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Wine Ebooks:
| | The Complete Grape Growers Guide. |  | | A Complete Guide For Growing Grapes. Converts Very Well At A Reasonable Price! Growing Grapes And Making Wine Is A Very Popular Topic Right Now.
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| | Fool-Proof Wine Values. | | | Learn How To Easily Find Wines Of $50 Quality For $10 Or Less. Impress Friends With Your Expanded Wine Knowledge. Eliminate Your Dependence On Wine Salespeople. And Take The Hassle Out Of Buying Wine.
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| | Making Wine From Home. | | | A Fun And Very Informative Book On Home Wine Making. The De Facto Standard For All Home Wine Enthusiasts With Recipes, Advice And Tricks.
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The Advocacy Team Produces 100th Episode!Advocacy Team Produces 100th Episode! Producers, Vermont, VCAM news, Vermont PEG Access Add a Comment » Forest, Bill, Paul and Charlie from The Advocacy Team were in the VCAM studio today recording their 100th episode. Above is a snapshot from their preproduction session where they met with their special guests from the Green Mountain Self Advocates. As you?ll likely notice on their website, the GMSA is: a statewide self-advocacy network run and operated by people with developmenta
WHO gets nod to tackle harmful use of alcoholGENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) is set to draw up a global strategy to tackle youth binge drinking and other forms of harmful alcohol consumption blamed for 2.3 million deaths a year, officials said on Thursday. ?The harmful use of alcohol causes serious public health problems,? said Dr. Ala Alwan, WHO assistant director-general for non-communicable diseases and mental health. The health ministers said the WHO strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol should be ?based
Danny Krivit - Edits By Mr. K - The Original Rare Disco MixesToday?s DJ will play short two hour sets from a box of the latest big tunes and producers will make tracks that might never leave the confines of their computer?s hard drive. It?s a world away from the analogue beginnings of dance music. ?You?re taking a puzzle. Parts that someone else did and you?re re-arranging those parts, you?re using some parts and not using others.? Executed well, the resulting remix produced a song that would keep people dancing harder and for longer than the original ve
Minerals & Vitamins - ?Time?s Up? Beat Deconstruction O.C. - ?Time?s Up? taken from Word? Life (Wild Pitch, 1994) O.C. - ?Time?s Up? (Original Buckwild Instrumental) available on ?Time?s Up? VLS (Fat Beats Reissue, 2004) Les De Merle - ?A Day In The Life? taken from Spectrum (United, 1968) What I?ve noticed about my beat deconstruction series is that it?s always the discussion of truly classic jams that seems to get people most excited (deduced by the highly scientific equation of more comments equating to greater reader enthusiasm). To b
CONNECTIVITYWEEK, DAY 2: DEMAND RESPONSE AND THE ELECTRON CONSUMERDAY 2: DEMAND RESPONSE AND THE ELECTRON CONSUMER By ktadmin | May 22, 2008 Submitted by New Energy News Blog Energy producers see energy as natural forces and natural resources. The utilities that deliver the energy see it as flowing electrons. The average electricity customer?s attitude is ?Just keep the lights and the TV on and the food fresh in the refrigerator.? At ConnectivityWeek, some bright, visionary folks are talking about how to better deliver more awareness an
Madlib posts Europe tour diary in photographs (photo by Mauro Puccini) Oxnard, California native son Otis Jackson Jr. is not a household name. Madlib, Jackson Jr.'s most prominent alias (of nearly a dozen by this writer's memory), the same. So, when you look at these pictures taken during Madlib's European jaunt, if you didn't know any better, it'd seem that you're looking at a few dudes out at night and record digging by day. With really awesome accessories, that is. Go here for the full set of photos. (mp3) Madlib - Chocolate C
ATMac Contributors Needed!There?s too much happening in the Mac assistive/adaptive technology world now for one person to keep up with. This is wonderful - it means there?s a lot of AT out there! But it also means that ATMac needs more contributors so we can properly cover all of the Mac related AT that needs writing about. Are you an assistive/adaptive technology user or somebody who is closely involved with AT users - such as a teacher, integration aide, or parent? Are you interested in what?s new and upcoming, espe
Going Green In Film Initiativemade in this region may be heading in a greener direction. The New York Production Alliance, the Producers Guild of America, and the non-profit Earthmark are hosting a series of events designed to give the entertainment production community the information and tools necessary to ?reduce waste, carbon emissions, and encourage recycling and reusing materials.? They plan to cover everything from paint/construction waste to the fuel used in their trucks. Union carpenters, painters, electrician
Energy Stocks: Sector posts gains despite lower oil pricesby MarketWatch.com - Top Stories at http://www.marketwatch.com/new... Shares of natural gas, oil producers and oil services companies rise, with oil prices falling back from a fresh record above $135 a barrel and the broad market advancing. 1fb7
Capturing the Teaching/Learning Processthe Teaching/Learning Process May 22nd, 2008 If it?s not about the technology and it?s not about the product? then can we agree it?s about the PROCESS? Yesterday, Dean Shareski at ?Ideas and Thoughts from an Ed Tech? posted a piece entitled, ?I Need More Videos? . Although I posted a comment, I felt a need to dig a little deeper. I?m curious about the messy stuff that leads up to many of the end products I see from students and teachers on the web. How was the room organized? What
Propellerhead Software Introduces Reason Electric Bass ReFillStockholm, Sweden ? Propellerhead Software today announced the Reason Electric Bass ReFill for Reason, Propellerhead?s acclaimed music production system for Mac and PC. Reason Electric Bass captures the soul of the bass guitar, delivering amazingly realistic electric bass sounds for music producers of all contemporary music genres. Reason Electric Bass consists of a number of Combinator patches for Reason 4 with samples of eight classic electric bass guitars: Fender Jazz Bass, Fender Precisio
Sweeeeet Call me cynical, but I didn?t think that there was much room left in today?s mechanized world for handmade cakes. I certainly didn?t think that the cakes you buy by the half-dozen or dozen at the supermarket could be handmade. Let alone by proper bakers. Surely, you just tip in the ingredients at one end of an industrial smokestack and the cakes come out at the other end, ready packed? No. At least, not over at Old Mill Confectionery here in Cork, where I was shooting earlier this week. Yes
NuVo serving Garden of Eden lambover at Garden of Eden says Mark Bodenstein of NuVo in Florence is buying 15 racks of pastured lamb each week from her farm. Mark, chef and owner of NuVo, posted this to the Cincinnati Local Foods Group recently:I am on a mission to be one of the only restaurants not only in Northern KY but the Greater Cincinnati area to be 100% local supported through farms and sustainable foods. I am currently working with a handful of farms to deliver me things such as produce, meats, dairy, cheeses and
Central Ohio Valley Local Foods Initiative websitewebsite is now live. On it you can find pdf files of local farms and local farmers' markets. There'll be other content soon!
American Airlines: $15 fee for your first bagBeginning next month American Airlines will charge you for your FIRST piece of checked luggage! The fee is $15 each way. It's a topic of our poll this morning on KOLD.COM. Click "comment" to tell us what you think of the new fee. Click here to read the full story from KOLD News 13 Reporter Som Lisaius. Stefanie Boe, KOLD News 13 Live This Morning Senior Producer
NRG powers up a hostile bid for Calpinepowers up a hostile bid for Calpine Posted May 22nd 2008 9:33AM by Tom Taulli Filed under: Deals, Private equity, Market matters Calpine (NYSE: CPN), which is a major power company, has experienced lots of drama over the years. However, the company has been able to stabilize things ? and has recently come out of bankruptcy. But suddenly the drama has returned: NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG), a rival, has made a $11 billion hostile bid for Calpine (it's a stock-for-stock transaction). And there's
World Gold Council and Choron Bring Gold Expressions to RussiaGold Council and Choron Bring Gold Expressions to Russia World Gold Council (WGC), the organisation formed and funded by the world?s leading gold producers, has today announced that it has partnered with a leading Russian jewellery manufacturer, Choron, to bring the Gold Expressions jewellery collection to Russia for the very first time. Choron will present Gold Expressions at the New Russian Style Fair 2008 [?] May 22nd, 2008
Alvarez to step down as head of Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers? Pierre Alvarez is stepping down after nine years as president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. The announcement follows a meeting of the association's board of governors... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Best rap music producerspost is all about being one of the best rap music producers. How do you become the best rap music producer? You make artists believe that the rap music you produce is worth big bucks. Rap music producers It's all about image ladies and gentlemen. If people do not believe that you are worth the money, they will not pay for the beats you produce. Timbaland produces tracks that put a few songs on the top of the charts, now everyone thinks he's golden. If tomorrow, Soulja Boy was to buy a Tim
Day 45 DJ/Turntablist Training Log Day 45 of my DJ/Turntablist Training Log. Today, I recorded to Nappy Roots ? ?Roun The Globe.? I gotta say I really love this song (the real song). You gotta just kick back and enjoy life to this, REAL music with a message!!! I hope you enjoy it!!! www.ArtOfHipHopProduction.com Share This
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| [05/21/2008, 20:07] | Far from Modern - Paulo do Silva?s Colares Chitas 2002 | | | I’m tired of all the whining about alcohol and extraction, manipulation and critic focused wine making. Wine is meant to be drunk, enjoyed and savored. And if you are not enjoying what is in front of you, pour the bottle down the drain and move on. My tastes range from ultra-modern to the most classic of the classical, as flavor is what counts above all. I say this because last Sunday afternoon, I had the opportunity to taste a wine that made me stop, assess, and realize that not all the old styles are gone as of yet. This wine is a classic, and I was forewarned that it is a “wine that requires some patience”. Seeing that the style was a remnant of winemaking practices no longer seen as fashionable, I wondered if we all “need a bit more patience” as we get older. The bottle our good friend Maria Joao opened was Paulo do Silva’s Colares Chitas Reserva Velho 2002 DOC Colares is a little more than a blink of an eye if you were to steer your boat north up the coast of Portugal towards Oporto. Having driven through there once back in 2003 aboard a bus whose speed indicated a desire to break the sound barrier, I can tell you only this, the blurred scenery was amazing. Today, there are still few producers in the area, and although the wines are not award winners, I find them to be intriguing. Part of my curiosity for the wine, may stem from the history of this varietal. The Ramisco’s roots are notoriously deep reaching, and when Phylloxera tore through Portugal in the 1890’s, destroying the wine landscape, the vine’s roots were left unaffected. As for this 8 year old wine, it immediately reminded me of Tondonia, or another well aged Rioja wine. Light in body with a zesty acidity, the nose is musty with notes of earth and leather. Having had discussions recently about brett more than once in the past week, my mind immediately jumped to this aroma. However, upon further thought, I second-guessed my initial judgment as it was clean, and may have only been showing its unique character of herbs with cherry/cranberry notes mixed with pencil lead. This was a very elegant wine, and one that I would seek out again, possibly pairing it with the region’s famous grilled fish fare. In the end, I’d give this a 4 out of 5, keeping in mind that this is a wine for contemplation, a little patience and a good book. I do suggest this wine, and I praise the desire to keep wines like this a part of the wine landscape. I’m sure that most modern wine lovers would not immediately fall in love with this, but the desire to explore new and interesting flavors makes me hope that we do not let them fade away. Fortunately Portugal still has many hidden nooks and crannies for wine lovers like me to explore. Cheers,
Ryan Opaz All content protected by a Creative Commons License2005-2008. Catavino.net. Share This  | | | |
| [05/21/2008, 15:17] | The weather so far | | | In NE Italy the spring has been very rainy and cooler than normal. A far different situation from last year's, when producers were dealing with dry soil and hot temperatures that accelerated grape development. Producers have told me that vines are behind in their development; some express concern that the rain may not end soon enough to have a serious effect on the quality of the grapes. "It rained all of April," one told me. "We had a spell of sunny weather in May, but more gloom than warm sun... | | | |
| [05/21/2008, 10:01] | Which Wine With Seersucker? | |  Yesterday when I got into the car, after a day of work, the temperature read 98°F. Today when I went into work everything seemed like it had all gone South, like I?d landed smack dab in a bowl of idiot soup. Some days, in this business, you don?t know if you?re a Seer or a Sucker. So, let?s celebrate our blissful ignorance on this Wednesday in May.
A few weeks ago I was walking around the Tompkins Square Park area in NY with a few friends and noticed one of them was wearing a seersucker blazer. We proceeded to taunt him (and to subsequently cyber-bully him), but there was a prophetic air to his apparel of choice. Now it is hotter than blazes and I gots to get me one of them seersucker blazers.
In the meantime, a little pre-summer exercise on wines that match with seersucker. Not just any seersucker, but special selections of seersucker, some designer, some just out-and-out ridiculous. But not every wine is for everyone, isn?t that right my dear friends in the Bowery?
Lyric header host for this heedless post is Steve Miller, a good ?ol Dallas boy.
 Puttin' her rouge on, Slippin' her shoes on, My baby's gettin' ready to dance
Speaking of blissful ignorance, the first is a light-hearted trio of Bubbly?s from Barefoot: a Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio and  a White Zinfandel. Marks off for calling them Champagne (not a Growers one, I snarkfully presume). But major kudos for supporting a cause that is near and dear to me, the Pacific Coast chapter of the National MS Society. (And no, I am not talking about sommeliers here. Those who know me, know what I?m talking about).
 Coming to you baby on a midnight train
It goes with alligator and polo; it walks the walk and talks the talk. The wine is light but it isn?t simple. It?s a Matrot Meursault with a Stelvin instead of a cork. So it says cool and groovy at the same time as it says refined and sophisticated. Great for hanging around Tompkins Square Park in a brown bag till all hours of the night while waiting for the bars to open up in the morning, so you can order a Harvey Wallbanger or Ramos Gin Fizz.
 I?m a joker, I?m a smoker, I?m a midnight toker
This begs to be Bio-dynamite from Berkeley, a home made garage wine from a former SDS activist in a seersucker suit. That would count out Kermit and Neal, but there?s got to be another Big Boy out there still in hiding. Actually, we found him west of the East Bay, hiding in the hills on the Ridge estate, where a Chardonnay can be found in small amounts. From their Santa Cruz Mountain vineyards, first planted to Chardonnay in the 1940?s. Our lyric host, Steve Miller said it best when he sang:
You're the cutest thing
That I ever did see
I really love your peaches
Want to shake your tree
Lovey-dovey, lovey-dovey, lovey-dovey all the time
Ooo-eee baby, I'll sure show you a good time
Ooe-ee Baby!
I?m a picker, I?m a grinner, I?m a lover and I?m a sinner
 Like it cool and dry, but need something ripe and ready? A little tango teaser from Argentina might be the perfect match with this swatch of seersucker. We popped a bottle of Astica Torrontés the other night and it was my Johnny Walker Red son who said, ?What is that? I like it!?
Great floral aromas, slightly moscato-like with shades of tropical gardenia. Sweet young thing, not too dry, very seer-sucker and slurp-worthy. We even found a pair of seersucker tango shoes to go with it.
 Go on take the money and run
 It woulda-shoulda been a Brunello, but now I?m betting on those new ?03 Toscana IGT?s. Can?t tell you who they?ll all be ?till after June 10, but there?ll probably be a swarm of them. Or not. Might be better with a seersucker coppola hat, as shown. Helps to cover-up your eyes from all the bright lights putting the spotlight on the garbage in Naples that has found its way to the dumps in Tuscany?
 Her lips are red, Her body is soft, She is a movin' volcano
That would be a red wine from Sicily, what else? From Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso: Nerello Mascalese with a little Nerello Cappuccio. With a little up tick in the activity on the slopes of Etna, and here we go lookin? for some grass fed Baw?b que. Enough to turn a vegetarian into a flexatarian for a night. Livin? in the USA.
 Tired of the war and those industrial fools
You know what I?m talking about, maybe it?s that wealthy industrialist whop made a gazillion bucks in the gas and oil industry who decided to chuck it all and set up shop in the Rutherford Bench? Now he?s planning on how to save the world from low-scoring unoaked wines. This calls for a seersucker selection from Rosenthal wines, n'est-ce pas? A Cassis Blanc from Domaine du Bagnol: Marsanne, Clairette and Ugni Blanc in a fruity aromatic cease fire from the madness of making the daily bread. I had this wine a few weeks ago, after a night of Gravner, and I can still taste, and remember this wine for its clarity and its joyful purity. Peace, y?all.
 Abra-abra-cadabra, I want to reach out and grab ya
From Puglia a Fiano-Greco , Prima Mano. Reaches right out of the glass and grabs ya and doesn?t wrinkle the seersucker. Clear flavors, bright and not spoofed up. No smoke and mirrors, just a clean shake and a hangover-free morning.
 Some people call me the space cowboy, yeah. Some call me the gangster of love
From the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, a Sauvignon Blanc from Linden Vineyards. I like what the winemaker says, "Rather than having a wine defined by oak and alcohol, I prefer a wine that is defined by its ?sap? ?. Less than 300 cases made, so you?re gonna hafta call yore relatives if?n you wants some.
 Somebody give me a cheeseburger
 All those hot dogs earlier in the month, during a field trip to Brooklyn, got me to thinking about a reddish wine to go with them. The closest I got was thinking about a wine from Kermit Lynch from Corte Gardoni, a Bardolino Chiaretto (Rosato). I can has hot dog? And free range and grass fed if I wants to? Yes I can. Just in time for the Seersucker Invitational Park Slope Bocce Ball Tournament.
Good night and ?Gob-less?.
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| [05/18/2008, 15:03] | an invitation to your burgundy report | | | Use this link if you would like to join the ‘experimental’ my.burgundy-report.com pages: i.e. YOUR Burgundy Report pages. The content and discussion comes hardly from me, but from the already 270 and counting people who have and will join. Merchants, producers, enthusiasts and consumers - they are all there… Visit My Burgundy Report I [...] | | | |
| [05/18/2008, 08:56] | Wine & Spirits Hot Picks Tasting: May 22, Los Angeles | | 
The American wine industry is pretty excited these days. Sales are up, and the demographics are looking good: the youngest generation of alcohol consumers (known as the "Millennials") are much more interested in wine than any other generation before them, and there are a lot of them -- almost as many as the Baby Boomers.
In many ways, the Millennial generation has caused the wine industry to finally realize there's a market in younger wine drinkers, a group that has long been ignored by both the wine media and most wine producers. While the beer and hard liquor industries learned long ago that marketing to twenty-somethings was a golden goose of an opportunity, the wine industry has been slow to figure out that there was another market for their product besides old white men. Change is coming though, as events like the upcoming Wine & Spirits Hot Picks tasting clearly demonstrate. Focused on folks under 35, this tasting of some of the magazine's top wines, hosted by some of Los Angeles' youngest wine professionals, will likely be a great opportunity for younger wine lovers to taste great wine, at an interesting venue, with lots of cool folks to interact with. Frankly, I wish I had sought out more events of this sort when I was single. Now that I'm married, I realize that I probably could have gotten a lot more dates hanging out at wine tastings than I did hanging out at the rock climbing gym! Singles take note. Wine & Spirits knows how to put on a good tasting, and the wines showcased are usually extremely high quality. Their Top 100 tasting is certainly one of the best events of the year in San Francisco, and one I try not to miss under any circumstances. That bodes well for this event, which I haven't ever attended, but which I certainly recommend as probably worth the $75 entrance fee. Lots of different wines will be served, along with food from some of LA's trendiest restaurants, including Osteria Mozza, which I hear is quite the scene these days. If some of you readers attend, let me know how it goes.
Wine & Spirits Hot Picks Tasting
Thursday May 22, 2008
7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
MODAA Gallery
8609 Washington Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232
Tickets are $75 and should be purchased online in advance.
Don't forget to wear dark clothes, drink lots of water, eat food along the way, and if you want to actually learn something.... SPIT! | | | |
| [05/13/2008, 08:04] | Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival: May 16-18, Philo, CA | |  California Pinot Noir lovers take note. Wine lovers with a free weekend, listen up. It's Spring, and the wine events are coming fast and furious. It seems like every week there's a new wine tasting to go to. But some are more worth paying attention to than others.
Anderson Valley is known for two things in California, and not coincidentally, it has more or less two major wine tasting events per year. The first, the International Alsace Varietals festival took place a few months ago, and I was sadly prevented from attending. The second is the annual Pinot Noir Festival, which it looks like I'll also be unable to attend, much to my disappointment. But if you're a fan of Pinot Noir and you don't have plans this coming weekend, I seriously recommend it. It's definitely worth the three hour drive. Not only is this a gorgeous time of year in the Anderson Valley, but the Pinot Noirs on offer include a few of the better ones in the state. This isn't a huge tasting, and consequently you'll find very few huge wineries there. Instead you'll find a bunch of small, dedicated growers and producers pouring their (mostly) small production wines. The event includes a technical conference and BBQ on Friday May 16th. One of the guys speaking at the technical conference is John Winthrop Haeger, author of North American Pinot Noir, which is one of the definitive works on the grape. Saturday features the grand tasting and winemaker dinners, and those who choose to stay through Sunday can wander around to the many open houses hosted by the valley's wineries. Participating wineries include: Baxter Winery, Black Kite Cellars, Breggo Cellars, Brogan Cellars, Cakebread Cellars, Copain Wines, Drew, Elke Vineyards, Foursight Wines, Goldeneye Winery, Greenwood Ridge Vineyards, Gryphon Wines, Handley Cellars, Harmonique, Husch Vineyards, Jim Ball Vineyards, La Crema, Lazy Creek Vineyards, Londer Vineyards, MacPhail Family Wines, Madrigal Vineyards, Navarro Vineyards, Phillips Hill Estates, Philo Ridge Vineyards, Raye's Hill Vineyards & Winery, Roederer Estate, Roessler Cellars, Saintsbury, Scharffenberger Cellars, Standish Wine Company, Toulouse Vineyards, Williams Selyem and Zina Hyde Cunningham Winery. The full conference details can be found on the event web site. 11th Annual Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival
Grand Tasting
Saturday, May 17th, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Goldeneye Winery
9200 Highway 128
Philo, CA 95466
707-895-3202 The $85 tickets to the Grand Tasting can (and should) be purchased in advance online. The Friday technical conference will cost you an additional $100 (yes there is wine to taste at this event), and winemaker dinners vary in price. If you are driving up for the event, I recommend giving yourself a bit of extra time to get there. Perhaps drive up in the morning and have some breakfast before the tasting.
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| [05/12/2008, 18:55] | Interview with Ed Lehrman of Vine Connections: Second Installment | | 
*What an unusual mix in terms of the international producers you represent?why Argentina, New Zealand and Japan?
- Not really if you consider that Argentina and Japan (Ginjo sake), and to some extent New Zealand, share the same common elements?there are great wines and sake being produced by highly talented winemakers and tojis (master brewers), and they are not getting recognized yet. The quality is already in the bottle?so why should these sell less or get less respect than wine from more obvious regions? We always say that we are really a ?national education company? since we usually explain more than we sell. Our job is to get people to taste these wines and premium sake, and the stuff inside the bottles takes care of the rest. At the heart of this idea is also the notion that in the end, it?s the people you work with who make the difference between mediocre and ?wow!?. We have been lucky, fortunate, and smart (maybe a little of each) to meet and represent some of the top talent in these regions:
Susana Balbo?Crios de Susana Balbo, Susana Balbo signature wines, Nosotros (with Pedro below)
Pedro Marchevsky ? BenMarco
Pepe Galante & Mariano di Paola ? mapema
Luis Reginato ? Luca, Tikal, La Posta
Roberto de la Mota - Mendel
Jose & Pepe Reginato ? Reginato sparkling wines
Guy Davis ? Davis Family Vineyards (Russian River, CA) and Gusto (NZ SB)
13 Master Brewers from all over Japan?each as talented as anyone we have met.
*As someone who deals so closely with Argentine producers, what types of obstacles, limitations and concerns have any of them expressed to you in terms of being able to export and promote their products abroad?
- Well, I want to stay out of trouble here since I travel to Argentina a lot, but let me just say that the Argentine government has historically been more of a hindrance than a help for wine exports. As an example, and hard to believe, they actually tax EXPORTS! Perhaps the bigger obstacle for Argentine wineries is that the economic and political situation is relatively unstable, and when you are in an industry that measures commitment and success over a decade or longer due to capital investment requirements, it is hard to deal with a system that usually looks out only 2-3 years at a time.
*In your eyes, what sets apart these Argentine producers you represent? What do their wines bring to the table of American wine consumers that large-yield, often conglomerate-backed wines simply cannot?
- I alluded to this a bit above when talking about who we represent and why. I think there are three main things that set our producers apart:
1) Our wineries are owned by and have Argentine winemakers who have lived in this unique climate and region for their entire lives. For us, that means that the wines that they make TASTE like Argentine wines, not like some random wine from somewhere in the world. And as talented as some of the flying/foreign winemakers are who are working in Mendoza, I have yet to taste a wine from them that thrills me the way our producers? wines do at the dinner table. And I taste everything from down there.
2) As good as they already are, they are still always trying to learn how to improve their wines, and in today?s wine world, that?s the only way you stay on top. It shows.
3) Obsessive attention to detail seems like an abused phrase, but in winemaking it is crucial and not as common as you would think. Our winemakers are also our close friends and in Argentina that is taken pretty seriously. They make sure that every step is done with the utmost care because they would never want to look their friends in the eye and say, ?uhh..I?m sorry but this wine is just ok because we weren?t really paying close attention when we made it.? Large wineries may be able to solve #1 above, but #2 and #3 are far harder to come by, and that?s probably as true in the US as it is in Argentina.
*Looking ahead?are there any regions Vine Connections is looking to expand its portfolio toward, and why?
- We made a strategic decision a few years ago that we would remain specialists in Argentine wine and Japanese sake. Some importers have gone in the opposite direction and are happy to sell one of everything from anywhere, but we?re just not built that way as people. We started as leaders in both of these categories and we feel the only way to stay out in front is to specialize. That?s why we spend almost a month per year in Mendoza and visit Japan for at least 2 weeks every year. It?s our own ?attention to detail? mantra, and we try to stick to it so that we can look our customers in they eye and say every time, ?This is really great Argentine wine and Ginjo sake?. Every time.
- Fortunately, we won?t be bored since there still plenty of regions and microclimates still left to discover in Argentina.
*Given the nature of the market here in the United States, what advice would you give to consumers who would like be aware of, as well as actually see, a dramatic increase in availability of premium Argentine wines such as those crafted by your producers?
- American consumers have helped their own cause a lot already by being very open to trying wines like Malbec, Bonarda, and Torrontes. I think they will help themselves even further by continuing to experiment with wines at many different prices, not just the ?great values? under $15. Nick and I firmly believe that well-made Argentine wines offer incredible value and over-deliver at all price points. A $12 wine is worth more like $16, and a $30 wine is worth more like $40 when compared to other wine regions of the world. And, of course, you can support quality-focused companies like Vine Connections by paying attention to the importer name or logo (like our compass) that appear on every bottle. As with other wine regions, a good wine importer can be your best friend when you haven?t tried a particular wine yet and would like some assurance that you are going to enjoy it?especially when spending more than $15 or so. | | | |
| [05/12/2008, 18:55] | Interview with Ed Lehrman of Vine Connections: Second Installment | |
*What an unusual mix in terms of the international producers you represent?why Argentina, New Zealand and Japan?
- Not really if you consider that Argentina and Japan (Ginjo sake), and to some extent New Zealand, share the same common elements?there are great wines and sake being produced by highly talented winemakers and tojis (master brewers), and they are not getting recognized yet. The quality is already in the bottle?so why should these sell less or get less respect than wine from more obvious regions? We always say that we are really a ?national education company? since we usually explain more than we sell. Our job is to get people to taste these wines and premium sake, and the stuff inside the bottles takes care of the rest. At the heart of this idea is also the notion that in the end, it?s the people you work with who make the difference between mediocre and ?wow!?. We have been lucky, fortunate, and smart (maybe a little of each) to meet and represent some of the top talent in these regions:
Susana Balbo?Crios de Susana Balbo, Susana Balbo signature wines, Nosotros (with Pedro below)
Pedro Marchevsky ? BenMarco
Pepe Galante & Mariano di Paola ? mapema
Luis Reginato ? Luca, Tikal, La Posta
Roberto de la Mota - Mendel
Jose & Pepe Reginato ? Reginato sparkling wines
Guy Davis ? Davis Family Vineyards (Russian River, CA) and Gusto (NZ SB)
13 Master Brewers from all over Japan?each as talented as anyone we have met.
*As someone who deals so closely with Argentine producers, what types of obstacles, limitations and concerns have any of them expressed to you in terms of being able to export and promote their products abroad?
- Well, I want to stay out of trouble here since I travel to Argentina a lot, but let me just say that the Argentine government has historically been more of a hindrance than a help for wine exports. As an example, and hard to believe, they actually tax EXPORTS! Perhaps the bigger obstacle for Argentine wineries is that the economic and political situation is relatively unstable, and when you are in an industry that measures commitment and success over a decade or longer due to capital investment requirements, it is hard to deal with a system that usually looks out only 2-3 years at a time.
*In your eyes, what sets apart these Argentine producers you represent? What do their wines bring to the table of American wine consumers that large-yield, often conglomerate-backed wines simply cannot?
- I alluded to this a bit above when talking about who we represent and why. I think there are three main things that set our producers apart:
1) Our wineries are owned by and have Argentine winemakers who have lived in this unique climate and region for their entire lives. For us, that means that the wines that they make TASTE like Argentine wines, not like some random wine from somewhere in the world. And as talented as some of the flying/foreign winemakers are who are working in Mendoza, I have yet to taste a wine from them that thrills me the way our producers? wines do at the dinner table. And I taste everything from down there.
2) As good as they already are, they are still always trying to learn how to improve their wines, and in today?s wine world, that?s the only way you stay on top. It shows.
3) Obsessive attention to detail seems like an abused phrase, but in winemaking it is crucial and not as common as you would think. Our winemakers are also our close friends and in Argentina that is taken pretty seriously. They make sure that every step is done with the utmost care because they would never want to look their friends in the eye and say, ?uhh..I?m sorry but this wine is just ok because we weren?t really paying close attention when we made it.? Large wineries may be able to solve #1 above, but #2 and #3 are far harder to come by, and that?s probably as true in the US as it is in Argentina.
*Looking ahead?are there any regions Vine Connections is looking to expand its portfolio toward, and why?
- We made a strategic decision a few years ago that we would remain specialists in Argentine wine and Japanese sake. Some importers have gone in the opposite direction and are happy to sell one of everything from anywhere, but we?re just not built that way as people. We started as leaders in both of these categories and we feel the only way to stay out in front is to specialize. That?s why we spend almost a month per year in Mendoza and visit Japan for at least 2 weeks every year. It?s our own ?attention to detail? mantra, and we try to stick to it so that we can look our customers in they eye and say every time, ?This is really great Argentine wine and Ginjo sake?. Every time.
- Fortunately, we won?t be bored since there still plenty of regions and microclimates still left to discover in Argentina.
*Given the nature of the market here in the United States, what advice would you give to consumers who would like be aware of, as well as actually see, a dramatic increase in availability of premium Argentine wines such as those crafted by your producers?
- American consumers have helped their own cause a lot already by being very open to trying wines like Malbec, Bonarda, and Torrontes. I think they will help themselves even further by continuing to experiment with wines at many different prices, not just the ?great values? under $15. Nick and I firmly believe that well-made Argentine wines offer incredible value and over-deliver at all price points. A $12 wine is worth more like $16, and a $30 wine is worth more like $40 when compared to other wine regions of the world. And, of course, you can support quality-focused companies like Vine Connections by paying attention to the importer name or logo (like our compass) that appear on every bottle. As with other wine regions, a good wine importer can be your best friend when you haven?t tried a particular wine yet and would like some assurance that you are going to enjoy it?especially when spending more than $15 or so. | | | |
| [05/11/2008, 14:59] | NY Times Howard Goldberg Writes About Merliance In Long Island | | 
2005 Merliance Is New Merlot From Collective
By HOWARD G. GOLDBERG
Published: May 11, 2008
When the Long Island Merlot Alliance was formed by five producers in 2005, the local wine industry debated its value. Since merlot had become established as the Island?s signature red ? today 38 of 43 producers make it ? an organization to promote it and to define quality standards was unnecessary, dissenting producers said.
Undeterred, the alliance ? Pellegrini, Raphael, Sherwood House, Shinn and Wölffer ? strives to make ?Long Island merlot? an internationally recognized brand. It has just released its second collectively composed merlot, the 2005 Merliance. (Its first venture, vintage-dated 2004, was released in 2006.)
The medium-bodied 2005 red ($35) is soft, richly fruity and reminiscent of macerated black and red berries; six months? further bottle aging will heighten its nuances. It?s a pleasing, but not spectacular, wine.
In producing the blend, each member selected two barrels from its cellars that the winemakers believed best represented its individual style as well as Long Island?s terroir, or grape-growing conditions. Calling 2005 an extraordinary vintage, Richard Olsen-Harbich, Raphael?s winemaker, said it was ?the driest growing season on Long Island in almost 60 years.?
He added, ?We had very mature, intense fruit at harvest, which is evident in the dark fruit flavors and ripe tannins found in the wine.?
Read the rest at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/11/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/11vinesli.html | | | |
| [05/11/2008, 14:47] | Merlot Made From Hamptons Vineyard for $100 Beats Saint-Emilion | | 
Merlot Made From Hamptons Vineyard for $100 Beats Saint-Emilion
By Gillian Wee
URL: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601093&sid=a4UjlGU.8GKw&refer=home
May 9 (Bloomberg) -- After making wine since 1992 surrounded by the mansions of the Hamptons, Roman Roth got the ingredients for the ideal vintage last summer: steady sunshine and little rain.
``It was a dream year,'' said Roth, 42, the German-born winemaker at Wolffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack on Long Island's South Fork, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) east of New York City. ``The growing conditions were close to perfect. You knew when you started picking grapes. So we made really ripe, great lush wines.''
Roth's most expensive product, a 2004 Premier Cru -- or first growth -- Merlot sells for $100 a bottle at his tasting room, which is preparing for its peak period from Memorial Day, the May 26 U.S. holiday marking the start of the summer season, to October.
The 2007 vintage follows one in 2005 praised by Wine Spectator magazine Executive Editor Thomas Matthews. They show that Long Island's boutique winemakers can compete with U.S. West Coast and European producers, Roth said.
``I think 2007 is going to be the exciting year,'' said Gary Vaynerchuk, 32, who runs Wine Library, a retailer in Springfield, New Jersey, and hosts a Web TV show on winelibrarytv.com. ``Weather has everything to do with everything when it has to do with wine.''
While New York is the country's third-largest wine-and-grape producer behind California and Washington, two-thirds of the harvest is turned into grape juice, said Jessica Chittenden, a spokeswoman for the state agriculture department. Long Island's vineyards produce only 1.19 million gallons of wine, worth about $100 million annually, equivalent to 0.2 percent of California's output, said Steve Bate, 49, executive director of the Long Island Wine Council.
3,000 Acres
Long Island's first vineyard was started with 17 acres (6.9 hectares) in 1973 by Louisa and Alec Hargrave. Sixty vineyards, many former potato fields, now cover about 3,000 acres. They benefit from growing conditions similar to the Bordeaux region, Bate said. Long Island's largest winery is the family-run Pindar Vineyards, sitting on almost 550 acres.
What sets Long Island wines apart from California offerings is how well they pair with food, said Jim Trezise, 61, president of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation. Grapes grown in New York's cooler climate produce vintages that are light and acidic, he said.
The island, known for its white beaches, relies on summer visitors who buy wine where it's made.
`Attractive Region'
``They are such an attractive region for tourism that they're able to sell a large percentage of production from the wineries,'' said Matthews, 54, whose favorites include offerings |
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