Sean Minor Wines was very proud to learn they earned two spots on the Wine & Spirits Restaurant Top 50 list, published in April. In this 24th annual poll of favorite wines served in restaurants, Sean Minor ranked No. 30. 

Wine & Spirits asked restaurateurs several questions about diners’ wine preferences and requested that they list their top-selling bottles and wines by the glass. They received 216 Zagat-rated eatery responses. 

"It's touted in the industry as the barometer for having success in the restaurant scene," Minor says. "Our focus on serving restaurants has been key for us, so that's why we're so excited. It's been our No. 1 objective since the get-go to be a nationally recognized by-the-glass player." 

For the listing of most popular pinot noirs, Sean Minor Wines earned the place of No. 17 tied with their 4 Bears Central Coast Pinot Noir and Sean Minor Carneros Pinot Noir.

Sean Minor wines is headquartered in Sacramento, CA, with accounts in 43 states.  They source their grapes mostly from Napa, Sonoma, and California’s central coast.  Sean Minor also releases wines under the name Four Bears Wines, which attracts a value-minded crowd.  Offering fine wines at a good value is a great recipe for success:  All of the wines retail at less than $20.

"We're focused on getting the biggest bang for the buck and exceeding expectations," Minor said. "It forces you to be conscious of who's buying by the glass. It's from the novice consumer all the way up to someone with a trained palate, and you have to entertain everyone in between.”

We love animals. Meet Posey, the newest member of our family. She joins the rank of winery dogs with our adopted golden retriever, Bodie. He's still not too sure what to think of her, but he is adjusting!

Update: Bodie may not be adjusting as well as we thought. Just after posting this blog, Nicole discovered Bodie outside "playing" with the new puppy's toy! And by playing, we mean destroying! Posey chews on Bodie's face and Bodie steals her toys. This could get interesting.

I was sorry to hear of the passing of Ed King, Jr. a few days ago. I was inspired by his entrepreneurial spirit during my time at King Estate Winery. He had a truly fascinating life from his humble beginnings in Kansas to establishing an icon in the wine industry. Our thoughts are with the King family during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Mr. King.

We are very excited to announce we are partnering with SacTown Dining Collective for their kick off event, scheduled for June 7th at Plates Cafe & Catering in Sacramento. Celebrate local with the SacTown Dining Collective chefs and restaurateurs! Interact with SDC members while you enjoy appetizers prepared by Chef Adam Pechal of Tuli Bistro and Restaurant Thir13en, Chef David Hill of The Chef's Table, Chef Michael Thiemann of Ella Dining Room and Bar, Chef Patrick Mulvaney of Mulvaney's Building & Loan, Chef Bill Ngo of Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine, Chef Mike Fagnoni of Hawks Restaurant, and Chef Oliver Ridgeway of Grange! Additional partners include Feeding Crane Farms and Passmore Ranch.

Deer Antler Wine Rack made by Tom Savage, of International Cellars in VA.

Today is National Peanut Butter Day! I didn't even realize the nutty spread had it's own day until about an hour ago. I'm nuts for Peanut Butter! My favorite thing to feed our kids in the morning is waffles with peanut butter.  Even our dog, Bodie, loves peanut butter...

So, I started thinking about Peanut Butter and wine pairings. I generally go for a riesling or Gewurtraminer with spicy Thai food, which so often includes peanuts. Then I started looking at recipes. Besides the standard PB&J and PB and Waffles, I suspected there may be some other interesting PB pairings.

Looking through countless peanut butter recipes, including African Peanut Butter Soup, I recalled a burger I had some time ago at Samuel Horne's Tavern in Folsom, CA. It sounded crazy, was named the Nutcase and included peanut butter, thick cut applewood smoked bacon, a thick slice of white onion, a juicy delicious burger, and melted jack cheese. I had to try it and it was worth every calorie and clogged artery. Holy smokes, bacon AND peanut butter? Delicious.

Somehow my quest for PB (and now apparently bacon) brought me to this Papawow blog post from 2009. This could be the most perfect sandwich ever created - A BLT with Peanut Butter. The author, Dave Koch, states when he was a kid "peanut butter was the condiment of choice" on BLT's - what a lucky kid! Knowing how much I loved the Nutcase burger, I have to agree this could be the most amazing BLT in the history of BLT's. But you should read his tips for making this sandwich before trying it!

I am going to try this as soon as I can. I plan to pair it with our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. I think the smooth richness and soft tannins, will compliment this epic sandwich perfectly.

Be sure to check out Papwow for their humorous blog on food with delicious recipes and mouth watering  pictures:

And if you're in the neighborhood of Old Folsom, check out Sam Horne's.

Cheers! 

Why do I always find these posts at lunch time? These look delicious. I love corn dogs, reminds me of the State Fair.

Check out Rampant Cuisine's recipe and blog on home made mini corn dogs, with spicy mustard. According to the authors' Facebook page, they are "Enthusiasts at everything, experts at nothing. By day, Nathan and Katryn are professional designers but by night they are amateur brewers, wine makers, photographers, and cooks – Nathan and Katryn are passionate about cooking great food, and drinking it with the perfect beverage."

It's a really cool blog because it's genuine, real people talking about their experiences with things they are passionate about. Be sure to check it out and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter: 

It must be lunch time, because this picture made my mouth water!

Browsing my daily news feeds this picture caught my eye from an article in The Charleston City Paper online and I clicked through to read more. According to author Eric Doksa, Vino Burgerz, Mt. Pleasant, SC, pairs each of their delectable burgers with a certain style of wine and beer, not specific vintages or brands. As I was salivating at the description of each burger, I was pleasantly surprised to find this:

"This vegetarian-friendly burger was fresh and full of flavor, but the pairing with Sean Minor Sauvignon Blanc made it even better. The Sean Minor was not too sweet, showcasing subtle flavors of melon and pear, with a bit of effervescence. A perfect complement to the earthy, yet sweet portobello."

Anyway, don't take my word for it - read the review! And if you are in the Charleston area be sure to stop in and try one of the Vino Burgerz and let us know what you think. We hear they are the best in town.

Vino Burgerz
1039 Highway 41 Suite 200
Mt. Pleasant, SC
843.881.3155
http://vinoburgerz.com/

Also, be sure to check out Wine Awhile, located next door. Both places are locally owned and operated (like us!) by Rebecca and Anthony Pugh. Like them on Facebook and connect on Twitter!

Which reminds me, if you didn't see this on our Facebook page the other day, check it out - The 3/50 Project. I learned about this initiative during my South Dakota trip a couple weeks ago. I have always taken pride with our family/independent business working with other family/independent businesses. This just emphasizes the importance of patronage to locally owned businesses. Check it out; everyone’s effort will go a long way. Cheers!