California Winners – Bottle Shock

August 14, 2013 By 2 Comments

Bottle Shock Move PhotoThere is a winery in just about every state in the union.  But the state we think about most when it comes to wine production is the state of “California”. They have produced some of the best wines not just in the country, but in the world. Did you see the movie “Bottle Shock?”  Well, it is a must see, especially if you have a passion for California Wines.  Briefly, it is about chardonnay wine produced by a California winery, Chateau Montelena.  On May 24, 1976, a wine tasting took place in Paris that changed the world’s view of California wines forever.

The tasting was the pet project of Steven Spurrier, an English wine merchant, and owner of a wine shop and school in the center of Paris. He was intrigued by some of the California Cabernets and Chardonnays his students brought by the shop. Curious to see how these newcomers would fare against French wines made from the same kind of grapes, he arranged a blind wine tasting in celebration of the American Bicentennial activities in Paris. The French tasters chosen for the event had impeccable professional credentials. The French wines were First and other classified-growth red Bordeaux and white Burgundies. They were matched against California Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays. The tasting was blind, with the identities of the wines concealed and the labels revealed only after the jury of nine tasters had voted its order of preference.

Chateau-Montelena-1973-Chardonnay_BottleNo one could have predicted that the 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon – the first vintage produced with grapes from vines a mere three years old – was judged the best. The Cabernet had bested four top-ranked Bordeaux, including first-growths Château Mouton-Rothschild and Château Haut-Brion. The 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay from California bested its French counterparts.

That was it, California Wines, as good as the best.  Since 1973 California wines have received worldwide recognition.

By: Rosa L. McArthur

 

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Field of Grapes – Vineyards

July 31, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Well Cultivated Vineyard, a Thing of Beauty! Experienced Anything More Beautiful?  

I often wonder how they make them look so picturesque.  The rows that appear to be perfectly straight, the air is fresh and sweet and the scenery natural and beautiful. It doesn’t matter if it’s the beginning of the growing season, or the fruit is fully matured and ready for harvest, any season is a good day at the vineyard.  Speaking of seasons let me tell you a little about what happens during each season at the vineyards, home of the grapes.winery-V2-Temecula

grapediecut1Winter – this is the time when the grape vines sleep and store nutrients. Around this time, January through March, the viticulturists practice their latest techniques for pruning and growth.  In the spring, the sap will increase and the buds will inflate where successful cuts have been made.

grapediecut1Spring – Cool crisp mornings and warm days contribute to early growth on the vines. During late May and early June the vines produce clusters of flowers which produce fruit for the coming harvest. Soon after small grape clusters begin to appear along with magnificently shaped leafs which can also be picked later, stuffed, cooked and enjoyed with a well chosen bottle of wine.

grapediecut1Summer – It’s a busy time at the vineyards.  The crew is thinning the leaves and clusters to make sure of optimal ripening of the grapes until the harvest time.  As we learned in a previous blog the way the grapes ripen is essential to the wine taste.

grapediecut1Fall – What a colorful time at the vineyards!  Such regal, majestic shades of purple, paired with vibrant greens, yellow and brown. What makes it look like that?  It’s the change in the lighting and temperature, cool mornings, warm afternoons, evenings that cool quickly and the repositioning of the sun in the sky.

What happens during each season contributes to the end result, a vineyard of  beautiful grapes that will produce a delicious and satisfying barrel of wine. No way could this process happen by chance!!

Rosa L. McArthur

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Origin of Wine and What Influences the Taste

July 24, 2013 By 4 Comments

Egyptian Wine PhotoWell, would you accept that wine had its origin a long time ago!

I know people usually like hard facts.  But this is a difficult one. Many countries have touted wine production as their claim to fame. Some say the oldest regions for wine making was Mesopotamia.  And where is Mesopotamia?  According to Wikipedia, the word Mesopotamia is from the Ancient Greek meaning “land between rivers” and is the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, corresponding to modern-day Iraq and to a lesser extent northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and smaller parts of southwestern Iran. That works for me, because that area is known as the cradle of civilization. So it is fair to say that wine dates back to ancient civilization, even as far back as man’s beginning. Now that is old.

This beverage has been enjoyed for many centuries and over the years has developed into a real art form.  For those who are wine drinkers, without a doubt there is a glass and variety for everyone.  But what impacts the taste and favor of wines today.  There are many factors, but to name a few:

  • Varieties of Grapes – There are thousands of grape varieties used to make wine and they are all distinctive in character.
  • Climate – It could be said that climate influences the taste of wine more than the variety of grapes because it impacts how that variety will   perform.  Warmer sites produce wines with a sweeter, riper fruit than cooler sites.
  • Soil Type – The combination of soil and climate are very important factors in the production of wine because they influence the way the grapes grow.

Decisions of Winemakers – Complex topic to say the least! Grapes picked early provide brighter fresher wines with more acidity, picked later you get fuller wines with sweeter fruit.  There is also the issue of managing fermentation, choice of yeast, containers used, steel versus oak barrels and even whether to filter make quite a difference in how the wine turns out.

Aren’t you glad we enjoy the fruits of many who have labored?!

By: Rosa L. McArthur

Wine Barrels-2013

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My Fascination with the Grape

July 17, 2013 By 14 Comments

grapes-on-vineSince I can remember I have always had a fascination with the grape.  As far back as kindergarten I recall drawing and coloring them as my first fruit of choice.  Perhaps it was the variety of colors, their patina, the way they clustered, or even the way they tasted. At that young age I did not realize the impact that the juice of the pressed vine would have on my life.  In my family my father enjoyed a variety of fermented beverages but my mother was not a huge fan.  So when it came to the enjoyment of wine I was somewhat of a late bloomer.

I come from a large family, and on the front end mostly girls, five to be precise, with two boys being the youngest.  We were always entertaining at our house and I recall the first wine I served my guest, it was a bottle of Manischewitz. I recall my visit to the wine store, overwhelming at the time. I knew very little about wine but I loved the shape of the bottles, the beautiful picture of grapes and the bold deep burgundy color of the wine. Perhaps I was also influenced by the bottle of Manischewitz my grandfather kept hidden in the back of his cupboard.  At that time I did not have an opportunity to taste it, but I do recall him telling me that he would take a sip every now and then and that it was good for his health.  That was a long time ago and my taste, wine choices, and knowledge of wines have changed over the years.

These are some of the events that started my fascination with the grape and the juice of the vine pressed. When I started my career in the hospitality industry that interest grew even more because as a meeting and event planner I am often called on to recommend or make wine selections.  If you are a meeting planner, or know someone who is, then you understand exactly what I mean.  Please accept my personal invitation to follow my blog.  I will be covering many interesting aspects of wine from its origin, types of wines, and many of the up and coming brands.  I don’t think you will be disappointed.

I would enjoy reading your comments.  Stay tuned there is much more to come!

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