La Vie En Rosé

It's February, and love is in the air! With Valentine's Day approaching, it's a great time to start thinking about gifts for your loved ones. If you're thinking about a gift for your sweetheart, Galentine, or yourself, a great Suisun Valley wine is always a great idea.

February is a month full of romance. Live life in rosé colored glasses by choosing one of these pink wines that are perfect for your Valentine's Day celebration:

1. Ryan Darrall 2021 Grenache Rosé

   The Ryan Darrall Grenache Rosé is a crisp and refreshing wine made in the traditional provençal style. With notes of fresh strawberries and citrus, it is a quintessentially French style rosé that is perfect for a romantic picnic or girl's night in.

   
   

   

   
   

2. Tolenas Winery 2023 Rosé

   If you're looking for a crowd-pleasing rosé, the Tolenas Winery Rosé is a perfect go-to pink wine! This rosé is made with a blend of Petite Sirah and Pinot Noir. It is a beautiful dark pink rosé with notes of strawberry, watermelon, and citrus. Having been compared to a white gummy bear in flavor, it is a perfect Valentine's Day gift in lieu of candy!

   
   

   

   
   

3. Mangel's Vineyards 2023 Caora Rosé

   Imagine the perfect rosé with fruit-forward flavor. Mangel's Vineyards Caora Rosé is just that! This rosé has notes of honey, strawberry, melon, cherry, and ripe peach. It is perfectly refreshing and subtle, making it easy to pair with a variety of foods. Try pairing this wine with your Valentine Day chocolates and desserts. Speaking of which, Mangel's Vineyards is hosting a Valentine's Day wine and dessert pairing event where you can try this wine with some artisan-made treats!

Life needs a little bit of pink! Cheers 🥂

Spooky Suisun Valley Sangria

It's officially spooky season! Celebrate Halloween and all things creepy by making a Spooky Suisun Valley Sangria. It's the perfect cocktail for a Halloween party, or for sipping while watching your favorite Halloween movies!

Recipe for 1 pitcher of sangria (serves 6):

1 bottle Suisun Valley red wine - I used Tenbrink Tempranillo

3 oz. Apple brandy (or your favorite brandy)

6 oz. Lemon sparkling water

1/2 cup Fresh-squeezed blood orange juice (or juice of 3 navel oranges)

1 oz. Agave syrup for sweetness

1 chopped apple

1 sliced blood orange plus more for garnish

2 sliced plums

2 cinnamon sticks plus more for garnish

Step 1 - Pour a bottle of red wine into a large pitcher. Add brandy, blood orange juice, and agave syrup. Stir and set aside.

Step 2 - Chop apple, blood orange, and plums. Add to the pitcher along with 2 cinnamon sticks. Let set covered in the fridge for 2 hours or overnight.

Step 3 - Stir sangria mixture. Serve in red wine glasses and top with sparkling water. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a sliced blood orange.

Cheers to spooky season!

How to Create a Pretty & Sustainable Picnic

Planning a picnic is a fun Summer activity. The weather in Suisun Valley is warm during the months of July & August, making it a perfect time of year to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. While considering what to bring for your next picnic, why not also consider how you can positively impact the environment through sustainable practices?

Each day, we're becoming more aware of our impact on the environment. Many greenhouse gases are caused by landfills, so it's more important than ever to consider sustainability in our day-to-day lives. An easy place to start is reducing the amount of waste we each contribute on a daily basis.

You can live a beautiful and sustainable life using many items you already have at home. Instead of reaching for disposable items for your next picnic, use these tips to create pretty and sustainable picnic in the great outdoors!

1. Bring a picnic basket instead of a disposable bag - disposable bags end up in landfills, and plastic takes many years to break down. A picnic basket is something you can use multiple times and makes for a cute accessory! If you don't have a traditional picnic basket, any kind of basket or reusable bag will do! Bring a cooler for any cold items and drinks.

2. Fill your picnic basket with reusable plates, napkins, utensils, glassware, and a cheese board. You can wash and reuse these items at home instead of throwing away disposable cups and cutlery in the garbage. Wrap any glass or ceramic serve ware in cloth napkins to protect them from scratches and breakage.

3. Bring picnic food in recyclable or reusable containers. Pack your picnic foods in glass or recyclable plastic containers to reduce waste.

These simple tips are easy enough to manage using materials you already have at home. Now all that's left is choosing your favorite picnic spot!