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Must-Try Wines for this Fall
Fall *wink* in Love with These Favs
We’re putting away our flip-flops and bringing out the tall boots. Red, yellow, and orange leaves have begun to fall, leaving branches bare. It’s pumpkin season, y’all!
As much as our Pride loves the light and fruity wines that did us wonders in the summer heat, fall’s wines warm the palette so well. Maybe we’re biased, but we would argue it does it better than a pumpkin spice latte ever could; are we right, ladies?! ;)
You might not be quite ready for full-bodied, rich reds that tend to be associated with winter. Not a problem! There are plenty of lighter reds, aromatic whites, and even Rosés to choose from. Typically, when we hear “Rosé” we associate this pink wine with the sweltering summer. Let’s not limit this wine’s potential. Think of Rosé as the perfect transition wine. In fact, Rosé season never has to end!
Rosé For The Wine
McBride Sisters Collection Brut Rosé is a blend of Pinot and Chardonnay. The Pinot Noir was mainly sourced from Kelly’s Creek Vineyard in Spring Creek, Marlborough. (Fun fact: Andréa helped plant these vines as a child!) This beautifully salmon-colored wine is delicately structured with gentle notes of rose petals and strawberries and cream. The red fruits carry through the palate with cranberry, peach, strawberry, and raspberry notes taking center stage. There is a hint of toasty complexity and creamy richness that makes this versatile wine work so well in the cooler months. There is a dry finish with lingering hints of spice, giving the mouth a kick.
Pair with Bouillabaisse.
Are You Red-y?
McBride Sisters Collection Red Blend is perfect for those late, rainy evenings. This blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon is a garnet gem. Let’s get complex. This wine has flavors of plum, cherry, and blackberry, alongside tobacco and vanilla. That’s not all! Peppery spice and a hint of blackberry show up on the finish—so rich; so luxurious.
Pair with Butternut Squash and Kale Salad.
Dessert and White Wine
Black Girl Magic Riesling is an intensely aromatic white. Its characteristics are typical of a Riesling: honey, apricot, and white flowers. Tangerine, jasmine, and coriander seed appear in the nose. The palette then turns to tropical flavors of guava and pineapple. It doesn’t stop there! Mild sweetness is balanced by tangy citrus for a sweet and sour finish. No one ever said that fall flavors need to be savory!
Pair with the ultimate fall dessert, Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler! Check out the recipe below.
Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler (via Lauren's Latest)
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Serves 8
Ingredients:
Cobbler –
- 1 cup and 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon cloves
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ cup melted butter or vegetable oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
Topping –
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- 1 ½ cups very hot water
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium-sized bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and spices. Set aside.
- In a smaller bowl, combine pumpkin, milk, melted butter, and vanilla together. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix. Pour into a small 8-inch casserole dish with high sides.
- In a separate bowl, stir sugar, brown sugar, and pecans together. Spread over the top of the batter evenly. Pour hot water over the entire thing without stirring, and bake for 40 minutes or once the middle is set. Be sure to place it on a baking sheet in case it bubbles over. Cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with more pecans, vanilla ice cream, and a tall glass of Black Girl Magic Riesling!
Here comes Fall, what could be better than some Sauvignon Blanc. Follow our Sauvignon Blanc’s Essential Guide and taste the best out of it.
Visit our Wine Shop to try all our fall favorites. Happy sipping!
Oct 21, 2019 at 9:03 AM
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Wine Glass Shapes: Does Wine Glass Shape Affect Taste?
Are you a glass-half-full or half-empty kind of person?
If you’ve ever wondered why wine glass shape is such a big deal, we’re here to help clarify. So, why are wine glasses different shapes? Through a number of testings and experiments, experts have found that the shape of the glass has the ability to concentrate the wine’s aroma, further intensifying the varietal characteristics. How can we say no to that?!
For starters, have you ever wondered why are wine glasses shaped like that or does wine glass shape affect the taste? Typically, glasses are composed of three parts: the bowl, stem, and foot. Key factors that drive the shape of the bowl are the release of aromas, the collection of aromas, and the lip. As the alcohol volatilizes at the wine’s surface, aromas are released. The space between the wine and the glass’s lip is where aromas are collected, this process can also simultaneously impact the tasting profile of the wine as it opens up. Wondering why wine glasses are so big? Generally, red wines have larger bowls to highlight their aromas. To maintain their temperature, white wines have smaller bowls. The lip of the glass is usually made quite thin so it’s out of the way and doesn’t affect the drinker’s experience.
Now that we’ve discussed the general guidelines, let’s get down to the specific, nitty-gritty differences in wine glass shapes!
Via Wine Folly.
Let’s break it down!
Red Wine Glasses
By now you know that red wine glasses have wider, rounder bowls. You may not know that these bowls are intended to increase the rate of oxidation. Oxidation allows the complex flavors found in red wines to be smoothed. (Psst! Visit our blog post for information about decanting wine!) Some examples of red wine glasses include:
- Bordeaux glass: This tall, broad bowled glass is designed for bold, full-bodied red wines like our Black Girl Magic Red Blend, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. The wide opening helps smooth the flavor and allows the ethanol to evaporate.
- “Standard” red wine glass: This glass is ideal for medium to full-bodied reds, especially those with spicy notes. Use this glass to sip on Zinfandel, Malbec, Syrah (Shiraz), and Petite Sirah.
- Burgundy glass: The Burgundy glass is broader than the Bordeaux glass. It’s bigger bowl accumulates delicate aromas, like from Pinot Noir.
White Wine Glasses
Compared to red wine glasses, white wine glasses vary quite a bit in shape and size, from the tapered Champagne flute to the wide and shallow glasses used to enjoy Chardonnay.
Similar to red wine glasses, wide-mouthed glasses promote rapid oxidation. Chardonnays, like McBride Sisters Collection Chardonnay, are best served slightly oxidized.
Lighter, crisp wines shouldn’t be oxidized as much, in order to preserve the clean flavor. Look for wine glasses with a smaller mouth intended to reduce the surface area of the wine. Use these glasses for our delicate McBride Sisters Collection Sauvignon Blanc, a summer favorite.
Sparkling Wine Glasses
When you think of sparkling wine glass, you think “Champagne flute.” This tall, narrow-bowled, long-stemmed design is meant to be held by the stem to prevent your hand from heating the wine. The narrow bowl helps to retain that scrumptious carbonation. Also, we can’t deny the Instagrammable quality of the flute! Add a strawberry slice to a glass of McBride Sisters Collection Brut Rosé and get snapping! It also helps to preserve the wine’s floral aromas, express more acidity, and deliver the aromas to the nose.
However, a “universal” or white wine glass is also a great option to enjoy a celebratory glass of sparkling wine or Prosecco. These wider-mouthed glasses allow the aromas to pop out of the glass, which can be muted with the traditional Champagne flute.
“Universal” Wine Glass
This is probably the handiest invention to benefit the wine world. “Universal” glasses are suited for drinking any kind of wine. If you’re a drink-outta-any-glass kind of gal, then the universal wine glass is the shape for you. There’s no need to collect specific glasses for varietals if you classify yourself as a “casual wine fan.” Of course, if you want to step it up a notch, use a standard red wine glass for all reds and a Chardonnay glass for whites.
Go Stemless
Stemless glasses are great for everyday enjoyment. They’re an easy choice if you’re collapsing wine-in-hand after a long workday. However, we don’t recommend using them for higher-quality wines. Without the stem, you're forced to hold the bowl, which warms the wine—a white wine lover's nightmare.
Are your glasses clean and need to be filled? Visit our Wine Club to make your flavor palette and glasses happy with a number of our sophisticated wines. We’ll drink to that! Cheers!
Sources:
https://winefolly.com/tutorial/the-importance-of-a-proper-wine-glass/
https://winefolly.com/tutorial/importance-wine-glass/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_glass
https://daily.sevenfifty.com/examining-the-science-of-wineglass-shapes/
https://www.winemag.com/2018/10/30/how-to-select-the-right-wine-glass/
Aug 15, 2019 at 5:15 PM
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Does Wine Get Better With Age? - McBride Sisters Guide
To Age or Not to Age, That Is the Question.
Does wine get better with age? Many people lead you to believe that’s true. Let’s get to the bottom of that age-old question!
We’re coming to you straight from the McBride Sisters HQ with hard facts! No doubt you’ve heard that wine always improves with age and that you can age any bottle. Au contraire! Age doesn’t improve or worsen wine but changes the flavor, mouthfeel, and color. It’s important to note that wine has more aging potential if the grapes contain less water before harvest.
However, not all wines are made to age. Luckily for us and you, there’s no need to wait to open McBride Sisters Collection wines! Why wait 20 years to open a bottle you love! We appreciate the wine that was intended to be aged, like White Burgundy (Chardonnay) or Bordeaux (which is similar to our Red Blend), but unlike those wines, we've made it so that the wines you love can be consumed now, like our wines in can and under screw cap. Now, for all you age-curious wine connoisseurs, let’s debunk the varieties that have the ability to be aged...and well!
Red Wines
Wines with a low pH have a greater ability to age. Red wines have a higher level of flavor compounds, like tannins. This increases the likelihood that a wine will be able to age.
White Wines
White wines with a high amount of extract and acidity have the longest aging potential because acidity acts as a preservative and because white wines have a lower amount of phenolic compounds. These wines have good aging potential: most Chardonnays can be aged for 2–6 years and Rieslings can be aged for 2–30 years, which is great news for all you white wine-lovers out there!
Rosé and Sparkling Wines
Generally, Rosé’s aging potential is limited through skin contact. After chilling Black Girl Magic Rosé, get pouring! There’s no need to wait. Similar can be said of our McBride Sisters Collection Brut Rosé. Sparkling wines are typically bottled ready-to-enjoy, so pop those bottles!
Put Your Palette to the Test
When wines are young, we taste their primary and secondary notes associated with winemaking techniques, like the creamy nuances in our McBride Sisters Collection Chardonnay from Malolactic fermentation. As wines age, we notice tertiary flavors developing. We also notice that fruit flavors deteriorate rapidly. For example, bold notions of fresh fruit gradually become more subdued and reminiscent of dried fruit.
Acids and alcohols are constantly reacting to form new compounds. The proportion of alcohol, acids, and sugars stay the same, while the flavors continue to change.
Texture, Darling
Texturally, the lines also change. It is said that dry, aged white wines can become almost viscous and oily, while reds tend to feel smoother. Over time, phenolic compounds like tannins become sediment, which changes the texture. We love a full-bodied, smooth Black Girl Magic Red Blend paired alongside Blue Cheese Steak Crostini, a McBride Sisters favorite. Scroll down to grab the recipe!
Color You Impressed?
Color change is the result of slow oxidation. You can tell how young wine is by its color. For example, ruby-red wine is quite young, and as it ages, it will adapt a tawny hue. The amount of air left in the neck of the sealed bottle and how permeable the closure affects the oxidation rate.
Via Wine Enthusiast
Stop by our online Wine Shop to fulfil all your wine wishes. Store a McBride Sisters Collection Chardonnay for later in the year or pop a bottle of our Sparkling Brut Rosé as a fun way to beat the heat! Cheers to that!
And now, without further ado, let’s take a peek at Chef Mark’s latest recipe…
Blue Cheese Steak Crostini
Yield: 15 | Prep: 15 mins| Cook: 15 mins
Ingredients:
- 1 loaf French baguette
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound New York strip
- 1 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon granulated garlic powder
- 1 cup balsamic vinegar
- salt and pepper
- fresh basil for garnish
- fresh grape tomatoes cut in half
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Slice the baguette into 1/2 inch slices on the diagonal, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with garlic.
- Place bread on a baking sheet and toast for 5-7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Pour balsamic vinegar into a small sauce pot, bring to a boil then reduce to a low simmer until the vinegar has halved and thickened. It will coat the back of a spoon when done. Turn off heat and set aside.
- Heat a greased grill pan over medium-high heat.
- Season the steak with salt and pepper and grill or pan sear 3-5 minutes per side for rare to medium-rare.
- To assemble the crostini, top with a piece of steak, blue cheese crumble, and grape tomato. Drizzle the balsamic reduction and top with fresh basil.
Pair with McBride Sisters Collection Red Blend or Black Girl Magic Red Blend! Want more? Welcome to our Wine Club specials!
Aug 1, 2019 at 5:16 PM
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Calling All Females in the Wine Industry...
ACT NOW! The McBride Sisters SHE CAN Professional Development Fund closes TOMORROW at 11:59 pm, PST.
Ladies––we’re talking to YOU! This spring, we announced The McBride Sisters SHE CAN Professional Development Fund to promote the professional advancement of women in the wine industry. As a women-run business, it is inspiring to see other women making waves in this industry.
“Balance is not a women's issue, it's a business issue.” -International Women’s Day
The SHE CAN Professional Development Fund is our way of showing our support for the empowerment of women who strive to make change and create opportunities for themselves in the wine industry. Why? Well, while wine is no longer a boy’s club, the playing field is certainly not a level one. Women make up less than 10% of head winemakers and winery owners. It’s time to close the gap because we know SHE CAN!
We are grateful for the incredible amount of support we have received over the years so we want to show our appreciation through scholarships, ensuring that we continue to overcome gender biases within the industry. We are accepting applications for scholarships until tomorrow (Wednesday), July 31st 2019!
Empower yourself and your business.
#SHECAN’s Road to Empowerment
Let’s take a look at the inspiration behind The McBride Sisters SHE CAN Professional Development Fund. This spring, we toasted women’s empowerment with the introduction of the new wine in a can, made for women, by women. Our Pride welcomed SHE CAN Wines into the McBride Sisters Collection. SHE CAN Wines includes a tropical Sauvignon Blanc and a sophisticated dry Rosé!
You can enjoy these wines where bottles can’t go—at the pool, at a sports game, on a hike, or at a summer backyard BBQ—pass the ribs! SHE CAN Wines reminds women that SHE CAN do anything (PS, check out our #SHECANChaseHerDreams hashtag on Instagram here).
As an environmentally conscious business, we look for ways to cut down on carbon emissions. Because aluminum cans are a lightweight material compared to glass, the carbon footprint to transport SHE CAN is substantially smaller. Since SHE CAN Wines’ launch, we’re excited to see it sold in CA, AZ, LA, OR, and WA.
SHE CAN Make a Difference
Scholarships from The McBride Sisters SHE CAN Professional Development Fund will be awarded in Fall 2019. The application deadline is SUPER soon (aka TOMORROW)! Get your application in by July 31st for your chance to win! For more information about the application process, please visit the official application page.
Guildlines
Each application requires a 1,000-word essay that describes your professional goals and how this scholarship will help you change the wine and spirits industry. Applications also must submit two letters of recommendation, as well as a completed and signed scholarship application that meets the criteria and includes all required attachments. This must be postmarked or electronically submitted by no later than 11:59 PM PST on July 31st, 2019 to be considered for the scholarship.
Good luck to all applicants!* We’re excited to review your applications and we thank you for submitting.
Remember, ladies, SHE CAN do anything!
*Applicants must be 21 years of age or older and a US Resident. Applicants must also have a minimum of three years of active employment within the wine and spirits industry or a related industry.
Jul 30, 2019 at 5:18 PM
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Our Road to Essence
The 4th of July weekend is always full of fireworks, picnics, and bonfires. This year, it was also the weekend of the 25th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana! We had ourselves a BALL, let me tell you. ESSENCE Magazine’s “Party with a Purpose” has grown over 25 years to one of the premiere gatherings for Black music, entertainment and culture, drawing averages of 500,000 attendees annually. Pretty insane, right?!
This year and in the past, ESSENCE Fest has featured some true icons. We’re talkin’ Beyoncé, Barack Obama, Diana Ross, and many more. This year, we joined women and men from all over the U.S. to watch Missy Elliott shake it on stage and hear Michelle Obama speak her truth. Pharrell Williams, Mary J. Blige, Timbaland, Normani, City Girls—the list goes on!
ESSENCE Fest wasn’t just limited to the daytime hours. ESSENCE After Dark had fantastic comedy shows, late night jam sessions, live podcast recordings, and underground performances. As Billboard put it, the After Dark series gives “an opportunity for those not willing (or able) to commit to the nightly concert ticket price to enjoy smaller, niche-genre shows.” We couldn’t have been more psyched to attend again!
While we’re relishing in the 2019 ESSENCE experience, let’s rewind a bit to give you the full #EssenceFest picture…
“ESSENCE is where Black Women Come First for news, entertainment, and motivation.”
–ESSENCE
Founded in 1968, Essence Communications Inc. introduced ESSENCE, forever changing the magazine industry. With a monthly circulation of 1,050,000 and a readership of 8.5 million, they seek to inspire and empower their readers––male and female. Essence Communications Inc. has extended its influence to now include music, through the ESSENCE Festival. The 25th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival celebrated the empowerment of African Americans from all walks of life. As our friends at ESSENCE say, “it’s a party with a purpose.”
ESSENCE Fest is particularly special to us because we launched Black Girl Magic Riesling at ESSENCE Fest 2018 (view more 2018 ESSENCE Festival throwbacks here, here, and here). Since then, we’ve welcomed Black Girl Magic Red Blend and Rosé, making the Black Girl Magic family a badass trio of flavorful wines (visit our Wine Shop for more details)! This year, you better believe we brought the whole Black Girl Magic #GirlGang to NOLA.
Last year, we hosted an impromptu Midnight Brunch. Take a peek at last year’s brunch here! This year, we hosted our very first SHE CAN Chase Her Dreams Midnight Brunch, co-hosted with Chase Consumer Bank (and their fabulous CEO, Thasunda Duckett). Of course, we were also excited to include our favorite "Queen of the Kitchen,” Chef Mimi.
This year, we were also pleased to announce our sponsorship of The Jane Club Signature Work Space. The Jane Club is a co-working space for women in Los Angeles. They empower working mothers by providing 24/7 childcare, on-site spa treatments, and other much needed benefits. The Jane Club had an amazing pop-up at Melrose Mansion in Northern LA for the duration of the festival.
And last but not least, we were thrilled to see those of you who made it out to The Black Wine Experience from July 5th-6th, presented by Hue Society. The Black Wine Experience featured a number of celebrated multicultural brands, events, and our fellow vintners over the span of three days. Guests were offered to experience exclusive tastings, pairings, live demos, and awards.
We felt so grateful to have the opportunity to support other amazing Black-owned businesses at the 25th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival. We’re already counting down the days till next year’s festival, and we hope you are too! :) Before seeing you next year, dear friends, don’t forget to enjoy tiny little happiness in your daily life. Try out our seasonal Wine Club with your beloved families and friends.
Until Next Time...
Jul 29, 2019 at 5:19 PM
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Chardonnay-A-Day
Chardonnay’s adaptability to a range of climates allows it to flourish in almost every wine region in the world. This makes it an international grape variety! Originating from Burgundy in eastern France, the Chardonnay grape is neutral in flavor, so it gets its kick from the fermentation process.
Celebrate International Chardonnay Day in McBride Sisters fashion! Follow these easy steps to guarantee a fun-filled evening.
Put your fave artist on blast. We love us some Ciara, new and old! Girl Gang (feat. Kelly Rowland) is golden.
- Crack a bottle of McBride Sisters Collection 2020 Chardonnay. Chilled, crisp wine is a great post-work way to wind down. Ask anyone.
- Throw together Chef Mark’s Butter Lemon Pepper Cornish Hens (see recipe below) for a gorgeously simple dinner that pairs well with our 2020 Chardonnay.
- Jam out while the hens roast!
Just What the Doctor Ordered
The McBride Sisters Collection 2020 Chardonnay reigns from the Central Coast of California. We classify all of our wines, including our Chardonnay, of being an old world style with new world finesse. Our 2020 Chardonnay is full of fresh, fruit-driven aromas. Lemon zest and green apple mix with pineapple and a toasty, custardy grace note When people hear “Chardonnay,” they tend to associate it with a buttery, heavy flavor. Ours, however, has a balanced creamy mid-palate. This has nothing to do with the grape itself and everything to do with the winemaker’s style choices—sense the McBride flare?
Get to Know the Process
Like for each of our wines, time and care went into every step of the bottling process. Chardonnay clusters were tightly pressed then moved to a settling tank, where they remained for 24 hours. Afterwards, the juice was racked to tank or barrel where fermentation commences. For added depth and complexity, 15% of the wine was barrel fermented to create the classic Chardonnay texture and very subtle oak notes. To conserve fresh and crisp fruit notes, the balance of the wine (85%) was fermented in stainless steel. Uniquely, only 75% of the wine was put through Malolactic fermentation (where the creamy texture comes from). Following 8 months of aging, the wine was blended before being filtered and bottled.
As we like to say, a glass of Chardonnay a day keeps the doctor away!
Chef Mark’s Butter Lemon Pepper Cornish Hens
Serves: 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 3 Cornish game hens patted dry with paper towels
- 4 tablespoons salted butter (room temperature)
- 3 large cloves garlic, peeled & chopped
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice (keep 3 halves of lemons to stuff in hens)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 3 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup McBride Sisters Chardonnay
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Pat the hens dry with a paper towel.
- Mix the butter, garlic, lemon juice, pepper, and salt (set aside).
- Use your index finger to loosen the skin on the top of the hen and slip the lemon pepper butter under the skin on top of each breast. Repeat for each hen. Put a quarter of a lemon in the cavity of each hen. Truss the hens by tying the wings and legs.
- Rub each hen with the remaining lemon pepper butter. Sprinkle extra salt and pepper on the skin then drizzle with olive oil. Place the hens on the rack of a roasting pan lined with aluminum foil, spacing them out so they are far apart from each other. This will enable their skins to get browned and crispy.
- Place the hens in the preheated oven and roast for 25 minutes.
- While the hens are roasting, combine the chicken broth and wine in a bowl.
- After the hens have been roasting for 25 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F. Pour the broth/wine mixture over the hens and continue to roast for 30 minutes, basting the hens with the juices at the bottom of the pan every 10 minutes or less. The hens are done when internal temperature reaches 165°F and the juices run clear. If you prefer darker skins, turn up the temperature once cooked to broil for a couple of minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
- Carefully remove the hens and pour the juices from their cavities into the roasting pan. Transfer the hens to a warmed platter, remove the trussing and tent with aluminum foil to week warm. Pour the juices from the roasting pan into a saucepan and boil for about 5 minutes until the liquid is a thin sauce-like consistency.
- Serve the hens whole per guest or cut in half lengthwise. Drizzle the sauce over the hens and serve immediately alongside McBride Sisters Collection 2020 Chardonnay.
Love this recipe as much as we do? Learn more about the creative genius behind this dish. Visit www.southerntemptation.com to get to know Chef Mark Phillips and his culinary expertise. Also, don’t forget to treat yourself well, check out our seasonal Wine Club plans to enjoy a moment in your daily life. Cheers!
Facebook: Southern Temptation
Instagram: @ChefSouthernTemp
** The McBride Sisters SHE CAN Professional Development Fund is accepting scholarship applications until July 31st. **
May 24, 2019 at 5:20 PM
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SHE CAN’s Family Roots
The McBride Sisters logo is so much more than just a logo. The crest reflects our Sisterly bond and is designed with our shared father, represented as a proud peacock (he was known to be quite cocky) over the initials “MS” for McBride Sisters. The “S” is styled to look like a loc of our curly hair.
The two lionesses represent each of our mothers, supporting us from each side, the strongest women we know. They were the first to tell us that SHE CAN do anything. After all, lionesses are the true leaders of a pride. Matriarchies all the way!
Attention, Class:
Raise your hand if you would like some backstory behind the SHE CAN can designs!
We've decided to honor our mothers in the packaging for the SHE CAN line. The strong and empowered lionesses on the sides of the Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé cans pays tribute to the women who encouraged and inspired us throughout our lives. Our mothers led us to where we are today, and for that, we are so grateful! They told us we CAN do anything we set our minds to because they knew that no goal or dream is too big.
We (Robin and Andréa) consider ourselves to be a pride. That’s why we have “join the fearless pride” printed on the cans. We took the lionesses from our McBride Sisters Collection logo and placed an enlarged version on each SHE CAN. Sauvignon Blanc is dedicated to Andréa's mums (birth mother and foster mother) so their initials are by the lioness (P.J. & D.H.H.). Meanwhile, Rosé is dedicated to Robin's mom, and her nickname is by the lioness (KOKO). Design is a wonderful way to express a message through illustration, and we’re glad we had the creative opportunity to pay tribute to three extra special women. Love you, Mom and Mums!
KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DRINKING: A single can of SHE CAN is equivalent to two and a half glasses of wine (or half of a bottle). Therefore, it’s much more than a single serving. Quality and quantity! Please enjoy responsibly!
** The McBride Sisters SHE CAN Professional Development Fund is now accepting scholarship applications until July 31st. **
May 11, 2019 at 5:21 PM
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Californian Wine is Thicker Than Water
Let’s throw it back 20 years. In 1999, Andréa and I met for the first time. No longer were we separated by the 7,000 miles between California and New Zealand. In 2005, Andréa and I began importing wine from New Zealand and then we moved our focus on different aspects in the wine industry. It was a long journey, and it wasn’t until 2016 when we started McBride Sisters Wines, proving that blood (and wine) is thicker than water.
Monterey, California has always been my home and is a source of my love of wine. As you probably know, California makes about 90% of all American wine. The state’s ideal growing conditions are determined by its size and diversity of soils and climates. Over 110 varieties of wine grapes are grown in California, including the flavorful fruit used to make our 2020 McBride Sisters Collection Red Blend. This 2020 Red Blend is a mix of Merlot, Zinfandel, Malbec and Petite Sirah from vineyards in Paso Robles and Monterey County.
McBride Sisters Collection 2020 Red Blend
Get Snacking!
A Californian spring is the best spring. The sun is out and so are the lupines and poppies. It’s also the beginning of the backyard BBQ-ing season. Open a bottle of our 2020 McBride Sisters Collection Red Blend, the perfect wine that has a peppery and herbal finish to pair with a juicy steak.
Try Chef Mimi’s Wontons Stuffed with Flank Steak, Mushrooms and Goat Cheese Garnished with Red Bell Peppers recipe paired with our McBride Sisters Collection 2020 Red Blend. The earthy flavor of the mushrooms, tender steak, and creamy goat cheese complement the velvety, richness of the Red Blend. Why limit this dish to the appetizer portion of the evening? Honestly, it could be a full meal!
Visit our Wine Shop to purchase a bottle of McBride Sisters Collection 2020 Red Blend.
Chef Mimi’s Wontons Stuffed with Flank Steak, Mushrooms and Goat Cheese Garnished with Red Bell Peppers
- 24 wonton wrappers
- 1 cup of goat cheese,
- 1 lb mushrooms
- 1 lb flank steak
- Red bell pepper
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit
Preparation
- Spray a mini muffin pan with olive oil spray.
- Place the small wonton wrappers in the muffin pan cups. Line the cups against the wall of the muffin cups with your fingers. Spray oil on wontons.
- Place in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown and cups are formed.
- Let cool for 5 or more minutes then remove the cups.
Goat Cheese Mixture
- Mix the goat cheese with mushrooms, garlic salt, and pepper to taste, then place in the refrigerator until the steak is done.
The Steak
- Sear flank steak to your liking (preferably medium) and season with salt to taste.
- Thinly slice the flank steak and set aside.
Assemble
- Fill the cups with the goat cheese mixture, then top with flank steak.
- Garnish with red bell peppers.
We Work Best In Pairs
It can be daunting to choose a complementary pairing that heightens both the wine and dish. Don’t worry, we got you! Red Blends comprised of Merlot, Zinfandel, Malbec, and Petite Sirah like our 2020 Red Blend work fabulously with the following:
- Red meat (steak, lamb, pork, duck)
- Cured meat (chorizo, prosciutto, pancetta)
- Roasted root vegetables
- Dessert (dark chocolate, berries)
A bottle of McBride Sisters Collection 2020 Red Blend is not enough? Want more to share? Come visit our Wine Club and enjoy with your beloved families and friends.
Now get creating!
Apr 9, 2019 at 5:22 PM
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SHE CAN: Embrace the can, empower her path! — McBride Sisters Wines
You’ve seen our Instagram teasers and read our Wine Down Wednesday newsletter, but in case you missed it, we’re excited to welcome our newest Sisters, SHE CAN Wines, into the family!
2018 SHE CAN Sauvignon Blanc by The McBride Sisters comes from Marlborough, New Zealand. This Sauvignon Blanc is perfect if you’re in the mood for a crisp, tropical bevvy. You’ll notice a careful balance of passion fruit, fresh kiwi, and white fig. Juicy citrus notes tie the flavors together and linger on the tongue.
Our 2018 SHE CAN Rosé by the McBride Sisters is a blend of Pinot Noir (45%), Merlot (32%), and Zinfandel (23%) from the Central Coast of California. We’ve created a dry wine with the refreshing flavors of white raspberry, orange and mandarin zests compliment the chalky earth notes. This Rosé has us feeling ever so sophisticated.
Try our cans on their own or mix it up with wine cocktails. See our recipe below!
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SHE CAN…And She Does!
We’ve created “The McBride Sisters SHE CAN Professional Development Fund” to promote the advancement of women in the wine industry. Our fund will provide scholarships to women across the industry whose career goals can be advanced by professional development programs in any sector of our industry. Why? Because the wine industry is no longer a boy’s club, but it’s still not a level playing field. Women make up less than 10% of head winemakers and winery owners, even though there are more women with enology degrees than men. Let’s close this gap because we know #SHECAN!
We will begin accepting applications for scholarships on April 1st, 2019! Yes, SHE CAN!
Picnic weather is finally here and we’re SO relieved. There couldn’t be a better way to celebrate spring than to sit on a sun-warmed blanket with wine-in-hand. Icy cocktails pair perfectly with warm weather. Want to change up your sangria game? Give our fresh SHE CAN Rosé Sangria a try! Want more to share? Come visit our Wine Club and enjoy with your beloved families and friends!
** The McBride Sisters SHE CAN Professional Development Fund Scholarship Applications will be open on April 1st, 2019. **
Mar 22, 2019 at 5:24 PM
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