Borgo Moncalvo Brachetto d'Acqui 2016

Sorry I haven't done a wine post in awhile. Life got very hectic over the last few weeks. I was expecting to have a nice relaxing couple of weeks staying at Erik's house in North Carolina before I moved up to New Jersey to start my new job. Instead we ended up having to evacuate his house for Hurricane Florence and I headed up to New Jersey a week early and stayed with my parents. This weekend I moved in to my new apartment, and today I have my first day of orientation for my new job. I expect that now that I'm working full time with long lawyer hours I won't be able to be as consistent with my posting, but I still hope to be able to get at least three wine posts out each month. This week's wine is a sweet dessert wine that comes from the Piedmont region of Italy, Erik and I picked it up at Wine Authorities two or three months ago.. It comes from a tiny (only 5 acres) organically-farmed winery. The wine is made from 100% Brachetto grape, which is most commonly used to make this sweet wine. It's a very different type of sweet wine than Port or other common dessert wines. Instead of being fortified and somewhat syrupy, this sweet wine has only a 6.5% alcohol content, and it's made into a frizzante (slightly sparkling) wine similar to Lambrusco.

























I served this wine chilled, which is how I typically serve sparkling red wines. When I poured myself a glass, it smelled very fruity, like strawberries, cherries, raspberries, and cranberries. The red fruit overwhelmed almost every other scent to the wine, except for a slight hint of nutmeg at the end. When I tasted the wine it matched the smell. It tasted very fruity and crisp, not like a typical syrupy dessert wine at all. I described it to Erik as tasting like cranberry juice with a splash of brandy poured in. In addition to the berry notes, there was a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg as I swallowed the wine. We paired this wine with almond cake topped with strawberries. It went so well with a light flavored cake and fruit, it would also go great with fresh raspberries or strawberries with cream or a strawberry mousse. It would definitely be better with lighter desserts than rich, heavy, or chocolatey desserts. I really enjoyed this wine. It has sweetness without syrup, which I appreciated, but it's not for everyone. Erik was not a big fan of it, but if you find that some dessert wines and Ports are too cloying or too sweet, then this sweet wine might be right up your alley instead.

Weekly Window Shopping

Brooks Brothers Red Fleece Checkered Wool Twill Jacket

There's nothing more Fall than a plaid blazer. The warm tones in this one are perfect for the season.  I love the gold buttons on this blazer, it adds a touch of glam. I would wear this casually paired with a simple top, skinny jeans, and brown or black booties. I would also wear this to work over a simple black dress, or with a cream top, black work pants, and black pumps. It's a versatile blazer that can be worn for so many different occasions.

Tuckcrnuck Emma Crewneck Shaker Sweater by 525 America

For Fall, you can never have too many good quality simple sweaters. I love the color of this one in particular. The warm taupe color is a Fall staple, but it has just a hint of purple to it, which adds a bit more interest to it. I would pair this sweater with some fabulous statement earrings to really make it pop.

J. Crew Collection Tie-Waist Pants

Fall probably has the most distinctive color palette out of all the seasons, and these olive pants fit right into that palette. This rich color is perfect for when the leaves start to change, and I'm obsessed with the bow in the tie-waist detail. This was a look that I loved over the summer with shorts, and I'm happy to see it transition with pants for the cooler months. This pants are great for transitioning into Fall, and for once we're in the thick of it. If it's still warm where you live I would pair these with a cream short sleeved blouse and nude flats. Once it starts to get colder, I would pair them with a taupe, cream, or black sweater and booties.

Gal Meets Glam Eva Dress

I eagerly await the Gal Meets Glam release ever month. I flip through the look book within minutes of it being emailed out, and I mentally circle all the dresses that I love. This month was so exception, and there were so many gorgeous Fall dresses. I love everything about this dress: the plaid pattern, the warm neutral colors, the neckline, the A-line skirt, the cap sleeves. This warm toned plaid is an elegant way of styling the classic fall pattern. The high v-neck adds a very feminine and sexy touch, without the risk of showing too much. The fitted waist that flows into an A-line skirt is so flattering for those of us with hourglass figures. I will definitely be ordering this dress.

Gal Meets Glam Paige Dress

Usually I try to pick only one dress from each Gal Meets Glam monthly collection to highlight in my Weekly Window Shopping, but this month, there were too many gorgeous dresses for me to choose just one. I love the feminine twist on tweed in this dress. The cream and peach colors in the dress really soften and modernize the old school fabric. The collar of this dress is absolutely darling and adds a playful touch. I would pair this with a classic camel trench and brown booties.

End of Summer Style

I took these photos just over a week ago. At that point I thought that I was going to stay at Erik's place for another two weeks before heading up to New Jersey, but Hurricane Florence changed those plans. Erik's house is in a county that was/is under mandatory evacuation so we both headed up to New Jersey last Tuesday and have been staying at my parents house, because my apartment won't be ready for me to move into until this upcoming weekend. Since we left far enough in advance of the storm, we had no trouble getting out of North Carolina and heading North. Erik can't head back to his house for a few more days though, because all the roads heading into his town are flooded. Based on power outage maps, it looks like his house only lost power for about half a day, and his house is high enough above sea level that it's very unlikely that it flooded at all. He's lucky that he's not expecting much damage to his house, given that many neighborhoods around him haven't been so lucky. We took these pictures in Swansboro after grabbing brunch at one of our favorite restaurants in the area. As of Sunday, these roads are flooded and the restaurant we were at is half underwater. North Carolina will rebuild, but keep the state in your thoughts as it continues to experience intense flooding.

This was one of my last weekends of summer, and I took advantage of the beautiful weather. Soon I'll have to pack up my shorts and sandals until next May. Tie front shorts are so much fun for spring and summer. I love a bow detail, and this front bow really elevates a pair of otherwise simple shorts. The silk scarf tied around my bad adds a pop of color and pattern to a somewhat neutral outfit. The navy in the scarf pattern ties together the navy shirt, watch, and bag. The scarf has a peacock printed on it, it was a Gift With Purchase from Lilly Pulitzer, but there are so many square silk scarves with fun prints on them out right now. I'm currently on the hunt for one with a deep forest or olive green as the main color to use in fall. Around a purse handle is my favorite place for a square scarf, but they also look super cute tied around your neck in place of a statement necklace, or tied around a ponytail. This is the kind of outfit that can be worn again and again, with different accessory variations to make the outfit pop. It would look great with statement earrings, a larger pendant necklace, a whimsical statement bag, or a bright pair of shoes. I love having a few base outfits in rotation like this one.

~ Shirt (similar) ~ Shorts (similar) ~ Necklace ~ Purse (similar) ~ Scarf (similar) ~ Watch ~ Sandals (similar) ~ Sunglasses~

Weekly Window Shopping

Vineyard Vines Button-Up Shep Shirt

Shep shirts are a classic alternative to a sweatshirt. I love how Vineyard Vines has been doing more of the button up variety in recent seasons, it looks a bit more polished than the zip up kind. This is the perfect shirt/sweatshirt to throw on over a pair of jeans when running errands or having a casual day at home.

Draper James Floral Eyelet Bell-Sleeve Blouse

This navy top is perfect to transition to Fall. It's long sleeved, but the sleeves are eyelet and unlined. It's ideal for those September days where it feels like Fall in the morning and summer in the afternoon. The two ruffles down the side give it a lovely, ultra-feminine touch, and also creates a slimming effect. I would pair this with lighter/medium wash jeans to prevent a monochromatic look, or with gray ankle pants.

J. McLaughlin Odeera Cashmere Sweater

An elegant cashmere sweater is a timeless fall and winter staple. It's one of those pieces that can be worn year after year, without going out of style or wearing out. I love the side bow details on this otherwise simple sweater. It adds the perfect amount of fun and flair to keep the sweater from being boring, but ensuring that it's still a timeless look.

Kendra Scott Tansy Pendant Necklace in Ivory Pearl

I love Kendra Scott's Ivory Pearl jewelry, it's so versatile because it works with any colors in your outfit. The petal shape of this pendant necklace is unique and adds a bit more interest than a standard Kendra Scott necklace. It can still be paired with anything, but the non-symmetrical shape gives it a slight edge.

Nordstrom 1901 Poplin Detail Tie Waist Dress

I love everything about this dress. The material and long sleeves are perfect for fall. The ruffles around the wrists and neckline create the illusion of wearing a button down shirt underneath without having to deal with constantly straightening out the different layers, and the tie around the waist gives the dress a more flattering shape. I would pair this with brown or taupe ankle boots, or brown or nude loafers for a classic fall look.

Stripes in Sonoma

I went to back to California last week with Erik for an extended Labor Day weekend. We started in L.A. to visit college friends. We went to undergrad in L.A. and a handful of both of our friends stayed in the area following graduation. I try to go back at least once a year to see everyone and enjoy the California sunshine. After a few days in L.A., we drove up to Sonoma County for a few days for some wine tasting. We stayed at Erik's friends' house, they rent the guest/side house of a gorgeous house in the hills of Sonoma County. The land that the house is on has a huge and beautiful garden, a fish pond, and there are vineyards next door and across the street. It was the most beautiful place to stay, it was so lovely and quiet. I grew up in the Bay Area, but my parents moved to New Jersey a few years ago. Since they moved, I've only been back for about 48 hours during this past Christmas, and I barely left my grandparents house while I was there. It was nice to be back in the Bay Area and enjoy the views and the greenery unique to the area. It felt like going back home.

The first full day that we were in Sonoma County we visited two different wineries. The first was called Red Car, it was in a cute, glammed out barn type of space, with a cute little patio. The weather was perfect for sitting outside and the Pinot Noir that we tasted was delicious. The second place we went to was the Russian River Vineyards winery, it was all outside and had more of a rustic vibe. There were cute tables with wine barrels as the base and cool vintage trucks around the property. The wines here were even better than the first winery. We were all raving about the Rose and the Barbera. Our second day visiting, we drove over to Bodega Beach and walked along the beach. Even though it was September in California, the water was very cold and the beach was windy and chilly. Northern California beaches tend to be like that all year round, they're very different from Southern California beaches, were you'll find people sunbathing year round. Northern California beaches tend to be hauntingly beautiful, and they feel more like you're in nature than Southern California ones.

 Since we were in California, I opted for a looser, less structured dress the day we went wine tasting. California fashion tends to be more casual than on the East Coast, so I went with my version of more casual. This dress is one of my favorite everyday dresses. It's loose and swingy like a t-shirt dress, it's made of a soft jersey knit material, and it has pockets! I throw it on all the time to run errands, because it instantly makes me look a bit more put together when I have no makeup on and my hair is in a ponytail, but it's still incredibly comfortable. The diagonal pattern is currently sold out, but J.Crew came out with it in solid colors, and I'm very tempted to grab it in black. Even though its easy to wear more casually, it can also be dressed up with the right jewelry. Since my shoes have gold details on the main strap, I decided to stick with gold jewelry. I wanted to keep my jewelry relatively dainty, since the diagonal stripes are bold enough on their own, and this Kate Spade bangle and earrings were the perfect compliment. I felt comfortable and cute all day!

~ Dress ~ Shoes (similar) ~ Earrings ~ Bracelet (similar) ~ Sunglasses ~

Weekly Window Shopping

J. Crew Point Sur Tiered Ruffle Mini Dress

I love burgundy in the fall, it goes great with my coloring and it reminds me of the leaves changing. This mini dress is a great fall party dress. The ruffled tiers add great texture and depth to the dress, and the wrap neckline is flattering without being too low cut. This dress would look great paired with beige or brown booties, or with black chunky heel pumps with an ankle strap. The color makes enough of a statement that I would stick with dainty, simple jewelry with this dress.

Talbots Classic Cotton Shirt- London City Print

A timeless button down shirt will never go out of style, and I love the London print on this one, it adds a something extra that makes the shirt more special. I love the Tower of London and the London Eye sketches, and the colors for each sketch go together beautifully and don't overwhelm the shirt. London is one of those classic cities abroad that everyone should have a chance to visit, and this shirt perfectly encapsulates it.

Brooks Brothers Red Fleece Boucle Coat

This is a great transition coat. It's warm but not too heavy or thick, perfect for chilly fall days. I love boucle, I think it immediately makes anyone look more put together and polished. The color of this boucle adds a lovely bit of femininity to the coat, without making it too "girly." This is a great coat that can be worn over office wear to work, or it can be worn over a little black dress for a night out on the town.

Tuckernuck Smooth Navy Crossbody by Neely and Chloe 

Navy bags for fall are a classic look. I love how smooth and clean this bag looks, I just want to run my fingers over the front of it. This is a great sized bag for when you're going out and don't want anything too bulky. It's slim, but can fit all the essentials.

Anthropologie Rosebud Peplum Sweatshirt

I love sweatshirts that masquerade as sweaters. They're always so soft and cozy, while looking for put together than the average sweatshirt. The feminine details in this sweatshirt are absolutely darling. I love the peplum style, I think peplum tops always look so great paired with dark wash skinny jeans, and the tiny little rosebuds add a pop of color and fun without being an overwhelming pattern.

Txakoli Akarregi Txiki 2017

Hey guys, so I'm completely done traveling (until I move up to New Jersey), I'm back from Europe and California, and back to my regular Wine Wednesday. I prefer to review wines that I drink at home, rather than when I'm out, because I feel like I can really take my time and focus on getting a better understanding of the wine when I'm at home. I'm not distracted by the ambiance of the bar or restaurant that I'm at, and I can drink the wine over the course of two days to see how it changes overnight. This week's wine is an effervescent white wine from Spain. We picked it up at Wine Authorities in Durham over a month ago, but didn't drink it until I got back from traveling. Notice that I described this wine as effervescent, not sparkling. The wine has a delightful slight fizz to it, but it doesn't have enough bubbles for it to be considered sparkling wine, instead it can only be called effervescent. The grape used to make this wine is Hondarrabi Zuri, it's found in the Basque region of Spain (the northern area that includes Bilbao and San Sebastian), and it's often used to make this effervescent style of wine. The grape is known to produce wines with strong minerality, which it gets from the Atlantic Ocean's influence over the soil in the Basque region. It's an interesting grape that produces a delightful wine.

I usually start with how the wine smells, but with an effervescent wine like this, how it sounds when it's opened is also interesting. The cork didn't pop like it does with Champagne or other true sparkling wines, it had to be removed with a corkscrew, but there was a slight hissing noise when it came out of the bottle. When I poured a glass of it, it sounded like pouring a can of soda that had been sitting open for an hour or two. It had some nice bubbles at the top without getting foamy. The wine smelled very bright and crisp. I got some citrus and tropical fruit scents, like lemon and pineapple, with a hint of grassiness on the back end. The taste of the wine matched the smell. There were notes of grapefruit, lemon, pineapple, guava, and grass, with a strong minerality on the back end. I could definitely taste the Atlantic Ocean from the soil in the wine. It was a great summer wine, very crisp and fruity, easy drinking, but not too sweet. We paired it with a spinach-pesto farro risotto and watermelon, and it complimented the spinach-pesto and the melon very well. It would also go great with any type of seafood, especially shrimp, or a pasta with fresh herbs.