Sacred Drop Channel

Bringing you the culture behind the wine, craft beer, spirits, and food.

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An Insider’s Guide to the Willamette Valley

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Juan Carlos Sancha: A Riojan Champion of Sustainable Viticulture

Juan Carlos Sancha was my professor at Universidad de la Rioja and later became my mentor and good friend. I am so proud of everything he’s done for Rioja and love when I see other’s recognizing his hard work and dedication to the wine industry. Felicidades Juan Carlos y Marian!

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How I got my Body Back- Post Baby No. 2

Getting your body back isn't easy, this is how I got my body back, post baby No. 2.

Bouncing back after Baby No. 1 wasn’t as hard as bouncing back after Baby No. 2. I had to work twice as hard and be stricter with myself than after Baby No. 1. There were also additional side pouches (a.k.a. “spare tires”) that weren’t there before! Because my awesome gym, ChuzeFitness, has daycare at a super reasonable price for both kiddos, I was able to get back into the gym after 6 months. I…

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Summer of Rose

The Summer of Rose Wines @realnicewine @lodiwine #rose #wine #wvwine #lodiwine

As a red wine drinker, I used to only love reds, all the time but as my palate matured, I realized that I needed to start re-educating my palate to other wines. I realized that I adore Rose, especially from the same grape varietals I normally drink as reds, such as a Rose of Pinot Noir, of Cabernet Sauvignon, of Tempranillo, and of Sangiovese.

Recently, I received a wonderful bottle of Rose from…

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Don't miss the Slow Food Nations Festival Coming to Denver on July 13-15, 2018

Don't miss the Slow Foods Nations Festival Coming to Denver on July 13-15, 2018! #slowfood #denver@slowfoodusa

As a foodie, I love food events that showcase not only food but the history behind it. In this case, you get a chance to learn not only about the history but the future of the food you eat every day. On July 13-15, Slow Food USA will be holding their annual Slow Food Nations Festival in downtown Denver. This event will include free and paid events so there is really something for everyone, even…

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A Foodie's Journey through Denver in a Day

Latest post on #Denver: A #Foodie's Journey through Denver in a Day #visitdenver #eatlocal

Stop 1: Breakfast

No trip to Denver is complete without a few food stops, and if you are a foodie like me, I would recommend starting with a hearty breakfast at Snooze AM.

If you haven’t heard of Snooze, then it’s time for you to try it. Snooze is my go-to breakfast place early in the morning. As the adage goes, “the early bird gets the worm;” in this case, if you arrive early to Snooze, you’ll…

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Drinking Now: Black Magnolia

What's in your glass? Black Magnolia #PinotNoir is in mine! #WW #wine #orwine #BlackMagnolia

You may be intrigued by the name—I was. Black Magnolia wine, as the winemaker and owner, Anthony Van Nice states, describes what is in the bottle.  “Magnolias are beautiful and fragrant, and they have a velvety texture.  There really is no such thing as a Black Magnolia, so this is something new and perhaps intriguing and unexpected.”

This isn’t the only reason I was interested in trying this…

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Winey Toddler: All about wine and babies

Winey Toddler: All about wine and babies

Life continues to evolve and with it, the creation of Winey Toddler. As many of you now know, I have a little toddler who keeps me on my feet and busy…all the time. I’ve been wanting to create a place where I can write about how my life has changed since having a kid and honestly, Sacred Drop is more about wine, beer, and spirits, not about kids.

Winey Toddler was created with the premise that…

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Beautiful idea for a photo saturated world. (via Camera Restricta on Vimeo)

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Fascinating way to look at photography. 

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Why wine clubs are the best thing since sliced bread...

Why #wineclubs are the best thing since sliced bread @nakedwinesUSA @firstleaf @wsjwine #wine

In pondering the best way to buy wine, I asked myself the question, do I have a wine buying problem?

I think I do.  I think I have a wine buying problem when 1) I’m buying wine online at 4:35 a.m. in the morning, 2) have a ton of great wine downstairs in the basement, and 3) am living on a very tight budget.

So what do you do when you have a wine obsession like I do? You scour the Internet in…

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Drinking Now: Terre Margaritelli from Umbria

What are you drinking now? New post on @Terremargaritel #ITwine #wine #Umbria

Italy is a place commonly known for its Tuscan wines, generally from the Chianti region of Northern Italy. Chianti’s main grape is Sangiovese followed by Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. Sangiovese is, however, grown in a number of regions of Italy, including that of a small region just south and literally bordering Montepulciano, one of the most famous Chianti regions,…

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Discovering the Hungarian Burgundy: Kovács Nimród Wines

Exploring the #Hungarian #Burgundy, one #wine at a time. @KNWWines #Eger #bullsblood

When one now thinks of Hungary and its wines, one thinks of the deliciously sweet, luscious wine Tokaji (Tokay in English). Few, however, know that from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries, Hungary was arguably one of the third most sophisticated wine cultures in Europe, after France and Germany.  Hungary sits on the same northern latitude as Burgundy, France, and the Willamette Valley of…

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My Top Go-To Rioja Wines Under $20

Top Go-To #Rioja #Wines Under $20 @Riojawine @CVNE @BodegasLAN @Marques_Caceres @marquesderiscal @CampoViejoWines

Finding Rioja wine in your local stores isn’t as hard as most people think. Having lived in Rioja for two years and having completed a Masters of Viticulture and Enology (winemaking) there, this place is my second and favorite home. I am often asked what my “Go-to” Rioja wines are, and I have a few recommendations for a few favorites that you are likely to find in your store.

Let me first explain…

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An Insider's Guide to the Willamette Valley

An Insider's Guide to #WillametteValley, Oregon. #ORwine #InsidersGuide #wine

Having worked in the Willamette Valley in Oregon since 2012, I am often asked, “Where would you go if visiting the Willamette Valley?” My answer generally will include places that I know that person is likely to enjoy.  However, if it were up to me, I would have some specific, special recommendations. Here are a few of my top recommendations.

A Grape Escape Tour

Tour companies: Either select a…

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In search of the perfect summer beer: Sour beer

In search of the perfect summer sipper:Sour Beer #Craftbeer #CObeer #PDXdrinks #beer #sourbeer

When I first moved to Oregon, I was more of a lover of big, bold wines; I would also occasionally drink a light beer to quench my thirst on a hot summer day. It wasn’t until I went to a few beer festivals, met a few Oregon winemakers who also loved beer, and sipped a few other beers that I realized that there is such a huge world of beer out there to explore. I also learned from my years of…

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Drinking Now: 2012 Oakville Cornerstone Merlot

Color: Dark garnet color

Nose: spice, tobacco, dark berries, touch of ripe strawberry at the end

Palate: cedar, plum and that whisper of fresh strawberry making this smooth deep wine finish on a lighter note. 

Medium acidity, easy drinking, smooth and balanced. 

Alcohol: 14.5%

This is Cornerstone’s first release under their new Napa Valley single vineyard program. Made from one of their Oakville…

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Goodbye Oregon, Hello Colorado

Goodbye Oregon, Hello Colorado

Recently I moved from Portland, Oregon, one of the hippest cities in America to yet another up and coming city, Denver, Colorado.

While Colorado is not as well known for its wine industry, it has an amazing beer industry that is worth delving into.  With the craft beer industry having a $1.15 billion impact on the state’s economy, it’s no wonder that CNN named Denver the best beer city in…

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