Croatia’s Upper Postup Wine Growing Region – how do these inclines, soils, and wind affect the regional grape ~ Plavac Mali?

The Upper Postup Wine Growing Region located on the Peljesac Peninsula This video taken from the Upper Postup Region on the Peljesac Peninsula shows the tremendous incline of vineyard space. Leslee, Vineyard Mgr for Korta Katarina, Arsen and Winemaker Nika talk about the fencing put around this property and their pesky little grape eaters that… Continue

Why Croatian Soil, Land, and the Infamous Grape ~ Plavac Mali?

Croatian’s Korta Katarina Vineyard Manager and Winemaker share a moment with Sommelier Leslee Miller This week while on a trip to Croatia, Sommelier Leslee Miller, had a chance to catch up with Vineyard Manager Arsen and Winemaker Nika from winery Korta Katarina on their actual vineyard site in the Peljesac Peninsula. Two regions which are… Continue

Sad to Leave, Ready to Return – CROATIA

If there’s wine region that’s been put on the forefront of the wine scene – but maybe hasn’t been ‘felt’ by folks yet – it’s Croatia.  And, I think…that’s what I learned from this trip.  This morning at 4am, as I waved good-bye to my new favorite country, I thought…how am I going to share… Continue

Dreamy Dubrovnik and its Wine Growing Regions

Dreamy.  That’s really how to sum it all up.  I said today, ‘If people in the U.S. knew how beautiful it was here (Croatia and the Dalmatian Islands), they would never vacation in Hawaii or Mexico again.’  Seriously. We flew into Dubrovnik, the ‘Walled City’, last nite.  Gorgeously polished cobbled streets line the inside of… Continue

Live from Croatia!

It’s true, I’m here in Croatia – literally typing as we speak!  Full of wine and loaded up on seafood, my travels so far are truly some only dream of.  Sitting and writing from the city of Zagreb, I’m getting ready to head off for the southern city of Dubrovnik.  Zagreb, located in the northern… Continue

The Orginal CRUSH PAD – that’s me!

Thought it was important this morning to share with readers  a little something that was sent to me from devoted Amusée, Crush Pad, fan! See Star Tribune’s article and the first comment following in this clip from: The Star Tribune  not realizing who owns the original CRUSH PAD. Thank you so much for all your… Continue

New U.S. Wines!

Croatian winery, Korta Katarina’s wines tasted at Minneapolis Wine Market with Consumers Last nite was a pretty exciting nite for Amusée fans around AND for one particular Minneapolis family. Minneapolis family-owned, Croatian Winery – Korta Katarina – wines were tasted for the first time in a public U.S. retail setting at Pairings Wine Market. For… Continue

Croatian Wine Tasting Tonite!

Calling all REAL wine drinkers…by REAL I mean adventuresome, ready to jump outside your box and ready to drink some REALLY fantastic wine.  I don’t want to hear any, “I don’t drink that ____ ”  from anyone tonite! Tonite I will be at Pairings Wine Market  in Minnetonka pouring some beautiful Croatian wines.  The winery,… Continue

More Merlot…

Review of Another Super Sexy Merlot This week while drinking through a great assortment of Super Sexy Merlots, my husband and I stumbled across this one…Pine Ridge’s 2003 Crimson Creek Merlot. With a cellar chucked full of Pine Ridge’s wines from my days of working with the winery, I rarely look towards some of the… Continue

Super Sexy Merlot

Merlot, poor baby Merlot – tossed aside and what we thought…would be left for dead…after one silly line from a movie “I’m not drinking any f- Merlot!”  Well, she’s comin’ back and in a SUPER SEXY WAY! Last Monday night, March 1st, I taught a fun class called:  The Queen of Grapes ~ Merlot @ my… Continue

For the Love of Malbec

Family Meschini Talks Malbec, Mendoza and their LOVE for their family-owned Argentine Winery. In a country like the U.S.,  already chucked full of Minnesota based or born Winemakers, we’re still finding MORE! Minneapolis couple talks Malbec, Mendoza, and their LOVE for the wines that they produce from their Argentinian Winery. Meschini Winery, family owned and… Continue

Croatian Wine Lands a Spot in Twin Cities

Last week at a popular series of Twin Cities Wine Classes that myself and pal, Anissa Gurstel of Pairings Wine Market, teach at one of Minneapolis’s newest hot wine retail spots – Pairings Food & Wine Market, named GIRLS GONE WINE – a brand new wine and a brand new winery from Croatia was unveiled. … Continue