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When in Rhone, well not exactly Rhone …

Over the last twenty years California has become one of the finest wine producing regions in the world.  This reputation has been built largely on the backs of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon grown primarily in the Napa & Sonoma counties.  The amazing transformation that has occurred in the wine industry is a tribute to the foresight & efforts of individuals who firmly believe that California wine would be equal to any produced in the world.  Now, as we head into the millennium, California is leading the way in every category from style to science.  However, the most promising glimpse of the future comes from the growing number of grape varieties that are gaining respect amongst the average American wine drinker.  Local winemakers are currently turning their attentions back to varieties long forgotten.  These wines are being made in the same spirit, with the innovation and style that California winemakers used to shock the wine world in the 70’s with Chardonnay & Cabernet. 

“the girl & the fig” staff toasts these winemakers in their eternal efforts to make the best wine possible in their own incomparable California style. 

Our winelist of Rhone styled California wines have been the source of surprise, confusion & most importantly satisfaction.  When deciding on how to approach the make-up of our wine list, we put a lot of thought into the process.  It would have been far easier to simply collect a group of excellent Chardonnay, Zinfandel & Pinot Noir wines.  However, we wanted a sophisticated list that had a theme & would pair nicely with our menu. 

With this in mind, it was off to the Rhone we went, the California Rhone, that is.  We chose the varietals of the Rhone for many reasons, but first and foremost was their adaptability with food.   Living in Sonoma County, we are blessed with the incredible bounty of local produce, herbs, game, poultry, meat & seafood.  These provisions give us the opportunity to explore and create menu items that are simple, flavorful, and fit our concept of “country food with a french passion”.   We needed wines that would not be overshadowed by our menu items but would enhance & define these creations.  The explosive & seductive scent of a Viognier paired with mussels is something that everyone should experience.  Yet, beyond wine & food we saw the ability to create a truly unique dining experience in which a guest could discover a little bit about the distinct differences of wine.  The format for this is our flight program.  Whether done in fun or seriousness, we offer our guests the opportunity to taste three different wines of the same varietal such as Syrah or Viognier, or three - five different varietals, such as Roussanne, Marsanne, Mourvedre, Cinsault or Carignane.  With a list in hand, you can compare & contrast the different nuances between the wines & how each reacts with your food. 

Many of our guests have enjoyed this & fallen in love with wines they had previously never heard of.  It is incredibly satisfying to know that our friends & guests enjoy their meals, but it is even a little better knowing that they might learn or discover something new during the course of their meal.  Try something new today, you might just be pleasantly surprised.  We will continue to offer varieties of the Rhone & welcome any questions you may have on producers, vintages and styles of the various California Rhone producers.     

To purchase a bottle of the current vintage of Tres Bonnes Annees

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