Posts Tagged ‘wine’
Saturday, March 20th, 2010
 "Yountville Vineyard" Happy March, and with it, happy spring! We’re really excited about the featured artist for this month, Sandy Delehanty. Sandy offers bright color and a vivacious attitude in her artwork. When we saw this painting, entitled Yountville Vineyard , we couldn’t pass it up and had to post it for your viewing pleasure. Sandy works as a full time artist in northern California. She leads painting trips around the world and also instructs watercolor and oil painting classes. You may view other selections sure to capture your eye on her website.
Tags: Art of Fine Wine, wine, wine art
Posted in Art of Fine Wine, 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 »
Friday, March 12th, 2010
 One of the great aspects of the Gold Series membership is the wealth of information included with the newsletter, allowing for the member to really learn about all the different aspects of wine.
The Wine Wizard is one such feature of the newsletter. Designed to test your knowledge and hopefully help teach you something about the wonderful world of wine, each Wizard Series posts three question & answer topics. How does your knowledge fare? Test yourself!
1. What is Blanc de Noir?
2. What is the job of the Sommelier?
3. What are the general flavor differences in American and French Oak?
Answers
1. Blanc de Noiris a French term that translates to “white wine from red grapes.” It most often describes a Champagne, made from either Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, or a blend of the two. Occasionally this phrase refers to still wines made from Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel. In the United States, however, these rose wines usually go by other names, such as Blanc de Pinot Noir, Cabernet Blanc, or White Zinfandel.
2. Sommeliers, or wine stewards, are trained and knowledgeable wine professionals, commonly working in fine restaurants and specializing in all aspects of wine services, including food and wine pairing. Sommeliers typically develop wine lists, train the other restaurant staff, and work along with the culinary team to pair and suggest wines to best complement each menu item. Sommeliers also often work the floor of the restaurant, in direct contact with customers to suggest options within their taste and budget preferences.
3. While both American and French oak contribute tannins and aromas, French oak contains more tannins and flavor components with less “oaky” flavor and smell than American oak. American oak is more intensely flavored, with a more aggressive mouthfeel and immediately apparent aroma. American oak also contains more sweet and vanilla overtones than French oak. When it comes to wine barrels, all winemakers are looking for something different, and there is no right or wrong choice – it’s just a difference in style preference.
Tags: wine, wine fact, wine knowledge, Wine Wizard
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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 | Comments Off
Saturday, January 30th, 2010
![]() buy xanax class=”size-full wp-image-589 alignleft” title=”judge the wine!” src=”http://www.goldmedalwineclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/judge_wine.jpg” alt=”judge the wine!” width=”90″ height=”90″ />Its often very helpful to read the tasting notes of the pro’s. It gives a sense, to those who don’t know much about wine tasting, about what might be found inside the bouquet, flavor and structure of a wine. Alternatively, it offers another view for those who do know their way around a bottle. And, it gives a certain objective scale for a relatively subjective subject. But the bottom line boils down to this: YOU, the person tasting, are going to be the ultimate judge about what is pleasing to your pallet. And we want to know about it!
For this reason, there is a section on our website that allows you to be the judge! We want to know about your experience and how bottles you receive compare with your expectation of a great wine. You’ll select ratings based on Appearance, Aroma, Body, Flavor and Texture.
And here’s the best part, just by filling out this simple form, you’re automatically entered to win our quarterly drawing for a bonus half case of wine!
We’ll take the results each month and post them in our newsletter. If we happen to publish your comments, we’ll even send you a complimentary gift.
Here’s how the wine club members rated some of our recent selections from Viansa Winery & Marketplace:
Viansa 2005 Sempre Avanti : 96% GOLD, 3% SILVER, 1% BRONZE
Viansa 2006 “Vittoria” Pinot Grigio : 93% GOLD, 4% SILVER, 3% BRONZE
Have fun with this, happy tasting, and check back next month for more results from our members!!
Tags: best, contest, judge the wines, wine, wine of the month, wine tasting
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Friday, January 15th, 2010
 Niels & Berit Udsen, Castor Cellars This month’s wines from the Gold Series come to you from Castoro Cellars, one of the oldest wineries in Paso Robles. “Castoro”, the Italian word for Beaver, happens to be the childhood nickname of winery owner Niels Udsen, who together with his wife Berit, has created quite a reputation for the winery both in Paso Robles and in the greater wine community.
The “Dam Fine Wine” production began in 1983 as a weekend project; Niels made the wine and Berit would travel to various locations selling it. By the mid 80′s, however, the business became too large to handle as a part time endeavour. Back in those days, the Udsen’s didn’t own a facility or vineyards of their own, so they relied on purchasing other’s fruits and leasing facilities for their production. Out of this own necessity, they saw an opportunity in California’s Central Coast’s wine industry. “Custom crush” services were nearly nonexistent at the time, but could become very valuable for the smaller wineries like themselves. So, out of one Europress and one mobile bottling unit, their business of custom crushing began.
 Castoro's Tasting Room As time moved on and their reputation grew, the Udsens decided they needed a central location to handle both the business of custom crushing, and their own winery’s production. So, in 1991 they purchased and renovated an abandoned winery building conveniently located on 200 acres of land. Using his extensive knowledge of the area from years of purchasing fruits from around the Central Coast, Niels slowly purchased other vineyards as they became available, expanding Castoro’s realm. From a backyard production of making wines for friends out of purchased grapes and leased facilities, Castoro has grown into what it is today: a 50,000 case production winery and 15,000-ton custom crush operation that uses its own equipment, buildings, and vineyards. What a journey!
Castoro Cellars is a progressive winery in that 75% of their vineyards are “Certified Organic” and they use sustainable viticulture practices. They specialize in Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, White Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc. They also produce, in smaller quantities available only at the tasting room, Cabernet Franc, Primitivo, Pinot Grigio, Gewurztraminer and Malbec. Highly respected winemaker, Tom Myers, has been with Castoro since 1990, but has been in the area producing wine since the late 70′s.
We decided to feature two exquisit wines this month from Castoro Cellars – the 2006 Zinfusion Zinfandel and 2007 Pinot Grigio. The Zinfusion is a heavily accoladed bottle, with 4 Gold Medals and 3 Silver Medalsfrom National Wine disfuncion erectil Competitions, and the legacy of this wine has garnered both Gold and Silver medals each year since the 2002 vintage. Aromas of berry creme brulee, spicy mole, barbecued meat and mint rest on the nose and give entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with toasted nut notes. Dusty tannins on the gentle finish yield good aging potential, yet it is dynamite now. The 2007 Pinot Grigio has already received 2 Silver Medals from international wine competitions and is one of the more popular wines in the tasting room. It is only available in the tasting room or through Gold Medal Wine Club! The deliciously crisp apple, lemon and peach aromas and flavors will pair beautifully with brie cheese and seafood dishes and will hold its own against creamy sauces.
Visit the wine store to view and purchase these wines. ENJOY!
Tags: Castoro Cellars, Custom Crush, Organic, paso robles, Sustainable Viticulture, wine
Posted in Gold Series, Uncategorized, Wine Store | No Comments »
Friday, January 1st, 2010
For most people we know, 2009 has been a tumultuous year full of ups and downs and uncertainty. Together we made it through. We wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of our loyal wine club customers for your patronage, support and trust in us to bring you hard-to-find, remarkable wines. We are hoping the wine shipments you received in 2009 were exciting gifts that enhanced your meals, and brought cherished friends and families together. After all, what a better reason to bring people together than over a fine bottle of wine?
We are looking forward to 2010 and are working on securing some incredible selections for each of our five wine clubs in the new year.
Cheers and Happy 2010!
~The Gold Medal Wine Club Staff.
Tags: new years, wine, wine club
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Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
 We are proud to announce Viansa Winery’s 2005 Sempre Avanti and “Vittoria” 2006 Pinot Grigio as this month’s Gold Seriesofferings. These two exceptional wines come to you from Tuscany inspired Viansa Winery and Italian Marketplace, which is located on the outskirts of Sonoma County’s wine country. If you have ever had the pleasure of visiting this magnificent complex, you know that it’s ambiance is one of the attractions that will continue to inspire its growth in the upcoming years. Its Italian charm makes it unique among its Sonoma neighbors, but the going has not always been as tranquil as the setting.
Like most things in this world, Viansa has not been immune to change, and in 2005 the winery was sold to publicly traded to a company who was subsequently forced into Chaper 11 reorganization after just two years of ownership in 2007. At that time, the winery changed hands to it’s main creditor, Laurus Master Fund, who is the current owner. Former executive to Laurus Master Fund, Lloyd Davis, now finds himself President and Co-owner of Viansa, and has worked in the last couple of years to change the fate of the winery. His five-year development plan will bring Viansa back up to the 55,000 annual case production, a goal he wishes to achieve by, “getting a number of things straight, and then applying basic economic principles to make everything work correctly.”
One very important feature of the plan for Viansa’s future is to continue to pay homage to the beautiful wetlands surrounding the hillside complex. The area is home to over 170 species of birds including Canadian geese, blue herons and even the occasional tundra swan. In partnership with Ducks Unlimited, biologists, wildlife experts and engineers, Viansa will continue to protect this sacred land to provide year-round sanctuary for its animals and plants.
It is a mixture of Davis’s business background, love of wine, respect for the environment, and the help of experienced winemakers that will get Viansa back up to its prime. He has already started to firmly reshape the Winery, increasing case production in the two years of his ownership. Currently, Viansa is producing over thirty different wines in an effort to offer something for every palate. They are using grapes from all over Sonoma County and own approximately forty percent of the vineyards they use for their wines.
Oh, and did we mention the fabulous wines? We’re sure you’ll agree that the 2005 Sempre Avante is pure joy in a glass. A blend of five different grape varietals, this wine starts off with complex aromas of exotic spice, dried flowers and raspberries with cedar undertones. On the palate, a complex mixture of spice, leather and raspberries with a rich and lingering finish leaves you with the desire to keep this one to yourself! Try pairing it with pizza and heavier pasta dishes such as Cannelloni Bean and Sausage Stew with Tomato and Basil.
We’re sure excited to watch this winery’s success in the years to come! We hope you enjoy the selections!
Tags: Italian Inspired, Pinot Grigio, Sempre Avanti, Sonoma, Viansa, wine
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Monday, October 5th, 2009
Back in 1992, when the Gallup Poll first started asking consumers about their alcohol drinking habits just 27% of consumers preferred wine over beer. This trend has been steadily reversing. Beer drinking has been more or less steadily declining, while wine consumption continues to grow.
> Learning about wine can be an intimidating process and unlike beer, wine consumption requires that you know a bit about what you are drinking. Wine is a complex beverage which can enhance any dining experience if the wine/food pairing is correct. For novice wine drinkers, the task of learning about grapes, vintages, regions, wineries and pairings can be overwhelming. It doesn’t help that the choices are seemingly endless, there is an entire vocabulary that needs to be acquired. Historically there has been a bit of ‘snobbery’ associated with the knowledge of wine making the acquisition of knowledge sometimes uncomfortable.
 Here at Gold Medal Wine Club, we love new wine drinkers, and we work hard to provide interesting, informative facts, tasting notes and musings with each wine shipment. In the comfort of your own home, you can taste our selections while reading about the wine, the winery, the wine region, and the grapes. Additionally, most of our wines now have video tasting notes that you can view on our website. Our staff collectively reviews each and every selection and provides to you notes on aromas and flavors to look for in each bottle. Each one of our newsletters contains enough information for you to get a sense of time, place and work that goes into the art of winemaking. After actively participating in tasting and reading for a few consecutive months, you will see trends emerge, start making connections and be on your way to becoming knowledgeable about wine.
Gold Medal Wine Club offers only the best of small-production, California wines from family-owned wineries whose passion is to produce award-winning bottles. What a better way to learn about wine than to drink a great bottle? A wine doesn’t win awards, or accolades without possessing superior qualities that most wine connoisseurs covet. Unlike mass produced wines that you might find in nearly every grocery or market, the wines we select are complex, and embody the exact qualities that experts expect from those particular varietals. You are learning with the best possible tools.
Gold Medal Wine Club has five different wine clubs. Our Gold Series is perfect for the new wine drinker or anyone looking for great boutique, hard-to-find wines. This series offers award-winning wines at an affordable price point and includes a rich and informative newsletter with each shipment.
Our Pinot Noir Series and Platinum Series offer award-winning, highly-sought after wines at a slightly higher price point. For any wine drinker, these clubs will offer some of California’s most outstanding wines also accompanied by a detailed information and tasting notes.
The International Series features the world’s best boutique wines. For this wine club, our newsletters include extensive information about the featured country and region for each selection.
And finally, our Diamond Series are upper-echelon wines all with 93+ ratings. This club has limited membership and is typically a great club for the wine collector.
If you or someone you know is becoming increasingly drawn to wine as your beverage of choice, we invite you to consider a Gold Medal Wine Club membership as a great way to enjoy award-winning wines while learning about wine. A wine club makes a great gift. Consider giving the gift of wine and wine knowledge to someone you love this holiday season.
Tags: new wine drinker, wine, wine club, wine clubs, wine drinking, wine of the month club, wine of the month clubs
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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 »
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