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


Wine Quote

"Bacchus we thank who gave us wine
Which warms the blood within our veins;
That nectar is itself divine.
The man who drinks not, yet attains
By godly grace to human rank
Would be an angel if he drank."
Pierre Motin
French drinking song








Wine of the Month

Silver Oak Cellars
WINE OF THE MONTH

Our latest wine of the month is Silver Oak Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon This exquisite wine displays a dark garnet color and aromas of black plum, cassis, rose petals, nutmeg and sandalwood. The palate offers a wonderful progression of flavors � from berry to tobacco to dark chocolate, culminating in an extraordinarily long finish reminiscent of a dark chocolate truffle filled with berry liqueur. Properly cellared, it should provide drinking pleasure until 2028.($99)

Silver Oak specializes in a single production of world class Cabernet Sauvignon each year. The wine tasting room is open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM - 4 PM. Tastings are $10 and include a complimentary Silver Oak glass. Call 707-942-7026 or more information about Silver Oak Cellars.

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

Learn about other Napa Valley Wineries.



Fall is the Perfect Time to Explore Amador Wineries



Amador County is a pleasing alternative to the crowds and high prices of Napa Valley. Located in the foothills of California�s Sierra Nevada Mountains, Amador County has much to offer. The rural roads, mountain air, and beautiful scenery make it the perfect setting for a California Wine Tour.

Most wineries offer complimentary wine tasting. An added bonus: the wines are much cheaper than those you�ll find for sale in Napa. You can sample a variety of great wines and you�ll be able to afford to bring some bottles of wine home to enjoy later. Amador County has a high percentage of old Zinfandel vines. Some of the Zinfandel vineyards are more than 125 years old. These old Zinfandel vines produce intense flavors, allowing wine makers to make the outstanding Zinfandel for which the area is famous. Amador is recognized for its world class Zinfandel, but you will find many other varietals being produced here as well. More than 35 wineries have wine tasting rooms in Amador. The majority of Amador wineries are located in the northern part of the county in the Shenandoah Valley near the small town of Plymouth. As you turn onto Shenandoah Road from Plymouth, the first winery you come to is Young�s Vineyard. This winery offers premium red wines in a lovely setting. Every wine I taste here is wonderful. It�s definitely worth a stop.

Vino Noceto, also on Shenandoah Road, is the place to go if you enjoy Sangiovese. This winery specializes in Sangiovese. Sweet wine lovers will like their Moscato Frivolo, a light Muscat.

Turn onto Steiner Road, where many more wineries are located. Renwood Winery is a must stop for Zinfandel lovers. Their award winning Zinfandel will please even the most discriminating Zin enthusiast. Amador Foothill Winery is a small family winery with wonderful Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Barbera. The owner is usually serving the wine and is both friendly and knowledgeable.

If you pack your own lunch, Deaver Vineyards (next door to Renwood) is a lovely place to have a picnic. This winery has an expansive lawn area, a small lake, and picnic tables scattered under the trees. After enjoying your lunch, you can wander into the tasting room and sample some of their outstanding California style Port. Story Winery on Bell Road would be another choice for a picnic. This winery provides a breathtaking view of the Consumnes River Canyon. Story is also known for their great Zinfandels and friendly staff.

The Bistro at Villa Toscano (back on Shenandoah Road) has scrumptious salads, sandwiches, and soups for sale. The lovely Tuscan style winery has tables outside where you can enjoy the fountains and vineyard views as you enjoy your lunch. Villa Toscano has wonderful Barbera and Old Vine Zinfandel. There�s always barrel tasting with futures available for sale. The gift shop has unique and tasteful home d�cor items as well.

When the wineries have closed for the day, there�s a new restaurant called Taste located in downtown Plymouth. This small restaurant, opened only for dinner on Thursdays-Mondays, offers fine dining that is both tasty and creative. Reservations are recommended, (209) 245-3463. This restaurant is owned by Mark and Tracey Barkner, former owners of the St. George Hotel in Volcano. The opening of Taste was eagerly anticipated and has been a popular dining choice since its opening.

If you�re lucky enough to spend more than a day in Amador County, you might want to explore some of the other things to do. Possibilities include hiking, horseback riding, golf, water sports, white water rafting, boating, fishing, snow skiing, golf panning, cave exploration, and antique shopping.

Amador County Wine Country has wine tasting opportunities and much more. Plan a visit soon to one of California�s great wine regions. More Information on Amador Wineries




Top Wine Picks

Are you tired of reading lists of top rated wines and then not being able to find a place where you can buy them?



These wines are actually available for you to purchase right now, online. Click on the name of the wine to get information about ordering.

Silver Oak 2002 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Silver Oak 2002 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is an opulent wine of great depth and concentration. It displays a dark, garnet color and aromas of black plum, cassis liqueur, rose petals, nutmeg and sandalwood. The palate offers a mouth-coating texture and a wonderful progression of flavors from berry fruit to tobacco to dark chocolate, culminating in an extraordinarily long finish reminiscent of a dark chocolate truffle filled with berry liqueur. Properly cellared, it should provide drinking pleasure until 2028. ($99.99)

De Martino 2005 Organic Cabernet SauvignonCabernet 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. ($14.99)

Renwood 2004 Old Vine ZinfandelThe 2004 Old Vine Zinfandel is medium ruby in color. The bouquet consists of brown sugar, caramel, sage, eucalyptus, and bursting with dark berry fruit. The flavor is a sumptuous blend of warm blackberries on the entry, with a hint of dried fruit, finishing with sweet fleshy tannins.($19.49)

Rosenblum 2005 Heritage Clones Petite Sirah This wine is amazing both in aromatics and flavors, not to mention the color, which is jet black. It exhibits a bouquet and flavors of ripe blackberries, plums, chocolate, black pepper, violets and spice. ($18.49)

Hartford Court 2005 Lands Edge Pinot NoirComplex aromas of ripe cherries, violets and cedar are followed by flavors of perfectly ripe, firm black cherries, mixed red and black berries. Allspice and coffee notes complement a long, multi-faceted finish in this exciting, new Hartford Court Pinot Noir. ($44.99)

Dominio de Tares 2004 Mencia Baltos 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. ($14.99)

Greg Norman Estates NV Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir - Champagne & SparklingThe wine is a pale straw green in color and it has a very fine, yet persistent bead. On the nose there are lifted strawberry, citrus and nutty aromas with just a hint of sherbet character. On the palate it is a medium to full bodied style with generous stonefruit and citrus flavors and a very smooth, yet generous finish. ($16.79)

Ch. St. Jean 2003 Sonoma County Reserve Chardonnay The best fruit from Chateau St. Jean's premier vineyards (including Robert Young, Belle Terre, and Durell) is set aside for this Reserve Chardonnay. Great care is taken to create a great bottle of wine, including aging in sur lie for 17 months in French oak barrels, and then bottle aging for an additional year before release. ($39.99)

Leasingham 2004 Magnus Riesling - White WinePale 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)

Kim Crawford 2006 Sauvignon BlancWine Spectator Top 100 of 2006. Unfolds with flavors of passionfruit, gooseberry and subtle herbaceousness. The wine is mouthfilling with good texture and finishes well with cleansing acidity and great length. ($17.29)

Do your own wine search:

Wine Name:
Vintage:
Shipping to:





Top Wine Openers

Top Wine Openers Removing the cork from a bottle of wine should be a simple and enjoyable task. There are a large number of corkscrews to choose from. Wine openers make the perfect gift to give yourself or someone else. Learn about the top wine openers currently on the market by clicking on the link above.






Storing Wine

Ideal temperatures for storing wine are between 50-55 degrees F with humidity at 70 degrees or slightly higher. The higher humidity helps keep the corks moist and reduces evaporation of the wine. Regular refrigerators are cooler than this and have lower humidity that will dry the corks and cause wine evaporation.

Good wine refrigerators and wine cellars will keep wines at a constant temperature of 50-55 degrees. They will also have little or no movement or vibrations from the motor, which could negatively affect the aging of the wine.

There are a wide variety of wine refrigerators and wine cellars to fit both your needs and your budget. Learn more by clicking on this link:

Recommended Wine Refrigerators and 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!

September 30: Taste of Lodi - a food and wine experience
Wine and Roses Hotel and Restaurant, 2505 W. Turner Rd., Lodi, California
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Experience this premier wine tasting event and a chance to sample the fabulous wine, food, and talent that Lodi has to offer! Taste award winning wines from over 35 local wineries, sample cuisine from the region's best restaurants, browse local art work, and enjoy live music from Joe Lenigan "little" Big Band. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the gate. For information call (800) 798-1810
More Details

October 6th and 7th:The Amador Vintner's "Big Crush" -
Amador County Wineries

The �Big Crush� offers great wine, food and fun at 29 Amador County wineries, including wines poured from barrel and bottle, delicious food, live music and a big raffle for prizes. Tickets, good for both days and all �Big Crush� activities, are $25 per person in advance and $35 on event days at participating wineries. (Sunday-only tickets are $20 in advance and $30 on event day.) Each ticket includes a commemorative wine glass.For more information,call 888-655-8614.
More Details

October 13: Silver Oak' Great Winery - Great Chef Events -
San Diego Wine and Cultural Center

6 PM - 8 PM. The formula is simple: Take a great winery and a great chef, then add a quality local vendor. Combine these ingredients at San Diego�s premier wine and culinary destination for an incredible evening of food, wine and socializing. Forget those stuffy, overpriced wine dinners. The guest chef will be cooking live, preparing a variety of fabulous finger foods to complement a selection of wines. Gina from Venissimo Cheese Shop will present a fabulous array of international cheeses. A representative from the winery will be on hand from the winery to help you learn more about one of California�s premier producers. $45 per person + Tax. Reservations are required, call 619-231-6400.
More Detail:

October 13: - ArtWalk in Livermore - Art, Music, Wine~ All Day!!
11 AM - 7 PM. The Sixth Annual ArtWalk will transform Livermore into a fine arts district, bringing over 150 artists and their works into downtown businesses. Fine arts from photography to paintings to sculpture will be displayed from 11-5pm, with wine tasting from Livermore wineries, excellent folk musicians and much more. This event is free. More Details:

October 13, 14: 4th Annual Spotlight on Zinfandel - Sonoma County
11 AM - 4PM. Taste and explore one of California's most notorious wines - Zinfadel - while mingling with fellow wine lovers and sampling dozens of Zinfandels! Eleven Sonoma Valley wineries are participating. Enjoy wine tastings, verticals, barrel sampling, select discounts, educational seminars, and more! Tickets are only $20 per person for both days! Includes a logo wine glass and access to event tastings at participating wineries. For more information call (866) 794-9463.
More Details

October 19, 20, 21: Harvest Wine Tour-
Paso Robles

Enjoy more than 100 individual events at nearly 90 wineries throughout the weekend. Take a cooking class and learn the art of food pairing, ride through the vines in a vintage jeep, stomp some grapes in traditional fashion, or enjoy a slower pace by indulging in a winemaker dinner, barrel sampling within the cool confines of the cellar, or taking in live music on a sun kissed deck.

More Details






Easy Wine Recipes
Cooking With Wine

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

W.C. Fields



Chicken Breasts With Capers



4 boneless chicken breasts, skinned
2 Tablespoons flour
2 Tablespoons oil
2 Tablespoons butter
4 green onions (sliced)
1 teaspoon dry tarragon
1 Tablespoon chopped capers
4 ounces chicken stock
4 ounces white wine
2 ounces brandy
6 ounces heavy cream
Salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbsp chopped parsley

1. Heat the oil and butter in a large frypan. Roll the chicken in the flour and saute for 3 minutes on each side.
2. Add the green onions, tarragon, capers and cook for 5 more minutes.
3. Pour in the wine, stock, brandy, and cream.
4. Simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
6. Serve over pasta or rice.

This will make 4 servings.






Chicken Pasta



2 Tablespoons olive oil. 4 boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 large chopped onion
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons fennel seeds
2 carrots, shredded
1 cup white wine
1/42cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
12ounces linguine, freshly cooked
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

1. Add olive oil and chicken to a large skillet and saute over medium-high heat.
2.Add onion, garlic, carrot, and fennel seeds. Saute until onion is tender, adding chicken broth as needed to keep vegetables from sticking to pan
3. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and rest of broth.
4. Continue sauteing for about 5 more minutes until carrots are tender.
5. Add chicken mixture to cooked linguine and cheese.

This will serve 4


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