Category: <span>SIP</span>
Moules-Frites + Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay
Having recently started to plan a trip to Belgium, I was excited to see one of the country's famed dishes suggested as a Valentines Day meal! Moules-frites, mussels cooked or steamed with onions and celery served with fries, sounds like a great alternative to a traditional romantic meal. So forget the chocolate and fondue, serve up your delicious dish with a glass of Chardonnay and you have a winning dinner over which to celebrate the day of L.O.V.E. Thank you to SIP Certified Kendall-Jackson for the inspiring recipe. [Read more...]
Database Maintenance on Feb. 5
Starting February 5 at 9:00 pm PST through 4:00 am February 6, the SIP database will undergo some proactive upgrades of core routers that will significantly improve your experience. During this maintenance, you may experience short periods of latency lasting 2-10 minutes, or packet loss lasting up to 1 minute while traffic is rerouted and hardware is replaced and tested. [Read more...]
Earth Day Food & Wine Weekend
Celebrating with Farmers, Chefs, and Winemakers grown for the greater good ~ april 17-19, 2015 ~ california's central coast It’s been 9 years since our first Earth Day Food & Wine event. A few people teased us, others were perplexed. Many asked, what does Earth Day have to do with food and wine? It’s our core belief that there’s nothing more earthy than a farmer. Our little party has evolved to be one of the premiere events of the season and continues to gain momentum from eaters, farmers, chefs and winemakers alike. This event reflects our... [Read more...]
Falconry Beyond the Renaissance Faire
Thought Renaissance Faires were the only place to see falconry in action? Well, falcons are use in agriculture as a means of sustainable pest control. As winegrapes ripen, birds like Starlings and finches come out for the feast. SIP Certified Laetitia Vineyard & Winery has been utilizing these natural predators in their vineyards. Read all about it on their blog. And now you have a cool piece of trivia to share at the next cocktail party! [Read more...]
Happy 4th of July from SIP
The 4th of July gives each of us something different to celebrate. Here at SIP we are celebrating the many farmers committed to protecting both natural and human resources. The comprehensive rules for SIP Certification (known as Standards) address many interrelated elements of the whole farm system. Habitat conservation, energy efficiency, pest management, water conservation, economic stability, and human resources are some of the key elements of the program. In order to qualify for certification, farmers must have their practices verified through in-depth records and on-site audits by accredited independent inspectors. The farmers and wineries... [Read more...]
Szechuan Spicy Fish & Carmel Road Riesling
Lately I have been exploring Asian cuisine with the help of a friendly expert who provided this recipe! This is a great dish with a completely different flavor profile from what I typically cook. It is pretty simple but it will require a trip to an Asian market for a couple ingredients. Try pairing the Szechuan Spicy Fish with a Carmel Road Riesling. Szechuan Spicy Fish For the Fish: 2 fillets of cat fish, about 1 lb., cut into slices 1 small Napa cabbage, cut into pieces For the marinade: 1 tbsp cornstarch ½ tsp... [Read more...]
Mulled Wine
Tis' the season for holiday drinks and what better than mulled wine to warm you up on a chilly evening! Thanks to Laura at Riverbench Vineyard & Winery for this recipe. Mulled Wine 2 tsp. allspice 1 cinnamon stick 8 whole cloves 2 strips orange rind 1/3 cup sugar ¼ cup bourbon 1 bottle dry red wine Juice of half an orange Mix all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Simmer lightly for 20-30 minutes, then strain and serve. Anything left over can be stored in the fridge. [Read more...]
Pumpkin Pasta with Riverbench Pinot Noir
Another delicious recipe from the Riverbench Vineyard & Winery blog. Grab a bottle of their 2011 Estate Pinot enjoy this fall inspired dish. Pumpkin Pasta with 2011 Estate Pinot Noir Fall means it’s time for anything pumpkin! This pasta is easy to make and absolutely delicious. And bacon makes everything better. • 8 ounces fettucine • 3 slices of bacon, chopped • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 3 tbsp. chopped fresh sage • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree • ¼ cup white wine • ¾ cup parmesan cheese, grated • Salt • Pepper • 1... [Read more...]
Leg of Lamb with Riverbench Vineyard & Winery Tributary Pinot Noir
We can always count on Riverbench Vineyard & Winery to offer up some delicious recipe to pair with one of their many excellent wines! Enjoy. Leg of Lamb with Tributary Pinot Noir This wine deserves something a little special. Or, a lot special. This leg of lamb is slow roasted and absolutely delicious with the Pinot, which is stellar right now. A simple coating of mustard and herbs makes it extra flavorful. • 2 tbsp. minced fresh thyme • ¼ tsp. ground bay leaves • 1 minced garlic clove • 1/3 cup Dijon mustard •... [Read more...]
Wineries Share their Sustainability through VinTank
VinTank, the wine industry’s leading think tank for managing marketing information, has recently added the option for wineries to identify their wines as SIP™ Certified sustainable. Representing “Sustainability in Practice,” this rigorous third-party certification program was launched in 2008 as a way for farmers and wineries to verify their dedication to sustainable farming methods and be able to translate that commitment to consumers. The VinTank designation offers an influential new angle with which to leverage the marketing power of SIP Certification. “As consumers become more sophisticated and conscientious about their wines we felt it was... [Read more...]