It's Wine Time! How About a Cold Glass of Cameron Hughes CAM Collection Chardonnay?

Welcome back my wine lovers! Hope you all are keeping warm in this icy Texas weather. If not, just grab a bottle of wine and start chugging! Well, only if you are stuck inside like most of us. :) 

So on to the featured wine! Now as some of you may know, I used to have many jobs. (I used to have five jobs at one point. All I can say is, there was $$$ coming in.) One of these jobs, that really got my fascination with wine going, was working for a wine negociant, Cameron Hughes Wine as a Wine Contractor. Many of you might recognize the name from Costco and Sam's Club, (That's where I actually started. Doing dry tastings at Costco. I worked every weekend for months, to the point that I became dubbed "The Wine Girl." Most of the people did not even know my name. Just wine girl. Hence, I am now yourwinegirl,.... you know, just in case you were wondering how I got the name,) when they were in the Lot Series (The ones with Lot # that were like super inexpensive. We're talking mostly $10 and under. I believe this is where my $10 and under obsession began).... and yep, I was one of those people who would talk to you about the wines and offer you a taste as well. Ah the days. 

Jump to the present, and Cameron Hughes now has his own line, the CAM collection. 

Cameron Hughes CAM Collection 

Monterey Chardonnay

I am loving this wine! I do not think I have ever liked a Chardonnay so much as this one. :)

Born in the sunny Monterey County in California, this wine is just lovely. 100% Chardonnay grapes, the golden color lights up your glass as honeysuckle, mango and vanilla fill your nose. My favorite part is when it hits the lips and it tastes like creamy, lingering pineapple mango all the way down! (I am a huge fan of Mangos! Some might even call me that. Right Pineapple? ;-p) 

Perfect to Pair With: Creamy pasta dishes, salmon, white fish, white or margherita pizza, or just by itself!

Average Price: $15.99- Available at Tom Thumb, World Market, Kroger and other wine retail locations!

Cheers my Wine Lovers! Enjoy your snow (ice) day!

Wine and Big Bang Theory?! Don't Mind If I Do!

Hello again my wine lovers!!! I know my posts are becoming more few and far between, but I am here for you! Ever have a question or curiosity, just email me (yourwinegirl [at] gmail dotcom), Facebook me (Facebook.com/yourwinegirl),  or leave comments on my video tastings (youtube.com/yourwinegirl)!!

Now who's a fan of the comedy show, The Big Bang Theory? Well, just in case you were unaware, I am a big fan. Not like a fanatic, or overly obsessed, but I do enjoy smart comedies (hello, Frazier was totally awesome too!) Now, if you have been watching recently, you will notice that they usually all drink wine through out the episode. The fun part for me, being a wino and all, is to watch what they drink (weird I know, but it's fun, and well, I am a nerd), and I am sure I am not the only one who will occasionally notice what the label is.

Presenting, the winners of last night's episode, "The Prom Equivalency" (<--watch the episode):

Bota Box Chardonnay


Visible on Penny's counter in the beginning of the show, this inexpensive, medium bodied white with aromas of vanilla and green apple, is part of the box wine trend that is blowing up all over the world! (You'll notice if you watched Shark Tank recently. BeatBox wine is available at Spec's Liquor now!) I mean, it's the most economical way to go right now. How you may ask? Well:

A: Bota Box is made from recycled material. Now who's against saving mother earth?
B: The wine inside the box is actually inside a huge plastic bag (another recyclable!) with a spout on the end, that you pull out of the box (There's an outline on the side of the box where it comes through).
The great thing is that the vacuum like action of the spout keeps the oxygen from interacting with the wine in the bag (oxygen + open wine = spoiled wine. You'll start to get that different, funky taste), making the wine last up to a month after you open it! Woo-hoo!
C: 3 Liters worth of wine. That equals 4, yes I said 4, bottles of wine. How many glasses is that you may ask? Well, it adds up to 16 glasses. Yep, looking better by the minute right?
D: Party in a box. It is very inexpensive, good eco friendly wine that you can take anywhere (hello hiking, camping, tailgating. Anywhere that prohibits glass, this baby can go!) and can sit in your fridge for a month.
E: All of the above only add up when you figure in the price. Most of these boxes you will find on sale for under $20!!

Perfect To Pair With: Salmon, Creamy Alfredo Pasta, Greek Salad, or your favorite cheese and fruit plate!

Average Price: $19.99 - Available at Tom Thumb, Market Street, Kroger and other wine retail locations!

Now don't judge Penny and the others so fast. We are in a wine loving economy :) Right after you see the Bota Box on the counter, Penny actually pours three glasses of red wine. It's a quite Noble wine:

Noble Vines 337 Cabernet Sauvignon

From the soils of Lodi, California (great grape growing rocky, free draining, sandy soil area), this wine is one of my absolute favorites for under $12! 
Called Noble Vines for the long growing history and traditions in Lodi (long history, long roots, good wine!), this is a nice medium bodied red with blackberry, cherry and coffee filling your nose, it goes down like silk with the slight toast and tannins, and leaves your mouth filled with deep cherry, blackberry and slight pepper. Mmmm. Oh yes, Penny has good taste and a great budget!

Perfect To Pair With: Stuffed Pork Loin, Ribs, Grilled Hamburgers, Chocolate, Pepperoni Pizza, or just great by itself!

Average Price: $10.99 - though you can find it on sale for $9.99! Available at Tom Thumb, Market Street, Kroger and other wine retail locations!

Cheers to Big Bang and Wine! :) What a lovely combination! 

"The Secret to enjoying wine: 1. Open the bottle and allow it to breathe. 2: When it does not breathe give it mouth-to-mouth."

Happy Friday Chardonnay Tasting!!

Behold! My Wine Lovers! Seems we keep missing each other!! :) Sorry for the delay this week, but all is now well!
Proceeding onward, this week's wine bottle tasting is the Bonterra Chardonnay 2011. An organic grape white wine, (apparently I seem to keep picking up these organic whites!), this California wine is a wonderful complement to almost anything!!

Bonterra
Chardonnay 2011
Made with Organic Grapes
Mendocino County

"Bonterra was founded on a philosophy that farming organically produces the purest, most flavorful fruit. This holistic approach balances the land and the surrounding habitat of wasps, birds and wildlife to produce wines of unmatched flavor and distinction. Our Chardonnay is filled with flavors of green apple, pear, citrus and hints of French and American oak."


WARNING: THIS PARAGRAPH CONTAINS MANY BOLD WORDS. IN CASE YOU WERE EVER WONDERING WHAT A WINE TERM MEANS, AN EASY EXPLANATION WILL FOLLOW AFTER. ENJOY!!

What better wine to drink just about everything with, than this awesome Chardonnay?? This amazingly cheap and fully organic wine (it's certified by the California Certified Organic Farmers), is incredibly
 golden in color, (the main color of the wine. Sometimes also referred to as the core.)
medium bodied, (how heavy the wine is. This can range from light to heavy.) and wonderfully smooth with
aromas (what you smell when you maybe take a quick whiff when poured into your glass, OR when the bottle is opened) of lemon, pear, apple, some slight
toast, and butter (when these two words are seen in descriptions, either together or just one by itself, it means that there is some OAK influence. Oak aging usually gives off an aroma and/or taste of toast, and sometimes butter), that bring your taste buds alive as you can taste the refreshing and slightly tart lemon that brightens your entire mouth!

Enjoy this wonderful wine with anything from baked sweet potatoes and vegetables, to chilled seafood or pot stickers!! Just about anything fancies this under $10 wine and really intensifies the wonderful flavors.

So why yes, of course, sit back, relax and enjoy this beautiful bonterra out on the patio while watching the sunset. :)

Happy Friday Everyone! Cheers!

Average Price: $9.99 - And of course, your girl found it for a deal at Costco for $8.99 It's also available in grocery stores and liquor stores for just about the same price when on sale!

*“his lips drink water but his heart drinks wine” *