by Pamela Heiligenthal
Compagnie de Transport Maritime a la Voile (CTMV), a French shipping company created the world’s first fleet of sail-driven merchant ships to transport Languedoc wines. The initiative is to support a sustainable economic development project. Since CO² emissions from transport are expected to rise by 50% in Europe by 2010, the Treaty of Amsterdam project was introduced to integrate environmental considerations into community policies. Using fleet that support renewable energy and biofuels, CTMV acquired a set of sailing vessels which meets environmental requirements and supports the Treaty of Amsterdam project, with an expectation of saving nearly 5 ounces of carbon per wine bottle compared to traditional shipping methods. Additionally, CTMV uses the Canal du Midi to transport client ...
by Marisa Dvari
Are you curious to learn more about wine but afraid to ask? You are not alone. A few decades ago, many Americans who didn’t know their Burgundy from their Bordeaux felt intimidated by scary, middle-aged, male sommeliers who approached tables at fine dining restaurants with a silver tastevin (a small, very shallow silver cup or saucer traditionally used by sommeliers to taste wine) hanging menacingly from their neck. Today, the situation has reversed itself, with knowledgeable, fresh-faced sommeliers and wine directors, many of them women, assisting guests in a friendly, approachable way with their wine selection. Even so, many Americans remain intimidated by the hundreds of varieties, regions, and producers to be found on restaurant lists. Busy with their own professional and personal l...
by Marisa Dvari
Quick! What is one of the most sensual, aromatic products in the world, right up there with exquisite perfume and exotic flowers? Wine, of course. The ability to describe the aromas and flavors of wine in a way another person can understand is a fine art, a cross between poetry and effective copywriting. So you can imagine how impressed I was to hear the attractive young female sommelier at New York's five-star Le Bernardin restaurant artfully describe the aroma of a few wines we considered ordering. "Well done!" I responded, before asking her secret in teasing out and remembering the flavors specific to each varietal. "Le Nez du Vin," she whispered. What is Le Nez du Vin, you ask? It is a very well organized tool for teaching yourself and others how to identify the signature scents and...
by Nick Tomassi
Modern day Italian winemakers in the Walla Walla area following in their ancestors footsteps. By Nick Tomassi A trip to Walla Walla wine country for pre-arranged interviews with the descendents of the Italian winemakers who influenced Washington State winemaking also brought to light the current state of these winemakers. A number of the current generation of winemakers trace their interest in winemaking to the influence of family winemaking for home consumption. A good example is one of the best known winemakers in Washington State, Leonetti Cellars owner and winemaker, Gary Figgins. His maternal grandparents, the Leonetti’s, arrived at Ellis Island from Serrapedsci, Calabria, (the toe of the boot), Italy in 1906. They traveled to Eastern WA., and homesteaded a 20 acre farm with two...
by Nick Tomassi
The Italian Influence on Washington State Wine By Nick Tomassi January, 2008 As a full-blooded Italian (both mother’s and father’s parents immigrated to America in 1890’s), I have always been interested in how the great Italian wines influenced the production of wine in America. My wife and I had the opportunity to travel to Eastern Washington to the city of Walla Walla and interview a number of men in the Washington State wine business whose ancestors also immigrated to America and were among the ones who influenced winemaking in Washington State. As we sat with these men and recorded their thoughts and their memories, we saw the great pride in their eyes for their ancestors' accomplishments, and their stories took on a special flavor. I had only to ask the first question, "What c...
by James Bogaty
The case of the “wine cellar” or “a dozen wines for all times” Living the Good Life by Jim Bogaty owner Veramar Vineyard It’s cheaper by the dozen, for an everyday wine cellar, all you need are strong shelves, a cool spot and 12 bottles (one case) of wine. Always keep a bottle of sparkling wine and a bottle of white ready to drink in the refrig. Between that and the 10 in the rack, you’ll have a case that is ready “just in case”. ½ dozen any time wines - 3 Whites and 3 Reds Three bottles each of Cabernet Franc (Cab-er-nay Fronc) and Chardonnay (Shard-don-a) or Pinot Grigio (Pee-no-Gree-gee-oh). Great all-purpose wines for almost any occasion. These should be simple Virginia wines you'd be just as happy drinking with a weekday dinner. Others- For whites, a Seyval...
by James Bogaty
Washington DC and Northern Virginia All In a days Drive. Jim Bogaty Veramar Vineyard Experience Virginia's spectacular views and a perfect bouquet of Virginia wine in your glass . . . and a hardy Cheers from Virginia wines! The Virginia's wine industry is believed to be the major growth highway to riches for state tourism. It has been called 'Grapes of Gold' for Virginia. Virginia's burgeoning wine industry is one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors in the state. Today more than 140 wineries up from six in 1979 are in production, and most of them will be open to the public for tours and tastings during 'Virginia wine month.' The industry contributes millions to the state's economy and continues to expand in both quantity and quality, garnering national and international ...
by James Bogaty
Living the Good Life By Jim Bogaty YES Virginia, Red Wine and Chocolate! Some say it can’t be done, pairing red wine with chocolate, but if you have the right wine to complement the right chocolate it can be a match made in heaven! There are a few pairing tips you must keep in mind. Nonetheless, chocolate is beautifully trendy and red wine handsomely in vogue, so it comes as no surprise that your winemaker should play a role at hoping to displace that cup of coffee with a Virginia glass of red wine. Step one is to consider sweetness. Most chocolate desserts are downright sweet - especially white-and milk-chocolate style desserts. When pairing wines with chocolate, your best bet is to match lighter, more elegant flavored chocolates with lighter-bodied wines; likewise, the stronge...
by James Bogaty
The Great Grape By Jim Bogaty Romancing the grape A Grape Wine AVA is that a WHO or What? (American Viticultural Area) What is a Wine Appellations or American Viticultural Area and what does that mean to the grape? Any grape that will become a great wine must begin and end with the terroir. A " terroir " is a group of vineyards (or even grape vines) from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation, and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions, grapes and wine making savoir-faire, which contribute to give its specific personality to the wine. When you visit a set of wineries you will be in areas that have been designated official wine growing regions called American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). Here are some important ideas that will help you understand what the...
by James Bogaty
The Great Grape By Jim Bogaty Romancing the grape -- ALL ABOUT NORTON America’s True Grape This is a story about Dr. Daniel Norborne Norton and the Virginia Norton grape variety. Although some believe that the Norton is a true native of North America, most experts suspect that it is a hybrid of one or more native varieties. Virginia, whose first vineyard was planted in 1608 (Jamestown) the first in all the NEW WORLD to native grapes and up to very recent years Virginia’s most successful varietals were hybrids such as Seyval Blanc and Vidal Blanc. The Virginia wine industry has blossomed over the past decade to the point where the state ranks 5th among vinifera-growing U. S. states The Norton Grape was introduced by Dr. Daniel Norborne Norton of Richmond, Virginia, who ...
