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Those of you who follow my posts know I’d been talking about the upcoming Wine Bloggers Conference 2013 taking place in Penticton, British Columbia. Well now that event is in the past and I’m finally getting around to putting my … Continue reading
Have I mentioned lately how much I love my new area? This Memorial Day my husband
and I took our dog Rooster to a local park where we enjoyed walking the wooded trails and a picnic beside the Chestatee River. The sound of the rushing water, warm sun and a gentle breeze made for the perfect day. Spending it with my two favorite guys (my husband and dog) made it even better.
This week I’m preparing for my trip to Seattle and then onto Penticton, British Columbia for the 2013 Wine Bloggers Conference. There I’ll sample so many wines I’ll never keep them all straight and I certainly will only be able to cover a handful of them. My original intent for this week’s post was to go through several wines I’ve tasted over the last few months. However my paying gig reared its mean and dreadfully ugly head leaving me to work 10-11 hour days. So, I’ll put those wines on the back burner to be covered at another time.
Domaine de Chateaumar Syrah Cuvee Vincent 2009
Made from 100% Cotes du Rhone Syrah the inky dark purple color and aromas of plum, 
cherry and soft vanilla prepare you for a wonderful experience. Flavors of black cherry, black currant and a long earthy finish with hints of leather. The wine is medium bodied with firm tannins and just the right amount of acidity. A very nice wine at a nice price of just $10.99 found at a local wine and liquor store.
Only 550 cases were made of the 2009 vintage. Aged for 8 months in concrete tanks (85%) and 15% aged in one year old French oak barrels from Allier.
Generations of father and son have worked Domaine de Chateaumar and now father and son Jean-Felix and Frederic Souret oversee the vineyards and winery. Using sustainable farming methods the vineyards are chemical free and soil is turned several times a year allowing natural aeration and vitality. The estate includes 25 acres of AOC Cotes du Rhone, on stony clay-limestone soil and 12 acres AOC Chateauneuf du Pape. Both representing two of the great wine regions in France.
Sorry this is so short but I’m a little short on time this week. I head to ATL on Sunday and fly out on Monday. I’m not looking forward to leaving my husband and fur/feather babies behind for 11 days and I’m dreading the 5.5 hour flight to Seattle. I’m tall with long legs so I’m good for about 2 hours before I want to have a Taebo session with the seat in front of me. Maybe I can use part of that time to knock out some coverage on some of those wines.
Mother Nature can be a real bitch sometimes. She nurtures us by providing warm 
sunshine and rain which trees soak up and make oxygen for us to breathe. She also helps produce the food we eat, flowers we admire and the grass we feel beneath our feet as we frolic in the warm summer months. All of these help nourish our bodies and souls.
Then there are the times we experience her fury and the ominous power she holds and in those times she reminds us who is in control of weather conditions on our planet. Good or bad, it’s important we retain respect for Mother Nature, for as much devastation as she unleashes, she is vital to our existence.
Flipping through my list of wines I struggled to find something fitting for my saddened mood until I came across Borealis The Northern Whites from Montinore Estates.
Stone and green fruit aromas of peach and green apple with a hint of floral and grassy notes. Crisp and fruity green apple, pear with a refreshing tart lime finish. Great balance of acidity and sugars and perfect for a Memorial Day celebration.
Montinore wines are available nationwide and certified organic by Stellar Certification Services.
Varietal – 38% Riesling, 24% Müller-Thurgau, 23% Pinot Gris, 15% Gewürztraminer all certified organic grapes.
Alcohol – 11.6%
pH – 3.56
TA – 6.70 g/l
RS – 1.20%
Lured to Oregon from the East Coast, Rudy Marchesi had a passion for wine nourished by his Italian grandparents. Oregon where was he chose to hone his winemaking skills while focusing on growing organic grapes and winemaking onsite.
Last August I had the chance to visit the Montinore Estate as part of a Wine Bloggers Conference (WBC) pre-excursion to Willamette Valley. Montinore Estate is one of the largest producers of biodynamic/organic wines using Demeter Certified Biodynamic farming methods. Using these methods allows the vineyard team to gently coax the true flavors and variances from the grapes.
The vineyard is located in the far north side of Willamette Valley protected by the Coastal Mountain Range to the west. The loamy clay soil, elevation and long cool growing season allows for expressive Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Gewürtztraminer, Riesling and more.
Each evening my husband and I sit on our front porch, wine glass in hand and we watch 
the wild life on our wooded property. Earlier this week we were treated to a herd of white tailed deer feeding and then bedding down for the evening. We’ve also found plenty of nests with eggs and then tiny birds, heads held high, mouths open waiting for mama to give them food. I guess Mother Nature’s kind and gentle for the most time, just hurts so many when she’s in a fury.
My husband and I celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary this week. While I marvel at his 
knowledge in cooking, maintaining our home and building homes for our chickens, I wish his computer and technical skills were a little higher. As a blogger I have to keep up with some of the latest technology available and at times spend hours raking my brain trying to make it work. That’s why I thought Uproot Sauvignon Blanc is a perfect representation of the changing times both in technology and wine. When I was approached with the opportunity to sample, I jumped at the chance to give this new winery a try.
Aromas of tropical pineapple, peach, mango. Flavors burst through with melon, citrus and a green minerality. Citric acid leads to a nice tart finish with a hint more of mineral.
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Musque
Appellation: Napa Valley
pH: 3.45
Closure: Cork Finished
Alcohol: 14.5%
Case Production: 275 cases
Retail Price: $42.00
Note: At this time Uproot wines can only be purchased via their website (link above) or phone – 707-948-6105
The 2011 Sauvignon Blanc is Uproot Wines inaugural vintage and represents a new wave of winemaking combining progressive with traditional. Sourcing grapes from vineyards located through out California, the winery aims to provide high quality wines along with an exceptional customer experience.
Co-founder/winemaker Greg Scheinfeld “uprooted” himself when he left his desk, suit and city life behind and made the move from Manhattan to Napa. Once in Napa he worked and learned in various vineyards and wineries before plunging into his own venture.
Co-founder Jay Levy, a South Florida to Manhattan transplant, is the capitalist driving force behind the business. With a passion for start up businesses Jay has a strong interest in technology and social media companies.
The two refer to the wines as an “East meets West” experience blending fine wine and 
forward thinking. So just what’s so forward about their wine you ask? The label for one. Using what they refer to as a Flavor Palate provides the tasting notes to the consumer before consumption. The color and size each represent a piece of the tasting note. Color refers to the flavors and size of the block the how much of each flavor. Keep in mind, tasting is all relevant and perception of taste varies for each of us.
Tonight my husband and I will be enjoying some great wines to celebrate our anniversary. We’ll sit in our rocking chairs overlooking the multitude of trees, birds and other wild life as we grow old together.
I’ve been writing Wine Chicks Guide for almost 4 years now and my knowledge of wine has
grown exponentially in that time. Last year I was awarded a Wine Bloggers Conference (WBC) scholarship to attend WBC12 in Portland, OR. I had a lot of great experiences, learned tons and perhaps most important, met others like me, people with a passion for wine. Like others I knew without some assistance I would not be able to attend. When I received that email notifying me I was a recipient, I was elated.
Travel costs, hotels stays, food and other necessary expenses combined with days off from work without pay can put a strain on a wine blogger. Hence, a scholarship was born.
Founded by Thea Dwelle (Luscious Lushes)and Megan Kenney the WBC scholarship provides funding for bloggers needing a little financial assistance to attend this beneficial conference. Funding comes from the wonderful philanthropists that donate each year recognizing the importance of bloggers in the wine industry.
Unfortunately not all recipients are granted a scholarship as there are generally more applicants than funding. As a committee member this year we had the task of going through a number of bloggers with varying degrees of blogging experience. One such lucky blogger and recipient, Jane Kelly Kosek, will be attending WBC13 in Penticton, British Columbia June 6-8.
Jane and her husband Steve have been blogging on 2 Hollywood Winos for just over one year. An independent film producer by trade, Jane’s blog provides a “he said, she said” perspective on wine as well as wine regions peppered with stunning photography of their local travels. This is her first time attending WBC and I know she’ll walk away with great memories and a plethora of information.
Wine just sells itself right? Well maybe but if you think of the thousands and thousands of wineries and new ones starting every year, you need all the help you can get. Wineries big and small rely on PR firms to get their brand to the masses.
Mia Malm
Mia Malm a scholarship donator heads up Malm Communications a boutique public relations and social media firm specializing in wine, food and luxury lifestyle. A New York transplant now living in California, Mia has a passion for fine wine and food. Having spent several years with Constellation Brands, Mia has an innovative vision and a pulse on today’s wine consumers.
Allison Markin
“Will work for wine” those four words were the beginning of a journey for Allison Markin of All She Wrote. Allison uses her media and marketing skills at All She Wrote to create successful and meaningful social media campaigns. Her clients include those in wine, culinary, hospitality and tourism.
A resident of British Columbia Allison was a huge proponent of bringing the conference to Penticton. In addition to all the hard work she has been putting into the conference her donation to the scholarship allowed bloggers to attend and learn about those great Canadian wines.
In less than one month I’ll be in Penticton, BC soaking up all the wine knowledge and blogger info my poor strained brain can handle. I’ll be sure to post a number of blogs and tell all of you about my experience.
In a matter of hours our family size went from nine (2 adults, 7 animals) to fifteen when 
six incubated eggs hatched last week. Everyday I’m amazed at how much they grow from just the night before. We’re enjoying watching them discover the ability to jump, stretch their wings and peck for food in their temporary brooder in the basement. As soon as they reach the point where they can jump out of the cardboard box they’ll be moved into the nursery, the original coop. Our older chickens have already moved into their bigger digs and enjoy looking out the “penthouse” windows.
To celebrate our expanded family I opened a bottle I received as a sample, Rod’s Pride Pinot Noir from Toad Hollow Vineyards. I’ve mentioned how picky I am about Pinot Noir but this Pinot was exquisite.
Aromas of juicy red fruit, vanilla and spice. Rustic flavors reminiscent of Burgundy with ripe strawberry, plum, black pepper and a touch of vegetal that I just can’t place. Unfortunately Rod’s Pride is no longer available but I’m sure their Toad’s Pride priced at $35.99 is just as tasty.
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 14.4%
TA: 0.62 g/100ml
pH: 3.68
RS: .14%
Clones: Pommard, Dijon 667 & 777
I’ve covered quite a bit of Toad Hollow wines so if you’d like more info, click here.
The vines are located in the Russian River Valley with six different root clones on four root stocks on south facing slopes. The 2006 growing season began with a wet and cool spring heating up in July. Late summer and fall saw mild temps providing beneficial hang time and higher sugar levels at harvest.
Granted AVA status in 1983 the Russian River Valley is located in the heart of Sonoma County situated between Sebastopol and Santa Rosa in the south, and Forestville and Healdsburg in the north. Cooled by fog rolling off the Pacific Ocean, many varietals thrive in the region, especially Pinot Noir.
The region takes its name from the original settlers, Russian immigrants. These settlers planted the first grape vines most likely around Fort Ross. Around 1840 European settlers began planting vines for personal and commercial use before Prohibition forced the closing of the majority of the 200 or so wineries. Few stayed afloat during this time and those who did made bootleg wines, wines for religious use or a fermented grape juice.
Up until the 1970’s many wineries in the area operated by selling jug wines during this time the region became focused on cultivating and crafting quality wines. Once the focus turned to cool loving grapes the area began to flourish and is now considered one of the finest in California.
As I opened the basement door to checked on our latest members this morning I was met with a waft of stinky chicken poo. While I enjoy the smell of the country, musty dirt coming from the woods, wild jasmine vines crawling up the tree trunks, fresh cut hay mixed with a little cow smell, chicken smell in the basement is not pleasant. Here’s to hoping the grow feathers fast and can get into their outdoor nursery.
Earlier in the week I took part in a nightly ritual, flipping through the channels knowing 
there would be nothing on I would care to watch when I stumbled upon The Wizard of Oz. It got me thinking back to my childhood when the showing of the classic movie was special. Dinner was served early so the table could be cleared and cleaned before the start of the movie and I in my PJ’s would be allowed to stay up past my bedtime. The next day my friends and I would talk about the movie and pretend we were Dorothy, her friends and inevitably someone would be the Wicked Witch of the West.
As I watched, I wondered are the kids of today still lured by the The Wizard of Oz or are the special effects or lack there of too blasé? Maybe I’m feeling nostalgic due to my upcoming high school reunion, the Facebook conversation with my BFF from high school or if some classics just have that effect. While enjoying my walk down the memory brick road I began skimming through my little black wine book I came across a something a little different from my usual imbibe, saké from Saké One.
During last year’s Wine Bloggers Conference (WBC12) held in Portland, OR I took part in a pre-excursion to the Willamette (remember it’s Willamette Dammit) Valley region to Forest Grove located in the foothills of the Coast Range and the base of the Tillamook State Forest. There our group toured Oregon’s only saké brewery. Following a tour lead by president and CEO Steve Vuylsteke we partook in a saké tasting flight and I’ve outlined my favorites below.
Moonstone Asian – crisp pear aromas and flavors, creamy and hint of sweetness. SRP – $13
Junmai Ginjo Genshu – bold fruit and spice flavors long smooth finish. SRP – $11
Momokawa Ruby Junmai Ginjo – Tropical fruit and berry flavors. SRP – $13
The really good news other than these are fabulously smooth and delicious, they’re available nationwide and throughout the past year I have purchased a few for in home tasting.
Once back at home I enjoyed a bottle of G Joy which combines traditional saké methods from the East with palate preferred West flavors presenting just a hint of alcohol flavor, rice water, bamboo and a touch of floral, lilac perhaps. So smooth, light and easy drinking makes this a very dangerous drink, if you get my drift. SRP – $20.
Moonstone Coconut Lemongrass is another I enjoyed at home. Fresh citrusy lemongrass and spice with lush creamy coconut. SRP – $13
Touted as not your papa-san’s sake, this is not the warm heavy alcohol flavor drink you 
may have been served at your local Japanese steakhouse but is a premium saké handcrafted using traditional methods. Unlike beer and wine saké goes through a parallel fermentation process.
Start with clean and pure water. Rice is the second component; remove hull and polish then wash, soak and steam. Add Koji mold to turn the starch into sugar. Prepare yeast and begin brewing process. After the brewing process is complete the saké is pasteurized and moved into steel tanks to rest and mature. A few weeks later the saké is ready to bottle and enjoy.
After 7 wonderful days in Oregon I eagerly awoke at 3:30AM to catch my flight back to the East Coast. After the winemakers dinner on Saturday and many glasses of wonderful wine I thought I was crazy for booking such an early flight. When that alarm went off all I could think is how much I missed my husband and all the critters and no qualms about jumping in the shower, hailing a cab at 4:30 and finally spending 5 hours in flight. Like Dorothy says, “There’s no place like home.”
Like so many others I was glued to my television watching the tragedy and ensuing chaos 
in Boston. I was moved as I saw strangers not run away from harm but run towards the danger area to help other strangers. This in my thinking is what makes us human. It’s the ability to not only think of ourselves in times of need but to help as many others as we can get to safety.
It’s these moments when Americans pull together creating a strong force. Unlike other countries we’re relatively new to these types of attacks but we’re a strong resilient breed. Maybe this is what draws others to want to do us harm, even if that threat comes from one of our own. But we’re like steel, you may scratch our surface but you’ll never destroy us. We will remain standing, strong and united.
Ok, enough of that now onto this week’s sample, Steelhead Vineyards Pinot Noir 2011 which I received as a sample.
Aromas of strawberry and cherry on the nose. Flavors of bright fresh berries, strawberry, bramble berry with earthy notes and hint of spice in the finish. I’m very picky about Pinot Noir but this is a lovely example of a California Pinot Noir.
For more info on Steelhead Vineyards and a review of the 2010 Pinot Noir, click here.
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 13.8%
Acidity: 0.60 g/100ml
pH: 3.68
Production: 2,500 cases
SRP: $15
The 2011 growing season presented challenges across California. A wet winter and spring delayed bud break followed by a cool summer then early fall rains brought the threat of rot and mildew for fruit remaining on the vines. Recognizing the difficulties across the region, Steelhead Vineyards harvested early and found the grapes had achieved their full maturation.
Steelhead takes its name from the Steelhead trout native to Wine Creek and Dry Creek in the Dry Creek Valley. I found this wine appropriate for this week’s blog post not only because of the reference to steel but also their motto, “Better Wine, Better World” showing their continued conservation efforts and the pride they have in their wines. From its beginning Steelhead has partnered with both Quivera Vineyards and Trout Unlimited (TU) supporting creek restoration in Northern California. TU’s Water and Wine program launched in 2008 and targets the instream flows, salmonid habitats and addressing water needs for vineyards in the area. You can show your support too, for every bottle sold a donation is made to TU conservation efforts.
As we pick up the pieces from this terrible week and I see thousands of individuals show love and support for Boston and those directly affected, I can’t help but think when it comes right down to it, we’re family. We may fight like cats and dogs but mess with one and we rally and unite. Now you’re not just messing with one but the entire family.
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As I type this I’m sitting at the small bistro table on our front porch overlooking the 
towering trees just now budding, the chickens are below scratching through the dry dead grass taking advantage of the worms and bugs and classical music plays in the background. Being a Florida girl I crave the sun, I long to feel the warm rays touching my face, warming my body and giving me a little less of a Morticia Adams look. But this wind is making getting in touch with the sun’s rays difficult.
I know in a few months I’ll be complaining about the heat along with half the nation but can we please reach a nice 75 degrees? Well I will tell you what is in reach some tasty white wines. That’s right; I’m gearing up for white wine season and this week I tried La Ferme Julien Blanc 2011, a simple and very drinkable everyday wine.
Color is a pale yellow with a green tint. Citrusy lime and fresh peach aromas lead to minerality mid-palate followed by honey and light acidity with a clean and pleasing finish.
Paired with left over Porketta made into a hash served with fresh from our yard eggs.
Region – Luberon Region – Rhone Valley
Varietals – Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Ugni Blanc, Vermentino
Alcohol – 13%
SRP – $6.99 at my local Trader Joe’s. This may be less if you are on the West Coast.
La Ferme Julien is an affordable label sold exclusively by Trader Joe’s and produced by the Perrin Family, you’ve probably seen their cute chicken and rooster on the La Vieille Ferme label. A leader in organic wines the family’s wine producing history dates back to the early 1900’s when Pierre Tramier purchased the well known Château de Beaucastel, in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Tramier quickly went to work replanting vines after phylloxera devastated the region. This rejuvenation was continued by Tramier’s son-in-law Pierre Perrin who then passed the reigns to Jacques Perrin. Five generations later the family now owns over 1,200 acres in Southern Rhone and produces several well known and highly rated wines.
For those of you who are into Hollywood stars, one article I found sited collaboration with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in regards to the couple’s estate, Château Miraval, in Correns, France.
This weekend wine hubby and I are attending the first wine soirée of the season at a local winery. I’m hoping to see some bud break as I’m told they have not awakened from their winter slumber just yet. We may just make some noise to wake those sleeping vines.
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What a week this has been. I began training for my new position last week and this week 
the training and meetings have been fast and furious. There have been so many packed into each day it’s hard for me to differentiate one from the other. In addition I’m still working on the details of my big trip to Seattle and British Columbia while paying the bills that are incurring for airline tickets, dental surgery and car repairs.
There have been a few silver lining moments as I finally experienced short lived snow showers earlier in the week. Nothing like the Northeast but it was nice to see the mix of tiny and large flakes floating to the ground, sticking to Rooster’s fur or landing on the backs of the chickens. I even enjoyed a glass of wine while snow flakes landed in my glass.
In the evenings my husband and I enjoy some wine in front of the fireplace getting as much use out of it as we can until we can return to the rockers on the front porch. Another silver lining, I’ve had some really great new wines. My latest “Yes” wine, Laya Almansa a Spanish red wine I picked up at Whole Foods.
Color of dark purple ink in the glass with juicy black fruit and spicy pepper aromas. Complex Blackberry, licorice flavors with a hint of spice and nutmeg in the finish. Medium bodied and a perfect balance between acids and tannins. This wine was a delight. My only regret is I didn’t pick up more of this gem.
Varietal : 70% Garancha Tintorera, 30% Monastrell
Region: Almansa, Spain
TA: 5.2g/l
pH: 3.56
Aged: 4 months in barrel in French Oak
Alcohol: 14.5% vol
SRP: $9.99
I had a pretty tough time finding info as the websites I stumbled upon were in Spanish and Google Translate didn’t do what it supposed to do, translate. I also found what I thought was a lot of conflicting info so I’m only going to present what I think to be true.
The wine is produced by Gil Family Estates through collaboration with Orowine. Bottled under Bodegas Atalaya the winery falls within the Gil Family Estates which was founded in Jumilla and now covers 350 hectares of vineyards between 2,300 and 2,750 feet above sea level. 120 of those hectares surround the winery and the remaining are located near by in an area called Termino de Arriba, an area favorable for grapes.
The Monsatrell grape varietal is native to Jumilla making the region the biggest producer of the varietal across the globe. Thick skinned with high tannins the grape ripens late and requires a hot climate to thrive. The high vineyard altitudes allow the grapes to cool at night after a day in the warm sun. This difference in temperatures helps to produce the well balanced acidity.
I don’t want to provide info that I can’t verify so I’ll leave you with this, seek out this wine. It’s truly an affordable pleasure. As you can tell I’m posting this a few days late due to my over scheduling of meetings and trainings. I’m looking forward to a weekend of relaxation and getting caught up around the house.
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