It’s Time for a Blind Wine Tasting Party!
If you’ve never hosted or attended a blind wine tasting party, it’s time! We’ve done this several times over the years, and we attended an excellent one this past Saturday night.
What is a blind wine tasting party? It can really be done in many different ways, with the common theme being that the guests are tasting and comparing different wines without knowing what they’re tasting.
A Visit to Jericho Canyon in Calistoga
I was first introduced to Jericho Canyon Vineyard many years ago when another winemaker bought grapes from this area to make Ramey Jericho Canyon. That was a big, muscular cabernet with structure, loamy tannins, and deep rich fruit which would cellar for a long time. My recent visit was an opportunity to rediscover Jericho Canyon Vineyards and taste the wine that the owners of Jericho Canyon now make and bottle under their own name. The wines still have those same great qualities and characteristics that I remember.
Jericho Canyon Vineyard is family owned, and the owners take great pride in honoring the land as they craft their wines. The founders and proprietors are Marla and Dale Bleecher. The property is sustainably farmed and certified Napa Green Land and Winery. It is nestled between the Palisades and Mt. St. Helena off of highway 128 in Calistoga. The vineyards sit at elevations between 200 and 1000 feet, and there are 40 acres under vine.
Wine and Food: Ideas from Shafer Vineyards
Shafer Vineyards is a winery that has become one of the icons in Napa Valley. John Shafer started this vineyard in 1972 and crushed his first cabernet in 1978. Robert Parker has called this winery one of the “10 best wineries in the world.” They produce quality-crafted, well-structured wine regardless of the vintage, and the wines are enjoyable no matter what varietal you prefer. Shafer produces Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet. I have enjoyed all Shafer wines — they never disappoint! Their cabernets are delicious and approachable, often when they’re both young and well-aged. Their “1.5” cabernet is a great wine for any special dinner. The Shafer Hillside Select is one of the most highly sought after wines. As a matter of fact, it drew the highest bid at this past year’s Napa Valley Auction. Last year, their 2008 Syrah, titled “Relentless” (and named for Elias the wine maker and his pursuit of excellence), was named the #1 wine of the year by Wine Spectator.
This winery routinely shares great information through their website and their newsletters to their mailing list. This next piece is one I wanted to share with you since it is about pairing wines with food in a way that makes everything taste better! Here it is — reprinted with the permission of Shafer Vineyards…
What does “Winery Direct” Mean?
Reading the paper this morning, I came across an ad that I needed to comment on. The ad was included in an advertisement for a large wine retail store, and it advertised “Winery Direct” as a sale. What does this mean to you and me? Well, let me first explain wine distribution in the United States.
Predominately, wine goes through a three-tier system on its way to a retail outlet. First, the winery ships to brokers or distributors, and then it moves to retail shelves. As it should, each step in the process adds cost. The broker needs to charge for storage and sales costs, and the retail outlet must do the same. This process exists to allow for large-scale distribution of wines. This is the avenue for many wines to make their way across the United States for all to enjoy – not just those who visit the area where the winery is located.
Wine Headache??
Many times I am told, “Red wine gives me a headache. I must be allergic to …” You fill in the blank. Some folks think it’s sulfites, and others think it’s tannins. Well…there may be some science behind the thoughts.
What components of wine might be causing the adverse reaction? Wine is a complex mix of chemicals, which makes it difficult to answer. There are two major components, which may be responsible: sulfites and histamines. Sulfites are present in all wines but at varying degrees. Sulfer is used in the vineyard, and it’s also used for hygiene reasons with the bottles and added as a preservative after the bottle is filled. Sulfer is also a natural by-product of fermentation. You will see on the label that the wine contains sulfites. This leads many people to conclude, often falsely, that the sulfites are the culprit behind the headaches. Sulfites are actually more apt to produce an asthma attack rather than a headache.
Two More Stops in Santa Barbara
Wineries of the middle and southern Central Coast of California are mostly casual visits and offer a very down to earth experience. Many are small family operations with simple tasting rooms. This may well be attributable to the late development of wineries in the area. It was not until the 1980s that viticulture took off here. In 1970, there were only 171 acres of grapes in Santa Barbara County. By 1998, there were 16,500 acres generating great revenue.
Last week, I talked about our visit to Jonata. During our day of wine tasting, we also visited Stolpman Vineyards and Beckmen Vineyards. Both are examples of family wineries making a mark in the Santa Barbara area.
A Visit to Santa Barbara and a Stop at Jonata Wines
How many of you saw the movie Sideways? It was the movie that literally spurred sales of Pinot Noir and seriously dampened the sales and tarnished the reputation of Merlot. It was filmed in the wine region of Santa Barbara. For those who recall, it really did have an impact on the region and the sale of these two varietals. Having had many great Merlots, I don’t share the sentiments expressed about Merlot in the movie, but Sideways is a fun flick.
Santa Barbara is an area located on California’s Central Coast, and it is beautiful. It is two hours north of Los Angeles. It has a local airport, and you can fly in without a long drive. The coast here runs generally east to west, contributing to smaller microclimates where different varietals flourish. In the northern region, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir prosper, as it is a more maritime climate. In the southern region, you travel easterly, and this produces hotter days and cooler nights. Bordeaux and Rhone varietals flourish in the more extreme climate. The benefit of this region is that you can explore many grape varieties without leaving one area.
A Taste of Howell Mountain
There are many great events to attend in Napa Valley. Last week, I wrote about the Auction Napa Valley (more about that below), which happened in early June. This week, I want to share about the annual “Taste of Howell Mountain,” which we attended just yesterday.
One of my favorite AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) in Napa Valley is Howell Mountain. It is in the Vaca Range on the east side of Napa Valley. It occupies a volcanic plateau and looks across the valley to the Mayacamas Range on the west side. The AVA itself starts at an elevation of 1400 feet and ranges up to 2000 feet. The grapes in these vineyards ripen slowly; and, because they are above the fog line, are drenched in sun for many hours of the day.
While I could go on about the wines, another notable characteristic is the generosity of the winery owners themselves. Many partake and give much to the Napa Valley Vintners Auction, and they band together for “Taste of Howell Mountain” to raise money for the Howell Mountain Elementary School.
No “Ice Wine” at Auction Napa Valley
I am having dinner at a restaurant in ______ City (full name is being withheld to protect the guilty!). I just saw the gentleman sitting in a nearby booth take his spoon, take ice cubes out of his water glass, and put them in his glass of red wine! Oh my, oh my – what to do?? Oh, well – nothing to do but continue working to help people enjoy the beauty of wine. He has to have it his way.
Such a contrast in places. Spending a week in Napa Valley is another world. The Auction Napa Valley was a huge hit this year with record-breaking results. Over three days, the total amount raised for area charities was $16.9 Million. This was a phenomenal result.
Let’s Make It “Crystal” Clear!
Auction Napa Valley got off on a surprise note for me this year. I received an invitation to attend a special tasting at Miner Family Winery on Thursday evening. It was a seminar led by Georg Riedel. Yes, the glassmaker. He is the 10th generation of the family that started the revolution of utilizing the right shape for the right varietal. Riedel is family-owned and operated. They are recognized world-wide for their design of glasses and decanters to maximize the enjoyment of wine and spirits.