Wine Blog
"Juicy Tales by Jo Diaz"

[PHOTO: Robert Pepi]

Let’s start with nonpareil Robert Pepi and bring in (also) his nonpareil partner Steve Kreps.

Robert Pepi and Steve Kreps

Friends + Different Wine Interests Intersect

Creation of Two Angels & Samuel Charles Wines

When friends work together in Napa Valley, like winemaker Bob Pepi (Eponymous Wines) and wine salesman Steve Kreps (Quintessential Wines) did, each with a different wine acumen, it can blossom into amiable creations of new, delicious wines. Two Angels is just that, as are the Samuel Charles wines.

The wines have tasted beautifully and are extraordinary for their prices, every time. Getting samples of these wines for a few years, I hadn’t yet connected the dots, between the two people or wines in this union. The understanding of it began, during an interview with Robert Pepi.

[PHOTO: Steve Kreps, Sr.]

So, now let’s take the other half of this story, Steve Kreps. Quoting Wine Enthusiast Magazine on this one:

“When father-and-son team Steve and Dennis Kreps founded Quintessential Wines in 2002, they intentionally built their business around what was then a mold-breaking concept: Their vision was to represent wineries all over world, not just from one or two countries, as was common for many successful importers at the time. Many contemporaries were skeptical of their business model, but the Krepses persisted.

“When we saw the wine business becoming more and more corporate, we identified a need to help family-owned wineries compete, grow and flourish in the U.S. market,” says Dennis.

It’s important to note, Steve Kreps, Jr. has also joined Quintessential Wines, son of Dennis Kreps, creating their three-generation lineage.

 

HISTORY ~ Finding Their Digs

The Two Angels and Samuel Charles wine brands are in the Quintessential Wines‘ portfolio. This company is owned by Bob’s longtime friend Steve Kreps, because they’ve known each other since the mid-80s, when Steve was brokering Robert Pepi Winery sales. It was Steve, who helped build the Robert Pepi Winery brand, way back when, according to Pepi

Bob Pepi’s father sold the winery, because Bob wasn’t ready to own the company. Instead, Bob went off to pursue his own wine business interests as a serious winemaking consultant, and then the creator of his own Eponymous wines. (He jokes about the Eponymous name, since it is what it is…)

Even when Robert Pepi left the family winery, Bob and Steve remained friends.

Timeline

• Bob established a wine brokerage firm; as it grew, he knew he was changing from his own little brokerage firm.
• Meanwhile, Steve Kreps went from sales, to then working with the Rothschilds, before he moved back to Napa Valley. This is when he and his brother Dennis launched Quintessential Wines. This was also in partnership with John Komes, an owner of Flora Springs Winery. With Flora Springs being their launch brand, it was with the idea that they could expand Quintessential, to be working with import wines.
• After Flora Springs got settled, this is where Bob Pepi entered. He and Steve began talking about importing wines. Bob told Steve “when you’re ready to import something from South America, I’ve got an Argentinian wine that I’m pretty proud of, that I’ve been making.”
• This was Quintessential’s first import wine. After this import, they quickly picked up brands from all over the world.

 

 

TWO ANGELS and SAMUEL CHARLES

For our interview, I knew ahead of time what Bob was going to bring for samples. They were in a range of old, new, and some I didn’t even realize. This segment and the YouTube video are dedicated to Two Angels and Samuel Charles.

• Two Angels Sauvignon Blanc 2020 ~ $16.99
• Two Angels Petite Sirah 2019 ~ $26.99
• Samuel Charles Oak Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ~ $79.99

 

FIRST, TWO ANGELS

Fun trivia about how the artwork took shape for these wine bottle. I’m quoting Lorraine Raguseo, who works for Quintessential Wines, because her story is so adorable.

“Steve named Two Angels after what his wife called his two sons, when they were little.  Steve said that they never were ‘angels,’ but he didn’t want to put devils on the label.”

Family humor is the best, for anyone who’s had to raise boys, especially. (They’re a handful, if you don’t know.)

Bob Pepi begins his discussion on these wines by talking about his vision for the Two Angels wine brand, starting with the Petite Sirah.

Two Angels Petite Sirah 2019 ~ The first wine he made for Quintessential. The philosophy for this Petite Sirah – especially as a variety – isn’t always easy to tame, but Robert Pepi is committed to it.. With Petite, Bob searches for clean, bright fruit. He also wants to keep it true to its varietal character, as with all wines he enjoys making. Please keep in mind that he also is quite famous for his Pinot Noirs. In modern times, Pinot Noir winemakers have come to also treat Petite Sirah like it’s a Pinot Noir, with a delicacy it deserves to make it outstanding.

• Right now, we’re getting Petite Sirah from the Red Hills appellation in Lake County
• Minimal handling
• Small fermentation vats
• Cold soaking and get the wine up to 75 degrees to extract some color and flavor
• Pressing at a low brix
• Some oak for structure, but of a softer structure… with a focus on true elegance
• Small lots
• Creates a wine with the tannins a little bit easier to swallow (with a brief acknowledgement in the video that he pulled off a great pun)

Bob Pepi crafts the wine to taste really varietally correct ~ blueberry, chocolate, and a bit of spice, silky on the mid palate, and an elegant, lingering body on the finish. One sip and you know you just experienced a rare treat. The Petite comes from a vineyard in Lake County and is quite a delicious Petite.

Two Angels Sauvignon Blanc 2021 ~ This wine comes from a high valley appellation in Lake county. It’s grown in a vineyard that’s at 2,027 feet of elevation. Lake County has a reputation for doing well with the Rhone varieties, Petite Sirah, and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as any other regions in California.

For educational purposes, it’s extremely important to plant what will do well, not only to match the foods of a region, but also what would do well in their terroir.

Bob Pepi is a winemaker who understanding the impact on wine with all of its unique facets, I learned as I listened. He’s a great teacher, besides being a great winemaker. The video is very instructional. How that happens in his winemaking is that Pepi stylistically crafts very thoughtful wines… not in the commodity category, but in the category of enjoyment. This creates “a moment” with each wine; the lifestyle including some of the finer things life brings to humanity. His partnership with Quintessential Wines is a perfect fit.

NEXT, SAMUEL CHARLES WINES

Four years later, after establishing the Two Angels wines, Bob and Steve stumbled upon some Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, from the Oak Knoll District. This region is famous for creating a cooler (than the rest of Napa Valley) terroir, due to its influences from San Pablo Bay; perfect for Robert Pepi’s style of creating a more sophisticated wine.

This was the impetus for their Robert Pepi + Steve Kreps = Collaboration Made in Heaven by Angels, Cabernet Sauvignon.

Since then, they’ve expanded to having the following Samuel Charles wines:

• Samuel Charles North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon
• Samuel Charles Red Blend
• Samuel Charles Sauvignon Blanc

From the Website:

“Like the Stag, a large male deer indigenous to Europe but now found as far away as Argentina and New Zealand, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc have taken root in vineyards across most of the New World. The symbol best represents the melding old world varietals and basic winemaking techniques with New World technology and innovation. These wines are truly the ‘best of both worlds.’”

Their 2019 Samuel Charles, Oak Knoll District, Cabernet Sauvignon is what I’ve tasted, and it’s a more elegant Cabernet that’s very palate pleasing. It’s known to have a structure and weight comparable to other top Cabs coming from Napa Valley. Really well-balanced and a bit on the softer side (I think it’s because Bob Pepi is really well known for his Pinot Noirs), it’s really scrumptious.

This wine was crafted in a supple way, so the tannins aren’t harsh. It makes it easy to enjoy now. For a Cabernet, it’s silky, and as flavors of black currant, a bit of spice, and a lingering vanilla finish. Some Cabernet Sauvignons are perfect for your Filet Mignon. But, what if you’d like to have a Cabernet that presents itself in a softly, elegant style? Something that would pair well with Wagyu beef, for instance? In France, that with be with a Margaux wine. For us here? … I’d easily purchase a Samuel Charles wine.

For those of us in California, The Samuel Charles Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted in that Left Bank style. Remember, Bob Pepi is quite well-known for his Pinot Noirs. Just as he can tame the tannins in a Petite Sirah (commonly known for it big flavors), the next in line wine with a more substantial body, is Cabernet Sauvignon.

Bob Pepi and Steve Kreps make these wines a class act!

Thank you to Wine Business Daily for featuring wine-blog.org as a featured contributor to their wine blog news as “Wine industry publicist Jo Diaz’s musings.”

Tags: Petite Sirah, Quintessential Wines, Robert Pepi, Samuel Charles, Steve Kreps, Two Angels Petite Sirah, Two Angels Sauvignon Blanc, Wines

Kerry Damskey, of Terroirs, Inc.

[PHOTO: property of Damskey, Inc. All rights reserved.]

Indiana Jones of Wine… Making Gold from Dust!

I personally love adventure. I love travel. I love being brave to the point of fearlessness; even sometimes in what I love writing. This is evidenced by my first wine-blog dare: Everyone Has a Palate, published on February 2006. I had only just written my first blog post on December 29, 2005 ~ two weeks later I was on a tear. This was during a time when only known wine critics were defining what we should or shouldn’t like. When trying some of these wines, I didn’t always agree. That’s when I realized my palate was far different from some well-known authorities; so, I (dared) to take it on. I haven’t stopped daring, and neither has…

KERRY DAMSKEY

It’s the adventurous that get jobs done, which can be challenging. Still, there’s no growth without it. I’m not alone in my thinking and I learned that the first day Jose Diaz and I interviewed Kerry Damskey. Jose’s my technical partner; I interview and write, while Jose captures the moments digitally and edits the videos. On YouTube, you can find the six videos devoted to Kerry Damskey’s life highlights; however, not in the details for whom this man really is, so more follows after these videos.

• Episode 1 – Who is Kerry Damskey
• Episode 2 – Kerry Damskey Talks About Making Wine in India
• Episode 3 – Kerry Damskey – Winemaking in Bulgaria And China
• Episode 4 – Kerry Damskey – Winemaking in Costa Rica
• Episode 5 – Kerry Damskey – Making Wine in Israel
• Episode 6 – Kerry Damskey – One Winemaker – Three Corners of The World
• Episode 7 – Kerry Damskey talks about Palmeri wines

Today, it’s about

…how Kerry Damskey got from here to there in his thinking and daring, and in his extraordinary paths to the world being his oyster. Another person I can visualize, in a similar category, is Michel Rolland; still, it’s impossible to compare the two gentlemen. While Michel is known for working on styles based on Bordeaux characteristics, Kerry’s work is not only on styles of varieties, but also on breaking boundaries in uncharted territories. Next, he works on how to achieve that character in god-forsaken areas, with absolutely no pre-defined, distinct differentiation yet to have been established. This is why Kerry’s been called a “Wandering Winemaker” and the “Indiana Jones of Winemaking.” San Francisco based wine writer Gerald D. Boyd referred to Kerry Damskey this ways, and it’s clearly due to his venturesome instincts and known implementations that have worked.

In an interview with Wine Business Monthly, as a Winemaker of the Month:

Kerry Damskey: “One of the most important questions I ask potential clients is how they plan to market their wine. It is critical to think about sales and distribution as well as creating great wine; and Wine Business Monthly is full of useful and relevant information about this aspect of our business.”

Last week, Orange County Fair Commercial Wine Competition officials drove from Southern California to Geyserville, to present Damskey with a Double Gold award for his Terroirs client 3 Corners. The 3 Corners [ONE VISION | ONE WINEMAKER | THREE TERROIRS] wine is made exclusively for the Costa Rica market. It represents Terroirs’ three geographical regions of the globe: Israel, California, and Costa Rica.]

Kerry Damskey is a wealth of knowledge and a forerunner in the “how-to,” breaking winemaking boundaries in India, Israel, China, Bulgaria, and Costa Rico while maintaining his family-owned Palmeri Winery, in Sonoma County, California. When asked to describe Palmeri‘s wine style, Kerry says, “they’re an expression of our family’s dedication – verging on obsession for small-lot wines driven by mountain terroir, native yeast fermentation, and attention to detail.” Palmeri is only available as Direct to Consumer, and the majority of Kerry’s domestic clients follow this model in selling their wines.

[PHOTO of the Damskey family trifecta comprising Terroirs, Inc. Left to right: Drew Damskey, Daisy Damskey, and Kerry Damskey]

Kerry Damskey’s Credentials

Damskey holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Winemaking, from the University of California, Davis:

• Graduated from the Intensive Program for Small Business, at the Stanford University School of Business
• Candidate with the Institute of the Masters of Wine
• Three-time winner of the Sonoma County Wine Sweepstakes award, and has received innumerable other awards for his wines, both the United States and abroad

In their own words: All work performed by Terroirs is done under the direction of Kerry Damskey. With his team, Kerry works with wineries to develop a next level approach to marketing strategies and communications. Through careful and constant marketplace evaluation, Terrors, Inc. helps clients reach out to early adopters, while maintaining brand integrity. Damskey leads his extraordinarily qualified team, to assist national and international clients in nascent wine regions, to gain a solid market-share. Accomplished through strategic vineyard and facility development, Terroirs draws upon supplier relationships in India, Asia, Europe, and Costa Rica.

 

Kerry Damskey Lectures Include “How To”

COLLABORATING: We work through custom growing and winemaking techniques with wineries and growers, to identify exclusive swatches of land holding the promise of world-class wines. When working with growers, we collaborate with our clients, by stewarding each vintage through the winemaking season. The aim is to guide our growers and oenologists in the creation of premium wines, reflecting the geological and climatic environment of their grapes.

STRATEGIZING: With our leadership and exceptional organizational skills, we provide a full range of strategic consulting services. This includes working with clients’ team to assure that their vineyards, wine production, and their wines are environmentally friendly reflecting the sensibilities and appropriateness for the site, the people, and the vision.

COORDINATING Operations Management: Terroirs works with clients to bring all the elements of vineyard and winery operations into alignment with the company’s goals. Strategies include implementing targeted business plans, operating policies, and staff development.

CLASSIFYING Winery Start Up and Expansion: A pioneer in developing vineyards, Terroirs builds wineries and implements site-appropriate wine styles. Clients have ranged from California to Rhode Island; as well as, India, Israel, Costa Rica, Bulgaria, and China.

EVALUATING with Due Diligence: A potential winery or vineyard acquisition needs assistance in the development of a purchase proposals. Our team is very adept and seasoned in this aspect of our work and provide how-to, in an educational setting.

 

Thank you to Wine Industry Insight for aggregating this story.

Also, thank you to Wine Business Monthly‘s Daily aggregation.

Tags: Daisy Damskey, Drew Damskey, Gerald D. Boyd, International Wine Counsultant, Kerry Damskey, Michel Rolland, Palmeri, Terroirs Inc., Wine Business Monthly, Wine Terroir Lecturer

My musing again; and, this is mostly directed at USA’s wine industry leaders…

I was just reminded, by my friend and colleague Dr. Michael Apstein (Boston Globe), about the weight of wine bottles these days. And this isn’t new news. It’s been going on for years and it’s an American thing. Competition makes companies think that they’ve got to be bigger, better, and the best in every single way, including their bottle’s weight. Come on, guys! Having a heavy bottle doesn’t make you a heavy weight-in sustainability… I don’t care what your certificates on the wall have to say about your winery being sustainable. The devil’s in the details.

This fact is so expensive to the world of sustainability… maybe not as unconscionable as ripping out a rain forests; but, it’s an overall contributor, and we all know about the 80-20 rule. You leaders need to be even more proactive. That would be a great story to tell, “Vintners Have Reversed the Weight of Their Bottles” ~ subtitled “In an effort to create a more verdant and sustainable world for their children and grandchildren.”

Americans are so marketing competitive, think Mad Men… That was a segment of time, beginning future unsustainability.

The US is the world’s major offender.

FROM the UN Environment Programme:

“UN Environment’s Global Resources Outlook 2019, prepared by the International Resource Panel, examines the trends in natural resources and their corresponding consumption patterns since the 1970s. Its main findings:

• The extraction and processing of materials, fuels and food contribute half of total global greenhouse gas emissions and over 90 per cent of biodiversity loss and water stress
• Resource extraction has more than tripled since 1970, including a fivefold increase in the use of non-metallic minerals and a 45 per cent increase in fossil fuel use
• By 2060, global material use could double to 190 billion tonnes (from 92 billion), while greenhouse gas emissions could increase by 43 per cent

Scientifically, we’ve crossed into a very unique time, when we’re now completely and utterly responsible for humanity’s destiny. Are you one of the good guys?

Need proof of this? I dare you to watch Breaking Boundaries: The Science Of Our Planet – Netflix. David Attenborough and scientist Johan Rockström (Stockholm University) examine Earth’s biodiversity collapse and how this crisis can still be averted.

Dr. Johan Rockström is a professor in environmental science, with an emphasis on water resources and global Sustainability.

[PHOTO CREDIT: Photo credit: M. Axelsson/Azote]

There’s hope, but the window for opportunity is narrowing. By 2030, according to Dr. Rockstöm, if we haven’t all joined in the effort to avoid irreversible damage, scientists can’t even begin to predict what will happen next. There’s no scientific evidence, yet, to predict the potential chaotic times ahead… But common sense should tell us that it won’t be pretty.

THOUGHT: I do believe science fiction will be able, however, to continue with their horrific scenes. Remember George Orwell’s book “1984”, for an example of what sounding ridiculous and now is what it is?

Here’s another element… The weight of a case of wine used to be 36 pounds.  I’ve watched the process go from 36 pounds in a case to now as much as 54 pounds.

POINT OF INTEREST: A test of being able to carry a case of wine, when I was at Mondavi Winery, was to scooch down, pick up a 36 pound case, rise up (without faltering), while still carrying the case with arms outreached. In other words, if someone bought a case of wine, I seriously had to call someone else to carry that case. There was no way I could do this… all 118 pounds of me… never mind the 54 pounds it’s now sometimes become.

This item isn’t mentioned for workers comp issues; it’s to demonstrate how heavy boxes really have become. Those cases of wine being transported have created even more environmental issues, in the transportation department.

From Jancis Robinson’s Website:

12 December 2019 [by Richard Smart] This article is so important that we are republishing it free so that as many people as possible get the message. Consumers as well as producers really need to rethink the issue of wine packaging. And producers can take so many measures to reduce their carbon footprint. A new organisation is designed to help them.

Not specifically written about wine bottle weight, but rather transportation costs [of these heavier bottles]. This statement caught my eye, in the Conclusion section:

While the wine industry is not a major contributor to increasing CO2 emissions and climate change, it is still a significant source. The major task is to replace glass bottles, and help reduce transport costs. Most wine is not consumed locally. Some of it is shipped halfway around the world, and bulk shipping to market and local bottling helps reduce the carbon footprint.

All of this needs to be a subject of conversation with your marketing departments. You hired them, listen to them, if you haven’t yet. It’s going to be their world by the next decade. Don’t be like my poor, dear grandfather, who said to me in a moment of helplessness before he passed, “I’m sorry for the world I’m leaving you.”

Find solutions now, because…

Tags: 1984, Boston Globe, Breaking Boundaries, David Attenborough, Johan Rockström, Michael Apstein, Unsustainability

SIGNIFICANT ROOTS

Reshaping one’s life is very empowering. Travel does it to us. As you know, America is such a melting pot, and having that opportunity to visit one’s native DNA land is very special. [Native Americans were the first people to migrate here, crossing the Bering Strait as early as 30,000 years ago.] So, we’ve all got a lot to explore. In my travels, I’ve certainly loved connecting with my maternal grandparents DNA: Peter (Pierre) and Abby (Ouellette) Bernier, while my being in France. [Bernier rhymes with Viognier.] They both began as children in immigrant families, during the Industrial Revolution; first by way of Canada and then down to Maine. When I finally got to France, I felt the power of their (and then my) heritage. Just by being there, it felt like I had returned to my grandparents’ home in Maine (USA). [There’s a town in France called “Maine,” if you didn’t know; point of interest.]

Roots are shaped, and the following is such a story.

 

[PHOTO: France, Moulin a Vent Beaujolais countryside. Jo Diaz]

ROBERT (BOB) PEPI CONNECTS WITH HIS PAST

For Bob Pepi, his family roots originate in Tuscany; and he, understandably, has also felt that DNA connection. Tuscan winemaking is a way of life, with passionate, cultural traditions that can fill books, all equally intriguing and culminating right into wine – like the “after parties.” For example, this Tuscan tradition:

WIKIPEDIA: The Palio di Siena (Italian pronunciation: [ˈpaːljo di ˈsjɛːna]; known locally simply as Il Palio) is a horse race that is held twice each year, on 2 July and 16 August, in Siena, Italy. Ten horses and riders, bareback and dressed in the appropriate colours, represent ten of the seventeen contrade, or city wards.

[PHOTO credit: mikhail mandrygin]

The Robert Pepi Winery: Early Years – Building A Winery

In my wine adventures, I had heard the Robert (Bob) Pepi name, for years. I hadn’t met the man yet; but, jumped at an offered opportunity.

Like the terroir they walk upon, Bob and his family have enjoyed deep roots and some pretty amazing days. As he remembers in his beginning of living in Napa Valley, it was more farming and pre-Bordeaux varieties. (All in the video, a click away, below.)

The Robert Pepi Winery: Early Years – Building A Winery

THE SERIES IS BUILDING

Each segment delves into the unfolding of life, along Bob Pepi’s Napa Valley decades. It started when Napa was on country time. You know, when kids would come in when the streetlights went on. Throughout the video series, Bob marks opportunities presenting themselves, in sleepy Napa Valley, right into today’s winemaking, which includes consultancy.

[PHOTO credit: Jose Diaz, all rights reserved]

It was a morning meeting, when Jose Diaz and I met Bob Pepi at Pestoni Estate Winery, in Rutherford. The day was beautiful; the sun moving in and out, breezes flowing, butterflies and bees landing in lavender. In this natural, Napa garden, Bob’s thoughts just flowed. He’s a great storyteller, with his time frames moving right along through his current brands.

I knew ahead of time what Bob was going to be bringing for samples, and there was a range of old, new, and did I realize?

• Two Angels Sauvignon Blanc 2020 ~ $16.99
• Two Angels Petite Sirah 2019 ~ $26.99
• Geyser Peak Walking Tree Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ~ $24.99
• Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc 2019 ~ $13.99
• Atlas Peak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 ~ $79.99
• Atlas Peak AVA Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 ~ $49.99
• Eponymous Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 ~ $59.99
• Samuel Charles Oak Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ~ $79.99

From the samples to be tasted, one sees a wide range of styles and prices. There’s no ego here, just the ability to deliver whatever the brand owner (including his own brand) wants delivered. Bob is self-effacing, to say the least. He’s gracious and very polite. The successful execution of being into all prices of wines for not only himself, but also for clients of his life’s passion is very evident.

[PHOTO credit: Jo Diaz, all rights reserved, of a Tuscan landscape in Gaiole, Tuscany at Castello di Meleto]

I had to find a photo of my own, while in Tuscany, to bring it all back to DNA.

NEXT IN THIS SERIES TO DATE 

The Robert Pepi Story: Consulting

The Robert Pepi Story: Eponymous Wines

Thank you to Wine Business Daily for featuring wine-blog.org as a featured contributor to their wine blog news as “Wine industry publicist Jo Diaz’s musings.”

Tags: Atlas Peak, Castello di Meleto, Eponymous, Eponymous einr, Gaiole, Geyser Peak, Pestoni Estate Winery, Robert (Bob) Pepi, Robert (Bob) Pepi: Series Devoted to Decades in Wine, Robert Pepi Winery, Rutherford, Samuel Charles, The Palio di Siena, Tuscany, Two Angels Petite Sirah, Two Angels Sauvignon Blanc

[PHOTO: Purchased. All rights reserved.]

I was shocked, as I looked at the number comparisons between how small companies and mid-to-large wine companies participate, with their online promotions. I didn’t anticipate the disparities.

It’s in the September 2021 issue, of Wine Business Monthly’s “technology & business” section. I’ve made my passion and living by advocating for others, so one particular segment really caught my attention. It was the charts called, “How often do you use the following tools to promote your winery online?” The marketing activity habits are so fascinating, between the “Small Wineries” and the “Mid and Large Wineries.”

The larger the companies have much different views from the mom and pop side, with their on-line publicity use. The chart at the bottom of this story illustrates it clearly, if you’re looking toward growth, or even pulling back.

Let me tell you a short parable, about how to have the growth. It involves the extraordinary Robert Mondavi, as disclosed in his book: Robert Mondavi, Harvests of Joy (My passion for Excellence. How the Good Life became Great Business.)

Briefly, Robert’s life took a sharp turn, when he was in his 50’s. He was a marketer, who understood his audience, by looking at what was popular, what worked, and what didn’t, marketing and sales side was his side of his family’s business; his brother Peter was on the winemaking side. Robert didn’t disclose that he and his first wife Marjorie Declusin Mondavi were saving money they had earned in the family business. Who tells their siblings what they’re saving, right? Robert Mondavi and Marge were invited to the White House, to dine with John and Jackie Kennedy, during those magical, Camelot days.

The Easter when he announced, with such great joy he and Marge were going to the White House to dine, Marge was wearing the mink stole that they had bought for the occasion… let’s just say all hell broke loose. Peter sadly assumed the worst from his older brother, but Robert stated they had been saving… not necessarily for this moment, but they had the ability to go in great style. And they did.

The sad separation and then the liberating rebirth…

Okay, so how does this relate? Robert Mondavi knew it takes money to make money. When he was evicted from the Charles Krug Winery, he got friends together and started the iconic Robert Mondavi Winery. Apparent to me today is this: the Robert-Mondavi-legacy-man is our wine industry’s equivalent to the political industry’s Teddy Roosevelt. They both understood continued legacy; for Robert, The CIA at Copia and his UC Davis’ contributions: Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, which ultimately benefits mankind. That takes an extraordinary set-up. (Also an easy comparison; I just got back from Yellowstone.)

 

[PHOTO: Jo Diaz. All rights reserved.]

Robert thought really big. It’s apparent through his generous inclusiveness, and now his true legacy. It’s not just about growing it, harvesting it, and then just putting it by the side of the road, when looking to grow a business. It’s getting someone to be that cheerleader. Every company needs one, honestly, if they want to grow, stay alive, and pass things on today. It’s how companies grow their business online… right there in the numbers ~ how much time is spent in cheerleading.

[PHOTO: Purchased. All rights reserved.]

All interesting revelation. You can even see where the advocates should go after their jobs. It all depends on the growth all parties want to share.

Here’s the thing, keep all of this in mind as you evaluate these numbers. Robert – like some of the people I know in the wine business – worked very hard and with such passion. It’s shown in these numbers, for how much effort he put into running a small winery into his medium business, and then into the conglomerate it became. If mega growth is your ultimate goal here’s your prototype of what you should be doing… Which seems to mostly be the American way. For those of you with a roadside stand, that’s a lot of fun, too, isn’t it?

[PHOTO: Purchased. All rights reserved.]

How to for Small Companies, based on these figures

For this one, I now realize I have to take my own advice here. Seems like I’m just like the rest of the pack… I really detest blowing my own horn. It seems so egocentric. But, you know what? Who else is going to blow it? I’m not going to hire a publicist. Whoever has heard of a publicist having a publicist? My fail, and l know it well, is to take care of our Diaz Communications Facebook page, and to get some things onto our Instagram page. Hey, do we even have an Instagram page? Yes. I just had to check. We have a pitiful three posts. Good Lord!

I’ve got work to do. You’ve got work to do. This is the new normal. If you can’t afford to have a cheerleader, buy yourself a uniform and get started. Seems like a half hour a day devoted to your own news is well worth the time to create it. Think of is as your diary, because that’s what it really is, if you ever need an alibi.

[PHOTO: Wine Business Monthly. All rights reserved.]

 

Tags: Robert Mondavi, Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, Robert Mondavi Winery, Teddy Roosevelt, The CIA at Copia, UC Davis, Wine Business Monthly, Yellowstone

Big picture, for some big wines; not over the top wines, just big in flavor, style, and design.

MATHIS WINES

 

Wines submitted for review

• Sonoma Valley Grenache 2017, Mathis Vineyard – field blend ($32.00) 
• Sonoma Valley Überblend 2017, Mathis Vineyard – Petite Sirah dominant red blend ($35.00)
• Sonoma Valley Rosé de Grenache 2020, Mathis Vineyard – 100% estate Grenache ($22.50)
• Sonoma Valley Rosé de Grenache 2019, Mathis Vineyard – 100% estate Grenache ($22.50)

The Journey Begins

Heading back to some Sonoma County California wines, from wines primarily of the world, it was a fun fun reminder of my own backyard. Wines from Peter Mathis, Peter is a new winemaker for me, but he’s not new to making wine, most certainly. When Peter Mathis began his odyssey to create and own his own label, he was on his right path. From his Website:

I’m Peter Mathis. I made wine at Ravenswood for more than 20 years. Mathis Vineyard, in the hills above Sonoma Valley, is my “old school” project. Here I cleared the land nearly twenty years ago and planted mostly Grenache, with some Carignane, Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet.

I grow it. I make it.

That’s his mantra… Now, if you also taste it, you might know what I wrote above, as to “flavor, style, and design.”

As he’s written on his Website, “Grenache is my passion.”

When I tasted the Grenache, it was just the right time. My last samples series took seven weeks of my time; it was one of my own odysseys, too. I’ve a busy life and I’m not into speed tasting, anymore. Like the first sip and glass itself, the wine in the bottle can continue to be savored as it morphs, without throwing it all back in one day. Every drop, until my focus changes.

Sometimes I combine business with pleasure. I was at a committee meeting recently. After photographing this image, I then tasted and took notes. The final step was leaving the bottle with our hosts. This time was spent with winemaker Mick Schroeter and fine artist Linda Schroeter. Mick had just arrived and spotted the bottle on the table. I told him he could have the rest of it. It was on the table for anyone to try, until we left it. (The committee has wine loving people and it’s what we do.)

He picked it up to get it into a cooler place and raised his eyebrows. The wine was just right. I had taken great care bringing it into 100-degree weather, only to be outside in a beautiful garden setting. He remarked, “We’re having beef for dinner,” and his smile said he was really looked forward to it.

My experience is that winemakers love tasting others’ wines. It’s a joy to give them wine. The level of appreciation is an honor to see and feel… It’s akin to returning to my joy from years ago, working for WBLM in Portland, Maine; from the days of photographing all those rock stars backstage, who were on tour. Today’s joy is witnessing wine’s own rock stars (terroir) in action.

MATHIS VINEYARD PHOTO

[PHOTO: by and of Mathis Vineyard: All rights reserved]

The Mathis Vineyard

All of Peter’s wines come from his small 7.5 acre vineyard, just north of Sonoma Plaza and downhill from Monte Rosso, as well as several other well-known Moon Mountain vineyards. Peter cleared the land, planted his vineyard, and continues to farm it… all by himself.

Quoting from Peter Mathis’ Website:

The Mathis Vineyard is 7.5 acres of glorious south facing slopes with low vigor volcanic soils – it’s heaven for red wine grapes. My neighbors fell to their knees in laughter when I planted it to my beloved Grenache – ha! –everyone thought I would plant Cabernet. But I was following the dream (cue theme from Sound of Music) that had been in my head since 1988. In what proved to be an exceptionally brutal winter, I cleared the land myself in ’97/’98 and got to planting in ’99 and 2000.

[PHOTO: Jo Diaz ~ All rights reserved]

• Sonoma Valley Grenache 2017, Mathis Vineyard – field blend ($32.00) 
• Sonoma Valley Überblend 2017, Mathis Vineyard – Petite Sirah dominant red blend ($35.00)

Overall these wines just rocked it. One after the other, slowly. By the fourth one – the Uber, I felt like southern Burgundy has some influence on the crafting of this one. Mostly Petite Sirah, in the blend, the earthiness was self evident. I love French wine styles for what they are, and this one markedly delivered the terroir of what I would expect from a French wine. Great style and exuberance. Little did I know that Peter also has a love of French wines. As I’m writing reviews, I go back and forth with the company’s Website and feel upon this:

FROM HIS WEBSITE: Like in the south of France, the Mathis isn’t pure Grenache; Petite Sirah, Carignane and Alicante Bouschet are part of the field blend, and contribute structural, spice and fruit components. The actual blend varies from year to year, the Grenache typically making up about 85% – check out the tech sheet for exact vintage composition.

Let’s go to Southern French-styled wines, with the Mathis Grenache wines. The photo following is a black truffle dish, a spot of lemon, with a garlic, butter sauce, served on a baguette. Served with a rose of this style… most appropriate.

[PHOTO: Jo Diaz ~ All rights reserved]

Rose? Easy, I’m in. Refreshing as a white, with a bit more complexity… A nice segue, before hitting the Reds full force. There were two vintages. The difference between the two were within a minuscule that I realized their most important factor… consistency. Just as in Provence, the Southern region of France’s most famous for its rosés, this wine is of that Provençal style. Aromas of strawberries and lemon with the 2020, and a bit more intense with the 2019… oh, those drippingly delicious white peaches. Animated wines, both. Very clean finishes. Delightful and so food friendly…

The Passion of Mathis ~ Grenache

NOTES FROM uber tasting – My first impression of UBER ~ Burgundy’s earthiness got into heart and soul, and explained it all to my palate’s memories of France. Amazing how we can connect aromas and flavors to places we’ve been and things we’ve seen/experienced. It never fails to ignite something within that one never wants to forget. Mr. Mathis, you’ve achieved your life’s goal with Grenache. Thanks for letting me enjoy them.

From Peter Mathis’ Website about Grenache.

“Like no other grape, Grenache is a heady, frolicking mix of fruit and spice.  It’s not a wine that causes one’s brow to furrow contemplatively; it’s all about laughter and the celebration of life, of eating and drinking lustily. Don’t think, just drink – that’s the ticket!”

 

So here are with both red wine samples:

• Sonoma Valley Grenache 2017, Mathis Vineyard – field blend ($32.00) 
• Sonoma Valley Überblend 2017, Mathis Vineyard – Petite Sirah dominant red blend ($35.00)

[PHOTO: Jo Diaz ~ All rights reserved. Another truffle dish, presented at Chez Bruno; Lorgues, France.] ~ It was an all truffle, prix-fixe dinner I’m remembering. These wines deserve something very special to go with them, to delight your palate, too. I can’t help but upload this black truffle memory, with a heartier wine like Grenache. The Grenache I had was perfectly paired with this tasty, combination-seamless dish. Perhaps you’ll also go for it!

The Grenache is a part of Peter Mathis’ field blend… how old-school clever.

Field Blend: I found the finest clones available (super small berries with great color and a more tannic spine than the typical Grenache found in the U.S) that had just been imported to the country.  Rather than follow a recipe from 6000 miles away, I chose what I thought would make the best blenders based on my direct experience in California, adding Petite Sirah, Carignane and Alicante Bouschet in a field blend to add complexity and a spice factor.

I fell in love with Peter Mathis’ UBER blend. A very appropriate name… Someone recently asked, “What does uber really mean?” I said, “something that is immense, the most of, just the biggest.” It was a perfect night to ask, as we sipped away on its deliciousness. And I wrote down:

Heart and Soul… Wine is the Heart and music is the Soul…

Music is the universal language placed inside the soul… So, yin yang

Loved these wines.

Tags: Field Blend, Mathis Rose, Mathis UBER, Mathis Wines, Peter Mathis, Petite Sirah, Rose Wine, UBER

[PHOTO: Jo Diaz, all rights reserved]

This is the sixth wine, and last in this series about Sustainable Chilean Wines, but definitely not the least. In fact, this one is the most recognizable to me…

1. Intro – Chilean Wines that Collectively Underline Chile’s Historic Commitments.
2. Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viña Maquis Gran Reserva
3. Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viña Koyle Family Vineyards
4. Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viña Tarapacá
5. Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viñedos Emiliana Coyam
6. Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viu Manent
7. Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viña Concha y Toto

The sixth wine in a series of Chilean Sustainable Wines… Concha y Toro. I have a lot of history of enjoying this wine. My first sample came in 2013. Over the years, this wine has remained extremely consistent with deliciousness and quality. Each new vintage I continue to treasure.

My greatest joy came in Puerto Rico, when I was looking for wine in the neighborhood grocery store. In a sea of Spanish wine imports, there it was… recognizable and a comfort wine. Nothing was going to be hit or miss for me on the Isla de Encanta. I suppose I missed having other delicious Spanish wine treasures, but I didn’t care. I was on vacation, and I just wanted to sip, savor, and enjoy the surf.

When I have of bottle of wine from this Chilean producer, I’m sure of its quality and affordability. As my favorite wine shop owner used to say, it’s a lot of quality for the price.

 

Sustainability Efforts ~ Wines of Chile

Sustainable 365

The Wines of Chile Sustainable 365 program brought delectable samples to my door, from South America. The beginning of their terroir defined… From the Vinos de Chile Website:

“The Sustainability Code of the Chilean Winemaking Industry is a voluntary standard that guides winemaking companies in the challenge to work sustainably based on requirements in three complementary areas: vineyard, winery-bottling plant, and the social sector.

Tags: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chilean Sustainable Wines, Chilean Wine Lineup, Colchagua Valley, Concha y Toro, Concha y Toro Gran Reserva Series, Sustainable 365, Viña Koyle Family Vineyards, Viña Maquis Gran Reserva, Viña Tarapacá, Viñedos Emiliana Coyam, VINOS de CHILE, Viu Manent

[PHOTO: Jo Diaz, all rights reserved]

The fifth in a series about Sustainable Chilean Wines…

1. Intro – Chilean Wines that Collectively Underline Chile’s Historic Commitments.
2. Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viña Maquis Gran Reserva
3. Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viña Koyle Family Vineyards
4. Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viña Tarapacá
5. Viñedos Emiliana Coyam
6. Now – Viu Manent

 

Sustainability Efforts ~ Wines of Chile

Sustainable 365

The Wines of Chile Sustainable 365 program brought delectable samples to my door, from South America. The beginning of their terroir defined…

“Credit for Chile’s elevated sense of agricultural ‘health-consciousness’ can largely be attributed to one man: Claude Gay. In 1830, this French-born botanist, after carrying out some of the first investigations into Chilean flora, fauna, geology and geography, advocated in favor of creating a government agency to improve agriculture and protect the country from the perils of imported plant diseases. The government obliged and by 1850, records confirmed checks made on upward of 40,000 vines and 70+ varieties of Vitis vinifera. If you have ever traveled to Chile, it won’t have escaped you that its airports are far more vigilant about inspecting for fruit, veggie and animal products, with long lines of weary travelers waiting to pay fines of close to $200 for that undeclared packet of trail mix. Blame Claude Gay!

 

[PHOTO: Purchased: all rights reserved.

Colchagua Valley Snapshots

FROM: Wine-Searcher

Colchagua is a little cooler than its northerly cousin Maipo, but still maintains a consistently Mediterranean climate. As with most areas of Chile, the Pacific Ocean offers a natural cooling influence – a saving grace at a latitude of 34°S, which is closer to the Equator than any European vineyard. The degree of cooling provided by the ocean varies from east to west in the Colchagua Valley, demonstrated by the distribution of red and white grape varieties. As a general rule, white-wine varieties benefit from cooler climates, while the reds prefer drier, warmer conditions. The dominance of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Malbec and Merlot plantings in the warmer east is mirrored by that of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc in the ocean-cooled west.

FROM: Winebow

Colchagua is a large and varied wine region located in the southern portion of Chile’s broader Central Valley. It spans almost the entire width of the country, but most of its vineyards are found in warmer pockets nestled against the foothills of the Cordillera and near the interior Tinguiririca River…It is a fascinating region, and one that produces great wines at phenomenal value.

FROM: Meiningers ~ Wine Business International

While the international trade defines Colchagua as the source of Chile’s most classic wines, local producers prefer to talk about its diversity. The Colchagua Valley, with the second-largest vineyard surface in the country, is where some of the wine industry’s best-known figures are based, but is also home to small and diverse producers that are beginning to be recognised in their own right.

[PHOTO: Jo Diaz: all rights reserved]

Viu Manent

From their text to me:

Viu Mament Secreto de Viu Manent Malbec, 2019 / SRP $15

Family-owned since 1935, Colchagua Valley-based Viu Manent is one of the most respected wineries in Chile. The family have fun with the line of “Secreto” wines – a stated grape variety leavened with a “secret blend” (15%) of other grapes. The Malbec grapes come from vines that are around 19 years old. Fresh and fruity, the final blend offers a refined mix of red berries and violets on the palate.

Sustainability Pillar: Installation of four solar plants that generate 460 kilowatts at peak, implementation of a biodiversity protection program as Central Chile is home to more than 50% of the various species of floral and vertebrates in the country, and recycling (such as using old barrels in promotions or by local artists).

ADD PHOTO HERE WINE

[PHOTO purchased: all rights reserved]

Viu Manent Secreto de Viu Manent

From their text to me:

Viu Manent Secreto Malbec, 2019 ~ de Viu Manent / SRP $15

Family-owned since 1935, Colchagua Valley-based Viu Manent is one of the most respected wineries in Chile. The family has fun with the line of “Secreto” wines – a stated grape variety leavened with a secret blend of other grapes, by 15 percent. The Malbec grapes come from vines that are about 19 years old. Fresh and fruity, the final blend offers a refined mix of red berries and violets on the palate.

Sustainability Pillar: Installation of four solar plants that generate 460 kilowatts at peak, implementation of a biodiversity protection program as Central Chile is home to more than 50% of the various species of floral and vertebrates in the country, and recycling (such as using old barrels in promotions or by local artists).

[PHOTO purchased: all rights reserved]

Secreto de Viu Manent Malbec, 2019 / SRP $15

The Secreto de Viu Manent Malbec is 85 percent Malbec, with another 15 percent of other grapes – the blend of which is their closely guarded secreto…

I tasted this wine second in the series, because I’m very familiar with Argentina’s Malbec, so I wanted to see how they would compare, and could wait any longer to find out.

Now I’m going to tell you my own little “secreto.” I have what is called a “super palate.” This is not a blessing. In many regards it’s a curse. I have more taste buds than the average person. So, when I taste, there’s always a first flavor dominating. Then I go through more sipping and picking up more. This is why I do NOT open every single bottle as it arrives. To do so and then taste each one, one after the other, means that before long my palate would be on overload-tired; and, who on God’s green earth wants to have so much wine left over that it has to be dumped out? (Especially when you’re paying for and also have a “sustainable” headset.) It happens in wineries, but it doesn’t happen in my house. One wine bottle at a time allows for me to dig deeper on so many levels. This one lasted a few days, and this is what allows me to continue enjoying and judging its ability to hold. This wine was a super holder, hardly breaking down from day-to-day, and yet the tannins were soft. (The secreto is in the blend, I’m betting.) It had the staying power anyone would want, especially anyone who knows that tomorrow is another day, and another taste is waiting!)

I found this wine to be very sophisticated and very smooth.  It was a bit smoky and rich, with a wonderful finish. It just felt ready to enjoy right now with its full-bodied flavors of ripe plums and black cherries. I could see lamb with this one, for those who love lamb. I’ve tasted lamb many times. While it wasn’t a favorite for me, I understand its robust flavors that are mostly pastoral… since most lamb is free ranging its days in meadows and on hillsides, versus other more manufactured options for meat.

[PHOTO purchased: all rights reserved]

 

About Viu Manent ~ From Their Website

Viu Manent is a Chilean winery owned by the Viu family. It was founded in 1935 when the Catalonian immigrant Miguel Viu-García and his two sons Agustín and Miguel Viu-Manent founded Bodegas Viu in Santiago de Chile. They bottled and sold wine on the local market under the “Vinos Viu” brand. Viu Manent is a Chilean winery that belongs to the Viu family since 1935. The winery, in the hands of the third generation since 2000 and led by Jose Miguel Viu, continues down the same long road, guided by the union that comes when blood ties are joined with a passion for wine.

What exactly is one’s own? … “That which identifies us and by which we can recognize ourselves.”

We love our property, our family and our traditions. We love our work, which we see as the motor that can propel us toward fulfilling our dreams. We believe in transcendence, in putting our heart into things and that the only way to do something is to do it to the best of our abilities.

We have a strong bond with wine; we love its living essence and its sensitivity. We believe that Chile is a privileged territory for the production of wines and that Colchagua is a magical valley where the soil, climate and grapes seem to be blessed.

We believe in attention to detail and in respecting the environment.
We believe that history and tradition provide us with knowledge and experience, while innovation and modernity help us to advance toward our goal.

We believe in teamwork and in the talented, professional and committed people who work with us.
We are committed to transmitting this philosophy into our daily mission…

Which is:

To produce outstanding wines that are consistent in quality. Our hallmark lies in our attention to detail and the special concern for quality that both the family and our highly committed and professional team give to the wines of Viu Manent.

Through experience and innovative spirit, our team is able to achieve the ultimate expression of both Colchagua and Chile in outstanding quality wines with a style of their own, which are able to satisfy the most demanding pallets of consumers around the world, thus contributing to the prestige of Chilean wine.

[PHOTO: Website of Viu Manent, all rights reserved.]

Welcome, especially if you’re also learning about Chilean wines. This story is part of a series, composed from the following:

• Research on other sites and wine books
• My own 29 years of being in the wine business
  • 57 units in a wine-sales and marketing degree program
  • Traveling to international wine regions
• Viu Manent’s Website

Finally, this YouTube video is a great resource.

Tags: Claude Gay, Colchagua Valley, Viña Koyle Family Vineyards, Viña Maquis Gran Reserva, Viña Tarapacá, Viñedos Emiliana Coyam, Viu Manent

[PHOTO: Jo Diaz, all rights reserved]

1. Intro – Chilean Wines that Collectively Underline Chile’s Historic Commitments.
2. Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viña Maquis Gran Reserva
3. Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viña Koyle Family Vineyards
4. Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viña Tarapacá
5. Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viñedos Emiliana Coyam

 

Sustainability Efforts ~ Wines of Chile

Sustainable 365

The Wines of Chile Sustainable 365 program brought delectable samples to my door, from South America. The beginning of their terroir defined…

“In the ten years since its inception, SCWI has been adopted by all the country’s leading wine producer sand accounts for 80 percent of Chile’s bottled wine exports. Wines from certified producers correspond to123,550 acres of vineyard –slightly more than the acreage under vine of Napa Valley, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties combined. The code starts in the vineyard and winery, and covers the ‘usual suspects,’ such as energy, water efficiency, construction, the protection of biodiversity corridors, integrated pest-and weed-control strategies, plant material, contamination prevention, and transport and storage among many others. From the outset, Chile’s wine sustainability code was designed with a holistic approach. Explains Managing Director Patricio Parra, of the R&D Consortium Viños de Chile: ‘We aim to manage the whole company, not just specific wines. Our continuous improvement system allows wineries to advance step-by-step, an inclusive approach designed for any size winery.’ The code doesn’t stop at the winery door: The surrounding community, even consumers, are all part of the code’s universe.”

 

 

Colchagua Alto Valley Snapshots

FROM: André Dominé’s book, simply called Wine.

“Further South, the Rapel Valley contains the two main sub-regions of the Cachapoal Valley and the Colchagua Valley, and  comprises some 48,430 acres (19,600 ha) of vineyards planted on mainly alluvial soils at between 1,970 and 3.280 feet (600 and 1000 m) above sea level… It is a predominantly red wine region… p. 849-51

FROM: Jim Gordon’s Opus Vino

“Though few recognize it as such, South America is the wine world’s most prolific (and, arguably, historic) producer outside of Europe…Chile may be slender in stature, but it is home to dizzying geographical diversity and an efficient, market-oriented work-force. It delivers some of the world’s best value everyday bottles as well as even more challenging, terroir-driven wines of depth and elegance.” p.148

 

[PHOTO: Jo Diaz: all rights reserved]

Viñedos Emiliana Coyam 

From their text to me:

A pioneer in Chile, Emiliana is one of the world’s largest producers of organic and biodynamic wines in the world. Coyam comes from a vineyard on granite-based soils in Colchagua’s coastal mountain range. All the fruit is own-rooted and is a massal (field) selection of different varieties, except for the Syrah, which is a specific clone. Eight different varieties blend seamlessly to offer on the palate cherry and strawberry, Mediterranean herbs, black pepper, and vanilla. Drink now or age up to 10 years.

Sustainability Pillar: Installation and support for organic gardens in local schools in 50% of the communications Emiliana operates in (goal: 100%). Also has 91 organic vegetable gardens for is employees, with many participating in collective growing to provide healthy food for their families.

[PHOTO purchased: all rights reserved]

Viñedos Emiliana Coyam Wine

The Viñedos Emiliana Coyam is a red wine blend from Viñedos Emiliana Coyam, Chile 2018. Valley de Colchagua.

Blend:

• 42% Syrah
• 39% Carmenere
• 6% Cabernet Sauvignon
• 5% Garnacha
• 3% Malbec
• 3% Carignan
• 1% Tempranillo
• 1% Mourvèdre

The wine is rich and very dense, in a spectacular blend. The tannins are still very young, and this bottle will hold (in great storage) for at least 30 years. Flavors from the Syrah and pepper are evident in its subtle earthiness, yet the cherries and berries dominate in the other 58 percent of its flavors. To have a unique blending style, like this one IMHO, which creates some really exciting flavors, is a delicious joy found primarily on my (perhaps your) palate preferences.

It appears that these Colchagua Valley wineries follow the sciences along with their hearts, in creating these wines. Their blendings are marketing genius, because it leaves consumers lusting after their blended wine flavors, without having to pick from a sea of the same variety from the same region… like a Cab from Napa, for instance. While they’re truly delicious and most desired in the US, their subtle similarities are better defined by those trained in Master Somm classes, not the general public.

This is their own copy, because it couldn’t be more perfect:

“This emblematic wine faithfully represents Emiliana’s philosophy in which organic and biodynamic agriculture inspire our work and help us to attain the essence of our vineyards and the maximum expression of terroir.

“Coyam means oak forest to the Mapuches, the original inhabitants of central and southern Chile. And to honor the ancient oaks, we gave the name to this wine.”

What they’ve written is clear in the flavors of this wine. I tasted it, swirled, and thought – then blurted out, “This is r-e-a-l-l-y good!”

Another red blend, allowing for our imaginations to decide for ourselves the best way to enjoy the wines with food. I know many people who would love this with pork ribs in a sweet and sour, while having been raised humanely and sustainably… and I’m drooling, again.

[PHOTO purchased: all rights reserved]

About VIÑEDOS EMILIANA COYAM

A pioneer in Chile, Emiliana is one of the world’s largest producers of organic and biodynamic wines in the world. Coyam comes from a vineyard on granite-based soils in Colchaga’s coastal mountain range. All the fruit is own-rooted and is a massal (field) selection of different varieties, except for the Syrah, which is a specific clone. Eight different varieties blend seamlessly to offer on the palate cherry and strawberry, Mediterranean herbs, black pepper, and vanilla. Drink now or age up to 10 years.

Sustainability Pillar: Installation and support for organic gardens in local schools in 50 percent of the communications Emiliana operates in (goal by 100 percent). It also has 91 organic vegetable gardens for is employees, with many participating in collective growing to provide healthy food for their families. This photo below is what really caught my attention when Vinedo Intreactivo reviewing their Website. It’s interactive, while you can view all of the following, by clicking on the white dots.”

1. Biodynamic Calendar (upper fight)
2. Native Forest (upper right)
3. Wind Mill (Efficient Energy Use)
4. Roof dot (Cellars)
5. Beekeeping and Olive Trees left
6. Animal area (Biodiversity of flora and fauna)
7. Organic Garden
8. Workers
9. Vineyards
10. Biodynamic Preparations (building on the upper right)
11. Cover Crops 9Lower right vineyard

With each interaction, there is also a left-hand pup-up, taking it a step further, with text, explaining their philosophies. Native Forest, for instance… As we begin to lose them, we do reflect on how important they truly are: “Native Forest ~ The native flora is a fundamental principal within Emiliana’s philosophy. With our nurseries we look to enhance the development and cultivation of native plants, while preserving those that already exist.”

Welcome, especially if you’re also learning about Chilean wines. This story is composed from the following:

• Research on other sites and wine books
• My own 29 years of being in the wine business
  • 57 units in a wine-sales and marketing degree program
  • Traveling to international wine regions
• Viñedos Emiliana Coyam’s Website

 

Tags: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Carménère, Garnacha, Malbec, Mourvèdre, Red Wine Blend, South America wines, Syrah, Tempranillo, Viña Koyle Family Vineyards, Viña Maquis Gran Reserva, Viña Tarapacá, Viñedos Emiliana Coyam, Wines of Chile

[PHOTO: Jo Diaz]

The fourth in a series about Sustainable Chilean Wines…

1. Intro – Chilean Wines that Collectively Underline Chile’s Historic Commitments.
2. Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viña Maquis Gran Reserva
3. Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viña Koyle Family Vineyards
4. Now – Chilean Wine Lineup ~ Viña Tarapacá

I’m in a process of learning… So welcome, especially if you’re learning somethings, too, about Chile. This story is composed from the following:

• Research on other sites
• Viña’s Website
• My own “Oh Wow” moments, from what I’ve already learned
• And, you can add another element in the comments section, if you wish

Sustainability Efforts ~ Wines of Chile

Sustainable 365

The Wines of Chile Sustainable 365 program brought delectable samples to my door, from South America. The beginning of their terroir defined…

“A Climate Defined by Superlatives and Strong Currents” The world’s narrowest country (averaging 110 miles wide), and also its longest, north to south (2,653miles), Chile is wedged between the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Andes mountains to the east, with a long strip of coastal mountains parallel to the Andes adding to the mix. So, not only do most viticultural areas enjoy a “two-fer” of maritime and alpine influences, but those influences are extra-strength. This is a country of extraordinary climatic diversity: dry desert in the far north, cool-wet in the far south, and varying degrees of Mediterranean climate between the two. It is sometimes useful to view Chile as a series of thin, parallel strips running north-south: the coast, the coastal alpine range, the Andes to the east, and the area between. “

 

[PHOTO credit: Copyright: alessandro0770 / 123RF Stock Photo]

Colchagua Alto Valley Snapshots

FROM: South America Wine Guide

“Chile has a denomination problem. Large swathes of vineyards are grouped under umbrella classifications and Colchagua is one of them. The valley spans 120km [74.56 miles], with vineyards stretching from the coast, through the coastal mountains, into the fertile valley floor and creeping into the Andean foothills. It covers diverse territories and makes diverse wines. In a bid to differentiate the regions of Colchagua, the valley is often split into Costa (the coastal wines), Entre Cordilleras (the valley floor) and Andes (the foothills). Colchagua Andes makes some of the most distinctive wines in the valley so I was keen to get to grips with what marks it as distinct.” Written by Amanda Barnes

FROM: VOGUE

“This Chilean Valley Is a Red Wine Paradise: If you prefer your wine inky, with bold berry and tobacco notes, then an exploration of Chile’s Colchagua Valley could very well be your dream trip. Known for exclusively producing full-bodied red wine varietals like the country’s famed carménère, this under-the-radar wine haven is emerging as a paradise for oenophiles everywhere.” — by Michaela Trimble 
Sandwiched between the Andes Mountains and the Coastal Mountain Range, the valley’s granitic and volcanic soils merge with an arid Mediterranean climate, causing grapes to ripen slower, often with little intervention.

 

[PHOTO: Jo Diaz]

Viña Tarapacá

Gran Reserva 2019

The Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva 2019 is made with organically grown grapes. This is always a plus for me. It means that no unnecessary chemicals went into the production of this wine. The following are my thoughts on the Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva. I also appreciate that this one is a blend of grapes found in the Colchagua Alta Valley… it’s like a cornucopia of flavors that we’d only find in a blend.

“Farmed since 1874 in Isla de Maipo, Chile’s traditional vinous heart, the estate is known for its diversity of soils that enable it to successfully grow an array of grapes. This five-grape variety wine has upfront notes of wild herbs, flowers, ripe black fruit, like sarsaparillas, along with subtle vegetal notes from the Cabernet Franc and lavender and violet notes from the Merlot.

“Sustainability Pillar: Planting more than 11,000 native trees and shrubs restore the natural environmental balance and reconnect the biological corridors between the Altos de Cantillana mountains and the River Maipo through the estate’s 5,000 acres of vineyards.”

BLEND:

• 31 percent Cabernet Franc
• 26 percent Syrah
• 22 percent Carménère
• 11 percent Merlot
• 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon…

…A whole lot of Bordeaux and a good amount of Syrah, the headliner, Rhône variety.

The flavors, represented in the Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva 2019, are well blended in this melangish medley. It was soft, ripe, and rich with ruby fruit flavors, like juicy plums. I picked up blackberry on the nose, and then the ripe plum, with a touch of cigar and leather, on the palate. The finish lingered with a hint of butterscotch. This is a really delicious wine. By now I was very appreciative of Chile, for all that it offers in the way of wines being crafted south of the equator. This is a true value wine, just like the others that I’ve been enjoying. The BEST part? Truly, the sustainability efforts.

This red blend allows for our imaginations to decide for ourselves the best way to enjoy the wines with food. For me, it would be tapas.

 

History of Viña Tarapacá

[PHOTO of Viña Tarapacá Manor’s front door view, located in Isla de Maipo – a region of Santiago, Chile]

In my opinion, the of the most important things a winery can treasure is its history; so, when it has its own museum, it tells us about the integrity of the owners, who are sustaining what has come before their stewardship.

[PHOTO: Viña Tarapacá]

I get a sense from this house of everything Spanish flourishing… right down to grape growing to wine making, and then to tasting the wine. An undisclosed red blend allows for our imaginations to to decide for ourselves the best way to enjoy the wines with food. For me, it would be tapas.

INSIDE: The main hall is rich with continuing Spanish influences, with a wrought iron staircase and balcony safety guards, to a hand-forged crystal chandelier. The floor is in the famous checkerboard flooring. From the Bath Outlet about checkerboard flooring: (History of the Checkerboard…Design Element)

“Checkerboard floors were present in 15th century European paintings and the design can be found in ancient artifacts, including Iranian ceramic vessels. Bronze Age pottery displayed the staggered square design in pieces from as early as 1500 BC. The design can even be found in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. Once stone and tile began being used to make floors, the ancient Romans began incorporating the design into their buildings. During the Renaissance, the pattern become popular with artists and designers. Again, the checkerboard was used in many paintings but not just fictional. Paintings of real life events, like royal weddings, often showed checkerboard floors in ballrooms and other large living spaces. In the late 1680s, a black and white checkerboard pattern was used on the ground floor landing of the Queen’s Staircase at Versailles.”

The following video, with Sebastian Ruiz, is produced in that old fashioned, travel type videos. It has its charm, because we’re talking about the impassioned, Spanish personality. So far, every Spanish event I’ve attended (said she – Jo Diaz), has filled with alegría de la vida.This  one is also on the romantic side,  filled with details.

Join Sebastian Ruiz, Winemaker at Tarapacá Vineyard, and live an experience that transports you to Rosario Estate at the heart of Maipo Valley, the place where Gran Reserva Tarapacá, The Gran Reserva of Chile is made. Tarapacá Vineyard is a Chilean Winery with over 140 years of winemaking experience. The multi-awarded wine, Gran Reserva Tarapacá, is stored in a unique an iconic bottle, its label features the emblematic house of Tarapacá.

Tags: Bath Outlet, Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Checkerboard Design Element, Chilean Wine Lineup, Colchagua Alto Valley, Merlot, Rhone, South America Wine Guide, Sustainability Efforts ~ Wines of Chile, Sustainable 365, Syrah, Viña Tarapacá, Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva 2019, VOGUE