Carter Creek Winery Earns 10 More Medals

March 21, 2022 by evebushman

JOHNSON CITY, Texas – Carter Hospitality Group is pleased to announce that its Carter Creek Winery in the heart of Texas Hill Country was awarded 10 prestigious awards at the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (SFCWC), which took place January 11 to 14 with over 55 industry professionals serving as judges as they evaluated 5,700 wines from more than 1,100 wineries throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The SFCWC is the largest competition in North America and over its 22 years has become one of the world’s most respected wine competitions. Its esteemed judges come from the worlds of winemaking, media, trade, education and restaurant/hospitality industries.

“These awards, including two Best of Class, one Double Gold and two Gold are very important to us and our team, led by veteran winemaker Jon McPherson, as they validate our experience, expertise and dedication to the wines we produce at Carter Creek Winery. We look forward to displaying the awards from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition in our handsome tasting rooms,” said Jeff Carter, president of Carter Hospitality.

Carter Creek’s vineyards in Texas Hill Country produce varietals especially unique due to the combination of an extremely warm growing season and an early harvest delivering softer, earth-driven wines. The 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Awards for Carter Creek Winery include Best in Class for NV Dominum Tinto and for NV Sangria. A Double Gold award was given to NV Sparkling, and Golds were earned by 2016 Plateau Red and 2018 Viognier-Roussanne. NV Brut, 2017 Maverick, 2018 Maverick and 2017 Viognier-Roussanne earned Silver designations. A Bronze award was given to 2016 Tempranillo.

Producing award-winning wines since 2016, Carter Creek Winery is a sister winery to Temecula, California’s award-winning South Coast Winery Resort & Spa and Carter Estate Winery and Resort. Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa features 78 luxury villas, a spa, tasting rooms, restaurant, its own onsite microbrewery creating small batch craft beers and an outdoor event center, which features top musical acts.

About Carter Hospitality Group

Established in 2011, Carter Hospitality Group, LLC. is a family-owned hospitality company with four hotels and resorts as well as three wineries across the United States. Based in Orange County, California, the company manages and owns a portfolio of luxury properties including South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, Temecula, California; Carter Estate Winery and Resort, Temecula California; and Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa, Texas Hill Country. Carter Hospitality Group additionally serves as the owner-franchisee for Red Lion Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista South, Orlando Florida. For more information, visit www.carterhospitality.com.

Reviewing the 2019 Château du Moulin-à-Vent Beaujolais

February 18, 2022 by evebushman

Given the opportunity to taste, learn and review a Beaujolais wine from Moulin a Vent and I snatched at it.

This would be their 2019 vintage, shared by owner/director Edouard Parinet and his father Jean-Jacques who co-runs the winery.

From the 2019 Château du Moulin-à-Vent Vintage Report

Several factors made this vintage quite unique … the harvest came very late, it was the sunniest year since 1990, and it was also the lowest yielding year since 2009. This flagship wine is produced from selections of the harvest from three top terroirs of Moulin-à-Vent, all located near the fifteenth century windmill at the heart of the Moulin-à-Vent appellation.

More on this Vintage:

1,784 hours of sun versus 1,459 hours in average.
Sunniest year since 1990.
An early morning frost on April 4 affected 40% of the vineyard.
The wine was a late vintage, harvest started on September 11 an ended on September 18.
80 pickers, all by hand, 35% whole cluster.
Juices are concentrated due to smaller berries.
Frost and heatwaves gave them the lowest yield in the past 19 years.
Rainfall in August allowed for maintained acidity levels.
Wine should be balanced, full-bodied, silky, aromatic and fine.
Fermentation ran between 15 and 30 days with the average being 20 to 25 for the domain.
Harvest Order by terroir : La Rochelle, Les Vérillats, Les Caves (‘Grands Savarins’), Les Thorins, Champ de Cour, Clos de Londres, Moulin-à-Vent.

In General:

Moulin-à-Vent is one the 10 Crus in Beaujolais, and one of the first AOCs.
Moulin-à-Vent means windmill, and wind has an important impact on the fruit.
There is age-ability to these wines, 20-30 years according to Parinet.

Château du Moulin-à-Vent Notes

Beaujolais region, Gamay grape

13% alcohol

EB Tasting Notes: Started with noticing a dark purple color, slightly brown on the edge indicative of age – an older wine – which surprised me for a 2019 so it may more be due to it being a “late vintage” compared to other years. On the nose I got aromas of ripe blueberries, lots of both fresh and dried red berries, sweet charred steak and freshly turned earth. The taste reminded me of a smooth and silky raspberry jam, plums, with a lively acidity and very tingly long finish. Very pleasant without food before dinner.

From Beaujolias.com: Why is Moulin a Vent referred to as the king of Beaujolais?

It used to be called the Romanèche-Thorins appellation. Strangely enough, only after the appellation name changed did it become one of the few Beaujolais wines not named after a specific commune. It is the strength and power emanating from the old windmill overlooking the vineyards that earned the appellation its name.

Château du Moulin-à-Vent

Wine Spectator Video with Director Edouard Parinet

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Tasting Sustainable Wines From Herdade do Esporão

February 11, 2022 by evebushman

It’s been a while since I’ve had the opportunity to taste and study wines from Portugal so I was very interested in sampling four that I‘d never had before – two whites and two reds from Herdade do Esporão – and learning all about them. Here is an excerpt from the invitation:

Esporão Group Chairman João Roquette, one of the most influential people in the Portuguese wine industry today, will brief us on Esporao Group, his vision for the future and his take on the Portuguese wine industry. Herdade do Esporão lead winemaker, Sandra Alves, will talk about the estate and taste through the wines.

What I Learned

Both Roquette and Alves shared the efforts that the winery has made in creating holistic, sustainable and organic vineyards via composting, natural pest control, no chemicals in the farming, beneficial insects, animal grazing and soil maintenance. They spent twelve years educating themselves and visiting other wineries as they worked on their own sustainable program, and are now 100% organic.

Alves has 20 years of experience with Esporão. And Roquette’s family has owned the winery for two generations. Their workers are all part of the team, sharing in the work and benefits.

Their products, including olive oil and a craft brewery, express their agricultural place. Eighty percent of their products were originally sold in Portugal, now that percentage has gone down to thirty-five with the balance being sold internationally.

They do purchase some grapes beyond their estate for entry-level wine.And they produce 16 billion bottles per year, though their country is not large like Spain or France, more the size of Holland.

The Wines (Abbreviated technical sheet information, and finding some of the same tasting notes, are all in italics)

Esporão Colheita White 2020 / SRP $18

Concept: Wine produced solely from grapes grown at Herdade do Esporão, applying organic farming methods. Expresses the typical features of this vintage, diversity of the soil where the vines are planted, as well as the character and identity of the selected varieties.

Grape Varieties: Antão Vaz, Viosinho, Alvarinho and others. 13.5% alcohol

EB Notes: Golden Delicious yellow apple, white flower, lemon zest and green tea on the nose with flavors that were fresh and zesty, lemon, grapefruit and minerals with a long finish.

Esporão Reserva White 2020 / SRP $20

Concept: A classic wine obtained exclusively from our organic grapes. The diversity of Herdade do Esporão, together with the different characteristics of the grape varieties, the soils, the maturity of the vines and the character of those who make this wine consistently over the years, results in a rich, intense but always harmonious wine.

Grape Varieties: Antão Vaz, Arinto, Roupeiro and others. 13.5% alcohol.

Awards from Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast.

EB Notes: Aromas of bruised fruit, incense and a surprise of mint followed by a mouth that reminded me of an older wine though it was young, balanced fruit, flint, smoke, muted but interesting.

Esporão Colheita Red 2018 / SRP $18

Concept: Wine with sense of place, intense, direct, and vibrant. Expresses the typical features of the vintage year, diversity of the soil where the vines are planted, as well as the character and identity of the selected varieties.

Grape Varieties: Touriga Nacional, Aragonez, Touriga Franca, Cabernet Sauvignon and Alicante Bouschet. 14% alcohol.

Awards from Wine Spectator.

EB Notes: Hello LEATHER on the nose, like a well-worn saddle! That blew off somewhat but still lingered with the addition of sweat, tree bark and dark fruit. On the palate I noted dry fruit, that same smoke, oak, Espresso and tannins.

Esporão Reserva Red 2018 / SRP $25

Concept: The first wine made by Esporão in 1985. Obtained from grapes grown at Herdade do Esporão, it shows the consistency and rich character typical of the best Alentejo wines.

Label illustrated by Anne Geene.

Grape Varieties: Aragonez, Trincadeira, Syrah, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alicante Bouschet. 14.5% alcohol.

High scores from Robert Parker and Wine Enthusiast.

EB Notes: Earthy, dark fruit, velvety, fennel, green peppercorn, spice rack – very aromatic aromas. The taste had the same spicy qualities as well as a sweetness that counterbalanced all of the dark berry flavors, very long finish.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

North-Eastern Spain experiences an extremely generous harvest

January 18, 2022 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Local harvest reports issued by Cava, Montsant and Pla de Bages appellations reveal North-East Spain has experienced an abundant and quality harvest in 2021.

Despite a longer than usual harvest due climatic factors, Cava collected 300 million kilos of grapes. According to the Regulatory Board’s Technical Services: “The grapes are in good health, with a suitable acidity and alcohol content for the production of excellent Cavas.” The 2021 vintage will be the first vintage in which wineries will distinguish their wines by the grapes’ sourcing territory, since the new zones and sub-zones approved by the Designation of Origin Regulatory Council came into force. Organic production continues to grow too, in anticipation of further quality oriented changes in PDO regulations whereby Cava de Guarda Superior wines must be made from 100% organically grown grapes by 2025. Organic Cava production has increased by more than 245% in the last 5 years, from 4 million bottles in 2016 to 13.8 million in 2020, and last year organic Cava accounted for 6.4% of the total appellation volume – in number of bottles.

A great result has been achieved also by Montsant DO appellation whose harvest amounts to 8,7 million kilos of grapes, with an increase of 50% with respect to 2020. Last time such a plentiful harvest was recorded was in 2016. The reasons for this increase can be traced back to the snowfall at the beginning of the 2021 season which allowed vines to store water, as well as to the regular summer rainfalls. As far as varieties, red grapes represent 93% of the total, 60% of which are Garnacha and Cariñena. As for white grapes, Garnacha blanca and Macabeo remain the main varieties, amounting to 90% of the total white grapes harvested.

An increase has been registered also for DO Pla de Bages, thanks to both new vineyards and a favourable season which led to 1,700,000 kilos of grapes. In this case too, regular rainfalls during all the growing season have benefited a more abundant yield and yet proper ripening of the berries.

The program: European quality wines: taste the difference is a project financed by the European Union and managed by Unione Italiana Vini and PRODECA for the promotion of PDO and PGI European wines abroad in China and US. In order to achieve this objective, the TTD.EU program will organize wine seminars, workshops and b2b meetings both in these countries and in Spain and Italy, inviting wine professionals to join study trips to Europe. The program, realized in the span of three years (2021-2023) aims at creating awareness about European quality wines, in particular Italian and Spanish, which share a long tradition and a high standard of quality.

The beneficiaries: Unione Italiana Vini is the oldest and most commissioned Association of the Italian wine market. It represents cooperative, private and agricultural wine-companies, bottlers, consortia, associations and wine-making machines or wine cellars / laboratory manufacturers, located throughout the Italian territory. Promotora de Exportaciones Catalanas (PRODECA) is a public company established in 1986 and part of the “Ministry of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda of the Government of Catalonia”. It supports the agri-food sector and its companies with the knowledge, tools and experience to increase their products in Catalunya and worldwide.

Ever heard of the red grape Trepat? Get to know Conca de Barberà through the “European quality Wines: taste the difference” project

January 3, 2022 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Conca de Barberà, set north of the Tarragona, is a small, almost unknown wine region in north-eastern Spain.
https://www.parkviewortho.com/wp-content/languages/new/levitra.html

Bound by the Francoli river and its headwater Anguera, it was formed by vigorous water erosion. Situated at elevations ranging from 350 to 900 meters above sea level and benefiting from a Mediterranean climate, elevation, slope and exposure differences throughout the region contribute in creating a wide range of microclimates. Conca de Barberà was officially recognized as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) in 1985.

Photo from: Do Conca de Barberà

Its most important varieties are Trepat, along with Macabeu and Parellada, but what really defines Conca de Barberà is the Trepat, a native grape variety that can be found only in this area. Given its voluminous berries, Trepat was traditionally used to make the region’s flagship rosé wine, and it coexists in the Conca de Barberà region with other indigenous and imported varieties. Nowadays, local producers are devoted to showing Trepat at its best, both as rosé and red expressions. The rosés feature a clean raspberry color and fruity notes, whereas reds exhibit ruby hues with fresh red fruit aromas. While the production of rosés using Trepat is traditional to the area, the production of red wines only began in the 21st century, with the first launch of a single-variety wine in 2004. Now, Trepat is broadly used by wineries within the region.

About TASTE THE DIFFERENCE PROGRAM
The program: European quality wines: taste the difference is a project financed by the European Union and managed by Unione Italiana Vini and PRODECA for the promotion of PDO and PGI European wines abroad in China and US. In order to achieve this objective, the TTD.EU program will organize wine seminars, workshops and b2b meetings both in these countries and in Spain and Italy, inviting wine professionals to join study trips to Europe. The program, realized in the span of three years (2021-2023) aims at creating awareness about European quality wines, in particular Italian and Spanish, which share a long tradition and a high standard of quality.

Why Empordà should be on your European quality wine list

December 28, 2021 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – It’s high time Empordà wines gained the recognition they deserve, The last wine journalist to have acknowledged their quality has been critic Jancis Robinson who has praised Empordà wines in the Financial Times. “Cool Catalans” reads the title of her article where she reports about her most recent visit to the Spanish region and how it has become an example of serious wine production.

From: With Husband in Tow.

Wine culture reached Catalonia around the 6th century BC. The area was then the most important Greek colony in Spain, and Emporiae was the Greek city that later gave its name to the Empordà region. In the Middle Ages, when vines were grown near abbeys and monasteries, the terraced vineyards cultivated by the Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes covered the slopes of the Rodes Mountain range. It is here that the winemaking monk Ramon Pere de Noves learned to master the winemaking art and wrote a treatise on the subject.

The region’s growers have chosen to forget international varieties, and are now focusing on native varieties. The most important are the red grapes Garnacha and Carignan, which more and more wineries vinify in single-vineyard expressions, thus offering interpretations of terroir subtleties. Juicy and vibrant, these red wines show the long-forgotten potential of the region. Most recently, Empordà producers have been increasingly investing time and energy white varieties, especially native ones, such as Lledoner Blanc (Grenache Blanc), Lledoner Roig (Grenache Gris) and Carinyena Blanc (Carignan Blanc). Grenache Gris in particular has been at the core of a Renaissance movement, casting new light on this aromatic variety that gives life to crispy whites. Both family wineries and coops have embraced a quality approach and the results are visible and are starting to be appreciated outside the region as much as within. “Empordà is very definitely on the move” wraps up Jancis Robinson.

Promotora de Exportaciones Catalanas (PRODECA) is a public company established in 1986 and part of the “Ministry of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda of the Government of Catalonia”. It supports the agri-food sector and its companies with the knowledge, tools and experience to increase their products in Catalunya and worldwide.

Chateau de Berne Celebrates Top 100 Placement from Wine Enthusiast for Its Inspiration Rose Wine

December 26, 2021 by evebushman

PROVENCE, France, /PRNewswire/ — MDCV celebrates the top 100 wine placement from Wine Enthusiast Magazine for its Inspiration Rosè, the only Cotes de Provence Rose to be included in the Top 100. Reviewer Roger Voss said, “Aging on the lees has allowed this wine to have the depth and ripe concentration, which contrast well with the bright red-berry flavors and spicy, tight aftertaste. Drink now for best enjoyment.” The wines of Chateau de Berne are all made by Alexis Cornu, winemaker, and oenologist at Berne since 2016. Inspiration is sold in an exclusive square bottle that is a tribute to the square towers that grace the entrance gates to the Berne Estate. This design is inspired by its Roman architecture and a nod to the estate’s long history of winemaking dating back to Roman times.

Château de Berne is nestled in the rolling hills of Provence, in the South of France, one hour from Saint-Tropez between the villages of Lorgues and Flayosc. A remote winding road leads to the exquisite estate in its stunning, pristine natural environment. The Relais & Château estate includes a five-star hotel as well as a Michelin-starred restaurant “Le Jardin de Berne” which features an eco-conscious approach to fine dining. In 2021, “Le Jardin” received the new Michelin Green Star distinction, awarded for exemplary sustainable restaurant practices. Completed by the Cinq Mondes spa, cooking school and various leisure activities, Château de Berne offers food & wine lovers, athletes, adventurers, and those simply looking for quiet contemplation, the promise of an unforgettable experience.

World-famous for its rosé wines, Provence is less well-known for the outstanding variety of its terroirs. The Côtes-de-Provence appellation alone spans six vast territories, running from East to West, each with its own unique soil type, geography, and climate. Located in the Haut-Pays (Highland) area, Château de Berne is characterized by limestone hills and shallow valleys. This renowned area of Provence yields structured reds and fruity, delicate whites and rosés. The estate combines the best of two worlds in terms of geology and altitude. The heart of Berne’s vineyard, where 80 % of its vines are rooted, is located on a chalky plateau, at an altitude of almost 1000 ft. Cool nights, combined with a broad daytime temperature range, allow the grapes to mature at a slower pace, thus enhancing the wine’s freshness and delicate aromas.

Chateau de Berne Inspiration Rosé is imported by Provence Rose’ Group and retails at $21.99 and is available wherever wine is sold.

For more information on the Estate, please see www.chateauberne.com/en

Instagram & Facebook – @chateaudeberne

Keep up with the latest news on https://provencerose.com/

SOURCE Château de Berne

High-altitude vineyards and quality wines: Terra Alta DO reaches new heights

December 20, 2021 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – The most southerly DO wine area in the region of Catalonia, Terra Alta is nestled among the mountains, approximately 60 miles south of Tarragona. As mentioned in the name itself, which translates into High Land, Terra Alta has always been forced to face the limits of mountain regions: difficult and rare communication and trade exchanges, as well as limited mechanization and development of secondary and tertiary sectors. This has inevitably shaped the local wine production whose origins date back to Roman times and whose expansion was hampered by the lack of effective trade routes.

In recent years, this background has proven to be a winning combination. Old vineyards, native varieties such as Garnacha Blanca and Morenillo, and small family businesses – along with some coops that have played an important social role during the most difficult years – have secured attention from wine lovers looking for quality, stories and sustainability. Sustainable practices in the vineyards are possible thanks to the hilly terrain and El Cierzo, a local dry wind originating in the Ebro River valley that moderates temperatures during the growing season and prevents mildew disease on the vines. Finally, limestone soils help retain the acidity in white wines and provide red wines with a delicate profile.

All this has led to a renaissance of the region in the last decade, resulting in modern Mediterranean style wines. Terra Alta is now the fastest growing PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) in the region of Catalonia, ranking third as far as consumer preferences among the wines of the Catalan PDO based on a Nielsen study. Fresh and aromatic whites are based mainly on Garnacha Blanca which represents the soul of DO Terra Alta: nowadays, 33% of the world’s White Garnacha is grown in the Terra Alta, a percentage that represents 75% of this grape’s production in Spain. Delicate and fruity reds are produced from Garnacha, Carignan, Tempranillo and Morenillo.

Terra Alta, which gained Picasso’s attention for its imponent landscapes, is now a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Its cultural heritage is also noteworthy, with two wineries that are part of the so-called wine cathedrals, two modernist jewels located in Pinell de Brai (1918) and Gandesa (1919).

About TASTE THE DIFFERENCE PROGRAM
The program: European quality wines: taste the difference is a project financed by the European Union and managed by Unione Italiana Vini and PRODECA for the promotion of PDO and PGI European wines abroad in China and the US. In order to achieve this objective, the TTD.EU program will organize wine seminars, workshops and b2b meetings both in these countries and in Spain and Italy, inviting wine professionals to join study trips to Europe. The program, realized in the span of three years (2021-2023) aims at creating awareness about European quality wines, in particular Italian and Spanish, which share a long tradition and a high standard of quality.

The beneficiaries: Unione Italiana Vini is the oldest and most commissioned Association of the Italian wine market. It represents cooperative, private and agricultural wine-companies, bottlers, consortia, associations and wine-making machines or wine cellars / laboratory manufacturers, located throughout the Italian territory. Promotora de Exportaciones Catalanas (PRODECA) is a public company established in 1986 and added to the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food of the Government of the “Generalitat de Catalunya.”

The Region’s Best Kept Secrets: Bourgogne Wines With Bourgogne Wine Ambassador James King

December 17, 2021 by evebushman

Well color me happy, was invited to my first press event in Las Vegas – and it was organized by the Bourgogne Wine Board. For my wine 101ers Bourgogne is the correct word to use for the region of Burgundy, France. And for my wine 101ers that drink U.S. made Pinot Noir and not Burgundy: it’s the same grape but Bourgogne is where the varietal was born (among others). So the French terroir – winemaking, soil, history, and climate – is hundreds of years older than ours in the USA. Doesn’t mean better, just different, and as the French say, “Viva La Difference!”

This event was led by Bourgogne Wine Ambassador James King, which meant I was destined to learn much more about Bourgogne wines. And if that wasn’t enough it was over a luncheon at Ada’s Wine Bar, reputed to be one of the best wine bars in Las Vegas.

From the Invitation

Bourgogne is renowned worldwide for producing some of the finest wines with its unique terroir and savoir-faire, which are translated to each of our 84 appellations. Some of them have reached the status of icon and some are still to be brought to the light. Join us to (re) discover Bourgogne through a selection of appellations.

Tasting and Learning

Our lecturer King is a WSET teacher and right off the bat wanted us to learn that the word Bourgogne, pronounced Boar-Gown to me, was to be used instead of the generally accepted term Burgundy for this wine-growing region of France.

The wine tasting would be with food as that is the most traditional, King said. We would look for “balance, integration, whether the wines were too heavy, over-oaked” and we would learn that “not all Bourgogne wines are expensive.” A Bourgogne drinker could easily, “work their way up” from inexpensive Bourgogne wines and still enjoy them very much.

We had nine wines, six whites and three reds, that we tasted blind. Not my favorite way to taste but by the end of the tasting I had an idea as to why King led us this way: We all have preconceived notions of the value of a wine based on where it’s from and the price. King removed that bias from our minds. And with that we all very much enjoyed wines retail priced between $11 and $34 and some from areas the average consumer – and some of us – were not as familiar with.

We were given plenty of maps of all of the different wine-growing regions in Bourgogne – and there are a lot – and I don’t think any of the professionals in the room could correctly guess where each wine was from.

My wine notes consisted of fresh fruits from citrus to berry to tropical, different florals, little oak, balance and tannins…the usual suspects. The food we had after sampling each wine – see photos here of the food, some bottle shots, menu and wine list – were well paired bringing out savory qualities in both.

When the price points for each wine was revealed, and some of the guests wanted to purchase, we learned that none had yet to be released in the U.S. This class, this exercise I should say, was an excellent lesson on how well the wines of Burgundy Bourgogne do with the most experienced palates. And I for one will keep that in mind the next time I recognize – or don’t recognize – a label from Bourgogne.

Now I just want to try more! And more to the point, if you are not a big Pinot Noir fan or even if you are: Give Bourgogne a try. Not all wines are made the same way – especially if made in different parts of the globe.

Bourgogne Wine Board

The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) is a non-profit association under the 1901 law. Built on the principle of each member having an equal voice, it defends and promotes the unique skills of the professions of winemaking, the négoce trade and vine growing, the heritage of a shared passion.

https://www.bourgogne-wines.com/

Ada’s Wine Bar

Chef driven small plates and more. Now pouring in Tivoli Village, Las Vegas. Intriguing wines by the glass or bottle. Adding to a number of local accolades, in 2020, Chef Trees was named a Finalist for the James Beard Award: Best Chef Southwest.

https://www.adaslv.com/

Get to know Spanish PDO Montsant through “European quality Wines: taste the difference” project

December 16, 2021 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Located in northeastern Spain, Montsant was long considered a sub-zone of Tarragona wine region, In fact, its high-altitude steep vineyards, located between 164 and 2,296 feet above sea level, have casted it away from the rest of Tarragona, providing the area with some distinctive features, which finally allowed Montsant to be recognized as a Protected Designation of Origin on its own merits in 2001.

Shaped like a ‘C’ surrounding the prestigious Priorat district, the region gets its name from the Montsant massif (‘holy mountain’) that dominates the landscape. The first evidence of wine production dates back to Roman time but it was during the Middle Ages that production was fully established. Catholic monks continued the viticultural tradition during that epoch and by the 19th Century, wines from Montsant were receiving praise at universal exhibitions.

Red wines are most common in the region – up to 90% of total production – and are made mainly from indigenous varieties such as Garnatxa, Carignan; Macabeo, but more importantly, Garnatxa Blanca are used for the fewer white wine bottlings. All these grapes have adapted to the conditions of this PDO and have developed their own identity. The resulting wines are full-bodied reds, suitable for aging. Garnatxa Negra has a very sensual aromatic profile, of great complexity and allows for well-structured wines, whereas Carignan has very intense aromas and produces light wines with very good acidity. White wines made exclusively with Garnatxa Blanca, allow for body and structure, and finer wines.

Since 2008, the region has been carrying out a zoning study which has allowed for a better understanding of the PDO. Six different areas have been identified from analysis of parameters such as climate, landscape, soils, and the phenolic cycle. The study has resulted in the LIFE PRIORAT + MONTSANT project. Funded by the European Commission, the project aims at developing and demonstrating a model of sustainable large-scale wine production in the Priorat region, through the application of a set of methodologies for the efficient use of natural resources throughout the value chain, which can later be reproduced in other wine regions of the European Union. This fall, Montsant will be represented by Taste The Difference project enhancing European PDOs, including this promising region.