Picking the Right Wine for the Weather

As Northern California eases into sweater weather, we are savoring the beauty of the slow changes from season to season. Each month offers its own beauty and charms. Of course, we get excited about wine all year round, regardless of what the weather is up to. When there’s too many options, try letting the weather help you decide! Whether it’s a heatwave or a cold snap, the weather can lend a hand with your wine selection.

When it’s 100-110℉: Sparkling Wine

Sweltering weather calls for something light, bright, and refreshing, as well as lower alcohol levels, and our Sparkling wine checks all the boxes. 

When it’s 90-100℉: Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay

Don’t let the heat make you grumpy; just take it as a perfect opportunity to experience the freshness of each sip of these white wines. 

When it’s 80-90℉: Grapeful Rosé

Still a touch too warm for deep reds but not too hot to stand, this weather allows our Grapeful Rose to take on a perfect middle ground. 

When it’s 70-80℉: Sangiovese or Intesa

You’re finally comfortable enough to pull out your red wines, so go for these lighter reds that offer great fruit character without asking too much. 

When it’s 60-70℉: Peacock Patch Zinfandel

Time to get jammy. The richness of this Zinfandel is deliciously balanced with pleasant acidity so you can enjoy it anytime!

When it’s 50-60℉: Cielo Viola or Cuvée Dray

It’s time to open up these amiable blends. Cielo Viola marries Petite Sirah and Zin, while the Cuvée Dray is a Cabernet-focused blend, balanced by some Petit Verdot and Merlot.

When it’s 40-50℉: Jewel Cabernet Sauvignon

Cozy, classic, and absolutely luxurious, this wine is perfect for enchanting your palate as well as warming your heart. 

When it’s 30-40℉: Riverbed Red

We’re reaching the freezing point, so it’s time for a rich warm dish like beef bourguignon or osso buco with this blend of Cab, Syrah, and Petite Sirah.

When it’s 20-30℉: Jewel Petit Verdot

This wine offers all of the comfort of a deluxe, rich mouthfeel, joined by soft, generous tannins. Petit Verdot offers a warmth that can’t compare!

When it’s 10-20℉: Jewel Petite Sirah

Now, you want to curl up and enjoy a warm blanket of velvety tannins and bold rich flavor that can only be found in our Jewel Petite Sirah. 

As we always say, when it comes to pairing, don’t be afraid to break the rules. If you need to find a walk-in freezer so you can enjoy some bold reds on a warm day, we won’t judge!

Need to stock up for the weather or holidays ahead? We’re making it easy with our Mixed Case Sales. Click here to shop now!

 

Fall Wine Pairings for your October Release

This week, we welcomed some new vintages to the tasting room with our October Release. Since this time of year always has us feeling festive, we’re recommended a few mouthwatering pairings to cozy up with this month! 

2020 Petit Verdot - Shepherd's Pie

Enjoy layers of flavor in this comforting classic. We recommend using lamb to keep things classically flavorful and to pair well with our Jewel Petit Verdot, but ground beef will work as well. This recipe breaks down how to get the best flavor in every element of this rich dish. 

Recipe from Serious Eats

2019 Jewel Zinfandel - Roasted Pork Chops and Apples

Enjoy the savory and sweet interplay of apples and onions alongside balsamic infused pork chops in this easy-to-prepare sheet pan recipe. In less than an hour, you have a delicious meal that pairs deliciously with the fruity and velvety profile of our Jewel Zinfandel.

Recipe from Delish

2019 Riverbed Red - Braised Short Ribs 

This hearty classic is perfect for fall and promises delicious possibilities for leftovers! This particularly delicious recipe calls for a truly stupendous amount of garlic—just the way we like it. Enjoy this alongside our brand-new Riverbed red, a bold and rich red blend. 

Recipe from Delish

2019 Reserve Chardonnay - Butternut Squash Soup

This recipe is the embodiment of coziness with each flavorful spoonful offering warm, creamy comfort. The delicate sweetness of the butternut squash pairs delightful with our Reserve Chardonnay.

Recipe from Downshiftology

2018 Reserve Petite Sirah - Hard Cider Mac N Cheese

We love a twist on a classic, and this is no exception. If you like comfort food as the weather takes on a chill, then this dish is for you. Go over-the-top with cheese and bacon, then enjoy alongside the deep profile of our critically acclaimed Reserve Petite Sirah.

Recipe from Life as a Strawberry

2019 Jewel Chardonnay - Apple Cake

There’s something uniquely autumnal to biting into a simple cake with flavors of cinnamon and chopped nuts. Light yet moist, this cake is easy to make and even easier to eat! We recommend serving it with a drizzle of icing and a glass of our Jewel Collection Chardonnay!

Recipe from Ahead of Thyme

Cozy up with your favorite pairings and tag us @rubyhillwines!

The Great Pumpkin: Fall Recipes & Wine Pairings

There’s nothing quite as comforting as your first bite into a warm, spiced confection. As the leaves begin putting on their flashy red, orange, and yellow hues and the weather adopts a chill, we are ready to begin fall baking. To celebrate October, we’re baking with pumpkin and spice 3 ways. Which one is your favorite?

 

Swirled Pumpkin Bread 

This moist and mouth watering pumpkin bread has a luxurious cinnamon swirl layered throughout, making it the ultimate autumn comfort food!

Recipe by Morgan for Host the Toast

 

 

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins 

Pumpkin and cream cheese are a match made in heaven. In this recipe, spicy and creamy coexist in all the right ways, all topped off with a tasty streusel!

Recipe by Toni of Boulder Locavore
 

 

Vegan Pumpkin Cookies 

These soft-baked cookies are an elegant treat any time of day. If it’s too early to enjoy them with a glass of wine, we recommend a cozy cup of tea!

Recipe by Jessica Hylton of Jessica in the Kitchen

 

Pumpkin Spice Wine Pairing Tips

Pair the warm flavors of pumpkin spice with wines like our Reserve Petite Sirah, Jewel Zinfandel, Cielo Viola, Jewel Petite Sirah, or the light creaminess with Chardonnay and Sparkling Wine! Really, just enjoy what makes you smile.

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!

 

August Mornings In the Vineyard

In the days and weeks leading up to harvest, the vineyards are at their most beautiful. One by one, our various varietals take on their mature color and ripen to perfection. With the glow of the sunrise melting away the fog, the early morning offers the best look at the beauty of the vineyard during this season. View the gallery below to see for yourself!

Our Sauvignon Blanc vines grow wildly throughout their season, as this varietal is known to do. We love the golden hue that this fruit takes on this time of year--an omen of the golden wine to come!

These clusters of Petite Sirah are hearty and hefty, ready to lend their bold flavor when it comes time to create our Reserve Petite Sirah wine. 

These Sangiovese grapes, along with their big protective leaves, are healthily enduring the high temperatures we have experienced in the Livermore Valley. 

In our Barbera block, the fruit takes its time to finish growing, changing color, and ripening. We know that good things come to those who wait, so we are in no hurry.

This section of our Sauvignon Blanc is both fruitful and picturesque, beautifully green yet anything but green!

On the ground is a rather sorry sight, but one that is invaluable. To increase the quality of our fruit, some clusters are cut off so that the vines can concentrate on fewer clusters-- a practice called "dropping fruit."

By dropping fruit, the clusters that remain on the vine will be fully nourished by the vine and deeper in flavor. In many varietals, the more fruit is dropped, the more intense the quality. 

When Chardonnay is nearly fully ripe, such as the clusters pictured above, the grapes resemble polished glass marbles. 

As sunlight spreads itself over each block of the estate vineyard, we are filled with thankfulness to see such a bountiful year and healthy vines. 

These clusters will be picked in a few weeks when they have reached perfect ripeness. In the meantime, the winemaker keeps a very close eye on their progress!

The sun has risen on yet another beautiful day in the estate vineyard. Onward into Harvest 2022!

Unlikely Pairings: Wine and Potatoes

Today is August 19th, which means it’s National Potato Day! This versatile food lends itself to such a huge variety of delicious preparations that it is certainly worth celebrating. Of course, we like to have a glass of wine with our celebrations, so we’ve rounded up some of the best pairings for 7 of our favorite potato dishes. Let’s appreciate all that spuds can do!

Potato Salad - Grapeful Rosé

For the deliciously creamy zing of homemade potato salad, an unctuous but approachable Rose makes a great companion. Enjoy each fresh sip and savor the flavors of summertime. 

Herbed Roasted Potatoes - Cuvée Dray

From the rich profile to the lingering finish, our all-new 2020 Cuvée Dray is a reliable pairing for heartily seasoned dishes. We like roasted potatoes seasoned with herbs and pepper, served with grilled steak.

French Fries - Sparkling Wine

This is a playful pairing you won’t soon forget! Sparkling wine isn’t just for New Year’s or fancy parties. Try homemade french fries or enjoy some bubbly wine with your next takeout meal. 

Creamy Mashed Potatoes - Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 

Mashed potatoes are a classic comfort food, and few wines are more classic than Cabernet Sauvignon. This pairing is especially perfect when served with a rich and savory gravy! 

Baked Potatoes - Peacock Patch Zinfandel

Make sure to add cheese, fresh green onions, a touch of sour cream, and a drizzle of barbecue sauce. Is your mouth watering too? Serve these beauties with our Zinfandel for a memorable match. 

Kettle Potato chips - Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

Easy to eat, easy to drink—this pairing makes you happy! Enjoy that inimitable salty crunch of your favorite potato chip and a luscious sip of our locally grown Sauvignon Blanc’s tropical and citrus notes.

Sweet Potato Casserole - Jewel Chardonnay

This isn’t just a day for russet or yukon potatoes, we’re putting some sweet potatoes in the mix too! Enjoy the perfect harmony of butter, marshmallow, and light nuttiness between our Jewel Chardonnay and classic sweet potato casserole.

Cheers to the hearty, humble potato and everything it has to offer! If you try any of these pairings, make sure to tag us on Instagram @rubyhillwines