Eve's Wine 101

Perlises Pick: Jeff Cohn Cellars

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We’ve tasted wines from Jeff Cohn Cellars many times, but always at events, where the wines were poured by Jeff or his wife, Alexandra. We had never had an opportunity to sit down and taste through the lineup with Jeff and hear the full story.

We finally were able meet with Jeff at their recently opened tasting room in Healdsburg. You can read all about Jeff Cohn Cellars on the website here www.jeffcohncellars.com/about-our-story but ultimately, it turns out that their story is a multi-faceted love story.

First and foremost, the love story of Jeff Cohn Cellars is about Alexandra and Jeff and their family. They met while they were both working at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Virginia – Jeff was F&B Cost Controller and Alexandra was an accounting trainee. Coincidentally, they had both also attended Florida International University. Alexandra’s career path took her back to Florida and Jeff joined her there, working on cruise ships for two years. But being in the hospitality industry often means being bitten by the wine bug and eventually, they moved to California. Jeff had already worked as an intern at Boordy Vineyards in Maryland but during the process of obtaining his Master’s in Agricultural Chemistry at Cal State Fresno, he discovered French techniques as well as the wines of the Northern and Southern Rhone plus Zinfandel. The rest was history.

It is also apparent the love that Jeff has for his colleagues and mentors, both former and current, most notably the late Kent Rosenblum. Jeff went to work for Kent at Rosenblum Cellars after graduating from CSUF, moving up the line to eventually become winemaker and then vice president of winemaking and production. He left in 2006 to focus on Jeff Cohn Cellars [then called JC Cellars] which he had founded in 1996, but not before making his permanent mark on the wine world by having Rosenblum’s 2003 Rockpile Road Zinfandel hit #3 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list.

Finally, and certainly not least, is Jeff’s love of wine grapes, particularly, as mentioned above, Rhones and Zins.

So yes, we are finally getting to what we tasted –

2017 Iris Sparkling Brut Rose – named after Jeff’s beloved mother, this delicious bubbly is a blend of 60% Grenache (Rossi Ranch), 20% Syrah (Rockpile) and 20% Mourvedre (Rossi Ranch). Modeled after the wines from the France’s Tavel region, Karen picked up notes of Persimmon.

2018 Rossi Ranch GSM – a classic blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 20% Mourvedre, this wine had a long finish, with sausage spices notes.

2018 Maggie’s Vineyard – 100% Zinfandel from vines that are over 120 years old         . Many textures and layers on this wine that Jeff dedicated to his friend Kent [see above].

2017 Sweetwater Springs – 100% Petite Sirah. Dark, ruby red, purple in color, big and balanced.

2017 Domain Des Chirats -100% Rockpile Syrah – A joint project with Yves Cuilleron, Northern Rhone winemaker from Chavanay, France (half of this wine’s production is exported to France). Big luscious berry notes; one of the finest Syrahs we’ve tasted.

2016 Stagecoach Marsanne – 85% Marsanne, 15% Roussanne. The last wine we tasted was a white. We asked Jeff why other wineries pour their whites first and he said “because they are doing it wrong.” Seriously though, white wines poured at the beginning of a tasting are often forgotten by the end. We wouldn’t have forgotten this one though no matter where in the tasting it was poured. A wonderful palate brightener with delicious tropical fruits to wake up the taste buds. Crisp citrus notes and a big mouth feel. This Napa Valley vineyard was bought by Gallo a few years ago so we are not sure what the future holds for these varietals there.

Jeff Cohn makes more wines in addition to the ones we tasted.  He has many more Rhones and single vineyard Zins sourced from Sonoma, Napa and the central coast. They are definitely worth a stop when you are in Healdsburg or in the Santa Rosa area or interested in making an online purchase.

We expect you’ll love them as much as we did.

Jeff Cohn Cellars

34 North St, Healdsburg, CA 95448

www.jeffcohncellars.com

Michael and Karen Perlis have been pursuing their passion for wine for more than 30 years. They have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show them the way and after a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as they possibly could, they had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Michael and Karen do their best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers.

JORDAN VINEYARD AND WINERY MARKS 50th ANNIVERSARY WITH SOCIAL IMPACT SUMMER

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HEALDSBURG, CALIF. (PRWEB) – Jordan Vineyard and Winery will bring the Sonoma alfresco hospitality experience to three cities across the country this June to mark dual milestones: the winery’s 50th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the John Jordan Foundation. For the first time in its history, Jordan will host Social Impact Summer, a multi-day culinary series that will extend Jordan’s philanthropic impact to organizations that need it most. One hundred percent of the event ticket proceeds will benefit nonprofit partners: Clayton Early Learning in Denver, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee in Nashville.

Kicking off in Denver on June 3-4, Jordan’s Social Impact Summer events will be filled with rare Jordan wines from special library vintages to 18-liter big bottles, food pairings by celebrated chefs, live music, celebrity guests and other surprises. The festivities in each city will include two epicurean events: a festive reception-style Big Bottle Party and a decadent multi-course dinner and auction, Gather in the Garden.

“We’re looking forward to ‘going big’ with social impact this summer in Denver, Dallas and Nashville,” says John Jordan, chief executive officer of Jordan Vineyard & Winery. “It is a privilege to partner with organizations with such impressive track records of serving these three communities.”

To learn more about the nonprofit partners, celebrated chefs, wines and highlights of Jordan Social Impact Summer, visit: https://www.jordanwinery.com/50th-anniversary-events/. Tickets sales opened to the general public on March 15. Event dates and beneficiaries are as follows:

  • Denver: June 3-4, 2022. Kicking off in the place where Jordan Winery was born, the Denver Big Bottle Party and Gather in the Garden alfresco dinner and mini-live auction will benefit local nonprofit, Clayton Early Learning.
  • Dallas: June 10-11, 2022. Festivities will include two epicurean events hosted in the gardens surrounding Arlington Hall. Proceeds from all ticket sales will go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas’s Academic Interventions Project.
  • Nashville: June 15-16, 2022. Co-hosted by country music singer/songwriter/producer Jon Pardi, two unforgettable evenings at the Thompson Hotel Rooftop and gardens at The Cordelle will give back to Nashville’s most vulnerable youth in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Middle Tennesse.
  • Healdsburg: June-August, 2022. Hosted at the Jordan Winery Chateau, a series of four alfresco dinners will highlight local and global causes that the John Jordan Foundation has supported in the last decade in an intimate dinner party setting.

As always, proceeds from Jordan Winery event tickets and wine sales fund the John Jordan Foundation, which works to fight the negative effects of poverty through investments in education, health and humanitarian causes.

About Jordan Vineyard & Winery
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022, Jordan Vineyard & Winery is inspired by the great wine estates of France and the timeless connection between food, wine and hospitality. Under the guidance of second-generation vintner John Jordan, Jordan Estate is an extension of these traditions, with its iconic chateau, breathtaking views, sustainably farmed vineyards, natural habitat for wildlife and gardens for the chef’s inventive cuisine, offering a distinctive sense of place in Sonoma County wine country. A significant portion of the winery’s revenue funds the John Jordan Foundation, which works to provide disadvantaged youth and young adults with the tools needed to succeed educationally and professionally. Learn more at http://www.jordanwinery.com.

Get to know Priorat DOQ and Its Unique Landscape through “Taste the Difference: Quality Wines from the Heart of Europe” project

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NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Priorat is a small region in the southwest of Catalonia with a long winemaking tradition which today produces some of the world’s most sought-after wines.

The name Priorat has been linked to wine from the 12th century when the Carthusian monks brought from Provence the knowledge and techniques to develop a winegrowing culture. The Cartoixa (Carthusian Monastery) of Scala Dei, founded in 1194, represents the birthplace of winemaking in the DOQ Priorat region.

Unfortunately, the drama of phylloxera, which brought devastation in all Europe at the end of the 19th Century, didn’t spare the Priorat region, which lost almost all its vineyards. It was thanks to the old generation of farmers, their dignity and love of the land that Priorat was able to re-emerge in the 1950s with the replanting of vineyards and the preservation of the agricultural tradition and culture. At the end of the ‘80s a new entrepreneurial spirit which combined quality and innovation with the original wisdom laid the foundation of Priorat’s renaissance, which led to today’s development of Priorat wines to top class. The DOQ Priorat was formally created in 1954 and elevated to DOQ, Spain’s highest wine classification, in 2006, the second of the only two regions to hold this privilege, after Rioja.

The reason of such accomplishment lies in the uniqueness of the Priorat landscape. The DOQ Priorat forms a compact and well-defined landscape unit, formed by the great mountainous amphitheater that stretches out at the foot of the Sierra de Montsant, by the slate-bed of its hillsides. The vineyards are planted on the slopes at altitudes of between 100 m and 700 m. with such a tortuous geography that many of them are worked as “costers” (Catalan word meaning steep slope) with the resulting necessity to build terraces. What gives the typical minerality and longevity associated with the region’s wines is the special Priorat soil of volcanic origin, a combination of reddish and black slate with particles of mica, called “licorella” in Spanish, Quality is also linked to low yields, and Priorat is among Spain’s lowest yield-wines, often much lower than the authorized maximum yield of 6,000 kg/ha.

Priorat is most known for its powerful reds, mainly single varietal wines of Grenache or Carignan, or blended with international varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Syrah in a Bordeaux style. Among whites, the most common grapes are Garnacha blanca, Macabeo, Pedro Ximénez and Chenin.

Today, DOQ Priorat counts 107 wineries with 2.095 ha of vineyards, 155 of which were planted before 1945. The breathtaking views that characterize the Priorat landscape attract each year numerous visitors and wine lovers.

Priorat DOQ is one of the many PDOs featured in “Taste the Difference: Quality WInes from the Heart of Europe” campaign, which aims at promoting European Quality Schemes (PDO/PGI) and high-quality European wines, with a numerous series of activities in the program this year all over the US.

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.

Bordeaux Reports Historic 67% Annual U.S. Sales Increase

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BORDEAUX, FRANCE (PRWEB) – Bordeaux producers are feeling optimistic about the U.S. wine market. The Bordeaux Wine Council (C.I.V.B.) reports that year-end 2021 sales of Bordeaux wines in the U.S. increased 67% in value to peak at $395 million (349 million euros), and 24% in volume to reach 247,000 HL as compared to 2020. The 2021 results represented the highest volume sales increase of Bordeaux wines to the U.S. over a 12-month period since 1985.

The United States was the second largest export market for Bordeaux wines, by volume and value. The recognition of quality and affordability of the 2018 and 2019 Bordeaux wine vintages, as well as the suspension of the 25% tariffs on French wines contributed to the acceleration of Bordeaux wine sales and bodes well for the future. These strong business results coincide with new benchmarks in sustainability: as of fall 2021, more than 75% of Bordeaux vineyards are certified sustainable, an all-time high which has driven positive trade and consumer recognition.

“We are thrilled with our sales results in the U.S.,” said Bernard Farges, President of the Bordeaux Wine Council (C.I.V.B.) “It is a credit to the people of Bordeaux and our many U.S. partners to have overcome recent challenges and create opportunity for growth across such a wide range of Bordeaux wines.”

The strong growth reveals sustained momentum for the Bordeaux category in the U.S. wine market. Upward sales trends have impacted 65 of Bordeaux’s diverse AOCs (Appellations d’Origine Contrôlées), and all wine styles: reds, dry whites, rosé, sweet, and sparkling wines. While red wines remain the most prominent category, dry white Bordeaux wines have become increasingly popular: the U.S. is now the number one market for dry white Bordeaux, representing 5.2 million bottles in annual sales. Overall, American consumers have supported growth across a wide range of Bordeaux wines ranging from more affordable, everyday selections to classified growths from prestige AOCs such as Médoc (Pauillac, St. Estèphe, Saint Julien, Margaux), Graves and Saint-Émilion.

To support positive trends, the Bordeaux wine region is committed to continuing investment in dynamic U.S. marketing and education campaigns that support increased consumer and trade awareness, including outreach to young consumers and buyers who place a high value on sustainability.

ABOUT Bordeaux Wine Council (C.I.V.B.)
Bordeaux Wine Council (C.I.V.B.) was created by the French Law dated August 18, 1948. It unites representatives from the three families in the Bordeaux wine industry: winegrowers, merchants and traders. The CIVB’s 4 missions:

  • Marketing mission: stimulate demand for Bordeaux wines, recruit new, younger consumers and ensure their loyalty to the brand. Provide education for the trade and strengthen relationships.
  • Technical mission: build knowledge, protect the quality of Bordeaux wines and anticipate new requirements related to environmental, CSR and food safety regulations.
  • Economic mission: provide intelligence on production, the market, the environment and sale of Bordeaux wines around the world.
  • The industry’s general interests: protect the terroirs, fight counterfeiting, develop wine tourism.

Arizona’s Female Winemakers

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Did you know that many of Arizona’s wineries are female owned and/or operated? The state’s governor recently recognized the flourishing wine region as an important sector in agribusiness, employment, and tourism by designating this past March 2022 as Arizona’s first official Wine Month. Here is a list of some of the women helping create Arizona’s award winning wines:

Julia Dixon, Winemaker, 1764 Vineyards

 Julia Dixon’s passion for winemaking didn’t begin until her 24th wedding anniversary in October 2012 during a visit to the Verde Valley. Two years later she moved from Phoenix to Cottonwood and began her studies in viticulture and enology at Yavapai College. After her graduation in 2016, Julia and her husband purchased their own land in Pearce,  founded 1764 Vineyards, and she began interning at Four Tails Vineyard. Today, Julia is the head winemaker at their 30-acre property working with Petit Verdot, Picpoul Blanc, and Vermentino varieties.  

Brooke Lowry Ide, Winemaker, Vino Stache Winery

Brooke’s winemaking journey began in 2014 when she enrolled at Yavapai College studying viticulture and enology. She has interned at Four Eight Wineworks, Caduceus Cellars, Merkin Vineyards, and Callaghan Vineyards. In 2019, she began her one-woman operation at her own winery, Vino Stache Winery. She has delayed planting on her 54-acre property, but is building her brand with fruit sourced from several Arizona growers. Her first wines were bottled in 2021. 

Megan Stranik, Co-Owner, AZ Hops & Vines

Megan was introduced to the world of winemaking at Sonoita Vineyard where she spent a year as a volunteer, helping tend the farm. For many years after, she worked at various wineries learning the process of winemaking, but owning her own winery was always her goal. Today, she co-owns AZ Hops & Vines with her sister, Shannon, where you can almost always find her tending to the vineyards.

Shannon Austin Zouzoulas, Co-Owner, AZ Hops & Vines

Shannon grew up in Southern California and attended the University of Maryland. After returning to California, she began volunteering at wineries and festivals and began conspiring with her sister on how to get into the industry themselves. While her sister handles viticulture and oenology, Shannon was inspired in the marketing, hospitality and agro-tourism side of the business. She spends her days creating fun events, meeting great people, trying new wines, and marketing their winery.

Monica Preston, Owner, Birds & Barrels Vineyards

Monica Preston founded Birds & Barrels Vineyards on 50-acres of land with her husband Chad in 2015 with the goal of crafting ultra-premium Arizona wines. Though she does not have a background in viticulture, her passion and drive to learn has been helpful on this adventure. Monica handles water management, herbicide and pesticide management, fertilizer regiments in the vineyard, vine assessments, petiole, and fruit sampling prior to harvest. She also handles the wine club and Founders program planning and coordination. Though they have been called crazy many times along this journey, they remain ambitious and plan to expand while planting in 2023.

Gayle Glomski, Bree Nation, Lauren Maldonado, Page Springs Cellars 

Gayle, Bree, and Lauren all work at Page Springs Cellars in Cornville, Arizona where most of the workers are women. The three came together and collaborated on Vin de Filles (Girls’ wine in French), a wine produced by women to highlight feminine strength within the world of wine. The women care for specific rows of vines for their entire growing cycle, then bring their harvest to the cellar to ferment, press, and bottle their wine. The majority of profits from the sales of these wines benefit The Verde Valley Sanctuary, a local nonprofit that supports women who are victims of domestic abuse, assault, and human trafficking. This project not only empowers women in wine, but also in the community.

Valerie Wood, Heart Wood Cellars 

Valerie Wood moved to Arizona with her husband Daniel in 2009 for a new lifestyle and plans to contribute and participate in the growing sector of the Arizona wine industry. In 2013, she began studying viticulture and enology at Yavapai College in the Verde Valley while working part time at the Yavapai College Southwest Wine Center planting the college’s new vineyard. In 2015 she graduated with honors and her degree and was invited to join the Four Eight Wineworks-Caduceus Cellars winery family. In 2016 Heart Wood Cellars released its first vintage following the guidelines of their business model – to craft wines they love and want to share with others. 

Desiree Gerth, Owner and Winemaker, Strive Vineyards 

Desiree Gerth moved to Arizona with her husband shortly after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While on a weekend vacation to Arizona wine country, they decided to try to make their own wine with a home winemaking kit purchased from a local brew shop. Though the first batch was undrinkable, they persisted, first creating an in-home winery and then looking for their own land in Willcox. She and her husband with the help of family and friends have built everything themselves from the ground up – fencing, gates, irrigation systems, trellis systems, utility shed and more. They are completely off-grid utilizing solar power for their well pump and green, sustainable farming practices. In 2018 she began her professional winery career at Golden Rule Vineyards, and today oversees administration and operations for Strive Vineyards and works in all areas of wine production, winery management, and operations at Cochise Wine Co.

Peggy Fiandaca, Owner/Brand Manager, LDV Winery

After an incredibly successful career in Urban Planning, Peggy and her husband set out on their “second act” – wine. Wine was always a passion they shared; they traveled the world drinking, collecting, and absorbing everything they could about wine. They are often asked if owning a winery was their lifelong dream, but it was purely serendipitous (or a mid-life crisis). LDV winery sits on a 40-acre property, grows Rhone grape varieties, and produces about 2,500-3,000 cases per year. On a day to day basis, Peggy is responsible for strategic planning and analytics, wine marketing, public relations, sales, tasting room operations, contracts, regulations, trademarks, website, social media and all staffing. Peggy has served on the Arizona Wine Growers Association board as Secretary and President for two terms. She is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier International and Women at the Top, a female business owner networking group.

Carla Milić, Wineworker, Los Milics Vineyard

Carla was born and raised in Chile, but the bulk of her training has been in Sonoita with local winemakers. She took a few courses at the University of California, Davis and also assisted during a harvest in Chile. Los Milics Vineyard is located in Elgin; it sits on 20 acres with 12.5 acres being under vine. Since the winery opened for tastings, Carla is responsible for greeting guests and guiding them through their tasting and providing tours of the construction site where the new tasting room and casitas will be located. Once harvest peaks, Carla will be receiving fruit, processing, cleaning, and monitoring fermentations. Her favorite part of the job is nurturing vines from infancy through their entire growth cycle. Carla continues to be inspired by other independent and hardworking women in the wine industry.

Ann Roncone, Owner/Winemaker, Lightning Ridge Cellars

Ann was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area. She worked an office job and winemaking was her hobby. For about five years, she read books on winemaking and viticulture, planted vines at home, took courses at the University of California, Davis, and worked harvests at local wineries. When she and her husband decided to pursue a career in wine, they couldn’t afford land in California, and decided to visit the Arizona viticulture area as her husband had gone to college in Tucson. In 2003, they purchased land in the Sonoita/Elgin AVA and in 2004 they began the process of starting a vineyard and winery from scratch. Lightning Ridge Cellars is located in Elgin and specializes in Italian varietals. It is hard to say what she enjoys most about winemaking, but the amount of time she spends outside is definitely among the top things.  

Kim Reed, Assistant Manager/Wine Club Coordinator, Javelina Leap Vineyard, Winery & Bistro

Kim came into the wine industry somewhat by accident after working in a community care and hospital as a Registered Dietitian for 10 years. Her in-laws, Rod and Cynthia Snapp own Javelina Leap, and when her husband Lucas took over as GM and head winemaker, it was quickly apparent that he was going to need help. In March 2020, Kim joined the family business, initially as the Wine Club and Event Coordinator. Since then, her role has grown to include helping the tasting room manager, serving as office manager, booking bands, shipping wine, answering emails and filling in the gaps wherever needed. Most of her wine knowledge comes from being around the business and family the last seven years, however she will be pursuing a Level 1 Sommelier certification in the future.  

Lori Dutt Reynolds, Winemaker, Sonoita Vineyards 

Lori is a third generation winemaker in Arizona with a Certificate in Enology and Viticulture from the University of California, Davis. She was inspired to join the wine industry by her grandfather, Dr. Gordon Dutt – the founder of the Arizona Wine Industry. Lori loves the art and science behind creating wine and her favorite parts of the job are blending wine and working in the vineyards with her family. It is important to her to have her children involved in Sonoita Vineyards to work and learn the wine industry first hand like she did.

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.

California Wine Festival Announces New 2022 Event Dates

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Santa Barbara, CA — California Wine Festival is pleased to announce the 2022 schedule of signature oceanfront tasting events. Celebrating its 20th year, each festival commemorates the vast offerings from winemaking regions across California, paired with gourmet food selections from local dining purveyors, with live entertainment and sweeping coastal views.

Each two-day event commences with a Friday evening “Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting”, an intimate experience for dedicated wine lovers. Kicking off with a sparkling wine reception, the evening features samplings of hard-to-find trophy wines and offers tasting room exclusives and limited-production wines hailing from vineyards based in Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Temecula and more. Top regional chefs will serve delicious hot and cold appetizers to pair with the world-class wines. Each “Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting” overlooks picturesque waterfront landscapes.

The second day boasts a “Beachside Wine Festival”, a sun-splashed daytime event facilitating culinary education and exploration through one-on-one conversations and tastings with culinary and wine talent hailing from California’s top wineries and local restaurants. Attendees will have access to hundreds of premium California wines and regional craft brews. Delectable wines can be paired with samples of artisanal cheeses, fresh-cut fruit, shellfish, salads, olive oil, decadent chocolate and more. Each event will host a live band providing the ultimate soundtrack to a relaxing day while basking in sunshine and enjoying coastal California vistas.

“We aim to showcase what California is known for: the most picturesque strips of coastline globally, and world-class wines,” Emily Kaufmann, Executive Director, California Wine Festival. “At each festival, guests will get the same unrivaled experience at each one of our four seaside locations.”

In addition to promoting and celebrating the fine wines and cuisine of California, each festival aims to advance charitable organizations from each event location. Many of the festivals will feature a silent auction during the Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting to benefit organizations including: Sandy Feet Initiative, Surfrider Foundation of South Orange County, Golden Rule Charity and Food Bank of Santa Barbara County.

EVENT SCHEDULE

CA Wine Festival Dana Point — April 22-23, 2022 **NEW VENUE**

April 22: Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting: Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

April 23: Beachside Wine Festival: Sea Terrace Community Park
Tickets available for pre-sale here.

CA Wine Festival Carlsbad — May 20-21, 2022

May 20: Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting: Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, The Gardens

May 21: Beachside Wine Festival: Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Heron Lawn

Tickets available for pre-sale here.

CA Wine Festival Santa Barbara — July 15-16, 2022

May 20: Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting: Chase Palm Park, Carousel House

May 21: Beachside Wine Festival: Chase Palm Park, Great Meadow

Tickets available for pre-sale here.

CA Wine Festival Huntington Beach — November 11-12, 2022

November 11: Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting: Paséa Hotel & Spa

November 12: Beachside Wine Festival: Paséa Hotel & Spa

Pre-sale tickets will be available starting March 24.

California Wine Festival is a 21+ event. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit CalifoniaWineFestival.com.

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ABOUT CALIFORNIA WINE FESTIVAL:

California Wine Festival celebrates the fine wines and culinary offerings of California. A nationally recognized event series, California Wine Festival aims to bring attention to the beautiful wines, foods, and landscapes of California. Founded in 2004 in Santa Barbara, California Wine Festival is proud to be one of the largest outdoor wine festivals in the state and strives to be a green event producer. In 2019, 90% of the waste from the festivals was diverted from the landfill. A for-profit organization whose mission includes giving back, California Wine Festival has helped raise awareness and funds for local California charities including the Foodbank of Santa Barbara, Surfrider Foundation, and more. CalifoniaWineFestival.com

Wine Cab: the wine route by English taxi to discover the Bordeaux vineyards differently

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Each year in France, 10 million wine tourists come to discover some 10,000 cellars open to visits throughout the country.

But this success has a drawback: the circuits offered are all alike. Wine lovers have to do with soulless luxury sedans and signposted tours, without much originality.

It is because he had this experience when he moved to Bordeaux 12 years ago that Antoine Beucher decided to break the codes of the market. He invented a unique, deliciously atypical concept: Wine Cab, the wine route by English taxi.

Climbing aboard the mythical London “cab” means boarding in a car with a vintage look and a strong personality. Fitted out as a real tasting room, the famous Fairway FX4 seduces with its inimitable style and elegant line.

On Bordeaux lands, this English taxi allows you to live a unique experience, at the same time simple, convivial and authentic, to meet passionate winegrowers.

A slow life mindset to reinvent the iconic wine route

Wine Cab embodies a philosophy like the English taxi: the friendly driver offers tailor-made tours or in classic format, with beautiful addresses usually known to only “happy few” in the region.

Tastings in the car, innovative in Bordeaux, mark the spirits by their originality and their quality.

And so to make each lap unforgettable, each participant leaves with a souvenir road book with Polaroid pictures… so chic but without fuss !

The little Wine Cab plus : a welcoming guide in each area, who shares “house” secrets and offers tastings directly from the barrel or the vat.

         “Our Wine Tour concept is simply unique in the world!”

The Wine Cab assets

  • Health security: the English taxi is the only private transport vehicle with protective glass;
  • Private tours: tours take place with friends, couples or families up to 4 people
  • The possibility of creating your own wine (cellar master workshop)
  • Tastings in the taxi while driving;
  • A souvenir road book with Polaroid pictures

Unforgettable tours to satisfy all wine and authenticity lovers.

Wine Cab offers everyone the opportunity to live an exceptional and authentic experience around the best wines.

Zoom on a selection of 2 circuits not to be missed:

Organic wines: “happiness is in organic”

More and more winegrowers have made organic a philosophy and even an art of better living.

Wine Cab therefore offers an initiatory circuit to discover more structured, more aromatic wines, with more fruity and spicy notes, in short, naturally good (organic) wines!

On the program: 4 hours of discovery of the best wines produced by passionate and educationalists winegrowers driven by the desire to introduce this type of culture.

The circuit includes pick-up and drop-off at a hotel in Bordeaux, 2 visits with tasting in 2 “Organic” certified châteaux, 1 “countryside” tasting in the vineyards (or in the Cab in case of rain) and transport in an English cab by an English speaking driver.

As an option, it is also possible to provide accompaniment by an expert oenologist (+280€).

Price: from €132/person

The Wine of Women Winegrowers

Women often have a different outlook than men : they are more open to innovations, organic viticulture and biodynamics.

In Bordeaux, a few women are even pioneers in this field and their wines are very successful.

Wine Cab invites you to meet these passionate and fascinating women who give themselves up through their testimonies and their stories.

About Antoine Beucher, the founder

After studying at a journalism school (Institut Français de Presse) and obtaining a degree in Economics, Antoine Beucher worked as a host in a local channel in Toulouse and then worked for 30 years as the manager of an event agency.

Today, Wine Cab aims to publicize the Wine Tours organized in Bordeaux and to establish itself as the reference for vintage vehicle tours in the region. Moreover, beyond 10 people, the tours can also be organized in Combi, 2 CV, Cadillac…

Subsequently, Wine Cab will duplicate its concept in other wine regions.

To know more

French website: https://www.wine-cab.fr/

English website: https://www.wine-cab.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/winecab/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winecab33/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoine-beucher-46910921/

Green Wine Future 2022 adds “Wine For The Planet” to Program

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Miami, Florida- Green Wine Future 2022, the most important professional summit featuring sustainability and climate change for the international wine sector, announces the addition of “Wine for the Planet” (W4P) to its May 23-26, 2022, program.

W4P will showcase the wine industry’s work in protecting areas of the Earth most sensitive to the climate crisis, including:

  • Antarctica, Greenland, the Arctic
  • Coral reefs in different parts of our planet
  • The Amazon and other rainforests
  • Countries already suffering from water shortages and floods

Based on documentaries recorded and presented by W4P founder Pancho Campo and his team from the above listed regions, W4P will stream free globally during regular breaks of Green Wine Future. Those interested, may view the films through Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, where the team will highlight wine tastings in Greenland, Iceland, Antarctica, the Amazon, and the Great Coral Reef.

Wine for the Planet will show:

  • The vital importance of protecting these sensitive areas from impacts of climate change
  • That we are all interconnected throughout our planet
  • That all industries must attend to these issues, regardless of their professional activity.

“Our first expedition will take us to Greenland, the Arctic and Island where we will record amazing footage of the impact of climate change on the Inuit and the local economy, but we will also taste some wine as a gesture of the industry for protecting these extreme but very sensitive areas,” says Pancho Campo.

With many more to follow, Green Wine Future now has more than 60 confirmed speakers representing all elements of the wine business – scientists, academics, media, and celebrities will all add their own unique perspectives. These wine industry luminaries are scheduled to participate both through live and pre-recorded connections from vineyards and wineries, coupled with streaming documentaries premiering at Green Wine Future 2022.

“W4P will occur virtually from five continents containing eight of the planet’s wine regions; California, Chile, Portugal, South Africa, France, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, to minimize its carbon footprint, to ensure that it be truly global, and to avoid impacts caused by the pandemic,” says David Furer.

The promo video, Information about The Wine for the Planet program, confirmed speakers, alliances and partners, and registrations may be found at www.greenwinefuture.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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