August, 2007
Written by: Ben Bicais on Wednesday, August 29 2007
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The 6th Annual Wine Tasting and Auction for Healthy Kids will be held on September 23, 2007 from 1-4 pm at Thomas Fogarty Winery & Vineyard. The entire $150 price of admission will be donated to California’s Healthy Kids program, which works to provide health insurance for needy children.
Several wineries will be pouring at this event including Far Niente, Frog’s Leap, Rombauer Vineyards, Stryker Sonoma, Schramsberg, Duckhorn, Kathryn Kennedy, Kings Mountain Winery, and of course, Thomas Fogarty.
Thomas Fogarty Winery is located at 19501 Skyline Blvd. in the town of Woodside, California. Tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 874-1904. Guests are encouraged to bring a bottle of wine for the auction.
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Wednesday, August 22 2007
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Once again, there’s controversy in the Napa Valley. This time, it’s locals versus the planned development of a winery. The Del Dotto Winery was the center of this controversy as area neighbors were upset that they made changes to the original development proposal.
The winery’s plans were first brought before the county in July 2003, and passed almost unanimously. But since then, the project has been red flagged because of numerous changes to the plan.
The main point of contention stems from plans to raise the height of the cave from eight to fourteen feet. This added a 2,600 square foot patio to the top of the cave that neighbors feared that Del Dotto would use for loud outdoor parties. The addition of 20 new parking spaces raised a red flag for neighbors.
Neighbors Oliver and Karen Caldwell are worried because of the “incredibly loud late-night pyrotechnic rock concert the Del Dottos hosted when they first applied for their winery permit.” Another neighbor described finding Del Dotto wine glasses around his swimming pool in the wake of one party at the nearby winery.
The planning commission recently approved the use permit modification, which stopped the construction of the two story cave. It is had provisions that prohibited Del Dotto from having public and private events on the patio during the evening hours.
This seems like a pretty fair compromise for both Del Dotto and the surrounding neighbors. Unfortunately, Del Dotto will have to deal with its new restrictions, something that wineries that are in the middle of their vineyards do not have to contend with. We’ll see how this situations plays out as the years go by.
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Tuesday, August 21 2007
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Governor Schwarzenegger recently announced the 2007 inductees to the California Hall of Fame. The most powerful and influential people in California’s history were nominated for this honor, including Robert Mondavi. This is a great moment for the wine industry and shows the importance of wine country to the state.
The other inductees include: Tiger Woods, Steve Jobs, John Wayne, Dr. Jonas Salk, John Steinbeck, Elizabeth Taylor, Earl Warren, Milton Berle, Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson and Ansel Adams.
What an incredible list of people; from Nobel Prize wining laureates, to the best athletes of all time, to captains of industry. These individuals embody “California’s innovative spirit” and have made their mark on its history. The formal ceremony will take place on December 5th at the California Museum in Sacramento.
Governor Schwarzenegger noted, “California is home to hopes and dreams for so many, and it is the people of this state who truly make it great … the California Hall of Fame provides a wonderful opportunity to honor these leaders, and legends, whose imprints are stamped forever on our history and our lives. I want people of every age to be inspired by the stories of Californians who have shaped and continue to shape this state and the world.”
All of the living inductees and the families of the posthumous inductees are scheduled to be in attendance for the ceremony. It will be followed by a celebration and the unveiling of the new exhibit, featuring artifacts loaned to the museum by the families of the inductees.
The California Hall of Fame makes it home at the California Museum for History, Women and the Arts. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to telling the history of California and the people who have influenced its development. Its mission is to “engage, educate and enlighten a broad public audience about California’s history through exhibits and programs incorporating the experiences of women and other underrepresented groups.”
The museum is located at 1020 O Street, Sacramento, Ca. For more information about the exhibit and ceremony, visit their website.
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Monday, August 20 2007
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A study was recently released indicating that California wines are more likely to be featured on American restaurant wine lists. The study surveyed restaurants in major markets around the country in the $39 or less category.
Conducted by Winemetrics, the “On-Premise Wine Distribution Report” was intended to rank America’s top 100 wine brands based on the frequency of their appearance on wine lists. Winemetrics is a relative new research firm that provides consulting for on-premise sales.
The wines that topped the list were mainly from corporate owned brands like; Beringer, Kendall-Jackson, Beaulieu Vineyard and Chateau St Michelle. This is not a surprise, considering that these are large scale producers with recognizable brands. But there were also smaller producers like Caymus Vineyards, Cakebread Cellars and Sterling Vineyards.
The overwhelming majority of wines on the top 100 list are make from U.S. producers, with most of these coming from California. There were also 15 wines from France and seven from Italy. If the price category moved up to the $69 – $100 range, I was suspect that there would be more wines from France.
The study indicated the wines most often ordered in restaurants sell between $25 and $39 per bottle. It also turns out that red wines outnumber whites two to one, with Cabernet Sauvignon taking the top spot.
With any study, the numbers should be taken at face value. There is no such thing as a perfect study, but they definitely give a good indication for what is going on. But this seems like a pretty legitimate study; they surveyed 10,500 restaurants in 20 states, and 24 of the 30 top markets.
Written by: Ben Bicais on Friday, August 17 2007
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On September 2, 2007 from 1-5pm, Buoncristiani Family Winery will hold a wine release party at the Napa Valley Opera House. This is a great opportunity to taste the entire portfolio of wines from one of Napa Valley’s top family wineries.
Buoncristiani Family Winery was established in 1999 by four brothers: Matt, Jay, Aaron and Nate. The winery has received considerable acclaim from the mainstream wine press since its inception. Wine Spectator regularly rates their wines 90+ points and recently named the winery “A Rising Star of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.”
The event also includes food pairings with each wine and music. Tickets are $25 per person and can be ordered by calling (707) 259-1681 or visiting the winery’s website.
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Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Wednesday, August 15 2007
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New Vintners Association for Lake County
In an effort to bring more attention to the region, Lake County vintners have formed the Lake County Wineries Association. Even though Lake County Wine Country is located just north of the Napa Valley, it lacks the notoriety of its neighbors.
The newly formed association will surely be putting on events and tastings to promote the wines of their region. One of these events is the Lake County Wine Adventure, which is traditionally run by the Lake County Winegrape Commission. It will now be a joint venture between the two organizations.
Roy Cecchetti and Bob Broman were the main proponents in the associations’ development. They formerly worked for Langtry Estate & Vineyards, but recently left to form Cecchetti Wine Co. They recently released a Lake County wine under the 39 Degrees label.
Stags Leap Winegrowers Association Announces Appellation Collection
The 11th anniversary of the Stags Leap District Appellation Collection will be available from October 1st through November 30th. For those of you who aren’t familiar the appellation collection, it is a collection of fifteen cabernets from various Stags Leap Wineries. This year will feature the 2003 vintage.
Participating Stags Leap Wineries include; Shafer Vineyards, Baldacci Family Vineyards, Clos Du Val, Hartwell Vineyards, Chimney Rock Winery, Regusci Winery, Malk Family Vineyards, Steltzner Vineyards, Robert Sinskey Vineyards, Taylor Family Vineyards, Stags’ Leap Winery and Silverado Vineyards.
The cost of the collection is $1,200 plus tax and shipping. You can find out more information at the Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association website, or call Executive Director Nancy Bialek at 707-255-1720.
Written by: Ben Bicais on Monday, August 13 2007
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The Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group (NSWG) is preparing for their Fifth Annual Benefit and Auction. It will be held from on August 18th from 5-9 pm at Silverado Country Club in the town of Napa.
Many of Napa Valley’s sustainably produced wines will be available to sample from 5-7 pm. After the tasting, the silent auction will commence from 7-9 pm. This is a chance to bid on some of Napa’s rarest and best wines. In addition to the tasting and silent auction, Silverado’s Executive Chef Peter Pahk will prepare a dinner for the event using sustainable products.
Established in 1995, the Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group’s mission is, “To identify and promote winegrowing practices that are economically viable, socially responsible and environmentally sound.” Education plays a big role in the NSWG’s efforts to promote sustainable grape growing and winemaking.
Tickets are $70 in advance and $80 at the door. To buy tickets, visit the Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group’s website or call Astrid Bock-Foster at (707) 252-4188, ext. 113.
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Written by: Ben Bicais on Thursday, August 09 2007
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Buena Vista is gearing up for its 150th anniversary of making wine in Carneros. To mark the occasion, the winery will host a small celebration on September 7th for media, trade and a handful of longtime customers.
Buena Vista was established in 1857 by Count Agoston Haraszthy. He was one of the first California vintners to experiment with European grapes and winemaking techniques. This has earned Buena Vista the title of, “California’s First Premium Winery.”
Winemaker Jeff Stewart and vineyard manager Craig Weaver recently streamlined Buena Vista’s wine portfolio and replanted much of the winery’s 800 acre Ramal Vineyard. Stewart and Weaver will now offer 2 tiers of wines: the Carneros Series and the Ramal Vineyard Series. The 2005 Carneros Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and the 2005 Ramal Vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are currently available for purchase.
This vast Ramal Vineyard is the largest in Carneros wine country and has been meticulously replanted with many different clones of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah. The production facilities have also been updated including the purchase of 63 new open top fermentation tanks.
Starting in 2008, Buena Vista will also begin using screwcaps to seal several of their wines. Jeff Stewart is a proponent of using screwcaps to ensure that his wines are the freshest possible when they are served. He plans to start bottling all of Buena Vista’s wines with screwcaps beginning in 2009.
“2007 is a milestone year for Buena Vista Carneros, and we are excited to celebrate our 150th year as California’s first premium winery and honor the evolution of California’s wine industry,” said winemaker Jeff Stewart.
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Written by: Ben Bicais on Wednesday, August 08 2007
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Many wineries have built their reputation upon the AVA system. Having names like Oakville, Rutherford and Stags Leap on the bottle can increase sales drastically. This is why there has been ongoing debates about AVAs in California. Unfortunately for wineries in Calistoga, they are having problems with their AVA application.
The United States Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has announced that it is reviewing the AVA petition process and all pending requests will be stalled. There are currently hundreds of regions that are in the process of applying for AVA status including the Calistoga wine region in Napa Valley.
Based on correspondence between Representative Mike Thompson (St. Helena) and the TTB, it appears that the issue is the policy of grandfathering wine brands that use the same name as AVAs. This issue may have stemmed from the Tulocay/Coombsville AVA debate.
According to Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs Kevin Fromer, “The ‘grandfathering’ approach in the regulations was intended to protect brand names that had existed prior to the development of the AVA program. This solution … was not forward-looking and, therefore, does not address conflicts between AVA and brand names that have come into existence after (July 1986).”
Fromer further stated that, “The complexities of these issues have led us to suspend action approval and other similar petitions while we consider revising the existing regulatory approach.”
In the bid to create the Calistoga AVA, two wineries named Calistoga Estates and Calistoga Cellars have objected. Neither use the 85% of Calistoga grown grapes that would be required to continue to label their wines based on the brands they have created.
Representative Mike Thompson, long an advocate of the Napa Valley wine industry, is not happy with the TTB’s decision to suspend the AVA petition process. In a strongly worded letter to the TTB, Thompson states, “Your proposed suspension of existing rules related to AVAs, including halting all processing of petitions for AVAs within AVAs, will create chaos in the wine industry and may deprive many wineries and pending petitions of their rights under your current regulations.”
This is bad news for the wineries in Calistoga, as their application for AVA approval is probably not going to be approved any time soon. They can still label their wines under Napa Valley, but cannot specify Calistoga as an AVA. We’ll keep you updated as this situation develops.
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Written by: Ben Bicais on Monday, August 06 2007
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The 1976 Blind Taste Test was arguably the most important tasting in the history of California Wine. Up to that point, California was looked at as an inferior region to most European countries. After the results were tallied, California emerged out of the shadows of the European giants and began its life as a player in the international wine game.
Over the years, many books have documented this “vinous shot heard round the world.” These books have paved the way for a movie about this epic event. But it may have taken the overwhelming success of Sideways to full convince the Hollywood community that there was room for a successful movie about wine.
Enter Bottle Shock. Bottle Shock tells the story of the 1976 Blind Tasting in Paris from Chateau Montelena’s perspective. Chateau Montelena won the white wine category, beating several top Burgundies in the process. And as most of you know, Stags Leap Wine Cellars won the red category. Another movie called The Judgment of Paris will be about the red wine portion of the 1976 Blind Tasting.
Bill Pullman will play Chateau Montelena’s owner Jim Barrett, Chris Pine will play Jim’s son Bo Barrett, and Alan Rickman will star as Steven Spurrier, the man who set up the tasting. The movie also features many local extras. The crew is filming at several locations in Carneros, Sonoma and Napa including Buena Vista Winery and Kunde.
The movie began shooting on July 30th and will continue through September 6th. Many in the industry are looking forward to the movie, any positive attention for the California Wine Industry is welcomed. This has the potential of reaching a broad audience, and if it has the effect of Sideways, this will be great for California Wine.
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Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Thursday, August 02 2007
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As most of you probably know, Gary Vaynerchuk appeared as a guest on the Conan O’Brien show last night. There was quite a bit of buzz flowing through the internet about Gary making the jump to network television. A post about it even made onto the front page of the popular socially driven news site digg.
The fact a story about a wine v-logger made digg’s front page shows the importance of the event (the digg community doesn’t like wine). So the stage was set, and Gary took the short trip to New York to tape the show.
If you’re a normal person, being surrounded by movie stars and celebrities doesn’t put you at ease. But Gary seemed to handle it very well. First, Seth Rogen, the star of Knocked Up, did a funny interview with Conan. Then came Ann Curry, the host of dateline.
With the stage set, and time running out in the show, out comes Gary. I initially thought they were just going to do an interview, but it turned out they had a whole table set up for the interview. After a couple of brief questions about Wine Library TV, which gary handled well, they started to train Conan’s palate.
Gary takes an interesting approach to training one’s palate. The first wine was a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, which tastes like grass and grapefruit. Before tasting the wine, they both actually eat grass covered with grapefruit juice. Jokingly, Gary said that the grass came from Central Park; the look on Conan’s face was priceless.
After sucking on rocks in salt water, the two moved on to a Cabernet Sauvignon. I’m sure Conan was happy to see that they would get the chance to eat a delightful combination of dirt, cherries and tobacco. Which are flavors common in many Cabs from Bordeaux and some from California.
If you think thats ridiculous, the next and last thing they tried was a Pinot Noir from Burgundy. And what flavor profiles were they trying to learn, none other than sweaty socks and asparagus. So Gary reaches down and pulls off one of his socks, wraps it around a piece of asparagus, and sticks it in his mouth. Conan follows suit.
The point of the exercise was to train Conan’s palate. But everytime Gary asked if he tasted the flavors, Conan would reply, “yeah, this wine is great.” The fact that Conan went through and tried everything was awesome, he was a good sport; and very funny to boot.
All in all, the show was very successful. Gary was funny and enthusiastic, the main reasons why we love his show. It was a great moment for wine, wine bloggers and video bloggers. Congrats Gary, it’s not everyday you get to ask Conan to suck on your sweaty sock.
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Written by: Ben Bicais on Wednesday, August 01 2007
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For the third consecutive year, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared September to be California Wine Month. Schwarzenegger’s proclamation honors the wine industry’s economic and cultural contributions to California over the years.
This official recognition is the result of the Wine Institute’s tireless promotion of the state’s wineries and vineyards. September is a fitting month because it is in the middle of harvest. For a few weeks, California’s wine country is buzzing with activity and the scent of crushed grapes is everywhere.
Bobby Koch, President and CEO of the Wine Institute, is particularly excited about California Wine Month. “We are pleased that the contributions of California’s vintners and winegrape growers are recognized by the Governor as a unique and special part of California. California is a spectacular place to grow and make wine and the world leader in sustainable winegrowing practices.”
Many wineries, restaurants and wine shops will be holding special events to celebrate California Wine Month. If you are interested in learning more, the Wine Institute has set up a website with an extensive calendar of events and things to do.
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Wine Tasting and Auction for Healthy Kids
