I’m not Irish at all. I’m Italian, Polish and English so I barely celebrate St. Patrick’s Day besides eating corned beef and cabbage which honestly, I really don’t care that much for. The one thing that is exciting to me, though, is that everything is green.
It should be no surprise to anyone who knows me that I love the color green. Back in New York, my bedroom was lime green. No, I didn’t have that color from when I was younger… I painted my room that color when I graduated from high school and honestly miss having my bedroom that color. I also drive a lime green Ford Fiesta. There’s just something about green, specifically lime green, which just makes me feel happy and secure.
That’s probably why my favorite things are green. I love the look of the winery when it is completely green, I could eat green beans with every single meal for the rest of my life and be content, I love spinach a little more than I would like to admit and I could drown myself in green tea. My favorite scents come from green things as well. I love the smell of basil and oregano, the smell of mint green teas, the smell of limes and pretty much any green candle that I’ve smelled, I’ve loved. I do NOT, however, love the smell of broccoli.
There are a lot of things located in Ponte that are green. Maybe that’s why I absolutely love walking around the property. All the signs around here are green, there’s a lot of natural greens around and, of course, the big green barn that all of us love to come to, our tasting room. Not only are a lot of things the color green, but every department in Ponte Family Estate is a “green” department. Yay for sustainability!
Before sitting down to write this blog I went into the tasting room marketplace to explore the many amazing things we have. I love being able to have the chance to look around and was able to find a lot of things that I absolutely love that are green.
Here’s what I found…
Our 2012 Chardonnay: It was the first thing I picked up. Who doesn’t love a good Chardonnay?! It’s our only wine that has a green label. This wine is running low, so I would get it while you can! Get yours now in the online store.
Artichoke Lemon Pesto: So stinking good. I could honestly eat an entire jar myself. Did you know that you can make this pesto even more fabulous?! Mix 1 cup of pesto with ¼ cup of mayonnaise and ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese. Bake until its golden brown. My favorite way to eat it is with toasted baguette! Find it here in our online store.
Scallion Oil: One of our most popular food items in the online store and in the tasting room. Served right at Ponte in the Restaurant with bread, it’s a guest favorite! This is so tasty you won’t even want butter with your bread. For me, that says a lot because I love me some bread and butter. Find it here in our online store
Oh! Garlic: Let me just start with, I love garlic. I love the smell, the flavor, everything about it! Goodness gracious I love it! Take some of this seasoning and toss it with cooked pasta and olive oil; add some parmesan cheese and BAM! (Sorry, Emeril moment) Or you could use it as a seasoning to bake fish, chicken or bread. That’s some good flavoring!
Rustic Bakery- Rosemary & Olive Oil Sourdough Flatbread: These are so good with any of our dips that we carry! Or grab some hummus and go to town.
Garlic, Basil and Balsamic Dipping Oil: Three delicious things I loved wrapped in one bottle?! SCORE! What I would give to have this on my desk right now with pieces of toasted baguette. A good snack, or appetizer before a delicious supper. Yum…
Fresh Basil Pesto: Simple, to the point, tasty. Stir it in with pasta, chicken, as a spread or as a dip. It’s good no matter which way you spread it (corny joke- cue laughter). Find it here in our online store.
Warm Dip: Spinach, Artichoke and Mozzarella: one word- YUM. Just reading the label I know that I will love it. My motto is and always has been: you can’t go wrong if there is cheese. Just open and serve!
Fast, Fresh & Green and The Fresh & Green Table by Susie Middleton: I’m a carnivore, I love meat. So it’s very hard for me to actually enjoy vegetables. But with the recipes in these books, I actually caught myself wanting to eat vegetables. They are simple and really make you rethink the way you have been serving your veggies. Be gone boring, steamed broccoli!
Green Ponte T-shirt: These t-shirts are eco-friendly bamboo material and are so incredibly soft and comfortable. Complete with the Ponte logo, this shirt is perfect for lounging around the house or going out to do everyday activities. Why wouldn’t you want to represent the best place in Temecula?! Shop Ponte t-shirts here.
Ponte Coaster: Besides the vineyard, the Tasting Room is the most important green object at Ponte. These beautiful hand painted coasters allow you to remember your relaxing day in the country at your own home. Complete with a cork bottom, this is the perfect coaster to set your glass of Ponte wine on! Find it here in our online store.
Bamboo & Green Tea Candle: I love candles. When I say love, it doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel. Okay okay, I think I’m going overboard. But you get the point, right? While exploring the Tasting Room gift shop I smelled about every single candle I passed. If I had it my way, I would be going home with a new candle every time I left work but that would do way too much damage to my pay check. The one that I absolutely love and think would be a perfect kitchen candle is the Bamboo and Green Tea Candle. It has a light enough scent that wouldn’t be sickening to have in a common area. Plus, who doesn’t love the smell of green tea?!
Mini Topiary Tree: how adorable is that little guy? I mean, really! I think that having three of them lined up on a window sill would be the most adorable little set up ever. Especially in a kitchen! There’s only a few of them in the Tasting Room, so I would hurry up before I cave and get them. Adorable!
Winemaker’s Choice Shipment Box: The best box you could ever receive. Our Wine Club is fantastic, although I might be a little biased. With eight shipments of wine a year, how could you not want to join? I would do it if I were you! The Winemaker’s Choice option is definitely the one I always recommend to guests. You get one red wine and one white wine, and so you always receive a variety! The best part about being a Member with our Wine Club is you always have the option to purchase additional bottles of the featured wine at 30% off! Cool!
What can I say, I love green. No matter what time of the year it is. I actually have forgotten to wear green the past two St. Patrick’s Days. Yes, I did get pinched. So I can assure you I will not forget to wear green this year. Although Guinness would be the best beverage to serve with your corned beef and cabbage dinner, a Meritage or Cabernet Sauvignon would make a great choice as well! And – talk about the “luck of the Irish” – Cabernet Sauvignon is 30% off this month for Wine Club Members! But, if you really want something green to drink, how about dying some Isabel green instead of beer?
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
–Stephanie Polka
–Is there a color you’re mad about?
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