Wine Down and Chill: Oh, Mercy Me!
This article was originally published on July 17, 2020 at https://gritdaily.com/wine-down-and-chill-mercy-vineyards/
Indeed, wine down and chill is wishing for a big dose of mercy for the world to quell the raging coronavirus, fighting about masks, racism and inequality that is plaguing our country right now. Over here, we’re doing our little part. We know that you’re interested in learning about different wines so that you can get down to drinking it! Got it, let’s get to it!
Theme: mercy
The expression, “Oh mercy me!” has been around for about a century and is said to have originated from the South. For our purposes here at wine down and chill, given everything that going on across the US and around the globe, it seemed like a pretty darn good fit.
Listen: Sisters of Mercy
The theme of mercy is popular in music; and not just in spiritual songs. I found more than 3,145 songs that celebrated today’s wine down and chill theme. You can get the playlist here. Among the most well known is the 2016 hit, “Mercy,” by the incredible Shawn Mendes. Or, you can blast back to the 1980s for your own backyard or kitchen personal dance party bopping to the new wave sounds of Sisters of Mercy.
Learn: Monterey County, CA
Monterey County boasts mountain ranges on both its Eastern and Western edges. The geography and soils are as diverse as the weather patterns which combine in a spectacular fashion to create unparalleled conditions for growing grapes. Located about an hour’s drive south of Silicon Valley, the warmth of the Pacific Ocean mixes with the mountain ranges to create “A Thermal Rainbow.” The result? Up to 40˚ daily temperature swings with ocean winds that act like air conditioners to extend the growing season for a slow, gentle ripening.
“Through the millennia, Man’s quixotic attempt to produce the finest wines has borne an unyielding Truth: The Vine is always at the Mercy of Mother Nature.” ~Mercy Vineyards
Wine Down and Chill with: Mercy Vineyards 2014 Chardonnay, Riverbed
Delish! I’ve been jonesing for a good Chardonnay for a while. One with just enough buttery smoothness to make me sip it slowly but just enough acidity to keep it feeling fresh on my palette. Apparently, I’m not the only of the Mercy Vineyards 2014 Chardonnay Riverbed wine. It’s been awarded 92 points by Wine Enthusiast and other critics.
Expected notes of butterscotch and vanilla cream are easy to catch but the unexpected notes of lime and minerals add a lot of unique interest to a Chardonnay. The vintners at Mercy Vineyards offer an explanation as to why their Chardonnay is so remarkably different and special; the grapes are harvested from “the Arroyo Seco AVA’s ancient, dried Riverbed terrain … defined by its granite-based, cobblestone surface soil. In concert with the rock and meager nature of the soil, this locale is plagued by howling winds and fog throughout the growing season. Slow to ripen, the grapes develop complex flavors.”
Dine: fish tacos
This week’s wine down and chill theme called for something southern-inspired and delicious. Combining the love of catfish in the deep South with the Cali-cool chic edge of avocados, consider whipping up a batch of fish tacos. Cook the fish (whichever species you like) as you like, lay in a bed of shredded cabbage with a few slices of scallions covered in tartar sauce (or garlic aioli). Top with cubed avocado and yum, yum!
Watch: Just Mercy
I watch a lot of movies and have seen more than a few (ha!) over the past couple of months as an unintended side-effect of a global pandemic. A few of them have been total crap, most have been mediocre, some have been intelligent, and many have been entertaining. But this one moved me.
From the moment that the docudrama, Just Mercy, opened, I was enthralled. The acting was superb with Jamie Foxx and Michael B. Jordan putting in Oscar-worthy performances along with the incredibly versatile and talented Brie Larson.
It wasn’t just the acting that set it apart, it was the poignant portrayal of the reality of Blacks as told based on a series of actual events and real people in the 1980s fighting for civil rights in the South. Here’s another reason why Black Lives Matter (as if you needed one more) – although the film was set and told the stories that happened 40 years ago, sadly and unconscionably, not much has changed since then. The reality of Black inequality is still raw and real.
A few more bits
If this week’s theme didn’t float your boat or fill up your glass to wine down and chill, no worries. We’ll continue to offer affordable suggestions for music, wine, dinner and movies with a different wine down and chill theme each week. You can also follow me on Instagram for wine art and photography @WineDownAndChill. We’re here to help you sit back, wine down and chill. If you missed an article, fret not! You can find every article here.
If you like podcasts, well, wouldn’t you know, we’ve got those, too! Three of them, in fact: 1) Like a Boss with snappy insights; 2) wine down and chill; and 3) Monday motivation. All three are available on all streaming channels including Apple, iHeart Radio, Spotify and more. Tune in!
It’s the weekend. Time to wine down and chill. Cheers!
Photo by Danielle Pilon from Pexels