Tag Archives: Grenache wines

June Wine Club pairing recipe

Posted on by

CHICKEN CASSOULET

chicken cassouletINGREDIENTS:

• 4 slices bacon, preferably low sodium, cut crosswise into ½ inch strips
• 5 bone in chicken thighs (appx 2 lbs)
• 1 lb chicken sausages (Andouille or garlic/herb)
• 2 ½ cups white beans (great northern or cannellini), soaked overnight
• 1 large onion, minced
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
• 5 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped into 2 inch pieces
• 1 stalk celery, chopped into 2 inch pieces
• 2 bay leaves
• 6 cloves
• 2 tsp chicken demi-glace (optional)
• 2 sprigs rosemary
• 2 sprigs parsley

DIRECTIONS:
• Preheat oven to 300°F.
• Spray cooking oil to coat a Dutch oven or similar size oven proof copper pan. Heat on medium high. Add the bacon and cook about 5 minutes per side until just starting to get crispy. Remove from pan and set aside on a plate with a paper towel.
• Add the chicken to the pan, skin side down. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes without moving to brown the chicken, then turn over to cook for a few more minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside on a platter.
• Add the sausage to the pan. Cook for about 5 minutes to brown, turning occasionally. Remove the sausages and set aside along with the chicken. Move the meat items to the fridge while you cook the beans.
• Add the onion to the pan, cook on medium for about 5 minutes until it begins to soften. Add the carrots, celery and garlic to the pan along with the beans. Stir to combine. Add the stock along with the bay leaves, cloves, rosemary, parsley and demi-glace (if using). Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover and cook the beans about 45 minutes, until just tender.
• Remove the cover from the pot. Use a slotted spoon to remove the carrots, celery, rosemary, parsley, bay leaves and cloves. Add the chicken thighs, sausage and bacon back to the pan. Stir to combine with the beans. Arrange the chicken so that the skin is facing upward near the top of the pan.
• Move the pan to the oven and cook uncovered for two hours. A bit of a crust should be starting to develop after two hours. Remove the pan from the oven, gently stir, and return to the oven.
• Continue cooking uncovered in the oven for two more hours, stirring to break up the crust every 30 minutes.
•After 4 hours total cooking time in the oven, let the cassoulet cook for 1 more hour undisturbed to let the crust build up a bit more. After 5 hours cooking time in the oven, your cassoulet should be ready to enjoy! Remove carefully from the oven, and scoop into bowls to enjoy with a Languedoc red wine. Bon appétit! © Photo and recipe courtesy of David at www.CookingChatFood.com

Bold_stickerDomaine De NizasDomaine De Nizas
Les Galets Dorés
Languedoc, France

Located near the medieval village of Pézenas in the heart of the Languedoc region, Domaine de Nizas was created in 1998, by John Goelet, an American descendant of a family of Bordeaux wine merchants. He gave Bernard Portet, of Clos Du Val fame, the mission of selecting the most promising terroirs around Pézenas to establish the estate. Portet acquired individual plots that represented different soil types ultimately creating a rich and diverse source of grapes for crafting artisanal wines of extraordinary quality and depth. Surrounded by garrigue (local wild herbs), the vineyard is a unique mosaic of three deep, well-drained soil types. River pebbles impart freshness and fine tannins while limestone creates powerful wines with red fruit aromas. Domaine De Nizas has been certified sustainable since 2007.

“Expressive, fleshy and fruity, this wine offers pleasant notes of ‘garrigue’. The palate is round and approachable, with flavors of dark fruit and herbs. This wine is ideal with roast rack of lamb with thyme or pork tenderloin casserole with braised vegetables.”  – Nathalie Arnaud-Bernard, winemaker.

Winemaker: Nathalie Arnaud-Bernard
Appellation: Languedoc, France
Varietal Blend:  60% Grenache, 25% Carignan, 15% Syrah
Analysis: 14% alcohol / volume

Imagine Bonny Doon Vineyard wine pairing

Posted on by

BonnyDoon_Imagine_bottleFruityImagine
Bonny Doon Vineyard
Grenache Mourvedre
Central Coast, California

Imagine a dry pink wine. It’s not so hard to do. As it turns out, there are two classes of people who enjoy pink wine, the terminally hip and the terminally unhip. Luckily for all of us, you, dear sipper are in the former category. Proper Vin Gris, for this is what we are talking about, is made from the lightest pressings of red grapes (we’ve taken the liberty of adding some whites to the cuvée); slightly austere and delicately floral, with crisp acidity.

Randall-Grahm-winemaker“This Provençal-styled pink, is a rather pale salmon color, owing to the fact that it is made from the lightest pressing of bespoke grapes, harvested at the appropriate maturity.  There is a lovely chalky/smoky gunpowder tea aspect to the nose with a suggestion of bergamot, wild strawberry and maybe even a delicate trace of wintergreen.  The fragrance is discreet and above all,  elegant and draws one to the wine rather than mounts a frontal assault on one’s sensorium.  On the palate, the wine has a sleek, salty, savory, mouth-watering aspect and a refreshing acidity.  There is a wonderful  persistent finish, making this one of the most food friendly wines conceivable.”  – Randall Grahm, winemaker.

Winemaker: Randall Grahm
Appellation: Central Coast, California
Varietal Blend:  35% Grenache, 18% Mourvedre, 16% Grenache Blanc, 12.5% Roussanne, 8% Carignane, 8% Counoise
Analysis: 13% alcohol / volume, 3.33 pH, 5.5 g/l TA

Seared Scallops with Corn, Sun Golds, Arugla & Basil

seared-scallopsINGREDIENTS:
•  6 large sea scallops
• 2 heads Little Gem lettuce,
• 3 ears yellow corn, husked washed, leaves separated
• 1 pint Sun Gold tomatoes
• 1 cup arugula
• 1 tbsp fresh Marjoram leaves, chopped
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• ¼ cup Thai basil
• 1 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Salt & pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 500° F. Coat the corn with a bit of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 6 minutes or until golden brown. Wrap loosely in foil and let rest. When soft and slightly cooled, cut kernels from the cob and toss in a medium bowl with ¼ cup olive oil, chopped marjoram, and salt and pepper.

Cut the Sun Gold tomatoes in half. Season with olive oil and salt lightly. Fold into the roasted corn. In a heavy bottomed skillet, heat ½ cup olive oil until smoking. Season the scallops with salt and a pinch of black pepper. Sear in the skillet for 2 minutes on each side or until they reach desired doneness. Remove from the heat and drizzle with 1 tablespoon lemon juice.

In a bowl, toss the lettuce, arugula, and basil together with 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and salt and pepper.

To Plate: Place some corn and tomato mixture in the center of each plate. Arrange three scallops atop the corn mixture. Place the dressed greens around the edges and serve with a chilled glass of 2014 Vin Gris Imagine. Serves 2.  Recipe graciously provided by Chef Charlie Parker.

May Wine Club pairing recipe

Posted on by

BOURGUIGNONBourguignon

INGREDIENTS:

•  3 tablespoons grapeseed or avocado oil
• 2 pounds grass-fed buffalo or venison or beef or lamb, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 pound Crimini mushrooms, cleaned and quartered
• 4 cups Bonny Doon Vineyard 2014 GSMC
• ½ cup dry sherry
• ¼ cup Bonny Doon Vineyard Pinotheosis Pinot Noir port
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 cups beef or bison stock
• 1 pound pearl onions (fresh or frozen)
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• ¼ cup gluten-free oat flour or 3 teaspoons tapioca flour/starch mixed with ½ cup cold water (shake in a glass jar)

STOVE TOP DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350°. In a large Dutch oven or stainless steel soup pot sauté meat in 2 tablespoons oil over high heat until brown on both sides. Set meat aside. In the same pot, sauté mushrooms in 1 tablespoon of oil until tender. Return meat to pot. Deglaze pan with sherry and Pinotheosis; cook until reduced by half. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in flour/water mixture and cook for 2 minutes while stirring. Cover pot and bake on the middle rack of the oven for approximately 1¼ hours, or until meat is very tender. Remove from oven and pull out stems of thyme and bay leaf. Salt and pepper to taste.

CROCK-POT DIRECTIONS:  Put everything into a medium to large sized Crock-pot, except flour or kudzu, and cook on high for 2 hours; turn down to low for 6 more hours or until meat is very tender. Add flour or kudzu mixed in cold water for the last hour.

Serves 6-8. Serve with a glass of 2014 GSMC. Recipe created and perfectly paired by Chef Lauren Hoover-West, NoWheatNoDairyNoProblem.com

GSMC14_bottle_lowresBold_stickerGSMC
Bonny Doon Vineyard
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsaut
Central Coast, California

Life is indeed short. Perhaps it is for this reason communication between humans can be at times a bit terse, even runic/slash/cryptic. Hence (G)renache, (S)yrah, Mourvèdre, and of course (C)insaut, see?  For these grapes truly love each other, put up with each other’s kvetches and shortcomings, support each other through thick-and-etc. GSMC is a bit of (G)e(m)i(s)(c)h, but then aren’t we all. That is the (m)e(s)sa(g)e, (see), in this particular bottle. Bonny Doon’s Vineyard winemaking practice exceptionally light-handed, with minimal intervention and manipulation. Created from hand-harvested grapes from four Central Coast vineyards.

Randall-Grahm-winemaker“This GSMC blend contains what we like to call weapons-grade Grenache from our sundry Grenache vineyards. Exceptional spicebox nose, with raspberry, bing cherry, black pepper and hints of thyme. Plush tannins in the mouth with a refreshing savory texture.  This wine will pair well with a variety of grilled meat.”  – Randall Grahm, winemaker.

Winemaker: Randall Grahm
Appellation: Central Coast, California
Varietal Blend:  50% Grenache, 24% Syrah, 12% Cinsaut, 10% Mourvedre, 4% Counoise
Analysis: 14% alcohol / volume

Teriyaki Glazed Spare Ribs

Posted on by

teriyaki-ribsINGREDIENTS:
•  2 (4 pound) racks pork spareribs, trimmed of excess fat
•   ½ cup Chinese Five Spice
•  Sea salt and fresh ground pepper

GLAZE INGREDIENTS:
•  1 cup low sodium soy sauce
•  1 cup grapefruit juice
•  ¼ cup hoisin sauce
•  ¼ cup ketchup
•  3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
•  ¼ cup brown sugar
•  1 fresh red chili, minced
•  2 garlic cloves, smashed
•  2 inch piece fresh ginger, whacked open with the flat side of a knife
•  2 tablespoons sesame seeds, for garnish
•  Chopped fresh Cilantro and green onion, for garnish

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Rub the ribs all over with the five-spice powder, then season generously with salt and pepper. Put the ribs in a single layer in a roasting pan and slow roast until they are almost tender, about 2 hours.

Meanwhile make the glaze. In a large bowl combine the soy sauce, grapefruit juice, hoisin sauce, ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, chili, garlic and ginger in a saucepan. Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat. Cook until the sauce reduces and thickens then remove from the heat. Strain the sauce and reserve.

When the ribs are about 30 minutes away from being done, baste them with the teriyaki sauce. Cook until the meat pulls easily from the bone.

Just before serving, preheat the broiler. Baste the ribs again and brown them under the broiler for 5 to 8 minutes (or to desired level of crispness, keep an eye on them, they can burn quick). Separate the ribs with a cleaver or sharp knife, pile them on a platter and pour over remaining sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, cilantro and green onion as desired.  Recipe courtesy of Tyler Florence.

LimitedSyrGren-prnt Cambridge Cellars Limited
Syrah Grenache
Dry Creek Valley, CA

Cambridge California Cellars strive to produce wines that embody the designations from where they are grown.  Their “Limited” wines represent those rare, exceptional lots from distinguished appellations throughout California’s wine country.  The Syrah Grenache is sourced from Dry Creek Valley, specifically the Simpson Vineyard that sits on the northern end with a cooler climate.  Situated between the Russian River and Lake Sonoma, the vines are well-irrigated and produce ripe, plump styles of wine.  Most known for growing exceptional Zinfandel, Dry Creek has expanded its reputation over the years and is now growing excellent Rhone and Bordeaux varietals.

DougFrost“Syrah and Grenache, these two grapes play well together. Grenache for its raspberry, white pepper and mint notes and Syrah for its more brooding black pepper along with darker fruits like cherry and plum. This is just tannic enough to ask for food to accompany it.” – Doug Frost, MS, MW


Winemaker: Douglas Danielak
Appellation: Sonoma County, California
Varietal Blend:  60% Syrah, 40% Grenache
Analysis: 15.9% alcohol / volume