Traditionally, turkey and ham get all the holiday attention, but following those rules just isn’t our style. Especially when there are so many great pork recipes out there.

Pork is great for pairing with wines that have a bold fruit profile, like our Bourbon Barrel Aged Gold Rush Red.  The sweet, smokey flavor of pork in this recipe welcomes the wine without overwhelming it.  The two make such a great match that we decided not only to pair the wine, but to use it in the recipe to make a delicious rosemary wine sauce which we drizzled over the top.

Make this as a main dish at your next dinner party – or go all out and host the family this year for something different. Enjoy!

Grilled Rosemary & Red Wine Pork Tenderloin

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 2 pork tenderloins, about 1 lb. each
• 1 cup dry red wine
• 1 (2 inch) sprig fresh rosemary
• 1 clove garlic, smashed
• Salt/pepper
• 1/4 cup red-wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon mild-flavored honey
• 1/4 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 cups baby arugula

Directions

1. Boil wine, rosemary sprig and garlic in a small heavy saucepan until reduced to about 1/2 cup, 7 to 8 minutes. Pour through a fine sieve into a measuring cup, then transfer rosemary sprig and garlic to a sealable plastic bag along with 1/4 cup wine marinade and tenderloins. Marinate, chilled, turning bag occasionally, at least 2 hours or overnight.
2. Return remaining 1/4 cup wine marinade to saucepan and add vinegar, honey, and chopped rosemary, then boil dressing until reduced to about 1/4 cup, about 10 minutes and thicker.
3. Prepare grill for cooking. When fire is medium-hot. Pat pork dry and season with salt and pepper. Grill on lightly oiled grill rack over medium-hot fire, turning frequently, until an instant-read thermometer inserted diagonally 2 inches into meat registers 155 degrees F, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board, then tent loosely with foil and let stand 10 minutes before slicing.
4. Once the pork tenderloin is sliced, drizzle rosemary/wine sauce over pork tenderloin and serve on a platter with baby arugula tossed with olive oil.

The weather is changing and the days just got shorter. This time of year we are relentless about
getting out and soaking up every minute of daylight. We are also craving warm comfort foods at
the end of an active day. Our recipe for balsamic roast beef lets you have both: warm, tender
roast beef with little effort or time, so you can spend your extra time sneaking in a hike or
popping in to an impromptu happy hour. For best results, pair with our Prospector’s Proof
Cabernet Sauvignon. Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Balsamic Roast Beef

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. boneless beef chuck roast
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons tamari
• 2 tablespoon maple syrup
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons coconut oil
• 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
• 2 portobello mushroom caps, sliced lengthwise
• 4 cups kale leaves, chopped
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• Sea Salt & Black Pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Place roast in the slow cooker. In a bowl, mix together the chicken broth, balsamic vinegar,tamari, maple syrup and minced garlic. Mix well and pour over the roast beef. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Baste the roast periodically.
2. Before serving, heat coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and mushrooms and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes or until softened. Add in the kale leaves and continue to sauté just until wilted. Turn off the heat, stir in the apple cider vinegar and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
3. Once roast is cooked through and you are ready to eat, remove it from the slow cooker into a large mixing bowl. Trim off any large pieces of fat and shred with two forks. Put it back into the slow cooker and let it soak in the juices for 5 to 10 minutes. When ready to eat, use a slotted spoon to lift the beef out of the slow cooker onto a plate. Transfer the leftover juices into a jar to use as gravy or for a future roast.
4. Plate roast beef with a side of sauteed kale and mushrooms. Enjoy!

We have two words for your Friendsgiving guests: Crispy Prosciutto.

This holiday season we are embracing the unexpected and putting our own spin on traditional side dishes, and traditional Chardonnay. Imagine a creamy fall risotto, topped with salty, crisp prosciutto and fresh herbs and paired with our newly-released Chardonnay, aged in American oak barrels, a new bold take on a California classic.

This recipe is perfect for a dinner party in, but it also travels well, an excellent solution when you’ve been assigned a “side dish.” To transport, make or transfer risotto to a dutch oven or casserole dish with lid that can be reheated at your destination. Keep crispy prosciutto and sage separate to add just before serving. Enjoy!

BUTTERNUT SQUASH RISOTTO WITH CRISPY PROSCIUTTO

Serves 8

ingredients:

• 8 cups vegetable broth, low sodium
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 4 cups butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed, cubed
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon sea salt, divided
• 2 cups arborio rice
• 1 cup Parmigiano Reggiano, finely grated
• 4 1/4 ounces Prosciutto, sliced into small pieces
• Fresh sage leaves
• Salt/pepper to taste

directions:

1. In a saucepan, bring the broth to a gentle simmer, then leave on low heat to keep warm.
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the onions for five minutes. Stir in the squash, garlic, and half the salt. Cook for about six minutes, or until the edges begin to soften.
3. Stir in the rice and remaining salt. Cook for two minutes, or until the rice is fragrant.
4. Add the warm broth one cup at a time, stirring often and allowing time for the liquid to absorb before adding more. Cook until the risotto is al dente and the squash is tender, about 20 to 25 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, in a small sauté pan, over medium heat, add the prosciutto. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until cooked through and slightly crispy. Remove and set aside.
6. Add 1 teaspoon olive oil to the prosciutto pan and heat. Add the sage leaves and sprinkle with sea salt. Cook the sage leaves over medium-high heat until crispy and remove from pan.
7. Before serving, stir in the parmesan and season with salt and pepper to taste.
8. Divide into bowls, top with sage leaves and crispy prosciutto. Enjoy!

What’s better than flavorful chicken and fresh veggies? Giving them a good char on the grill to bring out their boldest flavors. Today, we have a recipe for you that is both delicious and perfect for sharing at your fall gatherings. We recommend grabbing a bottle of our 2020 Pinot Noir to share alongside these sizzling kabobs.

Grilled Chicken Kabobs

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 lb chicken breast (boneless, skinless, diced into cubes)
• 1 large zucchini
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 1 cup red onion
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes
• 8 Barbecue Skewers
• Salt/Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Combine the lemon juice, red wine vinegar, oregano and 1/2 of the olive oil in a mixing bowl. Add in the cubed chicken breast and mix well. Place in the fridge and let marinate while you prep the vegetables.
2. Dice the zucchini, yellow bell pepper, and red onion into large chunks. Toss in the remaining olive oil.
3. Slide the marinated cubed chicken, zucchini, yellow bell pepper, red onion and cherry tomatoes onto the skewers.
4. Preheat the grill to medium heat.
5. Grill the kabobs for 8 to 10 minutes per side or until chicken is cooked through.
6. Remove the kabobs from the grill and divide onto plates. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes:

Leftovers: Store covered in an airtight container in the fridge up to three days.
Serving Size: One serving is equal to approximately two kabobs.
Serve Them With: Rice, quinoa, grilled potatoes and/or tzatziki sauce. Add to leafy greens to make a salad.
Vegan & Vegetarian: Omit the chicken and use marinated tofu or whole mushrooms instead.
Wooden Skewers: If grilling with wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water before using to avoid them catching fire on the grill.

Let’s just draw a line in the sand now and boldly state that there is no “grilling season.” Spring, summer, fall (winter?) you should get out and grill any time you crave the outdoors and the delicious, smokey flavors of freshly barbecued meats and veggies.

Exploring new ways to grill your favorite dishes is part of the experience.  Recently, we’ve been throwing a whole chicken on the grill and enjoying the juicy flavors alongside crispy, spicy skin. Grilling an entire chicken is easy, but there are tips and tricks to help you get the best result. Check out this basic grilled chicken recipe and our recommendations for getting it just right, then grab a bottle of American Barrel Aged Chardonnay and dinner al fresco is served!

Grilled Chicken:

The method for grilling a chicken is fairly simple: Light the grill (or coals), heat to approximately 400 degree F. Place the bird on the middle of the grill, skin-side up, close the lid and allow to cook for approximately 45 minutes to one hour (depending on size).  Then, check the bird every 5-10 minutes until done.

As they say, the devil is in the details. Below, a few tips:

Spatchcock – This is the method of butterflying (or flattening) the chicken before grilling. If you grill the chicken whole without flattening it, you may get some uneven cooking and dry out the breast. To do this, remove the backbone and then break the breastbone by pressing down on the legs. Some supermarkets sell whole chickens already spatchcocked, and a butcher can usually do this for you.

Oil! – The secret to crispy, delicious chicken skin is oiling it well. We recommend using an oil-based marinade or brushing on a generous amount of olive oil before cooking. You can also soak a paper towel in olive oil and then, using a pair of long metal tongs, brush it directly on the almost-ready grill before adding the chicken.

Go Bold – We’ve already mentioned the chicken skin in this dish, but it really is the star of the show. Your chicken will be even more flavorful if you add bold seasonings, rubs or sauces to the skin prior to cooking. You can add a spicy dry rub after brushing olive oil onto the skin, create a marinade and add a little liquid smoke, or brush on your favorite barbecue sauce a few minutes prior to removing from the grill. The bolder the better!

Use indirect heat – Juicy chicken takes time to roast, so you don’t want it placed directly over a heat source. If you have a gas grill, turn on all burners except the one directly under the bird. On a charcoal grill, you can either use a water bath in the center and arrange coals around it (this also helps keep the bird moist) or layer more coals on one side of the grill than the other, creating a “hot” side and a “cool” side. Place the chicken breast-down on the hot side first, removing after a few minutes and then place skin-side up on the cooler side to cook through.

A meat thermometer is always a good idea so you can check doneness without over-cooking.

Warmer weather means that grill should be always preheated and ready to go. We love heading down to the farmer’s market to find some fresh seasonal veggies, bringing them home and giving them a good char. It’s the best way to enjoy the gold reaped from the garden.

Today we recommend finding ripe ears of corn and preparing them in the Mexican street style. “Elote” as it’s called, is simply roasted corn on the cob with lime, cilantro and Mexican crema. The char of the grilled corn brings out the nuances of our bourbon barrel-aged wines.

We recommend pairing elote with a chilled bottle of our bourbon barrel-aged Chardonnay. The bright, bold flavors enhance the sweet, light and citrus of the Mexican street corn. This will become your next summer dinner staple, guaranteed.

INGREDIENTS

• 6 to 8 medium ears sweet corn, husks removed
• 1/2 cup Mexican crema, or sour cream
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper, to taste
• 2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest, from 1 lime
• 2 tablespoons lime juice, from 1 lime
• 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
• Lime wedges, to serve

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat a gas or charcoal grill to 400F: Clean the grates once it has heated.
2. Whisk together the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the crema, mayonnaise, cilantro, garlic, chipotle pepper, lime zest and lime juice. Taste and season the mixture with salt if needed. (Crema has a little salt already, so add extra judiciously.) Set aside.
3. Grill the corn: Place the husked corn directly onto grill grates. Grill the corn for about 3 minutes, undisturbed, or until kernels begin to turn golden brown and look charred. Turn over and repeat. When all sides are browned, remove from the grill onto a plate.
4. Top the corn with sauce and cheese: Using a brush or a spoon, coat each ear of corn with the crema mixture. Sprinkle with crumbled cojita cheese. Sprinkle with additional chipotle pepper, if desired. Serve immediately with extra lime wedges.

See the full recipe at Simply Recipes.

With a renowned and celebrated history, Mole is a pillar of Mexican food culture. Containing rich textures and a plethora of bold flavors, this mouthwatering sauce is often praised and desired. Often made for celebratory occasions, the sweet and spicy flavors of this sauce pair excellently with a variety of dishes and drinks. We recommend mixing in some tender, seasoned shredded chicken to create the ultimate taco experience.

If you’re looking to try something new, and want to make a bold and historic dish, we strongly recommend giving it a try. This week, take your dinner to the next level by making a delicious mole chicken tacos and pairing it with our bourbon-barrel aged Cabernet Sauvignon. Your mouth will thank you.

INGREDIENTS

• Chicken thighs (either bone-in or boneless thighs work, both should be skinless)
• Kosher salt
• Corn tortillas
• Cotija cheese
• Cilantro 
• Limes

Mole Sauce

• Dried ancho chiles
• Large can of whole roasted tomatoes
• Onion (roughly chopped)
• Sliced almonds
• Sesame seeds
• Dark baking chocolate
• Raisins
• Chicken stock (chicken or vegetable broth also works)
• Chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
• Whole cloves of Garlic or 1 ½ tsp minced
• Cumin
• Cinnamon
• Mexican Oregano

INSTRUCTIONS

Mole Sauce

1. First, you’ll need to rehydrate the ancho chiles. While that’s happening, toast the almonds and sesame seeds.
2. Then, add all of the sauce ingredients to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, pulsing a few times as needed to break up any large chunks.
3. Reserve leftover mole sauce to use in enchiladas, drizzled over eggs, or added to soups and chilis.

Cooking the Chicken

1. Salt the chicken and put it in the Instant Pot. Spread the pieces out to make as close to a single layer as possible.
2. Pour the mole sauce over the chicken and seal the Instant Pot. Cook on high for 25 minutes (or 20 minutes for boneless), then do a Quick Release.
3. Remove the chicken from the pot and shred. Then add back to the pot and stir to coat in the sauce.

Making the Tacos

1. Toast the tortillas on both sides. You can do this directly over the burner for a more charred flavor, or toss them in a skillet just to give them some texture.
2. Add some chicken and sauce to the tortillas. Sprinkle some cheese and cilantro over the top and serve with lime wedges.

See the full recipe at Kevin Is Cooking.

With spring in the air and warmer weather now upon us, cocktail season has officially begun. There are a variety of light and flavorful cocktails that can meet the moment of the season, but we believe the Horned Bison, 1000 Stories take on a Devil’s Margarita, is the perfect flavor to help you enjoy the bright and breezy springtime.

The Horned Bison is a unique twist on a classic marg featuring the delicious flavors of our bourbon barrel-aged Chardonnay. With a crisp texture that is bursting with layers of bright fruit flavors, you’ll be enjoying this marg all spring long.

INGREDIENTS

• Juice of 5 limes
• Juice of 2 lemons
• 2 tablespoons organic orange juice (optional)
• 1/4 cup organic sugar
• 4 ounces (4 shots) Triple Sec or orange liqueur
• 1 bottle of 1000 Stories of Bourbon Barrel Chardonnay
• Salt, mint, and limes to garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Combine the citrus juices and sugar in a pitcher and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Stir in the Triple Sec and wine.
3. Pour into salt rimmed (optional) glasses over a few ice cubes.
4. Garnish with lime wheel and mint. Enjoy!