Robert Sinskey Vineyards

Check and Balance...

The genius of the US democratic capitalist form of government is not only its systems of checks and balances but the trust it bestows on the people. Though sometimes our government is clumsy when it comes to helping those who cannot help themselves, it is best when it doesn’t hinder those with talent and/or desire to succeed and encourages those who achieve success to use their good fortune to help and inspire others. The genius is that it appreciates, or at least tolerates, the genius of the people and allows capitalism to be balanced by philanthropy.

In our three-plus decades in the wine and food world, we have had the opportunity to work with a few successful visionaries who have used their personal success to help others. The short list includes Alice Waters, Charlie Trotter and Jacques Pépin.

The Edible Schoolyard, a program created by Alice Waters, teaches kids in less than ideal urban environments to grow and cook their own produce on school property. Alice helps children understand the beauty of simple things done well and gives them the power to grow real food while breaking the shackles of corporate control on their food supply and nutrition.

Then there is the late, great Charlie Trotter who created the Trotter Foundation to train at-risk people culinary skills so they could have a trade with which to pull themselves up. Charlie was an inspiration in my formative wine years. He approached his craft with passion and everything had deeper meaning. Charlie loved balanced wines and though he could have selected any high-profile winery, he selected RSV to craft the “Charlie Trotter Selection” wines to serve and auction at many of his charity events. It was a proud moment for RSV and we miss him.

A relatively new foundation is by the legendary chef, Jacques Pépin, and his Jacques Pépin Foundation. Picking up where the Trotter Foundation left off, the JPF wants to provide those less fortunate the skills to build a career in the culinary world. The inaugural JPF charity auction, in which RSV supplied a wine for the dinner, was held earlier this year.

It is an inspiration to witness how these successful people give back in a way that empowers those less fortunate. In my mind, this is the perfect circle philosophy that RSV aspires to. Everything is an opportunity to strive for balance.

Faraway Places

Libration Blanc embraces the exotic flavors and aromas of faraway places. I look forward to the release of this fragrant quaffable white because I can throw open the doors of my spice cabinet and go wild. Moroccan cooking uses the subtle layering of spice to create a beautiful palette of flavors that envelopes your taste buds. A sip of Libration Blanc adds to the mix and sings.

Open the bottle and let it transport you to another land!

Until the Next Wine....
Maria

EAT: Moroccan Lemon Chicken

EAT: Couscous with Garbanzo Beans and Tomatoes

Reminiscent of a walk through a blossoming citrus orchard in early Spring or a jasmine patch in mid-Summer, this wine makes an effusive, enticing floral aromatic statement. The marriage of the ancient selection of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains combined with true Pinot Blanc provides layers of golden apple, guava and honeydew melon balanced by savory notes of pineapple sage and Castelvetrano olive. When tasted, those broad floral and fruit flavors are balanced by a steely, mineral-driven backbone that drives a clean finish, perfectly suited for food...or just the next sip. (09/2018)