JAV's St. Vincent Red Wine Cake

Rich, moist, and flavorful, this red wine chocolate cake carries a unique taste and an irresistible smell!

 Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups (210 g/7.4 oz) all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup (75 g/2.7 oz) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup (2 sticks/227 g) butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cups (250 g/8.8 oz) granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (100 g/3.5 oz) brown sugar (preferably dark)
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups James Arthur Vineyards St. Vincent red wine
  

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F/180C degrees. Grease a 12-cup bundt pan and set aside.

In a medium bowl sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.

In a mixer bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and sugar on medium-high speed for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time until combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary. Beat in vanilla extract. On low speed, beat in (or fold by hand) the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating it with the wine in 2 additions (starting and ending with the flour). Do not overmix. 

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes on a wire rack, then turn it out and let it cool completely. Dust the cake with powdered sugar.

Store cake at room temperature in airtight container for up to 3 days. 

Cake can be frozen for up to 2 months.

A Passion for Nebraska & Misconceptions Cleared - by Owner/Winemaker, Jim Ballard

Since our purchase of the From Nebraska Gift Shop, in the Historic Haymarket District in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska, we’ve received a few comments, phone calls, and even a letter, from people who are upset with the fact we no longer sell ALL Nebraska wines – and, only sell our own JAV branded wines there.  Hopefully, the next few thoughts will clear up any of the misconceptions which may be leading to those upset feelings.

We will operate as the James Arthur Vineyards Tasting Room AND the From Nebraska Gift Shop.  We will continue to carry Nebraska-made gifts, gourmet food items, and other great Nebraska-made products very similar to how the previous owner had.  None of that is going away.  Our family is very excited that we’ve been given the opportunity to purchase the store and will do everything we can to continue the 25-year tradition that has been established under previous ownership, by highlighting the best our state has to offer.  Again, that will not change.  Being born, raised, and having lived in Nebraska all of my life, I especially am looking forward to this new venture!

It is true we no longer carry other Nebraska wines.  There are a number of reasons behind this.  We are James Arthur Vineyards, so our first priority is to market the award-winning, Nebraska wines we have worked so hard to create.  More importantly, however, is that our Farm Winery license allows us to sell only what we produce ourselves.  Therefore, even if we wanted to sell other Nebraska wines, we would be unable to do so in accordance with the Nebraska state liquor laws.

Here at James Arthur Vineyards, we have built our business, and in essence our reputation, on creating a great Nebraska product.  We have done everything possible to create a legacy here at JAV that future generations of Nebraskans can be proud of.  We hope to continue that legacy in the Historic Haymarket District.

We invite everyone to stop by the store at 8^th & Q Streets and see that our family is thrilled to be a part of the Haymarket.  We are making some exciting changes to even better market the best of Nebraska products, including our passion for what we feel is a great Nebraska product in and of itself…James Arthur Vineyards wines.

Jim Ballard

Owner/Winemaker

James Arthur Vineyards

JAV Releases Four New Wines - April 2013

If you missed the unvieling, at our New Release Winemaker Dinner, on April 12th, no worries!  Here are the four new wines Jim introduced that evening.

2010 ST. VINCENT-New release in 2013

A medium bodied dry red that elicits rosy plum flavors with a hint of berries that have been soaked in dark chocolate. Streamlined and polished, this easy to drink wine will elevate any thick homemade pasta drenched in a flavorful red sauce.

2012 DRY VIGNOLES-New release in 2013

A semi-dry white made from 100% Vignoles. The fermentation was kicked off in stainless steel, but the bulk of it finished in new oak barrels with a variety of toasts. The nose on this wine roars out of the glass with a freshness of wood that you’ll not soon forget. Although a dry wine, you get a burst of crisp fruitiness in the mouthfeel, which couples nicely with a bit of acidity on the finish that will help it cut through heavy food flavors. This wine would pair nicely with typical poultry dishes, but would also hold its end of the bargain with foods featuring thick sauces, preferably of Italian flair.

2012 CATAWABA-New release in 2013

An enticing blush wine, packed with layers of orange zest, floral aromas and hints of peach. Once you start peeling back those layers, you find just the right amount of sweetness pinged with a little bit of zing. This wine is finished in true lambrusca style. When it comes to food, you can have some fun with this one. Would go wonderfully with goat cheese, salmon and even BBQ. For something outside the box, try it with lobster!

SANGRIA-New release in 2013

For years, we’ve been offering pitchers and carafes of Sangria during our summertime events at the winery. We’ve finally decided to capture the refreshing and crisp flavors of Sangria in the bottle. Using our San Realto as a base, we’ve added some natural fruit flavorings to give this wine a wonderfully fruity nose of wild strawberries and groves of orange trees. Once you try the first sip, you’ll be hooked as a smorgasbord of fruit flavors explodes in your mouth. This wine should be taken home and put on ice.  Add a little bit of your fruit concoction if you so desire to push it over the top!

JAV Honey Mead Wine Sale - $8 Bottle

Try out one, or more, of the following wine cocktail recipes using JAV's Honey Mead Wine.

Mead and Whiskey Sour

1 part lemon
1 part Whiskey
3 parts James Arthur Vineyards Mead Wine
1 part (or to taste) Simple Syrup

Serve in a beautiful glass with a sugared rim.


Honey Champagne 
Bubbly with a twist!

1 part chilled James Arthur Vineyards Honey Mead Wine
1 part chilled Champagne

Garnish with fresh fruit of your choice.


Key Lime Mead 
A Tantalizing treat for your taste buds

6 Ounces chilled James Arthur Vineyards Honey Mead Wine
1 Tbsp. Lime Juice

Garnish with a Lime Peel.


Meadmosa
A lovely way to start the weekend

2 part chilled James Arthur Vineyards Honey Mead Wine
1 part chilled Fresh-Squeezed orange Juice

Garnish with a Mint leaf or Spiral of Orange Peel.


Bee Knees

2 parts James Arthur Vineyards Honey Mead Wine
1 part Gin
1 part Orange Juice
Splash of Simple Syrup (to taste)

Shaken with ice to chill

On The First Day of Christmas...

On the first day of Christmas my True Love gave to me...a case of Edelweiss under a bottle tree!

Orange Anise Mulled Wine

Well folks, the holiday season is almost upon us. With that, means much cooler temperatures! What better way to warm both the body and soul than with a spiced, mulled wine? All of us here at JAV invite you to try out the recipe below and look forward to your comments on what you think!