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FireFly Farms Celebrates 20 Years of Awards for Its Sustainable Artisan Cheese

February 15, 2023 by evebushman

ACCIDENT, MD. (PRWEB) – FireFly Farms, a producer of handmade cheese from Mountain Maryland, celebrated 20 years in the artisan cheese business last year and nabbed another seven awards for its line of cheeses in national and international competitions.

“The past year has been busy – we remodeled the creamery, moved our Deep Creek market, launched a new website, participated in an international festival, and still managed to stay on top of the cheese making!” said FireFly Farms Director of Operations, Dan Porter. “It’s not easy, but everyone who works here, from the newest apprentice to the most seasoned cheesemaker, is passionate about what we do, and I think that makes a big difference.”

“We keep finding new ways to improve our process,” said FireFly Farms President Mike Koch, “whether it’s adjusting the amount of salt, refreshing a recipe, or tweaking the curd-cut temperature to accommodate seasonal milk changes – every little thing counts. Even after twenty years of cheese making, you know you still have a lot to learn, but of course every year we get better at the craft!”

The seven awards in this anniversary year included recognitions at the American Cheese Society’s judging and competition, the World Cheese Awards, and a first-ever showing at the Mundial do Queijo in São Paulo, Brazil:

  • Merry Goat Round was awarded at the World Cheese Awards
  • Merry Goat Round Spruce Reserve was awarded by the American Cheese Society and at the World Cheese Awards
  • Cabra La Mancha was awarded by American Cheese Society
  • Black & Blue was awarded at the World Cheese Awards
  • Cave Dweller was awarded at the Mundial do Queijo do Brasil
  • Carpenter’s Wheel, produced in collaboration with Crown Finish Caves, was awarded by the American Cheese Society

“We’ve won a lot of awards over the years,” says Dan Porter, “but that’s really not what matters to us. Our commitment is to handcrafted, artisan cheese that uses fresh milk from local farms. People taste and value that even when they don’t know that they’re eating a medal winner.”

“I think our customers really value our focus on sustainability”, said Mike Koch. “When your milk comes from farms just down the road, when your cheesemakers raise chickens and cows at home, when you can share whey with a pig farmer and when you brush shoulders with folks every day who are making a living off the land, it really drives home the need to take care of what you have for the next generation. Our solar panels, whey-recycling program, local sourcing – it all comes from a recognition that we need to be leaders in our community.”

Long hailed as one of the best places to visit in Mountain Maryland’s Garrett County, the FireFly Farm’s market location in Accident, MD expanded this year, moving just a few blocks down the street. As before, it features FireFly Farm’s award-winning cheeses as well as other specialty, hand-selected items from the region and around the world.

Meanwhile FireFly Farms’ second market in historic Whitehall Mill in Baltimore is receiving recognition for its natural wine selection, one of the best in the city. “I suppose you could say I have a passion for wine and cheese,” says Jesse Galdston, general manager of FireFly Market in Whitehall Mill. “We pride ourselves on searching out hard-to-find bottles, whether a library release of a 1994 German Riesling for under $50, (sorry, sold out!) or naturally fermented champagne, we’ve always got something interesting to pair with your cheese.”

In addition to the two market locations, FireFly Farms cheese is nationally available through its distribution partners and can be found in several major grocery chains specialty retail stores, restaurants and via several online partners. For information or to purchase FireFly Farms’ cheese, please contact the creamery directly or visit its newly relaunched website and ecommerce platform at http://www.fireflyfarms.com.

“We’re excited to be expanding our geographic reach and making our cheeses accessible to anyone, no matter where they live,” said Mike Koch. “Our new monthly cheese subscription allows us to curate something special every month for our customers – as well as feature complimentary products from other exciting food businesses.”

About FireFly Farms: FireFly Farms was founded in 2002 and offers nationally & internationally award‐winning goat’s and cow’s milk cheeses that express the distinct regional flavors of Mountain Maryland’s Allegheny Plateau. Each cheese is artfully handcrafted and aged with precise detail, resulting in exceptional flavor and texture. FireFly Farms is prides itself on using agriculturally sustainable, locally‐sourced fresh goat’s and cow’s milk and time‐honored, traditional methods of cheese making.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: artisan, award, cave, champagne, cheese, competition, farming, fermentation, festival, maryland, recipe, restaurants, Riesling

FOLEY FAMILY WINES ANNOUNCES COOL-SEASON VISITOR EXPERIENCES

December 3, 2022 by evebushman

SANTA ROSA, Calif. – Harvest is underway in California wine country and Foley Family Wines has seized the season as inspiration to spotlight a slew of wine tasting experiences at seven of its Sonoma County wineries. Foley is rolling out the welcome mat with activities ranging from new outdoor tastings, on-site entertainment, and unforgettable epicurean experiences. Reservations are available online at each winery’s website, linked from www.foleyfamilywines.com. 

Holidays at the Estates, All Foley Food & Wine Society Wineries

The entire Foley Family Wines portfolio will be celebrating the holidays at its estates in Sonoma, Napa, the Central Coast, and the Pacific Northwest with delicious food, festive décor and lots of cheer. On Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4, each of the Foley Food & Wine Society wineries will feature a special tasting flight paired with a festive holiday bite, plus exclusive wine specials to make holiday shopping easy. These experiences are best enjoyed as a progressive tasting, hopping from winery to winery. A complete list of participating wineries is at www.foleyfoodandwinesociety.com/events; queries can be directed to concierge@foleyfoodandwinesociety.com. Tasting fees vary by estate.

Ferrari-Carano, Dry Creek Valley

As a pillar in the Sonoma County hospitality scene, Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery recently unveiled their newly opened Fontana Pergolas, surrounded by 100-year-old olive trees, gorgeous fountains, spectacular gardens and sweeping vineyards. Guests can enjoy a flight of five reserve wines in the privacy of a reserved Pergola setting. On Sundays, guests can savor an Italian-inspired Brunch featuring Prosciutto Benedict, Breakfast Pizza, Croque Madame and more, all well-paired with the Ferrari-Carano wine selections. Pergola Tasting, $95 per person, reservations available Monday – Saturday at 10 AM, 12:30 PM, and 3 PM; Sunday Brunch 10:30 AM – 1 PM, $95 per person, reservations required. Book online at https://ferrari-carano.com; 8761 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448.

Chateau St. Jean, Sonoma Valley

New to the Foley portfolio this year, Chateau St. Jean invites visitors to sample its famed chardonnays or Cinq Cépages Bordeaux blend in a choice of unique indoor or outdoor settings. Inside the winery’s 1920s chateau, a wine educator will guide guests through a sample of five Reserve and winery-exclusive wines. Outside, guests can enjoy the Bocce, Bordeaux & Burgundy Experience, where groups can sip wines by the bottle in a private outdoor area equipped with bocce ball court, lounge furniture and picnic tables. Larger groups can consider two unique options that showcase the winery’s extraordinary views and historic property: the Chez Nous Experience, a seated, private tasting in the historic chateau’s elegant dining room for 7-15 guests, with a wine educator guiding the group through a flight of five wines and optional cheese & charcuterie board; or the Olive Grove Experience in the open-air pergola, where groups of 20-35 guests enjoy a private tasting surrounded by 120-year-old olive trees. Bocce Experience, $50 per person for two-hour reservation; Chateau Experience, $60 per person. Reservations available at https://www.chateaustjean.com. Group pricing varies; call 707-257-5784 or email concierge@chateaustjean.com for information.

Chalk Hill Estate, Russian River Valley

Celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, the 1,300-acre Chalk Hill Estate is a Sonoma County icon celebrated for its flagship Estate Chardonnay and limited production, estate-grown wines. More than 60 percent of the Chalk Hill Estate remains uncultivated, inviting exploration and adventure via the Chalk Hill Hummer. The Estate and Garden Tour and Tasting begins with a seated tasting on the terrace, followed by a Hummer ride through sustainably cultivated vineyards and organic gardens, offering stunning views of the Russian River Valley to the west and the Mayacamas Mountains to the east, and concludes with a seasonally inspired garden-to-table food and wine pairing. $105 per person. Reservations available Thursday-Sunday at 10:30 AM; Upcoming Events: Chalk Hill 2022 Harvest Celebration: Saturday, November 5,1PM – 4PM,  Holiday at the Estate: Saturday, December 3. Reservations and tickets at www.chalkhill.com. 10300 Chalk Hill Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448.

Roth Wine Estate, Russian River Valley

Built on bold Bordeaux grape varieties, Roth Estate offers unique experiences at their picturesque location on Chalk Hill Road. Come hungry for their Ultimate BBQ Lunch experience where these wines shine alongside smoked barbecue short ribs and estate-grown potato salad, or enjoy a seated experience with their Premier Cave Tasting featuring wines from across the Foley Food & Wine Society portfolio paired with small culinary bites. Ultimate BBQ Lunch $90 per couple, reservations available daily 12 PM and 2 PM. Premier Cave Tasting, $90 per person, offered at 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM, Thursday- Monday. Book online at Roth Estate; 10309 Chalk Hill Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Lancaster Estate, Alexander Valley

Located at the confluence of the Knights Valley and Chalk Hill appellations in the southern tip of Alexander Valley, the 53-acre Lancaster Estate features an exceptional wine cave–which visitors can explore by booking the Hillside Cave Tour and Tasting. The tour highlights Lancaster’s library of estate-grown wines exclusively from classic Bordeaux varieties, including its esteemed Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Guests will learn about the winery’s detailed barrel aging process and taste four estate wines in an elevated indoor setting. Cave Tour, $100 per person. Reservations required; book at www.lancaster-estate.com.

Banshee Wines, Healdsburg

When most winery tasting rooms are closing, Banshee hits its stride with daily happy hour from 5PM-7PM, featuring wines by the glass in its newly remodeled, lounge-style tasting room. Flights are available from 12PM-5PM by reservation for parties up to six people (last appointment at 4:30PM). Flights, $40 per person, reservation required; Happy Hour pricing varies, no reservation required.

Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, Sonoma

Now through October 30, Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery invites guests to kick back on the patio and enjoy wine and musical performance by local bands at its Sunday Afternoon Music series. Picnic reservations for up to six guests are also available and include a private, designated picnic area, where guests can bring a picnic to pair with wine from the tasting room. Sunday Music Series, 1PM-3PM now through October 30; wines by the glass or bottle available for purchase, along with charcuterie boards. Picnic, $25 site fee plus two-bottle minimum purchase. Reservations available daily from 11AM to 2:30PM at www.sebastiani.com. 389 4th St E, Sonoma, CA 95476.

About Foley Family Wines Established by Bill Foley in 1996, Foley Family Wines is a portfolio of highly-acclaimed wines from some of the world’s greatest vineyards. Every brand in the company’s portfolio has a distinct style and legacy. Encompassing more than two dozen wineries across the globe, Foley Family Wines is the proud steward of some of the wine world’s iconic brands and winery experiences. The Foley Food & Wine Society, the world’s leading luxury lifestyle community, provides members with a gateway to an unmatched variety of culinary, travel, and entertainment experiences around the globe, including the US, New Zealand, Italy, France, Argentina, and Chile. 200 Concourse Blvd., Santa Rosa, CA 95403; (707) 542-4565; https://foleyfamilywines.com.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: Bordeaux, burgundy, California, cave, Central Coast, charcuterie, Chardonnay, flight, food, food pairing, Happy Hour, music, Napa, santa rosa, sonoma county, tour, vineyard, wine pairing, Wine tasting, winery

Napa Valley’s Vice Versa Announces Groundbreaking for New Winery and Caves in Calistoga Late Summer 2022

October 23, 2022 by evebushman

CALISTOGA, Calif., /PRNewswire/ — Vice Versa Wines founder Patrice Breton has announced that Vice Versa, the luxury Napa Cabernet Sauvignon-focused brand he founded in 2003, will break ground on a new winery and cave at his recently acquired estate vineyard in Calistoga in late Summer 2022. Breton tapped San Francisco-based architect Olle Lundberg of Lundberg Design to design the 10,000-square-foot cave and winery. The winery and cave, which boast three private hospitality spaces, have a planned completion date of Summer 2024. Lundberg has also designed the caves for Screaming Eagle, Ramey Wine Cellars and Hourglass Winery.

The winery building will have a singular aspiration – to act as a gateway to the surrounding soil and vineyards. Lundberg hopes the winery will express the direct connection between the land, the grapes, the cave, and the winery.  The ground floor of the winery will serve as the production facility, and the second floor will be reserved for hospitality spaces for private tastings.  

“Think of the building as a traditional long gable barn, split in half, and the two volumes pulled apart and offset, twisting the roof and the connecting deck between, so that the result opens to the sky, the hillside beyond, and the cave underneath, stated Lundberg.

The construction utilizes three dominant wall surfaces – Corten, a weathering steel that seals as it rusts, Kalwall, an insulated translucent panel system, and glass. The upper hospitality level has 360-degree views from the fully glazed exterior walls. The covered crush pad is in the center of the winery’s ground floor, with a second-level entertainment deck overlooking the production area.  The crush pad opens up to the hillside behind, with the vines cascading down the hillside, the tableau framed by the structure above.

Patrice Breton commented, “Olle’s designs are pure, modern, organic, and holistic. I wanted an avant-garde, timeless, unique, and efficient design with clean lines, a structure that merged seamlessly into the surrounding vineyard, and a fireproof building.  Olle’s idea of choosing Corten steel for the superstructure was pure genius, as the building will age well and be impossible to burn down. It will be a true architectural masterpiece that will stand the test of time.”

The vineyard is home to beautiful, 25-year-old vines — primarily Cabernet Sauvignon — that grow at 500 ft. elevation on rocky white tufa soils and benefit from a cool marine breeze in the afternoon. Set in the Chalk Hill Gap area, the microclimate is eight-twelve degrees cooler in the afternoon on average than in other parts of Calistoga, resulting in wines with freshness, beautiful purity, minerality, and seductive richness.

Winemakers Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky of the renowned winemaking consultancy Atelier Melka have crafted Vice Versa’s wines since 2015. Since the brand’s inception in 2003, Vice Versa has been growing from strength to strength and today has secured its place as one of Napa’s elite wineries, with multiple 98-100-point scores from top wine critics.

ABOUT VICE VERSA
Founded by French Canadian vintner Patrice Breton in 2003, Vice Versa produces coveted small-lot, single-vineyard wines from Napa Valley’s most highly acclaimed vineyards. Art, culture, and history are at the core of the pure yet bold expressions of Vice Versa’s limited-production wines, which are reflected in the brand’s new art-driven labels, released in conjunction with the 2019 vintage. For more information, please visit www.viceversawine.com.

FOR: VICE VERSA WINES
707.412.8423
www.viceversawines.com

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: cabernet sauvignon, California, calistoga, cave, crush pad, grapes, mineral, Napa Valley, soil, tasting room, vines, vineyard, Wine tasting, winemaker, winery

THESE EIGHT ICONIC WINERY EXPERIENCES AIM TO SPARK WINE WANDERLUST

September 6, 2021 by evebushman

From Napa Valley to the Central Coast, these Eight Wineries from Foley Family Wines Offer Exciting Tasting Experiences Throughout California

SANTA ROSA, Calif. -With travel back on the agenda for 2021, wineries are welcoming visitors with open arms and a slew of entertaining and engaging experiences that go beyond the usual swirl-and-sip tasting. These eight California wineries, all part of the Foley Family Wines portfolio, beckon travelers up and down the state with activities ranging from weekend brunch to strolls among horse stables to cave tours and more. Reservations are available online at each winery’s website; all winery information is available at https://foleyfamilywines.com.

Ferrari-Carano, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County – Sycamore Grove Wine & Brunch by @allisonuncorked

Ferrari-Carano, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County – Sycamore Grove Wine & Brunch

Long known for its unparalleled hospitality, Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery recently unveiled new tasting experiences that showcase this Sonoma County winery’s stunning gardens, vineyards and outdoor enclaves. Enhanced appointment-only tastings held in the Sycamore Grove or outdoor Terrace invite guests to sit amongst shady trees and experience the winemaker’s favorite wines paired with Italian-inspired bites prepared by the Estate Chef. On Sundays, visitors can enjoy La Colazione Italiana (Breakfast Italian Style) at the signature Sycamore Grove Wine & Brunch. $30 per person, Il Terrazzo Tasting; $85 per person, Brunch. Reservations available daily from 11 AM to 5 PM; Sunday Brunch, 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM only. Book online at www.ferrari-carano.com. 8761 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Chalk Hill Estate, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County – Vineyard Overlook Experience

Founded in 1972, Chalk Hill Estate Vineyard and Winery is a premier Sonoma County wine estate best known for its iconic Chardonnay, as well as its limited-production, estate-grown wines. The spectacular 1,300-acre estate is home to multiple venues hosting elevated experiences, organic culinary gardens and largely uncultivated wilderness in an effort to preserve the land. Its signature wine tasting, The Vineyard Overlook Experience, offers guests an elegant and immersive guided-tasting experience with picturesque vineyard views of the Russian River Valley alongside an array of estate-grown wines. $40 per person. Reservations available daily from 11 AM to 3 PM at www.chalkhill.com. 10300 Chalk Hill Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448.

Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, Sonoma – Historic Cherryblock Vineyard Tour and Tasting

Sebastiani’s historic Cherryblock Vineyard Tour and Tasting takes guests on a private 90-minute excursion with a Senior Wine Educator to learn about the winery’s rich history, unique viticulture and the winemaking philosophy behind their world-famous estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Cherryblock. Tasting includes five signature wines, including two vintages of Cherryblock. $110 per person. Reservations available daily from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM at www.sebastiani.com. 389 4th St E, Sonoma, CA 95476.

Chalone Vineyard, Soledad, Central Coast – Signature Tasting

Monterey County’s oldest winery, Chalone Vineyard, is perched in the ruggedly beautiful terrain of the Gavilan Bench with a storied past as remarkable as its acclaimed wines. Located 1,800 feet above the Salinas Valley and bordering Pinnacles National Park, the estate’s rolling vineyards benefit from a unique combination of limestone and granite soils that create wines with distinctive minerality. Visitors will enjoy an intimate wine tasting of five estate wines while learning about a winery whose Chardonnay brought California wines to the world stage during the landmark Judgment of Paris tasting in 1976. $25 per person. Reservations available Friday through Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM at www.chalonevineyard.com. 32020 Stonewall Canyon Road, Soledad, CA 93960.

Lincourt Vineyards, Central Coast

Lincourt Vineyards is nestled in Santa Barbara County outside of the Dutch-inspired town of Solvang in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, one of the most coveted cool-climate AVAs in California. Lincourt’s tasting room is located in an original 1926 Sears Craftsman Kit Home that has served as the farmhouse of what was once a dairy farm. The property has retained the rustic, rural charm and simplicity of an earlier era. Named for Bill and Carol Foley’s daughters, Lindsay and Courtney, Lincourt produces small-lot bottlings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Guests can enjoy views of the beautiful estate vineyard for their seated tastings on the patio, with the option of an accompanying cheese and charcuterie plate. $30 per person; additional $30 for charcuterie plate. Reservations available daily from 11 AM to 5 PM at www.lincourtwines.com. 1711 Alamo Pintado Rd, Solvang, CA 93463.

Firestone Winery, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County – Friday Night Wine Experiences

Firestone is located in a unique cusp region with a “Goldilocks” climate that is neither too hot nor too cold. Visitors can enjoy seating tastings in the tasting room, on the lawn or in the courtyard, with flights including wines ranging from crisp white to intense red blends. Throughout the summer, Firestone offers a coveted Friday Night Summer Concert Series, featuring live music from 6 PM to 9 PM and wines by the bottle. Food is available for purchase from either Filthy Filly’s Steakhouse Food Truck or Tom’s BBQ for tri-tip sandwiches. Friday concerts are free; reservations are required and available at www.firestonewine.com. 5017 Zaca Station Rd, Los Olivos, CA 93441.

Lancaster Estate, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County – Hillside Cave Tour & Tasting

An exceptional cave tour experience, highlighting our unique wine library & our detailed barrel aging process. Based on County restrictions, you may experience limited access during your visit. Join us in our Garden Grove for an intimate tasting of four estate wines in a relaxed outdoor setting, overlooking our premier Bordeaux varietals grown exclusively in Alexander Valley. Allow our wines to reveal the unique character of our hillside estate. $75 per person. Reservations available daily from 10 AM to 4 PM at www.lancaster-estate.com. 15001 Chalk Hill Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448.

Foley Johnson, Rutherford, Napa Valley – Three Wineries in One Stop

Housed in a converted 1920s redwood barn, Foley Johnson’s tasting room offers three iconic Napa Valley winery tastings in one location. Guests can reserve an indoor or patio tasting of wines from Foley Johnson, Kuleto Estate and Merus wineries — three distinctive Napa Valley wineries brought together under one roof by Bill Foley and his wife, Carol Johnson. $85 per person for Luxury Cabernet Vertical; $50-55 per person for Foley Johnson or Kuleto Estate patio tasting. Reservations available daily from 10 AM to 5 PM at www.foleyjohnsonwines.com. 8350 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford, CA 94573.

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About Foley Family Wines

Established by Bill Foley in 1996, Foley Family Wines is a portfolio of highly-acclaimed wines from some of the world’s greatest vineyards. Every brand in the company’s portfolio has a distinct style and legacy. Encompassing more than two dozen wineries across the globe, Foley Family Wines is the proud steward of some of the wine world’s iconic brands and winery experiences. The Foley Food & Wine Society, the world’s leading luxury lifestyle community, provides members with a gateway to an unmatched variety of culinary, travel, and entertainment experiences around the globe, including the US, New Zealand, Italy, France, Argentina, and Chile. 200 Concourse Blvd., Santa Rosa, CA 95403; (707) 542-4565; https://foleyfamilywines.com.

 

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: alexander Valley, Bordeaux, cabernet sauvignon, California, cave, Central Coast, charcuterie, Chardonnay, estate wine, food, Healdsburg, Monterey, Napa Valley, organic, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Santa Barbara, santa rosa, Sonoma, sta. rita hills, vines, vineyards, Wine tasting, wine tour, wineries

Inglenook’s New Cave United with Existing Cave

April 25, 2020 by evebushman

RUTHERFORD, California – Francis Ford Coppola, proprietor of Inglenook, is pleased to announce that a significant milestone has been reached in the expansion of Inglenook’s cave network. The past February the tunneling crew broke through the wall that separated the existing labyrinth of caves from the new cave. The remarkable expansion of Inglenook’s caves, which currently house the wines as they age in barrel, started early last year during the celebration of Inglenook’s 140thanniversary. The new cave will accommodate the addition of 120 new insulated stainless steel fermenting tanks, each dedicated to one of Inglenook’s 120 nuanced growing areas within the winery’s organically-farmed vineyards. The project is expected to be completed later this year, in time for the 2020 harvest.

“Along with my family, I am so pleased that we have reached this important milestone in the expansion of Inglenook’s cave,” said Coppola.
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“We take our stewardship of this esteemed winery very seriously. Since it was founded in 1879 by Gustave Niebaum, Inglenook has been renowned for its innovation, leadership, creativity and commitment to quality. We are dedicated to further elevating Inglenook’s stature with this vast cave expansion, led by our director of winemaking, Philippe Bascaules.”

From Gustave Niebaum to John Daniel, Jr. to Francis Ford Coppola, Inglenook’s three principal stewards have shared a strong sense of vision and an unwavering passion to create a wine estate that hearkens back to the European tradition, producing original, distinctly Napa wines that rival the best in Europe.

“Having 120 tanks helps us increase our knowledge of our organically-farmed vineyard and each growing area,” said Bascaules.
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“We’ll have a lot of capacity to vinify and separate the grapes. All of the tanks will be automated, too, which will allow us to experiment with multiple pump-overs. Additionally, we can experiment with extraction and we have infinite possibilities, which will lead to even more complex wines.”

Inglenook has a rich history of leadership in the wine industry. Many of founder Gustave Niebaum’s innovations at Inglenook became industry standards: Inglenook instituted the first sterile bottling process in Napa; it was the first to separate field debris from grapes; Inglenook planted Napa’s first Merlot in 1882; and Inglenook built the first gravity-flow winery in 1887, which was considered one of the greatest winery structures in the Western Hemisphere at the time.

About Inglenook
Founded in 1879 by Gustave Niebaum as Napa’s first estate winery, Inglenook boasts an illustrious heritage, a renowned legacy of innovation and an outstanding portfolio of award-winning wines that have defined and established Napa as a world-class wine region. From Gustave Niebaum to John Daniel, Jr. to Francis Ford Coppola, Inglenook’s three principal stewards have shared a strong sense of vision and an unwavering passion to create a wine estate that hearkens back to the European tradition, producing original, distinctly Napa wines that rival the best in Europe.  It remains the largest contiguous estate on the famed Rutherford Bench, Napa Valley’s finest area for producing spectacular Cabernet Sauvignon.

The iconic Inglenook chateau was first constructed in 1887, and faithfully restored in 1997.  Befitting the grandeur of the Inglenook estate, the chateau welcomes guests for seated tastings and special events. Experiences include tours of the Chateau, the Infinity caves, the vineyards, barrel tastings and culinary offerings under the direction of Winery Chef Alex Lovick who expertly pairs the wines with the seasonal, organic bounty of the expansive organically-farmed estate, culinary garden and orchards.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: aged, Barrel, California, cave, grapes, harvest, Merlot, rutherford, winemaking, winery

Vinotemp VinCave Underground Wine Cellar Honored among 30 Most Innovative Products for 2020

March 16, 2020 by evebushman

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF. (PRWEB) – Vinotemp®, the leading wine storage solutions and appliance provider, today announced the VinCave™ Wine Cellar 200 has been recognized as one of Meredith Corporation’s Beautiful Kitchens & Baths magazine’s 30 Most Innovative Products for 2020. Selected by the editors of the Luxury Home Design Group, the products featured in the coveted list were chosen for their ability to combine clever function, sophisticated style, and cutting-edge technology—the VinCave was selected for its unique, modular design and ability to efficiently cellar up to 200 bottles of wine underground.

“The smartest products are the ones that make the most sense for the way we live, work, and entertain in our homes,” says Samantha Hart, Executive Editor, Luxury Home Design Group. “Our winning products simplify tasks and deliver beauty and functionality where it’s needed most.”

Engineered to utilize the cooler, consistent temperatures found underground to properly cellar over sixteen cases of wine without coolants and without sacrificing floor space, the stainless-steel VinCave Wine Cellar 200 features a walk-over glass covering and a push-button elevation function which raises the wine collection above ground for easy access. This environmentally-friendly, efficiently-engineered design requires the cellar be installed on a flat floor surface at either ground or basement level.

“It’s an honor to be recognized among the 30 Most Innovative Products for 2020 because it highlights Vinotemp’s commitment to offering products that enhance the design aesthetic and functionality of wine storage,” states India Hynes, CEO of Vinotemp. “From cellar capacity to technology and visual aesthetics, we are dedicated to pushing the envelope in wine storage design and the VinCave Wine Cellar 200 is a perfect example of this.”

The 30 Most Innovative Products for 2020 will be featured in the spring issue of Beautiful Kitchens & Baths magazine and in the summer issue of Traditional Home magazine. Visit Vinotemp’s new Henderson, Nevada showroom to experience the VinCave Wine Cellar 200, and visit vinotemp.com to learn more.

About Vinotemp®
Since 1985 close attention to market demand and non-standard ideas have made Vinotemp® the leading provider of diversified wine storage solutions utilized worldwide residentially and by renowned resorts, restaurants, hotels, and the yachting industry. In 2019 Vinotemp expanded its product offering to include residential kitchen appliances. Find more information about Vinotemp by calling 800-777-VINO (8466) or visiting vinotemp.com.

Find Vinotemp on Facebook.com/Vinotemp, Instagram @Vinotemp, and Twitter @Vinotemp.

About Meredith Corporation
Meredith Corporation has been committed to service journalism for 117 years. Meredith uses multiple distribution platforms—including broadcast television, print, digital, mobile and video—to provide consumers with content they desire and to deliver the messages of its advertising and marketing partners. Meredith’s National Media Group reaches over 180 million unduplicated American consumers every month, including nearly 90 percent of U.S. Millennial women. Meredith is the No. 1 magazine operator in the U.S. and owner of the largest premium content digital network for American consumers. Meredith’s Local Media Group includes 17 television stations, reaching 11 percent of U.S. households.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: bottles, cave, cellar, kitchen, magnavino cellars, wine

NorCal’s Oakville Grocery Enhanced with New Features + Expanded Food & Wine Offerings

September 18, 2019 by evebushman

OAKVILLE, Calif.  – Oakville Grocery, the general store that has been a gathering place for locals and tourists for nearly 140 years, has been enhanced since joining the Boisset Collection in January. Visitors to both Oakville and Healdsburg will now find an emphasis on local sustainable, organic and Biodynamic food offerings as well as an expanded wine selection that includes exclusive, highly allocated wines by the taste, glass or bottle. These new items, as well as the grocery’s signature favorites, can now be enjoyed on renovated patios during extended summer hours.

Photo credit: Scott Chebegia.

“We are so excited to bring new life into community landmarks in Napa Valley and Sonoma County,” said Jean-Charles Boisset, proprietor of Boisset Collection. “Oakville Grocery is a phenomenal destination where guests can spend a relaxing afternoon trying a selection of amazing wines; fresh, healthy and local cuisine; and fabulous craft beers!”

The historical legacy of the Oakville destination has been made more prominent through extensive signage throughout the property that tell the story of its founding role in Napa Valley.  In addition, the property next door — 1881 Napa Wine History Museum & Tasting Salon — features tastings of wines from 13 sub-appellations of Napa Valley as well as an archive of wine relics open for complimentary visitation and has published its own history of the region.

A unique feature of both Oakville Grocery locations is that guests can taste some of the most sought-after wines from rotating producers that have included Opus One, Screaming Eagle and Kosta Browne by purchasing cards and using them in Napa Technology dispensers.

“Normally wine lovers have to wait on allocation lists for years to purchase these bottles,” said Ed Maass, Oakville Grocery Wine Program Manager. “We are thrilled that we can make these beautiful wines more accessible and offer them by the taste and glass at Oakville Grocery, and through our Oakville Wine Society.”

Throughout each store, the wine selections have been significantly expanded and diversified as well as organized by appellation. In the Oakville location guests can discover wines from nearly 300 Napa Valley vintners and in Healdsburg they can browse through an equally large selection of Sonoma County producers. The flagship location in Napa Valley also has two new spaces dedicated to wine: a “cave” where guests can sample the highest-end wines from the Napa Tech machines as well as a wine vault that guests can enter and make selections from, as if they’re perusing their own wine cellar at home. A wine vault is also planned for the Healdsburg location, which has a revamped and upgraded main floor wine section.

The robust and diverse wine offerings are now available through a unique wine club. The Oakville Grocery Wine Society offers wine enthusiasts the opportunity to continue their journey through the wine country of Napa Valley through quarterly shipments of wines, many of which are small lot and hard to find. Society members receive access to private tasting experiences as well as a 10% discount on reorders and store purchases. The society has four different levels: Embarcadero, with a three-bottle allocation averaging $225; Expedition, with a three-bottle allocation averaging $450; Quicksilver, with a 3- or 6-bottle allocation averaging $1,050 or $2,100; and Savant, which offers the selections of the most exclusive and hard-to-procure wines, and is available exclusively by invitation for the most discerning collectors.

As a community fixture in the hearts of Napa Valley and Healdsburg, Boisset welcomes chefs, friends, neighbors and visitors to come in to shop. Oakville Grocery is also committed to its community and invites artisans and purveyors to bring in their products for consideration for sale. A steadfast practitioner of Biodynamic and organic farming, through the new food selection at the groceries, Boisset is spreading its mission for people to “take a stand for the future of food” and carefully consider what they are putting in their bodies. As part of this ideal Boisset has improved and expanded the line of Oakville Grocery-branded proprietary offerings — such as vinegar, olive oil, preserves, tapenade, mustards, charcuterie and beer — while at the same time ensuring they derived from more local sources.

“Our motto is ‘Eat Local, Drink Local, Picnic Local.’ We want to sell products that are made as close to Oakville Grocery as possible,” said Oakville Grocery General Manager Barry Dinsmore, referencing both the Oakville and Healdsburg locations of the store. He estimated that 70% of products in the stores hail from California, with another 20% from the U.S. and the remaining 10% international.

One of the new food providers Oakville Grocery has partnered with is Ohm Coffee Roasters. The Napa Valley-based company led by former sommelier and wine marketing professional Derek Bromley is the exclusive coffee provider for both the Oakville and Healdsburg locations. The Oakville location now has a coffee machine from La Marzocco, the benchmark Italian brand, as a central feature of the upgraded coffee program.

In addition to new foods and wines, the Oakville location has a renovated patio with new furniture and umbrellas to better enable guests to take in views of some of Napa Valley’s most notable landmarks—the Mayacamas Mountains and the landmark To Kalon vineyard to the west and the valley’s highest point, Mt. St. Helena, to the north. Guests can soak up the atmosphere while enjoying sandwiches and salads from the deli cases inside; delicious pizza, burgers and sandwiches made in the wood-fired outdoor oven; or locally raised roasted chickens from the rotisserie, along with wine selected from the grocery or the new, adjacent 1881 Napa tasting room. The Healdsburg patio, which has 40 seats and is one of the only outdoor eating spaces near the Healdsburg Plaza, will also soon have an updated look.

1881 Napa derives its name from the history of Oakville Grocery, which was founded in 1874 as a general store by P.B. O’Neil and then transitioned into a community hub in 1881 under the auspices of Jim and Jennie McQuaid.

“None of us own 1881 Napa or Oakville Grocery. We are just guests in their history. These places will outlive us,” said Boisset.

More Information
In Oakville, Oakville Grocery is located at 7856 St. Helena Highway. Oakville Grocery is open from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday through September. The phone number is 707.944.8802, and the catering team can be contacted by emailing cateringnv@oakvillegrocery.com.

In Healdsburg, Oakville Grocery is located at 124 Matheson Street and is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday through September. The phone number is 707.433.3200, and the catering team can be contacted by emailing cateringhb@oakvillegrocery.com

About Boisset Collection
Boisset is a family-owned collection of historic and unique wineries and lifestyle destinations led by Jean-Charles Boisset and bound together by a common vision: authentic, terroir-driven wines in harmony with their history, their future and the land and people essential to their existence. With more than 25 historical and prestigious still and sparkling wineries in the world’s preeminent terroirs, including Burgundy, Beaujolais, Jura, the Rhône Valley, the south of France, and California’s Russian River Valley and the Napa Valley. Its California wineries include DeLoach Vineyards, Raymond Vineyards, Buena Vista Winery and JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset; its French properties feature Domaine de la Vougeraie, Jean-Claude Boisset, Bouchard Aîné et Fils, J. Moreau et Fils, Louis Bouillot, Henrie Maire, Fortant and Bonpas. Each house retains its unique history, identity and style, and all are united in the pursuit of fine wines expressive of their terroir. Wine is at the center of Boisset’s mission, and is complemented by spirits, beer, cider, gourmet foods and luxury goods, both of its own design and from partnerships with historic companies such as Baccarat, Lalique, St. Louis, Riedel, Christofle, and Bernardaud. To learn more about the Boisset Collection, please visit www.boissetcollection.com.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: biodynamic, California, cave, chef, coffee, craft beer, cuisine, Healdsburg, Napa Valley, organic, sonoma county, sustainable, wine list, Wine tasting

Newhall Refinery NEW Reserve Wine List is a Wish List For Everyone

October 27, 2018 by evebushman

Several factors should go into play when creating a wine list. As a consumer we may not be aware of all of them. As a wine writer I get to learn some of them. Here’s what I learned and what you can now expect from the new Reserve Wine List at Newhall Refinery.

Simon and Shannon Mee, owners of Newhall Refinery, already had re-vamped their existing Wine List with the help of Guy Lelarge, formerly of Valencia Wine Company. Lelarge introduced several new wines – that have become new favorites – while removing some older wines from the list. But it doesn’t end here for the Mees and Lelarge, as Newhall Refinery is one of the most cutting edge restaurants in the Santa Clarita Valley (many would argue that they are the most cutting edge) they wanted to create a reserve wine list that would encompass classic Napa wineries as well as global favorites, wines with high critic scores, name recognition and pair the best with their ever-changing fare.

One look at the new Reserve Wine List (below) and wine aficionados will notice a Far Niente vertical, 2010, 2011 and 2012 – of their Cave Collection Cabernet Sauvignon. They may also notice that the selections also include global choices – notably France and Italy – to pair with the dinner menu, Chef Dustin’s weekend menus and of course, the upcoming holiday parties and special events in The Cellar at Refinery.

These new reserve wines are now safely tucked away, in a temperature controlled wine fridge in The Cellar, near to the decorative racks of wines that will still be available from the latest wine menu.

There will be three by-the-glass selections, all Napa Cabernet Sauvignons: the 2015 Duckhorn, 2014 Silver Oak and a 2012 Heitz Trailside. How can they possibly open such nice bottles just for a glass? The Mees have purchased a Coravin Model 2, which is a unit that extracts wine from the bottle without removing the cork. Usually winery representatives and distributors use this model. Lucky for us, the Mees know the value of fresh wine as well.

Lastly, there are only a select number of these wines that are currently available, so don’t wait too long to come in and try a new dinner pairing at Newhall Refinery!

My own opinion of this new Reserve Wine List: it’s incredible! And now we both now know – and can appreciate – what should go into the selection process.

 

The Reserve List

PINOT NOIR

Patz & Hall ‘Gap’s Crown’, Sonoma Coast, 2015

Sea Smoke ‘Southing’, Santa Rita Hills, 2014

Sea Smoke ‘Ten’, Santa Rita Hills, 2015

 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Bella Union, Napa, 2015

Duckhorn, Napa, 2014

Silver Oak, Alexander Valley, 2014

Heitz ‘Trailside’, Napa, 2012

Nickel & Nickel ‘Rock Cairn’, Oakville, 2015

Caymus ‘Special Selection’, Napa, 2014

Far Niente ‘Cave Collection’, Napa, 2010

Far Niente ‘Cave Collection’, Napa, 2011

Far Niente ‘Cave Collection’, Napa, 2012

Stag’s Leap ‘SLV’, Napa, 2015

 

RED BLENDS

Flora Springs ‘Trilogy’, Napa, 2015

Miner ‘The Oracle’, Napa, 2013

Opus One Meritage, Oakville, 2014

Joseph Phelps ‘Insignia’ Meritage, Napa, 2014

Dominus Meritage, Napa, 2014

 

ITALIAN WINES

Pio Cesare Barolo, Piedmont 2013

Antinori ‘Guado Al Tasso’,

Bolgheri Superiore D.O.C, 2013

 

FRENCH WINES

Joseph Drouhin ‘Vosne-Romanee’, Burgundy, 2016

Chateau Magdelaine, Saint Emilion, Bordeaux 2011 Chateau Lynch Bages, Pauillac, Bordeaux, 2010

 

PORT WINES

Dow’s 30 Year Tawny Port

Grahams Vintage Port, 1983

 

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. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Filed Under: Eve Bushman Tagged With: alexander Valley, blend, Bordeaux, burgundy, cabernet sauvignon, cave, cellar, chef, coravin, critic, France, Italy, Napa, Napa Valley, newhall, newhall refinery, Pinot Noir, Port, restaurant, Santa Clarita, santa clarita valley, Santa Rita Hills, Sonoma, vertical, wine glass, wine list

Tasting Through Turtle Rock at Napa Valley Grille

August 31, 2018 by evebushman

It isn’t a secret that I love Rhônes, whites and reds alike, so reading the wine list for a recent tasting with Turtle Rock Vineyards already whet my palate. Paired with another multi-course lunch created by Chef Kenny Spost of the Napa Valley Grille in Westwood for the #LAWineWriters group I’m in, the table was proverbially set. But first, we learn about and taste the wines.

From Turtle Rock owner, Claudia Burns, I quickly discovered that her husband Don Burns came from a caliber of winemakers to respect: He was and continues to be the assistant winemaker for Saxum Vineyards – obtaining many of his wine grapes from the same vineyards – and he works on both wines simultaneously in the Saxum caves. If it’s punch down day for Saxum it’s also punch down day for Turtle Rock.

There is no estate fruit in any of the Turtle Rock wines, however, they “control all of the farming” in the “handful of vineyards” they purchase their grapes from according to Claudia. It takes two years from grape to glass. Claudia herself “does everything else” other than winemaking at Turtle Rock, but she did tease us with the idea that she might like to try her hand at winemaking as well. (See more about the vineyards in the From the Winery section below.)

The Burns’ also co-own the Wine Shine distillery I visited a few years back. Both Turtle Rock and Wine Shine have tasting rooms in Tin City, Paso Robles.

(From our very own Contributing Editor Michael Perlis I learned that Don is Justin Smith’s childhood friend. He wrote about them here: evewine101.com/2012/08/04/michael-perlis-discovers-westberg-cellars/ and here: http://evewine101.com/2014/05/24/paso-robles-trip-part-one-paso-underground/ along with mentions in other articles in Eve’s Wine 101.)

If you are salivating already, check out the two photo grids here.

Tasting (Yep, I loved them all)

2016 Willow White

63% Grenache Blanc, 28% Roussanne, 5% Picpoul, 4% Viognier

On the nose I got lemonade, popcorn kernel, unsalted butter and toasted oak. The taste gave way to flavors of lemon, peach, apricot, kiwi, green apple with a mild acidity allowing for a lingering finish.

 

2016 Plum Orchard

68% Grenache, 32% Mourvedre

2015 was their first vintage from Plum Orchard, and the sandy soils allow for a “filtration system, a leaner wine…” they then added “stem tannins (to) accentuate the spice.” Aromas of black cherry, black pepper, plum, dark chocolate, forest floor, leaves and sage. On the mouth I got fresh dark fruit, killer spice notes, pepper, very rich.

 

2015 Willow’s Cuvee

45% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, 5% Carignon

Stewed fruit, plums again, creamy milk chocolate, white pepper and toasted oak on the nose, followed by flavors of ripe berries, spice and cracked black pepper.

 

2016 G2 Syrah

90% Syrah, 6% Grenache, 4% Mourvedre

A wonderfully balanced nose of both fruit and spice. Also felt a velvety quality, blue to black fruit, tri-color pepper, char, sweet chocolate candy, oak and a whiff of cigar wafting through it all. Tasting the wine, knowing from the nose I would love it, I found that it was filled with bold dark fruit, had a dusty quality, lots of spice and again, with a great balance.

 

Surprise Wine: 2016 “Maturin” (The name is an ode to a Stephen King horror series that references a turtle). 50% Syrah, 32% Graciano*, 18% Grenache. Wine Club Only. Aromas of blackberry, rich earth, mint and cream. On the mouth I loved the dry, richly layered qualities that also included lots of pepper and spice, dark fruit and tannin that allowed for no end to the finish. Seriously, the fruit and the spice just went on and on. That’s what I call a welcoming wine.

* Graciano was FKA Mourvedre in many Paso Robles vineyards until very recent. It shook things up a bit. This is just one article about it.

 

NAPA VALLEY GRILLE PAIRING MENU BY EXECUTIVE CHEF KENNY SPOST

For the Willow White: Harvest Salad, roasted butternut squash, green dragon apple, glazed walnuts, baby kale, feta cheese, maple-olive dressing. I couldn’t get enough of this salad. Every bite had so many enticing flavors. The wine was the perfect accompaniment; both had those notes of green apple. One of the other writers commented “good start” and I had to agree.

For the Plum Orchard: Cast iron seared Branzino, toy box summer squash, red plum jam, fennel-arugula salad. Loved the plum in the dish that matched up perfectly with the plum I had found in the nose of the wine.

For the Willow’s Cuvee: Oven roasted Duck Breast, roasted cauliflower, port wine glaze. Again the flavors Chef added – specifically the glaze – was perfect with predominately Grenache driven blend.

For the G2 Syrah: Petit filet, Bing cherry red wine demi glace, truffle mashed potatoes, fat rendered breadcrumbs. Oh boy, saving the biggest wine for the steak was, of course, perfect for my palate.

FROM THE WINERY

2016 Willow White: 
Aged in 20% new French oak to give a touch of creaminess. The remainder was aged in 40/40 stainless and neutral French barrels to preserve the minerality and crispness. The nose gives way to fresh stone fruit, lemongrass and flower petals while the palate is of Granny Smith apple and dried kiwi. Cases produced 106. Drink now to 2022.
Wine Advocate– 93 points
G2 Vineyard, Plum Orchard, Windrock.

2016 Plum Orchard: The Plum Orchard vineyard is in the Templeton Gap District and is made up of sandy soils. It sits near a creek bed which provides minerality, spice, and purity of fruit. We did 50% whole cluster fermentation for added weight and complexity and aged for 22 months in neutral French 400L barrels. It’s a gorgeous wine with a silky texture, bright red fruit and a bit of white pepper and herbaceousness. Cases produced 104. Enjoy now until 2028.
Plum Orchard Vineyard.

2015 Willow’s Cuvee: We added just a touch of Carignon for tannin and structure to our usual blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre. We did 20% whole cluster fermentation on the Syrah and co-fermented the Grenache and Mourvedre in concrete. All was aged for 22 months in 50% new French and 50% neutral French barrels. This wine is soft with notes of blackberry jam and violets that are truly fresh and balanced. Cases produced 183. Enjoy now until 2028.
Wine Advocate– 94 points
James Berry, Kruse Vineyard.

2016 G2 Syrah: This vintage is beautiful and very deep in color. We did 30% whole cluster fermentation and aged for 22 months in new French oak which gives complexity and structure. Black and blue fruit coupled with smoked meats. There are lively herbal notes accented with warm spice. This unfiltered wine has great tannin, intensity, and a long finish. Cases produced 312. Enjoy now until 2032.
G2 Vineyard.

WWW.TURTLEROCKVINEYARDS.COM

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. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Filed Under: Eve Bushman Tagged With: #lawinewriters, acidity, aroma, carignane, cave, chef, distiller, estate, finish, food pairing, fruit, graciano, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, menu, Mourvedre, Napa Valley, nose, Paso Robles, picpoul, restaurant, Rhone, Syrah, tannins, tasting notes, vineyards, Viognier, wine pairing, winemaker

Perlis Picks: Elevating Zinfandel

June 30, 2018 by Michael Perlis

You may ask…why does Zinfandel need to be “elevated”?

ELEVATING ZINIt wasn’t that long ago that Zinfandel was thought of either as a sweet pink wine made for mass consumption or as a highly alcoholic monster meant to get you where you want to go as quickly as possible.

Neither version was taken very seriously.

But in more recent years, Zinfandel has been produced as a serious wine, producing wines equal to or better than those made from the historically “noble grapes”. With wonderful wines made in a variety of styles, Zinfandel has certainly found its place in the wine world, which makes this “zin fan” very happy.

Still, there is some prejudice, as was evidenced by a seminar I attended several months ago wherein the speaker, discussing the wines coming from a particular region, expressed delight over the reduced reliance on Zinfandel, the clear message, at least to me, was to imply that it was of lesser quality.

The struggle is real.

As I mentioned above, Zinfandel wines can vary quite a bit, due to terroir, winemaker decisions both in the vineyard and the winery, as well as whether the wine is 100% Zinfandel versus including other varieties. My own observation is that Zinfandel vineyards, perhaps more so than those planted with other grapes, tend to be inter-planted with other varietals, especially when looking at the historic vineyards that were planted several decades ago.

This is all a build-up to an annual event that is very near and dear to my heart, WineLA’s annual Elevating Zinfandel tasting, this year held at the Montage in Beverly Hills. Karen and I had the pleasure of attending.

As usual, Ian Blackburn assembled a veritable “who’s who” of many of the great Zinfandel producers, mostly from Northern California:

Rafanelli Winery

Bedrock Wine Co.

Beekeeper Cellars

Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves

Brown Estate Napa Valley

Gamba Vineyards and Winery

Grgich Hills Estate

Hendry Winery

Kreck Wines

Lamborn Family Vineyards

Mauritson Wines

Quivera Vineyards

Rock Wall Wine Company

Seghesio Family Vineyards

T-Vine Winery

Turley Wine Cellars

Williams Selyem

Wonderment Wines

Each winery had a winery representative [winemaker or owner in most cases] pouring multiple wines, including special selections for VIP attendees.

[I’ll say it again – spring for VIP tickets for events when you can. Get in early, taste the special stuff, enjoy the food and beat the crowds.]

No duds in this list at all. Some of the standouts for me were…

Bedrock Wine Co. – This winery is on our must-have list for our personal cellar.

It was fun to taste the 2012 Bedrock Heritage Wine against the 2016 Bedrock Heritage Wine. This is one of those field blends I was referring to above, with the Bedrock vineyard actually planted to 27 varieties, about 50% being Zinfandel.

Beekeeper Cellars – This is WineLA’s own Ian Blackburn’s winery. But, I don’t have to say I liked it if I didn’t. And I did, especially the 2015 Secret Stones from Rockpile. Rockpile is one of my favorite AVAs for Zinfandel, so no big surprise here.

Kreck Wines – A brand new winery based in Healdsburg. Both the 2016 Teldeschi Vineyard (Dry Creek Valley) and the Del Barba Vineyard (Contra Costa County) were excellent. Tiny production, so don’t snooze on this one.

Lamborn Family Vineyards – Napa Valley Zins are getting rare [the money’s in Cabernet] and Howell Mountain Zinfandel are perhaps even rarer. Lamborn does a great job and the 2010 Middle-Aged Vine bottling showed what a little bottle age on a Zin can do – good stuff!

Mauritson Wines – Speaking of Rockpile [see above], Clay Mauritson’s family has been a big part of pioneering the area. The 2015 Black Sheep from Rockpile was a great example.

Robert Biale Vineyards – another rare Napa Zinfandel specialist. Winemaker Tres Goetting continues to shine; the signature Black Chicken did it for me.

Rock Wall Wine Company – it had been a few years since we last saw Shauna Rosenblum and if anything her wines have just gotten better. Hard to pick a favorite here, but if pressed I’d go with the 2016 Alegria Vineyard from the Russian River Valley.

Turley Wine Cellars – Another winery that will always have a place in our cellar, Turley has possibly done more than any other winery to “elevate” Zinfandel. Christina Turley poured four different wines, but I have to give props to the 2016 Dusi Vineyard. Not only was this the only Zin from Paso Robles being poured, but it is typically our favorite of the Turley lineup.

Williams Selyem – Most people think of Pinot Noir when they think of this winery. But winemaker Mark Malpiede also makes great Zinfandel. Especially liked the 2016 Papera Vineyard [Russian River Valley].

As usual, we didn’t taste everything. If we had, we would have had more favorites, I’m sure.

Check out www.winela.com for other great events from WineLA.

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.

Filed Under: Michael Perlis Tagged With: alcohol, cave, cellar, dry creek valley, howell mountain, Ian Blackburn, michael perlis, Napa Valley, Paso Robles, Russian River Valley, variety, vineyards, wine education, wine event, Wine tasting, winela, winery, Zinfandel

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