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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