Stories from the Wine Store...

Debbie, Manager at the Fillmore Wine Store, wants to shop with you...


Couples and friends often come into PlumpJack Wines looking for an adventure. After being with the PlumpJack Wine Store since it opened in 1992, I’ve met many people who come in with questions, looking for recommendations. At the same time, being so close to wine country and all of the people who come with it, I’ve also meet plenty of people who know exactly what they want. With a little bit of gentle body language and a big smile, I always strive to please them both simultaneously.

Recently this fabulous pair walked in the store looking for some great, cheap (we always say inexpensive), every-day drinking wines—no problem! However, their shopping personalities couldn’t have been more different, which could make the recommending a little challenging. While one of the shoppers knew exactly what she wanted and was pulling bottles of the shelves, I could tell the other shopper wanted a bit more of an interactive experience. After a few questions, he started slowly giving me ideas of what types of wine he liked.

I think he was surprised at all of the amazing wine selections that were priced so modestly! Instead of all of these expensive bottles they had piled on the counter, we decided what type of wines he would enjoy for ‘every-day’ drinking. I began pulling multiple bottles explaining what type of food each of the wines would pair with, and I think both of them left with a new perspective on the wine buying experience.

The end result was that the couple purchased 3 cases of wine for just over $300, including tax—that is less than $10 per bottle. Here are a few of the wines we chose:

Remole Sangiovese $10.99
Delas Cotes du Ventoux $8.99
Bogle Merlot $8.99
Louis Martini Cabernet $11.99

Turns out, he lives in the neighborhood, and we delivered the 3 cases to him later that same day. I love meeting different types of people in the store and de-mystifying the wine buying experience for them. You really don't have to spend $50 or $100 for a great bottle of wine. Hopefully they both walked away with a smile on their face... that continued into their first and second bottle.

Ask Debbie about the Wine of the Month Club and Red Rogues special. Join the clubs for six months and get your seventh month free! Call her at 415 346 9870.

Earth Hour in San Francisco

On Saturday March 28, 2009 PlumpJack properties participated in Earth Hour 2009. MatrixFillmore, Balboa Cafe San Francisco, Balboa Cafe Mill Valley and Jack Falstaff all turned down their lights, lit candles and helped decrease their carbon footprint. Were you out and about on Saturday from 8:30-9:30 pm? Post your stories and your comments...

Eat a Burger, Save a Life

The 6th Burger for a Pint at Balboa Cafe San Francisco was the most successful ever! A whopping 33 units of blood were donated at the event. The units were split into three separate parts, meaning that 99 lives were helped through the drive. Go Balboa! Not to mention the 33 lives affected by the delicious Balboa Burger they received as a thanks for donating.

There's still time to donate. The first Balboa Cafe Mill Valley "Burger for a Pint" will be held on Tuesday March 31st from 2pm-7pm. Make your appointment by visiting http://www.bloodheroes.com/, click "Donate Blood" and enter "Balboa-MV."

Spring Weather... Spring Fashion!

Barbara from PlumpJack Sport at The Carneros Inn wants color in your closet...

The sun is out, the birds are singing, the breeze is just the right temperature- ahh, spring. The covers are off the lounge chairs at the pool and the flip flops are starting to appear. This is a great time of year here at The Carneros Inn. Not only is the weather sublime but the shopping is magnificent! We are starting to receive our sunny weather inventory and it couldn't be more fun. Color is a big theme this year in every line. Jazz up that black we all love to wear with a splash of color. A bright pink Ted Baker tunic over dark Hudson jeans or a fun yellow v-neck tee from Linq with a nice white cardigan and black J Brand jeans. These are just a few examples of ways to put spring in your step! Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that we just received the new color of Tory Burch's famous flats. It's called cricket green and they are like little patent leather smiles for your feet!

If the economy has got your down, you are not alone. We are offering some wallet friendly prices right now to cheer us all up. All sale merchandise is being offered at an additional 10% off and even the fun new regularly priced items are being given the 15% "we're beating the blues" discount. Among other things, winter coats are being offered at a savings of up to 60%! Whether you are visiting The Carneros Inn for the weekend or you are here on a fabulous day spa package, be sure to stop in and say hi to us in the boutique and check out the amazing finds!

Stop by Sport and see Barbara for more updates.

White Weddings at Squaw Valley Inn

Audrey, our PlumpJack Wedding Guru at Squaw Valley Inn, wants to help you plan your special day in the snow...

Squaw Valley received several feet of snow this past weekend and yet we are gearing up, not to hit the slopes, but for one of our largest weddings of the year! As we warm into spring, our thoughts turn away from the snow and the economic climate to new beginnings. It seems no matter the economic times, dreams will still be coming true this year, and we feel so fortunate to be a part of it! PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn does still have some choice dates available this spring, summer and fall for weddings! I would be thrilled to help you plan your wedding and celebrate at our intimate mountain retreat!

Call PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn and ask for Audrey.

A Blog about Numbers... And Wine

Ryan, Marketing Manager for PlumpJack Winery and CADE Winery Howell Mountain, gives us a run down of the numbers...


Here are a few interesting numbers regarding Wine Spectator ratings and PlumpJack wine from the year 2008. Over 4,058 wines were rated in California through the year 2008. Overall, only 17% of all wines rated scored between 90-100 points. The average price for this set of wines was $69. Over 4,886 wines were rated in France through the year 2008. 38% of these wines rated between 90-100. The average price of this set was $98.


851 bottles of California Cabernet Sauvignon were rated in 2008. Only 25% of these wines rated between 90-100 points. The average price of this set? $110! The good news? Our 2005 PlumpJack Estate Cabernet Sauvignon rated 93 points and sold for $72 per bottle. (Score one for PlumpJack!)


223 bottles of California Merlot were rated in 2008. Only 8% of these wines rated between 90-100. In fact- NONE rated 95-100! The average price of Merlot rated above 90 is $64 per bottle. Our 2006 PlumpJack Merlot recently scored 91 points at a price of $50/bottle. Leave it to PlumpJack!


And on the other side of the pond? 1,009 wines in Bordeaux were rated in 2008. 34% of these wines rated 90-100. The average price of this set was $135.


Looking for the Cliff's Notes version yet? Here it is... PlumpJack wines are clear and obvious value among the competitive set here in California and abroad.

Thirsty for more numbers? Call Debbie at the PlumpJack Wine Store (415.346.9870) and sign up for the Wine of the Month Club. If you enroll now, you get your 7th month free. Now that's a number we like!

Boon Fly Breakfast

Michelle, the PlumpJack Communications Manager, on her Monday morning commute...

Ohh... Monday mornings. After spending the weekend in Napa I usually try to squeeze every possible moment out of my Sunday evenings. This means I usually find myself waking up at 6:15 on Monday morning, jumping in the car at 7 and trying to beat the Golden Gate Bridge traffic into San Francisco. But there is one part of my drive that motivates me right out of bed, into the shower and out the door... Boon Fly Cafe breakfast! Boon Fly opens at 7am, so it's perfect for the morning commute. I drop in at about 7:30 and see familiar smiling faces, early birds enjoying breakfast and my morning coffee calling my name. Ohh, the little things in life! If only the morning paper were as warm as Boon Fly's famous doughnuts.

Stop in to Boon Fly Cafe for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For reservations call 707-299-4870.

PlumpJack Pets....Zorra, Stars, and Stripes!

In our second installment of PlumpJack Pets, Regina Moore from the Plumpjack Marketing Team, tells us all about her three pets and how "well" they get along.

Believe it or not I live in a war zone. A veritable battleground in the middle of San Francisco... well that may be a sliiiight exaggeration, but not by much! I live at home with two cats and one dog…guess who’s the boss. Nope not the black lab, not even the stockier of the cats, rather it’s Stars, weighing in at a “whopping” 7 pounds.

My family had had Stars and Stripes (we’re big America lovers...) for a few years before a little, black, crazy ball of energy entered our lives named Zorra. She was (and is) the sweetest, most energetic, happiest dog I have ever seen, and the cats immediately put her in her place. From the first day Zorra came home with us Stars would follow her around, stalking her like a lioness. We even used to catch her staring at Zorra in the kennel where the puppy used to sleep, hissing on occasion but mostly with just a menacing glare. Stripes was not quite so tough. She mostly ignored Zorra but threw in the occasional paw swipe or hiss to keep her in line.

Fast forward ELEVEN years….little has changed! Stars is still boss. This feisty feline hisses at anyone who even thinks about stepping into my...err… her bedroom. Stripes is the easy-going one, and she wants so badly to be friends with Zorra but…despite the fact that Zorra weighs more than six times more than the cats… Zorra is still a teeny tiny, runt puppy at heart and knows her place on the animal totem pole.

Each of our animals has a huge and distinct personality and I love them all for it! Stars is the crankiest when it comes to getting her way, but the sweetest when it comes to snuggling. Stripes purrs if you even think about looking at her, and Zorra? People at the park STILL ask me if she’s a puppy…I’d say that’s pretty good for someone who’s 77 in people years!

The "Gentle-man's" Spa

Edgar, Spa Supervisor at The Carneros Inn, gives us a sneak peek at some new offerings for guys.

Working the spa reception desk exposes me to a lot of amazing experiences and a TON of questions.

Many of the questions that I get asked are about men. What facials do we have for men? or Where are the men’s products? It’s funny because there’s always a sort of discomfort when husband and wife are using the same moisturizer or cleanser. When I first started working in the spa I thought it was a little odd too, but I’ve learned that the products are for skin conditions and that we have products that benefit all skin types and needs. So gentlemen, it is O.K. if you and your significant other are using the same products because that means that you have similar skin types and that the product will work for the two of you!

When it comes to sharing facials and products, some are still not convinced. For you guys, I'm glad to inform you that we understand and will have an alternate option very soon. In the upcoming month we will be adding some additional treatments, one of which includes a man’s facial. The “Gentle-man’s Facial” is a customized facial for deep pore cleansing and will leave any man’s skin healthy and pure. Along with this new facial, I am working with our estheticians and director to bring in a very amazing men’s line for retail as well as for the treatments themselves.

Gentlemen, soon you will no longer have to use the same cleanser as your wife!

Spas aren't just for girls anymore so stay tuned to find out more of the manly offerings Edgar and the spa team have coming! To make a reservation call Edgar at 707-299-4850.

Sleeping in the Desert?

Kristin, an Esthetician at The Spa at The Carneros Inn, has all of the answers...

I hear A LOT about dryness and skin sensitivity over the winter months. I tend to gravitate towards our Goat Milk and Honey Facial for both those skin conditions. The nice thing about ALL of our lines is that they accommodate ALL skin care issues. It’s very easy for my girls to customize the PERFECT facial for our guests. And now that your skin is perfectly moisturized, you'll definitely sleep more soundly.

Book an appointment with Kristin at The Spa by calling 707.299.4840.

Martini Time at FARM

Grapes may be the fruit of choice in wine country, but have a seat at the bar at FARM, ask for John, and talk to him about the Winter Citrus Martini to find out about the other side of the vineyard.

Everything on the Cocktail Menu at FARM is amazing, but the Winter Citrus Martini is definitely favored by most that come into the bar at FARM. It's the best of the best in fresh citrus. Each week we head over to the farmers market and pick up blood oranges, Buddha's Hand, Rangpur limes, Cava oranges and Meyer lemons. All of the fruit is zested, and then infused into two bottles of Square One Vodka. The infused vodka is then used to make our Winter Citrus Martini. Two ounces of the citrus vodka is combined with the juice of one blood orange, the juice of half a Meyer lemon, simple syrup and Limon cello. Voila... the Winter Citrus Martini.

Check out the Winter Citrus Martini and the other sip-a-licious cocktails at FARM. Call 707.299.4880 for reservations. Seasonal Hours: 1 pm- 10 pm Lounge, 5:30-10 pm Dinner.

Mamma Mia...

When Jonathan from the PlumpJack Accounting team brought pizza to the office last week, all jaws dropped. Here's an inside tip from a foodie who also know how to work an excel sheet...

PlumpJack doesn’t have a pizza place. But if they did, I wish it was Zachary’s Pizza in Oakland. This place is maddening. It’s the best pizza you can get. People wait for insane periods of time to get a slice of this heaven. The best part about it is the Chicago style deep dish crust. And I mean deep dish. Like 3 inches deep. My favorite is the classic spinach and mushroom. The only annoying thing about Zachary’s is having to wait in such insane lines- but I’ve found a loop hole. Buy the half-baked pizza, take it home, and finish it up there. Saves tons of time and you can enjoy the entire pizza fresh out of the oven.

Okay, Zachary's is on our list. Need another obsession? Try the Flatbreads at Boon Fly Cafe. The Margherita and the Point Reyes Blue Cheese are our favorites.

Hollywood Here We Come

Ken Luciano, General Manager of MatrixFillmore, lit up the camera at the SF Orchid Show on March 8th.

Congratulations to Kenny for his LIVE appearance on KRON Channel 4's Weekender at the Pacific Orchid Exposition last Sunday!

Kenny mixed two of the newest artisanal cocktails on the Matrix menu and talked about bringing the cocktail culture to San Francisco's Marina District.













Come on out to MatrixFillmore to taste Kenny's delectable drinks and become a part of San Francisco's vibrant cocktail culture. Get there before 10 and get these specialty cocktails for only $7 each!

Sleep the Night Away

Jeannie Jarnot, Spa Director at The Carneros Inn, gives us her advice on the BEST tricks and products for a great night's sleep.

Can’t sleep? Me neither! I think a lot of us have trouble sleeping from time to time, especially after leaping forward and changing the clocks. Fortunately I have a few tricks I use that help me sleep.

Earplugs are essential because I am a light sleeper. They take a little getting used to, but now I can’t live without them! I also love to wear a “midnight mask,” an eye mask to block out the light helps me sleep later on my days off.

But you know what really helps?? … My secret weapon is Naturopatch essential oil patches. These are the best little invention, and they REALLY work. They are trans dermal patches (think nicotine patch) laced with essential oils, lavender for sleep. I just peel the back off one and stick it on my chest and poof, it works every time. Luckily we sell them at the spa so I can get them whenever I need them. I love the Arnica patches for aches and pains and the Lemongrass patches for energy and focus on big meeting days. These little patches have saved me so many times, and can take credit for countless nights of sound sleep. If you don’t have access to the patches, a few drops of lavender on your chest and wrists should help induce sleep. Lavender is the natural Ambien, try it, it’s much better for you. I feel so strongly about helping our clients get to sleep better that we are developing a Sleep Kit for purchase…coming soon. It will include earplugs, a midnight mask, Naturopatch sleep patches, a sleep CD and Red Flower Lavender mini candle.

Get your own sleep patch by calling Jeannie at The Spa at The Carneros Inn at 707.299.4850. (And check out that lavender pic from www.oregonlavenderfestival.org!)

Tahoe To Do's...

“Festivus for the Rest of Us” Molly from PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn weighs in on our new favorite holiday.

My favorite Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, and a nod to the oh-so laughable Seinfeld episode where a new non-holiday was born.

From Wikipedia: Festus "joyous; holiday, feast day". Although the original Festivus took place in February of 1964, many people now celebrate the non-holiday annually on December 23, as depicted on the 1997 Seinfeld episode "The Strike".

But most often…festivus…for the rest of us locals…is encapsulated in our weekly worship of snow…with a little help from community events, competitions, and parties. Thanks to Snowfest – North Tahoe’s ten day celebration of all things winter – another new annual tradition has been born. My “Tahoe Family” (comprised of long-time locals and amazing out-of-towners) rallied for the 28th Annual Opening Ceremonies, where Squaw Valley’s sky and slopes lit up with an amazing laser show, torchlight parade, and incredible live DJ music performance by the “Space Cowboys” & their iconic sound-system-truck, the "Unimog” on the KT-22 Sundeck.

Festival time in Tahoe is not to be missed. Friend-packed chairlifts, live music après ski, making new connections with snow-stoked visitors, all-time dinner parties, dominating the dance floor and some cozy sleep-ins. Don’t you see? You don’t need an actual holiday to create festivities with the ones you love. North Tahoe is chalk-full of add-on events to help you create memorable traditions worth repeating annually. The more the merrier really!

What’s your festivus?

CADE: Painting the Town...Green!

CADE Winery opened this month and Hospitality Manager DJ Nielsen tells us what she loves best about the newest addition to the PlumpJack family.

When it comes to environmental consciousness and the whole concept of being green, I hear a lot of people say “We’re gonna do this to be more green” or “I wanna do this to better the environment”…a lot of shoulda, coulda, woulda…I’m proud to say “We did it!”

CADE is completely on track to be Gold LEED Certified, and we couldn’t be more excited. When you walk through the building, you can just feel the energy and passion put into it by every single person who works here. Indeed there’s a little bit of all of us in the actual building…the floors are made of recycled cork (how appropriate for a winery!) and the walls are insulated with recycled blue jeans! My favorite part of the tasting room?...A small glass piece looking right into the wall to see the jeans! Look at the pic below, isn't it cool?

The whole feel of CADE is so incredible. The different textures and beautiful colors are striking, and the windows are made of channel glass so the building is constantly flooded with light. For a building made almost entirely of concrete and steel, CADE gives off the warmest feel…and it’s not just from the solar panels covering the roof!

Here at CADE we’re taking it a step further. We’re not just designing the building green, we’re living our lives green. We’re beginning an all new recycling program, and our kitchen uses all green materials. Even some of the furniture is green…like our pastry table, made of a renewable wood source called lyptus. We’re also planting fruit trees and an organic culinary garden, and working towards being completely sustainable.

All in all there is so much to say about CADE but you will never truly understand how great it is until you physically stand here and feel the energy. And you’re in luck! Our hospitality room is officially set to open this weekend, March 15th. Stop by and see it for yourself.


Give DJ and the whole CADE team a call at 707-965-2746 to set up your visit.

Eat a Balboa Burger, Save a Life...

It's that time of year again. Balboa Cafe will be thanking patrons who donate blood with a complimentary Balboa Burger during "Burger for a Pint." This year marks the sixth "Burger for a Pint" at Balboa Cafe San Francisco and the first at Balboa Cafe Mill Valley.

Make your appointment today by visiting www.bloodheroes.com, clicking on "Donate Blood," and entering the sponsor code "Balboa-SF" or "Balboa-MV," depending on the location you would like to visit.

"Burger for a Pint" will be held in San Francisco on March 24th and in Mill Valley on March 31st. The Mill Valley event is cosponsored by The Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce and The City of Mill Valley.

Come on out for some guilt-free hamburger-eating! The best burger in SF...for free and you save a life at the same time...does it get any better?!

PlumpJack Pets...Otto!

Welcome to the first edition of what I predict will be quite the PJ blog hit.....PlumpJack Pets! For our very first feature, PJ Creative Manager, Katie Snider, lets us into her Dachshund Otto's head...

Name: Otto Snider (how German can you get, right?)
Owner: Katie Snider, PlumpJack Creative Manager/Graphic Designer
Nicknames: Otter, Little Man, Mr. Pants, Senor Pantalones, Squirrel
Age: 5 years this June
Born: Murray, Kentucky on a horse farm
Moved to San Francisco: July 2005 with Katie, rode in the passenger seat of Katie’s car in a laundry basket filled with blankets the entire 3 day drive from Indiana
Hobbies: chewing on rawhide bones, burrowing under blankets, standing up like a meerkat for strangers to get attention, wandering around San Francisco, taking sunbeams in the neighbors’ backyard
Likes: belly rubs, popcorn, laying under the heater till I’m thisclose to spontaneous combustion, cuddling, the Mill Valley dog park, the second Katie walks into the apartment
Dislikes: waking up before noon, spinach, the squeaker in dog toys, being cold, when everyone leaves
Favorite Memory: Riding around the disc golf course in Indiana when I was a puppy in Katie’s putter disc
Favorite Songs: Maxwell’s Silver Hammer, Going to California, Aquemini
Favorite Blog: The Long & Short of it All (dachshundlove.blogspot.com)
Reason for this post: Completely gratuitous, but everyone loves a cute dog!

Is he cute or what??! PS Check out Jack Falstaff on SF Eater.

You Better Shop Around...

After a leisurely lunch at Balboa Cafe, there is nothing better than a walk around the Plaza in Mill Valley... shopping for necessities, of course! Here are a few of PlumpJack's favorites.

Denim, tees and all you need- Just next door to Balboa Cafe is the famed Margaret OLeary. Perfect for stocking up on cardigans, jeans, and soft tees. Say hello to Taylor when you're in. Catherine Jane is another Mill Valley gem with an outpost in San Francisco. The Store is definitely worth a walk by and a look at their gorgeous selection of denim. Wilkes Bashford, a San Francisco staple, also has a place "in the country." Step it up a notch at Wilkes Sport in Mill Valley.

Looking for something off the beaten path of American fashion? LF, famed for its collection of European labels, is having a major sale- 60% off the entire store! Our PJ Shoppers especially enjoyed the comfy chic sweatsuits. Step into Mill Valley history when you enter the Mill Valley Hat Box- a family owned company for almost 19 years! And any recap of Mill Valley fashion would be remiss if it did not mention Allie G- THE place to pick up your Citizens of Humanity, Kai fragrances and the perfect outfit for this weekend's Bottomless Brunch Mimosas.

Expecting in Marin? You aren't the only one. Mill Valley Baby & Kids Company is expecting you. But in the meantime, stop into Glow Girl and pick up all that you'll need to get you through 36 weeks and beyond. We love Mari- a PlumpJack regular. She has all of the hot tips for the fabulous mother-to-be. (We even picked up a super cute gift for a baby shower... so this place isn't only for mothers!) Do puppies count too? Alpha Dog has all that is hot in pooch-wear.

No no! We haven't forgotten Strawbridges! Yes, it's been there for decades supplying cards, invitations and knick knacks for birthdays to anniversaries and beyond. Spend some time looking through their fabulous stationary selection and write us a note about how you enjoyed your time.

New kid on the block... and Most Popular? Tyler Florence took over the old Banana Republic store and is a home away from home for the Mill Valley chef- or just those hoping to catch a glimpse of the Food Network hottie. This gorgeous space has friendly faces, shiny KitchenAids and will make you want to re-invest in your oven. Stop by Benefit on Fridays during the street fair for special deals from Stephanie. Tell her PlumpJack sent you. And by this time you are probably ready to take a seat at the bar at Balboa Cafe and enjoy a glass. Alvin and Connie would love to see the treasures you picked up since lunch.

Burger for a Pint!

PlumpJack wants you to "do good" in San Francisco and Mill Valley. Stop in to Balboa Cafe on March 24th in San Francisco or March 31st in Mill Valley and donate a pint of blood to Blood Centers of the Pacific. To reward you for saving lives, we will treat you to a complimentary Balboa Burger. Sign up for "Burger for a Pint" by logging on to http://www.bloodheroes.com/. Click "Donate Blood" and enter either "Balboa-SF" or "Balboa-MV" to make your appointment.

Pillow Tops, Down, and Thread Counts... oh my!

James Giffin, Director of Rooms at The Carneros Inn, talks bedding.

During this stormy, rainy season, getting out of bed in the morning is a chore. Nestling into a warm, cozy bed with a hot cup of coffee or tea and reading the morning paper never sounds better than when the rain drops are pitter pattering against the window. The Carneros Inn provides the perfect escape from the dreary grey of city life, a cozy retreat just an hour away from San Francisco. People often wonder just what it is about our rooms that is so comfortable…the privacy of personal cottages is a big factor, the flat screen TV for movie watching is another, but I must say my favorite thing about the rooms…the bedding!

Our guests often remark about our bedding. They travel to the Inn and can’t wait to get under the covers and cocoon by a warm fire with a glass of local wine. With a spa, a pool, a boutique clothing store, and two amazing restaurants on the property (not to mention all the wineries just minutes away!) there is no lack of fun activities at Carneros...but sometimes the favorite thing to do is just stay in bed! Our guests have a cozy time covering themselves in Frette sheets and slipcovers topped off by our duvets from Down Etc. They are AMAZING. Apparently the down (which are the soft clusters under the duck or goose) traps air and it's that air that keeps you warm. And that's exactly how you feel...almost weightless all snuggled up! It's no wonder that guests often purchase one for their own home after their experience here at The Carneros Inn. Come on up and try them out…you won’t be disappointed!

Call James and The Carneros Inn at 707-299-4900 to reserve a room or just click here.

Wine on Draft

No need for this good luck symbol when you find out what he's guarding...Wine on draft?! Lucky cat indeed. Wine Director, Gillian Ballance explains...

We've begun a new program at FARM called "Wine on Draft"- we bring kegs right to local wineries, fill them up, and hook it up to a draft line, similar to beer. It is fairly common practice in Europe- During many visits to wineries, I have seen local restaurant and pub owners, stopping by to "fill up"- Currently, we are pouring the Scholium Project Verdelho from the Lost Slough Vineyard in Suisun Valley, just north east of napa- My friend Abe Schoener, who is the founder and winemaker of Scholium Project, started working with this old, dry-farmed site about 5 years ago....The Verdelho has hints of citrus, minerals, grapefruit and white pepper- with the weight of Sauvignon Blanc- Bright acidity and a slightly off-dry finish, makes it very compatible with all types of cuisine- The benefits? A guarantee that the wine stays fresh and is not corked-Since no glass, labels or corks add to the expense of the wine, we can bring the value back to the guest- 5.5 ounce pour is $6- and a 19 ounce Carafe is $15-

Nothing like a meeting of the minds...read this article in the Sonoma Valley Sun about Gillian's work to pair Jeff's delicious asparagus dishes (see yesterday's post!) with local wine.

To Everything, Turn, Turn, Turn...

FARM Executive Chef Jeff Jake explores the changing of the season, the changing of the menu, and how you can create your own seasonal menu at home.

Spring is just around the corner- March 20th, according to our calendar. But of course mother nature has her own timing! Young lettuce, fava beans, spring onions and English peas are already here.

To a chef, new ingredients and a change in season usually means menu changes. This includes both an emotional and mental change in the attitude of the kitchen staff. Raw ingredients in themselves offer chefs those four basic tastes: salty, sour, bitter and sweet. Through experience and techniques dishes are developed to bring them into harmony. While many aspects come into play, one of the most important tools available in menu development and the creation of a well balanced dish is identifying those products with the greatest affinites for one another.

Asparagus on its way in from the Sacramento Delta has a role in so many dishes. Of course we know a very classic asparagus dish is served with a hollandaise (lemon, egg and butter). But the list of ingredients that complement or enhance the asparagus experience is lengthy. Write your own list from past experience then create your own new asparagus menu to enjoy at home. Asparagus, St. Helena Lemon olive oil and black pepper is a favorite. Try it warm, cold, grilled or blanched and see the difference in how techinique changes the affinities of this simple combination.