Simply D'Vine 2009 Top Ten Wines

The second annual Simply D’Vine food and wine-tasting event, held Friday night at the Avera Professional Pavilion in Yankton. The event, which drew more than 500 people, was a benefit for the Avera Sacred Heart Cancer Center. (Kelly Hertz/P&D)

This event had 78 different wines to taste, our top ten were chosen by reviewing the order forms.

1. Michael David Vineyards 7 Deadly Zins
2. Snoqualmie Vineyards Riesling
3. Cono Sur Bicycle Cabernet
4. Cline Cellars Cashmere
5. J Lohr Estates Baymist Riesling
6. J Lohr Estates Riverstone Chardonnay
7. Gnarly Head Old Vines Zinfandel
8. Cline Cellars Oakley 5 Reds
9. J Lohr Wild Flower Valdique
10. Kendall Jackson Estates Grand Reserve Cabernet

All of the wines featured at simply d'vine can be ordered from Hy-Vee in Yankton.

Congratulations to Jay Wilson!

Our staff here at the Yankton Hy-Vee would like to congratulate Jay Wilson, assistant vice president of wine and spirits at Hy-Vee corporate, for being selected one of six Market Watch Leaders of 2009 by Market Watch magazine.

The magazine article talks about Hy-Vee's formula for success. Highlights of the article include Hy-Vee's hands-off approach to managing. Hy-Vee was founded in 1930 and is one of the nation's fastest growing grocers with 225 grocery stores in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota. Hy-Vee doesn't do any centralized buying, so that managers can mold their stores to their neighborhoods needs. Since there is no set corporate program Jay acts like an advisor to each store manager, by e-mailing new ideas and wine product information. His light authoriative touch has kept managers highly motivated and ensures that individual stores are merchandised to meet their specific customer needs.  In 2006, Jay started an exciting and innovative online wine study program that is the result of a ground breaking educational collaboration between Hy-Vee, the Society of Wine Educators, and the E&J Gallo Winery. The program is intended to allow employees to increase their core wine knowledge and enhance job performance. After completing the online program (which is about 100 hours of study), employees become a Hy-Vee Certified Wine Specialist. The program also helps to prepare them to successfully pass the SWE's Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) exam. Jay also started a program 10 years ago to help Hy-Vee build an array of wine and beer clubs.  Today, some stores have 300 members or more. Our Yankton store has about 200 members, which receive a 15% discount on a case of wine and 10% off of the wine of the month. Members also receive discounts on wine tasting sponsored by the store and Wine Spectator magazine.

Recipes from Hy-Vee Land

Fuzzy Navel (from Yalun Tsai, Des Moines IA)

• 2 oz Peach Schnapps
• 6 oz fresh Orange Juice
• 2 oz Vodka
• Garnish with an Orange Peel

Fresh Orange Salsa (from Lisa, Owatonna MN)

• 1 1/2 cups. fresh peeled Mandarin oranges, chopped
• 1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
• 2 tablespoons scallions, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
• 2 tablespoons Absolut mandarin orange vodka
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• Salt & pepper to taste

Serve on lettuce with grilled salmon

Rogers recipe for Salmon
Take your fillet and rub a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice on it. Then take a 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic and rub it on. Let is set for about 20 minutes. Preheat your oven to 350. When you put the fillet in the oven take a 1/4 cup of brown sugar and mound it on top. Let bake for about 20 to 30 minutes. While the salmon is baking make Orange rice. Follow the instate rice instructions only use orange juice instead of water.

Steak Marinade for the Grill

• 2 cups tomato juice or V8
• 1/4 cup Svedka Vodka
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 4 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 tablespoon Horseradish
• 1 -2 teaspoons Tabasco Sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon Celery Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper

Mix together and pour over 4 steaks. let marinate for 1-2 hours in a baking dish or re-sealable plastic bag. Then thrown on the grill.

Smirnoff White Grape Cosmo (from Owatonna MN)

• 3 oz Smirnoff White Grape Vodka
• 1/2 oz Triple Se
• 4oz Cranberry Juice
• 2oz Lemon-Lime Soda
• 2 Squeezed Lemon Wedges
• Garnish with Frozen Grapes

Let us know what you think and feel free to post some of your own recipes in the comment section.