Hasta La Ideas

by Blaine Pate

From the Happy Canyon appellation of Santa Ynez comes
Habit, a truly artisanal wine high on both style and substance. After seven years of making wine in his own basement, voiceover actor Jeff Fischer (who plays the character based on him in the animated series “American Dad”) knew he had reached his potential as a garage vintner. Striking up an old-school apprenticeship with friend and iconic winemaker Doug Margerum, Fischer became a cellar rat, providing manual labor in exchange for the use of Margerum’s facilities and knowledge.

In the creation of the Habit label, Fischer cold-called his favorite artist, Stefan G. Bucher, on a lark to ask if he’d design it. To Fischer’s surprise, Buscher told him that he had always wanted to design a wine label, but had never been asked. When Fischer told Bucher of his addiction to trying to make a good wine, and his feeling that winemaking is in his blood, the desirous hand and bloodlike droplets on the label were born.

The result of these collaborations, Habit’s sauvignon blanc is quickly gaining acclaim in sommelier circles as a nuanced, sophisticated-yet-friendly wine that marries hints of pineapple, grass and grapefruit with a delicately floral nose. Perfect for a summer barbecue, it pairs deliciously with grilled vegetables, shrimp and duck, while the striking label inspires conversation.

Limited to a batch of 50 cases, Habit’s going fast. It’s primarily available from a select list of restaurants and retailers in Los Angeles and New York. Check out the site for vendors, or as Fischer says, “If somebody wants a bottle, they can just email me.” Cheers to the artisan.

With their delicious chocolate ganache bars and bonbons, Derry Church Artisan Chocolates mix chocolate mastery and intense flavor, making each creative combination as palatable as the next. The bars, their newest sweets, do not disappoint.

Standing out among the Pennsylvania-based chocolatiers’ collection, The Burlington bar pairs a flavorful blend of milk chocolate ganache, maple syrup and roasted pecans. All housed in a milk chocolate shell, the bonbon echoes a bite-sized pecan pie balanced out by mouthwatering chocolate.

Another of Derry Church’s triumphs is the Veracruz Ganache bar, a bittersweet chocolate filled with white chocolate ganache. While white chocolates are often overly sweet, the Veracruz instead plays up the subtle flavor of the cocoa butter itself, resulting in a perfectly-balanced bar that gushes with white chocolate.

Derry Church’s bon bons also offer an array of tasteful combinations; The variety pack includes flavors such as chipotle peppers in white chocolate (the Oaxaca) and butterscotch in bittersweet chocolate shell (the Edinburgh). Our favorites include the Kandahar—pomegranate molasses with white chocolate, the Cairo—date paste with balsamic vinegar reduction, and the aforementioned Oaxaca.

Mostly organic and handmade, Derry Chocolates sell online with prices beginning at $18 for a nine-piece box.