chardonnay Archives - AWINESTORY.COM https://awinestory.com/tag/chardonnay/ Learn Wine Fast! Tue, 26 Oct 2021 03:36:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 /files/2016/01/cropped-wine-glass-fav-100x100.jpg chardonnay Archives - AWINESTORY.COM https://awinestory.com/tag/chardonnay/ 32 32 Halloween Wine and Vintage Candy https://awinestory.com/halloween-wine/ Sun, 24 Oct 2021 17:03:05 +0000 https://awinestory.com/STAGING/?p=19946 Halloween Wine and Vintage Candy Halloween Wine and Vintage Candy When you are dressing up for a Halloween party, what are you looking forward to the most??? The Halloween wine … …. Or the vintage candy? Vintage candy is old time candy **Click Here to Read the Original Forbes.com Article** ,,, yes the candy we […]

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halloween candy
Halloween candy

Halloween Wine and Vintage Candy

When you are dressing up for a Halloween party, what are you looking forward to the most???

The Halloween wine …

…. Or the vintage candy?

Vintage candy is old time candy

**Click Here to Read the Original Forbes.com Article**

,,, yes the candy we all loved when we were kids.

Halloween Ghost

First the Halloween Wine Then Vintage Candy

A lot of people like to make a Halloween punch.

You will find many different recipes for this, but the bottom line is that it MUST be red.

Blood red.

Before we even get into the types of Halloween wine you should buy, consider the punch bowl.

An enormous bowl is best, and a quick search online will reveal many black cauldron bowls for your Halloween wine punch.

Of course, an empty bowl is fine too …

… but it would be good to decorate the table with things like …

— miniature pumpkins

— Halloween eye masks

— “Ginger dead” cookies (evil decoration)

— Vintage Candy

In terms of the Halloween wine, you can choose from the fun Halloween wine themed bottles below.

You might also consider kicking these wines up a notch with spices like cinnamon sticks and all spice.

You can find many recipes with a quick search for mulled wine (they can serve it hot or cold).

Learn About Pinot Noir Here … 

Devin wine

The Devil Wines

On Halloween I love to serve wines from the “Devil” category.

Do devils drink?

Probably.

The category includes some of my favorite demonic names.

And, also the places that demons like to hang out.

Concha Y Toro Casillero del Diablo (Devil’s Castle)   is a good choice.

Demons tend to be on the cheap side, so these wines are a good value for the price.

(Bet you didn’t know that about demons, did you?)

Another thing, Demons also stick to International varieties like Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

You wouldn’t have figured that, would you?

I would think that for their Halloween Wine, Demons would prefer exotic wine like Bull’s Blood …

Bull’s Blood is a wine very popular in Hungary, especially during the full moon.

Also in Abruzzo

 

Pumpkin with green steam

Demons demand Texture in their Wine

The few demons I’ve met tend to be sensual types.

They like to touch and feel.

So welcome them into your home with a brand like  The Velvet Devil from Charles Smith.

Yes, I know this is yet another International variety (in this case Merlot).

But the name will suit your demonic new friends.

Inferno house

Inferno Themed Wines

When they are not hanging out in saunas and steam rooms …
.…Demons really like a good inferno.

So in this case, tempt their appetite with an inferno-themed wine.

This is especially true if they are millennials.

Millennials love Apothic.

All the snobby wine magazines say the reason is because millennials like a bit of … residual sugar in their wine.

The thought is that millennials are just getting off soda, so wine with a hint of sweetness is just the thing.

In any event, this really only works if the Demon you’re inviting to your party looks young enough to be carded.

Because this Halloween wine is a red (bloody!) blend of the usual suspects (Cab, Merlot, good old Syrah) the demons will lap it up.

Oh, and another point in Apothic’s favor.

It “matures” in whiskey barrels.

So get this – when you take a sip of this wine, you are also imbibing spirits that have been trapped in

staves of the whisky barrels.

Phantoms

Some Phantoms and Ghosts With Your Wine

Ghosts love a good party!

The thing is, you might not be able to see them.

Beckon them with Ghost Pines “winemaker’s Blend.

Ghosts really like a good Zin, and these grapes come from Lake Counties in northern California.

Phantoms will “tolerate” Zin.

I mean, they won’t through a snit fit or anything.

But they actually prefer more exotic varieties from Eastern European country.

Wicked Witches and their Halloween Wines

Aside from demons and infernos, there are the wicked witch oriented wine labels.

Witches like to hear the sound of their name …

… so they prefer the brand Witching Hour Red Blend as well as the Chardonnay-based Hob Nob Wicked Wine.

Psychic cat

“Psychic” Halloween Wines

The Divining Rod brand name does not seem frightening …

… but many psychics surveyed like the sound of this Halloween wine brand.

It’s also a red blend, so it’s color association will please many of the guests at your party.

The Vampire Halloween Wines

Vampires love a good red blend of Halloween Wine.

Of course, they really prefer blood,

Yet give them a good red wine and it may stave off their appetite for a bit.

Maybe for the duration of your party.

So your human guests won’t have to guard their necks.

Some good wine brands to consider have names like Dracula and Trueblood.

Shadow

Sinister Hand Halloween Wines

Right. So just what is a “Sinister Hand?”

Of course, a demon has a sinister hand.

But what about ghouls, phantoms, and ghosts?

And what of that smokin’ hot Vampiress?

Sinister Hand is a Grenache based wine from  Washington State’s Columbia Valley.

Vintage Candy with Your Halloween Wine

Most ghouls, vampires, ghosts, and other sinister creatures of the night prefer red hots.

That’s right.

Red hots.

Red hots stem from the early 1930s.

They are small, cinnamon flavored candies also called cinnamon imperials.

The paranormal creatures LOVE red hots because

  • They are red

 

  • They are sticky. So if a ghost scoops up a handful, it can make an actual red handprint on your nice clean red wall

 

  • Younger ghosts and demons like to stick out their red-stained tongues at each other
Candy Corn

Candy Corn Vintage Halloween Candy


Okay.

I had to put candy corn in this article because adults and children love them.

But in actuality, ghosts, demons, vampires and the like secretly smirk at the way full-grown adults STILL think it’s cute to bite off the 3 distinct color sections.

Devilish creatures also retain an aura of elegance.

Truth be told, they feel that candy corn, and its association with the farming community, is beneath them.

They invented candy Corns in an era when roughly half of all Americans worked on farms.

Yes, that is why in the finance industry there is always talk of “non-farm payroll.”

So that said, Candy Corn was designed to look like chicken feed.

Go figure.

The candy dates back to the 1880s.

Mortals probably ate it the same way back then, in “oreo” fashion, nibbling the various segments one at a time.

The Bottom Line

Ghosts, Ghouls, and demons EXPECT you to have a lot of vintage candy at your party.

But they only really care about your Halloween wine.

They hope you have a fabulous Halloween!

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]]> Matanzas Journey Red Blend and Chardonnay Wine https://awinestory.com/matanzas-journey-red-blend-and-chardonnay-wine/ Mon, 22 Apr 2019 15:49:00 +0000 https://awinestory.com/STAGING/?p=18770  Matanzas Journey Red Blend and Chardonnay wine  I received three fabulous examples of red wine (as well as the expected Chardonnay, since the AVA is Sonoma) coming from Matanzas Creek Winery the Bennett Valley area in the Sonoma AVA. This is one of the most picturesque wineries in Sonoma. You will find beautiful gardens and […]

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]]> Matanzas Journey Red Blend & Chardonnay
Matanzas Journey Red Blend & Chardonnay

 Matanzas Journey Red Blend and Chardonnay wine

 I received three fabulous examples of red wine (as well as the expected Chardonnay, since the AVA is Sonoma) coming from Matanzas Creek Winery the Bennett Valley area in the Sonoma AVA.

This is one of the most picturesque wineries in Sonoma.

You will find beautiful gardens and great views.

Since its launch in 1977, the winery has built its reputation on Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot grape varieties.

These two varieties that thrive in Sonoma’s temperate climate.

**Click Here to Read Marisa’s Curated Recommended Wine Books**

Today the winery is owned by Jackson Family Wines.

The winemaker is Marcia Torres Forno.

All of the winery’s fruit comes from sustainable – farmed, estate vineyards scattered throughout the mild interior and cool coastal AVAs of the county.

Let’s start with the Chardonnay first,

Matanzas Journey Red Blend and Chardonnay

Marcia Torres Forno has been at the helm at the Matanzas winery since 2010.

More than 25 years ago, the 1990 Matanzas Winery Journey Chardonnay was considered one of the highest priced Chardonnay in Sonoma.

At that time, the retail price was $70.

Today the price is just slightly higher.

Yet the quality and especially the quality to value remains high.

Chardonnay grapes are selected from blocks known for their quality.

Blocks are located at different altitudes.

This gives more acidity and complexity to the wine.

The must is transferred and fermented and new and neutral French barrels.

There is a great deal of richness in this wine, yet also vibrant acidity.

2012 Matanzas Winery Red Blend

This is a rich and decadent red Bordeaux blend with a majority of Merlot.

Flavors are intense with blackberry, black currant, and spice.

It offers exotic aromas of black fig, black cherry, and chocolate. Incredible structure and a long length of finish.

The wine has velvet tannin and high acidity, as well as complexity and a long length of finish.

Even at nine years of age the wine is fresh and vibrant.

2015 Matanzas Winery Red Blend

This Merlot-based red Bordeaux blend is barrel aged for 20 months.

The Merlot was sourced from two blocks of the Jackson Park vineyard, planted with the Petrus clone.

Very rich and elegant.

Tours and Tasting Events at Matanzas Creek

You will find an assortment of tours and tastings at the winery to suit your interest and budget.

It is interesting that there is even a “black glass” tasting for “wine geeks” so that you are not influenced by the color of the wine.

As of this writing, this is also a “dog friendly” winery so you can bring your pet (on a leash).

How to Prepare for your Matanzas Journey Red Blend & Chardonnay Visit

  1. A hat, especially for sunny days.
  2. Sunglasses for the same reason.
  3. Sunscreen very necessary in summer.
  4. A charger for your device so not to miss once-in-a-lifetime pictures.
  5. Your favorite bottled water
  6. A cup for expectorating wine in case it is not provided.
  7. A small notebook to record details about the wine or vineyards.
  8. Comfortable walking shoes for vineyard visits

How to Prepare for Your Picnic

  1. A picnic blanket
  2. Bottles of water
  3. Disposable or real plates
  4. Cutlery
  5. Trash bags
  6. Large sun umbrella
  7. Wine glasses
  8. Napkins
  9. Purchased or Home Made Food

The Picnic Grounds at Matanzas Creek

The unique character and beauty of Matanzas Creek’s winery, vineyards, lavender field and gardens have earned the Estate worldwide recognition as a premier California wine country destination.

Guests can play a game of bocce or enjoy our picnic areas.

In addition to its wines, Matanzas Creek is also famous for their spectacular lavender gardens.

Now I never have cooked with lavender, yet after reading this recipe (made to pair with their Sauvignon Blanc)  I am going to start!

rock shrimp from Matanzas

Rock shrimp from Matanzas

Coconut and Lavender Rock Shrimp Ceviche

Serve with Matanzas Creek Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc

INGREDIENTS

  • For the lavender poaching liquid:
  • 1 qt. water
  • 1 C. white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc
  • 1 lemon, juiced and sliced
  • 1 sprig of fresh thyme
  • ½ tsp. culinary lavender
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 lb. fresh rock shrimp, cleaned and rinsed
  • 2 qts. ice
  • For the ceviche:
  • ½ C. coconut milk
  • 1 Tbsp. culinary lavender
  • 1 tsp. granulated sugar
  • ¾ C. lime juice (approximately 4 limes)
  • ½ C. red onion, diced
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • 1 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped
  • 1 lb. rock shrimp, cooked in lavender poaching liquid
  • Kosher saltYou May Like These Related PostsDominus EstateGable Family Wines

 

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]]> Pairing Sparkling Wine With Dessert https://awinestory.com/pairing-sparkling-wine-with-dessert/ Mon, 25 Mar 2019 22:31:03 +0000 https://awinestory.com/STAGING/?p=18403 . Pairing Sparkling Wine with Dessert I love Champagne. And as much as I love Champagne, I love dessert even more! Though I am using the word “Champagne” here, you can apply the same dessert pairing concepts with Sparkling Wine or bubbly from many regions. This is as long as the signature “Champagne grapes” Chardonnay […]

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Pairing Sparkling Wine with Dessert
Pairing Sparkling Wine with Dessert

Pairing Sparkling Wine with Dessert

I love Champagne.

And as much as I love Champagne, I love dessert even more!

Though I am using the word “Champagne” here, you can apply the same dessert pairing concepts with Sparkling Wine or bubbly from many regions.

This is as long as the signature “Champagne grapes” Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes are included.

The Differences Between Champagne and Sparkling Wine Made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the “Traditional Method”

In trying to think about what dessert goes with Champagne, you have to think about what you will be serving.

There are many differences between sparkling wine made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from regions outside Champagne, and within Champagne.

[socialpug_tweet tweet=”Sometimes the differences are very subtle, others more dramatic.” display_tweet=””]

Sometimes the differences are very subtle, others more dramatic.

It may surprise you that some sparkling wine from England, Australia, New Zealand, and California may be several times the price of the most popular branded Champagne houses.

Mostly, the differences are subtle, and should not affect the result if you replace your sparkling wine with genuine Champagne from the Champagne region from France.

Pairing Sparkling Wine with Dessert – Champagne?

I have many (perhaps too many) diplomas in gastronomy.

One of the “fanciest” is the Heg Diplome from the University of Reims.

While we did not spend the entire 14 days drinking Champagne with dessert, we had many lectures and tutored tasting events with Champagne.

Historical manuscripts point out that historically in France, Champagne was always served with dessert in palaces and at state dinners.

This makes perfect sense.

[socialpug_tweet tweet=”Champagne is crisp, refreshing, and (for me) has an energizing effect.” display_tweet=””]

Champagne is crisp, refreshing, and (for me) has an energizing effect.

This is especially true after a long dinner.

It revives.

So then, what are the best Champagne and Wine Pairing Choices?

**Click Here for Wine Resources**

Pairing Sparkling Wine with Dessert : What Dessert goes with Champagne?

The primary consideration when pairing dessert with Champagne or Sparkling Wine (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) is that you will ideally want to contrast the texture of the dessert with the wine, or match the texture.

Champagne and Chocolate Pairing

You may be curious to discover this very personal thing about me, but I NEVER consume chocolate unless I am having it with Champagne.

Unlike many people, I really do not crave chocolate all that much.

Yet when I am at a party or event when Champagne is being served, I’m always on the lookout for a delicious piece of chocolate.

And when I am entertaining at home, I make sure that I have a great selection of the finest chocolate I can find in New York–or whatever city I happen to be in.

What Dessert Goes with Champagne?

Chocolate, of course.

The Reason why Chocolate is a Great Match for Champagne

By definition, chocolate has a silky smooth mouthfeel.

It is also VERY RICH.

And it takes Champagne, with all that intense minerality and high levels of refreshing acidity, to contrast with that rich, creamy, smooth texture and intense flavor.

And interestingly, both Champagne and chocolate have a very long aftertaste.

So pairing Champagne with chocolate uses the principle of “contrast.”

Pairing Champagne with Macarons

To be very honest with you, I have always loved pairing Champagne with macarons.

Yet strangely, I never really thought about the “why” of why I enjoyed the pairing so much.

Now that I am thinking about it, the principle to be applied is the principle of “matching.”

When you think about it, macarons are light … and also crisp!

This is the VERY DEFINITION of a good Champagne!

Pairing Sparkling Wine With Dessert : What an Event at the French Institute Alliance Française Taught Me

I was invited to attend a Champagne (and what I thought to be a Champagne and chocolate pairing at the FIAF here in NYC.)

It turned out to be a pairing of Champagne and macarons!

And even more exciting, it wasn’t just any “generic” Champagne paired with a macaron one would pick up from their local supermarket.

It was ultra-premium Champagne, with many of the brand managers and producers present to explain the story of their Champagne!

And the macarons were not generic either!

They were hand-baked by Thierry Atlan.

**Click Here For the Best Wine Resources**

Pairing Sparkling Wine With Dessert : Contrasting the Flavor of Macarons with Champagne

They presented the macaroons in a variety of flavors (i.e. Foie Gras, etc) and the idea was for each Champagne to accompany the flavor of a specific macaroon.

List of the Champagnes

  • Champagne  Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Royale Brut
  • Champagne  Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Royale Brut Rosé
  • Champagne Ayala Brut Majeur
  • Champagne Ayala Rosé Majeur
  • Champagne  Besserat de Bellefon Special Cuvée
  • Champagne Besserat de Bellefon Rosé 

Arriving at my seat, it surprised me to see six beautiful macarons.

The emcee for the evening was the beautiful and talented Susan Kostrzewa, Executive Editor of the popular magazine Wine Enthusiast.

Susan had the job of helping the various presenters explain why each differently flavored macaron, prepared by Thierry Atlan, paired with a specific Champagne.

Presenters

Maude Austrian, Besserat de Bellefon Champagne
Rafaela Fonte, Ayala Champagne
Cedric Lecendre, Laurent-Perrier
Fréderic Goossens, Managing Director at Baron François

 Pairing Sparking Wine with Dessert: The Champagne and Macaron Tasting

For two hours, the presenters explained the history of their Champagne House and their individual philosophy.

During each of the presentations, attendees could taste the macaron intended to match that specific Champagne.

Though we did not receive encouragement to do so, some of us (yes, me!) also took advantage of the opportunity to taste each macaron with all the Champagnes.

Pairing Sparkling Wine with Dessert : Result of the Champagne and Macaron Comparative Tasting 

The concept of pairing a macaron with a specific flavor (notably the inside filling) was fresh, and fun!

Though the attendees by necessity were all over the age of 21, the exercise of contrasting this flakey chewy desert with French bubbly was so much fun it was like being in a room with children.

As it might be difficult for you to recreate this exact Champagne and macaron experience, it encourages you to visit your favorite bakery, choose one or macarons of each flavor, and then buy some Chardonnay or Pinot Noir based sparkling wines.

Invite some friends over and have fun biting into these delicious French cookies and seeing which pairing you like best.

Pairing Sparkling Wine with Dessert: Strawberries and Raspberries

When I was very young, I remember placing a beautiful long-stemmed strawberry into my glass of Champagne.

Looking back now, it was a “cute” romantic gesture, but messy (the strawberry made the Champagne too frothy).

That said, I still like strawberries with Champagne.

Especially if they have a long stem!

And EVEN better if that strawberry had some melted chocolate to dip it in!

Pairing Sparkling Wine with Dessert : Other Ideas

It’s easy to say that “any” dessert can go with Champagne.

Yet I really would stick with dessert ideas involving macarons or chocolate.If you are up for it, you might even want to pair Champagne with this Italian desert called zabaglione. This one involves strawberries

It is like macarons in the sense eggs are involved (though here it is the yolk, not the whites).

Like a macaron (or a Meringue) the egg yolks are whisked until it is light and frothy … so lots of air.

Here is a recipe I found for a zabaglione with strawberries!

Happy dessert and Champagne pairing and be sure to let me know which pairing you like best! **Click Here For the BEST wine resources**

About Author Marisa D’Vari

D’Vari contributes to Forbes.com, Financial Times, World of Fine Wine, Quarterly Review of Wine, Decanter Robb Report, San Francisco Chronicle, South China Morning Post, and more.

She holds the (WSET) diploma, Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Certified Wine Educator  through the Society of Wine Educators … to see it all, please click on bio

A Visit to Dominus

Chappellet Winery

P.S. … I wanted to show you this video. It’s not about pairing sparkling wine with dessert, but two of my favorite people are acting as host and guest, Brian Freedman and Charles Curtis MW

sparkling wines and dessert
sparkling wines and dessert

 

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]]> Hess Collection Winery https://awinestory.com/visiting-the-napa-valley-hess-collection-winery/ Sun, 10 Feb 2019 00:46:31 +0000 https://awinestory.com/STAGING/?p=18194 Hess Collection Winery If you love art and wine, you are eager to visit the Hess Collection winery in California’s Napa Valley. You might have heard about Hess Collection Chardonnay, rich and buttery, and available in your higher end supermarket or fine wine shop. Hess Collection Winery makes wine from many different wine varieties including […]

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]]> Hess Collection Winery

If you love art and wine, you are eager to visit the Hess Collection winery in California’s Napa Valley.

You might have heard about Hess Collection Chardonnay, rich and buttery, and available in your higher end supermarket or fine wine shop.

Hess Collection Winery makes wine from many different wine varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as the various blends.

History of the Napa Valley Hess Collection Winery

It’s really fascinating to hear the history of the Hess Collection Winery.

[bctt tweet=”The Winery was created by Donald Hess, who inherited his father’s company at the age of 20 in the earlier part of the last century.” username=”awinestory”]

In 1959, the family was very successful with their mineral water company in Europe.

But in the mid 1970s Donald came to the USA to see how the market was for mineral water. After spending four weeks visiting the entire United States, he did not see a strong demand for mineral water, or resources for making good mineral water.

A stop in Calistoga was the last straw. He did not like the water there at all.

At an elegant restaurant, he wondered what he would tell the family back home about his failed mission.

Then he picked up the wine list.

Hess Collection Winery: What Happened When Mr. Hess Looked At the List

Instead of the French wines that usually filled a list at an elegant restaurant, he saw only California wines.

He asked the sommelier about the wines, and became intrigued with the idea of making California wines.

Two years later, he returned to the Napa Valley and found the vineyards that would soon belong to the Hess Collection winery.

At first, they grew the grapes and made the wine at a different facility.

Then they searched for a winery space.

They found one in an old, antiquated winery space that had been used by monks to make wine during prohibition.

Rebuilding the space into the grand Hess Collection Winery took millions of dollars and many years.

Hess Collection Winery in the Napa Valley offers wine tasting and art tours
Hess Collection

Preparing to Visit to the Hess Collection Winery

You will want to prepare for your visit to the Hess Collection Winery.

To see the multi-million dollar of art, is free.

Tastings of wine begin at $25 and go up from there, depending on the sort of experience you want.

Click this link to watch the Video Below

Wine Tasting at Hess Collection Winery
Wine Tasting at Hess Collection Winery

How much time to spend at Hess Collection Winery?

According to Michael Jobs, the chief wine educator, 90 minutes at Hess is fine.

This is enough time to choose one of the more streamlined tasting experiences and even enough time to buy a bottle of wine and enjoy it with your friends in the gorgeous art-filled garden.

Marisa D’Vari’s Recommendation For Hess Collection Winery

Hess Collection Winery is one of the most beautiful wineries in the Napa Valley.

Their top wine, The Lion Cabernet Sauvignon from the best Mount Veeder grapes, is nearly $200 dollars a bottle.

Though touring the art collection is free, and the least expensive tasting is $25, I recommend booking one of the higher end tastings.

The Chocolate and Wine Pairing

One exciting tasting is the chocolate and wine pairing.

For this pairing, the chefs prepare truffles infused with some elements you may find in the wine to be paired with it.

The Cheese and Wine Pairing

For this pairing, you will taste seasonal artisinal cheese paired with a variety of different wines.

The Lunch Events

On request, Hess Collections winery can arrange a special lunch. The price quoted to me was $185 a person. And it’s interesting to know that two people is just fine.

The Tasting

I was lucky enough to taste through the range of current releases. Fabulous! You will enjoy your visit to the Hess Collection Winery very much.

2016 Panthera Chardonnay – new generation wine – very Meursault like, sauteed butter, long length of finish. 14.3

2016 Lion Tamer Red Blend – Malbec and zin (Prisoner is the target, Malbec is second most important grape …. 40% Malbec 27% Zinfandel 2% Mourvedre 1% Petite Verdot and 1% merlot – jammy red fruit flavors. Velvet tannins. Some boysenberry fruit

2016 Napa Valley “Allomi” Cabernet Sauvignon – $32 but also by glass – 1 hour north Howell mountain but not within the AVA -flatter and warmer – American oak.

2014 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown – $75 retail – very elegant with structured tannins – 80% new french oak 22 months –

2014 The Lion Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown – 65% new french oak – very structured and bordeaux like – blackberry blueberry dark chocolate $185

Here is a Video of the Hess Collection Art

Video of Sparkling Wine

 This is the Marisa D’Vari aka AWineStory.com List of Essentials to Bring for Winery Visits

  1. A hat, especially for sunny days.
  2. Sunglasses for the same reason.
  3. Sunscreen very necessary in summer.
  4. A charger for your device so not to miss once-in-a-lifetime pictures.
  5. Your favorite bottled water
  6. A cup for expectorating wine in case it is not provided.
  7. A small notebook to record details about the wine or vineyards.
  8. Comfortable walking shoes for vineyard visits

    Hess Collection Winery Visitor Center

    4411 Redwood Road
    Napa, California 94558
    707-255-1144

    P.S. If you or your friends are visiting the Napa Valley, please use the SOCIAL SHARE buttons to send them this article. You can also subscribe here to my newsletter.

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    MORE ABOUT AUTHOR MARISA DVARI

    **Follow Marisa on Instagram here**

    Marisa D’Vari DipWSET holds the highest qualification from the Wine and Spirits Educational Trust (WSET), representing three years of intense study.  In addition, she has completed the “Honours Level” of the WSET, representing an additional year writing a thesis.

    Key Wine Credentials

    D’Vari  has several of the most important wine credentials in the world, including the “Certified Sommelier” designation from the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Certified Wine Educator qualification from the Society of Wine Educators.  She has several blind tasting and other diplomas from the American Sommelier Association and Sommelier Society of America.

    Wine Competition Judge

    Marisa D’Vari is a judge for the International Wine Challenge and International Wine and Spirits Competiton, as well as the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles Wine Competition

    Associations

    D’Vari is the first American member of the UK’s Association of Wine Educators and a member of the global Circle of Wine Writers. She is a long standing member of FIJEV, the International Federation of Journalists of Wine and Spirits.

    D’Vari is a Finalist in the 2019 Millesime Blog Competition, and the author of five non-fiction books.

 

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]]> Clos Pegase Estate Winery https://awinestory.com/clos-pegase-estate-winery/ Fri, 08 Feb 2019 22:11:45 +0000 https://awinestory.com/STAGING/?p=18176 Clos Pegase Estate Winery Visiting Clos Pegase Estate Winery in the Calistoga AVA of Napa Valley When people think of Clos Pegase Estate Winery in the Napa Valley, they think of mainly three things: 1. Clos Pegase Chardonnay 2. Clos Pegase Cabernet Sauvignon 3. The famous architecture of the Clos Pegase Estate Winery, and the […]

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Clos Pegase Estate Winery

Clos Pegase Estate Winery

Visiting Clos Pegase Estate Winery in the Calistoga AVA of Napa Valley

When people think of Clos Pegase Estate Winery in the Napa Valley, they think of mainly three things:

1. Clos Pegase Chardonnay
2. Clos Pegase Cabernet Sauvignon
3. The famous architecture of the Clos Pegase Estate Winery, and the art collection within.

My recent visit to the Hess Collection Winery, with its extensive art collection, alerted me to the presence of another winery with an impressive art collection: The Clos Pegase Estate.

Origins of the Clos Pegase Estate Winery

The original owner and creator of Clos Pegase was Jan Shrem.

He was born in Columbia to Jewish-Lebanese parents.

After emigrating to the USA as a child, he made his way through the University of California, at Los Angeles selling encyclopedias.

Then he parlayed this experience into what would become a multi-million dollar book publishing company.

Like many entrepreneurs, Jan Shrem developed a love of art and wine.

He decided to translate this into a world-class winery and art exhibition space.

After searching for the right terroir, he decided to build his winery in the Calistoga AVA of the Napa Valley, California.

Clos Pegase Architect Michael Graves

After an extensive, international competition and selection process, architect Michael Graves was chosen to design Clos Pegase.

His goal was to create a modern structure with a nod toward ancient Mediterranean architecture and culture.

Clos Pegase was completed in 1987.

Close Pegase Art and Architecture

At Clos Pegase, art, architecture, and wine are intertwined at every turn.

It is interesting to note that the name of the Applebone vineyard vineyard comes from the sculpture Applebone by Mark di Suvero, part of founder Jan Schrem’s modern art collection.

Clos Pegase inspired the Chateau Bordeaux exhibit at the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

It was the only foreign winery featured as a point of comparison to Bordeaux Chateaux.

Heritage Garden: Conservation, Biodiversity, and Style

This Heritage garden was created in the summer of 2015 to conserve water.

It also enhances the beauty of the Clos Pegase winery with its special collection of rare, drought-tolerant plants and trees.

Drought tolerant plants include 19 heritage Jubaea Chilenis “Wine Palms” — the largest West Coast collection north of Santa Barbara. Other drought-tolerant specimens, sourced from wine-growing regions around the world, include bold and ethereal spiky dasylirions,

Plants in the collection act as pollinator resources, attracting foraging bees and hummingbirds.

Clos Pegase Estate Winery Vineyards

The four vineyards of Clos Pegase are spread over 450 acres, each with unique characteristics.

Grape varietals are matched to the right location.

Mitsuko’s Vineyard

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are planted here because of the cooling breeze from San Pablo Bay. Yet the soil also has Haire clay-loam similar to that of of the Right Bank of Bordeaux. Cabernet Sauvignon grows best in the section known as Graveyard Hill with its own unique rocky, well-drained soil and an aspect that maximizes sun exposure

Tenma Vineyard

The Tenma Vineyard is located in the foothills of Mount St. Helena. The rocky terrain is well-drained with a very sparse topsoil which is a perfect combination for growing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes here form the basis for the Hommage Cabernet Sauvignon.

Applebone Vineyards

You can see the beautiful Applebone vineyards (four acres of them) from the tasting room. This vineyard is devoted to Cabernet Sauvignon because of the gravely Bale loam soil. Only one clone is used, the French Dijon Clone 191. This clone ensures small and concentrated fruit that is high quality and unique. Wine geeks may find it interesting that high density plantings along with rootstock selection 420A helps limit the vigor. This keeps the vines in balance and eliminates the green, unripe flavors which can be an issue with some wines made of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Dunaweal Vineyard

The Dunaweal Vineyard has a fine Bale loam soil with a layer of gravel and a richer topsoil than the other vineyards. Bordeaux varieties such as Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and other red grapes such as Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Syrah grow well here.

The Clos Pegase Estate Winery Tasting Experience

The tasting room overlooks the Heritage Garden, Applebone Vineyard and offers a fabulous view of the Mayacamas Mountains. The first tier estate flight includes a taste of five limited production estate-grown wines. It is $35. Prices go up after this according to the various experiences.

You can also choose an interactive walking tour of their Calistoga estate, caves and bottling facility and a sampling of five limited production and estate-grown wines along the way.

Then there is the Connoisseur all-inclusive tour, tasting & charcuterie pairing where you will learn about the history of Clos Pegase and taste some of their library wines.

You can also find fun events such as progressive tastings, and a private picnic event – yet remember the majority of these special tasting events must be reserved in advance.

Clos Pegase Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting

Today I am going to limit myself to discussing just two of the Clos Pegase Estate Winery winea.

2016 Napa Valley Estate Tenma Vineyard Clos Pegase Cabernet Sauvignon

This has a dark purple core and aromas of cassis, wood, cigar box and black currant – very similar to a Bordeaux wine. A few moments later you will get more nuances of aromas and flavors such as graphite and wet clay. A delicious wine that punches well above its weight.

2017 Mitsuko’s Vineyard Carneros Clos Pegase Chardonnay

This is a deliciously rich Chardonnay made in a restrained French style, with barrel maturation and full malolactic conversion for that luscious texture and flavor. Discreet use of oak with a long length of finish.

Tips for Visiting Clos Pegase Winery Estate in the Napa Valley

It is important to look at the website closely at least a week before your visit to allow enough time to make the necessary reservations.In busy times like summer or holidays, you might need to book well in advance.

List of Essentials (Marisa’s personal recommendations

  1. A hat, especially for sunny days.
  2. Sunglasses for the same reason
  3. Sunscreen very necessary in summer.
  4. A charger for your device so not to miss once-in-a-lifetime pictures.
  5. Your favorite bottled water
  6. A cup for expectorating wine in case it is not provided.
  7. A small notebook to record details about the wine or vineyards.
  8. Comfortable walking shoes for vineyard visits

Logistical Information

Depending on traffic, it may take two hours – or more – to visit Clos Pegase in the Napa Valley.

Be certain to allow enough time for travel.

The Clos Pegases Estate Winery Club

The Wine Club offers many advantages, including discounts and some free tastings.

Click this link for Pegase WInery Club Information

If you like this article you may like

Exploring Dominus Estate

Exploring Chappellet Winery 

Final Tips 

Consider this face cover to block out the strong sun – more effective than sunscreen.

Wear a hat – this one is made from a fabric with sun blocking agents inside of it.

Think about a sun shawl to protect you as you stay under the sun

Clos Pegase Driving Directions

Address

Clos Pegase Winery & Tasting Room

Open daily: 10:00-5p.m.
1060 Dunaweal Lane
Calistoga, CA 94515

Driving Directions

From Hwy 101

  • Take the Hwy 37 exit to Hwy 121
    • Turn left onto Hwy 121 to Hwy 29
    • Turn left (north) at Hwy 29 and continue toward Calistoga
    • Turn right on Dunaweal Lane

From I-80

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]]> Libation in Lisbon https://awinestory.com/libation-in-lisbon/ Fri, 12 Nov 2010 01:26:41 +0000 https://awinestory.com/STAGING/?p=3972   … so when you think of Portugal, you probably think of Port, yes? And it’s true, Port has been the signature drink of the country for decades. Yet in the last twenty years, still (and sparkling) wine from Lisbon has taken center stage. Recently I accompanied several other wine educators to Lisbon to learn […]

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… so when you think of Portugal, you probably think of Port, yes? And it’s true, Port has been the signature drink of the country for decades. Yet in the last twenty years, still (and sparkling) wine from Lisbon has taken center stage.

Recently I accompanied several other wine educators to Lisbon to learn more about the region and the wine. I came away with a respect for the wine and a tremendous bond with the producers, who ranged from self-made millionaires to foreigners falling in love with the region to wine-making families hundreds of years old.

About Lisbon

Portugal’s entry into the EU paved the way for modernization and raised capital for winemakers, improving cellars, equipment, and vineyards. Because of economic grants and the demands of the international market, many producers are blending with international varietals especially Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and to a lesser extent, Chardonnay.

Meeting Producers

Producers visited included millionaires making quality wine from Rhone varietals to wealthy families planning to build hotels in addition to vineyards on their vast amount of land, and a sprinkle of families who inherited the wineries from their forefathers and ex-patriots who make wine and other businesses (wedding services) as well.

All of the producers were passionate about their wine and their region, and keenly aware of the pressures of succeeding in the international marketplace. We enjoyed wine of surprising quality, and as one can imagine, our fair share of inexpensive table wine.

Each producer visited had several quality lines, though after touring their wineries it was clear that even the least expensive wine was produced with great care. One can surmise that for the majority of the wineries, their biggest concern was creating awareness for wines from Lisbon.

Below are snippets from each producer visited
.
Alorna

“Is there any Portuguese wine on the menu,” I often ask when dining in New York City restaurants. From tastings at various trade shows, Portuguese wines often seemed to offer rich, concentrated flavor for a very reasonable price. So tonight starts my sojourn to Lisbon (Lisbon, Portugal), an exotic city that from the air looks like a crowd of hills, beautifully sculptured buildings, and blooming palm trees surrounded by water.
Tonight I am meeting with two key executives from Quinta da Alorna, a company that takes its name from the first Marques de Alorna, who gave his name to the property following the conquest of Fort Alorna in Italy. It is a 2,000 ha property in the Tejo region, planted on the kind of sandy soils best for wine. For the last hundred years it has been family owned, with the owners replanting and modernizing the winery in the last eight years to be in line with the commercial needs of the markets.

With me tonight are two gentlemen, Tiago Macena from the commercial sales department, and Pedro Lufinha, General Manager. We are at one of the most elegant restaurants in the city, Faz Figura, with a two story glass window overlooking the river. It’s just eight-thirty, early by Lisbon time, and the restaurant is just getting started.

The first wine we taste is a white wine made from the naturally acidic Arinto grape, with the aromatic Farnao Pires. The wine has a high but sweet, pleasant acidity, and the finish is like that of the sweet-tart candy though the wine is technically dry with 6 grams of sugar per litre. The other white is made from the Verdelho grape, typical used in the production of port. The wine is deliciously full bodied and goes well with our shrimp starter.
The next two wines are excellent examples of well-crafted red wines from Portugal. The first features the native grape, Touriga Nacional. It is smooth and somewhat floral, with black fruit and vanilla from four months of French oak aging with second year barrels. The next wine is a blend of Touriga Nacional and Cabernet Sauvignon (60/40). The grapes used from this wine were “green harvested” to intensify concentration of fruit, and after fermentation, received twelve months maturation in French oak.

After dinner discussion turned to the commercial market. The addition of Cabernet to the Touriga Nacional is both a good choice in terms of taste, and also for the international market to recognize the more international nature of the Cabernet grape so consumers could get a sense of its style. Perhaps on another trip I will see the property (the manor house is prominently displayed on the label) but from what I can see now, the wines are delicious.

Quinta de Sant’ Ana

“Welcome to Quinta de Sant’ Ana,” says tall, lanky James Frost, the quintessential English gentlemen as he welcomes us to his gorgeous bougainvillea winery, lit up by the sun and expanse of bright blue sky. Sant’ Ana is a seventeenth century structure, a series of charming saffron colored buildings connected by a charming cobblestone walkway. His German inlaws had purchased the property in the 1960s, and today it is a place for growing vines, making wines, and weddings.

First, we tour the vineyards. James explains that he is growing several different varietals, many of them new to Portugal such as Riesling and Pinot Noir. Vine management is rigorous here, with three men employed to work steadily on the vines from February to harvest for there is much to be done. The trellis system is arranged so that the wires holding the vines can be raised as the vines grow. Because of the uncertain weather conditions, workers always need to be managing the canopy. Yet sometimes the weather plays tricks – it could be so cold and rainy in summer that the leaves are thinned and canopy open so the grapes can get sunlight, then suddenly it is blazing hot for a month. Riesling in particular – and surprisingly as it is a German cold climate grape – has difficultly with wet weather, and sunburns easily. Pinot Noir becomes dehydrated if it is left too long in the sun without a shielding canopy.

We tour the winery where some old-fashioned wooden fermentation tanks have been refitted with stainless steel interiors, and there is an old-fashioned lager. For Pinot Noir, the grapes get a cold soak and then three workers (or friends) jump in every four hours for two days to stomp the grapes in Lucy Ricardo fashion from the mid-century television show I love Lucy. Then the grapes are transferred via gravity to the fermentation tank below.

At lunch in a charming reception hall used for wineries, we taste the Riesling and the other varietals produced. The Riesling is delicious, very high in acidity with the signature taste of Petrol. Very little fruit in the 2009 though we are told the 2010 has a great deal of fruit. Weddings are a big business here, with over fifty a year. James and his wife have seven children, from twins of a few months to a twenty year old who calls during our lunch with a question for Dad. The Frosts also sponsor a wine festival to sponsor a local charity. The property is gorgeous, and the wines quite good – you can find them using the wine searcher tool to the right.

Quinta do Pinto

“This is for my son to manage,” says energetic Rita Cardoso Pinto, as we get out of her four-wheel drive and look out at the land she is developing for a new, north-facing vineyard for cool climate grapes. Rita is a woman with a great deal of charm who is managing the enormous property for her father, a businessman from Lisbon who bought it 2003.

The story of how it happened is quite amusing – her father realized he was tired of the city and from a Google map, decided on this location since it was within driving distance of Lisbon. The challenge was that the 120 ha property was not for sale – in fact, an old man with a rifle greeted him at the door.
Yet his five sons were eager to sell, and in the fullness of time did sell the vineyards and gorgeous 17th century property with its enormous oak trees to Mr. Pinto. The vineyards by the house are old vines of a local variety, but Rita has great plans for developing new vineyards and is busy at work putting in draining channels and preparing the land. She is also keen to develop a hotel on the property, which her sister may design as she is an architect.

After the tour of the vineyards we taste the wines with Rita. As is the case with many of the producers, she makes local varieties such as Fernao Pires and Arinto (white grapes, popular as a blend) and the local Touriga Nacional alone and blended with Merlot and sometimes Tempranillo, which here is called Aragonez and has great plans for Syrah as well. A single varietal is also made of the local grape Tinto Miuda. Rita explains her father is a huge fan of wines from the S. Rhone, and presents us with tastes of several wines made from Viognier, Marsanne, and Rousanne. We leave amazed by this woman and her family and wish we could return in ten or twenty years to see how their dreams have come to fruition.

Sanguinhal

“My uncle is arriving just now,” says attractive blond Ana Pereira da Fonseca Reis. Sure enough, as if on cue, her uncle Carlos Joao Pereira da Fonseca pulls up to the driveway and introduces himself. Carlos is a very charismatic and genuine gentlemen who tells us the fascinating story of his winery as he shows us around. His grandfather had found the properties (they have three labels) in 1926. We tour the lager, now a museum of sorts showing how wine was produced a hundred and forty odd years ago, and then the ancient distillery with is black iron pipes. It is in this ancient room with its high ceiling where we have a tasting of all his wines, the region’s typical mix of local varieties and local varieties blended with international varieties.

Carlos is very excited that Gary Vanderchuck, from Wine Library TV, has raved about his wine on his Internet television show (episode 476), causing his agent to sell 100,000 bottles of wine. Here I also taste a new native grape, Castelao, and see that Carlos is also changing from the shorter Bordeaux shaped bottle to the taller Burgundy under market pressures and because Burgundy is easier to stack in stores. I will see Carlos again Monday in New York at the Wines of Portugal tasting.

Quinta de Chocapalha

“I am Swiss by birth,” says attractive blonde Alice Tavares, looking very soignée in an elegant sweater and slacks. “I came to Portugal many years ago and never went back.” I am here at the gorgeous Quinta de Chocapalha estate in Lisbon, just north of Lisbon (formerly known as Extramadura).

This family-owned winery is notable for several reasons. First, the bougainvillea covered stone walls and the modern looking residence (with its shimmering pool) look like a resort from a glamorous lifestyle magazine. Second – and most importantly – a new gravity-fed winery is being built in the hills above.

In the present winery, we see a robotic lagar. Several wineries in this region have actual lagars – whether it is to keep with tradition or because foot-treading improves the wine. We tour the barrel room, with its French Oak barrels, and during the tasting that follows see that this attention to quality pays off. Winemaker is daughter Sandra, who lives in the Duero where she and her husband Jorge Borges run an estate called Pintas. Though the winery uses a combination of local and international grapes that span many price points, my favorite is the 2005 oak-aged Chardonnay that tastes like a Chassagne Montrachet. I am excited to return to see the new winery.

Casa de Cadaval

This gorgeous 5411 acre property has existed here since 1648, and is a winery as well as a  Lustiano horse farm, rice factory, grounds for wild black Iberian boar hunting, fishing,  breeding of Merulengos, a Iberian cattle breed, and a cork-production with1000 cork-oak trees.

Before learning about the wine, our hosts take us on a haywagon tour of the property. The bright sun shines down on us as we bounce along and view the vineyards, the gorgeous brown horses, and the lake.

Our hostess is Teresa Castro Pereira, who descended from the Portuguese General Nuno Alvarez Pereira, conqueror of the Battle of Aljubarrota which took place on August, 14th 1385. In April 2009 he was canonised by the pope.

Teresa is the fourth female head of CASA CADAVAL in a line that stretches two hundred years. Casa Cadaval has been owned by the Schönborn family since 1648 and Lusitano horses have been bread here for 250 years., The estate is located near the old Roman road that runs between Evora and Lisbon and is gorgeously restored. In 1989 the family decided to modernize the winery, create new brands, and replant some varieties to appeal to the international market.The winery has 18 steel vats, two conical tanks, a pneumatic press and three mills of skin maceration, reaching 320,000 liters of capacity for wine production. 

The winery also produces Pinot Noir, which is a particular favorite of its German owner – a very nice one, but our group loved the reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and tried many different vintages of it thanks to the generosity of Madame Teresa. After the extensive tasting of all their product lines, from entry level to reserva, simple traditional whites to expensively made international varieties, we enjoyed some traditional cuisine for lunch.

And the rest …

We visited many spectacular wineries, including Casa Santos Lima with its clay limestone soils from the Superior Jurassic period (a dinosaur bone was recently found here), Quinta do Monte d’Oiro, and Vale d’Algares. As a group, all the winemakers were passionate, some flush with cash, others relying on other sources of income such as weddings, or bed and breakfasts. Lisbon’s wine region is close enough to the city that it can be used by owners as a family vacation resort, and by city-dwellers as a fun “wine country” weekend.

Overall the wines were good. The entry level wines of most producers was acceptable, even good, and at the high end the wines really dazzled. Yet it’s hard to find a bottle of Lisbon wine in New York city, outside of the few Portuguese restaurants. And would one of the many well-crafted delicious wines we tasted “sell” if not hand-sold by a sommelier, waiter, or wine store clerk?

The region has a lot of potential, the wines are already very high quality, with the entry level wines good value for the money and the elegant top wines delicious. Now it’s just a matter of time for the message to reach the international market.
 

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