Autumn Wine Pairings to Try

Last week marked the release of several new vintages into the tasting room with our October Release. With our members’ cellars restocked for the coming season, it’s time to get cooking! These pairings are guaranteed to make your wines shine better than ever. 

2021 Peacock Patch Zinfandel - Fig-Cranberry and Cheese Crostini

A symphony of fun fall flavors comes together in this delicious appetizer. Savor the combination of your favorite cheese and the sweet, tart, jammy character of the fruit topping on these crostinis. These flavors are a perfect companion for the kaleidoscope of flavors in our new vintage of Peacock Patch Zin.

2020 Intesa - Herbed Squash and Mushroom Risotto

Cozy and comforting, this baked risotto incorporates roasted acorn squash, sage, mushrooms, and a touch of truffle oil to make the best autumn risotto you’ve ever enjoyed. Serve this alongside our new 2020 Intesa, a harmonious blend of Barbera and Cabernet. 

2020 Jewel Chardonnay - Butternut Squash & Caramelized Shallot Tart

We love a savory pie, and this recipe offers a gourmet twist that we can’t resist. Safe for our plant-based friends and family, this tart is flavorful, hearty, and elegant. We recommend serving it with a light drizzle of white balsamic glaze and a glass of our Jewel Collection Chardonnay!

2020 Reserve Chardonnay - Roasted Delicata Squash with Honey Butter

This recipe might just make delicata squash your new favorite. Balanced with just the right amount of sweet, salty, and nutty, this dish deserves a spot in regular rotation. The delicate sweetness of the delicata squash, plus the honeyed creaminess of the butter pairs delightfully with our Reserve Chardonnay.

2021 Jewel Petit Verdot - Pomegranate Braised Lamb Shanks

A juicy autumnal take on a decadent dish, enjoy layers of flavor in this recipe. Savory, flavorful, and tender, this lamb pairs perfectly with our Jewel Collection Petit Verdot. This recipe infuses rich flavor at every turn and the meat melts right off the bone. 

2020 Jewel Cabernet Sauvignon - Dark Chocolate Cake with Praline & Blackberries 

With tremendous depth of flavor, this flourless cake is rich, bold, and surprisingly easy to make. Use pecans or cashews in your homemade praline, and pick the ripest blackberries you can find. Everything about this dessert pairs deliciously with the perfectly opulent and velvety profile of our Jewel Cabernet.

These mouthwatering combinations are perfect to cozy up with this month! We hope you enjoy the flavors of the season with all of your favorite Ruby Hill Wines. Cheers!

Behind the Scenes: Harvest Mornings

Harvest 2023 has begun in the Ruby Hill Estates vineyard. The weather this year has already impacted our harvest pattern setting 2023 apart from other years. We are excited for the unique characteristics we will see with these wines! Let us take you behind the scenes to the early mornings of our white wine harvest. 

Between the wet winter, chilly spring, and mild summer, our fruit is ripening much later than usual. This blog shows our team processing the first of the harvest, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, since white wines are ready the earliest. Still, these varietals took their time this year, and our red wines won’t be ready for a little while longer.

One of the biggest impacts of the weather this year is huge yields. Even after our process of dropping fruit so the vines can focus on nourishing the remaining clusters, the vines are thick with beautiful clusters. 

This wine press is one of the ways that we introduce technology into the wines we produce. It brings efficiency and consistency without sacrificing control and attention to detail. 

We process our fruit early in the morning, not long after it is harvested. We monitor for quality and keep a keen eye on every step of the process. 

The production and pressing process differs from wine to wine. Still, one of the most rewarding sights is the deluge of juice that will become the wines that we know and love. 

Our hardworking team includes Jesse, our winemaker, and the cellar team: John, Leonard, Dominic, and Anna. They help make the magic happen!

This precious “liquid gold” has a long time to go before it is bottled as our Livermore Valley Chardonnay, but we are proud to oversee each part of this wine’s lifespan, from the vineyard to the bottle and into your glass, all on the same property. 

With the increasing popularity of Sauvignon Blanc, we are thrilled to see the quality and yields of the 2023 crop!

Drop by drop, the story of our wines is written. This 2023 Chardonnay is pure potential. 

Good fruit is the cornerstone of good wine, which is why we pour love and care into every step of the process: so we can pour you a glass of pure goodness.

In the mood to enjoy some delicious wine, grown, produced, and bottled locally? Come visit us at the Ruby Hill Tasting room any day of the week. If you are interested in learning more about the winemaking process and taking a look behind the scenes, consider our Mello Cielo Vineyard Experience tour, or the Portfolio Tasting experience at our sister winery, Rubino Estates!