Category Archives: Winery News
I’m Back!
After two weeks in Italy. It was a wonderful trip, but I’m happy to be home. The one thing about traveling overseas, as great a vacation as it may be, it certainly makes you appreciate home (easier said when you live in one of the most beautiful places in the world!). Anyways, as I continue to recover from jet lag, and get right back into the groove, you can expect a few posts on my Italy excursion along with pictures. In the mean time, maybe I’ll see some of you next week at a Chateau Montelena Wine Dinner that I’m hosting at Ruth’s Chris in Irvine…. Curious about other upcoming wine dinners? Be sure to check out our Events Page to find out when we’ll be hosting an event near you.
More to come….
G
A Customer’s Story
Upon returning to the office Monday morning, we were greeted with an email from a customer about an experience he’d had with one of our wines over the weekend. The wine in question: our 1976 North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon. He writes:
Gentlemen,
Last night I had a small dinner at my home in Healdsburg, CA, in order to honor a friend, and to try out some Napa “Cult” Cabs I had assembled. Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, Bryant Family etc…. But the most amazing surprise was a 1976 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast (I’ve attached a picture of that) … wow! Whoever made that wine should be very proud, it’s drinking wonderfully, even after 35+ years! Please give my regards to the Barretts and anyone else who had a hand in that very fine bottling. What a pleasure, I’m a winemaker myself, and I just had one of the best wines I’ve ever had. Bravo!
As you might imagine, it was a pleasure to find this email in our inbox Monday morning and to know we were included in a tasting with such wonderful wines. We love hearing from our customers about their memorable experiences with our wines.
What was the best bottle of Chateau Montelena wine you have ever had and who did you enjoy it with?
Recipe Challenge Winners
Congratulations to our CellarMaster Recipe Challenge Winners! We had many wonderful submissions for our first ever members’ Recipe Challenge and our staff culinary team had to narrow down the submissions to four category winners in each of the categories: appetizer, salad, main course, dessert. We are delighted to share their tasty recipes, each paired with their selection of a Chateau Montelena wine.
Our four finalists are as follows:
- Amy Weinberg, for her appetizer, “Amy’s Crab Cakes with Lime Aioli and Fennel Grapefruit Salad”, paired with Chateau Montelena Sauvignon Blanc
- Jack Douglas, for his salad, “Vanilla Lobster Salad”; paired with Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay;
- Rob Hopkins, for his main course, “Rib Eye Rolls”, paired with Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon;
- Patrick Blondin, for his dessert, “Dark Chocolate Upside Down Cake”, paired with Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Our category winners are all invited to schedule a private tasting, vineyard tour, and catered lunch on the islands for four people – all with our compliments and congratulations.
Our Grand Prize Winner is Jack Douglas, for the oh-so-sumptuous Vanilla Lobster Salad, which swept the challenge in the final taste-off. Jack and up to seven guests are invited to come to the Chateau, use our Private Residence kitchen to cook up his dish, and sit down to enjoy the Vanilla Lobster Salad and an additional three-course luncheon prepared by our in-house chef – each course will be paired with Chateau Montelena wines.
We encourage you to try the recipes for yourself and perhaps share some of your own favorite pairings. Who knows? We may ask to share your recipe on our blog! Better yet, become a CellarMaster so you can participate next year and submit your own recipe in next year’s challenge.
We’ll reveal each of the winning recipes over the next few weeks so that you can make them and taste for yourself (and, of course, enjoy with your favorite Montelena wine).
Happy Cooking!
Upcoming Sabbatical
As I gear up for a trip to Italy (I depart on Friday), I’m getting excited to venture into some of the best food and wine in the world! It’s been a while since I’ve been there and I’ve indulged in all things Napa Valley/Chateau Montelena for the last few years. We all should realize that variety is the spice of life! I need to re-expand my wine horizons; recognize other varietals, regions, foods, etc…
The other great thing about travel is that you come back and appreciate all that you have right here at home, such as: bathrooms that make sense, air conditioning, wider streets….and some pretty darn good Cabernet Sauvignon!
I’ll be off the blog for a little while. See you back here in a few weeks.
Ciao.
Summer’s Here!
Well, it felt like Summer was in high form this past weekend as we hit triple digits in the Napa Valley. According to the seasonal calendar, summer doesn’t actually start until tomorrow but that’s California for you! It’s not a very predictable state. I remember many years ago watching weather reporters on the local news seemingly always getting the weather predictions wrong. As a young teenager, I figured, this is science - there’s factual data to look at (and we can we travel to space) – so how can we not get weather right? Today, however, I think they do a pretty good job. Case in point: they predicted 100 degrees in St. Helena; it hit about 101 degrees. They predicted a drop off Sunday to about 88 degrees; it was 89.
Anyways, this Summer season is starting off unlike the last two years where we saw rain and cool days as late as June and July. I think this will be a great year for the vines (and my garden..more to come on that)!
How’s Summer shaping up in your area?
A Great Week In The Bay Area
Is Napa still considered Bay Area? I’ll say yes. Some define the Bay Area as the outreach of BART (for those unfamiliar with the acronym, that’s our train system here). Napa County still touches part of the Bay waters – the San Pablo Bay waterway that borders the Carneros District – and provides a nice cooling effect for the varietal of grapes that prefer lower temperatures that are grown in that region.
In any case, as a sports fan, foodie, and wino, there’s no better place to be than here in Napa this weekend. Our Giants are on a winning streak – Matt Cain pitched a perfect game yesterday; the US Open comes to town; summer season fruits are here, so Farmers’ Markets are bustling; and of course, there’s always the wine country beckoning for a visit. It’s the quiet before the storm – just before the high season of visitors begins here at the Chateau, so we’re relatively quiet for now. Not to mention, three new restaurants opened up in the little town of St. Helena…
Apart from anticipating the weekend’s searing heat, it’s a great time to be in the Bay!
My Friend Brett
Brett (aka brettanomyces) has been a great friend of mine for a long, long time. But some people misunderstand and steer clear of it, thinking Brett can only be a dominating, ruinous stinker that smells like wet barnyard. Some get scared, even paranoid, and want no trace of Brett in their lives. Not I, because I know Brett can be managed to show character in wines, and some quite unique qualities, especially in small doses. Too much? No thanks. None at all? No way – wine is just not the same without some Brett. To each his own, I say. Did you know that the French have been friends with Brett for ages?
Do you know Brett? Do you enjoy it in your wines?
Kickoff To Auction Napa Valley 2012
Today marks the beginning of Auction Napa Valley 2012, the Napa Valley Vintner’s annual charity fundraiser, and it’s shaping up to be a very exciting weekend, indeed. The weekend will include four glorious days of celebrating the best of Napa Valley – everything from private winemaker dinners to elaborate parties and more than 250 different lots on which one can bid (both here in Napa and online from the comfort of your home!). Auction Napa Valley is a not-to-be-missed weekend for wine lovers, vintners and avid wine collectors from around the world. The event is always held the first weekend in June and the proceeds from the auction will benefit health, youth and affordable housing non-profit programs in the area. We’re excited to announce that we’re participating in two lots this year: one e-auction Lot (which you can bid on from a computer/mobile device anywhere you might be) and one very exciting live auction lot that includes a private concert and might inspire you to clear some room in your cellar - in a partnership with Chappellet, Garguilo, Raymond, Shafer and Silver Oak.
So for those of you feeling lucky this weekend, you may consider bidding on E-Auction Lot #379 which includes spectacular wines from such Calistoga winegrowers as: Araujo, Barlow, Canard, JAX, Jones Family, Kenefick Ranch, Summers Estate, The Grade, Zahtila and, of course, Chateau Montelena Winery. The bottles, from all participating Calistoga winegrowers, will be presented in large format sizes.
And for those of you planning to be in Napa Valley this weekend and those planning to attend the live auction on Saturday at beautiful Meadowood, keep an eye out on Lot #35 which includes wines from celebrated Napa Valley producers and a private concert from Lady Antebellum for you and your closest friends. As if that weren’t enough, the winner will also be flown to London for a private tour of the band’s recording studio and another opportunity to enjoy Lady Antebellum in concert…in London.
Good Luck!
Will you be bidding? If so, on which auction lot?
Montelena in the City
I’m sure by now most of you know we have a tasting room in San Francisco at the Westin St. Francis. But, did you know we have a great presence throughout the city in other venues where you can enjoy CM wines? Here’s a list of few standouts you need to visit:
Wayfare Tavern
- 5A5 Steakhouse on Jackson St. – Set in a beautiful neighborhood, this unique restaurant features Wagyu beef (graded at various levels) and you can order your steak by the ounce to your specifications. Remember, Wagyu beef is rich; you don’t need to order typical American sizes of like a 28 oz porterhouse to truly fill you up. Hip, vibrant, great food (don’t forget the Hamachi shooters to start), and our Napa Cab by the glass!
- Four Seasons – For those who have not dined in a high-quality hotel before, let me explain (since I used to be in hotel business, I know!), some of these hotel restaurants offer the best quality of food you can get. They might not have a flagged celebrity chef behind it, but trust me, their quality of ingredients are second to none. These hotel restaurants are often loss leaders as far as the hotel ledger is concerned, but they provide this as part of the service to their guests who demand quality. What’s great is that you don’t have to be a hotel guest to enjoy this. I had the privilege to dine there last week – they easily match, if not top, some of the well- known eateries in town. Yes, you can also get our Napa Cab by the glass there too!
- John’s Grill - Comfort food with tradition. The old Dashiell Hammett (of Maltese Falcon fame) hangout is one of the oldest restaurants in the city and still serves up a blast-from-the-past menu.
- WaterBar – On the Embarcadero. As part of Pat Kuleto’s restaurant conglomerate, you know the ambiance/setting will be spectaular, and that’s even before you take in a breathtaking view of the Bay Bridge. Some of the freshest seafood/oysters that go perfectly with our Chardonnay.
- Wayfare Tavern – Tyler Florence’s presence on Sacramento Street was a hit from the start. True tavern food, lively setting, and service that is both thorough and formal while being personal and fun. Contradiction, you say? Go there and you’ll know what I mean. And use it as your cheat day and order the fried chicken.
- Oak Room – Set within the Westin St. Francis (see above, Four Seasons). Another hotel restaurant that promises some top quality food using some of the best ingredients. It’s a shame how so many visitors clamor to the famous restaurants in the city and ignore these gems within the hotels. Trust me, stop fighting the crowds, and dine in the hotels…
So you see, I love my wine, but I just can’t get enough of the city and food!
Bon Appetit and cheers!
Post Event Hangover
Well, it’s not what you think – not from the alcohol, but from the end of another Movable Feast. After a year of planning, it came down to a four-hour party. By my calculations, that’s about 520 hours of planning for every one hour of partying….wow! Ok, ok, I didn’t spend the ENTIRE year planning, but towards the end, it sure felt like it! Anyhow, for those who came (and there were a lot of you), it looked like a good time was had by all. Look for pics coming soon.
Now comes the fun part; thinking about next year’s theme! Just when you’re ready to come up for air, you’ve got to get back up on that horse and start running again. If you have any fun ideas for next year’s Feast, send them my way. My brain is on temporary freeze.
