Inspired by Wine Country

This week I took my first wine tour in Temecula. When first arriving upon wine country I was amazed that I had not stumbled upon this beautiful place before. After only a 20 - minute drive we were on the main street that is surrounded by rows and rows of green grape vines, beautiful castle - like wineries, and blue ponds lined with wooden fences. Nature at its best.
We didn't waste any time getting down to business: wine and food tasting. We began with a light and crisp variety of white wines. The first was a 2006 Sauvignon Blanc. Crisp, fragrant with the slightest undertones green of apple and floral aromas, it paired perfectly with an organic salad with dried cranberries, local goat cheese, toasted walnuts and a lemon vinaigrette. Next was a wine I had never tried before- Golden Jubilee. This was a sweet and fun wine with flavors of ripe peach and pineapple.Complimented with a savory warmed goat cheese and artichoke dish, it paired perfectly. After touring several different wineries I found my favorite wine of the day, which came from the family - owned Ponte Vineyards - a crisp chardonnay with the hints of coconut, marshmallow, vanilla,and green apple. This, along with my "Shrimp Scampi with Linguine, " was a great ending to a great day.
Check out my full Foodie News "Blog" and get the recipe for Shrimp Scampi with Linguine at www.theguestgourmet.com!