Virtual Wine Tasting Kits

Virtual Wine Tasting Kits. How could any wine lover endure the pandemic without them?

The Unified Wine Symposium recently featured an informative seminar about virtual wine tasting kits. These may shape the wine tasting experience of the future.

Virtual Wine Tasting Kits

The phrase “virtual wine tasting kits” is something of a misnomer. How can you “virtually” taste anything?

Yet the phrase “virtual wine tasting kit” has made it into the wine trade vocabulary. It means a “wine kit” or “wine package” a winery sends to a consumer. In this blog post, the wine kit forms an essential part of an entire virtual wine tasting experience led by winery personnel.

This “personnel” can range from the winery owner to a seasoned wine server, or even a celebrity outside the winery (chef, personality, wine writer, etc). 

For example, Wine.com creates virtual wine tasting kits and creates presentations that have included Francis Ford Coppola and best-selling author and wine authority Kevin Zraly

Virtual Wine Tasting Kits: The Panel

This panel session, taking place during the 2021 Unified Grape Symposium (called Virtual Programming is Now a Part of a Successful Marketing Plan) included Kat Stark, Director of Experience at Wine.com; Kassidy Clark, Director of Marketing for Onx Wines in Paso Robles; and Sarah Tracey, Sommelier and owner of The Lush Life. Christopher Taranto, who runs the Paso Robles Wine Alliance moderated the panel.

What Are the Ingredients for a Successful Virtual Tasting Event?

The panelists all had their unique take on what elements go into a successful event, besides speaking on the ingredients of a good virtual wine tasting kit.

Interesting to note that the ingredients of a successful virtual wine tasting kit remain constant across the board. This means that large companies such as Wine.com with its vast financial resources, and smaller wineries exemplified by Onx Winery with production under 5,000 bottles a year, share a relatively even playing field.

Virtual Wine Tastings are now one of the best ways to sell wine online. 

Unique Branding

Unique Branding

Participants agreed that when a consumer receives a virtual wine tasting kit, the “unboxing” of the kit should be a joyful, and satisfying, event.

From this and other online seminars on the topic, the “unboxing” includes the moment the consumer receives the wine shipment.

Yet it also includes the tiny “customer support” touches from the very moment the consumer clicks on a website link, or calls or emails the winery for more information. Then leading to the moment consumers receive the box.

From information during the panel discussion, they believe the following items to be important in a virtual wine tasting kit.

The items:

1. Recipe cards
2. Wine and food pairing suggestions
3. Wine tasting notes
4. More technical notes from the vineyard manager or winemaker
5. A wine tasting mat (in a tasting of two or more wines, a paper placemat with a designated place for each wine).

Note that the wine tasting mat is more commonly sent as an attachment in the email confirming a virtual tasting event.

Onx Wines: Their Virtual Wine Tasting Kit Story

Onx Wines: Their Virtual Wine Tasting Kit Story

When the pandemic first closed the tasting room down, the Onx team was in a panic.

They knew they had to think fast to survive.

So without “overthinking it,” they created a preliminary virtual wine tasting kit and designed a virtual tasting program.

Then, when the initial virtual wine tasting program proved a success, they invested more time and resources to creating a more polished, better branded virtual wine tasting kit. Their aim was to create a fun “event” they knew would excite their consumer base and increase allegiance to the brand.

After a few months of the pandemic have passed, they knew their initial efforts were a success. They also knew where they would need to improve.

[socialpug_tweet tweet=”They knew they would need to improve the virtual tasting kit.”]

Some initial improvements in the virtual wine tasting kits were technical. For example, Onx experimented with both one-ounce and two-ounce samples to see which kept freshest longest.

Their goal was to create a virtual experience for the consumer. One that would almost be like attending an actual event at the winery.

For Onx Winery’s Kassidy Clark, the goal was to receive the virtual wine tasting kit with as much enthusiasm as a child on Christmas morning. The box holding the virtual wine tasting kit should be attractive, and fun to unwrap. Ms. Clark likened this to the way a consumer might open the box of a new iPhone.

Getting Creative with Virtual Wine Tasting Kits

Seeing the success of their virtual wine tasting kits, the Onx team got more creative.

Ms. Clark recalls the winery had brilliant success in creating an “at home” blending kit that included containers of both Grenache and Syrah. Customers enjoyed the opportunity to play winemaker. In reviews, consumers likened this to an actual wine event.

Onx wines quickly learned to latch onto the power of holidays, creating special themed tastings for Halloween

Because of their virtual wine tastings, Onx Winery noticed that their wine club membership also expanded.

Wine.com: Observations and Practices

Wine.com Experience Director Kat Stark says her team has accumulated several important “rules” for a successful tasting.

Among them:

1. Limit the tasting to one hour.

2. Encourage/mandate wine purchase ahead of time.

3. Ask participants to submit questions well in advance. Weave those questions into the online presentation.

4. Provide tasting mats and notes to send via email. Consumers would print this out themselves.

5. Make it “easy” for consumers to purchase more wine after the tasting.

6. Simulcast the virtual wine tasting event on YouTube.

The reason for this is twofold. For Wine.com and many other wineries, a large part of their audience may be more comfortable with YouTube than Zoom.

Second, the YouTube interface alerts subscribers ahead of the event.

In her part in the presentation, Kat Stark noted that the Wine.com team offers a variety of different virtual tasting events. Many of them paired wine with food such as cheese and chocolate.

Sarah Tracey, a journalist and a sommelier, reminded the audience about the importance of shipping details to ensure the success of the tasting.

For example, producers must take precautions to ensure that the shipping takes place at the optimum moment to ensure the wines are “fresh” upon arrival.

Importance of Packaging

Producers must package the wines correctly. And if shipped in the hot months of summer, producers must take further precautions (and budget for the expense of special containers) to ensure quality.

Ms. Tracey says that winery personnel should explain to consumers how to store their wine from the moment they receive the box until the tasting. This may mean telling consumers to put the wine, especially white wines, in the refrigerator so they can be served at the right temperature. 

She also reminded wineries to narrow their group of participants’ list for virtual seminars, instead of sending a generic email list inviting all takers.

She reminded producers that a generic group of participants may include newbies, collectors, wine geeks, foodies, and others. Each participant in a generic group could have their own set of questions and expectations. So, suggests Ms. Tracey, it would be difficult to create a single presentation that would satisfy the needs of a large audience.

 [socialpug_tweet tweet=”A single presentation may not satisfy the needs of a varied audience”]

Final Thoughts

The importance of virtual wine tasting kits and virtual wine seminars have been a popular topic at online wine conferences for nearly a year. The panel all agreed that even after the pandemic passes, virtual wine tasting events are here to say.

So prepare yourself. 

The post ?7 Secrets of Virtual Wine Tasting Kits You’ll Love appeared first on AWINESTORY.COM.

Wine labels—what is the best way to read one?

Imagine facing a wall of wine in a supermarket, wine shop, or even online.

What clues can a wine label forecast so you understand the “type” or “style’ of wine behind the wine label?

Sophisticated French Tasters

You might find it amusing that a sophisticated French man asked the same question about wine labels.

Brice Baillie, a highly educated executive for the Paris-based L’Oreal cosmetics company, faced a wine label issue while in an American shop.

French people enjoy a reputation for “magically” understanding what’s inside a wine from their wine labels.

Yet Mr. Baillie, while fluent in English and aware of French wine regions, knew little about American wine. 

Wine Labels in California

California produces most wine in the USA.

The best quality falls under the various Appellation Viticultural Areas (AVA) that appear on the wine labels.

Yet looking at a San Luis Obispo AVA on a wine label, told Mr. Baillie nothing about how a wine tasted, or what type of food to pair with it.

Though Mr. Baillie had never worked in the wine business, he had an inherent love of food and wine. He also collected French wine

Armed with an MBA and his experience working in finance at L’Oreal, Mr. Baillie decided to create his own wine brand. 

The first step was to create a wine label.

Mr. Baillie specifically wanted a “transparent” wine label that told the story of the wine.

He wanted his wine label to explain “everything” possible about the wine.

This meant where the grapes were sourced, the texture of the wine, the various components of the wine (acid, tannin), the texture and/or weight of the wine, and appropriate food pairings for the wine. 

Easy to Read Wine Label Graphic

Then, he wanted a very easy-to-read graphic on the wine label—an image other than a remote hilltop castle edged in gold.

Working with a friend who was a graphic designer, Mr. Baillie borrowed a familiar tactic from the cosmetics industry.

This tactic was to use a combined number and descriptor, such as the Number 01 Dark & Bold used for his Paso Robles blend. 

“People get intimidated by wine,” Mr. Baillie told me in an interview. “I want to take that factor away.”

Sourcing the Grapes

Once the concept and the infographic style of the wine label took form, the next step was finding where to source the grapes.

Mr. Baillie wanted to source only organic grapes. He created partnerships with various family owned wineries in California and France.

“It is important to me to convey that the wine is organic or biodynamic. I want to be transparent about this on the label,” he said.

Shark Tank TV Show and Marketing

Now that he had a variety of elements in place, Mr. Baillie concentrated on understanding the American 3-Tier system, including distribution to shops and restaurants.

With his natural charm and enthusiasm for his product, he paid in-person sales calls to restaurants.

Soon, the Obvious Wines brand was up and running, driven by the “transparent” wine label.

But the factor that took it over the edge was Mr. Baillie’s application to the Shark Tank TV show 

Once accepted, Mr. Baillie went into the Tank seeking an investment of $150,000 in exchange for five percent equity.

On the show, he accepted an offer from “shark” Lori Greiner: $160,000 for 12.5 percent. But after the episode aired, Mr. Baillie and Ms. Greiner did not agree on the terms of the deal.

“Shark Tank was great because of the exposure. We still get emails from people who saw us,” he says of the experience.

Since then, Brice Baillie has been listed in Wine Business Monthly in a variety of ways, including the top 50 Brands of 2019.

When you see a wine bottle from Obvious wines, the taste of the wine is, well, obvious.

But what if you don’t see a bottle of Obvious wines? How can you tell what’s inside???

Supermarkets

Supermarkets can organize wine in several ways. 

Most often, you will see the more expensive wines on the top shelf. Eye level often features the most popularly priced wines. And if you bend down to about shoe height, you will see the very cheapest wines.

Know Your Price, Style, and Pairing in Advance

If you’re buying wine for a specific meal, this will guide your choice.

So will the price you have in mind? For $20, you can buy a pretty good quality wine.

When I interviewed the owner of Bottlerocket (located in NYC, but they also ship), owner Tom Geniesse explained that he set the entire store up with food pairing in mind. And if you’re ordering food-to-go, Bottlerocket even has a wine section especially suited for “Takeaway Wine.”

Mr. Baillie’s concept and wine was so unique it was featured on http://Entrepreneur Magazine

American, European, or South American Wine?

A decade ago, you would find more dramatic differences between wine from the USA and France, Italy, Spain, and South America.

Nowadays–especially with quality producers–the differences are more subtle.

On blind tasting wine examinations, such as the Masters of Wine, the examiners sometimes deliberately give students a Chardonnay from Sonoma in an “Old World style” and one from Burgundy made in a “New World” style. 

Because some examples transcend “Old and New World,” wine lovers now move away from using the country of origin as a market for the style they prefer.

 Does Alcohol Matter?

The amount of alcohol in a wine matters more than you might think. The difference between a moderate 12.5% wine and one that is 15.5% doesn’t seem like much. 

What is an extra 3%, anyway?

Yet that 3% can be an important factor for health and safety.

And a wine at the higher range of alcohol demands a heavier type of food, or the marriage between the wine and the dish will seem off center.

Supermarket “Sure Bets?”

Sure. I can name a few. But it would be like whispering the answers to an important exam.

The internet overflows with some great resources. Check out these free resources to learn wine fast! 

The post ? 7 Secrets of Reading a Wine Label You’ll Love❤️ appeared first on AWINESTORY.COM.

Wine and Food Holidays in Basque Country Spain

How to Plan a Great Wine and Food Holiday in Basque Country Spain

When I was 14 years old, I remember the first day of my Spanish class in Junior High.

I walked into the classroom.

When I caught my first glimpse of my professor, my heart began to race!

His name was Mr. Leon.

While not exactly tall, he was extremely dark and handsome.

He was from the Basque region of Spain.

And from that moment, I could not wait to learn the language and visit the Basque Country of Spain.

My Taste of Basque Country Cuisine

Ten years later, a family friend invited me to taste the cuisine of Martin Berasategui.

It was then that I had my first taste of octopus prepared with its own black ink.

Though the dish sounds rather canabalistic, it was delicious!

That first bite, rich with flavor, only heightened my desire to have a holiday in Basque Country Spain.

Today Chef Martin Berasategui owns several restaurants, one you can visit in Gipuzkoa (see details at end of story)

**Click Here to Access Marisa’s List of Best Wine Books**

Is Basque Country in Spain?

Most people outside of Spain assume that Basque Country – including the large city of Barcelona – is in Spain.

Geographically it is in the country of Spain, but the Basque Country (or Euskadi as it is also known) has a very different culture from the Mainland in Spain.

I experienced that first hand when breakfast in one of my Basque country hotels featured grilled tomatoes, garlic, bread, and fresh olive oil (even more fabulous than it sounda!)

The language of the Basque people is Euskera, which is the oldest language of Europe.

Most everybody speaks Spanish.

And during my visit to Bilbao and San Sebastian, the hotel staff and staff at the restaurants I visited spoke English.

I also heard the staff speak French as well.

The Basque region and Basque culture is very popular with European tourists.

Getting to the Basque Region

It is very easy to get to the Basque region.

Most all European airlines fly to Bilboa.

It is a small and manageable airport.

From the Bilbao airport, you can take a bus into the city, rent a car, or take a cab.

It is just 20 minutes away.

Getting to San Sebastian from the Bilboa Airport

The beautiful seaside town of San Sebastian is a lovely drive less than 90 minutes from the Bilboa airport.

You can rent a car, take a bus, order a taxi, and pre-arrange transport from your hotel.

The taxi we ordered upon landing was fairly expensive … over 100 Euros.

And though the driver was nice and cab was clean, you might consider splurging with a hotel pick-up and arrive in style for about the same cost.

A quick search on the Internet can also reveal transport you can arrange in advance for about half the price.

Arrival in San Sebastian

Arrive in San Sebastian on a sunny day, and be prepared to be wowed.

The style of the architecture is Belle Epoque, just like Nice, France.

As you walk along the gorgeous boardwalk, you can just imagine yourself doing a “promenade” here in the 18^th century.

You can stop in many cafes for a drink.

It’s worth a splurge to pay the extra price and seek out a nice cafe overlooking the gorgeous sea.

On a beautiful summer night, we enjoyed the view and the still sunny skies until nearly 9:30 pm, when we had to leave for our restaurant reservations.

Dining and Eating in San Sebastian

San Sebastian has a well deserved reputation is a food-obsessed city, packed with fabulous 3-star Michelin restaurants.

Please believe me when I say it is necessary to research these restaurants, and book almost a year in advance.

With just seven months advance, none of the top Michelin restaurants was available to book.

Even though I was confident that at least ONE restaurant would have a cancellation, that was not the case.

In the end, that worked out well because restaurants without a star do work very hard to impress you with their creativity and their cuisine.

The Pintxos Bars

The region of Rioja, Spain, is famous for its tapas.

People just eye the delicious looking food inside the bars, choose a few items and a glass of wine, and take it an upturned barrel outside.

San Sebastian is similar.

And though the tapas in Rioja are tasty …

… well, the pintxos (tapas like snacks) are more attractively displayed and quite delicious.

It is typical to visit a few of the pintxos bars and choose an item or two at each location.

The more popular hours are between 5pm and 9pm, when it is too late for a formal lunch and too early for the notoriously late Basque Country dinner.

The city is filled with a wide range of pintxos bars, offering traditional Basque dishes and wines.

What to do on a Sunny Day In San Sebastian

The beaches of San Sebastian are spectacular.

They are among the finest in the world.

And the sunbathing …

… ooh la la!

You will find cafes overlooking the beach that are quite pleasant.

Bicycling or hiking are popular activities.

What to do on a Rainy Day

San Sebastian is in the North of Spain, and it rains quite a bit.

Since one of the many key attractions of the city is eating, this is a great rainy day activity in itself!

I took advantage of the rain to visit the San Telmo Museoa (watch fabulous video here)

That had some great archeological collections.

Rainy Day Cooking Classes

San Sebastien is popular with foodies around the world who dream of coming here and going back to their country as a master chef.

I can testify that it CAN be possible.

We were in San Sebastian during a long rainy spell.

This made us appreciate our first day, filled with glorious sunshine.

Luckily, I was able to grab two spots at a cooking class offered in our Maria Cristina hotel from a culinary brand called Cooking with Memo.

Our class was around four hours, and included a lot of fun, a lot of wine, and a full 4 course sit down lunch.

And yes, a break during the cooking session with wine.

It was a lot of fun and we met some other fun people who enjoyed cooking with a lot of passion.

Then There Is … The Maria Cristina Hotel

You will find delightful hotels at all price ranges in San Sebastian.

For this trip, we chose the posh Maria Cristina hotel.

We also chose a view of the ocean.

Behold  the gorgeously appointed, luxuriously furnished room, the luxury marble bathroom, and the spa.

It is a pleasure just to spend a rainy afternoon inside the room or the spa.

Appropriate Amount of Time to Book a Holiday in Basque Country

There are many beautiful regions in Basque Country.

In this article, there was really only enough room to talk about San Sebastian.

Yet you can drive to nearby Rioja and visit the gorgeous Frank Gehry structure at the Marques de Riscal Hotel and Guggenheim Museum.

You will read about more attractions in the interview I had with Maider Etxebarria, the Director of Tourism in the Basque Country Government.

Booking Michelin Star Restaurants Well in Advance

If your goal is to really visit all the top Michelin restaurants in San Sebastian, book as many nights as you can get dinner reservations for.

If your goal is to enjoy the beach and taste the delicious pintxos, two or three nights is fine.

Bilboa is very pretty and is also very rich in history.

******************************************************************

Interview with Maider Etxebarria, the Director of Tourism in the Basque Country Government.

It’s very exciting that the Basque region is actively promoting tourism and is sponsoring in large part the International Wine Tourism Conference.

It is one of the biggest tourism conferences in the world, bringing together top level tourism professionals.

The Interview

 – Maider Etxebarria, what is Basque country and how it is different from Spain culturally?

The Basque Country or Euskadi, as it is also known, has always been a country

that due to its characteristics, its size and the entrepreneurial nature of its citizens.

It has been open to the world and we continue to do so as a host land and a tourism

based on a unique, sustainable culture.

A small region that counts on the incentive of the best gastronomy and with the hospitality of its people.

The Basque Country has always been a land of connectivity and willing to open routes.

A good example of this is that the first circumnavigation of the globe was completed by the sailor Juan Sebastián Elkano, commanding the Ship Vitoria

– What are the top key cities in Basque country everyone should see?

The Basque Country is ideal to enjoy in short stages.

Distances are short between the three capitals; Vitoria, Bilbao and San Sebastian.

It is the ideal place to enjoy numerous attractions in a short space of time because of its varied landscapes, pleasant climate, the sea, the mountains, an ancient culture and world-famous cuisine.

Bilbao, cutting-edge metropolis, San Sebastián, beautiful and refined, or Vitoria-Gasteiz, our “green capital”.

The best thing is that you don’t have to choose – you can visit all three as they’re so close together.

What is the best way to get to the Basque region from an American city?

For example, should they fly to Madrid or Barcelona?  After that what airport is best to begin their Basque country adventure?

The Basque Country is the natural point of entry from the continent towards the southern hemisphere.

We are in the transit zone between the Spanish and Portuguese markets and the rest of Europe, within an area of influence of more than 2,000 square kilometers connecting more than 10 European Union regions, with 80 million inhabitants, which makes up 25% of the population of the Euro zone.

The Basque Government has developed a management model for the Basque airports based on complementarity, which includes the three airports at Hondarribia/San Sebastián; Loiu/Bilbao and Foronda/Vitoria: one airport, three terminals that connect the Basque Country to the main hubs in Europe.

– Everyone speaks highly of the fantastic cuisine in the Basque country. What are some examples of unique cuisine?

Cuisine is at the core of Basque culture.

It is part of our tradition, of the customs that have been preserved over the centuries, passed down from generation to generation.

Sharing our region’s outstanding food is a way to bring people together, a place to meet, a cult of friendship.

Our cuisine is internationally recognized as one of the best on the planet, a reputation built on experienced professionals from different sectors who stay true to the basics: quality of ingredients.

The Basque Country boasts the highest concentration of restaurants highly recommended by the most prestigious reviews.

No less than 31 Michelin stars in a country that can be travelled from one extreme to the other in less than two hours.

We are a point of reference globally in Food and Wine Tourism, which is one of the main reasons why people from all over the world visit us.

Eating and drinking well is an affordable luxury in the Basque Country.

Local seasonal products in pintxo form (basque snacks) with a good wine from the Rioja Alavesa, txakoli (white basque wine) or cider.

You will be in gourmet paradise!

Enjoy! Experiment, observe, then give way to the passion of taste.

– In America the times for meals are fairly defined across the nation. In Basque country, what are the typical times to vegan breakfast, lunch, and dinner?

The late meal times in the Basque Country can be a little confusing for a visitor.

Yet the offer is so wide that no one will be left without an opportunity to taste the gastronomy regardless of schedules.

In Euskadi almost any time can be suitable for eating.

There are early and late breakfasts, the meals are usually late for European schedules, but the Basque hospitality adapts to any demand.

– A region such as San Sebastian, is famous for its gastronomy.  What are three of your favorite restaurants and how far is it necessary to make a reservation in advance?

The Basque Country is a paradise for lovers of fine food and wine, offering you enormous variety as well as quality.

Restaurants serving nouvelle cuisine or traditional cooking, spectacularly designed or simple and cosy.

San Sebastian and its surroundings are strewn with the culinary stars.

Year after year the influential Michelin Guide recognizes them as the best cooks on the planet.

They include Martín Berasategi, Juan Mari Arzak, Pedro Subijana and Andoni Aduriz, along with their colleagues from other local towns, make up part of the stellar constellation.

This has made San Sebastian’s cuisine one of the Basque’s Country’s main tourist attractions.

Yet these culinary stars also belong, in a certain way, to every pintxo bar,

restaurant, cider bar and carvery that enriches the capital and its surroundings.

 – What is the best time of year to visit Basque country?

Anytime.

The climate of the Basque Country due to the influence of the sea is delightful.

You can enjoy it in autumn, with colorful forests.

In spring, with the green of the mountains or the valleys.

In the summer with hundreds of kilometers of coasts and beaches.

And in winter with mountain routes and cities with their unique shops.

– Most people know that there are many water sports in the Basque region because it is near the sea.

 In terms of waves and surfing, you will find that the coast from San Sebastian to Getxo, through Zarautz, Sopelana, Bakio and Mundaka, has the best waves in Europe.

The love of surfing is reflected in the endless number of surfers from around the world who make the pilgrimage to these beaches.

The towering waves provided by the Cantabrian Sea (some ranked World Class) make it possible to hold major championships such as those of San Sebastian, Zarautz and Sopelana.

The latter two are included in the European and World circuits.

Also the Punta Galea Big Challenge in Getxo (World Big Wave

Tour). Click here for more information

What about activities for people who enjoy nature?

If someone asked me what color Euskadi is, I would say green.

Euskadi is not only cities, but it is also nature.

Well-preserved nature spots, mountains and valleys, with well-marked routes to enjoy.

There are many possibilities to enjoy nature in Euskadi, from adventure activities to family walks.

A wide offer that could describe us as a natural paradise.

Euskadi has natural national parks, 23% of its total area, there are also environments for bird watching.

In Euskadi we take care of our land and that is why it is a country that can be enjoyed in a sustainable way.

– i love the gentle sparkling wine of txakoli. Can tourists visit wineries in Basque Country?

 You can visit working wineries and take part in tastings.

Sometimes they are offered in the evening to learn the secrets of this very special wine.

In passing you will also get to know coastal and inland towns full of local colour and traditions.

You will see the vineyards that produce the grape that performs the magic of turning into “txakoli”.

When the staff shows you how to combine it with other local products like Idiazabal cheese, Bermeo anchovies or Gernika peppers you will feel like a qualified sommelier.

Thank you Maider Etxebarria, the Director of Tourism in the Basque Country Government, for your time and enthusiasm with this excellent interview!

Love Spanish Wine? Check out this Fabulous Region

Try These Wines from Madrid!

Hotels in San Sebastian

Maria Cristina
Paseo Republica Argentina 4
San Sebastian 20004 Spain

+34 943 43 76 00

Restaurants in San Sebastien

Martín Berasategui

Loidi Kalea, 4 – 20160 Lasarte-Oria (Gipuzkoa)
Lat. 43.2668 / Lon. -2.0155
Tel. (+34) 943 366 471 / (+34) 943 361 599
info@martinberasategui.com

**Click Here to Access Marisa’s Best Wine Books**

The post Wine and Food Holidays in Basque Country Spain appeared first on AWINESTORY.COM.

If you’ve seen the film Sideways, you might remember the scene when the character played by Virginia Madsen takes a sip of very old wine and thinks about the people who made the wine and are no longer alive.

That scene might have been the first time that viewers really thought about where their wine was made, and who made it.

Well, imagine all the history you would “drink in” (well used pun) if you, like our little group of post-trippers from the Wine Bloggers Conference 2016 focusing on Old Vine Zinfandel wine, took a voyage to some of the oldest vineyards in Lodi to see the Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel vines.

Our guide for the Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel was the celebrated Randy Caparoso, sommelier, wine writer, and all around nice guy!

Bravely, he stood in the bus, explaining the history of the region and enticing us about the ancient vines we would soon see!

The first vineyard, Bechthold is one of the oldest vineyards in Lodi, planted in 1886. The vineyard is planted with Cinsault, and gives good yields despite its age. Owned until recently by the late Al Bechthold, it is such a valuable, prized vineyard virtually every famous winery in the area wants a section of its fruit (Turley, Randall Grahm, Michael David, Onesta, Fields’ Family, and more). Also purchasing fruit from Bechthold: Clos Saron, Scholium Project, & Odisea

Greeting us in the vineyard is Kevin Phillips of Michael David Winery/Phillips Farms, who had left the joy of splashing around in a cool pool to be with us in the vineyard on this 100+ degree day.

Interestingly, the 25 acre Bechthold vineyard produces two styles of wine depending on if the grapes are sourced from the plots near the river, where they have more access to water, or sourced from the sandy interior where the vines reach down thirty feet and more.

After tasting wine made from the Cinsault grapes made on this very soil from several of the producers, we walked down ten feet to meet Onesta Wines’ winemaker Jillian Johnson, and Fields Family Wines’ winemaker Ryan Sherman. Both Jillian and Ryan spoke about their wines, the vineyard, and poured different styles of their Cinsault wine.

We next experienced a tasting led by winegrower and vineyard owner Todd Maley (Maley Bros.) and winemaker Chad Joseph at Wegat Vineyard in Lodi’s Mokelumne River AVA, on the west side. The West side is marked by loamier soils with slightly more water holding capacity. Also the temperature is slightly cooler because there is more proximity to the Delta.

Afterwards, at Mohr-Fry Ranches’ Marian’s Vineyard in Lodi’s Mokelumne River AVA (South Side) we are greeted by Bruce Fry and his father Jerry Fry. Bruce cut a cluster of Tokay vines for us to taste on the bus before we descended into the luscious Zinfandel vineyard where the grapes are luscious fat and ripe, and have a few more weeks before they would be picked.

The last vineyard visit of the day is McCay Cellars Lot 13 Vineyard, where a tent has been erected for us. Here, we are greeted by McCay Cellars’ winegrower/winemaker Michael McCay and Bokisch Vineyards’ winemaker Elyse Perry who give us taste of their Old Vine Zinfandel, Carignan, and Tempranillo.

With that, we depart for Macchia Wines, where we hear a fabulous presentation about the “Lodi NativeProject,” created to highlight, in part, the unique characteristics of six single vineyards in the area (most from Lodi’s Mokelumne River appellation, all from different producers. The idea is to let the old vines speak about the terroir so the wines are all fermented with native yeasts, no new oak is allowed. No fining or filtration either.

In turn, each of the six producers stood up and presented their wines. It was remarkable how Zinfandel could be expressed so differently. And what was impressive about all the wines were their silky, elegant tannins – one does not usually think of elegant tannins and Zinfandel together.

The wines were all 2013 and were from the producers below:

Fields Family
Macchia
Maley Brothers
m2 wines
St.Amant
McCay Cellars

After the tasting, we experienced some rose and white wines before dinner and the finale of our #WBC16 experience.

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