Instead of Wordless Wednesday, this week I give you WINE WEDNESDAY.

You should know from the start that I’m sort of a wine snob.

I know what I like.

I just don’t always know why.

So I’m not a connoisseur. Hell, no! After many wine tastings and classes, I understand ‘finish’ and ‘legs’ but when we get into identifying aroma and notes, I’m lost.  ”Bottoms up” becomes my motto.  I just go for the gusto.

As a food blogger, I sometimes get invitations to try products. (Most are for items I wouldn’t buy so why take them just because they’re free? I politely refuse.) Sometimes I’m asked to review cookbooks but those that have come my way haven’t appealed either. Then one day recently I got an offer from The California Wine Club to try a couple of bottles of wine. Now that interested me!

I made my usual disclaimer saying my “accepting the delivery was no assurance that I’d write about it” and that I was ‘no connoisseur’. The Wine Club of California was fine with that and sent me a Robledo Sauvignon Blanc 2007 and Robledo Los Braceros 2005. Check out all those gold award labels…I was psyched.

A word about pairing. I believe that the “right” wine to accompany any meal is the one you enjoy. But, that said, I went the conventional route for this tasting and opened the white to try with fish and salad.

I loved it! It was everything one expects from a Sauvignon Blanc…light and crisp and it had a long finish.

I saved the red wine blend for Easter dinner (and then forgot to bring it!) so I opened it the day after with a spicy chicken cacciatore made with fresh tomatoes.

I would classify it as “robust” since it stood up well to this dish. (IMHO)

A final word about The California Wine Club. They’re a family-run organization supporting and featuring local winemakers, many of whom are also family-run. Based on my 2 tastings and a glance at their website, I’d say this is the way to go if you want to discover new quality wines.

Special Offer to FOODalogue Readers. If anyone is interested in trying these same wines, they are offering them at $13.00 with no obligation to continue in the club. Just use the promo code foodblog-11 to take advantage of it.

You might want to do your own wine tasting at home. Here’s a list of ‘discriptors’.Wikipedia

Not lost on me was a ‘fun fact’ in the material enclosed with delivery:
“If you’re trying to lose weight by counting carbs, remember this: a standard serving of beer has 13.13 carbs; wine has 3.5. And carbonated cola has 39!”

Pass the corkscrew!