Honor Wine's Memorial Day Weekend

It’s a busy week for Honor, our line of military-inspired wines.  With Memorial Day coming up, CEO David Keuhner is showcasing the wines at some fabulous military charity events in the DC area.  We’ve loved the response that Honor has received and the fact that we can be a part of such great causes.  This is only the beginning!

Thursday, May 23^rd

PenFed Night of Heroes Gala at the Ritz-Carlton Washington, DC

Two bottles of Honor will be auctioned off to benefit military personnel, veterans and their families. The PenFed Foundation provides grants and financial counseling to military families.

 
  
Thursday May 23rd through Monday, May 27th

TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)
19th Annual Survivor Seminar

Honor will be on display all weekend at this wonderful event focused on supporting those who have lost loved ones in combat.

 Memorial Day, Monday May 27^th
 

Time to kick back and raise a glass to our soldiers!

Need a bottle of Honor or Highest Honor for your Memorial Day festivities? Find it here.

Summer BBQ Recipes with Sommelier-Chosen Wine Pairings

Summer is sneaking up on us!  Get your grill (and your wine cellar) ready for the warm weather with these delicious recipes and wine pairings chosen by Sommelier Sean Q. Meyer.  If you're interested in ordering any of these wines, email us at wine@destinationcellars.com.  Bon appetit!

Honey-Glazed Baby Back Ribs with Whiskey Marinade

 Marinated Ribs
3 racks baby back ribs (about 5 pounds)
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons whiskey
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground white pepper
1 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Honey Glaze and Dipping Sauce
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons hot water
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup fish sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Korean red pepper flakes or 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons sugar

1. Arrange the rib racks in a large glass or ceramic baking dish, overlapping them slightly. In a medium bowl, whisk the soy sauce with the whiskey, honey, ginger, white pepper, sesame oil, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour the marinade over the ribs and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours.
2. In a small bowl, combine the honey with the hot water. In a medium bowl, combine the lime juice with the fish sauce, soy sauce, pepper flakes, cilantro and sugar; stir until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Preheat the oven to 300°. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. Arrange the ribs on the baking sheet, meaty side up. Roast for about 2 hours, until tender. Baste the ribs with the honey mixture and roast for another 15 minutes, until browned and glossy. Remove the ribs from the oven and baste again with the honey mixture.
4. Preheat a grill. Grill the ribs over moderately high heat, turning once, until lightly charred, about 4 minutes. Transfer the racks to a cutting board and cut into individual ribs. Arrange the ribs on a platter and serve the dipping sauce alongside.

Pair with: 2010 Hartford Russian River Zinfandel 

See the other recipes after the jump...

Sommelier Sean Q. Meyer's Best Restaurants List

Sure, it’s Wine Wednesday, but let’s talk food (which we love just as much).  The 2013 World’s 50 Best Restaurants list was just released by Restaurant Magazine, the result of 900 international food & wine experts rating the best experiences they’ve had throughout the past year.  This year, Copenhagen’s Noma was shockingly knocked out of its usual first place, and replaced by Spain’s El Celler De Can Roca.  As usual, Thomas Keller’s French Laundry here in wine country remains on the list, but has slipped a bit since 2012.

When it comes to wine & food, Sommelier Sean Q. Meyer knows what he’s talking about.  He’s been around the world on some incredible epicurean adventures so we checked in with him to see which restaurants would top his list…

Don Alfonso

Santa Agata, Italy

This is a must if you’re visiting the Amalfi Coast.  With 2 Michelin stars, it’s own farm and a 25,000 bottle cellar, it’s one of the most impressive experiences you can have in Southern Italy.

Tickets

Barcelona, Spain

A gastronomic experience unlike anything else that includes about 15-25 dishes and can last up to 4 hours.  Many customers call it the most memorable meal of their lives. 

 

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal 

London, England

Dinner ranked #7 on the World’s Best list this year.  Head Chef Ashley Palmer-Watts focuses on historical British dishes such as Earl Grey Tea-Cured Salmon, Spiced Pigeon and Quaking Pudding.

Stella Marina

Elba, Italy

Stella marina sits right on the wharf, so you know the fish is fresh.  Enjoy seafood dishes like octopus cacciatore with a bottle of local Elba wine.

Interested in a wine and food getaway?  Let us help you customize a trip - visit our Wine Experiences page.

Masters Week Wine Pairings For Your Favorite Players

The 2013 Masters has officially started, which gave us an idea - we love golf and we love wine, so why not pair them together?  Here are our suggestions for a few wines to drink while you watch the tournament, according to who you're rooting for:

Tiger Woods & Merlot

We love them, we hate them, we can't decide how to feel about them.  Our relationships with both Tiger and Merlot have been a roller coaster.  Once upon a time they were in their prime, then something bad happened (in Merlot's case, Sideways; in Tiger's case, well, you know).  But now, they're back with a vengeance and people are starting to regain some faith, although some still aren't believers.

Bubba Watson & Pinot Noir

They're sensitive, and at times a little delicate, but nonetheless still really good, and they've both got the cool factor - Bubba does have a hovercraft golf cart, after all.  Plus, they both benefited from the fall of the two greats we mentioned above.  Bubba got the green jacket in 2012 (with Tiger way behind), and some reports showed Pinot Noir sales increasing by 46% after Sideways was released. 

Phil Mickelson & Bordeaux

Is it just us or does Phil just get better with age? Well, so does Bordeaux wine.  Just take our recent reenactment of the Judgement of Paris, where we opened some of the original wines (from 1970 - same vintage as Phil), only to find out they were still great, if not better.  Check out our Rare Bordeaux page, where we post recent findings like an '89 Chateau Talbot.

Rickie Fowler & Orange Wine

When we think Rickie, we think orange.  So naturally his wine pairing would be the hipster favorite, orange wine.  What exactly is it?  It's a skin-fermented wine, meaning it's a white made like a red.  The exposure to skins gives the wine a copper-like color, and makes it a good choice when you're craving something different.

Fine the right wine for you in our online wine shop.

Wine Events Worth Traveling For This Spring & Summer

Now that spring has arrived, let's talk about the best wine and food events that the next few months have to offer.  These are some of the biggest happenings in the country and definitely worth taking a trip for!  We've got arts and music in Napa, celebrity chefs in Aspen, and a wine party in the city that knows best how to party - Vegas.  

Napa Valley Arts
Napa, CA  |  April 1 - 30

All month, wineries, restaurants, galleries and artists will team up to celebrate art with special events and displays.  Events like 'Yountville Art, Sip and Savor' and Ma(i)sonry's 'Awaken' are two can't-miss affairs.

Find the full calendar of events here.

BottleRock
Napa, CA  |  May 9 - 12

BottleRock will bring over 60 bands, and some of the best food, wine and microbrews from around wine country.  The after-parties alone are a good reason to go!  Napa Valley will be packed full of musicians, celebrities and chefs all weekend - and you can hang out with all of them if you buy the VIP pass.

See the lineup and get tickets here.

Vegas Uncork'd
Las Vegas, NV  |  May 9 - 12

Bon Apetit's annual Vegas celebration will be the biggest one yet.  Each resort will feature events with different chefs, sommeliers and mixologists, like the Oyster Extravaganza at Mandalay Bay and dinner with Gordon Ramsay at Caesar's Palace. 

Reserve your spot here.

Aspen Food & Wine
Aspen, CO  |  June 14 - 16

It just doesn't get more fabulous than the Food & Wine Classic at Aspen.  Every celebrity chef and renowned wine expert will be there, but this isn't just about tasting - it's about learning too.  Attendees can take cooking lessons with chefs like Tyler Florence and Mario Batali, or learn about wine at seminars hosted by winemakers and sommeliers from around the world.

Get more info here.

Can't make these events but still want to do some wine travel?  Check out our custom wine experiences.

4 Napa Valley Wines That Are No Joke

Happy April Fools' Day!  We're always up for a good joke, but when it comes to wine, we mean business.  Here are four wines from Napa Valley that are seriously good:

2007 Meteor Perseid

Before the Meteor Vineyard in southeast Napa Valley was ready for its first harvest, some of the best wineries around (Lail, Etude, Vineyard 29) already had their eyes on it.  Owners Barry & Tracy Schuler knew they had something special, so in 2004 they produced their first 40 cases along with winemakers Bill and Dawnine Dyer.  The 2007 Perseid is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with intense berries and chocolate on the palate and a rich, supple mouthfeel.

 "There is not a hard edge to be found in this pure, dramatic Cabernet." - Robert Parker

$125   |   Find it here

2008 Vineyard 29 Aida

This is an intense wine that can easily age for 20 years.  Coming from the 100+ year old Aida vineyard in St. Helena, the 2008 vintage is bold, masculine and earthy.  When you're craving a "big" red, this is the one to open.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

97 points - Robert Parker

$195

Find it here

2006 Clark-Claudon Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Clark-Claudon's pristine Howell Mountain vineyards make for a world-class Cabernet.  The 2006 Cab offers lots of fruit with a bit of spice, making it a very food-friendly wine.  Not to mention Laurie Claudon, "the soul of Clark-Claudon" is one of our favorite people in the wine industry!

100% Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon

$78   |  Find it here

2006 Blackbird Illustration

Illustration is an ageable Bordeaux blend that has just reached its peak.  Winemaker Aaron Pott, recently named "Winemaker of the Year" by Food & Wine Magazine, brings a Bordeaux-inspired style to Blackbird, stemming from his years of making wine in France.  Illustration is the perfect blend of California terroir and French technique. 

$90   |   Find it here  

Looking for something else?  Check out our online wine shop

Honor and Highest Honor Gifts Now Available (Photos)

Our fabulous Honor and Highest Honor gifts are now available, and we have some great pictures to share with you!  Check out the gifts below and visit our Honor gift page to learn more or place an order.  25% of the proceeds from all of these gifts will be donated to families of soldiers who have been severely injured or lost in combat.