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 Since I launched TheWineKnitter in June of 2014, my posts were mainly focused on wine and knitting. As time went on I drifted away from “knitting” and became more engrossed in writing about wine, food and sometimes travel. Over the holidays, I began sorting through many knitting designs that I created and now feel the need to occasionally bring knitting back into play on my blog.  While visiting Paris a few years ago, I took myself on a walking tour of Le Marais which is an historic district in parts of the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. Amongst the historic buildings and beautiful architecture I stumbled upon a knitting shop. Of course I went in! Thirty minutes later, I departed the shop with a bag full of beautiful skeins of silk, cotton, linen and blends that I hadn’t seen in the US. It was the only purchase I made while in France! When I returned home from Paris, I immediately put my knitting needles to work. This “French” shawl is made of cotton, viscose and linen. The shawl is wrapped around a 1967 Chateau-Figeac and 1961 Chateau Haut-Brion. Both bottles of Bordeaux were opened a few weeks ago and each has a story to tell.  Chateau-Figeac dates back to the 2nd century AD with the Figeacus family and is located in Saint-Emillion. The Manoncourt family acquired Chateau Figeac in1892. Chateau-Figeac became a First Great Classified Growth in 1955. Thierry Manoncourt created a unique grape composition of 30% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. He was dubbed “Pharaoh of Saint-Emillion” by the press in 1971. Although Thierry passed away in 2010, his wife and daughters, along with a highly skilled wine-growing team, carry on the tradition of wine making today. Tomorrow I will continue my story of Chateau-Figeac and Chateau Haut-Brion and how they faired once opened! Have a great Wine Wednesday! Cheers!
Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com In between tasting Chardonnays, Rosés and Rieslings, I found myself knitting a summer shawl the other day. The grapes inspired me! I call this shawl “Island Ribbon”. I love to give names to my one of a kind pieces. The yarn is a combination of cotton and vicose. The wooden beads are handmade from Africa. The shawl is light and airy. It can be worn with just about any summer outfit. Click on the photos for a closer look!  I toasted my finished piece with a glass of 2010 Selbach Riesling Kabinett Piesporter Michelsberg leftover from my party. The wine was also light and airy! And the opened bottle held up very well in the refrigerator for a few days! It still had a floral and apple aroma with apple and pear on the palate. Delicious! Enjoy Wednesday!
Cheers! Penina  It has been a marathon kind of day so far. I’m just catching my breath.  However, I am happy to report that I finished my knitting project. It is a warm and snuggly poncho. I still need to block it, but here is a photo for your viewing. My fingers need a little down time and then I’m on to the next project. Click on the image for a closer look.  The other evening a friend stopped by and I opened a bottle of 2011 Cantele Primitivo, IGT Salento. It was the color of garnets. I inhaled cherries, spice and a touch of floral. On the palate were soft tannins, raspberry, cherry and a hint of coffee beans. I had not heard of Primitivo grape before and neither had my friend who is a wine journalist. It’s always nice to taste a grape variety that is new to the palate! The Primitivo grape is grown in the southernmost part of Puglia surrounded by the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. http://www.cantelewines.com Must run!
Cheers! Penina  After spending a lovely afternoon yesterday at a yacht club having lunch on the water, I was snapped back to reality with business calls and appointments.  I scurried home to prep food for the 6th game of the World Series. Then it was off to a friend’s home to watch the game. The Giants lost miserably…and now the finale is tonight. I’m thinking that I need to open a big bottle of wine for this! A friend gently admonished me for apparently omitting the “knitting” lately from my wineknitter blog. Guilty as charged. I’ve been so caught up in trying to finish a design and layout for my next project that I have been remiss in talking about knitting at all!  So, here is a beautiful shawl that I designed and put together not too long ago. Just by adding these beautiful wooden beads from Africa around the edging of the shawl, I have given it added texture and dimension. Think about embellishing your next knitting project to give it a whole new look! Click on image for a more detail. Okay…back to work. Make sure to watch baseball tonight!
Cheers! Penina  I finally chose a yarn for my knitting project. It will be quite simple but elegant. This is the yarn that I intend to use. It is Kid Mohair, nylon, a touch of polyester and made in Italy. I love the shimmer in it! I may add more texture or adornments as I progress. As for what I am making…well…you will see!  Yesterday was a flurry of activity. Ran to the “big Apple” for a few hours and then back home for afternoon appointments. In other words, a non stop day. I was in dire need of “me” time.  My eyes were half-mast by early evening, but felt the need to take a “taste” of port before retiring for the evening. It was 1992 Fonseca Vintage Porto that I reviewed on 7/15/14 “Day 36”. Check it out! It was the perfect nightcap. Another busy day ahead. Hurry up weekend!!
Cheers! Penina  Hooray! I finally finished the Infinity Cowl. And the bonus being that my wrist is still attached to my arm! I made it long so that it can be wrapped around the neck twice if desired. I used several textures to make it pop. If you zoom in, you can see the metallic running through it. It is a perfect autumn cowl that will carry me right through winter. I’m keeping this one! Not for sale! 
 On another note, I would like to share some thoughts on a bottle of Encantado Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 that I had a week ago. The color was deep garnet with flavors of black cherry, spice and a touch of oak. Soft tannins and a long finish made this a treat to drink. Cheers!
Penina  I was admonished this morning at physical therapy for overworking my wrist while knitting. How could I possibly make her understand that once I start knitting, I find it impossible to stop! When I have a concept and design in my head, it so exciting to watch it emerge before my very eyes. So, I went home thinking that I would rest my wrist for the day….but of course…I didn’t. Here is a photo of the Infinity Cowl that I am making. I hope to put another inch or two on it tomorrow and then finish it by Thursday. And, I pray that my wrist will still be intact! 
On another note... I went to a friend’s house for dinner this evening. One of the “stand out” bottles of wine served was a 2010 Paul Hobbs Russian River Valley Chardonnay. My only complaint was that there were too many people to have to share it with! One glass per person was a huge tease! The perfumed aromas of peach, lemon and honeysuckle were heady. It was creamy with layers of pear, melon and lemon/lime. It was full-bodied and had a wonderful finish.  My quest is to find more bottle of this incredible vintage. Cheers!
Penina It’s a miracle! I have started knitting again!  Albeit, I can only do it for about 20 minutes at a time, before my wrist begins to hurt. I spent the morning designing a pattern for an Infinity Cowl. What should be a quick project of about 2 hours will most likely turn into stretching over several days. I’m okay with that, as long as I can knit again. I chose a beautiful Italian yarn with variegated colors running through it. I’ll be working on circular needles 
Since I wanted to keep the Italian theme going, I toasted my new project with a glass of 2009 La Castellina Chianti Classico Tommaso Bojola. My nose was filled with the aromas of cherry and raspberry. I tasted spice, licorice and berries. It was a satisfying and long finish. 
Hopefully, my project will have an inch or two added to it by tomorrow.
Cheers! Penina A few days ago I was sitting with a pile of yarn, contemplating my next project. It was also cocktail hour, so I decided to open a bottle of Famille Ligneres 2005 las vals that had been sitting in my refrigerator since the beginning of summer. This delightful wine is made from 80% Roussanne, 10% Grenache gris and 10% Vermentino. It had a yellow to gold color with a soft aroma of peaches and a light floral essence. I tasted apricots, spices and a hint of honey. Check out their website and story at http://www.familleligneres.com/story.html. 
 Although I never did decide what texture or color yarn I wanted to use, I did enjoy my cocktail hour! Cheers!
Penina Since it is a rainy day I decided to go through my liquor cabinet to hopefully organize it more ergonomically…if that’s even possible! While sorting through bottles of spirits and wines that haven’t been touched in years, I stumbled across a bottle of Cherry Heering. 
When is the last time you used this liqueur? And what do you really know about it? I confess that I was a little intrigued, so I did some research. 
This remarkable liqueur created by Peter Heering has been produced in Denmark since 1818. And, the best part is that it is ALL NATURAL! Cherry Heering is made by soaking lightly crushed Danish cherries and a blend of spices in neutral grain spirits. It is then cask-matured for up to five years adding sugar during the aging process. It is a deep ruby color and actually tastes good…no candy or cough drop flavor that one expects from a cherry liqueur. See more at http://www.cherryheering.com/  Try pouring a little Cherry Heering over ice cream for a change of pace! If you have any mixology drinks or other recipes that you would like to share that incorporates Cherry Heering, please do.
Cheers! Penina |
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