Archive for the ‘International Series’ Category
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
What do we love? We love wine, of course! But we also love viticulture. We love the stories that develop over a bottle of wine. We love visiting wineries. We love food and wine. We love the living, breathing qualities of wine. We love that feeling we get after a frazzling day of work and finally having the chance to plop down on the couch with a glass of wine. But what we really love, what truly makes our hearts sing, is sharing these experiences with others! Its why we do what we do – because sharing wine with others can be one of the most rewarding experiences out there, especially when what we’re sharing is a truly fabulous bottle. We’re in the business of bringing high quality wines to your door; this much is obvious from our website. But what’s not so obvious is the amount we’re willing to bend our memberships to make them something that suits your needs. Which brings us to our last love, giving you what you really want.
I’ll use the Gold Series to set an example of the kind of tweaking we can do to your membership. The Gold Series is the most popular of our five wine club memberships. It is the least expensive of the selections, but the wines are high quality and very versatile. The website explains that the standard membership consists of two highly sought after small production, California wines, sent out on a monthly basis. Generally, it is one red and one white, but sometimes two different reds. The website also offers a Red only or White only option. But, what’s not advertised are alterations to this: if it is your preference, we can make sure that we always send you one red and one white, even in the months when “two reds” is the standard mix. Or, maybe you like red wine, but only Cabernet and Merlot, and in terms of white, you want to avoid Chardonnay and Viognier? (This is all hypothetical, of course. I can’t imagine why anyone would limit himself or herself in this way, but I do understand people have their preferences, and sometimes you just know what you like!) Well, to sum it up, we can accommodate these requests as well. Perhaps location is your thing. We can send you a shipment only when we feature wines from a particular area like Napa Valley. We’ll work with you to find out your particular preferences. In months that we feature something you’d rather not receive, we can send you something from a previous month’s selection, or we can skip that month entirely, or maybe there’s something else you want to do. Fine by us!
And what if two bottles each month just isn’t enough for you? (Now, we’re speaking my language…) The website offers a four bottle membership, which is essentially two of each of the featured wines from the month. But, believe me, by no means does it have to stop there. If you’d like to have four bottles each month but want three reds and one white, we can do that. Or three whites and one red? Yes! Like to try six wines each shipment? Yep, we can do that too. There is virtually no limit to the number of bottles we send you in a month.
And here’s another thing. Moving from the topic of wine selection to frequency of shipments, the website offers monthly, every-other, or quarterly shipments. But we actually can send shipments any time and as often as you like. If you want to have shipments only in months ending in “y”, we can do that. Or, only with the months with a major holiday, we can do that, too. As often as you would like a shipment, we’ll send one your way.
Want to save a few bucks on shipping costs? How about joining a club membership on a quarterly basis, but receiving all the wines from that quarter at once? Keeping to the example of the Gold Series, you could receive the wines we featured in January, February and March all together in March (totaling 6 different wines in March), then continue on a quarterly basis from there. It will save you money on shipping, but the only downside is that you’ll have to wait two months in between shipments…
Like the look of two of our Series, but can’t decide which one to choose and joining both is going to be too much wine? How about alternating? You could join the Gold Series every other month of the year, and in the alternate months, receive one of our premium clubs, like the Platinum or Diamond Series. You could even receive the Platinum Series on a monthly basis, but in your and your partner’s birthday months, treat yourselves to our highest rated wines club membership, the Diamond Series. Don’t let us stop you…Go wild! Get creative!
What I’m trying to make obvious for you is that this is YOUR membership. Don’t let the website fool you – we are YES people and we want you to have a great experience with the wine club. If that means you want only 92+ rated wines from Monterey and Napa Valley and you want them only in the months of the year when you visit your Aunt Sadie at her home in Boulder, Colorado, well, that’s just peachy with us. We’ll send ‘em your way. Just tell Aunt Sadie to share!
Call our Customer Service phone number to customize your membership or to talk about your options for a gift: (800) 266 – 8888.
Tags: wine, wine club, wine of the month club Posted in About Gold Medal Wine Club, Diamond Series, Gold Series, International Series, Pinot Noir Series, Platinum Series, about the wines | No Comments »
Friday, April 2nd, 2010
 Up to 40% off Winery Direct Prices with FREE SHIPPING on orders of 2 Cases or More!
Welcome to the Wine Sale 2010! This year, its bigger and badder than ever, with up to 40% off winery direct prices! If that wasn’t enough, you can also save more by ordering 2 or more cases to receive FREE SHIPPING! The wines included in this sale were recent features of the club’s Pinot Noir, Platinum, Diamond, and International Series — the upper level memberships that feature 90+ rated wines. There’s a three bottle minimum per wine to achieve the sale price, but at these amounts, you’ll want to order much more than simply three of each, which is why there is no maximum per wine (inventory pending, of course!)
You won’t want to miss out on the sale; it is your chance to stock up on some fabulous wines. But, you’ll have to hurry! Inventory is moving quickly and the sale will be over by the end of the month!
Tags: free shipping, wine gift, wine sale, Wine Store Posted in Diamond Series, International Series, Pinot Noir Series, Platinum Series, SALE!, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, March 15th, 2010
Today kicks off our newest contest, and, boy, are we excited about it! Our biggest giveaway to date, the grand prize is a Seven-Day voyage for two from Rome to Venice, beginning in the Tyrrhenian Sea, travelling through the Ionian Sea and finishing in the Adriatic aboard Windstar Cruise’s luxury, white-sailed yacht. You’ll enjoy days of exploration and evenings of fine wine and dining over the glistening waters aboard this privatised liner where the crew members know you by name.
The cruise takes you to a different port nearly every morning, allowing you to explore each beautiful location every day. And, since Windstar’s yacht’s are smaller and more private than your typical cruise ship, with a maximum capacity of just over 300 guests, they are able to visit some of the more intimate and exclusive ports along the Italian coast and in the surrounding seas.
The adventure begins on July 25, 2010, in one of the oldest and most interesting cities in the world, Rome, a city where the rich history of viticulture is intertwined with the very fabric of ancient and modern civilization. You’ll want to make sure to spend a day or more exploring and losing yourself in the city before you set sail.
After a night’s sail, you’ll wake up the first morning in the port of the idyllic Island of Capri, just off the coast of Naples. With any luck and the most calmed waters, you’ll have the opportunity to kayak through the island’s famed grotto’s to view the spectacularly neon blue waters. If you’re feeling active, the island offers moderate hikes through the town’s outskirts, or perhaps renting a scooter to visit the far stretches of the island and private beaches will be more your style…
The second morning you’ll arrive at the base of one of Sicily’s top travel destinations, Taormina. Located approximately 200 meters above sea level, the town offers an array of visual sensations, mixing history with modernity. You’ll want to visit the town’s medieval quarter and Greek theater, but never be too far from some of the greatest modern shops and restaurants the area has to offer. June through August boasts the Taormina Arte Festival, a celebration of all facets of human creativity, with emphasis on music, theater, movies, dance and canvassed art. You won’t want to miss it!
 Windstar Sailing Past Portofino
On Wednesday, July 28, you’ll enjoy a day at sea aboard the yacht as you make your way around the southern tip of Italy. On board you’ll have the chance to explore and indulge in the many on board activities including the luxurious WindSpa – “The most tranquil place on earth, at Sea”, the Fitness Center, Casino, Library or just relax on the Fly Bridge. Actually, the Stateroom in which you’ll be staying is a luxury in itself, with a Queen sized bed, flat screen TV with DVD’s, and Room Service delivered with the same polished quality as The Restaurant, so maybe you’ll want to just stay in for the evening!
Day four you’ll wake off the coast of Montenegro headed to its beautiful port of Kotor, a sea port of the finest calibre with many stories within its borders. This midieval city was constructed sometime between the 12th and 14th centuries, and is a well preserved visualization of life in the middle ages. In fact, UNESCO gave the maritime city the high honor of a “World Heritage Site” – a place that is of such a calibre of cultural and natural heritage of humanity that it is to be preserved under this title.
 Elite destination town of Dubrovnik
On Friday and Saturday, you’ll have the opportunity to explore two towns in Croatia, Dubrovnik and Hvar. Another UNESCO World Heritage site, the city of Dubrovnik has been nicknamed the pearl of the Adriatic, a place most definitely ”to be seen.” Croatian history is deeply rooted in the city, where much of its language was developed, and has been home and vacation home to many notable figures, including diplomats, nobles, and celebrities. The island of Hvar, alternatively, offers a different kind of splendor, a more rural setting as it is off the mainland of Croatia and is famous not only for its nautical positioning, but for its tranquil beauty. Not to be missed in the town of Hvar is the cathedral of Hvar, the fortress Fortica, famous theater built in 1612 and the Franciscan monastery. You’ll want to lose yourself in the stone lined streets where undoubtedly you’ll find at least a few quaint cafes and family run restaurants.
You’ll say goodbye to Windstar Cruises on your seventh morning as you land in Venice, Italy, where hopefully you’ll still have some energy in your reserves to explore all that this City of Canals has to offer…
We hope you’re as excited about this sea adventure as we are! Enter to win today by visiting Our Entry Form page. The drawing will be held on June 30, so it might be a good idea to start looking at flights just in case… From all of us at Gold Medal Wine Club, GOOD LUCK!
Tags: contest, Croatia, Cruise, Giveaway, italy, Montenegro, Sicily, Voyage, Windstar, wine, wine club Posted in Contests, International Series | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
Earlier this year, we sent lucky winners Michael and Stacy Gallagher to Peso da Régua, Portugal to soak up the culture and enjoy some fabulous wines from winery Quinta do Vallado. The seven day, six night adventure included accommodations at the winery’s own bed and breakfast and a night’s dining experience with the world renowned winemaker. The peaceful and scenic town is the hub of Portugal’s premium wine region and specializes in Port as well. It is backed by the Serra do Marão mountains and overlooks the tranquil Douro Valley at the site where the Corgo and Douro rivers converge. Traditionally, this town transported their barrels of wine and port down the river using Rabelos (wooden sailing ships) to the town of Vila Nove de Gaia. Tourists can still experience this journey upon river boats that carry passengers through the locks of two dams to Régua.
The Gallagher’s were kind enough to send us notes about their trip, as well as a few pictures. Here’s what they had to say and show about their experience:
Our trip to Portugal and Quinta do Vallado was fabulous. Stacy and I enjoyed every minute. We spent several days in Lisbon sightseeing and then hired a driver to tour the country. We went to Nazarre, Batalia, Combre and Porto to name a few places. The castles, monastaries and Port houses held so much history. A thrill to view something six centuries old. The Quinta do Vallado was beautiful. Paula and Rafael were very gracious hosts. The property was spectacular and infinity pool awesome. We also took the train to see a number of different towns. The Portuguese are very friendly to Americans and proud people. Thank you for arranging a great trip. We will never forget it. We highly recommend visiting Portugal and Quinta do Vallado. Attached are a few photos from our trip…
Have a great day and hope to see you in the near future.
All the best,
Mike and Stacy
 Infinity Pool, Quinta do Vallado
Think you’d enjoy travelling to an exotic country to sample some of the finest wines the region has to offer? If so, we’ve got great news. There’s still time to sign up for the opportunity to win our Italian Wine Country Trip for two. Visit “Super Italian Giveaway” to enter. We’ll be accepting enteries until March 15 for this seven day, six night stay at the famous Hotel Hermitage, just outside of Florence. You’ll enjoy winery tours and five winery dinners with this adventure. Good Luck!
Tags: contest, Giveaway, international, italy, Portugal, tuscany, Vacation, wine Posted in Contests, International Series, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
“You may have the universe if I may have Italy” said Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. Italy, particularly Tuscany, evokes all that makes life a gift, especially for wine and food aficionados. It is in celebration of Tuscan beauty and bounty that Gold Medal Wine Club presents their newest wine contest. From today until March 15th, enter to win a 7-day/6 night International Wine Country Getaway to Prato, a small city in northern Tuscany. The contest includes continental breakfast, five nights of dining and wine tasting with world renown Italian winemakers and winery tours.
Prato is home to many museums and cultural monuments and is considered to be a centre for the ’slow food’ movement, boasting many local specialties. Accommodations are for two at Prato’s fabulous Hotel Hermitage. The hotel has been given five stars by tripadvisor.com travelers and is described as beautiful, quiet, and spacious, surrounded by olive groves and centrally located with just a 20 minute drive to Florence.
Tours and dinners have been arranged at five exceptional wineries in the area. The wines of Podere Le Poggiarelle and Cantine Bonacchi are currently featured as Gold Medal Wine Club International Series selections. Each wine was chosen by Gold Medal Wine Club for exceptional quality, prestige and requisition in the face of high demand. The wineries are both located in the Montalbano hills and have been producing wines since before 1970 on vineyards with rich and ancient history. Podere Le Poggiarelle winery is located on a restored Tuscan farm true to its ninth century roots whereas the Cantine Bonacchi wine making operation is centered in the town of Quarrata and includes a newly completed modern winery and bottling facility.
The three wineries of Fattoria Artimino, Cantine Borghi, and Fattoria Le Gallozzole, also located in and around the north Tuscany region, share the rich traditions in an area known for it’s 3000 year old history of grape and olive growing. Each of these wine tours and dinners will offer the winner their own unique experience of the fabulous food and wines of Italy.
To enter the contest for the International Wine Country Getaway, please visit goldmedalwine.com. Follow the button on the homepage. No purchase is necessary and contestants are encouraged to tell a friend to enter.
The International Wine Country getaway is sponsored by the International Series from Gold Medal Wine Club. The International Series is a wine club featuring wines from the best small-production, boutique wineries around the globe. Each quarterly shipment features a specific country or region and includes extensive tasting notes and comprehensive information about the region, the wineries, the grapes and the families behind the wines. Shipments also include our ‘adventure package’ of specially chosen gourmet food products carefully selected to reflect the unique culture of the featured country. For more information about the International Series, or Gold Medal Wine Club, please visit www.goldmedalwine.com or call 1-800-266-8888.
Tags: contest, international, international wine club, italy, trip, tuscany, win, wine country, wine dinners, wine tasting Posted in Contests, International Series | No Comments »
Friday, September 18th, 2009
The South African wine export business is an industry that has generated much enthusiasm for the international wine community in the last fifteen years. With the demise of Apartheid in the early 90’s, which kept the country’s exports highly restricted, there has been an explosion of renewed interest and a new wave of very contemporary wineries have sprung up in essentially every wine-growing region in the country. However, with wine-making traditions over 300 years old in some of these areas, many of the top producers are finding promise by straddling both the elegance of an Old World style and the more fruit-driven style of the New World.
The country’s most significant wine regions are located in the Western Cape, a location of varied topography and a moderate, Mediterranean climate, close enough to the Indian and Atlantic Oceans to give vineyards the benefit of maritime influences. An area comparable to California’s Napa Valley, and considered among the world’s most highly regarded wine producing areas, the Western Cape may be broken down into over a dozen specific wine regions. We’re happy to bring to you three excellent wines from three very promising regions from the Western Cape: Sequillo 2005 Red Blend from Swartland, Jardin 2005 Syrah from Jordan Winery in Stellenbosch, and Paul Cluver 2008 Chardonnay from Englin Valley.
Sequillo Winery was formed in 2001 by two families with a deep history in wine-making circles: the Sadie Family and the Cornet Spies Family Trust. Winemaker Eben Sadie elects to use an organic approach for the vineyard and as such, the unfiltered and non-refined wines are as natural tasting as possible. He utilizes wood barrels only to the most minimal degree, and his methods involve using cement vats to make the wines, and then ages in a variety of ancient oak barrels. The Sequillo 2005 Red Blend was awarded 89 Points by Wine Enthusiast, who cited, “The nose offers raspberry, red berry and spice, and on the palate, integrated flavors of red cherry and dark fruit, spice and minerality… Good acidity and balance, and a fresh overall character add to the interest.” It will pair well with barbecued chicken and South African Sosaties.
Jordan Winery, of the notable Stellenbosch region, is unique to South Africa for two reasons. A true “Mom & Pop”, it is the only winery in the country that is owned and operated by a husband and wife team. And secondly, the vineyard has the rare luxury of facing all directions-North, South, East and West-giving a balance that most vineyards do not have access to. Gary and Kathy Jordan developed their knowledge on wine-making while attending UC Davis in California, and returned to their South Africa home to become prominent wine-makers. Gary has received numerous awards producing under the Jordan Winery label and is steadily continuing to make his mark on the international wine scene. Wine Spectator awarded an outstanding 91 points to the Jardin 2005 Syrah, noting, “Dark and plenty fleshy, with fig, hoisin sauce, warm currant confiture and bittersweet ganache flavors that glide along fine-grained, coffee tinged tannins.” Pairs well with beef curry, lamb, or try with Braised Chicken with Peppadew Peppers.
Paul Cluvery Winery, of Elgin Valley, not only generates high quality wines, but grower Dr. Paul Cluver has been acknowledged amongst South Africa’s most respected vintners, and has become the regions most important figures in the industry. A progressive institution, the estate is partner in the first wine and biodiversity route in the area, is an active member and contributor to Thandi black economic empowerment wine producing project, promoter of eco-tourism, and is highly involved with project Slowine, an entity that empowers those “moments in between” and encourages connections amongst humans and quality over quantity, combining modernism with the best traditions from the past. A true family run business, Paul Cluver’s wines have landed both international and national acclaim and his 2008 Chardonnay was awarded 5 stars by Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2010. This classic Chardonnay erupts with aromas of citrus and floral tones with hints of pineapple, peaches, oak and toasty nuttiness. It is gentle yet complex with a long and elegant finish. Pairs well with creamy pastas, pork, salmon, or try White Fish with Fennel.
We hope you enjoy this quarter’s selection. Let us know what you think! Judge The Wines today!
Tags: international, south africa, wine, wine club Posted in International Series | No Comments »
Sunday, July 19th, 2009
Spain is a large country geographically and has more acreage under grape cultivation than any other country in the world. Overall, Spain is the third largest in terms of world-wide wine production and grapes are grown throughout every region of the country. Since the 1950’s, Spain’s winemakers have worked steadily to improve quality and with their entry into the European Union, new legal standards for wine were put in place. Today, a new generation of winemakers have quietly begun crafting spectacular wines and experimenting with varietals that would have been unthinkable only a short time ago. Wine remains an important commodity and an integral part of Spanish culture.
Gold Medal Wine Club is pleased to present wines from three up-and-coming growing regions of the country as part of the International Series Wine Club.
The Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel is one of the new boutique-style wineries in the region of Ribera del Duero DO. The winery’s first release came in 2003 and has catapulted the winery into international prominence with exceptional scores and awards. Resalte de Peñafiel’s 2004 Crianza is 100% Tempranillo grape and was awarded 3 Gold Medals, 2 Silver Medals, and 89 Points at various international competitions.
Bodega Pardo Tolosa’s emphasis is on its old vines (some are 60-80 years old) and the incredible quality juice the grapes produce. Guided by noted Spanish winemaker Luis Jimenez, Bodega Pardo Tolosa has already made a mark on the international scene with excellent scores and top awards. The 2007 Senda de las Rochas is 100% Tempranillo and is designated as a ‘very high quality’ wine.
Bodega Alvarez y Diez is an old timer having been built in 1941. The winery is mostly planted to the venerable Verdejo grape that traces its ancestry back to the 11th Century and the reign of King Alfonso VI. A 1997 renovation installed new equipment and modern techniques and allowed Bodega Alvarez y Diez a new lease on life. The 2005 Mantel Blanco is entirely comprised of the Verdejo grape.This This delicious interpretation of the grape comes from old-vines and takes on a full-bodied, round mouth feel from the French and American oak barrel fermenting.
We hope you will enjoy these three excellent selections. Please let us know what you think.
Tags: international wine club, spanish wines, tempranillo, verdejo, wine club, wine of the month club Posted in International Series, Platinum Series, about the wines | No Comments »
|
|