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Cantina Produttori di Valdobbiadene Group - Val d'Oca

9/16/2020

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Val d’Oca, under the Cantina Produttori di Valdobbiadene, is one of the oldest producers of Prosecco. Their sparkling wines are made with Glera grapes that are cultivated and vinified in the hills of Valdobbiadene.

Established in 1953, Cantina Produttori di Valdobbiadene is comprised of nearly 600 growers within 800 hectares of vineyards. For many years, Val d’Oca has been focused on the goal of producing quality wines with the aim of promoting the efforts of its members – along with communicating the superior quality product in order to ensure that consumers fully realize that all production stages, from grape growing to bottling of wine, are performed with care and precise skill. 
Val d’Oca’s commitment to production and quality has been inherently present since their early years. They have implemented a technological update program to assist in maintaining the quality of the harvest each year. This includes investments in vinification and laboratory controls. Initiatives in the vineyard have also been implemented more recently, which include satellite mapping of members’ vineyards, on- going technical assistance provided by a team of agronomists, training for all growers, and the implementation of a BIO project for the future. 

We're joined by Susannah Gold, DWS, FWS - Vigneto Communications as she moves us through the Prosecco Territory and introduces #winestudio to Val d'Oca.

Twitter hashtag #winestudio - Tuesday evenings 9-10pmET 29 September & 6 October
 

Week 1: 29 September 9-10pmET - Val d'Oca and its Impact on the Prosecco Territory
 
1: History | Organization | Mission
  • Cooperative winery established in 1952 with currently 600 members and 1000 hectares in the heart of DOCG producing area, Valdobbiadene.
  • Agricultural company with industrial scale capacity. 
  • Wines that are an expression of different territories. 

2: Vineyards | Unesco | Terroir
  • 60% of  vineyards are in the hills (DOCG quality) where climate, soils and tradition combine to make the best grapes to make Prosecco. 
  • UNESCO recognition in July 2019 for the hills of Conegliano Valdobbiadene - winegrower works in collaboration with nature. Patrimony to protect for future generations.
  • Biodiversity in the vineyards
  • Terroir: 15°- 60° steepness of vineyards, south facing slopes, with sun exposure throughout the year. Steepness can reach 170° in some areas! Mild climate, although significant thermal differences between day and night.
  • 90% of grapes are hand harvested Glera.

Denominations of Val d’Oca: 
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Rive DOCG
Cartizze DOCG
Asolo Prosecco DOCG
Prosecco DOC Treviso
Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC

3: Wines | DOCG | DOC
  • Val D’Oca Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Dry Millesimato.  
  • Val D’Oca Prosecco DOC Extra Dry.  
  • Prosecco Pyramid Refresher – DOC, DOCG, RIVE, CARTIZZE.

4: Quality Controls in Vineyard and Winery
  • V.I.V.A  Certification, sustainabile viticulture.  
  • S.Q.N.P.I. (Sitema di Qualità Nazionale di Produzione Integrata)


Week 2: 6 October 9-10pmET - Val D’Oca and Prosecco Today

1: Sustainability Budget
  • Sustainable development goals | impact on the company | path through to 2030.
  • Wines from an ancient tradition: protect the territory and natural resources.
  • First Co-op in the Veneto region to have a sustainability budget.​

2: Rive
  • “RIVE” is a sub-appellation created by the Tutelary Consortium that identified the single areas in the region between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene with the best conditions to grow glera grapes. They are terroir-driven wines that show the character and uniqueness of the land where the grapes are grown.
  • Val D’Oca-Cantina Produttori di Valdobbiadene, thanks to its widespread presence in the area is the only producer to have nine different Rive wines.
  • Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore “Rive di San Pietro di Barbozza”: brut version, where the varietal scents of apple and pear come together with intense floral notes. Citrus notes of grapefruit make it very refreshing. Nice acidity and a touch of minerality make it tasty! 

3: Val D’Oca Ros
é
  • Rosé sparkling wine is a blend of Glera grapes and Pinot Noir grapes using the Charmat Method. 
  • The vinification of the two grapes is made separately, then blended together before the second fermentation in autoclave, where the wine stays in contact with yeasts for two months.
  • The result is a sparkling wine that on one hand preserves all the fruitiness and freshness of the glera grape, on the other it keeps the character of the Pinot Noir grapes as well as the complexity given by the skin contact during maceration and the yeast contact during second fermentation.

​4: Pairings & Cocktails
  • Fresh, moderate acidity, and moderate alcohol make it ideal for aperitivo and all through the meal.
  • Spritz, the classic Italian Cocktail, originally from the Veneto region.
Wines: 
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore “Rive di San Pietro di Barbozza”
Val D’Oca Rosè


#Valdoca #ValdocaUSA #Prosecco #ProseccoDOC #ProseccoDOCG #Conegliano #Valdobbiadene #Asolo #Veneto #ProseccoRive #ProseccoRose #winetravel #wineblogger #enotour #tourism #wineenthusiast #wino #Glera #whitewine #winelover #madeinitaly #shareitalianwine #shareitalianexcellence #stradedelProsecco



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We See You. Relevant to the Narrative - Non-Industry Wine Writers, Enthusiasts and Wine-Educated Consumers

7/1/2020

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It should be noted that black wine bloggers, enthusiasts, and those with a demonstrated history in wine are also relevant to the narrative.

We like to think circumstances happen by chance but I firmly believe it's more of a convergence of epic events stemming from repeated behaviors. A few weeks ago, Food and Wine Chronicles Blogger, Pam Riley commented on a Facebook post that I shared regarding Julia Coney's passionate Instagram video regarding racism in the wine industry. She used just five words: "It is all very true." 
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Pam says: "Unlike Julia, I believe the composition should not only include black wine professionals and black wine ‘influencers’ experiences and voices. Those professionals and influencers are not the only ones experiencing inequalities in the wine tasting rooms, restaurants, wine shops, and at wine events, and vineyards. It should be noted that black wine bloggers, enthusiasts, and those with a demonstrated history in wine are also relevant to the narrative. In some cases, more so, as we are not trying to gain more social media followers, free trips, free wine, or additional business."

Pam will share her firsthand experiences with us. And our special guest is Denise Clarke, Winemaker Altipiano Vineyard San Diego, CA. 


"Using the #winestudio platform is an excellent opportunity to continue to educate the wine world on inclusion and encourage more fairness and diversity." Pam Riley

Still time to purchase our wines for July 28 Zoom discussion:
Purchase Altipiano Vineyard Wines (special club pricing!) - includes 2017 Sangiovese and 2017 Petite Sirah, tax and shipping.

​
Week 1: Follow the conversation on Twitter, hashtag #winestudio 9pm-10pmET
Week 2: Join Pam, Denise and Tina on Zoom 9pm-10pmET - Register here in advance.


Week 1: 21 July 9pmET

“It’s business. It’s not personal” BUSINESS IS ALWAYS PERSONAL.

Topic 1: Economics
"Racism makes our economy worse.” “Our fates are linked," "It costs us so much to remain divided." Heather McGhee, Writer, Activist

Topic 2: Experiencing Racism
Jane Elliot's Stand Up Video
Think and ask, even if you don’t fully understand. Encourage others to speak out.

Topic 3: Sharing those Experiences 
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“It happens all the time.” Pam Riley
- Sharing experiences at wine tasting rooms, restaurants, wine shops, wine events and vineyards.

 
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Week 2: 28 July 9pmET on Zoom 
Become an Inclusionist Activist.


Topic 1: Nature teaches us life lessons - Racism: Recognize > Address > Defeat
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Making the Connection

Topic 2: Special Guest: Winemaker Denise Clarke - Altipiano Vineyard San Diego CA Altipiano Vineyard, 2017 Petite Sirah 

Topic 3: Teaching Ethics
Wine Certifications and Enthusiast Wine Classes - Inclusion, Fairness and Diversity

Topic 4 Bridging the Gap through Equity 
(funding, jobs, opportunity, education)

“More people are finally getting off the fence on issues of race and justice. They are examining their workplace cultures and looking more closely for bias. There is an outpouring of support from the wine community right now, and some believe it’s more hollow promises, empty words of solidarity. But I’m an optimist at heart. I believe this moment could be different and result in real progress because our country and the world—including our world of wine—have never been more threatened. Let’s together make this a watershed moment of change. “ Dorothy J. Gaiter

“An injury to one is an injury to all.” Heather McGhee



Altipiano Vineyard, 2017 Sangiovese
Altipiano Vineyard, 2017 Petite Sirah

Purchase Altipiano Vineyard Wines (special club pricing!) - includes 2017 Sangiovese and 2017 Petite Sirah, tax and shipping.




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Lugana DOC - The Small Northeast Wine Region near Lake Garda, Italy - One Grape, Five Wine Styles

5/16/2020

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It’s my understanding that you either know Lugana or you don’t; It’s that simple. And yet, this 1200 hectare region near Lake Garda, Italy is anything but simple. With this small of an area, and with over 120 producers of Lugana (five styles of one grape: Turbiana) there’s lots of information to cover although easy navigable, once we dig in. Over four-plus weeks time during #winestudio, we’ll dig deep and come out at the end of our series as Lugana experts, or at the very least, Lugana Lovers!   Lying on the border between the two Provinces of Brescia and Verona, the Lugana denomination stretches along the plains of Morainic origin to the south of Lake Garda, within the communes of Sirmione, Pozzolengo, Desenzano and Lonato (in Lombardy) and Peschiera del Garda in the Veneto.

The name would appear to derive from the early-medieval word “lucus” (“a wood”). This zone was in fact covered in the past by the Selva Lucana, a dense and marshy forest. But the presence of vines in this area dates back much further – at least to the Bronze Age – and is proven by the famous Vitis Silvestris grape seeds found around the pile dwellings of Peschiera del Garda.

Today it is an area that is characterized by very particular soil, made up predominantly of white clays and limestone, capable of giving the grapes cultivated here extraordinary elegance and tanginess as well as longevity.

As with most grapes, the white Turbiana becomes a reflection of where it’s grown, how it’s treated, dependent on soil characteristics and of course the winemaker’s characteristics; it transforms into a Lugana wine with many iterations of itself. And although that may seem super confusing, each Lugana wine affords us views into this small region and an even smaller snapshot into each winery’s style. And we’ll be tasting and discussing a lot of wine!

Andrea Bottarel, the recently appointed Consorzio Tutela Lugana DOC Director puts it this way: “It is extremely important to understand that, unlike some other regions, due to the territory being mainly flat and with subtle differences in soil composition and climate, there may be a difference in wine profiles, but not in quality. Vineyards closer to [Lake Garda] will tend to produce slightly sharper wines with a more distinctive salinity, and the ones closer to the lower and sandier hillside, will tend to produce slightly bolder whites, sometimes with bolder fruit. This of course applies to single vineyard wines, but there are also producers aiming for balance and either growing or buying grapes from different parcels.”

We're joined by Susannah Gold, DWS, FWS - Vigneto Communications as she moves us through the region and introduces #winestudio to the Consorzio Tutela Lugana DOC.

Twitter hashtag #winestudio Tuesday evenings 9-10pmET June 9, 16, 23, 30

Click here for the full program.

Live Zoom Webinar:

When: Jul 2, 2020 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Lugana Doc #WineStudio Chat 

Please click the link below to join the webinar: 
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82567971004

Or iPhone one-tap : 
    US: +19292056099,,82567971004#  or +13017158592,,82567971004# 
Or Telephone:
    Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
        US: +1 929 205 6099  or +1 301 715 8592  or +1 312 626 6799  or +1 669 900 6833  or +1 253 215 8782  or +1 346 248 7799 
    Webinar ID: 825 6797 1004
    International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kBJZ5fFzl

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Introducing: The Cooperativa Vinícola San Valero

3/17/2020

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The Group formerly known as Grupo Bodegas San Valero is celebrating 75 years of quality winemaking with the launch of a new corporate structure and the same dedication to Quality Wine Production. 

Bodega San Valero (BSV) has produced new proprietary brands that maintain the passion and spirit of the founding winemakers of 1944. Quality as a competitive advantage remains the goal as Cooperativa Vinícola San Valero now celebrates 75 harvests. We'll discuss the new brands while tasting through these reasonably priced wines.


Follow the hashtag #winestudio for the entire program.
April 7, 14, 21, 28 - 9:00pm - 10:00pm ET
Wine Educator: Kat Thomas, Training Manager, Hakkasan Group Las Vegas @yoga_kat

Week 1 - A Tale of Monte Ducay - the Prized Terroir of Cariñena ​

  • Grand Ducay Brut Nature Blanco – SRP $10.99 
  • Grand Ducay Brut Nature Rosado – SRP $10.99

Week 2 - Celebrities - Rise of the Cariñena Indigenous Monovarietals

  • Celebrities Garnacha 2019 – SRP $14.99
  • Celebrities Old Vine Garnacha 2016 – SRP $14.99
  • Celebrities Carinena 2017 – SRP $14.99

Week 3 - Celebrities - International Varieties and the Roles they Play in Cariñena

  • Celebrities Merlot 2018 – SRP $14.99 MERLOT
  • Celebrities Syrah 2018 – SRP $14.99 SYRAH
  • Celebrities Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 – SRP $14.99 CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Week 4 - 75 Years - Quality and Community - The Advantages of Co-Operation

  • 500 Manos – SRP $15-$20
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Ricasoli 1141

12/29/2019

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The history of Italy cannot be told without including the prominent contributions of the Ricasoli family, who have produced wine since 1141.  Ricasoli is documented as the oldest winery in Italy and the fourth oldest family business in the world. A beautiful illustration of the family tree in 1584 is one of the first images of the Chianti area and the family archives include export receipts dating back to the late 1600s.  However, perhaps the most famous historical contribution came from Baron Bettino Ricasoli, who was not only twice the prime minister of Italy, but after 30 years of experimentation and documentation, developed the original formula for the Chianti wine that became the standard for the region.

The heart of the Ricasoli wine production comes from the Brolio castello, a magnificent castle located in the commune of Gaiole in Chianti, which was built as an outpost to defend Florence from the rival city of Siena. Within the estate, ancient cannonballs and even more recent WWII artillery shells have been found, evidence of the historical strategic importance of the castle with views of the entire Chianti Classico area. The 3,000 acre estate includes 580 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards, ranging in altitude from 800 to 1,500 feet. Each plot is harvested and fermented separately with meticulous dedication.

Baron Francesco Ricasoli has been at the helm of the winery since 1993 and with the deepest respect for his renowned ancestors, he has guided the estate in innovation and sustainable vineyard practices. The ongoing study of soil types and the clonal selection of the Brolio Sangiovese are among his greatest passions and he has been responsible for total renovation and re-mapping of the vineyards.  Today, the wines are a reflection of the family’s nine hundred year dedication to quality winemaking and innovation at the Brolio estate. - Folio Fine Wine

Follow the Ricasoli #winestudio chat on Twitter


January 14, 21, 28, February 4 - 9:00pm - 10:00pm ET
WSET Wine Educator Lyn Farmer @fizzfan
 
Week 1 - January 14: Ricasoli and the Birth of Modern Chianti
  • Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico 2016 
  • Chianti Classico Riserva 2016
  • The Classifications 
  • Overview of the Estate (maps)
  • Origins of Chianti Classico

    1872 Baron Bettino Ricasoli (1809 – 1880), illustrious politician and visionary wine entrepreneur, originated the formula for Chianti wine, now called Chianti Classico.

Week 2 - January 21: Legacy and Romance of the Brolio Estate
  • Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2015
  • Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2010 
  • Significance of “Gran Selezione”
  • Romance of Brolio/Chianti (Valentine’s Day)
  • Estate: Gardens, Osteria, Agresto Guesthouse


Week 3 - January 28: The Power of Chianti Classico Terroir - How Merlot Imbues the Flavors of Tuscany

  • ​Ricasoli Casalferro Rosso 2011
  • Ricasoli Casalferro Rosso 2008​ (taste both side by side!)
  • How Merlot Presents an Intense “Tuscan” Character #Terroir 
  • Chianti Classico Progression


Week 4 - February 4: Ricasoli Single Vineyard Crus: Clonal Research and Soil Mapping at Brolio

  • Ricasoli Colledila Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2015 | Ricasoli Roncicone Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione 2016  
  • Clonal Research and Soil Mapping Efforts





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Bodegas LAN comes to #winestudio

10/14/2019

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Bodegas LAN: Rioja Innovation and Evolution
 
Every wine brand has a culture, strategically built or cultivated. For Bodegas LAN, a relative newcomer on the Rioja scene, comparative to its peers, it seems strategy and cultivation go hand in hand.

LAN - an acronym based on the initials of each of the three provinces that form the D.O.Ca. Rioja: Logroño, Alava and Navarra - was founded in 1972 in the heart of Rioja Alta. Bodegas LAN’s attention to detail, pristine raw material and pioneering use of mixed oak barrels results in personality-first wines with vintage consistency. 
 
LAN prides itself on its technical advances which ensure the protection and sustainability of its vineyards and the surrounding fauna and flora. This nurturing of viticulture creates the correct environment to pursue winemaker / technical director Maria Barúa’s tailored ageing system, which is the first of its kind in Rioja. 
 
Follow the Bodegas LAN #winestudio chat on Twitter

November 5, 12, 19, 26 - 9:00pm - 10:00pm ET
WSET Wine Educator Lyn Farmer @fizzfan
 
Week 1 - November 5: Bodegas LAN Introduction > Historical & Topographical Overview
  • Overview of the region and wines 
  • A feel for Rioja's topography and history—context for why Rioja had always been so inorganic which makes LAN's innovation all the more impressive 
  • Tasting Crianza 2016 and Reserva 2012 from the Classic line 
  • Hybrid Casks (American oak staves and French oak bottoms)
 
Week 2 - November 12: Modern Innovation
  • Insights into the winemaking process and the special story behind D12 
  • Tasting Gran Reserva 2011 and D-12 Crianza 2016 from the Classic line 
  • Discuss research of French and American oak separately
  • Technical Director / Winemaker Maria Barua

Week 3 - November 19: Viña Lanciano > The Relationship between Vineyard & Oak
  • Digging deep into the vineyard and what makes it so special. 
  • Tasting Viña Lanciano 2012 and Limitada 2016 from the Estate line
  • Russian oak | Spanish oak | Hungarian oak | Pyrenean oak. Maria is always experimenting 
  • What each imparts to the wines
  • Differences from forest to forest
· French oak. From different forests in central France (Allier, Troncáis, Jupille, Blois…), it gives great aromatic complexity, with delicate notes of spice (clove, cinnamon), touches of menthol, smoke and cocoa. It adds a considerable amount of tannins, giving great structure on the palate.
· American oak. Sourced in Ohio and Missouri, from the Appalachian forests, it adds intense aromas of vanilla, coconut and aromatic plants.
· Russian oak. From the Caucasus and the Republic of Adygea. It is similar in aromas to French oak, although it is less pungent, respecting the primary aromas of the grape.
· Hungarian oak. It is very similar in aromas to French oak. In the case of Tempranillo it adds slightly more lactic notes.
. Pyrenean oak. It is high in polyphenols, adding vanilla, caramel, almond, clove and resinous notes. It is the latest type of oak to be added to our constantly evolving ageing process.
 
Week 4 - November 26: Tech and Sustainability
  • Tech and sustainability efforts, now and future endeavors
  • Tasting Xtrème Ecológico Crianza 2015 - first organic wine newly available stateside
  • Tourism: the newly opened LAN Bar and wine shop
  • Concentrico!

#BodegasLAN
#riojainthreeletters
#rioja
#LAN



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elemental Salon

7/7/2019

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​Introducing our Seasonal Beverage Club -
elemental Salon!


A beverage club based on the seasons, paired with art and locally-made foods through our community creatives.

Included each Season (4 times per year): 
  • three bottles of adventurous juice 
  • color-printed, frameable artwork from community artists
  • featured beverage stories
  • a perfect-pairing, Crystal Palate recipe
  • Invitation to our artist pop-up salons
  • Special bottle and event offerings 
$90 - $105 per quarter. No commitment necessary - come and go as you like.

Our introductory salon features Virginia Beach local Cindy Pennybacker > business owner, artist, designer and overall badass! Cindy has been featured in some of the hottest magazines such as Distinction, Southern Living and Coastal Virginia. Many of you may know her as Chartreuse Interiors owner in the Vibe District before she closed to concentrate exclusively on her art, which is now sought after by collectors. 

Sign up today and receive:
  • Summer 2019 Bev Club...(see above) PLUS
  • Pick-up party 1 August for our artist Salon to meet Cindy!

​Tina Morey Certified Sommelier | Crystal Cameron-Schaad DipWSET
[a Crystal Palate & #winestudio production]

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Dirt, Regenerative Farming and What Farming Truly Means to Today’s Young American Farmers - The Burnt Hill Project via Old Westminster Winery

5/30/2019

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Just six years ago, Maryland's Old Westminster Winery turned heads at Boston's Drink Local Conference. Today, they're in the midst of producing, as they call it, "an iconic Maryland red" at their newly planted Burnt Hill. Drew calls this particular area the "mid-Maryland ridge," west of Sugarloaf Mountain and the BlueRidge. 

“We’re going to challenge current beliefs with unique and transparent wines – wines that offer balance, nuance, and character. We’re going to farm thoughtfully, using biodiverse cover crops, biodynamic principles and incorporating animals. And then, in the winery, we’re going to craft wines with a light hand, ferment with indigenous yeast, and bottle it all without fining or filtration. These wines will be made without makeup – a pure reflection of the time and place where they’re grown and the people who guided the process." Drew Baker.

Follow the conversation:
Tuesdays - 9-10pm Twitter, hashtag: #winestudio

Week 1 - Tuesday 4 June: The American Family Farm > How Old Westminster Winery is Establishing a Farming Legacy

Introduction to the Baker family.

Week 2 - Tuesday 11 June: The Burnt Hill Project - “Wind blows, fire burns…”
Climate, Grapes, Soil and Biodynamics

wine:

Week 3 - Tuesday 18 June: Summer Solstice Festival - A Natural Wine Celebration
The Wine Festival is Dead, Long live the Wine Festival! Why this particular wine festival matters for the Mid-Atlantic Wine Region

wine:

Week 4 - Tuesday 25 June: The Afterglow of Solstice > Now What? A Family Moving Forward

More info to come!

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The True “Wow” Factor of Rosé and its Design Influence on Wine Labels

4/6/2019

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We’re all searching for something: purpose, love, money, religion, justice, truth, beauty. At the core of it all is this idea that something must represent that search; perhaps something that provides an outstretched hand, an embrace, a satisfying beverage or a field of flowers. Whatever that “something” is, it provides us a connection.

Understanding our world through wine and our part in that world

The historically tragic, yet brilliant outcome of “critter” labels is that it polarized wine drinkers. Critter, or rather picture labels with that “animal” slant were fun; they made wine choices easy for those just looking for a good bottle on a Wednesday night without the worry of becoming overwhelmed or making a “bad” choice. In a world where we’re bombarded by numerous products daily, this choice needed to be seamless. And the same could be said for “wordy” wine labels; who wants to decipher those after a long day?

Perhaps the advent of the “critter” label was just the logical “next thing” in wine labeling. But there was an inherent problem: many of the wines associated were seen as inferior, the labels, subterfuge. And as these critter labels flooded the market, we soon figured out their purpose. So, what now? Maybe the answer lies within a palette of pink.


Evolution in Wine Thinking
The enigmatic part about rosé is its ever-changing landscape: a profusion of colors, complexity, grape varieties, production methods, bottle shapes and flavour profiles. Rosé is neither governed by any set of wine rules nor would it want to be anything other than what it is. Which, when you really think about it, is kind of cool, and dare I say, desirable, next-level thinking.

So then, what’s next for an evolution within the context of labels, and therefore connecting to a polarized group? Wine drinkers have at least a “working” relationship with rosé now, meaning only that we understand the “pink” liquid can be and mean many things depending on how, where, why and with whom we’re drinking. We’re having a good time with rosé.

According to Wines and Vines, it’s seen the strongest growth of any wine type at 48% and shipments totaling $48 million. And because there are inherently no particular rules within the world of rosé, there’s an even playing field for our polarized group. Now that’s exciting!

“Wine is kind of like going to a live show. Every performance is distinct, the audience enjoying it influences the experience, and every so often the band knows when they just created their next big hit. That’s why I keep coming back to wine.” Jaleh Najafali, Wine enthusiast / law student

Elizabeth Gabay MW and author of Rosé - Understanding the Pink Wine Revolution wrote: “...the real pink revolution is only just beginning.” I agree, and I think through rosé, there’s an infinite amount of learning and possibilities to be had! As wine lovers and well, human beings, we look to food and wine to nourish us, to connect us, to elevate us to something else. We want to feel good, even to make us look “cool” to our friends. What better way to find fulfillment than with another culturally-nourishing endeavour - art.

Design and Human Nature
I recently connected with oenographic: Graphic Design + Wine founder Jeff Gilligan whose Instagram account reads like only cool profiles could: “oenographic celebrate(s) the best of DESIGN + WINE.” And I thought, how forward-thinking is that!

Anyone can like art. Much like rosé, art can be and mean many things depending on where, why and with whom we’re enjoying it. There are no rules, no parameters, only a desire to experience, to feel, to connect with something that encourages us to look outside of ourselves while simultaneously looking in.

“Art influences society by changing opinions, instilling values and translating experiences across space and time. Research has shown art affects the fundamental sense of self. Art preserves what fact-based historical records cannot: how it felt to exist in a particular place at a particular time. Art in this sense is communication; it allows people from different cultures and different times to communicate with each other via images, sounds and stories. Art is often a vehicle for social change.”  Reference.com

Creatives
Much like artists, winemakers are creatives who see the potential in their grapes, in the soil, in the world around them, pushing winemaking boundaries every day, so what better way to showcase their bottled wine than with an artist’s label.

Kent Humphrey and his wife and business partner Colleen Teitgen, owners of Eric Kent Wine Cellars, know the value of wine and art. While Kent crafts their wines, Colleen, an artist and curator of their galleries, oversees their dream of combining their shared passions in wine and art. I asked them their goals for the artist labels and if they feel people are drawn to bottle art. “Definitely! You can’t help but choose a bottle on a shelf based on how it looks. I think we all do it.” Kent Humphrey

“Order wines and it's like having your personal art gallery at your table!! Zelda Sydney Illustrated Wine

“We are trying to expose our customers and the general public to lesser known artists and get them an audience for their work. There is a lot of stereotypical wine art out there and we want our labels to represent the artists, not wine country. Be different. Be true. Help artists. Get attention. Bring pleasure. Yes, we can say definitively that many people have discovered they love our wines after being drawn in by the art labels. They were happy to learn the wine was good too!” Colleen Teitgen

The couple “encourage(s) up-and-coming local artists by commissioning them to design the beautiful Eric Kent back labels, as well as by supporting Sonoma arts events.” Sommelier Journal

Eric Kent Wine Cellars, 2017 Rosé, Sonoma County, CA Artist Yellena James
Blogger Cathie Schafer, CSW writes: “I realized rosé is the ideal medium to connect us with its evolving landscape with an art-inspired label. It shows that we want something more than the alcohol in the bottle--it tells an even bigger story. I like to believe that the label creates an unspoken connection between the winemaker and the consumer.”

Bedell Cellars in Cutchogue, NY has been in business since 1980, now growing 75 acres of sustainably farmed grapes. Since 2000, owner and art collector Michael Lynne, (April 1941 - March 2019) a trustee for New York's Museum of Modern Art, commissioned artwork for the wine labels from artists like Barbara Kruger and Eric Fischl.

Bedell Cellars 2017 Taste Rosé, Long Island, NY, Artist Barbara Kruger

Bedell Cellars is considered to be a benchmark for quality in the Eastern US, and winemaker Richard Olsen-Harbich crafts his Long Island rosé with a unique blend every year, made by gently pressing whole clusters of sustainably grown estate fruit, before fermenting with indigenous yeasts.

The artwork that graces the rosé is by Barbara Kruger, an internationally renowned American conceptual artist. She created the image “Taste” exclusively for Bedell Cellars, suggesting the notion that taste can influence what we love, how we live, and who we think we are. Bedell Cellars

“Art opens everything up to such a bigger spectrum of people. And this is why I personally believe art is powerful, because art saved my life.” Artist David Tovey, Museum of Homelessness, Tate Exchange

Perhaps rosé is the connection for polarized wine drinkers after all.




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A Look Back at Amy Bess Cook & her Woman-owned Wineries. You've Come a Long Way, Baby!

2/28/2019

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Last February, Amy Bess and a few of her member wineries joined #winestudio to discuss her new project. We listened, we tasted and we loved her spirit and drive.

Over a year in and Amy Bess has created a community of advocacy and solutions for women in the wine industry.


​She is a mighty force! Consider supporting today.




February 2018 #winestudio Program:

Beginnings: Woman-Owned Wineries of Sonoma County


I met Amy Bess Cook on a writer retreat last September and I knew this was someone I wanted in my life.

After Amy Bess released her new project, Woman-owned Wineries (WoW) of Sonoma I contacted her immediately to offer #winestudio as a platform to get the message out. 

From Amy Bess:

"I was compelled to create this site because, during my eight years of helping to operate a boutique winery, I witnessed hardworking women throughout the industry being marginalized every place from sales meetings to the cellar floor. I wanted to do something positive to celebrate their work. This project is my love letter to them."

Tuesdays, February 6, 13, 20 - 6:00pm -7:00pm Pacific | 9:00pm – 10:00pm Eastern - hashtag #winestudio

​Tuesday 6 February 6pmPT / 9pmET
Breathless Wines

Who is Breathless Wines?

Aesthetics and Mission

Breathless North Coast Brut SRP $25

Vineyards, Grapes, Winemaking
Breathless Blanc de Noirs SRP $30

Art, Sabering, and Building Connections through Crowdfunding

Tuesday 13 February 6pmPT / 9pmET
Amy Bess Cook and WoW

Influence
Data
Challenge
March (1) Launch

Tuesday 20 February 6pmPT / 9pmET
Pedroncelli Winery

How to find your voice and your calling amidst a family business

Necessity is the mother of all invention

Pedroncelli  2017 Friends.White SRP $14

A go-to winery - 90 years worth!
Pedroncelli 2015 Mother Clone Zinfandel SRP $19

When the Smithsonian National Museum of American History comes knocking
​

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    Tina Morey

    Certified Sommelier | Pastry Chef | Cigar Lover | Amateur Forager 

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