Perhaps the ultimate in Slow Food Fast – Smoked Barbecue

Prescription Cabernet Sauvignon with BBQ
Lombardi’s Deli & Gourmet BBQ in Petaluma, California is a local wine country favorite

Pairing Our Alexander Valley Cabernet with Smoked Barbecue Makes for Boldilicious Memories

If you’re into smoked barbecue as a personal journey, you understand the time and commitment it takes to not only prepare a single meal it’s the learning of the craft itself. Luckily, there are those so committed to the art they take the seemingly crazy jump and open BBQ joints to share their passion with others. This is when smoked barbecue becomes the ultimate slow food fast!

Prescription Vineyards Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from a hillside vineyard from 1,700 feet above the valley floor of the Mayacamas Mountain Range
Our Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from a hillside vineyard 1,700 feet above the valley floor in the Mayacamas Mountain Range – $30 retail.

Before we go any further, let’s raise a glass of Prescription Vineyards to all the dedicated Pit Masters across this great country. These dedicated people are up before dawn prepping fish, poultry, and meats to serve to the disciples of the tender and smokey. Think about all the hours creating marinades, rubs, and sauces, and reducing hardwoods to embers so that they have the pit at the perfect temperature, even heat and smoke.

And then there is us, those who pull into the parking lot of the BBQ joint to pick up our order of smoked salmon or chicken or brisket – or all of the above for the family. Within minutes we’re feasting on a meal that has been in the works for days. Again, a toast to all the Pit Masters and their pit crews for taking on all the heat and smoke for our pleasure. Thank you!

For our ongoing Slow Food Fast Series, we’re singling out Lombardi’s Deli & Gourmet BBQ in Petaluma, California because it’s a local favorite for those on the go. Just an hour north of San Francisco, Petaluma is set in Sonoma County and is famous for its agriculture, including wine, dairy, eggs, meats, and poultry. Of course, it’s also famous as a set for Hollywood, noted for films such as American Graffiti, Basic Instinct, Cujo, and Peggy Sue Got Married.

On a recent Sunday drive back from the breathtaking Sonoma Coast, we picked up a full-rack of baby back ribs, Lombardi’s Small-Batch Hickory BBQ Sauce, and classic barbecue sides for dinner. The ribs were tender, with a perfect ‘slight tug’ off the bone. We paired our Prescription Vineyards 2018 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which layered in a dark berry component to the excellent sauce while cleansing the palate between mouthwatering bites of rib. Napkins, please!

When you’re thinking about a meal days after the experience, you feel pretty good about your money being well-spent. Barbecue isn’t cheap and rightfully so. Considering we have fans all over the United States, and the myriad of regional barbecue-styles below is a link to some of America’s greatest joints to indulge in as suggested by Thrillist!

Amy’s Drive Thru is the Prescription for Making Movie Night Simple & Vegetarian Tasty!

Amy's Drive Thru Sustainable & Organic

Amy’s Drive Thru started in Sonoma County, California, several years back, and now have locations in Corte Madera and the San Francisco International Airport. They are sustainably focused and offer veggie, vegan and gluten-free burgers, burritos and pizza. Its buildings have reclaimed elements, rainwater collectors, and sod roofs layered with grasses and succulent plants. And, yes, they have indoor seating along with its drive-through window.

Amy's Drive Thru Sustainable & Organic

For those not from Northern California, you may be familiar with Amy’s organic products from grocery store shelves and in freezers. We’d equate the quality level of its drive-through food to In-N-Out Burger and Chik-fil-A (apologies to our vegan and vegetarian friends for the meat analogy).

In our house, for Friday movie night, we love the Amy Burger – a double veggie patty, double cheese, lettuce, tomato, (sans onion), pickle, with Fred Sr.’s secret sauce. When you avoid the onion, the beauty of this burger is that it pairs beautifully with both Presciption Vineyards Clarksburg Chardonnay and our Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Note, Amy’s fries are excellent, yet aren’t the best for pairing with wine. Our recommendation is to take another bite of burger after you eat a fry before taking a sip of wine—simple solution. And if you’re glutton free, get your veggie-on-veggie with Amy’s lettuce wrap option!

Now, how about a list of food-themed shows offered up by IMDb: Food & Restaurant Movies & TV Series to whet your appetite!

Photo credits: Amy’s Drive Thru

Inaugural Release of Our 2018 Alexander Valley Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon is Here!

The new 2018 Alexander Valley Cabernet joins our 2018 Clarksburg Chardonnay in the Family Kitchen and Online Store!

Prescription Vineyard’s first foray into the Cabernet Sauvignon landscape has created an absolute gem. The fruit is sourced from a vineyard at 1,700 feet in elevation on a hillside block. With Rob having a decade of working with this vineyard, it seemed a natural fit to create a terrific cab at an incredibly reasonable price. Rob likes to make rich, luscious wines, and Prescription 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon definitely qualifies.

“I love this Alexander Valley hillside vineyard,” said winemaker Rob Lloyd. “The severe hillside looks like an old volcano. It’s always the last lot of Cabernet Sauvignon to come into the winery. The berries are so tiny with deep, concentrated berries.”

Rob utilized 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from this Alexander Valley vineyard in Sonoma County, California. He tank-fermented the wine in closed-top tanks, pressed the grapes, and then barrel-aged it for 16 months using new and used, French and American oak barrels. As he loves to to, Rob the bottle aged the wine until release.

“It’s so nice to have a Cabernet Sauvignon in our Prescription portfolio to complement our Clarksburg Chardonnay,” said Bonnie Lloyd, reflecting while taking sips in the family’s kitchen. “The rich, bright fruit has notes of blackberry, cherry, and black currant. And the soft tannins have such a smooth mouthfeel that I can’t help but smile after every sip.”

Upon initial release, our 2018 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is available exclusively on our online store.


Trade partners interested in carrying our 2018 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon may contact Greg Moore at (415) 385-9658 or email greg@lloydcellars.com.

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