Just landed and available today, our exclusive 2009 zin-FAN-del from California. This zesty Zinfandel bursts with generous aromas and flavors. The nose exudes raspberry, black cherry, and plum mixed with pepper, anise, mint and a little cedar. The mouth is filled with bright jammy flavors of cranberry, cherry and cassis followed by a sweet vanilla chaser. Ripe tannins and firm acidity focus the palate and provide a long peppery finish. FAN-tastic.

The wine is available today from your local Traveling Vineyard Consultant or for try it for FREE at an in-home wine tasting. Don’t have a Traveling Vineyard consultant? Contact us today at support@travelingvineyard.com and we’ll hook you up with someone in your area.

The leaves are changing, the weather is getting cooler and that means it is time for some fun fall recipes. Over on our Facebook Fan Friday, everyone sent in some of their favorite fall recipes.

Winner - Nicole G.

Cranberry Glazed Pork Roast:
Ingredients
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon pepper
* 1 boneless rolled pork loin roast (3 pounds)
* 1 cup jellied cranberry sauce
* 1/2 cup orange juice
* 1/4 cup packed brown sugar

Directions
* Combine salt and pepper; rub over the roast. Place roast, fat side up, on a rack in a greased roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1-1/2 hours.
* Meanwhile, combine the cranberry sauce, orange juice and brown sugar in a saucepan; cook over medium heat until cranberry sauce is melted. Brush a fourth over the roast.
* Bake 30 minutes longer; brush with another fourth of the glaze. Return to the oven for 15 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 160°. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing. Warm remaining glaze; serve with roast.

Honorable Mentions

Grilled Belgian Endive and Blue Cheese Gratinée

6 heads Belgian endive, each cut lengthwise into 5 slices
4 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
6 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped

preheat broiler. Place endive in single layer on baking sheet. Brush endive with 4 tablespoons oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until crisp-tender, about 1 minute per side. Return to baking sheet. Sprinkle with cheese. Broil until cheese melts and bubbles, about 2 minutes. Transfer to platter. Drizzle with 1/2 tablespoon oil and vinegar.
- Tiffany G.

Fiesta Nacho Cheese Soup
Cream of Chicken Soup
Rotel
Shredded Chicken.

Put in a crockpot and cook all day, top with Corn Chips! Makes and amazing Chicken Tortilla soup!!!
- Kari M.

Fall S’mores
A bunch of family.
Many friends.
One bonfire.
Lots of marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers.
Plenty of Applecider to share.
Background music.
Crisp Autumn air.
Lots of laughs and plenty of love.
- Andrea W.

Soup. Just soup. Any soup!

Chowder, chili, navy bean…I’m just not picky, know what I mean?

Cut crusty bread, and fill up my bowl, fill my glass up with wine, and “Ahhh!” says my soul!
- Kelly L.

Sounds delicous! Make sure to head over to our Facebook Fan Friday Contest Page to enter this week’s contest.

This month we are pairing wine with our favorite fall activities and recipes

Apple Picking, Hayrides & Wine – Oh My!

What’s better than warming up after a crisp day at your favorite apple orchard and experimenting with your favorite fall recipes and a cozy glass of wine.

Roasted Sweet Potato & Apple Soup

• 3 lbs sweet potatoes
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 1 onion
• 2 apples
• salt & black pepper
• pinch of cinnamon

Directions:

• Heat oven to 400° F.
• Prick the potatoes with a fork, place on baking sheet, and roast until tender 40-45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large Saucepan over med-high heat. Add onion, celery and apples (peeled & chopped) & cook stirring until soft for 10-12 minutes
• Halve the potatoes; scoop out the flesh and add to saucepan. Add 6 cups water, 2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Cook until heated through, 8 to 10 minutes
• Puree the soup in the saucepan using a handheld immersion blender (or, working in batches, a standard blender). Add water, if necessary, to reach the desired consistency

Recipe Courtesy of:
Sara Quessenberry, October 2008 RealSimple.com

This recipe pairs nicely with our new Zeffer Hills California Chardonnay - carefully blended with the fruit from several regions to give an ideal Chardonnay character - pippin apples, guava, pineapples and hints of sweet oak.

If you would rather put your feet up, then simply enjoy your apple loot with your favorite dips, spreads & cheeses—no cooking required! Cut apples into wedges & pair with your favorite dips of choice:

• Chunky Peanut Butter
• Zesty Cheese Spread
• Sweet Pumpkin Butter
• Chocolate Dessert Hummus
• Gooey caramel sauce
• Sprinkles of cinnamon, sugar & local honey

Are You Ready for Some Football?

Why not pair your favorite wine with the finger lickin’ good grub that comes with football season! Our Tanglerose Backyard Red is an incredible blend of Sangiovese and Primitivo with small portions of Barbera and Merlot. This wine is a linebacker that can stand up to the spicy, rich flavors of your favorite football food.

ULTIMATE GAME DAY CHILI

• 1 lb extra-lean ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 cans (15 ounces each) kidney beans, rinsed & drained
• 2 cans (8 ounces each) diced tomatoes
• 2 cans (10.75 ounces each) chicken broth
• Salt & Pepper
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon red pepper
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 ounce dark chocolate

In a nonstick skillet, brown the beef over medium-high heat. Remove it with a slotted spoon and set it aside, leaving some of the fat in the skillet. Saute the onion and garlic in the fat until soft, about 6 minutes.

In a large stockpot, combine the browned beef, sauteed onion and garlic, beans, tomatoes, broth, salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, red pepper, cinnamon, and chocolate. Simmer on low heat for 1 hour.

Recipe courtesy of:
Women’s Health

Over on our Facebook Fan Friday, we asked “If you could pick anyone in the world to share a bottle of wine with (past or present), who would it be?” The responses were as diverse as varietals of wine. Some where sentimental, some were of celebrities, and some were icons. Below are some of the standouts…

Winner - Nicole

“My Great Grandma, Noni. She was a 100% Italian and had pasta dinners for the whole family every Sunday night. Food and wine were had by all. She was a very loved Noni, missed everyday.”

Honorable Mentions

“Dave Matthews. He is a wonderful artist (singer) and I would love to sit and drink a bottle of wine with him.” - Megan

“Walt Disney” - Holly F.

“Julia Child” - Yassamin H.

“Anne Boleyn, King Henrys 8th Wife” - Chelsea H.

“Marilyn Monroe” - Gennifer B. & James B.

Great Work Everyone! Check out our Fan Friday page on our Facebook page to enter this week’s contest. We are getting hungry just thinking about it.

We here at the Traveling Vineyard are proud to introduce our newest wine, the 2008 Zeffer Hills, Chardonnay from California. From premiere vineyards in the Central Coast regions of California. now famous for producing world-class Chardonnays, we have carefully blended the fruit from several regions to give an ideal Chardonnay character - pippin apples, guava, pineapples and hints of sweet oak. Much more than the sum of its parts. Retail price of the wine is an affordable $14.99. If you are interested in this wine or any others from The Traveling Vineyard, please contact your local Traveling Vineyard consultant or contact us at support@travelingvineyard.com and we will hook you up with a consultant.

After a short summer vacation, the Fissata (ITA685 - $17.99) is back in stock. Pretty in pink. Frizzante is the word for this lightly sparkling wine. Fissata is the word for the feeling you’ll get from this wine - like you want to tell all your friends about it! Crafted from a spectacular blend of three indigenous Italian grapes, it delivers a nose of musky roses, a mouth full of sweet red fruits and a gentle effervescence that keeps you coming back for more. If you are interested in this wine or any others from The Traveling Vineyard, please contact your local Traveling Vineyard consultant or contact us at support@travelingvineyard.com and we will hook you up with a consultant.

Lots of great responses for our Fan Friday question of the week. We asked, ‘What is the Most Memorable Place you’ve enjoyed a glass (or bottle) of wine?’. The responses ranged from enjoying the simpler things in life to trips half around the world.

Winner - Kellie W.

“A couple years ago I studied abroad in Italy. My mom and aunt came to italy to celebrate my birthday and we were spending a few days at a vineyard in Tuscany. On my birthday we sat out on the patio and had a wonderful dinner, and bottle (or two) of vino. The sun was setting over the vineyard and it was the perfect evening!”

Honorable Mentions

“I surprised my dad for his birthday in Lone Tree, Colorado - we enjoyed a little bit more than one bottle! We stayed up all night sipping and listening to oldies from country music classics to Dean Martin. It was a fabulous night! He sadly passed away a few months later, but I couldn’t have asked for a more special memory!” - Kelly

“The deck of the MS Radamis, Aswan Dam, Egypt!” - Savannah B.

“About 7 miles away, on my girlfriend of 20+ years patio..her and her husband are the best and enjoying a bottle of wine with them makes me feel like I’m at an exotic resort as they make the venture of drinking, so relaxing.” - Tammy M.

“On the wine and cheese train in Strasburg, PA for my hubby’s and I’s 10 anniversary this year.” - Stacey M.

“The most memorable place I enjoyed a glass of wine was on a sail boat cruising around Lake Chiemsee in Bavaria. The sun was out, the kids skin-surfed behind the boat and I enjoyed al lovley Austrian Velvetiner on the gently rocking boat! A great day.” - Regina A.

“A state park just off the New River after a six hour raft trip” - Curtis B.

“A little fondue restaurant in the foothills near Colorado Springs. A different wine with every course and the best dessert wine with the chocolate fondue!” - Traci M.

Home Office

“Sitting at Green’s Restaurant in San Francisco, on the 2nd night of my honeymoon enjoying a Napa Cab as the sun set over the Golden Gate Bridge with about 20 seals in the foreground.” - Tim

Check out our Facebook page for a new question and a chance to win a great Traveling Vineyard accessory.

This week for Fan Friday, we asked what is your perfect date. As usual, we had really great answers. From outdoor concerts to grilling steaks with your wife, you guys really know a good date night.

Winner - Walt T.

After traveling all week, my wife and I have a ritual Friday night: Barbecue a steak and baked potato with a top Cabernet Sauvignon from California. We have doing this for 27 years, so I guess it works!

Honorable Mentions

“A heated game of scrabble while sipping on a nice bottle of wine.” - Coranita Turner

“Relaxing over a dinner grilled on the BBQ, with a great bottle of Montepulciano. Then, starting a pit fire and laying out over the stars drinking more wine.” - TK H.

“My love and I sitting on our back deck overlooking the lake just sipping on the perfect wine!” - Brenda G.

“With my besties on the patio with buckets of chilled (wine) no kids husband or boyfriends just chattin about nothing ” - Angela M.

Home Office

“At night up at Cranes Castle to see an outdoor concert, the views are amazing and the smell of the ocean makes for a perfect setting at the end of a summer day. A glass of wine, a loaf of good bread with cheese and some fruit.” - Sheryl

“My favorite date night is a delicious dinner at a favorite restaurant - then my husband & I will come home, open a bottle of wine, play Van Morrison & dance on the kitchen floor. Those are the best nights!” - Christine

Make sure to check out this week’s questions over on our Fan Friday Facebook page.