Vine & Dine Festival in Montana Takes Wining and Dining to New Heights

June 18, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

BIG SKY MONT. – It’s time to take sipping to new heights.

The 4^th Annual Vine & Dine Festival, Aug. 17^th – 20^th, is an intriguingly delightful and adventurous artisanal-food and wine festival at beautiful Big Sky Resort, located south of Bozeman, Mont., and a short distance from Yellowstone National Park. Taste hundreds of obscure wines from boutique wineries in a dozen different countries and listen to Master Sommeliers with some of the most sophisticated palates in the world discuss Portuguese, orange and mineral wines. Plus, Google’s culinary team will be on hand preparing exquisite tasty delights to personalize your food experience.

PH_VineandDine_W1617 Not only is Vine & Dine Montana’s most prestigious wine festival, but it is truly unlike any other.

Back again for the fourth year is Vine & Dine’s signature event: Pinot on the Peak. Big Sky Resort combines delicious pinot tastings with the resort’s popular Lone Peak Expedition. It’s the ‘Biggest Tasting in America,’ and includes a ride on the Swift Current chairlift, an alpine picnic, a covered safari ride and an aerial tram ride to the top of Lone Peak. Toast to good wine, new friends and new adventures at 11,166 feet.

New to the festival is an opportunity for hospitality professionals to take an intensive introductory Sommeliers class from a team of Master Sommeliers. Nearby Bozeman’s metropolitan-influence is drawing a growing number of consumers with sophisticated palates and an affinity for fine wine and cuisine. This intro course is an opportunity for local and regional wine and hospitality professionals to keep pace with their knowledge of proper wine service and deductive tasting.

The Vine & Dine Festival also offers creative and sophisticated seminars with some of the foremost experts on Portuguese wines. Master Sommeliers Fred Dame and Jay Fletcher, both at the top of their class, will teach deductive tasting techniques. American chef and TV personality John Besh will dazzle attendees with exquisite Southern delights, and Google Global Program Chef Scott Giambastiani will prepare plant-based dishes made from Montana-grown produce. All of this plus music, a thriving local arts scene and beautiful landscapes for as far as the eye can see. Come, kick back and enjoy the mountains with superb wine and dining.

Visit bigskyresort.com/vine to purchase tickets and for a list of scheduled seminars.

Vintage Eve April 2013: World Malbec Day Celebrated with Lunch at Lucques

May 9, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

On April 16^th Michael Perlis and I attended one in a “series of events globally to mark” World Malbec Day that was in conjunction with other events being held in Buenos Aires, São Paolo, London and New York. Our tasting event, hosted by Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser, was held in Lucques – a restaurant I had run press releases about but had never been to, run by Caroline Styne and Chef Suzanne Goin.

Over an amazing three-course luncheon we sampled from over “a dozen Malbec producers covering a wide range of styles and regions” while Gaiser spoke.

“I am 70 to 80 percent sure if I grab any Argentinean Malbec from a shelf it’s going to be good,” began Gaiser. “It’s like baseball, whatever you do to it you can’t change it…and it’s as good as any Cabernet grape with the same terroir.”

Wines

There wasn’t a bad wine in the bunch, as Gaiser promised, however I had my favorites:

2011 Lagarde: Fruit aromas ranging from raspberry to plum, a nice dark berry in the mouth that hung in through the finish.

2010 Don Miguel Gascon Reserva: A nose filled with ripe blackberry and a mouth, equally filled, with resonant dark juices.

2008 Navarro Correas Alegoria: Dark, balanced, smooth yet brooding.

2010 Salentein Numina Blend: Milk chocolate on the nose and palate, balanced with bright fruit.

2009 Luca Wines Beso De Dante Blend: Dry dark fruit and coffee.

2008 Renacer Malbec: No tasting notes, just a stunner.

About Malbec and World Malbec Day (from Full Circle Wine Solutions)

There’s no question that Argentina continues to be hot and, within that reality, Malbec is hot, hotter, hottest! In fact, Argentinean wines are the hottest South American wine category, having just recently surpassed Chile for that honor in early 2011. They now represent the 4th largest imported wine category into the USA trailing only France, Italy, and Australia. Malbec is the reason and it makes sense: Malbec is rich, flavorful, easy, food friendly, smooth, mouth-filling, and utterly understandable. And for Americans that resonates deeply in the wheelhouse of their palate.

In recognition of this achievement, Wines of Argentina has declared April 17th as World Malbec Day. April 17th, 1853 is universally considered to be the most significant moment in the history of Malbec in Argentina as it was the day that the Governor of Mendoza, Pedro Pascual Segura, presented a plan to the legislature to create an agronomical farm and an agricultural school in the province of Mendoza. Prominent French agricultural engineer Michel Aimé Pouget was enlisted and one of his ideas was to introduce new varietals to the region, of which the most celebrated result of this experiment is Malbec. And the rest, as they say, is history.

TEXSOM International Wine Awards Announces 2017 Winners

April 16, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Dallas, Texas – TEXSOM Co-founders and Master Sommeliers James Tidwell and Drew Hendricks today announced the final results for the 2017 TEXSOM International Wine Awards. The Awards garnered 3,581 entries representing 29 countries and 19 U.S. States, a record for the competition.

Entries in the TEXSOM International Wine Awards were blind-tasted and judged by 71 internationally renowned industry influencers from 5 countries. Of these entries, the judges awarded 2,480 medals: 310 Gold medals, 901 Silver medals, and 1269 Bronze medals. Suggested retail pricing of medal-winning entries ranged from US $2.99 to over US $700.00. Vintages spanned 40 years, with the oldest being 1977.

Judges’ Selections winners, those wines that were judged best for their categories, were announced at a reception sponsored by Enterprise Greece during ProWein 2017 at the Greek national pavilion on Monday, March 20. The event was a culmination of a series of award announcements by both Texas Monthly and the TEXSOM social media channels of all the Award-winning wines. All winning wines are listed on the Texas Monthly website at http://www.texasmonthly.com/article/tiwa2017/. Texas Monthly was the presenting sponsor, and has been instrumental in promoting the competition.

Last year, Greek wines showed well at the TEXSOM International Wine Awards, finishing 4th in medals received among the 25 countries entering wines. Enterprise Greece, the Greek government agency responsible for export promotion, is sponsoring some of Greece’s leading wineries at ProWein.

“We had a record year for the TEXSOM International Wine Awards,” said Tidwell. “That paired with the international recognition at ProWein, indicate that the TEXSOM International Wine Awards has become one of the most internationally influential competitions in the world. From the caliber of the judges to the quality of the entries, the Awards set the standard for what key tastemakers and industry influencers believe are the world’s top wines.”

Award entries were arranged by category of beverage, place of origin, and type. The final list of all winners includes: Judges’ Selections, Traditional Method Sparkling Wines, Other Sparkling Wines, Fortified (Dry and Sweet), Sake, White Wines, Rosé and Blush Wines, Red Wines, Ciders, and Fruit, Flavored and Honey Wines.

Wines chosen for Judges’ Selections were nominated by judging panels for specific categories, then blind-tasted by special panels to determine the winner of each Selection. Judges’ Selections demonstrate quality and unique character that are exceptional even amongst their medal-winning peers.

Unique among all other wine competitions, the TEXSOM International Wine Awards involved 42 rising-star sommeliers (separate from the judges) and three editors who have written detailed descriptions of a selection of medal winners. These notes will be highlighted for Featured Wines on the TEXSOM International Wine Awards website over the course of the year, and in the publication TEXSOM presents SOMMELIER. In addition to their duties in crafting notes for the selected award winners, the sommeliers participated in an educational retreat where each attended a series of seminars and observed judging by sitting with a judging panel, and also had the opportunity to receive direct instruction and feedback from a Master Sommelier or Master of Wine on blind tasting of wine.

The TEXSOM International Wine Awards was supported by 71 judges and more than 80 volunteers and staffers working together to make the competition happen. A list of judges may be found on the website at http://texsomiwa.com/.

ABOUT TEXSOM
Founded in 2005, TEXSOM was started by Master Sommeliers James Tidwell and Drew Hendricks to help promote professional wine service standards, outline paths for further wine education and certification, and raise public awareness about the professional standards and certifications for sommeliers. Today the conference draws more than 1,100 attendees, of whom more than 800 are sommeliers and other beverage industry professionals. The TEXSOM group purchased the competition now known as the TEXSOM International Wine Awards in April 2014. One of the largest, most respected, and longest-running in the United States, the competition was founded in 1985 by journalist and wine expert Rebecca Murphy.

Seed Wine wins gold for its inaugural Malbec vintage

February 19, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

First time’s a charm for Seed Wine, which brought home a Malbec gold medal in the prestigious 2016 Global Masters wine competition in London on November 21, 2016. Hosted by the Drinks Business, the Global Masters is a rigorous series of blind tasting competitions, attracting entries from every corner of the wine-making world.

The tasting notes for Seed’s 2014 Malbec include luscious steeped blackberries, marionberries, and dusky Italian plums. The fruits lie well beneath lighter, more enigmatic aromas of violets, dust, and dark chocolate shavings. Seed’s 2014 Malbec vintage is the inaugural release for the boutique wine label, and its owners are delighted with the results.

“The Global Masters has reputation for being the toughest panel in any blind tasting series, so this really is an outstanding result for us,” CEO Tony Hartl said. “Our 2014 Malbec is completely sold out, but don’t fret, we have just released our 2015 vintage, which is fully expected to surpass the 2014s in elegance and age-worthiness.”

Malbecs from around the world were included in the competition, and a 6-person panel of highly qualified Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers judged each entry. Winners are awarded medals bronze through gold, with “Master” reserved for the best of the best. With its 2015 Malbec vintage now available, Seed Wine has its sights set on even greater accomplishments in the future. You can learn more about the 2015 vintage here.

Beautifully delineated, the 2015 Seed Malbec is a small lot single-vineyard wine that is aged for 16 months in new French oak and has a long life ahead of it. At this stage in its development, the nose is quite primary and is heavily laden in fresh blackberries, plums, and macerated strawberries rendered more complex by attractive notes of sweet tobacco, bitter chocolate, and violets.

About Seed Wine: Launched after a serendipitous sojourn to South America, Seed Wine is the brainchild of Dallas entrepreneurs Tony Hartl and Alex Chang. The boutique Malbec is harvested with the world’s best winemaking techniques: hand-picked grapes, ancient canal irrigation, and 43-year-old vines.

Together with business partners Thomas DelMundo and winemaker Giuseppe Franceschini, Tony and Alex have the audacious goal of making the best Malbec in the world. But they aren’t stopping there. Every time a bottle of Seed Wine is purchased, a child in Mendoza receives a new schoolbook. It’s the tangible way that Tony, Alex, Tom and Giuseppe are planting seeds for the future in Argentina.

Vinitaly International Academy attracts top-tier Wine Experts for the next VIA Certification Course

November 26, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Verona, Italy – The VIA Certification Course, conducted by Ian D’Agata, Scientific Director of VIA, represents a one and only opportunity for wine professionals to gain extensive knowledge on the vast subject of Italian grape varieties and wines. Currently, no International certification program offers this kind of comprehensive study of Italian wines. Understandably so, as the wines made from native grapes remain largely obscure, often within the growing region itself. Even for the Master of Wine or the Master Sommelier, Italy, despite ranking as the world’s largest wine producing country, remains somewhat of an enigma and an untapped resource for the discovery of intriguing new wines.

banner_via_sito Candidate, Natasha Hughes MW, from the UK, explains, “Italy remains a gap in my knowledge and I relish the opportunity to understand the diversity of wines made in this country, both in terms of theory and tasting.” In a market that is rapidly shifting toward millennial wine consumers, current international knowledge of Italian wines is, in fact, largely relegated to the most prestigious and largest wine growing areas, giving an unbalanced view of Italian wines today. In a recent 2014 Wine Market Council High Frequency Wine Drinker Survey, American millennials show interest in novelty, delve into the wine stories, and look for authenticity in the glass. They are more inclined to drink imported wines and enjoy experimenting with wines served by the glass.

An affirmation of the strategic interest in Italian wines can be seen in the calibre of candidates selected for the 2017 edition, and the influential roles they occupy in international markets: Natasha Hughes MW (UK), Levi Dalton (USA), Deborah Parker Wong DWSET (USA), Robin Kick MW (Switzerland), Nicholas Paris MW (USA), Laura DePasquale MS (USA), Kathy Morgan MS (USA). See full bios at http://www.vinitalyinternational.com/vinitaly-international-academy/candidates

Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) is an educational initiative aimed at simplifying the vast diversity of Italian grape varietals by explaining, divulging and broadcasting the characteristics of Italian wine around the world. VIA was first launched back in February 2014 by Stevie Kim (Managing Director of Vinitaly International) and Doctor Ian D’Agata (Scientific Director of VIA). Today, VIA already counts on the support of 4 Italian Wine Experts and 55 Italian Wine Ambassadors from around the world and is looking to further expand its community.

Until the December 16th deadline, Vinitaly International Academy will continue to recruit and select the 50 candidates who will have the opportunity to become the next VIA Italian Wine Ambassadors and Experts during the third edition of the VIA Certification Course to be held in Verona from the 3rd to the 7th of April 2017. The dates allow students to also attend the 6th edition of OperaWine (8th of April 2017) and the 51st edition of Vinitaly (9th–12th April 2017).

For more information and to apply to the course you can visit http://www.vinitalyinternational.com/vinitaly-international-academy

SommCon San Diego Registration Now Open (For wine enthusiasts too!)

October 2, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

SommCon^® Returns To San Diego Featuring Over 40 Educational Seminars, Certification Opportunities, Tasting Events and More This November 16-19, 2016

San Diego, CA – This fall, SommCon^® returns to San Diego bringing together professionals of all levels to discuss, develop and lead the conversation on the business of wine. Held November 16-19, 2016 at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, SommCon’s^® education is built by some of today’s most influential palates for trade professionals and serious enthusiasts who have a passion for wine and spirits and an unyielding quest for knowledge.

Boasting over 40 sessions, attendees learn and taste alongside the industry’s best and brightest through keynote sessions and educational classes complete with networking opportunities, a trade-only tasting and expo.

The conference begins on Wednesday, November 16 with professional certification opportunities including the WSET (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) Level 1 Award in Wine offered by the Neptune School of Wine, as well as Certified Cicerone®, the second level of certification through the Cicerone Certification Program.

The main conference is held Thursday, November 17 and Friday, November 18, and includes in-depth sessions led by industry thought leaders, round-table discussions, regional explorations, and The Trade Tasting at SommCon^®, featuring over 100 wineries, breweries, spirit purveyors, and service industry brands. SommCon^® concludes on Saturday, November 19 at the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival’s Lexus Grand Tasting – Southern California’s most exciting weeklong epicurean experience.

Young professionals under the age of 30 who have a passion for entering a profession in the wine industry or expanding their knowledge can apply to receive free conference registration through the Young Leader’s Summit Scholarship. Applications are due by September 15, 2016 and can be found here.

Over 40 sessions will be offered at this year’s conference, including:

The Nightmare Scenario, Dealing With a Difficult Guest – Through specific technics, humor and a sense of resolution, join a panel of experienced professionals as they navigate between some of the ways they have dealt with the nightmare scenario. Presenter: Eric Entrikin, Master Sommelier, Instructor and Examiner, Court of Master Sommeliers (Thursday, November 17 and Friday, November 18)

Re-Discover Bordeaux – This session looks at the current generation of winegrowers in Bordeaux. Take a tour across the different appellations of Bordeaux, learn their stories and taste their wines. Presenters: Mary Gorman, Master of Wine; Ira Norof, CSE, CWE, Director of Education and Events, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits; Lindsay Pomeroy, BA, WSET Diploma, CWE, FWD, Owner and Chief Wine Educator, Wine Smarties (Thursday, November 17)

Digging Into Unique Terroir Presented by The SOMM Journal – This panel features representatives from unique appellations in Navarro, Spain; Alto Adige, Italy; The Veneto, Italy and Portugal. Taste two wines that best tell the story of each distinct terroir. Presenter: Eric Hemer, Master Sommelier, Master of Wine, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (Thursday, November 17)

Hungarian Furmint: Ancient Grape, Modern Wines – Previously known for its sweet Aszú wines, the Tokaj region is now introducing dry Furmint wines to the US Market. Discover Hungary’s flagship grape variety and the versatility of the Furmint grape’s range of styles and expressions. Presenter: Tim Gaiser, Master Sommelier, Wine Educator (Thursday, November 17)

Blind Taste With The Masters – Join world-renowned Master Sommeliers, Masters of Wine and San Diego’s brightest somms as they battle it out in the ultimate blind tasting challenge through an exciting tasting experience of six wines. Panelists: Vary each day (Thursday, November 17 and Friday, November 18)

History of Craft Beer: Ancient To The Present – Learn how beer influenced the start of human civilization, gave power to religion, and was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Discuss beer post prohibition and the rise of craft beer, and hear from the experts on what the future holds. Moderator: Maurice DiMarino, Level Two Masters Guild of Sommeliers, Wine Director, Island Prime. Presenters: George Thornton, Co-Founder, Home Brewing Co.; Greg Koch, CEO and Co-Founder, Stone Brewing; Mark Weslar, Vice President of Marketing, Karl Strauss Brewing Company; Jennifer Glanville, Brewer and Director of Brewery Programs, Samuel Adams, and Brandon Hernandez, Societie Brewery (Thursday, November 17)

The Role of Viticulture in the Evolution of Napa Valley Wines – There has been much said about the roles of critics and winemakers in the changes in Napa Valley Wines over the last four decades. As truly great wines reflect the origins of the vineyard, the evolution of Napa Valley winemaking can also be understood by examining changes in vineyard practices. Explore Napa Valley wines through the lens of viticulture with an engaging panel and tasting Presenter: Jon Ruel, Chief Executive Officer, Trefethen Family Vineyards (Thursday, November 17)

Extraordinary Tuscan Experience – Join Castello Banfi third generation Family Proprietor, Cristina Mariana-May and Master Sommelier, Fred Dame as they unveil the release of the 2010 Brunello Riservas from Castello Banfi and taste through the next generation of Banfi Wines. Presenters: Fred Dame, Master Sommelier, American Wine & Spirits, Cristina Mariani-May, Family Proprietor, Castello Banfi (Friday, November 18)

Diversity of Pinot Noir Within the Russian River Valley – This guided tasting examines the different nuances of the microclimates and soils that result in the diverse Russian River Valley Pinot Noir terroir. Presenters: Brad Alper, Winegrower, Square Peg; Guy Davis, Founder, Farmer, Winemaker, Davis Family; Bryan Kvamme, Winemaker, Martinelli; Boyd Morrison, Winemaker, MacMurray Estate Vineyards, and Jim Pratt, Winegrower, MacPhail (Friday, November 18)

Alsace Rocks: Exploring The Region’s Grand Crus – This session explores Alsace’s varied and unique terroir and its impact on the region’s famous expressive wines. With 13 distinct soil types in Alsace, the region has the most varied terroir in all of France. Presenter: Josh Nadal, Beverage Director, NoHo Hospitality Group (Friday, November 17)

SommCon^®is only open to 300 registrants, and for those in attendance, there are several ways to participate, with conference packages and single day passes available.

Full Conference Package (November 17- 18) – Full conference access with choice of seminars, Continental Breakfast and Roundtable Discussions, Keynote Speaker and Winemaker Lunch, Hosted Tastings, Winemaker Lunch, The Trade Tasting at SommCon^®, $365 before September 16

Single Day Conference Registration Package (November 17) – One day conference access with choice of seminars, Continental Breakfast and Roundtable Discussions, Keynote Speaker and Winemaker Lunch, Hosted Tastings, $195 before September 16

Single Day Conference Registration Package (November 18) – One day conference access with choice of seminars, Winemaker Lunch, Hosted Tastings, The Trade Tasting at SommCon^®, $195 before September 16

The Trade Tasting At SommCon (November 18) – Free for qualified members of the trade until September 1

Lexus Grand Tasting (November 19) – Trade tickets are $75 each, to qualify fill out the application here

Sponsors and educational partners to date include: The SOMM Journal, The Tasting Panel Magazine, Napa Valley Vintners, Russian River Valley Winegrowers, Wines of Alsace, Bourgogne Wine Board, Furmint USA, Les Vins De Médoc, Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance, Vins de Bordeaux, Society of Wine Educators, Castello Banfi, Rias Baixas Wines, Wines of Germany, Côtes de Bordeaux, Left Coast Cellars, Wine Spectator, Somm’s List, and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.

SommCon^® panelists, presenters and speakers include: Jesse Becker, Master Sommelier, Market Specialist, Craft + Estate; Amy Christine, Master of Wine, Black Sheep Finds Winery; Fred Dame, Master Sommelier, American Wine & Spirits; Erik Entrikin, Master Sommelier; David Glancy, Master Sommelier, San Francisco Wine School; Mary Gorman-McAdams, Master of Wine, Bordeaux Wine Council; Tim Gaiser, Master Sommelier; Eric Hemer, Master of Wine, Master Sommelier, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits; Geoff Labitzke, Master of Wine, Director of Sales & Marketing, Kistler; Joseph Spellman, Master Sommelier, JUSTIN Vineyards and Winery; Peter Koff, CWM, MS, President, Fairest Cape Beverage Company; Brad Alper, Winegrower, Square Peg; Bryan Babcock, Winemaker, Babcock Vineyards; Geralyn Brostrom, Italian Wine Central, Certified Wine Educator, Italian Wine Professional; Ken Brown, Owner, Ken Brown Wines; Randy Caparoso, Editor-At-Large, The SOMM Journal, Contributing Editor, The Tasting Panel; Jim Clarke, Marketing Manager, Wines of South Africa, USA; Guy Davis, Founder, Farmer, Winemaker, Davis Family; Maurice DiMarino, Level Two Masters Guild of Sommeliers, Wine Director, Island Prime; Wayne Donaldson, Head of Production, The Calling; Maureen Downey, DWS, CEW, Columnist, Wine-Searcher.com; Eric Flanagan, Founder, Flanagan Winery; Damon Goldstein, Truly Fine Wines; Randall Grahm, Owner, Bonny Doon Vineyard; David Hejl, Proprietor, Winemaker, Domaine Della Winery; Kathy Joseph, Proprietor, Winemaker, Grape Herder, Head Fiddle, Fiddlehead Cellars; Greg Koch, CEO and Co-Founder, Stone Brewing; Bryan Kvamme, Winemaker, Martinelli; Cristina Mariana-May, Family Proprietor, Castello Banfi; Dewey Markham Jr., DMj Wineworks; Meridith May, Publisher/Editorial Director, The Tasting Panel, The SOMM Journal, The Clever Root; Luke McCollom, General Manager, Viticulturist and Founding Winemaker, Left Coast Cellars; Boyd Morrison, Winemaker MacMurray Estate Vineyards; Josh Nadel, Beverage Director, NoHo Hospitality Group; Frank Ostini, Owner, Chef Winemaker, Hitching Post II; Lindsay Pomeroy, BA, WSET Diploma, CWE, FWD, Owner and Chief Wine Educator, Wine Smarties; Jim Pratt, Winegrower, MacPhail; Dlynn Proctor, Penfolds Ambassador, Americas and Canada; David Ramey, Founder, Winemaker, Ramey Cellars; John Rielly, Fine Wine Development, Manager-West, Terlato Wines International; Jon Ruel, Chief Executive Officer; Trefethen Family Vineyards; Richard Sanford, Owner, Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards; George Thornton, Co-Founder, The Homebrewer; Raj Vaidya, Head Sommelier, DANIEL; Rachel Voorhee, Director of Wine Education, Wine Director, Rodney Strong Vineyards; Mark Weslar, Vice President of Marketing, Karl Strauss Brewing Company; Jennifer Glanville, Brewer and Director of Brewery Programs, Samuel Adams.

SommCon^®takes place November 16-19, 2016 at Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina in San Diego, California. For more information or to purchase conference registration, visit: SommConUSA.com and follow SommCon^®on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Discounted accommodations are available at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina for SommCon attendees, make reservations here.

ABOUT SOMMCON^®: SommCon® is a leading conference and exposition for education and training of beverage professionals and serious enthusiasts. Held November 16 – 19, 2016, in San Diego, CA, the four-day conference brings together industry professionals of all levels to discuss, develop, and lead the conversation on the business of wine. SommCon’s ^® education is built by industry thought leaders for trade professionals and serious enthusiasts who have a passion for wine and spirits and an unyielding quest for knowledge. Attendees learn and taste their way through keynote sessions and educational classes, complete with a trade-only tasting and expo. SommCon^®is produced by Fast Forward Event Productions, an event management agency specializing in productions for the wine, beer and spirits industry, fastforwardevents.com

Pairing Wines of Portugal

July 1, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

On Monday, June 6, Wines of Portugal is hosting a Perfect Portuguese Pairings Duo Chef Luncheon, hosted by Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein and featuring dishes from République’s Chef Walter Manzke and Portuguese Chef Telmo Faria. We will be pairing 3 flights of wines with both an American-rooted dish and Portuguese-inspired dish with Wines of Portugal’s US Ambassador, Eugenio Jardim, speaking on behalf of the wines.

Wow, that invite above sure got my attention. As wine writers we are blessed to be invited to attend many tastings – a great way to share information with our readers, and continually educate our palates – but we usually have to balance a glass, spit cup, pen, paper, pen and camera. Getting to sit down, learn from a Master Somm, taste wine we may not be familiar with, and have the benefit of a chef – or in this case two – with food pairings? Well that is wine writer heaven.

Now, without further introduction my coverage starts with a 15-second slideshow from this tasting and a couple of others I attended the same week: https://www.facebook.com/140201804492/videos/10154207300324493/

From Goldstein we learned that Portugal has 250 indigenous grapes, bordered by Spain on three sides and is 11^th in the world for wine production.

Jardim told us that Portugal is “not just about Port and Madera, or red wines” alone. The country is “capable of making brilliant white wines…(with) an uncanny ability to (appear) full-bodied. He suggested that the wines of Portugal can be paired with foods from “chicken to lamb chops.”

Wines of Portugal Shows How @PortugalRocks

(Note: I did not score any of the wines with Eve pts. due to time constraints. I will say that in general all the wines presented were very pleasing, and a real eye opener for me on the versatility of Portuguese wines.)

Whites

Herdade Do Esporao 2015 Verdelho

I could see why this wine won the white wine of the year in Portugal. Tart with lemon zest aromas and flavors it was my favorite white wine of the tasting too.

Quinta da Aveleda 2015 Vinho Verde

Scents of fruit cocktail, wet cement and mown grass followed by tart lemon-lime, manageable acidity and a nice mouthfeel.

Quinta De Azevedo 2015

Tropical fruit, honey and jasmine aromas, and lemon juice and pear on the mouth.

Vertice 2013 Reserva Branco

Perfumy with rose petal, white peach and cheddar on the nose; pale fruit notes of grapefruit and green grapes on the palate.

Terra D’Alter 20112 Reserva White

Up front I got pencil shavings, kiwi and Meyer lemon. The taste was all lemon zest, white pepper and steel.

Reds

Vinhas Velhas 2011 Tinto, Luis Pato

Dried blackberry and leaves on the nose, then bone-dry black fruit, grilled meat and tannins on the palate.

2011 Follies Touriga Nacional

I got black olive, grilled mushroom and charred wood on the nose, and dry, Cabernet Sauvignon-like, tannic and dried black cherry in the mouth.

Cortes De Cima 2012 Vinho Tinta

“Hello blueberry”, pungent, plum and black fruit hit my nose, then dry and dark tasting with musty black fruit.

Quinta Do Vallado 2012 Touriga Nacional Douro Red

Aromas of black plum, ash, raisin and menthol; then I got hit with spice, black fruit, black currant and bark in the mouth.

Casa Ferreirinha 2013Vinha Grande Red

Lovely dark chocolate, cigar and blackberry jam enticed me in for a taste that was black and dark with notes of prune and black licorice.

Duas Quintas 2013 Douro Red

I got a bowl of black fruit, sweet Luxardo cherry and red rose petals on this one, followed by flavors of smoke, char in a nice balance with fruit and tannin.

Post Scriptum Douro 2013

Candied plums, mushrooms and dust on the nose; then a blast of dark toasted oak and dried fruit on the palate.

Food Pairings

I have posted the photo of the menu so that you can see the exact detail of ingredients that were painstakingly put into three courses by two chefs. The remarkable part for me wasn’t just how yummy everything was, but to see the two chef’s expressions of dishes – very different from the other – that paired perfectly with the wines. It sure was a treat to taste all of the dishes, I had no favorite, they were all that good. Made me think that this would be a fun way to do a wine tasting with dishes from where the wine originated, alongside our own ideas of what to pair with. Bravo to the Duo Chefs that won us over here.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), 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

Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas offers first Advanced Sommelier Course and Examination outside of the USA

March 10, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Organization continues international expansion in Seoul, South Korea

Napa, California – The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas today announced that it is accepting applications for the Advanced Sommelier Course and Examination to take place in Seoul, South Korea September 5-9, 2016. It is the first time Advanced Sommelier programming will be offered outside of the United States by this chapter of the much-respected Court of Master Sommeliers. They will be administering the program with their exclusive Korean partner, Winevision, the much-respected wine and spirit educational institution located in Seoul.

The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas will be holding its first International Advanced Sommelier programming in Seoul, South Korea. South Korean-born Master Sommelier Yoon Ha and Examination Director Shayn Bjornholm will lead eligible candidates in the preparation and Examination.

“We are very excited to be holding the 2016 Advanced Sommelier Course and Examination in Seoul,” said Andrew McNamara, Chairman of the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas. “We couldn’t be more pleased that our first international Advanced Sommelier programming will take place in South Korea, which is a burgeoning market for wine service education. We expect this to be first step in us holding similar courses across the globe.”

While South Korea is the first international location where the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas will offer the Advanced Sommelier Course and Examination, the organization has held Introductory Sommelier Courses and Certified Sommelier Examinations in numerous countries outside of the United States.

The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas will be administering the Advanced Sommelier Course and Examination in a 5-day format that combines the current 3-day Advanced Sommelier Course and 3-day Advanced Sommelier Examination. Eligible students are expected to have a high level of preparation in terms of theoretical comprehension, deductive tasting skills and practical restaurant service ability in order to qualify for the program. Students must pass this examination before being considered for invitation to sit the Master Sommelier Diploma examination.

To help the students of the Advanced Sommelier Course and Examination in Seoul, the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas and Winevision will hold an Advanced Sommelier workshop immediately following the Certified Sommelier Examination taking place on April 22, 2016; it will be led by South Korean-born Master Sommelier Yoon Ha and Examination Director Shayn Bjornholm. Additionally, the two organizations will hold quarterly video-conference Deductive Tasting Method sessions leading up the September program. Winevision has been working with examination candidates from the Introductory Sommelier Course and Examination, the Certified Sommelier Examination and now the Advanced Sommelier Course and Examination since 2012.

Candidates may apply for the Advanced Sommelier Course and Examination in Seoul by visiting the Winevision website at www.winevision.kr. The cost for the course is ₩2850000 ($2,520 USD) and is open to a maximum of 30 candidates. Eligible candidates must wait one calendar year after passing the Certified Sommelier Examination to apply for the Advanced Sommelier Course and Examination. Please see the Q&A page on the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas website at www.mastersommeliers.org.

ABOUT THE COURT OF MASTER SOMMELIERS, AMERICAS

The Court of Master Sommeliers was established in England in 1977 to encourage improved standards of beverage knowledge and service in hotels and restaurants. The first Master Sommelier Diploma Exam to be held in the United States was in 1987. The title Master Sommelier marks the highest recognition of wine and spirits knowledge, beverage service abilities, and professionalism in the hospitality trade. Education was then, and remains today, the Court’s charter.

There are four stages involved in attaining the top qualifications of Master Sommelier: 1) Introductory Sommelier Course; 2) Certified Sommelier Exam; 3) Advanced Sommelier Course; and 4) Master Sommelier Diploma. There are 140 professionals who have earned the title of Master Sommelier as part of the Americas chapter since the organization’s inception. Of those, 119 are men and 21 are women. There are 220 professionals worldwide who have received the title of Master Sommelier since the first Master Sommelier Diploma Exam. For more information, please visit www.mastersommeliers.org.

ABOUT WINEVISION

Established in 2008, Winevision School has developed into one of the most respected and recognized wine and spirit educational institutions in Korea, producing more than 3000 graduates. It is an approved program provider for WSET and the exclusive Korean partner of Court of Master Sommeliers. Winevision has published various texts and periodicals about wine and alcoholic beverages and an online magazine called ‘Mashija’. Winevision is the proud host of the Korean Sommelier of the Year competition.

Groundbreaking Ancient Wine Event Comes to San Francisco Wine School March 13th

February 14, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

THE CRADLE OF WINE CIVILIZATION : An Exploration of Ancient Wines and Their Evolution

The First Event of Its Kind Comes to San Francisco Wine School March 13th

South San Francisco, California – The history of wine, while inextricably linked to today’s exponentially-growing wine industry, is often overlooked by professionals, enthusiasts and scientists alike. The earliest grape wine in the world was discovered by Dr. Patrick McGovern and colleagues in the Zagros Mountains of Iran, ca. 5400 B.C. (early Neolithic period). Since then, Vitis vinifera and wine have evolved, spread throughout the world, and become integral to many cultures’ medicines, religious practices, and social activities.

On Sunday, March 13th from 10am to 5:30pm, San Francisco Wine School will open the doors of its new Wine Education Center for the first of its kind event exploring these ancient wines and their modern expressions with The Cradle of Wine Civilization.

Join noted academics and industry experts on a day of discovery and intrigue as you traverse the history of ancient wines and their evolution to modern expressions, tasting examples from the Caucasus and Eastern Mediterranean regions. This ground-breaking event will merge the academic and commercial aspects of wine, explore the ancient and modern styles from where wine originated, and its place in today’s society.

San Francisco Wine School’s author of Inside Interviews, David Furer, will host a full day of activities with some of the foremost authorities on ancient wines starting with a keynote address by the world’s most acclaimed archaeologist of fermented beverages, Dr. Patrick McGovern. He will bring us up-to-date on the most recent scientific developments. Says McGovern:

“This gathering will be the first time in the U.S. that wine lovers will have the opportunity to tap into the tastes and rich history of where it all began.”

The day will also include an address by Stanford University’s Dr. Patrick Hunt on the Civilization of Wine from the Phoenicians to the Egyptians and Canaanites and panel discussions with guided tastings on the Caucasus’ Georgia and Armenia and the Eastern Mediterranean’s Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, and Turkey, exploring the impact of history on modern day wines. Topics will include the civilization of wine, indigenous and modern grape varieties, ancient and modern production styles, how this evolution has influenced contemporary restaurants and other retail businesses, and impacted consumer preferences.

Full day attendees will also enjoy a multi-ethnic luncheon with the speakers, panelists and modern wines from these regions.

Following the day’s seminars, a Grand Tasting of modern wines from these countries along with book signings by Professors McGovern and Hunt will be held from 3:30pm to 5:30pm.

After the Grand Tasting, guests are invited to a very special happy hour downstairs at Armstrong Brewing Company where, along with their fabulous standards, they’re brewing up some special ancient recipes.
SPEAKERS

Dr. Patrick McGovern – Scientific Director of the Biomolecular Archaeology Project for Cuisine, Fermented Beverages, and Health; University of Pennsylvania Museum in Philadelphia

Dr. Patrick Hunt –Stanford University Professor, Archeologist, Author

Wes Hagen – Winemaker, Viticulturist, Wine Educator, TED Talk Stage Nominee (History of Wine)
PANELISTS

Alberto Antonini – Winemaker Zorah Winery, Armenia & Enologist Gruppo Matura
Jeff Berlin – Wine Director, À Côté, Oakland
Bartholomew Broadbent – Importer Chateau Musar, Lebanon
Darrell Corti – Proprietor, Corti Bros.
Lisa Granik, MW – Georgia Wine Agency
Zorik Gharibian – Founder Zorah Winery, Armenia
Daniel O’Donnell – Winemaker Kayra Winery, Turkey

AGENDA

10:00 Welcome: Master Sommelier David Glancy
Program Overview: Author David Furer

10:15 Keynote Address: The Archaeological And Chemical Hunt For The Origins Of Viniculture: Past, Present, and Future by Dr. Patrick McGovern

11:15 Caucasus Panel Discussion and Guided Tasting — Lisa Granik MW, Zorik Gharibian, Alberto Antonini, Jeff Berlin, and others tba; moderated by David Furer

12:15 Multi-ethnic Luncheon with Speakers and Panelists, welcoming address by Wes Hagen

1:45 The Civilization of Wine from the Phoenicians to the Egyptians & Canaanites by Dr. Patrick Hunt

2:15 Eastern Mediterranean Panel Discussion and Guided Tasting – Bartholomew Broadbent, Daniel O’Donnell, Darrell Corti, and others tba; moderated by David Furer

3:30 Grand Tasting: Wines of Armenia, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Turkey

5:30 Happy Hour: Ancient Brews @ Armstrong Brewing Company
EVENT DETAILS

Sunday, March 13th, 2016

Full Day Event: 10:00am – 5:30pm
Grand Tasting: 3:30 – 5:30pm
Happy Hour: 5:30-7:30

San Francisco Wine School
415 Grand Ave. Suite 301
South San Francisco, CA 94080
650-763-1324
www.sfwineschool.com
TICKETING

Full Day Passes (10am-5:30pm) – $175 includes all Speaker & Panel Sessions, Luncheon, Grand Tasting, & Happy Hour

Grand Tasting Tickets (3:30pm-5:30pm) – $45 includes Grand Tasting & Happy Hour

Discounts available for qualified trade. Email help@sfwineschool.com for more information.

ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO WINE SCHOOL

San Francisco Wine School strives to open up the world of wine to serious students and enthusiasts everywhere while helping people of all levels break into the wine industry, advance their career, or simply pursue their passions. Founded by Master Sommelier and Certified Wine Educator David Glancy, San Francisco Wine School is the largest wine school in the U.S., offering the most thoughtful approach to wine study. Their inspired educational programs and workshops are taught in their state of the art wine education center and their cutting edge virtual classroom by industry-leading instructors from all major educational disciplines. San Francisco Wine School’s curriculum features the best content in the business: expert course materials, carefully conceived wine flights, and in-depth blind tasting exercises designed to engage students, illuminate course content and enhance learning. Their brand new sunlight-filled wine education center is conveniently located just 5 minutes from San Francisco International Airport and boasts 16-ft high coved ceilings, eight 12-ft tall arched windows, and gorgeous 180 degree views of the San Bruno Mountains, South San Francisco City Hall and the San Francisco Bay, making it the perfect place to enjoy classes, industry seminars and tastings and host a wide variety of private events.

THE FRONT YARD – Finally! By Michael Perlis

July 25, 2015 by evebushman Leave a Comment

I first reported on the restaurant at the The Beverly Garland Hotel in early 2014.

At that time, Chef Warren Schwartz was taking advantage of the planned renovation of the hotel and restaurant to do a little experimenting. Under the aptly named Warren’s Blackboard, he turned out an array of seasonal daily specials that quickly turned this restaurant in North Hollywood into one of our favorite go-to places in the San Fernando Valley. Of course, the restaurants top-notch staff, headed by Food & Beverage Director Pete Alles, only enhanced the experience.

In the fall of 2014, Warren’s Blackboard closed as planned, in anticipation of the several month-long renovation and eventual re-opening as The Front Yard. But plans change and as Warren’s the restaurant was entering its hiatus, Warren the chef was presented with the proverbial “offer he couldn’t refuse” to become Culinary Director of food preparation and delivery service Munchery. [Hopefully, more on this in a future article.] The parting was amicable and the search was on for a new chef to join the team, with plenty of time to find one to carry on what Warren had started.

And find one they did: Chef Chris Turano cut his culinary chops with extensive experience in Chicago and came to California to become Chef de Cuisine at the Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara, having earned the position by winning “Chef Wanted” on Food Network. Note to Eve’s Wine 101 readers: Chef Chris has his Court of Master Sommeliers Level 1 Certification.

My wife Karen and I had occasion to attend the hotel’s grand opening party to celebrate the renovation. Now called simply “The Garland”, the hotel has an overall brightness and elegance that extends from the lobby to the grounds to the suites. We also recently ate at The Front Yard, which is supposed to be what this article is all about.

Let me start with just a “Wow.” Chef Chris has created an amazing menu designed to not only satisfy the demands of discerning Angelenos but also to give hotel guests a great taste of what Southern California is capable of.

What we had:

Dungeness Crab Roll

Albarcore Tuna Taco

Triple B salad [Burrata, baby Beets, gooseberries, sherry and cocoa nibs]

Grilled Octopus [with pickled ramp aioli, chickpeas, radish salad]

Broccolini Tempura [ponzu, furikake]

Fig and Proscuitto Flabread [fresh figs, shaved fennel, rucola, white sauce]

Mary’s Chicken [Parisian gnocchi, sweet pea, pea tendril, natural jus]

Wild Halibut [cauliflower romenesco, pickled beech mushroom, blond gastrique]

Linguine with Dungeness Crab [fava beans, aji amarillo, lemon]

Across the board, we were struck not only by the freshness of the ingredients [which is to be expected] but also by the interesting combinations that created some unexpected yet delicious flavors. Impossible to pick favorites, but as someone who doesn’t necessarily go crazy over vegetables, that broccolini just had me munching and munching and munching. Other real standouts for me were the beet salad, octopus, chicken and halibut, although that is in no way to diminish the other dishes.

I’d be remiss to not mention the house made desserts. As of our visit they were not listed on the menu [they should be by now] but included a take on strawberry shortcake, a panne cotta with cabernet sorbet, and a sweet/salty butterscotch pudding accompanied with seasoned popcorn. Save room for these!

The wine list has a great variety of offerings and price ranges. It will change as time goes on and they bring in new selections, but here is a small sample from the list that was available when we were there:

Billecart Salmon, Brut, Rose

Dom Perignon Brut

Bonny Doon Albarino

Jaffurs Grenache Blanc

Bernardus Chardonnay

Failla Chardonnay

Babcock Pinot Noir

Meiomi Pinot Noir

Flora Springs Trilogy

Ampelos Syrache [we had this, it was great]

Bokisch Garnacha

Stags’ Leap Winery Petite Syrah

Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon

Daou Cabernet Sauvignon

The above is just a sample. There are lots more. The by-the-glass program is excellent as well, along with a great selection of beers and craft cocktails.

Corkage is $20, free on Sundays and Mondays.

As of press time, the remodel is almost complete and the restaurant is in somewhat of a soft-opening mode. What has been done to the place has come out stunning and there are just a few tweaks to go. Service is as good as before, maybe even better. They are definitely ready for your business. Come hungry.

The Front Yard

4222 Vineland Ave. North Hollywood, CA 91602 at The Garland

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