About     FAQ     Contact      Advertise With Us      Press   

Sweet Potato Soup Paired with Chardonnay

Check out this sweet potato soup recipe – great for a cold fall day. Sweet potatoes and chestnuts seem like a perfect combination for a fall day. You may want to use it at Thanksgiving, Christmas or other special holidays. The recipe is from Cakebread Cellars in California.

Enjoy! Kathy

 

Sweet Potato Soup with Chestnuts and Brandy

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

2 lbs sweet potatoes
½ lb fresh chestnuts
3 T butter
2 small onions, sliced thin
½ c brandy
4 c chicken broth, preferably homemade
1 bay leaf
¼ c crème fraiche
1½ t salt

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Puncture sweet potatoes with the tines of a fork in several places. Place on a casserole dish and roast in the center of the oven until soft, about an hour and 15 minutes depending upon their size.
  3. While sweet potatoes are roasting, peel the chestnuts. Score the chestnuts on the elongated side, three quarters of the way around with a paring knife. Place on a casserole dish and roast for 10 minutes until chestnuts start to open along the cut side.
  4. Remove from the oven and while still warm, peel off the outside shell and the skin that covers the chestnut.
  5. Remove the sweet potatoes from oven.
  6. Allow to cool, peel and cut into large chunks.
  7. In a wide bottom pan with straight sides, sauté the onion in the butter until soft and beginning to caramelize.
  8. Add the sweet potato, chestnuts and brandy. Simmer for 2 minutes.
  9. Cover with the chicken stock. Add the bay leaf and the salt and simmer for 15 minutes until sweet potatoes are starting to dissolve. Remove from the heat.
  10. Discard the bay leaf and puree on high heat until smooth.
  11. Return to the heat and whisk in the crème fraiche.
  12. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.
  13. Serve in warm bowls garnished with the chopped chives.

Suggested Pairing: Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay Reserve

Recipe provided by Cakebread Cellars, Napa Valley

Video of Grape Crush for a 2012 Barrel of Cabernet Sauvignon

On Saturday we spent the morning crushing our grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon) at Tin Lizzie Wineworks in Clarksville, Maryland. We’ve already been asked a couple of times if we stomped the grapes with our feet! The answer is no, no and no! Our son-in-law then added that he would like a bottle of our wine when it is ready in two years.

The grapes had arrived from California’s Napa Valley. Despite the long distance, the grapes arrived in wonderful condition, not a spot of mold or rot. Of course, they were very cold and we had to wait until Sunday to add the yeast. Terry wrote a comprehensive blog on the Winemaking site about our experience on Saturday. He also created a short free video. Hope you check it out to see what it’s like to make your own barrel of wine.

Cheers! Kathy

Winery Events for Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Chateau Chantal: a Michigan winery

Below is a list of events for wine lovers to consider attending this weekend. It’s a great time of year to visit wineries and enjoy your time visiting with like-minded people!

Cheers,
Kathy

Friday, October 19

Chateau Chantal, MI
Event: Wine Dinner
Website Information

 

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, OH
Music: Tom Todd
Website Information

Lorimar Vineyards and Winery, CA
Event: Live Music at Sunset
Website Information

The Winery at Perennial Vineyards, OH
Music: Tim and TJ Gang
Website Information

Saturday, October 20

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Ohio
Music: Uncharted Course
Website Information

Three Fox Vineyards, VA
Event: Harvest Festival
Website Information

Sunday, October 21

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Ohio
Music: Joey Vanilli
Website Information

Lorimar Vineyards and Winery, CA
Event: Live Sippin’ Sundays-Live Music
Website Information

Three Fox Vineyards, VA
Event: 3rd Annual Bocce Tournament
Website Information

Wine Just Off the Vine Event by the Mason-Dixon Wine Trail

Reid's Orchard Winery

The Wine Just Off the Vine Event offered by the Mason-Dixon Wine Trail, will take place on two weekends in November–Saturdays and Sundays November 10-11 and 17-18. While traveling in this region of Maryland and Pennsylvania, enjoy looking for all the signs of autumn.

The wine trail includes more than 20 wineries in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The Wine Just Off the Vine Event is an annual event. With so many wineries, visitors need to use both weekends to attend. What’s even better is that one ticket is good for both weekends.

Tickets include a wine glass, wine tastings, light food and presentations by winemakers. While visiting these wineries be sure to look for those special wines you want to have for the holidays.

The Mason-Dixon Wine Trail website offers information on bed and breakfasts, hotels and an RV Park. For those wanting transportation, a link to a limousine service is provided.

Note: On Friday, November 16 three of the wineries will have a special “Meet the Winemaker” dinner. These dinners are Cozy Restaurant Presents Detour Winery, John Wright Restaurant Presents Allegro Winery and Naylor Wine Cellars Winemaker Dinner at the winery. Visit the Mason-Dixon Wine Trail website to learn more.

The Mason-Dixon Wine Trail offers a variety of wineries to visit. Wine enthusiasts will discover dry and sweet wines. Look for red, white and fruit wines.

Cheers!
Kathy

How to Enjoy a Visit to a Winery

Winery Tasting Room

At this time of year, many people are visiting wineries to taste wines and enjoy the experience. A few years ago after visiting 450 wineries, we wrote an article, “Tasting Room Etiquette.” (We now have visited more than 850 wineries and vineyards.)

This week we received an email from a wine enthusiast who discovered our website and noted that they really liked our tasting room article and wished everyone would read it before visiting a winery.

Whether you have never visited a winery before or are a frequent visitor to wineries, you may enjoy reading “Tasting Room Etiquette.

Hershey Harrisburg Wine Country

The Vineyard at Hershey

This past weekend we spent a very delightful time visiting seven wineries in Hershey Harrisburg Wine Country. Earlier we had visited several of the other wineries so we set out to discover seven more.

The Hershey Harrisburg Wine Country’s 13 wineries focus on being destination sites and in addition to offering wine, the wineries have special experiences and event venues.

An upcoming event for the Hershey Harrisburg Wine Country wineries is the Fall Festival on October 27 and 28. Eleven of the wineries will be participating.  The description includes, “Meet the winemakers of the Hershey Harrisburg Wine Country and learn about the harvest as you travel to the participating wineries this one weekend only! During this signature event, guests will have the opportunity to taste pre-wine “just-pressed” juice fresh from the Fall harvest at each of the participating wineries.  In addition, guests will enjoy an exclusive VIP experience as they tour the vineyards and learn all about wine making from the wine makers of the Hershey Harrisburg Wine Country. Finally, guest will receive a souvenir glass to take to each participating winery and will receive a 10% discount on all purchases. Tickets are $10 per person or $15 per couple.”

The website for the Hershey Harrisburg Wine Country organization includes links for lodging, transportation and dining. While traveling in Central Pennsylvania look for farmers markets and be sure to eat and drink local.

The wineries participating in the Hershey Harrisburg Wine Country:

  • Armstrong Valley Vineyard and Winery
  • Buddy Boy Winery and Vineyard
  • Cassel Vineyards of Hershey
  • Cullari Vineyards & Winery
  • Hummingbird Ridge Winery
  • Hunters Valley Winery
  • Moon Dancer Vineyards and Winery
  • Nissley Vineyards and Winery Estate
  • Red Shale Ridge Vineyards
  • Tamanend Winery
  • The Vineyard at Hershey
  • Waltz Vineyards
  • West Hanover Winery

These are all boutique family owned wineries. These family wineries are very welcoming. The wineries offer a large selection of wines to please many different palates. Styles include dry and sweet. Look for red, white and fruit wines.

 

Cheers!
Kathy

 

Final Cut Steak House at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course

While on our wine journey, casinos are no stranger to us. If there is one in the area, we often stop by. Luck wasn’t on our side last evening at the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, in Pennsylvania; however, dinner at Final Cut Steak House was excellent. Even though it was a steak house, Kathy and I ended up ordering a seafood entree. Kathy ordered Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes. Two large carb cakes were arranged next to fingerling, potatoes, asparagus and espelette pepper gastrique. I was enticed by the Chef’s Feature Menu, offering of Tasmanian Ocean Trout. The fish looked like salmon with an orange color. It was laying on a bed of navy beans, spinach, butternut squash bisque, maine lobster sausage and bacon crisp. The flavors blended together well.

The restaurant provides an iPad with their wine program on it. You can select wine by the glass or wine by the bottle. Since we were both ordering seafood we checked out the white wines. We decided to settle on a 2009 Castle Rock Winery Mendocino County Sauvignon Blanc. I always look forward to comparing a varietal wine with one that I made. My Sauvignon Blanc was made with juice from the Marlborough region of New Zealand. This Mendocino County Sauvignon Blanc was quite nice, a bit more citrusy than mine. It was a great choice for our seafood. It didn’t overpower the delicate flavors of the seafood and at the same time the crisp finish helped cleanse the palate.

We had a great meal and time at the Final Cut Steak House in the Hollywood Casino. Our server Alex, was quite interested in making wine and had a new question each time she returned to the table. We realize that many people do not gamble. Some wine growers told us they don’t go to casinos because they gamble every day they walk out into their vineyard. If you enjoy great food, just walk past the slots straight to the restaurant. You won’t have to gamble on your meal.

Tasmanian Ocean Trout

Tasmanian Ocean Trout

Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes

Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes

Cheers
Terry

Weekend Events at Wineries (October 12-14)

While making your weekend plans check out these October wine events. Visit the individual winery websites for more detailed information.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Cheers! Kathy

Friday, October 12

Chateau Chantal, Michigan
Event: Wine Dinner
Website Information

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Ohio
Music: Trevor Thompson
Website Information

Lorimar Vineyards and Winery, California
Event: Live Music at Sunset
Website Information

The Winery at Perennial Vineyards, Ohio
Music: Ryan Humbert
Website Information

Saturday, October 13

Cava Winery, New Jersey
Entertainment: Retro Casters
Event:Grand Harvest Festival
at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm
Website Information

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Ohio
Music: Face Value Duo
Website Information

Sunday, October 14

Cava Winery, New Jersey
Entertainment: Retro Casters
Event:Grand Harvest Festival
at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm
Website Information

DelFosse Vineyards & Winery, Virginia
Event: French Crepe Day
Website Information

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Ohio
Event: Covered Bridge Trolley and Cavatelli Dinner

Music: Stan Miller
Website Information

Lorimar Vineyards and Winery, California
Event:Sippin’ Sundays-Live Music
Website Information

Reid’s Orchard Winery, Pennsylvania
Event: Living History at Jennie’s House
Website Information

Three Fox Vineyards, Virginia
Event:  CVCC: Classic Vino – Classic Cars
Website Information

Cabernet Sauvignon Harvested Today

We received an email from Dave Zuchero at Tin Lizzie Wineworks that the Stagecoach grapes are going to be harvested today. The Cabernet Sauvignon is measured at 25 brix. That level will produce a 13.75% alcohol wine. Interesting to note that the degree days, as measured in Oakville in Napa Valley, hit 2410 mark on October 10th. Cabernet Sauvignon likes 2400 heat degree days and it looks like vineyards in Napa Valley hit that number, just another piece of data. Possible more important is the lack of rain in the area. In 2009 when we first made a couple barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon with grapes sourced from California, there was several inches of rainfall prior to the Cabernet Sauvignon harvest. Although harvested a week later, the grapes did not loose all the water they picked up.

What happens now? The grapes will be placed in lugs and the lugs will be loaded onto a refrigerated truck. The truck drives the almost three thousand miles across the country. Our Cabernet Sauvignon is scheduled for destemming on Saturday the 20th, bright and early in the morning. That is assuming that the truck can make the 3000 mile trip in a week. Back in 2009, we destemmed at Tin Lizzie on October 31st (pictured). This years weather is putting us eleven days ahead of 2009. It may be too early to judge the wine before we even receive the grapes; however, we are excited. The weather in Napa Valley has been great and the 2012 season is shaping up to be a great vintage year.

Cheers,
Terry

Warwick Black Pearl Reserve from Demarest Hill Winery

Demarest Hill Winery, New York

Demarest Hill Winery in Warwick, New York is in the Hudson River Region AVA. The owner and winemaker, Francesco Ciummo, also has an onsite distillery.  An article about Demarest Hill Winery is available online.

This week we enjoyed the winery’s Warwick Black Pearl Reserve 2001. The wine had aged well and offered notes of licorice, plums and dark black berries. This wine would pair well with grilled steak and other beef dishes.

Demarest produces numerous wine products including traditional red and white wines, fruit wines and a Port-style wine. Other products available are Applejack, Sherry, Grappa and Bombita Vinegar.

Fall is a great time to travel to New York’s picturesque countryside. While traveling be sure to look for farmers markets and take some country fresh goodness back to your home.

Cheers! Kathy


info@winetrailtraveler.com            Sitemap                      Privacy Policy

Copyright: Terry and Kathy Sullivan 2006-2013