RECIPES OF THE MONTH HOT TOPIC OF THE MONTH by Debra Williams by Debra Williams CelebrationsFeaturing the great wines of Italy &Wine California for the Club® month of February Post 2019 Beef Tenderloin in Mushroom Sauce What are the Differences Great dish for a cold day from Taste of Home! in Red Wine? 4 Tbsp. butter divided 1 tsp. oil t Celebrations we get a lot of phone 2 beef tenderloin steaks (1” thick and 4 ounces) calls and emails from people wanting 1 cup sliced, fresh mushrooms to know the best wine to serve with 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour a special meal or event. So I thought 1/8 tsp salt this month I would address the differences Dash pepper Ain red wine and how to best capitalize on 2/3 cup chicken or beef broth each strength. 1/8 tsp browning sauce, optional Pinot Noir Heat 2 Tbsp. butter and oil over medium-high heat; cook steaks to de- This is a great wine to serve if you have a sired doneness 5-6 minutes per side. Remove from pan; reserving drip- novice in the group. It tends to not be as San Salvatore Winery Shadow Ranch Winery pings; keep warm dry, though time can change that. Typically In same pan, heat drippings and remaining butter over medium-high they have a black cherry, berry taste. This is heat; saute mushrooms and green onion until tender. Stir in flour, salt, and a great wine to serve with duck, chicken, or pepper until blended; gradually stir in broth and browning sauce, if used. pasta meals. Bring to boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 min- ITALIAN CALIFORNIAN utes. Serve with steaks. Cabernet Sauvignon Tends to be more expensive, but is well worth Wineries of the Month Winery of the Month the cost. Having said that, I’ve found some San Salvatore Shadow Ranch Slow Cooker Spiced Wine lower cost cabs that are excellent. Cabernets I love warm drinks on cold days. This is from Well Plated. San Salvatore is located in the midst of the Cilen- Shadow Ranch is a small, family owned winery tend to also be fruity, but are a drier, heavier to National Park, near Paestum, Stio and Giunga- located in the heart of the Fair Play American Vi- 1 bottle red wine, think fruity, but not too sweet wine. Maybe not the best choice for some- no, in the Campania region of southern Italy. This ticultural Area (AVA). Built in 1888, the home- ¼ cup honey one fairly new to wine. Cab goes great with mountainous region has a high level of biodiver- stead, old barn and original outbuildings have a 1 zested, juiced orange heavy foods like beef, rich, red pasta dish- sity and the soil is rich in minerals. The influence rustic Gold Rush era feel atop a picturesque hill- 5 whole cloves es, aromatic cheese (think blue or goat), and of the nearby sea and ideal sun exposure help to top in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada moun- 4 green cardamom pods rich cream sauces. create an ideal microclimate for viticulture. Deep- tains. We produce small batch, single vineyard 2 cinnamon sticks ly committed to preserving the delicate balance wines from high elevation sites throughout El 1 whole star anise Merlot This is also a great beginner wine. It is a fruity of the land, San Salvatore takes a special inter- Dorado County. ¼ cup brandy wine, but is not too dry, not sweet. One can est in cultivating the vineyards without synthetic The ten acres of vineyards at Shadow Ranch are Orange slices-garnish find it in all price ranges. I’ve enjoyed bottles CelebrationsWineClub.com products or genetically modified organisms. planted to Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo, Petite Cinnamon sticks-garnish at all cost levels. Because it isn’t too sweet Celebrating 20 years of Sirah, Zinfandel and Grenache. The vineyards are Add wine, cider, honey, orange zest, and orange juice to 3-quart or larger or too dry, Merlot pairs nicely with just about good wine, good food, Terredora di Paolo planted in the fine-grained, well drained, decom- slow cooker. Stir. Add cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, and star anise. Cook on everything. It’s also a great wine to use for and good friends! Terredora Di Paolo is a story of a family that is close- posed granite which is common in the Fair Play reductions when cooking. ly linked to Campania, its land, its history and its region. Hilltop exposure positions the vines to re- low (do not let boil) until warm, usually 10 minutes to an hour. Stir in Brandy. Tere Williams Ladle into mugs, add garnishes, and enjoy. people for generations. With 494 acres of private- ceive cooling breezes in summer, preventing the Syrah – Owner ly owned vineyards in the best sites of the Avelli- grapes from maturing too quickly. In the winter, This wine is much more for the experienced no province, Terredora di Paolo is one of the larg- the hilltop exposure allows cold air to drain to the wine drinker. It is a darker wine and is prob- est wineries in southern Italy. valley, which limits the damage from frost. This al- ably one of the driest wines made. The fin- In Irpinian, the wines exhibit a distinctive per- lows the grapes to stay on the vines long enough ish also tends to be heavier, peppery, and sonality due to its unique microclimate. The alti- to develop the necessary complexity and concen- spicy. Because it drier and heavy, when you tude at which the vineyards are found, the soil and tration required to make great wine. WINE CLUB CHOICES pair it, think juicy or creamy. Go for creamy the thermal fluctuations develop wines that are in- Shadow Ranch embraces the concepts of sustain- Californian Wines Collector Series sauces and grilled, moist foods. Personal- tense and elegant and display complex bouquets. able farming and having as little impact on the en- Artisan Series $114.99/month, 2 collectable reds ly, I think Syrah goes great with Italian food, Anna Maria Knapp vironment as possible. The operation is solar pow- – Founder $39.99/month, a red and a white bread dipped in olive oil and an authentic Mastroberardino ered and our vineyards are organically farmed. We $49.99, 2 reds and a white Californian-Italian Combinations balsamic vinaigrette. Mastroberardino is one of the leading wineries explore soil, climate, and viticulture to illustrate the CA Artisan red–IT Artisan red Sonoma, California Winemaker Series and wine families in all of Italy in terms of pro- special characteristics that the geography imparts $64.99/month, 2 reserve reds $44.99/month Zinfandel 1-800-700-6227 CA Artisan white–IT Artisan white I always think of Zinfandel as the fun wine. It duction, market impact, and innovation. This upon the wines we create. $59.99/month, reserve red & white is one single family with a winemaking history $39.99/month is the sweetest of all the red wines out there. Celebrate@Celebrations Collector Series which dates back to the early 18th century, and $124.99/month, 2 collectable reds CA Winemaker–IT Winemaker It is also great because you find some excel- WineClub.com $64.99/month, reds lent bottles at reasonable prices. This would which is largely responsible for the viticultural Italian Wines $59.99/month, whites also be a great wine if you’re serving some- success of Campania’s remote Irpinia area. Artisan Series CA-IT Collector Series one fairly new to wine. It’s also a great wine The Mastroberardino family have earned them- $39.99/month, 1 red and 1 white $119.99/month, 2 collectable reds for a lighter, casual, friend night. Think pizza, selves a place in Italy’s viticultural history as a Artisan Series 2 spicy Indian food, a spicy lentil stew, or BBQ. guardian and protector of indigenous grapes of $49.99/month, 2 reds and 1 white Double Up I hope this helps with some of your ques- Southern Italy’s Campania region. Winemaker Series You can also receive more than tions. Next month we’ll do the same with two bottles per month. Tax and $64.99/month, 2 reserve reds white wines. shipping is extra. $59.99/month, reserve red & white Happy Wining my Friends! ITALIAN Wines of the Month by Debra & Tere Williams CALIFORNIAN Wines of the Month by Debra & Tere Williams ARTISAN SERIES WINEMAKER SERIES COLLECTOR SERIES ARTISAN SERIES WINEMAKER SERIES COLLECTOR SERIES 2016 Terredora Dipaolo Copa 2012 San Salvatore Falanghina IGP Mastroberardino 2015 Redimore 2017 Shadow Estate Sheriff 2016 Shadow Ranch Zinfandel 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Di Volpe Campania IGT Falanghina Campania Irpinia Aglianico DOC Sauvignon Blanc 96% Zinfandel, 4% Petite Sirah 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet 100% Coda di Volpe 100% Falaghina 100% Aglianico 100% Sauvignon Blanc “musque” Alcohol: 14.5% Franc, 5% Malbec, 2% Petite Verdot Alcohol: 12.5% Aromas of cedar with accents of acacia Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol: 14.5% Dark ruby in color, fragrant aromas of Aromatic with bright ripe black cherry Pale lemon in color with greenish reflec- and hawthorn. With extraordinary min- Deep ruby red color. Complex and in- White peach and grapefruit with flo- blackberries and raspberries. Lush berry and blackcurrant fruit, baking spice, sa- tions. Rich and intense scents of fruit erality on the palate, this is an excellent tense, with hints of red fruits, especially ral hints of orange blossom, Honeydew flavors with a supple, medium-full body vory dried autumn leaves, subtle vio- and flowers. Fresh and soft to the pal- wine to pair with fresh cheeses like Moz- strawberries and raspberries, and spices melon, grapefruit, citrus and stone fruit finish.