One of those moments…

Do you ever have those moments in life where you think to yourself… “Holy crap- how did I get here?”  or “When did I become so grown up, so responsible?”  or maybe “When did hangovers hurt so bad?”  This past couple weeks have been moments like these… I feel grown up- not broken and need someone to hold my hand- but decision making, tax paying, accomplished in life grown up.

I’m not gonna lie to you- I am kinda enjoying it…

So what was it?  Well, try not laugh, but it was the little things… my new website, a random Saturday night dinner with no recipe, and a tough workout.  It’s Sunday night and I am thinking to myself… “damn, it feels good to be grown up!”

This is really an accomplishment… if you know me and you know how RIDICULOUSLY bad I am at anything internet, social media, etc.  You know just how big a deal this is!  I managed (with the amazing platform Squarespace) to actually redesign From Vine to Wine’s website.  I have never wanted my own business and quite frankly never thought I had the personality to do it, but after this accomplishment- I am feeling good!  I can take on anything!  So I did!  I have a NEW booking platform as well that I was able to incorporate into my website with the MARVELOUS help of my new friends at Checkfront!  There are still some tweaks to be made here and there, but I am really proud of myself.

 Then came this dinner… I mean, it’s just a dinner, but I really enjoy finding recipes and making complex dinners and am completely unable to just ‘throw something together’.  My husband is great at looking in the cupboards and making great things from nothing- me not so much.  But lazy Saturday night came and all I wanted was a nice hot meal is this freezing Lyon weather and a bottle of wine to warm me up.  So, I attempted to throw together pork tenderloin in a herbs de provence, onion, garlic, carrot thing with chunky mashed potatoes and (what we like to call) an American salad.  And it was really tasty!

Paired it with a GREAT AOP Minervois Otonis from Les Celliers d’Onairac.  A small wine with a big heart comprised of Syrah, Grenache Noir and Mourvedre.  It is balanced in tannin and fruit, creating a warm mix for a variety of flavors.  And… because I do have a tendency to eat and drink a bit… I have once again started Fitness Blender and MAN is it KICKING my BUTT!  My apologies for the photo… but I tell you it was just a good workout!  I couldn’t walk correctly for the entire week I was so SORE!

There are certain things in life that make up feel good.  For me, and I assume most people, when my life is together and well rounded I am doing well.  That means that work is moving forward and I am feeling accomplished in my tasks, my husband is well fed and I can sit down at the table with him to share a meal and good wine, and when my body is NOT expanding ;).  This week was a good week for all those things and I feel grown up.

Sometimes it is just good to dwell on the positive things.

Voila…

Wine and Cheese! Yes please!

Last night was the first wine tasting with From Vine to Wine and it was GREAT!  A wine and cheese private tasting event to introduce a new couple to Lyon.  Two white wines, two red wines and four different cheeses.  It really is a great way to spend an evening- and this group was fun, energetic, and curious.  Best kind of people for a tasting!  So what did we have?

To start us off….

Wine:  Eric Louis Menetou Salon 2012 Sauvignon Blanc

Cheese: Crottin de Chavignol, goat cheese

Pairing:  We often think of goat cheese being paired with red wines, mainly pinot noir.  The Sancerre / Menetou Salon region, however is known for their goat cheese (or Chavignol) and white wine pairing.  Together, the creaminess and mild taste of the goat cheese with a vibrant Sauvignon seemed to smooth the palate.  Difficult to wrap white wine and cheese together, but overall expressive and light on the palate.

Next…

Wine: Domaine Monternot Beaujolais Blanc 2011 Chardonnay

Cheese: Comte Fruité, cow cheese

Pairing: This chardonnay comes from the Beaujolais region and has seen no oak :).  It is light, high acidity with green apple and stone fruit flavors.  The comte fruité is flavorful and bright for a cow cheese.  Together, the two complimented each other with the fruit notes.  Was not the favorite of the group, however.

Moving on…

Wine:  Domaine du Roncée Chinon 2010 Cabernet Franc

Cheese: Selles-sur-Cher, goat cheese

Pairing:  Cabernet Franc from Chinon is a fruity wine with structure and a backbone to it.  Usually served a little below room temperature to express more of the fruit notes.  The cheese comes from the Loire Valley region as well and is a creamy, mild goat cheese that lingers on the sides of your cheeks.  The two together are magic!  The fruit of the cabernet franc with the creaminess of the goat cheese blends very well on the palate.  Making this the winner of the evening!

Last, but not least…

Wine: Domaine la Visoniere Matilde 2007 Mourvedre

Cheese: St. Marcellin, cow cheese

Pairing:  Matilde is a wine that is tannic and dry on the palate.  A ‘big’ wine that needs to be opened an hour in advance to soften a bit.  St. Marcellin is a creamy cow cheese with lots of flavor.  It is the cheese of Lyon- and by that I mean a cheese you find on every menu at a restaurant.  Together the creaminess and flavor of the cheese help to calm the tannins and dryness of the wine.

The favorite of the night was, by far, the Chinon and Selles-sur-Cher pairing and with good reason.  It was delicious!  I’m thinking I need to make this a regular tastings.  I could eat cheese and drink wine everyday- it is part of the reason I came and stayed in France!  Yummy!