Craftwork Old Vine Zinfandel

Simply-Recipes-Santa-Maria-Tri-Tip-LEAD-4-5b7dca68a93f45f1b26f0ca5d8bf3a4a

© Photo by Ciara Kehoe

Santa Maria Style Tri-Tip

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 (2 1/2 pounds to 4 pounds) tri-tip steak
  • Santa Maria rub (enough for a 4 pound roast)
    • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
    • 1 tablespoon finely ground black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary (or fresh, finely minced)
    • ½ teaspoon dried sage

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Mix the rub ingredients together in a bowl. Place the roast in a roasting pan or a baking pan with edges (this will help contain the rub spices). Sprinkle the rub on the meat on all sides, and massage the rub into the meat.
  2. Cover the roast with foil or plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature for an hour to take the chill off and allow the rub to work its magic on the roast.
  3. Prepare your grill for hot direct heat on one side, and indirect heat on the other. 
  4. Sear the roast for 3-4 minutes per side. Carefully watch the roast during this process as one side of the roast is typically quite fatty and as the fat heats up it can drip down and cause flare-ups. Keep moving the tri-tip away from the flame if flare-ups occur.
  5. Once the tri-tip is seared on all sides, move it away from direct heat and place it fat-side up on the grill rack.
    – Note: If you are using a gas grill with a top rack, it is recommend to place the roast on that rack, with an aluminum tray on the bottom rack underneath to catch the fat drippings.
    – If you are grilling on charcoal or wood, you may want to turn the roast over every few minutes, for more even heating.
    – Try to maintain a grill temperature of 250°F to 300°F.

  6. Cover the grill and cook until the temperature of the interior of the tri-tip reaches 120°F for a rare roast, 130°F for medium-rare and 140°F for medium.
    – At this point the meat will take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes to cook, depending on how hot your grill is, how well done you want it, and the size of the cut.
    – Note that the interior temperature will continue to rise at least 5°F after you take the roast off the heat.

  7. Once the roast reaches temperature, remove it from the grill and let it rest, loosely tented with foil, for 10-15 minutes. Slice across the grain to serve.

© Recipe courtesy of Elise Bauer of Simply Recipes.

SEPTEMBER WINE CLUB:

Craftwork_Silhouette_NV_Zinfandel_transpMellow style logoCraftwork
Old Vine Zinfandel

Monterey County, California

MELLOW WINE STYLE

This Old Vine Zinfandel has aromas of plum and black currant, juicy black cherry and ripe strawberry jam. This wine has well-balanced tannins that open out to a rich, layered finished.

Varietal: Zinfandel
Analysis:
13.5% alcohol / volume
Aging: 10-day fermentation in Stainless tanks, then aged in Hungarian and American Oak
Food Pairings: This Zinfandel pairs beautifully with tri-tip steak, sausage, pizza and pasta dishes.

 

WINEMAKER NOTES:
“Upon arrival to the winery, the grapes are destemmed, crushed, and fermented in small lots in open top fermenters. The firm cap of skins are gently punched down several times a day. Punching down is a traditional method that gives the skins as much contact with the fermenting wine as possible, ensuring that maximum color and phenols from the skins is transferred to the wine. After a 10-day fermentation in stainless tanks, the wine is age with a combination of Hungarian and American oak to round out and soften the rich, black fruit flavors.” – Craftwork

CraftworkABOUT CRAFTWORK VINEYARD & WINERY:
Craftwork’s wines are handcrafted from estate grown grapes in their vineyards in Monterey County, California. Their Zinfandel grapes are sourced from estate vineyards in San Lucas and Hames Valley. The majority of this blend comes from San Lucas, which is known for its beautifully rolling topography, sun-filled days and cool nights. The other portion of this blend comes from Hames Valley, about 20 miles south of San Lucas, located on the southern edge of Monterey County. Hames has temperatures that vary greatly from day to night. Growing in these two vineyards allows the grapes to reach their full flavor potential. Learn more about the vineyards and winery here.

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September Wine Club Pairing Recipe

Caramelized Onion & Gruyère Burger

Gruyere-Caramelized-Onion-Burger2

© Photo Urban Foodie Kitchen

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon coarse ground pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried minced onion
  • ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
  • 34 oz Gruyère(thinly sliced)
  • ¾ cup caramelized onions (prep before starting the burgers)
  • 34 brioche buns
  • ¼ cup olive oil mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Heat your grill. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat – about 400°F.
  2. Make the burger patties. Mix ground beef, Worcestershire, pepper, dried onion and salt in a small mixing bowl. Form into 3-4 burger patties.
  3. Cook the burgers. Place the burger patties on the preheated grill and cook for 3-5 minutes per side, depending on the desired doneness. The internal temperature should be 160° on an instant-read thermometer. 
  4. Make the sauce. While the burgers are cooking, mix the mayonnaise with the Worcestershire sauce. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  5. Finish the burgers. Turn grill to low-setting and top each burger with a slice of cheese. Place brioche bun halves sliced side down on the grill, away from the heat. Close the grill and let buns toast and cheese melt for 1-2 minutes.
  6. Assemble the burgers. Remove everything from the grill. To assemble the burgers, spread the bottom half of each roll with the mayo mixture. Top with a burger patty and then add the caramelized onions. Top with remaining roll half and serve immediately.

© Recipe courtesy of Kathryn from Urban Foodie Kitchen.

SEPTEMBER WINE CLUB:

Bold wine Style logoRocklin Ranch_CabernetRocklin Ranch
Cabernet Sauvignon

Hames Valley, Monterey, California

BOLD WINE STYLE

This full-bodied, bold and structured Cabernet Sauvignon is brimming with flavors of ripe plum, blackberry, and blueberry with hints of warm baking spices and toasted vanilla bean. It is rich with well-integrated tannins and an elegant, lingering finish. The Rocklin Ranch Cabernet is immediately enjoyable.

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Hames Valley AVA
Analysis: 13.5% alcohol / volume
Aging: 12 months, American and French Oak
Food Pairings: This wine pairs well with foods high in fat and with umami flavors – such as braised short ribs, marinated ribeye steak, or a charred gruyere burger.
 
WINEMAKER NOTES:
“The grapes are picked at optimum ripeness in the cool early morning hours then transported to the winery. Upon arrival, they are destemmed and crushed into small lot, open-top fermenters. The cap is punched down three times per day at the height of fermentation to gently increase extraction of color and phenolic compounds. At dryness, the juice is racked clean for aging 12 months on a combination of American and French oak.” – Rocklin Ranch
 

HAMES VALLEY, MONTEREY:
The grapes of this Cabernet Sauvignon are grown at Rocklin Ranch’s estate vineyard located in Hames Valley, California – the southernmost tip of Monterey County, just north of the San Luis Obispo county line. The geographic location of the Hames Valley AVA allows for warmer climates when compared to other Monterey vineyards to the north. The vineyard sits at the foot of the Santa Lucia Range, and while it does experience cooling effects from the Pacific Ocean, the vines remain sheltered from the afternoon winds that come down the Salinas Valley corridor. During the day, the Hames Valley reaches highs similar to the Paso Robles growing region, but when the sun goes down, temperatures drop dramatically (up to a 50°F variation). The long, warm days make this region an ideal area for tannin-rich reds, while the temperature differential preserves the balance between ripe fruit and acidity.

ABOUT ROCKLIN RANCH:
Rocklin Ranch founded their estate vineyards on a unique terroir in the Hames Valley to allow them to create balanced, elegant and varietally-correct wines. The winery and vineyards are certified sustainable by GLOBALG.A.P, BRC, and the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA). Rocklin Ranch believes their sustainable practices are just as much a part of their wine as their grapes. Learn more here.
Rocklin Ranch logo
Rocklin Ranch Cabernet Wine

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