Celebrate Champagne Day 2011 TODAY!

It’s almost time for Champagne Day at the Jolly Oyster! I leave for there soon with bottles of Champagne and ice in tow!

I’ve been busy busy busy preparing–you know, tasting champagne and studying up! There are tons of juicy tidbits floating about on twitter–just check out the hashtag #champagneday and you’ll see what I mean! For example,

beathirstygirlThirsty Girl posted “One holds a bottle of red wine by the neck, a woman by the waist, and a bottle of Champagne by the derriere.” (Mark Twain) #ChampagneDay
beathirstygirlThirsty Girl also posted “On a budget for #ChampagneDay? Check out this list: ow.ly/7blyY”“

@alawine tweeted this quote:  “My only regret in life is that I didn’t drink enough Champagne” ~ John Maynard Keynes #ChampagneDay #wine
By early this morning, host @vintuba reported “So Far there have been over 2,000 mentions of #ChampagneDay today- looks like a lot of people popping #Bubbles“

The Champagne Bureau sent me press packs and a lot of other great Champagne porn which I will bring to share including sheets for tasting notes which we can use.

From the beautiful book they produced titled “Champagne” I learned that they’ve been growing grapes since Roman times and figured out how to control the bubbles by 1730, partly by shifting from wooden closures to cork.

Remember Champagne Day at the Jolly Oyster is BYOB …but I am bringing some of the good stuff to share (can you say BOLLINGER?) if you make a nice donation to Save McGrath!  And if you share with me, I’ll share with you!

Other folks are bringing goodies to share for a donation. And still others will be cooking up clams and oysters and other treats on the spot to share and compare!

We turn into pumpkins & have to scurry from the park when it closes at dusk (6:30) so come as soon as you can–and let’s keep this event green–bring your own glass!!

PS I just saw that Henriot is over $50 online & you can get it COLD at the Ventura Wine Co on Telephone near Market. This is a great bubbler at an amazing price. This is what I chose to pair with oysters and my husband’s birthday two weeks ago. Wow!

Champagne Day 2011 Arrives Tonight!

Dear Champagne and Oyster lovers,

Which Champagne will be the best with which type of oyster? Find out tomorrow at International Champagne Day!

The Jolly Oyster and I invite you to celebrate with us at Ventura State Beach where we will be toasting our local parks and beaches–as well as the fabulous foamy drink we call Champagne and the delicate briny succulent delicacy we call oysters. The event and parking during the event from 3-6pm is FREE.  (Champagne and oyster photo from The Jolly Oyster facebook page).

Learn from experts about Champagne, oysters, clams, our local marine ecosystems and more! Proceeds from sales of oysters and clams will go to Save McGrath State Beach: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/26/fundraiser-will-toast-mcgrath-state-beach-with/

While sparkling wine is fine (and thanks to Barefoot Bubbly we will have samples of five bubbling varietals of that beach ready, beach saving California wine!), you can find real Champagne at the locally owned Wine Rack, Ventura Wine Co, and Paradise Pantry. Also, all wines are 30% off right now at Vons; Vons on Harbor and Seaward will chill Champagne for you to pick up: call manager April at 805/223-3616.

Can’t make it to the beach in Ventura to join us? Here’s a link to find a Champagne Day event near you: http://champagneday.eventbrite.com/

Or follow Champagne Day at home! You can take oysters and clams to go and you can check out the hashtag #champagneday on twitter to see what people are tasting and talking about.

best, gwendolyn aka Wine Predator
co-host Champagne Day 2011
https://winepredator.wordpress.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/ArtPredator

Celebrate Champagne Fri. Oct. 28 2011!

Last Sunday was my husband’s 50th Birthday.

One guess what we celebrated with?

Yep, you’re right: Champagne! Not sparkling wine, not champagne method, but the real McCoy, Champagne with a capital C! (Okay, I admit, we had some sparkling wine and apple juice, red and white wine, and beer and tequila and…but all that belongs in another blog post to come!!)

Which we thoroughly enjoyed with fresh, raw and barbecued oysters as well clams we steamed up in wine and garlic in a huge pot on the campfire fire!

Next Friday, October 28, from 3-6pm,  I cordially invite YOU to get your bubbles on and join us in a Champagne Day celebration at the Jolly Oyster at the Ventura State Beach from 3-6pm. Parking on this special occasion from 3-6pm will be FREE (instead of $10!)

Meet Ranger Jelly, oysters farmers, and Champagne fans and fellow foodies! Bring your friends, a picnic, and bubbles to share to this FREE, fun party at

The Jolly Oyster www.thejollyoyster.com http://twitter.com/JollyOyster

–Get expert tips on how to shuck oysters & cook clams.
–Enjoy Champagne Day specials on fresh oysters & clams from the Jolly Oyster farms.
–Find out about how the Jolly Oyster grows oysters & clams from the farmers.
–Learn about local marine life from Ranger Jelly.
–Meet Champagne fans & fellow foodies.
–Shuckers, towel, barbecue coals etc available for sale also.

Register here for the Champagne Day 2011 and here for our Jolly Oyster Meetup on Champagne Day Oct 28, 2011.

Hitler Responds to Parker Passing Reins

I wasn’t surprised that hot on the heels of this Hitler parody video, one would come out that featured Hitler as a cult winery owner responding to the news that Robert Parker would no longer be reviewing California wines in the Wine Advocate (Parker announced this in February 2011; the new reviewer is Antonio Galloni according to this article by Alder Yarrow.)

According to Yarrow’s experience,

Galloni’s palate seems to favor less intense ripeness than Parker’s, and seems to be more favorably (than Parker) disposed to wines that lean more towards the idiosyncratic. The question arises, then, whether or not we will see a shift in the scoring of California wines now that they are Under New Management at the Wine Advocate. In the most extreme case, we could be looking at a shakeup of the longstanding hierarchy of California cult bottlings.

Like all of these Hitler parody videos, insiders will get more of the jokes. But they’re still funny even if you know only some of the references.

And what have I been up to since Burning Man other than watching Hitler parody videos?

Sampling wines with oysters! In late August, The Jolly Oyster opened shop at the Ventura State Beach to sell oysters and clams from the farm in Baja and since I love oysters,  I’ve tried at least a dozen wines and I’ve probably eaten an average of a half dozen oysters a day this month.

Tonight I meet up again with local food writer Lisa McKinnon to try more wines with oysters at the Jolly Oyster at the Ventura State Beach. I’m bringing an Ojai Vineyard chardonnay and she’s got “Smitten” from Four Brix which just opened their facility in Ventura last weekend. I’ll report back soon!

Hitler responds to Parker’s Napa Cab Report

Rick Bakas posted this on facebook tonight and because I get a kick out of these Hitler parodies, I checked it out and thought it worth sharing here–partly because I am still recovering from Burning Man and not posting here like I should! (Go to Art Predator for Burning Man reports so far–I do plan to post about wine at Burning Man when I can!)

Aug 30, 2011

“Because someone had to do it. I created this video 18 months ago when “Hitler reacts to” videos were all the rage and Robert Parker’s 2007 California Cabernet vintage report was the talk of Napa Valley. I decided not to publish the video. Now that Parker has appointed Antonio Galloni to replace him as The Wine Advocate’s critic on California wines, I decided to go ahead and post this video in honor of #cabernetday. Cheers!”

“Life on the Douro” Premieres in Portugal Tonight, Will Show in US This Fall

While I was busy at Burning Man (more on the wines we tasted there soon!), Zev Robinson emailed to say that after filming for 45 days over five trips during the past 15 months, his documentary Life on the Douro will premier tonight, September 6 at 10pm at the Douro Film Harvest festival in the Vidago Palace. http://www.dourofilmharvest.com/en/detail_filme.aspx?id=119309&name=LIFE_ON_THE_DOURO The film is about the history and culture of the region from the point of view of those who have made it what it is.

According to Zev, a number of screenings and tastings will follow, starting the week of Nov 15 in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and at the Paso Robles Film Festival (where he’ll be showing Dinastia Vivanco as well. The film will be followed by tastings and seminars involving Roy Hersh www.fortheloveofport.com, Oscar Quevedo http://quevedoportwine.com and Luiz Alberto www.thewinehub.com, all adding their insights and wisdom about the Douro and its wines.

“The response and support for the film has been fantastic,” says Zev, “and other events in North American and European cities are being planned including a couple of tours in the spring.”

Check out the website http://lifeonthedouro.com (with two trailers) and join www.facebook.com/lifeonthedouro to keep up to date with events and news.

I plan on attending the screening in LA and possibly Paso Robles as well. See you there!

PS You can read now about some of my Burning Man adventures over on Art Predator.

Boxed Wine Part 2: Carlo Rossi Founders Oak, Pepperwood & more!

UPDATE 4/15/13: Lots of people recently landed here wondering whether Carlo Rossi Founders Oak and Carlo Rossi Founders Blend were the same wines so I emailed Kelly Conrad, my contact at EJ Gallo, to find out. She wrote me back to say:

We recently changed the package from Founders Oak to Founders Blend—there was NO change to the wine. Research showed “oak” tended to be a polarizing word, even though most people enjoy the benefits of oak. Hope this helps and please reach out if you have any additional questions.

In part two of this two part post about boxed wines which I highly recommend for camping trips like Burning Man (or just to have around because they last so long and have a much smaller carbon footprint!) I review Carlo Rossi Founder’s Oak merlot and cab, chardonnays from Vella, Turning Leaf and Pepperwood Grove’s Big Green Box, as well as Pepperwood’s pinot grigio, cab, and old vine zin.

If my grandpa was around today, he’d be keeping Carlo Rossi boxed wine in his cellar.

How do I know this? Because there are still gallon jugs of Carlo Rossi in the cellar–and my grandfather died in 1997!

I think my grandmother would like the golden delicious apple sweetness of the Carlo Rossi chardonnay and my grandfather would enjoy either the soft round fruity (cherry and plum) merlot or the more oaky and vegetal (bell pepper) qualities of the cabernet. The color of both are similar but there’s no confusing the two if you give them a sniff!

These are simple wines that will please most people and when you’re camping, sometimes you want to just keep it simple. The chardonnay would be good with appetizers (I liked it best with sea salt pita chips) and the reds work great with BBQ–tritip, ribs, you name it. These are all 5 liter boxes which is almost 7 bottles of wine!

Learn more about Carlo Rossi (the man and the wine!)

I also sampled two more boxed chardonnay–Vella and Turning Leaf. Out of all these boxed wines, I expected the most out of Turning Leaf and yes, it seems like the same wine that’s in the bottle is in the bag! So if you like Turning Leaf in the bottle, for camping, parties, Burning Man or just to have a wine around that will keep for a month or more, try Turning Leaf in a bag. It’s got that same oaky California chardonnay taste and mouthfeel.

The Vella chardonnay is a favorite of my sister-in-law–it has nice fruit but it’s golden delicious sweet not as sweet as the Carlo Rossi and it has a little more body and heft to it and some tropical fruit but it’s still lighter than the Turning Leaf.

Finally, in the chardonnay department, I liked the Pepperwood Grove Big Green Box. I mean I really liked it. Like Turning Leaf, this is the same wine that you find in the bottle in your grocery store but in a box which means you save green (money) big time AND you go green big time (have a smaller carbon footprint.) I tried it with a lot of different meals and it worked with chicken, fish, appetizers, and more. It’s very easy to enjoy!

Out of all the Pepperwood Grove boxed wines, my husband really liked the Pinot Grigio. When I’d open a bottle of something else to sample and offer to pour him a glass, he’d tell me he was just fine with that pinot grigio. This is high praise for a man who usually has a beer or two in the evenings! So if you’re looking for a wine that your typical beer drinker in your camp might enjoy, try the Big Green Box Pinot Grigio.

I sampled two reds from Pepperwood Grove also: Old Vine Zin and Cabernet. Read more about how much we loved the Old Vine Zin here. The cabernet is good–balanced and with lots of cherry fruit but honestly, I love zin and I think the zin is an excellent value. The Pepperwood Grove wines retail at about $20 a 3 liter box containing four bottles of wine.

Thanks for the samples, ya’ll! I’ll have all but the Pepperwood Grove out on the playa for you to taste! To find out where, stop by Playa Info –we might be there–or they’ll have info about where we are tasting!