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Cheers 2 Wine News - January 2008 Issue
January 25, 2008
Cheers from Steve and Kathy Howe


Wine Quote




"Close friends contribute to our personal growth. They also contribute to our personal pleasure, making the music sound sweeter, the wine taste richer, the laughter ring louder because they are there."

Judith Viorst








Hess Collection
WINE OF THE MONTH

Our latest wine of the month is 2004 Hess Collection, Mount Veeder, Mountain Cuvee This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc that is estate grown on Mount Veeder. Enjoy aromas of cassis, cedar and mint. Pleasant earthy flavors balance out the rich black cherry highlights. A delightful wine!

Hess Collection Winery is located in a wooded area about seven miles from the town of Napa. The fifteen minute drive to the winery takes you down a beautiful forest road. From Highway 29 take the Trancas Street/Redwood Road exit. Turn left onto Redwood Road and follow this street for approximately seven miles. Hess Collection is located on the left hand side of the road at 4411 Redwood Road. Follow the signs as the road narrows to the left. This winery is known for producing many award winning wines. The wine tasting room is open daily from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Be sure to visit their modern art gallery as well. Admission is complimentary. Call (707) 255-8584 for more information about Hess Collection Winery.

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Be sure to check back each month for our wine of the month.




Los Angeles Area Wineries



Los Angeles residents don't need to travel all the way to Napa to enjoy wine tasting at wineries. Locals and visitors to Los Angeles have a selection of wineries that are located in and around Los Angeles. Explore some of these unique wineries and discover some wonderful wines.

Los Angeles Area Wineries




Top Sparklers for Valentine Toasts

Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve This exquisite wine has aromas of peaches, oak and minerals. Enjoy the tiny bubbles and flavors of tropical fruit and plums finishing with notes of toast and biscuits. Very smooth! ($35.00)

Gosset Brut Excellence This is a fabulous Champagne from France that is a great buy for a top quality wine. Powerful, full-bodied, and rich; you will enjoy the aromas of pear and honeysuckle in the bouquet. This is a beautifully balanced champagne with a long, expressive finish. ($36.99)

Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label Deliciously rich Champagne that is crisp and full flavored. This classical dry Champagne is a blend of two-thirds black grapes (Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) for body, balanced with one-third Chardonnay for elegance. It has a fine persistent sparkle and golden Champagne color. ($44.99)

Roederer Estate NV Brut Enjoy the flavors of pears and apples. Smooth and well balanced. The Roederer Estate Brut debuted in October 1988, and has since established its reputation as one of California's premier sparklers, remaining true to the heritage of excellence and style of its French forebears. ($$19.99 - A BEST BUY!)

Mumm Napa Brut Prestige A popular, award winning wine offers touches of vanilla and melon, with firm acid and crisp structure. Medium bodied, with excellent mousse and a rich lingering finish An outstanding sparkling wine. ($19.99 - A BEST BUY!)

Scharffenberger NV Brut An addordable sparkling wine with fresh, crisp tastes of mango, freshly baked bread, and green apples. A lovely wine! ($17.99 - A BEST BUY!)

Dom Perignon 1999 with Gift Box Dom Perignon is standard for a top quality Champagne. This is a vibrant Champagne with both complex aromas and flavors. Full bodied and rich with earthy and fruity tastes. An outstanding wine that has been rated 96 by Robert Parker. ($149.)

New holiday wine gift baskets $99 and up at Wine.com





Wine Tasting Coupons
As a subscriber to Cheers 2 Wine News you can access our pages of free wine tasting coupons. Some of these coupons allow you to taste for free while others let 2 people sample wine for the price of 1. The password for these pages is:
cheers2wine2006






Mark Your Calendars!

January 4, 11, 18, 20, or 25: From Here to the Next County: Sonoma
Copia, 2505 W. Turner Rd., Lodi, California
1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. $50 general/$40 member Interactive cooking demo, garden talk and lunch with wine The focus is on Sonoma as COPIA�s experts prepare and discuss specialties from the bountiful county to our west, over an indulgent meal paired with three seductive Sonoma County wines. Menu: Dungeness Crab Bisque � Five Cheese Ravioli with Roasted Butternut Squash, Goat-Cheese Walnut Sauce and Arugula � Blood Orange and Campari Granita. For information call (707)259-1600.
More Details

January 8: Wine and Food Pairing Class-
Lodi Wine & Visitor Center

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
The cost is $50 per person or $35 Lodi Wine & Visitor Center Wine Club Members. Reservations are required. The menu includes Lobster Pumpkin Risotto, Asparagus and Artichoke Greens, Chateau of Beef, and Baked Alaska. For more information,call (209) 367-4727.

February 9, 10: 11th Annual Wine & Chocolate Weekend -
Lodi Wine Country

11:00 SM - 4 PM. Taste world class wines paired with delectable chocolates at over 30 winery locations throughout the Lodi Wine Country. Be the lucky one to unwrap the "Golden Ticket" at any participating winery and win a Wine Country Giveaway or over 100 other prizes. Call (209) 365-0621.
More Detail:

January 19, 20: - 16th Annual Winter Wineland - Sonoma County
11 AM - 4 PM. Explore the Russian River Wine Road they celebrate their 16th Annual Winter Wineland. Meet winemakers, taste limited production wines, new releases or library wines. Some wineries will offer food pairings and others will have tours. Ticket price will cover the tasting fee at all of the participating wineries for the weekend. Tickets: $40 Weekend, $30 Sunday Only, $10 for Designated Drivers Ticket prices go up $10 at the door. Advance online and phone ticket sales will end January 13, 2008.

More Details:

January 26-27: Bring Out the Barrel - El Dorado County
Sample distinctive wines straight from the barrel. Vintners will offer an inside look at winemaking, future sales, light food pairings, and demonstrations, providing tips on how to discern the magical alchemy that goes into each barrel. Novice tasters as well as seasoned veterans will be welcome to dream of the future by tasting great young wines. Advance tickets for the El Dorado Barrel tasting weekend are available for $20 through January 22. A limited number of tickets will be available for $30 at wineries during the event weekend.
More Details

January 31: Riedel Seminar - The Magical Kitchen Restaurant - Santa Barbara
7:00 PM Experience a wine & glass experience! Discover the effect of shape & size on the perception of wine in a glass & wine tasting tutorial. Included are tastings of four wines, The Magical Kitchen tasting hors d'oeuvres, and four new Riedel Vinum glasses for each participant.

More Details






Cooking With Wine Recipes

"I cook with wine; sometimes I even add it to the food."

W.C. Fields



Chocolate Cake with Port

10 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
3/4 cup margarine
5 egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup port wine
1/2 cup flour
5 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
3 tablespoons sugar
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 tablespoon karo syrup
1/2 cup port wine
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. Melt unsweetened chocolate and 3/4 cup butter in the top of a double boiler. Cool to room temperature. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 10 inch Bundt or tube pan.
2. Beat egg yolks and 3/4 cup sugar on high until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Gradually stir in the 3/4 cup of port wine and flour. Fold in the cooled chocolate mixture.
3. Whip egg whites with cream of tartar until frothy. Gradually whisk in 3 tablespoons sugar until stiff peaks form. Fold egg whites into the batter. Then fold in walnuts. Pour batter into bundt pan.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until done. Cool in pan. Invert onto serving plate. Cool completely.
5. To make the glaze: In the top of a double boiler combine chocolate chips, 1/2 cup butter and karo syrup. Stir frequently until chocolate is melted. Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup port wine and vanilla until mixture is smooth.
6. Cool for approximately thirty minutes. Then pour over cooled cake.

This will make 8-10 servings.






Beef Stroganoff

12 ounces wide egg noodles
1 pound beef sirloin
3 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
3/4 pound mushrooms, sliced
3/4 cup Pinot Noir
3 tablespoons cognac
2 tablespoons prepared oyster sauce
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
6 tablespoons sour cream
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil. Add noodles, return to a boil, and cook until tender 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and pour into a large serving bowl.
2. Rinse beef and pat dry. Cut meat into 1/8-inch-thick slices.
3. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and beef into a 12-inch frying pan and cook over medium-high heat. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes to brown. Pour into another bowl.
4. Add remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to pan. Cook onion and garlic and stir for 3 to 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and brown 3 to 5 minutes.
5. Add wine, cognac, and oyster sauce to mushroom mixture. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer to blend flavors, about 5 minutes.
6. Add cream and return to a simmer. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with 1 tablespoon cold water until smooth. Add to mushroom mixture and stir until it boils and thickens, about 2 minutes.
7. Add sour cream and beef and heat for about 1 minute. Add salt and pepper to taste.
8. Pour beef over hot noodles.

This will make 4 servings.






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