chardonnay

Best Wine Clubs (with video)

Filed under: Wine

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.

Gallery: St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

The dining room at St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

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New York City's Urban Vineyard

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

New York City has its own urban winery with a vineyard. The Queens County Farm Museum Winery opened in May in the Floral Park neighborhood of Queens, New York. Wines and Vines reports that the Queens County Farm Museum is a working historical farm located on 47 acres. Its history dates back to 1697 and it is New York City's largest remaining tract of undisturbed farmland and the only working historical farm in the City. It's also the longest continuously farmed site in New York State. The site includes farm buildings, a greenhouse complex, livestock, farm vehicles. planting fields, an orchard and an herb garden. It is open for tours and also hold events including the Dinner on the Farm series.

The vineyard project has been years in the making. Back in 2004 the first phase of the project began with the planting of Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc grapes. Gary Mitchell, the farm museum's vineyard manager, did some training in the University of California, Davis's famous oenological program to learn how to grow the grapes and later pulled out the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon leaving about 1.5 acres of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Grapes at the farm museum are sent to the Premium Wine Group in Mattituck for processing. This spring saw the release of a 2006 and 2007 Merlot, a 2007 and 2008 Chardonnay, and a 2006 Adriance, a premium red wine blend named for the Dutch family that first farmed the museum's land. Prices range from $21 to $29 a bottle. You can only get this wine at the winery shop at the museum. Eventually Mitchell would like to plant more acres to grow this unique enterprise.

Tags: cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot, new york city, queens, queens county farm, urban winery

Rare Judgment of Paris Wine Up For Auction To Benefit Haiti

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Auctions, Charity

Vintages from the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting are very hard to obtain. The France vs. U.S. wine tasting forever changed the way the world regarded the then-upstart Napa wine region and the historic event was immortalized in the movie "Bottle Shock." Decanter reports that a rare bottle of ex-cellar 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay will be auctioned off by Spectrum Auctions to raise funds for the Friends of the Orphans Haitian Initiative.

At the Judgment of Paris tasting this wine beat all other whites including four Burgundies. "This wine has historical significance in the annals of winemaking, in that the event changed winemaking for the better, all over the world," said Chateau Montelena owner Jim Barrett. "I can think of no better way to use this wine than to put it up for auction with the proceeds to help alleviate the suffering of the poor people of Haiti."

The bottle comes in a special wooden box engraved with the history of the wine and the lot also includes images of Jim Barrett and the France vs. Paris tasting organizer and wine critic Steven Spurrier and a copy of the official tasting results. There are only a few bottles left in the winery's own cellar and one in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, it is not known how many other bottles remain in private hands.

Online bidding has already begun for the single-lot auction and sits at $1,700 last time I looked. We can expect it to go much higher, Spectrum hasn't set an estimate for this bottle because there is not really a limit to how high it could go. The live auction takes place on July 18 at 8p.m. at Chateau Montelena in Calistoga, California.

Tags: chardonnay, chateau montelena, Judgment of Paris, spectrum auctions, steven spurrier, wine

Cakebread Cellars Wins the Readers' Choice Award for Best Domestic White Wine

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Cakebread Cellars, in Rutherford, Ca., is the winner of the Readers' Choice Award for Best Domestic White WIne.

The winery, renowned for its Chardonnay wines, is owned by the Cakebread family, who are known for being among the most creative and successful winemaking families in Napa Valley.

The winery has a reputation for producing world-class wines. Cakebread attributes its success to its focus on quality, consistency and continuity, characteristics which are applied to the grapes, its wines, its staff and the operation of the winery, itself.

Gallery: Cakebread Cellars

Cakebread's roots date back to trip Jack Cakebread made in the early 1970's when he came to photograph the Napa Valley and casually mentioned his interest in one day owning a vineyard to family friends who owned a ranch in Rutherford. When he returned home that afternoon, the phone rang---it was the friends offering to sell their property. Cakebread headed back up to the valley that same afternoon to make his best offer, and Cakebread Cellars was born. Today a team of seven Cakebread family members leads the winery.

Cakebread Cellars has vineyard properties located throughout Napa Valley in addition to a recently added parcel in the Anderson Valley. The winery owns 13 sites totaling 420 acres, 340 of which are currently planted. Unlike many other wineries, Cakebread feeds its white grapes directly to a press where the juice is gently extracted without crushing (called whole cluster pressing) and only the juice is fermented.

All tours and tastings are made by appointment. They are conducted in various venues around the winery--in barrel rooms, in the fermentation room and occasionally alongside the vineyard or on a patio when production schedule and weather permits. Call ahead to make appointments, as weekends and holidays book quickly.

Tags: awards-main, best white wine, Cakebread, Cakebread Cellars, Chardonnay, luxist-awards, wine, winner-wine, winners-wine, winners-wines

Clos de Goisses, Champagne Worth A Ten Year Wait?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Champagne Philipponnat one of the major owners of Grand and Premier Cru vineyards in the region is releasing the 2000 vintage of its single vineyard, Clos de Goisses prestige cuvée. Clos des Goisses – a Grand Cru site – has a southern facing slope and 45° incline creating a lovely, warm sheltered spot to nurture grapes into perfect form. As the ripest vineyard in the region, it is able to produce a vintage almost every year, contrary to the Champagne norms of making vintages every three to four years.

The 2000 vintage is a blend of Pinot Noir (65%) and Chardonnay (35%) and can be aged up to 30 years. There is no malolactic fermentation and the 2000 vintage reflects the warmth of the year with bright, fruity nearly tropical flavors. Oak (just under 50%, no new oak) was partially used in the fermentation process for the first time at Philipponnat, to add complexity. The harvest was reduced to just 20,000 bottles out of a potential 55,000 bottles to cull out the best possible blend.

Why the wait for a 2000? Charles Philipponnat says: "we have always believed in long aging before release and prefer to keep our Clos de Goisses cuvée for 8 to 10 years to allow the wine to develop complexity without losing any freshness."

Champagne Philipponnat is distributed in the U.K. via Les Caves de Pyrène, and the 2000 Clos des Goisses will have an RRP of £125. In the U.S. it will be available at select locations including Zachys where it will sell for $155.

Tags: champagne, champagne philipponnat, chardonnay, france, pinot noir, sparkling wine, wine

Gourmet Latino Vino: Sampling Offbeat Wines from (Way) South of the Border

by Amy Cortese (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Wine, Events

If your idea of Latin American cuisine is tacos and a frosty Corona, you're missing out, amigo. From Mexico to Tierra del Fuego, Latin America offers up a stunning array of flavors and culinary traditions -- and all were on display recently at the Gourmet Latino Festival, a five-day series of events and tastings in New York City. There was Argentine barbecue, Mexican mole, and cocktails made with Peruvian Pisco, Mexican tequila and Brazilian Cachaca.

Being a wine lover, I was intrigued by an event that promised to pair Latin America specialties with wines from surprising regions like Brazil, Uruguay and Mexico. it was held at at Palo Santo, a Latino restaurant in Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood, where chef-owner Jacques Gautier serves up unusual but authentic pan-Latin cuisine, often using ingredients from his rooftop garden.

"I like to showcase dishes I've come across in my travels but that are less well known," explained Gautier. The same could be said for the wine served that evening.

Tags: chardonnay, chenin blanc, latin american cuisine, Maria Luz Marin, Palo Santo, patagonia, pinot noir, red wine, riesling, sauvignon blanc, south american wine, uruguay, white wine, wine

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Annika Sorenstam Chardonnay

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

This spring look for a new release from Annika Vineyards, a 2008 Chardonnay that's described as full-bodied with a balance of apricot, peach, and tangerine and a finish of vanilla, graham, and ground spice. Annika Vineyards is a collaboration between Hall of Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam and the family-owned Wente Vineyards and this new vintage joins a 2006 Syrah to be the second ultra-premium boutique wine offered by the vineyard. Sorenstam worked closely with winemaker Karl Wente to select the Chardonnay and said "This is the one I could picture myself enjoying with family, friends, and business associates."

Look for it to be released nationally this spring with a retail price of $40/750ml.

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Tags: annika sorenstam, celebrity wine, chardonnay, wine

Twitter Plans Wine For A Good Cause

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Charity

Twitter is partnering with custom wine producer Crushpad on a new charity-driven project, Fledgling Wine. The Twitter staff will work with Crushpad to make a Pinot Noir and a Chardonnay. The fundraiser, the Fledgling Initiative, will benefit Room to Read , a San Francisco non-profit organization that establishes schools and libraries for children in developing countries. Founded by former Microsoft employee John Wood, Room to Read has established 765 schools and filled over 7,000 libraries with more than 5.7 million books. The company says that $5 from every $20 bottle sold will go to Room to Read. Twitter users can follow the progress of the wines through @fledgling. The release date is planned for Fall 2010.

[via SF Gate]

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Tags: chardonnay, fledgling, fledgling wine, fledglingwine, pinot noir, PinotNoir, twitter, wine

Wine Tasting: 2006 Fantesca Chardonnay Los Carneros

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

To me there is nothing more refreshing on a hot summer's day than a freshly chilled bottle of white wine. The package that unfolds on your palate from the 2006 Fantesca Chardonnay Los Carneros District is surprisingly light while complex and fulfilling. Expressing aromatic tones of grapefruit, lime and pineapple with a vanillin barrel overtone this chardonnay has both crispness and warmth. Be sure to take your time and enjoy this wine taste by taste as it will evolve within the glass. Refreshing, satisfying and perfect on its own or paired with a food this limited production is a great choice for $45.

*Disclosure: This wine was provided as a sample*

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Tags: chardonnay, fantesca, fantesca chardonnay, fantesca wine, FantescaChardonnay, FantescaWine, los carneros, LosCarneros

JAQK Cellars

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

There's a new arrival on the wine scene bound to whet your appetite and stir your inner gambler. JAQK Cellars, a playful take on the Jack, Ace, Queen and King of cards, is offering eight distinctive limited production wines this season. From the High Roller 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon to the Charmed 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, this creative and alluring brand pairs a healthy dose of frivolity with the enticing draw of a smoky, high-end casino. Completing the selection are Black Clover 2006 Merlot, Soldiers of Fortune 2006 Shiraz, Pearl Handle 2007 Chardonnay, 22 Black 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bone Dance 2006 Merlot, and Her Majesty 2007 Chardonnay. The bottle will cost between $23 and $70 but their four-bottle gift boxes offered for the holidays range between $120 and $220. I'd be willing to bet this California-based wine will increase your odds of enjoyment.

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Tags: 22 Black, 22Black, black clover, BlackClover, bone dance, BoneDance, cabernet sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, chardonnay, charmed, Her Majesty, HerMajesty, high roller, HighRoller, JAQK, JAQK Cellars, JAQK wine, JaqkCellars, JaqkWine, merlot, pearl handle, PearlHandle, sauvignon blanc, SauvignonBlanc, shiraz, soldiers-of-fortune

French Maid Wine

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

In keeping with White Rocket Wine Company's niche of bringing new brands of high quality, affordable wines to the new generation of wine drinkers comes French Maid Wine. Each of the five varietals from the French 'Old World' Languedoc region is given a 'New World' spirit. Offering a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc, each French Maid Wine brings French terroir to the newbies of the wine world on a smaller budget of only $12 per bottle. For the connoisseur who prefers more luxury priced wines this may not be the bottle of choice but as an introduction to wine it just may fit the bill.

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, chardonnay, french maid wine, FrenchMaidWine, merlot, pinot noir, PinotNoir, sauvignon blanc, SauvignonBlanc, white rocket wine company, WhiteRocketWineCompany

White Rocket Wine Makes Dogs a Worthy Cause

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Charity

When quality meets affordability in a wine that also speaks to your heart, I would say that is a win-win! The White Rocket Wine Company's Dog House line featuring California grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Zinfandel and Chardonnay supports Guide Dogs for the Blind by donating fifty-cents of each bottle purchased to their life changing programs. Not only do you get to enjoy your wine but you can improve the quality of life for many blind and visually impaired individuals across the country.

Guide Dogs for the Blind is a charitable organization that does not benefit from any government funding and therefore relies on donations to provide free guide dogs and training to those in need. Since Dog House Wines pledged their support for the non-profit, over $214,000 have been donated to its cause. Not only are Dog House Wines champions in terms of philanthropic giving but the wines have also earned over sixty individual awards making this brand a worthy selection for anyone... plus, who could resist that adorable dog on the label!

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Tags: cabernet-sauvignon, chardonnay, dog-house-wine, guide-dogs-for-the-blind, merlot, pinot-grigio, white-rocket-wine, zinfandel

Chardonnay Goes "Nude"

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

California Chardonnays sometimes get a bad reputation for being overly oaky. While big, oaky Chards definitely have their place, especially with richer foods, an unoaked Chardonnay can offer a light and fruity taste that is perfect for summer. Summers Estate Wines in Calistoga has released their "Le Nude," a limited-production un-oaked Chardonnay which is fermented in stainless steel and produced from grapes grown in the Alexander Valley. This is the first time Summers Estate Wines has produced a "naked" Chardonnay. The wine is made from grapes grown in the Alexander Valley and has flavors of tropical fruit and yellow flowers. This wine sells for $24 and has a screw cap, making it an easy choice for outdoor picnics.

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Tags: california wine, CaliforniaWine, chardonnay, unoaked, white wine

Martinis Still Reign Supreme

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Wine

What's your drink of choice? If you are a martini drinker you are still in the majority. Wine Spirits Daily took a look at a study called "Success In The Cities" from Information Resources. They surveyed over 500 bars, restaurants, hotels and nightclubs in major metropolitan areas to find the hot cocktails. The top three are the martini (not just the classic but the martinis-in-glass only such as the fruit martinis), mojitos and the dance-til-you-drop party enhancer, Red Bull and vodka.

The most popular shot is the Jager bomb, that deadly mix of Jagermeister and Red Bull, which surprises me. It was the hot thing in 2005 and I never imagined this trend would have legs. Chardonnay is still the most popular wine requested (40%) with White Zinfandel coming in second (23%). Red wine varietals lag way behind with Merlot clocking in at 12% and Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir eking out just 3% and 2% respectively. A full 10 of the top 12 wine brands in distribution are domestic wines from California. And as for sparkling wine the Moet Hennessy portfolio receives the most distribution.

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Tags: chardonnay, jager bomb, martini, merlot, wine

Newman's Wine Bottles Revealed

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Last fall I mentioned that Paul Newman was entering the wine business with the launch of Newman's Own 2006 California Chardonnay and 2006 California Cabernet Sauvignon. Now we've got pictures. To create the wines Newman worked with Rebel Wine Company and the wines are made from grapes in California's coastal vineyards, including ones in the Napa, Sonoma and San Luis Obispo counties. The labels feature Newman's face as well as drawings of two hats that Newman wore as Butch in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." A cowboy hat is on the Chardonnay label and there is a bowler hat on the Cabernet label. Newman does many great things, money generated from the products has allowed the Newman's Own Foundation to donate more than 200 million dollars to thousands of charities, but I still question whether or no the $16 retail is too high for these wines. I guess the proof will be either in the taste or in the power of Newman's fan base.

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, california wine, chardonnay, newman's own, Newman'sOwn, wine

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