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In just three years since its introduction, Root: 1, the original ungrafted, has become one of the best-selling Chilean wine brands in the United States. To meet growing consumer demand, Root: 1 is adding two new varietals to its lineup: a smooth, richly flavored Carmenere and a crisp, fresh Chardonnay. Carmenere is Chile’s signature varietal and Chardonnay, America’s favorite white.
Known for its smooth appeal, Carmenere produces a deep colored, full-bodied wine that offers the charm of Merlot and the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon. Thought to have disappeared, Carmenere grapes were discovered in Chile in 1994 and the varietal is now experiencing a resurgence among Americans. The slow-ripening “lost” grape of Bordeaux found its most perfect microclimate in Chile’s long, dry growing season. Sales of Carmenere over $10 were up 66 percent in US Groceries, according to AC Nielsen (September, 2008). Produced in Colchaugua Valley, Root: 1 Carmenere is deep red in color with gentle tannins and rich flavors of plum, blackberry and spice.
As America’s favorite white, Chardonnay represents more than half of the white wine consumed in the United States. Recent trends show wine drinkers who once preferred heavily oaked Chardonnays are migrating to elegant, terroir-driven wines that pair better with food. The new Root: 1 Chardonnay is perfectly suited for consumers’ growing preference. Its balanced style offers both the fruit and acidity that consumers are looking for today. Grown in the cool, coastal Casablanca Valley, renowned for producing the best white wines in South America, Root: 1 Chardonnay is fresh, expressive and balanced with melon, honey and toasted hazelnut flavors.
“In these economic times consumers really want the most for their money. Root: 1 is priced right, packaged beautifully and offers consistent superior quality and abundant fruit characters, making it very popular with my best customers,” said Michael Quinlan, Table and Vine, New England’s premier fine wine and spirit merchant located in Massachusetts. “I anticipate the Carmenere and Chardonnay will attract more wine enthusiasts to this excellent wine brand.”
According to AC Nielsen (October, 2008, US Grocery), Root: 1 Cabernet is the best-selling, super-premium imported Cabernet and the fastest growing. Root: 1 Sauvignon Blanc is the second best-selling Chilean Sauvignon Blanc over $10. All Root: 1 varietals are available nationwide for the suggested retail price of $12.99.
Handcrafted by Vina Ventisquero and produced in partnership with Click Wine Group, Root: 1 wines are estate-grown using sustainable viticulture practices. While most vineyards around the world are planted on grafted rootstock, Root: 1 wines are cultivated on original, ungrafted roots, producing outstanding quality wine with pure, fruit flavors and aromas.
Click Wine Group, in partnership with highly acclaimed wineries, produces modern, memorable, exceptional quality wines from world-class appellations in the super-premium category. By focusing on signature varietals, the company showcases the very best characteristics unique to each varietal and region. Click Wine Group is a division of Winebow. For more information visit clickwinegroup.com.
Pinot Noir lovers spoke out loud and clear at the 7th Annual Pinot Noir Summit. In an unmistakable statement of preference, they embraced wines of elegance and varietal authenticity rather than burly Syrah-like Pinots, the muscular Pinot Noirs made popular by a few influential reviewers and their publications.
Over 300 adventurous Pinot Noir lovers, seeking true splendor in the glass, delighted in tasting forty-four luscious Pinot Noirs in a blind tasting at The Pinot Noir Summit. The award winning wines were selected by a professional panel in a series of blind tastings from a field of 267 wines. The wines at the Pinot Noir Summit represented the best of the best from this year’s Pinot Noir Shootout.
The Shootout is the only competition where the judges’ conclusions are put to the test by an unbiased panel of wine lovers. All results and comments are gender specific.
7th Annual Pinot Summit Results:
Men:
First Place
- David Bruce 2005 Reserve Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
Second Place
- Claiborne & Churchill 2006 Twin Creeks Pinot Noir, Edna Valley
Third Place
- Left Edge 2007 Bodega Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
Women:
First Place
- Left Edge 2007 Bodega Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
Second Place
- Lucienne 2006 Lone Oak Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands
AND
- David Bruce 2005 Reserve Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
Third Place
- Brutocao 2006 Estate Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
Shootout Panel Results:
Men:
First Place
- Left Edge 2007 Bodega Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
Second Place
- Heart O' The Mountain 2006 Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains
Third Place
- David Bruce 2005 Reserve Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
Women:
First Place
- Bohemian 2007 Freestone Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Second Place
- Segue 2007 Filligreen Vineyard Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
AND
- Sonoma Coast Vineyards 2006 Freestone Hills Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
Third Place
- Claiborne & Churchill 2006 Twin Creeks Pinot Noir, Edna Valley
The women delegates at The Pinot Noir Summit selected Pinots viewed as silky, elegant, velvety, and well-balanced by the female judges, wines displaying finesse over structure.
Complete results: http://www.affairsofthevine.com/7th-pinot-noir-summit-results.php
Unique aspects of the PN Shootout:
- The most comprehensive and focused tasting of Pinot Noir in the US, utilizing an incredibly diverse panel of experts.
- Just 32 wines are tasted by the experts per day, allowing the judges to be completely immersed, focused and fair to the wines.
- There’s no palate fatigue as a factor.
- The wines are tasted completely blind without reference to appellation, vintage or price.
Wines of Chile will be hosting its fifth annual Grand Tasting in New York at Gotham Hall on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 from 1:00 – 5:00 PM. Members of the media and wine trade are invited to taste hundreds of Chile’s premier wines from the country’s thirteen diverse wine growing regions. The tasting will feature current vintages from over 45 Chilean producers, two unique winemaker seminars, as well as an evening consumer tasting to benefit Citymeals-on-Wheels and Share Our Strength.
The 2009 Grand Tasting comes at a very important moment for Chile’s wine industry; for the first time in history, a Chilean wine was ranked # 1 Wine of the Year in the Wine Spectator 2008 Top 100. Moreover, Chile’s young and industrious winemakers have set out to explore new terroirs and appellations that run the length of the country in search of ideal sites to produce boundary-pushing wines.
“We are thrilled to have Chile’s most impressive producers and winemakers join us for the 2009 Grand Tasting,” said Lori Tieszen, Executive Director of Wines of Chile USA. “Value has become a top priority for consumers in today’s economy, and Chile has risen to the top as a global leader when it comes to quality driven wines that offer value at all price points.”
Michael Green, Wine & Spirits Consultant to Gourmet magazine, will moderate two unique winemaker seminars during the event. The first, entitled Exploring New Boundaries, will take place from 12:00 – 1:00 PM prior to the Grand Tasting, and will feature a panel of leading winemakers and winery principals hailing from six of Chile’s newest appellations including:
- Elqui Valley: Vina Falernia
- Limari Valley: Vina Casa Tamaya
- Choapa Valley: De Martino
- San Antonio Valley/Leyda: Amayna (Vina Garces Silva)
- Maule Valley: Bodegas y Vinedos O. Fournier
- Bio Bio Valley: Veranda
The second seminar, entitled Chile’s Knockout Carmenere, will take place from 3:30 – 4:30 PM and will provide an in-depth look at today’s high quality, value driven Carmenere, Chile’s unique variety. Six winemakers and winery representatives will engage in a discussion about Carmenere’s various stylistic iterations, including single varietal wines and blends that feature this spicy grape. The wineries that will be represented at this seminar include:
- Odfjell Vineyards
- Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery
- Terra Andina
- Errazuriz
- Montes
- Lapostolle
Wineries participating in the 2009 Grand Tasting include:
Agustinos
Amayna
Anakena Wines
Antiyal
Apaltagua
Arboleda/Sena
Bisquertt
Bodegas y Vinedos O. Fournier
Carolina Wine Brands
Cartagena by Casa Marin
Casas del Bosque
Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery
De Martino
Errazuriz
Espiritu De Chile
Gracia de Chile
J.Bouchon
Lapostolle
Lauca Vineyards
Montes Winery
MontGras
Neyen
Odfjell Vineyards
Porta
Santa Rita
Terra Andina
TerraMater S.A.
Undurraga
Veramonte
Veranda
Vina Caliterra
Vina Carmen
Vina Casa Tamaya
Vina Echeverria
Vina Falernia S.A.
Vina La Rosa
Vina Los Boldos
Vina Los Vascos
Vina Maquis
Vina Mayu/Elki
Vina Morande
Vina Quebrada de Macul
Vina San Pedro
Vina Siegel S.A.
Vina Tarapaca
Vina Ventisquero
Vinedos Terranoble
Viu Manent
A portion of the proceeds from the 2009 Wines of Chile Annual Grand Tasting will be donated to our charity partners, Citymeals-on-Wheels, to provide 800 home-delivered meals, and to Share Our Strength.
About Wines of Chile
Wines of Chile is a marketing organization representing seventy-six Chilean wineries with offices in Santiago, Dublin, London, Canada, and New York. Wines of Chile was founded in July of 2002 to promote Chilean wine around the world through strategic marketing and promotional activities. For more information please visit www.winesofchile.org.
About Michael Green
Wine & Spirits Consultant to Gourmet Magazine, Michael Green has worked in the beverage trade for over 20 years in the capacities of educator, marketer, importer, writer, consultant and retailer. Michael’s specialties include wine and spirits marketing, beverage education, brand building, and trade liaison support. Michael has appeared on various TV programs including Food Network’s Emeril Live, and he has been featured in many print publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post. Michael is a member of the New York Association of Cooking Teachers and is on the Boards of Share Our Strength and the American Institute of Wine and Food. He contributed wine notes to Sara Moulton Cooks at Home, which was nominated for a James Beard Award. Michael also created and co-wrote Wine Lovers, the world’s first interactive wine tasting musical, which toured nationally in 2007.
About Citymeals-on-Wheels
Citymeals-on-Wheels raises private funds to ensure no homebound elderly New Yorker will ever go a day without food or human company. Last year, our family of contributors helped us bring over 2.2 million nutritious meals to 18,065 frail aged in every borough of New York City. In addition, over 1,500 volunteers collectively spent 62,000 hours visiting and delivering meals to New York’s frail aged. The unwavering support provided by the New York restaurant and hospitality industry has allowed us to create a number of annual events including our Chefs’ Tribute at Rockefeller Center, our Corporate Dineout program, and various restaurant-hosted receptions and dinners throughout the year. For more information visit www.citymeals.org.
About Share Our Strength
Share Our Strength(R) is the leading national organization working to make sure no kid in America grows up hungry. We weave together a net of community groups, activists and food programs to catch children at risk of hunger and ensure they have nutritious food where they live, learn and play. We work with the culinary industry to create engaging, pioneering programs like Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation(R), the nation’s premier culinary benefit; Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale(R), a national grassroots effort; Share Our Strength’s A Tasteful Pursuit(R), a touring dinner series; Share Our Strength’s Great American Dine Out(R), a week-long program involving thousands of restaurants nationwide; and Share Our Strength’s Operation Frontline(R), a cooking-based nutrition education program. Visit www.strength.org.
The Saint James Company (OTC Bulletin Board: STJC.OB), announced today that Samson Acquisition Company (which, as previously announced, signed an agreement to be acquired by The Saint James Company) has entered into an agreement to acquire the capital stock of Waimea Estates, a leading producer of New Zealand wines. Consummation of these acquisitions is subject to standard finance, diligence, and closing conditions that are usual and customary for transactions of this nature and magnitude.
Founded in 1993, Waimea Estates, located in the scenic Nelson region of New Zealand, is an award-winning family winery founded by Trevor and Robyn Bolitho. It is one of the largest vineyard and winery operations in the region, and has built an extensive award-winning portfolio of wines.
Richard Hurst on behalf of The Saint James Company, said, “New Zealand wines are growing rapidly in markets around the world, and, as an export leader in more than twenty markets, and with easy access to the port in Nelson, Waimea Estates is an excellent choice to be the hub for our portfolio of New Zealand wineries and vineyards. The Bolitho family has built a regional and global reputation as a commercial producer that delivers high quality wines representing a broad range of flavors typical of the qualities that the Nelson viticultural region has become known for. We are very excited to begin working with the Bolitho family and the Waimea Estates management team, who are known for both their professionalism and their deep passion for wine, which also extends to their renowned Cafe in the Vineyard restaurant, where the staff serve carefully chosen food and wine pairings.”
About The Saint James Company
The Saint James Company is a US public company, which specializes in the acquisition and distribution of New World wines, and has recently signed agreements for the acquisition of wineries and wine brands in New Zealand and the rights to Olivia Newton John’s Koala Blue wine brand in North America, as well as a Letter of Intent to acquire a winery in Australia. For further information, visit the Company’s website at www.thesaintjamescompany.com.
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this press release contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements related to the future anticipated direction of the industry, plans for future expansion, various business development activities, planned or required capital expenditures, future funding sources, anticipated sales growth, and potential contracts. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the company. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those relating to development and expansion activities, dependence on existing management, financing activities, and domestic and global economic conditions.
CellarTracker! LLC, the largest wine database in the world, was ranked highest in value by the newly released social media report by VinTank. VinTank, in partnership with wine industry consultant Derek Bromley, released the most in-depth study http://www.vintank.com/VinTank_SocialMediaReport.pdf to-date of social media companies impacting the wine industry.
“CellarTracker ranked highest in value on our Impression Chart and VinTank is pleased to recommend the site as one of two platforms wineries and wine companies should interact with,” said Paul Mabray, chief strategy officer for VinTank.
CellarTracker was named the “Granddaddy” of wine social networks and has been recognized as one of the most highly trafficked sites with one of the most comprehensive and useful databases on the web. The report states that CellarTracker’s unique visitor traffic is far above the Social Media Median (SMM), underscoring its role as a dominant social media platform. CellarTracker scored the highest in consumer value, winery and trade value, and company viability.
“The strength in CellarTracker is its strong community of wine aficionados coupled with an incredibly deep feature set and a new (UI) user interface that will continue to strengthen its leadership position,” said Mabray. “VinTank believes that wine social networks will become one of the strongest channels for customer connections in the wine industry. We look forward to the launch of CellarTracker’s new UI and to the continued success of CellarTracker.”
CellarTracker has over 900,000 consumer wine tasting notes plus over 100,000 professional reviews, making it in a league of its own over eRobertParker which is a mostly trade audience.
“It is the dedicated CellarTracker users that make the site unique, and I have the users to thank for their ongoing involvement with the site,” said Eric LeVine, founder of CellarTracker. “It is my quest to provide a robust and useful tool that is continually improving, and to that end I am working on the User Interface update which will keep CellarTracker moving forward.”
About CellarTracker LLC:
www.cellartracker.com.
Developed by Eric LeVine in 2003, CellarTracker LLC is now the largest cellar management database tool available online worldwide with over 12 million bottles catalogued or consumed by more than 80,000 registered users. Users can report inventory by producer, vintage, varietal, drinkability, price, log tasting notes, print wine lists, and track bottle location. To date there are over 900,000 community tasting notes available.
About Vintank:
VinTank is the first digital think tank for the wine industry providing expertise and analysis where technology and the wine industry intersect. Download the VinTank report: .http://www.vintank.com/VinTank_SocialMediaReport.pdf
From crisp, sassy sparklers and versatile roses to zesty whites and laid-back reds, Whole Foods Market pops the cork on its most delectable wine picks yet, releasing this year’s much-anticipated list of “Top Ten Summer Wines.” Suited for all kinds of summer revelry and everyday enjoyment alike, these summer picks are sure to make a splash — even for those on the shallowest of budgets.
“Whether you’re hosting a classy dinner party for friends or lounging by the pool with a good book, you can complement any occasion with our Top Ten Summer Wines,” said Geof Ryan, global wine co-buyer for Whole Foods Market. “And you don’t have to pay top-dollar to get premium taste. All of our selections are not only delicious, they’re affordable, too.”
Whole Foods Market also offers recommendations for pairing wine with food and the season’s best cheeses – including a full-flavored Robusto, a medium-aged Taleggio and a sharp Kilaree Irish Cheddar. Starting under $9 a bottle, the lineup includes:
Presto Prosecco
- Crisp, clean and refreshing Italian sparkler
- Brightens up any occasion with its tropical flavors and fruity effervescence
- Perfect solo, in mimosas or as a cheerful contrast to hollandaise-topped egg dishes, white fish or the rich and buttery double creme Fromager D’Affinois
Rudolph Muller “Bunny” Riesling
- Floral and fruity
- Drier-style with crisp peach, pear and light acidity
- Delightful when paired with salads, Asian spiced cuisine or with slices of the award-winning, firm, aged Hirtenkase mountain cheese
Biokult Gruner Veltliner Made with Organically Grown Grapes
- Austrian white with light zesty flavor and hints of cracked pepper and prairie grass
- Clean acidity and a soft, seductive finish
- Enjoy with spicy dishes, grilled seafood, burgers, pizza or mild, spreadable Whole Foods Market Organic Fresh Goat Cheese
Vinum Cellars Chenin Vio
- A marvelous medley of pear, melon and grapefruit
- A supple texture and snappy finish
- Try with brunch or thin-crust pizzettas made with smooth Cana de Cabra
V-solo Verdejo
- Fruity Spanish sipper with zesty acidity
- Floral aromas and hints of gooseberry, lime and citrus
- Plays well alone or with shellfish or nutty, sharp Robusto cheese
Manifesto! Sauvignon Blanc
- Ideal for a sunny picnic, with its smooth texture and food-friendly acidity
- Coats your palate with ripe lemon, gooseberry, grapefruit and orange peel
- Enjoy with sushi and oysters or any fresh goat cheeses
Bonterra Rose Made with Organically Grown Grapes
- A melodious blend of Sangiovese, Zinfandel and Grenache
- Full of ripe summer berries, a touch of spice and juicy acidity
- Splendid alone or with grilled sweet corn or portabellas, salmon or Spanish Cana de Cabra goat’s milk cheese
“Roses continue to be the rage when it is hot outside, be it in France, Spain or in the U.S.,” said Ryan. “Americans are now embracing drier roses like our continental cousins in Europe, where they drink pink on hot days.”
Escudo Rojo
- Enhance warm-weather fare with this compelling melange of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere
- Rich spice, toast and black cherry aromas
- Delicious with Italian washed-rind Taleggio melted into pastas or on pizza or with burgers topped with sliced aged Kilaree Irish Cheddar from Kerrygold
“Everyone likes this style of red, fruity and jammy,” said Doug Bell, global wine co-buyer for Whole Foods Market. “It’s light but flavorful, which makes this a great burger wine.”
Pirovano il Rosso di Enzo
- For a long, hot and lively summer, add this juicy and evocative Italian red to your summer
- Delicious with grilled food, pizza, burgers or with a cheese plate that includes classic Taleggio from the mountains of Italy and Kilaree Irish Cheddar
Rutherford Hill Merlot
- Dark cherries, luscious chocolate and a silky finish make this the “king of Merlots”
- Balanced with hints of vanilla, cinnamon and tobacco
- Pair with hearty meats such as grilled steak or burgers, or with slices of nutty Seaside Cheddar with crunchy, flavor crystals
Penfolds Koonunga Hill “76″ Shiraz Cabernet
- An outstanding value for a commemorative release!
- Succulent blueberry, cherry and black currant coupled with chocolate and olive flavors
- Superb with beef, lamb and chicken or slightly sweet Gran Queso cow’s milk cheese from Wisconsin modeled after Spanish Manchego
Castello di Gabbiano Chianti
- A lush bouquet of ripe red fruits
- Dry, well-balanced and full-bodied
- Complements hearty summer cuisine, including grilled beef, barbecue and pizza
Look for Top Ten Summer Wines displays throughout Whole Foods Market wine departments. “Grab a bottle for your next summer occasion,” said Bell. “Or pick up a whole case and cash in on a case discount.”
For more about these wines, or about pairings not mentioned in the Top Ten Summer Wines list, visit Whole Foods Market’s blog at blog.wholefoodsmarket.com, where Whole Foods Market Global Wine Buyers Doug Bell and Geoff Ryan will discuss this season’s hottest values. Wine and cheese photos can be found at .http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/pressroom/photo-gallery
About Whole Foods Market(R)
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (www.wholefoodsmarket.com), a leader in the natural and organic foods industry and America’s first national certified organic grocer, was named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” in 2008 by Health magazine. The Whole Foods Market motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”(TM) captures the company’s mission to find success in customer satisfaction and wellness, employee excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to its more than 50,000 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine for 12 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2008, the company had sales of $8 billion and currently has more than 275 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market, Fresh & Wild(TM), and Harry’s Farmers Market(R) are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP, LP. Wild Oats(R) and Capers Community Market(TM) are trademarks owned by Wild Marks, Inc.
Quintessential, the fine wine import, marketing and sales company representing some of the oldest and most prestigious wine families in their respective countries, has announced an exclusive agreement with members of Chile’s Undurraga family to bring to the US the wines from a new, small production estate winery, Koyle (pronounced “coy-lee”).
For six generations, starting in 1885 with Francisco Undurraga Vicuna, the Undurraga family has been growing grapes and making fine wines. In 1903, they were the first to export wines to the United States and, by the 1980s, Undurraga had become one of the largest and most famous names in the Chilean wine business.
In 2006, the family sold the winery, vineyards and the brand. This led Alfonso Undurraga Mackenna, a great-nephew of the aforementioned Francisco, to pursue a lifelong dream of finding superior terroir from which he and his three sons could create hand-crafted, small production wines that show how exceptional Chilean wines can be.
Together with sons, Alfonso, Max and viticulturist/winemaker Cristobal, Alfonso settled on 2,718 acres in the Los Lingues zone of Alto Colchagua (DO Colchagua Valley), in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. The soil is clay-loam, with gravel and angular stones, allowing ample drainage and the microclimate is a combination of Mediterranean and pre-mountain range, influenced by constant fresh winds. It is the optimum terroir for the making of high quality red wines.
The first two wines under the Koyle label are a Seleccion Cabernet Sauvignon and a Seleccion Syrah, both in the 2007 vintage and both blended with a small percentage of Carmenere, the signature red grape of Chile. There will soon be a super premium label called Royale and priced at approximately $20, with the Koyle Seleccion wines retailing for about $15. The wines will be available starting in late August, 2009.
Koyle is a Chilean Indian name of the beautiful purple native plant that grows next to oak forests and blossoms with a much-demanded fruit. An endangered species, it can be found in the Koyle mountain vineyards.
In conjunction with the planting of its new Freeman Ranch vineyard in Occidental, California, Freeman Vineyard & Winery is proud to announce the donation of 24 acres of old growth and second growth redwood forests to the Bodega Land Trust.
Freeman founders, Ken and Akiko Freeman, acquired the Occidental property in 2007. Located 5 miles from Freeman’s winery and estate vineyard in Sebastopol, the new 50-acre Occidental vineyard, which will be named Freeman Ranch, encompasses redwood forests, sheep pastures and apple orchards. In the spring of 2009, Freeman will begin planting approximately 14 acres of the orchard and pastureland to five clones of Pinot Noir, and a small amount of Chardonnay. In keeping with Freeman’s commitment to the environment, the 24 acres of redwood forests will be preserved in their pristine state through the stewardship of the Bodega Land Trust, and the vineyard will be farmed 100 percent organically (and will immediately begin the three-year process required for organic certification).
“This is something we are very proud of,” says Ken Freeman. “Even though we are a small, family-owned winery, we wanted to show that you don’t have to be big to help save our environment, or to give back to the community. This is a remarkable piece of land, and as excited as we are to be growing Pinot Noir here, we are just as excited to be preserving the diversity of this special place.” As a condition of the donation, the preserved 24 acres will never be harvested, and will remain forever wild.
The Occidental property is located at approximately 1,200 feet and features steep slopes, Goldridge soil and a southeastern exposure–all ideal for producing exceptional Pinot Noir. “Freeman Ranch will allow us even more control over our fruit sources,” says founder and assistant winemaker Akiko Freeman. “With its high elevation and close proximity to the coast, this area is perfect for cool-climate viticulture. By 2012, we expect that 50 percent of our fruit will come from our estate vineyards–which will be a wonderful complement to the fruit we already source from our world-class partner growers.”
About Freeman Winery:
Founded by Ken and Akiko Freeman, Freeman Vineyard & Winery is dedicated to crafting elegant cool-climate California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in a sophisticated Burgundian style. Believing in the vast potential of the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley appellations to produce wines of complexity and refinement, the Freemans work with a small portfolio of acclaimed partner vineyards including Keefer and Heintz ranches. In addition, the Freemans have planted seven acres of hillside vineyard at their picturesque winery in Sebastopol. These sites share many common elements that define excellence in cool-climate viticulture, including hillside locations with coastal fog, Goldridge soils, proper clonal selection and stressed vines producing extremely low yields of nuanced fruit.
About the Bodega Land Trust:
The Bodega Land Trust offers individuals the opportunity to preserve and restore agricultural lands, forests, streams, wilderness, natural habitats and resources in perpetuity through acceptance or purchase of land or conservation easements. A conservation easement is a legal agreement a landowner makes to limit the nature of future development. Each easement is uniquely tailored to reflect a landowner’s desired land use. For additional information, please visit http://www.bodeganet.com/landtrust/
Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi is proud to announce Giving Through Growing – an innovative partnership with the American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) to support the development of community gardens across the country. The program will begin on the first day of summer, June 21, 2009, and continue through the end of the year. Giving Through Growing seeks to create awareness around the ever-growing community garden movement by donating funds to create educational sessions in four cities throughout the U.S. Supported by an online campaign, the program’s microsite will allow people to send “e-seeds” to friends and family. Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi will donate one dollar to the ACGA throughout the summer for every e-seed sent, to a total of $40,000.
The inspiration for this program is Robert Mondavi himself who once said “This is my life, fine food, and fine wine bringing everyone together around the table.” The same philosophy holds true for community gardens, where neighbors work together to turn unused outdoor spaces into beautiful, bountiful ones.
In its inaugural year, Giving Through Growing will donate funds to create educational seminars that allow garden stakeholders to continue expanding their gardening knowledge. The Giving Through Growing microsite will post updates of the four selected cities, Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, sharing their garden successes and recipes for fresh garden-to-table meals.
The American Community Gardening Association is led by members who strive to build community by increasing and enhancing community gardening and greening across the United States and Canada.
“The key to a successful community garden is education,” notes Bobby Wilson, President of the ACGA. “The Giving Through Growing program will help us teach folks skills to care for their gardens so the greening movement can continue to expand. We are proud to work with a partner that is as dedicated to this cause as we are.”
Additionally, Giving Through Growing supports First Lady Michelle Obama’s vision of a healthier country by embracing the resources in our own backyards and working together. “We can provide this kind of healthy food for communities across the country, and we can do it by each of us lending a hand,”(1) said Michelle Obama in the New York Times. Through her inspiration, the ACGA has seen unprecedented interest in community gardens and expects over 2,000 new gardens to begin this year alone.
Giving back to the community was always a part of Robert Mondavi’s life. His generous spirit has had a profound impact on numerous charitable foundations for many decades and Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi is committed to continuing this vision. For more information on the Woodbridge Giving Through Growing program, please visit www.woodbridgewines.com/garden.
(1)Swarns, Rachel L. “Michelle Obama’s Agenda Includes Healthful Eating” The New York Times, March 10, 2009.
About Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi:
Robert Mondavi’s pioneering vision stands on three pillars: putting California wines in the company of the great wines of the world; creating a wine culture that put a diverse range of California wines on every American table; and enriching life by embracing wine, food, and the arts as an integral part of gracious living. Robert Mondavi founded Woodbridge Winery near his boyhood home in Lodi, California, to encourage a growing wine culture in the U.S. by making quality wines that could be enjoyed by Americans as part of daily life. Combining traditional winemaking with state-of-the-art innovation, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi raised the standard for everyday wines in America, and has become one of America’s most loved wines.
Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi is distributed by Constellation Wines U.S. – the largest wine company in the U.S. based upon sales dollar value, and an operating division of Constellation Brands, Inc., a leading international producer and marketer of beverage alcohol in the wine, spirits and imported beer categories. For more about Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, including food and wine pairings and recipes ideas, please visit www.woodbridgewines.com.
American Community Gardening Association
The overall mission of the American Community Gardening Association is to build community by increasing and enhancing community gardening and greening across the country and Canada. The Association is a bi-national nonprofit membership organization recognizing that community gardening improves people’s quality of life by providing a catalyst for neighborhood and community development, stimulating social interaction, encouraging self-reliance, beautifying neighborhoods, producing nutritious food, reducing family food budgets, conserving resources and creating opportunities for recreation, exercise, therapy and education. For more about ACGA, please visit www.communitygarden.org.
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