{"id":9491,"date":"2018-12-14T18:37:26","date_gmt":"2018-12-15T02:37:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=9491"},"modified":"2018-12-14T15:18:54","modified_gmt":"2018-12-14T23:18:54","slug":"cocktail-corner-wine-world-news-happenings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=9491","title":{"rendered":"Cocktail Corner: Wine World News & Happenings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Presqu\u2019ile Winery scores big in National Tasting Room Rankings, releases Rescue Wine Collection; The Pillars Wines showcase Bien Nacido Estate;\u00a0Brick Barn Wine Estate Scores Big in Competition;\u00a0Guarachi Wine Partners Acquires Parker Station;\u00a0Cambria Estate Winery joins Stewards of the Land with Leonardo DiCaprio<\/span><\/h4>\n
\"Presqu\u2019ile

Presqu\u2019ile Tasting Room, photo by Avis Mandel.<\/p><\/div>\n

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! by\u00a0Leslie Dinaberg<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Presqu\u2019ile Winery Rates #2 in USA Today’s 10 Best Tasting Rooms in the U.S.<\/b><\/span><\/h5>\n

Presqu\u2019ile<\/a>, the Murphy Family’s contemporary estate winery in the hills of Santa Maria, placed second in\u00a0USA TODAY\u2019<\/i>s<\/i> 2018 National Readers Poll of 10 Best Tasting Rooms<\/span><\/a> across the United States, serving as the only representative and entry from Santa Barbara County.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur mission at the Presqu’ile tasting room is to share our passion for the wines from Santa Maria Valley and our estate vineyard in a relaxed, elegant setting while providing world-class hospitality,\u201d states Matt Murphy, co-founder and president. \u201cThe nomination for the top 10 Best Tasting Rooms and second place finish in the poll is a testament to the hard work our team puts in daily to deliver this experience. They are an extension of our family and do an incredible job living up to our high expectations for the guest experience at Presqu’ile. A huge thanks to our friends and extended family who voted for us; we are so appreciative of the support.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nominees for USA TODAY<\/i> 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards categories are chosen by a panel of relevant experts.\u00a0<\/span>Presqu\u2019ile (pronounced press-KEEL) is a small, family-run winery dedicated to making exceptional cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Presqu\u2019ile is a multigenerational collaboration between Madison and Suzanne Murphy, their three adult children, Matt, Anna and Jonathan, and their daughters-in-law, Amanda and Lindsey. No strangers to agriculture, four generations of the wine-loving Murphy family have been farming land in Louisiana for almost a century. Led by eldest son Matt Murphy, the family founded Presqu\u2019ile\u2014the Creole word for \u201calmost an island\u201d\u2014both as a tribute to a beloved Gulf Coast family gathering place that was lost in Hurricane Katrina, and because they envisioned Presqu\u2019ile as an island-like haven amid the vines. Also on the team is rising star winemaker Dieter Cronje<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Left:

Left: Murphy family members Charlie, Anna, Matt, Pokey, Suzanne and Madison; right: Assistant Winemaker Mike Chase with Gus and Nyla. Photo courtesy of Presqu\u2019ile.<\/p><\/div>\n

Rescue Wine Collection<\/b><\/span><\/h5>\n

Presqu’ile also recently joined forces with the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society<\/a> to release the\u00a0Rescue Wine Collection<\/span><\/a> named for the winning dog and cat of the Presqui\u2019le Spokesdog and Spokescat Contest honoring the second annual Presqu\u2019ile 5K9 Run & Walk held this fall. The contest and event benefited the work of the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Miller\u00a0Family Releases of The Pillars Wines,\u00a0<\/b><\/span>Historically Inspired to Represent the Foundation of the\u00a0Bien Nacido Estate<\/b><\/span><\/h5>\n
\"Nicholas

Nicholas Miller, Stephen Miller and Marshall Miller, proprietors of the\u00a0Bien\u00a0Nacido and Solomon Hills Estates. Courtesy photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Miller family, owners and stewards of the\u00a0Bien\u00a0Nacido and Solomon Hills Estates<\/span><\/a>, recently announced the\u00a0release of The\u00a0Pillars<\/a>, a selection of three historically inspired wines from the most exceptional\u00a0parcels within Bien Nacido Vineyard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since Bien Nacido Vineyard\u2019s inception in 1973, the most\u00a0impressive parcels of the vineyard have commanded the highest demand and\u00a0demonstrated the greatest quality. It\u2019s with this understanding that, after 45\u00a0years, the Miller Family has decided to craft these three special\u00a0wines,\u00a0anchored in the rich history of Bien Nacido and appropriately called the\u00a0Pillars to represent the foundation of the winemaking\u00a0program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cThe Pillars Wines were\u00a0created to honor our family\u2019s history, leadership and vision for growing the\u00a0world\u2019s best grapes and producing the\u00a0highest quality wines from the Bien\u00a0Nacido Estate,\u201d shares Nicholas Miller, Vice President of Sales and Marketing.\u00a0\u201cThe name was really\u00a0inspired by the pillars of our family.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Bien Nacido &\u00a0Solomon Hills Estates\u00a0are part of The Thornhill Companies, the\u00a0industry-leading umbrella brand owned by the Miller Family\u2014one\u00a0of California\u2019s premier winegrowing families who have been farming California\u2019s\u00a0Central Coast for five generations. In addition to the Bien Nacido and Solomon Hills Estates,\u00a0The Thornhill Companies includes such well-respected brands as J.\u00a0Wilkes<\/a>, Ballard\u00a0Lane, Smashberry and Barrel Burner wines, French Camp vineyard\u00a0in Paso Robles and the custom crush facilities Central Coast Wine\u00a0Services and\u00a0Paso Robles Wine Services.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brick Barn Wine Estate Scores Big in Competition<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\"Brick

Brick Barn Wine Estate Winery, courtesy photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Brick Barn Estate Winery & Vineyard<\/a> recently won some awards at 2018 Sonoma County Harvest Challenge<\/a> and the 2018 San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition<\/a>. Here’s a round-up of the award-winning wines:<\/p>\n

2016 Albari\u00f1o<\/strong>: Block 1 \/ Albari\u00f1o Clone 1 \/ 1.9 acres. A lively rendition of this classic Spanish variety. Bright white flower aromatics build in the glass, leading to a crisp and direct core of exotic citrus and pear. These qualities are enhanced with extended skin contact, light pressing and extended cold settling prior to fermentation and aging in stainless steel.\u00a0\u00a02018 Sonoma County Harvest Challenge:\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Best in Class, Best in Show, Best White, Double Gold and Best of the Central Coast.<\/em>2018 San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition:\u00a0<\/strong>Double Gold.<\/em><\/p>\n

2016 Vermentino<\/strong>:\u00a0Block 7 \/ Vermentino Clone Tablas A \/ 2.1 acres.\u00a0An aromatic white that offers both crispness and length. Grown in a wind-protected block behind the winery, this wine shows delicate floral notes of peach and honeysuckle followed by vibrant white fruit flavors\u2014all layered over a fresh sea breeze salinity and a lasting, stony finish.\u00a02018 San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition:\u00a0<\/strong>Sweepstakes Winner White Wines.<\/em><\/p>\n

2017 Grenache Ros\u00e9:\u00a0<\/strong>Block 2 \/ Grenache Blanc Clone 141 \/ 3.28 acres\u00a0Alive with a vibrant fragrance of rose petal and chalk followed by a juicy core of fruit and beach stones. This wine is whole cluster pressed, settled and co-fermented with Grenache Clone 136, Grenache Clone 513 and Grenache Blanc.\u00a02018 Sonoma County Harvest Challenge:\u00a0<\/strong>Silver Medal.<\/em><\/p>\n

2016 Chardonnay: <\/strong>Block 5 \/ Chardonnay Clone 4 \/ 5.04 acres Block 6 \/ Chardonnay Clone 809 \/ 2.96 acres. A focused, terroir-driven\u00a0\u00a0Chardonnay. Bright and alluring tones of citrus and pear are driven by a crisp mineral structure derived from the alluvial sands of our estate\u2019s lower blocks.\u00a02018 Sonoma County Harvest Challenge:\u00a0<\/strong>Gold Medal.<\/em><\/p>\n

2016 Cabernet Franc<\/strong>: Block 18 \/ Cabernet Franc Clone 332 \/ 2.64 acres. Grown in the upper blocks of our estate vineyard, this wine derives power and finesse from an east-west row orientation along a rocky, hillside terrain. Deep red fruit and spicy aromatics lead to flavors of currant, pepper and dark cherry, all supported by firm, structured tannins.\u00a02018 Sonoma County Harvest Challenge:\u00a0<\/strong>Gold Medal<\/em><\/p>\n

The 35-acre Brick Barn estate vineyard, which opened its Buellton tasting room in 2018, is open to the pubic daily. For more information, visit www.brickbarnwineestate.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Guarachi Wine Partners Acquires Parker Station from Fess Parker Winery<\/b><\/span><\/h5>\n
\"Parker

Parker Station Wine, courtesy photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

Guarachi Wine Partners<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 and Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard<\/span><\/a>\u00a0recently announced Guarachi Wine Partners\u2019 acquisition of Parker Station, a Central Coast Pinot Noir brand. Guarachi Wine Partners will be representing and supporting the brand by leveraging its experienced sales team, developing marketing campaigns and national distribution to grow brand awareness and overall volume. The wine will continue to be produced by Fess Parker Winery for a period of five years.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTen years ago, I saw an opportunity to expand past South American wines and into California produced wines. Our domestic portfolio now features Guarachi Family Wines<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 \u2014a high-end luxury label sourced from micro lots within Estate vineyards in Napa and Sonoma, and a gathering of high quality wine brands at reasonable prices including Black Ink<\/span><\/a>, \u00a0tensh\u01ddn<\/span><\/a>, \u00a0Surf\/Swim<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 and \u00a0BACON<\/span><\/a>,\u201d says Alex Guarachi, founder of Guarachi Wine Partners and owner of Guarachi Family Wines. \u201cParker Station is the perfect addition and fits a niche for our portfolio with its great price point Pinot Noir and drinkability that consumers are looking for. Part of the future plan for the brand is to extend the line to include Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. I\u2019m excited to share this wine with everyone and looking forward to a long term partnership with Fess Parker.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Tim Snider<\/a>, President of Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard, adds, \u201cAs we enter our 30th year as a family owned and operated winery here in Santa Barbara County, we feel a return to our core identity by focusing on our higher-end and single-vineyard wines is the best path forward for the family.\u201d Snider continues, \u201cConnecting with Alex Guarachi about his vision to grow the Parker Station label is a mutually beneficial opportunity, and we know the brand will continue to flourish as part of their portfolio, which represents the richness and diversity of the global wine world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cambria Estate Winery Partners with Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation for “Stewards of the Land” Grant Program\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h5>\n
\"Courtesy

Courtesy Cambria Estate Winery.<\/p><\/div>\n

Cambria Estate Winery<\/a> recently announced <\/span>the launch of its “Stewards of the Land” environmental sustainability grant program in partnership with the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation<\/a> (LDF). <\/span>LDF has worked on environmental issues globally for the past 20 years and pulled from their broad network of leaders and organizations in the space to nominate the women for this new grant program.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Cambria\u00a0“Stewards of the Land”<\/span> grant program identifies and empowers female leaders who are making meaningful contributions to environmental and community-based causes.\u00a0 In partnership with LDF, Cambria Estate Winery\u2019s co-proprietors Julia Jackson and Katie Jackson<\/a> selected two recipients who will each receive a $25,000 grant to further their mission as Stewards of the Land.\u00a0 The inaugural grant recipients, Calla Rose Ostrander<\/a> and the Women\u2019s Empowerment Program of Amazon Frontlines<\/a>, were selected for their demonstrated commitment to environmental conservation and excellent stewardship of our natural resources, in California and around the globe, respectively.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur \u2018Stewards of the Land\u2019 program is not only focused on identifying inspiring female leaders in important environmental causes here at home, but the program seeks to extend its impact and reach to places around the globe that are not normally in our day-to-day conscience, like the Amazon,\u201d says Julia Jackson, co-proprietor of Cambria and Family Ambassador for Jackson Family Wines. \u201cWe\u2019re very excited to support Calla Rose Ostrander\u2019s work to improve carbon capture and regeneration, and the Women\u2019s Empowerment Program of Amazon Frontlines for its <\/span>dedication to protecting over five million acres of rainforest that is vital to worldwide oxygen supply and sequesters vast amounts of carbon<\/span>.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are excited to use our vast network of environmental change makers to help Cambria Estate Winery identify and champion women who are leading impactful efforts to protect the health of our planet,\u201d says LDF Executive Director Justin Winters. \u201cThe inaugural grant recipients, Calla Rose Ostrander and the women from the Women\u2019s Empowerment Program of Amazon Frontlines, are incredible examples of the type of thoughtful, innovative and collaborative leadership that we believe is the key to ensuring a vibrant our future.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are proud to partner with LDF to help bring worldwide attention to environmental stewardship,\u201d says Katie Jackson, co-proprietor of Cambria Estate Winery and Vice President of Sustainability and External Affairs for Jackson Family Wines. \u201cWe are supporting innovative initiatives that will have a real, lasting impact on improving soil health, while also empowering women to become environmental leaders in their own communities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Throughout its history, Cambria Estate Winery has taken serious, continuous steps to preserve and protect the land, take care of its employees, and support the local community.\u00a0 Every aspect of the winery\u2019s operations, from the cellar to the estate vineyard, practices sustainable farming and winemaking techniques. For more information, visit<\/span>\u00a0cambriawines.com\/stewards-of-the-land<\/a>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Cheers! Click\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0for more Cocktail Corner columns.<\/p>\n

\"Leslie<\/p>\n

When she\u2019s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes<\/i>\u00a0mag<\/i>azine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie believes variety is the spice of life. Send your suggestions to Leslie@sbseasons.com.<\/i><\/p>\n

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons<\/em><\/a> on December 14, 2018.<\/p>\n

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