Poaching Chicken for Elegant Dishes

Poaching Chicken ©M-J de Mesterton

Add water and the flavouring of your choice to boneless chicken breasts. Simmer for forty minutes, cool and freeze for future use, or slice and use with sauce or gravy, perhaps made with the same poaching-liquid in which you cooked the chicken. I will return at the next opportunity with an original recipe or two, employing poached chicken breast meat. ~~M-J de Mesterton

Elegant Côtes du Rhône Wine

Parallèle "45", a Reliable Red Wine from France

Elegant Wines at Wal-Mart, Perfect for the Holiday Season

Oak Leaf Vineyards: Elegant Survival Wine at $2.97

Oak Leaf Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon

The French drink their local wines for a couple of euros per bottle. Now, Californians can drink excellent wines by award-winning Oak Leaf Vineyards for $1.97 a bottle, and the rest of America is able to buy them for $2.97, providing they can shop at the right store.

At the prestigious Florida State International Wine Competition in the spring of 2008, a new brand, Oak Leaf Vineyards from California, won gold. With 84 wineries competing in the Chardonnay category, only four received gold medals, and among them Oak Leaf was the biggest bargain by far, at $1.97 suggested retail price in California and $2.97 in most other states.“With the economy slowing and as we move into tax season where dollars are tighter, finding value in the wine aisle is ever more important,” said Mario Pulido, winemaker for Oak Leaf Vineyards. Oak Leaf Vineyards provides very high quality wine at extremely good prices. Available in five varietals — Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio/Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and White Zinfandel — Oak Leaf Vineyards wines have the qualities of wines costing three times the modest price. The traditional label highlights four seasonal oak trees.

“Our first awards — Gold and Bronze at the 2008 Florida State Fair International Wine Competition and Silver and Bronze at the 2008 San Francisco Wine Competition show our approach — ‘easy to drink with plenty of flavor’ — is a winning one. With the money you save on wine, your family can enjoy those little extra things in life,” continued Pulido.

Oak Leaf Vineyard wines are available nationally at Wal-Mart superstores that are licensed to sell wine.

Extreme Value Wines Mean what they Say

Never in the 6,000-year history of wine has there been the choice, the quality, and more than anything, the values, available to the American wine consumer. With 100,000 labels in the market, that consumer can now find what he (and more likely she) wants at prices less than $2.00 a bottle. Amid new concerns about the current economic climate, everyone wants their dollars to go farther. Oak Leaf Vineyards is part of the new set of extreme value wines that are easy to drink, flavorful and over-deliver for a modest price.

~~Elegant Survival Wine Recommendations

Article on Wal-Mart’s Oak Leaf Vineyards Wines, in the Dallas Morning News

An Elegant, Low-Cost Wine for Parties

Photo copyright M-J de Mesterton 2008–click image for close-up.

Penascal Tempranillo Red Wine, 2005
Wine of Spain

Usually available in the U.S. for 5.99 per bottle. Tempranillo is the emblematic Spanish grape, and these are grown in the Castillo y León region of northern Spain. Hints of cherry, blackberry, and strong minerality combined with spicy leather and pepper notes make this a full-bodied red wine, yet it is not heavy on the palate. Its tannins are smooth, with a hint of oak. In 2005 and 2006, we served Penascal Tempranillo Red Wine 2003. It was always popular with our guests, and so is Penascal Tempranillo 2005. With the price of nearly everything going up, you need to have a good wine (and a good whine), at a low price. A good, low-priced wine from Spain comes in handy when you are hosting a party and need to purchase a case.

Copyright M-J de Mesterton

An Elegant, Low-Cost Wine for Parties

Photo copyright M-J de Mesterton 2008–click image for close-up.

Penascal Tempranillo Red Wine, 2005
Wine of Spain

Usually available in the U.S. for 5.99 per bottle. Tempranillo is the emblematic Spanish grape, and these are grown in the Castillo y León region of northern Spain. Hints of cherry, blackberry, and strong minerality combined with spicy leather and pepper notes make this a full-bodied red wine, yet it is not heavy on the palate. Its tannins are smooth, with a hint of oak. In 2005 and 2006, we served Penascal Tempranillo Red Wine 2003. It was always popular with our guests, and so is Penascal Tempranillo 2005. With the price of nearly everything going up, you need to have a good wine (and a good whine), at a low price. A good, low-priced wine from Spain comes in handy when you are hosting a party and need to purchase a case.

Courtesy of M-J de Mesterton

An Elegant, Low-Cost Wine for Parties

Photo copyright M-J de Mesterton 2008–click image for close-up.

Penascal Tempranillo Red Wine, 2005
Wine of Spain

Usually available in the U.S. for 5.99 per bottle. Tempranillo is the emblematic Spanish grape, and these are grown in the Castillo y León region of northern Spain. Hints of cherry, blackberry, and strong minerality combined with spicy leather and pepper notes make this a full-bodied red wine, yet it is not heavy on the palate. Its tannins are smooth, with a hint of oak. In 2005 and 2006, we served Penascal Tempranillo Red Wine 2003. It was always popular with our guests, and so is Penascal Tempranillo 2005. With the price of nearly everything going up, you need to have a good wine (and a good whine), at a low price. A good, low-priced wine from Spain comes in handy when you are hosting a party and need to purchase a case.