Recipe Weekend: St Francis Winery Girls Grill Guide/ Red Wine Barbeque Sauce

St Francis Winery and Vineyard has been a staple in California's Sonoma county for over 35 years! I can remember many a weekend stopping in to check out their new wines!  While most renowned for its red varietals, including its Zinfandel (all old vines 60 - 110 years old!!), Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Francis also produces a noteworthy Chardonnay. St. Francis Sonoma County wines are bursting with flavor and are recognized globally for outstanding quality and great value.

They have a perfect download on their website, for all of us who enjoy grilling and cooking outdoors- the St Francis Girls Guide to Grilling! St. Francis teamed up with national grilling expert Elizabeth Karmel, a.k.a. Queen of the Grill, to create the Guide, which focuses on using wine to grill with!

The Guide has some wonderful how-tos on grilling, as well as great recipes and wine pairings. But I wanted to share with you one of their recipe cards from their website that is just beyond YUMMY, and SO easy to prepare!

Makes about 3 ½ cups

Good for Slathering on smoked short ribs, brisket, or even a thick grilled steak; wild game, venison; duck; pork.

1 bottle St. Francis “Old Vines” Zinfandel
½ cup plus 2 heaping tablespoons seedless blackberry or raspberry jam
1 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Pinch ground cloves
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon sweet Hungarian paprika
½ teaspoon Tabasco sauce
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

• In a heavy saucepan, bring the wine to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until it is reduced to about half of its original volume, about 25 minutes. Add the jam and stir until combined. Simmer for 5 minutes. 
• Add the ketchup, tomato paste, vinegar, cloves, cinnamon, paprika, and Tabasco sauce to the saucepan.
• Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season to taste (I like about 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper) and let cool. 
• Brush it on food 5 to 15 minutes before the cooking time is finished. If desired, serve extra on the side.

 The sauce will keep, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Ready to get grilling this weekend? Thought so, but wait- there's more! You can enter St. Francis Winery's TURN UP THE HEAT contest, which challenges you to submit a 3-minute video that showcases your (or hubby's) grilling recipes that are paired with a St. Francis wine. You have til August 31st to get them in! The prize is a trip for 2 to the St. Francis Winery in Sonoma County, CA! It includes round trip airfare AND a VIP experience at the winery! There are 4 categories and multiple 2nd-4th place prices, so check it out today!