Eve's Wine 101

Eve Reviews: 2008 Mondavi To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon

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So this just happened:

How happy are you when you discover a wine in your chiller that you didn’t remember was there? We moved a 2008 Mondavi To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, from our cellar to the chiller and decided to pop that puppy open just for ourselves! (We also have a 2010 waiting for us next!) There will be a full one-bottle post on this wine on Eve Wine 101 on 10/28…but for now this is your taste: The beautiful etched bottle felt heavy in my hands, with a deep punt, which for me exudes style and quality. Notes of black cherry, blueberry, blackberry, boysenberry, dark chocolate, earth, toasted oak…and well deserving of  99-100 points from the Bushmans.  

#EveBushmanWhatsInYourGlass #MondaviWine #CabernetSauvignon #NapaWine #WineTasting #WineTastingNotes #EveWine101 #WineScore #WinePoints @RobertMondavi

The details:

To complete my tasting notes above I didn’t find a lot of peppery notes.  Long finish. Balanced. And it tasted younger than what I was expecting. The fruit was super fresh. Our collective score: 99-100 points. (To Kalon, for those that don’t know, is the name of the vineyard in Oakville.)

We decided to take this 2008 Mondavi To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon out to dinner with us at D’Agostino’s in Las Vegas on a Wednesday night. No special occasion, no friends except the restaurant owners to share it with, Wednesday just happens to be their free corkage night. We enjoyed the wine with a Veal Marsala. Perfect.

We were Mondavi club members for a few years, and this was one of the special bottles we looked forward to receiving in the top tier club we chose. Will have to pay full price for it next time, so happy that we have that 2010 next!

From K and L Wines:

2008 Robert Mondavi “To Kalon” Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

SKU #118755893 points Vinous

Bright, dark ruby. Slightly high-toned, almost porty ripeness to the aromas of cassis, menthol, plum, violet, truffle and smoky oak, plus a hint of prune that reflects the heat spikes during the summer of ’08. Then wonderfully suave, fine-grained and sweet; fresher in the mouth than on the nose but with full ripeness to its plum and dark berry flavors. A suggestion of nutty oak adds complexity. This very supple, harmonious midweight has filled out since its bottling. Finishes with terrific rising length and substantial but well-supported tannins that should carry this wine for another 12 to 15 years. Just approaching its peak drinking plane but I’d still wait a few years. (ST)  (5/2018)

K&L Notes

This is Mondavi’s most rare and focused Cabernet Sauvignon bottling. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from some of the To Kalon Vineyard’s oldest planting. Originally planted in 1868, the To Kalon Vineyard has become recognized as one of the finest first-growth vineyards of the world. Ancient Greek for “the highest beauty,” To Kalon is the historic vineyard that provides Robert Mondavi Winery with grapes for its world-class Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve and Oakville District Cabernet Sauvignon, and is the exclusive source of their Fumé Blanc Reserve. (There is a wait list for this wine à https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1187558)

https://robertmondaviwinery.com/

https://www.instagram.com/robertmondavi/

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

Sippd Launches Bottle Label Scanner

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WASHINGTON (PRWEB) – Sippd, the wine recommender that uses artificial intelligence to provide users with personalized wine scores, has released a bottle label scanner offering app users an easy way to review, track, and purchase bottles.

Using an advanced label-recognition algorithm coupled with its existing AI-powered technology, Sippd users can now snap a photo of a bottle label to generate a digital display of wine information along with a personalized 1-100% wine score representing how much the wine aligns to a user’s unique palate. The release of the bottle label scanner, which is an expansion to the app’s visual search capabilities, is the next step in Sippd’s goal to simplify wine selection and purchasing for the average consumer.

View Detailed Wine Information
Tap to scan and in four to nine seconds, see a bottle’s tasting notes, suggested food pairings, community ratings, vineyard information, and more.

Buy with Confidence
The higher the Taste Match score is to 100%, the more the wine aligns to a user’s palate – instilling confidence in the consumer’s decision to purchase the bottle. Simply scan a label at a grocery store to determine which bottle to purchase or get it delivered from one of our connected online retail partners.

Track As You Taste
Users can scan and rate each bottle on a one to five-star scale after tasting, helping Sippd learn more about their unique taste preferences. All rated wines are saved to a user’s Profile for easy tracking and reordering of their favorites.

Refine Your Taste Profile
After scanning, users can save private notes and take note of four main wine characteristics as they taste, helping them learn about and build on their unique wine profile.

How to scan a bottle label on the Sippd app:

  • Open the app and tap the Camera icon
  • Tap the Bottle Label icon when you’re ready to snap a pic of the bottle
  • View the wine information, rate the bottle, or jot down notes on your tasting experience

“Our users often express feelings of confusion and intimidation when tasked with selecting a bottle off a crowded shelf at a grocery store or their local wine shop,” says Blake Hershey, Co-Founder and CEO of Sippd. “The release of Sippd’s newest visual search tool helps our community members make more informed purchasing decisions while also learning about and refining their taste preferences.”

Users can also toggle the scanner to Wine List to scan any physical restaurant wine list and see every wine’s tasting notes, food pairings, community rating, and more to select the best wine for their preferences and the occasion. Ordering a bottle for a group? Be sure to use our Combine Taste Match feature to combine taste profiles with up to three friends and select a bottle for the table.

Download the Sippd app on mobile devices for free on the Apple and Google Play stores. For retailers that would like to learn more about featuring your products on Sippd, please email our team at partnerships@sippd.com.

About Sippd
Sippd empowers people to focus on enjoying their wine, not ordering it. Combining artificial intelligence and wine, Sippd helps wine lovers find and order wines that match their tastes. With our Taste Match capabilities, we’re able to provide you with personalized wine recommendations that continually evolves with your preferences, so you can effortlessly order the perfect bottle every time. Stop wasting your money on bottles you don’t like and instead, simplify and transform your online wine experience with Sippd, the AI-powered personal sommelier that knows your palate. Sippd’s free mobile app is available for download on the Apple and Google Play stores. For more information, visit sippd.com.

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Swig And Savor AN UNFORGETTABLE WHISK(E)Y EXPERIENCE

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Portland, OR – The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) is pleased to announce that it will host the inaugural Swig & Savor event on Friday, August 12, 2022, at The Nines, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Portland, Oregon. Attendees will join distillers and master blenders to experience a multitude of special pours from around the world, all curated for this one, exclusive night.

The event gives attendees the opportunity to compare different types of whisk(e)ys, revisit some favorites, and uncover new tastes. This will be the first public whiskey tasting event in the Pacific Northwest to feature so many luxury pours and catered specifically to enthusiasts.

The confirmed pour list is below, but there will be several additions over the coming weeks.​

Ardbeg

• Wee Beastie

• 10 year

• An Oa

• Uigeadail (VIP hour only)

Bull Run

• 14 year American Whiskey

• 9 year Madeira Finished Oregon Single Malt

• 9 year All Oregon Single Malt 

• 6 year Nocino Finished Bourbon

• 6 year Chinato Finished Bourbon

• 13 year Cognac Finished Single Barrel Bourbon (VIP hour only)

Glenlivet

• Caribbean Reserve

• Illicit Still

• 18 year

• 21 year (VIP hour only)

• 25 year (VIP hour only)

Glenmorangie

• X by Glenmorangie

• Original 10 year

• Lasanta 12 year

• 18 year (VIP hour only)

Grain & Barrel 

• Chicken Cock Bourbon Whiskey

• Chicken Cock Rye Whiskey

• Elvis Whiskey

• Elvis Rye

• Virgil Kane Ginger

• Chicken Cock Cotton Club (VIP hour only)

Jefferson’s

• Reserve

• Ocean Aged at Sea

• Ocean Aged at Sea Rye

• Twin Oak (VIP hour only)

Kentucky Owl

• The Wiseman Rye

• The Wiseman Bourbon

• Confiscated Bourbon

• St. Patrick’s Limited Edition Bourbon (VIP hour only)

Michter’s

• Rye

• Bourbon

• Sour Mash

• Unblended American

• Barrel Strength Rye (VIP hour only)

• 10 year Rye (VIP hour only)

Oregon Spirit Distillers

• Bottled in Bond Single Barrel Straight American Bourbon Whiskey

• Straight American Bourbon Whiskey

• Straight American Rye Whiskey

• Straight American Wheat Whiskey

• Eaves Blind Straight American Bourbon, Blended by Marianne Eaves (VIP hour only)

Proof and Wood

• Deadwood Straight Bourbon

• Deadwood Rye Whiskey

• Roulette Rye

• Tumblin’ Dice

• The Representative

• The Ambassador

• The Senator Rye (VIP hour only)

• Tumblin’ Dice Private Barrel (VIP hour only)

• The Senator Rye Private Barrel (VIP hour only)

Rabbit Hole

• Cavehill Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 4-Grain

• Heigold Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey High Rye

• Boxergrail Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

• Dareringer Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in PX Sherry Casks (VIP hour only)

• Founders Reserve (VIP hour only)

Redbreast

• PX

• 12 year

• 15 year

• 21 year (VIP hour only)

• 27 year (VIP hour only)

Silkie

• Legendary

• Legendary Dark

• Midnight Silkie

Spirit of Hven

• Mercurious Corn Whisky

• Swedish Rye Whisky (VIP hour only)

• Swedish Tycho’s Star Whisky (VIP hour only)

Uncle Nearest

• 1884 Small Batch Whiskey
• 1856 Premium Whiskey    

Westward

• Westward American Single Malt

• Westward American Single Malt Stout Cask

• Westward American Single Malt Pinot Noir Cask

• Westward American Single Malt Cask Strength

• Westward American Single Malt Elements: High Desert to Klamath Basin (VIP hour only) 

Wilderness Trail

• High-Rye Bourbon

• Wheated Bourbon

• Straight Rye Whiskey 

• Private Barrel (VIP hour only)

Woodinville

• Bourbon

• Straight Rye  

• Port Finished (VIP hour only

Swig & Savor seeks to give whisk(e)y enthusiasts access to master distillers, blenders and other experts while enjoying the fruits of their labors. Everyone is encouraged to engage and ask questions about each brand’s heritage, process, and what makes each pour unique. Whether it’s to brush up on familiar topics or to learn something new, attendees are welcome to join a handful of seminars hosted by experts from the famed Multnomah Whisk(e)y Library.

General Admission tickets are $249 and cover three hours of tasting access, while VIP Admission is $349 and covers four hours, exclusive pours, and a raffle of hard-to-get bottles. Attendees are encouraged to make it a weekend and enjoy what Portland has to offer! The City of Portland is filled with fantastic overnight accommodations, restaurants, and fun activities. Visit swigandsavor.com for ticket purchasing, accommodations, important links, and what to expect on August 12.

Breckenridge Wine Classic Announcements

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GOLDEN, Colo. – The Eighth Annual Breckenridge Wine Classic (September 15-17) has announced details regarding its innovative lineup including a “Winemaker for a Day” experience, “Wine & Wildflower Hike,” and exquisite paired dinners with some of the country’s best vintners at five standout Breckenridge restaurants, including one at the ski resort. Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the Breckenridge Wine Classic is a three-day festival anchored by the two-day Grand Tasting, which features hundreds of wineries, breweries, distilleries, and epicurean purveyors at this ultimate food, wine and sensory destination. Tickets for the seminars and paired dinners are on sale now, while Grand Tasting tickets went on sale in April.

“The Breckenridge Wine Classic is so much more than the Grand Tasting. We develop programming that provides unprecedented access to sommeliers, winemakers, glassware experts and other industry pioneers that will help everyone from a wine novice to someone with decades of wine enthusiasm learn more about the craft,” said Breckenridge Wine Classic Festival Events and Marketing Director Kristen Horpedahl. “Where else can you play winemaker for a day for $85 or explore the Rocky Mountains with a master somm?”

All tickets can be purchased on the Breckenridge Wine Classic Eventbrite page. Experiences at the 2022 Breckenridge Wine Classic include:

Thursday, September 15: The Breckenridge Uncorked Dinner Series (prices vary) will feature five-course paired wine dinners at Breckenridge’s best restaurants including:

  • The Tour of Pinot Noir Dinner at Hearthstone Breckenridge with Copper Cane’s portfolio
  • Single Vineyard Reserve Dinner at Beaver Run Resort’s Spencer’s Lounge with Canard Vineyard
  • Wild West of Wines Dinner at Carboy Winery Breckenridge with Colorado’s own winery
  • Master Sommelier Reserve Dinner at Rootstalk Breckenridge with local Master Sommelier Sean Razee
  • Read All About It Dinner at Modis Breckenridge with Robert Craig Winery

Friday, September 16:

  • Winemaker For A Day Blending Experience ($85): Alexander Valley Vineyards hosts a blending seminar where guests are invited to taste from the barrel samples and create their own craft blend
  • Uncharted Territories Hike ($130): This guided 3-mile hike on the Burro Trail culminates in a three-course paired lunch at Cabin Juice with wines from little known regions of Australia.

Saturday, September 17:

  • Class On Glass Riedel Seminar ($125): Guests will sample wine from Riedel’s varietal-specific glasses to understand how glassware enhances the aromas and taste components.
  • Wine & Wildflower Hike ($130): This 3-mile guided hike throughout the Rocky Mountain’s wildflowers alongside Deanna Benzenberg of Michael David Winery culminates in a three-course paired lunch at Cabin Juice.
  • Giampietro’s Reserve Lunch ($99): Double the somms, double the fun. This double-trouble paired lunch features two Master Sommeliers: Sean Razee and Damon Ornowski at Giampietro Italian restaurant.

Tickets for the seminars and paired dinners start at $85, while Grand Tasting tickets start at $109.

More details regarding the seminars and events will be released closer to the festival. Volunteer applications will open in June.

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High-resolution renderings available here.

Media interested in attending, please fill out this form.

About Breckenridge Wine Classic

The Breckenridge Wine Classic is a premier destination event where master winemakers, culinary greats, and our distinguished guests gather to play, wine, and dine in beautiful Breckenridge, Colo. Experience more than 100 food artisans, wineries, breweries, distilleries, epicurean purveyors, and locally-made products at this ultimate food and wine experience. Whether you are a full-fledged foodie or an emerging gourmand, you are sure to find more than one event to whet your appetite at the Wine Classic. There is something for everyone – from food and wine tastings, to seminars and luncheons, to outdoor adventures with food & wine influences, there are tastes and temptations at every turn. For more information, visit breckenridgewineclassic.com or follow @breckwineclassic on Instagram and @breckenridewineclassic on Facebook.

About Team Player Productions

Founded more than 25 years ago in Denver, Team Player Productions (TPP) has produced and managed more than 400 events around the country, raising more than $2 million for its various nonprofit partners. TPP has created and continues to produce beloved annual events including Vail Wine Classic, Breckenridge Wine Classic and Vail Craft Beer Classic , and adopted others, such asDenver Burger Battle and the Boulder Creek Festival. The company was also the originator of events including Taste of Fort Collins, Steamboat Wine Festival and Park City Food & Wine Classic. TPP consults and produces events for a portfolio of clients as well, such as Goose Island Beer Co., Blue Point Brewing Co., Great Divide Brewing Company, Odell Brewing Company, Red Bull, City of Centennial, Anheuser-Busch, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and City of Littleton. For more information, visit TPPEvents.com, or follow @TPPEvents on Facebook and @TeamPlayerProductions on Instagram.

Sippd Launches Premium At-Home Wine Tasting Bundle

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WASHINGTON (PRWEB) – Sippd, the wine recommender that uses artificial intelligence to provide users with personalized scores, has released an at-home wine tasting bundle offering app users a premium wine experience delivered to their door. Sippd’s Wine Tasting Kit encourages users to learn about wine by drinking it, while giving beginner drinkers a place to start and wine aficionados an at-home experience to get outside of their comfort zone.

Making it simple and convenient to explore the quintessential wine varietals of the premier wine-producing regions of the world, the tasting kit features six bottles – each one of the major wine types: red, white, sparkling, rose, fortified, and dessert. Sippd has partnered with connected online retailer, Wine Spies, to create this kit offering a range of flavors to satisfy a variety of tastes, make a great addition to any wine collection, or help wine-curios consumers discover which wine suits their unique taste preferences.

In addition, Sippd users receive 57% retail pricing of the bundle, taking the six-bottle Wine Tasting Kit from $232 to only $99, including shipping.

What’s in the tasting kit:

  • Red: Wine Guerrilla 2018 Paradise Lane Vineyard RRV Old Vine Zinfandel
  • White: Stéphane Ogier 2014 ‘Viognier de Rosine’ IGP Collines Rhodaniennes
  • Sparkling: Wine Spies Brut Sparkling
  • Rosé: IND ‘Influencer’ Rosé of Cinsault
  • Dessert: “Chateau Ste. Michelle 2014 ‘Eroica’ Riesling Ice Wine 375ml
  • Fortified: Wolf’s Head ‘Iberian Ruby’ Port Blend 500ml

“From music to movies, everyone has personal preferences in all facets of life, and wine is no different,” says Blake Hershey, Co-Founder and CEO of Sippd. “Our team created this bundle to showcase an outstanding portfolio of wine while helping our users learn about, build on, and refine their unique taste profile – as drinking what you like is what it’s all about.”

Sippd’s Wine Tasting Kits are perfect for your personal consumption, special occasion gatherings, and make a great gift for wine lovers whether you’re showing appreciation to a friend or client.

To purchase a Sippd Wine Tasting Kit, consumers can buy here on desktop or download the Sippd app on mobile devices, available for free on the Apple and Google Play stores.

About Sippd
Sippd empowers people to focus on enjoying their wine, not ordering it. Combining artificial intelligence and wine, Sippd helps wine lovers find and order wines that match their tastes. With our Taste Match capabilities, we’re able to provide you with personalized wine recommendations that continually evolves with your preferences, so you can effortlessly order the perfect bottle every time. Stop wasting your money on bottles you don’t like and instead, simplify and transform your online wine experience with Sippd, the AI-powered personal sommelier that knows your palate. Sippd’s free mobile app is available for download on the Apple and Google Play stores. For more information, visit sippd.com.

The Best Whiskeys in Texas from the Texas Whiskey Festival!

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AUSTIN, TEXAS (PRWEB) – Each year the Texas Whiskey Festival hosts a competition to determine who has the best Texas Bourbon, Rye, and Malt Whiskey. With a panel of judges, we conduct the competition with a method known as blind judging. The brands and specific whiskeys they are tasting are unknown to the judges. “Our panel of judges smell and taste their way through each whiskey, rating the aroma, taste complexity, and finish,” says Co-Founder Jake Clements.

Bourbon: Grain to Glass

  • Still Austin Whiskey Co. – Cask Strength Straight Bourbon
  • Shire Distilling Co. – Cask Strength Percheron Bourbon
  • Ironroot Republic Distilling – Harbinger 115 Straight Bourbon

Bourbon: Aged and Bottled in Texas

  • Iron Wolf Ranch and Distillery – 6 year Single Barrel Bourbon
  • Oak & Eden – Bourbon & Vine
  • Luckenbach Road Whiskey – Straight Bourbon

Rye Whiskey: Grain to Glass

  • Tahwahkaro Distilling – Texas Rye Malt Whiskey
  • Maverick Whiskey – Straight Rye Whiskey
  • Devils River Whiskey – Straight Rye Whiskey

Rye Whiskey: Aged and Bottled in Texas

  • William Price Distilling – Straight Rye finished in bourbon barrels
  • Oak & Eden – Rye & Rumba
  • Old Humble Distilling Company – Double Oak Straight Rye

Malt Whiskey: Grain to Glass

  • Andalusia Whiskey Co. – Stryker Smoked Single Malt
  • Acre Distilling Co. – Texas Single Malt
  • Spirit of Texas Brewing and Distilling – Pfluger Single Malt Whiskey

Other Whiskeys: includes whiskeys aged in used barrels, blended whiskey, and light whiskey.

  • Austin Craft Spirits – Austin 85 Light Whiskey
  • Maverick Whiskey – Straight Triticale Whiskey
  • Dripping Springs Distilling – Republic Whiskey

“These are their winners, but remember the best whiskey is the one you like,” says Co-Founder Jake Clements. Festival attendees will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite distillery to decide on the people’s choice award.

You can taste the best Texas whiskeys and many more. It doesn’t matter if you are an avid whiskey drinker or think you might like whiskey this is an opportunity for you to try new whiskeys and meet the people that make them. You will get to choose from 70+ whiskeys made by the 34 distilleries participating.

It is a night of sampling new whiskey, meeting friends, and enjoying food, cigars, and music. Get your tickets HERE!

Thank you to the Crowded Barrel Whiskey Co for hosting us. A big thank you to our talented judges.

  • Nino Kilgore-Marchetti is a whiskey writer and the owner/editor in chief of The Whiskey Wash, an award winning whiskey lifestyle website.
  • Mark Shilling is the CEO at SUSTO Mezcal and Partner at Big Thirst.
  • Big Thirst represents some Texas brands, but Mark does not work on production of any brands in the whiskey category.
  • Lance Kotal, Friend of the Festival, Tejas level and a big fan of whiskey.

About the Texas Whiskey Festival
The festival’s mission is simple: To help promote and enhance the brands of the many great distilleries throughout Texas. We want to promote and educate whiskey lovers about the whiskeys produced in our great state. We’re doing it all while having fun, drinking great whiskey, and building memorable experiences. As an organization, we know that Texas has some of the best distilleries and whiskeys globally. The Texas Whiskey Festival is an opportunity to showcase that. For more information, please visit https://txwhiskeyfest.com.

Tasting Alavida Malbec, a USDA-Certified Organic + Kosher Wine

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Have you ever had a Kosher wine? That’s also organic? And a Malbec from Argentina? I’ve had all of these – but not all in the same wine. So when I was offered this unique wine to try I jumped on it! I will share my tasting notes at the end of this article, but first let me share some of the details on this “dual status” wine with some sections I’ve put in bold I found interesting and want you to take notice of:

The debut 2021 vintage of Alavida Malbec (SRP $19), new from Origins Organic Import, is Argentina’s first USDA-certified organic and kosher wine. Alavida is one of few wines worldwide to achieve this unusual dual status. Alavida is also vegan, gluten-fee, and Ecocert-approved…

 The Alavida name is a riff on “A la vida!” Spanish for “To life!” itself a riff on the traditional Hebrew toast “L’chaim!” Origins Organic is owned by husband-and-wife team Labid al Ameri and Anne Bousquet. “Argentina is a nation rich in diversity, and our own multi-cultural family has been making certified organic wines in Argentina since 1997,” al Ameri observes.

 Of necessity, fruit for Alavida must be of exceptional quality, with good concentration, and balance of acidity (a natural preservative). Why? Because USDA regulations prohibit the addition of sulfites (SO2) in winemaking. Sulfites are commonly used as a form of preservative or to help conceal natural flaws. 

 The new wine hails from high-altitude vineyards in the Uco Valley, an area identified with a growing number of the Mendoza region’s finest quality wines. Grapes grow at 4,000+ feet in the Andes foothills, where daily temperature swings of up to 60° F deliver more sugar (hot days) and more acid (cold nights). By omitting SO2, characteristics associated with the Uco Valley’s high-altitude, cool-climate terroir are heightened and enhanced. Purity of fruit, aroma, flavors, and freshness become even more apparent.

 The winemaking process for Alavida is almost identical to that used in making a non-kosher wine, with two exceptions. Ingredients such as yeast must be kosher, and the wine physically made by a Sabbath-observant Jewish team under the supervision of a rabbi. For Alavida that means double the number of people involved: a Jewish team member to handle grapes and wine, paired with a home team member standing alongside and directing. For Alavida, that entailed five duos! Winemaker Rodrigo Serrano gave the work orders; his Jewish counterparts executed them.

 Once the truck filled with grapes arrived at the winery, the Jewish team took the grapes from the truck, used the forklift, pressed the on/off button at the sorting table, and so on. Though the visiting team members were experienced winemakers, they had never worked at this quality level. At the end of each day, everything was locked by the rabbi. If winemaker Serrano wanted to take a sample, he could not do so. Indeed, if a non-Jewish person were to stumble and accidentally touch a tank, the wine is no longer kosher – representing a potential loss of 4,700 liters of wine! At the end of the process, the rabbi pronounced Alavida the best kosher wine he had ever tasted!

Alavida Kosher Malbec 2021 — Technical Data

100% Malbec

Alcohol: 14.5%

Acidity/pH: 5.77/3.68

Residual Sugar: 1.52

Alavida Kosher Malbec from Origins Organic Imports / SRP $19

Now available DC, DE, CA, CT, FL, IL, MD, ME, NJ, VT, and WA

Plus NY and OR, effective April 1.

Eve’s Tasting Notes

Starting off with a deep burgundy to purple in color, completely opaque, with just a slightly lighter edge that sparkles, inviting. On the nose I experienced aromas of plum, raspberry, dark chocolate, grilled mushroom, green peppercorn, earth, ash and coffee. The taste reminded me of dried red fruit, as well as ripe strawberry and red currant, bright and lively, with gripping tannins, no annoying acidity, a long finish and well balanced. Very interesting indeed. If I saw this in a shop I would buy it, a steal for $19.

 About Origins Organic Imports: Miami-based Origins Organic Imports is owned and run by husband-and-wife team Labid Ameri and Anne Bousquet, also the owners of Argentina’s leading producer and exporter of certified-organic wines. With Origins Organic, Ameri and Bousquet are dedicated to introducing U.S. consumers to a growing roster of well-priced, high-quality certified-organic offerings from around the world, in addition to those from their own estate.

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

Discover Italy and Spain’s Greatest Wine Regions Through “Taste the Difference: Quality Wines from the Heart of Europe”

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NEW YORK (PRWEB) – After a successful 2021, “Taste the Difference: Quality Wines From the Heart of Europe”, a campaign co-financed by the European Union and managed by Unione Italiana Vini (UIV) and the Spanish state-owned company PRODECA, will continue its mission of increasing the awareness of European PDOs (Protected Denomination of Origin) and PGIs (Protected Geographical Indication), shining the spotlight on some of the best wine producing territories of Italy and Spain.

To be classified as PDO, a wine must be made in a specific region and all the production, processing, and preparation process must occur within the same limited territory. Therefore, products registered as PDOs are those that have the strongest links to the place where they come from. For wines, this means that the grapes must come exclusively from the geographical area where the wine is produced.

To be registered as PGI, a product must have at least one of the stages of production, processing or preparation taking place in a specific region. PGIs emphasize the relationship between a specific territory and the name of the product, where a particular quality, reputation or other characteristic is essentially attributable to its geographical origin. In the case of wine, this means that at least 85% of the grapes used must come exclusively from the geographical area where the wine is made.

The Taste the Difference campaign aims to expose US consumers, media and trade professionals to the most celebrated and historical Spanish wine regions of Catalonia such as Allella DO, Cava DO, Conca de Barbera DO, Costers del Segre DO, Empordà DO, Montsant DO, Penedès DO, Pla de Bages DO, Priorat DOQ and Terra Alta DO, and will elevate the tradition of Italian wines along with their ancient native grapes and historical appellations such as Prosecco DOC, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC, Chiaretto di Bardolino DOC, Custoza DOC, Trento DOC, Franciacorta DOCG, Barbera d’Asti DOCG, Vermentino di Sardegna DOC , Terre Siciliane IGT and many more.

This year, numerous will be the occasions, in person and online, to dive in and explore these European wine jewels with planned activities such as educational seminars, road shows, participation in industry events such as TEXSOM, press and trade trips and a media relations campaign, all supported by an informative website and social media content amplification.

First on the activities calendar are masterclasses in New York and San Francisco in March and a study trip to Barcelona in April. Wine professionals willing to deepen their knowledge of a great selection of Spanish quality wines from the region of Catalunya are invited to apply and be considered for exclusive wine tasting experiences and visits to the most evocative villages and wineries in Catalonia.

For more information about the campaign visit tastethedifference.wine or email info@tastethedifference.wine. Pages dedicated to the Taste the Difference project can be found on Facebook and Instagram

About TASTE THE DIFFERENCE PROGRAM:

The program: European quality wines: taste the difference is a project financed by the European Union and managed by Unione Italiana Vini and PRODECA for the promotion of PDO and PGI European wines abroad in China and US. In order to achieve this objective, the TTD.EU program will organize wine seminars, workshops and b2b meetings both in these countries and in Spain and Italy, inviting wine professionals to join study trips to Europe. The program, realized in the span of three years (2021-2023) aims at creating awareness about European quality wines, in particular Italian and Spanish, which share a long tradition and a high standard of quality.

The beneficiaries: Unione Italiana Vini is the oldest and most commissioned Association of the Italian wine market. It represents cooperative, private and agricultural wine-companies, bottlers, consortia, associations and wine-making machines or wine cellars / laboratory manufacturers, located throughout the Italian territory.

Promotora d’Exportacions Catalanes (PRODECA) is a public company established in 1986 and part of the “Ministry of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda of the Government of Catalonia”. It supports the agri-food sector and its companies with the knowledge, tools and experience to increase their products in Catalunya and worldwide.

Day Chaser® Cocktails and Hendrick Motorsports Launch New Partnership With No. 48 Team

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CONCORD, N.C. (PRWEB) – Canned cocktail brand Day Chaser has joined Hendrick Motorsports as an official partner of Alex Bowman and the driver’s No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team in the NASCAR Cup Series.

With a three-year agreement through 2024, Day Chaser will be featured on the fire suits of Bowman and his No. 48 crew members. The brand will also receive prominent placement on the team’s transporter and other equipment used throughout race weekends.

In addition to Bowman and his No. 48 Chevy, Day Chaser will have rights to use the full Hendrick Motorsports stable of race cars and stylized car numbers in its advertising and promotion.

“It’s thrilling to align Day Chaser with Hendrick Motorsports, the most successful team in NASCAR history,” said David Mandler of Northeast Drinks Group, parent company of Day Chaser. “The multi-year partnership allows us to build the Day Chaser brand alongside the best in the sport. We look forward to utilizing all the touchpoints Hendrick Motorsports has to offer via its deep relationships in the auto and racing worlds, including live events, advertising, and social media.

“We couldn’t be more excited to team up with Alex and the No. 48 team and look forward to a successful first season in 2022. We expect to see Day Chaser in victory lane a lot this year.”

Bowman, 28, is coming off a banner 2021 season in which he delivered a career-best four points-paying race wins and secured his fourth consecutive NASCAR Cup Series playoff appearance. The Tucson, Arizona, native opened the year with his second DAYTONA 500 pole position and went on to achieve personal bests in top-five finishes (eight) and top-10s (16).

“The opportunity to introduce a cool new brand like Day Chaser to Hendrick Motorsports and NASCAR is awesome for me,” Bowman said. “The product tastes great and really fits my personality and lifestyle. Our team has a lot we want to accomplish this year, so the goal is to have plenty of post-race celebrations featuring Day Chaser.”

Part of the Vermont Cider Company’s portfolio of award-winning brands, Day Chaser is a refreshing spirit-based canned cocktail made with real fruit juice and sparkling water. The easy drinking beverage is perfect for those living an active lifestyle full of adventure. All Day Chasers are 100 calories and certified gluten free with only 2 grams of carbs, 1 gram of sugar and no artificial ingredients.

“We’re pleased to welcome Day Chaser to our team,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “It’s a young and exciting brand that we’re able to pair with a young and exciting driver. Alex is a rising star in our sport and will be an excellent ambassador for Day Chaser. We look forward to growing this new relationship and developing a successful program together.”

ABOUT DAY CHASER® COCKTAILS:

Day Chaser is a ready-to-drink spirit-based canned cocktail made with real fruit juice and sparkling water. This easy drinking beverage is perfect for those living an active lifestyle full of adventure. All Day Chasers are 100 calories, certified gluten free, with only 2 grams of carbs, 1 gram of sugar and no artificial ingredients. Day Chaser features the perfect balance of spirit, fruit flavors and carbonation. Day Chaser launched first with two vodka and sparkling water styles, with two more vodka and four tequila styles available in Spring 2022. For additional information, to purchase online and find Day Chaser near you, please visit DayChaser.com. Be sure to follow @DayChaser on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Day Chaser is part of the Vermont Cider Company’s portfolio of award-winning brands, based in Middlebury, Vermont, owned by Northeast Drinks Group.

ABOUT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS:

Founded by Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports is the winningest team in NASCAR Cup Series history. At the sport’s premier level, the organization holds the all-time records in every major statistical category, including championships (14), points-paying race victories (280) and laps led (nearly 75,000). It has earned at least one race win in a record 37 different seasons, including an active streak of 36 in a row (1986-2021). The team fields four full-time Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entries in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Alex Bowman, William Byron, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson. Headquartered on more than 100 acres in Concord, North Carolina, Hendrick Motorsports employs approximately 600 people. For more information, please visit HendrickMotorsports.com or interact on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Tastry Launches “Tastry Uncorked,” A Personalized AI Recommender for E-Commerce

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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif./CNW/ – Tastry, a leading sensory sciences company, has announced that it has officially launched Tastry Uncorked, an artificial intelligence recommender tool that will now enable online retailers and wineries to provide personalized wine recommendations from their respective catalogues, directly to their consumers.

 

“In retail, where Tastry began, a staggering 80 percent of shoppers intent on a wine purchase don’t know what to buy when they reach the wine aisle. Not only are shoppers overwhelmed with choice, most lack the knowledge to actually make a good one,” explains Katerina Axelsson, CEO and Founder of Tastry. “Because of this, most consumers are guided into buying a bottle based on a cool label, a familiar name brand, or a critic’s score that really has nothing to do with their taste preference.”

Tastry, which first introduced their wine aisle recommenders in mid-2019, saw immediate results ranging from five percent to as high as an 18 percent increase in wine category sales. Because everyone experiences wine and perceives taste differently (due to the unique aromas and flavors that appeal to our palates) understanding this level of information at the point of purchase in order to pair shoppers with the best wines is a utopia that until now has been out of reach for wineries and retailers of all sizes.

With Tastry Uncorked, shoppers are prompted to take a short sensory quiz. Then, quiz answers are fed through the TastryAI platform which yields incredibly accurate recommendations in seconds, such as: Best match from assortment, best bundle of wines (for instance, package of best 3 wines) and lastly, best food pairings.

“The customer journey is undoubtedly a complex one. Through Tastry Uncorked, we enable wineries and retailers to go beyond the first recommendation and continue to engage the shopper by soliciting feedback on the recommendations it makes,” explains Jeff Campbell, Head of Growth at Tastry. “Our platform continues to improve future recommendations, and it further personalizes ongoing experiences. From the time the shopper’s palate data is collected through Tastry Uncorked’s sensory quiz, wineries and retailers are able to use their taste profile to power follow up, personalized offers from existing and new wines in their inventory.”

Tastry’s AI platform not only understands how to capture each individual shopper’s specific taste preferences, it also identifies and differentiates the unique flavor and aroma profile (unique sensory fingerprint) of each wine in your portfolio. From there, it ranks wines in real time to provide the best possible purchase recommendations. What’s more, TastryAI saves shoppers’ palate preferences and ensures every future interaction is personalized, and optimized as your available assortments change, creating memorable and lasting shopper impressions.

Tasty Uncorked leverages the power of the company’s retail recommender, and focuses it as an easy and simple to deploy, cost effective investment for wineries and online retail destinations to personalize interactions with visitors and members.

Tastry Uncorked is now available for wine retailers worldwide. To learn more, contact hello@tastry.com for a personalized demonstration and a 10% discount off your first year subscription through January 31, 2022.

About Tastry

Tastry was founded in 2016 with the understanding that each individual palate is as complex as a fingerprint. Powered by a proprietary chemistry methodology and revolutionary AI technology, Tastry is able to track and predict consumer preferences for products even before they hit the shelves. Through online and retail technology solutions, Tastry is rapidly democratizing the process of purchasing and selling wine with the goal to help wineries grow, streamline shopping experiences and provide consumers with their favourite wines, every time.

Tastry’s patented computational blending process predicts consumer product scores with over 92% accuracy, connecting businesses to the data that powers human senses. Since its inception, Tastry technology has been implemented by over 150 wineries and retail clients to transform the way they bring products to market. Learn more at tastry.com.