Zin Grilling Tip
When barbecued ribs beckon with their down-home
appeal, take a truly Zin-ful approach. First, slow-roast or par-boil
the ribs for an hour or so in the morning, until the meat just
begins to pull away from the bone. Refrigerate the ribs, then bring
them back to room temperature just before grilling. No matter what
barbecue sauce you use, it’s likely to find its match in a Zinfandel.
Zin has won its reputation as the king of grill-side wines with an
enviable combination of abundant berry fruit flavors and spicy, lip-smacking
finish. You can make your sauce as hot or tangy as you like – or
as sweet – and the Zin will find a way to make it sing.
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IN
THE SPOTLIGHT
Merryvale Vineyards
"Wine Tasting, Seminars and Special Events"
 Merryvale Vineyard's inviting winery cellar is located in the heart of the Napa Valley, next door to Tra Vigne Restaurant. Sample award-winning wines, shop for wine country gifts and view the breathtaking Cask Room surrounded by French oak barrels. Also attend an array of Sensational Weekend Wine Events!
Wine Component Tasting Seminar: Recommended by Sunset Magazine and the San Francisco Chronicle. Relax and learn about balance in wines while mapping your own palate. Saturdays and Sundays, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. $15. Profile Club members free. Seminars are held in the Historic Cask Room and include a winery tour, refresher on winemaking and samples of Merryvale's handcrafted wines. Reservations: (800) 326.6069 ext. 439 or sign up online.
Barrel Tastings: Sample evolving wines 'thieved' from French oak aging barrels. Second weekend of every month, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. $7. Profile Club members free. A complete list of wine events available online.
Visit Merryvale at 1000 Main Street, St. Helena.
Tasting Room Open Daily 10 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
www.merryvale.com ~ info@merryvale.com
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Joullian Vineyards - 90 Point Rated Zinfandel
 Recently, the Wine Enthusiast rated the Joullian Vineyard's 2002 "Sias Cuvee" Zinfandel at 90 Points. Try their other current releases such as the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003 Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc ~ Carmel Valley Estate, 2002 Merlot ~ Carmel Valley Estate, and many others. Purchase these wines at their online store.
If planning a trip to Monterey wine country, visit Joullian Vineyards tasting room in the charming Carmel Valley Village. It is open daily from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. excluding major holidays. The tasting room is less than a 30-minute drive from the Monterey coast and generally offers much warmth and sunshine during the cool, foggy days of a coastal summer. It's the perfect place to experience Carmel Valley's renowned climate, cuisine and nectar of the gods.
Joullian Vineyards - Open Daily 11am-5pm
2 Village Drive, Suite A ~ Carmel Valley, CA 93924
(866) 659.8101 ~ info@joullian.com
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NEARLY NATIVE SON — WINE OF THE MONTH
Zinfandel is as American as Fine Wine
Can
Get
by Thom
Elkjer, Wine Editor
Zinfandel’s more passionate adherents got some wind knocked
out of them in 2002, when the premium wine grape they described
as “America’s own” turned out to be European – and from a never-heard-of-it
neighborhood to boot.
In the years leading up to this discovery, Zin fans had become
increasingly creative in defense of their chosen vine. When a
southern Italian grape called Primitivo turned out to be genetically
almost identical to Zinfandel, some Zin fans came up with a “reverse
immigration” theory: the American grape was so good, they said,
that Italian-Americans must have exported it back home to their
winemaking cousins. (As if Italy, with more than 2,000 indigenous
grape varieties, needed another one.)
Now we know that both Zinfandel and Primitivo
share the same ancestor, a grape native to the Dalmatian (Adriatic)
coast of Croatia. It’s called Crljenik Kasteljanski ("tsurl-yen-ik kahs-tell-yahn-ski"),
and while it’s no big deal in its homeland, it’s indisputably European
in origin.
Continue
reading article |
WINE BUZZ HIGHLIGHT
Russian River Wine Road - 7th Annual Wine & Food Affair
Make plans to attend the Tasting Along the Wine Road, which features two fun-filled days of wine and food pairing in the Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys. Ticket holders will receive the new cookbook and an event logo glass. Participating wineries will prepare their favorite recipe both days for you to sample, along with the perfect wine. Buy tickets online or call (800) 723.6336 for more information.
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DRY
CREEK ZINFANDEL RECOMMENDATIONS
Wine Editor Thom Elkjer's Tasting Notes
Zinfandel has been on a rollercoaster of popularity for nearly 150
years – today’s mad passion is only the latest peak for the bold-flavored
red. Throughout most of that time, Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma has
been a bastion of Zinfandel quality and tradition. A quarter of the
valley’s vineyard acreage is planted to Zin, yielding up an abundance
of Zinfandels with “Dry Creek Valley” on the label every year.
While it’s hard to go too far wrong with Dry Creek Zin, prices have
crept up steadily during the grape’s latest burst of popularity.
There’s also been a major move toward higher alcohol and more saturated
color and flavor. So there’s more reason than ever to choose carefully
in order to find a Dry Creek Zin with a style and price you like.
Wine Editor Thom Elkjer recently tasted through 30 Dry Creek Zinfandels
that are generally available in the marketplace. His recommendations
focus on wines that deliver the enduring character of Dry Creek Zinfandel,
along with a unique signature arising from a particular site or style
of farming. Here’s to another 150 years!
Read
Thom Elkjer's Tasting Notes |
WINE
BUZZ HIGHLIGHT
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WINE
PAIRING RECIPE
Chateau
Souverain Zinfandel BBQ Sauce
Zinfandel with its ripe berry fruit, subtle oak
and mild tannins can taste delicious with seafood, meats and
poultry. Red wines have tannins that become stronger with ripe
vegetables; fruits or sweet sauces so pairing red wines can be
a little more difficult. Proper seasoning with salt will help
bridge the food and the wine. Zinfandel pairs very well with
grilled or barbecued foods. Barbecue sauces should have a little
vinegar added to balance the sweetness and spice.
Go to recipe |
FEATURED
WINE EVENT
Paso Robles Harvest Wine Tour
History, heritage and fine wines come together at the Harvest Wine Tour October 14, 15 and 16 in Paso Robles Wine Country, located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, on California’s central coast. During this tour award-winning wines are poured by winemakers, their families and friends at tasting rooms and events throughout the region. Winemaker dinners, barrel samples, grape stomping, concerts and barbecues are only a few of the activities you’ll find at the annual Harvest Wine Tour in Paso Robles Wine Country. For more information and a FREE guide to the Harvest Wine Tour, call 800.549.WINE or visit www.pasowine.com
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