Le Petite Pomme Burger with Sauvignon Soaked Shallots - Sutter Home Family Vineyards

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup mixed-olive Tapenade (made with Kalamata, black and green olives, such as Trader Joe’s Olive Tapenade Spread)
• 2 teaspoons freshly cracked peppercorn mélange
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 2 ounces French Comte cheese*, grated
• 2 pounds ground beef chuck (20% fat)
• 4 teaspoons Whole Grain Dijon Mustard (Maille Old Style preferred)
• 2 teaspoons roasted garlic paste (homemade or bottled NapaStyle preferred)
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise (Hellmann’s preferred)
• 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco Pepper Sauce
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 3 medium (3 1/2″ diameter) unpeeled sweet, crisp apples (Honeycrisp or Cameo preferred)
• Fruit Fresh (non-browning) Produce Protector
• 12 thick-cut slices bacon, cut in half crosswise
• 2 Tablespoons reserved bacon fat
• 2 cups thinly sliced shallots
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, plus several multi-branch thyme sprigs
• Sutter Home Sauvignon Blanc to hydrate (about 2/3 cup)
• 2 Tablespoons fig spread/preserves (Organic Adriatic Fig Spread preferred)
• 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
• Vegetable oil for brushing grill
• 3 (4-pack) packages King’s Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, split
• 6 ounces thinly sliced French Comte cheese*