Chianti Classico Finds the Silver Lining of the 2020 Vintage

October 10, 2020 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – As the Covid-19 crisis forced tasting room, tourism, and restaurant closures across Italy and Europe, the winemakers of the Chianti Classico Consortium (Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico) have been able to spend more time than ever in their vineyards and cellars. The result is that in such a challenging and altogether unheralded year, Chianti Classico producers have had a chance to focus on the 2020 vintage with a never-before-possible commitment to detail and singular attention to every aspect of cultivation, vineyard management, and production.

While 2020 has not been an easy year, the quality of this Black Rooster vintage may well turn out to be legendary, according to Chianti Classico Consortium President GIovani Manetti—and perhaps one of the greatest in living memory.

“The pandemic has in fact given us a unique opportunity: that of being able to concentrate all our efforts on the care of the vineyard for a few months,” says Manetti. “The goal that we, Chianti Classico winemakers, have today is to produce the best wine of our career and that this is the memory that we will bring with us in a few years, when we will open some exceptional bottles of Gallo Nero 2020.”

While rooted in centuries of tradition and history, the Chianti Classico Consortium is a thoroughly modern organization making use of all new resources and support mechanisms available to assist innovation, cooperation, and production among stakeholders as member producers continue to maintain growth under challenging circumstances.

As winemakers spend more time than ever tending to their vineyards, the Consortium has approved an extraordinary plan of interventions to support the appellation in the post-Covid emergency period, with strategic planning designed so as to not to interrupt the path—undertaken for years—of valorization and development that has defined the denomination. The emergency actions taken by the Consortium have also provided for a January 1, 2021 release, instead of October 1, for the 2019 vintage, which is itself shaping up to praiseworthy.

Extraordinary times produce extraordinary wines, and the upcoming releases and vintage reports from Chianti Classico will undoubtedly show that this historical denomination’s future is just as bright as ever.

For more information, please contact Silvia Fiorentini of the Chianti Classico Consortium or Andrew Lohse of Colangelo & Partners.

About the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico:
The Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico exists to protect, oversee, and valorize the Chianti Classico denomination. Since the Consortium’s founding in 1924, the organization has changed its name and the design of its logo, the Black Rooster, which since 2005 has been the trademark of the whole denomination. As one of the premier institutional organizations in the European Union in the grape-growing and winemaking sector, the Consortium represents 96 percent of the DOCG production. The entire production chain is supervised by a public tracking system, which enables consumers all over the world to check the bottle they’ve purchased via the Consortium’s website. The Consortium also conducts research and development in the agronomic and enological fields, in collaboration with prestigious educational and research institutes. For more information, please visit http://www.chianticlassico.com.

Quintessa Introduces Inaugural Decade Release with 2010 Vintage

September 30, 2020 by evebushman

ST. HELENA, CALIF. (PRWEB) – Quintessa is honored to announce its inaugural Decade Release, a library release that consists of a limited number of bottles of 2010 Quintessa set aside to evolve for one decade in the caves where it originated. First made exclusively available to Quintessa Vineyard Circle members in 3-packs of 750ml bottles and in 1.5 L (magnum) bottles, the Quintessa Decade Release is now available in highly limited quantities in the wholesale market.

Convinced that Quintessa had all the quality elements as an estate to be a true Napa Valley classic, the only thing missing was an understanding of the wine’s capacity to age and improve with time. So in the summer of 2012, shortly after bottling the 2010 vintage, proprietors Agustin and Valeria Huneeus decided to set aside a limited number of bottles of the 2010 vintage to rest undisturbed in perfect conditions without leaving the estate.

“Wine has the capacity to reflect a place like no other, as grapes have the singularity of being fully connected to where the vines grow, including the soil, geology and the unique climatic conditions of that particular vintage,” said Estate Director Rodrigo Soto. “The resulting wine is a time capsule, and over the decade that this wine has transformed in the bottle, it clearly demonstrates that the evolution is not only real but also special and unique.”

The 2010 vintage is evidence of this incredible transformation, with black bright cherry and floral layers to dried herbs, anise & violets. From a supple silky texture to integrated layers of spice, followed by a long mineral finish. Having the time to age wine in the bottle brings balance and multiple dimensions to the glass, making the pleasure of drinking wine a completely different experience.

The 2010 growing season in the Napa Valley began with cooler than average temperatures and plentiful rainfall, which pushed bud break, flowering and fruit set back nearly two weeks. Mild, cool temperatures continued into summer which made meticulous canopy management essential to encourage consistent flavor development. Two late summer heat spikes helped the small, concentrated berries develop toward a later than average harvest.

At twenty years old in 2010, Quintessa’s biodynamic and organically farmed vines had the knowledge to work with mother nature and thrive through the seasons. Beginning on October 5th, the fruit from the Quintessa property was harvested with patience and precision to create a wine of elegance and balance, worthy of the first Decade Release.

To acquire or learn more, please visit quintessa.com/decade-release. For media inquiries, please contact Josh Zoland (jzoland@colangelopr.com) or Rachel Keigley (rkeigley@colangelopr.com) of Colangelo & Partners.

About Quintessa – http://www.quintessa.com
Quintessa is a world-class wine estate in the heart of Rutherford, Napa Valley. Inspired by the old-world Estate model, Quintessa crafts a single wine each year that expresses the Estate’s diversity and transforms the soil, vines, climate and energy into something greater than those individual elements. In order to capture the purest expression of place, Quintessa has practiced organic techniques since its founding in 1989 and transitioned to biodynamic practices in 1996.

When founders Agustin and Valeria Huneeus first set foot on the pristine, uncultivated property, they believed they had found something absolutely unique from what they had seen in Napa before. They knew that the land, spread over five hillsides, with different soil types and exposures, encompassed tremendous diversity that would lead Quintessa to become a world-class wine estate akin to the first growths of the Old World. Today, the Estate is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carménère on 26 vineyard blocks. Since its first vintage in 1994, Quintessa has quickly become globally recognized as a benchmark of the Napa Valley.

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.

Vintage Eve Circa Feb. 2018: Tasting the 2015 Vintage From Union Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux

September 22, 2020 by evebushman

The Beverly Hills Hotel was a perfect backdrop for a tasting of the latest Bordeaux, the release of the 2015 vintage. The chandelier that hung over the center of the room was dimmed only by the stellar wines served below it. Grateful to have a chance to taste through so many wines I quickly took up the task. These are my takeaways:

Reasonably Priced for All

While most Grand Crus Bordeaux can easily warrant a triple digit price tag, there were several that had very reasonable price points, making Bordeaux accessible to everyone. I ran into local winemaker Roman Weiser and then later, million-dollar-palate owner Mark Newman, who both commented on the fact. So if you are holding back on getting some Bordeaux – stop.

Bordeaux We Liked – And We Couldn’t Taste Them All

I have four grids of photos below showing at least 30+ wines that I found remarkable, but there were many more that we didn’t have the time to taste in our generous three-hour window allocated for press before the evening’s public tasting. Some of the standouts for me included:

Chateau Leoville Poyferre poured by Anne Cuvelier once again, Chateau Langoa Barton, Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Chateau de Chantegrive, Chateau LaGrange, Chateau Gruad Larose, Domaine de Chevalier, Chateau Pichon Baron, Chateau Smith Havt Lafitte, Chateau de France, Chateau Larrivet Haut-Brion, Chateau Pape Clement, Chateau Latour-Martillac, Chateau Pichon Longueville, Chateau Lynch Bages, Chateau Gazin, Chateau Coufran, Chateau Brane-Cantenac and Chateau Dauzac.

White Bordeaux we enjoyed were from Chateau de France, Chateau Smith Havt Lafitte, Chateau Larrivet Haut-Brion, Chateau Pape Clement, Chateau Malartic-Largraviere, Chateau Brane-Cantenac, Chateau Dauzac and Chateau Latour-Martillac. My takeaway on the White Bordeaux, most made with Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, was that these seemed so much fresher and less acidic than our version of Sauvignon Blanc. (I commented on this to Weiser and he told me that even if we were to add Semillon to our Sauvignon Blanc stateside we still lacked the terroir to make it the way the French have mastered it.)

Every Sauterne poured may have made our list: Chateau Suduiraut, Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Chateau De Fargues, Chateau Guiraud, Chateau Clos Haut-Peyraguey and Chateau Coutet. My takeaway: The Sauternes stole the show again. Look for these in splits and enjoy liked we did: with a large hunk of sharp blue cheese.

About Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux

Established in 1973, the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux is a group of 135 top Châteaux in the most prized appellations in the Gironde, Médoc, Graves, Pessac-Léognan, Sauternes and Barsac, Saint Émilion and Pomerol.

MEMBERS OF THE UNION DES GRANDS CRUS DE BORDEAUX

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.

Visiting Wineries We Like: Ampelos and Zotovich!

September 11, 2020 by evebushman

Finishing off our trip to Lompoc we had our last two tasting appointments, to Ampelos Cellars and to Zotovich Vineyards.

Due to Covid-19 both wineries are open for outdoor tastings. Just call or email ahead of time as we know that things can change from one day to the next.

Starting with Ampelos we met with Matt, a “cellar rat” at the winery and tasting room staffer. We went through their current lineup of wines to taste, but only after first noting the unique tasting notes done by their marketing director. Instead of the usual aromas and flavors, these tasting notes also called up more memories, or visions, of where each wine could take you. For example, the 2019 Santa Barbara County Viognier was described as, “The click clack of rails, puffs of jasmine glinted steam, the sneaky smile of a Mandarin orange sun. Teak wood bar, juicy pineapple rings, shaved coconut flesh, the sway of palm trees passing quickly by. A new day swaggers through the lounge car with unlimited possibilities while I ride alongside ‘phi’ the ‘golden girl’ of my dreams.” These kind of tasting notes, albeit not for everyone, makes the writer in me want to strive much harder. It’s boring to read, “jasmine, orange, teak, pineapple” alone. Now, moving on and back to the tasting, and my tasting notes, I found the fruit in the Viognier to be fresh with a lovely mouthfeel. A great start to our tasting.

Next was their 2017 “Garcia” Albarino that spent 50% in neutral oak and 50% in stainless steel tanks. It was quite nice, with mild fruit notes. A 2016 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir “Lambda” had both good fruit and balance, and was awarded 90 points by Wine Enthusiast. Next to try was 2015 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir “Rho” barrel select, made for their best 12 barrels and spent six to eight months longer in barrel. It was very yummy, with rich velvety fruit and oak notes. The Rho got 90 points from both Wine & Spirits magazine and Wine Enthusiast.

The next wine, a 2015 Sta. Rita Hills Grenache “Delta”, had lovely layers of red fruit, spice and earth. The 2016 Sta. Rita Hills “Syrache”, a wine I had been told by a wine pal not to miss, is a Syrah Grenache blend. This vintage was 65% Syrah and 35% Grenache. It proved to be my favorite in the tasting. Wine & Spirits gave it 91 points and Wine Enthusiast awarded it 90 points. Our final wine, the 2016 Syrah had lovely peppery notes I won’t soon forget.

When our Contributing Editor Michael Perlis checked over this article he reminded me that he had covered Ampelos after tasting them at Wine in the Pines in 2015. At that time he shared, “A fortunate cancelation of a meeting at the World Trade Center led to Peter Work missing the 9/11 tragedy. Rethinking their lives, he and wife Rebecca plunged full-time into their Ampelos vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills, which they had acquired in 1999. My favorites were the “Syrache” [blend of Syrah and Grenache] as well as the standalone Syrah.”

From Facebook

ampelos has been a family endeavor from the start! Initially “corporate folk”, we enjoyed getting away to the Sta. Rita hills on weekends and dreamt of one day planting our own vineyards and making wines. A cancelled meeting on the morning of September11, 2001 helped us to realize that someday was TODAY! Our son, Don, came out to help get the vineyard underway and soon our dreams became reality. We are driven by a deep love and passion for viticulture. We are very proud to be one of the first wineries to be CERTIFIED sustainable, organic, and biodynamic. As a small boutique winery we produce 3500 cases and are meticulous about being as gentle as possible with all of our farming and winemaking practices. The best part about being winemakers is the opportunity to meet and share our wine with others. Come see us…

Ampelos Cellars, 312 North 9th St. Lompoc. 805-736-9957.

https://www.facebook.com/ampeloscellars/

https://www.instagram.com/ampeloscellars/

Now, onto Zotovich! In the blue building, shared with other winery tasting rooms on the corner of Highway 1 and 246, we rediscovered Zotovich Estate Vineyards and Winery with sales rep Jason Carter. We quickly learned that they sell their wine via wine club, as well as in some restaurants and stores. We tasted about 10 wines, will share the notes for some from the current vintage – which should be available on their website.

We began with the 2018 “Zoto” Chardonnay that Jason said had “marginally less oak” than their Estate Chardonnay. I found it slightly acidic, akin to a Sauvignon Blanc, with both tart and buttery notes. Then we tried three more Chards, all very good. We preferred the 2017 Estate Chardonnay for its notes of Meyer lemon, white peach, pear and a hint of strawberry in a delicate balance, for only $28 a bottle. We liked the 2017 Reserve Chardonnay, from the 809 clone, and 50% new French oak, with tropical fruit including pineapple, papaya and a floral nose. The last white we tried was the 2018 Estate Viognier. The wine called up memories of lemon-lime soda, stone fruit, wet stones with a nice low acidity.

Next up came the reds, beginning with the 2017 Estate Pinot Noir. Notes included concentrated fruit – especially crushed raspberries, white pepper and a richer quality in comparison to a 2019 newly released Pinot served just before. The website said this is the 17^th vintage of their flagship Pinot. Oher reds we tried that I didn’t find on the website included their 2017 Grenache, 2016 Syrah Grenache Blend and a 2017 Syrah. Of these three I enjoyed the blend the most, but get over to the tasting room soon if you want to taste these wines!

A little research of my own and I found what I had to say about Zotovich in a Henry Wine Group tasting circa 2012, “This was my actual favorite winery of the day and I think it may have been the 10^th wine (translates to pretty early in the tasting) I had tried. The three the winemaker brought included an ‘09 Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay that I found refreshing and steely, the ‘09 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir for its traditional cherry and stem flavors without a ton of alcohol or tannin (things I don’t like that some seem to be reaching for in Pinots) and the ‘09 Sta. Rita Hills Syrah that was both soft and then sturdy on the back palate. Want more.”

From Facebook

A small, family-owned and operated winery located on the Central Coast of California, Zotovich Vineyards handcrafts exceptional wine from small, closely monitored lots of grapes. Zotovich Vineyards & Winery proudly produces Estate Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Viognier, and Grenache. Our philosophy is simple: We believe great wine is established in the vineyard. We meticulously farm our estate Zotovich Family Vineyard grapes, and strive to make the best wine possible vintage to vintage.

Zotovich Vineyards, 300 N 12 St, Ste D, 805-736-1600.

http://www.zotovichvineyards.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pg/zotovichvineyards/

Virtually Explore the Stags Leap District This Fall

August 26, 2020 by evebushman

NAPA, CALIF. (PRWEB) – A highly anticipated release for more than 20 years, the Stags Leap District Appellation Collection showcases coveted Cabernet Sauvignon from 17 of the region’s wineries. This year’s one-of-a-kind offering highlights the 2017 vintage, and will be available for purchase from October 15th to December 15th, 2020, with wines arriving in time for holiday celebrations and gifting. Only 150 total sets are available.

New this year, Appellation Collection loyalists and buyers will also have the chance to meet the vintners and winemakers through a series of interactive virtual tastings, giving Cabernet Sauvignon enthusiasts the chance to learn more about the nuances of each prestigious wine. Reservations for the tastings, which will be hosted at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Friday afternoons in November and December, can be made at https://www.stagsleapdistrict.com/VirtualTastings or https://www.stagsleapdistrict.com/AppellationCollection.

“Each of these wines stands alone, but as a collective they tell a complete story of the Stags Leap District, and showcase the hallmark characteristics of this region – grace and power, lush texture and vibrant fruit,” said Nancy Bialek, Executive Director of Stags Leap District Winegrowers. “Our Virtual Tastings will deepen the experience, with the chance to hear directly from, and taste with, our vintners and winemakers about this memorable vintage.”

The limited-edition 2017 Appellation Collection includes a total of 17 distinctive Cabernet Sauvignons, from the following wineries: Baldacci Family Vineyards, Chimney Rock Winery, Cliff Lede Vineyards, Clos Du Val, Ilsley Vineyards, Lindstrom Wines, Malk Family Vineyards, Odette Estate Winery, Pine Ridge Vineyards, Quixote Winery, Regusci Winery, Shafer Vineyards, Silverado Vineyards, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Stags’ Leap Winery, Steltzner Vineyards, and Taylor Family Vineyards.

The 2017 Appellation Collection is priced at $1,999 for the 17-bottle set, packaged in two boxes complete with detailed winemaker tasting notes; ground shipping is included. The Appellation Collection is only available for purchase from October 15th to December 15th, 2020.

Availability:
October 15th to December 15th, 2020
150 Appellation Collection sets
Sold exclusively by the Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association
Order:
http://www.stagsleapdistrict.com/AppellationCollection
Or call 707.255.1720
Cost:
$1,999, which includes ground shipping for 17 bottles shipped in two boxes with winemaker tasting notes. Additional sales tax applies to purchases made in California and in various other states, to the extent required by law.
Shipping:
Included (where allowed by law).

Appellation Collection Virtual Tastings
A full schedule and registration details for the Virtual Tastings can be found at
http://www.stagsleapdistrict.com/VirtualTastings. The tasting series includes:

Session #1 – Friday, November 13, 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. PST

Clos du Val, Regusci, Silverado Vineyards and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars

Session #2 – Friday, November 20, 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. PST

Baldacci Family Vineyards, Lindstrom Wines, Pine Ridge Vineyards, Quixote Winery

Session #3 – Friday, December 4, 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. PST

Chimney Rock Winery, Cliff Lede Vineyards, Malk Family Vineyards, Odette Estate

Session #4 – Friday, December 11, 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. PST

Ilsley Vineyards, Shafer Vineyards, Stags’ Leap Winery, Steltzner Vineyards

The 2017 Appellation Collection includes one bottle of each of the following Stags Leap District-designated wines:

Baldacci Family Vineyards, 2017 Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon
Chimney Rock Winery, 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Ganymede Vineyard
Cliff Lede Vineyards, 2017 Dancing Heart Cabernet Sauvignon
Clos Du Val, 2017 Hirondelle Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Ilsley Vineyards, 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Lindstrom Wines, 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Malk Family Vineyards, 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Odette Estate Winery, 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Pine Ridge Vineyards, 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Quixote Winery, 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Regusci Winery, 2017 ‘The Elders’ Cabernet Sauvignon
Shafer Vineyards, 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five
Silverado Vineyards, 2017 SOLO Cabernet Sauvignon
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, 2017 FAY Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Stags’ Leap Winery 2017 The Leap Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Steltzner Vineyards, 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Taylor Family Vineyards, 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

About Stags Leap District Winegrowers:
The Stags Leap District Winegrowers is a non-profit association of vintners and growers united by the mission of enhancing the reputation of the appellation and its wines and sharing its quality with the wine-loving world. The SLDWA is comprised of 17 wineries and 10 grower members. Wineries include: Baldacci Family Vineyards, Chimney Rock Winery, Cliff Lede Vineyards, Clos Du Val, Ilsley Vineyards, Lindstrom Wines, Malk Family Vineyards, Odette Estate Winery, Pine Ridge Vineyards, Quixote Winery, Regusci Winery, Shafer Vineyards, Silverado Vineyards, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Stags’ Leap Winery, Steltzner Vineyards, and Taylor Family Vineyards. To learn more about the Stags Leap District, please visit stagsleapdistrict.com or find the Association on Facebook.com/StagsLeapDistrict, Instagram.com/StagsLeapAVA Twitter @StagsLeapAVA.

South Coast Winery Wins Prestigious Cilurzo Winery of the Year Award

August 23, 2020 by evebushman

TEMECULA, Calif. – South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, owned by the Carter family, received the important designation of Cilurzo Winery of the Year at the 10^th Annual Temecula Valley Xenia Hospitality Awards.

Owners Jim and Jeff Carter, 25-year Temecula vineyard proprietors, received a certificate of recognition on behalf of State Senator Melissa Melendez of the 28^thDistrict for “going far beyond the call of duty and doing more than others expect by displaying outstanding hospitality and service to visitors and members in our community.” They also received an awards plaque from Visit Temecula Valley.

“We proudly accept this coveted award of Cilurzo Winery of the Year,” said Jeff Carter, president of Carter Hospitality. From our first planted vineyards at Wild Horse Peak Mountain over 25 years ago to our winemaking prowess and today’s luxurious resort, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa continues to push the envelope to bring the Temecula Valley new and exciting experiences to attract visitors and support the community.”

Named for the late Vincenzo Cilurzo and his wife Audrey, who planted the region’s first commercial vineyard in 1968, the Cilurzo Winery Award of the Year recognizes a winery operating in the Temecula Valley, which routinely offers an exceptional guest experience through its wine, winery, vineyard quality and appearance and philanthropic endeavors for the betterment of the community. A nominating committee of five members chose the Cilurzo Winery Award winner based on wine making authenticity and quality, 30%; winery and vineyard quality and appearance, 30%; guest experience, 30%; and philanthropic endeavors in the community, 10%.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa has long been a cornerstone of the Temecula Valley wine community. Its events and programs include hosting a blind tasting event, accommodating overflow parking for Crush, hosting onsite concerts, raising funds for the Inland Empire Autism Society, supporting the American Cancer Society Desert Coastal Area, and arranging activities to benefit Michelle’s Place and the Boys & Girls Club of Southwest County.

On the winemaking side, South Coast Winery’s winemakers continue to experiment with the vineyards, vintages and blends to create some of the most outstanding wines in the Valley that are also extremely approachable, allowing even the newest of wine drinkers to enjoy their visits.

The winery has received thousands of wine awards over the years, including most recently winning the 2019 “Winery of the Year” premium award at the 39^thAnnual San Francisco International Wine Competition (SFIWC), one of the oldest international wine competitions in the world and North America’s largest wine judging event. At this event, it was also awarded “Best of Class” for its Wild Horse Peak Mountain Vineyards Touriga Nacional, 2016 as well as 28 other prestigious awards.

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.

About Carter Hospitality Group

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

Bellangelo Winery Overcomes Pandemic Obstacles And Earns Honors

July 29, 2020 by evebushman

GENEVA, N.Y. (PRWEB) – It’s been a challenging time for the Finger Lakes wine industry, but amidst obstacles, Bellangelo Winery on the West Side of Seneca Lake (about hour’s drive from Rochester, NY), continues to make great strides, strengthening its status as one of the New York wine industry’s most consistent acclaimed producers.

For the fifth year in a row, Bellangelo’s Rieslings and Sparkling wines have garnered honors from America’s premiere wine journals and periodicals. Most recently, Bellangelo earned three spots in the June 2020 issue of Wine & Spirits Magazine, as among the “100 Best For $20 Or Less.” Additionally, four wines were earmarked for honors as Best U.S. Riesling.

The honored wines include Bellangelo’s 2016 Sparkling Riesling, a sparkling wine produced in the traditional method that received one year of barrel aging in neutral oak, and nearly two years in tirage. Additionally, the winery’s 2018 Dry Riesling, 2018 Kashong Glen Riesling, and 2018 Gibson Vineyard Riesling were also highly praised.

“2018 was an exceptionally difficult vintage,” recounts Christopher Missick, winemaker at Bellangelo. “Greatness is only achieved in the face of adversity. As in all things in life, our team took the challenge of a difficult vintage to heart, and managed to produce some of our best wines to date. It took a lot of extra work in the vineyard, and an incredible amount of precision on the crush pad, but the results are worth it,” Missick added.

These honors come in the wake of an entirely redesigned elevated seated-tasting experience at Bellangelo. In the wake of Covid-19 and the opening of its tasting rooms with new social distancing requirements, the winery made changes to incorporate an innovative level of virtual engagement. All 32 wines available at the winery have a virtual tasting available, where customers can follow along with winemaker Chris Missick, as he discusses site selection, vinification, tasting, and food pairings. A preview of the new tasting format can be found here: https://youtu.be/gZJoh-isIOM

Additionally, customers can utilize QR codes at the entrance and posted throughout the tasting rooms, to manage their tasting entirely on their phones. “What we really wanted was a way to engage our customers on an even deeper level, while encouraging sustainability and reducing our use of paper,” Missick said.

Missick adds, “As a small business, the shutdown was really hard on all of us. I would say we all experienced the full range of emotions of fear, discouragement, and anxiety. We are prepared mentally for all the issues we confront in agriculture, but this was another trial altogether. We are reopening safely, with an even better experience, and are determined to continue the standard of excellence we have become known for.”

You can review the new tasting experiences at the winery website, http://www.Bellangelo.com, and visit their tasting rooms in Dundee, NY and Geneva, NY. The winery’s brands, including Can Do, are currently represented by Wright Beverage Distributing in Rochester, NY, and Luxowine in Puerto Rico, and are seeking strategic partnerships throughout the U.S.

Pulchella Releases 2019 Rogue Rose Tonight!

July 10, 2020 by evebushman

Locals! Tonight is the night to get your hands on Pulchella’s new Rose before it’s sold out! Details from the winemakers:

With a beautiful color of deep rose gold, the nose offers lovely fruit aromas of just ripe strawberry, nectarine skin, effervescent watermelon water, and a touch of citrus zest before notes of hibiscus, orange blossoms, rose petals, and the slightest touch of white pepper on the back end. On the palate entry, right off the bat you get a lovely viscous mouthfeel which quickly widens to an expansive fruit forward mid palate of rich cherry, Gaviota strawberry, white peach flesh, and the return of lovely watermelon character before acid carries you away to a finish of minerality and lingering red fruit. A truly delicious rosé and a perfect pairing for a hot summer day!

$35 bottle, 20% off for club members.

http://pulchellawinery.orderport.net/wines/current-releases

Visit the Tasting Room at 24261 Main Street, Downtown Newhall from 4 to 7 PM Friday, July 10 or 1 to 4 pm Saturday, July 11 to purchase your bottle. (These will also be the tentative hours from now on, until winery tasting rooms can re-open in LA County safely.)

Technical Notes:

Varietal: 52% Syrah, 46% Grenache, 2% Viognier

Vineyard: Briarwood

AVA: Templeton Gap District, Paso Robles

Harvest Date: October 11^th, 2019

Fermentation: All 3 varietals crushed together, 24-hour cold soak, then lightly pressed into stainless steel for a low and slow fermentation. No malolactic fermentation.

Aging: 7 months – 100% stainless steel

Production: 50 cases

ABV: 15.1%

Cellar Time: Drink now! We would normally say drink this wine very cold, however, the flavors and aromas become more open for interpretation after the temperature creeps up slightly. Drink this wine at your personal preferred rosé temperature.

Vintage Variation: Let’s talk about the obvious: where’s the Tannat? We had some minor Tannat issues at Bella Collina during the 2019 vintage, and we simply didn’t get enough fruit to support making a rosé on top of our red program. This is the first time since 2016 that our rosé hasn’t been made with 100% Tannat. And you know what… that’s okay, because the 2019 is a damn good wine! For 2019, we decided to make a Highs and Lows inspired rosé of Syrah and Grenache. And for good measure we through in a little Viognier to the co-fermentation. All in all, the 2019 is a very comparable wine to our Tannat rosés, but with a little added richness in the fruit department. The color is also a touch different, leaning more to rose gold hue than fire engine red hue. This vintage definitely falls outside the lines of traditional rosés and that’s exactly what we look to do: push the boundaries! No rules!

Rocky Pond Estate Winery Adds Talented New Executive Chef

June 18, 2020 by evebushman

ORONDO, Wash., PRNewswire/ — Rocky Pond Estate Winery, the up-and-coming Washington producer crafting wines from their beautiful riverside and lakeside estate vineyards, is announcing a major advancement by adding an experienced Chef to develop a cutting-edge culinary program to further elevate and expand their highly regarded wine experiences.

Double D Vineyards

“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Chef Austin to our growing team,” state Owners and Founders David and Michelle Dufenhorst. “This is yet another way that we are elevating Rocky Pond as the Eastern Washington wine destination. The culinary program will be another shining piece of the puzzle and will accentuate the majestic setting, excellent terroir, sustainably farmed vineyards, and distinct wines. Chef Austin’s creativity and experience in fine dining will assist us in fulfilling our mission to create the most memorable wine experiences in the Pacific Northwest.”

By adding Chef Austin to develop and lead the culinary program, the ownership team is looking to take another big step in taking their young wine brand to the next level through a variety of wine and food pairing experiences, wine dinners, and so much more.

Chef Austin is no stranger to the region. He grew up in the picturesque Lake Chelan area and graduated from Chelan High School before bouncing between California and Seattle to chase his culinary dreams. Ultimately, he would land starring roles in some of the top fine dining destinations on the West Coast, including Executive Sous Chef at the Craftsman in Encinitas California, Chef Tournant in Seattle Met’s Restaurant of the Year, Altura Restaurant, and most recently at the Campfire Restaurant in Carlsbad California. He is also no stranger to the world of wine, working at Carruth Cellars in Solana Beach California as the assistant winemaker over multiple vintages.

“I am so excited to be joining the Rocky Pond team as their new Executive Chef,” states Chef Austin. “They have been building an unparalleled paradise in one of the most underrated corners of the Columbia Valley that I have been lucky enough to call home for many years. I am beyond excited to create a culinary program like no other so we can continue to make this area a top travel destination for wine and food lovers not only from Seattle, but from the Pacific Northwest and the entire West Coast.”

The Dufenhorsts with John Ware and Chef Austin have more exciting plans in the pipeline that will be announced very soon. Soon, interested consumers can enjoy wines and a full culinary offering at both of Rocky Pond’s highly adorned tasting lounges located in Lake Chelan and Woodinville, WA in addition to at their winery in Orondo, WA. More info at: www.RockyPondWinery.com.

About Rocky Pond Estate Winery:

Rocky Pond Estate Winery was established in 2013 by David and Michelle Dufenhorst. The winery itself takes its name from the tumbled granite stones found on their estate vineyards located in one of the most awe-inspiring regions of the Columbia River Valley.

Regionally, Rocky Pond Estate Winery is making a name for itself as a premier Washington winery that is focused on producing Bordeaux and Rhone-style wines that showcase the truly unique terroir of their sustainably farmed riverside estate vineyards deeply rooted in the soils of the geographic wonder that is the Columbia River Valley.

Wine Enthusiast recently awarded multiple offerings 90+ points, and in 2019, Wine Press Northwest named Rocky Pond Estate Winery its 2019 Washington Winery to Watch.