That's the question posed by Longboard winery, and a darn good question it is. According to their winemaker, Oded Shakked, it's all about harmony and balance. As he says, "Surfing is part sport, part meditation and all working within, rather than against, nature. Winemaking? Pretty similar approach. Both surfers and winemakers reach the summit of their respective crafts when they attain an understanding of, and a respect for, the environment in which they work (and play)." The environment he's talking about is not their winery, an operation that's tucked into a little warehouse building near the railroad tracks in Healdsburg, in northern Sonoma County.

 

Longboard's wines are full of fruit, a true sense of terroir, and have bright labels featuring colorful surfboards. They are perfect for simple enjoyment this summer. Their Sauvignon Blanc reflects the button-down yet relaxed elegance of Sonoma's Russian River Valley. It bursts with grapefruit and floral aromas, and wraps up with a refreshing mid-palate. The crisp but not too sharp acidity makes this perfect wine to pair with summer salads, oysters and fish. Their Pinot Noir is equally balanced between terrific fruit and food-friendliness. When grown with care, Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley delivers a great balance of fruity and earthy aromas and flavors packaged in a velvety mouthfeel. Could be why I'm such a fan. Barely 1000 cases of this wine were made, so we're happy to offer it to you. Grab your board, grab your glass, and enjoy!

 

LONGBOARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2006, Russian River Valley $17.97 (regular $23.95)

LONGBOARD PINOT NOIR 2006, Russian River Valley $27.97 (regular $32.95)

Bermuda has given us many things: knee-length shorts, the lure of pink sand beaches, and the Dark 'n Stormy. Hailed as the national drink of Bermuda, the Dark 'n Stormy has its origins in the ginger beer factory that was run as a subsidiary of the Royal Naval Officer's Club. The sailors soon discovered that a splash of the local Gosling's Black Seal Rum was a great enhancement to ginger beer. The name is said to have originated when an old salt, looking through the liquid as he held his glass aloft, observed that the drink was "the color of a cloud only a fool or dead man would sail under". Gosling's holds the trademark on the Dark 'n Stormy, so making the drink with any other rum is unlawful. And ginger beer - what can I say? Once you've tried it, you'll never go back to plain old gingerale. It has the spice and kick of fresh ginger in liquid form. Together - the perfect summer afternoon cocktail, whether there're clouds on the horizon or not. (RECIPE: fill glass with ice. Add 2 oz. Gosling's Black Seal Rum and top off with 4 oz. Barrit's ginger beer. Garnish with a slice of lime.)

 

GOSLING BLACK SEAL RUM, Bermuda $18.95

BARRIT'S GINGER BEER, 6 pack $5.49

SANTA FE TRAY (7.5" x 15"), $20

SANTA FE BOWL (5" diameter) $8

SANTA FE SPREADER SET (5" long) $15

This is exactly what we need at this point in the summer: something new, something light, something that isn't Pinot Grigio. Michel Delhommeau's St. Vincent Muscadet fits the bill to a T. Unlike many wines in France, the name comes not from the local village or spot on the map, but from the grape itself. This variety is considered one of the driest and lightest of white wines. While some other appellations can get away with high yields and still produce a quality product, it's much harder to do that with Muscadet. High yields result in mediocre wine with little complexity and sense of style.

 

Michel Delhommeau understands this and keeps yields ridiculously low; he vinifies only by soil type, and further separates out tanks by vine age. The result is complexity and flavor in a wine that is often known for being lean, overly acidic and not too interesting. This wine is as crisp as an ocean breeze. The St. Vincent is very focused with extremely complex aromas. Wine and Spirits Magazine gave this wine 87 points and said it was "Crisp and lemony...balanced and harmonious. Its lively acidity and briny undertones make it a classic accompaniment to shucked oysters." Since I just like the wine by itself, I can strongly recommend it on its own merits. Santé.

 

MICHEL DELHOMMEAU MUSCADET 'ST. VINCENT' 2006, Loire $11.97 (regular $14.95)

Uplands Dairy in beautiful Dodgeville, Wisconsin makes Pleasant Ridge Reserve, a Farmstead cheese made in the style and tradition of mountain cheeses from the French Alps. The cheese is made from the non-pasteurized milk of a single herd of Wisconsin cows fed and managed using natural, old world practices. The cows graze lush pastures from early spring through fall, just as all cows did before the industrialization of our food system. The resulting milk has better nutritional value and more varied and subtle flavors. These are expressed in the delicate flavor of Pleasant Ridge Reserve.

 

The aging techniques they use at Uplands were originally developed in the Middle Ages when cheeses similar to Pleasant Ridge Reserve were aged in limestone caves and washed frequently with a brine solution. Washing the rind keeps it free of unwanted microbes and produces a variety of pleasing flavors. Because of the time-consuming handwork involved, this practice is rarely used. Pleasant Ridge Reserve cheese is the end product of a process linked to the seasons and life cycles of the animals as well as to the prairie soils and climate of southwest Wisconsin. The sweet flavors of the pasture grasses, clovers, herbs and wildflowers are experienced in every taste of this cheese. Try these cheeses and you will taste how producing food slowly, deliberately and with pride is a value worth preserving in our hurried, industrialized society. (mary) 

 

UPLANDS PLEASANT RIDGE RESERVE $21.97 lb (regular $26.99) and worth every penny!

Stop by for our FREE Saturday Tasting, 11:00-5:00, when our lineup of wines will feature Italian whites including the best in Pinot Grigios and a healthy look at whites-other-than-PG. Our gourmet food department promises matching Italian treats, too! See you here!

 

In wine labeling the name of the game is, well, you-name-it

 

Why does wine in a restaurant taste better?

 

In honor of Charamba, our July TriWine - give Portuguese wine a try

That's all for this week. If we may be of any further service, please stop by our store at 9965 Gross Point Road in Skokie (for directions, click here), visit our website at http://www.schaefers.com, give us a call at 847-677-WINE (9463), 800-833-WINE (9463), or click here to contact us.