Winey Tasting Notes: Finally Some Time For Wine

You know those days when you are running around catering to the needs of your very busy children who cannot drive yet? You coach, you carpool, you run a bake sale, you carpool, you volunteer at school, you carpool. It seems as if you never leave the car or get a chance to relax at home. Multiply this statement by the number of children you have.

I remember thinking that once my two Winey Children were old enough to drive, life would get so much simpler. And for a while, it did. Winey Son drove himself to golf matches and baseball practice. There was still Winey Daughter to drive around. But there were advantages to it. You will never get a better chance to hear about what your children are doing than when you are playing chauffeur to a carpool of 12 year old soccer players. Don’t think of it as eavesdropping, think of it as keeping up with current events.

But then Winey Son went away to college, and eventually Winey Daughter entered her senior year in high school. And the SENIOR YEAR STORM hit our household. I must have forgotten about it: the unwritten rule that high school seniors will be so busy that they will suck you into their vortex of busyness, thereby denying the entire family any chance at all of 1) eating dinner together 2) eating dinner at a table, any table or 3) relaxing with a nice glass of wine after a long day.



Senior Soccer Night (insert bittersweet tears here)

I must admit I didn’t see it coming. Sure, she’s a soccer player. And it’s a busy season. And she’s the captain this year. But then BAM! College visits (my forced recovery from spinal surgery did not allow me to accompany her on these long hauls so Winey Hubby made the trips because heaven forbid she be interested in a college within a 2 hour drive of our home). BAM! Senior college info night. BAM! College nights at local venues. BAM! Senior Soccer Night. (sob) BAM! SAT’s & ACT’s. BAM! College applications. Let’s not forget that the Winey Hubby and I might have lives to live. During soccer and football season, he can be found most evenings running the scoreboard at the high school football field. BAM! Playoffs. I signed on to help a good friend run for mayor of our town. BAM! Debates! BAM! Candidate meet and greets. And we still served as presidents of our local West Point Parents’ Club. BAM! Go Army Beat Navy. ahem.

Is it a wonder we joked about not seeing each other except to fight for shower time (which really translates to hot water time – I think our hot water heater is getting old, but that’s another post)?

And then one night….it happened. We were all at home. It was a Saturday. It was raining. Without hesitation I ran to fridge and yanked out a bottle of Bixler Vineyards Union Island White. (2009, No ABV given, Lodi, CA). If ever an autumn evening called for a crisp white and a bunch of new magazines, this was it.

Union Island White is a blend of Viognier (58%) and Chardonnay (42%). Upon first sniff, you’ll get some green apples and some mellow pear. The taste is tart, with those green apples showing up, along with some kiwi and some lemon-lime flavors. It finishes off with an apple-y oakey taste, but I’m not sure how, because it’s aged in stainless steel and not barrels. But who am I to argue with my taste buds? The Viognier shines at first and Chardonnay shows up later. This is a very easy drinking wine. It could pair up with lots of different foods (chicken, pasta, fish – just stay away from the tomato sauces). I must say it paired very nicely with two October home magazines and one fall fashion mag.

I have always said what a big fan I am of red blends, but will confess to finding most white blends a bit too sweet. This one proved me wrong. It was tasty! I may need to get busy and try some more white blends real soon. But I’m going to wait til after soccer season.

Cheers!!!