Wine of the Month: Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

         July is here, and we’re ready to celebrate! Our Wine of the Month for July is our Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. This wine is a favorite of our staff and members alike, full of bright, summery notes of fruit and citrus. Of course, summer and white wines go together like 4th of July and barbecue, so there’s no better time to open a bottle and enjoy each refreshingly crisp sip! 

        Every wine deserves a friend, so we have a few recipe ideas for irresistible pairing with our Sauvignon Blanc.

Creamy Garlic Prawns
recipe from Recipe Tin Eats 

A luscious yet light coating of creamy garlic over these plump jumbo prawns makes for a balanced and luxurious dish. You can use Sauvignon Blanc in the sauce itself, or use some other cooking wine and save the precious Sauv Blanc for Sipping! Either way, we encourage you to enjoy this pairing all summer long! 

Baked Fish Tacos
recipe from Plating Pixels 

​These easy tacos are another flavor-packed option that deserves a spot on your dinner table this summer. Fresh, bright, flavors compliment our Sauvignon Blanc and vice versa. As a bonus, this dish is healthier and just as flavorful as tacos with fried fish. Enjoy all of the natural benefits of wholesome ingredients, all alongside a locally made Sauvignon Blanc. What could be more perfect?

Cheesecake Berry Tart
recipe from Dessert First

Of course, we wouldn’t want to imagine life without dessert. This tart brings together a few of our favorite flavors and manages to be both rich and light. With all the creamy tang of cheesecake and the colorful natural sweetness of berries, this dessert is a natural companion for the brightness and flavor of our Estate-grown Sauvignon Blanc.  

Jul 1, 2022 at 4:24 AM Permalink

Bigger and Better: All About Magnum Wines

June 2022 is our month to celebrate magnum wine bottles, the grandiose double-bottle beauties that every cellar needs! Magnums are more than a bigger bottle, they offer delicious benefits unique to this format, enticing the senses and elevating your wine experience with flavor and flair. 

The Specs:

A magnum wine bottle is exactly double the volume of a standard bottle and can weigh in around 6 pounds. One standard bottle is 750 milliliters, while magnum bottles are 1.5 liters (1500 milliliters). If this is the case, why not just purchase 2 standard bottles? Simply put, magnums have more to offer than sheer lavish volume. 

The Quality:

The moment wine comes in contact with oxygen, a simple chemical process known as oxidation occurs. Every wine bottle has a minute quantity of air trapped inside due to the bottling process, but larger formats like magnums have less oxygen relative to the quantity of wine. This slows down oxidation, maintaining rich quality and aiding in proper maturation.  

The Future:

Magnums are ideally suited for aging for a future occasion. Steady maturation helps the wine reach its prime and stay there for years. Magnums also have the practical advantage of being more resistant to temperature fluctuations that could threaten wine quality because the higher volume takes longer to warm or cool.  

The Rarity:

Magnums themselves are a collectible item, especially from a local estate vineyard like Ruby Hill Winery. Only a few magnums of select vintages are ever produced, and each one is hand bottled by our winemaker’s team. Not only do they make excellent additions to private collections, they are also a great choice for generous gifts.

The Grandeur:

Bring out one of these beauties at an elegant wedding, milestone anniversary, or beautiful holiday celebration, and it fits right in! These impressive bottles hold their own and command just the right amount of attention with their opulent presence and luxurious quality. 

Don’t miss out on our special-priced magnums during Magnum Month! Call us at (925) 931-9463 to hear more about our deals and order now. Our Magnums can sell out fast so act now.  

If you want more, consider joining our Magnum Club. Enjoy all of the perks of being a Diamond Wine Club member, but receive an allotment of 2 magnums each quarter! You can learn more or sign up in the tasting room anytime.

Jun 24, 2022 at 7:12 AM Permalink

Pairing Vegetables and Wine

Wine and food pairing can seem like a daunting task, but we promise it doesn’t have to be! There’s no loss when you simply drink what you enjoy with the foods that you enjoy, but if you’re looking for special combinations that do favors for both the dish and the drink, we're here for you. 

Meals with multiple elements offer flexibility when it comes to pairing. Often, the wine is chosen based on what pairs best with the protein element, such as Cabernet Sauvignon with steak or Chardonnay with chicken. Seasonings like garlic, lemon, or herbs as well as preparations like grilling or stir-frying also play a role in what wine will truly make the food shine.

This week, we are thinking outside of the box to provide pairings based on the vegetable elements of your meal.  After all, we can all use some delicious veggies in our lives, especially if they come with a harmonious glass of wine!

Pairing Bell Peppers with Sangiovese

For this pairing, we are oven-roasting red, yellow, and orange bell peppers in a bit of olive oil, basil, salt, and pepper and finishing with a quick broil until just barely charred. These colorful beauties release just a bit of sweetness and complement the profile of our beautiful bright red Sangiovese.

Pairing Zucchini with Sauvignon Blanc

For most green vegetables, Sauvignon Blanc is an easy go-to. We like to spiralize zucchini and very lightly sauté the zucchini “noodles” in garlic-infused butter, then season with lemon juice and fresh herbs. The fresh, light flavors are perfect for airing with the simple golden beauty of our Sauvignon Blanc.

Pairing Cabbage with Cabernet Sauvignon

This pairing may seem to come out of left field, but it comes down to preparation. Finely shredded cabbage, red or green, makes a toothsome, flavor-packed meal when braised with high-quality fat (such as duck fat) and joined by pancetta or bacon. Trust us, it’s hearty enough to harmonize with our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

Pairing Broccoli with Chardonnay

We love a well-seasoned pan of roasted broccoli. Easy to make and even easier to eat, these nutrient-packed florets offer flavor that flourished alongside an unctuous Chardonnay. Our oak-aged Reserve Chardonnay compliments the natural flavors without being overpowering.

Pairing Brussels Sprouts with Zinfandel

This particular vegetable is known for being a tricky component for wine pairings. Aside from Sauvignon Blanc, many wines are not exceptionally compatible with this lovely veggie. However, for this pairing, we’re busting out the fryer (or air fryer) for some crispy-yet-tender bites, and seasoning with a balsamic reduction perfect with our Peacock Patch Zinfandel.

Pairing Asparagus with a Red Blend

Barbecue season is upon us, so for this pairing we are grilling marinated asparagus for a lovely char and enjoying it alongside a glass of our Grapeful Red. This wine is a pairing artist, and will also go phenomenally with burgers, sausages, and anything else that comes off the grill. Take it easy!

What's your favorite pairing? Let us know @rubyhillwines. 

Jun 17, 2022 at 6:43 AM Permalink

Ruby Hill Vineyard Update

In the vineyard, the time of year is a time of transition. From blossoms to berries and proliferation to pruning, the vines are busy!

Our winemaker Jesse is carefully monitoring this crucial stage, keeping an eye on the health of the vines and their transition from blossom to berry, referred to as "fruit set."

Weather conditions this year have been beneficial for the vines. Tendrils like these reach out from the rows of each vineyard block, voracious and verdant. 

We have seen exuberant growth all across the estate, including the little patch of Zinfandel right in front of our tasting room. 

Our vines have sent out shoots and leaves for months, gaining gorgeous green volume. Soon, we will begin the process of leafing, in which some of the leafy canopy is removed so that the young fruit can be exposed to the sunlight. 

The Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc fruit benefit even more from sun exposure than any other varietal. Sunlight is a key ingredient in allowing the fruit to express itself in our final product. 

In some spots in the vineyard, you can still spot the remnants of the blossoming stage, but we are delighted to see the developments with fruit set throughout the estate. 

This important development into little clusters has been accomplished, giving us a glimpse of what the 2022 harvest will hold later this year. These clusters won't be tiny for long, so stay tuned!

Want to get up close and personal with the Estate Vineyard yourself? Take a ride with our MCVE tour and see it like never before!

Jun 10, 2022 at 4:45 AM Permalink

National Cheese Day with Ruby Hill Winery

        Did you know that June 4th is National Cheese day? It’s time to celebrate the true royalty of the dairy family, the deliciously versatile goodness that is cheese. To commemorate this excellently cheesy holiday, we asked a handful of our tasting room staff what their favorite combinations were so we can put together a guide of pairing all-stars that will have your tastebuds dancing every time. Exquisite cheeses and elegant wines? Sign us up!

Sandi - Sparkling Wine & Tennessee Whiskey BellaVitano.

Both members of this pairing are your allies when you want a delicious combination. Sparkling Wine is friendly to flavors of all kinds and few cheeses pair with a wider range of wines than BellaVitano. 
 

Paul - Intesa & Chevre

Our Club-Exclusive blends offer some of the very best pairing potential with their layered flavor dynamics. We recommend a truffle-infused chevre goat cheese with this beloved blend of Cabernet and Barbera. 

Olivia - Reserve Sauvignon Blanc & Buttery Chive Plant-Based Cheese

This option is a perfect go-to for a golden sip of summertime, suited for anyone who appreciates a good pairing and prefers to avoid animal products. This elegantly flavorful cheese is made from cashews and is 100% vegan.
 

Ami - Jewel Petit Verdot &  Bleu Cheese

If this pairing is a little outside of your comfort zone, then prepare to be blown away by the harmony of flavors. This pairing strikes an unforgettable balance and will have you reaching for more!
 

Karen - Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon & Sharp Aged Cheddar

Our Reserve Cabernet is a tried-and true quintessential favorite, and this pairing makes it shine all the more. Choose your favorite bold cheddar to enjoy alongside the rich party of tannin and flavor.
 

Jeanne S - Sparkling Wine & Manchego 

Further proving the reliability of Sparkling Wine, the creamy, salty-sweet dynamics of manchego shine alongside crisp bubbles. This combination is clean and simple: nibble, sip repeat. 
 

Diane - Grapeful Rosé & Burrata

This combination is especially appropriate now that the weather is warming up. Enjoy the floral aroma and crisp profile of our iconic Rosé with the fresh creaminess of a lush buttery burrata.
 

Sue - Jewel Cabernet Sauvignon & Black Pepper BellaVitano

Black pepper is a Cabernet’s best friend, and this is no exception. We are so delighted to have welcomed a new vintage of Jewel Cab to the tasting room that it’s a wonder anything could improve it, but this cheese completes the picture magnificently.

        Here at Ruby Hill, cheese is the penultimate companion of wine (step aside, chocolate). When sweets just won’t do, savory is here for you. Come visit our team in the tasting room and enjoy pairings like these straight from the source! Our deli case is stocked with delicious snacks and the wine is always ready to flow!

Jun 3, 2022 at 6:44 AM Permalink

A Spotlight on 2021 Grapeful Rosé

Our Grapeful Rosé is one-of-a-kind. This playful, vibrant, and delicious Rosé wine has quickly become one of our favorites here at Ruby Hill. Crafted from our Estate-grown Sangiovese grapes, the color of this Rosé is stunning and the aromas and flavors are a delight. There's nothing more perfect for summertime than a sip of this. Below, we have unpacked a few of the elements from our winemaker's tasting notes on this wine—see if you can taste them too! 

Fresh Strawberry

Nothing says summer quite like a bright, juicy strawberry. These aromas and flavors flourish in each sip of Grapeful Rosé like many of its Provençal-style cousins. 
 

Watermelon Hard Candy

This signifies the tangy, concentrated fruit flavors that dance on the palate, giving the experience of hard candy without cloying sweetness.  

Ripe Raspberry

Vibrantly delicious! Provided by the food-friendly pleasant acidity of this Rosé, these notes balance between tartness and sweetness. 

Hint of Cucumber

Though perhaps unexpected, this note is a welcome guest in the bouquet of our Rosé, bringing summery freshness to each sip. 
 

Time for a taste test? Get it before the sale is gone, and stock up for summer while you're at it!

May 27, 2022 at 6:01 AM Permalink

What to Pair with Our Rosé

The beauty of May has us ready for a summer of sunshine and good times, best accompanied by a glass of Rosé! This week, we’re taking a look at the best pairings for May's Wine of the Month: our gorgeous 2021 Grapeful Rosé. A playful nose rich with strawberry, watermelon jolly rancher, hibiscus, and a hint of cucumber leads into a full mouthfeel and balanced acidity. This Rosé reflects an elegant Provençal style, a refreshing profile, and best of all: it’s on sale! 

Our Grapeful Rosé is crafted from Sangiovese grapes, creating a rich and dry wine that's perfect on its own and deliciously enhanced by the right company, be it cheese, entrees, or dessert. 

Charcuterie

Soft Fresh Burrata

Cubed Honeydew Melon

Thin-Sliced Prosciutto

Sliced Ripe Strawberries

Fruit-Encrusted Goat Cheese



 

Proteins

Baked Salmon

Rosemary Roasted Chicken

Grilled Garlicky Shrimp

Seafood Paella

Tahini-Roasted Cauliflower 

Desserts

Vanilla Macarons

Strawberry Rhubarb Tart

Fresh Fruit Salad with Wild Honey

Raspberry Panna Cotta

Watermelon Slush

Happy May, friends! This is the season for Rosé
so get yours now while the sale is on!

May 20, 2022 at 6:36 AM Permalink

Wine Tasting Basics: 5 Words you Should Know

Part of our mission at Ruby Hill Winery is for wine to be approachable and enjoyed by all. We want everyone to be able to enjoy the delight of a glass of wine without the pressure of pretense—enjoying wine isn’t just for wine snobs! To enhance your experience, we’ve listed a few simple words below and what they mean when tasting wine. 
 

"Vintage"

The vintage of a wine is simply the year of its creation, which will appear on the bottle. For example, we are currently pouring the “2020 vintage” of our Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, which means the grapes that went into this wine were grown and harvested in 2020. For wines that take a long time to age in barrels before they are bottled (generally red wines), quite a bit of time can elapse between harvest and when the wines are released. The 2019 vintage of our Jewel Cabernet Sauvignon was just bottled earlier this year and has not yet been released. The year that appears on a bottle of wine indicates its vintage. Wines that are a blend of multiple vintages, such as our Solera Dessert Wine or our Armonia Lot #11, are labeled as “Non-Vintage."
In context: “I think the 2018 vintage of our Reserve Cab is especially good.”
 

"Nose"

Referring to a wine’s “nose” is a fancy way of referring to its smell or “aroma.” In a tasting room, you’ll likely hear the aroma of various wines described in terms of all kinds of fruits or flowers. Smells matter in wine tasting! The nose will reveal a great deal about how a wine will taste and give you an idea of what to expect once you take a sip. If a wine ages well, its aroma becomes more layered and complex as time goes on, developing from an aroma into what the wine world refers to as a “bouquet.” To get a good sense of the nose of a wine (aroma or bouquet) give your glass a nice swill before taking a sniff to release more of the scent molecules into the air. 
In context: “The Petite Sirah has a very pronounced nose with notes of blackberry and cocoa.” 
 

"Legs"

After you’ve just swirled your glass to get a sense of the nose, hold your glass up to the light and look just above the surface of the wine. Likely, you will see lines of wine easing down the sides of the glass. These lines are called “legs” and can tell you a bit about the alcohol or sugar content of your wine. Generally, sweeter or higher alcohol wines will have more pronounced legs but the length or appearance of these legs is not an indicator of quality. 
In context: “You can see the subtle legs of the Sangiovese if you give it a swirl.”
 

"Body"

The body of a wine is how full, rich, or heavy it feels in your mouth. A thinner feel in the mouth would be referred to as “light-bodied” or simply “light” while more robust, dense wines are medium- or full-bodied. The texture that you sense in the wine’s body, be it smooth, rough, or velvety, is fittingly referred to as the mouthfeel. The differences between the body of various wines is not terribly different from other beverages—think of the different sensations between sipping skim milk vs. whole milk.
In context: “The Grapeful Rosé is much more full-bodied than the average Rosé wine
 

"Structure"

The structure of a wine is a combination of several features: alcohol level, acidity, sugar, tannins, and fruit. A wine that has a deliciously harmonious balance between these elements is referred to as “structured.” A wine that has a pleasant aroma, a smooth sip and mouthfeel, and flavors that linger after swallowing (called the “finish”) would be considered structured. Structure in wine has a great deal to do with tannins, which are compounds from the skins and seed of grapes that give wine its color, its ability to age, and a great deal of its texture. If a wine makes you pucker or makes your tongue feel dry, it is likely a more tannic wine. 
In context: “The structure of the Jewel Zinfandel is exactly the balance I’m looking for in a red wine.”

If you are looking for a chance to use your wine vocabulary, come taste what the Livermore Valley has to offer at Ruby Hill Winery! We're open 7 days a week and reservations are required on weekends only. 

May 13, 2022 at 6:48 AM Permalink

Elevate Your Mimosas for Mother's Day

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, and we’re here to help you make it special. Classic Mimosas (or should we say Mom-osas) are a special treat for any day, but we think this is the perfect chance to elevate this simple libation! Below, we’ve suggested garnishes and add-ins of all kinds to make these Mimosas a signature staple. Enjoy every kind of spin on these drinks, from sweet and fruity to tart and zesty.

Step Beyond Orange Juice
Mix up some unforgettable combos for your base!

• Grapefruit Juice
• Pear Puree
• Pink Lemonade
• Pineapple Juice
• Watermelon Puree
• Cranberry Juice

Make it a Magnificent Mixer
It’s not just a party for Sparkling Wine! Try a touch of these:

• Tequila
• Peach Liqueur
• Vodka
• Grapefruit Sparkling Water (Non-Alcoholic option)
• Small Scoop of Sherbet

Infuse Your Sip with Whole Fruit
Mix and match these fruity delights!

• Raspberries
• Citrus Wedges
• Blueberries
• Mango Cubes
• Tart Cherries
• Pomegranate Arils 
• Kiwi Rounds

Jazz Your Glass With an Herbaceous Garnish
The flavor spins you didn’t know you needed

• Lavender
• Mint
• Rose Petals
• Rosemary 
• Thyme
• Basil

Make a sample flight of your favorite combinations, or set up a Mimosa buffet for a family Mother’s Day brunch! After all, nothing says “I love you” quite like thoughtful food and drinks.

To honor this holiday, we’re offering a sale on our Sparkling Wine, perfect for mimosas!
 

May 6, 2022 at 5:36 AM Permalink

If Our Wines Were Flowers

One of our favorite things about spring here on the Estate is watching the flowers bloom and flourish. These colorful ornaments call our attention to the changing seasons and the wonder of nature. This week, we’ve reimagined a dozen of our wines as flowers!

Sparkling Wine - Daffodil

No flower can bring a smile to your face quite as fast as a daffodil. These cheerful beauties remind us of the bright effervescence of our Sparkling Wine!  

Sauvignon Blanc - Sunflower

These yellow beauties have a love for the sun.  Our Sauvignon Blanc fruit is exposed to the sunlight early in the growing process to develop the amazing flavors you know and love. 

Jewel Chardonnay - Lily

Elegant and pure, our Jewel Collection Chardonnay proudly unfurls with gorgeous fragrance. Yellow lilies symbolize rejuvenation and joy, just like a sip of golden wine on a sunny day. 

Grapeful Rosé - Peony

Bringing us the most precious tones of pink, both our Grapeful Rose and peony flowers steal the show in every bouquet. Both are delicate, dynamic, and always welcome on our table! 

Sangiovese - Gerbera Daisy

We treasure the virtue found in simplicity. Our Sangiovese is approachable, unpretentious, and still a thing of beauty, making it just like the lovely gerbera daisy.

Peacock Patch Zinfandel - Orchid

Orchids are unique and ostentatious, flaunting delicate strength and incomparable aroma. Our Peacock Patch Zin follows suit, with a boldly colorful character worth flaunting!

Intesa - Tulips

Our Club Wine Intesa earned its name from a word meaning harmony or agreement. Tulips symbolize deep and unconditional love, which you’ll taste in the intertwined nature of this blend. 

Armonia - Ranunculus

The ranunculus flower boasts layer after layer of soft petals, coming together into an integrated whole. The Club-Exclusive Armonia does the same, bringing together multiple vintages of wine into multilayered complexity. 

Cielo Viola - Carnation

Carnations can represent fascination and distinction, making them the perfect floral counterpart for our Cielo Viola. This wine is an enchanting blend of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah that always has you reaching for another sip. 

Cabernet Sauvignon - Rose

If wines were turned into flowers, Cabernet Sauvignon would be a breathtaking rose. Whether splashed with color or enrobed in a deep, dark red, these classics capture each other's character.  

Petite Sirah - Iris

The inky boldness of Petite Sirah matches the uncommon beauty of the Iris. The dark, bold irises are said to represent valor, wisdom, and royalty, perfect for a Petite Sirah fit for a king. 

Petit Verdot - Lilac 

Lilac flowers bloom for only a short time each year, but their plants are reliably robust, easily living more than a century. Our Jewel Collection Petit Verdot is rich in color, tannin, and body, yet each sip hosts a delicate aroma with features of lilac.

If you were a flower, what kind would you be and why? Join the conversation on our socials @rubyhillwines

If you want to have a "bouquet" of your own, then check out our Case Sales, available for a limited time!

Apr 29, 2022 at 6:44 AM Permalink