Posts Tagged ‘wines’
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010
 California Bruschetta If there’s one thing I love more than wine itself, its finding (and eating) delicious food that pairs with it! One of my favorite aspects of the membership to the Gold Series is opening the Wine Press, the monthly newsletter that accompanies the shipment, and finding the recipe that Gold Medal Wine Club has selected for each bottle. I’ve had such good luck with these recipes, that now this suggestion will often dictate what dinner or horderve we’ll be having when we get the chance to open the bottle.
This weekend I’m hosting a spa party for approximately 10 guests. The party will begin at 4:30 and should only go for a few hours. Since it won’t exactly be cool yet, I’ve decided to serve white wine and light finger foods that we can snack on as we learn about giving ourselves facials.
 For wine, I’ve decided on the Handley Cellars 2007 Chardonnay, a recent feature of the Gold Series. The bottle itself was awarded 6 Silver Medals from various state and international wine competitions, and its fruity quality will “pair” swimmingly well with the warm weather expected for Saturday.
For the food, I’ll serve three different nibbles, two of which I found from recent Wine Press Newsletters: Marinated Olives with Herbs and Spices (reccommended with the Handley Chardonnay) and California Bruschetta (recommended with the Castoro Pinot Grigio.) To find the third recipe, I actually went to Handley’s website and searched for their Chardonnay pairing suggestions. Here’s what I found; feel free to use this recipe yourself!
Hummus with Paprika and Whole Chickpeas
1/2 pound dried chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
1 tablespoon baking soda
6 large garlic cloves, unpeeled
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 cup sesame tahini, at room temperature, stirred thoroughly
1/4 cup lemon juice
For Garnish:
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup sesame tahini, at room temperature, stirred thoroughly
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tablespoon chopped parsley
Paprika & Cumin for sprinkling
Reserved cooked chickpeas
To Prepare:
Cover dried chickpeas with 2 inches of water in a bowl, adding baking soda, refrigerate overnight. Drain and rinse. Place chickpeas and garlic into a medium saucepan, cover with 2 inches of water, bring to a boil, lower heat, and barely simmer for about 40 minutes, or until soft. Reserve 3 tablespoons of the chickpeas, and one cup of the cooking water. Peel the garlic cloves.
In a food processor, combine and puree the chickpeas, garlic, olive oil, cumin, tahini, and lemon juice until very creamy. Add some of the cooking water if needed for a smooth consistency. Taste for salt.
Garnish mixture: In a clean processor bowl, combine the lemon juice, tahini, and olive oil, plus salt if needed.
Place the hummus into a serving bowl, making a small well in the middle and pour in the garnish mixture. Sprinkle with parsley and the reserved cooked chickpeas. Sprinkle with ground cumin and paprika.
Serve with pita bread and an assortment of raw garden vegetables such as carrots, celery, radishes and broccoli.
Tags: California wines, the wine press, wine & food, wine pairing recipe, wine tasting, wines
Posted in Gold Series, Uncategorized, Wine and Food | No Comments »
Monday, September 14th, 2009
The Tiera 2008 Dry Creek Valley Estate Grown Sauvignon Blanc, and Tiera 2006 Sonoma County Zinfandel are two excellent wines that have been named ‘best value’ by several wine publications. Gold Medal Wine Club is pleased to offer Tiera wines as this month’s wine of the month club selection.
 Tiera Winery, located in the Dry Creek Valley area of Sonoma County, was started in 2001 by husband and wife team Dan Donahoe and Alexis Woods. Alexis is the daughter of Frank Woods, founder of Clos du Bois Winery. Woods saved one 120 acre parcel of land upon selling Clos du Bois which now produces the fruit for Tiera wines. Their intention is to remain small, with a goal of producing just 10,000 cases per year. This year they will probably peak at about 6000. They produce all the wine themselves.
Dan fell in love with wine and food as a freshman in college after having dinner with his grandmother’s closest childhood friend-non other than Julia Child. They were of course, treated like royalty and offered the best dishes with exquisite wines. He had an epiphany at that meal and vowed never to take food or wine for granted again! After a successful career in business, with the help of Alexis, he finally became part of the wine producing business. He and Alexis love raising their girls on the vineyard and turning people on to wines. Their mission is to produce really good wines at an accessible price point. Given that previous vintages have received 90 points and the 2007 Sauvignon Blanc earned the distinction of ‘The Top Ten Values of the Year’ , they seem to have achieved their goal.
The 2008 Sauvigon Blanc comes from Woods Vineyards grapes that are farmed sustainably and organically and was named “A Top Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc by the San Francisco Chronicle. The 2006 Zinfandel has been nominated in the American Wine Awards for Food and Wine Magazine for it’s balance and elegance.
We hope you enjoy this month’s wine club selections. Remember, you can always reorder the Tiera Sauvignon Blanc, Tiera Zinfandel, or many of our previous wine club selections from our wine store.
As always, let us know what you think. Leave a comment here, or go to ‘Judge the Wines’ and let us know what you though of this wine of the month club selection.
Tags: sauvigon blanc, tiera, wine, wine club, wine of the month, wine of the month club, wines, zinfandel
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Friday, July 17th, 2009
 One of Gold Medal Wine Club’s Platinum selections for this month is the 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Amicus Cellars.
This wine was selected for the “50 Great Wines of 2008” by award-winning wine blogger Frederic Koeppel. Mr. Koeppel has been writing about wine since 1984- way before the internet or email. He now publishes at www.biggerthanyourhead.com. He is among the most respected wine and food critics in the world.
Amicus/X Winery was started just six years ago by owner/winemaker Reed Renaudin, 34. He began drinking wine at age 12 during family gatherings and became hooked on wine as a business while at UC Davis. Over subsequent years, he worked at several brand-name wineries, and eventually earned an MBA and an MS in enology. His academic work involved a business plan for a start-up winery that subsequently became the framework for Amicus Cellars/X Winery. Amicus Cellars was designed to be the winery’s reserve designator for its upper class wines. Renaudin offers these limited production wines on a first-come, first-serve basis. Following a procession of 90+ scores and rave reviews, the Amicus 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is celebrated as one of their most promising and highly rated vintages to date. Gold Medal Wine Club is pleased to have secured this exceptional wine to offer to its Platinum members.
In addition to the accolades from Mr. Koeppel, the Amicus 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded 91 Points by Robert Parker: “Another superb value is the 2005 Amicus Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain…”
We hope you enjoy this exceptional selection. Please tell us what you thought about the wine.
Tags: 50 best wines, amicus, wine, wine club, wine of the month club, wines, x winery
Posted in Platinum Series | 1 Comment »
Friday, July 17th, 2009
 Mission Trails Vineyards was started by husband and wife team Ken and Robyn Rauh, both long time veterans of California’s wine industry. Having done practically every concievable job related to wine making throughout their lives, they decided to take the best of what they had learned and apply it to their own venture in Monterey county. Monterey has a rich history in winemaking dating back to the Franciscan friars. For the Rauh’s, the eventual plan is to have a whole line of wines from throughout California that depict the various Spanish Missions on the label where the grapes are sourced. “What I can tell you is that my wines represent a compilation of everyone else’s winemaking techniques, or at least the best ones that have made the greatest impression on me.” says Ken Rauh, winemaker.
Monterey grows over 40 different varietals of wine grapes and a large portion of these varietals are blended or sent elsewhere for processing. Rarely are wines produced and available on their own as a stand-alone varietal, and for years, only vintners had the pleasure to sample these fine Monterey varietal wines in an individual form. Each variety grown in Monterey County has something special to express with its color, aroma and flavor, and it is in the spirit of exploration and promotion of the area’s quality that proprietors Ken and Robyn Rauh created Mission Trail Vineyards.
This month, the Gold Series features the Mission Trail Vineyards’ 2007 Sauvignon Blanc and Mission Trail Vineyards’ 2006 Syrah. For the Sauvignon Blanc, the grapes were hand selected according to flavor. Awarded a Silver Medal from the Beverage Tasting Institute’s World Wine Championships and a Silver Medal from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, this wine is a pleasing and refreshing summer wine with a true sense of origin.
The Syrah grapes matured on the vine for longer than usual, leading to darker fruit aromas and flavors, more depth overall and great length on the finish. The recipient of a Gold Medal from the Beverage Tasting Institute’s World Wine Championships and a Gold Medal from the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, this Syrah is an excellent portrayal of the big and robust Syrahs from Bianco Bench Vineyard of Monterey.
Enjoy these excellent selections and please tell us what you think. Comment here or rate the wine on our Judge the Wines page.
Tags: monterey county, wine, wine club, wine of the month, wine of the month club, wines
Posted in Gold Series | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
About six months ago, Gold Medal Wine Club opened up an online store in response to demand from their wine club members. The selections that Gold Medal Wine Club chooses for their five different wine clubs are rare, boutique, hard-to-find wines and their members wanted to be able to reorder their favorite wines. Today, the wine of the month club announced that it has chosen to offer selections from their most premium club, the Diamond Series, at a special discounted rate for this week only in time for Father’s Day and college graduations.
The Diamond Series selects only 93+ rated, award-winning wines and offers exclusive membership to only 500 customers at any given time. “The fact that this sale is open to the general public is very exciting”, said Bradley Mansfield, Director of Marketing for the company. “These wines are the most sought-after, boutique, California wines and the discounts are so deep, up to 45% in some cases. It is the bargain of the year”.
When comparing prices between a sampling of the 23 wines offered in the sale we used Snooth (www.snooth.com) a leading wine search engine. The discounts offered by Gold Medal Wine Club were outstanding. The Paoletti 1999 Non-Plus Ultra Red Blend listed at $92.99 on Snooth was $52.25 on the Gold Medal site. The Corison 2003 Kronos Cabernet Sauvignon was $94.95 and is offered for $60.00, and the Lewis Cellars 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon which received 96 Points from Connoisseurs’ Guide and 93 Points from Wine Spectator was listed at $119.99 on Snooth, and $88.00 from the wine club.
Gold Medal Wine Club offers five different wine clubs. Since 1992 they have been delivering only award-winning wines to their customers. This sets them apart from other wine clubs who don’t typically guarantee quality wines. For the general public, it makes the wine store at the Gold Medal Wine Club website a great place to shop for wine because every wine in the store is an award-winner. How can you go wrong with that?
To take advantage of this unprecedented wine sale, visit The Gold Medal Wine Club Wine Store (http://shopnow.goldmedalwine.com/storefront/SpecialProduct.aspx). Supplies are limited and the sale ends at midnight on May 26th, 2009.
Tags: diamond, wine, wine sale, Wine Store, wines
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Thursday, May 7th, 2009
For Father’s Day, finding a thoughtful gift that will be truly appreciated is challenging for even the most adept gift-givers. There’s always the danger of cliché. Who wants to give Dad a tie, even if he wears them every day? The golf stuff and the fishing paraphernalia is so overdone that it’s practically a joke. Inevitably the Father’s Day gift often times ends up being a token with no real meaning. Dad probably doesn’t expect more, but he deserves more.
What makes a good gift? Perhaps something he could savor? Something he would look forward to using? Something that fits easily within the life he is living- not one that reminds him of the life he might like to lead, but can’t find the time. Something that makes him feel special? Something hard to find? Unique? The perfect gift would be something that brings joy, grants him a new experience, perhaps teaches him something and allows him to dream. It should be easy to use or challenge him, depending on his mood. Finding this type of gift might seem impossible. It’s not.
You can give a gift that achieves all these goals by giving a wine of the month club from Gold health aid pharmacy Medal Wine Club. Unlike other wine clubs, Gold Medal chooses only award winning wines virtually guaranteeing a quality taste and unforgettable experience. These wines are rarely found in stores and are made by small, boutique wineries and vineyards. Every month, Dad can receive a shipment of two of these highly coveted wines. The delivery arrives beautifully packaged and gift wrapped accompanied by “The Wine Press”, a publication describing the wine, the winery, the vineyard, the winemaker, with recipe suggestions and tasting notes. Each month, Dad can create a whole experience surrounding his unique gift. Perhaps he’ll even invite you over for dinner to share a great meal with some great wine.
Gold Medal Wine Club has been in business since 1992 and has the reputation as one of the leading wine clubs in the world. Whether Dad is already a wine aficionado, a connoisseur in training, or if he simply enjoys a nice bottle of wine, there is a Gold Medal Wine Club series that’s right for him. There are five exciting wine club series to choose from with the Gold Series starting at only $34 a month. The Platinum and Diamond Series feature 90 and 93+ rated wines. The best of the world’s wines can be sampled with the International Series, and the Pinot Noir Series is great for those who love the light red qualities of the Pinot grape.
Place your order now and your gift will surely arrive in time for Father’s Day. Each wine selection has received multiple medals or accolades from major wine competitions and is a special and unique gift that Dad will receive, appreciate and enjoy every month. It’s thoughtful, unique and satisfying. It is the perfect gift.
Tags: Father's Day, gift, wine, wine club, wine clubs, wine of the month club, wines
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Friday, May 1st, 2009
Ex-computer software salesman Craig Haserot decided to move to Sonoma County after the infamous dot-com crash of 2000, hoping to pursue a new career path while escaping the cold weather of San Francisco. Haserot began playing tennis and formed a friendship with doubles partner, Erich Bradley, who was then the winemaker at Arrowood Winery and Audellsa. It was the beginning of a wonderfully successful friendship and business partnership built on a passion for Pinot Noir. They began producing Pinots in 2004. The choice of grape and excellent timing (the movie “Sideways” was released) paid off. The chose the name Soujourn as both meanings of the word embodied their feelings and attitudes about wine drinking. The French sojourner refers to a journey, vacation or road trip, while the English sojourn implies rest, relax and respite. For their label, they chose the lawnchair, reflecting the relaxed and personable feel of their winery, and their intimate leisurely tastings.
The 2006 Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir marks the third vintage for Sojourn’s flagship Pinot Noir with fruit from Sonoma’s Sangiacomo Vineyards. Medium ruby in color, the nose exudes floral overtones with ripe cherries health partners pharmacies and hints of spice. On the palate, sweet cherries and raspberries dominate, along with rich spice and complex earthiness. This wine is a bit more elegant and reserved in style than its predecessors, and you will love it’s silky texture and deep flavor profile. No wonder it earned a 96(!) from the Pinot Report. We are proud to offer it to you as one of the Pinot Noir Series selections.
Tags: Arrowood, Audellsa, pinot noir, wine, wine of the month club, wines
Posted in Pinot Noir Series | No Comments »
Sunday, April 19th, 2009
Whether you consider yourself a wine connoisseur or not, most wine drinkers know that the taste and quality of wine varies greatly, and everyone who drink wine knows when they’re drinking the good stuff. Usually a nice bottle is reserved for an special occasion, but why? Because a fine wine makes you feel special. It’s a work of art that’s been carefully cultivated over time, that you can enjoy and appreciate knowing that no two bottles are ever the same, and each one has a special story behind it. Gold Medal Wine Club has been selecting these types of wines for their wine club members since 1992. Members receive two award-winning boutique wines each month, which makes for a lot of occasions to feel special.
There’s no one in your life that deserves to feel special online health pharmacy more than Mom. On Mother’s Day, give her the gift of a Gold Medal Wine Club membership. Each month she will receive two beautifully gift-wrapped boutique wines from small-production, family owned wineries. Each delivery also includes ‘The Wine Press’, a newsletter about the winery, the wine and the wine maker, with detailed tasting notes and fun recipes. It’s a beautiful gift presentation, and one that she can look forward to receiving month after month. On each occasion that the cork is popped, she will savor the experience and thank you for the special, meaningful gift.
Gold Medal Wine Club has five different wine of the month clubs to choose from including the Gold Series which starts at $34/month. The Club also offers an International wine club, and another offering only the world’s best Pinot Noirs. We all know that mom deserves the best, so give her the gift of award-winning wine every month.
Tags: gift, mother's day, wine, wine club, wine of the month club, wines
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Monday, April 13th, 2009
The Gold Medal Wine Club’s Platinum Series always features 90+ rated wines. One of the two bottles shipped this month is the Frazier 2005 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon- 91 points from Wine Spectator. Located in Napa Valley, the Frazier Winery began when a large winemaker who was contracted to buy Bill Frazier’s grapes, backed out of the deal. It was then that Bill decided to take his winemaking hobby health pharmacy online to the next level. Starting in earnest in 1995, Frazier winery is a family endeavor with two of his three children employed full-time. The winery has grown in size, and now includes a complete facility, thereby assuring estate-bottling status for all Frazier wines. The 2005 harvest in Napa brought a bountiful crop and one that was also exceptionally high in quality. Vintners across the valley referred to it as one of their best, if not their best, vintage ever. Frazier Winery gives new meaning to their “big and bold” hallmark style with the 2005 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, as the wine is beautifully marked by great complexity and finesse. Aged 20 months in oak this wine is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petite Verdot. Try pairing the Frazier 2005 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon with braised meats and Italian ragouts. Please let us know what you think of this wine.
Tags: cabernet sauvignon, frazier, wine, wine of the month club, wines
Posted in Platinum Series | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009
This month’s Gold Series selections feature Buttonwood Winery 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2005 Merlot. Buttonwood Winery is located in the Santa Ynez Valley, near Santa Barbara, California and is one of the more highly acclaimed regions for California wine production. Started by Betty Williams, now age 90, Buttonwood has been a family affair since 1989. They produce about 8500 cases a year from their 33,000 vines. Each release has produced gold, double gold, and silver medal winning wines. The wines that Gold Medal Wine Club are releasing to you this month will be no exception. The 2005 Buttonwood Cabernet Sauvignon and the Merlot were attained by a special pre-release exclusively for our wine of the month club. We have tasted them and anticipate that the medals will pile up as the wine is sent out for review in the coming months. As always, wonderful recipes to accompany these fine wines can be found in our newsletter pharmacy websites Month club newsletter” href=”http://www.goldmedalwine.com/wine_clubs/gold_newsletters.php” target=”_blank”>“The Wine Press” on our site and with your shipment. Please let us know what you thought of the Buttonwood Winery wines. We look forward to hearing your comments.
Did you know that you can also let us know what you thought of a particular wine on our “Judge The Wines” page?
Tags: Buttonwood Winery, the wine press, wine, wine club, wine of the month club, wines
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