Visiting Wineries We Like: Ampelos and Zotovich!

September 11, 2020 by evebushman

Finishing off our trip to Lompoc we had our last two tasting appointments, to Ampelos Cellars and to Zotovich Vineyards.

Due to Covid-19 both wineries are open for outdoor tastings. Just call or email ahead of time as we know that things can change from one day to the next.

Starting with Ampelos we met with Matt, a “cellar rat” at the winery and tasting room staffer. We went through their current lineup of wines to taste, but only after first noting the unique tasting notes done by their marketing director. Instead of the usual aromas and flavors, these tasting notes also called up more memories, or visions, of where each wine could take you. For example, the 2019 Santa Barbara County Viognier was described as, “The click clack of rails, puffs of jasmine glinted steam, the sneaky smile of a Mandarin orange sun. Teak wood bar, juicy pineapple rings, shaved coconut flesh, the sway of palm trees passing quickly by. A new day swaggers through the lounge car with unlimited possibilities while I ride alongside ‘phi’ the ‘golden girl’ of my dreams.” These kind of tasting notes, albeit not for everyone, makes the writer in me want to strive much harder. It’s boring to read, “jasmine, orange, teak, pineapple” alone. Now, moving on and back to the tasting, and my tasting notes, I found the fruit in the Viognier to be fresh with a lovely mouthfeel. A great start to our tasting.

Next was their 2017 “Garcia” Albarino that spent 50% in neutral oak and 50% in stainless steel tanks. It was quite nice, with mild fruit notes. A 2016 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir “Lambda” had both good fruit and balance, and was awarded 90 points by Wine Enthusiast. Next to try was 2015 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir “Rho” barrel select, made for their best 12 barrels and spent six to eight months longer in barrel. It was very yummy, with rich velvety fruit and oak notes. The Rho got 90 points from both Wine & Spirits magazine and Wine Enthusiast.

The next wine, a 2015 Sta. Rita Hills Grenache “Delta”, had lovely layers of red fruit, spice and earth. The 2016 Sta. Rita Hills “Syrache”, a wine I had been told by a wine pal not to miss, is a Syrah Grenache blend. This vintage was 65% Syrah and 35% Grenache. It proved to be my favorite in the tasting. Wine & Spirits gave it 91 points and Wine Enthusiast awarded it 90 points. Our final wine, the 2016 Syrah had lovely peppery notes I won’t soon forget.

When our Contributing Editor Michael Perlis checked over this article he reminded me that he had covered Ampelos after tasting them at Wine in the Pines in 2015. At that time he shared, “A fortunate cancelation of a meeting at the World Trade Center led to Peter Work missing the 9/11 tragedy. Rethinking their lives, he and wife Rebecca plunged full-time into their Ampelos vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills, which they had acquired in 1999. My favorites were the “Syrache” [blend of Syrah and Grenache] as well as the standalone Syrah.”

From Facebook

ampelos has been a family endeavor from the start! Initially “corporate folk”, we enjoyed getting away to the Sta. Rita hills on weekends and dreamt of one day planting our own vineyards and making wines. A cancelled meeting on the morning of September11, 2001 helped us to realize that someday was TODAY! Our son, Don, came out to help get the vineyard underway and soon our dreams became reality. We are driven by a deep love and passion for viticulture. We are very proud to be one of the first wineries to be CERTIFIED sustainable, organic, and biodynamic. As a small boutique winery we produce 3500 cases and are meticulous about being as gentle as possible with all of our farming and winemaking practices. The best part about being winemakers is the opportunity to meet and share our wine with others. Come see us…

Ampelos Cellars, 312 North 9th St. Lompoc. 805-736-9957.

https://www.facebook.com/ampeloscellars/

https://www.instagram.com/ampeloscellars/

Now, onto Zotovich! In the blue building, shared with other winery tasting rooms on the corner of Highway 1 and 246, we rediscovered Zotovich Estate Vineyards and Winery with sales rep Jason Carter. We quickly learned that they sell their wine via wine club, as well as in some restaurants and stores. We tasted about 10 wines, will share the notes for some from the current vintage – which should be available on their website.

We began with the 2018 “Zoto” Chardonnay that Jason said had “marginally less oak” than their Estate Chardonnay. I found it slightly acidic, akin to a Sauvignon Blanc, with both tart and buttery notes. Then we tried three more Chards, all very good. We preferred the 2017 Estate Chardonnay for its notes of Meyer lemon, white peach, pear and a hint of strawberry in a delicate balance, for only $28 a bottle. We liked the 2017 Reserve Chardonnay, from the 809 clone, and 50% new French oak, with tropical fruit including pineapple, papaya and a floral nose. The last white we tried was the 2018 Estate Viognier. The wine called up memories of lemon-lime soda, stone fruit, wet stones with a nice low acidity.

Next up came the reds, beginning with the 2017 Estate Pinot Noir. Notes included concentrated fruit – especially crushed raspberries, white pepper and a richer quality in comparison to a 2019 newly released Pinot served just before. The website said this is the 17^th vintage of their flagship Pinot. Oher reds we tried that I didn’t find on the website included their 2017 Grenache, 2016 Syrah Grenache Blend and a 2017 Syrah. Of these three I enjoyed the blend the most, but get over to the tasting room soon if you want to taste these wines!

A little research of my own and I found what I had to say about Zotovich in a Henry Wine Group tasting circa 2012, “This was my actual favorite winery of the day and I think it may have been the 10^th wine (translates to pretty early in the tasting) I had tried. The three the winemaker brought included an ‘09 Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay that I found refreshing and steely, the ‘09 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir for its traditional cherry and stem flavors without a ton of alcohol or tannin (things I don’t like that some seem to be reaching for in Pinots) and the ‘09 Sta. Rita Hills Syrah that was both soft and then sturdy on the back palate. Want more.”

From Facebook

A small, family-owned and operated winery located on the Central Coast of California, Zotovich Vineyards handcrafts exceptional wine from small, closely monitored lots of grapes. Zotovich Vineyards & Winery proudly produces Estate Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Viognier, and Grenache. Our philosophy is simple: We believe great wine is established in the vineyard. We meticulously farm our estate Zotovich Family Vineyard grapes, and strive to make the best wine possible vintage to vintage.

Zotovich Vineyards, 300 N 12 St, Ste D, 805-736-1600.

http://www.zotovichvineyards.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pg/zotovichvineyards/

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.

Vintage Eve Circa Nov 2017: Tasting the Double Gold San Francisco Competitions at République

September 1, 2020 by evebushman

At the end of October I had a chance to taste a selection of Double Gold winners from the 2016 and 2017 San Francisco International Wine Competition and the 2016 and 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The San Francisco Competitions 2017 Double Gold Tour gives wine and spirits professionals a unique opportunity to taste the Competitions’ top winners and to discover the next trending tastes, styles, and varietals we’ll be seeing in 2018.

At the LA stop on this year’s multi-city tour, the San Francisco Competitions are proud to also offer a seated seminar showcasing Double Gold winning wines and spirits. Join Executive Director Anthony Dias Blue as he gives you a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes of the SF Competitions and walks you through the complexities of tasting wines and spirits like a competition judge.

Wine and Spirits…That I Took the Time to Taste and Loved (I did skip those I’ve already tasted too.)

Cakebread Cellars 2014 Chardonnay, Reserve Family Vineyards, Carneros, Napa Valley; Goodmills Family Winery 2013 Teroldego, Lodi; 1849 Wine Company 2014 Declaration Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley; DeLille Cellars 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Four Flags Red Mountain; J. Lohr Vineyards 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Signature and Premium Bordeaux Blend Cuvee St. E, both Paso Robles; Ordaz Family Wines 2014 Zinfandel, Montecillo Vineyard, Sonoma Valley; IPPIN Junmai Sake, Tamasakee, Shiga Japan and Junmai Daiginjo Sake, Yamada Nishiki, both from Hyogo, Japan.

Mission Vodka, Arizona; Frey Ranch Gin, Nevada; Belle of Dayton Gin, Dayton Ohio; New Holland Brewing Knickerbocker Gin, Michigan; Vanagandr London Dry Gin, A Coruna-Galicia, Spain; Conniption Navy Strength Gin, North Carolina; Stonecutter Spirits Single Barrel Gin, Vermont; Tattersall Distilling Barreled Gin, Minnesota; Springfield Manor Lavender Gin, Maryland; Mad March Hare Small Batch Poitin, Ireland; Hyde 10 Year Old Pure Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Ireland; Rogue Dead Guy Whiskey, Oregon; Whiskey Del Bar Classic Cask Strength Single Malt, Arizona; from Paul John: Bold Indian Single Malt, Edited Indian Single Malt and the Peated Select Cask Indian Single Malt all from Goa, India; Starward Single Malt Wine Cask Whisky, Melbourne, Australia; Kings County Distillery Peated Bourbon, New York; J Henry and Sons 5 Year old Bellefontaine and Cask Strength Patton Road, both reserve straight bourbons from Wisconsin; One Eight Distilling United Whiskey No. 6, Washington D.C.; two Whistle Pig: the Old World Cask Finish Rye Whiskey and the 15 Year Old Rye Whiskey, both from Vermont; Sagamore Spirit Cask Strength Rye Whiskey, Baltimore.

Behind the Scenes with Anthony Dias Blue

Granted, I have judged a couple of times, as I’m sure some of the students in Blue’s class have done, but it’s good to be reminded just how serious the judging is.

When the competition began they had a scant 300 entries, now they are up to 2,400.

There are 60 judges in the process, and they are made up of experts (reviewers, writers, restauranteurs, somms, etc.) allowing each group to have a good representation in which to judge merits.

There are 28 countries from the current competitions.

While they usually receive more wine to review, there are still 80 – 100 spirits.

Judging is done blind, the bottles are not seen, and they don’t know the price or the area they came from – only the varietal is known.

As price is sometime a factor to the general public, and more expensive is perceived as more valuable, the price points of the wine and spirits are not revealed.

After the Double Gold winners are awarded, then all of the judges get to taste all of the Double Golds to determine the sweepstake’s winner.

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, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Discovering Montemar Again, and Probably Again and Again?

August 28, 2020 by evebushman

I remember tasting Montemar wines at past Wine in the Pines events, and that a few friends were in love with their wines, especially their Pinot Noirs. When my #LAWineWriters group planned a trip to Lompoc I looked around to see who else I would like to visit, and remembered that Montemar was there. Besides Pinot they are also known for Rhônes – GSM blends and Syrah – as well as Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay, Rose, Viognier, Grappa and more.

When I met up with owner Caryn Arrowood she gave me their wine list, and whew, there was a lot to choose from. (For a writer, who of course has to spit everything, I limited myself to varietals that I normally appreciate.) Caryn commented that they make “too many” of a lot of varietals. They do indeed, lucky us.

But before we got to tasting Caryn showed me their life-size chalkboard where visitors could write down their goals (sadly Caryn’s husband Steve had his life’s goals written there before he passed away due to cancer), organic garden (Caryn offered that we take anything we like home with us), their sandy beach (yes, you read that right), large paintings of popular musicians one of their club members had done and plenty of well-spaced seating areas. Now, I grew thirsty to taste.

Tasting

The first wine we tasted, Caryn’s favorite and mine now as well, was their 2018 Grenache Blanc with delightful notes of fresh pineapple and fruit cocktail. Next up, a 2014 Sangiovese from Stolpman Vineyard, proved once again how great the Stolpman Vineyards are, and how a great winemaker can do great things with it. It had a beautiful nose filled with light red fruit, spice and brambles. Another wine with great fruit and spice, as well as mushrooms and violets, was the 2014 Grenache, I was now three for three in finding favorites at Montemar.

A dark, earthy, spicy wine with great balance, their 2014 GSM was the ticket. This rendition had 50% Syrah, 25% Grenache and 25% Mourvedre. A 2013 Syrah, Thompson Vineyard, had me at a “hello blueberry” youthful taste for a 2013, that also had a bright mint and some red earth notes to it.

Next up was their 2012 Syrah EBA (Extended Barrel Aged) from the Watchhill Vineyard. This wine has 12 more months in barrel, for a total of 30 months, before bottling. Caryn commented that this was “a good vineyard” for them. I got lots of red jammy fruit, pepper, crushed leaves, with a long tannic finish. Another favorite that lingered in my mind for a long time after tasting. Our final wine was a 2015 Petite Verdot from Happy Canyon. It was dark, dusty, with lots of great fruit and the most perfumed bouquet.

Note: Though Steve had been the winemaker for all of the wines we tasted, we learned that their son Kyle Arrowood, who Caryn said had been “a garage winemaker since he was a kid”, had taken up the helm. I look forward to returning and tasting Kyle’s vintages. The Arrowoods have long-time contracts with many vineyards where they can “control the fruit”, and I expect that to continue for many years to come.

Montemar Wines

1501 E. Chestnut Ct., STE E. Lompoc.

805-735-5000

https://www.montemarwinery.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Montemarwines/

https://www.montemarwinery.com/reopening.html

Rocky Pond Estate Winery Adds Accomplished Consulting Winemaker

August 17, 2020 by evebushman

ORONDO, Wash.,/PRNewswire/ — Rocky Pond Estate Winery, the Washington producer crafting wines from their beautiful and sustainably farmed riverside and lakeside estate vineyards, has reached an agreement with highly regarded and accomplished winemaker and viticulturist Steve Leveque. He will join the team for the 2020 growing season and will lead all winemaking activities alongside their established Winemaker Shane Collins and current vineyard management team led by Javier Rocha.

“We are filled with excitement and anticipation as we welcome Steve to the team,” stated Owners and Founders David and Michelle Dufenhorst. “This is another building block in our mission to elevate Rocky Pond as the top Eastern Washington wine destination. We believe in the potential of this special region, its micro-climates, and soils. By adding Steve to share his wealth of experience and to guide our excellent winemaking and vineyard teams, we hope to take our offering to the next level.”

Leveque’s list of winemaking work is impressive, extensive, and full of household names like HALL, Chalk Hill, Opus One, and Mondavi. His addition to the Rocky Pond team is a monumental investment in the future of wine quality and vineyard management that will further elevate and expand the burgeoning program for decades to come.

Leveque honed his winemaking techniques during his 10-year tenure as winemaker at Robert Mondavi Winery. He also gleaned cutting-edge ideas from leading viticulture research and visionary collaborators including prominent wine consultant Michel Rolland. Steve went on to work as executive vice president and winemaker of Chalk Hill Estate Winery in Sonoma, where he handcrafted an award-winning portfolio from small-lot Bordeaux varietals and Chardonnay.

Leveque has also earned three 100 Point scores from Wine Advocate, two 100 Point scores from Jeb Dunnuck and the #2 Wine in the World from Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2011. Over 80 of Steve’s wines have been rated 99-95 Points from the elite wine publications.

“I am excited and humbled to be working with such a dedicated and talented team. The level of commitment and leadership shown by the Dufenhorst family is something I rarely get to experience, and I can’t wait to make wine from their amazing vineyards,” states Steve Leveque. “The Double D and Rocky Reach vineyards, with an abundance of rock and glacial silt soils, coupled with ideal climatic conditions, makes me confident that world-class wines will be the standard at Rocky Pond.”

The Dufenhorsts have been actively compiling quite the all-star team. They are laser-focused on increasing quality across the board through innovation in winemaking, sustainable vineyard practices, and elevated hospitality experiences. Leveque will work alongside current Rocky Pond Winemaker and native of Lake Chelan Shane Collins in addition to President John Ware who recently took the reins after twenty years at Quilceda Creek.

Rocky Pond currently operates two beautifully adorned tasting lounges – one in Chelan and the other in Woodinville – for their beloved wine club members and wine lovers alike. They invite guests for wine tastings, bottle purchases, and culinary chef specials created by their in-house Executive Chef each week by reservation at www.rockypondwinery.com.

South Coast Winery Wins Big at 2020 Toast of the Coast

August 5, 2020 by evebushman

TEMECULA, Calif. – South Coast Winery, owned by the Carter family, proudly accepted multiple awards at the 2020 Toast of the Coast Wine Competition produced by the San Diego County Fair. The winery won Best Pinot Grigio in the competition as well as a Double Gold medal for its South Coast Winery 2019 Pinot Grigio, along with four Gold Medals and two Silver. Additionally, sister property and member of the Carter Hospitality family, Carter Estate Winery won a Gold Medal in the event.

The Toast of the Coast Wine Competition, which recognizes and promotes wineries producing the finest quality wines, took place February 29 to March 1 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, Calif. A total of 633 wines were judged by 15 prominent wine industry professionals – a group that included winemakers, sommeliers, wine journalists and wine business managers.

“We are honored to continue adding prestigious recognition and top awards to our over 3,000 wine accolades accumulated since our inception in 2003,” said Jeff Carter, president of Carter Hospitality, which owns South Coast Winery and Carter Estate Winery. “The Toast of the Coast citings reinforce our mission to use expert knowledge and craft to produce the very best wines, always retaining a sense of each varietal’s personality and terroir of origin.”

South Coast Winery’s results for this competition: 2019 Pinot Grigio won Double Gold and “Best Pinot Grigio” award; 2017 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir won Gold; 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon awarded a Gold designation; Gold for 2018 Chardonnay Sans Chêne and NV Berenda Road Zinfandel; and 2015 Merlot and 2018 Sauvignon Blanc were Silver winners.

In addition, Carter Estate Winery 2015 Blanc de Noir won a Gold medal.

The Toast of the Coast Wine Competition traditionally culminates with showcasing winning wines at the Toast of the Coast Wine Festival at the annual San Diego County Fair. The festival, originally scheduled for June 13, 2020, has been postponed until June 12, 2021, due to COVID-19.

A list of all winners and additional information is available at thetoastofthecoast.com.

About South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

The only winery among the state’s top wineries to claim the title of California Winery of the Year four times at the California State Fair Wine Competition, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa sets the gold standard for excellence amongst California wineries, earning more than 3,000 awards since its inception in 2003. Situated on 63 lush acres, the resort offers a breathtaking retreat for wine tours, romantic getaways and group events with 132 rooms and villas, a working winery and tasting room, gift shop, full-service spa and restaurant.

South Coast Winery offers a broad portfolio of 45 wine labels, the majority of which are available for sampling in its main tasting room – from robust reds such as Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Petit Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir to whites including Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Riesling. Also available are sparkling wines, dessert wines and other specialty offerings. The winery employs a staff of skilled winemakers, including master winemaker Jon McPherson and winemaker Javier Flores, both with decades of experience in the wine industry.

For more information, visit www.southcoastwinery.com.

HALL Family Wines Appoints Alison Frichtl Hollister Senior Winemaker

August 3, 2020 by evebushman

ST. HELENA, CA – Luxury wine producer, HALL Family Wines, has announced that Alison Frichtl Hollister has been promoted to the position of Senior Winemaker for the HALL, WALT and BACA brands, working with Director of Winemaking, Megan Gunderson.

“We are delighted to announce the promotion of Alison to the position of Senior Winemaker for HALL Family Wines,” says Vintner and HALL Family Wines owner, Kathryn Hall. “Alison’s detail-oriented and artful approach to winemaking has made her a critical and central part of our winemaking effort for the past 12 years, first as enologist and most recently as the lead winemaker for BACA wines. In her new position, Alison’s role will expand to winemaking responsibilities for all our brands, with particular emphasis on WALT Wines.”

Hollister joined HALL Family Wines in 2008. She has grown with the luxury brand during her tenure, serving in many roles, including Enologist and Assistant Winemaker. In 2016, Alison was tapped to lead the new BACA brand, creating premium Zinfandels from some of the top vineyards and appellations throughout California. During her time at the winery, Hollister has developed extensive experience crafting Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rose wines.

“I thrive in a creative environment – one that encourages intuition, innovation, and new ideas,” says HALL Family Wines Senior Winemaker Alison Frichtl Hollister. “Having spent over twelve years with HALL and WALT and now crafting BACA wines, I’m looking at this as a great opportunity to use the approach I’ve honed to express the nuance and elegance of each varietal. The winemaking responsibilities of the coming vintage are a challenge that I’m excited to accept.”

Hollister was introduced to American winemaking after living in the Willamette Valley in Oregon as a teenager. She then earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. After graduation, Hollister planted her roots in Napa Valley and accepted her first role in the wine industry at Etude Wines in 2006.

Having been surrounded by many forms of artistry throughout her personal and professional career, Hollister is also known to craft high quality kombucha and kimchi and is an avid artist. Hollister resides in the Howell Mountain region of Napa Valley with her husband Bruce, a landscape designer and artist.

For more information on HALL, WALT or BACA Wines, please visit www.hallwines.com, www.waltwines.com, and www.bacawines.com.

About Hall Family Wines

Owned by Craig and Kathryn Hall, the family-owned winery produces artisan wines that express the unique and diverse character of the wine country’s soils and climates through meticulous attention to detail in the vineyards and throughout the winemaking process. The family’s luxury wine portfolio, led by Director of Winemaking Megan Gunderson, sources fruit from some of the most prominent vineyards up and down the West Coast including eleven Estate vineyards– Sacrashe, Bergfeld, Hardester, Beller, T Bar T Ranch, Atlas Peak, Lamoreaux, Rainin, Dellar-Freidkin, Cook, Bob’s Ranch, Clos Pepe and The Corners. The HALL St. Helena winery was the first LEED® Gold Certified Winery in the State of California in 2009 and earned another LEED® Gold certification for its high–tech production facility and Tasting Room in 2014. Since the inception of HALL in 1995, the three luxury wine brands have earned over 600 ratings of 90 points or above from the industry’s top critics, including five 100-point scores. Visit www.hallwines.com, www.waltwines.com, www.bacawines.com for more information, or call 707-967-2626.

Goldschmidt Vineyards Launches New Tasting Room

July 30, 2020 by evebushman

HEALDSBURG, CA., June 2020 – Goldschmidt Vineyards [goldschmidtvineyards.com] opened its first-ever tasting room on June 13, 2020 at The Pour House, a collective of three family-run wineries, located in the heart of Dry Creek Valley, CA. The tasting space, formerly known as Family Wineries of Dry Creek Valley, has refreshed its interior décor and lineup of wines to now include Goldschmidt Vineyards and its domestic portfolio of labels including: Singing Tree Chardonnay, Fog’s Edge Chardonnay, Gracepoint Zinfandel, The Conspirator Red Blend, Chelsea Goldschmidt Merlot and Katherine Goldschmidt Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The collective is open daily from 10:30am to 4:30pm for consumer tastings, with Goldschmidt Vineyards Goldmark Wine Club members welcomed for complimentary tastings. Wholesale/trade tastings are hosted by-appointment.

The idyllic location overlooking Dry Creek Valley is the destination for an exceptional wine education experience hosted by The Pour House collective team, with future winemaker tasting seminars to be led by Nick Goldschmidt. Reservations are requested in order to safely monitor and accommodate each guest. Tastings are $10.00 per person for four (4) wines; tasting fee is refundable with a bottle purchase. Visit www.goldschmidtvineyards.com to receive more information on new releases, upcoming tastings and vineyard events.

“Since our first release of Forefathers back in 1988, we’ve never had the opportunity to present our wines to the public. We finally decided to showcase not only the wines you have come to know us for, but also the very small parcel lots in the 100-200 case range. With the purchase of more land, we now have the ability to offer bottlings which are super hard to make from these very specific micro terroirs. We would love to welcome you at The Pour House in Dry Creek to sample them.” —Nick Goldschmidt, Winemaker/Owner, Goldschmidt Vineyards

Visitors to the property can rest assured their tasting experience at Goldschmidt Vineyards is in accordance with Sonoma County Department of Health Services regulations and guidelines. Hand sanitizer is available and all common spaces are disinfected after each use. Tastings are conducted outside in the courtyard or inside at (very limited) tables socially distanced at six-feet apart from other tasters. The winery team wears masks and gloves, and each wine is delivered in pre-poured glasses. No standing tasting at the wine bar at this time. Touchless checkout is available and credit card information can be collected ahead of the visit for a seamless no-contact transaction.

About Goldschmidt Vineyards
Nick and Yolyn Goldschmidt are the owners/vintners of Goldschmidt Vineyards with industry veteran Nick at the helm of their domestic and international winemaking across California, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and South America. The prestigious Goldschmidt Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon label showcases single-vineyard bottlings from Alexander Valley and the Oakville district in Napa Valley, and the Forefathers label focuses on southern hemisphere-style Sauvignon Blanc and rich Cabernets. Each wine highlights the distinct character derived from site-specific harvests to achieve exceptional richness, quality and balance. Along with annual wine shipments across two tiers, the Goldmark Wine Club includes member-only releases and special wine offerings throughout the year. For wine club information contact Wine Club Manager Karen Clarke [karen@goldschmidvineyards.com, (707) 473-9262]. The winery office is located in Healdsburg, CA in Sonoma County. Follow Goldschmidt Vineyards on Instagram via @goldschmidt_vineyards, Facebook via @goldschmidt-vineyards, Twitter via @goldschmidtwine.

About The Pour House
As the first and only cooperative tasting room in Dry Creek Valley, The Pour House is located at 4791 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448 and features the local, family-owned wines of Optima Winery, Lago di Merlo and Goldschmidt Vineyards. Hosted by a fun and knowledgeable tasting room team, visitors will discover a wide range of exceptional award-winning, limited production and single-vineyard varietal wines from each producer. The Pour House is open seven days a week and features charming picnic grounds just footsteps from vineyards, a bocce court and beautiful wine country scenery. A curated selection of giftware and branded apparel is available for purchase. Join the Club House Wine Club featuring wines from all three producers to enjoy complimentary tastings and club discounts. Contact: Tasting Room Manager Carol Carone [carol@thepourhouse707.com, (707) 433-0100].

Vintage Eve 11/2017, “From Portugal to Australia: A Trio of Ports and Five from Wakefield Wines”

July 28, 2020 by evebushman

Lots of wines, eight in all, to taste through this week. We are starting with the ports, though we would normally recommend finishing with a port. There is nothing at all wrong with starting a meal with a little taste of something sweet, and revisiting the same wines after your meal as well, give it a try. (A note on the Ports: they arrived the day before Halloween and came with suggested candy pairings.)

From Portugal we will be traveling to “The Promised Land” so to speak with wines from South Australia, starting with an unoaked Chardonnay and finishing up with a Shiraz.

Edited “Suggested Pairings” or tech sheets follow my tasting notes.

Warre’s Otima 10 Year Old Tawny Port with DOTS: A unique bottling in clear glass and a slightly smaller size, I was interested in trying this tawny out. The color had a clear red center and brown edge, almost indicative of an aged Rose. On the nose we got aromas of chocolate covered cherries, liquor-filled chocolate, and Luxardo liqueur or a Luxardo cherry in a Manhattan. On the mouth there were more caramel and vanilla notes, as well as that same dark cherry, plums and a bit of sherry-reminiscent. 90 Eve pts. Suggested Pairing – A bright nose full of fresh nuts alongside a delicate palate of dried fruit make Otima 10 Year Old Tawny Port (SRP $26) the perfect complement to the mixed fruit flavors of DOTS.

Dow’s 2011 Late Bottled Vintage Port with KIT KAT®: The color of a fine Cabernet Sauvignon and very opaque. The aromas ranged from dry, dusty earth to dark cherry, dark chocolate, mushroom…with a lower alcohol and sweetness feeling compared to the tawny. When we tasted this one we got a very richly layered feeling, with good tannin structure, lots off depth, heat, big fruit, and a little smoke/cigarette ash on a very lengthy finish, 91 Eve pts. Suggested Pairing – Dow’s trademark drier style comes through, making this wine the perfect pairing with the candy’s crispy wafer and smooth milk chocolate. Unlike other Port houses, Dow’s only produces Late Bottled Vintage Port from the best of years.

Cockburn’s Special Reserve with Butterfinger®‎: A dark garnet in color, the special reserve had dense notes of red to black cherry, black plums and a dusty quality. Then came a mouth-coating viscosity on the taste with balanced flavors of fig, red cherry ad brown sugar. 90 Eve pts. Suggested Pairing – A luscious style of Port, bursting with bright red cherry fruit, and Cockburn’s signature mellow cask-finished tones enhancing its smoothness, make for a devilishly delicious pairing as the creamy milk chocolate base gives way to a peanut buttery palate.

Wakefield Wines of South Australia http://www.wakefieldwines.com/

2016 Promised Land Unoaked Chardonnay Lemon-lime, sweet butter, green Granny Smith apple, orange blossom on the nose with flavors reminiscent of crisp lemon, orange and lime wedges, sweet pineapple, green apple again and a mild acidity allowing for a lengthy finish. 89 Eve pts. From Tech Sheet – Bouquet: Fresh, lifted aromas of yellow peach, along with some subtle tropical fruit characters and a touch of lemony citrus. Palate: A medium weight palate with fleshy yellow peach, subtle pineapple and citrus flavours. There is a refreshing, tight acidity and a lovely clean finish.

2016 Wakefield Merlot, Clare Valley Bold crushed blackberry, stewed plums, both dark and milk chocolate as well as mint and cinnamon rose up in the aromas. On the mouth there was blue to black fruit, very dry and tannic, and some welcoming spice held in for a medium to long finish. 89 Eve pts. From Tech Sheet – Bouquet: …raspberry, cherry and violets with enticing vanilla bean, spice and cinnamon from quality oak maturation. Palate: …ripe, dark fruit alongside rich fruit cake characters…flavours of vanilla, mocha and subtle spice…

2015 Promised Land Cabernet Merlot Crushed boysenberry, blueberry, jam, chocolate candy, tobacco and ash on the nose followed by the same fruit but less jammy and drier, also some blackberry and black currant, tannins help the flavors to linger. 88 Eve pts. From Tech Sheet – Bouquet: …plum, red berries and liquorice along with a hint of spice, cedar and vanilla… Palate: …ripe plum, red berries along with subtle liquorice and chocolate…

2015 Promised Land Shiraz Cabernet Aromas of pungent black fruit, cigarette, wet rock, very dark chocolate/cocoa and a hint of…paprika. On the mouth it was a bit tight due to its young age so we let it sit a bit and came back to revisit. Then we got nuances of blackberry, white pepper, green peppercorn, some smoke on the finish and firm tannins. 88 Eve pts. From Tech Sheet –Bouquet: aromas…plum, cassis and licorice. Palate: …red berries, plum, cassis, chocolate and spice…

2016 Promised Land Shiraz Blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, dusty, milk chocolate, cream, vanilla bean all on the nose; while on the mouth I got that same black fruit but with lots of spice, tobacco, tannins and a medium finish. 89 Eve pts. From Tech Sheet –Bouquet: …red currant, plum and a touch of spice. Palate: …berry fruits, fine gentle tannins and a soft silky finish.

2016 Wakefield Shiraz, Clare Valley Hints of blueberry, blackberry, jam on toast and only a bit of pepper all on the nose while the mouth held notes of that same blue to black fruit, not a lot of spice or pepper, but good tannins and a tingling quality. 87 Eve pts. From Tech Sheet –Bouquet: …plum, blackcurrant and dark cherry fruits along with a bouquet of subtle mocha and a touch of oak derived spice. Palate: …plum and blackberry…Mocha coffee and subtle spice…

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, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

TOR Napa Valley Announces Four New Private Tasting Experiences for Summer and Harvest

July 27, 2020 by evebushman

ST. HELENA, Calif. /PRNewswire/ — TOR Napa Valley looks forward to welcoming guests back to the Napa Valley with a variety of new private experiences and tastings for summer and harvest. All tastings and experiences will be exclusively private and by-appointment-only, allowing guests the chance to visit some of Napa’s Grand Cru vineyards, walk amongst the vines and experience TOR’s famed wines—following the CDC’s extensive health and safe precautions and measures.

WHAT’S NEW FOR SUMMER AND HARVEST 2020

The Pritchard Hill Hike & Flight ($200 per person)

Greg Melanson’s Pritchard Hill vineyard is prime real estate for world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. Perched approximately 1500 feet above the valley floor. The vineyard shares august neighbors: across from Colgin and adjacent to Continuum and OVID.

After either a heart pumping vineyard walk or leisurely stroll, enjoy a tasting of TOR’s Grand Dames Chardonnays, followed by three vintages of TOR’s spectacular Melanson Cabernets paired with small bites.

The Black Magic Experience ($750 per person)

Only a select few can ever experience Napa Valley like this. The TOR Black Magic Experience is available on a very limited basis by-appointment-only.

Limited to a tiny handful of guests, this is a true behind the curtains peek into the life of a vintner at the top of their game, and what goes into making 100-point wines at TOR.

David Grega, TOR’s Associate Winemaker, will be the host for an exclusive tour of the haloed soils of the legendary Beckstoffer Dr. Crane. Beckstoffer To Kalon and Vine Hill Ranch.

Guests will then then have the rare opportunity to taste barrel samples considered for TOR’s next Black and Pure Magic wines, prior to relaxing over a delicious three-course lunch nestled in gardens beneath Vine Hill Ranch. With lunch, enjoy a selection of highly rated TOR wines.

Al Fresco Wines Experience ($125 per person)

Wheeler Farms’ 12-acre historic estate on Zinfandel Lane in St. Helena plays host to this al fresco tasting.

Guests will enjoy a stroll through Wheeler Farms’ gardens and state-of-the-art winemaking facility. Tastings feature five wines from a selection of Napa Valley’s First Growth vineyards, and the wines are paired with a cheese and charcuterie platter prepared by Chef Sarah Heller.

ABOUT TOR NAPA VALLEY
TOR Napa Valley produces single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay in the Napa Valley. Tor Kenward has spent more than 40 years in the wine business and established TOR Wines in 2001 to produce wines from only the best blocks in great vineyard sites he knew and revered. In October 2016, Robert M. Parker Jr. said of TOR: “Tor Kenward is using his vast experience in the wine industry and impressive palate to find exceptional terroirs and produce fascinating wines that merit serious attention.”

Finger Lakes’ Buttonwood Grove Winery owners purchase Toro Run Winery

July 20, 2020 by evebushman

Melissa and David Pittard are excited to announce their recent purchase of Toro Run Winery. Located on State Route 89 in Ovid, Toro Run is noted for their fine wines and spectacular view of Cayuga Lake. The meticulously managed estate vineyards, planted in 2009 by founders Jim Coppola and Chris Weaver, contain a wide array of classic vinifera grapes. In addition to popular Finger Lakes varietals, such as Riesling and Cabernet Franc, the vineyards include Grüner Veltliner and Pinot Meunier, which are rarely seen in this region. The steeply sloping hillside and glacial soil make this a highly-prized location for growing prime quality grapes, which is reflected in the premium artisan wines that Toro Run has produced since opening their tasting room in 2013.

Going forward, the focus will be on continuing the legacy created by the Coppola and Weaver families while introducing innovative production methods, including the use of a variety of fermentation vessels and a focus on unique wines. Vineyard expansion has already begun, with additional Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc vines added to the existing plantings.

The Pittards also own nearby Buttonwood Grove Winery, which they purchased in 2014. Since their acquisition of that property, they have more than tripled the vineyard acreage, constructed an onsite production facility, and established a reputation for providing innovative guest experiences. Among the many award winning wines produced under their ownership is the 2016 Riesling, which won the highly-coveted Governor’s Cup for New York State’s Best Wine in August of 2017.