Dear Dawn's Dreamers,
Around late October, many of us are probably starting to wonder where the entire year went in the first place! The mind can spin at the thought of months flown by, each day filled with a swirl of activity, reminders of things accomplished, and some things still "on the agenda." Perhaps it's one of life's little paradoxes that, just as we find ourselves bewildered by the rush of turning calendar pages, the promise of the coming holidays awaits to refresh the spirit. (Speaking of refreshment and the month of October, be sure to drop by our tasting room on Halloween for a special “treat”– and don’t forget to wear your costume!) At Dawn's Dream we're always thrilled to share the anticipation of impending festivities with you. In fact, we'd love to add a bit of our own sparkle to your plans for friends, family, and good times to be enjoyed – all while wishing you and your loved ones a safe and joyous holiday season, along with a very Happy New Year. After all, if the calendar has the audacity to vanish so swiftly into the past, the least we can do is meet the future "full dream ahead."
Warm Regards,
Dawn Galante
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As many of you know, the entire team at Dawn's Dream is passionate about giving back to our community, and we’re pleased to report that Pinot mixed with octane for the third year at the 2015 Barnyard Ferrari Event! Yes, we paired our wine with Monterey Meringues and hosted a fundraiser for Guitars Not Guns, a charity started to help stop violence in schools and on the streets by providing a music program for at-risk teens and other deserving children. A percentage of all sales went back to Guitars Not Guns and a great time was had by all! In other news, we supported fundraising efforts for Girls Inc. at their annual Wine and Chocolate event held at Corral de Tierra, and Dawn’s Dream had the distinct pleasure of being a part of the Rising International Luncheon. This was a very successful event held to raise awareness and funds to combat human trafficking. While there, the Dawn’s Dream team was able to shop for hand-crafted art made by remarkable women from over 20 countries, including the debut of the Safe and Sound bracelet made by local foster youth. It was great to know that everything we bought helped someone in need. Likewise, the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes provided all of us with yet another opportunity to show how much we can make a difference as a community. The lovely three-mile walk took place Sunday, October 18th, at Lover's Point Park in beautiful Pacific Grove. For an extra dash of fun, Dawn's Dream also launched its Thirsty Thursday Happy Hours on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Guests enjoyed wine specials, food pairings, and lots of great company. September's Happy Hour included grape-tasting direct from the vineyard.
Finally, our long-awaited Fall Wine Club was released at the tasting room for our “pickup” wine club members. The party was a blast, with small bites and complimentary wine flights that included samples of everything in the current club release. For our non-pick-up members, shipments were sent on Monday, October 26th. Enjoy, good friends!
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Holiday Gift & Food Drive Kickoff
Sunday, November 1 to December 24 - 1:00 - 7:00 pm
Get in the holiday spirit! We are proud and excited to begin collecting the much-needed food and gifts for the Food Bank for Monterey County and Voices for Children (CASA). November 1st through Christmas, we will have barrels set up at the Dawn’s Dream tasting room so that you can bring a non-perishable food item and/or an unwrapped gift in exchange for a $10 voucher to spend at our tasting room any way you like: wine flights, bottles of wine, retail items. Below is a little bit of information about the two groups we’re supporting this year and we dearly hope that you’ll join us on this special mission!
Voices for Children is a foundation that trains and supports community volunteers who mentor and guide children in the foster care system. They will be accepting gifts for all ages. Many of the children need to pick out a gift for their foster-mom and dad or siblings, so we are indeed collecting gifts for people ages 2 to 100 years old. Voices for Children absolutely transforms the lives of abused children.
The Food Bank for Monterey County is the largest provider of emergency and supplemental food in Monterey County, as well as being a key proponent of anti‐hunger education and advocacy. The Food Bank is a member of the network of Feeding America Food Banks, known formerly as America’s Second Harvest. Please bring non-perishable food items.
At Dawn’s Dream, we will be celebrating this Gift and Food Drive with a special Holiday Party on Sunday, December 13 - 2:00 - 5:00 pm. See all the details below.
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Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour
Thursday, November 19 - 5:00 - 7:00 pm
This installment of our Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour is designed to take the edge "off" and put the laughter back "in" when it comes to the often stressful holidays! Get your gift-buying done early and join us for conversation and lots of camaraderie. Compare holiday conquests with friends and fellow guests, or add to your tally of treasures by taking advantage of our fabulous wine specials. Everyone is invited and, as always, complimentary small bites will be on hand to fuel the fun.
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Nutcracker Gala Fundraiser
Friday, December 11 - 5:00 - 8:00 pm
Walk the red carpet with your host, Dance Kids board member Maddox Haberdasher, December 11th at the Sunset Center and experience a Spanish-themed gala fundraising event! Dance Kids is a youth performance nonprofit organization celebrating twenty-two years of performance excellence, and the gala will benefit their outstanding efforts. You will be swept away into the magical land of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince with hors d’oeuvres and wondrous holiday treats by the Peninsula’s favorite chef, Wendy Brodie and her staff. Galante Vineyards and Dawn’s Dream wines create the perfect classical elegance to this holiday “must see” event.
Meet and listen to the music of world-class Jalisco harpist, William Faulkner, who has rewritten the beloved Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky classic, Nutcracker, for the Dance Kids Cascanueces performances. Cascanueces (Spanish for “Nutcracker”) is an outreach program dedicated to the educational aspect of the art of ballet and its European heritage, fused with the power of folkloric dance and Hispanic culture. A mariachi band will lend its sound to this fun fundraiser, which will also feature silent and live auctions to support the dedication of the young people committed to the mission of Dance Kids of Monterey County.
Your gala ticket entitles you to premier seating in the theatre and the opportunity to be the first to see the much-awaited revival of this classic by Los Angeles choreographer Andrea Paris-Gutierrez. Dance Kids’ own Sugar Plum Fairy will perform opening night. Saturday night and Sunday matinee will feature Dylan Gutierrez and Jeraldine Mendoza, guest artists who will appear courtesy of The Joffrey Ballet, Chicago. Dance Kids is thrilled to welcome these terrific professional dancers to the Sunset Center stage and, without a doubt, they welcome the educational aspects our dancers will glean from professional dancers in their cast.
Tickets are available at www.sunsetcenter.org or the box office 831-620-2048.
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Dawn's Dream Holiday Party & Gift Drive
Sunday, December 13 - 1:00 - 5:00 pm
The holidays are a difficult time for foster children and one of the most painful issues for them is not being able to acquire gifts to give to their foster parents and family members. We are delighted to partner with our neighbors, Thinker Toys, the most historical toy store in all of Monterey County, and with the fashionable & fun clothing store, Ms Fabulous, to provide gifts for children, teens and adults in support of Voices for Children. Thinker Toys will be offering 25% off any items purchased for this cause between November 1st through December 13th. Ms. Fabulous will be offering 20% off any item purchased on December 13th. Dawn’s Dream will be offering a $10 voucher to spend at the tasting room any way you like: wine flights, bottles of wine, retail items when you bring-in any unwrapped gift and a non-perishable food item from November 1st through Christmas. In addition to the festive atmosphere that charitable giving provides, we will be offering live holiday music, delicious light fare, and, of course, your favorite wines! Please contact Sara with any questions.
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Special Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour
Thursday, December 17 - 2:00 - 7:00 pm
Join us for this Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour featuring the beautiful Rising International market place! We love this time of year when Dawn’s Dream gets in full swing “Giving” mode. Get an early start on your own holiday shopping while unwinding from the busy week. Rising International is bringing their marketplace of beautiful handmade items made by the world’s most forgotten women. Help Dawn’s Dream support these brave and talented women locally and globally while enjoying some of your favorite Dawn’s Dream wines and delicious small bites. Don’t worry, our Happy Hour is still designed to take the edge “off”, so join us for this monthly event.
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Dream Team Only! 2015 Pinot Noir Rosé Unveiling Party
Tuesday, December 22 - 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Attention Dream Team! You are cordially invited to a private unveiling of our new release 2015 Pinot Noir Rosé on Tuesday, December 22nd from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at Dawn’s Dream tasting room in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Our Dream Team members will be the first to see and taste it! This vintage of Rosé has a distinctive new look, but we promise you the same great flavors that your palate is used to enjoying. We can’t wait for your feedback. Don’t worry – there’ll be superbly paired small bites and plenty of Rosé for all you. Since you’ll be the first to behold our new Rosé look, we’re hoping that you can help us get the word out by taking a picture of yourself in the Dawn’s Dream bathtub while holding a bottle of our gorgeous new Rosé. Post your picture and tag Dawn’s Dream on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and be the first to spread the news! Please note that we will be having a public Rosé release party for everyone on Saturday, January 9 from 2:00 - 5:00 pm, just in case you can’t make the private release party.
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The perfect holiday gift?
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Dawn's Dream Gift Baskets
Unsure about the perfect holiday gift? We've already dreamed-it-up for you! Create an unforgettable moment for friends and family. Reward a special client or employee with treats guaranteed to make a sparkling impression. Our fabulous selection of Dawn's Dream gift baskets takes the guesswork out of Good Cheer this holiday season and, don't worry – we won't breathe a word if you get one for yourself, too! Come in, call or email Sara to get ahead on your holiday shopping!
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Dawn's Dream Gift Cards - Available Now
No matter what the occasion – birthdays, weddings, Thank You notes, anniversaries, holiday gifts, or "just because" – we have your simple solution: Dawn's Dream Gift Cards! Share the wine experience that you've come to love with those YOU love. Use our gift cards as stocking stuffers or company party-favors and invite your coworkers, family, and friends to begin their own exciting and delicious relationship with Dawn's Dream Winery. The gift cards are available now for purchase at our tasting room, on our website, or over the phone at (831) 659-2649 in denominations of $25 and $50. Give the gift that will excite everyone and, who knows – they might even share some of their fabulous wine selections with you!
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Enjoy Smoky Glazed Ham with Nicole Pinot Noir
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The secret to a successful holiday feast is doing most of the preparation ahead of time, for what's called "easy game-day execution." Make the sauce that becomes a sweet-sticky glaze and the spicy pepper jelly a few days in advance; then all you have to do is bake the ham on the big day.
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Ingredients
• 3 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
• 3 cups water
• 2 cups cola
• 1-1/2 cups Nicole Pinot Noir
• 1/2 cup turbinado sugar
• 1/2 cup buckwheat honey or other dark honey
• 1/4 red wine vinegar
• 1/2 sweet onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup (2ounces) fresh ginger, thinly sliced
• 1 carrot, thinly sliced
• 5 (small) dried red chiles
• 1-1/2 teaspoons coriander seeds, crushed
• 1-1/2 teaspoons fennel seeds, crushed
• 1-1/2 teaspoons black peppercorns, crushed
• 1 bone-in smoked ham
Preparation:
In a large saucepan, bring the stock, water, cola, wine, sugar, honey vinegar, onion, ginger and chiles to a boil. Simmer over moderately high heat for 20 minutes. Add the coriander and fennel seeds and peppercorns and simmer until reduced to 4 1/2 cups, 15 to 20 minutes longer. Strain the sauce throught a fine sieve into a heatproof bowl.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Set the ham skin side up in a 12-by-15 inch roasting pan and pour half of the sauce on top. Roast the ham for 1 hour basting with the sauce in pan every 15 minutes.
Pour the remaining sauce over the ham and roast for about 1 hour and 30 minutes longer, basting the ham every 15 minutes, until glazed and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part registers 120 degrees. Transfer the ham to a carving board and let rest for 15 minutes. Discard the skin from the ham before slicing. Serve the ham with the Red Pepper Jelly.
After you've shared your delectable pairing with family and friends, please share your thoughts with us on the Dawn’s Dream Blog, Facebook, or even Twitter.
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DAWN'S DREAM EVENT CALENDAR
For more information on any upcoming event or to RSVP, you may simple reply to this email or contact our office at (831) 659-2649.
November 19 - Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour
November 30 - Red Monday Sale
December 6 - Inns of Distinction Tour 2015
December 11 - Carmel-by-the-Glass
December 13 - Holiday Party & Gift Drive
December 17 - Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour
December 22 - Rosé Release Party - MEMBERS ONLY
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