Ninth Taste Of Brews Long Beach Announces “Craft Championship Challenge”

August 14, 2019 by evebushman

LONG BEACH, Calif. (PRWEB) – The unique tasting event celebrates its ninth anniversary at the 12-acre, ocean-front peninsula with dozens of craft breweries and select hard ciders, seltzers and kombucha; an amazing mix that includes world-class brands, younger breweries and startups. Foodies can choose from among a variety of options including Gluten-free, Organic and Vegan provided by a diverse selection of mobile restaurants. Live musical entertainment includes the Tom Cats from Riverside and Long Beach’s own Manuel the Band, each performing in different areas of the venue.

Taste of Brews’ features high profile names like Bootleggers (Fullerton), Lagunitas (Petaluma), Ballast Point (San Diego), Sierra Nevada (Chico) and Golden Road (Los Angeles) positioned among younger breweries like Four Sons (Huntington Beach), Concrete Jungle (Ventura), Pacific Plate (Monrovia), Calidad (Los Angeles) and Chihuahua (Newport Beach). Local fan favorites include Common Space, Ten Mile, Rock Bottom, Beachwood, Belmont, Steady, Trademark, Scholb, Liberation, Timeless Pints, Ximix, Hog Canyon, House, Phantom Carriage and Hop Saint.

Other participants include Speakeasy (San Francisco), Guinness (Ireland), All-American (Anaheim), Angry Horse (Montebello), Newcastle Brown Ale (UK), Seekout Seltzer (Oregon), SLO (San Luis Obispo), No Clue (Rancho Cucamonga), Hop Valley (Oregon), 2 Towns Ciderhouse (Oregon), Pacific Plate (Monrovia) and Pizza Port (Carlsbad). Also featured are Boochcraft (Chula Vista), Estrella Jalisco (Mexico), Saint Archer (San Diego), Bocanegra (Mexico), Inquisitors (Los Angeles), Firestone Walker (Paso Robles), Stereo (Placentia), Mike’s Hard Lemonade (Canada), Phantom Carriage (Carson), Santa Ana River (Santa Ana), Rev (Covina), Divine Science (Anaheim), ABK (Germany), Ska (Colorado) and White Claw (Canada) among others.

A hallmark of Taste of Brews, the long-running festival features a number of brands and styles that are new to the marketplace and not yet carried in major retailers. These emerging breweries go head-to-head against established regional and national brands, providing attendees a truly unique tasting experience. The excitement will only be heightened with the all-new, friendly competition. A complete list of participants is located at http://tasteofbrews.com/lbtob.html.

“Taste of Brews is one of the few tasting events where I can try craft brews that I can’t find at Bevmo or Total Wine,” said Carrie Pennington of Torrance, a frequent attendee. “I also can sample larger regional and national brands at the same time. It’s a win-win for attendees.”

Gourmet food trucks include the Green Truck, Bison Burger, Tropic Truck, Middle Feast, Pinch of Flavor, Fettes Schwein, BBQ Smokehouse, Ralph & Riches and Canvas Truck, providing attendees with the largest selection of healthy eating options to date. An extensive recycling program will be in place—all food vendors are required to use environmentally friendly packaging and utensils.

Staged near the Aquarium of the Pacific and across from the iconic Queen Mary, Taste of Brews Long Beach has become a “must do” festival for craft breweries and aficionados alike. The event prides itself on delivering a quality tasting experience; focusing on craft beer and not superfluous activities that do little to enhance or showcase participating breweries.

Taste of Brews’ adheres to strict guidelines including providing sufficient breweries and representatives to speak with the public (in many cases, the brewers themselves), quality portable toilets and multiple food options per attendee, thereby cutting down on unnecessary wait times. A veteran staff provides move-in and out assistance for vendors, ongoing trash and recyclable removal and constant ice replenishment to maintain optimal beer temperature.

The festival employs more licensed/bonded security than similar events, a professional medical (EMS) staff and plenty of free drinking water provided by Essentia Water. Taste of Brews’ prides itself on consistently delivering a first-class tasting environment for breweries and genuine craft beer enthusiasts therefore no tickets are sold via discount sites ensuring an upscale audience of craft beer devotees.

The brewery, cidery, seltzer or kombucha that wins the inaugural Craft Championship Challenge will receive a host of perks as the reigning champion during the 10th Annual Taste of Brews in 2020. Benefits include first choice on positioning, “Super VIP” service throughout the event and priority move-out. In addition to yearlong bragging rights, heading into TOB, the champ will receive prominent logo placement on the Taste of Brews’ website, heightened promotional efforts and more.

Taste of Brews’ online-only pricing starts at $40.00 for the 4-hour session (noon to 4pm) and $30.00 for the 3-hour session (1pm to 4pm) which includes unlimited beer tastes, plenty of free drinking water, food samples, access to food trucks and live entertainment. Prices are due to increase in mid-July and they will be higher at the door. Purchasers of four-hour passes may enter the park early ensuring no wasted time standing in long lines outside the venue.

All attendees must be 21 or older and no children or pets are allowed; apologies but this includes strollers and babies.

Shoreline Aquatic Park AKA Lighthouse Park is located at 200 Aquarium Way in Long Beach. Parking is available at the Pike Parking Structure located at 65 Cedar Ave. for an additional fee. Proceeds benefit the Long Beach Marine Institute and Make-A-Wish OC-IE, both 501(C)(3) non-profits.

A limited number of brewery and vendor spaces remain available. Please contact brewmaster(at)tasteofbrews.com or call (714) 375-1132.

Fans can follow along at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tasteofbrews/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tasteofbrews/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TasteofBrews
YouTube: https://youtu.be/7kMx16RaBRI

Azuñia Tequila Shines with Top Marks in 2019 Ultimate Spirits Challenge

May 30, 2019 by evebushman

GLENDORA, Calif. (PRWEB) – The judges have spoken, and Azuñia Tequila once again has earned high marks for all its craft tequilas.

Azuñia Añejo was awarded the Chairman’s Trophy, the highest award a spirit can receive, with a score of 97 in the judging at the Ultimate Beverage Challenge 2019 Ultimate Spirits Challenge. The rigorous judging by the Ultimate Beverage Challenge team of experts, including renowned spirits authority F. Paul Pacult, who chaired the judging for the challenge, spirits writer and New York Times editor Clay Risen, and award-winning bar director Meaghan Dorman, provided the most professional and authoritative evaluation of spirits.

“At Azuñia, our focus is on sustainably farming the best agave and making premium quality tequila with authentic flavor. Our tequila is homegrown and handmade, crafted with care by the same family for two generations. We are incredibly proud of our team and the artistry that produces outstanding tequila year after year,” said Joe Giansante, managing director, Azuñia Tequila. “Our customers consistently tell us they love our tequila, and we are delighted that the Ultimate Spirits Challenge judges agree with them. This recognition is a well-earned nod to Azuñia’s tradition of presenting natural, organic products. We are delighted to add these accolades to our growing list of awards.”

Both Azuñia Añejo and Azuñia Blanco, which earned a score of 94 from the judges, were designated as a “Great Value.” The judges were impressed with Azuñia Añejo’s fragrance and flavors, with an “aromatic bouquet of tropical flowers, white cherry and grilled pineapple on the nose” and “candied mango, poached white cherries, and beeswax” through the finish. For Azuñia Blanco, they noted the delicate and citrusy taste as “punctuated by a distinct briny quality on the finish with more pepper and fruit.”

Azuñia Black Private Reserve received an excellent score of 90, which means it is highly recommended by the judges, who noted the “caramel, maple, and orange blossom… aromas, balanced by green chili and savory pineapple notes” and a spice-flecked, clean finish.

Azuñia Tequila is still glowing from the Double Gold “World’s Best” win from the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its Azuñia Reposado organic tequila, which only adds to the compliment paid to Reposado by the Ultimate Spirits Challenge judges, who called it “comforting yet complex” and “as radiant as straw in the sunshine in the glass.”

The Ultimate Beverage Challenge prides itself on a higher standard of evaluation for spirits, which translates into credible and relevant results for producers, distributors, and customers. The results of the Ultimate Spirit Challenge are counted on by the spirits industry to guide purchasing decisions.

And the Ultimate Spirits Challenge results aren’t the only good news to share. Azuñia Tequila also received excellent 2019 Wine Enthusiast scores. Azuñia Black Private Reserve earned a 93, while Azuñia Añejo was scored at 92 by Wine Enthusiast editor Kara Newman for the May issue of the magazine.

The 10-year old brand prides itself on staying true to its roots of farming the land properly, without additives, to produce the finest agave plants by a family owned farm on the slopes of Volcán de Tequila. This care for the land, for the people, and for the process is reflected in the multiple awards won by each of Azuñia Tequila’s products.

About Azuñia Tequila

Azuñia is smooth, clean craft tequila with authentic flavor from the local terroir in every sip. It is the exclusive export of Agaveros Unidos de Amatitán and its second-generation, family-owned-and-operated Rancho Miravalle estate, which has created exceptional tequila for over 20 years. Made with 100% pure Weber Blue Agave grown in dedicated fields of the Tequila Valley, we harvest by hand and roast the organic agave in traditional clay hornos to ensure authenticity and depth of flavor. We then finish with a natural, open-air fermentation process and bottle onsite in small batches using a consistent process to deliver field-to-bottle quality. For more information, please visit azuniatequila.com. For media inquiries, contact Jenn Barber, jbarber(at)azuniatequila(dot)com, 760-331-7914.

Maryland’s First Double Gold for Straight Bourbon Awarded to McClintock Distilling

April 22, 2019 by evebushman

FREDERICK, Md. (PRWEB) – McClintock Distilling announced today that they are the recipients of the double gold medal for their Matchstick Straight Bourbon at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition (SFWSC). This marks the first time a Maryland distillery has won double gold in the Straight Bourbon category and makes the two distillers, aged 29 and 30, two of the youngest distillers to ever win double gold for any category. McClintock joins national brands such as Knob Creek, David Nicholson and McKenna Bourbon in the double gold category and is one of the only independently owned craft brands represented this year.

McClintock Distilling released the first small batch Matchstick Straight Bourbon in December of 2018 and sold out within hours of the release. It is a wheated, rye finished bourbon and is one of the first organic-certified straight bourbons on the market. McClintock uses all non-GMO, organic, heritage grains that are milled in house using a historic-derived stone burr mill to produce their whiskies.

“We are absolutely ecstatic to win double gold at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition. It is one of the oldest and highest regarded competitions and we never dreamed that we would be considered among these other amazing whiskies. We are working hard to keep the Matchstick in stock without compromising the quality of the product. ” – Braeden Bumpers, Owner, McClintock Distilling

The company is currently sold out of the award-winning Bourbon but Bumpers says they will have a large release of the Whiskey in August. Their goal is to keep the Matchstick and their Bootjack Rye Whiskey in the market regularly by 2020. They are also planning to release more barrel-aged gins this year (Their Reserve Cognac-aged gin placed double gold last year at the NYISC).

McClintock Distilling joins Sagamore Spirit as Maryland Distilleries that earned double gold this year at the SFWSC. Both are members of the Maryland Distiller’s Guild and work to increase the knowledge and market presence of Maryland Distillers in the industry.

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is one of the oldest of its kind and was founded in 2000. It is founded on integrity and impartiality with a blind judging process. The competition brings in some of the highest regarded judges in the world and as such as become one of the world’s most esteemed spirits competitions.

McClintock Distilling also won Silver medals for their Bootjack Rye Whiskey, Forager Gin, Reserve Gin and Maryland-Heritage White Whiskey as well as Bronze Medals for their Gardener’s Gin, Epiphany Vodka and Spiced Pear Cordial at the SFWSC this year.

Learn more at http://www.mcclintockdistilling.com. If you would like more information about this topic please contact Braeden Bumpers at 202-557-9914 or email at braeden (at) mcclintockdistilling (dot) com.

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.

Vintage Eve 3/2016: Tasting Tarantas Wines

March 26, 2019 by evebushman

On the heels of taking my American Wine Specialist certification I got sent these three wines from Spain that reminded me that I not only am a wine 101er when tasting the hybrid grapes turned into wine that some of our states use, there are others, like these Spanish varieties below, that my palate is excited to be “educated” on also. Yes, I was familiar with Tempranillo, but the others – organic Bobal, organic Macabeo and Airén grapes – I was not. Until now.

From Facebook

Tarantas Tiene Cuerpo y Alma ~ Wine with Body and Soul from the Heart of Spain. Pure organic wines capturing the essence of Spain in every glass.

2012 Tempranillo

My Notes:

Blackest of cherries in color, opaque. Heavy fruit-laden nose of blackberry, ripe blueberry, a soft lush minty quality, milk chocolate, sweet and dusty. On the mouth red fruit, sharp tannins, green peppercorn, and a bit of salted cracker. Can’t wait for my pizza to arrive to enjoy this one with food. 87 Eve pts.

Their Notes:

Made with the finest 100% organic Tempranillo grapes, Tarantas Crianza is a quality organic wine that tastes great! Aged in French and American Oak Barrels for a minimum of 6 months.

Known as the “People’s Grape” in Spain, Tempranillo is a versatile wine that pairs well with a variety of Mediterranean foods. Tarantas is perfect for sharing with friends over a meal, be it a casual picnic, party, tapas and conversation or a farm-to-table dinner. It’s a wine that calls for the next bite.

The wine is a dark red, with strong and complex aromas, a mixture of fruity and high roast aromas. Balanced and well structured in harmony with flavors of cranberries and blackberries that combine well with toasted flavors. Finishes with a crisp honeyed dried citrus and dusty tannin fade.

NV Sparkling Rosé

My Notes:

Very festive looking in the glass as the color is of cranberry sauce and the bubbles are tiny yet boisterous as they filter to the top and I get to hear them pop. On the nose, and yes this was in a fluted glass, I got whiffs of strawberry jam on toast, salt air, raspberry, red cherry and wet pebbles. Tart and biting on the palate, more red fruit, with a mushroom earthy quality and a medium to short finish. Craved chocolate covered strawberries with this. 88 Eve pts.

Their Notes:

Made from 100% organic Bobal, one of Spain’s most unique and popular grapes. In addition to the delightful flavor and bubbly essence of the wine, some of the highest tested levels of the natural antioxidant Resveratrol can be found in monovarietal wines from southeast Spain’s Bobal grape.

“The Bobal grape appears to have more faces than we imagined; here it is as a sparkling wine with dried strawberry notes in the nose and red currants in the mouth. The finish is soft, not sweet, and the gentle character of the wine belies its ability to handle stronger flavors, even grilled fish and chicken.” – Wines from Spain.com

NV Sparkling White

My Notes:

Interesting yellow color, a sparkling yellow 24 karat gold. Aromas of yellow cling peaches, green apple, pineapple were also found in the taste, along with crisp pear, good acidity and a honeyed sweetness. Reminiscent of a hard cider. I think this one would work with a nice wedge of white cheddar and sliced apples. 87 Eve pts.

Their Notes:

Made with a blend of 100% organic Macabeo and Airén grapes, for a wonderfully dry effervescent wine.

“Two of the great merits of sparkling wine are its ability to cleanse the palate and to match up against a wide variety of foods. Even in this version’s softer and gentler, there is a citric tartness that proves this is a great foil for seafood and even fried foods.” – Wines from Spain.com

About Tarantas Wines

The Tarantas brand name and label was inspired by the free-flowing, open art form of Flamenco song and dance of the same name, celebrated in Southeast Spain. “Pure wines capturing the essence of Spain in every glass,” Tarantas Wines are made with 100% certified organic grapes. The wines are produced by Bodegas Iranzo, based in the old-world village of Requena, only a stone’s throw from the historic and metropolitan city of Valencia. The winery produces some of Spain’s Oldest Estate Bottled Wines, with the first recorded written evidence of the vineyard Cañada Honda Estate owned by the Iranzo Perez–Duque family dating back to 1335 as granted by King Pedro I of Castilla. For more information visit www.tarantaswines.com.

Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years. She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

USDA and Non GMO Products Offer Healthier Options for Drake’s Organic Spirits

March 17, 2019 by evebushman

MINNEAPOLIS (PRWEB) – Drake’s Organic Spirits announced today that it has introduced new handcrafted Mojito, Moscow Mule and Vodkarita organic mixes created specifically to be blended with Drake’s award-winning Organic White Rum and Drake’s Premium Organic Vodka. The mixes provide consumers, restaurants, bars and venues with turn-key delicious and healthier cocktails. Drake’s is the first and only spirit line in the world to be certified USDA Organic, Vegan, Non-GMO Project Verified, Gluten-Free and Kosher.

Drake’s Organic Mixes will soon be available nationally at select retail locations and by visiting http://www.drakesorganicspirits.com.

“The right mix makes a good cocktail great,” said Drake’s founder and CEO Mark Anderson. “Drake’s Organic Mixes are convenient, healthier and delicious. Organic products taste better and are better for our planet and bodies. Our spirits and mixes are no exception.”

Proceeds from the sale of Drake’s Organic Spirits and Drake’s Organic Mixes help support Long Lake Animal Rescue, an animal rescue foundation that takes in animals in need of a second chance at life.

About Drake’s Organic Spirits
Minneapolis-based Drake’s Organic Spirits was launched in 2017. Drake’s uses the highest quality USDA organic and non-GMO Project Verified ingredients to create a line of ultra- premium spirits. Drake’s Organic Vodka, Drake’s Organic White Rum and Drakes Organic Spiced Rum offer a no grain, no gluten, no gmo, ultra-premium, 12 times distilled handcrafted spirits at a better price than the leading premium brands.

For more information, please visit http://www.drakesorganicspirits.com, facebook: http://www.facebook.com/drakesorganic/, Instagram: @drakesorganic

Drake’s Organic Spirits Receives Global Vegan Certification

December 2, 2018 by evebushman

MINNEAPOLIS (PRWEB) – Drake’s Organic Spirits announced today that it has met the rigid standards and guidelines for Vegan Certification by the globally-recognized and respected Vegan Awareness Foundation. Drake’s is the first and only spirit line in the world to be certified USDA Organic, Vegan, Non-GMO Project Verified, Gluten-Free and Kosher.

Many consumers assume that alcohol is naturally vegan. However, animal derivatives can either be in the beverage itself as an ingredient or can be infused into the drink through the filtration process. Some hidden animal byproducts found in alcoholic drinks include: albumen (egg white), albumin (egg or dried blood), carmine (insect), casein (milk), charcoal (animal bone), chitin (shellfish), gelatin (connective tissue of cow or pig), honey (bees), isinglass (fish bladder membranes), lactose (milk), and pepsin (pigs). In addition, charred animal bones are often used as part of the sugar-refining process. Drake’s Organic Spirits uses a unique coconut fiber filtration process that is eco-friendly and ensures no animal derivatives are used as ingredients or in the production of the company’s ultra-premium spirits.

“Drake’s Organic Spirits is committed to providing a premium drinking experience that is also healthier, eco-friendly and ethical,” said Drake’s founder and CEO Mark Anderson. “We’re thrilled to be certified by the highly respected Vegan Awareness Foundation. It provides assurance to every vegan who enjoys a cocktail that Drake’s provides healthier drinking options.”

Proceeds from the sale of Drake’s Organic Spirits helps support Long Lake Animal Rescue, an animal rescue foundation that takes in animals in need of a second chance at life.

For more information, please visit http://www.drakesorganicspirits.com, facebook: http://www.facebook.com/drakesorganic/, Instagram: @drakesorganic, or contact email sales: info(at)drakesorganicspirits.com.

Vinexpo New York Returns to the Big Apple March 4-5, 2019

November 7, 2018 by evebushman

NEW YORK – Returning for its second year, Vinexpo New York – the leading international exhibition for wine and spirits professionals in North America – will take place March 4-5, 2019 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The exhibit is strategically organized to ensure the creation and growth of business relationships between international producers and American importers, distributors, retailers, brokers, e-commerce representatives, on-trade buyers and sommeliers. Registration for attendees is now open, with an early bird rate offered through Nov. 30, 2018.

Jointly organized with Diversified Communications, Vinexpo New York is open exclusively to trade professionals and features two days of business meetings, educational conferences, master classes, tastings and networking events. Mary Larkin, executive vice president of Diversified Communications remarked, “After the remarkable success of Vinexpo New York 2018, we are thrilled to partner with Vinexpo for another year and welcome back the international wine and spirits industry to the world’s largest wine-consuming market.”

Signature offerings like Vinexpo’s complimentary One to Wine Meetings matchmaking service will return to New York in 2019, and exhibitors and attendees can also look forward to new features like WOW! World of Organic Wines, an exhibit and tasting area devoted exclusively to organic and biodynamic wines and spirits from around the world. Complete 2019 programming will be announced shortly.

“As last year’s exhibit showed, the demand to break into the U.S. market is greater than ever before,” said Christophe Navarre, president of the Vinexpo Supervisory Board. “With a list of exhibitors that is constantly expanding, Vinexpo New York will once again be the single best opportunity for U.S. importers, distributors, sommeliers and other trade professionals to meet hundreds of international producers in one location.”

Exhibitors at Vinexpo New York will represent wine-producing regions from around the globe, including many that are introducing products to the North American market for the first time. To date, countries returning to exhibit include: Argentina, Austria, France, Germany, Greece and Italy, as well as Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain and the United States. New to the 2019 show floor, thus far, are exhibitors from China, Romania and Serbia.

For more information or to register to attend, visit https://www.vinexponewyork.com/.

About Vinexpo

Since its establishment in Bordeaux in 1981, on the initiative of Bordeaux Gironde’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vinexpo has been a leading organizer of events for the wine and spirits industry. In 37 years, Vinexpo has developed a unique understanding of the market and an extensive network of key distributors around the World. The brand currently runs exhibitions in four set locations (Bordeaux, Hong Kong, New York and soon Paris), and the touring event Vinexpo Explorer. The Group also publishes every year the Vinexpo/IWSR Report, which is the most comprehensive survey of the global consumption of wine and spirits. For more information, visit www.vinexpo.com. Join Vinexpo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

ZD Wines Celebrates 50 Years of Family Winemaking

September 2, 2018 by evebushman

NAPA, Calif. (PRWEB) – ZD Wines has announced that the 2018 harvest will mark 50 years of winemaking for this Napa Valley family. Founded in 1969 by Norman and Rosa Lee deLeuze, ZD Wines is committed to producing world-class wines, farming organically and providing first-class hospitality, all while supporting many charitable efforts.

Today, the second and third generations of the deLeuze family carry on the family legacy, producing wines from their certified organic vineyards in Rutherford and Carneros, as well as organic vineyards in Napa, Santa Barbara, Monterey and Sonoma. With innovative winemaking practices, they produce wines of quality, consistency and style.

“Our parents, Norman and Rosa Lee deLeuze, were dedicated to producing the highest quality wines and strived to raise the bar of excellence across the board,” said their son, Brett deLeuze, President of ZD Wines. “As we head into our 50th harvest, we are honored to carry on their vision and winemaking traditions.”

ZD Wines is known for three core varietals including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. They also produce two small production whimsical wines, named “Rosa Lee” and this fall they will release their first-ever sparkling wine to commemorate their 50-year anniversary. This fall ZD will also release their 20th Bottling of Abacus, ZD’s pinnacle and innovative solera style wine that is a blend of every vintage of their Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon dating back to 1992.

The deLeuze family has a rich history of embracing an ecologically sensitive approach to all aspects of their operation. With a focus on producing world-class wines, ZD’s certified organic vineyards promote biodiversity using the best technologies of the day, as well as time honored farming methods. The winery and vineyards use solar energy, bio fuels, composting, cover cropping, recycling, water conservation, electric vehicles, and more, to conserve and enhance our planet. ZD Wines is certified by CCOF, Fish Friendly Farming, Napa Green Winery, and California Certified Sustainable Winegrowing.

“Our father believed that great wines are made from healthy vines grown in rich, living soils,” said Robert deLeuze, CEO of ZD Wines. “We are dedicated to taking care of our planet and our community. It’s at the core of who we are as a family and who we are as a business.”

The deLeuze family is also dedicated to giving back. Their annual fundraising events include Crush Challenge and ZD’s Summer Wine Celebration. A strong emphasis is placed on the Napa Valley Boys & Girls Club Teen Center as the beneficiary of these events, as well as The deLeuze Family Charitable Foundation that benefits research to find a non-toxic cure for Lymphoma (Founder, Norman deLeuze succumbed to this disease in 2007). Each week, the deLeuze family and ZD team deliver healthy snacks to the Napa Valley Boys & Girls Club Teen Center. The deLeuze family also provides an annual $500 grant to each employee to gift to local charities of their choosing, and each year they participate in charity events around the country.

To mark their 50th anniversary, ZD Wines is hosting two Napa Valley events on Saturday, September 8. The first event is an exclusive wine tasting and harvest lunch hosted at ZD’s Rutherford estate winery. That event will be followed that evening with the “ZD’s 50th Anniversary Bash” taking place at CIA at Copia in downtown Napa where ZD will host a silent auction for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa. More information can be found here.

About ZD Wines
ZD Wines is owned and operated by the deLeuze family who is dedicated to producing world-class wines, farming organically and giving back to the community. The winery is located in the Rutherford region of the Napa Valley. Their hospitality center offers sweeping valley views of premium Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards and the Mayacamas mountain range to the west. The deLeuze family produces wines from their certified organic Napa Valley vineyards in Rutherford and Carneros, as well as organic vineyards in Napa, Santa Barbara, Monterey and Sonoma. With innovative winemaking practices, they produce wines of quality, consistency and style. ZD Wines is currently celebrating 50 years of winemaking and can be found online at ZDWines.com and @ZDWines on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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

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

(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