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Really Good Boxed Wine Announces Master Sommelier Endorsement With Its National Launch

February 27, 2022 by evebushman

HEALDSBURG, CALIF. (PRWEB) – Really Good Boxed Wine, the new direct-to-consumer wine brand whose mission is to elevate the quality of boxed wines, announces the release of its 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from a Certified Sustainable in Practice (SIP) vineyard in Paso Robles.

“Andy Myers, the first Master Sommelier to become affiliated with a boxed wine.”

This is the brand’s first broadly available release after two limited releases of a 2020 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, each time selling out in a few days. Really Good Boxed Wine is available as either a one-time purchase or as a monthly subscription.

The launch of the latest varietal comes with an endorsement from Andy Myers, the first Master Sommelier to become affiliated with a boxed wine. He found his love of wine while working at the three Michelin Star Inn at Little Washington and never looked back, later spending almost a decade as the beverage director for Chef José Andrés ThinkFoodGroup.

The Master Sommelier diploma is the highest distinction a professional can attain in fine wine and beverage service. There are only 269 Master Sommeliers worldwide, including 172 in the United States, with many sommeliers dedicating their lives to achieve this elusive designation.

“Boxed wine has gotten a bad rap from wine drinkers who perceive it as being inferior,” said Myers. “But since most of today’s wines don’t need to be aged in a bottle, it makes sense to take high-end wines like those offered by Really Good Boxed Wine and create better and more sustainable packaging, without inhibiting the drinking experience. I was thoroughly impressed with all of the wines Really Good Boxed Wine is releasing, and am excited to be part of their journey.”

Really Good Boxed Wine’s founder Jake Whitman concurs with Myers’ mission to revamp the image of boxed wine while helping to address the wine industry’s carbon emissions due to bottle manufacturing.

“Really Good Boxed Wine’s goal is to create the best boxed wine in the United States, and we’re beyond thrilled that Andy loved our wine enough to endorse it after trying it,” said Whitman. “Far from mass-produced, commercially farmed grapes, our wine is directly sourced from respected vineyards and award-winning winemakers. I believe boxed wines are one of the clearest ways to help reduce the carbon impact of packaging in our industry, and our hope is Andy’s incredible palate and Master Sommelier credentials will help educate consumers on the quality of our wine.”

Whitman followed, “Our team of sommeliers and industry experts tasted more than 50 options to find the perfect wine for our January release, ultimately landing on our new 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles. We can’t wait to share it with the world.”

Each 3 Liter box of Really Good Boxed Wine, the equivalent of four bottles of wine, sells for $65, or $16.25 per bottle. Wines of this caliber typically retail for a minimum of to per bottle.

Consumers enjoy up to a 60% savings versus comparable premium wine bottles, since packaging costs and shipping are significantly lower.

Really Good Boxed Wine’s next varietals include a 2021 Pinot Noir Rosé from the Russian River Valley in February, followed by a 2021 Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma County in March. For more information, visit https://www.reallygoodboxedwine.com.

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About Really Good Boxed Wine:
Really Good Boxed Wine combats the misconception that high-quality wine can’t be put in a box. They partner with world-class vineyards and award-winning winemakers to make ultra-premium wine, put it in the boxed wine format, and sell it direct-to-consumer through http://www.reallygoodboxedwine.com. It’s boxed wine you actually want to drink.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: award, beverage, box wine, cabernet sauvignon, California, chef, farming, grapes, Healdsburg, master sommelier, michelin, Paso Robles, Pinot Noir, Rose, Russian River Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, sip certified, sommelier, Sonoma, sustainable, united states, varietal, vineyards, wine education, winemakers

SIP Awards’ Annual Spirit Competition Shatters Through the 1,000 Entry Submission Milestone

August 29, 2021 by evebushman

IRVINE, Calif., /PRNewswire/ — The SIP Awards to be honored for another record setting year as the authority review leader in innovative tasting competitions, representing the one and only organization focused on the feedback of real consumers, not professional tasters or industry insiders. The 2021 SIP Awards surged with more than 1,000 competing brands from 49 countries — the highest since its inception in 2009.
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The SIP Awards International Spirits Competition is committed to its core mission of bringing together informed, passionate consumers to experience rare and unique spirits and mixers from around the world. This year, cognizant of the ongoing global pandemic, SIP Awards reimagined spirits judging with their innovative at-home evaluation kits. With a record breaking 1,183 submissions, the 2021 evaluation was by far the most competitive for brands vying to secure coveted SIP Awards recognition and exposure.
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Participants registered online and selected a sampler kit in one of 108 spirits categories and subcategories (bourbon, vodka, tequila, mezcal, whiskey, scotch, liqueurs, infused spirits, and more) to be delivered to their home. Each kit included 6 to 12 unbranded samples, a link to submit the results and one exclusive Neat Glass scientifically designed to maximize the aroma, flavor and finish of each spirit. After the submission, the judges were able to see which spirits they actually liked and disliked in their blind tasting evaluation, which could help them in their buying decisions.

Winning a SIP Award is a critical milestone for brands that speak directly to their target audience, consumers. Awards include Bronze, Silver, Gold, Double Gold, Platinum, and Best of Class.

In addition, the most sought after, Consumers’ Choice Award, honors a brand’s unwavering commitment to their legacy, craft, and to the ever-important consumer palate, by placing in the SIP Awards two or more consecutive years. This year, 344 Consumer Choice Awards were distributed, underscoring the growing popularity of the event and the value it provides to brands.

There’s also an Innovation Award for spirits that bring an interesting and unique taste profile, as well as Package Design Awards for creative bottles and aesthetics. No brand receives participation awards, as the competition focuses solely on tangible differentiation in the winner’s circle.

“The fact that the SIP Awards sets new records each year for consumer and brand participation highlights what we’ve believed all along — that consumer opinion carries a lot of weight for brands to create, improve on, and market their products,” says Cher Holmes, Director of Operations. “We look forward to continuing this tradition of bringing spirits brands and their ideal customers together and improving the industry as a whole, one sip at a time.”

For a complete list of 2021 SIP Awards winner, visit: http://sipawards.com/

About the SIP Awards
Founded in 2008, the SIP Awards is the world’s only spirits tasting competition that uses real consumers as its judging panel. Brands can enter one or multiple spirits and review the raw feedback they receive from the judges and use it to improve their product. For brands that win a SIP Award, they can leverage their award in their branding and marketing. To learn more about the SIP Awards beverage competition, venue partnerships, or for a complete list of this year’s winners, visit https://sipawards.com.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: award, best of class, blind tasting, bourbon, bronze medal, California, competition, double gold, gold medal, judge, liqueur, mezcal, platinum, scotch, silver medal, sip certified, spirits, taste, tequila, vodka, whiskey

Internationally Award-Winning RUM Co. of Fiji Wins Top Consumer and Bartender Awards

August 10, 2021 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Internationally award-winning RUM Co. of Fiji, the only rum distillery in the Fiji Islands, is proud to announce that it has been recognized at the 2021 SIP Awards and Bartender Spirits Awards with its premium rum ranges, Bati and Ratu. Across the acclaimed competitions—judged by consumers and the trade—RUM Co. of Fiji won an Innovation Award, four Platinum Awards, four Gold Medals and three Silver Medals.

Made from the molasses from hand-cut Fijian sugar cane grown in rich volcanic soil, RUM Co. of Fiji’s rums express the island’s unique position as “Paradise on Earth.” The sugar cane in Fiji has been grown and harvested since 1863 by generations of independent farmers, and the distillery uses only the purest local water to produce its exquisite rums, filtering them through coconut-shell carbon for a softer, rounded mouthfeel. Maturation accelerates in Fiji’s Southern Hemisphere climate, so that RUM Co. of Fiji can achieve complex flavor profiles at younger ages. Master Distiller & Blender Liam Costello works with both pot and column stills, blending different distillates to create the two ranges: premium 2-year-old Bati and super-premium Ratu, aged 5 to 8 years.

Heath Baker, Head of International Sales – RUM Co. of Fiji, noted that the accolades by trade and consumers are a turning point in the USA for the brand. “These awards support our passion and vision to make Fiji known as the new home of rum,” he said. “We have built an excellent base in our home markets of Australia and the Pacific, and we see North America as our greatest long-term opportunity to embed this vision.”

The SIP Awards are the only internationally recognized spirits competition that sees consumers become the judges, while the Bartender Spirits Awards are judged by globally respected bartenders, bar managers and on-premise buyers for the on-premise industry.

In the SIP Awards:

  • Ratu 8-Year Signature Rum Liqueur won an Innovation and Platinum “Best of Class” Award
  • Bati 2-Year Spiced Rum also won an exclusive Platinum “Best of Class” Award, while – – Ratu 5-Year Dark Rum and Bati 2-Year White Rum both won Platinum Awards; and
  • Ratu 5-Year Spiced Rum and Bati 2-Year Dark Rum both took home Gold Medals.

In the Bartender Spirits Awards:

  • Ratu Signature Rum Liqueur, Ratu Spiced Rum and Bati White Rum each received a – – Gold Medal, scoring highly across all aspects of judging: mixability, balance and versatility, taste, mouthfeel and finish, package, and price; and
  • Ratu Dark Rum, Bati Spiced Rum and Bati Dark Rum all won Silver Medals

Lucy Dodgson, Brand Manager – RUM Co. of Fiji, said, “RUM Co. of Fiji prides itself on having a versatile portfolio with broad trade and consumer appeal. We put a lot of emphasis on building bartender and consumer brand advocacy, so these awards are the ultimate seal of approval, and are further testament to Fiji being an exceptional and credible rum-producing nation.”

Mike Spencer, General Manager, Paradise Beverages, echoed the pride in receiving these awards as a fantastic acknowledgement of the hard work and passion from the team in Fiji. “This is again wonderful recognition for all our people involved in the making of these exceptional rums. These wins serve to amplify Paradise Beverages’ vision of proudly sharing and exporting local Fijian beverages to the world,” he said.

RUM Co. of Fiji is proudly distributed in California by Republic National Distributing Company, in partnership with Broken Shed Vodka. The suggested prices for each spirit are as follows: Ratu Signature: $38.99, Ratu Dark and Spiced: $34.99 and Bati (all expressions): $18.99.

About RUM Co. of Fiji

RUM Co. of Fiji is built on an ethos of authenticity, craftsmanship and passion and draws its inspiration – and its identity – from Fijian heritage and culture. The rums are a story of balance and harmony, a coming together of the land’s unique elements and the hands that work with them, crafted in Lautoka, Fiji, by award-winning Master Distiller & Blender Liam F. Costello, together with RUM Co. of Fiji’s passionate and dedicated distillery team. Since launching in 1980, RUM Co. of Fiji has won more than 130 international awards across several prestigious competitions, including the 2020 New York International Spirits Competition, 2020 Melbourne International Spirits Competition and 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. RUM Co. of Fiji is owned by Fiji’s leading beverages manufacturer, Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Limited, which is part of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.

RUM Co. of Fiji is proudly distributed in California by Republic National Distributing Company, in partnership with Broken Shed Vodka. For more information on RUM Co. of Fiji, visit http://www.rumcooffiji.com or follow @rumcooffiji on Facebook or Instagram.

About Broken Shed Vodka

Broken Shed Vodka is based in Wanaka, New Zealand. Distilled, crafted and bottled in New Zealand ever since its inception in 2009, its vodka draws upon the country’s natural aquifer and spring waters, without any hint of gluten, additives, sugars or GMOs. Since entering the U.S. market in June 2012, Broken Shed Vodka has won a legion of loyal fans, and an impressive collection of awards. Broken Shed Vodka started in a ‘broken’ down old shed on Lake Wanaka where the formula was originally crafted and produced. Broken Shed Vodka is proud of the strong and experienced sales team they have built. The brand approaches the market with innovative strategies and well-defined focus in all of their markets. Due to this, Broken Shed is able to offer newly-launched spirits brands strong partnership and collaborations, which expand distribution, increase offerings to trade and provide customers access to world-class premium spirits. Learn more about Broken Shed Vodka at http://www.brokenshed.com.

Broken Shed Vodka, 40% ABV, Distilled from Whey. Imported to the USA by Broken Shed Imports, Manhasset, NY. Broken Shed Vodka is produced by Broken Shed Limited, Wanaka, New Zealand. Drink Responsibly. © 2021

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: award, bartender, best of class, climate, distillery, farmer, finish, flavor, gold medal, harvest, liqueur, medal, mouthfeel, New York, platinum, rum, silver medal, sip certified, soil, spirits, sugar

Rosa Vodka Sweeps Multiple Top Awards at Prestigious 2021 Festivals

July 29, 2021 by evebushman

PLAYA DEL REY, Calif.floral /PRNewswire/ — Within months of its launch, Rosa Vodka strikes Double Gold & Best Of Class at 2021 San Francisco World Spirit Competition, Platinum at the 2021 SIP Awards with Best Vodka & Platinum at 2020 Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards awarded in January of 2021.

 

Rosa Vodka’s a rare stand-alone spirit and the only 80-proof vodka on the market made with the world’s finest flower, the rose. Distilled and bottled in the Pacific Northwest for its pristine Cascade Mountain water, exclusive three-day filtering process, and proprietary organic roses; Rosa Vodka’s introduction into the vodka market reaches the upper echelon with what Best Tasting Spirits Gold Medal entry claims is “…a true original.”

Manamira LLC, a female-owned company, produces Rosa Vodka and succeeded in creating a distinguished spirit offering a truly unique experience to the consumer – whether on the rocks, or with specialty cocktails as an enhancement. Owner Amira McCullough states, “We aimed to create a distinctive and premium vodka that sets itself apart.”

Partner Scott McCullough adds, “We are thrilled with such a great responses to our product.  Bartenders and aficionados find Rosa Vodka’s distinctive body and smoothness to be a strong contender in the marketplace.”

The DOUBLE GOLD medal from 2021 San Francisco World Spirit Competition is awarded when every judge on the panel awards Gold to an entry. SFWSC is the most respected, and influential competitions in the world. The BEST of CLASS medal from 2021 San Francisco World Spirit Competition represents the very best of that spirit type in the festival from the most experienced judges in the industry.

The PLATINUM medal from 2020 Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards is bestowed from highly experienced, decorated judges with tremendous and diverse spirits and mixology backgrounds. The BEST VODKA medal represents the very best of spirit type by the finest group of world-renowned spirits and beverage industry professionals

The PLATINUM medal from 2021 SIP International Spirits Competition represents exceptionally high marks from consumer judges and is highly recommended to the public. A distinguished class that earned exceptional marks from consumer judges. Platinum medal recipients are highly recommended to the public.

View product availability and locations on the Rosa Vodka website.

More about Rosa Vodka: www.RosaVodka.com
Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/rosavodka
@rosa.vodka on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/rosa.vodka/

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: award, bartender, best of class, California, cocktails, competition, double gold, floral, judge, las vegas, san francisco, sip certified, vodka

SIP Certified Welcomes New Vineyard and Winery Members

December 9, 2020 by evebushman

ATASCADERO, CALIF. (PRWEB) – SIP (Sustainability in Practice) Certified welcomes over fifteen new vineyards and wineries to their line-up of businesses committed to practicing sustainable farming and winemaking methods. The holistic nature of the third-party certification process encompasses the three P’s of sustainability; People, Planet, Prosperity. As the consumer demand for full transparency continues to grow, programs like SIP Certified are crucial for providing vineyards and wineries with a system holding them accountable.
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Rava Winery

New to the SIP Certified line up is Shady Lane Cellars’ vineyard in Leelanau, Michigan. This vineyard is nestled in the verdant western peninsula in what is known as Michigan’s “little finger” and was excited to pioneer sustainable practices in the area. Vineyard manager Andy Fles works hard to farm sustainably and mentions, “we were really looking for market recognition for a lot of the hard work we were putting into the vineyard and SIP Certified was the program that resonated the most with our overall goals. We also have so many more young consumers visiting the area that are there to learn and have grown up as conscious consumers. I think this certification really speaks to them as well.”

Rava Wines and Vineyard from Paso Robles, California are also new SIP Certified members and are excited to go above and beyond social responsibility and be stewards of the land. As a third-generation farmer, owner Chad Rava’s motivation to become SIP Certified stems from creating an environmentally safe future for his children. “For Rava, becoming SIP Certified and getting that officially on paper was a decision for the health of our family, neighbors, and community. We wanted to ensure that our family could farm and live off the land for generations to come.
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” says co-owner Lauren Rava.

As SIP Certified increases its reach across the US, it’s clear that sustainable practices in vineyards and wineries are not only in demand from consumers but from farmers as well. Andy Fles points out, “it’s important as a farmer to be aware of things like pesticide residue, water practices and the environment as a whole. SIP Certified provides us with an essential set of standards and practices to follow.”

Beth Vukmanic-Lopez, SIP Certified Manager, is excited about the proliferation of the program and is looking forward to the future, “We are honored to work with more brands across the US that are dedicated to making a positive impact on the planet.”

ABOUT SIP CERTIFIED
Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified is one of the wine industry’s oldest and most important third-party assessment programs. It utilizes a block-to-bottle, integrated approach to management, enabling farmers, wineries, and winemakers to preserve the environment and protect human resources. SIP Certified boasts strict, non-negotiable requirements and standards based on science, expert input, independent verification, transparency, and the absence of conflict of interest. SIP Certified launched its pilot program in 2008 with 3,700 acres of vines between Monterey and Santa Barbara counties. Today, there are 42,000 acres of vines in California and Michigan, four wineries, and more than 43 million bottles of wine that have been SIP Certified.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: California, farming, michigan, Paso Robles, sip certified, sustainable, vineyards, winemaking, wineries

Tolosa Winery Announces New Futures Program for 2019 Single Vineyard Wines

October 19, 2020 by evebushman

San Luis Obispo, Calif. — Tolosa winery, acclaimed producer of estate and single vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines from the Edna Valley, announced a look into the future of its much-anticipated 2019 Single Vineyard wines with private tastings of barrel samples.
Private seated tastings, available by appointment, are currently offered on the winery’s expansive outdoor patio, allowing guests the rare opportunity to explore these exclusive small-lot wines prior to release. The 2019 Single Vineyard wines will be released November 1, accompanied by the 2019 Primera, also scheduled to be released on November 1, 2020. Futures of the Primera and the Single Vineyard series wines are now available for purchase. Given the prestige of these limited-production bottlings, with under 250 cases of each produced, many of these wines are expected to sell-out prior to release.
“2019 was a textbook cool climate grape growing vintage. Harvest unfolded nicely, the mild weather letting us call for the perfect picking dates with no need to rush things, which is a nice feeling for once. In their youth, the wines are showing bright fruit (definitively on the red side for the Pinots and on the stone fruit one for the Chardonnays) and great freshness. And I am really excited about this, because it is also a guarantee of the aging potential they have,” said Winemaker Frederick Delivert.
Ideally situated close to the Pacific Ocean in California’s coolest wine region, Tolosa is blessed with a myriad of microclimates and soils that prove ideal for growing delicate Burgundian grapes. As a testament to the winery’s dedication to crafting exemplary Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Tolosa looks beyond Edna Valley for their Single Vineyard series, selecting the best sites and fruit for these varietals throughout California.
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The artisanal wines of the Single Vineyard series invite exploration of renowned appellations and acclaimed vineyards — including Tolosa’s own SIP Certified estate vineyard, Edna Ranch — confirming Edna Valley’s place in this distinguished company.
Through November, guests are invited to visit Tolosa to experience barrel samples of the 2019 Single Vineyard Series, each crafted with a similar approach in the cellar in order to capture the true essence of each vineyard and its unique terroir. The following wines are now available to taste:
Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley 2019
This iconic vineyard in Santa Barbara County’s Santa Maria Valley AVA benefits from one of the longest growing seasons in California. Located 16 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the vineyard was first planted in 1973 and is acclaimed for its world-class Chardonnay. Situated at 600 feet of elevation on the valley floor, the site is punctuated by mild sunny days, an afternoon sea draft, and foggy nights and mornings to moderate the temperature of the vines. These conditions translate into a wine with vibrant acidity, recognized through essences of grapefruit, nectarine and pineapple. Oak aging in 35% new, lightly toasted puncheons adds notes of vanilla and walnuts, while partial Malolactic fermentation reveals fresh green apple flavors on the mineral-driven mid-palate. Tolosa is honored to be one of the few producers to source fruit from this highly sought-after vineyard located just south of us in the Santa Maria Valley.
Poletti – Edna Ranch Chardonnay, Edna Valley 2019
The Poletti portion of Edna Ranch is located on the mountainside slopes of the Edna Valley — home to block 569, featuring own-rooted Tepesquet Chardonnay vines. The slopes offer more sun exposure, while the vineyard sits in the direct path of the coastal sea breeze, offering a cooler temperature to maintain natural acidity and citrusy aromatics. After completing malolactic fermentation, the wine was aged in 30% new, lightly toasted oak puncheons, allowing it to develop a creamy, seamless texture layered with notes of hazelnut, citrus and stone fruit. This elegant Chardonnay encapsulates the Edna Valley, with a refined structure and uplifting acidity that stands out on the finish.
El Coro Vineyard Pinot Noir, Petaluma Gap 2019
El Coro translates to “The Chorus” in Spanish. This site is farmed by the Keller family and is located within the Petaluma Gap AVA, the premier gateway to the Sonoma Coast. Located just 7.5 miles from San Pablo Bay, here maritime wind and fog roar into the region cooling off the vines, while less sun exposure from north-facing slopes contributes to the wine’s bright, complex berry fruit flavors. Adding to its appeal is a silky texture and racy acidity that lingers on the impressively long finish. In reverence to its name, this wine brings harmony to the palate.
Apex Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands 2019
Farmed by the Franscioni family, Apex Vineyard is located 28 miles from the cold water of Monterey Bay in the heart of the renowned Santa Lucia Highlands. The vineyard rests high atop a bench receiving morning sun exposure before being influenced ever so slightly by the daily fog and ocean winds. Typical of its region, this wine paints itself darker, lending more robust flavors of juicy fruit, ripened cherry and sweet spice. This is a Pinot Noir for the Cabernet lover.
Solomon Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley 2019
Solomon Hills Vineyard takes its name from Salomon Pico, a celebrated bandit who travelled frequently along the El Camino Real in the 1850s — and may have inspired the legend of Zorro. This acclaimed Santa Barbara County vineyard is located at the westernmost end of the Santa Maria Valley AVA, where its close proximity just 10 miles to the Pacific Ocean reveals itself through the wines that flourish in its sandy soils. Floral and red fruit aromas carry on through the palate, showcasing notes of pomegranate, raspberry, cherry and rose petals that integrate seamlessly into its fine-grained tannic structure.
Drum Canyon Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills 2019
Farmed by the Dierberg family, Drum Canyon Vineyard thrives in the eminent Sta. Rita Hills AVA of Santa Barbara County. Adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, the region is famous for its transverse mountain range, which allows strong coastal breezes to drift through the vines. These cooling influences, coupled with the vineyard’s sandy loam soils, produce a beautifully structured Pinot Noir with velvety tannins and signature notes of dark cherry, cola and raspberry. A more structured Pinot Noir than many others in the line-up, this is a wine with well-developed tannins that will soften beautifully as it ages.
Gunsalus Vineyard Pinot Noir Green Valley of Russian River Valley 2019
The newest single vineyard Pinot Noir in the series balances the collection as an excellent cellar addition for the wine enthusiast. This small vineyard resides 12 miles from the coast at an elevation of 242 feet in the Green Valley region of Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, known for its maritime fog that rolls in and lingers throughout the day. Big and bold in structure, this garnet-colored Pinot Noir leads with aromas of black cherry, strawberry, pine and rose petal. Bright red fruit, fig and tobacco flavors linger on the palate, accented by gentle mouth-coating tannins on the flawless finish.
Hollister – Edna Ranch Pinot Noir, Edna Valley
Located in the core of the Edna Valley, the Hollister section of Tolosa’s home vineyard, Edna Ranch, is the closest to the Pacific Ocean. Located just 5 miles away, it receives a moderating maritime influence to maintain composed acidity in the grapes, while varied soils, including chalky limestone and sand, contribute to the minerality and complexity in this wine. Made from a single block in the vineyard, Block 579, the wine displays aromas of blood orange, wild strawberry, anise and rose petals. Black cherry notes shine on the palate, which is layered with stone fruit and clove to express an exceptional sense of place.
Primera Pinot Noir, Edna Valley 2019
Tolosa’s flagship Primera demonstrates the full potential of the varietal, revealing what makes Pinot Noir one of the most coveted grapes in the world. Primera is a small-lot selection of the best of Tolosa’s estate vineyard, Edna Ranch, located a mere 5 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Here, daily fog and prevailing winds funnel into the transverse valley from Morro Bay, cooling off the vines. The result is a wine of power and length characterized by notes of hibiscus, strawberry and dried herbs, enhanced by a seamless mouthfeel and structure. This is truly a vintage-specific statement Pinot Noir for the oenophile looking to add a marquee wine to their cellar.
Futures of the Single Vineyard 2019 series as well as the Primera 2019 are available to taste by appointment through October 2020, with tastings available to both Club Members and non-members. Purchase of wine futures is available prior to their release, November 2020. Tolosa also invites qualified media to look behind the curtain at the winery with a tasting of the Single Vineyard Series. For media inquiries, please contact: Linda@parkersanpei.com.
About Tolosa
Cowboy dreams of owning a cattle ranch brought Robin Baggett to California’s Edna Valley over 40 years ago. The cold Pacific wind and soils from ancient seabed to limestone made him realize he was on a frontier of a different sort. Tolosa is the expression of his commitment to spare no effort to craft Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines of distinctive character to rival any in the world. Founded in 1998 and guided by the core values of integrity, teamwork and meticulous craftsmanship, Tolosa is committed to creating complex, balanced and nuanced wines that are the purest expressions of Edna Valley. The Tolosa winemaking team combines traditional winemaking techniques and cutting-edge technology to achieve the purest translation of place to taste. Tolosa supports numerous environmental and philanthropic initiatives and is an active member of the Central Coast community, welcoming guests daily to enjoy its trademark gracious hospitality and a variety of luxury tasting experiences surrounded by its Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified vineyard, Edna Ranch. Tolosa is open daily at 4910 Edna Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. You can find them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or visit the website at tolosawinery.com.

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Largest Consumer Spirits Competition Pivots to In-Home Kits, Sets New Records

October 12, 2020 by evebushman

IRVINE, Calif. /PRNewswire/ — SIP Awards has grown into a movement that is gaining traction across the spirits industry. The only competition with consumers as judges, the SIP Awards provides small and big brands — local and international — an opportunity to receive unbiased consumer feedback.

From its inception 12 years ago, the SIP Awards International Spirits Competition brought together consumers at local venues to taste and judge spirits and mixers. This year, in the wake of a global pandemic, SIP Awards had to quickly evolve and pivot their annual event into an at-home tasting experience. “At first we didn’t know how COVID-19 would impact our event but time was not on our side and we needed to find a way to have consumers evaluate spirits safely.” – SIP Awards Founder & CEO Pouya Hashemi

In comparison to last year’s event with 146 judges, the SIP Awards 2020 revolutionary digital experience hit a record-breaking 212 judges who evaluate spirits in the comfort and safety of their homes. With more judges providing feedback, this contributed to a more accurate and broader rating method for the spirit and mixer brands.

Breaking industry standards, the first of its kind, at-home tasting kit included a signature NEAT Tasting Glass and 12 curated samples ranging from a bargain $2 bottle to an ultra-premium $1,600 bottle. Judges are carefully vetted and extensively screened to ensure there is no affiliation with marketing, wholesalers, or distributors tied to the spirits industry. Utilizing innovative technology, SIP Awards integrated a unique barcoding system to identify the location of the brand samples. Leaving no room for error, this system tracks the sample from the kitting process and delivery to the evaluation provided by the consumer judges.

Despite the pandemic, the number of entrants for this year’s competition increased, keeping to the tradition of setting new records. Making history, a diverse combination of 981 spirits and mixer brands from around the world participated in the first ever at-home spirits tasting competition.

Winning a SIP Award is a milestone for brands that speak directly to their target audience, consumers. Awards include Bronze, Silver, Gold, Double Gold, Platinum, and Best of Class in over 100 categories. The most sought after, Consumers’ Choice Award, honors a brand’s unwavering commitment to their Legacy, Craft, and to the ever-important Consumer Palate, by placing in the SIP Awards two or more consecutive years.

“By having the ability to taste new products and brands, consumers are more open to purchasing those that they enjoyed most. As we continue to see more new products and brands, The Innovation Award was introduced as a way for our consumer judges to really honor and highlight brands that are doing something different and unique in the marketplace.” – SIP Awards Director, Cher Holmes

The SIP Awards have uniquely positioned themselves in an exploding spirits industry and yet again, introduced new standards that continue to revolutionize the spirits competition realm.

For a complete list of the SIP Awards categories, winners, photos, and info visit: https://sipawards.com

About the SIP Awards

The SIP Awards provides a unique competition for spirit brands to gain exposure, feedback, and recognition from unbiased consumers. As the only blind tasting competition of its kind, the SIP Awards offers a platform for brands to showcase their products to their most discerning audience. To learn more about the SIP Awards competition or for a complete list of this year’s winners, visit https://sipawards.com.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: best of class, bronze medal, covid, double gold, gold medal, judge, mixers, platinum, silver medal, sip certified, spirits

Nathan Carlson, Head Winemaker, Center of Effort Wines Reflects on a Decade of Change + The New Influence of The Edna Valley Region

September 14, 2020 by evebushman

After a decade of working with Center of Effort Wine, time seems to have passed quickly. “As I think back, we have accomplished so much in that time. Our wines have found a rhythm, we understand the estate and the land, and we have begun to make adjustments based on deep knowledge of this place,” explains winemaker Nathan Carlson.

Photo from Exploring.wine.com

Carlson joined Center of Effort in late June of 2010, when the winery had been under the new ownership of Bill and Cheryl Swanson.  At his previous job, he oversaw winemaking for multiple brands in multiple facilities, and sourced grapes from growers from Lake County to Santa Barbara.

Center of Effort presented an opportunity to get back into the Edna Valley, a place that Nathan knows well.  This new opportunity gave me the chance to be involved nearly from the beginning with a new winery, owners who were committed to quality and to connecting with their customers. Most importantly, after years of working broadly with vineyards and growers across the state, this was clearly an opportunity to develop a deep understanding of one single estate location; maximizing quality and efficiency from the existing vines and implementing solutions that made sense in our circumstances.

There were challenges ahead, and new wineries can be filled with uncertainty. “I had experience working with fruit from the established vines on this property. I knew that there was potential for excellence here, if the details were attended to carefully.  And in particular I knew that there would be growth and learning for me by working for someone like Bill Swanson,” says Carlson.
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Early meetings with Mr. Swanson made it clear that he was direct, fair and that he had vast experience managing tens of thousands of people as the President and CEO of Raytheon. He approached and thought about things on a different scale than most people.

While working with the vineyards and wines, Nathan tried to understand what exists naturally, and draw on that strength rather than imposing any particular style on the fruit.  The existing vines were planted in 1997, according to production standards of that time.  From that first summer, the company paid close attention to soil, aspect and growth patterns.

In 2012 we implemented a major replanting of 8 acres to very high-density, high quality planting of additional Pinot Noir clonal selections, increasing the diversity of fruit available to our winemaking program.

From 2011, they enrolled in an audited sustainability program (SIP) that has been a useful metric to measure our longer-term goals for the vineyard and the business. They use very safe methods of crop protection, plant cover crops to minimize erosion and to feed the soil, return compost to the vines each winter to build organic matter in the soil, and track water use.  Canopy management is a major quality and vine health issue in a cool foggy region, and they retrofitted the vineyard to make shoot management and leaf pulling easier for the crews.  It is amazing to watch the soil come back to life; where it was previously a lifeless crust directly under the vines it now holds water and earthworms and smells clean and earthy.

“Our wines have been fortunate to receive acclaim right from the beginning.  Our inaugural release of the Estate Pinot Noir was rated 95 points by a major wine publication, and that praise has been a consistent part of our story ever since.  We have always made our mailing list customer/members our main focus, and present offers of the wines to them upon release and prior to the winter holidays. When we began to sell the wines in distribution, it was initially through our neighbor Lorraine Alban’s wine company – she and her team have been wonderful stewards of our wines, sharing them with businesses in our region and being mindful of what is best for us in the longer term,” says Nathan.

Over the past decade, CEOE has been constantly building and developing.  Wells, water infrastructure, vineyard redevelopment, a solar field to provide all winery power, upgrading facility and winery equipment, additional fermentation and storage tanks, all-new presses, and high-quality grape receiving equipment all happened largely in the background, but boosted the efficiency and quality of their wines and vineyards.

Since 2016, the company undertook a multi-million-dollar wholesale renovation of the winery and grounds.

Prior to launching this renovation, COE didn’t have a comfortable place to host visitors to the winery. “I want COE to have a place that matches the wine quality” Bill Swanson, Owner of COE said many times during meetings.

“We thought about the design of the public spaces from the desire to provide genuine hospitality and ease to our guests, with small semi-private spaces to sit comfortably, large outdoor patios and gardens for events and winery parties, and all of it open to our unmatched views of the Santa Lucia mountains.  The open kitchen with Chef’s bar has been a wonderful way to share culinary experiences with small groups of our members.  There truly is not another property like this in the region, and it is a special privilege to come to work here every morning,” adds Nathan.

COE is now an authentic ambassador for the Edna Valley. It is a magnificent place on the Pacific coast.  Nathan started as the only employee of the business. “We had contractors and outside service providers, but it took time to assemble the right crew of people.  And over time, we have had contributions from many amazing human beings who have built their experience with us at COE and eventually transitioned out into the larger world of our industry,” says Carlson.

COE’s close connection with California Polytechnic University and their Wine and Viticulture department has grown and bloomed to become a development ground for amazing talent that is moving into the industry.

“The Edna Valley AVA is a fairly small region; and because of that our voice may not have been as loud as others.

The wines from the Edna Valley tend toward elegance and longevity at their best, not bombast and hedonism, which tends to attract more attention.  But members of our industry who have a broad understanding of the world of wine appreciate the quality potential and ascendency of the wines. I am ultimately looking forward to developing Center of Effort’s special strengths and to telling their unique story,” says Nathan.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: clone, Edna Valley, fruit, grower, Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara, sip certified, soil, tasting room, vineyards, viticulture, wine club, winemaker

Vintage Eve 5/2015: Cabs of Distinction = Dinner at Opolo and The Quaff Report Panel

July 17, 2018 by evebushman

Dinner at Opolo Vineyards after our first day learning and tasting at the Paso Robles Cab Collective Cabs of Distinction was a special treat booked for us by the public relations company marketing the event, Parker Sanpei. Starting with an after hours tasting in their tasting room – their Zin and Sangio stood out uppermost in my mind the next day – we also took a brief tour.

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Dinner at Opolo Vineyards!

The winery now houses not one but two copper stills in which chief distiller and vineyard manager Paul Quinn has been making a freaking outstanding grappa, and just that day, had completed distilling a pear brandy. Come to find that several Paso wineries are getting their license to distill alcohol from fruit and sell from their tasting rooms. I told Paul that since Opolo is SIP certified this is a natural following, to use up every scrap…for our pleasure.

We then toured the grounds. We visited a large welcoming grassy area that is used for the 8,000-strong club member parties, the rooms for overnight guests and a main house with plenty of windows for vineyard views set up for our dinner.

Starting with a lovely fruit-forward Roussanne we dined on a spinach salad with dried cranberries, apple slices, walnuts and then buttery scallops over Parmesan risotto. The owner, Rick Quinn, who had already wowed us with his smoked pork salami and smoked pork loin as appetizers, had created a meaty Goulash with grilled artichoke which I believe they served with their reserve Zinfandel. For dessert, our only store bought item, was a light cheesecake covered in berries and compote.

If you haven’t been to Opolo and like big friendly wines paired with friendly people, don’t miss them on your next trip to Paso.

##

The Quaff Report Panel Discussion

On day two of our visit we were invited back to the Paso Robles Inn Ballroom for a sommelier led seminar.

While the panelists got ready Meredith May, publisher of Tasting Panel and SOMM Journal, announced that she will soon be unveiling a chef-focused cannabis magazine coming in the fall, contact info@TheCleverRoot.com if you want to learn more. This was news!

Then it was time for the panel.

Okay, right off the bat, this is my first experience watching others – as the audience wasn’t participating – taste and comment on wine. One thing I did learn came from sommelier Mike Madrigale, the moderator, who discussed helping restaurant staffs by blind tasting wines and discussing them on their merits.

Then he asked his fellow panelists to taste and only comment on any remarkable attributes found in the wines poured out in front of them.

Like a silent movie, with no music as an accompaniment, we waited for what seemed like several minutes for ANYTHING to happen. May took the opportunity to talk about the reach, 90k readers, of the Tasting Panel. She then explained that she had offered to take over the Sommelier Journal when it was about to fold, revamped it as the Somm Journal and offered it up for free to trade – and now up to 60k are reading it.

That time spent allowed our panel of Somms and wine directors to come up with some ideas of what was in their glasses. Savory, dusty, no oak…was it a Cabernet Franc or straight Cab? Across the board they had differing opinions other than what we already knew: all are Bordeaux, the only questions is new or old world?

The MS at Giada at the Cromwell Hotel, Darius Allyn said for us, as he believed that many lay people were in he audience, that they have to look at cost and how the wines offered up to pair with their cuisine.

Madrigale commented that the first wine, once revealed was a $200ish Bordeaux, wholesale would be about $125 and then about $300 on a wine list – for a wine that needs age, he wouldn’t buy this for a restaurant. He gets better deals looking for this and others at auction.

Allyn mentioned that he is given a budget by the restaurant, and he can’t speed up time on a bottle that needs age.

Both commented that Burgundy may triple in value with time, while current Bordeaux would not, and the price of Bordeaux is somewhat inflated. Which was another reason they routinely chose not to invest money in them for their wine lists.

As they worked their way through the remaining wines, we tweeted along with them, but there was more discussion about if the blind wines were new or old world and less about things I could get into, like what their customers would think, what would they pay, if it was unexpected would a customer send it back. In conclusion: if you want us to watch while you drink you better engage us. Oh well.

Story in photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10205508500739325.1073741916.1455706632&type=1&l=dbb4543053

Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years.  She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a guest judge for the L.A. International Wine Competition.  You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Filed Under: Eve Bushman Tagged With: Bordeaux, brandy, burgundy, Cab Collective, chef, distiller, grappa, Paso Robles, restaurant, Roussanne, Sangiovese, sip certified, somm journal, sommelier, Tasting Panel magazine, tasting room, vineyards, wine club, wine dinner, wine education, Wine tasting, winery, Zinfandel

Michigan Winery Farms the First SIP Certified Vineyard Outside of California

October 1, 2017 by evebushman

Atascadero, Calif., — WaterFire Vineyards near Torch Lake, Michigan becomes the first vineyard outside of California to achieve certification from Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified. SIP Certified authenticates sustainability practices for vineyards and wineries through a thoughtful and rigorous third-party program. The most in-depth sustainability program available for vineyards, SIP Certified is just a few months shy of celebrating 10 years and is thrilled to have certified a vineyard outside of California.

a2b0a6_928b1be310ae46dfb2421b410cd9c6c9~mv2Though there are a variety of sustainability options available to vineyard growers, SIP Certified is the most rigorous program of its kind. To achieve SIP Certified for a vineyard, growers must farm in a way that protects both natural and human resources. Their third-party evaluation process assesses a variety of items that go beyond organics to include (but not limited to) biodiversity and habitat, farm management, soil conservation, integrated pest management along with water conservation and quality, energy conservation, air quality, fruit quality, continuing education and social and community responsibility. Visit the SIP Certified website to learn more.

“WaterFire Winery in Michigan was on the hunt for a certification program that would verify their efforts to both their peers and consumers,” notes Beth Vukmanic Lopez, SIP Certified Manager. “We were thrilled to work with them to ensure their practices were in-line with the Standards set into practice by SIP Certified.”

Launched in 2008, SIP Certified is a sustainability program for vineyards and wineries throughout the United States. Today, with over 2.6 million SIP Certified wines shipped internationally wine drinkers have quite the selection of earth-friendly wines to choose from. By selecting wines with the SIP Certified seal, buyers are assured they are enjoying wines whose makers and growers have committed to standards that make sustainably the key ingredient in every bottle.

“Before launching WaterFire in 2008, I had over a decade of experience in environmental science collecting information and making observations on the different ways water gets polluted,” explains Chantal Lefebvre, WaterFire’s co-owner and manager. “Farming was and still is the number one culprit, so finding a sustainable way to farm to minimize pollution was a natural extension of who I was.  SIP Certified not only authenticates our experience but goes above and beyond what we were looking for here in Michigan to help us differentiate our wines from other wineries.”

By obtaining the SIP Certified vineyard seal, WaterFire will continue to undergo regular inspections to ensure their certification stay current with all SIP Certified standards. In addition, the winery will be able to share their achievement with their current and potential buyers through their own marketing communications, furthering the education and importance of sustainability.

###

About SIP Certified 
Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified provides a way for vineyards and wineries to verify their attention to sustainability through a commitment to environmental stewardship, equitable treatment of employees, and economic viability. Developed by the Vineyard Team, a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to sustainable winegrowing since 1994, this program represents one extension of the group’s many innovative programs. To learn more about SIP Certified, please visit the website www.sipcertified.org. For more information about the Vineyard Team, please visit www.vineyardteam.org.

About WaterFire
Established in 2008 by Chantal Lefebvre and Mike Newman, WaterFire was the first vineyard in Antrim County, Michigan, and now the first vineyard outside of California to achieve SIP Certified status. WaterFire crafts white wines from estate-grown fruit and focuses on varieties that are underrepresented in Michigan. Their wines follow sustainable growing standards aimed at building biodiversity and drawing out that distinct sense-of-place from their surrounding hills and lakes.  WaterFire’s wine tasting room, in Kewadin, MI, celebrated its grand opening in May 2017. To learn more, visit www.waterfirewine.com.

 

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: grower, michigan, sip certified, sustainable, vineyard, winemaker, winery

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Eve Bushman

Eve Bushman, owner Eve’s Wine 101 and Eve Bushman Consulting.

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