I am blessed to have a wonderful, strong, dynamic mother who always supported every decision I made and direction I took (even when they were a little less conventional). Thank you mom.
I am proud to be the proud mama of a perfect little Jack Russell/Shitzu named Yoda…yes…Yoda. Yoda man is a huge fan of icy cold Ozarka, so that is what he’ll be drinking this weekend, and he loves to see his mama toast a tasty glass of wine on a special day.
Wine and cocktail options seem endless in celebration of Mother’s Day, so here are a few options to try as you raise a glass (or have one raised to you) in honor of your special day.
Some of these have been sent for editorial consideration, some I just love.
In honor of my own mother, a perfect Cosmo, slightly updated. Instead of plain cranberry try it with just a splash of pomegranate juice (we love good antioxidants with vodka), a splash of soda, squeeze of lime and Cranberi Stoli.
One of my favorite moms and friend is Ellen Winspear. She and her 4 legged punkin, Russy, are always up for a glass of bubbly.
In honor of another great mother, try a little Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin. The Widow Clicquot was one of the first to modernize Champagne in France and proved that a woman can be an adoring, devoted mother and powerful business woman. Vueve is a radiant sparkler filled with fruit and toast, wrapped in tiny bubbles, everything the Widow wanted.
For Mother’s Day Brunch try a few whites that are both light enough to be enjoyed during the day, yet filled with structure and nice balance to pair with a meal.
Franciscan Chardonnay– A true Napa Chardonnay, filled with tart apple, honey and baked pear, wrapped around vanilla and cream. Fermented in small oak barrels using wild yeast strains, this is a rich and elegant Chardonnay that would be a nice accompaniment to a classic roast chicken.
St Francis Sonoma Chardonnay– Filled with bright citus fruit like lemon peel and orange, witha good balance of both acid and creamy, toasty flavors from full malolactic fermentation and 6 months of French and American oak barrel aging. I find Chardonnay from Sonoma (especially Russian River, where 65% of these grapes come from) have a very distinct flavor profile, filled with crisp flavors from fruit cooled by morning fog from the Pacific. This would be a nice option with smoked salmon or grilled fish with a lemon butter sauce.
La Linda Unoaked Chardonnay– From one of Argentina’s premier wine making families and made from grapes grownn in the shadows of the Andes Mountains, this unoaked Chardonnay is crisp, bright and dry white with hints of apple, peach and citrus, layered with herbs and mineral notes. This is a great wine to enjoy with creamy cheese like goat or brie as its crisp acidity can cut through, while enhancing, the flavors.
Adelsheim Pinot Gris– From one of Willamette Valley, Oregon’s original wine houses Adelsheim, highlights the European origins and influences in their Pinot Gris. From Alsace, to Burgundy, to Fruili and Alto Adige, Pinot Gris is grown and bottled with influences to highlight the grape and let it do its own thing without messing with it too much. Adelsheim’s 2008 is their 25th vintage, making them the 3rd oldest New World producer of Pinot Gris in the world. Their contribution is filled with floral aromas, with pear and peach. The wine is light, crisp and easy drinking and would be a nice pairing with sushi or ceviche.
If you are looking a red option that would pair with a late afternoon brunch or early dinner, or you are the Mom that drinks red any time of the day, give these a try:
Quivira Grenache – Grenache is a grape grown around the world, and many countries have their own name for it from France’s Grenache, to Spain’s Garnacha to Sardinia’s Cannonau. The reason being is that it is one of the most versitle grapes grown widely throughout the world. Often used as a blending grape (especially in Rhone blends, or Australian GSM blends of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre), Grenache thrives in hot, dry climates producing a spicy, strawberry and raspberry filled wine. Quivira’s is aged in large oak casks for 15 months rounding out the flavors of the wine with additional layers of cedar and toast. This wine would be beautiful with a roasted duck breast or peppered pork tenderloin.
Selvapiana “Bucerchiale” Chianti Rufia Reserva DOCG – 100% single vineyard Sangiovese from vines planted in the late 1960’s in the middle to Tuscany. Selvapiana has been producing wine for 181 years in eastern Florence. Their wine is expressive, hearty and intensely Italian. The Bucerchiale does have a bit of a tannic bite from 25 days of leaving the juice on the grape skins during fermentation, but this is softened by 15 months of aging in medium size oak casks, blended in steel tanks and then held for 10 months in the bottle prior to release.
Freestone Fog Dog Pinot Noir– Freestone is the sister to Napa’s Joseph Phelps Winery, and located near the California coast on the northern most point of Sonoma County. Fog Dog is filled with dried cherry and strawberry, with sweet spice and tea. This is very representative of California Pinot Noir with lots of fruit, but this has hint of some of the earthy, mushroom characteristics that I love in Pinot Noir.
