Wine and food lovers ~ rejoice! “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day has generated such *incredible* buzz that we’re going to keep the celebration going, worldwide, *through the end of August.*

That’s right ~ it’s now “Drink Wine With Dinner” *Month* ~ and there’s still plenty of time for you to get in on the action. (See below for ideas.)

"Drink Wine With Dinner" Day, August 15th, generated so much buzz that we've turned all of August into "Drink Wine With Dinner *Month*!

Now, about the amazing buzz: As of today, an online search of DrinkWineWithDinner brings you straight to *Page 1 of Google.* The first *several* pages of Google, in fact, are *crammed* with media articles, blog posts, and comments from wine-loving individuals about our new holiday.

Online magazines such as 7X7SF, in San Francisco; the food ‘zine iSanté; even the Wall Street Journal (!) all picked up on “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day. (Just click to read the articles.)

Ian White, of San Francisco's 7x7SF Magazine, wrote a terrific article about "Drink Wine With Dinner" Day.

And much to my delight, wineries from all over California have joined the fun too, sending me stories, photos and recipes for their own “DWWD” festivities. You’ll find a post for each one, here on my RosinaWilson.com blog ~

Gioia Wine ~ Teri Love’s “Kitchen Sink Salad”
Sierra Vista Winery ~ “BBQ Pork Tenderloin”
Peju Winery ~ “Spanish-style Sautéed Shrimp”
Spelletich Family Cellars ~ “Pan-seared Duck Breasts”
More to come…

What a wonderful article by Amanda Cook, in iSante online magazine, about "Drink Wine With Dinner" Day!

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Meanwhile, here’s a look at some of the top blog writeups for “DWWD”:

Chef Alisa McPheron, "The Cheesecake Queen," blogged about "Drink Wine With Dinner Day."

* Chef Alisa McPheron (ChefAlisa.com) calls “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day “…a perfect chance to practice one of the KEY ingredients of the Culinary Art of Happiness ~ it’s being able to slow down, relax, and share a meal with your family and friends. It’s a chance to engage in conversation, enjoy the company and enjoy the moment.”

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Beau Carufel of "Beau's Barrel Room" contrasts the different attitudes toward wine in the USA and Europe.

* Beau Carufel (BeausBarrelRoom.com) remarks, “Many people out there, probably about 220 million of them, do not in fact drink wine with dinner very often. Sure, wine is a natural and even essential part of a meal in France, Italy, Spain, and indeed all over the world. Perhaps our misguided societal approach to alcohol has kept us the “Coca-Cola nation”, but change could still happen.”

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Gwendolyn Alley, "The Wine Predator," raises a glass for "Drink Wine With Dinner" Day.

* Gwendolyn Alley (WinePredator.com) gives some mouthwatering descriptions of the grilled, blue-cheese-laden burgers she planned to enjoy with a Zin from Paso Robles ~ “classic Zinfandel full of brambly fruit character going on ~ lots of blackberry on the nose, some raspberry, a little rose petal, and it explodes with sweet fruit on the palate with a nice berry and caramel finish.”

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What great comments! And it touches me very deeply that so many others feel this passionately about wine, food, Julia Child, and “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day.

Would *you* like to take advantage of the remaining days of August, and put together something of your own for “Drink Wine With Dinner” Month? It couldn’t be simpler. All you need are food, wine and people to enjoy them ~ just click *here* for some easy suggestions.

And would you like to help spread the word about “Drink Wine With Dinner” Month (now, and as we gear up for Julia Child’s 100th birthday *next* August)? There are several easy things you can do.

* You can tweet about it, using the #DrinkWineWithDinner hashtag.
* You can mention “Drink Wine With Dinner” on your Facebook page and/or blog ~ especially if you do a “DWWD” dinner of your own.
* You can “Like” my “DrinkWineWithDinner” Facebook Page.
* You can subscribe to my blog, so that I can keep you up to date on the latest “DWWD” doings. (You’ll also receive my *free* wine eBook, coming this fall.)
* You can check out my YouTube channel, where I post my recipe how-to videos, my Wine Country adventures, and lots more.

I look forward to staying in touch, and to hearing about *your* ideas for “Drink Wine With Dinner”!

As always,
Cheers, my friends ~
Rosina

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Ever since I started putting the word out about celebrating “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day on Julia Child’s birthday, I’ve been hearing from wine lovers far and wide about their plans for joining the fun.

I'm escorting Julia Child, the guest of honor, to her table at a winemaker dinner in San Francisco (early 2000s).

It was no surprise, then ~ given that I live within 20 minutes of both the Napa/ Sonoma Wine Country and the culinary mecca of San Francisco ~ that many of the people who contacted me would be right here in my own backyard.

Among the first to get in touch was a very neat gal named Liza, from the Oakland area across from San Francisco. She regularly gets together with a group of friends, enjoys fun eats and drinks, and blogs about it.

Here’s how Liza describes her crew: “We’re girls of a certain age with a sense of adventure, a passion for wine, a vibrant curiosity to learn more and a drive to exchange ideas, share tips and find out what you have to say about how wine flavors your experience.” (My kind of group, Liza!)

The BrixChicks ~ ...so many wines ...so little time. They enjoyed a Julia Child-themed food and wine pairing for "Drink Wine With Dinner" Day.

They’ve dubbed themselves the “BrixChicks” (just click for their BrixChicks.com site). (“Brix,” by the way, is a wine term that refers to the sweetness level of grapes on the vine, which helps determine the timing of harvest.) Their tag line reads  ”…so many wines …so little time,” and their style is totally tongue-in-cheek.

As it turned out, Liza and her “BrixChicks” cohorts, Xandria, Janesta and “Terroiriste”(!), had already intended to celebrate Julia Child’s birthday before ever hearing about “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day. Talk about synchronicity!

The basic ingredients for Julia Child's creamy Potato-Leek Soup recipe. Excellent food and wine pairing with a bottle of crisp Sauvignon Blanc.

Their plan involved building a multi-course dinner around Julia’s recipes, including Potato-Leek Soup and Boeuf Bourguignon, with wines to match. Shopping for ingredients meant a “safari” to Trader Joe’s. A moderately priced chain store, “TJ’s” offers lots of high-quality edibles (including pre-packaged Boeuf Bourguignon) and a very decent wine department.

Sounds like a wonderful way to honor Julia on her 99th birthday. And it’s a great way to celebrate the very first “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day, too!

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Pre-packaged Boeuf Bourguignon from Trader Joe's, with California Pinot Noir. Another great food and wine pairing ~ the Burgundy wine that's traditionally in this dish, and also is served with it, is made from the Pinot Noir grape.

I hope that you too were able to celebrate Julia’s birthday, and “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day, with people, food and wine you thoroughly enjoy. Come back tomorrow for more “DW2D2″ wine-and-food news, including a *very* special announcement…

Until then,
Cheers, my friends ~
Rosina

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We’ve been counting down to “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day ~ and to Julia Child’s birthday, the reason for it all ~ since the beginning of August. Finally the wait is over and the 15th is here ~ so let’s grab a plate, fill a glass ~ and celebrate!

Several days ago, I stumbled across a package of duck breasts in the back of my freezer. (They don’t go on sale often, but I’d been lucky.) Perfect choice for “DW2D2″ dinner ~ and I had a wine in mind for it too.

Spelletich Cellars Merlot ~ Check out the lion on the family crest ~ what's that in his claws?

I had just visited the talented mother-daughter duo, Barb and Kristen Spelletich, at their Napa winery. The ’06 Merlot I’d tasted with them would, I decided, pair very nicely with the duck breasts, especially if I cooked them fairly simply.

More about my own dinner in a bit ~ but for now, let me share Kristen and Barb’s story with you…

When you hear “I put a spell on you,” what comes to mind? Harry Potter? Witches and warlocks? A Screamin’ Jay Hawkins/ Creedence/ Bette Midler (et. al.) song?

How about a wine?

No? Well, Kristen’s brand, SPELLwine, features a Cabernet/Merlot blend dubbed “Spellonu.” (And yes, it *is* pronounced “Spell On You”!)

Kristen, barely in her 30s, represents the second generation at Spelletich Family Winery. It’s the “parent winery” of both SPELLwine and Spelletich Cellars, with Barb as winemaker for both.

At home, I tried the SPELLwine "Spellonu" with some takeout pulled-pork pizza and a meatball sandwich. Very tasty!

Kristen, Barb and I spent a couple of leisurely hours sampling their current vintages and getting to know each other. For all of their wines, the high level of quality impressed me greatly. What’s more, I was struck by the “family resemblance” between Kristen’s fun-oriented SPELLwine bottlings, which all sell for under $20.00, and the more elegant and refined Spelletich Cellars line.

Barb follows her daughter’s guidelines in crafting the SPELLwine varietals and blends for young-adult tastes. As Kristen says, “I came here with a 21st-century attitude.” Her SPELLwine labels ~ splashy, eye-popping kaleidoscopes of bold color ~ were designed for her “Millennial” generation, which she describes as “very visually oriented.”

Along with “Spellonu,” a Bordeaux-style blend, Kristen also created “Severed Head Red,” more fruity and spicy from an added dollop of Syrah. (Gruesome as it may sound, a severed head is actually part of the family crest. Look closely at the Spelletich Cellars label, and check out what the lion has in its claws!)

We're enjoying assorted appetizers with SPELLwine's "Severed Head Red." Especially good with the parmesan-topped truffle oil fries.

After our tasting, we headed off to Norman Rose Tavern in the town of Napa, with a bunch of bottles in tow, to try some of the wines with lunch. It’s the kind of “Wine Country casual” place where you can order a burger and beer, or appetizers and a glass of Napa Valley wine, or a full meal ~ and be totally satisfied with it no matter what.

Totally satisfied. That’s how we felt about the wines, too ~ both on their own, and with our lunch. You’ll see all the tasty details in the vid, at top…

Now, though, it’s back to my “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day duck breasts, and the mellow Spelletich Cellars ’06 Merlot. With the extra few years of age, the wine had developed a smooth, velvety texture, along with its cherry, vanilla, tea and lightly smoky flavors.

Pan-seared duck breast, served with Spelletich Cellars Merlot 2006 ~ a lovely food and wine pairing. Happy "Drink Wine With Dinner" Day!

All of these are typical for fine Merlot, and all highly compatible with duck (just think tea-smoked duck, and duck with cherry sauce). That’s what prompted me to choose this wine for my duck breasts in the first place. And to showcase the wine, I opted not to sauce the duck at all.

Adding only a sprinkle of salt and a dusting of ground cardamom, I pan-seared the duck to crisp the skin, turning it briefly to finish the cooking. Then a 5-minute rest on the cutting board, a sharp knife to slice the meat diagonally, and the beautiful duck breasts were ready to serve. Mmmm. Tender, juicy, delicious, and a fine food and wine pairing with the Spelletich Merlot.

I seldom eat dessert at home, but for this special occasion, I picked up a lemon tart and some pomegranate-blueberry sherbet. To sip with it, I chilled down a luscious late-harvest White Riesling from Greenwood Ridge Vineyards in Mendocino’s Anderson Valley. GRV’s owner, Allan Green, has been making superb Riesling for decades. This dessert version had loads of citrus, tropical, and peach/apricot fruit flavors, with a great balance of natural sweetness and acidity.

Easy dessert for "Drink Wine With Dinner" Day ~ a store-bought lemon tart, some pomegranate-blueberry sherbet, and a tiny glass of Greenwood Ridge late-harvest White Riesling dessert wine. Delicious!

Mmmm. That’s delectable! I’m raising my glass to toast Julia Child, who would be 99 years young today.

My friends, I’m delighted you could join me today to celebrate Julia’s birthday. And I’m delighted we could celebrate the wine and food world’s newest holiday ~ “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day ~ together!

Given that August 15, 2012 would be Julia Child’s 100th birthday, we have a year to spread the word ~ and to plan “Drink Wine With Dinner” events fit for the Queen of Cuisine. I always welcome your ideas, suggestions and comments. Thanks!

As always, my friends ~
Cheers, and Bon Appétit,
Rosina

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This summer is *flying* by ~ and I almost can’t believe that *tomorrow* is “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day! Good thing I know what I’ll be cooking (duck breast ~ can’t wait!), and I have some good ideas about what corks I’ll pop.

I'm getting ready for "Drink Wine With Dinner" Day tomorrow. Hmmmm, what wine to serve with duck breast?

Something else I almost can’t believe is the *tremendous* response to “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day. Thanks to the generous efforts of the prestigious Academy of Wine Communications, which helped me spread the word, I’ve heard from individuals, bloggers, wineries, and more, with recipes, wine suggestions, and *very* tempting food-and-wine pairings.

One of the very first to contact me was Austrian-born Herta (HB) Peju, of Peju Province Winery in the heart of the Napa Valley. “I just found out about this idea,” she wrote, “and I LOVE IT! Food and wine, it makes sense and we all need an “excuse” to get together…”

Peju is a small, family-owned and -operated winery in the Napa Valley town of Rutherford. Herta and her husband Tony acquired their first parcel of land here in 1982, with vineyards owned by Robert Mondavi, Inglenook, and Beaulieu as their neighbors.

The Peju family ~ Tony, Ariana, Herta (HB) and Lisa, enjoying the fruits of their labors, at their Napa Valley winery.

Now, along with their “next generation” daughters, Lisa and Ariana, Herta and Tony farm their 450 acres organically and sustainably. (Ariana, in fact, launched Peju’s “Harvesting the Sun” solar energy project.)

Herta also takes great pleasure in tending the winery’s magnificent gardens, and overseeing the “Peju Kitchen.” The website showcases their wonderful recipes, all crafted to pair with their wide range of wines.

I *love* of Sauvignon Blanc, mostly for its punchy acidity ~ which makes it such a great partner to food.!

There’s even a “Monthly Wine Spotlight” program, with recipes, and archives (see the hearty Veal Osso Buco from February, paired with Merlot) that let you go back in time and browse previous food-and-wine pairings.

August features the Peju 2009 Estate Chardonnay, with a recipe for Grilled Tarragon Chicken with Saffron Rice Pilaf. Mmmm. I can just about taste it!

By *huge* coincidence, when Herta learned about “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day, she had just bought a copy of my cookbook, Seafood, Pasta and Noodles ~ The New Classics (Ten Speed Press). (If you do click on the link, just scroll down to the bottom for more info, in my “shameless book promotion.”)

After a couple of email exchanges, I received this message: “In light of your book on seafood, we are sending you our recipe for Spanish-style Sautéed Shrimp, which pairs beautifully with our Sauvignon Blanc. A definite example of when 1 + 1 = >2.”

And that, my friends, is what food and wine pairing is all about: the marvelous synergy between the two partners, where each enhances the other ~ and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Vielen dank, Herta. Thank you so much. I wish you and your family a *very* happy and tasty “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day!

The Peju Tower, featuring fountains and reflecting pool, weathered copper roof, hand-carved front door, 10-foot by 20-foot antique stained-glass window, room-filling chandelier, and much more.

As always ~
Cheers,
Rosina

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Napa? Sonoma? Mendocino? Nope! Today we’re heading east, to El Dorado County, for a “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day barbecue at Sierra Vista Winery.

Sierra Vista not only makes some of the tastiest Syrah anywhere, but now, with this exclusive, readers-only link ~ Sierra Vista Syrah ~ 20% Off!!! ~ *you* can order your very own stash of Syrah at a 20% discount!

Head east from Sacramento, meander through the postcard-pretty foothills, and follow the signs to Sierra Vista Vineyards and Winery.

Owners John and Barbara MacCready (Mac CRAY-dee) planted their first grapes in 1972 ~ and established Sierra Vista Winery two years later ~ in the gorgeous Sierra Nevada foothills between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe.

This is “Gold Country,” where the original ‘49ers made their fortunes. And in the “liquid gold” department, some of California’s oldest vines are here, still bearing fruit.

Within the region, the climate varies a great deal ~ some vineyard sites are hot enough to produce late-harvest Zinfandel, and others, such as Sierra Vista’s estate plantings, are cool enough to grow Chardonnay.

Sierra Vista Winery produces a wide variety of award-winning wines, from Sauvignon Blanc to Cabernet Sauvignon. But it’s best known for its wonderful, rich Syrah.

Barbara and John MacCready in the Sierra Vista tasting room, surrounded by medals and, of course, wine...

John and Barbara compare the growing conditions of their estate vineyard ~ the oldest Syrah planting in the Foothills ~ to the northern Rhone Valley of France, where Syrah is king. (They also produce several other Rhone specialties, including Grenache, Mourvedre, Viognier and Roussanne.)

I flat-out *love* this wine. I’ve poured Sierra Vista Syrah with braised lamb shanks, with Italian sausages, with chunks of plain parmesan cheese, and even with In-N-Out Burgers (!). It always comes through as a *fantastic* partner to food, and the tannins are mellow enough that *this* Syrah (unlike many others) is delicious by itself, too…

Sierra Vista's outstanding Syrah thrives in this "Northern Rhone"-like section of the Sierra Foothills.

I’ll let John and Barbara describe their Sierra Vista Syrah: “Dark purple with rich hues of garnet and plum. The aromas are of spices and leather, with black fruits. In the mouth, the tannins open to layers of rich spice and bold fruit.”

Mmmm ~ My mouth is watering already! I think I know what I’ll open with that nice slab of ribs I was planning to serve tonight. (Now where’s that corkscrew…?)

The spectacular view from Sierra Vista Winery. The strip of white below the clouds is the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Speaking of ribs, Barbara’s plan for “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day includes an easy pork recipe that she modified from ribs to boneless tenderloin…

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Sticky Ribs (adapted from a recent Sunset Magazine cookbook, p. 421) ~ serves 4-6

2 to 3 lbs pork tenderloin
1 1/2 Tbl. chili powder
1 1/2 Tbl. kosher salt
1 Tbl. cumin seeds
1/2 cup honey
3 Tbl. fresh lime juice
Vegetable oil or cooking-oil spray

Combine chili powder, salt and cumin seeds to make a dry rub, and coat the pork tenderloins.

For the glaze, combine honey and lime juice.

Using a covered BBQ kettle, cook meat over direct heat for a few minutes on each side. Brush on the glaze.

Then, as John says, “move the tenderloin to indirect heat, with one end almost over the coals and one not, and cook for 20-25 minutes (or until it’s done to your liking). Barbara likes her pork well done and I like it better with just a hint of pink.”

Serve with Sierra Vista Syrah, of course. Enjoy!

As always, my friends,
Cheers,
Rosina

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I first “met” the delightful Teri Love, who owns Gioia Wine, on Facebook. She had posted a mysterious comment ~ something like “I love your birthday” ~ on my Wall, and I asked her what she meant.

Teri Love's favorite summer supper ~ "Kitchen Sink Salad," Purple Cauliflower with Yams, and Wild-Caught Ahi Tuna. Check out the pretty avocado pinwheels, with sliced beets at the center.

Well, it turns out that Teri and I are “cosmic twins,” both born on March 10th ~ and we’ve been Facebook friends ever since.

I wasn’t at all surprised, then, that Teri was among the first to send me several recipes, with photos, for “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day.

Up first, here’s Teri’s “Kitchen Sink Salad.” As its name suggests, this recipe is *very* flexible, and will easily accommodate lots of different flavors and textures. It sounds *so* delicious, especially the way Teri describes it…

“Every Sunday night I make a “kitchen sink salad,” which is basically all kinds of yummy stuff tossed together.

I go to the Brentwood Farmers Market and buy the freshest ingredients I can find, and whatever I *can’t* find there, I look for at Gelson’s or Whole Foods.

Teri likes to add frozen raspberries to her "Bacia Bianca" white blend. Sounds great!

Last week, it was a “family kitchen sink salad,” because all of my kids came over!”

Here’s Teri’s latest “Kitchen Sink Salad” combo:

Salad:
Kale
Shredded carrots
Walnuts
Goat cheese (chunks)
Red lettuce
Orange beets (tops cut off & used later), steamed in a pot of water until soft
Beet greens (added to pot when the beets are nearly done)
White asparagus (steamed with olive oil and lemon)
Apricots (diced)
Basil (torn in pieces)
Small tomatoes (cherry, grape, or other varieties, halved)
Grated Parmesan cheese (added at the very end before tossing)
Avocado (sliced and added to top of salad after tossing)

Dressing:
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar

Next, Teri offers this colorful, dead-easy side dish recipe for purple cauliflower and yams:

Purple cauliflower
Yams
“Drunken Goat” cheese, in chunks

Slice the cauliflower and yams; layer in a glass pan with cheese between the layers. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 1 hour at 325 degrees.

Here's Teri's daughter Tristin with 9-year-old Italian Greyhound, Bacia, which means "kiss." Terrific inspiration for naming Gioia's white wine blend, Bacia Bianca!

Finally, Teri channels her “inner Pisces” with her simple “Wild-Caught Ahi Tuna” preparation ~

Brush tuna pieces lightly with olive oil; sprinkle with salt-free pepper seasoning blend; bake at 425 degrees.

Teri calls this tasty, refreshing meal “very simple and healthful for a delicious summer evening.” Her wine choice? The Gioia 2009 Bacia Bianca (an unusual blend of Chardonnay, Muscat and Pinot Gris) ~ “Silky, opulent, enchanting snootful (!) of spring flowers; tastes of crisp green apples, sweet juicy pears and honeysuckle” ~ with frozen raspberries.”

Sign me up, Teri!!!

Hope you’ll try Teri’s delicious recipes, and delicious wines ~ and please let her know that her “Cosmic Twin” sent you!

Cheers, my friends,
Rosina

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When I first went public with the idea of celebrating “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day, one of the first people to respond was Alan Gilmour, from the UK, who operates the excellent http://healthymattersnews.com blog.

His comment: “What a great idea to create time to celebrate. Let’s get the corks popping and the food prepared!” (Alan, I couldn’t have said it better myself!)

Onions and garlic, healthful "superfoods," form a flavor base for this tasty chicken curry.

When I asked Alan about the most popular foods in Britain today, he spoke fondly of the ubiquitous chicken curry, and mentioned that he and his wife like to drink Gewurztraminer with it.

That was all I needed to come up with a healthful version, full of veggies, that packs loads of flavor. Here’s how ~

Start with 1 1/2 to 2 lbs boneless chicken thighs (or a part you prefer). Trim away fat and gristle; cut into bite-sized pieces.

In a big pot, bring 3-4 cups of broth, water, wine, or a combination, to a simmer.

In a wide pan, over medium heat, sauté 1 large onion, chopped, and 3-6 cloves garlic (or more, to taste), until soft and golden. Stir in curry powder (your own blend, or store-bought*) and sauté 3-5 minutes. Transfer to pot.

I've started with a good commercial curry powder; then I added some cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg. Experiment, and get a different flavor combo every time!

Stir sweet potatoes into pan and sauté ~5 minutes; add carrots and broccoli. Cook 5 minutes more (this helps brown the edges and develop flavor); transfer veggies to pot.

Stir spinach into pan; sauté 2-3 minutes until wilted; transfer to pot.

Add more oil to pan if necessary; increase heat to high. Add chicken pieces and stir constantly to brown all sides. Transfer chicken to pot.

Simmer 10-15 minutes until chicken is cooked through and tender. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Serve with rice, plus a glass of Gewurztraminer ~ from Alsace, Germany, Oregon, California or other cool-climate region.

Spicy foods go well with a wine that has lots of fruit flavors (whether or not the wine is actually sweet). Gewurztraminer is a great partner for chicken curry!

Our featured Gewurztraminers are from Balletto, in Sonoma County, and from Philo Ridge, Ferrington Vineyard, in the Anderson Valley of Mendocino. Enjoy!

Cheers, my friends ~
Rosina

* I often make my own curry blends, but when I’m pressed for time, I use a good commercial product, and add some extra spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg, plus cayenne if I want extra heat. Have fun experimenting!

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Q&A~Q&A~Q&A~Q&A~Q&A~Q&AQ&A~Q&A~Q&A~Q&A~Q&A~Q&A

Hi, my friends! Have you heard the news?
August 15th is “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day!
Join the fun ~ and you’ll receive a *free gift*…

Ready? Here’s the Q & A for the “Day” ~

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I'm enjoying an ahi tuna burger (with a glass of Pinot Noir) at Gott's Roadside, St. Helena, in the Napa Valley. Enjoying wine with food doesn't have to be fancy ~ just fun!

Q ~ “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day ~ What’s it all about?
A ~ It’s a new holiday! To celebrate, just enjoy some wine with dinner (or lunch, or brunch…)

Q ~ Do I have to do anything special?
A ~ Nope ~ you can do anything you want. It’s *totally* up to you! All you need are food, wine, and people. No rules, no limits ~ just fun!

Q ~ How about some examples?
A ~ Sure! Why not try something like ~
* A backyard BBQ with friends or neighbors ~ everyone brings a fave bottle of wine…
* Dinner at a fun restaurant ~ try a new bottle to share, or taste a wine (or two) by the glass (ask your server for ideas, if you like)…
* A casual picnic ~ the proverbial “loaf of bread and jug of wine” ~ plus some cheese, salami (or paté), fruit and nuts ~ and of course, that special “thou”…..
* Some take-out food ~ rotisserie chicken from your nearby supermarket ~ or delivery pizza, Chinese, Thai ~ whatever suits your mood ~ with any wine that sounds like fun…
* A multi-course dinner with different wines for each course…
* *Any* meal you like to put on the table, with *any* wine you like to drink ~ Whatever *you* enjoy!

Q ~ Where is it happening?
A ~ Everywhere! Think of it as a huge, free-form, global flash mob. People all around the world are taking part. On August 15th (even a couple of days before or after), we’ll all celebrate “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day in our own way ~ wherever we are, with anyone we wish!

Q ~ Sounds great! Who’s involved?
A ~ Everyone! Just enjoy some wine with a meal on August 15th (please spread the word, too!) ~ and presto, *you* are part of the fun!

Yep. That's a nice California Pinot Noir on my tray, alongside my tunaburger, my spiced sweet-potato fries, and my flash-fried hot peppers. *Delicious!*

Q ~ Do I have to be a food or wine professional? (A chef, a winemaker, a restaurant owner, etc.?)
A ~ Nope. *Everyone* is welcome to join the fun! Just “Drink Wine With Dinner” on August 15th.

Q ~ How about recipes, and wine suggestions? Or special events? How can I find out about them?
A ~ Stay tuned to my http://RosinaWilson.com blog. I’m posting *lots* of food-and-wine pairing ideas to inspire you ~ from all around the globe(!)

Q ~ What about the free gift? Does it have to do with “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day?
A ~ Yes, it does ~ and it also gives you *all* the basic strategies you need ~ to enjoy wine with food ~ *any* day of the year!

Q ~ OK, what *is* the free gift?
A ~ It’s my new mini-eBook ~ titled “Food and Wine Pairing with Rosina Wilson” ~ and it’s based on the professional “Food and Wine Pairing” course that I taught to future chefs, for 10 years, at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. (You wouldn’t *believe* what some of my former students are doing now!)

Q ~ Free? Is it really *free,* no strings attached?
A ~ Yes! My “Food and Wine Pairing with Rosina Wilson” mini eBook is yours *free* ~ through August 31st, 2011, only. All you have to do is contact me. (It’s easy ~ you have 3 ways to get in touch ~ 1) via email, at RosinaWilson.com@gmail.com 2) on my http://www.facebook.com/DrinkWineWithDinner Page on Facebook or 3) as a “Comment” on any “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day blog post).

Just tell me what *you* plan to eat and drink on “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day, and I’ll send you my mini-eBook.

Also ~ If you can help spread the word about “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day?, you can help make this wonderful, win-win event *go global*! Please *forward the link for this post* to your friends and Social Media contacts, to boost the “ripple effect.”

Q ~ Great! I’d love to spread the word. What should I do?
A ~ Whatever you can! For example, email your contacts ~ both personal and Social Media ~ with a link to this post. Tell them you’re taking part (share your recipe(s) with them if you like) and ask them to contact me (see above). When I hear from any of your friends, I’ll gladly send them a copy of my mini-eBook, too!

Q ~ By the way, are there any restrictions?
A ~ Other than “minimum age” or other laws that apply where you live ~ Nope, there are none whatsoever.

I had the tremendous honor, on several occasions, of assisting Julia Child with her public book-signings. Of course, along with her signature, Julia always wrote "Bon Appétit!"

Q ~ OK, “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day is on August 15th. Why August 15th?
A ~ First, because August (in the U.S. at least) is the only month without a holiday. Second, because it’s Julia Child’s birthday! She would be 99 this year, and I consider her my mentor and my inspiration for this wonderful culinary career that I love so much.

So, my friends, let’s all raise a toast ~ to say Happy 99th Birthday Julia!!!

Once again ~
*Please do join in the fun* on “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day. And please do tell all *your* friends. Thank you, *everyone!*

I look forward to hearing from you about your food and wine plans on “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day. I also look forward to sending you my mini-eBook ~ “Food and Wine Pairing with Rosina Wilson.”

As always ~
Cheers,
Rosina

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Here’s how “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day came to be… With just a day or two left in July, I remembered that August has no holidays. Then I thought about my splendid mentor, Julia Child, knowing that August 15th would be her 99th birthday.

Enjoy "Drink Wine With Dinner" Day on August 15th. Upscale or down-home, indoors or out ~ just plan something fun, and let me know about it!

It wasn’t hard to put two and two together. I brainstormed a bit, and decided that a “wine with food” holiday ~ “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day ~ would best suit the occasion. Then I ran the idea by some personal friends and industry colleagues.

In spite of the short notice, my longtime friend Harvey Posert, a director of the Academy of Wine Communications, said that he and the Academy would gladly help me get the word out.

Wow ~ what a thrill! Now “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day can go global. Hope you’ll join the fun!

Want to receive a *free gift*? Just tell me what *you* plan to eat and drink on “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day. Email me at RosinaWilson.com@gmail.com or leave a comment here, and I’ll send you my new mini-eBook ~ “Food and Wine Pairing with Rosina Wilson” ~ to thank you for taking part!

Could you please also forward this post to *your* friends and Social Media contacts? That’s how we’ll spread “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day around the world!!

***************************************************************
Here’s the press release we put together for “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day. We’ve been sending it out to wineries, wine writers/ bloggers, public-relations firms, newspapers, and more…

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The Academy of Wine Communications, with Wine Industry Veteran Rosina Wilson, Announce “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day, August 15th, 2011.

A fantastic wild-mushroom pasta dish, topped with fresh white truffles, at ZAZU Restaurant. Even *more* amazing with a Sonoma County Pinot Noir.

August, at least in the USA, is the only month of the year without an official holiday.

With this in mind, and knowing that August 15th would be Julia Child’s 99th birthday, veteran wine writer and educator Rosina Wilson has proposed a new holiday ~ “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day ~ to celebrate the pleasures of wine with food.

“For decades, Julia Child showed America how natural and enjoyable it is to drink wine with dinner,” says Rosina. “And I’ve always considered Julia my mentor, as well as my inspiration for embarking on a culinary career. What better reasons could there be for creating a day of joy and feasting ~ in Julia’s honor, and on her birthday!”

“Until now,” Rosina remarks, “there has been no official celebration to bring wine to the table. “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day will unite like-minded people throughout the world who love wine, love food, and love how much each can enhance the other.”

For those who want to take part in “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day, Rosina assures that “it doesn’t matter *what* you plan, as long as it involves wine, food, and people. It can be an upscale dinner at a restaurant or winery, with a different wine for each course. Or it can be a down-home backyard BBQ with friends, and a favorite value-priced bottle or two.”

Rosina is using the immense power of the Internet to establish “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day worldwide. On her http://RosinaWilson.com blog, and on Social Media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, Rosina has invited restaurants, wineries, and individuals around the globe to create their own meals and tastings ~ then notify her, and also notify *their* personal and Social Media contacts.

Rosina then re-posts the information ~ including scheduled events, menus, and recipes ~ that she receives from her online followers and her “IRL” (in real life) friends and colleagues.

“Each of us is spreading the word about “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day in our own way, with a big ripple effect,” Rosina comments. “I like to think of it as a semi-planned, semi-spontaneous, international ‘flash mob’ of food and wine lovers, springing up on August 15th and celebrating “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day in dozens, hundreds, or thousands of locales around the planet.”

“Being of Italian heritage,” she continues, “I would love to see America embrace the sheer love of wine, and the custom of enjoying it daily at mealtime. This is the norm in much of Europe, and in many ‘New World’ wine-growing areas.”

But in the United States, Rosina notes, “wine still needs to be more widely accepted.” She views “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day as “a great opportunity not only to enjoy a special meal with special people, but also to help strip away the ‘intimidation factor’ that has kept so many people away from wine.”

“After all,” she continues, “every one of our 50 states now produces wine. Mainstream America deserves to know the pleasures of wine with dinner. And it’s finally time for us to catch up with the rest of the world!”

“I view “Drink Wine With Dinner Day” as a true win-win,” Rosina concludes. “It benefits the consumer; it benefits the wine, food, and restaurant industries; and I’d venture to say that it also benefits the greater good.”

Rosina invites *everyone* ~ culinary professionals and amateurs alike ~ to take part in “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day on or around August 15th ~ “the more, literally, the merrier.”

To publicize *your* plans, simply email Rosina ~ at RosinaWilson.com@gmail.com ~ with details about your event or menu. Please include wine-friendly recipes where appropriate. (Rosina will of course credit you fully.) Then tell your own contacts about your plans, forward them this link, and invite them to create “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day events of their own ~ and to email Rosina with the details. Thank you!

Rosina Wilson, a brief biography ~

Since winning the Gilroy Garlic Festival recipe contest, Rosina has written about food, wine, travel and more for dozens of newspapers and magazines, including The San Francisco Chronicle, Bon Appétit, and The Wine Spectator. Rosina authored the cookbook Seafood Pasta and Noodles ~ The New Classics (Ten Speed Press), and co-founded Wine X Magazine for the young-adult demographic.

A certified wine judge with a specialty in pairing wine with food, Rosina taught the “Food and Wine Affinities” course for ten years to future chefs at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco.

Rosina currently blogs about “Wine, Food and Fun in the San Francisco Bay Area ~ and beyond” at http://RosinaWilson.com, which features the (free) “WineFoodBUZZ” newsletter.

In addition, Rosina owns the “Wine & Food SuperGroup” on LinkedIn. She welcomes all new subscribers and group members ~ once again, “the more, the merrier.”

***************************************************************

My friends, I would *love* to have you join us on “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day! And *please* tell your friends, too!

Cheers,
Rosina

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August Needs a Holiday ~ Let’s Start One!!!

Red or white, rosé or sparkling ~ Grab a glass, and join me for "Drink Wine With Dinner" Day!

January (obviously!) kicks off the year with New Year’s fanfare, and February spreads romance on Valentine’s Day. St. Patrick’s parades fill the streets in March… and so on through the calendar.

Except for August. Thirty-one days; zero holidays. And it’s the *only* month without a celebration to call its own.

Hmmmm. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

Why not create one. And heck, it might as well taste good!

Here’s my plan. Let’s start a movement to establish “Drink Wine With Dinner Day.” It could be national; it could be international…

"Drink Wine with Dinner" Day ~ a great reason to open that special bottle.

And let’s celebrate it on August 15th, Julia Child’s birthday. (This year would be her 99th, by the way!)

Would you like to get involved with “Drink Wine With Dinner Day”? I’d be delighted, and honored ~ whether you join me now during the planning stages, or later on. I’m wide open to your ideas.

I invite you to send me one or more wine-friendly recipes, or strategies for wine-and-food pairing, or suggestions for making “Drink Wine With Dinner Day” a truly national (or *inter*national!) event.

If you want to plan any specially themed activities yourself, or publicize “Drink Wine With Dinner Day” in any way, so much the better.

Please help me spread the word!

Cheese, sushi, even popcorn and fried chicken ~ they all taste better with vino!

Just email me at RosinaWilson.com@gmail.com ~ and put “August Holiday” or “Drink Wine With Dinner” in the header.

I’ll publish your contributions (with full credit, of course) in my http://RosinaWilson.com blog ~ and on Facebook, Twitter, and my other Social Media platforms.

“National Drink Wine With Dinner Day” is not just a fun idea, it’s a win-win concept that benefits the wine industry, the restaurant industry, the consumer ~ and, I daresay, the greater good worldwide.

Can't beat a great grilled steak ~ and a glass of your fave red ~ for a summer BBQ!

I very much look forward to hearing your thoughts ~ and, I hope, to welcoming you to the “Drink Wine With Dinner Day” team.

Help me make something *wonderful* happen!

Thanks so much ~

Cheers,
Rosina

Rosina Wilson
RosinaWilson.com@gmail.com

Related Posts

• *Great* News ~ August is Now “Drink Wine With Dinner” *Month*!!!
• BUZZbits ~ “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day ~ Happy Birthday Julia Child with the “BrixChicks”
• “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day ~ Spelletich Family Winery ~ a “DW2D2″ Duck Dinner ~ and Happy Birthday Julia Child!
• BUZZbits ~ “Drink Wine With Dinner” Day ~ Peju Sauvignon Blanc with Spanish-style Sautéed Shrimp