Wine Chicks Guide

Faustino VII Tempranillo Rioja

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Kellie Stargaard

I’ve been MIA for the past two weeks and I can’t believe how much my surroundings outdoors have changed. The Dogwood are still flowering but each day have more leaves than flowers. The great oaks standing outside my living room window have small leaves and tassels hanging that remind me of jewelry popular in the 60’s and 70’s and now the pines are getting in on the act with their pollen filled cones.

Another sign spring is here, the amount of pollen covering my floors, railings and every surface indoors and out. And finally, the warmer temps, this weekend my husband built a frame for the swing that once hung on our front porch. See the picture to the right to see my new hangout and the wonderful view.

Despite the pollen and the sneezing it may cause the warmer temps have allowed for more time sitting on the front porch in the early evening hours doing what I love to do, sip on wine. Which is where I enjoyed a recent sample of Faustino VII Tempranillo Rioja from Bodegas Faustino. The wine is priced right at around $7.99.

Deep garnet in the glass with aromas of ripe plum, blackberry and oak. Ripe fruit, currant, blackberry, fig and a hint of vanilla. Medium bodied with firm tannins and a dry lingering finish. We paired with a platter of cured meats, Naked Goat cheese and olives.

Located in Oyon – Álava the winery has been producing wines for over 150 years.
As the largest vineyard owners in Rioja the winery supports 650 hectares in Rioja Alavesa in the North of Spain. Looking towards future generations the winery uses viticulturepractices that increase sustainability and reduce the stress on the land.

One practice is the use of precision viticulture geared towards optimizing vineyard function by maximizing grape yield andquality. By recognizing local variances that influence growing conditions such as soil, microclimate, topography, etc the winery can apply appropriate viticulture practices such as pruning, ground cover, irrigation, suitable to that area. Precision agriculture is referred to as; doing the right thing, in the right place, at the right time.

Know what I did today? I put my winter wear away! I’ll keep a fleece pullover out since nights on the front porch can still get chilly but my sweaters and winter sleepwear have been stored away until the October. Growing up in SW Florida, I still find it strange to experience actual seasons and to know summer will only last three months. Ah, I really do love Mother Nature.

2011 Elizabeth Chambers Winemaker’s Cuvee Pinot Noir

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Kellie Stargaard

I’m in trip planning mode. First a trip to the Great Smokey Mountains and later in the year a trip to Savannah, GA. Both are just hours away so we won’t have to worry about airfare, crowded planes, Atlanta’s Hartsfield/Jackson which I’m positive are the Gates of Hell or car rentals.
While I’ll get my fill of moonshine in the Smokey Mountains and microbrews in Savannah, neither are great wine destinations, unlike the state of focus in this post, Oregon.

Those of you who are familiar with my blog, know how much I love Portland and nearby Willamette Valley. For those of you who are new to my blog, Portland is where my husband and I got married, five years ago this May. Neither of us had been to Portland but we watched enough Travel Channel and Food Network to know a wedding at VooDoo Doughnut was the perfect ceremony for us. The food and microbrews of Portland are wonderful but another big draw; Willamette Valley and their famous Pinot Noir wine. I recently had the opportunity to sample Elizabeth Chambers first national release, Winemaker’s Cuvee Pinot Noir and have to say, this wine is an amazing representation of Pinot Noir.

Color in the glass is a light garnet color. Aromas of strawberry and spice followed by ripe dark fruit flavors of plum and cherry with a long vanilla finish. Tannins are soft and supple. We paired with homemade pasta complete with handmade pasta and gravy.

Appellation – Willamette Valley
Varietal – 100% Pinot Noir
pH – 3.79
TA – 5.1 g/L
Alcohol – 13.3%
SRP – $32

Elizabeth’s family winemaking history in Willamette Valley goes back to the early 1990’s. Located in McMinnville, OR, Elizabeth Chambers Cellar represents the wines she serves to friends and family now available on a national level. Her goal was to create a softer more elegant style of Pinot Noir while maintaining the uniqueness of the vineyards where the grapes are sourced.

The 2011 Winemaker’s Cuvee grapes were sourced primarily from Freedom Hill and Lazy River vineyards. Working beside 20 year winemaker veteran Michael Stevenson, the two use a micro-négociant method for sourcing grapes and growers. Partnering with top growers yet allowing the pair to be in constant communication and have a say in viticultural choices ranging from pruning to harvest.

Striving to maintain the natural flavors of the vineyard the use of new wood is restricted while using whole cluster fermentation provides intensity of the fruit leaving the wine with complex and subtle flavors.
I recently read a Facebook post from a friend whose husband travels a lot for work. This time he was in Bangkok and she mentioned he’s not adventurous with his food and so far had only eaten at McDonald’s and Subway. I could only shake my head and think selfishly, “Travel is wasted on some people.” I know, it was bad of me to think but I can’t imagine not diving into the food culture of not just another country but even another city or state. For me when in Portland, I hit the food trucks and microbrew pubs, in Charleston – Low Country foods, Savannah – Southern food and in Key West it’s seafood, well usually of the fried variety, they love their fryers in KW, my only constant, I always save room for wine at the end of the day.

Posted in Oregon, Red wine, United States, Wine under $40 | Tagged Elizabeth Chambers Cellars, Oregon, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Wine Chicks Guide | Leave a comment

Rios de Chile Carmenère and Carmenère Reserva

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Kellie Stargaard

The past few weeks on Facebook my newsfeed is bursting with pictures of friends camping, visiting Mickey at Disney World, mountain trails complete with water falls and even snowy vacations Then I see my wine friends flying overseas to London, Paris, Munich, South Africa and other far away destinations. Here I sit at my dining room table with the Flashback New Wave digital station playing in the living room, looking at the same four walls I look at day after day, the same trees outside my windows and I feel a little stuck. It’s been nearly a year since I traveled anywhere further than an hour and I’ve got the itch, I need to get out of Dodge and soon.
My plan this year was to travel abroad. I told my husband last year, “We’re going to Europe or South America dammit!” I’m even skipping this year’s Wine Bloggers Conference hoping we truly would make the trip. I know it’s only March but it’s not looking good. I’ve looked at airfare and I just can’t justify $2k or more for the two of us. So I have a plan and I’m doing all I can to earn sky miles now, so once again, I’m saying “Maybe next year”. Damn, how many years have I said that now?
While I won’t be traveling to far away destinations I can certainly enjoy the tastes of distant countries, at least in their wines. So this week I took a wine escape to Chile through Rios de Chile Carmenère and Carmenère Reserva. Both wines were wonderful and very affordable and currently available in NY, NJ, PA, DE, LA, IL, CA, MA, RI, CT, FL and TX.

Carmenère
In the glass the wine is an intense inky purple color. Lush blackberry, black cherry and spicy cigar box aromas. Soft tannins and a round mouthfeel combine with plush plum on the front, vanilla mid-palate followed by a spicy peppery finish. We paired with a pork medlallion with carmalized onions and two sides, Vindaloo roasted cauliflower and chick peas and wilted kale and feta. I found the recipes on Pinterest. Click here for my Food for the Soul Board and many more delicious recipes.

Country of Origin – Chili
Region – Valle Central
Varietal – 100% Carmenère
Alcohol – 13.5%
RS – 2.3 g/l
TA – 5.08 g/l
SRP – $9.95

Carmenère Reserva
Deep ruby color in the glass. Plum, vanilla and spicy aromas. Black fruits of plum and berry flavors with a peppery finish. Smooth mouthfeel and soft tannins with a silky smooth finish.

Country of Origin – Chili
Region – Valle Cachapoal
Varietal – 100% Carmenère
Alcohol – 14%
RS – 2.51 g/l
TA – 4.99 g/l
SRP – $14.95

We paired this one with homemade pizzas with cured pork loin, field greens and farmer’s cheese.

While viticulture in Chili dates back to the 16th century, their New World wine history began mid-nineteenth century upon the introduction of French varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenère, which have remained the most popular to date.

The 1980’s saw the advent of stainless steel tanks and aging in oak barrels. What followed was an increase in quality wines allowing for a large growth in the number of wine exports. In just one decade the number of wineries increased from 12 to 70 and today Chili is the fifth largest exporter of wines and ninth largest producer.

Part of a bigger sub-region, the Cachapoal Valley is located 53 miles south of Santiago in the Cachapoal Province of Central Valley Region. Situated between the Andes the area is named after the Cachapoal River. The climate is similar to the Mediterranean, sheltered by the mountain range and cooled by the Pacific Ocean providing optimal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenère.

This is from the PR packet I received: “Rios de Chile’s philosophy regarding handling of the grapes is to try to achieve maximum balance on each vine, always looking for the quality and identify of the wines. It is, then, a true reflection of the Cachapoal Valley’s diverse terroir, home to most of their estate vineyards and 30 minutes from both 6000 feet elevation and the ocean.”

So for now, I’ll have to be content with staying put on my home soil. My husband and I do have one trip planned for Tennessee and we just decided yesterday to plan a long weekend in Savannah. It’s not South America or Europe but I won’t have to worry about a dip in my savings account for either trip.

Follow Rios de Chile on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rios-de-Chile/236937796487673

Posted in Chili, Red wine, Wines under $10, Wines under $15 | Tagged carmenère, chilean wines, red wine, rios de chili, Wine Chicks Guide | Leave a comment

Domaines Paul Mas Coté Mas

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Kellie Stargaard

There may still be snow on the ground but Spring Break has begun. Thousands of teens and twenty-somethings migrating to warmer climates filled with sandy beaches, girls and boys scantily clad and cheap alcohol. Man, I miss those days. I grew up in Southwest Florida just miles from Ft. Myers Beach, a huge Spring Break destination. In high school my friends and I would troll, err I mean stroll, the beach during the day and walk up and down the strip at night, trying to convince everyone we too were college spring breakers. I remember 2-liter bottles of wine coolers were the rage at the time. Being underage and looking it too, I have no idea how we managed to get alcohol on a regular basis but we did.

Then in my 20’s and part of my 30’s there were the St. Paddy’s Days going out to bars, fighting my way through crowded tents to some awful green and usually flat beer.
How times have changed, this St. Patrick’s Day I cooked a corned beef, mashed potatoes and braised cabbage and stayed home not drinking green beer. Sounds pretty adult like and dull huh? That’s ok; I made up for it on Tuesday when I sipped on elegant and affordable sparklers from Coté Mas. You know me; any occasion is a good time for sparkling wine. Sometimes it’s good to be a grown up and act like one too.
This week I attended a live online wine tasting with Coté Mas winemaker and vineyard manager Bastien Lalauze and Sud de France Educator and Consultant, Jamal Rayyis. Now my pockets aren’t deep and I can’t buy a $50 bottle of bubbly all the time but I do like to live well. Each of the wines are under $20. When I saw the words “Everyday Luxury” on their home page, I knew I’d met my perfect match.
We tasted three sparkling wines all under the Domaines Paul Mas portfolio, Crémaint de Limoux Rosé, Crémaint de Limoux and Blanquette de Limoux all from the Languedoc region of France.

St. Hilaire Blanquette de Limoux NV Méthode Ancestrale
Pale yellow in color bursting with tiny bubbles. Apple and pear aromas with a hint of floral. Flavors of honey, red apple and pear. The wine contains a high amount of residual sugars so I paired it with Humboldt Fog Cheese, it was pure heaven.
Grape Varietal: 100% Mauzac
Appellation: AOP Blanquette de Limoux
Vineyard Info: The vines grow on clay and limestone soils at an elevation of 820 to 920 feet above sea-level.
Alcohol: 7.8%
TA: 3.81 g/L
RS: 80 g/L
PH: 3.3

St. Hilaire Crémant de Limoux NV Brut
Pale yellow in color with fine bubbles. Aromas of citrus and honey lead to lemon and orange citrus flavors and more honey. Excellent balance between the acidity from the citrus flavors and the sugars. I paired this with Naked Goat, a raw goat’s milk cheese from Spain.
Appellation: AOP Crémant de Limoux
Varietals: 60% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin Blanc, 10% Pinot Noir, 10% Mauzac
Vineyard Info: Vines are planted on clay and limestone soils at an elevation of 820 to 920 feet above sea level.
Alc.: 12.5%
TA: 5.15 g/L
RS: 5 g/L
PH: 3.02

St. Hilaire Crémant de Limoux Rosé NV Brut
Delicate pink bubbles with floral aromas of honeysuckle and orange blossom. Peach flavors combine with orange citrus.
Alc.: 12%
Varietals: 70% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin Blanc, 10% Pinot Noir
Appellation: AOP Crémant de Limoux
Vineyard Info: The vines grow on clay and limestone soils at an elevation of 820 to 920 feet above sea-level.
Alc.: 12%
TA: 5.75 g/L
RS: 10 g/L
PH: 3.03

Located in the Coteaux de Languedoc AOC, Château de Conas has been home to the Mas family for over one thousand years and home to centuries of winemakers. Domaines Paul Mas’ history began in 1892 when when Auguste Mas purchased 22 acres of additional land adding to the existing 68 acres. In 1954 Auguste’s great-grandson, Raymond, moved to Château de Conas renovating the estate with the help of his sons Maxime and Paul.

Paul took over the estate in 1987 and is now under the reigns of his son, Jean-Claude who has paved the way to premium winemaking in the Languedoc. The estate now comprises 440-acres of high quality grapes. This was included in the trade packet I received prior to the tasting, “When consumers sip his wines, Jean-Claude’s goal is to create a moment of pure pleasure.”
I had to smile when reading this line because while sipping the wines during the tasting, I was in heaven.

Posted in Countries, France, Sparkling Wines, Wines under $20 | Tagged affordable french wine, Domaines Paul Mas Coté Mas, Italian Sparkling, Languedoc, Wine Chicks Guide | Leave a comment

2008 Brunello di Montalcino Col d’Orcia

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Kellie Stargaard

It’s winter, it’s spring, it’s winter, it’s spring, anyone else feel like they’re on a giant weather yo-yo over the past few weeks. I know I shouldn’t complain as much of the country is still waiting for the snow to melt but once the time changes, I’m ready for spring. I lighten my choice in shower gels, candles, shampoos and yes even wines. But with the back and forth weather I’ll hold off on my lighter wine choices and go with a sample I received a bit ago, 2008 Brunello di Montalcino Col d’Orcia.

Earthy dark berry aromas. Rustic old world flavors full ripe red berries and a hint of spice in the finish. Firm tannins but not so much they make the mouth pucker. We paired with homemade pizza topped with fresh made mozzarella, creamy feta and cured meats. SRP around $40.

Brunello di Montalcino is an Italian red wine using grapes from the town of Montalicino located in the Tuscany region. Col d’Oricia uses Sangiovese grapes allowed to age for three years in large Slavonian oak barrels. The vineyards are on a slope overlooking the Orcia River where centuries old olive trees still grow. The climate and soil are optimal for not only grape growth but agriculture as a whole. The soil is poor in clay and rich in loose limestone. Climate is true Mediterranean with limited rainfalls and not affected by fog, ice or potentially devastating late frost.

One of the oldest established wineries of Montalcino, Col d’Oricia is committed to research and development. They believe quality in wine is a result of finding the harmonious balance between the vines and the environment. Wine that will reach its fullest expression of the land requires the quality vines. To achieve this they have worked with the University of Florence on cloning Sangiovese that will lend itself to the overall quality and growth in the region. In addition they use ground cover to reduce soil erosion, healthy soil equates to healthy vines.

Yesterday morning I left the house in the rain, soon came the winds and temps in the upper 60’s. I even had the AC on in my car. Within two hours temps dropped 20 degrees and winds resembled those I’d experienced many times during tropical storms in Florida. Winds are still high sending the towering trees surrounding our home swaying in many directions. Makes me a little dizzy if I watch too long. I tried to walk Rooster at noon but the cold winds made me turn back after just ten minutes. The look on my poor dog’s face when we turned around so soon, ugh, guilt. Come on Old Man Winter, let up your grip already.

Posted in Italy, Red wine, Uncategorized, Wine under $40 | Tagged Brunello di Montalcino Col d’Orcia, Italian Wines, Montalcino region, old world wine, rustic wines, sangiovese, Wine Chicks Guide | Leave a comment

2012 Nanna’s Short Cake, Lodi, CA Zinfandel

Posted on March 8, 2014 by Kellie Stargaard

BNA Wine Group

I can’t believe I missed two weeks of posting and am writing this post later than usual. I vowed I would not miss another week so I took a few hours off from work. It’s been a hectic and somewhat infuriating two weeks and now I’m taking back my life!

One thing I am truly looking forward to is “springing forward” this weekend. Longer daylight hours in the evening mean wonderful evenings sitting on the front porch, sipping wine, enjoying the surrounding woods and sounds of the country. Before the mosquitos find us that is, but no worries, we’re very close to finishing the wine lounge which will provide a cool retreat from hot humid evenings and free of flying insects. I can see it now, my husband will come home in the evening and will have to decide where to enjoy our evening; will it be the front porch, the wine lounge or just relaxing on the couch? I only see the last option occurring sometime after 8:30 when we’ve completed dinner and it’s time to wind down. I do know one thing that will be a common theme, more 2012 Nanna’s Short Cake Zinfandel from BNA Wine Group.

This wine was like running through a warm summer berry patch. Blackberry, raspberry and blueberry on the nose. Fruit forward ripe juicy dark berries, with peppery and perfumed spice finish.

APPELLATION: Lodi, CA.
WINEMAKER: Tony Leonardini
VINTAGE: 2012
VARIETAL: Zinfandel
ALCOHOL: 14.9%
SRP: $17.50

I first learned of the BNA Wine Group while reading Chelsea Prince’s Rock and Vine, Next Generation Changemakers in America’s Wine Country, click here to read the post. Curious about the wineries I began looking many of them up online. Some were well out of my price range, others had long wait lists just to be part of the mailing list but BNA had affordable wines available to me as soon as I entered my info.

Established in 2010 and headquartered in Nashville, TN the winery is led by winemaker Tony Leonardini, John Hooper and Gary Carr. Tony’s relationship with Tennessee came with the bottling of his first wine, Volunteer. Soon after bottling Tony received several pallet orders which seemed to be selling off the shelf in the Volunteer State. From there Tony partnered with Hooper and Carr taking the Nashville airport code, BNA, solidifying the group’s roots in Tennessee. Although the business end is well established in Tennessee, the majority of grapes are sourced from in Napa and Tony, as the winemaker, holds a satellite office in St. Helena.

The return of Daylight Savings Time reminds me of long sunny days from my youth. I grew up in Florida where during fall and winter months locals stayed away from the beach and all things touristy. Snow birds clogged the beaches and roadways. The time change signaled a migration where locals could regain use of the roads, teens and families headed to the beach on weekends and from age seven to twelve those sunshine filled times were spent with my best friend, riding our bikes, swimming in each other’s pools, having picnics by the river and staying out as long as we could, which meant we just had to be home by the time the street lights came on. I miss those long fun filled days and I hope this summer to recapture some of those times and make new summer memories in my Georgia home.

Well I had the best intention of posting this on time but with the delay I was able to find several more wines by BNA and several others covered in Rock and Vine, Next Generation Changemakers in America’s Wine Country. Looking forward to giving them a try and you know I’ll tell you all about them right here.

Posted in Books, Red wine, United States, Wines under $20 | Tagged BNA Wine Group, Nanna's Short Cake, Rock and Vine, Wine Chicks Guide, Zinfandel | Leave a comment

2012 Contadino Pinot Grigio Vivaci

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Kellie Stargaard

Here we are again, riding out a major winter storm in Georgia. Hard to believe it was just two weeks ago my husband wasn’t able to make it home. This time he heeded all warnings and has been home during all the bad weather. Lucky for us we’re north of the ice line and seeing mostly snowfall.

With all this winter weather I think my mind has been stuck on lighter and more spring like wines. Sunday night I opened Contadino Pinot Grigio I picked up at Trader Joe’s and had a delightful surprise to find it was effervescent though not what I would consider a true bubbly.

The nose was a little closed but after some time in the glass presented zesty lemon and almond. On the palate, a semi-sweet apricot and peach and more almond and a mineral finish. Even though there is a detection of sweetness the wine is labeled as a dry white wine.
Knowing a huge winter storm was approaching, we paired with a spring/summer like dish; Pork shops, asparagus and orzo salad with feta, avocado, tomato and lemon.

Varietal: 100% Pinot Grigio
Region: Delle Venezie, Northeast Italy
Alcohol: 12%
Price: $5.99 at Trader Joe’s

We had two inches of wet and slushy snow on Tuesday, more like sleet I suppose and much of it melted prior to going to bed. On Wednesday we awoke to a winter wonderland with blowing snow accumulating to another 3 inches. There’s a lull as I’m writing this but round two is expected for later this afternoon or early evening. This is supposed to be a third wallop and possibly bring ice.

Being a Florida girl I prepared for this storm like I would a hurricane. I was out on Monday and talking to people who weren’t taking the storm very serious saying, “I’m from Ohio, I know snow.” Or, “Nothing’s going to happen, everyone’s over-reacting.” Well here’s what I say, “That is a very irresponsible and ignorant attitude.” I would much rather over-prepare than be caught without food, drinking and flushing water (we’re on a well, so power goes out, so does the water) and means to provide some light at night. Luckily I did our shopping over the weekend, knowing the stores would be a mad house on Monday. However I did decide to stop by to pick up some charcoal in case we needed it for cooking. It was very reminiscent of hurricane shopping, lots of carts full of snack foods, canned goods, bread and beer. My cart held the charcoal and three bottles of bubbly. Hey, we all have our priorities.

It’s now three days after the snow began to fall and the sun is shining allowing the snow to slowly melt from the roof and trees. This morning the tree branches were covered with a fine powder of snow. Around 10: 00 it looked and felt like rain falling from the trees and the occasional sword of ice from power lines. I also saw my first snow plow in action. Our road is now clear and we should be able to get out tomorrow. I think I’ve had enough fun with snow for this winter and hope this is the last. But if it isn’t I know I won’t be without wine.

Posted in Countries, Italy, Uncategorized, White wine, Wines under $10 | Tagged Contadino Pinot Grigio, Italian Frizzante, Wine Chicks Guide | Leave a comment

Ferrari Rosé NV with Neapolitan Pizza and Veal Cutlet Recipes

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Kellie Stargaard

Love is in the air everywhere I look around
Love is in the air every sight and every sound

John Paul Jones’1977 Disco hit Love is in the Air is stuck in my head. Not only for the

: Neapolitan Pizza with Ferrari Rosé

obvious reason with Valentine’s Day next week but also because of Friday’s Sochi Olympic Opening Ceremonies. Don’t get the connection? It was the song played at the 2000 Sydney Olympics at the Closing Ceremonies. Every time I hear the song, I think of the Olympians walking around the track waving flags and showing off their winning medals. Click here to listen and see the video. If it gets stuck in your head, well I apologize.Ok, enough of that. I’m not into candy or chocolate hearts, flowers that look half dead and cost a fortune or even loads of jewelry, well maybe a bauble or two would be nice. But if you’re looking for something that is affordable pick up a bottle of Ferrari Rosé sparkling wine in the form of a mini 375-ML. You know me, I’ll open a bottle of bubbly just because it’s a Wednesday but last night I had the pleasure of sampling a great Italian sparkler.

Rose colored with tiny effervescence. Hints of redcurrant and bread on the nose. Tart citrus on the front followed by delicate strawberry and almond flavors. The wine is dry with a clean mouthfeel. My husband who is not a fan of sparkling wine even enjoyed this one. Too bad I wasn’t willing to share my mini with him.

Varietal – 60% Pinot Nero, 40% Chardonnay
Region – Trento DOC Italy
Maturation length – Several years on selected Ferrari’s yeast cultures
Alcohol – 12.5%
ARV – $16 for .375ML

Established in 1902 by Giulio Ferrari, Ferrari is Northern Italy’s leading producer of Metodo Classico, (traditional Champagne method) wines. Ferrari learned winemaking after studying in France. Returning to Trentino he had a goal of producing world class sparkling wines. He is responsible for bringing the first Chardonnay vines to Italy and his efforts paid off in the form of accolades and numerous awards.

Purchased by the Lunelli family in 1952 the winery is now led by third generation Lunelli family with Camilla Lunelli as the winery’s first female director in charge of PR and communications. Like all classics,
Farrari’s impeccable sparklers and style has caught the attention of fashion powerhouses like Prada, Eataly, MoMa and Kartell. This spring the winery is showing off their own mini in the form of the Rosé NV.

When contacted regarding the sample, I asked if Camilla would share some of her favorite recipes to pair with the wine. Below are two that she feels pairs beautifully.

Neapolitan Pizza
Ingredients for 4 people:
14oz cherry tomato sauce
1.5 oz extra virgin olive oil
½ oz salt
1 pinch of pepper
2 pinches of dried oregano
1 1/3 lb mozzarella cheese
½-1 lb cherry tomatoes
a bunch of fresh basil

For the pizza dough:
3.5oz flour 0
13oz flour 00
10oz water
½ tablespoon yeast
1 ½ tbspn salt
2 tbspn peanut oil
Knead all these ingredients except for the salt for 15 min; add the salt only at the end and then let the dough rest covered by a kitchen towel for 1 hour; afterwards add to the dough:
3 ¼ cups flour 00
1/3 cup water
Cover the dough with a kitchen towel and let it rest for another hour; divide the dough into pieces of 6oz each, put them on a plate cover them with plastic wrap and leave them in the fridge for an entire night. The day after take them out of the fridge, let them rise for 3 hours and then roll them out obtaining disks of 11 inch diameter each leaving more dough on the edge in order to make the characteristic crust once cooked.

Assembly:
Season the cherry tomato sauce with salt, pepper, extra virgin olive oil and dry oregano, spread the tomato sauce on the pizza, cook them in the oven at 570 F° for two minutes before removing from the oven. Add the mozzarella cheese. Just before serving add the halved cherry tomatoes and basil.

Milanese Veal Cutlet with Ferrari Rosé

Milanese Veal Cutlet
Chef advice:
Instead of cutting the basil with a knife, break it into small pieces by hand directly on the pizza. This way the basil will maintain its fantastic smell!

Ingredients for 4 people:
4 veal cutlets of 7oz each
½ pound bread for toasting
3 egg yolks
1 egg
2 hearts of romaine lettuce
8 leaves of chervil
8 leaves of tarragon
Aged wine vinegar
Unrefined salt

Assembly:
Take off the crust from the sliced bread and put all the bread in a blender in order to make a powder not too thin then put it in the oven at 175°F for 2 hours.
Mix together the egg with the yolks in a bowl. Place the veal in the egg solution and then into the breading making sure to press enough to ensure a consistent coating of the veal. Cook the veal in clarified butter, keeping a steady temperature, till the veal is a toasted golden brown.
The perfect Milanese veal cutlet should be medium rare, which means each piece of meat weighing around 7oz should cook about 8 to 10 minutes.
Wash the romaine lettuce, dry and slice it in half lengthwise, dress it with a little salt and vinegar, or lemon juice, and place it next to the veal with a final garnish of chervil and tarragon.

Chef Advice:
Instead of squeezing lemon directly on the cutlet, accompany this dish with sliced vegetables and fruit dressed with aged vinegar. This trick maintains the meat’s flavor and retains the acidity needed to cleanse the palate.

While most of the country is digging out from Old Man Winter’s latest blast, crack open a bottle of Ferrari Rosé, light a fire and snuggle up, even if it’s to your favorite pet or wine glass.

Posted in Cooking, Countries, Holiday Wines, Italy, Sparkling Wines, Valentine's Day, Wines under $20 | Tagged Camilla Lunelli, Ferrari Rosé NV, italian recipes, Italian sparkling wine, pizza recipes, Sparkling Wine, Valentine's Day, veal recipes, Wine Chicks Guide | Leave a comment

Banrock Station Pink Muscato 2012

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Kellie Stargaard

I finally got my wish for snow. My husband also wanted a snow day, maybe another Snowmegeddon as the great Atlanta snowstorm of 2010 is referred. What we both didn’t count on is it would hit while my husband was at work. He attempted to leave, got about a mile in one hour, turned around and hunkered down for the night at work. He’s lucky, so many others spent the night in their cars or abandoned their car and hiked to a safe place. Maybe there’s a reason Atlanta is called Hotlanta, snow is not their thing.
Typically the winter weather has me drinking a ton of reds and very little whites. In the past week I’ve been hankering for white wines in my glass. I’m not saying I’m ready for spring or hot temps but I am ready to lighten up my wine selections and Banrock Station Pink Muscato 2012 was a perfect fit.

Light pink in color, floral rose and honey aromas. On the palate the wine shows refreshing acidity and a bit of fizz with sweet flavors of honey, fig and rose. I would pair with an array of cheeses; blue cheese gorgonzola would be perfect. Steak salad with summer greens would also pair well.

Region: Australia
Acidity: 5.5 to 7.5g/l
Alcohol: 6%
pH: 3.0 to 3.
SRP: $8-$9

Want to give back to the environment? So does Banrock, that’s why a portion of sales for every bottle goes into one of their worldwide environmental projects. Here’s a peek at some of their conservation efforts:
US: Focus is on conserving natural assets from the Florida Everglades to Appalachian Trail Conservancy in New Hampshire.
Canada: Restoring salmon to Lake Ontario
Denmark: Bird-hide construction and wetland restoration at Egå Engsø, Aarhus County, and Bird-hide construction at Rebjerg Lake at Skovsgaard castle, Langelands.
UK: The Eden Project demonstrates how to use sustainable and environmentally friendly gardening practices.
Australia: Conserving the country’s wetlands and waterways by managing a dry phase for the Banrock Station wetland. Vital to vegetation and soil health, when the wetlands are flooded this provides a breeding trigger for the animals and other creatures that make the wetlands their home.

We’re supposed to have a high of 40 today and I can see the snow slowly melting on surfaces. My husband, Rooster and I took a short walk today. We stayed on the shoulder or on the packed snow to avoid icy spots. Places where the sun hits there were no problems but we had to turn back once we hit a hill that was covered in snow and ice. The snow is slowly receding from the deck and other surfaces but still covers much of the ground. Rooster loves it, Daisy (our cat) isn’t sure what to make of it and the chickens don’t seem to be fans at all.
Stay warm all y’all!

Posted in Australia, Countries, Sparkling Wines, Wines under $10 | Tagged “Australian wine”, banrock station, banrock station pink moscato, Moscato, refreshing wine, sweet wine, Wine Chicks Guide | Leave a comment

Planeta Red Wine Cerasuolo di Vittoria D.O.C.G., Sicily, Italy 2011

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Kellie Stargaard

We finally began work on the wine room this past weekend. Prior to moving to Georgia we decided our new home would have a space designated as a “wine room”. Two and a half years later, the plan is finally coming to fruition. We’re using part of our partial basement, dividing the space in half for both storage and wine, fun and relaxing. A dividing wall is now in place and we’re picking out paint colors this week. Hope we find a good one and can get the room painted this weekend. Of course this means empting the wine from the riddling rack (again!) and hopefully placing it in its final spot where the freezer is currently located. The freezer will then be moved to what is the storage/pantry area of the room.

I’ve found some great ideas on Pinterest and have a few of our own which I of course will be sharing with you as they are completed. For now, I’ll share with you my latest wine sample and our latest first try recipe, Planeta a red wine from Sicily and Chicken Cacciatore.

Ruby red with purple hues in color with vibrant cherry and strawberry aromas. Plump, ripe cherry on the front of the palate, a hint of mocha in the finish. The flavors combine for a silky and elegant version of chocolate covered cherries minus the overly sugary sweet filling.

Region – Vittoria, Sicily, Italy
Varietal – 60% Nero d’Avola, 40% Frappato
Alcohol – 13.3%
SRP – around $15

Encompassing several wineries throughout Sicily, the Planeta winemaking history dates back to the 1600’s. Now under the reigns of cousins Alessio, Francesca and Santi Planeta, who in the 1980’s sought diverse Sicilian soils to match to indigenous and international grape varieties. In a short period of time the winery has established itself as a dynamic and quality oriented winery.
The Cerasuolo di Vittoria comes from the Vittoria vineyards which are planted with Nero d’Avola and Frappato only, both varieties used in this wine. In the center of the vineyard you’ll find the 100-year old winery, now restored and complete with apartments for rent.
Another gesture of hospitality is a stay at the, Planeta Estate located on the Southwest coast of Sicily (use the translate function on the webpage for desired language).
We paired the wine with our first attempt at Chicken Cacciatore. One tip, if using canned tomatoes drain first. My husband neglected to do so and the sauce was thin. We remedied by removing the chicken, turning up the heat and cooking the sauce down.
This dish was difficult for me to eat. Not because it wasn’t delicious but because I knew the chicken (actually a rooster) used in the dish. It was the last rooster we hatched and were unable to give away. I’m not sure if it was because it was a rooster vs. hen but the breast was very small, almost chicken tender size and the drumsticks huge. Nothing like the “Frankenchickens” you find in the supermarket.

Chicken Cacciatore (Based on Extra Virgin cooking show on Cooking Channel)
Whole chicken cut into parts
Kosher salt
Black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 anchovy filets, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, sliced
2 small onions, chopped
2 carrots peeled and chopped
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
4 bay leaves
3/4 to 1 cup red wine (we used a Shiraz we had open)
2 1/2 cups chopped Roma tomatoes, with their juices (if using canned, drain)
1/2 cup Kalamata olives
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (we didn’t have this available so we left it out)

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Sear both sides of chicken for about 4 minutes each side, color should be golden brown. Remove from pan.
Add the anchovies and garlic to the hot pan sauté until the garlic is fragrant and the anchovy disintegrates. Add the onions, carrots and celery, and sauté until just beginning to turn golden. Add the red wine and stir well for about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juices (remember to drain if using canned), olives and stir. Add the chicken back to pan and cover with mixture. Cover with a lid and simmer on low for 35 to 40 minutes.

One update on our chickens, we had our first predator attack yesterday, a hawk. I caught the hawk in attacking on of our hens. I rushed down to her after I scared the hawk off and thought for sure she was dead or near death. I had blood on one hand but couldn’t find a wound. After holding her for a while and shedding some tears I placed her in a cat carrier and hoped for the best. In less than an hour she was alert and standing. I think she was in shock. The chickens are now spending time in their enclosed run as I saw the hawk come back a few more times yesterday. Sometimes the cycle of life really bites (literally!).

Posted in Cooking, Italy, Red wine, Wines under $20 | Tagged Chicken Cacciatore, Chicken Recipes, Italian Red Wine, Planeta Cerasuolo di Vittoria, Wine Chicks Guide | Leave a comment