February we are releasing our 2007 Primitivo and 2007 My Sweet Baby Late Harvest Syrah!

The Primitivo has vibrant, fresh fruity flavors of dark cherry, blackberry, and plum. Rich mouth feel with slightly warm and spicy tannins. Hints of hazelnut and mocha. This excellent wine is smooth and structured. Don't miss out... The Primitivo was the first to sell out of our 2005 and 2006 vintages!

The 2007 TANIS "My Sweet Baby" Late Harvest Syrah is as tasty as the 2006 but with more fruit forward characteristics. It's definitely another 'Sweet Baby' to love!

For Valentine's Day and every weekend in February we will have a variety of chocolate candies available for sampling with our wines. Bring your sweetheart for great wine and tasty chocolate and a relaxing afternoon in the wine country! Valentine's Day weekend (Feb 13-14) 'My Sweet Baby' Late Harvest Syrah is 20% off with the mention of this post.

My Sweet Baby Late Harvest Syrah is not the only baby at Tanis... we also have a newly hatched chick! We love sharing some of the bright little moments of our life with you and hope it brings you some joy. Whether it's talking about things that matter with people who care over a great bottle of wine, or watching a chick hatch, life is full of special moments and we hope your year is filled with many of them. Watching the hatching made me think of life. It's a hard process for the chick to make his way out of the egg, yet he must go through it in order to survive and thrive. Maybe our life is like that in a way as well, with the dificulties we face being part of the process that allows us to finally "break out of our shells" in the end to a new life we never knew before. Come by and see the new chick!

Also, we now have farm fresh eggs for sale in the tasting room. Our happy chickens are laying delicious brown and green eggs. Have you ever seen a green egg? I'm told there are blue varieties too! The green eggs taste just like the brown and you can serve "Green Eggs & Ham!"

See you soon!

Jill & Andrew

Winter at Tanis Vineyards Winery!

Would you believe last week we were walking in a Winter Wonderland? The weather outside was frightful, but the wine was so delightful! Jack Frost was more than nipping at our nose, he was sitting on our wine barrels! It was so beautiful we still said, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"

Thank you to everyone who has shown us kindness, caring and support this past year. We are very thankful to have our little tasting room open and we are glad to be a part of your everyday life and special celebrations through our wine on your table. Thank you to the many friends who came down to Clark's Corner for the Wine Tasting and Jazz Event. It was one of the most enjoyable nights out we've had in a long time!

Warmest of wishes to each and every one of you for a bright and beautiful holiday season. May your life and your home be blessed...

Whatever the New Year brings us in our personal lives or in the world, remember this wonderful quote with us:

All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.

~ Saint Francis of Assisi.

Keep Shining,

Jill & Andrew

FOOD, WINE, & SONG for the Holidays!


Have you discovered the Dancing Bear Restaurant on Main Street in Plymouth yet? Tanis Vineyards wants you to! Stop by Tanis Vineyards any weekend now through the end of December and you'll get a Dancing Bear coupon with any wine purchase! Coupons are good for a free appetizer with your Entree order at the Dancing Bear any day of the week! We recommend the Dancing Bear Jalapeno Poppers (nice big peppers stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped in bacon), or their chicken wings (spicy and slow cooked to perfection in the smoker)!


Have you been wondering if Jill can sing? Come find out! Friday, December 4th, from 6-8 PM, Jill Tanis will be singing some great jazz standards at Clark's Corner Coffeehouse (and all-around-fun-place) at 12 W. Main Street in Ione, CA 95640. Tasting of Tanis wines will also be available for the evening! Don't miss out, it's sure to be an exciting time!


Are you still pondering how many Spicy Pumpkin Cheesecake Caramels were in that jar? The final count was 273!!! We had 2 winners: Ronnie P. and Jim H.! We've sent out winner emails! Come on in and get your prize!


Wondering if you can still get Kari Ginnelly's amazing ceramic art? Most of Kari's pieces are gone, but she is bringing in a brand new set for the last two weekends in November! Also, Kari will be IN THE TASTING ROOM the early part of the day Saturday, November 21st! Come by and meet her!


Asking yourself if we are open the Friday after Thanksgiving? YES, we are!

Have you been looking for more reasons to visit Tanis Vineyards? Our Sangiovese, Barbera, and Pinotage will pair amazingly with your holiday meals!

You've had a lot of questions lately, haven't you? Come see us at Tanis Vineyards. We have answers! Tanis Vineyards is at 13120 Willow Creek Road, Ione CA 95640. Need more info or directions? Call us at 209-274-4807 we are happy to hear from you and hope to see you soon!

OCTOBER IS SPICY PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE CARAMELS MONTH AT TANIS VINEYARDS!



October is ONE exciting month for us and we have a LOT going on around here! Not only are we crushing and pressing our 2009 varietals, we are also BOTTLING our 2007's!!!! If you happen to stop by on a day we are bottling, you can taste what's going into the bottle, and if you like, you can bottle and cork your own wine!! Big fun!!!

All month we are featuring our new spicy pumpkin caramel candy that is an absolute 10 with Tanis 2007 Pinotage! (If you've not tasted the 07 Pinotage yet, do come by, you're going to LOVE it!) Our new spicy pumpkin candy makes me think of Thanksgiving. From the turkey to the pumpkin pie, our Pinotage will be a fabulous pairing for your Thanksgiving meal!

All October we have our new Pinotage and our new Sangiovese on the bar, and there are more varietals being bottled almost every weekend! October is awesome at Tanis Vineyards, and we have some great things planned for November too!

Hope to see you soon at this crazy time of year!

2007 TANIS PINOTAGE RELEASE!
(September 2009)

While some of us enjoy the last of the "Lazy Cat Days of Summer," the rest of us are working hard bottling and labeling our Tanis 2007's and crushing the 2009 harvest! What a fun, busy, crazy time of year this is for us!



NEW RELEASE!



The Tanis 2007 Pinotage is bottled and ready, and NEWLY RELEASED on the bar this coming weekend! (September 19th and 20th)

Crimson/purple and velvety smooth on the palate, our Tanis 2007 Pinotage has a dark, cedary, smoky oak and spicy vanilla nose. It reminds me of the smell of one of Uncle Doc's really good cigars. Peppery spice carries through to the palate, and lovely sweet berry fruits...cherry, cranberrry, hints of blueberry, linger with a silky mouthfeel. This Pinotage has taken a different direction from last years vintage. I'd describe it as sophisticated with a touch of something wild! Can't wait to try this one with spicy grilled lamb. Have a great recipe? Send it our way!

Our 2007 Sangiovese and many of our other 07 varietals will be coming soon. Some are already bottled and just waiting on labels. The 07 lineup is really going to be a great one. We can't wait to get them all on the bar to share with you!

Chicken update:
As you can see the chickens are growing and crowing! In just a month or two we should be making Farm Fresh Egg Frittatas!



Meet Shadow:
As if we needed more cats, this little girl who needed a home caught our eye at the Feed Barn in Jackson! If we don't watch out we may soon become known as Tanis Vineyards Winery and Home for Wayward Cats! Her offical name (with input from ALL those who care) is Shadow Abrielle Gracie Stellaluna Pugsley Tanis, but we're just going to call her Shadow for short.

YUMMY NEW WINE & RECIPES AT TANIS VINEYARDS WINERY!
(June 2009 Post)

Well, our friend Mark from Southpaw Catering has done it again!
We spent a wonderful evening with Mark and friends, pairing delicious food and exceptional new Tanis wines. Here for your enjoyment are two of our favorite recipes of the evening... "Encore Tenderloin Kabobs" and "Halibut in Sicilian Sauce!"




Encore Tenderloin Kabobs:
(Exellent with Tanis 2006 Barbera or Tanis 2006 Cabernet Franc)



1 - 1 1/2 lbs Cubed Tenderloin or Eye Fillet
6-8 Tbs Sesame Oil
2 Tbs toasted sesame seeds
12oz Teriyaki Baste and Glaze
Skewers soaked in water

Directions: Soak skewers in water. Place cubed beef in bowl and add all the sesame oil and seeds. cover and let stand at room temperature for 20-30 minutes. Skewer meat. Fire the grill up and place skewers on grill. Baste meat constantly with teriyaki sauce. Grill 5-10 minutes and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve.



Tanis 2006 Blushing Beauty Rose is now ready!
This is such an elegant and dry Rose! (I just love the color!) Shown here without a label, but being dressed by Andrew as I write! You're sure to enjoy this one immensely with the Pacific Halibut in Sicilian Sauce:

Halibut in Sicilian Sauce:
(Delicious with Tanis Blushing Beauty Rose)

1/4 cup flour
salt and fresh ground black pepper
1 (1 inch thick) halibut fillet (about 8 oz)
3 TBS extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
1/2 cup peeled, seeded and chopped tomatoes (optional)
2 TBS green olives, pitted and chopped
2 TBS pine nuts, toasted
2 TBS raisins, plumped in hot water
1 TBS capers, rinsed
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1/4 cup Tanis Blushing Beauty Rose

Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Lightly oil a baking dish that will fit your fillet. On a flat plate, stir together the flour with a little salt and pepper and dredge the fish in the seasoned flour and shake off excess.

In saute pan, heat about 1 TBS oil, or as needed to form a film in the pan, over medium-high heat. Saute the fish on both sides until lightly colored. With a slotted spatula, remove fish to the prepared baking dish.

In the same saute pan, heat 2 TBS olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and celery and saute until soft and pale golden, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes, and simmer for 3 minutes to thicken slightly. Add olives, pine nuts, raisins, capers, garlic, and wine and simmer for 8-10 minutes to blend the flavors. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

Ladle the sauce over the fish. Bake until the fish tests done with the point of a knife, about 10 minutes. Eat while hot or warm.

WE DO HAVE FUN!

...Enjoy these recipes and a bottle of TANIS wine with some special friends! If you're like us, you may even like to end the evening off with a glass of TANIS 2006 Barbera and a bit of Karaoke! (another excellent pairing) We do have fun!

UPDATE: That last barrel of Tanis 2006 Barbera is now bottled and will be ready to release in the next few weeks. We'll keep you posted! We have taken numerous pre-orders. If you'd like us to set a few bottles or cases aside for you just give us a call or email. This Barbera may not make it to the tasting bar. Those of you who tried the first release of the 06 Barbera know how big and jammy it was. This barrel is as good, if not better!

Final Thoughts...



Tanis Vineyard's HCO (Head of Corking Operations), points out the mark of truly handcrafted, premium, small-lot wines. The dimple in this Tanis cork shows that this bottle didn't touch an assembly line machine. It's all done by hand! (He would know!)

TANIS VINEYARDS WINERY - 06 CABERNET FRANC IS HERE!

Spring has arrived and the poppies are popping up profusely on our little rural road. Along with the spring flowers, an awesome new wine is also in full bloom and ready for picking here at Tanis Vineyards! The 2006 Cabernet Franc is ready! Several weeks in the bottle, this wine is definitely through bottle shock and it is DELICIOUS! My new favorite!

Next on the line-up, a blushing beauty. This year Andrew has perfected a dry Rose that's perfect for a warm day or night. Fresh and light with the fruity characteristics of the reds it's made from (Mourvedre, Grenache and Cabernet Franc), this is the perfect wine to pour with a range of hors d'oeuvres or for before dinner sipping. In the bottle and ready to drink, this delicious light wine is amber-pink! It will be available as soon as it's labeled!

Experience the beauty of Spring with a leisurely drive to our tasting room, where you can relax and enjoy some wonderful wine. Andrew is almost always on site. You'll enjoy visiting with him as much as you enjoy the tasting!

A VERY LIMITED EDITION WINE BOTTLE!

The winter rains have been blessing the earth, but as the clouds clear up it feels like spring around Tanis Vineyards and some special things have been happening!  The weekend before Valentine's Day, Steve and Kari (big Tanis Cabernet Franc fans!) came by the winery... but it was no ordinary visit.  

Several weeks earlier, Steve had contacted us about the possibility of a specialty label...a very SPECIAL specialty label!  With excitement, preparations were made.  

And so at the end of their tasting, Steve calmly asked the question that was to trigger Andrew handing him the "very limited edition" wine bottle.  You can imagine how overwhelmed and surprised Kari was when Steve got down on one knee and held the bottle up for her to read, "Kari, Will You Marry Me?"  

And her answer? ... "Of Course!"  The special proposal bottle not only had the perfect question, it got the perfect answer and was the very first bottle of our (not yet released) Tanis 2006 Cabernet Franc, Kari's favorite!

We were so happy to share in this moment, and wish Steve and Kari the very best.  May their days be blessed and their life be fruitful!

Institution of Civil Engineers 2008 'Americas' Convention features TANIS wines!

TANIS Vineyards was recently designated "The Official Wine of the United Kingdom Institution of Civil Engineers 2008 Americas Convention on Sustainability!"

The 2008 Convention in Las Vegas was the first ever ICE Regional Convention to be held in the Americas, where a range of high-profile speakers from across the Western Hemisphere presented and discussed important sustainability issues facing the world today. Topics included the Engineer's role as we enter the ecological age, as well as California's water issues and how to manage crisis and opportunity.

We were honored to have our wines at this exciting Convention!

Thank you ICE for the privilege!

2006 REDS Released! Primitivo, Pinotage, Petite Sirah, and Petite Sirah Port!

Lots of exciting things have been happening around TANIS Vineyards. Harvest is here and things are CRAZY!!! : ) But we're still having fun!

Are you ready for some awesome REDS yet? October 4th and 5th we are releasing FOUR of our 2006 dark, rich, hearty reds...Primitivo (maybe even BETTER than the 2005!), Pinotage (dark and CHEWY), Petite Sirah (Exquisite) and our Petite Sirah Port (this one STAINS the glass!).

The weekend of October 4th and 5th is the BIG CRUSH weekend event in Amador County. If you like a fun and upbeat crowd this is a great time to come. If you'd prefer to visit us on a quieter day, maybe you'd like the weekend or two after Big Crush. Either way, we are REALLY looking forward to sharing our newly released wines with you! You're going to love them!

Another FUN ANNOUNCEMENT... TANIS Vineyards has been featured in the new online wine magazine VINOPRIMO.com ! The article is titled "My Sweet Baby Syrah, TANIS Vineyards Birth of a Winery." VinoPrimo plans to follow our story over the coming year and possibly beyond. Visit this great new online magazine site at www.vinoprimo.com! Read our story and check out this fun new magazine!