wine Archives - Page 13 of 14

Black Ink Wine launches

In late 2014, Chilean and Argentine wine importer TGIC Global Fine Wine Company released their new California red wine, entitled “Black Ink.”

With the dark bottle, faded black label, and octopus logo on the side, it is clear that this wine is a very dark red blend with a sense of mystery tinged with humor.

As they describe it, “Black Ink is an ode to fantasy through the arts, portraying elegance with an edge. In a celebration of decadence, juicy blackberry cobbler meets smoky licorice with a hint of spice. The capsule is marked with the allusive squid in a nod to the deep dark red hues within the bottle.”

The wines are priced at around $9.99

Cult Merlots shine at Napa Valley Film Festival’s homage to “Sideways”

Wine tasting panel taught by MaryAnn Worobiec of Wine Spectator Magazine

In honor of the film, “Sideways,” which romanticized wine tasting, elevated Pinot Noir, and looked askance at Merlot, this year’s Napa Valley Film Festival held a special Merlot Panel, as well as a Merlot Tasting event called “We’re Drinking Merlot!”

Sean Quinn, NVFF Wine Manager

The panel was moderated by Sean Quinn, the NVFF Wine Program Manager, and included panelists Jim Laube (Editor, Wine Spectator magazine), Tom Rinaldi, Chris Carpenter (Winemaker, La Jota), and Hailey Trefethen (Trefethen Family Vineyards). Warming up the well-helled crowd was the “How to Taste Like a Pro” seminar presented by MaryAnn Worobiec, Senior Editor of Wine Spectator magazine. These events honor not only the role of merlot in the film “Sideways“, also the positive impact that “Sideways” had on the increase in quality and palate of today’s Merlots.

The Rutherford Hill team

La Jota

Sheldon Richards of Paloma Vineyard

Holly Horton, Provenance Vineyards (2010)

Freemark Abbey 2012

La Jota

O’Brien Estate 2011

MTGA

Kara’s wine-influence chocolate cupcakes

Miner Family winery

VOGA Italia releases new red wine blend branded Red Fusion

VOGA Italia has recently unveiled a new red wine, which they call “Red Fusion.” The wine is very Italian in its profile and flavor components, however it is also designed to appeal to an American wine drinker who may have a taste for Californian styles.

“Red Fusion” is a fusion blend of 65% Zinfandel and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon from Salento in southern Italy, where the terroir is hot and sunny.

You may notice that the VOGA bottle is distinctive as well, and gives the wine a nice and somewhat sleek appeal as an affordable luxury gift.

Per VOGA Italia:

Imported from Italy by Enovation Brands, Inc., Red Fusion joins VOGA’s collection of meticulously crafted, strikingly packaged wines and reflects the VOGA Italia mission to produce distinctive, high-quality wines for the modern wine consumer.

Bursting with blackberry, black cherry and black raspberry notes, Red Fusion has a jammy fruit character on the palate and a hint of mint on the nose. The tannin structure and oak aging provide balance, complexity and a long, delicate finish to this contemporary, food-friendly blend.

After years of being passed over for single-varietal wines, a new wave of red blends are winning over consumers, with Zinfandel based blends leading the charge. “Red Fusion offers consumers the choice of a distinctive blend of two popular varieties versus a conventional, single-varietal wine,” said Enovation Brands, Inc. President Alberto Pecora. “Crafted with Salento grapes, Red Fusion also provides an Italian option for California Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon lovers.”

Packaged in the VOGA Italia award-winning trademark cylindrical bottle with re-sealable cap, the soft grey minimalist graphics communicate a subtly masculine quality appropriate for this big, bold red. At $11.99 per 750ml, Red Fusion hits the category sweet spot and delivers exceptional quality rarely seen at this price point.

VOGA Red Fusion will be available nationwide starting October 2014. The roll-out will be supported by an integrated campaign designed to communicate the outstanding product quality and global brand success calling for consumers to Taste Why The World Is Talking About VOGA.

Bergerac French wine comes to the United States

La Gloire de Mon Pere, and Chateau Haut Sarthes 2011

Recently the Bergerac advocates group traveled across the United States reaching out to tastemakers and wine merchants in order to extoll the virtues of wine from the region. In San Francisco, the event took place at the famous Jackson Square restaurant, Chef Michael Tusk’s Quince

Bergerac wine is from an area in France east of Bourdeaux and north of Toulouse, and is made up of approximately 93 communes. The wine is delicious, a fact of which many North Americans are unaware, but of which the English and Dutch very much are.

At the Quince tasting, Anne Lataste of Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de la Région de Bergerac, sponsored by UBIFrance, walked the attendees through the merits of the wines presented, as well as the region’s charms.

Paired with the wines was the following menu by Chef Lusk:

Pumpkin Vellutata

Gina, owner of Bergerac restaurant in San Francisco, and Ali Ghanbarian, publisher of SOMA Magazine

Gina of Bergerac restaurant in San Francisco, and Ali Ghanbarian, publisher of SOMA Magazine

Tortelli di Fonduta

Quince wine director Jai Wilson

Tour Des Gendres 2010

Château Haut-Sarthes 2009

Eric (Bergerac wine distributor) and Anne Lataste

Eric Stauffenegger (Vigneron Imports, Bergerac wine distributor) and Anne Lataste

Sonoma Liberty Farm Duck

Warren Pear Tart (with gold leaf)

Additional dessert tarts and truffles

Anne Lataste

Champagne Duval-Leroy toasts with Caviar Hors D’Oeuvres

Pierre Bettinger of Duval-Leroy

Champagne Duval-Leroy recently celebrated at 620 Jones in San Francisco several new developments and distribution of its delicious vintages in the United Sates. The event included pairings of various luxury hors d’oeuvres, chacuteries, cheeses, and even caviar with the premium champagnes from Duval-Leroy.

Luxury hors d’oeuvres from 620 Jones

Poured for tasting were the Duval-Leroy Brut Premier Cru, the Duval-Leroy Rose Premier Cru, and the Duval-Leroy Blanc de Blanc 2006 (our favorite).

The 620 Jones pairing menu consisted of selections such as prawn ceviche, caviar on a caor madeleine with creme fraichee and chive, and grilled rabit saddle with roasted figs bruschetta.

Champagne Duval-Leroy can also be found in the U.S. via the Henry Wine Group (www.henrywinegroup.com)

Vive la France!

Luxury hors d’oeuvres from 620 Jones

Chef at 620 Jones

Food and lifestyle journalist Emma Krasov

Le Menu

Team at Duval-Leroy

Caviar from 620 Jones, SF

Tequila Herradura Limited Edition Colección de la Casa

We love great design, especially when it is a combination of a well designed product with well designed product packaging. This is the case with Tequila Herradura, who has recently announced the release of their third limited edition Coleccion de la Casa, Reserva 2014 – Scotch Cask Finish Reposado.

Per their latest announcement:

Stemming off the success of its small-batch tequila series, Tequila Herradura announces the release of the third Colección de la Casa, Reserva 2014 – Scotch Cask Finish Reposado. Having undergone a double maturation process after resting in two different types of oak casks, American oak and single malt Scotch casks, this limited edition tequila offers a desirable taste and finish to delight the senses.

“With the latest in the Colección de la Casa small batch series, Tequila Herradura solidifies its commitment to provide new tequila experiences to discerning spirits drinkers who appreciate specialty crafted, artisanal tequilas,” said Liz Edwards, Senior Brand Manager for Tequila Herradura.

Casa Herradura has a strong reputation as an industry innovator and is credited with introducing the first-ever reposado in 1974 and extra añejo tequila in 1995. Colección de la Casa is the best example in the industry of how each of the sources of flavor– agave, water, fermentation, distillation, and maturation – impacts the character of the final product and creates a totally new flavor profile. As with the other two editions, Master Distiller Maria Teresa Lara was the force behind the Scotch Cask Finish Reposado.

Colección de la Casa, Reserva 2014 – Scotch Cask Finish Reposado will be available at fine wine and spirits stores in October nationwide for a limited time at a suggested retail price of $89.99.

Tasting Notes for Herradura Colección de la Casa, Reserva 2014 – Scotch Cask Finish Reposado

Color: Warm gold with brilliant hues.
Aroma: A masterful combination of toasted malt, cooked agave, and smoky wood.
Taste: The finest aged tequila is highlighted by the taste of vanilla, butter, honey, caramel and balanced soft spices.
Finish: The unique scotch cask results in a long-drawn and with a touch of sweetness.

NEW IDEAS FOR A NEW WORLD