Champagne Magazine’s 100 Best Champagnes for 2021!

January 24, 2021 by evebushman

SAN FRANCISCO /PRNewswire/ — For the tenth time, the world’s one and only Champagne Magazine and world’s largest wine information platform Tastingbook.com, put hundreds of champagnes in line and ranked the 100 best champagnes on global markets for 2021.

After days of blind-tasting hundreds of champagnes, the final results were tabulated. Any champagne making it into the Top 100 in the rigorous tasting by our editorial board can warmly be recommended.

This time the winner was one of the most esteemed prestige blanc de blancs champagne of the world – Comtes de Champagne from Taittinger and its most recent vintage 2008. Comtes de Champagne is not the newcomer on podium, as it was claimed in 2012 as the winner of 100 Best Champagnes with its vintage 2000.

“The recently-released and much-awaited Comtes de Champagne 2008 was one of the last remaining prestige cuvées from the hyped 2008 vintage to see daylight. But it was worth the wait. The first nose is radiantly fruity with gorgeous gunpowdery toastiness lingering on top of the zingy lemon, lime, peach and grass notes. Remarkable purity and finesse on this racey and mineral, slowly evolving, still super youthful Comtes packed with energy and tension,” Essi Avellan MW comments.

The second place was shared this year by two great new cuvees – Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle No. 24 and Dom Pérignon 2010. Both very solid and concentrated, still babies but drinking perfectly well already.

Although the top ten list is dominated by the well-established prestige champagnes, there are two superb finds – Laurent-Perrier Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature NV and Palmer & Co Vintage 2012.

The quality of all the top 100 champagnes was pleasingly high – over 70 champagnes were rated by 90 points and plus, and the average scores of the top 10 was highest ever – 95 points!

The 100 Best Champagnes tasting is an annual rating of Fine Champagne Magazine that is organised in collaboration with the world’s largest wine information source Tastingbook.com.

FINE Champagne’s TOP 10 champagnes for 2021
1. Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2008
2. Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle No. 24
3. Dom Pérignon 2010
4. Maison Mumm Cuvée Lalou 2006
5. Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2007
6. Moët & Chandon MCIII 001.14
7. Louis Roederer Cristal 2012
8. Rare Champagne Rosé Millésime 2008
9. Laurent-Perrier Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature
10. Palmer & Co Vintage 2012

Previous winners:
2020 Dom Pérignon 2008
2018 Dom Pérignon Rosé 2006
2017 Moët & Chandon MCIII 001.14 NV
2016 Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle NV
2015 Ruinart Dom Ruinart Rosé 2002
2014 Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé 2002
2013 Charles Heidsieck Vintage 2000
2012 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2000
2011 Piper-Heidsieck Rare 2002
2010 Armand de Brignac Brut Gold NV

FINE Champagne magazine’s aim with this annual ranking is to taste the vast offering on the international markets in order to select the champagnes that are showing best this very moment. The most important criterion is the quality of the champagne and its accessibility today.

More information: tastingbook.com

Napa Valley Wine Academy Partners with Wines of Argentina with the Launch of Certified Argentina Wine Specialist Course

November 16, 2020 by evebushman

NAPA, CALIF. (PRWEB) – The Napa Valley Wine Academy has partnered with Wines of Argentina to create and present the Argentina Wine Specialist Course, the definitive and only course to focus 100% on Argentina and Argentine wine. The newly launched course is offered online through the Napa Valley Wine Academy and culminates in the postnominal title of Certified Argentina Wine Specialist following the successful completion of the online Specialist exam.

This 39-lesson course features extensive depth and breadth of learning, covering the region’s history, classification systems, key details on thirteen (13) main grape varieties, and extensive deep dives on nine (9) regions – from Jujuy to Buenos Aires- in this six-module course. Each module, incorporating four to nine lessons, includes a Review and Quiz. The course was developed by a team of wine experts at the Napa Valley Wine Academy, and the up-to-date facts and figures provided by Wines of Argentina were brought to life by subject matter expert, Natalie Breaux dipWSET, who has passed both parts of the Master of Wine exam and will accept the MW title upon successful acceptance of her research paper. Natalie has lived and worked in Argentina, bringing great insight into the people, grapes, wines, and regions of the country to the course program.

“We are thrilled to partner with Wines of Argentina for this information-packed course. Every wine student, wine instructor, salesperson, retailer, and more – as well as every serious wine-loving consumer looking for information on the wealth of regional wines within Argentina–needs to arm themselves with the information in this course,” states Napa Valley Wine Academy Founder, Christian Oggenfuss.

“At a strategic level, this course is aligned with the organization’s commitment to sustained education and work with internationally recognized educational organizations such as The Napa Valley Wine Academy. In this sense, this partnership will respond to the trends that global society has been experiencing, so it is aimed at ensuring the presence of Vino Argentino in digital ecosystems where strategic audiences for the industry in the world interact. Argentina, as an innovative wine country, will ride that wave and that will be the central point on the Wines of Argentina agenda for the coming years,” said Maximiliano Hernández Toso, President of Wines of Argentina.

The course is available at https://napavalleywineacademy.com/product/argentina-wine-specialist-online-course/

About Wines of Argentina

Wines of Argentina is the organization responsible for the VINO ARGENTINO brand in the world. Since 1993, the organization has been promoting the image of regional wines abroad, in addition to helping guide Argentina’s export strategy, studying and analyzing the changes taking place in consumer markets. Its objective is to collaborate in the consolidation of Argentina among the main wine exporting countries in the world and contribute to the global success of the wine industry by raising the positive perception in the trade of opinion leaders and consumers.
It currently has more than 260k followers on Facebook.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

About Napa Valley Wine Academy
Napa Valley Wine Academy is America’s Premier Wine School™ and the two-time winner of the WSET Global Wine Educator of the Year having won in 2016 and 2019 making it the most awarded WSET wine school in the world. The Academy is based in Napa Valley, California with ten locations across the United States and Online. The Academy is proud to be an approved program provider of the internationally recognized WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) series of wine, spirit, and sake courses (including WSET Levels 1 through 4 in Wine) as well as a full suite of online classes and a host of other specialty classes ideal for enthusiasts and critical for wine and beverage industry professionals.

For more information about the Napa Valley Wine Academy and its numerous courses and experiences, visit napavalleywineacademy.com.

Oregon’s Domaine Serene Becomes the World’s Most Awarded Winery at Decanter’s 2020 World Wine Awards

November 7, 2020 by evebushman

DAYTON, Ore., /PRNewswire/ — Domaine Serene is far and away the most awarded winery in the world at the prestigious Decanter 2020 World Wine Awards. This year, the Dundee Hills winery took home 23 medals including ‘Best in Show’ for their 2016 Domaine Serene Mark Bradford Vineyard Pinot Noir, earning 97 points. The winery also brought home four Gold medals, 17 Silver medals, and one Bronze medal, with five wines earning a remarkable 95 points or more. Domaine Serene was not alone in its success with additional rave reviews coming for Château de la Crée and Maison Evenstad, also owned by proprietors Grace and Ken Evenstad. Their two Burgundian wineries were bestowed with an additional nine medals including seven Silvers. Standing at the top, their 2017 Maison Evenstad, Premier Cru Beaurepaire Santenay, earned 95 points, besting several Grand Cru Burgundies in the tasting.

Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) is widely considered to be the world’s most important international wine competition, making this recognition yet another big win for Oregon’s burgeoning luxury wine industry. With an elite international panel of judges, the DWWA began the painstaking task of evaluating over 16,500 wines from 56 countries in August. Over the course of 28 consecutive days, 118 expert wine judges, including 37 Masters of Wine and nine Master Sommeliers, bestowed the honor of most awarded winery to Domaine Serene.

“Ken and I are thrilled that Domaine Serene has received such incredible recognition across the board. To be the most awarded winery in the world at the DWWA is a testament to the quality of our vineyards and to the talent, hard work and dedication of our team,” said Grace Evenstad, Co-Founder and Owner of Domaine Serene. “To receive ‘Best in Show’ for our Mark Bradford Vineyard Pinot Noir is especially gratifying. We named the vineyard after our son, Mark Bradford Evenstad, and it was the first vineyard that we ever planted at Domaine Serene almost thirty years ago. Planting its high elevation slopes and west facing aspect went against advice from the local vintners, yet we knew it had the potential to make world-class wine and so we planted it anyway. It has always been one of my favorite wines and I have long appreciated the power, structure, and longevity of our Mark Bradford Pinot Noirs. We are thrilled that it has received such critical acclaim at such an important competition.”

“In its 17^th year, the DWWA is the world’s largest and most influential wine competition. Judged by the top wine experts from around the globe, the DWWA is trusted internationally for its rigorous blind judging process and regional experts,” said Bree Stock, Master of Wine and Education Manager of the Oregon Wine Board. “It’s an enormous feat for a region like Oregon, that represents a fraction of US global exports, to receive ‘Best in Show’ along with the breadth of medals in such a prestigious competition. This award raises the profile and awareness of our region’s wines not only to Decanters’ highly informed consumer audience, but also to the global wine experts on the judging panel. Congratulations Domaine Serene.”

Domaine Serene took home a total of 23 medals from the elite London-based contest. In addition to being awarded ‘Best in Show’, the winery earned four Gold Medals for the 2016 ‘Aspect’ Pinot Noir, 2017 Clos de Lune Vineyard Chardonnay, and 2016 Etoile Vineyard Chardonnay, each earning 96 points, with its 2016 Two Barns Vineyard Pinot Noir, earning 95 points. The Dundee Hills winery also brought home 17 Silver medals and one Bronze medal, more details can be found here. Domaine Serene wines have now earned 95 points and above by major critics an astounding 115 times! This is in addition to being awarded #1 Ranked Pinot Noir in the World by Wine Spectator in 2013 and in 2016 #1 Pinot Noir in the World by Decanter and #1 White Wine in the World by Wine Spectator, for its ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay. This universal acclaim from an array of critics solidifies Domaine Serene as America’s Most Acclaimed Winery.

“We are humbled by this great honor and thank our members, distributors and customers supporting our pursuit of quality over the years. To celebrate these awards, we are making some of the medalists available for tasting at our winery Clubhouse in the Dundee Hills and at the Domaine Serene Wine Lounge in Lake Oswego. We are also opening up our wine library to new and existing wine club members so that they can share in the enjoyment of these cherished wines in their homes.” said Ryan Harris, Domaine Serene President.

For more information, to visit our locations or to join the wine club or mailing list, please visit www.DomaineSerene.com or call 503-864-4600 and follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

About Domaine Serene
The Evenstads settled in the Northern Willamette Valley in 1989. Their spirit and passion to produce wines that rival the great wines of Burgundy led them to purchase and plant a hilltop estate that had just been logged in the now famous Dundee Hills.

Today, Domaine Serene produces wines from six individual vineyard estates, planted exclusively to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In Oregon, the Evenstads own nearly 1,000 total acres of land in the hills of Yamhill County, with 275 acres planted to vine.

Working every job in the winery for many years, Grace and Ken Evenstad built Domaine Serene from the ground up with a focus on producing high quality wines through innovation and a focus on excellence. The Evenstads have gained a true appreciation for the attention to detail required to make exceptional wines.

In 2015, Ken and Grace Evenstad fulfilled a lifelong dream of producing wine in Burgundy, France by acquiring Château de la Crée, the respected wine estate located in the birthplace of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay: the renowned Côte d’Or. They own 25 acres of prime vineyards in Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Santenay and Maranges. This made them the first Oregon-based vintners to own land and produce wines in Burgundy.

In just under three decades, the Evenstads have propelled Domaine Serene onto the global stage as one of the world’s most acclaimed and respected wineries. Domaine Serene’s wines represent the achievement that is possible in Oregon, one of the finest regions in the world for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Head Winemaker at Israel’s Barkan Winery Receives Prestigious Master of Wine Designation

October 26, 2020 by evebushman

Kibbutz Hulda/Israel – Ido Lewinsohn, the Head Winemaker of Barkan winery, graduated as a Master of Wine (MW) from the prestigious Institute of Masters of Wine after completing all exams and thesis demands.

Photo: Head Winemaker Ido Lewinsohn at Israel’s Barkan Winery Receives Prestigious Master Of Wine Designation, A Title Held By Fewer Than 100 Fellow Master Wine Makers. (Photo: JPost.com)

“Lewinsohn is only the second Israeli to join the elite group of 408 Masters of Wine in the world,” commented Gabriel Geller, Royal Wine Corp.’s PR Director and Manager of Wine Education. “He is also one of the fewer than 100 winemakers to hold that distinguished title.” Royal Wine Corp. is the importer and distributor of Barkan in the United States.

The Institute of Masters of Wine is an international organization founded in London in 1953 with the purpose of promoting excellence, interaction, and learning in the field of wine. Its members are all Masters of Wine, having passed stringent qualifying exams that are recognized worldwide for their high standards and precision.

All Masters of Wine are known for their deep understanding of all areas of the wine business and production. Lewisohn joins a select group of influential figures in the global wine industry including Jancis Robinson, pre-eminent wine journalist and critic; wine critics Jasper Morris and Michael Broadbent; Serena Sutcliffe, Wine Curator for Sotheby’s; and winemakers Olivier Humbrecht (Zind-Humbrecht, Alsace), Drew Noon (Noon, Australia), and Michael Brajkovich (Kumeu River, New Zealand).

“Lewinsohn is one of only two Israeli Masters of Wine making kosher wine,” said Geller. “Barkan is Israel’s largest Israeli winery,” he added, “producing 1.2 million cases a year. It also has the widest presence of all wines from Israel on the American wine market.”

5StarWines and Wine Without Walls: the blind wine tasting that survived a global pandemic

August 6, 2020 by evebushman

VERONA, ITALY (PRWEB) – The recent pandemic put the world on pause. This was the case for the wine market as well. 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls, the annual Wine Tasting held in Verona by Veronafiere, did not stand still but reshaped its format into an “agile” edition to follow through with the tasting and turn it into a virtual experience.

While the world was taking a break, so was the economy and everything that goes along with it. Veronafiere was supposed to host not only Vinitaly, the biggest fair in the world dedicated to wine and spirits, but also 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls, a blind wine tasting conducted by a number of wine experts with a range of profiles, such as Masters of Wine (MW), journalists and Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) Ambassadors. Among these were Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW, Robert Joseph, Bernard Burtschy, Joe Fattorini, Regine Lee MW, Sarah Abbott MW, Elizabeth Gabay MW, Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW, Lin Liu MW, Andy Howard MW, Jonas Tofterup MW, Thomas Curtis MW. Leading the coordination were Monty Waldin, Daniele Cernilli, and Gabriele Gorelli. The ultimate goal was to create a Top-Wines Guide to use as a marketing tool for producers, capable of creating business connections around the world.

As a major aim of the Wine Selection is to support and spur on producers, by giving them the opportunity to create international connections, rescheduling was not an option for Veronafiere. Doing so would have conflicted with the event’s very own mission and vision. The decision was to reshape the format of the blind wine tasting, to make sure that producers would still have results to show for their labor, especially important in difficult times. This is where the term “agile” plays a key role. The ability to move quickly and easily was completely embodied by the team of 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls: if many of the international judges selected for the wine tasting were now unable to get to Verona due to new safety regulations, the team would organize the blind tasting to be conducted from the judges’ own homes, connected to Verona by video conference and WebApp.

The rules and regulations of the tasting stayed the same, but the logistics had been completely reshaped. Now the participating labels—besides being anonymized as usual—had to be classified, baled, and shipped to individual judges all over Europe. Beginning June 10th, each morning the judges prepared their “tasting station.” They’d turn on their computers, open a WebApp, and start the tasting with the supervision of the team in Verona.

The “agile” edition of 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls saw 52 international judges, over 2,100 samples belonging to more than 700 companies, and resulted in 847 wines selected (find the full list on the 5starwines.it home page). Selected wines will be published in the 5StarWines – the Book Guide, will be given the recognition their efforts deserve, and will be able to attend business-to- business (B2B) events with the aim of creating new business opportunities both in Italy and abroad.

In the words of Daniele Cernilli, 5StarWines judge, Doctor Wine, and founder of Gambero Rosso: “This is the first tasting after what happened. We are all trying to get back on our feet and in doing so we show our desire, our pride and our courage in wanting to look at the future with eyes of hope.” None of this would have been possible without the active participation of the judges, who attended several preparation meetings and stored a large number of samples in their cellars. Meanwhile, participating producers waited patiently for the Selection to confirms results, and category winners were finally surprised by the team with a video call announcing the best performing wines.

5StarWines – the Book is the annual wine selection organized by Veronafiere, held in the lead-up to the biggest Italian wine fair in the world. The event is now in its fourth edition. 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls is a blind tasting aimed at shedding light on wineries investing in the improvement of their products. During the event, a highly qualified panel of wine professionals will taste and score—using a 100-point scale—participating wines. In this edition, over 2000 bottles took part in the competition and 847 were selected for inclusion in 5StarWines – the Book. The Guide is a useful tool both on the promotional and commercial side. It introduces international buyers and wine lovers to new wine products of great value. It guarantees wine quality and it maintains and certifies their value at an international level.

Eight New Masters of Wine Announced — Two from the US in the 2019 “Vintage”

October 12, 2019 by evebushman

London – The Institute of Masters of Wine has announced eight new Masters of Wine, from five different countries.

The new members of the IMW are Julien Boulard MW (PR China), Thomas Curtius MW (Germany), Dominic Farnsworth MW (UK), Lydia Harrison MW (UK), Heidi Mäkinen MW (Finland), Christine Marsiglio MW (UK), Edward Ragg MW (PR China) and Gus Jian Zhu MW (USA).

There are now 390 Masters of Wine, based in 30 countries across the world.

The new MWs have proved their understanding of all aspects of wine by passing the Master of Wine examination, recognised worldwide for its rigour and high standards.

The MW examination consists of three stages and culminates in the submission of a final research paper, an in-depth study on a wine-related topic from any area of the sciences, arts, humanities, or social sciences.

In addition to passing the examination, all MWs are required to sign the MW code of conduct before they are entitled to use the initials MW. The code of conduct requires MWs to act with honesty and integrity and to use every opportunity to share their understanding of wine with others.

There are 14 Masters of Wine in the ‘2019 vintage’, as Edouard Baijot MW (France), Nicholas Jackson MW (USA), Brendan Jansen MW (Australia), Jonas Röjerman MW (Sweden), Harriet Tindal MW (Ireland) and Jonas Tofterup MW (Spain) were announced as MWs in February. They will all be formally welcomed to the IMW at a ceremony in London later this year.

The 2019 crop shows the increasing internationalisation of the IMW. The top six countries where MWs are based around the world are Australia, France, Germany, New Zealand, the UK and the USA.

Meet the new Masters of Wine

Julien Boulard MW (PR China)

Born in Alsace, Julien arrived in China in 2003 after studying Mandarin at university. After completing a master’s degree in international affairs, he worked for five years for a wine importer in Nanning, before setting up his own company Zhulian Wines, specialising in wine education. Unsatisfied with solely mastering an exotic language, he started to study wine and became an accredited educator of the Bordeaux Wine School in China in 2008. He then passed the WSET Diploma in 2012 and embarked on the MW journey in 2013. His fluency in Mandarin, both spoken and written, his reputation on Chinese social media (Weibo and WeChat), his wine knowledge, as well as his experience as a wine educator, enabled him to become a key professional on the Chinese wine scene. He is a judge for various wine competitions in China and Hong Kong and writes sporadically when he manages to find time between teaching, tasting and daughter-caring.

Research paper

Exploring the potential of Marselan production in China.

Thomas Curtius MW (Germany)

Thomas is primarily a specialist in PR, digital communications and business development. He studied communications and economics at the University of Mainz and started his business career as a TV journalist for n-tv, the first news television channel in Germany. Later he moved into the automotive industry and joined the PR department of a premium car manufacturer in Stuttgart, Germany. After various positions in the passenger car division, he took over responsibility for events, trade shows and digital communication within global truck, bus and van communications. He heads a dedicated team which develops and manages communications projects, trade shows and product presentations around the globe. Thomas has also been intensively involved in the wine business for more than two decades. He sees great advantage in bringing his expertise in strategy, change management and digital communication together with his knowledge in wine. He concluded his WSET Diploma in 2010 and is now also a member of the WSET International Alumni Advisory Board. He works as a consultant, teacher and lecturer. He judges in wine competitions, runs wine seminars and masterclasses for professionals and enthusiasts, and writes articles spreading his passion for wine. When not travelling or developing new ideas and concepts in business, Thomas loves to run in the vineyards around his town or work in his garden.

Research paper

Current opportunities and threats for ProWein, Vinexpo, Vinitaly and London Wine Fair: An investigation into ProWein exhibitors’ attitudes towards European wine trade shows.

Dominic Farnsworth MW (UK)

Dominic is a partner at the London law firm Lewis Silkin where he specialises in intellectual property. He is both a solicitor and a trademark attorney and his practice focusses on brand protection, advertising and sport. He acts for a number of businesses in the drinks sector. His interest in wine was sparked by walking past Lay & Wheelers’ shop on the route to school. It was more reminiscent of an antiquarian bookshop than a retail store and the rows of unintelligible labels only added to the mystery. Love of the taste of wine followed and was reinforced by finding that wine had a tendency to be produced in some of the most beautiful parts of the world by interesting people. He followed the WSET route through to the Diploma. Then, setting himself the goal of either climbing Himalayan peaks or passing the MW, he took what he thought was the easier option! He lives in South West London, married with two children, and his other interests include music, travelling and mountains.

Research paper

The threats posed by government regulation to the sale of wine in the United Kingdom.

Lydia Harrison MW (UK)

Lydia was born and lives in London, where she enjoys the diversity of wines available. She started officially in the wine industry after university by joining Majestic Wine where she worked for six years, culminating in the position of senior manager of the Battersea branch. During this time she completed the WSET Level 3 and Diploma with distinction and was awarded several prizes for her exam results: trips to Jerez and the Douro which cemented her love for fortified wines, and the Vintners’ Scholarship for the highest mark in Diploma in the UK trade, which she used to tour New Zealand and its wine regions. She joined WSET School London in 2013 and teaches all levels of WSET wine qualifications, specialising in Bordeaux, fortified wines and tasting technique at Diploma level. She also organises an eclectic programme of evening tasting events and is a Bordeaux Ambassador for the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB).

Research paper

Online wine education – comparing motivations, satisfactions and outcomes of online vs. classroom students.

Heidi Mäkinen MW (Finland)

Heidi currently works in Helsinki as a wine ambassador for a Finnish wine importing company where her main tasks are on-trade wine education and portfolio development. At first, she studied theatre and drama research at university, yet after gaining her bachelor of arts she followed her bigger passion to work in hospitality and to learn more about wine. Before her current job she worked for 12 years on the restaurant floor, both in her native Finland and the UK. With her international work experience and knowledge gained from her success in national and international sommelier competitions she continues to help and mentor other professionals to develop themselves within the industry. Passionate and excited about food, wine and travel, Heidi is always looking at new opportunities to explore the world.

Research paper

A critical assessment of Finnish on-trade wine education – satisfaction levels and opportunities for development and improvement.

Christine Marsiglio MW (UK)

Christine is a Canadian residing in London, where she is a wine educator and programme manager at WSET School London, and mum to a three-year-old and a one-year-old. She recently contributed to the development of materials for the newly released WSET Diploma and teaches all WSET levels. Before discovering her love of wine education, Christine was tastings executive at Decanter where she ran panel tastings and helped organise the Decanter World Wine Awards. During the course of her MW and WSET Diploma studies, Christine was awarded scholarships from the Family of Twelve, Freixenet, and the Derouet Jameson Memorial Foundation. She holds an MSc in oenology and viticulture from École Supérieure d’Agriculture d’Angers, France, where her thesis focussed on the early detection of Brettanomyces in wineries. She also holds a BSc in chemistry and biology from the University of Alberta in Canada. Christine is a keen long-distance runner, cook, and traveller.

Research paper

The sensory effects of different lactic acid bacteria on wine.

Edward Ragg MW (PR China)

Edward co-founded Dragon Phoenix Wine Consulting in Beijing with his wife and partner Fongyee Walker MW in 2007. Having read English at Oxford University, Edward began blind-tasting at Cambridge whilst writing a Ph.D. on American poet and Burgundy tippler Wallace Stevens. A former captain and coach of the Cambridge blind-tasting team, Edward co-wrote and revises regularly the Cambridge University Guide to Blind-Tasting. He has also published widely in international wine magazines, literary journals and has authored three collections of poetry. Formerly a Professor at Tsinghua University (2007-2017), he completed his WSET Diploma in 2012 and began the MW study programme in 2015. Together with Fongyee, he is the other authorised tutor of the WSET Diploma in mainland China. Edward also has judging experience, serving as guest international judge for the McLaren Vale Wine Show (2012) and Perth Royal Wine Show (2019), as well as judging in Chinese competitions. He is keen to expand his international judging experience and also make wine in future.

Research paper

Portfolio management strategies of major Chinese wine importers: an analysis of the evolving mainland Chinese import market 2008-2018.

Gus Jian Zhu MW (USA)

Gus has become a seasoned wine educator under the tutelage of Fongyee Walker MW and Edward Ragg MW, the co-founders of Dragon Phoenix Wine Consulting. He has combined his wine education resulting in an MSc in viticulture and enology from UC Davis, with practical winemaking experience at Napa Valley’s Cakebread Cellars, and hospitality and sales experience at the Hall Winery in Napa. Gus’ commitment to the academic field of wine is evidenced by his MW research paper about the sensory science of wine; and by co-authoring a review paper, A Quarter Century of Wine Pigment Discovery, published in the Journal of Food and Agriculture. Gus provides education and consulting services at Gus Zhu Wine Consulting. He works as an international consultant on wine education and is committed to sharing his knowledge as a certified educator for all levels of WSET qualifications in wines. Gus shares his expertise with global WSET Diploma candidates in the online classroom and as a guest lecturer at the Dragon Phoenix in Beijing and Napa Valley Wine Academy.

Research paper

The impact of acidity adjustments on the sensory perception of a Californian Chardonnay.

The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) is a membership organisation with an unsurpassed international reputation. Its Members – the Masters of Wine (MWs) – hold the most respected title in the world of wine. The IMW promotes excellence, interaction and learning across all sectors of the global wine community. MWs have proved their understanding of all aspects of wine by passing the MW examination, recognised worldwide for its rigour and high standards. In addition to passing the examination, MWs are required to sign the code of conduct before they are entitled to use the initials MW. The code of conduct requires MWs to act with honesty and integrity, and use every opportunity to share their understanding of wine with others. There are currently 390 Masters of Wine today, working in 30 countries. The membership encompasses winemakers, buyers, journalists, shippers, business owners, consultants, academics, and wine educators. There were 359 students in the MW study programme from over 45 countries.

Christina Walther of Jeffrey’s of Austin Named Best Sommelier at 15th Annual Texsom

September 29, 2019 by evebushman

Irving, Texas –– TEXSOM co-founders and Master Sommeliers Drew Hendricks and James Tidwell today announced at the TEXSOM Grand Tasting that Christina Walther of Jeffrey’s of Austin is the 2019 TEXSOM Best Sommelier. The 2019 TEXSOM Best Sommelier Competition takes place during TEXSOM, the most prominent and influential wine education conference in the United States, held annually at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas.

Photo from Forbes.

Christina topped an impressive field of competitors in a rigorous three-part wine examination involving service, blind tasting and theory knowledge. An elite group of Master Sommelier, Master of Wine, and Master Cicerone judges named Christina the 2019 TEXSOM Best Sommelier at a ceremony on Tuesday evening. The competition is a traditional part of TEXSOM. To participate, candidates must be a current resident of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, or Texas and must not have passed the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Advanced Sommelier Examination or won the competition previously.

“The 15^th year of the TEXSOM Best Sommelier Competition was certainly one for the record books,” says Tidwell. “It is a testament to the quality and standards of their wine team for these three individuals to place in our competition. We offer wholehearted congratulations to Christina on taking top honors and look forward to following her career. We also want to extend our sincere thanks to the entire TEXSOM team who really took our conference to another level this year.”

In addition to laying claim to the title of “2019 TEXSOM Best Sommelier,” Christina received a scholarship of $2,500 from SOMMFoundation to be used for a Court of Master Sommeliers certification program. Skyler Ring was the runner up and will receive a $1,500 scholarship, and the 3^rd place winner Austin Farina will receive a $1,000 scholarship. All three winners are employed by Jeffrey’s of Austin. We applaud their quality of service and training.

Held August 18^th to 20^th at Four Seasons Resort and Club and co-presented by the not-for-profit organizations GuildSomm, SOMMFoundation, Court of Master Sommeliers – Americas, and Wine & Spirit Education Trust—TEXSOM is the only event of its kind in the United States. The speakers and judges constitute a who’s who list of the nation’s top wine professionals. Dozens of Master Sommeliers (MS), Masters of Wine (MW), Master Cicerones, WSET Diploma Graduates (DipWSET) and other respected industry professionals were integral parts of the conference.

The 2019 TEXSOM conference featured a stellar line-up of speakers, mentors, and competition judges, including:

Jesse Becker MS
Wayne Belding MS
Shayn Bjornholm MS
Bree Boskov MW
Devon Broglie MS
Dilek Caner PhD MW
Remy Charest
Christy Canterbury MW
Elaine Chukan Brown
Jim Clarke
Craig Collins MS
Olga Crawford MW
Brian Cronin MS
Charles Curtis MW
Ian D’Agata
Matthew Deller
Frederick L. Dame MS
Laura DePasquale MS
Jeni Dodd
Maureen Downey
Jessica Dupuy
Sarah Jane Evans MW
Ganna Federova
Klaus Gasser
Keith Goldston MS
Jamie Goode PhD
Mary Gorman-McAdams MW
Ian Harris MBE DipWSET
Drew Hendricks MS
Rich Higgins MC CS
Jay James MS
Terry Kandylis
Geoff Kruth MS
Paul Mabray
Peter Marks MW
Benoit Marsan PhD
Jack Mason MS
Mary Margaret McCamic MW
Andrew McNamara MS
Melissa Monosoff MS
Sheri Morano MW
Antony Moss DipWSET MW
Nicholas Paris MW
Rajat Parr MS
Bronwen Percival
Francis Percival
Emily Pickral MS
Thomas Price MS
Kyle Stewart
Larry Stone MS
Guy Stout MS
Chris Tanghe MS
Dirceu Vianna Junior MW
Kelli White
Laura Williamson MS
Emily Wines MS
David Wrigley DipWSET MW
Debbie Zachareas

2019 Sponsors: The event is made possible by the generous support of many sponsors, with scholarships provided by the SOMMFoundation.

Sponsors include:

(Presenting Sponsors) Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas; GuildSomm; SOMMFoundation; Wine & Spirits Education Trust.

(Platinum Sponsors) Aqua Panna; Balzac Communications & Marketing; Banville Wine Merchants; Broadbent Selections; Classic Wine Merchants; Fortessa; Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas; ProWein; Ribera y Rueda; San Pellegrino; Silver Oak/Twomey; The Sorting Table; TEXSOM International Wine Awards; Washington State Wine; Wine Australia; Wine Dialogues; Wines from Spain.

(Gold Sponsors) Australia Classic & Rare; Banfi Vintners; Barossa Australia; Classified Wine Imports; Champagne Taittinger; Chappellet Winery; Club Crus Beaujolais; Coravin; Dreyfus, Ashby & Co.; González Byass; GoVino; Harvest Press Cider; Irving Texas Convention & Visitors Bureau; Kistler Vineyards; Loosen Bros. USA; Lux Wines; Mutual Trading Company; Newton Napa Valley; Old Bridge Cellars; Olé & Obrigado; Oregon Wine Board; Ruinart; Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans; Santa Margherita USA; Texas Fine Wine; WhyNot; Wilson Daniels; Wines of Georgia; Wines of South Africa; Wines of Uruguay.

(Silver Sponsors) Ambiente; Austrian Wine; Cape Classics; Champagne Bruno Paillard; Consorzio di Tutela Prosecco Superiore; Crimson Wine Group; Empson USA; Europvin; Food Is Great Britain & N. Ireland; Folio Fine Wine Partners; Gerard Bertrand; Gimblett Gravels Wine Growing District; Graves – Sauternes; Iron Horse Vineyards; Jackson Family Wines; Kobrand Fine Wine and Spirits; Franciacorta; Lake County Winegrape Commission; Larkmead Family Estate; Lodi Wines; Louis Jadot/Zind Humbrecht; Mcpherson/Llano/Fallcreek/Brennan Vineyards; Multicarte Inc.; MundoVino; Napa Valley Vintners; New Zealand Wine; North Berkeley Imports; Pacific Highway Wines & Spirits; Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance; Petaluma Gap Wine Grower’s Alliance; Rías Baixas; Serendipity Wines; Sideshow Wine Freaks Tour; Texas Wine & Grape Grower’s Association; The Cultured Cup; The Wine Group; Terrien; Third Leaf Wines; Uncork Texas Wines; VQA Wines of Ontario; Viña Cobos by Paul Hobbs; Vinho Verde; Willamette Valley Wine; Wines of Argentina; Wines of British Columbia; Wines of Chile; Wines of Georgia; Wines of Germany; Wines of Greece; Yarden Inc.

(Bronze Sponsors) Achaval-Ferrer; Adelsheim; Alejandro Fernández Grupo Pesquera; Alexander Valley Vineyards; Almaviva; Arínzano; Athenee Importers & Distributors; Barnett Vineyards; Becker Vineyards; Bellavista; Beronia; Bodega Garzon Uruguay; Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana; Brazos Wine; Bowler; Champagne Collet; Clos du Val; Coast Pinot Noir; Corison; Crown Point Vineyards; Dalla Terra Winery District; Daou Vineyards & Winery; David Milligan Selections; Delectatio; Dessai; Donald Patz Wine Group; Dry Creek Vineyard; Ehlers Estate; Entisquero; Faustino; Fisher Vineyards; Foley Family Wines; Fredrick Wildman & Sons; Freemark Abbey; Garnacha/Grenache; Groth Vineyards & Winery; Gruet; Guinness; Gundlach Bundschu; Hahn Family Wines; Hartford Family Winery; Hundred Acre; Hertelendy Napa Valley; Joseph Phelps Vineyards; Kerr Cellars; Land of Promise Sonoma; Lange Twins; Lede Family Wines; Lingua Franca; Lipman; Messina Hof Winery & Resort; Murrieta’s Well; Obsidian Wine Co.; Pasalei; Passopisciaro Tenuta di Trinoro; Patz & Hall; Pedernales Cellars; Ranchos de Ontiveros Santa Maria Valley; Revana Family Vineyard; Rex Hill; Saint Arnold Brewing Company; Schmitt Sohne Family Wines; Siduri; Sinegal Estate; Ste. Michelle Wine Estates; Symington Family; The Hess Collection; Tinto Negro; Trefethen Family Vineyards; Villa Maria; Vina Don Machor; Vinkara; Vineyard Brands; William & Chris Vineyards; Winesellers LTD; ZD Wines; Zuccardi.

ABOUT TEXSOM

Founded in 2005, the TEXSOM conference was started by Master Sommeliers James Tidwell and Drew Hendricks to help promote professional wine service standards, outline paths for further wine education and certification, and raise public awareness about the professional standards and certifications for sommeliers. Today the conference draws more than 1,300 attendees, of whom more than 800 are sommeliers and other beverage industry professionals. In addition to the conference, the group also manages the TEXSOM International Wine Awards, one of the largest, most respected, and longest-running in the United States.

U.S. supermarket wines are catching up with European counterparts

September 16, 2019 by evebushman

NEW YORK /PRNewswire/ — U.S. supermarket wines, once considered to be poorly made and rarely worth drinking, scored a major success at the 2019 International Salute to Excellence awards for private label in Amsterdam, winning seven top honors in the category.

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The award-winning wines were:

From Costco: Kirkland Signature Bordeaux Supérieur 2016 (Bordeaux, $10), best quality; Kirkland Signature Asolo Prosecco NV (Italy, $10). best value.

From Trader Joe’s: Trader Joe’s organic Grower’s Reserve Merlot 2017 (California, $5), best quality; Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Pinot Noir 2017 (Russian River Valley, $15), best quality.

From Aldi US: Evanta Malbec 2017 (Argentina, $4), best value; Scarlet Path Zinfandel 2017 (Lodi, $8), best quality; Outlander Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 (Paso Robles, $9), best quality.

This is the best performance ever recorded for wines sold exclusively by U.S. supermarkets, more than doubling the number of 2018 winners. The showing demonstrates that U.S. private label wines continue to get closer to their European counterparts in terms of value and quality – especially among wines costing less than $15. This matters because wines that are sold exclusively by European supermarkets have long been considered among the best wine in the world at combining those two things.

“Don’t overlook private label store wines,” said Washington Post wine columnist Dave McIntrye, one of 18 international judges who participated in the 2019 wine awards program. “These were good value, high quality bottlings. Some stores are doing a great job sourcing really good juice.”

Wines were judged in 25 categories by varietal, style, and appellation, and each category was judged for best quality and best value. The 18 men and women who judged the competition came from around the world, and included Masters of Wines, sommeliers, winemakers, wine writers, wine educators, and retailers. They judged 350 wines from 40 retailers in 11 countries.

To see all results for the 2019 judging, visit www.plmasalute.com/wine-awards. The international Salute to Excellence Wine Awards are a competition sponsored by the Private Label Manufacturers Association, with offices in New York and Amsterdam. Founded in 1979, PLMA today represents 4,000 companies who are involved in the manufacture and distribution of store brand products in foods and beverages, as well as home and health products. PLMA sponsors two trade shows annually in Chicago and Amsterdam.

STARS of Napa Valley Wine Returns to LA March 13th

March 2, 2019 by evebushman

Beverly Hills, California – Join wineLA at the Peninsula Beverly Hills for STARS of Napa Valley Wine on March 13th, 2019. Come taste alongside approximately 30 of the Napa Valley’s finest wineries! Did you know that Napa Valley produces 4% of our wine in California, but 30% of our total wine dollars?! Napa Vintners hold a very special place on the world stage and they are coming to Los Angeles in full force!! All grape varietals will be showcased! Napa gives us not only some of the best wine, but also some of the greatest diversity in varietal and style! The Peninsula Beverly Hills will expect to welcome hundreds of wine enthusiasts to meet the winemakers and celebrate Napa Valley’s most coveted wines.

Among the elite list of wineries showcasing their most popular pours are: 1849 Wine, Alpha Omega, Barnett Vineyards, Bouchaine Vineyards, Hertelendy Vineyards, Venge Vineyards, Frank Family Vineyards, Hesperian Wines, Kale Wines, Michael Mondavi Family Estate, Miner Family Winery, O’Connell Family, Teachworth Napa Valley, TOR, Trinitas Cellars, VGS Chateau Potelle, Yount Ridge Cellars, Emerson Brown Wines, Staglin Family Vineyard, Burgess Cellars, Newton Vineyard, Hestan Vineyard, Cliff Family Winery + many more!

In addition to the wineries confirmed to attend wineLA’s annual STARS of Napa Valley Wine event, tickets will include an elegant assortment of tray-passed hors d’oeuvres, and a number of lofty auction items to bid on with 100% of the auction revenue donated to The T.J. Martell Foundation, funding children’s cancer research at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Master of Wine Dinner with TOR Wines hosted by Matt Deller M.W. 5:30PM VIP+ tickets can be purchased for $250. VIP admission begins at 6PM: Advanced tickets for the VIP experience may be purchased for $175 per person and will be $225 a t the door. The VIP experience features an Older Vintage Tasting, dinner buffet & gift bag. G eneral admission begins at 7PM: A dvanced tickets are $ 95 and will sold for $125 at the door. General Admission includes the unlimited wine tasting alongside tray-passed appetizers, silent auction, and cheese and dessert after party.

Tickets –> https://www.winela.com/stars-of-napa-valley

About wineLA

wineLA is about enhancing the wine culture of Los Angeles one event at a time. To do so, wine must be in rhythm with food, fashion, and music, while also reflecting the geography, architecture and atmosphere of centers of interest. Los Angeles is a giant playground with an amazing array of venues, spaces, wine bars, restaurants, beaches, rooftops, gardens, and magical views. We are a part of the LA lifestyle, the wine lifestyle, and we celebrate the people, the places and the passion!

About Napa Valley Vintners

wineLA has partnered with the Napa Valley Vintners to present THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS! All grape varietals will be showcased; From Bubbles to Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay and red wines that run the gamut such as: Merlot, Cabernet, Petite Verdot, Zinfandel, Meritage Blends and Rhone varietals such as Syrah and Grenache – Napa offers not only some of the best of California, but also some of the greatest diversity.

About The T.J. Martell Foundation
A silent auction containing many collectable and large format wines 100% benefits The TJ Martell Foundation, the music industry’s largest foundation funding innovative medical research focused on finding cures for children’s leukemia, cancer and AIDS. The Foundation sources and supports early-stage research projects aimed at developing more effective clinical treatments for patients who otherwise might not be supported. Learn more at tjmartell.org.

About Peninsula Hotel

The only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star-rated hotel in Southern California every year since 1993, The Peninsula Beverly Hills offers 194 guest rooms, including 38 suites and 16 private villas, nestled among lush tropical gardens in the heart of Beverly Hills. The Peninsula is located at the intersection of Wilshire and South Santa Monica Boulevards and within comfortable walking distance from the legendary Rodeo Drive.

Wine for Dummies – Updated New Edition

December 26, 2018 by evebushman

Hoboken, NJ – The past few years have seen a rapid expansion of the global wine market, a trend expected to continue through 2019. The growing success of the wine industry can be attributed to many factors including new label trends and packaging such as wine in cans, boxes and kegs, along with the rise of online retail. These innovations have helped to make selecting wine less intimidating and more fun, which has contributed to the growth of a younger population of wine enthusiasts. The new edition of Wine for Dummies takes a deep dive into all things wine, covering everything there is to know, from classic wines to the latest, cutting-edge trends and innovations.

Photo: Bloomberg

Available now, Wine For Dummies explains everything from understanding grape varieties and wine styles to navigating wine shops and selecting wines in restaurants. Authors Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan share their expertise in the easy-to-follow, no-nonsense signature style of Dummies, breaking down everything there is to know for readers that range from casual beginners to intermediate wine enthusiasts. The book includes new information on emerging wine regions in the United States including Oregon, Washington state, and New York, along with international regions like Hungary, Croatia and Slovenia.

Ed McCarthy is a Certified Wine Educator, widely published wine writer, a regular columnist for WineReviewOnline.com, and a wine consultant. McCarthy is considered a leading Champagne authority in the U.S. He is the Contributing Editor of Beverage Media.

Mary Ewing-Mulligan is the first woman in America to become a Master of Wine and is currently one of 50 MWs in the U.S. and 380 in the world. She operates one of oldest and most respected wine schools in the U.S, International Wine Center in NYC.

About the book: Wine For Dummies, 7th Edition by Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan (Dummies, November 2018, ISBN: 9781119512738, $24.99)

About Dummies: To people who value knowledge, Dummies is the platform that makes learning anything easy because it transforms the hard-to-understand into easy-to-use. Through expert editorial, engaging experiences and an approachable style, learners at every level can confidently use their knowledge to fuel their pursuit of professional advancement and personal betterment. With a commitment to maintaining the highest editorial standards and a promise to continue developing new, innovative digital experiences, Dummies makes learning anything even easier. For more information, visit dummies.com. Dummies is a branded imprint of Wiley.

Press Contact: For more information, to request an excerpt, review copy, or cover image, please contact: Amy Laudicano at Wiley, (201) 748-5724, alaudicano@wiley.com.

Visit wiley.com/go/press for the latest news from Wiley and follow: @ForDummies