Wine Tasting in the Backyard & Good News For Our Fellow Wine Lovers

Cam and I are huge wine lovers, as I think you all know by now:) In the same way that Japan spoiled us forever with fresh sushi, Croatia spoiled us with artisan wine. Every Croatian wine has a particular character based on the soil and appellation, even as small as a single hillside. Particularities in character are valued and celebrated in Croatian wines – I don’t know how else to say it. There is such a beautiful art to their wine growing and making. When we buy wine here in the States now, well… our feelings about it often aren’t the same. Ha. But not this week!

We had a wine tasting date in our backyard thanks to Jamie at a wonderful new company called Scout & Cellar. They are a small business essentially doing what Whole Foods did to the industrial food market — they’re providing only high quality wines that are made without chemicals, sulfites and additives that have become commonplace in the major wine industry.

Have you ever gotten a headache after having a glass or two of wine? Or wondered how a particular wine can taste the same year after year, even from different vintages? It’s because wine companies can legally add up to 250 FDA-approved chemicals, pesticides, GMO ingredients and sulfites to give wine its color, smell and consistency without telling the buyer. Some bottles have up to 16 grams of sugar because of this, which is more than a glazed donut!

(I love this photo of him in his dirty work pants and boots savoring that delicious wine!)

Wanting high quality wines without all the junk that’s being added today, a local Dallas mom and attorney turned sommelier started Scout & Cellar. It began small for her family and friends, but in just 6 months, it’s already surpassed $4 million in sales. A lot of people are excited about drinking wine grown organically and harvested by hand from established old vines. Scout & Cellar then tests the wines to make sure there are no additives before selling.

(Also, there’s only 1-2 consultants per state so it could be an amazing business opportunity for anyone looking!)

My cute, cute date.

Jamie was kind enough to send us four bottles to taste that were all distinctly unique and we wholeheartedly loved every one! Cam’s favorite was the 2015 Johannes Zillinger Zweigelt, which is a variety also grown in the Slavonija region of Croatia that we’re very familiar with. It’s incredibly drinkable and tastes like a light pinot noir. He says tied would be the delicious red 2012 Qupe Grenache from Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard in California. I was a big fan, too!

My favorite was tied between the Straka from Austria because I go crazy for full-bodied reds and the Gruber sparkling wine that was perfectly bubbly and floral and made me wish I’d made fried chicken to pair it with!

Scout & Cellar offers a monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly wine club with mixed wines or red wines, 6 bottles or 12. Or you can just order straight off the site at any time. I also loved that they send tasting note cards with each bottle and suggestions of what foods to pair it with.

Georgia has been dating with us since she was first born so… she wasn’t about to miss out!

I rarely do plugs for companies, but this time I couldn’t say no. Cam and I received the wines as a gift, but they were each fantastic and we sincerely love what Scout & Cellar is doing. I felt like I had to share it with you!