Latest news with #WineSpectator
Forbes
20-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
New Releases From California - Fort Ross And Lewis Cellars
Tasting room of Fort Ross Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast Fort Ross (Jenner, Sonoma Coast) - Fort Ross Winery is located on the Sonoma Coast; in this case, the coast is so close, you can smell the sea and almost touch it. This is a great site for growing cool climate varieties, especially Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and their versions of these wines are excellent, but what is most interesting about the portfolio of Fort Ross is the fact that they also produce a vibrant Chenin Blanc, somewhat of a rarity in California, as well as a beautifully textured and harmonious Pinotage, a wine that is at home in South Africa, but one you rarely see in California. Fort Ross is definitely a winery to keep an eye on in the future. Chenin Blanc 2023 (Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma Coast) Aromas of yellow peach, lime and hints of papaya and yellow pansy. Medium-bodied, this offers excellent ripeness and freshness along with lively acidity and very good persistence. True to its type, this is of impressive quality and very refreshing; enjoy over the next 3-4 years. (92) Pinotage 2019 (Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma Coast) - 100% Pinotage; aged in French oak, 20% new.) Bright, medium-deep garnet. Aromas of cola, bing cherry, blackberry and amaryllis. Medium-bodied this has excellent ripeness, very good acidity, subdued wood notes, medium-weight tannins and very good persistence. Very well made with notable harmony, enjoy this with roast chicken, duck, and seafood such as tuna or salmon (just like Pinot Noir) over the next 3-5 years. (92) Pinot Noir Fort Ross Vineyards 2021 (Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma Coast) - Aromas of bing cherry, subtle wood notes (furniture polish) and black orchid. Medium-full, with lively acidity, well-integrated oak, medium-full tannins and very good persistence. The fruit is quite ripe and high tone. Another year should round out the tannins. Peak in 6-8 years. (93) Vineyard of Lewis Cellars, Napa Valley Lewis Cellars (Napa) - Established in 1992 by Randy Lewis, a former Indy-car race driver and his wife Debbie, Lewis Cellars has enjoyed a distinguished history over its three-decades existence; to wit, the Lewis Cellars 2013 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was named the #1 Wine of the Year by the famed Wine Spectator magazine in 2016. In 2021, Lewis sold the winery to a group that represents two other California wineries (Justin Vineyards of Paso Robles, Landmark Vineyards of Sonoma County). Randy Lewis has been joined by Dennis Bell as vice-president, and the company continues crafting richly flavored Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, along with a few other wines, including Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and a special offering called The Big Blend. Here are my notes on three of their wines: Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (Napa Valley) -Bright, medium yellow; delicate varietal aromas of freshly cut hay, pear, grass and a hint of basil. Medium-bodied, there is good acidity and varietal character. The finish is a bit short, but otherwise, this is a well-made wine; enjoy over the next 2-3 years. (91) Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (Napa Valley) - 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 19 months in 65% new French oak. Bright, deep purple; aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, clove and evident wood notes. Full-bodied with impressive ripeness, balanced acidity, strong wood notes and impressive persistence. A powerful Cabernet Sauvignon that lacks proper balance and finesse. Give this time, but will it age gracefully? Peak in 12-15 years. (91) The Big Blend 2022 (Napa Valley) - This was my favorite of the new releases from Lewis Cellars. Primarily Syrah (48%), the wine also contains smaller percentages of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petite Sirah. Bright, deep purple with luscious aromas of blackberry, black currant, mocha and purple iris, this is a wine of impressive ripeness and texture, backed by round, medium-full tannins and good balancing acidity. As young and as rich as this wine is, there is an appealing charm to the wine, making it enjoyable for dinner tonight; it would be especially good paired with veal chop, pork roast or duck breast. Or if you prefer, enjoy it sometime over the next 5-7 years. (93)
USA Today
24-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Producer of Trader Joe's 'Two Buck Chuck' wine announces 80 layoffs in California
Producer of Trader Joe's 'Two Buck Chuck' wine announces 80 layoffs in California Show Caption Hide Caption Master Sommelier shows us his favorite, affordable wines Master Sommelier Vincent Morrow shows us his favorite, affordable wines. Psst: they are all available at Trader Joe's. Fox - Ktvu The maker of Trader Joe's Charles Shaw wine, known as "Two Buck Chuck," announced more than 80 permanent layoffs at its Stanislaus County headquarters last week. Bronco Wine Co., based in Ceres, has been family-owned since 1973 and includes multiple brands, according to its website. The layoffs were listed as part of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. The WARN Act requires employers with 100 or more employees to provide 60 calendar days' advance notification of planned closings and mass employee layoffs. Bronco Wine Co. and its affiliated entities, Bivio Transport and Logistics Co., LLC and WC Ag, are listed. The notice for 81 permanent layoffs was filed and processed on Feb. 6, according to the listing. The layoffs are scheduled for April 8. The company cited "a significant downturn in business revenues, necessitating a major reorganization in operations and workforce," according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Eliminated positions include drivers, lift truck operators, mechanics, security officers, cellar supervisors, viticulturists and microbiology technicians, according to the publication. Besides Charles Shaw, the Bronco Wine Co. portfolio includes Rosenblum Cellars, Carmenet, Picket Fence, Crane Lake Cellars and Longevity Wines. Shockwaves for DC regional economy: Trump layoffs spur surge in jobless claims Charles Shaw wine history Fred Franzia, the California winemaker who created the Charles Shaw wine brand, died in September 2022 at the age of 79. In 1973, he founded Bronco Wine Company in Ceres, in the San Joaquin Valley, south of Stockton, with his brother Joseph and cousin John. Wine Spectator labeled Franzia the "Bad Boy of California Wine' for his contempt of high-end wine and the company began buying bankrupt vineyards in the '80s. Bronco acquired the Charles Shaw name in 1995 for just $25,000, Wine Spectator reported. That led to Bronco Wines launching the Charles Shaw wine for $1.99 at Trader Joe's stores in California in 2002. The layoffs come after a handful of small wineries including Carlisle, Tarpon and Vinca Minor, have shut down, according to the Chronicle, and large-scale companies like Southern Glazer reportedly laid off hundreds of employees last fall. Mike Snider contributed to this report. Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Incredible dogs trained to protect vineyards with new method of pest control: 'It's a game to them'
Want a suitable replacement for pesticides? Apparently, dogs just might be it. Dr. Stephanie Bolton, a sustainable winegrowing director for the Lodi Winegrape Commission, wanted to find eco-friendly ways to combat pests (mainly the vine mealybug) in wine vineyards. After receiving a $428,000 grant from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, she went to work, successfully training four dogs known for their above-average sense of smell to find mealybugs and infected vines. Should the government be allowed to restrict how much water we use? Definitely Only during major droughts No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The results were astonishing. According to Wine Spectator, the dogs found mealybugs on average over 97% of the time during three sets of trials. They also detected leafroll viruses around 93% of the time. Once they locate the problem, the dogs sit to alert their handlers to a compromised vine. If you're worried about the dogs working overtime, don't be. "The canines are rewarded by play; it's a game to them," Bolton added, noting that "the dogs will even improve with time." Pesticides have been continuously proven to have adverse effects on the environment. According to the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, pesticides can pollute the air and soil when improperly applied or disposed of. There are also restrictions in place for their usage. For example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency currently has restrictions on specific toxic pesticides, though some argue that even those aren't enough, citing their harm to humans and bee populations. Using dogs completely eliminates that problem — and ups the cuteness factor on vineyards by 1000%. At this point in time, canines aren't used for pest detection on a large scale, but given Dr. Bolton's successful study, they could be. Wine Spectator shared that dogs are being taught to sniff out other pesky bugs in vineyards, suggesting that the future is bright for this one-of-a-kind project. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
