Monday, November 18, 2002 : Jump to a Continent Fun Facts Wineries in Stock: Acacia Adler Fels Alexander Valley Altamura Amador Foothills Amberhill Raymond Amici Anapamu Arrowood Audobon Cellars Bargetto Baron Herzog Bayview Cellars Beaulieu Vineyard Belvedere Benziger Beringer Bernardus Black Oak Blackstone Blockheadia Ringnosii Boeger Bogle Bonny Doon Bonterra Buena Vista BV Byron Ca Del Solo Cakebread Cakebread Cellars Calera Callaway Cambria Camelot Canyon Road Carmenet Carneros Creek Caymus Chalk Hill Chalone Chandon Chappellet Charles Krug Chateau Potelle Chateau Souverain Chateau St. Jean Chimney Rock Chumeia Cinnabar Cline Clos du Bois Clos du Val Corison Counterpoint Crystal Valley Cuvaison Cypress Danzante David Bruce De Loach Delicato Deloach Domaine Carneros Domaine Chandon Domaine St. George Dry Creek Duckhorn Duet Dunnewood Eberle Echelon Edgewood Edna Valley Eos Eshcol Trefethen Estancia Etude Far Niente Ferrari Carano Fess Parker Fetzer Ficklin Fife Fisher Flora Springs Folie A Deux Foppiano Forest Glen Fountain Grove Francis Coppola Franciscan Freemark Abbey Frei Brothers Frey Gainey Gallo Estate Gallo of Sonoma Gekkeikan Geyser Peak Girard Glass Mountain Gloria Ferrer Graceland Grgich Hills Groth Guenoc Guilliams Gundlach Bundschau Gundlach Bundschu Hahn Estates Hanna Havens Headlands Heitz Cellars Hess Hess Collection Honig Howell Mountain Vineyards Indigo Hills Iron Horse Ironstone Ivan Tamas J J Fritz J Lohr Jekel Jepson Jordan Joseph Phelps Justin Karly Keegan Cellars Keenan Kendall Jackson Kenwood Kunde Kynsi La Crema La Crosse Lambert Bridge Landmark Langtry Laurel Glen Leaping Lizard Liberty School Livingstons Lockwood Lolonis Louis Martini Lyeth M Trinchero M. Cosentino M. Trinchero Marcelina Marietta Marimar Torres Mark West Markham Martin & Weyrich Martin Brothers Matanzas Creek Mayacamas Mer Soleil Meridian Merryvale Michele Schlumberger Michel-Schlumberger Miner Mirassou Momokawa Monterra Montevina Morgan Mount Veeder Mumm Cuvee Napa Murphy-Goode Murrieta Well Napa Ridge Newlan Newton Neyers Optima Opus One Pacific Echo Paraiso Springs Parducci Paul Hobbes Peachy Canyon Pepi Pezzi King Phelps Philippe Lorrain Phoenix Pine Ridge Plump Jack Preston Quivira Rabbit Ridge Ramsay Rancho Zabaco Ravenswood Raymond Renwood RH Phillips Ridge Ristow Robert Mondavi Robert Pecota Robert Stemmler Rodney Strong Roederer Rombauer Rosenblum Rosenthal Rutherford Hill Rutz Cellars Saintsbury San Simeon Sanford Schramsberg Schug Seghesio Sequoia Grove Seven Peaks Shafer Signorello Silverado Simi Smith & Hook Smith-Madrone Smoking Loon Sole X Sonoma Mission Spottswoode Spring Mountain St. Francis St. Supery Stag Stags Leap Staley Steele Steltzner Sterling Stonehedge Stonestreet Sullivan Swanson Taft Street Talus Terra D Tete a Tete Toad Hollow Tobin James Tractor Shed Red Treana Trefethen Turnbull Turning Leaf Venezia Vigil Villa Mt. Eden Vine Cliff Vinum Voss Wente White Oak Whitehall Lane Wild Horse Wildhurst William Hill Zaca Mesa 1. The Buena Vista winery grew to 6000 acres by 1864 (one of the largest in the world) but soon went bankrupt. The enigmatic owner moved to Nicaragua where he is believed to have been eaten by an alligator. 2. Phylloxera first appeared in California in 1873 with a devastating effect. 3. Phylloxera resistant vines originated in the Eastern U.S., but at first Californians imported them via France. 4. In the 1940’s U.C. Davis recommended a Phylloxera resistant root stock. This was not the case and three out of four vines will have to be replaced. 5. Beaulieu Vineyard weathered prohibition by selling altar wine. 6. During Prohibition some wineries continued to produce grape juice with “warnings” of what would happen if a specific amount of sugar was added to cause fermentation. 7. In 1861 the Governor of California commissioned the flamboyant Haraszthy to go to Europe to research and bring back vines, after his succesful trip he was refused reimbursement due to lack of funds. 8. In the last decade 10,000 less acres are under vine but the actual acreage dedicated to vineyards has increased by 10,000 acres; this is due to replanting. 9. In 1966 only five Oenology (study of wine) majors graduated from U.C. Davis. 10. U.S. wines labeled with a varietal must contain at least 75% of that grape. 11. Winemakers often move from winery to winery much like a famous chef moves from restaurant to restaurant with his recipes. 12. Zinfandel is a very American varietal rarely seen outside of the U.S. 13. U.C. Davis and California State Fresno are world leaders in the scientific studies of wine(oenology) and many European winemakers send their children to these schools. 14. In the U.S. the words; reserve, special select and classic have no legal definition. 15. 90% of U.S. wine production comes from Calfornia, down from 96% in1985. 16. California is the fourth largest wine producer in the world. 17. American Viticultural Areas or AVAs are modeled after the French system. California in Brief California Features California’s first wine was made in 1782 by two priests in Southern California’s San Juan Capistrano. However, the person most influential in early California wine making was a Hungarian immigrant, Agoston Haraszthy, who founded the Buena Vista Winery near the town of Sonoma in 1857. He is generally credited for moving the center of California wine making from the South to the North. Haraszthy was commissioned by the Governor of California to travel to Europe to procure cuttings and information which would assist in the development of the area’s wine industry. He returned with 100,000 cuttings and volumes of information. He eventually grew the Buena Vista Winery to 6000 acres, one of the largest in the world at the time, before he went bankrupt. The second major impact on California wine making is Phylloxera. This vine eating pest has caused California (and most of the world) to replant its vineyards with more resistant vines. In the short term it appears devastating but in the long run it could be a blessing. It has forced vineyards to replace old vines with higher quality vines. These newer vines helped enhance the quality of wine which culminated in one of the most memorable tastings; a tasting between French and Californian wines. Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars took first place in the “Reds” category and Chateau Montelena Chardonnay won the “Whites” category. This event put California on the world wine map and induced people like Baron Philippe de Rothschild to invest in California wineries. Trends and what to expect Today the California wine industry seems to be moving at a similar speed to that of the internet. We’re seeing a lot of experimentation with new varietals and themes on old styles of wine. We’re especially excited by the rising quality of California Pinot Noir, a difficult grape to grow. More large companies such as Gallo are beginning to focus on the fine wine aspect of the market and their deep pockets can only help the whole industry. Many winemakers are taking bold steps in experimenting with different grapes and developing new areas with different and specific microclimates, thus presenting you, the consumer, with more varied and higher quality choices to enjoy.ProducerVarietalVintagePriceBuy NowBuena VistaCabernet Sauvignon199814.99Details

Friday, May 23, 2003

World Wine Education: Mendocino

Jump to a Continent

Fun Facts

Wineries in Stock:

1. The Mendocino Ridge AVA(American Viticultural Area) is the only AVA that does not consist of a contiguous area but instead is based upon elevation: 1200 feet and above.
2. The Guenoc Valley is the only single producer AVA.
3. Parducci Vineyard was founded in 1931 when Prohibition was still in force.
4. 15,000 acres are under vine in Mendocino County.
5. Wine production is second only to marijuana production in Mendocino County, it’s a happy place.
6. The Magoon Family of Guenoc Vineyards in 1963 traded 23 acres in Hawaii for 23,000 acres in Lake County.
7. Mendocino American Viticultural Areas include the Anderson Valley, McDowell Valley, Mendocino Ridge, and Potter Valley.

Mendocino in Brief

Mendocino Featured Winery

Mendocino is the northern most wine growing region in California. This area is known for its redwood forests. Near the coast it is perpetually misty but this makes the valleys behind that much warmer and drier. Near the coast, in the Anderson Valley, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Noir thrive in the cool foggy microclimate while inland Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel shine. Mendocino is probably the largest producer of organic grapes with such quality producers as Frey Vineyards and Bonterra. Several interesting AVA's (American Viticultural Areas) exist in this county such as the Mendocino Ridge AVA.

Guenoc Vineyards

Grapes have been grown in this area since the mid 1800's. Victorian actress Lillie Langtry settled here in 1888 and started a vineyard. She returned to France in 1906 and not until the Magoon Family in the 1960’s took over did this vineyard come back to life.

This family is led by the Matriarch Genevieve Magoon and her two sons. They restored the old Langtry Mansion and have done an outstanding job at producing some magnificent wines. We are excited by a great variety of their offerings, such as the Langtry Meritage, Beckstoffer Vineyard Cabernet, and many of their Chardonnays to name just a few.
Producer Varietal Vintage Price Buy Now
Guenoc Other Reds 1998 19.99 Details
Guenoc Chardonnay 1999 12.99 Details
Guenoc Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 39.99 Details
Guenoc Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 39.99 Details
Guenoc Sauvignon Blanc 2000 11.99 Details

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