Viansa June Magazine

June 2010 1

W I N E R Y & M A R K E T P L A C E

S O N O M A V A L L E Y

www.viansa.comJUNE 2010 AT HOME

2 Viansa At Home

June2010

EAr TuscAn club MEMbErs,D

Hello Friends!

June promises to be another fun-filled month here at Viansa Winery & Marketplace. We’re hosting an array of exciting events for our Tuscan club members, including a picnic-planning class, cooking demonstration, workshops on Italian varietals and wine blending, a Father’s Day barbecue, our popular Tuscan club pick-up day and so much more. read on for more details or check our website for updates.

As always, we’re continually introducing new seasonal foods to our Marketplace, so you’ll want to stop by and taste our latest creations. We’re excited to introduce a new tasting station in the Marketplace where you can request samples of any foods you’d like to taste before you purchase them. This is a great way to get to know the many flavors of Viansa!

We’re also responding to our many members who miss our old magazine by introducing a 2010 version of Viansa at Home. It’ll be filled with all sorts of entertaining ideas, suggestions for enjoying Viansa wines and foods and recommendations for celebrating the sonoma wine country lifestyle wherever you live. look for it in your next shipment!

Finally, I’d like to extend a personal invitation for you to make plans to visit Viansa sometime this summer. Whether you want to join us at one of our popular Tuscan club events, try out our new bocce ball court or simply enjoy a bottle of wine and some pizza while you take in our spectacular views, we encourage you to stop by. Viansa awaits you!

Wishing you all the best!

lloyd W. DavisPresident

3 Host Your Event at Viansa: Your Villa awaits you

4 Wine Country Lifestyle: Pack a perfect picnic

6 What’s Happening: summer fun at Viansa

8 Tuscan Club June Wines

10 June Recipes: Summer Grilling

12 Cucina Viansa Selections

13 Face of Viansa: charlotte boblitt

14 What’s New at Viansa: Things you won’t want to miss on your next visit

16 June Special Offer

June 2010 3

When you join Viansa’s Tuscan club, you become a member of our extended family, which means that our home becomes your home! We welcome our members to come and enjoy our grounds with their friends and family members during visits to the winery, but that’s not all. We also invite you to host your private gatherings at Viansa!

While Viansa Winery & Italian Marketplace has been the site of hundreds of fairytale weddings over the years, many people don’t realize that we’ve also hosted myriad other special events – from corporate team building meetings to family reunions, momentous birthday celebrations and anniversary parties.

We offer an array of scenic locations for your get-together – from our romantic wine cellar to our spacious lawn areas, our shady tent and all sorts of spots in between. We can accommodate groups large and small with activities ranging from a custom wine tasting to a full-blown, multi-course dinner. We also offer cooking demonstrations, wine blending seminars, luncheons, bocce ball tournaments, grape stomps and so much more. The choice is yours!

For help planning your dream event at your own personal Villa, please contact one of our special Events staff at 707-935-2728 or email [email protected].

We can’t wait to help you plan a wine country event that you’ll never forget!

Host Your Event at Viansa:

Your Villa awaits you!

4 Viansa At Home

Wine Country Lifestyle:

Viansa Roasted Red Pepper Tapenade: You can use this savory spread as a topping for crisp crostini or layer it on peasant bread with sliced meats and cheeses to make a sonoma-style muffaletta sandwich. It also tastes delicious spooned over fresh goat cheese! #77018 $10 ($9 for members)

Viansa Tomato Basil Italian Bread Mix: bake this bread the day before your picnic then bring it along to slice and serve with an array of sliced cheeses, tapenades and deli meats. so much better than store bought bread! #77139 $6.25 ($5.62 for members)

Viansa Chocolate Pound Cake Mix: no picnic is complete without a delicious dessert! sure, fresh fruit is great. but wouldn’t you love to share a luscious chocolate cake with your friends? Our moist and delicious chocolate pound cake travels well, so it’s ideal picnic fare. Just slice and serve, alone or with fresh sliced strawberries. Delicioso! #77126 $6.50 ($5.85 for members)

Viansa Meyer Lemon & Artichoke Vinaigrette: With tart-sweet Meyer lemon juice and bits of artichoke, this vinaigrette is a versatile picnic food! Make an instant pasta salad by tossing it with cooked pasta, marinated artichoke hearts and kalamata olives. Or use it as a marinade for mushrooms, pitted olives or roasted pepper strips. #77033 $9.50

Viansa Chardonnay Mustard:chardonnay adds wonderful flavor to this delicious mustard. Of course, you can use it on your favorite deli sandwich, but think outside the jar. Whisk a bit of mustard into your standard marinade or vinaigrette. stirred into mayonnaise and chilled, it makes a wonderful dip for cold steamed artichokes and asparagus spears. Or use it as a dip for sausage bites! #77146 $8.75 ($7.87 for members)

Pack a perfect picnic!It’s no secret that we’re huge picnic fans here at Viansa Winery & Marketplace! Just take a look at all the picnic tables scattered around our grounds and the wide array of delicious salads, panini and other picnic-friendly lunch items in our Marketplace deli, and you’ll understand how much we love dining al fresco.

Indeed, picnics are a way of life here in sonoma Valley. And it certainly helps that we’re blessed with numerous plazas, parks, hillsides, vineyards and other picturesque locales in which to enjoy an outdoor meal.

sandwiches, of course, are standard picnic fare. but don’t stop there. Our Marketplace offers an array of tasty picnic foods and wines for your enjoyment regardless of your picnic destination!

June 2010 5

Learn how to plan a perfect picnic!Join us at Viansa on saturday, June 5, at 11 a.m. when we’ll talk about the basics of planning summer picnics – from food to wine to equipment. $10 (complimentary for members). reservations are required and space is limited. call 800-995-4740

Which wines?Ideally, picnic wines are light, fruity and often served chilled. Here are some of our favorite Viansa wines to tote along on a picnic:

2009 Viansa Sauvignon Blanc: With aromas of nectarine and citrus, this refreshing wine is a natural picnic partner! #65134 $20 ($15 for members)

2009 Viansa Pinot Grigio: crisp, delicious and perfect with pasta salads! #65133 $20 ($15 for members)

2008 Viansa Dolcetto Rose: light and dry with hints of wild strawberry, this is one of our favorite wines for summer picnics and pool parties! #65128 $17 ($12.75 for members)

2005 Viansa Piccolo Sangiovese: This tasty sangiovese is extremely food-friendly, making it a great choice for picnics. #65093 $25 ($18.75 for members)

6 Viansa At Home

Sunday, June 6: Italian Grape Varietalslearn how to tell a Pinot Grigio from a Primitivo in this fun and informative Wine Mechanics class! led by Ty Horner, the class will introduce newbies and seasoned aficionados alike to an array of different Italian-style wines. You’ll enjoy sangiovese barrel samples as well as tasting the finished product: Thalia. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the cellar. $10 for members ($20 for non-members). rsVP: 707-935-4740

Saturday, June 12: Cooking Demo: Summer Specialtiesusing an array of Viansa specialty foods, chef David Walker will show you how to create two delicious summer dishes: caprese salad and seared rib-Eye steak with roasted Pepper salad. both dishes will be paired with Viansa wines. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Villa. $20 for members ($35 for non-members). rsVP: 707-935-4740

What’s Happening

Summer fun at Viansa!

Summer fun at Viansa!Summer fun at Viansa!




We’re hosting an array of special events for our Tuscan club members this summer. From cooking demos and wine seminars to live music and barbecues, you’re sure to discover an event that tickles your palate!

Here’s a rundown on some of our June and early July highlights:

June 2010 7

Sunday, June 13: Wine Blending Classblending is a critical part of the winemaking process here at Viansa. Here’s your chance to learn the intricacies of blending your very own chianti under the guidance of Ty Horner, who recently joined our Viansa team! 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. $20 for members ($35 for non-members). rsVP: 707-935-4740

Sunday, June 20: Father’s Day Barbecue & Tuscan Club Pick-Up EventWe’ve chosen a “Godfather” theme for our Father’s Day barbecue! We’ll be serving authentic Italian grilled sausages and peppers on crusty rolls for Dad’s dining pleasure. Encourage Dad to wear a themed hat since the wearer of the best hat wins a bottle of Ossidiana! You can even surprise Dad with a set of barbecue tools and an apron: call ahead to order ($60 plus tax) and we’ll have it wrapped and waiting for him. There’ll be live music courtesy of the David rocha band. 12 noon to 3 p.m. at the Villa. $10 for members ($25 for non-members). rsVP: 707-935-4740

Saturday, July 3: Members-Only New Wine Release Partysample our newest releases accompanied by delicious foods created especially to complement them. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Villa. complimentary for our Tuscan club members. rsVP: 707-935-4740

Sunday, July 4: Fourth of July BarbecueEnjoy a festive holiday feast – chicken and vegetarian kebabs along with turkey drumsticks and grilled corn on the cob – accompanied by an array of Viansa wines and live music. since it’s barbecue season, we’ll also be offering demonstrations using our Viansa rubs, grilling sauces and glazes every half-hour at our Athena fountain so that you can stock up for summer parties. 12 noon to 3 p.m. at the Villa. $10 for members ($20 for non-members). rsVP: 707-935-4740

8 Viansa At Home

Our 2006 Ossidiana is a blend of cabernet sauvignon (48%), cabernet Franc (37%) and Merlot (15%). Ossidiana is our flagship wine, a tribute to the native Americans who once inhabited our land. Aged in French oak, this wine is very seductive with aromas of coffee, vanilla and violet followed by deep, concentrated flavors of ripe blackberry and blueberry. Pair with prime rib or a perfectly grilled steak. Enjoy now or cellar for up to 10 years.

Retail: $125.00 Club Price: $73.50

With juicy, bright citrus flavors and crisp acidity, this refreshing blend of Pinot Grigio (90%) and chardonnay (10%) will captivate your palate. It’s no surprise that Pinot Grigio is the most popular white varietal in Italy! This is a great wine to serve at summer parties. Pair with Grilled prawns, linguine with clams.


Our 2005 reserve cabernet sauvignon is a blend of cabernet sauvignon (93%), Merlot (5%) and cabernet Franc (2%). Our cabernet sauvignon is very well balanced with flavors of wild berry, earth, light spice and cocoa with a long finish. Pair with rib eye, london broil and wild game. cellar through 2015.


Vernaccia is native to the sunny hills of Tuscany, so it’s right at home here in sonoma Valley where we enjoy similar climate and topography. This dry white wine is particularly food-friendly, making it a nice choice for all sorts of summer meals. Pair with crab cakes, fried calamari, grilled swordfish or scallops.


2006 OssidianaAppellation: sonoma county

2009 Reserve Pinot GrigioAppellation: carneros sonoma Valley

2005 Reserve Cabernet SauvignonAppellation: sonoma county

2009 Reserve Vernaccia Della ViteAppellation: carneros sonoma Valley

t u s C a n C L u b

Premio Vino

solo Vino

June Wines

June 2010 9

Arneis means “little rascal” in Italian, an apt name for this lively white wine! We blended Arneis (80%) with chardonnay (15%) and Pinot Grigio (5%) to create a delicious wine with notes of ripe peach, green apple, almond and orange zest. serve it as an aperitif or pair it with your favorite appetizers. Pair with a selection of goat cheeses, bruschetta, caprese salad.


Our 2005 reserve cabernet sauvignon is a blend of cabernet sauvignon (93%), Merlot (5%) and cabernet Franc (2%). Our cabernet sauvignon is very well balanced with flavors of wild berry, earth, light spice and cocoa with a long finish. Pair with rib eye, london broil and wild game. cellar through 2015.


Our 2006 lorenzo was crafted from Merlot grown on the esteemed serres ranch in sonoma Valley along with a bit of Alexander Valley cabernet sauvignon. This rich and full-bodied wine has a nice entry with flavors of plum, blueberry and a hint of chocolate. It also boasts well-balanced tannins and nice acidity. Pair with lamb stew, beef stroganoff or pasta with a heavy sauce. Drink now through 2016.


Vernaccia is native to the sunny hills of Tuscany, so it’s right at home here in sonoma Valley where we enjoy similar climate and topography. This dry white wine is particularly food-friendly, making it a nice choice for all sorts of summer meals. Pair with crab cakes, fried calamari, grilled swordfish or scallops.


2009 ArneisAppellation: sonoma county

2005 Reserve Cabernet SauvignonAppellation: sonoma county

2006 Lorenzo MerlotAppellation: sonoma county

2009 Reserve Vernaccia Della ViteAppellation: carneros sonoma Valley

solo bianco

t u s C a n C L u b

solo Rosso

June Wines

10 Viansa At Home

June Recipes: summer Grilling

½ bottle Viansa Sweet & Spicy Tomato Grilling Sauce1/3 cup Viansa Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 tbs Viansa Preserved Meyer Lemon

½ cup Viansa Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc

2 tbs unsalted sweet cream butter

¼ cup sweet onion, chopped

1 tbs fresh rosemary, chopped

1 tsp Viansa Chardonnay Mustard (Dijon mustard)

¼ cup Viansa Orange Blossom Honey

1 (3 pound) chicken, quartered

Italian Sausage links, 6-8 ounces per person

Viansa Tuscan Rub

1/3 cup Viansa Extra Virgin Olive Oil

½ cup Viansa Pinot Grigio wine

2 sweet onions, sliced

Fresh rosemary, garnish

In a large saucepan on low heat, sauté the onion with the Viansa extra virgin olive oil for 5 minutes, until the onions are translucent, but not browned. Add remaining sauce ingredients to saucepan and simmer uncovered on low heat for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

Add chicken to saucepan and turn to coat. Let chicken marinate in sauce for 15 minutes. Preheat grill to medium. Place chicken on grill, skin side down. Grill the chicken for 8-10 minutes per side or until cooked through. Close grill cover for second side of cooking. Remove chicken from heat and let rest 5 minutes prior to serving.

Yield 4-6 servings

Sprinkle sausage links lightly with Viansa Tuscan Rub. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat. Lightly oil grate and set 4 inches from heat. Place the sausages on the pre-heated grill. Cook and turn sausages until well browned. In saucepan, sauté sweet onion slices in extra virgin olive oil and Viansa Pinot Grigio until translucent.

Plate warm onion salad, top with Italian sausage. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs.

Yield 4 servings

Viansa Chardonnay rosemary Grilled ChiCken

Viansa Grilled italian sausaGe with warm onion salad

June 2010 11

Viansa Cedar Grilling Papers, 4

Viansa Preserved Meyer Lemon, 1 Tsp per salmon filet

Viansa Herbs for Fish

Viansa Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Salmon, (4) 8 ounce pieces

Viansa Tuscan Rub

2 lbs beef Tri-Tip

Viansa Black Peppercorn Grilling Glaze

Soak cedar grilling papers in spring water or Viansa white wine in shallow dish for 30 minutes. Heat grill or grill pan to 400° or medium high heat. Place salmon face up in center of soaked grilling paper. Spread top of salmon with Viansa Preserved Meyer Lemon, drizzle with Viansa Extra Virgin Olive Oil and sprinkle each filet with Viansa Herbs for Fish. Fold cedar paper edges towards each other until they overlap. Tie with kitchen string. Place wrapped food directly on grill grates or grill pan to smoke. Close grill and cook 3-4 minutes per side until salmon is done. Remove from grill.

Plate cedar wrapped salmon. Cut the string and serve open on plate or remove string and tie a green onion around the cedar wrapped salmon for a fun presentation guests may unwrap.

Yield 4 Servings

Rub the Viansa Tuscan Rub onto both sides of the beef tri-tip and let sit, covered overnight in refrigerator. Grill or smoke the brisket until the internal temperature reaches 130°. Remove brisket from grill and allow to rest 10 minutes prior to slicing.

Serve with your favorite potato or pasta salad in summer. We have paired the tender sliced beef brisket as an appetizer with the Viansa Black Peppercorn Grilling Glaze as a sauce and homemade coleslaw.

Viansa Cedar wrapped salmon

Viansa tusCan rub beef brisket

12 Viansa At Home

Cucina Viansa selection

SWEET & SPICY TOMATO GRILL GLAzEViansa’s sweet & spicy Tomato Grilling Glaze celebrates the flavors of fresh vine ripe tomatoes, molasses, shallots, Viansa Italian sea salt, spices, Zinfandel wine vinegar, Viansa balsamic vinegar, brandy, anchovy paste and red chili pepper. spices up grilled beef & chicken. stir into shredded roast pork to create a pulled pork sandwich.

SWEET & SPICY TOMATO GRILLING GLAzEViansa’s sweet & spicy Tomato Grilling Glaze celebrates the flavors of fresh vine ripe tomatoes, molasses, shallots, Viansa Italian sea salt, spices, Zinfandel wine vinegar, Viansa balsamic vinegar, brandy, anchovy paste and red chili pepper. spices up grilled beef & chicken. stir into shredded roast pork to create a pulled pork sandwich.

CEDAR GRILLING PAPERSViansa cedar Grilling Papers are perfect for indoor stovetop and outdoor grill cooking. Wrap your favorite fruit, meats, seafood and vegetables in the Viansa cedar grilling papers, place on hot grill or grill pan and watch your dish smoke to perfection.Viansa’s cedar Grilling Papers impart spicy flavors with a mild sweetness that complements fish, shrimp and poultry.

PEPPERCORN GRILLING GLAzEThe Viansa Peppercorn Grilling Glaze is a traditional balsamic vinegar infused with rice wine vinegar, anchovy, Viansa Italian sea salt and cracked tellicherry pepper. brush onto grilled skirt or flank steaks, grilled shrimp & scallops. Enhances the rich flavors when sautéing mushrooms such as morel or crimini with a touch of sweet cream butter and Viansa extra virgin olive oil.

June 2010 13

If you’ve ever taken part in a group event here at Viansa, you’ve likely encountered charlotte boblitt’s smiling face! In charge of expertly organizing and executing group tastings, lunches and other events, charlotte’s connections to Viansa run deep.

“It’s so exciting being back at Viansa and working with people who have dedicated their lives to educating people about our food and wine,” she says.

charlotte’s especially proud of our recent, highly popular Mother’s Day Tea that was held at the winery. And she’s excited to meet and reconnect with club members old and new at our monthly Tuscan club pick-up receptions.

When she’s not sharing Viansa with visitors, charlotte’s a good cook who enjoys preparing meals with our Viansa wines and foods. A current favorite feast consists of grilled pork loin stuffed with prosciutto and Asiago cheese, drizzled with our Viansa citrus Vinaigrette, and accompanied by Gorgonzola scalloped potatoes and a bottle of our Viansa Arneis.

And when she’s not in the kitchen, charlotte can often be found making wine in her sonoma backyard. Every year a grape grower friend gives her up to three tons of grapes that she transforms into cases of Merlot, Zinfandel and cabernet sauvignon. needless to say, her 10-year-old hobby has made her very popular with her friends!

charlotte’s also popular with visitors to Viansa. In fact, she so impressed a recent guest that the woman is flying charlotte out to Virginia this month to host a Viansa wine dinner – complete with a menu of perfectly paired wines and foods – for 45 employees of u.s. customs and the Department of Homeland security. now that’s customer service!

the Faces of Viansa

Name: charlotte boblitt

Title: Group Event specialist

Years at Viansa: Ten before returning to Viansa last year

Favorite Viansa Wines: All of our Italian varietals. current favorites are Gionaccia, Prindelo and samuele cabernet Franc

Favorite Viansa foods: Viansa’s wood-fired pizza with our signature Pizza sauce, Viansa Tuscan bean soup, balsamic Vinaigrette and Meyer lemon and Artichoke Vinaigrette

14 Viansa At Home

Food tasting station: Our new food tasting station has been a big hit with visitors to our Marketplace. staffed by one of our employees, the station offers you a place to taste our Viansa food products before you buy them. It’s a favorite with guests who are planning summer picnics and want to stock up on goodies before they go!

What’s new at Viansa?

Things you won’t want to miss on your next visit !We’re always dreaming up new ways to entertain, educate and enchant our Tuscan club members! Whether it’s a new must-try pizza sauce, a bocce ball court for your summer enjoyment or an event you won’t want to miss, rest assured that we’ve got you in mind.

Here’s a rundown on some of the latest additions to Viansa that you’ll want to check out on your next visit!

Bocce ball court: bocce ball is a time-honored game in Italy, so it was only natural that we add a bocce ball court to our Italian-inspired grounds! since we opened it, Tuscan club members have been enjoying it immensely. Give it a try the next time you stop by!

June 2010 15

Vineyard news: Take a peek at our grapevines the next time you’re here. This month you’ll be able to notice fruit set – the formation of the tiny grape clusters – which gives us an idea of how big our 2010 harvest will be. If you visit Viansa during the next several weeks, you’ll also probably see our crews thinning both leaves and clusters in order to increase the quality of our grapes.

We hope to see you soon!

New wines: We’re delighted to share three new releases this month – our 2009 Arneis, 2009 reserve Vernaccia and 2008 barbera. be sure to stop by to sample them when you get a chance. All three are great for summer parties!

Viansa pizza sauce: We tasted dozens of different recipes before we finally settled on our signature Viansa pizza sauce. Purchase a jar or two to make pizza at home or enjoy the sauce on the pizza that we bake in our wood-fired oven!

16 Viansa At Home

biG REWaRds For sharing Your Passion for Viansa’s

tusCan CLub We would love to have your friends, family and associates join you in all the Tuscan club’s fun, festivities

plus fabulous food and wine offerings by becoming members of The club. As a special thank you for bringing in new members, we’ll give you generous wine rewards.

Here’s How simple it is:

If you have someone join the Tuscan club and they remain members for at least four months, we’ll DOublE your wine delivery in an upcoming month. If you bring in two new members, we’ll DOublE your wine delivery in TWO upcoming months. Three new members means three DOublE wine months.

There’s no limit to your rewards. As always at the Tuscan club, the more the merrier. To qualify, and get full details, please submit the names of the new members you are referring to your Tuscan club representative.

June 2010 16

Surpri s e Dad with h i s favori t e b ig bo ld Viansa red s ! This month we’re offering a great deal for Father’s Day. choose any two or three of the following wines and we’ll throw in a custom wood gift box for just $1more! select two or three bottles of Dad’s favorite wine or mix it up. And here’s an idea: This gift is also a great choice for grads, brides and grooms!

special offer for June

2006 Viansa Lorenzo #65077 Member Price $33.75

2006 Viansa Farneta #65064 Member Price $26.25

2006 Viansa Prindelo #65070 Member Price $26.25

2005 Viansa Samuele #65072 Member Price $41.25

2005 Viansa Thalia #65094 Member Price $33.75

call 800-995-4740 to place your order today!

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Viansa June Magazine