Cognac is France as seen on postcards – a patchwork of vine, corn and sunflower fields dotted with stone churches and vine-covered hamlets. The southwestern region of France is best known for its eponymous eau-de-vie, but has recently caught the attention of foodies, with chic restaurants that combine seasonal produce from here and abroad. On March 22, the country’s brightest culinary talents head to Cognac for the announcement of France’s Michelin stars – the first time the ceremony will take place outside of Paris – but its distilleries, restaurants and other foodie attractions are worth a visit. all year.

Restaurant

Amandine Bernanose was once a dance teacher; today, head of service at Poulpette, she presents the energetic creations of her partner, chef Antoine Vernouillet. A steel counter, neon artwork, and handmade tableware make Poulpette feel more cafe than gourmet — but the short, rotating menu is Michelin-worthy, with produce largely sourced from a single organic producer. Expect market-fresh plates such as pink beef tenderloin with a quenelle of mashed celeriac, topped with a sprinkle of dill. The desserts, meanwhile, present ordinary ingredients such as blueberries and basil in extraordinary ways, and the reasonably priced French wines make excellent pairings. Dishes from €19 (£16).

The market

The heart of the town of Cognac is its covered market, where elderly locals in Breton striped tops meet for a coffee and a catch-up. Inside the iron-roofed structure, designed by architect Victor Ballard in the style of 19th-century covered markets, you’ll find crates of French and Icelandic oysters, bouquets of tulips and lilies, big bunches of carrots and glazed eggplant. A popular local pastime is to buy a selection of cheeses, a baguette and a bottle of pinot noir to enjoy on one of the long tables or beside the Charente river. 16-20 Place d’Armes, 16100 Cognac; open until 1 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday.

Read more: A taste of France in six glasses

The distillery

Major cognac brands rarely grow their own grapes, relying instead on thousands of boutique distillers, who supply them with a sour brandy – a white wine made largely from ugni blanc grapes – from which they make their brandy. However, Maison Painturaud Frères, founded in 1934, produces its own eau-de-vie (in addition to supplying mega-distiller Rémy Martin), and its distillery – which has been owned by the same family for generations – offers tours and tastings. Brothers Emmanuel and Jean-Philippe Painturaud sell their local cognacs alongside Pineau de Charentes, a blend of cognac and grape juice enjoyed as an aperitif. Tour and tasting €6 (£5), by appointment only.

The Vinegar

Cognac production isn’t the only destination for ugni blanc grapes – they’re also sourced by local balsamic vinegar producer Le Baume de Bouteville. The distillery is 21 km east of the town of Cognac and is run by friends Lionel Sack and Cédric Reynaud, who make the vinegar by heating grape juice before aging it in oak barrels. The result is a cognac-like balsamic with a lower sugar content than Italian varieties. Samples available to taste range in age from three to 10 years; it is also possible to pair them with French and Irish oysters from neighboring producer Huitres Cocollos. Tours include nearby Chateau de Bouteville and tastings for four €36 (£30) or €80 (£67) with oysters.

The hotel

The Hotel Chais Monnet & Spa, where this year’s Michelin delegates are staying, is a destination in itself. This 92-room former cognac house has its own Michelin star, for the Les Foudres restaurant. Here, chef Marc-Antoine LePage concocts works of art from unusual pairings: pigeon breast, beets and blackberries, or line-caught wild turbot, baby carrot purée and Philippine calamansi. For more casual French cuisine, La Distillerie brasserie — also in the hotel — serves dishes such as parsley snails, as well as pungent pastries. The spa, meanwhile, offers a signature treatment that includes a foot scrub with Charente salt and grapeseed oil. Doubles from €290 (£244), room only; dishes at Les Foudres from €42 (£35) and at La Distillerie from €16 (£13).

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Kiwis looking for a classic summer vacation have always been drawn to Hawke’s Bay on the North Island, about a five-hour drive southeast of Auckland. Vacationers come for the sand, the surf and the idyllic coastal lifestyle, where the days are long and the weather is likely to be fine. But they also come for the wine, and for good reason.

Hawke’s Bay is New Zealand’s oldest and second largest wine region, with the first vineyards established in the late 1800s. Most vineyards radiate from the main center of Napier, often located on hillsides, river valleys and terraces facing north, or along the sea-watered coast to the south towards Cape Kidnappers.

Several sub-regions bear witness to the diversity of the terroirs which gives the region its distinctive character. Syrah, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc draw all the applause, but the standout varieties tend to be full-bodied Bordeaux-style reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The French influence is also reflected in the menus of many cellar restaurants.

The silt and sand, deposited by the rivers that flow from the mountains to the coast, have contributed to the richness of the soils. While the maritime climate combines low humidity and rainfall (the latter due to the shading effect of the beaches to the west) and many sunny days to ripen fruit rich in tannins and carrying just a hint of brine from the Pacific Ocean.

The area is ideal for wine tours, with most vineyards a short drive from Napier and interspersed with farms and cafes. Here are six of the best to check out.

The Urban Cellar
Located in the historic National Tobacco Company building in the Docklands district of Napier, The Urban Winery combines art deco architecture with artisanal wine. Winemaker Tony Bish specializes in Chardonnay, and a deep complexity lurks in this simple assignment, with tastings revealing glaring deviations in the varietal’s flavor profile.

It’s the kind of place you can wander in for a quick tasting but then stay for hours, soaking up the atmosphere among the warm woodwork and the elegant barrel room with its gigantic ‘egg’ barrel. French oak – an essential part of Bish’s many chardonnay secrets.

It’s not just Chardonnay you’ll be drinking: the bar menu dives deep into Hawke’s Bay’s finest wines and beers, paired with excellent dining options. Order a savory platter or check out the full tapas menu, which includes plates such as ginger and lemongrass dumplings, brisket sliders, and a smoked ham and roasted fig salad.

Craggy Range Winery
Craggy Range might produce its award-winning wines at vineyards across New Zealand, but its home is this Hawke’s Bay winery that focuses on Syrah, Merlot and cabin sav (a terraced block a few hours south of Martinborough, near Wellington, produces Craggy Range pinot noir and sauvignon blanc).

You can choose from three different wine tasting experiences. The Ultimate Prestige Tasting is the choice if you want to push the boat out – it includes the cellar’s premium prestige wines and includes a guided tour of the underground barrel room and fermentation cellars. And if you’re traveling in a group and you’re a little hungry (and you like French cuisine), you can order the artisanal plate, which includes the beef tartare, the cheese soufflé, the blue cheese dip, the pork and fennel salami, duck and fig terrine, smoked fish and pâté.

The other major attraction in Craggy Range is the Craggy Range Restaurant. Run by Cutler & Co and Cumulus alumnus Casey McDonald, this fabulous fine-dining restaurant sources local produce for dishes such as seared gurnard with citrus-braised fennel, almond cream and salad. asparagus and octopus, and a glazed shoulder of lamb with shallot purée, wilted vegetables and potato roll. There is also a fabulous all-vegetarian three-course shared menu.

For a good representation of what Craggy Range does best, take home a bottle of his Gimblett Gravels syrah. Luxury accommodations are also available on the banks of the Tukituki River. The winery has been awarded the Gold Medal by Qualmark, a quality recognition program owned by Tourism New Zealand, for its exceptional standards in sustainable tourism and visitor experience.

Domain Te Mata
The story of New Zealand’s oldest working vineyard is now part of local wine legends. In 1886 Joseph Bernard Chambers inherited part of his father’s sheepfold, known as Te Mata, near Havelock North. A French guest at the property planted an idea in Chambers’ head to try growing wine grapes, and after visiting wineries in Europe and Australia, Chambers did just that, laying a plot of pinot noir in 1892. Cut to 130 years later and Te Mata Estate continues to adhere to the classic style of winemaking established in its early days and still produces wine from these original vineyards.

The buildings pay homage to nearby Napier’s Art Deco heritage (with a nod to the Art Nouveau style of the Chambers’ original property). A base cellar door experience is $10 (refundable with wine purchase) and includes tastings of five current releases, while the $45 showcase tasting brings out premium wines for a hosted experience with view of the vineyards. The ultimate experience is the $120 VIP Tour, where you’ll visit historic vineyards and enjoy a private tasting of current and cellar vintages.

If you’re looking for something to take home afterwards, Te Mata Estate’s 2018 Coleraine scored 96 points per Passionate about wine magazine for its cellar references.

Elephant Hill
Elephant Hill’s contemporary style sea green copper cellar door immediately catches the eye.

This fabulous winery is located on the Te Awanga coast between Napier and Cape Kidnappers, with its fruit sourced from three different Hawke’s Bay vineyards. The diversity of terroirs means deep and complex flavors for blended wines, while individual vine drops reflect a more site-specific character. The Airavata Syrah is a must – a flagship example of Hawke’s Bay Syrah quality – and the Sea Sauvignon Blanc is a crowd favourite, while the winery’s estate range represents great value.

Head to the cellar door Thursday through Monday for wine tastings and take your time with a platter of local produce from artisan caterer Jo Deitch (vegetarians are well catered for, just mention when booking platform control). The tastings consist of four or six wines from the current version. And if you find the surroundings too beautiful to leave, accommodation is available in a luxury lodge surrounded by vineyards, with a swimming pool and views of the Pacific Ocean.

Te Awanga Estate
Close your eyes and dream of the perfect summer vacation by the sea. Now open them and find yourself at the cellar door of Te Awanga Estate, on the sunny terrace of a relaxed wooden cabin overlooking the sea. ‘Pacific Ocean.

There’s not a hint of pretentiousness or stuffiness at this inviting winery, 20 minutes south of Napier, where you can relax on the lush lawn and listen to live music on an outdoor stage while sipping award-winning wines by local winemaker Rod McDonald.

The estate specializes in Syrah and Chardonnay, but the wine list is extensive, so be sure to sample extensively. Wildsong Chardonnay is made from fruit grown at the base of the Ruahine Ranges – a great place for hiking – and has intense fruit flavors to match that classic chardonnay smoothness. The Stuff & Nonsense pinot noir, meanwhile, has a playful take on the idea that you can’t make a good pinot in Hawke’s Bay.

Pizza dominates the lunch menu and reflects the laid-back vibe (take it out on the grass and take in the view). Try the Fun Guy with mushrooms and caramelized onions.

You can extend your stay at the vineyard apartment (sleeps two), located above the cellar door and boasting a balcony with glistening ocean views. A complimentary bottle of wine and wine tasting are included with every booking, and you can order food at the cellar door or fire up the provided barbecue – it’s the authentic “bach” kiwi experience, but at the middle of a cellar.

Church Road
This century-old winery sits on the urban outskirts of Napier in the suburb of Taradale, but its park-like setting evokes rural New Zealand at its best. The cellar door was voted the best in New Zealand in 2019 and features a stone building surrounded by one hectare of peaceful, tree-dotted grounds. It is another recipient of Qaulmark Gold, in recognition of its best practices in sustainable tourism.

One of Hawke’s Bay’s oldest wineries, Church Road has always championed big, full-bodied reds reminiscent of Bordeaux. The French connection was strengthened a hundred years later when two French winemakers visited and introduced traditional French techniques, including fermenting reds in French oak vats and aging them in French oak barrels. Today the head winemaker is Chris Scott and the range focuses on blends of Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.

The flagship range is known as Tom, named after Tom McDonald, a talented teenager who was a winemaker here in the late 1800s. You can combine a tasting flight with a visit to the underground museum, emerging again in the sun for lunch under a shady magnolia. There’s also a separate behind-the-scenes tour that will demystify the sometimes bewildering art of winemaking and teach you some tricks Church Road uses to produce top quality drops. A more hands-on experience is called Legacy and Winery – a one-hour tasting of pre and current wines that includes a tour of the cellars and museum. Remember to book in advance as only one of each tour operates daily.

The cellar kitchen harnesses plenty of local produce for a sophisticated a la carte menu by chef Grant McHenry. Start with ginger-caramel pork belly or smoked salmon with beets before moving on to fish from the market or an eggplant schnitzel with artichoke sauce and homemade baba ganoush.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Tourism New Zealand.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — This month’s wine review covers eight varietals and a blend ranging from $10 to $25. Note: Our monthly reviews focus on wines $25 and under. All should be available on local store shelves. We list the flavors we detect and offer our favorites at the end.

Raeburn Pinot Noir

Raeburn Winery, California, Pinot Noir, 2019, $24.99

Lavender on the nose with dried cherry with subtle notes of coffee and light cinnamon spice. Goes well with salmon. It’s getting harder and harder to find good, cheap Pinots these days, so this price is becoming the norm. This wine comes from a kind of pinot noir capital, the Russian River Valley in California.

Citra

Citra Vini, Italy, Trebbiano, 2017, $10

Lime is dominant with lemon playing second fiddle in this extremely light wine. We found it a little jaded with a bit of gasoline in the nose. It was a little better with food. We’ve had some decent and equally inexpensive offers from Citra, but we’ll pass on this particular vintage. Ultimately, we might give a later bottle a shot at this price. This variety may seem less known; it’s often used in brandy and balsamic vinegar, says Wine Folly.

Josh North Coast Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Josh Cellars, California, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019, $21.99

Certainly red fruits, red licorice and strawberry. A little menthol stands out with a hint of spice (the cellar says blackcurrant). The grapes come from Sonoma and Lake counties. Offerings from the cellar are a common menu find.

Buttered bread

Bread and Butter Wines, Napa Valley, CA; Sauvignon Blanc, 2019 and 2020, $15-$16

We did a side-by-side tasting:

2019: Lime, saline, riper fruit, slight hint of oil, good fruit, no grass.

2020: Floral nose, lime, more acid, greener fruit, slightly grassy but not as cloying as an Australian or New Zealand Sauv Blanc.

pound for pound

Hard Working Wines, Paso Robles, CA; Zinfandel, 2020, $25

Intriguing, with a savory cacophony: Aromas of candied fruit, black cherry on the palate, no spice, and a concentrated, thick, almost Port-like mouthfeel. A rich strawberry flavor on the finish.

Mettler

Mettler Family Vineyards, Lodi, CA; Petite Sirah, 2019, $24.99

Milk chocolate, a little smoke, dark fruits and an almost port taste. Some tannins float. Great mouthfeel – not as tannic as some examples from this varietal. Incredibly smooth, tastes more expensive. One of the best examples of this varietal we have tried.

Pairing

Le Paring, California; red mix, 2017, $25 We detected smoke, tomato and chocolate. The estate says: Cassis, tobacco and chocolate. It has undergone extensive barrel aging, but the oak is subtle and well blended. It is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot.

Luke

Luke Wines, Columbia Valley, Washington; Merlot, 2018, $25

Sweet notes of black licorice and a bit of earth stand out. The winery touts it as having dark red fruit. It’s made from 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc for good measure.

Chardonnay from Wente Eric

Wente Vineyards, California, Chardonnay, 2014, $25

This particular vintage will be hard to find; we found it at the end of our Char shelf, where it had been sitting quietly for a while. But the winery is reliable, producing wines since the 19th century. This unoaked Chardonnay, tasted eight years after its vintage, has (unsurprisingly) flavors of baked and macerated apple. A little acid, with just a little butterscotch on the finish. Was better with food; it goes wonderfully with chicken braised in white wine and potatoes. The winery produces several Chardonnays and is always a good bet.

Favorites: Mettler Petite Sirah.

Wine reviews 2022

Wines for February: A dozen different wines from 4 countries

January wines: 9 different wines from $9 to $22

Filmed wine: The 2012 documentary “Somm” takes viewers through the process of being an aspiring sommelier. It is available for rental or purchase online.

Do you like wine? Options vary for purchasing wine. Online retailers provide the ability to choose what you want, manage cases, and find discounts. Here is a selection to consider:

brightcellars.com: The monthly club offers you wines after taking a “palate quiz”.

Cellierwineclub.com: Allows you to choose the number of bottles you want.

exoticwine.club.com: offers subscription wine boxes from wineries located in less accessible markets.

splashwines.com: choose a curated case or create your own.

winc.com: Four wines tailored to your tastes are shipped monthly. Has a review component.

wine.com: Large online sellers often offer discounts to new customers.

wineawesomeness.com: Organized shipments of three and six bottles.

wineenthusiast.com: Complete site for accessories – shelves, glasses, openers, storage, gifts.

wineonsale.com: Allows you to select by grape variety or by region.

zachys.com: Includes a variety of ways to search/buy, as well as auction information.

I am on cleveland.comfrom the Life and Culture team and covers topics related to food, beer, wine and sport. If you want to see my stories, here is a directory on cleveland.com. On Air: WTAM-1100’s Bill Wills and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursday mornings. Twitter: @mbona30.

Start the weekend and sign up for the Cleveland.com weekly “In the CLE” email newsletter, your essential guide to the best things to do in Greater Cleveland. It’ll hit your inbox on Friday morning – an exclusive to-do list, focused on the best of weekend fun. Restaurants, music, movies, performing arts, family fun and more. Simply click here to subscribe. All cleveland.com newsletters are free.

Hello and welcome to my weekly dig into the pile of wine samples begging to be tasted. I’m happy to bring you the latest episode of Vinography Unboxed, where I highlight some of the best bottles that have come through my door recently.

Last week, a few wines from Neely Wine, a small family business that follows in the great tradition of Stanford faculty wineries in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains appellation, were included. The winery owns and operates the Spring Ridge vineyard, which begins in the Portola Valley and runs up the eastern flanks of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir both have lovely lean liveliness and show great restraint in winemaking, emphasizing the fruit rather than the barrel.

The rest of this week’s wines are sort of a comparison panel, put together by the folks at Wines of Chile, who decided to send me six Cabernet Sauvignons, three from the Colchagua Valley and three from the Maipo Valley.

Therefore, we have to make a small geographical explanation.

The Maipo Valley is the closest major wine region to the Chilean capital, Santiago, right in the middle of the country, this proximity having made it one of the first wine regions to be planted in the country. Maipo tends to be hot and dry, and the vineyards are mostly located in the foothills of the Andes, which provide a refreshing little uplift and are responsible for the alluvial gravel that led early French winemakers to suggest to recently independent Chileans that they should plant Bordeaux grape varieties.

The southern border of the Maipo Valley is formed by another (much larger) east-west valley known as the Rapel Valley. Rapel is divided into two distinct wine regions, and the southern part is known as the Colchagua Valley. The slightly lower altitudes of this valley, the higher annual rainfall (than Maipo) and its fertile soils have made this region one of the best agricultural lands in Chile. But Colchagua has soils very similar to Maipo, again thanks to the ubiquitous Andes and the seemingly endless number of rivers that flow from the Cordillera. Given its previous focus on traditional agriculture, Colchagua is a relatively new wine region, with fewer big names than Maipo.

Interestingly, the Chileans sent in wines from these two regions for comparison and contrast, as they are actually quite similar in the broadest terms, kind of like asking someone to compare and contrast contrast Oakville and St. Helena to Napa. It’s hard to generalize (or extrapolate) a big difference from just a few wines. It might be much easier to compare the individual sites of each vineyard than to compare the two valleys.

But, strictly speaking of the six wines below, I found Colchagua wines to have slightly more grassy and salty tones, while Maipo wines tasted slightly riper and fruitier. Of the six, I enjoyed the Echeverria and Torres wines just slightly more than their compatriots, although all were quite tasty, with some being excellent values.

I must note with some prejudice that the Echeverria wine comes in an offensively heavy bottle, one of the most egregious I’ve experienced in some time. The glass itself weighs over a kilogram, a ridiculously ostentatious statement that clearly suggests the winery cares more about its brand image than the environment.

It’s all for this week !

Tasting Notes

2019 Neely “Bee Block” Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains, CA
Light greenish gold in color, this wine smells of lemon peel and white flowers. On the palate, lemon curd and lemon pith are very pleasant thanks to good acidity and light notes of tropical fruits such as papaya and mango that linger on the finish. 13.3% alcohol. 595 boxes made. Note: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $46. click to buy.

2019 Neely “Hidden Block” Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains, CA
Light garnet in color, this wine smells of cranberry and raspberry. On the palate, bright gooseberry and raspberry flavors have a hint of pomegranate and a green, dried herb flavor that is appealing. There’s even a slight saline quality to the finish. 12.5% ​​alcohol. 254 boxes made. Note: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $45. click to buy.

2018 Terranoble “Gran Reserva” Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley, Chile
Medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of slightly smoky earth and red fruits. On the palate, juicy flavors of cherry and herbs mingle with a hint of licorice and dried flowers. There is a slight saline quality to the wine. Also light tannins. 14% alcohol. Note: approx. 8.5. Cost: $18. click to buy.

2016 Echeverria “Limited Edition” Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, Chile
Very dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of cherry and tobacco leaf. On the palate, the wine has a stony purity, with notes of cherry and tobacco mingling with cola and lovely earth. Excellent acidity and very fine tannins. 14% alcohol. Comes in a stupidly heavy bottle weighing 1.86kg when full. One of the worst I’ve seen. Note: approx. 9. Cost: $26. click to buy.

2018 Maquis Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley, Chile
Medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of cut grass and bright cherry. On the palate, cherry, green herbs and a hint of green pepper mingle under a vaporous haze of tannins. Good acidity. Certified sustainable. 14% alcohol. Note: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $17. click to buy.

2017 Viña Aquitania “Lazuli” Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, Chile
Medium to dark garnet in color, this wine smells of cherry and a hint of black olive. On the palate, this fruity, savory quality continues with cherry, black olive, herbs and a hint of tobacco enveloped in a vaporous haze of tannins. Good acidity. 14.5% alcohol. Note: approx. 8.5. Cost: $45. click to buy.

2018 Los Vascos “Cromas – Gran Reserva” Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley, Chile
Medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of lightly smoky green herbs and red fruits. On the palate, cherry and green herbs mingle with dried sage and a touch of licorice root. Good acidity, very light tannins and a touch of warmth on the finish. 14.5% alcohol. Note: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $18. click to buy.

2018 Miguel Torres “Reserva Especial Cordillera de los Andes – Parcela Coluvión” Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, Chile
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of struck match, black cherry and cola with just a hint of fresh green herbs. On the palate, flavors of cherry cola mingle with a touch of cinnamon and cocoa powder. Quite pretty. 14% alcohol. Note: approx. 9. Cost: $23. click to buy.

Alexandria, VA – Living and working vicariously through streaming media and zoom platforms has become a way of life since 2020. Virginia wineries quickly offered virtual tastings when COVID shut down tasting rooms. Wine sales in the state and across the country soared.

Spotting an entertainment trend, TV production companies quickly churned out not one but four shows for the lone Z~oenophile to binge: Beneath the vines, the kings of Napa, promised land, and Great crew.

under the vines, from AMC Networks streaming on ACORN, is a seductive tale as old as wine: two estranged family members inherit a vineyard in Central Otago, New Zealand. Urban socialite Daisy Monroe played by Rebecca Gibney and town attorney Louis Oakley played by Charles Edwards (The Crown, Diana) are vying for vino accolades with local winemaking maven Marissa after a surprise victory for Oakley Wine in a prestigious competition.

Since Kiwi vino is supposed to be all about sauvignon blanc in the United States, that’s what we’ll highlight for a under the vines frantic party. Walsh Family Wine, formerly the Northgate property in Purcellville, offers two Sauv Blancs. The 2020 Bethany Ridge and 2020 Twin Notch Sauvignon Blancs are ready to roll. Both are classics without being too herbaceous and grassy. Appropriate notes of kiwi imbue with the expected citrus of grapefruit, lemon, lime and a whisper of bergamot.

The husband and wife team of Nate and Sarah Walsh founded Walsh Family Wine in 2014. Previously, Nate was the award-winning winemaker at Sunset Hills and 50 West. Before opening their brick-and-mortar operation, he and Sarah sold their wines at farmers’ markets and garage tastings and at local restaurants. In 2014, the two Canney wineries added a Walsh Family Wine label Sauvignon Blanc to the wine list, featuring Sarah’s elegant abstract mountain ridge design, which inspired the label of Walsh family.

The Kings of Napa is from executive producer Oprah Winfrey for her OWN streaming channel. Reginald King, family patriarch and founder of the house of kings wine, dies suddenly as his family bickers over control and management of the vineyard. The show is Falcon Crest meets the Shores of Bel-Air. With episode titles like “She’s Gotta Crush It”, “What’s Port Got To Do With It?”, “How Stella Got Her Pinot Back”, “Mo Bottled Blues”, and “Judas and the Black-Owned Vineyard”, you know the bashing above the wine swirl gets real right off the bat. The Kings of Napa is “all about black excellence in motion ~ wine, style and cuisine.

So where to put your King? For that Napa experience, you can’t go wrong with Breaux Vineyards in Hillsboro. The majestic stucco and tile-roofed Tasting Palace blends Spanish mission with New Orleans razzmatazz and French savoir faire. Sitting on the Vidal Patio overlooking the vines cascading towards a horizon of rolling hills, you can easily imagine that you are in Napa.

Another option is the King Family Vineyard in Crozet near Charlottesville. Their merlot could give the house of kings and Stella a run for their Pinot. The 2018 Seven (named after the seventh chukker in a polo match), a fortified red wine aged two years in Kentucky bourbon casks, answers the question… What do port and polo have to do? with that ? Yes, there are polo matches, a polo school and classes at Roseland Polo Club.xd

But if it’s pinot noir you’re looking for, you’re headed to Ankida Ridge in Amherst. Atop an Appalachian mountain nearly 2,000 feet above sea level lies a microclimate where the impossible happens. Owners Christine and Dennis Vrooman grow some of the best pinot noir in the United States. It’s the only Mid-Atlantic wine invited to the International Pinot Noir Celebration held in Oregon each July.

An accidental winery, the vineyard was born when the contractor mistakenly cleared an extra acre of woods on the property. Chickens strut around the vines for natural pest control, while Katahdin sheep, mother nature’s weedkillers, graze on land that was once as high as Everest. If you can’t make the three hour drive or don’t like heights, Ankida Ridge ships. They also have foothills tastings and a shop in Charlottesville.

Paradise Springs is the closest to Alexandria and the first bi-coastal winery in the United States. Their Sauvignon Blanc, amusingly named 2018 F’ing Merlot, is rated 93 points by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. The 2018 K III is a delicious Rhône-style GSM blend (Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre) with a spicy, peppery kick, bright, not-too-fruity berries exhibiting hints of cloves, river rock and can cigar box, a perfect Big Bang expression of Central Coast bravado. Even better, opening hours in Clifton have been extended to 7 p.m. daily and Fridays to 9 p.m.

Promised land originally aired on ABC and last month moved exclusively to Hulu. Set in Sonoma, the saga pivots from 1987 when brothers Sandoval Joe and Billy Rincón, along with friend Lettie and her sister Rosa, cross the border into Mexico in search of a better life in (you guessed it ) the promised land – the wine country of California. The four arrive at Heritage House Vineyards, where they toil in the vineyards of Oliver M. Honeycroft. Joe (John Ortiz~ Silver Linings playbook, replicas) marries Margaret, Oliver’s daughter, although he and Billy are hopelessly in love with Lettie.

Fast forward to 2022. Joe has divorced Margaret, taken over the vineyard and is now married to Lettie, raising a combative blended family rivaling the Kings. Billy is an estranged priest from the family. Margaret returns from a long vacation in Europe, a successful hotel magnate reconnecting with her adult children while seeking revenge on Joe.

In an episode last month, siblings Veronica and Antonio Sandoval took part in a blind tasting of six bottles at Bottle Shock, including a 2003 Chardonnay. Chardonnay can indeed age 20 years. You’re unlikely to find a 2003 Virginia Chardonnay, except maybe in my cellar gathering dust somewhere.

Pearmund Cellars’ award-winning Old Vine Chardonnay, grown on the Merriwether Vineyard in Fauquier County, is Virginia’s oldest Chardonnay vineyard. It was named Virginia Grand Cru Vineyard by the American Grand Cru Society. This extraordinary wine is 100 percent malolactic fermentation, sur-lie, and aged for nine months in French oak barrels. A classic buttery and woody Swiss chard. Try it, you will like it!

The crew on Great crew don’t descend much from Chardonnay. They’re all about big, bold reds. Great crewairing on NBC, is Black Friends of the 20s. Six friends, three guys and three girls, with a brother and sister among the group, meet at a wine bar in Los Angeles’ Silver Lake neighborhood called Cru.

For episode 9 on March 1, the team headed to a vineyard in Santa Barbara. Paradise Springs maybe? Stream the show on Peacock to find out. To quote the crew, “Bespoke this! Check your feelings. It’s time to drink.

So let’s hang crew for a bottle of white, a bottle of red, maybe a rosé instead. Make yourself comfortable near the screen, face to face with under the vines from Napa Kings in the Promised land with your Great crew.

ICYMI: Spring is sprouting with new restaurants in town

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March 4, 2022 – From the Ser Tasting Room and Cat and Cloud’s terrace, the view of the ocean was magnificent, as stray slivers of sunlight made their way to the water through a thin veil of overcast sky. A perfect day for wine tasting in the charming town of Aptos offered 14 stops with 18 wineries that showed the region’s depth and breadth in Burgundy varietals, with a few surprises.

It also proved that you can very quickly spend an entire afternoon exploring all the nifty shops and tasting rooms in this very compact but diverse city. Who among us hasn’t bought something from Magnolia or Warmth? Or Caroline’s thrift store? It had been so long since I had shopped in person, I had forgotten the thrill of touching an exotic fabric, instead of trusting a questionably generated online review with suspicious spelling. Add a few ounces of alcohol and the urge to make an acquisition is irresistible.

My friend Connie could have opted for the indigo cashmere scarf, but the matching hat perched above on the mannequin was more practical. With a splash of Twelve Stones Pinot Noir in the glasses of the crowd gathered at Magnolia, she modeled several others, but the vote was the blue and white boater. Group shopping may be a bit too much of an incentive to spend money, but it’s a bit like walking the runway at a fashion show.

Magnolia Gifts & Gallery has such a compelling collection of candles that we couldn’t help but get sucked into that olfactory rat hole, though the hash, leather and black currant scented numbers may have left too much of a lasting impression. Warmth & Co is no less inviting, where irresistibly soft bathrobes, socks, linens and sleepwear encourage blissful sleep. There is something about the caterpillar.

But back to wine. We started at the Sante Arcangeli Tasting Room, where Alex Baker and his father, Chris, prepared the Aptos Vineyard range. The 2020 DaLarDi Pinot Noir rosé was well received and the 2018 DaLarDi Pinot Noir and Lester Vineyard Syrah, all made by John Benedetti, were highly appreciated.

On the lighter and brighter side, the 2019 Integrato Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from John Benedetti of Sante Arcangeli, delivered skill and articulation. They positively soared. The Chardonnay is all wildflowers, with a touch of honey, Meyer lemon, nectarine and quince. Pinot’s delicious strawberry and rhubarb flavors are downright cheerful. Benedetti shared that he finds Chardonnay difficult to make sometimes — a few hits, a few misses — but really likes this one.

Next, we drove to Ser, where we feasted on Arroyo Seco’s magnificent 2019 Vermentino, while admiring the brilliant metallic foil-accented paintings by local artist Hannah Baldrige. Primarily ocean scenes, with skies ranging from soothing to eerie, these come to life as light hits the fine lines of silver, gold and copper, creating bursts of drama.

Without a doubt, Pinot Noir was the star of this wine walk, and I could easily name a dozen that were stellar or approaching that designation.

Top of the list would be the 2018 Twelve Stones Pinot Noir, made by Peter Kirchner (Coastal Range Vineyards) from fruit grown in Affie and Karen Munshi’s Scotts Valley estate, a wine that’s seriously eye-catching, d especially since it was made of 100% new French oak (François Frères). The Pommard and the 777 on this site make a strong impression. The 2019, made from 75% new barrels, was extremely spicy and a little more racy, but the wood was much more important. It takes time. This is a label to watch out for.

The 2018 Domaine La Vida Bella Pinot Noir was an all-time favorite in my group, for its finesse, fine aging and perfect balance, a deliciously seductive wine that invites contemplation. The same goes for the 2018 Charmant Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir, named by Connie as a wine you want to spend the last half of the evening with, rather than something you gloat over while cooking dinner. We place Lester’s Domingo Pinot Noir 2018 in the latter category, with its accessible, expansive dark fruit and just-right acidity.

Winemaker Brandon Armitage knows how to capture the essential energy of Pinot Noir in a way that delivers a wild, raw taste. Although served a little too hot, a crime against this varietal, the 2019 Meadowridge Vineyard Pinot Noir was impressive, with its core of sweet red plum jam woven with pomegranate, red cherry and a decided touch of cinnamon, nutmeg and five Asian spices.

Served at the right temperature, the Big Basin Vineyards 2019 Coastview Vineyard Pinot Noir was like a hawk soaring from the glass and hovering over your tongue, landing gracefully and coating it with delicious bursts of red currant and cranberry- raspberry. Its energy is unmistakable: it is the Pinot Noir that catches your attention. The racy acid sends it flying high long after the satisfying finale is no longer a memory. A masterfully orchestrated wine.

The chardonnay is understated in this AVA, as the pinot noir often overshadows its more subtle nuances. Although there were few, those we tried were beautiful, delicate and charming, including the 2019 Charmant from Tondré Grapefields (SLH), the aforementioned 2019 Integrato from Benedetti (all SLH fruits) and the Stellar Big Basin Howard Family Chardonnay 2019. Vineyard, close to perfection in its weight, juiciness and exceptional balance of fruit and oak.

For those with a preference for weight and weight, there were a few fair Syrahs: looking at you, Lester Vineyards. And Big Basin Vineyards’ 2018 Wirz Vineyard Carignane which is such a fun blend of sweet fruit and vegetal undertones, creating a cooking wine that’s broadly appealing to vegetable stews and bean dishes. My group universally adored the striking 2018 Left Bend Cabernet Franc from Camel Hill Vineyard on Bear Creek Road, with its essence of red fruits, cedar and satiny tannins.

Although it was impossible to get to all of the stops unless you did a hard march and didn’t linger to chat with the people at the winery or the winemaking legend, Tom Stutz, or s’ stopping to listen to the music of guitarist Ed Lane, who was playing in front of Cantine, the overall impression was of excellent, high quality wines with an appealing breadth of expression.

The Santa Cruz Mountains have it all, and Aptos is definitely a worthy destination for tourist money. But where do you stay if you are visiting and want to spend the night here?

Which brings us to that all-important question: why hasn’t anyone restored the Bayview Hotel yet?

The Central Coast’s Pali Wine Co. establishes a second location in San Diego and opens another tasting room and restaurant in Hillcrest where it will replace Oscar Wilde’s Irish pub on University Avenue. The space consists of a 2,000 square foot restaurant matched with an equally sized patio and is slated to open in early 2023 after a renovation.

Comprised of three wine brands: Pali, which focuses on premium pinot noir and chardonnay, tower 23 single varietal wines, and Neighborhood, which focuses on wine blends, the Lompoc-based winery operates a handful of outposts across the state, including in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Anaheim. Since 2016, Pali Wine Co. has run a satellite spot on India Street in Little Italy that includes a tasting bar, rooftop lounge, and front and back patios.

Executive chef Travis Clifford (Market, Fernside) tells Eater that the restaurant component of the Hillcrest location will be more comprehensive, with improved dishes and expanded offerings. In Little Italy, Clifford’s current seasonal menu includes wine-friendly plates like cumin-roasted carrots with miso and apple butter, bacon-wrapped dates and braised Spanish meatballs. Both locations will offer weekend brunch.

Mike Spilky of Location Matters, who negotiated the lease for tenant and landlord, says the University Avenue space was particularly coveted because it has scarce on-site parking.

Festive bottles of English sparkling wine have been made from fruit from Sussex vineyards to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The special edition bottles of wine have been released by the Royal Collection Trust (a department of the Royal Household) and are made from a blend of hand-picked fruit from vineyards in Sussex and Kent.

The trust said the vintage sparkling wine is a classic blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier.

Read more: Prince Harry described as ‘just lovely’ by US star after Super Bowl reunion

The wine is golden in color and has been described as having seductive aromas of rich, honeyed citrus, white peach and hints of sweet spice.

The drink will pair well with mature English cheddar as well as seafood such as crab, langoustines and classic fish and chips.

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It displays a label inspired by gold embroidery on Her Majesty’s Estate Robe worn at her Coronation in 1953.

A 700ml bottle of Platinum Jubliee wine will set you back £39.

Additional hand-cut champagne flutes will cost £120 for a pair.

For more stories of where you live, visit In your region.

Remember that Charles Schwab commercial with the silver-haired guy poking fun at the idea of ​​being able to afford a dream retirement with a beach house or a personal vineyard? ” A vineyard ? he sniffles. “Leave me alone.”

A lot has changed in the 12 years since this ad first aired. And while not everyone is looking to produce the ultimate house wine, most home shoppers during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic are hungry for space.

With limited trips to the office and delayed vacations, people continue to target properties in Oregon with square footage, an efficient Zoom room for teleconferencing, additional living quarters for family members, and a large, relaxing backyard for replacing weekend getaways.

The right house sells quickly due to low inventory and high demand. The average time a Portland-area residential property stays on the market before receiving an accepted offer is 38 days, according to the latest report from regional listing service RMLS.

Some places move even faster. A contemporary home sharing four acres with Pinot Noir and Riesling vines in Portland’s Forest Park neighborhood has a pending offer in 10 days.

The property on Northwest Kaiser Road, near Northwest Skyline Boulevard and Germantown Road, has been listed at $1,285,000 November 19.

A contract was signed on November 29 and the transaction closed on February 2. The sale price: $1,130,000, which is $155,000 or 12% less than the asking price.

“The most interesting aspect of this property is its location and proximity to the Bethany area and yet [it has] a full feel of a rural, agricultural setting,” the listing agent said Clint Currin of RE/MAX Equity Group.

Currin said the property is also surrounded by multimillion-dollar homes, allowing the new owner to invest in upgrades while still staying in an area that will hold millions of dollars in value.

The seller was the original owner of the 44-year-old split-level home.

Most of its 1970s architectural features popularized by the multi-level house from the sitcom “The Brady Bunch” are intact: an open living room with a stone fireplace wall and stairs leading to the large family room on the upper level. inferior. Here there is also a separate living room with an entrance providing privacy for extended family members.

The home boasts four bedrooms and three bathrooms among its 3,616 square feet of living space.

There is a terrace next to the raised main entrance and another large terrace at the back of the house.

The plot has approximately 1.5 hectares planted with vines. Long and short rows form a heart-shaped vineyard. There is also land for gardens, outbuildings and animal husbandry, according to marketing materials.

Multnomah County taxes in 2021 were approximately $8,400according to public records.

— Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

[email protected] | @janeteastman

Learn about the Portland and Oregon real estate market:

• Furnished Pearl District penthouse for sale at $5,695,000: Everything goes to the new owner, except the art

• Millennials, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers Want Homes in These Cities: Find Out Who Loves Portland

• The storied Portland Heights mansion on a triple lot is on sale for $3,250,000

• Portland’s biggest real estate bidding wars of 2021: Homes sold for up to $605,000 above asking price

• Portland-area housing market has frustrated buyers with skyrocketing prices, few options in 2021

• Oregon’s most popular homes for sale in 2021: Oddball oceanfront, over-the-top mansion teardowns were the most-viewed real estate listings this year

• Analysis finds landowners in Portland’s most diverse gentrification areas hit hardest by code violation fines

• New Millennial Homebuyers Face Cash-Rich Baby Boomers: ‘Hold On’

© Wine Australia
| After authorizing non-regional varieties, Bordeaux could then plant hybrid vines.

There’s just no stopping the drama in Bordeaux, is there?

Not content with increasing the hackles by allowing warmer climate varietals in the appellation, there is now talk of allowing hybrids in the blend. How awful for purists, but it’s a very real possibility.

Elsewhere, there’s sparkling wine news in Piedmont, trouble for small Chianti producers and a long-running case in a French wine court dragging on even longer. Continue reading…

Burgundy grape eyes hybrid

Following the Bordeaux region’s high-profile acceptance of six out-of-region varietals (the warm-climate hardy reds: Arinarnoa, Castets, Marselan and Touriga Nacional; and the whites: Alvarinho and Liliorila) recently, reports from the region indicate that locals are now ready to adopt disease-resistant hybrid varieties as well.

This eventual decision – which should be voted on early next month – falls as the European Union prepares to reset its common agricultural policy (the CAP). According to French wine news site Vitisphere, the new CAP – which is due to come into force next year – will allow hybrid grape varieties for wine production in member states.

Although France has a complex relationship with hybrids (it banned the production of wine from hybrid varieties in the 1950s for false health concerns despite many successful hybrids originating in the country), their resistance to disease is cited as a major factor in their revival.

“It must be said that after the trying 2021 vintage (with strong mildew pressure), the prospect of only treating [against cryptogamic attacks] two to three times a year can only be appealing,” said industry commentator Alexandre Abellan.

There is no news yet on which potential varieties the region will adopt, but it is likely that they will fall under legislation allowing experimental hybrid varieties to be planted on more than 5% of vineyard land. These “experimental” plantations cannot represent more than 10% of any resulting wine.

A meeting of Bordeaux’s so-called Management and Defense Organization (ODG) – which could change current viticulture and winemaking legislation in favor of hybrid varieties – is scheduled for March 4.

Ceretto launches a new sparkling wine project

Roberta Ceretto, one of four Ceretto siblings behind the well-regarded eponymous Barolo estate, has launched a new sparkling wine project in Piedmont’s Alta Langa with her husband, interior designer Giuseppe Blengini . Called Monsignore (from the Cascina Monsignore estate in Vicoforte, which also produces Dolcetto-based Dogliani), the first releases cover the 2017 and 2018 vintages.

According to Italian wine news site WineNews.it, current production is around 8,000 bottles with the goal of increasing to 50,000 bottles per vintage. Alta Langa Metodo Classico wines are produced from a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Ceretto said she and her husband had been considering an heirloom project “for years” and the two opted for wine. The project is private and does not involve the Ceretto brand itself.

“In 2014 we started trying different clones of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir,” she said, “and in 2017 we had our first harvest. My family includes Nebbiolo for Barolo and Barbaresco, but to do quality in Alta Langa we asked the locals for advice. winemaker Giuseppe Caviola.”

More land is being purchased for the project, which is expected to grow from its 10 hectares (25 acres) of vineyard land – more than a quarter of which is devoted to Alta Langha production.

Languedoc court decision remains on the fence

The Narbonne High Court ruled that the Languedoc wine merchants‘ union (the CIVL) was justified in having its representatives of direct marketing removed from the regional council of wine merchants. It’s a complex affair, perhaps best summed up in previous roundups in September (point four) and December (point two) last year.

According to wine news site vitisphere.com, the local court effectively sat on the fence. He said the CIVL was justified in its approach while acknowledging that direct marketing organizations (often – but not entirely – large companies in the region with a significant national and/or international advertising budget) have an important and unique role. within the CIVL.

Unusually, the decision appears to have appeased both parties, although few comments have been issued by the CIVL.

“It’s a big step forward,” Alexandre They, head of the regional direct marketing group, told vitisphere.com. “The court recognizes our legitimacy. This reinforces our thinking: we have our place within the professional body.”

French wine exports to the United States rebound

Exports of French wines to the United States rebounded 50% in 2021, surpassing 2019 figures, according to the country’s foreign trade ministry. French wine journal La Revue du Vin de France said the rebound followed lower tariffs imposed by the Trump administration and a general increase in sales following the earlier impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the ministry, exports jumped 19% in value and 33% in volume in 2021.

“The [wine] sector is taking a breather after two years of pandemic and the suspension in March 2021 of the 25% surcharge on certain European wines imposed in October 2019 by the Trump administration,” the RVF said. The tariffs, she said, were part of a long-running dispute between the United States and Europe over state aid to the aviation sector.

Chianti boss sounds the alarm

Unlike France, however, the head of the Chianti Wine Consortium, Marco Alessandro Bani, issued a different note, despite reports that exports of regional Chianti wines also increased by 17% in 2021 (compared to 2019). Bani told regional newspaper Siena Free that despite the general good news, small wineries were still “in big trouble”.

“In the wine sector there are very different situations,” he said. “Some companies are in difficulty because they are not credited by banks. In terms of growth, we must highlight a greater need for financing necessary to pay for the increase in inventories. This growth rests entirely on the shoulders of companies and is not supported by the banking system.

“The world of wine is very big,” he added, “and it doesn’t just contain big companies. There are also small ones that need help.”

Wine truck overturns in western France

“The smell of wine still hangs over the trailer of the damaged truck,” began the report by regional media Ouest France after a truck driver lost control of his vehicle on Tuesday evening. The truck hit a low wall and overturned on a departmental road in Vendée, western France, injuring the driver and losing its cargo of around 600 liters of bottled wine.

Emergency services reportedly remained in the area for around six hours to contain the wine which had spilled into a roadside ditch. A specialist clean-up crew was called in to remove the wine from the waterway.

No news on exactly how the truck driver came through a roadside wall and overturned the truck.