"Epic Brewing going on in Salt Lake City"

I remember the first time I tasted through Epic beers.  In the midst of putting a new bar program together, a gentleman walked in and asked if I would be interested in tasting through his line-up.  Always willing to try new and interesting products I said, "why not"?  He began by saying that the brewery was located in Salt Lake City, I knew of another brewery in Salt Lake and had come to love it, so now I was really intrigued.  The line-up did not disappoint!

*This was the original line-up that I tasted through on that day

Epic Brewing began shortly after Utah's brewing laws changed in 2008.  David Cole and Peter Erickson had started an international aquaculture company in Utah in 1992, but now they were able to pursue their longtime dream of opening a strong beer microbrewery in Utah.  Along with Brewmaster Kevin Crompton, this trio is becoming a force to be reckoned with.

I was fortunate enough to visit this brewery in the Spring of 2013.  We visited the "Tap-Less Tap Room" and the most interesting aspect was the fact that you can see the spires of the Salt Lake Temple from the front doorstep to the brewery.

The beers of Epic are exciting and will reward those who seek em out!

http://www.epicbrewing.com/

"The Chardonnay that stunned the world...Chateau Montelena"

If you have ever seen the movie "Bottle Shock" you will know what I am talking about...sad part of the movie is that much of it is Hollywood fiction.  Fact...Chateau Montelena did stun the world.  Fact...Chateau Montelena did make the number one Chardonnay that beat some of the finest producers from Burgundy in the 1976 Taste of Paris.  For more on the real story seek out the "Judgement of Paris" by George M. Taber.

*Cover for the Bottle Shock movie...I did enjoy the movie

*The real story behind the movie...a must read for wine enthusiasts!

Chateau Montelena was first planted in 1882 when Alfred Loving Tubbs planted vines just North of Calistoga at the foot of Mount Saint Helena.  With the outset of Prohibition, winemaking ceased and the grapes were sold.  Then in 1958 a Chinese electrical engineer, Yort Wing Frank,  purchased the estate and built a garden in the style of their homeland.

*Chinese garden on Jade Lake built by Yort Wing Frank

In 1968, Lee and Helen Paschich along with James L. Barrett purchased the property.  Barrett replanted the vineyard and installed winemaking equipment in the historic buildings and began producing wine in 1972.  Miljenko "Mike" Grgich was hired as the winemaker and the rest is history!

Chateau Montelena is one of the most esteemed Napa producers and should be on every Napa visitors list.  As a nod to Mike's wine making prowess he was able to go on to open his own winery after the Taste of Paris (more on this story to come in a future post), but not before turning over the responsibility to his apprentice, Bo Barrett, Jim Barrett's own son.  Seek out their wines with confidence...they are delicious and well worth the hefty price tags!

Cheers to all the people who helped create one of finest examples of Napa wines!

http://www.montelena.com/

"Frank Family Vineyards, a historic winery with a storied past"

I knew the Frank family from a previous career in the early 90's and never knew they owned a winery.  Several years later a mutual friend heard about a Napa Valley trip that I was planning.  He suggested stopping by to see their "little" winery.  Turns out that the Frank Family winery was something special.

Frank Family Vineyards had begun as the Larkmead Winery in 1884.  The sandstone building that welcomes the visitors is actually on the National Register of Historical Places.

In the late 1950's, Hanns Kornell purchased the Larkmead Winery and established Kornell Champagne Cellars.  He helped create an interest in good sparkling wine, but in the end, he could not compete with the well-financed European Champagne companies that begun setting up shop in California during the 70's and 80's.  By 1992, Kornell was forced to shut it's doors and Rich Frank just so happened to be looking for winery to buy.  Under the Frank Family label, these wines are gaining popularity for their outstanding quality and finesse.

Currently the Frank Family Vineyards produces quite a line-up...in keeping with the Kornell tradition, they have Brut, Blanc de blancs, Brut Rose and Reserve sparklings (methode champenoise), Chardonnay, Zinfandel (one of my favs), Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Petite Syrah and several tiers of Cabernet (try the Winston Hill).

If you are ever in Napa and are looking for something off the beaten path with a bit of history, not to mention wines that over deliver...try the Frank Family Vineyards!

http://www.frankfamilyvineyards.com/index.cfm?method=homepage.showpage

"One brewery, one name, one beer...Orval"

This trappist brewery Brasserie d'Orval is located within the walls of the Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Orval in the southeastern nook of the Gaume region of Belgium.  The beer was first made in 1931 and is produced by a unique strain of yeast.  The beer is amber in color with a nose of herbs and vegetables and soft aromatic spices.  The palate is vegetal with mandarin zest, hints of olives and small champagne-like bubbles that lead to a lingering bitterness finish.

So what exactly is a Trappist monastery?

In 1997, eight Trappist abbeys founded the International Trappist Association (ITA) to prevent non-Trappist commercial companies from abusing the Trappist name.  The private association created a logo that is assigned to goods (beer, cheese, wine, etc.) that respect particular criteria.  In the case of beer all the following must be adhered to:

• The beer must be brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery, either by the monks themselves or under their supervision.
• The brewery must be secondary importance within the monastery and it should witness to the business practices proper to a monastic way of life.
• The brewery is not intended to be a profit-making venture.  The income covers the living expenses of the monks and the maintenance of the buildings and grounds.  Whatever remains is donated to charity for social work and to help persons in need.
• Trappist breweries are constantly monitored to assure the irreproachable quality of their beers.

Orval is truly a unique beer tasting experience...I myself was put off at first, but have since come to admire this trappist beauty.

Sante

http://www.orval.be/en/

"The power and grace of Numanthia"

Spain has many delicious wines to offer and one little known viticulture area is Toro.  It is hard to believe that an area that has been making wine for more than two thousand years is so easily overlooked.  These vines are tough and tenacious and actually resisted the phylloxera epidemic that devistated Europe's vineyards in the 19th century.

I fell in love with this wine several years ago and was immediately seduced by it's concentrated and powerful yet silky and sexy nature.  At the time I was planning a trip to France and Spain and decided that I would pay a visit to my new found love...

*The hearty vines of Toro

*Gateway to delicious Toro Tempranillo

*The three wines of Numanthia in concrete...Termanthia, Numanthia and Termes

*The slumbering wines of Numanthia

The wines of Numanthia come in three tiers...Termes, Numanthia and Termanthia...lowest to highest (respectively).  The wines begin with intense berry notes and gain silkiness and elegant texture as they mature.  If you are looking to pair your next paella up...try one of Toro's best!

Salud!

http://www.numanthia.com/#/en/home

"Cheers to the first name in American bubbles...Schramsberg"

There is just something magical about drinking sparkling wine...the tiny bubbles dancing in the glass just seem to make me happy.  Always during the Christmas season I seem to stock up on the stuff both at work and at home and my go to for the local favorite is Schramsberg...it never disappoints!

 The Schramsberg story begins in 1862 when Jacob Schram purchases 200 acres on Diamond Mountain, a few miles south of the town of Calistoga.  He immediately planted vines and dug underground caves for which to cellar his wine.  As he began to prosper, a lavish Victorian house was built on the property.

*Schram Victorian House

*Napa's first hillside caves

The winery continued to prosper through 1905 when Jacob Schram dies and his son, Herman inherits the business.  By 1912 the winery ceases to operate and is sold.  The story pics up when in 1965 Jack and Jamie Davies purchase the now Historically Registered Schramsberg.  Their lofty goal was to produce sparkling wine with richness and complexity, fermented in the authentic Methode Traditionnelle process, as expressive as any of the great Champagnes-delicate, yet possessing distinct individuality and style.

I have talked about the Methode sparkling wine making process before and the Schramsberg has had one special person at their disposal...meet Ramon the riddler...

Just a few of the 20th Century Schramsberg highlights...

The 1965 Blanc de Blancs was a product of the first commercial use of Chardonnay in an American sparkling wine

The 1967 Blanc de Noirs is produced using Pinot Noir according to the classic style

The 1969 Blanc de Blancs was served at the "Toast to Peace" in Beijing, between President Richard Nixon and Premier Zhou Enlai

This holiday season try adding some great American sparkling to your holiday magic...just think of Don not Dom..."Tiny bubbles in the wine...make me feel happy, make me feel fine."-Don Ho

http://www.schramsberg.com/index.html

"It's Repeal Day...how will you celebrate?  How about some Woodford?"

Repeal day is celebrated every December 5th in honor of the passing of the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1933.  Prohibition was over and we never looked back.

Woodford Reserve is produced at the historic Labrot and Graham Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky.  It is one of Kentucky's oldest working distilleries and was built on the Glenn's Creek by Elijah Pepper in 1812.  His son Oscar Pepper later hired Dr. James Crow as master distiller.  Crow perfected the art of bourbon making by introducing scientific methods.  The Labrot and Graham Distillery succeded Old Peppers in 1878.

The landscape is just as beautiful as the bourbon in the bottle...

How about celebrating with a classic Mint Julep?

Barragan's Mint Julep

2 oz of Woodford Reserve Bourbon
1 oz Mint Syrup
6 fresh mint leaves

Shake vigorously with ice and no need to muddle. The ice will help release the aromas of the mint and make for a cleaner drink.  Strain over crushed ice and garnish with a sprig.

Mint Syrup Recipe:
Boil one cup of water and stir in one cup of Turbinado Sugar (Sugar in the Raw) and a fresh bundle of mint.  Allow the mint to simmer for 5 minutes at medium heat.  Strain the mint through a fine mesh strainer and keep cool until ready to use.

Cheers!