SFGate VOTERS NAME

AUDELSSA ESTATE TOP SONOMA WINERY

Small Glen Ellen Winery Apparently

Not a Secret Any Longer

            GLEN ELLEN, California (October 14, 2009)—The San Francisco Chronicle’s SFGate online community voted Audelssa Estate the top Sonoma winery in their Wine Country Getaway Poll. Over 1,600 consumers cast their votes between August 18 and September 27 and the final tally showed Audelssa Estate on top. Whether it’s the spectacular view from the artisanal winery high up on the Sonoma side of Mount Veeder, or the stylish tasting room in quaint Glen Ellen or the highly extracted, elegant wines themselves: SFGate readers love Audelssa and seek it out as their favorite Wine Country destination in Sonoma.

During September and October, visitors to the comfortable Audelssa Tasting Room, located at 13647 Arnold Drive in Glen Ellen, California were treated to tastings of all five of the Fall Release wines, including the next-to-impossible to find Summit Reserve, Alder Springs Merlot, Napa Valley Zinfandel and the highly acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. “We go out of our way to be hospitable to our guests,” said winemaker Erich Bradley. “We hope that every time they open one of our bottles it brings back good memories of their visit to either the winery or the tasting room.”

For those who are willing to make the journey, private tours can also be arranged at Audelssa.  The winery sits high up on the Sonoma side of Mount Veeder, surrounded by the spectacular Mountain Terraces Vineyard with unmatched vistas of the Sonoma Valley and beyond. Sommelier superstar Christopher Sawyer from The Lodge at Sonoma summed it up, “Audelssa is a must see. I highly recommend it. The wines and the people are both exceptional.”

            For more information on Audelssa Estate Winery, or to arrange a visit to the Tasting Room or Winery, please call (707) 933-8514 or visit their website at www.audelssa.com. For more information on the SFGate readers poll visit http://baylist.sfgate.com/audelssa-estate-winery/biz/167871.

AUDELSSA WINERY’S SUCCESS

PROMPTS NEW PARTNERSHIP

Highly Rated Winery Allies with

Foley Family Wines for National Sales Representation

Industry Pro Greg Ralston On-Board

            GLEN ELLEN, California (October 2, 2009)—Hot on the heels of their Fall Release wines, many of which have garnered top scores from leading wine reviewers, Audelssa Estate Winery has announced a strategic partnership with Foley Family Wines. Foley Family Wines will be the exclusive worldwide distributor of Audelssa wines beginning October 1, 2009. This partnership immediately opens up dozens of new markets for Audelssa in the United States as well as several potential international markets. Audelssa has also brought in Greg Ralston, former Managing Director of Chateau Montelena Winery, as an advisor to help with the transition.

            Foley Family Wines was established by William (Bill) Foley II in 1996. It grew quickly and selectively and is now considered one of the premier wine sales groups in the United States. In addition to the new partnership with Audelssa, Foley Family Wines represent Firestone Vineyard, Sebastiani Vineyard and Winery, Merus, Kuleto Estate, Foley Estate and several other premium wineries. Foley also acts as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Fidelity National Inc., which was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the 26 Best Managed Companies in the United States.

“This is a great partnership for Foley Family Wines,” President Tim Matz said.  “Our Mission Statement declares that we are committed to growing, producing and selling the finest quality brands of the highest possible value; it also says that our long term goal is to become one of the most respected premium wine companies in the world.  Audelssa is a good fit for our portfolio and is precisely the type of premium brand that will help us achieve these objectives.”

            In explaining their motivation for entering into this arrangement, Audelssa’s three managing partners; Winemaker Erich Bradley, Founder Dan Schaefer Jr. and CFO Mark Brewer point to their rapid production growth. Audelssa released 3,300 cases in 2008, all of which were quickly purchased by savvy wine buyers. In 2009 the winery released 6,000 cases and plans call for 8,000 cases in 2010. “Three tier channel sales are a key part of our strategy,” Mark Brewer observed, “and the breadth and depth of Foley’s distribution system, plus the vigor of their growth in this area promise to introduce Audelssa all across the country and beyond.”

            Dan Schaefer Jr. will focus his attention on working with Foley Family Wines to maximize the distribution potential. Schaefer also sees working with Foley Family Wines as a strategic partnership that increases Audelssa’s presence dramatically in the American market. “It seems like a perfect fit,” said Schaefer. “They’re impressed with what we’ve done so far with the vineyards and the wines and we are looking to expand our distribution on a national level. I can’t imagine working with a better organized or more successful sales team than Foley Family Wines.”

The addition of Greg Ralston to the team allows Audelssa to acquire tremendous experience and knowledge. Ralston has successfully guided Chateau Montelena through steady periods of growth until it is now recognized as one of the premier estate wineries in the world.     Ralston explained the allure of advising the Audelssa team, “The challenge of developing and optimizing the Audelssa organization to realize its potential allows me to work with people I like and respect and a winery business that I believe is on the cusp of great success.”

Dan Schaefer Sr. and his wife Jeanne planted vines on the site in 1999. Now known as the “Home of Extreme Viticulture,” Audelssa Estate Winery has one of the most distinctive vineyard sites in northern California. Mountain Terraces Vineyard, cascading some 1,200 vertical feet down the Sonoma slope of the Mayacamas Mountains, the 80 acre vineyard shows extreme diversity reflecting the multiple and varied soil types on the location. Its southwest perch on the Sonoma side of Mount Veeder provides extraordinary exposure and contributes to wines that are elegant, complex and sophisticated. In his Wine Advocate, wine guru Robert Parker summed it up, “This impressive estate continues to turn out sensational wines.”

During the formative years, Audelssa’s wines were produced by the iconic Richard Arrowood in nearby Arrowood Vineyards and Winery. Winemaker Erich Bradley, then an Arrowood assistant, thought that the wines would benefit from a more artisanal approach, one that actually followed a more Burgundian tradition. “It was an unorthodox concept,” said Bradley, “making Bordeaux and Rhone varieties in that style, but I felt it would create the most graceful and seductive expressions of this very special place.” In 2002, Gloria and Dan Jr. hired Bradley to be their winemaker and he was able to realize his vision. For three consecutive years the estate bottled Bordeaux style blend Summit and the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon have all been rated “Outstanding” by renowned wine critic Robert Parker in his Wine Advocate.  More recently the Rhone style wines have joined this elite group with “Outstanding” ratings for the 2005 Syrah (Maelstrom) and the 2005 Zephyr.

For more information on Audelssa Estate Winery, please visit their website at www.audelssa.com. 

NEARLY $ 400,000 RAISED AT

23^RD ANNUAL B.R. COHN CHARITY FALL MUSIC FESTIVAL

OCTOBER 2-5

Glen Ellen, CA. – October 7, 2009 -- In what may have been the most successful event at the famed B.R. Cohn Winery amphitheatre, Journey and the Doobie Brothers, Pablo Cruise, Taj Mahal, Little Feat, Jackie Greene, Whiskey Thieves, Eyewitness Blues Band, Jerry Hannon and Doobie kids Pat Simmons Jr. and Lara Johnston performed to over 6000 concert attendees October 3 and 4 raising much needed funds for several worthy charities including the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, Sonoma Valley Education Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club Valley of the Moon and Level II Trauma Center at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, The American Legion Post 911 Veterans Organization and others.

The 23rd annual B.R. Cohn Charity Events Fall Music Festival and Golf Classic kicked off Friday October 2 with the gala dinner at the B.R Cohn winery prepared by one of America’s top chefs Bradley Ogden and a charity auction hosted by acclaimed food and wine personality Narsai David.  Held in the autumn hues of the winery’s Olive Grove, the event featured a world-class dinner paired with B.R. Cohn wines.  536 bidders at the auction bid on trips, large format wine bottles and other rare wines and wine dinners including two dinners for twelve at Bruce Cohn’s home by culinary greats Thomas Keller and Bradley Ogden.  The evening raised over $165,000 with a fund-a-need for the San Francisco Chapter of the American Legion garnering $61,000.

The over-all four days of fundraising which includes ticket sales, food and beverage, stage-auctions and tournament fees came close to generating $400,000 for charity. Attendance for both concert days was 6000. Plans include a distribution of funds as soon as all the expenses have been paid.

“We have had some great charity events here over the past 23 years, but I think everyone will agree that this is one of the very best we have ever produced”, exclaimed BR Winery owner, Doobies manager and event producer Bruce Cohn. “Without having Journey, the Doobie Brothers and all the other great artists perform basically, just for their expenses, and without the tremendous participation of the 6,000 plus people who turned out to support the concerts, we could never have raised this much money for charity, especially in these challenging times.  It is truly remarkable and a collaboration of everyone’s efforts involved, including that of my great staff”.

The four-day event came to a close Monday at Sonoma Golf Club on a picture perfect day for golf.  Over 130 golfers hit the links winding down a memorable weekend of great music, fundraising, food and wine at one of the finest destinations in wine country, the B.R. Cohn Winery.  Go to www.brcohn.com for info on next year’s event.

TOP CHEFS, WORLD CLASS WINES AND RECORD ATTENDANCE

HIGHLIGHT 2^ND ANNUAL SONOMA WINE COUNTRY WEEKEND

Taste and Auction Events Filled To Capacity

The Three Day Series of Events, Sponsored by Visa Signature

Raised More than $400,000 for Local Sonoma Charities

Sonoma, CA (September 8, 2009) --  Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, one of the country’s most prestigious wine events and Sonoma County’s largest food and wine fundraiser of the year, enjoyed record participation and attendance while raising more than $400,000 for local Sonoma charities. The annual three-day, pre-harvest celebration – comprised of the 30th Annual Showcase: Taste of Sonoma, the 17^th Annual Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction and a series of vintner hosted lunches and dinners – shines a spotlight on Sonoma’s unparalleled culinary, winemaking and hospitality heritage.  In all, more than 150 wineries, 60 chefs and countless hospitality providers and volunteers took part in the annual fete that drew a record crowd from across the country and around the world in idyllic wine country weather.

“We are thrilled with both the turnout and the proceeds from this year’s event.” said Executive Producer Maureen Cottingham, “This has been a challenging year, and we didn’t know quite what to expect, but everyone, from the participating wineries and chefs to the visitors who traveled here from all over the country really stepped up to make this a fabulous event for Sonoma’s food and wine community and the local charities we support.”

Sonoma’s legendary Sangiacomo family served as honorary chairs for the 2^nd Annual Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, underscoring this year’s focus on the contributions made by Sonoma’s grape growers to the historic wine region’s world class standing.

For the second year in a row, Visa Signature™ served as presenting sponsor, providing Visa Signature card owners exclusive perks and savings during the weekend’s events.

Vintner Lunch & Dinner Series The weekend’s festivities began on Friday and continued into Saturday with a sold out series of intimate vintner lunches and dinners hosted in the cellars, vineyards and dining rooms of Sonoma’s premier wineries. Guests enjoyed a unique opportunity to hobnob with their favorite winemakers and growers while enjoying feasts prepared by Sonoma’s finest chefs. Some of the most coveted seatings at this year’s vintner series included, Chalk Hill Estates, Hook & Ladder, Stryker Sonoma, Tandem, Paul Hobbs, Benziger, Lancaster, Quivira and of course, Saturday night’s grand Honorary Chair Dinner hosted by the Sangiacomo family at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa. 

Record Attendance at Showcase: Taste of Sonoma

One of the most highly anticipated wine and food events of the year, Showcase: Taste of Sonoma was hosted Saturday on the grounds of the historic MacMurray Ranch in Healdsburg.  The record capacity crowd of 2500 enjoyed a picture perfect summer day, immersing themselves in the food and wine culture of Sonoma County. Noted as “the largest outdoor food and wine event in California” by Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Showcase: Taste of Sonoma featured 60 of Sonoma’s best restaurants including Cyrus, Bistro 29, Zin, El Dorado Kitchen and Syrah, together with more than 150 world class wineries and countless artisan food purveyors gathered among the vines of the storied estate that was once home to the late actor Fred MacMurray.   Wine lovers and foodies alike were treated to endless examples of Sonoma’s bounty, from the Gloria Ferrer Bubble Lounge and Farmers Market to basket press demonstrations and sommelier-led AVA Tent tours - not to mention the unparalleled line-up of world class food and wine.  For many, the highlight of the day was the Steel Chef Competition, which saw Sonoma’s culinary masters competing for the coveted title of Sonoma County’s Chef of Steel. After a neck-in-neck final round, this year’s winner was Ryan Fancher of Barndiva in Healdsburg.  

“We travel all over the world to wine and food events,” enthused Rande Willson and Kelly Madrid of Boca Raton, FL.  “and this weekend is the one we keep coming back to!”

Hijinks and High Bids at the 17^th Annual Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction

Can you say Toga Party? Sporting the tagline “Party with Us and You’ll Want to Come Bacchus”, the 17^th Annual Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction took place Sunday on the bucolic grounds of Cline Cellars in Sonoma. The day started with a leisurely preview of silent and live auction lots in the luxuriously appointed Toga Lounge, followed at 1pm by the dropping of the first gavel by auctioneer Fritz Hatton in the Wine Spectator Auction Tent. The bidding was fast and furious throughout the afternoon, helped in part by the decision this year to reduce the number of overall lots in favor of fewer and more exciting packages.  Gods and goddesses alike strutted their stuff across the stage, delighting the crowd with Greco-Roman inspired decadence in an effort to gain top bid for their lot. The raucous crowd – egged on by vintner and grower hosts at each table - was whipped into a paddle-waving frenzy. The high bid of the day went to Benziger Family Winery who took to the stage en masse and in togas to sing a high-spirited, if somewhat off key rendition of “Shout” while raising $51,000 for a 102 person toga party to be held next summer at the Benziger’s Imagery Estate Winery. Other lots drawing top bids included The Sangiacomo Family’s Chairman’s Lot, which included a trip for two to Portofino and Milan, Italy,  a lunch for 20 in their vineyards and a selection of Sangiacomo Vineyard Designated wines; A Roman Holiday, featuring a 2-day Sonoma experience, vertical of Cherry Block Cabernet Sauvignon, 6 day adventure trip to Tuscany & Umbria from Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery; a Hobbs-Knobbing with the Winemaker Soiree, offering an instant wine cellar, plus VIP winery visit and twilight dinner for six from Paul Hobbs Winery; A Golden Anniversary Wine, Dine, Music and Idaho Adventure package, including winemaker/celebrity chef dinner for 10, season tickets to winery concert series and three-day fly fishing trip to Idaho from Rodney Strong Vineyards; and a Star Treatment Mediterranean Cruise, including 11 nights for two aboard the new Solstice Class Celebrity Equinox, from Celebrity Cruises. As it has in years past, Fund-a-Need drew enthusiastic bidding even though there was nothing to win, other than the opportunity to help one of Sonoma’s most vital non-profits, the Sonoma Community Center, so that this treasured Sonoma landmark can continue its mission to support the cultural, educational and recreational enrichment of Sonoma Valley.

“This is the event that we both look forward to attending all year,” exclaimed perennial bidder Rob Irwin of Tulsa, OK, who attended with his wife, Jeannine. “We love this auction and the whole weekend, and we keep adding more friends from Tulsa to our table!”  Rob and Jeannine have bid on the head table lot three consecutive years.

In all – between the live auction, silent auction (larger total than last year) and online e- auction that went live to bidders from around the world beginning August 1, the 17^th Annual Sonoma Valley Wine Auction raised well over $400,000 for local Sonoma county charities.

About 2009 Sonoma Wine Country Weekend Sponsors and Beneficiaries

A partnership between Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers and Sonoma County Vintners, Sonoma Wine Country Weekend is the area’s largest wine and food fundraiser, having donated more than a combined $8 million to local charities that support students, children, farm workers and people in need. 

The 2009 Sonoma Wine County Weekend is presented by Visa Signature, whose cardholders will receive exclusive perks and savings throughout the event. From benefits that save time to benefits that help to safeguard purchases, Visa Signature helps cardholders get the most out of life. In addition to a choice of numerous airline, hotel and other premium reward partners, cardholders enjoy access to around-the-clock complimentary concierge services; epicurean events and reservations at the hottest restaurants; premium merchant offers; and access to exclusive events such as the Olympics, Super Bowl and the Tony Awards, as well as preferred access and seating at local sporting events, concerts and movie screenings. For more information about Visa Signature, visit www.visa.com/signature.  

Other partners include Executive Sponsors: Trilogy Glass & Packaging and MacMurray Ranch; Major Sponsors: American AgCredit, Sonoma County Winegrape Commission, Southern Wine & Spirits, and Buick; Winery Sponsors: Cline Cellars, Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, Rodney Strong Vineyards, and Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards; Supporting Sponsors: Caliber WinePak, Stölzle USA, and Viking Range Corporation; Media Sponsors: Wine Spectator, Gourmet Magazine and San Francisco Magazine. For a complete list of beneficiaries and sponsors of the 2009 Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, please visit www.SonomaWineCountryWeekend.com.

About Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance and Foundation

The Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance (SVVGA) is a non-profit trade organization serving over 500 vintners, growers and associates who share a mission to promote awareness of Sonoma Valley’s grapes, wine, and history as the birthplace of the California wine industry. The Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Foundation (SVVGF) is a non-profit 501c.3 organization that has raised over $6,000,000 for local Sonoma Valley charities through the Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction. For more information on the SVVGA and SVVGF, please call 707-935-0803 or visit www.SonomaValleyWine.com.

About Sonoma County Vintners

Sonoma County Vintners (SCV) is the leading voice of Sonoma County wine, dedicated to raising awareness of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier wine regions, noted for its heritage of artisan winemaking, distinct growing regions, and extraordinary quality. Founded in 1944, SCV represents more than 175 wineries of all sizes throughout the county. www.SonomaWine.com.

Event Beneficiaries

Throughout the history of the Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction and the Showcase: Taste of Sonoma, over $8 million has been raised to support local Sonoma charities. Beneficiaries for the 2009 event are local charities that benefit students, children, farm workers and people in need. Past recipients of event proceeds include the Redwood Empire Food Bank, Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation, Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH), Hanna Boys Center, Operation Youth of Sonoma County, Sonoma Community Center, Sonoma Jazz Plus, Sonoma Overnight Support/Sonoma Brown Baggers, Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, Sonoma Valley Education Foundation, Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation, Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, Willmar Center for Bereaved Children, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma, and Vineyard Worker Services. For more information, visit www.SonomaWineCountryWeekend.com.

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2009 “Zin-N-Out” Theme Pairs Winemaking Education, Zinfandel & Gourmet Sliders

(Sonoma County, CA, August 27th)-- On Saturday September 19^th, Stryker Sonoma Winery is giving wine lovers the opportunity to participate in the winemaking process at its 7^th Annual Zinternship harvest party. Guests recieve hands-on winemaking experience as they work side-by-side with winery proprietor Craig MacDonald, winemaker Tim Hardin and assistant winemaker Jenn Berman. Hand sorting grapes and barrel stomping are all part of the action. And the 2009 "Zin-N-Out" theme serves up the perfect harvest combination: Zinfandel, gourmet sliders, and working the crush.

“This is my favorite event of the year,” said winemaker Tim Hardin, “We love sharing our passion for the winemaking process while interacting directly with our wine club members and guests. We crank up the music on the crush pad, work up an appetite getting educated and stained purple, then eat a hearty meal and sip great Zinfandel. That’s crush.”

Located in the heart of the Alexander Valley appellation of Sonoma County, Stryker Sonoma Winery’s prized two-acre block of old vine Zinfandel, planted in the early 1920s, remains a focal point of the estate. The winery also specializes in Bordeaux varietals.

To reserve a Zintership, please call 800-433-1944 or email Stryker Sonoma at info@strykersonoma.com before September 14^th. The event will be held from 11am to 4pm on September 19^th, and is offered to members of the Stryker Sonoma Wine Club for $15.00 and the general public for $30.00. For more information, visit www.StrykerSonoma.com.

About Stryker Sonoma

Stryker Sonoma is a small jewel of an estate in the Alexander Valley, acclaimed for its deep, complex Cabernet and single-vineyard Zinfandel wines. Stryker Sonoma won a record-breaking eleven gold medals and ten silver medals at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. The estate is sustainably farmed, and the beautifully designed facilities take cues from the natural environment. Architects Richard Schuh and Amy Nielsen created a winery that captures the romance of winemaking. The natural curvature of the terrain was left intact and the buildings and site layout were designed to reflect the geometry of the vineyard rows. Please visit www.StrykerSonoma.com for more information.

# # #

SF Outside Lands Overview from Outside Lands on Vimeo.

The Festival features a phenomenal musical artist lineup, including Pearl Jam, Thievery Corporation, Dave Matthews Band, Black Eyed Peas, Jason Mraz, Ween, Modest Mouse, and many many more. Other attractions include:

Eco Lands

Crowdfire

Heineken Experience

The Barbary

More Activities

Outsider Art

You're probably wondering, "OK, this is great, but what does all of this have to do with food and wine"?

The Outside Lands Festival caters to epicureans in a big way. Two attractions featured are "A Taste of the Bay Area" and "Winehaven". Over 30 local restaurants and 25 winemakers with over 75 wines will be on hand to share their creations. There will also be small-group winemaker barrel tasting seminars to experience. Topics include: Taste with the Trailblazers, The Sustainable Sipsters, The Next Generation, Coastal Cowboys, and others. With such a diverse selection of food and wine, you'll be fed and watered well, all while listening to great music and experiencing great art.

SF Outside Lands - Winehaven from Outside Lands on Vimeo.

So if you're in the area and looking for something to do, or looking for a reason to travel, look no further. Don't miss the 2nd Annual Outside Lands Festival, August 28-30, 2009. Great City, great people, great music, great food & wine - what more could one ask for?

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New York, June 19, 2009 - Which pairs best with barbecued steak and chicken: red or white wine? Does barbecue sauce, relish or ketchup change the match? Which grilled grub will please those who prefer beer or gin-and-tonic to wine?

Whether you kick back at the cottage, the campsite or your own backyard this summer, you can find delicious pairings in this comprehensive food and drink mobile application. The new Drinks Matcher from Nat Decants is available now for your smartphone. It's like having a personal sommelier and a bartender at your side.

Natalie MacLean, creator of Nat Decants, the wine web site at www.nataliemaclean.com, has teamed up with the software developer bitHeads to create an application that works on your iPhone, iPod Touch, BlackBerry Bold and BlackBerry Curve.

"We all want to enjoy great food and drink, but in the summer we don't want to be tied to our office computer looking for information," MacLean explains. "We want to do a quick search while we browse in the liquor store, grill beside the pool or order drinks on a patio."

You just choose a match on your mobile device and then you can find the top drink picks either in your local liquor store or on the restaurant menu. Unlike MacLean's popular pairing widget on her web site, this new tool doesn't require a connection to the Internet and so can be used in remote locations.

"There are two trends that are exploding in popularity now: interest in food and wine, and the convenience of mobile apps," says MacLean. "That makes the Nat Decants Drinks Matcher a natural fit-like steak and shiraz. As a wine-loving geek, I love finding ways for new technology to help us savour all of life's pleasures, wherever we are."

Nat Decants Drinks Matcher Features:

       Start with either a drink or a dish
       Choose Bubbly, White, Red, Rosé, Dessert
       Pair beer, spirits, cocktails, liquor, coffee, tea
       Select from 292 grapes, wines and blends
       219 cheeses and cheese dishes
       61 pasta dishes, 118 vegetarian & salads
       57 chicken, 59 beef, 41 pork, 112 seafood
       27 types of pizza plus other take-out favorites
       48 herbs, spices and sauces
       94 Asian, Indian and Chinese dishes
       123 types of chocolate and desserts
       More than 380,000 pairings, with new ones added daily

The Nat Decants Drinks Matcher is only $2.99 and you can download it in two minutes from the online stores for iPhone or BlackBerry.

For Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch App Store, visit:
www.nataliemaclean.com/iphone

For the BlackBerry App World, visit:
www.nataliemaclean.com/blackberry

Note: The BlackBerry link takes you directly to the matcher app only if you click on it while using your BlackBerry device.

For a quick video demo on how the app works, visit:
www.nataliemaclean.com/mobilematch

Top 10 Barbecue Food & Drink Matches from the Nat Decants Drinks Matcher:

1.      Planked salmon with Oregonian Pinot Noir
2.      Grilled portebello mushrooms with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
3.      Shish-kabob lamb with Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon
4.      Skewered chicken with Provençal Rosé
5.      Marinated pork chops with Italian Chianti
6.      Barbecued spare ribs with Australian Shiraz
7.      Grilled pepper steak with Rhône Valley Syrah
8.      Herb-rubbed chicken with Argentine Malbec
9.      Grilled hamburgers with Californian Zinfandel
10.     Roasted marshmallows with German Late Harvest Riesling

For more food-and-drink matching tips, visit the Nat Decants web site at www.nataliemaclean.com:

- Free e-newsletter, recipes, blog, wine glossary, podcasts, articles, wine links, events, Twitter updates and RSS feeds

- Daily matching tips: Twitter.com/NatalieMacLean and Facebook.com/NatalieMacLean

- More than 50,000 wine reviews that you can search by price, score, maturity date, food matches, recipes and the liquor store closest to you:

http://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks
http://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks/wine.aspx?wid=4667

About Natalie:

Natalie MacLean is an independent journalist and author of the bestseller Red, White and Drunk All Over. For Google searches on popular terms like "food and wine pairing," "food and wine matching" and "wine newsletter," Natalie's site is often on the first page of the results as it has become a go-to resource for food and wine lovers. Natalie has won four James Beard Journalism Awards, including the MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award. At the World Food Media Awards in Australia, she was named the World's Best Drinks Writer.

About bitHeads:

bitHeads is the software product-building partner that has helped RIM, HP, InfoLogix, Vaultus Mobile and many others get award-winning iPhone, BlackBerry and other mobile applications to market faster. bitHeads' unique approach provides teams of mobile experts, a proven methodology for quickly building applications that users love, and a partnership model based on a commitment to successful delivery. Millions of people around the globe use mobile applications and other software products that have been built by bitHeads. For more information, visit www.bitheads.com or contact Scott Simpson at scotts@bitheads.com.

Top 1% of Wines as Judged by Wine.com Customers

Quick Pitch

Wine drinkers voted with their wallets; trends say highly-rated, low-price wines win; many hail from regions abroad

Full Release

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – December 3, 2008 – Wine.com, the nation's #1 online wine retailer, today announced its second annual Wine.com 100 list based entirely on customer preferences. The only list of its kind is generated by ranking the top 1 percent of bottle sales of the over 10,000 wines sold nationally on Wine.com during the first 11 months of 2008. For a complete list, go to http://www.wine.com/100.

"Our annual ranking is unique in that it reflects the opinions of our customers," said Rich Bergsund, Wine.com CEO. "The trend we’ve seen is that wine enthusiasts are looking for the greatest value – highly rated wines at lower price points – and are increasingly choosing wines from South America and Australia."

The Wine.com 100 list shows customers are choosing both quality and price, with 94 of the wines rated 90 points or higher from leading wine critics, including Wine Spectator, and over 70 wines priced under $20. The Wine.com 100 list also demonstrates consumer demand for notable brands such as Silver Oak, Caymus, Dom Pérignon, Cakebread, Duckhorn, and Jordan.

The most popular wine of 2008 hails from Chile's Veramonte Winery. Veramonte’s 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva sells for $9.99 and received a 92-point rating from The Wine News. Veramonte's Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and two vintages of the winery’s premium red blend, Primus, also made the list.

"Veramonte wines have been a favorite of ours for a decade," said Michael Osborn, founder and VP of Merchandising for Wine.com. "Having five of our Top 100 from this estate shows that customers recognize their artisanal quality wine and the great value they offer."

In contrast with most U.S. wine retailers, where on average 25% of wine sold is imported, the Wine.com 100 contains 63 imported wines. While California dominates domestically with 31 wines on the Wine.com 100 list, eight other countries are represented led by Australia (27), Chile (11), Argentina (8), Spain (6), France (5), Italy (4), and New Zealand (2). Wines from Australia and South America demonstrated the biggest trend, moving to 27% and 19% this year from 18% and 13% last year, respectively.

Red wine represents 74% of the top 100, led by Cabernet Sauvignon (18), Syrah (16), and Malbec (6). Of the 20 white wines on the list, Chardonnay (10) and Sauvignon Blanc (6) topped the list.

Wine.com recently introduced evening, Saturday, date-specific and by appointment delivery and is the only wine retailer in the U.S. to offer these convenient shipping options. The company also introduced the Wine.com Steward-Ship™ Program offering frequent buyers one year of free delivery on every order, regardless of size, for just $49.

About Wine.com
Wine.com is the nation's #1 online wine retailer, according to Internet Retailer magazine’s annual ranking of websites by revenue, offering thousands of wines, wine gifts, gift baskets and monthly wine clubs. Wine.com’s mission is to be the ultimate resource for wine enthusiasts, whether shopping for themselves or sending a gift, by offering a great selection, low prices, convenient delivery and helpful information. Wine.com is the world’s most visited wine web site, according to research conducted by comScore Media Metrix. For more information, visit http://www.wine.com.

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A lovely family winery situated in Olite, the ancient capital of Navarra. Bodegas Ochoa is one of the oldest wine producers in this region. In caring for the vines, they practice a combination of hand planting, pruning and harvesting, coupled with mechanization. The vineyards rest on lime and clay slopes that face south, which gives the best exposure to the sun. The wines are fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, with lengthy maceration and heavy use of pumping-over for color. When it comes to aging, the winery uses oak that has been naturally weathered outdoors for two years. The type of oak used and the length of aging depends on each wine.

The Ochoa, estate bottled Garnacha & Tempranillo (50-50%) is a very aromatic young red wine. It is a deep red color - think reddish black plumb. On the nose, dark fruit comes up right away - black berries, black plumb, cassis, fig, licorice (if you've ever had allsorts, that's what I'm talking about).  I'm also getting a little bit of spice and cedar, but for the most part it's fruit. On the palate, I get black fruits, not so much of the licorice. I get a little more wood and spice coming through. The finish is decent for being a young, inexpensive value wine. The fruit doesn't drop off like some other wines.

You can get it for around $12