Fort Ross Vineyard

Ingredients:

10 ounces baby spinach

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon anchovy paste (optional)

Salt

1 pound sweet or hot Italian sausages (or a combination of both), casings removed

4 slices of provolone cheese

1/4 cup sun-dried-tomato pesto

4 round ciabatta rolls, split and toasted

Instructions:

1. In a large skillet, bring 1/4 inch of water to a boil. Add the spinach and cook, stirring, until just wilted, about 1 minute; drain and press out as much water as possible. Wipe out the skillet.

2. In the same skillet, heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil until shimmering. Add the garlic and anchovy paste and cook over high heat, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute. Add the spinach, season with salt and stir just until coated, about 10 seconds.

3. Light a grill or preheat a grill pan. Using slightly moistened hands, form the sausage meat into four 4-inch patties, about 3/4 inch thick. Brush the burgers with oil and grill over moderate heat until browned and crusty on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Carefully flip the burgers. Top with the cheese and grill until the burgers are cooked through and the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes longer. Spread the pesto on the rolls. Top with the burgers and spinach and serve.

Pair with our 2021 Top of Land Pinot Noir »

Ingredients:

10 ounces (2 cups) shelled fresh peas (from about 1 lb. pods)* or frozen peas, thawed

12 ounces ricotta, preferably sheep’s milk

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Freshly ground pepper

1/2 cup Preserved Lemon

Herb Oil (recipe at right) or best quality extra-virgin olive oil

4 ounces (about 4 cups) mixed spring greens

1 ounce (about 2 cups) of at least 3 mixed fresh herb leaves

About 1/2 ounce (1 bunch) chives, trimmed and snipped into 1⁄2-in. pieces

Flaky sea salt

Edible flowers, such as Johnny jump-up violas, sage, thyme, or arugula (optional)

Preserved Lemon Herb Oil

Instructions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt until it tastes like the sea. Set a large bowl of ice water near the stove.

2. If using fresh peas, boil until bright green and tender, 30 seconds to 1 minute. With a slotted spoon, transfer to ice bath to cool. Drain well, spread on a kitchen towel, and pat dry. If using thawed frozen peas, dry them the same way, uncooked.

3. To 4 to 6 large shallow bowls, add a large spoonful of ricotta on one side.

4. In a large bowl, whisk together lemon juice, a pinch of fine sea salt, a few grinds of pepper, and 1/4 cup preserved lemon herb oil. Add peas, greens, herb leaves, chives, and another pinch of fine salt. Gently toss with clean hands. Season with more lemon juice, oil, or salt, depending on the greens used.

5. Mound salad next to cheese. Drizzle a spoonful of extra preserved lemon herb oil around each salad so that it forms a shallow, bright green pool. Top salads with flaky sea salt and a few edible flowers, if using. Serve at once.

Pair with our 2020 Mother of Pearl Chardonnay »

Ingredients:

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided

6 hot Italian sausage links, pricked with a fork

2 large (13-ounce) fennel bulbs, cut in half lengthwise, cores removed, bulbs cut into 1-inch wedges, fronds reserved

2 tablespoons fennel seeds

4 teaspoons pink peppercorns

2 cups chicken stock or lower-sodium chicken broth

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup hummus

Lemon zest and lemon wedges, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a straight-sided 14-inch skillet over medium-high. Add sausages; cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer sausages to a plate. Add fennel wedges, cut sides down, to skillet; cook until browned on both sides, about 2 minutes and 30 seconds per side. Transfer to plate with sausages.

2. Add fennel seeds, peppercorns, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil to skillet; cook over medium-high, stirring constantly, until toasted and fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Remove half of the spice mixture from skillet, and reserve for garnish.

3. Add stock to skillet, stirring and scraping bottom of skillet to loosen browned bits. Bring to a simmer over medium-high. Return sausages and fennel wedges to skillet; cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until fennel wedges are tender, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with salt.

4. Spread hummus smoothly on a platter. Top with sausages and fennel wedges; spoon sauce from skillet over platter. Garnish with lemon zest, lemon wedges, reserved fennel fronds, and reserved spice mixture.

Pair with 2019 Top of Land Pinot Noir »

Ingredients:

1 cup pearl couscous

1 cup water

2 T. virgin olive oil

1 t. turmeric

1 T sea salt

½ cup halved mini/baby carrots

1 large shallot sliced in ¼ inch thick rings

2 T. virgin olive oil

12 ounces maitake mushrooms

2 T virgin olive oil

2 T. butter

Small handful pea shoots

½ cup shucked, blanched and peeled fava beans

Tahini Dressing*

Kosher or Sea Salt and fresh pepper

Instructions:

1. Pre heat oven to 400 degrees

2. In a pot, toast couscous in olive oil until some of it starts to turn golden brown. Add turmeric and stir in. Then add water & sea salt, cover and turn down heat to low.

3. Cook 10 minutes and check to see if all of the water has absorbed. If not, cook 1-2 minutes longer. Transfer couscous to a cookie sheet to cool.

4. Brush a sheet pan with oil. Toss carrots and shallots with olive oil, salt, and pepper and spread evenly on half of sheet pan. Place clusters of mushrooms on other half and brush with olive oil and melted butter; season with salt and pepper.

5. Roast veggies in the oven until just tender and lightly colored, about 20 minutes.

6. Toss couscous with veggies, fava beans, 2 tablespoons of dressing, salt, pepper and a couple good pinches of pea shoots.

7. Divide pea shoots among 4 bowls or salad plates and spoon equal portions of couscous salad over pea shoots. Top with a cluster of mushrooms and drizzle a teaspoon of dressing around plate/bowl and over mushroom.

Ingredients:

2 T minced shallots

1 T minced fresh ginger

2 oz, rice vinegar

1 t. white miso

2 T water

3 T tahini

1 t. salt and 3-4 twists of fresh pepper

2 oz. any neutral oil

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, whisk first 7 ingredients together well and emulsify oil in. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed or vinegar balance to your liking.

2. Let sit an hour before using so flavors can meld.

Ingredients:

4 (10-ounce) skin-on airline chicken breasts

1 ½ teaspoons s kosher salt, divided, plus more to taste

¾ teaspoon black pepper, divided

1 tablespoon olive oil

6 small carrots, sliced diagonally into 1-inch pieces (about 1 1/2 cups)

8 ounces fresh oyster mushrooms, halved

6 small hakurei turnips or radishes, trimmed and quartered (about 1 cup)

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces, divided

6 rosemary and thyme sprigs, divided

2 spring onions, or 4 scallions, cut into 2-inch pieces (about 1 cup)

¼ cup (2 ounces) rosé wine

½ cup unsalted chicken stock

2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Sprinkle chicken evenly with 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Heat oil in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet over medium. Cook chicken, skin side down, until skin is golden brown and crispy, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Reserve drippings in skillet.

2. Increase heat to high. Add carrots, mushrooms, turnips, 1 tablespoon butter, 3 herb sprigs, remaining1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper; stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 6 minutes. Add onions and chicken, skin side up. Transfer skillet to preheated oven. Roast until a thermometer inserted in thickest portion of chicken registers 160°F, 18 to 20 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, divide chicken and vegetables among 4 plates; reserve drippings in skillet.

3. Return skillet to heat over high. Add rosé and remaining 3 herb sprigs; cook, undisturbed, 2 minutes. Add stock, and bring to a simmer over high. Simmer until reduced by one-third, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in parsley and remaining 2 tablespoons butter; season to taste with salt. Pour sauce over chicken and vegetables.

Ingredients:

3 quarts water

2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, divided, plus more to taste

1 pound unshelled fava beans or 1 cup frozen shelled favas or edamame

1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided

4 (1/2-inch-thick) rustic bread slices or pain au levain slices, cut from the center of the loaf

1 cup fresh whole-milk ricotta cheese

1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh tarragon, plus whole tarragon leaves, for garnish

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

1. Bring 3 quarts water to a boil in a large stockpot over high. Stir in 2 tablespoons salt. Shell fava beans; add beans to boiling water. Cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, immediately transfer beans to a bowl filled with ice water; let stand 2 minutes. Drain well. If using shelled fresh beans, peel and discard skins from beans. Stir together peeled beans, 1 tablespoon oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Set aside.

2. Preheat grill to medium-high (400°F to 450°F). Brush bread slices evenly on both sides with remaining 1/3 cup oil. Place on unoiled grates; grill, uncovered, until grill marks appear, about 2 minutes per side.

3. Stir together ricotta, chopped tarragon, pepper, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl; spread seasoned ricotta evenly on 1 side of each toast slice; top evenly with dressed favas. Cut toasts in half on an angle; arrange on a serving platter. Season with salt, and sprinkle with tarragon leaves.