I know the summer seems a very long way off right now. So just for fun, I created this slide show of some of the places and people I visited this summer on my Bubbly Bar book tour. Maybe these pictures of wineries in Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino will inspire your summer vacation plans this year. Cheers!
This cremant from Burgundy is French, eminently drinkable, and $10 at Trader Joe's.
1. Michel Dervin Brut Champagne – crafted by a small grower in Champagne, this is toasty just the way you want, about $29.99
2. Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut or Extra Dry – made just outside Seattle, these wines are fresh and easy to like, about $8.99
3. Juve y Camps Reserva de la Familia Cava Brut Nature – an elegant and delicate mouthful, about $15
4. Blason de Bourgogne – a sparkling wine from Burgundy, made especially for Trader Joes available in brut and a brut rosé, about $10 – At Trader Joe’s
5. Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs – crafted from pinot noir and chardonnay grapes, a satisfying bubbly with a hint of richness, about $17
The Domaine Carernos Brut is a perfect marriage of California and France, with its fresh fruit balanced by toastiness.
A sophisticated sparkling wine from Alsace, it delivers gorgeous pinot noir flavor.
I just got back from Chicago for some fun Bubbly Bar book tour events, but I’m still pinching myself when I think of the unbelievably huge turnout for the Bubbly Bar launch party in San Diego at the Hotel Solamar. Slow Food Urban San Diego hosted the party as one of their popular Metro Mixer series. I can’t wait for the next one!
The crowd of more than 400 enjoyed three cocktails from the book – Lavender Tea, Tisana Punch and The Lava Lamp all made with seasonal ingredients and Domaine Chandon sparkling wine.
I spent most of the party signing more than 200 books – not complaining I swear. But I wish I had been able to mingle more. In case you missed it, here’s a report by Jacques Spitzer of NBC San Diego.com.
It’s hard to believe it’s finally happening, but after three years of work and waiting, my book “The Bubbly Bar: Champagne & Sparkling Wine Cocktails for Every Occasion” is on sale today!!
It’s a beautiful, fun and useful book, filled with great classic and original drinks that mix international sparkling wines like brut champagne, prosecco, cava with fine spirits, seasonal fruits and herbs and homemade syrups. Plus there’s a great guide to visiting California sparkling wineries and buying great bubbly in any price range. But don’t take my word for it; Washington Post spirits writer Jason Wilson wrote a great review on it and San Francisco based cocktail expert Camper English is featuring a Bubbly Bar book give-away on Alcademics.
In case you’re in San Diego on Wednesday Aug. 26, there’s a book launch party and farm-to-bar cocktails mixer hosted by Hotel Solamar and Slow Food Urban San Diego from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Admission is free; the $20 Bubbly Special includes a signed copy of the book and three cocktails from the book featuring Domaine Chandon sparkling wine.
One of the drinks we’ll be serving on Wednesday is Tisana, a fruity, golden punch — very much like sangria — that features passionfruit, pineapple, pink grapefruit and orange juices spiked with brandy and brut sparkling wine. I’ll also be making this drink on CW6 on Wednesday; here’s the recipe in case you’d like to try it at home.
Tisana Punch
Inspired by a fruit punch commonly served in Venezuela, this golden concoction is always appreciated. Try my version of this classic and then feel free to vary the ingredients with the fruits and juices you might have on hand, taking care to balance the sweet and tart flavors. A good dark rum can also be substituted for the brandy.
2 cups pineapple juice
2 cups orange juice
2 cups pink grapefruit juice
1-1/2 cups passion fruit juice
1 ripe mango, diced
1 green apple, diced
pulp from one passion fruit
6 ounces brandy
2 teaspoons Angostura bitters
2 bottles cava, chilled
10 fresh shavings of nutmeg
Combine the juices and fruits in a punch bowl or large pitcher and then add the brandy and bitters. Pour in the cava. Top with the freshly grated nutmeg and serve with ice if you like.
Makes 12 servings
From: “The Bubbly Bar: Champagne & Sparkling Wine Cocktails for Every Occasion” by Maria C. Hunt (Clarkson Potter $16.99)
I hope you can come share a glass of something sparkling with me as I launch my new cocktail book The Bubbly Bar: Champagne & Sparkling Wine Cocktails for Every Occasion from Clarkson Potter, a division of Random House.
Recently featured in The Washington Post, The Bubbly Bar shares recipes for classic and original cocktails that mix sparkling wines and champagne with seasonal fruits, fine spirits and home-made syrups and infusions.
Enjoy a civilized afternoon at a Croquet & Champagne Party hosted by The American Institute of Wine & Food on Aug. 23 at The Grand Del Mar. Put on your whites and play croquet, sip champagne and feast on tea sandwiches, strawberries and cream. The fun goes from 2 to 4 p.m. on the Aria Lawn, the tickets are $60 ($50 for AIWF members) and include a signed copy of The Bubbly Bar. To RSVP with the AIWF by Friday Aug. 21, call (619) 297-0951.
The next bash is a Slow Food Metro Mixer Aug. 26 at Hotel Solamar at 6th and J downtown. Taste bubbly cocktails featuring Domaine Chandon and fresh seasonal fruits, enjoy Chef Christian Graves’ delicious farm-to-table cuisine on the sunny patio of LOUNGEsix. The party lasts from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Admission is free; the $20 Bubbly Special includes a signed book, three bubbly cocktails and a donation to Slow Food Urban San Diego. Stay after the party for the chef’s special three-course Bubbles & Nibbles menu for $26 served in Jsix starting at 7 p.m. To RSVP, visit Slow Food Urban San Diego.
Domaine Carneros winery
California is dotted with beautiful wineries from one end of the state to the other. And in my opinion, some of the most beautiful are the places where sparkling wine is made.
I love the French chateau style winery at Domaine Carneros, the gorgeous foot bridge that leads to the modern J Winery, the rock gardens at Domaine Chandon and the quaint Victorian style house set against the forest at Schramsberg. And I can’t forget the gorgeous gardens and redwood trees at Korbel or the rustic barn and tasting room at Iron Horse.
Apparently Food Editor Margo True at Sunset Magazine agrees; the February 2009 issue features an article called All That Sparkles on California sparkling wine tours. Hmm, wonder if she had seen my former blog All That Sparkles before coming up with that headline?
Anyway, the article also includes a slide show with scenes from some of the beautiful places where California sparkling wine is made. .
