Wine Pairings for Lasagna

Today is Friday, July 29, which means it’s National Lasagna day. In the name of hearty cheesy comfort food, we couldn’t be more excited. Of course, a Naples original classic like lasagna is a perfect fit alongside the hallmark of our Estate: Cal-ital wines. Below, we’ve listed 6 different styles of lasagna that you can choose from to celebrate this day. 

Classic Bolognese Lasagna with Landmark Barbera

Nothing is quite as delicious as a classic! Tomatoes, beef, mozzarella, herbs, and the whole gang create a dish that comforts like no other. This recipe calls for a good chunk of time, but it’s a labor of love for a symphony of flavor. 
Recipe by Olive & Mango 

Caprese Lasagna with Night Owl Barbera

Barbera is the best friend of all things tomato, so we love it alongside this caprese salad inspired lasagna. Find the freshest mozzarella, ripe summer cherry tomatoes, and top with fresh basil and a drizzle of balsamic. Bellissimo!
Recipe by Yammie’s Noshery 

Grilled Veggie Lasagna with Primitivo 

This lasagna is packed with flavor, courtesy of chargrilled vegetables and rich pesto. Next time the grill is fired up, pop a few veggies on and prep for a lasagna party in your kitchen the next day!
Recipe by Cathie Lonnie for Taste AU 

Spinach Artichoke Lasagna with Landmark Sangiovese

This white lasagna is a fun, creamy twist on a classic. Enjoy the flavors of artichoke, spinach, and chicken baked in a surprisingly simple cream sauce and served warm. It’s hard to go wrong!
Recipe by Simple Joy 

Butternut Squash Lasagna with Landmark Chardonnay

For vegetable-loving chefs and our vegetarian friends, this recipe skips the meat without skimping on flavor. Cozy golden squash and nutritious spinach mingle in this three-cheese delight!
Recipe by Julia’s Album 

Zucchini Lasagna with Amuleto

This low-carb alternate version of lasagna keeps the flavor in focus with all the cheesy goodness you know and love. We like this one for keeping things light in the summertime!
Recipe by Gimme Delicious 

Which lasagna is your favorite? Do you have a family favorite? Let us know @rubinoestates!

 

The Story of Our Club Wines

Have you ever had a wine that was made just for you? With the Rubino Estates Wine Club, you have a chance to explore delicious one-of-a-kind wines handcrafted with our members in mind. Our Famiglia collection features 4 red wine blends exclusive to our wine club. We dive into the stories behind these wines and their names below!  

Ferrario

Our Ferrario blend is named in honor of Ernest Ferrario, the proprietor of the Estate Vineyard from 1921-1975. Ferrario was an Italian immigrant and brought a flair and persistence to the estate. During Prohibition, from 1920-1933, the winery continued to operate under Ferrario’s leadership for the purpose of producing sacramental wines. By the mid-twentieth century, the Ferrario family was well-known for their quality wines, especially their Zinfandel. This blend honors Ferrario’s by marrying Barbera--an Italian varietal, and Zinfandel--Ferrario’s specialty.

Tuscano

Our Tuscano is named in honor of all things Tuscan! This region is famous for magnificent wines, unbeatable food, and breathtaking views. We like to enjoy all these things right here in the Livermore valley! Our Tuscano Blend takes a page out of the book of “Super Tuscans,” wines that bolster traditional Italian varietals with influence from the Bordeaux legion of France. Barbera and Sangiovese accompany  Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot for a very well-rounded wine.

Centanni Rosso

The name of this wine finds its roots in the expression “Cent’anni,” an Italian word used to toast to 100 years of health and prosperity. “Rosso,” meaning red, commemorates the gorgeous ruby hue of this blend. One of the most challenging balances in all of our blends, a rich harmony of specially selected Sangiovese and Zinfandel composes the Centanni Rosso. Here’s to many years of good wine!

Amuleto

“Amuleto'' is the Italian word for amulet. Amulets themselves are surrounded by folklore--good luck charms that provide some kind of protection against harm. These charms could be ornaments, trinkets, or small pieces of jewelry with personal value. Our Amuleto is a blend of our two most popular Italian varietals, the good luck charms of the Estate: Sangiovese and Barbera. After all, it’s easy to feel lucky when you’re holding a glass of your favorite wine.

Members, do you have a favorite club wine? We'd love to hear from you @rubinoestates!

Think Pink: The Rubino Estates Guide to Rosé

What can you expect from a crisp, cool glass of rosé? Only good things, especially on a sweltering July day! Full fruit flavors and unique profiles make this an exciting genre of wine. 

The basics of Rosé wine: 

Any red wine grape can be made into a rosé. Here at Rubino Estates we use the most popular method, known as “maceration.” In this process, the grapes are crushed right after harvesting, then the juice remains in contact with the color-rich skins. This contact can be as short as 2 hours or as long as 20. Because of this, different rosé wines will have different shades of pink depending on their source varietal. 

The other types of rosé creation, bled or blended, are much less common. When a rosé is bled, it involves siphoning a small percentage of juice away from a red wine early in its production to craft a rosé. Blending involves mixing white wine with a small amount of red, often not more than 5%. To some, this method does not create a true rosé, so it may also be referred to as a blush wine. 

The flavors of Rosé wine:

Because rosé can come from any red varietal, the profiles and flavors can differ wildly. Overall however, there are a few aroma and flavor families you can know to look for. Key notes will likely include some kind of red fruit, such as strawberry, raspberry, or cherry. Tart red fruits like cranberries and pomegranates may also make an appearance. Other fruits, like honeydew melon, lychee, stone fruit like white peaches, or citrus also feature in rosé. For advanced noses and palates, Look for crisp hints of green, especially on the finish of some rosés, reminiscent of rhubarb, cucumber, or even celery. Floral notes of rose petal (fittingly), hibiscus, and citrus blossoms may frame these flavors as well. 

 

Rosé wines at Rubino Estates:

Our 2020 Salute Rosé is Italian flair in a bottle! With a bright, coppery-pink tone, this dry rosé crafted from Sangiovese is especially delicious in the summer and for sharing with friends. This wine is a excellent companion for charcuterie lovers because salty cured meats and both soft and hard cheeses make this wine shine! Enjoy strawberry, pink gooseberry, and early raspberries followed by delicate rhubarb and floral notes.

 

We have a 2018 Rosé crafted from Nebbiolo grapes, a rare, exquisite Italian varietal for true connoisseurs. This Rosé has a more deep purple-pink tone and boasts fresh flavors of strawberry, cranberry, gold raspberry, and pomegranate. We like this wine with tapas and even alongside spicy foods. With a medium body and amazing tartness, this dry wine is food friendly, versatile, and deserves a spot in the wine fridge!

 

How to serve Rosé wine:

This is the easy part! Just make sure your rosé has shilled in the fridge for at least an hour (aim for 50-60°F) and then open the bottle, pour, and enjoy. 

Get a truly unbeatable deal on our 2018 Rosé with our Build-A-Sunset Case, available now for only $99!

First Sunlight in the Vineyard

Every morning on the Estate, a quiet miracle spreads itself over the acres of vines that grow here: sunrise. Light, warmth, and birdsong grace each row, and we can’t help but try to capture these moments. The innocence of dawn shows natural beauty here, somehow both simple and breathtaking. We invite you to look at these photos to see what we see at first sunlight on a day like this. 

Our fruit is very young, boasting a youthful green all over the vineyard. Once mature, the clusters on this vine will become red wine grapes, with dark skins bursting with sweet juice. 

The clusters themselves are in a growing stage. This large Sangiovese cluster has a long way to go before harvest, but is wasting no time chasing its full potential.

As the sun continues to rise, light twinkles all over the vineyard. The Livermore Valley sunshine shows itself in all of our wines as one of the most essential features of both growth and maturation for our vines. 

When white wine grapes have finished growing and begin the ripening process, they will become more transparent and their skins will take on a more yellow hue. Right now, they remain a vibrant opaque green—but not for long.

Some vines, like the Sauvignon Blanc pictured above that makes our delicious Fumé Blanc, are exposed to the sun by the removal of more leaves than other varietals so the sun can create the beautiful golden aromas we know and love. 

Not all of the clusters that grow in the vineyard now will be harvested in the fall. In order to concentrate flavor in our grapes, we will “drop fruit” which involves removing excess clusters from vines so the remaining grapes can be appropriately nourished by the vine. 

The day has dawned, and the vineyard is showing its beauty, growing more and more each day. Come explore: visit our tasting room or try adventuring on our Duck Tour!

4th of July Wine Pairings

Welcome, July! We look forward to a month of sunshine, grilling, and all things summer. We expect great things from our vines and eagerly anticipate that euphoric feeling of enjoying cool, refreshing wines on warm days. In the spirit of 4th of July cookouts and festive americana, we’ve put together a few options for your next outdoor party—with wine pairings, of course!

Balanced Bacon Baked Beans - pair with Primitivo

The baked beans bring in a dream team of sweet, savory, salty, and tangy. This flavor packed side dish might just take center stage. 
Recipe by Laura Rege for the Kitchn

Light & Easy Grilled Zucchini - pair with Trebbiano

For all our veggie lovers, we’ve picked a simple recipe for grilled zucchini. Just the right amount of char, enticing grill marks, and a mouthwatering garnish of herbs and cheese!
Recipe by Maria Lichty at Two Peas & Their Pod

Savory Grilled Corn on the Cob - pair with Chardonnay

Yes, corn can (and should) make its way to the grill too! Topped with either barbecue butter or herb butter, these cobs couldn’t be more delicious.
Recipe by Bobby Flay for Food Network

Hearty Burgers, Beef or Bean - pair with Cabernet Sauvignon

Whether you like your burgers meaty or meat-free, there’s a spot on the grill for you. This ubiquitous favorite is too classic to skip!
Recipes from Toni Dash at Boulder Locavore and from Minimalist Baker

Crisp and Chewy Grilled Pizza - pair with Barbera

You can count on us to add a little Italian flair to our barbecue! If you want to try something new and delicious, then grilled pizza is right for you.
Recipe from Lauren Allen at Tastes Better from Scratch

A Jazzy Cabbage Slaw - pair with Fumé Blanc

There’s just something so perfect about a fresh, crisp slaw with dynamic flavors and bright color. Best served on a summer day!
Recipe by Carla Perez-Gallardo & Hannah Black for BonAppetit

Patriotic Apple Pie Bars - pair with Sparkling Wine

We love a good touch of americana, and apple pie is an extra tasty way to bring that to the table! These apple pie bars are great for feeding a crowd.
Recipe from Makinze Gore for Delish

S’mores with Berries & Dark Chocolate - pair with Infinitum Dessert Wine

As the coals are dying down, it’s time to bust out the marshmallows and make another American classic: s’mores. We like to tuck in dark chocolate and berries for a little twist!
Recipe from Kaleigh at lively Table

Now it's time to gather some family and friends, bust out the grill, and enjoy some foods and wines while celebrating the stars and stripes! If you enjoy our wines, tag us on social media @rubinoestates for a chance to be featured!