January Recap
Hello hello! For a month that usually drags on and on, I felt like this January flew.
What I’ve been up to:
Colorado
The first half of the month was filled with lots of wonderful time with family, skiing an epic storm that rolled through Crested Butte, giving us about 4 feet of snow over two days (123 cm), and working shifts at The Dogwood Cocktail Cabin. Work-wise, I was trying to sort out how to legally sell wine in the United States. It requires a lot of permits and paperwork, and it turns out that every state has its own specific rules about what is and isn’t allowed. But after all of the Spanish paperwork I filled out last year, I’m prepared to take on this new battle and am excited to hopefully be selling wine in the U.S. this summer!
Madrid
I traveled back to Madrid on the 17th and arrived to a lot more sunshine and much warmer temperatures than in Colorado. While it personally felt great, to bask in the sun sipping on some vermouth and eating olives, it did cause some concern about what’s happening in the vineyards. For an optimal growing season and harvest, the vineyards must receive enough rainfall during the winter, and a recent study showed colder winter temperatures often yield better-tasting wines. So, hoping that winter gets a little colder and rainier here. It has been nice to get back into the winery and vineyards, checking in on the Garnacha which is tasting great, and also helping some friends prune their vineyards.
What I’ve been reading:
Los Sentimientos del Principe Carlos- a scathing criticism of how culture throughout history has impacted hetero-romantic relationships in the form of a hilarious graphic novel.
What I’ve been eating:
My dad’s homemade pork, and butternut squash ramen while home in Colorado. And a bomb vineyard sandwich with Panifesto bread, homemade sausage from my friend’s matanza, and grilled veggies from a fire in the vineyard.
What I’ve been drinking:
Post Flirtation Red 2022- Martha Stoumen. I’ve been wanting to try Martha’s wines for a long time. As a fellow female winemaker and businesswoman who I look up to, it was cool to actually taste her wines. This wine was served chilled, was light in body, juicy, and fruit-forward but with some baking spices on the finish to warm it up.
Slipper Sippers Nouveau 2023- Las Jaras. This wine was fun! And changed my mind about Nouveau wines, it was fruity, balanced, and well done.
A La Vie 2021- Julian Meyer. A fruity and floral blend of Sylvaner and Pinot Blanc that was just a really nice well rounded white wine. Shared with friends at dinner at a new natural wine bar with delicious artichokes, carrot hummus, and an olive oil ganache for dessert.
Ginger, pear, citrus vinegar shrub: macerate four pears (the sweeter the better), zest of one orange, and grated ginger in a cup of sugar for 48h. Then strain the liquid into a jar, and add the same liquid amount of apple cider vinegar and you have your shrub! Serve with ice and tonic or soda water with a fun garnish. You can also add gin to make it a cocktail! Cheers!
What’s on tap for next month:
Stay tuned for more wine updates, as well as an article highlighting some BIPOC organizations lifting up the wine industry.
Thanks for reading!
Love,
Nicole