Category: Booze

Wine reviews, pairings, events, and getaways


May
2020

SIP Sonoma, Save Lives—Sonoma Valley Wine Collective Donates to the La Luz Crisis Fund, Assisting Minority Workers Affected by COVID

categories: Wine

First a little heartbreaking news, due to the COVID-19, the Sonoma County Vintners recently announced that this year’s Taste of Sonoma is cancelled canceled. The organization, which represents more than 200 wineries and affiliated businesses throughout the Sonoma County, encourages consumers to, instead, celebrate Sonoma at home, pointing to their Sip from Home. According to the site, many Sip from Home promotions include interactive virtual programs as well, encouraging virtual visits to Sonoma County.

The Sonoma Valley Growers Alliance (SVGA), an organization that is a merger of the Sonoma Valley Vintners Association and the Sonoma Valley Grape Growers Association, is also partnering with the La Luz Crisis Fund. The local non-profit organization is dedicated to assisting minority workers throughout the county and has set up a fund specifically to provide aid to those affected by the COVID pandemic. By purchasing wine through The Sonoma Valley Wine Collective, a percentage of the money spent on wine will be donated to the La Luz Crisis Fund to meet the needs of the county’s community of workers.

So, while you may not be able to visit sunny Sonoma or tour our wineries in person, I encourage you to support our small town, our family-run wineries, and of course help our community of workers so they can be present and healthy when you are able to sip Sonoma in person. Cheers.

About The Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance (SVVGA)

The Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance (SVVGA) comprises hundreds of member wineries and grape growers as well as associate members who work together to promote awareness of the Sonoma Valley and its extraordinary wines and grapes, its incomparable climate, and its richly diverse terrain and terroir.

The organization was formed in 1992 by merging the Sonoma Valley Vintners Association and the Sonoma Valley Grape Growers Association. Because it is a collaboration of vintners and growers, it is a unique organization that shares a mission to promote Sonoma Valley wines and grapes, support cooperation and collaboration among Valley vintners and growers, and develop community awareness of the industry and its contributions to the unique lifestyle in Sonoma Valley.

Specific purposes of the SVVGA are:

  • To promote awareness in the marketplace of the superior quality of Sonoma Valley grapes and wines
  • To raise community awareness and to protect the central importance of the grape and wine industry to the local economy and to the quality of life in Sonoma Valley
  • To assure a healthy social and political environment conducive to grape growing and winemaking
  • To strive to maximize the quality of Sonoma Valley grapes and wines

About La Luz Center

In 1985, the wine industry was booming in Sonoma Valley. Hundreds of workers were hired from Mexico, Central and South America to work in the vineyards. On weekends they attended church where they met Ligia Booker.  Born in Colombia to a large philanthropic family, Ligia saw Sonoma Valley through the eyes of an immigrant. She learned that the vineyard worker families had basic unmet needs like language skills and access to food, clothing and housing; assistance with medical, legal and financial issues presented more complicated, longer term challenges.

Ligia and a group of Sonoma residents came together to provide needed assistance and began to call themselves La Luz, Spanish for “The Light”. Over the years, La Luz Center has  expanded capabilities through strong community partnerships and a talented, resourceful La Luz staff that now delivers a wide-range of programs, services and responsive support to families in Sonoma Valley.

Ligia understood the unique relationship between the people of The Springs and the economy of Sonoma Valley. The Latino community, now comprising approximately 28% of the Sonoma Valley population and 58% of our public school enrollment, significantly contributes to the vitality of the Valley. La Luz Center continues to bring “The Light” to Sonoma Valley residents and we invite you to explore our website to learn more about current La Luz Center partnerships, services, and programs.

BriscoeBites officially accepts samples as well as conducts on-site and online interviews. Want to have your wine, winery or tasting room featured? Please visit the Sample Policy page where you can contact me directly. Cheers!

**Please note: all reviews and opinions are my own and are not associated with any of my places of business. I will always state when a wine has been sent as a sample for review. Sending samples for review on my personal website in no way guarantees coverage in any other media outlet I may be currently associated with.**

Apr
2020

Panther Creek Cellars 2017 De Ponte Vineyard Pinot Noir

categories: Booze, Wine

Continuing my travels around Panther Creek’s estate vineyards. Today’s stop is the De Ponte Vineyard—doesn’t the name just sound fancy? Trust me, the taste doesn’t disappoint those expectations. Before you read on, make sure you’ve read about the winery’s other single estate bottlings: Maverick, Kalita, and Lazy River. And don’t forget to check out this super fun Pinot Noir-Chardonnay white wine blend. (I know, right?)

Also, don’t judge me, yes that is pizza in the background. Again.

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Apr
2020

Passaggio Wines 2019 Skin Fermented Pinot Grigio

categories: Booze, Wine

Let’s talk about orange wines for a second. Orange wines are wines made from white wine grapes through a similar process as red wines are typically made. Instead of immediately pressing the white grapes to separate skin from juices, thereby making a white wine, the skins are left on during the fermentation process and, often, for a bit of post-fermentation maceration (ie: additional skin contact time). It’s the oxidative effect—oxygen’s influence on the grape skin compounds—that turn the wine it’s notable orange-y color. Resulting wines are typically dry with notes of phenolic bitterness and a slight tannic texture. Flavors will vary depending on the grape variety, but usually include tertiary, maturing notes of honey, nuts, and even dried fruits.

Like any other wine type, no two orange wines are quite the same. Of course grape variety will play a large role, but the time and attention of the winemaker is critical. Too much oxygen exposure equals spoiled wine and/or funky flavors. Too little and you don’t get the desired affect—visually or on the palate. I’ve had some funky (read: unpleasant) orange wines. I’ve had orange wines that barely touched the outer spectrum of what it means to be orange (thus quite lacking in aroma and flavor).

Today I bring you Passaggio Wines skin fermented Pinot Grigio. It’s a fun and perfectly delicious example of the winemaking process. 

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Apr
2020

C.G. Di Arie 2013 Touriga Nacional

categories: Booze, Wine

Touriga Nacional: If you’ve heard of it, you’re probably thinking Port production, and you’re not wrong. Indeed, it is the most important red grape of the Duoro Valley where the majority of Port grapes are grown. Interesting fact: Touriga Nacional isn’t just for Port production, but still, non-fortified wines as well. (Read more about the wines of Portugal here and Port production here.) Another interesting fact: You don’t have to go to Portugal to taste Touriga Nacional. Actually, the grape grows in a couple of different California regions—some more successfully than others. In fact, past experience has told me to be wary of the grape when it hails from my home state. But today, we’re speaking about Touriga Nacional from El Dorado County, located in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains—a region I’ve come to know and trust for it’s cool-climate expression of otherwise harsh and rustic grapes. Where Touriga Nacional can become over-ripe and thus cloyingly alcoholic in some of California’s warmer, inland regions, C.G. Di Arie has crafted a wine expressive of the elevated hillsides and loamy soils.

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