Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wine

Swanson Winery Entrance

Napa Valley is an environment committed to preservation, populated with those who perfect the essence of multi-layered taste — be it food, wine or both.

French Laundry and Bouchon are in Yountville, also known as nirvana for Thomas Keller pilgrims. Exceptional wineries are tucked away, often from highway view, in Rutherford, Saint Helena, Oakville, and Calistoga. Resorts are also hidden: The Inn at Carneros (up a side road, behind a garden wall), Calistoga Ranch (in a private canyon), Meadowood (at the end of Meadowood Lane and near the base of Howell Mountain) all removed from plain sight, all worthy of joyous discovery.

Those who retreat to Napa that often engage in wine tastings also discover trends. On a recent journey, I uncovered the emergence of late harvest wines that are becoming increasingly well-known and more appreciated than ever before. Swanson Vineyards makes three exceptional late harvest wines, and has evolved into one of the leaders in this field.

Continue reading The Swanson Late Bloomers: A Late Harvest Wine Trend in Napa Valley

The Swanson Late Bloomers: A Late Harvest Wine Trend in Napa Valley originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Wine

Two hundreds years is an exceptional anniversary to celebrate, and having been founded in 1811, that’s exactly what Perrier-Jouët is marking this year. And to celebrate the occasion, the French champagne house is launching what is termed as the world’s first “living legend” champagne.

The Perrier-Jouët Bi-Centenaire program involves a (presumably quite wealthy) buyer selecting a magnum of Perrier-Jouët’s Belle Epoque 1998 champagne, which is then set down in the winery’s cellars for as much as 100 years, after which the buyer’s descendants are invited to pick up the finely-aged bottle. The entire process is limited to 100 bottles, each fetching a price of 10,000 euros.

The launch of the program was celebrated with a lavish feast attended by 200 guests — including many local and international celebrities — who enjoyed a recreation of the menu crafted for the company’s centarian dinner a hundred years ago, prepared by French chef Jean-Louis Nomicos under the tutelage of his mentor Alain Ducasse.

Perrier-Jouet Celebrates Bicentennial with World’s First “Living Legacy” Champagne originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember back in the day when wine came only in bottles? Then came boxed wine. But even that is essentially a bag inside a box. But now Californian vineyard Indulge Wines is cutting the box out of the equation with wine in a bag.

The winery based in Buellton, Santa Barbara County, is offering a 2009 Sauvignon Blanc and a 2009 Pinot Noir in 1.5-liter bags that are equivalent to two regular-sized bottles. And while they may not seem as classy, they do offer several benefits. One is portability, in that the bags are lighter to transport both for the buyer and for distribution, the “Astrapouch” accounting for only 2% of a full bag’s total weight. There’s also less waste, and the wine is set to keep for 30 days after opening.

[Source: Indulge Wines via Slashfood]

Indulge Wines Thinks Outside the Box originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ponzi Vineyards celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. It’s a thriving family operation founded by Dick and Nancy Ponzi back in 1970 when Oregon’s wine culture was just getting started. Their philosophy centers around respectful stewardship as well as innovation and experimentation, and four decades later the vineyard is a successful leader in its industry.

Their latest release is a 2009 Pinot Noir, Tavola, which is a “blend from our Avellana, Abetina, Linda Vista, Madrona, Aurora, Buteo and Estate vineyards, as well as fruit from sustainably grown vineyards located in the Dundee Hills, Yamhill-Carlton and Eola Hills AVAs.” I was able to try it myself and found it to be delightful and surprisingly refreshing for a red, with bright fruity overtones and a definite lean to the sweet side. It’s smooth, well-balanced, and has a soft, lingering finish. Raspberries, strawberries, and spices are prominent on both the nose and the palate. I imagine it would go well with a variety of meals but we paired it with pan-seared salmon and a butternut/pork belly hash and it was great. Overall it gets a 7.5 out of 10.

Ponzi Vineyards 2009 Pinot Noir, Tavola, Willamette Valley, $25.

Wine Review: Ponzi 2009 Pinot Noir Tavola‏ originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Wine, Books

Novelist Rex Pickett just might have the best book tour ever. The author who brought us Sideways, leading to a popular movie and an epic Merlot kerfuffle, is back with a new novel, Vertical. Vertical brings us the same characters, schlubby and charmingly wine-obsessed Miles and vain but endearing Jack on a new adventure. The fortunes of both the author and his characters have changed quite a bit in the intervening years and the book is a rollicking read.

Of course there’s plenty of wine involved and so Pickett has been making the rounds of both book stores and wineries. This coming weekend he’s up in Oregon and future events take him to Los Angeles, New York and even London. But for the real Sideways style experience you might want to join Pickett in Santa Ynez, California at Gainey Vineyard on Friday, April 15. The event takes place between 5:30 - 8:30 pm and there is no charge. Wine will be available for sale by the glass and books will be available for purchase.

As long as you are there, why not make a weekend of it. The Sideways wine trail page has great suggestions for places to visit that are connected to the book and movie.

Go Sideways With Author Rex Pickett In Santa Ynez originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The global wine industry took notice when LVMH’s Moet Hennessy bought its first 150 tons of grapes that were crushed in Nashik, India, where about 60 wine producers call home.

The Times of India quoted Indian wine writer, Alok Chandra as saying, ‘Moet’s move to enter India’s wine sector is significant as it has a history of investing ahead of the curve in most big wine markets outside France.’

Moet’s plan is to produce a local Nashik sparkling wine by 2012. In fact, the producer of Moet Chandon and Dom Perignon Champagne is buying land to construct a sparkling wine production facility over the next two years. [A Nashik vineyard pictured]

Continue reading Anticipation Builds For LVMH’s Nashik Sparklers from India

Anticipation Builds For LVMH’s Nashik Sparklers from India originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What are the best ways to open a bottle of wine? In the video above, wine expert Brandon Walsh, president of Reston, Va.-based Hosted Wine Tasting will show you how to operate the most common wine opening techniques, including a waiter’s corkscrew, a winged corkscrew (also affectionately referred to as the two-armed bandit) and a lever corkscrew. See our related post on how to use a wine key.

See our review of The Best Wine Clubs offered directly from wineries here.

How to Open a Bottle of Wine (video) originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In the video above, wine expert Neil Smith explains why special attention needs to be paid to the acidity and sweetness in wines when pairing wines with food.

“Sauvignon blanc has a high level of acidity, so you need to think about the food and whether it has the equal amount of acidity,” he says. “Acidity in food can tame the wine and they can work well together.”

Likewise, sweetness can make a highly acidic wine taste even sharper and even unpleasant. “A sweet wine, like a German reisling, can work well with spicy foods,” he says. “The sweetness in the wines can tame the spicyness of the food.” Watch the video above to learn what types of foods work well with sweet wines.

See our review of The Best Wine Clubs offered directly from wineries here.

Pairing Acidic and Sweet Wines with Food (video) originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 21:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The best wine clubs in the U.S. include several award-winning wineries that produce some of the best wine this country has to offer. Luxist examined the benefits of some of the best, most popular ones, including those from Domaine Carneros, St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, Duckhorn Vineyards, Far Niente and Cakebread Cellars. There are certain advantages to be had when subscribing to a wine club offered directly from a winery. Here is what we learned:

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards
Located just outside the historic town of Kenwood, St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, is known for its intensely flavored and complex award-winning wines. St. Francis grows 100% of its grapes in Sonoma County and was among the first to plant Merlot in the Sonoma Valley, enduring many a raised eyebrow for daring to plant a blending grape on prime soil. In June, the winery was a Luxist Awards’ Readers’ Choice Nominee for Best Domestic Red Wine.

Wine Club:
St. Francis offers three different wine clubs. Called “The Patrons Society”, the difference between the three options are selections and shipping schedules. Its “red wine club” ships four, six or eight times per year. The “white wine club” includes six-bottle shipments four times a year (February, May, September and November). The Zinfandel Wine Club ships three bottles per shipment over a six month schedule (February, March, May, June, September and November).

Benefits of Membership:
Members are given the ability to sample small production wines before they are released to the public. Often, the wines are so exclusive, that only wine club members have the opportunity to purchase them, as most never hit store shelves.

Discounts:
Members receive a 20% discount on all Artisan wines and a 25% discount on all Sonoma County tier wines. They also receive a 20% discount on all retail merchandise and on reserve wine & food pairings for two (reservations required).

Freebies:
Complimentary wine tastings at St. Francis’ Visitors Center and opportunities for “members only” activities at the winery. Members also receive recipes from the winery’s Executive Chef, David Bush, for foods that pair well with the wines. Invitations are extended to members for St. Francis regional events around the country.

Cost:
Price varies, depending on size of shipment and does not include tax and shipping (which costs $14 to $21 for a three bottle shipment by UPS Ground). The white wine club ranges from $80 (for a four bottle shipment) to $91 (for a six bottle shipment). The zinfandel wine club ranges from $96 to $108 (for three bottle shipments). Click here to sign up for the wine club. For more information, call (800) 650-5437.

Continue reading Best Wine Clubs (with video)

Best Wine Clubs (with video) originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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California-based Feztzer Vineyards has a new owner. Brown-Forman Corporation has announced it is selling Fetzer Vineyards to Chilean wine producer Viña Concha y Toro S.A. for $238 million. Brown-Forman had acquired Fetzer in 1992 from the Fetzer family. Fetzer sold more than three million cases in 2010 and the winery has a focus on sustainable viticulture.

The sale includes the Fetzer winery, bottling facility, and vineyards, as well as the Fetzer brand and other Hopland, California-based wines, including Bonterra, Little Black Dress, Jekel, Five Rivers, Bel Arbor, Coldwater Creek, and Sanctuary as well as a facility in Paso Robles, California. The sale doesn’t include the Sonoma-Cutrer brand or the company’s long-term agency relationship with Korbel California Champagnes.

The sale is expected to close in April 2011. Viña Concha y Toro S.A. is Latin America’s leading producer and exports wine to 135 countries worldwide. Viña Concha y Toro S.A. is Latin America’s leading producer and exports wine to135 countries worldwide. Eduardo Guilisasti, Chief Executive Officer of Viña Concha y Toro said: “The Fetzer acquisition is the largest transaction of this type in the company’s history. It represents a continuation of our business strategy, which has been carried out successfully over time and enabled us to enjoy steady growth. We believe that this transaction opens additional growth opportunities globally, as well as in the American market, with its main brands Fetzer and Bonterra.”

Fetzer Wine Sold To Chilean Company originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How to pair wine with food? The old adage that white wine pairs well with fish while red wine works with meat, serves as a good basis to start from, according to wine expert Brandon Walsh, president of Reston, Va.-based Hosted Wine Tasting (see video below).

Wines should always be served at their optimal serving temperatures, as well.

Another consideration, he suggests is the concept of matching weights of the wine with the food.

Lighter-bodied white wines include reisling and pinot grigio. Medium-bodied wines include sauvignon blanc while chardonnay is a fuller, heavier-bodied wine, he says.

Lighter-bodied wines go well with salads, as well as light fish, such as sushi. Medium-bodied wines works well with light and flakey fish as well as poultry. Heavier-bodied whites, such as chardonnay, pair very well with salmon or swordfish.

Red wines also range from light to heavier, fuller-bodied wines. A lighter-bodied red wine is a pinot noir or beaujolais. A medium-bodied red is a merlot, syrah (shiraz). Heavier, fuller-bodied wines include cabernet sauvignon. Pinot noir pairs well with salmon as well as some poultry. Syrah and merlot pairs well beef or pork. A cabernet sauvignon pairs well with beef, lamb and game.

How to Pair Wine with Food (video) originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Another sign that people are back to spending on luxury goods was the record-breaking result at the 15th annual Napa Valley Vinters wine futures auction to the trade over the weekend. The event, which brought together a crowd of around 1,000 vintners, retailers, restaurateurs and others, brought in nearly $2.4 million, beating 2008’s record-setting $2.2 million bidding on rare and highly desirable wine lots.

The event at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St Helena beat last year’s take by more than 23%. A total of 68 successful bidders purchased 1530 cases at an average case price of $1546, a 37% increase over the recession-stressed take of 2009 and 20% more than 2010. A record was also set for a single lot. A Japanese wine company paid $125,000 for five cases of Scarecrow Wine, easily beating the record of $80,000 set in 2007. For wholesalers, retailers and restaurant owners the auction is a chance to buy wines from top wineries that are often hard to acquire. Other top lots of the day include Schrader Cellars, Ovid, Levy and McClellan, Shafer Vineyards, Robert Mondavi Winery and Reynolds Family.

[via Decanter]

Napa Valley Wine Auction Sets New Record originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Wine, Events, Charity

We like the way they raise money in wine country. The 12th annual fundraiser for The Young School in Napa Valley’s St. Helena includes silent and live auctions with a wine focus. This year’s event takes place on Saturday, March 12 at Failla Winery.

The winery’s elaborate caves make a dramatic setting for the evening, which is called Casbah in the Cave. The evening features a Moroccan feast by Alex’s Catering as well as a classical Middle Eastern dance performance. There will be a wide selection of auction lots featuring splendid adventures and truly fine wines from a variety of local wineries including Abreu, Blackbird, Colgin, Robert Foley, Harlan, Ovid, Joseph Phelps, Shafer and Silver Oak. Many wineries such as Far Niente and Smith-Madrone are offering event lots and travel lots offer getaways to Portugal, Nantucket and more.

The Young School is a private non-profit non-denominational Montessori-derived program for children ages 6 through 12 years old/first-sixth grades. The name of the school is taken from two sisters named ‘Young’ who were well-known Sonoma teachers several decades ago. The first Young School was founded in their home in downtown Sonoma. In 1997 the school moved from its Sonoma location to St. Helena in the Napa Valley. It operates as a ‘one-room schoolhouse’ in quarters rented from a church in a residential neighborhood of St. Helena and has an enviable 12-1 student-teacher ratio.

Tickets are $100 per person in advance and available at the benefit website.

Napa Valley School Benefit Offers Wine Lots For A Good Cause originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 27 Feb 2011 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As the room of tasters, a veritable varsity squad of New York wine writers, took their respective places, the publicist for Portuguese port house, Taylor Fladgate, announced that this was a first: not a single invitation offered to the morning’s event had been declined. It wasn’t out of courtesy. The 17th-century port purveyor was here at Manhattan’s Eleven Madison Park to taste through it’s line-up of vintage and tawny ports, culminating in a rare treat, an 1855 pre-Phylloxera port called Scion.

Christie’s Head of Wine-Asia, Charles Curtis MW, made some opening remarks about Taylor Fladgate, port wine and the auction market before handing the host duties over to Adrian Bridge. The CEO of Taylor Fladgate, Bridge cut an English gentleman’s mien as he guided the assembled group through such bottlings as a vintage 1992 (sweet and earthy with slightly tannic finish), vintage 2003 (like a big Cabernet, with dark fruit and a huge nose) and a 30-year-old tawny (fig cookie, bitter orange and lightly floral).

Continue reading First Taste: Scion Pre-Phylloxera Port

First Taste: Scion Pre-Phylloxera Port originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wine can be an important part of your Valentine’s Day celebration but choosing the right wine is a combination of making sure that the wine matches both the food and your beloved’s preferences. George Miliotes, Master Sommelier at The Capital Grille restaurant group, offers up a few recommendations and romantic finds - including basic food pairing advice to help ease the course of true oenological love.

Best Wines for Romance
There is no magic wine that does it for everyone, as tastes vary. Find out what type of wine your special someone likes. Then research and find the best of that type. Come armed to impress with the story of why the wine is the best of its type so you can wow your loved one with the knowledge as you drink it. Nothing says romance like I care enough to get you the best. Few suggestions (across price points) are below:

If they love Red, my faves are:

• LOW ON DOUGH: Juan Gil Monastrell…there is no other red wine as flavorful for less than $20 and it pairs amazingly well with a Filet.
• IN THE MIDDLE: De Toren Z $40…Merlot/Cab blend at a world class flavor level. Partial to a Delmonico? The plush yet strong tannins here will match perfectly with the marbled richness of the steak.
• IN THE MOOD TO SPLURGE: Lewis Cellars 2007 Reserve Cabernet …can run $175+ depending upon market. Is there anything more American than a dry aged New York strip sirloin? Have this great American Cabernet with the great American steak.

Continue reading Luxist Guest Post: George Miliotes, Master Sommelier at The Capital Grille Picks Valentine’s Day Wines

Luxist Guest Post: George Miliotes, Master Sommelier at The Capital Grille Picks Valentine’s Day Wines originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 12 Feb 2011 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Wine, Events

There are many reasons to run a marathon but a new race makes your 26.2 mile odyssey really worth it. The first annual Marathon de Sauternes in France doesn’t just take you through beautiful vineyards and chateaux on a mostly flat course, but you will earn a sweet reward at the end. In addition to the customary medal and T-shirt, all runners will receive a bottle of Sauternes. There’s an added incentive for the winners in the men’s and women’s open categories. Decanter reports that they will take home their weight in Sauternes, plus a magnum of Chateau d’Yquem. The race will be run on June 4 and 1,000 competitors are expected. Tastings and dinners are begin organized around the event. After the race, runners and guests can head to Le Château Filhot for a festive meal. The entry fee is 40 euros and the meal is 15 euros.

Continue reading New French Marathon Is A Run For Wine

New French Marathon Is A Run For Wine originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What would you pay for a Jura wine? On second thought: what’s a Jura?

The Jura Mountains, north of the Alps, stretch from Switzerland to Germany’s Rhine River. In eastern France, the Jura is one of that country’s tiniest wine regions where the grapes grown are rare and hardy: savignan, trousseau, and ploussard.

Each February, deep in the heart of a Jura winter, thousands arrive for Le Percée du Vin Jaune (piercing of the yellow wine) to celebrate opening the first bottle of the newly released white wine known as vin jaune.

Because Vin jaune must be aged in oak for six years and three months before release, this year’s Le Percée du Vin Jaune was for the 2004 vintage, but an even more unusually old Jura wine showed up: 237 years-old!

Continue reading Jura Wine Goes For $75,000 at Auction

Jura Wine Goes For $75,000 at Auction originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Those in the world of wine got a little shake-up recently. The emperor of wine, legendary critic Robert Parker, the founder of the Wine Advocate, is going to stop reviewing most California wine. His publication will still feature California wine of course, it’s just that one of his other critics, Antonio Galloni, who has been responsible for Italian wine for several years, will be taking over that responsibility. Wine writer Jon Bonné reports that Galloni will also be responsible for influential portions of Burgundy, the Cote d’Or and Chablis, and Champagne reviews.

Meanwhile Parker will focus on his beloved Bordeaux and the Rhone Valley. He will continue to do occasional California wines including older wines. He wrote to subscribers that he would soon do a series focusing on horizontal and vertical tastings of perfectly stored California wines to see how they develop over time.

Parker’s influence in wine, and specifically in California wine, is huge. Some say that you can lay the responsibility for the popular big, bold, pricey status Napa Cabs nearly wholly in his lap. But he also raised the profile of Rhone-style California wines and in general has served as a starmaker, helping to increase the critical attention paid to California wines around the world.

Wine Advocate began with one man’s palate but has evolved beyond that, now a whole team of tasters cover the world. While wine scores may not be as influential as they were before social media made everyone a wine critic, they do still carry a lot of weight and Parker’s Wine Advocate brand remains one of the top trustworthy institutions.

Wine Critic Robert Parker Changing Things Up At Wine Advocate originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The link between rock music and wine seems to be one that’s deepening over time. More and more rock stars have wine labels or wine collections from Sting to Whitesnake. One of the wine business’s most intriguing entrepreneurs, Maynard James Keenan, is also the frontman for Tool. Metal band Motörhead is also in the wine business. The band had previously released 1,000 cases of Motörhead Shiraz which reportedly sold out in a week. There are now Motörhead wine glasses. Oddly enough they come in a set of three, with engraved logos and in a protective case. They sell for $115.90.

[via Gibson.com]

Metal Band Introduces Motorhead Wine Glasses originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 05 Feb 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Dining, Wine

Everyone knows that dining at the Maccioni family’s Le Cirque, the legendary restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, is an experience to savor. Not only is its atmosphere striking and spacious, but everything, from the impeccable service offered by its staff to its beautifully presented food is beyond compare.

For the next two days, however, customers can enjoy all the greatness that Le Cirque has to offer while also experiencing the impressive talents of Executive Chef Andrea Mattei. The 31-year-old Mattei leads the Magnolia Restaurant at the Hotel Byron in Forte Dei Marmi on the Tuscan seacoast of Italy. Mattei has created a prix fixe menu for the restaurant and will serve as its guest chef through Saturday, February 5. Mattei is seen in the photo above with Le Cirque’s founder Sirio Maccioni.

Mattei was discovered by one of Sirio’s sons who visited Hotel Byron last summer. “My brother, Marco, had dinner with his wife at the Magnolia Restaurant at the Hotel Byron just before they left on their honeymoon,” Mauro Maccioni told Luxist. “Hotel Byron is very polished and caters to an affluent crowd. Marco liked it so much he asked my father and me if we would like to bring the chef to New York.”

Continue reading Le Cirque Features Special Menu Created by Chef from Italy’s Hotel Byron

Le Cirque Features Special Menu Created by Chef from Italy’s Hotel Byron originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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