Cocktail Corner: Olé Rosé

Rose Wine, photo by Ulrika, Flickr.com.

Rose Wine, photo by Ulrika, Flickr.com.

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! by Leslie Dinaberg

Our recent summer heat wave is a perfect time to sip rosé, but honestly,  this easy-to-pair-with-almost-any-food, warm weather go-to wine has become a year-round favorite for me—and I know I’m not alone.

According to the buyers at Whole Foods, “Rosés are on fire, making up nearly 40% of all wine purchases, and rightfully so—they’ve thrown off their ‘sweet and simple’ shackles and are unabashedly delicious.”

Among the many excellent rosés I’ve had the pleasure of tasting recently, one of the highlights was Brick Barn Wine Estate‘s 2016 Grenache Rosé. Inspired by the classic dry rosés of the Rhône Valley, this lovely wine was a 2018 Silver Winner in the San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition. For the best experience, visit their recently opened estate vineyard, located on a historic 1,100-acre ranch in Buellton (795 W. Hwy. 246), a stunning spot to savor both the wine and the views.

Brick Barn Wine Estate Winery, photo by Bottle Branding, courtesy Brick Barn.

Brick Barn Wine Estate Winery, photo by Bottle Branding, courtesy Brick Barn.

Another local favorite is Margerum Santa Barbara County 2017 Riviera Rosé, crafted from Grenache and Syrah grapes sourced from select vineyards including Estelle and Camp 4 vineyards in Santa Barbara County and Alamo Creek Vineyard in San Luis Obispo County. Dry and refreshing, this is a consistent go-to wine for me.

Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards 2015 Rosé of Pinot Noir uses grapes from three prominent Central Coast vineyards to create this refreshing Rosé, which offers up enticing aromas of berries and melon followed by a crisp, fruity finish.

Herzog Lineage Rosé 2017 blends 12 grape varieties from the Herzog’s family’s Prince Vineyard in California. Their Oxnard-based facility prides itself on keeping Kosher, without any negative impacts on the taste of the wine, which features aromas and flavors of ripe strawberries, papaya, and pomegranate seeds. Winemakers note that this unique rosé should be served very cold, which is my preference in most cases.

Rose Wine, photo by Susanne Nilsson, Flickr.com.

Rose Wine, photo by Susanne Nilsson, Flickr.com.

Psagot Rosé 2017 is another Kosher blend of red grape varietals, in this case they’re harvested from vineyards located in the northern Jerusalem Mountains at a height of 700 meters. With a very clean and fresh flavor, the wine pairs particularly well with Mediterranean cuisine.

Another excellent Kosher rosé is the Tabor Adama Barbera Rosé 2017, which is characterized by red berry and cherry aromas and high acidity. Israeli producer Tabor showcases these attributes in a flavorful, light-bodied wine with a nice balance between the fruity notes and the acidity.

The 2017 BY.OTT Cotes de Provence Rosé is an elegant yet friendly French bottle with a pale,  pretty color and a delicate and fruity nose and taste that’s perfect for toasting a happy couple at a price point that won’t break the bank.

Sparkling rosés are also terrific for toasts, and have become quite popular of late. Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore DOCG is a perfect choice for your next summer party. The fruity flavor and aromas of peaches and flowers pair well with seafood, cheese appetizers and dessert. And bubbles always add a festive touch. 

There are two main ways to produce rosé wine, and in both cases they’re made from grapes with dark skin,” explains Gabriel Geller, Vice President of Public Relations for The Royal Wine Corp. The first method is known as maceration. After the red or black grapes are pressed, the skins macerate in the juice for anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, until the desired color is released. The second method is called saignée, which is French for “bleeding.” The red or black grape skins are pressed with the skins, producing a slightly pink-colored juice. This juice is fermented into wine that will become a rosé.

Whether you prefer your rosés fruity, slightly sweet, or very dry—they’ll pair beautifully both beachside or poolside. Enjoy!

Click here for more Cocktail Corner columns.

Leslie Dinaberg

When she’s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie believes variety is the spice of life. Send your suggestions to Leslie@sbseasons.com.

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on July 13, 2018.

Cocktail Corner: Calivore Spirits

Aaron Bergh, the "President & Commander-in-Mischief" of Calivore Spirits, photo by Leslie Dinaberg.

Aaron Bergh, the “President & Commander-in-Mischief” of Calivore Spirits, photo by Leslie Dinaberg.

A Spirited Toast to All Things Alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg 

I had the opportunity to sample some spirits with Aaron Bergh this week, the “President & Commander-in-Mischief” of Calivore Spirits, a new California born and bred business specializing in regionally made liquor.

Bergh started his venture just a few years ago as a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student who basically made hooch in his dorm room. Studying agriculture, he started fermenting the fallen fruit from Cal Poly’s orchards and initially made fruit brandy, followed by rum, whiskey and assorted liqueurs. He quickly realized he might have a legitimate business in the making, and got help from a campus group for budding entrepreneurs. He soon won a “Shark Tank” style business plan competition and started working with a craft distillery to produce spirits from his recipes, teaming up with two friends (Raleigh Nejame and Luke Beaton) to help send the resulting Calivore Spirits brand out into the world this year.

So far they’ve got three products—Blonde Rum, Spiced Rum and Big Sur Gin—I sampled all three and this is not just a great young entrepreneurial story, they’re quite tasty.

Intermezzo's "Cali Mai Tai," made with Calivore Blonde and Spiced rums, pistachio orgeat, lime and grenadine. Photo by Leslie Dinaberg.

Intermezzo’s “Cali Mai Tai,” made with Calivore Blonde and Spiced rums, pistachio orgeat, lime and grenadine. Photo by Leslie Dinaberg.

The Calivore Blonde Rum is fermented from US-grown raw sugar cane and rested in chardonnay barrels. The Calivore Spiced Rum is a delicious autumnal mix of orange peel, vanilla, clove, cinnamon, ginger and molasses, also mellowed in wine barrels. The Calivore Big Sur Gin is unusual in that it’s grape-based (a very California influence) with 12 different herbs including juniper, sage, yerba santa, bay, fennel, and elderberry—the idea is to bring you the experience of a Big Sur hike in a bottle.

Wine Cask and Intermezzo Bar & Cafe Beverage Director Matt Pickett whipped us up a wonderfully refreshing “Cali Mai Tai” made with Calivore Blonde and Spiced rums, pistachio orgeat, lime and grenadine. It’s on the specialty cocktail menu and well worth a try, especially with these hot autumn days we’ve been having.  Calivore Spirits are also on the menu at The Bobcat RoomChase Bar & GrillLa Arcada BistroThe Nugget Bar & Grill, Sama Sama KitchenScarlett Begonia and Viva Santa Barbara, with more outlets soon to follow. 

Calivore Spirits are also carried in Whole Foods, with additional distributors coming soon. For more information, go to calivorespirits.com.

Cheers! Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

Leslie Dinaberg

When she’s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a “goal-oriented drinker.”

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on September 30, 2016.

SB Style File: Stocking Stuffers

Tis the season … here are some of our picks for stylish stocking stuffers she is sure to love!

IT Brushes for Ulta Your Face & Eye Essentials Set, courtesy photo.

IT Brushes for Ulta Your Face & Eye Essentials Set, courtesy photo.

IT Brushes for Ulta Your Face & Eye
Essentials Set
IT has a nice set of four brushes to line, define, smoke out and blend, plus the allover complexion brush for all your basics from foundation to blush to illuminizer! Includes Complexion Brush, Shadow Brush, Crease Brush, Smudger Brush and Liner/Brow Brush from Ulta (7000 Market Pl. Dr., Goleta) or ulta.com.

 

Jane Iredale Smoky Eye Kit 

Jane Iredale Smoky Eye Kit , courtesy photo.

Jane Iredale Smoky Eye Kit , courtesy photo.

Five step-by-step looks are included on the fold-out ‘how to’ guide. These highly pigmented shadows are simple to blend, sensitivity-tested and long-lasting for stay-put, gorgeous, crease-free color. The kit is packaged in an artful travel box with a mirror and dual-ended application brush and makes a beautiful gift. Each kit includes eight versatile shades. Available at Nordstrom in Paseo Nuevo (17 W. Canon Perdido St.) or janeiredale.com.

 

Mineral Fusion Lipstick Butter in Vine, courtesy photo.

Mineral Fusion Lipstick Butter in Vine, courtesy photo.

Mineral Fusion Lipstick Butter
From nude to coral to blackberry, Mineral Fusion’s mineral-pigmented lipsticks add a beautiful pop of color and are made with Cocoa Butter which provides rich moisture and prevents future flaking, plus Argan Oil softens the surface of lips and penetrates deeper to renew and nourish parched tissue. This  100% Vegan and  65% Organic product is available locally at Whole Foods (3761 State St.) and MineralFusion.com.

 

Whim Holiday Collection 
Exclusive for the holiday are 10 new shades of the 5-free nail lacquer: Sage of Innocence,

Whim Nail Lacquer Holiday, courtesy photo.

Whim Nail Lacquer Holiday, courtesy photo.

Dreaming in Glitter, Cocktails & Fairytales, Blush & Bows, When the Clock Strikes, Moonlit Moments, Sapphire Slipper, Let’s Cuddle, Thyme to Celebrate and Sheet Embrace. Sold at Ulta (7000 Market Pl. Dr., Goleta) or ulta.com.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on December 19, 2015.

 

Cocktail Corner: Good Wines, Good Causes

Fork & Cork 2014, photo by Eric Roland Photography

Fork & Cork 2014, photo by Eric Roland Photography

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg

Santa Barbara winemakers are a generous bunch. They constantly get hit up to donate wine to charitable events, and do so with stunning regularity, often pouring the wine themselves, and always with affable smiles on their faces.

A few causes that are particularly near and dear to the wine/food community have their own fundraising events coming up soon, and lucky us, we get to sip and savor and support them in style!

Coming up on May 3 is the 2nd annual Fork & Cork Classic, which brings food and wine aficionados together to benefit Santa Barbara County Foodbank. Held at the Montecito Country Club, this delicious fundraiser features tastings from an array of select wines and special dishes prepared by over 20 of Santa Barbara’s top restaurants and chefs, including Bella Vista at the Four Seasons, Blue Owl, Ca’DarioEmpty Bowls Noodle Bar, Finch & Fork, Industrial Eats, Jessica Foster Confections, Julienne, Montecito Country Club, Patxi’s, Santa Barbara Yacht Club, Succulent Cafe, The Secret Ingredient, The Pasta Shoppe and Whole Foods.

Participating wineries include Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards, Ampelos Cellars, Beckmen Vineyards, Blair Fox Vineyards, Consilience, Marianella & Tre Anelli, CORE Family Winery and Deep Sea by Conway Family Wines.

Additional wineries include Falcone Family Vineyards, Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard, Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards, Nagy Wines, Pegasus Estate Winery, Scott Cellars, Silver Wines LLC, Turiya Wines, William James Cellars, Whitcraft Winery and Zaca Mesa Winery & Wineyards.

Also pouring are Ascendant Spirits, Caribbean Coffee Company, Cutler’s Artisan Spirits, Island Brewing Company, Pressed Juicery, The Real McCoy Rum and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.

100% of the event’s proceeds will benefit the Foodbank’s 300 local nonprofit partners who supply nutritious meals to Santa Barbara County residents. Last year alone, the Foodbank served 140,575 people—over 25% of the local population, including 50,000 children.  For more information or to purchase tickets visit http://www.forkandcorkclassic.org.

Fork & Cork 2014, photo by Eric Roland Photography

Fork & Cork 2014, photo by Eric Roland Photography

Also back for the second year at the Bacara Resort & Spa is the Santa Barbara Food & Wine Weekend  April 16—19 . I’ve written about this before but this is a great event for a good cause: The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts. Child herself created the foundation, and the mission is to honor and further her legacy, which centers on the importance of understanding where food comes from, what makes for good food, and the value of cooking.  It is a grant making, nonprofit which primarily funds research and scholarships for professional culinary training as well as other activities in the fields of gastronomy and the culinary arts.

Among the highlights this year is a special Saturday Night Grand Dinner & Reception with Kurt Russell featuring GoGi Wines, Hudson Bellamy Wines (inspired by actress Kate Hudson), and Ampelos Cellars. Russell will tell the stories behind the wines, their inspiration and their unique qualities driven by how they are grown and blended in the renowned Sta. Rita Hills AVA and there’s also a VIP access-only wine reception with live music followed by a four-course “ranch to table” dinner with his wine pairings.

Also on tap for the event is an educational lunch with Los Angeles power couple and celebrity chefs, Suzanne Goin (Lucques, AOC & Tavern) and David Lentz, chef/owner of Santa Barbara’s The Hungry Cat; cooking classes with famed chefs and cookbook authors, including Jim DodgeAnne Willan and Virginia Willis; a Neighborhood Tasting & Market that explores Santa Barbara’s top up-and-coming food regions, including Los Alamos, Arts District and the Funk Zone and while lot more.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit BacaraCulinaryWeekend.com.

Kurt Russell, photo by Isaac Hernandez

Kurt Russell, photo by Isaac Hernandez

Cheers! Click here for more cocktail corner columns. Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on April 10, 2015.

Leslie Dinaberg

When she’s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a “goal-oriented drinker.”

Cocktail Corner: Tailgate Time

Courtesy Microsoft.com

Courtesy Microsoft.com

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg

Though the air in Santa Barbara feels more like Indian Summer than fall,  football season is upon us, which means it’s tailgate time. Toast the kickoff with these Super (punch) Bowl worthy libations:

On Bruin game days, we had beer for breakfast; it was cold, cheap  and oh so collegiate … so imagine my surprise when I went to my first tailgate party at Cal and found out about their Ramos Fizz breakfast tradition. This is not just any old mixed drink either, as Esquire‘s expert cocktail historian David Wondrich writes, “It’s fussy, dated, takes a long time to make and uses too many ingredients, one quite hard to find (orange flower water). It’s not an everyday drink, yet you can’t mix it up in big batches for company (nor should you order one in a bar). You’ve got to make these babies yourself, one or two at a time. So why bother?”

I’ll tell you why. Because they’re delicious (particularly before noon). Here’s a great recipe from Williams-Somona. And by the way, orange flower water is now quite easily found at places like Lazy Acres, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and BevMo.

There’s an art to tailgating: when you start drinking cocktails in the morning, it’s all about the timing. You don’t want to nap your way through the game, after all. Luckily, the folks at Bendistillery have come up with Pez, combining their delicious, smooth Crater Lake Vodka with a jolt of Red Bull in case you need an afternoon kick before the kick off.

Though I have neither a green thumb nor an NRA card, I am a big fan of the recipes in Garden & Gun Magazine. They’ve got a terrific collection of Tailgate Cocktails in the current issue, including the swoon-worthy Tallulah, combining the classic southern flavors of whiskey, coke and peanuts. Go team!

Of course, the beer gene runs strong in many football fans, so if these recipes seem a little too complicated for a tailgate party, there’s always Beer Punch. Here’s a great recipe from the Food Network‘s Sunny Anderson.

And finally, whatever you drink, half the fun is in the presentation. Here’s great video from Blue Plate’s Mixologist, Dan Scheuring using adorable—and portable— mason jars for a variety of tailgate cocktails.

Cheers!

Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

Story originally appeared in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine.

Leslie Dinaberg

Leslie Dinaberg

When she’s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a “goal-oriented drinker.”

Cocktail Corner: Simmering Sangria

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic!  By Leslie Dinaberg

Sandra Lee's Hot Spiced Sangria (from Foodnetwork.com)

Sandra Lee’s Hot Spiced Sangria (from Foodnetwork.com)

Sangria is one of my favorite warm weather libations, but until our recent uber cold front (quite unusual for Santa Barbara) I had never thought about serving it warm.

But I was recently gifted with a bottle of the new Eppa SuperFruit Sangria (available at Whole Foods) on the same day a recipe for Sandra Lee’s homemade simmered sangria landed on my desk from the Food Network and I thought, why not try it the super easy way? So I threw a few cinnamon sticks in a saucepan and warmed that puppy up. Not only did it make my whole house smell delicious, a few sips of that sweet spicy taste had visions of sugarplums dancing in my head! (An exceptionally welcome treat around during this busy holiday season.)

Here are links to a few more warm sangria recipes—in case you actually want to make it yourself.

This just might become a new holiday favorite:

The Wine Fugitive’s Warm Sangria

Southern Living’s Warm Spiced Sangria

Hot Sangria from Epicurious

Spiced Apple Sangria from My Life as a Mrs.

Leslie Dinaberg, photo by Derek Johnson

Leslie Dinaberg, photo by Derek Johnson

When she’s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS Magazine, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a “goal-oriented drinker.”

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on December 20, 2012.