Last week I celebrated my 24th birthday. Ty came down to join the party and we spent the weekend in Chicago surrounded by my favorite things; family & friends, great cocktails, wonderful food, and sunshine. On Saturday morning we cabbed down to Navy Pier for the Seadog Architecture Boat Tour. If you haven’t done this yet I would highly suggest making the trip. For roughly $30, you get to see some stunning city views, feel the cool summer breeze on your face, and get a little adrenaline rush if you choose the speed boat tour. WARNING—you may get splashed! The boat tour is a perfect budget friendly date that is bound to put you in a good mood.

WEEK 5 - De Loach 2013 Chardonnay (Heritage Reserve)

After a long, adventure-filled weekend, I was thrilled to get back into the routine of home cooked meals and movie nights withTy (I’m an old lady now at 24 ;) A friend of mine sent a BEAUTIFUL birthday gift from wine.com. (Don't you just love those friends that get you?)  I wasn’t familiar with this website until now, but I will undoubtedly be using it in the future. Between the red wrapping and the fun assortment of snacks and wine, it’s the perfect gift for an aspiring wino like myself.

One of the coolest things about a bottle of wine is the meal that goes with it.  Think fresh veggies, yummy pasta and a handsome man that made the whole thing.  This working girl is in love with the whole package!

One of the bottles I received was De Loach Vineyard’s 2013 California Chardonnay. I’m starting to find that as I am learning more about wine through this blog, I keep coming back to the word balance. De Loach does a nice job balancing crisp fruit flavors with a creamy, slightly oaky palate. I also noticed a mineral taste that “brightened up” the finish and kept this wine on the crisper side. (I had to google minerality in wine to make sure I wasn’t losing my mind, so if you are a beginner like me, don’t be discouraged!) I am learning the terminology as I go and attempting to use my big girl words.

Balance is key—in life, and in wine. De Loach’s Chardonnay provided a well balanced, bright, and crisp Chardonnay that complimented this week’s at home date night.