Charlie Palmer and Clay Mauritson Invite You to the 7th Annual Project Zin Event

July 16, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

The renowned chef and award-winning winemaker collaborate once again to raise funds for the Down Syndrome Association of North Bay at Hotel Healdsburg and Dry Creek Kitchen.

photo courtesy Christa Weaving

Healdsburg, Calif – Chef Charlie Palmer and winemaker Clay Mauritson announce the Seventh Annual Project Zin event, taking place on Saturday, August 19, 2017 at Hotel Healdsburg. This preeminent wine event will gather some of the most sought after Zinfandels paired with food from Chef Palmer and top local Sonoma County chefs. All proceeds will benefit the Down Syndrome Association North Bay.

Project Zin lines up 21 of the most highly acclaimed Zinfandel wines from Northern California. The number 21 is significant: in most cases of Down Syndrome there is an extra copy of chromosome 21, which changes the body and brain’s normal development. Clay and Carrie Mauritson’s nine-year old son Brady was diagnosed with Downs Syndrome at the age of 2 ½, which led the Mauritson family to seek support from friends, family, and community organizations, including the Down Syndrome Association, North Bay (DSANB). In addition to DSANB, Clay solicited the aid of his close friend and winemaking partner, Chef Charlie Palmer, and Project Zin was born. In the six years since Project Zin’s inception, the Sonoma County winemaking and culinary community has come together to raise nearly $500,000 for DSANB, providing much needed funds for research and support for individuals and families affected by Down Syndrome. A letter from Clay and Carrie Mauritson highlighting their personal challenges with Down Syndrome and the subsequent support they received from the DSANB can be found here.

Now in its seventh year, Project Zin attracts some of the most highly recognized Zinfandel winemakers and chefs in Northern California, including such prolific wineries as Carlisle Winery & Vineyards, Robert Biale Vineyards and Limerick Lane Cellars, and acclaimed wine country restaurants Dry Creek Kitchen, Valette, and SingleThread Farm – Restaurant – Inn, and more. A full list of wineries and restaurants can be found here: http://projectzin.org/talent/.

Tickets and packages for Project Zin can be purchased online at http://projectzin.org/tickets/.

Tickets and package pricing are listed below. Please note all packages are sold out.

A la carte tickets

Includes admission to event, unlimited tasting of Zinfandels and culinary creations

$200 (excludes fees)

Project Zin Packages

All packages include two night accommodations for two in a luxurious Hotel Healdsburg or h2hotel room, complimentary breakfast and valet parking, welcome wine reception on Friday, August 18 at Hotel Healdsburg, Rockpile Vineyard Lunch, Tour & Tasting with Clay & Carrie Mauritson, and two tickets to Project Zin.

Perlis Picks: Wilson Artisan Wineries – Wilson Winery

June 17, 2017 by Michael Perlis Leave a Comment

Diane and Ken Wilson now own nine wineries that fall under the umbrella of Wilson Artisan Wineries. Truthfully, one could spend a day or two or three [depending on your speed and capacity] just visiting the Wilson-owned wineries and no others and have a wonderful wine country experience, traveling through Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley and Valley of the Moon, as well as into Mendocino County.

On our latest visit to Dry Creek Valley, Karen and I chose two – their eponymous Wilson Winery as well as a revisit to Mazzocco Sonoma.

Wilson Winery

We had some good reasons to want to visit Wilson Winery. I’ve tasted some of their wines before, and was looking forward to trying the latest releases of their legendary Zinfandels as well as their (perhaps even better) Petite Sirahs. But the factor that guaranteed we were going to visit was to see our good friend Rick Fraga.

Rick Fraga is the wine expert that I aspire to be. We met several years ago at a restaurant in Las Vegas and quickly bonded over wine. We always try to visit him every time we come to the Sonoma area. Now that he is wine educator at Wilson…well, that was even more of a reason for us to go there.

Lest you think the owners are hands-off investors in a winery vanity project, Diane Wilson has been winemaker at Wilson Winery since its inception. Founded in the early 1990s, the property’s history goes back a lot farther than that, with the winery facility operating in a restored and modernized century-old barn. The Wilsons are also growers in the Dry Creek Valley, naming their vineyards first after their children and later ones after their parents. Wilson Winery has nine estate vineyards as well as sourcing grapes from other high quality growers.

Diane’s winemaking skills were evident from the beginning as even with no formal training her wines immediately began racking up the accolades and awards, a trend that continues to this day. And she makes a lot of different wines at Wilson Winery.

As I said, a lot of different wines, mostly vineyard designate Zinfandels with a few Petite Sirahs and others mixed in for good measure. The order form lists a couple dozen or so wines to choose from. With so many delicious choices, it was really hard to pick favorites, but my notes indicate that I especially enjoyed the 2014 Botticelli Zinfandel, the 2013 Molly’s Reserve Petite Sirah and the 2013 Sydney Petite Sirah.

Diane also designates certain Zinfandel as “barrel select”, four, as a matter of fact. While they’d be considered for most of us as special occasion wines, the 2013 Diane Marie Reserve and the 2013 Victoria Johannah Reserve [the two we tasted] were both amazing full-bodied representatives of Zinfandel and worthy of a place in your cellar.

Wilson Winery

1960 Dry Creek Rd

Healdsburg, CA 95448

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.

Perlis Picks: Comstock Wines

June 10, 2017 by Michael Perlis Leave a Comment

While I’ve known of and appreciated the great wines of the Dry Creek Valley for many years, it has only been over the last few that I’ve given them the attention they deserve. It is hard to believe that it took me so long, given the quality of the wines, especially those Zinfandels!

But I do owe a debt of gratitude to Kelly Comstock Ferris, General Manager of Comstock Wines for opening my eyes a little wider to appreciate what I’d been missing.

In early 2014, we first met Kelly at an event in Beverly Hills called Sonoma In The City, a traveling roadshow showcasing the AVAs of Sonoma County. I had just gotten there and I recall expressing to Kelly something to the effect that I was concerned that the event was going to be primarily showcasing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, given their popularity. She quickly put my mind at ease by pouring me the first release from her family’s winery – a 2012 Zinfandel that was just outstanding.

Kelly, after years of experience in the hospitality industry, took on the General Manager role of Comstock Wines when her family decided to go beyond farming the grapes from the vineyard they had owned since 2002 and start making wine.

Later that same year, we had the opportunity to visit with Kelly at the family’s gorgeous new state of the art winery. Actually, we met in the construction trailer and had fun tasting through the wines and seeing the plans for the soon to be built winery and tasting room. We left, promising to be back when construction was complete.

Well, somehow we managed to wait two years for our next visit. Was the wait worth it? You betcha.

Let me start by saying that if you have an opportunity to stay a night or two at a winery’s guest house, you should definitely do so. There is no better way to totally immerse oneself in wine country. And, you’d be hard pressed to find a better one than The Residence at Comstock Wines. My wife Karen and I had the pleasure of staying there on our visit.

Just a short walk to the winery tasting room, The Residence provides complete luxury while at the same time is a totally immersive wine country experience, right in the middle of the vineyard property. With four master suites, the huge house also has a full kitchen as well as a living room and media room. In one direction, you can drive to the gourmet restaurants in Healdsburg in just a few minutes and in the other direction are all the wineries and vineyards of the Dry Creek Valley.

And speaking of wineries, the winery at Comstock is a beautiful state of the art building wherein winemaker Chris Russi uses his years of experience and knowledge of the various Sonoma County AVAs and their varietals to “create wines that speak to regional uniqueness.” The winery’s capacity far exceeds Comstock’s production, so they also provide custom crush services to other wineries. I found especially cool the ability to cordon off various sections of the winery to provide for the unique needs of client wineries. And the automated punch-down equipment was really fascinating to me.

All that being said, at the end of the day it is all about the wine, right? Wonderful as this property is, if the wine isn’t up to the same standards…well, it would be hard for me to write this article.

Fortunately, the wines do live up to expectations. Some of our favorites were…

2015 Sauvignon Blanc / Dry Creek Valley – acid on Sauvignon Blanc can sometimes be overwhelming. Not here. Nice tropical fruit flavors with just enough zing on the palate.

2013 Chardonnay / Sonoma Coast – a really clean refreshing Chard. Nice bright flavors.

2013 Zinfandel / Dry Creek Valley and 2012 Zinfandel / Dry Creek Valley – had these side-by-side. The 2012 was the first Comstock wine I had tasted a couple of years early and was drinking beautifully. The 2013, which after our visit won a well-deserved Gold Medal at the 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Competition, was drinking great as well, showing off that wonderful Dry Creek Valley fruit.

2013 Zinfandel / Old Vine / Dry Creek Valley and 2013 Zinfandel / Old Vine / Russian River Valley – another side-by side tasting, and a really interesting one. At first, the upfront fruit of the Dry Creek Valley bottling really got my attention. As I continued to taste each wine, the RRV Zin showed a little more complexity and rewarded a little extra attention. You wouldn’t go wrong with either of these.

2013 Zinfandel / Rockpile – there are a lot of great sites for growing Zinfandel, but I have to say that the Rockpile AVA has always held a special place in my heart [and on my palate]. No surprise here, just a beautiful, jammy, delicious wine.

I’d like to say a big thank you to Erin Bush [Residence Manager & Winery Concierge] and Tracy Bidia [Hospitality Director] as well as everyone else we encountered at Comstock for making our stay so enjoyable. Sadly, Kelly Comstock Ferris was out of town so we were not able to connect this time, so we are really looking forward to seeing her on our next visit to Comstock.

Comstock Wines

1290 Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448

See photos of our visit to Comstock Wines and others from our trip here: Sonoma County Series.

Perlis Picks: Elevating Zinfandel 2017

May 27, 2017 by Michael Perlis 1 Comment

A few days prior to attending Ian Blackburn’s wineLA Elevating Zinfandel event with my wife Karen, I happened across a video that had been posted on Facebook by ZAP [Zinfandel Advocates and Producers – the organization “dedicated to advancing public knowledge of and appreciation for American Zinfandel and its unique place in our culture and history”] featuring Joel Peterson, founder of Ravenswood winery and often called “the Godfather of Zinfandel.” Joel really gave a great explanation of why Zinfandel is considered America’s Heritage grape, given that it truly found its greatness here in California versus, for example, Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux and Pinot Noir in Burgundy.

This greatness was evident at Elevating Zinfandel, where more than a dozen of California’s best producers of Zinfandel showed up to La Brea Bakery to pour their wines for a group of very appreciative tasters.

VIP attendees got to start their tasting an hour early as well as getting an opportunity to taste some special wines reserved just for them. [Obligatory note – when a VIP option is available, always go for it!]

The wineries pouring:

Beekeeper Vineyards

Bedrock Wine Co

Bella Vineyards

Robert Biale Vineyards

Brown Estate

Carol Shelton Wines

Gamba Vineyards and Winery

J Dusi Wines

Mauritson Wines

Ottimino

Peter Franus Wine Co

Quivera Vineyards

Seghesio Family Vineyards

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

There were absolutely no losers here. Every winery on this list was pouring some outstanding Zinfandels. I could easily end this article here by just saying you should go buy wines from any of these producers and you will be happy. But, that would make for a pretty short article. So, let me expand on some wines that really stood out for me.

When people in Southern California think about Zin, especially those of us in Northern LA County, Paso Robles may come to mind more than any other region. At this tasting, Paso was represented by J Dusi. I knew that Janell Dusi would be up to this task, having made wine from her family’s Dante Dusi vineyard for about 10 years now. The Dusi Vineyard is one of my favorites anywhere for Zinfandel [not just Paso], so I was happy when Janell started making a small amount of wine from the family property, later expanding into other varietals as well. The 2014 Dante Dusi Vineyard Zinfandel and the 2014 Escandalosa blend of Zinfandel, Syrah and Mourvedre were two of my favorite wines of the evening.

The rest of the wineries were based farther North – in Napa Valley and Sonoma County. Since people tend to think of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and Sonoma Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, I thought it was great that the Zinfandels from these areas were being highlighted. Here are few of our favorites…

Bedrock Wine Co. & Under The Wire – winemaker Morgan Twain-Peterson [son of the aforementioned Joel Peterson], along with partner Chris Cottrell, has been making wine since he was 5-years old [although he started out with Pinot just to piss off his dad]. The 2013 Under The Wire Bedrock Vineyard Sparkling Old Vine Zinfandel was stellar, and the two 2015 Heritage [historic vineyards – field blends] wines being poured – the Evangelho [Contra Costa County] and Pagani [Sonoma Valley] were great examples of what I think Morgan does best.

Ian Blackburn’s Beekeeper Cellars has been getting well deserved rave reviews. Based in Dry Creek Valley, my favorite was the 2014 Secret Stones, Madrone Spring Vineyard, Rockpile, Sonoma County. Not surprising – Rockpile is a favorite AVA of ours; more wines from there will appear later in this article.

Another Dry Creek Valley winery, Bella Vineyards, impressed us with their Westphall, Rockpile, Sonoma County 2013.

We first tasted Brown Estate Vineyards Zinfandel several years ago at a restaurant in Las Vegas called Rosemary’s. We ended up ordering a second bottle, it was so good. Sadly, Rosemary’s is gone but Brown Estate is still making great wine in Napa Valley, especially for us the Napa Valley, Chiles Valley District 2015.

Not sure where to begin with Carol Shelton Wines. We were just really impressed with her whole lineup. Based in Santa Rosa, she sources from various places. Nice of her to share a 2014 Carignane [loved that she snuck that one in] along with her Zins. And a big shout out for making a Zin from Southern California’s Cucamonga Valley.

When I first tasted the Zins from Gamba Vineyard and Winery many years ago, they seemed too big, even for me. I’m happy to report that they are doing it right. Luscious lip-smacking wines across the board from this Windsor based winery.

You can’t really talk about Dry Creek Valley, especially Rockpile, without mentioning Mauritson Wines. Clay Mauritson was pouring a few wines – favorite by a nose was the Rockpile Ridge Vineyard.

Ottimino is a new winery to me. Really cool to taste a 2001 Zin from them as well as their current releases. Based in Sebastopol in Sonoma County, the 2014 Ottimino Estate Russian River Valley Zin was great.

Robert Biale Vineyards – an old favorite of ours. I did not make it back to their table after the VIP portion of the event, but the 2009 Black Chicken Zinfandel that winemaker Tres Goetting had poured me at that time was excellent.

Turley Wine Cellars – while many people associate Turley with Paso, and rightfully so, the winery is actually headquartered in Napa Valley. Christina Turley was on hand to pour a few of the winery’s delicious Zins. I’ve made no secret of how much I like this winery. This time, the 2015 Duarte Contra Costa County earned top marks for me.

I apologize for the wineries I missed mentioning. As I said, all of the wineries represented are worthy of your attention.

Big thank you to La Brea Bakery for hosting the event and serving some delicious food.

Thanks to Ian Blackburn and his great staff at wineLA for putting on another great wine tasting. Check out his website and sign up so you don’t miss anything.

Canadian Cider Takes Top Prize At Dan Berger International Cider Awards

May 22, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Nearly 200 Ciders from across the globe were judged at the second annual Dan Berger International Cider Competition with the “Bittersweet” from Sea Cider Ciderhouse winning the Sweepstakes Award

(Santa Rosa, California) Bittersweet from Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse in British Columbia took the Sweepstakes Award for best cider at the Second Annual Dan Berger International Cider Competition (DBICC). The traditional English style cider is produced from apples grown in the Sea Cider’s own orchards. The Sea Cider Bittersweet beat out nearly 200 other ciders entered into the competition held in Sonoma County, California on May 5th.

The DBICC also awarded Best of Class medals in the following categories:

Common Cider Sweet
BROOKLYN CIDER HOUSE KINDA SWEET

Traditional Cider Dry
EVES CIDERY 2015 DARLING CREEK

Spanish Style Cider
BEREZIATUA GOURMET EDITION

Herbed/Hopped/Spiced Cider
MARCH FIRST BREWING DRY HOPPED CIDER

Fruit Cider
FOXCRAFT HARD CIDER BLOOD ORANGE

Pear Cider
FOX CRAFT HARD CIDER PEAR

Dessert/Iced/Pommeau
2 TOWNS CIDEROUSE 2014 POMMEAU

The Sweepstakes Award Sea Cider Bittersweet is made from a selection of traditional bittersweet cider apples including Dabinett and Yarlington Mills. Off dry and rich in tannin, the Sea Cider Bittersweet impressed the judges with its rich yet balanced style and a complexity that results from use of well-cultivated traditional cider apples. Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse is located in Saanichton, British Columbia.

We were thrilled by the diversity of styles of cider we saw at the competition this second year, said Tom Wark, director of the DBICC. No doubt this had much to do with the fact that we had entries from 20 different states and four different countries, which is a testament to the growing popularity of cider in the American marketplace.

The DBICC strives to raise the visibility of the best ciders sold in the American marketplace. Founded by Dan Berger, the Dean of American wine competitions and directed by Tom Wark, publisher of The Cider Journal, the DBICC accepted entries in 12 categories that were judged by cider and orchard professionals.

All the medal winners can be viewed at http://www.dbiwc.com/results/cider/_2017_Resultslist.php

Dry Creek Valley Launches Exclusive “Winemakers in Conversation” Event Series

May 14, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Healdsburg, Calif. (PRWEB) – Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley will follow up their 28th annual Passport event with the launch of a new event series called “Winemakers in Conversation.” The series is comprised of three different immersive experiences, “Zealous about Zinfandel,” “Cult Cabernets” and “Zintopia.” Each experience, which is designed for just 50 attendees, will feature four Dry Creek Valley winemakers, one winegrower, and will be moderated by a wine industry icon. All tickets are $125.

The Winemakers in Conversation events begin with a seated, classroom-style tasting in which the four winemakers will each share and discuss a cellar selection wine, contextualizing it within the characteristic qualities unique to Dry Creek Valley. After the panel, the event breaks into a social, open tasting format with eight food pairings and passed hors d’oeuvres.

The schedule is as follows:

Saturday, July 15, 2017 – 10:00a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Zealous About Zinfandel at Quivira Vineyards and Winery

The first tasting in the series is moderated by San Francisco Chronicle Wine Editor Esther Mobley. Guests will take a deep dive into the world of Dry Creek Valley’s most historic grape, with Ridge Vineyards Winemaker John Olney, Pedroncelli Winemaker Montse Reese, Seghesio Vineyards Winemaker Ted Seghesio and Quivira Vineyards’ Hugh Chappelle.

Saturday, July 22, 2017 – 10:00a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Cult Cabernets at Passalacqua Winery

The second tasting in the series is moderated by Virginie Boone of Wine Enthusiast. Guests will explore Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with winemakers Jennifer Higgins of Lambert Bridge Winery, Tim Bell of Dry Creek Vineyard, Ed Sbragia of Sbragia Vineyards and Jessica Boone of Passalacqua. Also joining the discussion is grower Ryan Petersen from Petersen Management.

Sunday, July 30, 2017 – 10:00a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Zintopia at Preston Vineyards

The final tasting in the series is moderated by the Chef and Author John Ash, the father of wine country cuisine. Guests will savor fine examples of Dry Creek Valley zinfandel from winemakers/owners Erik Miller of Kokomo Winery, Clay Mauritson of Mauritson Wines, Joe Healy of Bella Vineyards and Wine Cave and Lou Preston of Preston Farm and Winery. Chef Ash will be crafting pairings for this event, utilizing ingredients from Preston Farm.

Getting here:
Dry Creek Valley is located in the heart of Sonoma County, just 15 minutes from Sonoma County Airport (STS) and 70 miles north of San Francisco and Bay Area international airports SFO and OAK. Direct flights into STS are available on Alaska Airlines from Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle and Portland; visitors on these flights can check a case of wine for free on their flight home. American Airlines flies from Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) to STS. A complete list of lodging options can be found at http://www.drycreekvalley.org.

Tickets can be found at: drycreekvalley.org/events/winemakers-in-conversation

About Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley:

Dry Creek Valley is a premium winegrowing region in northern Sonoma County, California, anchored by the charming town of Healdsburg. Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley® (WDCV) is a 501c6 non-profit trade association of over 60 wineries and 150 winegrape growers. Formed in 1989, the association represents a multi-generational family community of vintners and growers committed to growing high-quality fruit, producing world-class wines, and welcoming visitors to experience Wine Paired with Life®. Being good stewards of the land means that we are preserving the quality of our wines and the unparalleled beauty of Dry Creek Valley for future generations to discover. For more information, visit http://www.drycreekvalley.org.

Perlis Picks: American Rhône by Patrick J. Comiskey

December 10, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Before I start, as I often do when infusing an article with foreign [to me] words, I make a conscious decision to not use diacritical marks – I’ve kept the book title correct but that’s about it. I apologize if this is offensive to anyone. I also take full responsibility for any misspellings.

Patrick Comiskey and Nina Sventitsky.

I rarely write book reviews. I have a backlog of books that I’ve been wanting to read but just don’t seem to get to. So, by the time I read them, writing about them would be really more in the way of book reports than book reviews.

That being said, once in a while I come across a book that I feel is so important that it deserves your immediate attention. I think the last one that I felt fit this category was The New California Wine by Jon Bonné.

American Rhône deserves your immediate attention.

Admittedly, I am biased.

My wife Karen and I started out on our own American Rhone journey back in the 80s – that’s 1980s, by the way. At that time, we were first introduced to wines produced in the US using grapes that, while grown here, have their origins in France’s Rhone valley. For reds, think varieties like Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and for whites examples are Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Viognier; there are many others making up almost two dozen in all. Our entrée was Bonny Doon’s Le Cigare Volant and from there we found Alban, Qupe and many others. In our quest for more of these delicious wines we’ve traveled up and down California, finding favorites mainly in the Central Coast and Sonoma County, but great ones throughout the state. We’ve attended Rhone Ranger events since they started and recently were fortunate enough to attend the Hospice du Rhone event in Paso Robles. American Rhones, along with Zinfandel [had to get that in] have been instrumental in driving our wine passion.

But with all my own experiences with these varietals, my knowledge was limited to these experiences. Patrick Comiskey’s American Rhône gives me context as to how my experience fits into the big picture.

And a big and glorious picture it is and Mr. Comiskey documents it beautifully and in great detail.

Of course this isn’t Comiskey’s first rodeo [with a nod and a wink to the cover of the book as well as a shout-out to the now iconic Wines Spectator cover photo of Bonny Doon’s Randall Grahm in full Rhone Ranger garb]. From the information I was provided: “Patrick Comiskey is a Senior Correspondent for Wine & Spirits Magazine…He is a regular contributor to the Los Angeles Times, and is a founding contributor to zesterdaily.com. His work has appeared on Wine Review Online, as well as in the San Francisco Chronicle, Food and Wine, Bon Appetit, Decanter, Lucky Peach, and the Robb Report...”

Subtitled “How Maverick Winemakers Changed the Way Americans Drink” the book presents the full story of the growth of the American Rhone movement, tracing its roots back to the 1960s and American culture’s embracing of possibilities, although some plantings of Rhone varieties in California greatly precede that decade.

Throughout the book, Comiskey provides enough inside stories and anecdotes that the reader feels like a fly on the wall observing some of the key moments in American Rhone history, such as…

The first varietal-labeled Syrah in California was the 1974 vintage from Joseph Phelps. [Coincidentally, thanks to my publisher Eve Bushman, we recently had a 2007 Phelps Syrah that was outstanding.]

Gary Eberle got his first Syrah cuttings from Curtis “Doc” Alley of UC Davis and did not smuggle them into the US on his own as has been so often reported, by myself included.

Bob Lindquist of Qupe initially did not want to plant Syrah in the Santa Maria Valley’s Bien Nacido Vineyard because it was too cool for the grapes to ripen. We’re all glad he decided otherwise.

These stories are just a few from the first part of the book. There are so many that to reveal more would do the author and reader an injustice. Suffice it to say that Patrick Comiskey has done an incredible job of telling the story of Rhone varietals in America. This book is a keeper. You’ll enjoy reading it cover to cover and it will be a great reference guide as well.

Fortunately for the reader, one does not have to a have a prior background in American Rhones. All the information is right here. It would make a great holiday gift for the wine lover in your life. Or just buy it for yourself for your own American Rhone journey.

Top Ways to Sip in Style

September 24, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Sip ‘n’ Safari

Most wine lovers don’t know they can pair an African safari with their favorite California varietals at Safari West in Sonoma County. Take a three-hour Winos and Rhinos Private Safari, where guests can see African wildlife in an enormous preserve, picnic on a hilltop with wines, and then enjoy a complimentary tasting at Francis Ford Coppola Winery’s tasting room in Alexander Valley.

Camp and Sample

Get up close and personal with the vines through Alta Colina’s Luxe Vineyard Camping during CWM. This Paso Robles winery offers exclusive glamping on their private campground with Tinker Tin’s vintage camper trailers. Guests can stay in a nostalgic trailer nestled within 31-acres of vineyard, enjoy special tastings, and book customized experiences.

Sip ‘n’ Zip

Take a Zipline and Wine Tasting Adventure with Margarita Adventures, where guests can tour the historic Santa Margarita Ranch in Paso Robles wine country. Wine lovers will learn about the ranch’s sustainable winegrowing practices, wildlife and role as part of California’s famed Mission Trail. Then embark on six distinct ziplines finishing with an 1,800-foot ride over the vineyard. Finish the day with a wine tasting excursion at the ranch’s Ancient Peaks Winery.

Fly and Flights

Specialized Aviation’s Winetasting Tours depart via helicopter from the Monterey coast to the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. Guests can drink in beautiful views of the bay, agriculture and mountains, arriving like royalty at a premier winery for fine wine tasting and a comprehensive walking tour.

Tasting by Train

For those who prefer trains over automobiles, the Napa Valley Wine Train offers a variety of wine tasting journeys in the fall, such as the Gourmet Lunch Tour. Wine lovers can also enjoy other tours, such as Sunset Gourmet Dinner, Ambassador Winery Tour and more.

Vintage Eve Circa 11/2011: Three Pinots and the Vin-Aire Instant Aeration System Reviewed

August 2, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

A few weeks ago I received 3 unsolicited bottles of wine to review. All of the words below in italics are directly from the distributor, as to why you might enjoy their wines for the holidays, following my reviews.

At the same time, I was given a new wine-aerating device to do a product review on. See that review following the last wine review.

Yes, I am very thankful for these gifts, as I am for you dear reader!

Choosing wines for your holiday meals presents a delicious challenge for hosts in every kitchen. It is best to choose a wine that will complement the many different tastes and textures. Pinot Noir, at its best, has an elegant, light taste, which pairs well with heavy holiday dinners without adding yet another powerful taste to the table. Pinot Noir is the perfect wine to knit together the cornucopia of fragrance, flavors, and textures of the meal.

09 Sonoma Coast Vineyards (SCV on the label!)

My review

Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, California

14.3% alcohol

Appearance – Clear, ruby to a deep garnet edge, a few specks of silver.

Aroma – Cherries, leaves and stems right off the bat, and in a few more seconds, notes of rich soil, the palest of peppermint, grape soda, some tobacco.

Taste – Balanced and smooth on the palate, very bright and pleasant red fruit followed by mild tannins, white pepper, some astringency and drying on the back palate.

Finish – Mid length.

From Sonoma Coast Vineyards Freestone Hills: Pinot Noir 2008 is perfect to pair with the heavy foods of Thanksgiving. The mixture of dark black cherry and ripe rich black raspberry fruits plus pomegranate will insistently enhance any fall celebration and we think it is perfect to pair with a Thanksgiving turkey! It’s fruity enough to bring together the different flavors of the meal while creating a fresh taste. SRP $39.99

2010 Llai Llai

My review

Pinot Noir From the Bio Bio Valley, Chile

13.5% alcohol

Appearance – Clear with some sparkles. The raspberry color, paler color to an almost clearness to 3 of four edges in glass, top edge (at turn) slightly deeper than center.

Aroma – rose petals and stems, cherry-scented soap, mushroomy, wet gravel…

Taste – Cherry soda – due to a slight effervescence, dusty, stemmy, some smoke, mild pleasant fruit and balanced tannins.

Finish – Medium finish with tingly tannins holding on the mid palate. Not familiar with Chilean Pinot Noirs, this was a quite pleasant, light version, to some of the domestic heavyweights I’ve seen in the last couple of years.

From Llai Llai: This light wine will blend in with the many foods of the holiday and allow guests to enjoy the flavors of both their drink and dinner. This Pinot Noir is hand-harvested, creating a deep, brilliant red color with a ripe and intense red fruit aroma. Llai Llai Pinot Noir has the perfect balance of alcohol and acidity creating a certain elegance and sweet earthy notes, perfect for harmonizing multiple flavors. The very ripe and soft tannins allow for a long, rich, and smooth finish which is necessary to preserving the moistness of the turkey. Recently named the Best Value Chilean Pinot Noir by World Value Wine. SRP $12.99

2009 The Crossings

My review:

Pinot Noir from the Awatere Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand

13% alcohol

Appearance – Love a screwcap for starters. The palest of plums, golden lights reach toward edge.

Aroma – Stemmy, bright cherry, freshly washed mushrooms and mint leaves.

Taste – Cherry, raspberries, white pepper, a little residual/back palate smoke, astringent.

Finish – Long and tingly.

Same wine Through Vin – Aire Instant Aeration system:

Bigger than my Vinturi, the bowl and the stem. No drips were cool, and sitting in the bottle instead of having to find a napkin to lay it on, cooler.

Appearance – No change – save a slightly lighter color and lighter edge.

Aroma – Decidedly more “mature” with more dust, chalkiness, more vegetal nuances, mushroom comes up much stronger.

Taste – Astringency lessened, fruit a bit more forward – which I didn’t expect after the way the aromas changed and put the fruit behind the vegetal notes. Definitely smoother, Though, side by side, going back again with a fresh glass against the aerated one…I’d have to say…both are great. If your palate prefers the sound of my second description of a “mellowed” wine or the first, with more “bright” notes, it would be entirely up to you. For me, now, I’m mixing both glasses together.

Finish – Changed to medium instead of long! Not that it matters, but it is something worth noting.

From the website: The Crossings Pinot Noir 2009 is said to be a fantastic wine to pair with potatoes; a Thanksgiving favorite. Its finely poised aromas of red cherry, spice, raspberry, and gentle smokiness forms the perfect smell for the nose. The palate is vibrantly intense with a full rich and silky mid-palate which creates a very persistent finish. The resplendent ruby red goes through to the core of the wine and will harmonize the many flavors of the Thanksgiving meal. Recently named a Best Buy and Best Value for Pinot Noir by World Value Wine Challenge. SRP $18.99

Finding Your Vin-Aire

It has an award winning design that after pouring a glass of wine fits into the top of your bottle to allow you to catch all drops and eliminate dripping.

It is designed with a wider mouth so that spillage and clogging is avoided as your pour the wine into your glass of wine.

The VIN-AIRE aerates wine instantly as you pour, thanks to the state of the art technology of its oxygenation air ducts.

The VIN-AIRE softens tannins resulting in a more pleasant finish. Any bitterness or bad aftertaste is reduced or eliminated. In brief, it Improves flavor and bouquet!

Oh, and it has a very classy look.

Purchase 1 “Vin-Aire” for $40, purchase 2 or more $35 ea. If you go to the owner’s actual website you’ll see that he sells them for 49.99. With us it’s a saving of $10 – $15.

Order from local resident Denith Sandoval: denith@vin-aire.com

Want to watch the Vin-Aire in action:

The 2016 International Chardonnay Symposium Announces Medal Winners

July 3, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Awards were handed out in four categories and The SOMM Journal named its top sommelier

Pismo Beach, CA – The International Chardonnay Symposium, (ICS), TheChardonnaySymposium.com, the world’s foremost gathering of premium Chardonnay producers, sommeliers, trade and enthusiasts, announced the official medal winners of the 2016 International Chardonnay Symposium Wine Competition.

The ICS 2016 and The SOMM Journal selected leading sommeliers to judge the extensive double-blind tasting of Chardonnay from around the globe. The medal winners were announced at the Symposium’s Annual La Paulée Dinner and Vintner Awards Ceremony, held this year at Greengate Ranch & Vineyard in the heart of the Edna Valley AVA in mid-May.

The 2016 ICS was held in the seaside resort towns of Pismo Beach, ClassicCalifornia.com; Avila Beach, VisitAvilaBeach.com; and the Edna Valley, an area of the Highway 1 Discovery Route in San Luis Obispo County, Highway1DiscoveryRoute.com.

The 2016 International Chardonnay Symposium Wine Competition “Best” category winners are:

v Best of Show

Alpha Omega 2013 Reserve (Napa Valley)

Platinum medal

v Best Unoaked Chardonnay

Simonnet-Febvre 2014 Chablis Premier Cru “Vaillons” (Chablis)

Double Gold medal

v Best Oaked Chardonnay

Grgich Hills Estate 2013 Miljenko’s Selection (Carneros)

Double Gold medal

v SOMM Journal’s Choice

Arínzano 2010 Gran Vino White (Arínzano, Vino de Pago, Spain)

Gold medal

The Best of Show award was especially meaningful for vintner Robin Baggett, the proprietor of Alpha Omega in Napa Valley and Tolosa Winery in San Luis Obispo. Baggett said, “Having graduated from Cal Poly and raised by family in San Luis Obispo, then starting my wine career in Edna Valley at Tolosa Winery, it’s an honor to return and receive such a prestigious award for our Napa Valley efforts.”

The SOMM Journal and the ICS named Alicia Ajolo of taste wine-beer-kitchen in Long Beach, California, as the Symposium’s 2016 Top Sommelier. Ajolo was one of the judges at the day-long wine competition where she determined the origin of the most of wines during a double-blind tasting.

Platinum Medal Winners

Alpha Omega 2013 Reserve (Napa Valley)

Hearst Ranch Winery 2014 Proprietor’s Reserve (Central Coast)

RUSACK Vineyards 2014 Santa Maria Valley Reserve (Santa Maria Valley)

Double Gold Medal Winners

ADELAIDA 2014 Estate, (Adelaida District)

Bernardus 2013 Sierra Mar (Santa Lucia Highlands)

Clos Pepe 2013 Estate Barrel Fermented (Sta. Rita Hills)

CRU Wine Co. 2014 Montage (Monterey)

El Pistolero 2015 “Cold Steel” (Santa Lucia Highlands)

Grgich Hills Estate 2013 Miljenko’s Selection (Carneros)

Simonnet-Febvre 2014 Chablis Premier Cru “Vaillons” (Chablis)

Wente Vineyards 2014 The Nth Degree (Livermore Valley)

Windemere 2014 MacGregor Vineyard (Central Coast)

Gold Medal Winners

Alpha Omega 2013 Chardonnay (Napa Valley)

Arínzano 2010 Gran Vino White (Arínzano, Vino de Pago, Spain)

Baileyana 2014 Firepeak (Edna Valley)

Chartron et Trébuchet 2012 Meursault (Meursault)

Cotiere 2014 Talley Rincon (Arroyo Grande Valley)

DeLoach Vineyard 2013 Estate (Russian River)

Edna Valley Vineyard 2014 (Central Coast)

Edna Valley Vineyard 2014 Winemaker Series Heritage (Santa Lucia Highlands)

Landmark Vineyards 2014 Overlook (Sonoma County)

Louis Latour 2010 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru (Corton-Charlemagne)

Nottingham Cellars 2014 1846 by Nottingham Cellars (Arroyo Seco)

Sextant Wines 2014 Central Coast (Central Coast)

Sinor-LaVallee 2014 White Label-Bassi Vineyard (Santa Lucia Highlands)

St. Francis Winery 2014 Behler (Sonoma Valley)

Tolosa Winery 2014 569 (Central Coast)

Tolosa Winery 2014 Dijon (Central Coast)

Silver Medal Winners

ADELAIDA 2014 HMR Vineyard (Adelaida District)

Buena Vista Winery 2013 Private Reserve (Sonoma County)

Capensis 2013 (Western Cape, South Africa)

Chartron et Trébuchet 2013 Rully Premier Cru Les Grésigny (Rully)

Clos Pepe 2013 Estate (Sta. Rita Hills)

CRU Wine Co. 2014 Unoaked (Arroyo Seco)

Domaine L’Arjolle 2015 Côtes de Thongue (Côtes de Thongue)

Harmony Cellars 2014 (Central Coast)

Hearst Ranch Winery 2014 Glacier Ridge (Santa Lucia Highlands)

Jean-Charles Boisset 2013 JCB #81 (Sonoma Coast)

Presqu’ile, 2013 Presqu’ile Vineyard (Santa Maria Valley)

Talley Vineyards 2014 Estate (Arroyo Grande Valley)

Trefethen 2014 (Oak Knoll District)

True Myth 2014 Paragon Estate (Edna Valley)

About The International Chardonnay Symposium

The International Chardonnay Symposium attracts winemakers, sommeliers, media, trade, wine enthusiasts and tastemakers from across the globe to enjoy and study the world’s favorite grape. When the discussion ends, there’s plenty of time for exploring nearby Central Coast wineries, as well as the hosting seaside resort towns of Pismo Beach and Avila Beach that offer downtown winetasting rooms, pristine beaches, surfing and kayaking, hiking and biking trails, farm-to-table and seaport-inspired cuisine, boutique shopping, and more. The International Chardonnay Symposium is sponsored by Pismo Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau, Avila Beach Tourism Alliance, California Highway 1 Discovery Route, Visit San Luis Obispo County, The Tasting Panel Magazine, The SOMM Journal, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, 805 Living, Touring & Tasting, Greengate Ranch & Vineyard, Riedel, Farm Credit West, San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, and Yelp.

About Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, & Highway 1 Discovery Route of SLO County

San Luis Obispo County’s Pismo Beach, Avila Beach and the Highway 1 Discovery Route destination towns are located on California’s famous Central Coast, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. With miles of pristine Pacific coastline, enjoy great weather, a plethora of outdoor activities, rich wild life and nature preserves, downtown wine tasting rooms, and the neighboring world class wine producing regions of the Edna Valley, Arroyo Grande Valley, Santa Maria Valley and Paso Robles. For information on the wide variety of lodging choices, accommodating every budget and lifestyle, visit ClassicCalifornia.com, VisitAvilaBeach.com, and Highway1DiscoveryRoute.com.