Monthly Archives: October 2017

Wine Paired With Life: Fall Night-In

Fall Night In Image Dry Creek Valley

With October being a busy month for all – sometimes we think the best way to relax is in the comfort of your own home, turn on your new favorite tv show and enjoy the company of your longest friends. This removes the hassle and hustle of going out. While we’re 100% in support of ordering your favorite Chinese take-out for your friends to pair with a refreshing Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc, why not try something new! Here are a few quick, easy recipes to help you look like a pairing-pro and that are sure to delight even your pickiest of friends (looking at you, Karen!)

 

Rhone Whites & Cheesy Pumpkin Chickpea Croquettes

There’s no doubt that the Pumpkin is the ultimate icon for October, so let’s celebrate with this crunchy take on classic fall flavor. Pair these bites with a medium-bodied Rhone white wine, such as Marsanne-Roussane, Viognier or a blend and let the stone-fruit and nutty flavors complement the cheesy goodness of your croquettes.

We suggest these Dry Creek Valley Rhone Whites:

Trattore Farms & Winery – MR (60% Marsanne, 40% Roussanne), $35

Mounts Family Winery – Verah Blanc (52% Roussanne, 37% Grenache Blanc, 6% Picpoul Blanc & 5% Marsanne), $28

West Wines – Viognier, $23

Find the recipe for Cheesy Pumpkin Chickpea Croquettes by clicking here to go to Babble.com

 

Zinfandel & BBQ Turkey Meatballs

We know that turkey doesn’t take center stage until the end of November, but why does turkey only get Thanksgiving in the sun? This versatile and healthy meat works so well with the spices from your favorite BBQ sauce making it a perfect pairing for Dry Creek Valley’s signature red wine – Zinfandel! We won’t tell your friends how many of these you ate before they actually showed up…promise.

Try pairing any of these Dry Creek Valley Zinfandels:

Dry Creek Vineyard – Old Vine Zinfandel, $32

Chateau Diana – Zombie Zin, $9 or $28 for reserve

Seghesio Family Vineyards – Cortina Zinfandel, $40

Whip up a batch of these spicy turkey meatballs with this recipe from Sugar Dish Me.

 

Carignane & Sweet Potato Rounds with Goat Cheese

Carignane comes typically bursting with fall flavors of cranberries and baking spice. Making it one of our favorite wines to drink when the leaves turn. This wine is renowned for is food pairing capability so you are welcome to branch off and try your own special recipe. One incredible pairing we can’t get enough of is this savory sweet combination of sweet potatoes and goat cheese.

Stock up on these Dry Creek Valley Carignanes for Autumn:

Frick Winery – Carignane, $26

Peterson Winery – Carignane, Bradford Mountain Estate, $30

Amphora Vineyards – Carignane, Forchini Vineyards, $35

Check out Ciao Florentina for this tasty Sweet Potato Rounds recipe.


What are your favorite Dry Creek Valley pairings to share with friends? Share with us on our social channels for a chance to be featured on our page!

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Remembering Don Carano – Founder of Ferrari-Carano

We are saddened by the loss of Don Carano. He was the pioneering founder of Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery and a wonderful, warm presence in our Dry Creek Valley community.

Don and his wife Rhonda Carano fell in love with Sonoma County in the 1970s, and the marvelous winery they built here has helped create countless more love affairs with the region since.

Our hearts go out to his family. We raise a glass in honor of his legacy.


October 4, 2017; (HEALDSBURG, Calif.)—Donald Louis Carano, founder of Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery, Eldorado Resorts Inc., and McDonald, Carano & Wilson, LLC law firm, passed away peacefully on October 3, 2017, surrounded by his family at his home in Reno, Nevada. He was 85.

A pioneer in the gaming, law and wine industries, Mr. Carano was also an entrepreneur, hotelier, restaurateur, husband and father. Mr. Carano is celebrated as a family-oriented, compassionate leader in his businesses and communities, which included both Reno, Nevada, and his wine country home in Geyserville, Alexander Valley, California. Ever passionate about Sonoma County, Mr. Carano said, “This is a very special way to live.”

A second-generation Italian-American, Don Carano was born in Reno, Nevada, on October 17, 1931. He completed an undergraduate degree at the University of San Francisco, followed by two years as an officer in the United States Army. Returning to USF, Mr. Carano attended law school, graduated with honors and began his law practice in Reno. He was a founding member of the prestigious McDonald, Carano & Wilson law firm, and was proud to maintain an “of counsel” relationship with the firm until his passing. Mr. Carano’s legal career in Nevada made him an expert in corporate, business and gaming law, and he used his knowledge in those arenas to build his own hotel/casino in 1973, called the Eldorado Hotel and Casino.

In 1976, Mr. Carano hired Rhonda Bevilacqua to work at the Eldorado. She soon became his wife and lifelong partner in love and in business.

With the Eldorado’s emphasis on fine dining, Mr. Carano and his wife Rhonda fell in love with Sonoma County on visits to source fine California wines for their restaurants. His love for the land in Northern California, the vineyards and winemaking forever changed the course of his life.

After taking classes in winemaking and making small lots of their own wines from their home ranch in Alexander Valley, the Caranos purchased additional land in Sonoma County and founded Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery in 1981. Today, Ferrari-Carano is a household name among wine lovers throughout the U.S. The family owns 24 sustainably-farmed estate ranches comprising over 1,900 vineyard acres in six appellations of Northern California. Mr. Carano explained, “After we bought the initial parcel, the bug of wine bit us, so we constantly over the years acquired different properties.” Throughout the brand’s growth, Mr. Carano made his home at the original Home Ranch in Alexander Valley as well as in Reno, Nevada.

In 2000, the Caranos acquired the boutique hotel Vintners Inn and the legendary John Ash & Co. Restaurant, expanding their vision for genuine hospitality and excellent food and wine. In 2008, they acquired Lazy Creek Vineyards, a winery known for their pinot noirs in Anderson Valley, after becoming enchanted with its rustic beauty that reminded them of their first visits to the North Bay, nearly 40 years earlier.

Whilst Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery grew, so too did the Caranos’ casino properties. When Mr. Carano opened Reno’s Eldorado Hotel and Casino, it had 282 rooms and was thought to be a risky investment. In 1992, Mr. Carano entered a joint venture with Circus Circus Enterprises and Mandalay Resorts/MGM, to create the Silver Legacy Resort Casino. Today, Mr. Carano leaves behind a thriving legacy, with 19 properties in 10 states. The Eldorado Resorts family employs over 14,000 team members.

Mr. Carano’s business ventures have always been anchored by his belief in teamwork and family values. Integrity and an eye toward posterity have guided him in growing sustainable brands people love. His community contributions have been recognized with many honors, including the Nevada Food and Beverage Directors Association Man-of-the-Year Award, the American Lung Association Distinguished Community Service Award, Hotelier of the Year Award, “Knight in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic” by the Consul General of Italy, University of San Francisco Law School’s Alumnus of the Year, International Restaurant and Hospitality Rating Bureau’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the WIBC Gladys M. Banker Friendship Award, and more. In 2017, University of Nevada Reno recognized Mr. Carano as a Distinguished Nevadan. Mr. Carano was known as a pillar and longtime supporter of philanthropic endeavors throughout his life.

Just a few weeks ago, Don was walking the vineyards in Sonoma County and celebrated the “blessing of the grapes” with his Ferrari-Carano family, a sentimental tradition that kicks off the beginning of harvest every year. Mr. Carano always referred to Ferrari-Carano and the land as a special place; to the many who knew and respected him, Mr. Carano is remembered as a special man who touched their lives in a truly personal way.

Mr. Carano is survived by his wife Rhonda, five children, 11 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

To see a video of Don and Rhonda Carano telling their winery story, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPm0xs0fQSA

For press inquiries, high resolution images, or interview requests, contact Chelsea Kurnick at 213-985-1011 ext 5 or [email protected]. For more information about Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery, please visit www.Ferrari-Carano.com.

About Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery

Founded initially as a small wine farm in 1981 by hospitality-industry pioneers Don and Rhonda Carano, the Ferrari-Carano family of brands now comprises the very best in hospitality, wine and food experiences in California’s North Bay region. The portfolio comprises destination wineries in Sonoma (Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery) and Mendocino (Lazy Creek Vineyards) counties; three wine production facilities; 24 estate-owned vineyards spanning more than 1,900 acres across three counties; the 44-room Vintners Inn and John Ash & Co. Restaurant; and Seasons of the Vineyard Tasting Bar & Boutique in Healdsburg. Ferrari-Carano is one of the region’s leaders, setting the bar for the highest standard in hospitality, wine quality and sustainability.

 

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Chelsea Kurnick
McCue Marketing Communications
[email protected]
(213) 985-1011 ext 5

Cheryl McMillan
Director Marketing Communications
Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery
[email protected]
(707) 433-6700