Island Fever!

I hope everyone had a fantastic 4th of July and that everyone got a chance to relax and watch a great firework show! I am currently on Catalina Island where I spent the 4th of July with family and friends. Needless to say after having been here for a week, I have a bad case of the 'island fever'! If you've ever been on an island for more than a few days then you know what I mean.

I brought a few bottles of Stryker Sonoma wine over to the island so that I could share my work and discuss the wine with my family and friends. Needless to say my parents are not the only ones that are jealous of my job anymore. When deciding what wines to bring, I found myself not only trying to pair the wines with the meals, but I tried to bring wines that would pair well with the island and the climate. I brought a Semillon, an Estate Old Vine Zinfandel, and our new addition to the tasting room menu the Cabernet Sauvignon from Rockpile. Needless to say the wines practically got a standing ovation on their own.

The 2009 Semillon from 'OZ' vineyards is the perfect 'Summer Island Wine'. It's crisp clean taste paired with breath taking views over looking Avalon harbor, Catalina is one for the books. Our Semillon is best known as our 'secret pour' in the Tasting Room. We like to start off each tasting with a glass of Semillon. Not only does the wine help cleanse your pallet, but it is also a very refreshing wine. Our 2009 Semillon is from the Osborn vineyard in Alexander Valley. The wine has enticing aromas of honeysuckle and a fantastic crisp lemon zest finish. The body is well rounded and finishes smooth. This wine would pair great with a smooth cheese platter or a nice light olive oil and balsamic salad with fresh heirloom tomatoes.

Chill and enjoy (and no I'm not just talking about the bottle!)

Cheers! ~ Lucy