Girls Gone Wine!

After two fun Amusée events with Jen T and her pals, I promised the gals that I give a ‘shout out’ for time well spent during our last two diva wine parties.  Jen, who became a fan of Amusée after taking a couple of classes at Cooks of Crocus Hill with me, loves to let loose with pals over a good libation.  
Our first gathering took place over St Patty’s Day, with no cost spared.  Just a few gals sitting around drinking a few very highly allocated wines, including one ~ Chappellet ‘Pritchard Hill Estate’ Cabernet – yum.  Instead of drinking green beer, the girls and I did it up in style over nine, fun international wines.  The wines were beautiful and the Chappellet ended up being one of the favorites of the nite.  From its deep, chocolate covered bing-cherry fruit down to its dusted cocoa beans and rich Napa dirt, the wine was a hit with the girls. 
Tonite- Earth Day! – a liter fare of goodies, the gang and I reconvened over a plate of artisanal cheeses from Premier Cheese Market (50th & France, Edina), handmade truffles from my favorite local chocolatier, Lovehandles Chocolate, and an easy little shmattering of international wines from Italy to Argentina.  A different menu, but always a great time.  A couple of new faces were added to the circle, and I was a proud wine mama with a few of my girls spitting out the wine info that they learned at the last party.  I loved it.
Tonite’s favorites consisted of a tasty blueberry fruited Argentina Malbec called Diseño and a delicious handmade cheese from Iowa by the name of Prairie Breeze.  Prairie Breeze, a gorgeous, slightly earthy Cheddar, is a unique hand-crafted gem made by a 17 year old young man from a small Amish community in Iowa.  Absolutely fabulous and goes with many styles of wine.  From a young, brite Vinho Verde to a round, supple Napa Cab (all part of tonite’s pourings) – the cheese paired well.
Reflecting upon another successful Amusée event, and walking away with a few new friends, I’m quickly reminded that my job as owner of Amusée and Sommelier is really a lucky one.  Not only do I meet very cool people at every event, but my job consists of helping people appreciate and enjoy wine.  
Lucky, is what I am.   
So, I want to say thank you.  Thank you to the Girls gone Wine over in St Paul with the Jen T gang to my very committed Amusée fans who stop at nothing to support me (not even snow storms) through numerous classes at Cooks of Crocus Hill.  
Lucky am I to be a part of an ever-growing industry.  And, lucky to be sharing wine with a lot of cool new folks across the great state of Minnesota.  Cheers to you all and cheers to you, crazy wine divas!