Judith Henderson’s Wine & Country Living

American Indians apply a growing technique to their vegetable gardens, a technique today's organic growers call "permaculture." Permaculture is a gardening tech- nique based on following the natural ecological design nature intended for the space being used for planting a garden in a sustainable manner. "Uh?" they just call the technique, "Three Sisters," and in some cases it's as simple as this: plant corn and when 12 inches tall, plant green beans at base of the corn stalk allowing beans to climb corn stalk. At the same time, plant squash 4 inches out from beans to grow and run along desert floor under corn and beans, holding moisture under leathery leaves nourishing all three plants.

I recently witness this style of growing in a huge organic garden in California. It was breathtaking to view and makes perfect sense to use Three Sisters in our sustainable home gardens; saving water, space and less time under UV rays.

This Week's Wine: Walla Walla's Rotie Cellars 2010 Northern, a Rhone blended red varietals; 95 percent syrah 5 percent viognier, $40 a bottle. A well-balanced wine at 3.94 PH, nose buried deep in the glass; a toasty visit. At first sip, earthy minerals swath the cheeks blossoming into a maceration of anise and chocolate cherries, silken crème melding in a long lasting tongue.

Honors: Sean Boyd, Rhone Ranger of Walla Walla, because you purposely produce smaller quantities of old-world styled wines from newer vines, yours truly, Judith Henderson, of Wine and Country Living honors you with 98 Points of Wine Perfection for the Rotie 2010 Northern wine. Congratulations Sean and team Rotie! 253-312-5991

Readers, until next week, "Eat Art Drink Imagina- tion!"

Cherry Bacon Demi Glaze

Serves 4

4 slices bacon cooked off

½ cup diced dried cherries

1 cup Rhone styled red wine

½ teaspoon each: garlic granules, salt, pepper

2 tablespoons sugar

Method: In remaining bacon fat, over medium high heat, add shallots and remaining ingredients; cook until reduced by half, glossy and thickened. Crumble bacon into glaze, immediately spoon over pork chops, panned tofu steaks or platter of scrambled eggs, paired with Rotie Cellars 2010 Northern Blended Red Winehellip;Yum!

Hear Judith's seasonal food and wine Pod Cast at: www.chefjudithhenderson.com