Calling All Desert "Rhone Rangers”

“I drink wine to make other people more interesting.” – Ernest Hemingway

Jeez. Last month we were experiencing 100+ temperatures and everyone was looking for ways to stay cool. Suddenly, Day Light Savings is over, and it seems like we’ve skipped fall and we’re headed straight to winter.

The good news is that means it’s the perfect season to begin enjoying red wines. The redder the better. So, our December Meet Up will be focused on Syrah. That’s right… the inky, meaty, blueberry-nuanced, bacon-fat, grape variety often overlooked, but perfect for fall and winter evenings.

Our evening will begin with a discussion of oak barrels – the history of barrels in wine production, how barrel usage influences wine flavor, and how barrel’s contribution helps showcase many flavors we enjoy in our favorite dishes.

We’re going have the opportunity to evaluate Syrah as it’s produced around the globe. From Washington, to California, to France, Australia, South Africa, and Italy. Each country has its own take on what Syrah can be, but the common thread is dark, intensely flavored, and a great food wine.

We’ll finish the evening by evaluating a food pairing with one of the Syrahs. Meaty, Blueberry, bacon fat… wait “bacon fat? A dish showcasing bacon might be just the ticket. After all… who doesn’t like bacon?

The cost for the event is $40.00. Please RSVP and pay by Venmo to Lynne Ryno@Lynne-Ryno (last four of the phone number are 5172) or mail a check to Jack Ryno, 75797 Camino Cielo, Indian Wells, CA 92210 to confirm your seat at the event. You will be categorized as “not coming” until payment is received. I will confirm your spot once payment is received. There are fourteen seats available.

Please bring your own wine glasses. I highly recommend six (6) glasses for the event based on the comparison format we'll be using. If you don’t have six matching glasses, click on the link for an inexpensive set of eight offered for $19.99 by Amazon https://tinyurl.com/yb455u3w. The box is a handy way to transport the glasses to and from the tasting.