Sip and Shop with Holiday Cheer this Friday, December 5th

Chicken Marsala with McGrail Family Chardonnay

Photo Credit hugsandcookiesxoxo.com

Pairing chardonnay is not as black and white as you may think: especially when it's as rich and buttery as our McGrail Family Chardonnay! This chicken marsala is surprisingly easy to make and absolutely delicious! People will be so impressed when you whip up this amazing plate, served with our chilled chardonnay. Add some asparagus and potatoes on the side and it will be a dinner that is just out of this world! Our chardonnay is available for purchase here!

What you'll need

• 1 package chicken cutlets, pounded thin
• olive oil
• cornstarch
• 1 small package sliced mushrooms
• 1 cup Marsala wine
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 cup chicken broth
• heavy cream
• salt
• pepper

Directions

1. Heat about 3 tbsp olive oil in a skillet on medium-high
2. Thoroughly cover chicken in cornstarch and sprinkle on both sides salt and pepper to taste
3. Fry in pan on both sides to brown, then remove it from the pan
4. Add mushrooms to the pan to brown, then increase the heat to high and add Marsala, butter, and chicken broth. 
5. Add 1 tbsp cornstarch and cook until liquid reduces by half
6. Add 1-2 tbsp cream to taste and more salt and pepper if desired
7. For added thickness of the sauce, add more cornstarch (I personally added another tablespoon)
8. Return chicken to pan, let it simmer in sauce for a couple minutes to allow it to cook through. 

Walnut Espresso Brownies with McGrail Cabernet Sauvignon

Photo Credit: David Prince

We all know chocolate and wine are a match made in heaven, but many of us are looking for a little more than just a simple piece of chocolate when we're unwinding with some wine. These walnut espresso brownies are the perfect way to relax after a long day, a stressful work week, or even just after a great dinner. Paired with our 2010 James Vincent Cabernet, this would be the perfect way to end your evening! The James Vincent is aged for 30 months in all French oak, giving it some hints of chocolate in the wine itself. This wine is available for purchase here, as well as our famous Cab Reserve which is available for purchase here!

What you'll need:

• Nonstick vegetable oil spray (or you can butter the pan, this way is just much more efficient and has less added calories/fat)
• Parchment paper
• 1 stick (8 tbsp) unsalted butter
• 4 oz semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1 tbsp instant espresso powder
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional, but highly recommended

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (Fahrenheit)
2. Coat 8in x 8in baking pan with vegetable oil spray and line pan with parchment paper (leave some hanging over the sides). Spray the parchment paper with nonstick spray as well.
3. Melt together the butter, espresso powder, and chocolate in a small saucepan (remember to stir occasionally).
4. Beat the eggs and sugar together with a mixer on medium-high until the mix is light and fluffy. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add in the melted mixture from the saucepan, then add the flour and salt. Once it is mixed together, fold in chocolate chips and walnuts.
5. Spread batter in your prepared pan and bake for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Once brownies are baked, let them cool completely in the pan. Once you're ready to remove them, hold both ends of the parchment paper and lift the cake out of the pan. Cut your cake in 16 pieces and enjoy!

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Grilled Salt and Pepper Tuna with McGrail Cabernet Sauvignon

Photo Credit: Frances Janisch

Tired of the same old poultry or red meat dinners? Look no further: try a nice grilled salt and pepper tuna steak for dinner tonight! This meal is easy to make and tastes like you're eating a five star restaurant! This dinner would pair amazingly with our famous Cabernet Sauvignon. While enjoying our cab, you might notice cherry, cassis, and plum as you swirl your glass around. The dark fruit is intermixed with smokey, toasty nuance and a hint of earth. The tannis are already approachable but very well balance. Our 2011 Cabernet Reserve is aged for 30 months in French, Hungarian, and American oak and is available for purchase here! 

What you'll need for the tuna

• 3 pounds sushi-grade tuna: you can find sushi-grade fish at any Ranch 99 or other Asian supermarket!
• 1/2 cup black pepper, coarsely ground
• 1/8 - 1/4 cup coarse sea salt (depending on how salty you like your food, 1/4 makes a fairly salty fish!)

What you'll need for the lemon caper butter

• 1 stick (8 tbsp) unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp capers
• 2 lemons
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Directions: 

To prepare the tuna:

1. Cut the tuna into 8 equal steaks.
2. Combine the pepper and salt in a small bowl and pour onto a clean plate.
3. Press each steak into the mix and coat evenly. Refrigerate until you're ready to grill.

To make the lemon caper butter:

1. Melt the butter in a small saucepan.
2. Add capers and cook for 2 minutes.
3. Add the lemon juice, salt and pepper and cook for 2 minutes to heat through.

To grill the tuna:

1. Add the tuna steaks to the grill and grill for 2 to 3 minutes on each side for medium-rare. Personal tip: make sure you don't overcook the tuna, it's better that it looks slightly under cooked. I can assure you, it most likely is not!
2. Drizzle with lemon caper butter. Top each plate of zucchini with a tuna steak.

Prep Time: 

10 minutes

Cooking Time: 

20 minutes

July is Sauvignon Blanc Month, enjoy it with free Bocce ball at McGrail!

It's summer! You know what that means: the days are longer and the nights are warmer. What better way to end your summer's day than with a crisp, chilled glass of McGrail's Sauvignon Blanc? Our refreshing Sauvignon Blanc will delight your taste buds with an intense blend of melons, honey, and tropical fruit. Imagine a relaxing evening grilling some salmon and pairing it with this amazing wine! 

Going to watch a movie in the park? Thinking about having a nice picnic on a bright and sunny afternoon? Look no further: our 2013 Sauvignon Blanc is also our first bottle of wine with a screw cap! No need to worry about bringing a corkscrew for this wine! Your senses will be awakened as you crack open a bottle and are greeted with aromas of passion fruit and honeysuckle.

Come by and visit us at McGrail Vineyards and Winery to pick up your bottle today! While you're here, enjoy a glass on our gorgeous patio with views that boast the gorgeous Livermore Valley. In honor of July being Sauvignon Blanc Month, we will be offering a limited time offer: buy six bottles of our Sauvignon Blanc and play Bocce ball on our brand new Bocce ball courts for free! That's right: our long anticipated Bocce ball courts are up and running.  We will provide you and your group a professional set of Bocce balls for an hour and a half of free play to have some fun in the sun while soaking in the expansive views of the Livermore Valley! Visit us at: 5600 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA 94550.  

McGrail Vineyards to Offer Exclusive PICAZO Vineyards Wines

For Immediate Release
Contact: Heather McGrail
McGrail Vineyards and Winery
925-215-0717
heather@mcgrailvineyards.com

McGrail Vineyards to Offer Exclusive PICAZO Vineyards WinesAdds Ultra-Premium Merlot and Other Award-Winning PICAZO Wines to McGrail’s Award-Winning Offerings

Livermore, California — November 1, 2012 — McGrail Vineyards and Winery, a leading producer of premium Livermore Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, announced today that it will offer the wines of PICAZO Vineyards, a neighboring Livermore Valley winery focused on ultra-premium Merlot. Previously, the exclusive PICAZO wines were offered only by allocation, so this makes them available to a wider wine-loving audience.  This is a natural partnership for the wineries since they already use the same winemaker, Mark Clarin, and each focuses on premium Bordeaux-style Livermore Valley varietals. In addition to offering existing PICAZO wines, McGrail will handle winery operations and sales for PICAZO on an ongoing basis. PICAZO will continue to
operate its estate vineyard, and provide premium Merlot fruit for McGrail to produce handcrafted Livermore Valley wine.

“We have known the McGrails for several years and share their passion to grow high-quality fruit and offer premium wines,” said Pam Picazo, proprietor of PICAZO Vineyards. “This is an ideal partnership because we wanted to get out of day-to-day winery operations and focus on producing the best Merlot fruit in the Livermore Valley. We are delighted that they will continue to offer outstanding PICAZO Merlot made from our grapes.”
“This is a great addition to our award-winning Cabernet,” said Heather McGrail, President of McGrail Vineyards and Winery. “Due to our success in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition we have enjoyed sold-out vintages the past few years, and the addition of other Bordeaux-style wines already made by the same winemaker is perfect. Starting immediately we will be offering all the PICAZO wines in our tasting room.”

About McGrail Vineyards and WineryMcGrail Vineyards is a family-owned vineyard and winery based in Livermore, California, specializing in Cabernet Sauvignon. It was founded in 1999 as a vineyard offering fruit to other wineries, and started offering its own handcrafted wines in 2003, expanding to an estate tasting room and winery in April, 2008. Since 2009, Mark Clarin has been the winemaker. The 2008 Reserve Livermore Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was named Best Red Wine in the 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, beating more than 5000 entrants. While the McGrails are dedicated to offering the highest-quality wines, they are warm, passionate and down-to-earth and offer an approachable wine-tasting experience in their casual hilltop tasting room. Additional information is
available at www.mcgrailvineyards.com.

About PICAZO VineyardsPICAZO Vineyards, founded in 2004, is a family-owned vineyard and winery based in Livermore, California, specializing in Merlot.  In addition to the estate Merlot, it offers a range of award-winning wines, including Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, a red Bordeaux blend called Proprietary Red, and a Rose. Mark Clarin, partner and winemaker, has been crafting their wines since inception, and is focused on producing Livermore Valley estate Merlot rivaling the best of Napa and Sonoma counties. Additional information is available at www.picazovineyards.com.

Grape Stomp at McGrail

Tomorrow is our 2nd Annual Grape Stomp at McGrail Vineyards.  We will pick Petite Sirah from a neighbors vineyard early tomorrow morning and around noon we will welcome guests to try their best at stomping grapes.  (Don't worry, we actually discard the juice -- it's only for fun!)

The front lawn of McGrail Vineyards and Winery will be laid out with 6 half barrels filled with grapes.  Get a group of 6 together or just come on your own and we'll fill in the extra spots and race to stomp out the most juice.  Everyone will get to stomp for 1 minute and then the juice will be measured and the winner gets a prize.  Everyone that participates will take home a "I stomped Grapes at McGrail Vineyards" t-shirt and you can add your purple toes to the shirt.

If you decide to just watch the grape stomp you will have a great time as well!  TankHalfFull will be entertaining the guests with live music and food will be available to purchase by Posada Catering.  Come out to McGrail Vineyards tomorrow: Saturday, September 29th 12-4PM.