Daily Wine Tidbits-How did California become what it is?

So, how did California become a world class producer of wine in only 40 years? There are many factors that have made Cali what it is today. All a series of factors that almost made up the perfect formula for creating wine country. One of these factors is location. Both Napa Valley and Sonoma are less than a 2 hour drive from the populated San Francisco. Many, many people drive out to the valleys from San Fran. every weekend. Another factor is the weather. There is abundant sunshine, warm daytime temperatures and cool evenings, all of which makes for a longer growing season. The third factor are the schools. Both the University of California at Davis and Fresno State University are out in California and have been the training grounds for students who want to study the scientific aspect of winemaking. The last factor is money and marketing strategies. Everyone has seen the commercials advertising for Napa Valley and we all know there's money out there. All of these factors have made Cali what it is today, and most likely will continue to thrive.

Daily Wine Tidbits-Wine Ed.

There is actually a college major in the field of studying wine...why didn't I know this about 11 years ago? In fact, early California winemakers sent their children to study oenology at Geisenham in Germany or Bordeaux, France. This was when it was thought that only the Europeans knew how to make wine. However, today, many European winemakers send their children to the University of California at Davis or Fresno State University in California. In 1966, the University of California at Davis only graduated 5 students from the oenology department, and today there is a waiting list of students from all over the world! Hard to imagine!

Chahlton Orchahds

Or Charlton Orchards for those that speak normally. The hubs, a friend and I decided to take an impromptu drive out to Charlton, MA over the weekend to check out the winery at Charlton Orchards. The farm and the land itself was typical Charlton...a tiny bit run down, and cows and chickens running loose, but the wine store was very cute and the wine itself was actually very good. They had a pretty large wine list for us to taste from, including more grape wines than I thought they would have(orchards tend to have a ton of fruit wines, and not a lot of grape wines)! Well, we tried a bunch..I tried their Riesling, a red wine called Chambourcin, their blueberry, pear, peach, plum and cherry wines. The grape wines were pretty good! The Chambourcin was something I've never tried before, and it was a white wine drinkers red wine..not too dry or harsh, it was pretty light and a good wine for the summer. And the fruit wines tasted EXACTLY like what they said they were. We ended up buying a bottle of the blueberry and pear. YUM. Happy Summer!

Daily Wine Tidbits-Corporate jobs? No thanks.

Many of the more well known vineyards in California are owned by some men that once worked in the corporate world. I genuinely admire their bravery to follow their passion and I personally know how scary it is to leave the guaranteed money behind to get into something that may or may not pay off, just because you love it so much. A few examples of these guys: James Barrett-he owns Chateau Montelana(the man the movie Bottle Shock was based off of) and he used to be an attorney. He now has a movie made about him, and makes some of the finest Chardonnay in California. Another example is Jess Jackson. You may have heard of Kendall-Jackson. Well, he owns this little beauty and he used to be an attorney as well. Also, a man by the name of Brooks Firestone owns Firestone winery..and can you guess what he used to do?? I just think it's amazing.

Double the tasting this week

Ohhhhh boy. I am conducting two wine tastings this week! I'm doing one Friday night at a friend's house and it should be a wicked fun time seeing as how the hostess is a genuine laugh riot(Carrie, if you're reading this, don't argue it.haha). Then I have a BIG one Saturday during the day. My Aunt actually booked one to celebrate her and my Uncle's 25th anniversary(all together now..awwwww). I have a special gift for her, and I know she's going to love the wine I'm bringing. She's having an "around the world" theme for her party, which is a fab idea, so I'm bringing a Californian Pinot Grigio, a French Riesling, a Spanish Tempranillo, a Chilean Carmenere, and an Italian Moscato(my most favorite wine.ever.). Oh, and she's having an Irish band. How great is this going to be??

Wine Tasting Last Night

A couple of awesome things happened last night: met a really sweet group of girls, and tried a couple of wines that even I hadn't tried yet. This tasting was a surprise for a bride to be, who is getting married this Saturday! She was soooo sweet and had a great time. But I am a tad bit jealous after finding out she's going to Tuscany for her honeymoon ;-) The girls were all so nice and made me feel right at home. It was actually very moving to see how close this group of friends were and how much love they had for the bride. I also tried a Tempranillo and a Pinot Blanc last night. I loved both of them(shocker). The Tempranillo is a red Spanish wine, and it tasted like cherries and licorice. May not sound like an appealing combo, but trust me, it was good. The Pinot Blanc was an Alsatian white wine, that was very smooth and almost tasted as if I was drinking honey. All in all, it was a great night, made some new friends, and hope to see you all soon! Join me on the trails this summer! And congrats Danielle! I wish you many, many years of happiness to come!

Daily Wine Tidbits-Are vineyards the next Disneyland?

There are two HUGE things that California is known for: Disneyland and the film industry. However, did you know that the California vineyards are the second most visited tourist spots just after Disneyland? I really think it's a very close second, and may soon be number one! Also, the film industry in California is a $30 billion industry, while the wine industry is $52 billion! Who would have thought that grapes would make more money than actors and films! So, bottom line is, wine is HUGE right now and will continue to be huge as more and better wines are released for years to come. Not, that I have anything against Mickey Mouse or movies, but there is nothing that can top the relaxation of trying some vino at a gorgeous vineyard. nothing.

Daily Wine Tidbits-California's AVAs

There are four major AVAs in California. They are the North Coast, which includes Napa Valley, Sonoma, Mendocino Valley and Lake Valley. Most people are familiar with Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. These regions are known for their Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Merlot. The second AVA is the North Central Coast, which includes Monterey County, Santa Clara and Livermore counties. These regions are known for their Syrah, Grenache, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussane. The third AVA is the South Central Coast, which includes San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. These regions are known for their Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The final AVA is the San Joaquin Valley, which is known strictly for its jug wines. In fact, the bulk of California's wines comes from San Joaquin Valley. Most people would think of Napa Valley and Sonoma, but less than 10% of all CA wines comes from these regions. Even so, Napa accounts for over 30% of wine sales. A lot of people think of "jug wine" being tacky and cheap. However, even in France, only AOC wines account for 35% of all French wines, while the rest is everyday table wines. So, I guess even I will have to get over my wine snobbery on this one!!

Quote

Probably the best quote ever; sums up what it means to be a vitner- "As a California winemaker, you can grow a beard, drive a pickup truck and wear suspenders to work, and drive your Bentley on the weekends". Excellent.

Two more wine adventures added to my itinerary!

One is happening this Saturday, and the other in October. Thank god I have something planned in October, or I may have been going through summer vineyard withdrawals. This Saturday afternoon, before heading off to a Rock for Autism benefit, the hubs, a friend and I are going to go check out the Charlton Orchards in good old Charlton, MA. I gotta admit, I always drove by the sign for this place, and never gave it a second thought. Who would think Charlton would have a vineyard? But it looks actually pretty nice, and has a lot of fruity wines, kind of like Nashoba Valley, but also some "regular" wines as well. I'm very excited! If you wanted to check it out, their website is http://www.charltonorchard.com/. My October event is the Jonathan Edwards harvest fest, and I want to go to basically be in the grape stomping contest!! I've always wanted to do that, and I'm thinking with my Irish step dancing lessons, I'm definately going to win! haha..The harvest fest is October 3rd and 4th..check out their website at http://www.jedwardswinery.com/. Whoo! I'll be soliciting people to join me, so don't worry!

Latest Try

So, normally I can't or won't drink a Rose wine. The main reason is because I've turned into a wine snob, and all I can think of is White Zinfadel(gross). Compare it to Miles in Sideways yelling that he is going to leave if anyone is drinking effing Merlot..haha..well that is me with White Zin. Well, anyways, a few days ago, I received a French Rose for my passport program, and figured I'd give it a whirl. This was a 2007 Cabernet D'Anjou, made of 100% Cabernet Franc and produced in the Loire Valley in France. I have never actually tried a wine made up of 100% Cab. Franc; usually, the wines I've had are blends including the Cab. Franc, so I was really curious. I was very pleasantly surprised with this wine, and this is now my SECOND favorite wine after the Moscato D'Asti. It tasted NOTHING like White Zin. It was actually very peppery, not too sweet, and had a very pleasant hint of cherries and vanilla. I highly recommend it, and if you wanted to order some through TTV, the sku is LOI099. It's $17.99 a bottle..a great value for a gold medal winner. Just look how pretty it is!

Daily Wine Tidbits-California stats

1. California produces more than 90% of wine produced in the entire United States

2. There are more than 60,000 wine labels registered in California

3. There are 44,000 acres of grapes planted in Napa Valley and 60,000 acres of grapes planted in Sonoma Valley

4. There are 391 wineries in Napa and 260 in Sonoma

5. In total, there are more than 470,000 acres of vineyards in California

I think before I die, I may have to see all 470,000 acres. Think I can do it?

So many events!

There are so many events/festivals happening on the CT wine trail this summer, I can hardly contain myself! Just to name a few: The Shoreline Wine Festival happening at Bishop's Orchard in August. I've never been, but this one includes, wine, food, tastings, seminar and music! Yipee!! Also, every Sunday beginning in July, Priam Vineyards has a farmer's market where you can buy organic produce, baked goods, local cheeses, and farm fresh eggs. You could even buy a whole lunch and enjoy it on Priam's patio with a glass of vino. Ah summer. Also, on select Saturday nights, Priam also has a BBQ dinner catered by a gourmet restaurant, where you can enjoy the food and wine under the stars. I will be spending any and all money I have on these events. Hey, priorities!

Red Wine Headaches

So, why is red wine known for giving you that awful "red wine headache"? You know..the one where you want to kill yourself the next day? Well, the answer is simple and red wine has gained an unnecessary bad rep. Red wine typically has a higher alcohol percentage than white wine, so obviously will make you drunker. Just like with beer or spirits, make sure to drink water in between glasses and you should feel ok the next day. Ahh..I feel better now.

Daily Wine Tidbits-The Grapes of New York

There are three broad categories of grapes that grow in New York State: Native American, European and French-American hybrids. Native American grapes are grown from the Vitis Labrusca vines, and if you remember, these vines typically produce grapes with a more "grapey" flavor. These grapes are actually popular among New York winemakers because they are hardy and can withstand cold winters. One of the most well known Vitis Labrusca native american grape is the Concord grape(think of Welch's grape juice..some of the bottles will say Concord right on the label).

The European grapes are grown on the Vitis Vinifera vines. These are the vines known for producing grapes that most people associate with wine. Actually, a lot of people doubted this vine's ability to produce and grow in a cold climate, but 40 years ago, Dr. Konstantin Frank, a Russian viticulturist skilled in cold climate growing, came to New York and catalyzed efforts to grow this vine. He was successful, and this vine has produced some delicious grape varieties such as Chardonnay and Riesling.

The French-American hybrids are pretty much exactly what it sounds like. These grapes are "combined" vines, and blend the European grape tastes with the American grape's hardiness. Predominent whites of this variety are Sevyal Blanc and Vidal, and the predominent reds are Baco Noir and Chancellor.

Wine Tasting this week!

Whoo! I have my first batchelorette party Thursday night! I'm super excited and can't wait to meet the girls. I was told the bride loves red wine, so I'm bringing three reds, of which two, I have personally never tried myself. I always love having that first sip along with my guests..heck..I love having that first sip of a new wine ANYTIME..geek. I'll be bringing a tempranillo, a cab. sauvignon, a torrontes, a pinot blanc and a rhone blend from France. The name of the blend is Abbots, Flavius, Coteaux du Languedoc..yeah..I will be practicing that pronunciation daily. I'll be sure to post pics after the party! Cheers!

Daily Wine Tidbits-New York State

New York is the third largest wine producing state in U.S with nine AVA's. The three premium wine regions in New York are Finger Lakes(largest wine production east of Cali), Hudson Valley(known for its premium farm wineries) and Long Island(New York's red wine region). The oldest known active winery is located in Hudson Valley. This winery, called Brotherhood Winery, recorded its first vintage in 1839. I'll actually be visiting this one at the end of June with some friends and I can't wait! Also, the climate of Long Island has 200 days of sunshine per year and a longer season, so its perfect for making Merlot and Bordeaux style wines. Pictured above is Brotherhood's infamous barrel sign..

Daily Wine Tidbits-Oregon

Another large wine producing state is the state of Oregon. Oregon is known for its Burgundian style wine(Chardonnay and Pinot Noir). Oregon is also known for its most widely planted grape variety, Pinot Grigio. The major AVA in Oregon is Willamette Valley, which accounts for 70% of Oregon's wineries. I never knew that Oregon was up there with California, Washington and New York as a top wine producing state..Interesting..

Batchelorette party season is here!

Ahhh summer..probably the most popular season for people all over the world to get hitched. And what comes before marriage? Batchelorette parties! I'm very excited because I have two wine tastings booked coming up that are for batchelorette parties. Wine tastings seem to be the trend right now to have as the girls "pregaming" activity. I always mix it up a bit for party like this..the bride gets a special gift, and I make my game just a bit "naughtier". I'm sure I will have a lot of fun and meet a lot of great girls! If you or someone you know is getting hitched and want to consider a wine tasting, just give me a shout!

Daily Wine Tidbits-Washington State

Washington State is one of the top four wine producing states in the United States. Its climate is cooler and rainier than that of California, but is neither too cold nor too wet to produce high quality wine. The four major white grapes grown in Washington State are Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurtztraminer and the two reds that Washington is known for are its Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. I actually tried a Gewurtz. from Washington and it was delicious. Much more sweeter than the French one I had tried previously. Also, over the last 10 years, winemakers have increased their planting of Syrah, and recent vintages have turned into very high quality. Columbia Valley, one of Washington's States AVAs, is actually on the same latitude as Bordeaux, France. There are 9 AVAs in Oregon, and Columbia Valley is responsible for 95% of wine production. I may have to take a little trip to Washington very soon!

Mother's Day

It was such a great day on Sunday. Even though I'm not a mother, I selfishly planned a day for my mom that I would enjoy as well(don't worry..I knew she would have fun). We started off going to Priam Vineyards for a tasting and to enjoy some wine and cheese on their wine patio. I'm absolutely in love with Priam, and will soon be working for them, so I had to show it off. The owner and winemaker was there, and he absolutely rocks..he let us try 9 different wines, and gave us some free chocolate to try with the reds. We ended up buying a late harvest Riesling for the patio, and a sweet red for dinner. We drank our Riesling on the patio with some goat cheese and cheddar and some apricot jam. Um. YUM. Too bad it was just a tad bit windy out! After we stuffed ourselves with cheese, we went to this really cute little Bistro that was byob, which was part of my scheme all along(just another excuse to buy more wine). We met up with my in-laws and the kiddies and had such a great day. I'm the best make mom happy planner EVER.

Waltham Tasting

This past Friday night, I had a tasting out in good old Waltham, MA. It was a very intimate party, but it was lots of fun! Everyone enjoyed the wine, hearing about wine, and of course, playing my game after everything. The food was PHENOMENAL!!! Thanks for being a culinary arts student Kirstin! We had some gouda, brie, fruit and cream, hummus, amazing chocolate chip cookies, etc. etc. I sampled pretty much everything. whoops. I also had a lot of fun because the crowd seemed more like the sex toy party crowd, which made it interesting! haha..don't worry..I wasn't offended, and I had soo much fun! Hope everyone had fun and wants to book me again for any future gatherings!

Tasting Tonight!

So excited to be conducting a tasting tonight in Waltham. I met the "client" at an Association of Bridal Consultants meeting and coincidentally, we both love wine! Ha..not hard to find. Well, anyways, I can't wait, and I'll be sure to blog about it. Cheers!

Daily Wine Tidbits

As U.S regulations state, American wine labels need to list the grape varietal and must contain at least 75% of that grape. But what about those innovative and ambitious winemakers who want to blend grapes to create their own unique taste? These people must use a proprietary name on their bottle such as Dominus, Opus One or Rubicon, since they can't list the varietal.

Prohibition

Oh what a sad time for wine enthusiasts...prohibition was enacted in 1920 and lasted for 13 years, all the way through to the year 1933! During this time, grapes had become important to the economy of criminals. However, during this time, a loophole allowed for sacramental wine to be produced, medicinal wine and medicinal tonics(port wine) to be produced. It also allowed people to produce up to 200 gallons of juice per year. Well, some smart people added in yeast and sugar to the juice..and we all know that that makes! So, the government recognized that people were making alcohol from juice, and forced vineyards to shut down completely because they didn't even want grapes to be grown to make the juice! During the roaring 20's, distilled spirits, beer and fortified wine became the most popular beverages of choice because they were easier to come by than regular wine. In fact, people turned to these beverages for the effect rather than the taste, and these people became known as "winos". This is where that term came from! Also, during these years, people would get grape concentrate shipped to them from California and make alcohol from this. The concentrate labels even said on them, "Do not add yeast and sugar or fermentation will take place!". When prohibition ended in 1933, 60% of wine sold in the U.S had over 20% alcohol because people had become accustomed to port wine. Also, the only wineries that had survived were wineries that produced only sacramental wine, such as Beringer and Christian Brothers. Let's hope prohibition doesn't ever take place again!

Daily Wine Tidbits-AVA

So, how do you know which American wines are of the highest quality? You should keep AVA's in mind. AVA stands for American Viticultural Area, and it is a specific grape growing area within a state or region recognized by and registered with the federal government(comparable to France's AOC, Appellation d'Origine Controlee). Examples of AVA's are Napa Valley in California, Columbia Valley in Washington State and the Finger Lakes district in New York. Also, different AVA's have different climates are known for producing high quality grape varietals that should also be kept in mind when choosing your wine. Napa Valley is known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Finger Lakes is known for its Riesling and Santa Barbara in California is known for its Merlot. Just another thing to keep in mind when choosing your wine!

Daily Wine Tidbits: Phylloxera

Have you ever heard of Phylloxera? Well, this little insect is a tiny pest that almost completely ruined the wine industry as we know it. In 1863, this pest, which is native to the East Coast of the United States, was sent to Europe accidentally on a cutting that was intended to be planted for experimental purposes. What it did, however, was completely devastate Europe's vineyards, pushing California's wine industry through the roof! However, that same year, the pest attacked California's vines and the industry faced financial ruin. In fact, this tiny little bugger caused the greatest disasterous crop epidemic of all time! European winemakers came to the rescue though, and grafted vinifera vines onto the rootstock of lambrusca vines , creating a supervine so to speak, that was immune to the pest. Lambrusca vines are immune to the pest, so using it in this way was a great idea!

Spiced Port Wine Heated Up=Delicious

Ahhh New England. Just last weekend it was 90 degrees and sunny, and lately it's been rainy and cold! I went from wanting ice cream and smoothies to wanting hot apple cider all within a week. Luckily I brought home a port wine from Priam Vineyards that is soooo good on a cold night. This wine is spiced with spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, and clover and has a beautiful ruby red color. It's probably meant to be drunk at Christmas, but there's no rules when it comes to wine! I heated it up on low heat for about 10 minutes, sifted it through my Vinturi and yum! For added spice, just add a couple dashes of cinnamon or garnish with cinnamon sticks or clovers and it makes for a delicious treat! But of course port wines are above the 15% alcohol level, so yeah..let's just say I was a little sleepy as well :-)

Daily Wine Tidbits:Lambrusca Vs. Vinifera

As most people know, there are many, many, MANY varieties of grapes used to make wine. However, there are also different types of vines used. The two major vines used are Vitis Lambrusca and Vitis Vinifera. Interestingly enough, grape juice and more grape flavored wines are made from the Vitis Lambrusca vine. Most people, however, don't really drink or care for wines that actually taste like grapes(just to confuse the wine world even more). The majority of wines today are produced from the Vitis Vinifera vines, which tend to yield the varieties of grapes used to create a more complex bouquet and flavor of wine, which more people enjoy drinking.

So.friggin.excited

I finally landed my dream job. I've always wanted to combine my love for wine with my love with wedding and event planning, and it's finally happened! I will be working for this gorgeous little vineyard up in Colchester, CT as their wedding and event director and couldn't be more thrilled! The name of the place is Priam Vineyard, and it's run by Gloria Priam and Gary Crump, a husband and wife team that just know how to do things right. They have 40 acres of land, of which 26 of them are flourishing with vines. I did a tasting on my last visit, and their wine is also outstanding. They also offer chocolate and cheese pairings with their tastings, and have a fab wine dinner in the summer. I always look up to people who have a story like theirs, and who turn their dream into a reality. They also have the land to set up tents for weddings, so that's where I come in. They have a gorgeous view at the top of the vineyard, and they also have a place for a tent that is right among the vineyard itself. They live right on the vineyard, so they take care to use only chemicals and water that they feel comfortable flowing right into their own well water, which is probably the reason their wine is so divine..I can't wait for this new venture and I'm sure I'll be reporting back! Come pay us a visit someday!! You can get info at www.priamvineyards.com. Cheers!

We've come a long way

Us, as Americans, have come a long way in the wine producing world. Back in the 1970's, wine and winemaking was thought of as a European art form, that Americans would never be able to master. In fact, the only two regions in the United States in the 1970's that produced quality wine was the Finger Lakes District of New York and the north coast of California. Even then, those California winemakers were seen as rednecks and could never match up to the European winemakers. Just take a look at this 1972 Time Magazine cover above. Speaks for itself, doesn't it?

Daily Wine Tidbits

I always like some fun and interesting stats, so just wanted to share a few. What are the top five states in the United States with the most number of wineries? Well, not surprisingly, California is at the top of the list with 1,905 wineries, followed by Washington with 430, Oregon with 290, New York with 218 and Virginia with 135. These numbers are always growing as well, as more and more American winemakers are taking the art of vinification seriously and growing their own crops. So, when did this all start? Well, William Penn planted the first vineyard ever in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 1683. Hard to imagine, isn't it?