Early news look good for wine grape growers in Sonoma County...let's hope the good news continues.
Cheers!
- Brandon
Sonoma County wine grape growers with larger acreages finished mechanical pre-pruning activities earlier last month, says Nicky Frey, president of the Sonoma County Wine Grape Commission at Santa Rosa, Calif.
Pre-pruning is done to reduce Eutypa dieback — caused when spores of the fungus infect fresh pruning wounds — by reducing the chance of rain spreading the spores. It is done more by machine than by hand in Sonoma County, speeding up the final selective pruning and allowing growers to prune large acreages in a very short time.
Growers have been non-selectively cutting canes to about 15 to 18 inches since November or December. Now, they’re doing the final selective pruning, cutting back to two-bud spurs on cordon-pruned vines.
Other growers, typically those with smaller operations, have been waiting to begin pruning until the apical buds begin to swell or even emerge.
“Pruning now tends to delay basal buds from pushing out for a week or two and reduces the risk of frost damage,” Frey says. “We’ve had excellent rains this winter and the soil profiles are fully charged. That’s always good going into a new season. Hopefully, we got good dormancy that will set us up pretty well for this spring so bud break occurs over a shorter period.’
Growers have begun setting out traps for the European Grape Vine Moth (EGVM), an invasive pest discovered for the first time in the U.S. two years ago in a Napa County vineyard.
Frey is encouraged by the low number of EGVM moths trapped last year — a total of just 53 in all three flights.
“If treatments were effective, there may be some areas where we won’t find the pest this year. We’ll see, but I remain optimistic that we can eradicate this pest from our county.”
Last year’s unusually cool growing season, interrupted by a few days of 100-degree plus temperatures in August, challenged the skills of even Sonoma County’s best growers. This year, they’re looking for a more normal season for producing wine grapes.
“Nothing suggests anything unusual this year,” Frey says. “At this stage, growers should be expecting an average crop.”
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
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I love this crisp, refreshing sauvignon blanc from the Russian River Valley. I retails for $11-12, but is comparable to a $15 bottle.
Cheers!
-Kevin
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http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1046935
90 points from Robert Parker: "The outstanding 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (20,000 cases produced) is about as good as this varietal can be. Flinty fig, melon, and honeyed grapefruit aromas and flavors emerge from this tank-fermented and aged 2007. This medium-bodied, refreshing white is not put through malolactic, which provides additional crispness. Consume it over the next 1-2 years. One of the best value producers in the Gallo empire is the Frei Brothers Reserve." (12/08) According to Wine Spectator: "Subtle, with fresh slate, grapefruit, tangerine and mango flavors that are ripe and mouthwatering, with just the right touch of acidity and a clean, refreshing profile. Drink now." (08/09)
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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.
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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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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.
Cheers!
- Brandon
From water -- to wine? Fiji Water buys California winery
December 6, 2010 | 1:57 pm
Fiji Water Co., the imported bottled water firm owned by Beverly Hills entrepreneurs Lynda and Stewart Resnick, has acquired one of San Luis Obispo County’s oldest and most popular boutique wineries, Justin Vineyards & Winery.
The deal, which closed Friday, comes after Fiji and its parent company, Roll International Corp., sparked controversy by saying last month they were going to shut down Fiji Water operations in the island nation because of a large tax increase.
Fiji had planned to raise the tax it levies on the company to 15 Fijian cents a liter from one-third of a Fijian cent, according to a statement by the company. In U.S. dollars, the new tax is about 8 cents a liter. Fiji Water said in a statement that it was laying off nearly 400 Fijian employees and canceling construction projects in the country.
But then last week, the privately held company apparently changed its mind. In a statement, Fiji Water said it would reopen its bottling plant on Dec. 1 and that “we have also agreed to comply with Fiji’s new water tax law.”
On Monday, company officials declined to discuss the matter further. Company officials also declined to talk about the financial details of the winery sale.
John Cochran, president of Fiji Water, said the company had been looking to expand into other products to sell alongside its popular bottled water line carried by high-end hotels, restaurants and clubs. Justin Vineyards was started in 1981 by Justin Baldwin, a former investment banker, and his wife, Deborah. (The couple have said they will stay on with the business.)
The sale marks the eighth acquisition of a California winery this year, according to a news report and the Wine Institute, a trade group based in San Francisco. Many of these deals have come as California’s wine industry has been squeezed by falling land values, increased volume from countries including Australia, and recession-wary consumers shifting to cheaper brands.
But apparently, unlike some of its peers, “Justin has been doing quite well,” Cochran said. “They’ve just had their best year ever.… We plan to take a lot of that good momentum and push it farther.”
--P.J. Huffstutter
Photo: Justin Vineyards & Winery's underground wine caves. Credit: Justin Vineyards & Winery
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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
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August is Washington Wine Month
According to the Washington State Liquor Control Board, “each August, state liquor stores broaden and diversify the selection of Washington wines and feature displays surrounding the annual theme. This year’s theme “Washington Wines… Our Passion, Your Pleasure” celebrates the unique Washington climates producing some of the very best in grapes and wines known around the world. This is the 26th Washington Wine Month celebrated by state liquor stores.”
The list of featured Washington Wine Month wines available at Washington State Liquor Stores can be found here.
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
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2008 Crowley, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon 21.99/235.00 case
Before launching his eponymous venture, Tyson Crowley spent a dozen years working for some of the Willamette Valley’s most prestigious wineries. Crowley’s dedication and hard work have paid off, as is immediately apparent in his deeply layered and textured 2008 Pinot Noir. A gorgeous ruby robe in the glass leads to bright, spicy aromas of pie cherries, cranberries, geranium, clove and fresh vanilla bean. On the palate the wine shows beautifully the 2008 vintage’s breed and balance as saturated, high-toned fruit plays with complex suggestions of cinnamon-roasted coffee beans, button mushrooms, smoke and toffee. Shimmering acidity and just enough tannin form a lovely frame for the wine’s fresh fruit profile and distinctive earthy undertones. Crowley scores again with a brilliant, complex Pinot that over-delivers for its modest tariff. It’s a natural complement to lighter fare such as grilled and sautéed summer vegetables, Chinook salmon, roast chicken, duck and everyday fare like burgers, light casseroles and stews. Enjoy it now for its brilliant fruit expression, or age it three years in your cool cellar to allow its earthy, mushroom undertones to develop fully.
© Liner & Elsen
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LINER & ELSEN, WINE MERCHANTS
2222 NW Quimby St.
(off 22nd Ave.)
Portland, OR 97210
503-241-WINE (9463)
http://www.linerandelsen.com/
Another great wine recommendation from my friends, Bob and Renee, Line & Elsen.
Cheers!
-Kevin
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
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winemaker's notes:
The 2008 Chenin Blanc-Viognier flaunts lush aromas of ruby grapefruit, pear, lychee and melon, with a delicate touch of spicy, white florals. Lively citrus and bright tropical fruit flavors are offered up alongside a supple texture. The slightly off-dry finish is clean and crisp, perfect with many dishes or on its own as an aperitif. Enjoy now or cellar for two years.
critical acclaim:
"A consistent winner from this Napa winery, this fragrant, stylish blend of Chenin Blanc and Viognier is the type of dry white I wish more California wineries would focus on. Moreover, there are 45,000 cases of this excellent bargain. Think of a spring flower garden oozing with melon and citrus blossom notes. Fresh, light to medium-bodied, and dry, it is a food-friendly white to enjoy as an aperitif or with food over the next year. Kudos to Pine Ridge!"
88 Points
The Wine Advocate
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This $12 French-style blend is really tasty on a hot summer day. Though Pine Ridge is usually associated with cult-Cabernet, this off-dry white is really delicious!
Cheers!
-Kevin
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
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Our friends Renee & Bob from Liner & Elsen wine shop in Portland, OR recommend the following wines:
"Great Bubbly Wine For Your Summer Events"
NV Maison Vergnes / Domaine de Martinolles, Le Berceau, Blanquette de Limoux … 11.99/128.00
We were thrilled by the elegance and class of this bubbly from Maison Vergnes. A lovely gold color in the flute, the Berceau shows persistent effervescence and a flinty bouquet of lemon peel and crushed apples. The palate is creamy and assertive, with lemon and apple fruit playing with an underpinning of smoky minerals. The wine grows and blossoms in the glass, becoming richer and creamier with aeration. The Berceau’s finish shows notes of apple peel and wheat toast. This is a lovely, satisfying bubbly that offers tons of character and quality for its most affordable tariff. Enjoy now as a festive apéritif, or as a wonderful wine for toasts and celebrations. Pair with roast chicken, broiled white-fleshed fish dishes or roasted root vegetables.
2009 Gioacchino Garofoli, Guelfo Verde Frizzante, Marches, Italy … 8.99/96.00
Here’s the spring wedding and summer sparkler value of the year! This lightly sparkling (frizzante) white from central Italy’s Marches region is our vote for the best value, most charming party sparkling wine on the market. Made from a blend of Verdicchio, Trebbiano, and Chardonnay, the Guelfo Verde opens with a pale straw-yellow color and aromas of honeydew melon, minerals and sugar snap peas. Dry, crisp and irresistibly quaffable, the natural sparkle lifts the wine’s pear and melon fruit and makes it super refreshing and zippy. One sip and one glance at the price tag will have you buying this wine by the case for quaffing over the coming warm weather months. Enjoy at your spring and summer celebrations as an aperitif, or paired with light fish dishes and mild semi-firm cheeses.
LINER & ELSEN, WINE MERCHANTS
2222 NW Quimby St. (off 22nd Ave.)
Portland, OR 97210
503-241-WINE (9463)
800-903-WINE (9463)
Fax 503-243-6706
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Renee & Bob are great people and have a fantastic shop. Go down and check it out! Also, they stock the Tre from Corx Wine Bags!
Cheers!
-Kevin
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