Parducci Pinot Noir

Getting back to basics is something that I need to learn how to do more often. Life has a funny way of getting a little crazy and soon you can lose perspective. Sometimes all it takes is a simple reminder to get back to the things that make you who you are. For me, my most recent moment of clarity came in this wonderful bottle of wine. It was a reminder that wine can take you to different places. This Pinot Noir was delicate and fruity, but had depth of flavor and a beautiful color. It was an opportunity to be pretend to fun and mysterious at the same time. The longer I let the wine breathe, the more it revealed itself and the depth of flavor. This was a great introductory red wine and a reminder to not judge a wine before you give it a try. Cheers to fresh beginnings and never forgetting the simple things are sometimes the best things!

Mediterranean Mint

Gelato is one of my favorite desserts, but I try to stay away from it as it is very easy to overindulge. I really enjoy how creative gelato flavors are, like black pepper or lavendar, because ice cream flavors tend to be a bit more normal. Finding frozen gelato at the grocery is always a struggle, as it usually tastes like ice cream. However, there is one brand that rules them all if you are willing to splurge - Talenti. It is on the expensive side, but for the few times I treat myself, I am willing to pay the price. As I was struggling to make it down the aisle without looking at the ice cream, something unfortunately caught me eye. It was a container of Mediterranean Mint gelato and I caved (plus it was an Easter treat to myself). There was no way I was going to be able to leave, so I put it in my cart and hurried away before I saw another irresistible flavor. The mint was subtle and refreshing, giving it a much more natural mint flavor. The chocolate chips weren't overly sweet and added just the right amount of crunch to it. I forced myself to practice self-restraint as I am sure that I could have eaten most of the container. I am not sure what the difference is between regular mint and Mediterranean mint, but I do know that it was a like eating heaven. If mint isn't you thing, they have tons of other flavors like salted caramel and Tahitian vanilla, which I have also tried. So whatever your mood, I am sure that there is a Talenti gelato for you!

Spring Sips from Central Market

If you just look, there are tons of things to do around you. I found a really fun wine tasting class at Central Market. This class highlighted some "Spring Sips", which are really just easy to drink, summery wines. In this class, we tried five different wines - two whites, a rose, and two red wines. One of the white wines that we sampled in the class (and I ended up buying) was a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. It was a crisp wines that had floral notes, in addition to citrus and minerals aromas. There were aromas of melon, honey, and lime. It had a nice finish to it that wasn't too acidic. It was a very nice wine on its own, but would pair well with chicken or a citrus shrimp dish. Since it had the background of minerals, it is great for those who don't like the fruity sweetness that white wines are known for. Coming in at about $8, this wine is definitely a must try as the weather begins to warm up.