Welcome to our new monthly Wine Newsletter! Our goal is to provide our subscribers with updates on our wine programs along with fun, informative content to help you enjoy City Winery from the comfort of your home. We miss hosting you at our wineries for a wine tour and tasting experience, a delicious meal paired with a concert or a celebration. We eagerly await the opportunity to welcome you back to City Winery, but in the meantime, we hope you will join our wine club, join us for a Virtual Wine Tasting, a CWTV livestream concert, or you can simply enjoy a bottle of City Winery wine delivered to your door. Cheers!
FEBRUARY WINE OF THE MONTH
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Our Cabernet Sauvignon pairs well with your favorite culinary creations or can be enjoyed on it’s own in front of a cozy fireplace. The perfect wintertime wine! Enjoy aromas of dark fruit and violets and flavors of dark chocolate, caramel and a touch of black pepper as the lingering experience finishes in your palate.
City Winery Wine Club members will receive Cabernet Sauvignon as their February selection. Plus, this month, Wine Club members get 35% off 12 or more bottles of the Wine of the Month with the code WCFEB2564
Not a Wine Club member? Join now!
Read on for culinary pairing suggestions, cocktail recipes and much more!
WINEMAKER SPOTLIGHT
CAROLINE SCHRADER
Caroline Schrader is an award-winning winemaker dedicated to creating wine reflective of true craft and care through hands-on and focused production. Caroline began working at City Winery Chicago in 2014. Her work is built on the old school philosophy that great wine is made from working with your hands, patience, and creativity. From barrel fermented Sauvignon Blanc, to delicate yet gritty Grenache, Caroline is making wines that she not only hopes people will enjoy, but that also provide an element of surprise. Caroline is excited about the soon-to-be released 2019 vintage of the whiskey barrel aged Cabernet Sauvignon and the semi-sweet 2020 Riesling.
CITY WINERY CUISINE
MEET CHEF DONALD COUNTS
Chef Donald brings years of experience to City Winery Nashville and he also serves as National Executive Chef. In that role, he creates delicious dishes that land on menus across all locations.
One of City Winery’s most popular dishes happens to be Chef Donald’s favorites: Mushroom & Goat Cheese Risotto Balls. These arancini swim in a delicious arrabiata sauce and this dish perfectly pairs with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon while you enjoy a concert or great conversation in our restaurant.
FARE TO PAIR
MUSHROOM & POLENTA
PAIR WITH CITY WINERY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
INGREDIENTS
1½ lb. mixed mushrooms (such as crimini, shiitake, oyster, and/or maitake), torn into 1" pieces
4 sprigs thyme, plus leaves for serving
6 garlic cloves, smashed
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 cup polenta
2 ½ cups of vegetable stock
2 cups water
4 oz. Parmesan, finely grated, plus more for serving
1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
Flaky sea salt
PREPARATION
Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 325°. Combine mushrooms, thyme sprigs, and garlic on a large, rimmed baking sheet. Season generously with kosher salt and pepper; drizzle with oil. Toss to coat mushrooms, then spread out in an even layer. (Make sure not to crowd the mushrooms on the baking sheet; this keeps them from steaming, instead of getting crispy.) Transfer to upper rack in oven and let mushrooms roast while you prepare polenta.
Bring 2½ cups of vegetable stock and 2 cups of water to a simmer in a large ovenproof saucepan over medium-high heat. Add butter and a generous pinch of kosher salt and whisk to melt butter. Gradually add polenta, whisking constantly, to prevent lumps. Return mixture to a boil, immediately cover pot, and transfer to lower rack in oven. Bake polenta, shaking baking sheet with mushrooms occasionally, until polenta is tender, 20–25 minutes.
Remove polenta from oven. Crank up oven temperature as high as it will go (but don’t broil). Continue to cook mushrooms until crisp around the edges, 5–10 minutes longer.
Meanwhile, carefully uncover polenta and whisk vigorously, scraping bottom of pan, until polenta is smooth and thick. Gradually add 4 oz. Parmesan, whisking constantly until melted and incorporated; taste and season with more kosher salt and pepper. Cover and keep warm over low heat while mushrooms finish roasting.
Remove mushrooms from oven, drizzle with vinegar. Toss to coat; let cool slightly.
Divide polenta among bowls and top with mushrooms, thyme leaves, sea salt, and more Parmesan. Enjoy!
COCKTAIL CORNER
Ganna Fedorova is City Winery’s National Beverage Director and a Certified Sommelier. Ganna is passionate about wine and cocktail pairings outside the box, and creating beverage experiences that are fun, accessible, and have something delicious for everyone. Check out two of Ganna’s favorite winter cocktails below!
TRY THESE FUN SEASONAL COCKTAILS AT HOME!
Winter’s Waltz Margarita
1.5 oz. Chamucos Blanco Organic Tequila
1 oz. City Winery Riesling Vin de Glaciere, Finger Lakes, NY 2017
.5 oz. Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao
.75 oz. lime juice
Sweet wines are so much more than just a pairing for a dessert course. They can be a perfect aperitif, a pairing for a rich main course or a cocktail ingredient.
The notes of ripe peach, honey, and acacia blossoms of our Vin de Glaciere, made from frozen Riesling berries, and its vibrant, mouthwatering acidity are a beautiful accompaniment to a premium tequila.
Preparation:
Combine all ingredients with ice and shake for approximately ten seconds. Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass and garnish with a lime wheel.
Happily Ever After
1 oz. Bahnez Mezcal
.5 oz. Campari
.5 oz. Maker’s Mark Bourbon
1 oz. coconut cream (e.g. Coco Lopez)
.5 oz. lime juice
A perfect Valentine’s day treat, this cocktail is rich and satisfying, a touch sweet, a touch bitter, a touch smoky, and full of flavor. The coconut gives it an incredibly silky texture, lime keeps it refreshing and balanced, and spirits shine through beautifully in this cocktail without overpowering each other.
Preparation:
Keep the coconut cream at room temperature at it tends to solidify as it gets cold. Combine all ingredients and shake vigorously for at least 20-30 seconds. For the smoothest texture, double strain using a fine-mesh strainer into a cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange peel.
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Stay tuned for new cocktails next month!
LOVE OUR WINE? JOIN THE WINE CLUB!
Exclusive Wine Club Benefits
Explorer Membership
• $24.99 FOR 1 BOTTLE per month for pickup or $32.99 for delivery (shipped quarterly)
• 20% off additional wine purchases
• Member-only events
• Complimentary wine tastings for 2 or take-home growler
Connoisseur Membership
• $44.99 FOR 2 BOTTLES per month for pickup or $53.99 for delivery (shipped quarterly)
• All Explorer Membership benefits
• Exclusive private winery tours
• Complimentary wine tastings for 4 or take-home growler
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WINE CLUB
BLUES WINE SALE
Blues legend Taj Mahal provided City Winery with his list of his 10 favorite blues albums. Order any 6 (or more) City Winery wine bottles and we’ll include this exclusive list and a playlist with selections from those albums and more. Discover new wines and classic albums. Beat the winter blues with this special wine & music pairing.
Virtual wine tastings are an excellent safe, socially-distanced activity. Coordinate with friends and family and gather on Zoom to taste through them a sections of wines shipped to your home. Share your tasting notes and feedback, but don’t be afraid to get sidetracked with fun conversation. The shared experience of tasting works great online!
Our virtual wine tasting offer a unique interactive experience for all types of wine lovers and groups of all sizes. Contact us to learn more about Virtual Wine Experiences for a fun work events, with friends or for a specials occation.
CELLAR RAID SALE!
For a limited time, shop our extensive restaurant wine cellar. Each week, we’ll unveil a special list of wines available at big discounts. Please note: these wines are for pick up only at City Winery at Pier 57 at Hudson River Park. We cannot ship these wines.
