Tag Archives: Cupcake Vineyard’s Red Velvet Zinfandel

Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet

Cost: Average price $10

Where buy now: Cellars Wines & Spirits- $7.99, Surdyk’s – $7.49 (during wine sale)

Grapes:47% Zinfandel, 29% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petite Sirah

Region: Livermore, California

Vintage: 2010

Cupcake Vineyard’s Red Velvet

 

Before I launched the Savvy Lush, I asked my two cousins who live/lived in San Francisco for California bang-for-buck wine suggestions. One wine recommended was Cupcake Vineyard’s Zin known as Red Velvet. Last week, during a wine sale frenzy of mine at Cellars Wines & Spirits in Roseville, I snared me a bottle.

This wine frenzy inspired me to try out a healthified version of Chiles Rellenos: http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/chiles-rellenos-with-tomato-and-avocado-salsa/ChilesRellenos I would make this again but add some sautéed zucchini, crisp corn and possibly black beans to give it added texture.

I started drinking this wine before I ate. I couldn’t help myself. As I swirled the Red Velvet in my glass, strong scents of dark berries and smokey-chocolate, like a molé sauce, were immediate! I downed a full glass before the damned poblanos even made it out of the oven. In my version of “waiting patiently”, I “organized the mail”. Basically, I was just shifting stacks of mail from one end of the dining room table to the other. Stupid, I know, but severe food anticipation can turn me into Rain Man sans Judge Wapner, (yeah, definitely Judge Wapner.)

*BEEP* *BEEP*  Finally! I ran into the kitchen as the oven buzzer sounded. I would have had a great “Tom Cruise in Risky Business” kind of slide if my kitchen wasn’t so pathetically small. I peeked in the oven and saw cheese oozing from the poblanos. It was time.

I plated the peppers, sprinkled some avocado salsa on top, and added a dollop of my beloved sour cream (This ‘Sconi gal has to maximize the dairy) Huffing and puffing, I barely cooled off the first bite before shoving it into my mouth. Mmm! The gooey cheese along with sautéed onion, garlic and jalapeño sinfully complimented the roasted poblano, avocado and cilantro mixture. Now, the wine. Again, I sensed the aromas of blackberries and chocolate, and took a sip. It’s all working, here. Being predominantly Zinfandel, a jamminess hits you, but the Merlot softens the Zin. The Cab & Petite Sirah join in, creating this creamy, balanced, and highly drinkable Cali red wine.

I desperately tried to nurse this bottle, so I really sipped and savored the rest of the meal. Why you may ask? Because now was brownie time. I made a batch earlier that day from a gluten free mix I picked up at Home Goods. I cut a piece (well, a Savvy Lush piece – half a row), barely able to contain my saliva. Unlike other crappy gluten free brownies I had eaten in the past, these were chewy, the consistency of a “real” wheat flour brownie. After another sip of the smokey chocolate, dark berry Red Velvet- oh yeah. I was so excited, I could have jumped all over Oprah’s couch! Soon, I was tweeting it from the rafters!

If you don’t like dessert wine but need a wine to go with a chocolate dessert, give Red Velvet a go. You can find this wine just about anywhere for around $8 -10. I can confidently tell you to pick this up. Don’t let the Cupcake label fool you- this is a serious Cali blend.

Grab your honey, a bottle of Cupcake Vineyard’s Red Velvet and perhaps some local http://www.muddypawscheesecake.com/MuddyPaws Espresso Cheesecake. Or if you want a truly magnanimously boozy time, Muddy Paws just launched their 2 Gingers Whiskey Cheesecake. You can only melt your troubles away with that combo.

Now how about that? Winning! [Oh wait, that was the non-Scientology batshit crazy celebrity.] Show ME the—. No. Ummm…I have the need! (What?!?) Hmmm. I WANT THE TRU—…

Never mind.

PS – another great bargain Zin that would go just as well, BV Coastal Estates Zinfandel.

BV Coastal Estates Zinfandel

Running $7 at Cellars Wines & Sprits right now. Mmm, zinny!