MT. BRAVE MAKES ITS DEBUT

– A STUNNING MT. VEEDER WINE FROM LOKOYA’S CHRIS CARPENTER

JANUARY 2012 – NAPA VALLEY – Mt. Brave is a tribute to the pioneering spirit of those who settled the rugged terrain of Mt. Veeder during the 1800s and an homage to the Wappo Indians, “the brave ones,” who were the original inhabitants of this extraordinary place.

Extreme mountain winemaking is definitely not for the faint of heart. The Mt. Brave Vineyard, in the northern portion of the Mt. Veeder AVA, sits at elevations ranging from 1,400 to 1,800 feet. The work is hard and labor-intensive, with little mechanized modern technology used, at harvest, small lug boxes are the only means to pick the fruit. The reward, however, is top-quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec. The resulting wines have purity of fruit, brimming with violets, minerality, and lush tannins.

A word on tannins…

Carpenter knows his Mt. Veeder vineyard like the back of his hand. Capturing the lush fruit and minerality has to be done with a wary eye on the concentrated mountain tannins that also develop.  This tannin expression can be from the sublime to the overt.  Tannins are an important component in a wine’s structure and ageability, though too many can dry out the fruit expression. Carpenter believes that tannin management begins in the vineyard, and is carried through all the way to bottling.  Through the careful tannin management and selection in Mt. Brave, the wine evokes a lush mouth-feel while still maintaining the structure.

Wine has been crafted from Mt. Veeder soils since the early 1860s. Along with Napa winemaking pioneers such as Charles Krug and Agoston Haraszthy, Captain Stalham Wing, who arrived on Mt. Veeder in 1853, showed the first Mt. Veeder wine at the Napa County Fair in 1864. For 150 years, determined winegrowers moved forward where many thought the conditions too severe, too extreme, and too lacking in promise. The land that is now home to Mt. Brave was originally purchased in 1841, before the Gold Rush forever changed California and two decades before the Civil War.

Winemaker Chris Carpenter has long been receiving great acclaim for his extremely limited production Napa Valley wines, Lokoya and Cardinale. Anyone who “gets” Lokoya will appreciate what he, and viticulturist Mariano Navarro have accomplished with Mt. Brave. It’s Carpenter’s signature style of wine: bold yet balanced, with concentrated yet complex flavors. Though quantities of Mt. Brave will remain small (1,100 cases for the 2008), the wines are being crafted to be more accessible, approachable, and affordable. Carpenter is delighted that more people will be able to enjoy the style of wine for which he is best known. Whereas Lokoya has become synonymous with power, ageability, and finesse, Mt. Brave is the more restrained, yet accessible cousin that stands and delivers. 

Other Facts:

Appellation: 100% Mt. Veeder (formerly Chateau Potelle Vineyard), Napa Valley.

Viticulture: In-barrel malolactic fermentation using native strains. Barrel-to-tank

racking for natural clarity. Aged in French oak barrels 22 months (74% new oak).

Alcohol: 15.0.

Price: MSRP $75.00.

Availability: (nationally) on the shelves Feb 15, 2012.

Chanel, wine, and Karl Lagerfeld labels

Did you know CHANEL has a celebrated winery - Chateau Rauzan-Segla?.... They are launching their new 2009 vintage which has a very special Karl Lagerfeld designed label. The most fashionable way to consume wine or the chicest way to consume fashion!?!  This Grand Cru Classé will hit retail in March at fine wine purveyors nationwide for $129.

Founded in 1661 by Pierre de Rauzan, Château Rauzan-Ségla, situated in the heart of the Margaux appellation, was acquired by CHANEL in 1994.

With its unique experience in luxury goods, CHANEL, endeavors to exalt the unique and precious qualities of this great vineyard with the upmost care and respect to its vines. The incomparable rich bouquet, silky intense tannins and elegant taste make this Grand Cru Classé an exceptional wine.

On its 350th Anniversary and to celebrate the exceptional quality of the 2009 vintage Château Rauzan-Ségla is proud to announce a very special – one time only – collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld. To honor these two milestones (the anniversary and exceptional vintage), Lagerfeld has brought his iconic drawing style to the label with a rendering of the Château Rauzan-Ségla.

(Go here for the artsy video.)

WinechannelTV celebrates Waitangi Day

On Saturday February 4th, WinechannelTV is celebrating Waitangi Day (New Zealand's National holiday) with a virtual wine tasting and cooking demonstration. Wine enthusiasts are encouraged to gather a group of friends, register, and tune in with fellow-wine lovers from around the globe. The online wine tasting will be a fun, social way to learn about New Zealand's finest wines.


“We are excited to be the official host for this virtual wine tasting,” says Jess Altieri, CEO of WinechannelTV. “New Zealand offers an outstanding selection of wines that span the entire wine spectrum.”

Registration for the event is free.

Please visit: http://nzwineday2012.eventbrite.com/ for more information.

Going to the London International Wine Fair?

How time flies, especially when you’re having fun!

Just when you think you’ve seen or tasted it all, a visit to the London International Wine Fair will remind you that there are more discoveries to be made in the wine world.  Each year, savvy buyers gather from all over the world to meet, greet, and return home armed with the latest in trends and a whole set of discoveries from the one and only London International Wine Fair.

This coming May 2012 brings more of the best including premiere tastings with winemakers Serge Hochar from Chateau Musar, Dave Powell from Torbreck, Nicolas Joly of Coulee de Serrant, and Pierre Seillan from Vérité, Chateau Lassegue and Arcanum.

LIWF’s world-class master classes will once again provide a not to be missed chance to explore with many of the world's leading producers and industry visionaries.

For importers, merchants, producers, agents, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and wholesalers, who

don’t want to take a back seat, this coming LIWF is not to be missed. The fair is free to attend for qualified trade only.
Register now at http://www.londonwinefair.com/content/visiting/register-to-visit/.

ABC and Shinn Estate Vineyards, Long Island

ABC Kitchen is undoubtedly known for its cuisine: farm-to-table inspired fare that relies on the freshest of ingredients to create memorable, delicious dishes. Yet, as rich of a story the cookery holds, there is an equal – if much lesser known – beverage narrative. Specifically, ABC Kitchen’s selection of wine is laudable for its dedication to organic, sustainable, and/or biodynamic wines (an astounding 100 percent of the wine list falls within this designation).

One area of particular interest for us – and for the team at ABC Kitchen – is that of biodynamics. To understand more about this type of wine, we connected with Emma Germershausen and Ann Marie Del Bello, manager and sommelier at ABC Kitchen, respectively. Biodynamic agriculture, they explained, is not just a way of farming – it is a way of thinking. Adherents of biodynamic philosophies often go misunderstood because of the lack of mainstream awareness and misinformation around the practices. According to Ann Marie and Emma, the best way to understand this way of farming is to go straight to the source.

This, in our case, would require visiting Shinn Estate Vineyard, a winery / bed and breakfast located on Long Island’s North Fork. Helmed by Barbara Shinn and her husband, David Page, Shinn Estate is the only 100 percent biodynamic, Demeter-certified vineyard on Long Island (and the 2008 Shinn Estate Merlot has been a staple bottle on ABC Kitchen’s wine list).

For more information and to see a video, go here.

Rediscovered variety: Caino Blanco

The Spanish winery TERRAS GAUDA, with an excellent quality 2011 grape harvest, continues to be committed to R&D+i as the factor that sets its wines apart. It has recently participated in research on Caíño Blanco in collaboration with both the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), in the area of Oenology, and the Galician Biological Mission to determine its wine-making characteristics.

This variety, recovered by TERRAS GAUDA as the result of an R&D+i project, was used to produce 6,700 bottles of the first vintage of the only wine of this type on the market: LA MAR. Around 20,000 bottles of the second vintage will soon be available on the market. The winery owns more than 20 hectares where it grows Caíño, representing around 95% for the entire Designation of Origin.

These advances in the area of R&D+i coincide with an increase in market share following the acquisition of the Ribera del Duero winery QUINTA SARDONIA, which has provided significant added value for positioning TERRAS GAUDA in the high-end wine sector. The Group has kept up with its sales forecast for the Spanish market this fiscal year, in spite of the current economic situation, and has expanded to new international markets during the last few months.

TERRAS GAUDA Wineries has begun to market their wines in India (in a Wine Club with more than 8,000 members), Latvia, Estonia and Curaçao. New distribution agreements have also been reached in two countries with great potential: Brazil and China, considered strategic for the winery. In 2010, it had increased its presence in already consolidated markets, such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom and established commercial relationships with new distributors in Denmark and Beijing.

The international expansion of the Group, which exports to nearly fifty counties on five continents, has resulted in a 53% increase in its business figures abroad over the last fiscal year, which now account for 2.1 million of its overall turnover of 11.4 million.

TERRAS GAUDA wines have earned international recognition this last year from important magazines like Wine Enthusiast, and ABADÍA DE SAN CAMPIO was the only Spanish White wine to win an award at the Korea Wine Challenge, receiving a Gold Medal.

"Red State" and "Bue State" bourbon

"Heaven Hill Distilleries® Hits the Campaign Trail with Red State™ & Blue State™ Bourbon Asking, "What will you bring to the party?"

Bardstown, KY (December 6, 2011)- Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., has announced the introduction of a new American Bourbon - Red State™ and Blue State™ Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Made up of two simultaneous releases of hand-crafted Bourbon from two time "Distiller of the Year" Heaven Hill Distilleries, its brand name and implied affiliations are generating excitement from coast to coast as the 2012 Presidential election year gains momentum. And the dueling bottles will create the biggest buzz ever seen around a consumer product at election time.

No matter which side they're on, voters can make a real party statement with America's Native Spirit in the form of Red State and Blue State, a smooth-tasting Kentucky Bourbon. Labeled with America's political party colors of Republican red and Democrat blue and featuring the famous elephant and donkey symbols, these unique bottles will be available nationally beginning January 2012.

"During this topsy-turvy election year, we wanted to launch a fun and unique Bourbon brand that will be the life of both parties, as the race begins for the next President of the United States. What better way to, not only show your patriotic spirit, but kick back, relax and watch the action as the success of each brand becomes an entertaining results indicator of Election 2012," said Kate Latts, Director of Marketing at Heaven Hill Distilleries.

And while the identity and background of the final candidates is yet to be determined, 6th and 7th generation father and son Master Distillers Parker and Craig Beam assure that the quality of the Bourbon will be beyond debate. A product of America's largest independent family-owned and operated distillery, and the second largest holders of aging American Whiskey in the world, Red State and Blue State Bourbon come from a tradition of American Whiskey making that goes back to the times of the very first elections. Made from the finest grains using the Master Distillers' seven generation old family yeast strain, Red State and Blue State Bourbon will make any political conversation, or social gathering, more mellow and inviting.

In addition, Heaven Hill Distilleries has announced it will be contributing a donation for every legal drinking age consumer that "likes" Red State or Blue State Bourbon on Facebook® to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation, making it an even more attractive choice for politically-savvy consumers. "We are pleased to be helping to support the good works of the VFW for our Armed Forces with Red State and Blue State," noted Latts. "Donations will go toward the VFW Foundation's Return the Favor campaign which honors, celebrates, and supports active-duty military, veterans and their families."

For more information visit www.redbluebourbon.com.