Georgetta Dane

Steak Tartare: Love It or Hate It?
Love It or Hate It

Steak Tartare: Love It or Hate It?

I recently got to know Big House winemaker Georgetta Dane over a delightful lunch, which included a glass of the winery's The Prodigal Son and classic steak tartare.
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I recently got to know Big House winemaker Georgetta Dane over a delightful lunch, which included a glass of the winery's The Prodigal Son and classic steak tartare. There's something admittedly primal about eating steak tartare, which is made of minced raw beef mixed with onions, and seasonings. It's certainly not for the faint of heart, but Georgetta and I agreed that the sweet, robust meat made for an excellent pairing with the Petit Syrah. What do you think of it?

Source: Flickr User quinn.anya

Interview With Big House Wines Maker Georgetta Dane
interviews

Big House Winemaker Georgetta Dane Talks About Her Lineup

The events at SF Chefs 2010 have kept us really busy, but when I had the chance to talk shop with winemaker Georgetta Dane, I simply couldn't turn it down.
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The events at SF Chefs 2010 have kept us really busy, but when I had the chance to talk shop with winemaker Georgetta Dane, I simply couldn't turn it down. That's because this fearless female is the artisan behind Big House Wines, a wine label that I've long equated with quality and value.

Over lunch and wine, she shared her incredible life story — along with some thoughts on the ever-changing wine industry. Hear what she has to say when you read on.

Wine Review of 2009 Big House White
Wine

Happy Hour: 2009 Big House White

If you've ever walked down a store's wine aisle, chances are, you've caught sight of a few of the fun-loving, colorful labels from Big House Wines.
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If you've ever walked down a store's wine aisle, chances are, you've caught sight of a few of the fun-loving, colorful labels from Big House Wines. That's what happened to me, at least — and I've been drinking the winery's Big House Red ever since.

This past week, I had the chance to chat with Georgetta Dane, the head winemaker behind the eclectic, prison-themed wine label. Over lunch, she poured me the — pardon the pun — entire lineup of offerings. She started with one of the company's bestselling wines, the Big House White ($8).

Big House White is a blend of about 10 varietals, including Viognier, Malvasia, Muscat, Gruner Veltliner, Pinot Grigio, and Gewürtztraminer. Many of those grapes are highly aromatic, which makes drinking this patio wine a bit like inhaling a nuanced bouquet of potpourri: It's very floral and perfumed, with a light stone fruit finish.

I thought this wine was so perfect for Summer that I picked it up a few days later when shopping at Whole Foods — and was reminded of the ridiculously reasonable price tag! Have you ever tried Big House White, or any of the label's wines?