Eve's Wine 101

America’s Best Wine Festival, The Garagiste, Offers America’s Best Wine Club

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PASO ROBLES, CALIF. (PRWEB) – America’s Best Wine Festival (USA Today), The Garagiste Festival, has launched The Official Garagiste Festival Wine Club, offering consumers across the US* rare access to the same under-the-radar, innovative, micro-production wineries that have made The Garagiste Wine Festival famous. And, just like the festival, which limits attendance to preserve its singular experience, only 300 members will have access to the limited production wines of The Garagiste Wine Festival Club.

The club also offers wine lovers a chance to contribute to the future of winemaking as it supports The Garagiste Festival Scholarship Fund at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, one of the country’s top winemaking programs.

“The Garagiste Festival Wine Club is another first for the garagiste movement” said Garagiste Festival Co-founder Doug Minnick. “We are so excited to introduce the official wine club of The Garagiste Festival, offering wines delivered straight from the garagiste movement’s heart to your doorstep. No other wine club provides access to this range of hard-to-find gems from the burgeoning micro-winery movement, and none are associated with the actual Garagiste Festival.”

The Garagiste Festival helped spark the garagiste wine movement when it launched in 2011 with a mission to bring wider attention to the undiscovered and under-recognized American artisan micro-wineries making some of the best, most exciting, handcrafted small-lot production wines in the world. It is the nation’s first and only festival to showcase the wines of micro-production commercial ‘garagiste**’ winemakers.

Garagiste Festival Wine Club members receive three shipments of four bottles of premium wines each year that reflect each of the Garagiste Festival regions: Paso Robles, Northern California, and Southern California (including Santa Barbara County). Membership in the club means that consumers who are unable to travel (as well as those who can!) to the festival’s four annual events can experience remarkable, hand-crafted wines from some of California’s (and the US’) most renowned and innovative wine regions, year-round.

For example, the next wine shipment will include wines from among the over 40 micro-production wines from Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lodi, Sierra Foothills and Livermore that will be poured at The Garagiste Festival: Northern Exposure which takes place on April 30th in Sonoma, at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Hall. To buy tickets, click here.

Carefully selected in a blind tasting by a panel of industry professionals (winemakers, sommeliers, wine writers, etc.) from the over 600 wineries in the Garagiste Festival’s orbit, the Garagiste Certified wines encompass the wide range of varieties, blends, and styles — and the high quality typical of The Garagiste Festival. Each shipment reflects The Garagiste Festival’s core principles: micro-production, locally-sourced, passionately-produced, and delicious — the kind of quality and innovation only achievable by wines handcrafted in small batches.

“Our festivals, the home of the garagiste movement, are known for discovering today’s, and tomorrow’s, rockstar winemakers,” continued Minnick. “Our wine club brings that rare opportunity closer to home.”

To join The Garagiste Festival Wine Club click here
For more information about The Garagiste Festival, click here
For breaking Garagiste Festival news and special discounts, sign-up for our free newsletter, The Dirt, at https://www.garagistefestival.com/garagiste-blog or follow us on Twitter (@GaragisteFest) or Facebook.

*Garagiste Festival Wine Club shipping is available in the following states: AK, CA, FL, NV, OR and Washington DC.

About The Garagiste Wine Festival
The Garagiste Wine Festival (http://www.garagistefestival.com), named “Best of the Fests” for 2019 by Fest Forums and the ‘Best Wine Festival in the US in 2018 in USA Today’s 10Best Readers Choice Awards, is the first and only wine festival dedicated to the undiscovered and under-recognized American artisan ‘garagiste’ micro-wineries who are making some of the best, most exciting, handcrafted small-lot production wines in the world. Founded by fellow garagistes Stewart McLennan and Douglas Minnick, the Garagiste Festivals are committed to discovering the best and most innovative limited-production winemakers and promoting and showcasing them to a broad audience of discerning wine consumers. In addition to its flagship annual festival in Paso Robles, CA, the Garagiste Festival line-up includes Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure, featuring Santa Ynez Valley garagistes; the Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure, in Los Angeles; the Garagiste Festival, Northern Exposure, in Sonoma; winemaker dinners, a newsletter, garagiste profiles and more.

In addition to being named the US’ Best Wine Festival, the Garagiste Festival was named one of the ‘Top Nine Incredible Epicurean Vacations’ in the world by ABC News, “one of the premier wine events of the year,” by the LA Times and “Best Festival” by Sunset Magazine’s ‘Best of the West.’ The festivals are produced by Garagiste Events, a non-profit dedicated to furthering the education of future winemakers and those training for employment within the wine industry. Proceeds from the festivals support the Garagiste Festival Scholarship fund of the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo Wine and Viticulture Department.

**Garagiste (garage-east) is a term originally used in the Bordeaux region of France to denigrate renegade small-lot wine makers, sometimes working in their “garages” (anything considered not a chateau), who refused to follow the “rules,” and is now a full-fledged movement responsible for making some of the best wine in the world. The Garagiste Festivals were the first to shine a light on the American garagiste winemaker in 2011.

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.

New Napa wine documentary “A Perfect Vintage”

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Winner: Seattle Wine and Film Festival (Best Feature Documentary) | Winner: iHollywood Film Fest (Best Artistry Film) | Winner: New York International Film Awards (Best Cinematography, Best Director) | Winner: Los Angeles Film Awards (Best Director) | Winner: Film Invasion Los Angeles (Audience Award)

Vision Films Inc. (“Vision”) announces the VOD release of the oenological documentary A Perfect Vintage on March 22, 2022 followed by DVD in April. The film was directed and produced by Troy Christian through his production company RuffHouse Entertainment and co-produced by Tom Graves and Timothy Milos. With unprecedented access behind the scenes, some of the most renowned California winemakers share how they embrace the rhythms of Mother Nature and captured an epic year of prime winemaking conditions.

In 2013 the viticultural conditions in the Napa Valley were absolutely perfect. Join some of the world’s finest winemakers, including Timothy Milos (Impassable Mountain), Angelina Mondavi (Aloft, Dark Matter Wines), Bertus van Zyl (Tank Garage, James Cole, T-Vine), Elizabeth Vianna (Chimney Rock), and Ian Todd Blackburn (Beekeeper Cellars), as they share what it takes – the land, the weather, the people, and ultimately, the fruit – to create every bottle of wine. The stunning beauty of one of the world’s top wine growing regions, and the most romantic aspect of “terroir” – the complete natural environment – are showcased. Conversations with vintners, critics, and sommeliers share the passion and techniques that bring the perfect bottle of wine to the table. Wine is one of the few crafted products that’s origin can be traced back to where it’s from and to the people who made it. From pruning to pouring, tasting to the point system, discover why 2013 was truly “A Perfect Vintage.”

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFZRMLNmyjI

Lise Romanoff, CEO and Managing Director of Vision Films says, “A Perfect Vintage is a stunningly beautiful, entertaining, and very informative documentary. Whether the viewer is a wine aficionado, a wine enthusiast, or just plain curious, they will be captivated by the passion that some of the most recognizable winemakers in the world have for their craft and the tender loving care they put into every bottle.”

Filmmaker Troy Christian shares, “Like a crafted fine wine, this documentary film was a long and detailed process. One that took a village made up of close family and friends – including Tom Graves who joined the project bringing his shared passion for filmmaking, wine and his drone skills. And, as wine is at its best when shared with people you love, I hope that sharing this film with audiences everywhere brings similar joy. Cheers!”

Key cast: Winemakers Timothy Milos (Immortal Estate – formerly Hidden Ridge Vineyard, Korbin Kameron, Viluko Vineyards, Haber Family Vineyards, Howell at the Moon, Stewart Cellars, RD Winery), Angelina Mondavi (Aloft, Dark Matter Wines), Bertus van Zyl (Tank Garage, James Cole, Belong Wines), Elizabeth Vianna (Chimney Rock Winery), Ian Todd Blackburn (Beekeeper Cellars), Sam Kaplan (Arkenstone), Michael Trujillo (Trujillo Wines), Christy Harper (Assistant Winemaker – Vino di Milos), sommelier Christopher Sawyer, and vintners Ron Haber (Haber Family Vineyards), Peter and the late George Rubissow (Rubissow Wines).

 A Perfect Vintage will be available on major VOD streaming platforms and across hundreds of cable providers in the US and Canada on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. The DVD will be available in April.

About Vision Films

Vision Films is a leading independent sales and VOD aggregator specializing in the licensing, marketing, and distribution of over 800 feature films, documentaries, and series from some of the most prolific independent film producers in the world. Led by Lise Romanoff, Managing Director/CEO Worldwide Distribution, Vision Films releases 2-4 films a month across Theatrical, VOD, DVD, and television.

iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/a-perfect-vintage/id1606037939

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Vintage-Timothy-Milos/dp/B09QGS5HPH/

Vimeo – https://vimeo.com/ondemand/aperfectvintage

Google Play – https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/A_Perfect_Vintage?id=9ZwT47iEPnQ.P&hl=en_US&gl=US

Vudu – https://www.vudu.com/content/movies/details/A-Perfect-Vintage/2000643

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYEJfKpmUcw

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

Carter Creek Winery Earns 10 More Medals

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JOHNSON CITY, Texas – Carter Hospitality Group is pleased to announce that its Carter Creek Winery in the heart of Texas Hill Country was awarded 10 prestigious awards at the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (SFCWC), which took place January 11 to 14 with over 55 industry professionals serving as judges as they evaluated 5,700 wines from more than 1,100 wineries throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The SFCWC is the largest competition in North America and over its 22 years has become one of the world’s most respected wine competitions. Its esteemed judges come from the worlds of winemaking, media, trade, education and restaurant/hospitality industries.

“These awards, including two Best of Class, one Double Gold and two Gold are very important to us and our team, led by veteran winemaker Jon McPherson, as they validate our experience, expertise and dedication to the wines we produce at Carter Creek Winery. We look forward to displaying the awards from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition in our handsome tasting rooms,” said Jeff Carter, president of Carter Hospitality.

Carter Creek’s vineyards in Texas Hill Country produce varietals especially unique due to the combination of an extremely warm growing season and an early harvest delivering softer, earth-driven wines. The 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Awards for Carter Creek Winery include Best in Class for NV Dominum Tinto and for NV Sangria. A Double Gold award was given to NV Sparkling, and Golds were earned by 2016 Plateau Red and 2018 Viognier-Roussanne. NV Brut, 2017 Maverick, 2018 Maverick and 2017 Viognier-Roussanne earned Silver designations. A Bronze award was given to 2016 Tempranillo.

Producing award-winning wines since 2016, Carter Creek Winery is a sister winery to Temecula, California’s award-winning South Coast Winery Resort & Spa and Carter Estate Winery and Resort. Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa features 78 luxury villas, a spa, tasting rooms, restaurant, its own onsite microbrewery creating small batch craft beers and an outdoor event center, which features top musical acts.

About Carter Hospitality Group

Established in 2011, Carter Hospitality Group, LLC. is a family-owned hospitality company with four hotels and resorts as well as three wineries across the United States. Based in Orange County, California, the company manages and owns a portfolio of luxury properties including South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, Temecula, California; Carter Estate Winery and Resort, Temecula California; and Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa, Texas Hill Country. Carter Hospitality Group additionally serves as the owner-franchisee for Red Lion Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista South, Orlando Florida. For more information, visit www.carterhospitality.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/

Perlises Pick: Exploring the Paso Robles Area

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Much as one might want to, spending 24 hours per day at wineries is not a realistic option. So, here are some non-winery suggestions:

First, you’ll need a place to stay on your visit. Unlike when we first started visiting the area decades ago, Paso Robles offers a wide range of accommodations for every taste and budget. For a place that is right in the middle, both in pricing and proximity to wineries, we really enjoyed staying at the Oxford Suites. It is also just south of the center of town where the nightlife is. This is a fairly new hotel, and we were very pleased with the cleanliness and the amenities, such as the full hot breakfast and the manager’s reception in the evening. The breakfast is complimentary to all guests and the reception, while available to all, is complimentary to those who book their stays directly. There is a very nice fire pit in the back. But the best part for us was the hotel staff. Everyone was extremely helpful and cheerful – not a surly one in this bunch. We’d like to give a particular shout-out to Erin – she was outstanding. An added bonus was the practically private freeway entrance to head south on CA101 to Highway 46 W or Tin City.

Oxford Suites

www.oxfordsuitespasorobles.com

800 4th Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446

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A while back, we reviewed San Luis Obispo County Wine – A World Class History [www.evewine101.com/2021/04/03/perlis-picks-san-luis-obispo-county-wine-a-world-class-history-book-review/]. Since then, we’d been eagerly looking forward to finally meeting up with co-author Libbie Agran, who is the founder of The Wine History Project of San Luis Obispo County (the Project). The Project has exhibits at various locations in the area, but its home is in the Paso Robles History Museum in the middle of Paso Robles City Park, with the showcase Wine History Gallery. We got there just in time for the end of the Celebrating Zinfandel exhibit, which was perfect for these Zinfans – the exhibit really brought back of lot of good memories. Hopefully, we will make it back in time to see the exhibit that replaced it: Celebrating Amphorae, which explores this ancient winemaking practice, including the area winemakers that are still using it. From Libbie: “You will love the Amphora Exhibit. We are near completion of our Documentary Film on the same subject. Patrick McGovern at the University of Pennsylvania, the famous archeologist who analyzes food and wine residues in clay vessels or shards found around the world, will be interviewed for the film which will be released next Spring. We are planning two Symposia in Paso Robles on Amphorae winemaking in 2022 in Paso Robles.

There will be winemakers from other countries including Georgia, Italy, and Armenia attending.” But again, the Wine History Project has exhibits all over town and you should check out the website for more information. Libbie brings an incredible amount of passion to this project and it is well worth your time. Also worth your time is the rest of the Paso Robles History Museum where you can learn even more about the area and its long history. Docents are very knowledgeable and helpful.

The Wine History Project of San Luis Obispo County

www.winehistoryproject.org

Paso Robles History Museum

www.pasorobleshistorymuseum.org

800 12th Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446

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Getting away to Cambria for a respite from wine tasting (that is if you want one!) is always a fun trip. It is just a 25-minute drive on scenic Highway 46 W. Cambria is as quaint and busy as ever. This time, we took a side trip and left downtown Cambria for the beautiful trails of the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. They have a wide range of easy-to-moderate experiences with stunning views of the crashing waves. We have been there at sunset a number of times and it takes your breath away. And it’s free – although donations are always welcome.

www.fiscaliniranchpreserve.org

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Finally, you gotta eat, right?

Our favorite restaurant in Paso and one of our favorites anywhere is Il Cortile. Michael hadn’t eaten pasta in months and knew if he was getting it anywhere it would be here. From appetizers of seafood zuppa and poached egg over white polenta to main courses of papparedelle with wild boar ragu and the branzino special, along with the great service and beautiful night sky, we were so glad to be back in Paso.

Il Cortile

www.ilcortileristorante.com

608 12th Street

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We’ve eaten many times at the original Black Cat Bistro in Cambria but this was our first time at its sister restaurant, Black Cat Bistro Too in Paso. It was the same great food and service we’ve come to expect. The pork belly appetizer was incredible and the entrees of duck breast and shrimp scampi were delicious as well. Our server Dancene took great care of us on the sidewalk patio.

The Black Cat Bistro Too

www.blackcatbistro.com

1218 Pine Street

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Roots on Railroad and The Backyard on Thirteenth provide a unique outdoor food (Roots) and drink (Backyard) combination that should not be ignored. Roots was founded by Chef Chris Beckett and his business partner Katie Castillo in early 2020. Chris had been founding chef for local faves Fish Gaucho and The Crooked Kilt. After an extensive career in in the industry, he wanted to open the “biggest-little restaurant in town.” The large Backyard beer garden provides a great complement of mostly local beers and wines to go with the food or just for sipping on their own. There are umbrellas for shade, tables and comfy lounges with ample seating

www.thebackyardpaso.com

1300 Railroad Street

www.rootsonrailroad.com

1304 Railroad Street

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Finally, we also really enjoyed our breakfast at the Hunter Ranch Golf Course on our way into town as well as lunches at Vivant Cheese Shop, Taste Craft Eatery, and Springside Restaurant. All these places provide great service, outdoor seating, and delicious food too.

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.

Three Areas to Discover from “Taste the Difference”

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Alella, a small wine district in the north eastern part of Spain centers around the village of the same name just a few miles from the eastern edge of Barcelona. Alella, one of the oldest in the Iberian Peninsula, dates back to the period of the ancient Romans and occupies an area of about 230 hectares in the Maresme and Valles Oriental counties. Alella’s climate is broadly Mediterranean with noticeable variations between vineyard sites due to the orography of the terrain. The economy in the region has been traditionally based on agriculture and shipping, of particular note, viticulture and floriculture account for more than half the production within these sectors.

Winemaking emerged in the Allela area with the Romans in the 1st century AD and was sufficiently acknowledged by AD 77. However, the Romans brought more than just wine to the area, establishing roads to connect their various provinces. During the middle ages the wines of Allela’s region were favored at the Barcelona Cathedral and later became one of the highest quality wines exported to overseas colonies.

The majority of wines emerging from this region are crisp, dry, floral scented whites made from the local grape varieties including Xarel-lo, referred to as Pansa Blanca locally, Garnacha Blanca, Viura, and French varieties such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Red and rose wines throughout the region are primarily produced with Garnacha Negra as well as Monastrell, Syrah, Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Tempranillo. Vines in this region are planted at altitudes anywhere from 195ft (60m) to 800ft (250m) above sea level with older vines growing freely while newer vineyards have been planted on trellises. Alella wines, more than any other, are ingrained in the tradition of the Barcelona table, mainly the reborn and restless Barcelona, that have laid the foundation of today’s great region.

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The campaign “Taste the Difference: Quality Wines from the Heart of Europe” makes you discover Custoza, an Italian Controlled Designation of Origin. This program, managed by the Unione Italiana Vini, the Association of the Italian wine market, and Prodeca, the organism that supports the agri-food sector from the region of Catalunya abroad, aims to promote European PDO and PGI wines in China and US.

This premier appellation from the Italian Veneto region offers quality wines produced from world-renowned native grape varieties such as Garganega, Trebbianello, and Malvasia.

As wine consumption in the US trends toward high acid, lower alcohol wines that offer refreshment and the versatility to accompany various cuisines, Custoza DOC is uniquely positioned for success in the US market. The wines of Custoza DOC are ideal for wine consumers who love time-tested classics, and for those who seek to discover wines of unique character.

The winemakers of Custoza DOC are dedicated to producing wines of remarkable quality for tables around the world. Veneto is a region with a centuries-long history of winemaking – a tradition that’s deeply ingrained within its culture and society. Custoza DOC is a shining example of wines from the Veneto, and an emblem of outstanding Italian viticulture. The Consortium of Custoza DOC is a member of Unione Italiana Vini (UIV), the oldest commercial association representing the Italian wine market.

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Cava: The 2021 vintage will be remembered as the first in which wineries can mention on the labels where it is that the grapes are grown, since new zones and sub-zones approved by the Designation of Origin Regulatory Council came into force. These new regulations mark out three defined production areas: Comtats de Barcelona, Valle del Ebro and Viñedos de Almendralejo, along with seven sub-zones: Valls d’Anoia-Foix, Conca del Gaià, Serra de Mar, Serra de Prades, Pla de Ponent, Alto Ebro and Valle del Cierzo. To guarantee traceability, a new software platform has been set up for this campaign, as part of the digital transformation currently taking place within this Protected Designation of Origin.

The terroir-driven attempt aims to shape the perception of Cava as a wine with a multitude of territorial interpretations: a complex sparkling wine that deserves a year-long attention. This happens in a moment when the US market has become more receptive to the category of sparklings as wines suitable for everyday consumption, and not only reserved for special occasions or holidays celebrations.

A series of events run in the US these past months, including Taste The Difference Grand Tasting taking place on December 9th in New York City, have helped convey this message to trade, press and consumers. Additional tastings have focused on the new regulation to convey both grape sourcing information and minimum ageing time. The new rules establish a distinction between Cava de Guarda, which indicates wines aged for minimum 9 months on the lees, and Cava de Guarda Superior, applicable only to wines aged on the lees for at least 18 months and including under its umbrella the Reserva, Gran Reserva and Cava de Paraje Calificado. The ageing time for the Cava Reserva has also been extended from 15 to 18 months whereas the 30 months ageing requirements for Gran Reserva (30 month)and the 36 months Cava de Paraje Calificado remain unchanged.

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 de Exportaciones Catalanas (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.

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 de Exportaciones Catalanas (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.

 

Italian PDO’s and PGI’s Embrace Pink Wines To Conquer New Palates

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NEW YORK (PRWEB) – While many think Rosé is largely a French invention that started in Provence, Italian “Vini Rosa” (Pink Wines) have a long tradition behind them. They are among the most diverse rosé wines in the world in terms of color and grape varieties. One can find wines with a pale pink onion skin color, going through to salmon color, and then onto the darker tones of rosé.

The wines come from a host of indigenous or native grapes and can be made using a few different methods. Some are done only using direct press, others with what is known as the saignee method – the bleeding off of the juice after a shorter maceration than used in red winemaking.

While there is a lot of variation, what they tend to have in common is that these are food friendly wines, like most other Italian wines. They almost always have pronounced acidity and freshness. They are usually paired with local fare but can be enjoyed on their own, and they are perfect year long.

Some areas in Italy that have always been known for their “Vini Rosa” include Puglia and Calabria, where the rosé is called Rosato; Veneto and Lombardy, where the name for the rosé is Chiaretto; and Abruzzo, where Cerasuolo is produced. In Northern Italy, in the Lake Garda Region, the Chiaretto tradition dates back to Roman times, while Rosatos from Southern Italy have ancient Greek traditions. Trentino-Alto Adige and Tuscany also have Rosato traditions on a smaller scale.

In March 2019, Rosautoctono – the Italian Institute for the Indigenous Vini Rosa – was created and it includes: Consorzio di tutela del Chiaretto e del Bardolino, Consorzio di Tutela Vini DOC Castel del Monte, Consorzio di Tutela Vini d’Abruzzo, Consorzio di Tutela vini DOC Salice Salentino, Consorzio Vini Cirò e Melissa, and Consorzio Valtènesi. Castel del Monte today has the only Italian DOCG dedicated solely to a Rosato, Castel del Monte Bombino Nero DOCG. All the rosé wines of these Italian Consortia and appellations are made with indigeonous grape varietes: Corvina Veronese and Rondinella for Chiaretto di Bardolino DOC, Groppello for Valtènesi Chiaretto DOC, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo for Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC, Bombino Nero for the Castel del Monte DOC and DOCG rosé wines, Negroamaro for Salice Salentino DOC and Gaglioppo for Cirò Rosato DOC.

No discussion would be complete without mentioning the world of bubbles in Italy and the new Prosecco DOC Rose style that entered the market last year. What’s old is new because Pinot Noir has grown on the hills of the province of Treviso for decades. Sparkling rosé can also be found in Franciacorta DOCGs, Oltrepò Pavese DOCG, and Trento DOC, three areas renowned for their sparkling wines.

Delightful wines made from indigenous grapes throughout Italy are ready for discovery.

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 de Exportaciones Catalanas (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.