Vintage Eve Circa 8/2013: Tasting, and Learning, from Louie Lucas of Lucas and Lewellen Vineyards

June 20, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Walking into the Lucas and Lewellen Vineyards tasting room on the popular Copenhagen Drive in Solvang, I was pleased to have my winery appointment set up with Louie Lucas himself. Before we even sat down he started giving us some history of his winery.

Louie Lucas is on the far right, with his hands on his award-winning grapes. Photo from Facebook.

With 400 acres, and four different properties, Lucas and Lewellen grows 25 grape varietals. The tasting room had been open for 10 years – serving up to 25 wines. The planting began in 1970 and Lucas has been in the area for 40 years.

The current winemaker for the last five years is Megan McGrath Gates, who went to UC Davis for her wine credentials.

Wining Awards For Others

Lucas and Lewellen Vineyards has a long history of selling grapes to Napa wineries as well as more local winemakers. So, his grapes “win awards for others”. And he also makes wines for others, like actress Jane Seymour. Amongst his list is Chardonnay to Kendall Jackson, more goes to Jed Steele of Steele wines, Muscat to Napa’s Castello di Amorosa, Gewurztraminer to V. Sattui and Syrah to winemaking legend Heidi Barrett.

I asked Lucas if I could mention this in my article, he hesitated for two seconds and then agreed, saying, “Its too late for them to get me!”

Lucas’ father and grandfather were grape growers, and what they produced had to be perfect and blemish free, even the stems had to be cured. “You grow good grapes,” Lucas said. “And you get good wine.”

“Today we buy from catalogs when shopping for root stocks,” Lucas said in regards to how things have changed in 40 years. “So many more variations then we had before, and all are supposed to be resistant to disease, we shall see.”

Lucas and Lewellen has 1200 French oak barrels, and buys both new and used. They added 300 new barrels last year and are experimenting with hybrid barrels that are made from half American and half French oak.

Tasting

2011 Blanc de Noirs Brut Sparkling wine, 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay

Juicy fruit strawberry and peach on the nose, nice toast and jam on the palate. They don’t make the wine, instead they use a sparkling wine facility to make it, and only use their handpicked grapes. Outstanding.

Viognier 2012

A touch of stainless steel, followed by peach, kiwi, candied ginger and pear on the nose. Very balanced on the taste. Perfect.

2009 Chenin Blanc

White peaches, lime, green grapes, green grass. Great viscosity, mouth coating, not acidic.

Gewurztraminer 2011

Lemons, earth, peppermint on nose. Same gentle mouthfeel and low acid.

2011 Old Vine Moscato

2% residual sugar. Candied orange, wet wood, cloves.

2012 Pinot Noir Rose (100% Pinot)

Cherry, stems, rose petals…again, that nice balance and viscosity.

2009 Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir, Estate

New clones since the “movie” (a nod to “Sideways”), and now making outstanding Pinot Noir wines from 10 different clones.

Good dark cherries, dry, green peppercorns.

2010 High Nine Pinot 667 clone, Santa Maria.

Smokey, charred, bright red fruit, long finish.

Malbec 2010

Blue and red fruit, dry, medium length. A favorite.

2007 Petit Verdot

Inky black color, blue fruit, blueberry jam rolled up in a pancake on the nose. Mature and tannic on the palate. Another fave.

2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Cote del Sol (means “The Sun side”)

Balanced red and blue fruit and tannins, very good, long finish.

2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Valley View

83 cab percent and all other Bordeaux grapes

Balanced, dusty, plums bell pepper.

2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 6

Dark purple, jammy, dry toast, plums.

http://www.llwine.com

Tasting Room: 1645 Copenhagen Dr., Solvang, CA 93463

All-New Wine Trolley Rolls Into the Santa Maria Valley

June 14, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

(Santa Maria, Calif.) – An exciting new development has made its way into the Santa Maria Valley. The Santa Maria Valley wine trolley will bring a whole new way of experiencing the wine region.

Santa Maria’s new Downtown Trolley will transport consumers between shopping center serving a holiday shuttle this year. The vehicle is equipped with a classic trolley bell.

The wine trolley will run Saturdays and Sundays, and run every 75 minutes from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting at Town Center West. The wine trolley will also run one additional route from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., but will exclude Cottonwood Canyon and Presqu’ile wineries. Stops will include:

Town Center West near the pedestrian bridge (downtown Santa Maria on S. Broadway)
Costa de Oro Winery
Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard & Winery
Presqu’ile Winery
Old Town Orcutt – Old Town Market
Old Town Orcutt – Rooney’s Irish Pub

The wine trolley runs from May – September (subject to change).

The cost is $10 per person in advance, and $15 per person at the Trolley (transportation only), and is step on, step off, at your convenience. Tickets can be purchased at Ca’ Del Grevino Wine & Café Bar, Core Winery, Costa de Oro Winery, Cottonwood Canyon Winery, Nagy Wine Tasting Room, Old Town Market and the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce Visitor & Convention Bureau. Check the Santa Maria Valley website for pick-up times and locations.

“We are absolutely thrilled about providing our visitors a new way to experience the gorgeous scenery of the Santa Maria Valley while allowing them to stop at many different locations and attractions,” said Glenn Morris, president and chief executive officer of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor and Convention Bureau. “It is another fantastic reason to explore this hidden gem of an area and enjoy what we locals get to experience every day.”

The Central Coast’s most historic wine lives in the Santa Maria Valley. The area has the oldest appellation in the area and nearly two centuries of experience in growing grapes. The Santa Maria Valley is one of the most agriculturally diverse regions in the U.S. with a wealth of fruits and vegetables grown on the valley floor and vineyards hugging the hillsides. It’s a place where flavor runs rampant and taste buds can indulge because what they serve is grown, cooked and corked right here. The Santa Maria Valley has one of California’s longest growing seasons and a truly rare transverse geography resulting in the development of complex, flavorful and balanced grapes. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah are our specialties. These are composed of well-drained soils that also contribute to exceptional fruit intensity and flavor concentration.

The Santa Maria Valley is a recognized American Viticultural Area (AVA) within Santa Barbara County; the AVA encompasses one of the top wine regions in the world. The Travel Channel named the Santa Maria Valley The New Top 10 Cities for Wine Snobs.

For more information, please visit santamariavalley.com.

About Santa Maria Valley:

Serving the greater Santa Maria Valley in the heart of California’s Central Coast, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau is a nonprofit association that facilitates local tourism and provides information on the region’s many attractions and visitor services. Famed for its fine wines, natural wonders, agricultural heritage and flavorful barbecue, the Santa Maria Valley offers a broad range of cultural, sporting and historical experiences. For details on Santa Maria Valley lodging, wine tasting, travel deals and e-newsletter alerts, visit santamariavalley.com or call (800) 331-3779.

Perlis Picks: Comstock Wines

June 10, 2017 by Michael Perlis Leave a Comment

While I’ve known of and appreciated the great wines of the Dry Creek Valley for many years, it has only been over the last few that I’ve given them the attention they deserve. It is hard to believe that it took me so long, given the quality of the wines, especially those Zinfandels!

But I do owe a debt of gratitude to Kelly Comstock Ferris, General Manager of Comstock Wines for opening my eyes a little wider to appreciate what I’d been missing.

In early 2014, we first met Kelly at an event in Beverly Hills called Sonoma In The City, a traveling roadshow showcasing the AVAs of Sonoma County. I had just gotten there and I recall expressing to Kelly something to the effect that I was concerned that the event was going to be primarily showcasing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, given their popularity. She quickly put my mind at ease by pouring me the first release from her family’s winery – a 2012 Zinfandel that was just outstanding.

Kelly, after years of experience in the hospitality industry, took on the General Manager role of Comstock Wines when her family decided to go beyond farming the grapes from the vineyard they had owned since 2002 and start making wine.

Later that same year, we had the opportunity to visit with Kelly at the family’s gorgeous new state of the art winery. Actually, we met in the construction trailer and had fun tasting through the wines and seeing the plans for the soon to be built winery and tasting room. We left, promising to be back when construction was complete.

Well, somehow we managed to wait two years for our next visit. Was the wait worth it? You betcha.

Let me start by saying that if you have an opportunity to stay a night or two at a winery’s guest house, you should definitely do so. There is no better way to totally immerse oneself in wine country. And, you’d be hard pressed to find a better one than The Residence at Comstock Wines. My wife Karen and I had the pleasure of staying there on our visit.

Just a short walk to the winery tasting room, The Residence provides complete luxury while at the same time is a totally immersive wine country experience, right in the middle of the vineyard property. With four master suites, the huge house also has a full kitchen as well as a living room and media room. In one direction, you can drive to the gourmet restaurants in Healdsburg in just a few minutes and in the other direction are all the wineries and vineyards of the Dry Creek Valley.

And speaking of wineries, the winery at Comstock is a beautiful state of the art building wherein winemaker Chris Russi uses his years of experience and knowledge of the various Sonoma County AVAs and their varietals to “create wines that speak to regional uniqueness.” The winery’s capacity far exceeds Comstock’s production, so they also provide custom crush services to other wineries. I found especially cool the ability to cordon off various sections of the winery to provide for the unique needs of client wineries. And the automated punch-down equipment was really fascinating to me.

All that being said, at the end of the day it is all about the wine, right? Wonderful as this property is, if the wine isn’t up to the same standards…well, it would be hard for me to write this article.

Fortunately, the wines do live up to expectations. Some of our favorites were…

2015 Sauvignon Blanc / Dry Creek Valley – acid on Sauvignon Blanc can sometimes be overwhelming. Not here. Nice tropical fruit flavors with just enough zing on the palate.

2013 Chardonnay / Sonoma Coast – a really clean refreshing Chard. Nice bright flavors.

2013 Zinfandel / Dry Creek Valley and 2012 Zinfandel / Dry Creek Valley – had these side-by-side. The 2012 was the first Comstock wine I had tasted a couple of years early and was drinking beautifully. The 2013, which after our visit won a well-deserved Gold Medal at the 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Competition, was drinking great as well, showing off that wonderful Dry Creek Valley fruit.

2013 Zinfandel / Old Vine / Dry Creek Valley and 2013 Zinfandel / Old Vine / Russian River Valley – another side-by side tasting, and a really interesting one. At first, the upfront fruit of the Dry Creek Valley bottling really got my attention. As I continued to taste each wine, the RRV Zin showed a little more complexity and rewarded a little extra attention. You wouldn’t go wrong with either of these.

2013 Zinfandel / Rockpile – there are a lot of great sites for growing Zinfandel, but I have to say that the Rockpile AVA has always held a special place in my heart [and on my palate]. No surprise here, just a beautiful, jammy, delicious wine.

I’d like to say a big thank you to Erin Bush [Residence Manager & Winery Concierge] and Tracy Bidia [Hospitality Director] as well as everyone else we encountered at Comstock for making our stay so enjoyable. Sadly, Kelly Comstock Ferris was out of town so we were not able to connect this time, so we are really looking forward to seeing her on our next visit to Comstock.

Comstock Wines

1290 Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448

See photos of our visit to Comstock Wines and others from our trip here: Sonoma County Series.

Michael Perlis has been pursuing his passion for wine for more than 25 years. He has had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show him the way, as well as a wonderful wife who encourages him and shares his interest. After a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as he possibly could, he had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Now, as Contributing Editor for Eve’s Wine 101, he does his best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers. Michael is also Vice President of Eve Bushman Consulting (fka Eve’s Wine 101 Consulting) http://evebushmanconsulting.com/ and President of MCP Financial. Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com or michael@evebushmanconsulting.com.

Wine 101ers Get: AUSTRALIA UP CLOSE Part One

June 9, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

With a geographical size similar to the US and distinct climates, soils and terroirs, its no surprise that Australia boasts an array of wine styles, regions and grape varieties for you to experience.

This was an intriguing teaser to a recent Australian wine event I attended. I went in knowing very little about Australian white wines so I signed up for their seminar, and then knew I would enjoy the walk around tasting to get my fill of the wines I was more familiar with: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignons and many Bordeaux and Rhone blends.

SEMINAR – White Wines: Unique Expressions of Australian Riesling, Semillon and Chardonnay

Australia is blessed with regions and climates that can produce truly world-class wines from the noblest of vines. Discover the many exciting expressions of Riesling, Semillon and Chardonnay being produced across Australia’s diverse wine regions. Presented by special guests and winemakers, and moderated by Wine Australia.

Our Seminar Panelists

Fahara Zamorano – Head Sommelier, Gwen LA; Matt Kaner – Owner, Bar Covell & Augustine; Kyle Meyer – Wine Exchange; Bruce Tyrrell – Tyrrell’s Wines; Jeff Burch – Howard Park Wines; Jeff McWilliam – McWilliam’s Wines; Mark Davidson, Wine Australia (Moderator).

Seminar Wines – Flavors and Aromas separated by ;

Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Hunter Semillon Hunter Valley 2011 – Green apple, pineapple lemon zest, Mandarin orange and white pepper all on the nose; with lemon-lime, bruised apple and a medium acidity on the palate. 90 Eve pts.

Brokenwood ILR Reserve Semillon Hunter Valley 2009 – I smelled apple, pear, fresh lemon, pears in light syrup; then tasted bright and tangy fresh fruit – same as those I found on the nose. 90 Eve pts.

Ashbrook Estate Semillon Margaret River 2015 – Perfumy aroma, then bruised yellow apple, cream and a pale hint of cinnamon; viscous on the mouth, as well as slightly paler fruit and a long finish. 90 Eve pts.

Silkman Estate Semillon Hunter Valley 2015 – Lemon, toast, grapefruit and unsalted butter on the nose; followed by tart apple and limeade on the palate. 90 Eve pts.

Pewsey Vale Contours Riesling Eden Valley 2011 – Fruit cocktail, green grass to yellow hay, floral and bright; that same bright quality came through on the taste as well as lemon, grass, acidity, bone dry. 90 Eve pts.

Grosset Polish Hill Riesling Clare Valley 2016 – Bright aromas of pears and kiwi fruit; followed by lemon, orange and steel on the palate. 90 Eve pts.

Frankland Estate Isolation Ridge Riesling Frankland River 2015 – Green apple, crushed green leaves and a whiff of orange on the nose; the palate was very sharp citrus fruit: lemon and orange, a slight viscosity and a long dry finish. 90 Eve pts.

Pressing Matters R9 Riesling Tasmania 2015 – My favorite of all the white wines I tasted with aromas of sweet orange blossoms, apple pie and a bit of cream; then came a slightly sweet and lingering fresh lemon-lime fruit on the mouth. 91 Eve pts. (All of the Riesling shared the same bone dry quality, except this expression from Tasmania.)

McWilliam’s 842 Chardonnay Tumbarumba 2013 – Fresh oak, honey, barnyard, earth, citrus, butter and white pepper on the nose; then the taste was tart, some oak and apple. 91 Eve pts.

Moorooduc Estate Chardonnay Mornington Peninsula 2012 – Earthy, dried apple, butter, clove and steely; then bruised apple, tart with medium acid. 90 Eve pts.

Howard Park Miamup Chardonnay Margaret River 2015 – Toast, lemon, cream, and a general feeling of being in a sweet floral garden; the flavors were bright, tart and citrusy with a medium acidity and long finish. 89 Eve pts.

Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay Adelaide Hills 2014 – Creamery butter, lemon and green fields; then that same lemon on the mouth, but light, and a leaner acidity. 89 Eve pts.

What I Learned From Our Panelists and the White Wine Tasting

One of our panelists stated that if you remotely expect that a Semillon from Australia would taste like one from Bordeaux, France you would be dead wrong. If you thought that a Riesling from Australia would taste like its German counterpart you would be equally wrong. My tasting notes above probably express this.

Australia is considered a New World wine area, however, Meyer would like us to see their wines as truly old world, but with an edge. The vines are very old, the area is larger than Europe and Phylloxera has never hit them.

The 12 elite wineries in “Australia’s First Families of Wine” group have several criteria to meet including their dedication to promote Australian wine to the global market, 100% family owned and have to have at least a 20 year vertical.

Next week I will run part two of the tasting, the reds I got to try, on June 16 here on this blog.

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. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Perlis Picks: 2nd annual Masters of Taste

May 20, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Unlike some sports, such as baseball, somewhat inclement weather does not keep football players off the field. This is as true at the Pasadena Rose Bowl as it is anywhere else.

And like football players, attendees of the 2^nd annual Masters of Taste did not let a little rain keep them off the Rose Bowl field.

With once again all proceeds [expected to be over half a million dollars] raised by the event going to benefit Union Station Homeless Services, a wide variety of Food, Beverage and Sweets Masters were on hand to satisfy the intrepid attendees who braved the overcast skies for a great cause.

Eve has already shared her reporting of the event here so I won’t fill up this article with a list of participants.

While I wandered the event, my wonderful wife Karen kept showing up with some great food to keep me going. Here are her comments about the food…

Beef Tataki from Alexander’s Steakhouse of Pasadena: One of Michael’s favorites

Pork Belly Ramen by Ramen Tatsunoya: Extremely satisfying.

Handmade Mushroom Stuffed Pasta in Red Pepper Sauce by Celestino’s of Pasadena: I enjoyed this immensely. A great combination of flavors

Oxtail Dumplings from Bone Kettle: They melted in your mouth, absolutely delicious.

Hache LA: Angus burger sliders gave Michael and me the energy to make it around the Rose Bowl.

Spire Works of Eagle Rock and Westwood: Beef rice bowls were scrumptious.

Mama Lion: Uni appetizers were amazing.

Momed: Lamb shwarama sandwiches were extremely flavorful.

And here are a few standouts for me in the wine and beer category…

Ascension Cellars – this Paso Robles based winery continues to shine. I focused on the new releases at their table – the 2016 Siren Rose was very tasty; the 2015 Silver Blanc blend of Marsanne, Roussanne, Chardonnay and Viognier was unusual and delicious. The 2014 Mayhem Syrah [with a little Petit Verdot and also a small amount of Roussanne – instead of the traditional Viognier] was outstanding.

tercero wines – okay, I did not actually taste Larry Schaffer’s wines this time. He was pouring in the section for sponsors only. I did reach over and shake his hand and he was going to sneak me some wine over the fence when he was finished pouring for the sponsor who had come over to his table – you know, for reporting purposes. But, someone [and you know who you are] told me that there was also a tercero booth in the main area. So, I left in search of that booth, but I had been given misinformation. I do taste Larry’s wine often [actually very recently] and I can tell you they are worth seeking out.

Iron Triangle Brewing Co. – located in the growing and trendy Los Angeles arts district. The Dark Ale is well worth a trip to their taproom.

San Fernando Brewing Co. – loved the red ale. For our Santa Clarita Valley readers, this is an especially short trip to the taproom. You should definitely check them out.

As I had mentioned, now that we are actually experiencing some weather in Southern California, there was a threat of rain that afternoon. The cloud cover kept things cool and when there was one cloudburst while we were in attendance, it actually served to make things more fun, seeming to bring people closer together.

If you were there, what did you do when the rain started?

For us, we just happened to be visiting our friends at Golden Star Vineyards, Lee, Helen and Heather Williams. And when the sky opened up briefly, we just joined them under their tent and took advantage of the opportunity to taste more of their wines. Really loved their Chardonnay, the Viognier [in a blue bottle, no less] and the rose of Tempranillo. A real treat was a barrel sample of 2015 Syrah – aged in 100% new American oak, I was concerned that the oak might overpower the wine, but the fruit shone through. And their signature Purple Haze zinfandel-based red blend is always a favorite and was a great way to wrap up our day as well.

See you next year, rain or shine!

Tasting with Emilien Boutillat, Winemaker of Champagne Armand de Brignac and the “Best Blanc de Noirs in the World”

May 5, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

What a rare treat it was for me to sample the current releases from Champagne Armand de Brignac, aka “Ace of Spades”, that I had to admit I have never sampled before. This is how it went:

The Stage

The boardroom of the Beverly Hills Hotel was the perfect size for a small group of wine writers, wine store buyers, restauranteurs and sommeliers. The table was set with five engraved tasting glasses, courtesy Armand de Brignac. Winemaker Emilien Boutillat sat in the center. Five metallic bottles, each its own unique glistening color, sat icing in a golden bowl. The lighting was brought up so that we could examine our samples. French bottled water was poured to cleanse our palates. A brunch was set up on the side bar to enjoy after the tasting. Sparkling silver wine buckets would soon be – only slightly – filled with leftovers. But there weren’t many leftovers…

Tasting With Emilien Boutillat

Winemaker Emilien Boutillat grew up in Champagne and worked with some very prestigious wineries in Bordeaux, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, South Africa, New Zealand, Chile and California before settling back down in France. He works now with the lead winemaking team: Jean-Jacques and Alexandre Cattier.

Boutillat said that Armand de Brignac produces “just a drop” of Champagne compared to others; only producing about 100,000 cases of all of their cuvees combined per year. Everything, including the riddling, is done by hand. What matters most is the soil, climate, the right time for harvest, blending and – only using the first press of juice. They have purchased from the same growers – who are now friends – every year for many years. “There are no tricks,” Boutillat commented, “we let the fruit talk.” All of the cuvees are multi-vintages and blends.

Brut Gold

40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Meunier

Multi-vintage: 2009, 2010 and 2012

The color of pale hay with aromas of green apple, pineapple, cheddar cheese and wet pebbles. On the mouth I got the same flavors, very bright fruit, with the additions of lemon and toast. 99 Eve pts.

Rosé

50% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier, 10% Chardonnay

Multi-vintage: 2009, 2010 and 2012

A beautiful color or rose gold with notes of strawberry, Luxardo cherry and a hint of licorice on the nose followed by flavors of strawberry, limeade, orange zest and a nice long finish. (This was made as a blend, not in the saignée method.) 99 Eve pts.

Blanc de Blancs

100% Chardonnay

Multi-vintage: 2009, 2010 and 2012

A very pale yellow in color, then a nose of ripe red delicious apple, roasted nuts, lemon-lime and white pepper. On the mouth I got pineapple, white peach, white tea and roasted nuts again. 100 Eve pts.

Blanc De Noirs Assemblage Two

100% Pinot Noir

Multi-vintage: 2008, 2009 and 2010

Pale gold in color and aromas of apricots, cream and yes…what everyone noted: peppermint. On the palate that same peppermint was apparent as well as apricot and peach. Also another incredibly long finish. Welcome to the U.S. my pretty friend! 100 Eve pts. (How could I disagree with Fine Champagne Magazine, and TastingBook.com, that named this the best Blanc De Noirs of the year in 2016?)

Demi Sec

40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Meunier

Multi-vintage: 2009, 2010 and 2012

Straw in color, and a nose of fruit cocktail, cheese corn and Jasmine! In the mouth I was reminded of candied apple and cinnamon toast, and the fruit lingers for another long finish. 98 Eve pts.

About Armand de Brignac

“10th and 11th generation champagne growers, Jean-Jacques Cattier and his son, Alexandre, craft the prestige cuvées of Armand de Brignac. Their dream was to create a champagne of the most exceptional quality, that would represent the best of the best from the region, where their family have grown vines for more than 250 years. A group of just 14 highly skilled people touch a bottle of Champagne Armand de Brignac, from pressing the fruit, to the moment the bottles leave the cellars. Each step of the process is led by the human touch, from handpicking the grapes to polishing each bottle and hand-applying French pewter labels. Without the pressures of volume, the team behind Champagne Armand de Brignac focuses on each small detail, to ensure ultimate quality at every step.”

http://armanddebrignac.com/home

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Traverse City Tourism Announces Traverse City Uncorked

April 12, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Traverse City, MI (PRWEB) – Traverse City Tourism has announced a month-long series of wine events during the month of May. The inaugural “Traverse City Uncorked” celebration is a collaboration with the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail and the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula to showcase Traverse City’s burgeoning wine and cuisine scene with fun experiences and specials at participating venues throughout the region.

“May is a great time to visit Traverse City,” said Trevor Tkach, President and CEO of Traverse City Tourism, “and we are thrilled that Traverse City Uncorked will offer visitors so many fun ways to enjoy our local wines.”

The region’s two peninsulas, Leelanau and Old Mission, are both designated as American Viticultural Areas, with diverse microclimates uniquely suited for a variety of wine grapes. Among the internationally acclaimed varietals are Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc.

“This region represents one of the most unique viticultural regions in the country,” said Lee Lutes, winemaker at the Black Star Farms winery near Suttons Bay. “Combine the region with the dedication of growers and winemakers that are passionate about these cool climate varieties, truly exceptional wines are being produced. Traverse City Uncorked serves as the perfect venue for showcasing the rich diversity, stylistic complexity and breadth of character from the wines grown and produced throughout northern Michigan.”

During the month of May, Traverse City Uncorked offers participants an opportunity to explore the local flavors from a variety of different options and see for themselves why northern Michigan wines are one of the hot topics of discussion across the country.

Experiences include lodging packages with complimentary wine tasting, a Sips & Giggles Comedy Show, a Swine & Dine Dinner, tasting room specials, chef events, winemaker dinners, wine education and more. Details, lodging packages and tickets are available at http://www.traversecityuncorked.com.

Vintage Eve Circa March 2013: A Special Meeting with Santa Barbara, Paso Robles and Napa Valley Producers

March 28, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

A couple of weeks ago I received a special invite, from LearnAboutWine.com founder Ian Blackburn: “Tastemakers, Sommelier and Press, please accept my invitation to a special press gathering for the STARS of California Wine.” And that was enough for me to send off my rsvp right away.

I knew from a previous luncheon that the meeting – very intimate with a little over a dozen of us in attendance – would be stellar, the restaurant would be remarkable and the wine, presented by a winery representative or owner, chosen with care.

This time we met at a penthouse private room in the TAKAMI Restaurant, in downtown Los Angeles. Our wine representatives included Larry Schaffer, winemaker and owner of Tercero Wines; Timothy Carl, the managing director of Knights Bridge Winery; and Michael Young, the sales and marketing director of L’Aventure Wine.

I had just visited Larry at his Los Olivos Tasting room last month. The two wines he presented at our luncheon, 2011 Viognier and 2009 Grenache, I covered in my notes, as well as information on Tercero. You can read that here: http://westranchbeacon.com/2013/03/eves-wine-101-tasting-with-winemakers-in-the-santa-barbara/

On this occasion, however, I enjoyed Larry’s wines with three Robatas: Angus New York, Chicken Negima, Chilean Sea Bass; and then a selection of sushi rolls. For me, I prefer to make tasting notes sans food. But, in real life, this is how we do it – and it was very enjoyable to sit back and just enjoy as my tasting notes had already been done. The rest of the guests, some new to Larry’s wines, remarked that they really enjoyed them and what he has accomplished with Rhone varietals.

When Timothy Carl introduced Knights Bridge he explained that his family has ten generations of grape growing experience. They only produce Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon in their vineyards about five miles Northwest of Calistoga.

Almost everyone immediately became a fan of the Knights Bridge Sauvignon Blanc. My notes mention balanced acidity and minerality. Carl remarked that they “squeeze the fruit to get the right Ph” and by doing that you “may lose some juice potential…but you get the aromatics, mouth feel and fruit components like orange blossom.”

The stand out wine for me was Carl’s 2008 Knights Bridge Pont Chevalier Cabernet Sauvignon filled with blackberry, lavender, cassis, and minerality in perfect balance.

Then Michael Young introduced his L’Aventure “meat and potato” wines to pair with a Grilled Angus drenched in a Black Truffle Sauce…and potatoes. The 2010 Optimus was 55% Syrah, 27% Cab and 18% Petit Verdot. I thought it was a fruit bomb with plenty of spice on the back palate, bold and tannic, a great wine. Young followed it up with the 2010 Estate Cuvee that was a blend of 42% Syrah, 42% Cab and 16% Petit Verdot. Only slightly softer than the Optimus, another fabulous wine.

As we chatted it up, huge dessert platters arrived, bottles were offered to “revisit”, business cards were passed around…and then our hosts had to rush off for their second appointment of the day because after the luncheon was a press tasting event, to be followed later in the evening with a public tasting. I had to skedaddle as well, but this was the wine list others were to enjoy all evening on the rooftop:

2013 Participants:

D’Anbino – Paso Robles

Knights Bridge – Sonoma

Hammersky – Paso Robles

Beekeeper – Sonoma

Chateau Margene – Paso Robles

Tudor – Santa Lucia

Hope Family – Paso Robles

Zaca Mesa – Santa Barbara

Adelaida – Paso Robles

Tercero – Santa Barbara

L’Aventure – Paso Robles

Stanger – Paso Robles

Dubost – Paso Robles

Robert Murray – Paso Robles

Pipestone – Paso Robles

Kiamie – Paso Robles

Edmond August – Paso Robles

Levigne – Paso Robles

Sculpterra – Paso Robles

Frank Family – Napa Valley

Calcareous – Paso Robles

Hoyt Family – Paso Robles & Malibu

Shai – Santa Barbara

Eden Canyon – Paso Robles

Rocca – Napa Valley

Cakebread – Napa Valley

Turiya – Santa Barbara
Snowden – Napa Valley

Peju – Napa Valley

and many more to come….

Sandestin Wine Festival Uncorks the Perfect Pairing – and The Meiomi House

March 27, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Miramar Beach, FL (PRWEB) – The Sandestin Wine Festival, one of the top wine festivals in the country, today announced the addition of two major players at the upcoming April 20-23, 2017 event.

The Sandestin Wine Festival is pleased to announce that Coastal Living signed on as a presenting sponsor for this event for the ninth consecutive year. Coastal Living is the premier brand for people who love the coast. It is the ultimate magazine and resource for coastal décor, food, lifestyle trends and travel.

The Meiomi Home (photo – Event Marketer)

The event is also pleased to announce that Meiomi, will be a featured wine sponsor for the first time. Meiomi will be pouring its three California coastal wines – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and its brand new Rosé—in the Meiomi Home on April 21 and 22. The Meiomi Home made its debut in 2016, touring the top food and wine festivals in the U.S. to bring the fresh, approachable taste and style of Meiomi directly to consumers. More than 30,000 wine lovers have tasted Meiomi in the Meiomi Home; a 20-foot by 20-foot structure crafted to resemble a cozy California bungalow. Tasters will feel at home as they sip Meiomi and discover the elegant, coastal elements of the Meiomi Home. Additional information about each of the wines, vineyard sourcing, and winemaker, Melissa Stackhouse, can be found at meiomi.com.

“We’re thrilled to bring the Meiomi Home to Sandestin this year, and to welcome visitors into our California wine bungalow,” said Clayton Seeto, Meiomi’s director of event marketing. “Our team will share delicious flavors from coastal California and capture the memory with our Lightbox, which will be a great reminder of their festival experience and time spent with Meiomi.”

Now in its 31st year, the Sandestin Wine Festival is the most established and continuously running wine festival on the Coast. Known as the “Kentucky Derby of Wine Festivals,” this picture perfect event is complete with the tasting of hundreds of wines, culinary treats, wine dinners, seminars, live music and more. Guests are invited to “uncork some fun in the sun” April 20-23 and see why the Sandestin Wine Festival receives accolades from media around the country.

Proceeds will be donated to the Fisher House, a worthwhile organization that provides free or low cost lodging to veterans and military families receiving treatment at military medical centers, and Sandestin Foundation for Kids, whose goal is to make a meaningful and positive difference in children’s lives.

Chief sponsors of the Sandestin Wine Festival include Coastal Living, Meiomi, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Good Grit, Visit South Walton, Publix, 30A, GPL Landscaping, EC Magazine, 850 Magazine, Destin – Fort Walton Beach Airport and SoWal.

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort provides the convenience of having accommodations that are steps, or a convenient complimentary tram ride, away from the festival. Packages with discounted tickets and deluxe accommodations are available with savings up to 25% off (code: WINE17). Call 855.516.WINE to talk to a reservation specialist or visit Sandestin.com/WINE.

About the Sandestin Wine Festival

The Sandestin Wine Festival is the most established and continuously running wine festival in the Southeast. Thousands of people enjoy festival events including wine dinners, seminars, grand wine tastings and culinary experiences in April, plus Sparkling Wine and Holiday Lights in November. Fans are invited to follow @SandestinWineFestival on Facebook. For complete information about the festival and affiliated events, visit sandestinwinefestival.com.

About Coastal Living

Coastal Living is the source of inspiration and information for nearly 4 million who celebrate life along the coast. Coastal Living is produced by Time Inc., a leading content company that engages over 150 million consumers every month through its portfolio of premium brands across platforms. Follow Coastal Living on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

About Meiomi

Meiomi wines take their name from the word for “coast” in the language of the native Wappo tribe, a word which best symbolizes the character of the coastal California vineyards which lend their fruit to Meiomi’s distinctive wines. Using some of the very best grapes in Sonoma, Santa Barbara, and Monterey counties, veteran winemaker Joe Wagner introduced the first vintage of Meiomi Pinot Noir as a by-the-glass wine label.

Today, Meiomi offers a critically acclaimed collection of wines of unrivaled taste. Crafted under the stewardship of current winemaker Melissa Stackhouse, Meiomi wines blend the best expression of each coastal region into a singular, harmoniously balanced, complex and rich style. Meiomi Pinot Noir has become one of California’s leading luxury wines, garnering awards and accolades from both critics and wine lovers, while Meiomi Chardonnay is praised as an exemplary California Chardonnay, with an unforgettably bright and creamy style.

About Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is a major destination for all seasons and all ages, and was named the #1 Resort on Florida’s Emerald Coast. The resort invites guests to a world of 2,400 acres and 30 charming neighborhoods featuring more than 1,300 vacation rentals, condominiums, villas, town homes and the best in hotel accommodations. As a member of Visit South Walton and Visit Florida, the resort features more than seven miles of beaches and pristine bay front, four championship golf courses, 15 world-class tennis courts, 19 swimming pools, a 113-slip marina, a fitness center and spa, meeting space and The Village of Baytowne Wharf, a charming pedestrian village with events, shopping, dining and nightlife. People are invited to download Sandestin’s APP for iPhone and Android devices, or become a Facebook Fan or Twitter follower for the latest events and news.

HALL’s Cabernet Cookoff Back for Star-Studded 8th Year

March 6, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

The HALL Cabernet Cookoff will return for its eighth year on Saturday, April 29 at HALL St. Helena from 11a.m. to 2p.m. Hosted by Vintner Kathryn Hall and HALL Wines, the annual event will feature an impressive lineup of renowned Chef teams vying for a chance to win proceeds for a charity of their choice by participating in a food and wine pairing competition. 100% of ticket proceeds benefit Napa Valley non-profit organizations.

Kathyrn Hall

This event brings out the most enthusiastic crowd, says Vintner Kathryn Hall. Guests get to enjoy delicious food while sipping on HALL Cabernet and take part in a food and wine competition. Chef teams all bring their A-game and a serious competition ensues its exciting to know that Napa Valley charities are the beneficiaries of all of it.

Chef Teams present perfectly paired seasonal bites with HALL Cabernet to an all-star panel of celebrity Judges who vote for the top dish. Chef teams are also judged by the guests in attendance who select the top two pairings for the title of Peoples Choice Award.

Participating Chef teams include The Grill at Meadowood, One Market, Harvest Table, The Patriot, Ca Momi, Winery Chefs Napa Valley, Goose & Gander, Paula Le Duc Fine Catering, Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin BBQ, Shakewell Oakland, Harris Ranch, Feast Catering, Brix, Intercontinental Mark Hopkins, Karas Cupcakes and Sift Dessert Bar.

The 2017 panel of judges include Celebrity Chef Duff Goldman from Food Networks Ace of Cakes; 12-Time Olympic Medalist and Dancing with the Stars Alumni, Natalie Coughlin; Wine Enthusiast Critic, Virginie Boone; Michelin-rated Chef, Ken Frank of La Toque.

Two ticket options are available for guests: General Admission as well as a VIP Sky Loft Ticket. The VIP Ticket allows guests early access to a VIP Media Preview from 10a.m to 11am featuring all four Judges and Kathryn Hall sharing insight into what they will be looking for in a food and wine pairing dish during the event. The VIP Sky Loft Ticket also includes full access to the historic Bergfeld Building during the entire event featuring HALL Artisan Cabernets, hosted small bites, and cheese boards prepared by Cypress Grove.

Additionally, KVONs 99.3 The Vine will be broadcasting live during the event and feature real time interviews with Chef teams, guests and non-profit organizations with on-air personality, Bob St. Laurent.

Saturday, April 29, 2017
10a.m. 11a.m. (Media/VIP Ticket Preview feat. Kathryn Hall + Judges)
11a.m. 2p.m. (Main Event)

HALL St. Helena The Great Lawn
401 St. Helena Hwy. S
St. Helena, CA 94574
(707) 967-2626

TICKETS:
General Admission: $90 (Early Bird Ticket: $80 before 3/31/2017)
VIP Sky Loft: $150 (Includes Media/VIP Preview)
Tickets Available: www.hallwines.com/cabernetcookoff

The 2016 HALL Cabernet Cookoff drew more than 750 attendees for a sold-out crowd and raised $59,000 for local charities. The 2016 Judges took on the impressive task of choosing a runner-up and first place winner from dishes like Cherry Marinated Skirt Steak with Broccolini, Point Reyes Blue, Chive Blossom or Black Currant and Rose Macaroon with HALL Cabernet infused Geleé. Mark Dommen from One Market Restaurant in San Francisco took first place with his mouth-watering Pancetta Wrapped Passmore Ranch Sturgeon Du Puy Lentils, Smoked Garlic, Thyme Jus benefiting non-profit Collabria Care of Napa. CaMomi placed runner-up with a delectable Heirloom Pork & Veal Agnolotti, Savoy Cabbage, Napa Valley Cabernet Pan Jus and Parmigiano Reggiano aiding the organization Do It For The Love of Napa. Restaurants also had the opportunity to raise money for their charity through Peoples Choice, a voting system with corks serving as the tallies. First place for Peoples Choice was Napa restaurant, Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin BBQ, preparing Fried Chicken with Spring Succotash with the winnings benefiting Napa Humane. Paula LeDuc Fine Catering of San Francisco took runner up of Peoples Choice with the HALL Cabernet Roasted Strawberries with White Chocolate Crumble and Mascarpone Cream, partnering with non-profit St. Helena Hospital.

Since inception in 2011, the HALL Cabernet Cookoff has raised $300,000 for Napa Valley charities. For more information, please visit www.hallwines.com/cabernetcookoff or via social channels using #cabernetcookoff.

ABOUT HALL:
HALL produces critically acclaimed artisan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, available to taste and buy at two properties in Napa Valley as well as at hallwines.com. Owned by Craig and Kathryn Hall, its vineyard collection features seven estate vineyards, of which five are California Certified Organic (CCOF). Each vintage, Vice President of Winemaking, Steve Leveque crafts distinct Cabernet Sauvignon wines which demonstrate the unique characteristics and diversity of Napa Valley terroir. HALLs wine portfolio includes three 100 point scores given by critic Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate. These wines included its 2013 Rainin Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013 Exzellenz Cabernet Sauvignon and 2010 Exzellenz Red Wine. HALL also earned the #2 spot in Wine Spectators Top 100 for its 2008 Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon. Since the first vintage in 2002, over 75 HALL wines have earned 95 point and above scores. 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. HALLs partner winery, WALT, known for producing premier Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from distinctive vineyards, is located in Sonoma, California. For more information about HALL, please visit www.hallwines.com, @hallwines, or by calling 707.967.2626.