Updated on Monday, July 21, 2008 12:29:15 AM
Wine Adventure!

     Volume 2, Issue 1          February 9, 1999

Wine and Valentine’s Day

Finding the perfect gift for your Valentine can be a difficult decision. This year, give your Valentine something priceless and eternal- warm memories of time spent with you.

You don’t have to be Casanova to create a memorable Valentine’s Day. Pack a gourmet picnic lunch with your favorite wine and take your Valentine to a secluded and romantic scenic viewpoint. Or take your picnic lunch and spend the day at the coast. If you prefer to stay at home, why not cook your Valentine his or her favorite meal, or try Ray’s Oyster Blue recipe on Page 3? If you are particularly passionate for your Valentine, heat up the chilly February evening with the gift of Champagne and a bubble bath.

For a memorable day together, visit any of the local wineries. The drive down Hood Canal to Hoodsport Winery makes for a cozy road trip. Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville is probably the area’s most romantic winery with its park-like setting and resident peacocks. While you’re in the neighborhood, don’t forget to visit Columbia Winery, Facelli Winery, and Silver Lake Sparkling Cellars, with a scenic view of Bear Creek. Or call 1-800-876-RAIL to book a trip on the Dinner Train for you and your Valentine.

For the ultimate in romantic Champagne, look no further than Perrier-Jouët. This famous Champagne house was founded by Pierre Nicolas-Marie Perrier and his Dutch wife Adele Jouët, who fell in love with the vineyards of Champagne and with each other. Together they created the world’s most passionate Champagne.

Perrier-Jouët’s famous hand painted Fleur (flower) bottle was originally created in 1902 during the Art Nouveau period. The bottle was designed by a famous glassmaker of the era, Emile Galle, to reflect the passion and romance of Perrier-Jouët Champagne and the couple who created it. The flowers are hand-painted enamel anemones with pale green stems and gold borders. Since 1964, the Fleur bottle has held only vintage Perrier-Jouët. The Wine Spectator describes the 1990 Fleur de Champagne as "a grand, traditional champagne in the best sense. Full-bodied, beautifully balanced and luxuriously smooth in texture, offering subtle, complex accents of toasted almond to complement the base of fine fruit flavor." If you are getting married or having an anniversary, a Perrier-Jouët gift set is the most romantic way to celebrate your love. Each gift set includes hand painted champagne flutes bearing the famous Perrier-Jouët anemones. If you have Internet access, you can visit the Perrier-Jouët web site at http://www.perrier-jouet.com. You can even send your Valentine a Perrier-Jouët love note via e-mail :-)

If your Valentine prefers something sweeter, Asti Spumante is your best bet for romantic success. Asti Spumante is an Italian semi-sweet sparkling wine with a distinctive yet light and fruity taste. Asti Cinzano is one of the most popular at $15.99.

For you red wine lovers, the Stefano Farina Barbera d’Alba is a smooth, medium bodied wine offers rich flavors of plum and cherry. Appropriate for Valentine’s Day, it has a red rose on the label. Take this wine home for $7.99.

The ‘95 Christian Moueix Merlot is a tannin lover’s dream come true. Teeth-staining color and lip- curling tannins combined with a healthy dose of fruit make this wine one of my favorites for $9.99.

Have a fun Valentine’s Day!      -Dawn

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Chimay- Not Your Ordinary Beer

Chimay ales are among the finest in the world. Trappist Monks of the Cistercian Order brew Chimay in the Abbey of Scourmont, located near the town of Chimay in Belgium. Of the numerous "Abbey Beers" brewed in Belgium, there are only five that carry the Trappist designation: Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle, Westvleteren, and Chimay.



Chimay ales are thick, rich beers that are nearly as filling as a meal. All of the Chimay ales are brewed using only natural ingredients, including water drawn from the Abbey’s artesian wells. Live yeast is added just before bottling, similar to méthode champenoise used in the production of Champagne. The secondary fermentation in the bottle adds natural carbonation, richness and body, while throwing a thin layer of sediment in the bottom on the bottle. The sediment is harmless to consume, but most prefer not to. Careful handling and pouring will prevent excessive sediment from mixing in. For full expression of the wonderful aromas and flavors, serve Chimay slightly chilled in a goblet-style glass.

Chimay is available in several different styles. The Première (red label) was the original ale and is the "lightest" of the Chimay line with an alcohol content of 7% by volume, a light copper tone, and a distinct smooth and mellow flavor. Since Chimay contains live yeast, aging mellows and adds further complexity. The Première will improve with a year or two of aging. All of the Chimay ales have the bottling date stamped on the side of the cork for easy reference.

The Cinq Cents (white label) was first brewed in 1986 to celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Chimay Principality, and is the most refreshing of the Chimay ales, despite the alcohol content of 8% by volume. Cinq Cents is a golden colored Triple bock characterized by the delicate balance of fresh bitter and fruity flavors, distinctive hoppy aroma, and a well-balanced dry finish. The Cinq Cents will benefit from a year or two of aging.

The Chimay Grand Rèserve (blue label) is the strongest in flavor as well as having a 9% alcohol content by volume. Full of rich, spicy malt characteristics with fruity tones and hints of floral aromas, it has a complex and smooth finish. The Grand Reserve ages well, gaining port-like notes around five years and becomes drier as it approaches ten years.

The Chimay gift pack is an excellent way to sample all three varieties and includes a Chimay goblet, for $10.99. We also carry the Premiere for $6.99 and the Grande Reserve for $7.99, both in the 25.4-ounce size. -Dawn

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Oysters Blue for Two
By Chef Ray

2 ribs of celery diced small
1/2 small onion diced small
1/2 small Granny Smith apple, peeled and diced small
1 jar x-small oysters
1/2 to 3/4 cup Blue Cheese crumbs
1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
2 small baking ramekins

Sauté celery and onions until soft. Let cool.  Pouch oysters in 2 cups of water, drain, cool, and divide into buttered ramekins.  Combine the celery and onion. Sauté with Granny Smith apple dices and the Blue Cheese crumbs. Top with bread  crumbs and bake for 15 minutes at 400° or until bread crumbs are brown.  Serve with green salad, garlic bread, and wine.

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Empress Chocolate Cake and Frosting

From the Ghirardelli Web Site

1-1/2 cups sifted cake flour
1 cup Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate
3/4 cup sugar
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 cup shortening
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

In a mixer bowl, sift flour with ground chocolate, sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Add shortening and 3/4 cup buttermilk. Beat on low speed to combine ingredients. Beat on #4 (low-medium) speed for 2 minutes. Add 1/4 cup buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Beat additional 2 minutes. Line two (8 x 1-1/2 inch) round cake pans with waxed paper. Spread batter into pans. Bake at 350° F for 30-35 minutes.
Cool on racks 10-15 minutes. Remove from pans.

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Empress Frosting

1/3 cup half and half
1/2 cup butter, cut up
2 tbsp. Sugar
1-1/2 cups Ghirardelli Ground Chocolate
1 tsp. vanilla

In a 2 quart heavy saucepan, heat half and half with butter and sugar, stirring until blended. Add ground chocolate, mixing with wire whip until smooth. Heat on medium low until mixture is thick and shiny and runs off the spoon like syrup and the first bubble appears on the surface (160° F). Do not boil or overcook frosting. Cool 5 minutes, then add vanilla. Place pan of frosting in bowl holding a tray of ice cubes and some water. Beat slowly with a spoon until frosting holds a shape. Makes frosting for an 8 inch layer cake.

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