Customer Service | Store Locator
spirits unlimited
article
Roasted Chicken Breast
with Pinot Noir Thyme Sauce

8 chicken breast halves, skin on
salt and pepper
3 Tbsp peanut oil
10 thin slices of pancetta, cut into 1/4" strips
3 lbs. small mushrooms, stemmed
2 shallots, minced
2 Cups Pinot Noir
3/4 lb. baby carrots, trimmed
3 Cups chicken broth
1 Tbsp thyme, chopped
2 Cups fava beans
5 Tbsp butter

Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Sear in hot peanut oil in a saute pan on both sides. Add the pancetta to the skillets. Cook over low heat until lightly browned. Transfer the pancetta to a small plate with a slotted spoon. Divide the mushrooms between the skillets and add salt and pepper.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and any liquid has evaporated. Return the pancetta to the skillets and add the shallots. Cook 3 minutes. Add 1 cup of wine to each skillet and reduce until almost gone. Add the mushrooms. Preheat the oven to 450.

Add the carrots, chicken broth and thyme to the mushrooms. Place this mixture in a large roasting pan and place the chicken halves on top skin side up. Roast for 12 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a large platter and cover with foil. Set roasting pan on 2 burners over high heat and add the beans. Add the butter and season with salt and pepper.

Serve with Robert Mondavi Winery Pinot Noir. Serves 6-8

Recipe by Annie Roberts
Executive Chef, Robert Mondavi Winery


Roast Veal with Chard

1 veal short loin, with tenderloin and ground lean trimmings reserved
Salt and fresh-ground pepper
1 pound red or green chard, leaves and stems separated
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 shallots, minced
3 fresh rosemary sprigs, about 3 inches each, leaves minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons canola or other vegetable oil
1 medium carrot, diced
2 medium onions, diced
1 cup Chardonnay
2 cups chicken broth

Season the veal with salt and pepper. Cut the tenderloin in half lengthwise. Reserve the meat at room temperature while you prepare the stuffing. Blanch the chard leaves until just tender, about 4 minutes. Reserve the stems for another use. Refresh the leaves with cold water, dry well, and chop fine. Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a sauté pan and add the shallots. Cook over low heat until they have softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and rosemary to the shallots and cook another minute. Add the chard and cook until the juices have evaporated, about 5 minutes, stirring well. Season with salt and pepper.

Place the ground veal in a large mixing bowl. Add the chard mixture and blend thoroughly. Add the egg, milk, and bread crumbs and combine thoroughly. The stuffing should be moist and able to hold together. Season the mixture very well with salt and pepper.

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spread the stuffing mixture evenly over half the length of the veal loin. Place the tenderloin pieces in the center of the stuffing, overlapping the thin ends. Roll the loin and stuffing over itself like a jelly roll with the tenderloin in the center. Tie the roast at 2-inch intervals.

Heat the remaining butter with the oil in a roasting pan that has a rack. Add the roast to the fat and brown on all sides over high heat. Remove the roast to the rack. Drain the fat from the pan and add the carrot, onions, Chardonnay, and chicken broth to the pan. Place the veal roast, on the rack, in the pan.

Cook the roast for 40 minutes, or until the internal temperature is 130°F. Remove the roast from the oven and let rest for at least 10 minutes. Meanwhile, strain the pan juices into a saucepan, pressing on the vegetables. Adjust the seasoning and heat while you slice the roast.

To serve, untie the roast and cut into approximately 1 1/2-inch slices. Place on warm plates or platter and moisten with the sauce. Serve immediately, and pass the remaining sauce.

What wine goes with this recipe?

Serves 6 to 10.

This recipe is from Chef Gary Jenanyan of the Rising Star Chefs of the Robert Mondavi Winery. It originally appeared in Seasons of the Vineyard by Robert Mondavi, Margrit Biever Mondavi, and Carolyn Dille.


Cinnamon Spiced Chocolate Cabernet Truffles
by Woodbridge Chef, Laila Schiess

Perfect with Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon

1 C Cabernet Sauvignon
14 oz. Semi-sweet or Bittersweet chocolate- chopped very fine
1 C Heavy Cream
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 TB. Butter - room temp.

In small saucepan, over high heat - reduce Cabernet to 3 tablespoons. Transfer to a medium size bowl. Add the chocolate. Pour cream, vanilla and cinnamon in pan, heat to simmer over med. heat. Pour cream over chocolate and cabernet reduction. Let sit 1 minute. Stir until smooth. Stir in butter until creamy. Chill mixture until very firm. Using a small scoop, form small balls. Roll gently in cocoa- shake off excess cocoa. Store in refrigerator, lightly covered. Bring to room temperature before serving. Makes approx. 32 truffles.

Contributed by Woodbridge Chef Laila Scheiss.

article archives
Check out our past articles. Some of these date back to our original Web site. New articles are posted every season.

2008 Archives

Perfect Spring Wine - Spring 2008
Holiday Entertaining - Winter 2008

2007 Archives
Holiday Wines- Fall/Holiday 2007
Sipping with Greebs - Summer 2007
Wine From Around the World - Spring 2007
Holiday Entertaining - Winter 2007

2006 Archives
The Valley - Summer 2006
The Exotic Drink - Spring 2006
Paring Wine & Food - Winter 2006

2005 Archives
Thanksgiving - Fall 2005
Champagne - Summer 2005
Merlot Wine - Spring 2005
Food & Wine - Winter 2005

2004 Archives
Australian Wine - Fall 2004
Cerveza - Summer 2004
Chardonnay - Spring 2004
Shiraz - Winter 2004

2003 Archives
Cabernet Savignon - Fall 2003
BAR-B-Q top 10 - Summer 2003
Wine School - Spring 2003
The history of Scotch - Winter 2003

2002 Archives
Applejack - Fall 2002
The Margartia - Summer 2002
The Party Punch - Spring 2002
Hot Drinks - Winter 2002

2001 Archives
Thanksgiving - Fall 2001
The Clam Bake - Summer 2001
The Perfect Martini - Spring 2001
500 Drink Recipes - Winter 2001

2000 Archives
Octoberfest - Fall 2000
Louny Beer - Fall 2000
Spring Recipes - Spring 2000
Winter Recipes - Winter 2000

1999 Archives
Bourbons - Fall 99
Wine 101 - Summer 99
Octoberfest - Winter 99

1998 Archives
Whiskey - Fall 98
Tequila - Summer 98

Older Archives
Wine
Rum
Samuel Adams
Wines from France

random spirits
A collection of random resources for wine, beer or mixed drink enthusiasts. (Refresh your browser to see more)
A drink recipe from one of our over 600 recipes. Click here to visit The Bartender.

Jello Shots
4 part Jello (any flavor) 1 part grain alcohol Let set in fridge and serve. Party Instructions 4 individual packets of knox unflavored gelatin 3 3 oz. boxes of Jello( can be any brand and any flavor. Lime flavored Jello brand gelatin works best ) 190 proof grain alcohol* Directions: Pour the knox gelatin and the jello in a large bowl. Add a mixture of water and grain alcohol as long as it totals 4 cups. Add the water and alcohol separately. Place in a dish and refridgerate. The Jello should be ready in a couple of hours. Cut into cubes and swallow. You can make the Jello as strong as you want, but I suggest that you don't make it any stronger than 50% grain alcohol to 50% water.
* Vodka can be substituted for the grain alcohol. You can actually use just about any alcohol for both ways of making spiked jello.
When using grain alcohol, make sure the alcohol is from a legitimate distiller, and not from some guy that makes the stuff in a car radiator. I have found so far, three legitimate brands, Clear Springs, Everklear, and Graves XXX brand. stir in highball glass
One of 30 most popular wine varieties from around the world. Includes the name, description and taste. Click here to see all the varieties.

Soave
Most popular Italian white. Produced from Garganegra and Trebbiano grapes. Light fragrance, light body, and a touch of bitter almond. Best are labeled “Classico”.
Taste - Semi-dry.
Three of over 6,500 beers from around the world. Includes the name, style and brewing location.

Dockside Old Bridge Dark Lager
Style - Vienna-Style Lager Location - Canada - British Columbia

Richbrau Golden Griffin Light Ale
Style - Golden or Blonde Ale Location - United States - Virginia

Rogue Younger's Special Bitter
Style - (Special) Best Bitter Location - United States - Oregon