Vindulge

Charity Case Wines: wines you can feel good about drinking... and sharing

I have a soft spot in my heart for companies that give directly back to their communities and support worthy causes.  So when I heard about the Charity Case Foundation I was instantly wondering; wine + good causes… how could I not be curious?!

According to their website: 

The Charity Case Foundation is a movement that was conceived collectively by winemakers from Napa Valley.  All juice and fruit donated by Napa Valley wineries and growers goes into our small batch, hand made wines with all net proceeds going to non-profit organizations serving children and families in Napa County.

The idea was to create a single wine made from juice donated by local winemakers and sell it with the proceeds going to local Napa Valley charities.  Jayson Woodbridge, of Layer Cake, Hundred Acre, and Cherry Pie wines got the project rolling by contacting vintners from throughout the valley to see if they were interested in taking part.  He received an overwhelming response from interested vintners.  So far they have created a 2008 and 2009 Napa Valley Rosé blend; created from several varieties of red grapes from around the Saint Helena area.  In 2009 they added a Sauvignon Blanc to their production.

This isn't just a story about leftover fruit needing a home with a tiny profit going towards a good cause; everything, from the supplies (including bottles, labels, storage), to the marketing efforts, is done entirely by volunteers so that all proceeds can go directly to the charities.  “We want to make a difference by giving charities a sustainable future. There are no salaries, no consulting fees and no bureaucratic costs.”

The net profits from this years fundraising efforts will go towards the following charities: 
Aldea Children & Family Services, Cope Family Center, Foster Kids Receiving Center, Wolfe Center, Teen Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program

But how are the wines?


2008 Charity Case Rosé, Napa Valley

The wine was darker in color than your typical rosé with a rich nose full of strawberry, cherry, and raspberry fruit.  It has the richness and power of a full-bodied wine, like a syrah or zinfandel, yet served cold (directly from the fridge) the wine is fruity, bright, and crisp.  The wine would definitely hold up to BBQ fare and would be great for summer sipping.  We served it with smoked pulled pork sandwiches and it held up nicely. The sweetness and spiciness of the pork all balanced out with the fruitiness of the wine. 

WINE TIP:  If you like a more refreshing flavor from a rosé then serve this wine cold, if you would like a more rich, full bodied feeling, more like you’re drinking a red wine, then let it warm up a bit.  I preferred this wine cold. 

Oak Aging:  100% fermented in neutral French oak barrels
Alcohol:  14.1%


2009 Charity Case Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley

This sauvignon blanc is very different than what you would expect from, say a New Zealand style sauvignon blanc, or even a mineral driven Loire style.  This wine was very dry with lots of lemon peel and tropical notes on the nose (pineapple, banana) with dried pineapple and lemon on the palate.  It was barrel fermented which added to its perceived dryness and made it more reminiscent of a chardonnay than a sauvignon blanc to me.  Typically I would drink a sauvignon blanc cold (straight from the fridge) but this wine tasted much better, and opened up more, after warming up a few degrees (much like I would serve a chardonnay).

Grapes:  100% Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley
Oak Aging:  100% fermented in new French oak barrels
Alcohol:  14.1%

Both wines retail for $11.99 and can be purchased here.  You will not find these wines in your local grocery store or wine shop. They are only available locally in select Napa Valley retailers, restaurants, and from the foundations website.  But if you are feeling like you want to support this good cause then check out their website for more information on how you can purchase these wines.

I often fantasize about what I will do when I win the lottery, or become independently wealthy as a result of my hard work (whichever comes first).  One of my biggest plans (after buying loads of delicious Champagne and paying off my car, in that order) will be setting up my own foundation that donates to dozens of great causes. That’s the plan at least.  To give to those who need it, because I know what it is like to be on the receiving end.

I was able to get through college with the help of generous scholarships and will be forever grateful for those who donated to the foundations who supported my education. I’ve also worked for numerous non-profit organizations in my life that relied on grants and philanthropists to stay open, so I understand the impact donations can have on an organization and have always wanted to do my part to help.  

I have not yet won the lottery, nor am I am millionaire (yet!), but I can still do my part to support worthy causes, and, in this particular case, feel good that the wine I am drinking is paying it forward too.

 

*ANNOUNCEMENT:  On a related note, just before hitting publish on this post I found out that Jayson Woodbridge, who initiated the Charity Case Foundation project, announced the establishment of a $5,000 annual Layer Cake Wine Scholarship for those interested in attending the North American Wine Bloggers Conference (WBC).  I have personally attended the WBC for the last two years, with plans to attend this years conference in Charlottesville, Virginia.  I have found the experience incredibly valuable and am thrilled about this generous contribution by Woodbridge which will allow deserving recipients to attend this conference.  For more information on the WBC and this announcement, click here.  Just one more reason to support this project!

Reasons to Celebrate with Pink Bubbles...

... and two great pink bubbly recommendations.

Sparkling wine is a requirement in my house, at all times.  It is useful in times of joy, times of celebration, times of sadness, madness and frustration, and times you’re just plain ol’ thirsty (which is my most common “excuse” to drink bubbles).  To put it plainly, they are my favorite of all styles of wine and if I had my way I would drink bubbles every day of the year.  Not a day goes by that I can’t think of a good reason not to open up a bottle (whether it be a fine Champagne or $7 sparkler).  Last night was no exception. 

Hubby came home from work frustrated after a long and stressful day.  He had a sad look upon his face that he rarely brings home with him.  As any concerned wife would do I asked, “What can I do?” And when he said, “Nothing, I just need a hug”, I responded,  “No you don’t, you need some pink bubbles!” And then I finally got a smile out of him and proceeded to pop the cork of a bottle I recently purchased at an incredible price, Pierre Sparr Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé, NV.

I purchased a bottle of this wine from WineExpress.com, an online wine retailer of which I receive a wine of the day email from.  If you are interested in trying new wines, anything from high end Napa Cabs to great values from around the world, without committing to a monthly wine club I recommend getting on their daily email list.  This wine was on sale for $10.95 (from $17.95), with .99 cents per bottle for shipping, so I decided to purchase three bottles.  I had never had the wine before, but it was from the same region as one of my favorite under $20 bubbles, Lucien Albrecht Crémant d'Alsace Brut Rosé.  Upon receiving my shipment we opened a bottle with dinner and immediately ordered a case at an additional dollar per bottle discount (the wine was still on sale).  For $10 this rosé sparkler is simply a steal!

Pierre Sparr Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé, NV
$10.95 from WineExpress.com

From the cool climate Alsace region of France, this wine is 100% Pinot Noir (one of the only red grapes that grow well in Alsace) made in the champagne method.  Strawberry and citrus notes dominate the nose with a touch of sweet biscuit scents.  Dry and delicate the palate continues with more strawberry, lemon, and orange peel. Crémants (sparkling wines made in France, but outside of the Champagne region that are made using the méthode champenoise) are incredible values and this is probably the best one I’ve had at this price.  If you can find it for under $12, get yourself a case (or more)!  This wine will put a smile on your face no matter what kind of day you’ve had!


Another pink bubbly we recently celebrated with was the lovely Domaine Carneros Cuvée de la Pompadour Brut Rosé, NV that I received as a sample.  This time we were celebrating the first time our twin boys slept through the night without any interruption.  Any parent who has gone through this, with a single child or multiples, understands the pure joy and relief that comes from this experience and it is certainly one worth celebrating.  So we did so with this delicious treat from Domaine Carneros. 

Domaine Carneros Cuvée de la Pompadour Brut Rosé, NV 
$35 from the winery

Domaine Carneros is one of Napa Valley’s premier sparkling wine producers and definitely worth a visit on any trip.  It provides an excellent way to start or end your Napa wine country excursion with seating, both indoor and out, overlooking the incredible Carneros region. 

According to the Domaine Carneros website,  “Our Rosé cuveé is named for Madame de la Pompadour, Louis XV's great paramour.  It was she who first introduced sparkling wine to the court at Versailles and is famous for having said that ‘Champagne is the only wine that a woman can drink and remain beautiful’.” 
I like that!  I may just have to put that quote on my refrigerator.

This wine, a blend of 58% pinot noir and 42% chardonnay, was elegant and aromatic with fine delicate bubbles.   Take one whiff and your nose is filled with crisp apples, apple cider spices, raspberry, cherry, and a touch of vanilla bean.  Just a small sip punches huge flavors that linger on your tongue long after you’ve swallowed the wine.  You just can’t help but go back for more and more, which I gladly did.  This is a solid Napa rosé sparkler for this price point. 

There you have it. Two pretty pink bubbles worthy of opening for any type of celebration.  In fact, today marks the first full day of spring (although you’d never know it looking outside my window at the snow falling).  This means I have survived my first New England winter.  Now that is reason to celebrate… perhaps with more pink bubbles!

Open That Bottle Night, part II: Even special wines are meant to be opened

This past Saturday I did something I’ve been putting off for a long time.  Inspired by Open That Bottle Night (OTBN) I opened two bottles of wine that I never quite found the right occasion to do so.  They were not my most expensive, rare, or oldest wines. They were just wines that had a lot of meaning to me. 

Created in 1999 by Dorothy “Dottie” J. Gaiter and John Brecher, the former writers of the Wall Street Journal’s tastings column, OTBN encourages wine lovers from all over the globe to stop putting off opening up that special bottle of wine and just drink and enjoy it already!  When I heard about the dates for this year’s OTBN I knew exactly which two bottles I needed to open.  It was figuring out what to make for dinner that night that took contemplation.

The Wines:

2008 Domaine La Ferme Blanche Cassis (AOC)

The first bottle we opened was given to us by our former next-door neighbors in Portland just before we moved to Connecticut.  To back up just a little bit – I spent the better part of four years trying to get Stephanie, our neighbor, to drink white wine.  She, a self proclaimed "red wine only" drinker, hadn’t found a white wine she liked, so it became a mission of mine to change that.  Her husband, Dan, drank sparkling wine on occasion, but also didn’t really drink white wine (nor red for that matter, but that’s another story).  I had almost given up on both of them when it happened. Their white wine “a-ha” moment. 

Stephanie went to southern France this past summer on a work-study program for three weeks in Marseille (in Provence), and Dan joined her for a week.  Upon their return they gave us this bottle of wine. A white!  They both raved about the food and wine they experienced in Provence and how they fell in love with the white wines there.  They had their “a-ha” moment (finally)!  I couldn’t have been more happy for them and I couldn’t wait to try the bottle.
 
That’s what wine is all about for me. That moment; when the experience of being surrounded by the culture can change your perspective (and taste) about a wine.  I could only imagine the two of them sitting in an adorable French café, in the sun, overlooking the Mediterranean sea, eating the freshest seafood and drinking the local wine. 

I wanted so badly to share that bottle with them and hear stories of their trip to France.  But alas, time caught up to us and before we knew it we were packed up and rushing to Connecticut and never got to open the bottle together.  So I held onto it… and couldn't think of an appropriate occasion to drink the wine since…

2002 Anthem, Meritage, Sonoma Valley by St. Francis Winery

Our other bottle was chalk full of memories of when we lived in San Francisco (where we lived before moving to Oregon).  You see, St. Francis Winery was one of the first wineries we visited on our very first trip to Sonoma in 2001.  We joined the wine club right off and remained members until we moved to Oregon in 2006.  Most trips to Sonoma, whether it was just the two of us or with friends and family, involved a stop at St. Francis where we would enjoy their food and wine pairing experience. 

Then, one day, they released a new wine, “Anthem” they called it.  A “reverse Bordeaux blend” consisting of mostly Petit Verdot and Malbec with small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot (as opposed to a traditional Bordeaux blend where Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot dominate the blend with Petit Verdot and Malbec playing minor roles).  The staff was very excited to showcase the wine but they didn’t have any open that day.  So we decided to buy a bottle, open it right there on their deck, and share it with the staff and anybody else who wanted a sip.  That’s what wine is all about anyways, sharing it!  It was an awesome afternoon.

Since that first release (which was their 1999 I believe), we always bought a couple bottles of the Anthem to have on hand.  Our last trip before we moved we bought a couple bottles of the 2002, and after moving to Oregon we dwindled down to one bottle very quickly.   For months anytime I asked to the hubby “what do you want to open tonight”. His response was always “the Anthem?”.  “No”, I would respond, “I want to wait until we can find a good meal to pair with it”, or “It’s not an ‘Anthem’ night”, or a simple “I’m just not feeling it”.  Months became years, and he still brought up that wine each and every time like clockwork.  It became almost comical.  At the time I didn’t really know what was holding me back, but now I do.  It was one of the last bottles we bought before starting our life in Oregon.  I think somehow it was my connection to our life in San Francisco.  It certainly wasn’t our oldest wine from our time in CA (vintage wise), and still isn’t, it was just the individual bottle that I had put off drinking the longest and had such good memories assiciated with it. 

When I thought about OTBN and what to drink, I knew immediately it had to be these two bottles.  To me, opening up both these wines somehow represented change and transition.  Something difficult to do, but important nonetheless. 

The food:

We paired the Cassis with an appetizer of seared scallops with shallots, butter, and wine in honor of the region the wine came from.  Fantastic!  The wine had a rich fruitiness, herbal, and mineral character to it that was the perfect compliment to the sweet and savory scallops.



For the Anthem, we made oven roasted rack of lamb with an herb and panko crust and a balsamic wine reduction drizzle.  Along side the lamb we roasted an assortment of vegetables (potatoes, onions, carrots, parsnips, and tomatoes).  We wanted to honor the wine with a delicious and solid pairing, and this certainly did the trick.  The wine was rich, but not too tannic, with a depth of flavors that was enhanced by the flavors of the lamb, the sweet sauce, and the roasted vegetables. 

We finished the night with homemade chocolate pots de crème, which is basically chocolaty rich custardy deliciousness!  I never seem to remember to take pictures of dessert as I must be too busy devouring it! 

It was an awesome meal, paired with delicious wines, shared with my favorite guy.  A great evening and an even better reminder that wine is meant to be opened and shared, not tucked away in storage… especially those special bottles that remind you of a particular person, place, or time in your life. 

Finally, drinking these wines was a delicious reminder of the good times we spent living in both San Francisco and Portland, and a toast to the many adventures to come.

I secretly think the best part of the night was that our twin boys (now three months old) were both sound asleep the entire time, allowing mommy and daddy to truly enjoy the evening together!  Thanks guys!

Do I regret opening the wines?  Not for one second. And I can still keep the memories alive by saving the empty bottles and putting them on display on my bookshelf with other memorable bottles I have collected over the years.

Now I have to know. Did you open up a special bottle of wine for OTBN?

If so I would LOVE to know what wine it was.

 

 

 

Chardonnays that will keep you warm this winter

It’s true.  I drink white wine in the winter. A lot of it actually.  And I know I’m not the only one.  My friend Ryan even has a whole website devoted strictly to white wines from the Pacific Northwest because he too is a year round fan (check it out!).  There’s something about drinking white wine in the winter that is refreshing to me, often reminding me that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, or rather hope for a warm and sun filled summer coming my way!  But more importantly I believe (and want you to understand) these wines are not just for warmer weather, but to be enjoyed throughout the year given you find the right style for each season. 

There are many hearty white wines out there that can comfort you even during a heavy winter snowstorm.  I should know, I’ve experienced way too many of these already this winter.  So ditch the idea that the only thing that can keep you warm is a glass of hearty red wine and a roaring fire.  White wines can be just as comforting and can even go with some of the heavier comfort foods we indulge in during these cold and dreary months.

Just to prove this point I spent last week (where we had two significant snow storms and an average high temperature of about 25 degrees) drinking white wines, most of them Chardonnays, to see which would hold up to not only the weather, but the heartier foods of winter. 

Why Chardonnay?  Well to me Chardonnay is a solid year-round wine.  They come in all different styles, light crisp and unoaked, rich buttery and bold, and those that fit somewhere right in between.  For winter months, I recommend those that lie in the middle to the heavier, richer styles.  I also hope to break some of the bad stereotypes of this popular grape.

I know way too many people who subscribe to the ABC notion of wine (“Anything But Chardonnay”), which is basically a revolt against Chardonnay, thinking it is simply an "old mundane standby".  Mundane? I beg to differ.  There are also those who are anti-Chardonnay as a revolt against a heavy over-oaked style which once plagued California and gave it a bad rap.  But I know better than that.  I am a proud fan of said grape and I truly believe there is a Chardonnay for all palates (just as I do bubbles, but that’s another post), it’s just about finding a style that’s right for you and your own palate. 

Below are three that I recommend, all from California, all around the same price point, and none of them are “oak bombs” proving that even many California producers have moved away from that once popular (now overdone) style of Chardonnay that used to be the norm for the region.

2008 Waterstone Carneros Chardonnay   

Bright, crisp citrus favors on the nose (lemon, pineapple, grapefruit), with some vanilla aromas.  Mouthwatering on the palate with rich flavors of caramel, green apple, apple pie spices, and more vanilla.  The wine is medium bodied, not too heavy but certainly not light, and would be a great match for a hearty pasta dish with a cream based sauce, wine sauce, or even paired with roast chicken. 

Winery:  Waterstone Winery
Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
Oak Aging: 9 months in French oak
Appellation: Carneros
Alcohol: 14%
Retail:  $18


2008 Double T Chardonnay, Napa Valley, from Trefethen Family Vineyards    

Green apple, fresh lemon, lemon peel, pineapple and vanilla lead the way on this medium bodied Chardonnay.  The wine has a nice richness to it without weighing you down with baking spices and minerals lingering throughout the palate.  Rich and spicy, this wine would hold up to a heavy pasta dish, creamy potpie, or just sipping by the fire.   Good value for taste and richness

Winery: Trefethen Family Vineyards
Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
Oak:  4 months in French Oak
Appellation:  Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley
Alcohol:  13.5%
Retail:  $17


2009 Franciscan Chardonnay Napa Valley  

Fresh squeezed lemon, pineapple, and apple along with toast, butterscotch and vanilla on the palate.  Dry, rich, medium-full bodied and somewhat fresh and spring-like, yet hearty enough for winter.  This wine has just the right amount of a buttery, creamy, mouthful without getting carried away.  It is the best of both worlds of Chardonnay; creamy, buttery and toasty, yet minerally, fresh and fruity.   Nice and balanced.  Would be great with a salmon risotto.

Winery:  Franciscan Estate           
Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
Oak:  7 months in small French and American oak barrels (20% new oak)
Appellation: Napa Valley
Alcohol:  13.5%
Retail:  $18

There you have it.  Three wines that prove you can enjoy your white wines year-round, and also showing that there are plenty of great California Chardonnays out there that don't succomb to the stereotypical “oak bomb” style. 

Cheers

To Join a Wine Club, or Not to Join a Wine Club?

I remember the very first winery my hubby and I ever visited, on our very first trip to Sonoma, because we joined their wine club.  It happened again the very next day at another winery, we joined another wine club.  Within the first year of living in San Francisco and frequent visits to Sonoma and Napa, we became members of at least three wine clubs, and rotated yearly after that, averaging about three wine clubs at a time.  It became an addiction of sorts.  Really, it was more of an excuse to make more regular trips to wine country to "pick up our wine shipments”. 

Now that I don’t live so close to a major wine region (as in close I mean a comfortable driving distance for a day trip), I’m left wondering what the value is in joining wine clubs for folks, like myself, who don’t get to reap many of the benefits of joining a winery's club (I’ll get to those later).  And it seems lately that not just wineries have clubs anymore.  Everybody seems to have a wine club, from publications like Sunset Magazine, Food and Wine, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, to independent wine club companies.  Basically there are an unlimited amount of opportunities to sign up and receive regular shipments of wine from multiple sources…. So how do you chose which type is right for you?
 
Recently I was sent a sample of a typical wine club shipment from a non-winery wine club to review, the International Wine of the Month Club, and it got me thinking about many of the differences between various types of clubs and their features.  Let’s break them down.

Winery Wine Clubs:
Winery wine clubs typically work like this.  You visit a winery’s tasting room, fall in love with their wines, and are offered membership into their club.  Membership is typically free and comes with little commitment.  Basically you commit to receiving at least a few regular shipments of their wines (this differs from winery to winery, it can be monthly, quarterly, or even twice a year) and then you may cancel at any time with no penalties.  By joining the club you may receive the following types of benefits:

• Discounts on wine (on average anywhere from 10%-20% off retail price)
• Waived tasting fee whenever you visit the tasting room (often for yourself and up to 4 guests)
• Discounts to special events
• Invitations to club only events
• First crack at new releases
• Wine club only wines (meaning special bottlings only sent out to wine club members)
• And more...

In my experience this type of wine club is most beneficial if you live near said winery so that you can take advantage of special events, dinners, etc.  You also are invited to pick up your wines at the winery instead of having them shipped, thus saving any shipping and handling fees.  I always loved visiting the winery to pick up my wine club wines because it gave me a good excuse to taste the new releases in their tasting room, at no cost.  The kicker was that I always left buying more than just my wine club wines (that’s how they get you!). 

The other type of person this works for is if you do not live near the winery but love their wines and cannot get them where you live.  It is important to note that even if you see a bottle or two of XYZ Winery’s wines at your local wine store in your home state of Arizona it is likely that they do not carry their entire lineup of wines.  Many wineries make a variety of small production wines that rarely see the outside of their state let alone the winery, so by joining their wine club you are more likely to receive shipments of these rare and smaller production wines. 

The Other Kind of Wine Club:  Non-Winery Wine Clubs
These types of wine clubs are pretty straightforward.  You sign up at their stated price and receive shipments of wine on a regular basis (monthly, 6x/year, etc).  Each company has their specialty (rare and hard to find wines, wines from only CA, NW wines, etc.), and work to find different variety to send to their members on a regular basis.  After receiving your shipment you may be offered the opportunity to purchase more of the wines you were sent at a discount for that month. 

I was a member of a similar type club for a few years (Bounty Hunter Rare Wine & Provisions) and had no complaints, but honestly found it more exciting to be a part of a winery’s club, mostly for the added benefits.  Plus, for someone like myself, I LOVE visiting wine shops on my own to discover new gems.  But I know many people who are intimidated of shopping for new wines this way, so for them wine clubs may be a great way to get introduced to new wine styles.

Why to join this type of wine club? 

• If you like exploring different types and styles of wines and are looking for variety for your home wine cellar. 
• You find a trusted source and really like the wines they select.
• If you want to give a gift to a wine loving friend (most wine lovers won’t turn their nose up at the gift that keeps on giving…. wine).

Word of warning, just do your research first to find out if this club really provides wines that are worth it.  Or just email me and I’ll check them out for you.

Example of this type of wine club:   The International Wine of the Month Club
According to their website:

“Each month, members of The International Wine of the Month Club receive internationally selected wines from two separate award-winning boutique vineyards, accompanied by our informative and entertaining wine club newsletter. Choose to receive either two reds, two whites, or one red and one white. We offer three different membership types, The Premier Series, Masters Series and Collectors Series.”

I was recently asked to review the September shipment of their most popular club, the Premier Series, red and white wine.  I must admit I was quite impressed with the wines and presentation.  I have been weary of clubs like this in the past, wondering about the legitimacy of the quality of wines they feature, but from my initial observation of this club, they are doing something right.  And the fact that they have been around since 1994 with 98% customer satisfaction speaks for itself! 

They have multiple levels of membership, basically you can chose what type and price range works for you, and start receiving shipments of their selected wines, accompanied by their newsletter.  I was also pretty impressed with the content of their newsletter. Not only did it provide some good background information on the wineries, winemakers, and the wines sent, but also background on the varietals (in my shipment this was Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon), and useful tasting notes, recipes, and information on how to order more of the wine if you so chose.

Not only can you find this information on the newsletter, but their website is pretty thorough and you can find the same info on all past shipments of their wines going back to 1999.  Rarely do you even find this type of information on even a winery’s website.   Looking at some of their past featured wines, I found that they really do try to specialize in some smaller production wines that you are not very likely to see at your local wine retailer.

What about the wines?
I really enjoyed both wines I received as a part of their September shipment for the price point (which would have been $29.95 for the two bottles). 

Domaine Talmard Macon-Chardonnay 2009   

Chardonnay is made all over the globe, but for me some of the best quality Chardonnays come from the Burgundy region of France, where it is unlike any other region.  This particular wine comes from the Macon, in the southern region of Burgundy where you can find some great values on crisp minerally Chardonnays. 

The wine is clean and crisp, with minerals, floral notes, and fresh lemon and lemon zest filling the nose.  In the mouth the wine remains fresh and crisp with more lemon and fresh green apple.   Overall I kept thinking how “fresh” this wine was, reminding me of springtime with flowers and bright lemon scents.  For all you folks out there skeptical about Chardonnay, I always say “drink white Burgundy then call me in the morning”, and this would be a nice representation of that style for a great price point.

Food pairing:  Would be good with a light salad topped with chopped roasted chicken and a lemon vinaigrette.  Stick with the fresh springtime theme (even though it's fall, I won’t tell). 

Cannonball California Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

The Cannonball Cab hails from California.  According to their website, a cannonball “is the perfect symbol of freedom. Legs tucked beneath you, soaring through the air - that uninhibited spirit is the soul of Cannonball wines.”  In addition, their mission is to consistently deliver the best  Cabernet Sauvignon for under $20.

Dark bold black berry fruit on the nose with black cherries, pepper and sweet spice (cinnamon? allspice?).  Initially the mouth had some powerful acid and tannins with tight dark fruit, and a little rough around the edges.   However, after noticing this I realized it just needed to breathe a bit, so I pulled out my Vinturi Aerator… if you don’t have one of these, and you notice a similar taste to your wines (especially a younger, bold red like a Cab), just decant it first, or open it a couple hours before you intend to drink it to allow it to breathe.  Believe me it will make a huge difference. 

After aerating the wine, it definitely changed.  It became a little fresher, more open, with more variety of berry notes.  The mouth became softer, more round, and the tannins were still there but had definitely mellowed out and became more smooth.  My favorite thing about this wine was that it makes you crave more wine (as opposed to craving a glass of water which often happens when I drink a young bold red).  There was just something about the wine, a savoriness, that made you want to go back for another drink, then another. 

Grapes: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Syrah, 3% Merlot
Appellation: California (63% Sonoma,19% Mendocino, 15% Napa, 3% other)
Alcohol: 13.9% 
Food pairing:  If drinking now, this wine would be best with a good cut of meat to soften those tannins.  Anything off the grill would do, or even paired with a hearty winter stew.

Overall I am pretty happy with both of these wines for their price points.  This club shipment would have been $29.95 (plus shipping and handling).   I would have definitely been pleased if I paid that to receive these two wines and I wouldn’t hesitate to check out more of their offerings.  I mean, hey, the holidays are coming up after all! The season of giving!

Now my question to you?
Have you been a part of a wine club before?  What did you like/not like about it?
What do you see as the biggest benefits of wine clubs?

Grilled Rack of Lamb and Pinot Noir: A food and wine pairing

A couple weeks back we had some friends over for dinner.  The plan, they bring the wine, we come up with food to pair with the wine.  They had a couple of nice Italian wines they wanted to drink so our challenge was to come up with something to pair with a '97 Brunelleo (made from a clone of the Sangiovese grape from Tuscany), a '00 Barbaresco, and an '03 Barbaresco.  Barbaresco’s  (made from Nebbiolo grapes in the Piedmont region) can tend to be very tannic when young, but with 10 and 7 years of age respectively, I knew they probably would have had some time to relax, but I still knew we needed something to balance the tannins that remain… meat.  We had already decided on a stuffed shell with a rich red sauce (for acidity) but still needed meat.  Thinking of something not too heavy, but rather light and earthy, we decided on lamb.  It would provide some meat fat to soften those remaining tannins, and also harmonize with the earthy flavors of the Northern Italian wines. 
  
Dinner turned out to be a great success, the wines were delicious (my favorite was the ’00 Barbaresco, hubby liked the Brunello) and the pairing worked out quite well! 

Since lamb is something we rarely cook these days (I have no idea why since this one was so delicious), we decided to recreate the meal this weekend, but this time for just the two of us… and no Italian wines. 

Instead, I was thinking Pinot Noir.  I had recently received two samples of Pinot Noir from two different wineries in two different states.  Wondering how they both would pair with the grilled lamb, I opened up the two and tasted them side-by-side then again paired with the lamb (recipe below). 

Lamb can be a great pairing for Pinot Noir when done right and with the right Pinot.  Assuming the Oregon one would be on the lighter side we went with a light herb season and grill, no topping or sauce, simply to taste the pure lamb flavors with no interaction from a heavy sauce.  Much like we did with the Italian wines. 

I tasted the wines first, before dinner, and then we had them side by side with the main dish, Grilled Rack of Lamb with Herbed Crust and (yes AGAIN) Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese (I told you, we can’t stop eating this salad.  Plus, I had a feeling the beets would pair well with the Pinot… and you know what, I was right). 

The wines:

Four Graces 2008 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
Four Graces is a family own winery located in the Red Hills of Dundee in the Willamette Valley.  Named after owner’s Steve and Paula Blacks four daughters, Four Graces wines are made with only grapes grown on their own two vineyards and with sustainable farming techniques with a focus on both organic and biodynamic practices. 

Their 2008 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is their base level Pinot Noir and the initial smell is undeniably Oregon with its light earth and funk characteristics, with undertones of cherry, rose, and herbs.  The body was dry with more of that funk, along with spice (pepper), soft tannins, with a light yet elegant finish.  The only thing I was missing on this light bodied wine was more of a fruit balance to the earth, but that came out with the pairing.  For the price, this is a nice example of an everyday light bodied Oregon Pinot Noir.

Appellation:  Willamette Valley
Grapes:  Pinot Noir
Retail:  $29
Alcohol:  13.7%

The pairing:  The earthy flavors of the lamb met with the soft earthy flavors of the wine, but neither the meat nor wine really “improved” so to speak.  The beets, however, paired with the wine turned out to be a delicious pairing.  The rich and sweet roasted flavor of the beets really brought out the bright fruit that was hiding behind the earth of the wine and really freshened it up.  To me, that’s what a successful pairing does, it enhances both the experience of the wine and the food.  While the lamb slightly overwhelmed the wine with a little too much earth meets earth flavors, the beets provided a great fruit balance.  Thumbs up!


Consilience Winery 2006 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard
Consilience Winery, located in Los Olivos, California in Santa Barbara County was founded in 1997 by two couples wanting to produce great wine in Santa Barbara County.  Their focus seems to be mostly on typical Rhône varietals of Syrah, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Viognier, along with some additional non-Rhône varietals of Zinfandel and Pinot Noir.  The majority of the fruit they work with is sourced from growers throughout the county. 

I tasted their 2006 Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir initially at a Pinot Noir twitter tasting at Storyteller Wine Company two weeks ago.  The wine was somewhat unfairly represented among over 15 Pinots from Oregon and stuck out like a sore thumb (in a bad way).  It was too big, dark and high alcohol for that crowd.  Since I received a bottle at home I decided to give the poor guy a second chance.  Sadly, even unsurrounded by the flavors of Oregon, the wine still seemed too big, hot, and unbalanced.  This wine is a BIG wine, something I’m not used to in my typical Pinot.
 
It had lots of dark berry, cola, leather, and concentrated candied cherry flavors throughout and the alcohol was screaming through on the nose.  Dark fruit followed this wine through the finish with spicy bold flavors I’m more used to seeing in a Syrah.  Is this really Pinot Noir I thought to myself?  The wine was just off balanced to me and hot. Very hot.  I couldn’t get past the high alcohol on this wine at over 16%.  But perhaps with food it will be different?

Appellation:  Santa Barbara County
Grapes:  Pinot Noir
Retail:  $36
Alcohol:  16.2%

The pairing:  The Lamb definitely calmed down and softened the wine bringing it down to a level more drinkable, but still had noticeable alcohol.  I still didn’t love the wine, but the food did definitely cover up some of the heavy characteristics of the wine.  The beets provided too much added sweetness and richness already in the wine that it ended up enhancing the already distracting rich flavors in the wine.  To me, it just wasn’t a successful pairing. Perhaps the wine needs something a little bolder to stand up to its big flavors, or perhaps the wine is just too big for me.

Now, for the moment you’ve been waiting for… The recipe

Grilled Rack of Lamb with Herb Crust

Serves 3 (multiply recipe for extra people)

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. of lamb racks
• 2 tablespoons each of fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary and sage) all finely chopped
• Salt and pepper
• Extra virgin olive oil (about 1 tablespoon)

Directions:
Snip a little fat off the lamb to prevent major flare-ups on the grill.  Salt and pepper the lamb and rub with olive oil to coat.  Sprinkle half the herbed dry rub on both sides and place in a container in the fridge for at least one hour to marinate.

Set grill to medium heat.  Grill both sides of the lamb until the internal temperature is 140 degrees (for medium to medium rare) approximately 6-8 minutes per side.  Remove from grill, then sprinkle the remaining herbs on the meat.  Let the lamb rest for 15 minutes.  Cut and serve along side with Roasted Beet Salad (recipe here) and a delicious Pinot Noir or older Barbaresco if you have it!

 

Cheers

Cupcake Vineyards

Sometimes grocery store wines can truly surprise me.  It’s rare, but it does happen.  Take the case of Cupcake Vineyards.   In all honesty I’ve seen these wines lately displayed in large stacks at the grocery store.  When I see wines displayed like this I typically pass them over, assuming they’re just some un-quaffable mass-produced grocery store concoction with cute marketing.  But having tried them recently I admittedly have developed a different opinion.  Yes, I, "Mary Cressler the stubborn", had a change of heart, and I’m so glad I did.  I love these humbling moments, and thus sharing them with you.

Cupcake Vineyards is located in Monterey County, California, but they make wines from a variety of regions throughout the world.  The three wines below represent fruit from two different states in the US and two different continents.

2009 Sauvignon Blanc

So, we all know how I feel about Sauvignon Blanc, yes? Well if you don’t you can check out here and here for some of my previous thoughts on the varietal.  It’s typically not my cup of tea, outside of the Loire Valley, but I was pleasantly surprised by this little baby.  If you are a Sauvignon Blanc fan, please read further. I think you'll be happy with what you find.

This refreshing wine is screaming for some summertime weather!  The nose was spot on New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, very grassy with tropical pineapple scents along with citrus notes of grapefruit, lemon and lime.  The mouth, a bit tart but still refreshing, continued with grassy notes and flavors of grapefruit, more lemon and lemon peel.

What I found pleasant is that it is not as overly pungent or harshly acidic as many Sauvignon Blancs from the same region.  The acidity was strong, but not distracting.  There was nothing really complex about this wine, but for the price point I have to admit, it is a zesty, bright and refreshing value.  If you are looking for something easy and refreshing without ever regretting what you paid for it, you should check out this wine.  It is a typical New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc at almost half the price of the popular Kim Crawford.  I’m not gonna lie to you, this ain’t bad for a $7 bottle of wine!

Appellation:  Marlborough, New Zealand
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc  
Retail:  between $7-$12  (currently on sale for $7.99 at Fred Meyer)
Alcohol:  12.5%
Where to find:  Widely available, you’ll likely find it at your local grocery store.
Food Pairing:  Fresh mixed green salad with goat cheese.


2009 Dry Riesling

To me this wine was Riesling on the nose, but Sauvignon Blanc on the palate.
The wine began with typical Riesling notes on the nose of sweet pears, peaches, apples, nectarine, with a little bit of pineapple, followed by a mouth full of tangy citrus, lemon, lime and green apple, and finishing dry.

This wine is missing the minerality that is beautiful in a great Riesling, but there was really no flaws in it.  Admittedly, it’s a pretty nice little summer sipper.   What you should expect, however, is sweet bright fruit on the nose turning into a dry citrus explosion in the mouth with strong acidity.  You’ll also find this wine has a higher alcohol level (13%) than a traditional style Riesling (typically 9-11%), but if you can find it for under $10, then I’d say it is a decent choice for an easy drinking refreshing wine so long as you’re not expecting a mineraly German style Riesling.

Appellation: Colombia Valley, Washington
Grapes:  Riesling
Retail:  $7-$14
Alcohol: 13.2%
Where to find: Widely available, you’ll likely find it at your local grocery store.
Food pairing:  I paired the wine with a roasted chicken and a tossed green salad.  It was a pretty solid food pairing because the richness of the chicken softened the strong acidity on the wine. 


2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast

Initially this wine was tight with closed and subtle earthy flavors, but after a quick dive through the *Vinturi (aerator), the wine showed its bright and rich big fruit flavors.  What evolved was aromas of black berries, black cherry and plum fruit with some spice and pepper.   The mouth was spicy, medium bodied, with more black berry, cherry, raspberry fruit, and more spice, along with some decent tannins (though not strong).   

Overall, the wine is simple but certainly decent, and for under $10, you’re hard pressed to find another California Cab that could stand up to this one for the price.  Definitely worth a shot if you see it at the store for $10 or under. 

*If you don’t have a Vinturi just pour a few ounces into your glass and let it just sit in your glass for a few minutes, swirling ever so often.  It allows for the wine to open up faster.  Ahh yeah.

Appellation:  Central Coast, California
Grapes:  Cabernet Sauvignon
Retail:  $7-$14
Alcohol %:  13.50%
Where to find: Widely available, you’ll likely find it at your local grocery store.

 
Overall, I was impressed with the quality at the price point for these wines.  These wines are all currently on sale at my local Fred Meyer grocery store for $7.99, and are certainly worth it for that price.  Before receiving these samples it is unlikely I would have picked up a bottle, but now I know that in a whim, I would be confident knowing that they would be nice wines for an everyday no brainer go-to wine.

These wines were provided as media samples for review; but I did go buy the Chardonnay today as I saw it while shopping and looking forward to reporting about it.

Meeting Tom Mackey from St. Francis Winery...

... and a stroll down memory lane

Most wine lovers have quite a few bottles of wine that they would categorize as “most memorable” wines.  Some have many, others have one or two. I’d have to say I've had many great wines in my life, but few have left a mark on me that I will remember forever.  Among those was the 1997 St. Francis “Kings Ridge” Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine I was drinking when my husband proposed. (Okay, I know this sounds like it's going to be a cheesy sappy story, but it's not, so please read on if you’re not into sappy stuff). 

You see, St. Francis was one of the first wine clubs we joined after moving to San Francisco and becoming seriously interested in wine, and we remained members until a year after moving to Oregon (six years later).  It wasn’t just the wines we fell in love with, but the experience they provided when visiting.  They didn’t just have a tasting room that offered the average 4-6 wines in a flight, but also offered guests a whole food and wine pairing experience, lasting close to an hour, where they would pair 4 or 5 of their wines with appetizers created by their chef.  For me, it was the first time I started to understand the art and science behind a good food and wine pairing while falling in love with their wines.  We visited often and brought family and friends to experience this place that almost became synonymous with Sonoma to us.  

 So, it was fitting that my boyfriend (now husband) brought out that bottle the night he planned to pop the question.  And, cheesy as it sounds, I kept the label to that very bottle, had it professionally framed, and gave it to my hubby on our first wedding anniversary as the traditional first anniversary symbol of “paper" (Okay now THAT was cheesy!  But it was true nonetheless). 

St. Francis wines were also among the first that I tasted enough times to be able to identify a specific “winemaking style” to their wines.  That became more evident when I was studying for the CMS Certified Sommelier exam and had my husband blind taste me daily on new wines to prep me for the tasting portion of the exam.  Anytime he brought out a browned bagged St. Francis (whether it be a Cab, Merlot, or other), I would smell and immediately respond, “I’m not sure the exact varietal yet, let me taste a little more, but it smells like St. Francis”.  And 9 times out of 10 I was right.  I still don’t know what it is (anybody like to share?), the barrels, the vineyards the fruit is sourced from, a magic potion?  But whatever it is there is definitely a distinct style to most of their wines.  Some may call this Terroir, and I would just call it distinctly good. 

So, needless to say I was very excited to have been invited to meet Tom Mackey, who has been the winemaker at St. Francis since 1983, last week for lunch along with other local wine bloggers, Tamara Belgard from Sip With Me!, Jim Eastman of The Wine Cyclist and Bernie Gehret and Eva Schmole of PortlandOregonWine.com.   I’ve met many winemakers before, but there was something special and exciting about meeting Tom, since I had been enjoying his wines for years and had never met the man behind them.

Tom was warm and genuine and it felt like we were conversing with a friend rather than a stranger.  He spoke of the early days when he first joined the winery.  “Times were more simple then, yet the work was hard.  We had a small crew, about four people that did everything from working in the field, working all through harvest, doing the prep work, the cleaning, the bottling, etc.”  

He spoke of the changes he has witnessed in the Sonoma valley over the decades.  Times have changed, wineries have evolved and learned from their mistakes and experiments.  “We prune differently now… we space our vineyards differently… we pick our fruit later”.  He described that, in his early days, they used to pick fruit much earlier in the season.  Now he has learned that if you leave the fruit on the vines longer you get more developed and deeper flavors out of the wines. 

They have also learned how to be better stewards of the land, and now strive for green and sustainable practices, including installing a solar electrical system on the roof of the winery, a water conservation program, recycling programs, and more. 

In 2001 they opened up their visitors center on Highway 12, in Santa Rosa (about the time I started visiting), where they offer tastings, events, and my favorite, their wine and food pairing experience.

When I asked Tom about the Kings Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon and their other reserve wines (ok, I had to, I got engaged over a bottle of that wine for goodness sake. Did I also mention we shared another bottle of the same wine and vintage at our actual wedding?), he shared that the 1997 was probably the best vintage of that wine, but that they are no longer making that specific wine anymore.  He went on to explain the evolution of the once “reserve wine” program to their now Wild Oak wines.  Tom described that he felt, over the years, wineries started using the term “reserve” too loosely, and that it had lost value and meaning (in the U.S. there is no legal designation for the term “reserve” on a bottle of wine), and that they decided to create a new label to distinguish the “best of the best” for their wines.  Their Wild Oak label represents just that, the best fruit from the best vineyards in each vintage. 

"So, Wild Oak represents the best of the best, but what is your favorite wine to make, each year? The one you get most excited about?" I asked.  "Our blends", Tom responded.  "Including our Sonoma Red, our Claret, and our Anthem".  The Anthem in particular is a unique "reverse Bordeaux-style blend", meaning instead of focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot as the primary grapes, the focus is on Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc.  I have had a few vintages of the Anthem and I have to say it is indeed a unique and special wine, not to mention delicious!    

The Wines

Tasting through the flight of wines was like going down memory lane for me.  That distinct “St. Francis flavor” was evident in each of the reds.  The one white we had was their outstanding 2007 Sonoma County Chardonnay, and I say outstanding because you can’t really find a better Chardonnay for the price point (retail between $10-$12/bottle). Oak, vanilla, toast, with balanced lemon, spice and acidity.  Seriously, for $10?  Yes please! 

Another one that blew me away because of the $10 price point was the 2006 Sonoma Red blend (Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Zinfandel).  It had bold black berry fruit, with chocolate, vanilla and spice throughout. 

My two favorite wines of the flight, however, were both Zinfandels.  First off was the 2007 “Old Vines” Zinfandel, which was a blend of fruit from fourteen vineyards throughout the valley.  Typical dark berry Zin aromas with oak spice, lushness, black cherries with a long finish without any distinguishable “hot” characteristics. 

The second Zin that won over my heart was the 2006 Wild Oak Zinfandel.  My notes for that wine simply said “Woah!” with a smiley face J.  You know, I’ll be the first to admit, sometimes you find a wine that you just want to savor and not be too analytical about, and this was one of those.  I loved it. 

 As I think back to the lunch, I feel honored to have been invited to sit down with such an intimate group (seven people total), with a winemaker whom I’ve respected since I started seriously learning about wine almost ten years ago.  And I am so glad to have meet Tom.  He was sincere and genuine, and as talented and experienced a winemaker he is, he was very unpretentious.  As we ended lunch, we just sat and chatted.  Not about wine, but about our lives, comparing San Francisco stories (Tom grew up there), and he talked about his passion for motorcycles and surfing, although he does much more motorcycling now and no more surfing.  He even got excited when I shared with him my first experience surfing last summer in Hawaii.  He asked if I would do it again… “of course” I answered.

I feel that meeting the man behind one of my most memorable bottles of wine makes the wine even more memorable now.  Almost making the story complete.  

You can read more about Tom Mackey and St. Francis wines on their website.  

Quivira Vineyards & Winery

2010 will likely present an interesting year for wineries with the ripple effect of lagging inventory and an economy not necessarily buying wines in the $50.00 plus range as was the case two or three years ago.  The last couple of years have seen a lot of changes in all areas of the world, but this post highlights how quickly things can change at one winery in Dry Creek, Quivira, and how important it is to take a finer look at perhaps changes in winemaker or owners without judging from past experiences.

Here’s my story, years ago I spent a lot of time in Sonoma.  We would drive all over the place, regularly visiting some while trying to discover new wineries.  Quivira was one of those places we had stopped at a few times and is located along a track in Dry Creek Valley, near wineries that many of which don’t seem to exist anymore or have changed ownership, like Belvedere for example, which I just discovered is closed and is now C. Donatiello Winery (see the crazy things that change in just a few short years!).  We visited them a couple of times and liked the wines, but not enough to really stand out.  So when I recently was sent Quivira wines to review I thought, “hmm some Quivira, cool, I remember them, I’ll check it out”.  Then after opening the wines was very surprised with how much they stood out, much more than what I remember from years ago.  So I did a little research and “surprise”, many changes have taken place in the winery since 2006 (after I had already settled into Oregon), and apparently in the Dry Creek Valley during that time as well, and I began to take closer notice.

Quivira Vineyards & Winery
Healdsburg, CA |  Dry Creek Valley

 “In the 16th to 18th centuries, the area we know as Sonoma County appeared on European maps as a mythical kingdom called “Quivira” whose streets were said to be paved with gold. Today, the region’s “gold” is the acres of grapevines that thrive there.”

Quivira, named after this “mythical realm” was founded by Holly and Henry Wendt in 1981.  In 2006, 25 years later, the winery was sold to Pete and Terri Kight who quickly began making significant changes to the winery, but continuing a focus on Biodynamic and organic farming techniques used by the Wendts.  They also brought in Steven Canter, who had training in many regions throughout the world, as their winemaker and vineyard manager, or rather “winegrower” as he calls himself (not to separate the two roles).

Today they continue a focus on Biodynamic and sustainable practices throughout the vineyards, wine making, and property, including an organic garden they created in 2008 designed to educate visitors on their organic farming and viticulture practices.  Touring the property today you’ll find their gardens, a pond, greenhouse, chickens and even goats. 

2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Fig Tree Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley

One of their flagship wines, the Fig Tree Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, named for the 130-year old fig tree that stands amongst the vines, is certified organic and Biodynamic.

The wine represents my new found excitement for California (not to generalize) Sauvignon Blancs.  As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am not a huge fan of Sauvignon Blancs in general.  They can be too grassy, grapfruity, or acidic to me, or they represent the opposite spectrum and are too minerally.  Throughout last summer I discovered numerous Sauvignon Blancs, from both the Napa side and Sonoma, that I loved and would easily drink everyday.  This wine is no exception.

The wine had just a slight enough grassiness and fresh grapefruit on the nose to identify itself as Sauv Blanc, but by no means harsh or overpowering.  In addition there were aromas of fresh tropical fruits, green apple, and some slightly sweet apricot on the nose.  The mouth had bright citrus notes, lemon peel, and steely minerality, with a clean and crisp finish. 

This style of Sauvignon Blanc (a nice balance between some of the harsh grassy New Zealand style, and the minerally Loire Valley style) is the style I will be keeping my eyes out for come summer 2010 to pair with my summer ceviche. 

Appellation:  Dry Creek Valley
Grapes:  100% Sauvignon Blanc
Retail:  $18.00
Alcohol:  13.9%

2007 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

I enjoyed this wine over the course of two different nights to see how the flavors and body would change with the extended time opened.  

Upon first opening, this wine felt slightly hot and almost medicinal (concentrated) and needed a little time, but by the second day had softened and opened into a nicely balanced and mild Zinfandel.

The wine, subtle, with moderately high alcohol (at 14.9% vs. 16+% Zins), has plenty of dark berry fruit with moderate plum notes.  The smell is unmistakably Zin without being an overpowering jammy fruit-bomb.  The mouth is slightly peppery with soft tannins. 

Overall I found the wine balanced, although not overly complex, but a great value (at $20) if you’re looking for a nice, everyday, non-fruit-bomb, Dry Creek Zinfandel.

Appellation:  Dry Creek Valley
Grapes:  93% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah
Retail:  $20
Alcohol:  14.9%
Food pairings:  I drank this wine with Chicken Parmesan which turned out to be a great pairing as the sweetness of the sauce balanced the heat and spice of the wine.

Learning of some of the many changes that have been going on at Quivira since the changeover of ownership (around the same time I moved to Oregon and stopped visiting the area and winery regularly) I was no longer surprised that I truly enjoyed the two wines I was sent to taste.  Lesson learned.  Good businesses, like good people, continue to grow, evolve, and change (quite often for the better).  And not judging the book by its cover is always a nice reminder since so much variation can occur from vintage to vintage and from owner to owner.  I was pleased with these wines and look forward to making a point to go back to the estate next time I visit the area.

These wines were provided as media samples for review.

Yes, Twitter Can Generate Revenue For Your Winery!

I’ve read arguments up and down, left and right, about social media and wineries, specifically whether it is beneficial for a winery to use Facebook or Twitter to promote their brand, and more importantly whether or not it helps to generate revenue, and all I have to say is “why not”?  It’s free, and it really doesn’t “need” to take up any unnecessary time.

Long story short.

I was visiting Sonoma back in September with a few friends. I used to live in San Francisco, so I was used to going my same ‘ol route to visit many of my favorite wineries.  But since I’ve lived in Portland for almost four years now I feel out of the loop for what’s new there.  So, on a whim I sent out the following tweet on Twitter “On my way to Sonoma, anything new I shouldn’t miss? Haven’t been here in awhile. First stop Gloria Ferrer”.  And low and behold I got a response immediately from a winery I hadn’t heard of, Anaba (@AnabaWines on Twitter), who responded “Visit Anaba. We are new. Very close to Gloria Ferrer. Come on by.”  And we did. 

When we walked into the quaint tasting room we were the only customers and saw only one person working at the bar.  As the woman greeted us she asked if we were the ones who sent the Twitter message.  We asked how she found us and her response was simple, “There was nobody in the tasting room so I just went on Twitter and searched the key words ‘Sonoma’ and ‘wine’ to see if I could drive folks in here, found you, and responded right away”.  Simple as that.  And because of that simple interaction we were able to discover a new winery, that we were not intending to visit, but enjoyed and look forward to visiting again.  Even people (like myself) who pride themselves on keeping up with the industry, changes, and news, can’t keep up with all the new wineries that pop up in Sonoma, or elsewhere for that matter.  That’s where social marketing can help.

Anaba Winery, Sonoma California

While on sabbatical from a career with IBM, Anaba owner John Sweazy traveled through Europe and discovered the beauty, land, and people of both Burgundy and the Rhône Valley, and fell in love.  Upon his return he worked in real estate finance before selling his company in 2003 and dedicating himself to starting his own winery in Sonoma, where the lands reminded him of what he loved about his two favorite regions in France. Thus Anaba was created, named after the unique upward anabatic wind patterns in the Western Carneros region of Sonoma.  Not being a winemaker himself he brought in UC Davis graduate, Jennifer Marion, to direct the wine making and vineyard operations.  In just a few short years this team appears to be doing something right so far because I was very impressed with what we experienced in the wines.  

Fitting for their location they source Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the cooler Carneros region, near the winery, and Russian River appellations, but also source Rhone varietals from some of the warmer areas within the Sonoma Valley.  The Pinot Noir and Chardonnay were delightful, but my two favorites and the ones we purchased quite a few bottles of that day were: 

2007 Anaba “Coriol” White Rhone Blend
Mineral (think stones, wet stones) on the nose, with lots of lemon peel, green apple, peach and melon, with a hint of oak aging mellowness.  The mouth had a slight peppery spice, with somewhat of an oily texture residue (typical of Viogner) with additional mineral, lemon, and an almost salty aftertaste (more like wines with a Mediterranean feel).  This wine would go with a wide variety of seafood dishes along with more rich foods where the weight and body of the wine could hold up to a heavy white sauce. Intriguing.  I drank this bottle with grilled Mahi Mahi with a side of quinoa and roasted broccoli... topped with some quality salts this was a winning pair!

Appellation:  Sonoma Valley
Grapes: 69% Viognier, 15% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne, and 6% Grenache Blanc.
Alcohol:  14.1%
Retail:  $28


2007 Anaba "Coriol" Red Rhone Blend
On the nose this wine was smoky and meaty with cedar, dark fruit, and fresh ground pepper throughout.   In the mouth the wine was a bit bold at first, but this full-bodied wine quickly opened up with a beautiful array of red and black fruit, vanilla and cedar, with a strong backbone.  With the richness and peppery touches I see this as a great steak wine, perhaps a grilled peppered steak! 

Appellation:  Sonoma Valley
Grapes:  38% Grenache, 27% Mourvedre, 25% Petite Sirah, 10% Counoise
Alcohol:  14.5%
Retail:  $28


Now the point of this story is that Twitter alone didn’t sell me on their wines, but by using it their employee did get my attention and sparked my interest in wanting to stop at this new winery.  It was the wines, combined with the great hospitality that we received, that ultimately motivated me to make my purchases.  And because of that, I will likely visit them again on my next visit, and certainly recommend a stop to friends wanting to check out new wineries in the Sonoma area.  So, next time you’re visiting a wine region and looking to explore something new it may be worth a tweet to see who’s listening.  And for wineries, it may be a good opportunity to give Twitter a shot (if you’re not already doing so) to see who you may be able to invite to your winery that was not planning to do so.  You just never know…