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!!!!            

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!

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.