Vintage Eve Circa 9/2018 – Mutual Trading Show 2018: An Array of Japanese Food and Drink Reviewed

April 13, 2021 by evebushman

This would be the second year of discovery for us: attending the Mutual Trading Japanese Food and Restaurant Expo. While the wide array of Japanese food and beverages takes center stage, I really like to cover the show to learn something new, and I do every time.

If you just want to see the food and drink, my photos are here. Of special note for me:

Japan’s #1 Nama Sake in a CAN: Funaguchi Kikusui Ichibanshibori. It was served to us three ways: fresh and cold from the can, sweetened with citrus juices and with slices of cucumber. Each was quite remarkable.

Masahiro Shuzo, a company that has “been in business for more than 130 years”, Awamori – a distilled 30% ABV (60 proof) that is produced in Okinawa.

The Umepon liqueur was a favorite last year for us so I was happy to see them back and also try a cocktail version. It is orange and plum liqueurs blended with rice shochu.

I had Dassai sake in my WSET level one sake course, also noted that one of the numbered versions is served at our local Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ. (The bottles are numbered and that number correlates with how much the rice grain is milled to. The lower the number the finer the grain, and hence, the finer the sake.) At the show I expected to see the usual 50, but they also had a 23 to sample, which was really delicious.

The brand “Dragon God” sold only to restaurants, had a couple of different sake that I enjoyed. Look for these when you dine out.

Of the displays I was duly impressed by the many award winning beverages, glass and pottery sake serving sets and the array of sashimi, sushi, tofu, sesame seed – from oils to desserts – and noodles. The longest line is always for small servings of ramen. If I were to work with a Japanese restaurant I’d put my money on ramen.

If you want to know what I learned about this year, namely pairing sake with all kinds of food, read on:

Attendees were extremely lucky to have a class offered on food pairing with Antony Moss MW and Chef Nobuo at Teeter House.

Moss is the Director of Strategic Planning for WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) and though he has earned his MW his focus for the last five years has turned more to sake. He said sake pairs easily with food as there are no tannins or acid.

Chef Nobuo said that drinking sake with a meal will “clean whatever stays in the mouth” and the “combination of contrasting things (makes pairings) delightful.”

During the seminar we were given two samples to try: Miyazaki beef and Bluefin tuna. Both were served with a specifically selected cold sake that would enhance the flavor of the dish, and by a show of nods when Moss asked, both pairings succeeded. The selection of a sweeter sake with the beef was truly inspired. Of course both the fish and the beef had been marinated as well as served with a topping, which was all taken into account in the selection of the sake. Long story short, this was just really the beginning of what we would learn about pairing sake with dishes other than sushi.

Moss said that he often enjoys a sparkling sake with English Fish and Chips or an Italian calamari dish. Junmai or Honjozo sake paired better with Bolognese than a Chianti in his educated experience. Moss further explained that during the first half of the 20^th century menus had a “wide mix of styles” in European cuisine, especially French cuisine. There were sauternes on the menu that were paired with steaks. This wholly positive experience he believes “dispels the myth of (having to have) red wine with steak.” What may sound “radical” to us is “deeply rooted with both Japanese and European history.”

A couple of questions by the audience that I found interesting:

Did restaurants have to provide a different type of glass if we were going to replace wine with sake at the dinner table? Moss contemplated that Riedel does have glasses for every need…however he said the traditional Japanese cup or glass is fine. And if a wine glass was preferred then a small white wine glass would suffice perfectly. He also said not to feel intimidated by this, and to use your personal preferences as a guide.

A second questions was on temperature. As we had been discussing cold sake pairings would warm sake work as well? While Moss enjoyed sake between 40 degrees and room temperature, he said warming up the sake “can be very satisfying.”

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.

Flavor First Intuitive Line of Wine Glassware Released in U.S. Market

January 9, 2021 by evebushman

St. Helena, California – For the first time ever, a line of glassware designed around the flavor of wine has been released to trade and consumers in the United States. The set of three glasses corresponds to three key flavor/styles found in wine: Crisp & Fresh™, Creamy & Silky™ and Bold & Powerful™, intuitively putting the power of glass selection in the hands of wine consumers and trade professionals.

Liberating and simple in premise, the Flavor First™ line of glassware was meticulously designed over three years by wine expert and lauded author Karen MacNeil in collaboration with Senior Vice President of Design and Creative Director, Paul Gebhardt of The Oneida® Group, producer since 1880 of fine table and kitchenware to homes and restaurants worldwide.

Their idea was simple—design wine glasses around wine flavor, not around wine regions or wine varietals. Taking into consideration the architecture of the glass, the nature of the human palate, and the desire of consumers and food service professionals to simplify this complex subject, MacNeil and Gebhardt had an “aha” moment together at a wine training Karen conducted for The Oneida® Group. Why, they asked, wasn’t there a stem that took the overthinking out of glassware? Why not focus on the fundamental pleasure and flavor of wine itself?

Trials, tastings, iterations over time, and testing of 40 different design options yielded a simple solution. MacNeil stated, “As a writer and wine teacher who’s taught thousands of people how to taste and evaluate wine, I listen carefully to how people talk about wine and the words they use. Most people are non-technical; they use ideas such as ‘bold reds’ or ‘creamy chardonnays’ to describe what they like. In other words, they use flavor words.”

Always academic and thoughtful in her approach, Karen looked at 35 major grape varieties and realized that the glass diameter at the widest part of the glass had the greatest impact on the expression of the wines. As she states, “Oxygen has a profound effect on wine. For each of our three glasses, the widest part of the glass is at a different position.”

Gebhardt, said of the collaboration, “Karen and her team are amazing, and together we made the idea a reality. Along with flavor as a driver of form, I wanted to create a line that had as many back-of-the-house operational advantages as possible. The design needed to be easy to live with at home, as well as in a commercial operation, both of which are key audiences for our company.”

Importantly, the vessels were designed for daily life at the table, and as such are dishwasher safe. While each glass is endowed with a precision bowl shape and a thin rim typically reserved for glassware three times the price, the carefully calibrated “pulled” stem and foot ensure that the glasses will endure through meals and explorations. All three stems are the same height, making a seamless presentation for a wine tasting or meal with different pairings and ease of storage. The glasses are American designed and made in Germany from lead-free crystal.

The core stems include (all sold at retail in sets of four and six):
Crisp & Fresh™ for champagne, prosecco, sparkling wine, sauvignon blanc, riesling, and pinot grigio plus light rosés and all wines with a fresh, bright quality

Creamy & Silky™ for chardonnay, chenin blanc, pinot gris plus richer rosé wines and pinot noir, chianti, shiraz and all wines with a round, silky texture

Bold & Powerful™ for very full bodied, oaky chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, Bordeaux, zinfandel, malbec, Barolo, syrah and all wines that feature a bold texture and firm structural backbone

Petite Stem: Designed for more casual gatherings, a next generation version of the stemless glass but, importantly, with a foot to allow for swirling and easier handling. It’s also great for beer, iced tea, and select cocktails such as a classic Gin & Tonic.

Available for sale in sets of four and six or as a variety set of six with two stems of each, the glasses are available at a number of retailers such as Amazon, wine.com, Macy’s, Dillard’s, TheBay.com (Canada) and are also available at Oneida.com and KarenMacNeil.com. Priced at $74.99 per set of six, the per stem price averages $12.50, extremely affordable when compared to other similar quality wine glasses on the market today.

About Karen MacNeil
Noted writer, author, and educator Karen MacNeil is the only American to have won every major wine award given in the English language. These include the James Beard award for Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year, the Louis Roederer award for Best Consumer Wine Writing, and the International Wine and Spirits award as the Global Wine Communicator of the Year. In a full-page profile on her, TIME Magazine called Karen “America’s Missionary of the Vine.” In 2018, Karen was named one of the “100 Most Influential People in Wine.” Karen’s firm, Karen MacNeil & Company, creates customized corporate events for companies and individual groups. Among Karen’s clients are Lexus, Merrill Lynch, Disney, General Electric, UBS, and Singapore Airlines, as well as numerous law, banking, and biotech firms.

Karen is the co-creator and Chair Emerita of the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies at the Culinary Institute of America in the Napa Valley, which has been called “the Harvard of wine education.” More information about Karen can be found at www.karenmacneil.com.

About The Oneida® Group
The Oneida® Group is a leading global marketer of tabletop and food preparation products for the consumer and foodservice markets. With a comprehensive line of tabletop and food preparation products, they market their products globally under a broad range of consumer brands. Karen MacNeil’s range of stemware falls under both the consumer facing Oneida and the trade focused SAPORUS brand of food service. Customers range from Fortune 500 companies to medium and small-sized companies in the consumer, foodservice, business-to-business, and E-commerce channels. The company operates two glass manufacturing plants in the U.S. and sources a variety of proprietary designed tableware products. Visit https://www.oneida.com/ for more information.

Switchback Ridge, Grand Reserves Reward, Grassl Glass and More!

October 2, 2020 by evebushman

What do you know about Calistoga’s Switchback Ridge Winery? How about the new Mastercard, the “Grand Reserves Reward” card, that’s just for wine enthusiasts? Have you handled any Grassl glassware? Visited Liquid Assets Cellars? Let me give you a taste of each, with a special focus on the wine of course!

It started like this: Grand Reserve members were “invited by our partner winery Switchback Ridge to a special private tasting event. They will be pouring their 2015/2016 Merlot, 2015/2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2014 Petite Sirah…and one new, not yet released wine for something extra fun! The event will take place at Liquid Assets Cellars in North Hollywood…Pierson Ryan from Switchback Ridge” will lead the tasting.

Learning About Switchback Ridge

Ryan explained that the winery is run by a mother/daughter team Kelly and Ashley Peterson. Ryan said, “This is fantastic wine but the people are better.” The family has owned the land for 106 years, 1999 was their first vintage, they only make about 3 thousand cases per year, they hold all reds four years in bottle after barrel aging and have 21 acres under vine. Winemaker Bob Foley is known as the “Mount Rushmore winemaker’, aka Mr. Merlot, and a very iconic winemaker (not related to Bill Foley).

About 80 percent of their wine is allocated to club members and the remaining 20 percent to wine bars and restaurants. Liquid Assets owner Kevin Jones chimed in, basically saying this is a perfect time to get in on winery allocation lists as due to Covid some members have had to drop off.

Tasting (my notes are in italics)

2015 SWITCHBACK RIDGE MERLOT 92% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon

This is what Merlot should be! Ripe aromas and flavors of red cherry and cassis coat the palate with a rich, round middle. A framework of soft tannin delivers a beautiful finish with hints of mocha. 1008 CASES | $58/750ML (This was the first wine I tasted and stayed my favorite throughout. I found more dark cherry over red, the cassis and a finish that just wouldn’t quit! The 16 months it spent in French oak was perfect for my palate.)

2016 SWITCHBACK RIDGE MERLOT 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

Enticing red fruit bowl aromas of raspberry, red cherry and cassis are graced with just a hint of savory spice. These flavors flood the palate with a rich mouthful of deliciousness that brings on espresso-like nuances. The structure and balance resolve in a mouth-coating finish that seems to go on forever. 1144 CASES | $60/750ML (Had to agree with the “flood the palate” and the length of the finish noted by the winery above. Jeb Dunnuck gave this one 94 points. This one was a bit tighter than the 2015 for me, I would decant or lay it down for a bit.)

2015 SWITCHBACK RIDGE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Intoxicating aromas of Bing Cherry and black currant. Delicious mid-palate sweetness, gently gripping tannin, finishing with hints of espresso and vanilla bean. A thoroughly ripe vintage with great aging potential. 829 CASES | $95/750ML (Purely Domestic Wine Report awarded this wine 95 points. Ryan said they had a very low yield. I thought it fine to drink now, with dark black cherry, balsamic as well as the espresso and vanilla noted above. My second favorite wine in the tasting.)

2016 SWITCHBACK RIDGE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Intense dark fruit aromas of black cherry and black currant indicate the ripeness and purity of this beautiful Cabernet. The structural framework is sturdy, while tannin grips very gently, carrying the fruit flavors with a trace of vanilla into a long, graceful finish. 1071 CASES | $96/750ML (Jeb Dunnuck really liked this one, giving it a whopping 96+. Beautiful fruit and tannin structure.)

2014 SWITCHBACK RIDGE PETITE SIRAH 100% Petite Sirah (33% Old Vine Block)

You might have to tap on the bottom of the bottle a few times to get this wine out! Incredibly dark and impenetrable with wild berry and boysenberry fruit. The wine coats your palate from beginning to end. Chewy tannins are well integrated and nicely balanced by ripe, jammy fruit and lifted by ample natural juicy acidity. 717 CASES | $62/750ML (I had to use one of my favorite lines, “There’s a lot going on in this glass” to describe this Petite Sirah. Lots of thick jam and strong tannins; Ryan mentioned a great age ability and that it only needed a ribeye steak!)

A note on the not yet released wine – stay tuned to Switchback Ridge as though we were one of the few that have sampled it, we can’t share anything about it publicly until it’s released, possibly by November!

Grassl Glass (Excerpted From Brochure)

Every Grassl Glass is handmade by artisans with over 30 years of glass blowing experience. The result of their skill is a glass with remarkable precision, highest quality materials and unbelievable thinness that feels weightless in your hand. All shapes were developed with the feedback of world renowned winemakers to establish a clear benchmark for how their wines should unfold and be enjoyed by everyone.

Final Words

So, become a card holder, earn some bonus points and you will be invited to tastings with wineries like Switchback Ridge, and other “experiences”. Visit Liquid Assets Cellars, in nearby North Hollywood about 20 minutes from Santa Clarita, for your chance to handle the delicately made GrassL glassware – I swear the decanter weighed a mere ounce – and see the custom cellars where you can also store your wine! Make friends with the owner Kevin Jones and he’ll walk you over to his sister shop, Epicurus Gourmet (I felt like we were in a French grocery!) and maybe also sample his new Kindred Rose wine.

Links

https://switchbackridge.com

https://www.instagram.com/switchbackridge/

https://www.instagram.com/grandreserverewards/

https://linktr.ee/GrandReserveRewards

https://grasslglass.com/

https://www.facebook.com/grasslglass/

Watch 20 seconds or so of how the glassware is made here:

https://grasslglass.com/assets/video/manufacture_low.mp4

https://www.lacellars.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Liquid-Assets-Cellars-103946499846

Epicurus Gourmet

https://epicurusgourmet.com/

https://www.facebook.com/EpicurusGourmet

Second Annual International Canned Wine Competition Gives Gold to Aluminum

September 10, 2020 by evebushman

BOONVILLE, Calif. /PRNewswire/ — In the only event of its kind in the world, over two hundred canned wines flexed their aluminum muscles at the second annual International Canned Wine Competition held July 21-23 at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in Boonville, California. Seventy producers from around the globe sent in a total of 226 entries. Wines were submitted from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Chile, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, and Spain as well as from many parts of the U.S.A. While California and Oregon producers took their share of honors, many of the 96 gold medals went to wines from less prominent regions.

Best of Show White Wine honors went to Archer McRae Beverages’ Joiy Wine “Savvy Society” Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand. Best Rosé was Hall Wines’ BACA 2019 “Ring Around the Rosé” from California, and Best Red was Fourth Wave Wine’s “Take it to the Grave” 2018 Shiraz, Langhorne Creek, Australia.

Erosion Wine Co. from Napa took home five gold medals and a package design award for their exquisite jewel-like can designs. The Uncommon sent four wines from England; all four won gold medals and the series won package design recognition for their charming illustrations.

According to competition founder Allan Green, it was notable that 30% of the entries were Rosé wines: “Rosé has become so popular in the last few years, and it lends itself to cans: people take Rosé along for a picnic or drink it sitting by the pool.”

The competition judges came from academia, marketing and the wine trade. Professional judge Mark Bowery noted that he has, “been judging wine professionally for 36 years, but this was my first foray into the canned category. And I’ve got to say, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality, across the board. I was especially impressed by the varietal accuracy and deep satisfaction delivered in the Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc submissions.“

Handley Cellars’ winemaker Randy Schock said, “It was amazing to see the improvement in quality across the board compared to the first International Canned Wine Competition last year. Not just with the products oriented to the pop “seltzer” market, which were fun and refreshing, but the wines that expressed traditional bottled varietal expressions exceeded my expectations.”

Because of the Covid 19 virus, the organizers of the competition scheduled the judging over three days, with three judges on each daily panel socially distanced in a large exhibition hall. Judges had individual sets of glassware and bussed their own samples after each flight.

Plans are already in the works for the third annual International Canned Wine Competition, to be held in July 20-22, 2021. Competition director Allan Green promises it will be “aluminating!”

Complete results and photographs are available at www.cannedwinecompetition.com.

Masters and Makers @ Meritage – The Ultimate Napa Valley Food and Wine Experience

February 4, 2016 by evebushman

The Meritage Resort and Spa Hosts Third Annual Wine and Food Celebration

NAPA, Calif. (January 12, 2016) – The Meritage Resort and Spa will host the third annual Masters and Makers @ Meritage from February 12 -14, 2016. The Napa Valley food and wine experience will showcase Napa Valley and Sonoma County wines along with farm-fresh foods through creative wine tasting experiences, interactive seminars, and a culinary class. The weekend-long event will also feature a winemaker dinner in the Estate Cave featuring HALL Wines, and a grand tasting benefitting Community Resources for Children, a Napa Valley charity.

Masters and Makers @ Meritage is aimed at teaching attendees from novice to aficionado more about the famous wines of Napa Valley. Guests can choose from a variety of interactive, educational, and unique activities led by master winemakers and sommeliers – making it the wine event not to miss.

Friday, February 12 – Amuse Bouche:

4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., The Masters and The Makers

Learn about tasting wine from a winemaker, master sommelier, and winery proprietor. The panel of experts will lead a tasting session featuring wine from HALL Wines and Trinitas Cellars, and answer questions from attendees. This event is your opportunity to learn from the experts and try a selection of wines from HALL before the winemaker dinner. $60/person

7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., HALL Wines Winemaker Dinner in the Estate Cave

A master sommelier and representatives from HALL Wines along with The Meritage Resort and Spa’s Executive Chef Ryan Rupp will take you on a wine and culinary journey. The event will feature a multi-course dinner paired with wines from HALL. $175/person

Saturday, February 13 – Á la Carte Saturday:

(Guests are able to choose from several activities)

11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Opposites Attract – The Most Unlikely Pairings of Food and Wine

Cabernet and Steak, Port and Chocolate – most wine enthusiasts believe they are knowledgeable about wine and food pairings, but sometimes the most unexpected items complement each other. Join Trinitas Cellars as we explore this idea with four unique pairings. After the tasting, enjoy a plated multi-course lunch with wine. $100/person

11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Cook to This! Cooking Class and Wine Pairing with Skywalker Vineyards

Wine, recipes, ingredients, and education. The Meritage Resort and Spa’s culinary team will lead a cooking class where you create your own lunch from custom recipes paired with Skywalker Vineyards wines. Sip wine as you craft each course, and then dine and enjoy your culinary creation. $100/person

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Blind Date – A Taste of Napa Valley Cabernet

In the dating world, blind dates can go really well or be very awkward. Luckily when it comes to wine, not knowing what to expect is a good thing. Taste a selection of Napa Valley Cabernets in varietal specific glassware and see if you can figure out which one is your favorite, then compare it with others. $40/person (optional event, not part of all-access pass)

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Shape of the Glass Tasting with RIEDEL: Relationships and Glassware Come in All Shapes and Sizes

Ever wonder why there are so many different shapes and sizes of stemware available? Join RIEDEL as we embark on a unique wine tasting experience focused on learning about the shape of the glass. Learn about how to match your stemware to your wine and enjoy the benefits of improved bouquet, texture, flavors, and finish. The experience will take you through some of the finest Napa Valley wines from Etude, world renown chocolates from Lindt, and explain the winemakers’ secrets behind each wine. This year we will feature four different glasses from RIEDEL while trying two white and two red wines. After the class, you keep the glassware, which is a $140 value. $100/person (optional event, not part of all-access pass)

7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., Grand Tasting

The Meritage Grand Salon will transform into a majestic tasting room with more than 40 Napa Valley and Sonoma wineries showcasing many of the finest wines produced in the region. These wines and a few brews from local breweries will be featured alongside endless creations from our incredible culinary team and favorite Napa Valley restaurants. Guests have the opportunity to walk around to each winery and pair a variety of exquisite wines with a wonderful selection of seafood, delightfully prepared meats, cheeses, and decadent desserts all while enjoying live music. A portion of the proceeds from the Grand Tasting will benefit Community Resources for Children, a Napa Valley charity. For an exclusive opportunity to taste some of the finest wines in Napa Valley, purchase access into our VIP area where wineries will offer tastings of at least one wine that sells for $75 or more. $125-$175/person (discounts available for Napa County residents)

Sunday, February 14 – Valen-Wines Day:

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Valentine’s Day Sparkling Brunch

Enjoy a fabulous Valentine’s Day brunch with your special someone as The Meritage Resort and Spa’s culinary team partners with some of the top sparkling wine producers from Napa Valley. In addition we will have spirits available and an expert mixologist to create all of your favorite breakfast cocktails. $69/person

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Meritage Blends, a Vino and Cioccolato Experience

Treat your Valentine to a casual afternoon tasting of Meritage blends from across the Napa Valley and Sonoma regions paired with the best chocolates Northern California has to offer. Did you know that Meritage wines must be a blend of two or more of the eight traditional Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Gros Verdot, Carménère, Saint-Macaire)? Taste some of the best blends while enjoying chocolates from our favorite local and regional candy shops. $60/person

“We look forward to highlighting what Napa Valley does best – wine and food— at the third annual Masters and Makers @ Meritage,” said Michael Palmer, general manager of The Meritage Resort and Spa. “From world-class, award-winning wines to fabulous food prepared with fresh ingredients by our resort’s talented chefs, this event is a must for all wine lovers. After the weekend, attendees will leave with an increased appreciation for the art of winemaking, winetasting, and wine pairing.”

Masters and Makers @ Meritage offers 3-Day All Access Passes for $549 per person that include the following events: The Masters and The Makers; HALL Wines Winemaker Dinner in the Estate Cave; Cook to This! Cooking Class and Wine Pairing OR Opposites Attract … The Most Unlikely Pairings of Food and Wine; Grand Tasting; Valentine’s Day Sparkling Brunch; and Meritage Blends, a Vino and Cioccolato Experience. Does not include: Blind Date … a Taste of Napa Valley Cabernet; Shape of the Glass Tasting with RIEDEL; or Grand Tasting with VIP Tasting (VIP Tasting can be purchased separately or through VIP All-Access Pass, other events can be purchased separately). Discounted room packages are also available, that include a two-night stay with rates starting at $299* per night and two 3-Day All Access Passes ($499 per pass not included in room rate). Use Promo Code ALLACCESS.

A portion of all ticket sales from the Grand Tasting will be donated to Community Resources for Children, a Napa Valley charity.

For tickets and information, visit MeritageResort.com/Masters. All ticket purchases can be made securely through The Meritage Resort website with a room reservation or through EventBrite.

About The Meritage Resort and Spa

The Meritage Resort and Spa is an extraordinary four-diamond Napa Valley luxury resort set against a hillside vineyard. A destination unto itself, it features 322 Tuscan-inspired guestrooms and luxury suites, seasonal farm-to-table cuisine at the Siena Restaurant and wine tasting in the Estate Cave featuring Trinitas Cellars. Regain a healthful balance with curative treatments at Spa Terra—a lavish underground spa with steam grottoes, soaking pools, treatment alcoves and tranquil walls of water. The resort boasts the most comprehensive event and meeting space in the wine country, including the two largest ballrooms in the Napa Valley, the Estate Cave and three covered terraces. Crush Ultra Lounge offers guests a chance to relax with a full bar, sports entertainment and six bowling lanes. Far more than a place for relaxation, our unique property is an Old World escape from the ordinary. The Meritage Resort and Spa experience is the perfect blend of gracious hospitality, unrivaled amenities and peerless personal care. The Meritage Resort and Spa, We are Napa. MeritageResort.com.

About Meritage Collection

The Meritage Collection is a lifestyle and luxury hotel brand that blends iconic, one-of-a-kind places with locally-inspired experiences designed for the curious traveler. Débuted in 2013, Meritage Collection is comprised of five hotels & resorts throughout California – The Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa Valley, Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara, Paséa Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach (Opening May 2016), Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach and Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa. Reflective of its California roots, the Meritage Collection offers a laid-back luxury service culture that caters to the modern day traveler. The Collection properties are members of the Global Hotel Alliance and its DISCOVERY Rewards Program. DISCOVERY rewards travelers with local experiences and unique adventures not generally available to the public. For more information, please visit MeritageCollection.com or follow us on Twitter @MeritageHotels or Facebook Facebook.com/Meritage.Collection.Hotels.

*rate does not include taxes and resort fee

More Fall Cocktails from DeLeón Tequila

December 6, 2015 by evebushman

Two Fall Cocktails:

Spiked Cranberry Brew

1.5oz DeLeon™ Platinum Tequila

6oz of Hot Cranberry Batch

Preparation Ritual: Build ingredients in glass mug.

Garnish: Thin Pear Slice dusted with Cinnamon

Glassware: Café Glass

Midnight Harvest

1.5oz DeLeon™ Reposado Tequila

.5oz Lemon Juice

.25oz Orange Juice

.5oz Honey Ginger Syrup

Preparation Ritual: Add all ingredients into a martini glass with ice. Shake. Strain into rocks glass.

Garnish: Ginger Candy

Glassware: Rocks

Eve Wine 101: Bar Supplies

March 27, 2015 by evebushman

Everyone that drinks spirits at home has some sort of home bar. Whether it’s an old fashioned wheeling cart or a locked cabinet in their kitchen, it’s a necessity. So the question is, what do you put in your home bar? I’ve covered some of my favorites below; maybe I can make some of these your new favorites as well:

Martini Shaker

Lots of cocktails, including an actual Martini, require a shaker to make. The motion causes the ice to melt a little and the ingredients to fully mix. Bartenders sometimes choose long bar spoons and mixing glasses to lessen the “bruising” of the spirit. It’s your personal choice which to use and when, in my opinion, but either or both are necessities for blending.

Shot glass

Photo from Cocktail Kingdom

Please don’t make the mistake of collecting them as you will never finish – you just need one! Either a jigger (with a different measurement on each end) or a shot glass will work when you need to measure out the proper number of ounces for your cocktail. The easiest for me is the metal shot glass used as a stopper on my martini shaker. Unless you are an experienced bartender and can gauge an ounce, you’ll need the proper device.

Bitters and Simple Syrup

I was intimidated about using bitters and syrup until two things happened: They were in many cocktails I wanted to try, and they were easily found in either my own grocery store or online via Cocktail Kingdom. I was amazed by the flavor such a small “dash” could make.

Ice Ball Maker or Large Trays

I covered the need for an Ice Ball Maker in this previous article: (http://evewine101.com/2015/02/20/wine-101-ice-ball-maker) and different types of large ice cube trays here: http://evewine101.com/2014/02/07/eve-discusses-rock. I use both, but it’s really just your own personal preference what to choose based on your own aesthetics, and how much you want your cocktail diluted.

Old Fashioned, High Ball, Nosing Glass and Martini Glasses

An Old Fashioned glass, aka a Low Ball or Rocks Glass, is best suited for cocktails that will be served on the rocks. The “nosing glass” is for sipping single malt scotch without ice, but maybe a splash of water. The Martini glass (or rounded “Coupe” glass) suits any spirit, clear to brown, that is served without ice.

Cocktail Recipe Book

I found an old Trader Vic’s Cocktail book at a sale, and I have the standard Bartender’s Guide. Get one, or be satisfied looking your drink recipes up online and bookmarking them for further use. You can certainly wing it and experiment, but unless you are planning a career in mixology, don’t waste your spirits by sending them down the drain.

Photo from Cocktail Kingdom

Juicer

There is a HUGE difference using fresh juice in a craft cocktail over bottled juice. If you happen to have one already, use that. If not look at the heavy metal press juicers that are meant to squeeze (and filter out pulp and seeds) one half of a lemon or lime at a time. They are very quick and efficient.

Muddler

For fruit that can’t be juiced such as apples, raspberries and strawberries, as well as leaves, whole nutmeg, cloves or cinnamon sticks, you must muddle. I prefer a wooden muddle but there are metal spoons with muddlers affixed to them as well you can try. It’s one more piece of equipment you can incorporate to make your cocktail with fresh ingredients stand out.

Rum Runners

I couldn’t help but mention these handy plastic pouches for the bar on-the-go:

http://www.rumrunnerflasks.com/flasks.aspx Pack them in your luggage when traveling on cruise ships if you like, filled with your favorite spirit, as that is their intention.

The Booze Staples List

Vodka (I’m on a Tito’s kick at the moment.)

Gin (Hendricks, found at the supermarket, is infused with juniper, cucumber and rose petals among other things.)

Bourbon (Buffalo Trace, again found at the supermarket)

Blended Scotch (Dewars, for cocktails not for sipping, in my opinion.)

Single Malt Scotch (Our every day choice is either Balvenie and Aberlour, not for cocktails.)

Rye (I personally like Templeton and you can purchase that at the supermarket.)

Aperol and Campari (Both have bitter orange flavors that lends to many cocktails including the Aperol Spritz and the Negroni, Campari is the stronger flavored of the two)

Lillet (An apéritif wine used instead of vermouth in a Martini. The “blanc” is slightly orange flavored while the “rouge” is a stronger flavor of both orange and berry.)

Vermouth (Get both sweet and dry, I’ve not a noticed a difference among brands.)

Check out www.CocktailKingdom.com for more ideas for your home bar. (Disclosure: I was not paid by, nor do I have any affiliation to, Cocktail Kingdom.)

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

“A Wine Bar?” Commentary by Michael Perlis

March 7, 2015 by evebushman

My wife Karen and I, in addition to enjoying good wine and food, really love listening to live music. We had occasion recently to attend a concert at an old and respected venue. In searching for a spot to grab a pre-show meal, Karen found a “wine bar” within walking distance, so that was our obvious choice.

First the good…

Contributing Editor Michael Perlis

The food was awesome. Small plates, designed for sharing, with a heavy Asian influence. The pricing was reasonable and the menu was almost an embarrassment of riches. We finally settled on the fois gras sampler, calamari, baby octopus, and pot stickers. All delicious. The chef/owner is clearly very talented.

Our server was also terrific. Cheerful, enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the menu. And she offered tastes of any wines we were interested in before committing to a glass or a bottle. That’s a nice touch. In addition, I got total cooperation when I felt the red wine we ordered was too warm [as it had been stored at room temperature] and wanted an ice bucket to cool it closer to cellar temperature – in the past, I’ve gotten eye-rolling from supposedly more knowledgeable servers at this request.

The décor was nice as well, with a couple of bars as well as ample table seating. I felt it could be a great place that would be a nice attraction for pre- and post-concert goers, especially since that venue was practically across the street.

Yet, the place was dead. Admittedly, this was very early on a Friday night, but we were the only customers for most of the time we were there. I have no idea how busy they might be at other times, but the lack of customers might have something to do with…

The bad…

Maybe my standards are too high, but if you are going to call yourself a wine bar then you need to live up to that, especially since there are so many outstanding wine bars worthy of the title around these days, as well as customers savvy enough to know the difference.

The wine list was reasonably extensive, but frankly seemed uninspired. There was little on it that made me want to say: “I want to try that.” [One smart item on the list was Charles Smith’s always delicious Kung Fu Girl Riesling, although I suspect that may have been as much for the name of the wine as for the wine in the bottle.] I can see novice wine drinkers having enough selections to try, but for anyone who wanted to expand their horizons, the list fell short.

But the biggest issue was with the service. And I say this with regret because, as I said above, our server was in fact absolutely delightful. And, as pointed out above, she did respond immediately to my request for an ice bucket, for which I give her props. The issue, though, was obviously lack of training. Here’s how the wine service went.

I asked for and received a taste of an Argentinean Malbec – I was trying to inspire myself with a variety I don’t have very often. It was tasty, so we ordered a bottle. So far so good. Our server brought the bottle [which had been standing upright on an open shelf – hence the ice bucket request] and two glasses, which she placed on the empty table next to us. [Side note – the glasses were just adequate. Again, if you are calling yourself a wine bar, please make the effort of having appropriate glassware.]

She then opened the bottle with the foil cutter, cutting around the top rim of the bottle. It was actually a nice clean cut, but the more proper approach is to cut the foil below that first bulge at the top of the bottle. There is a reason for doing it this way besides appearance – when you pour the wine, you don’t want it coming in contact with the foil for hygienic reasons.

Here is a good video by Ray Isle of Food & Wine magazine showing how to open a bottle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_JX8xUm1II

You may say I am nitpicking on this one, and perhaps I am. But, again, this place calls itself a wine bar.

Our server then poured us each a glass of the wine we had ordered, holding each glass by the bowl and tilting it as she poured, and served our wine to us. She put the bottle in the bucket as requested and left us to enjoy our wine.

I assume if you’ve read this far you know what I am going to rant about next…

No presentation of the bottle for approval? And please don’t pour my wine like it is a beer. Put the glass on the table and pour me a taste. Clearly, these are major training issues.

I think I’m about done with my w[h]ining here. My advice to this place would be either not to call yourself a wine bar [call yourself something that evokes your Asian tapas-style menu] or, if you really want to be a wine bar, then “up your game”. Wine drinkers are sophisticated and have money to spend; cater to them.

I purposely did not “out” the name of this place – maybe they just a bad day [or maybe I did] and I don’t believe it is up to me to damage anyone’s livelihood. I did leave my card though; I’ll let you know if I hear from them.

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.

May 2010 Vintage Beacon: Wine Tasting Education

January 20, 2015 by evebushman

There’s a new kind of wine tasting in town! This time it’s on May 13 (2010) at Salt Creek Grille and benefits our own College of The Canyons Foundation. Skip Newhall, local resident leading the tasting, was kind enough to give me a few more details on what makes this event unique.

What can guests expect at this event?

The fundamental goal of the event is for guests to enjoy themselves and actually learn a bit about wine. In most tastings or dinners, particularly those put on by a winery, guests sample one wine per course of food, so there is no real comparison between wines. Furthermore, sometimes too much wine is poured, diminishing people’s palate sensitivity and attention span. This tasting is built around side-by-side comparisons of pairs of wines, highlighting attributes of the wines that might otherwise go unnoticed. People will also learn about why each course of food is complemented by the wine and why a different food selection might not work as well.

Please tell wine 101 readers a little about your wine expertise:

I have been a wine hobbyist/aficionado for about 45 years. I am the original founder of the annual Santa Clarita Valley Wine Classic, which was first held in 1984, and I was the director for more than 10 years, and was a volunteer for several more years.

This event benefits the COC Foundation. What is the money targeted for?

One part of the COC Foundation is the Library Associates. The proceeds from this event will go to the Library Associates endowment fund.

A Little More Information

The College of the Canyons will present the inaugural SuperTasting Wine Dinner on Thursday, May 13 (2010) at The Salt Creek Grille.

This unique, superior event will feature wines from eight wineries and will emphasize a comparison of selected wines in several categories:

How does glass size affect your enjoyment of a good wine? Find out with a 2005 Napa Valley Hewitt Cabernet Sauvignon [the results may surprise you].

Does country of origin make a difference? You will sample two Sauvignon Blancs — one from New Zealand and one from the Napa Valley.

What about vintage year? We have two vintages of a Napa Valley Chardonnay: 2007 and 2008.

How different are similar varieties? Find out when we compare two Napa red wines from Beaulieu Vineyards: 2005 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2005 Rutherford Merlot.

Of course, we can’t forget a dessert wine: 2007 Muscato from California’s Central Coast region.

And with all this, there will be four courses of food specially selected and prepared to complement the wines.

Wine 101: Glassware

August 1, 2014 by evebushman

There is quite a bit of discussion on the proper glassware, also referred to as stemware, which will allow the wine drinker the best experience possible. Some, if not most, of the information out there is valid, but the final decision is up to you, the buyer. What I hope to accomplish in this column is a little wine 101 education to help you make an educated decision.

Colors and Design

Who hasn’t been excited to receive a perfectly hand-painted wine glass? How about a personalized etched wine glass at a tasting event? And branded stemware that is handed out, along with a tasting fee, at your favorite winery tasting room? I have a drawer full of them, and even more line a curio cabinet in my dining room. However, trying to evaluate the color of a wine is near impossible in any of them, along with expensive cut crystal and, lest we forget, colored glass. I suggest you put these all away too.

Shape

A wine glass in an odd shape, say too large or too small of a bowl, makes it difficult to detect aromas. However, a smooth sided crystal wine glass, in the traditional Cabernet Sauvignon (also for Merlot and Bordeaux) shape is perfect. Another shape, a glass with a more bowl-like appearance, is suited for getting the most from aromas and flavors in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Those types of glasses are what you should expect when visiting a wine bar or wine-themed restaurant. At home the traditional shaped Cabernet glass is more than acceptable.

Crystal and Riedel

Just as I stated above, colored or cut crystal stemware makes it problematic to judge your wine’s color. Along with that, some small tulip-styled shapes that crystal glasses are sometimes made in are not conducive to evaluate taste. With that all said, a thinner crystal-type glass is considered more acceptable than a thick glass with an equally thick stem. The wine glasses I prefer to use, and constantly have to replace are Riedel and Spiegelau.

Note: Many people have either attended a Riedel (pronounced like needle) tasting seminar or espouse the greater benefit of tasting from a Riedel glass, including famed wine critic Robert Parker. In fact, they have a whole line of glasses depending on the wine varietal you are drinking. Many are skeptical of the purported differences, and an article in Gourmet Magazine attempted to dispel the test results. But they do have their true believers so you might want to see for yourself. For me, the jury is still out, but I’ve never turned a Riedel glass down.

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.