Eve Gets In On: The 47th Annual US Amateur Wine Competition with Cellarmasters LA

July 16, 2021 by evebushman

What do you know about home winemaking? Or better yet, what do you know about judging home winemaking efforts? I learned about both when I was installed as a judge for the 47th Annual US Amateur Wine Competition put on by Cellarmasters LA. Check out the Competition Score Sheet (photo) that covered a lot of information. These winemakers are not just looking for a medal, they also want to learn from the reasons why we awarded a particular Gold, Silver, Bronze, Honorable Mention or none at all.

From fellow judge and friend, Denise Lowe, Goddess of Wine I learned that “The Cellarmasters have been doing it for a long time, and they’ve got their system worked out. The most important difference between professional competitions and home winemakers is that you want to encourage the winemakers to improve, so whatever ranking you decide on (Gold, Silver, Bronze, No Medal), your notes should reflect your decision, and you are free to suggest improvement ideas, if you so choose. The winemakers get copies of the scoring sheets, so they see how the decisions were made.”

In the past competitions I’ve worked on it’s been more like speed dating: aroma, taste, evaluate, score and move on as you usually have quite a lot to taste in a flight. Once you have completed evaluating your flight you then go back and discuss each wine with your panel – and be prepared to defend any medal you may have awarded. All of the judges, and this was the same for Cellarmasters, have to agree on the medal, and in some rare cases when a wine is faulty, the non-medal.

So this is how it was for me with Cellarmasters. Before we got started with our panel and the serious work of studying our wine samples, we got a great lesson on how to use the Cellarmaster Home Winemaking Competition Score Sheet with member Andy Coradeschi. We were to start with 20 points for each wine and take away half or full points if a wine didn’t hit the mark in several categories. If you look at the photo you can see all of the categories we were to study and evaluate. The area on the right side of the form, the empty boxes, are for us to share some of our thoughts with the winemakers that would be getting a copy of all of our notes. Some were thoughts on how to improve the wine, and some were specific positive and negatives we wanted to make sure they knew. (I asked if I could take some blank score sheets home to share with wine friends that may want to use in any wine tasting, of course they said yes.)

We had about 17 wines per day to judge, red Rhônes the first day and whites the second. Didn’t seem like very much to me, but in using the score sheet and being aware that the winemakers would be reading them, I took quite a bit of time really thinking about what I thought of a particular wine, and of course, if the winemaker may benefit from my notes. Many of the wines were sent in solely for feedback and it was a learning process for the winemakers. (Another long-standing judge confirmed this.) It was a great learning process for me as well and I look forward to honing my skills again with the group.

And on the wines, just a splash, we had a killer blood-orange colored Black Muscat. It was our final wine on the last day and it hit all of the sweet spots for our panel. Yep, we gave it a Gold Medal.

The Cellarmasters Mission Statement: The Cellarmasters of Los Angeles Home Winemaking Club is dedicated to educating, improving, and spreading the craft of home winemaking. The Club has sponsored and presented the Annual U.S. Amateur Home Winemaking Competition for the past 47 years.

https://cellarmastersla.org

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.

How to NOT Gather over Wine and Spirits

January 15, 2021 by evebushman

We wine (and spirit) drinkers are social beasts. We like to drink with friends, discuss a wine or spirit, and maybe settle in for a lengthy multi-bottle tasting over a long luxurious meal. So the question I had was: What have you done, or would like to do, to enjoy liquor without gathering with friends?

For me I’ve had more time to study wine, and am working on some “single bottle posts” where I dedicate an entire blog post to one wine or spirit. What about you? Here are three answers to my query, each expressing a different idea that I’m sharing with my comments:

This was an all-white party celebrating red wine, and orchestrated by my wine friend Doug Gould years ago. Hope we can all gather together safely soon.

Virtual tasting was Mary G’s choice: I am going to virtually taste with my best friend six different sparkling wines six different days! Since we can’t do together right now.

From EB: That’s a lot of sparkling wine, I hope Mary and her pal have splits as those bubbles won’t keep. But yes, ordering the same wine with a pal, and virtually taste together, mimics a real get together. If it were me I would add tasting notes, and see how they compare.

Also, I love that this is just with one good pal, because if they were doing this with a bunch of people over zoom most would have to be muted. And muting isn’t fun at all in my opinion. When I go to a winery tasting room (or a distillery) I get to talk to a representative, owner or winemaker/distiller. Sure, I need to listen, but then I need to ask questions.

Wine Education is something Cathy M is interested in: Interesting…I want to learn more about LA County’s past involvement with wine and spirits. From what I’ve read LA would have resembled wine growing regions like France. Stupid prohibition.

From EB: I think it would be most interesting to hear from LA County winemakers in a class that also includes flights to purchase. Again, as it’s just going to be me and a bottle it’s a bit much to do alone. Oh yea, and I think prohibition was stupid too.

Note: I know some winemakers are offering zoom classes, and I use LearnAboutWine.com and LocalWineEvents.com for finding those. But most Zoom formats are selling something, which is reasonable. Our wineries are in a hard spot right now and we do want to support them, whether you are offered wines by the bottle or flight, do what suits you and your budget.

Innovative distanced gatherings are what Katy M has been doing: Necessity is the mother of invention. We’ve enjoyed themed dinners over Zoom, gathered regularly at a neighborhood park safely distanced and celebrated ‘next’ to each other on our porches. Having to come up with these solutions has made me appreciate the people in my life even more.

From EB: Katy sounds like the perfect party planner that can adapt to any situation. I adore that she is so involved with her neighbors and community. I think she’s really onto something. Motivating me a bit to try to organize a block party, if we are still on lockdown when the weather warms up, where we each gather in front of our homes/driveways to enjoy a meal and drinks NEAR each other.

Back in March of 2020 I tried to organize a block party and a couple of neighbors strolled by, at a distance. We sat on the curb to chat a little and drink wine. It’s time to get back to that. And to being good neighbors.

Conclusion: Did you notice that Zoom meetings are not the only way to enjoy wines with friends? I did. We also had no clue that this situation would last so long. It’s time to get back to checking in with each other, and talking over some ideas to enjoy wine and spirits without gathering. If you have more ideas please share them: Eve@EveWine101.com

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Women Who Whiskey and Straightaway Cocktails? Yes! Because Not All Whisky Drinkers Stick to Whiskey Alone!

September 18, 2020 by evebushman

Been a member of the Women Who Whiskey group since I first discovered their LA chapter a few years back, but I had never made it to one of their events. Who would have thought that a pandemic, and the ease of Zoom meetings, made joining in finally so easy? This was the invite that grabbed my thirsty attention:

Enjoy FIVE delicious Straightaway Cocktails (+ paired snacks!) at a virtual Happy Hour with Women Who Whiskey members from around California! (There would also be a) Guided Tasting and History… (where we would) Sip and learn about the origins of the following cocktails: Old-Fashioned, Paper Plane (both rye-based), Negroni, Lintik (both gin-based) and The Cosmos (vodka).

The event was held on August 26. The snacks that Straightaway Cocktails included with the cocktails were Marconi almonds, dark chocolate, rosemary bagel chips, corn nuts, and sweet/salty hazelnuts. We picked up the small sample bottles and the pairings at Remedy Liquor in Glendale. (Remedy also carried very limited quantities of 750 ml bottles of Straightaway Cocktails.)

What Happened

At the appointed hour I was let into the Zoom meeting, watched faces pop up and pages grow from one screen to three. Lots of thirsty women out there. Women that usually gather over single malt or whisky cocktails, and yet here they were, anxious to try these drinks, some made with gin and vodka.

Niki Green, the president of Women Who Whiskey Bay Area instigated the event for every chapter statewide. She introduced Cherina Sellens, the GM for Straightaway. Sellens explained that the company was new, about 19 months old, and had two founders. (More information about the founders and the cocktails themselves can be found on their website, listed at the end of this article.) Knowing she was addressing a group of drinkers she quickly got us started. I was able to jot down some tasting notes:

Lintik: A cocktail of gin infused with bitters and lemon, reminded me of a Limoncello laced martini, as it had none of the cloying sweetness that can sometimes be the case in a straight Limoncello, but with the same rich mouthfeel. Sellens said that the cocktail itself was over 90 years old. I liked the aroma, the balance of tart and sweet, the lightness and found it very refreshing. Sellens prompted us to save a bit to mix with our next drink which was…

The Cosmos: A vodka cocktail in the spirit of a Cosmopolitan but without the pink to red coloring, and a lot less sweet. I think everyone liked this drink far better than Carrie Bradshaw’s of Sex in the City fame. Sellens called it their “Blanco” version. I found it very interesting, with lots of citrus and ginger, which paired nicely with their ginger candy and Marcona almonds that are roasted in olive oil. Also tasted great with just a splash that I had left of the Lintik.

Negroni: This one was sadly missing from my sample box. I’m a big fan of the cocktail and it was described as being made with gin, liqueur, vermouth and cochineal extract. Sellens said that historically the drink was too sweet, so bartenders added more gin.

Paper Plane: Unfamiliar with this rye whiskey-based cocktail, it reminded me of a nicely spiced Whiskey Sour. This drink was Sellens’ favorite. Straightaway makes their own Amaro, and the Paper Plane, as well as the Negroni, benefited from the flavor.

Oregon Old Fashioned: This may have been my favorite drink. Certainly was my favorite pairing as it came with chocolate covered hazelnuts. The difference in this one compared a standard Old Fashioned was the addition of Filbert and Fir bitters, both of which are found in Oregon where the company is based.

One more tasty idea: Anyone that likes low-alcohol Spritzers (and who doesn’t when it’s nice and toasty out?) look for these: Negroni Spritz, Apico Spritz, Last Word Spritz and Fiore Spritz. All are made with their in-house amaros. Information on the full ingredients can be found on their website below.

My conclusion

In a time of Covid or not, having batched and bottled ready-to-drink cocktails is a great convenience. Of the ones I’d tried before I felt most were lacking in flavor, balance, and/or alcohol content. It was not the case with these from Straightaway. I will purchase them again, at Remedy Liquor in Glendale, or locally if I can find them.

https://www.straightawaycocktails.com/

Grown in Los Angeles: Eve Gets A Taste of LA Wine

March 13, 2020 by evebushman

What a treat! Tasting from only four wineries – that specialize in making wine from LA County grapes! I knew three of the four already from past tastings, but this time it was a true focus on what they can do as we compared each. Below is the invite, wine list (hyperlinks go to their Facebook pages) and my notes. Photos are here.

Jasper Dickson at the helm of his winery. (Co-owner Amy Luftig Viste not pictured.)

Invitation

Come join The Los Angeles Vintner’s Association at Angeleno Wine Company …for an extraordinary tasting of locally grown, Los Angeles wine! We’ve gathered four amazing local wineries, and assembled a line-up of 10+ incredible wines, all grown right here in Los Angeles County. Come meet the winemakers, and discover the true potential of local wine as you taste your way through this diverse collection of styles, single varietals, and blends.

Participating wineries include: Angeleno Wine Company, Acri Wine Co, Byron Blatty Wines, and Cavaletti Vineyards.

Acri Wine Company – This was a new winery for me to try. All were barrel samples but showed great fruit and potential. Especially the 2019 Sangiovese, also from the Antelope Valley. My husband liked the depth in the 2018 Syrah and likewise thought it would cellar nicely.

2018 Syrah, Antelope Valley

2019 Zinfandel Barrel Sample, Antelope Valley

2019 Sangiovese, Antelope Valley.

Angeleno Wine Company – Our host winery for the event, about 60 minutes away and definitely worth a visit. Besides the list below I also snagged a sample of their chilled orange wine – made orange by skin contact with these Spanish/Portuguese grapes I was unfamiliar with: Treixadura, Godello and Loureiro. These same varietals were also in the White Field Blend I favored, with the addition of Albariño.

2017 White Field Blend, Sierra Pelona Valley

2018 Bike Path Red (also served a little chilled, blend of Tempranillo and Grenache) Sierra Pelona Valley

2017 Grenache, Sierra Pelona Valley (This is from the Alonso Family Vineyards. They also make their own label, and by “they” I mean Juan Alonso. He has made his own wine for many years, and is the longtime owner of Le Chene.)

Byron Blatty Wines – Mark Blatty was there charming the guests, as usual, suffice it to say he had the busiest table. My favorite wine in his lineup was the 2016 Evenfall Red (I jokingly call it my namesake!) blend of Tempranillo and Petite Sirah. His Syrah and Malbec garnered a lot of attention, and an extra special pour of his soon-to-be released proprietary red – only 23 cases – of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot, was powerful! Stay tuned for that release. I predict this to be my next favorite from Byron Blatty.

2016 Agenda Syrah, Los Angeles County

2016 Evenfall Red, Los Angeles County

2017 Pragmatic Malbec, Los Angeles County

Cavaletti Vineyards – With a tasting room in nearby Moorpark, this is a winery to visit. Besides the wines listed below owner/winemaker Patrick Kelley also shared a 2018 Nebbiolo. I enjoyed them all, with special nods to the Cab and Nebbiolo, really fine fruit that will develop with a little more aging. I bought two of his Rose, a blend of Tempranillo and Grenache, as it was very good and the price was only about $25 per bottle.

2018 109 Mile Rosé, Los Angeles County

2018 Swayze (not Patrick) Grenache, Antelope Valley

2018 Whispering Bells Cabernet Sauvignon, Malibu Coast

Angeleno Wine Company is located at 1646 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Tasting Five From Byron Blatty Wines

September 6, 2019 by evebushman

I know, lots about Byron Blatty Wines from me lately, but this time I actually took some time to try five of their wines for review and write up the full tasting notes. Not only examining aromas and flavors alone, I invited about 15 ladies from the Winey Women Unwind meet-up group to join me for “collective” tasting notes and feedback. Let’s see what everyone thought:

2018 Rosé, 100% Grenache. Neenach Ranch Vineyard, Antelope Valley

Aroma: Pear blossom, strawberry, sandalwood, musk.

Flavor: Bruised yellow apple, tart and sweet fruit, grapefruit, tequila.

One of our Wine-y Women is not a red wine fan, she was happy to sip on this Grenache Rose for the remainder of the night!

2016 Agenda, 85% Syrah, 15% Tannat. Alonso Family Vineyards, Sierra Pelona Valley (the Tannat came from Bella Collina, Adelaida District, Paso Robles.)

91 points, Editor’s Choice, Wine Enthusiast

Aroma: Chocolate, vanilla, sugar, plum, black currant, raisin and dust.

Flavor: Blackberry, tart dark cherry, crushed plum, earth and tannin.

The ladies were surprised to learn that Alonso Family Vineyards is owned and run by Juan Alonso, owner of our own LA County based Le Chene restaurant.

2017 Tremor, 65% Grenache, 30% Merlot, 5% Syrah. From Neenach Ranch Vineyard (Grenache), Smith Family Vineyards (Merlot), Alonso Family Vineyards (Syrah). All vineyards run parallel to the San Andreas Fault.

Aroma: Cloves, wheat toast, black fruit, port wine, vanilla, plum jam.

Flavor: Blackberry, blueberry, vanilla, allspice, mulled wine.

This was the first favorite of more than half of the ladies. The wine had also been decanted in advance into…my new #PortoVinoWinePurse.

2016 Evenfall 65% Tempranillo, 25% Petite Sirah, 10% Merlot. Neenach Ranch Vineyard, Antelope Valley (Grenache), Manini Vineyard, Paso Robles (Petite Sirah), Smith Family Vineyards, Los Angeles County (Merlot).

Aroma: Black licorice, musty/dusty, green peppercorn, dark fruit and dark chocolate.

Flavor: Tri-color peppercorn, dark, big and jammy with black cherry and caramel notes.

This is my personal favorite, and I was happy to see that the group agreed with my assessment of quality. They also learned that winemakers Nate Hasper and Steve Lemley, of our own Pulchella Winery, were the winemakers for all of Byron Blatty’s wines.

2017 Undertake 60% Zinfandel, 25% Petite Sirah, 10% Merlot, 5% Syrah. All from the Northeast LA County, except for the Petite Sirah which came from Paso.

Aroma: Raspberry, red licorice, blackberry, black pepper and bright cherry – a nice mix of red and black fruit.

Flavor: Earthy, mushroom, blackberry jam and cranberry tea.

The Zin lovers in the room, and there were many, were really happy with this Zin. A couple made it their favorite in the tasting.

One quote from the evening says it all, from Samantha F., “I feel like the last three wines we tasted grew richer and richer as we progressed along.” I had to agree as most if not all of the women were growing in fandom as we moved along as well.

To inquire about Membership options please email mark@byronblatty.com or see their website: https://byronblatty.com/membership