This citrusy, semi-sparkling aromatized wine is delicate and shiny coral pink in color. The nose is well-balanced and intense with long hints of ripe grapefruit. The palate is lively with an endearing, creamy foam and evident fragrance of grapefruit. Perfect for brunch and impromptu drinks with the crew! Serve chilled.
Analysis: 5.0% alcohol / volume RS: 90 Country: Italy Region: Various Closure: Screw cap Pairing: Pretzels, ricotta flatbread and your famous charcuterie board
WineStyles’ Wine and Cheese Pairing: These sweet wines from our ‘Nectar’ section will pair well with a soft cheese, such as brie or ricotta. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairingshere.
This semi-sparkling aromatized wine presents a nice and shiny, straw-yellow color with hues of green. It has definite and intense notes of white peach on the nose that are complex, elegant, and refined. The palate is pleasant with a creamy foam and a perfect balance between nice sweetness and acidity. There are notes of sweet, luscious peach and apricot with hints of honey with a little fizz.
Analysis: 5.0% alcohol / volume Country: Italy Region: Various Closure: Screw cap Pairing: Fresh fruit and fruit tarts
WineStyles’ Wine and Cheese Pairing: These sweet wines from our ‘Nectar’ section will pair well with an herbal or spicy cheese. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairingshere.
This Brut wine is pale gold in color with an elegant stream of fine bubbles. It is complex on the nose, with white flowers, sweet almonds and a touch of wild strawberry. It has a creamy mousse with brioche notes on the finish.
Salmon pink in color with elegant bubbles. There are aromas of raspberry, red currants and a fresh hint of mint. Perfectly balanced mousse with hints of vanilla on the finish.
WINEMAKING NOTES: “The Bordeaux region of France is highly renowned for producing the best wines in the world. A much lesser known fact is that since 1990 the same region has been producing sparkling wines (Crémant de Bordeaux) “Méthode Traditionnelle” which are the equal, if not superior, to many champagnes and at a fraction of the cost. A huge advantage in this region is that along the banks of the rivers Garonne and Dordogne exist natural caves and grottos, which are high in humidity perfectly ideal for the stockage of sparkling wines. At harvest time the grapes are picked by hand and transported to the cellars to start the vinification process. Here the grapes are pressed and undergo a first fermentation. Once bottled a second fermentation occurs. The wine is then aged sur lie for at least 12 months in order to develop depth of flavors and complexity. While on laths the horizontal bottles are subjected daily to “riddling”, a process of turning each bottle a quarter of a turn. The bottles are then degorged of any residue to leave a perfectly clear and limpid wine ready forfinal preparation” – Stephanie Rivin, Winemaker
ABOUT FRENCH BLUE WINE: In creating French Blue Wine, Winemaker Stephanie Rivin set out to do something new: put an American twist on French wines. As a result, French Blue wines are ideal for a drawn-out lunch, a gathering of friends, or reading by the water on a hot day. It provides the best drinking experience – relaxed, bright and cheerful.
This Bordeaux blend is an opulent wine that delivers notes of licorice, chocolate, black cherry, plum, blackberry, and spice, combined with incredibly silky tannins.
Analysis: 14.6% alcohol / volume Varietal: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot, 25% Merlot pH: 3.60 Residual Sugar: 0.26% Total Acidity: 6.8 g/L Appellation: Paso Robles, California Vineyard: Paso Robles Aging: 21 months Cooperage: 30% New Oak Winemaker: Jim Shumate Cases Produced: 158 Accolades: Gold Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition; 94pts The Somm Journal.
WINEMAKER’S NOTES: “Cab Forward is a Reserve blend of our best barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Merlot. This wine honors the railroad heritage of the Merrill family. Excellent aging potential.” – Jim Shumate
Pomar Junction 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles, California
BOLD WINE STYLE
Everything you desire in a Cabernet Sauvignon! Ripe blackberry and black currant flavors with a hint of pencil and cigar box in the mid-palate. It pairs perfectly with a peppercorn New York steak.
Analysis: 15.6% alcohol / volume Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Appellation: El Pomar District AVA Vineyard: Pomar Junction Vineyard pH: 3.62 Residual Sugar: 0.33% Total Acidity: 7.1% Aging: 21 months Cooperage: 35% new oak Winemaker: Jim Shumate Cases Produced: 164 Accolades: Double Gold San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
WINEMAKER’S NOTES: “This wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon made entirely from Estate Grown grapes. It was handpicked from the hillside portion of the vineyard with limestone shale rock soils. Yields were limited to produce an intensely dark-hued wine. As is typical from this vineyard, the wines maintain complexity while remaining a soft mouthfeel. As always, the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon features our favorite barrels from the cellar. The ripening for previous vintages carried well into the late fall, typical of this vineyard which experiences the afternoon breezes and climate effects of the Templeton Gap Barrel Select Cabernet Sauvignon.” – Jim Shumate, Winemaker
VINEYARDS: Made entirely from hand-picked, estate-grown grapes, this Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the hillsides of their vineyard with limestone shale rock soils. It takes patience to grown this varietal on their ranch as it often is not picked until late October, nearly a month later than a typical Eastside Paso Robles vineyard. The cooling Templeton Gap breezes moderate the summer temperatures and combine with their Linne Calado soils for idea Cabernet growing conditions.
ABOUT THE WINEMAKER: A Southern California native, Jim Shumate now lives in Paso Robles with his wife and children. He graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in Enology, and eventually developed and managed the Cal Poly pilot winery that opened in 2008. In the early stages of his career, he was greatly influenced by legendary winemaker, Chuck Ortman. Jim became Senior Lab & Barrel Technician, Cellar Master and Consulting Winemaker at a few different wineries before accepted the position of Winemaker at Pomar Junction in July of 2011. Read more >
ABOUT POMAR JUNCTION VINEYARD & WINERY: The Merrill Family has been growing and producing grapes in California’s Central Coast for the past eight generations. Today, Dana and Marsha Merrill, along with their son, Matthew, and winemaker, Jim Shumate farm the vineyards and produce elegant wines of their own. The finest blocks of grapes are selected from their family estate, along with vineyards in Santa Barbara and Monterey Counties managed by a sister firm, Mesa Vineyard Management, Inc. All wines produced are exclusively farmed by the Merrill’s who believe that control from planting and pruning through harvest, fermentation and cellaring is critical for success. Learn more here >
2 lbs. chicken drumsticks, pat dried with paper towel
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
½ tsp. dried basil
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp.kosher salt
fresh black pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. If using aluminum foil, lightly coat with non-stick spray.
In a small bowl, mix together all of the spices and set aside.
Place the chicken drumsticks into a large bowl. Make sure they have already been pat dried with a paper towel. Add olive oil and using your hands, toss to coat.
Sprinkle in the seasoning mix and using your hands again, toss the drumsticks making sure each piece is thoroughly coated with the seasoning.
Arrange the drumsticks on the prepared baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes. Then flip the drumsticks and roast for additional 25-30 minutes. If desired, broil for 2-3 minutes for extra crispy skin.
The growing season was exemplary for this white southern Rhône grape. The vines produced generous amounts of full clusters, which were thinned to heighten the quality and focus the intensity of these grapes. The resulting wine dances with bright acidity, white pepper, and enticing tropical fruit flavors. Aroma of lemon cream and green apple, with stone fruit, honeydew and hints of citrus on the palate.
Varietal: 100% Grenache Blanc Analysis: 13.99% alcohol / volume Appellation: Paso Robles, California Vineyard: Pomar Junction Vineyard pH: 3.29 TA: 6 g/L RS: 0.42 Aging: 4 Months Cooperage: Neutral Oak Winemaker: Jim Shumate Pairing: Herb crusted pork loin, herb roasted chicken, Waldorf salad, brie and Swiss cheeses. For adventurous pairings, try spaghetti with oysters, butternut squash soup, or rabbit in a mustard sauce. Cases Produced: 188
Vineyards: Made entirely from hand-picked, estate-grown grapes from the hillsides of their Pomar Junction Vineyard with limestone shale rock soils. The cooling Templeton Gap breezes moderate summer temperatures and combine with their Linne Calado soils for ideal high-quality wine grape growing conditions.
ABOUT THE WINERY: The Merrill Family has been growing and producing grapes in California’s Central Coast for the past eight generations. Today, Dana and Marsha Merrill, along with their son, Matthew, and winemaker, Jim Shumate farm the vineyards and produce elegant wines of their own. The finest blocks of grapes are selected from their family estate, along with vineyards in Santa Barbara and Monterey Counties managed by a sister firm, Mesa Vineyard Management, Inc. All wines produced are exclusively farmed by the Merrill’s who believe that control from planting and pruning through harvest, fermentation and cellaring is critical for success.Learn more here.
This wine expresses itself with dark and earthy aromas and flavors. Dried black cherries and leather aromas mingle with hints of nutmeg and clay. It has an intense tannic structure and flavors of black currant that lead to notes of freshly brewed Italian espresso. This wine has a lengthy finish with notes of dark berries and rye toast. It will cellar beautifully for years, but is accessible immediately to those who desire big and bold reds.
ABOUT POMAR JUNCTION VINEYARD & WINERY: Located in the El Pomar District in the heart of the Paso Robles AVA, Pomar Junction Vineyard & Winery is family owned and operated by the Merrill family. Here, they grow premium grapes, focusing on small lot, food friendly wines with sustainable vineyard management techniques. The winemaking experience is further enhanced by their Head Winemaker and Cal Poly SLO Enology Professor, Jim Shumate. Learn more about the Merrill Family and Jim Shumate here.
COOK THE ONION AND THE APPLES – Dice the onion. Add the olive oil, onion, and sugar to a large pan. Place over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes or until the onions become translucent and the sugar caramelizes. Clean the apples and cut them into wedges. Add to the pan along with cinnamon. Cook for another minute.
COOK THE RED CABBAGE – Add the apple cider vinegar and wine. Cook for 2 – 3 minutes for the alcohol to evaporate. Clean the red cabbage and cut it into thin slices. Add to a pan along with water. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with a lid and cook for 35 – 50 minutes or until the cabbage is soft and cooked.
SERVING IDEA – Serve the braised red cabbage with your favorite main dish. Before serving, add 2 – 3 tablespoons of fat from pork roast, roasted duck, or roasted chicken or 2 – 3 tablespoons of melted butter. Stir to combine. Remove the whole cinnamon before serving.
Sidetrack is a delicious proprietary blend created to highlight the El Pomar District of Paso Robles. It’s brilliant, deep, and rich in color. Wonderful aromas of plums, blueberries, dark red roses and caramel. Flavors of luscious berries, dark chocolate, spices and the perfect amount of oak make this fantastic, food-friendly wine.
Varietal: 44% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 1% Grenache Noir Analysis: 14.08% alcohol / volume Appellation: Paso Robles, El Pomar District, California Vineyard: Various pH: 3.54 Total Acidity: 0.66 g/L Residual Sugars: 0.40% Aging: 9 Months Winemaker: Jim Shumate Pairing: Roast beef, cabernet braised cabbage, gouda, & cheddar cheeses Cases Produced: 1235 Critical Acclaim: Silver Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Vineyards: Pomar Junction Vineyards has a unique terroir, as their limestone soils, cooling Templeton Gap breezes and expert sustainable farming techniques (SIP Certified Vineyards) combine to produce their outstanding wines. The El Pomar District is at the center of the greater Paso Robles AVA. Its name is derived from “pomum”, latin for edible fruit and commonly referred to as “orchard” in Spanish. As early as 1886, nut orchards were the most common in the area and by 1968 there were over 1300 acres of almonds and 36 acres of walnuts. Today, many of the aged orchards are being replaced by vineyards. Learn more >
About the Winemaker: A Southern California native, Jim Shumate now lives in Paso Robles with his wife and children. He graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in Enology, and eventually developed and managed the Cal Poly pilot winery that opened in 2008. In the early stages of his career, he was greatly influenced by legendary winemaker, Chuck Ortman. Jim became Senior Lab & Barrel Technician, Cellar Master and Consulting Winemaker at a few different wineries before accepted the position of Winemaker at Pomar Junction in July of 2011. Read more >
ABOUT POMAR JUNCTION VINEYARDS & WINERY: Dating back at least eight generations, the Merrill family has been growing and producing grapes on California’s Central Coast since the 19th Century. Originally, the family was growing grapes for other wineries in California – from premium small producers to large international brands. Today, Dana and Marsha Merrill, along with their son, Matthew, and winemaker, Jim Shumate farm the vineyards and produce elegant wines of their own. Learn more here.
Winery Spotlight Tasting with Winemaker, Joel Tilbrook Tasmania, Australia & New Zealand
Tuesday, May 9, 2023 6:00pm CST / 7:00pm EST
Joel Tilbrook, Winemaker of Devil’s Corner, Tamar Ridge, and Innocent Bystander wines will be joining us on the big screen (LIVE from Australia) tasting six of his wines. RSVP to taste and learn about these unique and highly-rated wines with Joel. Check out the wines here>
Innocent Bystander Pinot Noir, New Zealand, not rated yet
To reserve a table and attend the wine tasting in person, please contact your local participatingWineStylesstore. Or, if you prefer to attend remotely, pre-order a wine tasting kit to-go from your local participating store and watch/taste along with us on Zoom!
Winemaker Joel Tilbrook maintains that with these wines it’s more about what they DON’T do. Devil’s Corner vineyards produce expressive fruit with bright cool-climate acidity – Joel’s winemaking is all about showcasing these natural qualities. His wines are fruit-driven wines, occasionally adding complexity through whole bunches in the ferment, aging on the lees with occasional stirring, using open fermenters, natural yeasts, cold soaks, basket pressing and minimal fining and filtration before bottling. When oak is used it is 100% French from 10 different coopers and a range of toast levels. Joel has also held roles of Winemaker, Senior Winemaker, Winery Manager, Chief Winemaker and most recently General Manager of Winemaking and Supply Chain at Brown Family Wine Group (family-owned), the parent company of Brown Brothers, Innocent Bystander, Devil’s Corner, Tamar Ridge and Pirie. Joel is passionate about growing the best quality grapes and crafting wines that over deliver in terms of value and quality. Learn more about Joel and Devil’s Cornerhere.
About Devil’s Corner: Devil’s Corner on Tasmania’s east coast is one of the wildest and relentless environments on earth. The name derives from sailors who discovered a treacherous bend of the Tasmania Tamar River and named it Devil’s Corner. Today, it is home to some of the most stunning vineyards in Tasmania and the highest quality, approachable, and cool climate wines. Devil’s Corner farms all of their own vineyards, using holistic and sustainable viticultural practices, including 5,000 sheep for weed suppression and building soil health. In 2023, Devil’s Corner vineyards and winery were certified sustainable by Sustainable Winegrowers Australia (SWA). Learn more about their wineryhere.
About Tamar Ridge: Tamar Ridge, named after its location, sits high on the western slopes of the Tasmania’s Tamar Valley overlooking the Tamar River. For over 20 years, the winemakers have balanced the art and science of winemaking to craft elegant and multi-dimensional Pinot Noir wines that are regarded as among Tasmania’s – and the world’s – best. Learn more about the wineryhere.
About Innocent Bystander: Innocent Bystander is a privately owned, estate-based wine grower and winemaker in the Yarra Valley, one hour east of Melbourne. First released in 2003, Innocent Bystander is forever expanding its horizons to craft wines reflecting the purest interpretation of each varietal. This means, where necessary, they explore different regions to find the highest quality fruit available for each wine they produce. Learn more about their wineryhere.
Clos LaChance Vineyards with Guest Speaker, Jason Robideaux San Martin, California
Wednesday, April 26, 2023 6:00pm CST / 7:00pm EST
Join us for a wine tasting event featuring Clos LaChance Vineyards wines with guest speaker Jason Robideaux, Vice President of Winery and Vineyard Operations of Clos LaChance. He will be joining us LIVE on the big screen nationwide, sharing Clos LaChance certified sustainable and estate wines. Learn more about the wines here>
Wines Tasted:
Clos LaChance Estate Sauvignon Blanc
Clos LaChance Colibri Central Coast Rosé
Clos LaChance Monterey Chardonnay, 91pts
Clos LaChance Estate Pinot Noir
Clos LaChance Estate Merlot
Clos LaChance Estate Meritage, 93pts
Clos LaChance Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
To reserve a table and attend the wine tasting in person, please contact your local participatingWineStylesstore. Or, if you prefer to attend remotely, pre-order a wine tasting kit to-go from your local participating store and watch/taste along with us on Zoom!
About Clos LaChance:
Clos LaChancewinery is a multi-generational family-owned and operated winery. Located within the Central Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA), tucked into the beautiful Hayes Valley in San Martin, California. Being good stewards of land and resources, the Clos LaChance Winery and Estate Vineyard is proud to beCertified Sustainableby theCalifornia Sustainable Wine Growing Alliance.Learn more about their wineryhere.
Jason Robideaux is Clos LaChance’s VP of Winery and Vineyard Operations, overseeing all activities that take place on the production floor, the crush pit, tank cellar and/or the barrel cellar. He joined the Clos LaChance team just prior to the 2007 crush, after recently returning from the Hunter Valley in Australia’s beautiful wine country, where he worked the 2007 Harvest Season as a Vintage Winemaker for Rosemount Estate. Jason attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo where he received his degree in Wine and Viticulture emphasizing in Enology. When Jason is not running in between barrels and climbing in and out of tanks, he enjoys playing and watching sports like Football, Baseball and Golf. Learn more about Jason and the Clos LaChance teamhere.
Let’s Taste, Learn and Enjoy® together!
Contact your localWineStylesto RSVP for this tasting event.
Clos LaChance Vineyards Wednesday, April 26, 2023 6:00pm CST/ 7:00pm EST
Join our Cheese Club and bring home a match made in heaven!
If you enjoy pairing cheese with wine, this is your club! Each month you’ll discover specialty and artisan cheeses to pair with your Wine Club. Monthly cheese selections are chosen by your local WineStyles participating location. It’s the perfect opportunity to Taste, Learn and Enjoy® amazing artisan cheese every month! Only $19.99/month and your wine won’t be lonely! Click to learn more >
Reuss was the name of the first beer brewed at Kerkom in 1878. It is produced for the Bink festival. It’s a Belgium style Blonde Ale blended with Lambic. Marc Limet blends the lambic with a less bitter version of Bink Blonde (which has 38 IBUs versus 52 IBUs).
ABOUT BROUWERIJ KERKOM BREWERY: Founded by Evarist Clerinx in 1878, the brewery has been passed down to trusting hands since it’s birth (with some time away when they were forced to close the brewery in 1968, like so many others). In 1988, the Jean Clerinx opened the brewery again, and it didn’t take long for the town and its surrounding areas to fall in love with their beers all over again. The farmhouse has become the road house of dreams from walkers, cyclists, beers lovers and more. Kerkom Brewery is 100% traditional and proud of it! From the hops to the Bink Beer, every step of the process is still done manually, one by one, made with love. Learn more about the breweryhere, and follow them onUntappd.
In this bière de coupage, the brewery used a blend composed of 75% fresh saison and 25% foudre aged mature sour beer. This allows the acidity, funkiness, and tropical flavors found in the aged portion to cut through the dry, bitter, young saison. The result is a bitter, dry, sour, and funky beer that is an instant classic.
ABV: 5.2% alcohol / volume Style: Farmhouse Ale – Brett Saison Beer Style at WineStyles: Fruity & Spicy
This beer is a marriage between dry saison and the Chasselas grapes found in the heart of Romandy (French-speaking area in Switzerland). For this hybrid beer, we used grapes from their friends, the 4th generation winemakers of Domaine de Boulaz in Bonvillars on the southwestern shore of Lake Neuchâtel. This beer is an invitation to gather with friends and family to share a good bottle. Naturally bottle conditioned, unfiltered, and unpasteurized.
ABV: 5.9% alcohol / volume Style: Dry Saison with Chasselas Grapes Beer Style at WineStyles: Fruity & Spicy
ABOUT BRASSERIE TROIS DAMES: Founded in 2003, by Raphël Mettler, the brewery is named after three ladies at home, his wife and two daughters, thus the name “Trois Dames”. Raphaël and his team crafted beers made to surprise their consumers – both in terms of their audacity in taste and their appearance. This is a limited item beer club, as Brasserie Trois Dames decided to close their doors in September 2020. The brand is still linked to the family and will not be sold, so it can continue to be at the disposal of the three ladies for future collaborations or other projects that may come to life. Learn more about the brewery here, and follow them on Untappd.
CONFETTI!
CONFETTI!
Love the Sweet life?
Herb Baked Chicken
Braised Red Cabbage
WineStyles Tasting Station 