What’s been going on in the wine world lately? Here’s a small collection of some articles worth checking out.

Coombsville becomes Napa’s 16th appellation
The Coombsville Vintners & Growers group is celebrating because the federal government has approved the eastern Napa region as the valley’s newest sub-appellation.

What rising memperatures may mean for world’s wine industry
Warming temperatures associated with climate change are already affecting vineyards from France to Chile, often in beneficial ways. But as the world continues to warm, some traditional winemaking regions are scrambling to adapt, while other areas see themselves as new wine frontiers.

Gallo Winery gets AVA expansion
All it took was “Money and time,” said winemaker Merry Edwards, describing the denouement of her lengthy and ultimately unsuccessful fight to prevent expansion of the Russian River Valley viticultural area.

Bitter taste when smoke gets in your vines
Scientists have identified more than 20 chemicals that make smoke-tainted wine taste like leather, disinfectant and other unpalatable flavours in a new research project that aims to limit the damage to the wine industry caused by smoke.

N.J. Senate approves bill allowing wineries to sell directly to dealerss
The state Senate has approved a measure to allow wineries to sell directly to retailers, and to ship small amounts of wine to consumers by mail.

Judge won’t halt liquor privatization
A Cowlitz County judge on Wednesday rejected a request to temporarily halt an initiative to privatize state liquor sales while the courts decide whether it’s constitutional.

Trevor Kent, Cullen Wines, Margaret River from Alan Kropf on Vimeo.

In TGAWM: Margaret River 1, we took a general look at the Margaret River wine region of Australia, and in TGAWM: Margaret River 2, we explored style and varietals of the region with a focus on cooler climate shiraz.

In this most glorious third installment, we take a look at biodynamic practices in Margaret River, featuring the exceptionally delicious wines of Cullen Wines.

Cullen has established an international reputation for its biodynamic practices in the region, with the Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietal wines highly sought after.

According to Cullen Production Manager Trevor Kent, “I think somewhere like Bordeaux might struggle a bit more with humidity, but we’re lucky to have a good mediterranean climate that allows us to get through the ripening period without too much disease pressure.”

Here are some Margaret River wineries that are either biodynamic certified or employ biodynamic practices in their vineyard. There is a bit of a grey area as many Margaret River vineyards use some biodynamic and organic practices without stating it publicly.

24 Karat

Clown Fish

Cullen Wines

Heydon Estate

Jindong Moon

Marri Wood Park

Three Boys

Here are some links to Australian Sustainability Organizations:

National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia
Biological Farmers of Australia
Biodynamic Agriculture Australia

A visit to another Margaret River heavy hitter, Moss Wood, led to some interesting cellar conversations in regarding the use of native yeast vs. commercial yeast with the great Keith Mugford, wine maker at Moss Wood. I pulled him aside after the tasting for him to summarize his thoughts:

Keith Mugford, Moss Wood, Margaret River from Alan Kropf on Vimeo.

And just because, here’s some calming time-lapsed clouds at Leeuwin Estate in Margaret River.

Margaret River Zen Clouds from Alan Kropf on Vimeo.

Next up in the The Great Aussie Wine Mutiny: Mornington Peninsula. YES.

You’ve probably heard of “The One”, Master Sommelier Andrea Immer Robinson’s line of stemware that features a single glass for all red wines and a single glass for all white wines.

As awesome as these glasses are to enjoy wine out of, we took things a step further and created an old-school wine harp and created a video record of our achievement. As the footage shows, cats love the golden tones created by the wine harp, but only for short periods of time.

If you have a stockpile of “The One” or other crystal stemware handy and want to build your own ultra harp, beware that tuning this beast takes patience and perseverance. Much thanks to Hunter for being my partner in crime on this one.

From the Mutineer Interview with Andrea Immer Robinson in the May/June 2011 issue of Mutineer Magazine:

Andrea Immer Robinson: “Stemware is a labor of love for me, and it’s something I’m really passionate about because I’ve always stood for simplifying a topic that’s otherwise complicated. What I think has been a great thing about the last 20 years in the stemware world is that it’s become quite engrained that the glass makes a difference. So it’s great that people get it that a glass is important, and you’re seeing that at the mass-market chains. They all have fancy-ish wine stems relative to what they used to. But then it became completely over the top in terms of how complicated it got with needing a different glass with every grape. You needed a pinot Burgundy glass, and now you need an Oregon pinot glass. It’s like “What? are you freaking kidding me?”

The combination of the break-resistance, lead-free, dishwasher safe, superior clarity and pulled stem technology really made them a great partner. All of their glasses are wonderful quality, and they were extremely good about working with us and getting the shapes right. For the consumer, this is something that people can get their heads around and then they can make it fit into their practical everyday lives. I have three kids, and hand washing crystal wine glasses every night, especially with the amount we dirty up on a regular day, is just not gonna happen.”

For a world class wine harp performance, check this out:

Two industry leaders are uniting for a single cause — to help A Child’s Right assure safe drinking water for children in Asia and Africa. Members of Cellar Angels will now be able to select A Child’s Right as a funds recipient whenever they purchase wine via the Cellar Angels website. Mutineer Magazine will assist in the program’s promotion and oversee marketing of the opportunity.

Cellar Angels is a unique wine philanthropy company specializing in providing artisanal wines to their members at a discount in the name of their partnering charities. The Cellar Angels member selects which charity the company donates proceeds towards and A Child’s Right is now an option. The two companies were brought together by Alan Kropf, Editor in Chief of Mutineer Magazine. 

“Water relief is fundamentally a beverage issue, and I’m repeatedly amazed at A Child’s Right’s effectiveness in bringing clean water to children in urban areas around the world. With Cellar Angels joining Mutineer Magazine to support the efforts of A Child’s Right, we are setting up a sustainable way to raise funds and awareness with long-term potential,” Kropf said.

Mutineer Magazine has been working with A Child’s Right since 2009, producing a list of awareness-building and fundraising projects including the 2nd Annual Mutineer Red Carpet Party in partnership with Amarula Cream, Mutineer Blue Carpet Dinner in partnership with Jordan Vineyard and Winery, Mutineer Holiday Comedy Festival in partnership with Don Roberto Tequila, Mutinous Battle Chai Ale in partnership with New Holland Brewing Co. and the upcoming 3rd Annual Mutineer Red Carpet Party in partnership with Luxardo and Chinaco Tequila. Mutineer’s recent water relief work with A Child’s Right culminated with Kropf’s visit to Kathmandu, Nepal to observe the installation of five water filtration systems funded through Mutineer projects and a special November water-themed issue of Mutineer Magazine which recaps the project.

Cellar Angels works exclusively with acclaimed Napa and Sonoma County artisan wineries to provide its members access to highly sought-after wines at discounts well below retail and then donates portions of proceeds to charity. Once a week, Cellar Angels members receive a private email indicating that week’s offer and exclusive member price, a custom video of the wine and winemaker, tasting notes and food-pairing recipe. The member has just five days to purchase before the opportunity ends.

“There is nothing more important in the production of exceptional wine than water. In fact, there’s nothing more important in life,” indicated Martin Cody, President of Cellar Angels. “Partnering with both Mutineer and A Child’s Right allows us the privilege to help make sure children have access to clean water.”

Eric Stowe, Executive Director of A Child’s Right, states, “Cellar Angels gives ‘wine pairing’ a whole new meaning. Pairing fine wine with charitable giving means that children who formerly drank contaminated water will now drink water that is clean and safe.” He goes on to say, “There’s a very old story about turning water into wine, but turning wine into water is something entirely new!”

To sign up for a complimentary membership and receive the weekly Cellar Angels email, please visit cellarangels.com.  

Video by Alan Kropf, Mutineer Magazine

We’re back with another installment of The Great Aussie Wine Mutiny. In the last TGAWM, we took a broad look at Margaret River in southwest Australia near Perth. The wines burst with character that is the reflection of the cool climate terroir, and the local shiraz takes on a very different personality from the bombastic shiraz of Barossa Valley. Now, as a God-fearing wine writer I will drink bombastic Barossa Valley shiraz with great enthusiasm, but these Margaret River shiraz wines are layered and complex works of elegance with an identity all their own.

“The styles that we’re trying to produce here, and certainly at Xanadu, are a lot finer, more elegant, and in my opinion, a little bit more food friendly,” says Glenn Goodall, winemaker at Xanadu Wines. “Margaret River is probably most well recognized by its cabernet, its chardonnay and its sauvignon blanc/semillon blends. Shiraz, historically over the last few years, has probably played second fiddle to those other varieties.”

Video courtesy of Xanadu Wines

Cabernet sauvignon is the flagship red of the region, with the region’s top producers making cabs that can hang with the best in the world. Moss Wood, Cullen, Cape Mentelle and Leeuwin Estate all come to mind.

Beyond the brilliant cabernet sauvignon monologues, Bordeaux-style meritage blends are also pretty damn amazing, and the inspired use of petit verdot and malbec by winemaker Virginia Willcock in Vasse Velix’s Heytesbury red resulted in something of a fine beverage religious experience for me. I’m talking about a wide-eyed and giggly symphony of complex aromas that are all familiar to me from the countless meritage blends I’ve consumed in my days, yet expressed in a very spectacular way.

As crucial as the petit verdot and malbec are to this blend, for Willcock they are really supporting actors to the lead that is cabernet sauvignon:

“Cabernet [sauvignon] is king in Margaret River and all I want to do is find something that is going to bring cabernet to wonderful heights, and I think petit verdot and malbec can do it. Petit verdot brings violets, orange peel, acid structure and incredibly intense tannins. Malbec spice, voluptuousness and beauty.”

Video by Alan Kropf, Mutineer Magazine

CellarPass and TasteLive have announced its live streaming broadcast schedule for the 2011 Napa Valley Film Festival. Hosted by Editor-in-Chief Alan Kropf of Mutineer magazine, the one-hour daily broadcasts from marquee Napa Valley Film Festival events will take place on November 10th, 11th and 12th and feature a who’s who in regional winemaking, the culinary arts and special guests. Wine bloggers from around the U.S. will join the shows virtually to taste wines, post comments, and ask questions of guests.

“We’ll be producing five shows in three days,” said Kropf, “so we’ll be running the gauntlet of tight timelines and pushing the threshold of live-stream broadcasting. Along with our scheduled line up, we’ll be inviting talent off the red carpet for spontaneous interviews, and responding to questions posted by our blogger panelists. It’s going to be a bit of a thrill ride that should deliver some sweet surprises.”

Guests wishing to join the conversation can create an account in advance at TasteLive. Visitors traveling to the Napa Valley Film Festival are encouraged to use CellarPass’ industry-leading winery reservation system to book movie-inspired wine tasting itineraries and experiences and enter its sweepstakes to win an exclusive VIP trip to Napa Valley.

Napa Valley Film Festival TasteLive / CellarPass Streaming Broadcast Schedule

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10th 2011

OPENING NIGHT GALA
Robert Mondavi Winery, Oakville
8:00pm to 9:00pm
Go to TasteLive Event Page

Featured Winery & Wines
Robert Mondavi Winery
2009 Fume Blanc Reserve – $40
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – $135

Blogger Panelists
Bean Fairbanks, @WineBeerWA
Beau Carufel, @ucbeau
Dennis Atick, @decaturwinedude
Dezel Quillen, @myvinespot
Grace Hoffman, @cellarmistress
Lain Bradford, @winereview
Matthew Horbund, @mmwine
Megan Kenney, @sonadora
Thea Dwelle, @winebratsf
Continue Reading »

In an unlikely partnership, Banana Republic and Clos du Bois Winery have joined forces to create limited-edition holiday bottles for the Clos du Bois North Coast Chardonnay and North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon. Designed by Banana Republic Creative Director Simon Kneen, the festive hand-sketched labels are designed to bring cheer to holiday parties, stockings and evenings by the fire.

On each bottle there is a QR code which will instantly give consumers access to a holiday party soundtrack, style tips from Banana Republic’s Simon Kneen, entertaining advice from lifestyle expert Katie Lee and food and wine recommendations from Clos du Bois Winemaker Gary Sitton.

“Inspired by the glamour of the holidays, the bottles illustrate the brands’ shared passion for effortless sophistication. Each sketch is a perfect fit for the wine it adorns—the ‘go-to’ little black dress is particularly fitting for a universal favorite like Chardonnay, while a red full-skirted frock made for romance and dancing the night away makes a bold statement on the Cabernet Sauvignon,” the press release read. Kneen continues, “What really excites me about this creation is that it offers our consumers a completely different option for holiday gifts this year. Everything deserves a little extra sparkle and glamour over the holiday season, so why not your wine too? It’s safe to say everyone on my list knows what they’re getting this year!”

The Chardonnay retails for $16.99 and the Cabernet Sauvignon for $18.99, available for purchase on www.ClosduBois.com starting November 1, 2011.

Starting today, The Napa Valley Vintners non-profit trade association is bringing the 2011 Napa Valley harvest to people around the world with Harvest Live 2011. Each day throughout the week-long live webcast, follow the Harvest Live crew as they visit a different winery throughout the Napa Valley AVA. The press release can be found below.

St Helena, CA–The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) non-profit trade association is excited to bring “Harvest Live 2011,” the Napa Valley’s first week-long, live harvest webcast that will allow viewers to interact in real time with winemakers, vineyard managers and special wine industry co-hosts to hear and see all that’s news with this year’s crush in America”s premier wine region.

About the Napa Valley Vintners
The Napa Valley Vintners is the non-profit trade association responsible for promoting and protecting the Napa Valley appellation as the premier winegrowing region. From seven founding members in 1944, today the association represents more than 420 Napa Valley wineries and collectively is a leader in the world-wide wine industry. To learn more about our region and its legendary American wines, visit www.napavintners.com.