Due May 13, host Jeff at Good Grape prompts us to write about a California wine which inspired us:
Thematically, this month is intended to be broad while acting as homage to Robert Mondavi, the 1-year anniversary of his passing on Saturday, May 16.
Because Mondavi was such an inspiration physically, spiritually and philosophically to so many – both in the industry and to consumers, while acting as the forefather of the modern California wine movement, I would like for WBW participants to revisit a California wine that they have enjoyed, or have a particular fond memory of, and tell a story.
Simply, Mondavi promoted an air of inclusiveness, not exclusiveness, conducting many of his business practices around a philosophy of aiding other wineries in knowledge and practices to create a profile for California wine that would rival the world’s finest wines.
The easy route for this theme would be to taste a Mondavi wine, but I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Mondavi would have preferred an air of openness. No good is accomplished by a singularity of purpose that acts as an exclusionary barrier for others.
Please go buy or pull from your stash, a bottle of whatever that California wine was that created a memorable chapter in your life, revisit the bottle, and share your story.
Lynn says, “Join us on May 13 as we celebrate the life of Robert Mondavi and the wines and wine industry he helped create.”
This prompt is a no brainer for me: today I am off to find an amazing bottle of Ridge, the winery where I worked in my early 20s and which shaped my palate as surely as working for Mr Peet!
Unfortunately, there’s nothing left from that time in the cellar; I really should have bought more when I left to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, especially since I have a cellar to keep it in. I enjoyed the last bottle in 2003–a 1980 Monte Bello Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon on New Years at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite.
And since this weekend is Mother’s Day, I have the perfect excuse to splurge!! What a great prompt! Watch for a report by next Wednesday!
Murphy-Goode Winery in Sonoma County presents their version of the “Best Job in the World”–drinking their wines with great meals for $10,000 a month for six months and blog about it.
Interested? Make a one minute video why you want the job and get it to them by June 1! (Sound familiar?) Go here for more details: murphygoodewinery.com. or http://tinyurl.com/clropq.
April 28, 2009 — Application Opens
June 19, 2009 — Application Closes
June 26, 2009 — Top 50 Candidates Announced
July 7, 2009 — Top 10 Candidates Announced
July 14 — July 18, 2009 — Final Interviews
July 21, 2009 — Candidate Selection Announcement
August 15, 2009 — Work Begins
! Go here for more details: murphygoodewinery.com. Below is a really slick video ap for the job:
Now that Passover is over, Herzog Winery’s Tasting Room is open again and back in business–and David and I went over there to check it out.
The ten year old facility looks brand new; it’s impressive, state of the art, and well laid out to serve a variety of functions from small, intimate tastings and classes to inside and outside hosted meetings. The public rooms have high ceilings, possibly 30 feet or more, but it’s well sound proofed with inviting lighting and nice appointments throughout–not overly done and decorated but classy and comfortable.
When we walked in, we were greeted by receptionists at the counter as if we were at a major business–which we were! To the right is the business side of the winery and to the left the eating and drinking side–where we were headed. A self guided tour takes visitors upstairs where fine art hangs and to see the rest of the facility. Guided tours are also available.
The wine store is well stocked with jams, mustard, wine stuff, and lots and lots of wine which they are more than happy to sell. We were surprised by the international wines on display; the tasting room host told us that Herzog is the biggest importer and distributor of Kosher wines in the world. Amazing–we had no idea that the business was so big. They also import and distribute Kosher Cognac and other spirits.
Our host, David, was friendly, personable, and knowledgeable which we appreciated since we had hoped to attend a $10 wine tasting class that night which was sold out. Later when people left the class, they were pleased with what they’d learned and immediately came to the counter to taste more and make some purchases.
Herzog offers two levels of tastings. Suite 1 is $3 and features Baron Herzog label while the $6 flight shows off their reserve label.
We went for the higher end reserve tasting. Overall, the wines were well balanced, with nice clarity and color, reasonable alcohol content, some nice light oak, and they go well with food. Since it was Earth Day, we were also happy to learn that most of the vineyards from which they get their juice use sustainable practices.
We started with Continue reading
Weaver Wines: Green Tips Benefit VCCool!
Thursday, April 23 6pm to 8pm
Weaver Wines
14 S. California St., Ventura
Join us for a glass of wine at Weaver Wines and heckled the Celeb Wine-Tender Rachel Morris. All the tips collected by Rachel will be donated to VCCool for our huge annual Kids Bicycle Safety Rodeo. Join us Thursday April 23rd from 6-8pm and we can drink wines together and discuss “Green Tips for Changing the World.” Seana Weaver IS the Hostess with the Mostest! There will be door prizes including baskets of goodies, and great organic and local wines. Family style seating and standing at the bar and two tables of fun! So bring your checkbooks and enjoy a meet-and-greet. Your tips will help fund our annual kid’s bicycle safety rodeo!
As planned, after Green Drinks in Camarillo (where they served an interesting selection of wines form around the world which doesn’t seem to green to me), my friend Sheila and I went to Herzog to sample their fine Kosher wines.
Where we didn’t find a soul or a car in the parking lot. We did find a small sign int eh window which said they closed early that day, at 5pm and would be closed until Sunday April 19.
I poked around a bit but neglected to turn up anything which looked like fine Kosher wine to me so I guess I’m passing on this one, although next Wednsday the winemaker is holding a special tasting and discussion of Kosher wines which I will take advantage of. Just gotta ask one question: why couldn’t they haev done that tasting BEFORE they closed for passover? Am I missing something that maybe had to do with sunset on the day before?
Maybe I’ll get an exception…we’ll see. Anyway, watch for a post about fine Kosher wine NEXT week sometime!
Here it is, Wine Blogging Wednesday time again!
And what is the prompt for the post due by next Wednesday April 15, you ask? Fine Kosher wine, just in time for Passover! Fortunately for me, I love a quick drive down the 101 highway to Herzog, purveyors of fine kosher wine. Now all I need to do is find some folks who want to head over there and taste with me. If we go tomorrow, Weds. April 8, we can also go to Green Drinks in nearby Camarillo. And if we don’t go tomorrow, we won’t go at all because Herzog Wine Cellars will be closed April 9-17 in observance of Passover. The winery will reopen on Sunday, April 19th.
According to the official prompt from WBW #56 host The Cork Dork, this month’s theme of Fine Kosher Wine was inspired by an excellent Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa that The Cork Dork was later informed to be Kosher.
“I was aware that there were some quality wines out there that were labeled Kosher, but I had no idea what that really meant. I was shocked and amazed,” he writes. “The wine was the 2006 Covenant, by winemaker Jeff Morgan. I have since been fascinated by a world of Kosher wine out there that I had no idea existed. I urge those of you close to a Kosher winery to visit and you’ll be very surprised about what it really takes. Jeff’s site has tons of great information on it as well to get you started on what makes wine Kosher.”
wine predator.............. gwendolyn alley 