Folktale Viognier at the Lake

June 16, 2020

I still think about the dreamy afternoon I spent at Folktale Winery on my trip to Carmel, California. I loved the wine so much that I shipped quite a lot back home. I opened a bottle of Le Mistral, Folktale’s 2017 Viognier, at the lake house the other day for an evening picnic.

In my review of Folktale Winery, I described Le Mistral as “highly drinkable Viognier with flavors of white peach.” I stand by that description. It’s an aromatic wine with such a lovely aftertaste that you just have to have another sip. To me that’s the perfect picnic wine: one that’s meant to be savored with complex, lingering notes that takes time to fully appreciate.

I paired Le Mistral with Tuna Kelkie from favorite little South African restaurant, Liefie li Vine in Winnsboro, TX. We picked up lunch, snacks, dinner, and dessert from Liefie li Vine that day! If you’ve never had tuna kelkie, you’re in for a treat. It’s a south African tuna appetizer with banana slices, chutney, and raisins. I noshed on it with crackers as an afternoon Vorspeise (appetizer).

I enjoyed my picnic on the shady hill at my parents’ lake house, watching the boats, inner tubes, and wakeboards pass by. I carried everything down in my favorite new Draper James tote. I’m obsessed with this bag! It’s huge and sturdy but so chic, making it as functional as it is fashionable. I’m almost never seen without it now! I take it everywhere.

I also have to point out my new hair orchid from Thais Flowers! I met the lovely designer, Thai Mills, at a fashion show in Dallas several years ago and have been sporting her designs ever since. I absolutely love her work. She hand paints every silky flower. I have Night Nurse (a black and white flower), Madame Valentine (a red flower), and now Serenity.

Thai has all sorts of stunning colors and designs to jazz up your summer wardrobe. I paired a $20 Old Navy jumpsuit with Serenity on this particular day and wow, does Thais Flowers ever pull an outfit together in a pinch! You can shop her looks here (they make great gifts!) and shop Folktale Winery here.