Top Wines of 2009

I visited my fabulous share of tasting rooms, wine bars, wine festivals, winemaker's dinners, and restaurants to be able to share with you my favorites of 2009.

The Wines:

It was exciting to have the list unfold and see the variety and value of the wines I adored.

10. Illahe Vineyards 2008 Viognier, Willamette Valley ($15)

9. Stoller 2007 SV Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley ($40)

8. Brickhouse N.V. Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley ($20)

7. Arcane Cellars 2007 Riesling, Willamette Valley ($16)

6. Griffin Creek 2005 Syrah, Rogue Valley ($45)

5. White Rose 2006 Soverae Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley ($75)

4. South Stage Cellars 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Rogue Valley ($26)

3. Willamette Valley Vineyards 2007 Elton Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley ($45)

2. Paradise Ridge 2004 Sparkling Syrah, Sonoma County ($45)

1. Piluso Vineyards 2007 Tempranillo, Willamette Valley ($24)

The Locations:

Where I am drinking wine is just as important to me than what I am drinking.

8. Sneaking the Stoller 2007 SV Pinot Noir into the movie theater

7. Savoring Willamette Valley Vineyards 2006 Quinta Reserva Pinot Noir Port at the Bentley's Winemaker's Dinner

6. Storytelling after hours in the Piluso Vineyards Tasting Room over Thanksgiving Weekend.

5. Sitting around my boyfriend's Mom's table doing our own wine tasting with 12 wines at 1 o'clock in the morning.

4. Eating a delicious lunch with Grenache at La Boca in Santa Fe, NM.

3. Salsa dancing and tasting Cubanisimo Wines in the sunshine on Memorial Day Weekend.

2. Thirst Wine Bar in Portland, OR. Although I had no clue at the time, it was my boyfriend and I's first date.

1. Enjoying a plastic cup of wine in Zion National Park where we paired the Brickhouse N.V. Pinot Noir with hot dogs roasted over a campfire.

2009 was full of great wines and fun times. But, I see 2010 as topping it!

Comings (2010) and Goings (2009)

I will never forget 2009, ever.

2009

So many wonderful things happened to me. I loved hard. I got back to being a real working girl. I hiked, and hiked, and hiked. I got a camera and starting building a relationship with it. I had my hair bleached and vowed never to do it again. I fell madly in love with wine, visited over 30 tasting rooms, and spent more money on my wine collection than on my education. I jetted to Florida. I went on a two week road trip that was unforgettable. I got an awesome business opportunity brewing. I didn't have one kidney stone. I became one of the most frequent visitors to the local library. I experienced life changing music. I started liking parmesan cheese. I made my first pie and everyone loved it. I popped more than a few bottles of champagne. I found friendship in the oddest places, including this blog. I laughed until my stomach hurt more times than I can count. I postponed learning to drive a stick because although I say I want to learn, I really don't. I pushed my limits and it was worth it. So long 2009!

2010

I am looking forward with copious amounts of optimism for 2010. It will be a year of finishing one life and beginning another. I will graduate college in June. Move more than an hour away from my hometown for the first time ever. Once I move I will go into a crazy hectic, wild ride of business, that will be worth every moment. My boyfriend is finally going to entrust me to take care of my very own cat. I am going to remember to feed it and change the litter box. I will, I promise future kitty. Many deep, long conversations that last into the wee hours over bottles of wine will occur in the new year. I will learn so much about myself and of the outside world. It will be a year of gaining confidence. I will climb many strenuous mountains and enjoy breathtaking lookouts. I am going to be more aware of my tone of voice and work on being less critical. 2010 will be a year of adventure, love, and devoting all of my energy into giving my best. Hello 2010!

Wishing you complete happiness in 2010!

Cheers.

Oh yeah, in 2009 I did a photo shoot with my favorite wines. :)

The Southern Oregon Wine Blog

We all know by now I am a huge wino. Check out the new blog focusing on Southern Oregon wine- what i believe to be the next big wine region.

The Southern Oregon Wine Blog

The Staple to my Holiday Diet

Peppermint Patties:

1 packet hot chocolate mix

1 shot peppermint schnapps (brand of choice, Rumplemintz)

Serve graciously.

Or forget the hot chocolate all together and gather the family for a holiday shot of schnapps!

Fashion Foul: Socks and Sandals

I may have to violate one of the greatest fashion rules of all times to show off my new socks to the world... socks with sandals! Gasp... never! Instead, I will show them to you all now.

My boyfriend's mom knitted me yellow socks for Christmas. My favorite things combined- the color yellow and comfy socks.

I am so unbelievably spoiled.

I am hand-washing these beauties to preserve them forever.

Triple Axels at the Ashland Ice Rink

Prior to this weekend I have never been ice skating. When I heard Ashland had an outdoor rink in Lithia Park my eyes lit up!

When I first got to the rink I was so excited to see the handicapped children enjoying ice skating. It was so heart-warming to see them skating around the ice with their walkers and huge smiles on their faces. I was so touched I even took pictures of them. Then Chris informed me that those walkers were ice skating training tools and they were not disabled children. My idealized dream died, especially when this kid started ramming his sister with his walker causing her to fall.

Here we are- Joe, Bonnie, Chris and I! No one fell, technically, although the wall did run into Bonnie. :)

The boys were getting pretty daring with their "jumps." If that is what you can call lifting your skate 3 inches off the ground. Not quite a triple salchow or lutz, but mighty close!

After hitting the ice for an hour we were ready to warm up at a local pub with peppermint patties (hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps=the staple of my holiday diet) .

The Ashland ice rink is open daily through the winter. They even have night skating on the weekends. I had a fantastic time and I want to make it a yearly tradition!

One Frazzled Female

I thought Christmas break would be a time for me to cross the big players off my to-do list, enjoy shopping for gifts, finish reading all the books I started, organize my house, get back to a regular workout schedule and spend time with friends and family.

So far this break has been nothing short of early mornings, later evenings, constant work, errands that take way longer to get done because of the holiday traffic, highflying emotions, a room I can barely walk in to due to laundry piles, a purse I can't even find my wallet in, and a to-do list that doubled in size. My real break will be going back to school in January. At least then I get a 10 minute break between classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The True Way to My Heart...

Is to buy me bubbles! A big thanks to my fabulous boss for being so thoughtful. I love the little family we have created in our office.

The color of this sparkler is so beautiful. I am so excited to crack it open!

My clothing needs shelter

My clothes really want to call this their home (instead of the heaping piles they are in now).

I think I could even recreate this on my own... someday when I have time.