Deep thoughts:

Aside from getting a little natural Vitamin D and fresh air here and there, I was hunkering down like the rest of us. I had every intention of staying fit and sober for health's sake. Then, out of thin air, a wine fairy dropped off some marvelously boutique bottles of vino on my front path and flitted away.

Moments after the wine fairy's visit, I receive instructions in the mail for my SIP with a Somm seminar. Oh right, this was supposed to be the Somm's Kitchen and SIP Certified wine pairing that was initially planned to feature local viticulturists and winemakers sitting in proximity at the Somm's Kitchen counter in downtown Paso Robles.

Turns out the SIP with a Somm crew was among the first wine programs to adapt to the new shelter-at-home orders. Before you could say "quarantine," the event had already been reformatted to be virtual.

Chef Ian Adamo gave me and the other 19 guests and six panelists a list of three categories to prepare food pairings from home with each of the SIP-certified wines. Understanding his guests, who likely have differing home situations, he divided his food suggestions into: 1) feed the kids, grab a bite, drink a lot; 2) midday snacks; and 3) and overachieving, nonparents, who aren't broke.

Read On!

Get all the tasting notes and pairings for the SIP Certified wines: