I am not procrastinating...really!

BonJour all!

I do have excuses for being late for the October blog posting....really!!!! The main fridge at Petit broke down last week, so all the food had to be moved, and reconfigured and then it was John's birthday weekend and we went to San Francisco and then we got back and the Fall weather was so beautiful and then, and then...and then.... I am reminding myself of Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music when she has to explain being late for Mass (or Vespers) to Mother Superior..."and the hills were calling and the grass was so green and the flowers were so sweet...." Not to say that our blog readers are Mother Superiors...

anyway, so ~

Fall is HERE! The weather is a most perfect 70 degrees - the evenings are cool and the mornings fresh. The trees are just beginning to color as are the vineyards as harvest is over. It is a most spectacular time of year to be in the Central Coast...I love autumn!

The wines for October are as delicious as always and have received rave reviews from our guests thus far!
2008 Beckman Estate Sauvignon Blanc - Beckman Winery in Santa Ynez ALWAYS produces stellar Sauvignon Blancs! We have served this wine from previous vintages as it has been really popular and it is so easy to pair with our appetizers!
2008 Benvolio Pinot Grigio - 100% Pinot Grigio from Friuli region of Italy -an area famed for its zingy and zesty wines! John and I shared a bottle of this wine with a bruschetta made from little yellow pear tomatoes and basil from our garden and the pairing was amazing! We still have lots of the little tomatoes and our potager at Petit is lush with parsley and basil, thyme and rosemary...so watch for this appetizer and the Pinot Grigio this weekend!
2007 Rancho Sisquoc Silvaner - I love this wine! The Silvaner grape is traditionally found in wines from Alsace (eastern Fance) and Rancho Sisquoc is the only California winery to showcase this varietal. The wine is spicy and a bit floral, too. It reminds me of one of my favorite vacations to Strasbourg and Colmar in October 2007!
The Rose for October is from Gassier, a winery on the rocky coast of Provence. The wine, 2008 Sables d'Azur, oozes ripe fruit, yet it is not over sweet - just perfectly balanced. It is exciting to see our guests really enjoying our selection of roses!
The Tolosa Mission V is a blend of vintages and Rhone varietals from the neighboring Edna Valley and it is wonderful! The grapes are Syrah, Petit Sirah, Grenache and Viognier from the 2006 and 2007 vintages. The wine is almost black in color - spicy yet lush and smooth. mmmmmmmm
2006 Hitching Post Generation Red - a Meritage blend from Hartley Ostini Winery and the Hitching Post family made famous by the movie Sideways. All
of the wines from Hartley Ostini Winery are outstanding and I am glad that we now have access to them! This blend boasts rich ripe fruit - We are serving it tonight with Blue Cheese Gougeres and salami rolls!
2008 Le Paradou Grenache from the Luberon region in Provence. This Grenache is on the lighter side, but spicy and complex. There is not much more delightful than sitting in Petit's back courtyard in October with a glass of Le Paradou, a pizzeta with tapanade and chevre and a good friend (or husband, wife..etc). A sante

So those are our October wines and if you are coming to SLO for Parents' weekend at Cal Poly, or for the Remnants of the Past Antique show in Nipomo, or for the Santa Barbara Harvest Celebration or for just a getaway, you will be able to enjoy the above wines for yourself!

October boasts of some really special breakfasts - pumpkin pancakes with pecans, baked apple French toast, carmelized leek and pepper strata with chevre and warm and comforting coffee cakes, scones and crunchy biscotti. Did I mention that I love October? Actually, we all love autumn at Petit Soleil!

Best to all!

Cheers, Dianne