STARS of Pinot at the Montage Beverly Hills on July 11th, 2018

June 11, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Beverly Hills, Calif. – Pinot Noir has been a very important grape since the ROMAN era. In fact, Pinot Noir has two times as many acres/hectares planted in France than it does in California, even though Pinot has been in a huge growth mode for almost 20 years! To honor this majestic grape, WineLA is thrilled to present our 4th annual STARS of Pinot event on Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at The Montage Beverly Hills. With over 40 top Pinot Producers set to participate, WineLA invites you to join us and taste over 100 different wines at this annual gathering. The Montage Beverly Hills expects to welcome hundreds of wine enthusiasts to meet the makers and celebrate the best Pinots’ from many of world’s top producers.

Wineries set to participate: Clos Pepe Estate, Croix, Kanzler Family Vineyard, King Estate, Iris, Mail Road Wines, McIntyre Vineyards, Tolosa, Wrath, J Vineyards and Winery, Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard, Willamette Valley Vineyards, Bernardus, Hyde Vineyards, Old Bridge Cellars, Robert Talbott Vineyards, Hartford Family Winery, Alma Rosa Winery and Vineyards, The 50 by 50, Bouchaine Napa Valley + Carneros, Roadhouse Winery, WeatherBorne Wine Corp, Artesa Napa Valley, Carmel Road, Russian River, Sonoma Coast, Oregon, Burgundy and yes, Champagne is anticipated to be there! (more brands joining daily).

All guests will be able to participate to bid on wines and collectables during our silent auction, benefiting the T.J Martell FOUNDATION for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

The event will begin at 6PM for VIP DINNER TICKETS (Advance tickets for the VIP experience may be purchased for $150; price increases as sell out approaches, remaining tickets will be $200 at the door). 6PM entry grants a delicious VIP PINOT PANEL Dinner and a beautiful Los Angeles Magazine gift bag lined with artisan products and thank you gifts. There are a limited number of VIP (6 p.m. admission tickets). 7 p.m. doors open for General Admission. Advanced tickets may be purchased for less than $80 per person with day of tickets (if available) at $95.

The VIP PINOT PANEL DINNER – Hosted by Master of Wine, Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan (the most famous MW in the world)! This VIP panel dinner gives you a chance to enjoy a great MONTAGE dinner and drink a special set of VIP wines served with the discussion at the panel. The Winemakers debate and discuss various topics and the audience is typically filled with wines most enthusiastic. Panelists’ Include: Jeff Stewart of Hartford Family winery (SONOMA); Richard Sanford of Alma Rosa winery (SANTA BARBARA); David Coventry of Robert Talbott Vineyard (CARMEL/MONTEREY); Brandon Sparks of Dragonette (SANTA BARBARA); and Jay Somers of J.Christopher (OREGON).

Come and meet with the who’s who of Pinot Noir while enjoying unlimited wine tasting, great MONTAGE tray passed appetizers and a wonderful audience. WineLA welcomes wine fans of all experience levels.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.winela.com/stars-of-pinot-2018

About WineLA

WineLA is about enhancing the wine culture of Los Angeles one event at a time. To do so, wine must be in rhythm with fashion, music, food and other beverages. It must take advantage of the geography, the architecture and the centers of interest. Los Angeles is a giant playground with an amazing array of venues, spaces, wine bars, restaurants, beaches, rooftops, gardens, and magical views. We are a part of the LA lifestyle, the wine lifestyle, and celebrate the people, the place and the passion.

For more information call 310-451-7600 or email PR@winela.com

Perlis Picks: Hospice du Rhône [Part One]

June 9, 2018 by Michael Perlis Leave a Comment

INTRODUCTION

Over the years that I’ve been writing for Eve’s Wine 101, I’ve probably used the expression “if you only attend one event per year” often enough that it’s become almost a cliché.

Now I can say “if you only attend one event every two years, this is the one you should attend.”

GUIGAL

Hospice du Rhône is, per their website, “…a non-profit business league with the specific purpose of improving the business conditions of the grape growers and wine producers of Rhône variety wines and grapes throughout the world. We serve as an international vintners association, providing promotional and educational opportunities.”

Based on California’s Central Coast, HdR holds regular events at Blackberry Farm in Tennessee and last year participated in Découvertes en Vallée du Rhône in France’s Rhone Valley. Every two years, HdR brings it all back home to Paso Robles for a multi-day extravaganza to showcase wines made from Rhône grapes, not just from local wineries but from international ones as well.

I write a lot about Rhône varieties. Other than Zinfandel, the Rhônes are where my palate usually takes me. For a refresher, there are 22 Rhône varieties, called as such due to their origins in France’s Rhône Valley. Most well-known of these for the reds would be Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre and for the whites Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne and Grenache Blanc. If you’re interested, you can see the entire list here.

The most recent HdR event in Paso Robles took place April 26^th through April 28^that the Paso Robles Event Center. Attendees had options of attending seminars, onsite lunches, grand tastings, offsite dinners, or the onsite farewell dinner, in any combination. Most popular seemed to be the purchase of the weekend pass which gave the pass holder all seminars, both lunches, both grand tastings as well as the farewell dinner. Individual event tickets could also be purchased a la carte.

THE SEMINARS

The schedule of events covered by the weekend pass spanned Friday April 27^th and Saturday April 28^th. But the fun actually started on Thursday April 26^th with a group of seminars held at the nearby Paso Robles Inn. Not included with the weekend pass, these seminars could be purchased individually by those who were looking for a true immersion experience. Called the Focus 22 [after the 22 Rhone grape varieties] Master Classes, each of the three seminars focused on a different region producing Rhone-style wines.

Unfortunately, Karen and I were unable to attend the first two of these Master Classes, but they definitely looked interesting, featuring wineries and regions that I did not have much familiarity with.

The first was called Elevating Arizona: Height Matters, presented by Todd Bostock of Dos Cabezas WineWorks and Maynard Keenan of Caduceus Cellars and the second was The Rhône Rocketeers from Walla Walla, presented by Ali Mayfield of The Walls Vineyard, Billo Naravane of Rasa Vineyards, Steve Robertson of Delmas, Todd Alexander of Force Majeure and Dr. Kevin R. Pogue of VinTerra Consulting. Both classes were moderated by esteemed wine critic Jeb Dunnuck of JebDunnuck.com.

We did make it into town for the third Master Class, and I was definitely glad that we did. I suppose it would be technically incorrect to say that this class was also about a region that produces Rhône-style wines as we got to learn about the Rhone Valley itself: Romancing the Rhônes of Rhône Valley. Presented by Eileen Fabunan of Rhône Valley Wines along with Jeb Dunnuck, we got the opportunity to learn about the Rhône Valley and taste eight wines in total from both the North and South Rhône Valley. This was great for someone like me as I have had limited exposure to Rhônes other than those from California.

The HdR event officially kicked off bright and early Friday morning with Seminar One | South Africa’s Cinsault Renaissance. Moderated by Lauren Buzzeo of Wine Enthusiast, the presenters were Ryan Mostert of Silwervis, Andrea Mullineux of, Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines, Tremayne Smith of The Blacksmith and Danie Steytler of Kaapzicht Wine Estate.

Tasting through nine wines in various styles made from a grape that is usually [but not always] a blending grape in California was pretty interesting and gave additional exposure to a wine region that is still little known to many.

The second seminar on Friday was Seminar Two | A 6th Generation Crusade in the Barossa Valley. This seminar was moderated by Chuck Hayward of Vinroads and the presenters were Adrian Hoffmann of Hoffmann Vineyards, Paul Heinecke of Soul Growers, Russell Johnstone of RBJ Vintners, Chris Ringland of North Barossa Vintners Collaboration and Michael Twelftree of Two Hands Winery & Twelftree.

Karen and I used to drink a lot more Australian wine than we do now, so this was especially fun, made more so by the nine wines we tasted all being from one vineyard owned and managed by Adrian Hoffmann, a man as dedicated to growing great wine grapes as the winemakers making the wine.

Not to take anything away from any of the other sessions, Saturday morning’s first seminar was probably the one I was most excited about. Titled Seminar Three | Lost and Found: Old Vine Rhônes Across California, it was presented by Morgan Twain-Peterson, MW of Bedrock Wine Company and Tegan Passalacqua of Turley Wine Cellars and Sandlands. Tegan and Morgan are also two of the founding members of the Historic Vineyard Society, an organization near and dear to my heart and one that I have written about in the past. We got to learn about and taste through 10 wines from nine of these old vineyards. Some of the wines were made by Tegan, some by Morgan, but there were also wines made by Pax Mahle, Angela Osborne, Bruce Neyers and Ian Brand as well as two of my person favorites, Mike Officer of Carlisle and Joel Peterson of Once & Future Wines.

It was time for the final seminar of this year’s Hospice du Rhône event, Seminar Four | The Majesty of Guigal, kind of taking us full circle back to the Rhône valley and learn about this great winery and taste 11 of the wines made there.

Read more about the Paso Robles HdR event in my next article.

Michael Perlis has been pursuing his passion for wine for more than 25 years. He has had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show him the way, as well as a wonderful wife who encourages him and shares his interest. After a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as he possibly could, he had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Now, as Contributing Editor for Eve’s Wine 101, he does his best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers. Michael is also Vice President of Eve Bushman Consulting (fka Eve’s Wine 101 Consulting) http://evebushmanconsulting.com/ and President of MCP Financial. Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com or michael@evebushmanconsulting.com.

The Circuitous Path from Network News to Fine Wine, by Tim Ortman (Part One)

June 7, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Many roads can lead to a real love of wine. And I’m not talking about flirting with Chardonnay because “everyone else is doing it.” Or, a casual steakhouse affair with a glass of Cab, after which you return to your beloved Vodka martini. Nope. I’m talking about the head-turning, life altering, seminal moment many have experienced that plunges them head-first into a mesmerizing and totally foreign journey. The moment from which there’s no turning back.

I was a content and happy-go-lucky 25-year-old cameraman working in Chicago, the city of broad shoulders, and slowly becoming polished in my profession if still a bit culturally frayed around the edges. With so many deep-dish pizzerias and Italian beef options, I was leery, even fearful of fine dining where wine was a four-letter word. However, my Chicago bliss was rudely interrupted.

Unknown to me, I had been evaluated and selected for a life-changing upgrade. My talents (not my sophistication, I promise you) were deemed worthy of a promotion… a big one. As a result, my wife and I packed up and headed for Europe, where I would join the International Press Corps. as a staff cameraman and member of the NBC News Frankfurt bureau.

From the outset, the job was a dream come true. I was traveling through all of Europe (and the world, too, soon enough) covering news for a major American news network. But when I would gather with my colleagues for crew lunches, or when my wife and I would join friends for dinner, we felt like the gourmet’s version of a square peg in a round hole. Trying to blend in, we replaced my Coke and her Sprite with bottles of something called ‘mineral water’. (Who came up with that name, by the way, and was it intended to sound appealing?) And the meals were marathons. Lunches could last THREE HOURS and dinners often had no end in sight. The common thread throughout went something like this: once seated, a senior colleague, usually European, would utter some unidentifiable words to our waiter and, like clockwork, completely different bottles would appear. Their labels seemed to contain a secret code of uninterpretable French or, God forbid, German writing. Deciphering these codes was foolhardy at best and maddening at worst. Instead, we mimicked our friends and my coworkers and forced down the ubiquitous liquid, pretending to enjoy every drop. At least we no longer stuck out like sore American thumbs.

Eventually, I broke from the pack of lemmings and realized that I actually liked some of what I was imbibing. My taste – or ‘palate’ – leaned more to the white stuff over the red. I noticed that the white wines with French labels were subtly different from one another but generally tasted good. Those with German labels were generally off-puttingly sweet. And the red stuff with French labels just tasted like dirt. But the learning curve was mind-numbing and intimidating. What was the difference between a Pouilly Fuisse and a Pouilly Fume? And, what was a Pouilly to begin with? Asking such questions in a public forum would reveal me as the ignorant American rube that I was. Instead, I’d need to keep quiet and steal glances at labels when no one noticed.

(Editor’s Note: This story is broken into four parts, please return to this website on the same weekday next week for part two.)

Tim Ortman is an Emmy Award-winning cameraman and producer and author of the new book, Newsreal: A View Through the Lens When… He is a certified Sommelier and member of La Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin. Connect with him on Facebook, @TimOrtmanWriter.

Temecula Valley Wine Country’s 50th Anniversary

June 4, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

TEMECULA VALLEY, Calif. (PRWEB) – Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country recently wrapped up another successful Grape Day, hosted by the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association (TVWA) and attended by winemakers and growers across the U.S. Now in its 35th year, this one-day conference features in-depth seminars on the latest advancements in Enology and Viticulture. This year’s event also unveiled a celebratory 50th Anniversary video, featuring vintage photographs of the region’s pioneers and the land as it was being cultivated and built into the successful destination it is today.

“As we showed the video for the first time to our local winemakers and visiting industry peers, I had multiple people tell me they got goosebumps,” said TVWA Executive Director Krista Chaich. “Building on the theme of the ‘People, Passion and Perseverance,’ of our 50th Anniversary programs, it’s a moving look at where we have come from and everything that we have accomplished over a half-century. I know I am not alone in being immensely proud of this region and can’t wait to unveil additional videos that tell our story throughout the year.”

Since 2015, the TVWA has annually inducted one influential figure into the Wine Country Hall of Fame. This year’s inductee was Ely Reeves Callaway, Jr. Ely Callaway’s grandson, Pete Callaway, received the honor on behalf of his grandfather who died in 2001.

In introducing Pete and the award, fellow wine country pioneer, Phil Baily, owner of Baily Winery, said, “In 1974, Ely Callaway established the first winery in the Temecula Valley and produced the first commercial wine made in the Temecula Valley from Temecula Valley grapes. His extraordinary dedication to producing wines of the highest quality brought acclaim and respect to the region. In addition, his creative merchandising of Callaway wines and the region resulted in the Temecula Valley being recognized far beyond what would have been expected in a region so young and small.”

To view the 50th Anniversary video, please visit: http://www.temeculawines.org.

More information about all Temecula Valley 50th Anniversary happenings can be found at http://www.temeculawines.org.

ABOUT TEMECULA VALLEY WINE COUNTRY
Located within a 60-minute drive from San Diego, Orange County, and Palm Springs, and within 90 minutes of Los Angeles, Temecula Valley is widely recognized as Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country. The popular wine destination is southern California’s largest wine producing region by volume.

Both Visit Temecula Valley (VTV) and the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association (TVWA) are 501 (c) 6 nonprofit regional organizations. Primary responsibilities of VTV (VisitTemeculaValley.com) include promoting Temecula Valley as a year-round travel destination and advancing the Temecula Valley visitor economy. The TVWA (TemeculaWines.org) is dedicated to promoting the making and growing of quality wine and wine grapes in the Temecula Valley A.V.A. (American Viticulture Area).

The School of Wine & Spirits Business unveils world’s first fully dedicated premises

May 27, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Dijon, May 2018 – Founded in 2013, the School of Wine & Spirits Business (SWSB) centralises all wine and spirits management training and research activities carried out by Burgundy School of Business (BSB). In April 2018, the School unveiled a new building of over 1,000m2 at the heart of the BSB campus. These truly unique premises are the only ones of their kind in the world dedicated entirely to teaching of and research into wine and spirits management. Launched in conjunction is the Wine & Spirits Business Lab, an unprecedented research laboratory concentrating on behavioural studies within the wine and spirits sector.

A unique location for a unique institution

The School of Wine & Spirits Business is currently an international benchmark in the field. Every year it provides training to over 180 students of around 20 nationalities from 5 continents, via its range of programmes: the Specialised Master in International Wine & Spirits Business (taught in French), the MBA in Wine & Spirits Business (launched this year along the lines of the MSc in Wine Business), the MSc in Wine Management and the Wine Tourism specialist option as part of the Bachelor in Marketing & Business (all three taught in English).

The new, entirely dedicated building was constructed during BSB campus works in 2017. Covering a surface area of over 1,000m2, the premises comprise a range of work spaces available for students, researchers and guests, all of whom can take full advantage of the best possible reception and working conditions:

The Wine & Spirits Business Lab, the behavioural research laboratory
The Tasting Room, a 32-seat, fully-equipped classroom for tasting courses and research activity
The Cellar, a 12-degree storage cellar that is home to the School’s entire bottle collection; a prime location for more informal tasting sessions
The Spirits World, an area entirely dedicated to spirits
The Business Lounge, a stylish and sophisticated reception area

The Wine & Spirits Business Lab: where behavioural sciences serve the wine and spirits sector

This research laboratory is the only one of its kind in the world dedicated entirely to behavioural studies into the wine and spirits sector – from production through to consumption via assessment. Under the leadership of Prof. Nikos Georgantzis, the set-up employs experimental economics techniques in order to unearth the emotions, cognitive procedures and decision-making factors that influence the actions and opinions of consumers, producers and experts.

To achieve this, the team can call upon the expertise of the BSB Behavioural Economics academic department and use the top-quality facilities made available by the SWSB. In addition to the experiments conducted, the Lab also provides a forum for combining expert knowledge of and interest in the world of wines and spirits in order to provide new responses to long-running issues and also with a view to generating new knowledge and pushing back the boundaries of research into the area.

The Wine & Spirits Business Lab team works in close collaboration with partners from the wine-producing industry, and students and universities from all over the world, an open set-up that enables them to produce academic research that is both intellectually stimulating and of genuine use to Society.

Winners of 2018 Experience Rosé Competition Announced

May 21, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Debra Del Fiorentino, Founder of Wine Competitions Management & Productions, in conjunction with Craig Palmer and Allen Habel, co-founders of Experience Rosé (formerly Rosé Today), are pleased to announce the results from Experience Rosé: The 2018 Competition, held at Soda Rock Winery in Healdsburg, California on Wednesday, April 18. Directed by globally-renowned wine expert and educator Del Fiorentino, Experience Rosé: The 2018 Competition drew 317 entries of domestic and international rosé wines – a thirty-seven percent increase from the number of entrants in last year’s competition.

Glasses of with pink champagne decorated with lavender

The esteemed panel of top-tier judges selected by Del Fiorentino sought out the very best in dry, sparking and sweet categories – all of which represented a wide range of rosé winemaking styles. Judges included Dan Berger, Jacques Brix, Bernadette Byrne, Traci Dutton, Renata Franzia, Denise Gill, Erik Miller, David Sandri, Chris Sawyer and Cathy Vicini.

The Competition embodies the concept of rosé wines as an integral part of the wine drinking experience every day, all year long “because every day pairs better with Rosé,” the tagline for this and every Experience Rosé event.

“That’s the idea that attracted us so irresistibly to this lifestyle concept of Experience Rosé,” proclaims Founder and Producer Craig Palmer. “So many everyday opportunities become so much more colorful paired with this infinitely elegant and exuberant wine.”

Top honors and Best of Show went to Draxton Wines for its 2017 Pinot Meunier Rosé, Napa Valley, garnering an impressive 100-point score.

“That’s not easily achieved,” says Del Fiorentino. “Our judges are very savvy and very strict with their scores. To achieve a perfect score is a true feat of accomplishment for the winemaker and the wine.”

Advantage International was awarded Best International Dry, Double Gold and Best of Class for its 2017 Marquis de Goulaine Rosé d’anjou. Bronco Wine Company was awarded Best Domestic Sparkling, Double Gold and Best of Class for its NV Domaine Laurier Brut Rose while Natural Merchants, Inc. was awarded Best International Sparkling and Best of Class for its NV Tarantas Sparkling Rose. Penns Woods Winery took Best Domestic Sweet and Best of Class for its NV Penns Woods Winery Moscato Rose.

Other Best of Class winners include:

Castle Rock Winery, 2017 Castle Rock Rosé of Pinot Noir, category: Domestic Dry

Nichelini Family Winery, 2017 Nichelini Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé, category: Domestic Dry

Peju Province Winery, 2016 Peju Sparkling Rosé, category: Domestic Sparkling

Winery at Black Star Farms, NV Black Star Farms, Old Mission Delighted – Sweet Bubbly Rosé, category: Domestic Sparkling

E&J Gallo Winery, 2017 Fleur de Mer Rose, category: International Dry

Overall the judges awarded five Best of Show accolades, 10 Best of Class designations, 15 Double Gold and 79 Gold honors. A complete list of winners can be found by visiting http://rosewinetoday.com/competition-winners/.

Results were announced at an intimate gathering held at Soda Rock Winery on Thursday, April 19^th, following the judging. About 15 wineries, all competition gold-medal winners, poured and convened with industry influencers and event sponsors and producers.

Experience Rosé is proud to thank its Presenting Sponsor, Bank of Marin, and Hosting Sponsors: Soda Rock Winery, Sonoma Magazine, Spirited Magazine, and Hangar 1® Vodka.

Experience Rosé is all about providing extraordinary experiences to anyone who revels in the passion for Rosé. The brand’s dedication to excellence continues with two new consumer events held in June and October. On Saturday, June 16, 2018, The Great Rosé Pairing for Summer will take place at The CIA at Copia in Napa, from 11AM to 4PM. Attendees will sip winning wines from the 2018 Competition paired with gourmet cuisine from six major rosé producing regions (France, Italy, Spain, Northern California, Central California and Southern California) prepared by teams of emerging star chef CIA students and led by Lars Kronmark, Professor of Culinary Arts at CIA California. A sampling of rosé cocktails and summer refreshers using Hangar 1®’s newly launched rosé infused vodka will be prepared by CIA’s wine and beverage students. This multifaceted event will also include special arts programming and Experience Talks – an educational series featuring presentations, panel discussions and pairings curated by John Cesano, Executive Director of the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association. Jubilant, intoxicating music will be provided by Steel Jam.

Ticket costs for The Great Rosé Pairing for Summer:

VIP Patio: $125 in advance; $130 at the door

Regular admission: $85 in advance; $90 at the door

Designated driver: $40 in advance; $45 at the door

Later in the year, on Friday, October 19, Jaxon Keys Winery and Distillery in Hopland (Mendocino County) will host The Great Rosé Pairing for Thanksgiving. Nicholas Petti, Culinary Arts Instructor at Mendocino College, along with his talented students, will create a selection of seasonally-inspired bites to showcase perfect Rosé pairings for holiday dinners and celebrations. This event exclusively features Rosés produced in the Hopland and Redwood Valley regions of inland Mendocino County.

Ticket costs for The Great Rosé Pairing for Thanksgiving:

Regular admission: $95 in advance; $105 at the door

Tickets for both The Great Rosé Pairing for Summer and The Great Rosé Pairing for Thanksgiving can be purchased by visiting: www.experiencerose.com.

About Experience Rosé

“Because every day pairs better with Rosé” is our theme. With the burgeoning passion for the colorful array of Rosé wines, Experience Rosé showcases excellence in international winemaking, connecting wine lovers with singular adventures and curated resources that are spirited, expansive and revelatory. For more information on Experience Rosé please visit, www.experiencerose.com.

Like Experience Rosé on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosewinetoday/

Follow Experience Rosé on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosewinetoday

Follow Experience Rosé on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosewinetoday/

About Soda Rock Winery

Nestled in Sonoma County’s scenic Alexander Valley, Soda Rock Winery offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy an eclectic mix of wine-country experiences. Sip a delicious array of wines with a focus on Bordeaux varietals. View the splendid surroundings and appreciate the historical buildings that have been beautifully restored using green building and recycling practices. Soda Rock is the original site of the Alexander Valley general store and post office, and was once the central hub of activity for the valley. Historic records provide evidence of the first bonded winery on this property in 1880. With a large line-up of Cabernet Sauvignons and Bordeaux varietals, Soda Rock wines are big and bold, just like its historic past.

About The CIA at Copia

The Culinary Institute of America’s newest location in downtown Napa, the CIA at Copia, offers food and wine experiences to the public, including hands-on cooking and beverage classes, culinary demonstrations, shopping, dining, community events, private events, and more. It is the first public-facing facility for the college.

About Jaxon Keys Winery & Distillery

Jaxon Keys, a 1,250-acre estate winery, continues a historic legacy in Mendocino County with their long-term commitment to fine wine and brandy. Formerly Jepson Winery, the estate’s new name, Jaxon Keys, is a tribute to family ancestors Jack Wilson and Cecil Key – honoring the past and heralding a new era. They offer many varietals grown on their ranch for tasting at their 1880s Farmhouse Tasting Room. Enjoy a leisurely wine tasting at the antique bar, spend some time out on the covered veranda, drink in the views, the flavors and the old-fashioned hospitality served up Mendocino style. Jaxon Keys makes a wine for every taste – Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, white and red blends, Grenache, Zinfandel, Primitivo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, a port-style wine and Alambic pot-still brandy.

Paul Wagner Wins 2018 Award of Merit from The American Wine Society

May 13, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Napa, CA – Paul Wagner, Founder of Balzac Communications & Marketing, noted author, wine radio show cohost (Bottle Talk with Rick & Paul), and Napa Valley College professor has been awarded the prestigious 2018 Award of Merit from the American Wine Society.

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From the Balzac Facebook page

David Falchek, executive director of the American Wine Society (AWS) commented “Paul has been a great friend not only to our organization, but also to the wine industry. Working in the background as a marketing professional and an educator, Paul has influenced the way the public drinks wine and thinks about wine. His passion and work has aligned with the AWS mission to promote wine appreciation through education.”

“It’s really lovely that they have done this,” said Wagner, who will attend the organization’s national conference in November to accept the award.

“I have great respect for John Hames, who recently retired as the executive director of the AWS, and I am delighted that he is being honored with the Member of the Year Award at this same conference. And I have loved the many sessions at that national conferences that I have taught. The members are so appreciative and energized. I think I get more from them than they ever get from me.”

“Paul has been my mentor and has provided me with the insight and wisdom to lead Balzac for the next 25 years,” states Michael Wangbickler, President. “In my 14 years at Balzac, I’ve had the pleasure to learn, grow and mature under Paul’s tutelage and guidance – I couldn’t be more thankful and am so proud to learn of Paul winning this award.”

Wagner, who recently retired from running Balzac, continues to teach about wine – in Barcelona at the WinTour Wine Tourism MBA program in July and October, leading a wine cruise and tour through Bordeaux this spring, and teaching at Napa Valley College.

His schedule this year has included joining the U.S. tour of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, giving the keynote address at the Vancouver International Wine Festival, judging the California State Fair Wine Competition, and giving lectures at Fresno State University and for the Cambridge University Executive MBA program.

Wagner will teach the Wines of Germany class this spring at Napa Valley College, and in the fall, he will return to teach Wine Marketing and Sales and A Cultural Appreciation of Wine.

In addition, Wagner will publish two new books this year: “Artisan Public Relations” from Board and Bench Publishing, and “Wine Sales and Distribution” from Rowman and Littlefield. The latter was written with co-authors John Crotts of the College of Charleston, and Byron Marlowe of Washington State University. And the third edition of Wagner’s “Wine Marketing & Sales” will also be published this year by Board and Bench.

About American Wine Society – www.americanwinesociety.org

The American Wine Society (AWS) is a consumer organization that appreciates, celebrates, and shares knowledge about wine. With a membership base of over 8,000 people, they host local wine tastings in 180 chapters across the United States. This year, the AWS celebrates its 50th Anniversary and is the largest consumer-based wine education organization in North America. Membership is open to anyone aged 21 and over who is interested in learning about wine.

About Balzac Communications & Marketing – www.balzac.com

Founded in 1991, Balzac Communications & Marketing is a marketing communications agency with a no-nonsense approach to combining the strategies and tactics of marketing, public relations, event management, digital marketing, advertising, and creative services to assist the business goals of its clients. The experience, creativity, and determination of the staff distinguish Balzac from their competition. They use these assets to develop and execute cost-effective campaigns which have won international communications awards. The agency is in Napa, California, and provides services to companies and organizations throughout the world. www.balzac.com

First Ever ‘National Prosecco Week’

May 7, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – The Prosecco DOC Consortium, the entity that oversees the production of the hugely popular Italian sparkling wine, is pleased to announce the launch of the first ever National Prosecco Week, beginning Monday, June 11th. The week-long activation will see masterclasses for media and trade, as well as public consumer events at multiple cities throughout the United States—New York, San Francisco, Dallas, Miami and Chicago. The masterclasses, led by well-known sommeliers in each city, will focus on teaching and showcasing Prosecco’s food pairing versatility with various dishes. Consumer parties will also be held in these cities, in commemoration of the famous Italian sparkler.

On June 14th, as part of the ‘National Prosecco Week’ activities, Prosecco DOC will host an exclusive Prosecco & Pizza Competition at Ribalta pizzeria in New York. Four pizza makers will compete in front of five celebrity judges, which will include journalists, food influencers and widely respected pizza experts. The event will be solely for press, trade and industry influencers. Following the competition, a Pizza & Prosecco consumer event will be held at the renowned pizzeria Roberta’s in Brooklyn on June 16th; at this ticketed event, attendees will be served Prosecco by the glass and Prosecco cocktails, along with specialty pizzas.

Prosecco DOC will also launch nationwide restaurant and retail promotion, from Prosecco ‘by the glass’ specials and limited-edition Prosecco and pizza pairings to various in-store promotions.

In addition to celebrating Prosecco, this initiative will also serve an important educational purpose, debunking myths and misconceptions about the Prosecco category and teaching consumers, press, and trade how to recognize—and enjoy—authentic Prosecco. The sparkler’s ever-increasing popularity has been accompanied by an inevitable rise in imitations from within Italy and around the world, and steps toward recognizing real Prosecco grown in the designated area and according to strict regulations will be discussed.

Regarding the upcoming campaign and its scope, Prosecco DOC Consortium Director Luca Giavi states, “The US market is fundamental for our denomination and has always had a deep fondness for our wines. We feel that it is important to provide information to opinion leaders and consumers that allows them to recognize and fully appreciate the quality of our production.”

Stay tuned for more details about the many exciting celebrations and initiatives of Prosecco DOC. For more information on National Prosecco Week, please contact Megan DeAngelo (mdeangelo@colangelopr.com) with Colangelo & Partners. To stay updated for upcoming events, follow Prosecco DOC on Facebook (@proseccodocusa), Instagram (@proseccodoc_usa), and the Consortium’s official US website, http://www.casaprosecco.com.

About The Prosecco DOC Consortium:
Prosecco was granted the Controlled Designation of Origin status on July 17th, 2009, and the Prosecco DOC Consortium (Consorzio di Tutela della Denominazione di Origine Controllata Prosecco) was created on November 19th of the same year to coordinate and manage the Prosecco DOC. The organization unites the different groups of manufacturers—wineries, individual and associated vine-growers, still wine and sparkling wine producers—to ensure the designation continues to grow and that the production regulations are complied with.

About Prosecco DOC:
Prosecco DOC wines come in Spumante (sparkling), Frizzante (semi-sparkling) and Tranquillo (still) varieties. The wines are made from mainly the Glera grape, native to North East Italy for thousands of years, and can be combined with a maximum of 15% of the following grapes: Verdiso, Bianchetta Trevigiana, Perera, Glera lunga, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Nero. Prosecco Frizzante and Spumante varieties get their famous bubbles using the Secondary Fermentation production method, bottled under high pressure after fermentation in bulk tanks called autoclaves, as opposed to the traditional method, which bypasses the autoclaves and is used for other sparkling wine varieties. The end result is a brilliant straw yellow wine with fine, persistent perlage and aromas of white flowers, apple and pear. It is fresh and elegant on the palate with moderate alcoholic strength. For more information regarding Prosecco DOC, visit http://www.casaprosecco.com.

8 “lucky” Italian Wine Ambassadors proclaimed in Chengdu, China

April 23, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

(PRWEB) – Under the good auspices of Chinese lucky number 8, the 8th edition of the Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) Certification Course in Chengdu welcomes 8 new Italian Wine Ambassadors (IWA) to the evergrowing VIA community. VIA adds another Chinese city to its map, with Chengdu being the third city in China to hold VIA courses after Beijing and Shanghai last year.

Vinitaly China

Chengdu is renowned for being the homeland of Chinese national drink Baijiu (a grain based spirit), therefore the city has a thriving beverage industry where Italian wine can shine brightly. For this reason, Chengdu was the perfect place to gather Chinese aficionados of Italian wine and spread its story of biodiversity.

The Certification Course comprised a week of training with internationally renowned wine critic Dr. Ian D’Agata and a challenging final exam held on March 20th. “I’m so honored to have taken this class and exam. The course is intensive and hard but definitely worth it!” says Joseph Cheng, Director at Story Wine Company in Hong Kong and one of the newly proclaimed IWAs. Sylvie Xuan Zuo, wine consultant at Peng She Da International Trade Company, also confirms, “Now that I’ve got the title of IWA, there’s much more out there for me to learn. I’ll do my best to make Italian wine better known in China; it’s such a beautiful shining pearl in the sea of wine.”

A unique opportunity for wine professionals to enhance their knowledge of Italian native grapes and distinctive wines, the VIA Certification Course enables all professionals to speak of Italian wine in a unified, organized, and thorough manner. Stevie Kim, Managing Director of Vinitaly International, speaks highly of the Chinese students’ commitment to Italian wine studies: “Sometimes we are criticized by the low percentage of pass rate but in the end candidates will often resit the exam. I’m always amazed by how much enthusiasm and determination exist amongst the Chinese candidates, despite the difficulties in broaching the course in English, not to mention the less familiar pronunciation of the most obscure native grapes.” Further evidence of the students’ passion for Italian wines was the fact that many of them provided tips to pair Italian wine with Chinese food from their personal and professional experiences, as recorded in the entertaining video “Best Italian Wine to Pair with Chinese Hot Pot” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2sq4y-x4JE&feature=youtu.be&a).

After the proclamation of the 8 new IWAs in Chengdu, there are now 139 VIA-certified IWAs worldwide. Currently, VIA is home to 3 IWEs and 41 IWAs from USA, and 2 IWEs and 38 IWAs from the Greater China area. After the “lucky” Chinese edition, the next VIA Certification Course comes home to Verona, Italy, from April 6th to 10th, 2018, in the lead-up to Vinitaly.

Full list of our 8 newly certified Italian Wine Ambassador Chengdu Edition 2018

Jing Zhang, Shanghai, China, Sales Manager, EMW Fine Wines
Joseph Cheng, Hong Kong, Director, Story Wine Company
Yan Zeng, Senior Manager of Strategic Development at CIMIC Enric
Ada Xiaowen Zhang, Shanghai, China, Sales Manger, Le Service Divin
Maria Grazia Furbato, Jakarta, Indonesia, Wine Educator and Consultant, reWined
Haixia Xu, Chengdu, China, Co-Founder of Sichuan Ocean International Trade
Chunnju Emilia Hsiao, Taiwan, Co-Founder of Enjoyino Co.
Sylvie Xuan Zuo, Kunming, China, Manager and Wine Consultant, Zhong Peng Shi Da International Trade Company

For more details about the VIA Certification Course and the Ambassador’s BIO see:
https://www.vinitalyinternational.com/?page_id=663

About:
Veronafiere is the leading organizer of trade shows in Italy including Vinitaly (http://www.vinitaly.com), the largest wine and spirits fair in the world. During its 51st edition Vinitaly counted more than 4,270 exhibitors on a 100,000+ square meter area and 128,000 visitors from 142 different countries with more than 30,000 top international buyers (up by 8%). The next edition of the fair will take place on 15 – 18 April 2018. The premier event to Vinitaly, OperaWine (http://www.operawine.it) “Finest Italian Wines: 100 Great Producers,” will unite international wine professionals on April 14th in the heart of Verona, offering them the unique opportunity to discover and taste the wines of the 100 Best Italian Producers, as selected by Wine Spectator. Since 1998 Vinitaly International travels to several countries such as Russia, China, USA and Hong Kong thanks to its strategic arm abroad, Vinitaly International. In February 2014 Vinitaly International launched an educational project, the Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) with the aim of divulging and broadcasting the excellence and diversity of Italian wine around the globe. VIA this year launched the fourth edition of its Certification Course and today counts 130 Italian Wine Ambassadors and 9 Italian Wine Experts.

Garagiste Wine Festival Comes to the Heart of Sonoma Wine Country in May

April 16, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (PRWEB) – Garagiste Events today announced that its internationally renowned Garagiste Wine Festival comes to the heart of Sonoma, California on May 12th for the very first time. The festival will showcase the rich variety of small-production wines currently being crafted by some of the most innovative winemakers in Sonoma, Mendocino, Livermore, Lodi, and Napa, as well as other California regions. The non-profit event will be held at the Sonoma Veterans Building near Sonoma’s historic downtown plaza. Tickets are on sale today at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1st-annual-garagiste-festival-northern-exposure-tickets-43108506704

Like many small production wineries, over ninety percent of participating wineries are without a tasting room where they can meet the public, making the premier Sonoma Garagiste Festival a one-of-a-kind opportunity for consumers to discover, and meet, 40 winemakers while tasting 150+ wines made from over 15 varieties. This is why The Garagiste Festival, which always sells out, has been dubbed ‘wine tasting Nirvana;” ‘a wildly exuberant and fun wine event,’ and “not-to-be missed’ by the LA Times.

“Sonoma-area winemakers and wine lovers have been asking us for quite some time to bring the Garagiste Festival further north,” said Garagiste Festival Co-founder Douglas Minnick. “On May 12th, at last, we are able to offer this fertile and creative winemaking community the opportunity to share their delicious wines in the intimate and unique Garagiste Festival setting. Bringing these winemakers onto the radar of passionate wine fans on the lookout for new wine discoveries is one of the great pleasures of the festival.”

“And, if you think you know the garagiste line-up, think again…” added Festival Co-founder Stewart McLennan. “Over half of these wineries are brand new to the festival, as are many of the Northern California regions represented. In the wake of the Northern California fires, we are glad to spread the word that this part of California not only remains open for business, but is thriving.”

Known for high quality wines, first-time and ‘soon-to-break-out’ discoveries, diverse grape varieties, a ‘no snobs allowed’ policy and a renegade and fun-loving spirit, the non-profit Garagiste Festivals are the only festivals in the US dedicated to micro-production winemakers. Garagiste Festivals have introduced hundreds of outstanding artisan winemakers (who produce under 1500 cases of wine) to thousands of passionate wine consumers, members of the trade and media, raising the profiles of many of the winemakers nationally for the first time, and raising thousands of dollars for the education of future winemakers.

Cris Carter owner and winemaker of Weatherborne Wine Corp, and who owns a vineyard in the Anderson Valley, has showcased his wines at multiple Garagiste Festivals. “The Garagiste Fest is the perfect place for small-production, family-run wine brands to meet their audience. Winery owners meet face-to-face with interested and engaged consumers who often wind up being their most loyal customers and brand advocates,” says Carter. “Attendees get to pick the brains of the people actually making the wine and running the business, learning the wine’s story in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. For the wine trade, it’s a great place to unearth the next wave of exciting California producers; a true opportunity to find hidden gems for your wine list or portfolio.”

The Sonoma Garagiste Festival will kick off at 11:30 am on Saturday, May 12th, with a signature tasting seminar: “The Garagiste Variety Show: Exploring the Diversity of Small-Production Winemaking.” The seminar will focus on the range of wines being produced by Garagiste winemakers, and investigate why garagiste winemakers have stepped away from Cabernet and Chardonnay to work with grapes considered under-the-radar in Northern California. Moderated by McLennan, panelists include: Paul Gordon of Halcon Vineyards and Randy Hester of Lightning Wines. In the afternoon is the main event: the Grand Tasting, which runs from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. Like all Garagiste Festivals (and unlike many larger wine festivals), the Sonoma festival will limit ticket sales to give attendees a comfortable and relaxed tasting experience with personal winemaker interaction.

For the full schedule, more information, go to: http://garagistefestival.com or follow us on Twitter (@GaragisteFest) or Facebook. For breaking festival news and special discounts sign-up for our free newsletter, The Dirt at http://garagistefestival.com/sign-up/.

Winemakers already scheduled to pour include:
Betwixt Wines, Calstar Cellars, Camlow Cellars, Chenoweth Wines, Crux Winery, Enoteca Five, Fallon Place Wine, Fields Family Wines, Gordenker Wines, Gregory James Wines, Halcon Vineyards, Kendrick Vineyards, La Pitchoune Winery, Lightning Wines, Magna Vita Cellars, Mastro Scheidt, Merisi Wines, Montagne Russe, Montemaggiore, Murder Ridge, Nowell-Smith Wines, Parmeson Wines, Piezo Winery, T. Berkley Wines, Trojak-Knier Winery, Von Holt Cellars and Weatherborne Wine Co.

Sponsors include: ETS, Laffort, Glenn Burdette, Digital Dogma, mWEBB Communications, Farm Credit, and G3

For sponsorship info, email info@garagistefestival.com.

About The Garagiste Wine Festivals
The Garagiste Wine Festivals (http://www.garagistefestival.com) are the first and only wine festivals dedicated to the undiscovered and under-recognized American artisan ‘garagiste’ producers who are making some of the best, most exciting, handcrafted small-lot production wines in the world. Founded by fellow garagiste winemakers Stewart McLennan and Douglas Minnick, the Garagiste Festivals are committed to discovering the best and most innovative limited-production winemakers and promoting and showcasing them to a broad audience of discerning wine consumers. In addition to its flagship annual festival in Paso Robles, CA, the Garagiste Festival line-up includes Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure, featuring Santa Ynez Valley garagistes; the Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure, in Los Angeles; the Garagiste Festival, Northern Exposure, in the Bay Area; winemaker dinners, a newsletter, garagiste profiles and more.

The festivals were named one of the ‘Top Nine Incredible Epicurean Vacations’ in the world by ABC News,* “one of the premier wine events of the year,” by the LA Times and “Best Festival” by Sunset Magazine’s ‘Best of the West.’ The festivals are produced by Garagiste Events, a non-profit dedicated to furthering the education of future winemakers and those training for employment within the wine industry. Garagiste Festivals Inc. is a 5013c non-profit organization and proceeds from the festivals support the Garagiste Festival Scholarship fund of the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo Wine and Viticulture Department.

**Garagistes (garage-east) is a term originally used in the Bordeaux region of France to denigrate renegade small-lot wine makers, sometimes working in their “garages” (anything considered not a chateau), who refused to follow the “rules,” and is now a full-fledged movement responsible for making some of the best wine in the world.