So Right, Syrah
Nothing scores higher on the intensity meter than syrah. A great syrah will entice with its notes of fruit, spice, and textures. As such, syrahs pair terrifically with meats from beef and lamb to pork, game, and tuna. It pays to play up syrah’s spice with use of aromatics like garlic and alliums, peppercorns and peppers (bells as well as chiles), cinnamon and clove, all mushrooms, mustards, ginger, bay, basil, mints, parsley, sage, rosemary, oregano, and thyme. Grilling and roasting are always good ideas, but bringing out the sweetly scented berry or plum qualities of syrah by first marinating any number of ways is also good. Herewith, three noteworthy syrah pairings:
Cumin-spiced burgers with Harissa Mayo
Shanghai Stir-Fried Pork with Cabbage
Lamb Ragout with Olives and Peppers
Sur La Table Recipe Pack
In late 2012, Cathedral Ridge Winery paired up with Sur La Table for a wine pairing class with chef Ben Witton. Ben helped to create a beautiful menu pairing with Cathedral Ridge Chardonnay Reserve, Viognier, Rusty Red, Syrah, and Dampier Vineyard Pinot Noir. This wine pack is still available at a fabulous price (with free shipping), and we have a few more recipe pairing suggestions for you. Cheers!
With the Dampier Pinot Noir, try: Leek and Pecorino Pizza.
With the viognier, try Viognier-Steamed Clams with Bacon and Parsnips.
For Sunday brunch, pair Chardonnay Reserve with an Asparagus and Bok Choy Frittata.
Stay in and dine with your Valentine
While it’s always a treat to go out to dinner, Valentine’s Day is one of the few nights that I’d prefer to stay in. Sometimes the prix-fixe menus and forced romantic atmosphere can feel stuffy. Staying in can still be a major indulgence with the right ingredients…I plan on trying the following menu this Thursday (thanks, Martha!):
Appetizer: Artichoke-Parmesan Crostini, Main: Pepper-Crusted Filet Mignon, Side: Creamy Spinach and Slow Roasted Tomatoes, and dessert: Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse.
My husband and I will whip this up together while rocking out to some good records and sipping Rusty Red. This 100% Syrah is the perfect match for the pepper-crusted meat and veggies. It’s also the “Wine of the Month” at Cathedral Ridge Winery, so it’s a great time to stock up!
Cheers! –AG
Holiday Party Survival
The season is upon us! If you’re planning to host a holiday party this year, Food & Wine magazine has some helpful tips for your wine-related planning.
1) How much to serve?
Cathedral Ridge is currently offering a holiday pack that includes 3 bottles of Cabernet, 1 bottle of Halbtrocken, and 1 bottle of Rusty Red: Click here to have it shipped to you!
2) Wine Serving Tips
White Wine (serve at 55°)
In a refrigerator: 1.5 hours
In a freezer: 40 min
In ice & water: 20 min
If it’s been stored in a refrigerator, keep it at room temperature for 20 min
Red Wine (serve at 65°)
In a refrigerator: 20 min
3) What to do for a spill?
One foolproof way to get red-wine stains out of carpets and upholstery is Wine Away ($9; 888-946-3292 or evergreenlabs.com), a spray made of fruit and vegetable extracts. If you don’t have Wine Away, blot up as much of the stain as possible with a paper towel or clean cloth, saturate the area with cold water, blot that up, then apply a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water. Let the paste dry, then vacuum it up.
Thanks again to Food & Wine for these great tips!
Cheers & Happy Holiday Season,
CRW
Thanksgiving Cheers
The great American holiday of Thanksgiving is a mere two weeks away. Cathedral Ridge Winery has put together a holiday package of six bottles that have been especially selected for their compatibility with Thanksgiving fare. Herewith, a few recipes to inspire your planning and pairing…
Baked Brie with Pecans to pair with CRW 2011 Riesling
Herb-marinated cheese to pair with CRW 2011 Riesling or
Dampier Pinot Noir
White Bean and Caper Crostini to pair with CRW 2011 Riesling
More to come!
Cabernet Series: Part 3
Ever wonder what all the fuss is about with food and wine pairing? File this under “First-World Concern”; nonetheless, food and wine really do bring out the best in one another. For example, Cabernet is a medium- to full-bodied red wine, so choose foods of similar weight. Fish and poultry aren’t your best choices for this wine, as it will overwhelm the flavors of the food. Also avoid spicy foods–the big tannins in this wine are a bad combination with very spicy dishes. Instead, choose savory foods and those with a higher fat content to stand up to this red wine.
- Appetizers: Gouda, parmesan, gorgonzola or blue cheese, grapes, peaches or other non-citrus fruit, nuts and smoked meats.
- Main dish: Steak, short ribs, roasts, lamb, game, cheeseburgers, pasta with tomato or vodka sauces.
- Dessert: Oatmeal cookies, chocolate cake, brownies, ice cream, mint desserts.
Cabernet Series
This month we’ll be posting a series of recipes to accompany Cabernet Sauvignon (as a companion to the Cathedral Ridge Winery September Special). The first of four is a really simple quiche to make use of all those delicious end-of-summer tomatoes. Photos, Illustration and Recipe by Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast. Tomato Parmesan Quiche: Perfect with a glass of Cabernet!
Independence Day
Whether you’re hosting a July 4 barbeque or you’ve been invited to attend, this White Balsamic Custard Tart is a gorgeous offering that can be whipped up in no time. Let someone else bring the apple pie, and take advantage of berry season. Juicy, ripe, red & blue berries call for the perfect white: an off-dry Reisling, such as the 2009 Cathedral Ridge. With notes of apricots and brown sugar, this wine is softer, rounder–perfect for enjoying with friends during the late afternoons of summer.
A Summer Necessity
Summer is the season for outdoor grilling, and the perfect companion to those burgers, steaks and ribs is a robust red wine. You might even say it’s a necessity. For this reason, Cathedral Ridge Necessity Red is hard to keep in stock during the summer months. It’s a versatile blend of Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Zinfandel. The names comes from our former president, Thomas Jefferson, who once said, “Good wine is a necessity of life.” It’s certainly a necessity for summertime sipping. Throughout the month of June, CRW is offering a 25% savings on a six-pack (save $39) so you can stock up for the long months ahead. Cheers!
