Empanadas de Pino
(Chilean Empanadas)

In Chile, the most traditional empanada filling is called “pino”. Pino is a seasoned mixture of ground beef, onions, raisins, black olives, and hard boiled eggs. The empanada dough is quick and easy to make, and can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator. The pino tastes best if made the day before and allowed to rest overnight before filling the empanandas.

INGREDIENTS:
• Empanada dough
• 3 large onions, chopped
• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 1 teaspoon chile powder
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 beef bouillon cube, dissolved in ½ cup hot water
• 2 tablespoons flour
• ¼ cup raisins
• ¼ cup chopped olives
• 2 hard boiled eggs, sliced
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons milk

DIRECTIONS: Cook the onions and garlic in the vegetable oil and butter until softened. Add the ground beef, cumin, chile powder, paprika, beef bouillon, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook the beef, stirring and crumbling the meat, until browned. Add the flour and continue to cook for 5 or 10 minutes more. Remove the meat mixture and let cool. The beef mixture will keep up to 2 days in the refrigerator.

Shape the empanadas: Separate the dough into golf ball size pieces, and roll into smooth balls. Let rest for 5 minutes. On a floured surface, roll each ball of dough into a 6 inch diameter circle, about ½ inch thick. Add 1 tablespoon of the beef filling, a few raisins and some chopped olives, and a slice of hard-boiled egg to the middle of the circle.  Brush the edges with water and fold the pastry in half over the filling, to make a semi-circle.  Seal the edges by pressing down with your fingers. Brush the sealed edge lightly with water, then turn the edge toward the middle and press with your fingers to seal.

Mix the egg yolk with 2 tablespoons milk, and brush the empanadas with the mixture.  Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.

Chilcas
Single Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon
Colchagua Valley, Chile

Nestled in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, in the shadow of the Descabezado Volcano, lies the Chilcas flagship Maule Valley San Rafael Vineyard. Named for a native Chilean bush with fine pigment that grows in the region, Chilcas wines exude a sense of place and strong varietal expression. With an emphasis on the Maule Valley, Winemaker Camilo Viani aims to produce the finest wines from more than 400 acres of estate vineyards in the Maule, Curico, Colchagua and Casablanca Valleys and across three tiers of wines – Reservas, Icons and Single Vineyards. A true steward to the land, Chilcas is intensely committed to sustainability and, as part of the VIA Wines family, has been certified sustainable under Wines of Chile´s Sustainability program.

“The Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is deep ruby-red in color. On the nose, there are aromas of cherry, strawberry and black currant that mingle elegantly with complex cedar, olive, and black tea characters. Background notes include all spice, chocolate and smoke. This is a wine with great structure and volume, firm tannins and a long finish.”

Winemaker: Camilo Viani
Appellation: Colchagua Valley, Chile
Varietal Blend:  593% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot
Analysis: 14.5% alcohol / volume