Meritage wines
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Fun Fact by Nancy Hawks Miller, Goosecross: Meritage wines
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Valentine’s Day Gifts
You’ve spent the year together, and now it’s time to plan a special day celebrating your love, so what do you get for a Valentine’s Day present? Here are great suggestions for creative Valentine’s Day gifts that are sure to impress and surprise. We’ll provide the wine, you provide the romance…
Pairing Wine with Music – Why Not?
It’s so hard to stay ahead of the curve on this stuff. Yes, pairing wine with music has been buzzing so loud on the blogosphere and on Twitter that it’s bound to become passé any minute now. Heck you can even get a free app called “Wine DJ“, believe it or not!
But, that doesn’t mean it can’t still be fun! I did a little poll among all 15 staff members, here at Goosecross. Some kinda said, “Yeah, I’ll think about it… NOT”, but others really went for it!
Remarkable coincidence: Two co-workers, answering completely independently, came up with exactly the same recommendation for our Sauvignon Blanc, so this definitely needs a mention: Lady Gaga, Poker Face Better try it, stat! Of course, any other Sauvignon and your head blows up so don’t risk it 
I loved the fact that some of us oldsters went with performers like Lady Gaga and the Millennials came up with the Beach Boys (Kokomo – with Viognier – perfect – tropical!) and Bobby Vinton???? Yes! Blue Velvet with Chenin Blanc – “soft and sweet” were the comments.
Another take on Viognier? Sia, Breathe Me - remarks: “exotic, different, lush” Oooooh…
ÆROS, our proprietary blend: Frank Sinatra, I Did it My Way – kinda clever 
Sparkling wine: Colbie Callait, Bubbly – “sparkly, happy, celebratory” Stuffed shirts, elsewhere, have insisted on Vivaldi for sparkling wine. In fact many seem to want to perpetuate the snooty image that seems to surround wine by insisting on classical music only. But, what’s wrong with listening to Metallica while you pound down a monster Zin that’s upwards of 15%?
So, readers, we’ve got the ball rolling. Take it and run with it! Report back, ASAP!
Pairing Wine and Chocolate
Scroll down for a 3-course, all-chocolate menu for Valentine’s Day!
In 1528, when Hernando Cortez first brought chocolate to Spain from the Aztec Empire, it was considered the ultimate gift to bestow upon a loved one. Its rarity and seductive powers made it an unequivocal declaration of passion and devotion. The Aztecs believed chocolate to have aphrodisiac qualities they called it the food of the Gods.
And, of course, wine has romantic qualities of its own. This time of year, it’s natural to want to combine them! Science tells us that chocolate has stimulants to energize and induce feelings of well being and wine sets the mood, relaxes us and lowers inhibitions. Science aside, it’s really about slowing down, relaxing and indulging your senses.
But, now, I need to be straight with you. Pairing chocolate with wine isn’t a slam dunk. I write this regretfully because, generally speaking, pairing wine and food is remarkably simple. The structure of most any wine makes it a natural with most foods.
But, sweet foods? That takes a little thought. Here’s a concept to etch in your memory: when pairing sweets with wine, the wine should be at least as sweet as the food. Why? Because otherwise, almost every time, a wine that was delicious moments ago becomes sour by comparison.
I qualified that statement because there are mitigating possibilities when it comes to chocolate since it’s really quite bitter before it’s sweetened.
Chocolate and dry wine: So if you want to pair chocolate with dry table wine, like a good Cab, Merlot or Zin your best bet it to go with dark, bitter and bittersweet chocolate with a high cacao content. Bitter nuts, like walnuts and hazelnuts help. So does espresso or coffee. And, berry fillings if they aren’t too sweet. And, in this day of chocolates with unorthodox fillings, I’ll recommend black pepper — maybe it’s out there, and its bitterness is a great bridge builder.
Chocolate and sweet wine: Now, this is MUCH easier! Because chocolate is a strong flavor, red dessert wines like late-harvest Zinfandel, Port and Banyuls wine are a good way to go but you won’t have any sourness problems with other choices like Sauternes, sweet Madeira (Malmsey) or Tokaji. Or, even a sweet Muscat, like our Muscat Canelli.
If the chocolates have caramel fillings, keep in mind caramel is very sweet, but it also presents a luscious opportunity: Vin Santo, tawny Port and Madeira have wonderfully caramelized flavors and will be yummy partners!
Nutty fillings are also great with nutty, sweet Sherry (Pedro Ximenez), tawny Port and Madeira.
White Chocolate: Now, you can stop worrying about red wine altogether! This is usually fairly sweet, so you want quite a sweet wine to go with it. The Muscat comes to mind immediately and so does Sauternes.
Advice: When it comes to sweets and wine, taste the pairing before you serve it to friends — especially when you’re trying to please that special someone!
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Colleen, our proprietor and in-house chef has designed the following menu, including a little chocolate in each course for all of you romantic chocoholics. Cheers!
All chocolate menu for the romantic chocaholic
first course
Cocoa seared scallops
Serve with Goosecross Chenin Blanc
entree
Short ribs with coffee-cocoa sauce
Polenta (side-dish, recipe listed along with Short ribs)
Serve with Goosecross Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
dessert
Chocolate crazy cake
Serve with Goosecross Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
NapaStyle Paninoteca
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Fun Fact by Sherry Page, Culinary Getaways: NapaStyle Paninoteca
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Neela’s Indian Cuisine
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Fun Fact by Sherry Page, Culinary Getaways: Neela’s Indian Cuisine
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For The Love of Chardonnay
For our Chardonnay lovers out there, we have a special promotion just in time for Valentine’s Day. Purchase a little or a lot of our Chardonnay and enjoy a discount – 10% off for customers, or 20% off for Goosecross wine club members. Order a case (12 bottles) at the discounted price, and the shipping is included!
Open a bottle of Goosecross Chardonnay, make a great dinner, and let the romance begin…Happy Valentine’s Day!
Yountville Moveable Feast
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Did you know that our own home town of Yountville, Napa Valley, boasts more Michelin stars per capita than anywhere else on the entire planet?
And that there some great deals to be had when you visit this time of year?
Enjoy this 2-minute Fun Fact by Nancy Hawks Miller, Goosecross: Yountville Moveable Feast
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Visiting Napa Valley in Winter
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There are so many good reasons to visit Napa Valley in winter. 
You’re looking at one of them! The wild mustard bloom is quite seasonal.
Fun Fact by Nancy Hawks Miller, Goosecross: Visiting Napa Valley in Winter
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Have You Met Fernet?
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Fun Fact by Diane De Filipi, Let’s Go Cook Italian:
Have You Met Fernet?
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