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Local Wine Writer Announces First Published E-Book Available on Amazon for 99 Cents “Wine Etiquette For Everyone”

July 11, 2014 by evebushman

SANTA CLARITA, CA – 23 June 2014 – Santa Clarita Valley’s very own local wine writer for nearly a decade, Eve Bushman, has written a Kindle book for people new to wine, aficionados and those in the wine industry that just want to make sure they don’t make any faux pas while enjoying, or promoting the enjoyment of, wine.

Eve-Cover final

“In about 12 pages I cover The House Party, Winery Tasting Room, Events, Wine Gifts, How to Hold a Glass of Wine and How To Detect Basic Aromas and Flavors. For those in the wine industry topics include The Retail Store, Restaurants, Bars and a bonus article on Good Wine Writer Etiquette.”

If you don’t own a Kindle you can download the reader free from Amazon.  Follow this link to get your copy of “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” for 99 cents today:  http://goo.gl/MM9Lux

Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years.  She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video and recently served as a guest judge for the L.A. International Wine Competition.  You can email Eve at Eve@EveWine101.com.

UPDATE: Reviews are starting to come in!

Early Reviews for Wine Etiquette For Everyone

5.0 out of 5 stars Oops, She’s Done it Again! June 18, 2014

By Donald – Eve Bushman once again gives solid advice in a readable, down-to-earth style. She answers questions that wine-tasting novices are afraid to ask and her observations provide insight into the nuances of wine tasting, serving, and selection for those seeking validation for the practices they have acquired over the years. If this article is a “taste”, I am ready for a full glass!

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfectly conveys the basics yet even vinophiles will learn something new! June 18, 2014

By Lenore – Eve Bushman obviously put much time and thought into this short, easy to read little book. She discusses how to pleasantly attend House Parties, Wine Tasting Rooms, Wine Events and so much more. There is some excellent advice here- I’ll share a few that struck me personally but you’ll need to read the book to learn so much more. Eve discusses corking an open bottle and taking it home in the trunk of your car. I live in California (as does she) and that is the law here. Check your own state’s law on this subject before you do the same. She gives what to me as a vinophile superb advice as to whether to open a bottle of wine immediately when someone brings it to your home as a gift. I have been struggling with this for literally decades and I finally have some great advice on the subject so thank you and kudos Eve! Whether you are a complete novice who wants the basics of how to handle wine situations, someone who know somewhat or someone who has been doing it for decades, I promise that you will learn from this excellent little book!

5.0 out of 5 stars Wine Etiquette June 19, 2014

By Pennisu – “Wine Etiquette For Everyone” is a gem of a book, and should be required reading for all novice wine tasters, whether they are planning a trip to a winery, enjoying some wine with friends at home, or in a restaurant. Eve Bushman also unabashedly appeals to those who serve wine at restaurants to follow wine etiquette in service. Eve clearly and methodically brings this sometimes-intimidating subject into focus in her short book. What topic will she tackle in her next book? Fantastic reading!

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice reference for the novice and more experienced wine drinkers as well June 18, 2014

By Ronald -Very well written short book on wine etiquette for all situations. A must read for those who want to know what to do and how to do it!

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Primer June 19, 2014

By Dave – This is a great primer that covers many of the basics in wine etiquette and knowledge. It should be required reading for anyone is attending a wine tasting event for the first time. Plenty of good dos and don’ts that will help you avoid embarrassment when ordering wine at a restaurant or giving it as a gift.

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for wine lovers, June 19, 2014

By Laura – What a great book – there actually is a wine etiquette and sometimes it’s not obvious. This book covers it – I particularly liked the info on events – these winemakers are building their brand and I’ve learned so much by just listening to their passion. Wine is love, history and passion in a bottle – Eve respects.

5.0 out of 5 stars A great reference for newbie wine drinkers, June 19, 2014

By Susan – I personally know Eve Bushman, and she truly loves wine and wine education. This is a great reference for newbie wine drinkers. Great job Eve!

4.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Succinct Wine Primer, June 20,2014

By Joshua – If you are like many other newby vino enthusiasts, getting into wine can be daunting. There are all these terms, a million different varietals, snooty wine snobs. It can seem exclusive and intimidating, but tremble no more! Eve Bushman lays a clear, concise path to demystify your entry into the rich and fascinating world of wine. Download this booklet and begin your journey with confidence. Cheers!

Filed Under: Eve Bushman Tagged With: eve bushman, eve wine 101 consulting, eve's wine 101

Wine 101: Liking One Wine

June 27, 2014 by evebushman

Whether your wine choices are motivated by habit, price, a favorite wine grape or a wine grape growing region, this article will help you move forward from your current wine tastes by expanding your palate – just a bit.

Hammersky tasting table at homeOne of my staff writers, Rusty Sly, holds a monthly tasting and brief lesson at Valencia Wine Company called Grape of the Night.  The idea was prompted by a similar monthly event he used to attend in Florida years ago in which the group leader chose a single varietal, say a wine that is made from 85% to 100% from California Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, or Shiraz, or Chardonnay…and so on.  Then each guest is prompted to bring a bottle of the selected varietal to share, taste and discuss.  This is how you can do it yourself and what can be learned from a tasting like this:

  • You can set a price limit, so that your new discovery is within your budget and so that each person is investing about the same amount.
  • Though Rusty does a short lesson, and chooses the varietal, you don’t have to do it that way.  You can ask your guests for their favorite varietals and then vote on it.  Then ask them be prepared at the tasting to share a little about the wine they brought and what they know about the varietal in general.
  • Once you only taste one kind of wine you can start to see subtle differences between terroir (a word that refers to the region a grape was grown in), winemaker style and that year’s particular climate.  I prefer to take notes.
  • When tasted side-by-side, and really focusing on what you taste, you will begin to appreciate the subtle differences between the wines – though they are all the same varietal.  There is more pepper in some Zins than others and more lemon in some Sauvignon Blancs – now you’ll be able to find the flavors you’re really after.
  • Tasting with others allows you the opportunity to hear different ideas, not just read what the winemaker wrote on the back of the label.  (Keep in mind that tasting can be very subjective.  So if you have someone like me at your tasting that says something like, “Wow, this 100% Pinot Noir tastes like crushed red cherries and their stems” you may get stuck with that image.)
  • You will now be able to make better, more educated decisions about your wine selection next time.
  • If you’ve been in a rut, with a wine club you’ve held onto for too long or just doing the “swallow”, having a tasting like this will definitely get you interested in getting your hands on new wineries that are making your favorite varietal.

Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years.  She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a guest judge for the L.A. International Wine Competition.  You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column.

 

Filed Under: Eve Bushman Tagged With: cabernet sauvignon, California, Chardonnay, climate, eve's wine 101, flavor, grape, Grape of the Night, palate, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, terroir, valencia, Valencia Wine Company, varietal, wine 101, wine education, Wine tasting, winemaker

Taste of the Town, aka “TOTT” for short, was long on fun!

May 7, 2014 by evebushman

Filed Under: Eve Bushman Tagged With: California, cellar, charity, chef, cocktail, culinary, eve wine 101 consulting, eve's wine 101, food pairing, margarita, restaurant, Reyes Winery, Salt Creek Grille, taste, vineyard, wine consulting, wine event, Wine tasting, winery

Perlis Picks: Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast

November 2, 2013 by evebushman

Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast

http://www.savorcentralcoast.com/

There is a short list of events that qualify for “if you only go to one event per year”…

Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast is definitely on that list.

20130929_104657Held annually, with the Main Event at the Santa Margarita Ranch just outside of San Luis Obispo, the event brings together 50 Central Coast wineries ranging from Santa Barbara County to the South to Monterey County to the North, along with a host of food purveyors and lifestyle vendors. In addition, there are multiple chef and winemaker seminars so you can really learn about the wineries and food of the Central Coast, while enjoying the best of what the Central Coast has to offer.

This year’s event took place the last weekend of September. It actually started Thursday morning, September 26th, with special events taking place off the Main Event’s grounds throughout the weekend.

The Main Event took place Saturday, September 28th and September 29th. One-day tickets cost $85, with a two-day pass going for $150.  I highly recommend going for the two-day pass. It makes for a much more leisurely weekend, and there is no way that you could hope to spend a weekend tasting even a fraction of the wine and food offered if you tried to do it on your own, so the $150 is quite a bargain.

The seminars taking place during the main event are at an additional charge of $25, but they are well worth it.

 

Winemaker seminars that weekend included:

Journey Through the Paso Robles Terroir

Explore the Great Wine Roads of the West

Sunset International Wine Competition

Wine Beyond the Oak Barrel

Unique Whites of the Central Coast

What Stem is Right for You?

 

We attended the “Unique Whites of the Central Coast” seminar, which was a panel discussion moderated by Sara Schneider, Wine Editor of Sunset Magazine. The panelists were:

Jason Haas, Partner and General Manager, Tablas Creek Vineyard

Neil Roberts, Owner and Winemaker, Clavo Cellars

Coby Parker-Garcia, Winemaker, Claiborne & Churchill Winery

Christian Roguenant, Winemaker, Niven Family Wines

JC Diefenderfer, Winemaker, Hope Family Wines

Stephan Asseo, Owner and Winemaker, L’Aventure Winery

Chrissy Wittmann, Winemaker, Wild Horse Winery

 

20130929_104839Our education consisted of discussions about the following wines, tasting samples of which were also waiting for us at our seats when we entered:

Tablas Creek Vineyard Picpoul Blanc 2012

Clavo Cellars Albarino 2011

Claiborne & Churchill Dry Gewurztraminer 2012

Zocker Gruner Veltliner 2012

Laetitia Brut Cuvee Non-Vintage

Treana White (Blend of Viognier and Marsanne) 2011

L’Aventure Estate Cuvee Blanc 2012

Wild Horse Malvasia Bianca 2012

While you may have some of the above, I doubt if you’ve tried them all. Lots of fun and a refreshing break as well!

 

Chef seminars included:

Chef Nathan Lyon and Sustainable Seafood

Celebrity Chef Michael Voltaggio of ink. and ink.sack

Create a Real Taste of Mexico with Chefs Marcela Valladolid and Jeff Anderson

Inside the Sunset Test Kitchen with Margo True

Battle of the Bay

Chef Nathan Lyon and Farm to Table Fresh

 

Seminars were well-attended – some sold out. I think the first to sell out were Michael Voltaggio’s seminars, and not surprisingly. Michael is well known as a great chef, and if you are familiar with the television show Top Chef, you know that a few years ago he beat out his brother Bryan, as well as Kevin Gillespie, in the finale of what I still consider to be the best season of that show so far.

We had the pleasure of attending two media panels that involved Michael Voltaggio. The first one included chef Nathan Lyon and was moderated by Peggy Northrop, Sunset Editor-in-Chief. The second included Marcela Valladolid [from the Food Network] and Jeff Anderson (Vons Executive Chef) – this session was moderated by Margo True, Sunset Food Editor.

20130929_104805The overriding message that I got from the panels was that the food was the message. Michael Voltaggio said that the move was away from “hyper-food”, manipulating the food for presentation purposes, and letting the food speak for itself.

 

And the various food items offered really did speak for themselves. Some of what we tried and loved were offerings from:

Artisan

Eureka Burger

Fig Good Food

Inn at Morro Bay

Novo Restaurant & Lounge

Steamers of Pismo

Thomas Hill Organics

Ventana Grill

 

But, lest you think the event was all about the food, we here at Eve’s Wine 101 are about the wine, so let me give you a list of the wineries we were most impressed with (admittedly, even in two days, we did not taste everything):

Ancient Peaks Winery

Andrew Murray Vineyards

Barr Estate

Broken Earth Winery

Caliza Winery

Castoro Cellars

Clavo Cellars

Clayhouse Wines

Cypher Winery

DAOU Vineyards and Winery

Halter Ranch Vineyard

Rob Murray Vineyards

 

The above wineries, along with a lot more, were in the area labeled the Marketplace.  There was also another section, called the Central Coast Pavilion, which included not only additional food items to sample, but wineries that had recently won awards at the Sunset International Wine Competition.

It was here that I had possibly my favorite food of the day – oysters being shucked and just ready to be grabbed and slurped – as well as two big winery surprises:

Almond Hill Vineyard, a very small producer with an absolutely delicious Syrah and Cardella Winery, based in the San Joaquin Valley, with a terrific Syrah and Barbera.

But, as I said, most of the wine was out in the Marketplace. While I already mentioned my favorites, there are a few things that really stood out for me.

First of all, it was great to connect with Mike Sinor of Ancient Peaks. I hadn’t seen him in quite some time.

Second, I finally met the owners of Castoro Cellars, Niels and Bimmer Udsen. Castoro was the first winery we ever visited in Paso Robles twenty years ago, but we had never met the owners of this pioneering winery that doesn’t get nearly enough attention these days.

And, third, write this down: Rob Murray Vineyards! Awesome wines, with admittedly really cool labels. I especially loved their amor fati Syrah and Grenache. I always consider an event a success when I can find a new winery that knocks me out, and this one did – and they are available at Whole Foods.

All in all, an outstanding event. Get on their mailing list so you don’t miss out next year.

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. (2013 Update: Eve and Michael announced Eve Wine 101 Consulting. Info is here: http://evewine101.com/press-releases/) Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com.

Filed Under: Michael Perlis Tagged With: Albarino, barbera, Barrel, Central Coast, chef, eve's wine 101, food pairing, Gewurztraminer, Grenache, Gruner Veltliner, marsanne, michael perlis, Monterey, Oak, Paso Robles, picpoul, san luis obispo, Santa Barbara, Syrah, white wine, wine education, wine event, Wine tasting, winemaker, winery

Perlis Picks: Coming full circle with Circle of Hope

August 10, 2013 by evebushman

I’m pretty sure the very first article I wrote for Eve’s Wine 101 was about attending the Santa Clarita Valley Wine Classic held annually at California Institute of the Arts [Cal Arts]. My wife Karen and I had attended this event previously, but this was the first time I was going with a goal of writing about it.

2013 vine 2 wine classic bannerWe met some great people that evening, such as Nate Hasper and Steve Lemley – owners of Pulchella Winery [I think it was then still called Dragonfly], and Steve Elzer, who was generously pouring from his own cellar such gems as Turley Aida Zinfandel and Scholium Project.  The great wines, delicious food, terrific entertainment and the opportunity to share such a memorable evening with my fellow Santa Clarita Valley residents definitely made it all very special.

The funny thing is, I had not yet met Eve in person and had been looking forward to connecting with her at the event. For whatever reason, that did not happen that night. 

Of course, we met in person shortly after that, and I’m proud to have been able to have had her as a boss, fellow wine writer, and friend as we have expanded the boundaries of what Eve’s Wine 101 is all about.  (In fact, most recently I went with Eve to a video shoot of the new event – in an advisory capacity alone as I’m more of a behind the scenes guy – and here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5O0rAZnUXU)

Sadly, the SCV Wine Classic was not to be so fortunate, as I think that was the last time the 20-year-old event, which raised funds for the SCV Student Orchestra, was held.

Fast forward to 2013. Circle of Hope, which is dedicated to assisting breast cancer patients in the Santa Clarita Valley, is bringing their 12-year-old Vine 2 Wine Classic to Cal Arts! Once again, wineries and distributors will be pouring their wines alongside generous members of our community who will be sharing wines from their own cellars.

I’m looking forward to trying old favorites like Gagnon Cellars, Stanger, Reyes, Pulchella, and Vines on the Marycrest, while also exploring what other wineries have brought.

And I’m really excited to taste what our local wine connoisseurs are going to be surprising us with. Along with great food from local restaurants, including some of my favorites like Marston’s and Cheers @ All Corked Up, entertainment by Jimmy Carnelli, a silent auction and other surprises, this is sure to be a phenomenal evening, all for a very worthy cause.

Tickets can be purchased online for $75 at http://www.circleofhopeinc.org/events/vine2wineclassic  or $95 at the door, if not sold out, of course, so don’t wait for that.

Hope to see you there.  Look for Eve and her husband Eddie, and my wife Karen and me – we all know each other very well now but I would bet you won’t see us together as there is far too much ground we must cover!

Filed Under: Michael Perlis Tagged With: cellar, eve bushman, eve's wine 101, food pairing, library wines, pulchella winery, Reyes Winery, Santa Clarita, Vine 2 Wine Classic, wine event, Wine tasting, winery, Zinfandel

Michael Perlis Picks: Ed Leon’s Zin Country for You!

February 16, 2013 by evebushman

Some time ago, I interviewed Tobin James and wrote an article about it for Eve’s Wine 101, which you can read here: http://evewine101.com/2012/07/07/michael-perlis-reports-tobin-james-cellars/

Contributing Editor Michael Perlis

Well, the power of wine and the internet being what they are, a great fan of wine (and Tobin James), Ed Leon found my article and contacted me. Since that initial contact, Ed and I have exchanged several emails and are quickly becoming good friends. I am hopeful that one of these days, we will actually meet! And soon!

Here is that first email from Ed that got our friendship going. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Ed called it: Zin Country for You!
________________________________________________________________

I just read your great commentary about Toby and TJ wines on your website! You sound like our kinda guy, my friend! Each year, my wife, Marianne, and I do three weeks of “wine enjoyment” in California. We usually begin on Memorial Day weekend in Plymouth (Amador County) , which is now known as Zin country, but was formerly known for its gold deposits and mining. Our favorite winery there is Dick Cooper’s Cooper Vineyards. Dick is a very cool dude, indeed! We first met him about eight years ago, when he came driving out of a vineyard on his tractor, dressed in old Levis and a tattered white t-shirt, sporting a ragged cowboy hat. He used to be a musician, and had his own band. He is third generation winemaker, and generously advises and consults with other vintners in Amador County. His unselfish goal is to make and keep Amador a fine wine destination.

After 3-4 days in the Plymouth/Jackson/Sutter Creek area, we head over to Lodi (only about an hour away) which, as you surely know, was founded by Germans and Italians, and is known for some pretty good wines, as well, these days. The Lodi Arts Society hosts an incredible wine event in early June. The last time we were there, each attendee got a commemorative wine glass+just about all the wine they could possibly drink from about 20 different wineries for $10.00!!! And the wine was being poured most generously by arts volunteers, who were also imbibing! (We usually stay in an RV park on the Delta, so we had to limit our tasting, unfortunately.)

From Lodi, we head down to Paso Robles, which we LOVE!! We are members of the TJ Gang, of course, but we also love many other wineries in the area, including Halter Ranch, which is owned by Switzerland’s wealthiest man! In addition to the June visit to Paso, we also attend one of the semi-annual TJ bashes (this year, it will be the March 15th one) with several family members. For that we stay at the incomparable Carleton Hotel in Atascadero. It would be great to see you there.

In the Guadalupe Valley (Valle Guadalupe) of Baja California, there are also some great wineries that might interest you. One of our favorites is Adobe Guadalupe, owned by a very classy Dutch lady, Tru Miller. They name their excellent wines after archangels! Their 2009 Kerubiel is to die for! They also have an impressive stable full of the thoroughbred Aztec horses, as well as an inn  (they modestly call it  a “bed and breakfast”) of the first magnitude. Architecturally, it looks like something out of ancient Persia-just magnificent! You can google them and view their YouTube video on the place with its superb music. We also like to visit L.A. Cetto, whose founder is Italian. We love their Nebbiolo, which recently celebrated its 25th year of production. We especially like the ’06 one!

I could go on and tell you about wines in Ramona (in the hills, just outside San Diego), where you will find the winery of Italian opera singer, Herman Salerno, where you can enjoy live opera every Sunday! Also, a definite ‘must’ is a visit to the vineyerds of French-Canadian Mario Bergeron, formerly of Napa. Mario and his lovely wife, Diana, own the La Finquita Winery on the east side of Ramona. They have about eight acres of grapes, citrus orchards, and horses. Beneath the tasting room and adjacent patio, there is a wine cave that appears to be about 200 years old, which is lined with 1,000 bottles of wine, and has a 20 ft.-long King Arthur-stlye table with long benches and king’s chairs at either end. This “cave” can be rented for parties, weddings, etc. for the paltry sum of $500.00, which includes a case of Mario’s wine!
Then, there is Temecula, with its South Coast Winery, (great wines and beautiful villas)!

Lastly, just for the sake of California wine history, please check out the biography of General Mariano Vallejo (for whom the city of Vallejo is named). You will read that he was the first commercial vintner in California (1840’s). He was the uncle of Juan Bautista Alvarado, third-to-last Mexican Governor of Alta California (1843-45), my great-great grandfather.

I do hope our paths cross at some point in 2013. I’d love to meet you. If you ever plan a trip to San Diego or to Baja, please let us know. We have lots of friends in both places that you would surely find fun and interesting.

In vino veritas! Amici e vino devono essere vecchi! (Friends and wine improve with age!)

~Ed Leon

Filed Under: Michael Perlis Tagged With: amador, California, cave, eve's wine 101, glasses, Lodi, Napa Valley, nebbiolo, Paso Robles, Temecula, vineyard, vintner, wine event, winemaker, winery

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