Shannon Ridge - Newsletter - Lake County Vineyards

Wrangler Newsletter - Volume 2 - Spring 2008

Wrangler Wine Club pick up party in the vineyards and pruning demonstration - March 15, 2008
Bring your pruning shears (or use ours) and join us up at the ranch to participate in an "in the vineyard pruning demonstration," plus tastings of our 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Then join in an informal BBQ hamburger and hot dogs lunch including marshmallow roast in our picnic area with views of spectacular High Valley. The fun is scheduled to start in the vineyards on March 15, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. and the BBQ will last until 2:00 p.m. Pruning techniques will be taught by Tony Rose and Luis Fajardo. At the end of the pruning demonstration everyone will get a chance to prune one of the vines right in the vineyard. "We feel that this outdoor classroom will give everybody a good idea as to what's involved with growing and maintaining a vineyard. This is a great way to learn about the vine." said Clay Shannon, owner of Shannon Ridge Vineyards and Winery.	At noon all attendees will be invited to join the Shannon family for a BBQ, music and tasting of our S.F.Chronicle's Double Gold Cabernet and our just as famous Sauvignon Blanc wines. Wine Club Members 2 packs will be available at our Tasting Room all day Saturday with an extra discount on all purchases. Buy 12 or more bottles and receive 30% off retail price. Buy 1 to 11 bottles and receive 20% off Saturday March 15, 2008 only. Club member event cost is $10.00 each. Under age teens is $5.00 Non - member cost is $15.00 each and kids under 12 are free! For reservations, please contact the winery at 707-998-9656 or email us the number in your party to: info@shannonridge.com Direction to the vineyards: Take Hwy 20 to Morine Ranch Road in Clearlake Oaks, follow the signs up to the event site.	Clay Shannon, Owner and Celestino Castañeda, Vineyard Manager

Shannon Ridge goes for The Gold! Shannon Ridge brings home the gold, lots of gold, pretty shiny gold!
The San Francisco Chronicle wine competition is one of the most prestigious wine judging competitions in the United States. The 2008 professional wine judging took place at the Cloverdale Citrus Fair during the week of January 7, 2008. Sixty professional wine judges representing trade, education, media, retail, and restaurants throughout the United States evaluated 4,235 wines entered by 1,500 wineries from across the country.	For details on all of Shannon Ridge's Gold and Double Gold Winners! http://www.winejudging.com/medal_winners_2008/ Double Gold: 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Gold: 2006 Zinfandel Gold: 2006 Sauvignon Blanc Gold: 2006 Chardonnay Gold: 2006 Barbera Gold: 2006 Grenache Gold: 2006 Wrangler Red

Shannon Ridge Rallies To The Aid Of Area Youth
CLEARLAKE – Thanks to help from the Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery the City of Clearlake's skate/BMX park was reopened on Jan 23rd. The park was closed earlier this fall after city officials determined its condition was hazardous. In November, the Clearlake City Council – citing budgetary issues – asked for community help in renovating the park. The result was the formation of the Community BMX/Skatepark Committee. Then Shannon Ridge stepped up. "We were challenged by the Clearlake City Council to find the resources to get this park repaired and so far it has been a great effort by many. It was a cause close to my heart because I spent many of my younger years with friends at the park and wanted today's youth to have the same privilege.” said committee member Joey Luiz, who also works as Shannon Ridge's tasting room manager.	The freight cost to transport the flooring from Southern California to Lake County was going to be about $1,500 – about one-third the budget for the skate park's improvements, Luiz reported. Clay Shannon said the decision to get involved was easy. "I was all for Joey taking one of our trucks and going down to Southern California to pick the flooring up and get it delivered to the Public Works Department.” Shannon donated the truck and Luiz donated his time to pick up the flooring materials. At about 10:15 a.m. Dec. 26, a Shannon Ridge flatbed truck – rolled in to Clearlake, where a group of more than 20 people had gathered – including skateboarders and BMX riders of all ages, parents and community members – in anticipation for the delivery. Clearlake Mayor Curt Giambruno said he hoped other area businesses will follow the example set by Shannon Ridge to help improve the community for our youth.	A Shannon Ridge Winery truck arrives in Clearlake Dec. 26 with a load of Skatelite Pro flooring for Clearlake's skate park. Joey Luiz of Shannon Ridge (far left, front row) drove to Southern California to pick up the materials to help save the skate park effort money. Mayor Curt Giambruno, center of the front row, also has been involved in the effort.

Shannon Ridge's 2006 Chardonnay scores 90 points!
Last month our 2006 Chardonnay was the winner at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and International Wine Competition where we took home the prize of a Double Gold Champion of Chardonnay. This month, the Wine Enthusiast magazine gave us another high praise: 90 points on our 2006 Chardonnay! "Smooth, crisply acidic and bone dry, this Chardonnay shows an austere minerality and streamlined texture that makes it very food-friendly. It's packed with Meyer Lemon, yellow apricot and fig flavors that finish long and spicy. Really nice, and shows the promise of Lake County for Chardonnay.” February, 2008.	Need we say more? If you haven't tried the 2006 Chardonnay that Texan's find terrific and critics are complimenting, come on down to the tasting room located in beautiful downtown Clearlake Oaks. Two-hour spring vineyard tours and tastings are available. The cost is $25.00 per person for tasting/tour or $40.00 per person for tasting/tour and lunch. We look forward to seeing you! BUY OUR WINES ONLINE

Showdown at Shannon Ridge: National Endurance Series Final Race

     Be there October 18th and 19th, 2008 to watch all the excitement of possibly the most difficult endurance mountain bike race in America! Proprietors Clay and Margarita Shannon will be there to host this amazing world class event.
     This event will take place in the vineyards at Shannon Ridge, 800 acres with 1,700' of climbing per 7.5 mile lap. This is a 16-hour endurance race which starts at 4:00 starting at the Shannon Ridge tasting room. Contestants will head east on Highway 20, and then their journey begins… 900' of climbing in 1.7 miles, followed by a rolling downhill to the start of the 7.5 mile loop.
     This mountain bike race is the USA Cycling Series Final National Ultra Endurance Series, Race #8. The race and course is designed, promoted and directed by endurance racers. This is a "Racers Race,” meaning that we are making sure that we have the best swag bags, the right sponsors, the best prizes, the most awesome and unique course (where else could you bomb 35 mph downhill with grape vines on either side of you?), good times, hard racing and epic memories! All these things will be enjoyed by the few that get to attend this event. This is a race you do not want to miss. Be sure to register early.
     Rebecca Rush, the current 24-hour solo "World Champion” in mountain biking will be making the trip to Lake County to compete at the Shannon Ridge Showdown along with many of the top ranked male and female Ultra-Endurance racers.

     Rebecca has been honored by Sports Illustrated: Adventure Racing Team of the Year 2003, Outside Magazine: Top Twenty Female Athletes of the Year 2003, and Adventure sports Magazine April 2004: "Adventure Racing's Queen of Pain.” Most recently, Rebecca was featured in Time Magazine, June 06, 2005 and in Shanti Sosienski's book, Women Who Run, published June 2006.
     2006 has been the year of the bike as Rebecca has successfully turned her talents toward endurance solo mountain bike races while continuing to compete in the toughest adventure races of the year. The self-reliance and focus she has learned while continuing to captain world class AR teams serves her well on these grueling long distance races. Rebecca became the 24 Hour Solo Mountain Bike National Champion. Finally, Rebecca's experience in the AR world makes her the perfect consultant for adventure race organizers world-wide. Rebecca has provided course design, logistical support, medical support, and other services for races in the States and abroad.
     The inaugural 2008 Showdown at Shannon Ridge will be limited to the first 300 racers.
     Registration deadline is September 1, 2008. The cost is $120. You must have a USA Cycling race license. One day licenses are available for this race. For more information, please visit usacycling.org.
     Categories for Ultra-Endurance series championship final race are Solo Male and Solo

Female for cash prizes, as well as trophies and prizes to the following: Single Speed Male and Single Speed Female; 2 person teams; 3 to 5 person teams; and an industry race category for employees of the Beer and Wine industry.
"This course is hard!” said Chris Baker, avid mountain bike enthusiast and regional wine salesperson for Shannon Ridge. "Competitors will be riding all night… 16 hours starting at 4:00 p.m.— wow!”
For more information please feel free to visit shannonridgeshowdown.com.

PRIZES

Open/Pro category competes for cash prizes to top three male & female racers. EQUAL payout for male & female athletes. 1st $5000, 2nd $2000, 3rd $1000. All other categories compete for custom awards and prizes. There will be an additional minimum of $1000 in cash prizes for races within the race (i.e. King & Queen of the mountain, fastest lap etc).

"The grapes will be hanging while you're racing… can you hang?” Chris Baker.

Cooking with Shannon Ridge Chardonnay Seafood in a Chardonnay Cream Sauce
We've tried this recipe both ways, with lobster shells and crab shells. So rich and wonderful over any seafood including crab cakes. You'll need: 1/2 med. Onion 1 med. carrot, pealed and coarsely ground 4 med. mushrooms, thinly sliced 1.5 cups Shannon Ridge's 2006 Award winning Chardonnay 4 oz. lobster or crab shells 4 stems of fresh parsley 2 sprigs thyme, chopped 4 sprigs basil, chopped 2 med. Shallots, sliced 4 cups heavy cream Place the carrot, onion, and mushrooms in a small, heavy, non-aluminum saucepan. Cover the pan and cook over low heat until the onion is transparent, about 10 minutes. Add the wine, lobster shells (or crab shells), parsley, basil and the thyme. Raise the heat to medium to high and bring the liquid to a gentle boil. Remove the pan from the heat and set it aside for about 15 minutes. Strain out and discard the solids from the liquid and return the liquid to the pan. Add the shallot and bring the liquid to a boil over	high heat; continue boiling until only about 2 tablespoons of liquid are left, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the cream, reduce the heat slightly, and simmer until the sauce is thick and reduced by about a third, 7 to 10 minutes more. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and a little lemon juice. In a food processor, or with a hand-held blender, process the sauce until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Strain it through a fine mesh sieve and return it to the pan to warm through gently. Season to taste. To keep the sauce warm, set the saucepan inside a bowl of hot (not boiling) water or zap in the microwave for a few seconds until warm.