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Winery Spotlight

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Rombauer Tasting Event

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The Story of Rombauer Vineyards – Napa Valley, CA

Rombauer Vineyards was established in 1980, when the Rombauer family harvested their first grapes — Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District. Nearly 35 years later, the winery remains family owned and operated with members of the first and second generations involved in all aspects of the business.  When founders Koerner and Joan Rombauer moved their two children, two horses and five dogs to Napa Valley in 1972, they had no intention of starting a winery. They chose the area because it reminded them of the small-town, agricultural environment in which they had grown up, and it appeared to be a clean, safe place to raise their children. They purchased  40 acres of beautiful hilltop land on the Silverado Trail near the town of St. Helena in California.

Rombauer_FamilyThe Rombauers did have a great appreciation for the role of wine in the fine dining experience. Koerner’s great aunt Irma Rombauer was the author of the internationally renowned cookbook The Joy of Cooking and Koerner’s ancestors were from the winegrowing region of Rheingau, Germany, where wine is considered an essential complement to a meal. It didn’t take long for Koerner and Joan to become fascinated with the growing Napa Valley wine industry. In 1976, they became partners in Conn Creek Winery.  Koerner learned the wine business first in the cellar, working hand in hand with the winemaker and learning all phases of winery operations.

In 1980, the Rombauers made their first wines under their own label at a neighbor’s winery. In 1981, they sold their interest in Conn Creek Winery and began construction of the Rombauer Vineyards winery on the property adjacent to their home.  Today, under the direction of Director of Winemaking and Viticulture Richie Allen, Rombauer Vineyards combines traditional viticultural and winemaking practices with the best available technology to ensure the highest quality wine production. The winery produces award-winning Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel.

Rombauer-winesROMBAUER WINERY TASTING EVENT:

Chardonnay
Cabernet Sauvignon
Diamond Select Cabernet
Merlot
Zinfandel

LIMITED SEATING
Contact your local WineStyles to reserve your seat!

Grgich Hills Winery Spotlight Tasting Event

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November Tasting Event

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Mike_cheersThe Story of Grgich Hills Estate

Miljenko “Mike” Grgich first gained international recognition at the celebrated “Paris Tasting” of 1976. Then, in a now-historic blind tasting, a panel of eminent French judges swirled, sniffed, and sipped an array of the fabled white Burgundies of France and a small sampling of upstart Chardonnays from the Napa Valley. When their scores were tallied, the French judges were shocked: they had chosen the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, crafted by Mike Grgich,  as the finest white wine in the world. Mon Dieu! The results stunned the international wine establishment and immediately earned Mike a reputation as one of the greatest winemakers in the world.

The Paris Tasting served notice to the world that the California wine industry was on the move, and it laid the groundwork for the creation of Grgich Hills Cellar. After his victory in Paris, Mike sat down with Austin Hills and his sister, Mary Lee Strebl, from the Hills Bros. Coffee family, and on Independence Day 1977, they gave birth to Grgich Hills.  With his fierce commitment to making wines of the highest quality, Mike began producing what immediately became signature wines: the exquisite, richly complex Chardonnays that win awards and delight wine lovers across America and throughout the world.

Now 91 years old and still sporting his signature blue beret, Mike was inducted into the Vintners Hall of Fame in 2008 in honor of his many contributions to the wine industry. While many other Napa wineries pursue strategies of expansion, Mike, along with his daughter, Violet, and his nephew, Ivo Jeramaz, prefer to stay small. Their aim, year after year, is to improve the quality of their grgich-wine-bottlevineyards and their wines, relying on Mike’s unique artistic and intuitive touch. This strategy continues to pay significant dividends.

Committed to natural winegrowing and sustainability, they farm five estate vineyards without artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, rely on wild yeast fermentation and use our passion and the art of winemaking to handcraft food-friendly, balanced and elegant wines.  In keeping with Grgich’s goal of sustainability, the winery switched to solar power in 2006. As Mike often says, “From our vineyard to your glass, naturally!”

Grgich Hills remains committed to making distinctive wines with quality, consistency and longevity.  World leaders such as Presidents Reagan and Clinton, Queen Elizabeth II and French President François Mitterrand chose Grgrich wines to serve at state dinners.  More importantly,  Grgich is equally proud that every single day discriminating wine drinkers count on Grgich Hills to turn their own dinners into special occasions.

Grgich-hills-winesFEATURED GRGICH HILLS WINES AT TASTING EVENT:

Chardonnay
Fume
Zinfandel
Merlot
Cabernet

LIMITED SEATING
Contact your local WineStyles to RSVP!

 

 

Michael David Winery

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Winery Spotlight

October Tasting Event

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MICHAEL DAVID VINEYARDS, Lodi, California:

storyThe Story of Michael David Winery

“Michael” and “David” are Michael and David Phillips, two brothers whose family has farmed in the Lodi region since the 1850’s, cultivating wine grapes for nearly a century.

Today Michael David Winery has extended itself to the 6th generation of grape growers in the family, with Kevin Phillips and Melissa Phillips Stroud now joining the family business. The family continues to emphasize the importance of quality wines with unique and eye catching labels.

Farming with future generations in mind, Michael David Winery has adopted some of the most progressive sustainable farming practices in the state. All 750 acres of the family’s vineyards are third party certified and the states first per ton bonus was issued for contracted growers to follow in the family’s foot steps. Starting with the 2011 vintage 100% the Lodi grown fruit crushed at Michael David winery was certified sustainable.

These days, Michael and David Phillips represent the fifth generation of growers in Lodi, and things are changing. With 650 acres of premium wine grapes, there is plenty of room for experimentation and innovation. The vineyards are irrigated by the Mokelumne River, which carries crystal-clear water from the Sierra Nevada Mountains, depositing minerals into the rich soils upon which the grapes thrive. Though not certified organic, Michael~David Winery strives to use all natural methods including integrated pest management, beneficial insects for pest control, trellising, leaf pulling and natural mined sulfur for mildew control.

Michael-David-winesFEATURED WINES AT TASTING EVENT:

Michael Davide Chardonnay
Michale David Sauvignon Blanc
Petite Petit
Freakshow Cabernet Sauvignon
Earthquake Cabernet Sauvignon
Earthquake Zinfandel
Lust Zinfandel
Rage Zinfandel
Inkblot Cabernet Franc

LIMITED SEATING
Contact your local WineStyles to RSVP!

Michael-David_winery_sign

RSVP Early!

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ThomasBarton_winesThomas Barton Portfolio Tasting Event

Please join us to taste the epitome of CLASSIC BORDEAUX French wines, powerful, fruity and elegantly oaked, the modern equivalent of the great wines of the 18th century, those that Thomas Barton might have enjoyed and chosen himself.

Contact your local WineStyles to RSVP,
limited seating available!

THOMAS BARTON: The Spirit of Wine

Thomas-BartonThis range of wines is the ultimate homage to Thomas Barton, who traveled to Bordeaux from Ireland in 1725.  He quickly became the most important wine merchant in Bordeaux having built a solid reputation among prestigious customers all over Europe.  The spirit of Thomas Barton has been perpetuated in this unique and prestigious range of carefully selected wines from the heart of the Bordeaux region’s greatest appellations.  These wines are the epitome of classic Bordeaux; rich, fruity and elegantly oaked, the modern equivalent of the great wines of the 18th century, those that Thomas Barton might have enjoyed and chosen himself.

BartonBottles

Everything starts out in a the vineyard, with a drastic selection of the best terroirs and strict vine-growing rules in order to guarantee high quality fruit.  Yields are low, sorting rigorous, and the wines are traditionally fermented before aging in oak barrels to enhance each terroir’s authenticity.

The Renaissance of Bordeaux Wines:  All these efforts and attention are richly rewarded by the quality and generosity of Thomas Barton Réserve wines, whose powerful, opulent style and excellent aging potential represent the quintessence of the finest wines of Bordeaux.

A Renewed Elegance: The Thomas Barton range’s packaging also reflects the founder’s personality and his times: a heavy 18th century-style Bordeaux bottle with a short colored capsule.  The label combines the sobriety of Thomas Barton’s character and the unique, classic elegance of the 18th century.

Reserve your Seat Early!

Our national tasting event in January will sell out fast!
Contact your participating WineStyles for local details and reservations!

Reserve Your Seat Early!

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Caymus Vineyards Portfolio Tasting Event

portfolio

Call your participating WineStyles to RSVP, limited seating available!

Please join us to taste amazing wines from Caymus Vineyards, Napa Valley California.  The Wagners produced their first vintage in 1972, consisting of 240 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon. Since then, Caymus has focused their efforts in the production of quality Cabernet Sauvignon. Today’s production is 65,000 cases and still family owned.

CAYMUS VINEYARDS:
In 1971 Charles F. (Charlie) Wagner and his wife Lorna Belle Glos Wagner asked their son Charles J. (Chuck) Wagner, who had just graduated from high school, if he would be interested in joining them in starting up a winery. If Chuck declined the offer, Charlie and Lorna were planning to sell out of their ranch in Napa Valley and move to Australia. Chuck accepted his parents’ offer to launch the winery, Caymus Vineyards. The Wagners took the name Caymus from the Mexican land grant known as Rancho Caymus, given to George Yount in 1836, which encompassed what eventually became the town of Rutherford and much of the surrounding area.

portfolioCaymus Vineyards remains 100% family-owned by the Wagners. Charlie, Lorna Belle, and Chuck worked together as a remarkable team for over 30 years building Caymus Cabernet. Today, Chuck, his two sons, Charlie and Joe, and one daughter, Jenny, have joined the family team. Farming grapes remain the priority with the family, farming about 350 acres of choice Napa Valley land.

Reserve your Seat Early!

Our national tasting event in November will sell out fast!
Contact your participating WineStyles for local details and reservations!

Reserve Your Glass!

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Duckhorn Portfolio Tasting Event

Duckhorn WinesCall your local WineStyles to RSVP, limited seating available!

Please join us to taste amazing wines from Duckhorn Wine Company.  Founded in 1976, Duckhorn Vineyards has been crafting classic Napa Valley wines for nearly 40 years.  This winemaking tradition has grown to include 7 meticulously farmed Estate vineyards, located throughout the various micro-climates of the Napa Valley.

DUCKHORN FAMILY:
Founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976, their family of wines include Duckhorn Vineyards, Paraduxx, Goldeneye, Migration and Decoy.   With grapes selected from the finest estate vineyards, as well as a variety of sought-after vineyard sites, each winery is presented with a canvas of lots from which blend its wines.  Focused on optimal grape selection, innovative winemaking techniques and a premium barrel-aging program, Duckhorn Wine Company is founded on an unwavering commitment to quality.

Duckhorn_wines

Reserve your Seat Early!

Our national tasting event in October will sell out fast!  Contact your local WineStyles for details and reservations!