Swirls of summer are in the air. That means it’s time to swirl something special around your glass. And that would be Bouchaine Winery’s 2024 Vin Gris of Pinot Noir ($36).
This estate selection Napa Valley Carneros beauty is bright and vibrant with a nose of fresh-picked strawberry, juicy watermelon and guava. Flavors of white nectarine, cantaloupe and more melon add to the overall enjoyment. “It screams for warm days on the deck and time with friends,” say the folks at Bouchaine.
This pale-pink food-friendly wine is just what one needs for summer sipping.
Choose from a Terrace Tasting or a Garden Wine Tasting at Bouchaine’s lovely facility. And on Fridays at 10:30am, Rebecca Rosen is there with her raptors – including hawks, owls and falcons.
Bouchaine’s beautiful Tasting Room is at 1075 Buchli Station Road, Napa. Reservations: 800-654-9463. Winery: 707-252-9065. Bouchaine.com
New chef at Dream Inn
Michelle Gomez is the new executive chef at the Dream Inn. I experienced her exquisite cuisine at a Botanical Lunch in May featuring K&D Landscaping and Mariquita Farm. Participants started with a stroll around the climate-appropriate plantings by K&D, followed by a plant-based lunch, which was incredibly different and delicious. Produce from Mariquita Farm was featured, which filled the mouth with ultra-fresh flavors. Chef Gomez’s cuisine is outstanding.
Jack O’Neill’s Restaurant & Lounge at the Dream Inn, 175 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, 866-966-0529. Jackoneillrestaurant.com
HASSY is healthy
Hassy Avocado Oil is healthy stuff. It’s 100% pure and great for cooking and baking. A product of Mexico (where delicious avocados grow), it is cold-pressed, naturally refined, trans fat free, gluten-free, kosher, and nutritious (about $23). Hassyfoods.com
