Calwineries.com Blog

Harvest Decisions: When is the Right Time to Pick?

Every year, winemakers, vineyard managers and owners answer the critical question; ‘when is the right time to pick?’ This decision can make or break the vintage. There are a multitude of factors that the winemaking team has to take into account, and all of them play a role in the decision.

There are only a handful of people in the world who have more experience making this decision than Heidi Barrett. Adopt a Grape recently published a video of Heidi talking about how she makes the decision to pick. Enjoy.

2008 Wine Industry Awards – San Luis Obispo County

The 2008 San Luis Obispo Wine Industry Awards were recently announced at the California Mid-State Fair. The awards are organized by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, Grape Growers of Paso Robles, and the San Luis Obispo Vintners Association. These awards are particularly prestigious in California Wine Country because the honorees are nominated and voted for by other members of the local wine industry.

William Sheffer of Halter Ranch Vineyard was named Winemaker of the Year. Before leading the winemaking team at Halter Ranch, Mr. Sheffer made wine for several other notable San Luis Obispo County wineries, including, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Eberle Winery, and Adelaida Cellars.

Ric Fuller of Shimmin Canyon Vineyard was awarded the title Wine Grape Grower of the Year. His past experience includes working for Paul Masson Vineyards as well as planting the only privately owned research vineyard in San Luis Obispo County. Fuller was a founding member of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance.

The Wine Industry Person of the Year was awarded to Jerry Lohr, founder of J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines. During the late 1960s, Dr. Lohr was one of the first people to recognize San Luis Obispo County’s potential as a world-class winemaking region. In 1971, he planted his first vineyard in the Arroyo Seco AVA.

Dennis T. Collins was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award (posthumously). Over his career, he worked with many of California’s best known wineries including Gallo, Franzia, and Bronco Wine Company. He founded Big Red Vineyard in 1996, and also began working as the General Manager for Treana Vineyards in 2002.

Wine is big business in San Luis Obispo County, and contributes approximately $1.8 billion a year to the local economy. Over 1 million tourists visit the wine region annually.

The AVA Labeling Controversy Heats Up

Calistoga is a Major Battleground

For centuries, wine has been associated with regions because it is such a distinguishing factor of character and quality. Very few would argue that the location grapes are grown does not make a difference (except maybe Fred Franzia). The issue of labeling wine with a specific region has become a little contentious in California lately, and Calistoga is a major battleground.

In 2005, Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena petitioned the Federal Government to create a Calistoga AVA in Northern Napa Valley. Based on the TTB’s criteria for AVA creation, he had a perfectly legitimate case. Calistoga certainly has a history of producing distinctive wines based on soil, climate, and other physical factors.

But Barrett’s proposal stirred up quite a controversy, namely with Calistoga Cellars. This winery has built an established brand name around the region, but does not use the required 85% of Calistoga grapes in their wines. Calistoga Cellars vehemently opposes the creation of the Calistoga AVA, because if it goes through, they will have to either change their brand name or start using the required amount of Calistoga grapes.

The Federal Government responded to this dilemma by suggesting considerable changes to the current wine labeling laws. More broadly, they fundamentally called into question the significance that place of origin has on resulting wines. This has reignited the ongoing battles between brand-centric and terroir-centric wineries.

Barrett admirably wants to preserve the accurate portrayal of geography on wine labels. Local terroir gives artisanal wines their character, and this should be protected. Barrett has some powerful allies, including the Napa Valley Vintners.

According to Richard Mendelson, attorney for the Napa Valley Vinters, “When consumers buy a bottle of wine in a restaurant, order off the list and see Calistoga Cellars, they’re going to think it’s from Calistoga.” This is a valid point and pretty much sums up why regional names should be protected.

At the same time, it is also understandable that Calistoga Cellars will not relinquish their name brand or alter the makeup of their wines without a fight. But because so many wines are marketed largely on their region of origin, it is misleading to the customer to falsely claim an association with a region that does not exist.

A possible solution might be for the federal government to disallow the use of any region on a wine label that does not meet the required 85% of grapes to be labeled as such, but fairly compensate existing wineries that will be affected. In the future, they should prohibit any winery naming themselves after a region unless they meet the AVA’s requirements.

But this would not account for wineries that are named after future AVA’s that do not yet exist, so a remedy would need to be devised for these situations as well. America does not have an exceptionally long history of wine production, and in many cases, the distinctions between regions are just starting to crystallize. This is clearly a difficult issue and will likely require considerable mediation and litigation to be resolved.

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California Wine has Record Sales in 2007

According to the Wine Institute, sales of California wine reached another new height in 2007. Fueling this growth is America’s increasing taste for premium wine over the past decade.

In 2007, the total volume of wine sold in the United States was 457 million gallons, a 2% increase from 2006. The retail value of all wine sold in the U.S. rose even more sharply to $18.6 billion, a 6% increase.

“Strong consumer interest, along with growing retailer and restaurant support and more direct-to-consumer sales, is resulting in wider distribution and selection of California wines. The new California tourism TV advertising campaign is also raising consumer awareness of the state’s diverse wine regions, its talented families, and its outstanding wine and food offerings.” -Robert P. Koch, CEO of the Wine Institute

Although still a relatively small part of the market, direct sales grew a very substantial 7.4% in 2007. Over 90% of California wine is still distributed by wholesalers, but many wineries are successfully developing direct to consumer sales channels.

U.S. wine exports also hit a record high in 2007. Total volume rose 8.6% to 120 million gallons at a price of $951 million, a 12% increase. California Wine Country was responsible for 95% of the United States’ wine exports last year.

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Bill Would Make it Easier for Non-Profit Events to Sell Wine

Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D – Santa Rosa), chairwoman of the Assembly Select Committee on Wine, has introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 1964 to facilitate the sale of donated wine at non-profit events. State Senator Pat Wiggins (D – Santa Rosa) co-authored the bill. If AB 1964 passes, non-profits will be able to hold more wine events and bureaucratic red tape will be lessened.

In order to hold events involving wine auction, wine tastings, and wine dinners, non-profits must apply for and receive a receive a temporary alcohol license. Currently, non-profits can only obtain one each year, but if the bill passes, that number will be raised to three.

“Wine is part of our culture in California. But current law puts obstacles between non-profits and our wine industry. This bill will help non-profits cultivate stronger ties with an industry which has set a high standard for compassion,” Evans said.

The bill would also allow wineries to donate wine to non-profits up to 60 days before they acquire a temporary alcohol license. Since the licenses are normally given out only a few weeks before the event, it can cause a logistical nightmare for non-profits to receive and process donations in such a short period of time.

Bottle Shock debuts at Sundance: The story of Château Montelena

‘Bottle Shock’ Waves Sent Through Wine Country

The 1976 Paris Tasting was a defining moment is the history of California Wine Country. The performance of Chateau Montelena’s 1973 Napa Valley Chardonnay and Stags Leap Wine Cellars’ 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon brought California Wine to the world stage.

This David vs. Goliath story seems like it came out of a Hollywood studio rather than a wine competition. No one in the right mind thought that the California Wines stood a chance against the French. This kind of drama is fit for the silver screen.

Paved by the success of “Sideways,” “Bottle Shock” delivers the story of the 1976 Paris Tasting from the perspective of Chateau Montelena. To the delight of the wine world, “Bottle Shock” debuted at the 2008 Sundance film festival.

In his first feature, director and co-writer Randall Miller put together the story of father-son Jim and Bo Barrett, owners of Chateau Montelena, in their journey from unknown vintners to international stardom. The story also features an unknown Latino winemaker and a love interest that add drama to their epic journey.

Owner Jim Barrett, played by Bill Pullman, runs Chateau Montelena in search of the perfect Chardonnay. The story documents his struggle characteristic of the California Wine Industry during that time. Jim’s son Bo Barrett, played by Chris Pine, lives his life like he is on permanent holiday.

In France, Steven Spurrier, played by Alan Rickman, is a struggling wine shop owner. Spurrier’s only customer Maurice, notices that California Wines are starting to turn heads and suggests a competition. The contest was to pit the outright world leader in fine wine production against California, a region that was unproven on the international stage.

This set the scene for the ultimate showdown in Paris. The saga is played out with side plots and a love triangle in their journey to the wine competition. It’s about time that attention is brought to this story, it was a defining moment that made California Wine what it is today.

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New California Alcohol Tax is Considered

California Alcohol Tax

With California is facing a $14 billion budget deficit, politicians and public policy groups are looking for ways to make up for the shortfall. One proposal is to increase the tax on distilled liquor, beer and wine.

The Marin Institute, an alcohol industry watch-dog, is one of the major proponents of this plan. According to Bruce Livingston, the group’s executive director, “Raising the alcohol tax for the first time in 16 years is a commonsense and fiscally responsible option to help close the budget gap. A simple 25 cents per drink increase would generate almost $3 billion in revenue.”

This potential revenue stream would make up about 20% of California’s budget deficit. While the plan sounds like it would make good financial sense for the state, it would essentially amount to a sin tax for all alcohol consumers, including the vast majority that drinks responsibly.

Illness is Infecting California’s Syrah Vineyards

Trouble in California’s Vineyards

An illness is infecting Syrah vines through California, causing concern amongst many winemakers. Although no one knows for sure what is causing the ailment, many experts believe it may be what is known as “Syrah Decline” in France. Syrah Decline has been affecting France since the early 1990s, but seems to be even more potent in California.

This development is particularly worrisome given the rising popularity of Syrah amongst California wine producers and consumers. Plantings of the grape have increased by over 2000% over the past decade bringing total acreage to about 19,000.

Infected vines develop red leaves far too early in the growing season, (usually July or early August). This inhibits grapes from ripening properly and leads to low sugar and acidity levels, poor yields, and lightly colored wines. Most vines suffering from Syrah Decline will die within 10 years.

The cause of Syrah Decline is not completely understood, but many believe that vines that are very water stressed are particularly susceptible. Vineyards planted in shallow soils in arid climates seem to be affected the most. The ailment may also be affecting some Zinfandel and Mourvedre vineyards, but to a lesser degree.

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News from California Wine Country - 11/28/07

Open House at Newton Vineyards

On December 1st, Spring Mountain’s Newton Vineyards will be hosting an open house from 1 – 5 pm. They will be pouring large format wines as well as some library selections. In addition to the wine, there will be some gift ideas for the holidays, including packages, accessories and books. The event is free to Newton Vineyard wine club members, and is $20 for everyone else. To RSVP, call 707-204-7622.

Event at Domain Chandon

On Sunday, December 9th, Napa Valley’s Domain Chandon is going to host their “Savvy Entertaining” event from 4 – 7 pm. This event will offer special deals on their sparkling and still wines, and also good ideas for holiday gift items. The author and judge of the Savvy Entertainer contest will be there to offer tips on to host a savvy party on a limited budget.

Hanukkah at Judd’s Hill Winery

Keeping with the holiday there, Judd’s Hill Winery is planning to host “Hanukkah Hootenanny” on December 9th. The event will take place from 12 – 4 pm at the winery. Like most events, it is free for wine club members, but is $40 for all others. You can sign up for the wine club on the spot, which provides an excellent opportunity to join a great wine club and save money.

Open House at Raymond Vineyards

In other news, Raymond Vineyards is going to hold a wharehouse sale and open house on December 1st. The sale will take place form 10 am to 4 pm at the winery. If you are a fan of Raymond Vineyards, this is your chance to stock up on their wines for the holiday season.

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California's 2007 Grape Harvest Slightly Larger Than Last Year

According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the state’s 2007 grape harvest weighed in at 3.2 million tons, up a bit from 3.1 million tons last year. It is still substantially smaller than 2005, which weighed 3.5 million tons.

Because of inconsistent temperatures and weather patterns, grape picking was sporadic in 2007. Temperatures were warm through August, but September saw some rain, forcing many vineyard owners to delay picking their grapes until things had dried out a bit.

Fred Holloway, winemaker at Justin Vineyards, said, “It ended up being a fairly lengthy harvest, letting us pick on a slow pace through the first part of November. It was kind of a laid-back harvest.”

Despite the irregular weather, many vintners are optimistic about the quality of California’s 2007 vintage. Cool temperatures toward the end of the growing season gave grapes time to develop varietal characteristics without acquiring too much sugar.

UC Davis Viticulture and Enology Recieves $12.5 Million Gift

The UC Davis Viticulture and Enology Department received a donation of $12.5 million that will fund projects in dire need of money. This donation came at a very important time in enology and viticulture research, as Australia is spending more than five times than the United States.

The donation was made my one of the Napa Valley’s oldest wine families. The Rossi family has been growing grapes in the Napa Valley since 1905, when Fred and Rachel Rossi purchased St. Helena Ranch. The Rossi’s sold their grapes to some of the most famous producers in the Napa Valley; Robert Mondavi Winery and Krug Winery.

Louise, the daughter of Fred and Rachel Rossi was a long time supporter of UC Davis. She showed her loyalty to the university as she gave the institution the funds resulting from the sale of her 52-acre ranch. The gift will also fund the development of the Robert Mondavi Institute of Wine and Food Science.

The late Louise Rossi never married, and died without heirs. She was dedicated to sustainable farming, so it is no surprise that most of the funds will be spent on researching organic and sustainable farming techniques.

The Rossi Ranch was purchased by Frog’s Leap Winery. Louise Rossi and Frog’s Leap owner John Williams became friends when the winery begin buying grapes from Rossi’s property. Before her death, Louise Rossi made plans to sell her ranch to Frog’s Leap, as their organic farming philosophy was in tune with her views.

This donation is incredibly important for the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology department. With the difficulty in getting projects funded, the donation could not have come at a better time.

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When Weather affects Harvest: A Winery’s Response

Harvest can be a beautiful time for winery owners, viticulturalists and winemakers. When conditions are right, the fruit comes off exactly as planned, and the vineyard staff can exert full control over the entire process.

However, when conditions take a turn for the worse, like this year, it can ruin a years worth of hard work. Right around harvest time in the Napa Valley, a storm front blew through that dropped temperatures and even rained. Cold and rain can devastate a perfectly good crop of fruit.

As the storm front approached, many wineries who had not harvested yet, went on high alert and scrambled to get all of their fruit off the vine. It is pretty rare that people who don’t work in the wine industry to experience this process. But thanks to Adopt a Grape, you can see what it’s like for a winery at harvest.

If you haven’t already heard of Adopt a Grape, you should check it out. Its functionality is just what you would expect from the title, when you sign up, you actually adopt a grape in their vineyard, and you get video updates of how your grape is doing. You can check out their harvest video here; or watch it below.

Napa Valley Vintners Set to Donate $8.8 Million to Charity

The Napa Valley Vintners will donate $8.8 million to several charities at a ceremony to be held at Copia on November 3rd. Beneficiaries include non-profits focusing on affordable housing, healthcare and youth services.

The funds were raised by the Napa Valley Vinters’ flagship event, Auction Napa Valley 2007. Earlier this year, they pledged to donate $5 million a year over the next 5 years. The Napa Valley Vintners have clearly exceeded their most optimistic goals, and the local community will benefit from this success.

Since Auction Napa Valley was initiated, it has raised an incredible $78 million. Past recipients of these funds have been the Children’s Health Initiative, Clinic Ole, Napa Emergency Women’s Shelter, Healthy Moms and Babies, and Sister Ann Dental Clinic.

The Napa Valley Vintners was established over 70 years ago and currently has over 300 member wineries. Their mission is to promote the Napa Valley Appellation and preserve its long and storied history of producing wine.

Michael-David Winery Wins Case for Small Wineries

The complexity and absurdity of the three tier distribution system is something that the average consumer rarely thinks about. And rightly so, who cares how it gets to your grocery store or favorite restaurant, right? What matters is that your favorite wines are there ready for you to buy and drink at any moment.

However, the issues of the three tier system have a huge affect on the wineries, and the selection you have as a consumer. A perfect example of this situation playing out was the trial between Michael-David Winery and distributor Frank-Lin Distillers. After five weeks of trial, the jury ruled in favor of Michael-David Winery, which protected wineries rights against distributors.

According to John Hinman of Hinman & Carmichael LLP, Counsel for Michael-David Winery, “Without this decision, California vintners would have found themselves at the mercy of distributors who would, in effect, become entitled to a significant portion of the winery’s brand value and the winery owner’s equity simply because the distributor had delivered the product.”

So what does this mean for you? Unless you work in the wine industry, not much. But it is a step in the right direction, protecting wineries against distributors. Hopefully, victories like these will help put the power back into the hands of the wineries. Thus increasing your selection of wine, and making everyone happy, except for the distributors of course.

Want a wine industry veteran’s take on this trial? Check out Jeff Lefevere of Good Grape here.

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New line of Wines benefit Breast Cancer Research; Ironically, Wine Causes Breast Cancer

A new line of wines recently launched as part of a fundraising campaign to fight breast cancer. Cleavage Creek wines feature models that are survivors of the disease that affects millions of women world wide.

Winery owner Budge Brown said, “My goal was to honor their courage and inspire them.” Brown started this campaign after his wife of 48 years died from breast cancer. Cleavage Creek wines will cost between $18 and $50, and will debut this month, with the release of 2,000 cases. 10% of the proceeds of the wine will go to breast cancer awareness.

Unfortunately, several studies have shown that wine consumption actually increases your chances of getting breast cancer. “Dr. Smith-Warner et. al. from Harvard studied the association between alcohol consumption and Breast Cancer. Their results showed a linear increase in breast cancer over a wide range of consumption.”

However, because of the complexity of cancer, it’s difficult to say definitely that wine causes breast cancer. But several studies have shown this, and it is not something that should be ignored. And it is, somewhat ironic, that Mr. Brown is selling wine to help cure breast cancer.

Pattie Daly Caruso, a breast cancer survivor and advocate of Cleavage Creek wines thinks it’s a great idea. Caruso, like many others feel that this campaign is a cleaver way to draw attention to wine and breast cancer awareness.

Caruso does recognize the link between breast cancer and wine, stating, “if we pick up a magazine or turn on TV there will be someone saying something about all the things that we drink except maybe water. I personally think that a couple of glasses of red wine are very good for you. I try to be very cautious and do the right thing, but red wine to me is, if not medicinal, pretty wonderful.”

Despite the association between the two, what Brown is doing is commendable. It is critical that we spend more money on researching cures for diseases like cancer. They take a tremendous toll on our society, and there should be more people like Brown doing what they can to help.

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5 Excellent California Syrahs for Under $20

In the spirit of Dr. Debs’ fantastic blog, Good Wine Under $20, I thought I’d post 5 of my personal favorite California Syrahs for under $20. This list is by no means exhaustive, but represents some of the excellent values I have come across. If you have any to add, feel free to leave them in the comments section.

The Andrew Murray 2005 Tous Les Jours Syrah is a blend of grapes from Andrew Murray’s Estate Vineyard as well as the broader Paso Robles AVA. This is a fruit-driven wine with soft tannins. Andrew Murray Vineyards is known for excellent Syrahs; some of their more expensive ones being “Roasted Slope” and the 100% Estate Syrah. The Tous Les Jours can be purchased for $13.

Beckmen Vineyards is another Syrah specialist that makes a few different bottlings of the grape. The 2005 Big Hands Syrah has ripe currant and blackberry flavors over a layer of spice and smoke. The alcohol level is 14%, and the tannins and acidity balance each other nicely. This wine sells for $15.

Terre Rouge is an excellent Sierra Foothills winery. Although the 2004 Terre Rouge Cotes de l’Quest Syrah 2004 has a deep, concentrated color, this wine drinks very well without any age. Winemaker and owner Bill Easton has produced a great value for Syrah lovers with this wine. It is priced around $16.

Michael David Vineyards is a Lodi winery that is probably best known for 7 Deadly Zins. But they also make an excellent Syrah called 6th Sense. This full-bodied wine has very nice spicy plum and peppery flavors. I have seen this wine available for $18.

Qupe’s 2005 Central Coast Syrah has been widely hailed by the wine press as a great value under $20. It is actually a blend of 93% Syrah, 4% Grenache, Mourvèdre and 1% Counoise giving it added complexity and balance. The grapes are sourced from all over the Central Coast, including Santa Barbara, Paso Robles and Arroyo Grande Valley. You can find this wine for as low as $15.

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'Rock Garden Roll' Auction Raises $800,000 for Copia’s Education Programs

Copia held its six annual ‘Rock Garden Roll’ auction, dinner and dance this past week. The auction was a considerable success, rising over $800,000 for the center’s educational programs.

The event was held under the grand tent in Copia’s Edible Gardens, and saluted guest of honor Margrit Biever Mondavi. There were some 240 guests at the event, ranging from supporters of the center, to some of the most influential people in California’s wine industry.

As you would expect, the dinner was outstanding. La Torque founder and chef Ken Frank and Julias Kitchen’s Jeff Mosher put together the menu for the evening. It was a four course dinner pairs with wines from area cellars.

The guests were entertained by the music from Tina Turner and Madonna impersonators, as presenter Fritz Hatton auctioned off 20 luxury travel and rare wine lots. The top bids included $80,000 for four days in London and Bordeaux, including accommodations at Lord Jacob Rothschild’s Waddesdon Manor, and wine tastings at Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Lafite Rothschild.

$75,000 for a dinner for eight at with Judi and Wilf Jager and wines from the 1978 vintage;

$55,000 for a trip to the wine regions of Chile and Argentina;

$46,000 for a private jet flight to and from Maryville, Tenn.for an epicurean adventure at Blackberry Farm’s cooking school;

$30,000 for a jeraboam of 1982 Chateau Latour;

$28,000 for a magnum of 1945 Mouton Rothschild, which Copia trustee Joe Wender, the high bidder, opened and shared with his dinner table at the event.

Temecula Wineries adopt Responsible Partners Program

According to a press release sent out today by the Temecula winegrowers association, starting on November 1st, the members of the association will turn away van and limo tour operators who “do not help maintain the decorum” of the wine region.

The members voted overwhelmingly to adopt a Responsible Partner Program. This program only permits companies that promote Temecula wine and good behavior while visiting the region.

Ray Falkner, President of the association said “those who do not abide by certain rules and regulations we have established will not be allowed to visit our wineries … as far as I know, we are the only wine region to take steps to ensure the wine-tasting experience is more enjoyable for all our visitors.”

Wine country tours is big business, and the tour operators are sure to take notice of such a bold initiative. Around a dozen companies have already adopting this philosophy, and Falkner believes that the list will grow to over 50 by the November 1st deadline.

It is the responsibility of the winery to enforce the Responsible Partner Program. They want to dispel the notion that Temecula Wine Country, is “bar country.” It is commendable that they want to make wine touring an enjoyable experience, but it seems like a hard rule to enforce.

The wineries get a large portion of their tasting room sales from wine touring companies bringing large groups by. And the wine touring companies are dependent on the people for business. So turning people away because they are too drunk doesn’t seem like its in the cards, considering that drinking wine gets you drunk.

Following that logic, it seems counter intuitive for the winery association to adopt a rule that could negatively affect the bottom line of their wineries. But only time will tell if it has a negative affect, or if it is even enforced.

13th Staglin Music Festival Raises $4 Million

The Staglin Family is known throughout Napa Valley for their philanthropy and generosity. One event that particularly close to their hearts is the Annual Staglin Family Music Festival for Mental Health.

Over the past 13 years, this event has raised an incredible $53 million to research and treat mental illnesses including psychosis and schizophrenia. This year, about 500 donors contributed over $4 million. Guests were treated to a 5 course dinner prepared by Chef Rick Moonen and were entertained by Gladys Knight.

Dr. Ty Cannon, Phd, UCLA Department of Psychology, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences said that funds raised at the music festival have helped attract major grants, most notably $14.6 million from the National Institutes of Health. “The Music Festival’s funding of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience was instrumental in the development of the pilot data that helped us obtain this award,” Dr. Cannon said.

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Calistoga Continues its Quest for AVA Status

The proposed Calistoga AVA continues to stir controversy and passions on both sides. At issue is Calistoga Cellars’ use of the region in their brand name, despite the fact that they do not use Calistoga grapes in their wines.

This is a cardinal sin in the eyes of many local growers and wineries, who place a high value on the geographic origin of their wines. The entire AVA approval process has ground to a halt over the controversy as the TTB reevaluates the system. Calistoga Cellars recently opened up a tasting room, amidst protests from other vintners who claim the winery is thwarting Calistoga’s quest for AVA status.

Roger Louer, CEO of Calistoga Cellars, has stated in the past that he cannot source enough grapes from the Calistoga region for his wines; a claim that local grape growers vehemently deny. One of these vineyard owners, Charlie Wolleson, asserted, “My family has been growing grapes on land three miles south of Calistoga for generations. We still have vines budded by my grandfather — zinfandel, cabs and merlot. To say that local grapes are not available or affordable is not right.”

Bo Barrett, owner of Chateau Montelena, is also particularly outspoken on the issue. He recently said that, “Calistoga Cellars is completely deceiving the public by using the Calistoga name. They go over there to source their grapes because they can find them for half the price.”

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California Wine Country News - 9/25

Jewish Blessings of the Grapes this Weekend

There will be a Jewish blessing of the grapes ceremony on Sunday, September 30th, at noon at Hagafen Cellars. It will be conducted by Rabbi Oren Postrel of Congregation Beth Sholom in Napa. The public is free to stop by at the blessings, which will take place at several other locations during the day.

Ernie Weir, the founder and winemaker at Hagafen, said, “The Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot falls at this time and since we are also harvesting grapes, we thought it would make sense to align the two calendars, of Mother Nature and Jewish history.”

‘The Imposter’ from JC Cellars

JC Cellars just released the first vintage of a new Zinfandel based wine called The Imposter. Winemaker Jeff Cohn said, “I wanted a new challenge; something fresh and exciting. Creating a new wine that is neither a vineyard nor varietal designate is indeed a change for me.”

It should be an interesting wine, made with 72% Zinfandel, 11% Syrah, and a bit of Petite Sirah, Mourvedre and Viognier. The name was inspired by Cohn’s favorites TV mystery classics, like Colombo and McMillan and Wife.

The domain name winecast.com is now up for sale

In other news, the domain name winecast.com is up for sale. Mick Winter, who currently owns the name, originally purchased it in 1999, when it was bundeled with wine.com. “We originally intended to use it for audio/videocasting of wine reviews, winemaker interviews, and other wine and wine industry news,” he said. “However, we’ve decided to focus on other areas and instead put the domain name on the open market.”

Calaveras County Wine Country

There’s a new gold rush going on in California, but it may not be what you think. For years, Calaveras County has been turning out some of California’s most deeply flavored, delicious wines. The region is located in the southern part of the Sierra Foothills, and boasts 19 boutique wineries.

With only 3 stoplights, Calaveras County has an undeniable amount of rustic charm. Several of California’s rising stars are located in the region, notably the venerable Twisted Oak Winery.

Owners Jeff and Mary Stai have won many awards for their mountain grown wines and have developed quite a following. They have an impressive web presence and a great blog that is cleverly written.

Some of their current releases include The Spaniard (65% Tempranillo, 31% Caberent Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot in 2004), 2005 Petite Sirah, 2004 Murgatroyd (55% Cab, 25% Petit Verdot, 13% Tempranillo and 7% Grenache), and 2004 Syrah. Twisted Oak is one of California’s premiere producers of Tempranillo. This Spanish grape has taken to the rocky hillsides of Calaveras County exceptionally well.

Twisted Oak is amongst great company and there are a number of other wineries in the region that are well worth exploring. So if you are looking for a change of pace from the tasting rooms of Napa and Sonoma, consider planning a trip to beautiful Calaveras County.

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Safeway Plans to Start Selling Wine Online

As online wine sales continue to grow, more and more traditional retailers are entering the marketplace. Recently, Safeway announced plans to begin selling wine online from a warehouse in American Canyon just south of the city of Napa. However, Safeway still needs to obtain the necessary city permits to begin this project.

Safeway is attempting to get a license that allows retail sales but prohibits consumption on the premises. According to the Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control (ABC), about 14,000 of these types of licenses have been issued in California.

In a memo to the city of American Canyon, a spokesman for Safeway said, “Safeway has the capacity to attract a very large volume of Internet-based business, especially within California where they already operate hundreds of grocery stores and have a large business base… American Canyon would enjoy significant revenue from these taxed sales.” Assuming the plan goes through, New Vine Logistics Inc. will assist Safeway in its efforts.

3rd Annual Loose Goose Wine Festival

The 3rd Annual Loose Goose Wine Festival will be held on October 3-7, 2007, in the Santa Clarita Valley. This multi-day festival includes several different events such as the Wine Pairing Dinners on October 3, the Loose Goose Golf Classic on October 4, the Golden Goose Gala on October 5, the Professional Goose on October 6 (trade tasting), and the Main Festival which will be held on October 6-7.

Santa Clarita Valley is located about 35 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. 100 different vineyards and wineries will be participating in the Main Festival as well as many other luxury vendors. Last year’s festival drew over 5,000 wine lovers.

Tickets for the Main Festival are $40 per day when purchased in advance and $55 at the gate. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Health Foundation and the Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund.

Givich Vineyards Stronger than Ever After the Fire

On October 12, 2005, a fire broke out at Wines Central, a storage facility in Vallejo, California. The blaze caused an astounding $100 million in damage and decimated the inventory of 82 California wineries, both large and small.

Mark Anderson has been charged with arson in connection with the blaze. When the fire was set, Anderson was on trial in Marin County for embezzlement. He allegedly stole wine from his clients and then set the fire to cover up his tracks.

Special Agent Nina Delgadillo from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said that an investigation found, “sufficient (physical) evidence to tell us that this was an intentionally set fire. ... We are vigorously pursuing the person or persons who caused this.”

Givich Vineyards was one of several boutique wineries that were affected by this devastating fire. Although owner Ken Givich lost all of his saleable merchandise, he has bounced back stronger than ever with his new releases. These include the 2004 El Dorado County Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004 El Dorado County Petite Syrah, 2004 El Dorado County Zinfandel and 2005 Napa Valley Chardonnay.

Established in 2000, Givich Vineyards is based in Napa Valley and also purchases grapes from the Sierra Foothills. Mr. Givich ages each of his wines in small oak barrels for 20-24 months. He has received many accolades over the years, including being honored at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, Grand Harvest Awards and Marin-Sonoma County Fair Competition.

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Winemaker Accused of Stealing 1,000 Gallons of Wine

This past Wednesday, the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission (LLC) destroyed 1,123 gallons of wine found in Lincoln Country. The wine had an estimated value of $140,000, making it the largest bust in LLC history.

It is believed that the wine belonged to winemaker David Jurena, who brought the wine illegally from the Napa Valley. Although the details of the story are still emerging, officials believe that Jurena stole the wine from Terra Valentine winery, where he was once winemaker.

It was transported to Nebraska in 60 gallon barrels, kegs and bottles in an old freight car owned by Feather River Vineyard. Jurena was also the winemaker at Feather River Vineyard, but was fired in 2006, when he destroyed over 300 gallons of wine in a attempt to hide his winemaking mistakes.

Jurena added too much sulfer dioxide to the wine, rendering it undrinkable. Instead of accepting responsibility for his mistakes, he tried to cover it up. When Feather River Vineyard found out about, they fired Jurena and filled criminal charges against him.

Investigators could not determine where the wine came from, but they believe that Jurena planned to bottle and sell it under the Eggers-Jurena label. These kinds of actions are rare in the wine industry, but are becoming more and more common among less than above board winemakers.

Once officials found the wine, they decided that it should be destroyed, as there is no record of safety procedures used to make the wine. More than 800 gallons of the wine were taken to the North Platte wastewater treatment plant and destroyed. The unlabeled bottles were smashed and taken to the landfill.

Jurena is set to go on trial Sept. 11 in Lincoln County District Court.

Wine Tasting and Auction for Healthy Kids

The 6th Annual Wine Tasting and Auction for Healthy Kids will be held on September 23, 2007 from 1-4 pm at Thomas Fogarty Winery & Vineyard. The entire $150 price of admission will be donated to California’s Healthy Kids program, which works to provide health insurance for needy children.

Several wineries will be pouring at this event including Far Niente, Frog’s Leap, Rombauer Vineyards, Stryker Sonoma, Schramsberg, Duckhorn, Kathryn Kennedy, Kings Mountain Winery, and of course, Thomas Fogarty.

Thomas Fogarty Winery is located at 19501 Skyline Blvd. in the town of Woodside, California. Tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 874-1904. Guests are encouraged to bring a bottle of wine for the auction.

Controversy Swirls over Del Dotto Winery

Once again, there’s controversy in the Napa Valley. This time, it’s locals versus the planned development of a winery. The Del Dotto Winery was the center of this controversy as area neighbors were upset that they made changes to the original development proposal.

The winery’s plans were first brought before the county in July 2003, and passed almost unanimously. But since then, the project has been red flagged because of numerous changes to the plan.

The main point of contention stems from plans to raise the height of the cave from eight to fourteen feet. This added a 2,600 square foot patio to the top of the cave that neighbors feared that Del Dotto would use for loud outdoor parties. The addition of 20 new parking spaces raised a red flag for neighbors.

Neighbors Oliver and Karen Caldwell are worried because of the “incredibly loud late-night pyrotechnic rock concert the Del Dottos hosted when they first applied for their winery permit.” Another neighbor described finding Del Dotto wine glasses around his swimming pool in the wake of one party at the nearby winery.

The planning commission recently approved the use permit modification, which stopped the construction of the two story cave. It is had provisions that prohibited Del Dotto from having public and private events on the patio during the evening hours.

This seems like a pretty fair compromise for both Del Dotto and the surrounding neighbors. Unfortunately, Del Dotto will have to deal with its new restrictions, something that wineries that are in the middle of their vineyards do not have to contend with. We’ll see how this situations plays out as the years go by.

Mondavi Among 2007 California Hall of Fame Inductees

Governor Schwarzenegger recently announced the 2007 inductees to the California Hall of Fame. The most powerful and influential people in California’s history were nominated for this honor, including Robert Mondavi. This is a great moment for the wine industry and shows the importance of wine country to the state.

The other inductees include: Tiger Woods, Steve Jobs, John Wayne, Dr. Jonas Salk, John Steinbeck, Elizabeth Taylor, Earl Warren, Milton Berle, Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson and Ansel Adams.

What an incredible list of people; from Nobel Prize wining laureates, to the best athletes of all time, to captains of industry. These individuals embody “California’s innovative spirit” and have made their mark on its history. The formal ceremony will take place on December 5th at the California Museum in Sacramento.

Governor Schwarzenegger noted, “California is home to hopes and dreams for so many, and it is the people of this state who truly make it great … the California Hall of Fame provides a wonderful opportunity to honor these leaders, and legends, whose imprints are stamped forever on our history and our lives. I want people of every age to be inspired by the stories of Californians who have shaped and continue to shape this state and the world.”

All of the living inductees and the families of the posthumous inductees are scheduled to be in attendance for the ceremony. It will be followed by a celebration and the unveiling of the new exhibit, featuring artifacts loaned to the museum by the families of the inductees.

The California Hall of Fame makes it home at the California Museum for History, Women and the Arts. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to telling the history of California and the people who have influenced its development. Its mission is to “engage, educate and enlighten a broad public audience about California’s history through exhibits and programs incorporating the experiences of women and other underrepresented groups.”

The museum is located at 1020 O Street, Sacramento, Ca. For more information about the exhibit and ceremony, visit their website.

California Wines Featured Most on U.S. Restaurant Wine Lists

A study was recently released indicating that California wines are more likely to be featured on American restaurant wine lists. The study surveyed restaurants in major markets around the country in the $39 or less category.

Conducted by Winemetrics, the “On-Premise Wine Distribution Report” was intended to rank America’s top 100 wine brands based on the frequency of their appearance on wine lists. Winemetrics is a relative new research firm that provides consulting for on-premise sales.

The wines that topped the list were mainly from corporate owned brands like; Beringer, Kendall-Jackson, Beaulieu Vineyard and Chateau St Michelle. This is not a surprise, considering that these are large scale producers with recognizable brands. But there were also smaller producers like Caymus Vineyards, Cakebread Cellars and Sterling Vineyards.

The overwhelming majority of wines on the top 100 list are make from U.S. producers, with most of these coming from California. There were also 15 wines from France and seven from Italy. If the price category moved up to the $69 – $100 range, I was suspect that there would be more wines from France.

The study indicated the wines most often ordered in restaurants sell between $25 and $39 per bottle. It also turns out that red wines outnumber whites two to one, with Cabernet Sauvignon taking the top spot.

With any study, the numbers should be taken at face value. There is no such thing as a perfect study, but they definitely give a good indication for what is going on. But this seems like a pretty legitimate study; they surveyed 10,500 restaurants in 20 states, and 24 of the 30 top markets.

Buoncristiani Family Winery Release Party

On September 2, 2007 from 1-5pm, Buoncristiani Family Winery will hold a wine release party at the Napa Valley Opera House. This is a great opportunity to taste the entire portfolio of wines from one of Napa Valley’s top family wineries.

Buoncristiani Family Winery was established in 1999 by four brothers: Matt, Jay, Aaron and Nate. The winery has received considerable acclaim from the mainstream wine press since its inception. Wine Spectator regularly rates their wines 90+ points and recently named the winery “A Rising Star of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.”

The event also includes food pairings with each wine and music. Tickets are $25 per person and can be ordered by calling (707) 259-1681 or visiting the winery’s website.

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New Vintners Association for Lake County

In an effort to bring more attention to the region, Lake County vintners have formed the Lake County Wineries Association. Even though Lake County Wine Country is located just north of the Napa Valley, it lacks the notoriety of its neighbors.

The newly formed association will surely be putting on events and tastings to promote the wines of their region. One of these events is the Lake County Wine Adventure, which is traditionally run by the Lake County Winegrape Commission. It will now be a joint venture between the two organizations.

Roy Cecchetti and Bob Broman were the main proponents in the associations’ development. They formerly worked for Langtry Estate & Vineyards, but recently left to form Cecchetti Wine Co. They recently released a Lake County wine under the 39 Degrees label.

Stags Leap Winegrowers Association Announces Appellation Collection

The 11th anniversary of the Stags Leap District Appellation Collection will be available from October 1st through November 30th. For those of you who aren’t familiar the appellation collection, it is a collection of fifteen cabernets from various Stags Leap Wineries. This year will feature the 2003 vintage.

Participating Stags Leap Wineries include; Shafer Vineyards, Baldacci Family Vineyards, Clos Du Val, Hartwell Vineyards, Chimney Rock Winery, Regusci Winery, Malk Family Vineyards, Steltzner Vineyards, Robert Sinskey Vineyards, Taylor Family Vineyards, Stags’ Leap Winery and Silverado Vineyards.

The cost of the collection is $1,200 plus tax and shipping. You can find out more information at the Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association website, or call Executive Director Nancy Bialek at 707-255-1720.

Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group to Host 5th Annual Benefit and Auction

The Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group (NSWG) is preparing for their Fifth Annual Benefit and Auction. It will be held from on August 18th from 5-9 pm at Silverado Country Club in the town of Napa.

Many of Napa Valley’s sustainably produced wines will be available to sample from 5-7 pm. After the tasting, the silent auction will commence from 7-9 pm. This is a chance to bid on some of Napa’s rarest and best wines. In addition to the tasting and silent auction, Silverado’s Executive Chef Peter Pahk will prepare a dinner for the event using sustainable products.

Established in 1995, the Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group’s mission is, “To identify and promote winegrowing practices that are economically viable, socially responsible and environmentally sound.” Education plays a big role in the NSWG’s efforts to promote sustainable grape growing and winemaking.

Tickets are $70 in advance and $80 at the door. To buy tickets, visit the Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group’s website or call Astrid Bock-Foster at (707) 252-4188, ext. 113.

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Buena Vista Winery Celebrates 150 Years of Making Wine

Buena Vista is gearing up for its 150th anniversary of making wine in Carneros. To mark the occasion, the winery will host a small celebration on September 7th for media, trade and a handful of longtime customers.

Buena Vista was established in 1857 by Count Agoston Haraszthy. He was one of the first California vintners to experiment with European grapes and winemaking techniques. This has earned Buena Vista the title of, “California’s First Premium Winery.”

Winemaker Jeff Stewart and vineyard manager Craig Weaver recently streamlined Buena Vista’s wine portfolio and replanted much of the winery’s 800 acre Ramal Vineyard. Stewart and Weaver will now offer 2 tiers of wines: the Carneros Series and the Ramal Vineyard Series. The 2005 Carneros Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and the 2005 Ramal Vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are currently available for purchase.

This vast Ramal Vineyard is the largest in Carneros wine country and has been meticulously replanted with many different clones of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah. The production facilities have also been updated including the purchase of 63 new open top fermentation tanks.

Starting in 2008, Buena Vista will also begin using screwcaps to seal several of their wines. Jeff Stewart is a proponent of using screwcaps to ensure that his wines are the freshest possible when they are served. He plans to start bottling all of Buena Vista’s wines with screwcaps beginning in 2009.

“2007 is a milestone year for Buena Vista Carneros, and we are excited to celebrate our 150th year as California’s first premium winery and honor the evolution of California’s wine industry,” said winemaker Jeff Stewart.

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