Cheese with a Crunch

Local artisan cheese producer, Sonoma Creamery, has been hand-crafting quality cheese inspired by local Wine Country agricultural since 1931. Using 100 percent all natural products to create unique flavors like Sonoma Jack in pesto, habanero and chipotle cheddar.

But there’s more. The company recently introduced the Cheese Crisp Bar—a crunchy and savory snack bar made from real local cheese and baked to perfection.

“The inspiration behind Cheese Crisps came from our desire to expand on the snacking potential of our original line of cheese baked snacks called Mr. Cheese O’s, as well as to offer our consumers a more versatile and functional savory snack option with more flavors and a larger bag size,” says Jack Atlasov, eCommerce manager of Sonoma Creamery. These low-carb, high-protein cheese snacks are perfect alone, or topped with guacamole, hummus or crumbled over a salad. In five bold and savory new flavors—bacon cheddar, Parmesan, savory seed, everything cheddar and pepper jack, this intense cheesy goodness is an absolute must try.

“Our Parmesan Crisps and Cheddar Crisps are our best selling items, but our new Cheese Crisp Bars have just been launched and are catching up fast,” he says. Visit www.sonomacreamery.com for more information.

A Whole Lot of Rosé

Rosé wines are more popular than ever before, with their beautiful blush tones and refreshing flavors—rosé is an everyday wine, hence the saying, “Rosé all day.” According to a 2017 Wine Market Council Survey, 60 percent of U.S. adults of drinking age say they drink rosé consistently throughout the year, and 23 percent say they sip the pink drink more during warmer months. Whatever your decision, here are some local rosés on the market that are sure to please your palate.

2017 Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Rosé

Don’t be fooled by the pale pink color; this rosé is bright in flavor, jumping out of the glass with notes of crisp grapefruit, strawberry, fresh-cut watermelon and hibiscus. Primarily from the cool Monterey and Mendocino coasts, this Pinot Noir is also stainless steel fermented, retaining the bright fruit character. Retailing at $17 per bottle, the reserve rosé can be purchased at www.kj.com.

2017 La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir Rosé

Thanks to a wet winter and much needed rain in La Crema’s Monterey vineyards, the cool-climate appellations are tailor made for their new rosé. Both bright and exotic, this 100 percent stainless steel fermented rosé at $25 per bottle, has a balance of acidity and fruit—perfect to pair with just about anything, from grilled octopus or halibut ceviche, to a selection of artisanal cheeses. Visit www.lacrema.com for more info.

Wherever the Sun Goes…

The flavors of Latin America have made their way to the North Bay with Sungo, the tropical and exotic lightly-carbonated soft drink made with non-GMO ingredients. Brazil-born Paula Schetino Castro collaborated with George Demiris who is the founder of Sungo Beverages. The company started in Healdsburg after realizing the U.S. soft drink market had been on a decline for the past five years with a consumer increase in bottled waters. However, a new trend in the market shows consumers seeking new flavors, drinks and packaging that stands out. Made with real fruit in the bottle, Sungo contains 70 percent fruit combinations and a Latin motto: Bebida fresca—bright in flavors, bright in taste.

Sungo flavors include passion fruit with orange, hibiscus with raspberry, pineapple with lime and mango with tangerine. Sungo is available at Safeway, Olivers and other specialty stores. For more info, visit www.sungobeverages.com.