The right Christmas wine pairings can enhance a dish to perfection. While there are no hard and fast rules on matching food and wine because it’s ultimately a matter of personal taste, we’ve compiled 5 pairings that will enhance your Christmas dinner experience.
Ham is traditional for Christmas dinner. Try pairing it with St. Clair Riesling. The wine’s acidity will cut through the sweet, aromatic flavors of a honey glazed ham.
If you’re serving brisket or pot roast, you can’t go wrong with St Clair Cabernet Sauvignon. While the wine is moderate in tannins, the meat is high in protein and fat. Together they balance out perfectly.
Spicing it up? For tamales or any spicy dishes, we recommend DH Lescombes Petite Sirah. Its flavors of dark fruit, smoke, and toasted wood will compliment the many spices of chile dishes.
Room for dessert? Try pairing butter cookies with St. Clair Chardonnay. The hints of vanilla and brown sugar flavors will bring out their butteriness.
Still not sure what to choose? A little spritz will liven up the dinner and dessert table. We recommend keeping sparkling wine on hand such as DH Lescombes Imperial Kir because it pairs well with a wide array of foods, including desserts. Sparkling wines have higher acidity and lower sugar levels than table wines. These two extremes complement elements in almost any food.
Now that you’ve brought the perfect wines home, enjoy sitting around the table with family and friends sipping on good wine and savoring good food.
Currently, our wines are going through the cold stabilization process. This process can take from 3 weeks to 3 to 5 months.
Cold stabilization of wine is a method used to keep tartaric acid crystals from forming after the wine as been bottled. This process is referred to as cold stabilization because it is the act of cooling the wine that causes tartaric acid to form tartrate crystals, also known as wine crystals or wine diamonds.
If wines are not cold stabilized there is a chance that these crystals will form when consumers place bottles of wine in the refrigerator or store it for long periods of time. While the crystals are harmless it can be rather unsettling to find what looks like broken glass in your wine if you don’t know what it really is.
After a long, hot day it’s nice to sit back, relax, and enjoy a glass of wine. For those who love sweet wine, there are a variety of different sweet wines that are sure to satisfy your taste buds. Understanding what makes wines sweet, as well as the varieties that are most often sweeter than average, can help you decide which one is best for you.
Here are 4 popular sweet wine varietals that we think you’ll love.
Moscato wine (sometimes spelled as Muscato), are wines made with a variety of grape from the Muscat family. The Muscat family of grapes includes over 200 grape varieties belonging to the Vitis vinifera species that have been used in wine production and as raisin and table grapes around the globe for many centuries. Their colors range from white, to yellow, to pink to near black. Muscat grapes and wines almost always have a pronounced sweet floral aroma. Who doesn’t love a chilled glass of refreshing sweet Moscato at the end of a long day?
Though Moscatos typically rule the dessert menu, Blue Teal Moscato is pretty versatile, and can even handle teaming up with spicy barbeque. Buy here
Red wine is a type of wine made from dark-colored (black) grape varieties. Most of us enjoy a good drop of red. The fact that it can help stave off serious health issues is an added bonus. Red wines get their color from being fermented in contact with the skins of dark grapes. Because anything sweet can quickly become overwhelming to the digestive tract, sweeter wines are typically consumed on a full stomach or in conjunction with richer foods. On a healthy note, red wine contains antioxidants that may help prevent heart disease, as research suggests. If you’re looking for natural products to benefit your health, you may also want to consider looking into the claims of those who use products derived from the CBD flower to help relieve anxiety, depression, pain, and all manner of ailments.
Red wine typically pairs well with red meat. St. Clair Mimbres Red is perfect for casual get-togethers and sharing with friends who are new to drinking wine. It is also the #1 selling wine in New Mexico! Buy here
Riesling wines, not unlike most other white wines, are often consumed when young. In winemaking, the delicate nature of the Riesling grape requires special handling during harvesting to avoid crushing or bruising the skin. Riesling is often put through a process of cold stabilization, where the wine is stored just above its freezing point. The wine is kept at this temperature until much of the tartaric acid has crystallized and precipitated out of the wine. This helps prevent crystallization of the acid (often called wine diamonds) in the bottle. After this, the wine is filtered again to remove any remaining yeast or impurities.
Riesling is a versatile wine for pairing with food, because of its balance of sugar and acidity. It can be paired with white fish or pork and is well known as a great pair for Asian cuisine. St. Clair Riesling is a great wine for summer refreshment. Buy here
Malvasia Bianca wines are characterized by their heavy body that is often described as “round” or “fat” and soft texture in the mouth. Most varieties of Malvasia are closely related to Malvasia Bianca. The red varieties of Malvasia tend to make wines with pale, pinkish to light red color. In their youth, Malvasia wines are characterized by their heavy body that is often described as “round” or “fat” and soft texture in the mouth. As Malvasia ages, the wines tend to take on more nutty aromas and flavors.
While very food-friendly, the drinking experience alone is worthwhile. Pair with BBQ, smoked salmon, smoked Gouda, blackened chicken, garlic, olives, feta, Greek food, and milk chocolate. St. Clair Malvasia Bianca is a sweet wine that is light and perfect for summer sipping. Buy here
Now you can walk into the wine aisle confidently and find your favorite sweet wines!
DEMING – Rain or shine, Deming Animal Guardians held another successful Yappy Hour fundraiser hosted by St. Clair Winery in Deming this past weekend. Rain didn’t end up being a problem since St. Clair Winery offered its indoor tasting and event center.
“There was a little indoor dancing, pledging and shopping and a little outdoor visiting and tasting happening. It worked out perfectly.” says event coordinator Debbie Troyer.
The event brought in just under $1,400 to help support DAG’s no-kill rescues and spay/neuter programs. Money was raised through pledges taken in a contest that bid Crystal Pena of HELP-NM against Will Jansen of Mimbres Hospital. Each competed for a $100 prize to be given to their charity of choice. Congratulations to the winner, Crystal Pena, for playing along in her kitty costume and raising funds for Luna County’s Early Childhood Coalition.
Crystal Peña congratulated by Will Janson at Yappy Hour inside St. Clair Winery’s Special Event Center.
St. Clair Winery donated use of their spacious indoor special event center as well as $1 for every glass of wine/beer sold, vendors sold beautiful oil and acrylic paintings, hand cut stone jewelry, candles and engravings. Faces were decorated by Megan Lemcke, dancing was provided by EnJ Entertainment and everyone was entertained by the always fun MC Greg Morrow. Belle Pacheco gave away $200 GoodLife VIP gift cards.
“It’s not easy to bring these events together, but the support from our community and volunteers always amazes me. We have a great time at our fundraisers,” Troyer said.
DAG invites you to follow them on Facebook to keep up on all the upcoming and fun events. Next up, “Bowling for Fur-Balls” on August 12 at the Starmax Bowling Center, 333 N. Country Club Road. This will be a No-Tap Tournament for all ages. There will be a Blu-Ray DVD Player raffle, door prizes, music and handmade awards.
For more information, please contact DAG at 575-544-2209
Spring has officially sprung and the sun is shining! That means the flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, buds are budding, and rosé wines are flying off the shelves. Be prepared to enjoy some springtime fresh wines before the summer rolls in.
Have a bottle on hand that not only you love, but your guests will love as well, something you can pour at a moment’s notice.
Here are 4 light, refreshing blush wines to kickoff Spring without breaking the bank. Try pairing them with the right kind of food and you’ll see how perfectly tuned they are to the flavors of spring.
St. Clair Mimbres Pink
It’s a fun, fruity, and easy-drinking rosé wine. A perfumed nose of Moscato, strawberry, orange blossom, and pomegranate reflect the beautiful flavor profile of this mellow wine.
Pair it with salads, cheese nosh platters, simple picnic fare, spicy New Mexican cuisine, or zesty barbecue.
A lovely wine with floral and fruit-forward flavor and aromatic Moscato character. Crafted as a celebration of life and reminder of our mortality, lingering in remembrance.
Pair this wine with spicy cuisine, fruited salads, fresh fruit desserts, or with your favorite appetizers. Sure to bring life to your meal.
Its flavors of strawberry and light tropical fruit combined with honeysuckle and pomegranate create a unique and enticing character.
Pair with Asian cuisine, sweet/spicy barbecue, full-flavored or creamy cheeses, fruit-based desserts, and picnic fare for an enjoyable evening indoors or outdoors.
Nothing says Valentine’s Day quite like the color pink! So, our rose-colored D.H. Lescombes Imperial Kir is a perfect companion for the holiday. Our Imperial Kir is a crisp, festive, semi-sweet wine with a (literally) bubbly character. Based on the ‘Kir Imperiale’, a raspberry-flavored drink first made popular in the late 1800s, we decided to put a soda shop twist on this old-world classic.
Inspired by a recipe by The Cookie Rookie, we added a few scoops of raspberry sorbet to create a delicious, sweet treat. Notes of citrus in the wine lend a bit of sophistication to an otherwise playful float. We like to top it with graham crackers and fresh raspberries, but feel free to try any other toppings that might strike your fancy (maybe some yogurt chips?). Perfect to enjoy on your own, or to split with a special someone this Valentine’s Day.
Imperial Kir Raspberry Sorbet Float
A playful and festive float with sophisticated flavors, perfect for romantic occasions, Valentine’s Day, girls night in, or anytime!
Ingredients
2-3 scoops of raspberry sorbet
1 cup Imperial Kir
Optional:
Crumbled graham crackers
Fresh raspberries
Directions
Place scoops of sorbet into a large margarita glass.
Pour Imperial Kir over the sorbet.
Garnish with graham crackers and fresh raspberries.
Photo courtesy: Daniel Gonzales/St. Clair Winery. Pictured are St. Clair Winery Staff led by Sales Manager Robert Duran, Tasting Room Manager Lora Robinson and Event Coordinator Naomi Morales presenting this year’s donation to the Cancer Support of Deming & Luna County, Patient Advocate Joanna Costilla and Board Member Don Hill
St. Clair Winery of Deming, NM, held their annual St. Clair Winefest the first weekend in October, with proceeds benefitting Deming & Luna County Cancer Support for the sixth year in a row. The local non-profit provides a variety of support to cancer patients in the community. They also provide outreach services for general education, early detection, screening programs, transportation assistance, and general cancer awareness.
This year’s Winefest donation was $5,433, which is over $2,000 more than last year’s donation. Major growth is attributed to the community support that has grown every year since its inception.
Each year since 2010, St. Clair has paired with the organization to donate some of the proceeds from their annual Winefest, which has become a destination for those looking to have a great time while also supporting a great cause. The largest portion of the fundraising stemmed from the Silent Auction, which is full of donated items from regional businesses, including St. Clair. The local winery also donates admission fees, pink ribbon sales, and vendor fees for the good of the cause.
“It’s amazing to see the support from all the local businesses that donate to the silent auction,” said Joanna Costilla, Patient Advocate from Deming & Luna County Cancer Support. “We’re extremely grateful to St. Clair for hosting this event and the generous amount of work they put into donating to help those in need. We’re also grateful to the community who continually supports the organization and our local cancer warriors.”
“It all went really well,” said St. Clair Tasting Room Manager, Lora Robinson. “We couldn’t have asked for better weather, and the turnout from the community was wonderful. We’re thankful for all the businesses and individuals who donated to the silent auction this year, it was a huge success. We can’t wait to do it again next year.”
Silent auction sponsors included: 1st New Mexico Bank, Allie Pelayo, Angel Nails, Black Hat Trading, Big-O-Tires, Bill Schnuk, Border Pest Control, Carol Smith, Car Quest, Cats, Circle S Western Emporium, Cliff & Terri Paulk, The Cookie Jar, Crafter’s Den, Dawn Lint, Deming Coke, Deming Luna Mimbres Museum, Deming Mattress, Diaz Farms, Dollar Tree, El Rey, First Federal Credit Union, Forghetaboutit, Foxworth Galbraith, Furniture Gallery, Gabe’s Fitness, Gene’s Equipment, Hofacket Law Firm, LLC, John Deer South Plains Implement, Karl’s Embroidery & Screen Printing, Kmart, La Fonda, Larry’s Music & Sound, Las Casuelas, The Lescombes Family, Mango Maddie’s, Marty & Will Willis, Mimbres Valley Feeds, Napa, The Patio, Pepper’s, Punkin Gose, Quality Inn, Rancher’s Grill, Samantha Crim, Shifflet Farms.
Deming & Luna County Cancer Support can be reached at (575) 546-4780
We are looking for exceptional people to join our growing team! We currently have Host and Server positions available.
HOST: As the main, and often first point of contact with our guests, our hosts are one of our most important roles. Our hosts greet every guest in friendly and efficient manner. They are responsible for our reservation and seating system and enthusiastically communicating accurate information to our guests. Other daily functions include escorting guests to their tables, providing menus, and preparing tables throughout service. Strong communication skills are necessary in ensuring a positive experience for our guests.
SERVER: Servers are integral in creating a truly great experience at St Clair Winery & Bistro. Our servers have a passion for people, service, food and wine and are responsible for delivering gracious hospitality with a strong knowledge of our products and company. Servers must be able to multitask and provide excellent communication with team members and guests. As with every position at St Clair Winery & Bistro, teamwork is essential and is what we’re all about!
Requirements:
-Must represent our vision and values
-At least 21 years of age (server position only)
-Knowledge of and passion for wine is a plus!
-Loves Guest service!
-Hard-working, team player
-Outgoing personality with excellent interpersonal skills
-A minimum of 6 months experience in a full service restaurant preferred
-Experience in an upscale casual dining or an equivalent service environment preferred
-Ability to stand and walk for up to 10 hours per day
-Ability to lift and carry up to 40 pounds
-Ability to exert fast-paced mobility for periods of up to 6 hours in length
-Ability to communicate and understand the primary language of the work location
-Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations; basic reading, listening and speaking skills
-Ability to perform essential functions to St Clair Winery & Bistro standards with reasonable accommodation
-Ability to work flexible shifts and schedules, inclusive of weekends and some holidays
-Ability to communicate clearly with Guests, managers and team members
-Ability to work calmly and effectively under pressure, in a fast-paced environment
-Certified in responsible alcohol service in the state of New Mexico
If you are interested in becoming part of our team, please come in to fill out an application Mon-Thurs 2-5 PM at 901 Rio Grande Blvd., Albuquerque, NM 87104 . Qualified candidates will be contacted to schedule an interview.
Pictured from left to right: CFO Brandon Young, Plant Manager Macaryo Argott, OSHA Safety Consultant Mike Gonzales, OSHA Consultation Manager Lisa Spahr, CEO Florent Lescombes, Safety Coordinator Robin Lee, Quality Control Manager Ziedney Valenzona.
DEMING – St. Clair Winery is a safe place to work, according to its administrative staff and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). This high standard of attendance to health and safety issues is being fully recognized, something that other businesses may want to make note of. What makes this business so special is that they have done everything in their power to ensure that their employees are working in a safe environment. Through incorporating specific types of ladders, from somewhere like Platforms and Ladders (https://www.platformsandladders.com/crossover-ladders/) to help reach items that may be out of reach, to implementing the relevant health and safety guidelines, they are the epitome of a safe business. This is why they should get noticed by the wider community.
The winery, a local product of Southwest Wines Inc., was awarded and recognized on Wednesday in an induction ceremony commemorating participation in the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) through OSHA. Many companies strive to reach this same level of safety, with First Aid Safety Signage and other means to help keep their employees safe implemented throughout the work zone. However, very few manage to get to the same point that St. Clair Winery manages to achieve, with their careful adherence to health and safety standards keeping them all well and able. In areas that handle food and drink, safety measures must be to high standards, which also includes the storage of the relevant chemicals in places such as this. Knowing how should chemicals be stored in food premises is extremely important and must be understood by all those who work within the company, it can prevent contamination and other related problems.
“We are very proud of the accomplishment they (St. Clair) have made toward being a SHARP certified employer,” said Lisa Spahr, OSHA consultation manager. “They are one of eight SHARP employers in New Mexico.” This standard is very hard to achieve, as many companies are unable to retain such stringent levels of safety regulation and procedure. Being one of the few named in the region is a well-deserved accolade for this company in particular. Read more here.
This month, St. Clair Winery will release a new wine to the public in a unique way. The New Mexico Winery will use their 2012 Bistro Red as an avenue to raise funds in partnership with Roadrunner Food Bank.
“Through the partnership, St. Clair has pledged to donate $1 per bottle sold of our new wine, Bistro Red, to Roadrunner Food Bank,” said St. Clair Marketing Director, Maritza Gomez. “This year, we anticipate the donation will be between $12,000 – $15,000.” The partnership between St. Clair Winery and Roadrunner Food Bank will help raise awareness around the issue of hunger in New Mexico.
Roadrunner Food Bank’s mission complements the deeply embedded family values of the St. Clair brand. “They pair perfectly!” said Gomez “Our goal was to ensure the donation would make an impact locally.” St. Clair chose to partner with the food bank because they are not just a city or county affiliate; their assistance spans the whole state and includes the entire spectrum of those in need including women, children, men and the elderly.
Roadrunner Food Bank will be the sole beneficiary of this distinctive promotion. Melody Wattenbarger, president and CEO of Roadrunner Food Bank said, “Partnerships like this one help us extend our ability to reach more of our hungry neighbors. As one of the hungriest states in the country, every dollar we raise helps in our mission to end hunger. The funds raised over the length of this unique promotion will help us provide about 75,000 meals. Thank you, St. Clair, for this wonderful opportunity to raise funds and also remind people about the issue of hunger in New Mexico.”
To introduce the promotion, St. Clair Winery & Bistro will host a Release Party at both their Albuquerque and Farmington locations. Attendees will be asked to donate $5 to the Food Bank which will include a glass of the St. Clair 2012 Bistro Red poured from the barrel.
Media are invited to attend the kickoff event at noon on Wednesday, March 23 to learn more about the partnership.
Each of the St. Clair Winery & Bistro locations in Albuquerque, Farmington and Las Cruces will have the Bistro Red wine available for purchase. Other New Mexico retail locations such as Albertson’s, Smith’s, Walgreens; and others who are contributing partners to Roadrunner Food Bank; will also stock and sell the uniquely labeled wine.
For details about volunteering or giving to the Food Bank, visit www.rrfb.org or call 505.247.2052.
through the sweet, aromatic flavors of a honey glazed ham.
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