Eve's Wine 101

Wine Spectator Unveils 2022 WINE VALUE OF THE YEAR

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New York, NY —Wine Spectator, the world’s leading authority on wine, has unveiled its Top 10 Wine Values of 2022, with Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019 taking top honors as the Wine Value of the Year. At a $33 price point, the bottle offers consumers an entrée to a historic winery whose roots lie in a four-acre estate in the heart of Rutherford.

Spotlighting the best-priced wines of the year, the list features bottles that are rated 90 points or higher on Wine Spectator’s 100-point scale, cost $40 or less and are made in large enough quantities to be widely available. 

“The thrill of trying something new is one of the many pleasures of wine, and as quality has risen across the globe, it’s easier than ever to find a wine you love,” said Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher, Wine Spectator. “This means that well-priced wines from California to Italy to Argentina offer some of the special qualities that distinguish their pricier counterparts.”

The Top 10 Wine Values of 2022 are:

  1. Beaulieu Vineyard | Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019 | 92 points | $33 | 44,700 Cases Made | California
  2. Decoy | Limited Red Napa Valley 2019 | 91 points | $30 | 32,500 Cases Made | California
  3. Antinori | Toscana Villa Antinori 2019 | 90 points | $20 | 80,000 Cases Imported | Italy
  4. Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta | Rioja Finca Ygay Reserva 2018 | 91 points | $32 | 14,000 Cases Imported | Spain
  5. Joel Gott | Sauvignon Blanc California 2021 | 91 points | $16 | 92,000 Cases Made | California
  6. Domaine Bousquet | Malbec Tupungato 2021 | 90 points | $13 | 49,122 Cases Imported | Argentina
  7. Mumm Napa | Brut Napa County Prestige NV | 90 points | $24 | 220,000 Cases Made | California 
  8. Kendall Jackson | Merlot Sonoma County Vitner’s Reserve 2019 | 90 points | $24 | 50,000 Cases Made | California
  9. Montinore | Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Red Cap 2019 | 90 points | $25 | 19,849 Cases Made | Oregon
  10. Drouhin | Chablis 2020 | 90 points | $27 | 19,000 Cases Imported | France

The full Top 10 Wine Values List can be found at WineSpectator.com, and in the February issue of Wine Spectator.

About Wine Spectator

Wine Spectator is the world’s leading authority on wine. Anchored by Wine Spectator magazine, a print publication that reaches around 3 million readers worldwide, the brand also encompasses the Web’s most comprehensive wine site (WineSpectator.com), mobile platforms and a series of signature events. Wine Spectator examines the world of wine from the vineyard to the table, exploring wine’s role in contemporary culture and delivering expert reviews. Parent company M. Shanken Communications, Inc., also publishes Cigar Aficionado, Whisky Advocate, Market Watch, Shanken News Daily and Shanken’s Impact Newsletter.

The Region’s Best Kept Secrets: Bourgogne Wines With Bourgogne Wine Ambassador James King

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Well color me happy, was invited to my first press event in Las Vegas – and it was organized by the Bourgogne Wine Board. For my wine 101ers Bourgogne is the correct word to use for the region of Burgundy, France. And for my wine 101ers that drink U.S. made Pinot Noir and not Burgundy: it’s the same grape but Bourgogne is where the varietal was born (among others). So the French terroir – winemaking, soil, history, and climate – is hundreds of years older than ours in the USA. Doesn’t mean better, just different, and as the French say, “Viva La Difference!”

This event was led by Bourgogne Wine Ambassador James King, which meant I was destined to learn much more about Bourgogne wines. And if that wasn’t enough it was over a luncheon at Ada’s Wine Bar, reputed to be one of the best wine bars in Las Vegas.

From the Invitation

Bourgogne is renowned worldwide for producing some of the finest wines with its unique terroir and savoir-faire, which are translated to each of our 84 appellations. Some of them have reached the status of icon and some are still to be brought to the light. Join us to (re) discover Bourgogne through a selection of appellations.

Tasting and Learning

Our lecturer King is a WSET teacher and right off the bat wanted us to learn that the word Bourgogne, pronounced Boar-Gown to me, was to be used instead of the generally accepted term Burgundy for this wine-growing region of France.

The wine tasting would be with food as that is the most traditional, King said. We would look for “balance, integration, whether the wines were too heavy, over-oaked” and we would learn that “not all Bourgogne wines are expensive.” A Bourgogne drinker could easily, “work their way up” from inexpensive Bourgogne wines and still enjoy them very much.

We had nine wines, six whites and three reds, that we tasted blind. Not my favorite way to taste but by the end of the tasting I had an idea as to why King led us this way: We all have preconceived notions of the value of a wine based on where it’s from and the price. King removed that bias from our minds. And with that we all very much enjoyed wines retail priced between $11 and $34 and some from areas the average consumer – and some of us – were not as familiar with.

We were given plenty of maps of all of the different wine-growing regions in Bourgogne – and there are a lot – and I don’t think any of the professionals in the room could correctly guess where each wine was from.

My wine notes consisted of fresh fruits from citrus to berry to tropical, different florals, little oak, balance and tannins…the usual suspects. The food we had after sampling each wine – see photos here of the food, some bottle shots, menu and wine list – were well paired bringing out savory qualities in both.

When the price points for each wine was revealed, and some of the guests wanted to purchase, we learned that none had yet to be released in the U.S. This class, this exercise I should say, was an excellent lesson on how well the wines of Burgundy Bourgogne do with the most experienced palates. And I for one will keep that in mind the next time I recognize – or don’t recognize – a label from Bourgogne.

Now I just want to try more! And more to the point, if you are not a big Pinot Noir fan or even if you are: Give Bourgogne a try. Not all wines are made the same way – especially if made in different parts of the globe.

Bourgogne Wine Board

The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) is a non-profit association under the 1901 law. Built on the principle of each member having an equal voice, it defends and promotes the unique skills of the professions of winemaking, the négoce trade and vine growing, the heritage of a shared passion.

https://www.bourgogne-wines.com/

Ada’s Wine Bar

Chef driven small plates and more. Now pouring in Tivoli Village, Las Vegas. Intriguing wines by the glass or bottle. Adding to a number of local accolades, in 2020, Chef Trees was named a Finalist for the James Beard Award: Best Chef Southwest.

https://www.adaslv.com/

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits

Glamorous New Seaside Al Fresco Cafe Unveiled At Los Angeles’ Iconic Art Deco Hotel Shangri-La

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SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (PRWEB) – Los Angeles’ Art Deco Hotel Shangri-La has further elevated its culinary excellence with the launch of its chic al fresco dining space. Boasting panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica’s city skyline, The Sidewalk Cafe is the latest addition to the iconic LA destination, a continental style café tucked alongside the glorious coast.

Vibrant white Tulip chairs lined up in a Parisian fashion on the hotel’s VIP roped off pavement outside among the palm trees – where guests can enjoy timeless rituals such as the morning parfait and croissants, lunchtime pizzas made in Santa Monica’s only wood-fired oven shaded by umbrellas, or a leisurely dinner with a Pacific Ocean view while taking in the extraordinarily intense sunsets. Offering internationally inspired, Californian-infused cuisine, everything on the menu is locally sourced, organic seasonal ingredients, from Santa Monica Farmers Market.

Santa Monica’s chic new Parisian style café has been designed for the ultimate outdoor dining experience with dedicated attention from the hotel’s talented team, on hand to create unmissable dishes. The concept has been inspired by CEO Tamie Adaya and GM Armond Khosrovyan, with a varied menu fizzing with flavours, and a design that features space age tables and chairs that were originally designed by Eero Saarinen, of the famed TWA Flight Centre.

Ms Adaya said: “People coming together – dining outside – eating and drinking immediately makes any city come alive again. The Hotel Shangri-La is bringing summer to the streets with a degree of improvisation, vibrancy and spontaneity. Our Sidewalk Café gives our iconic hotel a continental sheen – a bit of Paris on the Pacific that visitors, residents and regulars alike will enjoy surrounded by palm trees and spellbinding ocean views.
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“It’s an enticing and intimate space. When you feel like gazing at the ocean on a balmy summers day while sipping your coffee, a glass of Chablis or Shangri-La cocktail, The Sidewalk Café is the ultimate seaside dining spot in Santa Monica for an eclectic alfresco experience.”

Entrees include Whole Branzino accompanied by sautéed baby squash, zucchini and heirloom fingerling potatoes drizzled with a citrus butter sauce, Whole Red Snapper, roasted beets, turnips and heirloom fingerling potatoes, and a 12oz. New York Steak with a purple potato purée and a mushroom cognac sauce. For dessert, groups can tuck into the signature Shangri-La Knickerbocker Glory – the only place in the USA that offers this unique and delicious dish which features Vanilla and strawberry ice cream topped with strawberry compote, pineapple chunks, pop rocks, whipped cream and meringue.

A series of safety features has been put in place to protect both staff and customers, and the space will have a limited capacity in compliance with guidelines set by the State of California, the City of Los Angeles and the City of Santa Monica.

Offering lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, The Sidewalk Café is open every day 7am – 9pm Reservations can be made online at OpenTable

Rates at Hotel Shangri-La start at $286 for a timeless luxury room per night. To experience more visit Hotel Shangri-La

Robert Parker Wine Advocate Announces New Reviewers and Increased Coverage for 2018

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Napa, California – Robert Parker Wine Advocate and RobertParker.com, the world’s most widely read independent consumers’ guide to fine wine, announces the appointment of William Kelley, who will join the reviewer team on January 1, covering the regions of Burgundy, Chablis, Beaujolais, California Central Coast and Washington State.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Castiglione Falletto, as photographed by Monica Larner.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Castiglione Falletto, as photographed by our own Monica Larner.

During his time at Oxford University, studying history at St. John’s College, Kelley served for four years as the president of the Oxford University Wine Circle, the world’s oldest tasting group of its kind.
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In addition to tastings with the Old World’s greatest producers, he brought many of California’s most celebrated and exciting wineries to Oxford for the first time. Kelley cut his teeth as a taster on many of the great wines of Burgundy of the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s, providing him with a grounding in the classics. Having worked harvests in California and Burgundy, Kelley noted, “I feel my first-hand experiences further inform my writing and criticism with a deeper understanding of viticulture and winemaking.
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” A former correspondent for the wines of Burgundy for the UK’s Decanter magazine and a contributor for The Robb Report and Noble Rot, William was short-listed for the Louis Roederer Emerging Wine Writer of the Year Award. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be assuming this position as a critic for the world’s foremost fine wine guide,” commented Kelley. “To stand alongside the world’s greatest wine critics, led by Robert Parker, is truly an honor and a milestone for me.”

Robert Parker Wine Advocate is equally excited to announce that the coverage of Bordeaux for The Wine Advocate will be assumed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW. A Master of Wine with more than 25 years’ experience working in the UK, Japan, Singapore and USA wine industries, Perrotti-Brown brings incredible experience, knowledge and expertise to The Wine Advocate’s reviews of the wines of Bordeaux. “Both as a longstanding lover of the wines of Bordeaux and as a professional who spent the first half of my career devoted to professionally selling, marketing and purchasing Bordeaux wines, taking on the coverage of this incredible region is without doubt the most exciting moment of my wine journey.”

Robert Parker Wine Advocate’s Editor-in-Chief Perrotti-Brown went on to comment, “In 2018, Robert Parker Wine Advocate will be dedicating even more energy and resources to increasing our coverage of wines from throughout the world. Not only will we be producing more tasting notes and articles than ever before, we will be producing them with even greater frequency and timeliness.”

Robert Parker Wine Advocate is currently the most comprehensive wine review publication in the world, with more than 350,000 tasting notes in its database, housed by their seminal wine reviews website, RobertParker.com. “We are in discussions now with hand-selected wine experts from across the globe to add to our current team of nine reviewers next year, expanding upon what is already the largest team of full-time reviewers of any of the major wine criticism publications,” said Perrotti-Brown. Currently producing over 30,000 reviews per year, Robert Parker’s reviewer team aims to produce more than 50,000 reviews per year by 2020. News about the other new reviewers to join the Robert Parker Wine Advocate team will be released in early 2018.

“As our coverage and reviewer team expand, it is increasingly our duty to our readers to make certain that we offer consistent ratings across the many voices and perspectives offered by our team of experts,” Perrotti-Brown added. “With the appointment of Joe Czerwinski as our Managing Editor earlier this year, together we will be implementing a rigorous editorial oversight system to ensure scoring consistency across our team.”

While remaining the foremost “Independent Consumer’s Guide to Fine Wine” is the core of Robert Parker Wine Advocate, the publication and team of experts will also look to step up wine consumer engagement by staging more wine events in the year to come. Highlights in the first quarter of 2018 will include iconic Burgundy dinners in Hong Kong and Rio di Janeiro, featuring rare gems such as Domaines Coche-Dury, Dujac, Raveneau and Ramonet, and another blockbuster two-day event in Zurich. Full details will soon be available on the Matter of Taste website, www.a-matter-of-taste.com.

About Robert Parker Wine Advocate

For more than 39 years, The Wine Advocate, and later RobertParker.com, have been the global leader and independent consumer’s guide to fine wine. The brand was established by the internationally recognized Robert M. Parker, Jr., the only critic in any field to receive the highest Presidential honor from three countries – France, Italy and Spain. Robert Parker Wine Advocate provides a wealth of information to its subscribers, including a searchable database of more than 300,000 professional wine ratings and reviews, in addition to articles, videos, daily news content, online retail availability and pricing, an active, professionally moderated bulletin board, a mobile app for easy access to the comprehensive online database of reviews, and much more. For more information, visit www.RobertParker.com.

The 2016 International Chardonnay Symposium Announces Medal Winners

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Awards were handed out in four categories and The SOMM Journal named its top sommelier

Pismo Beach, CA – The International Chardonnay Symposium, (ICS), TheChardonnaySymposium.com, the world’s foremost gathering of premium Chardonnay producers, sommeliers, trade and enthusiasts, announced the official medal winners of the 2016 International Chardonnay Symposium Wine Competition.

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The ICS 2016 and The SOMM Journal selected leading sommeliers to judge the extensive double-blind tasting of Chardonnay from around the globe. The medal winners were announced at the Symposium’s Annual La Paulée Dinner and Vintner Awards Ceremony, held this year at Greengate Ranch & Vineyard in the heart of the Edna Valley AVA in mid-May.

The 2016 ICS was held in the seaside resort towns of Pismo Beach, ClassicCalifornia.com; Avila Beach, VisitAvilaBeach.com; and the Edna Valley, an area of the Highway 1 Discovery Route in San Luis Obispo County, Highway1DiscoveryRoute.com.

The 2016 International Chardonnay Symposium Wine Competition “Best” category winners are:

v  Best of Show

Alpha Omega 2013 Reserve (Napa Valley)

Platinum medal

v  Best Unoaked Chardonnay

Simonnet-Febvre 2014 Chablis Premier Cru “Vaillons” (Chablis)

Double Gold medal

v  Best Oaked Chardonnay

Grgich Hills Estate 2013 Miljenko’s Selection (Carneros)

Double Gold medal

v  SOMM Journal’s Choice

Arínzano 2010 Gran Vino White (Arínzano, Vino de Pago, Spain)

Gold medal

The Best of Show award was especially meaningful for vintner Robin Baggett, the proprietor of Alpha Omega in Napa Valley and Tolosa Winery in San Luis Obispo. Baggett said, “Having graduated from Cal Poly and raised by family in San Luis Obispo, then starting my wine career in Edna Valley at Tolosa Winery, it’s an honor to return and receive such a prestigious award for our Napa Valley efforts.”

The SOMM Journal and the ICS named Alicia Ajolo of taste wine-beer-kitchen in Long Beach, California, as the Symposium’s 2016 Top Sommelier. Ajolo was one of the judges at the day-long wine competition where she determined the origin of the most of wines during a double-blind tasting.

 

Platinum Medal Winners

Alpha Omega 2013 Reserve (Napa Valley)

Hearst Ranch Winery 2014 Proprietor’s Reserve (Central Coast)

RUSACK Vineyards 2014 Santa Maria Valley Reserve (Santa Maria Valley)

 

Double Gold Medal Winners

ADELAIDA 2014 Estate, (Adelaida District)

Bernardus 2013 Sierra Mar (Santa Lucia Highlands)

Clos Pepe 2013 Estate Barrel Fermented (Sta. Rita Hills)

CRU Wine Co. 2014 Montage (Monterey)

El Pistolero 2015 “Cold Steel” (Santa Lucia Highlands)

Grgich Hills Estate 2013 Miljenko’s Selection (Carneros)

Simonnet-Febvre 2014 Chablis Premier Cru “Vaillons” (Chablis)

Wente Vineyards 2014 The Nth Degree (Livermore Valley)

Windemere 2014 MacGregor Vineyard (Central Coast)

 

Gold Medal Winners

Alpha Omega 2013 Chardonnay (Napa Valley)

Arínzano 2010 Gran Vino White (Arínzano, Vino de Pago, Spain)

Baileyana 2014 Firepeak (Edna Valley)

Chartron et Trébuchet 2012 Meursault (Meursault)

Cotiere 2014 Talley Rincon (Arroyo Grande Valley)

DeLoach Vineyard 2013 Estate (Russian River)

Edna Valley Vineyard 2014 (Central Coast)

Edna Valley Vineyard 2014 Winemaker Series Heritage (Santa Lucia Highlands)

Landmark Vineyards 2014 Overlook (Sonoma County)

Louis Latour 2010 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru (Corton-Charlemagne)

Nottingham Cellars 2014 1846 by Nottingham Cellars (Arroyo Seco)

Sextant Wines 2014 Central Coast (Central Coast)

Sinor-LaVallee 2014 White Label-Bassi Vineyard (Santa Lucia Highlands)

St. Francis Winery 2014 Behler (Sonoma Valley)

Tolosa Winery 2014 569 (Central Coast)

Tolosa Winery 2014 Dijon (Central Coast)

 

Silver Medal Winners

ADELAIDA 2014 HMR Vineyard (Adelaida District)

Buena Vista Winery 2013 Private Reserve (Sonoma County)

Capensis 2013 (Western Cape, South Africa)

Chartron et Trébuchet 2013 Rully Premier Cru Les Grésigny (Rully)

Clos Pepe 2013 Estate (Sta. Rita Hills)

CRU Wine Co. 2014 Unoaked (Arroyo Seco)

Domaine L’Arjolle 2015 Côtes de Thongue (Côtes de Thongue)

Harmony Cellars 2014 (Central Coast)

Hearst Ranch Winery 2014 Glacier Ridge (Santa Lucia Highlands)

Jean-Charles Boisset 2013 JCB #81 (Sonoma Coast)

Presqu’ile, 2013 Presqu’ile Vineyard (Santa Maria Valley)

Talley Vineyards 2014 Estate (Arroyo Grande Valley)

Trefethen 2014 (Oak Knoll District)

True Myth 2014 Paragon Estate (Edna Valley)

 

About The International Chardonnay Symposium

The International Chardonnay Symposium attracts winemakers, sommeliers, media, trade, wine enthusiasts and tastemakers from across the globe to enjoy and study the world’s favorite grape. When the discussion ends, there’s plenty of time for exploring nearby Central Coast wineries, as well as the hosting seaside resort towns of Pismo Beach and Avila Beach that offer downtown winetasting rooms, pristine beaches, surfing and kayaking, hiking and biking trails, farm-to-table and seaport-inspired cuisine, boutique shopping, and more. The International Chardonnay Symposium is sponsored by Pismo Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau, Avila Beach Tourism Alliance, California Highway 1 Discovery Route, Visit San Luis Obispo County, The Tasting Panel Magazine, The SOMM Journal, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, 805 Living, Touring & Tasting, Greengate Ranch & Vineyard, Riedel, Farm Credit West, San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, and Yelp.

About Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, & Highway 1 Discovery Route of SLO County

San Luis Obispo County’s Pismo Beach, Avila Beach and the Highway 1 Discovery Route destination towns are located on California’s famous Central Coast, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. With miles of pristine Pacific coastline, enjoy great weather, a plethora of outdoor activities, rich wild life and nature preserves, downtown wine tasting rooms, and the neighboring world class wine producing regions of the Edna Valley, Arroyo Grande Valley, Santa Maria Valley and Paso Robles. For information on the wide variety of lodging choices, accommodating every budget and lifestyle, visit ClassicCalifornia.com, VisitAvilaBeach.com, and Highway1DiscoveryRoute.com.

2016 International Chardonnay Symposium Pays Homage To France

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Producers from the birthplace of Chardonnay, and a much-anticipated French Forum panel discussion, will be featured at the upcoming annual celebration.

Pismo Beach, CA –  The International Chardonnay Symposium, the world’s foremost gathering of top global Chardonnay winemakers, sommeliers, journalists, wine industry leaders, foodies and oenephiles will feature a star-studded panel and guided tasting tour of the most storied and seminal Chardonnay regions in France at this year’s celebration May 12-14.

12438962_10153686878455129_4373481511517107494_n“France has long been the standard-bearer of Chardonnay, and this spotlight and panel discussion comes at an exciting time since France’s classic, lean-and-bright style is clearly influencing winemakers the world over, especially here in California,” says Brian Talley, a Symposium advisory board member and owner of Talley Vineyards in Arroyo Grande, California.

Several French producers will be pouring at the Grand Tasting on Saturday, May 14, and attendees of the French Forum on Friday, May 13 will participate in an expert-led exploration of France’s quintessential Chardonnay regions, such as Chablis, Champagne, Montrachet, Pouilly-Fuissé, Languedoc-Roussillon and Meursault.

Moderated by Master Sommelier Bob Bath, from the Culinary Institute of America, the French Forum panel includes Claude Rouquet from the Boisset Collection, Bruno Laclotte from Charton et Trebuchet, Bernard Retornez from Maison Louis Latour, Jean-Rèmy Rapeneau from Champagne G.H. Martel, Kyle Kaplan from Piper-Heidsieck, and Geoffroy de La Besnardière from Domaine de l’Arjolle.

The French Forum is but one of many panel discussions and happenings at this annual global gathering set among the stunning coastal communities of Pismo Beach, Avila Beach and the Edna Valley wine region.

The other panel discussions include:

  • Wente Clone Comparative Tasting
  • What’s Oak Got to Do With It?
  • Pairing Chardonnay With Artisanal Cheeses
  • Taste the Difference: Exploring California’s Distinct Chardonnay Regions
  • Hone Your Chardonnay Blind-Tasting Skills

The Grand Tasting, with 80-plus wineries, will be held at the picturesque Greengate Ranch & Vineyard (GreengateWeddings.com) on Saturday, May 14. Additional events include a Vintners’ Wine Tech Symposium, Sommelier Chardonnay Challenge, La Paulée Dinner and Vintners Awards Ceremony, and new to this year’s Symposium, the Pét-Nat/Sparkling Wine & Oysters Gala.

For more information on the Symposium, and for tickets to the Grand Tasting or other events —including the French Forum— please visit TheChardonnaySymposium.com. For photos from last year’s event go here.

About The International Chardonnay Symposium

The International Chardonnay Symposium attracts winemakers, sommeliers, media, trade, foodies, wine enthusiasts and tastemakers from across the globe to enjoy and study the world’s favorite grape. When the discussion ends, there’s plenty of time for exploring nearby Central Coast wineries as well as the hosting seaside resort towns of Pismo Beach and Avila Beach that offer downtown winetasting rooms, pristine beaches, surfing and kayaking, hiking and biking trails, farm-to-table and seaport-inspired cuisine, boutique shopping, and more. The International Chardonnay Symposium is sponsored by Pismo Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau, Avila Beach Tourism Alliance, California Highway 1 Discovery Route, Visit San Luis Obispo County, The Tasting Panel Magazine, The SOMM Journal, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Touring & Tasting, Greengate Ranch & Vineyard, and 805 Living.

About Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, & Highway 1 Discovery Route of SLO County

San Luis Obispo County’s Pismo Beach, Avila Beach and the Highway 1 Discovery Route destination towns are located on California’s famous Central Coast, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. With miles of pristine Pacific coastline, enjoy great weather, a plethora of outdoor activities, rich wild life and nature preserves, downtown wine tasting rooms, and the neighboring world class wine producing regions of the Edna Valley, Arroyo Grande Valley, Santa Maria Valley and Paso Robles. For information on the wide variety of lodging choices, accommodating every budget and lifestyle, visit Classiccalifornia.com, VisitAvilaBeach.com, VisitSanLuisObispoCounty.com and Highway1DiscoveryRoute.com.

Our 12th Time Tasting…Guess?

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Lots of new faces at this year’s annual holiday tasting, though most of the wine representatives serving pour after pour had been present before. Lovers of wine, in general, populated the 12th Annual Holiday Wine Tasting hosted by Guy Lelarge at Valencia Wine Company.

Southern Wine and Spirits rep Raquel Dominguez.

Southern Wine and Spirits rep Raquel Dominguez.

The wine store had converted its tall tabletops into wine pouring stations. Guests meandered through nearly a dozen of these, tasting Champagnes, Prosecco, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, white and red blends, Pinot Noir, Barolo, Syrah, Tempranillo, Bordeaux, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Carmenere, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon – from sources close by like Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara, Paso Robles and Napa, to parts further out like France, Italy, Portugal, Chile and Spain.
The wine representatives offered a wealth of knowledge for every wine they poured: stories about the winemakers, top scores and pricing. We found ourselves checking off over a dozen wines we wanted to take home, and take advantage of the 20% case discount offered to guests of the tasting. Some of my favorites, that I can recall after the haze of a great tasting has worn off, are in italics below.

The story in a video slideshow can be viewed in less than 2 minutes here.

The Wine List at Press Time

Champagne                                                                                                                      

POL ROGER BRUT NV                                                   

LOUIS ROEDERER BRUT PREMIER                                     

LOUIS ROEDERER BRUT ROSE 2009

LOUIS ROEDERER BRUT 2008

(We started by tasting the champagnes poured at the Southern Wine and Spirits table by wine rep Raquel Dominguez. Starting here not only got us into a festive mood, I checked off nearly every one to buy later. My uppermost favorite was the Rose. I’m not a fan of sweet Rose wines – like our domestic White Zinfandel can be – but I do like the delicate aromas and flavors in a French Rose, and even better if bubbles are included!)

White wines                                                              

REGNARD CHABLIS GRAND REGNARD 2013 (This wine, which the wine rep said the family had been making since the 1700s, was in a bottle shape that was reminiscent of the era. The taste was most unique – especially when tasted side-by-side with another French Chardonnay. The Regnard a wine made from Chardonnay grapes in Chablis, France. We could really tell the difference in the “terroir” between where these two wines were made. Made me want to try Chablis against a Chardonnay again.) 

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SCHLUMBERGER RIESLING SAERING 2010

LATOUR MONTAGNY LA GRANDE ROCHE 1er Cru 2013

BRASSFIELD PINOT GRIS HIGH SERENITY 2013

MER SOLEIL CHARDONNAY RESERVE, SANTA BARBARA 2012 (Well done.)

CARPE DIEM CHARDONNAY 2013

GARY FARRELL CHARDONNAY RESERVE 2012

Red Wines                                                                 

CH DE PEZ 11 ST ESTEPHE

HENRY FESSY FLEURIE CHT LABOURON Cru Beaujolais 2011

FAIVELEY MERCUREY CLOS MYGLANDS 2011

JL COLOMBO CORNAS TERRE BRULEES 2012 (I’d been to a wine tasting and seminar with winemaker Jean Luc Colombo. I loved his wines and his brash personality. This 100% Syrah did not fail to disappoint either.)

MARQ MURRIETA RIOJA RSV 2010 (Another tasty choice.)  

DELAS ST JOSEPH TOURNON 2013

ETUDE PINOT NOIR 2013

FLOWERS PINOT NOIR 2013 (A perfect Pinot Noir, fans of the grape variety would love this one.)

CARPE DIEM PINOT NOIR 2012

ROCHE BAROLO 2011 (What made this wine remarkable is that it was the first “drink now” Barolo I have ever had. Wine rep Robert Pozzi said that was why he selected it. Very balanced and good – to go!)

HANNA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013 (Out of Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, this Cab was lovely.)

THORN MERLOT 2012 (Don’t like Merlot? Do you like Cab? Give the sister wine to Cab a try – it was delightful.)

Wines that were added in at the event that I recall liking also included the Triple C blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere, Santa Rita Maipo Valley, Chile; Niner Winery 2010 Twister Spur, Syrah Grenache blend from Paso Robles; 2013 Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon; 2012 Periquita Reserva (a lovely red wine from Portugal); Robert Hall Meritage Bordeaux blend, Paso Robles; Franciscan Estate, Napa Valley, 2012 Magnificat Meritage red Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc; 2013 Ferdinand Tempranillo, Napa, California; 2009 Enantio (the grape is Enantio) Valdadige Terradeiforti, red wine from Italy.

Eve’s Wine 101 Event Picks: Wine LA has continuous classes and events including Learn about Coravin 11/29, LA Scotch Club also has great events, Pinot Days 11/21, Wine & Cheese Tasting at Four Brix Winery in Ventura 11/22 and LA Rail’s Vino Train travels to Santa Barbara.

Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years.  She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

NEW MAGAZINE: “THE CLEVER ROOT” DEBUTS FROM PUBLISHERS OF THE TASTING PANEL AND THE SOMM JOURNAL

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New quarterly magazine debuting fall 2015 features everything good that grows

LOS ANGELES -The publishers of The Tasting Panel magazine and The SOMM Journal have announced the fall 2015 launch of The Clever Root, a new quarterly magazine about everything good that grows. A chef-driven, farm-to-table and ingredient-focused publication, The Clever Root lends an informed and educated voice to the world of growables, including cannabis.

clever_root_logo (1)Each issue will feature columns from the editorial team, including Managing Editor Karen Moneymaker and Vice President of Editorial Rachel Burkons, who will produce in-depth articles on subjects from farm to fruit, leaf to herb – and the working tastemakers who buy, forage, prepare and grow these ingredients for the dishes served at the country’s top restaurants.

“The time is now to take a deep dive into the world of growables and provide expert knowledge to a motivated audience of chefs, buyers and restaurant industry trade. We’ll explore the organic lifestyle like never before, and shed light on a thriving cannabis industry,” says Meridith May, Publisher and Editorial Director of The Clever Root.

Subscriptions are $10 per issue or $36 for an annual subscription and will be targeted to chefs, restaurateurs, directors of food and beverage, grocery food buyers, and wine and spirits stores and high-end consumers. The Clever Root can also be found at gourmet shops, dispensaries, newsstands, wine and food events, cannabis conferences, and culinary and wine schools.

“We’re proud to announce that our inaugural issue will feature a cover story on Chef Daniel Patterson, a renowned American chef, restaurateur and food writer. Notable chefs and other industry personalities will grace the cover of each quarterly issue, spotlighting the cultivators of tomorrow, behind-the-scenes look at chefs’ gardens, biodynamic cooking and winemaking, and cannabis education,” adds May.

Recurring columns include:

  • Napa Valley Vintners: Recurring column on sustainability and other initiatives in grape growing

  • The Ganjier: The Clever Root’s connection with cannabis science and growing, from clones to terroir to greenhouses

  • Dig This: Front-of-the-book three-page spotlight; focus on “Asparagus for All Seasons” with columnist Jeff Cox

 

Says Allison Edrington, Editor-in-chief of TheGanjier.com and Cannabis Editor for The Clever Root: “On behalf of The Ganjier and Emerald Triangle farmers, we’re thrilled to partner with The Clever Root team in providing insights for our colleagues and the public on the evolving cannabis industry. This is an incredible opportunity to serve as a mainstream voice about sustainable cannabis growing and legal, adult recreational enjoyment.”

Special features in the inaugural Fall issue to include:

  • Pairing Chablis with Oysters: The Clever Root visits chefs across the country to find some winning combinations

  • The Garden Farmer: An interview with biodynamic guru and horticulturist Jeff Dawson

  • The Who’s Who of Humboldt County: The growers and the game-changers in the Emerald Triangle, including interviews with the government officials on the side of legalization

 

Chef highlights:

  • On The Cover: California Chef Daniel Patterson of San Francisco’s Coi, Haven, Alta and Aster

  • Duskie Estes of ZaZu in Sebastopol

  • Spotlight on NY Chefs

  • Spotlight on Sacramento Chefs

  • Unique Trends Report from Washington State Chefs

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For subscriptions, email info@TheCleverRoot.com. The digital version of The Clever Root plus original content will be found at TheCleverRoot.com.

For interviews, images or additional information, please contact Sienna Spencer-Markles: sienna@mccuecommunications.com | 213-985-1011

About The Clever Root:

From the veteran publishers of Tasting Panel Magazine and SOMM Journal comes The Clever Root, a new quarterly magazine serving up cutting-edge culture for the curious mind and palate. Through informative stories, enticing recipes, gorgeous photography and expert perspectives, The Clever Root offers insight and inspiration about everything good that grows, from produce to livestock to wine and beyond—including a smart, educational look at the growing cannabis industry.  TheCleverRoot.com | Facebook.com/TheCleverRoot  | @TheCleverRoot

Wine 101: Take Our Quiz and Learn

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In looking at new ways to help wine 101ers learn about wine I remembered that in the weeks I was studying for my WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) test I asked the other students to my home for some group study meetings. During one of those sessions one woman had found a really cool website that had a multiple choice quiz. As you answered the questions correctly you would get harder and harder questions. It really did help my education.

Eve in Elite full shotThis isn’t it, but it does have questions that get gradually harder: http://www.wine-pages.com/resources/quizzes.html

Berry Brothers, a store in London has one also. The first 10 questions start easy and can be exchanged for 10 harder ones, and looks closer to what we studied with: http://www.bbr.com/quiz

Then I decided, what the heck, I’ll do my own for you peeps to learn a little with:

Our Beginners Test

1. What is the average alcohol percentage for wine?

a. Under 5%.

b. Over 15%

c. While both domestic and European wines hover between 13% to 15% alcohol content, some wines are a percentage below or above.

 

2. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes are widely grown in which area of France:

a. Bordeaux

b. Champagne

c. Rhone Valley

 

3. True or False: Champagne from Champagne, France, is the same as what we call Sparkling wine made anywhere else.

 

4. The color of red wine comes primarily from what?

a. The entire grape, red or white.

b. The length of the skin contact in the winemaking process.

c. Food coloring.

 

5. Finish this sentence, “Burgundy and Chablis wines…”

a. “…were common names for red and white blended wines in the United States about five decades ago.

b. “…are still popular wine names in France.”

c. “…are primarily made from Pinot Noir (Burgundy) and Chardonnay (Chablis) grapes.

d. all of the above.

 

6. True or False: An Australian Shiraz and a United States grown Syrah are the same grape but grown in different countries.

 

7. What is the most famous wine grape growing region outside of United States’ Napa Valley?

a. Bordeaux

b. Burgundy

c. Australia

d. South Africa

e. Chile

f. New Zealand

g. None of the above

 

8. Of the wine regions listed above, which region is the most known for making Champagne?

a. Bordeaux

b. Burgundy

c. Australia

d. South Africa

e. Chile

f. New Zealand

g. None of the above

 

9. Finish this sentence, “If a wine doesn’t taste good it could be due to…”

a. You ordered a wine that you’ve never had before, and you don’t like it.

b. TCA cork taint, where the cork is faulty and the wine has a wet cardboard mildew smell.

c. You now regret the that price you paid.

d. All of the above.

 

10. When can you send wine back that you’ve already sampled?

a. You don’t like it.

b. Cork taint.

c. You didn’t see the price.

 

Bonus question

11. How often to you read Eve’s Wine 101?

a. Every damn day.

b. All of the above.

c. What she said ^^.

 

Answers: 1: c, 2: a, 3: False, 4: b, 5: d, 6: True, 7: a, 8: g, 9: d, 10: b, 11: a, b and c!

 

Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years.  She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a guest judge for the L.A. International Wine Competition.  You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Michael Perlis: Chablis Food + Wine

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It was a recent Saturday evening, and we were searching for somewhere new to go. My wife Karen searched the internet for wine oriented restaurants within a reasonable distance and came up with Chablis Wine + Food (www.chablisca.com) in Tarzana. A perusal of the online menu made us wonder why we hadn’t visited sooner. And while the wine list had lots of very interesting bottles listed, including several from smaller boutique wineries, we called and inquired about corkage – a measly $5. So, we packed up a Turley Zinfandel and off we went.

When we got there, I realized that Chablis occupied the old Paul’s Cafe spot. What I hadn’t realized was that Paul’s had closed in 2009 and that Chablis had been open since August of that year. Time certainly flies!

Upon arrival we were warmly greeted by the restaurant staff as well as owner Saeed Fazeli. While trying to decide what to order, I also looked over the wine list in search of a glass of white or sparkling wine to whet our palates. Just as I was going to make a selection, Saeed introduced us to the couple that had just sat down near us, Andy and Andrea. They were also wine fans and graciously shared with us an unlabeled bottle that a friend had given them. In fact, they were big fans of Paso Robles wine country and soon we were comparing notes on our favorite wineries.

We finally had to make menu selections, sharing a cheese plate, and each ordering salads. [I got the Caesar and was very pleased that it came with anchovies – I ordered extra.] For entrees, it was sea bass for Karen and lamb for me. All the food was delicious and we finished off with the date cake, which turned out to be the perfect accompaniment to our remaining Zinfandel.

Saeed, who has been in the restaurant business for a long time [including a twelve year stint as manager of the Castaway in Burbank] along with Chef Jorge Vasquez, is determined to give guests a wonderful dining experience, while staying flexible to accommodate customers’ requests. Saeed said: “There are no rules. It is all about pleasing the guest.”

Special events are readily accommodated at Chablis, and in the summer the patio is open for dining, with entertainment provided as well.

Saeed that he is especially gratified for the relationships he has developed with people who love food and wine. And this is nowhere more apparent than in the frequent winemaker dinners held at Chablis, including the next one coming up May 9th:

Michael Perlis provides outsourced controller services to businesses that do not need a full-time controller. He balances this with his interest in wine: reading and writing about it and, of course, drinking it. He is still trying to figure out how to combine these two pursuits. Feel free to contact him about either at mcpfinancial@aol.com or michaelthezinfan@aol.com.