After "work" drinks and snacks

Well, I didn't end up going to work today due to the weather.  Oddly enough, I'm pretty sure that the snow yesterday was worse than today... but apparently its pretty icy out there.


So, to compensate, I've been working from home all day.  Catching up on a TON of writing and documentation.  Not too shabby actually.


As a "post-work" snack, I made myself a little cheese plate and poured a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.  I know, I know, you're thinking, "Sauv Blanc in the winter?  In a massive ICE STORM?"  Yes.  I don't know why, I was just in the mood for something crisp.  Can't a girl have a craving once in awhile?


The drink: 2009 Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc - $11.99


Tasting notes (via the internet, puh-lease, I'm not THAT good at these): 

"Inviting citrus, pineapple aroma that lingers seductively. A full, round, refreshing mouthful of grapefruit and figs. This wine is creamy and rich while being crisp and complex. A great wine to pair with spicy Asian fare, raw oysters, seafood and cheese"

The snack:
Mixed olives
Aged Gruyere
Gorgonzola drizzled with honey

Ladies, I HIGHLY recommend you pamper yourselves like this more often.  I'm feeling so good that I might actually continue to do work for another couple of hours.  Crazy, I know!

Showdown: California vs Argentina

This month we kinda borrowed an idea from The Second Glass and did our own "Wine Showdown" pitting California versus Argentina in a Battle Royale.  We came, we drank, we judged, we drank, we drank some more, and more, and.....

....and it was awesome!

THE WHITES:

Round 1: Crios Torrantes (Arg) v. Dancing Bull Savignon Blanc (Cali)

Winner: Not a terribly close race, Argentina won 4-2

Round 2: Murphy-Goode Savignon Blanc (Cali) v Byron Chardonnay (Cali)
Unfortunately this is the only place where we didn't have an Argentinian wine to compete with the Californian... so we just compared the two anyway.

Winner: Not surprisingly, but California won :)  Specifically, the Byron Chardonnay!  See, Chard doesn't have to be feared.


THE REDS

Round 3: Llama Malbec (Arg) v Five Rivers Merlot (Cali)
Winner:  Argentina won with a score of 5-3.  Everyone just loves a Malbec.

Round 4: Domaine Jean Bousquet Cabernet Savignon (Arg) v 90+ Merlot (Cali)
Winner: In a similar battle, Argentina pulled through here with a score of 5-3

Hmm... This is a tough call to make, I'll have to think on it.  Should I include the food pairings in the decision?

THE FOOD

California-inspired salad of arugula, beets, walnuts, avocado & goat cheese in frico (Parmesan cheese cups), for recipe click here:

Hummus and chips
Antipasti (peppers, marinated artichokes, olives, etc)
Broccoli & Cheese bites
Asian Veggie Dumplings
Fruit (pineapple, strawberries, melon, etc)
Bread
Cheese (Queso Fresco, Manchego, and 2 others that I can't remember the names of....)

And for dessert, adorable little cupcakes:

All in all, it was a great night and I can say that after some deliberation, I'm ready to declare a winner:

ARGENTINA

Happy drinking!