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ANNIKA Syrah Wine Review

2009-11-02T12:40:17-08:00

When I heard that the best female golfer of all time was getting into the wine business I was excited and skeptical. I’ve tasted different wines from various professional golfers and the result has always been good but not overwhelming. Well Annika Sorenstam has really set a new standard and in my opinion reached beyond any expectations to produce a wine capable of standing with all the heavy hitters.
In partnership with Wente Vineyards the May 1st release of the 2006 Annika syrah marks its inaugural vintage.

This wine is comprised of 75 percent Livermore Valley Syrah and 15 percent Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, and fittingly, 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon from the Livermore Valley Golf Vineyard. Winemaker Karl Wente and Annika Sorenstam selected the 2006 Syrah from the Silva block on the Livermore Valley estate to be the backbone of the wine. This beautiful specimen has a deep dark hue and the nose is absolutely fabulous. The Syrah will give you aromas of wild blackberry, plum, and strawberry with chocolate and coffee flavors. The Cabernet Sauvignon provides more structure and augments the cassis and clove aromas. The palette is very intense, rich with all the flavors from the nose reinforced. The tannins are big and the wine is hearty but sensible. In my opinion this one is ready to be drank now but it can be cellared for at least 5 to 10 years.

Wente Vineyards is led today by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family. Blending traditional and innovative winemaking practices, the winery draws from 3,000 acres of sustainably farmed estate vineyards to create an outstanding portfolio of wine.

I am always surprised by wines like these because they leave such a lasting impression. I will always remember where I was and who I was with when I drank that bottle, and I believe that the Annika Syrah will be the next big cult wine that everyone will want. I urge anyone who Is lucky enough to find the Annika Syrah to buy as much as possible.

The original review can be found here

Ava Halloween (And Other Pics)

2009-11-01T13:07:30-08:00

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Halloween Past

2009-10-31T05:52:00-07:00

A blast from Mike and Michelle's Past

Annika's Two Cents - Golf Video | Golf Channel

2009-10-30T10:00:53-07:00

Watch Annika's Interview with Kelly Tilghman about new LPGA commissioner Michael Whan.

Annika's Two Cents - Golf Video | Golf Channel.

Update From Orlando

2009-10-29T17:00:35-07:00

GOLF GREAT ANNIKA SORENSTAM TO KICK OFF "TAKE IT OUTSIDE" WEEK ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22 WITH ORLANDO HEAD START CHILDREN

RESTON, VA (October 20, 2009) – Hall of Fame golfer and new mom Annika Sorenstam will join Orlando Head Start children on Thursday morning, October 22 to help kick off the inaugural Take It Outside! Week, October 19 – 23. Annika will visit the Oakridge YMCA site in Orlando, encouraging the children and their families to play outdoors while celebrating the environment.

Presented by Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play (HSBS), the national initiative is sponsored by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) and the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR). Its purpose is to get children outside, connect with the natural world, and increase physical activity.

Accompanied by Luisa Vargas of Garden Grove Elementary School, their parents, teachers, and assistants, the children will participate in four activity “stations.

Books That Move You, Catch and Do, Cooperation Carr and Bubble Fun

Head Start Centers serve over 900,000 children and their families. For an array of free resources about Take It Outside! Week, visit http://www.headstartbodystart.org/

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) recommends that children get a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity every day. To help early childhood programs establish and maintain movement as an integral part of the overall learning process, NASPE has recently published these two new resources -Appropriate Practices in Movement Programs for Children Ages 3-5 and Active Start: A Statement of Physical Activity Guidelines for Children From Birth to Age 5. To order, call 1-800-321-0789, or order online at www.naspeinfo.org.

Head Start Body Start

Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play (HSBS) is a project of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) and the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR), which are associations of the American Alliance for Health, Physical education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). Funding for HSBS is provided by the Office of Head Start (OHS), Administration for Children and Families, US Department of Health and Human Services.

The purpose of HSBS is to increase physical activity, outdoor play and healthy eating among Head Start and Early Head Start children, families and staff.

ANNIKA Foundation

The ANNIKA Foundation teaches children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and offers aspiring junior golfers opportunities to pursue their dreams. A primary focus for the ANNIKA Foundation is to identify the greatest needs and opportunities to make an impact through the development of sports and physical fitness programs for kids. A key focus will be to provide resources that increase participation and access where it is not currently available or affordable, and promote awareness for the importance of leading a healthy, active lifestyle.

Ava's First Photo Shoot

2009-10-17T15:38:38-07:00

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ANNIKA Foundation Event a Success…..

2009-10-15T13:45:18-07:00

The ANNIKA Experience at Fiddler’s Elbow Presented By Benee Scola Realtors & Company was a tremendous success yesterday. I would like to thank Benee Scola Realtors & Company, Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club, and our wonderful sponsors who supported the event. Those included Wente Vineyards, Cutter & Buck, Lexus, Oakley, the USGA, Atlantic Sports Health, The Dux Bed, the EWGA, Actavis, GolfWeek, Zdenek, and Opus Pharma Consulting. I would also like to give a BIG thanks Karen Moraghan, Jennifer Mills, Don Ochsenreiter, Kai Fusser, Jaclyn Garris, Liz Benz, the wonderful regional chefs who created tasty cooking stations, Doug and the Fiddler’s Elbow staff, our volunteers, and Mike for your hard work putting this event together. Thanks to all of you who bought auction items as well! We raised significant dollars for the ANNIKA Foundation!

Our group of over 150 adults had a lot of fun on the course, at the clinic, the auction, and the ANNIKA wine tasting, but most importantly with the 70 plus kids who participated in our “Nine Holes of Fun and Fitness.” I think these photos below say it all as we work towards our mission which is to teach kids the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and to offer aspiring junior golfers opportunities to pursue their dreams.

We look forward to continuing to make a difference for kids and I look forward to seeing everyone again. Thanks a lot!!