Leti's Pollitos en Vino Tinto (Little Chickens in Red Wine) with Naumann Vineyards Tre Rosso Cali

 Murder Before The Bell

The administration building at Central High School is set on fire to cover up the death of the principal. When the new principal is charged with the murder, Rick Podowski and the Hefty Trio work to prove their friend's innocence. As the plot thickens, they discover their friend's involvement in illegal activities including prostitution and police corruption. 

                                                                                                                                                             Chapter 27 

 Rick spent a busy weekend doing chores and visiting with his brother's son, which perhaps explains why he was so exhausted that he had trouble getting through Monday.  After school, he went home, found Leti's favorite recipe, Pollitos en Vino Tinto which were Cornish Game Hen he'd prepared a couple of weeks ago and then frozen, only to have been defrosting all day in the fridge. The Mexican spices made these so tasty.  French bread, a simple tomato and lettuce salad, fresh Italian broad beans and mashed potatoes rounded out the meal accompanied by a Naumann Vineyards Tre Rosso Cali.  This wine won a double gold medal at the 2012 San Francisco International Wine Competition.

            Rick was relaxing in his green recliner when the phone rang.

            "I talked to Mrs. Do today," Erin told him.  "She said that the ESL classes, you know, the ones for the prostitutes, at the Vietnamese school are growing to sixty girls."

            "So, the Colonel's expanding his business," Rick said.  "It's getting too complicated.  We need to take this to the police."

            "But we still don't have any real evidence," Erin protested.  "Plus, you can't take this to Detective Johnson because he's part of the operation."

            "Maybe we need to go back to the FBI," Rick said.  "Even though they didn't help us last time, we have to go to them.  There's no place else."

                                                                                                                                                              

Naumann Vineyards  

                                                                                                                       

The owners of wineries come from many different professions, and they are united in their desire to make great wines.  In 1982 Don Naumann launched what has become the leading turf grass products supplier in Northern California and Nevada and this is still his primary business.  In 1987 he bought a home on Montebello Ridge in Cupertino and as a hobby in 1994 planted one and one half acres of Merlot grapes that he hoped to sell to Ridge Winery.  When Ridge over planted, Don decided to make his own wine and in 2001 Naumann Vineyards was founded.

With the help of Matt Oetinger of Fernwood Cellars, Don launched his winery.  All the grapes are dry farmed because fog blankets the vineyard in the evening and since the vineyard is close to his home he is very careful about the fertilizers and chemicals he uses.  The grapes are hand cultivated, harvested, and crafted in small lots.

Four wines are produced.  Tre Rosso Cali translates to "Three Reds of California" comprised of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc.  They also produce an Estate Merlot, a Chardonnay, and a Late Harvest Merlot.


The winery produces about 750 cases per year

Leti's Pollitos en Vino Tinto  (Little Chickens in Red Wine) with Naumann Vineyards Tre Rosso Cali

            Usually Cornish Game hens are not considered part of Mexican cuisine.  However, this dish, according to BellaOnline's Mexican food editor is authentic and it tastes wonderful.  The Tre Rosso Cali truly complements the dish with a rich, textured mouth feel that adds extra complexity.

Serves 6

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup white vinegar

1 medium onion, sliced

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 bay leaf

1 sprig thyme, or 1/2 tsp. crushed, dried thyme

1 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

6 Rock Cornish Game Hens

4 slices bacon

1 and a 1/2 pounds Roma tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped

2 carrots, chopped

6 whole green onions, chopped in 1 inch pieces

2 cups dry red wine

  Combine the oil, vinegar, onion, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, salt, and pepper.  Marinate the hens overnight. 

           Cut the bacon into one-inch pieces and fry in a very large pan until most of the fat is rendered out.  Add the tomatoes, carrots, and green onions to the pan and cook for about five minutes. Add the marinade from the hens and wine.  Gently bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let simmer for about an hour.

 Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Split Cornish game hens, drizzle both sides with sauce, and bake approximately 45 minutes in a shallow pan, skin side up.  Baste often.