Gamba Vineyards and Winery: Rapture of Spring and 2018 Etrusca Natalia Rosé

It has been raining in Sonoma County since January. Forever. The early morning drizzle had stopped and a pure delight seemed to sparkle in every pool and drop of water.

In anticipation of sunshine and pleasure, my dear friend Mary and I chose Gamba Vineyards and Winery for the private wine tasting. It was a prospect of rapture that brought us together through a suddenly golden and inviting spring.

Gamba Vineyards lay here, in the Russian River Valley, as a promise, exposed to the first after long winter sun and to the loving glance of the owners and guests like us. It is time for the vines to awake from dormancy and begin to push water up from their roots, and for the tiny vine buds begin to swell and break open with shoots.

These brilliant tear drops of spring of the vines are most touching.

Our private wine tasting experience was incredible. There was something overwhelmingly homey and welcome about the whole scene - there was this golden sunlight outside, the barrels with Gamba wines, the beautiful solid wood table top, a line of impressive Gamba wines and a great storyteller.   

I was smitten by the new Gamba wine - 2018 Etrusca Natalia Rose - which opens up to you immediately as crisp and refreshing delight with an almost extravagant, but delicate bouquet of melon, nectarine, rose petals and other notable floral notes. It's the wine of youth and early afternoon dreams of friendship and love.  

I was happy to discover that Gamba 2016 Zinfandel - Family Ranches, Russian River Valley - has that strong allure of the aromas and the silky and smooth texture of Gamba 2012 Old Vine Zinfandel I remember from my visit in July 2014.  

Sip a Little of Spring in Carmel-by-the-Sea

The morning waned from the bright blue naivety of ten o'clock to the cloudy beauty of eleven. Carmel-by-the-Sea is a place like no other. It is where ocean and land kiss. It is where wind shapes and drapes slumbering trees, and the air is full of salt, pine and dreams.

Fascinated, I was watching waves roll in and break, and listening to the black bird old story.

Strangely, this was a new world that morning - with spring in my heart.

New York in June 2017

I did not know I loved New York. I know now. 

I was captivated by New York in June. I was enthralled by the fevered pace of its streets, by the noisy corners of its many bars, by the magic green lights in the private park under my windows, by the roofs of skyscrapers melting away into the sky, by the buildings playing mirrors for the sky and other buildings, by the rain, crashing the Park Avenue.

Dry Creek Vineyard: Dancing in the Sun with the Sun Kings

Picture a beautiful California blue sky.

Picture a sun which is tired to be hot.

Picture lovely picnic grounds.

Picture the Beatles nostalgic crowds.

Look closer and you will see something extraordinary and intriguing, yet simple, real and true. It was not in the first few moments that I saw all these things, though I saw them all. I saw that everything within my view was connected by love, and I found myself in the deep appreciation of life, family, music and truly great Dry Creek Vineyard wines.

Sbragia Family Vineyards: Fantastic Cioppino Dinner

It was a 40-degree growing colder rainy January evening, and I - wearing black Calvin Klein boots, long skirt, cashmere sweater and warm coat - was moving up the broad steps of the Sbragia Family Winery with the rhythm of the excitement and anticipation of the Cioppino Dinner. For a moment I paused in the doorway and took a picture of the beautifully arranged tasting room.

While I was sipping my favorite 2015 Sauvignon Blanc from one of the last bottles, I felt a delight in the conversations with friends and complete strangers. The truth was out: I loved Sbragia wines, I was happy to be there, and I was curious about winery's brand new chef Heidi and her cooking skills.

My favorites for the dinner party were Sauvignon Blanc, Gino's Estate Zinfandel (bravo!), Crab Cakes (!), Cioppino (!) and Caesar Salad.