April 2019 - On The Wine Road

Slow Wine on Earth Day

It’s another day on our incredible, beautiful and struggling planet. This podcast focuses on the positive impacts people are making as I present Part Two of my Earth Day celebration.

Much like the Slow Food Movement, Italy’s Slow Wine crusade promotes sustainable practices within the winemaking industry. The Slow Wine Guide features those who operate within those parameters. The 2019 edition contains 370 wineries from Italy, 121 from California, and new this year, 50 Oregon wineries. I chose two from Northern California who have been selected by Slow Wine; Larkmead Family Estate in Calistoga, Napa Valley, and Littorai Wines of Sebastopol, Sonoma County. They’re both highly respected in the industry. You’ll be impressed with the efforts they put forth to create their exceptional wine. Cheers to that! Happy Earth Day.

Events, Wineries

Down To Earth Month, Celebrating Earth Day

On this podcast we celebrate the Earth, and those who are doing their part it keeping it as livable as possible.

Earth Day is coming up on April 22nd and the Wine Institute is presenting their 8th Annual Down To Earth Month. They’re promoting celebrations throughout the month, across California. You can find more details on my Events page Down To Earth Month Celebrations. You might also want to visit Discover California Wines.

In this podcast you’ll hear my interview with Allison Jordan, the Executive Director of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance and Vice President, Environmental Affairs for Wine Institute.

I have a brief conversation about sustainable winemaking and vineyard practices with Ana Diogo-Draper, Director of Winemaking at Artesa Vineyards and Winery. Then I talk with C.O.O. and winemaker John Olney of Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs about their April 20th event celebrating organic farming. We’ll also chat about the rich history of Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello as well. I mean, it’s iconic. I couldn’t pass up that opportunity.

Let’s drink some wine and celebrate this big blue marble we call home!

The old zinfandel vineyard on a fog covered morning at Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs in Dry Creek Valley, Geyserville, CA.

Wine Uncorked

Century-Old Wine and Champagne Discovered in Shipwreck Off British Coast

Just off the southwest coast of Britain, 100 meters below sea level, lies a First World War merchant ship holding an extremely rare and valuable cargo.

Codenamed “Mercury,” the ship has laid on the seabed undisturbed for over a century, according to luxury adventure tourism company Cookson Adventures. Torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1918, Mercury was making her way to the U.K. from Bordeaux, carrying a precious cargo of Champagne, brandy, fine wine, and Benedictine.

The ship’s location was only discovered recently, and a team of divers has just completed an initial exploration of part of the vessel. According to Cornwall Live, the dive revealed “hundreds of intact bottles of vintage alcohol including Champagne, wine, and brandy.”

Though they’ve spent more than a century underwater, wine experts believe the darkness and constant cool temperatures will have helped preserve the cargo, and the wine should be drinkable upon its return to the surface.

That’s incredible news but it gets better…if you have enough $$$

Cookson Adventures is partnering with a team of marine scientists and wine experts to salvage the historical artifacts, and they’re allowing (paying) members of the public to join them for the adventure.

The next stage of the expedition will see submarines and remotely-operated underwater vehicles dive to the seabed to complete a further survey of the area and recover a few bottles.

Following that, an “exclusive seven-day marine expedition,” which is open to members of the public, will include a week-long stay in a private mansion and culminate in the salvage operation. The expedition will also include meals cooked by a private chef, as well as helicopter transfers to and from the salvage vessel.

Cookson Adventures hasn’t disclosed how much this is all going to cost, but private chefs and helicopter rides don’t come cheap. On the other hand, century-old Champagne…

The story is courtesy of Cornwall Live, and VinePair.com. Written by Tim McKirdy Photo by Cookson Adventures.

Dining, Wineries

Spring Mountain Vineyard & A16 Restaurant

This podcast includes stops at a favorite winery and restaurant; Spring Mountain Vineyard and A16.

As you’ll hear, Spring Mountain Vineyard features three distinct vineyards and a history that makes it a special place. What I love about the experiences are the library wines the offer. In three visits I’ve tasted vintages from 1988, 2001, ’04, ’08, ’10, and ’15. The cabernet sauvignons and their Elivette (reserve) blends are made in the Bordeaux style; meaning not a big, ripe, chewy Cab, but an elegantly complex wine that invites you to enjoy taste after taste. They also bottle a sauvignon blanc. Winemaker Justin Hirigoyen is my guest.

**Update: Wine Spectator just released scores for 2015 Bordeaux Blends in Napa Valley. Spring Mountain Vineyard topped the list with a score of 96. (BTW – 15 of the top 30 are priced higher than Spring Mountain Vineyard). Don’t hesitate, pay them a visit!

A16 Restaurant offers authentic Italian Pizza Napolitana, fresh pasta, and house cured meats inspired by the Campania region. My guest, Wine Director Shelley Lindgren, selects wines that highlight grapes of the Compania and nearby regions. We’ve enjoyed dining there. You’ll find A16 in the Marina District on Chestnut Street and in Oakland in Rockridge. They also operate the Michelin Star restaurant SPQR in the S.F. Fillmore district.

French and Italian wine and food. What’s not to love?

Spring Mountain Vineyard and A16 Restaurant

Justin on the day of our interview and tasting

The tasting we did on our first visit. We love those library wines!

The barrel room behind the attractive facade

One of Spring Mountain’s three vineyards

A recent tasting I attended in the beautiful Miravalle Estate

A16 Restaurant on a San Francisco evening

A partial shot of the restaurant. The wood-firing ovens are to the right and the seating wraps around.

Events

Down To Earth Month Celebrations

Earth Day of 2019

The California Wine Institute is celebrating with their 8th Annual Down To Earth month. Throughout April there are events and activities across the state from wineries who practice sustainable winegrowing, winemaking and farming practices. These include producing high quality grapes and wines, protecting the environment, being a good neighbor and employer, and maintaining a thriving, long-term business.

Guests on my radio show, April 13th

I will feature an interview on my radio show on Saturday, April 13th with Allison Jordan, the Executive Director of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. Also joining me will be John Olney, the Chief Operating Officer and Winemaker at Ridge Vineyards, Lytton Springs. The discussion will explain sustainable practices, we’ll touch upon some of the 50 events, and you’ll hear about Ridge Vineyards’ celebration of organic farming on April 20th. Both locations, Lytton Springs in Healdsburg and Monte Bello in Cupertino, will participate.

Guests on my radio show, April 20th

On this show you’ll learn about the Slow Wine movement. Very much like the Slow Food movement, it awards wineries and vineyards who make wine and farm sustainably. I’ll talk with Ann Baker of Larkmead Cellars and Ted Lemon of Littorai Wines. Both are featured in the 2019 Slow Wine Guide.

Find events near you

Events have already begun so I wanted to help you get a jump on where you can go to join in on the celebration. Click the map below to be taken to the Wine Institute’s California Wines’ press release about Down To Earth Month. Celebrate Earth Day with wine!