Inglenook Blush Add
Ramey Chardonnay 'Carneros' Add
Shoofly Chardonnay 'Chook Raffle' Add
Wines are recomendations only and may not be carried by this store.

Inglenook Blush

Attributes:

Producer:

Inglenook

Region:

California, United States

Varietal:

Rose

Bottle Size:

1.5 L

Food Matches:

Cheese: Blue Cheese, Dry Jack Cheese, Mozzarella, Sharp Cheddar
Fish or Shellfish: Grilled Salmon, Shellfish (scallops, clams, crab, lobster, shrimp, etc...), Tuna Nicoise Salad
Herbs & Spices: Anise, Fennel Seed, Tarragon, Ginger
Pasta & Grains: (Grilled) Tofu, Pasta with Creamy Mushroom Sauces, Pasta with Pesto, Pasta with Truffles
Poultry & Eggs: Duck Confit, Game Birds, Roast Chicken with Herbs, Roast Turkey
Red Meat: Barbeque Pulled-Pork or Ribs, Curried Beef, Curried Lamb, Curried Pork, Ham, Hamburgers, Pork w/Fruit Sauce
Sauces: Oil-based Sauce
Vegetables: Avocado, Bruschetta, Caesar Salad, Leafy Greens, Lentil Salad, Nicoise Salad, Roasted Sweet Peppers, Root Vegetables, Salad, Vegetable Gratin or Stew

California:

California produces the majority of wine made in the United States. Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir dominate the wine production in California, but many other varietials thrive in the California climate. Many fine wines are produced in California using Mediterranean grapes.

Ramey Chardonnay 'Carneros'

Attributes:

Producer:

Ramey

Region:

Carneros, United States

Varietal:

Chardonnay

Bottle Size:

750 ML

2005: Tanzer Rating: 90

Acidity:

bright

Complexity:

complex

Flavors:

citrus, meat, pear, tangerine

2005: CGCW Rating: 91

Complexity:

deep, layered, rich

Compliments:

well-balanced

Texture:

fleshy, round

2004: WineSpectator Rating: 87

Complexity:

complex, supple

2004: Tanzer Rating: 91

Compliments:

racy

Flavors:

apple, citrus, melon, pear

2004: CGCW Rating: 92

Acidity:

bright, fresh, lively

Body:

light

Flavors:

butter, oak, toast

Fruit:

sweet

2003: CGCW Rating: 91

Body:

full-bodied, light

Complexity:

complex, rich

Flavors:

butter, buttery, oak

Fruit:

fruity, sweet

2003: WineSpectator Rating: 87

Acidity:

clean

Flavors:

citrus, green apple, oak, pear

Texture:

creamy

2002: WineSpectator Rating: 89

Acidity:

lively

Food Matches:

Cheese: Brie, Gouda, Soft Pungent Cheese, Swiss
Fish or Shellfish: Garlic Shrimp, Lobster Salad, Sea Bass
Fruits & Nuts: Citrus Fruits
Herbs & Spices: Anise, Fennel Seed, Tarragon, Basil, Curry, Ginger, Nutmeg, Mace, Allspice, Rosemary, Saffron, Thyme
Poultry & Eggs: Chicken or Turkey, Roast Turkey
Sauces: White Wine Sauce
Vegetables: Caesar Salad

Carneros:

This small section of Northern California is situated at the base of both the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Carneros has made its reputation with its Pinot Noirs, which are filled with strawberry, cherry, spice, and chocolate, and are very rich and seductive. Chardonnay is also excellent, very buttery but not too fat.


Chardonnay:

(shar dohn nay)—This noble grape’s reputation was established in France, particularly in the Burgundy region, and the highly prized Chardonnay wines from Chablis, Mâcon, Mersault, and Pouilly-Fuissé are imitated by winemakers around the world. Generally an oaked wine (whether from expensive oak barrels or a quick soak in oak chips), its fruity aromas and flavors range from apple in the cooler regions to tropical fruits such a pineapple in the warmer regions. It can also display subtle earthy aromas, such as mushroom or minerals. It has a medium to high acidity and is generally full-bodied. Classical Chardonnay wines are dry. Chardonnay is also an important grape in the Champagne district where it's picked before fully ripe and while it still has high acid and understated fruit flavors—the perfect combination for champagne. California has adopted this grape with a fervor and there are some 200 wineries producing Chardonnay wines in other parts of the United States. Chardonnay has also seen a tremendous planting surge in Australia, and new vineyards are being planted in Italy, Lebanon, New Zealand, Spain, and South Africa.

Shoofly Chardonnay 'Chook Raffle'

Attributes:

Producer:

Shoofly

Region:

Australia, Australia/New Zealand

Varietal:

Chardonnay

Bottle Size:

750 ML

Food Matches:

Cheese: Blue Cheese, Brie, Goat Cheese, Gouda, Swiss
Fish or Shellfish: Catfish, Dover Sole, Red Snapper, Tilapia, Walleye, Garlic Shrimp, Grouper / Swordfish, Monkfish, Lobster Salad, Salmon / Trout, Bluefish and Mackerel, Shellfish (scallops, clams, crab, lobster, shrimp, etc...), Smoked Salmon
Herbs & Spices: Anise, Fennel Seed, Tarragon, Basil, Curry, Ginger, Nutmeg, Mace, Allspice, Rosemary, Saffron, Thyme
Poultry & Eggs: Chicken or Turkey, Glazed Duck, Goose, Roast Game Hen, Roast Turkey
Red Meat: Pork, Veal
Sauces: White Wine Sauce
Vegetables: Avocado

Australia:

In the past few decades Australia’s wine industry has transformed itself into one of the most technologically advanced in the world. A combination of a generally warm, dry climate and a cultural affinity for creating, rather than following, tradition has resulted in wines that are soft and pleasant to drink from an early age. They are the epitome of user-friendliness. Australia’s wine regions are mainly in the southern, cooler part of the country, clustered mainly in the state of Victoria, the southern part of South Australia and the cooler parts of New South Wales. Syrah, or Shiraz as it is known there, is the top grape, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Semillon. The wines are generally listed with the name of their grape variety, which must constitute at least 85 percent of the wine. Although Australia’s winemaking region is vast, most labels indicate only that their contents come from South Eastern Australia. Flavor is indicated by the variety of grape used to make the wine. Australia’s classification system is generally lax when it comes to quality and labeling. Some bottles indicate a specific state of origin (New South Wales, Victoria, or South Australia), or a region within a state, but these smaller zones are still being decided.


Chardonnay:

(shar dohn nay)—This noble grape’s reputation was established in France, particularly in the Burgundy region, and the highly prized Chardonnay wines from Chablis, Mâcon, Mersault, and Pouilly-Fuissé are imitated by winemakers around the world. Generally an oaked wine (whether from expensive oak barrels or a quick soak in oak chips), its fruity aromas and flavors range from apple in the cooler regions to tropical fruits such a pineapple in the warmer regions. It can also display subtle earthy aromas, such as mushroom or minerals. It has a medium to high acidity and is generally full-bodied. Classical Chardonnay wines are dry. Chardonnay is also an important grape in the Champagne district where it's picked before fully ripe and while it still has high acid and understated fruit flavors—the perfect combination for champagne. California has adopted this grape with a fervor and there are some 200 wineries producing Chardonnay wines in other parts of the United States. Chardonnay has also seen a tremendous planting surge in Australia, and new vineyards are being planted in Italy, Lebanon, New Zealand, Spain, and South Africa.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Rated

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 tbsp plus 1 cup sugar
1 tsp ground ginger
6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1-1/2 lb. cream cheese, at room temperature
1-3/4 cups pumpkin puree, at room temperature
1 tsp finely grated orange zest
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
6 eggs, lightly beaten

Preparation

Preheat an oven to 325°F (165°C). Position a rack in the middle of the oven. Cover the outside (bottom and sides) of a 9-inch (23-cm) springform pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil, shiny side out. Butter the inside of the pan and set aside.

In a bowl stir together the cracker crumbs, the 3 tablespoons sugar and the ginger. Stir and toss while gradually adding the melted butter. Continue to stir and toss until well mixed. Press the crumb mixture evenly over the inside of the pan to reach 1-3/4 - 2 inches (about 5 cm) up the sides. Chill for 30 minutes.

Place the cream cheese in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat until light and fluffy, 2 - 3 minutes. Slowly add the 1 cup (8 oz - 250 g) sugar while continuously beating; occasionally scrape down the bowl sides. Add the pumpkin, orange zest, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg and beat until smooth. Add the eggs, a little at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the bowl sides. Using a rubber spatula stir slowly to dispel some of the bubbles.

Pour the batter in the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Bake until the top is lightly puffed all over, 60 - 70 minutes. The center may be slightly underset; it will firm up during cooling. Cool on a wire rack, then remove the foil and pan sides and refrigerate overnight. Before serving, you may want to carefully slip the chilled cake onto a large, flat serving plate if you have one.

Yield

Serves 6 - 8 with leftovers