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

March 27, 2021 by evebushman

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
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Twitter: @MenageaTrois

Mind and Body Wines Bring Balance With Fewer Calories And Less Alcohol

February 11, 2021 by evebushman

ST. HELENA, Calif., /PRNewswire/ — Mind and Body Wines – a new wine brand crafted with wellness in mind – has announced a lineup of three low-calorie, low-alcohol wines for consumers embracing a mindful, balanced lifestyle. The 9 percent alcohol, 90 calories per serving line includes Pinot Grigio, Rosé and Cabernet Sauvignon; each is vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, keto-friendly, paleo-friendly and made from premier California grapes – without any flavor additives or added sugar. All three wines are now available online and at retailers nationwide for $13 SRP.

“The millennial moderation movement has taken hold, and consumers in search of balance are here to stay.” – Brie Wohld

“The millennial moderation movement has taken hold, and consumers in search of balance are here to stay,” said Brie Wohld, vice president, marketing for Mind and Body Wines. “This new wine brand answers the call of consumers everywhere who have been resoundingly reaching for a low-calorie, low-alcohol wine that better fits their lifestyles and helps them reach their wellness goals.”

Mind and Body uses traditional winemaking methods to achieve rich flavor, alluring texture and excellent balance across its portfolio. Starting with wine from premier California vineyards, Mind & Body uses a spinning cone column to remove alcohol from a small amount of the wine, while preserving the wine’s delicate aromas and flavors. Mind and Body then blends the dealcoholized wine with traditional wine to create a robust, flavorful finished product that encourages not just sipping, but savoring.

Like the lifestyle it supports, this trio is beautifully balanced; their flavor profiles defy what’s expected from low-calorie, low-alcohol wines. Mind and Body Pinot Grigio is light, crisp and refreshing, bursting with tropical fruit flavors and aromas. Its delicate floral notes mingle with ripe pear, peach and melon on the nose, leading to flavors of bright citrus, white peach and tropical fruit. Mind and Body Rosé shows a pale pink hue in the glass, while the nose brims with floral aromas. The fresh and vibrant palate offers flavors of fresh strawberries, complemented by a crisp, refreshing finish. The full-bodied Mind and Body Cabernet Sauvignon exudes dark, enticing aromas of ripe blackberries and juicy raspberries. Notes of dried herbs and vanilla complement robust black cherry flavors and lead to a smooth, rounded finish.

Those looking to welcome Mind and Body Wines into their wellness routines this January are encouraged to visit VinePair.com; the publication is starting the new year off on the right foot with Mindful Drinking Month, presented by Mind & Body. Throughout the month of January, VinePair – the largest and widest-reaching beverage publication, reaching more than 31 million people monthly – will examine Mind & Body within editorial coverage, infographics and Podcasts that are dedicated to finding a healthy balance in all aspects of life.

This January and throughout the year, consumers can feel confident when reaching for the premium low-calorie, low-alcohol wine brand backed by Trinchero Family Estates, the leader in the reduced alcohol and alcohol-removed wine space for nearly 30 years. With all of the flavor and far less guilt, Mind & Body is the perfect partner for taking on wellness goals and living life to the fullest this year and years to come.

About Mind and Body Premium Low-Calorie Wine
Mind and Body Wines are dedicated to empowering you to live your best life. Our premium, low-calorie, low-alcohol California wines are carefully crafted to deliver a delicious wine experience that complements your mindful, wellness-focused lifestyle. Crafted using traditional winemaking methods, a small portion of Mind & Body Wines utilizes an innovative approach called the spinning cone column to remove some of the alcohol while preserving the integrity of the flavors. The finished Mind & Body Wines are delicious California wines that are 90 calories per 5 ounce serving, 9 percent alcohol, vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO and made with no added sugar. For more information, visit mindandbodywines.com.

Social Media
Instagram: @mindandbodywines
Facebook: @mindandbodywines

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

January 9, 2021 by evebushman

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

November 19, 2020 by evebushman

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.

Lail Vineyards Celebrates its 25th Anniversary and Releases “Cellar Stories”

November 4, 2020 by evebushman

ST. HELENA, Calif. – As wineries are releasing new vintages, Lail Vineyards is pleased to announce a different kind of release – the exciting release of “Cellar Stories,” a series of engaging, humorous and poignant anecdotes delivered personally by vintner Robin Lail.

Shannon, Robin, Erin Lail

Robin is the driving force in an intriguing family six generations deep in Napa Valley winemaking. Her ancestors founded Inglenook in 1879. She grew up on the estate; graduated from Stanford University; was the first woman in Bank of America’s international management program; worked for Robert Mondavi; started the wildly successful Auction Napa Valley; co-founded Dominus with Christian Moueix, and Merryvale with Bill Harlan; and then launched her own brand with her daughters, Erin and Shannon, in 1995. As Lail Vineyards celebrates its 25^th anniversary, Robin is sharing personal tales from her “story cellar” – anecdotes that have been collected and cherished throughout her extraordinary life.

With warmth and humor, Robin invites you into her home and shares stories of growing up at Inglenook, poignant insights into her family, and hilarious tales of disastrous dates during her single days in San Francisco – ever mindful that the best stories are shared over a glass of memorable wine.

“Like all of us at this surreal time, I miss seeing people,” said Robin. “Lail Vineyards’ Cellar Stories are a way to stay in touch with people personally. Some of these stories are about the wine business and some are simply stories from my life. They run about a minute and a half and are a fun way to say hello and take a little break from the routine every couple of weeks. I love story-telling and my hope is that they will bring a quick moment of pleasure to the people who watch them.”

In the future, the series will also include stories from Robin’s colleagues, including other notable vintners and winemakers. The stories are shareable and can be found on Vimeo by searching “Lail Cellar Stories,” and on Instagram @LailVineyards.

About Lail Vineyards
Robin Daniel Lail is a fourth-generation vintner and the founder of Lail Vineyards. Along with her family, she has produced some of the most elusive, coveted wines in Napa Valley. As a descendant of one of Napa Valley’s founding families, the story of Robin Lail’s life is woven into the history of the Napa Valley. Her great-granduncle Gustave Niebaum established Inglenook in 1879 and her beloved father, John Daniel, Jr., created wines that are regarded among the best of the 20^th Century. The wines of Lail Vineyards are born from generations of winemaking knowledge in Napa Valley, a legacy that remains Lail’s steadfast compass.

Robin is the Porto Protocol U.S. Representative and 10% of online sales from Lail’s Blueprint wines is donated to organizations deep in the fight against climate change.

Sutter Home Family Vineyards Celebrates 20 Years Of Fighting Breast Cancer With Annual Sutter Home for Hope Campaign

October 29, 2020 by evebushman

ST. HELENA, Calif., /PRNewswire/ — Sutter Home Family Vineyards, a longtime champion in the fight against breast cancer, announced today the winery’s renewed commitment to fighting breast cancer with the 20^th annual Sutter Home for Hope campaign. As one of America’s first wine companies to make a commitment to breast cancer research, treatment and education, Sutter Home has contributed more than $1.5 million to the cause over the past 20 years. The wine brand marked its seventh year of partnership with National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.^® with limited-edition White Zinfandel and Rosé 187mL bottles – each donning pink ribbons like the returning Sutter Home for Hope 750mL and 1.5L formats.

The Sutter Home for Hope initiative began in 2001, when one of Sutter Home’s founding family members, Vera Trinchero Torres, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Sutter Home fans can help continue the fight against breast cancer by sending in their Sutter Home bottle capsules, corks and screwcaps via mail. Fans can also support the cause by sharing designated Facebook posts that will appear on Sutter Home’s Facebook page throughout September and the month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For each Facebook share and for every cork, capsule or screwcap received by mail, the winery will donate $1 to National Breast Cancer Foundation, up to $60,000. The program began Sept. 1 and will run through the end of 2020.

“This year of adversity has been particularly arduous for those affected by breast cancer,” said Brie Wohld, vice president, marketing for Sutter Home. “In our 20^th year, we at Sutter Home stand strong with breast cancer fighters and survivors and reaffirm our commitment to this exceedingly important cause. Our mission for making a difference remains twofold: providing support to charities and nonprofits like National Breast Cancer Foundation that are working to make a difference in communities nationwide, and promoting positive messages of hope and support to let those affected by cancer know they are not alone. We are truly grateful to our fans who have joined us as we take on this cause together in our 20^th year.”

Banded together to make a positive difference in the lives of families around the world, Sutter Home and National Breast Cancer Foundation are committed to Helping Women Now®. The National Cancer Institute predicts that an estimated 276,480* women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 42,170* will die in the United States in 2020. With the help of Sutter Home’s fans, National Breast Cancer Foundation can inspire hope to those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education and support services.

“We are thankful for Sutter Home Family Vineyards’ continued commitment to our mission of Helping Women Now,” said Janelle Hail, founder and chief executive officer of National Breast Cancer Foundation. “Sutter Home’s generosity will help us support women in need during this critical year for our community of fighters and survivors.”

Sutter Home invites those looking to make a difference to “Clink for Pink” now through Dec. 31. Learn all the ways Sutter Home’s little corks bring big hope, from our home to yours at www.sutterhome.com/sutter-home-for-hope/ and www.facebook.com/sutterhome.

About Sutter Home
When the Trinchero family bought the Sutter Home Winery in 1948, they had vision, passion and a keen insight into consumer tastes. In the early 1970s, Sutter Home revolutionized the way Americans enjoyed wine when it created the first-ever White Zinfandel, introducing a new, sweeter style of wine—along with several other crowd-pleasing varietals—at an affordable price. By the 1980s and 1990s, Sutter Home became a household name as the second largest independent, family-owned winery in the United States. In 2005, the winery was the first to produce the groundbreaking single-serve, 187ml package in light-weight plastic bottles. Today, Sutter Home continues to reflect the evolution of its consumers, offering more than 21 different varietals in 750ml, 187ml and 1.5L bottles, 500ml Tetra Pak® packages and new 3L bag-in-box packages. For more information visit www.SutterHome.com.

About National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.®
Recognized as one of the leading breast cancer organizations in the world, National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is Helping Women Now® by providing early detection, education and support services to those affected by breast cancer. A recipient of Charity Navigator’s highest 4-star rating for 14 years, NBCF provides support through their National Mammography Program, Patient Navigation, breast health education, and patient support programs. For more information, please visit https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/.

Source
*National Cancer Institute U.S. Female Breast Cancer Statistics: https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html

Support the Cause
Send Sutter Home corks, screwcaps and capsules in an envelope labeled SHFH20 to:
Inmar Rebate Center
PO Box 426008
Del Rio, TX 78842-6008

ACME Fine Wines Announces ACME Unfiltered Experiences for Holiday Gifting

October 14, 2020 by evebushman

ST. HELENA, Calif./PR Newswire/ — Just in time for early holiday shoppers, St. Helena’s ACME Fine Wines, today announced that the boutique wine retailer will launch ACME Unfiltered, a new private by-appointment-only virtual tasting and moderated Q & A experience, with some of Northern California hottest winemakers for the holiday gifting season.

Join an ACME sommelier, along with one of these famed winemakers, including Julien Fayard (Fayard Wines, Covert Estate, Purlieu), Maayan Koschitzky (La Pelle, Brilliant Mistake, Skipstone, Perfect Season), Aaron Pott (Pott Wine, Wingspan, Perliss) and Bibiana González Rave (Cattleya, Shared Notes, Alma de Cattleya), for an exploration of their wines and backgrounds.

As the holiday season approaches, ACME Unfiltered makes an ideal gift for tehe whole family or a group of friends to share. For businesses, an ACME Unfiltered experience provides the perfect icebreaker for virtual holiday parties and team building activities. ACME Unfiltered will allow friends, families and co-workers around the country to share an evening of wine and conversation with each other—safely. ACME will ship each participant three wines crafted by the selected winemaker prior to the Unfiltered session; all the attendees will need to do is pull the corks!

The 90-minute ACME Unfiltered experiences will be arranged on a mutually agreeable date for the ACME sommelier host, winemaker, the gift-giver and participant(s). ACME will select the featured winemaker and three wines s/he crafted. ACME Unfiltered experiences have a $3,600 minimum to secure the fully private experience, which is met with 12 participants at $300/participant. The cost for additional participants will be the price of the curated three-pack of wines.

For more information or to purchase ACME Unfiltered, contact ACME at acme@acmefinewines.com.

ABOUT ACME FINE WINES

Founded in 2003 by Proprietor Karen Williams, ACME Fine Wines has long been regarded as one of the country’s premiere sources for both hard-to-find, highly allocated wines as well as debut offerings from new brands and rising star winemakers. ACME is located in St. Helena, California in the heart of the Napa Valley. For more information, please visit www.acmefinewines.com or call 707.963.0440.

Quintessa Introduces Inaugural Decade Release with 2010 Vintage

September 30, 2020 by evebushman

ST. HELENA, CALIF. (PRWEB) – Quintessa is honored to announce its inaugural Decade Release, a library release that consists of a limited number of bottles of 2010 Quintessa set aside to evolve for one decade in the caves where it originated. First made exclusively available to Quintessa Vineyard Circle members in 3-packs of 750ml bottles and in 1.5 L (magnum) bottles, the Quintessa Decade Release is now available in highly limited quantities in the wholesale market.

Convinced that Quintessa had all the quality elements as an estate to be a true Napa Valley classic, the only thing missing was an understanding of the wine’s capacity to age and improve with time. So in the summer of 2012, shortly after bottling the 2010 vintage, proprietors Agustin and Valeria Huneeus decided to set aside a limited number of bottles of the 2010 vintage to rest undisturbed in perfect conditions without leaving the estate.

“Wine has the capacity to reflect a place like no other, as grapes have the singularity of being fully connected to where the vines grow, including the soil, geology and the unique climatic conditions of that particular vintage,” said Estate Director Rodrigo Soto. “The resulting wine is a time capsule, and over the decade that this wine has transformed in the bottle, it clearly demonstrates that the evolution is not only real but also special and unique.”

The 2010 vintage is evidence of this incredible transformation, with black bright cherry and floral layers to dried herbs, anise & violets. From a supple silky texture to integrated layers of spice, followed by a long mineral finish. Having the time to age wine in the bottle brings balance and multiple dimensions to the glass, making the pleasure of drinking wine a completely different experience.

The 2010 growing season in the Napa Valley began with cooler than average temperatures and plentiful rainfall, which pushed bud break, flowering and fruit set back nearly two weeks. Mild, cool temperatures continued into summer which made meticulous canopy management essential to encourage consistent flavor development. Two late summer heat spikes helped the small, concentrated berries develop toward a later than average harvest.

At twenty years old in 2010, Quintessa’s biodynamic and organically farmed vines had the knowledge to work with mother nature and thrive through the seasons. Beginning on October 5th, the fruit from the Quintessa property was harvested with patience and precision to create a wine of elegance and balance, worthy of the first Decade Release.

To acquire or learn more, please visit quintessa.com/decade-release. For media inquiries, please contact Josh Zoland (jzoland@colangelopr.com) or Rachel Keigley (rkeigley@colangelopr.com) of Colangelo & Partners.

About Quintessa – http://www.quintessa.com
Quintessa is a world-class wine estate in the heart of Rutherford, Napa Valley. Inspired by the old-world Estate model, Quintessa crafts a single wine each year that expresses the Estate’s diversity and transforms the soil, vines, climate and energy into something greater than those individual elements. In order to capture the purest expression of place, Quintessa has practiced organic techniques since its founding in 1989 and transitioned to biodynamic practices in 1996.

When founders Agustin and Valeria Huneeus first set foot on the pristine, uncultivated property, they believed they had found something absolutely unique from what they had seen in Napa before. They knew that the land, spread over five hillsides, with different soil types and exposures, encompassed tremendous diversity that would lead Quintessa to become a world-class wine estate akin to the first growths of the Old World. Today, the Estate is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carménère on 26 vineyard blocks. Since its first vintage in 1994, Quintessa has quickly become globally recognized as a benchmark of the Napa Valley.

Dario Sattui donates $1 million to Calistoga schools

September 2, 2020 by evebushman

CALISTOGA, CALIF. (PRWEB) – Prominent Napa Valley vintner, Dario Sattui, owner of Castello di Amorosa and V. Sattui Winery, has donated $1 million dollars to the Napa County Board of Education to fund the expansion of Calistoga School District’s pre-school program. It is the largest donation ever made to a Napa Valley school by a Napa Valley vintner. Mr. Sattui presented a check to the Board during a meeting in Calistoga on July 1.

Photo caption: From Left to Right: Chuck McMinn, Founder of Napa Valley Vine Trail Terence Mulligan, Napa Valley Community Foundation Rick Jones Dario Sattui Chris Canning, Mayor, City of Calistoga Allen Rossi, Napa County Office of Education, Director of Finance Barbara Nemko, NCOE Superintendent Steve Orndorf, Napa County office of Education, Trustee Erin Smith-Hagberg, Superintendent, Calistoga School District

This donation will fund the creation of the two new classrooms, a playground and an all-day after school program and a new parking lot.

“An educated society is perhaps the single most important factor in perpetuating a great democracy such as ours. Everyone should have an educational opportunity. And education should begin at a very young age. Therefore, I am delighted to be instrumental in funding this very worthwhile project,” said Dario Sattui.

Sattui founded Castello di Amorosa, an authentically built Tuscan castle and winery in Calistoga in 2007; which today is one of the most popular landmarks in California. A native of San Francisco, in 1975 Sattui re-established with $8,000 his great-grandfather’s winery in St. Helena, which is also a Napa Valley icon.

“This is an overwhelming act of generosity and enlightened philanthropy by Dario Sattui,” said Barbara Nemko, Napa County’s Superintendent of Education.

Over the years Sattui has donated several million dollars to local charitable organizations, contributing $1,600,000 to build the Calistoga Boys & Girls Club alone. In addition to his various donations he is underwriting programs which assist employees by subsidizing housing and paying employees to share rides or take the bus.

The donation will be presented at a Napa County Board of Education meeting in Calistoga on July 1. The new classrooms, playground and the extended childcare program are anticipated to be open by September 2020.

Sattui’s donation will be complemented by other donations and a grant from the State of California.

HALL Family Wines Appoints Alison Frichtl Hollister Senior Winemaker

August 3, 2020 by evebushman

ST. HELENA, CA – Luxury wine producer, HALL Family Wines, has announced that Alison Frichtl Hollister has been promoted to the position of Senior Winemaker for the HALL, WALT and BACA brands, working with Director of Winemaking, Megan Gunderson.

“We are delighted to announce the promotion of Alison to the position of Senior Winemaker for HALL Family Wines,” says Vintner and HALL Family Wines owner, Kathryn Hall. “Alison’s detail-oriented and artful approach to winemaking has made her a critical and central part of our winemaking effort for the past 12 years, first as enologist and most recently as the lead winemaker for BACA wines. In her new position, Alison’s role will expand to winemaking responsibilities for all our brands, with particular emphasis on WALT Wines.”

Hollister joined HALL Family Wines in 2008. She has grown with the luxury brand during her tenure, serving in many roles, including Enologist and Assistant Winemaker. In 2016, Alison was tapped to lead the new BACA brand, creating premium Zinfandels from some of the top vineyards and appellations throughout California. During her time at the winery, Hollister has developed extensive experience crafting Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rose wines.

“I thrive in a creative environment – one that encourages intuition, innovation, and new ideas,” says HALL Family Wines Senior Winemaker Alison Frichtl Hollister. “Having spent over twelve years with HALL and WALT and now crafting BACA wines, I’m looking at this as a great opportunity to use the approach I’ve honed to express the nuance and elegance of each varietal. The winemaking responsibilities of the coming vintage are a challenge that I’m excited to accept.”

Hollister was introduced to American winemaking after living in the Willamette Valley in Oregon as a teenager. She then earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. After graduation, Hollister planted her roots in Napa Valley and accepted her first role in the wine industry at Etude Wines in 2006.

Having been surrounded by many forms of artistry throughout her personal and professional career, Hollister is also known to craft high quality kombucha and kimchi and is an avid artist. Hollister resides in the Howell Mountain region of Napa Valley with her husband Bruce, a landscape designer and artist.

For more information on HALL, WALT or BACA Wines, please visit www.hallwines.com, www.waltwines.com, and www.bacawines.com.

About Hall Family Wines

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, 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 600 ratings of 90 points or above from the industry’s top critics, including five 100-point scores. Visit www.hallwines.com, www.waltwines.com, www.bacawines.com for more information, or call 707-967-2626.