New Wines for the Jewish New Year

September 2, 2021 by evebushman

Bayonne, NJ – There’s little time to catch your breath between summer and the High Holiday season this year. With Labor Day and Rosh Hashana sharing the same date on the calendar, it’s not too soon to start thinking about festive meals, gatherings with loved ones, and other traditions that go hand-in-hand with the fall Jewish holidays.

Fortunately, we’ve had another exceptional year for kosher wine production. That means there’s an excellent selection of exciting releases to choose from – and one less thing to worry about. They’re ready to serve now, so whether you’re planning to host a crowd or be a guest, you’re sure to find something deliciously suitable for the holiday table.

Wine expert Gabriel Geller, Director of PR and Manager of Wine Education for Kedem/Royal Wine, has recommendations for wines that offer quality and value across all price points.

Herzog Wine Cellars celebrates the new Jewish year with its first release of the Herzog Limited Edition Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2020 (MSRP: $60). This rich and complex white wine is the result of careful harvest planning and skillful winemaking, led by Head Winemaker Joe Hurliman. The 2020 harvest in California was marked by some of the worst wildfires the Golden State has ever known. However, thanks to Divine Providence the harvest for the Chalk Hill Chardonnay took place before the fires, and yielded fruit of the highest quality.

Geller is also enthusiastic about Herzog Special Reserve Méthode Champenoise Russian River NV (MSRP $60), Herzog’s first-ever high-end Champagne method sparkling wine, is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes grown in Sonoma’s Russian River area.

He also points to Château Malartic Lagravière Blanc 2019 (MSRP $100), the first kosher cuvée release by the Bordeaux estate. Malartic received elite Grand Cru Classé status for both its red and white wines in the 1959 Classification of Vins de Graves. Now owned by the Bonnie family, Malartic has produced several kosher cuvées of its red Grand Vin in collaboration with Royal Wine since 2003. Its sister property, Château Gazin Rocquencourt, started making kosher runs in 2015.

Another exciting release is Razi’el Syrah-Carignan 2018 (MSRP $65), says Geller. Razi’el wines scored 97 points by acclaimed wine critic James Suckling – the highest rating ever for Israeli wines. Meanwhile, Europe’s first fully kosher winery, Terra di Seta in Italy, received an unprecedented 97 points and a platinum medal from Decanter magazine for the Terra di Seta Chianti Classico Riserva 2016 (MSRP $35).

While many of this year’s newcomers are produced by classic, old-world methods, some intriguing surprises are in the mix. They include Nana Estate wines (MSRP $30-$50), grown and produced in Israel’s scorching, nutrient-poor Negev Desert. Nana earned widespread buzz even before their wines were available in the U.S.; with their innovative viticulture techniques, they’ve not only beaten the odds, but they’ve crafted a collection of distinctive and popular kosher wines.

Baron Herzog, the entry-level line of value wines from Herzog Wine Cellars retailing between $10-13, are now available with fresh, new labels. Baron Herzog wines were first launched in 1986, following the winery’s establishment in California in 1985. The elegant and classy packaging further emphasizes the care and attention the Herzog family crafts each and every wine they produce from top to bottom. The Baron Herzog line includes an award-winning Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, a Rosé, White Zinfandel, Pinot Grigio, Old Vines Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a red blend called Aleph. Several of the wines are grown in the Herzog’s estate Prince Vineyard in Clarksburg CA, as well as from Paso Robles AVA.

Then there’s Bartenura Froscato cocktail pops (MSRP $25 per package of 12). Bartenura is no stranger to bending the rules. After introducing the wildly popular Moscato in blue cans last year, the Italian kosher producer has now released refreshing Moscato frozen wine cocktail pops. Perfect for the warmer high holiday season.

About Royal Wine/Kedem

Founded in 1848, Royal Wine Corp. is owned and operated in the United States by the Herzog family, whose winemaking roots go back eight generations to its origin in Czechoslovakia.

Today, Royal Wine’s portfolio of domestic and international wines range from traditional wine producing regions of France, Italy and Spain, as well as Israel, New Zealand and Argentina.

Additionally, Royal Wine Corp.’s spirit and liqueur portfolio offers some of the most sought-after scotches, bourbons, tequilas and vodkas as well as hard to find specialty items such as flavored brandies and liqueurs.

The company owns and operates the Kedem Winery in upstate New York, as well as Herzog Wine Cellars in Oxnard, California, a state-of-the-art-facility featuring guided wine tours, a fully staffed modern tasting room, gift shop and catering facilities. Additionally, the winery houses the award-winning restaurant Tierra Sur, serving the finest, Mediterranean-inspired, contemporary Californian Cuisine. Follow Royal Wine Corp at @royalwinecorp and on FB https://www.facebook.com/RoyalWineCorp

Internationally Award-Winning RUM Co. of Fiji Wins Top Consumer and Bartender Awards

August 10, 2021 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Internationally award-winning RUM Co. of Fiji, the only rum distillery in the Fiji Islands, is proud to announce that it has been recognized at the 2021 SIP Awards and Bartender Spirits Awards with its premium rum ranges, Bati and Ratu. Across the acclaimed competitions—judged by consumers and the trade—RUM Co. of Fiji won an Innovation Award, four Platinum Awards, four Gold Medals and three Silver Medals.

Made from the molasses from hand-cut Fijian sugar cane grown in rich volcanic soil, RUM Co. of Fiji’s rums express the island’s unique position as “Paradise on Earth.” The sugar cane in Fiji has been grown and harvested since 1863 by generations of independent farmers, and the distillery uses only the purest local water to produce its exquisite rums, filtering them through coconut-shell carbon for a softer, rounded mouthfeel. Maturation accelerates in Fiji’s Southern Hemisphere climate, so that RUM Co. of Fiji can achieve complex flavor profiles at younger ages. Master Distiller & Blender Liam Costello works with both pot and column stills, blending different distillates to create the two ranges: premium 2-year-old Bati and super-premium Ratu, aged 5 to 8 years.

Heath Baker, Head of International Sales – RUM Co. of Fiji, noted that the accolades by trade and consumers are a turning point in the USA for the brand. “These awards support our passion and vision to make Fiji known as the new home of rum,” he said. “We have built an excellent base in our home markets of Australia and the Pacific, and we see North America as our greatest long-term opportunity to embed this vision.”

The SIP Awards are the only internationally recognized spirits competition that sees consumers become the judges, while the Bartender Spirits Awards are judged by globally respected bartenders, bar managers and on-premise buyers for the on-premise industry.

In the SIP Awards:

Ratu 8-Year Signature Rum Liqueur won an Innovation and Platinum “Best of Class” Award
Bati 2-Year Spiced Rum also won an exclusive Platinum “Best of Class” Award, while – – Ratu 5-Year Dark Rum and Bati 2-Year White Rum both won Platinum Awards; and
Ratu 5-Year Spiced Rum and Bati 2-Year Dark Rum both took home Gold Medals.

In the Bartender Spirits Awards:

Ratu Signature Rum Liqueur, Ratu Spiced Rum and Bati White Rum each received a – – Gold Medal, scoring highly across all aspects of judging: mixability, balance and versatility, taste, mouthfeel and finish, package, and price; and
Ratu Dark Rum, Bati Spiced Rum and Bati Dark Rum all won Silver Medals

Lucy Dodgson, Brand Manager – RUM Co. of Fiji, said, “RUM Co. of Fiji prides itself on having a versatile portfolio with broad trade and consumer appeal. We put a lot of emphasis on building bartender and consumer brand advocacy, so these awards are the ultimate seal of approval, and are further testament to Fiji being an exceptional and credible rum-producing nation.”

Mike Spencer, General Manager, Paradise Beverages, echoed the pride in receiving these awards as a fantastic acknowledgement of the hard work and passion from the team in Fiji. “This is again wonderful recognition for all our people involved in the making of these exceptional rums. These wins serve to amplify Paradise Beverages’ vision of proudly sharing and exporting local Fijian beverages to the world,” he said.

RUM Co. of Fiji is proudly distributed in California by Republic National Distributing Company, in partnership with Broken Shed Vodka. The suggested prices for each spirit are as follows: Ratu Signature: $38.99, Ratu Dark and Spiced: $34.99 and Bati (all expressions): $18.99.

About RUM Co. of Fiji

RUM Co. of Fiji is built on an ethos of authenticity, craftsmanship and passion and draws its inspiration – and its identity – from Fijian heritage and culture. The rums are a story of balance and harmony, a coming together of the land’s unique elements and the hands that work with them, crafted in Lautoka, Fiji, by award-winning Master Distiller & Blender Liam F. Costello, together with RUM Co. of Fiji’s passionate and dedicated distillery team. Since launching in 1980, RUM Co. of Fiji has won more than 130 international awards across several prestigious competitions, including the 2020 New York International Spirits Competition, 2020 Melbourne International Spirits Competition and 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. RUM Co. of Fiji is owned by Fiji’s leading beverages manufacturer, Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Limited, which is part of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.

RUM Co. of Fiji is proudly distributed in California by Republic National Distributing Company, in partnership with Broken Shed Vodka. For more information on RUM Co. of Fiji, visit http://www.rumcooffiji.com or follow @rumcooffiji on Facebook or Instagram.

About Broken Shed Vodka

Broken Shed Vodka is based in Wanaka, New Zealand. Distilled, crafted and bottled in New Zealand ever since its inception in 2009, its vodka draws upon the country’s natural aquifer and spring waters, without any hint of gluten, additives, sugars or GMOs. Since entering the U.S. market in June 2012, Broken Shed Vodka has won a legion of loyal fans, and an impressive collection of awards. Broken Shed Vodka started in a ‘broken’ down old shed on Lake Wanaka where the formula was originally crafted and produced. Broken Shed Vodka is proud of the strong and experienced sales team they have built. The brand approaches the market with innovative strategies and well-defined focus in all of their markets. Due to this, Broken Shed is able to offer newly-launched spirits brands strong partnership and collaborations, which expand distribution, increase offerings to trade and provide customers access to world-class premium spirits. Learn more about Broken Shed Vodka at http://www.brokenshed.com.

Broken Shed Vodka, 40% ABV, Distilled from Whey. Imported to the USA by Broken Shed Imports, Manhasset, NY. Broken Shed Vodka is produced by Broken Shed Limited, Wanaka, New Zealand. Drink Responsibly. © 2021

South African Wine Harvest Report 2021: Slow and Steady Wins the Race

June 24, 2021 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Wine lovers from across the globe can enjoy outstanding wines from a much cooler and later 2021 wine grape season in South Africa. This according to the annual South African Wine Harvest Report 2021.

“It seems as though the vines really took their time to prepare this year’s harvest,” says Conrad Schutte, Consultation Service Manager of the wine industry body Vinpro. “Moderate weather throughout the season, and specifically during harvest time, resulted in grapes ripening slower, while developing exceptional color and flavor.”

The 2021 wine grape crop is estimated at 1,611,137 tons, according to the latest estimate of industry body SAWIS (South African Wine Industry Information & Systems) on May 19, 2021. It is 8.9% larger than the 2020 harvest.

The harvest kicked off around two weeks later than normal due to unusually cool weather conditions throughout the season, which persisted throughout harvest time and resulted in some wine grape producers harvesting their last grapes in May. Water resources were also replenished in most regions following the recent drought, which contributed to good vine growth, bunch numbers and berry sizes.

“Although these are general observations, it is always important to take the South African wine industry’s diversity over ten wine grape growing regions into account,” Schutte says.

Remarkable wines

“The late and slow harvest was definitely worth the wait. Wine lovers can really look forward to remarkable wines from the 2021 crop,” Schutte says. “The cooler weather enabled producers to harvest their grapes at exactly the right time, and viticulturists and winemakers are especially excited about good color extraction, low pH levels and high natural acidity in cases where vineyards were managed effectively, which all point to exceptional quality wines.”

The 2021 wine harvest – including juice and concentrate for non-alcoholic purposes, wine for brandy and distilling wine – is expected to amount to 300,205 gallons at an average recovery of 205.5 gallons per ton of grapes.

“We are delighted that harvest 2021 has proven to be somewhat of a silver lining for the South African wine industry, which will no doubt further bolster our international positioning,” says Siobhan Thompson, CEO of Wines of South Africa (WoSA). “What stands out above all else is the consistency in quality that we have come to see over recent years. This will go a long way to convincing those who may still have been on the fence and reinforce our overall standing alongside our international competitors. It is also very promising to note that the volume and value of wine exports from South Africa are higher compared to the year-on-year figures in 2020 and 2019.”

South Africa is the ninth biggest wine producer worldwide and produces about 4% of the world’s wine. The wine industry contributes more than R55 billion (more than $3.99 billion) to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 269,069 people throughout the value chain, of which 80,183 work on farms and in cellars.

Strike a balance

Intermittent restrictions on the export and local sale of alcohol in South Africa from March 2020 to February 2021 as part of the country’s national state of disaster resulted in 171.7 million gallons of wine stock at the end of 2020, of which a large portion was not yet contracted.

“With so much stock still in the tanks at the beginning of harvest time, producers and wineries were concerned about processing and storage capacity when taking in the new harvest, many of whom rented additional storage space or restored old tanks,” says Rico Basson, Vinpro Managing Director. “However, the fact that sales reopened, along with the harvest starting later than normal, helped ease the pressure to some extent.” A number of wineries were also able to secure contracts with grape juice manufacturers, which helped work away some of the stock.

“The larger wine grape crop will require careful planning from producers and wineries to sell the current wine stock in a responsible and sustainable way. This situation will, however, also create the opportunity for innovation and growth of existing and new markets,” Basson says.

2020/21 Growing season

The weather was moderate in most regions during the post-harvest period, which led to leaves falling later than normal and vines building up good reserves. Producers also had access to sufficient water for post-harvest irrigation.

Winter was colder than the previous season, with much higher rainfall, which replenished water resources and led to sufficient cold accumulation to break dormancy.

The cold and wet weather continued into spring, which contributed to homogenous, but delayed bud break and initial growth. In the coastal region, however, the wetter conditions made the timing of disease control more challenging.

Frost damage occurred in some irrigation areas and it was expected that significant frost damage in the lower lying areas of the Northern Cape and strong winds in the Cape South Coast region would have a notable effect on these crops. Fortunately, the frost and wind occurred at an early enough developmental stage for vines to recover.

Flowering and set were mostly efficient and even, while shoot and leaf growth picked up the pace by the start of November, which necessitated additional inputs from producers to manage the fast and vigorous growth.

Temperatures remained moderate during the summer, which slowed down ripening and resulted in harvest time starting out around two weeks later than normal. Although most wine regions experienced little rainfall during harvest time, there were also almost no characteristic heat waves, and the lower day and night temperatures throughout the season led to producers waiting patiently for grapes to reach optimum ripeness.

Overview of regions

Breedekloof
A very late season, characterized by a good balance between yield and quality, as vines developed healthy canopies during a moderate growing season.

Cape South Coast
Challenging weather conditions led to a smaller crop, but enabled producers to truly make cool climate wines of exceptional quality.

Klein Karoo
Moderate weather conditions, good water availability and sufficient winter rainfall in certain areas resulted in a larger crop and great quality, although drought conditions still persist in some parts of the region, placing wine grape producers under great pressure.

Northern Cape
A good wine grape crop in terms of quality and volume, despite challenges in terms of sugar accumulation and load shedding during the peak of harvest time.

Olifants River
A later and cooler season resulted in slow, but even ripening of a somewhat larger and outstanding quality wine grape crop.

Paarl
Good water availability, sufficient reserves and cooler weather contributed to yields equal to that of 2020, which will result in elegant wines.

Robertson
Although it was a long and extended season, the vineyards realized a higher, exceptional quality yield.

Stellenbosch
A smaller crop, but outstanding quality grapes, resulting in great wines with good aging potential.

Swartland
Consumers can look forward to exceptional wines from this year’s crop, following moderate weather conditions and slow ripening.

Worcester
One of the latest harvests recorded in this region, bringing with it a larger wine grape crop and remarkable wines.

See http://www.vinpro.co.za for the full harvest report per region.

About Wines of South Africa
Wines of South Africa (WOSA) is the organization representing all South African producers of wine who export their products. WOSA, which was established in its current form in 1999, has over 500 exporters on its database, comprising all the major South African wine exporters. It is constituted as a not-for-profit company and is totally independent of any producer, wholesaling company or government department but is recognized by the South African Export Council. WOSA’s mandate is to promote the export of all South African wines in key international markets including the United States.

The Secret Garden Distillery Announces Appointment of ImpEx Beverages as its Exclusive US Importer

June 14, 2021 by evebushman

The Secret Garden Distillery is proud to announce they have joined forces with ImpEx Beverages, a California based spirit importer, to bring their award-winning gins from Edinburgh to the USA.

The first shipment will soon find its way into specialty retailers across the USA. The expressions for this launch include Damask Rose & Juniper, Lemon Verbena & Juniper, and Pink Elderflower, Jasmine, & Juniper. Each of these bring with them a unique experience for the American consumer, as the nurture and love for each botanical shines through with every sip.

Damask Rose & Juniper

A lovely golden gin with aromas of rose and hints of juniper. It tastes like Turkish Delight with some light citrus and candied cherry. It’s a gorgeous, delicate gin that is as refreshing as it is beautiful.

Perfect serve: Pour over ice and mix with a premium light tonic water and watch it naturally transform from a shimmering gold to a lovely pink in honor of this noble rose’s petals.

Lemon Verbena & Juniper

Crystal clear gin with aromas of citrus, lemon sherbet, and hints of herbs. Its zesty flavors are intermingled with juniper.

Perfect serve: Pour over ice and mix with a premium light tonic water. Garnish with a slice of lemon or a sprig of fresh mint.

Pink Elderflower, Jasmine, & Juniper

A delightful salmon pink gin with aromas of orange and pink grapefruit. On the palate it’s quite exotic with citrus and sweet orange flavors. All the sweetness is coming from the natural residual sugar of the plants.

Perfect serve: Pour over ice and mix with a premium light tonic water and watch it change from salmon pink to a brighter vibrant pink. Serve with a slice of pink grapefruit.

Hamish Martin, Founder of the Secret Garden Distillery, said: “I am so delighted to be working in partnership with ImpEx Beverages as our exclusive distributor in the US. They have embraced our beliefs and truly understand our ethos and our one true value; to be rooted in nature. I started the business with a dream, to create a Garden that works hand in hand with nature, using no chemicals whatsoever and actively encouraging our wild indigenous plants. These magical plants and herbs offer an array of natural flavors that work so well together in our gins. There are no added sugars, artificial colorings, flavorings, or preservatives, just nature distilled. We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoy making them.”

Andre de Almeida, Managing Director of Secret Garden Distillery said “This is an exciting time for The Secret Garden Distillery, as we embark on the next stage of our journey. Hamish has built a unique business proposition underpinned by his passion for nature which is at the heart of everything. Working in partnership with ImpEx Beverages is an important step in sharing our story with Herb Garden premium gin consumers across the world. We are very excited for the future and our partnership with ImpEx Beverages.”

When speaking to Sam Filmus, President of ImpEx Beverages, he said, “We could not be more pleased to embark on this adventure with The Secret Garden Distillery. These amazingly unique gins and the team behind them are sure to bring delight to US Consumers looking for something more than just your average gin. Add to this the way the natural botanicals react to tonic water and change the color of the spirit, you have a real crowd pleaser. We look forward to seeing the US fall in love with Herb Garden Gin, just as we have.”

About The Secret Garden Distillery

The Secret Garden Distillery lovingly crafts every bottle from seed to sip, and create unique tasting gins full of natural flavors and aromas with no added sugars, artificial colorings, flavorings or additives. Always with a commitment to better their sustainability credentials and impact on Mother Earth.

The Secret Garden Distillery was founded by entrepreneur and herbologist Hamish Martin, on a 7.5-acre site based on the outskirts of Edinburgh with its very own gin botanical garden.

Hamish and his wife Liberty originally purchased the site in 2012 with the dream to create The Secret Herb Garden, filled with plants, using no chemicals whatsoever, working hand in hand with nature and encouraging wild indigenous plants to flourish. Hamish, who had previously worked in the wine and spirits trade, started to experiment with herbs and spirits to demonstrate how remarkable nature is in naturally delivering flavour and color. By October 2017, the Secret Garden Distillery was established.

The Secret Herb Garden has over 600 naturally and sustainably grown varieties of herbs and plants, including a wide range of junipers, angelica and a dedicated apothecary rose garden. All plants are lovingly cultivated and hand harvested to ensure the highest quality. The botanicals are dried naturally at 37 degrees, distilled and then bottled at 43% ABV (for the US Market only) as they believe this is best for the floral flavors to harmonise with the gin. The garden is maintained with no chemicals – they only use plants to heal plants. They also ensure nature gets its fair share, and currently leave a percentage of plants unharvested to create wildlife habitats to feed and encourage wildlife and allow their 11 colonies of bees to have their fill too.

About ImpEx Beverages

In 2008, a new chapter began for Sam Filmus, after years in the business captaining JVS Imports. With ImpEx Beverages, his vision was to import premium and rare Spirits from around the world, with a special emphasis on the best of what Scotland has to offer.

In 2018, Chris Uhde joined Sam as his business partner in ImpEx Beverages and together they have expanded the portfolio and vision for ImpEx.

Now, ImpEx boasts an impressive portfolio, including some of the most notorious small to medium sized distilleries and independent bottlers.

ImpEx Beverages imports Whisky, Gin, Rum, and Mezcal from Scotland, Belgium, Wales, Japan, Israel, and Mexico with future anticipated additions from unexpected destinations. We also feature a fine line of Liqueurs and Cordials produced in the US.

Regardless of your preference, you are sure to find something that pleases from the ImpEx Beverages Portfolio.

For more information on where to find these amazing craft gins, please email office@ImpExBev.com.

Introducing Mezcal Rosaluna, an Earth Agave Spirit With a Smooth Finish

June 9, 2021 by evebushman

LOS ANGELES (PRWEB) – Made in a small Mexican village in Oaxaca, Mexico, Mezcal Rosaluna has officially launched in the United States and is available online and in-store. The handcrafted Mezcal is produced from self-grown agave and offers complex notes of both citrus and tropical fruits, combined with a hint of agave smoke and a silky smooth finish. Available in 750 milliliter bottles, the blend is 40% alcohol by volume and is certified vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, zero carb, plant-based, and carbon neutral.

Mezcal Rolsaluna is created by a brother and sister duo from the quaint town of Santiago Matatlán, which is often referred to as “The World Capital of Mezcal.” Their family perfected the craft of creating Mezcal over the course of six generations, leaving the sibling duo with the ability to grow, farm, ferment, and distill agave from seed to bottle; the result of this is a fully-integrated process that is both sustainable and carbon neutral. The process begins by planting baby agaves and nurturing them for eight years, with hand-cleanings and constant maintenance of fresh, Matatlan soil. After eight years, the heart of the agave is harvested by removing the leaves and extracting just the sweetest part: the piña in the middle. These are then taken to an underground pit and carefully placed atop a stone-buried fire to be roasted for up to five days (adding that cooked, smokey flavor to the Mezcal). These roasted pineapples are then taken to a mill to extract juices and fiber, and are then fermented with water for up to eight days. Finally the remains are distilled, with the head and heart of the first distillation going back in for a second round, separating alcohol from water to truly enhance the purity of the Mezcal.

The result of this process is a robust Mezcal designed with intricate layers of complimentary flavors, all highlighted by a smooth finish. Its aroma is built on tropical fruits and notes of citrus, cinnamon, and ginger, all of which pair beautifully with the caramel notes of the roasted agave hearts. Mezcal Rosaluna pairs well with numerous drinks and fruits including cranberry, coffee, and grapefruit, while also leaving room for experimentation and design. The makers themselves have lovingly crafted 16 unique cocktail recipes that include Mezcal Rosaluna, including the Pink Moon Paloma, the Topo & Luna, and the Seventeen Fifty. No matter how it’s mixed, every sip is a beautiful and intricately woven blend of flavors that is the result of generations of refinement from the World Capital of Mezcal.

Handcrafted in the foothills of Oaxaca Mexico, Mezcal Rosaluna is an authentic agave spirit developed over the course of six generations. It is self grown, processed, and distilled without GMOs, gluten, or carbs, making it vegan, plant-based, and carbon neutral. Bottles are available to purchase on Drizly and ReserveBar, with more information available on https://mezcalrosaluna.com/.

Vintage Eve Circa 11/2018 – One Bottle Post: Coruce Vineyards Rose of Pinot

March 30, 2021 by evebushman

Met Bruce Burch many times at Wine in the Pines, and other events, over the years. He is one of a handful of winemakers located in the High Desert whose work I respect. When he sent me his latest Rose of Pinot Noir for review I noted that the back label designated that the wine came for the “Antelope Valley of the California High Desert”, it had been “hand harvested, table sorted, then pressed whole cluster and settled. Cool fermented for 3 weeks then racked into neutral French oak barrels for 3 months prior to bottling.” So you can see why this wine is worthy of respect and I looked forward to sampling it.

Coreen Savikko and Bruce Burch, Coruce vineyards

Bruce suggested that I wait for “a day warm enough to be worthy of a summer sipper” which came easily, on the last weekend of October. It would probably be the last tasting of the year from my porch in Happy Valley Newhall, where the temperature was cooling down to 88 degrees that evening.

2017 Rose of Pinot

13.8% alcohol, .14% residual sugar. 60 cases produced

Tasting notes from the back label: Flavors and aromas of cherries, strawberries, and violets with a rose petal and cedar finish. Crisp and dry.

My tasting notes:

Many people know that I’m not a big Pinot fan, but I do like Rose, and love trying all kinds. The color was a lovely dark peach to salmon, what my daughter referred to as the new peach emoji. The aroma for me included sliced peaches, pears, white grape juice, kiwi, granite and cream. On the mouth I was somehow reminded of Japanese plum wine – which I never drink as is, only on ice with a squeeze of lemon – with lovely fresh red berries, white pepper, low acid, and as Bruce suggested, it proved to be an easy sipper to carry me over until dinner. If I were to pair this I’d be happy with hard cheeses, a light pasta dish with crab or salmon, followed by a deep bowl of mixed berries and fresh whipped cream. 89 Eve pts.

About Coruce Vineyards and Winery

Proprietors Coreen Savikko and Bruce Burch began growing wine grapes in the Antelope Valley in 2000 and began producing award winning homemade wines as soon as the vines became mature. Our High Desert Zinfandel, Syrah, Viognier, and Symphony varietal wines have all won medals, from bronze to gold, in local and international competitions. Turning pro in 2013, we hired winemaker Bob Balentine after sampling his (and other winemakers’) efforts.

Our Land

2012 was our first harvest at Coruce, and we produced Chardonnay, Semillon, Syrah and Zinfandel from the Antelope Valley. Eventually we will feature Antelope Valley wines nearly exclusively. Meanwhile we also feature other fine wines Bob has produced from the Central Coast including a complex Syrah, a lip smacking Zin, and a mind bogglingly big Viognier. The 2013 harvest included a Malbec, Chardonnay, Semillon, and Merlot. By the 2014 season we also brought in a local Viognier and an uncommon varietal known as “Symphony” a white California hybrid with a rich floral nose. Done off-dry it resembles the best Gewürztraminers. As a sweetie/sticky it’s an unctuously decadent desert.

Our Wines

Bob has a long history of producing his own wines (Line Shack Wines, The 411 Wine Company) as well as private labels for smaller operations and directing winemaking operations for a full scale winery like ours. As you’ll find when you try our wines, Bob has perfected the art of creating rich, fulfilling, and downright tasty wines.

Our tasting room in Lancaster, California opened its doors on January 28, 2017. Follow us, starting now; it’s going to be an exciting adventure!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/corucevineyardsandwinery/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corucewinery/

Website: https://corucevineyardsandwinery.com/

Phone: (661) 494-8877

Address: 1055 West Columbia Way (Ave M) Suite #5 Lancaster, CA 93534

Tasting Room Hours:

2021: Please contact the winery for current hours.

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.

One Bottle Post: Cru Beaujolais – du Moulin-a-Vent

March 24, 2021 by evebushman

Been a long time since I’ve had a Gamay wine from Beaujolais, France. Not to be confused with Nouveau Beaujolais, its younger sister that is presented every November fresh from bottling, this particular Gamay had some aging (see the tech notes below). I knew it would be red fruit on the nose and palate – reminding me a little of a Pinot Noir – and I was interested to see how this one, from Moulin a Vent, turned out.

From the website Beaujolais.com we learn, among other things, “A natural cross between pinot noir and gouais blanc, the gamay noir à jus blanc variety makes it possible to produce wines with multifaceted fruitiness: from ‘cheerful fruitiness’ for Festive Beaujolais wines – and hence ‘Beaujolais Nouveau’ – to “complex fruitiness” for the Exceptional Beaujolais, and including “racy fruitiness” for the Expressive Beaujolais…”

The Tasting

The color was like a bright ripe cherry, inviting. On the nose I got quite of bit of red fruit, mostly strawberry and raspberry. There is also some white pepper, smoke, golden raisins and incense. The taste brought all those ripe red berries right up front, some spiciness with a lively palate. This would be our first wine of the night, a refreshing starter, and one my Pinot loving friends would also appreciate.

From the Technical Sheets

General info: approximately 13% alcohol, 100% Gamay grapes, approximately 33,000 bottles, bottled 12/5/2019. On the vines we learn that “These terroirs less exposed to the winds, below the historical moulin-à-vent, on its east slope. The maturation is scarcely stopped and the fruit is much better preserved.” 40 year old vines. Harvested by hand, 3 weeks cold pre-fermentation. Aged at least 15 months in 100% stainless steel, no oak aging.

Evidence mounts that eco-friendly wine tastes better, From a Kedge Expert

March 6, 2021 by evebushman

Consumers have shown that they are willing to pay extra for organic produce grown without pesticides, even if it doesn’t taste better.

That has not been the case for organic wine. Organic-labeled wines generally sell at prices similar to those of non-organic wines. And that’s despite growing evidence that they actually do taste better.

Olivier Gergaud, an economist at KEDGE Business School in Bordeaux, France.

A new study by Magali Delmas, an environmental economist at UCLA Anderson School of Management, and Olivier Gergaud, an economist at KEDGE Business School in Bordeaux, France, found that organic wines are judged to be higher quality by experts — but that the difference is not just a matter of whether the wines came from organic or conventionally grown grapes.

That is, the difference in quality is apparent for wines that certified organic by a third-party accreditation service, but not for those that are self-labeled by a French wine industry-backed group for using conscientious practices.

Three esteemed wine guides — Gault Millau, Gilbert Gaillard and Bettane Desseauve — scored the third-party–certified wines an average of 6.2% higher than those that were certified organic by an industry-backed group. The findings are based on ratings data for 128,182 French wines that were produced from 1995 to 2015.

Wines that were certified as biodynamic by the third-party association performed even better, scoring 11.8% higher. Biodynamic wines take organic farming a step further, using methods that time planting, trimming and harvests to coincide with seasonal and lunar cycles, and integrating animals for a more complete ecosystem.

“Organic and biodynamic wines showed much higher quality,” Delmas said. “It’s another example of sustainable goods providing additional benefits to consumers.”

The paper, published in Ecological Economics, follows a 2016 study by Delmas aind Gergaud that yielded similar findings for California wines. In that research, critics scored eco-labeled, organic California wines 4.1% better than unlabeled wines — those not certified by a third-party organization as organic or biodynamic.

A biodynamic vineyard near Ukiah, California. Biodynamic farming uses methods that time planting, trimming and harvests to coincide with seasonal and lunar cycles, and integrate animals for a more complete ecosystem.

Delmas conducted the new study on French varietals to understand whether the results would hold in the world’s second-largest wine producing country (after Italy). France’s wine-making traditions date back 2,600 years, and in 2019, the nation produced over 1 billion gallons of wine — enough to fill the 90,000-seat Rose Bowl in Pasadena 7.4 times.

Conventionally grown wine grapes use more pesticides than most other crops, Delmas said. That puts the health of farm workers, wildlife and neighboring communities at risk.

The dangers of pesticides’ use in winemaking was highlighted dramatically in 2014, when teachers and students at a rural school in Bordeaux were hospitalized due to exposure to the toxic chemicals. Protests followed, and winemakers faced strong public pressure. The wine industry in France has evolved more rapidly towards organic farming methods since then.

Rather than turning to third parties to certify that their wines are either organic or biodynamic — which would involve inspections and audits to ensure products meet certain criteria — some French winemakers devised their own industry certification standard. In the new study, wines that were self-labeled as having been produced using conscientious practices according to that standard received scores that weren’t measurably different from those of conventional wines.

Overall, more French winemakers are going organic or biodynamic. Among the wines analyzed in the study, just 3.87% of wines were third-party certified as organic or biodynamic from 1995 to 2000; the figure increased to 7.37% for wines produced between 2001 and 2015. Delmas said owners of smaller vineyards don’t want their families and farmworkers exposed to pesticides, and larger vineyards are beginning to follow their lead.

That’s worth clinking glasses about.

“It seems like another step in the right direction,” Delmas said. “Not just for the health and the environment, but for wine quality.”

The challenge of communicating to consumers that organic wines actually taste better, however, is another hurdle. In her 2018 book “The Green Bundle: Pairing the Market with the Planet”. Delmas suggests that wine producers advertise their products’ quality rather than their environmental benefits. And that they communicate that organic and biodynamic practices are actually in line with centuries-old practices — a nod to the fact that the industry is so steeped in tradition — whereas the use of synthetic pesticides didn’t begin until the 1930s.

About Olivier Gergaud :

Olivier Gergaud is Professor of Economics at KEDGE Business School and affiliate researcher at LIEPP in Sciences Po Paris. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Reims, 2000 and an accreditation to supervise research from Sciences-Po Paris, 2009. His research areas are Cultural Economics, Wine Economics, Sports Economics, Economics of Pro-Social Behavior and Restaurants Economics. He has been visiting professor at different European (Sciences Po Paris, Université Libre de Bruxelles) and North American universities (NYU, UCLA, HEC Montréal). He has been awarded several prizes including the President’s prize during the 12th International Conference of the Association for Cultural Economics International (ACEI) and a Certificate of Merit for his Ph.D. from the French Economic Association. Olivier Gergaud has published several papers on different topics in applied economics, some of which appeared in international journals such as Economic Journal, Economic Inquiry, Journal of Portfolio Management, Family Business Review, Journal of Sports Economics, Journal of Wine Economics, Journal of Cultural Economics and got substantial coverage in the media (e.g., The New York Times, The Guardian, The Sunday Telegraph, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Financial Time, Le Monde, France 5, etc.). In addition, he serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Wine Economics and on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Prediction Markets.?

About KEDGE Business School:

KEDGE Business School is a benchmark French business school with 4 campuses in France (Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille and Toulon), 3 overseas (2 in China, in Shanghai and Suzhou, and 1 in Africa in Dakar) and 3 partner campuses (Avignon, Bastia and Bayonne). The KEDGE community is made up of 14,800 students (23% of whom are international students), 192 full-time lecturers (45% of whom are international), 201 international academic partners and 70,000 graduates worldwide. KEDGE offers a portfolio of 36 training programmes in management and design for students and industry professionals. It also provides customised educational programmes for businesses at national and international levels. KEDGE Business School is AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA-accredited, and is a member of the Conférence des Grandes Ecoles. It is also recognised by the French government, with officially approved programmes, and is EESPIG-certified. KEDGE is ranked 34st by the Financial Times in the European Business School rankings and 41th globally for its Executive MBA.

kedge.edu

Obsidian Wine Co. and Outdoor Adventures

March 1, 2021 by evebushman

Obsidian Wine Co, and founders, Arpad Molnar, Peter Molnar, and Michael Terrien, want to change the climate of wine and bring the experience of wine back to nature. They’re passionate about bringing wine back to its origins as a drink of the people and out of the tasting room, so to speak.

Photo courtesy Obsidian Wine.

In an effort to do just that, these avid outdoorsmen have just launched an Outdoor Adventure series. These excursions into nature will highlight the connection between the land and growing, crafting, and of course, drinking wine.

On their site you will find a handful of bookable adventures beginning in March 2021 and descriptions that you can check out here.

Upcoming Outdoor Adventures (and locations) include:

Oyster Harvest:

On March 17th, join the team out at the “Farm” in Marshall, CA at the edge of Tomales Bay where you’ll take a deep dive into their shared work together with Hog Island Oyster Company to understand shellfish and wine in their ecological context. $125 per person.

Hiking a Volcano:

On May 22nd, pack your hiking shoes and a thirst for adventure as you join the team and explore the volcanic land (surrounding Obsidian Ridge) as a professional geologist guides you through the largest flow of obsidian that you may ever witness! $125 per person.

Saffron Harvest:

On July 10th, join the team as they head over to Peace & Plenty Farm in Kelseyville, CA to witness a saffron harvest, some paella, and of course, plenty of Obsidian wine. $100 per person.

Schooner Sail the Bay:

On July 31st, mark your calendar to sail the San Francisco Bay! Beginning in Sausalito, this 80ft schooner will take you all around the bay where you’ll experience plenty of sea life and learn why keeping the water clean is vital for the wine-growing work Obsidian does. Of course, you’ll be sipping down their Rosé for the Bay (whose proceeds benefit San Francisco BayKeeper) and more! $100 per person.

Seaplane Wine Flight:

Wine, sailing, and flying- what more could you ask for? Mark your calendar for this July as you’ll have the chance to depart from Sausalito, CA on a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver and fly over the treasured Golden Gate Bridge and breathtaking Mayacamas Mountain Range. You’ll take in the sights of Napa and Sonoma Valley and Obsidian Ridge itself- you definitely don’t want to miss this! $675 per person (minimum group size of 4).

Second Pick:

On October 16th, pack your boots and join the team in walking Poseidon Vineyard in Napa Carneros and extracting their second crop of Pinot Noir. You’ll end the day with a delicious meal and wine along Carneros Creek. If you’re lucky, you’ll be tasting the fruit of your labor in a bottle of wine about 2 years from now! $125 per person.

**PLEASE NOTE that the dates are listed are just the first dates these are offered- there will be additional dates to follow.**

Olive Oil Club Enjoys Top 5-Star Rating from Top Consumer Reviews

January 18, 2021 by evebushman

OVERLAND PARK, KAN. (PRWEB) – TopConsumerReviews.com once again awarded their highest ranking to Fresh Pressed Olive Oil Club, a popular choice among subscription-based Olive Oil retailers.

Olive oil offers many benefits as part of a healthy diet — and it tastes amazing! However, many shoppers aren’t aware that what they buy off their supermarket shelves is rarely fresh, often mixed with less expensive non-olive oils, and probably doesn’t have much of a range in flavors. When it comes to high-quality olive oil, the maxim of “you get what you pay for” holds true: the best oils tend to cost more but deliver an extraordinary taste experience. How can true foodies and aspiring kitchen magicians get their hands on the freshest, purest olive oils available today? The most fun way is through an Olive Oil Club membership. These subscription-based companies go to great lengths to source the world’s best varieties, often produced in small batches by artisanal growers, and many times deliver the products within a month or less of being pressed.

“With Fresh Pressed Olive Oil Club, you can try a full-sized bottle of premium olive oil for just $1 — starting you on a taste journey you’ll definitely want to continue with their quarterly deliveries,” affirmed Brian Dolezal of TopConsumerReviews.com, LLC. “As an ‘olive oil sommelier’, Fresh Pressed owner T.J. Robinson travels the world with his team, to find the best harvests for their loyal customers. Subscribers choose between the small and the large set (three 250-mL bottles or 500 mL bottles) which arrive every three months. With each shipment, customers get a detailed newsletter describing each olive oil’s origins, providing recipes and pairings, and offering in-depth knowledge about the olive oil industry. While Fresh Pressed Olive Oil Club backs their olive oils with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, customers rarely need to take advantage of it: the quality of the olive oils in this club is exemplary. For all of these reasons, Fresh Pressed Olive Club once again earns our highest recommendation among Olive Oil Clubs in 2020.”

To find out more about Fresh Pressed Olive Oil Club and other Olive Oil membership plans, including reviews and comparison rankings, please visit the Olive Oil Club category of TopConsumerReviews.com at https://www.topconsumerreviews.com/best-olive-oil-clubs/.

About Fresh Pressed Olive Oil Club
Fresh Pressed Olive Oil is the creation of “Olive Oil Sommelier” and expert T.J. Robinson, award-winning chef and food journalist. Every year, he and his team travel the world, seeking out only the best-tasting oils and acquiring them for club members during the olive harvest and shipping them by jet to ensure maximum freshness. Every olive oil shipped to club members is fresher, better-tasting and healthier than anything found on store shelves, leading to an 87% renewal rate quarter after quarter.

About TopConsumerReviews.com
TopConsumerReviews.com, LLC is a leading provider of reviews and rankings for thousands of consumer products and services. From Olive Oil Clubs to Coffee Clubs and Flower Delivery Services, TopConsumerReviews.com delivers in-depth product evaluations in order to make purchasing decisions easier.