I had the great honor of interviewing 12 women winemakers for Naked Wines USA‘s Women in Wine project for Women’s History Month 2021 and 2022. I am delighted to share with you these role models in the wine industry.
Alex Farber
Anne Dashe
Ana Diogo-Draper
Camille Benitah
Françoise Gazeau
Jacqueline Bahue
Karen Birmingham
Nova Cadamatre MW
Ondine Chattan
Penelope Gadd-Coster
Sharon Weeks
Yian Lu
-
Naked Wines USA Women in Wine Project
-
Pedroncelli’s storyteller, Julie St. John and the Vino in my Dino
Julie Pedroncelli St John grew up immersed in the family business, the Geyserville-based Pedroncelli Winery, which celebrates 94 years in 2021.
This is my latest wine story for the Napa Valley Register with a mention of our weekly COVID coffee chat that Julie began over a year ago.
*CLICK HERE TO READ*
-
Napa Valley Life Magazine – Summer 2021 Digital Issue
Here is the Napa Valley Life Magazine – Summer 2021 digital issue. You can flip through it online or download it by clicking the download icon in the top left corner. It includes my two features.
Enjoy Napa Valley: An Insider’s Guide to the Napa River’s Hidden History – pages 20-21
Cornucopia: Napa Valley’s Best Vegetarian and Vegan – pages 70-72
Featuring C Casa, Heritage Eats, Kitchen Door, Mango on Main by Mini Mango Thai Bistro, Mercadito Food Truck, The Dutch Door, and Small World Restaurant.
-
Beth’s Smart Sip: 2018 Fleur de California Vermentino Estate Vineyards, Carneros
On Saturday, July 3, I visited Browns Valley Market in Napa, California, which has one of the most interesting – but small – wine sections in the city. I saw a wine I knew would be great, but instead, the label – yes, the label – and the variety – Vermentino from Carneros – caught my attention. I hesitated because it was a 2018 vintage wine and I was unfamiliar with the producer, but at $16.99, I took a chance. I am glad I did.
In my research, I discovered that Fleur de California is one of the labels of Carneros Wine Company, along with Mahoney Family Vineyards and Carneros Ranch Wines. Founders Francis and Kathleen Mahoney have been growing grapes in Carneros since 1972. The Mahoneys own three vineyards, Las Brisas Vineyard in Sonoma Carneros, the Mahoney Ranch in Napa Carneros, and a newly acquired vineyard in the nearby Suisun Valley Appellation.
The Fleur de California label was added in 1987 as a distributed brand to restaurants and wine shops as a means of introducing consumers to their wines in an affordable and approachable way. Fleur de California has come into its own with the Mahoneys using mostly estate fruit, like the 2018 Fleur de California Vermentino Estate Vineyards, Carneros.
Although this is an older vintage, this Vermentino remains lively. It is floral on the nose and bursting with fruit flavors and bright acidity on the palate, running the gamut from tart citrus and Granny Smith apple, to white peach and cantaloupe, a veritable fresh fruit bowl in a glass. It won Best in Class, Double Gold, at the 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
Winemaker – Ken Foster
Alcohol – 13%
Winery DTC Price – $20.00
For More Information:
carneroswinecompany.com
@mahoneyfamilyvineyards on Facebook and Instagram
-
Wine grape residue as food? UC Davis scientists are studying the possibilities
Chardonnay Marc Flours – Photo Credit UC Davis
My latest Napa Valley Register wine story is the most academic writing I have done since my WSET 3 exam and doctoral dissertation – “Wine grape residue as food? UC Davis scientists are studying the possibilities.” It is a topic that piqued my interest because wine grape residue “shows promise in the areas of nutrition including intestinal health and inflammation.”
*CLICK HERE TO READ*
You must be logged in to post a comment.