special events

And you STILL say bloggers don’t matter?

Hot off the presses! This year’s Wine Bloggers Conference, to be held in Charlottesville VA will be keynoted by Master of Wine, Jancis Robinson. With a wine writing career spanning almost 40 years, I’d say that bloggers certainly do matter. Last year in walla Walla, we had a conversation and breakfast with Lettie Teague, another wine superstar and Wall Street Journal staff writer – not to mention former Food & Wine Magazine editor. The first Wine Bloggers Conference hosted Alice Feiring. Oh and that’s right! Last year we also had Andrea Immer join us for a panel discussion. Are you seeing a trend here?

I ask you, first, what do these three people have in common? And second, why is it that we still hear that “bloggers don’t matter” and consumers don’t trust us? Certainly, with all of these women hosting their own blogs and online writing portals, and with all three of these women being of some importance in the wine world, that should be fairly substantial proof that

wine

bloggers

matter

and the old school wine world is sitting up and taking notice.

Please follow Jancis on her website and on twitter.

See you in July!

Pinot – how do I love thee, let me count the ways!

Feb 15th, 2011

by winebratsf.

1 comment

It’s Valentine’s Day today, and that means, roses, chocolate, and – yes! Pinot Noir! What better way to say I love you than to share the heartbreak grape with your sweetie.

Personally, Pinot Noir is the wine that excites me the most, because of its mystery, and allure. There are so many different styles and flavors in a Pinot Noir, and it’s a world in your glass!@

Do you want to learn MORE about Pinot Noir?

On Saturday, February 26th, 300 lucky Pinotphiles will be able to attend the Pinot NOir Summit in San Francisco. If you are thinking about attending, and you should be, I have a secret deal for you just because you actually read my blog. This deal is SO amazing, SO huge, SO fabulous, that you just can’t pass it up!

Because it’s so amazing, i can only offer this deal to two of my readers – well really it’s four – because here’s the deal..

You can get 2 tickets to the ALL DAY SUMMIT for the price of one! That’s a $250 value for $125.

Now, I know that seems like a lot of money to spend on wine, but look at what you get:

A full day of Pinot Noir! Starting with a blind tasting of the top rated juice from a long and arduous process (yeah well I was a judge, such hard work), test your buds against pros, panels, and pinotphiles. Vote for your faves! We will find out what women liked, what men liked, and what the judges liked at the end of the day.

You also get your choice of two Pinot Noir workshops. This year we have:

Session One
New World Pinot Noir
A Question of Style
Discovering New Stars

Session Two

Oak and Pinot Noir…Getting it Just Right

Pinot Noir, the Most Versatile Wine on the Planet

Winemaking 101

But wait! You thought I was done? Nope. You ALSO get a Sparkling Wine Reception, to see how Pinot Noir behaves under pressure.

And then, the GRAND finale – the 9th Annual Pinot Noir Shootout Grand Awards Tasting with top Pinot Noir winemakers showcasing their wines. Includes a pinot-friendly selection of light hors d’oeuvres.

SO if you want to take advantage of this deal, post a comment here and let me know WHY you really want to go and should get this half of deal. HURRY though! I only have two to offer and I know it’ll be popular!
I can’t wait to hear your comments!

The Nose knows

Mar 29th, 2010

by winebratsf.

4 comments

Our sense of smell is the most powerful tool we have, and is responsible for most of what we taste. Thsi is particularly true for wine, and the Napa Valley Wine Sensory Experience was an opportunity for a group of bloggers to learn, store, and recall sensory memories.

We first started out with a blind exercise where aroma essences were contained in black glasses, arranged by groups, and we had to guess what they were. let’s just say this is easier said than done! I know that my sensory sense is not exactly on par, but I scored a sad 9 / 25. Yes that’s right, me, the wino, with the random flavors that I pull out of wine like coffee and dried blueberries whirred together in a grinder for one specific Syrah, got 9. The horror! The shame! The hilarity!

At the risk of being aughed out of town, here are my guesses and the actual answers, grouped by major scent category:

Fruit
Pinot Noir
Herbal
Oak Barrel Boquet

We also tasted the effect of different additives to chocolate, as well as how the glass shape and size impacts the flavor profile of the wine.

It absolutely is eye openeing (and nostril flaring) to be reminded of how much the olfactory sense impacts flavor. Have you ever had a cold and been so stuffed up that everything tastes like cardboard? This is why. As someone who suffers allergies, it can also explain why wines taste different from day to day, since a sunny pollen filled day will impact me more than a foggy cool damp one.

After the initial exercise in futility scent, we tasted teh wines of WH Smith, and tried to put some of our new found aroma detective skills to work.

2007 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir – strawberry, raspberry, tea, smoke, balsamic vinegar. This was a nice well rounded P that was light enough for everyday drinking, but had a classic Pinot Noir profile.

2007 Maritime Vineyard Pinot Noir – is from a vineyard on the hillsides of Cazadero, where a lot of sun exposure gives a dense and concentrated wine with strawberry, raspberry juice, a touch of spice and rich cherry and plums were followed by a touch of bitter nutmeg on the back palate.

One of my favorite wines of the day was the 2006 Piedra Hill Vineyard Howell Moutnain Cabernet Savignon. This was a big fruity Cab, with a rich softness that made it quite approachable from teh get go. Dark chocolate, blue & black fruit and chewy earthy goodness made this a lovely drinking wine.

I hope to go back and try my nose at the sensory evaluation again! It’s a difficult skill to master and I often wonder how much training it takest he pros to pull out the “correct” scents. As someone who has become known for pulling random flavor profiles out of wine, I lean towards the nontraditional and would love to expand my aroma palate.

Cheers to Marcy Gordon for setting this up!

When socializing goes mainstream

Mar 16th, 2010

by winebratsf.

10 comments

What’s a tweetup you ask? Why would you tweet something up? Recently, I had the opportunity to meet and greet with dozens of the Bay Area’s finest, bloggers and wine professionals, as well as just some very cool people at the The Napa Valley Tweetup – Presented by Robert Mondavi Winery.

Earlier in the day, the Social Media Seminar provided an in depth look at how social media is changing the wine industry, and how users are becoming more engaged via blogs and other social media platforms. Then it was time to have some fun! Hidden int he stunning To Kalon Cellar, with it’s giant redwood tanks and awe inspiring barrel cellar, the in crowd assembled to taste Mondavi’s wines and mingle over a social media cocktail. In the rather cavernous dungeon, we were greeted by Gabriel Carrejo, who is the cheerleader behind many digital media tweetups and networking events.

Once inside, atop the catwalk above those giant redwood fermentation tanks, there were stations set up with each of the wines, where we were instructed to check in on FourSquare at east tasting station in the hopes that we might win some swag. More importantly, the social locator allowed us to see who else might have been at the event, and seek out those individuals that we might want to meet, by nature of the geo locating tool. Say what you might about tools like FourSquare – but for social location, networking, and impromptu meetups over a glass of wine, it is an invaluable tool.

As I wandered from station to station, I saw many of my old friends, and was able to reconnect over a glass of wine. In addition, it was a spectacular networking event as I met many more tweeters and industry insiders that were in attendance. The benefit to events such as this are difficult to measure; however, on a personal level, having the ability to meet many people that I have not otherwise had the opportunity to do , and to revisit a winery that I have not been to in a while is invaluable. Changing perception in this business can be challenging; too often, large wineries write people off if they are no longer repeat customers. this is a poor business decision in a challenging economy, as EVERY old customer can be a new customer provided that the experience is a good one.

Mondavi is one such winery that I have been underestimating. Long ago, I was a frequent visitor and a fan. Then I grew up, and started visiting smaller wineries, and other wineries, by passing the monolith as I cruised up 29. On this night, I was shown the light, both in the warm welcome by the Mondavi staff, and in their willingness to embrace social media and us, the Mediaites, by providing an elegantly casual setting where social media users and curiosity seekers mingled, discuss business, blogs, twitter, and just have a good time, puts the Social back in to social media. Don’t underestimate the power of inclusive events such as the tweetup. Personalities such as Hardy Wallace have been instrumental in challenging market perceptions in brands like Murhpy Goode, which are often written off by more experienced wine drinkers (ok fine, me) as the mass produced and overdone wines.

Later that weekend, I stopped by Amista Vineyards (@amistavineyards) in Dry Creek Valley during barrel tasting. An effective user of Twitter, Amista has been attracting tweeters with their personal attention, and inviting tweets promoting their wines and lovely picnice grounds. While out and about, Vicky tweeted that I was only 3 miles away and should stop by. Far be it for me to refuse and invitation, so my friends & I grabbed a picnic and headed out to the grounds behind the tasting room. Having a personal touch with a warm greeting and a welcome sign will bring in people more times than having a cult cab. Wineries should take note – it’s about relationships first, wine second. If you are treat a customer poorly or indifferently, when visiting a tasting room, they are almost certainly not going to becoming a lifetime customer. Treat a customer like a valued friend, and they will cmoe back over and over again. Amista has won my Customer Loyalty award, along with Holdredge, Manzanita Creek, Mounts, and Michel-Schlumburger – to name a few in Sonoma. In Napa, the winners are St. Supery, Titus, and Domaine Carneros, which proves that you don’t need to be a small family winery to understand excellent customer service.

I hope that this tweetup was just one of the first in a long series, as it will go a long way in expanding the value of social media and proving that it’s not just about the static post or tweet anymore. Social media is a living organizsm, and requires maintenance, just like freindships.

Special thanks to Robert Mondavi Winery, Vintank, Amista, and all of my new & old social media buddies who are now valued friends (and I can’t list them all so here are a few of my rockstars, who mentor me and are just generally awesome)

Pontificate your passion!

Feb 11th, 2010

by winebratsf.

No comments yet

Passion for pinot that is. As a judge for the 8th Annual Pinot Noir Summit, on Feburary 27th, I am able to offer you my dear readers a 20% discount off of the ticket price. click me

I hope you will take advantae of this offer, and join me in San Rafael in two weeks for a day of Pinot Passion!

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It’s Bloggership Time!

Jan 2nd, 2010
by winebratsf.
10602 commentsIt%27s+Bloggership+Time%212010-01-02+18%3A17%3A13winebratsf

Happy New Year! Boy am I glad 2009 is over. While there were some fabulous times last year, the last few months were pretty wretched for me. Today is 1/02/2010 however, and as a palindrome, I’m thinking it’s good luck.

To kick this year off with a bang, I’m here to announce the 2010 Wine Bloggers Scholarship applications and donations are open! This year, we are headed to Walla Walla in June to talk about wine, blogging and social media. As with the 2009 Wine Bloggers Conference, this 3 day symposium brings together professionals, bloggers, winemakers and more to discuss the impact of industry and citizens bloggers, social media, and the adult beverage industry.

We will spend 3 days in Walla Walla drinking great wine, learning the basics of wine blogging, blogging live while tasting, touring the Walla Walla wine scene, and also doing a whole lot of networking. After the 2009 Conference in Sonoma, many connections were made, many bloggers blossomed, and several people got some killer careers going in wine. What could YOU accomplish?

In an effort to support bloggers that wish to attend to learn more, perfect their craft, or see what it’s all about, the WBC Scholarship sets out to raise funds to assist citizen bloggers (those unaffiliated with a winery or other professional organization) get to Walla Walla and participate in the event of the decade. Ok well the first year of the decade anyway.

To find out more about the WBC Scholarship, please visit our site at http://wbcscholarship.wordpress.com/. If you’re a citizen blogger and would like to apply for assistance, please see the Application page.

If you would like to donate, or you know someone who would be a good resource, you may do so directly at our Paypal page here:

If you prefer to send a check, or if you have any questions, please email us for details at wbcscholarship at gmail dot com.

It's Bloggership Time!

Jan 2nd, 2010
by winebratsf.
14862 commentsIt%26%23039%3Bs+Bloggership+Time%212010-01-02+18%3A17%3A13winebratsf

Happy New Year! Boy am I glad 2009 is over. While there were some fabulous times last year, the last few months were pretty wretched for me. Today is 1/02/2010 however, and as a palindrome, I’m thinking it’s good luck.

To kick this year off with a bang, I’m here to announce the 2010 Wine Bloggers Scholarship applications and donations are open! This year, we are headed to Walla Walla in June to talk about wine, blogging and social media. As with the 2009 Wine Bloggers Conference, this 3 day symposium brings together professionals, bloggers, winemakers and more to discuss the impact of industry and citizens bloggers, social media, and the adult beverage industry.

We will spend 3 days in Walla Walla drinking great wine, learning the basics of wine blogging, blogging live while tasting, touring the Walla Walla wine scene, and also doing a whole lot of networking. After the 2009 Conference in Sonoma, many connections were made, many bloggers blossomed, and several people got some killer careers going in wine. What could YOU accomplish?

In an effort to support bloggers that wish to attend to learn more, perfect their craft, or see what it’s all about, the WBC Scholarship sets out to raise funds to assist citizen bloggers (those unaffiliated with a winery or other professional organization) get to Walla Walla and participate in the event of the decade. Ok well the first year of the decade anyway.

To find out more about the WBC Scholarship, please visit our site at http://wbcscholarship.wordpress.com/. If you’re a citizen blogger and would like to apply for assistance, please see the Application page.

If you would like to donate, or you know someone who would be a good resource, you may do so directly at our Paypal page here:

If you prefer to send a check, or if you have any questions, please email us for details at wbcscholarship at gmail dot com.

A great Chance!

Nov 11th, 2009
by winebratsf.
9774 commentsA+great+Chance%212009-11-11+22%3A53%3A54winebratsf

Shhh! A little Hummingbird told me that Clos La Chance is having a secret sale.

That’s right, these lovely wines are having a holiday HALF OFF sale! That means that if you haven’t had the Chance to try the Clos, now is a great opportunity. I have had several of the Hummingbird series of wines, which are a great value for some lovely wine. I’ll probably buy a mixed case to have on hand, because $16 for Santa Cruz Mtn pinot is an offer you just can’t pass up.

Here is a full list of what is on sale with the full price first, and the sale price after. These are the winery notes, since I haven’t tasted most of these before but with added commentary for your reading pleasure.

The sales starts FRIDAY the 13th – appropriately enough, and you can buy online or at thier San Martin tasting room until Sunday 11/15.

2006 Violet Crowded Merlot
Aromas of black plum and black cherry fruit with elements of smoke and vanilla along with violets and red licorice. Balanced flavors of raspberry and plum fruit combined with dried sage and sweet herb. Finishes with notes of wild cherry and tobacco. $18/9

2006 Late Harvest Semillon – Nectar 375mL (half bottle)
This would be an amazing wine to have at your Thanksgiving table with dessert. A beautiful yellow gold color that will darken with bottle age. Made in the Sauternesstyle with botrytized grapes. Rich aromas of orange peels, honey, almonds and apricots. The flavors of dried peach, apricot, honey and toasty almonds are perfectly balanced with a natural sweetness and acidity. $19/8

2006 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
Aromas of sweet, scented pear and ripe Granny Smith apples. hints of tropical fruit with a touch of baking spices, hazelnut, and graham crackers. A faint floral aroma along with a touch of wet stones. The rich flavors of ripe white peaches dominates the mouth, along with a hint of juicy pear and tropical fruits that linger mid-palate. The finish is smooth, with traces of nutmeg and vanilla. $22/11

2005 Honduran-Emerald Meritage
Aromas of warm blackberry cobbler with currant, black plum, resh earth, herb, cedar and a hint of anise. Flavors of black cherry, blackberry, plum, mocha, spice and mineral with rips, firm tannin on the finish. I have had the sister of this wine, the 2007 Crimson Topaz Meritage, and if this wine is any where near as good, it will be excellent with a killer QPR. $25/12.50

2006 Late Harvest Zinfandel
Dark ruby-purple color with a rich viscosity when swirled around in my glass. Aromas of dried cranberries, powdered cocoa, strawberry syrup, vanilla and a hint of mint. A slight floral component−lavender. Flavors of vanilla and caramel open up to dark fruits. Plums and blackberries. Nuts and Zinfandel pepper on the finish. $25/12.50

NV Zinfandel Port
Dark and rich. Aromas of dark chocolate, cherries, figs, brown sugar and baking spices. A slight floral note. Stewed cherries and milky chocolate, vanilla and jammy plum flavors. The higher alcohol balances well with the residual sugars. Long, velvety finish with a hint of white pepper. Need I say more? Zin port? NOM! Pair this with some s’mores or sip in front of the fire. $25/12.50

2006 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
Ripe strawberry, raspberry and cherry-cola aromas lead to hints of vanilla, brown sugar, nutmeg and cream. Flavors of boysenberry, cherry and cranberry fruit with spice, minerals and earth. I would love to try this wine, and at $16 I surely will. $32/16

2006 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
Bright garnet color with aromas of fresh strawberries, cinnamon, spice and a touch of vanilla. An earthy tone, with a hint of mushroom. The flavors of strawberries carry through, with crème frâiche and notes of coffee and cola. Bright acid and with soft, yet firm tannins. This is a wine that will lay down and age beautifully for 10 years minimum. An intense minerality that is so classic Santa Cruz Mountains rounds out this very balanced, cool climate Pinot Noir. Will pair nicely with lamb, salmon with balsamic sauce and deep fried turkey. Ripe strawberry, raspberry and cherry-cola aromas lead to hints of vanilla, brown sugar, nutmeg and cream. Flavors of boysenberry, cherry and cranberry fruit with spice, minerals and earth. This would be a winning Thanksgiving wine as well. $32/16

2005 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
A big, bold Cabernet Sauvignon. Incredible complexity due to extensive barrel and bottle aging. Dark blackberry aromas with vanilla and classic Cabernet eucalyptus. Flavors of cassis, plum and blackberries dominate throughout the palate and into the long, smooth finish. $35/17.50

2005 Estate Syrah
Smoky aromas of plums, cocoa and an underlying “meaty” flavor. Plums and dried cherry fruits dominate the palate, with hints of bittersweet chocolate and molé. A smooth velvety, long finish. $35/17.50

2006 Estate Petite Sirah
Inky, dark opaque purple with a ruby rim. Rich chocolate, plums and blackberries on the nose, with raspberries, vanilla and spice. This is a wine not for the faint of heart. Big fruit is balanced by chewy tannins and a healthy dose of acid. The fruit stands out−baked blackberries and a little blueberry. A spicy finish. This wine begs for rich, hearty meals. Try it with a lasagna or steak au poivre. $35/17.50

2006 Estate Zinfandel
Ripe, full-bodied and powerful, this is a big Zinfandel. The alcohol level is 16%; however, due to excellent weather conditions throughout the picking period of the 2006 vintage, we were able to extend hang-time and balance the fruit flavors with the higher alcohol level, and the heat is balanced with the bright fruit. Sweet raspberries on the nose, ripe plums and figs, along with a cinnamon spice. Dried cherries and raspberries on the palate, hints of cocoa and a rosemary. The finish is long and smooth, and I get a touch of the vanilla at the very end, from the oak ageing. $35/17.50

2005 Lila’s Cuvee, Rhône Style Blend
Elegant and balanced. Aromas of cherries and stewed strawberries. A slight smoky vanilla component. Flavors of dried cherries and rich berry jam. The finish is velvety and viscous. $50/25

2005 Special Select Series Meritage
A beautiful, deep ruby red. Aromas of ripe black cherries, anise, tobacco and clove/cinnamon spice. A hint of sweet vanilla and rosemary. Dried cherries and licorice on the entry with a lush blackberry dominating the mid-palate. Tannins and acid are both very prevalent, yet balanced, which makes this a beautiful wine with food. The finish is long, with hints of currants and again the rosemary. $50/25

2005 Whitestone Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
A big, bold Cabernet Sauvignon. Incredible complexity due to extensive barrel and bottle aging. Dark blackberry aromas with vanilla and classic Cabernet eucalyptus. Flavors of cassis, plum and blackberries dominate throughout the palate and into the long, smooth finish. $50/25

Case Special 2006 Santa Cruz Mountain Chardonnay
Aromas of sweet, scented pear and ripe Granny Smith apples. hints of tropical fruit with a touch of baking spices, hazelnut, and graham crackers. A faint floral aroma along with a touch of wet stones. The rich flavors of ripe white peaches dominates the mouth, along with a hint of juicy pear and tropical fruits that linger mid-palate. The finish is smooth, with traces of nutmeg and vanilla. $198/99

No one asked me to write this post and I am not getting wine in return. No Hummingbirds, real or imagined, were intoxicated during this event either. I just like good values and good wine.

Happy drinking!

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