Simple Hedonisms

Archive for the ‘Winery’ Category

Simple Hedonisms has been honored to be invited as one of six American writers attending the 2011 Grupo Freixenet media trip.  Many people think of Freixenet simply as the Spanish sparkling wine Cava producer, but in fact the Freixenet Group is a 100% family-owned company with 18 wineries in 7 countries in 3 continents. The family heritage in the wine industry dates back to 1861.

Freixenet owns Gloria Ferrer,  celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, opened by José and Gloria Ferrer. Building Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards was the fulfillment of a longtime dream for José Ferrer, whose father, Pedro Ferrer Bosch, had come to the United States in the mid 1930s with the idea of making sparkling wine in North America.

It was a bit ironic I was selected. In disclosure, I do marketing and social media consulting for Gloria Ferrer (and Tapeña, via Public Relations firm MGPR.  However, a separate PR firm handles all of the other Freixenet 20+ brands in the United States for Freixenet USA. They had been following my work and coverage, and had extended an invite for this tour. It was only after the fact that we connected the dots. This trip has no connection to any of my consulting work or brands, so I enthusiastically accepted.

The Other Writers

The team of esteemed writers for this year’s annual trip consists of:

• Charlie Arturaola, Sommelier and Educator
• Rob Brown, Tasting Panel
• Dave Buchanan, The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction, CO)
• Michelle Locke, Associated Press
• Erin Zimmer, Serious Eats

Together, on a non-stop, fast paced 6 day itinerary, we will explore Madrid, Ribera del Duero, Priorat, and Barcelona.

The Journey

Its a fast pace of plains, trains and automobiles. Luckily, I already eat on European timelines, and am well suited for this!

Monday, July 11th 2011

Arrival into Madrid, Spain, Check in HOTEL URBAN

9:00 pm Dinner at RESTAURANTE EL TEATRO REAL

Tuesday, July 12th 2011

9:00 am Depart to Ribera del Duero

11:30 am Arrival to Valdubón – Visit Valdubón & tasting, lunch with Javier Aladro – Winemaker

04:00 pm Transfer to Logroño (Rioja)

06:30 pm Arrival to Logroño and check in at: HOTEL GRAN VIA

08:45 pm walking to tapas dinner

Wednesday, July 13th 2011

10:45   transfer by minibus to the winery – Visit Solar Viejo & tasting, lunch at the winery

5:45 pm Depart by train to Tarragona

8:45 pm Arrival in Tarragona and transfer to HOTEL IMPERIAL TARRACO

08:45 pm  dinner

Thursday, 14th July 2011

10:30 am Depart  to Falset (Priorat). Arrival to Falset and visit and tasting, lunch at Morlanda winery

5:00 pm Departure to Barcelona, 5:30 pm Arrival,  Check in at HOTEL GALLERY

FREE DINNER (hmmm where to go.)

Friday, 15th July 2011

9:00 am Transfer to Freixenet, Tour & Tasting

12:00 pm Transfer to Segura Viudas. Tour & Tasting

4:00 pm Transfer to Barcelona

9:00 pm FAREWELL DINNER at restaurant BRAVO 24

Saturday, July 16th 2011 DEPARTURES TO THE US

Whew!

I’d like to say I provide my usual supply of Facebook and Twitter updates, but with the schedule, and likely limited Internet access, I can’t promise, but do watch for the occasional update.

July is Wine Month

Back late Saturday night. Sunday is a day of down time. Monday is the first bottling of my new small Rhone blend, the whites. (Name to be announced shortly.)

Rest, pack, kiss the loved ones, then head to SFO early Wednesday morning for the Wine Bloggers Conference, in Charlottesville Virginia. There its 3 packed days where I  taste, network and hear key notes from famed writers Jancis Robinson and Eric Asimov.

Back home from Virginia on Sunday, then Wednesday its off again to the Willamette Valley of Oregon, outside Portland, for the not to be missed International Pinot Noir Celebration or IPNC.  I am again lucky enough to be one of the selected Press team. Wine writing doesn’t pay, but it sure has great perks!

The full 3 day pass has long been sold out, but there are some tickets left for the Sunday afternoon Passport to Pinot.

Back for some rest, bottle my Rhone reds, and then its back to Mendocino County to judge the Mendocino County Wine Competition.

I may need an August vacation from wine!

Thanks for reading Simple Hedonisms – cheers!

I visited a number of tasting rooms in and around the gold rush town of Murphy’s CA this weekend. My brother raised his children in Murphy’s but I hadn’t been back in nearly 10 years. When they were little, there were 3 or 4 wineries in town. Now there are well over 20, with new and expanding grape cultivation evident on the drive up Highway 4. Down in the valley, the road is lined with apple and peach orchards as it always was. As it reaches the higher elevations of the Sierra Foothills, Highway 4 gives way to glimpses of vineyards and new plantings between rolling hills.

Many wineries have opened tasting rooms on or near Main Street in Murphy’s. If the July 4^th weekend was a bellweather, this once declining community is now a thriving village of cafes, bistros, boutiques and wine establishments, all grown up around the tasting rooms. Great care has gone into establishing the atmosphere of each room.

Day One:
I loved the intimate and funky Zucca Mountain Vineyards tasting room with it’s cool, dark stone cellar, wall of awards, and an afterhours patio with music and misters on a 100-degree plus day. Their 2008 Barbera was smooth, forceful and balanced with soft wood tones. It stands alone but calls out for a food pairing. Zucca smartly distributes recipe cards keyed to their wines. I picked up the Steak with Horseradish-Chive Sauce to be paired with the 2009 Sangiovese, complete with photo of the mouth-watering steak. Other Italian varietals produced by Zucca include Sangiovese, Dolcetto, and Sorprendere.
@ZuccaWines

Newsome-Harlow tasting room, just a couple doors up the street, was the polar opposite of Zucca, with equal appeal. Enter through an enclosed patio lounge complete with fire pit, which opens onto their food franchise, The Kitchen to the north and the Tasting Room to the east.  Lots of natural light through ample glass, zoned lighting and wood floors complete the euro high-tech look and feel. I wanted to taste with small plates but The Kitchen was only open until 3pm (in a week or two they will open for dinners).

I really liked the wines at Newsome-Harlow. The tasting room personnel were top-notch. They explained that this is the label of local Scott Klann, winemaker at Twisted Oak and Tanner. I didn’t have a chance to taste Tanner but between Twisted Oak and Newsome-Harlow I sensed a vast repertoire of styles emanating from Klanns’ wine-making influence.

Newsome-Harlow 2010 Sauvignon Blanc is classic grapefruit SB of which I am a huge fan. The wine was pure, simple and refreshing, a perfect synonym to the scorching weather outside.  The 2010 Rose of Grenache (10% Zin) was also a winner at 13.2% alcohol. I took home a bottle of each.  NH featured a trio of Zinfandels, one from each of the Sierra Foothill regions – Amador, El Dorado and Calaveras — which makes for interesting tasting room discussion. I particularly liked the 2009 Donner Party Zinfandel from the local Dalton vineyard, described as “not for the faint of heart.” I really wished The Kitchen had been open when I got to tasting these Zins!
@NHVino

A galactic opposite Tasting Room experience was Ironstone, where the entry is through theme-park-like gates. In fact, the winery’s Amphitheatre hosts a complete season of fireworks, concerts and performing arts (Sammy Hagar plays in Sept).  The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, a snack and sandwich bar is housed right in the large tasting room, and the beautiful shaded gardens are an oasis of coolness on a hot day. To top it off, the wines are nicely made and range from value-priced to fine wines.

Day Two:
I visited the new Twisted Oak Winery in-town tasting room. It’s across the street from the former location, in a lovely Victorian cottage where most of the interior walls have been removed to make one big bright light room. I was very well taken care-of despite the holiday crowds. Having followed Twisted Oaks’ Jeff Stai “El Jefe” on Twitter since my earliest wine tweets, I felt an obligation to be thorough. I tasted the entire list, which is amazingly long (12 wines were pouring) and diverse (3 whites, 7 blends, over 14 varietals) for a small-production (5000-8000 case) winery.

Another 100-degree day, and I was finding a dearth of whites. So I really enjoyed the Twisted Oak 2010 Calaveras County Verdelho and appreciated the light touch (13.6% alcohol). Of their many reds, I was partial to the 2008 Calaveras County Parcel 17 – a finely tuned and approachable blend with cranberry notes – of Mourvedre, Carignane, and Graciano all sourced from a single parcel of a Calaveras vineyard.  This wine has won best of California and Double Gold at the California State Fair and a Gold Medal at the Orange County Fair. Even thought it’s not the biggest, slamming-est Twisted blend, t’s good to know I’m not alone in my tastes …

Twisted Oak has branded a kick-ass wine-making style which was evident in the dramatic acids of the 2010 Calaveras County Viognier. And in the 2008 Calaveras County Torcido that ROARS into the mouth like a forest fire in the pines.  Torcido means “Twisted” and it’s made up of “estate-grown Garnacha blended with a little Petitie Sirah.” Wines like these beg for food; I’m thinking to pair the Viognier with hotly spiced Thai.  I’m open to suggestion on the Torcido … perhaps a fire extinguisher?

@Twisted_Oak – @eljefetwisted

Another novel approach to tasting was the Allegorie Tasting and Art Gallery. Here an artistic couple have designed a line of wines that pair with their art.  Their wines are made by Jonathon Phillips of Val du Vino Winery (Murphy’s), in very low case production and available only in the gallery.  The 2009 Allegorie Calaveras County Grenache is one of the best I’ve tasted.  Ever.

In an homage to Spain, Metate Hill Vineyards tasting room boasts soft archways and cool tile counters to highlight their focus on artisan produced Spanish varietals. Two treatments of the same Albarino wine were tasting: The 2008 Albarino Acero – aromatic and clean-finishing, and the 2008 Albarino Barrica — from the same pressing using different fermentation and aging techniques.  Followed by 2008 Carinena Rosado, a boldly dry rose’ with tones of bramble bushes and pepper that produced a lingering refresca against the blistering heat of the afternoon. I took home a bottle, hoping to recreate the sensation.

I was fortunate to taste a couple of not-on-the-list wines: a 2008 Metate Hill Carinena (aka Carigniane) I would describe as a pure expression of the varietal character of the grape.  Then, a very special 2008 Graciano, a joyous wine with a soft mouth feel and full fruit ripeness and yet a serious intensity, moderated nicely.  The grape is from the Rioja region of Spain.  I noticed it in the Twisted Oak Parcel 17 and again at Metate Hill. I think I’ve just discovered another varietal preference!
Metate Hill on Facebook

Two words sum up my visit to Calaveras: Atmosphere and diversity. Atmosphere for the effort taken by the wineries to create unique tasting room experiences. Diversity for the range of varietals and winemaking styles – including Italian, Rhone, and Spanish — represented in the tasting rooms of one small town. I think the food pairing and access to food for tasting here in Calaveras, where there’s such a proliferation of food wines being poured, is a very important strategy not yet addressed by most of the tasting rooms.  These are a just a few of the rooms I had time to visit on a 36 hour trip. Others called out to me and I promise to see them on my next trip. Which may be soon!

If you’re going:

The Calaveras Winegrape Alliance (CWA) has an excellent and informative website with a great map of area wineries.

Events upcoming: Any of these would be a good reason to take a drive Calaveras and visit some of the tasting rooms.

July 22 CWA hosts a tour of six Calaveras vineyards with world-renowned viticulture specialist and Professor Emeritus at UC Davis, Dr. James Wolpert

July 31, Steve Miller Band at Ironstone Amphitheater

August 13, Cave-Looting Extravaganza at Twisted Oak Winery

A brief review of Oregon producer, Kramer Vineyards, continuing on my recently announced format of Tasting Notes.

Kramer Vineyards is a small family producer I met a few months ago in Santa Rosa while they were visiting (thanks Twitter!) , and keen to taste through their portfolio, and hopefully visit when at IPNC this month.

Müller-Thurgau is a variety not commonly seen in the US. It is the second most planted variety in Germany, and traces its origins back to a Riesling cross.

To The Eye: Medium yellow straw, clear.

On The Nose: Somewhat fragrant nose of lychee, honeysuckle,  white peach.

In The Mouth: Ripe melon, stone fruits, green apple, pineapple. Fairly balanced acidity, good texture in mouth. A slight sweetness with 2% RS (residual sugar) but well balanced and integrated. I generally do not like RS, but this low amount serves this wine well, as an aperitif or pairing with a a mild-medium spicy dish, in good harmony.

Recommendation: Recommend for price and quality. $10 – really? Buy it on their website. (2008 is is listed, may need to call.)   Media Sample.

Vinification:

• Cold fermented, stainless aged, 285 cases produced
• 11.7% alcohol
• pH: 3.1
• T.A. 6.0
• RS: 2%

Recently I have written several articles on my new explorations and fascination with Mendocino County. While many are familiar with the great Pinot Noir and Alsatian varietals of Anderson Valley, there are  other great wines and wineries on the ‘other’ side of the County in Hopland, Ukiah and Redwood Valley, something not all county members even seem to have explored.

While there is some Pinot grown here, you will find a broader range of warmer climate reds including Sangiovese, Carignane, Grenache, Charbono, and Zinfandel, to name a few. White varieties also range from Rhone whites to others.  I took a few days to explore and tour at a leisurely pace. (Unfortunately, last week I lost my notebook with my last 8 weeks of touring and tasting notes, so am going by memory.)

Day One Parducci, Paul Dolan & Saracina

Thanks to Jan Mettler of Boss Dog Marketing, I have been growing my relationship with Parducci and Paul Dolan Vineyards. I was extended an offer to come visit and tour, and happily did so, making this the debut of my 3 day adventure.

Parducci is one of the oldest wineries in the County, and Paul Dolan’s history is iconic, the original winemaker of Fetzer in its infancy, through President after its acquisition by Brown-Forman (now acquired by Concha y Toro in March of 2011) – Paul played a leading role in making Fetzer, Mendocino, and California leaders in organic farming, moving away from chemical industrial farming. (I highly recommend his book ‘True to Our Roots’. )

Stop One: Parducci Wetlands Tour

My first stop was to ride with Tom Thornhill, a partner in Parducci with brother Tim, and Paul Dolan. Each of the three partners brings a unique focus to the team; Tom is the finance guy and a Stanford MBA. Tom’s history as a steward of the land runs deep and includes being a Board Member of the California Land Stewardship Institute (CLSI). Tom and his wife Melissa own La Ribera Vineyards, a 250-acre ranch overlooking the Russian River just north of Hopland in Mendocino County.

As both a steward of the land as well as making sure the winery is run both economically sound and environmentally friendly , Tom was concerned about their dependance on water. Wineries use an immense amount of water and Parducci has a pretty sizable operation. To be less dependent, as well as more green, a water reclamation wetlands project was established. Natural plants are passively used to help restore the water to usable form. In addition to reducing costs and being more environmentally friendly, the amount of wildlife, especially birds, that has come near devoid before, is amazing.

Best of all – the return on investment (ROI) on this project to break even….a scant two years. I had to ask myself…why aren’t the majority of wineries, at least the larger ones, investing like this…..even if you are capital restrained, what bank wouldn’t give you a loan for an ROI like that? Why isn’t the State of California, given our water concerns, or the Federal Government making low cost loan money available?

We also visited the original Parducci tasting room, checked out massive Redwood tanks, from 1890 years still in operation, and then tasted through the Parducci and Paul Dolan line up. Unfortunately, I don’t have my tasting notes, but I have already reviewed a number of their wines, and am impressed at how wines of this quality are made at these price points. All wines express the vintage and fruit, and were pleasing to my more Old World like palate.

I was supposed to meet and tour with Paul Dolan in the morning, but due to unforeseen circumstances, we had to cancel . My disappointment was consoled knowing in a few weeks I was going to be with him (and a team of writers) for a special two day Bio-dynamic camp. (More later.)

Stop Two – Saracina

I had time to fit in one more, and was excited to visit Saracina, so I headed to Hopland. I have had a few of their wines before, and we also run into some of the crew on occasion at the Thursday night wine geek tastings at the Wine Annex in Healdsburg. (Which under new ownership, has turned into quite the wine shop.)

As I read and explore Mendocino, more of the puzzle pieces come together, and how much history stems from this part of the county and Fetzer, where Paul Dolan was head winemaker, and then President. The Fetzer family have now almost all gone back into the wine industry, with their own labels, continuing their heritage of high quality wine making. John Fetzer is the eldest of the clan of eleven, born to Kathleen & Barney Fetzer, and was the CEO of Fetzer in 1981, overseeing its growth from 200,000 cases to 2.5 million, and lead the way in organic, sustainable wine growing practices.

Saracina is a 600-acre bio-diverse property encompassing three ranches located in Hopland, with 300 acres in vineyards. John was busy working in his office, but was nice enough to come down to the wine cave (the first in the area, which serves as their tasting room, until the official one opens, shortly. ) I had just started tasting through the wines – there was a steady flow of traffic, given it was the end of the day.

First up, was the Saracina Sauvignon Blanc 2009, which John says is the reason he returned to the wine industry. I am fatigued with most CA and NZ Sauv Blancs these days, but this was a joy. Fresh, bright, with good acidity and minerality, and wonderful texture, from extended lees contact. A keeper. Another of my top faves was Atrea The Choir 2010, a white Rhone blend. I went home with these as well as one of the last four bottles of their Rose’.

Tasting through the reds I liked their Pinot, and really loved their Saracina Syrah Rodgers Creek Vineyard 2007 , which the Rhone Ranger in me was very sad to hear the Syrah program will likely be discontinued.  John sells much of his wine through distribution, not a surprise given his history and relationships, and unfortunately resale partners often seek a path of least resistance, so Syrah often get’s overlooked for something easier in the portfolio to push.

I also got to meet and spend some time with his lovely wife, Patty Rock. John and Patty took time to engage with everyone who came through the tasting room – these young wine discoveries having no idea the history and legacy talking to them. But then John doesn’t appear to have a pretentious bone in his body. You immediately like and respect him.

Impulsively John said, “lets grab a glass, and go outside” so we did. He pointed out parts of the property, and the many ongoing developments, and how much transformation had occurred, as we sat, and sipped. He shared his interest in helping Ukiah and Hopland maintain it’s laid back approach as a wine destination, although the region needs more restaurants and lodging, and he is involved in some projects to that affect. We chatted about various nuances of wine and the wine industry, and I thought to myself how wonderful the wine industry, and it’s passionate people are. I also am bless to be making friends with icons like John, Randall Grahm, and others who future generations will read about, and whom I have got to know.

John invited me back to spend a few days during harvest – I love harvest and am very hands on, and said I looked forward to it. My stash and a smile in tow, I headed back to Ukiah, where Parducci was graciously housing me for the night, in part making this media weekend trip possible. (Given the new ‘sabbatical from my non wine job that funds the lifestyle.

I had two more great days of tasting and meeting great people, ahead of me. Time for an early night and some rest. (Or so I thought…yet another life impacting event was to occur….a story for another time.)

Cheers and thanks for reading Simple Hedonisms!

‘

Related Articles:

Highlights and Top Picks of the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival

Monday June 13 – Another Evolution in Wine Events – The Taste of Mendocino

Mendocino Wine Region – My Growing Love Affair & Weekend Tour; Taste of Mendocino June 13th, A Fresh Unique Format

Wine Review – 2009 Paul Dolan Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Mendocino County

Wine of The Week – Parducci 2009 Pinot Noir (Or Pinot Lovers Rejoice, True Pinot Under $15)

Take a pristine, gorgeous day with spectacular vistas in the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma County, California. Combine it with a wide range of wine varietals and styles. Add generous portions of thoughtfully paired foods. Mix it up with music and friends – blues, salsa and even zydeco – and you have the makings of a weekend that brings together all of my favorite things. And, all the wineries have specials, case discounts, and in some cases $1 case shipping – a big saving for travelers. One of the best things about this wine event is the active involvement of the vintners, winemakers, vineyard managers, owners, and family members in serving the foods, pouring the wines, and mingling freely with the guests to share their perspectives on the wines.

This was Passport to Dry Creek 2011. Here are some highlights:

Day One

Dutcher Crossing: Coconut Prawn Cones with Mango Chili Sauce paired with 2009 Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc. The taste is unique on this SB made with 9% Viognier, 7% Semillion, and 1% Roussane. It was well chilled and paired nicely with the prawns.

I found a hidden surprise in the tasting room: 2006 Dutcher Dry Creek Port, fortified with brandy and made from 40% Cabernet and 60% Syrah, all grown on the estate.  The port was dark and chocolat-ey.  Extra points for pairing it with Frozen Chocolate Whoppie Pies – two pieces of soft Oreo crust wrapped around a dollop of frozen chocolate ice cream. Yummy.

Sbragia Family: 2008 Gamble Family Ranch Chardonnay (grapes from Napa), paired with bean and pasta soup with Pancetta.  I prefer unoaked, and this Chardonnay is made with oak. But it’s subtle oak flavors — without the buttery mouth feel and syrupy texture of so many over-done Chardonnays — made it highly drinkable.

Besides the wine, food, and hospitality, location is the highlight of Sbragia. The winery is a stunning building perched on a ridge opening to views all the way to Marin. By the time I got there the temperatures were in the high 70s, and live music from the terrace was filtering out over the property. Sbragias’ good wine and kitchen make this a must-stop for future tasting days.  Now that summer weather is here, check the website for regularly scheduled music dates. An added bonus when you’re there: In the Italian tradition, Sbragia shares recipes from their kitchen. I took home a “Skewered Herb Crusted Pork Loin with Dried Fig Sauce,” recipe card from the tasting room – can’t wait to try this.

Unti Vineyards: Unti sells about 50% of their 60 acres worth of grapes to other wine-makers.  I’ve had wine made with Unti grapes, but this was my first visit and first taste of their wines.  The Grenache wines were the highlight for me. Two: a 2010 Rose of 75% Grenache and 25% Mourvedre that was a lovely peach color, ultra-dry, 13.5% alcohol wine. Chilled, it’s a perfect lunchtime wine.  And the 2007 Grenache itself was my favorite red wine of the day. Paired with a blues vocalist and tortilla nacho plate with melted cheese from Nicasio Valley Cheese Company. Thumbs-up.

Mazzocco. I couldn’t pass up the Cuban music and food theme at this wonderful winery location. Orchestra Borenquen and Zinfandel? Yes! The pairing was Flank Steak with Chimichuri and Saffron Prawns. It was the best food of the day.  In addition to other varietals, Mazzocco makes vineyard-designate Zinfandels from 9 ranches in the region. They were barrel-tasting 4 of their 2010 Zinfandels for Passport. I favored the Stone Ranch Vineyard – their only Alexander Valley Zinfandel. Tasting right from the barrel, the wine was soft, fruity and naturally balanced. The Stone Ranch 2009 was sold out; but there were good discounts available on futures.

The Mazzocco property was beautifully laid-out for the event. The orchestra was shielded by a gigantic sunshade. Flank steak was cooked to order, perfuming the air. A Cigar Loft stood slightly away from the center, completing the Cuba theme.

Seghesio Family. Seghesio went to town with a “Big Easy” theme. I loved the Cajun Barbequed ribs as served up by Pete Seghesio. They were meaty and succulent and went well with some of the featured Italian varietals such as a tobacco-ey 2008 Alexander Valley Sangiovese and a Zinfandel – Petite Sirah blend called “San Lorenzo.”

The Big Easy backdrop was the sounds of Andre Thierry and Zydeco Magic.  A local bay area group, Andre Thierry’s accordion brings his music heritage from southwest Louisiana together with an R&B sensibility to create upbeat and highly danceable music.  If there had been a dance floor at Seghesio you would have seen some zydeco dancing too. As it was, the shaded venue on a warm afternoon was perfect … Mardi Gras beads handed out at the door and a glitter tattoo station completed the theme. That and the fresh beignets at the end of the tasting line.

Day Two

A. Rafanelli. It’s always special to taste the limited production, handcrafted wines of the Rafanelli family. Even more special to visit this historic homestead winery, which is open by appointment only. And on Passport weekend the Rafanelli’s went “all-out.” I spoke to a number of people who return here each year for Passport. The 2008 Rafanelli Zinfandel and 2008 Rafanelli Cabernet – both of Dry Creek Estate-grown grapes – were pouring.

With this there were 5 food stations with 3 dishes each. Five stations! Fried artichoke hearts with Parmesan sauce, steak marinated and cooked in heaps of fresh rosemary, roasted red potatoes to name a few of the small bites offered each guest. The final station is two tables of chocolates.  Two tables! The interplay of chocolate, Zin and Cab was sublime.  Back outside the sounds of a traditional Italian trio with accordion and vocals set a festive mood.

Mounts Family. The short drive up to Mounts was worthwhile. The new 2010 Estate “Pink” Syrah (a light rose’) and delicate yet well-structured 2008 Estate Malbec were standouts, as was the shaded belly-dancing pavilion in the middle of a benchland vineyard just above the Dry Creek Valley floor.  Middle-Eastern foods and a mini-cupcake of ginger capped with incredible syrah frosting completed the experience.

Quivira. A biodynamic winery and farm, Quivira served the only Sauvignon Blancs of the day. Both from the same vineyard and vintage but made in two different styles. One produced in pure stainless and the other in neutral oak with new acacia barrels and a hint of Viognier. I surprised myself by liking the acacia-fermented taste. Both wines were crisp and refreshing on the warm afternoon, and paired with small savory bites to enhance. My friend Sheri found her favorite wine of the day – a GSM+ red blend at Quivera.  Called Elusive, the wine is 34% Syrah, 32% Grenache, 28% Mourvedre, 6% Petite Sirah. Quivera was also pouring a Mourvedre made from locally grown grapes; unusual because it is made without blending – it’s 100% Mourvedre.  Mushrooms and blueberries delighted us in this wine.

Passalacqua. This is a charming winery hidden in plain sight across the road from Dry Creek Vineyards.  I loved the gardens and vistas from their back deck, and their 2007 Sangiovese. This is a well-balanced Dry Creek Sangio with a highly satisfying tannic finish on it. Paired with flatbread pizza and Chocolate mousse gelato.

Mike Farrow, Amista

Amista Vineyards. I wasn’t hungry but I couldn’t pass up the Truffle Mac-n-Cheese with Arugula at Amista. It set off the Amista Syrah wines so nicely that I joined the wine club and brought some home. As a wine-club member I had access to the 2007 Syrah and a Sparkling Syrah that is not sold to the public. And soon a new Rockpile Cabernet will be available to members only. I’d been eyeing the Amista wines, their club and cooking events for some time.  With the club benefits and entry-level membership, the time was right. We ended our tasting on a jolly note with proprietor and vintner Mike. A must-visit anytime you roll down Dry Creek Road.

(Note from William – special thanks to Katherine for covering this event, and doing a great write up so quickly. I had previously accepted a Media invite to Hospice du Rhone in Paso Robles, so she attended and covered.)

cheers!

It’s the time again, wineries are releasing their new 2010 Rosé. It’s been great to see dry (non sweet) rosé wines come back into vogue and many producers I have spoke with have increased production this year. (My apologies to readers for lack of posts and reviews. The double edged sword of gaining in visibility is being pulled in many directions, as well as a very demanding regular job.)

Shattering Rosé Myths

“Real wine drinkers don’t drink Rosé.”  When I hear that (or the same comment on white) I quietly gnash my teeth, weep for the ignorance, and hope that one day someone or something will enlighten them. Don’t choke on that Cabernet.

Rosé is made from red grapes. If you go to a wine tasting, pouring white, pink, and reds, you will notice they are poured in THAT order.

Most Rosé today  is not your sweet, white zin ‘blush’ wine, its juice pressed off of Red wine grapes after some skin contact, and fermented dry, just like your normal red or white wine. Its meant to be drunk only lightly chilled, and enjoyed as an apertif or with a variety of foods, especially summer grilled fare.

Rhone Rosé

Rhone red wines make wonderful Rosé, generally much better than Bordeaux varietals like Cabernet, Merlot etc. (Although you can find them.) Recently I tried the new Syrah Rosé from Mounts Family Winery and the Rhone blend Rosé from Quivira, both Dry Creek Valley producers, both under $20, and both I don’t expect to last long. I will endeavor to review these as well, but consider this a strong recommendation.

Grenache can make an exceptionally wonderful Rosé, so I was pleased to see the new Bonny Doon Vin Gris was 71% grenache. What is more intriguing is the percentage of Rhone whites blended in, in this case 16% Roussanne, and 11% Grenache Blanc. (also 2% Mourvedre.) Something I will have to remember for my own home Rosé science projects.

I could barely keep this gem in the glass as I was reviewing it, it’s so highly drinkable. I thought it a perfect ‘Wine of the Week.’ I have also been asked why I don’t review more wines under $20, so Ta Da – here is a winner!

Review: Bonny Doon Vineyard Vin Gris De Cigare

To the Eye: Gorgeous, light salmon color

On The Nose: Red fruit, rose petals,  and strawberry on the nose

In The Mouth:  Apple, red fruit, modest citrus touch of stone fruit. Mouthwatering, balanced acidity is heavenly when combined with the mouth feel from lees (yeast sediment) stirring.   This is a practice often done in white wines to add texture and mouthfeel, and works very well here. I suspect the Roussanne also adds some richness.) Good minerality (think wet stone) contributed from whites. Glad its only 12.8& alcohol, as it goes down easy.

Food Pairing:  Ridiculously quaffable solo. I am sure it pairs with all kinds of foods, but right now I am embracing it with only my taste buds. I’d go for grilled fish, chicken, veggies, if any is left.

Recommendation: Buy. Now. Usually for Rosé the rule of thumb is to consume that year, but some do age, and indeed Randall Grahm recommends “Delicious today but will develop added richness and aroma with an additional 6-12 months of bottle age.”

93 points.

Where to Buy: Online from Bonny Doon. $15. (Not a typo.) (Possibly some retail – was surprised K&L Wines didn’t.)

As I wrote recently in the article ‘‘Shipping Included’ – the Future of Direct to Consumer? An interview with Bonny Doon Vineyard’ Bonny Doon is taking an aggressive approach to shipping costs. Earlier this year, shipping was included for $99. For the month of April its included in a case. Mix and match, they have many great wines under $20. And join the wine club to save another 15%. It feels like robbery. (I just received a mixed case.)

Wine Geek Info:

• Varietal Blend: 71% grenache, 16% roussanne, 11% grenache blanc, and 2% mourvèdre

• Appellation: Central Coast, California

• Alcohol by Volume: 12.8%

• TA: 0.45 g/100 ml

• pH: 3.5

• Production: 3,298 cases

Enjoy – and thanks for reading Simple Hedonisms Wine Blog – if you like what you read, spread the word and share the article – cheers!

Wine comes from the earth. More and more of today’s wine growers are conscientious  shepherds and stewards of the Land. What better way than to combine the two.

Here are a selection of Events coming up in celebration of Earth Day, feel free to add others in comments!

Sunday April 17th – Celebrate Earth Day in Green Valley at Iron Horse

This is a really great event I attended last year, and bought tickets to again this year. Celebrate Earth Day in Green Valley serves up food, wine and Ted Turner at this fifth annual “Eat, Drink & Be Green” festival held at Iron Horse Vineyards.This delicious eco- event features a walk around food and wine tasting, showcasing the spring releases from the aptly named Green Valley, represented by DeLoach Vineyards, Dutton-Goldfield, Freeman Vineyard & Winery, Hartford Family Winery, Iron Horse, Marimar Estate and Sequana.

In deference to Ted Turner, who owns 50,000 head of bison across 12 ranches, the main food station will be 6-oz. grilled bison filets along with Sonoma’s finest, fresh, “sous-vides” eggs on crostini, local, seasonal produce, cheeses, brick oven breads and an array of heavenly chocolates.

The star attraction and speaker is Ted Turner, Planet Green’s second favorite billionaire, one of GQ’s 25 “Coolest Athletes of All Time, and winner of Mikhail Gorbachev’s “Man Who Changed the World Award”. The focus of the day is The Future. There will be a one-day exhibit in a 1920s redwood barn turned temporary art gallery, curated on the theme “Vintage Future: What the Future Used to Look Like” (Think The Jetsons, the 1964 New York World’s Fair, Future Shock.). Other highlights include a time capsule with bottles of vintage Iron Horse 2010 Sparkling that will be “buried” in the cellar for 15 years to be ready for Iron Horse’s 50th anniversary, vineyard tours, which in Green Valley is where the real future lies.

Thursday April 21st 630 pm – Quivira Winemaker Dinner at Spoonbar

In celebration of Earth Day, Spoonbar has prepared a special spring farm dinner featuring Quivira‘s own certified Biodynamically grown produce and stellar wines.

Winemaker Hugh Chapelle will be on hand to share Quivira’s equally inspiring wines including the gorgeous newly bottled Rose, fantastic Zinfandel and unique varietals including Mourvedre and Grenache. Chef Rudy Mihal has crafted a delicious menu based on Quivira’s harvest paired to compliment each wine. A true expression of our local land.

The Evening:

• Welcome 2010 Sauvignon Blanc ~ Gewurztraminer, Dry Creek Valley

• 1st Course 2010 Rose, North Coast. Little gem leaves with fava beans, young pecorino and toasted walnuts

• 2nd Course 2009 Grenache, Wine Creek Ranch. Grilled California swordfish with spring garlic and white gaeta olives

• 3rd Course 2008 Mourvedre, Wine Creek Ranch & 2008 Flight, Dry Creek Valley. Braised beef short ribs with rainbow carrots and zinfandel cuisson

• Dessert 2009 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, Wine Creek Ranch. Buckwheat crepe, honey chevre, macerated peppered strawberries

$65 per person Tax and Gratuity not included.  For reservations, please call Spoonbar at 707-433-7222

Fri. 22 April & Sat. 23 – Special Vineyard Tours and Tastings at Inman Family Winery

Kathleen Inman, a neighbor, friend, and favorite vintner, is well known in the Bay area not just for her Pinot Noir, but for her incredible focus on sustainability, including water reclamation & composting, and has been recognized with numerous awards for her contributions.

To celebrate Earth Day, Fri. 22 April & Sat. 23 April, Kathleen will be leading tours at 11 a.m. & 3 p.m. of the new winery and vineyard. Inman will be doing mechanical weeding, spreading of compost, brewing of compost teas throughout the day. The tour is followed by a sit down tasting of 2006-2008 OGV pinot noir, and tastings of the current releases. Only 20 people each of the four slots. Tickets are $20, very limited and can be purchased here.

April 23 Kunde Family Estate – Earth Day Hike & Taste in the Vineyards

April 23, 10:00 a.m. $30 per person (includes wine tasting)

Join Sonoma Valley Docent Bill Myers on a fun, casual and up-close hike through the 1,850 acre volcanic and vertical Kunde Estate. This is a great opportunity to see sustainable winegrowing practices at work while taking in some of wine country’s most spectacular scenery. Bill’s tours wind through the estate’s distinct eco-systems, each one uniquely contributing to the process of sustainable winegrowing. This moderately strenuous hike lasts approximately four hours. Please pack a sack lunch and wear hiking boots or appropriate footwear. Also bring sunscreen and water, especially on hot days.

The hike will also conclude at the Tasting Room, where invigorated hikers can sample Kunde’s hand crafted estate-grown wines. MAKE A RESERVATION. Please no pets or children under 10.

Whatever you do to celebrate Earth Day – give something back, and then celebrate with a glass or bottle from a local grower/winemaker. Cheers and thanks for reading Simple Hedonisms Wine Blog !

It’s kind of ironic that this week’s wine of the week is a non Rhone from one of my favorite North Sonoma county  Rhone producers, Sheldon Wines. Sheldon in fact also makes  great Burgundian (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay)  and other varietals, but with such little focus on Rhone here in Sonoma and their hands on experience in Gigondas and deep love of Rhone wines, they are one of my top local referrals for Rhone wines. Their Petite Sirah gave me fresh insight that Petite Sirah really CAN be a Rhone varietal, and Dylan’s new Vinolocity Blanc white blend was the only white future I bought this year.

Photos Courtesy of Sheldon Facebook Page

About Sheldon

Sheldon is the beautiful story of Tobe and Dylan Sheldon, who fell in love with each other as much as they did wine, and married these pursuits, and each other. Sheldon is a micro winery, sometimes making as little of a barrel (25 cases.)

They share in all tasks, but success seems to have required more specialization as Dylan focuses most on wine making. In our chats, usually when he is whizzing around the busy winery, Dylan  can geek over vinification techniques to a level I feel like a school boy, and have never heard of. Tobe is a great sales & marketeer and often the face of the winery in the tasting room. Their passion for wine, and each other is visible in all they do, and the sacrifices they make.

Tasting Room and Winery (in the new Santa Rosa Vintners Plaza)

Sheldon opened a new tasting room and production facility last fall in Santa Rosa. Its a shared facility with two other wineries (Krutz and MJ Lords), next too, and owned by Ray D’Argenzio of the D’Argenzio Wines – aka the Godfather of Santa Rosa Wine as I call him.

This new tasting room is part of the Santa Rosa Vintners Square which is unfolding this summer into a mecca of wine and food with another shared tasting room that will support 8 wineries, a culinary center, cobblestone walks, bocce ball, and more.

Both tasting rooms are open for extended hours and regularly feature fun food, wine, and entertainment, often impromptu. Best to follow them on Facebook for the latest. Visit them at 1301 Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401

About Graciano

Never heard of this varietal (grape type.) ? Don’t feel bad, there are only about a dozen acres of Graciano planted in California. It’s most known for its production in the Rioja region in Spain, but even there plantings are small, and its mostly blended.

Wine Review: Sheldon 2009 Graciano Ripkin Vineyard, Lodi

Only 4 barrels, 100 cases of this stunning, low alcohol (12%!) red wine were made. Nicknamed “SuperFreak.”

Color: Vibrant, Medium red, fairly clear especially for an unfiltered, unfined wine.

On the Nose: Highly aromatic & complex: Cherry, red fruit, white pepper and spice spring from the glass. Hints of cola, rhubarb and pie spice are in deeper layers.

In the Mouth: Cranberry, tart red fruit, spice.

Recommendations: The acidity level may allow for some cellaring, but I do not have the ability to keep my hands off this wine. Buy and drink, while you can.  Extraordinary- 96 points. (I can count on one hand wines I rate over 95 in the last year.)

Where to Buy: At the Sheldon Tasting Room or Online. $28

Wine Geek & Vinification Info:

• The second vintage working with this obscure varietal. This planting however is found 19 feet below sea level, on limestone soils at the Guard Rd. block in the western most planted area of the Lodi appellation, a certified Lodi Green Vineyard. Originally brought the Graciano in with the idea of blending it, but it had so much personality the Sheldon’s  just couldn’t bring ourselves to change it.
• Harvested in three stages, from the 23^rd to the 29^th of October, just before the rains came. The fruit was hand sorted, and crushed with 100% whole cluster and roughly 50% whole berries to enhance the fruit and spice aromatics. We
• Inoculated the first lot with a natural yeast strain isolated in the northern Rhone valley, the later picks fermented with the indigenous yeast from the vineyard. Fermentation took place in ½ ton macro bins & punched down 4 times a day. Pressed off after 8 days on the skins, using the gentlest press possible, a ¾ ton hydro-basket press. Once the wine is pressed,  it’s allowed to  settle for a few days in tank before barreling down into neutral French oak barrels (4 years old).
• This wine, as with all of Sheldon wines ,is neither fined nor filtered.
• Varietal: 100% Graciano
• Appellation: Lodi
• Vineyard: Ripken (Guard Rd.) Vineyard
• Fermentation: ½ ton open top macro bins
• Cooperage: 100% Neutral French oak.
• Captured into Bottle: June 2^nd 2010.  Released into the Wild: September 2010
• Lab notes- PH 3.39 / TA .68 / Alc% 11.8
• Case production: 95 (12x750ml)

Cheers and thanks for reading Simple Hedonisms Wine Blog !

A few months ago I was contacted by Bruce Patch, the owner and proprietor of Wine Guerrilla and asked if I would like to receive some samples.  These days samples come in decent amounts, and my own cellar is burgeoning with wine, but when someone has taken the time to contact me and wishes to send a bottle, most times I accept, and will attempt to review.

Bruce it turns out was local, so I offered to let him drop off the wines to save shipping. It also allows me to meet the winery face and glean a bit of their story.  I was expecting a few bottles, lo and behold, Bruce had six. I like do like, buy, and review zinfandel (especially cooler Russian River Valley or Zin with some bottle time) but of the many wines I consume, Zin is less common. I realized it would take me quite a bit of time to get through six, nor would readers want six back to back Zin reviews, so I decided to try a different, more fun approach.

I was enthused, some of his Zin’s were well regarded, including prominent California Wine writer Charles Olken. Additionally it was a great opportunity to compare many fruit sources.

The Tasting Panel 

Wine Guerrilla "The revolution is in the bottle."

One of the great things of living in an area where there are over 200 wineries in a 30 mile radius, is enthusiasm and knowledge on wine is very high. Many of us have changed our entire lives in pursuit of passion of this nectar of the gods. It’s as much a lifestyle as it is a beverage, and I blessed with many good friends who are like minded in this passion.

I decided to ask 4 friends all passionate about wine and all in the industry in various manners, ranging from wine maker, to blogger, to tasting room, to join me to taste through these wines.

I kept it simple to keep it fun, but focused still. Panelists were asked to write down basic tasting notes, and then rank their top 3 of the 6 zins.

Lineup

Wine Guerrilla makes a crazy amount of Zin’s, over a dozen are on the website for sale. Most are 200 cases or less.

#1 2009 Sonoma County Zinfandel 81% Zin, 10% Petite Sirah, 8% Carignan & Cabernet

#2 2009 Adel’s Vineyard Dry Creek Valley

#3 2009 Harris-Kratka Vineyard 2009 Alexander Valley Zinfandel – 85% Zinfandel, 10% Carignan & 5% Petite Sirah

#4 2009 Conte Vineyard Russian River Valley Zinfandel- A field blend of 83% Zin, 12% Petite Sirah, 2% Carignan, 2% Alacante Bouchet, & 1% Grenache

#5 2009 Clopton Vineyard ‘old vine’ 2009 Russian River Valley Zinfandel -

#6 2009 Coffaro Vineyards ‘old vine’ Block 1 2009 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel – 84% Zin, 16% Petite Sirah

The tasting was not blind, and tasters had access to the tech sheets. This was an experienced crew, I wasn’t worried about influence.

Results

Each reviewers top pick got 3 points, #2 two points, and #3 a single point. As you can see, the number one choice scored almost twice as many points as the second. And they quickly trailed off.I should add, there wasn’t a single wine we didn’t like, and for many it was a hard choice, with a few re-visits. The styles were surprisingly, refreshingly different.

Wine Review – Wine Guerrilla 2009 Alexander Valley – Harris-Kratka

The winner by a margin.

To The Eye: Lively, dark red.

One The Nose: Cocoa, spice, cherry pie, black fruit

In The Mouth: Brambly, jammy, complex, good finish.

Recommendation: A crowd pleaser amongst a wide variety of palates. 91 points $30 (media sample)

Wine Review: Wine Guerrilla 2009 Russian River Valley  Clopton Vineyard

To The Eye: Hazy dark red

One The Nose: Earth, blackberry, pepper

In The Mouth: Rich, viscous texture, ripe red fruit

Recommendation: A zinfandel that starts out with lots of fruit, finishes nicely, making come back for more. And more. 89 points.

Russian River Valley – Home is Where the Heart Is  – So Now its Home

The Russian River Valley holds a special place in my heart. Not just because I now live here and am establishing a small farm and vineyard (sheep, chickens, apples and grenache, who knew!) but it was my first real love discovered about ~13 years ago. Like many, wine country started for me as Napa, which I still appreciate. Then it was downtown Sonoma aka Sonoma Valley, which is also a special place.

But it was the winding tree covered roads, sleepy towns like Forestville and Graton, plethora of small non castle like wineries,and an early love of Pinot Noir that sung to me most, and I always knew in my heart I would live here. Despite the world recognition of as an AVA, its still down to earth and sleepy.

During the Wine Road recent Barrel Tasting when people were Tweeting about hordes in Dry Creek and Healdsburg on  a Saturday afternoon, I was able to get a barrel sample and shake the hand of the winemakers at most stops.

Follow the Olivet Road – Inaugural Event – Taste of Olivet

Recently seven of the wineries on Olivet Road in RRV got together to work more closely together, starting a group “Follow the Olivet Road” – this one seems lined with great wine instead of yellow bricks.

Participating wineries are Deloach, Harvest Moon, Hook & Ladder, Inman Family Wines, Inspiration Vineyards, Pellegrini, and Tara Bella.

This Saturday they will open their doors, hearts and bottles, and extend wine club privileges all day to ticket holders:

• Complimentary tasting at all seven wineries
• 20% discount on all current wine releases
• Tasty hors d’oeuvres
• Passport contest ~ visit all seven wineries to enter to win
• Music and entertainment
• Olivet Road hospitality

Tickets: $20 wine club, $30 general public, designated drivers $5. Tickets may be purchased online here.

Follow the Olivet Road: Facebook Page, Twitter, Website

See further below for additional details by some wineries.

Contest – Win a Pair Tickets One of Two Ways

Enter in comments below:

“Tell us your favorite winery of the Olivet Road Wineries, and why. OR

If you have never visited any, which would be your top choice to visit, and wine(s) to try.”

Entries will be drawn at random Thursday at 2pm. That’s in 48 hours, don’t delay!

Second Chance to Win: We will be drawing for a pair This Thursday night at our monthly meetup. This month its in Healdsburg – 530-7330. Details here.

Follow For Live Coverage

Unless I am hit by a truck or a rabid sheep, I will be there broadcasting live as I did for the Rhone Rangers event last weekend. Attendees will be Tweeting under the hash tag (a sorting mechanism) of #FTOR.

To follow along simple go to http://twitter.com/ and under the search window type #FTOR or click here. If you want to focus in more narrowly you can simple follow my Tweets, type in (or click here)  @sonomawilliam to follow along.

I will also be uploading some pictures and updates as I go on the blog Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/SimpleHedonisms.

Highlighted Winery Offers:

Hook & Ladder: Food catered by Sarah’s Forestville Kitchen -created  to pair with the wines we’ll be pouring that day. A special treat  a chocolatier here from XOAO Chocolatiers has made chocolates to pair with our wine, and chocolate flavored with one of their wines Live music as well is planned.

Inspiration Vineyards: Pouring from their new location at 3360 Coffey Lane, Suite E – look for the golden balloons!  (Same location as Carol Shelton)  Only 8 minutes from Olivet Road.  Ruby Slipper Specials  will be 20% off 1-11 bottles, 25% off mixed cases (excluding  Old Vine Zinfandel which  has a 3 bottle limit.) Also featuring  live entertainment – Classical / Blues Guitarist Bruce Klein. Food to pair with the wines as well.

Harvest Moon: Is offering live music from “Mr December”, a stand-up bass and ukuleilee combo.. They’ve played at Harvest Moon before and they rock!  Also,  showcasing their elegant 2008 zins paired with a “Harvest Salad”.  Yep, zin with salad and it’s pretty tasty. Also be tasting the Estate olive oil and discussing how olive oil is produced.  Fresh flat bread and garden veggies from the wood-fired oven will be on hand as well. AND, there’ll be some smokin’ bottle sale discounts too!

Will be pouring  -  Estate Dry Gewurztraminer, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Estate Zinfandel, Dry Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Late Harvest Zinfandel and Dessert Gewurztraminer, plus we wil be opening up some oldies….2003′s? 2004′s?

Tara Bella: (first visit for me!)  – ‘Dorotea en las zapatillas rubis’ will be featuring sultry Flamenco rhythms from David Brewer. Sample their 2009 Reserve and Estate Barrels. Serving ’08 Reserve Cab with little beef skewer tapas, and the ’08 Estate Cab with yummy chocolate brownie bites.   Weather permitting will be in the Outdoor Kitchen, heaters will be stoked and a small fire will be blazing