Spotlight on Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet is king for a reason. Like most of us, it loves the weather in California and enjoys a nice steak dinner. We are celebrating our award-winning 2018 Reserve Collection Cabernet Sauvignon by unpacking the tasting notes you can expect while enjoying this wine. 

 

Marionberry

Delicate and packed with flavor, marionberry notes emphasize the depth of a wine from aroma to finish. 

 

 

Raspberry

The bright and snappy notes of raspberry entice the nose and balances the luxe mouthfeel, rounding out the experience.

 

 

Hazelnut Chocolate

Toasted hazelnut meets rich chocolate notes in this irresistible sweet, the profile of which dances in the flavor of this wine. 

 

 

Dark Fruit

Plush dark fruit notes like plum, huckleberry, and blackberry are characteristic of many deep, luxurious reds. 

 

 

Rosemary

These slight yet intriguing and savory herb notes add complexity to the flavor profile and finish of ageable Cabs like this one. 

 

 

We recommend pairing this wine with bacon-wrapped sausages, blackened chicken, steak salad with gorgonzola and black pepper, or double chocolate cake. Don’t miss out: today is the very last day to purchase our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon during our Wine of the Month sale!

Wine Inspiration For Plant Lovers

The third week of September is National Indoor Plant Week! For all our wine-loving plant moms, plant dads, and anyone else with a green thumb, this blog is for you. We’ve selected wines that match the personality of 9 common houseplants, since nothing can liven up a room quite like them!

Fiddle Leaf Fig  -

This gorgeous green beauty is hard to conceal, with its large shiny leaves and calming poise. We are reminded of the shine of our Jewel Chardonnay, always ready to catch your eye. 

Monstera Deliciosa -

Don’t let the “monstera” deceive you! Also called the “Swiss Cheese Plant” this easygoing houseplant is reminiscent of our Sangiovese: fun, quirky, and approachable for everyone. 

Peace Lily -

As its name suggests, this plant beautifully represents peacefulness, purity, and healing. Something so light and graceful is an excellent partner to our Sauvignon Blanc. 

Air Plant - 

The tiny miracles known as Air Plants don’t ask much from you. These stylish beauties look fabulous and don’t even require soil! We like that attitude--it’s just like our Cabernet Sauvignon.  

Golden Pothos - 

The Pothos goes by many intriguing names, including the Marble Queen and Money Plant. The beautiful designs and tenacious color are reminiscent of our Peacock Patch Zinfandel.  

Mini Cactus - 

They’re beyond cute, maybe a little prickly, but in a way we love! If you love a mini cactus, then something bold and fun like Riverbed Red might be right for you!

Snake Plant - 

Some argue that snake plants deserve the title of being the perfect houseplant, with some of the easiest care of all. When you want something delightful and easy, it’s time for Grapeful Red. 

String of Hearts - 

This one is for all of the romantic plant lovers! Heart-shaped leaves growing along a vine like beads on a string are your plant’s way of expressing love. Sweet romance? That calls for our Solera Dessert Wine!

Mini Succulents - 

Quaint and quintessential, miniature succulents like zebra plants, little missy, baby jade, and more are always a nice way to brighten a room and lift your spirits--just like a good Sparkling Wine!

This week, make sure to celebrate the little things that lighten up your life!

A Good Boy & A Good Cause

In a single month, the 2020 vintage of Cuvée Dray has already helped us raise over $5,000 for Valley Humane Society. To celebrate, we joined our beloved winery dog (and local celebrity) Draymond, as he spent some time in the vineyards and around the estate. As we work through the harvest season, it’s very important to keep an eye on the health of the vines and fruit. Most of all, Draymond keeps morale up, setting an example of exuberance and friendliness. 

The donations inspired and encouraged by Dray’s attitude and deep, soulful eyes go a long way to help our community. It is both a privilege and honor to support Valley humane society and the amazing work they do to enrich the lives of people and pets alike. In their words,

“At Valley Humane Society, we know that rescuing animals starts with helping those who care for them. We also firmly believe in the power of pets to inspire, comfort, teach, heal, unify. That’s why our programs reach beyond rescue and pet adoption to serve the people of our community.” 

Valley Humane Society's many programs include pet adoptions, Canine Comfort Pet Therapy, a Pet Food Pantry, and soon an all-new veterinary surgery center. This center will make life-saving surgeries more accessible and will also help adoptable animals get another step closer to finding their fur-ever homes! Find out more about Valley Humane Society on their website. 

We are so excited to see what the future of Cuvée Dray holds. Craving a bottle? Click here!

Re-Live Memories With Library Wines

     Have you ever had a moment in time that you wish you could freeze? A day you wish you could savor longer? Memories of these landmark events in our lives: a marriage, an important business accomplishment, a graduation, the birth of a child, and more carry us through difficult seasons and remind us why we do what we do. This incorporeal nostalgia is inexplicable and incredibly powerful, and this is the nostalgia that we like to store in bottles of wine. 

     Time is a crucial element in every area of life, including the wines we enjoy. Though many wines are ready to drink the day they are purchased, the truth is that modern wine bottles are designed with aging in mind. The anatomy of a wine bottle is such that when stored on its side, the wine is in contact with the cork, limiting air leakage and oxidation. As the bottle rests peacefully, tiny natural changes transform the wine little by little. 

     Memories take us back to a single moment in time, but also gain meaning overtime and remind us of the significance of maturity. Just like memories, wines have a twofold nature: the character of the wine when it was bottled, and what it earns along the way through maturation. An air of wisdom comes with time, expressing itself more dynamically with new and fascinating layers of taste. In fact, some characteristics can only be found with time, but whether you age a little or a lot is up to your personal palate. 

     Every moment until the cork is popped, the wine is changing ever so slightly and coming into its own, so it’s important to select the right one: one that will grow up into a mature and flavorful finish and allow you to reminisce. If you are choosing wines to age, look less at the price and more at the quality and your personal nostalgia. 

      Wine is so much more than a beverage to pair with your food. Allow wine to take you down memory lane. It is patient. If a year holds special significance, hang on to high-quality wines from that vintage. Buy a case of your favorite and open a bottle each time you reach a significant milestone, weaving the story and progress of that wine into your own story and progress.

If you are interested in becoming a part of the story of wine, then we have an event for you! We have opened up our own Library of special wines from the past, and they will be available for sale only at these events! Celebrate nostalgia and reminisce over some fantastic wines with unbeatable sales at Retro Night on September 17th.

Tickets available now. Click here!

Wine of the Month: Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

We are thrilled to announce our Wine of the Month for September: 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon! Awarded 90 points from Wine Enthusiast and continually a Ruby Hill family favorite, the elegant beauty of this wine is not lost on anyone. Rich and deliciously tannic, this wine is a perfect companion for foods like bacon-wrapped sausages, blackened chicken, steak salad with cheese, or double chocolate cake. We can’t resist a flavor-packed steak salad, especially in warm weather, so let’s get cooking!

Grilled Steak Salad

Ingredients

• 2 filets or strip steaks
• kosher salt and pepper
• 12 ounces spring greens
• 2 baby cucumbers, chopped
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1 avocado, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons roasted pepitas
• pickled red onions, for topping
• Gorgonzola or bleu cheese dressing.

Instructions

1. Preheat your grill to the highest setting. Take the steak out of the fridge for at least 30 minutes to take the chill off. While the steak comes to room temperature, I make the dressing and the salad.
2. Assemble the salad by tossing the greens with a big pinch of salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add in the tomatoes, cucumbers and red (pickled) onions.
3. Place the steak on the grill grates and cook for 5 minutes, then flip and cook for 3 to 5 minutes more. I like to cook mine until they reach an internal temperature of 140 degrees F. Remove the steaks and let them rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
4. Add the avocado and the sliced steak to the salad. Sprinkle with the pepitas. Drizzle with bleu cheese or gorgonzola vinaigrette and serve immediately!

By Jessica from How Sweet Eats  

“This bold and mouthfilling wine is delicious, deep and lingering. Light earth and leather aromas lead to ripe black-fruit and dark-chocolate flavors that accompany full body and firm tannins” - Jim Gordon for Wine Enthusiast.

Are you ready to enjoy Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon? Get it now on sale!