Ember Restaurant at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort Receives Wine Spectator “Best of Award of Excellence” for 2021

August 14, 2021 by evebushman

FORT MCDOWELL, Ariz. /PRNewswire/ — Today, the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort is thrilled to announce that Ember, its fine dining restaurant, has received Wine Spectator‘s esteemed “Best of Award of Excellence.” The honor recognizes recipients that offer extensive selections with excellent breadth across multiple regions and significant vertical depth, and Ember is now one of 19 restaurants (out of nearly 9,000) in Arizona – and one of approximately 1,000 around the world – to receive this award.

This is the second time that the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation has been lauded by this highly regarded industry publication. In 2006, the Ahnala Mesquite Room received the “Award of Excellence,” recognizing the restaurant’s wine list that featured a well-chosen assortment of quality producers along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. The fact that the tribal nation has now been granted two Wine Spectator awards for excellence – an achievement rare among tribal casinos – affirms their commitment to delivering an exceptional culinary experience.

“American restaurants are back in business, as patrons are eagerly returning to dining rooms across the nation,” said Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher, Wine Spectator. “In this year’s Restaurant Awards issue, we reflect on how restaurateurs navigated this incredibly difficult period, and look ahead, with every indication that the coming year will be one of the most promising in decades for an industry we all love. It’s been a long road back, and it feels wonderful to celebrate restaurants and all they bring to the world of wine.”

“The ‘Best of Award of Excellence’ really belongs to our advanced sommelier Dennis Payne, whose 31 years of experience and painstaking efforts over the past year have resulted in this impeccable award-winning wine list,” added Zac Gallo, Executive Director of Food and Beverage for the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort. “Not only has Dennis cultivated an extensive wine and spirit program, but he ensures the proper care, storage and handling of our collection to maximize our guests’ dining experiences.”

Ember’s wine program covers seventeen countries, focusing on each country’s top wine-producing regions and most highly acclaimed vineyards. It includes 517 wines by the bottle and 26 wines by the glass – ranging from a strong California presence to Barbaresco, Rioja, New Zealand, Argentina and Germany – along with 30 Dessert Wines from across the globe as well as 15 Ports and Madeiras.

In addition, Ember has a special page in their 37-page wine list titled “The Century Club,” dedicated to the world’s top 100-point wines. Curated for fine wine collectors, this list contains 32 critically acclaimed wines spanning more than two decades that have scored a perfect 100 points.

Wine Spectator began its program to recognize the world’s best wine lists in 1981. There are three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award—with 1,673; 1,141; and 103 winners this year in each respective category.

All award winners will be featured in Wine Spectator‘s special 40^th Anniversary Restaurant Awards issue, available to readers today.

For more information on Ember, visit www.wekopacasinoresort.com/dining/ember.

About Ember

A destination dining experience at the new We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort, Ember is run by critically acclaimed Chef de Cuisine Richard Pelz. In addition to an exhaustive wine and spirit library, the restaurant features the highest quality USDA Prime and Angus Wagyu beef, game and seafood from around the world, carefully prepared over a custom wood burning grill. Signature items include their Ujih Hot Stone appetizer, Seafood Tower, Snake River Farms Wagyu Striploin, Braised Buffalo Short Rib, and Ember Flaming Liquid Chocolate Truffle.

The energetic dining space overlooks the all-scratch kitchen with views of the culinary team, and seasonal outdoor dining by the fireplace is also available. A separate piano lounge with live entertainment five nights a week adds to the dynamic vibe.

Miller Family Wine Company Collaborates With Joey Tensley to Launch optik Wines

June 7, 2021 by evebushman

SANTA MARIA, Calif./PRNewswire/ — Miller Family Wine Company, a division of the industry-leading Thornhill Companies, is excited to announce the launch of optik, a new brand featuring a collection of vineyard designated wines from Bien Nacido Vineyard, crafted by acclaimed Santa Barbara winemaker Joey Tensley.

Bien Nacido Vineyard, planted in 1973 by brothers Bob and Steve Miller, is widely recognized as one of California’s most iconic vineyard sites, long revered for producing exceptional wines that epitomize the distinct characteristics of the Santa Maria Valley AVA. Looking to honor this heritage while revealing the vineyard’s special qualities through a new and unique lens, the Miller family teamed up with Tensley to create optik, a brand designed to showcase a fresh take on Bien Nacido Vineyard.

Throughout his career, esteemed winemaker Tensley has established a reputation for preserving the best characteristics of vineyards by minimizing winemaker manipulation and oak treatment – a signature style that has earned him over 200 90+ ratings from the wine industry’s most esteemed publications, including six wines on Wine Spectator‘s prestigious Top 100 lists. By intersecting Tensley’s masterful approach with the elegant strength of Bien Nacido fruit, optik aims to open eyes to the new possibilities of this long-established vineyard.

“For nearly 50 years, our family has continued Bien Nacido’s legacy as one of the most well-respected vineyards in California, and we are incredibly proud to be stewards of this land,” says Nicholas Miller, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “That said, we are always looking for ways to showcase the diversity and complexity of Bien Nacido, and introduce it to new consumers in new ways. By collaborating with Joey – a talented winemaker whom we’ve always held in very high regard – we knew we could present a different slice of Bien Nacido in an unexpected way.”

“I’ve always felt the most important part of my role as the winemaker is to let the vineyard and the unique qualities of the fruit shine through in the wine,” says Tensley. “In order to emphasize the special characteristics of Bien Nacido, a special place that produces exceptional fruit, I make sure to use a gentler approach in the cellar, trying to let the terroir be the star. And working with individual blocks across the vineyard allows me to showcase diversity of site, which translates into wines with a true sense of identity.”

The optik portfolio includes vineyard designated wines sourced from single blocks on the estate, featuring six small-lot wines across three varietals: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah – priced between $35 – $45. Representing the power of new perspectives, optik’s unique and contemporary packaging symbolizes the empowerment of the winemaker’s hand to convey what his eye sees. “Our label is designed to bring the optik concept to life, visually representing a new interpretation of Bien Nacido Vineyard through the lens of an incredibly accomplished outsider looking in,” says Tommy Gaeta, Director of Marketing. “It offers a deeper level of storytelling perhaps not expected of the wines typically produced from Bien Nacido, while the price points make these wines accessible to a broad audience of both aspiring and established wine enthusiasts.”

optik wines will be available at select fine wine retailers and restaurants in cities across the country and online at www.optikwines.com.

Miller Family Wine Company
Miller Family Wine Company is a division of the Thornhill Companies – the industry-leading umbrella brand of one of California’s premier winegrowing families, the Miller Family, who have been farming California’s Central Coast for five generations. The Thornhill Companies includes the prestigious Bien Nacido Estates and Miller Family Wine Company, which itself includes the management of acclaimed national branded wine labels, including Butternut, optik, J. Wilkes, Ballard Lane, Smashberry, Barrel Burner, and Volunteer wines, control label brands for prominent retailers across the U.S. and the French Camp vineyard in Paso Robles. For more information on Miller Family Wine Company, please visit www.millerfamilywinecompany.com.

Taste of Santa Rita Hills: Top Scoring Wines

March 31, 2021 by evebushman

Let’s talk wine scores.

If you have been to our tasting room, you probably have noticed that we do not talk about wine scores. That doesn’t mean that we don’t pay attention to wine scores and read reviews, but we trust our own palates. When it comes to wines from Sta. Rita Hills, we have the experience to understand if a wine offers what we expect in a wine from the area, and to judge as to whether or not the wine is priced appropriately for its quality and complexity. So we don’t feel the need to promote or choose wines based on scores.

We have been asked in the past, why not discuss a wine that has a stellar score? We could, but we want our customers to trust our palates and their own. If you like a wine, it doesn’t matter whether the wine received a 80 or 100 points. In addition, there are many wines that do not get sent out for review so will never receive a score.

There are many of you that live far away and cannot be here to try the wines yourselves, or perhaps do not know our expertise well. In that case, scores might be helpful for you to have a third party recommendation about some of the wines we carry. In addition there are many of you that have cellars and like to collect top-scoring wines. We understand that.

So here you go…a short list of some of the top-scoring wines we are currently carrying.

Cheers,
Jeni and Antonio

Taste of Santa Rita Hills

98 Points:

Paul Lato Pinot Noir “Lancelot”, Pisoni Vineyard, 2018 (Jeb Dunnuck)

97 Points:

The Hilt Pinot Noir “Old Guard” 2017 (Antonio Galloni)
Paul Lato Syrah “Cinematique”, Larner Vineyard, 2017 (Jeb Dunnuck)
Paul Lato Syrah/Grenache “Space Cadet” 2018 (Wine Advocate)
Paul Lato Pinot Noir “C’est la Vie”, Drum Canyon Vineyard, 2018 (Jeb Dunnuck)
Paul Lato Pinot Noir “Atticus”, Sebastiano Vineyard, 2018 (Jeb Dunnuck)
Paul Lato Pinot Noir “Victor Francis”, Peake Ranch, 2018 (Jeb Dunnuck)

96 Points:

The Hilt Pinot Noir “Vanguard” 2017 (Jeb Dunnuck)
Paul Lato Chardonnay “Ma Jolie”, Peake Ranch, 2018 (Jeb Dunnuck)

95+ Points:

Paul Lato Pinot Noir “Seabiscuit”, Zotovich Vineyard, 2018 (Jeb Dunnuck)

94 Points:

Walt Pinot Noir, Clos Pepe Vineyard, 2017 (Wine Enthusiast)
Spear Pinot Noir 2018 (Jeb Dunnuck)
Samuel Smith Chardonnay, Spear Vineyard, 2018 (Wine Enthusiast)

93 Points:

Bonaccorsi Pinot Noir, Sebastiano Vineyard, 2013 (93 Wine Advocate)
Ryan Cochrane Pinot Noir, Fiddlestix Vineyard, 2017 (Wine Enthusiast)

92 Points:

Walt Pinot Noir, Clos Pepe Vineyard, 2018 (Wine Spectator)
Spear Chardonnay, Gnesa Vineyard, 2017 (Wine Advocate)
Ground Truth Pinot Noir, La Encantada Vineyard, 2016 (Wine Enthusiast)

Note: Some wines are extremely limited.

FPT INDUSTRIAL AND FONTANAFREDDA JOIN FORCES FOR THE WORLD’S FIRST ZERO EMISSIONS BAROLO WINE VINTAGE

March 21, 2021 by evebushman

Completing the world’s first zero-emissions harvest of a Barolo cru, and celebrating 2025 by opening the first 100% sustainable bottle of the highly prized King of Wines: these are the aims of the partnership between FPT Industrial and Fontanafredda.

The global challenge of energy transition demands not only widely shared solutions on a large scale, but also targeted actions in specialist sectors, which must be able both to deliver concrete results and to attract the interest of a broader public, through the high intrinsic value of the projects themselves. Both can be achieved by projects involving partners with a long-standing commitment to environmental accountability.

Implementing these guidelines, a core part of its brand identity from the outset, FPT Industrial, the global powertrain brand of CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI / MI: CNHI), and the world’s largest producer of low environmental impact engines, has joined forces with Fontanafredda, the historic winery founded by Vittorio Emanuele II, the first King of Italy in 1858. Fontanafredda produces Barolo and other great wines from the Langhe region, which currently has 120 hectares of certified organic vineyards and promotes a new Green Renaissance in the form of best-practice grape cultivation with no environmental impact.

The heart of the partnership is the supply of two New Holland TK Methane Power crawler vineyard tractors with biomethane-fueled FPT Industrial F28 Natural Gas engines, which will work in the Vigna La Rosa cru that produces the grapes for the legendary Barolo of the same name, a wine which has been included in the Wine Spectator Top 100 of the world’s best wines.

Recently awarded the title of “Engine of the year 2020” for its modular, multi-propulsion approach, the FPT Industrial F28 engine is designed to be compact, productive and environment-friendly. In fact, it ticks all the boxes in terms of power, performance and low environmental impact for specialized applications such as orchard and vineyard tractors where compactness and small overall dimensions are an essential requirement. The F28 is able to operate on diesel or natural gas and is hybrid-ready.

The biomethane model designed for Fontanafredda was developed on the basis of a New Holland Agriculture crawler vineyard tractor. It can provide a power output of 75 hp with peak torque of 330 Nm and therefore ensures, in complete safety, performance which is absolutely identical to that of its diesel equivalent, even when working on the steepest slopes and on the slippery terrain typical of the finest vineyards in Italy’s Langhe wine-growing region. This is all with a zero-carbon footprint, as the biomethane that powers the engine is not a fossil fuel, but is produced by the anaerobic digestion of agricultural waste.

Fontanafredda has a long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability, both on the land, by implementing organic growing methods, and in the cellar, through the use of autochthonous yeasts. In 2020 these decades of evolution culminated in a fresh perspective: the Green Renaissance. The new Renaissance will create a great global community, united around respect for the land, which will also be expressed through respect for people. These values have led to the “greening” of all daily procedures, from the reuse of water to the choice of healthy, natural, environment-friendly packaging, and the use of clean energy for the Village inside Fontanafredda the farmstead. Thanks to FPT Industrial, from the 2021 vintage onwards, mobility in the vineyard has also become sustainable. The arrival of biomethane-fueled tractors will enable Fontanafredda to cut vineyard emissions to zero and make growing operations ever more sustainable.

The three-year partnership between FPT Industrial and Fontanafredda, supported by the Region of Piedmont’s Tobias Project, with contributions from New Holland Agriculture, CNH Industrial and local businesses, proves once again that complex projects of this kind can provide a virtuous example of networking for a common objective. The partners involved in the supply chain project are DIMSPORT S.r.l., HYSYTECH S.r.l., S.T.C. S.r.l., STEMS-CNR and T.C.E. TORINO CREA ENGINEERING S.r.l..

“After being the ‘heart’ of the vehicles named Sustainable Tractor of the Year and Sustainable Truck of the Year”, FPT Industrial CEO Annalisa Stupenengo declares, ‘getting to grips with the needs of the prestigious, delicate, sustainable top-quality wine-growing sector is a very exciting challenge for us. In fact, the partnership with Fontanafredda will enable us to again demonstrate our full support for the European Union as it guides the green transition. Our biomethane engines are as efficient and high-performing as diesels, and this renewable, sustainable fuel is the real, immediately available alternative for eliminating emissions from agricultural vehicles.”

“We have the great good fortune to live in a unique part of the world, and we have to care for our wonderful land,” Fontanafredda grower Andrea Farinetti states. “We need a new Renaissance; otherwise, a tomorrow that is like today is unthinkable. Obviously, we have to change and renew ourselves. For us, this renewal means making our land central to everything we do; this must be our overriding aim, and must lead to the creation of a great worldwide community, based on trust in others. This community will have many tools at its disposal for safeguarding our planet: ours will be wine, “green” wine. Our partnership with FPT Industrial proves that together we can do more, and do it better.”

Technical specifications of the F28 engine for Fontanafredda

Displacement: 2.8 liters
4 cylinders and 2 valves
Maximum power output 55 kW / 75 hp
Stoichiometric combustion technology and multipoint injection to guarantee excellent performance and very low emissions
Designed without EGR and with a maintenance-free 3-way catalytic converter (without DPF or SCR)
Sustainable solution that guarantees a virtually zero carbon footprint when powered by biomethane

FPT Industrial is a brand of CNH Industrial dedicated to the design, production and sale of propulsion systems for On-Road and Off-Road vehicles, marine applications and Power Generation. The company has a global workforce of over 8,000, ten production sites and seven R&D centers. The FPT Industrial sales network consists of 73 dealers and about 800 service centers in almost 100 countries. The brand boasts a wide product offering, including six engine ranges from 42 hp up to 1,006 hp, transmissions with maximum torque from 200 Nm up to 500 Nm, and front and rear axles from 2 to 32 ton GAW (Gross Axle Weight). FPT Industrial offers the market’s most complete line-up of natural gas engines for industrial applications, with power outputs from 136 to 460 hp. This vast offering and its strong focus on R&D make FPT Industrial a world leader in the industrial powerplant sector. For further information, visit www.fptindustrial.com.

Fontanafredda, producer of Barolo and great wines from the Langhe district, based at Serralunga d’Alba. Founded in 1858 as a consequence of the love affair between Victor Emmanuel II, first King of Italy, and Rosa Vercellana, our winery has always been a community united around respect for the land. We now have 120 hectares of certified ORGANIC vineyards, the setting for Italy’s first Storytelling Village. www.fontanafredda.it

Advanced Sommelier Erik Segelbaum Joins the Grand Reserve Wine Advisory Board

February 18, 2021 by evebushman

PASADENA, Calif., /PRNewswire/ — Vertical Finance (verticalfinance.com) is proud to announce the addition of Erik Segelbaum to the Grand Reserve Rewards Wine Advisory Board, a team of wine industry professionals that support Grand Reserve Rewards and Grand Reserve™ World Mastercard®, the credit card for wine enthusiasts. As a wine advisory board member, Segelbaum brings nearly 30 years of industry expertise and knowledge to help build the program, its exemplary suite of benefits and its network of over 450 partner wineries.

Photo: Artful Living

Since launching in August 2020, Grand Reserve Rewards is quickly growing its base of wine enthusiasts and its network of partner wineries. Grand Reserve brings new ways for consumers to be rewarded for pursuing their passion for wine and connects high-quality producers with discerning customers.

“We are thrilled to welcome Erik Segelbaum to the Grand Reserve Rewards team of expert wine advisory board members. Erik understands the world of wine deeply and will help us to continually improve our program for everyone involved,” said Matthew Goldman, Founder & CEO of Grand Reserve Rewards. “The insights and excellence of every board member is reflected in our program offerings and helps ensure we are always on top of new trends, great ideas, and unique opportunities.”

Named 2020 Wine Enthusiast’s 40 under 40 Tastemaker and 2019 Food & Wine Magazine Sommelier of the Year, Segelbaum is an Advanced Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, Certified Specialist of Wine (with distinction) with the Society of Wine Educators, and Wine and Spirits Locations Specialist (with distinction). Segelbaum has opened more than 30 restaurants, hotels and other venues where he has built and implemented beverage programs as Beverage Director and Head Sommelier. Segelbaum hosts ongoing wine education sessions at Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. and serves as the Vice President of the United Sommeliers Foundation, a charitable fund providing assistance to sommeliers in times of need.

“As a sommelier, I am constantly on the hunt for the best of the best in the wine world. I’m always looking for the hidden gems that, once discovered, forever improve my wine drinking life. I’m thrilled to have joined the advisory board of the Grand Reserve Credit Card. Without a doubt, this card will serve to be the most useful and practical wine accessory,” said Erik Segelbaum. “I look forward to applying my connections from nearly 3 decades in the industry to develop enriching card member experiences and opportunities.”

Other members of the Grand Reserve Rewards Wine Advisory Board include Helen Johannesen, Wine Enthusiast “Top 40 Under 40 Tastemaker” 2018 and Food and Wine “Best New Sommelier” 2016, Lance Reed, wine director for BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood, CA and winner of multiple awards including Wine Spectator’s “Award Of Excellence” and its coveted “Best Of Excellence”, Peter Yeung, wine business consultant, XChateau podcast co-host and author of Luxury Wine Marketing and Jamie Cegelski-Gaebe, Founder of Priority Wine Pass.

To learn more about Grand Reserve Rewards, sign up for the credit card or enquire about joining the partner network visit: grandreserverewards.com.

About Vertical Finance
Vertical Finance is a fintech and challenger credit card startup. The company’s modern credit card platform matches consumers with high-quality boutique merchants and authentic rewards that enhance their lifestyle pursuits. The company’s flagship program, Grand Reserve, rewards consumers when they shop at wineries, wine clubs, and wine shops. Vertical Finance is a 1% for the Planet company, a global network of businesses, nonprofits, and individuals working together for a healthy planet, committed to giving 1% of gross sales each year to approved nonprofit partners. Visit verticalfinance.com and grandreserverewards.com to learn more. Consumers can connect with Grand Reserve on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

Disclaimer
Vertical Finance reserves the right to modify or discontinue its products or offerings at any time and without notice. The Grand Reserve World Mastercard is powered by Deserve and issued by Celtic Bank, a Utah-Chartered Industrial Bank, Member FDIC. You must be of US legal drinking age to redeem certain rewards and/or experiences. We do not support underage drinking or any other misuse of alcohol.

Look What’s New At Newhall Press Room: Seasoned Le Cordon Bleu Chef Larry Bethea Joins The Team

February 10, 2021 by evebushman

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY – The Newhall Press Room is looking forward to re-opening and serving the community with more amazing food and wine. To carry forward with their Wine Spectator award-winning history, they will explore new dishes, monthly specials and weekly wine events. In addition, they are thrilled to announce their newest team member, Larry Bethea, a Le Cordon Bleu trained Chef.

Larry Bethea, a Le Cordon Bleu trained Chef

Native of Southern California, Chef Larry chose to pursue a career in culinary arts in 2011. Graduate of the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts program, he dove into the world of food and hospitality. Fascinated by multiple facets of food service, he pursued many opportunities in the culinary field. Rounding out his experience consisted of volunteering while in school, special events (food and wine festivals, weddings and concerts), sous chef at The Getty Center, and chef manager for food service company Sodexo.

Having established family roots from Belize to the East coast, food was a central melting pot of cultures and ingredients for Chef Larry. This provided him a foundation for a love of comfort food, Caribbean flavors and classical French cooking techniques. Chef Larry has carved out a style all of his own fusing various flavors and techniques to create one of a kind dishes.

Co-owner Charles “Chaz” Potter commented, “Chef Larry is a joy to meet and the staff loves his enthusiasm and cooking style. We are thrilled to have him on board and bring more wine and food pairings to the community.”

“As you know, wine is made across the globe, in many different styles and varietals, which blends well with Chef Larry’s style of cooking and our vision for the Newhall Press Room,” Potter continued. “We hope you will join us soon on both of our outdoor patios. We appreciate our community and the City of Santa Clarita for being so supportive of our employees and the overall restaurant business community. Over the next few weeks, we should be back to pre-shutdown outdoor capacity.”

Newhall Press Room is located in Old Town Newhall at 24257 Main Street. Presently their hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 3 pm until 8 pm, Friday and Saturday 3 pm until 9 pm and Sundays from 12 noon until 6 pm. newhallpressroom.com

Gelson’s to Debut Four New Stellar Wine Offerings by Julien Fayard

November 26, 2020 by evebushman

ENCINO, Calif./PRNewswire/ — With the Holidays around the corner, Gelson’s is uncorking four new bottlings in its exclusive branded collection of Gelson’s Wines, all produced through its ongoing collaboration with one of their winemakers, Julien Fayard who was named 2016 “Winemaker of the Year” by Wine Spectrum. The four stellar wines will be available at all 27 Gelson’s locations across the Southland.

Photo credit: Jimmy Hayes, Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

“We feel very honored to work with Julien again. He is a renowned wine maker with an outstanding reputation from his early work with Lafite Rothschild and Smith Haut Lafitte in his native France, to the last dozen years earning respect across Napa Valley,” said John Bagan, Chief Merchandising Officer for Gelson’s. “We are constantly seeking out the best products from the best producers, and are excited that Gelson’s will continue to make superior quality wines from Julien available exclusively to thousands of our wine-loving Customers across Southern California.”

The new wines include:

Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville 2018

Created exclusively for Gelson’s by Julien Fayard, this splendid single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon boasts classic Bordeaux style. It is traditionally fermented (temperature-controlled in a stainless-steel tank) and aged for 22 months in new French oak barrels. Dark ruby in color, the wine is full-bodied and complex. Enticing aromas of ripe blueberry and blackberry lead to a robust blackberry palate with hints of cedar and spices balanced by silky tannins. The finish is long, smooth, and delicious.

Reserve Cabernet Franc Oakville 2018

The grapes in this impressive single-vineyard Cabernet Franc are traditionally fermented (temperature-controlled in a stainless-steel tank) and aged for 22 months in new French oak barrels, yielding a vibrant ruby color and tempting aromas of ripe cherry and spices. In addition to plush flavors of blueberry, blackberry, sweet red cherry, and cedar, the elegantly layered palate offers full body, silky tannins, and satisfying depth.

Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Rutherford 2019

The grapes in this Sauvignon Blanc are whole-cluster pressed and aged in stainless-steel barrels, resulting in a wine that’s light blonde in color, boasting creamy texture and an amazing mouthfeel with brisk acidity. Accents of pear and apricot flavors flow into a refreshing, refined finish.

Red Cuvée Napa Valley 2018

This delectable Red Cuvée, expertly blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah for a wine of bold yet measured character. The grapes are traditionally fermented (temperature-controlled in a stainless-steel tank) and aged for 22 months in French oak barrels. Pleasing aromas of ripe cherry, blackberry, and subtle flint accompany a richly textured, full-bodied palate with silky tannins. Dark fruit and earthy notes define the exquisite taste.

Gelson’s debuted its first branded collection of fine wines three years ago with four Santa Barbara reds (Pinot Noir, Grenache, Syrah, Sangiovese) and one white (Chardonnay), created exclusively for Gelson’s by local winemaker and Wine Spectator Grand Award winner Doug Margerum.

About Gelson’s

Gelson’s currently operates 27 full-service specialty grocery stores in Southern California. Each Gelson’s Market features the full amenities of a traditional supermarket, with the local flavor of a neighborhood market. Their high standards – for quality, value and freshness; unsurpassed service; and attention to detail – define the ultimate grocery shopping experience. With over 65 years’ experience, Gelson’s in-house experts know Southern California’s lifestyle and are driven to find only the best foods and exclusive values for their customers. Gelson’s is particularly known for flavorful, hand-selected produce, the best and freshest cuts of meat and seafood, and Chef-prepared signature recipes. This experience is rounded out by professionally designed floral arrangements, and a convenient selection of the highest quality grocery items. Find out why Life Tastes Better Here® at https://gelsons.com.

Lake County Wines Reach New a Pinnacle

November 14, 2020 by evebushman

KELSEYVILLE, Calif., PRNewswire — Lake County received the highest rating ever achieved by a wine from its region – receiving a 96 point rating for the 2016 Sol Rouge Petite Sirah from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Lake County, a small wine growing region directly north of Napa, used to be part of Napa County and was said to have grown as many grapes as Napa in the 1900s. However, the 1920 Prohibition brought an end to Lake County wine production as vines were removed and planted with other crops.

Lake County’s re-emergence in the wine industry began in the 1960s and grew from less than 100 acres in 1965 to nearly 10,000 acres today. Although large premium Napa Valley grape growers like Beringer and Beckstoffer Vineyards established themselves in the county, few wineries included “Lake County” on their labels, as most wine was often blended into that of Napa Valley and Sonoma wines.

In 2007, a dozen wineries in Lake County including Sol Rouge Winery, established the Lake County Winery Association to promote awareness. At the time, Lake County wines were relatively unknown or reviewed by the top wine magazines with only a few wines receiving a 90+ point rating. Most of these wines were made by Napa winemakers like Thomas Rivers Brown, maker of the Schrader Cellars Double Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon from Beckstoffer’s Amber Knolls Vineyard.

Today, the Lake County Winery Association has over three dozen vintners like Shannon Ridge, Gregory Graham, Brassfield, Hawk & Horse, and Obsidian Ridge, who commonly make wines in the 90-95 point range. “We’ve seen a trend in higher ratings from all of our Lake County wineries and this rating is just another example of how wineries are producing world-class wines from Lake County,” said Helena Walsh, Director of Lake County Winery Association.

The 2016 Sol Rouge Petite Sirah put Lake County in a completely different league, scoring a 96 point rating by one of the top wine review magazines – the highest in the county’s 50+ year history of winemaking. “I actually never checked on how rare that rating was. I tasted the Sol Rouge Petite Sirah blind of course, along with a few other Petites from Lake and two other appellations, so when I scored it I didn’t know the AVA. It’s a magnificent wine and a great example of how good the Lake County terroir can be,” said Jim Gordon, Contributing Editor, Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

“When we planted the Sol Rouge Vineyard, we sought to grow the best possible grapes to make the finest wine we could,” said Bryan Kane, Co-Owner & Winemaker of Sol Rouge Vineyard & Winery. “When we came to Lake County, the highest rating from one of the Big 3 (Spectator, Enthusiast & Parker) was 92 points. So far, we’ve earned 90–94 points on 44 of our 51 Lake County wines, with the majority scoring 92-94 points.” Bryan attributes the higher scores amongst Lake County wines both improved winemaking and the excellent growing conditions.

“Lake County produces some of the most distinct winegrapes in the world, and over the years, we’ve seen a steady increase in recognition of the region’s wines,” said Debra Sommerfield, President of the Lake County Winegrape Commission. “This impressive rating further substantiates Lake County’s position as a top-tier winegrowing region.”

With all the recent devastation to the Napa and Sonoma wine growing regions caused by the Glass and LNU Lightning Complex fires, wineries have been looking to Lake County for grapes. Jim Smith of Case by Case Wine Brokers states, “We have been challenged as of late with the soaring demand of winegrapes from Lake County. I believe the work is out on what winemakers can expect from our wine growing region.”

“We are honored and excited to have received such a high rating on our 2016 Petite Sirah and expect that Sol Rouge and others will continue to aspire to make highly rated world class wines,” stated Jill Brothers, Sol Rouge Co-Owner and Winegrower.

ABOUT SOL ROUGE

Sol Rouge is a family estate located in the Mayacamas Mountains at elevations averaging over 1800 feet. North of Napa in the foothills of a dormant volcano which formed the North Coast wine country in the Red Hills Appellation of Lake County, this land contains rich, red volcanic soil and, from this unique profile, Sol Rouge derived its name – translating to “Red Soil” in French. This 70 acre estate is planted with Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsaut, Counoise, Zinfandel, Petite Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc in a “high vine density” configuration allowing each vine to focus on fewer clusters of fruit, leading to greater complexity. Nestled between Mt. Konocti and Benson Ridge, this aggressive sight is all hillside with slopes up to 60% and is said to be the most aggressive and tightly planted vineyard in the Red Hills, with nearly 6000 vines per hectare in some blocks. For more information, see http://www.solrouge.com

2016 Sol Rouge Petite Sirah Wine Enthusiast Magazine Review: https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/sol-rouge-2016-petite-sirah-lake-county/

Oregon’s Domaine Serene Becomes the World’s Most Awarded Winery at Decanter’s 2020 World Wine Awards

November 7, 2020 by evebushman

DAYTON, Ore., /PRNewswire/ — Domaine Serene is far and away the most awarded winery in the world at the prestigious Decanter 2020 World Wine Awards. This year, the Dundee Hills winery took home 23 medals including ‘Best in Show’ for their 2016 Domaine Serene Mark Bradford Vineyard Pinot Noir, earning 97 points. The winery also brought home four Gold medals, 17 Silver medals, and one Bronze medal, with five wines earning a remarkable 95 points or more. Domaine Serene was not alone in its success with additional rave reviews coming for Château de la Crée and Maison Evenstad, also owned by proprietors Grace and Ken Evenstad. Their two Burgundian wineries were bestowed with an additional nine medals including seven Silvers. Standing at the top, their 2017 Maison Evenstad, Premier Cru Beaurepaire Santenay, earned 95 points, besting several Grand Cru Burgundies in the tasting.

Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) is widely considered to be the world’s most important international wine competition, making this recognition yet another big win for Oregon’s burgeoning luxury wine industry. With an elite international panel of judges, the DWWA began the painstaking task of evaluating over 16,500 wines from 56 countries in August. Over the course of 28 consecutive days, 118 expert wine judges, including 37 Masters of Wine and nine Master Sommeliers, bestowed the honor of most awarded winery to Domaine Serene.

“Ken and I are thrilled that Domaine Serene has received such incredible recognition across the board. To be the most awarded winery in the world at the DWWA is a testament to the quality of our vineyards and to the talent, hard work and dedication of our team,” said Grace Evenstad, Co-Founder and Owner of Domaine Serene. “To receive ‘Best in Show’ for our Mark Bradford Vineyard Pinot Noir is especially gratifying. We named the vineyard after our son, Mark Bradford Evenstad, and it was the first vineyard that we ever planted at Domaine Serene almost thirty years ago. Planting its high elevation slopes and west facing aspect went against advice from the local vintners, yet we knew it had the potential to make world-class wine and so we planted it anyway. It has always been one of my favorite wines and I have long appreciated the power, structure, and longevity of our Mark Bradford Pinot Noirs. We are thrilled that it has received such critical acclaim at such an important competition.”

“In its 17^th year, the DWWA is the world’s largest and most influential wine competition. Judged by the top wine experts from around the globe, the DWWA is trusted internationally for its rigorous blind judging process and regional experts,” said Bree Stock, Master of Wine and Education Manager of the Oregon Wine Board. “It’s an enormous feat for a region like Oregon, that represents a fraction of US global exports, to receive ‘Best in Show’ along with the breadth of medals in such a prestigious competition. This award raises the profile and awareness of our region’s wines not only to Decanters’ highly informed consumer audience, but also to the global wine experts on the judging panel. Congratulations Domaine Serene.”

Domaine Serene took home a total of 23 medals from the elite London-based contest. In addition to being awarded ‘Best in Show’, the winery earned four Gold Medals for the 2016 ‘Aspect’ Pinot Noir, 2017 Clos de Lune Vineyard Chardonnay, and 2016 Etoile Vineyard Chardonnay, each earning 96 points, with its 2016 Two Barns Vineyard Pinot Noir, earning 95 points. The Dundee Hills winery also brought home 17 Silver medals and one Bronze medal, more details can be found here. Domaine Serene wines have now earned 95 points and above by major critics an astounding 115 times! This is in addition to being awarded #1 Ranked Pinot Noir in the World by Wine Spectator in 2013 and in 2016 #1 Pinot Noir in the World by Decanter and #1 White Wine in the World by Wine Spectator, for its ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay. This universal acclaim from an array of critics solidifies Domaine Serene as America’s Most Acclaimed Winery.

“We are humbled by this great honor and thank our members, distributors and customers supporting our pursuit of quality over the years. To celebrate these awards, we are making some of the medalists available for tasting at our winery Clubhouse in the Dundee Hills and at the Domaine Serene Wine Lounge in Lake Oswego. We are also opening up our wine library to new and existing wine club members so that they can share in the enjoyment of these cherished wines in their homes.” said Ryan Harris, Domaine Serene President.

For more information, to visit our locations or to join the wine club or mailing list, please visit www.DomaineSerene.com or call 503-864-4600 and follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

About Domaine Serene
The Evenstads settled in the Northern Willamette Valley in 1989. Their spirit and passion to produce wines that rival the great wines of Burgundy led them to purchase and plant a hilltop estate that had just been logged in the now famous Dundee Hills.

Today, Domaine Serene produces wines from six individual vineyard estates, planted exclusively to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In Oregon, the Evenstads own nearly 1,000 total acres of land in the hills of Yamhill County, with 275 acres planted to vine.

Working every job in the winery for many years, Grace and Ken Evenstad built Domaine Serene from the ground up with a focus on producing high quality wines through innovation and a focus on excellence. The Evenstads have gained a true appreciation for the attention to detail required to make exceptional wines.

In 2015, Ken and Grace Evenstad fulfilled a lifelong dream of producing wine in Burgundy, France by acquiring Château de la Crée, the respected wine estate located in the birthplace of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay: the renowned Côte d’Or. They own 25 acres of prime vineyards in Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Santenay and Maranges. This made them the first Oregon-based vintners to own land and produce wines in Burgundy.

In just under three decades, the Evenstads have propelled Domaine Serene onto the global stage as one of the world’s most acclaimed and respected wineries. Domaine Serene’s wines represent the achievement that is possible in Oregon, one of the finest regions in the world for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Learning About Cosmopolitan’s Wine, the Best Wines “you can afford to drink daily” and the Cab that Stole my Palate – With Guarachi Wine Partners

October 30, 2020 by evebushman

When was the last time you tasted wine with one of your favorite wine influencers? It’s been 8 years since I drove over to Woodland Hills to taste wine with Alex Guarachi, owner of both Guarachi Wine Partners, as well as his own Napa-based Guarachi Family Wines label. Alex’s portfolio of wines have been included in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 of the year, dozens of 90+ scored wines from reputable sources and he’s been named Wine Importer of the Year…

Eve and Alex Guarachi, 10/2020.

That paragraph above was one of my public social media posts ahead of my reconnecting with Guarachi. After that came two more posts, one was a video of all of the bottles we shared and the second was nine photos of our fun. This is the story behind it all now.

Guarachi has been kept pretty busy with his distribution company and his winemaking, he now had many more wines to share from both – it’s been 35 years of growth. In our meeting I learned about one wine brand while tasting three others. I’ll start with the one we didn’t taste: Uncorked by Cosmopolitan. Yes, Cosmopolitan magazine with “the largest young women’s media brand in the world.”

Uncorked by Cosmopolitan

Uncorked by Cosmopolitan

First look: the “Uncorked” wine label is silky smooth on one side, holographic on the other and a shape that is reminiscent of an open magazine…I think! We didn’t get to sample these as they are not yet released, so stay tuned as the magazine will surely be advertising their new babies made by Guarachi! And look for these reasonably priced wines on supermarkets and box stores everywhere. Varietals, with these cute little sayings on each, include 2019 “That’s enough todaying for today” Chardonnay, 2019 “Cheers to pour decisions” Rose, 2019 “Cuz Mercury’s always in retrograde” Pinot Noir and 2018 “This is totally one glass” Cabernet Sauvignon.

Parker Station ($15 range)

Parker Station makes a mighty tasty 2018 Chardonnay that has a mild acidity and benefited from four months in French Oak; a 2018 Pinot Noir that was an easy drinker and I could see why it was a #1 selling wine. Guarachi said the Pinot is the best in the price range. I liked the Pinot with a little chill on it and found it both fresh and fruity. Both wines are made with grapes from Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties; they also make a 2017 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon that had a great nose with a bit lighter flavor than most high alcohol Paso Cabs, and a lovely finish. Guarachi bought the label awhile back “but they’re still married” and he continues to purchase the grapes from the Santa Barbara County and Edna County. All labels proudly state, “The best (Chard, Pinot or Cab name is filled in here) you can afford to drink daily.” I agree.

Tenshen Wines ($20 to $25 range)

I was wowed by both a 2017 Central Coast White wine that was predominantly a white Rhone, with a twist (they added Chardonnay to it) that was aged six to seven months in French oak; and a yummy Cabernet Sauvignon made from Paso’s westside and had spent seven to eight months in French oak. These wines are from a partnership between Guarachi and winemaker Joey Tensley.

Guarachi Family Wines ($75 to $95 range)

Really enjoyed the buttery Guarachi 2018 Sun Chase Estate Vineyard, Petaluma Gap, Chardonnay. The wine is a new release, its grown at the highest elevation in the Sonoma Coast, spent 11 months in new French oak, and no barrel is over two years old; then came the 2018 Sun Chase Estate Vineyard, Petaluma Gap, Pinot Noir – an easy drinker, both rich and tannic.

Finally, the giant 2017 Meadowrock Estate Vineyard, Atlas Peak, Cabernet Sauvignon stole my palate. When we were on the Cab Guarachi commented, “Who doesn’t like it?” and I had to agree. It had spent 20 months in new French oak (65% new) and also benefited from all red volcanic soil. I found it rich, tannic and a length that never gave out. The 14.8% alcohol didn’t translate to heat, it gave the wine tremendous backbone. He had started this endeavor over a decade before, and those years of experience shows. Both the Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon have been richly awarded in wine competitions.

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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.