Calaveras Winegrape Alliance Wine Sierra Foothills California

Pen it in - Presidents' Wine Weekend

It’s time to get out your new 2012 calendar and pen in Feb. 18 and 19 for CWA’s 16^th annual Presidents’ Wine Weekend, taking place at all member wineries from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Two full days of special tastings, signature cuisine and super discounts for just $10 per person, and it includes a commemorative wine glass!

We’re talking Hatcher’s infamous pulled pork sandwiches with house-made coleslaw, Stevenot Tasting Room’s  local home-made sausages on sourdough French bread along with assorted appetizers and cheese platter, all-American fare at Chatom Vineyards, Milliaire Winery’s savory meatballs, tapenades and chocolates, and home-made brownies at Broll Mountain Vineyards.

Keep checking back for more updates!

Cheers, Jan Hovey, CWA Blogger

Posted via email from Calaveras Winegrape Alliance

Bubbles with Steve

December Wines of the World featured the effervescent Steve Collum pouring
all sorts of Italian and French sparkling wines at the Murphys Historic
Hotel. It was hard work tasting and grading eight "not to blow your mind
wines, just fun wines," but somehow we all "managed" to get through it with
Steve's expertise and signature sense of humor. Just a few of Steve's
quotes:
"Pour the first big. I sound better when people drink."
"I'm here to butcher two languages: Italian and French."
While reading notes, "Damn that font size."
"You ain't nobody unless you're sitting by a paisan in Venice."
We discovered that the bubbles in a champagne glass actually come from
imperfections made in the bottom of the glass. Who knew? Steve did and now
we do. And the bubbles "implode instead of explode." We also learned there
are 49,000 bubbles estimated in a bottle of champagne. Who counted that and
where did they find the time?
Steve then poured a sparkling wine that still had the lees (yeast) plug in
the neck of the bottle (last photo). Steve asked guests to identify the
origin of the wine. Italy? France? No - Calaveras County - a joint venture
between Newsome-Harlow and Hatcher.
The staggering list of Calaveras creations continue to grow!
Cheers! -Jan Hovey, CWA Blogger

See the full gallery on Posterous

Posted via email from Calaveras Winegrape Alliance

Festival of Wine Memories

Guests of CWA's Dec. 3 Festival of Wines were treated to signature culinary
delights, festive holiday decorations, samplings of Calaveras' finest wines
and fantastic discounts. Tailing on the success of the Murphys Open House
the evening before, Festival-goers came a little later this year, but it
wasn't long before tasting rooms were packed and cases of wine were flying
out the door.
Happy, Happy Holidays from CWA!

See the full gallery on Posterous

Posted via email from Calaveras Winegrape Alliance

Winegrape and Gourmet 2011

Many, many, many, and many happy people at Winegrape and Gourmet held at Ironstone Nov. 5!

 

    

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And the winners are...

It’s official! Though everyone wins at the Grape Stomp – team or onlooker, here are the final results for award winners.

Grape Stomp Winners

1.   Grapeful Dead - Los Gatos  22.71

2.   The Wright Stuff – Hercules  21.9 (Father/son team of Greg and Brian Wright)

3.   Dwelley Devastators – Vallecito 20.98 (Danny and Eddie Dwelley)

4.   Cluster Busters – Murphys 20.57

5.   Pressing Matters –  Angels Camp 20.55

6.   The Giant Grapes of San Francisco – Mill Valley 19.92

7.   Sushi & Waswab – Hercules 19.83

8.   Hatcher Winery – Murphys 19.3

9.   Stomp! In the Name of Love! - Los Gatos 18.77

10. Almost a Cluster – Murphys 18.06

Hatcher Winery Wins President's Trophy Again!

The team of Matt Hatcher & Jennifer Berry have again won the CWA's coveted President's Trophy with a convincing stomp of 11.69 pounds. Tanner Winery placed second and Broll Mountain Vineyards placed third. The President’s Award is awarded annually during the winery stomp.

Costume Contest

1. Devil Chickens – Salinas (Meg Clovis and Amy Eaton)
2. You Weenie Winers – San Jose
3. Star Spangled Super Stompers – Carson City

Congratulations to ALL – winners and attendees!

-Jan Hovey, CWA Blogger

Posted via email from Calaveras Winegrape Alliance

Portrait of a Grape Stomp

And alongside hundreds of cheering onlookers at Grape Stomp 2011 were, yes, Lucy Ricardo and Lucy Ricardo! A great time was had by all – smiles and laughter, serious stomping, and many, many toasts with Calaveras wine!

Watch for more info. and photos to come!

-Jan Hovey, CWA Blogger

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Posted via email from Calaveras Winegrape Alliance

Snapshots from Vineyard Tour BBQ

What a joy to have great wine, the best BBQ, and the finest company amid the beautiful surrounds of Bill and Betty Broll’s  hilltop estate! The annual CWA Vineyard Tour on July 22, led by the renowned Dr. Jim Wolpert of UC Davis fame, was followed with “the” barbecue. Here Dr. Jim told us, “I end up talking less every year because everyone here gets smarter and I stay the same.” Not so, but the laughter was contagious.

Dr. Wolpert also announced that Calaveras County wineries took home 20 medals this year from the California State Fair.  “Don’t lose the culture of Calaveras – ride the high tide and you’ll go with it. Let’s go fro 40 medals next year!”

Ride on! Enjoy the pics.  -Jan Hovey, CWA Blogger

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Posted via email from Calaveras Winegrape Alliance

Passport Weekend has passed but great memories remain!

Perfect weather, perfect wine, and perfect times at CWA’s 2011 Passport Weekend.

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Posted via email from Calaveras Winegrape Alliance

Photos

Under Construction

President's Wine Weekend Fun & Photos!

It may have been a bit cold, snowy and wet in Calaveras County, but that sure didn't put a damper on President's Wine Weekend! Check out how much fun people were having...

                    

Fun at Chatom Vineyards!             George & Abe at Chatom                 Indoors at Indian Rock

                   

Dave, Steve & the Q - IRock            Oh those Tanner Women           Have you been to Beaux Chevaux?

                    

Rocking at French Hill                Is that Caleb B. Smith at Solomon          Nate, your eyes are closed!