Terra Savia Blog: Wise Earth, Wise Choices

Grape Encounters Interview With Our Winemaker

2011-12-15T12:20:00.000-08:00

The full-length unedited podcast can be found at: http://grapeencountersradio.com/

Coming Up: Holiday Wine Showcase at The Secret Wine Shop

2011-12-02T15:57:00.000-08:00

On December 15th The Secret Wine Shop will be hosting a holiday wine tasting extravaganza featuring our 2007 Blanc De Blancs amongst at least 20 other local and imported wines. They are located in the SOMA district of San Francisco at the SE corner of Howard and 7th St. Not your typical wine store, it resides in a spacious yet intimate loft and host quite a few tasting events. Even if you can't make it this time, please get in contact with Christy, the owner and see about attending another of her great events or just stop by this unique little "shop" during business hours.

Christy can be reached at Twitter handle: @SecretWine or the Contact page of their website

Thurs (12/15), 6-8pm, Sparkling, Port, Sherry, AND Madeira extravaganza. Walk-around tasting with local wines and 4 importers (Broadbent Selections, Rare Wine Co., Europvin, Return To Terroir). At least 20 wines. Acme Bread tartines included. Wine Club save $10 off tasting; $25 advance; $30 at door.

Winemaker Randall Grahm entertaining and educating
an attentive group at The Secret Wine Shop

Idaho's Emerging Wine Industry

2011-11-28T10:54:00.000-08:00

There is a registered winery in all 50 states however that doesn't necessarily mean every state has much of a wine industry; it also means some states do have one little known in the wine world outside that particular state. It sounds like Idaho has a bit of an up and coming wine country. Check out this blog post from the USA Today section.

The Filtering and Fining of Fine Wine

2011-11-23T07:52:00.000-08:00

A happy Petit Verdot drinker recently sent Jim, our winemaker the following email asking if he filters his 100% Petit Verdot. Jim's answer is below the quoted email
Satisfied Petit Verdot Drinker:
"Hi Terra Savia,

I just got a bottle of the 2008 Petit Verdot and it is excellent. I am a fan of [name withheld], but it has largely disappeared. So I am happy to find your Petit Verdot which reminds me so much of [name withheld] and is equally good (in fact better in some ways - more earthy and complex).

I have one question.

Are your wines filtered or fined in any way, with isinglass or egg whites, etc?"
Thanks!
Eric

Jim's answer:

Hello Eric,

I am glad you enjoyed our wine. I have been making wine from this vineyard for 35 years and it is always nice to see people enjoy it.

You ask about fining and filtration so let me ramble on for a bit. When I started making wine back in the mid seventies I was inspired by Martin Ray, one of the pioneers of fine varietal wines in California. His philosophy was to do as little as possible to make great wine. As with everything, everyone translates or applies things a little differently. As a young winemaker I refused to fine and filter because I took things literally and thought that that was a large influence on the quality of wine. As the years went on I realized it was a very small part of what makes wine great, but made for great marketing banter. Great grapes make great wine.

When I look at wine making over the millenniums many of the great wines have been both fined and filtered...but with skill and reverence to the final outcome. Most of my reds are egg white fined; so are most great Bordeaux, especially Petrus. As far as filtering…My reds are filtered enough to keep the fruit fly eye lashes out of the bottle. I am also a proponent of using sulfur in my production. As little as possible but enough so that the wines do not grow unwanted bacteria or oxidize too quickly.

I believe with everything there is a middle. And in wine we have both extremes. Some people do nothing and claim it is the best and some do anything and claim it to be the proper way. Either way…as commercial beverages go, wine is one of the healthiest things on the grocery shelf. There are very few wines that will do harm to humans, except for those that are allergic to alcohol.

So as a winemaker I guess I am in that middle. I will do as little as possible to make good wine. I have been making wine that way for 35 years and now we have a category that I fit in called organic. What is most important to me is that we do not use pesticides and herbicides in the growing our fruit. We give up high yields because of that. Luckily we are not trying to feed the world; we're only making small quantities of wine.

I think many people miss the message about organic wine...it does not make you jump higher or run faster as they say. I am not even sure if it is better for you. But it is definitely better for the small piece of the planet that we have taken the responsibility to care for and farm.

Sorry if I ramble on to much but this is my passion. Happy to ramble more...

Sincerely,

Jim

Ditch The Plastic Bear, Honey.

2011-11-16T09:43:00.000-08:00

Small food producers like us are continually beating the drums for local, organic produce and something as commonplace as honey is no exception. There was an article published recently on Foodsafetynews.com about the differences and downfalls of buying mass produced honey. We're talking about the stuff that comes with your biscuits at KFC, or in the little plastic bears on the shelf at your local supermarket.

Apparently, much of the honey that is used in our store-bought baked goods and in the plastic bears and beehives comes from China. There are many regulations the FDA imposes on imported honey but the pollen leftover in the honey is the only way to tell where it comes from in case it is in violation of food quality and safety standards. This mass production imported honey is laden with banned antibiotics and additives. Due to the lack of pollen in the honey, testers are unable to determine the exact origin of the product. In addition to circumventing US food safety standards, it has been found that barrels of honey coming from China have actually been shipped to countries that pay lower tariffs on exports to the US in order to keep the costs down and further mask the origen of the product.

While this situation probably isn't going to change any time soon we can do our part in not supporting these nefarious activities buy buying local products if at all possible. Besides, local small scale produced honey is better by immeasurable proportions.

Click here to read the entire article.

First Olive Crushing Photos & Video of 2011 at Terra Savia

2011-11-09T13:41:00.000-08:00

Fresh olives in the hopper to be crushed.

Olives on their way to the washer, leaves are separated here as well.

Blade Crusher

Decanter where solids, oil, and water are separated here.

Leaves on their way outside for composting.

Bratwurst With Wine?

2011-11-07T11:50:00.000-08:00

Absolutely!
I had some bratwurst on Saturday and we were trying to figure out if we should go the traditional route and have a German style beer; instead, some research was done on what wines could pair with fresh bratwurst.

An un-oaked Chardonnay ended up being a great match. Since classic German style beers tend to be crisp, refreshing, and light bodied, a wine with some of the same characteristics seemed to be in order. Our Chardonnay is a clean, light bodied yet fruit forward wine that isn't too sweet to overpower the savory qualities of the sausage and accompanying cabbage. A couple other wines that were on the recommended pairing list were Pino Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and Dry Riesling or Dry Guwerztraminer.
Here's the very easy recipe:

Wine - Terra Sávia 2009 Chardonnay - No-Oak

Fresh Bratwurst - Boiled on low heat for 10-15 minutes, then browned in a frying pan with olive oil or butter until sides are brown and clear liquid oozes from sausage.
Side Dish
Stir-Fried Cabbage and Leeks seasoned with salt, pepper, and cumin.

We made brat-dogs with these as well piling the cabbage on top with some stone-ground mustard.

Delicious.

Vanilla Ice Cream With Olive Oil

2011-10-18T09:55:00.000-07:00

This dessert recipe came recommended by someone at Nexternal an E-Commerce provider.

Vanilla Ice Cream, drizzled with our own Terra Sávia organic olive oil and sea salt.

That's it! Simple and delicious. One side note though; you can vegan cocoanut milk ice cream which is quite delicious!
Unfortunately Terra Sávia doesn't produce a dessert wine and our Reserve Chardonnay, which is the sweetest wine we produce but it wasn't quite sweet enough. This dish would go perfectly with your favorite white dessert wine.
Happy eating!

Image courtesy of dessert.food.com

A Pairing Made in Heaven.

2011-10-10T10:47:00.000-07:00

So last week I had the urge to make a new dish I've never heard of, Red Chard and Rice with Bacon. This savory recipe paired perfectly with the full-bodied, oaked butterscotch notes of our Reserve Chardonnay.
Here's the recipe:

Ingredients
2 tbsp (Terra Sávia) extra-virgin olive oil
3-4 slices of bacon, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, grated
1 small bunch red chard, stemmed and chopped
freshly grated nutmeg
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
1 tsp smoked paprika, or sweet paprika
1 cup white rice
1 3/4 cups chicken stock or water

Directions
Heat the olive oil in a saucepot over medium heat.
Add the bacon, cook 2 minutes, then add the garlic and stir 1 minute.
Add the chard and season with a little nutmeg, salt, pepper and paprika.
When the chard is wilted add the rice and stir for 1 minute.
Add the stock or water and bring to a boil then reduce the heat to a simmer and cover.
Cook 15-18 minutes, or until the rice is tender.
Fluff with a fork and serve.

I made a salad to accompany this dish but that choice is of course up to you.

Recipe was found at foodnetwork.com

Enjoy, Pecos

Coming Up: Hopland Fall Passport Weekend, 10/22 & 23

2011-09-08T10:26:00.000-07:00

Time to start planning for the the Fall edition of the Hopland Passport Weekend, October 22nd & 23rd. Saturday's entertainment at Terra Sávia will be provided by The Coffee Zombie Collective from Santa Cruz. They're an acoustic six-piece outfit that puts their spin on an eclectic mix of past and modern hits.

Being so close to Halloween you can expect to see a few costumes around at the seventeen participating Hopland wineries. The usual shuttles will be running on Saturday but this year the number of shuttles running has been increased by 50% due to demand from the last few events.
Tickets are $45 online, $55 if purchased at the wineries. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the event and we expect it to be the biggest yet.

Please visit Hoplandpassport.com for tickets, lodging options and more information.

California Olive Oil Being Sold in Europe?

2011-08-29T15:58:00.000-07:00

Apparently, yes; "So now, some of the biggest olive oil companies in the world are saying "okay, we can do California, too." - Curtis Cord of The Olive Oil Times

The Olive Oil Times recently published an article about European olive oil companies buying California oil to market and sell across The Pond. There have been some issues with quality control, labeling, and pricing with some Old World producers thus creating a European demand for the high quality oil California is becoming known for. California has many smaller producers who maintain strict quality control standards over their product. These latest moves are coming from countries where olive oil has been a way of life at the dining table for centuries so this represents a massive opportunity for the New World to put its phenomenal oil on the map along side its wines.

Click here to read the full Olive Oil Times article

Terra Savia Blanc de Blancs Wins Gold!

2011-08-15T18:11:00.000-07:00

The results from the Mendocino Wine Competition are in and we're very pleased with the outcome.

2007 Blanc De Blancs - Gold
2010 Chardonnay - Silver
2007 Meritage - Silver

Click here for the complete list of Mendocino County's best wines!

Wine, Food, and Fun at Pure Mendocino

2011-08-12T14:54:00.000-07:00

The the 7th annual Pure Mendocino event is coming up on August 27th. Click here for more details

Not So Simple Living Fair, Booneville, CA 7/22-24

2011-07-19T18:31:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for something a little different to do this coming weekend, look no further than Booneville, CA for The Not-So-Simple Living Fair. This festival is a 3-day celebration of rural living lifestyles and skills complete with demonstrations, music, camping, and presentations including one on Saturday by our very own Yvonne Hall on growing olives for olive oil production.

The weekend starts on Friday night at dusk with a Camp-out Cabaret in the campground at the Fairgrounds (bring a song, poem or story to share). Workshops and ongoing demonstrations will be offered all day Saturday and Sunday. Saturday evening there will be a Local Food Potluck Dinner (please bring food to share and your own plate, cup and utensils to eat with). Music and dancing with Pura Vida will round out and energize the evening.

Displays and demonstrations, the Conversation Café, Tool Show and Tell, and Marketplace will be on-going throughout the weekend. Participants will have the opportunity to share skills and ideas.

Admission is $20.00/day or $30.00/weekend, plus $10/car/night for camping. RV hookups are available: call the camp host at (831) 238-5345. Youth 16 and under are free. No dogs are allowed on the Fairgrounds.

For more information or to volunteer to help at the Fair, email info@notsosimple.info or call (707) 684-0028.

Website: http://www.notsosimple.info/

The Arts Council of Mendocino County

2011-07-15T14:11:00.000-07:00

Being avid supporters of our local art community in Hopland and Mendocino County we'd like to promote the Arts Council of Mendocino County.

"The mission of the Arts Council is to introduce, promote and benefit the arts in order to enrich the quality of life the citizens of the county."

They are dedicated to promoting art in the community by providing opportunities for artists, art organizations, and providing art education. The council supports and promotes the arts throughout Mendocino County by working with local government, businesses, and tourism leaders.

On their website you'll find listings for Music, Theatre, Art Shows, Gallery Exhibits, Dance, Literary, Culinary, Children's, and Circus, yes, Circus events.

Have a look at http://www.artsmendocino.org/

Organic Wine App

2011-07-05T10:11:00.000-07:00

If you're curious about wines in California that produce wines made organically and/or biodynamically, and have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, check out vinOrganica. It's comprehensive phone app that provides a map with information on these wineries, including Terra Sávia. It also includes photos, tasting room hours and fees, nearby lodging options, and suggestions for local restaurants. This app is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch and cost $1.99.

Website: Vinorganica.com
App Review Page

Publish Post

A Mendocino County Place To Visit

2011-06-27T16:14:00.000-07:00

In efforts to promote Mendocino County tourism we're going to feature places to visit and/or stay every so often. If you're headed out to the coast from Cloverdale for a night or two, check out the Little River Inn. They offer golfing, tennis, kayaking amongst other activities, not to mention seaside lodging. Here's the description from their website:
"This is where the coast’s history and natural beauty meet. Perched on the Pacific Ocean, Little River Inn has graciously greeted guests for five generations. Dramatic and ever-changing ocean views provide a breathtaking backdrop for your stay."
"Tradition and warmth are pervasive at Little River Inn – your first glimpse of our graceful gardens and classic Victorian architecture speaks volumes of the experience to come. Our accommodations are elegant yet charming, luxurious but still cozy. Relax in front of a wood burning fireplace or watch the sunset from your private deck."

Check out Their Website
www.littleriverinn.com

View Larger Map

The 2009 Chardonnay Wins Another Gold!

2011-06-17T10:45:00.000-07:00

The results from the Orange County Wine Competition are in and...

2009 Chardonnay wins another gold!
2007 Blanc de Blancs wins silver!

The total wines submitted were as follows:

4 Star Gold - 34
Gold - 266
Silver - 601
Bronze - 576
Total Awards - 1,477
Total Entries - 2,512

Competition Website

Vegan Wine?

2011-06-08T08:59:00.000-07:00

A Post by Pecos, the Greenhorn of Terra Sávia,
While visiting Earthbeam, a health food store in Burlingame, CA the other day, I came across a handout on the different types of organic wines, which as we know, can be somewhat confusing. To add another layer to the confusion however, there was a snippet about vegan wines. I've heard the term "vegan wine" before but didn't really pay much attention to it. This time, as I've become more involved in this family business I figured this was a good question for Señor Jimmy Chardonnay(Milone), our resident wine sensei. Since I was driving at the time of said inquiry I wasn't able to write down his answer but I did manage to retain the crucial bit of information which answered my question; there are some animal products, the most well known being egg whites, that are used in the fining process.
Fining is NOT how certain wines earn the moniker of "Fine Wine" In winemaking fining is the process of clarifying wine by removing all or at least most of the suspended particles. Certain fining agents are used to do this, all of which are animal derivatives, others are chemical and organic products which is great material for another blog post. As a magicians can be a bit reluctant to reveal their secrets, so are winemakers and Jim isn't any different. What he will say though, in regards to organic winemaking, "making wine organically is not about what you do, it's what you don't do. Also, it is in Jim's belief as well as many others oenophiles, making wines that are unfiltered and unfined does not mean they are better or more natural. I've taken the liberty to list here some of the different animal-derived fining agents:
*It should also be noted that none of the fining agents used remain in the finished product so one cannot expect to their wine develop e-coli.

Egg Whites - Used to ease the tannin levels in red wine
Dried Ox Blood (blood albumen)
Milk Casein - A protein component of milk
Isinglass (derived from Phish bladders)
Bulls Blood (Banned in most countries due concerns over Mad Cow Disease)
Gelatin
Chitosan (pronounced with a K sound, a "structural element in the exoskeletons of crustaceans"

That's all I found in my research, I'm sure I forgot something but next week stay tuned for the next blog post on the use of "vegan approved" fining agents.

-Pecos

Experience Mendocino in San Francisco

2011-05-23T16:55:00.000-07:00

Taste of Mendocino is a showcase of some of the best food, art, wine, and culture Mendocino County has to offer. There are going to be many vendors, performers and various characters present to ensure a good time.

Here is a partial list of festival highlights:
- Three wine havens will anchor the space, showcase over 60 wineries, and provide a sense of place for attendees.
- Three breweries will serve up beer from a 16-foot bar (Ukiah Brewing Co, North Coast Brewing, and Mendocino Brewing Co)
- Germain-Robin will have an 8-foot bar to showcase their spirits.
- The Flynn Creek Circus will performing aerial acts
-Many wonderful food vendors providing tastes and nibbles: Mendo Bistro, Ravens, Piaci Pizzeria, Assaggiare Mendocino, Picciani's Pastry and Catering, Cliff House Restaurant, Bar Agricole (preparing Mendocino Organics products), Bon Appetite Management Company (preparing Magruder Ranch Meats) and Harvest Market preparing delectable edibles from Mendocino County products.
- There will be a huge farmers' market stand with 14 vendors selling and sharing everything from jams and preserves to olive oils, goat cheese, eggs, chocolate truffles and soaps
- Nick Thayer of Late Afternoon design has agreed to landscape the event with native plants, trees and elements of wine production.
- Kate and Ben Frey will be helping out with landscaping and woodworking expertise.
- We have a large contingency of artists joining us, with a particularly robust showing from the Ukiah arts community- Many representatives from County events will be present including folks from: The Mendocino Music Festival, The Day of the Dead Festival, Crab and Wine Days, Winesong!, Little River Whale Festival, and Pure Mendocino
- There will be plenty of picnic tables, hay bales, and wine barrel bars for people to linger at and enjoy themselves.
Promotion Thanks:

7x7 Magazine
Tablehopper.com
Gene Burns of KGO Radio
Alice radio and Live 105
Our friends at Slow Food, Bi-Rite grocery, SF Vintners Market and the Solar Living Institute
Publish Post

The April 2011 Newsletter

2011-04-27T14:59:00.000-07:00

Cooking For Zero Waste

2011-04-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

Cooking for Solutions 2011 is going to be an event that is

What does Zero Waste mean?

The goal is to divert as much waste from the landfill as possible. Please help the Monterey
Bay Aquarium achieve this by participating and doing your part. The two main components of Zero
Waste are, first - using recyclable and compostable materials, and then - ensuring those materials are
disposed of properly.

What does Zero Waste mean for you as a chef or vendor?

All of the service ware that the guests will be using will be compostable, including all the
plates, napkins and cutlery.

You will be able to recycle and/or compost packaging materials, food scraps and containers.

You can start now by utilizing “The Right Materials”

Reusable plastic bins and containers are preferred

Reusable or recyclable cardboard boxes allow for easy reuse or disposal

No polystyrene coolers or ice chests please

Then on the night it will be all about “The Right Disposal”

In addition to roving folks who will be able to help you identify what is and isn’t recyclable
or compostable, recycle stations will be available at your station during setup and breakdown, and
compost bins will be available throughout the evening.

Please recycle all of your glass, aluminum, plastic, including stretchy plastic wrap and
reuse or recycle your cardboard boxes

Put all food scraps including meat and fish into the compost bins

Ensure any other staff or station helpers know about the goal and do their part too

Think twice before placing anything in the “landfill” bin

Help Cooking for Solutions become an even more sustainable event – be Zero Waste!

Hopland Passport - Last Chance to Purchase Tickets Online!

2011-04-25T13:06:00.000-07:00

Links to WINERIES
Terra Savia
Brutocao Cellars
Campovida
Cesar Toxqui Cellars
Graziano Family of Wines
Jaxon Keys Winery
Jeriko Estate
McDowell Valley Vineyards
McFadden Vineyards
McNab Ridge Winery
Milano Winery
Nelson Family Vineyards
Parducci Wine Cellars
Patianna Vineyards
Rack & Riddle
Saracina Vineyards
Weibel Family Vineyards

Destination Hopland
Toll Free 800-564-2582
P.O. Box 578
Hopland, CA 95449
Mailing List

Don't miss out on this year's Hopland Passport on Saturday, April 30th and Sunday, May 1st.
Online Ticket Sales End on Thursday April 28th, at 12 pm- Buy your ticket today!
Buy your ticket online today for $35. Tickets can be purchased after Thursday at any participating winery for $45.

Hopland Passport wineries are rolling out the barrels and will be offering delicious food pairings. Here is a preview just a few:

Join us at Saracina Vineyards along with Executive Chef Janelle Weaver of world renowned Kuleto Estate Winery of St. Helena and Peter Michael Winery of Calistoga. She will be enticing us with delectable items including Smoked Chicken & Porcini Crepes, Grilled Hangar Steak Tartines, & more!

Weibel Family Vineyards & Winery will be at their new tasting room located in downtown Hopland & will be providing critically acclaimed treats by Chef Sarah Picollo of Fork Catering. Weibel will also be offering new releases-2009 Mendocino Chardonnay, 2010 Redwood Valley Sauvignon Blanc & 2010 Mendocino Orange Muscat.

For the first time, wines from Parducci Wine Cellars will be served at Real Goods. They will be pouring several of their 90+ score wines along with food by favorite local chef Tamara Frey. She will be serving grilled local, organic beef with aioli on crostini, local goat cheese on a crostini with sun dried tomato garnish, as well as smoked salmon mousse. The Dirt Floor Band will be playing from noon to 4:00 pm on the Pavilion lawn at Real Goods on Saturday.

Also new to Hopland Passport this year is Cesar Toxqui Cellars, who recently opened a tasting room in downtown Hopland. Cesar and his family invite participants to stop by and taste his hand-crafted, small-batch artisan Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Heirloom wines, all of which are produced using sustainable, traditional methods.

Campovida will be serving Mendocino Farms wine, harvested olive oil, honey & appetizers prepared by Branches. They have a talented musical line-up including local artists Les Boek & friends as well as local vocal artist, Mara Montiel. Ken Boek, Campovida's Voice of Nature, will be offering tours of the famous organic gardens throughout both days of the event starting at 11:30am.

Contact Information: PO BOX 578, Hopland, CA 95449 | 800.564.2582

Happy Earth Day!

2011-04-22T11:23:00.000-07:00

Being eco-minded people let alone organic wine and olive oil producers, it would be wrong to not post anything on Earth Day. With the probable exception of Amazon tribes, nobody's perfect when it comes to environmental preservation; all we can do is our best and are proud to be part of the earth friendly farming movement which is only gaining new followers and practitioners each day.

Keep up the good work friends...


Our Garden, Greenhouse, and Facility in Hopland

What Are the Regulations for Organic Winemaking?

2011-04-12T18:20:00.000-07:00

Organic winemaking is much more about what you don't do in the winemaking process. With good reason, there are fairly strict regulations on what you can and can't add for flavor, color, preservation, filtering, body, tannins, ect.
Here are a few of those regulations, for the complete list, click here.

Sulfur dioxide (Sulfites)—for use only in wine labeled “made with organic grapes,” Provided, That, total sulfite concentration does not exceed 100 ppm.
Magnesium sulfate, nonsynthetic sources only.
Yeast—nonsynthetic, growth on petrochemical substrate and sulfite waste liquor is prohibited (Autolysate; Bakers; Brewers; Nutritional; and Smoked—nonsynthetic smoke flavoring process must be documented).
Egg white lysozyme (CAS # 9001– 63–2)
Enzymes—must be derived from edible, nontoxic plants, nonpathogenic fungi, or nonpathogenic bacteria.

Click here for more information