Fleur Bleu Wines

Well, July wine club is officially on it's way and I for one am looking forward to the new wines. My UPS man stopped by today, but I wasn't here so I have to patiently wait till tomorrow's attempt! This month are the new Fleur Bleu Wines which in French means Blue Flower.

The 1st red I am receiving is the 2006 Seven Petals Blend. I for one LOVE blends. I fell in love with blends/meritages when I was on a site visit at the Animal Kingdom restaurant Jiko - http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/jiko-the-cooking-place/. It's a blend of African, Indian and Mediterranean food. Not typically my type of food, but I wasn't paying. And let me tell you, I fell in love with the wine list. It features one of the largest selections of South African vintages in North America. Anyway, I found an African red wine meritage that was fabulous! Even the hubs, who isn't a big wine drinker drank that bottle with me!



I digress...So the 2006 Seven Petals Blend. This blend is made up of 6 different varietals -Syrah, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc, Verdot and Zinfandel. These wines were blended and aged together for 36 months in small oak barrels about half of which were new. Enjoy this wine with roasted meats, grilled Portobello mushrooms, sausage on the grill or stronger cheeses such as sharp cheddar.

Next on the list is the 2009 Fleur Bleu Mendocino Pinot Noir made from grapes grown in the Redwood Valley. The warm days and cool nights of this region create the ideal conditions for this varietal. The grapes were harvested in late September and then de-stemmed and crushed into small open top fermentors. The fermentations were kept cool to protect the delicate flavors and color of the wine. The wine has aromas of cherry, red apple and leather with hints of spice and pepper. The flavors are light and delicate with subtle complexity. Enjoy this wine with grilled chicken, roasted red potatoes, chicken salad sandwiches or mild cheeses such as jack.



Now, on to the white wine club picks this month...


The Fleur Bleu Riesling is from the Santa Lucia Highlands above the Salinas Valley. This Riesling has aromas of peach, apple and orange with hints of honeysuckle and lemon peel. The flavors are fruity and ripe with balanced acidity and just a hint of sweetness. Enjoy this wine with shellfish dishes, grilled zucchini, salmon mousse or a mild cream cheese spread.



And last, but not least the 2009 Golden Princess is a 100 percent varietal wine. This relatively new grape was originally bred as a table grape; however, the provocative floral and fruit aromas in this grape make it ideal for a summer white wine. The Golden Princess has aromas of fresh tropical fruit, star jasmine and lime with hints of lemon grass and ginger. Enjoy this wine with fresh fruit, almond cookies, Chinese take-out or mild cheeses such as fresh mozzarella. Does this wine, not make you want to run out and grab a bottle? I mean, I know I wish I hadn't had the Chinese take-out for dinner last night!

Sangria Recipes for Hot Summer Nights!

Not sure about you, but I don't think it can get much hotter in Virginia this summer! We've had record breaking 100 degree days and it's only July! Phew! With that being said, I am a huge red wine drinker and with this heat, red wine doesn't sound so refreshing. So turn that frown upside down and turn red wine into red wine Sangria! Try these three easy Sangria recipes to keep you cool and refreshed on these hot summer days and nights!

1 Bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Shiraz)
1 liter lemon/ lime soda (Sprite, 7 up)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup of orange juice
1 granny smith apple, peeled, cored, and diced
1 orange, peeled, seeded, rough

Preparation:
Pour wine in the pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the orange into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible), apples and add sugar. Chill overnight. Add Sprite just before serving.

Addition ideas: sliced strawberries, peaches, handful of fresh blueberries, raspberries, kiwi, a shot or two of gin, brandy or rum, a cup of ginger ale, citrus soda pop or lime juice.

Red Wine Sangria Recipe 2:

1 cup orange juice
1/4 cup lime juice
1 bottle red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Shiraz)
1/3 cup sugar
1 Orange - sliced
1 lime - sliced

In pitcher stir together OJ and lime juice. Add wine, sugar, and fruit slices. Chill for 3-24 hrs.

And not to slight you White Wine lovers. Here is a refreshing white wine sangria:

1 Bottle of white wine (Riesling, Albarino, Chablis, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc)
1/2 cup Peach Schnapps
1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar (depending on how sweet you prefer your Sangria)
2 sliced peaches (frozen peach slices work well)
1 sliced orange
1/2 liter of ginger ale

Pour wine and Schnapps in the pitcher and add sliced peach, orange, and mango. Next add sugar and stir gently. Chill mixture for at least one hour. Add ginger ale just before serving.

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The Broadmoore Collection

For wine club this month, I received the Broadmoore 2008 Sangiovese and Zinfandel. At $16.25 and $16.50 a bottle, they are absolutely delightful and the perfect reds for warm summer nights. The Broadmoore Estates is named for the street John Lynch (one of our founders and owners) learned to ride his bike in San Ramon, California.

The Sangiovese ($16.25) grapes were picked in the early morning to preserve the acidity. Once fermentation was complete, the wine was transferred to small oak barrels and aged for 18 months. As you take a big sniff of this mouth-watering wine you will notice aromas of cherries, leather and toasted oak with hints of Worcestershire and anise. (And why the Pork Chops go so well with this wine). Other great pairing options for this wine are Tuscan White Bean Salad, Caprese Salads, Pork Chops and medium cheeses like Havarti! Cheers!

Pork Chop Recipe:

Ingredients:

4 pork chops - 3/4 in think

3/4 cup Italian dressing (I used reduced-fat dressing)

1 tsp Worchesteshire sauce

Place all ingredients in ziplock bag; seal and place in fridge for at least 20 mins (or over night for more flavor). Remove chops and grill over medium-hot fire, turning once, until done about 8-11 minutes. Temp should be 160' Serves 4. Served with corn on the cob, fresh green beans and of course the Sangiovese!

The Zinfandel ($16.50) comes from the east side of the appellation. The grapes were allowed to ripen fully and were picked in late September. The grapes are then de-stemmed and crushed into small open top fermentors to help control the temperatures. Ther fermentations lasted around 12 days. Once pressed, the wine was allowed to settle and was then transferred to small oak barrels were it was aged for 18 months. This Zinfandel has a strong berry aromas with Cranberries, Strawberries and blackberries with hints of allspice, molasses and sandalwood. This wine pairs wonderfully with Pulled Pork, Fried Chicken, and medium cheeses like Havarti and Jack!

Stay tuned for my Oven-Fried Chicken recipe, when I crack open the Zinfandel! And don't forget, to order these delicious reds or any other wines, visit my website at www.sippinwine.com or feel free to email me with your order or to host your own simple wine tasting at jonnathoma@cox.net.

Sippin' Wine Open for Business!

So here it is. My first post for my first blog. Who would have thought I would ever be "blogging" and about wine no less? Not me, I am not a writer and never thought I'd be a blogger! But it's true. My new love and passion (well it's not a new love) is wine! Yes, I started my own wine business and I absolutely LOVE it. I mean how can you not love doing what I do? I go into peoples homes and do in home wine tastings with fabulous California wines! And I am having a blast. Yes, I will admit I am still nervous when I walk into someones house, but after that first round of wines is served, everyone lightens up and away we go! I am learning so much about not only WineShop at Home's great wines, but about wine in general. My blog will be about the tastings I do, the wines I sell and of course wine in general. I can't wait to see what you think and if you want to do your own tasting or order wine, contact me at jonnathoma@cox.net or visit my NEW website at http://www.sippinwine.com/!

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