Traveling Vineyard Calamity Sue Riesling

Great information on a superb Riesling (and one of my best sellers)!

Purchase the latest (and best) run of this adventurous wine here!



My favorite pairing with this wine is a fruity salsa.  What would you pair it with?

Fall Wine Preview!

OMGosh!

I am Giddy! I am Excited!

The Traveling Vineyard has announced some of the new wines for fall, and I cannot wait to share them!  Here is a quick preview of what's
                                                     to come!

 

Seasonal Sangria: Summer Blends to Fall!

Let's face it, we are wrapping up summer. In some places, the kids have already gone back to school. In other places, families are taking the last minute vacations to squeeze the last bit of summer out of August.  While some fight hard and refuse to give up their flip flops until Thanksgiving, others are looking forward to heavy sweaters.

No matter what side you are on: beach or hayride; I have a great Sangria recipe that will make the transition way more smooth!  It blends a good bold red (perfect for fall) with yummy citrus fruits (helping you to hold on to summer). Try this recipe with Bentgate, Cabernet Sauvignon or Woodvale Estates, Merlot.

Enjoy, and CHEERS!

Featured Wine - Calamity Sue Riesling

It's Wine Wednesday! This week I am featuring a wine that has been a HUGE hit at tastings this summer! Calamity Sue!

Meet Calamity Sue. You may have heard of the legendary Calamity Jane, the adventurous frontierswoman with a generous streak who traveled throughout the Western Plains in the late 1800’s. Think of the fictitious Calamity Sue on our "racy" Monterey County Riesling label as her spirited little sister – just as feisty and just as sweet. "Racy" is a term you’ll often hear associated with Riesling. It refers to the lively acidity of the wine. Crisp, stimulating and refreshing, our Riesling delivers this same snappy character in an off-dry style (not quite dry, but not quite sweet, either.) As a soft white, it is also valued for its velvety texture and engaging fruitiness.

Our Calamity Sue Riesling could go up against any Alsatian or German selection and win. Compare it to selections from New York, Lake County, Lodi, Rogue Valley or even Paso Robles; you won’t find a better value. We custom crafted our Riesling to show a combination of "Alsatian acidity" and "German fruit". Alsatian Rieslings are known for their bracing acidity and cherished for the food friendliness this characteristic offers. German selections are prized for their soft pleasing flavors of pear, peach, apricot and quince. This release, the first Riesling we’ve done in quite some time, combines the best of both worlds. Adorned with a comic-book, Lichtenstein-style label, it’s a one of a kind wine you’ll find surprisingly appealing - as vivacious and sprightly as Calamity Sue herself.

Click HERE to order some Calamity Sue for Yourself!


I love sipping this delicious wine while munching on peach salsa and tortilla chips out on my back porch on warm summer nights as my kids catch lightening bugs in the backyard.  There are plenty of good peach salsas found at any grocery store, but this recipe from my old friend Betty (Crocker) is easy and yummy:
            

Mix together:

1   cup chopped fresh or frozen (thawed) peaches

2  tablespoons finely chopped red bell peppers

1  medium green onion, finely chopped (1 tablespoon)

1  tablespoon lemon or lime juice

2  teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro

1/8 teaspoon salt 

 

Chill in refrigerator then serve!  It's that easy!!!!            

Going On An Adventure - White Wine Mojito

Friends! I am going to be taking a bit of a hiatus for a few weeks! Next week will be spent in glorious Myrtle Beach so my middle child can add to her trophy case at a National Dance Competition. Following that, I am extending the trip to take my Mother and Kids to see relatives in far away states. 

If I can post from the road, I certainly will ~ especially if I find some great wine info for you!  But, I am not taking my laptop! I want to take this time to truly enjoy the places we will be and to see them all clearly through my children's eyes.  I will have my iPhone and Kindle Fire HD, but no bonafide computer to post with.  So, as I pack up my family to go on this very long road trip let me leave you with a DELICIOUS summer recipe.  I highly recommend using either Calamity Sue Riesling or Bright Eyed Bird Pinot Grigio for this recipe!

White Wine Mojito

In a large pitcher, combine:

• One Bottle White Wine (Calamity Sue Riesling or Bright Eyed Bird Pinot Grigio)
• One cup sparkling lemonade
• One cup chopped mint leaves
• Juice of two limes

Pour in to your favorite glass with ice, garnish with lime wedges and enjoy!!!!!!!!!

The Perfect Wine for Backyard Cookouts! Tanglerose Backyard Red!

It's Wine Wednesday, and this week features a fantastic red wine that is a blend of Zinfandel, Merlot and other bold reds! The blend of Tanglerose Backyard Red makes it perfect for gatherings as it satisfies so many pallets!

 

This wine’s brilliant inky garnet color hints at the flavorful red that awaits you. A blend of roughly 1/3 Zinfandel 1/3 Merlot with other red varietals, it exudes aromas of graphite, black earth, black pepper and tree bark all over emerging black fruit nose. Tannic and earthy with juicy purple and black fruit emerging via a soft mouthfeel. Beautiful long finish.

Try it with any meat fresh of the grill! Want to really "wow," your friends? Grill pork steaks and add this yummy Plum Salsa!  Or, get some pulled pork and add this salsa for a yummy sandwich!  It's easy to make:

1. Seed and finely chop six jalepeno peppers (Be careful, these have oils that can burn! Wash hands immediately after handling or wear gloves!)
2. Pit and chop nine plums
3. Chop one medium size red onion
4. Combine all in skillet with a couple tablespoons of oil (enough so they don't stick or burn)
5. Stir in about 1.5 teaspoons ginger and 1 cup of honey (more or less to taste)
6. Keep stirring until it is all combined and warm (DO NOT LET IT BOIL)
7. Serve with your choice of pork!

Or, be like me and have the Tanglerose Backyard Red with a nice juicy cheeseburger fresh off the grill!  Summer Cookout Heaven!

4th of July Wine and Food

I love the 4th of July! Who doesn't? Fireworks, cookouts, swimming (well, maybe not this year if you live in Michigan), boating, family, friends, fun, and freedom.  If you're planning on some fun this 4th, don't stress about the food and wine. It really is easy!

For example, this simple trifle would go perfectly with Calamity Sue Riesling, Tanglerose Sweet American Rose, and Fissata Red!

Mr. Food makes this recipe simple!

What You'll Need:

• 1 (16-ounce) pound cake, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 quart strawberries, sliced, with 1 cup reserved
• 1 pint blueberries, with 1/2 cup reserved    
• 1 (16-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

What To Do:

1. In a trifle bowl or large glass serving bowl, layer half the pound cake, strawberries, blueberries, and whipped topping. Repeat layers once more then garnish with reserved berries in a flag pattern, as shown.
    
2. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Planning a backyard cookout?  Don't forget the wine!!!!! Try Puzzle Pieces and Steeple Street Chardonnay for the snacking/appetizer part and then move on to Tanglerose Backyard Red, Woodvale Estates Merlot, and Bentgate Cabernet Sauvignon once the meat starts coming off the grill!

Whatever delicious pairings you use this Fun Holiday, be sure to cherish every moment of the festivities. Be safe, and have fun!

Red Tannat - The best kept secret of red wines!

One of the best parts of my job marketing wine is that I get to try new wines and learn about varieties I had never heard of before.  The Tannat is one such wine.  Have you ever heard of it?
 

 

Most wine enthusiasts have never heard of Tannat. That’s no surprise given that

the varietal covers only about 140 acres in all of California (the equivalent of a

less than 25 square city blocks.) Historically, the grape was grown in South West

France. Then, in the late 1800s, it traveled to Uruguay and eventually became that

country’s national grape much the same way Malbec became the national grape

of Argentina.

 

For those of you that love a bold red like Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat offers the

same character profile – intense, strong and satisfying – much like the mood

conveyed by its name, Jump ‘n’ Jive. That’s why it’s so often blended with

Cabernet Sauvignon. It is also frequently combined with Sangiovese, Syrah, and

other Rhone varietals. Typically matured in oak barrels, it is known for its firm

tannins, raspberry aromas, and raspberry and blackberry fruit notes.

When hearty meets hearty, it’s a match made in heaven. This type of powerful

wine calls for assertive dishes like thick red meats and rich cheeses and is best

served with foods that have a fair amount of fat. Steak tips are a nice choice in

warmer grilling weather, stuffed mini bell pepper are a great pairing with given the

herbaceous nature of this red.

 

 

Of late, the media has touted the red wine as the source of many health benefits.

Recent research by a London cardiologist revealed that Tannat is, in fact, the most

heart-healthy red wine. Evidence of this beneficial impact on longevity can be

seen in the fact that there are nearly double the number of men in their 90s in the

area of South West France where Tannat is the principal grape.

Cheers and Welcome!

The intention of this blog is to create a fun discussion of wine.  Topics will include season recipes, tips on food pairings, fun wine facts, information on specific wines and vineyards and so much more!  I'd love to hear from you about what you'd like to see here, so please let me know!

For tonight, I thought I would start with a recipe using a wine that has proven to be very popular at all of my tastings, Fissata, a fun, sweet and fizzy wine!  These yummy cupcakes would be perfect for a bridal shower, baby shower, brunch, cookout and more!

STRAWBERRY FISSATA CUPCAKES

INGREDIENTS
1 1/3 cup Red Fissata
1 box of your favorite strawberry cake mix
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
3 eggs
1 (16 oz) container of vanilla icing

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Mix together all ingredients according to the box directions, substituting the wine for the water and the Greek yogurt for the oil. Spoon batter into 24 cupcake liners and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Allow the cupcakes to cool and pipe with vanilla icing.

Try the recipe out, and let me know what you think! Cheers!