My recent trip to Willamette (gosh, I still can't get over how lovely it is there!) included a stop over at the super cute new Inn at Red Hills in Dundee. Operated by FELLOW BRUIN Kendall Bergstom-de Lancellotti, it's a comfy, wine country-chic sleep spot that couldn't be more centrally located when it comes to touring and tasting. Check out the video (shot by yours truly ;)), which takes you inside the Inn and tours through the Farm to Fork restaurant, Press Wine Bar and the retail space that makes up the heart of the hotel. Enjoy!

PS and click here for a compilation of my discoveries and recommendations following the trip - including itineraries and top wines tasted

Posted by Courtney at 09:44 PM • Comments (0)

"Wine hasn't been big in Oregon's bucolic Willamette Valley for long - in fact, it was only in the 60s that the first plantings were made in what is now considered by many to be some of the most hallowed ground for wine production in the world. With a cool, moist climate that favors Pinot Noir in particular, the region just an hour's drive from Portland has fast turned into one of the most exciting places to swirl, sip and savor your way through wine country. Read on for my top ten wines tasted on a recent visit."

Continue reading at WineCountry.com

TOP 10 WINES
Number 10: 2007 Penner-Ash Willamette Valley Riesling ($18)
Number 9: 2007 Adelsheim Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($32)
Number 8: 2007 Adelsheim Caitlin's Reserve Willamette Valley Chardonnay ($40)
Number 7: 2007 Lange Estate Winery "Three Hills Cuvee" Dundee Hills Pinot Noir ($40)
Number 6: 2006 White Rose Estate White Rose Vineyard Dundee Hills Pinot Noir ($75)
Number 5: 2007 Penner-Ash Dussin Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($60)
Number 4: 2007 The Eyrie Vineyards Dundee Hills Estate Pinot Gris ($16.75)
Number 3: ???
Number 2: ???
Number 1: ??? --> check out the article!

Posted by Courtney at 09:45 AM • Comments (0)

"As with so many things in life, trends in food and wine come and go. One season, chefs scramble to pair Riesling with faddish new foam sauces, the next they're matching up Cabernet with the likes of PB&J. But a handful of tried-and-true pairings consistently rise above these of-the-moment fads, delivering the unsurpassed pleasure that can only result from an absolutely perfect marriage of food and wine. Read on for our favorites, and bon appetit."



Click here to continue reading one of my fav pieces penned for WineCountry.com - it hits some super sweet wine and food notes we should all absolutely experience!! Topics include:

Acidity Affinity
Crustacean Sensation
For the Sake of It
The Good Earth Gives
Foie-tastic
It's Amore
Cult Classic
Opposites Attract
Decadence Delivered

Posted by Courtney at 10:15 AM • Comments (0)

We all know how important it is to support local businesses, and I'm thrilled to say that doing so is EASY for me, given the fabulousness that is my local wine bar/retailer, Swirl on Castro in the heart of SF's - well, most colorful district. ;) Check out this short video that includes a tour and look at the spot's hottest merch (hmm, wine accessory meets evening bag? ONLY in the Castro!), people and wine bar. It's hot! Enjoy. :)

Swirl on Castro
572 Castro St
San Francisco, CA 94114-2512
(415) 864-2262

Posted by Courtney at 09:27 AM • Comments (0)

Wine and fashion - both being art forms - are never too far apart. Witness Moet's sparkling support of affairs surrounding New York Fashion Week - like the uber-anticipated bubbly soirees in and around Bryant Park, for example. And sometimes, the twains meet far closer still, like with this fabulously fashion-forward bottle of bubbly designed by no other than Jean-Paul Gaultier for the house of Piper Heidsieck (yes, corsets are still clearly HOT! And see other pic for inspiration). Like so many sparklers designed by the fashion demi-gods for sparkling houses, the Gaultier bubbly is extremely limited (not to mention pricey - it clocks in at $395 for a magnum), but oh-so-lovely that we can't help but consider the splurge. Read on to feast your peepers on still more stunning bottles and accessories, the rest by the likes of Karl Lagerfeld (for Dom Perignon), Viktor & Rolf (also for Piper-Heidsieck) and YOU - as in personalized Swarovski crystal-embossed bottles made on demand by that most uber-fashion-oriented house, Moet. Cheers.

Posted by Courtney at 04:11 PM • Comments (0)

This is Taylor Price, reporting again for Courtney on the fabulous world of California wines! Check out my other stories on Family Winemakers, Sangria and Pinky Vodka!

I was inspired to write a piece on Wind Gap Wines after experiencing the magnificence that is their 2006 Sonoma Coast Syrah. The combination of this wine, along with a delicious and totally pimped-out meal with some girlfriends, provided for one of those rare dining experiences you just can't get everyday - and probably shouldn't for your waistline's sake!

Wind Gap is actually the most recent wine venture (founded in 2008) of Pamela and Pax Mahle, the founders of Pax Wine Cellars - a Syrah powerhouse with vineyards located in the cooler regions of Mendocino and Sonoma County.

As stated on the Pax Wine Cellars website, the Mahles "believe that the cooler climates along the northern coast of California have the potential to produce world-class Syrah." They trust, along with many other California Syrah producers, that Northern California will be the next great Syrah region of the world, while still retaining its own unique Syrah-making flair (for an interesting view into Syrah's success in Cali, check out Jordan Mackay's well-written piece for Chow). Rather than attempting to emulate the classic Rhone methods, California vintners like Pax Mahle are committed to staying true to what is best for their grapes without following a strict European formula for success.

The Wind Gap Syrah comes from Sonoma Coast's Petaluma Wind Gap, a much cooler, wetter, and windier region than other areas of Sonoma. These unique growing conditions produce a low alcohol, incredibly juicy and spicy wine which perfectly complements the oncoming fall season. This was the juiciest Syrah I have ever tasted - the flavors seem to explode in your mouth as if you were eating a handful of just-picked berries. The low alcohol content of this wine (only 12.1%), really lets you enjoy its full, pungent flavors. The mixture of the heady berry flavor, along with a medium spiciness to help check it, was simply a beautiful combination. This wine made all of our dishes stand out much more than they would have on their own. We had a good mix of meat and poultry, and the wine only enhanced each dish. I found that my smoked California squab breast served with a sauce of reduced cherries was this wine's ultimate soul mate. The combination was that good! All three of us kept reaching over the table, sampling everything on each other's plates while pausing to take sips in between bites - the "ooo-ing" and "ahhhh-ing" was probably heard at the table across the room! One thing we all most definitely learned - wine like this truly deserves maximum communal enjoyment!!

If interested, join the Wind Gap Wines mailing list to get more information about their wines and winery!

Happy drinking, Tay

Posted by Courtney at 11:16 AM • Comments (0)

As the ad says, think of pretty much anything, and "there's an app for that." Of course, wine (not to mention foodie culture) being as mega popular as it is these days, there were destined to be tons of cool food and wine iPhone applications to choose from. Read on for my favs!

Made from scores of regions, hundreds of varieties, thousands of producers and newly released each vintage year, wine is one of the most data-challenged consumer goods we enjoy. But now, thanks to a host of fancy new iPhone and iPod Touch-compatible applications, sorting through the dizzying array of wine selections in stores, restaurants and even in your own cellar is getting a whole lot easier. Read on for our picks for top applications to fuel your Wine Country lifestyle; they make researching, scoring, sharing and even buying wine a snap - and they let you do it all from the palm of your hand.

Continue reading at WineCountry.com

Featuring: Nat Decants Food & Wine Matcher * Snooth * Clinks 2.0 * Wine Snob * Wine Enthusiast * Mr. Picky's Santa Barbara Wine Tasting * Wisconsin Cheese Cupid * MacGourmet Touch * Hello Vino * Drync Wine Pro

Posted by Courtney at 12:55 PM • Comments (0)

Here's the latest story by my fabulous intern, Taylor Price, as she discusses her recent wine redezvous at the 2009 annual Family Winemakers Tasting. Enjoy, and be sure to check out her other stories on Sangria and Pinky Vodka!

In Taylor's Words:
A few weeks ago, I had the great luck and pleasure of attending San Francisco's 19th annual Family Winemakers Tasting at Fort Mason. Family Winemakers of California is an association which represents and gives voice to California's family-owned wineries. The annual tasting is a time for these winemakers to showcase their extensive and often extraordinary work to both professionals in all aspects of the wine business and passionate wine consumers. 359 wineries poured at this massive event, making it no easy task to explore the vast selection in only a couple of hours! Nonetheless, I arrived excited and determined to taste as much as possible while on the hunt for hip, fabulous wines!

It would be a vast understatement to say I came out of this monumental tasting experience with a new list of tasty favorites and a deeply profound respect for California winemakers in general. Besides holding the title as the largest showing of California wines in the world, the level of quality and presentation at the Family Winemakers Tasting was for the most part, simply outstanding. Being a fairly inexperienced newbie to the massive tasting scene, I didn't make it much higher than the "L" section in my two hour time frame. NOTE: many activities in San Francisco require a max of two hours enjoyment due to horrendous street parking and ticket-happy parking officers. Be warned!
In order to share the wine love (because we could always use more wine love!), I'm including a list of some of my favorites from that day along with brief tasting notes. Enjoy!

B Wise Vineyards (Sonoma Valley)

B Wise Vineyards was founded in 2002 by owner, Brian Wise. Though they may not have been around for long, their selection is quite impressive. I tried the Trios 2006, which is their proprietary red (49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah, 17% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petite Verdot) and the Brion 2004, a Cabernet.
The Trios was wonderful. The blackberry and cherry really popped along with a balanced, rich spiciness. It was one of those wines you want to keep tasting in order to fully appreciate all the flavors. The price is $19/bottle, which I think is a fantastic deal! The Cabernet was notable as well, although I was not as impressed as with the Trios. Very, very rich, with intense dark berries and a long finish...basically everything you want in a Cab. However, for the $52.50/bottle, not sure I'd want to splurge.
Overall I really loved this producer. Great quality wines and happy people- a winning combination!

Black Cat Vineyard (Napa)

I was first attracted by the name, and then by the beautiful wines. The whole production at Black Cat Vineyard is owned and run by Tracey Reichow, a former investment banker turned winemaker extraordinaire.
I thought both her 2005 Family Cuvee (which is a mix of Cab Sauvignon and Syrah) and the 2006 Syrah were excellent. The Cuvee was absolutely superb. Both are $42, which is pricey, but could definitely be worth it for a little splurge on such lovely wine.

Bodegas (Paso Robles)

The production at Bodegas is fully run by owner and winemaker Dorothy Shuler. I was attracted to her table by her love of Spanish wines, which she makes exclusively at Bodegas.
Some were all right, others very nice. I loved the Tempranillo, however. Full bodied and bursting with dark berry fruits, this was quite an enjoyable wine

Krupp Brothers Estates

I was immediately attracted to this table by their adorable labeling-very jazzy, almost art-deco style. Krupp Brothers Estates was founded by Dr. Jan Krupp, a Stanford taught physician with a passion for wine. Along with his brother Bart Krupp, Dr Krupp's wine estate has been flourishing since 1991. It is interesting to note that the Krupp Brothers Estates includes three different vineyards-one being the renowned Stagecoach Vineyard. They use a combination of grapes from all three in many of their wines. My favorite that I tried was their wine called Synchrony (a blend of 46% Cab Franc, 40% Cab Sauvignon, 2% Malbec, 2% Merlot). Incredibly earthy, with beautiful ripe fruit flavors and a long finish. It's a nice robust wine for a robust meal.

Lagier-Meredith (Napa)

First off, it should be known that Lagier-Meredith is completely run by Stephen Lagier and Carole Meredith, a winning team if I say so myself! They describe themselves as a "small mountain vineyard" and have no employees, no partners, and do absolutely everything from the planting, the harvesting, and the actual wine production on their own. Yes, even the harvesting! Truly astounding.
This winery's extraordinary selection was definitely one of my top three favorites of the day. Absolutely AMAZING Syrah! I cannot stress this enough. The 2005 Syrah was out of this world good with an elegant spiciness and long finish. Tasted like velvet. It's something I wouldn't even want to have with food as it's so unbelievable on its own. I would pay the $48 price tag for such a good wine in a heartbeat. It tasted straight out of France-definitely had a noticeable Euro style to me and it would be difficult to notice much of a difference between this and an elegant French Syrah. Their 2006 Syrah is also amazing, but I really think the 05 blew everything else out of the water. Definitely could not bring myself to spit at this table.

Lail Vineyards

Lail Vineyards boasts some gorgeous wines, the most outstanding being their Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet. The 2008 Blueprint Sauvignon Blanc is super crisp, with intensely beautiful floral notes. I loved it. Impress your dinner guests with this one.

Lynmar Estate (Russian River Valley)

Lynmar Estate was founded in 1990 by Lynn Fritz, a former expert in humanitarian relief efforts. His original focus has always been on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, a formula he now has down to an art form.
The 06 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir was excellent. Everything a Pinot should be...depth, red fruits, just the right amount of oak, very balanced.
The 06 Syrah was my favorite syrah of the day! Quite a hefty task after tasting so many excellent Syrah wines! (I wrote "AMAZING!!!! BUY IMMEDIATELY" in my notebook). It had a smokiness to it I loved with its deep fruit flavors. One of those complex, mysterious wines you just can't forget. The price is $36/bottle-I think a great price for such a refined wine. This one was also incredibly Euro style to me. Truly brings out the best that CA wines have to offer.

Littorai (west Sonoma)

Littorai Wines was founded in 1993 and run by Ted Lemon, a master vintner who began his training apprenticing in wineries throughout Burgundy. The Sonoma Coast Pinot was exquisite with a smoky, spicy nose and extremely refined taste. Complex and lush, it will only get better with time. If you're looking for a great Pinot for a special occasion, this is an awesome choice.

NOW, let's go out and support our astounding California winemakers! Cheers to that!
Taylor

Posted by Courtney at 09:30 AM • Comments (0)

Husband-and-wife team Paul and Kacky Chamberlain of San Diego-based Cerebral Itch, Inc. not only have a knack for snarky jargon, they've been able to channel their self-described "wicked sense of humor" into a remarkably successful line of greeting cards, e-cards, t-shirts and self-adhesive wine labels. And while some of their more racy material isn't fit to print here (aw shucks!), much of the wine label stuff is sufficiently PG.

Continue reading my post at WineCountry.com

For more on Cerebral Itch's latest and their new iPhone app, follow them on Twitter

Posted by Courtney at 05:26 PM • Comments (0)

Yours truly in the vineyards at Domaine Drouhin Oregon, giving a rundown on what to expect when in Willamette (hint: I'm wearing a scarf in August). It's short, sweet, and meant to be an intro to the other videos I've posted today. Enjoy! The trip was lovely - a full rundown including tasting notes, itineraries, lodging tips and more coming over soon in my newsletter - so be sure to sign up if you haven't already at courtneycochran.com. ;)

Posted by Courtney at 10:38 PM • Comments (0)

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit with The Eyrie Vineyards' second generation winemaker, Jason Lett, who clearly takes following in his father's footsteps very seriously (his father founded the Willamette wine industry back in the 60s). He strikes as a bit of a sage - plus wears this very cool hipster hat - and so I asked him to share his philosophy on making great wine. Enjoy.

Posted by Courtney at 10:25 PM • Comments (0)

I join Willamette's Scott Wright of Scott Paul Wines as he talks about his passion for Pinot Noir and the magic in his 2006 La Paulee and 2007 Audrey (my fav wine from the trip!) bottlings. Filmed on location at Scott's Carlton, OR tasting room.

Posted by Courtney at 10:11 PM • Comments (0)

I meet with David Adelsheim, Willamette wine pioneer and all-around nice guy (plus he's wicked good with maps, but more on that later), and can't help but ask - "why are people so laid back around here?" I'd just driven past a street called "Why Worry Lane," and been slowed to a near standstill by the unbelievably slow drivers in the area, so I wanted to know. David's answer is sweet, and his candid stories about the founding of the Willamette wine industry as we know it are even better.
***

Posted by Courtney at 01:28 PM • Comments (0)

Check out my video of celebrated winemaker (and Cali transplant) Lynn Penner-Ash outside her gorgeous winery in north Willamette's Yamhill-Carlton district. Neighbors aren't too shabby: Lynn points out nearby Beaux Freres, among others, and chats about her winemaking philosophy and the perks of Oregon wine country living.

Posted by Courtney at 01:17 PM • Comments (0)

Just back from the gorgeous Willamette Valley and excited about video using my new Flip cam! The sound quality is not what it ought to be (sorry, folks), but the scenery and people are divine - I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch!
***
Second generation winemaker Jesse Lange of Lange Estate Winery in the Willamette talks about his family's dedication to the vinous way of life and how Oregon Pinots are beyond doubt the next big thing.

Posted by Courtney at 01:12 PM • Comments (0)

A playful new one of mine from WineCountry.com:

"As a little girl I believed that, really truly, Cinderella's glass slipper was made just for her. Not only had she gone through all that heartache and pain before finally getting her chance with the prince, she had such a perfectly tiny foot it seemed like destiny that she'd wind up not only wearing the shoe, but wed to the dashing guy.

Fast forward about 20-some years to last night, when I found myself seated in a comfy conference room at the Ritz Carlton in San Francisco, thinking not so much of fairy tale princesses as fairy tale stemware. I was assembled there with more than a dozen wine journalists, all gazing skeptically at a very dapper Austrian dude at the front of the room..."

Continue reading at WineCountry.com

Posted by Courtney at 05:54 PM • Comments (0)

This just in, another story by my fabulous summer intern, wine lover, and current UCLA senior, Taylor Price! Read on for her musings on Sangria, the perfect drink for these hot summer days. And in case you missed it, make sure to check out her first story on Pinky Vodka!

In Taylor's Words:
One of my favorite memories of this past year brings me back to Madrid with two girlfriends, relaxing after a busy day over a heaping plate of paella and the most enjoyable Sangria of my life. There's something about the memory of this Sangria, overflowing with fresh fruit and delicious Spanish red wine, which transports me back to that amazing day with a huge smile on my face. And although I have returned to lovely California, there are times when I find it necessary to recreate the magic, (or in this case, the Sangria!) of those memories.

In case you couldn't tell, Sangria happens to be one of my absolute favorite drinks. I think of it like the Mole sauce of the drink world: throw in a bunch of different ingredients, experiment with flavors, tailor it how you'd like, and basically see what you get. I've made Sangria countless times and every time it's different. Sometimes I'll change the recipe a bit, try a different wine or juice, squeeze in a lime here or there, maybe add some club soda or even ginger ale, etc. The sky is the limit! Throughout my self-taught Sangria education, I have come up with a few guidelines that I always follow: a full bottle of wine, the addition of something fizzy (whether it be orange soda-great for red sangria, or a mix of club soda and ginger ale-great for white), some fruit juice (apple, orange, lemonade or a mixture of two or three), and fresh fruit. Sangria is all about personal preferences. If you're serving a lot of people, you may want to go heavier on the fizzy or juicy additions. If you just need to relax after a stressful day and keep it basic, stick to club soda and limit the juice so the wine really stands out on its own. All in all, Sangria is meant to be fun, fruity, and not too strong. The perfect summer drink!

Here are some recipes of both red and white Sangria that I have had great luck with. Try these versions and improvise on your own, but most importantly, have fun, sit back, and ENJOY!

Red Sangria:
1. One bottle of red wine (I like to go with an inexpensive bottle of Spanish Rioja...no need to be super selective here as you will be adding to it!)
2. About a cup and a half of orange soda. If I have lemon soda, I like to do a half cup orange and one cup lemon). If the idea of orange soda seems strange or if you want to limit the added fruitiness, exchange the orange for club soda. You can really do whatever you want here. Just make sure not to add too much of anything fizzy. These small portions won't make the end product spritzy, but rather just add a nice little kick in flavor and consistency.
3. Mix in some juice in there. I never really measure when I add ingredients but I like to do about 1/2 to one cup orange, the same amount of lemonade, and perhaps some apple. Limeade is great too. It's all about preference. I personally think that the flavors of oranges and lemons go best with sangria in general, so I even like to squeeze a full lemon and orange into the mix. Taste what you have so far and add accordingly.
4. Add the cut fruit-apples, peaches, oranges, lemon slices, etc. Stir it up and let it sit in your refrigerator for at least a half hour.

White Sangria:
1. One bottle of a cheap, dry white. I personally like Sauvignon Blanc for Sangria, although my favorite white Sangria I've ever made was with Gewurztraminer.
2. One cup club soda and 3/4 cup ginger ale. If you hate sweet, limit the ginger ale. I think it adds a nice little kick of flavor myself.
3. About 1/2 cup orange juice and one cup limeade. Don't worry about exact measurements. Add according to taste.
4. Squeeze a lemon/lime or two in there. I love the added tartness. Obviously if you like it sweeter, stick with oranges.
5. Add the fresh fruit-peaches, granny smith apples, lemon and orange slices, raspberries, etc.
6. Let everything infuse and leave in the fridge for about a half hour.

NOTE: Many people like to add another form of alcohol to their Sangria. I personally like to stick to wine, but again, it's all about your personal preference!

Sangria fiesta idea:
If you really want to have a good time with Sangria, make several pitchers (a good mix of red and white), blast the Gypsy Kings, prepare a banquet of Spanish Tapas and artisanal Spanish cheeses, and invite over all your friends. Make sure to require a dress code appropriate for flamenco or salsa dancing!

Cheers, Taylor

Posted by Courtney at 04:09 PM • Comments (0)