Posts Tagged ‘wine club’
Friday, August 21st, 2009
This month, Gold Medal Wine Club has selected the 2006 Sur Le Pont, and the 2007 Grigio Bianco from Carmichael Vintners to deliver to our Gold Series members.
 Carmichael Vintners was born out of a desire by its original owner to produce a number of blended wines that were European by design and Californian by nature. Carmichael, started by Michael and Carmen Levin was sold to the current owner Richard Spencer in 2003. Spencer has continued the tradition of the original vision. “We are aiming for an old world feel for our wines, a feel that also includes a fruit vibrancy that the wines might not enjoy were they made in Europe.” says Debra Morris, the general manager and two-decade wine industry veteran.
Immediately after buying Carmichael, Spencer, whose background is in construction, built an impressive 20,000 square foot winery in Madera, California. Carmichael is one of the few smallish boutique wineries in Madera usually known for large wineries who rely primarily on Central Valley grapes. Madera is centrally located within California’s wine country, allowing the Carmichael to easily pick and deliver from a variety of grape sources from all over California’s best gr ape regions: the Central Coast, Napa Valley and the Sierra Foothills. This allows for cost effective production of well-priced blended wines-a niche in the wine marketplace. “We wanted to utilize grapes from a number of sources that would provide us the ability to make our Euro-style blends. We have managed to stick with that philosophy and it seems to have worked out quite nicely,” added Spencer.
The 2006 Sur Le Pont is a Rhone-style cépage (a French term describing wines made primarily from a single grape variety) made from 77% Syrah. This wine showcases old world Mediterranean influences while achieving the characteristic fruit-forward varietal style that thrives in California. Look for red rasberry aromas, and dried herb earthiness (typical of Syrah) coupled with peppery notes from the Grenache that makes up a good portion of this red wine.
The 2007 Grigio e Bianco is a beautiful, unusual white wine blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay emphasizing melon, herbal, fruity and floral notes with hints of mango, sweet pea, lavendar and lanolin. This fresh and tantalizing wine is very versatile for sipping or pairing with light summer dishes.
Stylistically, these unique proprietary blends are structured for immediate drinkability and their attractive prices make them exciting
selections for our Gold Series members this month. Enjoy these wines and re-order them through the Gold Medal Wine Club at 22-25% off winery-direct prices for Gold Series Members.
Please let us know what you thought of these wines from Carmichael Vintners. What dishes did you enjoy them with?
Tags: blended wines, carmichael vintners, gold medal wine, gold medal wine club, gold series wine, wine club, wine of the month club
Posted in Gold Series | 1 Comment »
Monday, August 17th, 2009
The 2006 ‘J&S Reserve’ Barbera from Scott Harvey is this month’s selection for the ‘Plus Bottle’ to accompany the Gold Medal Wine Club Gold Series. This wine was recently awarded the Platinum Medal at the New World International Wine Competition.
The Plus! Program is a special add-on option to your regular scheduled wine deliveries. It’s a great way to discover more outstanding hard-to-find selections from California’s best small wineries. Throughout the year, we have the opportunity to buy superb wines worthy of your attention but with availability too scarce to share with all members.
Scott Harvey Winery is located in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains of California in Amador county. The people of Amador began producing wines in the mid to late 1800′s when the area was well populated with gold prospectors. Within a few decades, there were over 100 wineries in the region. The eventual decline of gold mining and the Prohibition devastated the region and by the 1930′s virtually all the wineries were abandoned. In the late 1960′s it was re-discovered for its perfect grape-growing climate and soil. The region now boasts about 40 wineries.
Scott Harvey Wines began in 2003 when Scott Harvey saw an opportunity to pursue a dream of owning his own namesake winery. He had previously been a partner in the successful Folie a Deux Winery which was about to be sold. He decided to branch out on his own with his wife Jana as his business partner. Scott was born in the Sierra Foothills. From experience he knew about all the best Northern California grape sources and his intention was to make a number of small lot wines from these sources. The initial release in 2004 instantly gave the small winery critical acclaim and helped to establish Amador county as a world-class wine growing appellation.
The 2006 ‘J & S’ Reserve (named for Jana and Scott) is a fruit forward wine made from the Barbera grape variety. Look for notes of cherry, tobacco, blackberry and vanilla. Please let us know what you think of this month’s Plus! selection.
Don’t forget to ‘Judge the Wine‘.
Not a member of Gold Medal Wine Club? Consider a membership for yourself or as a gift for a friend. The Gold Series is just $34/month for two award-winning bottles of wine.
Tags: 2006, Amador county, Barbera, Scott Harvey, wine, wine club, wine of the month club, winery
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Monday, August 10th, 2009
Our newest contest to win a EuroTech Wine Cellar has begun. Eurotech’s™ line of beautiful wine cellars provides an elegant and tasteful way to store and display your personal wine collection. Your red and white wine selections can share in the experience together. Eurotech’s™ adjustable controls allow you to personalize your wine cellar’s temperature between 39F and 65F.
This beautiful free-standing unit holds 50-60 bottles in a beautiful black cabinet with smoked, locking doors. You can adjust the temperature to your preference. This will help keep all the award-winning wines you receive from Gold Medal Wine Club at the perfect drinking temperature, and eliminate the risk of spoilage in the summer heat.
There is no purchase necessary to enter the contest for this great wine cellar. Contest ends October 10th. The Grand prize Winner will be posted on notified during the week of 10/12/09. Gold Medal Wine Club will have the Eurotech 50 delivered curbside to your address of choice within the continental United States before November 30th, 2009 (in time for the holidays) Odds will vary upon number of entries. By submitting your entry you are granting permission to Gold Medal Wine Club and WineHar dware.com to contact you via email promoting goods and services. To enter, visit our wine cellar page, or to enter by mail send your Name, address, and phone number to: GMWC, 5330 Debbie Road, Suite 200, Santa Barbara, California, 93111.
Tags: contest, enter to win, eurotech, wine cellar, wine club
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Tuesday, August 4th, 2009
Gold Medal is offering a special promotion when you sign up for a wine club. With your first shipment you will receive an extra bottle of 90+ rated wine as our way of saying “thank you” for your business.
Consider giving Gold Medal Wine Club as a gift to a favorite person in your life. It really is the ultimate gift you can give to the food and wine lover. Your gift recipient will be so excited to receive two ultra-premium bottles of wine each month. It quickly becomes something they will anticipate and look forward to.
Gold Medal Wine Club carefully selects only the best of boutique wines from California’s small-production wineries. All the wines we deliver to you are award-winners and have received high marks from major wine publications. A membership also affords you many member benefits including 10-40% off all wines in our wine store, access to quarterly contests, discounts on accommodations and travel, and first notice on special promotions and sales-and now, a bonus bottle of fine 90+ rated wine.
With five different wine clubs to choose from, there is a wine club for every price-point and palate.
Order your wine club membership today. The bonus bottle promotion ends August 31st.
Tags: fine wine, free gift, wine club, wine club gift, wine club membership
Posted in Diamond Series, gifts, Uncategorized, Wine Store | 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 about the wines, International Series, Platinum Series | No Comments »
Friday, July 17th, 2009
 One of Gold Medal Wine Club’s Platinum selections for this month is the 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Amicus Cellars.
This wine was selected for the “50 Great Wines of 2008” by award-winning wine blogger Frederic Koeppel. Mr. Koeppel has been writing about wine since 1984- way before the internet or email. He now publishes at www.biggerthanyourhead.com. He is among the most respected wine and food critics in the world.
Amicus/X Winery was started just six years ago by owner/winemaker Reed Renaudin, 34. He began drinking wine at age 12 during family gatherings and became hooked on wine as a business while at UC Davis. Over subsequent years, he worked at several brand-name wineries, and eventually earned an MBA and an MS in enology. His academic work involved a business plan for a start-up winery that subsequently became the framework for Amicus Cellars/X Winery. Amicus Cellars was designed to be the winery’s reserve designator for its upper class wines. Renaudin offers these limited production wines on a first-come, first-serve basis. Following a procession of 90+ scores and rave reviews, the Amicus 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is celebrated as one of their most promising and highly rated vintages to date. Gold Medal Wine Club is pleased to have secured this exceptional wine to offer to its Platinum members.
In addition to the accolades from Mr. Koeppel, the Amicus 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded 91 Points by Robert Parker: “Another superb value is the 2005 Amicus Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain…”
We hope you enjoy this exceptional selection. Please tell us what you thought about the wine.
Tags: 50 best wines, amicus, wine, wine club, wine of the month club, wines, x winery
Posted in Platinum Series | 1 Comment »
Friday, July 17th, 2009
 Mission Trails Vineyards was started by husband and wife team Ken and Robyn Rauh, both long time veterans of California’s wine industry. Having done practically every concievable job related to wine making throughout their lives, they decided to take the best of what they had learned and apply it to their own venture in Monterey county. Monterey has a rich history in winemaking dating back to the Franciscan friars. For the Rauh’s, the eventual plan is to have a whole line of wines from throughout California that depict the various Spanish Missions on the label where the grapes are sourced. “What I can tell you is that my wines represent a compilation of everyone else’s winemaking techniques, or at least the best ones that have made the greatest impression on me.” says Ken Rauh, winemaker.
Monterey grows over 40 different varietals of wine grapes and a large portion of these varietals are blended or sent elsewhere for processing. Rarely are wines produced and available on their own as a stand-alone varietal, and for years, only vintners had the pleasure to sample these fine Monterey varietal wines in an individual form. Each variety grown in Monterey County has something special to express with its color, aroma and flavor, and it is in the spirit of exploration and promotion of the area’s quality that proprietors Ken and Robyn Rauh created Mission Trail Vineyards.
This month, the Gold Series features the Mission Trail Vineyards’ 2007 Sauvignon Blanc and Mission Trail Vineyards’ 2006 Syrah. For the Sauvignon Blanc, the grapes were hand selected according to flavor. Awarded a Silver Medal from the Beverage Tasting Institute’s World Wine Championships and a Silver Medal from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, this wine is a pleasing and refreshing summer wine with a true sense of origin.
The Syrah grapes matured on the vine for longer than usual, leading to darker fruit aromas and flavors, more depth overall and great length on the finish. The recipient of a Gold Medal from the Beverage Tasting Institute’s World Wine Championships and a Gold Medal from the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, this Syrah is an excellent portrayal of the big and robust Syrahs from Bianco Bench Vineyard of Monterey.
Enjoy these excellent selections and please tell us what you think. Comment here or rate the wine on our Judge the Wines page.
Tags: monterey county, wine, wine club, wine of the month, wine of the month club, wines
Posted in Gold Series | 1 Comment »
Thursday, July 9th, 2009
There are only several days left to enjoy unprecedented discounts on award-winning wine. Our Summer Sale* winds down on Sunday. This sale offers Gold Series wines at $9.99 a bottle- savings of 30-70% off! Shipping is FREE on orders of three cases or more.
Order your favorites wines now. Not sure which one to get? Each wine in our store features a newsletter complete with tasting notes and/or a tasting video, accolades and winery information. If you don’t feel like researching, rest assured that all the wines in the Gold Medal Wine Club wine store are award-winners, practically guaranteeing a great wine every time.
*Shipping not included in above prices. Free shipping offer applies to 48 Continental United States.
Shipping cost based on Standard Ground Rates. Half Price and free shipping applies to Sale Wines only.
Offer valid until July 15th, 2009.
Please tell us what you think of the wines you purchase. We would love to hear from you. Co mment here or go to Judge the Wines.
Tags: free shipping, wine club, wine of the month club, wine on sale, wine sale, Wine Store
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2009
Anglim (the name is Irish) Winery’s first commercial crush occurred in 2002, a total of 800 cases of Syrah. Anglim’s early efforts were all Rhône-oriented but have recently expanded to include Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and other varietals. Production now stands at around 3,500 and will eventually expand to the 5,000 case level.
Numerous awards and reviews later, Anglim Winery is secure in the ranks of ultra premiere boutique wineries. “We are very determined people,” says Steffanie. “In the beginning, Steve had his cell phone number on the corks so people could reach him with comments. That speaks of his willingness to listen and improve our quality. We are both committed to doing our very best.”
Our Platinum selection this month is the Anglim Winery 2003 ‘Best Barrel Blend’ Reserve Syrah. The wine was awarded 90 Points by International Wine Review, Critics Platinum by the Critics Challenge, and a Double Gold Medal at the West Coast Wine Competition. Medium to full bodied with aromas and flavors of jammy, cherry, blackberry, currant and fig, this Syrah’s ripe fruit and silky texture create a balanced style with enough character to be cellared but enough elegance to be enjoyed now.
We hope you enjoy this month’s Platinum selection. As always, this wine is available for purchase in our wine store to our wine club members and non-members alike. Members enjoy special discounts. If you are not currently a wine club member, consider joining. You will receive regular shipments of award-winning wines and the ability to re-order these fine wines from our online wine store. For us, it’s all about quality. Gold Medal Wine Club has been selecting only the finest highly-rated, boutique wines since 1992.
Tags: anglim winery, paso robles, syrah, wine, wine club, wine of the month club
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Wednesday, June 17th, 2009
One of this month’s Gold Series selections comes to us from Paso Robles Winery, a venture owned and operated by two Swiss expatriates Hans Nef and Hans Michel (pronounced Mikel) that developed as a result of the pair’s long-term association in agricultural-related business endeavors. Both grew up in Swiss farming families. “I learned at an early age to appreciate the role of agr iculture in our family’s lives, and of its importance to everyone’s existence.” says Michel. Upon meeting, they immediately formed Paso Robles as a grape producing company. Over the course of several years, they planted more vineyards and decided to develop Paso Robles into a major winery entity. “I want Vina Robels to express a unique blend of European heritage and American opportunity,” remarked Nef. “As individuals, the principles of Vina Robles are rooted in the Old World. As winemakers, we are inspired by the New World. But both worlds bring value to what we do, and we endeavor to capture this distinction in our wines.”
The growth rate for Vina Robles started slowly, and has remained steady in recent years. The new 14,000 square foot state-of-the-art tasting room and hospitality center recently opened on Highway 46 East in Paso Robles. It sits nearby Vina Robles’ three existing vineyards and boasts a unique balance of modern luxury and old world charm. Nef and Michel both credit their success to a number of key factors, including their Swiss winemaker, Matthias Gubler, who has carefully orchestrated all of the growth associated with Vina Robles. Brought aboard in 1999, Gubler brought an incredible winemaking resume that included stints in Switzerland, France and Italy, as well as an earlier role as harvest worker with Brutocao Cellars in Northern California’s Mendocino County.
Vina Robles 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon was produced from Paso Robles’ Huerhuero Vineyard on the east side of the expansive Central Coast appellation. Awarded 4 Stars by Restaurant Wine Online and named a Best Buy with 88 Points by Robert Whitely of Wine Talk at San Diego Union Tribune, this Cabernet Sauvignon is very characteristic of Paso Robles, showing lovely soft red fruit and an alluring floral characteristic with impressive potential to age well. Vina Robles’ 2005 Cabernet is also Recommended with 3 Stars from Decanter magazine.
Please enjoy this month’s Gold Series shipment and let us know what you think of the Vina Robles 2005 Cabernet.
Tags: cabernet sauvignon, vina robles, wine, wine club, wine clubs
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