Two Wines from Catena’s Adrianna Vineyard are First South American Wines Awarded 100 Points from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

August 8, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

MENDOZA, Argentina (PRWEB) – Since its inception 40 years ago, a 100 point score from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate has marked the rise of a select few wineries from around the world. Most extraordinary is that this first-time South American perfect wine score was awarded to two wines produced in one vineyard, the Catena family’s Adrianna Vineyard. When Nicolás Catena planted this site in 1992, he was called crazy for cultivating the vines at such a high altitude. Vineyards had never been planted in the Gualtallary District, Tupungato Alto, Mendoza, because the climate was considered too extreme. This award for Argentina’s finest Grand Cru site, Adrianna, marks a historic moment for South American wine.

“Since 1902, every generation of my family has worked to elevate Argentine wine, and these awards for the Adrianna Vineyard are a true recognition for our region,” says Dr. Laura Catena, Managing Director of Catena Zapata.

“Terroir is everything, whether in France, Italy, or Argentina,” Catena adds. “When he planted the Adrianna Vineyard, my father, Nicolás Catena, was seeking an ideal location to make age-worthy wines in Mendoza, a site at the cool climate limit of vine cultivation. The organically farmed Adrianna Vineyard lies at almost 5,000 feet elevation on an ancient dry riverbed with a unique combination of stony and limestone soils, microbiomes and climate, resulting in a labyrinth of different micro-terroirs. By separately vinifying the grapes from each small parcel, we’ve found ‘the gold’ within this site.”

The Adrianna Vineyard River Stones Malbec 2016 comes from a particularly stony alluvial soil section of the vineyard. The small, oval stones provide excellent drainage and moderate the vast temperature shifts between the sunny days and cool nights. The wine’s suggested retail price is $160 per bottle and is scheduled for release in 2019.

Catena Zapata’s head winemaker Alejandro Vigil was also behind the Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard Gualtallary 2013, a partnership between himself and Adrianna Catena, Nicolás Catena’s youngest daughter. A blend of 85% Cabernet Franc and 15% Malbec from the cool 2013 vintage, this exciting wine will evolve gracefully in the cellar for many years. Its suggested retail price is $120.

For more information about Catena Zapata, please visit http://www.catenawines.com, and for El Enemigo, http://www.enemigowines.com.

About Catena Zapata:

Dr. Nicolás Catena Zapata and Dr. Laura Catena are the third and fourth-generation of Bodega Catena Zapata, a family winery founded in 1902 by Italian immigrant, Nicola Catena, in Mendoza, Argentina.

Although he was born in a small wine-producing village of just a few hundred inhabitants, Nicolás Catena Zapata sought to understand wine beyond his native Argentina. While studying Economics at Columbia University in the 1970s, and later, during an academic sabbatical in California, Nicolás was inspired by Robert Mondavi’s Napa revolution. Mondavi aimed at making American wines that could stand with the best of the world, and Catena asked himself: “Why not do this in Argentina?” What followed in the 1980’s and 1990’s was the beginning of Catena’s High Altitude Malbec Revolution. Nicolás decided to plant vineyards higher and higher in the Andean foothills, searching for greater concentration and elegance in his wines. Many in Mendoza thought his grapes would never ripen.

Inspired by her father’s quest for knowledge, born from small village roots, Nicolás’ daughter Laura studied biology at Harvard and received a Medical Doctor degree from Stanford. At first, Laura thought she would spend her life drinking, not making her family’s wines, until she came to the realization that her father and country needed her help back home in Argentina. In 1995 Dr. Laura Catena founded the Catena Institute of Wine with the aim of understanding the best high altitude sites in Argentina, and of bringing Malbec back from near-extinction. Malbec had been, alongside Cabernet Sauvignon, France’s most important variety from the Middle Ages until the phylloxera epidemic of the late 19th Century, and father and daughter sought to bring back Malbec to its historic prominence. Two decades of soil studies by Laura and the Catena Institute led to the discovery of the special ‘parcelas’ of the Adrianna Vineyard.

Bodega Catena Zapata has been awarded the wine industry’s greatest honors from international food and wine media for its role in Argentina’s High Altitude Malbec Revolution. The family’s vision remains the same as its founder’s, to elevate Argentine wine.

Over 20 natural wines have been selected at third edition of Wine Without Walls

July 12, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

(PRWEB) – Italy is in pole position for organic, natural and biodynamic wine-growing. The country also has the largest surface area of vines under certified organic management worldwide, ahead of both Spain in second place and France in third. In light of this important reality, Vinitaly International added the “Wine Without Walls” section to its annual wine selection 5StarWines. Held April 11th to the 13th 2018 in Verona, the third edition of 5StarWines welcomed over 2,700 wines from around the world and showcased 45 bottles in Wine Without Walls. Chaired by biodynamic wine expert Monty Waldin, Wine Without Walls gives recognition to the ever-present growing importance and relevance of natural wines. The section is solely dedicated to wines either without added sulphites or wines with total quantity of sulphites (naturally produced and added ones) not higher than 50mg/l. During the last edition, 24 Italian wines made it through the selection, once again proving Italy as prime location for organic wine growing. The selected organic wines will be published on the 5StarWines – the Book, which will be available from July 2018.

During the first two editions of Wine Without Walls former Chairperson Alice Feiring devised criteria for judging to include the descriptors: ‘liveliness’, ‘evolution’, ‘balance’, ‘drinkability’, ‘savoriness’, ‘sense of place’, ‘emotional impact’, and ‘transparency’. Based off these editions, Monty Waldin decided to use and adapt six of the descriptors, changing ‘emotional impact’ with ‘individuality’ and ‘transparency’ with ‘clarity.’

Waldin chose ‘individuality’ to represent the individuality of a wine that can only come from vineyards and each individual vine transmitted from its particular piece of terroir: the exact type of soil and sub-soil it is on, the exact part of the slope, the exact amount of sun, rain, and wind that it gets. Individuality also stems from the human factor, i.e. how the vines were planted, picked, and pruned. These aspects, combined, affect how each berry will taste and how they are measured; whereas descriptors such as ‘emotional impact’ are less measurable and therefore more subjective.

Substituting ‘transparency’ with ‘clarity’, Waldin sees that clarity in wine not only comes from the winemaker, but also from the grapes themselves. A wine embodying clarity shows that the winemaker has a clear vision of how the wine will be made. Winemakers whose aim is to make wine as naturally as possible, must guide every step of the winemaking process with their mastery, skills and knowledge to include—date of harvest, choice of fermentation vessel, choice of bottling date—in such a way that the wine clearly expresses the terroir, grape and human touch. A wine with clarity will always be transparent, from the beginning to the end.

On the the experience, Monty Waldin commented “One of the delights of judging wines made by people working in tune with nature, rather than working against it, is that the wines show a brightness and levity which makes wine tasting a joy rather than a chore. We all felt refreshed at the end of the day’s judging as these natural, organic and Biodynamic wines tend to have lower levels of alcohol compared to conventional wines because the vines are in balance.”

Accompanying Monty Waldin in this year’s tasting, Wine Without Walls included 4 natural wine connoisseurs. Regine Lee, Christopher Barnes, Richard Kershaw MW and Gill Gordon Smith, all coming from various countries around the world, joined together at wine2digital. The panel agreed, at the end of the selection, that the wines far exceeded their expectations in terms of quality, complexity and, most importantly, value. Furthermore, the judges were pleased to see that the wines came from not only from small, artisan producers but also from medium to large scale producers. Despite their size, they showed that they are well organised and fully capable of bringing grapes into the winery at optimal ripeness and with diverting flavours.

Here’s the list of the Wine Without Walls selected wines:

ADRIANO GRASSO with BARBERA D’ASTI DOCG

CANTINA ALDENO S.C.A. with TRENTINO DOC GEWURZTRAMINER VINO BIOLOGICO

AZIENDA VINICOLA ATTILIO CONTINI S.P.A. with CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA DOC VINO BIOLOGICO

SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA TENUTA MARA SRL with RUBICONE IGP SANGIOVESE VINO BIOLOGICO

AZIENDA AGRICOLA LUSENTI DI LODOVICA LUSENTI with COLLI PIACENTINI DOC MALVASIA

BORTOLIN F.LLI SRL with VALDOBBIADENE PROSECCO DOCG SUPERIORE SPUMANTE BRUT

TENUTE DEL GARDA SRL with VINO SPUMANTE EXTRA BRUT

PIEVALTA SOC. AGR.R.L. with VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI DOC CLASSICO SUPERIORE VINO BIOLOGICO and CASTELLI DI JESI VERDICCHIO RISERVA DOCG CLASSICO VINO BIOLOGICO

OLIS SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA SRL (FATTORIA LA MALIOSA) with TOSCANA IGT BIANCO VINO BIOLOGICO

AZ. AGR. LE CARLINE DI PICCININ DANIELE with VENEZIA DOC PINOT GRIGIO VINO BIOLOGICO and LISON PRAMAGGIORE DOC REFOSCO DAL PEDUNCOLO ROSSO VINO BIOLOGICO

AZ. AGR. CARLO TABARRINI “CANTINA MARGÒ” with UMBRIA IGT BIANCO

CASCINA DEL COLLE DI D’ONOFRIO A. & C. S.S. with ABRUZZO DOC BIANCO VINO BIOLOGICO and ABRUZZO DOC ROSSO VINO BIOLOGICO

LA CAPPUCCINA SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA S.S. with SOAVE DOC VINO BIOLOGICO

POSSENTE SOCIETÀ COOPERATIVA AGRICOLA with SICILIA DOC GRILLO VINO BIOLOGICO and TERRE SICILIANE IGP CATARRATTO VINO BIOLOGICO

FOLICELLO SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA S.S. with PIGNOLETTO DOC FRIZZANTE VINO BIOLOGICO

MARCHISIO FAMILY ORGANIC ESTATE S.S.A. with ROERO DOCG ARNEIS VINO BIOLOGICO and LANGHE DOC NEBBIOLO VINO BIOLOGICO

AVIGNONESI SRL with ROSSO DI MONTEPULCIANO DOC VINO BIOLOGICO and TOSCANA IGT ROSSO VINO BIOLOGICO

ERNST TRIEBAUMER with BURGENLAND QUALITÄTSWEIN BLAUFRÄNKISCH

5StarWines Proclaimed Over 600 International Treasures – Scoring 90+

May 17, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Verona, Italy (PRWEB) – On April 13th, the third edition of 5StarWines came to a close at wine2digital, Verona. Organised by Vinitaly, 5StarWines is a three-day tasting aiming at shedding light on wineries investing in the improvement of their products. During the event, a highly qualified panel of wine professionals tastes and gives score on a 100-point scale to more than 2.700 wines.

Under the guidance of Vinitaly International Managing Director Stevie Kim and Vinitaly International Academy Scientific Director Ian D’Agata, the international team of judges is led by 3 General Chairmen: Bernard Burtschy, president of the French Wine Press; Robert Joseph, Editor at Large for Meininger’s Wine Business International; and Spanish Master of Wine Pedro Ballesteros Torres. Main task of the Chairmen is to re-taste wines with an initial score of 90, that is the score a wine needs to be published on 5StarWines-The Book. On the selection he chaired for two years in a row, Joseph commented, “There are new producers, new regions, and new grapes every year. I just love being here, discovering all these flavours, and then go on to Vinitaly to meet the actual people that produced them and understand why and how they are making these wines.” Ballesteros Torres, who finds 5StarWines enriching from a personal point of view, added, “I think it is a great opportunity for the Italian wines participating. 5StarWines is a major tool for Italian producers because they will have the chance to have a feedback from top level experts from all over the world. Another quality of the event is that while tasting, judges get the chance talk with each other, creating an environment of exchange and growth.”

5StarWines-The Book is a wine-guide including all the wines selected at 5StarWines that aims at giving visibility to worthy wineries. A special feature of the guide (and of the event) is Wine Without Walls, a section solely dedicated to wines either without added sulphites or wines with total quantity of sulphites (naturally produced and added ones) not higher than 50mg/l. Chaired by biodynamic wine expert Monty Waldin, Wine Without Walls gives recognition to the growing importance and relevance of natural wines. In the case of Wine Without Walls, the tasting’s assessment criteria are not numerical but rather descriptive like liveliness, individuality, sense of place, etc. Regine Lee, Head of Customer Business Support at Liberty Wines and one of the judges of the Wine Without Walls section observed, “WWW is a really interesting opportunity for us to valuate a lot of natural wines through quantitative and qualitative assessments that really look at whether the wine is of quality or not. US judges are able to look across wide diversity styles, mostly Italians, and I think it’s a really nice way to understand what makes natural wines particularly good and whether they can be judged in themselves or across wines as a whole.”

Coming from all over Italy, California, Argentina and other countries, the wines participating at this edition of 5StarWines were around 2700, 500 more than last year’s. Out of these 2700, more than 600 scored more than 90 out of 100 and therefore will make it on The Book.

For the second year in a row Italy stood out as one of the best producers at the selection, with Cantine del Notaio Soc.Agr. A R.L. taking home the “Best Winery of the Year – Gran Vinitaly 2018”. Worth a mention is the fact that this year, the selected 5 star wines will also be indicated as 5StarWines on Wine-Searcher’s online listings, one of the most famous web search engines for wine. Moreover, The 5StarWines label will also feature on the Vinitaly App during and after Vinitaly ,for all buyers and trade.

You can see the complete list of wines on http://www.5starwines.it/

About
The grand Vinitaly 2018 will be held from April 15th to the 18th. Every year, Vinitaly counts more than 4,000 exhibitors on a 100,000+ square meter area and 130,000 visitors from over 140 different countries with more than 30,000 top international buyers. The premier event to Vinitaly, OperaWine (https://www.vinitalyinternational.com/?page_id=646) “Finest Italian Wines: 100 Great Producers,” which will be held on the 14th of April, one day prior to Vinitaly will unite international wine professionals in the heart of Verona, offering them the unique opportunity to discover and taste the wines of the 100 Best Italian Producers, as selected by Wine Spectator. Since 1998 Vinitaly International travels to several countries such as Russia, China, USA and Hong Kong thanks to its strategic arm abroad, Vinitaly International. In February 2014 Vinitaly International launched an educational project, the Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) with the aim of divulging and broadcasting the excellence and diversity of Italian wine around the globe. VIA this year launched the third edition of its Certification Course and today counts 122 Italian Wine Ambassadors and 9 Italian Wine Experts.

HALL WINES CABERNET COOKOFF RETURNS FOR NINTH YEAR

March 3, 2018 by evebushman 2 Comments

ST. HELENA, CALIFORNIA – HALL Napa Valley, one of the world’s most notable Cabernet Sauvignon producers, has announced plans for its ninth annual Cabernet Cookoff to return on Saturday, April 28 at HALL St. Helena. Hosted by Vintner Kathryn Hall, the annual event will feature an impressive lineup of renowned Bay Area Chef teams vying for a chance to win proceeds for a charity of their choice by participating in a food and wine pairing competition. 100% of ticket proceeds benefit Napa Valley non-profit organizations. The event includes a VIP Preview at 11 a.m. prior to the Main Event which begins at 12 p.m.

Kathyrn Hall

“This event makes a difference to so many lives,” says Vintner Kathryn Hall. “Guests come together to celebrate passion for food and wine, and in the end, local non-profits garner awareness and contributions. Everyone participating comes out a winner – it is a fun and rewarding day for all involved.”

Fifteen Chef teams are tasked to craft a seasonal small bite that they feel pairs best with HALL Coeur Cabernet Sauvignon. Guests in attendance will sample all pairings to vote on the People’s Choice Awards, and a star-studded panel of Celebrity Judges will taste to vote for the Judge’s Choice Awards. Participating teams include The Grill at Meadowood, One Market Restaurant, Charlie Palmer Steak, Goose & Gander, Paula LeDuc Catering, C Casa, Galpau Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse, Amiee D’Maris Events, El Dorado Kitchen, Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin’ BBQ, Brix, Napa Valley Bistro, Sift and Intercontinental Mark Hopkins.

Natalie Morales, TODAY West Coast Anchor and Host of Access, has been announced as the official Emcee for the event. Morales will help wrangle in the crowd with event happenings day-of as well as help announce the winners alongside Kathryn Hall. Natalie’s new lifestyle book, At Home with Natalie: Simple Recipes for Healthy Living from My Family’s Kitchen to Yours will be released this April and will be given away to all VIP Ticket holders.

The 2018 Judging panel includes Actress Beth Behrs from the hit CBS show, 2 Broke Girls; Celebrity Chef Duff Goldman from Food Network; Bay Area Sports Hall of Famer and Former San Francisco 49ers Executive, Carmen Policy; Michelin-rated Chef, Ken Frank, La Toque, and Wine Critic Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Event sponsors include Microsoft, Nixon-Peabody, My Office Products, Bright Rentals, Certified Parking Attendants, ROBB Report, Cypress Grove Cheese Company, ZICO Coconut Water, Signum Architecture, Snap Fiesta, Harvest Sanitation, Private Spring Water, Mark T. Palmer Window Services, Lux Productions, Riedel Glassware, Barbier Security and ALKAR.

Both VIP and General Admission tickets are available. VIP ticket holders will experience a Preview offering from 11a.m. to 12p.m. prior to the main event featuring the Celebrity Judges and Host Kathryn Hall sharing their philosophies on what makes a good food and wine pairing. Additionally, there will be a Silent Auction during the event where guests can bid on locally sourced items with all proceeds benefitting Napa Valley non-profits.

Saturday, April 28, 2018
VIP Preview: 11a.m. – 12p.m. $200pp

Main Event: 12p.m. – 3p.m. $125pp

HALL St. Helena

401 St. Helena Hwy. S

St. Helena, CA 94574 (707) 967-2626

TICKETS: www.hallwines.com/cabernetcookoff

The 2017 HALL Cabernet Cookoff drew more than 850 attendees for a sold-out crowd and raised $80,000 for local charities. Since inception in 2011, the HALL Cabernet Cookoff has raised $500,000 for Napa Valley charities. For more information, please visit www.hallwines.com/cabernetcookoff or via social channels using #cabernetcookoff.

HALL: The Art of Cabernet

HALL produces award-winning Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, available to taste and buy at two properties in Napa Valley as well as at hallwines.com. Owned by Craig and Kathryn Hall, its vineyard collection features seven Estate vineyards, of which five are California Certified Organic (CCOF). Led by Winemaker Steve Leveque, HALL’s wine portfolio includes 19 distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings highlighting the finest vineyards and sub-appellations of the Napa Valley. The HALL St. Helena winery was the first LEED® Gold Certified Winery in the State of California in 2009 and earned another LEED® Gold certification for its high tech production facility and Tasting Room in 2014, making HALL a leader in green efficiencies. HALL’s 2008 ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cab earned the #2 spot in Wine Spectator’s “Top 100”. Two other bottlings, the ‘Exzellenz’ and ‘Rainin Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignons have garnered multiple 100 point ratings in recent years. For more information about HALL, please visit www.hallwines.com or by calling 707.967.2626. @hallwines #artofcabernet

Vintage Eve 9/2014: Planning For Healdsburg and Napa

February 13, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

I’ll be heading out to Healdsburg for the first time since 2008 soon, and in planning the trip I looked for wineries that friends had recommended and/or I liked their wines already – but have never visited before. I don’t post when I’m actually away, so this article is a precursor to the fun I will be having…later…and then I will do a post-trip story.

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Photo: Seguin Moreau Napa Cooperage Facebook page.

Day One would start with a sit-down tasting at Ramey Wine Cellars in Healdsburg. In perusing their Facebook page I learned that they harvested nearly 60 tons of Napa Cabernet in what might have been “possibly the most condensed harvest in many years…”

They also shared that their 2011 Pedregal Vineyard was given 92 points from Wine Spectator’s James Laube.

Not sure what we will be trying in the tasting room, but I see current wines include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Claret, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. Sounds good to me.

Eight minutes down the road we will then be at Mazzocco Sonoma Vineyards and Winery where we will meet and lunch with winemaker Antoine Favero, and then enjoy a private barrel tasting. Their website shows four Wine Spectator award winners for their 2010 Zinfandels: 91 points for Maple, 91 points for Pony Reserve, 91 points for Sullivan and 90 points for Warm Springs.

According to their Facebook page the 2013 Sauvignon Blanc was chosen for the United States Diplomacy Center’s groundbreaking event. Looking forward to trying whatever is offered here.

Next we will venture to visit Seghesio Family Vineyards where we will be checking in at the bar and then meeting with Tony Sciullo, the VIP liaison. Their last Facebook update showed that harvest for them started in late August, “Pinot Grigio was the first to come in, with some Zinfandel from Cloverdale not far behind.”

I became a fan of Seghesio when one of their Zins made Wine Spectator’s wine of the year. Their 2011 Old Vine Zinfandel received 92 points…looking forward to sampling.

The last winery to see on our first day will be Mauritson Family Winery, five minutes away from Seghesio. The winemaker Clay Mauritson, or his wife Carrie, will be hosting our tour and tasting. They show three small children, “future winemakers”, with Clay in several photos of the winery on their Facebook page, I’m hoping we will get a sighting of these cuties!

The website of Mauritson label wines include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rose, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Rockpile labels include lots of Zinfandels, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Can’t wait to review!

That will pretty much end our first day. If you have a reasonably priced suggestion for dinner let me know: Eve@EveWine101.com

Leaving Healdsburg, Day Two will begin at Rocca Family Vineyards in Napa Valley. You read about Rocca recently on Eve’s Wine 101 as they had obtained the title of “Napa Valley Organic Winery of The Year.” We will be meeting with Sales Director John Taylor for our tasting. There seems to be plenty of Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and red blends for us to try! And according to their Facebook page they are currently crushing Merlot.

From Rocca we will probably venture over to Dean and Deluca for lunch supplies and then make a dash for Darioush Winery on Silverado Trail. We have been scheduled for a “Tableside Portfolio Tasting” via concierge Jenna Kennedy.

The Darioush Facebook page reported that they were “safe and sound” after the recent earthquake. Their damage was minimal but they were without power and were closed for one day. Their website promised current releases of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier. Shiraz blend and a late harvest Semillon Sauvignon Blanc.

ZD Wines may be our last trip of this day unless we hit someone up near 4pm…if we have the energy. There are beautiful photos of grape clusters on their Facebook page, as well as a bottle of their 45^th anniversary Chardonnay. Besides maybe trying that one, we look forward to sipping their Reserve Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon…and more.

Bright and early on Day Three we have a special treat, a tour of the Seguin Moreau Napa Cooperage. There will be no swirling and tasting, but there will be aromas! Hoping to see some toasting, bending and whatever else they have in store for us. Earlier this month they showed a cool photo of a barrel being toasted on their Facebook page.

McClintock Distilling is Certified as Maryland’s First and Only Organic Distillery

February 5, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

FREDERICK, Md. – McClintock Distilling has been officially certified as Maryland’s first ever USDA Organic Distillery as of the permit issue date of January 20, 2018. McClintock Distilling has been using organic ingredients from the opening of the business in December 2015 and went through a year of compliance with the Maryland Department of Agriculture before the certification became official.

Every aspect of production was considered for the certification, from the grains used in whiskey production to the botanicals included in McClintock’s award-winning Forager gin. Representatives from McClintock, the USDA and the Maryland Department of Agriculture worked closely throughout 2017 to ensure compliance as this is the first distillery to go through the process in the state.

“We are thrilled to be the first distillery in the state to be organic certified. Using one hundred percent organic grains was part of our mission to ensure that we get the best possible ingredients to make the best possible spirits. As an added bonus we get to support responsible farms that are using non-GMO grains and reducing the pesticide and nitrogen pollution of our waterways” Braeden Bumpers, Owner, McClintock Distilling

Being organic certified is part of McClintock Distilling’s overall mission to increase sustainability in alcohol production, both at their facility in downtown Frederick and off-site. The distillery itself is powered by one hundred percent renewable electricity purchased through Clean Choice Energy and the owners designed and built a proprietary closed loop cooling system that has reduced wastewater in the facility by several hundred thousand gallons a year. The distillers also work closely with local farmers to ensure that all spent grain mash gets re-used as animal feed in Frederick County.

McClintock Distilling, an organic craft distillery located in Frederick, Maryland, offers vodka, gins, and whiskeys. McClintock Distilling strives to maintain a sustainable and locally sourced business with a focus on product quality, environmental impact and community betterment. McClintock Distilling is committed to bringing the McClintock experience to all of our customers through every drop. For more information please visit http://www.mcclintockdistilling.com.

Alexander Valley Vineyards of Healdsburg, California Wins Top Honors

January 31, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

FORT WORTH, Texas (PRWEB) – The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT®) is pleased to announce the winners in its 2018 International Award of Excellence in Sustainable Winegrowing competition. The platinum medal goes to Alexander Valley Vineyards (AVV) of Healdsburg, California, based on the winery’s on-going sustainable programs that address the three elements of sustainability: environmental, economic, social – and the Vineyard’s wine taste.

AVV is one of an elite group of wineries recognized as a Bay Area Green Business. They became a member of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Program in 2006 and achieved vineyard certification in 2014. AVV bottled their first wine produced from organic certified grapes in 2008, today the family organically farms over 30 acres and offers two wines from 100% California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) grapes. A second family vineyard will receive CCOF certification in June 2018. Other AVV sustainable initiatives include solar arrays that supply about half of the winery’s power; cover crop plantings to minimize pesticide use and control erosion; drip irrigation for precise water management; 25,000 square feet of underground, naturally cooled caves that reduce the winery’s carbon footprint; and installation of variable speed drives on all winery equipment to decrease energy waste.

The awarded wine was AVV’s, 2014 Organic Cabernet Sauvignon, Single Vineyard, using certified organic grapes.

“Alexander Valley Vineyards’ strong list of sustainable programs and care in winemaking produced an unbeatable application,” said Ed Schneider, BRIT’s president and director. “During the taste portion of the competition, our judges especially noted that the 100% organic varietal was perfectly balanced with fruit and spice to the taste and a testament to the Wetzel’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and family farming.”

AVV is a family-owned and operated winery located in the heart of Sonoma’s Alexander Valley, on the historic property originally settled in the 19th century by Cyrus Alexander, the valley’s namesake. Since 1975 the Wetzel Family has been producing an array of estate wines that reflect the unique character of the property.

“We are honored to receive the BRIT award and the recognition of the practices we have implemented over the decades,” says Harry Wetzel. “As a family run operation, we all believe that it is our responsibility to make this an even better place for future generations.”

Additional BRIT sustainable awards went to:

Gold medals

E. & J. Gallo Winery, Modesto, California. Submitted 2015 Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon. Gallo receives special recognition for its corporate-wide, multi-brand sustainability programs and for the organization’s industry leadership.
Bodega Catena Zapata, Mendoza, Argentina. Submitted 2014 Catena Malbec.

Silver medal

Franciscan Estates, St. Helena, California. Submitted 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Bronze medal

Peach Creek Vineyards, College Station, Texas. Submitted Sassy Lassy, semi-sweet Texas table wine made with Noble grapes.

Competition for BRIT’s 2018 international award began May, 2017, when wineries submitted applications documenting their sustainable programs relating to environmental, economic, and social aspects of grape growing, and wine production along with their wine samples.

When submitting for the competition, wineries provide a self-assessment of their organization’s accomplishments in sustainable winegrowing, winemaking, and ecopreneural/social responsibility practices. They describe their organization’s conservation efforts in the field and in operations: how waste is avoided, how it is reclaimed, and how the winery extends conservation efforts to its customers and community. They also are required to submit a bottle of wine for a tasting by the judging committee.

Because the BRIT award is the only international award of its kind, it is of primary interest to wineries which care deeply about the environment and are taking a leading role in their community/region/country by implementing sustainable practices. Sustainable winegrowing programs are by nature, ongoing, so a key part of each program is its continual improvement process.

As a nonprofit, international plant research and knowledge sharing organization, BRIT offers this award to help raise interest and awareness of the value plants bring to our lives and the need for biodiversity.

Presentation of the platinum award to Alexander Valley Vineyards will be made in Fort Worth on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 during BRIT’s Vine to Table dinner and auction fundraising event.

BRIT’s 2019 sustainable winegrowing competition begins May 1, 2018, with the competition’s Call for Entries news release and the 2019 application is posted on the BRIT website, http://www.BRIT.org/wineaward. The submission deadline is September 1, 2018.

Perlis Picks – The New Wine Rules by Jon Bonné

January 20, 2018 by Michael Perlis Leave a Comment

A few years ago, Jon Bonné’s book The New California Wine became one of my favorite books on wine. I think some people looked at that book as the author telling people that these are the only wines you should be drinking out of the vast selection available to us. Instead, I took Mr. Bonné’s intent to be to advise his readers of which wineries he felt were most involved in pushing the boundaries of quality winemaking in California.

Admittedly, I especially appreciated Bonné’s theme as I tend to gravitate towards wine outliers myself; often those who don’t follow the standard rules.

So, I was somewhat surprised by the author’s latest book, which is all about rules. I expected to dislike this book, but I liked it – a lot. Truthfully, the “rules” read more like suggestions to make your wine-life easier, whether you be a possibly intimidated wine novice or a seasoned wine lover. And as the book reads like suggestions, the reader can feel free to choose which ones works best for him or her.

Some of the “rules” that resonated with me were…

Rule 1 – Drink the rainbow.

It’s easy to get in a rut of one color [red, white or pink] or even one varietal [sayeth the Zin Fan]. That’s a good way to do it, if you want to miss a lot.

Rule 6 – There’s a difference between “fruity” and “sweet.”

While the author tries to not get hung up on technicalities, this is a good one to remember. They definitely mean different things.

Rule 14 – Organic and biodynamic mean something specific. Natural means a different thing.

I like this one because, ironically, these terms mean very little to me as to whether I select a wine for my own drinking. Although it does make for interesting conversation while sharing a glass or two of it with fellow wine drinkers.

Rule 17 – Stop worrying about sulfites.

I love this one for all of you who complain that the sulfites gave you a headache when it is really probably because you drank too much.

Rule 23 – No two bottles of wine – even of the same wine – are exactly alike.

So many factors can contribute to bottle variation, from conditions at the winery to conditions with the consumer and anywhere in between. It is just a fact of life and what contributes to wine being so interesting.

Ditto for…

Rule 25 – The occasional faulty bottle of wine is a fact of life. Don’t let one ruin your day.

Something I need to remind myself of sometimes.

The author also provides a very nice explanation of what the various faults [corked, cooked, oxidized, brett, etc.] are. Personally, I’ve found that people can be sensitive to some faults more than others; for example, “oxidation” is my pet peeve. I also am reminded of a conversation I was having with a WSET-2 graduate [no, not Eve] who was describing a flawed wine she had tasted and said “It was corked; it was totally oxidized.” When I inquired which it was [corked or oxidized] I was met with a blank stare.

Rule 26 – A wine’s price rarely reflects its quality.

As long as we’re not talking about bargain supermarket plonk, I tend to agree. Although I still think you are more likely [but not guaranteed, of course] to get a better bottle by spending the extra bucks.

Rule 42 – Never judge a bottle by its closure.

If it were up to me, all wines would have twist-off caps.

I’ll stop with that one. There are a lot more rules in the book, 89 in total. This book is definitely worthy of your time, not just for the rules but also for the large amount of useful information that the author manages to include in a fairly small space.

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.

VINTNER KATHRYN HALL ELECTED TO CALIFORNIA SUSTAINABLE WINEGROWING ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

January 13, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

(ST. HELENA, CALIFORNIA ) – The California Wine Institute unanimously elected Vintner Kathryn Hall to the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) Board of Directors effective December 2017. The CSWA Board of Directors is made up of winegrowers representing both vineyards and wineries. CSWA is a nonprofit organization incorporated in 2003 by The Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers to develop and promote sustainable practices, tools for education and outreach, partnerships with key stakeholders, and prioritizing research.

Kathyrn Hall

“Electing Mrs. Hall to the Board of Directors brings even more talent, expertise and energy to our Board of Directors” says Allison Jordan, Executive Director of CSWA. “With over 2,000 California winegrape growers and winemakers participating in the CSWA program, California has one of the most widely adopted sustainable winegrowing programs in the world in terms of wine acreage and case production. Mrs. Hall and her HALL & WALT wineries are part of this vibrant movement, including being Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing.”

HALL and WALT luxury wine brands, owned by Kathryn Hall and husband Craig Hall, include 500 planted acres in Napa County, Sonoma County, Santa Barbara County and Mendocino County. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir producers have earned numerous certifications and accolades – 11 HALL vineyards are certified Sustainable by the CSWA, and five of the HALL estate vineyards are certified organic by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). Additionally, each of WALT’s three estate vineyards are certified sustainable by the CSWA. The CSWA and CCOF certifications have rigorous requirements and standards related to irrigation to eco-friendly farming techniques.

“I am thrilled to be elected to the CSWA Board of Directors and to participate in ways to support sustainable farming practices for our industry,” says Vintner Kathryn Hall. “These practices are a central focus for us at HALL and WALT as well as a personal commitment for me. They are also key to the long term viability of our industry. I admire the leadership of the CSWA in the area of sustainable farming and look forward to being a member of the board.”

Hall has been coined as a model for community action by pioneering green decisions and most recently was a featured speaker at Vinexpo Bordeaux to discuss achievements in sustainability. The panel of esteemed experts and global influencers who discussed critical issues facing the wine industry, specifically climate change. Hall served as the United States Ambassador to Austria from 1997-2001.

“We are delighted to have Mrs. Hall join our CSWA Board of Directors” says Steve Lohr, Board Chairman of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, and CEO of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines. “Kathryn and her team have shown their commitment to sustainability by becoming a certified participant in the CSWA program with all of their estate vineyards, and by building California’s first LEED Gold certified winery. We look forward to bringing Kathryn and her enthusiasm for sustainability to a Board that is passionate about sharing best sustainable business practices with vineyards and wineries throughout California.”

For more information, please visit www.hallwines.com and www.waltwines.com.

ABOUT CSWA: California Sustainable Winegrowing SWA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization incorporated in 2003 by Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers to develop and promote sustainable practices, tools for education and outreach, partnerships with key stakeholders, and prioritizing research. Wineries and vineyards throughout the state have to apply to earn Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing status verified by a third-party auditor through CSWA. Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing and other statewide and regional programs such as Bay Area Green Business Program, Fish Friendly Farming, Lodi Rules, Napa Green and Sustainability in Practice (SIP) play vital roles in the California wine community’s successful efforts to produce high quality wine that is environmentally sound, economically feasible and socially responsible. More than 2,000 wineries and vineyards in the state participate in the CSWA program.

ABOUT HALL: HALL produces critically acclaimed artisan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, available to taste and buy at two properties in Napa Valley as well as at hallwines.com. Owned by Craig and Kathryn Hall, its vineyard collection features seven estate vineyards, of which five are California Certified Organic (CCOF). Each vintage, Vice President of Winemaking Steve Leveque crafts distinct Cabernet Sauvignon wines which demonstrate the unique characteristics and diversity of Napa Valley terroir. HALL’s wine portfolio includes three 100 point scores given by critic Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, for its 2013 Rainin Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, its 2013 Exzellenz Red Wine and its 2010 Exzellenz Red Wine. HALL also earned the #2 spot in Wine Spectator’s “Top 100” for its 2008 Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon. Since the first vintage in 2002, over 75 HALL wines have earned 95 point scores and above, and over 250 wines have earned 90 point scores and above from the industries top critics. The HALL St. Helena winery was the first LEED® Gold Certified Winery in the State of California in 2009 and earned another LEED® Gold certification for its high tech production facility and Tasting Room in 2014, making HALL a leader in green efficiencies. For more information about HALL, please visit www.hallwines.com, @hallwines, or by calling 707.967.2626.

ABOUT WALT: WALT specializes in premier, vineyard designate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the most coveted vineyards along the Pacific Coast, spanning 1,000 miles from as far north as the Willamette Valley to the Sta. Rita Hills in Santa Barbara County. WALT represents wines of a place – these special sites where thoughtful viticulture enables winemakers to create expressive wines that reflect the signature personality of each site. WALT farms three estate vineyards and partners with meticulous growers who aspire to share standards of quality. Owned by Kathryn Walt Hall and her husband Craig, the winery honors Kathryn’s parents, Bob and Dolores Walt, who were grape growers in Mendocino County since 1972 and nurtured Kathryn’s passion for vineyards and wine. The WALT Sonoma Square Tasting Room opened in 2012 and is located in Sonoma, CA and is open to the public. For more information, please visit www.waltwines.com or by calling (707) 933-4440.

Rebel Coast Winery Crafts Crisp Marijuana-Infused Sauvignon Blanc

January 11, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Sonoma, CA- The founders of Rebel Coast Winery, an award-winning California winery with a rebellious spirit, announced the launch of the world’s first legal, alcohol-removed, cannabis infused wine. The new company’s marijuana (THC) infused, premium Sauvignon Blanc — Rebel Coast — is set to begin shipping to dispensaries and residents throughout California this year in compliance with the state’s new cannabis industry regulations. The new cannabis industry is expected to have a $7 billion dollar impact on the Golden State. The patent-pending product affects consumers in under 15 minutes and has 4mgs of THC per glass.

“If you’ve ever drank a glass of wine or tried marijuana before, you’re in luck,” said Rebel Coast Co-founder and CEO Chip Forsythe. “We’ve continued our disruptive approach to craft the world’s first cannabis-infused, alcohol-free wine. We wanted to excite the rebellious spirit in Americans through innovation, so we took two world-class California products — marijuana and wine — and created a proprietary process that resulted in a delicious, crisp and elegantly crafted Sauvignon Blanc that’s teed up to be a game changer for the wine and cannabis industries.”

“Winemakers have been making infused wine for years, but no one developed a reliable method to remove the alcohol and infuse it with cannabis’ active ingredients in a way that wasn’t impacting the quality of the wine, so it appealed to both wine and cannabis aficionados” said Rebel Coast co-founder Alex Howe. “Our infused wine is a premium product that we believe will be a hot, new dinner party trend across California and soon, the U.S. We also wanted to mimic the traditional wine drinking experience by incorporating a modest amount of THC in each serving- this is a product to be enjoyed by the masses, not the hardcore cannabis user.”

Rebel Coast’s grapes are grown in Sonoma County –California’s wine capital– and fermented through a traditional winemaking process. Then, Rebel Coast removes the wine’s alcohol and infuses each bottle of its premium Sauvignon Blanc with 16 milligrams of organic tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an active ingredient found in cannabis, responsible for a euphoric high. Finally, the infusion incorporates essential fragrant oils called terpenes, that gives the wine a pleasant marijuana aroma.

Consumers in California, who are 21 and older, can pre-order bottles for $59.99 on the Rebel Coast site, which is expected to ship early 2018. Rebel Coast plans to be distributed to more than 500 dispensaries across California by Green Reef Distributing, a licensed statewide cannabis distributor that also represents national wine and spirit accounts for forthcoming CBD products. Rebel Coast is best served chilled and should be enjoyed responsibly.

In the coming year, Rebel Coast plans to craft and release a refreshing cannabis-infused Rosé and champagne, as well as a line of Cannabidiol-infused (CBD) wines with medicinal benefits, but no psychotropic effects, in the second half of 2018. Rebel Coast will offer the wine in additional states with recreational cannabis allowances and throughout Canada in the coming months.

Feel free to follow the Rebel Coast hijinks on Instagram, or don’t. Better yet, go pre-order some of the wine here.