We are looking forward to helping you with your wine and cheese making needs this year, and for many years to come! We also want to help you with your New Year's Resolutions - make this year the time to RECYCLE, and make it fun!
One of the best ways is to recycle wine bottles by refilling them with your own homemade wine! Rinse bottles as soon as they are empty with plain water - skip soap or any detergents - and let dry upside-down. You will want to remove any foils from the top and take off labels - the Labelnator is an efficient, effective way to remove labels. Soak your bottles at least 15 minutes to soften the paper, then scrape the label off with the Labelnator. Then store your bottles upside-down in case boxes until you are ready to bring them to Curds and Wine to fill with your homemade wine. We will sanitize the bottles just before you start bottling.
Oak alternatives such as oak cubes, chips, or staves can also be recycled - you can use these on your grill for smoking meats or vegetables. Cubes are easier to reuse than oak chips, although those can be wrapped in a foil packet for smoking on the grill. You can even recycle your wine: if you don't finish it, or have wine that just isn't that great, turn it into vinegar. We carry several types of Mother of Vinegar complete with instructions to make your own homemade vinegar, as well as wide-mouth gallon jars to make it in.
There are also many ways to incorporate recycling into your cheesemaking. Cheesecloth can be reused many, many times. Just soak in cool water and wash with a little bit of soap and rinse well with more cold water. Hang to air dry, then boil before using again. You can even throw your used, lightly rinsed cheesecloth into the laundry! You can also reuse cheese wax. Save it after consuming your cheeses (even store-bought), then melt it down and strain it through coarse cheesecloth to reuse.
Leftover whey can be used many ways, too. Most whey can be processed to make ricotta, so you get 2 cheeses out of one batch. Whey is also great to use in soups & bread, or just drink for minerals & nutrients. Alternatively, add to compost or directly water plants with it for added nutrition. You can also use whey for pickling vegetables, an ancient technique. The lactic acid in the whey, as well as a few leftover bacteria, will preserve vegetables and produce a much more mild pickle than using vinegar. Detailed instructions are in Mary Karlin's "Mastering Fermentation," available at Curds and Wine.
Do you have any other recycling ideas related to winemaking or cheesemaking? Post them on our Facebook page!
Curds and Wine will open late at 12 pm on Sunday January 20th - time to put up more label boards!
A Twist on an Old Favorite - Pink Moscato!
Try something new this year! We have a few limited release Pink Moscato kits available. Everything you love about Moscato - lush and fruity with succulent peach and juicy tropical fruit flavors, plus hints of strawberry, raspberry and cherry with a crisp, refreshing finish. Get yours at Curds and Wine for $89.95 - contact us to reserve yours!
RJ Spagnols Restricted Quantity Wines for 2019
RJ Spagnols presents the Four Fugitives Restricted Quantity Wine Kits for 2019 release. Intense, masterful, defiant or smooth—whatever the preference, there’s a tale in every wine. A wine for every tale, and a fugitive for every cellar... four notoriously great ones.
Capture all four of these wines:
Chile Cabernet Merlot Syrah (January 2019) $174.95 - SOLD OUT!
Revel in layer upon layer of surprise in this Chilean Cabernet Merlot Syrah. Enticing hints of smoke and luscious qualities are intricately woven into this wine’s darkly exotic character.
Australia Chardonnay Semillon (February 2019) $154.95
This wine’s balanced, easy-going relationship of subtlety and freshness harmonize with the complexities of its unwitting armour-wielding fugitive.
Italy Nebbiolo (March 2019) $174.95 - SOLD OUT!
A unified transparency and delicate appeal that collaborates well with its robust and hearty counterparts. These are the true markers of both a leader and a great wine!
Spain Monastrell (April 2019) $174.95
Like Navarro’s harrowing wildly juicy tales, this wine will entrance and entice the palate with a voluptuous headiness and earthy appeal that will have your glasses raised!
Contact us to check availability of these wines - limited quantities were ordered, if you did not preorder already they could sell out! If you did preorder January release wines we will contact you when they arrive at Curds and Wine.
Winexpert 2019 Release Limited Edition Wine Kits
Continuing the rich and celebrated tradition of excellence and ingenuity, the Winexpert's Limited Editions for 2019 release collection is a showcase of much-loved varietals and unique standout blends. From bold and sumptuous reds to light, bright, and subtly sweet whites, the Limited Edition collection offers something for every wine lover.
Black Cab (January 2019) $163.95
Lodi, California
Black Cab is an intriguing blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Gamay Noir. Gamay is a light-bodied red wine revevered for its floral aromas and earthiness, with tart red berry and lively acidity. Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied red loaded with black fruits, cherry, black pepper and hints of earth. This balanced blend marries the best of both varietals into an energetic medium-bodied beauty. Ripe and round with vibrant acidity and silky-smooth tannins,expect pronounced cherry and juicy red berry flavors rounded out with notes of cassis, spice, subtle earthy undertones and soft vanilla. Pair with grilled red meats, pizza, black peppercorn tuna, black bean stews or roasted pepper dishes.
Dry | Med. Body | Med. Oak | 12.5% ABV*
Fume Blanc (January 2019) $157.95
Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
Don’t let the name fool you – though ‘Fumé’ means ‘smoke’, don’t expect a smoky white wine. Coined in the 1960s to denote a new and different style of dry, oaked Sauvignon Blanc, the name is derived from Pouilly-Fumé, a popular French appellation that specializes in a similar style wine. Made with lush New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, this mouth-filling wine delivers a rush of ripe tropical fruit on the palate, with complex layers of gooseberry and melon, bright acidity and hints of grassy mineral notes expertly harmonized with a gentle creamy vanilla oak. Pair with goat cheese, seafood platters and chicken or pasta dishes with creamy sauce and spring vegetables.
Dry | Med. Body | Light Oak | 13% ABV*
Corazon (February 2019) $163.95
Curicó Valley, Chile
This wine is a charismatic blend of Carménère, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Pais. Carménère, the signature Chilean grape, delivers jammy raspberry and herbal spice. Cab Franc brings bold cherry, juicy berry and acidity, while Syrah lends intense black fruit flavors and tannin. Pais, widely planted in Chile for centuries but little-known elsewhere, rounds out the blend with rustic red fruit and crisp acidity. This juicy blend is full of expressive black and red berries, surrounded by cherry and tart plum notes in harmony with underlying oak, bright acidity and smooth polished tannins. Pair with rosemary lamb chops, beef skewers, Portobello mushroom burgers and aged cheddar.
Dry | Med.-Full Body | Med. Oak | 13% ABV*
Symphony-Gewurtztraminer (March 2019) $157.95
Symphony is one of California’s hidden gems bringing peach, apple and tropical fruit flavors, it is a natural and perfect complement to Gewürztraminer’s characteristic lychee notes. An aromatic blend with floral and juicy peach aromas, this o‰-dry wine deliciously combines lush tropical and stone fruit fla vours. Crisp and bright with expressive fruit and subtle sweetness, this wine really sings when chilled. A beauty to sip on its own, or a perfect companion to spicy Asian dishes, zesty barbecue or baked ham.Symphony is one of California’s hidden gems bringing peach, apple and tropical fruit fla vours, it is a natural and perfect complement to Gewürztraminer’s characteristic lychee notes. An aromatic blend with floral and juicy peach aromas, this o‰-dry wine deliciously combines lush tropical and stone fruit fla vours. Crisp and bright with expressive fruit and subtle sweetness, this wine really sings when chilled. A beauty to sip on its own, or a perfect companion to spicy Asian dishes, zesty barbecue or baked ham.
Off-dry | Light-Med. Body | No Oak | 12% ABV*
Barbaresco (April 2019) $188.95
Widely regarded as one of Italy’s top wines, the Barbaresco style is undeniably delicious. Made with Nebbiolo, Piedmont’s most respected and most loved red wine grape, this wine exudes intense aromas of juicy cherry combined with toasty oak and spice. The sumptuous palate seduces with cherry and ripe red berries, licorice, baking spice, leather and earthy notes. It boasts balance and structure with firm velvety tannins, a full body and a beautiful long-lasting finish. Pair with grilled or braised meat, mushroom risotto, Ragu Bolognese and mature cheeses.
Dry | Full Body | Med.-Heavy Oak | 14% ABV*
Contact us to check availability - extra orders are limited! If you did preorder January release wines we will contact you when they arrive at Curds and Wine.
Winexpert Limited Edition Apres Dessert Wines
This year Winexpert is offering some tasty Limited Edition sweet wines to enjoy or give as gifts!
Chocolate Raspberry Dessert Wine -- A perennial favorite! Warm cherries and plums are supported by a racy zing of bright raspberry and luscious chocolate. $116.95
Peach Icewine -- A past limited favorite returns! Warm notes of sweet and succulent baked peach, with light honeyed undertones. Don't miss out on this tasty dessert wine, for a limited time only! $119.95
Contact us to reserve yours today - these wines are going quick!
RJ Spagnols Cru Specialty Seasonal Release Dessert Wines
These Dessert Wines bring unique and distinctive wines that are perfect for all your holiday entertaining and gift giving. Cru Specialty has a wine to please every palate! These wines are available exclusively for the holiday season. Start yours today so they are ready for holiday gift-giving!
CREME BRULEE (NEW) This full-bodied dessert wine features aromas of caramel, vanilla pods, and raisins with a subtle toasty character, like that of crème brûlée on the palate. Enjoy an intense mouthfeel that balances this wine’s decadent aromas. Pairs well with crème brûlée, fruit tart, and apple pie. $116.95
RASPBERRY MOCHA This ruby red wine is a must for any dessert lover. Aromas of dark chocolate and coffee blended with ripe juicy raspberry jam draw you in. Sweet on the palate with nuances of cocoa powder and coffee balances perfectly with hints of tangy acidity from the raspberry. The perfect wine to indulge in this holiday season. $116.95
BLACK FOREST Bursting with rich aromas of red and dark cherry, this full-flavored Port style also has a hint of dark chocolate fused with plum and toasted oak on the nose. Rich and sweet on the palate with an enjoyable warm finish, this dessert in a bottle is an irresistible complement to your holiday festivities. $116.95
TOASTED CARAMEL Intensely creamy and pleasantly sweet, this full-bodied red wine combines a rich caramel aroma with the robust flavors of red fruit. The buttery caramel notes give this wine a roundness and texture on the palate that is perfectly balanced with rich toasted notes on the finish. $116.95
COFFEE Energize your senses with this comforting flavor experience! Dating back to the 15th century, coffee has been enjoyed worldwide as an invigorating elixir. Typical of medium roast coffee, aromas of toffee, burnt marshmallow and chocolate will entice you and follow through to a palate which finishes with lingering notes of vanilla. Our Coffee Dessert Wine is a wonderful end to any meal, paired with dessert or enjoyed on its own. $116.95
Contact us to check availability of these RJ Spagnols Holiday Dessert Wine Kits
