Jul/100
Swallow Pinot Gris & NLP
Recently, I ran across the Swallow Pinot Gris. Being an Oregon native, I decided to check it out and buy a bottle.
First off, I enjoyed the Pinot Gris with its melon and subtle mineral flavors. It is a great summer wine, especially at $10/bottle. In short, buy it!
What really gets me is the marketing genius of this wine. Yes, a swallow is cute bird found throughout Oregon. The word swallow is also a verb associated with eating and drinking. For those familiar with NLP or neuro linguistic programming, you will recognize this brand name as an embedded command. The cute little bird is saying, “Drink me!”
Whether Swallow Cellars meant it or not, they nailed it with their brand!
Cheers!
-Kevin
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For more about the winery and the wine, read below:
http://swallowcellar.com/descriptions/2008%20Pinot%20Gris.pdf
Swallow Cellar’s family of wines grown and produced in Oregon includes Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Noir. Our efforts start in the vineyard with over thirty years of planting and tending vineyards in Oregon. As winegrowers, we respect the nature of the fruit that we work so hard to grow in our vineyards, and our winemaking goals mirror these beliefs. We strive to produce wines that showcase pure, delicate fruit flavors, moderate concentration, subtle intensity and good balance. Simple attention to detail, good, honest winemaking and respecting the humble beginnings of the grape are our guiding principles. “Distinctive wines at a price you can swallow” also means that we aim to put an affordable bottle of wine on your table for everyday enjoyment.
2008 Pinot Gris
Vibrant aromas of pears, apples and melons mingle with subtle spice notes tempting you to take the first taste. The flavors are plump, juicy and delicious, balanced with just the right amount of tangy grape acidity to keep the wine pleasantly refreshing. Pinot Gris is versatile on the table, pairing well with a wide array of foods from salads and seafood to poultry and pasta.
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About Corx Wine Bags
Corx Wine Bags was founded in 2005 by two friends who had passion for wine. One of them being a self proclaimed klutz and the other a self proclaimed sewing master, they sought to create the ultimate wine bag. After several prototypes the “Tre” 3-bottle wine bag was born. A wine bag of the highest quality that prevents bottles from breaking in transit for those klutz’s out there, while keeping your wines at proper storing temperatures during your trip to your favorite BYOB restaurant, picnic location or bringing bottles home from your favorite winery. For more information about all of our wine bags please visit us at www.corxwinebags.com
May/100
Ramos-Pinto Douro Adriano Estate Red Wine 2005 (Portugal)
-Wine Tasting Notes-
The color of this wine is an intense brilliant ruby red. Aromas of blackberry and black plum are followed by spice notes. The wine is a smooth on the palate with lively tannins and nuances of ripe fruit, plum and cherry. The finish is fresh, savory and long. This wine is a perfect accompaniment to red meat, game, BBQ, hamburgers, pizza, pasta and vegetables.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_wine
Portuguese wine is the result of traditions introduced to the region by ancient civilizations, such as the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, and mostly the Romans. Portugal started to export its wines to Rome during the Roman Empire. Modern exports developed with trade to England after the Methuen Treaty in 1703. From this commerce a wide variety of wines started to be grown in Portugal. And, in 1758, the first wine-producing region of the world, the Região Demarcada do Douro was created under the orientation of Marquis of Pombal, in the Douro Valley. Portugal has two wine producing regions protected by UNESCO as World Heritage: the Douro Valley Wine Region (Douro Vinhateiro) and Pico Island Wine Region (Ilha do Pico Vinhateira). Portugal has a large variety of native breeds, producing a very wide variety of different wines with distinctive personality.
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Though originally know for Port, there are some great value wines coming out of Portugal right now. The Touriga Nacional varietal from Douro region is showing particular promise.
Also, it is hard to match the value of these great wines. The Ramos-Pinto Doura is a great buy at $12 per bottle.
Cheers!
-Kevin
Apr/100
Di Majo Norante Sangiovese 2008
winemaker’s notes:
This Sangiovese exhibits a fresh bouquet of violets, woodland berries, spices and leather. Deliciously smooth, plush and juicy on the palate with loads of ripe fruit, Di Majo Sangiovese is recommended with pasta, pizza, sausages, parmigiana and grilled meats. A tremendous value!
critical acclaim:
“The 2008 Sangiovese Terre degli Osci is an incredibly delicious, full-bodied wine with gorgeous clarity and definition. Made in a bold, fruit-driven style, the wine offers terrific depth and a long, polished finish. This harmonious red is a knockout!”
90 Points
The Wine Advocate
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Hi. Had this wine with BBQ sausages, grilled asparagus, and mixed green the other night. A steal $11.
Salute!
-Kevin
Apr/100
White Oak Vineyards & Winery (Healdsburg, CA) – Review by Corx Wine Bags
This is a nice video and overview of White Oak Vineyard & Winery in Healdsburg, CA. They have done wonderful work to date, and have received many accolades over the years for some high quality Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. So the next time your traveling through wine country in California stop by and visit them, you will be glad you did.
Cheers!
- Brandon
The White Oak Winery Story….
Born in Los Angeles, Bill Myers worked as a building contractor and salmon fisherman in Alaska. During the 1970’s, Bill relocated to the bucolic town of Healdsburg, California, sold his boat, purchased his first vineyard in the Alexander Valley and began to make wine.
With his newly purchased vineyard, a tiny tasting room and wine production facility just off the square in downtown Healdsburg, Bill started making wines. He quickly became recognized for producing wonderful Chardonnay, Zinfandel and what was to become White Oak’s flagship wine: Sauvignon Blanc. In 1991, Bill took home his first Sonoma County Harvest Fair Sweepstakes Award for his 1990 Sonoma County Chardonnay.
In 1997, Bill formed an alliance with Burdell Propertiesto pursue his vision of expanding the winery and thereby creating the foundation of today’s White Oak. Don Groth and Burdell Properties brought over 750 acres of prime vineyards in Napa Valley and the Russian River Valley to the winery.
Shortly thereafter Bill broke ground on this impressive Mediteranean-style winery in the most scenic area of the Alexander Valley.
The estate is nestled amongst seventeen acres of Zinfandel vines dating back to 1929 and 1935. Bill then added small lots of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc to the estate.
White Oak’s new tasting room in the Alexander Valley opened in October of 1998. Our tasting room staff is enthusiastic and knowledgeable. We participate in many of the annual Alexander Valley and Russian River Valley wine road events and members of our Wine Club enjoy four Winery events throughout the year.
Presently, White Oak Vineyards & Winery has nearly 750 acres of vineyards divided between the Napa, Alexander and Russian River Valleys. Roughly 10% of this fruit is used in White Oak wines with the balance being sold to other well known prestige wineries. We are currently producing five artisan quality wines for national distribution and two Estate wines, which are only available through our tasting room. Please call the winery for availability.
The White Oak Tasting Room and Hospitality Center is open daily * from 10 am to 5 pm. Wine tasting is fee based, refunded with taster purchase. Tours by appointment only.
About Corx Wine Bags
Corx Wine Bags was founded in 2005 by two friends who had passion for wine. With one of them being a self proclaimed klutz and the other a self proclaimed sewing master, they sought to create the ultimate wine bag. After several prototypes the “Tre” 3-bottle wine bag was born. A wine bag of the highest quality that prevents bottles from breaking in transit for those klutz’s out there, while keeping your wines at proper storing temperatures during your trip to your favorite BYOB restaurant, picnic location or bringing bottles home from your favorite winery. For more information about all of our wine bags please visit us at www.corxwinebags.com
Mar/100
Iowa’s Wine Industry has $234 Million Impact – Corx Wine Bags
This is an interesting article by George Ford about the growing wine industry in Iowa. It is always nice to see positive news for lesser known wine producing states.
Iowa’s wine industry has $234 million impact
Posted on Mar 29, 2010 by George Ford.
Kathy A’Hearn (left) and her husband Brian A’Hearn (right) of Marion have a glass of wine with their friend Janet Wegner (center) of Cedar Rapids at the Cedar Ridge Vineyards outside of Swisher on Sunday, March 28, 2010. The winery and distillery, which used to be open for tasting in downtown Cedar Rapids, opened in November and is now located where the vineyard is. (Julie Koehn/The Gazette)
A visit to a local convenience store or supermarket will make it apparent why Iowa’s wine and vineyard industry had an estimated $234 million economic impact on the state in 2008.
Bottles of wine from Iowa’s 82 wineries are showing up in store displays as the state’s once struggling micro-winery industry has flourished in recent years.
Iowa wineries produced 186,700 gallons of wine in 2008, according to a study by the Iowa Wine Growers Association, for a total of $7.6 million in retail value of the wine sold. The study also found that the industry supported 1,773 jobs and $50 million in wages.
“We are just scratching the surface for the economic impact Iowa wine can have for the state,” said David Cushman, president of the Iowa Wine Growers Association. “Iowa’s per capita wine consumption trails the national average by more than five bottles per person per year. I would expect the resurgence of a native wine industry in Iowa will increase the awareness and accessibility to wine in general and will bring our resident wine consumption closer to the national average.”
Cushman said Iowa has the potential for $120 million in wine sales. The association’s economic impact study showed that for every $1 spent on Iowa wine, another $30 is cycled through Iowa.
In 2008, Iowa had 74 licensed wineries, 400 grape growers and 1,000 grape-bearing acres. By January of this year, the state had 82 licensed wineries, 400 grape growers and 1,200 grape-bearing acres.
Iowa has a way to go before it catches up with states like California and New York in wine production. The state ranks 14th nationwide in the number of wineries and 22nd in wine production.
Jeff Quint, president and owner of Cedar Ridge Vineyards Winery and Distillery in Swisher, grows grapes on 27 acres off Highway 965. Quint said a lot of new wine varieties have been developed over the last decade.
“They’re called French-American hybrids, a cross between classic French vinifera and the American varieties,” Quint said. “Vineyard owners are looking for the winter hardiness of the American varieties and the winemaking qualities of the classic French vinifera. Most of the grapes that we grow at Cedar Ridge Vineyards are these French-American hybrids.”
Quint said Iowa’s fledgling micro-distillery business with two distilleries in operation and a third expected to begin operating this year has the opportunity to make an economic impact on the state with its use of corn as a raw material.
“Most distilled spirits are made from corn,” Quint said. “Last year, Iowans consumed $300 million worth of distilled spirits. All $300 million of distilled spirits was imported. “Almost 5 percent of the wine we consume in Iowa is made in Iowa. We have an opportunity to see the same thing happen in distilled spirits.”
About Corx Wine Bags
Corx Wine Bags was founded in 2005 by two friends who had passion for wine. With one them being a self proclaimed klutz and the other a self proclaimed sewing master, they sought to create the ultimate wine bag. After several prototypes the “Tre” 3-bottle wine bag was born. A wine bag of the highest quality that prevents bottles from breaking in transit for those klutz’s out there, while keeping your wines at proper storing temperatures during your trip to your favorite BYOB restaurant, picnic location or bringing bottles home from your favorite winery. For more information about all of our wine bags please visit us at www.corxwinebags.com
Mar/100
Update on Chile Wine Industry – Corx Wine Bags
Chile’s wine industry is reeling after last month’s 8.8 magnitude quake that killed hundreds and demolished parts of cities. Some 125 million litres of Chilean wine worth roughly 250 million dollars spilled from cracked barrels during the tremor. Your wine dollars can go a long way towards restoring this critical component of Chile’s economy. So the next time you are out looking for wine consider venturing into the section devoted to Chilean wines, you will not be disappointed.
Cheers!
-Brandon
About Corx Wine Bags
Corx Wine Bags was founded in 2005 by two friends who had passion for wine. With one them being a self proclaimed klutz and the other a self proclaimed sewing master, they sought to create the ultimate wine bag. After several prototypes the “Tre” 3-bottle wine bag was born. A wine bag of the highest quality that prevents bottles from breaking in transit and would ensure the wine was ready for consumption, regardless of it being a red or white, when arriving at your destination. For more information about all of our wine bags please visit us at www.corxwinebags.com
Mar/100
2006 Sette Cieli Yantra Toscana 750ML – A Wine Review By Corx Wine Bags
89 Points – Antonio Galloni (The Wine Advocate)
“The entry-level 2006 Yantra is a super-ripe, richly-textured wine loaded with voluptuous fruit and a pleasing personality. A blend of 40% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, it was aged entirely in steel. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2011. I continue to be impressed with the wines of Tenuta dei Sette Cieli, a young property located in Monteverdi Marittima, in Maremma. Winemaking is overseen by consulting oenologist Attilio Pagli.”
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A very good Bordeaux-style blend from Tuscany. Great value at $12.
Cheers!
-Kevin
Feb/100
Tenuta di Arceno PrimaVoce 2005
PrimaVoce, named for the leading voice in an opera, expresses the richness of the Tuscan terroir and the continuing legacy of the Tenuta di Arceno estate. This blend balances the elegance of Merlot with the richness and power of Cabernet Sauvignon.
The nose first exudes cedar, fresh vanilla root and a hint of ginger, followed by aromas of ripe plums and white chocolate. Tannins are soft, silky and balanced and lead to an explosion of candied cherries on the palate. The long lingering finish of forest floor, earth and spice transports you to our Tenuta di Arceno vineyards in autumn, as they reveal and express their terroir.
72% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Syrah
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This Bordeaux-style blend from Tuscany is a great Italian blend from the Tuscany region. Very good buy at $20/bottle.
Cheers!
-Kevin
Feb/100
Vinturi Wine Aerator – Review by Corx Wine Bags
Great gift for a wine lover! For more info, go to www.vinturi.com.
Cheers!
-Kevin
Feb/100
How to Open A Bottle of Wine
Great YouTube video on opening a bottle of wine.
Cheers!
-Kevin