New Vinotemp Tall Cabinet Wood Wrap Adds Fresh Style That Pairs Perfectly With its Wine Coolers

November 28, 2021 by evebushman

HENDERSON, NEV. (PRWEB) – Vinotemp®, the leading wine storage solutions and appliance provider, launched its Tall Cabinet Wood Wrap, a freestanding shelving unit that offers the versatility to fit a medium or tall Vinotemp wine cooler, or the solid wood shelves can be removed altogether to make room for glassware storage. The modular nature of the Tall Cabinet allows for almost endless combinations that fit any home and can be put together to create a complete mini-bar solution for effortless entertaining.

The versatility of the Tall Cabinet doesn’t stop with the option of wine cooler size, freestanding or built-in. The unit can also be outfitted with a hanging stemware rack so everything needed to enjoy a wine collection is in one place.

Also take a look at the Backlit Commerical Wine Coolers:

This showy unit is all about creating a spectacular display for your best bottles. Streamlined patent pending stainless steel wine racks ensure that your bottles are properly secured while maximizing the visibility of wine bottle labels. Its patented interior Backlit™ panel has three different light-emitting diode (LED) options – Heliotrope, Amber and Vinotemp BioBlu™ (which helps reduce the growth of bacteria and mold) – and can be selected at any given time or the interior lighting can be turned off.

For more information on the new Tall Cabinet Wood Wrap and Vinotemp’s full product line, visit http://www.vinotemp.com.

Lake County Wines Reach New a Pinnacle

November 14, 2020 by evebushman

KELSEYVILLE, Calif., PRNewswire — Lake County received the highest rating ever achieved by a wine from its region – receiving a 96 point rating for the 2016 Sol Rouge Petite Sirah from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Lake County, a small wine growing region directly north of Napa, used to be part of Napa County and was said to have grown as many grapes as Napa in the 1900s. However, the 1920 Prohibition brought an end to Lake County wine production as vines were removed and planted with other crops.

Lake County’s re-emergence in the wine industry began in the 1960s and grew from less than 100 acres in 1965 to nearly 10,000 acres today. Although large premium Napa Valley grape growers like Beringer and Beckstoffer Vineyards established themselves in the county, few wineries included “Lake County” on their labels, as most wine was often blended into that of Napa Valley and Sonoma wines.

In 2007, a dozen wineries in Lake County including Sol Rouge Winery, established the Lake County Winery Association to promote awareness. At the time, Lake County wines were relatively unknown or reviewed by the top wine magazines with only a few wines receiving a 90+ point rating. Most of these wines were made by Napa winemakers like Thomas Rivers Brown, maker of the Schrader Cellars Double Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon from Beckstoffer’s Amber Knolls Vineyard.

Today, the Lake County Winery Association has over three dozen vintners like Shannon Ridge, Gregory Graham, Brassfield, Hawk & Horse, and Obsidian Ridge, who commonly make wines in the 90-95 point range. “We’ve seen a trend in higher ratings from all of our Lake County wineries and this rating is just another example of how wineries are producing world-class wines from Lake County,” said Helena Walsh, Director of Lake County Winery Association.

The 2016 Sol Rouge Petite Sirah put Lake County in a completely different league, scoring a 96 point rating by one of the top wine review magazines – the highest in the county’s 50+ year history of winemaking. “I actually never checked on how rare that rating was. I tasted the Sol Rouge Petite Sirah blind of course, along with a few other Petites from Lake and two other appellations, so when I scored it I didn’t know the AVA. It’s a magnificent wine and a great example of how good the Lake County terroir can be,” said Jim Gordon, Contributing Editor, Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

“When we planted the Sol Rouge Vineyard, we sought to grow the best possible grapes to make the finest wine we could,” said Bryan Kane, Co-Owner & Winemaker of Sol Rouge Vineyard & Winery. “When we came to Lake County, the highest rating from one of the Big 3 (Spectator, Enthusiast & Parker) was 92 points. So far, we’ve earned 90–94 points on 44 of our 51 Lake County wines, with the majority scoring 92-94 points.” Bryan attributes the higher scores amongst Lake County wines both improved winemaking and the excellent growing conditions.

“Lake County produces some of the most distinct winegrapes in the world, and over the years, we’ve seen a steady increase in recognition of the region’s wines,” said Debra Sommerfield, President of the Lake County Winegrape Commission. “This impressive rating further substantiates Lake County’s position as a top-tier winegrowing region.”

With all the recent devastation to the Napa and Sonoma wine growing regions caused by the Glass and LNU Lightning Complex fires, wineries have been looking to Lake County for grapes. Jim Smith of Case by Case Wine Brokers states, “We have been challenged as of late with the soaring demand of winegrapes from Lake County. I believe the work is out on what winemakers can expect from our wine growing region.”

“We are honored and excited to have received such a high rating on our 2016 Petite Sirah and expect that Sol Rouge and others will continue to aspire to make highly rated world class wines,” stated Jill Brothers, Sol Rouge Co-Owner and Winegrower.

ABOUT SOL ROUGE

Sol Rouge is a family estate located in the Mayacamas Mountains at elevations averaging over 1800 feet. North of Napa in the foothills of a dormant volcano which formed the North Coast wine country in the Red Hills Appellation of Lake County, this land contains rich, red volcanic soil and, from this unique profile, Sol Rouge derived its name – translating to “Red Soil” in French. This 70 acre estate is planted with Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsaut, Counoise, Zinfandel, Petite Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc in a “high vine density” configuration allowing each vine to focus on fewer clusters of fruit, leading to greater complexity. Nestled between Mt. Konocti and Benson Ridge, this aggressive sight is all hillside with slopes up to 60% and is said to be the most aggressive and tightly planted vineyard in the Red Hills, with nearly 6000 vines per hectare in some blocks. For more information, see http://www.solrouge.com

2016 Sol Rouge Petite Sirah Wine Enthusiast Magazine Review: https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/sol-rouge-2016-petite-sirah-lake-county/

WhistlePig Rye Introduces World’s Most Daring Whiskey – The Boss Hog VII: Magellan’s Atlantic

October 28, 2020 by evebushman

SHOREHAM, VT. (PRWEB) – WhistlePig Whiskey announces the arrival of the seventh edition in their boldest and most innovative Rye collection, The Boss Hog VII: Magellan’s Atlantic. Now available for pre-order via Caskers, Magellan’s Atlantic embodies WhistlePig’s continued quest to take American whiskey into uncharted territory. The limited edition features Straight Rye Whiskey aged for 17 years in American Oak, then finished in rare Spanish Oak, followed by a second finish in South American Teakwood casks – a journey truly representing the award-winning brand’s pursuit to deliver unprecedented whiskey to the market.

Inspired by the first recorded circumnavigation of the earth, The Boss Hog VII: Magellan’s Atlantic captures the historic voyage of an intrepid crew who embarked from Spain in 1519 and made landfall in present-day Brazil before navigating the perilous strait that would come to bear their captain’s name. Like Magellan’s daring endeavor, the path for finishing this precious, aged whiskey was anything but certain.

WhistlePig’s Spanish oak casks originate in the mountainous forests of Northern Spain (Cantabria). Unlike American white oak, this Spanish oak is high in tannins, knotty and porous. It is incredibly challenging to make staves from and the final casks are prone to leakage and excess evaporation. While difficult to source and dangerous to use, the wood delivers intense flavors, with heightened interaction between spirit and oak, creating unparalleled complexity in the whiskey.

While previous editions of The Boss Hog were finished in one outstanding cask, WhistlePig’s young and imaginative whiskey team sensed there was another step in the journey to fully unlock the potential of The Boss Hog VII. For its final finish, South American Teakwood casks are sustainably sourced from Brazil. The new Teakwood adds rich notes of baking spices and a sweet, toasted character, complementing the intense spiciness of the Spanish oak.

“We have experimented South American Teakwood on just a handful of barrels in the past, and both this and the New Spanish Oak are uncommon in the whiskey world,” says Meghan Ireland, Maturation Chemist, WhistlePig. “It’s been the least predictable and most intensive edition of The Boss Hog to date, but well worth the trials and effort.”

“The Spanish oak casks deliver a unique and unparalleled flavor and South American Teakwood was among the most coveted Bespoke Barrels in our exclusive Single Barrel program. We anticipated that the combination would make for an unprecedented taste and we couldn’t be happier with the result,” says Jeff Kozak, CEO, WhistlePig.

“Our 17-year-old straight rye whiskey spends three weeks resting in Spanish oak before finishing in South American Teakwood for just three days. The whiskey world has never before seen this truly one of a kind combination of casks, nor has it tasted anything quite like the resulting product and liquid it has produced,” says Pete Lynch, Master Blender, WhistlePig. “A one-hour proprietary toast with the Spanish oak creates a small char layer that removes some tannins but preserves the good ones. A medium level toast grants incredibly aromatic cinnamon, allspice, and roasted nut flavors, while softening the overall intensity of the greener wood notes in the finishing cask.”

On the nose, Magellan’s Atlantic is intensely aromatic, with cinnamon sugar, allspice, and maple. With time, toasted wood notes arise alongside creamy vanilla, roasted almonds, and a touch of ground espresso. Spicy cloves and sweet brandied cherries abound, with baking spices rampant. A closer look reveals subtle hints of charred oak, sage, and dark chocolate. Finishing with everlasting gobs of cinnamon, oak spice, and a gentle warmth demand another sip.

The Boss Hog VII: Magellan’s Atlantic is presented in a gift box documenting the quest and crowned with a collectible pewter topper depicting Magellan as a pig in traditional Spanish dress, bravely taking up his sail and an explorer’s staff at the outset of his journey.

Magellan’s Atlantic is just the beginning of WhistlePig’s journey around the globe. Collectors are invited to join the expedition by registering their bottle at TheBossHogVII.com. Using the unique code found on the bottle’s neck label collectors are able to access exclusive content and, in time, discover what lies ahead on the Pacific horizon.

The Boss Hog VII: Magellan’s Atlantic is available in a 750ml, bottled at Proof 105.1-107.8 (52.6-53.9% ABV) with a suggested retail price of $499.99. Like the other editions of The Boss Hog before it, Magellan’s Atlantic will be sold at a variety of premium liquor stores, bars and restaurants across the United States, entering select international markets in the coming weeks, and is now available for pre-sale via Caskers.com.

ABOUT WHISTLEPIG RYE WHISKEY
Founded in 2008, WhistlePig Rye Whiskey is the premier aged Rye whiskey, featuring the bold and often untapped flavor of Rye. WhistlePig Whiskey is leading a surge of innovation in the emerging field of North American whiskey. As the most decorated Rye whiskey – having received the coveted ‘Best in Show Whiskey’ title from the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, WhistlePig is widely viewed as the world’s finest Rye. With the opening of its distillery on its 500-acre Vermont farm in the fall of 2015, WhistlePig has also become one of the leading farm-to-bottle Rye whiskeys in the world. For additional information please visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. Please enjoy WhistlePig Rye Whiskey Responsibly.

“It’s not easy being green”. Sustainable Somm, Brett Zimmerman echoes Jim Henson’s famous quote as he embarks on a journey to help better define “natural” wines and more

September 20, 2020 by evebushman

DENVER /PRNewswire/ — We all know the famous song developed by Jim Henson that became Kermit’s catchphrase. Well, this couldn’t ring more true for the wine & spirits industry. Master Sommelier, Brett Zimmerman has always been passionate about digging into the world of sustainable best practices which has led him to embark on a journey to help define what it means to be green. Much of this space is nebulous, self-declared and not entirely regulated making it difficult to quantify and truly understand.

Brett will use Sustainable Somm as a platform to share his passion and expertise while educating and bringing together experts from around the world to weigh in and help define what it means to be a natural wine & spirits producer and why it is growing in popularity.

Brett will work alongside the non-profit Clean Label Project towards a clear mission to use science and education to inspire the adoption of socially and environmentally responsible agricultural and production practices.

In today’s unprecedented times, health and wellness is becoming more and more important as an everyday lifestyle choice. Consumers are becoming more educated about what they are putting into their bodies and are opting for more natural choices from responsible producers.

[“It is time for the beverage alcohol industry to make some changes to benefit the health of consumers – my mission is to educate and inspire people to make these changes.”], “The goal of Sustainable Somm is to provide one place where we can educate about the natural wine & spirits world, share stories and best practices with the help of leading experts including winemakers, scientists, progressive thinkers, innovators, and agents of change to inform consumer purchase decisions and become the trusted source for this information.

For more information, visit: Sustainablesomm.org, follow Sustainable Somm on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sustainablesomm, and Instagram: www.Instagram.com/sustainablesomm

About BRETT ZIMMERMAN, MS
Owner of Boulder Wine Merchant, Executive Director of Clean Label Project Sustainable Somm
Born and raised in Colorado, Brett Zimmerman discovered his passion for wine as a waiter while studying at the University of Colorado. His love of food and wine and high ambition, landed him sommelier positions at the highly acclaimed Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago and celebrated restaurant Aqua, gaining tremendous knowledge along the way. He successfully opened his own restaurant, Mateo in his native state, and after three years, he left the restaurant business to focus on his true passion – fine wine – taking a position as Colorado’s General Manager of the American Fine Wine Division of Southern Wine and Spirits. This dedication to his craft culminated in the spring of 2007, when Zimmerman successfully passed his Masters Examination and earned the highly coveted distinction of Master Sommelier (only 269 hold this certification in across the world).

With MS under his belt, his continued pursuit of passion led him to purchase Boulder Wine Merchant from fellow Master Sommeliers Wayne Belding and Sally Mohr in August 2010.

Zimmerman also serves as a consultant of the Clean Label Project where Sustainable Somm was born.

Master Zimmerman currently lives in Boulder with his wife and co-owner of the Wine Merchant, and their two sons.

About Sustainable Somm
Sustainable Somm was launched in 2020 by Brett Zimmerman and the national non-profit Clean Label Project with the mission of using science and education to inspire the adoption of socially and environmentally responsible agricultural and production practices. www.sustainablesomm.org

About Clean Label Project
Clean Label Project™ is a national non-profit with the mission to bring truth and transparency to food and consumer product labeling. Visit cleanlabelproject.org for more information on Clean Label Project.

Jumbo Shrimp Guide to Italian Wine

July 26, 2020 by evebushman

VERONA, ITALY (PRWEB) – The current COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly challenging for the Italian wine, with key events cancelled and many consumers cutting back on buying. As a result it is more important than ever to have relevant, up-to-date content that highlights the breadth, depth and quality of Italian wine in a way that is accessible to the broadest possible international audience. The Jumbo Shrimp Guide to Italian Wine was written by four wine professionals; three expats and one Ligurian, who are all based in Verona in order to persue their passion for Italian wine. Their intention was to create a fun and factual reference guide, a so-called “instant book” in a portable format that could be taken anywhere to be used by tourists, wine lovers and students alike.

The book contains the most important elements to gaining an all-around understanding of this broad topic; an overview of the history of Italian viticulture; an exploration through all the wine regions of Italy; a section devoted to wines to try; understanding the labels, appellations and wine language; food and wine pairing suggestions and so much more. The book has been written in an approachable way with fun illustrations so that everyone can take something away from this text, whether you are a Master of Wine Student or someone who knows nothing on the subject but would love to know more. Additional resources in the book include pronunciation guides and key Italian wine terms that will be particularly useful to wine students, or those visiting wineries. As Wine Educator and Franciacorta Ambassador JC Viens commented this guide is “highly recommended. A quick read that simplified the highly complex world of Italian wines. The perfect primer for those who want to know just enough to magnify the pleasure they get from Italian wines, and for those who are about to embark on deep studies on this wonderful topic.”

The guide was much anticipated and so well received that the Italian Wine Podcast decided to allot a regular spot on their show every Thursday. Each week a section of the book is converted into audiobook format and suggestions are given for three “wines to try” to go with the episode. These editions are gaining a loyal following that demonstrates just how necessary a book like the Jumbo Shrimp Guide is. The extracts can be found by visiting italianwinepodcast.com or other podcast platforms such as SoundCloud, ITunes, Spotify; and Stitcher.

Buoyed by the initial feedback, the authors have already begun work on next volume in which they will focus on the Italian north-west wine regions in more detail, but in the same fun approachable style. A proposed release date is set for later this year. Meanwhile the first edition it can be found on Kindle, Amazon.com or directly from the publishers website; http://www.positivepress.net.

South African Wine Harvest Report 2020: Great Season, Remarkable Wines

June 4, 2020 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – South Africa’s 2020 wine grape crop will bring exceptional wines to consumers, following favorable conditions throughout the season. This according to the South African wine industry’s annual Wine Harvest Report 2020.

“Although it’s always important to take our diversity over 10 wine grape growing regions into account, the industry had a very good season overall, which we believe will bring great quality wines to consumers,” says Conrad Schutte, consultation service manager of the wine industry’s representative body Vinpro.

The 2020 wine grape crop is estimated at 1,487,991 tons, according to the latest estimate of industry body SAWIS (South African Wine Industry Information & Systems) on April 24, 2020. It is 8.2% larger than the 2019 harvest.

Weather conditions were favorable in general and the bunch numbers looked promising early in the season, but windy conditions during the set and sensitive berry growth stages resulted in smaller berries and a lighter crop. The season was also characterized by great variation between and even within the same vineyard blocks in areas that experienced dry conditions.

The Stellenbosch, Swartland, Cape South Coast, Paarl and Breedekloof regions all harvested more wine grapes than in 2019, with the Olifants River region almost returning to its normal production levels after being one of the regions hardest hit by the recent drought. The Klein Karoo region still struggles with the ongoing drought, also experienced in certain parts of the Robertson region, while frost damage resulted in great crop losses in the Northern Cape.

The COVID-19 scurry

Although the harvesting season kicked off around two weeks earlier than usual, the unexpected announcement of the COVID-19 lockdown, in effect from March 26, 2020, created a scurry among many producers to harvest the last grapes of the season and complete winemaking processes in cellars. Wine-related activities were initially prohibited, but Government made a last-minute concession which allowed for the harvesting and storage activities essential to prevent the wastage of primary agricultural goods during the lockdown. At the time, around 44,092 tons still needed to be harvested.

“With uncertainties during the announcement of the lockdown some producers decided to harvest the grapes without prejudice just to get it to the cellar, while others waited for optimal ripeness to ensure exceptional quality,” Conrad says.

Wine quality exceptional

“We are excited about the exceptional wines that will flow from the 2020 wine grape crop, with Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay leading the pack,” Conrad says. “The early cultivars showed very good acidity, and the color and tannin analyses in the red wines promise full wines with concentrated flavor profiles.”

The 2020 wine harvest – including juice and concentrate for non-alcoholic purposes, wine for brandy and distilling wine – is expected to amount to 276,377 gallons at an average recovery of 204.7 gallons per ton of grapes.

Ready to take our wines to the market

Following restrictions on both local sales and wine exports during South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown, the industry was relieved that Government allowed for the export of alcoholic products from May 1, 2020, including transport to ports and airports, as well as related activities to prepare wine for exports such as bottling and labeling.

“As an industry we are grateful and relieved to be able to resume exports. This finally enables us to showcase our exceptional new 2020 vintage wines to trade, media and consumers around the world,” comments Siobhan Thompson, CEO of Wines of South Africa.

She continues, “We would like to thank all of our international networks of agents, importers and friends who have never wavered in their support of our wine and our people, despite the challenges we’ve faced as an industry.”

South Africa is the ninth biggest wine producer worldwide and produces about 3.3% of the world’s wine. The wine industry contributes $1.95 billion to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employs nearly 300,000 people.

2019/20 Growing season

Most regions experienced a better post-harvest period than previous years. The leaves fell around the same time or later than usual, vines were healthier and producers had access to post-harvest irrigation water.

Sufficient cold units were accumulated during the winter to break dormancy, while rainfall varied across regions but was mostly below average.

With spring came mostly favorable conditions, which contributed to a somewhat earlier but even budbreak. The early growing season was especially known for good, homogenous shoot growth.

During summer, temperatures were moderate during the ripening period, with the absence of characteristic heat peaks. These conditions particularly bode well for the flavor retention in the grapes. Rainfall during the ripening period relieved pressure on water resources in some regions, while it resulted in a surge in diseases (downy mildew, sour rot and botrytis) and necessitated proper weed control in other areas.

Overview of regions:

Breedekloof
Slightly larger crop than in 2019, mainly driven by the occurrence of wind during berry growth, which had a negative effect on flowering and set.

Cape South Coast
Better yields than the previous season, thanks to favorable climatic conditions, the implementation of Guyot pruning systems, utilization of chemicals to break dormancy and amendments to fertilization programs.

Klein Karoo
Yet another small crop due to the ongoing drought and a shrinking area under vines.

Northern Cape
Lower than expected production, due to severe frost experienced at the end of October in the lower lying areas east of Upington.

Olifants River
A great year as vines are recovering well following the drought and the region had better water supplies than during the previous season.

Paarl
A better crop than in 2019, owing to beneficial post-harvest conditions, sufficient water for irrigation and moderate temperatures during ripening.

Robertson
Smaller yields due to water shortages in certain parts of the region, as well as smaller berries caused by wind during set, a decline in new plantings and the occurrence of botrytis and sour rot following rain in January.

Stellenbosch
A bigger wine grape crop than in 2019, thanks to good reserves being accumulated in the post-harvest period, rain during critical berry growth stages and moderate climate throughout the growing season.

Swartland
Bigger yields than in 2019, characterized by good bunch figures thanks to good post-harvest and winter conditions. Soil profiles were also supplemented well through late winter rainfall.

Worcester
Varying yields throughout the region, with producers recording a somewhat larger crop than in 2019.

See https://vinpro.co.za/ for the full harvest report per region.

About Wines of South Africa
Wines of South Africa (WOSA) is the organization representing all South African producers of wine who export their products. WOSA, which was established in its current form in 1999, has over 500 exporters on its database, comprising all the major South African wine exporters. It is constituted as a not-for-profit company and is totally independent of any producer, wholesaling company or government department but is recognized by the South African Export Council. WOSA’s mandate is to promote the export of all South African wines in key international markets including the United States.

THE ORIGINAL WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB® LAUNCHES THE PURE WINE SERIES

March 18, 2020 by evebushman

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The original Wine of the Month Club®, the nation’s first wine subscription company founded in Los Angeles in 1972, has just launched its Pure Wine Series featuring the purest wines on the planet with a selection of wines that are organic, biodynamic, sustainably produced and more.

Paul Kalemkiarian talks wine with evewine101.com founder Eve Bushman.

With a movement toward more natural wine, where little interference or manipulation is done by the winemaker, the demand for such wines is growing in the marketplace. But, as Paul Kalemkiarian, second-generation owner of Wine of the Month Club, is quick to point out, not all natural wines are ones you’d want to drink. Buzzwords–such as sustainable, organic and biodynamic–require stringent definitions and certifications to be included on a wine label; however, a wine that markets itself as a natural wine–inferring that it’s held to a higher standard– offers a false sense of credence as no such certification exists for “natural wines.”

“This is where I come in,” explains Paul. “Just because a wine label says it’s ‘natural,’ ‘organic,’ or ‘certified sustainable,’ doesn’t mean it tastes good. I have created the Pure Wine Series to highlight the best wines I find in these categories and send them directly to those who are as interested as I am in exploring this subject.”

Bottles from the Pure Wine Series represent several attributes, from sustainable practices such as dry farming and certified organic farming to wines with no added sugar, low sulfur, and those approved by various diets, including vegan, keto and paleo. Members can choose to have two or three bottles shipped to their home or office every 1-3 months, and shipping is always free.

Kalemkiarian has tasted more than 100,000 wines in his lifetime. Every week he conducts his own Tuesday Tasting where he’ll taste up to 70 wines from all over the world. Only the very best will be selected and shipped to his members, including those that make the cut for the Pure Wine Series.

“My dad, who started Wine of the Month Club nearly 50 years ago and still enjoys a glass of wine at age 91, taught me the importance of tasting every wine,” says Kalemkirian. “Whether it smells like vinegar or rotten eggs, you still need to taste it and learn from its flaws. I taste a lot of bad wines that we end up tossing in the garbage, and it pains me when I see that same wine emerge in the marketplace. But that’s what sets us apart from other wine clubs. We don’t rely on algorithms or buy overproduced wine from Europe, we taste each and every wine that will eventually be uncorked by our thousands of members. It may seem old-fashioned, but it’s how we’ve done things for nearly half a century.”

For more information on Wine of the Month Club and its various membership options, visit wineofthemonthclub.com or call 800.949.WINE (9463) Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PST).

About Wine of the Month Club

Founded in 1972, the Original Wine of the Month Club® began in Los Angeles, California as the creation of innovative wine shop owner and first-generation immigrant, Paul Kalemkiarian Sr. “Paul Sr.,” as he’s now known, owned and operated Palos Verdes Wines and Spirits, a premier wine shop in the LA/Malibu area. Kalemkiarian initially conceived of the idea of a monthly wine subscription service to fulfill the needs of loyal Palos Verdes Peninsula customers who had moved out of the area. This idea quickly evolved into Wine of the Month Club, the first wine-by-mail company in the country.

Nearly 50 years later, Wine of the Month Club is owned and operated by Kalemkiarian’s son, Paul Kalemkiarian Jr, known as “Paul K.” Paul K hand selects the wines for each club every month, just as his father did before him. While the quality and value have remained consistent throughout the company’s history, customers can now conveniently order and customize their subscriptions online, choosing from a variety of clubs such as the Classic Series, Vintners Series, Limited Series or regional and varietal-specific clubs such as Napa, Bordeaux and pinot noir. Each shipment comes with a newsletter including information on wine history, food pairing tips, and more, and is backed by a money-back satisfaction guarantee. More information is available online at wineofthemonthclub.com.

500+ Wineries Add Augmented Reality to Labels en Masse

December 22, 2019 by evebushman

GEELONG WEST, Australia /PRNewswire/ — Augmented reality and artificial intelligence are propelling more than 500 wineries across the globe into futuristic marketing that cleverly connects wine-labels with millennial wine-lovers.

Winerytale is a groundbreaking app and platform that lets every winery and wine producer create, manage and market an augmented reality experience for their own labels via a smartphone app.

See AR wine demonstration video

App creator and Winerytale founder Dave Chaffey said 524 wineries from across the world were already part of the trial and accessing the marketing potential of a marriage of artificial intelligence and augmented reality.

Chaffey said in the past few years a handful of wine producers have created augmented reality apps for their specific brand. Winerytale aims to blow the augmented reality door open to any winery in an inexpensive and easy way.

“I don’t believe anything like this has been done to this level before – bringing together artificial intelligence, augmented reality, clever technology, 500 different wineries with different visuals and branding, as well as different languages,” Chaffey said.

“This platform is purpose-built for mass adoption and accessibility to any winery wanting to take advantage of a brand marketing and sales future that will undeniably involve augmented reality.”

The technology behind the App is designed to work on any wine label, using artificial intelligence to scan and recognize labels, and augmented reality to showcase the wine’s backstory by beaming it from an imaginary space inside and outside of the bottle.

Through that technology, multimedia branding content comes alive including winery tour videos, wine tasting notes, food pairing suggestions or nearby stockists.

The Winerytale team has also created a “fanwall” for every wine label. Through the use of augmented reality, the fanwall appears to be inside the wine bottle and – driven by hashtags – displays images of the wine’s biggest fans inside the bottle.

Given this potential, field testing of the Winerytale App has attracted world-wide interest and a selection of leading wine producers are on board from across Australia and New Zealand, as well as from wine regions in South Africa, France, North America, Canada, Croatia, Lebanon and Mexico.

Chaffey said the wineries involved in testing the beta version of the App are small to mid-level where the App has the ability to help them reach a broader market, boosting brand recognition and sales.

“Current world consumers – millennial or not – live their lives through their phones and being able to give them the information they need, in a way they want, influencing the choices they make and harnessing that purchasing power is a no brainer,” he said.

“When you switch the Winerytale app on, it becomes instantly activated on every bottle. And having every bottle activated is like having thousands of marketing machines all going to work for these wineries.

“The app allows them to tell their story, and through the App’s connection to social media, gives insta-obsessed customers their own virtual connection to the brands they love to love.”

Through the App field trials, Winerytale is also rolling out location-based services (where the wine bottle in your hand knows where it is and adapts the content) with self-translating wine bottles to follow in 2020. For example, a European traveler in Asia, could easily view information about a wine, which changes if they are within a winery’s boundaries, in a language they can fully comprehend.

“Through Winerytale, the wine industry is becoming an early adopter of technology that has the potential to be used across multiple industries like pharmaceutical and grocery,” Chaffey said.

“It will just build on our current internet-based consumer habits. Want to know something about a product? Ask your artificial intelligence and augmented reality-powered App!”

Download the App

Gambero Rosso ‘Winery of the Year 2020’ Honor Goes to Frescobaldi Toscana

December 19, 2019 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – The renowned wine producer Frescobaldi Toscana has been named ’Winery of the Year’ by Gambero Rosso, Italy’s premier authority on wine, and recently joined the Altagamma Foundation, a cooperative of Italian luxury brands across multiple sectors. These recognition’s confirm Frescobaldi’s commitment to high quality production and excellence.

Established in 1986, Gambero Rosso is the world’s most trusted resource on Italian food, wine and travel. Frescobaldi was recognized for its historic legacy for quality wine production, strategic expansions and continued growth across all their estates.

“We bestowed the award of “Winery of the Year” upon Frescobaldi for its success in combining tradition with strategic vision and innovation, for its unceasing drive for absolute excellence and uncompromising attention to detail, from the selection of the grapes to label design,” said the official statement by Marco Sabellico, Gambero Rosso Guide Editor, together with English Language Editor Gianni Fabrizio. They continue, “Their commitment, particularly obvious in recent years, to bringing out the unique qualities of each terroir and the professionalism of their staff find few peers in the Italian and international wine world. Here are a family and a winery that are worthy ambassadors to the world of Italy and its values”.

“Our philosophy, Cultivating Toscana Diversity, means that each of our wine estates has its own managing director, and its own winemaker as well, usually a young professional with international experience. Nicolò D’Afflitto, our winemaking director since 1990, coordinates all these operations,” stated Frescobaldi Group President Lamberto Frescobaldi. “Our unwavering intention is to showcase the talents, if you will, of every single terroir, and of every individual vineyard, assisting the vines, for example, to find their own balance, in natural processes that privilege the use of non-chemical fertilizers and grasses in cover-cropping. That of course also involves meticulously planned and executed winemaking efforts, all overseen by our winemaker and technical director, Nicolò d’Afflitto”.

Earlier this year, Frescobaldi Toscana joined some of the top luxury consumer brands and wine producers of Italy as a member of the Altagamma Foundation, where they represent the winemaking sector. Founded in 1992, the mission of Altagamma is to contribute to the growth and competitive success of Italy’s high-end creative and culture industries as well as the country’s economic development. Notable members include Gucci, Fendi, Ferrari, Versace, and Alfa Romeo.

“Entering Altagamma means that Frescobaldi joins the ranks of Italy’s finest brands”, says Lamberto Frescobaldi. “Those who share a common DNA which boasts of a higher level of performance and that elevated Italian lifestyle, which in a unique way marries together the culture and creativity of our Italy. We look forward to involving ourselves in the foundation’s shared initiatives and to dedicating our team to the mission of gaining appreciation across the globe for the world-class products of the regions of which we are ambassadors.”

About Frescobaldi Toscana | en.frescobaldi.com
Frescobaldi Toscana, the leading wine producer of Tuscany and one of the most historic and respected wine companies in the world, combines centuries of tradition with progressive winemaking techniques and practices. Founded in the 14th century and a supplier of wines to the royal courts of Europe for generations, Frescobaldi Toscana is still a family-owned company today. Comprised of seven distinct estates totaling approximately 1,300 hectares, Frescobaldi Toscana produces terroir-driven wines utilizing only the grapes grown in its own vineyards. The company continually upgrades and modernizes its grape growing and winemaking operations, maintaining a relentless focus on producing unique wines that express the individuality of each unique terroir from which they are produced.

Self-Translating Wine Labels Becoming the New Standard

August 11, 2019 by evebushman

GEELONG, Australia, PRNewswire/ — Clever technology, enabling shoppers to read wine labels written in any language will soon become the standard among savvy shoppers, according to Digital Marketing Specialist Dave Chaffey.

Third Aurora, the tech startup led by Chaffey, announced today that the technology would be rolled out to their Winerytale platform in 2020.

A prototype video, shown on the Third Aurora website, demonstrates the solution for two different wines. In both cases, English text is instantaneously translated to Chinese, with the new content remarkably woven into the original label, indistinguishable from the original.

Watch the video

But the ground-breaking technology, which translates more than one hundred languages. comes with a catch, albeit a small one.

Behind the scenes, two technologies are at work. According to Chaffey, “Artificial intelligence reads and interprets the content and augmented reality projects the new text back onto the label, right in front of you.”

So, what’s the catch? Well, it seems that it’s not actually the label doing the work.

“Self-translating is a bit of a misnomer,” says Chaffey, quick to correct. “The labels aren’t actually changing, the translation is projected using augmented reality, which is powered by your smartphone.”

“If you’re a wine lover it’s a handy addition to have in your front pocket,” said the softly-spoken Chaffey, who foresees rapid change is coming “it’s definitely picking up pace – this sort of technology will reach tipping point very quickly – we think it will be towards the end of 2020.”

If Chaffey is right, wine sellers will be all smiles, gaining a handy leg up in lucrative export markets such as China, which is expecting double digit growth until 2025.

Matched to Millennials

The Winerytale platform is the first of a new breed of marketing, connecting consumers and producers, literally through products.

Winerytale showcases wineries from their own wine labels, presenting their story through the spectacle of augmented reality, involving video, text, and 3D objects in virtual space.

But the bedrock is the strong social angle. And the payoff is the direct to consumer-purchasing.

This strong combination.is widely anticipated to win over the millennial market and is understood to have been behind the recent surge of applications from international wineries to join field trials.

For more information including demonstration videos, and images, please visit https://thirdaurora.com/self-translating-wine-labels

Get the App | Google Play | iOS

About Third Aurora

Launched in January 2019, Third Aurora is a tech startup built on track record of innovation, resourcefulness and entrepreneurship – harnessing new technology to create solutions that impact, globally.

The three partners – Matt Hallberg, Luke Chaffey, and Dave Chaffey are recognised specialists in their respective fields of augmented reality, software development, and digital marketing strategy.

And in the true spirit of collaboration, the three are building a future together, even though Matt and the Chaffeys have never actually met face to face. Matt Hallberg lives in Pittsburgh, USA. The Chaffeys reside in Geelong, Australia.

Third Aurora has offices in Pittsburgh & Geelong.