Vineyards

TRAVERSE CITY — The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t just put a cork in wine month 2020 — it sealed it with a hammer.

So the Traverse Wine Coast and the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail are ready to pop the cork on Michigan Wine Month with a pair of events: Traverse City Uncorked and Rosé All May.

Both events have been tweaked to deal with new protocols.

“We are taking every step to assure the safety of all our visitors,” Traverse City Tourism President Trevor Tkach said in a release. “We really missed the fun of Traverse City Uncorked last year. We had to reinvent the program.

“But we sense both our visitors and our wineries are eager to share the unique experiences throughout the Traverse Wine Coast.”

On the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail, Rosé All May has been changed from a large-scale gathering. The organization made a similar move in the fall, changing what had been a weekend event, the Harvest Stompede, into the a month-long celebration in September called Harvest Days.

“It’s really for a couple of reasons,” Leelanau Peninsula Vintner’s Association President and Shady Lanes Cellars General Manager Rick DeBlasio told the Record-Eagle in an Aug. 30 article. “The traditional-style events we hold up here bring 600 to 1,200 out to the Peninsula for one weekend.

“There’s no way to prevent large groups gathering in small places with the traditional-style of event.”

Traverse City Uncorked

The 2021 version of Traverse City Uncorked features self-guided tours of more than 40 area wineries. The event will have a digital passport where guests can check into Traverse Wine Coast in May.

Traverse City Tourism did something similar for Traverse City Beer Week in mid-November.

Uncorked participants can check into Traverse Wine Coast locations during May. Five check-ins make participants eligible to receive an Uncorked T-shirt or Traverse City wine-related items.

The passports can be redeemed at the Traverse City Tourism Visitor Center Walk Up Window from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Those booking a stay at a participating Traverse City hotel will be eligible for a wine-themed vacation, according to the TC Tourism website.

The grand prize includes:

• $200 in Traverse City Tourism gift certificates for future lodging
• $25 Gift Certificate to Hearth & Vine Café at Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay
• 45 North Vineyard and Winery gift certificate and logo wear
• Two wine flights, two half-day adult bike rentals and two single kayaks for a Crystal River Trip from The Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District and M22 in Glen Arbor
• 15% off with four bottle purchase (excludes cider) at Rove Estate Vineyard and Winery
• Cherry Republic treats

The grand prize winner will be selected in early June and notified by email.

Many of the included Traverse City Uncorked venues offer discounts. Venues according to the website include 2 Lads Winery, 45 North Vineyard & Winery, Aurora Cellars, Black Star Farms Old Mission, Black Star Farms Suttons Bay, Blustone Vineyards, Bonobo Winery, Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery, Chateau Grand Traverse, French Valley Vineyard, Glen Arbor Wines, Good Harbor Vineyards, Laurentide Winery, M22 Glen Arbor, Mari Vineyards, Mawby Sparkling Wines, Nathaniel Rose Wine, Peninsula Cellars, Rove Estate Vineyard & Winery, Shady Lane Cellars, Verterra Winery and WaterFire Vineyards.

Registration and more information is available at https://www.traversecity.com/traverse-city-uncorked/.

Rosé All May

The Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail is a ticketed event spread throughout the month of May.

The $35 advance ticket purchase entitles participants to a three-ounce glass of rosé at each of the 21 participating wineries in an event-themed souvenir glass. The estimated value of this purchased separately is $200, according to a release.

With the purchase, ticket holders can travel along the wine trail to receive a pour of rosé from each winery.

Reservations are not required, but are recommended.

A wide variety of rosé wines will be available at the different stops, including dry, sweet, sparkling and still. The wineries’ latest rosé releases are made with local varietals, such as Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc.

Tickets can be purchased at https://mynorthtickets.com/events/ros-all-may-5-1-2021 or directly from the wineries.

Rosé All May participating wineries include:

• Grand Traverse Loop: Black Star Farms, Two K Farms, Mawby, Ciccone, Shady Lane Cellars, Rove Estate, Brengman Brothers
• Northern Loop: 45 North Vineyards & Winery, Green Bird Organic Cellars & Farm, Leelanau Cellars, Aurora Cellars, Silver Leaf Vineyard
• Sleeping Bear Loop: Bel Lago Vineyards & Winery, Laurentide Winery, Chateau Fontaine, Verterra Winery, Amoritas Winery, Soul Squeeze Cellars, Good Harbor Vineyards, French Valley Vineyard, Boathouse Vineyards

Tickets for the event are non-transferable and attendees must show a valid photo ID at each winery. Wineries will continue to follow COVID-19 safety protocol measures.

More information on the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail is available at https://www.lpwines.com/. More information on the May event is available at https://www.lpwines.com/rose-all-may-2/.

The Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail is scheduled to host another event in June. Sip and Savor is slated for June 4-6.

“We are taking every step to assure the safety of all our visitors. We really missed the fun of Traverse City Uncorked last year. We had to reinvent the program.” Traverse City Tourism President Trevor Tkach

MENDOCINO, COUNTY, Calif., April 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Fetzer®, the iconic California wine, announces new packaging and platforms that highlight its bold commitments to responsible business, delivering a streamlined look that foregrounds its forward-looking sustainable practices for consumers.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8885251-fetzer-vineyards-brand-refresh/

Debuting across the Fetzer collection, the package refresh includes updated graphics, colors and tagline, and a reimagining of Fetzer’s hallmark tree icon, enhanced with a water drop to signal a heritage of resource conservation. The new tagline, “Building a better tomorrow, since 1968,” is a nod to Fetzer’s sustainable roots and regenerative approach to business, while the winery’s foundational B Corp Certification is prominently called out on the capsule and back label. Driving support for the package update is a refreshed website and 360-degree communications campaign.

“While Fetzer has long been known as a champion of sustainability, the enhanced package allows us to truly embody what it means to lead with purpose,” said Rodrigo Maturana, senior vice president of marketing for Fetzer Vineyards. “Dialing up the prominence of B Corp Certification and enhancing our sustainability messaging with easy-to-read icons enables us to quickly convey our better business commitments and stand out at shelf for today’s busy consumers.”

Unlike other wines in the commercial popular segment, Fetzer offers sustainability within reach for shoppers who find products grounded in good in every aisle, and expect this same values-aligned offering from wine. Fetzer proudly carries the globally recognized B Corp Certification—the B stands for “benefit,” and refers to benefiting workers, the community, customers and the environment—as well as TRUE Zero Waste and CarbonNeutral® certifications, each now clearly called out on the back label.

Research shows that nearly six in 10 consumers are willing to change their shopping habits to reduce environmental impact,¹ and 87% of Gen Y and 94% of Gen Z believe companies should address urgent social and environmental issues.² “It’s exciting to be able to transparently highlight our verified performance across impact areas right on the package of our flagship wine,” noted Jessica Baum, director of regenerative development and sustainability for Fetzer Vineyards. “As consumers continue to call for brands to demonstrate social and environmental accountability, we are going beyond business and packaging as usual to show the good inside.”

At the helm of Fetzer winemaking today is Margaret Leonardi, recently named to the North Bay Business Journal’s 2021 40 Under 40 list of notable executives in the North Coast. Part of the Fetzer winemaking family since 2015, Margaret has overseen Fetzer’s acclaimed white wines in recent years, garnering more than 20 Best Buy commendations from respected wine critics,³ and was named head winemaker of the Fetzer label this year.

“This is an exciting moment in Fetzer’s history, and I am proud to embark on the next chapter of the brand’s enduring legacy in California,” said Margaret. “It feels good to know we are creating delicious wines that people love, while helping to build a more sustainable future.” Under Margaret’s stewardship, the Fetzer line today includes:

• Gewürztraminer (SRP $10): the #1 Gewürztraminer in the U.S.; off-dry and aromatic, from cool-climate California sites;
• Sauvignon Blanc (SRP $8): a crisp and zesty white from vineyards in Chile’s Central Valley;
• Pinot Grigio (SRP $8): bright and fresh and perfect for picnics, from select California vineyards;
• Riesling (SRP $10): a delicate and expressive cool-climate sipper with sourcing that includes Monterey;
• Chardonnay (SRP $8): a beloved California Chardonnay known for its balanced style, fresh fruit character and subtle richness;
• Merlot (SRP $8): a vivid, red fruit-driven varietal with a silky-smooth texture, from California vineyards;
• Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP $8): dark-fruited with rich oak tones, from select California vineyards.

View the collection and dive into Fetzer’s sustainability story at fetzer.com, and follow Fetzer’s grounded in good practices online at Instagram and Facebook.

About Fetzer

Part of the largest certified B Corp winery in the U.S., Fetzer is building a better tomorrow by making quality wines with a conscience and putting people and planet first. Embodying the B Corp ethos to use business as a force for good, Fetzer crafts delicious, go-to wines that minimize environmental impacts and elevate social responsibility. Winemaker Margaret Leonardi—the first woman to lead winemaking for Fetzer in its 50-plus-year history—balances a thirst for innovation with a dedication to quality in every glass of Fetzer wine. Her acclaimed collection of any-occasion offerings includes the #1 Gewürztraminer in the U.S., a beloved California Chardonnay, a trio of bright whites—Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Riesling—a richly textured Merlot and a bold Cabernet Sauvignon. Every sip is a step toward a more sustainable future. Learn more at fetzer.com.

©2021 Fetzer Vineyards, Mendocino County, California USA.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fetzer-wine-puts-sustainability-in-spotlight-in-new-packaging-debuting-in-time-for-earth-day-301273839.html

SOURCE Fetzer

When shopping at liquor stores or touring vineyards, breweries, and distilleries, consumers are often told about the terroir of a wine or spirit. We ask questions about vineyards’ sustainability and distilleries’ and breweries’ energy-saving systems. We buy bottles knowing that it matters where the liquid inside them is from and how it is made. But how much do we know about the bottles themselves?

When it comes to the packaging of our favorite drinks, the options are extremely limited; almost all wines and spirits are sold in glass bottles while a small portion are sold in plastic packing. Beer, on the other hand, is mainly sold in aluminum cans, with 30 percent bottled in glass. But, as is the case with most industries at this somewhat critical time, the environmental impact of alcohol packaging is increasingly top of mind, and some innovators are working to change the standards of their trade — and trying to save the environment in the process.

The Problem With Glass

27.5 billion glass bottles are manufactured in the United States every year — 80 percent of which are made specifically for beverages. And while many consumers may think glass is an eco-friendlier option, especially compared to plastic, the reality is that producing, distributing, and even recycling the material is environmentally very costly. All glass is made from 100 percent silica sand, which is sourced from the bottoms of oceans and rivers and has high silicon dioxide content. Because it is difficult to source — and because it is used for everything from concrete to wine glasses — the world’s ever-growing population will experience a silica sand shortage in two to four decades, before the world is predicted to run out of fossil fuels.

Producing glass bottles not only uses finite resources, but also a massive amount of energy. Sand has to be heated to around 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit to be melted into glass. And at glassmaking plants, machines run all day, every day, making for a carbon footprint that’s likely considered unsustainable for the environment.

Wine bottles alone accounted for 8 percent of all glass packaging in 2017, and 42 percent of these bottles are exported across borders around the world. “When a bottle of glass is manufactured, it goes from the factory to the wine producer. The wine producer fills it and sends it all over the world, and then it’s bought by a user who drinks the wine. Then 70 percent of this glass is recycled. And this 70 percent has to travel back to a factory, where it will be melted again,” says James de Roany, CEO and president of Green Gen Technologies. With each wine bottle weighing between 0.77 and 2.5 pounds, this transportation process requires a significant amount of energy and produces significant carbon emissions. 12-ounce beer bottles, in comparison, weigh around 0.4 pounds, require less glass, and have a much smaller carbon footprint than that of wine and spirit bottles.

Although glass can be recycled, “you have to add another 30 percent of new sand in order to recycle it,” de Roany adds. With an already scarce material, such methods may not be possible for long. So while glass bottles have up until now been the standard for alcohol, de Roany has come up with a more sustainable plan.

Bottles Go Alternative

Along with his team at Green Gen Technologies, de Roany has created a bottle made entirely out of flax seeds that are turned into thread, woven into fabric, and cooked down at low temperatures with bioresin. The result is an extremely light and strong material that can be transported more easily, for a lower cost, and expends fewer carbon emissions than glass.

When kept in a warm place, these bottles fully degrade into the earth in a matter of two to three years. And when broken into smaller pieces and composted, they can decompose in months. But when kept in a cool, dry place, the bottles — and the liquid inside them — can last for up to 10 years. (Modern-day glass bottles, on the other hand, take about 4,000 years to decompose.)

Creating this flax material requires 10 times less energy than glassmaking — a figure that’s impressive in and of itself. But de Roany has bigger goals: to have a carbon footprint that’s actually negative — meaning that the process used to make the material would be removing more carbon dioxide from the environment than it adds.

Bottling wine in flax comes with its own set of issues, though. First, the material is extremely expensive, costing six to eight times more than traditional glass bottles. That means Green Gen Technologies is geared only toward extremely high-end wine and spirits brands that can afford the material. Second, since the flax bottles are designed to biodegrade, they’re not suitable for wines that are meant for decades-long cellaring.

Still, de Roany says that Green Gen has recently signed a contract with one of the largest wine and spirits companies in the world (though he is not legally allowed to disclose which one) for which he will be creating bottles from his patented flax material, and more and more brands are following suit. “People are extremely open minded. We have had hundreds, if not thousands of requests. People are really committed to change things,” he says.

Glass Replacements and Beyond

In fact, just this past October, Bacardi revealed its plans to release a bottle made entirely of plant materials. Hitting shelves in 2023, the bottle is made from palm, canola, and soy seeds, and Bacardi claims it can biodegrade in just 18 months. And while glass bottles will continue to be the primary packaging for the spirits conglomerate, it plans to use the plant-based material to replace all the plastic bottles across its 200 brands (including its marquee spirits like Grey Goose vodka, Patrón tequila, Bacardi rum, and Bombay Sapphire gin), a change that will save up to 2,500 tons of plastic each year.

And biodegradable packaging doesn’t stop at plant-based bottles. From edible 6-pack rings aiming to save ocean life, to a sustainable gift bag alternative made from paper pulp, brands are getting creative and demonstrating a commitment to reversing the effects of climate change — a cause that is shaping the shopping habits of an increasing number of consumers.

De Roany has even developed spirit bottle caps made from olive pits, oyster shells, and grape residue rather than plastic, as well as drinking glasses made from flax and bamboo materials.

While these small changes have the potential to significantly impact the environment, the reality is that we may not see their effects for years to come. Despite developments in finding alternatives, glass and plastic remain the industry standard, and with their lower costs and production times, it’ll likely be long before the majority of the drinks industry will get on board with going 100 percent biodegradable. And while biodegradable materials are ultimately less costly to the environment, they’ll likely put a larger dent in consumers’ wallets, as higher packaging prices will necessarily lead to increased retail prices for our favorite bottles.

Despite all this, there’s hope on the horizon, and a future with biodegradable options at every liquor store and bottle shop is not entirely out of sight. What that future means for the supply chain remains to be seen, but for environmentally conscious consumers, it’s a step in a more sustainable direction.

It’s been quite a while since I was a proper wine tourist, anonymously exploring a route for the sheer joy of it. Mostly this is because my job over almost two decades has been to arrive announced for wine tastings and winemaker interviews; these days it’s also partly because any weekend suggestion to visit a wine farm for ‘fun’ is met with agonised groans from my young teens (though it’s the drive rather than the destination that dismays them).

This realisation, as well as a resolution to remedy the situation, has been prompted by the 50^th anniversary celebrations of Stellenbosch Wine Routes this week. Currently comprised of five sub-routes with over 120 wine and grape producer members offering diverse wine tourism experiences, surely among the best in the world, it’s hard to imagine that until 1971 Stellenbosch had no organised network of wine farms offering cellar door tastings, let alone light meals or activities.

Of course, that’s not to say that Stellenbosch hasn’t always charmed visitors. An early one was the German astronomer and surveyor, Peter Kolbe, who lived at the Cape from 1705 to 1713 and noted that the ‘colony’ of Stellenbosch was divided into four parts: ‘One bears the Name of the Colony, Stellenbosch: Another is called Mottergate: A Third is known by the Name of Hottentots Holland: The Fourth is called Bottelary.’

From south to north, he wrote: ‘Hottentot Holland is by much the most fertile, commodious and pleasant Part of the Stellenbosch Colony. The Soil is every where mighty rich, and yields in Abundance whatever is sown or planted in it. From the large Corn-fields and spacious Vineyards and Gardens which [disgraced governor] Adrian Van der Stel enjoy’d here, he drew an immense yearly Profit.’

He said the name ‘Mottergate’ (Moddergat) derived its name from the mud which remained after heavy rains, rendering the roads impassable. ‘The Lands here are very fertile; the Houses numerous and beautiful; and the whole Quarter as nobly distinguish’d by the Productions of Art and Nature, as any other in all the Colonies.’

In his opinion, the Stellenbosch division was ‘altogether as fertile, pleasant and commodious’ as Hottentots Holland. ‘The Valleys of this Quarter are divided into Corn-Fields, Vineyards and Gardens; all of ’em so charming to the Eye, that it is never sated with gazing on ’em… Several fine Estates are situate on the Stellenbosch River, vying with each other for Beauty and Plenty. In short, the whole Quarter is in the most flourishing Condition; and hardly can either Art or Nature be wish’d to do more than they have done already to render it commodious and beautiful.’

Bottelary was the most northerly part: ‘The Mountain separating this quarter from the Drakenstein Colony, is call’d the Horse-Mountain, because it was formerly a great Haunt of Wild Horses. And this is the only Place in all the Bottelary that can, I think, with any Propriety be call’d a Mountain. There is, indeed, another Place in this Quarter, call’d the Jossen Mountain, from one Jost, who first dwelt on it: But it is so low, that it cannot justly be ranked among Mountains. This Jossen Mountain is cover’d with fine Pasture-Ground and the most fruitful Fields almost up to the Summit… Upon the Jossen Mountain are likewise several fine Vineyards and Orchards, which bring a considerable yearly Profit to the Owners.’

Present-day owners of Joostenberg Wines are, of course, the Myburgh family whose hospitality knows no bounds at their Klein Joostenberg bistro and deli, located just south of the N1 (and therefore presumably deemed a sufficiently ‘Stellenbosch’ source of many delicious goodies included in Stellenbosch Wine Routes’ 50^th anniversary media drop). The Myburghs’ winery and organic vineyards, however, are situated just north of the N1, very much in the southwest corner of less-heralded Paarl…

Boundaries may have changed over the centuries, but most travellers to the Cape paid a visit to Stellenbosch. ‘Strangers,’ wrote the German physician, botanist and zoologist Hinrich Lichtenstein in the very early 1800s, ‘seldom fail to visit Stellenbosch; and people of property at the Cape Town also, in the fine season of the year, often make parties of pleasure to this fertile spot.’

Lichtenstein particularly enjoyed his own ‘little excursion’ to Hottentots-Holland where he said ‘several large farms exceeded in fertility, and in their pleasance appearance, any we had yet seen in the colony.’ He found the wine to be ‘most excellent’ and claimed that ‘many sorts, when eight of ten years old, are preferred by connoisseurs to Constantia’. At Vergelegen, he admired the eight or ten camphor trees that had been planted by Willem Adriaan van der Stel a century previously: ‘But, alas! they seem declining with old age…’ (How amazed he would be to see the so-called ‘Big Five’ still standing, over 220 years later!)

So popular was Stellenbosch as a destination, noted Lichtenstein, that some Stellenbosch locals offered accommodation to strangers: ‘People frequenting these houses are not, however, received in the same manner as at inns in Europe; they are treated rather as guests; that is to say, they do not call for things, and pay for every thing singly, but live with the family after their fashion, and pay at their departure so much by the day. The general price is three dollars a day for each person; and for this sum they are well supplied with every thing, European wines excepted; these, if required, are paid for separately. An Englishman, by name Caldwell, a jovial, well-behaved man and a Hessian, by name Wolfrum, keep the best houses of this description. Both are surrounded by agreeable families, with whose society the guests cannot fail to be pleased.’

A little googling reveals that Caldwell wasn’t English but Scottish: he was William Caldwell, he arrived at the Cape on 26 January 1796, and he married Catharina Hendrina Bletterman less than three weeks later, on 14 February 1796. By August 1800 he had a warehouse at 25 Shortmarket Street and in January 1802 he moved to 32 Berg Street and opened a hotel – experience which no doubt stood him in good stead for his move to Stellenbosch in October 1803, when he started offering board and lodgings at the above-mentioned Marthinus Wolfferum’s house. In April 1806 he was appointed Postmaster of Cape Town, and in January 1812 he was appointed Wine Taster for all Cape wines (!), moving back to Cape Town and selling his house in Stellenbosch. He died in January 1816, by which time his wife had been the postmistress of Stellenbosch for a few years – a post she would hold until 1846, three decades after her husband’s death, very much in her own right.

Such are the interesting discoveries one makes while meandering through old records, just as wine tourists hope to stumble on hidden gems during their travels. The drive really is more rewarding than the destination sometimes, but how on earth do I convince my children of this?

Bibliography

Kolbe, Peter (translated by Guido Medley): The Present State of the Cape of Good Hope, Vol II, Containing the Natural History of the Cape, London, 1731

Lichtenstein, Henry: Travels in Southern Africa, in the Years 1803, 1804, 1805, and 1806, translated from the original German by Anne Plumptre, Henry Colburn, London, 1812

• Joanne Gibson has been a journalist, specialising in wine, for over two decades. She holds a Level 4 Diploma from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and has won both the Du Toitskloof and Franschhoek Literary Festival Wine Writer of the Year awards, not to mention being shortlisted four times in the Louis Roederer International Wine Writers’ Awards. As a sought-after freelance writer and copy editor, her passion is digging up nuggets of SA wine history.

Help us out. If you’d like to show a little love for independent media, we’d greatly appreciate it. To make a financial contribution, click here. Invoice available upon request – contact info@winemag.co.za

The Wine Press: News from the Napa Community

Joshua Mendoza-Widaman has joined Pine Ridge Vineyards’ winemaking program as estate winemaker.

Mendoza-Widaman brings more than 20 years of experience producing Napa Valley wines to the Pine Ridge team. He will oversee the winery’s estate vineyards in five Napa Valley appellations: Stags Leap District, Howell Mountain, Oakville, Rutherford, and Carneros. Mendoza-Widaman most recently spent nine vintages as winemaker at Lewis Cellars.

His first harvest was the 1999 vintage at Stags’ Leap Winery, where, he tasted a 1997 Pahlmeyer Merlot that left him inspired to create wines that leave a similar lasting impression. He enrolled in UC Davis where he graduated in 2002 with a bachelor of science degree in viticulture and enology and a minor in applied biological systems technology. In 2019, he received his MBA from Sonoma State University.

Mendoza-Widaman spent the first six years of his career working his way up to assistant winemaker at Chimney Rock Winery in the Stags Leap District AVA, before transitioning to assistant winemaker and then head winemaker at Pahlmeyer. His other experiences include harvest internships with Gloria Ferrer in Sonoma and Viña Tarapacá in Chile as well as time in the Douro, Burgundy, Greece and Germany.

For his first vintage with Pine Ridge Vineyards, he will focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux-style varietals while newly promoted winemaker Colleen FitzGerald leads the Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc + Viognier program. To learn more, visit www.pineridgevineyards.com.

WineaPAWlooza is June 19

Jameson Humane (Jameson) will hold its signature fundraising event, WineaPAWlooza 2021, virtually on Saturday, June 19 at 5 p.m.

2020’s WineaPAWlooza was viewed by more than 500 people from across the United States, Mexico, Canada, Sweden, Australia, and Norway.

This year’s fast-paced, virtual event features wines from more than 50  vintners and winemakers, a video message from Jameson Humane volunteers and staff and a live, interactive auction of 12 lots led by auctioneer Fritz Hatton.

A lot from the owners of Scarecrow (who are animal lovers) and a large format of Screaming Eagle, whose founder, Jeanie Phillips, is another big-hearted animal advocate, are among the lots.

Produced by Jason and Christina Wise (SOMM Documentary Films and SOMM TV), the 75-minute event will be hosted by Fritz Hatton, Vanessa Conlin, MW, head of wine at Wine Access, and Monica and David Stevens, founders of Jameson Humane and 750 Wines. It will be broadcast on SOMM TV.

Ticket pricing and levels span a range of packages. To inquire about ticketing,  contact Arwen Gallenkamp, development manager at arwen@jamesonhumane.org or 707-337-9409. For more information on Jameson Humane, contact Brad Schomburg at brad@jamesonhumane.org or 414-708-3935.

Photos: Barrels of Fun St. Helena, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Barrels of Fun, 2021

Dozens of parents and residents spoke out on the future of Napa middle schools ahead of NVUSD trustees’ expected decision April 22.

The hospital said it is compensating for revenue reductions in 2020 due to the pandemic.

None of the vaccinated persons who tested positive fell ill or displayed COVID-19 symptoms, something Napa County officials say underscores th…

Pacaso, a company specializing in the co-ownership of second homes by multiple parties, sued the City of St. Helena last week amid a dispute o…

Temporary dining and recreation uses are proposed for the former Copia south garden space, to be known as Oxbow Yard. 

The Olney family is being sued for the wrongful death of a man who died when a vehicle crashed into an irrigation pond at their property in 2020. 

City Manager Steve Potter plans to hire Molly Rattigan, a 16-year veteran of Napa County government.

Unlike some other recent Victorian sales, this home’s four rental units may be retained.

The battle between Mayor Geoff Ellsworth and Upper Valley Disposal Service escalated with the company’s chief operating officer calling on him…

The suspect in the 1996 disappearance of California college student Kristin Smart killed her while trying rape her in his dorm room and his fa…

If the consumption of wine in large quantities in 2020, labeled Covid, is a positive sign that tells about how much Bacchus nectar is in the world and part of everyday life, in some ways it was rediscovered and forcibly changed by a pandemic, on the other hand, it appears again clearly With the power of that in one year, a large portion of the hard-earned value of years of work and investments has been destroyed through the supply chain. A general trend valid around the world, with numbers indicating a slight decrease in total quantities, but not as much as values. A sign that less has been spent drinking the same thing, also due to the long (still almost total in Europe) shutdown of catering services, which, as easy to imagine, means that for the supply chain, from production to distribution, margins, Already in general it is not very high, it is further weakened. However, the positive elements can be isolated. Such as the significant growth in the volumes of wine consumed in Italy, the first producing country, which, despite the large and understandable focus on exports (which still ranks first in the world in terms of volume and second in terms of value), remains the third most important market in the world for volumes consumed, Whereas, many have regained, also due to the “mistake” of smart work and closure, the daily lost life in the relationship with wine, which could be an important basis for building recovery today, and the future tomorrow. It is a case of global wine art, which, like the rest of the economy and daily life, hopes for a complete and final exit from the epidemic, pictured by Oiv’s “Economic Memorandum of the Global Wine Sector in 2020”, illustrated today in Paris, in flow, from the director General Paw Roca. Figures show that in 2020, the epidemic, especially due to the Horeca crisis, cost the global wine trade 6.7% of the total value during 2019 (after continuous growth since 2010), with business falling to 29.6 billion euros and the volume of international trade dropping by -1.7 % To 105.8 million hectoliters. With global consumption totaling 234 million hectoliters, a decrease of -3%, a loss comparable to that of life in the global financial crisis of 2008/2009. On the other hand, global wine production (excluding essential juices and meals) remained broadly in line with 2019 (+ 1%), at 260 million hectoliters. Confirmation of excess production in relation to consumption, which remains one of the great topics in winemaking, and looking above all at the issue of price, the net possibilities associated with the epidemic.

Production data by country does not show any significant changes compared to the past. The European Union remains the number one global producer, with 165 million hectoliters (+ 8% in 2019), and Among the individual countries, Italy remains at the top, with 49.1 million hectoliters (+ 3% in 2019), ahead of France by 46.6 (+ 11%) and Spain by 40.7 (+ 21%), It is followed by the USA with 22.8 million hectoliters (-11%), Argentina, Australia, South Africa and Chile, all of which are just over 10 million hectoliters, and again, to complete the top ten, from Germany with 8.4 million hectoliters, and from China With 6.6. The biggest impact on Covid (as well as Brexit and tensions over tariffs between the United States, the European Union and China) is consumption, which has returned to its lowest levels since 2002. Even if Oiv is emphasized, given the margins of error in detecting a complex parameter such as that of consumed wine, the data must be taken with caution. In any case, the 27th European Union alone equates to 48% of global consumption, but with important differences, especially in terms of dynamics, between different countries. The United States remains the first market for total consumption (33 million hectoliters, as in 2019), and France remains stable despite the epidemic, at 24.7 million hectoliters. The country with an increase in the consumption of wine in the world is Italy, which reached 24.5 million hectoliters with a volume jump of 7.4%. Among the main consuming countries, Germany was also confirmed at the summit with 19.8 million hectoliters, stable, the United Kingdom with 13.3, up slightly + 2.2%, and then China, which decreased by -17. , 4%, to 12.4 million hectoliters, and again Russia (10 million hectoliters). In terms of exports, Italy remains the leader in terms of volume, (20.8 million hectoliters, -2.4%), Spain, (20.2 million hectoliters, -5.9%), France (13.6 million hectoliters, -4.9%), Chile (8.5 million hectoliters, -2.2%), Germany (3.4 million hectoliters, -10.3%) and South Africa (3.6 million hectoliters, -11.9%), all decreased. It grows while Australia (7.5 million hectoliters, + 0.5%), Argentina (4.0 million hectoliters, + 27.0%), USA (3.6 million hectoliters, + 1.8%), Portugal (3.1 million hectoliters, + 5.3%) and New Zealand (2.9 (Million hectoliters, + 6.0%) saw the positive sign compared to 2019. In terms of value, France confirms its leadership with 8.7 billion euros, despite a 10.8% loss (-1.1 billion euros in 2019), ahead of Italy by 6.2 million euros (-2, 4%) and Spain (2.6 billion euros, -3.4). . %), Then again Australia (1.7 billion euros, -2.3%), Chile (1.5 billion euros, -7.1%) and the United States (1.1 billion euros, -8.5%). The loss, between the two main exporters, is widespread. The only growing cases are New Zealand, at + 4.5%, against € 1.1 billion, and Portugal, + 3.3%, against $ 846 million. Even at the import level, after a fairly large devaluation has occurred everywhere, the balance of forces remains the same as always. With the United States at the top at € 5.1 billion (-10.8% in 2019, compared to a significant stability in volume, at 12.3 million hectoliters), ahead of the UK (€ 3.8 billion, -3.9%, with volume growth of + 4.2%). , To 14.6 million hectoliters) and Germany (2.5 billion euros, -2.4%, 14.1 million hectoliters, -5%). Three countries alone import 41 million hectoliters, or 39% of the global total, and move 11.5 billion euros, 38% of the total trade volume. Other major markets confirm Canada’s stability at 2019 levels (1.7 billion euros) and China at 1.6 billion euros, albeit with a 26.7% loss in value. Wine bottles (volumes under 2 liters) accounted for 53% of volumes and 70% of overall traded values ​​in 2020, a share in line with the past two years. As is known, sparkling wines were particularly punished, losing -5% in terms of volume and -15% in value. An important fact, given that bubbles account for only 9% of world trade in wine in terms of quantity, but 19% in value. On the other hand, all formats increased between 2 and 10 liters, especially Bag-in-Box. A category still only equal to 4% of volumes exported worldwide, 2% of total value, but experienced growth of + 12% in volume and + 8% in value. On the other hand, the total volume of bulk wine export was stable (with double-digit growth for Argentina, New Zealand, USA and Australia, and significant decreases in Germany, Portugal, South Africa, Italy and Spagana), a category, although it accounts for 34% of the total volume of wine exports , Only 9% of the total.

Focus – chrome area of ​​the world

In 2020, the area planted with vines, i.e. the total area planted with vines for all intended uses (wine, juices, table grapes and raisins), including young vines that have not yet been produced, is estimated at 7.3 million hectares. A generally stable figure, in recent years, at least since 2017, but hides heterogeneous developments in different regions of the world. In the northern hemisphere there is a general stability of the EU vineyards, which was confirmed for the seventh year in a row at 3.3 million hectares, also due to the maximum increase of 1% per member state as per European legislation.

Within the European Union, the most recent data available for 2020 indicates an increase in vineyards in France (797,000 ha, + 0.4% in 2019) and in Italy (719,000 ha, + 0.8% in 2019), while vineyard areas in Spain are decreasing ( 961 000 ha, -0.6% in 2019), Portugal (194,000 hectares, -0.2% in 2019), Romania (190,000 hectares, -0.4% in 2019), Bulgaria (66,000 hectares, -1.8% in 2019) and Hungary (65,000 hectares, -3.9% in 2019). The vineyard area in Germany remains stable in 2020 and is estimated at 103,000 hectares, an extension in line with the average of the past 20 years. In Eastern Europe, Moldova continues the negative trend that started in 2018, with the vineyard area being reduced to 140,000 hectares (-2% in 2019), which can be explained by the current process of restructuring and transformation of the vineyard. On the contrary, in 2020, the Russian Vineyard recorded a slight growth of 96,000 hectares (+ 0.6% in 2019). Vineyard in Turkey, the fifth largest field in the world (but largely dedicated to the production of table grapes, ed.), In 2020, for the seventh year in a row, decreased: -4.7000 hectares (-1, 1%), with a total area of ​​431 thousand hectares .

In East Asia, After a long period of great expansion (2000-2015), in 2020 it appears that the growth of Chinese vineyards (785,000 hectares, also in this case largely for table grapes, liberated) is slowing down again (+ 0.6% in 2019) year Fifth in a row. According to the results of the third national agricultural census in China, the data for the area under the vineyards were greatly revised, giving China the third place in the world for vineyards in 2019 and 2020, after Spain and France. In the United States, the vineyard has been decreasing steadily since 2013 and its surface in 2020 is estimated to be approximately 405,000 hectares.

This negative trend, particularly the steep decline in 2018, is related to the attempt to solve the problem of oversupply of grapes. In the Southern Hemisphere, the recent development of the vineyard region in the major grape-growing countries varies by region. In South America, the overall development of vineyards between 2019 and 2020 showed a negative trend that continues for the fifth year in a row. The first consequential vineyard is Argentina’s, which has experienced an average annual contraction of 1% since 2014. However, the decline in 2020 was only 0.2% compared to 2019, with an area of ​​215,000 hectares. The area of ​​vineyards in Chile decreased (-1.2% in 2019) and it is estimated for 2020 about 207 thousand hectares. Brazil, with a shrinkage of nearly 1,000 hectares (-1.2% from 2019), stands at 80,000 hectares in 2020.

For the second year in a row, the vineyards in South Africa are not affected by major differences, reaching 122,000 hectares (-0.7% in 2019). This stabilization comes after a period, between 2015 and 2018, when droughts caused massive damage to the vineyards, drastically reducing their extension by more than 10,000 hectares (-8%). In Oceania, In 2020, the Australian vineyard remained stable at 146,000 hectares for the third year in a row, while in New Zealand it grew 2% from 2019, setting a new positive record of 40,000 hectares in 2020.

The pandemic makes some people feel like they’re treading water. Vintner Stuart Smith is one of them.

“The work for the last year has been harder than ever because of the bumps in the road to a smooth operation,” Smith said. “Almost everything that went easily before the pandemic is now difficult. Getting equipment and supplies, getting things repaired, ordering supplies, glass, label, corks, chainsaws — it’s all more difficult.”

The plainspoken Smith is behind our wine of the week winner — the Smith-Madrone, 2017 Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley Riesling, 12.9%, $34. It’s a gorgeous riesling with aromas and flavors of honeysuckle, mineral and grapefruit. It’s intense yet nimble and light on its feet, and it finishes crisp. It’s striking.

Other tasty whites include runner-up Naidu, 2020 Kick Ranch Vineyard, Fountaingrove District Viognier, 13.9%, $35; Anaba, 2018 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, 14.2%, $40; Rodney Strong Vineyards, 2019 Charlotte’s Home, Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc, 13.5%, $17, and Rombauer Vineyards, 2020 Napa Valley and Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc, 14.2%, $25.

As for the Smith-Madrone riesling, Smith said he prides himself in his hands-off winemaking.

“The amazing thing about riesling is that it’s the only varietal where you get the purest expression of the grape in a great wine,” he said. “If there’s ever such a thing as terroir, this is the wine. And there’s no other varietal that’s at its best with this absolute minimalist intervention. Here, the grapes speak loudest, and it’s truly a case of the winemaker shepherding the wine and its flavor.”

What’s surprising about riesling, Smith said, is that the vast majority of Americans don’t know what a compelling grape it is.

“They don’t understand that there’s such a thing as a dry-style riesling, and I’ll be bold to say our 2017 vintage represents a great wine at a very affordable price,” he said. “Riesling is also one of the most versatile wines. It’s the most versatile varietal when matching food and wine together.

“The other interesting thing about riesling is that it ages every bit as well, if not better than, the best cabernets at half the price.”

Smith, 72, never knew his calling would be to bottle grapes. He grew up in Santa Monica and earned a degree in economics from UC Berkeley in 1970. But he later was fascinated by the art of fermentation and studied viticulture and enology at UC Davis before he founded St. Helena’s Smith-Madrone in 1971.

What gives the Smith-Madrone riesling the edge, Smith said, is that it’s mountain-grown.

“I think what sets our riesling apart from others is our steep mountain vineyard, our volcanic soil and our cool mountain climate on Spring Mountain,” he said. “What also is inextricably there is my brother Charlie (Smith), my son Sam (Smith) and my commitment to the varietal. We love this varietal. We think it’s one of the greatest varietals in the world, and as such we treat it with the respect that we think it is due. And that respect comes out in the quality of our wine.”

Wine writer Peg Melnik can be reached at peg.melnik@pressdemocrat.com or 707-479-3880.

Peg Melnik

Wine, The Press Democrat

Northern California is cradled in vines; it’s Wine County at its best in America. My job is to help you make the most of this intriguing, agrarian patch of civilization by inviting you to partake in the wine culture – the events, the bottlings and the fun. This is a space to explore wine, what you care about or don’t know about yet.