April Selections from Sideways Wine Club
April 23, 2008
The wild mustard covering the hillsides along CA Highway 101 is a reliable marker for spring and all it brings - 
a welcome feeling of renewal after the dormancy of winter. Fresh garden items return to Farmer's Markets and buyers no longer rely on produce flown in from distant and exotic lands such as Chile or Mexico or Southern California.
And our April club selections help celebrate the season with wine and food pairings that simplify springtime entertaining. Here are the wines and recipes our members received this month.
Our Spring Selections
Jack's Selections (Crowd Pleasing Wines, starting at $30/Shipment. Click here for more info)
- Red Rover 2005 Chardonnay ($11.00) with Grilled Shrimp and Fruit Salsa
- Red rover 2005 Cabernet ($12) with BBQ Chicken (featuring my mother-in-law's best BBQ sauce recipe. This is KILLER sauce!)
- (Red-Only Members) Lava Rock Red Table Wine
Maya's Selections (Our most popular club! starting at $50/shipment. Click here for more info)
- Trou de Bonde 2006 Grenache Blanc ($20.00) with Grilled Spring Peas, sea salt and fresh herbs. A wonderful, refreshing white wine that is a genetic mutation of the red Grenache grape.
- Toucan Wines, 2006 Carignane (Old Vines), Evangelho Vineyard ($28.00) with grilled tri-tip. This grape is common as a blending grape in the Rhone valley, and is an increasingly popular varietal bottling in the U.S. I remember my first taste of Carignane in the late 80's - man, has this wine come a long way! From 120 year-old vines, this wine is a must-try!
- (Red Only Members) Torbreck, 2006 "Woodcutters" Shiraz, Barossa Valley ($20.95) with Duck Confit, Sausage and Lentils. This deliciously rich and peppery wine compliments this rich dish, which still has one foot in the winter months (though I like it as well on a cold spring day).
- San Simeon, 2005 Pinot Noir, Monterey ($28.00) and Vegetarian Portobello Burgers with Gorgonzola, Watercress and Lemon Aioli. This is a great value wine from the Ribolli family, owners of the largest family of wines you've never heard of. This wine just might make the town of San Simeon known for more than just Hearst Castle.
- Breggo Cellars, 2006 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley ($38.00) with Mushroom and Goat Cheese on toasts. Owner/Winemaker Doug Stewart recently released this wine, which will appreciate in the bottle over the coming 5-7 years. His Pinot sells out many months before the next release is available, so I recommend haste on re-orders. And his Pinot Gris? Don't even think about it - I'm begging for cases!
Cheers!
Dave Chambers, Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com.
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