Here’s a one-pot dish that will charm you with its meld of savory earthiness and lemony brightness, especially when accompanied by an herbaceous and crisp Sauvignon Blanc like the latest release (2018) from Gamble Family Vineyards.

Gamble Family Vineyards has been making Sauvignon Blanc from the same single-vineyard estate in Napa Valley for 15 years. The vineyard sits in the center of the valley, just east of Yountville Knoll. The site provides plenty of afternoon shade that shields the grapes from excessive summer sun, while preserving their bright acidity. Although inspired by French Sauvignon Blanc regions, Gamble also prizes the specific terroir of this Napa vineyard that allows him to produce a fresh and vibrant white wine.

I checked in with winery owner Tom Gamble to see how he and his neighbors were weathering the collapsed markets and loss of tourism due to the coronavirus crisis. Below is his inspiring and heartwarming response.

**Tom Gamble at his Napa Valley winery.**

The great anxieties and sadness that we have all faced while keeping physically distant has, at the same time, brought neighbors together in so many other ways. One cannot help but feel gratitude. We certainly give thanks for being part of an elemental business connected to the land, for the sun that shines and the birds that sing. And the summer garden for us and our employees is, for once, being planted on time.
I am grateful for the resourcefulness and creativity of my coworkers in finding ways to keep things going. And I am thankful that we can connect weekly with our customers through our zoom calls from the vineyard, a catharsis for everyone, especially food and wine lovers who are a naturally convivial lot. None of this would be possible without our supporters who continue to buy our wine, as best as they can, thus keeping bread on the tables of those tending the vines and making the wine.

Read more about the winery in my interview with Tom Gamble at GrapeCollective.com.

Find out where to purchase the wine following the recipe.

Sausage and Beans with Onions, Peppers, and Tomatoes

Serves 4

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 pounds sausage

1 large onion

2 sweet red bell peppers (or 1 red and 1 green)

salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons flour

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 cup diced tomatoes

1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 cup chicken broth

2 15.5 ounce cans great northern, or other white beans

2 cups baby spinach leaves, optional

1/2 cup chopped parsley leaves

Instructions

1) Heat oil in large sauté pan over high temperature. Add sausage and reduce heat to medium-high. Sauté sausage until browned on both sides, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove sausage from pan and put aside on a plate.

2) Reduce heat to low and add onions and peppers. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute. Sprinkle flour over vegetables and continue to cook while stirring for another minute. Add tomato paste, tomatoes, and lemon juice. Cook for two to three minutes.

3) Raise temperature to medium-high and deglaze the pan with the wine, stirring up any bits at the bottom of the pan. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 2 more minutes. Add chicken broth and sausage to pan. Bring to a simmer and cook for another 8 to 10 minutes. Add beans (and spinach, if using), and cook for another minute or two. Sprinkle with parsley and serve. Taste and adjust seasonings and serve immediately.

Where to find the wine. Typically, Gamble Family wines can be found in select restaurants and high end food and wine shops. Due to the current pandemic, the winery has started selling wine (red, white, and rosé) on their website, with shipping included on case purchases. And if you don’t find the exact wine you’re looking for, they love hearing from customers by e-mail: wine@gamblefamilyvineyards.com.

Winery tasting notes of Gamble Family Vineyards 2018 Sauvignon Blanc. “Refreshingly crisp and dry, brimming with tropical citrus and minerality. A balanced, rich, round mouthfeel. This wine has inspiring aromas of lemon zest, key lime, white peach and almond, alongside delicate white floral notes. Bursts of Meyer lemon, green apple, honey blossom and wet slate dominate the palate while introducing hints of lemon curd and fresh-baked brioche on the long finish.”

Note: Wine samples were provided by Gamble Family Vineyards.