Category: Wine Education

Fontanafredda Wine Tasting – Barolo Week (Toronto) by Sergii Daragan

It’s “Barolo Week” I attended, along with a group of industry specialists, a wine and food pairing lunch at Eataly, Toronto to celebrate Barolo.  We tasted six amazing vintage Barolos which paired beautifully with Eataly’s specialty dishes [listed below] while listening all about Fontanafredda’s “King of the Wine” and “Wine of Kings.”

It was a great experience to taste Barolo different styles and vintages, and at the same time compare new-school and old-school styles.

For me, “the wine of the day” became Barolo Proprieta in Fontanafredda 2018 for its fresh, and rich, with notes of licorice and pink pepper on the palate with distinct floral and red fruit notes on the nose.

Wines Tasted:

– Barolo Serralunga Organic, 2018

– Barolo Proprieta in Fontanafredda, 2018

– Barolo Vigna La Rosa, 2018

– Barolo Vigna La Rosa, 2016

– Barolo Vigna La Rosa, 1996

– Barolo Riserva, 2010

Eataly’s Dishes:

Mushroom Arancini
Fresh-made Mozzarella
Gnocchi with Red-wine-braised Ragu
Mushroom Pizza
Chocolate Cannoli

@fontanafreddawines @eatalytoronto

#FontanafreddaWines #RinascimentoVerde #italy #barolotime #barolowek #wine #barolo #lovebarolowine #barololovers #serralunga #winery #winelover #winemaking #enolovers #winelovers #langheunesco #italianwine #langhe #langhehills #instagood #vinoitaliano #nebbiolo #vineyards #vitigno #eataly #eatalytoronto #torontoevent #foodandwine #baroloweektoronto #baroloweek #winereview

“Monopoly Napa Valley Edition” unveiled this week

The World’s Most Popular Game Monopoly now has a Napa Valley Inspired edition Featuring Napa Cellars Winery, among other local businesses and Landmarks. Top Trumps, the American division of Winning Moves International (creators of classic games and puzzles) this week released “MONOPOLY Napa Valley Edition” under license from Hasbro.

This version of the game replaces famous Atlantic City squares (from Boardwalk to Park Place) with representations of much-loved Napa Valley cultural sites, historic landmarks, and time-honored businesses, alongside customized Community Chest and Chance playing cards to ensure each detail of the game pays homage to the iconic wine region destination.

Napa Valley is well known for its iconic wineries, Michelin-starred restaurants and stunning views from the valley to the Mayacamas mountains.

Napa Cellars, an Oakville tasting room and winery deeply rooted in the heart of Napa Valley for nearly 50 years, is one of the properties featured on the board. Beyond its square between “Free Parking” and “Chance” spaces on the Napa Valley edition of the iconic MONOPOLY board, the winery can be found on a Chance playing card, which reads “The sun is shining, and Napa Cellars is calling. Make a reservation for a picnic amongst the vines. Pay 150.” Napa Cellars can also be found on a Community Chest playing card, which reads: “Napa Cellars consulted you to craft the next vintage. Collect 200.”  Other wineries featured include Beringer Vineyards, Sterling Vineyards, Frank Family Vineyards, and Hall Wines.

 

“We’re thrilled to launch MONOPOLY Napa Valley Edition in time for the holidays and to celebrate one of the most beloved, culturally rich and geographically beautiful wine regions in the world. We’ve spent months creating a portrayal of the area’s dynamic communities that we hope locals and visitors alike will enjoy for years to come,” says Jennifer Tripsea, a representative from Top Trumps USA. “We’ve incorporated important feedback from locals to truly make this a fun and engaging game for Napa Valley residents and beyond.”

The Monopoly Napa Valley Edition is available for $39.95 USD on Amazon, CVS and www.toptrumps.us. The game is also for sale in several local retailers, including Napa Cellars’ Oakville tasting room along historic Highway 29.

#winelovers #wine #napavalley  #MonopolyNapaValleyEdition #monopoly #monopolygame #gamenight #monopolygamenight #monopolyboardgame #MonopolyNapaValley #Napavalleywineries #NapaValleyWine #NapaValleyWinetourism #napacellarswine #holidaygift #gift #winegift #napawinelovers  #BeringerVineyards #SterlingVineyards #FrankFamilyVineyards #hallwines #winesofcalifornia #winelife #winetime #wineinfluencer #CAwine

Ingredients listed on a wine label: a consumer’s perception study

 A study dealing with: “Wine labeling with the list of ingredients: context, consumer’s perception and future challenges” was just released in anticipation of the new European Réglementation. The study questions the perception by the consumer of different types of ingredients on the label.

You can view this study here: https://www.wine-law.org/index.php/en/ingredients-on-wine-label-a-consumers-perception-study/

#wine #winelabelling #winenews #winestudy #winelovers #wineconsumer #winebottle #consumerresearch #winemaking

Berry Bros. & Rudd – Some History and the Women Behind the Brand

On my way to 67 Pall Mall Wine Club for a meeting, I had some time, so I wandered into No.3…Just stepping through the front door it was a feast for my senses …. the ancient floorboards, mahogany wall paneling, antique furniture, Royal Warrants, old wine books and catalogs.  Looking closer I saw portraits of former Royal family members who were regular customers, and a framed letter from the White Star Line informing Berry Brothers of the loss of 69 cases of wine and spirits in the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. What history! In short, the Berry Bros. & Rudd head office is a historian’s dream.

No. 3 St. James’s Street, London

No. 3 St. James’s Street is now used as the company’s headquarters. No.3, as it’s known, contained Berry Bros. & Rudd’s main retail premises until mid-2017, when these moved around the corner to a purpose-built shop at 63 Pall Mall.

Berry Bros. & Rudd, founded in 1698, and is Britain’s oldest, family-owned wine and spirits merchant. Still trading from No.3 St James’s Street, London, they have two Royal Warrants and five Masters of Wine on staff. Their services also include Other services it offers include wine investment, wine storage, a wine club, tutored tastings, wine events and educational courses.

Royal Warrants

Berry Bros. & Rudd has been the official wine supplier to the British Royal Family since King George III and received its first Royal Warrant of Appointment in 1903 from King Edward VII. Queen Elizabeth II granted the company her royal warrant in 1952, while Prince Charles, now King Charles lll, granted his in 1998.

Despite being 324 years old in 2022, Berry Bros. & Rudd remains at the forefront of wine and spirits innovation. Their current range of over than 4,000 wines is sourced from over 25 countries.

Berry Bros. & Rudd seems to embrace progress, and at the same time value their traditions. Still run by members of the Berry and Rudd families and they also continue to supply the British Royal Family, since King George III.

Women of Berry Bros. & Rudd

Berry Bro & Rudd has been run by the same two families for centuries; It has survived world wars and pandemics, but there is a fleet of female leaders who have shown, and now show that this historic business can and emerge stronger than ever.

The family firm began life as a grocery store in 1698, founded by a woman now known as “Widow Bourne.”

Elizabeth Rudd “Lizzy” is the current Chairman, who is currently planting the seed for the next generation with her ambitious sustainability plans and creating affordable wine investments.

Emma Fox, Chief Executive Officer, was appointed July 2020.  She has been an independent director of the firm’s board since October 2017.

“Over the past few years as a director, I have got to know BB&R very well, I share its values and am passionate about a culture where people flourish and have fun,” Fox said.

#womeninwine #womeninwinebusiness #womenleaders #berrybrosrudd #london #londonwineshop #royalwarrants #winelovers #wine #wineeducation #wineinvestment #royalfamily #queenelizabeth #wineclub #BB&R #winehistory #winemerchants #londonhistory

Stellenbosch “Sommelier Bootcamp” Launches September

Stellenbosch Wine Routes will hold its inaugural “Sommelier Bootcamp” this September, in a bid to educate wine professionals about the region’s terroir. There will be an intensive five-day course aimed at sommeliers, hospitality professionals and wine media across South Africa with the aim is to immerse participants in the stories of the region and enlist them to help spread the word about its micro terroirs. There will also be tutored technical tastings, and site visits with producers and experts.  Bootcamp attendees will complete a practical exam at the end of the course to earn their Stellenbosch Ambassador’s pin.

“It’s our job to tell people the story and create a value proposition for someone or for something [like Stellenbosch wine],” said Spencer Fondaumiere, chair of the South African Sommeliers Association. “Marketing terroir will increase price points and value.”

“There are so many wine brands,” said Thomas Webb of Stellenbosch wine producer Thelema. “We need to do everything we can to promote our wines. And our terroir is the most obvious one. It’s important to look at the wards of Stellenbosch and promote them. The more we look at the smaller level, the more we push up the whole region and country. Now is definitely the time for specialisation.”

“Quite frankly that information isn’t out there,” said Fondaumiere. “There’s no one beating the drum for the different wards in Stellenbosch and saying this is what we’re good at and this is what to expect. If you’re trying to gain information, there’s not much, other than lived experiences which may or may not be correct.”

The bootcamp aims to create a single, relatable story on the region’s typicity. “Stellenbosch is a recognised quality brand in key markets, but it is much more exciting to learn about the region in an immersive experience,” said Elmarie Rabe of Stellenbosch Wine Routes.

Here is the website to apply somm.wineroute.co.za; the deadline is September 2nd, 2022 and a second bootcamp is planned for November.

#southafrica #stellenbosch #wine #capetown #winetasting #winelands #vineyard #capewinelands #wineinfluencer #winelover #winenews #sommelier #winelife #sommlife#wineeducation #somm #Stellenboschwineroutes #winemedia #winesofsouthafrica