Vine + Butcher Shop is Live!

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." - Maya Angelou

One of my biggest goals for Vine + Butcher after my rebrand last year, was to create merchandise, and it has finally happened! My husband has been such an amazing support system, and helped me bring this vision to life! It was my ultimate goal to create pieces that you can comfortably cook in, and lounge with your favorite glass of wine or champagne!

The shop comes with 10 staple items - including t-shirts and sweatshirts, in either black or heather gray. Also, there will be limited edition merch that will be dropping periodically, so stay tuned for those special announcements on my Instagram!

One of our featured limited edition items now, is the Vine + Sparkling Wine: Pink Edition - which will be live for the month of February, so grab it while you can!

Check out some of the looks below, and check out the shop, here! Also, when your receive your merch, make sure to tag me on Instagram! Cannot wait to see you all in these pieces!

Purchase the Vine + Red Wine sweatshirt, here.

Purchase the Meat Sweats sweatshirt, here.

Purchase the Vine + Sparkling Wine: Pink Edition sweatshirt, here.

---

XO, Analise

Turkey Burger + Pinot Noir Pairing

“Food isn't like anything else. It's something precious. It's not a commodity.” - Alice Waters

It has been years since I’ve had red meat, and I’ve been trying out several turkey burger recipes, that would satisfy my occasional burger cravings. When seasoned and dressed properly, turkey burgers can be juicy, moist, and super flavorful. I love pairing my turkey burgers with a nice glass of red wine, Pinot Noir to be exact.

This pairing provides a lovely balance, and one I enjoy so much, read more about it below.

---

---

Turkey Burger

This turkey burger is packed full of flavor. The ground turkey is seasoned and marinated with black pepper, onion and garlic powder, Trader Joe’s Everyday Seasoning spice blend, red pepper flakes, Worcestershire sauce, and whole grain mustard. It is topped with Swiss cheese, homemade smoked bacon, pickled red onion and jalapeños. Then, garnished with spinach and avocado on a buttered brioche bun.

The balance and elements of this turkey burger are wonderful blend of:

• Spice

• Heat

• Smoke

• Salt

I truly enjoy pairing my burger with a delicate and soft Pinot Noir - learn more about my favorite pairing below.

---

Saude Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018

Saude Creek Vineyard is a winery I’ve featured on this blog a few times (read the post here). It is a local Virginia Winery that has a stunning view, and some lovely wines. This year Saude Creek debuted their brand new Pinot Noir, and I was super excited to get my hands on it. Their 2018 Pinot Noir is quite delicious - it is soft, and delicate - a wonderful wine to sip by itself, or pair with a turkey burger.

Here are the tasting notes on this beautiful wine:

• Light-bodied

• Delicate and smooth finish

• Low tannins

• Red fruit: cherry, raspberry, and pomegranate

Pinot Noir is a lovely choice, as it is a very versatile wine, and pairs well with so many things. Also, this varietal does not overpower the burger at all. It’s acidity pairs well with Swiss cheese, and the various salty notes on the sandwich. Pinots compliment every element on this sandwich, from the smoked bacon, to the pickled veggies - each bite and sip are the perfect pair.

---

Additional Wine Pairings:

• Sparkling Rosé

• Pinot Gris

• Chardonnay

• Beaujolais

---

XO, Analise

Lemon Garlic Parmesan Wings + Sauvignon Blanc Pairing

“The combination of olive oil, garlic and lemon juice lifts the spirits …” - Yotam Ottolenghi

Wings are a staple in my house, and one of the things my husband and I really enjoy making together. This recipe has been a hit lately, and it was created on whim one afternoon.

I was inspired to pair this dish with a Sauvignon Blanc that blew me away at Linden Vineyards - a Virginia winery. The acidity and fresh notes on the wine paired perfectly next to the smoked chicken with lemon and garlic notes.

Please, continue to read more on how this perfect pair came to be.

Lemon Garlic Parmesan Wings

Garlic and lemon paired together are a powerful combination, but sprinkle freshly grated parmesan cheese on top, and it is truly next level. These smoked chicken wings are literally a dream, and the flavor complexity alone is a total knockout.

The wings were marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, pepper, and garlic and herb seasoning overnight. Then, the next day they were smoked for about 45 minutes on the grill. Once, they were removed from the grill, lemon pepper and garlic herb seasoning were sprinkled on top of the wings, as well as freshly grated parmesan cheese - pure perfection.

I absolutely love the flavor profile on these wings, the herbs and lemon, paired with a mild cheese is delicious. These wings are definitely a twist on the classic lemon pepper wings that are so extremely popular.

---

Linden 2018 Sauvignon Blanc

Linden 2018 Sauvignon Blanc

The Sauvignon Blanc from Linden Vineyards is comprised of the following grapes:

• 88% Sauvignon Blanc

• 12% Semillon

This wine is so lovely, and as the winemaker noted during our visit to Linden, it has elements of oyster shell and lemon rind. Upon tasting it you’ll find crisp, mineral, salinity, and citrus notes. It’s light refreshing and clean. On the nose you’ll get a subtle bouquet note as well. This wine is incredibly balanced and the acidity in the wine works beautifully with each sip.

The Sauvignon Blanc is light and fresh. It would pair perfectly with fresh herbs, fish, grilled chicken, salad with goat cheese, oysters, and of course shrimp. I absolutely love how versatile this wine is. You can most certainly drink this by itself or pair it with a dish.

---

XO, Analise

Spatchcock Smoked Chicken + Claret Pairing

“My favorite fall meal has to be a simple roasted chicken. There is just something about roasting your own chicken and vegetables that screams 'fall' and 'home' to me.” - Chrissy Teigen

The absolute best way to enjoy a whole chicken is to spatchcock it. What is spatchcock you ask, let me break it down for you (no pun intended).

The spatchcock (or butterflying) technique, drastically cuts the time it takes to smoke, roast, or grill a whole chicken. During this process you’ll remove a chicken's backbone so that it lays flat. This process is really fantastic. You’re able to evenly distribute seasonings all over the protein, and enjoy your bird at a much quicker rate than keeping it whole.

---

---

Spatchcock Smoked Chicken

This spatchcock smoked chicken goes through a lengthy preparation process. A two-day wet brine, followed by a two-day dry brine, ensures that the flavor of this chicken goes all the way down to the bone. Our dry brine is a sweet, spicy, and herb seasoning blend that gives this chicken such a unique flavor. In total this chicken has a four-day seasoning process before hitting the smoker.

When smoking this chicken, the goal is to have a nice hearty flavor. A mixture of mesquite and hickory wood is used during the cook time. This gives the protein a nice smoke flavor while promoting all of the wonderful sweet, spicy, and herb notes that the chicken was marinated in.

---

Linden Vineyards, 2016 Claret

2016 Claret

My recent trip to Linden Vineyards was a dream, and one of my absolute favorite wine trips during this pandemic. Their wines are simply lovely, but one of the standouts was their 2016 Claret.

This is a medium bodied red wine, and you’ll smell an abundance of raspberries, earth, and herbs on the nose. One of the descriptors Linden's winemaker used for this wine is 'sun kissed' - you most certainly can taste the ripe red fruit on this wine, giving it a well rounded body with subtle tannins.

This Claret is comprised of the following grapes:

• 50% Cabernet Sauvignon

• 25% Merlot

• 14% Cabernet Franc

• 11% Petit Verdot

The tannins on this wine are very soft, but present. Also, the acidity is almost refreshing, a compliment really to a smoked or roasted chicken. This pairing was really lovely, and the blend of four grapes were so balanced and a joy to drink.

I’d pair this wine with roasted or smoked chicken, braised lamb shanks, or grilled portobello mushrooms.

---

XO, Analise

Buttermilk Fried Shrimp + Crémant Pairing

“Finishing food is about the tiny touches. In the last seconds you can change everything.” - Mario Batali

Shrimp is such a versatile protein, you can enjoy them steamed, grilled, or broiled. Yet, one of my favorite ways to enjoy shrimp is when it is fried with buttermilk! These bitesized treats, are perfect to enjoy solo, tossed in a salad, or piled high on a sandwich. I absolutely love pairing buttermilk fried shrimp with Crémant, a delicious sparkling wine.

---

Buttermilk fried shrimp with spicy aioli.

Buttermilk Fried Shrimp

These crispy buttermilk shrimp are marinated in lemon pepper, red pepper, and a pinch of sea salt for 24 hours. The flavor of these shellfish are so lovely, and the citrus and spicy notes pair wonderfully together.

When choosing a wine for this dish, you’ll want something light and refreshing. A crisp, fresh, and sparkling white wine would compliment these fried shrimp perfectly.

Williamsburg Winery, Crémant de Loire Wedmore Place

Crémant de Loire

Williamsburg Winery, located in Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, VA has a hidden gem on their wine listing, a wonderful Crémant. It is simply lovely, and is served at their hotel, Wedmore Place. This wine is bottled and produced at Château de la Presle in France. I stumbled upon this delicious sparkling white wine during my bridal shower several years ago, and is a staple always kept in my home.

Not familiar with Crémant? Crémant de Loire is produced in the Anjou-Saumur and Touraine regions of Loire Valley.

The primary grapes traditionally used in this wine are:

• Chenin Blanc,

• Cabernet Franc, or

• Pinot Noir

With Chenin Blanc more commonly used in this sparkling wine, you’ll taste the following primary notes:

• Lemon

• Quince

• Pear

• Honey

• Chamomile

• Bread or Toast

On the nose you’ll immediately find:

• Hazelnut

• Almonds

• Vanilla

• Liquore

This wine is so delicate, fresh, clean, and crisp, the perfect compliment to really any fried dish, but particularly buttermilk fried shrimp. I truly enjoy this pairing, and it’s one of my favorites to indulge in. You can pair Crémant with several other dishes like salmon, curry, and smoked trout.

---

XO, Analise