St Helena Wine Tantalizes at bASH!
It’s early evening in the Valley. Raindrops threaten and with each minute my stress gathers steam. You know that feeling when you’re trying to get ready and nothing looks right? A pile of discarded clothes litter the bed. I resolve to start running regularly because this is part of the reason nothing looks great. Ugh! I pass my husband who is waiting in the kitchen and dash out the door, into the rain, directly to the car. Thankfully I got the umbrella first.
The destination tonight is to bASH 2016. The “b” part of bASH has got to be a reference to a party. The ASH part is pretty heady. It is Appellation St. Helena, an alliance of wineries with vineyards in the St. Helena Appellation. It’s been around longer than the AVA has been designated, actually it goes back to the late 1800’s. After a 128 year hiatus the organization was revived. The mission is clear, to act as a voice for the amazing wines coming out of the St. Helena region of Napa Valley and to share it with the public.
The parking lot is full at Greystone (home of the infamous CIA) , truly a sign of how popular this event is. I’m getting more anxious to get out of the vehicle every second, and at the moment I want to say “Drop me off at the front door”. Just then a car pulls out and we pull in. The building is magnificent and austere. A mere 117,000 sq feet of it, formerly known as the Greystone Winery and later, Christian Brothers. You can feel the history in this building. Somewhere near me exists a place where up to 2 million gallons of wine was planned to be stored. I suck in my breath.
We climb the steps to the registration table and are greeted by the friendliest of welcoming committees, both helpful and professional. There is a slight snafu about one of the passes and they quickly resolve the bump. Just steps away from us the excitement and the divine aroma of delicious pairings wafts through the hall, I hear the murmur of joyful conversation and the occasional exclamation. Onward!
As I cross the threshold of the vast barrel room, now converted into an event room, my eyes pass from right to left and take in the surreal vision. Tables with wine bottles adorning them, masterpieces on small plates everywhere and the culinary students working in assembly line efficiency putting out tastes with meticulous fervor. Between each station is a giant wine barrel, there are 26 stations in all paired with wine from the wineries of St. Helena. We set out to discover each and every taste available we can until our stomachs protest. If tasting all this food and wine were not enough, we also have 3 wooden coins each to give to those stations who made the biggest impact on us. Those with the most coins at the end of the night would be duly rewarded.
St. Helena Winery GM, Lesley Russell tells about what she is pouring…
The dishes ranged from Vol au Vents to Lambrusco Glazed Pork Belly. Lamb, steak, 6 different kinds of duck and oh so much more. I had a moment when I tasted the pairing of the Martini House Mushroom Soup with the St. Helena Winery Sympa Cabernet. Exquisite! Also the 2013 Spottswoode Estate Cabernet Sauvignon paired with the Amaribella Tart. There were so many wines and I have to say every drop was a impeccable representation of the region and it’s ability to produce remarkable wine.
The wines of St. Helena are certainly something to behold. The balance of the tannins with the elegance of the bodies of all wines I tasted at this event were harmonious. Better than the Beach Boys singing Good Vibrations.
Waiting until the very last awardee was recognized, we made our way home knowing a whole lot more about St. Helena wine and the Culinary Institute of America’s capabilities. The event far exceeded our expectations both in depth and breadth of the experience.
Kelly Mitchell
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The 55 judges awarded silver, gold and grand gold medals to wines from 25 countries.
At the beginning of March, in the @paysdocigpwines region of Southern France, over 1,200 #rosé wines from across the globe competed for the highly coveted @concoursmondial de Bruxelles medals. The @vinolok_global international Revelation Trophy was awarded this year to a rosé wine from #Italy – Y by 11 Minutes Rosé – produced by @pasquawines in #Veneto. Well done!
The Winners of the International Wine competition on Rosé for 2023 are in:
The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is an international wine competition that takes place annually and is considered one of the most prestigious wine competitions in the world. The competition is held in a different location each year, and it attracts thousands of entries from winemakers around the world. The focus of the competition is on identifying wines of high quality that are representative of their region and grape variety.
In recent years, the competition has added a separate category for rosé wines, recognizing the growing popularity and diversity of this style of wine. The competition judges rosé wines on their color, aroma, taste, and overall balance, with the aim of identifying the best examples of the style from around the world.
Winning a medal at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles can have a significant impact on a winery`s reputation and sales, as it is widely recognized as a mark of quality and excellence. The competition also provides an opportunity for winemakers to receive feedback from a panel of international experts, helping them to refine their techniques and improve their wines.
Winners link is: https://resultats.concoursmondial.com/en/results/2023
Congrats to all the Rose producers who participated!
#WineCompetition #winetasting #rosé #winelover #trendingwine #whattodrink #concoursmondialdebruxelles #paysdoc #montpelier #france #Veneto #winemedals #thewinesiren #wineoclock #winerating #winejudge
When great viticulture is an obsession you chose wisely and well. @vitnerd for @lecole41 on sustainability, great viticulture and award winning passion for vines.
WATCH WITH LINK IN BIO: SADIE DRURY - VINEYARD MANAGER
Sadie Drury is a Walla Walla native who has been passionate about agriculture since her first job of picking strawberries at the age of 12. In 2007, Sadie decided to combine her passion for agriculture with her love for wine by attending the Center for Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College and pursuing a career in viticulture. In 2008, Sadie started an internship at Ciel du Cheval Vineyard where she moved up the ranks to Assistant Vineyard Manager. Sadie joined the North Slope Management team in early 2013 and took over the reins as GM later that year. She currently manages 6 vineyards including the famed Seven Hills Vineyard. Sadie is the current Chair for the Washington State Wine Commission. She is the 2019 Power’s Sabbatical Recipient, the 2020 Washington Winegrowers Erick Hanson Memorial Grower of the Year, and a 2021 Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker.
#WashingtonWine #WallaWalla #lecole #Viticulture #sustainable #Sustainability #Vine #winelover #DrinkSustainable #TheWineSiren #SevenHills #wineeducation
https://www.youtube.com/live/PiWKkhnre94
The Ritz, Paris.
A destination since 1898, the Ritz Paris is one of the most iconic hotels in Paris.
There is no better place to return with a couple of my most cherished friends and begin our dinner and catch up session with an exquisite bottle of Extra Brut
Champagne Barons de Rothschild. Made from Chardonnay 60%;Reserve wines, the majority of which
are kept in their perpetual reserve (solera) 40%,
Pinot Noir 40%,
Grands and
Premiers crus 85%
Dosage 1.5 g/L
Ageing 4 years minimum
Exquisite perlage enhanced by notes of minerality and salinity, the brioche like aromas reveal notes of pear and fig. Delightfully well balanced its arômatic finish satisfies. This beauty is cellar worthy and will reveal its riches for years to come.
The stunning facade has a place in history since 1705. Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the most famous architect of the Baroque period, drew the initial design for Louis XIV.
The luminaries who frequented the hotel were many, Marcel Proust, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. Many are the writers and artists inspired by the Ritz in their work as well. Hemingway for The Sun Also Rises and F. Scott Fitzgerald for Tender is the Night. In fact, the hotel’s “Bar Hemingway” was named for the author.
For 💋🍷💋#TheWineSiren a return to the Ritz is a return to the incredible history of Paris and a moment of great drinks and bites with dear friends. From the moment you cross the threshold the inviting aroma and views of luxurious surroundings envelope you.
Do you Ritz?
Photos
1. The Ritz Paris champagne. Pure deliciousness. Notes below.
2. The stage is set at your entrance. Visuals and aroma envelope your senses.
3. Cherished Parisian friends to share the experience with.
4. The stage is set at @barvendome
5. Fresh truffles with French fries
6. Probably the best steak tartare on the planet. Served mild, spicy or extra spicy . Texture and rich flavor abound.
7. Just one of the lovely cocktails served.
8. The vibe at Bar Vendome
9. The Hemingway Bar . Very few seats and always packed.
10. And the regroup at the end of the evening. This is where memories are made.
#Paris #ritzparis #TheWineSiren #champagnerothschild
From Carcassonne to Montpelier the beauty of @paysdocigpwines shines through. I`ll share more on my newest discoveries when I`m back in the US .
The bar @hotelricherdebelleval .... incredible. Have you been?!
#winetravel #winetraveler #thewinesiren #kellymitchell #wine #winelover #ginlover #barsofinstagram #beautifuldestinations #wheretofindme #france #montpellier #justdrinks #cocktailtime
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