Eve's Wine 101

Oregon Welcomes its 22nd American Viticultural Area (AVA): Lower Long Tom

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PORTLAND, ORE. (PRWEB) – Lower Long Tom, the newest appellation in Oregon and the southernmost in the Willamette Valley, has received federal recognition as an American Viticultural Area (AVA). Drawn to reflect distinct soil, topography, and climate attributes, Lower Long Tom becomes the 22nd federally recognized winegrowing region in Oregon, the tenth nested AVA within the Willamette Valley, and the first in the Southern Willamette Valley. The new AVA was granted approval by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) on November 10 and took effect on December 10, 2021.

Located in Lane and Benton counties, Lower Long Tom is characterized by a chain of rolling hills separated by east-to-west valleys, cut by the tributaries of the region’s namesake, the Long Tom River. The AVA sits within the Lower Long Tom watershed and the Long Tom River, a tributary of the Willamette River, serves as the AVA’s eastern boundary.

Vineyards in the appellation are located on stream-cut ridge lines, with Bellpine as the predominate soil type. These shallow, clay-loam soils are formed from up-lifted ancient marine sediments, primarily sandstone.

To the west, the region is flanked by a stretch of significant peaks within the Coast Range, which serve as a weather shield. The rain shadow contributes to consistent grape maturity in the region.

Long Tom is a regional name associated with the Kalapuyan people who have lived in the area for more than 10,000 years. The name is used in recognition of the ongoing contributions of the Kalapuyan people in the local community and across Oregon.

Four years ago, Dieter Boehm of High Pass Winery petitioned the TTB for the addition of the AVA to the wine country map. 12 wineries and 24 vineyards join the new Lower Long Tom AVA. A full list of wineries and vineyards can be found below.

“This neighborhood is warm, genuine, authentic, and down-to-earth, with passionate owners and farmers connected to the land,” said Matt Shown, second-generation winemaker at Brigadoon Wine Co. “That love for this place goes beyond wine and permeates our daily lives.”

“Oregon’s newest viticultural area acknowledges the increasing appreciation our grape growers and winemakers are developing for site-specific growing conditions and flavor complexity,” said Oregon Wine Board Executive Director Tom Danowski. “In the shadow of Prairie Mountain and the Coast Range, Lower Long Tom will add a unique dimension to the Willamette Valley’s esteemed reputation for extraordinarily elegant and expressive fruit.”

Both the industry and consumers who look to Oregon for its one-of-a-kind appellations and the sense of place in Oregon’s wines can celebrate the addition of Lower Long Tom as a nested AVA of the Willamette Valley. Pinot Noir is the predominant grape of the region, with wines leaning toward blue and black fruits and plush tannins for graceful aging. Around a dozen white grape varieties are grown as well, most notably Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot gris, and Sauvignon blanc.

“Pinot noir is still the kingpin variety in the Willamette Valley,” said Morgen McLaughlin, executive director of the Willamette Valley Wineries Association. “Winemakers love Pinot noir because it’s such an expressive grape: it insists on telling you where it’s from. We’re so excited to see Pinot noir and other wines from Lower Long Tom AVA recognized in the larger story of the Willamette Valley.”

Lower Long Tom AVA:

Details:
Official date of recognition: December 10, 2021
Total acreage: 25,000
Planted acreage: 575
Number of wineries: 12
Number of vineyards: 24
Varieties: Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot gris, and Sauvignon blanc
Soil: Bellpine

Wineries:
Antiquum Farm
Bennett Vineyards and Wine Company
Bradshaw Vineyard
Brigadoon Wine Co.
Benton Lane Winery
Five Fourteen Vineyard
High Pass Winery
Pfeiffer Vineyards and Winery
Poco Collina
Rainsong Winery
Territorial Vineyards and Wine Company
Walnut Ridge Vineyard

Vineyards*:
Bellpine Vineyard
Chardonnay Way
Davis Reid Vineyard
Evans Vineyard
Fitzpatrick Vineyard
Gelardi Vineyard
Grace Hill Vineyard
Hildebrand Ranch
Kliewers Weinberg
Kokkeler Vineyard
Moriah Vineyard
Priddy Vineyard
Stroda Vineyard
Sunny Mountain
Union School
*Many of the wineries above are located on an estate vineyard.

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ABOUT THE OREGON WINE BOARD
Oregon is home to 995 wineries and 1,370 vineyards planted, generating annual economic impact of $7.2 billion for the state. The Oregon Wine Board is a semi-independent Oregon state agency managing marketing, research, communications, and education initiatives that support and advance the Oregon wine and wine grape industry. The Board works on behalf of all Oregon wineries and independent growers throughout the state’s diverse winegrowing regions. Visit oregonwine.org for more info.

ABOUT THE WVWA
The WVWA is a nonprofit industry association dedicated to achieving recognition for Oregon’s acclaimed Willamette Valley as a premium Pinot noir-producing region. The WVWA has more than 230 members representing wineries, tasting rooms and vineyards throughout the Willamette Valley. The organization also hosts Willamette: The Pinot Noir Auction, Oregon Pinot Camp, Pinot in the City, May in Wine Country, The Giving Season and the Cellar Season. Visit willamettewines.com for more info.

Sokol Blosser Recognized with B Corp “Best for the World” Award for Environmental Excellence for Third Year

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DAYTON, Ore., /PRNewswire/ — Sokol Blosser, a Certified B Corporation and one of Oregon’s original and most iconic wineries celebrating 50 years, has been recognized as a 2021 Best for The World: Environment recipient, for the third time. Ranking in the top 5 percent of all B Corps in its size group globally, Sokol Blosser earned this honor because of its business practices built around People, Planet and Profit.

Sokol Blosser has practiced sustainability since the beginning. Founded in 1971, the winery earned its first recognition for environmental stewardship in 1983 by the U.S. Soil & Water Conservation District. They built the first LEED-certified winery building in 2002 and their Estate vineyard received full USDA organic certification in 2005. In 2015, Sokol Blosser received B Corp Certification. In its April 2021 B Corp recertification, Sokol Blosser increased its score by 22 percent compared to its 2016 recertification.

Each year, Sokol Blosser publishes a Sustainability Report detailing their accomplishments in three key areas: People, Planet and Profit. Through organic farming, participation in the Prescott Western Bluebird Recovery Project, fostering bee colonies, supporting local charities, offering generous employee compensation and benefits and cultivating an inclusive work environment, Sokol Blosser redefines success. Their wines consistently receive top scores while their business practices help protect the planet and support their community and their people. The 2020 Sustainability Report can be found here.

Alison Sokol Blosser, CEO of Sokol Blosser, commented, “Our parents instilled in us a respect for the planet and our people since we were young. From our start 50 years ago, we have worked to do the right thing every day for the environment, our team, our community and the long-term health of our family business. These are habits for us now. We are extremely proud of this recognition.”

Best for The World recognition is administered by B Lab, the global nonprofit that certifies and supports Certified B Corporations, which are for-profit companies dedicated to using business as a force for good. Today there are 4,000 Certified B Corporations across 77 countries and 153 industries, unified by one common goal: transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities and the planet.

Using the B Impact Assessment, B Lab evaluates how a company’s operations and business model impact its workers, community, environment, and customers. To achieve the B Corp Certification, a company must achieve a score of at least 80 points on the assessment.

More than 800 B Corps from over 50 countries were named to the 2021 Best for The World lists. The 2021 Best for The World honorees are determined based on the verified B Impact Assessments of Certified B Corporations. The full lists are available at https://bcorporation.net/.  Oregon is home to the world’s highest concentration of B Corps, including seven wineries: A to Z, Brooks, Chehalem, Patton Valley, Sokol Blosser, Stoller, and Winderlea.

About Sokol Blosser Winery As one of the Willamette Valley’s pioneering wineries, Sokol Blosser has played a key role in developing and shaping the now-prominent Oregon wine industry. The winery remains family owned and operated, with the second generation now at the helm: siblings Alison and Alex Sokol Blosser. Achieving B Corp certification in 2015, the winery creates wines of world-class quality, produced in a sustainable manner, reflecting the distinctive flavors of the grapes, soil and climate. The winery produces Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, sparkling wines, Riesling and small quantities of single block Pinot Noir under its Sokol Blosser brand, and a white wine, red blend, Pinot Noir, sparkling wine, Riesling, and Chardonnay and Oregon’s first nationally distributed box wines under the Evolution label. Visit http://www.sokolblosser.com/ and follow @sokolblosser and @evolutionwines on Instagram and Facebook.

Tasting Three From Marlborough New Zealand’s Waipapa Bay

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This past December I ran the story on how Waipapa Bay Wines Pledges Support for Whale and Dolphin Conservation With 2019 Vintage Launch. Since that time the winery sent me three bottles to review, all 90+ point wines in my book, and here are my tasting notes in the order I tasted through them:

2019 Pinot Gris

Waipapa Bay, Marlborough, New Zealand

Pale yellow color and clear. Aromas of pears in light syrup, cling peaches, honey and golden raisins. On the mouth I got notes of fruit cocktail – citrus and tropical fruits, a round mouthfeel, minerality and a mild acidity that contributed to a long pleasant finish.

2019 Sauvignon Blanc

Waipapa Bay, Marlborough, New Zealand

The palest in color of the three, like clean, clear stream water. The nose brought up memories of Meyer lemon, mowed grass, white peach, wet river stones and stainless steel. The taste was richly layered, again with a nice mouthfeel, with flavors of citrus fruit, lemon-lime hard candy, grass and low acidity. A nice easy sipper.

2019 Chardonnay

Waipapa Bay, Marlborough, New Zealand

That pale yellow color again, clear, clean and a little sparkly. Loved the scents of sweet butter, popcorn kernel, kiwi and toasted oak; followed by flavors of lemonade, butter, oak, with a rich taste and a mild acidity that leant itself to a medium to long finish.

Waipapa Bay Wines are products of the evolution in viticulture and winemaking taking place in New Zealand, particularly in the premium grape growing region of Marlborough. We strive to produce wines with elegance and a sense of place from grapes farmed with the utmost attention and care. The close proximity to the Pacific Ocean provides ideal climatic conditions for the vines to thrive and gives a signature character that carries through each of the four varietal wines.

The name Waipapa Bay comes from the laid-back surf spot on the Pacific Ocean, a place of stunning, natural beauty. It is located halfway between the Canterbury home of Brent and Shirley Rawstron – native New Zealanders who oversee the vineyards and winemaking – and their vineyards in Rapaura. The couple always stop at this coastal town to see the seals or whales, which are regularly spotted off the coast; it evokes what the Rawstons hope their wines do: joy and appreciation for nature.

TERROIR

The wine region of Marlborough, where the majority of the vineyards are located, hosts a special combination of climatic features that create the ideal site for bright, ripe, balanced fruit: plentiful sunshine, long, warm summer days, and cool nights that keep refreshing acidity in the grapes. The conditions particularly suit Sauvignon Blanc, providing intense aromas and fresh acidity to balance the fruit flavors. Soils vary considerably in the region, allowing subtle differences between and even within vineyards to give elegance and nuances of flavor, which the Rawstrons look to isolate in each of the wines.

WINES

The vineyards are divided into blocks according to soil and aspect, and are harvested and vinified separately. Once fermentation is completed the different tanks are then assessed and carefully blended to create the four Waipapa Bay wines.

Each of our wines offers consistency and authenticity through dedicated viticulture and winemaking that is closely monitored by Brent and Shirley Rawstron and their local team, resulting in fresh and balanced wines that are delicious on their own and serve as exceptional accompaniments to food.

https://waipapabaywines.com/

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

Waipapa Bay Wines Pledges Support for Whale and Dolphin Conservation With 2019 Vintage Launch

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Sonoma, Calif. –Beginning this past November, in tandem with the launch of the 2019 vintage in the USA, Waipapa Bay Wines partnered with Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) as the nonprofit’s first wine industry corporate sponsor—a milestone in Waipapa Bay’s ongoing commitment to supporting global conservation and sustainability efforts.

The name Waipapa Bay comes from a renowned whale-watching coastal site on the South Island of New Zealand where Brent and Shirley Rawstron—who oversee viticulture and winemaking—often visit when traveling to the vineyards in Marlborough.

Furthermore, the close proximity to the Pacific Ocean provides ideal climatic conditions for the vines to thrive; protecting the ocean and its delicate underwater ecosystems is paramount to producing high quality grapes in the region.

“It’s always been our intention with Waipapa Bay Wines to give back to the oceans,” says Liz Cobbold, Marketing Director. “We’ve been in search of the right partner who shares our goals and are thrilled to have found it with WDC. Plus, the partnership is a meaningful way to introduce the 2019 vintage wines to market.”

Founded in 1985, WDC is a global organization which has led the charge on protections for whales and dolphins in all our world’s oceans, an essential means to sustain the future of the planet’s climate resiliency and future. WDC has around 80 staff worldwide working in six locations dedicated to research and action to support this mission. 

“We are excited to receive the support of sustainably-focused businesses such as Waipapa Bay Wines,” says WDC’s Melissa Walker. “The future of grape growing and agriculture overall are dependent on healthy oceans, so it is imperative that we unite for this common goal.” 

As the organization’s first winery corporate partner, Waipapa Bay Wines will pledge to help support WDC in their four principal goals—end captivity, stop whaling, create healthy seas, and prevent accidental deaths in fishing gear—with a particular emphasis on raising awareness for the intern program, which fosters careers in conservation biology for young adults.

The 2019 vintage wines from Waipapa Bay include: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay from Marlborough, as well as a Pinot Noir Rosé from Canterbury. The wines retail at $14.99 and will be available in retail outlets. Read the full harvest report here.

Follow @waipapabaywines and @whales_org on Instagram for news and developments regarding the partnership.

About Waipapa Bay Wines

Waipapa Bay Wines reflect and respect the stunning, natural beauty of the place they take their name from–Waipapa Bay. With vineyards in Marlborough and Canterbury, we strive

to produce wines with elegance and a sense of place from grapes farmed with the utmost

attention and care. The close proximity to the Pacific Ocean provides ideal climatic conditions for the vines to thrive and gives a signature fresh character that carries through each of the four wines. To learn more visit: waipapabaywines.com.

About WDC

Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) is the leading global charity dedicated to the conservation and protection of whales, dolphins and their ocean home. Their mission is to educate people on the significant ecological role whales and dolphins play in the marine ecosystem, and inspire global action to protect them. This is not a noble gesture, but an essential means to sustain the future of our Earth by increasing the planet’s climate resiliency.

About Broadland Wineries

An international wine business with UK heritage, Broadland Wineries brings innovative and

modern wines to consumers–most recently with the wine advent calendar, which sold out at a national supermarket in less than 24 hours and created a social media buzz. Throughout its 50-year history, the mission remains the same: to offer superior service, quality, and value at all times. To learn more visit: broadland-wineries.com.

Alsace Rocks Now and Stay Tuned For the Main Event May 2020!

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Have you heard of Alsace Rocks? But first, have you tried wines from Alsace, France? Alsatian wineries are currently experimenting with Syrah, produce little of one red, Pinot Noir, as well as beautiful whites such as dry Riesling, sweet Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer.

So what is Alsace Rocks? It’s a month-long celebration of Alsatian wines with events, at restaurants, wines bars and retail shops – many attended by their Grand Cru producers. The event will hit Los Angeles May 2020, after running through both New York one year and Chicago another.

Why attend? Well, in my opinion: Because the wines are stellar. This is what I wrote in a social media post regarding an event I just attended:

In a tasting of all Alsatian wines (easier to pronounce than Al-zass) I enjoyed all that we sampled, happy to learn about the charming area of France that borders Switzerland and Germany, their traditional use of the long-necked bottles that I was taught shows off their aromatics, how to pair these wines with food and that LA dwellers will soon have a full month of their own to discover all of the same things – and more.

The month-long event, Alsace Rocks, has had great success in both New York and Chicago, and is now coming to Los Angeles May 2020 to offer plenty of tasting experiences for everyone. Stay tuned to their website for details as they emerge. I will be too. 

Wine we loved included Charles Baur sparkling rose of Pinot Noir, Julien Schaal Dry Riesling, Trimbach Riesling, Hugel Pinot Gris and Pierre Sparr Gewürztraminer. 

More

The social media post above was just one small part of what I learned during the tasting. I noted the champenoise method used to make the NV Domaine Charles Baur Crémant d’Alsace sparkling rose of 100% Pinot Noir, aged for nine months as opposed to the 12 months decreed by law in Champagne, they only make one batch a year, about $22 a bottle, and it was my favorite in the tasting.

The Julien Schaal Rangen de Thann dry Riesling is a Grand Cru and one of 15 wines to be imported regularly to the U.S. The grapes are grown in volcanic soil and in very steep terrain. I noted a medium acid and Meyer lemon, another wine I would definitely like to sample again.

Our third wine, from well-known wine brand Trimbach that was established in 1626, was an aged 100% Riesling, a 2010 Cuvee Federic Emile (named after one of their ancestors). I noted a fine balance to this one.

The 2016 Hugel Pinot Gris Classic had a striking “Corkscrew Man” logo designed by Fear and Loathing illustrator, Ralph Steadman. The wine is made from the same Pinot Grigio grape, with zero skin contact, has some residual sugar, with notes of anise on the nose as well as smoky, earthy qualities in a rich mouthfeel.

Our final wine was a 2017 Pierre Sparr Gewürztraminer. The grapes had no irrigation and were hand-harvested mid-October. Lots of yellow apple and fruit cocktail, as well as the most incredible blooming rose petal aromas in this lovely gold-tinged wine.

Find most of the wines at K and L or Total Wine. 

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

ULTIMATE WINE CHALLENGE Announces 2019 Results

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Hawthorne, NY – Ultimate Wine Challenge® (UWC), since 2010 the world’s most progressive global wine competition, released the results of the tenth annual Ultimate Wine Challenge. The judging, which took place throughout May, determined 31 Chairman’s Trophy winners, UWC’s highest honor.

Additional recognitions include Finalist, Great Value (awarded to entries with a high price/value ratio – showing that great wines don’t need to be expensive); and the Tried & True Award™, bestowed on brands that have demonstrated unfailing, consistent quality, year after year.

Led by UBC Founder and Judging Chairman F. Paul Pacult, and 16 of the world’s foremost wine experts, buyers, journalists, and educators convened to evaluate more than 1,100 still, sparkling and fortified wines, and sakes from around the world. Ultimate Wine Challenge was held at the custom-designed Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC) Evaluation Center in Hawthorne, NY. To view a full list of UWC judges, please visit www.ultimate-beverage.com/uwc2019judges.

Said Pacult of UWC 2019, “Everything we do, each system we’ve installed, is geared to showcase every entry’s virtues on a level playing field of its peers. The responsibility of our judges to render reliable results is paramount to UWC’s mission of No Shortcuts. Just Honest, Impartial Judging.”

Top-scoring wines will be published in the Ultimate Beverage Challenge 2019 Guide To The World’s Best Wines & Spirits in the October 2019 issue of Beverage Media, which is referenced by 70,000 beverage alcohol buyers in the U.S. market.

THE 2019 ULTIMATE WINE CHALLENGE CHAIRMAN’S TROPHY WINNERS

Full results at www.ultimate-beverage.com/uwc2019results
Images at www.ultimate-beverage.com/uwc2019photos

RED WINES
Alexander Valley Vineyards Merlot 2016 Alexander Valley, United States (Merlot—World)
Château La Haye Majesté 2016 Saint-Estèphe, France (Red Wine—France)
Fernández de Piérola Gran Reserva 2004 Rioja, Spain (Red Wine—Spain)
Frey Organic Malbec 2016 Mendocino, United States (Malbec—World)
Gallo Signature Series Zinfandel 2016 Dry Creek Valley, United States (Zinfandel—USA)
J. Lohr Cuvée ST. E 2015 Paso Robles, United States (Red Blend—North America)
Joana da Cana Reserva 2016 Tejo, Portugal (Red Wine—Portugal)
Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Alexander Valley, United States (Cabernet Sauvignon—World)
McGuigan Hand Made Shiraz 2015 Langhorne Creek, Australia (Shiraz/Syrah—World)
Shiloh Legend Fiddler 2016 Judean Hills, Israel (Red Wine—Eastern Mediterranean)
Sonoma-Cutrer Pinot Noir 2016 Russian River Valley, United States (Pinot Noir—World)
Topografia Reserva Red Blend 2014 Uco Valley, Argentina (Red Blend—Southern Hemisphere)
Villa La Pagliaia 2014 Chianti Classico Riserva, Italy (Red Wine—Italy)
William Fèvre Chile Espino Reserva Especial Carménère 2017 Valle Central, Chile (Other Red Varietals—World)

WHITE WINES
Aluado Chardonnay 2018 Lisboa Vinho Regional, Portugal (White Wine—Portugal)
Kim Crawford Signature Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2017 Marlborough, New Zealand (Sauvignon Blanc—World)
La Perrière 2018 Sancerre, France (White Wine—France)
Pacifica Evan’s Collection Riesling 2017 Washington, United States (Riesling—World)
Protos Verdejo 2018 Rueda, Spain (White Wine—Spain)
Ron Rubin Pinot Gris 2017 Russian River Valley, United States (Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris—World)
SIMI Reserve Chardonnay 2016 Russian River Valley, United States (Chardonnay—World)

ROSÉ WINES
Secret de Léoube 2018 Côtes de Provence, France (Rosé—Europe)
Three Thieves Rosé 2018 California, United States (Rosé—North America)

CHAMPAGNE/SPARKLING WINES
Chapel Down Three Graces 2014 Tenterden, England (Sparkling Wine—World)
J Vineyards Cuvée 20 Russian River Valley, United States (Sparkling Wine—USA)
Mionetto Prestige Brut Prosecco Treviso, Italy (Prosecco—Italy)
Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2012 Extra Brut Rosé Champagne, France (Champagne—France)
Vallformosa Col leció Brut Reserva 2012 Cava, Spain (Cava—Spain)

DESSERT WINE
The Hare Wine Co. Frontier Collection Cabernet Franc Icewine 2017 Niagara-on-the Lake, Canada (Dessert Wine—World)

SAKE
Joto Junmai Ginjo Ibaraki, Japan (Junmai Ginjo—World)

SANGRIA
Tiki Tonga Draft House Tropical White, Spain (Sangria—World)

All products are rated on the 100-point scale. All wines rated 80 points and higher receive an individual results page (accessed by clicking on “MORE DATA…” next to the product name) which provides downloadable marketing art work for the product. Wines rated 85 points and higher receive a tasting note also accessed from the individual results page. UWC results are promoted globally via email and web publication to both trade buyers and consumers.

Ultimate Wine Challenge…No shortcuts. Just honest, impartial judging.

ABOUT ULTIMATE BEVERAGE CHALLENGE
Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC) provides expert evaluation of wines and spirits for producers, importers and marketers through its two innovative annual competitions: Ultimate Wine Challenge and Ultimate Spirits Challenge. UBC partners are F. Paul Pacult, Sue Woodley and David Talbot. Photos and more are at ultimate-beverage.com.

Meeting with Winemaker Zak Miller, and All Things Domaine Carneros

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Love invites to wine and dine with winemakers, and this one was right up there with the best:

Hi Eve, 

A day trip to Napa and a leap of faith led Zak Miller, winemaker at Domaine Carneros, on a journey from field research in forestry science to the vineyards of California, Chile and New Zealand to learn all he could about winemaking. And another leap, joining Domaine Carneros over a decade ago, saw his deep respect and fascination for the Pinot Noir grape blossom into a surprising love affair with chardonnay working alongside Eileen Crane, Founding Winemaker and “America’s Doyenne of Sparkling Wine.” As winemaker at Domaine Carneros, Zak oversees the day to day operations of sparkling winemaking. 

On behalf of Zak…we’d like to extend an invitation to join him for an intimate dinner of award-winning, estate Carneros sparkling and still wines…at Avra Beverly Hills.

Winemaker Zak Miller

The Meeting

Tucked in the back of the swanky Avra Beverly Hills restaurant, Zak Miller sat alone at a table for five waiting for four ladies of the pen, the wine pen, to arrive. Though the restaurant was a bit high-status, along with Miller’s pedigree, Miller was not. Affable, friendly and open from the moment he stood to say hello to the end of our time together, roughly two hours, I came away armed with plenty of info to share from our “bubbly” time together.

(If you just want to see more photos, go here.)

I had received a large file of past and current press releases from the winery and I have abbreviated some of that below. Before that I will share what we talked about and my notes on both the still and sparkling wines we sampled. This is what I learned from Miller firsthand, we absorbed more (in more ways than one – lol) during the tasting:

  • This is Miller’s 12th harvest with Domaine Carneros. He had experience winemaking for Saintsbury in Napa, as well as wineries in New Zealand and Chile.
  • The winery is striving to be 100% Estate Vineyards, they currently have 400 acres. They have long relationships with growers in Carneros for some of their fruit.
  • It takes roughly 10 years from harvest to release for each vintage.
  • The “Chateau” in Carneros is a replica of Champagne Taittinger official residence, the Chateau de la Marquetterie. Taittinger founded Domaine Carneros in 1987.
  • They use up to 13 Chardonnay clones in the sparkling wines.

The Tasting

2012 Le Reve Blanc de Blancs

2012 was a big harvest according to Miller. The bottle, the only one with embossing and a different all over shape, will be hard to find except in fine restaurants. A little over $100 a bottle and made with 100% estate grown Chardonnay. I got aromas of crisp yellow delicious apple, Brie cheese, rye toast and a mild salinity. In the mouth I got that same bright apple, pear, pink grapefruit and plenty of citrus. $115 a bottle.

2015 Brut Cuvee

This wine – 51% Chardonnay, 47% Pinot Noir and 2% Pinot Gris – spent 36 months in barrel. Notes of white peach, cream, white pepper and green grass on the nose with fresh fruit cocktail and hard red apple candy on the palate. $36 a bottle.

2016 Estate Pinot Noir

They make about 12 thousand bottles of Pinot Noir per year. This vintage used 15 of their 16 Pinot Noir clones, all estate. Loved the aroma of black cherry, stems and must as well as the flavor of both red and dark cherry, black currant and toasted oak. Well balanced fruit and tannin. After twenty minutes the wine further improved and showed more of that dark fruit I liked. Nicely done for only about $30 a bottle for a Napa Pinot.

Cuvee de la Pompadour

This blend of 59% Pinot Noir and 41% Chardonnay had only been macerated with the skins on for a few days before draining off. Miller wanted the color but not the tannins from the Pinot. He felt that a heavy Pinot influence makes the sparkling “bastardized.” Yellow cling peaches, raspberries, golden raisins and a hint of flint greeted me on the nose, followed by raspberry, red cherry and just a tad of cheddar. $42 a bottle.

From Domaine Carneros (Abbreviated)

Some history: Founded in the Carneros appellation of Northern California by the Champagne Taittinger family, Domaine Carneros is a small grower producer of ultra-premium Carneros Sparkling wines and limited production Pinot Noirs. Thirty years after the winery’s inaugural harvest, Domaine Carneros has become the benchmark for California Sparkling wine, reflecting both the individuality of the Carneros’ terroir and the craftsmanship of its French legacy.

The Chateau: Completed in 1989, the 18th century château-style building was architecturally inspired by the historic Château de la Marquetterie owned by Champagne Taittinger in the Champagne region of France. Situated atop a knoll and overlooking endless rolling vineyards, the elegant property is an iconic Northern California landmark. The château houses the winery’s facilities as well as beautiful salons for visitors and wine club members.

The summer of 2018 marks the completion of the highly-anticipated and beautifully-designed Jardin d’Hiver – a conservatory-style addition to the north terrace of the renowned Domaine Carneros château, which will allow guests to immerse themselves in the beauty of Carneros and surrounding vineyards while being shielded from the weather.

Winemaker Zak Miller: It was his first harvest in Napa Valley at Saintsbury Vineyards that gave him a deep respect and fascination for the ever challenging Pinot Noir grape. Eager to continue learning, he traveled to New Zealand and Chile to hone his craft. Returning to northern California wine country in 2008, Miller joined Domaine Carneros with the goal of continuing to evolve his skill with pinot noir working closely with TJ Evans and his still wine program at the chateau. Or so he thought.

Working alongside Founding Winemaker, Eileen Crane, opened to Miller a new realm of possibility in winemaking – sparkling wines – and he hasn’t looked back since. Through Crane and the Domaine Carneros team, he developed a deep appreciation for the versatility of both pinot noir and chardonnay in sparkling winemaking and the great skill required to craft beautifully balanced, elegant yet complex wines. And through his work as a sparkling winemaker, he grew to love a variety he admittedly didn’t gravitate toward originally – chardonnay – which provides the base for what he feels is its finest expression (and a personal favorite), Blanc de Blancs.

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

America’s Best Wine Festival Returns to One of America’s 10 Best Small Historic Towns: Garagiste Festival Comes to Solvang February 8th – 10th

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PASO ROBLES, Calif. (PRWEB) – The Garagiste Wine Festival, which was named America’s Best Wine Festival by USA Today, returns February 8th – 10th to Solvang, which was named One of America’s 10 Best Small Historic Towns by USA Today. Tickets are now on sale.

This marks the seventh year that the Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure has showcased the wines of some of California’s best small production winemakers in one of California’s most charming small towns, which is celebrating its 107th anniversary this year. Solvang is in the heart of the renowned Santa Ynez Valley wine country, just north of picturesque Santa Barbara, California.

“America’s best wine festival meets one of America’s best historic small towns for the seventh year in a row…what could make for a better wine country weekend?” said Garagiste Festival Co-founder Doug Minnick. “There is a special place in our hearts for Solvang, and for the amazing small production winemakers who pour at this venue. Solvang, and the beautiful Veteran’s Memorial Hall, lend such a charming and intimate setting for attendees to chat and taste with the winemakers and owners who will be pouring their hard-to-find wines. We love the diversity of the wines poured here, with multiple micro-climates, grape varieties and innovative blends represented.”

Over 40 winemakers from Santa Barbara County and across California converge at Solvang’s Mission-style Veterans’ Memorial Hall to pour over 150 wines over three days of events which include the continuation of the festival’s ‘Original Garagiste’ seminars, moderated by Garagiste Festival Co-founder and KRUSH radio host, Stewart McLennan, and, this year, featuring Central Coast winemaking legend Ken Brown of Ken Brown Wines.

“We are proud to lead off our main event with a one-on-one discussion and tasting with Ken Brown – a true original ‘garagiste’ many years before micro-production winemaking became a movement,” said McLennan. “Ken was one of the first to recognize the cool climate potential of this region back in the 70s and to craft delicious wines from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay right here in Santa Barbara. We are looking forward to an informative and inspiring conversation as we taste some of his delicious wines.”

Brown, whose Ken Brown Wines focuses on very small lots of Pinot Noir from the finest vineyards of Sta. Rita Hills, is recognized as one of Santa Barbara County’s pioneering winemakers and innovators. Not only was he among the first vintners to realize the tremendous promise for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Santa Barbara County, but he was also the first winemaker to introduce the Syrah grape, as well as Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, to the region. He was founding winemaker at Zaca Mesa Winery and spent 20-years at Byron Vineyard and Winery which later sold to the Robert Mondavi family. In this seminar, attendees will learn how he helped shape the Santa Barbara wine scene and why he ultimately returned to small-lot winemaking.

The Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure 2019 kicks off on Friday, February 8th from 6:30-9:00pm with the very popular “No Repeats, Rare & Reserve,” where attendees can get up close and personal with the winemakers as they share limited Club Only, Library and Pre-Release bottles and Barrel samples, and enjoy a BBQ buffet from local favorite Tim’s BBQ. On Saturday, the seminar with Ken Brown, “Original Garagistes: A Deep Dive & Tasting,” runs from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm and includes a Wine Country boxed lunch (VIP/Weekend pass ticket holders only). The day continues with the main event, the Grand Tasting, from 2-5pm showcasing over 40 winemakers pouring 150+ wines and 20+ unique varieties. All tickets include unlimited tastes, complimentary cheese and charcuterie and a souvenir Stolzle crystal wine glass – plus a Silent Auction full of enticing wine packages which benefits The Garagiste Scholarship at Cal Poly. On Sunday, Garagiste Passport Day returns, offering discounts and special offers to festival attendees at area wineries.

The festival also announced that it will return to Sonoma California for its 2nd Annual Sonoma Garagiste Festival the weekend of April 13, 2019. Said Minnick: “We are very excited to return to Northern California in April. The reception we received last year was fantastic and we already have an exciting group of No Cal micro-production wineries signed up. Stay tuned!”

Dubbed “tasting nirvana”, ‘strange and wondrous’, and “one not to miss” by the LA Times, the Garagiste Festival is renowned for its renegade spirit, passionate winemakers, handcrafted wines and rules-breaking, ‘no snobs allowed’ ethos. Launched in Paso Robles in 2011, the festival features the wines of commercial garagiste* winemakers who make under 1500 cases at festivals across California, including Solvang, Sonoma, Los Angeles and Paso Robles. Over 350 different wineries have poured over 3,000 wines for over 10,000 wine lovers at Garagiste Festivals since inception and the festival has raised over $125K in support of The Garagiste Scholarship at Cal Poly.

For full Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure 2019 schedule details, go to http://californiagaragistes.com/2019-syv-fest/

Tickets are very limited and Garagiste Festivals always sell out. To buy tickets, go to: https://bit.ly/2Bcs0ck. For breaking festival news and special discounts, sign-up for our free newsletter, The Dirt at http://garagistefestival.com/sign-up/ or follow us on Twitter (@GaragisteFest) or Facebook.

Among the over 40 winemakers already scheduled to pour are:
Ascension Cellars, Bodega de Edgar, Bolshoi Family Wines*, Cloak & Dagger Wines, Copia Vineyards, Cordon Wines, Cutruzzola Vineyards, D. Volk Wines, Dascomb Cellars, Hoi Polloi Winery, Kaleidos Winery, Kimsey Vineyards*, Lepiane Wines, Metrick Wines, Montemar Winery, RF Fine Wines*, Ryan Cochrane Wines, Sycamore Ranch, Temperance Cellars*, Tercero Wines and Westerly Wines.*

*First time pouring at the Solvang Festival.

Sponsors include:
AEB, California Winery Advisor, City of Santa Ynez Valley, Digital Dogma, Distinctive Glassware, ETS Laboratories, Farm Credit West, Glenn Burdette, G3 Enterprises, Hamlet Inn, The Hanover Insurance Group, House of Copper, Laffort U.S.A., mWEBB Communications, Wine Industry Insight, Wine Reach App, WiVi Central Coast Conference & Tradeshow.

For sponsorship info, email info(at)garagistefestival.com.

About The Garagiste Wine Festival
The Garagiste Wine Festival (http://www.garagistefestival.com), named the ‘Best Wine Festival in the US in 2018 in USA Today’s 10Best Readers Choice Awards, is the first and only wine festival dedicated to the undiscovered and under-recognized American artisan ‘garagiste’ producers who are making some of the best, most exciting, handcrafted small-lot production wines in the world. Founded by fellow garagistes Stewart McLennan and Douglas Minnick, the Garagiste Festivals are committed to discovering the best and most innovative limited-production winemakers and promoting and showcasing them to a broad audience of discerning wine consumers. In addition to its flagship annual festival in Paso Robles, CA, the Garagiste Festival line-up includes Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure, featuring Santa Ynez Valley garagistes; the Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure, in Los Angeles; the Garagiste Festival, Northern Exposure, in Sonoma; winemaker dinners, a newsletter, garagiste profiles and more.

In addition to being named the US’ Best Wine Festival, the Garagiste Festival was named one of the ‘Top Nine Incredible Epicurean Vacations’ in the world by ABC News, * “one of the premier wine events of the year,” by the LA Times and “Best Festival” by Sunset Magazine’s ‘Best of the West.’ The festivals are produced by Garagiste Events, a non-profit dedicated to furthering the education of future winemakers and those training for employment within the wine industry. Proceeds from the festivals support the Garagiste Festival Scholarship fund of the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo Wine and Viticulture Department.

*Garagistes (garage-east) is a term originally used in the Bordeaux region of France to denigrate renegade small-lot wine makers, sometimes working in their “garages” (anything considered not a chateau), who refused to follow the “rules,” and is now a full-fledged movement responsible for making some of the best wine in the world. The Garagiste Festivals were the first to shine a light on the American garagiste winemaker in 2011.

Vintage Eve Circa 7/2015: Garagiste in the Wiltern!

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There is nothing like a wine event held in a new venue to rev my engines/salivary glands, and The Garagiste Festival Urban Exposure held inside the Wiltern theater, with the auditorium seats moved over to the side to accommodate wine tables and guests, made for a grand showcase for so many grand wines!

Michael D Larner sharing his Larner Vineyard & Winery 2010 Reserve Syrah - OMG delicious.

Michael D Larner sharing his Larner Vineyard & Winery 2010 Reserve Syrah – OMG delicious.

We were offered an early tasting of the “Rare and Reserve” (R&R) wines and took full advantage of it. To the point that after selecting no less than 30 wines to taste, I took a break to abate palate fatigue…and still had difficulty going back to the tables to taste everyone’s full line-up. My conclusion had to be that if I loved their R&R I would most likely dig more!

So this is what I noted for you thirsty readers:

Rare and Reserve (R&R) Note: Wines denoted with the acronym GSM are a Rhone blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, but Grenache is not automatically predominant though listed first.

Alma Sol Winery: 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – $60 – 50 cases.

Alta Colina Vineyards: 2011 Block 2 Bio Syrah – $55 – 110 cases.

Archium Cellars: 2012 Haven Grenache – $34 – 74 cases.

Artisan Uprising: Pre-release, 2013 Merlot – $32. (My husband loved their 2012 Malbec and the rest of their line-up.)

Bellissimo Cellars: Barrel sample, 2014 Chardonnay, Mount Eden. (I love winemaker Lora Marie Taylor’s current 2013 Chardonnay as well!)

Bon Niche Cellars: 2010 “Voutes” Bordeaux Blend – $50 – 97 cases.

Caliza Winery: Loved tasting the older 2006 Estate Syrah – $70 – 230 cases.

Cholame Vineyard: 2012 Grenache – $45 – 90 cases.

Cordon Wines: 2011 Highway 1 Blackbird Cuvee of Merlot and Cabernet Franc – $26 – 90 cases.

DENO Wines: 2010 Two Bill’s Zinfandel Grenache blend – $35.

Dilecta Wines: 2011 Tillers Grenache Syrah blend – $46 – 75 cases.

Halcon Vineyards: Loved them all: a Marsanne/Roussane blend, Pinot Noir, Grenache Mourvedre blend, Syrah and a Petite Sirah as well as the R&R 2011 Alturas Syrah – $70 – 180 cases.

Harrison Clarke Vineyards: 2012 Syrah Whole Cluster – $68 – 25 cases.

Imagine Wines: Another lovely older Syrah, the 2007 “Winged” Syrah, Paradise Mountain – $80 – 146 cases.

Incendium Wines: 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa – $32.50.

Kaleidos Winery: The entire line-up (Pinot Gris/Viognier blend, two GSMs and two Syrahs) including the 2012 Preying Mantis (Syrah) R&R – $55 – 24 cases.

Kessler-Haak Vineyards: 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Starlane Vineyard – $45 – 47 cases.

Larner Vineyards: 2010 Reserve Syrah – $72 – 106 cases. (I love all of Michael Larner’s wines!)

Mattina Fiore: 2012 Grenache, Murmur Vineyard – $60 – 312 cases.

Overland Wines: 2010 “Kick Ranch” Petite Sirah – $45 – 66 cases. (And I also enjoyed a very golden colored and honeyed 2011 late harvest Sauvignon Blanc.)

Powell Mountain Winery: 2011 Alta Montana blend of Tempranillo, Grenache and Mourvedre – $32 – 61 cases. (Another favorite table of my husband’s.)

Prizm Winery: 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, barrel sample $60 – 175 cases.

Pulchella Winery: 2013 Block 6 Syrah Reserve, La Vista Vineyard, yet to be named. OMG can’t wait for this one!

Ser Winery: A low acid and low alcohol but incredibly tasty 2014 Dry Orange Muscat $16 – 45 cases.

Shai Cellars: 2009 Adome blend of Syrah and Grenache…I’m a long time fan of winemaker Shawn Shai Halahmy.

STANGER Vineyards: 2009 Pinot Noir, Library Reserve – $114 – Club Only. The only Pinot I’ve ever had that doesn’t taste like a Pinot! Deep, dark and spicy. A must try! Hubby loved their 2010 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tercero Wines: 2009 Les Deux Comtes Rhone blend – $45 – 88 cases.

The Central Coast Group Project (CCGP): 2013 Barrel sample.

Tlo Wines: 2012 Reserve Petite Sirah – $35 – 90 cases.

Vinemark Cellars: 2009 Primitivo – $32 – 1st Vintage.

Vines on the Marycrest: Sangiovese – $36 – 60 cases None available so instead I tasted and LOVED everything else Victor and Jennifer Abascal shared: 2014 Summertime GSM and Zinfandel blend, 2012 Zinfandel, 2010 Syrah and 2012 My Generation blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Mourvedre and Petite Sirah.

Story in photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10206033352380288.1073741922.1455706632&type=1&l=b35921aa8d

Credits

Thanks must go out to the fabulous planning team that includes founders Doug Minnick and Steward McLennan, event director Lisa Dinsmore, great PR from Melanie Webber and a wonderful group of winemakers, wine reps, food vendors and knowledgeable volunteer sommeliers.

If you missed this Garagiste Festival event sign up for their newsletter to keep track of the next one: http://garagistefestival.com

Wine List

Alma Fria Winery, Alma Sol Winery, Alta Colina Vineyards, Archium Cellars, Artisan Uprising, Ascension Cellars, Bellissimo Cellars, Blair Estate, Bon Niche Cellars, Caliza Winery, Carucci Wines, Casa Dumetz, Cholame Vineyard, Cloak & Dagger Wines, Coda Wines, Cordon Wines, Cutruzzola Vineyards, DENO Wines, Diablo Paso, Dilecta Wines, El Lugar, Falcone Family Vineyards, Frequency, Graef Wines, Halcon Vineyards, Harrison Clarke Vineyards, Imagine Wines, Incendium Wines, Kaleidos Winery, Kessler-Haak Vineyards, Larner Vineyards, Last Light Wine Co., Levo Wines, Maidenstoen Wines, Mattina Fiore, MCV Wines, Moonwalker Cellars, C. Nagy Wines, Overland Wines, Pace Family Wines, Powell Mountain Winery, Prizm Winery, Pulchella Winery, Rendarrio Wines, Ryan Cochrane Wines, Ser Winery, Shai Cellars, STANGER Vineyards, Tercero Wines, The Central Coast Group Project, The Farm Winery, Theopolis Vineyards, Tlo Wines, Travieso Winery, Turiya Wines, Two Shepherds Wines, Valley Floor Vineyard, Vinemark Cellars, Vines on the Marycrest and Weatherborne.

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

Motivations and Preferences of Consumers Who Drink Rosé

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Yountville, CA (PRWEB) – The Wine Market Council announced it has completed its Rosé Wine Consumer Survey, a survey that was conducted to get a closer look at the consumption habits of rosé drinkers.

Eve sampling Rose.

“Nielsen data shows that rosé has grown 57% in sales dollars over the 52 weeks ending June 17, 2017, outpacing the overall wine category which is growing at 3% annually,” said Danny Brager, Senior Vice President of the Beverage Alcohol Practice Area at Nielsen and Chair of Wine Market Council’s Research Committee. “This Wine Market Council survey looks at the subject of rosé from the consumer’s point of view, providing members with more insight into the experiences, motivations and preferences of rosé drinkers.”

The survey was conducted among respondents sourced from Survey Sample International (SSI). The study polled 838 U.S. adults over the age of 21 who drink wine at least once a week and drink rosé at least occasionally.

The report on the survey is available to Wine Market Council members. However, several key findings from the survey include the consistency of consumer consumption, as well as wines consumers say they would substitute for rosé.

Some 60% of those respondents indicated they drink rosé consistently throughout the year, while 23% of them reported they drink rosé much more during the warmer months of the year. Only 12% of the respondents said they drink rosé infrequently, including every few months or several times a year.

Wine Market Council also found that when respondents were asked what wine they would substitute for rosé if they were in the mood for rosé but it wasn’t available, survey participants most often said they would choose Moscato/Muscat (38%), Chardonnay (36%) or Pinot Grigio/Gris (32%). Three in ten or fewer would choose a red blend (31%), Riesling (29%), White Blends (29%), Pinot Noir (28%), Champagne/sparking (28%), Sauvignon/Fumé Blanc (21%), or Gewurztraminer (10%).

The complete 2017 Rosé Wine Consumer Survey and all resulting data are now available to Wine Market Council members.
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To become a member or inquire about membership visit the Wine Market Council website WineMarketCouncil.com or email Wine Market Council Membership Director, Mark Chandler, with your inquiries at mchandler(at)winemarketcouncil(dot)com. Media questions and requests should be sent to contact(at)teplinnuss(dot)com.

About Wine Market Council
Wine Market Council was established in 1994 as a non-profit (501c6) trade association whose mission is to grow and strengthen the wine market in the U.S. on behalf of all segments of the industry by providing ongoing U.S. wine market research. More information can be found at WineMarketCouncil.com.