By Linda Kissam
Honker Blanc & Tractor Red Wine Bottle Shots Courtesy of Cerruti Cellars

Tractor Shed Red

I’ll be the first to admit that I am a sucker for an attractive wine label and an intriguing name.  I had my “moon” phase where I only purchased wines with a moon on them.  Then there was the phase of being sure that any name that had a reference empowering artists or horoscopes was a good indicator of great wine.  Well… lesson learned… fun labels and names are not such a smart way to purchase wine.

Then again, at the last meeting of the Men’s Wine Tasting Council, we were treated to several interesting wines that proved my original theory could be correct.  Go figure.  Two of the five wines we tasted were outstanding.  Thanks go to Cerruti Cellars for sharing these affordable beauties with us.

The next time you’re looking to bring a wine gift to your dinner hostess, or buy that unique bottle of wine without breaking the bank, read on, I’ve got the goods (and a yummy recipe) for you!

Honker Blanc

2010 Honker Blanc $14: The number one choice of the 6 member tasting panel, it received oohs and ahhs from the group – and that was just for the label. The name made us all smile. Add to that, the bottle is adorned with a picture of  wildly engaging  geese and a “subliminal message.” Seriously, who could pass all that up?  So far it was a hit, but could it stand up to the taste test?  Yup, no problem.  This Sauvignon Blanc had a luscious quality about it featuring a crisp introduction, with notes of snappy green apple.  It went well with almost every dish on the table but really shined with a Harvest blend peanut  brittle made in Napa Valley.  The big buttery taste of the brittle hit just the right notes with the rich top notes of the wine.  And surprisingly the artichoke dip with its green chilies, cream cheese, and Parmesan was also a pairing favorite. Artichoke is always a challenge to pair, but this was definitely a winner.   The winged spokesperson recommends serving this wine slightly chilled with a light pasta, seafood or game hens, but never with Goose!

2009 Tractor Shed Red $12:  Another label and name favorite, we were glad to know that the Massey Harris red tractor captured on the iconic label still stands proudly at the winery outside the “real” Tractor Shed at Cerruti Cellars .  Scoring third this proprietary blend made up of Zinfandel, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc was another hit.  Delivering a delightful range of aromas and flavors, soft tannins, with notes of cherries, plums, strawberries, and dark red fruits, the group really got into this wine and the affordable price point.  The group spent considerable time tasting it with a notable shepherd’s pie, candied fruit dipped in chocolate and spiced pecans and yes… garlic mushrooms.

Wine Tasting Council

Shepards Pie, Courtesy of AllRecipes.com

Mexican Shepherd’s Pie
Courtesy of allrecipes.com

Ingredients

 1 1/2 pounds ground beef

1 onion, finely chopped

garlic powder to taste

salt and pepper to taste

1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes

1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix

3/4 cup hot water

1 (11 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained

1 (8.5 ounce) package corn muffin mix

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)

1 (2.25 ounce) can sliced black olives (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

2. Place the beef and onion in a skillet over medium heat. Cook until beef is evenly brown and onion is tender. Drain grease. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix in the tomatoes, and cook 5 minutes. Stir in the taco seasoning and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and continue cooking 5 minutes, until thickened. Transfer to the prepared baking dish, and top evenly with corn.

3. Prepare the corn muffin mix according to package directions. Spread evenly over the corn layer in the baking dish.

4. Bake 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until puffed and golden. Garnish with olives and cheese.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 407 | Total Fat: 19.8g | Cholesterol: 71mgPowered by ESHA Nutrient Database