OUTFIT

I’m not sure if I’m going to church or to teach kindergarten in this dress, but it spoke to me from the aisles on the online Zara store. There’s just something about it that I like, I can’t put my finger on it. I don’t typically like patterns, I don’t typically like midi dresses, I don’t typically like dresses with collars. But here we are. It’s a good one — and Zara pays me nothing to say this. I don’t even make a commission on this list, the Zara people just get richer. So, you’re welcome, everyone. LOL

This is the exact dress. THIS and THIS are same vibes from Zara. And then linking THIS splurge print because we all need a classic to keep around.

& don’t forget the best little Ferragamo flats, to-date!

WINE

Mijenko “Mike” Grgich was born in Croatia and became instantly famous when his 1973 Chateau Montelena Napa Valley chardonnay was entered in a blind tasting and won in the white wine category by a panel of French judges in the historic 1976 Paris Tasting of French Burgundies and California chardonnays. Did you guys watch The Judgement of Paris? It’s cheesy but if you’re a wine nerd, its worth a watch.

Anyway, with this win, Mike (helped) instantly put California Wine Country on the map. The 1976 Paris Blind Tasting alerted the world, but especially France, that the California wine industry was the real deal. This inevitably laid the ground work for what Grgich Hills is today.

Grgich Hills is committed to natural winegrowing and sustainability, all five of their estate vineyards are maintained without artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, and they use only wild yeast fermentation to handcraft their wines. This allows the soil to continue to naturally influence the grapes and ultimately the wines. Grgich is committed to organic farming and fighting diseases with healthy soil —which I always find inspiring, with a great understanding of how wines are made. But beyond winemaking, they take long term vineyard health very seriously while continuing to preserve the healthy microbes and healthy vines that feed the grapes the nutrients. While continuing to farm organically, Grgich is fighting pollution as they can reduce contaminated water runoff as well as CO2 emissions.

The 2017 Grgich Hills Cabernet is a Bordeaux Blend of predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, with a little Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. This beautifully concocted and herbaceous wine gives me all the holiday feels. I want nothing more than to go straight to the snowy mountains and sit by a fire. Bright red fruits, with cinnamon and rose petals on the back palate. I think you will love it too!

xo