Segura Viudas Launches a Sparkling Wine Pairing Facebook App

Pairing wines with a meal can be intimidating and confusing.  Artisan cava house Segura Viudas has launched an app to help Facebook users pair Segura Viudas cava, sparkling wine from Spain, with their favorite foods with one easy step.   Love spicy Asian food?  The app may suggest opting for Extra Dry.  Are you a fan of pork tenderloin?  Brut Rosé may be your best bet.  The Discover & Share Your Perfect Pair app will make cava pairing fun, easy and delicious.

 

While sparkling wine is extremely versatile and food friendly, it is still an art to choose which cava is the best complement to your meal.  The Segura Viudas Facebook app draws information on user’s LIKES by tying into the “open graph,” scanning their history on Facebook rather than asking to fill out a new survey.  The result is a customized sparkling wine recommendation based on the foods and flavors they like most.  The app scans a combination of brands, check-in locations, foods, and even chef and TV show pages that the user follows to compile a full profile and determine what cava is the best match based on behavioral history. 

 

As the user LIKES more pages and continues to check in, the cava recommendations will evolve as well.  And, all can easily be shared with friends on Facebook and Twitter.  In addition to looking at the foods, restaurants and other products that the user LIKES, the app also looks at the location to determine proximity to local stores that carry the recommended cava, providing a map with the 10 nearest retailers. 

 

As a complement to the Facebook pairing app, wine lovers can find Segura Viudas on Pinterest.  Here, the cava curious can find inspiration for delicious new dishes to try with sparkling wine.  Each board reflects a different Segura Viudas cava, featuring photos of dishes and their ideal cava pairings.

 

Use of the Segura Viudas pairing Facebook App is free and open to US residents over 21. The app is featured on the official brand website and the Segura Viudas USA Facebook Page

 

Segura Viudas hand crafts distinctive, artisan méthode champenoise sparkling wines according to cava traditions begun over 100 years ago. Steeped in rich Spanish heritage and situated on an estate that dates to the 11^th century, Segura Viudas draws on this legacy, blending it with modern winemaking to create sophisticated yet approachable cavas. Owned and operated by the Ferrer family of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, near Barcelona, Spain, and imported by Freixenet USA of Sonoma, California, the Segura Viudas winery is part of the Freixenet Group, one of the ten largest wine companies in the world. To find Segura sparkling wines in your area, visit the Wine Locator section of www.seguraviudasusa.com. 

Kathryn Hall Releases First Vintage of WALT Wines

Napa Valley, CA – Today, Kathryn Hall announced the upcoming May 1^st, 2012 release of the first vintage of WALT Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines on May 1^st, 2012. These Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines are the first to be produced by Director of Winemaking Steve Leveque and Winemaker Megan Gunderson. The WALT name was selected to honor Kathryn Hall’s parents, Bob and Dolores Walt, who were Kathryn’s inspiration to engage in vineyards and winemaking.  A select number of the wines will be available nationwide at fine wine shops and restaurants.  The balance of the portfolio will only be available directly from the winery.   

“From the beginning, we have been committed to producing quality wine that truly expresses the character of each vineyard site,” said Kathryn Hall, Owner and Vintner.   “With the launch of WALT Wines, we look forward to reinforcing our commitment and continuing the work of Roger and Richard Roessler, who were dedicated to finding the finest sites for Pinot Noir from the Pacific Coast.  By making compelling, delicious wines that are honest expressions of the land they come from, I hope to honor my parents - Bob and Dolores Walt – who grew grapes with a passion in Mendocino County.”

The debut collection of WALT Wines is made up of five Pinot Noirs and a single Chardonnay, which are crafted from fruit grown in cool climate and low-vigor hillside sites, providing the wines with an elegant, opulent, supple and silky taste. WALT Wines’ labels feature a clean, simple and contemporary aesthetic and the artwork pays homage to the four appellations WALT Wines draws their fruit from: Sonoma County, Anderson Valley, Sta. Rita Hills and Willamette Valley.  More information on these wines can be found at www.waltwines.com, or at the WALT tasting room, located on the historic plaza in Sonoma.

The WALT winemaking approach places special emphasis on the grower as a critical element of the equation, due to the fact that they must possess an optimal site, infrastructure, and a passion for quality. As a result, WALT Wines’ grape contacts are often per acre, ensuring vine and flavor balance. Several key techniques are utilized to produce premier wines, including night harvesting, sorting, native yeast fermentations, as well as small lot fermentations in modern facilities that allow for the utmost precision and care.

WALT Wines are produced at the state-of-the-art HALL winemaking facilities in St. Helena, the first winery in California to be distinguished as a Gold certified facility by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design^® Green Building Rating System.

2010 WALT La Brisa Pinot Noir

Appellation: Sonoma County

Vineyard: An appellation blend from La Brisa

Release Date: May 12

Price: $40 per bottle (750 ML)

2010 WALT Blue Jay Pinot Noir

Appellation: Anderson Valley

Vineyard: An appellation blend from Blue Jay

Release Date: May 12

Price: $40 per bottle (750 ML)

2010 WALT Clos Pepe Pinot Noir

Appellation: Santa Rita Hills

Vineyard: Clos Pepe

Release Date: May 12

Price: $60 per bottle (750 ML)

 

2010 WALT Gap’s Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir

Appellation: Sonoma Coast

Vineyard: Gap’s Crown

Release Date: May 12

Price: $60 per bottle (750 ML)

2010 WALT Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir

Appellation: Williamette Valley

Vineyard: Shea Vineyard

Release Date: August 12

Price: $60 per bottle (750 ML)

 

2010 WALT La Brisa Chardonnay

Appellation: Sonoma County

Vineyard: An appellation blend from La Brisa

Release Date: May 12

Price: $35 per bottle (750 ML)

 

About WALT Wines

WALT is dedicated to the production of premier Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Pacific Coast’s most distinctive vineyard sites, spanning nearly 1000 miles and including Sta. Rita Hills, Sonoma County, Anderson Valley, and the Willamette Valley.  Our philosophy is that of precision, non-interventionist winemaking, thereby allowing the wines to naturally and honestly express the character of the site where the wines are grown. For additional information on WALT Wines, please visit www.waltlwines.com.

 

DISCOVER THE WINES OF DON QUIXOTE'S SPAIN

The Castilla-La Mancha US Tour will stop in Atlanta, Chicago and New York in May, and
San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle in July
Featuring Tasting Seminars and a Walk-Around Grand Tasting in Each City

New York, April 16, 2012 – Just as local ‘celebrity’, Don Quixote, traveled through his region seeking adventure and noble experiences, guests at the Castilla-La Mancha US tastings will do the same as they discover the wines of 26 participating producers. The tour will visit Atlanta, Chicago and New York during the week of May 21st and continue to San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle during the week of July 9th. Each of these events will offer opportunities to experience the wines, foods, music and traditions of this distinctive region. The events will welcome members of US wine and food trade and press.

Castilla-La Mancha is the most expansive wine-producing region in the world. It is a land of fascinating foods and cultural traditions and, naturally, a wide variety of wines. The land, composed of limestone clay and a great variety of subsoils, makes the region ideal for growing grape vines. Within the Castilla-La Mancha area, we find nine appellations of origin, four estates with their own appellations and many ‘Geographical Indication Wines’.

“The amount of focus and investment in quality wine production throughout the region of Castilla-La Mancha in the past few decades has been astounding. There is much for the US trade to discover about the quality and diversity of our wines,” said Paloma Juncos, of the Foreign Trade Institute of Castilla-La Mancha, which is organizing the US program.

Each event will commence with a seminar, conducted in Atlanta by Gil Kulers, CWE and in Chicago and New York by Doug Frost, MS, MW (one of only three people in the world to hold both titles). The speakers will share with the trade and press the winemaking history of the region of Castilla-La Mancha, the technical qualities of its wines, and the sales opportunity for these wines in the US market. Each seminar will be followed by an afternoon walk-around tasting enhanced by regional foods and live entertainment.

The participating wineries include Altolandon, Arúspide, Bodega los Aljibes, Bodega Pardo Tolosa, Bodega San Gines, Bodega Virgen de las Nieves, Bodegas Arrayan, Bodegas Camino Alto, Bodegas del Muni, Bodegas La Remediadora, Bodegas Piqueras, Bodegas Romero de Ávila Salcedo, Bodegas Saac, Bodegas Vitivinos, Bodegas y Viñedos Sánchez Muliterno, Dehesa Carrascal , Dominio de Punctum Organic & Biodinamic Wines, Finca El Refugio, Finca la Estacada, Finca los Alijares, Parra Family Organic Imports, Señorío del Jucar, Viña Cerrón, Vinicola de Tomelloso, Vinos & Bodegas, Virgen de las Viñas. 

To register for the events please visit:

Atlanta, Monday, May 21st
http://castillalamanchaatlanta.eventbrite.com/

Chicago, Wednesday, May 23rd
http://castillalamanchachicago.eventbrite.com/

New York City, Thursday, May 24th
http://castillalamanchanyc.eventbrite.com/

VIAS imports wine tasting, New York May 7th

In the collective imagination, Italy is immediately associated with breathtaking natural landscapes, awe-inspiring works of art, delicious cuisine and, of course, the finest wines.

If fact, each year Italy produces thousands of bottles of the most famous and appreciated red and white wines in the world.  Names such as Brunello and Barolo evoke images of the rolling hills of Tuscany and the lush vineyards and stone farmhouses of Piemonte.

If you are a wine enthusiast and enjoy the flavors of Italy, you can experience the diversity of  Italian wines on May 7th at the Altman Building with the Vias portfolio of Wines. Vias Imports, a company that for over thirty years has specialized in importing the wines of small, high-quality wineries, will gather a total of 40 producers from 19 regions of Italy, from Piedmont to Sicily , passing through Tuscany and Umbria. During this special event,  guests will have the chance to experience a selection of the best Italian reds, whites, rosés and sparkling wines such as Moscato, Passito di Pantelleria, Greco di Tufo, Nero d’Avola, Negramaro, Barbera d’Asti, Nebbiolo d’Alba, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Gewurtztraminer, to name a just a few.

In addition, Amaro Montenegro, a much beloved digestivo, will create a "Montenegro Bar" to launch this  product in America. A Grappa Bar featuring a variety of the most famous Bertagnolli Grappe will also be on hand.

VIAS Imports Ltd., established in 1983, is one of the most renowned Italian wine importers in the US market. Its portfolio is one of the richest and most complete in the industry, representing the finest wineries throughout the country—over 800 different wines from more than 90 producers. In addition to this already noteworthy portfolio, VIAS imports wines from Argentina, South Africa, France, North America and Turkey.

The VIAS Portfolio wine tasting will take place on Monday, May 7, 2012 at the Altman Building, 135 West 18th Street New York, NY 10011 from 1.00pm to 7.00pm.

Stella Artois -- and the science of the beer chalice

"American wine drinkers understand that different wines are to be served in different glasses – you wouldn’t pour red wine into a champagne flute. The same is true of beer. Different beers are best served in different glasses. Stella Artois should be served in its signature Chalice. Stouts should be served in a pint glass.

 

"Beer aficionados don’t need to stock hundreds of glasses. Four should suffice. Pilsner, Weiss, Pint and Chalice glasses represent the ideal range. The Pilsner glass is shaped to channel hop aroma to the nose, while the Weiss glass is large, designed for volume and for fluffy heads, and to capture the fruity aromas of wheat beer and of course, the good old fashioned pint shouldn’t be overlooked. The Stella Artois Chalice is curved, for optimal foam head retention, and features a stem for holding, which keeps the beer colder. Stella Artois created countless versions of the Chalice before selecting the winning shape.

 

"The relationship between the glass and beer is intrinsic to beer culture internationally. In Belgium , each brewery designs its own signature glass. Not so in the US . American beer drinkers tend to use the same style of glass for all types of beer. In doing so, we diminish the experience – we settle for less, unknowingly."

The New York Times Knowledge Network Introduces New Online Course: Napa cabernet

For wine enthusiasts who wish to learn more about the culture and history of wine making, The New York Times presents “California Wines: Napa Cabernet,” a new online course designed to help students explore and taste the wines of California , with a particular focus on Napa Cabernet. Students will learn about the viniculture, flavors, and winemaking that distinguish California wines and will expand their knowledge of the various regions of this great winemaking state and their distinguishing features.

This self-paced course, taught by The New York Times’ Eric Asimov, Chris Cree, and Cathy Corison, will include topics such as:

The evolution of Napa Valley into a world-class wine region, and the main people and events who made this transformation possible;
The key natural features of wine regions;
The unique styles and techniques of various winemakers;
Statistical, physical, and organizational comparisons of Napa to other regions in California , Bordeaux , and around the world.
What distinguishes Cabernet grapes from Napa from other Bordeaux varieties.

Students will also have access to an archived webcast that includes The Times’ instructors tasting and reviewing six amazing wines. To register for this new online course or for more information, please visit: http://www.nytimesknownow.com/index.php/california-wines-napa-cabernet/.

This Program of Study course is part of the New York Times Knowledge Network, which is open to consumers nationwide. Programs of Study courses, developed and taught by New York Times journalists or professional staff, cover a variety of topics and are delivered online. Students can select any number of these courses: to stand alone, or be taken as a sequence.

Bytox, the stop-the-hangover patch

Now this is good.

Plans for Super Bowl XLVI are well underway. Whether you’re dishing out over $1,000 per flight to take part in the action or watching from afar, there is one thing everyone will have in common regardless of location: beer.

The Super Bowl is our modern day Gladiator battle and just like in Roman times, the beer and wine will be plenty – in fact, Americans drink over 325.5 million gallons of beer on this day alone (that’s 493 Olympic-sized pools worth of booze!), so it’s no wonder that over 7 million employees don’t make it into work the next morning (slackers).

To help combat the painful Monday hangover, [think] Bytox, the latest in hangover prevention remedies. Bytox stops the hangover before it starts which will allow your readers to enjoy a pain-free post Super Bowl Monday morning (and save all that extra money spent on ant-acids).

Bytox is a specially-formulated hangover remedy patch which effectively replenishes the vital levels of vitamins and nutrients your body loses when you consume alcohol. The innovative combination of vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients help keep your body hydrated so your body will quickly replenish what’s lost during the consumption of alcohol. Plus, unlike the alcohol consumed, the patch is zero calories.