About 20 years ago, I remember being in the tasting room of Wente Winery during my internship and the tasting room manager was doing a wine pairing with me. He made beef jerky and paired it with their Cabernet Sauvignon. He also showed me a brownie mix they sold, that you add eggs, oil and Cabernet Sauvignon. I was sold! I have adapted this concept and made my own brownie recipe. Reyes Winery 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon has a sweet aroma gives this fruity wine its huge popularity.  Raspberries, Cocoa and Blackberries are constituents of its amazing aroma. Flavors of black cherry offer a delightful lengthy finish.  This was from our second bottling from our Sierra Pelona Valley Appellation. A top seller since bottling, this wine is smooth and delightful till the last drop. This Cabernet Sauvignon has won a silver medal in the 2012 LA International Wine & Spirits Competition and 3 bronze medals; 2012 O.C. Fair, 2013 LA International Wine & Spirits Competition,  and the 2013 San Diego County Fair Commercial Wine Competition. Plus was awarded 82 points in the Wine Enthusiasts Magazine in the March 2018 edition.

On August 30^th is International Cabernet Day! This week, on July 22^nd, I am hosting the 6^th Annual Zonta SCV Summer Social at the vineyard. I will be serving picnic dinner and those brownies that inspired me. Come and support Zonta of the SCV this week. Purchase tickets at https://www.scvzonta.org/events/

Come and enjoy this 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon in the tasting room this month and next. It’s selling fast; get it before it sells out. August 25^th, I will be hosting a Cabernet Vertical. I will be sampling Cabernet’s from 2009-2015 plus something special. Sign up today at https://squareup.com/store/reyes-winery/

Cabernet Sauvignon can be paired with a peppercorn crusted Parmesan, Abbot’s Gold cheese, or even a horseradish Havarti. Filet Mignon topped with blue cheese would be a great dinner with a bottle of this award winning wine.  Then for dessert, chocolate cream pie! Three years ago, at a press conference, I made individual chocolate Cabernet cream pies topped with a blackberry. This is a recipe for the chocolate pudding filling.

Reyes Winery 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Chocolate Pudding and pie filling

For chocolate pudding, add ½ cup more cream or milk.

Ingredients

• ½ cup Dutch-processed cocoa
• ¼ cup cornstarch
•  ¾ cup powdered sugar
• ¼ cup instant non-fat dry milk
• ½  teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 ½ cups milk
•  1 ½ cups heavy cream
• ½ cup Reyes Winery 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon

 Directions

1. Place cocoa, cornstarch, powdered sugar, nonfat dry milk and salt into bowl and mix until combined.
2. Place dry mixture into a medium saucepan. Add Reyes Winery 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, milk and heavy cream and whisk to combine.
3. Over medium heat, bring mixture to a boil, continue to whisk gently.
4. Reduce heat to low and cook for 4 minutes while continuing to whisk.
5. Pour mixture into pie crust.
6. Place into refrigerator to cool.
7. Top with whip cream and fresh blackberries.
8. Serve when cooled.