Ever noticed how you brush your teeth and then afterwards (it never fails!) you crave a buttery bag of popcorn that ends up tasting completely weird? (There’s no way that buttery goodness can really taste that terrible, right?)

Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret – just as toothpaste can change the taste of food, certain foods can change the taste of wine. Perhaps you’ve tried a certain wine before that you immediately dismissed for its odd flavor. Now honey, there’s your biggest mistake!

‘Cuz when you don’t succeed, try, try again! Perhaps your wine flavor was altered by other tasty treats that you were enjoying at the time. (Weird, huh?)

In order to really create the perfect wine tasting party, you have to be prepared by knowing the tastes of the wines and foods that you are serving, and how they taste together. (It seems like a lot of work, but I know how to make it easy on you.) So check out our wine and food pairing tips to make sure that you’ve got all of your guests’ taste buds covered.

To ensure that your wine tasting event is successful, here are some things you might want to include:

- Your favorite Sutter Home wine varietals (Variety is key! Grab enough for all of your guests – yourself included - to indulge!)
- Foods to pair with each wine (spicy foods get a milder wine, like a White Zin, sweet & sour foods go best with Chardonnay, and so on..)
- Water – and crackers - to cleanse your palate after each sip (this will intensify your tasting experience)
- And (of course!) fabulous friends to enjoy the luscious flavors
My last final tip to you is to always start with white wine, moving from dry to sweet, and progress to red wines, moving from light to full-bodied.

And remember, Sutter Home has got all of the wines that you will need for a successful evening, so just bring yourself and that go-get-‘em attitude and you are golden for a perfectly delicious and classy event.

Now, after your exciting evening..riddle me this:

What’s your Sutter Home varietal and food to pair with it?

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It’s already mid-summer (a perfect day outside, no less), and you’ve finally exhausted the last of your impromptu summer fun sessions – you’ve gone to the amusement park, you’ve planned that delicious backyard BBQ, you’ve even planned a game night for all of your friends. But here’s one thing you’ve yet to do – A Surfside Picnic!

Of course, I know that you’ve probably been to the beach (or the lake & river which can be just as much fun) before..and obviously bringing along some snacks and a few drinks are a MUST when you go. But with a beach blow-out like this one, we can help you have twice the excitement, and three times the deliciousness!

But, wait! Before you pack your beach bag into the car along with that amazing bathing suit that you just bought (on sale, no less) and the insanely large hat that you insisted on getting, make sure you’ve got room for a few extra things:

- A fun-sized four pack of little 187 mL bottles of Sweet Red (or really whichever Sutter Home varietal your little heart desires)

- A quick and simple Caesar salad (you can throw this together in less than two minutes, cross my heart) that goes perfect with the Sauvignon Blanc or Sweet Red.

- A few pre-made grilled chicken wraps with whatever toppings you enjoy (trust me, it’s so easy your head will already be in beach-mode)

- And finally, a cooler to pack all of your scrumptious goodies.

Also, if you’re planning on staying to watch the stars come out..pack a few Hershey’s bars, marshmallows and graham crackers..you can’t go wrong with s’mores. BUT if you’re planning on bringing along a bottle of Moscato, you may not even need dessert.

So don’t be discouraged because the summer season is nearing its’ end, but rather get excited about all of the end of summer fun that you’ll be having! And if you need a few more tips on what to bring to enchant those little fun-sized bottles, check out our Wine and Burger University for pairing tips.

Which fun-sized Sutter Home varietal will you be bringing along?

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So you’re at the market and determined to keep things healthy. “Stick with the fresh salad plan,” you think as you try not to ogle the fresh cheese and sausage. (Oh yes, I know what that’s like) Bathing suit season is here, and you would like to be prepared. You don’t even look at the fresh bread and instead scamper over to find the green ingredients of a spectacular summer salad.

Great work! It can’t be that hard to switch around your options, right? In fact, here’s an idea. Instead of whatever main dish you’re thinking about whipping up at your next summer lunch or dinner soiree, try serving salad. (And I’m not talking about just any salad!) A fabulous main course salad will do, AND it will have all your girlfriends talking.

Yes, it’s true! A yummy Greek or Thai salad can be every bit as fun and satisfying as any of the more traditional main courses. And of course they’re healthy and light and all that good stuff.

Alas, salads are not perfect. Here’s the challenge: some wines may clash with the acidity of many salad dressings, especially vinegar based ones.

So listen up, ‘cause we’ve got what it takes to make your guests’ tummies and your own leave feeling deliciously satisfied.

- For a vinaigrette dressing, our Chenin Blanc is a perfect pairing (Would I lie to you?).

- Salty ingredients like olives, anchovies, capers, chopped nuts or a strong cheese make any salad a little more neutral and a better wine complement (and, of course, infinitely more delicious).

- Caesar salad, you say? Sutter Home’s Pinot Grigio + Caesar = perfection.

- A nice, food friendly wine like Sutter Home’s Chardonnay makes a good pairing with the meats and cheeses of a Cobb salad.

- Greek salad, with its sharp flavors, calls for an assertive wine such as Sutter Home’s Sauvignon Blanc.

(With all of this salad talk, I’m starting to get hungry!)

But, I digress.. now that you’ve got the helpful hints you need to keep your body healthy and happy, you can join that gym that you’ve been eyeing for the past month, or try out that new bikini you’ve been on the lookout for..all without compromising your taste buds!

Now, to end this little rant, here’s the main ingredient to happiness: a bottle of Sutter Home wine (and some salad mixtures too!)

P.S. I would love to hear about your salad summers in the comment box below. How do you satisfy your summer appetite?

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Of course we know you’ve been to about 101 pool parties since the start of the summer and probably enjoyed many more glasses of wine and obviously your grill has been heated up quite a few times, but whoever said you can’t do it all? (I know I’ve incorporated a little vino and water splashin’ fun into my summers at least a few times.)

Well, of course it sometimes seems like relaxing by the pool while enjoying a delicious meal may not go hand-in-hand, but we know how to spice up your summer while still kickin’ it poolside. (It’s integration time, baby!!)

In order to really take advantage of cooling off from the hot summer sun, try a lighter and leaner burger, like one of our turkey burgers. A turkey burger will satisfy your palate and fill your stomach without overdoing it, so that you can take a cool-down dip right after that delicious meal.

Turkey burgers go great with our food friendly wines, like our Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio. Or, if you have some red wine fanatics, sip on our Merlot with your pool party-goers.

The key to a blow-out, burger bashin’ pool party is to satisfy all of your cravings. Here are some things you may want to stock up on:

- A variety of Sutter Home wines (so you have a great selection for your guests to choose from)
- Bite-sized 187 mL bottles (these are perfect for the pool AND your guests can try all sorts of delicious flavors)
- Plastic wine glasses (to prevent any unwanted mishaps)
- Any ingredients for your burger you may need (check out the Burgerbase for this one)
- A variety of burger toppings (avocados? cheese? bacon? Let your guests build their own gourmet burger)
- Some floats for your guests to lounge on (think colorful noodles, perfect for floating and relaxing in the pool)
- And (of course) sunscreen!

With all of these delectable goodies, the aroma of your gourmet burgers being grilled, and the sound of your friends having a BLAST, your neighbors may try and squeeze their way into the fun.

All of this pool party fun is making me wanna grab my floatie and get to the water ASAP.

What’s your “must have” for pool time fun?

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Happy almost Fourth of July to all of our burger & wine lovers! We know that with the Fourth of July around the corner those Build A Better Burger ® creations are starting to really pull themselves together (Am I right?)
Okay, okay.. we know they may not be completely perfected, but don’t worry! Jeffery Starr’s burger tips are around to help you out! And here’s something that mother nature can help you out with, SUMMER..of course! With all of this summer grillin’ time, we’re getting’ geared up for those burger recipes! Yummmy. (Note to self: Stop thinking about all of the delicious burger making that’s going on or your head might explode!)

These fancy burger photos (sent by a fellow competitor) make us already want to sink our teeth in to the competition!

We know we’ve got to wait a few more months until the competition, but we’re already getting super excited! So get to grillin’ this weekend ‘cuz we are prepared for those juicy burgers! (Fourth of July Fireworks and burgers - can that even be topped?)

So let us in on all of your grilling secrets (pretty please with bacon and cheese on top!) It is almost the fourth of July, after all. Celebrate with us!

And if you don’t want to share EVERYTHING at least answer this one teensy question:

How did you come up with your gourmet burger creation? (I promise not to drool!)

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We know that your life is crazy busy. You come home every evening from work wishin’ and hopin’ that the housework had magically finished itself. (I’ll ask my fairy godmother to get to work on that!)

Fairy godmothers may be a fairytale, after all, but we’ve got just the thing to help you simplify your trips to the store. Our new iPhone app. – Build A Better Grocery List.

Now, how are we gonna do it? We’ll tell you! (Did you think we’d just leave you high and dry like that?)

- Get to shopping! Organize a grocery list according to YOUR budget
- So what about that pasta recipe that your girlfriend made at a party last week? View past lists or share your list with a friend (gosh, that sure does make it easier)
- Turn up the heat! This app has a burger database for all sorts of burger fun – we’ve got tons of recipes and ingredients so that you can plan your meal right from the store (no more running home to grab the list you forgot on the table)
- Game night! With our Burger personality quiz you can entertain yourself in those long, annoying lines.
- So what’s for dinner? The perfect wine and food, of course. We’ve got food and wine pairings right to your phone – Not sure what wine goes with that pasta dish? Just get out your iPhone!
- Tip Calculator – ‘nuff said
- Organize it! Club Membership cards take up way too much room – store all of your member cards in one easy location (no more cards piling in your wallet!)
- Write it down! With all of your notes in one easy-to-use application, you can jot important things down in a hurry and be able read ‘em later

Ah, life was never this easy.

And after you get all of the groceries put away (the worst part!), celebrate the little victories by grabbing a bottle of Sutter Home Sweet Red. You deserve it, right?

Which Sutter Home varietal do you pop open to celebrate the end to your day?
Let us know what you think of the app and what you think we should add to it!

So he just popped the big question. The initial thought that popped into your head right before you said “Yes!” was, “Thank goodness he didn’t ask during winter.” After all, summer is (of course) the best time to throw any party – especially the one that you’re going to look back on for the rest of your life together! With warm weather and cute sundresses, how can you go wrong?

Now we know that engagement parties can sometimes be stressful, but this is supposed to be your evening, right (well, you and the fiancé of course)? So don’t worry! Sit back and relax – we know how to throw together the perfect party before you can even say “Moscato”! And no one will ever know how little time it took you.

First things first, you need a theme! Grab up the ideal theme for your dinner party from our Burger Parties Cookbook. We’ve got everything covered – appetizers, main course, dessert, and drinks too! And we haven’t even mentioned the best part – you can choose from any of our 16 crowd-pleasing menus.

You might be in a rush to put something simple together, so we’re prepared for that too! Browse our videos for all the tips you need to ensure a successful evening.

Sutter Home’s executive chef, Jeffrey Starr, has got any advice you might need to ensure the happiness of your guests, your fiancé, and (most importantly) yourself! Any other pairing recommendations you need can be found on our website. With all of the flavors and varieties that we offer, your guests will start feeling quite chummy pretty quickly.

To start off your evening, make sure you’ve got a couple of champagne flutes for the toast. And here’s a fun idea for some summery sippin’ – mix together peach nectar, white zinfandel, crushed ice, a splash of sparkling water and a sprig of mint – this is a perfectly delicious toasting option!

When gourmet burgers are this simple, summer fun is a cinch!

So fire up that grill, put on your best dress and dance the night away! ‘Cuz with all of our easy solutions, you’ll have plenty of time to have fun!

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As Americans, we know you’ve all enjoyed a little football in your time..and we’re sure that you love to get your friends together, grab a few bottles of Sutter Home wine, and fire up the grill when that time comes. But who says that once football season is over the party ends?

With the summer season here, it’s time for some fútbol..and we’re not talking about the kind where you wear pads on your shoulders..we’re talking about the World Cup, baby! With 32 teams competing for the championship, that’s a lot of games and a lot of grilling time for you and your friends to grill your hearts out.

For loads of delicious grilling recipes, click over here and browse through over 5,000 recipes – we’ve got a recipe for every game. Looking for a burger with some of those Brazilian flavors to enjoy during the Portugal-Brazil game? We’ve got it! And you can pair that explosion of flavor with the taste of spicy berries and juicy pepper – Sutter Home’s Zinfandel, of course! Or maybe you’d rather chow down on an All-American burger to go with your All-American spirits – if you’re rooting for the good ‘ole USA, that is.

Let your soccer spirits come out in your food – enjoy an Asian burger or a Spanish burger to compliment the team that you’re rooting for. Or you can enjoy a duo of the delicious and juicy flavors with this flavor mosaic.

And if you’re asking yourself, “What wine goes best with that African burger again?” – check out our wine pairing tips. (By the way, try it with the Sauvignon Blanc..we would never mislead you.)

So, whether or not you’re actually in South Africa participating in one of the biggest events in the world, you sure can pretend like you are by trying all of their delicious flavors.

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If you’re coming to a close halt for creative party ideas, favors, foods and drinks, we know how to help you out (and we promise not to breathe a word of it to anyone)! We know that you’re usually the party queen (or king), and we’d love to help you keep that title.

Our new Burger Parties cookbook has fabulous party menus that range from hosting a Southwest fiesta to a tropical patio get-together – so no matter the occasion, we’ve got your back.

Together, Sutter Home’s executive chef, Jeffrey Starr and the Build-A-Better-Burger head judge, James McNair formulated a book with all of their ideas, culinary genius, and recipes all in one..sounds like a dynamic duo to me! Jam-packed with over 60 full color photos that look good enough to eat, and loads of party-ready menus, this cookbook is sure to get you the “Party Diva of the Year” award.

So why wait until the 4th of July or Labor Day to host the most delicious party ever? The summertime heat seems like reason enough to plan a celebration! Click over here to order your copy now, and begin your path to burger party greatness.

And if you’re not convinced quite yet, take a look at some of our teaser videos and get a little taste of some of our mind-blowing burger parties. You don’t want to miss out on becoming the chef that your friends rave about.

Want to learn how to perfectly construct a deliciously mouthwatering burger that might score you $100,000? Or maybe you just want to host a party for all of your friends so they can “ooh” and “ahh” at your cooking skills?

Jeffrey Starr, Sutter Home’s Executive Chef, has all of the right advice to lead you on your path of deliciousness and perhaps, a chance to showcase your skills at the 20th annual Sutter Home Build a Better Burger Cook-off in Napa Valley! Check out our helpful videos to learn the best way to handle ground beef, what ingredients get the judge’s mouths watering and much more!

You can also watch past videos of our annual cook-off, where you’ll see firsthand the excitement and energy of the competition!

So what are you waiting for? Grab your spatula, fire up the computer and be prepared to be inspired!