October, 2007
Written by: Ben Bicais on Sunday, October 28 2007
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The Napa Valley Vintners will donate $8.8 million to several charities at a ceremony to be held at Copia on November 3rd. Beneficiaries include non-profits focusing on affordable housing, healthcare and youth services.
The funds were raised by the Napa Valley Vinters’ flagship event, Auction Napa Valley 2007. Earlier this year, they pledged to donate $5 million a year over the next 5 years. The Napa Valley Vintners have clearly exceeded their most optimistic goals, and the local community will benefit from this success.
Since Auction Napa Valley was initiated, it has raised an incredible $78 million. Past recipients of these funds have been the Children’s Health Initiative, Clinic Ole, Napa Emergency Women’s Shelter, Healthy Moms and Babies, and Sister Ann Dental Clinic.
The Napa Valley Vintners was established over 70 years ago and currently has over 300 member wineries. Their mission is to promote the Napa Valley Appellation and preserve its long and storied history of producing wine.
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Wednesday, October 24 2007
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The complexity and absurdity of the three tier distribution system is something that the average consumer rarely thinks about. And rightly so, who cares how it gets to your grocery store or favorite restaurant, right? What matters is that your favorite wines are there ready for you to buy and drink at any moment.
However, the issues of the three tier system have a huge affect on the wineries, and the selection you have as a consumer. A perfect example of this situation playing out was the trial between Michael-David Winery and distributor Frank-Lin Distillers. After five weeks of trial, the jury ruled in favor of Michael-David Winery, which protected wineries rights against distributors.
According to John Hinman of Hinman & Carmichael LLP, Counsel for Michael-David Winery, “Without this decision, California vintners would have found themselves at the mercy of distributors who would, in effect, become entitled to a significant portion of the winery’s brand value and the winery owner’s equity simply because the distributor had delivered the product.”
So what does this mean for you? Unless you work in the wine industry, not much. But it is a step in the right direction, protecting wineries against distributors. Hopefully, victories like these will help put the power back into the hands of the wineries. Thus increasing your selection of wine, and making everyone happy, except for the distributors of course.
Want a wine industry veteran’s take on this trial? Check out Jeff Lefevere of Good Grape here.
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Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Friday, October 19 2007
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A new line of wines recently launched as part of a fundraising campaign to fight breast cancer. Cleavage Creek wines feature models that are survivors of the disease that affects millions of women world wide.
Winery owner Budge Brown said, “My goal was to honor their courage and inspire them.” Brown started this campaign after his wife of 48 years died from breast cancer. Cleavage Creek wines will cost between $18 and $50, and will debut this month, with the release of 2,000 cases. 10% of the proceeds of the wine will go to breast cancer awareness.
Unfortunately, several studies have shown that wine consumption actually increases your chances of getting breast cancer. “Dr. Smith-Warner et. al. from Harvard studied the association between alcohol consumption and Breast Cancer. Their results showed a linear increase in breast cancer over a wide range of consumption.”
However, because of the complexity of cancer, it’s difficult to say definitely that wine causes breast cancer. But several studies have shown this, and it is not something that should be ignored. And it is, somewhat ironic, that Mr. Brown is selling wine to help cure breast cancer.
Pattie Daly Caruso, a breast cancer survivor and advocate of Cleavage Creek wines thinks it’s a great idea. Caruso, like many others feel that this campaign is a cleaver way to draw attention to wine and breast cancer awareness.
Caruso does recognize the link between breast cancer and wine, stating, “if we pick up a magazine or turn on TV there will be someone saying something about all the things that we drink except maybe water. I personally think that a couple of glasses of red wine are very good for you. I try to be very cautious and do the right thing, but red wine to me is, if not medicinal, pretty wonderful.”
Despite the association between the two, what Brown is doing is commendable. It is critical that we spend more money on researching cures for diseases like cancer. They take a tremendous toll on our society, and there should be more people like Brown doing what they can to help.
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Written by: Ben Bicais on Friday, October 12 2007
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In the spirit of Dr. Debs’ fantastic blog, Good Wine Under $20, I thought I’d post 5 of my personal favorite California Syrahs for under $20. This list is by no means exhaustive, but represents some of the excellent values I have come across. If you have any to add, feel free to leave them in the comments section.
The Andrew Murray 2005 Tous Les Jours Syrah is a blend of grapes from Andrew Murray’s Estate Vineyard as well as the broader Paso Robles AVA. This is a fruit-driven wine with soft tannins. Andrew Murray Vineyards is known for excellent Syrahs; some of their more expensive ones being “Roasted Slope” and the 100% Estate Syrah. The Tous Les Jours can be purchased for $13.
Beckmen Vineyards is another Syrah specialist that makes a few different bottlings of the grape. The 2005 Big Hands Syrah has ripe currant and blackberry flavors over a layer of spice and smoke. The alcohol level is 14%, and the tannins and acidity balance each other nicely. This wine sells for $15.
Terre Rouge is an excellent Sierra Foothills winery. Although the 2004 Terre Rouge Cotes de l’Quest Syrah 2004 has a deep, concentrated color, this wine drinks very well without any age. Winemaker and owner Bill Easton has produced a great value for Syrah lovers with this wine. It is priced around $16.
Michael David Vineyards is a Lodi winery that is probably best known for 7 Deadly Zins. But they also make an excellent Syrah called 6th Sense. This full-bodied wine has very nice spicy plum and peppery flavors. I have seen this wine available for $18.
Qupe’s 2005 Central Coast Syrah has been widely hailed by the wine press as a great value under $20. It is actually a blend of 93% Syrah, 4% Grenache, Mourvèdre and 1% Counoise giving it added complexity and balance. The grapes are sourced from all over the Central Coast, including Santa Barbara, Paso Robles and Arroyo Grande Valley. You can find this wine for as low as $15.
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Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Monday, October 08 2007
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Copia held its six annual ‘Rock Garden Roll’ auction, dinner and dance this past week. The auction was a considerable success, rising over $800,000 for the center’s educational programs.
The event was held under the grand tent in Copia’s Edible Gardens, and saluted guest of honor Margrit Biever Mondavi. There were some 240 guests at the event, ranging from supporters of the center, to some of the most influential people in California’s wine industry.
As you would expect, the dinner was outstanding. La Torque founder and chef Ken Frank and Julias Kitchen’s Jeff Mosher put together the menu for the evening. It was a four course dinner pairs with wines from area cellars.
The guests were entertained by the music from Tina Turner and Madonna impersonators, as presenter Fritz Hatton auctioned off 20 luxury travel and rare wine lots. The top bids included
$80,000 for four days in London and Bordeaux, including accommodations at Lord Jacob Rothschild’s Waddesdon Manor, and wine tastings at Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Lafite Rothschild.
- $75,000 for a dinner for eight at with Judi and Wilf Jager and wines from the 1978 vintage;
- $55,000 for a trip to the wine regions of Chile and Argentina;
- $46,000 for a private jet flight to and from Maryville, Tenn.for an epicurean adventure at Blackberry Farm’s cooking school;
- $30,000 for a jeraboam of 1982 Chateau Latour;
- $28,000 for a magnum of 1945 Mouton Rothschild, which Copia trustee Joe Wender, the high bidder, opened and shared with his dinner table at the event.
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Tuesday, October 02 2007
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According to a press release sent out today by the Temecula winegrowers association, starting on November 1st, the members of the association will turn away van and limo tour operators who “do not help maintain the decorum” of the wine region.
The members voted overwhelmingly to adopt a Responsible Partner Program. This program only permits companies that promote Temecula wine and good behavior while visiting the region.
Ray Falkner, President of the association said “those who do not abide by certain rules and regulations we have established will not be allowed to visit our wineries … as far as I know, we are the only wine region to take steps to ensure the wine-tasting experience is more enjoyable for all our visitors.”
Wine country tours is big business, and the tour operators are sure to take notice of such a bold initiative. Around a dozen companies have already adopting this philosophy, and Falkner believes that the list will grow to over 50 by the November 1st deadline.
It is the responsibility of the winery to enforce the Responsible Partner Program. They want to dispel the notion that Temecula Wine Country, is “bar country.” It is commendable that they want to make wine touring an enjoyable experience, but it seems like a hard rule to enforce.
The wineries get a large portion of their tasting room sales from wine touring companies bringing large groups by. And the wine touring companies are dependent on the people for business. So turning people away because they are too drunk doesn’t seem like its in the cards, considering that drinking wine gets you drunk.
Following that logic, it seems counter intuitive for the winery association to adopt a rule that could negatively affect the bottom line of their wineries. But only time will tell if it has a negative affect, or if it is even enforced.
Written by: Ben Bicais on Monday, October 01 2007
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The Staglin Family is known throughout Napa Valley for their philanthropy and generosity. One event that particularly close to their hearts is the Annual Staglin Family Music Festival for Mental Health.
Over the past 13 years, this event has raised an incredible $53 million to research and treat mental illnesses including psychosis and schizophrenia. This year, about 500 donors contributed over $4 million. Guests were treated to a 5 course dinner prepared by Chef Rick Moonen and were entertained by Gladys Knight.
Dr. Ty Cannon, Phd, UCLA Department of Psychology, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences said that funds raised at the music festival have helped attract major grants, most notably $14.6 million from the National Institutes of Health. “The Music Festival’s funding of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience was instrumental in the development of the pilot data that helped us obtain this award,” Dr. Cannon said.
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Napa Valley Vintners Set to Donate $8.8 Million to Charity
