Food & Wine Pairings for Game Day

Are you ready for the big game? Whether you’re watching for the Chiefs, the Eagles, or the commercials, one thing’s for sure: you want to make sure you’ve got a strong roster of snacks! Take it easy with these uncomplicated foods, then elevate the spread with some delicious wine pairings. It’ll make your gathering into a true flavor party. 

Pretzel Snack Mix

A medley of crunchy textures and savory flavors hits every satisfying note for easy snacking as you argue with the ref and groove to the halftime show. Customize your own mix with additions like cheese crackers and Italian seasoning! We think a mix like this is enjoyable alongside our Cuvée Dray red blend. 

Slow Cooker Meatballs

For an easy hearty side, pick your favorite pre-made meatballs (pork, beef, or turkey), pop them in a slow cooker, and let them soak in a smoky-sweet barbecue sauce for a few hours. Serve on toothpicks right out of the pot and pair with a nicely drinkable and approachable red blend like our Salute Red. 

Chicken Wings

Wings and football go hand-in-hand, whether you make the wings yourself, get them to-go from your favorite spot, or get them from the freezer section. Keep it casual and enjoy each succulent bite. We like wings with our Salute Rosé, especially if they have a hint of spice since the body of the Rosé is just weighty enough to balance it out. 

Mozzarella Sticks

Just like the chicken wings, take it easy! Go for takeout or cook these from frozen. They’re great for pairing with an Italian-inspired wine, these breaded delights never disappoint. We recommend a Sangiovese with enough body and pleasant acidity to harmonize with the cheesy goodness. Of course, a marinara dipping sauce is also a must-have!

Seven Layer Dip

With a layer for each point of a touchdown, this dip is a reliable favorite for game day. Enjoy this delicious dip with your favorite corn chips and your beverage of choice! For a red wine, we’d suggest our Night Owl Barbera, and for a white wine go with a Fumé Blanc!

Potato Chips

Snacks don’t have to be complicated, and sometimes less is more anyway. Try pairing your favorite potato chip (whether barbecue, sour cream and onion, plain, or another) with a fun Sparkling Wine. As a bonus, Sparkling Wine pairs with just about everything, including all the snacks on this list. Stock up now and thank us later! 

Kickoff is Sunday, February 12th at 3:30pm.  If Rubino Estates wines make it onto your game day menu, let us know on our social media @rubinoestates. 

Dessert Wine & Chocolate Cake

During the month of February, we are celebrating the sweet romance of our Infinitum Dessert wine. A perfect combination of fruit and loving labor has produced this delicious port-style beauty. It’s ready to be enjoyed! As our only red dessert wine, the Infinitum brings dulcet delight to our wine selection. Wines like this can be a little trickier to pair with food because they are heavier and sweeter, but we have a splendid solution: chocolate. Rich dark chocolate desserts, specifically, offer a blissful combination. Below, we have included a recipe for one such dessert, a raspberry-topped flourless chocolate cake to the ultimate companion for the Infinitum. 

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup dark chocolate chips
• ½ cup solidified coconut oil
• ½ cup coconut sugar
• Pinch of sea salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs
• ½ cup cocoa powder
  Chocolate ganache:
• ½ cup dark chocolate chips
• ¼ cup non-dairy milk, almond, oat or coconut milk work
  Topping:
• Powdered sugar, for topping
• Fresh raspberries, for serving

Instructions 

1. Preheat oven to 375°F and grease an 8 inch cake pan or 8 inch springform pan.
2. Add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until fully melted. Alternatively, you can melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second increments, stirring in between until the chocolate has melted.
3. Let chocolate cool slightly then add coconut sugar, salt and vanilla and stir to combine.
4. Coconut sugar, salt and vanilla added to the melted chocolate and coconut oil in a saucepan.
5. Whisk in eggs.
6. Gently add cocoa powder and stir to combine.
7. Pour chocolate mixture into a greased or parchment-lined pan and bake for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
8. Let the cake cool for 10-15 minutes before removing from the pan. When removing the cake from the cake pan, loosen the edges with a butter knife and carefully turn it upside down onto a plate or serving platter. The bottom of the cake will now be the top of the cake! Let it cool completely before topping and serving.
9. While the cake is cooling, make chocolate ganache by adding chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave using 30 second increments and stirring between each. It shouldn’t take more than 90 seconds or so. Once chocolate is melted, add milk to the bowl and stir until well combined. Pour chocolate over the cooled cake and spread to cover.
10. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with fresh berries.

Recipe & recipe photo from by Brittany Mullins on Eating Bird Food 

The addition of the fresh berries (strawberries are a great option too) allow the jammy notes of our Infinitum to shine, while the combination of bitter and sweetness of the chocolate amplifies the vibrance of the wine’s flavors and finish. It’s like a match made with cupid’s arrow!

If you’d like to enjoy our Inifinitum dessert wine yourself, it is on sale for the month of February!
Treat yourself to a bottle (or more!)

The Estate Refreshed

We were blessed with a few days of drenching rain, which saturates our gravelly soil with much needed nutrition and refreshes the earth around the estate. Though it’s still January, the sunshine that has followed our stormy days has an intoxicating promise of spring. Keep scrolling to join us on a photo tour of the estate vineyard this week.

In between our rows of Zinfandel, like in much of the vineyard, soft green sprouts of grass are reaching upwards, bringing their bright freshness to the landscape.

Though the leaves of last year are long gone and new growth is yet to come, these neat rows are nothing short of picturesque as the lines of green lead all the way to the gorgeous hills that frame our little valley. 

The tall, outstretched canes that formed the lush canopy of leaves now stand bare during our vines’ dormancy stage. These will be pruned before the budding stage this spring. 

This picturesque curve of our Petit Verdot block reaches toward the highest elevation on our estate, nestled close to the hills. 

Each year as a vine grows, more layers, swirls, and gnarls form on the arms and trunk, showing a story and age and maturation. We love a gnarly vine like this beauty from our Cabernet vines.

On the western edge of the vineyard, we have some Cabernet vines that are only a few years old, nestled near one of our Zinfandel blocks. They have weathered the storm well and show great promise for the year to come. 

We are excited for this refreshed start to 2023! Come visit us in the beauty of the vineyard here at the Rubino Estates tasting room—or even take a tour right through the heart of the vineyard!

Pairing Soup and Wine

When it's cold, rainy, or altogether wintry outside, there’s nothing quite like a comforting bowl of soup. Whether it's one that brings back good memories or a new recipe you’d like to try, soups and stews offer heartiness in a diverse range of flavors and textures. If you’re wondering what wines might pair with these, don’t worry—it's easier than you think. Pairing wine and soup is just like pairing wine with other foods. A few helpful considerations, and of course flexibility, are key. 

Consider the Texture

First, think of the mouthfeel of your soup, and try to find a wine that compliments it. If a broth is thick and creamy, consider an unctuous chardonnay like our Riserva Chardonnay. Heavier, fattier soups accommodate higher-acid wines. For meaty soups, especially those that have delicious flavor complexity from long hours of simmering, go with a similarly complex red blend like our Landmark Founder’s Blend. 

Build Flavor Bridges

Just as with any other kind of wine pairing, common flavors are a great foundation. Soups with warm spices like nutmeg or cardamom do well with oak-influenced reds, such as our Ferrario or our Night Owl Barbera. We also love to play with sweeter ingredients like butternut squash to pair with the freshness of our Fumé Blanc. Herb flavors go well with deeper, mature reds. Try something from our library collection! Deep tannic reds like Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah stand up to cheesy soups. Soups with saltier meats like a split pea with ham make a delightful pairing for an approachable Bordeaux-style blend like our Cuvée Dray.

Enjoy Flexibility

The most important part of any pairing is to find the flavors and textures you like. There are no hard and fast rules to enjoying food and wine. We invite you to join in the age-old tradition of enjoying these things together and seeking out your favorite pairings. The medley of flavors in a bowl of soup offers more opportunities for flavor harmony than conflict, so enjoy flexibility as you get cozy!

We hope you are staying warm and enjoying winter to the fullest. Salute!

Your Wine Tasting Dictionary

What are your goals for 2023? One task we like to put our mind to is learning something new every day. For us, of course, there’s no better topic than wine so that’s the subject we’re studying now! This week on the blog, we’ve put together a miniature dictionary of vernacular and slang from the wine world so you can put words to the wines you are sipping! 

astringent (adj.)  A description of the feeling of wine in the mouth. An astringent wine will cause your mouth to pucker.

appellation (n.)  A specific wine-producing region. The appellation of the wine specifies that the wine came from a specific vineyard or area. In the wine world, appellations are legally defined, though the exact regulations vary from country to country. The world’s smallest appellation is in France, covering only 8.5 acres.

bouquet (n.)  Similar to “nose” or “aroma” this term applies specifically to the complex interplay of scents unique to aged wines, so it’s generally not used to describe white wines or young red wines.

body (n.)  Description of how “big” or heavy the wine feels in the mouth, usually described as full, medium, or light. 

Brettanomyces (n.)  Casually referred to as “brett,” this bacteria is a yeast that produces barnyard, mousy, or metallic scents in wine. Some red wines have an intentional touch of Brettanomyces at very low concentrations as it can lend a spicy, leathery note. 

cuvaison (n.)  a French term referring to the process by which wine gains color, flavor, and tannins by leaving the juice in contact with the grape skins and pips during fermentation. The English equivalent is “maceration.”

cuvée (n.)  Wine that is a blend of multiple varietals. For example, our Cuvée Dray is a blend of  Cabernet, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Cuvée is also a description used to describe certain French sparkling wines. 

dry (adj.)   Having little to no sweetness. Dryness corresponds to the level of residual sugar, and may also be emphasized in wines with a higher alcohol content. 

earthy (adj.)  Containing notes that are reminiscent of soil or other such aromas. The opposite of earthy is fruit-forward.

flabby (adj.)  Having little acidity and therefore no structure—a negative term. Flabby may also describe sparkling wines that have gone “flat” and lost effervescence.

forward (adj.)  A wine that stands out from its peers. A forward wine has matured early, has prominent fruit, and is in peak condition. Referring to a wine as “closed” means it is not forward. 

hollow (adj.)  Having flavor sensations at the beginning and finish, but lacking in the middle. Usually, hollow wines fall short due to a lack of fruitiness. 

legs (n.)  the streaks of wine on the inside of the glass after swirling.

magnum (n.)  A large bottle of wine which holds 1.5 liters, the equivalent of two normal 750ml bottles. A word you hear often around Rubino Estates Winery, We affectionately call them “mags” and admire the unique properties of wine aged in them.

malolactic (adj.)  A scientific term describing a type of secondary fermentation used in some winemaking processes. Some wine aficionados will identify that “buttery” or “creamy” wines have gone through “malo.”

mid palate (n.)  The “middle flavor” of wine, right between the first hit on the tongue and the finish after you swallow. 

nose (n.)  The first impression made through the wine’s aroma. Smelling your wine is referred to as “nosing” in some circles. 

oak or oaky (adj.)  Referring to a family of flavors infused into wine by the oak barrels used for aging, including vanilla, s’mores, butterscotch, and toast.

oenology (n.)  The science of wine and winemaking, alternately spelled “enology”

plonk (adj. or n.)  Chiefly British, refers to cheap or inferior wine, often produced in bulk. 

punt (n.)  The dimple on the bottom of a wine bottle. 

quaffing (adj.)  Simple, everyday drinking wine. Quaffing wines are not overly sophisticated, but pleasant and drinkable. The related word “quaff” which means to drink heartily. 

silky (adj.)  Feeling soft in the mouth, generally with mild levels of acid and tannins. 

tartaric (adj.)  A type of acid that occurs naturally in many fruits and is the principal acid in grapes. It promotes flavor and aging in wine and maintains the stability of the wine’s composition and color. 

texture (n.)  A tactile factor of wine usually described by how a wine feels in the mouth. Words like smooth, velvety, crisp, or steely are all textural descriptors. (see also: mouthfeel)

typicity (n.)  How representative a wine is of its particular varietal. Different grape varietals have characteristic aromas and flavors, so this term would tell you, for example, how much a Barbera “tastes like a Barbera.”

unctuous (adj.)  Particularly weighty and rich or having a pleasantly full viscosity—a positive descriptor.

vinification (n.)  From start to finish, the process of making wine. This term covers everything from planting to bottling and cellaring. Another word for winemaking. 

vintage (n.)  An indication of the year a wine’s grapes were harvested, usually stated before the varietal, such as “2018 Sangiovese.”

wine tasting (n. or v.)  An enjoyable experience of evaluating wine with all the senses, engaging scents, sights, textures, flavors and more. 

young (adj.)  A wine that has not had a great deal of time to mature. Many wines are pleasant while young, though some need longer periods to age. 

This handy list of wine tasting vocabulary might just be the tool you didn’t know you needed. Come by the tasting room to see if you can spot any of these descriptions in the wines you enjoy—and impress your friends with your skill!

 

5 Cozy Christmas Cocktails

If you find yourself hosting a holiday party this year, or just want something festive and special to drink on a chilly day, then this cocktail guide is for you. These 5 drinks are filled to the brim with the flavors of the season. All you need to do is choose your favorite!  

Hot Buttered Rum

This recipe is straightforward and yields a comforting mug of warmth and cheer. We love the way this recipe fills the kitchen and home with the classic and irresistible aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. 

Recipe and photo from Epicurious. 

Holly Jolly Cocktail

If you are looking for all the cheer and zest you need this season, then this refreshing cocktail is what you need. This cocktail is especially pretty and equally delicious, marrying fresh citrus, ginger, and elderflower liqueur. 

Recipe and photo from Half Baked Harvest

Cranberry Sangria

For wine lovers like us, this delicious concoction offers a fresh festive twist. This Sangria offers a similar profile to mulled wine, but made with Rosé and chilled—making it especially appropriate for the holiday season here in California.  

Recipe and photo from BBC Good Food

Mrs. Claus Cocktail

Who says Mr. Claus should get all of the credit? This cocktail starts with a base of creamy eggnog and compliments it with a bright touch white chocolate and peppermint. It’s like a hug in a glass!

Recipe and Photo by KJ & Company

Christmas Punch

Ideal for a party and super easy, this punch combines fun flavors with celebratory flair for a truly charming combination that includes Sparkling Wine, cloudy apple juice, gin, and herbal liqueur.

Recipe and photo from BBC Good Food

 

Wishing you a holiday season of festive drinks, delicious food, and great company.

Cheers!

Wine Gifting Guide 2022

It’s time to make a list and check it twice! With the winter holidays right around the corner, many of us are spending our time choosing the right gifts for all the important people in our lives. For anyone who is struggling to find the right thing for everyone you love, we’ve got a wine gifting guide for you!

For your friend who likes to keep things light and fun - Salute Rosé

Rosé isn’t just for summertime sipping, especially a vivacious one like our Salute Rosé. This wine is the answer for the friend who loves pink—or something that pairs with pasta.

For literally any wine lover on your list - Sparkling Wine

It’s hard to go wrong with a bottle of bubbly. Easy and fun to drink, great for celebrations, and versatile for pairing, this wine is an all-around crowd pleaser.

For your quirky friend who likes to try new things - Fumé Blanc 

Fume Blanc is an innovation of Sauvignon Blanc, making it a great wine for curious people. Lively fruit with some tropical character sets this wine apart.

For your dog-walker, pet sitter, or favorite pet parent - Cuvée Dray

In a season of giving, Cuvée Dray is a perfect option. With $10 donated for every bottle sold, plus the amazing quality of this blend and the adorable label, it’s a no-brainer. 

For your easy going relative who appreciates a classic - Cabernet Sauvignon

Deep, rich, and warming, this quintessential red wine is beloved by many and pairs deliciously with many winter foods. Even better, our critically acclaimed Cab is on sale as our Wine of the Month! 

For a loved one who deserves a little extra nice this year - Landmark Barbera

Our Landmark Collection showcases the best of the best from our estate vineyard, and this Barbera is luxury in a glass. It’s also ideal for those who like to enjoy their wine now and those who prefer to lay it down!

For that parent or grandparent with a hidden sweet tooth - Infinitum

There’s always someone who appreciates dessert a little more than everyone else, and this Port-style dessert wine is for them: rich, lovely, and sweet.

For someone who has everything - Landmark Proprietary Red

When in doubt, a bottle of Proprietary Red can go a long way. This secret blend is exclusive to Rubino Estates and never fails to impress.

To all our members and guests, happy shopping!

 

A Cabernet Holiday

What’s on your wine wishlist this year? For us, it’s easy: Cabernet, all day. Nothing is as perfectly festive as a very nice glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, at least in our opinion. To celebrate we’ve declared our award-winning 2018 Riserva Collection Cabernet Sauvignon the Wine of the Month for December! No matter if or how you celebrate the holiday season, a glass (or two) of this Cab in your hand makes for an excellent evening. For optimal enjoyment, we’re suggesting a few food pairings, recipes included, for our Cabernet Sauvignon. 

 

Seared Steak with an Herb Butter

Cozy, suede-like tannins grace each sip of our Cab, so we recommend a nice red meat to go alongside it. This pairing is classic for a reason, after all. This featured recipe uses ribeye and offers some helpful tips for getting the sear just right. Make sure to use fresh cracked pepper for the steak for a delicious flavor bridge with the wine. 

Recipe and photo from Dear Mica

 

 

 

Hearty Pot Roast

For ultimate comfort on a winter’s day, it’s hard to beat this warm, welcoming classic. Easy enough for a weeknight and tasty enough for an occasion, this recipe offers convenience through the use of an instant pot, so you can have your beef ready, juicy, and tender alongside potatoes and carrots, all seasoned to perfection. 

Recipe and photo from Platings and Pairings

 

 

 

Gruyere Mac & Cheese

It’s time for some true home cooking. The bold flavors and dark fruit notes of our Cab pair especially well with cheddar and gruyere cheeses, and it’s hard to say no to a serving of homemade mac & cheese, especially at the holiday dinner table. This recipe elevates this comforting classic with some high-quality cheese and the addition of crispy back and peas. Yes, please!

Recipe and photo from Sadie's Kitchen Table

 

Are you ready for a holly jolly holiday filled with good food & wine? We sure are! Make sure to take advantage of this sale (PS: this wine makes a great gift too!)

 

What We're Thankful For

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, so we are taking a moment to reflect on the things and people we are most thankful for. We are tremendously blessed to be family-owned and operated, and to have such a wonderful team. This week, we asked a handful of our staff members what they are thankful for in 2022. Here’s what they said!

Health

In Lisa’s words: there’s so much to be thankful for every day, it’s hard to pick! She’s especially thankful for a healthy family. Susan is thankful that we are well enough to be out and about, doing the things we love with the people we love, and leaving the pandemic behind. Kendalyn also stated that she was thankful to be healthy. We treasure being able to be around each other!

Family

It’s one of the things that really matters in life. Holly mentioned that she’s thankful for her husband and family, as well as her puppy. Mark shared that he’s especially thankful for family this year, welcoming his 3rd grandchild and looking forward to gathering for the holiday. Doris says she treasures her growing family, having welcomed her 5th grandbaby in June. Nancy S was absolutely aglow talking about her thankfulness for her husband of 44 years. Dylan said he’s thankful for his girlfriend, and Kendalyn mentioned her family, friends, and of course her cat. Clay considered his thankfulness to be getting back in touch with his sister after many years of distance. Amy said she was thankful for family: both at home, and the family right here at Rubino Estates. 

Rubino Estates Winery

We’d be remiss to leave out how thankful we are for each other, as the Rubino Estates Famiglia. Amy shared right away that she is incredibly thankful to still be here with the Rubino Family after almost 10 years. Nancy S also shared that she loves this community. Jim said he was thankful for the coworkers who never fail to brighten his day. Travis is similarly thankful for being here at Rubino Estates, especially because he’s thankful for wine (at the moment, his favorite is our Landmark Founder’s Blend). 

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving season? We’d love to know! Tag us @rubinoestates

If you need some last-minute wines for your festivities, check out this easy 4-bottle Thanksgiving bundle, available for a limited time!

Primitivo Wine Pairing Guide

National Zinfandel day is coming up next week on the 16th! Instead of only celebrating Zin, however, we are going to celebrate Zinfandel’s swanky Italian twin: Primitivo. Primitivo is an Italian varietal known for its profile of dark jammy fruit notes. Genetically, Zinfandel and Primitivo are identical, but that doesn’t stop each wine from boasting its own unique expression. 

Since Primitivo is an easy red wine to enjoy this time of year, use this quick guide to pairing it with all sorts of autumn-inspired favorites!

 

Charcuterie

Cured Speck

Fig Jam

Smoked Gouda

Fresh Blackberries

Mild Blue Cheese

 

 

 

Protein 

Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs

Eggplant Parmigiana

Beef Stew with Squash

Glazed Pork Belly

Mild Tofu Curry 

 

 

 

Sweets

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingerbread Crust

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mini Sweet Potato Pies

Spiced Carrot Cake

Dark Chocolate Mousse with Berries

 

 

Cheers to Primitivo! If you’d like to shop now, click here. Whether you are reaching for another round of desserts or pouring yourself another glass, we hope you enjoy this season and stay cozy.