Essential Guide to Sangiovese
This month, we are celebrating Sangiovese. This classic Italian red is a delight to the eye and to the palate, pairing perfectly with a range of foods. An elegant and pleasantly balanced wine is welcome in this season of transition from summer heat to autumn crispness. This week, we are sharing essential information about Sangiovese for wine novices and connoisseurs alike.
Cal-Ital Identity
Long before we grafted Sangiovese into our Estate Vineyard, this old-world workhorse of a wine has been enjoyed globally for its medium tannins, delightful acidity, and fullness of bright, luscious red fruit. Sangiovese is the core component of Chianti Classico, growing prolifically in its home region of Tuscany and boasting the status of most planted varietal in Italy. In the US, it is much less widespread. We are proud to produce estate-grown Sangiovese right here in the Livermore Valley as part of our Cal-Ital mission. Early to bud and slow to ripen, Sangiovese grapes are tender and delicate while still resistant to drought, making them right at home in the Livermore Valley. We believe this varietal is worthy of acclaim!
Vibrant Varietal Characteristics
One feature of Sangiovese (which you will also find in Italian Chianti) is that these wines are easy to drink young, but well-crafted ones improve over 5-10 years. This varietal’s deep purple grapes produce a gorgeous red color and cherry flavors, with intriguing flavor variation determined by the growing environment. Our 2020 Riserva Sangiovese boasts notes of wild strawberry, vivacious red fruit, and a touch of lychee. A hint of black pepper peeks through on the palate, and rich cherry flavor accents the lingering finish. This vintage is very smooth, with sassy floral notes and a mid-weight palate.
Solo and Supporting Roles
Sangiovese is a very bright varietal with reliable acidity, which means it lends itself well to blending with other varieties. With the balanced elements of fruit, acid, and tannin, Sangiovese is also a pairing superstar, especially with pizza and pasta, but also with meatloaf, roast chicken, and other medium fare. From simple table wine to astonishingly elegant luxury wines, Sangiovese can do it all!
Sangiovese Pairing Inspiration
These wines are truly an absolute delight to drink, especially with food. After all, Italian wine should be enjoyed with good food! We lean toward Italian cuisine for pairing, including dishes like bruschetta, pizza, and caprese salad. Sangiovese’s food-friendliness also makes it a Charcuterie board’s best friend!
Recipes to try with Sangiovese
Bruschetta with Tuscan Peperonata
Rustic Homemade Margherita Flatbread Pizza
Cal-Italia Pizza with Prosciutto & Figs
Chicken Caprese Spaghetti Squash
Bistecca alla Fiorentina
Welcoming New Wines
At Rubino Estates, we love to share great wines. Our August release has brought three delightful new vintages to the Rubino Tasting Room, including our all new wine, Old World Chardonnay. These wines are perfect for the warm season and enjoying with good friends.
2023 Old World Chardonnay
We are proud to unveil our Old World Chardonnay, an aromatic and classical take on this much-loved varietal, and the newest addition to our Riserva wine club collection. An homage to Burgundian Chardonnays, this wine is aged in fully neutral oak to emphasize the natural aromas and freshness of the fruit with just a subtle influence from the oak barrels. On this vintage, an elegantly aromatic nose features stone fruit notes of peach and apricot, along with floral touches of citrus and apple blossom. The flavors follow through on the aroma, with stone fruit and a pleasing hint of oaky vanilla gracing the finish. The smooth body has just enough structure, balanced by a lovely refreshing acidity. This debut vintage spent 9 months in neutral oak prior to bottling.
2020 Amuleto
Amuleto, meaning “amulet” in Italian, is crafted exclusively for the Rubino Estates Wine Club. Combining two of the most popular Italian varietals, it’s our good luck charm. This vintage marries 52% Barbera and 48% Sangiovese. Boasting a delightful and vibrant profile, it brings lively red cherry, cranberry, strawberry, and light floral notes. There’s a touch of toasted oak on the finish that gives way to bright, lingering fruit flavors. The mouthfeel is full with a pleasant acidity and very smooth tannins. Overall, the 2020 is a very lively, well-balanced, and exciting vintage.
2021 Landmark Chardonnay
As with all of our Landmark Collection wines, the production of our Landmark Chardonnay begins in the vineyard and expresses the relentless value we place on fruit quality and purposeful winemaking. This vintage is a delightfully classic Chardonnay, with swirling notes of white peach, golden nectarine, pear, and a touch of flint. Welcoming notes of vanilla, butterscotch, and a touch of cinnamon grace the palate to round out the fruit notes. It’s best served slightly chilled. Savor the luscious mouthfeel and a lengthy, luxurious finish. This exquisite Chardonnay was aged in a blend of fine european oak cooperage (75% French and 25% Hungarian; 70% new) for 21 months before bottling.
All of these wines are available now in the tasting room and online. Which will you pick?
Veraison: Colors Emerge In the Vineyard
August has arrived, and it has brought color to the vineyard! As our fruit finishes its growing stage, it begins to take on its gorgeous mature colors, a process called veraison.
Across the estate, our clusters are dappled with color. This is Cabernet, though each varietal matures at its own speed.
This lively Syrah vine shows the pastel progression of pale green, through pink, to lilac.
The vibrant color of this Zinfandel gleams in the sunny afternoon light.
Some red varietals, like our Barbera, mature much later than others. The berries are large and will take their time to take on the mature purple we expect.
Looking closely, however, we found some Barbera clusters who are beginning to blush!
Veraison in white wines looks a little different. You can tell these Sauvignon Blanc berries are shifting from bright green to a softer, more golden hue. The berries will soften and become more transparent as they ripen.
The Sangiovese has a handful of picturesque pink polka dots in this section. You can see the potential to create our Rosé!
Other sections of the Sangiovese are further along, taking on a rosy violet tone.
This particularly picturesque Petite Sirah cluster boasts the whole spectrum of color, from the bright green to the dark purple of the mature fruit.
Petite Sirah takes on a particularly rich indigo hue, to which we owe the bold tannin profile of the finished wine.
This row of Merlot is looking promising! The vine is youthful but robust.
Summer Berry Pie with Sparkling Moscato
We’re declaring that it’s a sweet treat summer. Inspired by the effervescent allure of our Moscato Dessert Wine, we wanted to make a dessert that feels perfect for July. While pie might not be the first thing on your list when you think of summer, it won’t take long for the enticing combination of summer fruit inside warm pastry to change your mind!
This recipe takes advantage of delicious late summer fruits, but feel free to get creative! We used strawberries and blueberries, and sealed it into our favorite whole-wheat pie crust for some extra dimension. Pop a chilled Moscato and let’s sip dessert & bake it too!
Late-Summer Mixed-Fruit Pie Recipe
By Stella Parks for Serious Eats
Ingredients
- 3 medium plums, apricots, or nectarines (about 12 ounces; 340g)
- 9 ounces pitted cherries (1 2/3 heaping cups; 255g), from about 12 ounces whole fruit (2 1/4 heaping cups; 340g)
- 6 ounces fresh blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries (1 cup; 170g)
- 4 ounces Cape gooseberries, currants, or fresh cranberries (1/2 cup; 110g)
- 7 ounces sugar (1 cup; 195g)
- 1/2 teaspoon (2g) kosher salt
- 1 1/2 ounces tapioca starch (1/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon; 40g)
- Favorite pie dough, rolled and chilled as per the directions for a double crust
- Sprinkling Sugar
Directions
For the Filling: Wash your stone fruit (no need to peel), cut into 1/2-inch slices, and measure out 9 ounces (1 1/2 cups; 255g) in a large bowl. Add pitted cherries, blueberries, and Cape gooseberries, or whatever mix of fruit you prefer, to bring the total weight to 28 ounces (790g; volume will vary). Toss with sugar, salt, and tapioca starch, folding with a flexible spatula until well combined. Scrape into a prepared pie shell and place the top crust in whatever configuration you prefer: a solid sheet, a lattice, a herringbone, or checkerboard. Trim away excess dough and refrigerate to ensure the top crust is completely chilled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat to 400°F (205°C).
To Bake: Place our chilled pie on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake until the crust is golden, about 1 hour, then loosely cover with tented foil. (Alternatively, an empty baking sheet can be placed on the topmost rack of the oven to serve as a shield.) Continue baking until filling is bubbling even in the very center of the pie, about 15 minutes more. If the crust completely covers the filling, bake until the pie reaches an internal temperature of 212°F (100°C) on a digital thermometer.
To Serve: Cool pie for at least 3 hours, depending on the type of pie plate. (Above that temperature, filling will be runny and thin.) Slice into wedges with a sharp knife, pressing firmly against bottom and sides of pie plate to ensure under-crust is completely cut.
Serve à la mode and with chilled sparkling Moscato for a perfect summertime treat!
Wine Acidity: A Fundamental Feature
If you love exploring good wines like we do, your curiosity will lead you to all kinds of wine world vocabulary. In this blog, we’re exploring the essentials of wine acidity. What does “acidity” mean in wine tasting? Is acid in wine good or bad? How can you describe a wine’s acidity? We explore all this and more.
Acidity is Essential to Wine
There are four basic traits you can look for in every glass of wine: tannin, alcohol, sweetness, and acid. Of course, the levels and character of each of these elements will vary between varietals, vintages, winemakers, wine styles, terroir, and more. In general, you can expect red wines to be less acidic than white wines. Acidity is the main source of structure in a white wine, which is why it’s more associated with white wines. Red wines also have influential acidity, but their structure is generally dictated by the tannin quality. Light-bodied whites are generally more acidic than a more rounded white wine, and sweet white wines are the most acidic. A perfectly acidic wine will literally make your mouth water, sharpening the individual flavors, offering a delicious prickling sensation on the sides of the tongue, and a mouth-watering finish.
The Role of Acidity
Acid, in particular, is responsible for the tart, tangy, vibrant, or sour character within a wine. If it’s mouthwatering or makes you pucker a bit (good or bad) it’s probably the acidity at work. These fresh, tart and sour attributes of the wine are evaluated in relation to how well the acidity balances out the sweetness and bitter components of the wine such as tannins. Sweetness will temper the sensation of acidity--so two wines with the same level of acid won’t have the same sensation if one is sweeter than the other. Sweet wines generally have higher acidity because of this dynamic. Regardless of sweetness, however, a wine without acid ages poorly and tastes “flabby” and undefined. A wine that is very acidic but well balanced by its other elements is an absolute delight!
The Science of Wine Acidity
Depending on its acidity, the pH of wine ranges from 2.5 to about 4.5, making it less acidic than other common beverages like coke or lemonade. Tartaric and malic acid occur naturally in grapes, and as they ripen the sugar increases and the acid decreases. At harvest time, our winemaker makes picking decisions based on this balance. During the winemaking process, many wines will undergo malolactic fermentation (also called “the malo” or MLF), a secondary fermentation where malic acid is converted into the softer lactic acid creating the creamy or “buttery” profiles of wine. If you have ever compared a stainless steel Chardonnay (no MLF) to an oaked Chardonnay (MLF) you know that the type of acid in a wine has a significant impact on the flavor and profile of the wine.
Describing Wine Acidity
Other than simply “acidic,” a few words you may hear to describe acidity in a wine include tart, tangy, fresh, and sour. If you want to be more creative and describe the exact character of the acidity, words like puckering or mouthwatering describe the effect of the wine, while laser-sharp, crunchy, or crisp might encapsulate the effect on a wine’s structure. Feel free to borrow other acidic fruits to describe the individual notes, such as lemon zest, tangerine, or grapefruit in a white wine or cranberry and tart cherry in a red wine. Some words provide an overall description of how the wine feels, like racy, electric, zippy, zing, bright, or brisk, and these refer to the acidity as well.
Acidity and Wine Pairing
Outside of the characteristics of the wine itself, acidity also factors into a wine’s pairing potential. A wine with nice acidity will pair very nicely with delicious salty or higher-fat foods, perking up these heavier meals by working as palate cleansers and preparing you for each delectable bite. Additionally, a lower acid wine will taste dull and flat alongside acidic dishes, while a crisp, higher-acid wine will complement the meal beautifully. So, if you are having a dish that is zesty and zippy with acidity, you can choose a wine that matches. We recommend serving acid-driven wines at a lower temperature. Acid and chilling go hand in hand—it’s one thing that makes these wines so crisp and refreshing. Traditional Italian wines are well-known for their pairability, and it will come as no surprise that it’s due to their amazing acidity, so we recommend a zippy Sangiovese or a Barbera with tart cherry notes with dinner tonight!
Growing: An Estate Vineyard Update
As spring gives way to summer, we are out in the vineyard to look at all the glorious changes that the season has brought. Spring means a vibrantly green season, with verdant leaves, vines, and beautiful grape blossoms. Those blossoms quickly turn into green juvenile grapes, which will grow in size until veraison, when they reach their mature color. The vineyard is beginning the shift from blossom to early berry. Scroll through this gallery for a virtual walk through the vineyard with us!
The sun is beaming into the vineyard, tickling the tops of the vines and illuminating the diligent growth of the past few months.
The rain of winter and spring has allowed our vines to clothe themselves in a dense canopy of leaves.
These young Cabernet vines have bloomed beautifully and will self-pollinate. This early stage doesn’t last long, though!
These Petite Sirah berries are also very early in their development, but you can see the individual definition of the berries.
Some vines, like this Sangiovese, offer a glimpse of the future. You can see the clusters taking shape.
Of course, every vine has its own pace. These clusters are already heavy and growing fast.
The sunshine makes each block glow in the morning and ripen in its season. We are excited for this Sangiovese’s future.
These baby Barbera bunches are looking positively dreamy in the morning sun!
As the season progresses, our vines will continue to grow and fill out each block of the vineyard with vibrant green.
More than just grapevines, our estate is a full ecosystem. Come visit us to take in the beauty of the wildflowers, birds, trees, and blue skies!
Strawberry & Salute Rosé Snack Cake
This summer, we’re making a point to seek out all the little sweet treats. This Strawberry Rosé snack cake, with its beautiful pink hue and very light and fluffy texture, is perfect for those moments in the day when you want a little morsel of joy. Plus, this cake is easy to put together and is great for sharing, and since the alcohol content in the Rosé bakes off, anyone can enjoy it! The flowers are blooming all around us, the summer fruit is ripening, and it’s a Rosé kind of day, so this recipe is the perfect choice.
Strawberry-Rosé Snack Cake
Ingredients
- Cake:
- 1 1/2 cups freeze-dried strawberries, divided
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2/3 cup rosé wine
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- Frosting:
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
Directions
Prepare the Cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides. Process freeze-dried strawberries in a mini food processor until powdered, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Measure 3 tablespoons powdered strawberries into a medium bowl (reserve remaining powdered strawberries in the food processor for Frosting). Add flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt to bowl. Using a spoon, make a well in center of flour mixture, and pour rosé wine, oil, and vanilla into well. Crack egg into rosé mixture. Pierce egg using tip of a whisk, and lightly beat together. Fold egg mixture into flour mixture to form a smooth batter.
Spread batter evenly in prepared baking pan. Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 25 to 28 minutes. Remove from oven, and cool in pan 5 minutes. Using parchment paper overhang, lift Cake from pan and transfer to a wire rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
Prepare the Frosting: Place butter, cream cheese, and salt in a clean bowl, and beat with an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add reserved powdered strawberries, and beat on medium-high speed until thoroughly combined, about 1 minute. Add powdered sugar, and beat on low speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Spread Frosting over cooled Cake. Enjoy!
We invite you to enjoy this cake with our Wine of the Month, Salute Rosé! On sale now for a limited time.
Elevated Mimosas for Mother's Day
Mother’s Day is this Sunday, and we’re here to help you make it special. Classic Mimosas (or should we say Mom-osas) are a special treat for any day, but we think this is the perfect chance to elevate this simple libation! Below, we’ve suggested garnishes and add-ins of all kinds to make these Mimosas a signature staple. Even if you don’t celebrate Mother’s day, this is a guide to elevated mimosas in all seasons! Enjoy every kind of spin on these drinks, from sweet and fruity to tart and zesty, and step beyond mere OJ & bubbles.
Think Outside the Orange Juice
Mix and match any of these to create some unforgettable combos for your base!
Grapefruit Juice
Pear Puree
Pink Lemonade
Pineapple Juice
Watermelon Puree
Cranberry Juice
Make it a Magnificent Mixer
There’s no Sparkling Wine monopoly! Add a touch of these to the party:
Tequila
Peach Liqueur
Vodka
Grapefruit Sparkling Water (Non-Alcoholic option)
Small Scoop of Sherbet
Infuse Your Sip with Whole Fruit
Make a “berry” beautiful beverage when you mix and match these fruity delights!
Raspberries
Citrus Wedges
Blueberries
Mango Cubes
Tart Cherries
Pomegranate Arils
Kiwi Rounds
Jazz Your Glass With an Herbaceous Garnish
Bring in the sophisticated flavor spins you didn’t know you needed.
Lavender
Mint
Rose Petals
Rosemary
Thyme
Basil
We encourage you to make a sample flight of your favorite combinations, or set up a build-your-own Mimosa buffet for a family Mother’s Day brunch! After all, nothing says “I love you” quite like thoughtful food and drinks.
As a bonus, to honor this holiday we’re offering a sale on our Sparkling Wine, perfect for mimosas!
Futures Night Barrel Lineup
Futures Night is this weekend! This ticketed member-exclusive event will feature barrel tastings of 7 phenomenal Rubino Estates and Ruby Hill Wines. We are delighted to share the barrels that have been hand-selected for Futures Night by our talented team. Guests of the event will have the opportunity to taste and pre-order these gorgeous wines!
Rubino Estates Riserva Sangiovese
Estimated bottling date: June 2024
Enjoy the bright red fruit character of this Italian classic! Our Riserva Sangiovese brings lively notes of cherry, strawberry, and raspberry to the palate, along with excellent food-friendly acidity. A light touch of tannin on the palate leads into a fruity, vanilla-accented finish after time in oak. Our Sangiovese is rustic, robust, and gorgeous, perfect at pizza night and elegant dinners alike.
Rubino Estates Club Exclusive Ferrario
Estimated bottling date: June/July 2024
Enjoy a very rich and brooding aroma, with notes like chocolate, red fruit, plum and fig. Once barrel aging is complete, the palate releases a symphony of flavor, joined by a big mouthfeel, smooth tannins, and some spice. This wine was named in honor of Ernest Ferrario, an Italian immigrant, and proprietor of our Estate Vineyard from 1921-1975. Our winemaker crafted this wine exclusively for members of the Rubino Estates Wine Club.
Rubino Estates Landmark Proprietary Red
Estimated bottling date: February 2025
Our rich and lush Proprietary Red is a favorite of many guests and members, with saturated and bright flavor. This top-secret blend is comprised of our most exceptional varietals from each vintage. The exact components are known only to our winemaker, who has crafted this unique wine especially for you! After barrel aging, the finished wine is bold and gorgeous with promise to age gracefully.
Ruby Hill Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Estimated bottling date: July 2024
An undeniable classic, the Ruby Hill Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunner, vintage after vintage. Richly flavorful with a heavy and satisfying mouthfeel, you can expect a voluptuous profile on the palate and long, lingering finish. Flavors like marionberry, French plum, dark chocolate, black pepper, and vanilla bean are all at home in our estate vineyard's Cabernet Sauvignon. This Bordeaux beauty is known for its excellent ageability, so it can be enjoyed for years to come.
Ruby Hill Club Exclusive Patchwork
Estimated bottling date: June/July 2024
The Patchwork is named for the bird's-eye view of the vineyard, where each varietal block is stitched into a gorgeous patchwork of vines. The Patchwork's merry trio of varietals: Zinfandel, Merlot, and Petit Verot, create an elevated and enrapturing blend. Expressive Zin notes meet the darker and satisfying Merlot textures, along with plum notes, smooth tannin, and balanced acidity supported by the Petit Verdot elements.
Ruby Hill Jewel Petit Verdot
Estimated bottling date: February 2025
Luxe and refined, Petit Verdot offers elegance and richness, with notes of violet, berries, and lilac. As it ages, the subtleties develop into a multisensory symphony of flavor and texture. The Jewel Collection Series represents the epitome of winemaking at Ruby Hill, and our Petit Verdot puts that on display with pride. Crafted with attention to every detail and meticulous care for the farming, gentle vinification, and extended aging in carefully selected cooperage, this elegant wine is one to remember.
Odyssey, Chapter 3
Estimated bottling date: February 2025
This mysterious and ultra-exclusive wine is premium in every way. Odyssey is a red wine blend, made with the highest degree of care and opulence to celebrate the rich history and legacy of our estate. Each vintage corresponds to a chapter in our story. The 2020 vintage debuted as Chapter 1, and this barrel of 2022 Odyssey provides a glimpse at Chapter 3. You don't want to miss this.
Click here to get your last-minute tickets to Futures Night!
Your Guide to Wine Futures
With Futures Night coming up in just two weeks, we are taking some time to explore the interesting and important aspects of wine futures barrel tastings, how they work, and how they differ from other barrel tasting.
What are Wine Futures?
Wine futures are wines that have been blended into their final form but have not yet been bottled. This is distinct from other barrel tastings, wherein you try a single varietal from a single barrel. Single barrels like those become the components of a larger lot, which our winemaker will balance with additions from other barrels and even other varietals prior to bottling. This is the stage for Futures tasting. Though they are nearly ready to be bottled, there is still an element of youth to wine futures. In Bordeaux, wine futures are referred to as “en primeur” which translates to “in youth.” Wines sold en primeur may be bottled months or years after tasting from the barrel. Once bottled, the wines will be available to those who purchased.
How do you get the wine out of the barrel?
Oxidation caused by extended contact with air is the enemy of wine, so it is important to keep barrels sealed off. Barrels are made up of oaken slats, called staves, one of which has a hole for access. These holes are stopped up with a rubber plug called a “bung” to protect the wine inside from the air. To sample the futures inside the barrels, we use a device called a “wine thief,” a tubular pipette designed to perfectly “steal” tastes of wine from the barrel.
What is different about a wine future and how is the wine going to change?
One of the reasons for extended barrel aging is to allow oak character to balance the fruit and to give the natural tannins time to integrate. Tasting wine futures allows you to appreciate the character of the fruit itself, which lays the foundation for the eventual wine’s overall profile. Tasting futures is a great way to put your palate to the test and gain intimate insight into the process of your favorite wines. If you like it in the barrel, imagine it in the bottle! Futures allow you to preview and buy what you’ll really love.
Why buy a future wine?
If you want to secure access to limited edition wines that sell out fast, this is your chance! Some vintages are gone before you know it, and buying futures assures the chance to have these wines won’t pass you by. Even more, when you purchase a future, you are purchasing far below retail value. Think of it as an investment! Futures also offer the unique chance to buy something now that will mature and come to fruition later, making it perfect for milestone celebrations like birthdays, anniversaries, promotions, and retirement.
Who can buy wine futures
In classic Bordeaux futures tastings, these exclusive pre-sales are open to a select few importers, journalists, retailers, and critics. Here at the Rubino Estates, we are opening our barrels for one night only to our beloved Club Members! We want to share our futures with wine lovers who know that the best things in life are worth waiting for. Our Futures Night will be hosted Saturday, April 27th, and will feature some of the best wine futures from all over our Estate, including wines from Ruby Hill Winery. The event will be held in our tasting room.
Tickets must be purchased in advance and are on sale now! Click here.
If you're not currently a member but would like to join us for Futures Night, now is the time to sign up! Click here for more information on the wine club.