Wherever the wine floweth...

... I will follow!

Join me tomorrow, March 1st, between 1:00 pm and 4:00pm, at BevMo in Rancho Cucamonga as I'll be pouring some really nice wines! Check out this wine list:

~Whites~

Mason Sauvignon Blanc, 2006
Calera Chardonnay Central Coast, 2006
Cuvaison chardonnay Carneros, 2006
Saintsbury Chardonnay Carneros, 2006

~Reds~

Tapiz Malbec, 2005
MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir Central Coast, 2006
Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon Starmont, 2005
Trailhead Meritage Red Wine, 2005

Hope to see you there.

Cheers!
Tony

Fit for a king!

This past Monday I had the day off, so I decided to have some friends over for a meal. Well, it turned into a pretty big deal! Check out the menu:

~Raspberry marinated cornish hens~

4 cornish hens
1 12 oz pkg frozen raspberries
1 500 ml bottle red wine vinegar
salt and pepper

In a blender, combine red wine vinegar with raspberries, salt, and some freshly cracked pepper. Place the hens in a large zip top bag and pour marinade over them, reserving about 1/2 cup. Zip the bag making sure to carefully squeeze out as much air as possible. Marinate for 2-4 hours.

Once finished marinating, cook hens for 1 hour and 10 minutes in a 350 degree oven, turning over once (start breast side down). Brush the remaining marinade over the hens to glaze and cook for another 5 minutes making sure glaze does not blacken.

~Stuffed Peppers~

1 onion, chopped
1 head of garlic, minced
1 fennel bulb and some of the stems, chopped
1 5 oz pkg of prosciutto, chopped
1 1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs
8-10 oz crispy bacon
1/2 cup almonds, chopped
1 cup grated parmigiano reggiano

In a large, hot skillet, caramelize onion and fennel, then add garlic, being careful not to burn it. Mix together with the other ingredients and fill 10-12 roasted bell peppers of your choice of color with the mixture. Cook for approximately 35 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Once out of the oven garnish with freshly chopped parsley and a light drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

We served this with 2 choices of wine:

Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon, Vintners Blend, 2005
Folie a Deux, Menage a Trois Red, 2006

Ciao,
Tony

Wine Time!

"God in His goodness sent the grapes, to cheer both great and small; little fools will drink too much, and great fools not at all." -- Anonymous

Please join me this Saturday for yet another session of Tastings with Tony at BevMo in Rancho Cucamonga. This week we are featuring our winery of the month, Ravenswood. Come enjoy Zinfandels, Cabernets, Chardonnays, and Syrahs paired with cheese, crackers, and perhaps a special something that I'll whip up.





For those of you that enjoy a cocktail once in a while, try this one on for size:

2 oz Calvados (apple brandy)
1 1/2 oz Dubonnet Rouge

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a thin slice of lemon peel.

Cheers,
Tony

This past Saturday I had the privilage of tasting a fine Pinot Noir from France's Bourgogne (say Burgandy) region. Though the word "Bourgogne" on the label is a more generic classification, I was pleased to find that this wine didn't disappoint. The Joseph Droughin Laforet Pinot Noir 2005 displayed perky fruit flavors with slight acidity and well rounded aromas. You can pair it with light pasta dishes or even seafood.



I also mixed up this little libation:

3/4 oz Calvados (apple brandy)
1/4 oz bar syrup
3 (or more) oz Champane or Sparkling wine
1 slice lemon peel

Shake calvados and bar syrup over ice and strain into a Champagne flute. Fill with your favorite champagne. Garnish with a slice of lemon peel. Enjoy!

Cheers,
Tony

Champagne Champagne!

This coming Saturday, February 9, please join me at BevMo in Rancho Cucamonga for Valentine's Day Sparklers! What's pouring:

Charles Heidsieck Brut

Nino Franco Prosecco

Chandon Brut Rose

The tasting is between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm at a cost of $5 per person. I'll be serving some cheese and crackers as well as other Sparkling wines that are sure to tantalize your taste buds.

See you there!

Tony

Wine tasting this Saturday!

Hello everyone, tomorrow, February 2, at BevMo in Rancho Cucamonga, I'll be hosting a wine tasting, as I do every Saturday, from 1-4pm. We'll be tasting the following wines:

~Reds~

Raymond Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004

Francis Ford Coppola ROSSO, 2005

Tapiz Merlot, 2005

~Whites~

Raymond Reserve Chardonnay, 2005

Harding Estates Chardonnay, 2006

Gina Chardonnay, Napa Valley, 2005

The price is only $4 per person, which includes cheese, crackers, and conversation. Hope to see you there!

Ciao,
Tony