A Great Value out of Washington State
I wanted to do a quick post to tell you about a wine that I can readily recommend based on past purchases and drinking enjoyment. It’s the Baer Winery Star from 2011, which comes from Columbia Valley, Washington. This winery has a history of having its wines make Wine Spectator’s Top 100 List.
Trust me, I do not go by scores alone, since there are many times I feel very differently about wines that are highly rated by Robert Parker or Wine Spectator. I really appreciate, though, that I can feel relatively confident that a wine with a good score is a good direction to venture in and explore for myself.
Napa: Press On!
I am a native Californian and have grown up with earthquakes. I learned how to seek shelter under a table or stand in the doorway, because doorways are the last to fall. I am sure this sounds strange to many of my friends across the states. We have learned, as natives of the state, to take it in stride – no different than folks who live in areas of other natural disasters. Even so, it is a tragedy to see cracks in roadways, fallen bricks, and damage to homes and businesses as a measure of the magnitude of force that exists in nature.
Many people were injured this past Sunday when the 6.1 earthquake hit in American Canyon, which is the city just south of the city of Napa. I am sure that all saw the pictures of fallen buildings, damaged facades of old structures, and some fires as a result of gas leaks. The pictures of broken bottles and fallen barrels filled the TV screens. What we are fortunate for is that, for all the energy that was unleashed with the movement of earth, there were no fatalities. I know that is not the only measure of the extent of damage from an event, yet it is very lucky. Sympathies are extended to those who were hurt, and we all know that if the quake had hit in the daytime, the loss of life and the number of injured would have been much greater. That it did take place in the middle of the night is a blessing. Still many people have been injured and suffered. The loss of a home is a horrible experience. Again, sympathies to each for your loss and the challenges you must bear on the road back.
Time to Check the Temperature at Home
The ideal temperature for wine storage has always been touted as between 55 and 57 degrees. This is the best temperature for reds to age gracefully over the long term. Well, now we have a scientific study to document what happens when we keep wine in warmer temperatures, such as would be normal for a home. Now scientists have done a study showing that wine stored in a typical home can age four times as fast as wine kept under ideal conditions.
The experiment was conducted with 400 bottles of Sangiovese. 200 of the bottles were stored in the ideal conditions, while the other 200 were kept at temperatures typical of the home environment.
Wine — In a Flash
Everybody loves a good deal. In today’s market, there are opportunities to purchase wine at discounts from 10 to 20% or even as much as 40% off retail. These opportunities can be found at something called Flash Wine Sites. They typically offer limited quantities of wines at discounts. The wine is offered for a limited time – hence the name “Flash.” This can be a great bargain. Akin to Tuesday Morning or other discount stores, the situation is not one of searching for a particular label or brand – you need to be open to what is being offered. There are bargains to be had if you know your wineries and what the vintage being sold has to offer. If so, this may be right up your alley.
This is the market place born out of the excess inventory of wineries. For wineries with an excess, it makes a lot of sense to offer their inventory to a flash site to move it efficiently and quickly. In just a few short years, this segment of the wine market has grown to about 100 million dollars in annual sales. This accounts for approximately 25% of the online wine market, according to an estimate by the wine industry-consulting firm VinTank.
Just Say No — to Bad Wine
Travel and being on the road can be tedious at times. While many hotels do their best to be hip and even provide wine tasting hours, many fall short. It can be a real challenge to get a good glass of wine while traveling and staying in hotels. Ordering wine by the glass in the restaurant can be frustrating as well. Recently, I have had some experiences that have taxed my taste buds.
Just recently, I was staying at a hotel in Los Angeles, and their steak house had a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. I was by myself and ordered a glass of wine off the wine list. The list touted a Washington wine from a very good vintage, and I was excited to try it. They had good crystal on the table, so I expected a great glass. Upon arrival, the wine had no aromatics; the taste was flaccid and bitter. This was unacceptable.
Hot Summer — Cool, Refreshing White Wine!
The forecast for the West Coast is hotter than usual. By now, that is no surprise for many who live here. The thermometer has been over 100 degrees in Sacramento several days this summer, and it is only July. Hot daytime temperatures make us all a little thirsty. A great, refreshing white to “pound on down on the patio” is Pinot Grigio, as the Italians call it. It is also known as Pinot Gris in other parts of the world. In fact, this little grape is produced all around the world and has many different titles depending on whether you are in France, Germany, Austria, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, or Australia. This is a lovely white wine that hails from around the world.
The Pinot Grigio I’d like to tell you about today is grown in Napa. It’s lightly honeyed, with a hint of spice and minerality. It’s darn good and refreshing! It is the perfect apéritif to start the evening and set up the palate for dinner or simply to enjoy in the afternoon with no food at all. I unfortunately have drunk all that we bought and must go back for more.
Just in the “Nick” of Time…
One of the beauties of wine is that the landscape is ever-changing. While great wineries are like the old standards of music, there are new iterations and ideas always finding their way into the refrain. New winemakers and new views are a part of the evolution of the wine scene. Being able to discover an “up and coming” winery and watch it grow into the market is part of the fun of the journey of wine.
One such winery that is on the rise is Nicora in Paso Robles. The winemaker and principal is Nick Elliott. Upon our last visit to Paso Robles, we were able to taste with Nick and learn about him, the winery and his wines. This is an appointment-only setting. The location for the tasting room is industrial, yet the setting inside is pleasant with comfortable seating around a large table. This is a great experience to sit, chat and taste through the wines with the gentleman who handcrafted each bottle. This was truly a pleasurable and refreshing journey.
“100 Barrels of Wine…”
The barrel tasting at Auction Napa Valley, hosted by the Napa Valley Vintners, is a special opportunity to taste many remarkable wines, all while supporting many great charitable organizations. Last week, I wrote about the auction and promised to follow-up with a post about some of the specific wines. Here we go…
Each of the participating wineries donates 10 cases of wine — one for each of the 10 highest bidders on this day, for delivery in the future. There are 100 barrels to taste from and make a bid on for a case (12 bottles). The proceeds from the barrel auction go to charities in Napa Valley.
“Take Care of Those Who Take Care of You”
Take care of those who take care of you. Good leaders do it. Smart quarterbacks do it. And, this past weekend in Napa Valley, the Napa Valley Vintners did it with their annual community fundraiser — Auction Napa Valley. The spirit of taking care of others was alive and vibrant in the actions of wineries, winemakers, and volunteers who work and live in this valley through their donations of auction lots and tireless hours of putting on a successful event.
Each year in June, the Napa Valley Vintners band together to raise money for many worthy charitable organizations in the Valley. Their stated mission: “To use the worldwide reputation of Napa Valley wines to enhance the well-being of the Napa County community.” Their areas of focus: Community health and children’s education. Winemakers donate 10 cases from a barrel to sell for auction prices at the barrel auction on Friday; wineries put together packages to auction on-line or at the live auction on Saturday. Each year, I am impressed with the generosity of the wineries as they live the values of taking care of others.
The Intrigue of Paso Robles: Herman Has a Story to Tell!
We spent this past weekend enjoying the wine country around Paso Robles, CA. One of the things I appreciate about this region is the value it offers to consumers. The area has grown even in the year since we last visited, and several new wineries are cropping up and are worthy of note for Rhone varietals. (We will dive deeper into just what that means in a later blog.) The environment is low key; the tastings are mostly open to drop in and modest in price. Many may say it is akin to the Napa Valley in its youth, and that may be true. Paso Robles is a few hours south of the San Francisco Bay Area, and there are many rewards for the investment in the time it takes to get there.
One of those rewards is Herman Story Wines. Located close to the heart of the town center in Paso Robles, it is open Thursday through Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. The tasting fee is $10 for a flight of 5 wines. An industrial location, it is a drop-in tasting at the bar. You may find Russell P., winemaker and owner, behind the bar pouring or one of the creative individuals who work there. No matter who is there, it will always be an enjoyable journey.