InFluential_Magazine_May_June_2017

influential-magazine.com
I
f you are looking to create
a memorable evening,
consider entertaining guests
at home with an instructional wine
tasting and cooking lesson.
Wine Tasting
Keep it classic when buying wines
for your tasting. Choose a winery that
produces varietals that best showcase
its wine region and can be enjoyed
by every level of wine drinker.
One great choice is St. Francis
Winery and Vineyards, a leader in
producing top-quality, sustainable
wines from mountain and valley
vineyards in Sonoma County, CA.
Committed to producing the best
wines possible while protecting the
environment, St. Francis Winery has
established eco-friendly farming
practices to create luscious, fruitdriven
wines that highlight the
terroir of Sonoma County.
Select from a range of crisp
whites such as Sauvignon Blanc or
Chardonnay to juicy Merlot or spicy
Zinfandel. If you are looking to treat
your guests, try the 2014 Sonoma
Valley Reserve Merlot (SRP $39.99),
a lush wine with spicy aromas of
berry, licorice and sage.
During the tasting, instruct guests
to swirl, smell and sip wines. They will
be able to pick out certain aromatics
of soil and fruit of the region. “Clean
air and water, rolling hills, diverse
soils and sustainable vineyards are
captured in the wines from Sonoma,
giving your guests a sense of place
while tasting,” explained Christopher
W. Silva, CEO and president of St.
Francis Winery and Vineyards.
Cook Together
After tasting wines, show off
your hosting skills by leading a
group cooking lesson. This is an
entertaining way to test your guests’
skills in the kitchen. An easy groupfriendly
recipe is delicious Pizzettas
(mini pizza rolls). Developed by the
St. Francis Winery and Vineyards
Culinary Team. This appetizer pairs
perfectly with the Reserve Merlot.
Pizzettas
(mini pizza rolls)
Serves 6
Ingredients:
• 6 Italian sausages, cooked
•1 package puff pastry
•1 egg, slightly beaten
•1/2 cup marinara sauce
•1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation:
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• On a floured board, roll out the
puff pastry until 1/6 inch thick.
• Wrap each sausage in a piece
of the puff pastry.
• Add a few drops of water to
the egg. Seal the roll and brush
the egg wash over each roll.
• Spray a cookie rack with non-stick
spray. Place rack on a cookie sheet.
• Place the sausages on the rack
and bake in oven for 20 minutes
or until the puff pastry is golden
brown.
• Let the sausage cool to room
temperature. Slice the sausage into
rounds about 1/8 inch thick.
• Arrange slices on a serving platter.
• Place a dollop of the marinara
on the sausage rounds and sprinkle
with Parmesan cheese.
Heat rounds in the oven until
the cheese becomes soft.
Enjoy your special gathering this
season by entertaining guests with
interesting wines and delicious
appetizers to match. (StatePoint) l
MAY / JUNE 2017
FLUENTIAL 105