Bubbly with #ClinkDifferent

July 9, 2021 by evebushman

The latest educational wine tasting event from Clink Different “celebrated all things sparkling from Germany and Bordeaux (with) a virtual tasting of Crémant de Bordeaux and German Sekt.” We were greeted in the Zoom presentation by Cecile Ha from the Bordeaux Council. Ha shared that both Germany and Bordeaux created white, red and sparkling wines, benefitted from a young generation of both male and female winemakers, and both are also well known for healthy tourism in their respective wine regions. Ha then introduced our host for the event, New York Sommelier and Martha Stewart Living wine expert Sarah Tracey.

Tracey shared that all of the four sparkling wines we were to taste “checked off all of the boxes” in being delicious, fun and affordable. She had presented a food pairing for each sparkler which I will share in our tasting notes below. For this tasting I enlisted help from local pals and Friends Who Like Wine in The Glass founders Vashti and Stephen Roebuck.

The Bubbles

Celene NV Cuvee Amethyste

60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc. Region/AOC: Crémant de Bordeaux. SRP: $12. Importer: Fine Wine and Good Spirits.

From Tracey: Bordeaux Crémant AOC can be made with both white and red Bordeaux grapes, they spend 12 months in traditional aging methods and there are 214 growers in the appellation. This example was a Blanc de Noir, meaning a white wine from red grapes, and should be drunk within one to two years of bottling. Aromas and flavors: yellow plums, persimmon, honeysuckle. Suggested pairing: green olives, oysters, something salty/briny and creamy.

From our group: We found the choice of red Bordeaux grapes unique, but the flavor was all sparkling with no hint of red fruit: apple, French toast, sweet Meyer lemon, white peach and wet pebbles. A steal and a conversation starter for $12.

Markus Molitor NV Riesling Sekt

100% Riesling. Region/AOC: Mosel. SRP: $19. Importer: Banville Wine Merchants.

From Tracey: Sekt is the word for sparkling in German and there are different quality levels. In the 1800s German winemakers traveled to France to learn how to make sparkling wine. The Mosel region is known for Riesling, is the oldest, has very steep inclines and red volcanic slate soil. Aromas and flavors: Pear, peach, white pepper and nectarine. Suggested pairing: Prosciutto due to its fat and saltiness, working well against the acidity in the wine.

From our group: Cantaloupe melon, biscuit, cool asphalt and milk aromas, with flavors of peach, Red Delicious apple, sweet creamed corn and a nicely carbonated 7 Up. I’d totally buy this one for $19.

Calvet 2018 Brut Rose

100% Cabernet Franc. Region/AOC: Crémant de Bordeaux. SRP: $18. Importer: Monsieur Touton.

From Tracey: 31% of Crémant de Bordeaux are Rose wines, with over 100 wine growers planting specifically for Rose Crémant. There has been a 13% increase in the past 10 years making Rose. The grapes for this wine were manually harvested and manually pressed. Aromas and flavors: Raspberry, wild strawberry and tannins. Suggested pairing: milk chocolate with 40% to 50% cacao, the tannins in both make the pairing work. Also goes well with Prosciutto.

From our group: Very pretty rose gold color with bubbles racing their way to the top of my glass. On the nose there was icy peach, cantaloupe melon, red berries and wet river rock; followed by flavors of freshly sliced peaches, more melon including Honeydew, sweet ripe pears and an interesting minerality that played on my palate for a long finish.

Raumland Cuvee Marie-Luise Brut 2013

100% Pinot Noir. Region/AOC: Rheinhessen. SRP: $46. Importer: German Wine Collection.

From Tracey: This wine is made by “The Pope of Sekt”, has a cooling influence from the climate as well as chalky soil. This was the “premium” wine in the line-up. Aromas and flavors: fresh, minerality, saltiness. Suggested pairing: Drunken Goat cheese and any other “zingy” cheeses.

From our group: Green apple, cheese toast, almond cookie, white peach, Hawaiian ginger flower, citrus oil and hints of crisp slate. This was the favorite amongst the people in the Zoom tasting.

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.

Over 20 natural wines have been selected at third edition of Wine Without Walls

July 12, 2018 by evebushman

(PRWEB) – Italy is in pole position for organic, natural and biodynamic wine-growing. The country also has the largest surface area of vines under certified organic management worldwide, ahead of both Spain in second place and France in third. In light of this important reality, Vinitaly International added the “Wine Without Walls” section to its annual wine selection 5StarWines. Held April 11th to the 13th 2018 in Verona, the third edition of 5StarWines welcomed over 2,700 wines from around the world and showcased 45 bottles in Wine Without Walls. Chaired by biodynamic wine expert Monty Waldin, Wine Without Walls gives recognition to the ever-present growing importance and relevance of natural wines. The section is solely dedicated to wines either without added sulphites or wines with total quantity of sulphites (naturally produced and added ones) not higher than 50mg/l. During the last edition, 24 Italian wines made it through the selection, once again proving Italy as prime location for organic wine growing. The selected organic wines will be published on the 5StarWines – the Book, which will be available from July 2018.

During the first two editions of Wine Without Walls former Chairperson Alice Feiring devised criteria for judging to include the descriptors: ‘liveliness’, ‘evolution’, ‘balance’, ‘drinkability’, ‘savoriness’, ‘sense of place’, ‘emotional impact’, and ‘transparency’. Based off these editions, Monty Waldin decided to use and adapt six of the descriptors, changing ‘emotional impact’ with ‘individuality’ and ‘transparency’ with ‘clarity.’

Waldin chose ‘individuality’ to represent the individuality of a wine that can only come from vineyards and each individual vine transmitted from its particular piece of terroir: the exact type of soil and sub-soil it is on, the exact part of the slope, the exact amount of sun, rain, and wind that it gets. Individuality also stems from the human factor, i.e. how the vines were planted, picked, and pruned. These aspects, combined, affect how each berry will taste and how they are measured; whereas descriptors such as ‘emotional impact’ are less measurable and therefore more subjective.

Substituting ‘transparency’ with ‘clarity’, Waldin sees that clarity in wine not only comes from the winemaker, but also from the grapes themselves. A wine embodying clarity shows that the winemaker has a clear vision of how the wine will be made. Winemakers whose aim is to make wine as naturally as possible, must guide every step of the winemaking process with their mastery, skills and knowledge to include—date of harvest, choice of fermentation vessel, choice of bottling date—in such a way that the wine clearly expresses the terroir, grape and human touch. A wine with clarity will always be transparent, from the beginning to the end.

On the the experience, Monty Waldin commented “One of the delights of judging wines made by people working in tune with nature, rather than working against it, is that the wines show a brightness and levity which makes wine tasting a joy rather than a chore. We all felt refreshed at the end of the day’s judging as these natural, organic and Biodynamic wines tend to have lower levels of alcohol compared to conventional wines because the vines are in balance.”

Accompanying Monty Waldin in this year’s tasting, Wine Without Walls included 4 natural wine connoisseurs. Regine Lee, Christopher Barnes, Richard Kershaw MW and Gill Gordon Smith, all coming from various countries around the world, joined together at wine2digital. The panel agreed, at the end of the selection, that the wines far exceeded their expectations in terms of quality, complexity and, most importantly, value. Furthermore, the judges were pleased to see that the wines came from not only from small, artisan producers but also from medium to large scale producers. Despite their size, they showed that they are well organised and fully capable of bringing grapes into the winery at optimal ripeness and with diverting flavours.

Here’s the list of the Wine Without Walls selected wines:

ADRIANO GRASSO with BARBERA D’ASTI DOCG

CANTINA ALDENO S.C.A. with TRENTINO DOC GEWURZTRAMINER VINO BIOLOGICO

AZIENDA VINICOLA ATTILIO CONTINI S.P.A. with CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA DOC VINO BIOLOGICO

SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA TENUTA MARA SRL with RUBICONE IGP SANGIOVESE VINO BIOLOGICO

AZIENDA AGRICOLA LUSENTI DI LODOVICA LUSENTI with COLLI PIACENTINI DOC MALVASIA

BORTOLIN F.LLI SRL with VALDOBBIADENE PROSECCO DOCG SUPERIORE SPUMANTE BRUT

TENUTE DEL GARDA SRL with VINO SPUMANTE EXTRA BRUT

PIEVALTA SOC. AGR.R.L. with VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI DOC CLASSICO SUPERIORE VINO BIOLOGICO and CASTELLI DI JESI VERDICCHIO RISERVA DOCG CLASSICO VINO BIOLOGICO

OLIS SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA SRL (FATTORIA LA MALIOSA) with TOSCANA IGT BIANCO VINO BIOLOGICO

AZ. AGR. LE CARLINE DI PICCININ DANIELE with VENEZIA DOC PINOT GRIGIO VINO BIOLOGICO and LISON PRAMAGGIORE DOC REFOSCO DAL PEDUNCOLO ROSSO VINO BIOLOGICO

AZ. AGR. CARLO TABARRINI “CANTINA MARGÒ” with UMBRIA IGT BIANCO

CASCINA DEL COLLE DI D’ONOFRIO A. & C. S.S. with ABRUZZO DOC BIANCO VINO BIOLOGICO and ABRUZZO DOC ROSSO VINO BIOLOGICO

LA CAPPUCCINA SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA S.S. with SOAVE DOC VINO BIOLOGICO

POSSENTE SOCIETÀ COOPERATIVA AGRICOLA with SICILIA DOC GRILLO VINO BIOLOGICO and TERRE SICILIANE IGP CATARRATTO VINO BIOLOGICO

FOLICELLO SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA S.S. with PIGNOLETTO DOC FRIZZANTE VINO BIOLOGICO

MARCHISIO FAMILY ORGANIC ESTATE S.S.A. with ROERO DOCG ARNEIS VINO BIOLOGICO and LANGHE DOC NEBBIOLO VINO BIOLOGICO

AVIGNONESI SRL with ROSSO DI MONTEPULCIANO DOC VINO BIOLOGICO and TOSCANA IGT ROSSO VINO BIOLOGICO

ERNST TRIEBAUMER with BURGENLAND QUALITÄTSWEIN BLAUFRÄNKISCH

Vineyard to Vintner 2017, A Weekend of Exclusive Tastings, Food Pairings and Backstage Access

March 8, 2017 by evebushman

Each year, member wineries of the Stags Leap District Winegrowers open their doors for this one weekend, giving visitors exclusive access to the wines, vineyards and people behind this iconic wine region. Visitors receive personal, backstage access to vintner homes and historic wineries alike, with private tours, barrel tastings and food pairings, all set amongst the glorious vineyards and towering Palisades of the Stags Leap District.

“Vineyard to Vintner offers visitors a wine experience like no other,” said Nancy Bialek, Executive Director of Stags Leap District Winegrowers. “It’s a full weekend with library wine dinners, open houses and a vintner-hosted lunch. Guests have unparalleled vintner and winemaker access and can taste the world-renowned Cabernets of this region, in the most relaxed of settings. Cabernet fans look forward to this weekend, year after year.
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”

This year’s Vineyard to Vintner hosting wineries include Baldacci Family Vineyards, Chimney Rock Winery, Cliff Lede Vineyards, Clos Du Val, Ilsley Vineyards, Lindstrom Wines, Malk Family Vineyards, Odette Estate, Pine Ridge Vineyards, Quixote Winery, Regusci Winery, Shafer Vineyards, Silverado Vineyards, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Stags’ Leap Winery, Steltzner Vineyards, and Taylor Family Vineyards.

The Vineyard to Vintner weekend includes:

Exclusive Vintner-Hosted Library Wine Dinners: Friday, April 28, 2017 // 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM

Vineyard to Vintner begins Friday night with four distinct dinners. Each 45-person dinner is co-hosted by several vintners and is prepared by a famed Napa Valley chef. The 2017 Friday dinner venues include Cliff Lede Vineyards, Clos Du Val, Silverado Vineyards, and Stags’ Leap Winery. Each co-hosting vintner digs deep into their cellars to share their most cherished library wines for this food and wine experience.

Back-Stage Open Houses: Saturday, April 29, 2017 // 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

On Saturday, individual Winery Open Houses provide back-stage access to the Association’s member wineries. Guests spend the day with vintners and winemakers at their private homes and historic wineries and enjoy special access to wines and food not available to the general public.

Vintner-Hosted Lunch and Appellation Collection Tasting: Sunday, April 30, 2017 // 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM

The Vineyard to Vintner weekend concludes Sunday with a vintner-hosted farm-to-table buffet lunch. Set among the sprawling vineyards at Regusci Winery V2V guests also get the first “sneak peak” of the 2014 Stags Leap District Appellation Collection.

Tickets and Additional Information
Tickets go on sale, February 14, 2017. You can find more information and purchase tickets, at http://www.stagsleapdistrict.com/V2V. Prices range from 0 for a three-day pass, to 5 for a two-day pass (Friday/Saturday), 0 for a two-day pass (Saturday/Sunday), and 5 for a Saturday single-day pass.
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‘Signature Wine Weekends for Two’ packages are available for $3,399 and include two passes for all three days of the event, the limited 2014 Appellation Collection of 17 handcrafted 2014 SLD designated Cabernet Sauvignons each signed exclusively by the vintners, and one Solle two-bottle jacquard and leather embossed wine tote. More information can be found at http://www.stagsleapdistrict.com/V2V.

About Stags Leap District Winegrowers:
The Stags Leap District Winegrowers is a non-profit association of vintners and growers united by the mission of enhancing the reputation of the appellation and its wines, and sharing its quality with the wine-loving world. The SLDWA is comprised of 17 wineries and 10 grower members. Wineries include: Baldacci Family Vineyards, Chimney Rock Winery, Cliff Lede Vineyards, Clos Du Val, Ilsley Vineyards, Lindstrom Wines, Malk Family Vineyards, Odette Estate Winery, Pine Ridge Vineyards, Quixote Winery, Regusci Winery, Shafer Vineyards, Silverado Vineyards, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Stags’ Leap Winery, Steltzner Vineyards, and Taylor Family Vineyards. To learn more about the Stags Leap District, please visit stagsleapdistrict.com or find the Association on Facebook.com/StagsLeapDistrict, Instagram.com/SLDistrict Twitter @SLDistrict.

Launching a new brand: Vinexpo with bettane+desseauve

April 4, 2016 by evebushman

Vinexpo, the organiser of international wine and spirits events, and bettane+desseauve, the company set up by the two internationally renowned wine experts, are launching a new brand – Vinexpo feat. bettane+desseauve– at Vinexpo Hong Kong, which takes place from 24 to 26 May 2016.

This new event is designed to promote the talent of wine growers, revealing exceptional products, young and emerging producers, and rare and surprising wines.

Vinexpo feat. bettane+desseauve – will be launched at Vinexpo Hong Kong where some ten tasting sessions led by Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve are already planned.

At Vinexpo Bordeaux, from 18 to 21 June 2017, Vinexpo feat. bettane+desseauve, an event-within-the-event, will present a first-of-its-kind tasting experience.

The new brand will have its own independent life beyond the Vinexpo exhibitions, too: Vinexpo feat. bettane+desseauve will operate as a stand-alone brand on other occasions and can take on various potential formats.

Guillaume Deglise, Vinexpo’s Chief Executive, is delighted with this new initiative: “Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve are internationally renowned wine and spirits experts. They’ve built up a very special relationship with winegrowers through their multiple activities in the sector. The creation of the Vinexpo feat. bettane+desseauve brand puts winegrowing right back at the centre of our events.”

Thierry Desseauve and Michel Bettane stated: “We’re thrilled to be part of Vinexpo’s new impetus. The launch of this brand epitomises the energy of our two companies”.

About VinexpoVinexpo organises international events in Europe and Asia. Vinexpo Bordeaux is a major gathering for the entire industry – a key date for all wine and spirits professionals. In even-numbered years, Vinexpo Hong Kong brings together producers from all over the world attracted by the growing Asia-Pacific markets. And Vinexpo Tokyo is a niche event specially created for the Japanese market. Upcoming events: Vinexpo Hong Kong – 24 to 26 May 2016, Vinexpo Tokyo – 15 and 16 November 2016, and Vinexpo Bordeaux – 18 to 21 June 2017.

About bettane+desseauve

Established by journalists and wine critics Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve in 2005, bettane+desseauve aims to provide information and advice on wines for everyone – consumers and professionals alike. The company operates in three key areas: the media, events and recommendations within retail outlets. It produces wine supplements and columns for top French publications (Les Échos, Paris Match, Le Journal du Dimanche) and internationally (Germany, Italy, the UK, China, Korea). In June 2015 it launched its own magazine, EN MAGNUM, and it publishes the annual bettane+desseauve wine guide in France (Flammarion) and in China. For the last 10 years it has organised Grand Tasting Paris, a tasting event specifically dedicated to the public which has also been exported to London, Hong Kong and Shanghai, as well as creating Winelab, a trade-only event introducing the most innovative producers. The company also selects the best wines for Air France, Monoprix and Mercure hotels.

Perlis Picks: DRY CREEK VALLEY ON TOUR

March 26, 2016 by evebushman

Last week’s article wrapped up our day in Dry Creek Valley. Before moving on to our last day in Sonoma County [finally, right?] I wanted to interrupt the regularly scheduled programming with a great event that happened recently in Los Angeles involving the Dry Creek Valley.

On February 20^th, 2016, the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley took their show on the road. Dry Creek Valley On Tour, along with Ian Blackburn’s Wine LA, hosted a very appreciative crowd of wine lovers, including my wife Karen and me, at Smashbox Studios in Culver City.

Now if anybody knows how to put on a great event it is Ian, and the WDCV couldn’t have picked a better partner to help showcase all the Dry Creek Valley has to offer.

Of the more than 60 wineries in the Dry Creek, which is just outside of Healdsburg in Sonoma County, twenty of them made the trip south to share a great sampling of what has become one of my favorite wine regions, especially for zinfandel:

32 Winds Wine
Amista Vineyards
Bella Vineyards
Cast Wines
Collier Falls
Comstock Wines
DaVero Farms & Winery
Dry Creek Vineyard
Dutcher Crossing Winery
Ferrari-Carano
Frick Winery
Fritz Underground Winery
Mazzocco Winery
Mounts Family Winery
Pedroncelli Winery
Quivira Vineyards
Rued Wines
Sbragia Family Vineyards
Seghesio Family Vineyards
Wilson Winery

The event started at noon for the VIP ticket holders.

[Note to readers: WineLA events typically include General Admission tickets and VIP tickets. The VIP option provides early entry and other benefits. When possible, I recommend you go for the VIP experience, although if you opt for General Admission you won’t be disappointed either.]

The VIP portion started with the Hog Island Oysters traveling oyster bar on the studio patio, with a selection of white wines being poured by participating wineries. I like oysters but am not an aficionado. Karen is from Boston and knows whereof she speaks – she said they were excellent. Some of our favorite wines with the oysters were the Frick Winery 2013 Grenache Blanc, Comstock Wines 2014 Sauvignon Blanc and Cast Wines Sparkling Blanc de Noirs.

We then went back into the main tasting area, where Ian presented information about the event as well as talked about the beneficiary of the silent auction proceeds – the T.J. Martell Foundation, which raises funds for cancer, leukemia and AIDS research. [Just another reason to attend WineLA’s events.]

As more food was served [thanks to Chef Bob Blumer, Baby Blues BBQ, One World Beef and Cowgirl Creamery], writer Dan Dunn [whose book American Wino is due out in April] interviewed a few of the winemaking luminaries in attendance, including:

Clay Fritz of Fritz Underground Winery

Diane Wilson of Wilson Winery

Joe Healy of Bella Vineyards

Julie Pedroncelli of Pedroncelli Winery

Tim Bell of Dry Creek Vineyard

And the legendary Ed Sbragia of Sbragia Family Vineyards.

Just as our thirst for wine could wait no longer, the grand tasting was opened to the VIP tasters in advance of access by the general admission ticket holders. The added benefit to early access was the opportunity to sample limited quantities of “special” wines that the wineries had brought down from the Dry Creek Valley. Plus, with most wineries having winemakers in attendance, there was ample opportunity to have one-on-one time with them.

With twenty wineries in attendance and each winery pouring from three to six wines, I only tasted at about half the tables, even with the extra time. Of those I tasted, these were my favorites [if a winery isn’t listed below, it probably just means I didn’t make it to that table; also note that the wines in bold were in limited quantities for the VIP tasters, although they were still poured for the general attendees if any was left].

Bella Vineyards

2007 Bella Canyon Zinfandel

2013 Florence Zinfandel

2012 Lily Hill Petite Sirah

Cast Wines

NV Sparkling Bland de Noirs, Sonoma County

2012 Grey Palm Estate Petite Sirah

2013 Grey Palm Estate Zinfandel

2013 Grey Palm Estate Petite Sirah

Collier Falls

2012 Hillside Estate Primitivo

2012 Hillside Estate Cabernet

Comstock Wines

2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley

2012 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

2013 Zinfandel Old Vines, Dry Creek Valley

Dutcher Crossing Winery

2013 Bernier-Sibary Zinfandel

2012 Taylor Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Frick Winery

2013 Grenache Blanc, Dry Creek Valley Estate Owl Hill Vineyard

2006 Cinsaut, Dry Creek Valley

2013 Counoise, Dry Creek Valley Estate Owl Hill Vineyard

2013 Mourvedre, Dry Creek Valley Estate Owl Hill Vineyard

Fritz Underground Winery

2012 Reserve Zinfandel

2013 Estate Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

Mazzocco Winery

2013 West Dry Creek Zinfandel

2013 Smith Orchard Reserve Zinfandel

Pedroncelli Winery

2004 Mother Clone Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

2014 Dry Rose of Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

2012 Wisdom Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley

Sbragia Family Vineyards

2006 Gino’s Vineyard Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

2012 La Promessa Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

Wilson Winery

2011 Sawyer Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

2013 Sydney Petite Sirah, Estate Grown, Dry Creek Valley

2013 Nolan Zinfandel, Estate Grown, Dry Creek Valley

Usually at a tasting like this, I try to pick a favorite wine that really stood out for me. This time, the winner was…I can’t…I just can’t do it. There were so many great wines at this tasting. I did have some takeaways though:

I was surprised at how well the older wines, especially the zinfandels, were showing. It really belied the conventional wisdom that zins should be consumed young.

And while I’ve always been a fan of Dry Creek zins, I developed a new appreciation for the cabernet from the region.

Attending tastings that focus on specific areas, especially ones as well run as this, can really expose the wine lover to what a wine region is all about – a great way to expand your palate in a short period of time.

The Dry Creek Valley is producing some amazing wines. If you missed this event, don’t despair. Passport to Dry Creek Valley is happening April 23 and 24^th. Go to drycreekvalley.org and get your tickets now!

Michael Perlis has been pursuing his passion for wine for more than 25 years. He has had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show him the way, as well as a wonderful wife who encourages him and shares his interest. After a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as he possibly could, he had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Now, as Contributing Editor for Eve’s Wine 101, he does his best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers. Michael is also Vice President of Eve Bushman Consulting (fka Eve’s Wine 101 Consulting) http://evebushmanconsulting.com/ and President of MCP Financial. Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com or michael@evebushmanconsulting.com.

Lodi Named Wine Enthusiast’s “Wine Region of the Year”

December 3, 2015 by evebushman

Lodi Named Wine Enthusiast’s 2015 “Wine Region of the Year”
At Wine Enthusiast’s annual Wine Star Awards in New York City January 2016
Lodi to be named the 2015 “Wine Region of the Year”

Lodi, CA – The Lodi Winegrape Commission is excited to announce that Lodi has been named “Wine Region of the Year” by the Wine Enthusiast, one of the world’s most well regarded publications dedicated to wine, spirits, food and travel. The announcement was made November 3, 2015, with the actual award to be presented at the Wine Star Awards on January 25^th – the publication’s annual black-tie gala dinner at the New York Public Library in New York City.

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Each year since 2000, the editors of Wine Enthusiast have honored individuals, companies, regions and organizations whose vision has impacted the wine and spirits industries with their coveted Wine Star Awards. Wine Enthusiast’s stated purpose for the “Wine Region of the Year” award “is to recognize not only excellence in wine quality, but also innovation and excitement coupled with the courage to take risks and the skill to succeed.” With the “Wine Region of the Year” award, Lodi is recognized in good international company in the category with previous recipients including New York State, Paso Robles, Ribera del Duero, Colchagua Valley, Mendoza, Alexander Valley, Rioja, and the Rhône Valley.“Being named Wine Region of the Year is exciting for Lodi as it recognizes the historic and ongoing commitment by our winegrowers, winemakers and Lodi wine region fans to grow, make, promote and enjoy amazing world-class wines from our region.” said Camron King, Executive Director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission. “Lodi has been supplying winegrapes to wineries for generations and is emerging in its own right as a world-class wine producing region focused on heritage, innovation and our commitment to place and people through our leadership in sustainability. The future for the Lodi wine region is brighter than ever and all of our growers, winemakers and community are thrilled to be honored with this award and recognition.”

The other nominees for the 2015 “Wine Region of the Year” were Marlborough, New Zealand; Russian River Valley, California; Sicily, Italy; and Walla Walla, Washington.

About Lodi, California
Located south of Sacramento and west of the Sierra Nevada, the Lodi wine region features 110,000 acres of vineyards that thrive in the classic Mediterranean climate of warm days and cool evenings.

A major winegrape growing region since the 1850s, today Lodi boasts over 750 growers. The region owes much of its recent success to the increase in critical and consumer attention paid to Lodi-designate wines. Known for its high quality winegrapes, Lodi was always a winegrowing region first – known best for specializing in viticulture and sustainability practices and selling its highly-coveted winegrapes to wineries and wine companies in Napa, Sonoma, and California’s Central Valley. However, the past 10-15 years has seen astronomical growth in demand for Lodi wines, as well as in tourism to the wine region, incentivizing winegrowers to hold on to larger percentages of their crop for craft production under their own labels. The result has been a dramatic shift in quality perception, with explosive growth enhanced by a friendly business culture that emphasizes collaboration, community and innovation.

Today, Lodi is home to over 85 boutique wineries specializing in small-lot, handmade wines that have garnered major awards at both domestic and international wine competitions. In addition, Lodi is one of the leading wine regions when it comes to sustainable viticulture. The Lodi Winegrape Commission created Lodi Rules™, California’s first third-party-certified sustainable winegrowing program, which recently won Governor Jerry Brown’s annual Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA) – the highest environmental award in the state of California – for its mission to address major environmental, economic and social challenges facing California agricultural industry.

With more than 100 varieties currently being cultivated, Lodi offers a diverse portfolio of wines. While long renowned for its high-quality Zinfandel production, including an estimated 2,000 acres of pre-Prohibition own rooted vines, the area also produces award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Chardonnay. More recently, Lodi has been gaining consumer traction for its other exciting varietals such as Albariño, Tempranillo, Kerner, Gewürztraminer, Graciano and Vermentino, among many others.

2015 has seen a tremendous swell of support and recognition for the Lodi wine region. In addition to the prestigious GEELA award, Lodi was also selected in August 2015 to be the host for the 2016 Wine Bloggers Conference, the pre-eminent gathering of hundreds of wine bloggers and wine writing professionals who come together for educational sessions, networking and social gathering.

For more information about the Lodi wine region, visit www.lodiwine.com.

2015 HARVEST: DRY CREEK VALLEY WINEGRAPE GROWERS ANTICIPATE SMALLER YIELDS, EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY

September 3, 2015 by evebushman

Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley kick off this harvest season with a positive forecast amidst California’s ongoing drought.

HEALDSBURG, Calif. – AUGUST 18 – Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley (WDCV) expect the 2015 winegrape harvest to yield exceptional quality fruit in smaller quantities than the last three vintages, which were larger than normal throughout most of the state of California. Picking began earlier than usual this year, with David Coffaro Estate and Amista Vineyards harvesting grapes for their sparkling wines on July 29 and August 3, respectively. In 2014, Amista Vineyards harvested for their blanc de blanc two days later on August 5.

For still wines, many white grapes have already become ripe for picking. Preston Farm and Winery began harvesting sauvignon blanc on Tuesday, August 11. Pedroncelli Winery will harvest their sauvignon blanc this week. “This is within a few days of last year’s harvest,” says Montse Reece, winemaker at Pedroncelli Winery.

Cameron Mauritson, Manager of Mauritson Farms and President of the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley, anticipates starting to harvest in the middle of August, about 10-14 days ahead of last year. “We have been blessed with wonderful California weather that has sped things up. The crop looks beautiful with looser clusters than normal and small berries that should yield robust flavors. Winemakers should have the weather patterns to produce stylistic wines,” he says.

Ridge Vineyards reported their earliest zinfandel harvest on record in their East Bench Vineyard. “The dry, warm weather we had from February through April led to a very early bloom and thus the record start to the harvest,” says Will Thomas, Ridge Vineyards’ Sonoma County Viticulturist.

The harvest season will continue for the next two months, with the harvest of Bordeaux varieties including merlot and cabernet sauvignon in September and late-ripening grapes like mourvedre grapes and late-harvest zinfandel in October.

Several years of drought in California affected farmers all over the state, but Dry Creek Valley winegrowers seize the opportunity to learn from the challenges they face. Mauritson explains, “The drought has been an opportunity for many growers to look closely at their soil health and make sure they are maximizing the available water holding capacity of the vineyard site so vines can survive as long as possible by natural rainfall.
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Tim Bell, winemaker at Dry Creek Vineyard, says that last year at the winery’s Endeavour Vineyard, they cut back on the number of vine shoots and grape clusters to reduce water demand, but were pleased to find out that they could get by with even less water than they planned for.

Despite the resilience of the grapes and their growers, many expressed hope for some relief from the drought.
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“We’re praying that the El Niño predictions for a wet winter play out in the right way: plenty of rain spread out over time and cold enough storms to pack the Sierras with snow,” says Bell.

About Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley

The Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley® (WDCV) is an association of more than 60 wineries and 150 growers, of which more than 95 percent are small, family-owned operations. WDCV is dedicated to advancing the recognition, enhancement and preservation of Dry Creek Valley as a premium winegrowing region. Anchored by the charming town of Healdsburg, the Dry Creek Valley appellation was officially designated in 1983. Known as a premier zinfandel growing region, Dry Creek Valley is one of California’s oldest wine producing regions and is home to many heritage vineyards ranging in age from 50 to 120 years. To preserve this history and the valley’s pristine beauty, the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley supports sustainable viticulture and low-impact farming practices. www.drycreekvalley.org/

LA is Thirsty for the Upcoming Pinot Wine Festival

August 13, 2015 by evebushman

Beverly Hills, Calif. (July 15, 2015) – Los Angeles welcomes the best of Pinot wines as wineLA is set to host their first annual STARS of Pinot Wine Festival on Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at Sofitel Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Attendees can expect to taste some of the top artisan Pinot based wines from around the world. Wineries include Hope & Grace, Storm, Talley, Brooks, Russian River Winegrowers and many more. Tickets for wineLA’s Stars of Pinot Wine Festival will include an elegant assortment of hors d’oeuvres and a number of lofty auction items to bid on. Auction items will range from $100 to $2,000. One hundred percent of silent auction proceeds will benefit TJ Martell Foundation, charity 501c3 raising money for Children’s Cancer Research.

STARS of Pinot will begin at 7:00p.m (6pm for the VIP). Advanced tickets may be purchased for $95 per person online or at the door for $125. There are a limited number of VIP 6:00pm admission tickets (includes full dinner buffet and Pinot Noir Panel tasting with noted experts and Masters of Wine) available for $150 per person (advanced ticket sale) or $200 at the door.

For more information about STARS of Pinot or to purchase tickets, call wineLA at 310-451-7600 or visit www.winela.com or www.starsofpinot.com

About Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills

“Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills is a stunning hotel in LA offering elegant luxury accommodations and dramatic decor with an ambiance that combines see-and-be-seen excitement and the calm of an urban resort. Ideally situated on the corner of La Cienega and Beverly Boulevard, this West Hollywood hotel is conveniently located near Cedar Sinai Medical Center, Rodeo Drive, Melrose Avenue and Sunset Boulevard. Discover a unique blend of French fashion mixed with Hollywood glamour at this elegant hotel. Choose from 295 rooms on 10 floors including 26 suites and two Imperial Suites all featuring Sofitel’s luxurious feather top and duvet sleep system – SoBed.”

Sofitel is located at 8555 Beverly Blvd. in Beverly Hills, CA.

About wineLA

wineLA is about enhancing the wine culture of Los Angeles. To do so, wine must be in rhythm with fashion, music, food and other beverages. It must take advantage of the geography, the architecture and the centers of interest. Los Angeles is a giant playground with an amazing array of venues, spaces, wine bars, restaurants, beaches, rooftops, gardens, and magical views. We want to be a part of the LA lifestyle, the wine lifestyle, and celebrate the people, the place and the passion.

wineLA hosts significant events, occasional classes, and tastings of merit. This is phase two of what we started 20 years ago at LearnAboutWine.com – America’s first wine education website and first in wine event creation.

wineLA | LearnAboutWine | 310.451.7600 | www.winela.com

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