Simply Divine | RED 2006 by St. Francis

So I headed out to check out the chic, sophisticated Stone Rose lounge located inside Hotel Sofitel Los Angeles.  I love the Sofitel in Chicago and heard great things about Sofitel in Beverly Hills including the restaurant and lounge. I love the laid back atmosphere of lounges with big comfy couches, a nice bar. Hotel bars are a great place to meet people because typically people seem to be very friendly. I love a good conversation and I’ve found some of the best just hanging out a bar. I’ve met some pretty damn cool people that I’ve kept in contact with through out the years. I really enjoyed The Bazaar at SLS Hotel so I was willing to take my chances and continue my search for great red wine at another hotel lounge.

I am so glad I did. I had a great time. I was greeted right away and somehow our original bartender got busy and was quickly replaced by another young woman, Destinee. She was absolutely awesome. It didn’t take long before we were all swapping stories and I was asking her how she ended up in L.A.. She had a great story. It is amazing how things always seem to turn out the way that they do.

Destinee went to great lengths to make sure I was well taken care of. Not only was she a beautiful person but she was incredibly intelligent and by the end of the evening we had heard a good portion of her story and her life. An artist who ended up managing a renowned bar chain in various cities who recently demoted herself so she can get back to pursuing her passion of art and fashion. I have a feeling we will see Destinee’s fashion on a runway soon.

Of course the question always comes up even before you figure out what you want to eat, “What would you like to drink.” I never ask for a wine by name unless I am craving it. In that case I just buy it from a store and stay in and drink it. I like to go into restaurants, lounges, essentially anywhere with a child-like ignorance because I learn a lot,  in addition to developing my palate. I go in with an open mind, an open palate, describe what I like and then ask to be surprised. It hasn’t failed me yet.

Destinee recommended two wines and the moment I stuck my nose into the glass of RED, took one whiff and my lips met the bursting fruit forward, jammy fluid in the glass…I instantly knew that RED and I were meant to be and she would be another one of my trophy wines added to my collection of recommendations.

RED is produced by St. Francis which is located in the heart of  Sonoma county. St. Francis is well known for their big, bold, full-bodied wines that over deliver on flavor.

Each wine is made from 100% hand-picked, Sonoma County fruit and represents our philosophy of maximizing the true expression of both grape variety and terroir.

St. Francis - RED 2006

St. Francis achieves critical acclaim from the wine media who refer to it as “The House of Big Reds.” Among its many accolades, St. Francis was recently named “International Red Wine Maker of The Year” by the London International Wine Challenge.

St. Francis spent the past three decades acquiring and developing over 600 acres of prime Sonoma

County vineyards, carefully selecting diverse vineyards with varying soil compositions of loam, clay, and volcanic soils in a range of microclimates that vary from direct sunlight of high hillside slopes to the cooler regions of the valley floor.

The fruit from these superior vineyards along with the fruit from our family of growers is used in the Sonoma County and Reserve wines.

RED is  a succulent blend of 48% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 3% Zinfandel and 6 % Mixed Blacks (Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Alicante, Malbec). RED is lush with succulent ripe red fruit flavors and spicy aromas. Full-bodied and versatile, RED pairs with a variety of foods for any occasion.

Wine Makers Notes: Red, ripe and robust fruit flavors with spicy aromas make this a wine that pairs well with a variety of foods. Great with grilled foods and pizza or pasta dishes with red sauce. The perfect wine to serve at a cocktail party or backyard barbecue.

RED is for all red wine lovers who simply want a tasty bottle of wine with a fun package at a great value. It’s my job to worry about clones, soil conditions, vintage and Vinification so that the consumer doesn’t have to. We’ve created a dependable, versatile wine – No lessons needed – uncork and enjoy. -St. Francis Winemaker Tom Mackey

Click here to locate RED near you

Recipes just for RED

So if you’re ever in L.A. and want a friendly bartender, drop by Stone Rose Lounge and say hello to Destinee. Tell her Freda sent you and for goodness sake try a glass of RED! Oh before I forget, I had a fresh fruit plate, a cheese plate and fresh salmon bedded in delicious saffron rice all covered with a divine sauce.

Next Post: A delightful discovery in Anacortes, Wa followed by a great story about acquiring a taste for great love like fine wine.