GLAZE:
• 3/4 cup olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, pressed
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
• 4 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 4 teaspoons sherry wine vinegar
• 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, ground

SKEWERS:
• 6 skewers, metal or bamboo. If bamboo, soak in water at least 1hr before grilling.
• 18-20 extra large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 12-18 cherry tomatoes
• 12-18 pieces sun-dried tomato & basil chicken sausage, pre-cooked, cut in 1 inch rounds
• 12-18 red onion wedges, cut 2-layer bite sized section

GARNISH
• Lemon & Lime

DIRECTIONS:
Can be done up to 6 hours ahead of time. Refrigerate until ready to grill.  Blend oil, garlic, thyme, smoked paprika, sherry wine vinegar, sea salt and black pepper in bowl for glaze. Divide glaze into two small bowls. Reserve one for dipping sauce.

Skewer shrimp, cherry tomatoes, sausage pieces and onion wedges, alternating ingredients. 3 shrimp per skewer. Set grill to medium-high heat. Brush each skewer with glaze on both sides. Grill shrimp until opaque in center, about 6-8 minutes. Turn occasionally while cooking, brushing with glaze each time.

Remove from grill and arrange skewers on platter. Serve with reserved bowl of glaze. Garnish with lemon and lime slices. Recipe compliments of Cline Cellars.

Cline Cellars
Heritage Zinfandel
Contra Costa, California

This luscious Zinfandel comes from Cline’s prized Big Break, Live Oak and Bridgehead vineyards located in Oakley, California. All within a two mile radius of one another, these vineyards are planted in deep sand soil, are dry-farmed and head-pruned, and employ farming practices that were originally used by the Italian and Portuguese immigrants that inhabited the area before the turn of the century. Grapes were harvested at natural high sugar levels and almost entirely de-stemmed and lightly crushed, with a large proportion of whole berries remaining in the must. After eight days of gentle “pump-overs” and near dryness, the wine was pressed and put down to French oak for 14 months.

“The Heritage Zinfandel is big and flavorful, with notes of chocolate, mint, sweet berries, spice and coffee – a classic example of the big-boned Zinfandels for which Cline Cellars has become known. The wine’s acidity and tannins are firm, but balanced, creating a luscious wine.” – Charlie Tsegeletos, winemaker.

Winemaker: Charlie Tsegeletos
Appellation: Contra Costa County, California
Varietal Blend:  100% Zinfandel
Analysis: 15.5% alc/vol