Did you know that St. Valentine is the patron saint of engaged couples and happy marriages? According to History.com, February 14th was thought to be the day that birds and humans came together to find or choose a mate. And because there are several St. Valentine's in history, you can celebrate the day on January 7th by honoring St. Valentine of Raetia or the only female St. Valentine (Valentina) on July 25th. Our 2021 Valentine's Day is going to be celebrated with a romantic dinner for two with homemade chocolate cheesecake. The challenge, of course, is picking a recipe! Our [...]

Cold winter evenings call for rich, hearty meals that warm our spirit. Nothing matches cabernet sauvignon better than a flavorful cut of beef, grilled to perfection. Top with a peppercorn sauce and/or a sprig of rosemary and you've created a memorable and, yes, romantic meal for two. At Estate 1856, we love using our grill throughout the year. Sometimes, it's the simpler recipes that let the flavors pop. In this case, we recommend that you find a locally sourced cut of beef, season simply with with salt and pepper and grill to your preference. If you'd like a bolder flavor, [...]

Late summer is a majestic season for our winery and vineyards. The sugars are rising, the grapes are glistening among leaves lit by the now golden afternoon sunshine.  Our summer garden has produced plenty of veggies and fruit but the highlight of the year may be our blackberries. The berries are massive, with some more than two inches long. Each bite offers a mouthful of aromatic, sweet juice. Who doesn’t love the taste of blackberries, right? With two long rows of thornless berries, we’ve had a huge crop. Of course, enjoying them fresh  off the vine makes for the perfect [...]