Sitting outside with friends last night overlooking the Russian River, my thoughts turned to George Gershwin and Ella Fitzgerald. I began to hum, “Summertime, And the livin’ is easy, Fish are jumpin, And the cotton is high…”
There ain’t much cotton growin’ in Sonoma County, but fish are jumpin’ and the livin’ is certainly easy. Especially in summertime with fruits hanging from trees and veggies growing high on farmlands as well as in front and back yards of our little towns.
Dining outdoors with convivial conversation, local wines and warm, starry nights. Does it get much better than this? So how does dining al fresco contribute so greatly to the enjoyment of wine and food?
What wine pairs best while observing the little fox as it heads to the river’s edge for a last drink of the day? How does the wild salmon from Bodega complement a full moon that rises above the mountaintop? I eat outside every opportunity I get. To me, everything tastes better when eaten al fresco. Although I’m not a doctor, I’ll bet slow, mindful al fresco dining also promotes good digestion.
There is little scientific evidence that the mystical claims of feng shui are real. Yet, restaurateurs go to great extremes to ensure the dining environment complements the food. Regardless of how perfectly aligned a restaurant or home may be, there is no match for nature. A natural environment allows for a multi-sensory eating experience.
Creating a memorable setting is so important that vintners are willing to share their wineries, and sometimes even their homes, with guests. A significant amount of wine is sold from winery tasting rooms. Visitors wish to relive the winery experience. They purchase cases of wine to share with family and friends once home, telling of their adventures in wine country.
We’ve brought back wine from across the world, praying the bottles wouldn’t break in the suitcase. Popping corks with loved ones we reminisce about the sounds, smells, tastes and feel of the foreign culture we so thoroughly enjoyed. Even now when I sip Malbec I remember my first Argentine Asado; the care with which our host assembled and lovingly labored over the fire. Strategically placing one piece of firewood over another, he built a wooden tower. Throughout the day, he stoked the flames while continuously spreading the embers. Or tasting my first Torrontés with goat that had roasted overnight in a huge pit that took two men to dig.
How many of you have traveled to France in November? Tasted Beaujolais Nouveau as Parisians celebrated the new vintage clinking glasses while dancing on cobblestone streets?
Speaking of, I recently learned the origin of clinking glasses. Toasts use only four of the five senses. We see the color of the wine, touch the glass in our hand, smell the wine in the glass and taste the texture on our palate. The clinking satisfies the fifth sense of hearing — the tone of the glass, the physical connection of the toast.
Dining outdoors satisfies our animal instincts. Even my grandchildren request outdoor dining and are able to stay at a table longer, which usually means eating everything on their plates. The conversation is richer, the subtle breeze a digestive. Connected to our surroundings, all five senses come alive.
Relevance for Today: Make sure your favorite Sonoma County sparkling wine, white or Rosé wines are on hand and chilled at all times, with delicious reds close by. Pick from your garden or support your local farmers’ market. Gather at the table with family and friends, or simply take a glass of wine outside and enjoy the singing of the birds and peace of nature as a complement to daily living.
Marie Gewirtz represents wine and food clients with marketing and communications in Sonoma County and throughout the world. She can be reached at wi*******@so********.com.
