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Christmas Wine - Make it now so you can enjoy it at Christmas
Only 63 days till Christmas!!
It might be too late for your bigger red wines to be mature by Christmas but we have lots of whites and a few of the lighter French reds that we can have ready in time for the holidays. That’s why we are reminding you that now is the time to start that favorite or a new variety of wine. Stop in today and get a jump on your Christmas To Do List… making some wine for the holidays for you to enjoy or to give away as gifts. And while you are in the Cellar starting your wine, pick up a Gift Card for the Wine Lover on your list!
Cut off to start your wine to ensure bottling before Christmas is November 10, 2022
Trivia Question
True or False: Tannins in red wine act as a preservative and contribute to the aging process. The answer is on the last page of the newsletter.
Sparkling Wine Update
Well, it appears all of the hard work Stuart has been doing to get the bubbles in the wine is finally working! Yes…that means we can now create bubbly for you! We are just working on finalizing a source for bottles and tweaking the process. Once finalized we will send an email out…start thinking about what kind of wine you would like to add some bubbles to! SO EXCITING!! Watch for an update soon.
Wines of The Month
Here at the Cellar, we have a lot of different varieties to choose from. This month we are highlighting some of our most popular red wines. Listed below are some of them along with some notes about the wine.
Red Zinfandel
Zinfandel is one of the most popular grapes grown in California and is known for its robust tannins, well-rounded aromas and lush flavors. Jammy, berry, fruit and black pepper are the most common descriptors. Sangiovese
The superstar of the Tuscan winemaking scene, Sangiovese takes a long, warm growing season to produce the best fruit, redolent of truffles, blackberries and black currants. Some say this is best paired with pizza and I would agree. Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is perhaps the most famous grape varietal in the world. California’s best red wines often are made of this grape, which is surprisingly easy to grow and make into wine. Abundant aromas and flavors are black currant, bell pepper, cedar and blackberry jam. We have a couple of Cab Sauv options with a number of Cab Sauv blends. Merlot
Merlot is the most important grape varietal grown in Bordeaux and forms the backbone of many “meritage” (Bordeaux-style) blends. It is similar to Cabernet Sauvignon, but displays more fruity than herbaceous or vegetal character.
Pinot Noir
Burgundy’s most important red grape varietal, Pinot Noir has become a sort of Holy Grail for winemakers of late. It is a very difficult wine to get right. Its brambleberry and coffee aromas often show their best in the most expensive cool-climate fruit.
All of these wines are available here at the Cellar so stop in today and start your own amazing red wine!
Recipe of the Month
Sautéed chorizo with red wine
Ingredients
1 TBSP of Olive Oil
1 onion finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic
500 grams of cooking chorizo cut into chunky slices
100 ml of Vintner’s Cellar red wine
1 TBSP of clear Honey
Handful parsley
Crusty bread to serve
STEP 1
Heat the oil in a large frying pan and gently sauté the onion for a few mins until softened. Add the garlic and cook for a few mins more.
STEP 2
Push the onion and garlic to the side of the pan and add the chorizo. Brown all over, then add the wine and stir in the honey.
STEP 3
Cover and cook gently for 5 mins or until the sausages are cooked through and coated with the sauce. Add a splash of water if the pan is looking dry. Serve scattered with parsley and some crusty bread to mop up the spicy juices.
Answer to this month’s trivia question is True.