their delicate, weightless feel, they are strong and sturdy. The singular bowl and stem piece design creates more durability than your average glass—think, less breaking!

There’s a sort of mesmerizing cylindrical force when you swirl wine in these glasses. The shape of the bowl is so well balanced and symmetrical, that the swirl capacity is stunning. You can seriously get lost in watching the way wine moves around in this glass—it’s beautiful! The angular shape of the bowl also looks fabulous, making these glasses perfect for hosting a wine tasting or dinner party with family and friends. These glasses will surely take your table setting up a notch!

Let’s talk about the rim of these glasses—they are thin and comfortable on the lips and the circumference leaves plenty of room for your nose to get a good whiff of the aromatics while sipping. What’s more, is that these glasses are going to be affordable compared to most high-end glassware, and of course, proceeds will be donated back to our Feast it Forward Foundation—as we raise a glass, awareness and funds for charitable causes.

Be on the lookout for the new Feast it Forward Stolzle glassware line. We can’t wait to share these lovely glasses with you! Cheers.

For more information and pre-order discount opportunities contact: katie@feastitforward.com.

*Originally published on Feast it Forward.

Summer often calls for meals that exhibit bringing together the best fruit from a few premier appellations in Sonoma County, Simi Winery has crafted a well-balanced, structured and finessed 2014 Sauvignon Blanc that deserves to be paired with something delicious. Kevin West, author of Saving the Seasons, has created a refreshing summer pairing that not only uses the Simi Sauvignon Blanc in its recipe, but also perfectly complements the complexity of the wine.

Pairing Simi Winery’s newly released 2014 Sauvignon Blanc with marinated artichoke hearts from Kevin West is the perfect way to kick start summer food and wine pairing. Serve this dish alongside an array of charcuterie or as a side to grilled white fish or shellfish, smothered in lemon juice, and you’ve got a refreshing pairing that’s great to enjoy on the patio during a warm summer evening.

Although this recipe takes a bit of forethought and preparation, it’s definitely worth it to whip up these artichokes and let them marinate for a month before pairing them with the Simi Sauvignon Blanc. A combination of lemon juice and a hearty portion of Simi Sauvignon Blanc make the base for the artichoke marinade, coupled with an array of spices to help make the flavors of the wine pop on the palate.

The 2014 Sauvignon Blanc’s aromas of lime zest, pink grapefruit and fresh lemon grass tell you right away that the wine is going to be an excellent match for the lemon and wine marinated artichokes. Flavors of zesty lime, grapefruit and stone fruit lend themselves well to the bright acidity and citrus component of the artichoke marinade.

The touch of minerality on the palate of the wine complements the fresh thyme, parsley and rosemary quite well – bringing forward more complexity and structure to balance out the fruit. Of course, the textures are very playful; the bright acidity of the marinade matches the acidity of the wine, but still maintains balance with a full body paralleling the rich olive oil in the artichokes.

For more recipes and ideas for pairings from Simi Winery, visit their website at www.simiwinery.com. To visit their tasting room, head to 16275 Healdsburg Avenue in Healdsburg, open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For further information, call 1-800-746-4880.

Kevin West’s Artichoke Hearts Marinated in SIMI Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc (Serves 6 to 8)
• 2 lemons, halved
• 8 cups water
• 3 cups SIMI Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (about half a lemon)
• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt (or nearly twice as much flakier kosher salt)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1 bay leaf, torn in half
• freshly ground black pepper
• 8 globe artichokes (or twice as many baby artichokes)
• 2 small dried red peppers or several pinches of red pepper flakes
• 2 inch-long strips of lemon zest
• 2 whole garlic cloves, lightly crushed
• 4 fresh thyme springs
• 2 fresh parsley sprigs
• 2 small fresh rosemary springs
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1. Squeeze three lemon halves into a medium mixing bowl, and add the water.  (Reserve the remaining lemon half for juice.)
2. Trim the artichokes by snapping off the tough outer leaves and scraping out the fuzzy choke with the edge of a spoon. With a sharp knife, trim the stem and pare all the tough green peel. Immediately plunge the artichoke hearts in the acidulated water to prevent browning. (To trim baby artichokes, remove the tough outer leaves only and snip the prickly tip off the pale inner leaves.)
3. Place the trimmed hearts in a lidded pot. Add the wine, juice from the remaining half-lemon, salt, oregano, dried thyme, and bay leaf. Season generously with black pepper – about six twists of a pepper mill. Bring to a boil, and cover tightly. Adjust the heat to maintain a lively simmer for 10 minutes, or until the artichokes are tender but not mushy. (Smaller artichokes will cook faster). Remove from the stove. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the artichoke hearts to a platter.
4. When cool enough to handle, cut into quarters. (Cut baby artichokes in half.)

*Originally published in Wine Country This Week magazine.