February Favorite Sips
featuring a trip to Sonoma, LA sips, and favorite wines from events
The first two months of the year I had a clear case of writer’s block. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to write, but life, well, just was “life-ing” as the kids say these days. And even now, as I finish up this post a week into March (Happy Women’s Month), there’s the good old fashioned keep-me-where-I’m-comfortable-thoughts of, "does anybody care?". So those thoughts be damned, here are my favorite sips - which will be a now monthly series broken up into three categories: dining out, events and work.
DINING OUT
Living in LA, one of my favorite newish spots is Stir Crazy. The wine list is a excellent, one of the owners, Mackenzie, knows her stuff (!!) and usually there are a bunch of bottles you won’t find lots of other places in the city. Loved this Pinot Noir from Germany aged in amphora. Amphora are clay vessels (very old school way of storing and making wine). The clay allows oxygen into the juice because it’s porous, however, unlike a wooden barrel, clay doesn’t infiltrate the wine with ‘notes of the clay vessel’ à la wood. Think of it this way, clay is neutral - and while it does have its own characteristics, aging in wooden barrels can sometimes be like hugging someone, and then their scent lingering on you for a little. Sometimes it’s welcomed and other times you wish you could take a shower immediately.
Night + Market is always a favorite in the city! The food, the vibes, and of course the drinks. At the West Hollywood location you can get cocktails too (don’t think that’s the case with their East side and West side location). The spicy mezcal margarita situation is always a yes for me, and then with dinner we had a nice crunchy Gamay that was super energetic.
Which you might be like, Natalie, how can a wine be energetic?? And to that I say, just like certain outfits can have an energetic/zesty/sexy vibe vs. say a cozy/comfortable/coastal grandma aesthetic, the same thing can apply to wine. Giving you the permission to throw all the words, feelings, songs, and tastes that come to you while sipping. WINE SHOULD BE FUN!!! I love to play the “where did this wine go to college?” game as well. It’s certainly not traditional, but it’s how I like to imbibe! Play around, and find what works for you, because wine is a legal drug after all.
Finally - nico’s in Atwater has a basement bar called baby battista which felt like entering a cinematic high school party. While my friend and I didn’t run into anyone we knew, we had a glass of pet-nat before bouncing over to Club Tee Gee and dancing. I’d say go if you’re on a date or catching up with a friend, but like most wine bars, best to get a bottle to get the most bang for your buck!
EVENTS
One of my best friends is getting married later this year, so we threw her and her husband to be an engagement party. Since we had wood-fired pizzas, Broc Cellars Amore Rosso was the easy pick. Because who doesn’t love an easy drinking, filled with love red wine when celebrating, you guessed it LOVE!
While up in Sonoma, I was lucky enough (ok this is part work!!) to have a dinner at the famed Scribe Hacienda. It was a retirement celebration for a Revel employee and they went alllll out. Plus I got a sneak peak taste of Scar of the Sea’s Rose Pet-Nat and all I have to say is BUY THIS. Elegant, sexy, cool and oh so effortless. It’s a I-wish-I-could-have-this-all-the-time kind of bottle.
I know the SuperBowl seems like old news, but chilled down this Gurthie Family Wines Heirloom Grenache for the game day and it was a hit!! Done carbonically so there’s a nice fruitiness to it, but cut with some welcomed herbaceousness for balance. It is a lively, groovy wine that certainly made Usher’s halftime show that much more fun to watch.
Lastly, I got to pour wine with Avaline at the one and only Nancy Silverton’s home for an event with Hexclad. The hit for night was their Lambrusco - a sparkling red, that’s as spunky as she is alluring. I just looked, and they’re selling it (online only) but as single bottles so stock up before it sells out!!
WORK
My wine day job is working as a wine rep for Revel, a California based distributor that has an amazing portfolio of mostly American wines. At the top of the month we had a company wide trip up to Sonoma, including but not limited to drinking a lot of wines…for work purposes of course!
Scribe recently moved into a new winemaking facility that is STUNNING. My god. Of course when we arrived there was a rainbow flanking the vineyards, so it was extra magical. I’m still dreaming about the Sparkling Chardonnay because it was the perfect “welcome to Sonoma” rush to the palate. Plus the staff is effortlessly cool, knowledgable, and somehow everyone is attractive. No notes.
Dan O’Brien from Gail tasted us through his line up, and he is making really honest-to-the-varietal magic in a bottle (all sourced from single vineyards). You can find something for everyone - wines are perfect for the “different wine preferences” that might be at a family gathering.
Speaking of family, Carboniste is a project from husband and wife team Dan and Jaqueline Person focusing on making CA sparkling wine. I’m a bubbles gal, and I would happily sip their wines any time of day - especially loved their sparkling red, Brute Rouge!
And lastly, right next door to Carboniste is the ever delightful, Jolie-Laide run by Scott and Jenny. We got to try some tank samples (which means the wines aren’t yet in bottles, but nearly finished) - a little sneak peak if you will! All their wines give off cool-girl-quiet-luxury vibes in the best way, still approachable, but like you’re in on the trends before they become trends.
SHOP SCRIBE : favorites include their Sparkling Chardonnay, Rosé, and Pinot Noir
SHOP GAIL : obsessed with the Barbara and Merlot
SHOP CARBONISTE : get the critters welcome pack which includes my favorite Rouge Brute
SHOP JOLIE - LAIDE : the Aligote, Red Wine Blend, and Pinot Gris are my top picks
See you next month with a March round up!
The scar of the sea pet nat rose is one of my favorites!!!!! I had it on Christmas morning with tamales and a side of panettone 🥰 it’s so beautiful!