SITE SEARCH

Romantic comedies and wine, honesty what can be better? 9/10 I am pouring myself a glass of wine while I am watching a rom-com so why not have fun with it and pair my wine with the movie I am watching?! I will share with you my wine pairings along with my reasoning behind it but I encourage you to have fun and get creative with your own pairings! There are so many rom-coms and wines out there, I would love to hear what pairings you come up with. Share them with me and I will repost on Instagram!! Now let's get to it. Before even watching this movie, based on the title it is inspiring me to open up something pink and sparkling! This classic rom-comm is a perfect match with Laurent Perrier's CUVÉE ROSÉ. This high end bubbly is filled with bright berry flavors and a long dry finish. It's great to sip on its own or will pair deliciously with a pretty cheese spread during the movie! We all remember this scene of Julia Roberts taking a bubble bath in a classy hotel room sipping on her champagne and eating strawberries. Literally living her BEST LIFE! It only seems right to match this scene and the infamous movie with a bottle of wine just as worthy. Laurent Perrier's Ultra Brut is a true illustration of the Laurent Perrier empire.  Aromatic and charming is how we can describe both this wine and Kate Hudson's character Andy in this hilarious rom-com! Kate's on-screen character is smart, sassy, and slightly sweet there is no better match than Hive & Honey's Gewürztraminer. Open up this wine along with an order of spicy Thai take out and you are set! I mean how can I not open up a bottle of wine from Washington when watching this Seattle based rom-comm?! If you haven't been watching out for all of the incredible wines coming out of Washington right now I highly recommend diving into this wine region! I am going on a trip to explore some of Washington's up and coming top AVAs next month so be sure to follow along on my Instagram. This cabernet by JB Neufeld is everything you want and more in a WA cab and I cannot recommend it more!

Let’s talk dinner party wines! Hosting a dinner party can be overwhelming, let me help make choosing your wines the fun part! I am sharing with you my favorite wine varietals to serve at a dinner party along with a little sneak preview of what we call “The Vortex Somm”  such a show stopper! You must start off the evening with a glass of bubbles, look no further than Laurent Perrier's Ultra Brut Champagne. Greeting your guests with a glass of bubbly will not only serve as a palette cleanser but set the scene of the night. On your table, you must have a rose, crisp white, bold red, and oaked chardonnay. With these wines on hand, you will be sure to impress every palette at the table and compliment all of your dishes. When it’s time for dessert, break out your favorite off-dry wine and pair I alongside some cheeses European style. For every successful dinner party, you want to be sure to include an aperitif wine such as the champagne I mentioned, a rose and a crisp white to compliment your side dishes/salads and to mainly serve as that “go-to versatile” wine throughout the course of the meal. Your bold red wine such as this cab I share will stand up against any of your meats to cut through that fattiness. The chardonnay will complement any cream-based dish such as your fish, chicken, or pasta. Of course, everyone wants to end the night with something sweet and that is when bringing in an off-dry Reisling or Gewürztraminer will be the perfect ending along with some creamy cheeses. For the full list of wines, please contact me at sam@samanthasommelier.com, or visit my website samanthasommelier.com. Let me handle the wine so you can enjoy hosting your party with your guests! Want me to handle your next wine tasting/dinner party? Book your privately led tasting here!

Romantic comedies and wine, honesty what can be better??? 9/10 I am pouring myself a glass of wine while I am watching a rom-com so why not have fun with it and pair my wine with the movie I am watching?! I will share with you my wine pairings along with my reasoning behind it but I encourage you to have fun and get creative with your own pairings! There are so many rom-coms and wines out there, I would love to hear what pairings you come up with. Share them with me and I will repost on Instagram!! Now let's get to it... "Pretty in Pink" and Laurent Perrier CUVÉE ROSÉ Before even watching this movie, based on the title it is inspiring me to open up something pink and sparkling! This classic rom-comm is a perfect match with Laurent Perrier's CUVÉE ROSÉ. This high end bubbly is filled with bright berry flavors and a long dry finish. It's great to sip on its own or will pair deliciously with a pretty cheese spread during the movie! "Pretty Woman" and Laurent Perrier Ultra Brut We all remember this scene of Julia Roberts taking a bubble bath in a classy hotel room sipping on her champagne and eating strawberries. Literally living her BEST LIFE! It only seems right to match this scene and the infamous movie with a bottle of wine just as worthy. Laurent Perrier's Ultra Brut is a true illustration of the Laurent Perrier empire. "How to lose a guy in 10 days" and Hive & Honey's Gewürztraminer Aromatic and charming is how we can describe both this wine and Kate Hudson's character Andy in this hilarious rom-com! Kate's on-screen character is smart, sassy, and slightly sweet there is no better match than Hive & Honey's Gewürztraminer Open up this wine along with an order of spicy Thai take out and you are set! "Sleepless in Seattle" and JB Neufeld's Washington Cabernet Sauvignon I mean how can I not open up a bottle of wine from Washington when watching this Seattle based rom-comm?! If you haven't been watching out for all of the incredible wines coming out of Washington right now I highly recommend diving into this wine region! I am going on a trip to explore some of Washington's up and coming top AVAs next month so be sure to follow along on my Instagram. This cabernet by JB Neufeld is everything you want and more in a WA cab and I cannot recommend it more! "Moonstruck" and ANNA MARIA ABBONA DOGLIANI DOLCETTO SORI DIJ BUT 2016 This famous Italian American family I grew up watching made me crave vino before I was even allowed to drink, (sorry mom). Of course, I am pairing this movie along with a classic Italian wine that some may even call Dolcetto one of the best table wines out there! Order in or whip up some homemade spaghetti and meatballs, it's time to unwind. Salute! I hope I inspired you to open up a bottle and turn on your favorite rom-com! Don't forget to tag and send me your wine pairings, I would love to see what you come up with! Want to be educated on wine in the comfort of your own home? Book, your favorite somm for an in-home tasting! Book here! Never miss a post, wine tip, recipe, or exclusive deal! Sign up to be apart of the Samantha Sommelier family here!

So here is the scenario. It's 12/31. You're at your local grocery store. You are trying to pick out the perfect bubbly to ring in the new year. You want a bottle that is special and different yet not hundreds of dollars, right? You also want to be sure you get "Champagne" because it's NYE and you feel that is the thing to do. But is it? No... I am here to tell you your sparkling wine does not need to be a Champagne to celebrate the end of 2019 right. The next question you may be asking yourself is, what makes a wine Champagne? The smooth and short answer is that sparkling wine can only be called Champagne if it comes from the region of Champagne, France. Champagne can only be made using the grape varietals Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. To recap, all Champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne. We really should think of Champagne in terms of a geographical place as opposed to a winemaking style. Long story short, I don't discriminate between sparkling wines, and I do very much enjoy Champagnes. Therefore, I'll share with you some of both and you pick what sounds good to you! Here is how to read a sparkling wines sweetness level, I know I still get stuck sometimes... BRUT NATURE/BRUT NATURE/NATURHERB: 0 – 3 GRAMS/LITER = Bone Dry EXTRA BRUT/EXTRA BRUT/EXTRA HERB: 0 – 6 GRAMS/LITER = Slightly (but only slightly) less dry than brut nature. EXTRA DRY/EXTRA SEC/EXTRA SECO/EXTRA TROCKEN: 12 – 17 GRAMS/LITER = Not intensely sweet, but you might get some nice, more pronounced fruit character. DRY/SEC/SECO/TROCKEN: 17 – 32 GRAMS/LITER = Literally means “dry dry dry,” which in the backward world of sparkling sweetness levels actually means “sweeter, sweeter, sweeter. Not as sweet as it sounds. DEMI-SEC/SEMI SECO/HALBTROCKEN: 32 – 50 GRAMS/LITER = A medium-sweet wine, though the term—which translates literally to half-dry. DOUX/DOLCE/MILD: 50 GRAMS+/LITER = This is as dessert as a sparkling gets, sweetest of the levels. Tips on shopping for sparkling wine/champagne, knowing the differences Look for words like méthode Champenoise, méthode traditionnelle, méthode classique or “fermented in this bottle” on the label. And if the grapes used are some combination of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, most likely your sparkling wine from California, Washington or Australia, etc. is emulating Champagne. A wine can only technically be called Champagne if the wine was made in the region of Champagne, but there are a lot of quality sparkling wines that are just as tasty. Know your budget Sparkling wines can vary in price, so it is important to know how much you want to spend. You don't always have to shell out a lot to get a delicious wine. I don't really believe the price is an indicator of quality. There are really good sparkling wines, and equally bad ones, in every price range. How to serve sparkling wine Loudly popping the bottle and sending the cork flying might be the most exciting way to open your bubbly but it's not always the safest way. For the best tasting sparkling wine, I recommend refrigerating the bottle for about two hours. I do not recommend using the freezer, as, yes, there is such thing as too-cold sparkling wine. While served colder than other wines, sparkling should be poured at between 30 and 45 degrees. If the bottle is too cold, the cork will get stuck making the bottle very hard to open. Trust me, I've learned this the hard way... When the bottle is chilled correctly, twist the bottle, not the cork, keeping your thumb on the cork at all times. Now, who wants to learn how to saber? Stay tuned. and be sure you're subscribed to my mailing list! My recommendations NV Masia Puigmolto Can Xa Brut CAVA: Such an impressive sparkling wine, I actually served this at my wedding because of how crowd-pleasing it is. Pairs well with cured meats and cheeses or an aperitif.  $18 NV Revi Extra Brut Rosé "Red-berry, bread-crust and pressed field-flower aromas to shape the subtle nose. On the tangy palate, a persistent and bright acidity accompanies red currant and orange slice before a hazelnut close." $58 Cleto Chiarli 2016 Vecchia Modena Premium Pairs well with sheep's milk cheeses and dried fruits. $16 Roederer Estate Brut Affordable light domestic sparkling, think granny smith apple. $25 Laurent Perrier Brut N/V "Lean, refined and elegant on the palate, this is a dry and silky-textured, vivacious, and perfectly fresh and balanced aperitif Champagne." - Wine Advocate. $44 Taittinger Brut La Francaise A great budget-friendly Champagne you can find at most local shops and grocery stores.  $49 Chandon Brut Perfect bubbly to toast to 2020 with! $24 Ca’ Furlan Prosecco Amazing prosecco to use in all your cocktails, mimosas, the ultimate brunch bubbly! $9 Ferrari Brut 100% CHARD Harmonious and well-balanced $25-30 Ferrari Demi-Sec Another winner from Ferrari, the ultimate Italian sparkling wines! $25-30 Domaine Ste. Michelle NV Brut Incredible everyday bubbly from the Chateau Ste. Michelle family. $12 Gloria Ferrer 2004 Royal Cuvée Brut "A beautiful sparkling wine, rich and refined in the mouth, with creamy flavors that show ripe, sweet California strawberries and limes. " - Wine Enthusiast. $32 VEUVE FOURNY ET FILS BRUT PREMIER CRU GRANDE RESERVE NV Fresh and fruity champagne, a perfect balance of liveliness and freshness. $40 Check out my latest contribution to AZ Central for more sparkling wine tips!

I wanted to get a bit festive with my bubbles this year so I made this recipe to add a little flair to your typical glass of bubbly! It is super easy to assemble and tastes absolutely delicious. I know you guys will love this! Ingredients: Pomegranate Juice 1 bottle any champagne or sparkling wine 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds 6 sprigs of rosemary Steps: Add 1 tbs of pomegranate seeds to a glass. 1-2 rosemary sprigs. 1-2 ounces of pomegranate juice (more if you like) Top each glass with bubbles and enjoy!

Every year at Christmas my aunt makes the most incredible orange zest cookies. Unfortunately, she refuses to give the recipe to anyone because it is just so secret to her. So I decided to come up with my own copy cat recipe so I can enjoy these cookies all year round because they are just so delicious!! Also, who doesn’t love lemon cookies, right? I hope you guys enjoy these as much as I do. Ingredients Cookies: 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon baking powder1 teaspoon salt1 stick unsalted butter softened2 cups sugar2 eggs1 15 oz container of whole milk ricotta cheese3 tablespoons of lemon1 whole lemon, zest Glaze 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar3 tablespoons lemon1 lemon, zested Steps (Cookies) Preheat oven to 375 degrees in a medium bowl combine flour, salt, and baking powder and set aside in a large bowl (I used a stand mixer), mix together butter and sugar until fluffy – about 3 minutes incorporate one egg in at a time then add lemon juice, zest, and ricotta cheese and mix until smooth stir in dry ingredients, I did it in 3 partsLine 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and scoop cookies (use an ice cream scooper for perfect cookies)Bake for 15 minutes until you see slight browning on the edge of the cookiesRemove from oven and let cool for at least 20 min Steps (Glaze) In a small bowl mix together powdered sugar, lemon juice, and zest until smooth scoop and spread out gently onto the center of cookiesLet the glazed cookies harden in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours enjoy!

https://issuu.com/richmanmediagroup/docs/ss_dec19

May 17th is National Pinot Grigio Day and I am getting in the spirit by sharing a glass (or four) of delicious Mezzacronoa Pinot Grigio with my loved ones outside in the sunshine! Pinot Grigio is such an underrated wine and I truly wish that this national day of recognition of it allows you to realize how versatile this crisp white wine can really be! Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio has been growing its beautiful wine within the magnificent Italian Alps since 1904! I am so excited to be sharing their focus on enjoying wine with the people that you love on National Pinot Grigio Day! I am thankful to be able to sip on delicious wine with my closest friends in a beautiful place to welcome the beginning of summer. With so many Pinot Grigio brands out on the market today, it truly gets to be overwhelming to find one that you know you are really going to first of all enjoy, and second of all, get the most bang for your buck! After discovering Mezzacorona's Pinot Grigio with its aromatic crisp green apple, soft minerality and a touch of honeysuckle I instantly fell in love. I have been wanting to have an affordable, versatile, yet overall crowd-pleasing white wine for my summer get-togethers and I am pretty sure Mezzacorona has stolen my heart. I feel confident not only purchasing it for myself and fiancée to enjoy on a warm summer day with dinner but proud to serve it to my friends and family on any occasion. Pinot Grigio, especially this one, in particular, is the ideal complement to light appetizers, fish, soups, pasta, the list goes on! I enjoyed a glass with one of my girlfriends on a picnic in the park, munching on strawberries and turkey sandwiches. The great thing about this wine is it's okay if you don't know what your ideal pairing will be, just experiment to see! Or, if you just want to enjoy a glass on its own, the acidity is soft enough to not necessarily need a food compliment. However, being I grew up always complimenting my wine with my food, I highly recommend serving this wine alongside your summer picnics, BBQs, or any outdoor get together. Pinot Grigio to me screams liveliness, bright, fresh, and welcoming which is everything I want not only in wine but a gathering with my loved ones. You can find Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio in almost any Total Wine & More, most local grocery stores, or online at https://www.mezzacorona.it Photography by Dillon Driscoll and Jonathan Puente Styling and Concept by Samantha Capaldi Styling Assistance and Props by Avi Valencia Partnership with Mezzacorona Wine + Fifty & Five

Okay, guys, I have a little confession to make. I did not make this pizza crust homemade, I used Trader Joe's premade whole wheat crust in their prepared food section! I have zero regrets about it because I am a busy gal, I don't always have time to make a homemade crust with my schedule but if time permits go for it! This pizza is the perfect combination of sweet and savory and if you've followed along with my recipes before you will notice that is a favorite combo of mine to put together! Ingredients Trader Joe's pre-made pizza crust, read to bake Half an apple thinly sliced 2 cup arugula 8 ounces fresh goat cheese (or more..no limits on cheese guys) 1 tablespoon pinenuts 4 to 5 tablespoons of fresh fig jam (honestly as much as you want) 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons flour (for pizza dough prep) Honey for drizzling Recipe Preparation First things first, set your oven to 450 degrees and get your pizza dough prepared. You want the dough to sit outside of the fridge for at least 15-30 minutes before trying to roll it out, otherwise, it will be too hard. Once your dough is easy enough to work with, spread your counter space with some flour and start stretching the dough out. I do a combination of a rolling pin and using my hands. Roll out to your desired thickness, I like my pizza crust on the thicker side! I place my finished pizza dough on a wood pizza pan in the oven but you can use a baking sheet as well. Make sure you flour either surface so it won't stick. Now for the fun part, everything on this pizza is cold toppings so all you need to do is get this crust cooked for about 8-10 minutes and you will be ready to go! Once your pizza is out of the oven I immediately like to top it with olive oil so it soaks into the crust. Next, you will want to begin topping with your fig jam and goat cheese. It's okay if it starts melting into the crust! Next top with your arugula, apple, pine nuts, salt, pepper, and of course a little honey on top to serve! Feel free to add more or less of any of the ingredients, this pizza is meant to be easy to throw together and to get a little creative with. I have seen all types of versions of this made, I personally just enjoy my goat cheese and fig pizza as an easy appetizer to serve at get-togethers. I would love to see how you all made this, comment below! Don't worry, I didn't forget about my suggested wine pairing! I believe with the acidity of the goat cheese and sweetness of the fig jam, you can't go wrong with a Sauvignon Blanc or Albariño! If you want to get really festive, go for some bubbles. Cava would be my first pick because it's not as sweet as Prosecco has a touch of minerality to complement the goat cheese! Cheers!

As Thanksgiving rolls around we often get stressed not only about hosting and cooking for the family but having to pick out wines to pair alongside our meal too! I want the wine to be the fun and easy part for you so I am here to share some of my staple wines that are always at my Thanksgiving feast along with some complimentary food pairings that will be sure to please. From the perfect riesling and chardonnay to my must-have Pinot Noir, I will take you through what I will be serving my loved ones with on Thursday. For the big meal: Erath Oregon Pinot Noir ($19/bottle) and if timing allows I recommend, Chateau Ste. Michelle 2016 Eroica Riesling ($22/bottle). Pinot Noir, a popular choice at Thanksgiving, pairs well with traditional flavors of turkey and stuffing – not to mention potato recipes in all forms including Potato Turnip Gratin, a specially prepared recipe pairing for Oregon Wine Month from James Beard Award-winning Northwest chef Tom Douglas. A lesser-known, but equally as exquisite of a pairing is Riesling. Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Eroica Riesling is a perfect Thanksgiving white wine option because the cool, crisp acidity and lively citrus and peach notes beautifully balance out all the rich dishes on the table-- it's an ideal way to cut through all the butter in those mashed potatoes! Its light body is a great way to keep your palate refreshed throughout the day. Last but not least, MERF's Chardonnay out of Columbia Valley is a stable chardonnay at my Thanksgiving table. Whether you want to pair it alongside your Turkey or with your cheese spread this wine will be a favorite in no time.

As the holidays are quickly approaching I know a lot of us are panicking with how to stay healthy with all of these "unhealthy" tempting options. Don't worry, these endives will save the day when you want to cut some carbs to save room for all of that wine and cookies! This recipe could honestly not be simpler, tastes delicious, and most of all helps curb your appetite with the healthy handful of walnuts. Bon Appétit! Ingredients 6 Endives1 1/2 Cups Ricotta1/8 Teaspoon Pepper1/8 Teaspoon Salt1/4 Cup Walnuts1/4 Cup Pomegranate Seeds1/2 Nectarine Sliced Honey for Drizzle3 Tablespoons EVOO Steps Roughly chop the walnuts. Combine them in a small bowl with the pomegranate seeds, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Trim the ends from the endives and separate the leaves. Arrange the leaves on a plate and top each with a dollop of the ricotta and a spoonful of the walnut mixture. Garnish with sliced nectarine and drizzle with honey! Suggested Wine Pairing: 2017 Bisol Prosecco Crede​ Photographer: Diana Avalos