2019 June Wine Club Member Pick Up Party
by Beth Heiserman
Its that time again for our members to have their quarterly choices and a lunch. Our wine club consists of four shipments are year. They are march, June, September and December. There is no fee to become a member, only a commitment that you will remain a member for at least four shipments. Every shipment you have an option of either having it shipped to you or picking it up at the winery. For instance, this weekend is our member pick up party which we offer to all our members free of charge. It allows two members to have lunch and a glass of wine each. If they wish to invite friends, it’s $15 a person. Every lunch that I do is always paired with the wine of the selections we have chosen. You can come also as a guest and pay $15 for lunch and a glass of wine to experience one of our events. I always choose one white wine and two red wines, and one of the three always being a new release. This quarter my three wines are 2013 Renaissance by Reyes Winery Sauvignon Blanc, 2016 Renaissance by Reyes Sangiovese (new release), and 2013 Ryan’s Blend.
Our 2013 Ryan’s Blend is a Bordeaux blend of Estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and locally sourced Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot which was aged for 23 months in French oak barrels. It has a rich intense body and is layered with ripe black cherry, fig and blackberry aromas, with a hint of dark chocolate. Its full bodied, yet velvety with notes of cherries and peppercorns on the palate. I was reading about Meritage blends and the difference between them from the right bank and left bank in Bordeaux compared to the California blends. This #Redblend have the specific characteristics of most Napa Valley Meritage’s. It is a bolder wine with medium acidity and tannins. Whereas the blends from Bordeaux tend to be a medium bodied wine, tannins and acidity. Plus, the French style tend to be dry whereas the American style is dry but fruity. 2013 Ryan’s Blend is very dry yet its very fruit forward. In addition, Bordeaux blends are a blend of 5 grapes; Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot.
2013 Ryan’s Blend is an award-winning wine that has won silver medals in the 2018 Toast of the Coast, 2017 O.C. Fair Commercial Wine Competition and 2017 Los Angeles International Wine Competition. Plus, Bronze medals in the 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and the 2017 San Francisco International Wine Competition. In addition, it received 87 points from the Wine Enthusiast Magazine (04/2018 Edition).
The 2013 Renaissance by Reyes Sauvignon Blanc has won a bronze in the 2016 Los Angeles International Wine Competition and received 82 points from the Wine Enthusiast Magazine (05/2018 Edition). This wine has aroma s of crisp citrus, green apple with slight floral notes. On the palate, you get a hint of honeydew melon and granny smith apples. This fruit forward wine can be appreciated alone or with food. It can be paired with many dishes from goat cheese to Sushi. I think the Red, White, and Blueberry Quinoa salad is a perfect match. I served that for the hike this past month.
Our Sangiovese is made from a specific vineyard selected by our winemaker, Robert Reyes to create a wine that captures the heart of the 2016 vintage. On the nose there is an aromatic profile of black currant and plum that continue on the palate with balanced acidity. This is a wine that can hold up to acidic foods. Enjoy with aged Pecorino cheese, Panzanella salad and cherries poached in red wine with mascarpone cream.
This weekend, I am serving for lunch, like every quarterly member party. I prepare dishes that will pair well with the three wines. I will have chicken cacciatore, baked pasta with a Sauvignon Blanc cream sauce, Red, White, and Blueberry Quinoa salad, plus a mixed green salad and for dessert chocolate cupcakes with cherry pie filling, apple crisp and a few other goodies. We are open this weekend for lunch from 12pm-4pm. Come join the Reyes family and become a wine club member!
