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BBQ Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs & Austin James

By Laina Carter of McGrail Vineyards

Our Austin James Cabernet is a three vineyard blend of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from our estate vineyard, the C. Tarantino Vineyard, and our Lucky 8 Vineyard. We created this wine with the hopes of bringing out the best aspects of each vineyard, we combined the three different clones from the three different vineyards. The blend is produced using approximately one third from each vineyard. This bold, carmine wine initially opens with a hint of mintiness, then follows into notes of bright cherry cola, vanilla, cassis, and bright red raspberry. The red fruit on the palate contains undertones of clove and dark chocolate, and is further complemented by notes of red licorice, blackberry, and a bit of tobacco. The smooth, but bold tannins linger for a bit and leave this easy sipping wine ready for another taste. 

One of the most important things to consider when pairing wine with food, especially when the wine is tannic, is that the fat in the food will cut down bold tannins. This is something I find myself contemplating often, as many of our Cabernets can be quite tannic. With that said, this recipe also pairs well with our James Vincent Cabernet Sauvignon, another big red wine. The fat in the pork tames the tannins in both of these delicious Cabs!

If you’ve never made country style ribs before, just be forewarned that these are not regular ribs. This meat just literally falls off the bone, especially when it’s been slow cooked. It can be enjoyed like pulled pork on a sandwich with coleslaw, over steamed potatoes or rice, or on a grilled cheese sando. The possibilities are endless.

Smoky BBQ Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs

Makes about 10 servings.

INGREDIENTS:

• Cooking spray
• 1 medium red onion, peeled and cut into sixths
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1/2 tsp. pink Himalayan sea salt
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne
• 1 tsp. chipotle pepper powder
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 3-3.5 lbs. pork country style ribs
• 14 oz. BBQ sauce
• 4 stems green onions, sliced thinly

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a medium slow cooker, spray the insides with a cooking spray.
2. Place the sixths of the onion at the bottom of the slow cooker.
3. In a small bowl, combine pepper, salt, paprika, cumin, chipotle powder, chili powder, garlic powder, cayenne, and cinnamon to create a rub for the meat. Mix well.
4. Liberally rub the meat with the seasonings, covering all sides of the meat.
5. Place meat in the crockpot, cover, and cook on high for 3-4 hours.
6. Once cooked through, pull the meat out of the crockpot and taking care not to burn yourself on the hot meat, remove the bones and any fat or grisly chunks from the meat. The meat should fall off the bones easily, but some pieces may be tougher.
7. Add BBQ sauce and mix to cover the meat in the sauce. Garnish with green onions.
8. Serve on a bun with coleslaw or over some soft boiled and buttered potatoes with a few glasses of our Austin James Cabernet or James Vincent Cabernet.

Please let us know if you try making this slow cooker country style ribs pairing at home! I’d love some feedback and to hear from you.

Cheers and enjoy!

Bavarian Egg Noodles, Chicken Sausage, & Charlie Rae

By Laina Carter of McGrail Vineyards

I’m a huge proponent of authentic German food, especially during the fall months, and I wanted to share the happy, warm feeling I get from this comfort cuisine with you all. I will admit, this recipe is cheating just a little bit, because I mostly use the easiest packaged dry ingredients where I felt was necessary. I don’t think packaged is necessarily bad, but actually making Bavarian egg noodles from scratch just sounds like a headache to me. Plus, these ingredients actually come from Germany, so there has to be some level of authenticity to them, right? Anyway, I hope you consider making this tasty German specialty. It pairs amazingly with our crisp, California-style Charlie Rae Chardonnay!

Cheese, Herb, & Onion Bavarian Egg Noodles & Chicken Apple Sausages

Makes about 8 servings.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tbsp. olive oil, divided
• 1 small yellow onion, peeled and diced finely
• 3 cups dry (1 package) Bechtle Traditional German Egg Noodles Spaetzle (1.1 lbs. or 17.6 oz.)*
• 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and sliced
• 8 chicken apple sausage links (about 26 oz. or 3 1/4 oz. per link)
• 3 oz. chopped crimini mushrooms
• 2 tbsp. Chardonnay
• 8 oz. Jarlsberg cheese, chopped finely
• 1 packet dry Maggi Fix & Frisch Kase-Spatzle (35g or 1.23 oz.)*

*The Maggi Fix & Frisch Kase-Spatzle and Bechtle Traditional German Egg Noodles Spaetzle can be found on Amazon or at Cost Plus World Market online or in-store.

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large pan, heat 1 tbsp. olive oil on medium. Add small diced yellow onion and sautée until soft and slightly browned. Remove from pan and set aside.
2. Prepare dry German egg noodles as directed on package.
3. While German egg noodles are cooking, heat the remaining olive oil on medium in the large pan. Stir in sliced yellow onion and sautée until soft and slightly browned. Add chicken apple sausages and cook until slightly brown on all sides, turning occasionally. Add mushrooms and Chardonnay and continue to cook until mushrooms are soft and wine has been cooked out.
4. When noodles are still hot and have been drained, add chopped Jarlsberg cheese and stir well. Add packet dry Maggi Fix & Frisch and sautéed onions. Mix well.
5. Enjoy the cheese spaetzle and chicken apple sausages with some Terrapin Ridge Pumpkin Honey Mustard (can be found at McGrail) and a glass of McGrail Charlie Rae Chardonnay!

Please let us know if you make this yummy Bavarian staple at home! I’d appreciate feedback and would love to hear from you.

Cheers and enjoy!

Easy German Red Cabbage & McGrail Cab Reserve

By Laina Carter of McGrail Vineyards

What’s not to love about this classic Bavarian dish with a delicious Cab? This easy German red cabbage recipe and award-winning Cab are a no-brainer! There are just eight simple ingredients and three steps to whipping up this delectable fare that can be served cold or hot.

Easy German Red Cabbage

Makes about 8 servings.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 small apples, thinly sliced
• 1 medium sweet onion, thinly sliced
• I medium head organic red cabbage, sliced
• 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 3/4 tsp. pepper
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1. Spray a large, heavy-bottomed pot with cooking spray and heat on medium. Add apples and onions and cook until onions become soft.
2. Add remaining ingredients. Stir. Cover and continue to cook on medium for about an hour, stirring occasionally.
3. Serve hot or cold with grilled brats, spaetzle, a soft Bavarian pretzel, and a glass of 2016 McGrail Cabernet Reserve.

I hope I’ve inspired you to make this easy, but delicious fall staple at home! Please let us know if you do try out this easy German red cabbage recipe. We’d love to hear from you!

Cheers and enjoy!

Easy Beefy Baby Bella Bites & McGrail Merlot

By Laina Carter of McGrail Vineyards

Easy Beefy Baby Bella Bites

Makes about 9 servings (with 2 mushrooms per serving).

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tbsp. olive oil, divided
• 1/2 small yellow onion, minced
• 1/2 tbsp. minced garlic
• 1/3 lb. ground organic grass fed beef burger
• 2 tsp. herbs de Provence, divided
• salt and pepper to taste
• 8 oz. organic baby bella mushrooms, cleaned, stems removed
• 2 tbsp. raw pine nuts
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil on medium.
3. Sautee onion and garlic until soft. Add ground burger, 1 tsp. herbs de Provence, and salt and pepper to taste. Brown until beef is cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside.
4. In a bowl or ziplock bag, add baby bella mushrooms and remaining olive oil. Coat mushrooms with olive oil.
5. On an oiled baking sheet, place mushrooms upside down about 1-2 inches apart. Sprinkle raw pine nuts around mushrooms. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 5 minutes.
6. Turn oven heat to 400 degrees F.
7. Spoon cooked burger mixture into concave half of mushroom, using back of spoon to push burger into mushroom.
8. In a small bowl, combine parmesan, bread crumbs, remaining herbs de Provence, and salt and pepper. Mix well.
9. Pile parmesan mixture on top of mushrooms and bake at 400 degrees for about 7 minutes, or until bread crumbs and parmesan topping have become crispy and crunchy.
10. Sprinkle baked pine nuts over stuffed mushrooms and serve hot with a glass of yummy McGrail Merlot.

I hope I’ve inspired you to make these easy little beefy baby bella bites at home! Please let us know if you do try out this recipe. We’d love to hear from you!

Cheers and enjoy!

Irish Beef and Potato Stew and McGrail Cabernet

By Laina Carter of McGrail Vineyards

Irish Beef and Potato Stew

Makes about 12 servings.

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 tbsp. olive oil, divided
• 2 1/2 lbs. choice beef roast, cut into 1.5″ cubes
• 2 tbsp. minced garlic, divided
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 large sprigs of rosemary
• 3 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 1/2 large yellow onion, chopped
• 6 large carrots, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped celery stalks, leaves removed
• 1 tbsp. fresh rosemary leaves, chopped
• 2 tsp. fresh thyme leaves
• 1/2 tbsp. fresh oregano leaves, chopped
• 1/2 tbsp. fresh Italian parsley leaves, chopped
• 1/4 cup leeks, chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 1/4 cup Irish stout beer
• 1/4 cup red wine
• 2 1/4 lbs. red potatoes, cubed into 1″ pieces
• 1 cup frozen organic peas

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil on medium in a large frying pan.
2. In a medium sized bowl, add cubed beef roast, 1 tablespoon minced garlic. Stir.
3. Sprinkle salt and pepper over beef, while stirring, to coat evenly.
4. Slowly coat beef chunks flour with flour and stir to coat evenly.
5. Cook dredged beef and sprigs of rosemary in hot olive oil, stirring constantly, until beef is just browned around edges. Remove from pan and set aside. Toss rosemary sprigs.
6. In the same pan, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and chopped bacon, then stir until bacon is cooked through. Add 1 tablespoon minced garlic, chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Sautee until soft.
7. In a large crockpot, add browned beef, cooked bacon and veggie mixture, chopped herbs, leeks, bay leaves, beef broth, tomato sauce, Irish stout, and red wine. Stir. Cover and cook on high for about 2-3 hours or until stew has began bubbling.
8. Remove one of the two bay leaves and add the potatoes. Stir. Continue to cook on high for about 1.5-2 more hours or until potatoes have been cooked through.
9. Add frozen peas to soup and stir.
10. Serve stew hot with toasted herb focaccia bread and a glass or two of 2017 McGrail Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve.

I hope I’ve inspired you to make this warm classic Irish beef and potato stew at home! Please let us know if you do try out this recipe. We’d love to hear from you!

Cheers and enjoy!