#Sizzlin' with SAS -- Demystifying Duck, or, How To Make The Easiest D - Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery
January 23, 2021


September 2025

GRAPE AND WINE DISCOVERY PASS

When: September 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 11 am to 5 pm

Where: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery and other participating Niagara wineries

What: The Niagara Wine Festival's annual Grape & Wine Discovery Pass returns. Buy your Discovery Pass online and visit up to six participating wineries for innovative and delicious wine and food pairings.

September is harvest and this Discovery Pass program is all about is winemakers' comfort food when they are up against a deadline -- what do winemakers eat when they're working all hours to get harvest in? In our case, get ready for:

SIZZLIN' WITH SAS" GOES TO THE DOGS!

Our winemaker loves cooking...until harvest when her signature “Sizzlin' with SAS” creations are simplified to HOT DOGS! As a “Fancy Farm Girl”, Sue-Ann's hot dogs are accessorized with Grilled Corn and Feta Salsa, zesty BBQ sauce, and gourmet wieners on a Cobb’s bun.

Why does winemaker Sue-Ann Staff love this wine? The pairing is rustic, charming and refreshing.

FEATURED WINE: Fancy Farm Girl Foxy Pink

FEATURED MOCKTAIL: Lemonade with a mint twist

FEATURED CULINARY CREATOR: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery

Purchase your Discovery Pass online: https://niagarawinefestival.com/fall-discovery-pass-25

 

SEPTEMBER 2025

Nature Girl: Waterfalls, Yoga & Wine

When: Saturday, September 13

Where: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery

What:  Begin your day with a revitalizing yoga session on the serene grounds of Sue-Ann Staff Winery. Then, set out on a guided hike along the scenic Bruce Trail, where you’ll explore lush forests and take in the beauty of cascading waterfalls. After your adventure, return to the winery to unwind with a well-deserved flight of premium wines. A perfect blend of movement, nature, and indulgence!

$65 per person, find all the details at https://www.naturegirlexpeditions.com/product-page/hike-wine-sept-13

 

SEPTEMBER 2025

Run for the Grapes

When: Sunday, September 28

Race Times: Half-Marathon at 8:30 am, 5k at 8:45 am  

Where: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery

What:  Run a half marathon or 5k and support The Heart & Stroke Foundation! Find all the details you need and register at the Subaru Running Series website here: https://niagararunningseries.com/running-event/run-for-the-grapes-1-2-marathon-5k/

 

Harvest Sunday

When: Sunday, September 28, 1-4

Where: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery

What:  September's the best in wine country! You're invited to visit the winery September 28 for an afternoon of live music by Michelle Hedley in Sue-Ann's front garden. Enjoy music and wine surrounded by lush vineyards. Wine flights, wine by the glass and wine-friendly snacks available for purchase. 

 

October 2025

ALS Revolution Ride

When: Sunday, October 5

Where: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery

What:  The ALS Canada Revolution Ride is a volunteer-powered, fundraising event hosted in support of ALS Canada that encourages participants to do more for people and families living with ALS and in honour of the people we have loved and lost.

This premier cycling event takes place on Sunday, October 5 in Jordan, Ontario in the beautiful Niagara wine region. The roads surrounding the area offer a landscape that will take riders along a route, steeped in excitement and beauty, leaving participants with a sense of accomplishment and the reward of seeing their fundraising efforts go to help families affected by ALS. There are two awesome routes to choose from including 40km and 90km options. Choose the distance that suits your level!

Not only will the kilometres logged be worthwhile, but the start and finish lines are located in the heart of Ontario wine country at the stunning Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery. The day promises to be a memorable one.

Find out more and register to ride here: https://revolutionride.als.ca/revride/participate

November 2025

THE GREAT GRILLED CHEESE EXTRAVAGANZA

When: Saturday, November 1st 11-4:30, Sunday, November 2nd 11-4

Where: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery

What:  Experience the best grilled cheese sandwiches of your life, each one perfectly paired with our wines!

It’s a celebration of Sue-Ann’s long-time love affair with inventive grilled cheese sandwiches. “Why have tomato soup with your grilled cheese, when you could have wine?”

Ticket-holders are welcomed with a refreshing sip of our Fancy Farm Girl sparkling before setting off on a delicious cheese adventure. Four fabulous grilled cheese stations are set up throughout Sue-Ann’s home, each one offering delicious sandwich samples with our award-winning wines.

$48.53 per person ($42.95+HST). Gluten Friendly timeslots available! Find all the details and buy your tickets online here: https://www.sue-annstaff.com/collections/events/products/sue-anns-great-grilled-cheese-extravaganza-2025

 


#Sizzlin' with SAS -- Demystifying Duck, or, How To Make The Easiest Dish You'll Ever Wow Your Guests With

Demystifying Duck

I love duck.  Every part of it.
I even love to watch them fly.  And especially walk.

Seared duck breast is the easiest protein on the planet that likely scares most. 

Here are my tips to help make your duck searing a success!

  • leave the skin on
  • remove from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before searing
  • while warming up, score the just the fat layer, not touching the meat
  • salt and pepper it now
  • 5 minutes before searing, transfer to paper towel to remove all water plus any water that has rendered out of the fat
  • transfer duck breast, FAT SIDE DOWN into a COLD PAN aluminum, stainless steel or cast iron pan (definitely not a non-stick pan – it will not sear properly)
  • apply medium heat and allow the duck to moderately sear.  You will be searing the meat ¾ of the time on this side
  • adjust the temperature to keep the searing similar to the sound that you would hear bacon cook
  • after searing 6 to 8 minutes on the fatty side then the flip to the non-fat side
  • re-salt the fatty side NOW!
  • once the lean side has seared, then sear on each side for 30 to 60 seconds per side (must be equal time!)
  • remove from the pan to a cutting board and allow to rest for ~5 minutes fatty side up
  • cut on the angle cross-wise with a sharp knife always preserving the fatty layer
  • serve ½ breast per person for an first course, a whole duck breast per person for a main
  • keep the duck fat from the pan – it is gold!  Sear potatoes in it!   Then call to thank me for the fabulous advice.

 Duck breast, because of its richness, needs an acidic or savoury sauce to accompany it.  Orange, cranberry, cherries, prickly pears, etc, all make a fabulous sauce.  Here is the one that we made for today's Sizzlin' with SAS Instagram live post:

Ingredients:
1 shallot, peeled and chopped finely
1 garlic clove, chopped finely
1 cup of Cherry Lane Sweetened Dried Cherries (or dried cranberries)
½ cup low sodium chicken stock
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon rosemary leaves, chopped finely (lavender would also be fabulous, just unsure of the quantity)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into cubes and chilled

Heat either 1 tablespoon of duck fat rendered from searing (or 1 tablespoon of olive oil) over medium high heat in a medium sized saucepan.
Cook the shallots until they are soft (about 3 minutes).
Add in garlic and rosemary until it is aromatic (about 1 minute).
Add in the dried cherries, chicken stock and honey.  Cook for about 10 minutes with the lid on until the cherries are plump.
Remove from the heat.
Swirl in chilled butter.
Salt and pepper to taste.

Serve beneath the duck breast.

The sauce and the duck can be served both warmed or both chilled. IDEAL with the Split Rail Gamay Noir


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