December 2003 Nuyaka Creek Winery Newsletter

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IN THIS ISSUE
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=> Feature Article - The Chardonnay Shootout
=> New Vintages - Chardonnays & Pear
=> Holiday Traditions - Mulled Wine
=> A Natural Cold & Flu Defense
=> Recipe - Chocolate Merlot Layer Cake
=> Famous Wine Quotes
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information

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FEATURE ARTICLE: The Chardonnay Shootout
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The Chardonnay Shootout

Come out to the winery and taste our new batch of Chardonnay wines. Last year's extremely high quality Chardonnay grapes have created a confrontation.

We have aged the resulting white wines in both French Oak barrels and
European Oak barrels, as well as leaving a batch un-oaked. That gives us
three big Oklahoma Chardonnays for you to taste.

This winery ain't big enough for that many Chardonnays. We need your help
picking the best one.

If you have ever wanted to be able to taste the subtle flavor differences
that various oaking methods impart...now's your chance learn. Visit us,
anytime after high noon, to take part in the Chardonnay Shootout.

We also have a new web page of wine tasting tips for you!

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NEW Vintages
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This summer's Nuyaka Pear wine is in the bottle.
We have three Oaked Chardonnays released from the cellar.

Stay tuned to our wine list page for an up-to-date wine list.

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Holiday Traditions - Mulled Wine
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The history of Mulled wines dates back to medieval times where these wines
were named after the physician Hippocrates and called Ypocras or Hipocris.
Considering that wine at the time was more sanitary than drinking water,
these heated drinks probably did sustain their health through the cold
winter months.

Mulled Wine Recipe:

2 lemons
2 oranges
1 - bottle of Nuyaka Creek Winery Oklahoma Merlot or Elderberry
Nutmeg (to taste)
Cloves (to taste)
1 oz brandy or Cognac (or to taste)
1 cup (250 ml) granulated sugar (optional)
Herbal or citrus influenced tea (optional but excellent)
Water (optional softener instead of tea)
4 large cinnamon sticks
4 candy canes

Instructions for making four large portions
-Cut lemons and oranges into slices.
-Pour the red wine into saucepan and gradually heat (DO NOT Boil).
-Add fruit slices, nutmeg, cloves and brandy.
-Keep an eye on the mixture and wait until it becomes hot to the touch.
-At this point you could blend in sugar or water (if desired).
-Pour into glasses/mugs and add tea (to taste).
-Garnish with cinnamon stick and candy cane.

Serve

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Cold & Flu Season Alert
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Cold & Flu Season is here...
stock up on our 100% Pure Elderberry Wine.
- A Timeless Natural Defense -

Like echinacea, elderberry is a powerful immune system stimulant. Our 100%
pure elderberry wine is rich in vitamins A and C and provides comforting
relief from several cold and flu symptoms. Hey, cough syrup is mostly
alcohol anyways, right?

Modern scientific studies report that key active ingredients extracted from
elderberry can provide a line of defense against multiple flu strains. This
herb neutralizes new viruses released from invaded cells and prevents them
from replicating, thereby reducing the severity of your flu symptoms.
Research performed in Israel showed that the juice from the berries of
elderberry helps to stimulate the immune system to create antibodies against
the influenza virus.

It makes a mighty tasty wine, too! Our supply of Elderberry Wine usually
runs out before next summer's elderberry harvest, so stock up today.

Ricola Nature's Protection Vitamin C Supplement Drops with Elderberry
Buy New: $2.29 per package

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Oklahoma Wine Country Recipe
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I know some of you made gourmet wine jelly from the recipe
in the last newsletter. Now you may be asking yourself
what to do with it. Not only does gourmet wine jelly make
an excellent gift, it is also great in recipes like this Chocolate Merlot Layer Cake.

Chocolate Merlot Layer Cake

Yields a 9-inch cake that serves 12

2 cups flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-3/4 cup butter
3/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-1/4 cups Nuyaka Creek Merlot Wine (a steal at $10 per bottle)
1 cup of Wine Jelly (still on sale at the winery!)
A dab of confectioners' sugar for sprinkling the cake
Two 9-inch cake pans

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush the cake pans with melted butter,
line them with a round of wax paper and brush again with butter. Sprinkle
the pans with flour, discarding the excess.

2. Sift flour with the cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

3. Cream the butter, beat in the sugar and continue beating until the
mixture is light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs one by one, then
the vanilla, and continue beating 1 to 2 minutes. Sift a third of the flour
over the butter mixture and fold them together using a spoon. Fold in a
third of the wine. Add the remaining flour and wine alternately in two
batches.

4. Spread batter in the prepared pans and bake in the oven until the cakes
start to shrink from the sides of the pan, 30-35 minutes; a metal skewer
inserted in the center should come out clean. Let the cakes cool 10 minutes
in the pans, then turn them out on a rack to cool completely.

5. Shortly before serving, sandwich the cake with the wine jelly. Sprinkle
the top with confectioners' sugar and transfer the cake to a plate.

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Famous Wine Quotes
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"Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most
natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest
perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation
than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing."
-- ERNEST HEMINGWAY
Death in the Afternoon

Looking for a unique gift idea?
We have fancy custom Oklahoma Wine Gift Baskets at the winery.

You may also want to create your own gift box, using one of our new Oklahoma
Wineries 3-Bottle Carriers.

These handled boxes pack your wine securely in place and
have a large Map of Oklahoma Wineries on the side!