Seasons Greetings!
It seems just as the hectic harvest season comes to a close, the holiday bustle kicks-in in full force. I am attempting to get my Christmas shopping done early, but refuse to play Christmas music until after Thanksgiving…my personal attempt at slowing down the furious pace of the holidays!
I do love the holidays, though. This Thanksgiving, the Cuneo family will be vacationing in Mexico…one of my favorite spots. This allows me to escape cooking the 15-course, carbohydrate-packed Thanksgiving meal!! I will miss the Fried Oysters, which are always a part of our Thanksgiving feast; it pairs so wonderfully with our Sonoma County Chardonnay. For those of you who share my passion for this shellfish treat, I am sharing my mother's recipe:

Fried Oysters
2 dozen medium oysters
2 eggs
½ package cracker crumbs
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
salt, pepper, garlic salt to taste
lemon wedges
Wash oysters well, rinse and dry thoroughly. Beat eggs, then dip in oysters. Roll in cracker crumbs and fry in oil and butter. Season to taste. Serve with lemon wedges. Serves 4-6.

It has been a tough year for the wine industry in general, but I am proud to report that Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery should be wrapping up the year with shipments up +49%; this is quite significant when you consider most California wineries reported a loss this year. We have great wines and a fabulous staff, and the ultimate reward is seeing people like you enjoying the wines. Nothing pleases me more than seeing a bottle of Sebastiani at a neighboring table in a restaurant, or seeing a bottle of our wine in a friend's refrigerator or cellar. My family and I wish you all a safe and warm holiday season, and we hope Sebastiani wine will be a part of your holiday gatherings.

Sincerely,

Mary Ann Sebastiani Cuneo

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Notes from the Vineyard
Vintage 2003 has turned out to be a wonderful grape-growing year. Cool weather early in spring created some concern that vines may be behind in their growing cycle. However, that was followed by two “hot spells” that brought the vines back on schedule. The warm weather in the middle of September was ideal, and harvest began on September 15th.
The harvest can be looked at in two different stages. We began picking Burgundian varietals like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir first, since they originate from the cooler growing regions of France and reach maturity early. After a week of warm weather, which brought the Bordeaux varietals like Cabernet and Merlot to desired ripeness, we harvested those later ripening varietals. The last grape truck came into the winery on October 30th, and it was time to celebrate. The following week we had our harvest party. The harvest party is always a great time for everyone here at the winery to come together and reflect on the harvest and the vintage. It was particularly nice this year because it rained at the party, which was a welcome relief. Had it rained earlier, the grapes would have been susceptible to mildew, which can cause off flavors in wine.
I think that everyone is going to be blown away by the quality of the wines that will be coming from the 2003 vintage: great weather conditions and perfectly planned picking timing make for fabulous wines.

Enjoy and Cheers,

 
Marc S. Cuneo

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Sebastiani Marketplace
It's holiday time in the tasting room once again, wine club members, and for the first time, you can do your Christmas shopping with your 10% merchandise discount! Fill stockings with decadent cocoas flavored of candy cane, egg nog, and peanut butter cup…make those chilly winter nights brighter with sparkly candles and candle holders. Plan for holiday parties with seasonal napkins and floating candles…invite family and friends around a table adorned with elegant new linens. Give the gift of laughter with humorous books and whimsical wine bottle covers…offer relaxation to a loved one with a lavender therapy pillow. Stock up on your favorite wine accessories for the whole year. Whatever you do this holiday season, don't forget that the Sebastiani Hospitality center has the best variety of shopping delights in the valley; so visit us soon to take advantage of your wine club privileges!

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Fanfare
"This is the first time I have ever gone out of my way to pay a compliment to a product. I am now a devoted customer. Because of your product and price, I felt it necessary to "thank you" for producing a great product at an affordable price.[Y]our great wine allows us to enjoy quality at a fair price. We drink your wine almost every night and recommend it to everyone we know... The reds are great! So, from one of your biggest fans, keep it up and thank you!"
- Jonathan D. Keck, October 2003

"[M]y family and I [celebrated] our vacation with a case of your Merlot. We not only loved drinking your Merlot, we fell in love with your Zinfandel. The velvety taste of your Merlot and the vivid and spicy full-body charm of your Zinfandel complemented our food, weather and wonderful company. We did try other wines from California vineyards, but that only allowed us to confirm that no other wine, of the many wines we (I) have tried, can compare with the full bodied flavor of your wines. My family and I compliment the Sebastiani Cuneo family for making such incredible wines. Thank you for making a great vacation even better!"
- Charles M. Zsebedics, September 2003

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1999 Sonoma County Merlot
Top 100 Wines of 2003, Ranked #9
Rated 93, Editor's Choice
“Wine Enthusiast,” 12/03
Top Picks for Superb Wine Values Under $20 “Delta Sky Magazine,” 11/03

1999 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon
90 Points
“Cheers Magazine,” 9/03

2000 Sonoma County Zinfandel
1 of 8 Great Zinfandels for Under $20
“Wall Street Journal,” 10/03

2001 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
92 Points, Editor's Choice
“Wine Enthusiast,” 12/03
92 Points, 2-Puffs
“Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine,” 10/03

2000 Sonoma Valley “Old Vines” Zinfandel
Gold
California Zinfandel Championships, 9/03

2001 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay
91 Points
“Wine & Spirits Magazine,” 10/03

I believe Ben Giliberti said it best in his "Washington Post" article (9/03), "I am big on Sonoma these days.Sebastiani, among others, are putting out really fine stuff..." Fun Fact: Wine is mentioned in the Bible 246 times.

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Cinema Epicuria
We are pleased to announce an exciting new partnership with Cinema Epicuria and the Sonoma Valley Film Festival! The 7th Annual Sonoma Valley Film Festival, taking place April 1- April 4, offers a unique experience combining independent films, intimate panel discussions, special events and private culinary and award fêtes. The Sebastiani Winery Barrel Room will now be a featured venue during the festival where moviegoers and food and wine lovers can enjoy wonderful Sebastiani wines and culinary delights prior to all screenings. Programming at the Sebastiani Barrel Room will include high quality independent films with a focus on music, film and art, as well as interactive discussions with filmmakers and directors. Please join us for the entire Cinema Epicuria experience here in Sonoma. Space is limited! Please purchase tickets before December 15 in order to receive an early purchase discount. Visit the Cinema Epicuria Web site at: www.cinemaepicuria.org or call 707.933.2600.

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Our Second Century
2004 marks Sebastiani's 100th year in Sonoma as a family-owned winery. In an era of mergers and consolidation, we are particularly proud of our family heritage. We have a rich history in Sonoma winemaking; therefore our focus is on crafting small lots of super-premium wines from Sonoma County. The Cuneo and Sebastiani families, in honoring their family heritage, have renewed their commitment to quality, and the resulting wines showcase the best Sonoma has to offer. Sebastiani produces approximately 180,000 cases with the spotlight on single vineyards and specific sub-appellations within Sonoma County. Sebastiani's four wine categories are Sonoma County, Appellation Selection, Vineyard Selection, and Proprietary and Estate Wine Selection. The winery is located just blocks from Sonoma's historic downtown plaza and offers museum and historical tours, as well as a picnic area. In addition to tastings and retail sales of current-release, reserve and library wines, the Hospitality Center is also home to one of the largest collections of hand-carved barrels in the country and houses an art gallery where various local artists are featured. Open daily from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.. For more information, call 800.888.5532 or view our Web site.

From Crush to Christmas
This crush season proved to be as crazy and hectic as ever. The tasting room staff even had the opportunity to get their hands dirty in the vineyards and help pick grapes. We all have a new appreciation for our vineyard workers! We are looking forward to extending the same opportunity to wine club members next year.
The new wine club levels are finally in full swing. Thank you to all members who contacted us so quickly. We do, however, need all Appellation Club Members to contact us regarding choosing a new club level. The Appellation Club will be discontinued in order to continue sending new wines each shipment. If you were an Appellation Club member and do not contact us by January 1, 2004, you will be automatically placed in the Sonoma Club. Please feel free to contact us at any time with questions on the new clubs or visit Sebastiani.com to learn about the new selections.
It was great to meet some wine club members at the warehouse sale on November 1 and the wine club dinner on November 22 where we barrel tasted new vintages, devoured Cuban style entrees and danced to salsa until we dropped! I look forward to the next event!
We are always trying to make your visit extraordinary so if you know when you're visiting, call ahead of time. We can set up a private tasting and tour for you and a group of your friends. We offer all private tastings at a discount to wine club members. We also offer Soil to Bottle Seminars and Component Tastings with a discount if you're interested in learning about the in's and out's of winemaking.
I wish you and your family a bright and merry holiday season and hope to see you in the new year!

Nichole Ise, Wine Club Coordinator
Wineclub@sebastiani.com
800.888.5532x3229

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Oven Roasted Chestnuts*
2 lbs. Chestnuts
2 T. Cooking Oil
3 T. Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel
With a sharp knife, carefully cut a ½ inch gash on either side of the shells of chestnuts. Heat oil in a heavy skillet and add chestnuts. Shake over heat for 5 minutes. Roast in 450 degree oven for another 5-10 minutes. When cooked, cover chestnuts with a cloth that has been soaked in wine. Allow to stand 5 minutes and serve.

*From Mangiamo, a collection of family recipes by Sylvia Sebastiani. Available online at the Marketplace section of sebastiani.com

Stuffed Cuban Pork Chops
Paired with 2000 Sonoma County Chardonnay
Recipe presented by Chef Peter McCaffrey, Wine Valley Catering*

Pork Chops
4 Thick Pork Chops (approx. 1" thick, bone in)
4 T. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
6 Cloves Chopped Garlic
2 t. Ground Cumin
2 t. Dried Oregano
8 T. Fresh Lime Juice
½ C. Sebastiani 2000 Sonoma
County Chardonnay
Salt and Pepper
Heat olive oil in frying pan over medium heat. Add garlic, cumin and oregano, cook 1 minute. Quickly add lime juice and wine and bring to boil until slightly thickened. Add salt and pepper, set aside to cool. Place pork chops in shallow bowl, cover with sauce, coating chops. Marinate for 1 hour in fridge. Using a small boning knife, insert knife just behind the bone in the pork being careful not to allow the knife to pierce the other side of the pork chop. Carefully cut a pocket into the center of the chop and stuff with the stuffing mix.

Stuffing
4 C. Toasted Corn Bread Crumbs
1/4 C. Finely Chopped Shallots
6 Whole Cloves of Roasted Garlic
1/4 C. Finely Chopped Celery
1/4 C. Finely Diced Red Bell Peppers
2 t. Ground Cumin
1 T. Grated Lime rind (green only)
1 t. Ground Thyme
1 t. Ground Black Pepper
2 C. Chicken Stock
1 C. Sebastiani 2000 Sonoma County Chardonnay

Mix in large bowl, adding wine until the mixture binds together. Stuff chops.
Pan sear chops until well browned, finish in 375 degree oven until done. Reheat remaining sauce. Transfer chops to plate and pour sauce over chops. Serves 4.
* Wine Valley Catering, Napa, CA, 707.256.2900

Sebastiani Wines For Pairing
2000 Sonoma County Chardonnay
Expressive aromatics of apple and lemon zest with nuances of toasted grains, caramel apple and buttered pear. The flavor has "orchard fruit" delicately balanced with vanilla oak and acidity. This medium-bodied wine has a cleansing finish with lots of pleasant citrus characteristics. An excellent pairing with the Stuffed Cuban Pork Chops.

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Events Calendar
January
1st Winery Closed
15th Release of 2001 Sonoma County Chardonnay
18th at the Hospitality Center - Luigi Braves the Cold, an entertaining and educational performance about wine growing, production and tasting. Call 707.933.3203 to RSVP.

December - February
Sonoma Valley Olive Festival, Various Events. For more information, call the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau at 707.996.1090.

Ongoing
Mondays and Tuesdays at Sebastiani on the Square
Professor Vine
2:00 p.m.
Call 707.933.3203 to RSVP

Monday - Friday at the Hospitality Center
Historical Tour
11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Tuesdays & Thursdays at the Hospitality Center
"Component " and "Soil to Bottle " Seminars
Available throughout the day
Call 707.933.3203 to RSVP

Saturdays and Sundays at the Hospitality Center
Historical Tour
10:30 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Fridays & Saturdays at Sebastiani on the Square
Live Music
7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Sebastiani Wines and talented local musicians

Monthly at Sebastiani on the Square
Wine and Food Series
7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Local chefs pair their specialties with Sebastiani wines.

View this month's calendar
View the Sebastiani on the Square calendar

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