The pandemic appears to be at least partially under control, and in some ways life is approaching what used to be normal. But not quite, as the worst drought in decades has brought both a severe water shortage and a continuing threat of wild fires to our state. I live in Healdsburg, where mandatory water …
My sister in law is coming for dinner and she’s a vegan. What to do? I look up a recipe for the above and it’s a bit bland, so I add a dollop of tamarind paste. The dish is great with Taft Street Sauvignon Blanc. Pure vegans don’t do semolina pasta, but I draw the …
We are recovering from a very busy Memorial Day weekend in the Russian River Valley, when people took advantage of warm weather, vaccinations, and a need to enjoy and reserved all our spaces for the weekend. With the state of California easing restrictions even further starting June 15th, we expect attendance to maintain at a …
I love chicken tikka masala. It’s creamy, rich and spicy enough to charge up the taste buds. In addition, the sauce can be made ahead of time, so serving it for a crowd does not present a problem. I like to serve it with our 2018 Chalk Hill Merlot Los Amigos Vineyard. INGREDIENTS: For the …
Back in the day when we were making wine in the garage at Taft Street (late 70’s), interest in home cooking was taking off, and one of the most popular dishes around was a chicken recipe from The Silver Palate Cookbook. It was a rare potluck where Chicken Marbella wasn’t served. It has held up …
The good news is the pandemic appears to be more under control, resulting in relaxed regulations and a resemblance of normalcy to our lives. Moreover, the skies are sunny and clear and the temperatures are warm and it feels great to be outdoors. The bad news is we have just experienced our second season of …
This decadent chocolate cake is infused with Taft Street Merlot and is a perfect fit on the Easter dinner table. INGREDIENTS: 6 oz unsalted butter, room temperature 1 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ cup pureed apple or pear 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa 1 teaspoon …
Skies are blue, temperatures are in the high 70’s, the days are getting longer, bud break has begun in the vineyards, Covid-19 restrictions are lightening up while vaccinations are increasing. Life in definitely getting better; let’s hope it continues. In the cellar Melissa and crew have begun the springtime bottling program while we figure out …
Mapo tofu is a Sichuan dish found in fine Chinese restaurants and takeouts around the world. It can be made quickly and it pairs especially well with Taft Street Russian River Sauvignon Blanc. This recipe was adapted from the work of Kenji Lopez-Alt. INGREDIENTS: 2 tablespoons pepper, preferably Sichuan ¼ cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon …
The skies are blue, our Tasting Room is booked solid on weekends, and all our cellar workers and office staff have received their Covid-19 vaccinations. Life doesn’t get much better these days. In the cellar, bottling for clients, contracting grapes for this year’s harvest, and making selections for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blends are keeping …
