Cheers!

Brandon

Royal family to set up vineyard in Windsor Great Park

Original article can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-13307566

More than 16,500 vines bearing champagne grape varieties will be planted in 3 hectares (7.4 acres) of the park, owned by the Crown Estate.

Laithwaites Wine, tenant farmers on the royal estates, said they were "extremely proud to be invited by the Royal Farms" to work on the project.

The first harvest is predicted to be in about three years' time.

In a private seeding event, the wine company will plant chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier varieties on an unconfirmed date next week.

'Coup' for country

Michael Roberts, chairman of English Wine Producers, said the royal family's interest was a coup for the country's vineyard owners.

"This is the sincerest form of accolade to a whole industry.

"It's interesting to see how enthusiastic they must be to actually allow a small part of Windsor Great Park to be planted," he said.

Laithwaites spokesman Simon McMurtrie added: "As champions of English wine we are delighted to do what we can to help boost its production and popularity in this country at this time."

A Windsor Castle spokeswoman confirmed the vines were being planted but said no further comment would be given as it was a "private estate" matter.

English wine and sparkling wine was served at the royal wedding on 29 April.

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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

This is a nice and inexpensive Portuguese Red Table Wine that I found at my Costco liquor store this past weekend.  For under $8.00 it is remarkably complex with good structure make this wine well rounded and balanced.  If your looking to find this wine nationally reach out to F.B McDonald Imports based in Aspen, CO (970-920-3216).

Cheers!

- Brandon

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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.

What will prove to be Francis Ford Coppola's biggest challenge: making "Apocalypse Now" or remaking Inglenook wines?

The movie director/wine estate owner's latest outsize ambition: Restore a label best known for such quaffables as Sweet Red, Sunset Blush and "our innovative bag-in-the-box Wine Cask" to its original status as one of the finest producers of Cabernet in the world.

Coppola, whose Rubicon Estate in Napa Valley sits on the original, 1879 Inglenook property, this week acquired the Inglenook name from Livermore's The Wine Group, for an undisclosed amount, "to achieve my goal of restoring this property into America's greatest wine estate."

It was that for a while, from the 1930s to the mid-'60s, when Inglenook, according to a 2001 Wine Spectator article, "compiled a collection of Cabernets that stand up favorably to the best red wines on earth."

Ah, but then came what Chronicle wine editor Jon Bonné, in an SFGate blog post, calls "one of the greatest branding takedowns in history," beginning with Inglenook's sale to United Vintners for $1.2-million in 1964.

Inglenook went downhill from there, being sold to one alcohol conglomerate after another, before winding up in the hands of The Wine Group, the world's third-largest wine company, in 2008, for $135 million. By then, Inglenook had already joined the lower reaches of plonk along with the likes of Paul Masson, Almaden and Franzia.

Waiting in the wings was Coppola, who had bought the original Inglenook residence and part of the vineyard in 1975, renaming it Niebaum-Coppola Estate, after Gustave Niebaum, the winery's founder, and acquired the rest of the property in Rutherford in 1995.

"The name might have been trashed and ruined, but people are still paying tens of thousands of dollars for bottles from the previous era. It all needs to be reunited," said Coppola in a statement announcing the deal.

And, who better to help Coppola achieve his ambition than the director of Bordeaux's Château Margaux, Philippe Bascaules, who oversees the production of wines priced up to $2,400 a bottle and more?

"I found the tasting of 1959 Inglenook astonishing with regard to its freshness and complexity, and when I tasted some samples of the 2009 vintage, I recognized the incredible potential of this property," said Bascaules, who takes over as the revived Inglenook's manager and winemaker this summer.

Financial Times wine writer Jancis Robinson, who used to contribute to The Chronicle, said while the Inglenook vineyard has "massive potential," she wondered about the differences confronting Bascaules between Bordeaux and the Napa Valley.

"The weather's going to be so different. The soils will be different. So he will have a very steep learning curve," Robinson said in a radio interview.

Others wondered about the language differences - Bascaules doesn't speak English. To that, Coppola said to reporters, "I admire very much the notion of a person of few words."

Whether ambition, admiration and massive potential will carry the day for Coppola remains to be seen. "Let's hope Mr. Coppola understands that California can never be Bordeaux," sniffed the London Daily Telegraph's wine correspondent.

Restoring Inglenook's glory days "would be a downright cinematic resurrection if it can be done," wrote Bonné.

In the meantime, Coppola's most expensive cabernets ($20-$1,300 a bottle, depending on the vintage) will still be called Rubicon.

Fly in ointment: There is one small other matter that Coppola needs to attend to: He's being sued for unpaid services rendered at his other winery in Sonoma County.

Eleven contractors have filed liens on the property, formerly the home of Souverain Winery, totaling $1.8 million in construction bills pertaining to Coppola's multimillion-dollar face-lift of the property.

The chief complainant is Grassi & Associates, a well-known builder of high-end homes, estates and wineries in the Sonoma Valley, which has filed a $1.3 million suit for a bill due since August.

Coppola's attorney, Jeffrey Lowenthal, of San Francisco's Steyer Lowenthal Boodrookas Alvarez & Smith, was not available for comment Thursday, but he told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat this week, "Francis Ford Coppola Winery has paid Grassi multiple millions of dollars and has a dispute over the last invoices and Grassi's responsibility to complete the project, which we are trying to work out."

"We are hopeful for an early resolution."

Another contractor, Kyle Reicher, a metal fabricator-sculptor who owns Ferrous Studios in Richmond, is also hoping for an early resolution.

"It was an amazing opportunity for artisans, because of Francis' vision," he told the Press Democrat. But "I'm still owed a lot."

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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.

This grenache from Spain has both altitude and old vines...which is a great combo for yummy wine.

At $10/bottle it's a steal!

Cheers!

-K

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Evodia Old Vine Grenache 2009 Grenache from Spain 1 2 3 4 5 ratings pedigree (past vintages): 2008 2007 Price: $9.29 send to a friend print cellar notes review this wine add to wine list Item No. 108083 red wine style: winemaker's notes:Evodia, sourcing fruit from high elevation vineyards in the village of Atea, from the Greek word for aroma. 100% old vine Garnacha critical acclaim: "Sexy, high-pitched aromas of strawberry preserves, black raspberry, minerals and pungent flowers. Concentrated but not at all heavy; sweet raspberry and blackberry flavors are lifted by a hint of violet. Very suave, especially at this price; finishes with silky tannins and excellent clarity. No jamminess here, which is pretty rare for inexpensive garnacha. These vines are reportedly planted at 850 to 1,100 meters altitude on slate and are more than 100 years old." 90 Points International Wine Cellar

]]> http://corxwinebags.com/blog/evodia-old-vine-grenache-2009/feed/ 0 http://corxwinebags.com/blog/chile-wine-exports-rise-13/ http://corxwinebags.com/blog/chile-wine-exports-rise-13/#comments Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:30:05 +0000 admin http://corxwinebags.com/blog/?p=977

It was almost a year ago that Chile suffered a tragic earthquake.  The country is still recovering, but it makes me extremely happy to see the wine industry recovering.

Cheers!

- Brandon

Santiago –  Exports of fine Chilean wines increased 13 percent in value over the first two months of this year, compared to the same period in 2010, for a total of $181.8 million, the Office of Agricultural Research and Policy, or Odepa, said Monday.

By volume, these exports reached 55.6 million liters, 7.4 percent more than in January-February 2010, Odepa said.

The average price of Chilean wines with guarantee of origin and quality was $3.27 per liter during the period, or 5.1 percent more than in the same period last year.

The results were due to the prestige, high demand and reasonable prices of these vintages, Odepa director Gustavo Rojas said.

The leading markets for these wines during the period were Britain, with 15.8 percent of the total, United States (15 percent), the Netherlands (5.9 percent), Japan (5.9 percent), Canada (5.5 percent), Brazil (4.9 percent), China (4 percent), Russia (3.9 percent), Germany (3.4 percent) and Denmark (3.3 percent).

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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.

I was shopping for wine this past weekend, and my wine shop was doing their annual buy one bottle at regular price, get the second at 50% off.  Needless to say the high end bottles where cleaned out.  I am personally not a high end wine person because my pocket book does not allow it, nor would I probably head down that path if I could.  I enjoy the game of finding exceptional wine values.  Benton-Lane Pinot Noir 2008 is no exception.  2008's Pinot Noir growing season in the Willamette Valley was a historical year, that has turned out the highest quality Pinot Noir this region has ever seen.  I have always been a fan of this winery, and we even featured the 2008 Pinot Gris on our blog June of last year.  This wine left me speechless...granted it is only my opinion....but like the 2008 Pinot Gris Benton-Lane absolutely nailed it!  The wine is like silk...subtle in flavors, but the smoothness of the taste is absolutely incredible.  Even if you paid the typical retail price in our area of $23.oo, your drinking a wine that today could fetch twice that amount, and if you enjoy storing wine in your cellar you will have an amazing bottle in 5 years.  Pick up a bottle or two of this wine, you will be glad you did.

Winemaker's Notes:

This brilliantly ruby tinted wine has classic aromas of cherries, red currants and raspberries with more subtle hints of baking spice and vanilla layered in.  On the palate, it exhibits lithe fruitiness and lingering cherry and berry flavors.  The wine shows extraordinary balance and finesse with fine grained tannis that provide a nice framework to the silky mid-palate.

Acclaim:

November, 2010 90 points, Wine Spectator
“Light and spicy, with pretty cinnamon and nutmeg overtones to the red berry and floral flavors, lingering gently on the finish with finesse. Drink now through 2016.

November, 2010 Editor’s Holiday Wine Pick, Food & Wine
“Benton-Lane’s estate bottling has earth and spice notes, plus vibrant cherry fruit. It’s from Oregon’s 2008 vintage—one of the state’s best ever…”

October, 2010 90 points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2008 Pinot Noir Estate, medium ruby in color, offers up an alluring nose of cedar, spice box, incense, cherry and raspberry that jumps from the glass. Made in a racy style and already displaying some complexity, this savory, spicy effort has good depth, length, and 1-2 years of aging potential. It will provide considerable pleasure from 2012 to 2020. Issue #191

July, ‘10: Gold Medal, San Francisco International Wine Competition

June, 2010: Gold Medal, Oregon Wine Awards

Enjoy!

-K

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http://www.democratandchronicle.com/print/article/20110215/LIVING0106/102150304/It-must-love-10-food-wine-marriages

February 15, 2011

It must be love: 10 food and wine marriages

Holly Howell
Columnist

Rats. I missed Valentine's Day by one day.

No matter. The entire month of February is dedicated to love, and that means it is time for my annual list of top 10 food and wine marriages. (I have been working very hard, as always, testing and tasting a wide variety of foods and wines together to compile this most coveted list. I know, hard job.)

These are the matches that have earned the status of "epiphany," and I hope that you will try them all.

1Spicy guacamole with Sauvignon Blanc. I love a good "guac," and I am always searching for the perfect wine partner. There are lots of fruity white wines that can pair quite well, but a tart Sauvignon Blanc really takes the cake, or the avocado if you will. Sauvignon Blanc is blessed with an inherent acidity that makes just about any food taste better, especially fruit and vegetable dishes. Look for lovely "New World" versions of this wine from Chile, California, New Zealand and South Africa.

2Bacon-wrapped scallops with Chardonnay. A big toasty, buttery California Chardonnay for best results. The smokiness of the bacon just clicks with the oakiness of the wine. I think that Kendall Jackson and Toasted Head were developed specifically to complement bacon. However, this does not mean that I recommend them with breakfast fare.

3French Onion Soup with Seyval Blanc. One of the most pleasantly surprising pairings of the year. If you've never had a Seyval Blanc wine, then you owe it to yourself to invite one to dinner. This French-American hybrid grape was developed especially for colder climates like ours. Look for great local Seyval from wineries like Hunt Country, Glenora, Deer Run, Hosmer, Lucas and Bully Hill. And melt some real gruyere cheese on that soup, for goodness sake.

4Teriyaki grilled tuna with semi-dry Riesling. This was love at first bite. Teriyaki is the ultimate sweet soy marinade, but it is salty. The touch of sugar in the semi-dry Riesling totally tames the teriyaki salt, while the sweetness of the teriyaki balances the fruit of the wine. Truly one of my favorite combos of all.

5Pepperidge Farm Baked Cheddar Goldfish with sparkling wine. This is my go-to appetizer for entertaining. Champagne, Cava, Prosecco, whatever.

6Stuffed artichokes with Vernaccia di San Gimignano. I adore artichokes, but they contain a chemical called cynarin that can adversely affect the flavor of many wines. Vernaccia is a white wine made in the town of San Gimignano in Tuscany. It is clean and crisp with lots of citrus flavors, and just a hint of bitter on the finish. Italians have claimed for years that Vernaccia is one of the few wines that can handle an artichoke. I never believed it until I tried it, but it's a magical thing.

7Eggplant parmigian with Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. OK, so the Italians get two. I'm an eggplant girl. But this pairing also works well with chicken and veal parmigian. The most important thing is that you try this romantic red wine made from the montepulciano grape in the Abruzzi region of Italy. It is not hard to pronounce (mohn-tay-pool-chee-AHN-oh). It is not expensive (most are under $10). And it is not hard to find. But it is unbelievably delicious paired with rustic comfort food.

8Portobello sliders with Pinot Noir. Recipe: grilled portobello mushroom, pesto, goat cheese and oven-dried tomatoes, all tucked into a small slider bun. Pinot Noir likes mushrooms, so Pinot Noir loves these sliders.

9Limburger Cheese with Lemberger Wine. I just had to try this because it seemed so right, and it totally rocked my taste buds. Limburger is a very aromatic washed-rind cheese. (Yes, you could say "stinky.") The strong, pungent taste of Limburger blends beautifully with the spicy, peppery flavor of Lemberger. True, it is not for the weak of heart, but if you have an adventurous spirit, this one is a must.

10Profiteroles with hot fudge and Cabernet Franc Ice Wine. It's hard to even begin describing this one. I guess "party in your mouth" will do it. Look for some outstanding Cabernet Franc Ice Wines in the Finger Lakes. Well worth the splurge.

Holly Howell teaches food and wine classes at Wegmans, RIT and Casa Larga Vineyards.

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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.

I have enjoyed Villa Maria's Sauvignon Blanc Private Bin for the last couple of years.  It is a great every day white wine no matter what time of year.  This wine packs a ton of flavor such as passion fruit, fresh citrus and pear flavor with a finish that is not to acidic and very clean.  I love to pair this wine with grilled salmon! 

Winery Notes: 

Fruit for this wine was sourced from vineyards across the Marlborough region. A blend of fruit grown in the Wairau and Awatere Valleys spanning a range of different meso-climates were incorporated. Careful attention was paid to vine health to give the vine the best chance to optimise the season and develop strong, clean flavours.  

The superb vintage and beautifully balanced vineyards produced grapes which were harvested at varying levels of ripeness over a five week period, providing for an array of flavours and blending options. The fruit was crushed, pressed and settled for 24 hours before being racked clean off press solids for fermentation. Both neutral and aromatic yeast strains were used. Fermentation was conducted cool at 12-14ºC to ensure maximum retention of delicate flavours and aromatics. Soon after fermentation was completed the wine was bottled to capture its vibrancy and freshness. 

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Cheers!

- Brandon

Cookbook is a Gift

The Shasta Cascade Viticulture Association has published its first cookbook, “Pleasures of the Vine,” just in time for holiday gift giving. For wine lovers who love to cook with wine, the book includes some 150 recipes such as Matson Winery & Vineyard’s “Pulled Pork in Zinfandel Sauce” and R. Merlo Estate Vineyard’s “Scallops in Wine Sauce.” Cost is $14.99 and may be purchased by contacting Linda Venable at 549-4849 or kishavon@aol.com.

Don’t Forget About Wine

While you’re frantically scurrying around town to complete your holiday shopping, don’t overlook the possibility of giving locally produced wine. Visit a local winery and pick up some extra bottles for family and friends, or visit some of the winery gift shops for specialty items. For instance, One Maple Winery in Lewiston offers gift baskets, pottery and gift certificates, as well as discounts on purchases of multiple bottles of wines. Call 778-0716 or visit www.onemaplewinery.com. Ringtail Vineyards & Winery also puts together gift baskets; call 474-5350.

Sip Wine to Holiday Music

Anselmo Vineyards in Inwood continues its Holiday Music Series from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday with performers Linda Bott, Rick Hill and Candace LiVolsi. The winery is located at 7 Hills Land & Cattle Company, 28740 Inwood Road, 20 miles east of Redding, off of Highway 44. Call 474-5546 for more information.

Avoid the Summer Crowds

Winter is a great time to visit the wine country, when a leisurely pace and uncrowded tasting rooms are yours to enjoy. The Calistoga Chamber of Commerce offers “Winter in the Wineries” passports for $50 per person, which are good through Feb. 6. The passports provide tasting at 16 wineries, as well as discounts on lodging and restaurants. Visit www.calistogavisitors.com or call 707-942-6333.

For Your Pleasure

The Wine Road of Northern Sonoma County offers one-day ($25) and three-day ($50) tickets to the Wine Road that are good for tasting, discounts and tours (offers vary) at more than 50 wineries during regular business hours. The date(s) of use must be specified at the time of purchase, but tickets are available year-round. Visit www.wineroad.com or call (888) 251-0560.

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