MERLOVE: a documentary about merlot wine

i have been wanting to do a proper post about merlove for some time now. and since i am not a movie critic or a particularly strong writer, i kept putting it off {sorry!!!}. basically, i let my fear of not being able to write a review worthy of such a beautiful film keep me from writing one at all. bad excuse, but i loved it that much! {hope that made sense?}

merlove is a documentary about merlot wine written and directed by rudolf "rudy" mcclain and marisol ramirez. i love it. you need to watch it and love it too. then drink a bottle of merlot {my favorite is swanson}. actually drink a bottle {or two} while watching the movie.

the dvd is being released tomorrow {saturday, november 14} and as it turns out rudy will be signing them at v. sattui winery from 11 am to 1 pm.

• merlove trailer no. 2 •

• merlove trailer no. 1 {i do things backwards} •

{more merlove love}

read:

• winebusiness.com

• decanter.com

• winespectator.com

• sthelenastar.com

follow: twitter.com/merlove

be a fan: facebook.com/merlove

buy the dvd: merlove.com

listen to: simka "cafe society"

napa town + country fair . 2009

had so much fun at the fair the other night! hopefully we will go back again this weekend. most definitely will not go on anything more than the ferris wheel. lesson learned on wednesday - ranger (picture below)= headache. seriously, what happened to being able to ride upside down + sideways over + over again without feeling sick???

 

the one corn dog i eat a year.

napa valley calendar of events: march 2009

ok, so january + february certainly went by fast!  + here we are on this rainy monday, march 2nd planning out a busy month from my favorite list...napa valley events for the month of march. as usual i am sitting here trying to narrow down the list of what tickles my fancy + of course having a hard time doing so...there are just so many to choose from! cooking classes, wine releases, art shows, winemaker dinners, art + gardening workshops, wine pairing classes, concerts + more...many of which are free! 

7-8: mustard, mud + music - a calistoga jazz festival

7 + 14: edible landscaping workshop {free!}

21: taste of yountville

28: tea appreciation - traditional tea ceremonies {i am a tea junky}

28: mumm napa photo finish 

please comment or send me an email if i am missing an event.

cheers! nm

ps: picture is of the delish soup i just had up at the calistoga ranch.

napa valley calendar of events: january 2009

hello all! i wanted to include the link to a valued resource of mine...the napa valley events calendar. there is just so much to enjoy, so please take a look! here is what i have marked on my calendar for january 2009.

10th: rose pruning workshop in napa at 10.30 until noon {free too}

11th: les violettes french baroque concert at grgich hills

11-14 + 18-21: truffle camp at la toque restaurant

30th: a night of music for new orleans at the napa valley opera house

31st: mustard magic. the grand event {mustard festival} at cia in st. helena

oh + zap {zinfandel advocates + producers} is from january 28th until the 31st. this event is held at the fort mason center in san francisco. definitely one of my favorites!  zap sells out fast, so get tickets now.

cheers! nm

a weekend must: {napa home + garden show}

yeah! the 18th annual napa home + garden show starts this friday, may 16th.

the show features over 600 exhibits with the latest ideas + technology in home improvement, remodeling, gardening, landscaping + outdoor living.

for anyone who is currently updating their home or who wants to get ideas for a future project this show truly has a wealth of information. now, i realize that most all information is easily accessible online, however when it comes to purchasing products for your home (which usually also come with a super large price tag), i feel it is so important to be able to see + play with the products you are considering to buy...+ in my opinion it is equally important to take any opportunity to meet + talk with the vendors face to face. you really can get a good sense of their enthusiasm with regards to their products + hopefully figure out whether or not you want to work with them. speaking from past experiences...having a positive working relationship with the company that is riping out your windows, flooring, etc is a must!

last year i was fortunate enough to have found window world - the window company who i ultimately hired to upgrade my house with energy efficient windows. they are the best! not only were their windows amazing + prices the lowest offered, their customer service rocks. i would actually have paid a little more for their windows just to deal with contractors like these. {side note: i did not get a discount to mention them...even my friend/client used + loved them too} please go + say hi.

oh + who doesn't love free products?! remember bring an extra bag for all the little goodies. + lastly, i also recommend that you bring a list of measurements for whatever it is you are upgrading. i will come in handy.

napa home + garden show
friday . may 16 noon to 7 pm
saturday . may 17 : 10 am to 7 pm
sunday . may 18: 10 am to 6 pm

napa valley expo fairgrounds
silverado trail + 3rd street in napa

admission:
adults - $7
children under 12 - free
seniors day on friday {62 + over} $4

a weekend must: {kitchens in the vineyards} april 26 2008

11th annual kitchens in the vineyards {goes green}

saturday april 26 2008

rain or shine i highly recommend spending this saturday afternoon attending the 11th annual kitchens in the vineyards home tour. it truly is such a special experience! this year five stunning homes in saint helena + calistoga will open their doors to the public from 9.30 am until 4.30 pm. if you are anything like me + dream about peaking inside the finest + most exclusive homes of the napa valley, than this rare opportunity is not to be missed.

each home will be styled by local noted designers + florists. as well as feature cooking demonstrations + tastings, courtesy of well-known napa valley chefs + caterers. please click here for detailed information on the chefs + local authors who will be on tour signing copies of their newest books. on a side note...i have to say that several years back i had the most delicious chilled english pea soup during a tour of a garden on lodi lane. i believe it was by the chef at angele, who i just noticed is listed as a featured chef on this tour! very excited.

what is even more exciting is that this year each home on the tour will feature "green" components - including european antiques, recycled materials, the use of solar energy + organic gardens. one of the tour homes will be styled by the new spruce style in saint helena, which specializes in sustainable home design. + adding to the “green” theme, each guest will receive a "green" gift of a reusable goody bag from whole foods market.

please click here for more details on the estates that will be on the tour.

proceeds from kitchens in the vineyards will benefit music in the vineyards, a non-profit chamber music festival held each august at wineries in the napa valley. this year's 3 week festival will take place from august 6th until the 24th. click here for more information.

tickets for saturday's tour are $65 + can be ordered by calling 707.258.5559 or email: mitv at sonic dot net. the tickets will be available at the will call desk located at the napa valley college upper campus in st. helena {1088 college avenue . st. helena . ca . 94574}.

+ for you last minute planners - tickets can also be purchased the day of the event at the same will call desk for $75 {the desk will be open from 9.00 am until 2.00 pm}.

cheers!

ps...please make sure when purchasing your tickets you check with them regarding parking as several of the estates will be accessible via shuttle.