Qorkz Kitchen - ZaZa Zin & Smokey Chipotle Chili

Our own, Jill Hoffman is making this chili in Dunphy Park in Sausalito for the city’s 40th Annual Chili Cook-off! If you are surprised by the addition of the chocolate, remember that Mexico is the origin of the cocoa plant and chili peppers! And who doesn’t love wine and chocolate?

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 1 medium onion, diced*

• 2 red bell peppers, roasted and diced

• 3 large cloves garlic, minced

• 4 15 oz. cans dark red kidney beans

• 1 6 oz. can tomato paste

• 1/2 cup of brown sugar

• 2 28 oz. cans whole tomatoes

• 2 tbsp. chili powder

• 2 tbsp. cumin

• 1 can chipotle peppers, diced (use to taste, these will be smokey and spicy)

• 4-6 oz. dark chocolate

• 1/2 cup red wine, zinfandel recommended

• ½ cup beef broth

• 1 tsp salt

• Shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

• Sour cream (optional)

Directions

Brown the ground beef over medium heat in a large Dutch oven or the bowl of a slow cooker with a sauté function. (Alternatively, complete steps one and two in a separate pan on the stove and then transfer to a slow cooker.)

Add the olive oil, onions, peppers and garlic to the browned beef, sauté until the onions become translucent.

Add all of the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Simmer on low heat/cook on the slow cooker's low function for 4 hours, stirring occasionally. Crush the tomatoes as you go.

Serve with sour cream and cheddar cheese.

Note: This recipe makes eight 1 1/2 cup servings. 

To celebrate this recipe Calstar Cellars is offering a special sale on it’s 2014 ZaZa Zinfandel for $200 a case. Use the Promo Code: CHILI ZIN

You can also buy on the 2012 Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2016 Pinot Meunier Rose and 2013 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay for $250 a case using Promo Code: CHILI

2014 Calstar Alta Zinfandel - Wine of the Day

2014 Calstar Alta Zinfandel

$25

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Clear, deep ruby crimson color with violet glints.  A complex, meaty and multifaceted Zinfandel with all the power and fruit of an old vine vineyard.  Blackberry, au jus, toasty sweet oak and black pepper aromas are supported by hints of mushroom and dried thyme.  The palette follows with juicy berry acidity and velvety chewy tannins.  Flavors of black plum skin, fig compote, dried herbs and roast beef with concentrated fruit and a dark, brooding finish. 

As a true Zinfandel lover, Proprietor and Winemaker, Rick Davis, wanted a vineyard that balanced the big, jammy notes of classic Zin with the minerality, lean tannins and age-ability of a cooler climate.  In the hills of El Dorado County, vineyards range from 1,200 to 3,500 feet in elevation, exposing Zinfandel to hot, sultry days and very chilly nights during the summer season.  In addition, the growing season is longer than most appellations, with slow, gradual ripening creating balanced, food-friendly Zinfandels worthy of cellar time.

2014 Calstar Za Za Zinfandel - Wine of the Day

 2014 Calstar Za Za Zinfandel

$18

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Medium ruby purple in color.  Bright and lively on the nose with aromas of strawberry jam, sweet oak spice, vanilla and blackberry pie.  Though rich in fruit and spice, the palette is pleasantly light with a juicy cranberry-like acidity.  Jammy berries, maple, cedar box and black plum dominate while subtle flavors of bay leaf, dried oregano and mushroom provide complexity.  Soft, chewy tannins provide structure and promise several years of aging in bottle, allowing the ample berry fruitiness to evolve and reveal more secondary savory notes.

Proprietor and Winemaker, Rick Davis first met Bill Stokes, owner of Stokes Vineyard, over ten years ago while searching for old vine Zinfandel in the up-and-coming area of Lodi in San Joaquin County.  The fruit from Stokes Vineyard never disappoints with richness and intensity that comes from old vines with subtle spice notes that all speak to the vineyard management and site.

2013 Calstar Cellars Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir - Wine of the Day

2013 Calstar Cellars Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

$24

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The Sonoma Coast, a world-renowned growing region southwest of the Russian River and just six miles from the Pacific Ocean is known worldwide for its cool-climate Pinot Noir and microclimates that contribute to slow grape maturation and optimum ripeness.  Small lots of fruit were sourced from eight exceptional Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley vineyards exclusively for Calstar Cellars Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.   The sites span the depth and width of the appellation – from the cool Green Valley knoll of Halleck to the Petaluma Gap site of Sangiacomo – bringing great complexity and cellaring potential to this bottling. 

Deeply scarlet ruby in color, the 2013 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir showcases the best of a spectacular vintage.  On the nose, quintessential aromas of dried cherry, raspberries and black tea are highlighted by spiced orange, cedar and red Santa Rosa plum.   The ripeness of the vintage is balanced by bright stone fruit acidity and refreshing minerality – an undertone of toasty oak and sweet spice brings the palate into focus.  Fine grained, yet coating, tannins and strawberry spice finish make this Pinot Noir an easy match for almost any food pairing.

2014 Cal Star Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County - Wine of the Day

 2014 Cal Star Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County

$20

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Pale straw gold in color, the 2014 Sauvignon Blanc is the sum of three distinct parts.  At first, bold citrus and tropical notes dominate: Meyer lemon, grapefruit, lychee, honeydew melon, pineapple and kiwi.  Secondary notes balance the fruit with lemongrass, clover and a hint of sweet ginger.  Tertiary flavors of wet rock, shortbread and vanilla round the palette and draw the juicy tropical notes through the finish.  The bright acidity brings focus to the lush citrus and ripe fruit notes while finishing with bright key lime and stony minerality. 
 
With a long, cool growing season, the cool climate of the Russian River Valley keeps wines crisp while allowing the natural character of the climate to shine through.   The picturesque Crinella Marino vineyard is located in one of the warmer areas of the Russian River Valley and experiences less rain and weather challenges than many other sites in the region.
 
The grapes offer a combination of a sophisticated Sancerre of the Loire Valley and the grassier New Zealand selections.  This is a California wine for a Sauvignon Blanc enthusiast.

2014 Calstar Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County - Wine of the Day

2014 Calstar Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County

$20

---

Pale straw gold in color, the 2014 Sauvignon Blanc is the sum of three distinct parts.  At first, bold citrus and tropical notes dominate: Meyer lemon, grapefruit, lychee, honeydew melon, pineapple and kiwi.  Secondary notes balance the fruit with lemongrass, clover and a hint of sweet ginger.  Tertiary flavors of wet rock, shortbread and vanilla round the palette and draw the juicy tropical notes through the finish.  The bright acidity brings focus to the lush citrus and ripe fruit notes while finishing with bright key lime and stony minerality. 

With a long, cool growing season, the cool climate of the Russian River Valley keeps wines crisp while allowing the natural character of the climate to shine through.   The picturesque Crinella Marino vineyard is located in one of the warmer areas of the Russian River Valley and experiences less rain and weather challenges than many other sites in the region.
 
The grapes offer a combination of a sophisticated Sancerre of the Loire Valley and the grassier New Zealand selections.  This is a California wine for a Sauvignon Blanc enthusiast.

2012 Calstar Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir - Wine of the Day

2012 Calstar Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir

$40

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Bright ruby violet color carried by lovely aromas of rich, ripe blackberry, cassis liqueur, black licorice, fine leather and rhubarb.  A hint of gamey roasted meats give the wine immediate complexity and interest.  On the palate, the wine follows the nose with dark marionberry and black plummy flavors. Juicy acidity provides balance for the round, soft tannins and lingering finish of cola, coffee and sweet oak.

2013 Calstar Russian River Valley Pinot Noir - Wine of the Day

 2013 Calstar Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

$30

---

Bright ruby violet, the wine leads with juicy fruit on the nose: cranberry, raspberry and pomegranate.  Notes of dark, unsweetened chocolate, bay leaf and sweet baking spices round out the profile.  In the mouth, the light body is carried by ripe, big red fruit notes that follow the aromas.  There is an impression of sweetness from the cola and vanilla notes but the wine is totally dry.  A long, juicy finish of strawberry, coffee and cherry rounds out the wine and brings the fruit into balance.