Team C&J
Another Wine Fraud Ring is Broken Up
Making Wine in a War Zone
Want to learn about winemaking? A new series of articles can help explain the process,
Fake Wine Ring Broken Up In Italy/France
The operation led to:
Six arrests (one High-Value Target);
14 location searches in Torino and Milano
Seizures including: large amount of wine bottles from different counterfeited Grand Cru domains, wine stickers and wax products, ingredients to refill wine, technical machines to recap bottles, luxurious goods, and electronic equipment valued at EUR 1.4 million, over EUR 100 000 in cash and documents.
For one of the greatest wine scams ever, we recommend the book The Billionaire’s Vinegar: The Mystery of the World’s Most Expensive Bottle of Wine—Hardy Rodenstock’s great wine scam.
Wine Enthusiast names Jean-Charles Boisset Person of the Year at the 2024 Wine Star Awards
From the article: When he moved decades later to his now adopted home in California, Boisset made a splash with the acquisitions of several historic properties, including Raymond Vineyards in Rutherford (which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024), Deloach Vineyards in Russian River Valley, Oakville Grocery and the most historic of them all: Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma
And these are just a few of Boisset’s holdings.
the drinks business – Lebanon producer harvests grapes despite bombings
Lebanon producer IXSIR’s 2024 vintage will be a “different style” compared to 2023 and “more expressive” as well as “showing great promise,” according to winemaker Gabriel Rivero.
As of this writing, no vineyards have been affected by the growing conflict. Making wine in a conflict zone is not an easy task, as we talked about in Episode 12 and as covered in the excellent documentary The Cup of Salvation.
JamesSuckling.com – Brian on Wine Making
I recently stumbled across a great series on winemaking at JamesSuckling.com. It is by Matt Brain, a consulting winemaker and educator based in Napa Valley. Recently, for Alpha Omega Winery. These are great articles for anyone interested in the winemaking process.
Located on the Texas Wine Trail, Calais Winery has established itself as a notable winery known for its French-inspired winemaking techniques.
Owned and operated by Benjamin Calais, this boutique winery specializes in Bordeaux-style wines that reflect the diverse terroir of Texas. Despite its modest size, Calais Winery has made an impact in the Texas wine scene through its meticulous craftsmanship and dedication to showcasing the best qualities of Texas grapes.
Flying Leap Vineyards 2021 “Trio” White Blend
Malvasia Bianca 50% | Grenache Blanc 40% | Picpoul 10%
Summer days call for refreshing sips, and Arizona winemakers have mastered the art of crafting perfect warm-weather wines. Enter Flying Leap Vineyards, a boutique Arizona winery that deserves a spot on your radar. This dynamic winery, founded by former Air Force pilots, is making waves with their exceptional wines, blending estate-grown fruit from their Willcox vineyard, and carefully selected grapes from Argentina and Washington.
Of the Arizona wines we’ve tried, their 2021 Trio white blend is a standout. With a zippy palate bursting with citrus and crunchy melon flavors, it’s the epitome of summer refreshment.
Let’s dive in and explore why this wine is an absolute must-try.
Garrison restaurant is located in the swanky Fairmont Hotel in Austin. This is a really nice spot, and it’s a little bit of a hidden gem within the city. After our experience, we were a little surprised that Garrison wasn’t busier. We think the restaurant may be off-the-radar for tourists who visit Austin but don’t stay at the Fairmont. But, even if you’re not staying here, we think you should consider this restaurant for your dinner plans.
As with most restaurants in Texas, bringing your own wine is not allowed.
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