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Cheers 2 Wine News - September 2009 Issue
September 16, 2009
Cheers from Steve and Kathy Howe!



"Wine is a friend, wine is a joy; and, like sunshine, wine is the birthright of all."

Andre Simon







Book a Wine Tour

Sit back,relax, and leave the driving to a professional from Applause Limousine Service This is a family owned and operated company that strives to meet the highest standards in reliability, punctuality, integrity, and unmatched customer service.

Serving the greater San Francisco Bay Area, they specialize in Napa, Sonoma, and Livermore wine tours.

Our experiences with Applause Limousine have been exceptional. They are friendly, professional, and eager to plan a memorable occasion for you. Visit their website by clicking on the link above or give them a call at (866) 492-1700.



Visit San Diego

You'll love San Diego at this time of year. The weather is still warm and the summer crowds have left. Plan a trip soon with this online guide to San Diego. You'll find lots of great ideas of fun things to do in San Diego from a local San Diego resident.

Four San Diego wineries have recently formed an alliance called Hidden Valley Wineries: Belle Marie Winery, Bernardo Winery, Cordiano Winery, and Deer Park Winery. They're hosting a 2009 Fall Barrel Tasting on Saturday, October 3 from 10 a.m.to 5 p.m.

Passports, pre-sold for $35 each, will entitle bearers to visit each of the four wineries. Guests can start at any winery and proceed in any order. They will receive a commemorative wine glass. Sample wine directly from the barrels along with gourmet appetizers. Also enjoy wine tasting of limited release or library wines at each winery.

For more information call (760) 796-7557.






Calistoga Stroll

The charming town of Calistoga located in the Napa Valley is known for its hot mineral springs and spas featuring mud baths and massages. Visit on Saturday, October 3 to participate in the Calistoga Stroll.

Enjoy live music and wine tasting in downtown Calistoga from1 to 7 PM. For more information visit The Calistoga Visitors Center.







Great Wines

Wine Picks

Tangent 2007 Edna Valley Sauvignon Blanc Lively flavors of grapefruit, lemon,and and apple along with a grassy foundation. Nicely balanced acidity. A delicious Sauvignon Blanc!

Guigal 2003 Cotes du Rhone Rouge A BEST BUY! Delightful blend of Grenache, Gourvedre, and Syrah that is full bodied with soft tannins. Wonderful aromas and flavors.

Silver Oak 2004 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Silver Oak is consistently known for its top quality Cabernet Sauvignon. Year after year this is a wine that Cab lovers find delightful. The enjoyment begins with the rich ruby color of the wine. Velvety in texture with flavors of fruit and spice. Savor the silkly long finish. This is an elegant and complex wine. A Top Cabernet!
Food Pairing: This would be the classic wine to serve with Filet Mignon or other beef dish.

Cloudy Bay 2008 Sauvignon Blanc
This New Zealand wine exhibits aromatic tropical scents and crisp fruit flavors with a hint of lime.
Food Pairing: Serve this Sauvignon Blanc with salads or chicken.

Duckhorn 2006 Napa Merlot
A delightfully smooth Merlot from the Napa Valley. It's rich with black cherry flavors. Totally enjoyable!
Food Pairing: This Merlot is extremely versatile. It will taste great with most foods. I'd definitely drink it along with chicken or grilled meats.

Chateau Ste. Michelle 2007 Eroica Riesling One of my favorite Rieslings! A slightly sweet, well balanced Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington. This wine is consistently good. A remarkable wine.
Food Pairing: This is my wine choice to drink along with spicy Asian food.

Quady 2007 Elysium Black Muscat
you sip on this delicious dessert wine. Enjoy rose-like aromas and litchi-like flavors.
Food Pairing: This wine really is a dessert in itself. Drink alone or with blue cheese, dark chocolate, and ice cream.

Rosenblum 2006 Richard Sauret Vineyard Zinfandel
Rosenblum specializes in vineyard specific Zinfandel and they definitely know what they are doing. They're one of the top Zinfandel producers and this is a fine example. I the lush berry flavors with a hint of black pepper in this wine.
Food Pairing: This is the perfect wine to drink with barbecued meats such as grilled steaks.

Talbott 2006 Logan Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay
A complex and totally enjoyable Chardonnay. Enjoy the citrus flavors enhanced with layers of buttered toast and vanilla. Yummy!
Food Pairing: The warm citrus flavors of this wine will pair well with fish or seafood.

Tiefenbrunner 2005 Pinot Grigio
This is a fabulous wine from Italy that is a GREAT BUY as well. Light and refreshing. Stock up for the summer!
Food Pairing: I'd select this wine for sipping on the patio on a warm summer evening. It's also ideal to serve with chicken pasta dishes.

Check out the new arrivals at Wine.com. You'll want to take advantage of the fabulous buys of top rated wines for under $20.

wine.com

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Wine Tasting Coupons

Print Your Own Wine Tasting Coupons...for Free!
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:


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Check out Cheers 2 Wine to print free wine tasting coupons for a variety of California wineries.






Cooking With Wine Recipes

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

W.C. Fields



Lasagne



This lasagne recipe is a long-time family favorite. Serve with a tossed green salad and garlic bread. This is a dish that is easy to make ahead, freeze, and serve later.

Wine Pairing with this Lasagne Recipe: Lasagne is an Italian food. Stick with the Italian theme and select a nice Barbera from the Piedmont Region of Italy such as Vietti 2004 Barbera d'Asti Tre Vigne. This dry, medium bodied wine will enhance the rich cheesy flavors of the lasagne.

Ingredients:
1 medium chopped red onion
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 pounds hamburger
2 cloves garlic (minced)
2 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
1/2 cup of dry red wine
1/2 cup of water
1 teaspoon oregano leaves
2 teaspoons basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon of pepper and sugar
1 teaspoon salt
12 ounces of lasagne noodles
1 lb. ricotta cheese
8 ounces mozzarella cheese (sliced)
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Instructions for Lasagna Recipe:
1. Saute the minced onion until soft.
2. Add hamburger and garlic to the onion. Cook until meat is browned.
3. Add and stir: tomato sauce, tomato paste, wine, water, salt, oregano, basil, pepper, and sugar.
4. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer slowly for 90 minutes.
5. Cook noodles according to the directions on the box.
6. Lay 1/3 of the noodles in the bottom of a 9X13 inch baking dish.
7. Cover with 1/3 of the meat mixture.
8. Top with 1/3 of the ricotta and mozzarella cheeses.
9. Repeat 2 more times so that all ingredients are used.
10. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.
11. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Tip: Double this lasagna recipe and freeze the second batch to serve later.

Filet of Sole



You'll love this quick and easy way to fix filet of sole. The gewurtraminer really enhances the flavor of the fish.

Wine Pairing: A great wine choice for this filet of sole recipe is Columbia Winery 2007 Gewurztraminer. This off dry wine has a tangy fruit flavor. It's a lovely tasting wine at a bargain price. This is a wonderful wine to have on hand especially during the summer for sipping on warm evenings.



Ingredients:
7 tablespoons margarine
2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley
2 pounds filet of sole
1/3 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 cup Gewurztraminer
4 tablespoons heavy cream
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
1. Dot the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish with 3 tablespoons of the margarine.
2. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the parsley in pan.
3. Lay filet of sole in dish.
4. Layer the remaining parsley and the bread crumbs over the sole.
5. Dot with the remaining butter.
6. Pour the Gewurztraminer over the top and season with salt and pepper.
7. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
8. Add cream and serve.




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