New Year's Bubbles: 3 Ways

As you get ready welcome 2022, why not take a note out of Gatsby's book and party like it's 1922? This week, we're listing a few drink that will help you ring in the new year with just the right amount of bubble and glitz!

The Daisy Buchanan Cocktail

Enjoy a dainty, lighthearted cocktail to start things off! In true Gatsby fashion, this zesty and lightly herbaceous cocktail is named after his beautiful muse, Daisy. Easy to make and full of vibrantly fresh flavor, this refreshing recipe is perfect for serving to a crowd.

The Grape Gatsby Cocktail

If you want a cocktail that is unique, refined, and worth the work, then this is the right choice for you. This gorgeous, elevated version of an aperol spritz combines Aperol, red vermouth, verjus, grapefruit juice, grapefruit bitters and a splash of champagne for the most delicate and luxurious sips you'll have all evening.

Sparkling Wine, Elevated

We love to keep our Sparkling Wine simple, but on New Year's Eve, it's fun to jazz it up. Today is the last day of our sale, so enjoy more for less! Fill your flute with the most dazzling bubbles just by adding a sugar cube, or add some fruity flair with a touch of blackberry or raspberry syrup!

The happiest of new years to you all!

The 12 Days of Ruby Hill

Today, on December 24th, we're remaking the old classic "12 Days of Christmas," Ruby Hill Style! It goes something like this:

On the 12th Day of Christmas, Ruby Hill gave to me:

The 12 bottles of wine that make a perfect case! The capacity of a standard bottle is just over 1.5 pints, so one full case of wine contains just under 2 gallons of wine. 

On the 11th Day of Christmas, Ruby Hill gave to me:

The 11 different varietals that are grown on the Estate: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Barbera, Merlot, Sangiovese, and Petit Verdot!

On the 10th Day of Christmas, Ruby Hill gave to me:

The $10 donated to Valley Humane Society for every bottle of Cuvée Dray sold. We have had the honor of raising over $15,000 so far to support VHS's work. 

On the 9th Day of Christmas, Ruby Hill gave to me:

The 9th of February, the birthday of our tasting room! We opened the doors in 2008, nearly 14 years ago, and we are more excited for the future than ever. 

On the 8th Day of Christmas, Ruby Hill gave to me:

The 8 consecutive years of incredible ratings on our Jewel Cabernet Sauvignon. From our 2011 vintage to present day, the Jewel Cab has been awarded 90 points or above from Wine Enthusiast. 

On the 7th Day of Christmas, Ruby Hill gave to me:

The 7 days each week that our Tasting Room is open. We offer more operating hours than nearly every other tasting room in the Livermore valley, so you can taste on your schedule!

On the 6th Day of Christmas, Ruby Hill gave to me:

The 6 bottles that you need to score free shipping! In recognition of all our friends who cannot visit in person, we want it to be easy to share the Ruby Hill love around.

On the 5th Day of Christmas, Ruby Hill gave to me:

The 5 wines in our Wine Club-Exclusive collection: the Intesa, Armonia, Patchwork, Cielo Viola, and Riverbed Red. Have you tried them all?

On the 4th Day of Christmas, Ruby Hill gave to me:

The 4 allotments we release each year! Our Jewel, Diamond, and Ruby Releases are enjoyed in January, April, July, and October annually. 

On the 3rd Day of Christmas, Ruby Hill gave to me:

The 3 primary types of oak we use in our winemaking process. We savor the unique flourishes offered by our French, Hungarian, and American oak barrels. 

On the 2nd Day of Christmas, Ruby Hill gave to me:

The 2 bottles worth of wine in every Magnum bottle! In addition to being impressive, this format has even better maturation potential and higher quality wine than standard bottles. 

On the 1st Day of Christmas, Ruby Hill gave to me:

The 1 beloved winery you've come to enjoy! We are honored to have such wonderful members and guests, and we eagerly anticipate many more happy years of serving Ruby Hill Wines to our favorite people.

No matter how or when you celebrate, we hope you feel merry this season! Cheers from all of us in the Ruby Hill family. 

Grapeful Ganache: A Simple Recipe

It's the holiday season, which means it's time to enjoy our favorite rich recipes and try out some new ones! This recipe makes a delicious all-purpose ganache, which can be used for just about anything. Try it on fruit, cakes, brownies, shortbread, piped into cupcakes, or even on hard cheese. We loved using our Grapeful Red to make the ganache, but any of our red wines would suit this recipe—if you like to drink it, then you'll enjoy ganache made with it. One of our favorite things about this recipe is finishing the rest of the bottle of wine, of course!

Ingredients

• ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
• ¾ cup Ruby Hill Grapeful Red
• 1 ½ Tbsp unsweetened dark cocoa powder
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 1 four oz bar semi-sweet baker's chocolate
• 1 four oz bar Ghirardelli dark chocolate
• 4 Tbsp cup salted butter, cubed and softened to room temperature
• ⅛ tsp large flake sea salt

Instructions

1. Roughly chop the chocolate bars until the pieces are about the size of chocolate chips. 
2. Whisk the heavy cream, wine, cocoa powder, and sugar together in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once simmering, allow it to simmer for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove  the liquid from the heat, then stir in the chocolate, butter, and salt. Taste and salt additionally, according to preference. 
3. Allow the ganache to cool for a few minutes before using. The ganache will thicken as it cools, so use it sooner if a thinner consistency is desired. If you’d like to frost cakes or pipe it into cupcakes, we recommend that you let it chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour. 
4. Cover and store leftover ganache in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. If you need to thin out the ganache again, gently reheat in the microwave on 50% power for about 30 seconds. 

Recipe inspired by Sally's Baking Addiction

Now that this recipe is in your repertoire, you have everything you need to bring all of your holiday desserts to the next level! Cheers! 

Holiday Movies with Ruby Hill Wines

'Tis the season for a night in with a glass of wine and a movie! We've rounded up some holiday classics along with pairing suggestions to get you into the festive relaxation zone. 

A Christmas Story
with Reserve Chardonnay

Sometimes Christmas is about getting what you really want. Sometimes, you want a Red Ryder BB gun, sometimes you want a leg lamp, and sometimes you just want a chilled glass of exquisite Chardonnay.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
with Sauvignon Blanc 

All Whos beware: He's mean and green! Though Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine, the grapes themselves are a green worthy of the Grinch and his grin. 

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
with Cuvée Dray 

Our precious Dray won't be pulling a sleigh this Christmas, but he's still our little reindeer. This classic film is perfectly complimented by a Bordeaux blend. 

Love, Actually
with Armonia Lot #11

Stories intertwine and intermingle  with this heartwarming narrative the same way our Armonia (which means "harmony" brings together different varietals and vintages. 

It's a Wonderful Life
with Jewel Cabernet Sauvignon

A film celebrating its 75th year and described as "The most loved Christmas film of all time" deserves a glass of our critically acclaimed and absolutely classic Cabernet. 

Elf
with Solera Dessert Wine

Buddy the Elf identifies the food groups of Elves: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup. He'd approve of this luxuriously sweet port-style wine, perhaps alongside dark chocolate peppermint bark. 

The Muppet Christmas Carol 
with Grapeful Red

If you need a little bit of fun and whimsy, then you need this film alongside our tie-dyed Grapeful Red. In the hustle and bustle of the season, life's too short to take too seriously. 

Die Hard
with Reserve Petite Sirah

If you are someone who passionately insists that Die Hard is a Christmas film, we recommend our Reserve Petite Sirah, because strong opinions deserve bold flavors. 

Home Alone
with Sparkling Wine

While Kevin's family is off in France, sip on wine popularized by the Champagne region—and imagine just how Kevin could use an exploding sparkling bottle against some thugs!

Are we missing your favorite? Let us know! Tag us @rubyhillwines on Instagram or Facebook. 

Vineyard Beauty: Colors of Change

If you need evidence that change can be beautiful, look no further than the Estate Vineyard on the cusp of winter. The chill clings to the leaves as the leaves cling to the vines, a sure sign that harvest is over and the new season is on its way. Autumn does not leave here without a last hurrah, however. In the vineyard, each vine and block has put on a stunning show of color, arrayed in yellow, red, purple, and orange. This week, we are savoring the beauty of the seasons changing with this gallery. We hope you find beauty in these snapshots. 

On the horizon we see a season of bare branches and dormancy, sparkling with frosty charm and anticipation. Full steam ahead into this holiday season!