July is the start of celebration mode in our house. Our anniversary is in July and birthdays and holidays follow for the rest of the year. My husband celebrated his birthday last month. I have the HARDEST time shopping for a gift for him every year! Truth be told, I suck at gift-buying overall. He is an especially hard person to shop for. Luckily I pay attention to him or I’d be up a creek. He’s been talking more and more about wines. He’s learning about them and just taken a general interest in the subject. I have always wanted to be more knowledgeable where wines are concerned too. When his birthday rolled around I was stressing about a gift and then at the last minute it hit me! Wine tasting!
I searched the web for the best reviewed spots in the area. The one that had the best reviews also happened to be the only winery in the city of L.A. On top of that it was on a street that shared my husband’s name! How perfect. I quickly made our reservations for their Wine 101 four course luncheon.
Oh.My.Goodness. These people are for real! It was a great way to experience wine tasting. Our teacher went over so many things about different wines and reasons for various aspects of the process of creating wine. We really learned some things. There was also a tour of the winery. When we sat down for the luncheon we didn’t know what to expect. I guess we should have expected the best because that’s what we got. There was an eggplant, orange and goat cheese salad served with Champagne Duval Leroy Brut Rose (no picture, we ate it too fast). Broiled miso black cod with potato pancakes served with Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Roasted rack of lamb and mushroom risotto served with Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and finally a light chocolate mousse with toasted coconut shavings served with Brachetto D’Acqui. Four courses and seven wines…Delish!
I have to say I didn’t expect to “taste” so many wines. We tasted six wines and one champagne. I had to pull back after a while because mama is a lightweight. I filled up on food, bread, water and coffee. One of us had to drive home, right? Mental note for next time, hire a limo or take a cab! My husband and I had a great time! We bought a nice bottle of wine to take with us. We’re thinking we’d go again. They have other classes and they have a dinner tasting. This could be one fun and expensive habit!
16 Comments on It Might Become a Habit…
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Sounds fabulous! Great photos. It sounds and looks like something my husband would love too!!!
Let me know if/when you go again! I totally may steal this idea for my babe’s birthday in November. I went wine tasting with some girlfriends earlier this year and had a blast!
Oh that sounds wonderful! I’ve never been to a winery but I really need to!
id love to take you some time soon ok?
We love to go wine tasting and use to do it alot; pre-baby. We’ll have to go on a double date 🙂
Oh yeah, and I’m a closet foodie too 🙂
What a wonderful idea and what a great dining experience! I’ve never been to a winery nor have I ever been to a wine-tasting party, bot I would love to do both! Great blog and I’ll be back!
Now that’s what I need so that I learn about the different wines and how to pair them, etc. What a terrific birthday present!!
Sounds and looks awesome! That’s definitely a great habit to have. And what a great experience for your hubby’s birthday! I love it!
I LOVE wine tasting!! What a fabulous gift to give! Wonderful idea.
Oh, oh, oh!!!! I know that winery! Kenny and Iused to go there ALL the time when we lived in Silverlake! We LOVE wine tasting…we go a ton…to Temecula, Napa, Solvang, Carmel…most places here in California except for Paso Robles…haven’t had a chance to get there yet. There is also a winery with amazing dessert wine in Laguna Beach called Laguna Winery so it is still within a short(ish) drive from LA. Glad to hear you both liked the wine tasting! Now that I know you both enjoy wine tasting, I will send you some info about other places close by!
I don’t even drink wine, but what a perfect present. I like that the street and your husband shared the same name. And your lunch is making me drool.
That sounds like so much fun!! That food looks delicious!
What a fabulous idea! The food looks delicious. I have never been to a wine tasting party. What a great gift idea.
The Mr. and I have a wine tasting class coming up. I love wine (cheap wine). I plan to get drunk during the class : )
This sounds so perfect! I have never been to a wine tasting, but it’s definitely something that I’d like to try. You’re right… they ain’t playing!!! These pictures looks so yummy.
This sounds soooo nice. This will be on my list of things to do with Mister!!!!! Have been wanting to get to Napa for years now. Heard it is absolutely FABO!!!!