Author: SAHMmelier

Being a stay- at-home mom can leave one thirsting for a taste of the outside world, a world in which sentences are composed of more than three words. Being an educator means one is always seeking an opportunity to explore and learn. Being a woman with a need to connect can be a challenge when adult conversations are rare. In wine, I find the marriage of art and science, agriculture and storytelling provides limitless areas to explore. But it is the people that keep me engaged. The tenacity needed to keep the family dream alive, the risk to start anew, the trials and principles. I love the history of the vine, the impact of a season, the sentiment in the bottle. That is why I write. I write to tell their stories, to share a piece of mine. I write to learn as I teach others. I write to connect with new friends, to disconnect from the world. I write to celebrate what makes each of us unique, and that which ties us together.

Gobble Gobble Give- Potluck with a Purpose

November 18, 2016.Reading time less than 1 minute.

We are now in our 6th year here in Austin. If you’ve participated before, thank you. If you are interested, click the link below for more information… Source: Gobble Gobble Give- Potluck with a Purpose

I’d Love to be Stuck in Lodi

November 10, 2016.Reading time 3 minutes.

If John Fogarty feels dread at being “stuck” in Lodi, he may not be a wine lover. I know, I know, the song was written long before Lodi became a wine-lover magnet, but I can’t think of one without hearing the other. I recently participated in a Snooth chat with four wines from Lodi, California, […]

The Road Taken-Balletto Vineyards

October 21, 2016.Reading time 6 minutes.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both…* So begins the frequently referenced Robert Frost poem which alludes to choices made, paths traveled, destinies missed and revealed. When John Balletto was a very young man, he was forced to choose a path that would, again, diverge. Through trials and tenacity, […]

Into the Woods-TX (+CA) Tuesday

October 18, 2016.Reading time 4 minutes.

When something becomes a high enough frequency, it seems silent. That. Between adding a part-time job (with full-time responsibility), trying to replace my car (part-time efforts with full-time stress), family health hiccups, and trying to maintain my volunteer positions, this SAHM (can I still call myself that?)has gone silent. Oh, I’m still sampling wines and practicing self-care […]

Vibrant and Versatile-Barton & Guestier Rosé

October 3, 2016.Reading time 3 minutes.

We have all heard about how versatile Rosé can be. It carries throughout the year, pairs with a wide variety of dishes, and you can find delicious examples at a variety of price points. Did you know that it also pairs with vastly different days? What I mean by that is that I equally enjoyed […]

No Debating the Value- Chilean Monday Wines

September 26, 2016.Reading time 4 minutes.

Let me preface by saying that I loathe this election cycle. I am not an overly political person. I can usually see pros and cons to each candidate, try to understand people’s differing point of view. It means I may never take a hard stand on a specific candidate. Issues, yes. Party, no. It makes my husband […]

Go for Garnacha-Monday Wines

September 19, 2016.Reading time 5 minutes.

On Friday evening, several wine writers participated in an online tasting in celebration of Garnacha Day. Haven’t heard of it? Perhaps you have. Garnacha is the Spanish name for Grenache. A thin-skinned, medium body grape with notes of red fruit and baking spices, orange zest and herbs. And that’s just the red grape. We also […]

Learning From a Master-#winestudio

September 6, 2016.Reading time 3 minutes.

Last year I participated in a virtual tasting with Santiago Achaval of Achaval-Ferrer in which we deconstructed his Quimera blend and discussed each component. He walked us through his method and motivation for creating this wine. The blend is dominated by Malbec, a signature grape in Mendoza. Achaval-Ferrer’s focus is on creating wines that best represent the […]

Celebrating this Labor Day-Hacienda de Arínzano

September 5, 2016.Reading time 4 minutes.

It marks the unofficial end to summer, a reason to gather with friends and family and enjoy the fruits of our labor. While some may consider staying at home with children as a break from labor, those who know are aware it is anything but a break. The days are long, we don’t ever clock […]