Ledger David Cellars – Vineyard and Winery in Southern Oregon

Ledger David Cellars Invited to Pour First Vintage 2011 Malbec on the Britt Hill

Posted on

SONY DSCBy Regina Vaccari

Britt Festival goers now have another new reason to visit the Britt Hill in Jacksonville this season. As if a new Britt Classical conductor and a new performance garden isn’t enough – there’s now a new wine on the summer line up.

The request to pour Ledger David wine on the hill came from Britt organizers this past spring and Ledger David was honored to heed the call.

“As a southern Oregon native, I’ve grown up with the Britt. It’s exciting to be able to partner with this organization now as a local business owner,” says Lena Varner.

Ledger David Cellars will be pouring its first-vintage 2011 Malbec alongside just a handful of other reputable southern Oregon wineries. Folin Cellars and Quady North will join Ledger David in the red wine category. EdenVale, Valley View and Wooldridge Creek will offer wines in the white wine category.

According to event planners, concession sales derived from food and wine sold on the Britt Hill help sustain the annual music festival.

“We are just a small part of keeping this organization alive – but it means a lot knowing that our kids will share in the same unique cultural experience that I’ve enjoyed since I was a child.”

The 2011 Malbec makes its official public debut over Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-26 at Le Petit Tasting Room. The Britt Festivals 2014 concert series starts in June – official ticket sales begin on May 16. For more information, visit www.brittfest.org.

 

Pan Roasted Chicken with Sweet Sausage and Peppers

Posted on


By Robert Trottmann

This recipe makes an amazing pairing for the 2011 Sangiovese. It looks a bit complicated, but it isn’t.  It does require spending time in your kitchen though, tending to the Soffritto, brining the chicken and roasting the peppers.  It is a relaxing dish to make and is a great way to enjoy a glass of wine while visiting with family or friends while you fill your home with fantastic smells.  While you don’t have to brine the chicken, the effect of doing so really enhances the dish.   Once you start brining, you’ll be hooked.  It is simple to do and does wonderful things to your poultry, fish and other meats.

The Soffritto will be the newest trick in your arsenal of awesome food tricks and you’ll want to have some around to use all the time.

I encourage you to take this one on. The results are worth the effort and the Sangiovese will thank you!

Enjoy,

Robert

Pan Roasted Chicken with Sweet Sausage and Peppers

Paired with 2011 Ledger David Cellars Sangiovese

Ingredients

Two 2-1/2 to 3 Lb. Chickens

Chicken Brine (See below)

Canola Oil

3 Sweet Italian Sausages (Taylor’s from Cave Junction is perfect)

Pepperonata Rustica (see below)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Fleur de sel

¼ Cup Flat Parsley

Cut chicken into 8 pieces (2 legs, 2 thighs, 2 breast halves, & 2 wings).  Pour brine (See brine recipe below) into a container large enough to hold the chickens, add the chicken and refrigerate no longer than 12 hours (no longer or the chicken will be too salty).

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Remove the chicken from the brine (discard the brine) and rinse the chicken under cold water and remove any herbs or spices sticking to the skin.  Pat dry the chicken or let air dry.  Season the chicken with salt and pepper.

Heat some canola oil in a large ovenproof sauté pan or Dutch oven over medium heat until hot. Add the chicken thighs and drumsticks and cook for three minutes.  Add the sausage and cook until the chicken is golden brown and the sausage is browned and crisp.  10-12 minutes (it won’t be fully cooked); once the chicken is browned, turn the pieces over and sear the other side for 1 minute.  Transfer the individual chicken pieces and the sausages to a plate as they are ready.

Season the chicken breasts and wings with salt and pepper, place skin-side down in the sauté pan and cook until the skin is crisp and golden and the chicken is almost done.  About 8 minutes.  Transfer to a plate.

Drain any remaining oil from the pan and return to the heat.  Add the Pepperonata to the pan, bring to a simmer and add the chicken tucking it into the peppers.  Cut the sausages in half and nestle them into the pan.  Transfer to the oven and cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes.

Drizzle the chicken with olive oil, and sprinkle with fleur de sel, top with the parsley leaves and serve directly from the pan.

The Pepperonata Rustica

Ingredients

6 Yellow Bell Peppers

6 Red Bell Peppers

Canola Oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

8 ounces Anaheim or other mildly warm peppers, drained, peeled and seeded.

1-1/2 cup Soffritto (see below)

1-1/2 Chicken or Vegetable stock

¾ Teaspoon chipotle chili powder

1 Tablespoon minced chives

Preheat the oven to 375 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper (it makes clean up a breeze).

Cut the bell peppers lengthwise in half and remove the stems and seeds.  Toss the peppers with oil to coat and salt and pepper to taste.  Arrange the peppers cut side down on the baking sheets, the red peppers on one and the yellow on the other.

Roast the peppers until the skin is blistering, 30-35 minutes for the red and 35-40 for the yellow, do not allow the edges to blacken.  Transfer the peppers to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container with a lid.

When the peppers are cool enough to handle, peel them.  Tear them lengthwise into strips about ¾” wide.  Tear the Anaheim’s the same way.  Combine all the peppers, the Soffritto, stock and chipotle in a medium sauce pan over medium heat, season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Cook for 30 minutes to soften the peppers completely and meld the flavors.  Transfer to a bowl or platter and sprinkle with the chives.

The Soffritto

Ingredients

3 cups finely diced yellow or Spanish onions

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

Kosher salt

16 ounces seeded and diced plum tomatoes (I use canned tomatoes this time of year)

½ teaspoon minced garlic

Combine all the onions, oil, and a pinch of salt into a 8-9” sauce pan and set over medium heat.  As soon as the oil starts to simmer, reduce the heat to low.  It is important to maintain an even LOW heat. The onions need to stew but slowly caramelize.  Adjust your heat so that the oil bubbles gently. The liquid will become cloudy as the onions release there liquid, but once the water moisture has evaporated the oil will clear.  Cook for about 2-1/2 hours or until the onions are a shade darker than a golden raisin and the oil is perfectly clear.  Check the pan often and scrape any onions that are caramelizing on the edges back into the oil.

Meanwhile make a quick tomato puree.  Halve the tomatoes and scrape out the seeds.  Finely chop the tomatoes and add to the caramelized onions.  Cook for 2-2-1/2 hours longer or until the onions and the tomatoes start to fry in the oil.  The mixture will start to sizzle and small bubbles will cover the entire surface. Gently stir the mixture—the onions and tomatoes will separate from the clear oil.  Turn off the heat and add a pinch of salt and the garlic and let the Soffritto cool.  The Soffritto will keep covered in the refrigerator for a week.  Drain it before using.  The oil can be used to start another Soffritto.

The Chicken Brine

5 Lemons cut in ½

12 Bay Leaves

4 ounces flat parsley

1 bunch thyme

½ cup honey

1 head garlic/ cut each clove in half

¼ cup black pepper corns

2 Cups kosher salt

2 gallons of water

Combine all ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil for 1 minute stirring to dissolve the salt. Remove from the heat and allow to cool, then chill in the refrigerator before using.  NOTE: This is enough brine for 10 lbs. The brine can be kept refrigerated for 3 days.

Ledger David Cellars gains recognition at the 2014 SavorNW Wine Awards

Posted on

logoSNWBy Jeff Kloetzel

The annual SavorNW Wine Awards are designed to showcase Northwest wines and promote awareness of our great Pacific Northwest wine regions. The SavorNW contest is a professional, single-blind judging of wines from all over the Pacific Northwest. Ledger David submitted 6 wines for consideration this year, and over 550 bottles were evaluated at the February 2014 event. “Judges are instructed that any medal in our competition should be an above-average example of Northwest wine making,” said Gary Hayes, Executive Director of the SavorNW Wine Awards. Silver Medals are above-average wines with distinctive character and Gold Medal wines are above-average wines with exceptional character.

Here’s how Ledger David wines fared:SONY DSC

      • Tempranillo ‘10 – Gold Medal
      • Primoris (Chenin Blanc) ‘12 Silver Medal
      • Sauvignon Blanc ‘12 – Silver Medal
      • Chardonnay ‘11 – Silver Medal
      • Sangiovese ‘11 – Silver Medal
      • Cabernet Franc ‘11 – Silver Medal

We’re proud to have received medals on all of our submissions. This marks the first Gold Medal (and fourth medal overall) for our 7-month-old Tempranillo ’10 – and yes, we’re happy with that recognition!

Taste these award-winners and other estate wines at our Le Petit Tasting Room in Central Point (open Oct.-April, Thurs. through Mon., noon-5pm and May-Sept. daily noon-5pm) next to Rogue Creamery and Lillie Belle Farms.  Visit www.ledgerdavid.com for more information on purchasing wines and to find out how you can join the Primoris Wine Club.

Baked Custardy Orzo with Spinach, Bacon and Feta

Posted on

By Robert Trottmann

Ingredients:

Salt to taste
1 cup orzo
12 ounces thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 pounds leeks, white and tender green parts only, thinly sliced
10 ounces baby spinach
8 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
Freshly ground pepper
4 large eggs
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup milk

Directions:

1.  Preheat the oven to 375°. In a large saucepan of salted boiling water, cook the orzo until al dente. Drain and transfer to a medium bowl.

2.   In a large skillet, cook the bacon over moderate heat until browned, 8 minutes. Add the leeks and cook until tender, 8 minutes. Add the leek mixture to the orzo, leaving 1 tablespoon of fat in the skillet. Add the spinach to the skillet and cook until wilted; transfer to a colander and press out the excess liquid. Add the spinach to the orzo, fold in the feta and season with salt and pepper.

3.  In a bowl, whisk the eggs with the yogurt and milk, season with pepper and stir into the orzo. Scrape the mixture into an oiled 12-by-8-inch baking dish and bake for about 45 minutes, until the eggs are set and the top is browned. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Pairs with Ledger David Sauvignon Blanc.

A Whirlwind of a Cheese Monger & Wine Weekend

Posted on

By David Traul

As always, the Oregon Cheese Guild’s Cheesemaker Dinner on March 14th started with a Seriously Great cheese spread. Many of the cheeses were brought to the event by small, artisanal producers from all over Oregon. I enjoyed the Pinot from Willamette Valley Vineyards while mingling with the festive crowd at the historical Ashland Springs Hotel.

(I think Robert probably took 50 photos before dinner — the cheese spread was so amazing!)

SONY DSCNext– on to the four course meal. Kudos to the Chef. The wine and food pairings were exquisite.

It was interesting to hear Cheese Expert (also known as a Maître Fromager aka Cheese Monger) Max McCalman’s insight into the US’s place in the world of cheese and that we are slowly becoming better recognized for our high quality artisan cheeses.

It’s my turn to talk and, as always I’m a bit nervous at such a large event with over 120 attendees – many intensely passionate about food and wine. I spoke briefly about the Ledger David Primoris (Chenin Blanc), Sauvignon Blanc and Tempranillo that were served at the event.  As a tribute to national Pi day, I also posed the question of the significance of the ratio of a wheel of cheese circumference to its diameter, which got a few nods and words of agreement.

Deanna McArdle Eames from Willamette Valley Vineyards gave a heartfelt talk on the quality of the region’s wines and cheeses. Then Robert and I enjoyed the final pairing (lime and thyme-infused Briar Rose ricotta with reduced balsamic paired with WVV’s Muscat-Frizzante´) before we were off to rest. Had to gear up for the farmer’s market style cheese festival, which boasted over 4,000 attendees this year.

Boys CheesefestOn Saturday, our toddlers, Ledger and Slater enjoyed petting the calves, getting their faces painted and tasting cheeses, jams and thick sliced bacon before Lena joined me to work at the Ledger David wine tasting booth.

Regina, Robert and Heather were hopping all day long at the tasting room and Jeff stopped in for a two-hour jam session.  The sun was shining and the big doors were open as guests moved between the tasting room bar, the patio and the picnic area to enjoy wine, cheese and live music.

Overall a fabulously successful weekend and a great event to be held in southern Oregon celebrating Quality Artisanal products.

Hats off to the Rogue Creamery and the Oregon Cheese Guild for allowing the Ledger David family to participate in another great year!

Primoris Spring Wine Club Pick Up March 8 & 9

Posted on

Join Ledger David Cellars for our spring Primoris Wine Club pick up party March 8 & 9 at Le Petit Tasting Room. Celebrate the new release of our first vintage 2011 Malbec! Other wine club selections include the 2012 Primoris Chenin Blanc by popular demand and our San Francisco Chronicle award-winning 2010 Tempranillo. Enjoy BBQ cuisine paired with live bluegrass music from local artists Not Too Shabby on Saturday from 5:30-7:30pm and Sequioia on Sunday from 2-4pm. Event hours are Saturday, noon-8pm and Sunday, noon-5pm.

BILLING INFO:
Please let us know if your billing information has changed. Call Heather Hamlin at (541) 664-2218 or email [email protected] and she would be delighted to update your payment information before processing your wine club order.

WINE CLUB DISCOUNTS:
We will be processing orders on Monday, March 3. As a reminder, 3-bottle members receive a 15% discount, 6-bottle members 20% and 12-bottle members 25% discount on all wine club selections.

OTHER PICK UP OPTIONS:
If you are unable to join us during this event weekend, your wine club selections will be available after March 10 at the tasting room in Central Point (next to the Rogue Creamery) any time during regular hours.

Ledger David’s Year in Review: Awards & Accolades in 2013

Posted on

SONY DSCLedger David’s Year in Review: Awards & Accolades in 2013

By Jeff Kloetzel

The past year proved to be a great one for Ledger David wine recognition.  Our wines were reviewed by an array of competitions and critics.  We’re proud of the results!

  • 2013 San Francisco Chronicle Competition –  Orion’s Nebula ’10, Gold Medal  •  Cabernet Franc ’10, Silver  •  Viognier ’11, Silver  •  Primoris ’11, Silver
  • Oregon Wine Press – “Top Value Picks” (Feb. Review)   Sangiovese ’10  •  Orion’s Nebula ’10
  • Mail-Tribune “Wine of the Week” (Aug. Review)   Orion’s Nebula ‘10
  • 2013 World of Wine Competition –  Tempranillo ’10, Silver
  • Sunset Magazine (October) – top regional “Wines to Try” –  Tempranillo ‘10
  • Mail-Tribune “Wine of the Week” (Oct. Review)   Tempranillo ‘10.
  • 2013 Grand Harvest Awards Competition –  Primoris ’12, Silver
  • Medford Wine Examiner “Wine of the Week” (Nov. Review)   Tempranillo ‘10
  • 2013 Wine Press Northwest Platinum Judging Competition   Orion’s Nebula ’10, Double Gold
  • EnoBytes.com (Dec. Review)   Tempranillo ’10, Rating: Excellent (90)

While we of course enjoy our own products, it’s great to receive validation that our diligent work in the vineyard and our artisanal wine-making process pay off with wine judges from around the world. So make sure you have some in your glass!

Taste these and other estate wines at our Le Petit Tasting Room in Central Point (open Oct.-April, Thurs. through Mon., noon-5pm and May-Sept. daily noon-5pm) next to Rogue Creamery and Lillie Belle Farms.  Visit www.ledgerdavid.com for more information on purchasing wines and to find out how you can join the Primoris Wine Club.

Apple Cinnamon Crock Pot Pork Loin

Posted on

Serves: 5-6

INGREDIENTS

3 Lbs. Porkloin

1 Sweet Tart Apple/ Such as Crispin, Honey Crisp or Granny Smith

3 Tablespoons honey

2 Tablespoons cinnamon

1 medium yellow onion

INSTRUCTIONS

Slice slits every ¾” to 1” into Porkloin horizontally about ¾ through the meat.

Fill each slit with an ¼” thick slice of apple skin edge out.

Brush honey over the top and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Transfer the Porkloin to the crock pot and layer the onions over the top.

Cook on low for 3-4 hours.

Serve with mashed potatoes.

A perfect pairing with Ledger David 2011 Viognier.

Class Teaches Wine Enthusiasts How to Choose, Pair and Serve Wine

Posted on

Wine101Graphic4x6Join Ledger David Cellars for Wine 101: How to Choose, Pair and Serve Wine, on Wednesday, March 5, 2014, from 5-7pm at Le Petit Tasting Room in Central Point. This interactive class takes attendees on a journey through a brief overview of wine sensory evaluation, what’s behind the tasting notes, and simple methods to help you pair your go-to wine with your favorite foods.

Cost is $25 and includes a logo wine glass, wine flight and sample food pairings. Attendees will also receive a course syllabus with reference list for those who wish to further pursue their wine knowledge. Registration is required as seating is limited. Call (541) 664-2218 or visit www.ledgerdavid.com for more info.

Visit Ledger David Cellars’ Le Petit Tasting Room at 245A North Front Street in Central Point, conveniently located between Lillie Belle Farms and the Rogue Creamery. Open April – September, daily, noon – 5 p.m.; October – March, Thurs. through Monday from noon – 5 p.m.

Italian Winemaker’s Dinner at Pomodori Bistro & Wine Bar

Posted on

Join Vintner David Traul of Ledger David Cellars for a special winemaker’s dinner Jan. 22 at Pomodori Bistro & Wine Bar. The event will feature an Italian menu paired with a selection of Ledger David wines, including the exclusive release of our 2012 Primoris Chenin Blanc.

MENU

Mahi Mahi with a Sweet Chile Tomato Sauce
Paired with 2012 Sauvignon Blanc

European Greens, Walnuts, Cranberries, Tomatoes and Gorgonzola with Raspberry Vinaigrette
Paired with 2012 Primoris Chenin Blanc

Wild Mushroom and Herb Soup
Paired with 2011 Sangiovese

Lemon Tomato Chicken Penne
Paired with 2011 Chardonnay

Peppercorn Encrusted Filet with Tempranillo Mushroom Cream Sauce
Paired with 2010 Tempranillo

House Made Tiramisu and Lillie Belle Dark Chocolate Shavings
Paired with 2010 Tempranillo Port

$50 per person. Reservations Required. Limited Seating.

Contact Jeff Lindow at (541) 779-4162 or [email protected].

Pomodori Bistro & Wine Bar, 410 E. Main St., Medford, OR 97501