I guess it’s been awhile since I’ve not only posted something about wine but really posted anything. The Farmer’s Almanac predicted this winter would be colder than the 2014 winter. I know the NE has had a brutal time but I was beginning to think the Old FA got it wrong for my area of NE Georgia, then winter really did show with a vengeance. It started with one of the worst ice storms old timers can remember. Of course my county got the worst of it and 90% of the county was without power. I live at the end of the county line and a rural area so we were one of the last to get heat, running water (and flushing toilets) and lights back on.

While we were in the dark another round of cold winter air made its way to the region. Then as if that wasn’t enough to prove it really was big bad Old Man Winter, we had two rounds of winter storms dumping snow within two days. But that’s ok, I love the snow and secretly hope we get one more round of snow. Please keep the ice in the glass, I’m not interested in seeing the trees and everything else encased in ice.

Through it all you know I kept my wine cork handy, even if I did need to open the bottle by candle light. One cold night we enjoyed Casa Sant’Orsola Barbera D’Asti 2013 and enjoyed with a bowl of Alessi Split Pea Soup we cooked over the fire in our fire place.

I won’t comment on the color since it was pretty dark in the room but the aromas were luscious yet intense black fruits. Intense flavors of dark plum and blackberry provide firm tannins and a full body and a long fruity finish.

I picked this up at Total Wine for around $8.99.

SantO’Orsola was born out of a joint venture between brothers Secondo and Luigi Martini in 1947. Located in the Langhe region of Italy the brother’s love for wine led them to a life of winemaking. Borrowing from a holy church dedicated to Saint Ursula the brothers named their wine Sant’Orsola. As not only the company expanded but also the family the name was changed to Casa Sant’Orsola. Decades later the Martini Family continues to make wonderful wines and now in its third generation.

Well here we are again, parts of my area are under a Winter Storm Warning, I was really hoping for more snow but if we get anything will just be sleet and black ice…ick! I realized last week I’ve seen snow just six times in my adult life. Having left Illinois when I was four when my family moved to SW Florida, up until recently my idea of the “white stuff” were the white sandy beaches of Ft Myers Beach, Sanibel and Captiva. So while I’m looking forward to spring and love seeing the daffodils and Crocus pop up out of the ground, I’m still waiting for my Dogwood to get buds, which typically occurs in February. Maybe Old Man Winter’s not done with us yet.