A roundup of my favorite things from the week in the categories of wine, food, travel, and lifestyle.
WINE
Wine4.Me Free Wine App Has Launched
I’m so excited for the hardworking team at Wine4.Me on the launch of an app that has been four years in the making.
For full disclosure, I have consulted on the development of the app on several projects, and I also write a monthly food and wine pairing article for the Wine4.Me blog (see my latest post here). I do this all because I love the team there and believe in what they are doing.
Now I don’t get excited about wine apps. In fact I don’t even actively use most wine apps out there. I’ve tried dozens, but frankly they do nothing for me. The ones that are fairly interesting are primarily there to help you keep wines you’ve tasted organized. I have not seen an app that is made strictly with consumers in mind, this seeped in scientific data and analytics, made to help people discover new wines based on their taste preferences.
Per their website:
Wine4.Me, our mobile wine discovery app, uses sensory science, proprietary technology, and predictive analytics to take the guesswork out of selecting a delicious bottle of wine…every time. (Don’t worry. It is also super easy to use.)
Basically, it was created to help you, the consumer, find more wines you’ll like based on wines you’ve enjoyed in the past. They use their data to help you understand your taste preferences and recommend new wines (real wines you’ll be able to find in your local supermarkets and also upscale wine shops).
I’ve been playing around with the app for a couple weeks now and it’s pretty cool, super easy to use, and I think it will be a game changer for consumers looking to discover new wines that they will like.
See their official announcement for more information
Download the app here
Simple Summer Sippers
Throughout the summer I’ll be recommending simple summer wines to sip on during the long summer days (say that three times fast), and ones that won’t break the bank. You know, the cheap and cheerful wines you can take with you on a summer picnic or sip poolside. Wines you don’t have to think about, nor do you need to swirl and analyze or record your notes on. Just fun, easy drinking wines that fulfill the job of being refreshing, tasty, and affordable (as in the $8-$15 rage).
The following two I tried this week fit the bill. Both of them retail for $10, but you can find them for as low as $6.
2012 Re Midas Soave
Soave DOC, Veneto, Italy
Grapes: Garganega
12% abv | $10 (media sample)
Simple, fresh, and fruity with green apple and citrus aromas. Crisp and clean on the palate with fresh citrus overtones. Fits the bill of being refreshing, cheap and cheerful. Bonus: It’s also sealed in a screwcap closure making it a nice picnic wine (no need to pack the cork screw!). Would also be nice to sip on during summer gatherings or to pair with simple appetizers.
Mionetto ‘Il’ Prosecco
Prosecco DOC, Veneto, Italy
10.5% abv | $10 (media sample)
This wine is simple, fun and pleasing. It has some bright apple, peach, and citrus aromas. It has a gentle sparkle to it, and the bubbles don’t last long (this is due to the method it was produced – charmat vs traditional Champagne method), making it a casual everyday sipper, yet still crisp and refreshing.
I love the low alcohol on this wine (10.5%), combined with the refreshing fruit flavors, making it an excellent daytime sipper, poolside sipper, and perfect for brunch mimosas.
LIFESTYLE
Bella Organic Farm, Sauvie Island
Berry Picking Season is finally here!
My kids love berries. They also love to pick fresh berries. They also love to eat the berries right off the plant. They are also three-years-old and do not yet have the patience or self control to wait until we get home to wash and clean each berry.
The only berries in season right now are strawberries. Strawberries always rank among the top of the dirty dozen (fruits and veggies with the highest amount of pesticides). Because of this I only buy organic strawberries.
Bella Organic is a 100-acre all-organic farm, certified by Oregon Tilth. They offer several varieties of berries as well as dozens of vegetables you can pick or purchase in their farm store. The farm is also 100% run on solar energy.
I love this place and couldn’t wait to get the notice that they are open for the season.
We went berry picking here last summer several times, and also pumpkin picking, and even got lost in their corn maze. I love this place!
We went on opening day last weekend, and again yesterday with a good friend and her little ones, and plan to go over and over, as long as they still have berries to pick.
We’ve been strawberry freaks all week, making strawberry crepes, strawberry pancakes, strawberry smoothies, and even these smoked strawberry shortcakes with smoked bacon biscuits (OMG!). Bring on the strawberries.
TRAVEL
Weekend in Hood River, Oregon
(Aerial shot of Hood River, OR, via wikipedia)
Got plans for the weekend? Join me in Hood River for Boda’s Kitchen’s 2-year anniversary.
Who/what/where is Boda’s Kitchen?
Who will be cooking? Hubby. He will be bringing his new monstrotious smoker out to Hood River to help cook up some amazing barbecue alongside Matt & Sirota, owners of Boda’s Kitchen.
See more about the event here.
Did I mention there are also more than 30 wineries in close proximity to Hood River?
I hope to see you there.
Have a great weekend everyone.
*****
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The post Friday Favorites — The new Wine4.Me Wine App, strawberry madness, and summer wines appeared first on Vindulge.