We were married in one of the military barracks at Fort Baker in the Marin Headlands, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. On our way to the hotel to get ready, I asked John where he had packed my dress. I laughed when he calmly replied, “I didn’t get your dress.” I said, “C’mon don’t joke; where is the dress?”  He looked straight into my eyes and said nothing.

John sketched this adorable picture of me awaiting my wedding dress.

I thought he had packed the dress, and he thought I had!

Reality set in, followed by a brief panic, and then we made a plan: My dear friend, who lived close to us, would break into our condo and bring me the dress. So, as the wedding ceremony drew dangerously near, I sat in my robe, sipping Champagne, sharing wedding disaster stories with my future brother-in-law, waiting for the dress to arrive.

My dress came in the nick of time and John and I said our “I do’s”.  I still laugh when I think about it today!

Wedding disaster averted, we toasted with Champagne, Anchor Steam and Pittsburgh Iron City beer, and then danced the night away. The next day, February 7^th, we headed off to Sonoma wine country for our honeymoon with shaving cream wishes blowing in the wind.

And this, my friends, is where we first discovered Malbec. In fact, we named our Lasseter Family Winery Malbec blend, ‘Amoureux,’ a French word meaning ‘lovers’, because it reminds us of our honeymoon each time we take a sip. We hope you’ll fall in love with Amoureux, just as we fell in love over 24 years ago!

–Nancy

Look for the Mr. Stave piece in every puzzle

Caution: Keep your wine a safe distance from your puzzle, as spilled liquid can damage puzzle pieces.

Called the “Rolls-Royce of puzzles” by Smithsonian Magazine,  Stave doesn’t put pictures of the completed puzzles on its box lids, which is why they’re so clever and challenging. My strategy is to start with sorting, first by color, then by shape. Next I look for design patterns in the pieces and what are known as “positive” and “negative” spaces that fit together or “marry.”

Oh! And I always look for Mr. Stave, a piece in the shape of their logo that’s put in every puzzle.

Limited Edition Paysage & Puzzle Pairing Gift Set

I am so excited to share my love of Stave puzzles with you that we commissioned a limited edition, 50-piece puzzle, handmade just for us. We specifically designed and paired this puzzle with our Paysage wine (which earned a 90 rating from Wine Spectator), along with an etched wine glass, for the Paysage and Puzzle Pairing Gift Set, the ultimate luxury holiday gift for serious puzzlers.

For everyone else on your gift list, purchase three or more bottles of 2008 Paysage, priced at $40/bottle, and shipping is on us!  Of course, we would love you to visit our winery, but with the hectic holiday season, we want to make it easy for you to enjoy Paysage at home.

All of us at Lasseter Family Winery wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season.

Cheers,

Nancy & John

Limited Edition Paysage and Puzzle Pairing Gift Set, $250/gift box, click here to order online now! Beautiful gift box and Fedex 2-day shipping included.

Three or More—It’s Out the Door! $40/ bottle, order three or more bottles of 2008 Paysage and the shipping is on us! Click here to order online now; use code PAYSAGE3 at checkout.

**The last day to order for Christmas delivery is Monday, December 19th.  Our exclusive holiday Paysage specials are only available through December 31, 2011.

To view our Valentine’s gifts and packages, please click here.

Our beautiful Wine Room is now open for tastings by appointment

The winery is accepting appointments four days a week, Friday – Monday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., where guests can enjoy an in-depth tasting of the four current release Old World-style blends: 2010 Enjoué, 2009 Chemin de Fer, 2008 Paysage and 2008 Amoureux, paired with a selection of artisan cheeses. Tastings last approximately 45 minutes and the wine room can accommodate up to eight guests per seating at $25 per person.

Located in the heart of the Sonoma Valley, the estate property is a 95-acre ranch encompassing the organically farmed Justi Creek Vineyards, home to Bordeaux varietals including malbec, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc and the Rhone varietals syrah, grenache and mourvèdre

Taste all four Lasseter Wines during our hosted tasting

Lasseter Family Winery has been garnering plenty of accolades lately: our 2008 Paysage received a 90 rating from Wine Spectator;  2009 Chemin de Fer was named an “Incredible Red” by Dallas-based D Magazine, and 2010 Enjoué received 4.5 out of 5 stars by Sonoma County’s Press Democrat newspaper.

Seating is limited and reservations must be made in advance.

Hosted Tasting in Lasseter Family Wine Room

Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday

Seatings at 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.

$25 Per Person, Reservations Required

Call 707-933-2814 or email info@lasseterfamilywinery.com

Lovers’ Sweet Taste of Romance: February 1-29, 2012

Celebrate Valentine’s with your sweetheart during the entire month of February in our elegantly understated Wine Room. You will enjoy our four Lasseter Family wines paired with luscious chocolate truffles, custom-blended with our estate Malbec, by gourmet chocolatier Wine Country Chocolates in Glen Ellen and Sonoma.

$50 p/couple
Reservations required
Call 707-933-2814
for your February appointment

Photo Gallery by Megan Clouse.

KZST's Jive Turkeys captained by Brent Farris

Yes! Our Lasseter Family Winery Butter Ballers bowling team, captained by John, were just better bowlers than KZST’s Jive Turkeys, captained by morning personality Brent Farris (sorry, Brent!), whom we bested in a two-game tournament at Double Decker Lanes in Rohnert Park on Sunday, November 6th.

Jean Larson, right, accepted donations for the Redwood Empire Food Bank

But the real winners were the Redwood Empire Food Bank and the Redwood Empire Gospel Mission: between donations made by Lasseter Family Winery (we pledged a set dollar amount for each pin we knocked down) and KZST fans who came to cheer on both teams, we raised thousands of dollars for the Food Bank and started collecting a ton of turkeys for the Gospel Mission.

As you can see from our photo gallery by Lori Laube, Laube Photo, we put our own “spin” on turkey bowling and got all “trussed up” as our fine, feathered friends (we take the business of winemaking very seriously…ourselves, not so much).  Both teams were cheered on by cheerleaders from Rancho Cotati High School.Click to view slideshow.

Uncle Bill Lasseter saves the day!

We were off to a strong start, with several strikes and spares–thanks to our former pro, Curtis Woods–until tragedy struck and John injured his finger!  Luckily, John’s Uncle Bill was on the scene to step in and save the day. All told, our team of John, Nancy, Jackson and Bill Lasseter, along with Curtis Woods, knocked down over 1,000 pins, raising thousands of dollars for the Redwood Empire Food Bank and Brent Farris’ KZST team is well on its way to collecting a ton of turkeys for the Gospel Mission. Here are video highlights:

Our thanks to everyone who helped put this event together, including our own Krissy Landini, KZST’s Raijanna Morrow and special thanks to Double Decker Lanes’ Jim Decker, who opened up his alley to us.

Get bowled over by our Enjoué rosé blend

Knowing that you’ll be “bowled over” by our 2010 Enjoué rosé blend, which just happens to pair perfectly with turkey and all the trimmings, we are pleased to offer shipping included and an 11×14″ poster of this wine’s beautiful label with your minimum order of 6 bottles. Use code ROSE11 by November 19, 2011. Click here to order.

Our Enjoué Rosé pairs perfectly with Thanksgiving dinner

Some years, John and I serve the big, classic Thanksgiving spread: turkey and all the trimmings; other years, I’ve made a creative meatloaf out of all the fixings (the kids love it)!

From the moment I first tasted our 2010 Enjoué rosé blend, I knew its its crisp acidity and balanced mouth feel would make it the perfect wine to pair with Thanksgiving dinner.

A poster of our beautiful Enjoué Rosé label is included with your minimum order of 6 bottles

That’s why I’m so pleased we’re able to offer shipping included on your minimum order of 6 bottles of our 2010 Enjoué rosé blend, as well as an 11×14 poster of this wine’s beautiful label, which depicts a favorite family pastime: swimming in the lake on our property.

We are so thankful for our many blessings. From the Lasseter Family to yours, have a very happy and safe Thanksgiving.

–Nancy & John

Place your 6-bottle (or more!) order of our 2010 Enjoué Rosé by Saturday, November 19th; shipping and an 11×14 label poster included. Use code ROSE11 at checkout.

4.5 out of 5 Stars, The Press Democrat
5 Wine Stains, Tom Simoneau, The KSRO Wine Guy

$24/bottle

“90: Lasseter Family Paysage Sonoma Valley 2008, $40, Vibrant and well-focused, with red currant, cedar and tomato leaf aromas and layered flavors of cherry and espresso spice that build momentum toward the finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2016. 318 cases made. — T.F.”

Winemaking is an art form to us, from the vineyard to the glass, and this philosophy inspired the name Paysage, a French word meaning ‘landscape painting’ or ‘countryside’, evoking fond memories of St. Emillion’s beautiful terrain and scenery, as well as the blended wines made there.

As our inaugural wine, it signifies the inspiration for Lasseter Family Winery. To us, this wine represents a painting of estate grapes nurtured on a rocky bench in the heart of Sonoma Valley and epitomizes how the family views different elements blended into a plein air painting, or in this case, blended into a Bordeaux-style wine. With intricate brushstrokes and meticulous blending, we crafted this wine along with our winemaker, Julia Iantosca, to reflect the French style.

Paysage was also awarded 4.5 out of 5 Wine Stains, Tom Sinomeau, The KSRO Wine Guy.

To be among the first to order this newly-released vintage, click here.

Due to some late-season cooler than average weather, the 2011 harvest was delayed by approximately three weeks, but we are finally beginning to get the fruit off the vine.

We began the harvest with Syrah and Mourvèdre for our Enjoué Rosé blend today. The wine’s delightful salmon-pink color is the result of red wine grapes made in a white wine style, the definition of classic rosé. Our love of the dry rosé wines of southern France began while dining at a café terrace overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

As John and our winemaker, Julia Iantosca, mentioned during our inaugural winemaker dinner, in order to make our Bandol-style rosé, we pick some of our Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache grapes now for our rosé, then go back 2-3 weeks later to pick the same grapes for our Chemin de Fer Rhône Style Red Blend, which concentrates the grapes for that wine.

Says John: “We make the extra effort to go into the vineyards twice because we want to make a great rosé and we want to make a great red Rhône blend.”

Nancy Lasseter photo by Christopher Chung / The Press Democrat

Nancy remembers the joyful, back-breaking work as if it were yesterday — the shoveling of zinfandel bunches into the back of a truck, the hand pressing, the bees.

“I’ll never forget her coming home completely splattered with red wine and the look on her face,” John said. “She was so excited. Wow, okay, I thought, now I want to do this.”

To read the entire article, click here. To purchase the wines mentioned in the article, click here.

There was an exciting mad dash to the finish to ensure everything was just right for our guests. Nancy “the Human Leveler” Lasseter hung the last pieces of artwork on the walls (she has an unerring eye for accuracy and can wield a mean hammer) while John re-arranged potted plants so that the walkway was picture-perfect.

“It was incredible! One of the most beautiful places I have ever been!” said guest Mike Stockton, who attended along with his wife, Debra; she added: “We really loved all the stories that John and Nancy told about their passion for wine, it made the evening…and the wines were amazing!”

Of course, this was the first of what we know will be many more magical, memorable Lasseter Family Winemaker Dinners.

See the Menu for the Inaugural Winemaker Dinner plus selected recipes!

Menu for Inaugural Winemaker Dinner

Nancy worked with Barbara Llewellyn to create this sumptuous 4-course meal:

1st Course: Tuna Nicoise Salad w/Jalapeño Aioli & Grilled Flatbread paired with 2010 Enjoué Rosé

2nd Course: Country Greek Salad w/Feta Cheese & Summer Tomatoes from the Lasseter Garden paired with 2009 Chemin de Fer Rhône Style Red Blend

3rd Course: Lightly Smoked Skirt Steak w/Roasted Pepper & White Corn Succotash paired with 2008 Amoureux Malbec Red Blend & 2008 Paysage

Dessert Course: Whoopie Pie; Cornmeal Shortcake w/Peach, Bluberry & Ginger; Valhrona Chocolate Fudge Cake with Caramel; Trifle Shot paired back with all 4 Dinner Wines.

Select Dessert Recipes…Yum!

Whoopie Pie (makes 12 pies)

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (spooned and leveled)

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup packed light-brown sugar

1 large egg

1 cup sweetened applesauce

½ tsp pure vanilla extract

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

sanding sugar for decoration

Instructions:

1) Preheat oven to 375º. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

2) In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat ½ cup butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg; beat until smooth. With mixer on low, alternately add flour mixture and applesauce, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix just until smooth (do not overmix).

3) Drop dough by heaping tablespoons, 2 inches apart, onto two baking sheets. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cookie comes out clean, 10 to 14 minutes. With a thin metal spatula, immediately transfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool completely.

4) Meanwhile, make filling: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat vanilla and remaining ½ cup butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, beating until smooth.

5) Spread bottom of half the cookies with 1 tablespoon filling each; sandwich with remaining cookies, pressing gently so filing oozes out slightly. Let rest 15 minutes to set. (To store cookies, keep in an airtight container at room temperature, up to days.)

This Thursday, September 1st is International Cabernet Day, a day during which cab drinkers worldwide will celebrate the popular varietal by posting on various social media sites using the hashtag #Cabernet Day.

Here at Lasseter Family Winery, we will be celebrating with our own full-bodied St. Emilion style red blend wine. Our 2006 & 2007 St. Emilion, a blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, malbec, and cabernet franc, is soft and approachable; its savory, ripe plum flavors are enhanced by 18 months’ aging in French oak barrels. Thanks to cabernet sauvignon, this wine has full-bodied complexity and pairs artfully with food.