Team C&J
Ted Rieger has a very detailed rundown of the latest technology for vineyard management. (Strangely, Carlo Mondavi’s Monarch Tractor is missing from the list.) From the article:
Grape growers and vineyard owners are confronting market conditions that require innovative changes to make vineyard operations more efficient and cost-effective. Growers who are in business for the long-term are increasingly moving toward mechanizing and automating more operations to reduce labor costs, improve worker safety, and perform work more efficiently and with greater precision. Newer technologies also offer potential environmental benefits by reducing machine passes, chemical use, soil compaction and carbon footprints with electric-powered vehicles.
PR Newswire – The Come Over October Team Launches – Share & Pair Sundays
From the creators of Come Over October: writer Karen MacNeil, along with wine communication pros Kimberly Noelle Charles and Gino Colangelo, are launching a fresh spring wine campaign — Share & Pair Sundays. From the Press Release:
Come Together — A Community for Wine (the mission-driven company created by Karen, Kimberly and Gino) is supported by foundational partners Freixenet Mionetto, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Jackson Family Wines and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits as well as many other leading wine companies including Joseph Phelps, the Wine Group and Total Wine & More. Media companies Wine Enthusiast Vinepair, Wine Business Monthly, The Tasting Panel and The Somm Journal are also supporters.
The Come Over October and Share & Pair Sundays campaigns were both created to tell the positive story about wine’s cultural, historical, social and culinary relevance. Please learn more about our cause and our sponsors at: www.cometogetherforwine.com or www.shareandpairsundays.com.
Wine Spectator – Opus One Names New Director of Winemaking
We’ve are a fan of Meghan Zobeck, who will now be working under veteran winemaker Michael Silacci as the legendary Napa Valley estate undergoes a winemaking transition and deepens its commitment to regenerative farming.
From the article by James Molesworth:
“I’m very excited to work with Meghan. Her energy and intensity is a perfect fit for us,” said Michael Silacci, winemaker at Opus One since 2001. “My job is to facilitate her advancement, build a great team around her, and be mentored by her at the same time. And that’s it.”
Silacci plans to stay on for three to six more years, while continuing to focus on needed vine replantings and a shift to holistic farming practices in the vineyard that he instituted during his tenure.
Jess Lander has an article on yet another attack on small Napa producers by Napa County. We honestly don’t get this. It seems that the county is deliberately trying to force small wineries out of business. This one is crazy:
Without the ability to pour its wines for consumers, Dalla Valle has relied heavily on what winemaker Maya Dalla Valle and others refer to as “trade visits” with people in the industry, such as distributors, importers, restaurants and journalists. A standard practice for decades, these trade visits are typically how small wineries market their wines and get wholesale placements.
But after nearly 40 years of business, Dalla Valle fears it must suddenly halt this vital business activity, citing what it sees as a major Napa County policy change to start counting trade tastings like other winery tastings.
“Taking away a common and essential business practice,” she continued, “is akin to sawing a leg off a wooden chair.”
VinePair – Millennials Are Entering Their Collecting Years — Will They Buy the Same Wines Boomers Did?
John Sumners has a LONG READ on what wine will Millennials gravitate towards as they age up. A small slice the article:
Different Generation, Different Taste
The global marketing crisis for the wine world has been well documented as of late, with doom and gloom still the assumed forecast despite occasional glimmers of hope.
Factor in the younger generation’s additional penchant for novelty and under-the-radar, esoteric wines, and it’s fair at least to extrapolate up the ladder and question the future stability of the collector market as it exists today. “Who among us can predict where the influencer class will set their gaze next?” says Torrence. “Taste can be both collective and individual. Remember what the movie ‘Sideways’ did to the Merlot market?”
Emevé Wines: Where Tradition Meets Innovation in Valle de Guadalupe
Emevé Wines offers more than just a tasting—it’s an invitation to experience the heart of Valle de Guadalupe through carefully crafted wines and genuine hospitality. Don Mario Villarreal’s vision, combined with Daniel Lonnberg’s winemaking expertise, has created a portfolio that strikes a balance between tradition and modernity. From the peaceful setting of the vineyard to the thoughtful presentation of each pour, everything about Emevé encourages guests to relax, explore, and enjoy.
Madison Vineyards Quixotic (NV) – Livermore Valley, CA : 93 Points – $60
Madison Vineyards’ Quixotic is a Cabernet Sauvignon that lives up to its ambitious name. Bold and expressive without being overbearing, it’s a wine that manages to balance richness with structure, making it as suitable for a celebratory dinner as it is for contemplative sipping. With only 355 cases produced, it’s a limited offering that rewards those willing to seek it out. Enjoy it now with a decant or let it evolve in the cellar through 2030—either way, you’re in for a rewarding experience. In a wine world that often plays it safe, Quixotic is a refreshing reminder that sometimes, a little madness is exactly what’s needed.
Rivea: A Culinary Journey Through the French and Italian Riviera – Las Vegas, NV
Rivea is a true gem in Las Vegas, offering an exquisite blend of French and Italian Riviera cuisine in a setting that is both elegant and inviting. Chef Winnie Wong’s execution is flawless, the wine list is world-class, and the service is exceptional.
Corkage Fee: $50 a Bottle/ Limit 1 Bottle
2023 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge $14 – Kermit Lynch
We rated the 2021 Vintage 90 Points. This is an easy-drinking wine. The 2023 is the same blend as the 21 from the same vineyards. And the 2023 vintage was considered by many experts to be exceptional.
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