June, 2007
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Wednesday, June 27 2007
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Since Calwineries launched in November, we have been trying to connect our users and visitors to California’s wine country. California is a huge state, and is considered by many to be its own independent wine producing country. To help bridge the gap, we have recently launched a couple of new features to foster a deeper connection to California and its wine.
Rather than trying to tell you what to like, we wanted to let you decide for yourself. For each winery and wine, you can click the “mark as favorite” button which saves that page to your profile as a bookmark. Clicking the favorite button is also a vote for that wine or winery.
Rather than organizing the wines and wineries alphabetically, we decided to organize them based on their popularity in our community. Each time someone marks a wine or winery as a favorite, the number in the favorites ticker increases. Our winery and wine pages are organized so that the most popular are at the top, which hopefully makes these pages more relevant to you.
Marking a winery as a favorite not only keeps track of what you like, but it also keeps you up to date with that winery. In your profile, you can see any recent news from the wineries you marked as favorites. You can also sign up for the RSS feed and get the news sent straight into your RSS reader. By visiting your profile, you can see any recent news or releases from your favorites.
The most recent addition to Calwineries is functionality that allows you to sign up for winery mailing lists and wine clubs. This is the next step in connecting you to your favorite wineries and wines. Instead of having to go to each winery website to sign up for mailings, you can do it straight through Calwineries.
We are proud to welcome Inertia Beverage Group to the Calwineries family. Inertia is an industry leader in winery software, and we are happy to work with their team and client wineries. Calwineries is continuing to grow and develop, and we would like to thank you, our users and visitors, for your support. If you have any suggestions, please let us know.
Wineries with Mailing Lists on Calwineries
Written by: Ben Bicais on Monday, June 25 2007
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Since it was established in 2001, Copia has embraced the lofty goal of being, “The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts.” Unfortunately, a less than ideal location (Downtown Napa) and rather convoluted mission has caused Copia to struggle financially over the past few years. Most of the visitors who come to wine country immediately head upvalley and bypass the town of Napa altogether.
In an effort to shore up its position as a major tourist destination, Copia has announced that it will refocus on what made Napa Valley famous in the first place- wine. To this end, ten self-serve wine tasting bars have been installed and each offers a themed selection of four wines. Examples include, “Best of Napa Valley Appellation,” “Chocolate-Friendly Wines” and “Favorites from Copia’s Wine Team.”
Education is a major component to these wine tasting bars as well. One is called, “Finding Fault in Your Wine,” and will pour a sound wine, a wine with TCA, a wine with volatile acidity and a wine contaminated with Brettanomyces. Consumers will be able to compare these faults side-by-side with an unflawed wine so they can better distinguish them.
Another tasting bar is called, “Oak Gets in Your Wine,” and will pour four different Chardonnays. One is fermented in stainless steel tanks, one is fermented in stainless steel tanks with the addition of oak chips, one is fermented in French oak barrels and the last is fermented in American oak barrels.
These wine tasting bars are an excellent idea and seem like they will be quite useful for developing educated consumers. There is certainly no substitute for tasting wines side-by-side in this fashion to develop one’s palate. But the question remains, are these reforms too little too late for Copia?
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Written by: Ben Bicais on Friday, June 22 2007
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Charles Shaw, aka, “Two Buck Chuck,” is a brand that stirs deep emotions amongst consumers and vintners alike. But despite the fact that owner Fred Franzia is a deeply divisive figure, there is no denying the brand’s success; over 300 million bottles have been sold in its first five years. The wine is carried exclusively at Trader Joe’s.
Franzia has ruffled many feathers in his career, often lambasting the alleged snobbery of the high-end wine industry. “We’re not out to gouge people. What I would like to see is every consumer be able to afford to have wine on the table every day and not feel insecure about it.”
Representing approximately 8% of the California wine market, Charles Shaw has forever changed the industry, both here and abroad. One can now find an abundance of cheaper wines in any store, often referred to as “critter labels” like Yellow Tail of Australia.
Franzia’s impact on the wine industry has certainly been a double-edged sword, eliciting both praise and condemnation. On the one hand, there are those that believe he has popularized everyday wine drinking to the public. But others contend he merely dumbs down and sterilizes what has long been an artisanal product.
Franzia has clashed with the Napa Valley Grape Growers Association over his use of geographically identifiable labels on wines that do not contain grapes from that region. Although he lost that case, it has not seemed to slow him down.
Franzia is able to produce wines at very low costs because he literally owns the means of production from vines to distribution. So it seems that regardless of his controversial business practices, Franzia’s “Two Buck Chuck” will be around for many years to come.
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Thursday, June 21 2007
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Have you ever dreamed of owning a vineyard in the Napa Valley? Does the thought of waking up and walking through rows of Cabernet Sauvignon vines make you happy? If so, now seems to be the perfect time to buy. There are quite a few Napa Valley Vineyards on the market that seem to be moving slowly and are ripe for the picking.
Although the price tags are borderline ridiculous, there are tangible benefits to buying existing vineyards over developing new ones. The permits and Environmental Impact Reports, coupled with development costs make developing vineyards an overly difficult ordeal. If you have the money, buying a producing vineyard is probably the best way to go.
Broker Steve Gregory of Morgan Lane in Napa said, “It takes a long time and a huge bureaucratic hassle to get approvals for a winery, and if your vineyard has a slope over 5%, it takes a $100,000 environmental impact plan and 3 years to get approval.”
It is not a surprise that many aspiring vintners are buying developed properties rather than dealing with the hassle. But there seems to be a dip in the market, as buyers are turning their heads to properties that were historically bought very quickly. Chuck Sawday, of Pacific Union real estate said, “There’s not much urgency among buyers. Even if you reduce prices, there’s not much action.”
Prominent Napa Valley Vineyard listings include:
- Waters Ranch: A 22 acre estate in the Atlas Peak AVA owned by Jayson Pahlmeyer. Price tag: $28.5 million.
- Pillar Rock Vineyards: A 114 acre estate in the Stags Leap AVA owned by Ron and Teri Kuhn. Price tag: $19.5 million.
- Unnamed property: 40 acre vineyard that just received a mid-90 score from Robert Parker for its first wine. Price tag: $21 million
- Twin Creeks Vineyard: A 120 acre vineyard in Wooden Valley. Price tag: $12.5 million.
Anyone who truly loves wine would love to have their own vineyard in the Napa Valley. However, as you can see by the above price tags, it’s not cheap. For those who can afford it, now is a perfect time to quit your day job and start living your dream as a vintner in the Napa Valley.
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Written by: Ben Bicais on Wednesday, June 20 2007
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Julia Flynn Siler, a contributing writer for the Wall Street Journal, has just released her long awaited book about the Mondavi Family. The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty, “is a tale of visionary genius, sibling rivalry, and betrayal.” Siler exhaustively researched her book, conducting over 500 hours of interviews with over 200 individuals.
The Mondavi Family’s rise is truly a great American success story. In 1906, Cesare and Rosa Mondavi immigrated to the United States from the Marche region of Italy. Cesare and Rosa initially entered the wine business in Lodi, where they shipped grapes to home winemakers under a provision of the Volstead Act.
In 1941, the couple purchased the historic Charles Krug Winery for $75,000 as a legacy for their sons, Peter and Robert. The two brothers never saw eye-to-eye; Peter wanted to focus on catering to the bulk wine market whereas Robert wanted to create a high-end market for American wine. The feud came to a head during the 1960s, and Robert left the family business to found his own winery in 1966.
Robert Mondavi achieved his dream of creating American awareness of fine wine, forever changing Napa Valley in the process. The next few decades were a whirlwind of success for the family, culminating in an IPO in 1993.
Robert’s children, Michael, Timothy and Marcia, each took different roles in the family company. Michael became Chairman and wanted to expand the business into mid-range price points, starting such labels as Woodbridge and Mondavi Coastal. Timothy focused on grape growing and winemaking, and advocated that the corporation focus on its high-end products. Marcia moved to the East Coast and ran the family’s business in that part of the country.
Meanwhile, Robert shifted his attention to philanthropic efforts. During the early 1990s, when the corporation’s stock was at an all time high, Robert gave tens of millions of dollars to UC Davis and Stanford. He also pledged millions to develop COPIA in downtown Napa. As Siler explains in her book, Robert Mondavi apparently overextended himself leading to a loss of family control in the corporation. This culminated in 2004, when Michael was ousted from his role as Chairman, followed by the sale to Constellation soon after.
Despite the Mondavi Family’s missteps, they have had an incalculable impact on the development of the California wine industry. For a much more in-depth examination of this story, read Siler’s, The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty, which is available in bookstores across the country.
Written by: Ben Bicais on Tuesday, June 19 2007
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The development of genetically modified winemaking yeast called ML01 has major implications for the industry and is already inciting passions on both sides of the issue. Because it is a much simpler organism, yeast can be genetically modified with more ease than the grape vines themselves. ML01 is only available in North America where there are few restrictions on genetically modified foods.
Proponents of ML01 argue that because yeast can be genetically modified to kill unwanted bacteria, this eliminates the need for as much sulphur dioxide to be added; a major source of hangovers.
A major appeal to winemakers is the fact that genetically modified yeast ferments wine much more quickly than traditional strains. Genetically modified yeast can also promote certain tastes and aromas in wine.
As stated in New Scientist, “GM yeast has dazzling potential because many of the ‘organoleptic’ qualities of a wine – its colour, aroma and flavour – are created by chemicals spat out by yeast as it munches its way through the mush of crushed grapes. And the metabolic pathways that produce these chemicals have proved obligingly easy to manipulate.”
Despite the upsides of genetically modified yeast, widespread use likely faces an uphill battle. Most wineries will be wary to adopt ML01, as much of wine’s appeal is due to its image of a traditional product. Others argue that the use of genetically modified yeast will homogenize wines styles and point out that the long-term effects to consumers and the environment are unclear.
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Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Monday, June 18 2007
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To many, the United States wine industry began with the 1976 Judgment of Paris. To some extent, this is true. Some important aspects of U.S. wine were born that day. But grape growing and winemaking began long before that.
Because California produces ninety percent of U.S. wine, it’s easy to think that wine production began in the golden state. But it didn’t, the original home is Jamestown, Virginia; where John Smith planted grapes and made wine in 1607.
For those of you who have spent time on Calwineries, you know that it takes a special set of environmental and social conditions to produce good wine. If the right soil, geology, terrain and climate come together with a demand for wine, then it can be successfully produced.
Environmental conditions were the main problem for Jamestown settlers; it was more or less swampland. But this didn’t stop pressure from the British, who wanted to produce wine that would rival the French. This was a tall task considering that Jamestown was not an appropriate place to grow grapes.
Just as you would expect, the European varietals that the settlers brought died. So they searched the countryside looking for vines that could survive the harsh conditions. The grapes they did find, which were probably Muscadine Scuppernong, did not produce the quality of wine that the British were looking for.
Because of the difficulty in producing anything worth drinking, the colonies began shipping a port style wine from the Portuguese island Madeira. The signers actually toasted the Declaration of Independence with Madeira.
Because of said factors, and many others, the colonies gave up on producing wine, and turned their attention to producing tobacco. The Virginia wine industry didn’t resurface again until the 1950’s. It now thrives because of advances in knowledge and technology.
The number of wineries in Virginia grew from only three in 1975 to more than 125 today. This jump shows the states promise for growing grapes and making wine. Although Virginia only has 3,000 acres of vineyards (compared to the half million in California), it is finally starting to realize the dreams of the original settlers 400 years ago.
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Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Friday, June 15 2007
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To many, Charles Krug Winery is synonymous with Napa Valley wine production. Their history dates back to 1861, where they were the only commercial winery in the Napa Valley. Much has changed since then, including Labor Laws, which Krug winery is finding out the hard way.
On Thursday, June 14th, the California State Labor Relations Board ruled against Krug Winery (Owned by the Peter Mondavi family) and has formally filed charges alleging violations of labor laws concerning the firing of 27 workers during the summer of 2006. Representatives from Krug have denied any wrongdoing.
The allegations come from the winery’s decision to fire 27 vineyard workers after Krug’s contract with the United Farm Workers (UFW) expired. Apparently, the UFW contract protected the vineyard workers from being fired in this manner. Without the contract, the workers seemed to be at risk for termination.
But the United Farm Workers feel differently, as they filed charges soon after the firings. The UFW has accused Krug of unfair labor practices. This was almost a year ago; then on Thursday, Freddie Capuyan, director of the Labor Relations Board (ALRB), found that “Mondavi had committed some unfair labor practices.”
Capuyan and the ALRB have charged Mondavi and Krug Winery with discrimination against their employees. Specifically, the ALRB alleges they failed to bargain in good faith with the United Farm Workers for hours, wages and employment conditions. Also Krug allegedly didn’t furnish relevant information during labor negotiations.
The ALRB wants all of the workers to be rehired and paid back wages. The case can be settled out of court, or can be taken before a judge for administrative review.
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- Labor board rules against Krug winery
- UFW urges boycott of Charles Krug Winery
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Thursday, June 14 2007
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The California Association Winegrape Growers (CAWG) has long supported California’s wine industry. They’ve backed programs dedicated to sustainable wine grape growing, vineyard wildlife habitat restoration, pest management and community relations. Now the CAWG has launched a “Declaration of Independence” for California.
Like the United States breaking away from England, the CAWG’s declaration seeks to separate California’s wine country from the rest of the United States. The CAWG wants to position California along side the major wine producing countries; France, Spain and Italy.
According to CAWG president Karen Ross, “The goal is to remind consumers what California has to offer: the many growing areas of California Wine Country, the diversity of varietals, price points and value, and all the smart, innovative people involved in the business.”
To bring about awareness, the CAWG has launched a website, called One Nation Under Vines, to further their cause. The newly launched website highlights the major wine regions (which they designates as states in the country), but does not go into any detail of them besides their general location. Hopefully there will be more to come.
One Nation Under Vines hopes to feature “beyond wine” information, which includes accommodations, restaurants, attractions and festivals. This is a major step in establishing California as its own independent entity. There is much more to wine country than just wine.
If there is any region in the United States that could break away, it would be California. The Wine Institute states that California is the fourth largest producer of wine worldwide. The CAWG felt it was time for California to take its place as a force in the international wine industry.
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Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Wednesday, June 13 2007
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Some Napa Vintners are in a battle with environmentalists and environmental policy makers about the proper use of their land. There seems to be a strong resistance to the use of pesticides, and development of certain pieces of property.
Recently, Palmaz Vineyards agreed to settle charges that they violated county and state land use regulations. According to the Napa County Counsel’s Office and Napa District Attorney’s Office, Palmaz Vineyards failed to get the proper permits to plant 750 vines too close to a stream that runs through their property.
In the settlement, the Palmazes agreed to pay a $375,000 civil penalty to the county for violating stream setback and other laws; $130,000 to the Napa County Fish & Wildlife Propagation Fund, $15,000 to the Department of Fish and Game and $30,000 to the State Fish and Game Preservation Fund.
Napa County Counsel Robert Westmeyer said, “This resolution is in the best interests of all concerned. The alternative would have involved years of protracted and expensive litigation, with no guarantees as to the outcome.”
In addition to the financial penalties, the settlement:
- Orders the Palmazes to restore a natural spring; plant willow, bay and live oak trees along a stretch of Hagen Creek where vegetation was cut back; and remove approximately 750 vines from areas protected by stream setback regulations;
- Prohibits the Palmazes from engaging in any future activities that would violate the county’s soil erosion control, stream setback and grading ordinances;
- Prohibits the Palmazes from violating Fish and Game regulations protecting stream beds, banks and channels;
- Places a moratorium on further development on the Palmaz property until the winery conducts and complete a wetlands and watercourse assessment;
- Requires the Palmazes to contact the county if they plan to acquire and develop any other property in unincorporated Napa County.
All in all, the Palmazes estimate that the overall cost to fully resolve the cost will be around $1.25 million. This is a hefty price for planting 750 vines. With the amount of money in grape growing and winemaking, it’s important for stiff regulations to protect the environment.
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Monday, June 11 2007
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Spanish missionaries planted the first grapes in California in the 19th century. But until the 1976 Paris tasting, California’s wine industry was little more than a sparkle in the eyes of vintners and winemakers. After the “vinous shot heard round the world,” California wine has been steadily growing and has now earned an international reputation for excellence.
With this in mind, it is not surprising that 2006 was a record year for United States wine sales. According to Jon Fredrikson, of the Gomberg-Fredrikson report, 189 million cases of California Wine were sold in 2006, up two percent from ‘05. The retail value of this wine increased as well, up 8 percent, totaling $17.8 billion.
The domestic market for California Wine far surpasses international demand, as the total value of U.S. wine exports in 2006 was only $876 million. This number is up 30% from 2005. Additionally, California’s wines made up over 95% of all U.S. exports in 2006.
Other California Wine News
- E & J Gallo Winery announced that it has acquired 182 aces of vineyards in Napa Valley’s Chiles Valley form California Wine Co.
- Mario Monticelli was named winemaker for Trinchero Napa Valley in St. Helena. He is the former winemaker for Quixote Winery in Napa.
- David Tate is the new winemaker for Barnett Vineyards in St. Helena. Tate was previously assistant winemaker for Ridge Vineyards.
- Erich Bradley is the new winemaker for Hop Kiln Winery in Healdsburg and HK Generations Wines. Since 2003, Bradley has been winemaker at Audelssa winery in Glen Ellen.
- Joel Gott Wines promoted Alisa Jacobson to winemaker. Jacobson has been assistant winemaker since 2003.
- Amphora Winery owner-winemaker Rick Hutchinson hired Jay Kell as assistant winemaker. Kell was most recently associate brand manager at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in Napa.
Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Thursday, June 07 2007
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Auction Napa Valley is starting today at various wineries throughout the Valley. Today is just a warm up for the rest of the week’s festivities. Tomorrow is the barrel tasting and E Auction, and Saturday is the main event, the Live Auction. The Live Auction has raised over $68 million for charity since 1981, and will continue to do so this year. The E Auction is a relatively new event that we have covered here and here.
The beauty of the E Auction is that you can participate from anywhere in the world. Like the Live Auction, the majority of E Auction lots are wine verticals and special bottles. But several are not just about the wine, and are some of the more popular lots among bidders.
Lot #114: Cooking with Cakebread Cellars
- This lot features a private cooking class at Cakebread Cellars for 14 people with Cakebread Cellars culinary director Brian Streeter. The class will include lunch and, of course, feature Cakebread Cellars wines. Each guest will also receive an apron and cookbook; the winning bidder of this lot will receive a double magnum of 2004 Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay.
Lot # 119: An Affair to Remember
- Lot number 119 features your own personal Napa Valley winemaker and chef for the evening. Domaine Chandon etoile Chef Christopher Mannning and winemaker Tom Tiburzi will come to your home and prepare a fabulous meal with paired with Chandon sparkling and varietal wines. This lot also features 3 cases of Domaine Chandon Carneros Pinot and Brut Sparkling Wine.
Lot #123: Fantesca Estate & Winery’s Hands-On Harvest
- Fantesca Estate and Winery invites you to be a part of Fantesca’s crush crew at their third-annual “Hands-on Harvest” on Saturday, October 6, 2007. “While sipping some of Fantesca’s top drops learn how to pick, sort and crush the estate harvest. After being a part of the crush crew, the team will walk through our naturally cool cave to the estate where they will be rewarded with a well-deserved gourmet lunch prepared by one of Napa’s top chefs.” The winning bidder will also receive one Fantesca Estate & Winery limited-edition 3L etched bottle of 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Lot #142: Winemaker for a Day
- Kevin, Chris and Stephen Corley welcome eight of you to Monticello Vineyards for a day of tasting and blending of CORLEY Proprietary Red Wine in the Corley Family’s Jefferson House Reserve Room. The Corleys will lead you through blending trials for you to make your own version of their Proprietary red wine: four cases that after aging and bottling will make its way to your cellar!
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Written by: Ben Bicais on Wednesday, June 06 2007
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Napa County officials have announced that they will begin using organic pesticides to combat the light brown apple moth. The initial spraying will be concentrated on a small stretch of land near Highway 29 and Lincoln Avenue.
Although there are many homes in the area, a spokeswoman for Napa County stressed that Bacillus thuringiensis is, “approved for use in organic growing facilities so it is on the benign end of the scale, which is encouraging.” Even still, concerned residents can attend a meeting about the issue at West Park Elementary School on June 12th at 7 pm.
Native to Australia, the light brown apple moth has spread to New Zealand, Hawaii and the British Isles. It was recently discovered in a number of Bay Area Counties including the backyard of a West Napa home. The moth feeds on several different crops including citrus, cherries, apples and grapes.
Hopefully the use of Bacillus thuringiensis will stop the moth from spreading any more than it already has. With the total value of Napa County agriculture at around $477 million in 2006, it is little surprise that the threat is being taken very seriously.
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Written by: Ryan Fujiu on Tuesday, June 05 2007
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Sonoma County is home to some of California’s best wineries. While some Sonoma operations are scaled for Disneyland size tourism, others are not. Great wines are produced from large and small wineries, but certain down home qualities are reserved for small productions.
Seven small wineries were featured in last weekends Alexander Valley Winegrowers Association’s Taste of the Valley. You would think that smaller producers could be lost in the fold among wineries like Alexander Valley Vineyards, Clos du Bois, Silver Oak, Simi and Souverain.
But the “Outlaw 7” banded together to meet, greet and pour their wines. This club includes Wilson-Fleming, Icaria Creek, Joseph Family, Quaking Hills, Hart’s Desire, Kachina and Mojon’s Bench.
“For us it’s about the boutiqueness and the variety and about having fun,” said Jeffrey Smith of Icaria Creek. “You can go to Clos du Bois and meet one of their 400 employees or you can come see us and it’s a little bit different. It’s what Sonoma County used to be.”
The Outlaw 7 held their tasting at the Thunderbird Ranch, which was perfect for the western style theme of the event. Over 2,500 people attended over the two days. According to Tony Fleming of Wilson-Fleming Estate Winery, “This is the only time we get to do these public tastings,” said Fleming. “Other wineries you can go to any day, for us it’s once a year.”
In a show of good faith, a portion of the group’s wine sales were donated to California Human Development. Which is s Sonoma charity that helps disenfranchised, underrepresented people with education, jobs and housing. Cheers to the Outlaw 7, they are true backbone of the California wine industry.
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Written by: Ben Bicais on Monday, June 04 2007
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Pinot Noir has been vinified for centuries and is one of the world’s noble grape varieties. But what is it about Pinot that allows it to make wines that have such haunting finesse and concentration? While its greatness has often been attributed to the muses, there are some definitive things that set Pinot Noir apart from other red grapes.
Pinot Noir is a thin skinned grape with lighter pigments than most other red varieties. This is because Pinot Noir lacks acylated anthocyanins which most other red grapes have. (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, etc.) These tannic compounds are responsible for much of the pigments in red wine. Pinot does contain the other major tannic compound called polyphenols, which gives it sufficient structure.
Pinot Noir is one of the most difficult grapes to grow and produce into wine. This has at the same time infuriated and delighted winemakers. When it is done well, there is nothing else like Pinot Noir. But several things must fall into place to accomplish this, and both nature and man must cooperate.
Pinot Noir ripens early in the growing season, and because of its thin skins, it is particularly susceptible to rot. It needs to methodically develop in a cool climate, but also needs enough heat to develop its distinctive flavors and aromas. Therein lays one of the difficulties in cultivating the grape.
The best soils for Pinot Noir are limestone and clay based. In general, the more clay, the more weight the Pinot will have. Pinot does well in soils that were once ancient sea beds and have a high pH from fossilized sea shells (high Calcium content). In contrast, Cabernet Sauvignon and many other red grapes like gravelly, very well-drained soils that are often of alluvial origin and have a lower pH.
In comparison to most other red varietals, Pinot Noir has a greater propensity for mutation. Part of the reason for this is that the grape has been grown since ancient times and there has been ample opportunity for genetic variation. Whereas Cabernet Sauvignon has around 20 distinct clones, Pinot Noir has over 1,000. This is why Pinot translates the terroir of a site so effectively; it adapts and changes to its natural environment significantly more than most other red grapes.
Cabernet Sauvignon and other red grapes can certainly display terroir, but not to the same extent as Pinot. Cab is a much more predictable grape, and no matter where it is planted, it will have some traits distinguish it. This is not the case with Pinot Noir, and there is much more variation depending on the specific plot of land and the people who vinify it.
Hence the more complex AOC system in Burgundy as opposed to Bordeaux. The French in general are concerned with terroir, but in Burgundy it is an obsession.
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Written by: Ben Bicais on Friday, June 01 2007
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California Wine Country’s biggest event, Auction Napa Valley, will be held on June 7th to June 10th. This year, a couple of lots at the E-Auction celebrate the diverse and excellent producers in the St. Helena wine region. Many of these wines are extremely difficult to find and are only available through mailing lists.
Lot #102 is called Appellation St. Helena – Heart of the Napa Valley. It is a mix of 16 different bottles of wine from Anomaly Vineyards, Beringer Vineyards, Chateau Boswell, Crocker & Starr Wines, Flora Springs Winery, Ehlers Estate, HALL, Hundred Acre Wine Estate, Raymond Vineyard & Cellar, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery, William Cole Vineyards, Wolf Family Vineyard, David Fulton Winery and Merryvale Vineyards.
The current bid for Lot #102 is $1,300: for more information click here.
This lot also includes a wine tasting and tour for 4 people at David Fulton Winery, Crocker & Starr Wines, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery, Anomaly Vineyards and William Cole Vineyards. The proceeds from Auction Napa Valley benefit local health and children’s organizations.
Lot #103 is similar to #102, and is called Appellation St. Helena – More from the Heart of the Napa Valley. This lot includes 15 bottles of wine from Casa Nuestra Winery & Vineyards, Bressler Vineyards, Corison Winery, Del Dotto Vineyards, Duckhorn Vineyards, Ehlers Estate, Hourglass, Parry Cellars, Revana Family Vineyard, Salvestrin Vineyard and Winery, Trinchero Family Estates and Rutherford Grove Winery.
The current bid for Lot #103 is $1,800: for more information click here.
The winning bidder will also be treated to a wine tasting and tour for 4 people at Vineyard 29, Parry Cellars, Revana Family Vineyard and Salvestrin Vineyard and Winery. Auction Napa Valley supports some great causes and has raised over $69 million since it was established in 1981.
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