Eve's Wine 101

Santa Clara Valley Wineries Host Vine-to-Wine Event at Mountain Winery with Master Sommelier

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The Wineries of Santa Clara Valley will be hosting their third annual event on Saturday, November 4th from 1-7pm at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA. 

Vine-to-Wine celebrates the end of harvest and highlights Santa Clara Valley wineries and wine makers. Wine lovers can choose a VIP or general Grand Tasting experience.

The VIP experience begins two hours earlier than the general experience. VIP’s will be tasting six reserve wines the first hour which will be led by Master Sommelier, Evan Goldstein. Evan is one of 269 Master Sommeliers world-wide and has been named Top 100 Most Influential People in the U.S. Wine Industry by IntoWine.com. Evan is also the first ever Master Sommeliers hired by a professional sports organization – the San Francisco Giants. The second hour will provide early access into the Grand Tasting.

The Grand Tasting begins at 3pm with wine lovers tasting award-winning wines from over twenty wineries – including sparkling and dessert wines at a Bubbly Bar.  Gourmet bites will be prepared by Cochi’s Catering, chosen as Morgan Hill’s “Best Catering” businesses for multiple years.

A marketplace will showcase local crafters with home décor, jewelry, and clothing.  Wine lovers will be entertained by the Alex Lucero band, a popular band in the Bay Area selling out local venues and generating recognizable attention from all angles and genres.

“Vine-to-Wine, which describes the life cycle of the grape, is an annual event for us to celebrate the end of harvest and our award-winning wineries, while raising more awareness of our region,” says Stacy Giannini, Director of Marketing for Wineries of Santa Clara Valley. “We chose to celebrate this year’s event with wine lovers at the Mountain Winery, a venue with stunning views overlooking the Bay Area and that sets the stage for delighting the senses.

“We are delighted to invite everyone in the Bay Area and beyond to Vine-to-Wine,” said Kim Engelhardt, President of the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley, and co-owner of Lion Ranch Vineyards & Winery. “This event celebrates of years of hard work and dedication from our winemakers. Whether you’re passionate about local wine or simply seeking a memorable experience, Vine-to-Wine has something special for everyone.”

To purchase tickets visit: www.santaclarawines.com OR

https://VinetoWine_2023.eventbrite.com

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Sales support the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley, a non-profit organization. Our mission is to raise funds to provide scholarships and grants to graduating high school seniors planning to major in Viticultural or Enology. Funds will also be used for operations, to market the Santa Clara Valley AVA and member wineries. 

About the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley An association representing 30+ member wineries that grow and produce wines in one of the oldest wine producing regions of California. With the first plantings at the Santa Clara Mission in 1798, the region of Santa Clara Valley represents one of the oldest growing traditions in the country. The Santa Clara Valley is home to 100-year-old wineries with long-established family operations and large event venues, as well as newer endeavors and those with smaller tasting rooms. On March 28, 1989, the Santa Clara Valley received AVA status; prior to this, the region’s wines were typically labeled ‘Central Coast’ or ‘Santa Clara County’.

Perlises Pick Pico Los Alamos

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The tiny town of Los Alamos, just north of Los Olivos on Highway 101, has surprisingly good stuff going on. If you didn’t already know to look, you might just pass by this small town with the decidedly old western feel to it and continue your journey, wherever you were going. But then, you wouldn’t know about it being home to Bob’s Well Bread, reputed to be one of Southern California’s best bakeries, as well as world class wineries such as Angela Osbornes’s A Tribute to Grace and Sonja Magdevski’s Casa Dumetz, among others.

Los Alamos also has excellent restaurants, including at least two fine dining choices – Bell’s [which has earned a Michelin star!] and Pico Los Alamos, which is where we chose to dine one evening.

Pico Los Alamos occupies the site of the old Los Alamos General Store. In fact the signage still says General Store (and they only just recently stopped selling soap!). The name Pico is an homage to local 1850s bandit Salomon Pico, who was supposedly one of the influences of the Zorro stories. His ultimate departure to Los Angeles and then Baja Mexico from his hideout in the Drum Canyon area south of Los Alamos enabled the town to be founded in 1879.

The restaurant was founded in 2016 by Will Henry and Kali Kopley. Will is also owner and co-winemaker at LUMEN where he makes wine with rockstar winemaker Lane Tanner [the term rockstar is possibly used too often but it definitely applies in this case]. LUMEN was founded in 2012 after Will left his father’s company, wine distributor Henry Wine Group – you may have read our coverage of several Henry Wine Group events over the years. Kali is from Boston and moved to Lake Tahoe in the early 2000s, where she founded three wine bars and two restaurants before moving with her husband Will to open Pico.

Chef Cameron Ingle joined Pico in 2022. Cameron started working in restaurants at the age of 14 as a dishwasher in his native Michigan and has had an amazing career that includes Bouchon Bistro working with Thomas Keller as well as stints at Bestia and Bavel in Los Angeles and five years at Blue Hill Stone Barns in Hudson Valley, New York. His dream of a farmer-driven menu with locally sourced ingredients that changes frequently is realized at Pico.

Walking into the cozy charming restaurant, one would have no idea of the beautiful patio dining available in back. It seems to stretch on forever and provides a very welcoming environment.

A few comments about Pico’s website:

The web address respects its roots — www.losalamosgeneralstore.com.

The menu changes often so what you see on the website might not be what is available that night. But that really doesn’t matter because everything we tried was delicious. Portions are large too and sharing is encouraged. We feasted on the beef tartare, salmon tartare, roasted beets with goat cheese and patatas bravas while sharing the duck and beans entrée and had plenty left to take with us for our next meal. All the dishes emphasized total freshness with just enough seasoning to bring out the best flavors possible.

Don’t be fooled by the wine list on the website, which shows a number of very interesting wines, along with craft cocktails and beers. This wine list highlights Pico’s by-the-glass program but to see the huge full wine list you need to come into the restaurant.

Kace Sarvis, Pico’s Wine Director, has put together an absolutely amazing list, about two dozen pages long with hundreds of selections, which he constantly updates. Kace also joined Pico in 2022, bringing his years of experience at local wineries such as Beckman and Pence. Given the length and depth of the wine list and the obvious reverence with which Kace has put it together, fellow employees good-naturedly refer to him as Wine Jesus and the list as his Wine Bible (with apologies to Karen MacNeil, of course).

With Kace’s help, we selected the 2018 Syrah from Civilization Wine Company. It was from the Ampelos Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills. Regular readers of Eve’s Wine 101 and/or fans of the Wine in the Pines event just north of the Santa Clarita Valley should recognize the name Ampelos as Ampelos Cellars has been a fixture at that event over the years. Using grapes from that vineyard, Kris Beverly of Civilization has crafted a small amount (only 108 cases) of a delicious wine with a nice long finish and beautiful fruit that complemented but did not overpower our dining choices. This is definitely a winery that we need to check out. Thanks to Kace for the suggestion and for putting up with all of our questions, as well as providing us with a taste of the 2022 Lumen Escence orange Pinot Gris to finish up our meal – not technically a dessert wine but vibrant and full of enough fruit to belie its dryness and was a delicious way to end our meal.

We are looking forward to our next visit to the area and to visit Pico Los Alamos again.  We had the most enjoyable evening on their beautiful patio.  The food and wine were exquisite and the service was impeccable.  What more could one want?

Pico Los Alamos

www.losalamosgeneralstore.com

458 Bell Street, Los Alamos, CA 93440

Michael and Karen Perlis have been pursuing their passion for wine for more than 30 years. They have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show them the way and after a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as they possibly could, they had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Michael and Karen do their best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers.

Wine and Food Pairings, aka What to Eat with What You Want to Drink!

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One of the challenging questions I’ve been asked is which wine to serve with a specific dish. As I’ve never served as a sommelier in a restaurant, where they know exactly which wines to pair with their menus, I turn back to my lessons through the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), trial and error, and a great book: What to Drink with What you Eat (see below for the full skinny on the book).

Learning to Pair

From my studies the first thing I learned was to pair like with like or opposites with opposites. Like with like is the easiest, think of a bold and tannic (the dry quality of a wine that comes from the length of time with grape skin contact, grape seeds and oak aging) Cabernet Sauvignon with a boldly flavorful steak. The tannins serve to break down the protein and fat in a steak. This is why you reach for a sip after every bite, if you’re like me.

That “A Ha” Moment

For opposites, my of-all-time favorite pairing is a sweet dessert wine like a golden French Sauternes with Stilton blue cheese. The first time it was served to me was in a dessert wine pairing class. I couldn’t stomach the sweet tarts and cakes first paired with the sweet wine, and when it came time to pairing the same wine with a very strong cheese, I scoffed at that as well.

But then, when I put a little taste of Stilton cheese on my tongue and washed the wine over it a miraculous thing happened, that thing you want to happen in a great pairing: both the wine and the cheese changed! The nuttiness of the cheese came out and the honey in the sweet wine also blossomed. I actually reached over to some of the empty places settings and took all the cheese over to mine!

I’ve shared this pairing with dozens of people. Notably was a state senator that asked for a unique dessert to bring to Thanksgiving dinner for a small group. Told him to bring a split (half bottle) of Sauternes or any white dessert wine, and a wedge of blue cheese and watch what happens. He messaged me the very next day to say what a hit it was with all of the guests, many experiencing their first “a ha!” moment.

The Definitive Pairing Book

The hardest to pair are astringent foods like asparagus. That’s when the pairing book What to Eat with What You Drink I referenced earlier comes in so handy. If you ask me what to pair with something so random that I have no immediate suggestions, I will search this handy book and offer up ideas that range from all types of wine, beer and non-alcoholic drinks such as tea.

For example, the section on what to pair with scallops includes how the scallops are prepared – as the sauce or cooking style makes a huge difference in a pairing. The “in general” suggestions are followed by the style you’ve cooked your scallops. So while a standard shellfish may do nicely with several different types of white wine, your scallops made with brown butter would do better with a dark beer, a citrus sauce calls for a Riesling, cream sauce begs for Champagne, and so on. Read more below.

WHAT to DRINK with WHAT you EAT THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO PAIRING FOOD WITH WINE, BEER, SPIRITS, COFFEE, TEA – EVEN WATER – BASED ON EXPERT ADVICE FROM AMERICA’S BEST SOMMELIERS by ANDREW DORNENBURG and KAREN PAGE, JAMES BEARD AWARD-WINNING AUTHORS OF Becoming a Chef AND Culinary Artistry (This mix of CAPITAL LETTERS and italics is how the cover looks.)

The book is divided in two sections: First is alphabetical by food; second is alphabetical by drink. Actually there are 8 chapters in all but it still is encapsulated in the two ideas.

Questions? Email eve@evewine101.com

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the 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 Las Vegas Proof Awards, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Kosher Food and Wine Experience Makes Triumphant Return to London and Israel

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London/Tel Aviv– The world’s largest public kosher food and wine extravaganza came back with a triumphant “L’chaim!’ this spring following a 2-year coronavirus break. The annual Kosher Food & Wine Experience (KFWE) is still the hottest ticket in the kosher culinary world, attracting thousands of restaurateurs, chefs, caterers, and foodies hungry for the latest and greatest in fine kosher wines and cuisine.

Royal Wine Corp. through its Israeli and British distributors, respectively Zur Agencies and Kedem Europe, spearheaded the long-awaited return of these two events – May 30 in Tel Aviv, Israel, and on June 21 in London. More than 240 wines from Israel, France, Italy, Spain, and the U.K. were sipped and savored, and guests had a unique chance to meet the winemakers and learn the stories behind each bottle.

Both shows featured rare premium wines along with accessible everyday wines, sparkling wines, whiskey, French and Italian liqueurs and more.

The Sheraton Grand London Park Lane was the scene where more than 800 KFWE guests enjoyed an exceptional selection of kosher wines and spirits. More than a dozen Israeli wineries were present with their latest vintages, including boutique wineries such as Domaine Du Castel, Yatir Winery, Flam Winery, Jezreel, Matar by Pelter, and Psagot.

At KFWE London, Royal Wine and Kedem Europe introduced a new line of kosher wines from Burgundy produced by Domaine du Château Philippe le Hardi. The line includes three wines from the 2020 vintage: a Gevrey-Chambertin Villages, a Chambolle-Musigny Villages, and a Beaune 1er Cru. Royal Wine did not offer high-end quality red Burgundy wines since 2004.  

“As the kosher market has evolved and matured over the past 18 years, we believe that many fine kosher wine connoisseurs will particularly appreciate these refined and complex Pinot Noir wines,” says Gabe Geller, Royal Wine’s director of PR. “They will retail between $100-130. Royal also introduced in London the Laufer’s Select Tokaji Late Harvest and Tokaji Ice, both high-quality dessert wines from the famed Tokaji region in Hungary. Both wines will be SRP $45,” he added.

Cooloo alcoholic ice-pops were the perfect refresher, as it was the first time the KFWE was held over the summer months. Also featured was a cocktail bar with deliciously tasty concoctions created by top mixologists using Walders and Bicerin liqueurs.

Along with the unlimited wine tastings and whisky masterclasses, the London event featured legendary buffet by caterer Arieh Wagner. He and his team served up hot and cold dishes including Turmeric-Infused Cauliflower with tahini, hummus, and pomegranate seeds; Baba Ganoush with cashew nuts; Beef Carpaccio with truffle oil and fresh truffle; Poke Salmon and Tuna; Pulled Beef Arancini; a salt beef carvery; and dairy-free desserts such as tiramisu, Eton mess, and crème brûlée. 

The Trask at the Port of Tel Aviv set the scene for KFWE 2022 in the Holy Land with tastings of more than 300 wines and an extensive rooftop buffet. Guests enjoyed wines and beverages from the various wine regions of France (Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Provence and Alsace, including super-premium wines from world-renowned wineries – Château Lascombes, Château Giscours, Château Léoville Poyferré, Champagne Drappier, Château Clarke-Rothschild and more), Spain , Priorat, Galicia and more), Italy (Chianti, Montepulciano and Northern Italy), New Zealand, California (Sonoma, Napa and more), Argentina (Mendoza), South Africa and of course Israel (Shiloh, Jezreel and Psagot).

KFWE 2022 showcased hundreds of different wines and spirits produced in renowned wine regions, available at every price point.  Geller summed up both events, “It was wonderful to see friends learning about wine together, discovering new vintages from around the world, and finding the perfect bottles—most of which are kosher for Passover—to enjoy at home or at their next celebration.”

About Royal Wine/Kedem

Since 1948, Royal Wine Corp., also known as Kedem, has been owned and operated in the United States by the Herzog family, whose winemaking roots date back eight generations to 19th century Czechoslovakia.

TodayRoyal Wine’s portfolio of domestic and international wines range from traditional wine producing regions of France, Italy, and Spain, as well as Israel, New Zealand, and Argentina. Additionally, Royal Wine Corp.’s spirit and liqueur portfolio offer some of the most sought-after scotches, bourbons, tequilas, and vodkas as well as hard to find specialty items such as flavored brandies and liqueurs.

The company owns and operates the Kedem Winery in upstate New York, as well as Herzog Wine Cellars in Oxnard, California, a state-of-the-art-facility featuring guided wine tours, a fully staffed modern tasting room, gift shop and catering facilities. Additionally, the winery houses the award-winning restaurant Tierra Sur, serving the finest Mediterranean inspired contemporary Californian Cuisine. Follow Royal Wine on Face Book.com/RoyalWineCorp/, and instagram.com/royalwinecorp/, and twitter.com/royalwinecorp

Ember Restaurant at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort Receives Wine Spectator “Best of Award of Excellence” for 2021

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FORT MCDOWELL, Ariz. /PRNewswire/ — Today, the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort is thrilled to announce that Ember, its fine dining restaurant, has received Wine Spectator‘s esteemed “Best of Award of Excellence.”  The honor recognizes recipients that offer extensive selections with excellent breadth across multiple regions and significant vertical depth, and Ember is now one of 19 restaurants (out of nearly 9,000) in Arizona – and one of approximately 1,000 around the world – to receive this award.

This is the second time that the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation has been lauded by this highly regarded industry publication.  In 2006, the Ahnala Mesquite Room received the “Award of Excellence,” recognizing the restaurant’s wine list that featured a well-chosen assortment of quality producers along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style.  The fact that the tribal nation has now been granted two Wine Spectator awards for excellence – an achievement rare among tribal casinos – affirms their commitment to delivering an exceptional culinary experience.

“American restaurants are back in business, as patrons are eagerly returning to dining rooms across the nation,” said Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher, Wine Spectator. “In this year’s Restaurant Awards issue, we reflect on how restaurateurs navigated this incredibly difficult period, and look ahead, with every indication that the coming year will be one of the most promising in decades for an industry we all love. It’s been a long road back, and it feels wonderful to celebrate restaurants and all they bring to the world of wine.”

“The ‘Best of Award of Excellence’ really belongs to our advanced sommelier Dennis Payne, whose 31 years of experience and painstaking efforts over the past year have resulted in this impeccable award-winning wine list,” added Zac Gallo, Executive Director of Food and Beverage for the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort.  “Not only has Dennis cultivated an extensive  wine and spirit program, but he ensures the proper care, storage and handling of our collection to maximize our guests’ dining experiences.”

Ember’s wine program covers seventeen countries, focusing on each country’s top wine-producing regions and most highly acclaimed vineyards.  It includes 517 wines by the bottle and 26 wines by the glass – ranging from a strong California presence to Barbaresco, Rioja, New Zealand, Argentina and Germany – along with 30 Dessert Wines from across the globe as well as 15 Ports and Madeiras.

In addition, Ember has a special page in their 37-page wine list titled “The Century Club,” dedicated to the world’s top 100-point wines.  Curated for fine wine collectors, this list contains 32 critically acclaimed wines spanning more than two decades that have scored a perfect 100 points.

Wine Spectator began its program to recognize the world’s best wine lists in 1981. There are three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award—with 1,673; 1,141; and 103 winners this year in each respective category.

All award winners will be featured in Wine Spectator‘s special 40th Anniversary Restaurant Awards issue, available to readers today.

For more information on Ember, visit www.wekopacasinoresort.com/dining/ember.

About Ember

A destination dining experience at the new We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort, Ember is run by critically acclaimed Chef de Cuisine Richard Pelz.  In addition to an exhaustive wine and spirit library, the restaurant features the highest quality USDA Prime and Angus Wagyu beef, game and seafood from around the world, carefully prepared over a custom wood burning grill. Signature items include their Ujih Hot Stone appetizer, Seafood Tower, Snake River Farms Wagyu Striploin, Braised Buffalo Short Rib, and Ember Flaming Liquid Chocolate Truffle.
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The energetic dining space overlooks the all-scratch kitchen with views of the culinary team, and seasonal outdoor dining by the fireplace is also available. A separate piano lounge with live entertainment five nights a week adds to the dynamic vibe.

Coalition Whiskey Introduces the First 100% Rye Whiskey Finished in Bordeaux Wine Barrels

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NEW YORK (PRWEB) – A fascinating intersection of traditional hand-crafted American Whiskey and world-renowned French wines is on the horizon with the release of Coalition Whiskey – the first 100% Rye Whiskey finished in hand-selected Bordeaux wine barrels. Coalition Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey comes in three separate expressions: Finished in Margaux Barriques (barrels), Pauillac Barriques, and Sauternes Barriques. For those wanting to taste where it all started, Coalition uniquely also offers the original base 100% Rye Whiskey at barrel proof. All expressions became available in the U.S. in January.

Coalition Whiskey is a new brand started by three whiskey fans who form the actual “Coalition:” Leonid Yangarber, former CEO of Russian Standard Vodka USA; Steve Thompson, owner of Kentucky Artisan Distillery; and Ludwig Vanneron, a 20+ year veteran winemaker and global wine consultant. Together, they envisioned a new frontier for the industry using their collective skills to reimagine and elevate super premium whiskey.

The 100% Rye Whiskey in Coalition Whiskey heralds from Kentucky Artisan Distillery in Crestwood, KY. It is created utilizing time-honored, true handcrafting techniques, including zero automation and an all-copper pot still dating back to pre-Prohibition. Attention to detail is paramount at each step in creating the blend of five-year-old Rye Whiskies, including selecting the rye grain from just one mile away from the distillery.

“A 100% Rye Whiskey is a true rarity in the industry,” said Thompson. “While most rye whiskies use malted barley or added corn, Coalition Whiskey is made completely from rye. It’s a more expensive way to go, but there was truly no other way to create that truly deep, rich and spicy flavor we knew would be the ideal match for our velvety Bordeaux wine barrel finishing.”

Vanneron manages the time-consuming process of carefully hand-selecting each wine barrel used for Coalition Whiskey. With his deep relationships with local Bordeaux wine chateaus and cooperages, he knows exactly where to go looking for only the finest barrels. Extensive visual and, more importantly, smell inspections are required to unearth just the right Margaux and Pauillac red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot) and Sauternes white sweet/dessert wine (Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc) barrels.

“It took the inspection of nearly 150 barrels just to find the perfect 25 we are using to finish our Rye Whiskey,” said Vanneron. “You have to first start with the best, most voluptuous wines from the finest chateaus in all of France to get the best possible barrels for Coalition Whiskey. Following up to nine months of finishing, each barrel from the separate Bordeaux wine appellations enhances the whiskey in a different, intriguing way.”

Coalition Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Margaux Barriques (90.8 proof) features delicate and gentle flavors of red fruit and floral aromas. Coalition Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Pauillac Barriques (92.6 proof) delivers rich flavors of black fruit and spice, with an exceptionally long tail. Coalition Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Sauternes Barriques (94.2 proof) captures rounded, velvety flavors of dried fruit and honey with an engaging sweet spice.

“Our goal with Coalition Whiskey is to coax even more flavor out of our 100% Rye Whiskey,” said Yangarber. “A keen understanding of the science behind Rye Whiskey served as the foundation for this grand experiment. From there, we could use our deep wine knowledge to pick just the perfect Bordeaux wine barrels to gently enhance the handcrafted whiskey. This is a deep, rich Rye Whiskey like you have never before tasted.”

The original, base Rye Whiskey is also offered to whiskey aficionados at full barrel strength (108.8 proof), allowing for side-by-side sampling to clearly identify how each Bordeaux barrel enhances the base spirit.

Coalition Whiskey comes packaged in an Art Deco-inspired ridged glass bottle echoing the cut crystal decanters made famous during the 1920s – Rye Whiskey’s heyday. It is crowned with a glass domed closure and accentuated with 18k gold accents, providing a hint to the precious liquid contained within.

Each Coalition Whiskey barrel finished expression retails at $90 MSRP. The barrel-proof whiskey retails at $130 MSRP. Coalition Whiskey can be found at fine whiskey stores in New York, New Jersey, California, Florida, Kentucky, Illinois and Colorado, as well as online at https://www.coalitionwhiskey.com. The company plans to explore additional barrel finishes in the near future.

Follow Coalition Whiskey on Instagram and Facebook.

About Coalition Whiskey
Coalition Whiskey was created when three whiskey fans had a radical thought: what if we found the absolute best wine barrels from world-renowned chateaus in Bordeaux – arguably the most famous wine region on the planet – and used them to draw even more flavor out of their favorite brown spirit. The result is Coalition Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Margaux Barriques, Pauillac Barriques and Sauternes Barriques. The “Coalition” is Leonid Yangarber, former CEO of Russian Standard Vodka USA; Steve Thompson, owner of Kentucky Artisan Distillers; and Ludwig Vanneron, a 20+ year veteran winemaker and global wine consultant. Together, they envisioned a new frontier for the industry using their collective skills to reimagine and elevate whiskey.

Vintage Eve Circa 8/2017: Where Was Your Favorite Winery Experience? (Part Two)

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Last week I asked Facebook pals to share their favorite winery experience, something that made them lifelong fans. I had a few of my own, they had many more, so this is the second group of answers. Feel free to email me if you also have a memorable winery experience to share: Eve@EveWine101.com

Your Favorite Winery Experiences

Denise C. – Well, you know we love Paso Robles……I won’t say how many wine clubs we belong to there. But, like another comment on here we had to buy a big wine fridge and it still doesn’t hold all of it. Lol. But, one of our favorites is Pear Valley! Their wine is good and not too expensive and the views are amazing!

Annette S. – Palmaz Vineyard in Napa. Unbelievable winery and phenomenal wine.

Larry M. – Merry Edwards. Wonderful Pinot Noir up in the Russian River Valley.

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We were brought into a private room where our own dedicated sommelier taught us about the terroir that makes the Russian River Valley unique. He then guided us through tastings of all of their current offerings. Everything was laid out beautifully with a new glass for each wine. Totally classy.

David P. – Being a Napa boy (born and raised), I have a few. My #1 would have to be getting married at V. Sattui in St. Helena back in 1993. The wedding ceremony was out on the lawn and the reception was in the cellar.

Buttonwood Farm and Winery.

Beverly A. – When my husband and I went to Rosenthal winery tour with Ian Blackburn years ago, absolutely beautiful. Then again on the Wine101 with Ian to Karen Steinwachs/ Buttonwood Farm Winery had BBQ lunch, to name a few.

Kathie W. – My two favorites in Los Olivos – Carhartt Wine Tasting Room and Saarloos and Sons. Fabulous wine, and they both make you feel like family. Been members for years and always look forward to sharing the experience!

Mike B. – Del Dotto. My fav Napa winery. It’s the dark and musty cave experience. Cool atmosphere. Pourers are informative, entertaining, and funny. All tastings out of the barrel. Just very, very special. It’s a must-go-to every time I’m in Napa. His other tasting experience, what I call the “Italian” one,” is nice, but it’s the dark and musty I keep returning to. Would love to meet Del Dotto. I remember his infomercials from the 80s.

Michael and Lori F. – We cannot put to writing how special our tour of Robert Foley was… Lets just say his passion for music is just as strong as his passion for wine!

And I stopped into the tasting room at Quady up in Madera… Out in the Middle of nowhere (so it seemed). I can no longer remember the name of the assistant winemakers who led my tour and tasting of one, but we spent 4 hours tasting EVERY wine and port in their current release portfolio; barrel tasting dessert and port wines still aging and not yet ready to be released; and opening a half dozen bottles of the winery’s library collection of vintage port wines.

As an added bonus they had just finished their first release of “unaged” Brandy distilled from their Orange Muscat Wine…. They would not call it Grappa because it was distilled from the wine and did not include the “pressings” in the distillation… If you like Grappa this was fantastic in its lack of rough edges and smoothness.

I left the winery with about a case of wine and Brandy I purchased… He also gave me the opened library wines and some of the current release wines to take home telling me that there is not enough foot traffic for those bottles to last till the next visitor arrives!

That was a fantastic memory indeed!

Justin G. – I grabbed 2 of the last 1975 vintage Colheita from Kopke while in Porto. My birth year.

Vicki H. – Mallow Run Winery in Indianapolis, is a fun place to enjoy music and wine. Especially when it is Beach Boys or Beatle day.

Terri S. – Broken Earth Winery in Paso Robles. Award-winning wines (they darn near swept the Central Coast Wine Competition), friendly and knowledgeable staff, excellent pricing, Thirsty Thursday wine specials and a great picnic spot on the way into town on Highway 46 East!

Michael D. – Many years ago we took the Amtrak Coast Starlight to Seattle. They did a wine tasting on board and one of the wines we really liked was from a winery that we had never heard of – Del Dotto. A year or two later I had a business trip up at the Silverado Resort in Napa and on our way to the hotel we passed Del Dotto. Taking the tour of the caves and tasting the same grape in different types of oak was one of our favorite memories from that trip. We ordered several bottles from the actual casks that we tasted and still have some cellared to this day!

Tom H. – Frank Family in Napa the day after I proposed to Carole they treated us great…lots of good wine!

John M. – Jean-Pierre Gaussen in the Bandol area of Southern France. It was a cold day in December 2002 and my then Fiancé and I were exploring the area and stumbled on to this tiny vineyard of gnarled Mourvèdre vines. When we arrived at the Cave no one was there. Finally a a gentleman still in his pajamas peered down at us from a second story balcony and told us to come back in an hour because it was his lunch hour. We came back an hour later and the same man still in his pajamas opened the cellar and poured his wines for us to taste.

It turned out the man was Monsieur Gaussen himself. We spent the next 4 hours talking and drinking wine with him with subjects ranging from the history of the Mourvèdre grape to French politics all in broken English and broken French. In a few days my wife and I along with our 10 and 8 year old kids will be visiting this tiny vineyard again. For us wine lovers a special wine is a time capsule, a message in a bottle, the very notion of terroir itself.

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Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits

Vintage Eve: My Favorite Wines and Cocktails from 2016

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In writing wine and spirit reviews, which include comprehensive tasting notes on appearance, aroma, flavor and sometimes a score, it would be remiss for me not to explain that even when I’m not working on an article I will still employ some of these same methods when drinking wine for pleasure with friends or at a large commercial tasting event. Those wines, sans actual notes, are the ones I want to share today.

2016 Cocktails on the Roof.

Why? Because sometimes we make our buying choices dependent on numerical scores from critics.

While that is fine, especially if you have found a critic that has a similar palate as yours (you agree with his scores) it also reduces the time spent trying wines on your own, and finding them not to be enjoyable, which can be costly.

Some pals have also reached out to me, believing they will like what I like, and have asked me to share my favorites. So this article is for them as well. (Please keep in mind these are wines and cocktails I enjoyed in 2016 alone.)

And now, without further adieu:

Remarkable vintage years I did note – so it will be easier if you want to duplicate the experience – I found via my Facebook photographs: 1863 Reserva Velha Barbeito Bual Madeira, 2003 Tramin Cerveny (Czech dessert wine), 2000 Don Melchor Puente Alto Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003 Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d’Or Brut Champagne, 2004 Robert Mondavi Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, 2012 Chateau de la Gardine Chateauneuf du Pape, 2014 Turley from Howell Mountain, Pesenti Vineyard and Dogtown Vineyard, 2003 Joseph Phelps Insignia and a 2006 Backus, 2015 Trombetta Chardonnay, 2015 J. Lohr White Riesling, 2005 Robert Mondavi Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013 Beckmen Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon and their 2013 Cuvee Le Bec, 2007 Kosta Browne 4-Barrel Pinot Noir, 2013 Beekeeper Zinfandel Rockpile Appellation, 2005 Chateau Canon, 2013 Hearst Pergola Petite Sirah, 2014 Poet’s Leap Riesling, 2012 Concrete Old Vine Zinfandel, 2012 Kynsi Pinot Noir, 2012 Colome Estate Malbec, 2012 Dilecta Unorthodox, 2013 Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel, 2013 Summers Andriana’s Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011 and 2013 Cabernet Franc all from Crocker and Starr.

In general, wines that I enjoyed but didn’t note the various vintage years were from Backus, Insignia, Le Mistral, Syrah, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon (all from Joseph Phelps club membership), Hall Cabernet Sauvignon, every vintage of Phifer Pavitt DateNight Cabernet Sauvignon, various Del Dotto wines, all wines from Stolpman Vineyards, Silver Oak, Carlisle Mourvedre, Pure Cru wines by Mitch Cosentino, non vintage Champagne Jacquart, Pulchella Zinfandel, Stillman Petite Sirah, Regusci Patriarch, Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon, Cakebread Cellars Pinot Noir, Larner Vineyard, Ferrari Trento, Derby Wine Estates, Oso Libre, Frick, Mystic Hills, Calcareous, Workman Ayer Defacto Red Rhone blend, Jaffurs, Epoch Estate, Whalebone, Casa Dumetz, Zaca Mesa, Tercero, Four Brix, Central Coast Group Project (CCGP), Dry Creek Vineyard Zinfandel, Cellardoor Winery Blueberry wine, wines that my local winemakers serve up every year at Sunset in the Vineyard…

Cocktails: Everything I could get my hands on at Cocktails on the Roof, which included these three award winners: Bourbon Bramble from Newhall Refinery, Trader Vics inspired Mai Tai at Salt Creek Grille Valencia and the Manhattan from Olive Terrace Bar and Grill. I also enjoyed: the Manhattan made by 12 Bottle Bar authors Lesley and David Solmonson, Frozen Margaritas, single barrel tequila and Horchata at solita, Bloody Mary at Egg Plantation, Perfect Rob Roy from The Social, Cucumber Soju Cocktail served up by Xevichez Sushi Bar, Black Manhattan at Bacari PDR, a Moscow Mule I made with Cherry Ginger Beer and a Negroni with St George Gin, Bowen’s Whiskey, Black Momma Vodka, whatever I get to taste with the L.A. Scotch Club and a 10 year old Rip Van Winkle Bourbon I nabbed from a pal.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

ULTIMATE WINE CHALLENGE Announces 2019 Results

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Hawthorne, NY – Ultimate Wine Challenge® (UWC), since 2010 the world’s most progressive global wine competition, released the results of the tenth annual Ultimate Wine Challenge. The judging, which took place throughout May, determined 31 Chairman’s Trophy winners, UWC’s highest honor.

Additional recognitions include Finalist, Great Value (awarded to entries with a high price/value ratio – showing that great wines don’t need to be expensive); and the Tried & True Award™, bestowed on brands that have demonstrated unfailing, consistent quality, year after year.

Led by UBC Founder and Judging Chairman F. Paul Pacult, and 16 of the world’s foremost wine experts, buyers, journalists, and educators convened to evaluate more than 1,100 still, sparkling and fortified wines, and sakes from around the world. Ultimate Wine Challenge was held at the custom-designed Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC) Evaluation Center in Hawthorne, NY. To view a full list of UWC judges, please visit www.ultimate-beverage.com/uwc2019judges.

Said Pacult of UWC 2019, “Everything we do, each system we’ve installed, is geared to showcase every entry’s virtues on a level playing field of its peers. The responsibility of our judges to render reliable results is paramount to UWC’s mission of No Shortcuts. Just Honest, Impartial Judging.”

Top-scoring wines will be published in the Ultimate Beverage Challenge 2019 Guide To The World’s Best Wines & Spirits in the October 2019 issue of Beverage Media, which is referenced by 70,000 beverage alcohol buyers in the U.S. market.

THE 2019 ULTIMATE WINE CHALLENGE CHAIRMAN’S TROPHY WINNERS

Full results at www.ultimate-beverage.com/uwc2019results
Images at www.ultimate-beverage.com/uwc2019photos

RED WINES
Alexander Valley Vineyards Merlot 2016 Alexander Valley, United States (Merlot—World)
Château La Haye Majesté 2016 Saint-Estèphe, France (Red Wine—France)
Fernández de Piérola Gran Reserva 2004 Rioja, Spain (Red Wine—Spain)
Frey Organic Malbec 2016 Mendocino, United States (Malbec—World)
Gallo Signature Series Zinfandel 2016 Dry Creek Valley, United States (Zinfandel—USA)
J. Lohr Cuvée ST. E 2015 Paso Robles, United States (Red Blend—North America)
Joana da Cana Reserva 2016 Tejo, Portugal (Red Wine—Portugal)
Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Alexander Valley, United States (Cabernet Sauvignon—World)
McGuigan Hand Made Shiraz 2015 Langhorne Creek, Australia (Shiraz/Syrah—World)
Shiloh Legend Fiddler 2016 Judean Hills, Israel (Red Wine—Eastern Mediterranean)
Sonoma-Cutrer Pinot Noir 2016 Russian River Valley, United States (Pinot Noir—World)
Topografia Reserva Red Blend 2014 Uco Valley, Argentina (Red Blend—Southern Hemisphere)
Villa La Pagliaia 2014 Chianti Classico Riserva, Italy (Red Wine—Italy)
William Fèvre Chile Espino Reserva Especial Carménère 2017 Valle Central, Chile (Other Red Varietals—World)

WHITE WINES
Aluado Chardonnay 2018 Lisboa Vinho Regional, Portugal (White Wine—Portugal)
Kim Crawford Signature Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2017 Marlborough, New Zealand (Sauvignon Blanc—World)
La Perrière 2018 Sancerre, France (White Wine—France)
Pacifica Evan’s Collection Riesling 2017 Washington, United States (Riesling—World)
Protos Verdejo 2018 Rueda, Spain (White Wine—Spain)
Ron Rubin Pinot Gris 2017 Russian River Valley, United States (Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris—World)
SIMI Reserve Chardonnay 2016 Russian River Valley, United States (Chardonnay—World)

ROSÉ WINES
Secret de Léoube 2018 Côtes de Provence, France (Rosé—Europe)
Three Thieves Rosé 2018 California, United States (Rosé—North America)

CHAMPAGNE/SPARKLING WINES
Chapel Down Three Graces 2014 Tenterden, England (Sparkling Wine—World)
J Vineyards Cuvée 20 Russian River Valley, United States (Sparkling Wine—USA)
Mionetto Prestige Brut Prosecco Treviso, Italy (Prosecco—Italy)
Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2012 Extra Brut Rosé Champagne, France (Champagne—France)
Vallformosa Col leció Brut Reserva 2012 Cava, Spain (Cava—Spain)

DESSERT WINE
The Hare Wine Co. Frontier Collection Cabernet Franc Icewine 2017 Niagara-on-the Lake, Canada (Dessert Wine—World)

SAKE
Joto Junmai Ginjo Ibaraki, Japan (Junmai Ginjo—World)

SANGRIA
Tiki Tonga Draft House Tropical White, Spain (Sangria—World)

All products are rated on the 100-point scale. All wines rated 80 points and higher receive an individual results page (accessed by clicking on “MORE DATA…” next to the product name) which provides downloadable marketing art work for the product. Wines rated 85 points and higher receive a tasting note also accessed from the individual results page. UWC results are promoted globally via email and web publication to both trade buyers and consumers.

Ultimate Wine Challenge…No shortcuts. Just honest, impartial judging.

ABOUT ULTIMATE BEVERAGE CHALLENGE
Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC) provides expert evaluation of wines and spirits for producers, importers and marketers through its two innovative annual competitions: Ultimate Wine Challenge and Ultimate Spirits Challenge. UBC partners are F. Paul Pacult, Sue Woodley and David Talbot. Photos and more are at ultimate-beverage.com.

Visit Cambria for Food, Wine, & Fun!

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CAMBRIA, Calif. (PRWEB) – Guests in Cambria love tasting the local wines while eating a fresh, tasty meal-after taking part in the many exciting activities available in the area, it’s easy to work up an appetite. Here are some recommendations for perfect wine and food pairings from local establishments, plus the most memorable local activities to match. Those who love food, wine, and fun should plan a getaway to Cambria to enjoy everything this coastal town has to offer!

Stolo Family Vineyards is one of two estate vineyards in Cambria. Their full-bodied Syrah goes well with any meat dish, but the classic pasta dish called Robin’s Chow, from Robin’s Restaurant, is the ultimate coupling. This sophisticated, romantic pair calls for a stroll through town on the Cambria Historical Walking Tour, admiring the architecture; Robin’s is even on the tour.

With a tasting room modeled after a 1920s speakeasy, Black Hand Cellars features a “Flapper” Pinot Noir that is fruity and aromatic. Visitors can bring a bottle to share with a friend, along with fresh seafood, at Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill, and head across the street to take a stroll on the Moonstone Beach Boardwalk after their meal.

Cayucos Cellars‘ Vermentino is a crisp, clean white that will balance the flavorful chicken banh mi wrap from Soto’s True Earth Market. It will make the perfect lunch after a morning ride with Cambria Horseback Rides, featuring meandering trails and ocean views from the saddle.

Jody’s Special from JBJ’s Round Up Pizza features Italian sausage, pineapple, onions, jalapeño, and cilantro. The best way to balance the spicy, savory, and sweet flavors of the pizza is with a bottle of Moonstone Cellars‘ Gewürztraminer, a dry white with a citrus tang. This filling meal is sure to warm up adventurers after kayaking in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Just down the road in the tiny town of Harmony, Harmony Cellars serves their Rosato Vivo, which will accompany a delightful cone full of strawberry ice cream from the local Harmony Valley Creamery truck. Visitors will love to attend the glassblowing classes offered at Harmony Glassworks, as well.

Hearst Ranch is home to more than the historic Hearst Castle. After finishing their tour, guests can head down the hill to the Hearst Ranch Winery Tasting Room for a glass of Zinfandel paired with a juicy Hearst Ranch beef burger from Sebastian’s General Store, to be enjoyed while discussing the lavish luxuries of La Cuesta Encantada.

The slightly sweet, dry Riesling from Cutruzzola Vineyards, the other estate vineyard in Cambria, pairs perfectly with some spicy tacos from Boni’s Tacos, a local favorite eatery and food truck. Visitors can grab a blanket, a bottle, and a to-go box and head for a bench overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Fiscalini Ranch, where the waves and ocean breeze will make this an all-time favorite.

Dessert lovers can stop by Twin Coyotes Winery for a glass of Stowaway Captain’s Reserve Dessert Wine, paired with their original, house-made Stowaway brownie, because nothing is better than red wine and chocolate. Twin Coyotes is part of the Shops at the Garden Shed, so guests can explore the shops after they taste.