If you like to drink vanilla laced with baby powder…..do I have a wine for you!

A couple of days ago I bought 2 bottles of Menage a Trois red wine. I did so for one main reason…..people at Costco (mostly women) buy this wine by the case. Priced at $6.59 a bottle this Cab, Zin, Merlot blend was very intriguing. There must be something here…..
Years ago I had tried this wine and just remembered thinking….funny name, wine just so so. Thinking my memory must be wrong I bought the 2 bottles…one for us to enjoy that evening and one to take to a dinner party the next night for random opinions.
Feeling quite giddy I thought I might have found the “The One”….you know that everyday affordable wine that is consistently a sure bet.
I pulled out my favorite glass, opened the bottle, used my aerator, swirled, sniffed and gave it a go! To say I was disappointed would be a lie…..I was HORRIFIED!!!!! Could this red colored vanilla extract induced wine laced with baby powder be the wine people are buying up like water in the desert?
I must be wrong….taste #2…..even worse. “It must be me” I thought. Handing my beloved a glass….his reaction was the same.
Skip forward to the dinner party…..the only one who LOVED the wine was my dear friend who HATES red wine and will only drink Pina Colada’s (extra sweet). She was thrilled that I actually found a red wine she could actually enjoy!
That sealed it for me…If you love vanilla, baby powder and something that doesn’t even resemble a good red wine….give Menage a Trois red wine a try! For the rest of us, you can thank me for saving you seven bucks!
Na Zdrowia

Head for the Frontier!

ATTENTION! Great Trader Joe’s wine find.
Frontier Red….A California Red Wine. Fess Parker Winery produces this inexpensive gem.
Vanilla is the first thing that hit my nose and buds. This was followed by mellow chocolate, cherry and other assorted berries. With a 15.5% alcohol….you will never tell as the taste does not out this fact.
As for pairing…use your imagination! Mello and smooth enough for your white meals and bold enough for those with meat hanging from their teeth.
At $7.99 a bottle a COMPLETE STEAL!
Added bonus……Screw cap
Don’t think twice about buying a case and even storing for some time.
Na Zdrowie!

Nine Stones 2007 Shiraz

I will keep this short and sweet….. Nine Stones 2007 Shiraz I picked up at Costco…. never have had it before…served it to my future in-laws without trying….. BIG MISTAKE!
Even at the $8.99 price….SO NOT WORTH IT! Very young, lots and lots of acid….not for now.

Wonderful Sauvignon Blanc At a Fantastic Price!

As a loyal Trader Joe’s shopper, I am always trying new wine finds. Sometimes these finds are fantastic….sometimes, not so much.
A few weeks ago I came across “Rootstock” Sauvignon Blanc for $5.99. This is summer so I decided to try this inexpensive bottle. (yes sometimes I choose a wine based on the label)
What a very pleasant surprise! I really wasn’t expecting much but what I was greeted with was a nice soft lemony nose.
What followed was refreshing, velvety and mild but an identifiabley citrus, summer flavor that I could drink every steamy hot day. Smooth light and refreshing at 13.9% vol. this is the perfect summer wine to fill you glass.
Rootstock will not change your world or make your must have list BUT for $5.99 this is a deal and must have for you and your picnic/BBQ guests. Pairing this will be easy and flawless.
Run to your nearest Trader Joe’s and pick up this INCREDIBLE find and buy a few cases as this definitely will not last!

Barolo Ristorante….Left a bad taste

A friend suggested meeting at Barolo’s because he heard they had a decent menu and a great cork fee….unfortunately neither proved true.
When we arrived at Barolo I noticed that some of our party was already seated by a side door that was opened. Apparently the air conditioning was out and that seemed to be the coolest spot in the house. A short time later the owner came by claimed the problem was fixed, shut the door and refused to allow us to open it again even though the thermostat read 83 and sweat was pouring down every possible place on my body.

We started with a basket of 2 kinds of bread 1. cubes of gooey tasteless flour and 2. dry sliced tasteless bread. My order consisted of a bland shrimp and avocado salad ($10.50) and their pizza w/sausage and mushrooms ($16). My husband had the Calamari Livornese ($11) and the mushroom, artichoke, onion, olive and goat cheese pizza ($14).
The calamari was nice but no surprises here. Any cook with more than a few months experience could easily replicate it.

When the pizza arrived it looked like it had promise. The server did fail to bring fresh Parmesan cheese to the table, I had to ask.  The “Funghi e Salsiccia” had a thin crust with crunchy outer edge and smelled wonderful but failed to deliver in taste and texture.  The entire center was completely SOGGY and undercooked…..strike 2.

Strike 3 came with the attitude and rudeness of the staff. We ended the night by taking the rest our our wine and enjoying it outside. Usually when there are circumstances such as we faced at Barolo’s some sort of compensation is offered (a complementary dessert, entre’ etc.)
Our server offered to charge us for only 1 cork fee……we had brought 3 bottles. Our receipt read $18 for the one bottle even though we were quoted a $4 per bottle upon arrival. Talk about adding insult to injury. Maybe not one of us looked like the type that could add!

My summery: Rude, unsympathetic staff…unappealing bland, greasy food…. misquote on cork fee all add up to DO NOT EAT HERE! Way too many great restaurants in the greater San Diego area to support this one.

Barolo Ristorante 8935 Towne Center Drive San Diego 92122

A Luxurious Zin for $12!

One of my newer friends on Twitter is Robert Sobon from Sobon Winery. Having never had the pleasure to taste a Sobon wine, Robert graciously offered to send me a sample of their Zinfandel (my all time favorite wine).
I decided not to do any research Sobon or their wine so I could do a tasting with absolutely no outside influence.
I got out my favorite glass, unscrewed the top of this Sobon Estate 2007 Amador County Old Vine Zinfandel and poured a sip. Swirl, swirl…take a nice deep sniff….WOW an immediate wave of cherries, berries, light chocolate and tobacco. The color was the lovely deep black cherry that I love in a good Zin.
As I took my first taste, I immediately thought silky, smooth and velvety. While this definitely has the jammy, fruity explosive punch any decent Zin will deliver this one is somehow more delicate about it.
I LOVE this wine! My next thought, good lord, I will not be able to afford this devine wine on a regular basis. With one eye closed I went online and visited the Sobon Winery site. Imagine my total shock and disbelief when I found you can purchase this beauty for only $12!!!!
This is a wine I would serve to my snobbiest wine friend without hesitation. This is also a wine that is at a price point that allows you to enjoy a Zinfandel that tastes expensive but fits into any wine budget.
Run, run, run to your nearest wine store or put your order in on the wineries web-site and you to will become a believer.
Na Zdrowia!

No Ordinary Malbec

I go through phases in my wine drinking. Most recently I have started a love affair with Malbec’s.

Generally speaking with a Malbec you can expect something rich, thick and juicy. While South America is very well known for this thin skinned, sun loving  grape, I’ve got to tell you, California is coming on strong!

A couple of days ago I received my ever anticipated wine club shipment from Zina Hyde Cunningham Winery. This time one of my selections was their 2006 Lake County Malbec.

This 100% Malbec wine has 14.9% alcohol, was aged 26 months and only 144 cases were produced.

The minute I popped the cork the scent that wafted to my nose was immediately sensuous! I just love a wine I can sink my teeth into and this one delivered. This luxuriously rich and jammy delight had me wishing I had a case on hand. Not overly spicy, this ultra smooth wine has a beautiful finish that will have you begging for more!

This fantastic wine retails for $38. While I will not be drinking it on a regular basis, I will be keeping a couple bottles on hand for that special night or meal.

Na Zdrowia!

San Marcos, A Beautiful Place To Live

I have lived in San Marcos off and on for over 30 years so I have chosen to write about this hidden gem first.

With a population of over 78,000, this is not the cow town I moved to in the late 70’s with my family. There was literally one stop light and yes, they did roll the sidewalks up at 8p.m.!

What a difference a couple of decades make. San Marcos is a GREAT place to live whether you are single, married, raising a family or ready to retire.

On the family side you have 11 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 2 high schools, 1 community college and 1 university.

Cal State San Marcos

San Marcos is known for being one of North County’s premier dining spots boasting 170 eateries around the city. One very popular locale is Old California Restaurant Row ,a great place you can wine, dine and entertain yourself. At your disposal are 18 restaurants, a movie theater, boutiques and more. The recently opened Grand Plaza is fantastic as well. Shop to your hearts content at the Nordstrom Rack, Loehmann’s and Marshalls to name a few of my favorite stops. After an exhausting day of shopping, stroll on over and enjoy a fantastic meal at one of over a dozen restaurants including my favorite “Love Boat Sushi“.

Love to golf? No problem their either. San Marcos has 2 courses one located at Lake San Marcos and the other in Twin Oaks Valley.

Lake San Marcos

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The housing market is starting to slowly recover. April 2009 saw 60 detached single family homes sold. The prices ranged from $143,000 to $900,000. Average price being $413,981 and average market time 68 days. What I found fascinating was that 21 out of those 60 sold for over asking price! That is a whooping 1 in 3!!! The buyers are starting to come out and spend their money…..FINALLY! If you would like more information on housing in San Marcos, write me a comment or shoot me an email.

My next blog will be San Marcos part 2. In it I will cover the wine scene and someplace great to eat.

Wine Dine and Dwell

I finally did it! After a couple of years contributing to and being part of Luxury Home Digest and San Diego Previews blogs, I have decided to venture out on my own.
Yes I am a Realtor, that is how I make a living, but I am also very passionate about wine and food.

This blog will be about all 3 things that make my life enjoyable Wine, Food, and Real Estate.

I want to share with you:
Neighborhoods: Carlsbad, San Marcos, Rancho Bernardo, Carmel Valley, La Jolla, Escondido, San Diego, to name a few. Whats going on, why would you want to live there, how are things selling.

Wine: What I enjoy, what is a good deal, whats not so good.

Dine: In those neighborhoods I visit, what and where are people eating?
If you like what you read or even if you don’t, I’d love to hear from you!
Also if you have any suggestions to places I should visit, wine I should drink or where to eat or shop PLEASE let me know!