Lake County Wines Reach New a Pinnacle

November 14, 2020 by evebushman

KELSEYVILLE, Calif., PRNewswire — Lake County received the highest rating ever achieved by a wine from its region – receiving a 96 point rating for the 2016 Sol Rouge Petite Sirah from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Lake County, a small wine growing region directly north of Napa, used to be part of Napa County and was said to have grown as many grapes as Napa in the 1900s. However, the 1920 Prohibition brought an end to Lake County wine production as vines were removed and planted with other crops.

Lake County’s re-emergence in the wine industry began in the 1960s and grew from less than 100 acres in 1965 to nearly 10,000 acres today. Although large premium Napa Valley grape growers like Beringer and Beckstoffer Vineyards established themselves in the county, few wineries included “Lake County” on their labels, as most wine was often blended into that of Napa Valley and Sonoma wines.

In 2007, a dozen wineries in Lake County including Sol Rouge Winery, established the Lake County Winery Association to promote awareness. At the time, Lake County wines were relatively unknown or reviewed by the top wine magazines with only a few wines receiving a 90+ point rating. Most of these wines were made by Napa winemakers like Thomas Rivers Brown, maker of the Schrader Cellars Double Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon from Beckstoffer’s Amber Knolls Vineyard.

Today, the Lake County Winery Association has over three dozen vintners like Shannon Ridge, Gregory Graham, Brassfield, Hawk & Horse, and Obsidian Ridge, who commonly make wines in the 90-95 point range. “We’ve seen a trend in higher ratings from all of our Lake County wineries and this rating is just another example of how wineries are producing world-class wines from Lake County,” said Helena Walsh, Director of Lake County Winery Association.

The 2016 Sol Rouge Petite Sirah put Lake County in a completely different league, scoring a 96 point rating by one of the top wine review magazines – the highest in the county’s 50+ year history of winemaking. “I actually never checked on how rare that rating was. I tasted the Sol Rouge Petite Sirah blind of course, along with a few other Petites from Lake and two other appellations, so when I scored it I didn’t know the AVA. It’s a magnificent wine and a great example of how good the Lake County terroir can be,” said Jim Gordon, Contributing Editor, Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

“When we planted the Sol Rouge Vineyard, we sought to grow the best possible grapes to make the finest wine we could,” said Bryan Kane, Co-Owner & Winemaker of Sol Rouge Vineyard & Winery. “When we came to Lake County, the highest rating from one of the Big 3 (Spectator, Enthusiast & Parker) was 92 points. So far, we’ve earned 90–94 points on 44 of our 51 Lake County wines, with the majority scoring 92-94 points.” Bryan attributes the higher scores amongst Lake County wines both improved winemaking and the excellent growing conditions.

“Lake County produces some of the most distinct winegrapes in the world, and over the years, we’ve seen a steady increase in recognition of the region’s wines,” said Debra Sommerfield, President of the Lake County Winegrape Commission. “This impressive rating further substantiates Lake County’s position as a top-tier winegrowing region.”

With all the recent devastation to the Napa and Sonoma wine growing regions caused by the Glass and LNU Lightning Complex fires, wineries have been looking to Lake County for grapes. Jim Smith of Case by Case Wine Brokers states, “We have been challenged as of late with the soaring demand of winegrapes from Lake County. I believe the work is out on what winemakers can expect from our wine growing region.”

“We are honored and excited to have received such a high rating on our 2016 Petite Sirah and expect that Sol Rouge and others will continue to aspire to make highly rated world class wines,” stated Jill Brothers, Sol Rouge Co-Owner and Winegrower.

ABOUT SOL ROUGE

Sol Rouge is a family estate located in the Mayacamas Mountains at elevations averaging over 1800 feet. North of Napa in the foothills of a dormant volcano which formed the North Coast wine country in the Red Hills Appellation of Lake County, this land contains rich, red volcanic soil and, from this unique profile, Sol Rouge derived its name – translating to “Red Soil” in French. This 70 acre estate is planted with Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsaut, Counoise, Zinfandel, Petite Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc in a “high vine density” configuration allowing each vine to focus on fewer clusters of fruit, leading to greater complexity. Nestled between Mt. Konocti and Benson Ridge, this aggressive sight is all hillside with slopes up to 60% and is said to be the most aggressive and tightly planted vineyard in the Red Hills, with nearly 6000 vines per hectare in some blocks. For more information, see http://www.solrouge.com

2016 Sol Rouge Petite Sirah Wine Enthusiast Magazine Review: https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/sol-rouge-2016-petite-sirah-lake-county/

Vintage Eve Circa 2/2018: Not Your Basic Wine and Cheese Pairing

November 10, 2020 by evebushman

Clearly, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to have wine and cheese, like most of you. But I can’t recall the last time I had a guided pairing that would explain how, when you’re paying attention, the tasting of each is heightened – a word used by Alex of Vagabond Cheese Company – by the other.

Double Trouble Patio.

The Invite

Join us for a Saturday afternoon of Wine & Cheese pairings with Vagabond Cheese Company, Hoi Polloi Winery and Pagter Brothers Winery at the Double Trouble Wine Room in Downtown Newhall. Each of these world-class wineries creates their wines by carefully sourcing grapes from the central coast of California. Pagter Brothers focuses on big, bold, red wines, while Hoi Polloi indulges their love of dynamic California Rhones, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.

We will be tasting through a flight of three wines from each winery, carefully paired with our artisan and farmstead cheeses. We hope you’ll join us for our first guided pairing together.

Better in a Pairing

The event began with Scott of Pagter Brothers and Doug of Hoi Polloi wetting our whistles with some of their wines, as Alex prepared our plates.

Scott and Doug, have paired well together since they met at one of Doug’s early Garagiste Festivals, and they share their tasting room as well as their wine club which includes bounty from both as well as 20% off, free tastings and parties. The tasting room is the only place you can purchase their wine. There is often live music, food trucks and now a comfy enclosed rear patio. They each make about 400 to 500 cases.

When it was Alex’s turn to introduce the cheeses he explained that “the goal is not just to have wine and cheese…the goal is to (find) that each heightens the other.” Both, according to Alex are made “better” in a pairing. The cheeses he was to serve were all completely eatable, including the rinds, as the cheesemonger prepared them that way.

We learned that not all Manchego cheese is the same. Trader Joe’s makes theirs completely by machine. Alex explained that the “terroir” in cheese comes from the cows, what they were fed and the aging. And storage should be loose, even Tupperware containers are good, and the cheese should last two to three weeks. Cut on opposite ends each time to maintain freshness.

These were my favorites: The Estero Gold wasn’t salty and I agreed; it had an interesting sesame note to it. Mennonites expertly made the Prairie Breeze. Loved the Pecorino Ginepro that had been rubbed with balsamic vinegar and then aged in oak barrels that had been previously filled with juniper berries. And of the wine – all were very nice in the tasting – I purchased bottles of the Hoi Polloi Grenache and the Pagter Brothers Syrah.

I decided, in the long run, that I needed more education on the pairings. I didn’t get a lot of the notes that were mentioned on the tasting sheet, though I enjoyed the wines and cheeses immensely!

About Vagabond Cheese Company

Vagabond Cheese Company is a nomadic cheese counter, based in Los Angeles, CA. We promote the best of artisanal cheeses and support those who create them by showcasing cheese through pairings. Everything is fair game, but our specialty is craft beer. The more unusual and eccentric the partnership, the better.

We search for hard-to-find and rare cheese, always keeping seasonality in mind, in order to offer you a new experience every time we cross paths. We want to break away from pretentious tendencies, and instead invite you to have fun with your food and try something new.

About Double Trouble Wine Room

Taste high-scoring premium artisan wines from Paso Robles, Santa Ynez and Sonoma from TWO local wineries – Hoi Polloi Winery and Pagter Brothers Winery – in Old Town Newhall. Enjoy our new patio. Bring your own food or order in. No snobs allowed.

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, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Trapiche is Awarded Top 100 Winery of the Year by Wine and Spirits Magazine

November 8, 2020 by evebushman

MENDOZA, ARGENTINA (PRWEB) – Trapiche, one of Argentina’s largest and most historically-important wine producers, announced that Wine & Spirits Magazine has recognized it as a Top 100 Winery of the Year for 2020.

Wine & Spirits designates its Top 100 Wineries of the World annually. The magazine’s editors have tasted thousands of wines from around the world in 2020 to develop a list of the year’s best wineries based on overall performance, in addition to researching profiles on each winner in order to present the background on the vines, farming, and winemaking philosophy which helped create the top-performing wines.

Trapiche earned some of the highest scores in its regional category in the magazine’s blind tastings this year, with one of the most consistent performances over a range of wines. The iconic producer’s top-performing wines for 2020 were: 2015 Mendoza Iscay Malbec & Cabernet Franc (95 points & Top 100 Wines 2020), 2017 La Consulta Terroir Series Finca Orellana Malbec (95 points), 2017 Gualtallary Terroir Series Finca Ambrosia Malbec (94 points), and 2017 El Peral Terroir Series Finca Coletto Malbec (93 points).

For the first time in 17 years, the Top 100 Tasting will be a virtual event. “We’re excited by the new challenge and will work to ensure the virtual event has the same community feel of our Top 100 Tastings in years past,” said Joshua Greene, editor-in-chief of Wine & Spirits Magazine. Representatives of Trapiche, part of Grupo Peñaflor (owned by the Bemberg Family) will be joining the celebration digitally.

“We are humbled by this award, which is a great honor for Trapiche,” says Daniel Pi, Grupo Peñaflor’s Director of Winemaking and one of the most respected vintners in the world. “This is an important recognition of the excellence of Argentina’s unique, world-class terroirs, and a testament to the hard work and dedication of the 300 small growers with whom we partner. Since 1883, Trapiche has viewed the exploration of the land and its natural resources as an open door to new challenges and progress—and we look forward to continuing to lead the way for Argentine viticulture for the next century and beyond.”

This award marks an important milestone in Trapiche´s history, recognizing its contributions to the Argentine and global wine industries over the past 135 years, and its impact on local wine tourism and culture in recent decades.

This acknowledgment follows the achievement of many other important milestones: Trapiche has been named New World Winery of 2019 by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Trapiche is the number one Argentinian winery in exports, and the only Argentinian winery recognized six times by the renowned English publication Drinks International in its list of the “Top 50 Most Admired Wine Brands” (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020). Likewise, the winery has recently been ranked for the fourth year running as “Argentina’s Most Awarded Winery” by “World Ranking Wines & Spirits” (WRW&S) and more recently Trapiche has been selected among the World´s Best Vineyards 2020 Top 50 ranking.

About Trapiche

The Trapiche story began in 1883, in a small vineyard called ‘El Trapiche’, in Mendoza, Argentina’s main winemaking region. There, the grapes for the first fine wines were grown. With more than 135 years of experience, Trapiche has earned its place as a pioneer in innovative grape growing and winemaking practices in Argentina.

Exploration and discovery lie at the heart of the winery, which thrives on innovation as a guiding principle in the search for new horizons. Wine is a fascinating territory. Concentrating its efforts in groundbreaking research, Trapiche is driven by a strong will to continue uncovering varietal expressions loved and admired by the entire world. A path forged by hard work and nourished by the accolades that recognize it. A New World for Wine, where Bodega Trapiche continues to stand out.

Find out more about Trapiche: http://www.trapiche.com.ar

About Wine & Spirits Magazine

Founded in 1982, Wine & Spirits is published seven times a year and read by over 200,000 members of America’s wine community. Consumers and wine professionals read the magazine for information on established and up-and-coming regions and producers, the art and science of viticulture, industry happenings and food and wine pairing. Wine & Spirits, the only wine publication to win the James Beard award five times for excellence in wine writing, evaluates more than 11,500 bottlings every year.

Fun and Informative Virtual Tasting with Bodegas Caro!

September 25, 2020 by evebushman

I’m a fan of Malbec wines, and because of that I’m definitely a fan of Argentinian Malbecs. Either a 100% Malbec or a Bordeaux blend – the addition of Cabernet Sauvignon – are among my favorites. In the tasting below I enjoyed Malbec and Malbec Cab blends that ranged in price from $15 to $65, and liked them all. And, for Bodegas Caro, they will soon have another Bordeaux grape that may enter the mix in the future, and that is my current favorite varietal: Cabernet Franc. Color me happy. Let me share the details with you, from the invitation, the tasting and what we learned:

Invitation and Tasting (my notes are in italics below each wine listed)

Please join us for a special virtual tasting led by Philippe Rolet, Estate Manager of Bodegas Caro…in 2019 Philippe Rolet became Estate Manager for CARO, a partnership between Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and the Catena family dating from 1999. Situated in the heart of the Mendoza region in Argentina, Bodegas CARO’s ambition has been to produce a unique range of wines that would combine two cultures, French and Argentine, two grape varieties, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, and the expertise of both families. Together, we will taste the following:

Aruma 2018 $15 – A pure Malbec made from a blend of grapes from the best terroirs in the Mendoza region. “ARUMA” means “night” in the language of the Quechua, the native Indian population of the Mendoza region. The name suggests the deep darkness of the nights in the Andes and the very pure mountain air: the wines have the same rich, authentic character as their terroir. (EB: 91 points on the 2017 from James Suckling and 90 on the same vintage from Decanter. This $16 sipper was my favorite in the tasting. The nose was rich and velvety smooth with dark ripe plums. On the palate I also got a LOT of spice that was balanced with blue to black fruit. I thought it tasted much older than a 2018. Rolet suggested serving it slightly chilled, with or without food.)

Amancaya 2017 $20 – Amancaya, like its older brother, presents a harmonious balance between the Argentine and Bordeaux styles. The wine is more fruity due to the higher percentage of Malbec and shorter ageing. The word AMANCAYA is the native Indian name of a flower found at high altitudes in the Andes in the Mendoza area. (EB: Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Red Blend. This 2017 vintage was awarded 93 points from James Suckling. Lots of barnyard when I first opened the wine, which most quickly blew off, made it interesting. Lots of earthiness, brambly, grilled mushroom and oak all on the nose. Tasting the wine I found it a little brighter than the Aruma 100% Malbec, very clean and not as spicy. Rolet said this one came from a cold and dry vintage, pair with rack of lamb and to stay tuned for a new label. The name Amancaya refers to a flower grown in the region, that is also known as the “engagement flower” a young man would present to his intended during a proposal.)

CARO 2017 $65 – CARO, from Catena and Rothschild, has a strong Argentine identity, characterized by the Malbec grape, which is given further elegance and complexity through blending with Cabernet Sauvignon. The combination produces a voluptuous, refined wine with a harmonious balance between the wine’s Argentinian identity and its Bordeaux style. (EB: The 2015 was awarded 92 points from Wine Spectator and the 2014 got 95 points from James Suckling. Rolet said this was a limited production wine, comes from “specific sub divisions of terroir”, and since they don’t make it every year it’s scarce. I found a beautiful nose filled with lots of dark fruit, spice, tobacco and dark chocolate. Drawn in for a taste I got a rich spicy mouthfeel and that same luscious dark fruit. Rolet said it was also from a cold and dry vintage. The wine is known in the market as very elegant. This vintage spent 14 months in oak barrels, Rolet commented that it was very layered; he recommended that it be decanted – I didn’t decant. 2000 was the last vintage they made and he said the wine could age 20 years.)

My Takeaways from Estate Manager Philippe Rolet

Rolet, with decades of wine experience under his belt – that took him from Switzerland to Chablis to Chile – we learned that he now has 25 years of experience in Argentina alone. He explained that the winery was built in 1884, has underground cellars and, due to Covid-19 is not yet open to the public. During our Zoom session Rolet let the camera roam around in the winery’s “Cultural Center” that was home to many Mendoza-based painters and sculptors. (This is definitely a winery to visit as soon as it’s safe to do so. We are currently missing their snowfall and world renowned skiing.)

Most of their wine is sold between September and December, they have no plans to make a white wine as the terroir isn’t there for it. As far as the Cab Franc I mentioned in my intro, Rolet said that they have been interested in cultivating it for a long time in Argentina – ten years. They only have about two acres and plan to add two to four percent Cab Franc in a future vintage of their Amancaya.

IG @ Taub Family Selections

Wines are distributed by Southern Wine and Spirits in Southern California.

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.

Oregon Winery Launches Pay-What-You-Can, Donate-the-Proceeds Campaign, Pinot for the People

September 13, 2020 by evebushman

RICKREALL, ORE. (PRWEB) – In these uncertain times, the team at Left Coast Estate put their heads together for how they could meaningfully give back. The winery, located in the newly designated Van Duzer Corridor AVA in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, had seen the profound impact of the COVID crisis on the hospitality industry and felt compelled to act. The idea that blossomed from their conversations was a first-of-its-kind venture in the wine industry: pay-what-you-can. Across the country, thousands of restaurants remain boarded up and millions of Americans are unemployed. “We know that our wine is part of a rarified world,” says Creative Director and Family Ownership, Cali Pfaff. “But we also believe wholeheartedly that wine brings people together. We decided as a family to forgo profits for this effort so that we could share our wine more broadly during this challenging time. We hope, in a small and modest way, that our wine will make someone’s day.”

The idea of a charitable component came shortly thereafter in a discussion on how to use any profits. “We are a second-generation, family-run business and that gives us certain freedoms in decision-making,” says CEO and Family Ownership, Taylor Pfaff, “We realized in a pay-what-you-can scenario, we could donate the proceeds after our production costs were covered and help out our community more.” The family selected five nonprofits to support through the effort, including the NAACP, the Oregon Community Foundation, the Sentencing Project, Ducks Unlimited, and Salud. The nonprofit partners align closely with Left Coast’s mission and values, including environmental conservation, an atmosphere of welcoming and inclusion, and dignity and living wages for agricultural workers. Customers are free to choose which of the five nonprofits their proceeds support. The name, Pinot for the People, represents a desire to shake off the pretentiousness and exclusivity often associated with winemaking and Willamette Valley wines. “We are grape-farmers at our core,” says Taylor. “We are really here to build a community and share the fruits of our harvest.”

Through the end of 2020, Left Coast is selling their 2017 Cali’s Cuvee (92 points from Wine Enthusiast) on a pay-what-you-can basis, starting at $12. That is 50% off of the MSR of $24. All revenue over $11 will be donated to one of the five nonprofits. The promotion is online only through the company’s website, https://leftcoastwine.com/pinot-for-the-people. “We are so grateful to the restaurants, somms, retailers, distributors, consumers, and wine club members that have supported us over the past 17 years,” says matriarch and Founder, Suzanne Larson Pfaff. “In the winemaking industry, it truly takes a village and we would not be where we are without the community around us. This is our way of saying thank you.”

About Left Coast:

Left Coast Estate is a family-run winery, vineyard, and working farm. We are guided by two defining principles: a passion for making world-class wine from all-Estate fruit and a deep connection to the land where we live and farm. Each bottle is crafted to represent the unique terroir of our 490-acre estate. Our focus on terroir aligns with sustainable farming practices to preserve the integrity of our land for future generations. Our vineyards and winery are certified sustainable through LIVE, an independent, third-party certification that looks at all of the inputs into the land to ensure that they are in line with the latest university research and internationally accredited standards. We maintain over 200 acres of ecological compensation areas, of which over 100 acres are old growth white oak forests. Our oldest oaks are up to 450 years old and are the most threatened habitat in the Willamette Valley. We’ve partnered with the US Department of Fish & Wildlife to restore these forests by removing invasive species and bringing them under long-term care and conservation. Our visitors and guests have enjoyed the transformation of the Estate as USA Today voted us as Oregon’s Top Tasting Room of 2017 and most recently voted top 100 Best fan-favorite destinations in Oregon 2019.

Connect on social:

@leftcoastwine
#pinotforthepeople

South Coast Winery Wins Big at 2020 Toast of the Coast

August 5, 2020 by evebushman

TEMECULA, Calif. – South Coast Winery, owned by the Carter family, proudly accepted multiple awards at the 2020 Toast of the Coast Wine Competition produced by the San Diego County Fair. The winery won Best Pinot Grigio in the competition as well as a Double Gold medal for its South Coast Winery 2019 Pinot Grigio, along with four Gold Medals and two Silver. Additionally, sister property and member of the Carter Hospitality family, Carter Estate Winery won a Gold Medal in the event.

The Toast of the Coast Wine Competition, which recognizes and promotes wineries producing the finest quality wines, took place February 29 to March 1 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, Calif. A total of 633 wines were judged by 15 prominent wine industry professionals – a group that included winemakers, sommeliers, wine journalists and wine business managers.

“We are honored to continue adding prestigious recognition and top awards to our over 3,000 wine accolades accumulated since our inception in 2003,” said Jeff Carter, president of Carter Hospitality, which owns South Coast Winery and Carter Estate Winery. “The Toast of the Coast citings reinforce our mission to use expert knowledge and craft to produce the very best wines, always retaining a sense of each varietal’s personality and terroir of origin.”

South Coast Winery’s results for this competition: 2019 Pinot Grigio won Double Gold and “Best Pinot Grigio” award; 2017 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir won Gold; 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon awarded a Gold designation; Gold for 2018 Chardonnay Sans Chêne and NV Berenda Road Zinfandel; and 2015 Merlot and 2018 Sauvignon Blanc were Silver winners.

In addition, Carter Estate Winery 2015 Blanc de Noir won a Gold medal.

The Toast of the Coast Wine Competition traditionally culminates with showcasing winning wines at the Toast of the Coast Wine Festival at the annual San Diego County Fair. The festival, originally scheduled for June 13, 2020, has been postponed until June 12, 2021, due to COVID-19.

A list of all winners and additional information is available at thetoastofthecoast.com.

About South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

The only winery among the state’s top wineries to claim the title of California Winery of the Year four times at the California State Fair Wine Competition, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa sets the gold standard for excellence amongst California wineries, earning more than 3,000 awards since its inception in 2003. Situated on 63 lush acres, the resort offers a breathtaking retreat for wine tours, romantic getaways and group events with 132 rooms and villas, a working winery and tasting room, gift shop, full-service spa and restaurant.

South Coast Winery offers a broad portfolio of 45 wine labels, the majority of which are available for sampling in its main tasting room – from robust reds such as Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Petit Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir to whites including Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Riesling. Also available are sparkling wines, dessert wines and other specialty offerings. The winery employs a staff of skilled winemakers, including master winemaker Jon McPherson and winemaker Javier Flores, both with decades of experience in the wine industry.

For more information, visit www.southcoastwinery.com.

Goldschmidt Vineyards Launches New Tasting Room

July 30, 2020 by evebushman

HEALDSBURG, CA., June 2020 – Goldschmidt Vineyards [goldschmidtvineyards.com] opened its first-ever tasting room on June 13, 2020 at The Pour House, a collective of three family-run wineries, located in the heart of Dry Creek Valley, CA. The tasting space, formerly known as Family Wineries of Dry Creek Valley, has refreshed its interior décor and lineup of wines to now include Goldschmidt Vineyards and its domestic portfolio of labels including: Singing Tree Chardonnay, Fog’s Edge Chardonnay, Gracepoint Zinfandel, The Conspirator Red Blend, Chelsea Goldschmidt Merlot and Katherine Goldschmidt Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The collective is open daily from 10:30am to 4:30pm for consumer tastings, with Goldschmidt Vineyards Goldmark Wine Club members welcomed for complimentary tastings. Wholesale/trade tastings are hosted by-appointment.

The idyllic location overlooking Dry Creek Valley is the destination for an exceptional wine education experience hosted by The Pour House collective team, with future winemaker tasting seminars to be led by Nick Goldschmidt. Reservations are requested in order to safely monitor and accommodate each guest. Tastings are $10.00 per person for four (4) wines; tasting fee is refundable with a bottle purchase. Visit www.goldschmidtvineyards.com to receive more information on new releases, upcoming tastings and vineyard events.

“Since our first release of Forefathers back in 1988, we’ve never had the opportunity to present our wines to the public. We finally decided to showcase not only the wines you have come to know us for, but also the very small parcel lots in the 100-200 case range. With the purchase of more land, we now have the ability to offer bottlings which are super hard to make from these very specific micro terroirs. We would love to welcome you at The Pour House in Dry Creek to sample them.” —Nick Goldschmidt, Winemaker/Owner, Goldschmidt Vineyards

Visitors to the property can rest assured their tasting experience at Goldschmidt Vineyards is in accordance with Sonoma County Department of Health Services regulations and guidelines. Hand sanitizer is available and all common spaces are disinfected after each use. Tastings are conducted outside in the courtyard or inside at (very limited) tables socially distanced at six-feet apart from other tasters. The winery team wears masks and gloves, and each wine is delivered in pre-poured glasses. No standing tasting at the wine bar at this time. Touchless checkout is available and credit card information can be collected ahead of the visit for a seamless no-contact transaction.

About Goldschmidt Vineyards
Nick and Yolyn Goldschmidt are the owners/vintners of Goldschmidt Vineyards with industry veteran Nick at the helm of their domestic and international winemaking across California, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and South America. The prestigious Goldschmidt Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon label showcases single-vineyard bottlings from Alexander Valley and the Oakville district in Napa Valley, and the Forefathers label focuses on southern hemisphere-style Sauvignon Blanc and rich Cabernets. Each wine highlights the distinct character derived from site-specific harvests to achieve exceptional richness, quality and balance. Along with annual wine shipments across two tiers, the Goldmark Wine Club includes member-only releases and special wine offerings throughout the year. For wine club information contact Wine Club Manager Karen Clarke [karen@goldschmidvineyards.com, (707) 473-9262]. The winery office is located in Healdsburg, CA in Sonoma County. Follow Goldschmidt Vineyards on Instagram via @goldschmidt_vineyards, Facebook via @goldschmidt-vineyards, Twitter via @goldschmidtwine.

About The Pour House
As the first and only cooperative tasting room in Dry Creek Valley, The Pour House is located at 4791 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448 and features the local, family-owned wines of Optima Winery, Lago di Merlo and Goldschmidt Vineyards. Hosted by a fun and knowledgeable tasting room team, visitors will discover a wide range of exceptional award-winning, limited production and single-vineyard varietal wines from each producer. The Pour House is open seven days a week and features charming picnic grounds just footsteps from vineyards, a bocce court and beautiful wine country scenery. A curated selection of giftware and branded apparel is available for purchase. Join the Club House Wine Club featuring wines from all three producers to enjoy complimentary tastings and club discounts. Contact: Tasting Room Manager Carol Carone [carol@thepourhouse707.com, (707) 433-0100].

TOR Napa Valley Announces Four New Private Tasting Experiences for Summer and Harvest

July 27, 2020 by evebushman

ST. HELENA, Calif. /PRNewswire/ — TOR Napa Valley looks forward to welcoming guests back to the Napa Valley with a variety of new private experiences and tastings for summer and harvest. All tastings and experiences will be exclusively private and by-appointment-only, allowing guests the chance to visit some of Napa’s Grand Cru vineyards, walk amongst the vines and experience TOR’s famed wines—following the CDC’s extensive health and safe precautions and measures.

WHAT’S NEW FOR SUMMER AND HARVEST 2020

The Pritchard Hill Hike & Flight ($200 per person)

Greg Melanson’s Pritchard Hill vineyard is prime real estate for world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. Perched approximately 1500 feet above the valley floor. The vineyard shares august neighbors: across from Colgin and adjacent to Continuum and OVID.

After either a heart pumping vineyard walk or leisurely stroll, enjoy a tasting of TOR’s Grand Dames Chardonnays, followed by three vintages of TOR’s spectacular Melanson Cabernets paired with small bites.

The Black Magic Experience ($750 per person)

Only a select few can ever experience Napa Valley like this. The TOR Black Magic Experience is available on a very limited basis by-appointment-only.

Limited to a tiny handful of guests, this is a true behind the curtains peek into the life of a vintner at the top of their game, and what goes into making 100-point wines at TOR.

David Grega, TOR’s Associate Winemaker, will be the host for an exclusive tour of the haloed soils of the legendary Beckstoffer Dr. Crane. Beckstoffer To Kalon and Vine Hill Ranch.

Guests will then then have the rare opportunity to taste barrel samples considered for TOR’s next Black and Pure Magic wines, prior to relaxing over a delicious three-course lunch nestled in gardens beneath Vine Hill Ranch. With lunch, enjoy a selection of highly rated TOR wines.

Al Fresco Wines Experience ($125 per person)

Wheeler Farms’ 12-acre historic estate on Zinfandel Lane in St. Helena plays host to this al fresco tasting.

Guests will enjoy a stroll through Wheeler Farms’ gardens and state-of-the-art winemaking facility. Tastings feature five wines from a selection of Napa Valley’s First Growth vineyards, and the wines are paired with a cheese and charcuterie platter prepared by Chef Sarah Heller.

ABOUT TOR NAPA VALLEY
TOR Napa Valley produces single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay in the Napa Valley. Tor Kenward has spent more than 40 years in the wine business and established TOR Wines in 2001 to produce wines from only the best blocks in great vineyard sites he knew and revered. In October 2016, Robert M. Parker Jr. said of TOR: “Tor Kenward is using his vast experience in the wine industry and impressive palate to find exceptional terroirs and produce fascinating wines that merit serious attention.”

Domaine Carneros Has Reopened with New Safety Protocols in Place

July 8, 2020 by evebushman

Founded in 1987 in the Carneros appellation of Northern California by the Champagne Taittinger family, Domaine Carneros is a grower producer of ultra-premium sparkling wines and limited production pinot noirs. Domaine Carneros has become the benchmark for California sparkling wine, reflecting both the individuality of the Carneros’ terroir and the craftsmanship of its French legacy.

Domaine Carneros has worked to provide moments of comfort, joy, and virtual connection these last few months. At long last, the Château gates opened and the Domaine Carneros team welcomed back visitors starting June 11^th!

Reservations are now available for all 21+ visitors. (Parties of six or fewer) The chateau is open for tastings Monday through Friday from 10:00-5:30 with the last reservation at 4:30. The weekends of June 13-14 and June 20-21 are reserved exclusively for existing club members. Domaine Carneros Winery 1240 Duhig Rd, Napa, CA 94559

Reservations can be booked online or by phone (1-800-716-2788 x 150). With their reopening, important changes have been made to their guest experience to protect both the visitor and the winery team. Protocols have been set up that should be studied before making a reservation to make the most of the visit. (see below)

Domaine Carneros will still be offering curbside pickup services from 10 am – 5 pm. Please call (1-800-716-2788 x100) 9 am – 5 pm, to schedule a pickup. Prefer to have their bubbles dropped off at home? Enjoy $5 Ground Shipping or half-off Overnight Shipping with a purchase of 12+ bottles.

Help Us Help You – A Note from Domaine Carneros

Domaine Carneros is committed to a safe tasting experience for its visitors and appreciates everyone’s commitment to keeping the winery team safe as well! A visit to Domaine Carneros may look slightly different these days, but what hasn’t changed are the high standards of hospitality.

How We Are Protecting You
Giving you space: Our open-air tasting space has been reconﬁgured to allow 6’ between tables. Additionally, to allow space for social distancing, only those with an existing reservation or a scheduled curbside pickup are able to be on the Chateau grounds.

Keeping it clean: Tables and chairs are disinfected with commercial strength disinfectant before and after each reservation. All non-disposable items are sanitized with high heat or chemical cleaning. Our staﬀ washes and sanitizes their hands before handling clean items.

Masking up: Our staﬀ undergoes pre-shift health screenings and wears masks. They will remove their masks only if 6’ distance can be maintained.

How We Ask You to Protect Us
Respect our space: Please observe our current reservations policy. We have limited the number of visitors to the property to ensure plenty of space to practice social distancing. Parties are limited to six or fewer guests. We will meet you at the front gate to conﬁrm your visit. While here, please diligently maintain 6’ social distancing from anyone not in your immediate party.

Help us keep it clean: Reservations are limited to 90 minutes to give us time to disinfect between each seating. We appreciate your cooperation. You will ﬁnd hand sanitizer stations have been added throughout the property to supplement frequent handwashing.

Wear a mask: If you arrive without a mask, one will be provided for you. You’re required to wear it anytime you aren’t seated at your table enjoying your wine. Any guest failing to maintain social distancing or refusing to wear a mask will asked to leave.

Be mindful: This is new to all of us. Please treat our staﬀ and fellow guests with patience and kindness. We promise to do the same and will do everything we can to make your visit truly enjoyable.

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.

The winery also places a high value on preserving the environment and has been a leader with respect to a vast array of environmental undertakings. The roof of the pinot noir winery adjacent to the château hosts a solar array that was the largest on any winery in the world when it was installed and continues to be expanded. The most recent award, one of many from Federal, State and local government; was the California Green Medal for Domaine Carneros’ demonstration of “Smart Business through efficiencies, cost savings and innovation from implementing sustainable practices.”

Vintage Eve Circa Oct 2017, a Book Review: The Booklover’s Guide To Wine by Patrick Alexander

July 7, 2020 by evebushman

Okay all of you “book club” people, I know the real reason you meet: to talk about a book, yes, but while being well lubricated by fine wine, food and friends. So this book, The Booklover’s Guide To Wine by Patrick Alexander is just perfect for your next meeting, eh? Let me share a few pairings, and a bit of historical information, that I picked up from Alexander’s book, at nearly 400 pages and his sixth to author so far.

Authors Paired With Varietals

Image from FlavourfulWorld.com

I kind of expected some scientific approach to how to pair wine and books, but that was definitely not the case. Just like with your book/wine clubs it’s all about what you just might happen to crave while reading Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, Harper Lee and F. Scott Fitzgerald, to name a few.

I really don’t want to give it away – as you should just buy the book to see – but Austen with Chardonnay and Dickens with Cabernet pair well, because they both “have a universal appeal.”

Another interesting pairing is Alexander’s idea that authors, and some of the characters, have become winery or wine namesakes. Alexander cites Carl Doumani, former owner of Stag’s Leap Winery and now the owner of Quixote, for naming an organic Petit Syrah Sancho Panza and his Cabernet Sauvignon Quixote, important characters from the classic novel Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes.

What Else You Will Learn

From the preface through to the epilogue readers will learn everything from why the author has a dislike for wine critic Robert Parker that is completely logical yet surprising, basics on how to taste wine, read labels, naming different varietals, how to make wine, why sweet wines are popular, the connection between religion and wine, the difference between an American’s understanding of wine and that of a European’s in relation to terroir, what the 100 year war did to the wine industry, why the opinions on wine are so subjective and finally, why Alexander is “never happier than with a glass of wine in one hand and a good book in the other.”

From The Author

My book evolved out of the twelve-hour wine appreciation program I originally developed for the University of Miami and which I have been teaching here in Miami for the past six years. The book, like my program covers all the usual aspects of the grape but with particular emphasis on the history and the culture of wine, from Noah’s first vineyard to the arrival of Two-Buck-Chuck. I compare the concepts of terroir and varietal, and discuss the difference between New World and Old World wines. I also explore the reasons that England, a small wet, offshore island with no significant vineyards, should have had such an unparalleled influence on the world of wine. But what makes my book especially unique is its emphasis on the literary aspects of wine.

Throughout the ages, wine and literature have been closely connected. Whether we refer to the Bible, Homer, Shakespeare, John Keats or Marcel Proust, great literature is always filled with references or metaphors for wine. Mitchell Kaplan, the legendary founder of Books & Books – and co-founder of the Miami Book Fair – suggested the idea of pairing my favourite writers with my favourite wines. An inspired suggestion that resulted in a pairing of the Albarino vines of North Eastern Spain with J.R.R. Tolkien, or Chenin Blanc with Rabelais, not to mention the wines of Grüner Veltliner with The Good Soldier Švejekstumbling through our pages.

http://bookloverswineguide.blogspot.com/