Field Notes - Page 3 of 32

Sparkling Rosé Paloma

July 7, 2022

We’re happy to be working with Alyson of @wildfolklore and author of The Flower Infused Cocktail on a series of cocktails. This cocktail is a refreshing spin on the Paloma.

We’re imagining enjoying this drink while sitting on a beach somewhere warm, but if you happen to be on the coast in the Pacific Northwest mid-summer with your raincoat on(!), this cocktail will still give you the feeling of summer.

Enjoy with friends, and a rice and bean bowl filled with summer produce straight from the farmers’ market.

SPARKLING ROSÉ PALOMA

2 oz Blanco tequila
2 oz grapefruit juice
1/4 oz orange juice
1/4 oz lime juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
1/4 oz Campari
Underwood Rosé Bubbles
grapefruit slice for garnish

Add tequila, grapefruit juice, orange juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and Campari to a shaker and shake over ice until chilled. Strain into a glass over ice and top with Rosé Bubbles. Garnish with sliced grapefruit and a pinch of flake salt.

Mushroom Burgers with Underwood Pinot Noir

May 27, 2022

It’s that time of year when we break out the grills and head to our local farmers market for all the good things spring has to offer. Whether you enjoy veggie burgers or some kind of meat burger, they all taste better with fresh mushrooms…and pinot noir. For this recipe, we are using good ol’ fashioned ground beef, grilled bacon, sauteed Baby Bella mushrooms, and sharp, white cheddar. Oh, and some tasty shishito peppers on the side are the perfect addition. Grilled shishito’s are easy to make, lightly seasoned, and slightly smoky, you’ll find that most are mild…one out of every ten might surprise you.

Get out there and enjoy the weekend, and as always, drink responsibly and with your #pinkiesdown.

Recipe:

2 pounds (32 ounces) 80/20 ground beef, cold

grilled bacon

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons minced onion

20oz Baby Bella Mushrooms

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 3/4 teaspoons freshly ground pepper

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

6 slices Tillamook sharp cheddar cheese

6 hamburger buns

Butter for buns

Blistered Shishito Peppers

8 ounces shishito peppers—washed and thoroughly dried

1 tablespoon neutral oil (such as vegetable or grapeseed)

Jacobsen Salt (flake)

Grill or fry your bacon so it is done the way you typically like it.

Prepare the burger patties by mixing ground beef with Worcestershire. Add a little salt and pepper and then press into 6 patties.

Wash and slice mushrooms and sauté with garlic and onion, or grill in a grill basket alongside the burgers until onion is opaque and mushrooms begin to turn golden brown. Once cooked, season with salt and pepper to taste.

Grill the burgers to your done-likeness. Add cheese when the burgers are close to being cooked and toast buttered buns on grill. Arrange buns with cooked burgers and spoon mushrooms onto the melted cheese, top with bacon.

For the peppers, heat griddle or grill basket to medium-high heat. Arrange peppers in a single layer with oil and cook until they are lightly charred. Season with flake salt.

Enjoy.

A Guide to Lesser-Known National Parks

April 23, 2022

We’re all familiar with iconic National Parks such as Yellowstone, Zion and the Grand Canyon. But did you know that there are a total of 423 national park sites in the United States, across more than 84 million acres? These include miles and miles of trail systems, protected landmarks, and hundreds of wildlife species.

We’ve picked out a few lesser-known national parks to add to your summer road trip list! Need more inspiration? Check out the National Park’s Site here: Find A Park

(image: Quentin Burgess via Unsplash)

Lassen National Park
Northern California
Area: 106,452 Acres

Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to thousands of wildflowers, clear mountain lakes, volcanoes, and hydrothermal sites with bubbling mud ponds and steaming fumaroles. Vistas dotted with jagged peaks grant endless photo opportunities in this unique California landscape. Summit Lassen Peak for epic views and connect to the Pacific Crest Trail through the park’s forested trail network.

(image: Adan Guerrero via Unspalsh)

Big Bend National Park

Southwest Texas
Area: 801,280 Acres

The Chisos Mountain range and surrounding Chihuahuan desert create a truly spectacular landscape. Ancient limestone canyons, fast-running rivers, hundreds of bird species, and blooming cacti fill this Texas treasure. Stargazing enthusiasts will enjoy the pitch-black night skies full of sparklers.

Shenadough National Park (image: Taylor Wright via Unsplash)

Shenandoah National Park
Virginia
Area: 200,000 Acres

Just 75 miles from Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a tranquil getaway from city life. Full of waterfalls, wildflowers, and wooded vistas. Wildlife enthusiasts will love bird watching and may even spot a black bear! The famous Appalachian Trail connects through the park, traversing rocky peaks and forested wetlands.

(image: Samantha Beaty via Unsplash)

Hot Springs National Park
Arkansas
Area: 5,550 Acres
Hot Springs National Park stands as an icon for healing and an artifact of the “American Spa” of the 20th century. Nine historic bathhouses surrounded by natural thermal springs, deeply forested trails, and mountain views provide a peaceful and rejuvenating experience.

Negroni Noir

March 15, 2022

Our newest cocktail is a play on the classic Negroni, a favorite among the Union Wine Co. team. We worked with Alyson of Wild Folk, who released a cocktail book last year titled: The Flower Infused Cocktail.

NEGRONI NOIR

1 oz gin

1 oz Gran Classico

1/2 oz sweet vermouth

1/2 oz pinot noir syrup

In a mixing glass, stir gin, gran classico, sweet vermouth, and pinot noir syrup with ice until chilled. Strain into your prepared glass and zest with orange peel.

PINOT NOIR SYRUP

1 cup Underwood Pinot Noir

1 1/2 cups demerara sugar

1 cinnamon stick

1 strip of orange peel

1 tbsp dried osmanthus flowers

Combine pinot noir and sugar in a small pot and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. once the sugar has dissolved completely and the syrup has thickened, remove from the heat. Add the cinnamon stick and orange peel, cover, and steep for 30 minutes. During the last 10 minutes, stir in the osmanthus flowers. cool completely before using.

Photography and Recipe by Alyson Brown – Wild Folk

The Women of Union Wine Company

February 28, 2022

Here at Union Wine Company, we are proud to have an incredible group of women, not only on our winemaking team but across the company. We’ve been taking some time these past few weeks to recognize all of the women who work for UWC and what we do. We sat down the other day to discuss the challenges facing women in the wine industry and the growth and excitement we have for the future for women in the wine world.

Listen to our conversation on Spotify or Youtube.