Chilean Wine Sales Are Up, Reversing 10-Year Trend

October 3, 2020 by evebushman

On Friday, September 18, Chile celebrated its national Independence Day. The country’s wine exporters can also raise a glass to a recent sales turnaround: Reversing a ten-year downward trend, Chilean wines sales are up in the U.S. According to the latest import data, Chile is the seventh largest source of imported wine in the U.S., and the only one of the top seven to experience an increase in U.S. sales during the first quarter of 2020.

Wines of Chile, Year to Date

In a comparison of year-to-year sales, Chile saw a 40.68% increase in volume, translating into a 36.57% uptick in dollars in the 12-month period concluding June 30, 2020. While bulk wines account for roughly two-thirds of that volume, bottle sales have risen by 2% in volume, and 13% in value.
Red wines continue to drive Chilean wine sales, led by red blends and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Chile is riding high on three “on-trend” categories: rosés, bag-in-box, and Mediterranean wines here in the 12-month period ending June 30, 2020

- The country’s rosé sales have more than doubled — up 114%
- Bag-in-box exports have grown by over 19% in volume
- Mediterranean varieties like País and Carignan are not only catching the attraction of the trade and wine experts, including off-premise channels such as supermarkets

The leading driver for Chile’s wine sales in the U.S. continues to be the country’s larger, well-established players with broad nationwide U.S. distribution, who are benefitting from consumer reliance on “tried-and-trusted,” familiar and reliable brands during the pandemic.

– The current pricing sweet spot for Chile in the U.S. is $10-$20, with the biggest growth in the $11-$15 category. According to Alonso “This is where Chile excels and demonstrates outstanding value-to-quality performance.” The Chilean category has also been able to absorb with relative ease the average 1% pricing decrease affecting domestic and imported wines in the first semester of this year.

Also of Note

– Eighty percent of Chilean wines exported are sustainable and verified as such. Notes Alonso: “Chile is a world leader in sustainability from vineyard to table and Wines of Chile has been instrumental in settings standards in this area.” The Wines of Chile Responsibility Code covers: (1) sustainable technical management of vineyards, (2) winery and bottling practices, (3) safety and social responsibility covering workers, nearby communities and even customers, and (4) Sustainable Wine Tourism, a recently launched initiative.

– 70% of Chilean wines exported to the U.S. are sold in off-premise accounts.

– In a new Wine Opinions survey, 48% of consumers who regularly spend over $20 a bottle reported an increase in their average weekly wine consumption. With great values at the $20-plus end of the spectrum, Chile looks to attract new converts.

– During COVID-19, the data also shows that the largest consumers of wine have been millennials. While millennials drink less wine than the previous generation, when they do, they are more adventurous, and willing to try new varieties such as País.

About Wines of Chile: The mission of Wines of Chile is to promote the quality and image of Chilean wines throughout the world. With offices in the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil and Chile, the organization, working closely with ProChile, develops and offers promotional and educational programs. Its members represent over 75% percent of Chile’s bottled wine exports.

“It’s not easy being green”. Sustainable Somm, Brett Zimmerman echoes Jim Henson’s famous quote as he embarks on a journey to help better define “natural” wines and more

September 20, 2020 by evebushman

DENVER /PRNewswire/ — We all know the famous song developed by Jim Henson that became Kermit’s catchphrase. Well, this couldn’t ring more true for the wine & spirits industry. Master Sommelier, Brett Zimmerman has always been passionate about digging into the world of sustainable best practices which has led him to embark on a journey to help define what it means to be green. Much of this space is nebulous, self-declared and not entirely regulated making it difficult to quantify and truly understand.

Brett will use Sustainable Somm as a platform to share his passion and expertise while educating and bringing together experts from around the world to weigh in and help define what it means to be a natural wine & spirits producer and why it is growing in popularity.

Brett will work alongside the non-profit Clean Label Project towards a clear mission to use science and education to inspire the adoption of socially and environmentally responsible agricultural and production practices.

In today’s unprecedented times, health and wellness is becoming more and more important as an everyday lifestyle choice. Consumers are becoming more educated about what they are putting into their bodies and are opting for more natural choices from responsible producers.

[“It is time for the beverage alcohol industry to make some changes to benefit the health of consumers – my mission is to educate and inspire people to make these changes.”], “The goal of Sustainable Somm is to provide one place where we can educate about the natural wine & spirits world, share stories and best practices with the help of leading experts including winemakers, scientists, progressive thinkers, innovators, and agents of change to inform consumer purchase decisions and become the trusted source for this information.

For more information, visit: Sustainablesomm.org, follow Sustainable Somm on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sustainablesomm, and Instagram: www.Instagram.com/sustainablesomm

About BRETT ZIMMERMAN, MS
Owner of Boulder Wine Merchant, Executive Director of Clean Label Project Sustainable Somm
Born and raised in Colorado, Brett Zimmerman discovered his passion for wine as a waiter while studying at the University of Colorado. His love of food and wine and high ambition, landed him sommelier positions at the highly acclaimed Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago and celebrated restaurant Aqua, gaining tremendous knowledge along the way. He successfully opened his own restaurant, Mateo in his native state, and after three years, he left the restaurant business to focus on his true passion – fine wine – taking a position as Colorado’s General Manager of the American Fine Wine Division of Southern Wine and Spirits. This dedication to his craft culminated in the spring of 2007, when Zimmerman successfully passed his Masters Examination and earned the highly coveted distinction of Master Sommelier (only 269 hold this certification in across the world).

With MS under his belt, his continued pursuit of passion led him to purchase Boulder Wine Merchant from fellow Master Sommeliers Wayne Belding and Sally Mohr in August 2010.

Zimmerman also serves as a consultant of the Clean Label Project where Sustainable Somm was born.

Master Zimmerman currently lives in Boulder with his wife and co-owner of the Wine Merchant, and their two sons.

About Sustainable Somm
Sustainable Somm was launched in 2020 by Brett Zimmerman and the national non-profit Clean Label Project with the mission of using science and education to inspire the adoption of socially and environmentally responsible agricultural and production practices. www.sustainablesomm.org

About Clean Label Project
Clean Label Project™ is a national non-profit with the mission to bring truth and transparency to food and consumer product labeling. Visit cleanlabelproject.org for more information on Clean Label Project.

Finger Lakes’ Heron Hill Winery announces the appointment of their new award winning Winemaker, Jordan Harris, and free direct to consumer shipping

July 19, 2020 by evebushman

Heron Hill Winery, 43 Years of Excellence 1977-2020. Family-owned in the Finger Lakes since 1977, Heron Hill began as a small family-run Finger Lakes vineyard and winery. Now entering its sixth decade, Heron Hill has grown into one of the most awarded, visited and respected wine producers in the region. Heron Hill remains an independent, family-owned business committed to quality, value, sustainability and community.

“Heron Hill is very excited to announce the addition of Jordan Harris as Winemaker to our team. This appointment will continue our ongoing goal in increasing quality, ensuring our success and Heron Hill’s legacy,” states Eric D. Frarey, Managing Partner of Heron Hill Winery.

Jordan has received many accolades in the wine industry beginning as a student at Niagara College in Ontario, Canada. He went on to be recognized as one of Canada’s top up and coming winemakers and more recently as a passionate leader in Virginia. He was named Top 40 under 40 Tastemakers with Wine Enthusiast and he was awarded Top 100 Most Influential Winemakers in the USA through Intowine.com.

Heron Hill Winery offering free direct shipping to consumers as a permanent policy. For details visit, www.heronhill.com. “With increased consumer demand for ease of access to our wine and recent events, our direct shipping program has shown great success. In response, we will be offering free direct to consumer shipping as a permanent policy, making Heron Hill Winery one of the only wineries in the Finger Lakes and United States offering free shipping as a permanent policy.”

“In exceeding our consumers needs with increased quality, along with easy access, Heron Hill will continue to grow and remain relevant with the addition and talent of Jordan along with instating our free direct shipping policy.”

Heron Hill Vineyards and Winery, 9301 County Route 76, Hammondsport.

Irreverent Wine Launches Great Tasting Wine in a Recyclable Pouch

June 17, 2020 by evebushman

WALLA WALLA, WASH. (PRWEB) – Earth-loving, social, and health conscious wine lovers can now reach for the pouch vs. the bottle with Irreverent Wine (http://www.irreverentwine.com), a new monthly “Farm to Glass” sustainable wine subscription service. The new approach ships wine in a recyclable pouch to reduce the carbon footprint of wine by 80 percent, keeps great-tasting wine fresh longer once opened, and surprises wine drinkers monthly with high quality handcrafted blends from sustainable vineyards.

Photo from Irreverent Wine’s Facebook page.

Irreverent takes environmental impact seriously, while also obsessing to surprise members with exclusive wines that are crafted without added sugars and are gluten-free, vegan, FODMAP, keto and paleo-friendly. Subscribers are offered everything from Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio to interesting International-inspired blends. Members never get the same wine twice, so there’s always an element of delight and wonder, but without the waste generated with traditional bottles.

“Every year 70 percent of wine bottles (3 billion bottles) end up in landfills because they are hard to recycle and there’s not enough demand for recycled glass,” said Chris Dukelow, former Seattle technology executive turned chief winemaker and founder at Irreverent Wine. “Bottles don’t make wine taste better, so why are we using them other than those purchased for aging? By eliminating wine bottle production and partnering directly with sustainable vineyards, we can reduce wine’s environmental impact while also keeping wine natural and delicious for consumers.”

The Best Sustainable Monthly Wine Subscription
With so many wine clubs and wine delivery services, there’s no shortage of options for wine lovers to consider. Irreverent distinguishes itself from the wine club landscape by first making high quality wine, and second, by uncorking the bias and prejudices against wine in a bag or pouch. The company partners with the very best independent vineyards committed to Earth-friendly farming practices in renowned Washington and Oregon wine regions to make, source, and blend world-class wines with no unnecessary sugars, chemical additives, or manipulations.

The wine is then shipped in recyclable pouches that keep oxygen sealed out and freshness sealed in for up to four weeks after opening. The pouches are self-standing, can be kept on the counter or in the refrigerator, and are more durable, lighter, and friendlier to the planet than glass. An easy-to-use spigot allows members to enjoy the convenience of a smaller portion of wine at their leisure and never worry about finishing a bottle before it goes bad. The pouches are also perfect for social gatherings, camping, or other outdoor events.

How Membership Works
First, members sign up by selecting the types of wine they would like to receive monthly. Members can opt-in to receiving reds, whites, or blends, and order 1.5 liter (two bottle equivalent) or 3-liter pouches (four bottle equivalent). Wine quality is similar to what you would get in a $30 bottle of wine, but delivered monthly at a 20-30 percent discount for an exceptional value. Members pay between $41-$49 monthly for 1.5 liter subscriptions (two bottle equivalent) and $59-$65 for 3.0 liter subscriptions (four bottle equivalent). Additional pouches can also be added easily to monthly deliveries that start at $39. Members have flexibility to purchase additional pouches or customize recurring monthly shipments for special occasions, including pouch size.

About Us
Born in the heart of the Walla Walla valley, Irreverent Wine is an eco-friendly monthly wine subscription service that delivers better wine, for a better world. Founded by 30-year technology industry veteran Chris Dukelow, Irreverent Wine is on a mission to change the way wine is packaged, shipped, sold, and enjoyed one-glass-at-a-time. In the U.S. alone, over 4 billion wine bottles are purchased annually, and the manufacturing and transport of these bottles emits approximately 10 billion pounds of CO2-equivalent emissions. By partnering with independent and sustainable vineyards, putting great-tasting, low carb, gluten-free, vegan, FODMAP, keto, and paleo- friendly wines in recyclable pouches, the company offers a unique “Farm to Glass” model that reduces the carbon footprint of wine by 80 percent. For every pouch delivered, Irreverent will donate $2 to EcoTrust, which has a mission to create economic opportunity, social equity, and environmental well-being. For more information, visit http://www.irreverentwine.com.

Domaine Carneros’ Retiring CEO Eileen Crane Leaves a Legacy of Growth and Sustainability

May 24, 2020 by evebushman

Carneros, CA – CEO of Domaine Carneros and sparkling winemaker Eileen Crane is retiring this June after 33 years spent crafting wine with attention to detail in the cellar and vineyards with a dedication to sustainability. Her introduction of innovations such as the winery’s new electrical micro-grid, renewable energy systems, and packaging reuse programs garnered the winery and its team a host of accolades, most notably in 2019 when Domaine Carneros was honored with the California Green Medal Business Award. Crane will continue as lead sparkling winemaker through the 2020 harvest and cuvee blending, and leaves the company well-positioned to prosper in the coming years.

“Eileen has broken new ground with her approach to environmental and regenerative land use,” says Zak Miller, who will step into the role of sparkling winemaker at Domaine Carneros after a decade spent working side-by-side with Crane on the production of the winery’s luxury sparkling wines and alongside Pinot Noir winemaker TJ Evans. “She pioneered smart and sustainable initiatives at the winery—I can think of no better legacy to leave, especially now that climate change is challenging all wineries to become more self-reliant.”

Under Crane, Domaine Carneros emerged as one of the industry’s most forward-thinking brands. When Crane introduced solar power to the winery in 2003, it positioned Domaine Carneros as a pioneer in renewable energy production in the wine industry at large. Today, the new micro-grid allows the winery to continue production should California’s notorious seasonal fires force the statewide electrical grid to go dark. With fires often occurring during the harvest months, the system helps ensure smooth operations at a critical time. Miller stated, “Domaine Carneros will keep disruptions to a minimum thanks to Eileen’s foresight and anticipation of our energy needs.”

Such environmental planning and sustainable efforts paid off under Crane. Her packaging reuse plan saw employees reclaiming both inserts and cases for in-house purposes. And like many green initiatives, it ultimately helped add more “green” to the winery’s bottom line. With an annual reuse rate of 20-25%, Domaine Carneros employees helped save the company an average of $75,000 per year since the program’s inception in 2011.

Such employee involvement in sustainability programs is vital. Once again Crane was ahead of the curve by instituting an open-book management plan that all workers could see. The plan set measurable goals every three years, reevaluated annually, that encouraged employee involvement in managing the winery’s sustainability efforts. These include installing skylights to reduce electricity use, recycling bottles, corks, and foil, and introducing owl boxes in the vineyards.

“To tend to the vine is to do the right thing. I have a responsibility to my winery, my employees and the planet,” Crane says, summarizing her dedication and passion for winemaking. “It was an honor and a privilege to work with the Taittinger family for these past 33 years. I know Domaine Carneros will continue to be a leader in winemaking and regenerative practices.”

ABOUT DOMAINE CARNEROS

Founded in 1987, Domaine Carneros reflects the hallmark of its founder, Champagne Taittinger, in creating a vision of terroir-driven sparkling wine and preserving the quality tenets of the traditional method production. Located entirely within the Carneros AVA, between Napa and Sonoma counties, the six estate vineyards total approximately 400 acres with 125 acres planted to Chardonnay, 225 acres planted to Pinot Noir, with the remaining acres currently in development. The winery focuses on making ultra-premium Carneros sparkling wines largely estate grown and limited production Pinot Noirs.

Domaine Carneros’ château has become a landmark and symbol of the region. The architecture and interior design were inspired by the 18^th century Château de la Marquetterie, the historic Taittinger family residence in the Champagne region.

Book Review: (Being Told) How to Drink by Vincent Obsopoeus, from the Year 1536!

May 15, 2020 by evebushman

It was interesting to review a book about drinking – that was originally penned in 1536 – translated from Latin but including the Latin text on the left while the facing page showed the English translation. Now and then I turned my eyes to the adjacent text to see what it looked like, but that was about it; my brother is the linguist in my family and the buck stopped there.

The notes from the publicist are below my review, and gives greater details on this edition. I’ll keep my observations to what isn’t already mentioned. The three sections included:

Book 1. The Art of Drinking, Sustainably with Discrimination – and I found this section the most interesting. It included “how to behave at home”, with your spouse and in public. One telling section reminded drinkers that we are “judged” by the company we keep and that we would benefit to drink with powerful friends. Though this was somewhat preachy I loved it as I love to drink with people that have cool jobs, know people, and of course have great wine cellars. (Yes, I’m writing that with a little smile.) However, after this section there are pages of notes on the type of people you shouldn’t drink with, most of which I found obvious – but maybe it wasn’t so obvious hundreds of years ago.

The second section: Book 2. Excessive Drinking, What It Looks Like. This read like I was being lectured to by an elderly grammar schoolteacher for bad behavior. Of course if you drink to excess you will get sick, but unless you are an actual alcoholic, I don’t believe that all excessive drinkers – and you know who you are without the book spelling it out for you – will end with poverty and death. There are about 100 pages in this section. I would suggest this reading to anyone that suspects they are abusing alcohol. Years ago I read a book put out by Alcoholics Anonymous, to know the symptoms and behavior of alcoholism and alcoholics, and read it cover to cover as a personal check list. There was nothing like that book in this one, which is fine. My point is that this book, written so long ago, looks to be written to help people be aware that excessive drunkenness is not acceptable behavior.

Book 3. “How to Win at Drinking Games” sounded interesting because, I have to admit, I’ve never actually played a drinking game – and the section starts off with a game. Later, he writes “sobriety is best” so you don’t have to play the games you can just “play along” when others play. Then he goes back to share more drinking games, most are toasts that go on and on. Never been through that either.

Conclusion: If you are interested in ancient cultural behaviors, a history of how drinking alcohol was perceived, Latin translations, old text, prose, history – all somewhat written in jest – you should enjoy this book!

From the Publicist

Drink like the Ancients! A 16^th Century Manual for How to Drink!

The forthcoming book, How to Drink: A Classical Guide to the Art of Imbibing (Publication date: April 14, 2020), is a new translation of Vincent Obsopoeus 1536 manuscript The Art of Drinking (De Arte Bibendi). Obsopoeus was a Renaissance humanist and neoclassical poet, that grew up in the winelands of sixteenth century Germany. There he witnessed a new culture of bingeing, hazing, peer pressure, and competitive drinking. Alarmed, and inspired by the Roman poet Ovid’s Art of Love, he wrote The Art of Drinking a manual for drinking with pleasure and discrimination. In How to Drink, Michael Fontaine offers the first proper English translation of Obsopoeus’s text, rendering his poetry into spirited, contemporary prose and uncorking a forgotten classic that will appeal to drinkers of all kinds and (legal) ages.

Arguing that moderation, not abstinence, is the key to lasting sobriety, and that drinking can be a virtue if it is done with rules and limits, Obsopoeus teaches us how to manage our drinking, how to win friends at social gatherings, and how to give a proper toast. But he also says that drinking to excess on occasion is okay—and he even tells us how to win drinking games, citing extensive personal experience.

Complete with the original Latin on facing pages, this sparkling work is as intoxicating today as when it was first published.

Michael Fontaine is professor of classics and associate vice provost of undergraduate education at Cornell University. His books include Funny Words in Plautine Comedy and The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Comedy.

Princeton University Press

41 William Street

Princeton, NJ 08540-5237

www.press.princeton.edu

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.

Bordeaux En Primeurs Week Canceled but Château Malescasse Maintains Efforts to Achieve High Standards

May 10, 2020 by evebushman

BORDEAUX, FRANCE (PRWEB) – Despite the cumulation of the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancelation of the En Primeurs Week, Château Malescasse is continuing to focus on producing wine that earned the estate a “Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel” classification, propelling the domaine at the forefront of the Médoc’s most highly regarded properties.

The Crus Bourgeois du Médoc appellation announced a new three-tier classification system earlier this year and among 249 châteaux classified Crus Bourgeois, “Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel” has only been awarded to 14 selected properties. The “Exceptionnel ” level of the new classification requires quality standards and sustainable practices and the following of strict guidelines with technical procedures applied to the vineyard, the harvest method, bottling and quality assurance. Furthermore, the promotion of the wines is evaluated; from the presentation of the site and tourism offerings to distribution and international activities.

Over the past seven years, Château Malescasse has undergone a revolution; with changes to processes in the vineyard, winemaking practices as well as marketing efforts which contributed to earning this elite classification.

“We couldn’t be more proud of this distinction, it is the result of many years of dedicated work and a strong team effort. It is an honor to be recognized as one of the top properties in the Médoc,” said Alban Cacaret, Managing Director of Château Malescasse.

The vineyards were restructured in terms of soil, rootstock, clone and planting density, to operate in the same vein as the neighbouring Grands Crus Classés. The sustainable farming practices now center around preserving the existing biodiversity, the overall natural state of the vineyard environment and optimizing energy usage. Yields have been reduced and a rigorous grape selection process has been implemented, with only 50% used in the blend of the premier wine, compared to 80% in previous years.

All of the winemaking practices are focused on preserving the pureness of the fruit and are overseen by wine consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt. A new wine cellar was created with small volume oak barrels and concrete vessels enabling harvests of single vineyard plots.

As part of the continuous efforts to create a better experience for visitors on the estate, Château Malescasse has been fully restored: the winery and the charterhouse have been fully revamped to form a living, welcoming experience, inspired by the history of the estate and the neoclassical style of the finest houses of the Médoc. The property organizes public and private events and has become a dynamic and unmissable spot on the Bordeaux wine trail. It attracts visitors from around the world, looking to experience refinement and the French art of living.

About Château Malescasse: Owned by Vignobles Austruy since 2012, Château Malescasse has been crafting its signature Bordeaux wines in the Haut-Médoc between Margaux and Saint-Julien since the early 19th century. It acquired and maintained the Cru Bourgeois status since 2003 before obtaining the Exceptionnel distinction earlier this year. The château and gardens cover over 1.5 acres surrounded by 100 acres of vineyards.

About the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc:
The Crus Bourgeois du Médoc form the largest family of Bordeaux crus from some of the most prestigious appellations of the Left Bank. This family brings together vineyards with widely differing profiles and terroirs that satisfy a drastic set of requirements. Thanks to its yearly blind selection process, the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc guarantees consumers a standard of quality for every bottle that proudly bears the “Cru Bourgeois” label.

THE ORIGINAL WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB® LAUNCHES THE PURE WINE SERIES

March 18, 2020 by evebushman

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The original Wine of the Month Club®, the nation’s first wine subscription company founded in Los Angeles in 1972, has just launched its Pure Wine Series featuring the purest wines on the planet with a selection of wines that are organic, biodynamic, sustainably produced and more.

Paul Kalemkiarian talks wine with evewine101.com founder Eve Bushman.

With a movement toward more natural wine, where little interference or manipulation is done by the winemaker, the demand for such wines is growing in the marketplace. But, as Paul Kalemkiarian, second-generation owner of Wine of the Month Club, is quick to point out, not all natural wines are ones you’d want to drink. Buzzwords–such as sustainable, organic and biodynamic–require stringent definitions and certifications to be included on a wine label; however, a wine that markets itself as a natural wine–inferring that it’s held to a higher standard– offers a false sense of credence as no such certification exists for “natural wines.”

“This is where I come in,” explains Paul. “Just because a wine label says it’s ‘natural,’ ‘organic,’ or ‘certified sustainable,’ doesn’t mean it tastes good. I have created the Pure Wine Series to highlight the best wines I find in these categories and send them directly to those who are as interested as I am in exploring this subject.”

Bottles from the Pure Wine Series represent several attributes, from sustainable practices such as dry farming and certified organic farming to wines with no added sugar, low sulfur, and those approved by various diets, including vegan, keto and paleo. Members can choose to have two or three bottles shipped to their home or office every 1-3 months, and shipping is always free.

Kalemkiarian has tasted more than 100,000 wines in his lifetime. Every week he conducts his own Tuesday Tasting where he’ll taste up to 70 wines from all over the world. Only the very best will be selected and shipped to his members, including those that make the cut for the Pure Wine Series.

“My dad, who started Wine of the Month Club nearly 50 years ago and still enjoys a glass of wine at age 91, taught me the importance of tasting every wine,” says Kalemkirian. “Whether it smells like vinegar or rotten eggs, you still need to taste it and learn from its flaws. I taste a lot of bad wines that we end up tossing in the garbage, and it pains me when I see that same wine emerge in the marketplace. But that’s what sets us apart from other wine clubs. We don’t rely on algorithms or buy overproduced wine from Europe, we taste each and every wine that will eventually be uncorked by our thousands of members. It may seem old-fashioned, but it’s how we’ve done things for nearly half a century.”

For more information on Wine of the Month Club and its various membership options, visit wineofthemonthclub.com or call 800.949.WINE (9463) Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PST).

About Wine of the Month Club

Founded in 1972, the Original Wine of the Month Club® began in Los Angeles, California as the creation of innovative wine shop owner and first-generation immigrant, Paul Kalemkiarian Sr. “Paul Sr.,” as he’s now known, owned and operated Palos Verdes Wines and Spirits, a premier wine shop in the LA/Malibu area. Kalemkiarian initially conceived of the idea of a monthly wine subscription service to fulfill the needs of loyal Palos Verdes Peninsula customers who had moved out of the area. This idea quickly evolved into Wine of the Month Club, the first wine-by-mail company in the country.

Nearly 50 years later, Wine of the Month Club is owned and operated by Kalemkiarian’s son, Paul Kalemkiarian Jr, known as “Paul K.” Paul K hand selects the wines for each club every month, just as his father did before him. While the quality and value have remained consistent throughout the company’s history, customers can now conveniently order and customize their subscriptions online, choosing from a variety of clubs such as the Classic Series, Vintners Series, Limited Series or regional and varietal-specific clubs such as Napa, Bordeaux and pinot noir. Each shipment comes with a newsletter including information on wine history, food pairing tips, and more, and is backed by a money-back satisfaction guarantee. More information is available online at wineofthemonthclub.com.

Discovering Folded Hills Winery – Plus Winemaker Angela Osborne

February 28, 2020 by evebushman

Once again the #LAWineWriters met up at Napa Valley Grille in Westwood to have a wine paired luncheon. This time organizer and fellow writer Cori Solomon invited us to taste through some new Rhone wines – Grenache predominant – from a winery in the Santa Ynez AVA: Folded Hills Winery Farmstead Ranch.

We were greeted by the owner, Kim Busch, and general manager Tymari Lore on the patio of the restaurant. There were no less than nine wines for us to try, along with a six course meal created by Chef Ben Diaz. (See photos here.)

What we learned about the winery:

The vineyards are situated further south than any other vineyards in the Santa Ynez AVA and provide for cooler climate wines.
The winemaker, Angela Osborne, is also known for her A Tribute to Grace wines.
Their wine club is called “The Fold” and is very event-centered.
If you like French Rhônes, many of which are lower in alcohol than the American version, know that the Folded Hills wines we tried ranged from low to mid-range at 12.10% alcohol to 14.5%, with most hovering at about 13%.
They launched in April 2017 and you can taste the wines in their Montecito tasting room or at the estate in Gaviota.
This is a small production winery, with 5,500-6,500 case production, and they tend to “sell out fast.” Owner Kim Busch added, “Yes we do sell out of most our wines, all but 2 of which are purposely higher production.”
If you visit the winery you will not only see vineyards but also fruit trees and farm animals.

According to their brochure the wines “have no residual sugar and one gram or less of carbs, no commercial additives, minimal sulfur, only native yeast, are grown organically following the biodynamic calendar, made from grapes that are 95% estate grown, hand harvested using sustainable practices in the vineyard, are vegan, and crafted consciously to be lower in alcohol…” as well as being family owned.

Below are my tasting notes on the wines and food pairings:

ONE

Beet Tartare: Yuzu, hazelnut chimichurri, radish, nasturtium, country bread.

2018 Lilly Rose Grenache: 100% Folded Hills Grenache. Salmon in color, aromas and flavors of pink grapefruit, apple, lemon, graphite. Loved the beets and the Rose cooled down the heat of this dish.

TWO

The Nomad Flatbread: Salmon belly, crème fraiche, escabeche, radish, chervil.

2018 August White: 68% Folded Hills Grenache Blanc, 32% Area 51 Roussanne. White flowers, pears in light syrup, concrete, mild acidity. I loved the salmon – and had seconds – with this white Rhone.

THREE

Apple and Brie Flatbread: Granny Smith, picked red onion, triple crème brie, prosciutto, heirloom tomato velouté.

2018 Estate White Santa Ynez Valley: 50% Grenache Blanc, 25% Marsanne, 25% Clarette Blanche. Apple, peach, butter, toasted oak, crisp and clean mouthfeel, and my favorite white in the tasting. Loved the apple notes in the wine with the apples in the flatbread.

FOUR

Mary’s Free-Range Chicken Wings: Thai passion fruit chili, petite frisee, Heirloom radish, cilantro.

2017 August Red: 67% Grenache, 33% Syrah. Very perfumy aromatics, velvety red fruit, black cherries, big and tannic – especially when compared to the other red wines. My fellow writers oohed and awed over the pairing; it was quite nice with the spices on the chicken.

FIVE

Yellowfin Tuna: bubu arare, porcini crema, truffle ponzu, maitake.

2017 Cluster Grenache: Whole cluster Grenache, 100% Folded Hills. Cherry cola, green peppercorn and a nice easy drinker.

2017 Estate Grenache: 100% Folded Hills Grenache. Cherry liqueur, brambles, minty and dry.

2017 Grant Grenache: 92% Grenache, 8% Syrah. Raspberry, bright, oak and tannic.

All were really nice with the tuna, and as it was served cold it was a perfect picnic as we were outdoors on a cool day with low alcohol wines. These last two Grenache were my favorites of the reds.

SIX

Charred Te Mana Lamb: honey nut squash, baby kale, pine nut relish, au poivre.

Twice Fried Brussels Sprouts: Balsamic, parmigiano reggiano, togarashi, shaved bonito.

2017 Stolpman Syrah Ballard Canyon: 100% Stolpman Syrah. Strawberry, richly oaked, cola, tart.

2016 G.S.M.: 80% Folded Hills Vineyard, 20% Thompson Vineyard. 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre. Red berries, ash, long finish.

Both wines were very nice with the lamb and Brussels Sprouts, if I could have eaten more I would have!

https://foldedhills.com/

https://www.facebook.com/foldedhills/

https://napavalleygrille.com/

https://www.facebook.com/NapaValleyGrilleWestwood/

Top Rhône Producer Delas Frères Opens New Winery in Tain-l’Hermitage

January 13, 2020 by evebushman

TAIN-I’HERMITAGE, FRANCE (PRWEB) – Delas Frères, one of the northern Rhône Valley’s best producers, is excited to usher in a new chapter in its long history and announce the opening of its new premises in Tain-l’Hermitage. The project has included new facilities and tools essential to the company’s future growth and a new showcase site in which the Delas team will be delighted to relate the history of the company to visitors.

Founded in Tournon-sur-Rhône in 1835, Maison Delas Frères has constantly gone to great efforts to execute a strategy committed to quality and respect for the terroir. Delas Frères has been associated with the Deutz Champagne House since 1977 when it was purchased by the latter. It was given new momentum in 1993, when the Rouzaud family of Maison Louis Roederer, already the owner of several wine estates, acquired the two wine companies and entrusted their management to Fabrice Rosset, CEO since 1996. Under his management, and with the intention of taking the domaine to the next level of excellence, the company embarked on a long-term development program.

Over the last twenty years, nearly 30 million euros have been invested: harvest-handling facilities, vat room, high-tech equipment and new ageing cellars in Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, rebuilding of the drystone support walls on the Hermitage hills, replacement of 7,000 vines, consolidation of the vineyards with the purchase of several plots. In 2006, the acquisition of nearly 20 hectares in the Crozes Hermitage appellation took the total vineyard surface area now worked by Delas Frères to around 30 hectares.

Delas Frères has been historically located in Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, but in 2015, its 180th anniversary year, it acquired a property tucked away in the center of Tain-L’Hermitage. This would be the start of the next phase in the process of elevating the brand.

“Delas Frères needed a high-performing production tool that matched its ambitions and would allow it to deliver the purest expression of its prestigious northern terroirs,” said Fabrice Rosset at the time…. “and, at the same time, be consistent with the elegant efficiency of Deutz and the constellation of magnificent estates under the same umbrella” (Château Pichon Comtesse, Adriano Ramos Pinto, Domaimes Ott, Louis Roederer, Merry Edwards, Roederer Estate, etc.).

The new property, located at the foot of the l’Hermitage hill, now includes an architectural gem that lives up to the outstanding setting. The design and restoration of the facilities were entrusted to architect Carl Fredrik Svenstedt, a graduate of Harvard and the Yale School of Architecture, with a brief to respect the character of the original property and to set off the “terroirs of excellence.” In the prestigious Architecture MasterPrize competition this past October, the new winery was awarded Honorable Mention in Architectural Design and its architects won the Small Firm of the Year Award in Sustainable Architecture.

The spectacular building housing the new winery and cellars, which adjoins the former family residence and the new reception cellars, is impressive for its purity, precision and modernity. Only noble material – stone, glass and steel – has been used in its construction. The wall sculpture, created from 274 blocks of stone, seems to be almost alive with a rhythmic and harmonious undulation that appears to take the shape and mimic the Hermitage hills. In a 6,000 square-meter walled property, the venerable “Maison Delas Frères” now boasts a tailor-made, state of-the-art production facility.

In September 2019, the grapes from the northern crus were brought in to this new red wine winery in Tain-l’Hermitage for an emotional first harvest. The white wines and blends from the southern crus were taken to the Delas Frères site in Saint-Jean-de-Muzols which is still in operation.

The reception cellars, sheltered by noble stones that parallel the design around the winemaking operations, come at the end of the tour. This space is entirely dedicated to wine tastings and a retail area. It offers wine novices and wine lovers a chance to try, as well as purchase, the Delas Frères range of wines representing the finest Rhône Valley terroirs.

The Reception House, which was the former family residence, perfectly illustrates the contemporary nature of the project sought by Delas Frères with an interior design courtesy of renowned designer Julia Rouzaud. Its reception facilities include two lounges and a dining room. Eleven bedrooms for the use of Delas’ guests (partners, customers, VIPs, etc.) complete this space in which the Delas Frères team will be delighted to relate the history of the company.

Fabrice Rosset states, “We are delighted to have been able to make the most of this unique property, now practically an icon thanks to its history and its rebirth within the world of fine Rhône Valley wine. This will be the facility where we will be able to receive devotees of the brand and Rhône Valley wine enthusiasts, in style.”

The new winery and reception cellars are located at 40, Rue Jules Nadi, Tain-l’Hermitage, and is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30am to 12:00pm and from 1:30pm to 6:30pm.

About Delas Frères http://www.delas.com/en/
Delas Frères is a winery of tradition and renewal. Founded in 1835 in the heart of the northern Côtes du Rhône, the winery has thrived with the dynamism of its original founders and their heirs and more recently, the renewed energy of the Lallier-Deutz family, owners of Champagne Deutz. Delas Frères and Champagne Deutz were acquired by Maison Louis Roederer in 1993. André Lallier retired from daily winery duties in 1996, and Fabrice Rosset, a 20-year executive with Roederer, today leads both Delas and Deutz. Delas wines are crafted by a panel of experts headed by winemaker Jacques Grange. Together, the team makes wines that have been heralded for their intensity of flavor and excellent value. The wines are imported exclusively into the U.S. by Maisons Marques & Domaines (MMD USA).