Tag Archives: sonoma county

November Premium Wine Club

Posted on by

Bold wine Style logoOptima-Cabernet-Knights-Valley-bottleOptima Winery
Knights Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma County, California

BOLD WINE STYLE

This Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has beautiful scents of rose petal, cocoa, dark cherry, and mocha which float from the dark, inky, ruby-red body. The tannins are all-encompassing, and along with medium acidity, delivers great balance and finesse. The intense palate shows flavors of black cherries, raspberries, leather, tobacco, vanilla, and anise. The long finish is marked by a touch of dark chocolate and caramel which provide a perfect balance. This is a Cabernet built for a long haul, enjoyable now, but worthy of additional cellaring.

WINE DETAILS:

  • Analysis: 14.9% alcohol / volume
  • Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Appellation: Knights Valley, Sonoma County, California
  • pH: 3.70
  • RS: None
  • Barrel Aging: 24 Months

VINEYARD:
The Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from a single vineyard in Knights Valley AVA (one of Sonoma County’s original five AVAs), an appellation characterized by its warmer climate, gorgeous higher elevation vines, and gently sloping hills. This rustic, unspoiled vineyard and its unique soil composition dominated by volcanic loam and clay soil create beautiful, full, rich wines. 

WINEMAKING:
The Cabernet Sauvignon was hand-picked September 18, 2017, at 25.5 degrees brix. The grapes were fermented 10 days to dryness and then macerated an additional twenty-one days to soften and develop the tannins. Following pressing, the wine was moved to 60 gallon French Oak barrels, where it received three gentle barrel to barrel rackings. This vintage was barrel aged for twenty-two months prior to bottling on August 21, 2018.

Bold wine Style logoOptima-Zinfandel-bottleOptima Winery
Dry Creek Valley
Zinfandel
Sonoma County, California

BOLD WINE STYLE

A delectable delight to savor, indulge in a luxurious drinking experience with this wine. Its incredible aromatic bouquet exudes an exuberant fruitiness that explodes with wild berry, blackberry, cocoa, and spiced coffee flavors that settle deeply into your palate. The wine boasts a bright taste with lively acidity, creating a solid structure that complements the intense, decadent flavors of chocolate, white pepper, mocha, and plum. The sweet, creamy oak adds a polished finish to the rich, velvety tannins and spicy, powerful finish. The balance of this quintessential Zinfandel wine offers great versatility when paired with different foods.

WINE DETAILS:

  • Analysis: 14.9% alcohol / volume
  • Varietal: 98% Zinfandel, 2% Petite Sirah
  • Appellation: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California
  • pH: 3.69
  • RS: None
  • Barrel Aging: 16 Months

VINEYARD:
The fruit used to produce this vintage was grown on the western bench of Dry Creek Valley, 200 feet above the valley floor. The vineyard experiences cool, foggy mornings and warm days, creating a substantial difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures. This extended growing season allowed the grapes to mature slowly, resulting in a rich and intense flavor profile.

WINEMAKING:
Hand-harvested on September 3, 2021, at 25.9 degrees brix, the fruit was gently crushed, destemmed, and fermented 10 days to dryness. Following pressing, the wine was clarified naturally by settling and then moved to small oak cooperage where it aged for 16 months. We used a blend of sixty-gallon French oak barrels to both enhance and complement the wonderful berry aromas.

ABOUT OPTIMA WINERY:
Founded by Mike Duffy, Optima Winery is a family owned and operated winery that specializes in making limited-production wines. Located in the heart of Healdsburg, California, they are blessed to be at the center of some of the best appellations in the world. Mike Duffy, owner and winemaker, studied under the legendary Andre Tchelistcheff and produces wines that rival the best of Alexander Valley. They only source the absolute best of each vintage; allowing them to meticulously follow their passion to preserve the unique characteristics of each vineyard. Learn more about their family story here.

Information and Photos © Optima Winery – All Rights Reserved.

Wine club logoJoin our PREMIUM WINE CLUB, enjoy amazing wines every other month. Plus, you’ll receive 10% off all retail wine purchases!

Learn more about our Premium Club >

 
 
 

 

Winery Spotlight Series: June 16 Marietta Cellars

Posted on by

Wine Tasting Event

Marietta Cellars Wines Tasted

Marietta Cellars
Sonoma County, California

Wednesday, June 16, 2021
6:00pm CST / 7:00pm EST

Join us for a wine tasting event, featuring Marietta Cellars from Sonoma County, California, with guest speaker Scot Bilbro on Zoom. Owner and Winemaker, Scot Bilbro will be guiding us through a tasting of seven of his Marietta Cellars wines:

Zoom Facebook Live

  • Old Vine Riesling
  • Old Vine Rosé
  • Old Vine Red Lot 71
  • Román Zinfandel
  • Armé Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Christo Red Blend
  • Gibson Block Syrah

To reserve a table and attend the wine tasting in person, please call your local WineStyles store.  Or if you prefer to attend remotely, from the comfort of your home, pre-order a wine tasting kit-to-go and watch on Zoom.

Chris Bilbro and Scot Bilbro. © Photo by Marietta Cellars

About Marietta Cellars:

Marietta Cellars is a family owned winery in Sonoma County. Chris Bilbro (pictured left) with winemaking roots dating back three generations, founded Marietta Cellars in 1978. Scot Bilbro (pictured right) is now the second generation Winemaker and Owner of Marietta Cellars. Applying his Viticulture and Enology training from UC Davis, Scot keeps yeast happy, manages oxygen’s interaction with the wine, and dials in the temperature range of a fermentation…but the real magic happens in the quiet moments. Hiking the vineyard rows as the fog burns off; checking grapes in the sweltering sun; in the cellar at the end of the night during harvest checking tank temperatures with the palm of his hand. He continues to lead a team that performs magic by transforming hard work, attention to detail, a blessed climate, and exceptional land into beautiful, modern wines. Learn more >

© Photo by Marietta Cellars
© Photo by Marietta Cellars
© Photo by Marietta Cellars
© Photo by Marietta Cellars

About Scot Bilbro – Owner and Winemaker:

Scot Bilbro grew up admiring his father’s ability to create magic – whether it was with wine, food, or a simple game to entertain Scot and his brothers. Scot learned the ins and the outs of the family’s wine business, and after graduating from UC Davis, decided to return to the family winery to create magic of his own. Scot was uncertain and tentative, but his father gave him the confidence to create beautiful wines of his own. This second-generation winery continues to transform hard work, a blessed climate, special pieces of land, and belief into beautiful liquid expressions of family and place. Learn more here.

June16_Marietta_Eventbrite_header

Let’s Taste, Learn and Enjoy® together! 

Contact your local WineStyles to RSVP for this tasting event.

Marietta Cellars
Sonoma County, California

June 16, 2021

6:00pm CST/ 7:00pm EST

Cheers!

WineStyles.com

April Bubbly Club: Iowa

Posted on by

Bubbly Wine ClubGoldschmidt_BlancdeNoir-NV-Bottle-Shot-webGoldschmidt Vineyards
Blanc de Noir Sparkling Wine
Sonoma County, California

BUBBLY WINE STYLE

Light copper-rose hues; Goldschmidt Blanc de Noir shows vibrant raspberry, bing cherry, and wild flower. A mix of zesty cherry, white peach, and fresh strawberry flavors mingle with medium-bodied bubbles to form a creamy palate. Subtle notes of honeysuckle linger in the finish.

Analysis: 12% alcohol / volume
Varietals: 53% Chardonnay, 39% Pinot Noir, 8% Pinot Meunier
Appellation: 100% Sonoma County
Vintage: NV
pH: 3.20
Dosage: 1.2
Cases Produced: 120

WINEMAKING:
“We make our sparkling wine not only to be lively and lifted in the nose but also to have complexity and longevity. The addition of Pinot Noir adds its characteristic tangy, red berry and orange flavors while the Chardonnay provides the main structure and liveliness. Producing white wine from a red grape is very difficult. We harvest in the cool morning and press very gently, balancing the bright fruit flavors with crisp acidity. By pressing this way we get less color and tannin. Barrel fermenting both the Chardonnay and the Pinot also adds more weight and body. Yeast contact in the bottle for two years brings all elements together with the yeast also providing its own elements of texture and creaminess. This wine will last up to 10 years under proper storage conditions.” – Goldschmidt Vineyards

FOOD PAIRING: Serve with soft cheeses – those with delicate flavors and smooth, creamy textures. In particular, try fresh, soft, and bloomy-rind cheeses made from cow’s milk, like Brie, Camembert, Brillat-Savarin, triple crème, or Chaource.  Try with macadamia nut-crushed halibut or pork tenderloin with fresh rosemary and lemon thyme.

ABOUT THE WINERY:
Yolyn and Nick Goldschmidt are owner/vintners, and Nick is the winemaker. The winery offices are located in Healdsburg, California. Goldschmidt Vineyards is a vehicle by which Nick and Yolyn present their innovative way of wine making and wine presentation. There are two brands under their portfolio – the prestigious Goldschmidt Vineyard label and the international Forefathers label. The Goldschmidt Vineyard label is a program designed to showcase single vineyard source wines from both the Alexander Valley and Napa Valley Oakville appellations. The goal is create wines that highlight the distinct characters, benefits and attributes derived from these site specific harvests. Goldschmidt Vineyards Cabernets are crafted with the best possible resources to achieve exceptional richness, quality and balance – the hallmarks of world-class wines.

Bubbly Wine ClubLearn more about our Bubbly Club >

 

 

August Bubbly Club: Iowa

Posted on by

Bubbly Wine ClubDSC_0588-EditPOE Wines
NV Ultraviolet Sparkling Rosé
Napa, California

BUBBLY WINE STYLE

NV Ultraviolet Sparkling Rosé is a base of 85% Coombsville Cabernet Franc Rosé, made from the grapes that go into POE’s Ultraviolet Cabernet Sauvignon. The remaining 15% is French Colombard from Mendocino.  This sparkling rosé has aromatics of lemon blossoms and strawberry, the palate shows lovely minerality and fine bubbles, with underripe strawberry, peach, and orange peel, with a lingering bright grapefruit on the finish.

WINEMAKING:
POE had been making Champagne method sparkling wines for six years, when they decided to make a playful, fruit driven California sparkling wine, by utilizing the Charmant method.  As opposed to fermenting in the bottle, POE takes their sparkling base and instigates a second fermentation in stainless steel, utilizing yeast and sugar.  This is the same process as the Champagne method, but in a different vessel.  The fermentation is kept cold, and lasts seven weeks.  After a few months of rest, they bottle under cork.

ABOUT POE WINES:
Samantha Sheehan founded POE in 2009 after being inspired by the wines she tasted in Burgundy and Champagne.  The goal was not to replicate Burgundy, but rather create alluring, vineyard specific, age-worthy wines revealing the beautiful terroir of California.  There is minimal intervention, judicious use of sulfur, and never any additives. POE produces traditional Champagne method sparkling wines, Rosé, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and a nouveau from Pinot Noir.  Each wine is made in very limited quantities, and sold directly from the winery and to high-end restaurants around the country. 

Owner/Winemaker Sam Poe Sheehan

POE Vineyards© POE Wines

Bubbly Wine ClubBodkin Sparkling Sauv BlancBodkin Wines
Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc
Healdsburg, California

BUBBLY WINE STYLE

Bodkin Wines is proud to release the fourth cuvée of California’s first Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc. This unique and stylish twist on Sauvignon Blanc has a core of racy crispness driven by lively acidity, accented with lemon-lime aromas (no cat grass — no worries) and citrus-passion fruit flavors. The pronounced citrus tones team with a note of toasted hazelnuts to accent the enchantingly plush mouth feel of the wine. The wine is called Cuvée Agincourt in reference to the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years War. In 1415 where the English army comprised largely of archers armed with Bodkin pointed arrows beat back a French army much more numerous and comprised of the nation’s high nobility.

VARIETY: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
ALCOHOL: 11.5%
DOSAGE: Brut

ABOUT BODKIN WINES:
Bodkin Wines was founded by Chris Christensen, an Iowa native, in 2011. His passion for aromatic wines and winemaking led him to create America’s first Sauvignon Blanc with bubbles. In 2013, Andrew Chambers, an Oregon native, joined the brand and they purchased 24 tons and made 1,100 cases of their award-winning Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc. Since that time, Bodkin Wines has produced over 15 varietals of wine, eleven of which were scored at 90 points or higher by Wine Enthusiast. They are consistently growing, year after year, but are determined to keep their presence small and unique. Bodkin Wines is still 100% owned by both Chris and Andrew, two guys living and working hard in Sonoma County.

ee5774_c9f6ce12a8fe4898b27246fed2853b0b_mv2
Screen Shot 2020-07-20 at 6.38.33 PM© Bodkin Wines

Winery Spotlight Tasting Event: July 22, 2020

Posted on by

Cline Family Cellars

Fred and Nancy Cline

Virtual Wine Tasting Event on Zoom

Cline Family Cellars

Wednesday, July 22 at 6:00pm CST / 7:00pm EST

Zoom logoPlease join us for this month’s Winery Spotlight tasting event on Zoom, featuring Cline Cellars from Sonoma, California.  Special guests include Charlie Tsegeletos, winemaker of Cline Cellars and Megan Cline, Certified Sommelier and daughter of Fred and Nancy Cline. 

Charlie and Megan will be tasting through 6 different wines from Cline Cellars, starting with their Farmhouse White, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Ancient Vineyards Mourvedre, Sonoma Syrah and ending with Cline’s Cabernet Sauvignon.  Be sure to RSVP at your local WineStyles location or on Eventbrite.  Pre-order your wines in advance at your local participating WineStyles location and taste alongside Charlie and Megan on Zoom!

Cline Cellars Wine Tasting

Virtual Wine Tasting Cline Cellars

ABOUT CLINE CELLARS

Built on a passion for winemaking and rooted in respect for the land, Cline Cellars is a family-owned and operated winery in Sonoma, California. In 1982, Fred Cline started making his first vintages from original plantings of Mourvedre, Zinfandel and Carignan, some of which dated back to the 1880’s. As one of the original Rhône Rangers, he began planting varietals that included vineyards dedicated to Syrah, Viognier and Marsanne and Roussanne.  Fred and his wife Nancy have continued to plant vineyards across Sonoma County.

Guest speaker Charlie Tsegeletos, Winemaker

Winemaker Charlie Tsegeletos

Charlie Tsegeletos, Winemaker

Charlie was born to be a winemaker. There was always wine in his Greek/Italian household in northern California, and his great-grandfather made wine in Guerneville in the 1930s. Charlie graduated from UC Davis in 1979 with a degree in Agricultural Science and Management/Plant Science, and honed his craft at Hacienda Wine Cellars, D’Agostini Winery, and Glen Ellen Winery. Since joining Cline Cellars in 2002, he has created legendary Zinfandels, distinctive Rhône-style wines, and Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, Merlot and Chardonnay. Charlie loves making wines that express the unique qualities of California fruit, and their specific sense of place. His mission is the creation of wines that surprise and delight the senses. Learn more about Cline’s Winemakers here.

Guest speaker Megan Cline, Certified Sommelier

Megan Cline

Megan Cline, Certified Sommelier

Following in the footsteps of her parents, founders of Cline Cellars, Megan also fell in love with the world of wine. After graduating from UC Santa Barbara and completing her Certified Sommelier training, she returned to Sonoma to work at the family winery. For Megan, it was love at first harvest.  “I like that wine is so much more than a beverage. It’s a combination of place’s history, geography, people, food, climate and traditions.”  Learn more about Megan >

Fred Cline Winemaking

Fred Cline

Grounded in Sustainability

Cline Cellars aims to be stewards of the land, not only through natural and sustainable Green String farming methods, but through an awareness of bringing interconnected systems into harmony. Cline Cellars is proud to be Certified California Sustainable Vineyard and Winery. From grape to glass, the program acknowledges a long-term commitment to sustainable wine growing and business practices.  RSVP to get a taste!

Cline Vineyards Sheep

Let’s Taste, Learn and Enjoy® together! 

Contact your local WineStyles to RSVP for this tasting event.

Cline Cellars
Sonoma County
California

Cheers!

WineStyles.com

Cline Petaluma Gap Vineyard

Ridge Vineyards Tasting Event

Posted on by

Ridge Vineyards Tasting EventOctober  Winery Spotlight
Tasting Event
>> RSVP at your local WineStyles <<

Ridge Vineyards, California

The history of Ridge Vineyards begins in 1885, when Osea Perrone, a doctor who became a prominent member of San Francisco’s Italian community, bought 180 acres near the top of Monte Bello Ridge. He terraced the slopes and planted vineyards; using native limestone, he constructed the Monte Bello Winery, producing the first vintage under that name in 1892. This unique cellar, built into the mountainside on three levels, is Ridge’s production facility. At 2600′, it is surrounded by the “upper vineyard.”

“We decided to farm organically because we believe it leads to better grapes and higher quality wines. This approach in the vineyard, plus our traditional approach to winemaking, will provide the finest possible wines for our customers.” –  Paul Draper, CEO/winemaker.

montebello

13zls-bottle-shotRidge-Vineyards-LogoLytton Springs, in Sonoma County, became part of the Ridge estate in 1991. A quarter century’s experience with this vineyard had convinced us that it was an exceptional piece of ground. Forty consecutive vintages of Geyserville attest to yet another stunning combination of location and varietals. Though born in the early sixties to the post-Prohibition world of modern California winemaking, Ridge relies on nature and tradition rather than technology. Our approach is straightforward: find intense, flavorful grapes; intrude upon the process only when necessary; draw the fruit’s distinctive character and richness into the wine.  While Ridge is by no means a large grower,  they are the largest grower of organically farmed grapes in Sonoma County, and in the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation.

Limited Seating Available – Reserve your seat ASAP!

Ridge-wines

Contact your local WineStyles

Ridge-Vineyards-Logo

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

Prosciutto Wrapped Halibut with Asparagus Sauce

Posted on by

INGREDIENTS:
Halibut•  5 tablespoons unsalted butter
•  4 scallions, thinly sliced
•  1 pound asparagus, spears sliced ½ inch thick, tips separate
•  1 cup water
•  1 cup packed baby spinach
•  salt and fresh ground pepper
•  8 thick slices of prosciutto
•  4 skinless halibut fillets (about 5 ounces each)
•  8 small sage leaves, halved length wise
•  1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a skillet, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter. Add the scallions and cook over low heat until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the asparagus spears and the water and cook until tender and the water reduces to ¼ cup, about 5 minutes. Add the spinach and cook just until wilted, about 2 minutes. Puree the mixture in a blender until smooth; season with salt and pepper. Transfer the sauce to a small saucepan and keep warm.

Arrange the prosciutto slices in pairs, overlapping them slightly. Place a halibut fillet in the center of the prosciutto and top each fillet with 2 sage leaves. Season with salt and pepper and wrap the prosciutto around the fish.

In a large ovenproof skillet, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in olive oil. Add the halibut and cook over high heat until browned on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Carefully flip the fish and add the asparagus tips to the skillet. Transfer to the oven and roast the prosciutto wrapped halibut for 5 minutes.

Spoon the asparagus spinach puree onto plates, arrange the prosciutto wrapped halibut and asparagus tips alongside and serve immediately.  Recipe courtesy of Food & Wine Magazine.

TIerraYMarSB Silky_StickerTierra y Mar
Big Ranch Road Vineyard
Sauvignon Blanc
Napa Valley, CA

Tierra y Mar wines are produced from vineyards situated in select parts of Napa and Sonoma.  This Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from Big Ranch Road, in the Oakville District of Napa Valley. Oakville is known for its success with Bordeaux varietals, which includes Sauvignon Blanc. Warmer temperatures and gravelly, sandy soils help produce excellent Sauvignon Blanc.   Delicate straw and alluring aromatics shine in this racy stunner.  Notes of dandelion, honeysuckle and bright pineapple open on the nose with a mouth-feel of fresh fruits like green apple and pear.  This wine offers great acidity and a long fruit finish with a touch of a fresh herbs and clover rounding out the palette.

DougFrost“If all you know of Sauvignon Blanc is its herbaceous New Zealand side, this easy drinker offers another view: honeydew melons, red apples and even peaches to go along with the hints of lemongrass and chervil. It’s a tiny bit sweet but that just adds to the easy, tasty character.” – Doug Frost, MS, MW

Winemaker: Douglas Danielak
Appellation: Napa Valley, California
Varietal Blend:  100% Sauvignon Blanc
Analysis: 14.4% alcohol / volume

Duck Breast, Lentil and Parsnip Salad

Posted on by

duckbreast-saladINGREDIENTS:
•  ½ cup French green lentils
•  ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
•  2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
•  Salt and fresh ground pepper
•  One medium parsnip (about 8 ounces) peeled
•  Vegetable oil for frying
•  Four 5-6 ounce skinless duck breasts (or chicken breasts)
•  5 ounces mesclun greens (10 loosely packed cups)

DIRECTIONS:
Put the lentils in a small saucepan, cover with 1 inch of water and bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat until tender, about 20 min.

In a small bowl, combine the olive oil with the red wine vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Drain the lentils and return them to the saucepan. Add 2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette, season with salt and pepper and toss lentils well. Cover and keep warm.

Using a mandolin or a vegetable peeler, thinly slice the parsnip lengthwise into strips. In a large skillet, heat ½ inch of vegetable oil until shimmering. Add one-fourth of the parsnips to the oil at a time and fry over moderate heat until browned, about 1 minute. With a slotted spoon, carefully transfer the parsnips to paper towels to drain. Lightly season the parsnips with salt.

Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the oil in the skillet and heat until shimmering. Season the duck breasts with salt and pepper, add them to the skillet and cook over moderately high heat until nicely browned outside and medium rare inside, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer the duck to a carving board and let sit for 5 minutes.

In a large bowl toss the mesclun greens with the lentils. Slice the duck breasts in thin strips crosswise. Add the duck to the salad along with the remaining vinaigrette and toss well. Add some crisp parsnips to the salad and toss again and top with remaining crisp parsnips for serving.   Serves 4.  Recipe courtesy of Food & Wine Magazine

TierraYMarPinot silverstarTierra y Mar
Floral Cuvee
Sonoma County, CA

Tierra y Mar translates to Earth and Sea, a nod to the special relationship between land and water.  At Tierra y Mar they produce wines that are the ultimate expression of nature’s balance and harmony, allowing the wines to speak for themselves as they are the unique creation of the grape, soil, water and climate of where they are grown.  Tierra y Mar wines are produced from vineyards situated in select parts of Napa Valley and Sonoma County.  Sonoma County, with miles of coastline and sun-kissed valleys, provides diversity within its growing regions.

DougFrost“With a delightful, floral character adding interest to the strawberry and raspberry nose, this reflects cool growing conditions, perhaps cooler than many competitive Pinot Noir sites in California and far more appropriate to the grape. This is gentle throughout but not short or simple as a result; it just happens to drink easily.” – Doug Frost, MS, MW

Critical Acclaim: SILVER STAR rated, Doug Frost, MS, MW
Winemaker: Douglas Danielak
Appellation: Sonoma County, California
Varietal Blend:  100% Pinot Noir
Analysis: 14.4% alcohol / volume