Wine & Country Living

Somewhere my mother read that actor Vincent Price was a vegetarian and loved wheat germ. My brother and I loved the Goulash actor but hated wheat germ, until Mom made one of her delicious nut bread recipes. This was a hobby of Mom's, trying to get her family to eat better foods wrapped up in moist tea cakes. Today, when I saw the pumpkins arrive outside Harvest Foods in Dayton, I decided I would try to create a recipe us­ing wheat germ and fresh pumpkin in a little sweet bread to serve with dinner. I worked on the recipe, and just as I pulled the little bread from the oven, my sister arrived at the door with a bottle of Cougar Crest Viognier. Was she reading my mind? This would be a great wine with the evening meal, and I invited her to dinner. I have always loved Cougar Crest winemaker Debbie Hansen's "true-love" approach to winemaking. Her passion shows in the Estate Grown 2008 Viognier white wine. Like me, winemaker Debbie Hansen is from the bay area and brought her fabulousness with her. It wasn't long before she was making the great wines that today are award winning, from her local winery. In case you haven't tried this Viognier, you will be pleasantly surprised because for all its non-oak, it remains a dry white wine, exhibiting sweet flora notes and a mouth drenched in lush honeysuckle. This is an incredible fete, earning Cougar Crest 10 barrels from Wine and Country Living! By the way, the little bread I created from scratch paired beautifully with dinner and this award winning wine.

Chocolate Walnut Pumpkin Bread

Makes 1-9x5x3 loaf

Method:

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