Champagne Shipped Nearly 21 Million Bottles to U.S. in 2020

May 1, 2021 by evebushman

WASHINGTON – The Champagne Bureau, USA, has announced that 20,838,248 bottles of Champagne were shipped to the United States in 2020, an 18.8 percent decrease year-over-year in the adjusted final annual figures. Despite the decline in volume, due in large part to the economic consequences presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the value of these shipments reached more than $572.2 million (€501.9 million) in 2020, the highest of any country outside of France. Globally, Champagne shipped 17.9 percent fewer bottles in 2020 compared to the previous year, lower than the 30 percent anticipated loss that was initially expected.

“The Champagne sector has proven its resilience before, and it will do so again,” said Jennifer Hall, director of the Champagne Bureau, USA. “After the Great Recession, the industry bounced back and saw seven consecutive years of growth in Champagne shipments to the United States. It’s our hope that Champagne will again show its strength as the United States makes progress towards recovery from the global pandemic.”

The Champagne industry has weathered global upheaval before, most recently following the 2008 financial crisis. Shipments to the United States fell nearly 27 percent in 2009. However, the shipments quickly bounced back, and the industry saw seven consecutive years of growth in the United States between 2012 and 2019, with an average 6.2 percent growth in volume per year.

During a virtual press conference*, Hall discussed the latest shipments data with Gaëlle Egoroff, Appellation Protection & Promotion Director at the Comité Champagne, which represents the 360 houses and 16,100 growers of Champagne, France. Egoroff remarked that “the closure of primary consumption and sales hubs, along with the cancellation of in-person events, put the industry under pressure,” and noted that the Comité Champagne “took steps to preserve the economic fabric of Champagne and invent new viticulture processes to address sanitary regulations.”

These steps included health measures to ensure the safety of the 30,000 permanent workers and 100,000 seasonal workers that come to Champagne to assist with the harvest, including adding mobile COVID-19 testing units in the vineyards. With restaurants and bars closed, producers also reinvented the way they marketed their products, including through virtual trade fairs, e-commerce and social media sales, demonstrating the Champagne industry’s ability to adapt in the face of unprecedented restrictions.

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The Champagne Bureau, USA, is the official U.S. representative of the Comité Champagne, a trade association which represents the grape growers and houses of Champagne, France. The Bureau works to educate U.S. consumers about the uniqueness of the wines of Champagne and expand their understanding of the need to protect the Champagne name. For more information, visit us online at http://www.champagne.com.

BLADNOCH DISTILLERY LAUNCHES BICENTENNIAL RELEASE IN THE US MARKET

April 14, 2021 by evebushman

BLADNOCH, SCOTLAND sing – In celebration of its 200 year anniversary in 2017, one of Scotland’s oldest Whisky distilleries from the Lowlands region bottled 200 limited edition bottles making its way to the US market for the first time this Spring. Crafted from two barrels of 29 year old Bladnoch Single Malt, it is the rarest Whisky ever released by the historic distillery. Distilled in 1988, matured in Oloroso Sherry casks and finished in ex Moscatel casks, the Bicentennial edition imparts notes of sweet vanilla and ginger, with soft sherry flavours, dark chocolate, and balanced with sweet oak and a hint of ground black pepper. Each bottle is personally numbered and presented in gold plated bottles at 41.2% ABV.

Due to the recent change in regulations that allow for 700ml imports into the country, Bladnoch is now able to share the special release with the United States, one of the most important Scotch markets in the world.

On the exclusive release in the US, “We at Bladnoch are delighted to bring our rarest and oldest expression, The Bicentennial, to US shores. This incredibly exclusive Moscatel finished expression from 1988, will finally be available to the many US-based Bladnoch enthusiasts and collectors, in limited quantities this Spring. This has been made possible by the welcome changes to spirit container sizes, allowing the import of 700ml bottles into the US market,” shares owner David Prior, who acquired the distillery in 2015 and has since revived Bladnoch Distillery.

For more information, please visit: https://us.bladnoch.com/products/bladnoch-29-year-old-bicentennial-release

MSRP

$7,550

About Bladnoch Distillery

Bladnoch Distillery was established in 1817, making it the oldest working Scotch Whisky distillery in the Lowlands. As the southernmost distillery in Scotland, it is commonly referred to as the ‘Queen of the Lowlands.’ Hand crafted using only the finest local ingredients such as the pristine water from the River Bladnoch that flows alongside the distillery and Scottish barley to create a rich, flavourful whisky that is best savoured. Bladnoch Single Malts are non-chill filtered to ensure the truest flavours shine through.

This legacy brand has been revived by Master Distiller Dr. Nick Savage, formerly at The Macallan, and owner David Prior, a whisky connoisseur who is the first Australian businessman to own a Scotch Whisky distillery. Bladnoch is truly passionate about the preservation of the environment and the local community’s generational involvement in the iconic distillery.

Book Review: Wine For Normal People by Elizabeth Schneider

February 26, 2021 by evebushman

Always interested in learning about wine, and even more in masterful ways it can be delivered painlessly and with a little fun I was happy to read and review the book, Wine for Normal People by Elizabeth Schneider. This an excerpt of some of the information. I will follow up with my review below.

…author, certified wine educator and Court of Master Sommelier-certified Elizabeth Schneider will give it to you straight. In Wine for Normal People: A Guide for Real People Who Like Wine, but Not the Snobbery That Goes with It (Chronicle Books), Schneider gives real talk about wine without talking down to the audience and with a dash of humor to boot. Schneider carries her knowledge, personality and wit over onto her Wine for Normal People podcast, which boasts 7 million unique downloads, placing it firmly in the top five percent of all podcasts produced in the United States.

“I was a normal wine person before I became a wine dork. I understand the struggles that people have with wine and why they don’t like it,” she explains. “Because of that, I can show them things that actually matter to them and that will shift their thinking to enjoy wine more.”

Schneider is well versed in:

How to create wine pairings that really work (and why pairing wine with chocolate is almost always a mistake)
How to choose a wine that will impress a date
How her approach to wine is different than that of “the wine world”
Why it’s important to make wine accessible to all
The key to communicating difficult ideas in wine to an audience of all levels

Eve’s Review

Starting with the flyleaf we are told that we will “learn how to buy, sip and talk about wine” which is really what it’s all about! Of course that is just a snippet, and the rest of the jacket shares short statements, easily digestible by us normal people. We will also learn about tasting, tasting jargon, winemaking and winemaking jargon, how to pair with food, and if you want to push the edge or your envelope Schneider has included sections on Old and New World wine areas.

The 340-page books includes eight chapters, as well as travel tips, tasting sheets, serving temperatures, a bibliography and for us lazy readers: an index. It begins with “Introduction: Everything You Need to Know About Wine in Two Pages” that I found interesting indeed as she promises to give us “the basics plus more.” Especially enjoyed when Schneider gets her first taste, not of wine, but of what she calls “schmuck-ery” from a wine snob. Oh, how I both hate and enjoy those encounters!

There are helpful Q and A sections in the book, in boxes, as well as sidebars. This makes things easy as Schneider hopes to answer any question or thought you may have as you read.

As a seasoned wino myself I always look for things I didn’t already know or have forgotten, and the more wine-educated Schneider reminded me of: the different smell and taste descriptors often found for certain varietals (page 67), the old world wine names and the new world name for the same grapes (page 82), how to pronounce some of those pesky names (page 85), regulations and classifications for new world wines (page 90-91) and old world wines (page 93), two chapters with detailed descriptions of old world wine regions and new world regions with maps to help you find your way.

Further in the book we have a section on food and wine pairing, a question I often get, so this is great for peeps to just grab the book and look up for themselves. Schneider explains why foods go better with certain styles of wines and her own three-step process. She pays close attention to weight, structure and dominant flavors.

More charts end our lesson, so don’t ignore these great reference materials, especially if you need/want a quick answer to things like serving temperature and vocabulary.

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.

Prosecco DOC Rosé Officially Approved To Begin Exporting Worldwide: The Much Anticipated Sparkling Wine To Arrive In The United States Imminently

December 6, 2020 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – The Consorzio Tutela Prosecco DOC announces that the Official Journal of the European Union C 362 October 28th, 2020 hearings for the approval of the Prosecco DOC Rosé have successfully concluded. This declaration confirms it is now possible for Prosecco DOC producers to export Prosecco DOC Rosé in foreign markets, including the United States, beginning immediately.

Approximately 20 million bottles of the 2019 Prosecco DOC Rosé were produced, with 15-20% distributed in Italy. The balance has begun export to leading foreign markets, such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, East Asia, France, and the Nordic countries. There are between 40 and 50 million bottles of the 2020 vintage of Prosecco DOC Rosé in production and set to be released in January of 2021.

Prosecco Doc Rosé has been long awaited by the world’s leading wine markets. As a result of the anticipation and excitement surrounding the official release, a substantial amount of 2020 vintage has been sold “en primeur” (before the production of the wine was complete). Production regulations require secondary fermentation for at least 60 days before Prosecco DOC Rosé can be made available to consumers.

“Of the 486 million bottles of Prosecco DOC that are produced annually, approximately 80% are exported. Thanks to European recognition of Prosecco Rosé, we estimate that Prosecco DOC sales will be stimulated even more in the last quarter of 2020,” comments Stefano Zanette, Prosecco Consortium President. “I congratulate those producers who were ready to seize this opportunity, planning early so as not to be caught unprepared.”

In order to label Prosecco DOC as Rosé, producers will have to follow specific rules:

Grape varieties: Glera and 10%-15% Pinot Nero
Yields: 18 tons/hectare for Glera and 13.5 tons/hectare for Pinot Nero
Second fermentation – Martinotti/Charmat Method: minimum of 60 days; therefore, only the sparkling version is permitted. Still and Frizzante versions of the Rosé won’t be allowed
Sales authorized from the 1st of January after the harvest
Color: intense pink, bright, with a persistent foam
Residual sugar: from Brut Nature to Extra Dry, no sweet version of the Rosé will be allowed
“Millesimato” stated on the label along with the vintage (minimum of 85% of the grapes from the vintage year)

Luca Giavi, Director of the Prosecco DOC Consortium adds, “As a Consortium representing the entire Prosecco DOC production system, we thank the regions of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia; the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies; the General Directorate for Agriculture of the European Commission; and the MEPs (especially Paolo De Castro), who are all committed to helping people understand the great opportunity that comes with the Prosecco Rosé approval. This approval is especially critical now because of what Italy, Europe, and the whole world are experiencing.”

With the achievement of this milestone, the Prosecco DOC Consortium is already looking towards future growth. In the coming weeks, tests aimed to define the types of wine for extended secondary fermentation will occur for producers in the Trieste area. This opportunity further demonstrates the unlimited potential of the Prosecco region. The territory boasts 11,460 winegrowers, 1,192 wineries and 347 sparkling wine houses, all of whom are part of the complex system behind the success of the Prosecco Denomination of Origin (DOC), which has become a great flagship of the Italian ‘Genio’ (‘genius’) around the world.

WhistlePig Rye Introduces World’s Most Daring Whiskey – The Boss Hog VII: Magellan’s Atlantic

October 28, 2020 by evebushman

SHOREHAM, VT. (PRWEB) – WhistlePig Whiskey announces the arrival of the seventh edition in their boldest and most innovative Rye collection, The Boss Hog VII: Magellan’s Atlantic. Now available for pre-order via Caskers, Magellan’s Atlantic embodies WhistlePig’s continued quest to take American whiskey into uncharted territory. The limited edition features Straight Rye Whiskey aged for 17 years in American Oak, then finished in rare Spanish Oak, followed by a second finish in South American Teakwood casks – a journey truly representing the award-winning brand’s pursuit to deliver unprecedented whiskey to the market.

Inspired by the first recorded circumnavigation of the earth, The Boss Hog VII: Magellan’s Atlantic captures the historic voyage of an intrepid crew who embarked from Spain in 1519 and made landfall in present-day Brazil before navigating the perilous strait that would come to bear their captain’s name. Like Magellan’s daring endeavor, the path for finishing this precious, aged whiskey was anything but certain.

WhistlePig’s Spanish oak casks originate in the mountainous forests of Northern Spain (Cantabria). Unlike American white oak, this Spanish oak is high in tannins, knotty and porous. It is incredibly challenging to make staves from and the final casks are prone to leakage and excess evaporation. While difficult to source and dangerous to use, the wood delivers intense flavors, with heightened interaction between spirit and oak, creating unparalleled complexity in the whiskey.

While previous editions of The Boss Hog were finished in one outstanding cask, WhistlePig’s young and imaginative whiskey team sensed there was another step in the journey to fully unlock the potential of The Boss Hog VII. For its final finish, South American Teakwood casks are sustainably sourced from Brazil. The new Teakwood adds rich notes of baking spices and a sweet, toasted character, complementing the intense spiciness of the Spanish oak.

“We have experimented South American Teakwood on just a handful of barrels in the past, and both this and the New Spanish Oak are uncommon in the whiskey world,” says Meghan Ireland, Maturation Chemist, WhistlePig. “It’s been the least predictable and most intensive edition of The Boss Hog to date, but well worth the trials and effort.”

“The Spanish oak casks deliver a unique and unparalleled flavor and South American Teakwood was among the most coveted Bespoke Barrels in our exclusive Single Barrel program. We anticipated that the combination would make for an unprecedented taste and we couldn’t be happier with the result,” says Jeff Kozak, CEO, WhistlePig.

“Our 17-year-old straight rye whiskey spends three weeks resting in Spanish oak before finishing in South American Teakwood for just three days. The whiskey world has never before seen this truly one of a kind combination of casks, nor has it tasted anything quite like the resulting product and liquid it has produced,” says Pete Lynch, Master Blender, WhistlePig. “A one-hour proprietary toast with the Spanish oak creates a small char layer that removes some tannins but preserves the good ones. A medium level toast grants incredibly aromatic cinnamon, allspice, and roasted nut flavors, while softening the overall intensity of the greener wood notes in the finishing cask.”

On the nose, Magellan’s Atlantic is intensely aromatic, with cinnamon sugar, allspice, and maple. With time, toasted wood notes arise alongside creamy vanilla, roasted almonds, and a touch of ground espresso. Spicy cloves and sweet brandied cherries abound, with baking spices rampant. A closer look reveals subtle hints of charred oak, sage, and dark chocolate. Finishing with everlasting gobs of cinnamon, oak spice, and a gentle warmth demand another sip.

The Boss Hog VII: Magellan’s Atlantic is presented in a gift box documenting the quest and crowned with a collectible pewter topper depicting Magellan as a pig in traditional Spanish dress, bravely taking up his sail and an explorer’s staff at the outset of his journey.

Magellan’s Atlantic is just the beginning of WhistlePig’s journey around the globe. Collectors are invited to join the expedition by registering their bottle at TheBossHogVII.com. Using the unique code found on the bottle’s neck label collectors are able to access exclusive content and, in time, discover what lies ahead on the Pacific horizon.

The Boss Hog VII: Magellan’s Atlantic is available in a 750ml, bottled at Proof 105.1-107.8 (52.6-53.9% ABV) with a suggested retail price of $499.99. Like the other editions of The Boss Hog before it, Magellan’s Atlantic will be sold at a variety of premium liquor stores, bars and restaurants across the United States, entering select international markets in the coming weeks, and is now available for pre-sale via Caskers.com.

ABOUT WHISTLEPIG RYE WHISKEY
Founded in 2008, WhistlePig Rye Whiskey is the premier aged Rye whiskey, featuring the bold and often untapped flavor of Rye. WhistlePig Whiskey is leading a surge of innovation in the emerging field of North American whiskey. As the most decorated Rye whiskey – having received the coveted ‘Best in Show Whiskey’ title from the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, WhistlePig is widely viewed as the world’s finest Rye. With the opening of its distillery on its 500-acre Vermont farm in the fall of 2015, WhistlePig has also become one of the leading farm-to-bottle Rye whiskeys in the world. For additional information please visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. Please enjoy WhistlePig Rye Whiskey Responsibly.

Jaw Dropping Results Breaking for BTI’s 2020 Whisk(e)y Awards

September 16, 2020 by evebushman

CHICAGO /PRNewswire/ — Beverage Testing Institute, conductors of the oft-imitated first international spirits competition in the United States, has completed its evaluation of 2020’s Best Whiskies. Twenty-one all-trade blind tasting panels assessed the spirited contenders for quality in the BTI Lab using its proprietary methodology and custom software.

From small US artisans, to Canadian distilleries, to Kentucky powerhouses, here are some of the best of category winners:

Colorado’s Old Elk Distillery came out with gloves on. The 15-year Old Elk Straight Rye and Old Elk Straight Wheat dressed to impress winning Gold and leading their categories. The secret to Old Elk’s success? We think it’s likely the combo of the lifetime experience of Master Distiller Greg Metze (38 years at Seagram’s Distillery) and the exceptional palate of Head Distiller Kate Douglas.

Also, from the “The Centennial State”, the Boulder Bottled-In-Bond American Single Malt from Vapor Distillery set the bar for what ASMW can produce with its 95-point, Gold Medal winning, liquid treasure. Nods to The QuintEssential ASMW from Iowa’s Cedar Ridge Distillery for a great showing as well at 93 points.

For the Blended Rye Whiskey category, Utah’s High West Double Rye! received a golden accolade solidifying its place as a bar and consumer top-performer.

Rye Whiskey craft dominators Old Potrero from California and Evanston Illinois’ FEW Rye Whiskey excelled at 94 and 92 points, respectively. And Kentucky stalwart, Wild Turkey Rye 101 shined as an expert expression of the Rye persuasion.

There’s no denying that there’s something about that Kentucky limestone-filtered, “branch” water… The big winner was Kentucky scion Doc Swinson’s 15 Year Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey, which grabbed the only BTI Platinum Medal—the beverage world’s ultimate honor for a spirits brand.

Heavy-medal-laden Kentucky distillery, Sazerac belted out some big Bourbon anthems. Their Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel, Weller Full Proof and Stagg Jr. all hit 95-point high notes.

The Knob Creek 12-Year-Old 100 Proof Bourbon from Clermont Kentucky’s legendary Jim Beam Distillery not only proved that it provides great bang for the buck, but with an sensational 95-point score, will make your taste buds sing.

Flavored Whiskey nods go to the Michigan craftsmen at Journeyman Distillery for their 92-point Field Rye Fig Flavored Whiskey and the from-left-field, only-in-America Skrewball Peanut Butter Flavored Whisky, which are both delicious and far more than just guilty pleasures.

For the full list of BTI’s 2020 North American Whiskey Results visit their free consumer buying guide Tastings.com: http://www.tastings.com/Calendar-Spirits/Review-2020-09-01-North-American-Whiskey.aspx

Across the pond in the World Whiskey Review a record 7 Platinum BTI Medals were awarded to Midleton, Redbreast, Jameson and Kavalan this year. Kavalan from Taiwan shows off its whisky finishing and how their liquid gold and barrels benefit from the region’s warmer temperatures.

Do you know about Jameson’s Bow Street 18 Year Old Cask? It made our judges’ knees buckle as they fell in love with it. At 96 points, gifting this beaut will ensure that your in-laws write you into their will.

Midleton’s Dair Ghaelackh Knockrath may be difficult for Americans to pronounce but even harder to put down. Savory, warming and a spiritual experience. Consistently golden Aberlour grabs 5 gold medals.

On our radar, newcomer Archie Rose from Australia will be a collector’s dream whiskey as we suspect the brand grow and get better and better and better. Slightly peated Irish Blended Whiskey The Legendary Silkie is highly recommended.

The takeaways?

No matter the size of the budget of the consumer, delicious North American drams are plentiful.
Digging for gold? Get lucky in Kentucky.
Ready to venture beyond the bluegrass state? Craft distilleries Journeyman and FEW deliver and show that craft spirits producers have truly honed their technique and distilling skills.
Learn to leave the Steakhouse Single Malts to the uninspired. Instead try Aberlour, the malt of the individual.
And if you do have some extra dough to dish out for some quality whiskies—our results show, they should be Irish.

For a full list of BTI’s 2020 World Whiskey Review along with detailed tasting notes and cocktail recommendations visit: http://www.tastings.com/Calendar-Spirits/Review-2020-08-01-Scotch-Irish-and-World-Whiskey.aspx

About BTI: Beverage Testing Institute was founded in 1981 with the mission of making the beverage industry better, one brand at a time. Creators of the first international spirits competition in the U.S. they have a rotating monthly category call for their unbiased, professional published reviews. For more information about BTI’s reviews, competitions and other services visit: www.bevtest.com

Napa Valley Wine Academy launched new Whisky and Bourbon Certification

August 13, 2020 by evebushman

NAPA, CALIF. (PRWEB) – NAPA VALLEY WINE ACADEMY, the leading wine & spirits school in the United States, is expanding nationwide access to formal whiskey education, as it enters into an alliance with the foremost whiskey education and certification body, THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS. Both organizations are based in California and support students from around the world with online education programs.

As part of the new strategic alliance, NAPA VALLEY WINE ACADEMY obtains the US-nationwide exclusive permission to promote and offer the Council’s study program and advise students on the program options.

Christian Oggenfuss, co-founder and CEO of the Academy, states “On-boarding the dedicated whiskey certification program of the Council into the Academy’s repertoire of remote-study options is a logical step for NAPA VALLEY WINE ACADEMY, especially as the current epidemic has created the need for proven distance learning programs. The study programs of THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS have been designed for effective remote format from the beginning, and are the global qualification standard in the world of whiskey.”

Aspiring and established whiskey specialists alike enter the study program either through the “Certified Scotch Professional” or “Certified Bourbon Professional” tracks, before they broaden to global knowledge scope in the “Certified Whiskey Specialist” level, and later may advance towards mastery in the “Master of Scotch” and “Master of Whiskey” levels.

The Advisory Board of the Council is home to more than 30 of the most respected whiskey experts in the world, including famed whisk(e)y authorities Steve Beal, Dave Broom, Lew Bryson, and Charles MacLean, among many other men and women of exceptionally high reputation in the world of grain-based spirits.

“Especially during the coronavirus-related downtime, many sommeliers, hobbyists as well as wine & spirits professionals have been planning their future career path and decided to advance their careers and future prospects through systematic education. NAPA VALLEY WINE ACADEMY has been the trusted education provider for many thousands of individuals, who have been guided successfully through the study programs, all the way to graduation and carrying their new professional titles”, explains the executive director of the Council, Dr. Jörn Kleinhans.

Both organizations look forward to equalizing access into promising careers in the whiskey segment of the wine & spirits markets, an industry that has experienced significant growth over recent years. The opportunity is open for individuals regardless of location and prior background.

Finger Lakes’ Heron Hill Winery announces the appointment of their new award winning Winemaker, Jordan Harris, and free direct to consumer shipping

July 19, 2020 by evebushman

Heron Hill Winery, 43 Years of Excellence 1977-2020. Family-owned in the Finger Lakes since 1977, Heron Hill began as a small family-run Finger Lakes vineyard and winery. Now entering its sixth decade, Heron Hill has grown into one of the most awarded, visited and respected wine producers in the region. Heron Hill remains an independent, family-owned business committed to quality, value, sustainability and community.

“Heron Hill is very excited to announce the addition of Jordan Harris as Winemaker to our team. This appointment will continue our ongoing goal in increasing quality, ensuring our success and Heron Hill’s legacy,” states Eric D. Frarey, Managing Partner of Heron Hill Winery.

Jordan has received many accolades in the wine industry beginning as a student at Niagara College in Ontario, Canada. He went on to be recognized as one of Canada’s top up and coming winemakers and more recently as a passionate leader in Virginia. He was named Top 40 under 40 Tastemakers with Wine Enthusiast and he was awarded Top 100 Most Influential Winemakers in the USA through Intowine.com.

Heron Hill Winery offering free direct shipping to consumers as a permanent policy. For details visit, www.heronhill.com. “With increased consumer demand for ease of access to our wine and recent events, our direct shipping program has shown great success. In response, we will be offering free direct to consumer shipping as a permanent policy, making Heron Hill Winery one of the only wineries in the Finger Lakes and United States offering free shipping as a permanent policy.”

“In exceeding our consumers needs with increased quality, along with easy access, Heron Hill will continue to grow and remain relevant with the addition and talent of Jordan along with instating our free direct shipping policy.”

Heron Hill Vineyards and Winery, 9301 County Route 76, Hammondsport.

Slow Wine Announces New US Editor for the Slow Wine Guide: Deborah Parker Wong!

July 6, 2020 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Slow Wine Editore announces some important changes and news for the next 2021 edition of its English-language edition of the Slow Wine Guide, which this year successfully celebrated its 10th anniversary. Deborah Parker Wong, DWSET, one of the Slow Wine Guide contributors, has recently been named National Editor of the US edition of the guide, thus confirming her dedication and passion to put a spotlight on those American wineries that have made it their priority to be environmentally cautious, according to the “Slow philosophy.” Deborah, Global Editor at Somm Journal and The Tasting Panel, is an opinion-leading wine industry leader, communicator, journalist and author. She also guides tastings and educational seminars, and judges several wine competitions each year.

Bottom Row: Cami Sisk MS, Chairwoman of the Judges Panel Deborah Parker Wong, Eve Bushman, Stacie Hunt.
Top Row: Danny Ronen, Paul Ellis, Cassandra Brown, David Glancy MS, Roger Bohmrich MW

With the growth of “green” oenology in the United States, the guide started to include wineries from California and Oregon in 2017 and announced lately its expansion through Washington state and the east coast, with New York, Virginia, and Maryland wineries soon to be reviewed. “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the Slow Wine editorial team in the US,” stated Parker Wong, “and am excited to be part of the next chapter in this ever-evolving time.”

The Slow Wine community in the US is steadily growing after having expanded beyond Italian borders just a few years ago. “I’d like to thank former US editor, Jeremy Parzen, for his dedication the Slow Wine Guide and his contribution to our expansion in the US,” stated Editor-in-chief, Giancarlo Gariglio. “We are very encouraged by the positive response so far and look forward to continuing the Slow Wine mission with our American peers for years to come.”

The recent lockdown caused by the pandemic created an uncertain scenario for the Slow Wine movement, whose reviewing process is based on winery visits and blind tastings. To cope with the emergency, the editorial staff has recently announced a new digital approach consisting of virtual visits with producers to gather all the necessary information and parameters required by the guide.

“For ten years,” commented Gariglio, “we have personally visited more than 2,000 wineries, we have met their leaders, walked their vineyards and told their stories. The recent pandemic forced us to modify the way in which we work, but we are not slowing down. Thanks to technology and our learnings during the lockdown, we are substituting in-person visits with virtual meetings and tastings, and the result so far has been extremely successful. We can now share these digital interviews with our readers on our social media channels, a completely new offering for our followers.”

To get your own digital copy of the 2020 Slow Wine Guide, visit this link here. The Slow Wine Tour will come back in the US in 2021 with a new edition that is destined to remain in history.

About Slow Wine
The Slow Wine Guide, published by Slow Food Editore (the publishing arm of Slow Food Italy*), adopts a new approach to wine criticism and looks at a variety of factors to evaluate wineries in their entirety. They take into consideration wine quality, history and adherence to terroir, value, environmental sensitivity and ecologically sustainable methods of practice. Slow Wine was conceived to give a realistic snapshot of the current Italian wine landscape. The guide features reviews of over 500 different wineries, each one visited by Slow Food experts. It is available for purchase on Amazon.com as well as in select bookstores.

*Slow Food International is a global grassroots organization that envisions a world in which all people can access and enjoy food that is good for them, good for those who grow it, and good for the planet. A non-profit member-supported association, Slow Food was founded in Italy in 1989 to counter the rise of fast food and fast life and the disappearance of local food traditions, and to encourage people to be aware about the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes, and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.

“The Most Maryland Beer Ever” Celebrates 5 Years with New Look, New Recipe

July 2, 2020 by evebushman

FREDERICK, MD. (PRWEB) – June 2020 marks the return of what has been called ‘the most Maryland beer ever’ by The Washington Post: Flying Dog Brewery’s Dead Rise. This Limited Release sour ale is the first and only beer brewed with the iconic OLD BAY® seasoning and this year it is celebrating its 5th anniversary with a new look, new recipe, and even more OLD BAY.

Five years ago, Maryland’s largest brewery began a partnership with the Chesapeake Bay region’s own OLD BAY. Its initial release created a viral sensation that made it difficult to keep store shelves stocked. Since that time, Flying Dog remains the only brewery allowed to brew a beer using the famous OLD BAY seasoning, a product that runs in the blood of Marylanders and has gained enormous popularity outside of the region.

Initially released as a blonde ale, Flying Dog is taking Dead Rise back to its roots and giving it to fans as it was originally envisioned – as a gose. Perfect for summer days full of seafood, Dead Rise’s new gose formula blends OLD BAY with a refreshing lemony tartness for a beer low in bitterness and high in flavor. Dead Rise was brewed with Citra hops and carries a 5.7% ABV. The beer began shipping to distributors June 1, 2020 in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles.

“For those of us who grew up in crab country, you can’t get more iconic than OLD BAY. We wanted our new Dead Rise formula to live up to that greatness,” said James Maravetz, VP of Marketing at Flying Dog. “The refreshing pop of tart, balanced with the OLD BAY’s salty and spicy flavor profile, created a beer that tastes like summer on the Bay.”

Brewed with the rugged spirit of the Chesapeake Bay watermen, the name Dead Rise is a nod to their traditional fishing boats, used year-round to gather shellfish feasts. A portion of the proceeds from Dead Rise also benefit Maryland’s crabbing industry through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ True Blue Program, an annual campaign aimed at raising awareness for the struggling industry. The True Blue Program highlights and rewards those restaurants who make it a point to serve local, Maryland harvested crab.

The concept for the beer was developed as part of the company’s Brewhouse Rarities program, dreamt up by a Flying Dog staff member with a deep devotion to their favorite state, seasoning and seafood. The new gose formula was also designed to turbocharge the flavor of whatever seafood is on your plate. The recipe’s new lemony tartness freshens up the beer and helps flavors pop. In addition to seafood, try Dead Rise with salty starches like tater tots and fries, lighter proteins like turkey, chicken and tofu, or rich sauces and creamy condiments like melted cheese, bechamel and avocado and ranch dressings.

About Flying Dog Brewery:
As one of the fastest-growing regional craft breweries in the United States, Flying Dog has been brewing world-class beer that pushes the confines of traditional styles for 30 years. Flying Dog attracts everyone from craft beer connoisseurs to those just catching the wave with up to 20 styles available at any given time. Introduced to Flying Dog by the Gonzo writer Hunter S. Thompson, artist Ralph Steadman has produced original art for Flying Dog’s labels since 1995. Recent accolades for Flying Dog include its Pale Ale ranked as the #1 American Pale Ale in the U.S. by The New York Times. For more information, visit http://www.flyingdog.com. Flying Dog is now available on Drizly.