Dear Friends,
Ah, summer! With so many possibilities, half the fun is just picking which adventure to tackle next. When you do, we've got a great food and wine pairing recipe for you - and a special offering of international wines from our sister company, The American Wine Exchange. Whatever you choose to do this summer, we hope it'll be memorable - and we hope you'll share your favorite ideas with us.
Happy summer sipping!
Tammy Boatright
President, Windsor Vineyards
Contents
Cruise the Caribbean - with Us! New Lower Rates!
Our Winter Wine Lover's Cruise sets sail in 2007 - and we've just lowered the rates! Click here for the great new deals - and plan to come for a magnificent week of luxurious living, s island visits, and the wine experience of a lifetime! Our very own winemaker Toni Stockhausen will host a Wine and Food Pairing seminar for creating your own wining and dining masterpieces. You'll also sample the finest wines from across the globe, and discover the best techniques for cellaring wines at home. Celebrity Cruises, our host, is one of the best cruise lines for lavish amenities, terrific entertainment, and scrumptious dining. This cruise is the perfect setting for meeting other wine lovers and exploring the wine lifestyle - while the exceptional staff handles all the details! Cabins get booked well in advance, so don't wait! For more details and to register, click here today. We'll see you on deck!
What's Happening: Summer Action in the Vineyards
There are no lazy days of summer in the vineyard! We had an unusually wet and cold June here in Sonoma County - with 60 inches of rain over the winter months from November through June - but within days the weather changed to sunny and 103°. And the recently dormant yellow, insipid vines have gone green and burst to life. The now vigorous vegetation has our crews jumping. During the next few weeks, they'll be busy removing sucker sprouts, hedging the vines, and leaf plucking. They'll also employ a favorite Aussie technique of our winemaker, Toni Stockhausen: limiting the size and number of grape bunches on each plant by using deficient irrigation techniques. All these activities focus the vines' growth and development on the budding grapes. The key to success during this season is attention to detail and expecting the unexpected. "You've got to be ready for anything," Toni says, "because something different happens every year." And after 34 harvests, she should know!
The 2006 Windsor Vineyards Grape Crush Forecast
Imagine knowing exactly what to expect from every grape harvest. Winemaking would be so much easier - and, as our winemaker Toni Stockhausen says, "You'd be the greatest vintner in the world!" But predicting the harvest is simply not an exact science. A couple of weeks ago, we worried that all our grapes might reach maturity simultaneously in late September, creating a logistical nightmare in the winery. (Consider the scene at the airport if every holiday traveler in the region arrived for a flight at the same time!) Now, it looks like many of the grapes will ripen in early September as planned, and we're all breathing more easily. Most varietals, including Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, will offer slightly smaller yields this year. On the other hand, the recent heavy rains and current plentiful sunshine seem guaranteed to create a bountiful Cabernet harvest. As the fruit sets in the next few weeks, we'll know more - and then we'll tell all in the Fall edition of Sips!
2006 Holiday Wines in the Making
Even as we enjoy the summer, we're hard at work creating our luscious holiday wines, featuring this year's perfect pair: our 2004 Sparkling Shiraz and our 2005 Sangiovese. Both will be available September 2006.
2004 Sparkling Shiraz
Always a delight, Sparkling Shiraz is also always a challenge. Vinifying Sparkling Shiraz requires a second ferment - and keeping the fickle process in balance gets tricky. Last year's offering was a great success, and we've got our fingers crossed for this year. We're even hoping to offer a few more cases this season. Although this Shiraz is a sparkling red, it's not a dessert wine. The bold, spicy plum accents are perfect for your favorite holiday dishes. Be sure to serve it chilled for the ultimate experience. Many of our customers have already placed their orders, so call your personal Windsor Wine Consultant at
800.289.9463 today and reserve the perfect gift for someone special - perhaps yourself!
2005 Sangiovese
Add some serious spice to your holiday celebrations with this rare treat! We expect to have extremely limited quantities, so don't wait. This oak aged vintage features very spicy herbs such as tarragon and thyme, but is still light on the palate. It's a delicious wine for everyday meals, and the perfect gift for those who have everything - and are looking for something new. One of our specialties at Windsor Vineyards is unique creations in small batches, and this light gem will be no exception. Surprise your favorite wine lovers with a bottle this holiday season, for a gift they won't soon forget!
White Wine Summer Recipe: Chinese Chicken Salad
Wondering what to do with that extra chicken from the barbeque party this past weekend? Chill out - and serve it as a cool salad! Paired with a bottle of White Zinfandel, it'll make a terrific Chinese chicken salad. Here's our favorite recipe:
Windsor Vineyards Chinese Chicken Salad
- 6 tablespoons red wine vinegar (may substitute seasoned rice wine vinegar)
- 4 tablespoons white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1 heaping tablespoon of freshly-ground black pepper (may substitute white)
- 1/2 cup peanut oil
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seed oil (more or less to taste)
- 3 boneless chicken breast halves, sautéed or baked in Teriyaki sauce, cooled and diced
- 1 head lettuce, torn into small pieces
- 4 green onions, sliced
- 2 stalks celery or 1/2 cup water chestnuts, or 2 cups Napa cabbage, sliced thin
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1 large can of Mandarin oranges, drained
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
- 6 ounces Chinese noodles, heated briefly to crisp
For dressing, combine the first 4 ingredients in a small bowl and stir to dissolve. Add the peanut and sesame oil and shake or blend well. Combine remaining ingredients (except the noodles) in a large salad bowl and mix well together. Add noodles last, then the dressing and toss to coat. Serve immediately with a bottle of White Zinfandel! Serves 4.
Enjoy! Then send us your favorite wine pairing recipes by clicking here!
Sauvignon Republic Special Wine Offer
Enjoy a truly unique experience in world-wide wine tasting, courtesy of our sister company, The American Wine Exchange! Created by four Sonoma County, California friends - and professional wine experts all - the Sauvignon Republic creates Sauvignon Blanc wines all around the world. Winemaker John Buechsenstein literally sets up shop in different locations to create his wines. The result is an unprecedented opportunity to experience the impact of terroir on a single varietal. The wines are made by the same vintner in the same year with the same grape, in different terroirs.
The American Wine Exchange is proud to offer the Sauvignon Blanc Trio, featuring John's 2005 Sauvignon Blanc wines from New Zealand, South Africa, and California. Take the Sauvignon Blanc world tour yourself for just $216/case! You'll receive four bottles of each wine, plus nine recipes created especially for these wines by world-renowned chef John Ash, one of the four co-founders of the Sauvignon Republic.
But order today: this special Sauvignon Blanc Trio can't be found anywhere else! It's available exclusively through The American Wine Exchange. Call today at 800-222-6889 (New York residents only call 866-474-3021). Mention order code 90801201, and prepare for a world of Sauvignon Blanc encounters at your dining room table!
For more information, visit The American Wine Exchange web site at www.americanwineexchange.com.
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