Butter Boards for Thanksgiving

Butter boards are the newest trend in dinner party hosting, and it’s not hard to see why. This beautiful presentation breaks the mold (or the butter dish) and invites both creativity and presentation panache. In our opinion, if there’s ever an occasion to top, well, everything with butter, it’s Thanksgiving. 

We tried out two different boards for our occasion: one savory, one sweet, all inspired by traditional fall flavors. These are essentially compound butters, handy for infusing flavor in your cooking, and presented gracefully spread across a small cutting or charcuterie board. It’s easier than you think! Now, it’s time to get your dinner rolls, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and anything else that could use a creamy, flavorful dollop. 

Sweet Thanksgiving Butter Board

For this board, we were inspired by our favorite Thanksgiving treats. We whipped softened butter, incorporating honey, cinnamon, and a touch of pumpkin pie spice. The measurements are all yours! This board took about 5 tablespoons of butter, 1 tablespoon of honey, and ½ tsp of spices. For the presentation, we drizzled our favorite cranberry sauce and added bits of pecan and pomegranate. Garnish to your heart’s content!

Savory Thanksgiving Butter Board

For this board, we went with more classic flavors, focusing on garlic and herbs. Fresh roasted garlic is a requirement to get the perfect flavor. We roasted a whole head in the oven and pureed it into our butter, along with fresh rosemary and thyme and a sprinkle of kosher salt (if using unsalted butter). Like our sweet board, we used about 5 tablespoons of butter for this spread. We garnished with fresh sprigs of rosemary, dried herbs, and a few cloves of our roasted garlic. 

If you want to do more than traditional dinner rolls, a sliced baguette makes a great companion for a butter board. Don’t forget to choose some classy butter knives, and make sure to serve your boards straight out of the refrigerator.

Have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Autumn Color In the Vineyard

Autumn is here, and the vineyard is flashing colors of crimson, green, and everything in between. We can’t resist sharing the beauty with you!

Join us on a chilly fall morning as we walk down this golden aisle in search of natural beauty.

The colors of the season grace our vineyard, creating beautiful patterns as individual as snowflakes.

The leaves on some vines mirror the character of their fruit, as the deep, inky purple of this Petite Sirah vine does. 

These rows that stretch on gracefully have begun a shift to blond hue, mimicking the Chardonnay that was harvested from them not long ago. 

As light breaks on the vineyard we like to think that the orange sunrise inspires the warm colors to continue emerging through the Estate.

Many sections of our vineyard, including this block of Cabernet, have held onto their green cloak. The colors of fall are just beginning to break through. 

Even the youngest of our vines are putting on the show, with gorgeous fringes glowing in the pale autumn sun. 

We are blessed by the beauty of change, and the marks it leaves on the estate in this season. We hope you can come visit and see for yourself!

Chardonnay & Thanksgiving Day

Our ever-popular Reserve Collection Chardonnay is November’s Wine of the Month! It’s a delight to celebrate this flavorful classic, especially alongside our favorite holiday dishes. With Thanksgiving coming up, we want to lend a hand with your menu plans by providing a helpful guide to pairing this white wine with turkey day classics. 

Mains

Roasted Spatchcock Chicken - If you have a smaller gathering, this is a great option. The method of spatchcock is less complicated than it appears, and allows for even cooking and phenomenal flavor.

Brined Herb-Crusted Turkey - It’s not nicknamed “Turkey Day” for no reason! It’s a delight to gobble up a serving or two of well-seasoned, tender turkey, complemented by homemade gravy and a glass of wine. 

Mushroom Wellington - This vegetarian take on a beefy classic lightens up the dish, making it more approachable, easier on the waistline, and perfect for pairing with Chardonnay!

Sides

Sweet Potato Casserole - This sweet treat epitomizes this holiday of feasting and plenty. With or without marshmallows, our Chardonnay is a friend of this dish.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes - 

A year-round favorite, we like to use this holiday as our excuse to add that extra dose of butter and heavy cream for the loveliest mash. 

Creamed Corn - Mild and easy to pair, we enjoy this age-old classic with the sumptuous flavors and unctuous mouthfeel of our Chardonnay.

Dessert

Pumpkin Pie - It’s practically a requirement to enjoy this sweet-and-spiced dessert this time of year, and we recommend a nice helping of whipped cream too! 

Baked Apples - Our Chardonnay offers a fresh flavor bridge between the crispness yet smooth profile of the wine and the mellow sweetness of a good baked apple. 

Butter Pecan Cookies - Buttery and delicious, these cookies hold the flavors of the season and make a luxurious accompaniment for a glass of our Chardonnay.

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