We took a trip recently to Vietnam – I highly recommend this country as a 
place to travel to. The people are extraordinarily gracious, the food is
almost uniformly delicious everywhere you go, and the country is incredibly beautiful.
There’s another reason now – the limited edition line of Lady Trieu Gins crafted in Cu Chi, just north of Ho Chi Minh City.
I tried many new things during this trip including some (very hot) rice alcohol, and some ‘snake wine’. Most of the beer I encountered was unremarkable, but the bartenders at our Hanoi hotel took good care of me with awesome cocktails.
Then there was the Martini I ordered in Hoi An – which ended up being literally that, a shot of Martini Vermouth. Vietnam’s coffee game is s t r o n g, which made me deliriously happy. This was the only positive holdover from colonization that I could see, except maybe for the bread used for Ban Mi.
But this Gin was a huge winner and I was happy to be able to bring some back home to Canada. The Lady Trieu Distillery has developed a series of Gins, each celebrating the distinct biodiversity and history of different regions of Vietnam. I chose the Hoi An Spice Road because we had enjoyed touring the Old Town streets and pagodas at the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
Hoi An was at one time a bona fide crossroads of the world – the most important port city of the transcontinental Spice Trade. This history is reflected in the botanicals selected for distilling – in particular, the pomelo and lime peel, ginger root, cardamom, coriander and red peppercorns – give it a fabulous citrus and spice profile.
Drink it on its own or on an ice cube to bring out the aromas. Although you can, I feel it’s too good to smother with a mixer. You can purchase Lady Trieu Gin in Cambodia, Lao, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam. Now that I know this, I’m planning my next trip.
During Cov*d, I offered a wine tasting with paired hors d’oeuvres to a local Rotary Club fundraiser for the Victoria Hospice Society in the memory of my father-in-law, Ken, who spent his last days there.
As wine club members, we were offered a premium tasting; Scottish transplant, Jacqui, led us expertly through 9 very different wines including a Sauvignon Blanc, a Cabernet Sauvignon, A Petite Sirah, several blends, and four Zinfandels.
Travelling down the highway from Mendocino on our way to Truckee, California, I yearned for a tasting at Domaine Anderson. We’d been to the Anderson Valley several years prior, but had visited their sister winery, Roederer at that time. 
Domaine Anderson is nestled into a refined and graceful setting – the architecture of the tasting room and surrounding buildings is beautiful. Everything is in harmony – which is hardly surprising because these folks are cognizant of how important that is; they run an organic and biodynamic outfit. Their vineyards are all certified organic, and the Dach in particular is Demeter Certified Biodynamic. 
just the right amount of information and presence. 
I was a fan of both the Walraven Vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Walraven is their warmest growing region in the south of the valley, but also has the most altitude featuring Chardonnay clone 124, and Dijon clones 114 and 667. 
The night before I’d been to a renowned restaurant that listed Stolpman Vineyards on their wine list, so I thought I’d pay them a visit at their outdoor tasting room in lovely Los Olivos, California – a small town with many dozens of winetasting options.
several of his wines to them. For example, the rosé being tasted was the “Para Maria” with half of the profits going to his employee of 20 years. There was also a red blend – Syrah, Sangiovese and Grenache – called “La Cuadrilla” in honour of the farming team/crew. 
At least 10% of the vineyard’s production goes into the blend. The profits are returned to the crew members, divided by seniority, in the form of both a year-end bonus as well as weekly bonuses on each paycheck.
and 30% Chardonnay white blend with a herbal palate and nose of honey, acacia, pineapple, and nettle. Acidity is high on this wine and it is marketed to local Japanese restaurants – hence the sea urchin name and theme.
Definitely worthy of a visit (make a reservation online) if you’re in the Solvang-Buellton area.
dined at ‘Passionfish’.
Initially I started to put my coat on the back of the chair and even thought about dutifully sitting down. But then, I saw what was happening here – single, 55+ woman, gray hair – dispensable and invisible.
bottled, are they still alive? From the picture to the right, we know that Bob Lindquist was there – this 2006 wine was made well before he left in 2019.
This is pretty cool and happening stuff. While Pinot Noir grapes have been pressed and used forever as part of sparkling wines and blends, it’s rare to find white versions as still wine.
Albariño (kind folks, they could have finished faster without me, picture right).
The outdoor tasting garden at Tolenas is at the side of Lisa’s childhood home. She and Cliff farm the vineyards with her father who started the whole operation – and is still working making wine and farming grapes. Mary, their Tasting room manager, knows the wines inside and out.
I have visited tasting rooms in seven countries, but this one nestled in the Santa Rita Hills is the most intriguing and relaxing I’ve ever been to.
encompasses more than just wine.” (see video below)
Although he produces Pinots and a myriad unusual grapes that people come from miles
away to taste, it was approaching 90F, so I opted for some Chardonnay. Relaxing outside at the crush pad, I was ecstatic.
Deep gold in colour, the nose has tones of sherry, sea salt, coconut, super ripe Barlett pear and bergamot. The palate is delicious with almond, pear and ginger blossom, dried mandarin peel, and more Oloroso.
winellama 