Iconic Bordeaux consultant and winemaker Stephane Derenoncourt introduced his small, 1,500 case production Napa Valley wines to an intimate group of wine professionals at Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford today.  The wines represent the 2006 vintages of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, and 575 cases of Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Hills Vineyard.  The consumer allocations of the 2006 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc have been pre-sold, with the 2007 vintages expected to be released sometime between September and November. 
These are not Bordeaux-style wines but …

Wine Entre Femme
, a consortium of quality-minded female winemakers and winery owners from around the world will be meeting next week in the Napa Valley to share best practices and learn the latest in viticulture, winemaking and marketing techniques.
Wine Entre Femme has grown organically from its inception in 2007, with the first official meeting between Napa Valley and Bordeaux winemakers in January 2008.  The group was organized by founder Sharon Harris, owner with her husband of Amici Cellars in Napa Valley.  Having a second home in Bordeaux and knowing many …

The inaugural Wine Entre Femme trade tasting of over 50 international wines by female winemakers/owners will take place on February 2nd  at the Metropolitan Club, 640 Sutter Street, San Francisco from 1 – 4 pm.  Founder Sharon Harris calls the trade tasting “the most beautiful wine tasting in the world” tongue-in-cheek, but there is no question that it is the most beautiful if measured by quality.  The trade seems to recognize this as the rsvps are already more than three times larger than expected.  According to Carissa Chappellet, only winemakers and/or …

Wine Entre Femme, a consortium of quality-minded female winemakers and winery owners from around the world will be meeting next week in the Napa Valley to share best practices and learn the latest in viticulture, winemaking and marketing techniques.
Wine Entre Femme has grown organically from its inception in 2007, with the first official meeting between Napa Valley and Bordeaux winemakers in January 2008.  The group was organized by founder Sharon Harris, owner with her husband of Amici Cellars in Napa Valley.  Having a second home in Bordeaux and knowing many …

The good news is that inexpensive, everyday Bordeaux wines are widely available in the US, ranging from under $10 to $25.  The major names to look for on the label are: 

Basic Bordeaux red, rose, white, semi-sweet and sparkling wines, from the greater Bordeaux region.  Reds predominantly merlot and whites predominantly sauvignon blanc.  Bordeaux  and Bordeaux Superieure appellations represent about half of the 60 million or so cases the region produces each year.  Bordeaux Superieure requires slightly higher minimum potential alcohol, slightly lower yields/hectare and for the red wines, longer minimum ageing of …

Today’s global wine is market is in net oversupply, but in specific markets, it is still growing.  The US is the world’s leading wine consumer by value and growing.  According to the 2009 Impact Databank, Americans are buying more of the big “brands” – the everyday, fruit-driven, easy-drinking and inexpensive wines.  In Germany, demand exceeds supply by 2 to 1, at average prices of a meager €2.00/liter primarily purchased at discount chains.  Over the past 25 years, demand has shifted from sweeter whites to red wines.  Asia is the fastest growing market and the major …

Last week I tasted through quite a lot of wine in Bordeaux!  Here are some of the whites which show the range of sauvignon blanc wines made today in Bordeaux.
2007 Chateau du Cros, Bordeaux AOC.  This chateau is also known for its sweet wines from the Loupiac appellation, just on the other side of the Garonne river on the right bank.  This dry white is typical of the modern, fruit-driven, clean and sleek wines made today.  90% sauvignon blanc, 10% semillon, some skin contact and cool 16-18 celsius ferment temperatures result …

While consumers discover the range of alternative white wines, sauvignon blanc remains truly one of the world’s greatest varietal wines and is still one of the major go-to wines in restaurants for its bright acidity, citrusy flavors and aromatic appeal.  Sauvignon blanc reflects the climates and styles where it is grown and made.  In the Loire’s Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume, the wine is lighter bodied, flinty and restrained, while in the Napa Valley, it is full-bodied and fruit-driven.  New Zealand is in a class by itself, with exaggerated aromas of kaffir limes and fresh …

The last two times I visited Sauternes, the sweet wine appellation in Bordeaux, I was treated to wine pairings with savory foods.  The conventional pairing with Sauternes and/or neighboring Barsac, or its lighter-versioned cousins across the Garonne river Cadillac, Loupiac and St. Croix du Mont, are strong cheeses or desserts.  At Chateau Guiraud, and last week at Chateau Sigalas Rabaud, we tried Sauternes with savory dishes that work.  As we approach the holiday season, you might want to include variations of the following dishes to impress your friends.  At Chateau Sigalas …

If you are travelling to Bordeaux, you probably love food and wine.  Some of the specialties of Bordeaux given its proximity to water are duck, foie gras and lamprey eel and you will find some of the best entrecote (beef) dishes anywhere.  Lest you think Bordeaux is all about heavy food, don’t worry, there is also a good choice of seafood such as salmon, sole, cod, sea bream, oysters and shrimp.  There is a great balance of foods and restaurants to choose from and plenty of wines to pair
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La Brasserie Bordelaise at 50 Rue Saint Remi serves …