Vin de Cru or "Vintage Wine" is a weekly exposé focusing on VinVillageRadio guest interviews which feature many high-profile, in-depth discussions with the "who's who" in wine and food. Please read, listen and enjoy!
WineFairy chats with Jesscia Bell about WineCAST LIVE; Robert L. Lynch of KRIS Wines on Americans for the Arts; and Alder Yarrow on JancisRobinson.com
Posted November 17th, 2011 by WineFairy
Segment-1: Wine Tastings - My Wine School's new WineCASTs FREE Live Online Wine Tastings, Wednesday's at 6:30 PM CST - Jessica Bell
01: Wine Educator Jessica Bell, founder of MyWineSchool based out of Milwaukee and Chicago, has just launched a live, interactive online wine classes on Wedesdays starting at 6:30 PM CST. My Wine School's LIVE WineCASTs are as easy as 0,1,2,3! There is no cost to watch the 20-30 minute WineCASTs episodes. Wednesdays at 6:30 PM CST she is LIVE but you can watch the recorded WineCASTs any time. There are three levels available. "Wine Newbie" courses provide an introduction to the basics of wine and wine tasting. "Wine Explorer" courses are for those who want to explore the world of wine past the basics and build confidence at restaurants and retail stores."Wine Guru" tastings are perfect for those who enjoy the nuances and intricacies of wine. Participants will explore advanced and current topics in wine with Bell as your interactive guide.
Click HERE for the interview!
(Play the video above to learn how to participate in a WineCAST!)
Segment-2: Wine & Charities - KRIS Wines Partners-Up With "Americans For The Arts' to Support Art Education in K-12 Schools - Robert L. Lynch
02: Champagne: A Global History reveals the origins of the world’s great sparkling wines, telling the stories of the people who made champagne famous, from Dom Pérignon to Veuve Clicquot, and describing the evolution of the sparkling wines of other regions that are now so popular. Starting with the story of the first modern French sparkling wines to be traded, produced by monks in Limoux, Languedoc in 1531, Becky Sue Epstein takes us on a tour of vineyards around the world, from the Champagne region itself through Germany, Spain and the New World, and tells the story of the fiercely guarded right to use the ‘champagne’ name. Champagne: A Global History is written by Becky Sue Epstein, Senior Editor, Wine and Spirits, Intermezzo Magazine.
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-3: Wine Blogs - Wine Authority and Publisher Jancis Robinson Taps Wine Blogger Alder Yarrow for Content Expansion - Alder Yarrow
03: The Silver Spoon, the most influential and successful Italian cookbook of the last 50 years, is now available in a brand new revised edition. A comprehensive and lively book, its uniquely stylish and user-friendly format makes it accessible and a pleasure to read. The new edition features new introductory material covering such topics as how to compose a traditional Italian meal, typical food traditions of the different regions, and how to set an Italian table. Its over 2,000 recipes are illustrated with newly commissioned photographs and contains a new section of menus by celebrated chefs cooking traditional Italian food. Emilia Terragni is the Editor of The Silver Spoon as well as Phaidon's Editorial Director.
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-4: Wine Blogs - Vinography: A Wine Blog Features Food and Wine Adventures in San Francisco and Around the World - Alder Yarrow
04: You know Champagne only comes from Champagne, France but do you wonder about the difference between Champagnes from the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims? The Center for Wine Origins invites you to join a panel of wine experts and Master Sommeliers for a guided tasting tour of wines from various locations across Champagne, France. Location Matters. Sommelier Bonnie Graves will be one of the presenters on Thursday, November 17, from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m at the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center. Go to VinVillage.com for special ticket discounts.
Click HERE for the interview!
lynn krielow chamberlain is an independent wine and food journalist and host of the "Wine and Dine" radio show heard on VinVillageRadio broadcast on wsRadio, the world-wide leader in internet talk-radio with over 4-million listeners a month!
Click HERE to join VinVillage now!
Click HERE to join using Facebook!
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WineFairy chats with Party Culinista Josetth Gordon; with Becky Sue Epstein on Champagne; with Emilia Terragni about The Silver Spoon; and with Sommelier Bonnie Graves on the SD Bay Festival
Posted November 10th, 2011 by WineFairy
Segment-1: Wine & Food - Party Like a Culinista Celebrates Whole Foods, Bold Flavors, Wine and Friends - Josetth Gordon
01: The Culinista way to party is all about celebrating with the best ingredients—minimally processed whole foods, lots of greens and grains, seasonal and local when you can—to create incredible health-minded dishes that will wow your guests without weighing them down. Authors Jill Donenfeld and Josetth Gordon have written detailed menus that make dinner parties stress-free with lots of tips for pre-party planning and easy multi-task cooking. From sunny brunches to BBQ blowouts, last-minute get-togethers to intimate parties for two, Party Like a Culinista has inspired menus for any and every occasion. With everything from picnic-friendly salads to cocktails, wine pairings, and sweet-tooth takeaways, you’ll always have a delicious reason to party.
Click HERE for the interview!
Get the 'Party Like A Culinista' book HERE!
Get the 'Party Like A Culinista' book HERE!
Segment-2: Wine History - Champagne: A Global History Reveals Origins of World’s Sparkling Wines - Becky Sue Epstein
02: Champagne: A Global History reveals the origins of the world’s great sparkling wines, telling the stories of the people who made champagne famous, from Dom Pérignon to Veuve Clicquot, and describing the evolution of the sparkling wines of other regions that are now so popular. Starting with the story of the first modern French sparkling wines to be traded, produced by monks in Limoux, Languedoc in 1531, Becky Sue Epstein takes us on a tour of vineyards around the world, from the Champagne region itself through Germany, Spain and the New World, and tells the story of the fiercely guarded right to use the ‘champagne’ name. Champagne: A Global History is written by Becky Sue Epstein, Senior Editor, Wine and Spirits, Intermezzo Magazine.
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-3: Wine & Food - The Silver Spoon: New Edition... The Bible For Italian Home Cooks... An Encyclopedia of Italian Cuisine - Emilia Terragni
03: The Silver Spoon, the most influential and successful Italian cookbook of the last 50 years, is now available in a brand new revised edition. A comprehensive and lively book, its uniquely stylish and user-friendly format makes it accessible and a pleasure to read. The new edition features new introductory material covering such topics as how to compose a traditional Italian meal, typical food traditions of the different regions, and how to set an Italian table. Its over 2,000 recipes are illustrated with newly commissioned photographs and contains a new section of menus by celebrated chefs cooking traditional Italian food. Emilia Terragni is the Editor of The Silver Spoon as well as Phaidon's Editorial Director.
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-4: Wine Events - Join Talking Terroir: France's Champagne Region at 8th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival - Bonnie Graves
04: You know Champagne only comes from Champagne, France but do you wonder about the difference between Champagnes from the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims? The Center for Wine Origins invites you to join a panel of wine experts and Master Sommeliers for a guided tasting tour of wines from various locations across Champagne, France. Location Matters. Sommelier Bonnie Graves will be one of the presenters on Thursday, November 17, from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m at the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center. Go to VinVillage.com for special ticket discounts.
Click HERE for the interview!
lynn krielow chamberlain is an independent wine and food journalist and host of the "Wine and Dine" radio show heard on VinVillageRadio broadcast on wsRadio, the world-wide leader in internet talk-radio with over 4-million listeners a month!
Click HERE to join VinVillage now!
Click HERE to join using Facebook!
Click a logo to connect with VinVillage!
WineFairy chats with Paul Leary of Blackbird Vineyards and Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley; with Rupert Symington of Symington Family Estates; and with Becky Sue Epstein on Port Wine
Posted November 3rd, 2011 by WineFairy
Segment-1: Wine Travel - Blackbird Vineyards Evolving Merlot Cabernet Franc Napa California Blend - Paul Leary
01: Paul Leary joined Blackbird Vineyards as President in 2006. In the fall of 2008, Leary was instrumental in the launch of Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley, an art, wine and design collective in Yountville, that offers tempranillo, sauvignon blanc and marsanne, in addition to a Napa Valley proprietary red. During his seven year tenure at St. Helena- based Duckhorn Wine Company, Leary oversaw the marketing and consumer sales for three distinct wine brands including; Duckhorn, Paraduxx and Goldeneye. He began his career in the food and beverage industry as general manager for Napa Valley’s noted restaurant, Tra Vigne before segueing into the wine industry.
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-2: Wine Lifstyles - Recuerdo Wines of Argentina Are Lifestyle Mementos For Your Dinner Table - Paul Leary
02: In 2011, Paul Leary, of Blackbird Vineyards and Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley, traveled to Mendoza, Argentina and established a partnership with The Vines of Mendoza to launch a new Argentinean brand, Recuerdo Wines, in the United States. With two of the world’s leading wine lifestyle companies together, Recuerdo Wines offer wine lovers one-of- a-kind, exclusive wine experiencesboth north and south of the equator. Recuerdos winemaking team is led by Santiago Achával and Pablo Martorell. There are two well-priced premium wines, a torrontes and a malbec, available to order in the U.S.
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-3: Wine Travel - Port Wine Region Where Tourism and Gastronomy Lead From One Discovery to Another - Becky Sue Epstein
03: The Douro region of Portugal offers many opportunities for travelers to learn about the people of the region, the wine growers and the estates ( or “quintas”), such as the Port Wine Route. A web of national heritage, and of scenic, gastronomic, cultural and historic interest, it is comprised of 54 sites of renowned tourist value. The Port Wine Lodges are located in Vila Nova de Gaia, a city facing Oporto and a UNESCO world heritage site. It is in these lodges where most of the region’s unique treasure – Port – is gracefully aged. Becky Sue Epstein travels the world sharing her wine, spirit, and gastronomy tourism advice.
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-4: Wine & Food - How To Cook Like The French.... No Matter Where You Live - Wini Moranville
04: Now that the typical bonne femme (good wife) works outside of the home just like her American counterpart (and now that French men, like American men, are often in charge of getting dinner on the table), Wini Moranville's emphasis is on easy techniques and speedy preparations in The Bonne Femme Cookbook: Simple, Splendid Food That French Women Cook Every Day. She shows readers that it is possible to cook and dine like the French, no matter where you live, without breaking the bank, or spending all day in the kitchen, to do so!
Click HERE for the interview!
lynn krielow chamberlain is an independent wine and food journalist and host of the "Wine and Dine" radio show heard on VinVillageRadio broadcast on wsRadio, the world-wide leader in internet talk-radio with over 4-million listeners a month!
Click HERE to join VinVillage now!
Click HERE to join using Facebook!
Click a logo to connect with VinVillage!
WineFairy chats with Adam Chase on WSET; Mike McArthur of Burning Kiln Winery; and with Wini Moranville on the Bonne Femme Cookbook
Posted October 26th, 2011 by WineFairy
Segment-1: Wine Education - Grape Experience Offers Updated Wine and Spirits Education Trust Courses to the Bay Area - Adam Chase
01: Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is a premier provider of wine education at every level. Operating both nationally and internationally, it is best known for educating and certifying wine professionals, but its range of classes are also valuable for savvy collectors and hobbyists. In the San Francisco Bay Area, Grape Experience offers a range of acclaimed WSET courses appropriate for consumers and collectors as well as those considering a profession in the wine industry. The fall 2011 Intermediate Course begins November 1st and consists of six three-hour classes priced at $725 for the series. The Advanced Course begins November 2nd with 15 classes for $1400. Grape Experience Founder Adam Chase earned an MBA from Harvard University and worked in marketing and advertising before pursuing his passion for wine. He was formerly the Dean of Wine Studies at COPIA in Napa, CA.
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-2: Wine Regions - Burning Kiln Winery in Soon-To-Be Ontario South Coast Designated Viticulture Area - Mike McArthur
02: Mike McArthur is a partners in Burning Kiln Winery of Saint Williams, located in southern Ontario, Canada. Burning Kiln is one of the wineries leading the way in what will become the new Ontario South Coast Designated Viticulture Area (DVA) within the next two years. He is a founding member and the current President of Ontario's South Coast Wineries and Growers' Association. The DVA location is between Niagara to the east and Lake Erie North Shore to the west, formerly, a traditional tobacco growing region. Burning Kiln produces only vinifera varietals having adapted the Italian dry down method by refitting and re-using former tobacco kilns. The results are highly aromatic wines from the sand soils and flavour intensity from the drying down.
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-3: Wine & Food - The Bonne Femme Cookbook: Simple, Splendid Food That French Women Cook Every Day - Wini Moranville
03: Wini Moranville writes a monthly wine column for Relish, is a restaurant reviewer for The Des Moines Register, and has contributed to many food magazines, including Better Homes and Gardens, Creative Home, and MasterChef magazine. In The Bonne Femme Cookbook: Simple, Splendid Food That French Women Cook Every Day, she brings authentic French food to American home cooks, with 250 recipes that reflect the way real French families eat today. With a focus on fresh, tasty ingredients and a generosity of spirit, it's French cooking without fuss or fear.
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-4: Wine & Food - How To Cook Like The French.... No Matter Where You Live - Wini Moranville
04: Now that the typical bonne femme (good wife) works outside of the home just like her American counterpart (and now that French men, like American men, are often in charge of getting dinner on the table), Wini Moranville's emphasis is on easy techniques and speedy preparations in The Bonne Femme Cookbook: Simple, Splendid Food That French Women Cook Every Day. She shows readers that it is possible to cook and dine like the French, no matter where you live, without breaking the bank, or spending all day in the kitchen, to do so!
Click HERE for the interview!
lynn krielow chamberlain is an independent wine and food journalist and host of the "Wine and Dine" radio show heard on VinVillageRadio broadcast on wsRadio, the world-wide leader in internet talk-radio with over 4-million listeners a month!
Click HERE to join VinVillage now!
Click HERE to join using Facebook!
Click a logo to connect with VinVillage!
WineFairy chats with Beth Costa and Crista Luedtke on A Wine & Food Affair event; with Bruce McGechan on his book, How to Sell Wine Online
Posted October 20th, 2011 by WineFairy
Segment-1: Wine Events - 13th annual Sonoma County Weekend of Tasting Along the Wine Road November 5 & 6 - Beth Costa
01: The 13th annual “A Wine & Food Affair” in Sonoma County calls for a weekend of Tasting Along the Wine Road, Nov. 5 & 6. Throughout the weekend, guests will have the opportunity to visit some of the 110 wineries stretching across Sonoma County’s Dry Creek, Russian River, and Alexander valleys, sampling wine and food pairings along the way. Attendees have the option to choose a course covering one or both days of the event, enjoying Sonoma’s finest at their own pace. Beth Costa is Executive Dir. of Wine Road Northern Sonoma County...a year-round wine country destination.
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-2: Wine Events - A Wine & Food Affair Tasting Along the Wine Road Cookbook Celebrates Sonoma - Crista Luedtke
02: Over 100 winery members participating from the Wine Road Northern Sonoma County in Dry Creek, Russian River, and Alexander valleys in Sonoma, California, November 5 and 6, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Participating wineries will each prepare their favorite recipe from the Tasting Along the Wine Road cookbook for guests to sample throughout the event. Each guest will receive a commemorating tasting glass and copy of the cookbook, containing all of the recipes served by the wineries during the event, allowing them to recreate their favorite dishes and wine pairings from the weekend at home. Crista Luedtke, proprietor of Boon Eat + Drink, Boon Hotel + Spa, and Big Bottom Market all of Guerneville, contributed the Foreword to the 2011 Tasting Along the Wine Road cookbook.
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-3: Wine SEO - How to Sell Wine Online... the Book - Bruce McGechan
03: Bruce McGechan is a wine internet marketing consultant and researcher. He develops and promotes wine retail eCommerce websites, and has a 20 year marketing career running many a marketing campaign for multinationals and small retailers. He is the author of How to Sell Wine Online where he explains how a small wine retailer can turn a quiet Main Street wine store into a flourishing internet success.
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-4: Wine SEO - Increase Website Traffic, Turn Them Into Customers, and Create Loyal Advocates - Bruce McGechan
04: Bruce McGechan is a wine marketing and technology entrepreneur who has pulled together all his experience of internet marketing and selling wine online into a new book called How to Sell Wine Online. Bruce launched a long tail wine eCommerce venture in 2008 which looked to help niche wine retailers all over the world sell their wine to American wine enthusiasts. Early realization of the restrictions of shipping compliance law resulted in a this being turned into a Wine Retailer Internet Marketing Agency. Bruce has worked for the Fortune 500 companies Heineken and Vodafone as well as consulted to US wine retailers. He is based in New Zealand but regularly travels to the US.
Click HERE for the interview!
lynn krielow chamberlain is an independent wine and food journalist and host of the "Wine and Dine" radio show heard on VinVillageRadio broadcast on wsRadio, the world-wide leader in internet talk-radio with over 4-million listeners a month!
Click HERE to join VinVillage now!
Click HERE to join using Facebook!
Click a logo to connect with VinVillage!
WineFairy chats with Dr. Bob Small on Beverage Basics book; with Judy Mattera on Dessert Pairings; and with Chris Pearce about Sake
Posted October 13th, 2011 by WineFairy
Segment-1: Wine Education - Beverage Basics: Understanding and Appreciating Wine, Beer, and Spirits - Dr. Robert W. Small
01: For many, the world of wine, beer and spirits can be confusing, even overwhelming to some. Beverage Basics: Understanding and Appreciating Wine, Beer, and Spirits is an accessible and educational new book released from Wiley publisher, that aims to change that assumption by covering the art and science of winemaking from vineyard to table, as well as production methods, styles, and ideal food pairings for beer and spirits. Dr. Robert W. Small co-authored Beverage Basics along with Michelle Couturier and Michael Godfrey. Small is former Dean and Emeritus Professor of The Collins College of Hospitality Management at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, where he continues to teach.
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-2: Wine Education - Beverage Basics Presents a New Approach to Understanding Wine From Varietal Perspective - Dr. Robert W. Small
02: Beverage Basics: Understanding and Appreciating Wine, Beer, and Spirits was written with academic-use in-mind. It details the techniques for evaluating alcoholic beverages, information on important issues such as purchasing beverages, healthy drinking, and alcohol and the law. This is one of the only books on the market that covers all categories of alcoholic beverages. Dr. Small is Chairman of the Los Angeles International Wine competition, one of the largest and most prestigious wine competitions in the U.S., and is a judge at many other international wine competitions.
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-3: Wine & Food - Boston Pastry Chef, Educator, Columnist Specializes in Dessert Wine and Dessert Pairings - Judy Mattera
03: Judy Mattera is passionate about the dessert course! Sweet Solutions is her platform for teaching, consulting,writing, and constant experimentation pairing dessert wines with desserts of her creation. She's extremely knowledgeable serving a niche that deserves more attention from professionals and consumers alike. Currently, she is working up recommendations for Mead wines with dessert recipes of her creation. October 29th she will be teaching a Fall Dessert and Sweet Wine Pairings class at the Boston Center for Adult Education. In her spare time she co-chairs the Women Chefs & Restaurateurs' national conference to be held in Cambridge, Massachusetts, November 5 - 7. You can find many original recipes and dessert wine pairing ideas on her website for Sweet Solutions.
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-4: Spirits Education - The Joy of Sake Brings the World's Finest Sakes to NYC October 21 - Chris Pearce
04: The Joy of Sake--the largest sake-tasting outside Japan, held annually in New York City--returns to the Altman Building in Chelsea on Friday, October 21, featuring the world's finest sakes paired with traditional and contemporary Asian cuisine from some of NYC's most acclaimed chefs. This year, sake enthusiasts will also be imbibing for a good cause, with 30 percent of ticket sales going to brewery families who lost their homes in the Great East Japan Tasunami. A total of 326 sakes--170 of which are not available in the U.S.--will be offered for tasting. Chris Pearce is Director of The Joy of Sake and one of the foremost sake experts in the world, holding the title of "Sake Expert Assessor," one of only 36 individuals worldwide to receive this certificate from the Japan National Institute of Brewing. Tickets are $90 in advance; $100 at the door. Purchase online or call 888.799.7242.
Click HERE for the interview!
lynn krielow chamberlain is an independent wine and food journalist and host of the "Wine and Dine" radio show heard on VinVillageRadio broadcast on wsRadio, the world-wide leader in internet talk-radio with over 4-million listeners a month!
Click HERE to join VinVillage now!
Click HERE to join using Facebook!
Click a logo to connect with VinVillage!
WineFairy chats with Gregg Alger and Melissa Sanborn on Sippin' in the City; and with Wine Importer, Terry Theise
Posted October 6th, 2011 by WineFairy
Segment-1: Wine Events - Taste Huston Vineyards Snake River Valley Chicken Dinner Wines at Sippin' In The City - Gregg Alger
01: Former business executive Gregg Alger sits on the Idaho Wine Commission in addition to owning and operating Huston Vineyards of Caldwell, Idaho, established in 2006. Huston Vineyards is a boutique winery and vineyard located in Huston, the entry point of the Sunnyslope Wine Trail, with five varietals, including Chicken Dinner White and Red blends which will be served at Sippin' in the City on November 17, 2011 at the Linen Building in Boise, Idaho, featuring Idaho wineries, Idaho's culinary artists and music. The consumer tasting will begin promptly at 6:30pm and run till 9:30pm.
Click HERE for the interview!
Click HERE to purchase tickets now!
Segment-2: Wine Events - Sippin' In The City: Idaho's Newest, Hippest Wine & Food Event in Boise on Nov. 17 - Melissa Sanborn
02: The Idaho Wine Commission Introduces Sippin' In The City: Idaho's Newest and Hippest Wine and Food Event for the Fall, November 17, 2011 at the Linen Building in Boise. Nearly 300 guests will be greeted with a commemorative wine glass as they taste and sip their way through Idaho's best. There are a total of 43 wineries with 1600 vineyard acres planted. The Idaho wine industry contributed $73 million to Idaho's economy. Belissa Sanborn is co-owner, grower and winemaker of the family-owned Colter's Creek Winery of Julietta, Idaho, nestled near the confluence of the Potlatch and Clearwater Rivers.
Click HERE for the interview!
Break out from the everyday tasting, step away from the table, prepare yourself for a different type of tasting. Sip your way thru Idaho's best while tasting sweet and savory bites in the city. Featuring more than fifteen Idaho winemakers, tasty treats from Idaho's coolest culinary artists and great music provided by "Vinyl Preservation Society of Idaho."
6:30-9:30PM … Nov. 17th, 2011 … Linen Building … $25 (includes wine glass)
Click HERE to purchase tickets now!
Segment-3: Wine & Food - Best Food Writing 2011 "Befriending Your Palate" from Reading Between the Wines - Terry Theise
03: I owe a thanks to Holly Hughes, Editor of Best Food Writing 2011, just released from Da Capo Press, because in it she includes a chapter by wine importer Terry Theise aptly titled "Befriending Your Palate" from his book titled Reading Between the Wines. He likes to use big words like 'anthropomorphic' but bottom line... his message is powerful: "....still your ego and listen."
Click HERE for the interview!
(Click above for Hardcover.) (Click above for Paperback.)
Segment-4: Wine & Food - Best Food Writing 2011 "Befriending Your Palate" from Reading Between the Wines - Terry Theise
04: Terry Theise, winner of the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional, is an importer of boutique wines from Germany, Austria, and Champagne. His articles have appeared in The World of Fine Wine magazine. He was Wine & Spirits magazine’s Man of the Year in 2001 and Food & Wine mag’s Importer of the Year in 2006. "We often think of palate as our physical taste receptor, the mouth itself, and, more saliently, the sense of smell. But a palate is more than what you taste; it is your relationship with what you taste."
Click HERE for the interview!
lynn krielow chamberlain is an independent wine and food journalist and host of the "Wine and Dine" radio show heard on VinVillageRadio broadcast on wsRadio, the world-wide leader in internet talk-radio with over 4-million listeners a month!
Click HERE to join VinVillage now!
Click HERE to join using Facebook!
Click a logo to connect with VinVillage!
WineFairy chats with Vietti Winery; about Drink Local Wine Week; and revisits Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival
Posted September 29th, 2011 by WineFairy
Segment-1: Wine Regions - Just Released... Vietti Castiglione Falletto Cru Vineyard 2004 Villero Riserva Barolo DOCG - Luciana Vietti
01: Although the family has made wine for two centuries, the first Vietti-labeled wines were produced by third-generation Mario, who transformed the family’s farm into a grape growing winery. In 1952 Alfredo Currado married Mario’s daughter Luciana and made a name for Vietti’s single-vineyard Barbera and Barolo. He also put the native Piedmont varietal Arneis on the wine map. While famous for its top quality and scarcity, the Vietti “Villero” has also caught the attention of connoisseurs for its unique labels, which are commissioned by the Currado family to local artists for each differing vintage—a practice that was introduced in 1970, and dedicated exclusively to the “Villero” Riserva since 1982. These specially-designed original works (lithographs, xylographies, etchings, silkscreens, linocuts) are inspired by the wine of that particular vintage. The print run is the same as the number of bottles produced, and the first hundred labels are signed by the artist. Vietti currently owns 80 acres of vineyards spread over nearly all the key regional appellations, including Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera d'Asti and Barbera d'Alba.
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-2: Wine Regions - Barolo and Barbaresco Winemaking Guided by Intuition and Terroir at Vietti Winery in Langhe - Luca Currado
02: In 1990 Alfredo and Luciana’s son Luca Currado, fifth-generation oenologist, joined the family business as winemaker after working at California's Simi Winery, Opus One and Long Vineyards and Bordeaux's Mouton-Rothschild. Only produced in outstanding vintages, Villero Riserva Barolo DOCG is released on average once or twice a decade and is vinified from grapes grown on the south and southwest-facing slopes of one of Piedmont’s most celebrated cru vineyards, the Villero vineyard in Castiglione Falletto. This rare wine becomes a Riserva after a seven-year ageing process before being bottled unfiltered and unfined. Vietti produced 621 750mL six-bottle cases, 100 magnums, 12 double magnums, and five 5L bottles of the 2004 vintage. Currado's innovative winemaking utilizes a unique combination of the modern and traditional, including roto-fermenters, barriques, large Slovenian oak botte, and open-top fermenters. Recently he eliminated equipment that measures acid and tannin levels in favor of a more intuitive, and wine-specific approach, and also stopped publishing tasting notes, preferring that wine critics and drinkers apply their own perceptions and preferences to his wines.
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-3: Wine Events - Citizen Wine Writers Contribute 47-Word Essays for 4th Annual Drink Local Wine Week October 9 - 15 - Jeff Siegel and Dave McIntyre
03: This will be the fourth annual Drink Local Wine (DLW) week, and the co-founders Jeff Siegel, a.k.a. The Wine Curmedgeon and Washington Post Wine Columnist Dave McIntyre have even more opportunities to get involved this year. Typically, they use the DLW site to aggregate regional wine writing from around the country that writers, bloggers and consumers post on blogs, web sites, and the like. This year, they are commissioning some original pieces about regional wine. They also have a couple of new promotions, including a 47-word essay contest. They are asking wine lovers to send in an essay about their favorite regional wine or region, and they'll give prizes to the best essays. Why 47 words? Because there are 47 other states that make wine besides California, Washington and Oregon? Submit your essay via DrinkLocalWine@gmail.com!
Click HERE for the interview!
Segment-4: Wine Regions - Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival Highlights Cool Viticultural Growing Region - Debbie Gioquindo
04: The Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival highlights Hudson Valley, New York, wines and spirits. The competition was open to all commercial wineries & distilleries in the Hudson Valley AVA using New York State fruit, but more exclusively, Hudson Valley fruit. This was the first year the competition introduced the spirits category. The Hudson Valley Wine & Grape Association mission is to increase the quality and quantity of wine and grape production in the Hudson Valley through education, knowledge, networking and cooperation. The Hudson Valley Wine & Grape Association demonstrates and highlights the quality of our regions grapes and wines and growing interest the public has for them and wines from the valley's cool viticultural growing region. Debbie Gioquindo, a.k.a. Hudson Valley Wine Goddess, is the Director, Organizer and Chair-person behind The Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival.
Click HERE for the interview!
lynn krielow chamberlain is an independent wine and food journalist and host of the "Wine and Dine" radio show heard on VinVillageRadio broadcast on wsRadio, the world-wide leader in internet talk-radio with over 4-million listeners a month!
Click HERE to join VinVillage now!
Click HERE to join using Facebook!
Click a logo to connect with VinVillage!
WineFairy chats with Mario Silva of Casa Silva; winemakers Ernesto Bajda and Nicolas Audebert; and with Robyn Tinsley of Wine Skinny
Posted September 22nd, 2011 by WineFairy
Segment-1: Wine Regions - Viña Casa Silva, Colchagua Valley, Chilean Family Winery Specializes in Terroir Driven Carmenère - Mario Pablo Silva
01: Following five generations of growing exceptional Colchagua Valley grapes (many from century-old Bordeaux vines brought over by first generation ancestor, Emile Bouchon) for other wineries in Chile, it was Mario Pablo Silva who, in 1997, suggested the family bottle wine under their own Casa Silva label. Today, as the owner and Managing Director of Viña Casa Silva, Mario Pablo Silva has established the family-owned and operated winery as an important fixture in Chiles new generation of premium wine producers and more specifically, as a leader in the development and understanding of Chiles trademark wine, Carmenère. In May 2011, Silva was instrumental in helping to pass this long-negotiated new appellation system through the Chilean government, allowing producers the right to use three new terms on their labels Costa (coast), Entre Cordilleras (central) and Andes (eastern). Mario Pablo Silva is the current Vice President of Vinos de Chile, the trade association that represents the interests of Chilean wine producers.
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Segment-2: Wine Regions - Mendoza, Argentina, Don Miguel Gascón High Altitude Malbec Vineyards - Ernesto Bajda
02: Mendoza, Argentina is the perfect home for winemaker Ernesto Bajda because he has an incredible passion for high altitude vineyards. In fact, he was a panelist at the First International High Altitude and Winemaking Symposium in Lake County, California, in 2007, where he presented research on the effect of varying altitudes on Malbec grapes and wines. With seven vintages behind him, Ernesto is emerging as a cutting-edge winemaker. He joined Bodegas Escorihuela Gascón in 2008 to lead the winemaking team at a new, high-tech facility, where Don Miguel Gascón Malbec is crafted. Born to Slovenian immigrants, Ernesto is well known among his colleagues for carrying on his Balkan ancestors' passion for distilled aguardientes (grappa).
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Segment-3: Wine Regions - Cheval des Andes: "Argentina With a Small French Touch" - Nicolas Audebert
03: Cheval des Andes, Vistalba, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, is a blended wine based on two main varieties, Malbec, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Nicolas Audebert is Winemaker of Cheval des Andes, the pioneering joint venture between Château Cheval Blanc, St. Emilion Premier Grand Cru Class, and Terrazas de los Andes, a property of Moët Hennessy Wine Estates, established in 1999. Nicolas leverages his training in assemblage with a hands-on appreciation for the high elevation vineyards of Mendoza. The wine is produced from a single vineyard on terraces of the Cordon de la Plata section of the Andes Mountains at the western fringe of Argentina, situated in a desert environment. Malbec vines average 74 years of age. Vineyard practices reflect a Bordeaux culture. Production averages 50,000 bottles per year.
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Segment-4: Wine Education - WineSkinny.com Provides the Inside Wine Skinny from Houston Sans Snobbery - Robyn Tinsley
04: The Wine Skinny, co-founded by Robyn Tinsley, started in 1998 as an experiment in internet publishing and with the commitment to making wine fun and accessible to everyone-novice and expert alike. Tinsley has been the Managing Editor since its inception. The idea behind this site is that wine is an essential part of life and food and time with friends and family. Robyn regularly contributes wine articles and wine-and-food pairing recommendations to a number of publications, including Sante, GRAPE, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Culinary Thymes Magazine, My Table Magazine, BestDressedMeals.com, iChef.com, post-gazette.com, wine.com, healthykitchen.com, thehomevine.com and others. She also contributes wine pairings to books, including the upcoming Les Dames d'Escoffier cookbook, an international organization of which she is a member. She has completed the first level of the Court of Master Sommelier program and is a Certified Specialist of Wine with the Society of Wine Educators. In 2011, she completed the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) diploma.
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lynn krielow chamberlain is an independent wine and food journalist and host of the "Wine and Dine" radio show heard on VinVillageRadio broadcast on wsRadio, the world-wide leader in internet talk-radio with over 4-million listeners a month!
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WineFairy chats with Jim Collins about Frei Brothers and EJ Gallo; and with Hong Kong Wine Personality Debra Meiburg
Posted September 15th, 2011 by WineFairy
Segment-1: Wine Regions - Sonoma Frei Brothers Reserve... Better Choices Better Wine... Today and For Generations to Come - Jim Collins
01: When you spend a lifetime working in the vineyard, as Jim Collins has, you learn that the quality of the wine begins with the land it comes from. As the man in charge of Frei Brothers Reserve's vineyards, Jim is a passionate steward whose reverence for the land has always been a part of his personal values. At Frei Brothers Reserve Jim leads a team of farmers and works hand-in-hand with winemakers dedicated to sustainable farming and winemaking to realize the exceptional quality and authentic flavors of the wine. Frei Brothers Reserve wines express the best of Sonoma County's most famous AVAs, including the Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley. Jim Collins is Chief Viticulturist for Frei Brothers Reserve vineyards and wines.
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Segment-2: Wine History - E. & J. Gallo Winery Innovative Land Conservation "50/50 Give Back" - Jim Collins
02: "Decades ago, E. & J. Gallo Winery co-founder Julio Gallo introduced an innovative approach to land conservation known as the "50/50 Give Back" plan. For every acre of land planted in vineyard, Julio Gallo set aside one acre of property to help protect and enhance wildlife habitat. Today, that philosophy still guides the winery, and has resulted in thousands of acres set aside for conversation easements for wildlife habitat." (CSWA, Summer 2011 Sustainable Winegrowing Highlights) "Our wines are made from premium grapes carefully grown in some of the best wine-growing regions in the world," Jim Collins says, "You simply can't recreate the unique climate and soil combinations naturally found in our Sonoma vineyards, which is why it's imperative that we preserve and protect the integrity of the land.".
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Segment-3: Wine Education - Debra Meiburg Master of Wine Is Most Influential Wine Journalist in Hong Kong - Debra Meiburg
03: Based in Hong Kong, Debra Meiburg is a celebrated wine journalist, TV personality, wine educator and in-demand speaker who is pleasing palates across Asia with her fresh take on the world of wine. Awarded Master of Wine, the highest wine industry honour, Debra has a serious tongue for wine, but her approach is a little tongue in cheek. Through her numerous wine-related pursuits, she is taking the everyday wine lover beyond the bottle to discover the intricacies of their own taste buds and thoroughly enjoy the pleasures of wine. A weekly wine columnist for the South China Morning Post and a contributing editor to the Asian Tatler magazines, Debra was voted "Most Influential Wine Journalist in Hong Kong" in 2007.
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Segment-4: Wine Regions - Hong Kong's Love Affair With Wine is Growing Steamier Than It's Weather - Debra Meiburg
04: Originally from Sonoma County California, long-time Hong Kong resident Debra Meiburg is a celebrated wine journalist, TV personality, wine educator and in-demand speaker who is one of only 273 people worldwide to hold the top honour in the wine world, Master of Wine. A former wine professor who is not afraid to get dirt under her fingernails, Debra has worked harvest in Chile, pruned vines in Bordeaux and was a cellar-hand in New York. A widely respected wine judge, she recently founded and is director of the world's first truly Asian wine competition, the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition, the largest pan-Asian wine competition and firstly authentically Asian competition in the world. Debra's latest venture, an online video series named Meet the Winemakers, is a charming access-all-areas exploration of the wine industry, where she reveals the personal side of the industry's top dogs and rising stars.
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lynn krielow is an independent wine and food journalist, and the premier host of the "Wine and Dine" radio show heard on VinVillageRadio broadcast on wsRadio, the world-wide leader in internet talk-radio with over 4-million listeners a month!
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