Eve's Wine 101

California Dreamin’: Kathryn Hall Harvest Celebration Returns September 10

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(ST. HELENA, CALIFORNIA ) – HALL Napa Valley, one of the leading luxury Cabernet Sauvignon producers in the Country, has announced a date for its annual Kathryn Hall Harvest Celebration taking place at HALL St. Helena on September 10, 2022. The California Dreamin’ themed event coincides with the release of the new 2019 vintage of HALL’s flagship wine, Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Kathryn Hall Harvest celebration this year is inspired by the uniqueness of the state of California. Along with its Mediterranean climate, soil rich with sediments to create deep topsoil and prime farmland, coastal proximity and sunshine, Napa Valley is an ideal location to grow grapes.

The Kathryn Hall Harvest Celebration will include a variety of California-inspired experiences including coastal cuisine by live entertainment by Notorious, coastal cuisine by Tre Posti, a Surf-inspired Selfie Station, and more.

The event includes three ticket options for guests to purchase, including:

  • Main Event – $150
    Join Vintner Kathryn Hall to celebrate the bounty of the unparalleled 2019 Napa Valley harvest with educational wine tastings, delicious food bites, live music, and of course, mark the release of the newest vintage of our flagship wine. This ticket includes admission to all the fun at the main event at HALL St. Helena on our Great Lawn from 12 PM – 3 PM
  • Library Pass + Main Event – $200
    The Library Pass includes access to all of the fun at the main event on our Great Lawn as well as access to our Kathryn Hall Library Selections at our Gallery 401 Bar from 12 PM – 3 PM celebrate the release of our flagship wine each year with our Club Members and good friends.”

• Platinum Pass + Main Event – $300
This all-access pass includes access to the main event on our Great Lawn, access to the Kathryn Hall Library Selections at our Gallery 401 Bar from 12 PM – 3 PM, and an intimate guided tasting of HALL’s Platinum Wine Collection hosted by Kathryn Hall and HALL’s winemakers from 11 AM – 12 PM in our historic Bergfeld Winery building. Additionally, Platinum Pass holders have in and out access to the “Platinum Lounge” for the duration of the event after the tasting concludes. This package is extremely limited, so act quickly to secure your tickets.

The celebration allows guests to learn more about HALL’s flagship wine, the Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is defined by its core of dark, succulent Sacrashe Vineyard fruit located just above the Rutherford Appellation at the top eastern ridge of the Vaca Mountain range in Napa Valley.

Since the first vintage was produced in 1996, the Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon wine has been one of the highest rated in HALL’s portfolio, earning 99 scores rated 90 points and above from the industry’s top critics including The Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Jeb Dunnuck and Vinous. Additionally, Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon earned the #2 spot in Wine Spectator’s “Top 100” list in 2011.

WHAT: WHEN: WHERE:

TICKETS:

Kathryn Hall Harvest Celebration Saturday, September 10

HALL St. Helena
401 St. Helena Hwy S. St. Helena, CA 94574

Three Ticket Options

Main Event – The Great Lawn
12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
$150 per person – admission to Main Event

Library Pass + Main Event

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
$200 per person – admission to Main Event + Gallery 401 Bar

Platinum Pass + Main Event

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Platinum Tasting 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Main Event
$300 per person – all access pass

For more information, please visit Kathryn Hall Harvest Celebration, follow on social @hallwines, or by calling 707-967-2626.

Ready-to-drink Del Mar Margaritas Deliver Vacation In A Bottle

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ST. HELENA, Calif. /PRNewswire/ — Del Mar Margarita Wine Cocktails has announced its entry into the popular ready-to-drink margarita wine cocktail market – currently growing by more than 50 percent and worth more than $199 million annually1. The vacation-inspired duo in Pacifica Lime and Strawberry expressions beckons the beach with bold flavors from agave wine blended to perfection with real lime and strawberry juices. Each 13.9 percent ABV offering is vegan, gluten-free and available nationwide in three summer-ready sizes: 187mL four-packs ($11 SRP) plus 750mL ($10) and 1.5L ($18) bottles.

“This summer, we invite beach-goers and beach-dreamers alike to enjoy this new twist on America’s most-loved cocktail2,” said Jennifer Hohman, director of marketing for Del Mar Margarita Wine Cocktails. “Simply twist the top and pour your favorite flavor over ice for your ticket to good times in the sunshine and a beachside state-of-mind with this sessionable summer sipper.”

Refreshing and tangy, Del Mar Pacifica Lime Margarita opens with zesty notes of real lime juice accompanied by fresh flavors of organic Blue Weber agave from Jalisco, Mexico. Del Mar Strawberry Margarita delivers the same juicy mouthfeel, accented by sweet and succulent notes of real strawberry. Both are crafted with wine made from the agave plant – the base in craft tequila spirits. Agave wine is a fortified wine made from fermented agave plants, resulting in a lower ABV agave-based alcohol that delivers tequila-like flavors and aromas without the boozy burn. Together, these ingredients elegantly blend into Del Mar Wine Cocktails with a lower ABV than traditional margaritas – all while maintaining the classic aromas of agave and tempting taste of tequila in a ready-to-drink format.

Like its namesake oceanfront city, Del Mar Margarita Wine Cocktails evoke a beachside state-of-mind. Twisting the top of Del Mar brings memories of sun on your shoulders, friends by your side and toes in the sand. Kick off your summer and reach for the beach with classically delicious margarita wine cocktails from Del Mar; with one sip, you’ll escape to a flavorful and fun vacation* (*flip flops not required).

About Del Mar Margarita Wine Cocktails

Reach for the beach and live life in the sunshine with Del Mar Margarita Wine Cocktails, a refreshing ready-to-drink wine cocktail made with agave wine and a beachside state-of-mind. With two delicious flavors, Pacifica Lime and Strawberry, Del Mar brings memories to mind of friends by your side and your toes in the sand. Like its beachfront city namesake, Del Mar knows life by the ocean. This ready-to-drink margarita brings you to the beach and the good times in the sunshine that it provides. After all, Del Mar is more than a destination. It’s a state of mind. For more information, visit www.delmarwinecocktails.com.

Social Media
Instagram: @DelMarCocktails
Facebook: @DelMarCocktails

California Wine Country And National, State Parks Make Perfect Summer Pairing

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SAN FRANCISCO — California wine lovers don’t have to choose between visiting the Golden State’s majestic parks and touring its diverse wine regions. That’s because many of California’s national and state parks are located within or near some of the world’s most famous winegrowing areas. What could be better after a morning hike in the woods than a relaxing afternoon among the vineyards with a delicious glass of California wine?

To help with summer travel planning, Wine Institute has curated pairings of California wine regions with nearby national and state parks. With 143 AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) across the state, travelers won’t have to go out of their way to find incredible wine tasting opportunities close to their park-touring adventures. Along with inviting visitors to recharge while sipping the latest vintages, many wineries offer activities like vineyard hikes and cycling. In California wine country, it’s all about a balanced lifestyle.

To find California wineries near a park destination, and get information on summer events at wineries, visit DiscoverCaliforniaWine.com. 

Travelers can get information about visiting California’s parks, including current COVID-19 guidelines, at the National Park Service and California Department of Parks and Recreation websites. Some of the most popular parks require visitors to book ahead for day passes and/or camping during the busy summer season. Multi-day events such as the inaugural California State Parks Week June 14 to 18 offers a variety of events from which to choose.


NORTH COAST
Sonoma County & Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
Ancient Coast Redwoods — the world’s tallest trees — are the main attraction at this 800-acre park and natural preserve. Located just a few miles north of the town of Guerneville, Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve lies within the Russian River Valley AVA in Sonoma County. After hiking and picnicking among the preserve’s towering trees, take time to explore the local wineries. Home to more than 90 producers, the region is famous for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The charmingly rustic town of Guerneville, with its riverfront cabins and lodges, is the perfect place to spend the night and enjoy river activities like canoeing and swimming. On June 25, the Taste of Sonoma is a showcase for Sonoma County wine and food. 


Napa Valley/Lake County & Robert Louis Stevenson State Park
This 5,000-acre park offers stunning views of Napa, Sonoma and Lake counties from the summit of Mount St. Helena, California wine country’s highest peak. Robert Louis Stevenson State Park’s location near Calistoga, at the northern end of the Napa Valley, also provides the perfect opportunity to visit the region’s wineries — world-renowned for their impressive and affordable Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The town of Calistoga, with its famous mud baths, boutique hotels and restaurants, is an ideal home base for a visit to the park and local wineries. On July 26, Napa Valley hosts Taste of Napa, a celebration of the region’s wine, food and music. On Sept. 17, travelers can taste and bid on Lake County wines at the Lake County Wine Auction. 


SIERRA FOOTHILLS/CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
Sierra Foothills & Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Calaveras Big Trees State Park in Gold Country presents a host of natural wonders, from groves of giant sequoias to ancient volcanic formations to the Stanislaus River. The park is just north of Arnold, in the scenic Calaveras County wine region — a haven for Spanish, Italian and French varieties. Also within the larger Sierra Foothills AVA are Zinfandel specialists Amador County and El Dorado County, which produce everything from Bordeaux varieties to wines made from Rhône, German, Italian and Spanish grape varieties. Camping is popular at Big Trees, so summer reservations book up quickly. Not to worry, though; the park is less than an hour from the old mining town of Murphys, which features hotels, inns, restaurants and more than 25 winery tasting rooms along Main Street. 


Madera Wine Country & Yosemite National Park
Rock-climbing Mecca Yosemite National Park is world renowned for its soaring granite walls and cascading waterfalls. Just south of the park is Madera County, one of California’s oldest appellations. The region is known for its dessert wines and port-style wines, and there is plenty to sample along the Madera Wine Trail. Summer camping reservations at Yosemite are quickly selling out and visitors should also book ahead for day passes, but there are a variety of alternative accommodations in nearby Mariposa, from bed and breakfasts to campgrounds to cabin rentals. 


CENTRAL COAST 
Monterey Wine Country & Pinnacles National Park
Pinnacles National Park in Soledad wows thousands of visitors each year with its unique volcanic landscape of monoliths, canyons, oak woodlands and towering rock spires frequented by golden eagles and California condors. Within an hour’s drive is the Cienega Valley Loop in San Benito County, as well as the River Road Wine Trail, which winds its way through the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA in Monterey County, celebrated for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Because summer temperatures at Pinnacles tend to run high — ideal for early morning hikes — the park is most popular during the cooler months. That means reservations for the Pinnacles campground are fairly easy to find for summer visits. There are also lots of lodging and tasting room options in Monterey wine country, in the quaint, storybook town of Carmel-by-the-Sea.  


Ventura/Santa Barbara Wine Country & Channel Islands National Park
The Channel Islands chain is known as “North America’s Galapagos” due to its natural beauty and wealth of rare plant and animal species. Boats to Channel Islands National Park depart from Ventura and Oxnard. From there, it’s an easy drive to the Ventura County Wine Trail, which features about a dozen wineries in a relaxed, coastal setting. In Santa Barbara wine country, the nearby Sta. Rita Hills AVA is known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, while wineries of the Santa Ynez Valley Wine Trail excel at Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. If short on time, many of these wineries offer tasting rooms in Santa Barbara’s urban Funk Zone. The National Park Service operates primitive-yet-stunning campgrounds on each of the five Channel Islands, but if that’s too much camping, book a stay in Ventura or Santa Barbara. 


SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 
San Diego Wine Country & Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is home to the country’s rarest pine tree, the Torrey pine, along with one of the last salt marshes and waterfowl refuges in Southern California. After exploring the reserve’s 1,500 acres of maritime chaparral and miles of beautiful beaches, pay a visit to the wineries of San Diego County. The region boasts more than 100 wineries, best known for Merlot and Chardonnay, and grows 60 different grape varieties. Torrey Pines is located within the San Diego city limits, so lodging, restaurant and other travel amenities abound.

HALL’S CABERNET COOKOFF RETURNS FOR 13TH YEAR

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HALL, one of the world’s most notable Cabernet Sauvignon producers, has announced plans for its thirteenth annual Cabernet Cookoff to return on Saturday, April 30 at HALL St. Helena. Hosted by Vintner Kathryn Hall, the annual event will feature an impressive lineup of renowned culinary teams vying for a chance to win proceeds for a charity of their choice by participating in a food and wine pairing competition. 100% of ticket proceeds benefit non-profit organizations as selected by the winning chef teams. The event includes a VIP Culinary Stage event from 11 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. prior to the Main Event that takes place from 12 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Chef teams are tasked to create a small dish that they feel pairs best with 2019 HALL Jack’s Masterpiece Cabernet Sauvignon, a top-rated wine that has earned praise from the wine industry’s top critics. The 2022 Cabernet Cookoff also serves as the release of the 2019 vintage of the Jack’s Masterpiece wine. Guests in attendance will sample all pairings to vote on the People’s Choice Awards, and a star-studded panel of celebrity judges will taste to vote for the Judge’s Choice Awards. In total, four winners will be announced. Past chef teams include One Market, Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin’ BBQ, Brix, Goose & Gander, Intercontinental Mark Hopkins, Paula Le Duc Fine Catering, Archetype, Harvest Table, PRESS, Blossom Catering Company, and Gran Electrica.

Prior to the Main Event, there will be a one-hour VIP Culinary Stage that will feature a live cooking demonstration with Celebrity Chef Brian Malarkey. The Culinary Stage, sponsored by Chef’s Life, will include Chef Brian sharing a few recipes using his new line of cooking oils, with Vintner Kathryn Hall sharing background into food and wine parings with those recipes in mind. This VIP Ticket includes an open wine bar, small bites for each dish Chef Brian is creating, a swag bag filled with a bevy of luxury lifestyle products, as well as access to the Main Event. VIP Tickets are $250pp. 

More information can be found at: https://www.hallwines.com/cabernetcookoff.

HALL, WALT & BACA WINES ANNOUNCE 2021 ‘MY WINE MOMENT’ PHOTO GIVEAWAY

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(ST. HELENA, CALIFORNIA) – HALL, WALT and BACA Wines, a set of family-owned wineries based in both Napa and Sonoma counties, has launched its first ever My Wine Moment Giveaway, ahead of the much anticipated holiday season. The Photo Giveaway, which is open for entry October 1 through November 24, 2021, will award one participant with the ultimate Napa Valley retreat package.

Prospective entrants are invited to share an image enjoying wine as part of a special moment. The lucky winner and a guest will receive a four-day, three-night accommodations package in Napa Valley, roundtrip airfare, and private ground transportation. Additionally, the winner and a guest will visit all five HALL, WALT and BACA luxury Tasting Room locations for a series of private food and wine experiences, with private transportation being provided to and from each. The winners will also receive a $500 Visa Gift Card for a selection of HALL, WALT and BACA wines. Additionally, multiple ‘Honorable Mention’ special wine moments photographs will be selected.

“Wine has been a part of so many special moments throughout the course of my life –birthdays, graduations, countless holiday gatherings, as well as simple moments like an evening stroll through the vineyard with Craig” says Vintner Kathryn Hall. “We know others have these moments too and we love hearing about them.  I hope this Giveaway will encourage you to share the joy of your own special wine moments.”

The My Wine Moment Giveaway is free to enter, and entries are being accepted October 1 through November 24. There are two ways to enter. Participants may submit a photo and comment on the HALL, WALT, or BACA websites at My Wine Moment or by posting a picture on Instagram using the hashtag #MyWineMoment and one of the brand hashtags; #HALLWines, #WALTWines or #BACAWines. The winner will be selected Monday, November 29. To review the official giveaway rules, please visit Terms & Conditions. Entrants must be 21 and over to be eligible.

For more information on the prize packages and to enter, please visit My Wine Moment Giveaway Submission page. For more information on HALL, WALT and BACA Wines, please visit HALL + @hallwines, WALT + @waltwines and BACA + @bacawines.

ABOUT HALL FAMILY WINES:                                                                                                                              

HALL Family Wines produces high quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel under the HALL, WALT and BACA brand monikers. HALL Family Wines collectively owns five wine country tasting rooms including HALL St. Helena, HALL Rutherford, WALT Sonoma, WALT Oxbow, and WALT | BACA Healdsburg. Owned by Craig and Kathryn Hall, the family-owned winery produces artisan wines that express the unique and diverse character of the wine country’s soils and climates through meticulous attention to detail in the vineyards and throughout the winemaking process.  The family’s luxury wine portfolio, led by Vice President of Winemaking Megan Gunderson Paredes, sources fruit from some of the most prominent vineyards up and down the West Coast including twelve Estate vineyards– Sacrashe, Bergfeld, Hardester, Beller, Atlas Peak, Lamoreaux, Rainin, Dellar-Freidkin, Cook, Bob’s Ranch, Clos Pepe and The Corners. The HALL St. Helena winery was the first LEED® Gold Certified Winery in the State of California in 2009 and earned another LEED® Gold certification for its high–tech production facility and Tasting Room in 2014. Since the inception of HALL in 1995, the three luxury wine brands have earned over 700 ratings of 90 points or above from the industry’s top critics, including four 100-point scores. Visit www.hallwines.com, www.waltwines.com, www.bacawines.com for more information, or call 707-967-2626.

HALL ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF 2018 KATHRYN HALL CABERNET SAUVIGNON ON AUGUST 28 DURING HARVEST CELEBRATION

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ST. HELENA, CALIFORNIA – Napa Valley based HALL Wines, a luxury Cabernet Sauvignon producer, has announced details for its annual Kathryn Hall Harvest Celebration taking place at HALL St. Helena on Saturday, August 28, 2021. The annual event, offering both a VIP Vertical Tasting and a Main Event, coincides with the release of the new vintage of HALL’s flagship wine, Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon. The theme of the event will be “Celebrate the Year You Missed”.

Los Angeles and San Francisco Advertising Portrait Photographer Marc Olivier Le Blanc, Advertising, Editorial and Lifestyle.

“We are so excited to be able to hold this event in person this year,” says Vintner Kathryn Hall. “Guests travel from all over to taste the new vintage, and what better way to do that than through a celebration of milestones that people missed last year such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and weddings. Wine helps us celebrate those special moments and we look forward to honoring those with the 2018 vintage of Kathryn Hall Cabernet.”

The Kathryn Hall Harvest Celebration marks the public release of the 2018 vintage and will include various celebratory ‘milestone’ stations on The Great Lawn in St. Helena. Food will be included with the ticket price with catering by Tre Posti. Guests will also be able to enjoy live music throughout the event from San Francisco-based band Pop Fiction. Additionally, a VIP Ticket is available for those wanting a deeper dive into the pedigree of the Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon. The VIP Ticket includes a vertical tasting of the 2006, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2018 vintages of Kathryn Hall takes place prior to the Main Event.

HALL’s flagship wine, the Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon, is defined by its core of dark, succulent Sacrashe Vineyard fruit located just above the Rutherford Appellation at the top eastern ridge of the Vaca Mountain range in Napa Valley. The wine is characterized by an interplay of elegance and concentration and displays voluptuous, dark berry fruit with notes of crushed lavender.

Since the first vintage was produced in 1996, this wine has been one of the highest rated in HALL’s portfolio, earning 95 scores rated 90 points and above from the industry’s top critics including The Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and Vinous. Most notably, the 2008. Additionally, the Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon earned the #2 spot in Wine Spectator’s “Top 100” list in 2011. The wine is named after Kathryn Hall who is most known globally as the former United States Ambassador to Austria. Ambassador Hall is also a New York Times Bestselling author of “A Perfect Score: The Art, Soul & Business of a 21st Century Winery”.

 

Kathryn Hall Harvest Celebration

Saturday, August 28, 2021

VIP Vertical Tasting – Peterson’s Loft
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. $225 per person + includes admission to Main Event

Main Event – The Great Lawn

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

HALL St. Helena
401 St. Helena Hwy S. St. Helena, CA 94574 707-967-2626

$100 per person

Eventbrite
For more information, please visit www.hallwines.com, follow on social @hallwines

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HALL Family Wines produces high quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel under the HALL, WALT and BACA brand monikers. Owned by Craig and Kathryn Hall, the family-owned winery produces artisan wines that express the unique and diverse character of the wine country’s soils and climates through meticulous attention to detail in the vineyards and throughout the winemaking process. The family’s luxury wine portfolio, led by Director of Winemaking Megan Gunderson Paredes, sources fruit from some of the most prominent vineyards up and down the West Coast including eleven Estate vineyards– Sacrashe, Bergfeld, Hardester, Beller, T Bar T Ranch, Atlas Peak, Lamoreaux, Rainin, Dellar-Freidkin, Cook, Bob’s Ranch, Clos Pepe and The Corners. The HALL St. Helena winery was the first LEED® Gold Certified Winery in the State of California in 2009 and earned another LEED® Gold certification for its high-tech production facility and Tasting Room in 2014. Since the inception of HALL in 1995, the three luxury wine brands have earned over 700 ratings of 90 points or above from the industry’s top critics, including four 100- point scores. Visit www.hallwines.com, www.waltwines.com, www.bacawines.com for more information, or call 707-967-2626.

New Ménage à Trois Sweet Collection Captivates With Sweet Semi-Sparkling California Blends

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ST. HELENA, Calif., /PRNewswire/ — Ménage à Trois – the wine brand widely credited with creating the wildly popular $10 California Red Blend category – has recently announced the Sweet Collection, a new lineup of sweet, semi-sparkling California wines. The collection – launching with Dolce Sweet Red Blend and Moscato Sweet White Blend – is the first new line from the brand since the sparkling collection debuted in 2014. These 9.5 percent ABV wines inspired by consumer desire are now available nationwide for $15 SRP.

 

“As longtime leaders in the Red Blend space, we pride ourselves on understanding the category’s consumer,” said Mark Dunlea, vice president, marketing for Ménage à Trois wines. “Our research has confirmed what we’ve long believed – consumers are looking for occasions to indulge and treat themselves. The Ménage à Trois Sweet Collection overdelivers on that market need as a uniquely sweet, semi-sparkling California wine. This new tier further emboldens our Ménage à Trois portfolio, which has proudly been recognized for releasing the No. 1 new wine item for six consecutive years1.”

Consumer support for the collection was validated with research showing strong interest in a sweeter offering from the famously indulgent wine brand. Both collection offerings emphatically invite new and existing Ménage à Trois fans to experience the sweet life. Ménage à Trois Dolce is a decadently sweet Red Blend that’s brimming with a wealth of dark blackberry and raspberry flavors, accented by warm notes of cherry vanilla. Ménage à Trois Moscato is crafted with premium grapes ripened in the California sun. The satisfyingly sweet White Blend is bursting with ripe peach and bright tropical fruit flavors that lead to a refreshing finish.

The lineup’s launch sees support from “Sweet Utopia” – a vibrant and energizing campaign reflective of a younger and more diverse audience. This creative campaign depicting a captivating wine experience will garner 35 million digital impressions within its first six months, complementing the more than 200 million impressions that the brand’s TV campaign secured during the holiday season.

Ménage à Trois’ 25-year legacy of leadership ensues with the all-new Sweet Collection – the latest line of thrilling blends carefully crafted to join the ranks of Silk, Midnight, Decadence, Gold, Limelight and the original Red Blend that started it all.

About Ménage à Trois

Since 1996, Ménage à Trois has thrilled wine fans with its unapologetically bold persona and an equally adventurous approach to flavor. Founded by two psychiatrists-turned-wine-aficionados in St. Helena, California, Ménage à Trois launched 25 years ago with two blends—one of which was a convention-shattering blend of three red varietals. In a pace-setting move that would spark a national phenomenon, Ménage à Trois fused Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon—long before blends were a trend in the U.S.—ultimately cementing the brand’s iconic status as the catalyst behind today’s wildly popular Red Blend category. Ménage à Trois wines are wholly owned and operated by Trinchero Family Estates, family-owned Napa Valley vintners since 1948. Please visit www.MenageaTroiswines.com to learn more.

Social Media Handles
Facebook: @MenageaTroisWines
Instagram: @MenageaTroisWines
Twitter: @MenageaTrois

Flavor First Intuitive Line of Wine Glassware Released in U.S. Market

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St. Helena, California – For the first time ever, a line of glassware designed around the flavor of wine has been released to trade and consumers in the United States. The set of three glasses corresponds to three key flavor/styles found in wine: Crisp & Fresh™, Creamy & Silky™ and Bold & Powerful™, intuitively putting the power of glass selection in the hands of  wine consumers and  trade professionals.

Liberating and simple in premise, the Flavor First™ line of glassware was meticulously designed over three years by wine expert and lauded author Karen MacNeil in collaboration with Senior Vice President of Design and Creative Director, Paul Gebhardt of The Oneida® Group,  producer since 1880 of fine table and kitchenware to homes and restaurants worldwide.

Their idea was simple—design wine glasses around wine flavor, not around wine regions or wine varietals. Taking into consideration the architecture of the glass, the nature of the human palate, and the desire of consumers and food service professionals to simplify this complex subject, MacNeil and Gebhardt had an “aha” moment together at a wine training Karen conducted for The Oneida® Group. Why, they asked,  wasn’t there a stem that took the overthinking out of  glassware? Why not focus on the fundamental pleasure and flavor of wine itself?

Trials, tastings, iterations over time, and testing of 40 different design options yielded a simple solution. MacNeil stated, “As a writer and wine teacher who’s taught thousands of people how to taste and evaluate wine, I listen carefully to how people talk about wine and the words they use.  Most people are non-technical; they use ideas  such as ‘bold reds’ or ‘creamy chardonnays’ to describe what they like. In other words, they use flavor words.”

Always academic and thoughtful in her approach, Karen looked at 35 major grape varieties and realized that the glass diameter at the widest part of the glass had the greatest impact on the expression of the wines.  As she states, “Oxygen has a profound effect on wine. For each of our three glasses,  the widest part of the glass is at a different position.”

Gebhardt, said of the collaboration, “Karen and her team are amazing, and together we made the idea a reality. Along with flavor as a driver of form, I wanted to create a line that had as many back-of-the-house operational advantages as possible. The design needed to be easy to live with at home, as well as in a commercial operation, both of which are key audiences for our company.”

Importantly, the vessels were designed for daily life at the table, and as such are dishwasher safe. While each glass is endowed with a precision bowl shape and a thin rim typically reserved for glassware three times the price, the carefully calibrated  “pulled” stem and foot ensure that the glasses will endure through meals and explorations. All three stems are the same height, making a seamless presentation for a wine tasting or meal with different pairings and ease of storage. The glasses are American designed and made in Germany from lead-free crystal.

The core stems include (all sold at retail in sets of four and six): 
Crisp & Fresh™ for champagne, prosecco, sparkling wine, sauvignon blanc, riesling, and pinot grigio plus light rosés and all wines with a fresh, bright quality

Creamy & Silky™ for  chardonnay, chenin blanc, pinot gris plus richer rosé wines and pinot noir, chianti, shiraz and all wines with a round, silky texture

Bold & Powerful™ for very full bodied, oaky chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, Bordeaux, zinfandel, malbec, Barolo, syrah and all wines that feature a bold texture and firm structural backbone

Petite Stem:  Designed for more casual gatherings, a next generation version of the stemless glass but, importantly, with a foot to allow for swirling and easier handling.  It’s also great for beer, iced tea, and select cocktails such as a classic Gin & Tonic.

Available for sale in sets of four and six or as a variety set of six with two stems of each, the glasses are available at a number of retailers such as Amazon, wine.com, Macy’s, Dillard’s, TheBay.com (Canada)  and  are also available at Oneida.com and KarenMacNeil.com.   Priced at $74.99 per set of six, the per stem price averages $12.50, extremely affordable when compared to other similar quality wine glasses on the market today.

About Karen MacNeil
Noted writer, author, and educator Karen MacNeil is the only American to have won every major wine award given in the English language. These include the James Beard award for Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year, the Louis Roederer award for Best Consumer Wine Writing, and the International Wine and Spirits award as the Global Wine Communicator of the Year.  In a full-page profile on her, TIME Magazine called Karen “America’s Missionary of the Vine.” In 2018, Karen was named one of the “100 Most Influential People in Wine.”  Karen’s firm, Karen MacNeil & Company, creates customized corporate events  for companies and individual groups. Among Karen’s clients are Lexus, Merrill Lynch, Disney, General Electric, UBS, and Singapore Airlines, as well as numerous law, banking, and biotech firms.

Karen is the co-creator and Chair Emerita of the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies at the Culinary Institute of America in the Napa Valley, which has been called “the Harvard of wine education.” More information about Karen can be found at  www.karenmacneil.com.

About The Oneida® Group
The Oneida® Group is a leading global marketer of tabletop and food preparation products for the consumer and foodservice markets. With a comprehensive line of tabletop and food preparation products, they market their products globally under a broad range of consumer brands.   Karen MacNeil’s range of stemware falls under both the consumer facing Oneida and the trade focused SAPORUS brand of food service.  Customers range from Fortune 500 companies to medium and small-sized companies in the consumer, foodservice, business-to-business, and E-commerce channels. The company operates two glass manufacturing plants in the U.S. and sources a variety of proprietary designed tableware products. Visit  https://www.oneida.com/ for more information.

Whitehall Lane Winery Released the First-Ever Camminare Noir and Paseante Noir Wines Made from California’s Newest Sustainable Grape Varieties Developed at UC Davis

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SAINT HELENA, Calif. /PRNewswire/ — These red wines were 20 years in the making; or rather, the grape vines took two decades to develop. Whitehall Lane joined forces with Dr. Andrew Walker of UC Davis and Dr. Paul Skinner of Vineyard Investigations in Napa Valley and planted these experimental grape varieties because they are highly resistant to Pierce’s disease. Pierce’s disease is caused by a bacterium spread by leafhopper insects called sharpshooters. It infects grape vines across the US and costs California grape growers more than $100 million per year.

“These varieties will hopefully make viticulture much more sustainable and provide a high-quality wine that the industry will welcome,” said Walker. Whitehall Lane owner Katie Leonardini agrees with Walker adding, “Rather than trying to manage the sharpshooter with insecticides and potentially harming other beneficial insects, these new rootstocks dovetail into our sustainable and green practices. And the wine is outstanding too!”

Whitehall Lane bottled the 2019 Camminare Noir and 2019 Paseante Noir wines as single, distinct varietals. These grapes from the winery’s Oak Glen Vineyard were harvested on October 15, 2019. Winemaker Jason Moulton kept the two small lots separate saying, “It was amazing how distinct these two wines were from color to flavor to texture.” He continued, “As they developed in our custom American oak barrels, it was evident that these were excellent stand-alone wines.”  The special American oak barrels were designed by Nadalie Cooperage in Calistoga, CA to specifically suit the characteristics of these new American wines.

The Camminare Noir profile is a cross between Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon and the wine has aromas and flavors of blackberries, raspberries, cherries and a dense tannin profile.

The Paseante Noir is a combination of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Cabernet Sauvignon and delivers flavors of cassis, coffee, and berry.  Fewer than 25 cases of each were made and are available at the winery.

Whitehall Lane planted the two rootstocks in 2016 in their Oak Glen Vineyard. Dr. Walker, professor of viticulture and enology at UC Davis, developed the rootstock, creating grape varieties that provide high-quality wine while elevating the level of sustainable grape growing. “Whitehall Lane was constantly replanting dead vines infected by Pierce’s disease,” said Dr. Skinner. “I knew the Oak Glen vineyard was a perfect location for Walker’s experimental varieties.”

Whitehall Lane Winery is a family-owned and operated winery in Napa Valley’s historic Rutherford Appellation. They are dedicated to growing and making premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines from their eight estate vineyards.  They provide friendly hospitality at their Napa Valley winery and are Napa Green winery and vineyard certified with sustainable practices.

Dr. Walker is a faculty member of the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis.

His lab is actively involved in breeding wine grapes for resistance to Pierce’s disease.