Eve's Wine 101

Chilean Wine Sales Are Up, Reversing 10-Year Trend

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

Wines of Chile, Year to Date

  • In a comparison of year-to-year sales, Chile saw a 40.68% increase in volume, translating into a 36.57% uptick in dollars in the 12-month period concluding June 30, 2020. While bulk wines account for roughly two-thirds of that volume, bottle sales have risen by 2% in volume, and 13% in value.
  • Red wines continue to drive Chilean wine sales, led by red blends and Cabernet Sauvignon.
  • Chile is riding high on three “on-trend” categories: rosés, bag-in-box, and Mediterranean wines here in the 12-month period ending June 30, 2020
    • The country’s rosé sales have more than doubled — up 114%
    • Bag-in-box exports have grown by over 19% in volume
    • Mediterranean varieties like País and Carignan are not only catching the attraction of the trade and wine experts, including off-premise channels such as supermarkets
  • The leading driver for Chile’s wine sales in the U.S. continues to be the country’s larger, well-established players with broad nationwide U.S. distribution, who are benefitting from consumer reliance on “tried-and-trusted,” familiar and reliable brands during the pandemic.

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

Also of Note

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

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

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

–      During COVID-19, the data also shows that the largest consumers of wine have been millennials. While millennials drink less wine than the previous generation, when they do, they are more adventurous, and willing to try new varieties such as País.
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About Wines of Chile: The mission of Wines of Chile is to promote the quality and image of Chilean wines throughout the world. With offices in the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil and Chile, the organization, working closely with ProChile, develops and offers promotional and educational programs. Its members represent over 75% percent of Chile’s bottled wine exports.

Discovering Camins 2 Dreams in Lompoc

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Was recently invited by fellow wine writer and organizer of the #LAWineWriters group, Cori Solomon, for a road trip to Lompoc. It had been awhile since our group had met but Cori found a winery she liked that was most willing to set up for us outside and socially distanced for a tasting. The winery is Camins2Dreams and this is their story.

“Wife and wife” winemakers Tara Gomez and Mireia Taribo Tena share the Camins 2 Dreams winery. Some of us had already tasted wines made by Gomez, as she is also the winemaker at Kita. The pair make wines, starting with their flagship Gruner Veltliner and Syrah, only in a natural style. Cori hinted that “Tara and Mireia have a good story.”

We quickly learned that the pair has years of winemaking experience between them. Gomez got her Enology degree and began making wine at J Lohr (where the two met) and Fess Parker before starting Kalawashaq’ Wine Cellars (the winery name is the same as the village her Chumash forefathers lived in). Fast forward to taking some time away to make wine in Spain, specifically at Castell d’Encus, where Tena was the winemaker. Tena also has an Enology degree, and went back to school to earn a Masters in Enology, Viticulture and Marketing of Wine.

The pair started Camins 2 Dreams in 2017, making wines from Sta. Rita Hills vineyards that focus on 100% natural bottling, not filtered or fined, all foot stomped, no new oak barrels (their new standard) and only add SO2 (a wine preservative) just before bottling. Their first production was a mere three barrels.

“We have to adjust for each vintage…it’s difficult to be consistent. So the focus is on the vineyard,” the pair shared. They “respect the land and want (their) vineyards to be SIP certified.” Look for newcomers Grenache and Graciano in their lineup.

Tasting (Notes on aromas and flavors were provided, I will only comment on those that I noted as remarkable.)

We started with a 2019 Gruner Veltliner that was a big hit with the group. Noted: pear, green apple, freshness, acidity and it worked as the perfect palate cleanser for the tasting. At the end of the tasting we were treated to a refreshing Pet Nat of their Gruner Veltliner which is described by Wine Enthusiast as “Pét-nat, or Méthode Ancestrale, is a method of sparkling wine production used all over the world. … After a period of rest that can be as short as a couple of months…”

After the white wine we moved over to their pink, a 2019 Rose of Syrah that had been made in the saignee method with nearly zero skin contact and completely fermented in stainless steel. We notes strawberries, Rainier cherries, pomegranate with a crisp finish that I thought would lend itself well to a nice picnic with cold fried chicken.

Then we started on their many Syrah wines: 2017 Zotovich Vineyard, which was their first, which had a lovely blueberry nose, tannins and long finish – my favorite of the Syrahs. A 2018 Zotovich had a lovely balance and a bit lighter to me than the 2017. The 2018 Spear Vineyards had a medium body, black fruit and a decent amount of acidity that I felt was due to its youth.

We finished for with a 2018 JSB (from the John Sebastiano Vineyard) that had been bottled just two weeks prior, and a red table wine that was a combination of both 2018 and 2019 Syrah from all three vineyards: JSB, Pear and Zotovich.

My takeaway: If you seek natural wines Camins 2 Dreams is not to be missed.

Camins 2 Dreams

313 North F St, Lompoc, CA.

805-741-7047

https://camins2dreams.com

https://www.facebook.com/camins2dreams/

https://www.instagram.com/camins2dreams/

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.

Goldschmidt Vineyards Launches New Tasting Room

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

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

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

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

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

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

V. Sattui Winery named “Domestic Winery of the Year”

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V. Sattui was named 2020 “Domestic Winery of the Year” after earning a remarkable 26 medals, including 10 that were awarded Platinum and 12 awarded Gold at the 38th annual San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge. The Napa Valley winery, specializing in vineyard-designate bottlings, produced a tie for “Wine of the Year” with their 2016 Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon ($92) and 2016 Vangone Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($140), each dazzled with a score of 98 points out of 100.  V. Sattui’s Bordeaux-style blend, the 2016 Paradiso ($95), narrowly missed a three-way tie with a score of 97 points.

Seven more V. Sattui wines scored Platinum, including their 2017 Napa Valley Malbec ($46) with 95 points and 2015 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($52) with 96 points.  Their Estate Vittorio’s Vineyard produced two more Platinum winners:  2017 Petit Verdot ($47) and Cabernet Sauvignon ($78), both earning 94 points.  Additional 94 point wines included V. Sattui’s 2018 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir ($48), 2018 Los Carneros Pinot Noir ($39), and 2017 Napa Valley Syrah ($42) – further displaying the winery’s broad range of quality wine varietals.

The venerable San Diego International is one of the oldest and most revered competitions in the United States. Founded by award-winning wine columnist Dan Berger and Bob Foster and wine rep Dick Colangelo in 1982, the competition has been under the guidance of nationally syndicated wine columnist Robert Whitley for the past 17 years.

Whitley has assembled a remarkable team of dedicated wine enthusiasts, including Director Rich Cook and Chief Judges Michael Franz (Wine) and Maurice DiMarino (Spirits), to oversee planning and production of this important annual deep dive into wine & spirits evaluation. The San Diego International chooses its judges carefully, always with an eye toward giving each wine and spirit entered a fair shot on a level playing field.  This year’s panel of judges included a prestigious list of winemakers, wine writers, and sommeliers.

“American and foreign wine competitions can be, and often are, unpredictable.  It’s not unusual for an unknown to show up and claim a top award.  But some things never change.  One of those would be the inevitability of V. Sattui Winery, one of Napa Valley’s finest,” stated Whitley.  Speaking to V. Sattui’s richly flavored 2018 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, “Notes of black cherry, ripe strawberry, fall spice and gentle oak toast entice on the nose and please on the palate, with a supple texture and a long, fully integrated finish keep you coming back for more.  Wines like this are why Pinot Noir is so popular.” he added.

“I am very proud and happy for our vineyard and winemaking teams; they work so hard and deserve all the credit for this amazing recognition of our wines.  To be Voted Best Winery and tie with ourselves for Best Wine of the competition is a tremendous feat,” says Winery President, Tom Davies.

Cameron Hughes Introduces New Wine Futures Project: de Négoce

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NAPA, Calif./PRNewswire/ — Cameron Hughes, co-founder of the eponymously named, e-commerce wine brand, has announced his new wine project, de Négoce [day-NA-go-SHAY]. The brand is modeled on the French “en primeur” system, widely used by well-regarded Bordeaux wineries. The name refers to the time-honored wine trade practiced by those known as négociants. Also called futures, the system is based on offering wines in barrel to consumers before bottling and release. The advantage to consumers is to acquire sought-after wines at attractive pre-release pricing.

“The wine world is transforming itself into something new,” says Hughes, “I’ve had the idea of doing a wine futures project for a long time and I believe now is the time.
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People will be looking for great value items, produced in small quantities, that they can buy one case at a time before the wine sells out.”

Hughes co-founded Cameron Hughes Wine with partner Jessica Kogan in 2001, offering wine lovers ultra-premium wines at everyday prices directly via an innovative digital e-comm platform. The company has been at forefront of the digital wine sales revolution and is considered one of America’s top e-commerce wine brands.
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Hughes’ new personal project builds on the vintner-grower connections he has cultivated over years, creating hundreds of Cameron Hughes Lot wines. Cameron Hughes, the wine company, was acquired by Vintage Wine Estates in 2017. Cameron Hughes continues as the face of the brand; Kogan is Chief Digital Marketing Officer for Vintage Wine Estates.

Hughes says the advantage to buying futures is the opportunity to obtain limited production wines straight from the barrel at deep discounts. He believes buying wine from his personally curated barrel selections will not only serve as an endorsement of quality, but will allow access to prices not seen since the 1970s (due to record harvest volume and a softening economy). The wines will be sold by the case only, not available at traditional retail, and offered exclusively through the de Négoce website.

The first de Négoce releases include a 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a 2017 vintage from Napa Valley’s famed Stagecoach Vineyard, and a Napa Valley Coombsville Bordeaux blend, with more selections to come. Pricing is expected to range from $120 to $180 per case. Depending on availability, quantities will average about 1000 cases each. Customers are limited to purchasing one case at a time per person where legal for wine shipments.

Interested consumers can visit the de Négoce website for more information and to join the guest list for an invitation to the first offering.  Hughes says subscribers can opt out at any time, but he’s not worried about that: “I’m confident we’ll have a waiting list once people taste the quality in the bottle.”

About Cameron Hughes and de Négoce
Cameron Hughes is an entrepreneur, vigneron and consultant with Vintage Wine Estates.  He also owns an online meat company, Holy Grail Steak Company.  His new wine brand de Négoce can be found online at www.deNegoce.com.

South African Wine Harvest Report 2020: Great Season, Remarkable Wines

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NEW YORK (PRWEB) – South Africa’s 2020 wine grape crop will bring exceptional wines to consumers, following favorable conditions throughout the season. This according to the South African wine industry’s annual Wine Harvest Report 2020.

“Although it’s always important to take our diversity over 10 wine grape growing regions into account, the industry had a very good season overall, which we believe will bring great quality wines to consumers,” says Conrad Schutte, consultation service manager of the wine industry’s representative body Vinpro.

The 2020 wine grape crop is estimated at 1,487,991 tons, according to the latest estimate of industry body SAWIS (South African Wine Industry Information & Systems) on April 24, 2020. It is 8.2% larger than the 2019 harvest.

Weather conditions were favorable in general and the bunch numbers looked promising early in the season, but windy conditions during the set and sensitive berry growth stages resulted in smaller berries and a lighter crop. The season was also characterized by great variation between and even within the same vineyard blocks in areas that experienced dry conditions.

The Stellenbosch, Swartland, Cape South Coast, Paarl and Breedekloof regions all harvested more wine grapes than in 2019, with the Olifants River region almost returning to its normal production levels after being one of the regions hardest hit by the recent drought. The Klein Karoo region still struggles with the ongoing drought, also experienced in certain parts of the Robertson region, while frost damage resulted in great crop losses in the Northern Cape.

The COVID-19 scurry

Although the harvesting season kicked off around two weeks earlier than usual, the unexpected announcement of the COVID-19 lockdown, in effect from March 26, 2020, created a scurry among many producers to harvest the last grapes of the season and complete winemaking processes in cellars. Wine-related activities were initially prohibited, but Government made a last-minute concession which allowed for the harvesting and storage activities essential to prevent the wastage of primary agricultural goods during the lockdown. At the time, around 44,092 tons still needed to be harvested.

“With uncertainties during the announcement of the lockdown some producers decided to harvest the grapes without prejudice just to get it to the cellar, while others waited for optimal ripeness to ensure exceptional quality,” Conrad says.

Wine quality exceptional

“We are excited about the exceptional wines that will flow from the 2020 wine grape crop, with Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay leading the pack,” Conrad says. “The early cultivars showed very good acidity, and the color and tannin analyses in the red wines promise full wines with concentrated flavor profiles.”

The 2020 wine harvest – including juice and concentrate for non-alcoholic purposes, wine for brandy and distilling wine – is expected to amount to 276,377 gallons at an average recovery of 204.7 gallons per ton of grapes.

Ready to take our wines to the market

Following restrictions on both local sales and wine exports during South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown, the industry was relieved that Government allowed for the export of alcoholic products from May 1, 2020, including transport to ports and airports, as well as related activities to prepare wine for exports such as bottling and labeling.

“As an industry we are grateful and relieved to be able to resume exports. This finally enables us to showcase our exceptional new 2020 vintage wines to trade, media and consumers around the world,” comments Siobhan Thompson, CEO of Wines of South Africa.

She continues, “We would like to thank all of our international networks of agents, importers and friends who have never wavered in their support of our wine and our people, despite the challenges we’ve faced as an industry.”

South Africa is the ninth biggest wine producer worldwide and produces about 3.3% of the world’s wine. The wine industry contributes $1.95 billion to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employs nearly 300,000 people.

2019/20 Growing season

Most regions experienced a better post-harvest period than previous years. The leaves fell around the same time or later than usual, vines were healthier and producers had access to post-harvest irrigation water.

Sufficient cold units were accumulated during the winter to break dormancy, while rainfall varied across regions but was mostly below average.

With spring came mostly favorable conditions, which contributed to a somewhat earlier but even budbreak. The early growing season was especially known for good, homogenous shoot growth.

During summer, temperatures were moderate during the ripening period, with the absence of characteristic heat peaks. These conditions particularly bode well for the flavor retention in the grapes. Rainfall during the ripening period relieved pressure on water resources in some regions, while it resulted in a surge in diseases (downy mildew, sour rot and botrytis) and necessitated proper weed control in other areas.

Overview of regions:

Breedekloof
Slightly larger crop than in 2019, mainly driven by the occurrence of wind during berry growth, which had a negative effect on flowering and set.

Cape South Coast
Better yields than the previous season, thanks to favorable climatic conditions, the implementation of Guyot pruning systems, utilization of chemicals to break dormancy and amendments to fertilization programs.

Klein Karoo
Yet another small crop due to the ongoing drought and a shrinking area under vines.

Northern Cape
Lower than expected production, due to severe frost experienced at the end of October in the lower lying areas east of Upington.

Olifants River
A great year as vines are recovering well following the drought and the region had better water supplies than during the previous season.

Paarl
A better crop than in 2019, owing to beneficial post-harvest conditions, sufficient water for irrigation and moderate temperatures during ripening.

Robertson
Smaller yields due to water shortages in certain parts of the region, as well as smaller berries caused by wind during set, a decline in new plantings and the occurrence of botrytis and sour rot following rain in January.

Stellenbosch
A bigger wine grape crop than in 2019, thanks to good reserves being accumulated in the post-harvest period, rain during critical berry growth stages and moderate climate throughout the growing season.

Swartland
Bigger yields than in 2019, characterized by good bunch figures thanks to good post-harvest and winter conditions. Soil profiles were also supplemented well through late winter rainfall.

Worcester
Varying yields throughout the region, with producers recording a somewhat larger crop than in 2019.

See https://vinpro.co.za/ for the full harvest report per region.

About Wines of South Africa
Wines of South Africa (WOSA) is the organization representing all South African producers of wine who export their products. WOSA, which was established in its current form in 1999, has over 500 exporters on its database, comprising all the major South African wine exporters. It is constituted as a not-for-profit company and is totally independent of any producer, wholesaling company or government department but is recognized by the South African Export Council. WOSA’s mandate is to promote the export of all South African wines in key international markets including the United States.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Perlis Picks: 91 Harvests

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On March 19, 2020, members of the J Dusi Winery wine CLuB (including me) received the following email regarding the film “91 Harvests”:

Initially set to premiere this week at the SLO Film Festival, because of the Coronavirus situation the Film Festival has been cancelled. 

This short movie has a very special place in our hearts, not only because we can talk about family, but it is beyond precious to us because our Uncle Beni is in it, as well as Dante Dusi’s wife Dottie, whom have both passed away in the last seven months.  This is a personal look into the lives of the people we have loved and learned from. We have memories of time together, and conversations that we cherish.

THANKS TO THE WINE HISTORY PROJECT OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, WE ARE THRILLED TO SHARE AN ONLINE VIEWING EXPERIENCE WITH YOU.

[From the website of the Wine History Project https://winehistoryproject.org/:

“The Wine History Project of San Luis Obispo County collects and presents two centuries of local viticulture history. Through research, interviews, films, exhibitions, publications and presentations, we work with local vintners and growers to bring to life the wine history of San Luis Obispo County.”

The website is a treasure trove of information on the area’s wine industry and you should definitely spend some time enjoying it. I definitely plan to.]

The email included a Vimeo link and a passcode that was good for that weekend only. I shared the information on Facebook, including to our Eve’s Wine 101 group page. Did you see it? If not, hopefully you will get another chance.

Karen and I really enjoyed watching this film. Janell Dusi and her family have held a special place in our hearts for a long time. We first met Janell and tasted the inaugural commercial vintage of J Dusi Wines at a Paso Robles traveling road show held at a Santa Monica hotel several years ago. We were immediately hooked.

Since then, we’ve visited many times, first at the family house at the Dante Dusi Vineyard just south of Paso Robles and then later when Janell acquired the property on Highway 46 West for her winery and tasting room. We’ve loved hanging out with her and her family and seeing the progression of the winery with new and creative bottlings and now with the new Paper Street vineyard and label.

But the film was not just about the J Dusi Winery, of course. As the title of the film tells you, the tale of the Dusi family is integral to the story of the Paso Robles Wine Country – 91 harvests is a long time! Learning more about this rich history that started with the emigration from Italy of Janell’s great-grandparents Sylvester and Caterina Dusi gives the viewer a greater appreciation of all that has been accomplished. And Janell only uses about 10% of the Dante Dusi Vineyard harvest for the J Dusi wines, so there is plenty left for certain select other wineries (like Turley and Ridge) to carry on the tradition as well.

Admittedly, our favorite parts of “91 Harvests” were the scenes with Janell and her mother Joni. We really miss these two wonderful women and are looking forward to being able to visit them again.

J Dusi Wines

https://www.jdusiwines.com/

1401 CA-46, Paso Robles, CA 93446

 

Michael Perlis has been pursuing his passion for wine for more than 30 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 President of MCP Financial, which provides outsourced controller services. Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com or mcpfinancial@aol.com.

Tequila Partida Introduces First Nationally Available Limited-Release Single Barrel Reserve Reposado

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NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Tequila Partida is excited to announce the limited release of their first nationally available Single Barrel Reserve bottling, showcasing 30 unique barrels of the world’s highest-rated Tequila Reposado. In December 2019, Tequila Partida Reposado was awarded the highest score for all Reposados in Ultimate Spirits Challenge’s “Top 100 Spirits of 2019,” claiming ninth overall spirit in the world. Available on the market beginning January 2020, the Single Barrel exemplifies Partida’s commitment to honor 100% Blue Weber Agave and crafting an award-winning agave-forward Tequila. Tequila Partida is one of the few remaining authentic estate-bottled premium Tequilas made in the heart of Mexico’s historic Tequila region.

Tequila Partida’s Maestro Tequilero José Valdez nosed over one hundred maturing barrels to identify 30 barrels that featured the most complexity and depth. Aged a minimum of six months in white American oak with medium char, Valdez created three separate tasting profiles for each barrel: Ligero, Medio and Intenso. Each profile offers different levels of color intensity, flavors and aromas while staying true to the agave.

“The Single Barrel is a unique expression of our Reposado and meets the high standards of Tequila Partida our consumers expect,” said Maestro Tequilero José Valdez. “We sampled 108 barrels twice—at three months and again at five months—and the results were 30 exceptionally unique barrels, separated into three agave-forward and delicious tasting profiles.” Valdez then numbers and signs each bottle for the final touch.

All three flavor profiles explore the versatility of the award-winning Reposado: Ligero offers notes of fresh agave, maple syrup, toasted oak and caramel; Medio provides flavors of cooked agave, vanilla and butter; and Intenso, dried fruit, nuts and coffee.

The Single Barrel Reserve will have a limited nationwide availability at a suggested retail price of $54.99 per bottle. There are currently only 30 barrels available. Edrington handles sales, marketing and distribution for Tequila Partida.

For more information on Tequila Partida, please contact Andrew Quinzi at Colangelo & Partners (Aquinzi@ColangeloPR.com) and visit: http://www.partidatequila.com/.

About Tequila Partida
Tequila Partida is an authentic, all-natural, estate-grown premium Tequila, made from 100% blue agave in the heart of Mexico’s historic Tequila Valley region. From cultivation and harvest to cooking, distillation and aging, Partida maintains exceptional standards of quality and consistency, making Partida “the finest tequila that money can buy,” according to F. Paul Pacult, the leading spirits authority in America. Partida Reposado was recently ranked as one of the top ten spirits of 2019 by the Spirit Journal, the industry’s most respected publication for spirits reviews.

About Edrington
Edrington’s ambition is to become the world’s leading premium spirits company. Edrington owns some of the leading Scotch whisky and rum brands in the world, including The Macallan, The Famous Grouse, Highland Park, The Glenrothes, Brugal and Snow Leopard vodka. Edrington Americas added Tequila Partida to its portfolio in 2017 and Wyoming Whiskey in 2018.

Edrington Americas is headquartered in New York, NY with regional offices in Chicago, Miami and Orange County. To learn more visit https://www.edrington.com, and to find our brands visit https://www.findourspirits.com.

U.S. supermarket wines are catching up with European counterparts

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NEW YORK /PRNewswire/ — U.S. supermarket wines, once considered to be poorly made and rarely worth drinking, scored a major success at the 2019 International Salute to Excellence awards for private label in Amsterdam, winning seven top honors in the category.

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The award-winning wines were:

From Costco: Kirkland Signature Bordeaux Supérieur 2016 (Bordeaux, $10), best quality; Kirkland Signature Asolo Prosecco NV (Italy, $10). best value.

From Trader Joe’s: Trader Joe’s organic Grower’s Reserve Merlot 2017 (California, $5), best quality; Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Pinot Noir 2017 (Russian River Valley, $15), best quality.

From Aldi US: Evanta Malbec 2017 (Argentina, $4), best value; Scarlet Path Zinfandel 2017 (Lodi, $8), best quality; Outlander Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 (Paso Robles, $9), best quality.

This is the best performance ever recorded for wines sold exclusively by U.S. supermarkets, more than doubling the number of 2018 winners. The showing demonstrates that U.S. private label wines continue to get closer to their European counterparts in terms of value and quality – especially among wines costing less than $15. This matters because wines that are sold exclusively by European supermarkets have long been considered among the best wine in the world at combining those two things.

“Don’t overlook private label store wines,” said Washington Post wine columnist Dave McIntrye, one of 18 international judges who participated in the 2019 wine awards program. “These were good value, high quality bottlings.
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Some stores are doing a great job sourcing really good juice.”

Wines were judged in 25 categories by varietal, style, and appellation, and each category was judged for best quality and best value. The 18 men and women who judged the competition came from around the world, and included Masters of Wines, sommeliers, winemakers, wine writers, wine educators, and retailers. They judged 350 wines from 40 retailers in 11 countries.

To see all results for the 2019 judging, visit www.plmasalute.com/wine-awards. The international Salute to Excellence Wine Awards are a competition sponsored by the Private Label Manufacturers Association, with offices in New York and Amsterdam. Founded in 1979, PLMA today represents 4,000 companies who are involved in the manufacture and distribution of store brand products in foods and beverages, as well as home and health products. PLMA sponsors two trade shows annually in Chicago and Amsterdam.