Milestone!!!

Readers and friends, thank you; I have posted one hundred times on this blog and you have viewed the pages sixteen thousand times.  Many bloggers are more active than me and they have many more pageviews, I know, but I am very grateful for you and the opportunities I have had.  For me it all goes back to the glass and the beauty and artistry experienced from the wine.  I said it best in my very first post here.

I have a lot to learn still and hope you will continue the journey with me as we learn about and from wine.  Over the past years we have had some outstanding lessons:

The two most viewed pages are for the Magnolia Grove Chardonnay and Cabernet made for Starwood Hotels and posted during my time at The Westin. My posts on Texas wines have been very popular; the innovation at Bending Branch, the emergence of Wedding Oak Winery, the closing of Alamosa and the annual Rambling Rosé at Becker Vineyards.  One of my personal highlights in life and post has to be the Sommelier Selection blending at Raymond Winery in Napa Valley. Many great wines and great times are chronicled here.  I will continue to post and learn and share the Lessons in Wine with you.

If you are inclined to; click the "Join This Site" button over to the right in the "Followers" box. And, if you are curious at all, I have two event pages:  Famous for :15 at Francesca's at Sunset chronicle of the 2010 New Years Eve at Francesca's at Sunset (with over 1,700 pageviews!) and the wildly popular Your Last Supper at Francesca's at Sunset for the end of the world New Year's Eve of 2011 with videos! (with over 8,600 pageviews! people LOVE this one.)  More than you ever wanted to know!  Oh, but what fun!!!

Texas Wineries are Ready for YOU!!!

Mike McHenry driving in the bumper crop of Tempranillo at Wedding Oak Winery!

Bumper Crops, Bigger Wineries, Better Wines, and Awesome Tasting Experiences! Texas Wineries are Ready for YOU!!!  It is time to visit them!

In my time between jobs, I am getting to visit some Texas wineries.  Everywhere I go it is clear and prevalent; they are ready for you.  The teams at each winery are striving to improve your experience. Take Kuhlman Cellars for example; Jennifer Beckmann and the tasting room team have prepared an amazing food and wine pairing taste experience for you. Be prepared to spend an hour in the tasting as you will dive into the chemistry of food and wine pairing, the techniques used in the vineyards and winery used to make their outstanding wines, the new and exciting grape varieties being grown and why they are perfect for Texas. They will get as geeky as you want or simply keep it to the thumbs up/thumbs down level. You will love this whole taste experience in the midst of their newly planted vines and growing winery/tasting room under construction.  Very exciting times in Hye, Texas.

The road less traveled will have surprises along the way like;  Falkenstein Wedding Castle on the park road to Longhorn Caverns. It is hard to imagine there may be a more picturesque drive with the curvy road that goes up and down step hills covered in cedar and oak trees.  Yet it is the destination that makes it all worthwhile, nestled in a beautiful valley is Perissos Vineyards! Seth Martin has planted and grown paradise here on the park road to Inks Lake outside Burnett Texas. The classical grape grower who does his winemaking in the field (minimal techniques in the winery.) Seth has planted and experimented with a wide array of grapes producing some of the best examples of Texas wine in every category along the way. His hard work and dedication has produced great tasting and popular wines, this has allowed him to expand his winery and tasting room.  While a very special place before, now the tasting room has high ceilings with big fans pushing the cool air to the wide open seating area and large windows with views of the vineyards and valley in the background. Indeed this family and winery live up to their name “exceeding abundantly, beyond what is expected, imagined, or hoped for.” You MUST visit this winery and taste 100% Texas!

One of the great things about every wine country is that their food and lodging is world class.  So, not only are the wineries ready for you but the restaurants and hotels are too.  We are seeing this throughout Texas, further proof that we are IN WINE COUNTRY.  Some of my recent discoveries (new to me) are; lunch in Marble Falls at the Noon Spoon Cafe.  All the ingredients are fresh and high quality.  This is one of those places where you feel the love and care that the culinary team put into making each plate, rare in today's world.  The service was attentive and friendly.  I will go out of my way to eat here again. Casual dinner at The Brick in San Saba, delicious pizza and burgers, made to order and of a quality that competes with the best from every large city in Texas.  Dinner experience at Rancho Loma, from finding this place hidden on the backside of rural roads, to walking through the creaky screen door of an old farm house into an hip modern restaurant dinning room.  The cuisine here is as good as you will encounter in San Francisco, Chicago or New York. The service is impeccable. The owners; Laurie, Robert and Zadie Williamson are very gracious hosts, they take time to make you feel at home and a valued guest in the home, which you are. This place seems almost like a dream, almost too good to be real, a experience you must seek out for yourself. (Note; Rancho Loma has sleeping accommodations too.)  If you want to stay next door to a winery, literally next door to Wedding Oak Winery, stay at Dofflemyer Hotel in San Saba.  It is a swanky hotel that would be at home in Napa Valley, with only six rooms, so book ahead, you will be glad you did. And, they leave the most delicious locally grown pecans on your pillow.

You and your friends will in time realize that you LIVE IN WINE COUNTRY!!!  Get out there and drink it in.  Texas is more interesting now than ever, don't miss it.

Do you have a favorite Texas winery?  Please comment below...

Tour de France: France Saves the U.S.A.!!!

Not all lessons in wine come in a bottle...  Featuring the wines from France during the the Tour de France seems reasonable and even natural, some might even say obvious.  But, featuring French wines on July 4th!?!  Well that seems almost un-American!  Or, at least that is what I thought.  Looking a little further into it I learned that there would be NO Independence Day if it was not for FRANCE...

French involvement proved decisive, with a French naval victory in the Chesapeake leading to the surrender of a British army at Yorktown in 1781. The Treaty of Paris in 1783 ended the war and recognized the sovereignty of the United States over the territory bounded by what is now Canada to the north, Florida to the south, and the Mississippi River to the west.
The war of American independence could be summed up as a civil war fought on foreign soil, as opposing forces comprised both nations' residents. That said, it is a war that America could not have survived without French assistance. 

http://www.revolutionarywar101.com/ 

Like so many things in our world and in history; there is more to the story than what we might commonly know.  The French and American relationship goes much deeper than french fries and fresh bread.  There is a complexity and dynamic here that can be felt and tasted in a glass of wine; a glass of French wine.  Cheers!
Come see me for some excellent selections today.

Texas WineMonth- Austin Quote

“Nature seemed to have intended Texas for a vineyard to supply America with vines.” Stephen F. Austin. I love this quote. The exact wording and context the Founding Father of Texas said it in is not as important to me as the mindset and experience these words reveal. Mr. Austin and his contemporaries won Texas' independence and were "hacking their living out of the wilderness with their own two hands, burying their children along the way!" (to quote Hawkeye in The Last of the Mohicans. (Great movie!)) Many of them were new immigrants from the Old World; Germany, France, Spain, Italy and other homelands. Some were from places just as hot and dry as Texas, and they had grown vines and made wine in the Old World! They looked around the Texas landscape and could easily imagine vast vineyards here too. Prior to Prohibition, Texas had almost fifty commercial wineries! This was the beginning of what would have been a great industry for our state. Prohibition closed all but one winery; Val Verde in Del Rio.

In the years immediately after Prohibition the California wine industry grew exponentially. They have done a incredible job; growing grapes, vinifying wine and marketing their wine and state. Today they make ninety percent of the wine in the U.S.A. Most wine drinkers in North America who think about wine are really thinking about California wine. Because of this many think that wine country has to be as cool and as wet like California. This is NOT TRUE, there are other regions in the world hot and dry like Texas and they make world class wines. I encourage you to look for Texas wines that are taking their inspiration from these other regions. You might have to go outside your comfort zone and drink a wine other than Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet or Merlot. But, you will be okay and you might even find a Viognier, Roussanne, Blanc du Bois, Trebbianno, Picpoul Blanc, Syrah, Tempranillo, Malbec, Sangiovese, Lenoir (a.k.a. Black Spanish) or Aglianico grown in Texas that you love even more than those California wines! And, who knows, maybe someday Texas wineries will make enough wine to begin shipping them to the other states in our union and other countries! Achieving that elusive dream that started back when Texas was a brand new state (country.)

Please follow my blog; I will have more to share with you about Texas, wine and the lessons we learn along the way.

Cabernet Sauvignon, JOSH CELLARS, North Coast, California

Joseph Carr's wine making team jokingly refers to this as a “vin de garage”  after work they like to sit around  wine cellar they call “the garage” and tinker with things.  Grape growers and friends come by and lend a hand,  laugh, tell stories and produce a winemaker's wine that we make just for ourselves; a handcrafted wine.  And, now they are sharing this with with you and me; named after Joseph Carr’s father, Josh, and they are expressive, but unassuming and approachable – just like Josh Carr was.

• POWERFUL
• Cherry
• Black Currant
• Spicy 
• Berry
• Oak

The grapes are from a single vineyard in the mountains of the Red Hills at the highest section between the Vaca and Mayacamas mountain ranges. The Mayacamas are famous for great Cabernet wine, due in part to ancient pyroclastic soils that contain volcanic glass. Josh Cellars North Coast Vineyards contain obsidian gravel that allows the soils to drain well, which is extremely important for growing Cabernet grapes. The high elevation sunlight combined with the rich volcanic red soils and obsidian fragments produce quality grapes that are extremely unique to the Red Hills. The vineyard itself sits on an East facing slope with varying altitude from 1200 to 2000 feet. The average daytime summer temperature is 84 degrees with an average nighttime temperature of 51 degrees. Handpicked at the peak of flavor development, crushed and cold soaked for 24 hours; punched down three times a day to maximize flavor extraction. Followed with a 10-15 day extended maceration. Barrel aging in new American oak and 1-2 year French oak for 16 months.

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Tour de France: France Saves the U.S.A.!!!

Not all lessons in wine come in a bottle...  Featuring the wines from France during the the Tour de France seems reasonable and even natural, some might even say obvious.  But, featuring French wines on July 4th!?!  Well that seems almost un-American!  Or, at least that is what I thought.  Looking a little further into it I learned that there would be NO Independence Day if it was not for FRANCE...

French involvement proved decisive, with a French naval victory in the Chesapeake leading to the surrender of a British army at Yorktown in 1781. The Treaty of Paris in 1783 ended the war and recognized the sovereignty of the United States over the territory bounded by what is now Canada to the north, Florida to the south, and the Mississippi River to the west.
The war of American independence could be summed up as a civil war fought on foreign soil, as opposing forces comprised both nations' residents. That said, it is a war that America could not have survived without French assistance. 

http://www.revolutionarywar101.com/ 

Like so many things in our world and in history; there is more to the story than what we might commonly know.  The French and American relationship goes much deeper than french fries and fresh bread.  There is a complexity and dynamic here that can be felt and tasted in a glass of wine; a glass of French wine.  Cheers!

Tour de France: What is in a name; Francesca's?

WAY back in the summer of 1999 we sat around the Boardroom Table in the The Grille at the The Resort Course of The Westin La Cantera Hill Country Resort.  The Resort was sparkling new, just opened, and our fine dinning restaurant had yet to open.  Around the table were Westin executives, the Matre 'd, servers and our consulting Chef Mark Miller.  Yes, THE Mark Miller of Coyote Cafe fame.  I was one of the servers.  The hot topic was how are we going to pronounce the name of our restaurant.

We all agreed that it sounded best as "Fran-CHESS-kas."  It is just how most of us said it.  Then Chef Miller gave us a lesson in European pronunciations; the "Fran-CHESS-kas" we were saying was Italian and we wanted to stay away from being an Italian restaurant.  Since we have more Spanish influence in our cuisine, culture, and region he maintained that we should use the Spanish pronunciation .."Fran-ses-kas."  From there on we agreed, the Spanish pronunciation was the way to go.

Nowhere in all our discussion do I remember us talking about what the name meant. We all got that it was a girl's name, which is obvious, the legend that our name is honoring was the prettiest lady in the county who stole the heart of a young man that was destined to become a priest.

What I did not catch is that it was acknowledgment of France or French heritage which was itself a reference to freedom or "free one!"  

Many will agree that this French Spirit of freedom is vibrantly on display in the feats of the month long race that tours the country, called the Tour de France.

AND it can be tasted in the wines made from their land!  Which is why our wine list is featuring French wines during July.  Check out this wine list here.

Featured Red Wine:

• Grenache, SHATTER, Maury, Roussillon, France, 2010
• Pinot Noir, Bourgogne, LOUIS CHEVALLIER, Burgundy, France, 2010
• Merlot / Cabernet Blend, Graves, CHÂTEAU CABANNIEUX, Bordeaux, France, 2009
• Merlot/Cab. Sauvignon, CHASSE, Bordeaux, France, 2008

Featured White Wine:

• Sauvignon Blanc, Sancerre, JEAN REVERDY "La Reine Blanche" Loire, France, 2011
• Chardonnay, Chablis, DOMAINE LONG-DEPAQUIT Burgundy, France, 2011
• Viognier,  CINQUANTE-CINQ, Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, France, 2012
• Melon de Bourgogne, Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine, Sur Lie, DOMAINES VINET, "DOMAINE ST. MARTIN" Loire, France, 2011

Viognier, BRENNAN, Texas

Viognier has been Brennan Vineyards signature wine since opening in 2005. Their 2009 Viognier won Gold Medals in the 2010 Indy International, the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle and the 2011 Dallas Morning News Wine Competitions.  Previous vintages have garnered Best Texas White Wine in the Lone Star International Wine Competitions, a Double Gold Medal and selected as The Top Texas Wine at the 2008 Houston Rodeo International Wine Competition.  This wine is a winner!  A testament to how well this grape vine grows in Texas.  But do not take my word for it, go to the Vintage Texas blog where Dr. Kane reports the dramatic results of a recent blind tasting: Vintage Texas Blog.

• LUXURIOUS
• White Peaches
• Apricot 
• Honeysuckle
• Citrus
• Floral

The winery is located almost midway between Texas’ most acclaimed wine grape regions (the legendary Hill Country and the Texas High Plains) on Texas Highway 16 in the small town of Comanche.  The grapes come from their vineyards close to the small town of Newburg, Texas, just few miles away from Comanche. This part of Texas has rolling hills with red sandy loam soil over limestone bedrock, prized conditions for growing grapes for wine making.  For a fun take on how Viognier is the "Chardonnay" of Texas follow this link to the Vintage Texas Blog.

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Viognier, BECKER, Texas

March 2013 at the Lyon International Wine Competition Becker Vineyards received the silver award for this 2012 Viognier!!!  A testament to how well this grape vine grows in Texas.  But do not take my word for it, go to the Vintage Texas blog where Dr. Kane reports the dramatic results of a recent blind tasting: Vintage Texas Blog.

• LUXURIOUS
• Yellow Peaches
• Mango
• Vanilla 
• Creamery Butter
• Rose Petals

The fruit for Becker’s Viognier is sourced from three vineyards, Bingham, Martin, and Reddy. Each of them surrounds the Texas High Plains, an area where the vineyards are typically planted between 3,300 and 3,500 feet elevation.  The Beckers pioneered this wine for Texas.  Andrea Immer Robinson, Master Sommelier, has been a big fan of the Becker Vineyards' Viognier. "One of the best Viogniers made in America, so it's worth the search. Gorgeous white peach and floral scents and tangerine-mango flavors," Andrea said.  And when reviewed by Wine Spectator Magazine, Matthew DeBord said;"Bunny and Richard Becker have raised the bar in Texas by producing wines that have achieved regional character."

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Blanc du Bois, DRY, HAAK, Texas

Pronounced “Blahnk-Du-Bwah”, a hybrid grape with characteristics of early ripening and importantly Pierce’s Disease resistance; making it ideal for growing in the Gulf Coast region. Blanc Du Bois originated from the grape breeding program at the Central Florida Research and Education Center.   Haak Vineyards was one of the first wineries in the country to cultivate Blanc du Bois. Now with 3 acres filled with 1800 vines this wine is history in the making. And history tastes great...

• REFRESHING
• Fresh Citrus 
• Grapefruit
• Green Apple
• Floral
• Herbal Notes

Texas is leading the wine industry in production of Blanc Du Bois with more than 150 acres in production (in 2012) in the eastern and southeastern parts of the state and more than 20 commercial wines.  Much of this success can be credited to Raymond Haak.  Grape growing started as ahobby for him in 1969 and grew into what is today a destination for many locals and a major tourist attraction for Santa Fe, Texas and Galveston County on the Texas Gulf Coast.   The winery consists of more than 25,000 sq. ft., including an 1,800 sq. ft. cellar, which is used for storing and aging wines in oak barrels. Artwork throughout the winery is reminiscent of Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal with many angels watching over and protecting the vines and grapes.

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White Zinfandel, BERINGER, California

Beringer’s California Collection boasts some of the best-selling wines in the country. Fruit-forward and smooth, these wines offer dependable taste for casual drinkers.  Beringer White Zinfandel is known as “America’s favorite White Zinfandel” and to appreciate what that means understand that Sutter Home says: "One out of every ten bottles of table wine opened in America is white zinfandel."  This is a VERY popular wine category.

• FRUIT-PUNCH
• Red Berry
• Citrus
• Melon
• Subtle Nutmeg
• Hints of Clove

The grapes selected for Beringer's California Collection wines are from prime locations bathed in warm sunshine the majority of the day, to yield the most ripe, sun-kissed fruit flavors in the grapes.  By keeping the juice in contact with the grapes’ red skins for approximately three hours (a very short time,) a light blush color was retained. Beringer’s winemakers then used slow, cool fermentations to preserve the vibrant, fresh strawberry, honeydew, and citrus aromas and flavors.

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Moscato, LLANO ESTACADO, American

Llano Moscato is a wine made in the tradition of the classic Piedmonte wines with a special Texas accent.  Just as in Italy, Llano Moscato is crafted from the Moscato Bianco (White Muscat) grape.  In the tradition of Alessandria and Cuneo, States in Piedmonte, Italy.   This wine was produced at Llano Estacado Winery from grapes and juice grown in Texas, New Mexico and California.  And, in the true Spirit of Texas, they have chosen to label this exciting, wine with a picture of one of Texas' most beloved wildflowers...Texas Bluebonnets.

• EASYGOING
• Tangerine-Zest 
• Key-Lime
• Honeysuckle
• Green Grapes
• Ripe Peach Nuances

This wines expressive aromatics and taste of sweetness comes from the grape and a special process known as "stopped-fermentation".  Through this process the winemaker is able to retain the natural sweetness and flavor of the grape along with a touch of "frizzante" (effervescence).  Llano Moscato is low in alcohol (10.0%) and retains small amounts of natural sugar and CO2 from primary fermentation.
Llano Estacado opened  in 1976 with the semingly simple mission to embody the fabulous potential of Texas wine. They began with 1,300 cases of wine releases in 1977 and have grown and improved to reach market sales of approximately 170,000 cases annually. Their continued growth with new ideas, new innovations, new wines and new technology, all combining to create a synergy that continues to propel Llano Estacado to the forefront -- where it remains as the best selling Premium Winery in Texas.

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Pinot Grigio, MARETIMA, Delle Venezie, Veneto, Italy

The two Italian words “mare" (sea) and "terra” (land) are the origins of the name Maretima.  These two components come together creating the climate that results in Mediterranean scents and flavors captured in this bottle of wine.  And, it is more than just taste; it communicates the emotions, originating from the wine culture, passing through the selection of grapes, to the production techniques, and the continuous research of men and women who work the land in harmony and in complete respect of the environment.  It is more than you expect from the first glance...

• DELICATE
• Hints of Sage
• Lemon
• Green Apple
• Tropical Fruit
• Walnut / Almond

The Veneto, where this wine comes from, is among the foremost wine-producing regions in the world, both for quality and quantity.  This area has cultivated grapes since the Bronze Age, or about five thousand years ago.  The subregion Colli Euganei is characterized by steep, almost triangular hills, caused millennia ago by volcanoes. Here medieval hamlets and Benedictine monasteries, continue to this day.  This unspoiled landscapes is part of a “Parco Regionale” a protected land and is an ideal location for grape growing for winemaking.

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Sauvignon Blanc, VILLA MARIA, "PRIVATE BIN" Marlborough, New Zealand

Fruit for this wine was sourced from vineyards across the Marlborough region. A blend of fruit grown in the Wairau and Awatere Valleys spanning a range of different meso-climates were incorporated. Careful attention was paid to vine health to give the vine the best chance to optimize the season and develop strong, clean flavors.

• DISTINCTIVE
• ripe gooseberry
• passionfruit
• fresh citrus lime
• exotic herbaceous
• exuberant

VILLA MARIA went from a one-man band to a global brand in just 50 years!  In 1961, at just 21 years of age, George Fistonich leased five acres of land from his father in Mangere, Auckland and started off with just an acre of vines. He harvested his first grapes in 1962 and made his first wine under the name Villa Maria.  Throughout the 1960s Villa Maria was a one-man band, with George’s wife, Gail, supporting him in his venture. He made dry red and white wines, sourcing grapes from the greater Auckland regions. In the early 1970s he started to employ staff and the company began to expand rapidly.  Today, Villa Maria employs more than 250 permanent staff and exports wine to over 50 countries worldwide.

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Sauvignon Blanc, BENZIGER, SUSTAINABLY GROWN Lake & Sonoma Counties, California

Grapes from select vineyards in both Sonoma and Lake Counties are blended.  Grapes from Sonoma are harvested later and are more aromatic in character, exhibiting enhanced fruit flavors. Fruit from warmer Lake County is harvested earlier in the season and provides an acidic backbone for this wine.

• DISTINCTIVE
• Bright Citrus
• Grapefruit and Lemon
• Floral
• Minerality
• Elegant Softness

The Benziger Family Winery is dedicated to wine making that reveals the true character of the vineyard, the varietal and the vintage in certified-sustainable, organically grown and-Biodynamic® wines defined by individuality and the passion of the people who make them. This wine was made with grapes grown by certified sustainable farming methods. Their sustainable philosophy promotes natural vineyard management, restoration of the land and biodiversity on the estate. We believe these practices result in wines that reflect the authentic flavors, aromas and character of the vineyard AND that is what tastes best!

Sauvignon Blanc, CLOUDY BAY, Marlborough, New Zealand

The winery takes its name from the bay at the eastern extremity of the Wairau Valley, which was named Cloudy Bay by Captain Cook on his voyage to New Zealand in 1770.  It was not until two-hundred and fifteen years later that the first vintage of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc was made.  And, it made New Zealand famous for Sauvignon Blanc and helped every other winery on the island become noticed by the world of thirsty wine drinkers.

• DISTINCTIVE
• Elderflower
• Stone Fruit
• Ripe Citrus 
• Minerality
• Sweet Herbs 

Grapes are from the Rapaura, Fairhall, Renwick and Brancott sub-regions of the Wairau Valley. Free draining, stony soils typify the Rapaura and Renwick areas. The Fairhall and Brancott are predominantly aged alluvial loams containing some clay.  This is a great wine that proves itself again, and again... 96 Points: Gourmet Traveler Wine, March 2013

“After all these years, Cloudy Bay has still got it. It’s encouraging to know that the brand is not merely resting on its laurels. Beautifully harmonious Sauvignon Blanc with a mix of grapefruit, gooseberry and capsicum contrasting with riper tropical and tree fruit characters while the acidity and sweetness are perfectly balanced. The net effect is of an elegant and moderately complex wine that delivers power with great subtlety.” - Bob Campbell MW

And please reply to this blog; 
have you tried this Sauvignon Blanc?

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Riesling, COLUMBIA CREST "Two Vines",,Washington

The summit of Mt. Rainier – the highest mountain in Washington at 14,410 feet – is called “Columbia Crest.”  In 2011 Wine and Spirits magazine names Columbia Crest one of the “American Wineries of the Year” for the first time.  This was a long journey from 1978 when the first 500 acres of vineyard planted in Paterson Washington.  Under the leadership of winemaker Juan Munoz Oca and a great track record of making consistently delicious wines like this one; they have a very bright future!  And we will have many tasty wines to drink!

• MOUTHWATERING
• Mandarin Orange
• Lime
• Wet Stone
• Green Apple
• Apricot Preserves
• Baking Spices

If you have not been studying wine you are most likely to associate Washington State with rain, and a lot of it.  However the Columbia Valley vineyards, where the grapes for this wine are grown are seated east of the Cascade Mountain range. With the peaks of the mountains reaching up to 14,000 feet high, blocking almost all the eastward-moving wet weather systems from the Pacific Ocean.  Vines are planted north to south on south and southeast facing slopes to catch the sunshine in the summertime.  With just 6 to 8 inches of rainfall annually, the vineyards are 100% drip irrigation.  With intense sun during the growing season and bitterly cold weather before and after; this is a prime region for Riesling. 

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Variety the Spice of Life; Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is always light to medium body and it can be fruity and/or herbaceous, it can be oak aged or not.  No matter where it is grown and what the wine maker may do to it; Sauvignon Blanc will always be DISTINCTIVE. This grape can be pretty wild in it's flavor expression and makes some of the most exciting and entertaining wines!

Flavors Commonly Experienced :

• Herbal  
• Grassy
• Grapefruit 
• Lemon / Lime
• Fig  
• Hay
• Vanilla  Oak / Butter

Sauvignon Blanc is native to France and most likely to the Loire Valley or Bordeaux.   The vine most likely gets its name from the French word sauvage "wild" and blanc "white."  The vine itself has a fairly wild personality, it grows with abandon if not trellised and pruned diligently. Classic Sauvignon Blanc is from Bordeaux, labeled as Bordeaux Blanc and Graves AOCs, customarily blended with Sémillon and Muscadelle to add friendly fruit flavors, and sometimes treated to oak aging. In the Loire Valley of France it makes wine that is flinty with pronounced mineral flavors. Sauvignon Blanc from California is bright, grassy and grapefruity. And, the best ones come from New Zealand where the long slow growing season helps the wine become vibrant, high acid, pungent and fruity wine.

Some Recommended Sauvignon Blanc...

• Sauvignon Blanc, CLOUDY BAY, Marlborough, New Zealand
• Sauvignon Blanc, VILLA MARIA, "PRIVATE BIN" Marlborough, New Zealand
• Sauvignon Blanc, BENZIGER, SUSTAINABLY GROWN Lake & Sonoma Counties, California

And please reply to this blog; what is your  favorite Sauvignon Blanc?

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Variety the Spice of Life; Riesling

With a wide array of styles and sweetness; Riesling is very popular and also often misunderstood.  While always lighter in body it can range from bone dry to dessert sweet.  All of the styles will be Mouthwatering and many can be surprisingly complex.

Flavors Commonly Experienced :

• Peaches
• Apricots
• Grapefruit
• Melons
• Minerals
• Honeyed
• Acidic

Before Chardonnay became in vogue Riesling was considered the greatest white wine in the world.  Riesslingen as the name of a grape first appeared in records in 1435 in the Rhine Valley, a wild vine domesticated during the Middle Ages.  Almost seven hundred years later some of the most incredible white wines you will ever taste are being made in he Rhine and Mosel Valleys of Germany.  Riesling grapes are successfully grown in Alsace France, northern Italy, Austria, Washington state, Canada and a few other locations with cool to cold weather during the growing season.

Some Recommended Riesling...

• Riesling, COLUMBIA CREST "Two Vines", Washington, 2010 

And please reply to this blog; 
what is your  favorite Riesling?

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Pinot Grigio, BOLLINI, Trentino, Italy

This delicious wine has an unfair advantage; 

the wine is crafted by winemakers in training at the nearby Istituto Agrario Provinciale di San Michele all'Adige, renowned for its oenological research.  These students are an eager and motivated workforce seeking to make the best wine possible.

DELICATE

Perfumed Bouquet
Fuji Apple

White Fruit

Flinty

Nutty

Bollini Pinot Grigio is produced from hand picked grapes grown in superbly exposed, meticulously cultivated hillside vineyards.
The cool, even climate of Trentino is particularly well-suited to the Pinot Grigio variety, lending it a characteristic personality and especially fragrant, perfumed bouquet.

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WINE LIST