Good wine. Good cocktails. Good food. Good friends.

I'm Raegan and welcome to my back yard, which could be anywhere I'm enjoying wine, cocktails, or food.  Like many, I have a career, a family, a busy life. This was Maggie, our white rescue German Shepherd. Our two other rescue German Shepherds, Ace and Riley, will make appearances in the posts (they love a good photobomb).  They remind us quite often to take time to enjoy life. Maggie crossed the Rainbow Bridge in August 2022. 

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Tasting wine with friends to explore the luscious flavors of the U.S. and Old World (European) wines is a great way to treat ourselves in our backyards. I'd love to travel more to taste wine at the vineyards, but until I can travel more I bring the wine to my backyard.  I also visit the backyards of Virginia vineyards with future plans to visit New York and California vineyards. Reading wine publications and visiting wine blogs, I noticed their descriptions are geared toward the "wine enthusiast."  The growing population of wine explorers who don't speak wine lingo are baffled by tasting notes which are sometimes not very inviting to young palates. That's why I'm sharing my wine adventures and encouraging you to taste everything. And I'll even tell you how and where I get good wine at good prices! 

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So, when do cocktails and food join the fun?  During the pandemic, my husband and I made improvements to our back yard like building a patio and expanding our outdoor cooking tools. We have since moved to wild and wonderful West Virginia where we're creating the outdoor kitchen we always wanted. 

 

We LOVE firepit cooking! We feature delicious food cooked over a Breeo fire pit, Weber Grill, Akorn, and Traeger smoker.  We may begin with a cocktail and end with a night cap. Nothing goes better with good wine than good food and good friends.  I'll share some of my recipes, perfect pairs, and a friend may pop by from time to time or I may visit their backyard. Share your tastes with us too.

 

Let's try it. Taste it. Share it. Share the gorgeous aromas. Share the flavor. Share the feel. But share it in a way that encourages others to explore, expand, and experience.  Refreshing cocktails can make tastebuds sing. Pairing wine and cocktails with food brings the chorus together and is easier than you think. Join me on this tasting journey. You're in for a treat! 

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Welcome to Bartlo's Backyard!