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Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Here Comes Summer: Celebrate With Wine
Monday, May 31, 2010
We Are Giving Away FREE Gifts
Alright ladies and gents, we're going to launch a new facebook page. So to help celebrate, we're going to give away a Pick Your Poison Cap ($18 value) to our readers!
Visit our NEW Facebook Page here. Like us and you're automatically entered into the contest. Now here's the fun part, if you suggest your friends to join the page you will have more chances to win a Pick Your Poison Cap
and if they win, so will you! Have 100 friends? Invite them all and now you have 101 chances to win! Just tell you friends to post "your name" sent me here" for example: "Norma sent me here".... so we can keep track of who you are sending. It's that easy.
The first round of winners will be picked on June 15 and the second round on June 30, 2010. Winners are chosen at random. Good luck!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Top Wines for your Memorial Day B-que.
The unabashed bold flavors of grilled meats make us think of big bold reds. The wine should be able to enhance the meats, yet not compete with either the spiciness, or the sweetness of the sauce. Although many associate a hot summer day and barbequing with a beer – the truth is nothing pairs as nicely with the light summer vegetables, appetizers and grilled fish as a nice cool glass of white wine. For the perfect catch-all wine that is sure to please, a rosé is your best bet.
We recommend these Super Grillin’ Wines:
Somersville Cellars 2007 Mendocino Cabernet Sauvignon pairs perfectly with lamb kabobs and cheeseburgers.
McKenna 2008 Central Coast Trilogy pairs perfectly with barbecued ribs.
Nouveau Muse 2009 California Rosato pairs perfectly with anything from the grill – meats, veggies & all the fixins!
EVO 2009 Clarksburg Albariño pairs perfectly with grilled fish and potato salad.
Frisch 2009 Gewürztraminer pairs perfectly with grilled corn on the cob or vegetable kabobs.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wine of the Day- McKenna 2009 North Coast Sauvignon Blanc
This 2009 McKenna North Coast Sauvignon Blanc has aromas of citrus, apple, and tropical fruit with hints of pear and herbs. The flavors are clean and refreshing with a light body. The finish is mouth-watering, food friendly and medium length. Enjoy this wine with grilled zucchini, barbecued shellfish, Chinese take-out or lighter cheeses such as mozzarella.
Specially created for pairing with the McKenna 2009 Sauvignon Blanc
This McKenna Sauvignon Blanc pairs beautifully with this recipe for Anise-Orange Shrimp and Scallop Skewers.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Wine of the Day- 2008 McKenna 2008 Trilogy
Today I want to talk about the McKenna 2008 Trilogy from WineShop At Home.
McKenna, and to all the great Clans of Ireland – where a strong sense of family remains the cornerstone of modern society. Irish identity is inextricably linked to ancestry and heritage – the past always an undeniable part of the present. The Lynch family wears their Irish heritage as a badge of honor and loves to celebrate with toasts all around. Gathering together family and friends to honor the past, the present and the future remains the cornerstone of their shared values.
This 2008 McKenna Trilogy is a blend of 50% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Cabernet Franc. These grapes all come from a single source in the warm central coast region around Paso Robles. Each of the wines were picked and fermented separately and blended a few months after harvest. The blend was aged in mostly neutral small oak barrels for 19 months. This wine will age well for four to seven years.
This 2008 McKenna Central Coast Trilogy has aromas ripe raspberry, blackberry jam, vanilla and fresh tobacco with hints of leather and smoke. The flavors are big and mouth filling with layers of complexity and character. The finish is long and smooth with well-integrated tannin at the tail end. Enjoy this wine with roasted lamb, pot roast, falafel, or strong cheese.
Wine Country Recipes
Garlic and Herb Lamb
Specially created for pairing with the McKenna 2008 Trilogy
Ingredients:
1 (5 pound) leg of lamb
3 cloves garlic, cut into slivers
3 teaspoons dried dill weed
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried rosemary crushed
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
Puncture the leg of lamb with the tip of a knife just far enough to insert slivers of garlic into the holes. Mix together the dill, salt and rosemary, and rub over the leg of lamb. Place the lamb, fatty side up, on a rack in a
shallow roasting pan. Roast uncovered for 2 to 2 1/2 hours in the preheated oven, to an internal temperature of 155 degrees F (68 degrees C) for medium. Tent with aluminum foil and let stand for 15 to 20 minutes before carving. The lamb will continue to cook a little bit, and the juices will set up better for carving.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
This 2007 Halcyon California Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of plum and
licorice leaping out of the glass. The background aromas are a mix of
blackberry, vanilla and spice. The flavors are a smooth rendition of the
aromas framed with noticeable but pleasing tannin and acidity. The finish
is a long, juicy combination of tannin and fruit. Enjoy this wine with tri
tip, hamburgers, baked potatoes or hard cheeses such as cheddar.
This 2007 Halcyon California Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of plum and
licorice leaping out of the glass. The background aromas are a mix of
blackberry, vanilla and spice. The flavors are a smooth rendition of the
aromas framed with noticeable but pleasing tannin and acidity. The finish
is a long, juicy combination of tannin and fruit. Enjoy this wine with tri
Wine Country Recipes
Grilled Tri-Tip with Oregon Herb Rub
Specially created for pairing with the Halcyon 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon dried dill
1/4 teaspoon dried sage
1/4 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary
1 (2 1/2 pound) beef tri-tip roast
Directions:
Mix together the salt, garlic salt, celery salt, black pepper, onion powder,
paprika, dill, sage, and rosemary in a bowl. Store in an airtight container at
room temperature until ready to use.
Use a damp towel to lightly moisten the roast with water, then pat with the
prepared rub. Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours, up to overnight, for
the flavors to fully come together.
Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil grate.
Place the roast onto the preheated grill and quickly cook until brown on all
sides to sear the meat, then remove. Reset the grill for medium-low
indirect heat (if using charcoal, move coals to the outside edges of the grill
pit).
Return the roast to the grill, and cook, turning occasionally, until the
desired degree of doneness has been reached, about 1 1/2 hours for
medium-well.
Remove from the grill and cover with aluminum foil. Allow to rest for 10
minutes before carving across the grain in thin slices to serve.
Makes 10 servings.