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Cheers 2 Wine News - June 2007 Issue
June 25, 2007
Cheers from Steve and Kathy Howe


Wine Quote

"Now and then it is a joy to have one's table red with wine and roses."
Oscar Wilde, Irish Poet







Wine of the Month

Stevenot Winery
WINE OF THE MONTH

Our latest wine of the month is Stevenot Chardonnay Red Rover 2005. This wonderful bargain wine is delightfully crisp and clean. Enjoy aromas of apples and pears. This well balanced Chardonnay has flavors of peach and pineapple followed with a nice clean finish. Serve this wine slightly chilled with seafood, poultry, or cheese.($8)

This Calaveras County winery has 2 wine tasting rooms. One is located at the winery outside of Murphys and the second is located in downtown Murphys. Murphys is a charming Gold Rush town with interesting shops to enjoy. A unique thing about this historic town is the ten wine tasting rooms located within walking distance of each other. Stevenot's two tasting rooms are both opened daily from 10 AM - 5 PM. Wine tasting is complimentary. Call (209) 728-0638.

Click here for information about other Calaveras County wineries.




Top Ten Best Wine Buys

In order from least to most expensive. . .

Click on the name of the wine to get information about ordering.

Bodegas Castano 2005 Monastrell
This Mourvedre from Spain is an ideal example of the Monastrell grape in its early years. Enjoy the intense aromas of black plums. This wine is fruity and fresh and leaves a pleasant aftertaste. (Definitely a best buy at only $7.99!)

Cristalino NV Brut Cava
You will want to stock up on this sparkling wine from Spain. Straw color, smooth and fresh aromas; fine and fruity palate with a dry aftertaste. Clean, dry and crisp with citrus and apple flavors. (Great value for only $8.79)

Columbia Winery 2006 Gewurztraminer
Pale straw yellow color. Hints of allspice and pink grapefruit accent the sweet fruit palate. Crisp finish with a good balance of acidity. Versatile with food, especially with spicy ($9.99)

Val de Sil 2005 Montenovo Godello
This white wine from Spain offers fresh, bright, racy flavors of white peach and almonds. Unique and delicious - from 140 year old vines. (A real bargain at only $10.29.)

Trevor Jones NV Jonesy Port
This nonvintage Port is a fabulous buy. Stock up now! This tawny Port delivers flavors of maple syrup and hazelnuts. A rusty ruby color this blend averages 46 years in age. It's not easy to find a Port at this price. ($10.29)

Leasingham 2004 Magnus Riesling - White Wine
Pale yellow in colour with green hues and brilliant clarity, the Leasingham Magnus Riesling has intense floral aromas of jasmine and citrus blossom with fresh pineapple and spice. The palate has refreshing lemon and lime characters with fleshy fruit sweetness and mouthwatering acidity. The finish is fresh and lively with good persistence. ($10.49)

Hidalgo NV La Gitana Manzanilla (500 ml) - Sherry Dessert Wine
100% Menc�a from sandy soils, aged six months in barriques. Having achieved 'Top 100' status with the excellent 2001 bottling, 2003 raised the stakes even higher with a rounded and harmonious wine. In 2004, the wine is rechristened 'Baltos' art label reflecting the joy of its consumers. A great vintage, 2004 promises the highest level of complexity and elegance yet. ($10.49 500 mL)

De Martino 2005 Organic Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the Maipo Valley are blended with Malbec and Carmen�re grapes to produce a deep red wine with violet hues and an intense aroma of blackberry, cherries and truffle. Great volume and cherry flavor. Aged in oak barrels for 12 months. Ideal served with pasta, red meat, and aged cheese. (Another best buy at $11.99)

Falesco 2005 Sangiovese
This remarkable Sangiovese from Southern Italy is full bodied and well balanced. Enjoy flavors of strawberries, cherries, and spice at a very reasonable price. ($13.99)

Pewsey Vale 2006 Riesling
White Wine by Pewsey Vale from Barossa Valley, Australia. The 2006 Pewsey Vale Riesling is a rich and intensely flavored wine. Pale straw in color with green hues it has intense classic fruit aromas of limes and lemons, with a hint of overlaying dried.... ($15.29)

Do your own wine search:

Wine Name:
Vintage:
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Top Rated Wine Cellars

Storing your wine correctly is crucial. If you store wine at too hot of a temperature, the wine will age too quickly. Ideally, wine should be stored between 45-60 degrees.

There are a wide variety of wine cellars available on the market. You can choose from small countertop models, to large refrigerated units, to custom wine rooms.

Take at look at the top rated wine cellars.






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!


June 30 - July 1: Los Angeles Wine Fest 2007 - Queen Mary, Long Beach More than 110 wineries from all over the world will pour great wines for you to sample. Enjoy special speakers, exhibits, and food as well.. Tickets are $40 for a one day pass and $70 for both days. More Details

July 4th - 8th: Bottle Your Own Wine - Fairplay
Bring your own bottle or purchase one for 75 cents. Enjoy a 4th of July barbecue and bottle your own Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc at Charles B. Mitchell Vineyards and Winery in El Dorado County. The fun starts at 10 AM daily and ends at 5 PM. Cost is $10 for the event and the wine prices range from $6 - $8 per bottle. For more information call (530)620-3467.

Various Summer Dates: Wente Vineyards 21st Concert Season - Livermore Enjoy top name headliners in the lovely vineyards and lushly landscaped grounds for a memorable summer evening. Schedule: Steve Winwood 7/05/2007; Chris Isaak 7/12/2007; Gladys Knight 7/24/2007; Big Bad Voodoo Daddy 7/26/2007; Hootie & The Blowfish 7/31/2007; George Carlin 8/8/2007; UB40 8/15/2007; Los Lonely Boys 8/16/2007; Huey Lewis and The News 8/23/2007; Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons 8/30/2007; Vince Gill - The Friends and Family Tour Featuring Amy Grant and The Del McCoury Band 9/6/2007; The Doobie Brothers & Peter Frampton 9/12/2007. More Details

July 15th: - Central Coast Wine Classic - San Luis Obispo
1 PM to 4 PM � Reserve Wine Tasting, at Dolphin Bay Hotel & Residences $50.00 Featuring the top red and white wines from 75 wineries, food stations to match, and music that embodies the spirit of the 2007 Central Coast Wine Classic. Each winery will pour two wines that they consider to be their top-of-the-line renderings. For more information you can call (805) 544-1285. More Details

July 12th - 15th: Sonoma County Showcase
There are a variety of exciting wine event with the most popular event being a special wine tasting on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Come and enjoy more than 100 wineries and 60 chefs, wine seminars, vineyard tours, cooking demonstrations-- all outdoors at the beautiful MacMurray Ranch. More Details

July 21: French Wine 101 & Tasting - Escondido Learn about French wines from instructor, Jim Kerns of Holiday Wines. Class starts 5:30p.m. and ends at 7:30. Be intimidated no more! Jim will guide you through the mysterious world of French labels, regions, and wines. The cost is $15. For more information call (760) 745-1200. More Details

July 21: Hot Fun in the Summertime Party- Andretti Winery, Napa Valley A fun and festive afternoon celebrating the coming of Summer and tasting some new release wines!! Music, tasty nibbles, and great Andretti wine of course! Tickets are $20.00 each for Andretti Wine Club members , and non-wine club members are $25.00 each. For more information call 877-386-5070 ext. 225. More Details






Easy Wine Recipes
Cooking With Wine

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

W.C. Fields



Grilled Kabobs

Summer is the time for grilling and these kabobs make a great meal served over rice or couscous.


4 1/2 lbs. beef sirloin cut into cubes
4 teaspoons seasoning salt such as Lawrys
1/2 cup dry red wine
2 tablespoons each: red wine vinegar, soy sauce, and minced garlic
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 medium onion cut in half and then quartered
1 bell pepper, cut into inch sized pieces
18 cherry tomatoes
Kosher salt (to taste)
Olive oil

1. Place all of the ingredients in a large ziplock bag.
2. Marinate for 6 to 24 hours in the bag inside the refrigerator. Turn the bag over every once in awhile to keep the meat covered with the liquid.
3. Thread ingredients onto skewers. Sprinkle with kosher salt and olive oil. 3. Grill on barbecue for 3-4 minutes on each side.

This will make 4 servings.






Summer Mimosa

Mimosas make a cool and refreshing summer treat!


1 orange, zested
1 cup half-and-half
1 cup superfine sugar
2 1/2 cups of orange juice
1 bottle Sparkling Wine

1. Blend all of the ingredients together in a blender for 30 seconds.

2. Pour into a shallow pan and freeze overnight.

3. Remove the frozen mixture and let it thaw for 10 minutes at room temperature.

4. Spoon orange mixture into champagne flutes. Fill with Sparkling Wine.

5. Garnish with fresh fruit if desired.

This will serve 6


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