One of my favorites..Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay

Good Morning!

I am fired up for tonight and the activity called a tweetup on twitter. If you are not a twitter user here is how it works. If you join twitter to connect with people and can “follow” them or you can follow subjects you have an interest with. Most of the subjects I follow are wine, sports and working with young girls so they have a high self esteem. When someone “tweets” they post a message that is no longer than 140 characters or photos or attach articles etc. It is quick easy and I find this a really fantastic media to meet people and ask lots of questions and just post whatever is on my mind.

Over time I have watched different subjects and I notice that certain days will be announced that it is #PinotNoir tasting night or whatever wine they choose and anyone with an interest can join in the fun. Most folks are at home and they pop open a bottle of their favorite and “tweet” along during the night and they discuss their wines and experience with it. What I take from these conversations (and many of them are going on at the same time, it’s like being at a tasting party and you can eavesdrop). I get to hear about wines I have not tried yet and I am making a list of what is the producer, what vintage and what are they having with the wine.

Then some folks will announce a place before the wine tweet up and they will meet up or as they say “Tweetup” and have real face to face fun tasting each other’s wines. I have been to 2 “tweetups”, and I have to say, it is great fun and I am a highly social person once I am comfortable in a situation, but if I were to walk into a place and not know a soul, I would be uncomfortable…this way I already know we are there for the same purpose and many of the folks I have been tweeting with about wine or at least following them for awhile so it really feels like a mini reunion!

So tonight, is #Chardonnay night and I have two bottle chilling here at my place. I have a La Follette Sangiacomo valley 2009 Chardonnay (I heard about this wine on the Daily Grape, so I hunted it down and I also have a 1994 Chateau Thomas Chardonnay, Which I purchased years ago back when I still lived in Indianapolis and Dr. Thomas’ winery was just up the road.

A little background on Chardonnay in general…Chardonnay is the most widely planted and and purchased wine in the US. It is pronounced (Shar-doh-Nay). Chardonnay is very versitle and easy to grow in most regions, it is known for having good acid levels so it can handle many food pairings. Most of the chardonnay’s produced in the US spend time in oak barrels and they have a rich, full, nutty, creamy taste profile. My favorite pairing with chardonnay is lobster with drawn butter and I also love it with my Mac and Cheese recipe.

There is a new line of thought with winemakers to make chardonnay that does not age in oak barrels but in stainless steel tanks. I am really being seduced my this version of chardonnay, it is crisp, flinty, lemony, appley and pineapple in taste profile. I love this style of chardonnay with creamy cheeses and of all things sausages or brats on the grill.

Chardonnay is beautifully made all over the world Australia is making some award winning wines and of course if you want to try wines from the old world….go get a bottle of White Burgundy from France….the grape in that wine is Chardonnay grown in one of the most famous grape growing regions in the world.

Treat yourself and of course “Tweet” yourself up a storm tonight…it is great fun, you will learn about wines and producers you have never heard of and since the folks on twitter are such fun, they will use wine descriptors that will make you laugh or roll your eyes, but they are creative folks you will be entertained.

Enjoy your night!

Much LOVE and wine,

Tammi