Tag Archives: july

July Cheese Club: Iowa

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Cheese ClubKynthos HalloumiKynthos
Halloumi
Cyprus, Greece

A traditional cheese of Cyprus, Greece, the Kynthos Halloumi will have you feeling like you’re surrounded by the turquoise waters and white sandy beaches of Greece. Made of cow’s milk, sheep’s milk and goat’s milk, this cheese has a very low acid content, making it the perfect grilling or frying cheese. Halloumi often resembles a much firmer and saltier block of clean, light mozzarella. 

FOOD PAIRING: This is cheese is a great blank slate to all sorts of dishes. Try grilled, fried, baked, sautéed, or simply on its own. Chop up with watermelon for a fun summer salad, or add any sauce on top of your baked cheese – perfect for a summer BBQ. Try one of Kynthos’ Grilled Halloumi recipes here.

WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRING: Crisp and fruity wines, such as a Rosé make a perfect accompaniment to this cheese. Look for a Greek wine – what grows together, goes together! For craft beer, reach for a crisp and clean brew.

WINESTYLES: Crisp or Fruity
BEERSTYLES: Crisp and Clean

“Halloumi has been increasingly eaten all over the world since its creation in what is now known as the Middle Eastern island country of Cyprus back during the Medieval Byzantine period which started in 395 AD. Halloumi is widely recognized throughout the Mediterranean as the crowning cheese jewel of Cyprus cuisine as well as in neighboring Turkey and Greece.” – Kynthos

Gril

Regular-kefalotyriKourellas
Kefaloytre
Grevena, Greece

Kefaloytre is a classic cheese of Greece. It is a hard, aged cheese made up of pasteurized sheep and goat’s milk. The Kourellas family keep things traditional by salting the cheese by hand as it matures. Dating back to the Byzantine era, Kefalotyri is believed to be the ancestor of most hard Greek cheeses.

FOOD PAIRING: This cheese is an essential ingredient in classic Greek dishes, such as moussaka, pastitsio, or spanakopita. Grate over pasta, serve shavings with pears and grapes, or fry a couple slices with your eggs.

WINE & CRAFT BEER PAIRING: Similar to the Halloumi pairings, search for something crisp and fruity, such as a Rosé. Even better, look for a Greek wine to accompany your cheese! For craft beer, stick with a crisp and clean brew.

WINESTYLES: Crisp or Fruity
BEERSTYLES: Crisp and Clean

ABOUT KOURELLAS DAIRY:
Greece’s first organic dairy, the Kourellas family has been making traditional Greek dairy since 1960. Their family farm sits in Grevena, a region known for its exceptional dairy products. Although over the years they have outgrown their original dairy, they continue to maintain the same standards of quality and recipes passed down from generation to generation. Learn more about their story here.

Screen Shot 2021-06-28 at 7.24.47 PMDon’t let your Wine Club go home alone!

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 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 cheese every month! Only $19.99/month and your wine won’t be lonely!  Click to learn more >

July Collector’s Wine Club: Iowa

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Bold wine Style logoAmulet CabernetAmulet Estate
2017 Amulet
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California

BOLD WINE STYLE

The 2017 Amulet Cabernet is deep purple in color is aromas of black cherry, cranberry, cardamom, and bay leaf. It is smooth yet expansive on the palate and highlights flavors of crushed ripe strawberry, graphite, and warm clove. Firm tannins give this wine volume in the mouth, and notes of tobacco linger into a fresh and refined finish.

Analysis: 15.4% alcohol / volume
Varietal: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot
Appellation: Napa Valley; 77% St. Helena, 23% Oakville
Winemaker: Shawn Johnson
History of Accolades:

  • 2014 – 93 pts Wine Advocate
  • 2015 – 93 pts Wine Advocate, 91 pts Vinous
  • 2016 – 95 pts Jeb Dunnuck, 93 pts Wine Advocate

Bold wine Style logoDancing HaresAmulet Estate
2017 Dancing Hares
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California

BOLD WINE STYLE

The 2017 Dancing Hares has heavy aromas of plum preserve, crème de cassis, and spice box. It is velvety on the palate, evolving into deep flavors of warm licorice, black fruits, and olive tapenade. It finishes with great volume and length.

Analysis: 14.8% alcohol / volume
Varietal: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 6% Merlot
Appellation: St. Helena, Napa Valley
Winemaker: Shawn Johnson

ABOUT THE WINE:
In 2000, five acres of Bordeaux varietals were planted on rocky, porous soils at the base of Howell Mountain, called Dancing Hares. Now known as Amulet Estate but with a more distinct focus on a portfolio of single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.  With an appreciation for the past, Amulet continues to honor the traditions of Dancing Hares and produce a wine of elegance and grace, aged for nearly two years in new and neutral French Oak barrels.

ABOUT THE WINERY:
The word “amulet” comes from the Latin word “amulētum”, meaning an object that provides good fortune or a good luck charm. However, the true mark of the Amulet portfolio comes from their deep respect for the land and the pioneering spirit expressed in early Napa Valley viticulture. Each single vineyard is carefully selected to create a varietal that expresses the elegance of the Napa Valley terroir. Learn more about their history and philosophy here.

© Photo by Amulet Estate
© Photo by Amulet Estate
© Photo by Amulet Estate
© Photo by Amulet Estate
© Photo by Amulet Estate

Collectors Wine ClubLove to collect amazing wines? 

Learn more about our quarterly Collectors Club > click here

July Beer Club: Iowa

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Manzana LinTrabanco
Manzana Lin Sidra Natural
Gijón, Asturias, Spain

Manzana Lin is a special, limited production release from Trabanco. This single-site cider is made of Lin apples sourced from the San Pedro de Anes orchard. The juice is fermented with indigenous yeasts and in accordance with the guidelines for “Sidra Natural,” producing a low-alcohol cider that is tart and lacks carbonation. Sidra Natural should be served cold in a wide glass and poured from great height to break up the residual carbonic gas. Only a small amount (one sip’s worth) should be poured into the glass at a time.

BeerStyles: Fruity and Spicy
Style: Sidra Natural (Cider)
ABV: 6%
Apples: 70% Lin with a blend of local apples sourced from the San Pedro de Anes orchard.
Vinification: This cider has been fermented with indigenous yeasts and in accordance to the guidelines for “Naturally Fermented Quality Ciders.”

ABOUT THE CIDERY:

Like most families from the Asturian countryside, the Trabanco Family made their own cider from their own apples, but in 1925 Emilio Trabanco decided to turn this household hobby into a family business; creating Trabanco Cider. Using the best apples of selected varieties and following traditional methods, Trabanco Cider quickly became known throughout the region as the premier natural cider from Asturias. Not much has changed since then, the Trabanco family is still using traditional methods, augmented with modern technologies, to produce exceptional Asturian ciders. From a very young age, all of the members of the family are involved in the production process, from the apple picking and weighing, to operating the press. The family business continues to grow, as their inheritance is passed from one generation to the next.

Asturias Map

Asturias Map by Paul Dangel

Trabanco Orchard

Trabanco Orchard. Photo by Steven Alexander

Isastegi CiderIsastegi
Sagardo Naturala
Tolosa (Isastegi), Spain

Sagardo Naturala, or “natural cider” is from the Basque Country in Spain, where basque ciders have been produced for over 2,000 years.  Golden-green hue in the glass, Isastegi’s Sagardo Naturala has ripe notes of apple on the nose, but lead to an acidic, malted apple on the palate. The finish is crisp and fresh. This cider goes through a completely natural fermentation process in large wooden barrels and is bottled fresh without filtration. Sagardo Naturala is more bitter than most ciders, with only mild residual carbonic acid. It should be served cold in a wide glass and poured from great height to break up the residual carbonic gas. Only a small amount (one sip’s worth) should be poured into the glass at a time.

BeerStyles: Fruity and Spicy
Style: Sagardo Naturala (Natural Cider)
ABV: 6%
Apples: A blend of over a dozen native varietals
Vinification: After fermentation in kupelas (old, large, oak cider barrels) the cider is bottled fresh and without filtration before each shipment.

ABOUT THE CIDERY:

Isastegi is an old family estate located in the town of Tolosa in the Basque Country of Spain. The estate was originally covered by pastures for cattle, with only a few apple trees for the family to make a small amount of cider for itself. In 1983 they decided to switch from livestock to cider output and started selling their cider to the public. Over the years the demand for Isastegi cider has increased and the family’s country house has adapted to the changes. Pastures were replaced by orchards, while renovations added new state-of-the-art pressing and bottling rooms and a larger spaces for the kupelas (old, large, oak cider barrels). Isastegi prides themselves on their local focus and adhere to the strict guidelines of Basque Ciders by using only local apples with no added carbonation or sugars.

Basque Country

Map by Paul Dangel

Isastegi

Isastegi Cidery

 

July Bubbly Club: Iowa

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Bubbly Wine ClubScheid Vineyards - Isabelle SparklingScheid Vineyards
Isabelle Sparkling Cuvée
Monterey, California

BUBBLY WINE STYLE

If you know about the crafting of champagne, you understand it is a special wine that is a labor of love. And that is why Scheid Vineyards’ sparkling cuvée was named for Isabelle Adolphin Pearce, the beloved mother of Founder, Al Scheid. Like the hands-on, no-shortcuts-allowed méthode champenoise way Scheid produces their sparkler, Isabelle was old school through and through. Something “store bought” wasn’t worth nearly as much as something that was lovingly made by hand, whether it was an intricately crocheted afghan, a faux red fur coat for her granddaughter, or her melt-in-your-mouth pot roast. She firmly believed that busy hands make a happy heart and she lived by those words by working hard and taking care of others her entire life. Scheid Vineyards’ Isabelle Sparkling Wine is an elegant and complex cuvée in a brut style, with aromas of green apple, pear and hints of white flowers, honey and brioche. Here’s to Isabelle, much loved and greatly missed.

Appellation: Monterey
Varietal: Cuvée – 51% Chardonnay, 49% Pinot Noir
Analysis: 12.5% alcohol / volume
pH: 3.13
TA: 8.7 g/L
Aging: 100% Stainless Steel
Tirage: 48 months en tirage (on the lees)

VINEYARDS
Great sparkling wine is made from grapes grown in only the coolest climates, where the delicate aromas and natural acidity are preserved. Monterey County, with morning fogs that often linger until mid-day, possesses just the right conditions to place it on par with the best growing regions of the world for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Scheid Vineyards carefully farms specific estate vineyard rows throughout the year that epitomize intensity, complexity and excellent structure. These grapes are carefully hand-harvested into small bins and transported promptly to the winery.

WINEMAKING
‘Isabelle’ is produced in the traditional méthode champenoise. Primary fermentation was done slowly and at cold temperatures to enhance the varietal aromatics and preserve the natural delicate character.  Next, the cuvée was bottled with sugar and yeast, and a secondary fermentation proceeded in the bottle. While fermenting en tirage, carbon dioxide that would normally be released was trapped, producing the sparkle and bubbles. After aging on the lees for 48 months, the wine was riddled—slowly shaken and turned with the angle gradually increased, causing the lees to dislodge and settle in the neck of the bottle. The settled lees were then frozen to form a “plug” and disgorged. The sparkling wine was quickly corked to maintain the effervescence and voilà, Isabelle was born! 

Scheid Vineyards
Scheid Vineyards
By Scheid Vineyards – Explore Vineyards

Happy Red, Wine and Blue!

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July Wine Club with red grapes, white grapes and blue grapes and American Flag

Chicken Paella

Chicken paella dishINGREDIENTS:
• 1 lb ground chorizo
• 1 small onion, fine dice
• 1 small can spicy peppers (chipotle, piquillo, hatch)
• 1/2 bunch parsley, chopped
• 20 chicken drums, seasoned with salt & pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tbsp tomato puree
• 1 lb Bomba paella rice
• 6 oz. white wine
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 lemon

DIRECTIONS:
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Cover large skillet with olive oil, medium-high heat. Add chicken drums, browning on all sides. Remove chicken and set aside.
• Add chorizo and onions to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes. Add the peppers, tomato puree, and paprika. Stir and cook for 4 minutes.
• Add the rice and stir well for 3 minutes. Add wine and stir for 3 minutes.
• Add the chicken stock and stir into rice until absorbed. • Add frozen peas and parsley and bring back to boil. Arrange chicken drums on bed of rice.
• Transfer skillet to the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven and cover lightly with foil.
• Garnish the dish with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

Horten Tempranillo bottle imageEncomienda de Cervera
Horten Tempranillo
Almagro, Spain

Located within the distinguished cultural city of Almagro, between valleys and mountains thick with holm oaks and juniper trees, rosemary and thyme. The mountainous terrain that forms three drainage basins has a peculiar micro-climate, with cool nights providing release from the blistering heat of the day. The Encomienda de Cervera Estate was established in 1758 with a total of 1200 hectares of land, that included vineyards and olive trees. The old vineyards have been renovated and expanded to 50 hectares. The best hills and altitudes have been chosen for each varietal, along with the best soils. From the grapes of their young Tempranillo vineyards, this wine was aged for short time in new French oak.Horten Espinosa winery owner

“Deep and intense red color, with aromas of fresh red berry fruit and spice with toasted vanilla flavors of the oak. Round and spicy with full body, but easy to drink with a long and pleasant after taste.” – Horten Espinosa, owner

Appellation: Campo de Calatrava, Almagro, Spain
IGP (Protected Geographic Indication): Vino de la Tierra de Castilla
Soil: Clay and stony with a smooth layer of volcanic origin
Varietal: 100% Tempranillo
Analysis: 13.7% alcohol / volume

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