The Tasting Panel magazine

December 2015

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50  /  the tasting panel  /  december 2015 Hidays TRINCHERO FAMILY ESTATES BRANDS SUTTER HOME AND FRE RIDE THE WINE COCKTAILS WAVE by Becky Tsadik MIXOLOGY Mvels Mocktails & Cocktails As beer and wine-based cocktails gain popularity among those seeking alterna- tives to spirit-based beverages, FRE and Sutter Home wine-based mocktails and cocktails are ripe to meet that demand. Sug Kisses Wine Tasting Notes: FRE Chardonnay is elegant with a rich, deep golden hue; lively tropical fruit aromas waft from the glass. Rich, creamy apple flavors dance with crisp citrus notes on the palate leading to a pleasant tart finish. ◗ 3 oz. FRE Chardonnay ◗ 1 oz. fresh lime juice ◗ 1 oz. simple syrup ◗ 3 splashes bitters ◗ Sugar Sugar rim of a chilled Martini glass. In a cocktail shaker, combine FRE Chardonnay, lime juice, simple syrup and bitters. Shake and strain into glass. Hot Mulled Cid by Well Plated by Erin (www.wellplated.com) Wine Tasting Notes: First fermented in stainless steel tanks, then aged in American oak tanks, Sutter Home Merlot is fresh and smooth with black cherry flavors, hints of smoke and spice; dry with moderate tannins. ◗ 1 bottle Sutter Home Merlot ◗ ¼ cup honey ◗ 1 orange, zested and juiced ◗ 2 cups apple cider ◗ 5 whole cloves ◗ 4 green cardamom pods ◗ 2 cinnamon sticks ◗ 1 whole star anise ◗ ¼ cup brandy ◗ Orange slices ◗ Cinnamon sticks Add wine, cider, honey, orange zest, and orange juice to a 3-quart slow cooker. Stir. Add cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and anise. Cook on low until warm, about one hour. Stir in brandy. Ladle into mugs and garnish with orange slice and cinnamon sticks. Home for the D uring holiday celebrations, the thoughtful host and restaurateur caters to a myriad of beverage prefer- ences. Iconic wine brand Sutter Home provides 21 crowd-pleasing varietals, perfect for various taste buds or a variety of guests. Alcohol removed brand, FRE, provides great alternative choices for those who chose not to imbibe. Both FRE and Sutter Home are great brands to leverage trends in wine cocktails to create unique holiday beverages. Mocktails and wine cocktails mentioned on restaurant menus have grown year-over-year by 9.7% and continue to gain popularity. Festive mocktail options are limited, now, another Trinchero Family Estates brand is changing the face of responsible drinking: FRE alcohol-removed wines include Chardonnay, Merlot, Red Blend, White Zinfandel, Moscato and Brut varieties, catering to every palate and occasion. "Alcohol-removed wine is a growing segment," says Wendy Nyberg, VP of Marketing at TFE. "The latest trends in the market are looking towards low-alcohol or non-alcohol wines. FRE has become the category leader, and dominates, selling 230,000 cases in the U.S." Alcohol-removed wines provide an alternative beverage, while allowing all guests to feel included—whether pregnant women, athletes, designated drivers or those avoiding alcohol for medical or religious reasons. "Having FRE on a retailer's shelf or a restaurant's menu makes them a con- science and responsible retailer or buyer," Nyberg continues. Grapes for all FRE wines are sourced from cool, foggy vineyards in California's best marine-influenced regions. State-of-the-art spinning cone technology removes alcohol without compromising each wine's delicate aroma and flavors: Finished wine is fed into the top of a spinning cone column, where it is transformed into a thin film through centrifugal force; nitrogen gas extracts the wine's flavors and aromas, while the remaining liquid is passed through the column once more at a higher temperature to remove alcohol. The resulting wine is less than .5 percent ABV, is gluten-free and averages 70 calories per standard 8 oz. serving—a win/ win wine for health conscious consumers! ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❆

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