Check out the slideshow above of the Friends of New Orleans City Park's
winning grant project - the Cutourie Forest, before the Greater Outdoors
Project grant restoration begins!
Make sure you check back for updates as we watch the restoration unfold.
To learn more about the restoration read about it here.
Hope your summer is off to a great start,
Cal & Your Friends at Redwood Creek
Redwood Creek Wines was proud to support Keep Heights Green, a local non-profit organization whose mission is to replant trees in the Greater Heights area lost during Hurricane Ike.
The organization, which was formed in October 2008, planned to put 100 trees in the ground this year and maintain them. Having recently planted 18 eight-foot live oak trees along Ella Blvd., Keep Heights Green plans to use its Summer Fundraiser to help the organization raise funds and plant the remaining 82 trees to meet its first-year goal.
Eighty percent of all funds raised through Keep Heights Green went directly into planting and maintaining what is placed in the ground. Keep Heights Green’s Summer Fundraiser was at the amazing and beautiful Indian Summer Lodge, located in the Historic Heights.
For more information on how you can help this great cause head on over to their facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Keep-Heights-Green/
Dear friends of Redwood Creek,
We are pleased to announce this year’s Greater Outdoors Project winner. With more than 17,000 public votes from dedicated members and supporters, Friends of New Orleans City Park has earned the $50,000 grant to help restore City Park’s Couturie Forest, a majority of which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The organization will also be featured in a Redwood Creek national advertising campaign later this year.
Redwood Creek and Planet Green would like to thank all of the Greater Outdoors Project finalists including Arizona Trail Association, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, National Forest Foundation, WildEarth Guardians and Friends of New Orleans City Park, for their amazing work to protect and restore the great outdoors for this and future generations to enjoy. We encourage each of these organizations to participate in the Greater Outdoors Project again next year.
Last but certainly not least, thank you to everyone who participated by voting every day. Your devotion and enthusiasm is contagious. We encourage you to continue spreading the word about the great work each of these worthy nonprofits is doing in your local community. We believe Redwood Creek wines enrich outdoor experiences, which are only made possible by organizations that take an active role in preserving our environment.
For details on the Couturie Forest project (photo of project site below), please click here. The project will commence this fall to be completed in December 2010. Redwood Creek will be there every step of the way by providing updates on BlazeTheTrail.com.
Warm Regards,
Your friends at Redwood Creek
Every grilling expert needs to know how to make the perfect burger. Luckily I'm going to share this great recipe with you for the Best Burger Ever to be Had submitted by Blaze the Trail member Erin.
The picture is mouthwatering and I cannot wait to try this out at my next BBQ. What Redwood Creek wine do you think would go best with this burger? Let me know!
The best burger to be had!
Start by preparing a horseradish mustard. Mix 1/4 C Dijon mustard with 1 Tblsp horseradish. Then slice 1/2 inch thick slices of Vidalia onion. Brush both sides with oil and grill for about 3 minutes on each side until golden brown. While these are grilling, form your patties (use ground chuck no leaner than 80% so that your burgers remain moist and flavorful) salt & pepper and grill. When done, top with 2 slices of cheddar, close the grill to allow the cheese to melt. Then, place the burgers on sesame buns sandwiched with onion, tomato, lettuce and a dollop of the prepared horseradish mustard. Try it - you'll love it.
Have you had a chance to visit our new Recipes Section? Check out the special recipes that Steven Raichlen, host of public television's Primal Grill® with Steven Raichlen, developed especially for Redwood Creek. Or submit your favorite recipes here for 50 corks!
Here are some photos of a recent volunteer event in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our own Trailblazers were out in full force helping the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy as well as volunteers from the National Parks Service to re-route a portion of a trail in the Tennessee Valley.
The location was incredible considering how close it is to San Francisco, if you’re from the Bay Area and have yet to visit, we suggest you give it a look. The walk to the beach while longish is worth it! Checkout more photos of trailblazers in action here!
Site Information: The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is the largest urban national park. It contains many scenic and special places located north and south of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Marin Headlands and Tennessee Valley are incredibly scenic and popular places for recreation and wildlife viewing. For more information about Tennessee Valley, please visit http://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/tennessee_valley.htm
Dear friends of Redwood Creek, Planet Green and the Greater Outdoors Project,
Thank you so much for all of your votes! Over 40,000 votes came in!
We are deeply impressed and inspired by your passion and enthusiasm, and grateful for your support of Redwood Creek, Planet Green and our non-profit finalists.
Over the next week we will be busy tallying up the final votes and will make our winner announcement shortly.All of these organizations are exceptional and we wish them all the best as this year unfolds.
Keep in touch with them by visiting them online:
Thank you for your time and commitment to the preservation of the Great Outdoors.
Cal Dennison & your friends at Redwood Creek and Planet Green
Since it's officially BBQ season here at Blaze the Trail I thought this BBQ sauce recipe would be the perfect way to kick off your weekend! Without further without further adieu, I am happy to announce that this week's Recipe of the Week is:
Deep Wood's BBQ Sauce submitted by JohnSap
Recipe:
Ingredients:
1/3 cup Redwood Creek red wine
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle Chile powder
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/8 teaspoon liquid smoke
Preparation:
Heat olive oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic, cumin, and chipotle powder; stir 1 minute.
Add wine and simmer 2 minutes. Stir in ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce, and liquid smoke; simmer 2 minutes longer.
Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
Are you looking for that perfect recipe to serve at your next party or backyard barbeque? Checkout some of Blaze the Trail Members' favorite Spring recipes here!
Happy Weekend!
Dear Friends of Redwood Creek & the Greater Outdoors Project,
This week we have a new organization in the lead. We have less than a week less to vote, so keep them coming!
Current rank (as of 5/26 at midnight PST):
We are inching closer and closer to the end of voting, so make sure you keep your votes coming! Vote for who you think should bring home the grant by heading on over here once per day and cast your vote online or via SMS.
Remember: you can vote online once per 24 hours with voting reset at midnight EST. You can also vote via SMS once per 24 hours, however voting by SMS resets 24 hours from when you cast your vote. For all the rules, SMS costs and restrictions, etc. head over here.
Thank you all for your votes. We appreciate you taking the time to weigh in.
Winemaker Cal
It's Memorial Day Weekend and it's the perfect time to invite some friends over and fire up that grill. This week's Recipe of the Week : Kabab Koobideh submitted by wickedgringirl would be perfect for your next backyard bbq.
Kabab Koobideh - for BBQ
Recipe:
Ingredients: (4 servings)
* Ground lamb or beef, 500 g
* Large onions, two (grated)
* Garlic, one clove (crushed)
* Large egg, one (beaten)
* Medium tomatoes, four
* Salt
* Black pepper
* Turmeric, one teaspoon (optional)
* Sumac (optional)
Directions:
Mix meat, onions, garlic, egg, salt, pepper and turmeric well and leave in the refrigerator overnight (or for several hours).
Press the meat around long, thick metal skewers and shape evenly. Thread whole tomatoes on another skewer. Barbecue each side for about five minutes, turning frequently. (If skewers are not available or barbecuing is not possible, kabab-e koobideh can be shaped into long, thin portions on aluminum foil and grilled at high temperature in the oven. The oven should be pre-heated and kabab-e koobideh should be placed as high as possible near the source of the heat. Again, turn a few times.)
Serve with hot rice or on middle-eastern bread. If kabab-e koobideh was made in an oven, the juice from the kabab can be poured on rice or bread.
Do you have a great Spring Recipe? Make sure to checkout "A Taste of Spring" and share your spring recipe favorites! Who knows maybe your recipe will be our next "Recipe of the Week".
We are very excited to bring to another Question and Answer session from our Winemaker duo Sean & Cal, as they answer questions that you ask them, exclusively here on Blaze the Trail.
Do you have a question for Sean or Cal? Ask them anything by submitting your question here. This week, Winemaker Sean is back to answer all of your wine-related questions:
I have always wondered about why you burn the inside of the barrels and what purpose that serves? (From RoxieBurgess)
The "burning" is actually called toasting. The heat alters certain compounds in the oak to derive other compounds which add different aromatics to the wine during aging.
I have a decanter and I'm not quite sure how to use it? Do you pour the wine in to breathe a few hours before you serve it? (From rickwuebbeling)
Pour the wine into the decanter and let it sit for about 20 minutes, this will incorporate small amounts of air and open the wine up aromatically. This is typically used for red wines.
It seems that reds take or even require more aging than whites, why is this? (From jmooney)
One word, tannins, reds have tannins that need to round out or soften which requires more time.
Are any varieties of red wines appropriate to chill? (From kpechie)
I like to slightly chill our Redwood Creek Pinot Noir.
What is the most important factor when reviewing a wine? is it the smell, taste , or the thickness of the wine itself?(From toddjvc)
Good question, I think these are all equally important and give you the full picture of the wine you are tasting.
I heard that you should let a wine breathe before drinking. Is there a certain length of time that it should sit? I normally just open and pour. Thanks (From minnjune)
Well this is a debate; I would suggest waiting about 10 - 15 minutes. This gives the wine a chance to open up.
Can you tell me what temperature Chardonnay is to be served at? (From rickwuebbeling)
I would say 55 F - 60 F would be a good temperature.
I know the optimal temperature to store wine is supposedly 58 degrees. Is this for red and white wine? (From mrsmartin75908)
Yes it is, both red and white will benefit from this storage temperature.
About how many grapes go into making just one bottle of Redwood Creek wine? (From xowithlovexo)
About 2.3 lbs
What types of wine pair best with the spiciest of Indian cooking? Or authentic spicy Chinese dishes? (From dontiholdyou)
I really enjoy our Redwood Creek Sauvignon Blanc with spicy dishes, the crisp acidity helps cut through some of the heat. Try it with Thai food as well, fantastic.
Do you have a question for Cal or Sean? Don't forget to head on over here and say hello :)
California, Italian, and French Table Wine.
© 2009 Frei Bros. Vineyards. Modesto, CA. All Rights Reserved.
Redwood Creek is not affiliated or associated with the American Park Network (APN), National Park Service (NPS) or Bureau of Land Management. We just think these are great places to explore. GPS coordinates are provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. Always confirm your coordinates and check with each location to be sure you're enjoying the great outdoors safely.
