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!! Winner of the $70 Castle Glen Products Draw !!
Jennie Fletcher
Jennie is the winner of our March 2010 Subscriber's Contest Draw! Very shortly, Jennie will receive her selection of $70 worth of Castle Glen Products. Best of luck to all of our subscribers for next month's draw!
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| LEMONCELLO Liqueur (21% alc/vol) |
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Is Castle Glen Lemoncello Just Like the Italians Make?
Castle Glen's Lemoncello is made the old fashioned way. Fermented Lemons fortified with a high quality neutral spirit. The Lemoncello is smooth to the palate, yet sweet and tangy at the same time. Castle Glen uses only quality North Queensland organic grown Australian lemons. The colour of the Lemoncello Liqueur is a direct reflection of the quality of the lemons and the amount of rind used in the fermentation process. The more rind, the more colour. As each batch of fruit is different, each batch of Lemoncello Liqueur can be different in colour, because of the fruit to skin ratio - and we use real lemons!
Italy is famous for its Lemoncello. We are often asked for Lemoncello by customers who have recently visited Italy. The Italians make their Lemoncello by way of maceration. This is to steep Lemons in Grappa (Grape Spirit) for a number of weeks, often held down by a wooden board in a barrel, then filter and bottle. The quality of the Lemoncello, good or poor, is largely dependant on the quality of the Grappa used in this process. The Lemoncello consumed in Italy is quite different and usually a much higher percentage of alcohol, than Castle Glen Lemoncello.
'Aromacello' is the name of our fabulous Cocktail for the month of April. A wonderful blend of Lemoncello Liqueur, Blue Lagoon (Blue Curacao) made with Oranges, Mandarins and Tangarines and amazingly Lavender Liqueur. Lemon, Citrus and Lavender - truly a unique blend.
In the Castle Glen Lemoncello Family we also have Lemoncello Creme Liqueur with no dairy, no fat and no eggs. It tastes just like Mum's Lemon Curd or the old Australian Lemon Butter. Some even think it is like alcoholic Lemon Meringue Pie.
Another fabulous cocktail with Lemoncello Creme is Castle Glen's Pisco Sour. Paired with Castle Glen's Grappa and served on ice - just stunning!
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| Lavender Liqueur |
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Is the Lavender the same as used in the essential oils?
Castle Glen's Lavender Liqueur is made from pure Lavender Oil and blended with a White Chocolate. Lavender oil is made from the edible lavender - not the french lavender and other varieties that are planted in gardens and used for oils and flower arranging.
Castle Glen has planted its own Lavender - Lavendula Grosso - and will be distilling the lavender flowers for the oil in the not too distant future. Just another Castle Glen project under way in our gardens.
Use Lavender Liqueur to make Lavender Tea, Lavender Scones (very trendy these days), Lavender Cake, put it into a sparkling wine that is too dry or just drink it straight, on ice or with lemonade or soda water. Also makes an exotic cocktail - see what combinations you can come up with - and if you hit on a winner let us know and we will broadcast this to our customers.
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| Castle Glen Liqueurs News |
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Lychee Liqueur will hit the shelves this month in 500ml (18% alc/vol) $33.00 at the Cellar Door - $35.00 at the shops.
In stores, Montville and Mt Tamborine, you will find a few old favourites back as 'Lite' Liqueurs - namely, Black Knight (Black Sambuca Style), Jelly Bean (Turkish Delight), Saffron, Orange Brandy (Grand Marnier Style). They are now back!
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| News from Castle Glen Vineyard |
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As we write this Newsletter we have pulled out a 2005 Merlot Fortified Wine that has been maturing in American Oak for the last five years. It has passed the taste test (someone has to try these things before we let them loose on the customers!) and it truly is a beautiful fortified wine. We also gave a taste to a customer standing at the bar. He thought it was so good he purchased one right on the spot (before we had even finished bottling it!) This is a good buy going out a $19.50 in a 700ml bottle. Available in Montville and Mt Tamborine next week. Store price $22.00.
Whiskey Merlot Fortified Wine is being bottled currently, for all of those Whiskey lovers. It will hit the shelves this week at the Cellar Door and will be available in the Shops next week.
Cedric is busy filtering wine this week (see write up on winemaking at Castle Glen) and we are bottling the following wines ready for release.
2010 Pink Chardonnay - the now very famous "Wicked Witch"
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon - Unoaked
2009 Montepulciano (Strange Wine)
2008 Shiraz - American Oak
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| Castle Glen Wine |
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How is Castle Glen wine different from other commercially produced wines?
Castle Glen Vineyard wines are different for a variety of reasons. It is a combination of many different aspects of grape growing and wine making.
Grown Differently
Castle Glen Grapes are grown by an intense viticulture method. Increases the volume of grapes/tonnage to the acre. The system used encourages great leaf growth and promotes the intense flavours derived from higher fructose levels. It also assists in the ripening of the grapes (biology 101 - no leaf plucking happening here) and protecting the grapes from the birds, saving time and money on having to net the vines.
The vines are fed through natural methods and no chemicals are used on the farm. At Castle Glen we practice environmentally friendly viticulture methods.
Carefully Harvested
Harvesting of the grapes, traditionally from March to early May. Depending on the season it can be earlier. For example with the 2010 Vintage picking started in early February and was completed by mid March.
The best time to harvest is determined by the weather and the grapes themselves. We pick grapes from across the vines to determine their level of fructose (sugar) called the "baume" which indicates readiness for picking. We tend to eat them to determine their readiness, but you can also use laboratory methods for determining the readiness too.
Lovingly Handpicked
Grapes are gently handpicked and immediately brought in for processing. Many wineries pick and keep the grapes in the cool room and then process the grapes at the end of picking. The grapes deteriorate by oxidization and then preservative chemicals are needed (sulphur dioxide) to stop them oxidising.
To Crush or Not To Crush
Castle Glen uses the method of de-stemming. This is a much gentler process than crushing. It takes the berries off the bunch and keeps them whole eliminating oxidization and therefore the need for chemicals or the preservative, sulphur dioxide. There is no chemical cocktail in Castle Glen Wines.
More Flavoursome Wine
Castle Glen grapes are pressed (squeezed) with care. Unique processes of fermentation create richer more flavoursome wines. Much of the goodness and the flavour that is retained in Castle Glen Wines is often lost in more traditional fermentation processes.
Castle Glen spends years storing and maturing the wines and fortified wines in American and French Oak Barrels (not oak shavings or sleepers) in stainless steel tanks. You will find 10 year plus wines at our Cellar Door and Shops. Today with a mature vineyard (21 years of age) Castle Glen Wines now have maturity straight off the vine - saying that we still like to barrel mature some of our wines to develop complexity and oak flavours.
Is It Easy To Make Preservative Free Wine?
It is no easy task to make a chemical free and preservative free wine. No doubt this is why there are very few wineries making wines the natural way. However, it truly is rewarding when our customers say that they are now drinking wine again. Many folks have stopped drinking wine because of the allergic reactions caused as a result of chemicals and preservatives.
The careful handling and filtering is one of the keys to a preservative free wine. In fact get this wrong and you will have lots of sparkling wine in regular wine bottles (which can be truly disasterous). The special filtering methods used at Castle Glen eliminate the need for egg whites, milk and fish emulsions.
It is the combination of all of these practices that enables Castle Glen to produce chemical free and preservative free wine, fortified wines and sparkling wine (method champenoise).
There are so many different preservatives and chemicals used in the process of winemaking today simply because of the methods used from the grape to the bottle. At Castle Glen we have actively sought to use methods of production and manufacture that eliminate the need for the use of chemicals or preservatives.
Castle Glen Wines - Like the Healthy Wines of Old
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| Beer News |
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Released this week a Dark Munich Ale - roasted dark barley, American hops and German Yeast - 5.8% alc/vol. Available in 750ml, final bottle fermentation is matured for three months prior to release. Available at Cellar Door Only, price $10.00.
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| Montville News |
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On Saturdays in April there will be street performers and buskers entertaining the people on the street in Montville. Get along to support the local talent and you can drop in and meet Pete and Rob if you haven't already. They are available for your every need and desire (well when it comes to tasting and understanding the products that is!).
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| Mt Tamborine News |
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Our NEW store at Mt Tamborine has been opened for 4 weeks now. Tastings are FREE at the store. If you live in the vicinity or are just visiting drop by, our Assistant Sallie will help you with tastings and choosing the right products for you.
Cheers (and bottoms up),
Cedric and Carol-Anne Millar
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Lemoncello Cake Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure Castle Glen Vanilla liqueur (or extract if you don't have any Vanilla Liqueur)
Zest of 1 large Lemon
2 cups (280 grams) all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup (60 ml) of Lemoncello Liqueur
Lemon Frosting:
1 cup (115 grams) icing sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons Lemoncello Liqueur
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180°C (160° in a fanforced oven) and place rack in the center of the oven.
2. Butter, or spray with a nonstick spray, a 9 inch (23 cm) spring form pan and then line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer) beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy and pale in color (about 3 minutes).
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
5. Beat in the Vanilla Liqueur (or extract) and lemon zest.
6. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt and then add to the batter along with the Lemoncello Liqueur.
7. Mix only until incorporated.
8. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with an offset spatula.
9. Bake about 40 - 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
10. Place on a wire rack to cool, then gently remove the sides of the pan.
Lemoncello Icing:
1. In a bowl, combine the sifted confectioners' sugar with the 2 tablespoons Lemoncello Liqueur. (If you want the icing to be thicker than a glaze but still thin enough that it will just run over the sides of the cake).
2. If not the right consistency add more Lemoncello Liqueur or powdered sugar, accordingly.
3. Pour the frosting over the top of the cake, allowing the icing to drip down the sides. Let the icing set before covering.
This cake will keep for several days in an airtight container. Makes one 9 inch (23 cm) cake.
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Just remember. If you are going to Drink,
Drink Healthy, Drink Castle Glen!
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April Special
Lemoncello Liqueur Special
- 1 x 700ml Lemoncello Liqueur
- 1 x 50ml Lavender Liqueur - FREE
- 1 x 50ml Blue Lagoon Liqueur - FREE
Website & Cellar Door Price $40.00
Order Now
Save $15.00
Shop Price - $48.00
Save $15.00!
All prices include GST
Prices do not include
Postage & Packing
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Aromacello
30ml Lemoncello Liqueur
30ml Lavender Liqueur
30ml Blue Lagoon Liqueur.
Crushed or Shaved Ice
Serve with Lemonade or Soda Water
Put the crushed or shaved ice into a Long Glass or even a Martini Glass.
Pour Liqueurs over the ice.
Add Lemonade or Soda Water.
Enjoy!
The blend of Lavender and Lemons is truly delightful!
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