Bring out the barbeques, sunscreen, bikinis, lounge chairs, and cocktails, it is Memorial Day Weekend, one of my favorite weekends of the year!!! Because in my mind it is the start of another fabulous summer!  Today we are onsite at Saltwater Farm Vineyard for Carol and Kevin’s intimate wedding celebration at the winery, but then we are kicking back and enjoying a couple of days off.  I think it is the first Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend I have had off in 5 years, and I am ready to embrace every minute of it.

Some fun plans this weekend: Birthday Cocktails at one of the hottest new Restaurants on the CT shoreline, Fresh Salt, backyard bbq with family and friends, the incredible Nicole Frechette is performing live at Chamard Vineyards on Sunday, and we are packing up our bags for a day at the beach in Old Lyme at Pavillion.  What are your plans this weekend?

Memorial Day Weekend Picks
Wine of the Week
Brass Tacks Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
$14.99

Winemaker’s notes:
Let’s get down to brass tacks. This Cabernet Sauvignon is about the purity of the varietal flavors and California terroir. Brass Tacks Cabernet Sauvignon offers classic rich layers of currant, cherry and blackberry fruit that is framed by nicely integrated oak, which adds a touch of spice. This small lot Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from California’s Central Coast that is influenced by the Pacific Ocean. This maritime influence creates an extended growing season that yields wines with full flavor development and great acid balance.
Food Pairings: Perfect with anything off the grill!

What the Experts Say:
“Very nice for the price. Dry and smooth, with blackberry, cherry, cola and currant flavors that have a scoury mouthfeel, because of the tannins. Lots of class and even some complexity. Editor’s Choice“

88 Points
Wine Enthusiast

Cocktail of the Week
John Daly Light

1 part Firefly Ice Tea Vodka
1 part Light Minute Maid Lemonade
Cup full of Ice
Garnish with a lemon

Filed under: Chamard Vineyard, Friday Wine Tasting

Can you believe that June is just around the corner?  With the sunshine finally upon us, I can’t help but imagine myself as a guest at an outdoor party filled with fresh flowers, soft colors, and tons of gingham details!  Take the tablecloth look down a notch by substituting pretty pastels for bolder colors and drop a mason jar-full of fresh-cut flowers on every table for a refreshing ambiance.  I think lemonade would be the drink of choice at this summer soiree, don’t you?

Filed under: Inspiration from Anywhere

A couple of months ago we had the privilege to team up with some amazingly talented ladies (Carrie Roseman Photography and Hana Floral Design and Rentals Unlimited) to do a photo shoot to showcase the beauty of the wine cellar renovations recently completed at Chamard Vineyard.  We are the exclusive event coordinators for the winery and couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of such an incredible team.

Chamard is located on the shoreline of Connecticut, has the most incredible old world charm, and the people that work at the vineyard have taken great pride in making it one of the hottest wineries in the state – not only as a place to visit on the CT Wine trail but also as a venue to host private events.

As you enter the gates and pull down the long stone driveway, it is as if you have been transported to another place in another time, it has such an old world feel to it. The winery is crafted of stones from the property and wooden beams milled from trees harvested from the land as it was cleared over 20 years ago. Chamard sits on 40 acres of vines that gently slope along the southern Connecticut coast, just two miles from Long Island Sound, making it an ideal destination for guests coming from Boston or New York.

For more information on hosting your wedding at Chamard Vineyard email: Sarah@Trueevent.com

Filed under: Chamard Vineyard, Color, Flowers, Photography, Real Weddings, Venues, Wedding Wednesday

Headshot- Justin Marantz Photography and all of the interior pics of the studio were captured- Anna Sawin Photography

I was so honored and absolutely thrilled to be interviewed and featured on the oh so fabulous Postcards and Pretties blog as they give you an inside look into our studio!  Take a peak.

Filed under: Behind the Scenes, Press, Yellow