Eve's Wine 101

Arizona Celebrates Its Women in Wine

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Known for its three wine regions of Verde Valley, Wilcox and Sonoita/Elgin, and tasting rooms throughout the state, Arizona is an emerging wine producer–creators of many wonderful wines and there are more to come with a bevy of emerging wineries.  Although its history goes back to the 1700s, it was discovered as a wine growing destination in the 1970s when it was identified that Arizona’s soil possesses the same unique terra rossa soil as France’s Burgundy region. 

Among the jewels Arizona possesses is an extensive roster of incredible female winemakers, who are among industry leaders in their craft. 

Among them:

Kelly Bostock, “Wineworker” and Co-owner of the renowned Dos Cabezas winery.

Since 1995, Dos Cabezas WineWorks has been growing grapes and producing wines in Southern Arizona. Originally located in the Kansas Settlement, the winery and 80 acres of vineyards were pioneered by the late visionary, Al Buhl. Todd Bostock joined the team as winemaker in 2002 and by the end of 2006, the Bostock family took over operations of the winery, and it was moved to Sonoita where it resides today.  The winery is supplied with distinctive, high-quality fruit from its two estate vineyards: Pronghorn Vineyard in Sonoita, and Cimarron Vineyard in the Kansas Settlement.  Kelly and her husband have been named “top 10 winemakers to watch” by San Francisco Chronicle. They work with the Vera Earl Ranch located behind their winery to supply them with sustainably raised beef.  They continue to adapt their vineyard to be more water conscientious. They started replacing blocks of drip irrigation with subterranean irrigation to eliminate evaporation and animal damage.

Kris Pothier & Kim Koistinen, Co-owners, label artist, General Manager and cellar rat, Chateau Tumbleweed

Located in Clarkdale, Arizona, Chateau Tumbleweed, owned by  Kris Pothier, her husband, Joe Bechard, Kim Koistinen and her husband Jeff Hendricks, Chateau Tumbleweed has a wonderful patio that looks out over Sycamore Canyon–on clear days you can see the San Francisco peaks. Chateau Tumbleweed sources fruit from Willcox from 12 different growers. They work with many varietals: Picpoul Blanc, Viognier, and Chardonnay are their main whites. For red they love: Sangiovese, Syrah, Tempranillo, Mourvedre, Montepulciano, Cabernet Franc and Grenache. They purchased the acre adjacent to their property and are putting up a barrel room. 


Gayle Glomski & Lauren Maldonado, co-owners,  Page Spring Cellars

Gayle Glomski, who, with her husband, launched Page Spring Cellars in 2003, not only makes incredible wines but also has transformative programs in Yoga, massage & hope dancing, which Gayle leads.  The winery’s goal is to create delicious wines that express the unique character of its sunny Arizona landscape. Their wines and winemaking convey their philosophies concerning family, education and living life to its fullest.

Lauren’s foray into the wine industry began when she settled in Sedona. In 2013, Lauren joined Page Springs Cellars, outside of Sedona, serving many capacities from tasting room worker to tour guide. She joined the vineyard crew and helped farm their vineyards for four years as the only female on the crew. Lauren recently opened uptown Sedona’s premier wine bar and tasting room, The Art of Wine. which offers over 40 local Arizona, U.S. and international wines by-the-glass or for sampling. Their 350-bottle wine shop is a must-visit for oenophiles. 

Lisa Callaghan, Co-owner, Callaghan Wines

Since 1990, Callaghan Vineyards has been perfecting their vintages and winning numerous awards.  So much so in fact, that their wines have been served at The White House four times.  Lisa’s wine includes one estate white–a blend of Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Malvasia Bianca, Clairette and Petit Manseng. The object is to produce an uncommonly nuanced white wine with great freshness and flavor “chew.”  As with all of their wines, their primary concerns are depth of flavor and complexity. 

Peggy Fiandaca, Owner/Brand Manager, LDV Winery

After an incredibly successful career in Urban Planning, Peggy and her husband set out on their “second act” – wine. Wine was always a passion they shared; they traveled the world drinking, collecting, and absorbing everything they could about wine. They are often asked if owning a winery was their lifelong dream, but it was purely serendipitous (or a mid-life crisis). LDV winery sits on a 40-acre property, grows Rhone grape varieties, and produces about 2,500-3,000 cases per year. On a day to day basis, Peggy is responsible for strategic planning and analytics, wine marketing, public relations, sales, tasting room operations, contracts, regulations, trademarks, website, social media and all staffing. Peggy has served on the Arizona Wine Growers Association board as Secretary and President for two terms. She is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier International and Women at the Top, a female business owner networking group.

Carla Milić, Wineworker, Los Milics Vineyard

Carla was born and raised in Chile, but the bulk of her training has been in Sonoita with local winemakers. She took a few courses at the University of California, Davis and also assisted during a harvest in Chile. Los Milics Vineyard is located in Elgin; it sits on 20 acres with 12.5 acres being under vine. Since the winery opened for tastings, Carla is responsible for greeting guests and guiding them through their tasting and providing tours of the construction site where the new tasting room and casitas will be located. Once harvest peaks, Carla will be receiving fruit, processing, cleaning, and monitoring fermentations. Her favorite part of the job is nurturing vines from infancy through their entire growth cycle. Carla continues to be inspired by other independent and hardworking women in the wine industry.

Los Milics Vineyards grows grapes that thrive in this unique terroir, 5000-foot elevation, and climate. They have recently opened a new tasting room, which was designed by Chen+Suchart Studio in Scottsdale, is clad in weathered steel and flanked by large monoliths that guide visitors from the parking lot through the vineyard into the space. The interior is oriented to frame dramatic views of the Mustang Mountains, including The Biscuit, an iconic rocky landmark. Later this year, they are opening nine onsite casitas and a Spanish-influenced restaurant on the property.

Julia Dixon, Winemaker, 1764 Vineyards

Julia Dixon’s love for wines began in 2012, and after graduating from viticulture and enology studies at Yavapai College in 2016, Julia and her husband founded 1764 Vineyards located in Pearce, AZ. Today, Julia is the head winemaker at their 30-acre property working with Petit Verdot, Picpoul Blanc, and Vermentino varieties.

Lisa Strid, Aridus Wine Company

Lisa Strid is the winemaker at Aridus Wine Company in the beautifully mountainous region of Willcox, AZ.  At Aridus, Lisa oversees all of the production processes from grape to bottle. She finds winemaking calls on many different skills, such as using science and sensory analysis on a daily basis. Being flexible and pragmatic while bringing an artistic perspective at the same time can be a delicate balance.

Brooke Lowry Ide, Winemaker, Vino Stache Winery 

Brooke’s winemaking journey began in 2014 when she enrolled at Yavapai College studying viticulture and enology. She has interned at Four Eight Wineworks, Caduceus Cellars, Merkin Vineyards, and Callaghan Vineyards. In 2019, she began her one-woman operation at her own winery, Vino Stache Winery. She has delayed planting on her 54-acre property, but is building her brand with fruit sourced from several Arizona growers. Her first wines were bottled in 2021.

Megan Stranik and Shannon Austin Zouzoulas, Co-Owners, AZ Hops & Vines

Megan was introduced to the world of winemaking at Sonoita Vineyard where she spent a year as a volunteer, helping tend the farm. For many years after, she worked at various wineries learning the process of winemaking, but owning her own winery was always her goal. Today, she co-owns AZ Hops & Vines with her sister, Shannon, where you can almost always find her tending to the vineyards. 

Shannon grew up in Southern California and attended the University of Maryland. After returning to California, she began volunteering at wineries and festivals and began conspiring with her sister on how to get into the industry themselves. While her sister handles viticulture and oenology, Shannon was inspired in the marketing, hospitality and agro-tourism side of the business. She spends her days creating fun events, meeting great people, trying new wines, and marketing their winery.

Monica Preston, Owner, Birds & Barrels Vineyards

Monica Preston founded Birds & Barrels Vineyards on 50-acres of land with her husband Chad in 2015 with the goal of crafting ultra-premium Arizona wines. Though she does not have a background in viticulture, her passion and drive to learn has been helpful on this adventure. Monica handles water management, herbicide and pesticide management, fertilizer regiments in the vineyard, vine assessments, petiole, and fruit sampling prior to harvest. She also handles the wine club and Founders program planning and coordination. Though they have been called crazy many times along this journey, they remain ambitious and plan to expand while planting in 2023.

Valerie Wood, Heart Wood Cellars

Valerie Wood moved to Arizona with her husband Daniel in 2009 for a new lifestyle and plans to contribute and participate in the growing sector of the Arizona wine industry. In 2013, she began studying viticulture and enology at Yavapai College in the Verde Valley while working part time at the Yavapai College Southwest Wine Center planting the college’s new vineyard. In 2015 she graduated with honors and her degree and was invited to join the Four Eight Wineworks-Caduceus Cellars winery family. In 2016 Heart Wood Cellars released its first vintage following the guidelines of their business model – to craft wines they love and want to share with others.

Desiree Gerth, Owner and Winemaker, Strive Vineyards

Desiree Gerth moved to Arizona with her husband shortly after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While on a weekend vacation to Arizona wine country, they decided to try to make their own wine with a home winemaking kit purchased from a local brew shop. Though the first batch was undrinkable, they persisted, first creating an in-home winery and then looking for their own land in Willcox. She and her husband, with the help of family and friends, have built everything themselves from the ground up – fencing, gates, irrigation systems, trellis systems, utility sheds and more. They are completely off-grid utilizing solar power for their well pump and green, sustainable farming practices. In 2018 she began her professional winery career at Golden Rule Vineyards, and today oversees administration and operations for Strive Vineyards and works in all areas of wine production, winery management, and operations at Cochise Wine Co

Ann Roncone, Owner/Winemaker, Lightning Ridge Cellars

Ann was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area. She worked an office job and winemaking was her hobby. For about five years, she read books on winemaking and viticulture, planted vines at home, took courses at the University of California, Davis, and worked harvests at local wineries. When she and her husband decided to pursue a career in wine, they couldn’t afford land in California, and decided to visit the Arizona viticulture area as her husband had gone to college in Tucson. In 2003, they purchased land in the Sonoita/Elgin AVA and in 2004 they began the process of starting a vineyard and winery from scratch. Lightning Ridge Cellars is located in Elgin and specializes in Italian varietals. It is hard to say what she enjoys most about winemaking, but the amount of time she spends outside is definitely among the top things.

Kim Reed, Assistant Manager/Wine Club Coordinator, Javelina Leap Vineyard, Winery & Bistro

Kim came into the wine industry somewhat by accident after working in a community care and hospital as a Registered Dietitian for 10 years. Her in-laws, Rod and Cynthia Snapp own Javelina Leap, and when her husband Lucas took over as GM and head winemaker, it was quickly apparent that he was going to need help. In March 2020, Kim joined the family business, initially as the Wine Club and Event Coordinator. Since then, her role has grown to include helping the tasting room manager, serving as office manager, booking bands, shipping wine, answering emails and filling in the gaps wherever needed. Most of her wine knowledge comes from being around the business and family the last seven years, however she will be pursuing a Level 1 Sommelier certification in the future.

Lori Dutt Reynolds, Winemaker, Sonoita Vineyards

Lori is a third-generation winemaker in Arizona with a Certificate in Enology and Viticulture from the University of California, Davis. She was inspired to join the wine industry by her grandfather, Dr. Gordon Dutt – the founder of the Arizona Wine Industry. Lori loves the art and science behind creating wine and her favorite parts of the job are blending wine and working in the vineyards with her family. It is important to her to have her children involved in Sonoita Vineyards to work and learn the wine industry firsthand like she did.

Perlises Pick St. Anne’s Crossing Winery

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Driving on the Sonoma Highway just north of Kenwood, it would be virtually impossible to miss seeing St. Anne’s Crossing Winery, even if you weren’t looking for it. After all, how many other wineries have a 28-foot tall bear standing guard over their tasting room?

The Bear is a sculpture created by Sonoma County artist Bryan Tedrick, who is also responsible for two other large sculptures on Wilson Artisan Wineries properties – the Coyote at Wilson Winery in the Dry Creek Valley and Lord Snort, the giant wild boar at Soda Rock Winery in the Alexander Valley. In addition to its massive size, what contributes to the Bear’s uniqueness is that in addition to being constructed from recycled materials from various sources as is Bryan’s wont, some of the steel used came from the remains of the Soda Rock tasting room which was destroyed in the 2019 Kincade fire.

But the Bear is not the only thing that’s special about St. Anne’s Crossing. The property itself has a rich history. The Wilsons acquired the winery in 2012, which was the original site of St. Francis Winery and later Blackstone Winery. Chris Barrett, the winemaker at Pezzi King from our previous article, also makes the wine here. And remember that we mentioned awards? Well, read to the end of this article for some big news – and no peeking until you get to the end!

Tasting Room Associate Hailey Unger did a great job in tasting us through several of the St. Anne’s Crossing wines:

2020 Los Chamizal Pinot Noir – 100% Pinot Noir from the Los Chamizal vineyard in the Sonoma Valley AVA north of town of Sonoma. Delicate nose with hints of cherry notes. Gold Medal at the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

2020 Estate Merlot – 100% Merlot from the estate vineyard that was planted in the 1970s in the Sonoma Valley AVA. The vineyard was right behind us as we enjoyed our tasting. Great depth and a lingering smokiness on the finish.

2019 Five Saints Red Blend – Sonoma County, from Dry Creek and Sonoma Valley AVAs. A blend of the five major Bordeaux red varietals: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Fragrant white pepper on the nose and an abundance of stone fruit. Medium to long finish. 

2020 Shumahi Primitivo – 100% Primitivo, Sonoma Valley AVA. The vineyard is located in the hills near the town of Glen Ellen and is named for the vineyard owners’ German Shepherd dogs – Schultz, Max and Heidi.  Dark, ripe fruit notes with an effortless, elegant finish.

2020 Bacigalupi Zinfandel – 100% Zinfandel, Russian River AVA.  Touch of cranberry on the nose and brimming with satiny, buttery notes.  Full mouth feel and a long, sustained finish. 

2020 Five Valleys Zinfandel – 100% Zinfandel, Sonoma County (includes Rockpile, Los Chamizal and Bacigalupi vineyards, among others). Deep purple/blue fruit. Classic Zinfandel – huge and steady on the long finish. Gold Medal at the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.        

2020 Rockpile Zinfandel – 100% Zinfandel, Rockpile AVA. White pepper on the nose, licorice notes, sense of finesse, long, luscious finish. A great example of why we love Rockpile! Gold Medal at the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

2020 Los Chamizal Malbec – 100% Malbec, Sonoma Valley AVA. Awash with ripe black cherry notes and a hint of cocoa on the very long smooth finish. We saved the big news on this wine to the end: It was the Red Sweepstakes Winner at the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition! Check out this interview of winemaker Chris Barrett by Barbara Russack, DTC Sales Manager at St. Anne’s Crossing to learn more about this wine: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeKHdKVtBF8&t=29s.

Kudos to Chris, Barbara and the entire St. Anne’s Crossing team including the bear and many thanks for taking such great care of us.  The group of Wilson Artisan Wineries always delivers great wines and great experiences too.

St. Anne’s Crossing Winery

www.stannescrossing.com

8450 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood CA 95452Michael and Karen Perlis have been pursuing their passion for wine for more than 30 years. They have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show them the way and after a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as they possibly could, they had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Michael and Karen do their best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers.

Tasting Wines from Colorado!

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It’s been some time since I’ve tried wines from Colorado, probably since I took my certified course as an American Wine Specialist® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA) a few years back. So when I was offered the opportunity to taste wines from the label The Ordinary Fellow, hailing from Southwest Colorado, I thought, yes! Time for some continuing education! I joined a zoom meeting with winemaker Ben Parsons and fellow wine journalists to learn about Parsons, the winery and the wines.

Winemaker Ben Parsons and The Ordinary Fellow

Parsons has a CV as long as my arm, my notes are lengthy and begin with his time selling wine in London – he is an Englishman – but he quickly outgrew his original intentions and wanted to make wine. He won a scholarship in the late 1990s and ended up attending the University of Adelaide in South Australia. After University he made wine in New Zealand and by 2001, Parsons explained,  he decided he’d like to make wine in the Northern Hemisphere. He saw an ad for a winemaker in Palisade, Colorado and was offered the job. By 2011 he began his journey in Palisade, Grand Junction, where The Ordinary Fellow winery is located.

Parsons said that Palisade is located four hours west of Denver. The vineyard is set at 6,200 feet in altitude at the base of the Ute Mountain, a river runs through it, the land has fertile soil and also has a unique climate – there are only 155 to 165 frost-free days per year.

The Ordinary Fellow winery, a name Parsons borrowed from an English pub he frequented with his father, is inside a former peach packing shed, the “Historic United Fruit Growers COOP” in Downtown Palisade. They are open for tastings, and Parsons does private barrel tastings for small groups.

A word or two about the beautiful labels: the outer sleeve contains all of the details required by law, as well as a silhouette of a face and a small black sticker in the back to temporarily hold it in place. Remove the sticker and the sleeve can then be removed. All that is left on the bottle is a full circular label completely covered in “pop culture references” that allow you to “peer through the mind of ordinary man.” Probably the most colorful and imaginative label you’ll ever see.

The Wines

2021 Chardonnay

100% Chardonnay, Box Bar Vineyard, two years in French oak, $34.99.

Very pale yellow color. Parsons said he had made the wine in a Chablis style. I was reminded of lemon-lime soda pop, dry Vermouth, rain and freshly washed pebbles all on the nose. The taste had that same lemon as well as grapefruit, salt air, minerality, with a medium acidity and long finish. My husband thought it was more Sauvignon Blanc-like on the palate.

2021 Riesling

100% Riesling, Box Bar Vineyard, stainless steel cool fermentation, $23.99.

Fresh and buttery, with kiwi, peach and lemon zest all in the aroma. Lots of freshly cut apple slices, medium acidity and bone dry on the palate. Parsons said this is “what Colorado Rieslings can be” and that’s a good thing as I thought the wine was de-lish! Enjoyed it with guests later that evening, over some French Brie and charcuterie, and they agreed with my assessment.

2021 Pinot Noir

100% Pinot Noir, Hawks’ Nest Vineyard, three years in French oak, $36.99.

I was surprised at the very light color of this Pinot Noir, almost like a Rose or Nouveaux Beaujolais. On the nose I felt there was a lot of red cherries, stems, earth and bark peeling from a tree. (My mother’s house had what she called a Chinese Paper Tree out front and we would peel back the bark often.) On the mouth I got notes of very light and delicate red fruit, seemed lower in alcohol than the 13.6% ABV noted in the tech sheet. Very much an easy drinker, and I chose to chill it a little bit before serving to guests later, that again, enjoyed the wine very much. Note: Parsons said he also does a Rose and Sparkling, both with his Pinot Noir. I’d very much like to try those and compare my notes.

2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

100% Cabernet Sauvignon, Box Bar Vineyard, three years in French oak, $38.99.

What a delightful surprise to have a very well done Cab from a place we rarely, if ever, have had a Cab from. It was a very dark and opaque purple color, with aromas of dark blue fruit that reached me as soon as I opened the bottle. Also got whiffs of espresso, blueberry and spice. The taste was red fruit, spicy, some tannins and well balanced. The wine had a medium finish and I would describe it on a whole as a lighter styled Cab.

https://www.theordinaryfellow.com/

https://www.visitgrandjunction.com/areas/palisade

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the 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 Proof Awards, Cellarmasters, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Perlises Pick Roadtripping with Antoine Favero to Jaxon Keys for BRANDY

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In our previous article, we mentioned that, while tasting wine with winemaker Antoine Favero at Mazzocco Sonoma, he suggested he had something special in mind for the next afternoon.

So, the next day, after our morning visit to St. Anne’s Crossing [which will be covered in a future article], Antoine picked us up at Mazzocco’s Briar Cottage in the Wilson Artisan Wineries van. The destination: Jaxon Keys Winery & Distillery in Hopland at the southern end of Mendocino County. The agenda: to taste the full lineup of Alambic brandy.

We’d visited Antoine at Jaxon Keys back in 2018 (http://www.evewine101.com/2018/12/01/perlis-picks-jaxon-keys-winery). At that time, our focus was mainly on the wines, although we did taste some brandy as well. This time, it was all about the brandy.

When the Wilsons purchased the old Jepson winery back in 2009, they not only acquired the winery, 1,200 acres of land and the historic House on the Hill, but also a large inventory of brandy and a vintage Alambic pot still that was built in Cognac, France in the 1900s. When we got to the winery, the first thing Antoine did was show us this copper still along with the barrels and barrels of brandy.

Then we walked up the looooong flight of stairs to the old House on the Hill, now restored as the Farmhouse Tasting Room. Sitting upstairs in the private tasting room on a beautiful clear day with the windows wide open to the fresh air, we could see the old French Colombard vines that produce the grapes from which the brandy is made.

Being brandy novices, Antoine gave us some insights into the process of brandy making as well as why the tulip shaped glass is ideal for “nosing” the brandy (which is why they are used by professionals), with different smells noticeable depending whether you sniff the brandy from the rim closest to you, in the middle of the glass or the far edge. Antoine explained that the renowned Hubert Germain-Robin had been heavily involved in the brandy-making process going back to the Jepson days. Now retired, while he still provides some input, Antoine took over the production responsibilities several years ago and is now expanding the line from three to a total of six brandies.

As we tasted, Antoine told us that brandy needs to be at 40% alcohol; any more would make the brandy too hot. He also explained that French Limousin oak barrels impart color and flavor.

Our tasting notes for the brandies we tasted (Scores, awards and notes from the 2022 Los Angeles Invitational Spirits Challenge are in italics – only the three brandies indicated had been released at that time.)

Rare: 5 years; straw, white flowers notes on the nose and taste. 98 points. Best of Class, Double Gold. Vanilla, pecan, nice maturity, refreshing.

Cornerstone: 7 years; caramel in color, more aromatic and flowery.

Old Stock: 10-15 years; stronger caramel taste, whiff of vanilla, mellowing, long finish. 91 points. Earthy, burning fruit, wood.

Barrel 10:  15 years; more oak and vanilla notes, lush finish, liquid sunshine.

Private Stock:  17 years; stronger vanilla and honey notes that flows on the nose and palate, start of nuttiness – macadamia, warm finish, roundness.

Signature Reserve:  17-30 years; 50 cases produced/one barrel, almond paste/marzipan sweet notes, amber/caramel color, mellow but complex at the same time, extremely long, lingering finish. 96 points. Dried citrus peel, vibrant.

All the brandies were delicious, but as we tasted from the youngest to oldest, we savored their increasing intricacies and structure. We can’t thank Antoine enough for providing us with this magical experience.   He is the consummate host – engaging, entertaining and enlightening. And remember, if a winemaker wants to take you on a road trip, go!

Jaxon Keys

www.jaxonkeys.com

10400 South Hwy 101

Hopland, CA 95449

Michael and Karen Perlis have been pursuing their passion for wine for more than 30 years. They have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show them the way and after a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as they possibly could, they had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Michael and Karen do their best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers.

Charles Krug Winery Unveils New Tasting Experiences To Expand Hospitality Offerings

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ST. HELENA, CALIF. (PRWEB) – Charles Krug Winery, home to California’s first tasting room, celebrates 80 years of Mondavi Family legacy by expanding its hospitality offerings and launching new tastings experiences. Since its founding in 1861, Charles Krug Winery has been at the forefront of California wine country tourism and remains a benchmark for hospitality standards. These new offerings speak to the next generation of consumers and continue to solidify Charles Krug as a world-class estate.

The Charles Krug historical estate tasting room is part of the legacy. Dating back to 1882 and located in the idyllic town of Saint Helena, the Redwood Cellar was the first-of-its-kind tasting room. Renowned for its exceptional wines, the tasting room has evolved into the ultimate wine-country destination with stunning design and storied heritage.

“Hospitality has always been at the core of our philosophy at Charles Krug and our new tasting experiences are central to showcasing our position as a pioneer in Napa Valley tourism.” comments fourth-generation family member Riana Mondavi, co-proprietress. “We’re excited to continue evolving Charles Krug as the winery for Napa’s next generation and the epicenter of culture in Napa Valley.”

Charles Krug Winery diversifies its wine experiences where guests can reserve a variety of different tasting opportunities at the iconic St. Helena estate. Taste Like a Somm is a new, elevated and interactive workshop with Charles Krug’s Certified Sommelier Jeff Arnold. Taste blind as Arnold guides guests through the nuances of wine tasting. The new Cabernet Connoisseur experience invites guests to taste through four small-lot, premium estate Cabernet Sauvignons, including the Vintage Selection flagship wine.

The Estate Tasting will continue to be available to reserve daily where guests can relax and unwind as they taste through the most-limited, small production offerings in the stunning Redwood Cellar. On weekends at 10:30AM and 2:30PM, get to know the two legendary pioneers of Napa Valley winemaking during the Tour & Tasting where guests explore the estate vineyards, learn more about the estate’s storied heritage and enjoy expertly crafted wines. In the summer months, Cabanas are available to reserve for a private tasting experience where guests take in the stunning views underneath the 200 year old oak trees.

“As we toast to 80 years of bringing guests an experience like no other, we pride ourselves on being the pioneer of Napa Valley wine experiences,” comments co-proprietor Peter Mondavi Jr. “ Today, five generations later, our family legacy continues as stewards of this historic estate, the ultimate wine country destination.”

About Charles Krug:
In 1943, Italian immigrants Cesare and Rosa Mondavi purchased the historic Charles Krug property, the oldest winery in the Napa Valley and longest-running tasting room in California. The brand was built on a foundation of family values, hard work and a European winemaking tradition; it remains a family-owned winery today, producing estate-driven, top of the line Napa Valley wines. The winery is under the direction of Peter Mondavi Jr. and his brother, Marc Mondavi, who steward the family business passed to them by their father, legendary Napa Valley wine icon Peter Mondavi Sr. The family is now proudly welcoming members of the fourth generation to the business, and the fifth generation has arrived. The family continues the legacy that started 80 years ago and is setting a foundation for generations to come. For additional information, please visit https://www.charleskrug.com/.

Perlises Pick Wine at Mazzocco Sonoma and a Surprise from Winemaker Antoine Favero

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As mentioned in our previous article, one of the benefits of staying at the Briar Cottage is that it made it that much easier to get to our scheduled visit with Mazzocco Sonoma winemaker, Antoine Favero. All it took was a short stroll over to the Mazzocco tasting room.

We were a little early, so Mazzocco’s tasting room attendant, Simon, got us started. His knowledge of the wines along with his droll humor helped to make the experience especially memorable. All of the wines described below except for the last two are single vineyard as designated in their names. Our visit was right after the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Mazzocco-Sonoma, as usual, won an amazing number of medals, as indicated below – some noted are from the 2022 competition.

2020 Stuhlmuller Reserve Chardonnay – 100% Chardonnay from the flats of the southwestern edge of the Alexander Valley AVA, near the Chalk Hill and the Russian River Valley appellation boundaries. This wine spent 22 months in French Oak and had a bouquet of fragrant white peach with notes of banana and apricot. Gold Medal winner at the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

2019 Aguilera Zinfandel – 79% Zinfandel, 21% Primitivo from the valley floor of the Dry Creek Valley AVA, next to Unti winery off Dry Creek Road. Fruit forward and very approachable with ripe raspberry notes from the Primitivo.  Gold Medal winner at the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

2019 Stone Zinfandel – 100% Zinfandel from a vineyard at 350 feet elevation of the Alexander Valley AVA next to the Frances Ford Coppola winery in Geyserville, off Highway 101.  Pretty cranberry juice color, red berry and currant notes and a medium finish.

2019 Sullivan Zinfandel – 96% Zinfandel, 4% Petite Sirah – at 300-350 elevation, this 7 ½ acre vineyard from the Dry Creek Valley AVA is within view of the Mazzocco Sonoma winery. With dark red, blackberry notes and a medium to long finish, this wine was awarded a Double Gold Medal at the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

2019 Thomas Reserve Zinfandel – 96% Zinfandel, 4% Petite Sirah from the acclaimed Rockpile AVA, near Lake Sonoma at about 1,300 feet elevation. Deep garnet color, intense plum flavor. Very lush and fruit forward with a long finish. Gold Medal winner at the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

2020 Pomo Reserve Zinfandel – 93% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah also from the Rockpile AVA, this vineyard is named for indigenous people. Huge notes of red berry and bing cherry, along with jam and a touch of chocolate. Still young but very good structure and an elegant finish. Gold Medal winner at the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

2020 Juan Rodriguez Reserve – 90% Zinfandel, 6% Primitivo, 4% Petite Sirah from the Dry Creek Valley AVA. One of the Los Tres Amigos Special Reserve bottlings. This one is named for Mazzocco’s vineyard manager. Only 3 barrels (75 cases) were produced of this truly special occasion wine. Smooth, full, rich with jammy notes and deep dark fruit.

2020 Caz – 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Zinfandel, a blend of fruit from several Dry Creek Valley vineyards. These two varietals complement each other very nicely, working in harmony to produce a rich well-balanced wine. Gold Medal winner at the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

As always, Antoine’s wines are full-bodied and delicious, certain to please all levels of wine drinkers. Speaking of Antoine, somewhere in the middle of the tasting, he joined us. In the middle of catching up on matters both personal and wine-related, he got a certain gleam in his eyes. “What are you doing tomorrow afternoon?” he asked.

‘Nothing”, we replied.

Truthfully, we actually did have the next day’s afternoon open, although we might have changed our plans regardless if we had any.

Mazzocco Sonoma

www.mazzocco.com

1400 Lytton Springs Rd

Healdsburg, CA 95448

To be continued…

Michael and Karen Perlis have been pursuing their passion for wine for more than 30 years. They have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show them the way and after a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as they possibly could, they had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Michael and Karen do their best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers.

Best Wine Destinations and Events in the Pacific Coast

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SEATTLE (PRWEB) – Where When Wine, the first woman-owned business to create an online directory and community dedicated to wine destinations and events launches thousands of listings featuring the best wineries, top tasting rooms, the most popular wine event venues, and the best places to stay and dine when wine tasting. The website also features fun and useful blogs on family-friendly wineries and dog-friendly vineyards, plus keeps wine aficionados informed on new wineries and winemakers to watch.

Napa has been world-renowned for producing the best cabernets and chardonnays for decades—but the Pacific Coast from the state of Washington all the way to the southern tip of California, has been producing some of the best wines in the world and some of the most scenic locations beyond the valleys of northern California.

“I built this online community for fun, for friends and families who wanted recommendations of my favorite wine destinations and wedding spaces along the west coast. Over the past year, it’s taken a life form of its own, since there is no website dedicated to all things wine for the vineyards of the Pacific Coast. So now we’ve launched it as an official online community for wine lovers who want to explore everything our west coast wine destinations have to offer,” remarked Where When Wine Founder, Christine Sternfels.

Walla Walla’s lush valleys in Washington State offers more than 120 wineries consisting of 2,900 acres of grapes. The Willamette Valley, Oregon’s leading wine region, has two-thirds of the state’s wineries and vineyards and is home to more than 700 wineries. And Temecula Valley in Southern California is one to watch with nearly 50 wineries populating the region’s rolling hills and sprawling valleys producing a variety of wines, including award-winning and artisan Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.

WhereWhenWine.com features these regions and so much more including onsite and nearby lodging such as the quintessential hotels to stay at and vineyards that allow overnight stays for recreational vehicles. Onsite bistros and nearby eateries from a hole in the wall to restaurants with Michelin star chefs. Amenities such as spas, golf destinations and family and pet-friendly wineries. Many bucket list items to check off.

In addition to exploring the best in #winelife, wine aficionados can become members of Where When Wine to join an annual road trip planned by the founder so its like-minded community can explore the same destinations and share their experience in real life #IRL and on social media. Wine enthusiasts can sign up here to become members for free or follow Where When Wine on Instagram. Wineries, vineyards, wine bars, wine shops, hotels, spas, and wine-related vendors can also apply to become members of the community here.

New Frontier Wine Company Launches Boundary-Pushing Tasting Lounge in Downtown Napa

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NAPA, Calif. (PRWEB) – New Frontier Wine Company, a collection of international wine brands made by renowned winemakers Philippe Melka, Michel Rolland, Alberto Antonini, Mayaan Koschitzky and Matt Sands, has opened the doors to its luxury tasting lounge in downtown Napa. The living-room style space and outdoor patio upend tasting room norms, eschewing a tasting bar for customized alcoves designed to inspire conversation, discovery, and connection over exceptional wines. 

A global collection of 44 brands, New Frontier Wine Co. believes in bringing together the best vineyards and winemakers to craft wines of uncommon complexity. Featuring a range of Napa Valley Cabernets, including several top-scoring wines from Beckstoffer Heritage Vineyards, each New Frontier Wine Co. bottling showcases its origins through a distinctive lens. At the tasting lounge, a wide range of international wines complement New Frontier Wine Co.’s domestic offerings, presenting options for every drinker and embodying modern hospitality.

Opened in June of 2022, the New Frontier Wine Co. tasting lounge experience layers traditional tasting flights with by-the-glass pours and distinctive side-by-side comparative tastings that highlight both esteemed and up-and-coming terroirs. Guests are welcomed to enjoy wines from well-known Napa brands including Lithology, Waypoint, Justice, and Pursuit plus exquisite Southern Hemisphere wines from Otronia and Devoción. In addition, rotating offerings highlight esteemed vineyards from traditional and up-and-coming terroirs including Patagonia Extrema, Barossa, the Russian River Valley, and Bordeaux. 

“We are a collection of real wine innovators that are serious about making wines with a sense of place,” explains Consumer Sales Manager Chris Cardoso. “We feel grateful to have a wide range of wines to satisfy almost any palate, and the ability to share new and different wines anytime our guests come in.” 

With tastings available by appointment and on a walk-in basis, the New Frontier Wine Co. tasting lounge offers modern and warm hospitality in the heart of downtown Napa. Easily accessible from many of Napa’s hottest hotels and eateries, New Frontier Wine Co.’s curated menu of wines is a natural extension of downtown Napa and offers a fresh and original tasting experience for locals and visitors alike.

The name “New Frontier” was inspired by then-candidate John F. Kennedy’s 1960 democratic nomination acceptance speech. This historic address described the dual challenges and opportunities confronting the nation and the opportunities that could be realized by confronting them. The New Frontier Wine Co. team, led by managing director and California wine industry veteran Jim Silver, draws a parallel between these ideas and the challenges – and opportunities – confronting the wine industry today. New Frontier Wine Co. approaches these challenges – such as climate change, sustainability, and new generations’ evolving attitudes toward wine – with the same optimistic ethos as Kennedy. New Frontier Wine Co. believes in utilizing technology and team work to approach the novel challenges facing the wine industry today. By combining the expertise of world-renowned winemakers and farming experts, New Frontier Wine Co. believes it can overcome these challenges and push winemaking forward to proverbial new frontiers.

“There is always challenge on the road to opportunity, and the wine business isn’t immune to that,” says New Frontier Wine Company Managing Director Jim Silver. “And we’ve arrived at a place where we can offer incredible opportunity to visitors in a single place in Napa. The diversity of our selections is remarkable. There are 40 wines by the glass, 40 wines to taste, and 40 wines to purchase by the bottle. And the experience is enhanced by the quality of the wine.”

In addition to sharing values of sustainability, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of quality, the brands within the New Frontier Wine Co. collection share centralized ownership under global vintner and humanitarian Alejandro Bulgerhoni. This connection allows the wineries to pool their collective resources and expertise across continents, leading to the creation of exceptional wines that always over-deliver.

About Colangelo & Partners 
Colangelo & Partners specializes in premium food, wine, and spirits brands, and has long-established relationships with the key press that drive these business categories and help determine the industry leaders. Agency principals have years of experience in retail and distribution as well as communications, a rare combination that gives Colangelo & Partners invaluable insights into consumer purchasing behavior. The agency focuses on ‘closing the loop’ between creative communications programs, distribution, promotion, publicity, and the consumer in order to maximize the efficiency of its communications programs and deliver measurable results. http://www.colangelopr.com.

About New Frontier Wine Co. 
New Frontier Wine Company is a collection of 44 premier wine brands from around the world, linked by a commitment to excellence in farming and winemaking. Named for the “new frontiers” referenced by Democratic candidate John F. Kennedy in his 1965 presidential nomination speech, New Frontier Wine Co. strives to use technology and collaboration to explore both the literal and figurative frontiers in the modern wine industry. Based in the heart of downtown Napa, New Frontier Wine Co.’s flagship tasting lounge showcases some of California’s most prestigious vineyard sites to visitors daily. The collective is owned by global vintner and humanitarian Alejandro Bulgerhoni. 

ZD Wines In the Napa Valley Adds Winery Chef to Enhance Tastings And Events

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NAPA, CALIF. (PRWEB) – ZD Wines, located in the heart of Napa Valley in Rutherford, recently expanded their culinary program by adding Jill deLeuze Billeci, third generation of the winery’s founding family, as their winery chef.

Jill joined the family business in 2010, rounding out the third generation with her brother, Brandon, ZD’s winemaker. She worked many summers at the winery during high school on the bottling line, and later graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Nutrition from UC Davis. Following college, Jill became ZD’s California sales manager and tasting room manager.

After taking some time off to raise her two daughters with her husband, Scott Billeci, ZD’s regional sales manager, Jill decided to follow her passion for cooking. Further refining her skills during the pandemic, Jill recently began upscaling ZD’s experiences by offering quarterly Food & Wine Days featuring three food pairings to their Vineyard View Tasting.

With much acclaim and the popularity of these events, Jill was promoted to ZD’s winery chef. She now curates and oversees the supplemental food pairing options, currently a vegan white bean dip, smoked salmon rillette, and a beef short rib rillette. Jill also prepares the food offerings during the special events hosted by ZD Wines, most recently being the fundraiser Crush Challenge. Recent highlights were a 4-course lunch at their exclusive Winemaker’s Boots Tours in October, Harvest Wine Celebration benefit for the Teen Center at Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley in November, and the upcoming Holiday Open House in December.

To experience any of Jill’s wine and food pairing opportunities, visit zdwines.com/events to learn more information and book your next experience.

Founded in 1969, ZD Wines crafts award-winning Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, along with two small-production wines under the “Rosa Lee” label, named after the founding matriarch. ZD is also known for Abacus, a solera-style blend of Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Abacus XXIV, which includes 30 vintages of the winery’s 100% Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, is available this fall.

ZD Wines is open daily from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at 8383 Silverado Trail in Rutherford. Reservations are required for all tours, and highly recommended for the Vineyard View Tasting. Appointments can be made by calling (800) 487-7757 or emailing experiences@zdwines.com.

About ZD Wines
ZD Wines is owned and operated by the deLeuze family, who is dedicated to producing world-class wines, sustainable winemaking, and giving back to the community. Located in the Rutherford region of the Napa Valley, the winery and hospitality center offer panoramic valley views of premium Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards and the Mayacamas mountain range to the west. The deLeuze family produces wines from their certified organic vineyards in the Rutherford and Carneros regions, as well as organic vineyards in Napa, Santa Barbara, Monterey, and Sonoma. With innovative winemaking practices, they produce wines of quality, consistency, and style. ZD Wines celebrates over 50 years of winemaking and can be found online at http://www.zdwines.com and @ZDWines on Facebook and Instagram.

The “Potato Chips Extravaganza” + Classic Wine Tasting = One Day in Napa

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As a tenured wine journalist I’ve had to force myself to seek out new experiences for readers – even at times where I just want to visit my favorites again. So in my latest – and quickest – trip to the Napa Valley I visited the best of both worlds: a winery I loved when I had tasted through their wines with the owner but never visited, and another winery that offered a unique potato chip wine pairing.

Silver Trident Winery

We visited the Silver Trident Winery, forever to be known as the potato chip winery in my head, and their “Tasting Home” collaboration with Ralph Lauren right on the main drag (Washington St.) in Yountville. There were several classy living spaces to taste wine in: living room, dining room and library. And we decided to try the one and only POTATO CHIP EXTRAVAGANZA that Eater San Francisco named as one of the “22 Premier Wineries with Excellent Food” experiences in Napa.

In front of us on a round table was a large placemat divided into five sections that listed the wines, the potato chips to pair with each, and the round circle for where the glasses would be placed. I had seen it all before – but definitely sans chips! So I did my thing: when the wines were served I evaluated the aromas and flavors I found in each, and then went back to try them with the chips. Come to find that the owner had been given a bag of potato chips with a mini bottle of screw-capped wine on an airplane during the pandemic, and had the epiphany to create the pairing.

The chip pairings for our party were as follows: Symphony No. 9 2021 Sauvignon Blanc with Route 11 Sour Cream and Chives, Benevolent Dictator 2021 Pinot Noir with Zapp’s Cajun Dill, Playing with Fire 2019 Red Blend with Zapp’s Voodoo, Twenty Seven Fathoms 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon with Zapp’s Sea Salt and Twenty Seven Fathoms 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon with Kollar Chocolates Bittersweet Chocolate Chip with salt added.

My takeaways on the pairings were that while all of the chips were fun, my favorites were the plain salted chip and the chocolate covered potato chip with the extra salt brushed off. One of the people in my party liked the chocolate chip with the Sauvignon Blanc, and I have to admit that was different. General manager Shane Soldinger commented that the potato chip pairing “showcases approachability of the wine’s fruit and ripeness.”

As for the wines, I enjoyed them all for their perfumy aromas and good fruit. My favorites included the 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, 2019 Playing with Fire blend of Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, and both the 2018 and 2019 Twenty Seven Fathoms Cabernet Sauvignon.

The tasting room also offered non-wine items for purchase – every Yountville store front has to offer 25% of their space for retail – and at Silver Trident they had their own olive oil, coffee and candles among the Ralph Lauren furniture and accessories. You could easily make a day of it just visiting other Yountville wine tasting rooms, art galleries, the Kollar chocolatier and, if you want to go classic get a reservation at the French Laundry for dinner.

Instagram: @SilverTridentWinery

Titus Vineyards

Next up I chose a winery I had never visited but I had the pleasure to taste through their wines with one of the owners, Eric Titus, in 2019: second-generation family-owned Titus Vineyards. The grounds were beautiful, as were the tasting areas both inside and out, the wines were buy-worthy, winemaker Stephen Cruzan even made time for us, and the welcoming tasting room hosts – thank you Drew – told us we would be “treated like family” when we returned!

Before moving onto the wine tasting we learned a couple of things from listening to and observing Drew that Napa wine lovers should know: There will be little to nothing offered from the big fire year, 2020, so stock up on what you need now. And if you are going to need to open a newly released Napa red do what is done in the tasting rooms, you can serve a wine that may have been opened 24 to 48 hours earlier and just re-corked. Like a great spaghetti sauce that only gets better the second day. Now to the wines, we tasted quite a few so I will share my favorites here:

2021 Sauvignon Blanc with 4% Viognier had beautiful honey, peach, cantaloupe and a nice minerality; their new 2021 Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir with bold red to dark fruit, green peppercorn and balance, an easy sipper; 2018 Cabernet Franc with notes of dark fruit, dark chocolate, leather and gripping tannins; 2019 Family Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon with dark, dusty and lingering spice notes; 2018 Lot 1 Napa Valley red blend with aromas and flavors that reminded me of pipe tobacco, bark and blackberry; and finally, their new 2019 Imperatus Cabernet Sauvignon for its huge nose, and a perfect balance of fruit and spice on the mouth.

The winery is located almost at the corner of Silverado Trail and Deerpark Road, on the northern edge of St. Helena: 2971 Silverado Trail.

Instagram: @Titus_Vineyards

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the 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 Proof Awards, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.