2017 Charbono, Babcock , Suisun Valley 100% Charbono • Retail $25 • Club Viva $20 • 12.45% Alcohol

Wine nerd alert: This is a super geeky . Hard-to-find , low alcohol and bright acidity make this wine FUN. The vineyard where we found this esoteric is the Babcock Vineyard in Suisun Valley. With only 89 acres of Charbono planted in California, this wine is a real treat. This variety’s oldest name is Douce Noir and it is thought to have originated in in eastern France, which debunked the theory that this grape originated in the Piedmont region of Italy, where it is widely planted. It is now most densely planted in Argentina.

Throw this wine into a blind tasting lineup and watch nobody guess the correctly. Present acidity and structured mouthfeel give way to black cherry, plum, raspberry, violet, tobacco leaf, and boysenberry.

www.rockwallwines.com Glazed Honey Ham

• 8 - 10 pounds smoked ham • 1 tablespoon ground cumin • 1 cup brown sugar, packed • 1 tablespoon ground coriander • ½ cup brandy • 1 teaspoon ground allspice • 2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper • 1 tablespoon cornstarch • 2 teaspoons salt

1. Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line a large-rimmed baking sheet with foil and lay the ham flat-side down. 2. Score the ham with cuts one inch apart and ¼” deep. Do this in two directions creating a grid pattern over the entire surface of the ham. 3. In a medium bowl, mix all the remaining ingredients for the glaze. Rub half the glaze over the surface of the ham and bake for 45 minutes. 4. Pull the ham out of the oven and brush the rest of the glaze over the ham and place back in the oven for another 45 to 75 minutes or until the exterior is dark and crusty, and the ham is warmed through.

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