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 November Post 2018 Hearty Vegetable Stew From Tasty.com California Wine and History 2 Tb Olive Oil 3 tablespoon tomato paste id you know that it is estimated that 90% 10 oz baby Bella Mushroom quartered 2 Tb low sodium soy sauce of wine made in the U.S. is produced 1 yellow onion diced ¼ cup flour in California? Incredible! How did this 3 carrots chopped ¾ cup dry red wine incredible legacy and industry begin? 2 celery stalks chopped 4 cups diced potatoes The first recorded vineyard being planted 2 cloves garlic minced 4 cups vegetable broth Dwas done so in 1683 by a Spanish Jesuit Mis- ½ tsp rosemary, thyme, and pepper 2 bay leaves sionary named Eusebio Francisco Kino. The In large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook for first variety was name “Misionero” and was 5 minutes. Add the onions, carrots, and celery. Cook 4-5 minutes. Add garlic, planted in Baja California. rosemary, thyme, pepper, tomato paste and soy sauce. Cook 2-3 more min- In 1779 Franciscan missionaries led by Fa- utes. Add the flour and stir until full incorporated. Add wine and stir until ab- ther Junipero Serra planted California’s first sorbed. Add potatoes, broth, and bay leaves. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and sustained vineyard at Mission san Diego de simmer for 45 minutes. Remove Bay Leaves and enjoy. Alcala. The Father would found eight other La Cappuccina Azari Vineyards California missions, planting grapes and pro- Chocolate Dipped Strawberries ducing wine at each one. He would be ulti- So simple, but so yummy with a Pinot or Cabernet mately called the “Father of California Wine”. 150 g milk chocolate, dark chocolate and white chocolate The variety he planted, probably coming from ITALIAN CALIFORNIAN 750 g large strawberries Spain, became known as the Mission Grape Wineries of the Month Wineries of the Month and would become the dominate grape in Line cookie sheet with wax paper. Place chocolate in heat proof bowl, do- California until 1880’s. La Cappuccina Azari Vineyards ing each chocolate separately. You will be making three separate batches. Fill In the 1880’s commercial viticulturists pri- Founded over a century ago, the Tessari family’s It was 1988 when the Azari family first chanced saucepan 1/3 with water and bring to a boil. Reduce to low and place bowl marily based in Southern California would be- La Cappuccina estate is located in Costalunga di upon what has become Azari Vineyards. The Irani- over saucepan. Do not let bowl touch water. Stir continuously until smooth. gin importing European wine vines and be- Monteforte d’Alpone, the heart of the Soave, in the an-born couple, Kamal and Parichehr, were taking gan planting them in the Los Angeles area. province of Verona. The name of the estate comes a small drive north from their home in Marin County The first commercial wine maker is believed from a small private 15th century chapel where the to show their two children Sonoma County and its to be Jean-Louis Vignes in 1833. He and Wil- Capucin monks once celebrated religious services. fabled greenery. With one look, the couple heard liam Wolfskill, another early commercial wine The 62 acres of vineyards near the stone family farm- the land whisper to them; although it was only a Italian Wineries from cover maker, would be pioneers of California wine house have been cultivated for generations with the humble lot of untilled land, the small parcel sang iele, this company has a long tradition of wine making. Today Tiziano directs the production. same unswerving dedication. At the present time, of infinite possibilities. marketing and manages the winery, while Daniele is concerned with oenology. Up until the 1850’s, wine production would Sisto, Pietro and Elena Tessari along with their fa- Twenty-five years later, the two children have The family estate extends over 4 hectares situated in Negrar, the heart of Valpo- be limited to mostly Southern California, but CelebrationsWineClub.com ther Lorenzo, run the estate, each playing a differ- been joined by a third, the small parcel has been licella, in a place called Bessole. These vineyards are a precious source of great then came the California Gold Rush. Between Celebrating 20 years of ent role in the management of the winery. Their ob- transformed to a magnificent vineyard, and the satisfaction thanks to their southern-east exposure and their soil, which is well January 1848 and December 1849, San Fran- good wine, good food, jective is to develop and reinforce the quality and Azaris have long called this estate their home; yet balanced in its components. cisco’s population went from 1,000 to 25,000 and good friends! image of the products for the various regional and Kamal and Parichehr still hear the same song they A good choice of three different varieties of grapes, Corvine, Rondinelle and new citizens. Their thirst for wine would bring international markets. did the day they first gazed upon the rolling, fog- Corvinone, grafted by Stefano and taken from grapes of high quality, guaran- commercial production northward into the Tere Williams swept hills. Together with their daughter Pari and – Owner tees every year the production of ripe grapes well suited to be withered. San Francisco region. Areas like Sutter Coun- Venturini, Massimino American-born sons Kaveh and Cyrus, the Azaris ty, Yuba County, El Dorado, and more began Azienda Agricola Venturini is located in San Floria- have created a cross-cultural oasis on their lush, planting vineyards and producing wine. no in the district of San Pietro in Cariano. It was es- secluded vineyard estate. California’s biggest challenge during the tablished in 1963 continuing on the experience and early years came not from some nefarious love for the land that goes back for least three gen- Foyt Family Wines infestation or disease, but from prohibition. erations. The estate, located on the hilly area of the Winemaker TOM MEADOWCROFT, carefully se- WINE CLUB CHOICES The 18th Amendment would forbid the sale Valpolicella Classico, extends for 22 acres all plant- lects all the vineyard sources for wine grapes used Collector Series ed to vineyards at an elevation of 800 feet above in any Foyt Wines offerings. Tom’s passion for wines Californian Wines or transport of intoxicating liquors. In order Anna Maria Knapp $114.99/month, 2 collectable reds sea level. The vineyards enjoy a southwestern expo- comes from his experiences growing up, working Artisan Series to save the varietals, many winegrowers be- – Founder $39.99/month, a red and a white gan growing small vineyards at home and sure and are planted on terraces held up by stone- and traveling in Europe and the United States. $49.99, 2 reds and a white Californian-Italian Combinations became notorious bootleggers. Sonoma, California walls called “marogne”. The vine training system is Early in life, he started the journey of winemaking Winemaker Series CA Artisan red–IT Artisan red With the repeal of prohibition, the wine- typical of the area: “simple” and “double” pergolas. by working the harvest of 1979 in Bordeaux. Lat- $64.99/month, 2 reserve reds $44.99/month makers would begin replanting their vine- 1-800-700-6227 The winery is run by the Venturini family: father er in life, Tom worked at wineries in Washington $59.99/month, reserve red & white CA Artisan white–IT Artisan white yards, but the high quality grapes that had Celebrate@Celebrations Massimino with sons Daniele, Mirco and daughter and Napa, attended UC Davis and Napa College, Collector Series $39.99/month Giuseppina. Using only estate grown grapes: 70% and then became a vineyard manager focused on CA Winemaker–IT Winemaker made California so famous would not be re- WineClub.com $124.99/month, 2 collectable reds produced until the early 1970’s. Corvina Veronese, 20% Rondinella, 10% Molinara, sustainable farming and environmental advocacy. $64.99/month, reds the Venturini’s make high quality Valpolicella wines Winemaker Petar Kirilov joined Foyt Family $59.99/month, whites The late 1970’s and 1980’s would see wine Italian Wines Wines in 2008 as a winemaker to oversee the pro- CA-IT Collector Series production increase exponentially in the state. Artisan Series duction of Foyt’s high-quality wines. Kirilov grew up $39.99/month, 1 red and 1 white $119.99/month, 2 collectable reds Producers and growers would seek a larger Accordini Stefano customer base, utilize sophisticated market- This estate winery has deep country roots: their in Bulgaria, graduating from the prestigious Uni- Artisan Series 2 founders were share-croppers, then landowners and versity of Food Technologies in 2002 with a Mas- $49.99/month, 2 reds and 1 white Double Up ing strategies, and produce grapes using the finally wine-makers. Led by Stefano, helped by his ter’s degree in Beverage Technology. He began Winemaker Series You can also receive more than most sophisticated technologies. $64.99/month, 2 reserve reds two bottles per month. Tax and And the rest is history… wife Giuseppina and his two sons, Tiziano and Dan- his professional career at a Bulgarian factory spe- $59.99/month, reserve red & white shipping is extra. Happy Wining All! See Italian Wineries on back. cializing in high alcohol beverages. 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 La Cappuccina Basaltik Veneto 2016 La Cappuccina Fontego Soave 2012 Venturini Amarone delle Azari 2017 Corkscrew Chardonnay 2014 Foyt Meritage, No.