I imagine Vincent Fritzsche would recommend the 2004 Sierra Vista Zinfandel:

…silky with that classic berry flavor, bright acidity with very soft tannin and a clean finish. Hardly wine for the ages, this modest bottle reminded me of delicious zinfandel I’ve had over the years but for whatever reason don’t seem to find so much any more.

The original intent had been to enjoy a little wine with lunch, but the heat and humidity were not creating the ideal environment to enjoy the Bordeaux style blend I had brought along. It was a wine I had made from 40% Cabernet Franc, 32% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Malbec. Its proprietary name was “Petite Pompadour” and was named for the small southern Oregon vineyard from which the grapes had come. So, instead of opening the bottle I decided to bury it, right there in the jungle

What does a wine that’s been stored in nature’s own wine cellar taste like? Weisinger let’s you know.

Could you tell a Merlot from a Cabernet from a Syrah in a blind tasting? Faced with three unmarked glasses from three brown-bagged bottles with no clues other than a Napa Valley origin, I couldn’t. Neither could food and wine authority David Rosengarten, Chicago Tribune wine writer Bill Daley and editorial director of Curtco Media, Brett Anderson.

… Nobody in the room of 25 or so got all the varietals correct.

Gordon explains what happened and what he took away from the experiment.

Nabor Camarena, vineyard manager at Robert Stemmler Winery and The Donum Estate, describes his role in the two sister wineries’ quest to produce the Ultimate Pinot. Writes Camarena:

[Wine grower] Anne [Moller-Racke] and I were talking yesterday, and I told her that this is my 24th vintage. I know enough, but not everything. My job is interesting because it’s a constant learning experience.

I play a game with myself, like a football coach. I don’t focus on the end of the game. Instead, I try to concentrate on it play by play - a five-yard run here, getting into field goal position there. Yes, I have an idea of what a whole vintage might bring, but right now I’m concentrating totally on pruning, and next week, on tying the canes to trellis wires.

As I look back over 24 years, I realize there are many more people making wine now. Many have gone to school and are good at putting the numbers together. In the old days, people made wine more with intuition and talent, but the results were more vintage dependent because they had fewer tools to work with. Today, I think there may be fewer people with talent in our industry. But those who are both well-educated and talented — they are exceptional. Talent also has a lot to do with passion for your work.

Since Camarena brought up the football analogy I’ll expand on it a bit by adding an anecdote that New England Patriots head coach likes to tell at press conferences, namely how golf ace Tiger Woods twice remade his swing to improve his game even though he didn’t exactly have a pressing need to do so either time. Belichick’s point is obviously quite simple: No matter how good you are, there’s always room for improvement (here’s an example of Belichick raving about Woods (wine, golf, football - you get it all here at Wineries.net)).

As Camarena concludes his post: “We’re all still learning.” And there’s quite a bit to learn from the Ultimate Pinot blog.

One Day in Wine Country reflects on the passing of Jamie Davies, “America’s first lady of sparkling wine.” The New York Times’s Erik Asimov wrote an obituary on Jamie last week. Sommelier Melissa Smith writes on her blog Wine Chef:

The legacy that the Davies will leave behind will far outlive them in the sparkling wine that brings effervescence to all of our lives that are graced with the opportunity to experience it.

Wine Scamp has a nice picture of Jamie and her son Hugh.

While attending the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers “Blind Muscat” Tim Patterson sampled wine from Blackbird Vineyards and visted Charles Krug winery. Writes Patterson about Blackbird:

The lunch, sponsored by Blackbird Vineyards, was held at an interior design studio in St. Helena, and high style was on full display. The Blackbird venture, focused on ultra-high-end Merlot and Merlot-based blends, is one of Napa’s hot young properties, with just one vintage in the bottle and two in the cellar. The wines are extremely well made and very Napa, full of fruit and color, definitely legitimate contenders in the $100-a-bottle league they play in. Blackbird seems to be on every trendspotter’s “wineries to watch” list.

He then compares Blackbird to Charles Krug and sees a rather daunting challenge for the latter.

Andrew and Jill Tanis are excited over the Ledger Dispatch writing about Tanis Vineyards opening its doors, and also about the winery’s red blend TNT Dynamite Red. From the article:

Five years ago, the couple built a house and moved to Willow Creek Road in Ione and began following the lessons learned from their Elk Grove experiments. Before they could plant vines, though, they had to clear their land of liberal quantities of poison oak, whose distinctive leaves are featured on some of their labels. “As I was making wines, a couple of winery people told me I was making a really good wine and should consider selling it to the public,” Andrew noted. “I owe a lot to people like Steve and Jamie Concannon at Convergence Vineyards and Mark McMaster at Nua Dair for helping along the way.”

Fox News report Adam Housley has posted a handful of pictures from what I think is his family’s vineyard (as well as a couple of pictures that probably aren’t from his vineyard).

Sonoma Sue recently visited Roche Carneros Estate Winery and found it to be to her liking.

Chung Food visits Opus One and Pine Ridge Winery. The wine he tried at Opus One? “It was really good.”

Moe used an unexpected vacation of sorts to visit six wineries in Temecula as well as Pe-CHANG-gaaaaa.

A picture of winter at Peaceful Bend Vineyard in Missouri.

Finally, Montana-based Grizzly Growler thinks the story of Oregon’s wine industry can serve as a road map for his state’s brewery industry, starting with alcohol regulations.

Writes Stagii:

Fogarty is such a beautiful place to get married at, there are amazing views from up there, beautiful vines just a perfect spot to have a wedding at.

Watch the slideshow here

Speaking of Fogarty Winery, Kathleen Miller in New York, is yearning to try its 2006 Gewurtztraminer:

I’m incredibly curious as to how California does Gewurtz. I love it as a grape, am particularly obsessed with the German (vs the Alsatian), and thoroughly fascinated as to how cooler-weather grapes would do in California, especially such a warm area as Monterey.

That is indeed a good question she’s posing. Over the next few months we at Pressing Matters will give Riesling and Gewurztraminer a bit of a work out.

Self-described suburban Mares writes about a winery-hopping day in California that included stops at V. Sattui, Sterling Vineyards, Castello di Amorosa, and Louis M. Martini.

Jeffdav tries 2005 Chateau Boswell Chardonnay and decides it’s his new favorite chardonnay.

Links to all her wine scam posts are here.

The latest post is here.

It’s helpful reading for not only winery owners and operators but really all merchants who ship goods overseas.

After you’ve finished reading about the wine scam, indulge in some more lighthearted reading about the Bakers’ charming cat Diablo.

The first featured winery that I’m going to discuss is Newport Vineyards in Middletown, RI. What sets this operation apart from many of the other exhibitors at the Expo is its location in Southeastern New England. As part of the Coastal Wine Trail, Newport Vineyards was one of several local wineries showcasing the winemaking capabilities of the rural Northeast at the BWE. Originally planted in 1977, Newport Vineyards has grown from an initial 10-acre plot to 60 acres of planted vines. In 1988, a winery was built on the premises and in 1995, the current owners, brothers John and Paul Nunes, purchased the vineyards and the winery and established the Newport brand.

Matt and I were lucky enough to speak with Steve Krohn at the BWE; Steve is in charge of Newport Vineyards’ sales and marketing. While talking about the winery and its vineyard operations, Steve was quick to mention how many people are surprised to hear that grapes can even be grown in Rhode Island. The estate overlooks Rhode Island Sound, and the combination of the Gulf Stream’s warm waters and the moderating effects of Narragansett Bay make for a cool, lengthy growing season with minimal frosts. With 20 different types of grapes grown on Newport’s property and 32 varieties of wine yielded from these vintages, the winery has a lot to offer local wine enthusiasts. Because of the cooler climate, Newport Vineyards specializes in dry and semi-dry white wines that serve as crisp palate cleansers and lighter reds that do the same.

Steve seemed lighthearted and knowledgeable, and he stressed the notion of vineyards being grape farms. By visiting the vineyards and the winery, Steve believes that patrons help to preserve the farm and readily become advocates of the cause. He describes the wine created at Newport Vineyards as a “living, breathing thing that goes into a bottle.” The difficulty with marketing Newport Vineyards to consumers has a lot to do with the scarcity of wineries in the area, and Steve believes that most people either stumble upon the facility by accident or find it using the internet. Here’s to hoping that this post can generate a little web-based publicity for Newport Vineyards, because after speaking with Steve, I definitely felt inspired to take a weekend trip out to Rhode Island to visit the winery. (Steve also runs New England Wine School with his wife, Debra; they offer interactive, educational wine and food programs for every type of audience.)

Joseph Carr, a fine wine producer operating out of Napa Valley, will be the second focus of this post. Carr is an award-winning sommelier who, four years ago, left what he describes as “a corporate job with a comfortable expense account” to make his own wines. The distinguishing thing about Carr, placed squarely in the middle of the Grand Tasting floor, is his positioning as a small boutique negociant. Instead of investing all of his money into building a winery and an elaborate facility that would one day create fantastic wines, Carr focused all of his energy into creating great wines from day one. He works with small growers, coopers, and a team of winemakers; all of whom he refers to as his friends.

When Matt and I met with Joe, he first began talking about the label on the bottle of wine he was holding. He explained that when he and his co-workers were originally thinking about what to name the wine, and when he finally sat down to taste the finished product, he was proud it. What better reason is there to put your own name on a bottle of wine? The signature on the Joseph Carr bottles was actually lifted from an old letter that Carr’s mother found a few years back: it was how a family member had signed their name in the 1700s. Carr’s wines, which include a Sauvignon Blanc that I tasted, are offered in a number of fine restaurants across the country. He also produces a Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir, a Merlot, and a Cabernet Sauvignon (the brand’s flagship wine). Joseph Carr wines will be featured at the Washington Wine Expo on February 29-March 2 and the NYC Wine Expo on March 7-9 as well.

And finally, I am going to wrap up this series of posts on the Boston Wine Expo with an overview of Merriam Vineyards in Healdsburg, CA. At first impression, Merriam Vineyards appears to be like any other winemaking operation debuting on the populated Sonoma County scene. What differentiates the winery from others in the area is its intended audience, with Merriam wines being shipped back to the Northeast for consumption. Matt and I encountered half of the Merriam team, Peter Merriam, at the Expo on Saturday. Peter grew up in Maine, while his wife Diana was born in Massachusetts, so both have strong ties to the New England community.

Peter classifies his business as the reverse of what most local operations do, by growing, bottling, and producing wines in California and shipping the finished product back to New England. As a New England resident, this is where Peter first wants to make his mark. Merriam Vineyards currently produces around 2,000 cases of Bordeaux-style wines a year, which include a Merlot (tasted by yours truly), a Cabernet Sauvignon (tasted by Matt), and a Cabernet Franc. The winery is also set to come out with a Claret varietal in September of this year. What stuck with me after speaking with Peter is his strategy to create a “smaller footprint” within the area by placing ten cases of Merriam wines in a restaurant rather than one case in ten separate establishments. That’s how you get a cult following.

I’m sad to say it (or I suppose type it), but that about sums up our experience at the 2008 Expo. I can’t echo enough what a tremendous event it was, if only for the sheer size of the BWE and the number of people who congregated in one place to share in their love of wine. Even though this piece is about last year’s Wine Expo, it’s definitely worth a read, as it addresses the natural (and sometimes not-so-natural) melding of people and classes that occurs at an event like Boston’s.

As I mentioned in the first entry of this two-part post, the good-natured demeanor of the exhibitors we spoke with must have something to do with their involvement in a career they love. This sentiment was doubly true with this group of men, who couldn’t help but glow when they talked about their passion for the industry, the subtleties of the business, and their love of the juice itself. Luckily for them, that kind of devotion is infectious.

Rougeyar Laali is getting married in Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery in Livermore Valley. My colleague Kim wrote about the valley’s resurgence and the restoration of the Hill winery in a post last week.

Matt Glaeser writes about his uncle’s winery, Putah Creek Winery:

So my uncle and aunt decided rather than letting other control their fortunes they would try to produce their own wine and realize the benefits of all of their labor. And they have met with success, they are currently working on new blends of wine, have again expanded their winery and are no longer in the rice, soy, or straw business. So it was with some amazement that I toured the winery, not a mile from there house, and feet from part of their vineyard.

And, no, the word putah has nothing to do with a similar sounding Spanish word.

Three Tree Journal posts several pictures from the first ever bottling at Westport Winery in Washington. After a lot of hard work the crew got its just rewards:

After a day on our feet and 700 cases bottled, the Roberts shut down the line, sought out a few bottles burdened by, um, “glass flaws,” and promptly uncorked for a crew tasting. I typically prefer red, and am still working my way through the varietals on the way to developing a palate. In fact, I have heard that ones should taste 10000 wines before citing their own experinece in taste. But I can state that despite my “inexperience,” I know what I like and I loved the Syrah. It was relaxed and uncomplicated, as though it would not need much time in the bottle to come together and would drink well young.

Mommy Needs A Cocktail calls it “incredibly off the hook” and relates the following little tale from her booth at the expo:

Girlfriend needs a little humor other than being stuck with the chick who yelled, “YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BE AN AWESOME SHIRT? I’M HAVING TIGER WOODS BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Unless, of course, you are his wife. Oh, come on. It’s not even funny. But she said it right before she fell into the divider and almost took down a row of booths. That? Yeah, THAT was funny.

There’s more where that came from.

RVACharlie had a good time at the expo, just not enough time.

WWBT-NBC12 in Richmond filed a video report from the event.

I’ll add more links if I find them.

I’ll admit that I was a little intimidated going into such a frenzied setting, especially with the hope of collecting constructive information and any usable video clips. I mean, these exhibitors would be serving bottles upon bottles of wine to thousands of people in just a few short hours. But somehow we succeeded (the video clips will posted in the near future), and what surprised me more than the hordes of people wielding complimentary Expo glasses—arms outstretched towards any idle bottle of wine, was how genuine the representatives from each of the featured wineries were. Anyone who was there understands that a trade show like the Boston Wine Expo doesn’t exactly accommodate effortless, relaxed conversations.

Maybe it’s just that we got lucky, but everyone we met with so gracious, sociable, and open to speaking with us that I’ve decided to split all of the details we gathered into two separate posts. The first post (or the lovely piece of writing that you’re reading right now) will feature wineries and vineyards based out of California, while the second post will highlight operations with a slightly different spin to them.

First up is Opolo Vineyards, an organization that is headquartered out of Paso Robles Wine Country in California. The majority of Opolo wines are estate grown, produced, and bottled, with their varietals ranging from big mountain Zinfandels to Merlot and Sangiovese. At Opolo, the emphasis is on reds. Matt and I met with one of Opolo’s co-founders, Rick Quinn, as he talked about the company’s current transition from being a small-quantity producer to a major player in the Paso Robles region. Based on Rick’s friendly demeanor and the food and wine events advertised on the company’s site (be sure to watch the Opolo Harvest Festival Video), Opolo Vineyards seems like a fun time, and definitely worth a visit if you are in the Paso Robles area.

Rick also discussed Opolo’s availability through Kappy’s Fine Wine and Liquor Stores in Massachusetts, and how the vendor has increased their visibility within the Northeast. As a returning exhibitor at the Boston Wine Expo, Opolo was showcasing seven of its wines on Saturday, including a blended red that we sampled called Rhapsody. It was 30% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petite Verdot, and 100% delicious. (I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself on that one.)

Next we have Paraiso Vineyards in Soledad, CA. As one of the first vineyards to break ground in the Santa Lucia Highlands, Paraiso played a crucial role in establishing Monterey County as a viable winegrowing region. Matt and I spoke with Dave Muret, the company’s marketing director, who came straight off a red-eye flight to pour at Saturday’s Expo session. Now that’s dedication. Because the Santa Lucia Mountains have a long, gentle growing season, Dave explained that it’s one of the best places to grow the finicky Pinot Noir grape. The Smith family founded Paraiso Vineyards in 1973 and has been growing Pinot Noir grapes for over thirty years. Dave took part in Sunday’s Pinot Noir seminar as well.

Paraiso Vineyards has remained family-owned and run since its inception, and the company now produces around 10,000 cases of wine a year under its own label. Another aspect of Paraiso that I found interesting it its focus on sustainable viticulture. While the vineyards aren’t certifiably organic, Dave explained that the growers there attempt to cultivate grapes in a safe fashion for future generations by using biodiverse systems and cover crops. While visiting with Paraiso, I sampled a Riesling and Matt tasted their Pinot Noir. We were happy campers all around.

The third exhibitor that I am going to discuss is Dry Creek Vineyard, an operation based out of Healdsburg, CA in Sonoma County. Dry Creek actually grows and sources fruit from multiple vineyards in (where else) the Dry Creek Valley, the Russian River Valley, and Clarksburg in the Sacramento Delta. As another family-owned operation that began in the 1970s, Dry Creek has been a labor of love for the Stare (and now Wallace) family. Matt and I met Dry Creek’s Regional Sales Manager, Matt McCormack, and Vice President Kim Stare Wallace at the Expo this past weekend, where Kim walked us through a sampling of Dry Creek’s wines and spoke a little about the winery itself.

I will readily admit that I lack experience in the range of wines that I’ve tried, being more partial to white wines in the past, but The Mariner could change all that. Described as a new interpretation of the classic Bordeaux style, The Mariner is Dry Creek’s latest Meritage blend, yielded from its 2004 vintage. It was already designated one of the “Top 10 Red Blends of the Year” in December of 2007 by Wine News Magazine, and it retails for $40 a bottle. Wine lingo and tasting notes aside, this wine was good. Matt sampled Dry Creek’s Chardonnay as well, and seemed more than pleased with the results. Other details about Dry Creek Vineyard that are worth noting: it’s an official wine of the SAG Awards; and Kim Stare Wallace launched her own blog just a few weeks ago, titled Wilma’s Wine World.

And last but not least, I’ll end this first post on Boston Wine Expo exhibitors with Lange Twins Winery and Vineyards. The winery is located in Acampo, CA, and the family’s farming extends across four counties in Northern California (including San Joaquin, Sacramento, Solano, and Yolo). The company began with twins Randall and Bradford Lange, and has grown to include their wives and children over the years. We met Marissa Lange at the Expo, who describes herself as a member of the second generation of Lange Twins and the fifth generation of Lange winegrowers born in Lodi, CA. Marissa is involved in Lange Twins’ sales, marketing, and winery operations, and she was pouring wines at the event alongside the winery’s sales manager Bill.

Even though the Lange Twins organization has been growing grapes since 1980, it wasn’t until 2005 that the family built a winery and began making wine under its own labels. They currently produce Lange Twins and Circles Edge Wines, and Marissa and Bill were pouring Lange Twins Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon on Saturday. We only met with Marissa for ten or fifteen minutes, but based on how responsive she was and how passionate she seemed about her family’s new venture, I can only assume that the family will be successful in their foray into winemaking. I know that Matt and I both wish them a lot of luck!

And that, I believe, is all I have for this post. While I was writing it, I started to consider why everyone we met at the Expo seemed so sincere and happy when we told them about our site and asked for more information regarding their organizations, and the only answer I can procure is that they’re doing what they love. A second group of exhibitors will be featured on Pressing Matters within the next couple of days, so be sure to check back soon. As always, here’s to a weekend full of wine...