Archive for the 'Other News' Category

September is California Wine Month

Published on August 30, 2010 in Other News. 0 Comments

September is California Wine Month!

September is California Wine Month, and that makes it a fine time to enjoy a glass of California wine and a visit to wine country.  September is harvest time in California and California Wine Month celebrates the state’s ideal climate for wine, beautiful wine country landscape, our talented and ingenious winemaking families, our celebrated lifestyle and cuisine; and our commitment to sustainability and the environment.

2010 is the sixth consecutive year (proclamation pending) that California Wine Month will be celebrated in September.  California wine is important to California’s economy, as the state is the fourth largest wine producer in the world, makes 90 percent of American wine and is responsible for $18.5 billion in retail wine sales in the U.S.

Need 10 reasons to love California wine? Click here.

California Wine Month 2010

California’s Benchmark Wines

Published on August 26, 2010 in Other News. 0 Comments

What are California’s benchmark wines?

http://www.steveheimoff.com/index.php/2010/08/20/what-are-californias-benchmark-wines/

U.S. Wine Consumption Maintains Growth

Published on August 9, 2010 in Other News. 0 Comments

U.S. Wine Consumption Maintains Growth Trend…

Norwalk, Conn. – A difficult economy may be forcing Americans to do without some things, but wine isn’t one of them. Consumers are buying more each year.  

According to the Beverage Information Group’s recently released 2010 Wine Handbook, the wine industry continued to post positive results in 2009, marking its 16th consecutive year of case gains. Overall wine consumption rose 0.8% to 297.0 million 9-liter cases. Off-premise consumption continues to grow to 14.6 billion, helped by a competitive marketplace exploding with new brands and competitive pricing.

Consumers have become more discretionary in their disposable income since the economic downturn. They have embraced “trading down” as well as searching for better bargains online. This is especially true of the Millennial generation’s 70-80 million members (21-33 year olds) who are willing to experiment and are bargain savvy, using electronic media to find the best deals.

According to the 2010 Wine Handbook, domestics continue to outpace imports. Domestic wines rose 1.8% to 222.7 million cases while imports dropped 2.2%, landing at 74.3 million cases. Growth is still being seen among smaller countries such as Chile, New Zealand and Portugal.

“As the country recovers from the recessionary environment, the wine industry continues to look positive,” says Eric Schmidt, Manager of Information Services for the Beverage Information Group based in Norwalk, Conn. “We expect to see wine consumption increase to 310.7 million cases by 2014.”

Click Here for full article

Hospice du Rhone Recap

Published on May 5, 2010 in Other News. 0 Comments

I had a wonderful and Rhone-filled weekend at Hospice du Rhone.  There is truly nothing like attending seminars where the best of the best are speaking of the passions and technicals of their craft.  The weekend was full of a series of four seminars and Rhone-focused tastings.

The Central Coast’s Santa Barbara County is brimming with producers of Rhone varietals – Syrah, Grenache, Viognier, Roussanne.  Syrah is one of the most versatile in the bunch as it can grow it warm and cool climates, producing different styles.

For me, the best way to learn more about a specific area is to hone in on a specific region in the manner that they accomplish at Hospice.  Here is the list of the seminars that were held:

We’ve Come a Long Way Baby! The Past, Present and Future of South African Syrah
Producers: Marc Kent, Boekenhoutskloof; David Trafford, De Trafford; Eben Sadie, Fairview Winery; Andrea Mullineux,Mullineaux Family Wines; Eben Sadie, Sadie Family Wines; Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards; Chris Mullineux, Stellenzicht
Moderated by: James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

A timeline of the evolution of South African Syrah. Six South African producers will lead you through the history of winemaking in their country. Their presentation will include wines from the best of the Old School, before Nelson Mandela was released and their industry was fairly isolated. You will become acquainted wiht the time when the world was opening up for their country and wine industry and examine a wine that took things to a new level from the late 90’s then on to the more recent wines which together will give a good picture of Syrah in the Cape today. There are wines from the most important Syrah regions/terroirs as well as different vintages, and there are also a couple of blends to show what might be possible into the future.

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Seminar Two

Côte Rôtie – The Next Generation
Producer: Stéphane Ogier of Domaine Michel and Stéphane Ogier, Ampuis, France
Moderated by: John Alban, Founding Director of Hospice du Rhône

Prior to 1980, Michel Ogier sold off both his fruit and the wines he produced to the large negoçiant Marcel Guigal. Michel later began to bottle wines under his own label. Nearly 20 years later, Stéphane, his son, is in now charge. His youthful energy and passion for the vineyards and winemaking have resulted in the estate’s rise to superstar status over the past ten years.

Saturday, May 1, 2010
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Seminar Three

Washington State: The Perfect Haven for “The UltimateTerroirist”
Producer: Charles Smith of K Vintners, Walla Walla, Washington
Moderated by: Alan Kropf, Mutineer Magazine

Charles Smith of K Vintners located in Walla Walla, Washington will pilot us on what he describes as, “…A sensory exploration of the diverse growing regions of Eastern Washington or “explode this bomb in your mouth, yo!”

Amongst his many accolades, Charles was named Food & Wine Magazines 2009 American Wine Awards Winemaker of the Year. Robert Parker reveals that, “When it comes to his wines, the otherwise wild and irrepressible Charles Smith is as serious as a heart attack. Charles Smith knows where to find the great grapes. In a region where blending is still the rule of thumb, he is the ultimate terroirist.”

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Seminar Four

An Incredible Cambie-nation
Producers: Vincent Maurel of Clos Saint Jean, Michel Tardieu of Tardieu-Laurent and Philippe Cambie, Consulting Winemaker
Moderated by: Jeb Dunnuck, The Rhône Report

This dynamic trio could not represent the Southern Rhône wine experience any better with what they have to offer in their wines and their knowledge of the region. All three are internationally regarded as foremost experts at their craft.

To see more on Hospice du Rhone, and to find out about how to attend next year’s event, visit their website.

Joanie Hudson, Director of National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards

California Grape Acreage at All Time High

Published on April 27, 2010 in Other News. 0 Comments

Quite an interesting report on current vineyard acreage in California. 

Check out below for highlights of the California Department of Food and Agriculture report:

California’s grape-bearing acreage grew to an all-time high in recession-plagued 2009, with 448,957 planted acres of red and white wine grapes. That’s an increase of 5,267 bearing acres over last year’s total, or 1.1 percent.

Pinot Noir saw the largest increase of any variety, red or white: nearly 18 percent.

Other red varieties that grew included Syrah, Petite Sirah and (very slightly) Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.

Merlot decreased. A mere 158 acres of it were planted statewide in 2009, less even than Zinfandel (166 acres). The damage done from Sideways apparently is ongoing.

Chardonnay decreased (slightly), but Pinot Gris was up, and so was Sauvignon Blanc.

French Columbard remains the second most widely-planted white grape, after Chardonnay. Much of it goes into cheap jug blends, but there are always rumors that some ends up in Chardonnay, since by Federal law only 75% of a grape variety must be contained in a wine with a varietal label.

However, if you factor in non-bearing acreage (meaning vines that are still too young to bear fruit), almost all major varieties, with the exception of Merlot but including Chardonnay, increased in 2009 over 2008.

The largest increases in Pinot Noir acreage occurred in Sonoma and Monterey counties, with Santa Barbara a distant third. Napa County, including the Carneros portion, remained steady in Pinot Noir acreage.

Most of Monterey’s and Santa Barbara’s increased Pinot Noir acreage still is non-bearing. As the vines bear fruit in the next year or two, additional quantities of Pinot Noir will be put onto the market, which could alleviate prices.

The interior valley counties of Madera, Fresno, Merced, Sacramento, San Joaquin and Yolo also saw big spikes in non-bearing grape acreage. This suggests that inland growers (in an attempt to offer consumers less expensive wines), planted major varieties that eventually will find their way into lower-priced bottles.

It’s always interesting to follow the trends of what is being planted where.  Helps to forecast the near future of the industry.  This article is posted on the Wine Enthusiast website.  

Joanie Hudson, Director of National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards

Hospice du Rhone

Published on April 19, 2010 in Other News. 0 Comments

In a couple of weeks I will be attending Hospice du Rhone in Paso Robles, the world’s largest international celebration of Rhone varietals through a series of seminars and tastings.  (Actually according to the website, as I write this post, the official countdown is 9 days and 23 hours – April 29-May1).

Hospice du Rhône (HdR) represents and embodies the spirit of Rhône varieties and those who produce the wines made of these unique winegrapes.

Each year, Hospice du Rhône produces an exceptional three-day wine event, in Paso Robles, California USA,that is globally regarded as the single most essential and enjoyable gathering of international Rhône wine producers and enthusiasts. During the wine event, attendees expand their knowledge of the twenty-two Rhône varieties, while rubbing elbows with the winemakers whose passion spurs the inspiration and energy that sets the tone for every seminar, meal and tasting at the spirited affair.

A perpetual non-profit business league, Hospice du Rhône also hosts the annual Robert Parker California Rhône Tasting and continues to provide educational opportunities.

Seminars range from discussions on South African syrah, musings on Cote Rotie, and Washington State, among multiple other topics.  I can hardly wait!

For more info on Rhone varietals, a great resource is the Rhone Rangers website.

Red Grapes

The most common red Rhone varietals are Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre, with Syrah predominant in the Northern Rhone and Grenache in the Southern Rhone.  Other relatively common red grapes include Cinsault, Carignan, and Petite Sirah.  Finally, the list includes some grapes that are found only in trace amounts even in France, and are just beginning to be explored in the United States, including Counoise, Muscardin, Picpoul Noir, Vaccarese, and Terret Noir.  For the sticklers out there, the Rhone Rangers have adopted Petite Sirah, a French cross also known as Durif, due to its extensive interplanting with traditional Rhone varietals in Calfiornia. Learn more about these red Rhone grape varieties!

White Grapes

The principal white Rhone varietals are Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne, each found throughout the Rhone Valley, with Grenache Blanc a widely planted but less well known contributor in the Southern Rhone.  The other white grapes include Bourboulenc, Clairette Blanc, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Picardin, Picpoul/Piquepoul Blanc, and Ugni Blanc. Learn more about these white Rhone grape varieties.

Joanie Hudson, Director of National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards

Wine Enthusiast’s ‘How Wine Lovers Use Social Media’

Published on April 8, 2010 in Other News. 0 Comments

Great “Recap” article from Wine Enthusiast Magazine on ‘How Wine Lovers Use Social Media’

Twitter. Facebook. Blogs and videos. With all the various ways to communicate about wine (and myriad other pursuits), it’s a wonder we have any time left to sip and relax.

But social media gurus say that tweeting and blogging can help us enjoy our favorite tipple. “Wine is a very social beverage,” says Warren Sukernek, VP of Strategies for Lift9, a Seattle-based social media marketing firm. “The whole experience is definitely enhanced for enthusiasts when you’re talking to others about it, whether it’s exploring new wines or comparing tasting notes.”

This may be why, according to a new study from Lift9, 700,000 people watch wine-related videos each month. There are over 7,000 wine tweets per day, and over 1,300 bloggers focusing on wine. And the wine experience has become portable, with more than 300 iPhone apps.

We asked Lift9 to share with us the top clicks in the social media realm, and how each tool is being used…

Click Here for the rest of the article.

Joanie Hudson, Director of National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards

Whole Foods Stores to Recycle Wine Corks

Published on April 8, 2010 in Other News. 0 Comments

Recycle your ‘popped’ wine corks at Whole Foods stores!

Whole Foods Market announced on April 6 that it is implementing a company-wide wine cork recycling program that will be available throughout its 292 store locations in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.In partnership with Cork ReHarvest, Whole Foods will set up designated drop boxes for recycling wine corks in its stores. According to a press release, an estimated 13 billion wine cork are produced each year.

“We often forget that cork is a renewable, recyclable material that does not belong in our landfills,” says Erez Klein, wine and beer buyer for Whole Foods Market’s Pacific Northwest Region.

“Whole Foods Market is excited to make cork recycling more accessible to our shoppers, and Cork ReHarvest allows us to help sustain cork forests, a critically important resource for our planet, and to do so with near effortless local community action.”

According to the World Wildlife Fund, Mediterranean oak forests that supply cork support one of the world’s highest levels of forest biodiversity and the second-highest number of plant species in the world.

Not a single tree, which can live up to 300 years, is cut down during cork extraction; instead, bark is harvested by hand every nine to 12 years.

Recycling cork from wine bottles can help lessen the pressure to harvest too quickly, because existing cork – in the form of wine closures or stoppers, for example – reduces the need to use virgin resources to fashion other cork-made goods.

The corks collected for recycling at Whole Foods locations will be made into post-consumer products.

“By launching this company-wide recycling effort, Whole Foods Market is demonstrating its commitment to its green mission,” says Patrick Spencer, director of Cork ReHarvest.

Similar initiatives for recycling wine corks have been gaining momentum over the past couple of years. Last August, American Airlines partnered with ReCORK America to recycle its corks produced from its Admiral Club Lounges.

ReCORK also teamed up with Whole Foods in 2008 for a pilot wine cork recycling program for 25 locations throughout northern California and Reno, Nev.

I Didn’t Know That Was Recyclable!

Joanie Hudson, Director of National and International Marketing, Santa Barbara Winery / Lafond Winery & Vineyards

Examiner.com Article

Published on March 30, 2010 in Other News. 0 Comments

Recent article at Examiner.com featuring Santa Barbara Winery and Lafond Winery:

Many wines are intimately connected through their producers, whose offspring are differentiated by the various labels, such as Fess Parker which carries both the Fess Parkery Winery label and Epiphany, as well as a few others. This gives winemakers more freedom to create and brand new families of styles as well as the marketing aspect to appeal to an entirely new audience.

Santa Barbara Winery is well known in this area. The name speaks for itself. This is Santa Barbara, and this is their wine. Santa Barbarians are very fond of these wines. Not only is this winery rich in history, but the wines themselves are of high quality and a sure crowd-pleaser at many of the functions one finds here. Aside from the wines that label the winery itself, they also are known for the Lafond family of wines.

Pierre Lafond, himself, started the Santa Barbara Winery back in 1962. It was the first winery to open in this area following prohibition, and the winery has been in the same location, after its original move, since 1964. Today, with more than 200,000 acres of vineyards scattered throughout the region, Pierre Lafond continues to produce award-winning wines.

The Lafond Winery focuses on three wines: Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Chardonnay. A few that deserve mention is the 2006 Arita Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir, which won Gold at the 2009 Orange County Wine Society, and the 2007 SRH Pinot Noir, which won Silver in the same competition. 

The Santa Barbara Winery experiments with unique varietals and offers a few more choices such as Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache, and Pinot Gris, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Negrette, Petit Verdot, and Lagrein. This winery can add an award to its list as well. The 2007 Santa Rita Hills Reserve Chardonnay won Double Gold in the 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and at only $22, you won’t be able to find a better one at that price…

Click Here for the rest of the article.

Cheers!