Beringer 2010 Knights Valley Caberinet Sauvignon Beringer Vineyards roots date back about 140 years ago when Jacob Beringer sailed from his home in Mainz Germany to New York. After arriving in the “new world”, Jacob heard that the rocky hillside soil and fertile valley floor of Napa Valley resembled that of the vineyards back home in Germany. Jacob, and his brother Frederick, headed for Napa and purchased 215 acres of land in 1875, becoming one of the first wineries in Napa. A lot of time has passed and Beringer has perfected its craft of making fine wines, balancing time-tested traditions with modern technology, resulting in a portfolio of admired vineyards,…
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Joseph Phelps 2011 Pinot Freestone Vineyards Exceptional Red for a Red, White & Blue Day! I recently posted comments on Joseph Phelps 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, their regular Cabernet offering, and was extremely impressed with the wine I wanted to try their Pinot Noir and see how the quality matches up with his Vinification of other grapes. I previously discussed That Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a family-owned winery founded in 1973, so refer to my May 2, 2014 Post to get additional background. The philosophy of Joseph Phelps Vineyards is to maintain, preserve and (where possible and appropriate) ecologically enhance the natural vineyard environment. While this goal is essential for present…
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Vietti 2011 Barbera D’Alba Tre Vigne The history and roots of the Vietti Winery dates back to the 19th Century, however the Vietti name was not used until the beginning of the 20th Century. In 1919, Mario Vietti made the first Vietti wines which were mainly distributed in Italy. Mario had a farm with other interests, however his love for wine enabled him to transform the family plantation into a grape growing and wine-producing business, and by 1952, under the guidance of Alfredo Currado (Luciana Vietti’s husband), was one of the top-level producers in Piemonte and one of the first wineries to export to the US market. The Vietti Winery…
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Ruffino 2010 Tan Label Riserva Ducale Chianti Classico Ruffino has a long history and enjoys more than a century of fine winemaking in Tuscany. In 1870, two men (cousins) with a common dream founded Ruffino. Ilario and Leopoldo Ruffino laid the foundation for what was to become one of the most known and loved Italian wineries in the world. In the beginning, Ruffino sourced grapes and wine from the wine farmers of the area, which was then refined in the company cellars at Pontassieve. The meticulous attention to detail and the continuous search for quality which characterized the work of the two cousins formed the basis for the production philosophy…
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Hall 2010 Napa Valley Merlot Kathryn Walt Hall is the proprietor of Hall Wines and has been involved in the California wine industry since her family first purchased a vineyard thirty years ago. She has had a distinguished career as a successful businesswoman, community activist, and most recently as the United States Ambassador to Austria. Kathryn Hall and her family have been grape growers in Mendocino County since 1972. The Walt family owns 63 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc in the Redwood Valley and has sold their grapes to such wineries as Fetzer, Parducci and Beringer. Kathryn managed the family vineyard from 1982 to…
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Ridge 2011 Sonoma Three Valleys Ridge Vineyards history begins in 1885 when Osea Perrone, a prominent Italian doctor in San Francisco, purchased 180 acres of land near the top of Monte Bello ridge. Perrone terraced the slopes, planted vineyards and constructed the Monte Bello Winery, producing the first vintage in 1982. In the 1940’s, William Short purchased the abandoned winery and vineyards just below Perrone’s property and planted new vines. From there a number of partnerships were formed with the surrounding vineyards, mostly by individuals with Stanford Research Institute credentials, up until 1986 when the Japanese pharmaceutical company Otsuka became the owners. The Ridge team is still more like a…
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Joseph Phelps 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a family-owned winery founded in 1973 when Joe Phelps purchased a former cattle ranch near St. Helena, the Stags Leap District, Oakville, Rutherford, Oak Knoll District, Carneros and South Napa Valley. In 1999, the Phelps family added 100 acres of vineyard property near the town of Freestone on the Sonoma Coast, where Phelps now grows Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Phelps is best known for its flagship Napa Valley blend of red Bordeaux varietals first produced in 1974. The blend known as “Insignia” is widely regarded as a qualitative benchmark for California winemaking. Over the years, Phelps’ goal was to have its…
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2011 Barbera d’Asti Lavignone Not wanting to pound down some beers while watching the Super Bowl, I was looking for an exceptional red that could go well with a variety of homemade “Tapas”. Dishes from shrimp to beef empanadas with spicy sauce, Voilá! I came across 2011 Barbera d’Asti Lavignone from the Pico Maccario Winery, who have a real passion for Barbera. The winery is currently run by 2 Brothers, Pico & Vitaliano. Their grandfather, Carlo Maccario, created the winery and it bears the name of the first-born son, Pico, according to the traditions of the Piedmont region (area in Northwest Italy, near Mediterranean coast). The Pico Maccario Winery, located…