Fort Ross Estate Chef John Vong offers his take on a classic autumn favorite. The richness of the squash and cream and completemented by sherry vinegar and lemon zest, making an ideal match for our 2019 Chardonnay.
Soup
1 butternut squash, about 2lb
2 quarts vegetable stock
2 cups cream
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 shallots, peeled and thinly sliced
1⁄2 teaspoon ground green cardamom
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
Zest of one lemon
Kosher salt to taste
Brioche crouton:
2 slices Brioche bread, cut into 1 inch sticks
2 tablespoons olive oil
Zest of half of a lemon
1⁄4 teaspoon ground green cardamom
Soup
1. Split squash in half, and scoop out seeds. Season with salt and green cardamom. Roast at 350F for one hour. Set aside to cool, then scoop the squash out of it’s skin.
2. In a large pot, sweat shallots over medium heat until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add roasted squash, and sauté for 2 minutes. Add sherry vinegar to deglaze.
3. Add cream and stock and bring to a simmer. Let simmer for 5 minutes, then blend until smooth.
4. Pour soup through a strainer into a clean pot a bring to a simmer. Season with salt and lemon zest.
5. Serve with crème fraiche on top and brioche crouton.
Brioche Crouton
1. Coat brioche with olive oil
2. Sprinkle on lemon zest and green cardamom.
3. Toast at 350F for 7 minutes, or until crispy
Our 2019 Chardonnay shows contrasting notes of creaminess and minerality; hazelnut and pastry dough flavors are layered with Meyer lemon and our signature minerality. This round, creamy texture is in perfect harmony with the weight of this soup, and the minerality brings out the subtle lemony notes in the soup.
As the weather cools down, embrace the sweet & savory sides of fresh produce and herbs in season.
In this recipe, fennel and dill harmonize to evoke a toasty beginning of fall. The roundess of the poached salmon & crème is offset by the fresh citrus and spice of the radish, matching the body of our 2020 Bicentennial Chardonnay.
This simple roasted chicken thighs recipe is great for any night of the week. A touch of sweetness from honey and carmelized figs accentures the ripe fruit of our 2019 Stagecoach Road Pinot Noir for a meal that will keep you warm on a chilly fall evening.
Take advantage of the last bit of warm weather this September by opening up the grill. This recipe recommends using a smoker to infuse fruit flavors into the rib-eye, a perfect match to our 2017 Pinotage.
In this recipe, fennel and dill harmonize to evoke a toasty beginning of fall. The roundess of the poached salmon & crème is offset by the fresh citrus and spice of the radish, matching the body of our 2020 Bicentennial Chardonnay.
Recipe by Kristen Murray via Sunset Magazine
1 king salmon fillet with skin (2 to 2 1/2 lbs. and about 1 in. thick; cut from tail end), pin bones removed*
Zest and juice of 1 large orange
1 small shallot, thinly sliced crosswise, separated into rings
1 small, tender fennel bulb, trimmed and very thinly sliced on a diagonal, a few feathery leaves reserved (or use torn carrot tops)
1/4 to 1/2 cup dry white vermouth, such as Dolin
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
About 1 tsp. flake sea salt, such as Maldon, divided
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon ground coriander
5 juniper berries, crushed with fingers
Paper-thin radish slices (2 or 3 radishes)
Dill Crème
1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 large ripe avocado, pitted and peeled
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons roasted hazelnut oil*
2 tablespoons dry white vermouth such as Dolin
1 cup crème fraîche
About 1 tsp. flake sea salt such as Maldon
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
1. Preheat oven to 325°.
2. Prepare the dill crème:
2a. Pulse coriander in a food processor to break up. Add remaining ingredients except for salt and dill; whirl until smooth. Season to taste with salt. Scrape sauce into a bowl and fold in dill.
3. Cut a sheet of 18-in.-wide heavy-duty foil three times as long as salmon and center it on a rimmed baking sheet, letting ends hang over. Set salmon, skin side down, on foil. Sprinkle fish evenly with orange zest, shallot, and fennel bulb. Bring corners and sides of foil up around salmon to make a canoe with 2-in. sides.
4. Pour orange juice into a glass measuring cup and add vermouth to make 3/4 cup. Microwave until steaming (about 170°) and pour evenly over fish. Drizzle with 1 tbsp. oil and sprinkle evenly with 1/2 tsp. salt, the pepper, coriander, and juniper berries. Tightly roll ends and sides of foil together to create a pouch.
5. Bake salmon until cooked through three-quarters of the way from edge to center of thickest part (which will still look wet; open foil and cut fish to check), 12 to 25 minutes, depending on thickness.
6. Slide two long metal spatulas under fish and carefully transfer to a long platter (Murray likes to use a madeleine pan), leaving poaching liquid behind. Sprinkle radishes, about 1/2 tsp. salt, and remaining 1 tbsp. oil over fish. Scatter torn fennel fronds on top. Serve with Dill Crème
As noted above, the body of our 2020 Bicentennial Chardonnay is just right for the weight of this dish. The oak signature is light on this Chardonnay, and therefore the purity of the fruit flavors mingle with the orange while the minerality complements the green spices of the dish.
Take advantage of the last bit of warm weather this September by opening up the grill. This recipe recommends using a smoker to infuse fruit flavors into the rib-eye, a perfect match to our 2017 Pinotage.
Recipe by Matthew Dillon via Sunset Magazine
2 beef rib-eye steaks, each 16 oz. and 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 in. thick, preferably well-marbled, grass-fed, and dry-aged
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil, divided
2 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
About 1 1/4 tsp. pepper, divided
1/4 cup butter, divided, softened
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, divided
2 tablespoons honey, divided
2 tablespoons cider vinegar, divided
2 cups (5 oz.) Padrón or shishito peppers
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1. An hour before cooking, season steaks with 2 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper and set on a plate to come to room temperature. Then, brush steaks with 1 tbsp. oil. Meanwhile, soak 1 cup fruitwood chips in a bowl of water about 30 minutes.
2. Put 2 tbsp. butter in a shallow baking dish big enough to hold steaks. Add a few cracks of pepper and 1 tbsp. each thyme, honey, and vinegar; bring to grill area. Bring ingredients for peppers to grill: the Padróns; remaining 1 tbsp. oil, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 2 tbsp. butter; a dish with remaining 1 tbsp. thyme and the garlic; and another dish with remaining 1 tbsp. each honey and vinegar. Also bring a large cast-iron skillet, wooden spoon, grilling tongs, and foil.
3. For charcoal, ignite a very full chimney of hardwood mesquite charcoal on firegrate of a charcoal grill. Arrange coals on firegrate in a slope so there's a hotter area and a cooler one. Drain wood chips and scatter over charcoal. Set cooking grate in place. For gas, heat a gas grill to high (450° to 550°). Put drained wood chips in the grill's smoking box, or seal chips in a packet of foil, cut dime-size holes, and set directly on a burner. Cover grill.
4. When wood chips start to smoke (1 to 2 minutes for charcoal, 10 to 15 minutes for gas), set steaks over hottest part of charcoal fire (or anywhere on gas grill). Grill steaks covered, turning once and moving to cooler part of charcoal fire if they start to flare up, until well browned and done the way you like, about 10 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer steaks to baking dish with butter mixture, turn to coat, and tent loosely with foil.
5. Heat cast-iron skillet on cooking grate. When hot, add 1 tbsp. oil and swirl to coat. Then add peppers and 1/4 tsp. salt. Cook, shaking skillet and stirring occasionally, until peppers are browned and blistered, about 5 minutes. Add butter and let it foam and brown, 45 to 60 seconds. Stir in thyme, garlic, and honey-vinegar, then pour mixture over steaks. Let steaks rest about 1 minute more.
6. Transfer steaks to a cutting board, leaving juices and peppers in baking dish. Slice steaks crosswise into 1/2- to 3/4-in. strips. Using a spatula, pick up strips in original shape of steaks and set on a platter. Spoon about half of juices and peppers over steaks and serve the rest in a bowl on the side.
With its savory, leathery characteristics, our 2017 Pinotage is made for red meat off the grill. Its bold plum and blueberry notes mingle with the smoked, fruity character of the rib-eye, while firm tannins, cedar, peppercorn, and herbal spicy character are enlivened by the blistered padróns.
This simple roasted chicken thighs recipe is great for any night of the week. A touch of sweetness from honey and carmelized figs accentures the ripe fruit of our 2019 Stagecoach Road Pinot Noir for a meal that will keep you warm on a chilly fall evening.
Recipe by Adeena Sussman via Sunset Magazine
2 tablespoons good-quality (cask-aged) red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 cup honey
2 pounds (4 to 6) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
3/4 teaspoon pepper, divided
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 large shallots, thinly sliced
6 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano leaves, plus 2 tbsp. whole leaves
8 to 10 figs, stems trimmed, halved (quartered if large)
1. Preheat oven to 400°. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup water, the vinegar, and cornstarch. Whisk in honey and set aside. Sprinkle chicken on both sides with 3/4 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper.
2. Heat a heavy 12- to 14-in. ovenproof frying pan over medium-high heat until hot. Add oil and swirl to coat, then add chicken skin side down and brown until skin is deep golden and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Turn over and brown other side, 2 to 3 minutes more. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.
3. Discard all but 2 tbsp. fat from frying pan, reduce heat to medium, and cook shallots until translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add cornstarch mixture, chopped oregano, and remaining 1/4 tsp. each salt and pepper; cook until mixture bubbles and thickens, 1 to 2 minutes.
4. Set chicken skin side up in frying pan and add figs. Roast in oven until figs soften and caramelize slightly and meat is no longer pink at bone, about 15 minutes. Divide chicken, figs, and sauce among plates and top with whole oregano leaves.
Our 2019 Stagecoach Road Pinot Noir is on the fuller-bodied side of the spectrum for Pinot Noir, giving it enough tannin and body to stand up to the richness of dark-meat chicken thighs. With its ripe black fruit and underpinning of herbal notes, it mingles well with the sweet-and-savory flavors of the roasted chicken and figs.
This Food & Wine recipe is best paired with our 2016 Sea Stars Blanc de Noirs
Credit: Michael Turek via Food & Wine Magazine
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 small shallot, minced
1 tablespoon chopped chives, plus 1-inch lengths, for garnish
1 tablespoon chopped drained capers
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground pepper
5 English muffins—split, toasted and buttered
1/2 pound skinless smoked trout fillet, coarsely chopped
1. In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, shallot, chopped chives, capers and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Spread the English muffins with the caper cream cheese. Top with the smoked trout, garnish with the chive pieces and serve.
"Sparkling wine is a good choice for smoked fish like salmon, or the trout on these creamy toasts. Choose a wine with some richness to it." - Food & Wine Magazine
Our 2016 Sea Stars Blanc de Noirs is dry & crisp featuring citrus, ripe apple, and a subtle strawberry note. These fruit flavors serve as a beautiful contrast against the savory-smoky flavor of the trout, while the acidity cuts the creaminess of the spread.
This Food & Wine recipe is best paired with our 2017 Stagecoach Road Pinot Noir
Credit: David Malosh via Food & Wine Magazine
1 cup French green lentils
Kosher salt and pepper
6 baby golden beets, scrubbed and cut into 1/2-inch wedges
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
2 tablespoons minced shallot
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 cups torn frisée, white and light green parts only
2 red endives—halved lengthwise, cored and sliced crosswise on the diagonal
Four 5- to 6-ounce skin-on salmon fillets
1. In a large saucepan, cover the lentils with at least 2 inches of water and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderate heat until just tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, add a generous pinch of salt and let stand for 5 minutes. Drain well and spread the lentils on a baking sheet to cool.
2. Rinse out the saucepan and put a steamer basket in it. Add 1 inch of water and bring to a boil. Scatter the beets in the basket, cover and steam until tender, about 10 minutes. Let the beets cool.
3. In a large bowl, whisk the vinegar with the shallot, mustard and 1/4 cup of the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Add the lentils, beets, frisée and endives and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper and toss again.
4. Season the salmon with salt and pepper. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil until shimmering. Add the salmon, skin side down, and press gently with a spatula to flatten. Cook over moderately high heat until the skin is browned and crisp, about 3 minutes. Flip the salmon and cook until it is medium within, about 3 minutes longer. Transfer the salmon to plates and serve with the lentil salad.
"Pinot Noir would do well to look for two words on the label, Sonoma County—it’s arguably America’s greatest Pinot Noir region. Thanks to the brisk ocean breezes of the far Sonoma Coast, or the morning fog that creeps over the Russian River Valley, the climate could not have been better designed for this cool-weather-loving variety. And it’s an ideal partner for rich fish like salmon." - Food & Wine Magazine
This perfectly describes our 2017 Stagecoach Pinot Noir. It has bright, restrained red fruit along with developing earthy characteristics complemented by subtle spice. These notes epsecially accentuate the delicate sweet & earthy flavors of the beets, and the soft, medium-body lines up with the texture of the salmon.
This Food & Wine recipe is best paired with our newly released 2018 Stagecoach Road Pinot Noir
Credit: Dana Gallagher via Food & Wine Magazine
1 large head of garlic, top fourth cut off
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1/2 cup dried porcini mushrooms
3/4 cup boiling water
1 1/2 pounds skinless boneless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 pound assorted mushrooms, such as stemmed shiitake, cremini and oyster, quartered
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, plus 2 tablespoons chilled
2 large shallots, thinly sliced
1/4 cup dry red wine
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 medium tomatoes, cut into 1-inch dice
1 tablespoon chopped tarragon
Crusty bread, for serving
1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Set the head of garlic on a double layer of foil, cut side up. Drizzle with olive oil, then wrap in the foil. Roast the garlic until very soft, about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Let cool, then peel, keeping the cloves intact.
2. Meanwhile, in a heatproof bowl, cover the porcini with the boiling water and let stand until softened, about 15 minutes. Rinse the porcini and coarsely chop them; reserve the soaking liquid.
3. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and spread in a single layer in the skillet. Cook over high heat until browned on the bottom, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
4. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the skillet. Add the assorted mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook over moderate heat, stirring a few times, until browned and their liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Transfer the mushrooms to a plate.
5. In the skillet, melt the 1 tablespoon of butter in the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the shallots and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the red wine and boil over moderately high heat until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Pour in the reserved porcini soaking liquid, stopping before you reach the grit at the bottom. Add the chicken stock, tomatoes, mushrooms, porcini, roasted garlic and chicken and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat. Add the tarragon and season with salt and pepper. Swirl in the 2 tablespoons of chilled butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Serve with crusty bread.
September on the Sonoma Coast means that our grapes are ready for harvest. We officially began picking on August 27th, first selecting Pinot Noir destined for our Sea Stars Blanc de Noirs. Now we are starting to harvest Chardonnay & some of our lower elevation sites of Pinot Noir.
As the weather continues to cool down, we're ready to start making our favorite fall recipes. Enjoy these selected ideas along with a recommended pairing!
"This gratin combines blanched chard and sautéed leeks, cooked until just tender in a creamy two-cheese sauce made with both Gruyère and Parmigiano-Reggiano." - Food & Wine Magazine
With it's subtly creamy texture and bright citrus & apple notes, our 2019 "FRV" Chardonnay complements the cheesiness of the gratin while creating delightful contrast in the acidity.
"Marcia Kiesel, a self-described mushroom freak, uses porcini to make her delicious, earthy chicken thigh sauté with roasted garlic cloves. She finishes the dish with a sprinkle of chopped tarragon, which adds a light, herbal sweetness." - Food & Wine Magazine
The 2018 Stagecoach Pinot Noir is one of our fuller-bodied cuvées, featuring ripe black fruit layered over earthy spice. The savory characteristics accentuate the umami in the mushrooms while the fruit melds with the richness of the chicken thighs.
"Here, the peppery, salty-sweet, juicy beef mingles with the light salad dressing to create a great sauce that pools on the platter, perfect for drizzling over rice. Watercress leaves warm and wilt under the Shaking Beef (so named for the back-and-forth shaking of the pan), while their stems remain crunchy." - Food & Wine Magazine
With its fine-grained tannins, savory, smoky character, and plum compote fruit flavors, Pinotage has a natural affinity for beef dishes. In this recipe, rice vinegar, oyster sauce, and honey add lifted acidity to the peppered beef that matches our 2016 Pinotage's structure precisely, highlighting the fruit.
3 pounds Swiss chard, large stems discarded
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 medium leeks, white and tender green parts only, sliced 1/4 inch thick
Salt
3 garlic cloves, minced
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 quart whole milk
1/2 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Freshly ground pepper
Step 1: In a large pot of boiling water, blanch the chard in batches until wilted, about 1 minute. Drain the chard, squeeze dry and chop it.
Step 2: Heat the oil in the pot. Add the leeks and a pinch of salt. Cover and cook over moderately low heat, stirring, until tender, 7 minutes. Uncover, add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 2 minutes. Add the chard, season with salt and remove from the heat.
Step 3: Preheat the oven to 425°. Butter a 10-by-15-inch baking dish. In a large saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the flour over moderate heat to form a paste. Gradually whisk in one-third of the milk and cook, whisking, until the mixture starts to thicken. Repeat two more times with the remaining milk. Bring the sauce to a boil, whisking constantly. Reduce the heat to low and cook, whisking often, until thickened and no floury taste remains, 15 minutes. Whisk in the cheeses and the nutmeg; season with salt and pepper. Mix the sauce into the leeks and chard. Season with salt and pepper.
Step 4: Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Bake in the upper third of the oven for about 25 minutes, until bubbling and golden brown on top. Let rest for at least 10 minutes before serving.
With it's subtly creamy texture and bright citrus & apple notes, our 2019 "FRV" Chardonnay complements the cheesiness of the gratin while creating delightful contrast in the acidity.