GIVE THE GIFT OF WINE: Mission Wines Holiday Gift Boxes Now Available

'Tis the Season...

The holidays are here and Mission Wines is ready to help you with all your wine gift needs. We have assembled a great selection of holiday gift box sets that are guaranteed to please clients, friends, and family. Our offering covers a range of wine styles in a variety of pricing options which include our elegant wooden gift boxes and festive bow. We can ship to many states in the USA. Supplies are limited.  Call (866) FOR WINE, email info@missionwines.com or visit us to place your orders today!

1. California Classic Two-Bottle Gift Box (49.99)  Made by Lane Tanner of Hitching Post fame, this is cool-climate California winemaking at its best.

2013 LUMEN SANTA MARIA VALLEY CHARDONNAY

Citrus and creamy tropical fruit notes lead to a succulent palate kept fresh by bright acidity, with a lingering note of almond on the finish.  92 WE

2013 LUMEN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY PINOT NOIR

Aromas and flavors of cherry and raspberry leap from the glass, leading to a silky, seamless palate accented by notes of baking spice. 91 WE

2. Sommelier Selection Two-Bottle Gift Box (79.99)  A pair of elegant wines from two of the world’s great wine-producing regions makes this the ultimate connoisseur’s gift.

2014 PATRICK PIUZE "TERROIR DE COURGIS" CHABLIS

From the excellent 2014 vintage comes this elegant Chablis made by the talented Patrick Piuze. Flinty lemon aromas with focused minerality.

2005 LA RIOJA ALTA "VINA ARDANZA" RESERVA RIOJA

La Rioja Alta is one of the Rioja region’s most famous bodegas.  Elegant and complex, this is an exceptional value in old-school Rioja. 92 WS,  92 ST

3. Artisan Champagne Single-Bottle Gift Box (84.99)  One of Champagne’s most respected houses, Jacquesson produces terroir-based cuvees of exceptional quality. Exclusively Grand and Premier Cru fruit is used for the 738 Cuvee. 92 WS

JACQUESSON CUVEE 738 EXTRA BRUT CHAMPAGNE

According to Robert Parker: “Most Champagne fans are familiar with the house’s 700-series…which remain absolutely delicious.”

4. Napa Valley Legends Two-Bottle Gift Box (129.99) Two iconic wines for the California collector.

2012 INGLENOOK “CASK” NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON

From one of the greatest vintages in recent history in Napa Valley comes this outstanding Cabernet from the historic Inglenook estate. Originally produced between 1934 and 1964, Inglenook "Cask" wines were among the best Cabernets ever made and are making a serious comeback with the 2012 vintage which should age beautifully for 20-25 years. 93 RP, 92 AG

2013 CHATEAU MONTELENA NAPA VALLEY CHARDONNAY

After 45 years of winemaking including the historic defeat of the French competition in the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting, Montelena continues to produce one of the California’s most elegant expressions of Chardonnay.   

5. Tour de France Three-Bottle Gift Box (249.99)  For the collector or enthusiast, a set of three wines from France’s most famous wine regions to enjoy now or add to the cellar.

2012 JOSEPH VOILLOT VOLNAY "VIEILLES VIGNES", BURGUNDY

Known as the “winemaker’s winemaker”, Jean-Pierre Voillot is one of the most respected vignerons in the region. This shows the finesse, purity and terroir-driven expression that is the quintessence of Burgundy.

2012 HAUT BAILLY, PESSAC-LEOGNAN, BORDEAUX

This noble red is rich in black fruit with classic Pessac elegance in the form of graphite notes and seamlessly integrated of oak. Perfectly balanced, this can age at least two decades. 93-95 WE, 94 JS, 91-93 RP, 93 WS, 92 ST

2012 LE VIEUX DONJON CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE, RHONE VALLEY

A southern Rhone classic, this traditional Grenache-based blend shows all medley of garrigue, lavender, pepper, cassis and black fruit and flavors that make the great wines of this region so famous. 92-94 ST, 91-94 RP

6. Custom Gift Sets

Let the pros--us!--select the best wines within your style parameters for a unique, customized gift. Choose from one, two, three, or six bottle wooden gift box options. Other packaging options available too. Please contact us for more details. 

Also Available:

Mission Wines Gift Cards  Purchase online or contact us for a custom amount.

Mission Wines Wine Club Memberships Covering a range of interests and budgets, our three offerings include two bottles per month:

·       Mission Wines Explorer Wine Club  $34.95, plus tax & shipping

·       Mission Wines Premier Wine Club  $64.95, plus tax & shipping

·       Mission Wines Reserve Wine Club  $124.95, plus tax & shipping

 

Happy Holidays and Cheers!

Mission Wines

866-FOR WINE  1114 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA MissionWines.com    Questions? Email us at info@missionwines.com

CELEBRATE THE SEASON AT MISSION WINES! Taste, shop and save on our top picks for holiday gifts and entertaining.

IT’S TIME TO PARTY!

 MISSION WINES  PREMIUM PORT TASTING 

AND HOLIDAY SHOPPING BONANZA 

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5^th, 2015

Join us as we kick off the holiday season with a special Port Tasting and Shopping Party at Mission Wines! From 1pm-4pm, we will be featuring a lineup of delicious Ports from the houses of Fonseca, Croft and Taylor, with tasty food-pairings to match. In addition, all day long you can save an extra 10% on our top picks for gifts and entertaining from 10AM-7pm, with complimentary gift wrapping, too. Come for the Port, stay for the savings. This is a shopping party not to be missed!

PORTTASTING Feat. Fonseca, Taylor andCroft

SATURDAY DECEMBER 5^TH

1PM-4PM | $15

Whether you prefer Ruby or Tawny Port, Vintage or blended, this famous Portuguese dessert wine has been warming hearts for centuries. Port makes a timeless gift for any wine lover, and there's no better way to wind down from an evening of feasting and merriment than a nice glass of Port by the fire. A 10% discount will be offered on Ports featured in the tasting.

Farmers Market Wine Challenge: GRAPES

Two years ago, in September of 2013, I walked 500 miles across northern Spain on the ancient pilgrim's route known as the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, or, in English, The Way of Saint James. I started in the foothills of the Pyrenees in French Basque territory among Txakoli vines and sheep, crossed over into Spain and descended down the hills of Navarra before continuing along a combination of footpaths, farm tracks roads and highways as I made my way west through some of Spain's most historic wine growing regions: Rioja, Castilla y Leon, Bierzo, Ribeira Sacra and Rias Baixa.  The vines were heavy with fruit a this time of year, juicy sweet-tart grapes of dark purple, pinkish red, and yellow-green, depending on the variety, and although I generally demonstrated great restraint, I confess I did sample a berry or two along the way. 

September is the month when grapes reach peak ripeness. This is true for both wine grapes and table grapes. Table grapes are the juicy, sweet-tart varieties we like to eat. Wine grapes have thick skins and lots of seeds - necessary for the production of quality wine, but lookout for the bitter aftertaste if you eat one off the vine!

Fresh table grapes of any color make a delicious snack on their own and can lend a tasty sweet-tart punch to a variety of salads. Add a cluster of grapes to a cheese tray and voila!- a fruity tang to offset the lactic and savory flavors of cheese. Did you know you can cook grapes, too? When baked, the sugars concentrate, making them a delicious topping for tarts and and custards. The same qualities also complement savory dishes, accenting earthy root vegetables like parsnips and singing alongside savory herbs like rosemary.

Around here, temperatures are still in the 90s. It's officially fall, but I'm not quite ready for oven-roasted, fall dishes. I do, however, enjoy lightly roasting grapes and incorporating them into healthy and filling salads. A favorite of mine is one that features quinoa, rosemary, and bitter greens such as kale, chard, or whatever I have on hand. Baking the grapes on low heat (250 degrees) for about a half an hour is enough to concentrate the flavors without losing the shape and structure to hold up to the other ingredients. Here's a recipe of a similar dish that uses farro instead of quinoa. You could also substitute wild rice, bulgar wheat, or another  grain here, based on your preferences.

It's interesting to think of pairing wine with grapes - wine is made from grapes after all! Grapes are sweet, and if you cook them they sweeten, so you will want a wine that is as sweet as, if not sweeter, than your dish. Think more about the other components of the dish. How sweet is it? It is a dessert? Is there a protein involved? Acidity is important too, especially if your recipe calls for vinegar, which is very acidic. Low acid wines will simply disappear beneath acidic sauces or dressings, while overly tannic wines will taste astringent.

A wonderful, refreshing and slightly sweet option that will complement many dishes using grapes (savory or sweet) is the delightfully sparkling Bugey Cerdon, a spontaneous-fermented sparkling wine traditionally produced in the Savoie region of eastern France, in the foothills of the Alps. We have an especially charming option in stock from Bernard Rondeau.  If red wine is your thing, a light, fruity red like Gamay from one of the Beaujolais crus, or simple Grenache (Garnacha) from Spain. Prefer white? Opt for an aromatic, fruity white like Muscat. The lightly sweet, slightly effervescent Moscato d'Asti from Italy is perfect for light desserts, while its sweeter iteration from Banyuls is better matched to richer desserts, particularly those containing chocolate.

Despite my Spanish inspiration for today's piece, my selection comes not from Spain, but from the Loire Valley in France. It combines my favorite elements of the suggestions above:  sparkling texture, juicy fruit and subtle complexity, with the added bonus of being an organic, natural wine. La Grange Tiphaine (literally, 'Tiphaine's farm') is a terrific producer in the Loire Valley that farms entirely by hand and pesticide-free. Their wines show wonderful breadth of flavor and terroir-driven character, made in traditional styles meant to be enjoyed with food. Sealed with the ever-convenient bottle-cap, their "Rosa Rose Rosam" Petillant Natural is a blend of Grolleau, Gamay, Cot (Malbec), and Cabernet Franc that offers the perfect balance of flavor, fruit, and body to make an irresistible partner to dishes featuring grapes. The ultimate picnic wine, this is great on its own and a natural partner to cured meats and cheeses. Fresh and lively, but with a nice core of fruit, it's perfect for my quinoa and grape salad, but has the body to stand up to heartier dishes, too. Give it a nice chill and cheers! 

-Chiara

2014 LA GRANGE TIPHAINE "ROSA ROSE TOSAM" PETILLANT ROSE VIN DE FRANCE, LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE ($18.99) 

 A blend of Grolleau, Gamay, Cot (Malbec), and Cabernet Franc. (Organic) "A treat! That is exactly what wine evokes. Nothing complicated for natural rosé sparkling wine--just the simple pleasure of a fruity and refreshing bubbly. Enjoy as a nice mid-afternoon wine or aperitif, or with accompanying red fruits. Aging potential: 1-2 years. Serve chilled." (Producer)

Farmers' Market Wine Challenge: Padron Peppers

I first encountered the pimiento de padron (padron pepper) during my eight month stay in Spain in 2003 while visiting dear friends in Gallicia, the northwestermost province of Spain where the pepper originates. Here, the local Gallegos serve it typically as a simple tapa, fried in olive oil and sprinkled with coarse salt. While most of these delicious little green peppers are mild, about one in ten can be very, very, bring-tears-to-your-eyes spicy, hence the name "padron" which means "godfather" in Spanish, a reference to the one spicy one as "the godfather" of the batch. The spiciness of the pepper is influenced by different variables, including the amount of rain and sun it received while growing.


The local opinions differ on how to determine which are spicy and which are not--along with other lore related to what is means if you're the one that gets the hot one (Gallegos are very superstitious)--but I have yet to confirm a reliable technique for pre-determining spiciness.  A similar variety of this pepper, the shisito, is cultivated in East Asia and looks and behaves the same. Both are in season now, and both make a delicious and exciting addition to your summer table. I will say that out of all the jalapenos and serranos and other spicy American peppers I've eaten as a native Californian raised on Mexican food, one of the spiciest I've ever had by far was a padron, so be forewarned! 

Whether you've grabbed a bag of padron peppers or shisitos from the market to prepare tonight or soon, you don't need to do much: just sautee over high heat, sprinkle with salt and voila! It will take more effort to choose the wine, since there are certain factors to consider when pairing wine with green peppers that may deliver quite a bit of heat. A succulent, fruity wine with body to balance this pepper's sweetly herbal flavor and potential for spice is best.

A wine pairing rule of thumb I endorse is this: if the ingredient comes from a place with an ancient wine tradition, look to the region for guidance on the wine pairing. In cool-climate Gallicia, white wine is king, and many traditional options will suit a dish of padron peppers well, cooling and refreshing the palate between bites. Look for varietals like Albarino or Godello or white blends from this part of Spain. I'd avoid red wine altogether, but if you desire a red, choose a light, fruity red with moderate to low tannin, like reds made from the Gallician Mencia grape, or a French Gamay. Other international white varieties, like a fruity Sauvignon Blanc, dry to off-dry Riesling or Chenin Blanc should do the trick. And don't forget the many white varietals and blends from nearby Portugual, which borders Galicia to the south. You can't go wrong with the slightly effervescent, off-dry whites from Vinho Verde with this dish, especially if you're eating and drinking during the day. Generally lower in alcohol, a classic Vinho Verde is a must for daytime entertaining!

My top choice for pairing with a plate of padron or shisito peppers right now does in fact hail from Vinho Verde, but is a step up in quality and complexity than your standard porch-pounder. Quinto da Raza  is located in the Vinho Verde appellation and produces several wines including your traditional, fizzy Vinho Verde which I adore, but I am even more enamored of their single vineyard, single varietal, Dom Diogo Arinto. Classified as Vinho Verde, this is unlike any Vinho Verde I've ever. Round and succulent, this has barely a whisper of effervescence--it's basically still, if you ask me--with juicy melon and citrus aromas and flavors. Contrary to the current trend, this not a super dry, racy white, which I appreciate in the context of heat. Still, it possesses the perfect balance of minerality and acidity to keep its ripe fruit in check and is great match not only for these piquant peppers, but a whole range of foods, from shellfish to chorizo. It is sure is delicious on its own, too.

I recently served this wine with a plate of padron peppers on a very hot evening that followed a very hot day in Pasadena, and it paired magically, especially with the spicy ones! Soon thereafter, I ordered a plate of shisitos at trendy Redbird in DTLA, and while the skin contact Slovenian white I chose sufficed, I sure wish I had this little Arinto instead. Highly recommended!

Cheers,

-Chiara Shannon 

In stock now: 

2014 DOM DIOGO ARINTO VINHO VERDE, PORTUGAL ($14.99) 

100% Arinto. Located inland in the verdant Vinho Verde region, Quinta da Raza is the home and life of Jose Diogo and Mafalda Teixeira Coelho. Quinta da Raza has a unique terroir created by the gentle slopes and magnificent exposure to the sun. The soil benefits from its granite origins with areas of schist and clay. It has a microclimate created by the mountains in the west and the valley of the Tamega river which prevents the influence of the Atlantic winds. The valley creates a shelter resulting in less rain and a greater temperature range. The vineyards are subject to more sun than perhaps other vineyards in the Vinho Verde Region, which are important factors for the development of the vines. Moreover, the average altitude of Quinta da Raza is 820 feet, which corresponds to the best average altitude suited for growing grapes. In 1999 / 2000, significant improvements were introduced in the cellar, including new oenological and storage equipment. Incidentally, the bird which appears on the Raza label is the Lesser Kestrel, locally called "Peneireiro“. (Importer)