Mezzacorona Wine

Today, winos across America have a reason to raise their glasses in celebration  …that’s right, it’s National Chardonnay Day!

Uncork that bottle of Mezzacorona Chardonnay as you read a little bit about what makes this particular wine of ours so unique …

Our Chardonnay’s life begins like no other –born on the highest hillside vines of Tentino, Italy. These vines benefit from optimal sunlight and cool refreshing night air, which serve to enhance the crispness of the grapes. These grapes, of course, are hand harvested to ensure ideal ripeness.  

You’ll find our Chardonnay to be highly drinkable, with subtle flavors of peach, nectarine, pear, and spice. Sounds like the flavors of a spring day to us! A spring day filled with dishes such as white meats, fish, and Mediterranean salads –all excellent pairings with this particular varietal.

Enough reading … now is the time to celebrate! Cheers!

The month of May: Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, the heart of Spring, warm nights, long days. What do you think of when you think of May?

If a refreshing salad happens to creep into your mind, you know more about this month than you may think. Because it just so happens that May is also “National Salad Month!”

In honor of this “healthy” celebration, we’ve dug up the recipe for a delicious, nutritious,  (and good-looking! Check out those hearts …) salad that we’re sure you and your family will be enjoying comes Memorial Day weekend. Ladies and gentlemen, we present the Fried Goat Cheese and Roasted Beet Salad.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups salad greens (mixed, spinach, arugula, or baby kale)

• 1 large roasted beet, sliced and cut into hearts with a cookie cutter

• 1 tablespoon scallion, finely diced

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 2/3 cup goat cheese

• 2/3 cup Progresso Italian Bread Crumbs

• 2 tablespoons corn starch

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

• 1  egg, well beaten

• 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted

Ingredients for the dressing:

• 3 tablespoons orange juice

• 1 1/4 cup extra-light olive oil

• 1/4 cup scallions, diced

• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1. Arrange salad greens and beets in two serving bowls. Set aside.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, 1/4 cup olive oil, scallion, and apple cider vinegar. Set aside.

3. Prepare to fry the goat cheese by rolling the goat cheese into tablespoon-sized balls. Place beaten egg in a small bowl. Mix together Progresso bread crumbs, cornstarch and garlic salt. Heat 1 cup of olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Roll goat cheese in egg, then bread crumb mixture, then egg mixture again, then in the breadcrumb mixture. Fry in hot oil until golden brown around all sides. Transfer immediately on top of salad greens.

4. Drizzle dressing over salad greens. Garnish with toasted pine nuts and scallions. Serve immediately, with a glass of chilled Mezzaocorna Pinot Grigio… . and enjoy!!

“The art of mothering is to teach the art of living to children.” —Elaine Heffner

Mother’s Day is mere hours away, and we know all of you are trying to figure out how, exactly, you can show your appreciation for all your Mother has taught you over the years. Well, word on the street is if there’s one thing Moms world-wide can’t resist, it’s BRUNCH! But why leave it to a restaurant when you can plan the perfect brunch for Mom from the comfort of your own home? (and of course, STILL ensure that she feels like a queen!) We have some ideas for you, complete with photos to help you imagine how your spread can look. Thanks to B. Lovely Events, for sharing with us these unique ideas!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Have a vegetarian mama, or perhaps just want to keep brunch light to make sure everyone’s still hungry for your big dinner plans later? Fruit pizzas, made with your choice of fruit, creme cheese spread, and bagel slices are the perfect option!

If you have access to a chalk or white board of some sort, this is the perfect way to utilize it! Pull at her heart strings by writing out a quote that reflects your feelings for her —the perfect centerpiece to what, in this case, is a brunch full of sweet treats!

Is it officially Spring in your neck of the woods? Then take the party outside! This shabby-chic/vintage inspired brunch, complete with cutout butterflies (can be made simple from construction paper) will take your Mom to a dreamy place.

The weekend is soon upon us, and like every weekend, we know each of you are looking forward to it with anticipation, whether it be because you plan to spend those  48 hours out on the town with friends or resting in bed with a good book.

No matter what your plans entail though, we suspect many of you will be integrating into those plans the fact that this Sunday is Cinco De Mayo! Will you be enjoying a taco or two? Or perhaps you’ll be bringing a sampling of wine over to share with your friends during their Cinco De Mayo party… (hey, wine goes with Mexican food too!)

Whatever you’ll be doing, we’d like to share our tips on which of our wine varietals pair best with popular Mexican dishes, as well as some fun Cinco De Mayo facts you can use to impress your fellow guests —it’s our goal, after all, to ensure our fans are the life of ANY party!

What type of dishes do you think of enjoying when celebrating Cinco De Mayo? Burritos, tamales, and tacos all can come to mind. And the meat that can be found those options —chicken, pork, beef, or fish, cooked alongside onions, veggies, and above all: Chiles!

The complex flavors and distinct spice of many Mexican dishes yield themselves to our Pinot Noir, while those who need something a bit cooler to “put out the fire” so to speak may most enjoy our Pinot Grigio or Moscato. All three of the varietals stand up to the complex flavors and vibrant spices of traditional Mexican fare!

Now, for some fun facts to woo your counterparts with …Cheers!

1. Cinco de Mayo - the fifth of May - is not Mexico’s Independence Day (celebrated on September 16th.)

2. Rather, it was May 5, 1862 that the Mexican army defeated Napoleon’s French army which was twice it’s size.

3.  The Battle of Puebla was a major victory for the Mexican people as only 4,000 Mexican soldiers battled and defeated 6,500 French soldiers. The entire war took 6 more years to finish, but the victory at Puebla was a huge win for the Mexican people.

4.  Then United States President Abraham Lincoln and President of Mexico Bonito Juarez were close friends- a role that was a major key to Mexico’s victory.

5. The biggest Cinco de Mayo celebration is held in…yep…you guessed it, Puebla, Mexico.

6. Wearing Western costumes is part of the celebration in Puebla.

7. Los Angeles has the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the world called Fiesta Broadway, with over half a million people attending this massive street party. (I would not want clean up on this one.)

8. Cinco de Mayo is also celebrated in the Carribbean, Australia, and Canada, as well as in Latin countries, and of course, The United States.

What time is it?

If you’re anything like us here at Mezzacorona, then the answer is usually “Wine Time.” Unfortunately, more often than not, we find our hours being filled with things like work, household chores, errands, school, and the like. We hope to make your countdown to “Wine o’Clock” a bit easier with this Do-It-Yourself project, a clock themed around everyone’s favorite pastime:  Wine!

What You’ll Need

12”x12”x3/8” plywood piece (clock face)

1”x1”x4’ wood trim (clock sides)

Selection of corks cut in half lengthwise

Clock movement with ¾” shaft

Set of novelty clock hands (optional, available at craft stores)

4 mini champagne bottle

4 mini corks (optional, available at dollar discount stores or crafts stores)

4 printable self adhesive mailing labels

Packing Tape

Glue sticks

Clear, matte Varathane (optional)

Suspension hardware

1 ¼ ” finishing nails

Tools

Utility knife

Jigsaw/handsaw

Drill and 5/32” drill bit

Hammer

Pencil

Measure tape

Glue gun

Steps

1.  Cut 1”x1” trim to fit perimeter of plywood and affix with nails.

2. Glue Corks to the sides and back of trim

3. Empty mini bottles (if filled with liquid) and remove existing labels. Computer generate and print custom labels. Laminate labels with packing tape to protect surfaces and top with mini corks if desired. Divide clock face into quarters.

4. Place longest clock hand on center of unit and mark for bottle placement. This will ensure that the bottles will not interfere with the sweeping of the hands.

5.   Adhere bottles on demarcations and tile clock face with corks. Spray with Varathane if desired.

6.  Drill hole in the center of the clock for movement.

7. Attach movement per package instructions.

8.  Add novelty hands if desired. Install suspension hardware and required battery.

Hang in desired space on wall.

Now… . is it “time” to pop that bottle yet? You tell us!

Cheers, Mezzacorona fans!

You know what they say —everyday is a holiday! And at Mezzacorona, we sure do enjoy our celebrations. We also enjoy our food. So in honor of this week’s National Zucchini Day (April 25th, if you must know), we’re sharing with you a recipe that puts a delicious twist on your normal zucchini bread go-to, and that will surely leave your guests fighting for the last cookie.

Yes, we said cookie. Ladies and gentleman, may we present to you …Zucchini Bread Sandwich Cookies.  You’ll never look at zucchini bread the same after this!

Thanks to Mary of the blog “Sifting Focus” for sharing this delectable recipe.

Zucchini Bread Sandwich Cookies

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter, room temperature

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup finely grated zucchini – pressed between paper towels to extract some of the moisture

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Cream Cheese Filling (see recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350˚F.  Have ready two baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a small bowl.

With an electric mixer beat together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Beat in the egg and vanilla.

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until combined.  Mix in the zucchini, oats, and walnuts.  Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.  The dough can be prepared to this stage and refrigerated over-night.

Using a 1 or 1 1/2-inch ice cream scoop (Mary used the 1-inch and liked the smaller size for this cookie), drop dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.  Bake until edges are golden , about 14 to 17 minutes depending on the size ice cream scoop used.  Let rest a few minutes before removing them to a rack to cool.  When completely cooled, spread 1 heaping tablespoon of filling on flat side of 1 cookie and then sandwich with another cookie.  Repeat with remaining filling and cookies.

CREAM CHEESE FILLING

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) butter, room temperature

1 cup confectioner’s sugar, sifted

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Pinch of salt

Beat together all ingredients until smooth.

We think this recipe would be a great dessert to enjoy during a Springtime picnic or at the end of an evening dinner on a warm Summer’s eve. Toast with a glass of Mezzacorona Moscato, and we’d say you just perfected the art of celebrating National Zucchini Day!  Cheers, everyone!

When you think of classic italian dishes, the first that comes is usually spaghetti and meatballs. However, close on its heels is certainly lasagna. Who doesn’t enjoy coming home after a long day to find their house filled with the delicious aroma of a lasagna cooking in the oven? Well, we are getting back to the basics with this recipe. Give it a try and let us know how it turned out.

Chicken Lasagna
1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
3 cups diced chicken
3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
8 ounces cooked lasagna noodles

Sauce:
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup sour cream
6 ounces chopped mushrooms
1 (4-ounce) jar pimiento pieces
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Sauce: Saute onion and green pepper in olive oil; stir in remaining ingredients. Heat through, stirring as needed to prevent scorching. Spoon a little sauce in bottom of a 9-by-13-inch pan. Layer half of the noodles, sauce, ricotta, chicken and cheddar. Repeat layer; top with Parmesan cheese. Bake for 45 minutes and pair with your favorite glass of Mezzacorona wine. Cheers!

The holidays are a great time to eat, drink, and be merry. We have no doubt that you will be going to your fair share of holiday parties with friends, family, and co-workers. Instead of forcing yourself to drink eggnog, which will weigh down your stomach and your tastebuds, opt for something lighter and crisper. May we suggest this delicious, fruity White Sangria holiday recipe, infused with your favorite brand of Chardonnay? Take ten minutes to whip this up before your gathering, and prepare to be the hit of the party. You may want to make more, just in case. Cheers, and happy holidays!

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3 shots Calvados or other apple liquor
• 1 lime, sliced
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 2 ripe peaches, cut into wedges
• 3 ripe green apples seeded and cut into wedges
• 1 bottle of Mezzacorona Chardonnay
• 1 pint raspberries
• Sparkling soda water, for topping off glasses of sangria at table

Directions

Combine sugar, Calvados, lime, lemon, peaches and apples in a large pitcher. Cover with 1 bottle of Rioja wine and chill sangria several hours. To serve, spoon fruits into glasses or goblets, adding a few fresh raspberries in each glass, pour wine over top of the fruit. Top glasses of sangria off with a splash of soda water and serve.

Hate to see the Holiday season come and go without hosting a holiday soirée of your own? We know the feeling! Here at Mezzaocorna, we love having our wine-loving friends over to help us deck the halls.  But we know —the perfect holiday party is rarely thrown together on a whim! Attention to detail and planning ahead is key, and can be stressful when done all by yourself. Good thing you have our handy checklist below to ensure that your party is the toast of the town this Winter season!

You’re Guests Aren’t Sardines

Meaning: They will quickly show themselves the door if they feel like they have to crawl over a thousand people just to get to the bar. You want your guests to mingle, but you don’t want them literally rubbing against people they don’t know. Here’s tip for determining the perfect number of guests for a cocktail party:  Divide the square footage of your home by five (the approximate number of feet each guest needs in personal space). That number equals how many people can comfortably fit in your home.

Your Guests WILL Show Up Hungry (And Thirsty!!)

Especially within the first hour, when all the mixing and mingling usually occurs.  Plan on devoting some area of your space to wine and other libations.  To avoid any traffic jams, stick the bar in the corner of the room. Or, if you can’t find any furniture to act as a makeshift bar, make some room on your kitchen counter.  At your party, anticipate your guests will sip down two drinks a person in the first hour, and then one drink per hour for the remainder of the party.  When it comes to food, average 10 appetizers per person for cocktail parties and six per person for dinner parties. Get it? Got it? Good! Your guests’ bellies will thank you.

Give Party-Goers The Best View Possible

Centerpieces and table decorations are a must, obviously.  But a mistake party hosts often make is placing these decorations at the expense of their guests view of the people across from them.  If you’re adamant about placing a dramatic centerpiece on your table, at least move it to a nearby table when guests begin seating. Everyone will then still have a view of your beautiful decoration AND each other!

Toast the Beginning of Dinner with a Large Glass of Mezzacorona

Does this one really need any explanation? We raise our glasses to you as you play party-planning King or Queen this season! Cheers!

Hello everyone! Is it Daylight Savings time already? Of course it is, why else would were you arguing with the owner at your favorite wine bar on Saturday night because he refused to stay open an extra hour? We know that lovers of Mezzacorona wine are active, and may not love being robbed of sunlight as the days are already getting shorter thanks to cosmic forces and other scientific things. However, we have a few reasons why you should enjoy “falling back.”

Reason 1: Long weekend. Okay, it was only an extra hour, but think of all the things you could do in an hour. You could do your dishes, or put together a 200 piece puzzle, or watch an episode of “The Walking Dead,” or do “8 Minute Abs” 7.5 times. You probably just slept in, but still, think of the possibilities.

Reason 2: More darkness: There are many people who like the dark. Such individuals include those who are easily sunburned, nocturnal pet owners, superheroes, spelunkers, candle-makers, and ninjas. Plus, there are a multitude of activities that are better suited for night time. You can play laser tag, build a fire, go star-gazing, spend some time with a special someone, or simply get some much needed sleep.

Reason 3: Wine: This one could have fit somewhere in reason 2, but you can’t blame us for thinking it needed its own category. Let’s face it, most of us don’t live in a tropical climate. As the cold of winter sets in, is there anything better than bundling up with a bottle of Mezzacorona Moscato next to a crackling fireplace, putting on some Van Morrison Pandora and just unwinding? We think not.

Clearly, there’s always a silver lining at Mezzacorona. So we encourage you to find the lighter side of Daylight Savings. Cheers everyone!