Category Archives: Wine

Checkered Past Urban Winery

A winemaker, farmer, and a designer walk into a bar …

Well, actually, they built the bar.  Namely, Checkered Past Winery, the newly opened urban winery nestled into a basement in South Side on Lamar in the booming Cedars neighborhood.  Partners Scott Relyea (founder and designer), Sandro DiSanto (winemaker), and Carolynne Chancellor (vineyard owner and farmer) came together in 2008 to dream up this Texas-centric “wine pub”, and their plan … succeeded.

Housed in the formerly dimly lit Absinthe Lounge location, the space is nearly unrecognizable–light, galvanized metal, and vespas fill Checkered Past now.  Who knew the space even had windows?

So … let’s talk wine now, y’all.  Checkered Past stocks wines from “their friends”–wines from other wineries around Texas that the staff loves, and from the rest of the world.  (Because it’s Texas vs. the rest of the world, right?)  They have bottles, glasses, and even draft wines available along with local beers.

They don’t stop there.  They’re making their own wine with two currently available and three more promised before the end of 2016.  (Bring it, Sandro.)

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Even better than just having a damn good (local) wine list, the food at Checkered Past is perty good.  Sandro a first-generation American from his Sicilian family, and the menu reflects that.  Simple, but delicious, the items on the menu were carefully crafted using local ingredients when possible, but they won’t compromise quality for the sake of staying local.  Not to be missed: their flatbreads, namely Rudi’s Double Meat (made with meats hand-picked from the best purveyors available and no sauce — novel), the Goat Cheese Pappadew Skewers, the Smoked Salmon & Herb Goat Cheese Bruschetta (I detest smoked salmon and ate one of these … and enjoyed it), and the Kalamata Tapenade (because sometimes the most delicious things are the simplest).

To make me love this place even more … they don’t f**k around with their post-meal goodies.  I’m talking about their pairing of dessert wines with their gluten-free Warm Double Chocolate Cake.  Even if you’re not a fan of dessert wines, let them make some recommendations–my favorite was the Jacquez Maderia from Haak Winery in Galveston.  You may become a believer yet.

Stop by Checkered Past for some good local wine, good eats, and ska music.  I mean, at least stop in to see what the innards of Absinthe Lounge really looked like.


CHECKERED PAST URBAN WINERY
checkeredpastwinery.com
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1409 S Lamar Street, Suite 008 (South Side on Lamar, The Cedars)(214) 242-0411

Free parking can be found on the far west end of Belleview, the street that Checkered Past faces.  You’re welcome.

Side note: the lovely Pizza & Champagne sisters and I will be hosting a “singles night” on 2/12/16 at Checkered Past!  Stay tuned for more details coming soon!  (All are welcome, taken or not!)

***Checkered Past treated me and a couple buddies to an evening of trying out their wines and food.  And I got a neat t-shirt.  I love t-shirts. Check out my Snapchat to see it! (@susieosz)***

Panevino in Addison: Delizioso!

With nearly 200 restaurants packed into 4.5 modest miles, it’s getting tricky for restaurants to stand out in Addison. Newcomer Panevino, located at Addison Walk, manages to do just that. Indulge yourself in just one meal here and you’ll agree.

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Owner and chef, Joseph Ajro, describes Panevino as a fusion of traditional Italian and European bistro elements featuring a wide and varied menu catering to all tastes. That is to say,  you won’t find Chef Boyardee twirling his mustache anywhere near the kitchen of Panevino. Contrarily, executive chef Javier Perez (formerly of Sfuzzi) and his staff make everything in-house, using only the freshest, top-notch ingredients painstakingly selected and imports from the best regions in the world. Following the delightful evening I spent dining with Arjo in his restaurant, I left with the impression he is more or less obsessed with quality when deciding what makes the cut in his kitchen. When I tasted the product of his careful selection process, I understood why.

Panevino boasts an equally thoughtful wine selection featuring wines from around the world. Some of the offerings on the wine list deviate from the expected; Merkin “Chupacabra” Red Blend, anyone? Yeah, that would be an Arizona wine produced by none other than the guy from Tool. (That said, it was delicious.) Clearly, their sommelier, Noah Patridge, isn’t afraid to think outside the box when making recommendations for a new wine to try with dinner. He paired a different wine with each course we enjoyed at dinner, and all of his couplings were spot-on. Original cocktails influenced by European roots round out the drink menu, and a variety of craft beers are available on tap.

But, back to the food. There was not a single dish we tried that fell short of ridiculously good … and some dishes may or may not have made my eyes roll back in my head a little. First, I surprised myself by selecting the Pepper Crusted Ahi Tuna as my favorite appetizer of the evening. Served on a bed of artichokes and roasted peppers, the delicate flavor of the seriously fresh rare tuna was perfectly offset by the peppery sear. I’m not usually a big fan of rare tuna, but I would order this dish again … and again.

One of my favorite dishes of the entire evening, however, arrived in the form of our salad course–the Heirloom Caprese Tower. A glorious tower of the freshest Buffalo mozzarella I have ever tasted, interspersed with gorgeous heirloom tomatoes, fragrant basil, and a balsamic glaze, this “salad” was an emotional experience. I wept.

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It was difficult to select a favorite entree from several excellent dishes we sampled, but WHEN  (and not if) I return to Panevino, I plan on ordering the Homemade Gnocchi so I can stuff every last one of those perfect little ‘tato dumplings into my face hole.  Crowned with tangles of delicate prosciutto, basil, shaved parmesan, and a rich tomato cream sauce, this is one of those dishes that manages  to warm your very soul. If I had a little Italian grandma, I would probably have to lie to her when I lovingly professed her gnocchi to be superior. (Lucky for me, my descendants are Russian and English, so there aren’t many culinary white lies to be told ‘neath the branches of this family tree. Borscht? Kidney pie? idk.)

My husband’s favorite dish of the evening was the Lobster Ravioli, which I’m pretty sure speaks for itself; except for the fact that the ravioli happens to be crowned with scallops and lump crab meat, so it’s basically one big crustacean brigata on your plate. Also noteworthy was the Stuffed Jumbo Shrimp, filled with lump crab meat, plated atop lemon marscapone risotto, and drizzled with a citrus beurre blanc. Yowza. Panevino does seafood well.

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Do save room for dessert. They are all made in-house, and they are not an afterthought; you cannot go wrong here.

Happy hour details:
4pm-7pm Monday through Friday
$5 Sangria, $5 House wines, and $2 off all Texas beers


PANEVINO
www.osteria-panevino.com
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5000 BELT LINE RD. #300, ADDISON
(972) 807-6268

HOURS:
Monday – Friday
11AM – 11PM
Thursday – Saturday
11AM – 12AM
Closed on Sundays

Product Review: The Musical Corkscrew

I’ve heard of a party in a bottle, but until now, I’ve never heard of party in a corkscrew.

musical corkscrewThis stainless steel corkscrew sings “O Sole Mio” whenever you open a bottle of wine. Last night, I found myself humming along to this classic Italian song as I opened my bottle of wine. Perfect gift for your wino buddies out there and the batteries are even included.

Bonus feature: the more wine you drink, the more fun this corkscrew gets.

 

For $17.99, it’s a great gift and the quality is inferred in the price. If you are going to open a bottle of wine, why not do it with a little class bass?

MUSICAL CORKSCREW
by BigMouth Toys
Purchase here
$17.99

Pope It (Olivia Pope … that is.)

So it’s a big week … the Pope is in the US AND Olivia Pope is about to be back on the air.  I mean … both are a big deal to me.  To prepare for the victorious return of “Scandal” to Prime Time TV, I decided to celebrate as she would–with popcorn and red wine.  (The wardrobe comprised entirely of shades of grey was already present.  My life.)

I came across some pairings suggested by Noble Vines wines and went to work.  I tried out the Noble Vines Cabernet Sauvignon with sea salt popcorn and the parmesan, oregano, and balsamic popcorn* with NV Merlot.  The pairings were delightful and the wine made my “Scandal” refresh

Here are some of their other pairing suggestions:

  • Butter Popcorn and Red Blend.  (Just ask Olivia why this works.)
  • Buffalo Bleu Popcorn and Chardonnay
  • Coconut Curry Popcorn and Pinot Noir
  • Queso Fresco, Cayenne, Cilantro and Lime Popcorn and Sauvignon Blanc

So, as it were, you can think of me tomorrow while making these amazing popcorn remixes tomorrow around 7:50pm.  Let’s get our “Scandal” on, gladiators.


NOBLE VINES WINE
www.noblevines.com
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I found Noble Wines locally at Goody Goody.


*Parmesan, Oregano and Balsamic Popcorn
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
½ cup popcorn kernels
1 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated
2 teaspoons oregano
Aged balsamic vinegar

Heat oil in a large wide pot over high heat, and popcorn, cover, and shake often. When popping slows to a few seconds between pops, remove from heat. Mist popcorn evenly with aged balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with parmesan and oregano while tossing. Tip: use a small spray bottle to mist the popcorn evenly without drenching it with balsamic vinegar.

Bordeaux Wines in Dallas, TX

Wine is an absolutely incredible thing.  For me, wine has been present on some the most memorable nights of my life and I’ve always been intrigued by the uncanny ability for wine to take me back to past experiences.  Since studying abroad in Paris during college, French wines have been one of those memory-joggers–from picking up a bottle to drink to drink with a baguette in the bois between classes with friends to the bottle I shared one evening with my dad on a road trip through the French countryside.

When talking about French wines, it’s impossible not to bring up Bordeaux.  The Bordeaux region of France is a well-known wine-producing region famous for its reds and has been producing some of the best wines in the world for many years thanks to its rich soil and moderate temperatures.  Here are some quick facts about the region:

  • 89% of the wines produced in Bordeaux are reds.
  • The region is the largest wine-producing region in France covering 460 square miles and producing up to 700 million bottles of wine per year!
  • While “Bordeaux” is the general name for wines from this region, there are actually 54 appellations* that are produced there.
  • There are three main regions of the Bordeaux region–the Right Bank, Entre-Deux-Mers (between the oceans), and the Left Bank.
  • The “Bordeaux Blend” is the typical mix of grapes in the region’s wines–70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot.

I had the pleasure of spending the evening with some of Dallas’ most talented sommeliers* to try some Bordeaux wines and explore the incredibly diverse options that come from the region.  Paired with some cheese et autres choses, we had a pretty incredible evening tasting around the region–five wines from five regions.

The wines we tasted that evening included the following, and are in order of preference:

TOP TASTING: Château Beau-Séjour Bécot – 2008 Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé 
14% ABV
Purchased at Goody Goody for $53 (value: ~$55)

The group’s favorite wine of the evening by a landslide, its dark berry and rhubarb notes made this an incredibly complex wine that would pair nearly perfectly with lamb.  While some of the wines from Bordeaux can cost you a pretty penny, we decided to splurge on one from Saint Émilion as wines from this region age very nicely.
“In my humble opinion, Saint Émilion is one of the most underrated regions in Bordeaux because they don’t have a clear classification system” – Roxanna C. from Raven Wine Management Systems

#2: Château Cantenac Brown – 2012 Margaux Grand Cru Classé 
13.5% ABV
Purchased at Total Wine for $52 (value: ~$48)

We tasted this bottle last as we expected it to be the “biggest” of the wines.  Let’s just say that it really was “plus grand” than expected and was incredibly mouth filling.  With notes like honeysuckle, caramel, and vanilla bean and a violet nose, it was almost like dessert in a glass.  The acidity was about medium plus and the finish was incredibly long … the caramel flavors lingered until the end.

This wine was my personal favorite of the evening.

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#3: Château Le Crock – 2008 Saint-Estèphe Grand Vin de Bordeaux 
49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot
13% ABV
Purchased at Spec’s for $24 (value: ~$26)

We saved this bottle for our fourth taste..  The fruity flavor had hints of dark fruits, coffee, caramel, and dark cocoa balanced with a little “barnyard” grit.  This wine paired perfectly with the Roomano cow’s milk cheese from The Netherlands on the table.  (Pick some up at Molto Formaggio in Highland Park Village.)

#4: Jean-Louis Trocard Chateau La Croix Bellevue – 2005 Pomerol
50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
13.5% ABV
Purchased at Spec’s for $23.99 (value: ~$17)

This Pomerol wine was another big one with a very aggressive flavor.  The flavor had fruits that changed on the tongue and an almost “barnyard” bite.  You could definitely tell that it was an older wine, but it was even bigger than expected for a 10-year wine.  This bottle wasn’t our favorite of the evening thanks to the gritty flavor.

WHITE TASTING (NOT RANKED): Clarendelle – 2011 Bordeaux (inspired by Haut-Brion)
76% Semillion Blanc, 24% Sauvignon Blanc
Dry White Wine
12.5% ABV
Purchased at Goody Goody for $18.99 (value: ~$22)

While 89% of the wines produced in Bordeaux are reds, we wanted to include a white option and we’re damn glad we did.  This while was delightful and we all would admittedly not only drink this again, but purchase it again as it was the least complex and most “approachable” of the five we tasted.

The story behind this white’s inspiration (Haut-Brion) is a sketchy legend.  Apparently the O’Brions, an Irish family and one of the original Grand Cru producing vineyards, settled in the Bordeaux region and decided to change their name to Haut-Brion so the name would be more respected in the region.

Visit Bordeaux.com to learn about more wines from the region, take a workshop or two, and even plan a trip!

*”An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown; other types of food often have appellations as well.” – Wikipedia

Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival

The best of the best came out during the weekend of the Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival. I was able to attend four of the seven events during the festival. Each event was unique and extremely well-planned and executed.

The Grand Tasting Friday night was overwhelming to say the least. There were more than one hundred restaurants, wineries, breweries, and distilleries represented in the Worthington Hotel’s Grand Ballroom. I had to plan a strategy to make it all the way though so that my stomach and liver didn’t hate me at the end of the night. (Or the next day, for that matter.) The highlights were, of course, Fort Worth favorites such as Rahr & Son’s Brewing and Firestone & Robertson Distilling.

#latenight Desserts after Dark at 809 Vickery was a short Uber ride from the Grand Tasting. This event was all about who had the best dessert and who could make the best cocktail using Firestone & Robertson’s TX Blended Whiskey. (I’ll bet you $50 that Susie was really upset that she had to miss this event.) There were eight desserts and eight drinks featured. My favorite drink was the Proper Manhattan from Proper. I also enjoyed the Texas Peach (TX Whiskey, vanilla bean simple syrup, Texas peach preserve, pistachio foam and cinnamon) from Bob’s Steak and Chop House. The Fan Favorite of the night was from Thirteen Pies. It was called John’s Banana Milk Punch (TX Whiskey, cream, house-made banana puree, and a farm egg, garnished with a banana marshmallow and vanilla cookie crumble.)

"John's Banana Milk Punch" from Thirteen Pies, Fort Worth

“John’s Banana Milk Punch” from Thirteen Pies, Fort Worth

Saturday night consisted of cowboy boots and lawn chairs at the Burgers, Brews, and Blues event. This event was held along the banks of the Trinity River with eleven chefs and twenty-two craft breweries showcasing the best each had to offer. The live music included sets from James Hinkle, the Michael Lee Clemmer Band, and the Chris Watson Band. I am always up for a good beer, so this was probably my favorite event of the weekend. There was a good mix of local breweries such as Rahr, Lakewood, Rabbit Hole, Panther Island, and Martin House. Unfortunately, the lines were extremely long for the burgers, so I opted for more brews than burgers. (Oops.) My favorite burger that I did wait in line for was Rodeo Goat’s Chaca Oaxaca which was a beef/chorizo burger with avocado, queso fresco, fried egg and tabasco mayo. (Yes … it was delicious.)

Sunday Funday wrapped up the weekend at the Coyote Drive-In. There was a wide variety of food trucks to sample during this event,  but mIMG_3934y favorite food truck in attendance was definitely Salsa Limon. The food truck is usually parked next to The Cellar at 2919 West Berry Street (across from TCU) and their tacos can also be found at their permanent location located at 929 University Drive. They are all about serving the best Mexico City-style tacos in Fort Worth. PRO TIP: Add plenty of jalapeño cream salsa if you like a kick to your tacos!

Bravo, Fort Worth … bravo. If you have the chance to attend any of the events at next year’s, make it happen. It’ll give you the chance to find some new Fort Worth treasures and enjoy old favorites.

FORT WORTH FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL 
fortworthfoodandwinefestival.com
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Save the Date for next year: March 31- April 3, 2016

Ticket prices ranged from $50 to $125 depending on the event.

Grand Cercle: des Vines de Bordeaux (aka: a wholebunchawine)

I had the opportunity to attend an amazing wine tasting event hosted at The Tower at Cityplace: “Grand Cercle, des Vins de Bordeaux: From Barrel to Bottle”. As you may have guessed, this event featured wines from the Bordeaux region–34 wineries from the Left and Right banks were represented, to be precise. If you would like to learn more about the Bordeaux Region in France, and the fabulous wines it produces, here are some fabulous quick hits to bring you up to speed.

What made this event particularly unique was the fact that the wines we tasted were being poured not by their distributors, but by the winemakers or vineyard owners themselves, who came from France to be at the tasting. (Ooh, la la!) It made for a special opportunity to hear about what I was tasting directly from the vintner. While I certainly enjoy wine, the enthusiasm and expertise some of my fellow attendees appeared to bring to the table made me feel like a middle school kid who’d snuck into a high school dance. That said, I was fascinated listening to some of the super-fancy-pants Dallasites in attendance (some of whom donned an amazing array of bow ties, paisley suits, straw hats, and the likes) as they chatted up the super-fancy-pants French wine gurus.

Vintner

Yes, I may have been a fish out of water at this event, but I was such a happy fish. A warm, toasty, happy fish; nearly 150 varieties and vintages of wines were poured that evening, and I’m always oddly intimidated by the spittoon concept.  That said, it would be implausible for me to review more than a few of the wines I tasted (for several reasons…). While this event was definitely red-centric, I was pleased to see a handful of white Bordeauxs being poured throughout the evening. (After all, I’m a white girl…wait…I mean, I am a girl who enjoys white wines.) My favorite of the bunch may have been the 2011 Chateau Magrez Fombrauge Bordeaux Blanc, which was vibrant and lightly acidic, with hints of melon and citrus. It was perfectly drinkable. Maybe a little too drinkable. The 2010 Chateau Le Sartre Blanc was also lovely- medium bodied, with a juicy tropical citrus profile. That’s not to say I left this event without being blown away by an untold number of reds. Notably, I enjoyed the 2011 Chateau La Marzelle, which was rich yet soft and supple, with a hint of cherry and deep, peppery finish.

This event hosted a silent auction that took place throughout the evening, featuring a number of rare and hard to find bottles as well as limited releases. While I did not partake in the silent auction, I saw many guests enthusiastically scrawling down numbers that contained more digits than I personally have ever paid for a bottle of vino. What I did partake in was the tasty variety of hors de oeuvres that were made available throughout the evening, which were a vital component in maintaining the ability to walk in a straight line following this event.

This event gave me a new appreciation of wines from the Bordeaux region- excuse me, Vins de Bordeaux- and I’m pretty sure I’m like roughly 10-15% fancier now, having attended.

 

 

New From Skinnygirl

I am constantly flailing around with some sort of diet or disproportionately ambitious exercise plan. It’s just an unhappy fact of life. Unfortunately for me, I love food- and BOOZE- as much as the next gal (ok…possibly more than the next gal); an inconvenient truth at best. I hate undoing all of my hard work at the gym with liquid calories (even if they are delicious). In light of my recent introduction to Skinnygirl Vodka, I was excited to learn Skinnygirl has rolled out two new products for our guiltless imbibing pleasure: Skinnygirl Pinot Noir and Skinnygirl Spicy Lime Margarita. I was even more excited when I was informed that I would be receiving a bottle of each, for my sampling pleasure.

photo 2First, let’s talk about the Skinnygirl Pinot Noir. I had never tried a “lightened up” vino prior to this occasion, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Skinnygirl’s pinot has the aroma of dark cherries and bursts with cherry flavor to match, along with notes of toasty oak and vanilla. This is a very smooth pinot with a soft, silky mouthfeel. I am not a great drinker of reds, but this one was light enough for me to genuinely enjoy – to the point where I would buy it for myself. Let’s talk calories. (Wait – what? Buzzkill!) Skinnygirl’s Pinot Noir touts 100 calories in a 5oz pour. For comparison’s sake, a “conventional” 5oz glass of pinot noir contains about 125 calories. At first, you may think to yourself, “So, I’m saving 25 calories? Big deal”. But, think about this, friends: A typical bottle of wine contains about five 5oz pours. Multiply those 25 calories/glass you are saving by 5, and it totals: 125 calories. So, think of if this way: if I were to drink the entire bottle of Skinnygirl Pinot Noir (not that…uh…I make a regular habit out of drinking an entire bottle of wine, or anything…), at a savings of 125 calories per bottle, it’s basically like getting a bonus glass of wine for “free”. Suhhh-weet. To make things even better, buying wine online is now a possibility, so it’s even ultra convenient to enjoy your favorite tipple, guilt free, without having to move a muscle.

I am a huge fan of cocktails with a “kick,” so I was super excited to try the Skinnygirl Spicy Lime Margarita. This is a ready-to-drink product, best served over ice, with a wedge of lime, or even a slice of fresh jalapeno if you’re feeling saucy. Skinnygirl’s Spicy Lime Margarita, made with blue agave silver tequila and triple sec, actually exceeded my expectations. These margs offer a beautiful balance of bright lime flavor, spicy chili, and that familiar tequila bite. This cocktail has an undeniable kick, but it doesn’t come close to approaching overkill. Really, it was just lovely. The margaritas paired perfectly with my little Monday night chips and guacamole fiesta, and my dude-fiancée repeatedly/unabashedly voiced his enthusiasm for his cocktail, “Skinnygirl” label be damned. He assured me that I can buy this one “any time”; I definitely see myself following through accordingly. Skinnygirl Spicy Lime Margaritas contain 100 calories per 5 oz serving. Sugar-laden margarita mixes frequently served at Mexican restaurants can contain in the upwards of 750 calories in one cocktail, so Skinnygirl Margs are basically a steal, calorically speaking! No brainer here, y’all.

Skinnygirl Cocktails (Margaritas, et al)
Skinnygirl Spicy Lime Margarita, 750-ml bottle, MSRP $12.99

Skinnygirl Wine Collection
Skinnygirl Pinot Noir, 750-ml bottle, MSRP $11.99