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Wine Wednesday Episode 12: Markham Vineyards 

Wine: Markham 2015 Sauvignon Blanc 
Song: Same Things (from our album Perfect Strangers)

We are back in the greater Napa region with a very nice Sauvignon Blanc from Markham Vineyards. It's described as "Golden straw yellow with a bouquet of citrus zest and fresh pineapple that grab your attention while white peach and wet stone add structural support to the abundant aromas. "

Couldn't taste the stone, but we agree with the rest.

We paired this wine with our song Perfect Strangers. The wine is described as being "well-balanced," and the song, written by Sherry, is all about finding balance in a relationship.

A little more about Markham:
They've got 350 acres of vineyard "strategically located" in several of Napa Valley’s regions, because they like to take advantage of the various microclimates to achieve balance (there's that word again!) in their wines. The winery is among the oldest in California.

It's Wine Wednesday No. 10: Wente 

Wine: Wente Arroyo Seco Monterey Chardonnay 2015 
Song: Perfect Strangers

Here's how Wente described their Chardonnay: "With lovely aromas of tropical fruit, citrus and banana, this wine displays flavors of pears, lemons, baked apples, stone fruit and creamy notes of butter, amoretto, creme brulee and toasty vanilla from barrel aging. "

Our take: couldn't really taste the banana, but otherwise, a very smooth and buttery flavor.

Background 

Wente Vineyards is the country’s oldest, continuously operated family-owned winery, founded in 1883.  

Under ownership and management by the fourth and fifth generation of the Wente family. 

Located just East of San Francisco in the historic Livermore Valley.

Our song pairing: Perfect Strangers is the title track from our newly released album, available online everywhere or by physical CD shipped to you in the comfort of your own home. 

Wine Wednesday Episode 9 

Wine: Dry Creek Winery The Mariner 2013 
Song: Yesterday


Today we travel to Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley to test The Mariner 2013, a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, 8% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc 

According to Dry Creek Winery, the grapes are grown on a hillside and it provide aromas of blueberry, vanilla and cherries.  

They also say "there's a good balance between juicy dark fruit and oak structure."

The sweetness combined with the dark texture brought to mind a bittersweet ballad by Paul McCartney. It happens to be one of the most covered songs in the history of music. 

Sonoma County is an interesting wine-growing region. Geographically next door (to the west) of Napa, it the Sonoma wine region is twice the size of Napa. But Sonoma produces only half the volume of wine of its more famous neighbor.

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It's Wine Wednesday #8! 

Song: So Good 

Wine: Hess 2014 Chardonnay 

Today we headed south to the Monterey region to sample the Hess Select 2014 Chardonnay. 

Take the warm air from the Central Valley and the moderate breeze blowing in from the ocean. Go up a few feet in elevation. Sandy soil. These elements combine to produce some of the wines like the Hess Chardonnay. 

"Fully ripe flavors that tend to show some lemon and lime zest, a touch of ripe apple and tropical aromas and flavors. We call it crisp and clean, with well balanced acids."

That about describes what you'll experience.

We decided to pair this with one of our more breezy, carefree tunes. We hope you enjoy.

It's Wine Wednesday! Edition No. 7. 

Every Wednesday evening we find a nice bottle of wine from the region (Bay Area) and we "pair" it with a song.



Featured wine: Round Pond Kith and Kin 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon 

Featured song: L'hymne à L'amour 

About the winery 

Located in the acclaimed Rutherford region of Napa Valley, Round Pond is a family-owned and operated estate designed around our vineyards, gardens and orchards. 

Winemaker's Notes 

"Beautifully balanced, this wine jumps out of the glass with aromas of candied cherries, cassis and strawberries with vanilla cream.

"The supple entry opens brightly with intense sweet fresh fruit of blackberry and boysenberry. Softening through the mid-palate, fleshy red fruits of black cherry and rhubarb ..."

Reviews 

92 points on Wine Spectrum 

About the Music 

Today being International Women's Day, we decided to feature a pair of women who were pioneers in popular song during the 1930s, '40s, '50s.
 

Marguerite Monnot was a child-prodigy classical pianist who turned to writing popular songs after health problems ended her performing career at age 18. 

Édith Piaf, nee Édith Giovanna Gassion,  was a French cabaret singer, songwriter and actress who became widely regarded as France's national chanteuse, as well as being one of France's greatest international stars.[1] 

Together, the duo wrote many songs that are regarded and revered worldwide.