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Now available with PayPal or a credit card online! Harvey Posert and Paul Franson “Spinning the Bottle,” the first book on public relations for wineries, is a collection of cases studies and tutorial material collected by wine pr guru Harvey Posert and Paul Franson. Posert is a long-time head of public relations for Robert Mondavi Winery as well as the Wine Institute, and Franson, a former public relations executive, now writes about wine. In the book, veteran wine publicists, marketing experts and association officials tell how they conducted 50 winning public relations campaigns.
Spinning the Bottle is a must for anyone marketing wine as well as students of wine and marketing. it’s available from 963-2658, in some bookstores like Bookends in Napa, at the Wine Hardware Store in St. Helena and on-line at spinningthebottle.com, Wine Hardware, or Amazon.com.
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Pat Kuleto shifts his focus from restaurants to new winery," Napa Valley Register \
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The 'Great Awakening Summit' looks at new approach to the wine business Many wine industry leaders believe U. S. wine producers must abandon the Old World approach of "Here's what we think you should have" and start thinking more like other New World wine producers and look at what consumers want. Their ideas will be investigated at the "Great Awakening Summit" sponsored by WineVision, a wine industry organization devoted to strategic thinking. David Freed of WineVision notes that "Sitting in Napa, we don't see what the people in Cleveland or Omaha are thinking. The Australians fit their products into that profile, toward what the consumer desires." The program will include Speakers from organizations that have re-invented themselves including Harley Davidson and Whole Foods Sue Cook, of Think Customer, a consulting firm, who will discuss "Consumer First -- What do We Really Mean?" A consumer perception of the wine industry from Dr. Liz Thatch of Sonoma State University's Wine Business program A breakout session to discuss consumers' perceptions A panel with representatives of Marriott International, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse, and Divas Uncorked.
The Great Awakening
Summit will be held at the Vineyard Creek Hotel in Santa Rosa.
It begins on Tuesday, July 20, with a dinner and presentation by
executives from Whole Foods, and continues through the day on
Wednesday, July 21. For information, go to www.winevision.org,
or call 255-9222. |
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More Adventures in Dining The second edition of Denise Schubert’s Adventures in Dining guide to Napa Valley restaurants and other eating and drinking establishments is now out. Bearing the new comprehensive banner “Travel Sleuth,” it provides comprehensive information and a little review of most places other than fast food. It’s available all over the valley for $11.95, but if you need any information, you can call Denise at 967-1073.
In the
interest of full disclosure, I should add that I wrote some of
the reviews. |
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First fundraiser for Humane Society The first annual fundraiser for the Napa Humane Society, Cause for the Paws, will be held at Turnbull Winery Saturday, August 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. It have feature impressive auction lots such as a feast at the incredible home of Lady Caroline and Lord Perry Butler, complete with a raid on her amazing Foot Candy Shoe store, plus foods from noted local chefs and wines from wineries that include animals in their names. Perhaps even some eagles will scream, but certainly some ducks, horses and frogs will participate. Turnbull Wine Cellars is at 8210 St. Helena Highway in Oakville. Tickets are $45 in advance. For tickets or more information, call 224-7211.
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Julia’s Kitchen continues its “Locals’ Night” Thursdays with a three-course menu created by Executive Chef Victor Scargle at a special price of $29 with no corkage fee. Sunday is Family Night with a family-friendly menu at a fixed price with special price for the kids, or a la carte. Kids can now get what they like best in both Julia’s Kitchen and the American Market Café at great prices. Every Wednesday Copia charges half price admission for all the same great daily tours, programs, and wine and food tastings, as well as admission to exhibitions and the edible gardens. The Wine Spectator Tasting Table offers small plates, featuring oysters, appetizers, wines and a full bar at dinner time Thursday through Sunday from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Copia participates with Napa downtown restaurants, shops and galleries for Third Thursdays. The American Market Café is open to the public for a casual lunch with no admission required. Friday nights, it’s Dinner and a Movie, dinner at Julia’s Kitchen starting at 6 p.m., followed by Copia’s Friday Night Flick at 8 p.m. The prix fixe meal includes a glass of select wine for $24. Dinner reservations recommended, Tickets for Friday Night Flicks are sold separately. The Copia Film Card offers six tickets for the price of five–good for any Friday Night Flick. Frequent Concert-goers can buy tickets for three or more shows in the Copia Concert Series and receive a 10 percent discount. The Summer Concert Series features concerts on Mondays. There’s family fun every weekend at Copia including A Child’s Exploration of the Gardens, Kids in the Kitchen: Snack Attack and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory mornings and matinee showings. And don't forget the Farmers' Markets Tuesday and Saturday mornings from 7:30 to noon in the south parking lot at Copia. For details, call 265-5700 or visit www.copia.org.
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Formerly offered only to members of the trade, Schramsberg Vineyards has opened it Camp Schramsberg three-day sparkling wine adventure to consumers this fall On either September 19-21 or 26-28, winemaker Hugh Davies and chef/enologist Holly Peterson will conduct the sessions. They start with an al fresco dinner prepared by chef Peterson and paired with several of Schramsberg’s seven cuvées. The following day, winemaker Davies will explain the creation of sparkling wine, from harvest through bottle finishing, and the adventure concludes with an extensive exploration of food and sparkling wine pairing demonstrated by Chef Holly Peterson at the Culinary Institute of America’s Greystone Cellars. The fee for Camp Schramsberg is $875 per person, half tax deductible. To register, call 942-2408.
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What’s up in Napa Valley?
Part from the Napa Valley Register
July 14, 2004
Halls buy still more vineyards
Kathryn and Craig Hall, owners of Kathryn Hall Vineyards and Hall winery in the Napa Valley, have bought the 254-acre Hardester Ranch in Pope Valley from Robert Skalli, the owner of St. Supéry, for a reported $9 million. St. Supéry has plenty of land left, however. It owns the 1500-acre Dollarhide Ranch in Pope Valley and the vineyard surrounding the winery in Rutherford.
The Hardester Ranch vineyard expands the Halls’ vineyard property to almost 1000 acres. They own part of the Sacrashe Vineyard at the Halls’ home in the hills above Rutherford, the Napa River Ranch along the Silverado Trail and Big Ranch Road, the T bar T Ranch in Alexander Valley and the estate vineyard at the Hall winery in St. Helena, formerly Golden State Vintners.
Anette’s Chocolate wins prize for non-chocolate treat
Anette's Chocolate Factory in downtown Napa, just won the award for Outstanding Confection at the 50th Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City. Ironically, it wasn’t chocolate but their Brent's Micro Brew Beer Brittle that got the award, and I can attest to its appeal. I had to give away an order after I sampled it before I wolfed it all down.
Members of the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade submitted more than 3,500 products for the specialty food industry's most coveted honor. The 20 winners were selected by specialty food retailers, supermarket buyers, catalogers and other resellers. Anette’s is at 1321 First St.
Locals flock to try Oregon wines
Copia is continuing to live to its formal name – The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts –showcase the wines of all of America, and its tastes of Oregon wines (and crab) last weekend was well attended by locals anxious to broaden their perspectives. Many attendees were from local wineries; they find Copia’s events a great way to learn more about the competition without having to spend money and time to travel.
Oregon winemakers tend to be an individualistic lot of small, hearty individuals. They have 250 wineries, the same number as Napa County, spread over only 10,000 acres of vines. Napa has 45,000 acres. The weather can be marginal up there, but when it works, they make very nice wines, especially Burgundian style Pinots Noirs.
For more about Copia events, go to http://www.copia.org.
Franciscan sponsors summit for sommeliers
This week, Franciscan Vineyards has brought many sommeliers and other wine experts and buyers from all over America to learn more about making fine wine. Part of the time is spent at the company’s properties (and vineyard partners) in Sonoma, part at the company’s local Mount Veeder Winery, Quintessa – and Nickel & Nickel, which isn’t even owned or distributed by Franciscan. The company is to be praised for providing a balanced view, and even some of the speakers at seminars are some competitors.
Tony Terlato Honored by Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator magazine has awarded its Distinguished Service Award for 2004 to Anthony J. Terlato, chairman and chief executive officer of the Terlato Wine Group. Terlato’s holdings locally include Chimney Rock and Rutherford Hill Wineries; His Paterno Wines International also markets Cuvaison, Freemark Abbey, La Jota and Markham wines.
Terlato was selected to recognize his 50-year career that began in his father's liquor store in Chicago and has included wine distributing, importing, marketing, production and vineyard ownership. He’s perhaps best known for discovering Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio and thereby popularizing the varietal in America. Terlato oversees the Terlato Wine Group, the parent of Paterno, a leading marketer of luxury wines, as well as other Terlato family businesses in the luxury wine industry.
Past winners of the award have included Francis Ford Coppola, Julia Child, Robert Mondavi, and Ernest & Julio Gallo.
Educational DVD explains winemaking process
People sometimes ask me whether there’s a straightforward explanation of the winemaking process, one that is neither boring nor trying to be too clever for words. One I’d recommend is Vine to Wine, more or less a video version of the earlier book by Richards Lyon, a local retired doctor, grape grower, photographer and author of numerous books about Napa Valley and its wines. It comes as either a 38-minute VHS tape at $20 or DVD at $25. You can order a copy by phone from 255 8702, e-mail mailto:mrplyon@napanet.net or send a check to Stonecrest Press, 600 Stonecrest, Napa CA 94558.
Beringer Vineyards adds Spanish tours
Beringer has apparently become Napa Valley’s first winery to offer public tours in Spanish. Its “Introducción de Beringer” Saturday mornings at 10:30 a.m. provides the same content as existing tours. The tour cost is $5 and includes a tasting of two Beringer wines. Beringer Vineyards recently became the largest winery to launch a bilingual label on its white Zinfandel and on point-of-sale materials.
Great Awakening next week
Next Tuesday and Wednesday is the Great Awakening, a seminar designed to help the wine industry overcome foreign competition and expand the market by listening to and responding to consumers as the Australians have done. It’s the brainchild of David Freed of Winevision, Jerry Lohr and others concerned about the future of the wine business.
David Freed, who is also an important grower, notes that "Sitting in Napa, we don't see what the people in Cleveland or Omaha are thinking. The Australians fit their products into that profile, toward what the consumer desires."
For many potential wine drinkers, that’s sweet and cheap, not a message that resonates well locally, even if people who start that way often become more sophisticated.
For more information about the seminar, go to http://www.winevision.org or call 255-9222.
Zinful BBQ at Summers Winery
Beth and Jim Summers are having a zinful BBQ at their Summers Winery in Calistoga, Saturday, July 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. They’ll offer BBQ and tastes of their 2002 Estate Zinfandel from Villa Andriana Vineyard and their first Russian River Zinfandel -- plus a Summers logo glass, for $6. The winery is at 1171 Tubbs Lane, the phone number is 942-5508 and the web site is http://www.summerswinery.com.
Fumé hosting winemaker dinner
Fumé Bistro in Napa is having a winemaker dinner on Tuesday, July 27 featuring Falcor Wine Cellars. The menu will include California striped bass with Falcor's chardonnay, Alaskan king salmon with sangiovese, peppered lamb tenderloin served with syrah and filet mignon with "Le Bijou." Cost is $50 per person. Call 257-1999 for reservations.
Impressive event at Silverado
Many of Napa Valley’s most famous chefs will create dishes featuring Snake River Farms’ Kurobuta pork and Kobe beef at an evening of culinary delight at Silverado Resort August 11 at 6 p.m.
The chefs will include Todd Humphries of Martini House, Christophe Gerard of Angéle, Jesus Hernandez of Cole’s Chop House and Celadon, Ryan Jackson of Brix, Phillipe Jeanty of Bistro Jeanty and Père Jeanty, Ken Frank of La Toque, Ron Boyd of Domaine Chandon, Peter Halikas of Dean & Deluca and host Peter Pahk of Silverado Resort. Benessere winery will provide the wines.
The event is $85 per person. Reserve to 257-5431 or by email to mailto:msccfb@xanterra.com.
Women’s Wine Nights
Beginning on Thursday, July 22 Napa Wine Merchants will stay open from 5-8 p.m. to welcome women for wines and a snacks. It will feature different wines each week paired them with a dish that highlights the wines. Also offered will be samples of its artisanal cheeses and breads from Bouchon Bakery. A female winemaker or winery owners may be present, too, along with wine educator Norma Poole. Cost is $10 for the featured wines and foods. Also on Thursday and Friday July 15 and 16, St. Barthelemy Winery is hosting an open house at Napa Wine Merchants to launch its latest single-variety ports made from barbera and pinot noir. It’s free and the zinfandel, cabernet and petite sirah ports will also be offered. Napa Wine Merchants is at 1146 First St. in downtown Napa and the phone number is 257-6796.
Napa Valley Museum events
A Rare Glimpse: Modern American Art from Private Napa Valley Collections is a survey of modern American art drawn from private collections of Napa Valley art patrons. Featuring examples from post-WWII to the present, the selection of more than 70 paintings, prints, drawings and sculptures represents many major figures and art movements of 20th century American art. Show closes August 1.
Napa Underground: Wine Caves of Napa Valley, an exciting day exploring the wine caves of some of Napa Valley's most exclusive wineries will be held Saturday, July 31, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For information about Museum activities, call 944-0500 or click onto www.napavalleymuseum.org.
Mumm Napa Winery unveils photography exhibit
Mumm Napa Valley Winery has just opened America the Beautiful, an exhibit of fine art landscape photography, which features the works of over a dozen acclaimed western landscape photographers and runs now through October 10 at the winery in Rutherford. The exhibit continues Mumm Napa’s long-time commitment to displaying world-class fine art photography. The new exhibit showcases more than 100 color and black and white images of expansive western topography as seen through the lenses of more than 17 American photographers. The curator of America the Beautiful exhibit is the Ansel Adams Gallery.
In addition to work by Ansel Adams, other contributors to the exhibit include Martha Casanave, Charles Cramer, Brad Cole, Chuck Davis, Michael Frye, Carol Henry, Geir & Kate Jordahl, Robert Glen Ketchum, Bob Kolbrenner, Roman Lorenc, Tom Mallonée, A. Leo Nash, Ted Orland, Ken Parker and Norbert Wu. Mumm Napa Winery is located at 8445 Silverado Trail and is open daily. Visitor Center hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mumm Napa Valley Winery. For information, call 967-7700 or access the website at www.mummnapa.com.
Napa Valley Opera House presents The Pirates Of Penzance
Opera A La Carte is returning to the Napa Valley Opera House with its fun-filled production of Gilbert and Sullivan's famous comic opera, the Pirates of Penzance July 21 to August 1. Tickets are $15 to $45 and are on sale now at the box office behind the theater off First Street. Tickets may also be purchased at 226-7372 or online at www.nvoh.org. The Napa Valley Opera House is at 1030 Main St. (near First) in downtown Napa.
Napa Valley Classic to be held in Calistoga
On July 24 the Napa Valley Classic Foundation will hold its 14th annual horsy benefit featuring equestrian show jumping along with Napa Valley food and wine tasting, and silent and Calcutta auctions. The benefit began in 1991, and has raised more than $400,000 in grants for programs that benefit the youth of Napa County. General admission tickets are $15 to $30. Wine and food tasting begins at 4 p.m. at the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga. For more information or to purchase tickets or tables, call 942-4222 or visit www.napavalleyclassic.com.
Napa Valley Symphony brings back Russian National Orchestra
The Napa Valley Symphony is sponsoring a return engagement by the Russian National Orchestra on Friday, July 30 at 8 p.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Napa. The orchestra earlier performed in Napa in 2002. The RNO is Russia's first orchestra since 1917 to be free of government control and supported entirely by private funding. Since its debut in 1990, the RNO has achieved international success and has become firmly established among world-class ensembles.
The program includes favorite works of Slavic composers, including selections from the ballet Romeo and Juliet by Serge Prokofiev, Kamarinskaya by Glinka, Tchaikovsky’s Marche slave, and Moussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain. It will also include Introduction and Allegro by Maurice Ravel with Svetlana Paramonova performing as harp soloist. The orchestra will perform under the baton of Carlo Ponti, Jr., music director and principal conductor of the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra and associate conductor of the Russian National Orchestra in Moscow. The church is at 981 Napa St. (at Yajome). Tickets are available at 226-8742 or online at www.ticketweb.com.
Festival benefits Napa Hospice
The Hospice of Napa Valley will host an evening of wine, food, and live music at St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery on Sunday, August 1 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Guests will savor first class cuisine and award-winning wines from 19 of Napa Valley's finest restaurants and 37 wineries (to date). Vintage music by the Hot House quartet will accompany the festivities. The live and silent auction lots include travel, sporting adventures, dining, distinguished wines, fine art, a children's corner and a pet lover's section. Proceeds benefit Hospice of Napa Valley, which provides care for terminally ill persons in their own homes and offers support for their families and friends. Celebrating 25 years of service as the only community-based non-profit hospice program in Napa County, the organization provides services to residents regardless of their ability to pay. Tickets are $75 in advance. For tickets or more information, call 258- 9080. St. Supéry Winery is at 8440 St. Helena Hwy. in Rutherford.
Chili Ball revived to benefit Clinic Olé
The Clinic Olé Chili Ball, a fiesta of Mexican-style food and music, and featuring a celebrity chef chili cook-off, will be held Saturday, August 21 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Charles Krug Winery. It will benefit Community Health Clinic Olé. In reviving the once-popular Napa Valley tradition of the Chili Ball, Clinic Olé Board Chair Peter McCrea and Clinic Olé Board Member/Event Chair Sue Cross are coordinating a festive community event to celebrate and benefit the outstanding services provided by the non-profit clinic. Clinic Olé provides essential medical services to the under- and uninsured of Napa County, and last year provided 34,000 patient visits. Placido Garcia’s Mariachis and The Private Reserve Band will provide entertainment. Tickets for the event will be $45 per person in advance and $55 at the door. The wine and beer bars will be for cash. For information, contact Maria Stel at 254-1774.
Napa Valley's "Other" Wine Auction
The St. Helena Catholic School's 17th Annual Wine Auction at the Charles Krug Winery will be held Saturday, October 2 featuring "Grease, A '50’s Bash & Wine-O-Rama." Food and wine tasting and silent auction begin at 1 p.m. and last until 4 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by fifties band Eddie & The Boppers with KGO’s Greg Jarrett as master of ceremonies. The live auction, champagne and dessert begin at 4 thru 6 p.m. David Reynolds will conduct the live auction. Wines offered include Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle Vineyards, Harlan Estate and J.P. Harbison. Auction tickets are $60 per person in advance. Other auction events include Movie Night at the Cameo Cinema in St. Helena on Thursday, September 30 with a private viewing of "Grease" with a champagne reception. The Auction Preview Dinner will be on Friday, October 1 with lot previews and champagne at the Charles Krug Winery followed by a private dinner at Daryl Sattu’s remarkable Villa Amoroso Castle. For ticket information call 963-4677 or visit www.StHelenaCatholicSchool.org
Pay homage to Parker
A gala celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Robert Parker's influential Wine Advocate newsletter will be held October 22 and 23 in San Francisco. It will support scholarships for the Professional Wine Studies Program at the Rudd Center of the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone Cellars in St. Helena. The weekend will include a rare guided tasting with Robert Parker of wines he’s rated at 100 points, a dinner featuring large bottles of great wines at the San Francisco Palace of the Legion of Honor, a sparkling wine reception with Vintners showcasing their top wines, and an auction of rare wines from Parker's personal cellar. For more information, call Nichelle Lyons at (415) 775-0698.
Send hot news by email to paul@napalife.com.before you tell anyone else.
Read old columns at NapaNews.com from the Napa Valley Register.