Lake County, CA – Greg Cole, Traci Dutton, Ken Frank, and Peggy King will judge the Second Annual Cattails & Tules Wine & Food Pairing Festival, a major fundraiser for the Konocti Regional Trails and Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association. The event, which pairs food from local restaurants with award-winning wines from Lake County, will be held Saturday, June 16 at Gregory Graham Winery and Vigilance Winery & Vineyards.

Greg Cole is the executive chef and owner of Celadon and Cole’s Chop House, both located in historic downtown Napa. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, Greg and his wife and business partner, Beth Fairbairn, opened the award-winning Celadon in 1996, and Cole’s Chop House in 2000. In 1998 Greg was selected as one of the 24 “hottest young chefs” in America by the Wine Spectator magazine.

Traci Dutton is the sommelier and beverage manager for The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, located in St. Helena, where she is responsible for selecting and purchasing wine, creating wine lists, menus, and food and wine pairings, and staff training for all components of the CIA Greystone campus, including the Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant, the Professional Wine Studies Program, and Special Events. Her imaginative wine lists at the Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant have won numerous awards.

Ken Frank, the Executive Chef and owner of La Toque in Napa, is entirely self-taught. He began his career at sixteen with a dishwashing job in France, and quickly worked his way through the kitchen ranks to become a successful chef at a very young age. In 1979 he opened the original La Toque on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood at age twenty-three. In 1998 Ken decided to pursue his dream of moving to Napa Valley, where he opened a new La Toque in Rutherford. In 2008, La Toque moved to the new Westin Verasa in downtown Napa.

Cookbook author Peggie King joined the healthy food revolution with her first cookbook, entitled Fit Food for Foodies. Her simple recipes are gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free. Peggie has prepared her unique recipes for local community winery events featuring healthy lifestyle foods paired with local wines. Peggie’s “day job” is in environmental consulting.

Cattails & Tules will be held on June 16th from 12:00 to 3:00 pm and will showcase local restaurants and chefs as they pair Vigilance and Gregory Graham wines with their creative cuisines. The panel of judges will evaluate the pairings in four different categories:

• Best Presentation
• Most Creative
• Best of Show
• Best Use of Local Products

Guests will vote on a special 5th category, “Consumers’ Favorite Wine & Food Pairing.” Tickets may be purchased at Shannon Ridge, Vigilance, and Gregory Graham Tasting Rooms, online at www.cattailsandtules.com or by calling 707-998-9656. The price for the event is $40 per person, and proceeds will go towards the Konocti Regional Trails and Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association. 

About Shannon Ridge and Vigilance:

The Shannons are committed to preserving their land, not only for the great vineyard sites but also for the bear, elk, mountain lions, eagles and other creatures which live there. Of the approximately 1,400 acres on the ranch, only about 35% have been converted to vineyards. The balance of the land has been preserved for the wildlife which wanders through the property from the expansive wilderness area to the north and east. The vineyards were carefully planned out, leaving corridors open to migrating animals and protecting sensitive nesting areas.

About Gregory Graham Wines:

Twelve years ago Greg Graham set out to produce world-class wines from Lake County. His hands-on approach to winemaking, complemented by 25 years of experience, is giving consumers fresh, structured, fruit-forward vintages that are reflective of a high quality winegrape growing region.

Napa, CA- For the first time, Expedia CruiseShipCenters, Wine Club Cruises and Buena Vista Winery have come together to host the Great American Wines Cruise this fall. Cruise participants will have the opportunity to relive the history of wine inAmerica and taste over 50 great wines as they cruise down theMississippi River from aboard the Great American Steamboat Company’s American Queen. 

“This is a wonderful opportunity for guests to learn about American Wine history from the experts,” says Brian Murphy of Expedia CruiseShipCenters. “Not only will the participants get to know American wine celebrities and industry professionals, but they will develop a strong relationship with the fellow wine participants.”

The host of the cruise will be Count Agoston Haraszthy, who founded Buena Vista Winery in 1857 and is considered to be the Father of Viticulture and Modern Winemaking in California (played by George Webber, professional character portrayal actor). The other guides for the cruise will be Dr. Liz Thach, Master of Wine, and management and wine business professor atSonomaStateUniversity, and Tom Blackwood, Director of Retail Operations for Buena Vista Winery, DeLoach Vineyards, JCB and Raymond Vineyards.

Guests will also enjoy wines from Buena Vista Winery and the Boisset Family Estates collection, such as Raymond Vineyards, DeLoach Vineyards and JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset.

“Buena Vista is thrilled to be a part of this premier cruise exploring the fascinating history of Americawines,” says Jean-Charles Boisset. “As California’s first premium winery, Buena Vista is historically important in bringing modern viticulture to California.  We are eager to share our wines, our story, and our vision for the future of Californiawines with cruise guests.”

Highlights of the cruise will include five winemaker dinners, an excursion to Stone Hill Winery inMissouri, and private wine tastings, including a historic tasting featuring the oldest American wineries, such as Brotherhood, Meiers, Val Verde, Wiederkehr, &Buena Vista. There will also be a special wine tasting with Buena Vista Winery and Wollersheim Cellars, which was founded by Count Argoston Haraszthy. The Count and Tom Blackwood will be the hosts of this unique experience.

This ten day, nine night historic wine experience will take place from October 27th – November 5th, 2012, and will embark from St. Louisand finish in St. Paul. Fares start at $2,699. For more information and to book your reservations, call ExpediaCruiseShipCenters–NorthBayat 800-258-8880 or email WineClub@CruiseShipCenters.com.

About Expedia CruiseShipCenters:

CruiseShipCenters has been one ofNorth America’s leading cruise vacation specialists since 1987. With over 116 retail locations and 2500 professionally-trained Cruise Consultants, they are committed to delivering you outstanding service and cruise value online and in store. Wine Club Cruises feature world class wine educators, winemakers, winery owners, wine industry professionals and as many as four partner wineries on each cruise.

About Buena Vista Winery:

Founded in 1857, Buena Vista Winery isCalifornia’s first premium winery and joined the Boisset Family Estates collection in May 2011. Proprietor Jean-Charles Boisset immediately sensed and understood the spiritual and historical importance of Buena Vista toCalifornia. History is reinventing itself, with Buena Vista once again becoming the creative embodiment of theCaliforniawine world and a place of true innovation. Boisset has invested in the restoration of the winery and wine caves and is returning the wines to their former glory.

Rutherford, CA – The State Water Resources Control Board has awarded Napa County a $750,000 Clean Water Act 319(h) Nonpoint Source grant to fund construction of the Napa River Rutherford Reach Restoration Project in Reach 8, on the Cakebread, Nickel & Nickel and Laird properties in Rutherford and Oakville. The grant review and selection process was a joint effort of the State Water Board, nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This funding will bring the Rutherford Reach Restoration Project to 70% completion by 2013.

The Rutherford Dust Society galvanized the local community of landowners to undertake the restoration of the Napa River in Rutherford and Oakville starting in 2002, with the initiation of the Rutherford Reach Restoration Project. A decade later, under the leadership of Napa County, the project has successfully demonstrated shared costs and benefits among all stakeholders, from private landowners to the local community, state and federal government. To date, Napa County has received nearly $6 million in state and federal grant funding in support of the Rutherford Reach Restoration Project, which it has matched with local Measure A watershed improvement tax funds. Private landowners have contributed an equal amount in land and lost agricultural production value to expand the riparian forest by 18 acres along the Napa River. These contributions are supporting improvement of water quality, enhancement of wildlife habitat, attenuation of flood damage, and provision of property protection along 4.5 miles of the Napa River. This project is on target to achieve completion by the TMDL compliance date of 2017.

With the Napa River Rutherford Reach Restoration Project serving as a successful model, Napa County is continuing its restoration efforts an additional nine miles downstream through the Oakville-Oak Knoll Reach, in partnership with the California Land Stewardship Institute and local landowners. Napa County is currently applying for grant funds to construct the remainder of the Rutherford Reach Restoration Project, and to begin construction on the restoration of the Oakville-Oak Knoll Reach Restoration Project.

About Rutherford Dust Society:

Founded in 1994, the Rutherford Dust Society’s mission is to encourage and promote the highest quality standards in grape growing and wine making in the Rutherford Viticultural Area, and to gain recognition for this quality through education of the membership and public. To that end, the Rutherford Dust Society hosts several yearly events, including the community-oriented Rutherford Block Party, and A Day in the Dust, a trade and media tasting of current vintages. To promote the health of the Napa River, the Rutherford Dust Society formed the Rutherford Dust Restoration Team, a group of vintners and growers who are working together to restore the river as it passes through the Rutherford AVA.

Lake County, CA – Clay and Margarita Shannon have purchased High Valley Vineyard and will add that property and brand to their portfolio of Lake County wines. The eighty-acre vineyard lies adjacent to the Shannons’ home vineyard in the High Valley appellation of Lake County.

“Margarita and I have admired this property for a long time,” says Clay Shannon. “The Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet are a great fit for our Shannon Ridge Family of Wines, and our flock of 1,000 sheep have always thought that the grass seemed just a little bit greener on the other side of that fence.” The vineyard will be renamed Betsy’s Vineyard, paying tribute to Clay Shannon’s mother, who passed away from cancer. “It’s nice to think that her memory will live on in this vineyard and wines,” Shannon says. 

The High Valley Vineyard wines will be expanded into national distribution. “We really believe in Lake County and the quality that we can deliver in the bottle,” says Clay Shannon. “So purchasing this vineyard and these wines was just another way to confirm our commitment to the region.”

“As we take these wines into national distribution, we’ll dedicate a portion of the proceeds to fight cancer,” says Margarita Shannon. “That’s something very close to our hearts, and it has affected so many people. We want to do something to make a difference.” The Shannons also support Sponsoring Survivorship, a non-profit organization for women in Lake County struggling against breast cancer.

The portfolio of award-winning Shannon Ridge wines includes the Single Vineyard Collection and Ranch Collection, as well as affiliated brands Vigilance, Hillgate, Dos Brotos, Dalliance, Cross Springs, and now High Valley Vineyard.  Shannon Ridge’s vineyards are certified sustainable, and are known for their woolly compost machines – a flock of 1,000 sheep, complete with shepherd and a team of highly trained sheepdogs. The sheep do an excellent job of canopy management and leaf removal, and pick the vineyard clean after harvest. They also manage the cover crop in the spring and work hard to reduce fire danger in the surrounding hills the remainder of the year.

Watch this video for a glimpse of Jonathan Edwards Winery- and see cameo appearances from our own Paul Wagner & Michael Wangbickler!

Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery Retains Balzac Communications

Napa Agency to Provide Public Relations and Marketing Services

Napa, CA – Shannon Ridge Vineyards and Winery, a family-owned wine company based in Lake County, California, has retained Balzac Communications & Marketing, the leading wine public relations and marketing agency, as their agency of record. As the acting agency, Balzac will be responsible for promoting the wine and the story of Shannon Ridge to wine industry trade, media, and consumers.

“Our wines are really taking off, and the company is seeing tremendous growth,” says Clay Shannon. “It’s about time that we told the whole story of who we are, and what we are doing with our family ranches and vineyards. These days Americans want to know where the products they purchase come from, and who makes them. And Balzac is going to help us tell our story.”

“Lake County is ideally positioned for the future of the US wine market, with delicious wines at very competitive prices,” says Paul Wagner of Balzac. “Clay Shannon is the clear leader of Lake County, and we are really excited about working with him and his family to make these brands into household names. And the sheep, too!”

The portfolio of Shannon Ridge wine includes the Single Vineyard Collection and Ranch Collection, of which the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon won DOUBLE GOLD at this week’s San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The 2009 Sauvignon Blanc won the GOLD MEDAL at the 2011 Dallas Morning News and TexSom Wine Competition, the Riverside International Wine Competition, and the Critics Challenge Wine Competition.

Shannon Ridge’s vineyards are certified sustainable, and are known for their wooly compost machines – a flock of 1,000 sheep, complete with shepherds and a team of highly trained sheepdogs. The sheep do an excellent job of canopy management and leaf removal, and pick the vineyard clean after harvest. They also manage the cover crop in the spring and work hard to reduce fire danger in the surrounding hills the remainder of the year.

About Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery

The Shannons are committed to preserving their land, not only for the great vineyard sites but also for the bear, elk, mountain lions, eagles and other creatures which live there. Of the approximately 1,400 acres on the ranch, only about 35% have been converted to vineyards. The balance of the land has been preserved for the wildlife which wanders through the property from the expansive wilderness area to the north and east. The vineyards were carefully planned out, leaving corridors open to migrating animals and protecting sensitive nesting areas.

About Balzac Communications & Marketing

Balzac Communications & Marketing is a marketing communications agency with a no-nonsense approach to combining the strategies and tactics of marketing, public relations, advertising and graphic design to achieve the marketing goals of its clients. The experience, creativity and determination of the staff distinguish Balzac from their competition. They use these assets to develop and execute cost-effective campaigns, which have won international communications awards. The results speak for themselves. The agency is located in Napa, California, and provides services to national, regional, and local companies based in Northern California and throughout the world.

Wine producers from Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, Nobile di Montepulciano and Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore featured in 2012 American tour

 More than 100 Italian wine producers from four pre-eminent DOCG regions of Italy will be represented at the Italian Wine Masters events, which will be held in early February of 2012. The Italian Wine Masters will tour New York on February 7 at the Metropolitan Pavilion, andSan Francisco on February 9 at the San Francisco Terra Gallery.

 “We will be featuring wines from among the leading wine regions of Italy, and the tastings really offer a superb overview of the world of Italian wines as it continues to evolve to meet the demands of the global market,” say representatives from the Italian Wine Masters.

The events, which will be organized by Balzac Communications & Marketing, will include both seminars and trade tastings. Trade tasting participants will experience a rare opportunity to preview and taste the finest selections from Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, Nobile di Montepulciano, and Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore.

The seminars, held earlier in the day, will focus on Prosecco and the great appellations of Tuscany. The New York seminars will be taught by wine educator Tracy Ellen Kamens, CWE, DWS, and the San Francisco seminars will be taught by Tim Gaiser, MS, and Education Chair for the Master Sommeliers.

For more information, or to register for either of these events, contact Tiffany van Gorderat tvangorder@balzac.com.

From the Forbes.com-The Good Grape Blog

Stereotypes exist for a reason. Mainly, they are rooted in some level of truthiness: However, here’s a bit of stereotypical truthiness that is no longer valid.  Box wines don’t suck.

In fact, these days, depending on where you look in the wine aisle, much of the box wine in the U.S. is quite good. Yet, like most wine matters, this truth isn’t always obvious when fighting against perception. And, popular perception holds that Franzia’s ubiquitous boxed wine, long the top-selling wine in the U.S. based on volume, is rot gut swill.  While I’ll abstain from giving my own Franzia opinion, I will note that wine enthusiasts are missing an opportunity to find drinking value and enjoyment across a number of other box wine offerings if they let one box spoil the pallet, as it may be.

With that in mind, as a summer public service, driving to the essential truth between “perception” and “reality,” here is my short course on box wine:  The least you need to know to navigate the box wine options at the grocery store.

First things first: A proof point

Let’s get this out of the way immediately: Few people cop to following wine scores, but they are a qualitative measure for the wine business and a guiding force in consumer purchases. So, when Wine Spectator magazine reviewed 39 box wines in the fall of 2009 and 37 of them received a score higher than their “Good” score of 80 points, it’s validation for the whole box wine category. If the critics believe, generally speaking, so too should the skeptics.

Read the rest.

From The Wall Street Journal-

The Napa Valley has been a little short on legends lately. Not legendary wines- there are still plenty of those- but legendary figures. It’s almost three years since the last legendary man, Robert Mondavi, passed away and much longer since he was the one man most synonymous with this great California wine region.

According to Napa grape grower Andy Beckstoffer, the time of legendary men may be over. “The vineyards are the next Robert Mondavi. The vineyards are what matters,” he said.

One could argue that this position was either born of great knowledge or was rather self-serving, since Mr. Beckstoffer owns 1,000 acres of vineyard land in Napa.

Unlike many growers, Mr. Beckstoffer only sells grapes to other wineries; he doesn’t make wine himself. “That’s an entirely different business,” he said. It simplifies matters and reduces expenses and also answers the inevitable question about growers who also make wine from their grapes: Don’t they keep the best fruit for themselves?

Read the rest.