I’d like to propose a toast to following and fulfilling your dreams!

In fact, I can think of quite a few occasions that are worthy of a raised glass filled with delicious wine followed by a few celebratory words in honor of an extraordinary experience. And although this past year has been filled with some amazing moments, encounters, and discoveries, I can’t think of any experience more deserving than my very own journey. You see, the end of June marks the one year anniversary of my blog OhNikka.com, and I’d have to say that the last 11 months, 14 days, 9 hours, 16 minutes, and 14, 15, 16 seconds 😛 has been the most fulfilling experience for me. While on this fabulous ride I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful people along the way, and I can’t fully express in words how each and every one of those experiences has touched me.

When I embarked on Oh! Nikka, my goal was to share my experiences with my friends and family back home in Humble Texas, while also satisfying my own cravings for discovering fab finds around Atlanta. But little did I know that through those experiences I would inspire others to follow and fulfill their own dreams. I absolutely love meeting people who are living their dreams, and I’m equally inspired by them to do the same.

So here I am closing in on my one year blogiversary and I’m still sorting out the details to commemorate this personal milestone. What will I wear, where will I host the event, and of course which wine selection is best suited for a gathering of such significance? But not to worry folks; I’ve pledged to not bore you with all the intricate details of this soiree. And I promised to not embarrass myself by offering my abridged knowledge of wine selections and pairings, or anything on the topic. 😀 You see, I’m no wine connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination; but who I am is someone who appreciates the clanging of stemware over laughter-stimulated conversations amongst friends and family no matter the occasion. So since I’m gearing up for a celebration of an extraordinary personal achievement no detail should be left to chance, not even the selection of the wine to be served.

Well, as fate would have it I was recently invited to attend a wine tasting an uber-chic Italian eatery called STG Trattoria for a new wine brand called Cultivate Wines. I will give you the skinny on Cultivate shortly, but for now let me give you “the dish” on STG Trattoria. Nestled in a new shopping strip just a stone’s throw from the St. Regis Hotel in Buckhead, this super trendy eatery is also adjacent to one of my fav sip and style salons, the Dry Bar. I mean, where else can you can get a fabulous blowout and yummy bruschetta within mere steps of each other? I rest my case!

STG Trattoria in Buckhead

Upon entering STG Trattoria you walk thru a corridor with wine bottles literally cascading along the walls and into an intimately set dining bar. I could go on about the menu and ambiance of STG Trattoria but I will save that for a later review. 😉 You see, I’m on a mission to find the perfect sips for my soiree and the proverbial clock is ticking, so let’s get right to the wine!

The "wall of wine" inside STG Trattoria

Yummy spring pea bruschetta with prosciutto, mozzarella and rosemary

STG Trattoria's anchovy, capers, taggiasca olives, arugula, and taleggio pizza

The esteemed guests of the tasting included Atlanta’s top bloggers, journalists, and media types who indulged in choices from STG Trattoria’s yummy menu while sampling four very diverse selections from Cultivate Wine’s Dream Series. And let me tell you, by night’s end my tongue was literally on “cloud 9!” With Cultivate Wines serving as my tour guide, each taste of this fabulous quartet of pallet quenching sips traveled along my taste buds on a whirlwind tour that ended at the corner of paradise and euphoria. 😛

For our first stop we headed to Argentina where we were introduced toThe Gambler (SRP $18.99). The “bet” was definitely “on red” with this brawny yet powerful Malbec and Bonarda blend. This fabulous red wine tantalizes the pallet and finishes with loads of flavor and has fabulous texture that will have you “betting the farm” for another sip. Ok Mr. Gambler… I see your delicious flavor and raise you another glass. 😉

Next we jetted off to lovely Italy where we sipped the super tasty Double Blind (SRP $16.99). This classic Pinot Grigio carries a light yet refreshing and sweet flavor that will have you doing a “double take.” 🙂

California’s Napa Valley region was our next stop on the tour where we sampled The Feast (SRP $28.99). With its Cabernet-Merlot blend and soft velvety texture, this meal complimenting wine will leave your taste buds fully satisfied. Bon appétit! 😛

Our final stop on the tour was one of my faves of the quartet called Dream Walking (SRP $25.99). This classic California Chardonnay with grapes from the Santa Rita Hills and Mendocino regions was so tasty that it had my taste buds begging to be pinched! On second thought I don’t wanna wake up from this dream. 😉

Bet on red with Cultivate's The Gambler

Cultivate's Double Blind was so delish that I had to do a double take

Me just moments before reaching "cloud 9" while enjoying a glass of Cultivate's Dream Walking

And although Cultivate Wine wants to invigorate your pallet with a broad selection of decadent wine choices, their mission is to inspire you to “Cultivate Life.” You see, Cultivate donates 10% of all sales to non-profits supporting education and basic human needs through their revolutionary The Give program. This groundbreaking effort allows non-profits to submit their causes to Cultivate who in-turn allows customers to cast their vote to determine which cause will receive the funds. This offers customers a chance to express their values through their purchases, which amounts to $100,000 in quarterly funds granted to submitted charities. Wines with a Why! What a phenomenal endeavor!

Thanks to The Reynolds Group for hosting such an extraordinary experience with STG Trattoria and Cultivate Wines. I had a wonderful time mixing and mingling with the other attendees while sampling delish appetizers along with pairings from Cultivate’s tasty wine selections. The setting was perfect for supper and sipping, and upon departure we each received two complimentary bottles of our two fav wines from the Cultivate Dream Series. I personally bagged the Dream Walking and Double Blind bottles for my personal gallery. I mean it’s by no means any comparison to the “wall of wine” at STG Trattoria but it’s an excellent start. 😀

Cultivate Wine has truly inspired me to continue living my dreams while serving as an example to others that dreams really do come true. So the question is how will I cultivate my year of extraordinary experiences? As I always have… In the company of extraordinary people of course! 😀

Ask for Cultivate Wine in many local restaurants and look for it in your favorite wine shops. Follow Cultivate Wines on Facebook at /CultivateWines and on Twitter @CultivateWines, and support their efforts to give back to worthy charities through your purchase.

Check out more pics from the Cultivate Wine tasting at STG Trattoria:

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