'Zilla's Weekly Wine and Tunes Pairing

By Ben Heskett

Everyone deserves a good stretch of weather over the summer. Sometimes this can be a difficult assumption in the Bay Area, so when it happens, even if there's some wind or the fog rolls back in at dusk, it's an event to be celebrated.

So I turn to one of my all-time favorite bands - The mop-topped, rock 'n' roll brilliance that is Oasis. Never a huge success in the U.S., Oasis is one of the iconic British bands of all-time. Period. What I like about their catalog is they've also adapted some of their songs to the acoustic medium, a welcome respite from some of their electric crunch.

Oasis is a potentially tough pairing. Certainly, they're more about epic partying and having a few pints with the lads than kicking back with a good bottle of wine. But their softer side, in particular, allows for some pairing exploration. Let's go with one of my favorite varietals, pinot noir, and a recent addition to the collection: a Lange Estate Winery and Vineyards 2009 Reserve Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley.

What's also an interesting dichotomy about the band - fronted by the always battling Gallagher brothers - is though in public statements and at their shows they're often moody and of ill-humor, their music offers some of the warmest, most uplifting moments in music. This acoustic number is one of them. As Noel Gallagher sings: "Thank you for the Sun, the one that shines on everyone...who feels love." Enjoy...

By Joe Colgan

When you think of musicians that can represent what New Orleans is all about, many names immediately come to mind - Dr. John, The Meters, The Radiators, The Neville Brothers, etc… The list is lengthy and spans many decades and genres, but all the names can deliver a piece of NOLA's essence through their music in one way or another. They yield a certain 'Je ne sais quoi'  that can transport the listener directly into the soul of NOLA, even if they're not singing about the city. When I hear musicians from the Crescent City I can taste the food, feel the heat, and begin to yearn for another trip back - asap.

Since 1985, Anders Osborne has made NOLA his official home and is one of those performers that is steeped in the culture and vibe of the city. Through the combination of Delta blues, rock, and a little homegrown NOLA funk, he utilizes his soulful vocals and blazing slide guitar to bring you right into the heart of the town.

With New Orleans being the focus here, we're going to appropriately go French with the wine. White Burgundy is a world I've only recently started exploring and I'm loving it's diversity and possibilities. These wines are on a completely different plateau as compared to their new-world California or Aussie Chardonnay offspring. Depending on the origination within the region, Burgundies can offer a varied experience - steel or barrel, $ or $$$.  

It's summertime here in SoCal, and if you happen have a Catfish Po'Boy (with a little spicy remoulade) in hand, you might reach for a cold Abita. But, I'm going to suggest pouring yourself a chilled glass of Joseph Drouhin Saint-Veran, Maconnais, 2007  to match up with your Anders Osborne/NOLA experience. Pale in color, good acidity, and citrus burst on the palate with a nice finish. Retailing for about $15, this wine would make a great accompaniment to a hot summer New Orleans night.

Cheers!

Weekly Wine News Around the Web

Sierra Foothills Raises Profile: Rhone varietals appear to be hitting their stride in the often forgotten portion of the Northern California wine landscape – roughly defined as the 2.6 million acres from North Yuba to Mariposa County.

Hogue Goes Screwcap: A Constellation Brands study turned the tide for major Washington-based winemaker Hogue Cellars and it has become the latest winery to turn to screwcaps for its entire 570,000 annual case portfolio. The Saranex-lined screwcaps evidently allow the right amount of oxygen to come into contact with the wine to allow for development in the bottle.

Wine Train: San Francisco's native band Train has recently announced that they will producing their own brand of vino (a Petite Sirah), as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. The band's interest in the wine world is nothing new, as they have launched both a wine club and blog for fans to share in their love of the juice. Guitarist Jimmy Stafford said "the wine venture isn't an attempt to make a profit on the Train name — it's more about creating something special for fans."

Editors note: CORKZILLA will be examining more closely the long list of musicians that have made a foray into the wine business. Stay tuned.

French Focus on Varietals: In France, where the concept of "terroir" is king, some are rethinking the way French wines should be marketed to the rest of the world. As France 24 reports, "France has historically considered its wines to be products of various regions (Burgundy, Bordeaux, Médoc), other major wine markets frequently market wines as products of specific grape types (Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet, or Malbec, among many others)." In an effort to help increase wine sales that have been on the decline some producers are looking at shifting their focus towards selling the grape, rather the region the wine came from - which is not sitting well with many traditionalists.

Congrats to SSU Scholarship Winners: A quick congratulations to the latest winners of wine business scholarships at Sonoma State University. Well done!,

Tonight - Fundraiser for SSU Wine Programs in Petaluma!

As many of you know, CORKZILLA is a big proponent of the Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University. A quick note that tonight the SSU School of Business and Economics is having a birthday party and fundraiser for the Wine Business Institute at the Lagunitas Brewing Co. TapRoom and Beer Sanctuary in Petaluma at 5 PM. Details can be found here.

'Zilla's Weekly Wine and Tunes Pairing

By Joe Colgan

Short but sweet this week. It's Friday once again and the rejoicing here is larger than usual. We have a new addition to CORKZILLA family and we can't stop dancing in the streets! (insert ear to ear grin) When it comes to finding something to pop in times of revelry, I'm a fan of the Italian bubbles.

Bellenda, Prosecco (DOC di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene) "Miraval" is a smooth and dry spumante with some hints of peach/apple. Nicely chilled, it's ideal to pair with your warm summer months backyard shindigs or with whatever celebration you have going on. Prosecco is a great choice for when you're looking for a cork to pop, but not wanting to spend a ton of moo-la. This Bellenda retails for around $20. Going to turn once again to Stevie to help us celebrate the big things in life:

Cheers!

By Ben Heskett

I hope over time CORKZILLA will delve into musical areas that our readers may not have dicsovered as of yet. For this week's pairing, I want to introduce everyone to a true treasure, the Austin, Texas-based Mother Truckers.

Highlighted by the guitar wizardry of Josh Zee and the wonderful voice of Teal Collins, the Truckers started as a Northern California band before moving to Austin. They combine superior musicianship with a care-free attitude, and audiences can expect the unexpected at their shows - A countrified cover of Judas Priest? Sure. Be sure to check these guys out if they come to your town!

Although perhaps the best accompaniment for the Truckers "Let's All Go to Bed," performed at a Seattle, Wash. area record store (Check Zee's guitar work), is obviously a Lone Star or long neck Budweiser, I'm going to have to stray from that assumption this week. This rock 'n' roll gem of a band provides a perfect summer soundtrack so I'll pair it with a great summer wine: The Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, best served a bit chilled (Though the wine's elements may be sacrificed) and featuring hints of tangerine and citrus, with mineral and floral notes. I would, however, understand if you just wanted to fill your dusty, sticker-decorated cooler with some of these and some ice. Rock on...

Weekly Wine News Around the Web

Pencils ready!: This week marks the start of the extremely difficult/ridiculously hard four day Master of Wine exam, administered simultaneously in London, Sydney, and Napa by the Institute of the Masters of Wine. Students who were vetted to participate in the exam must pass a series of blind tastings and essay questions concerning all aspects of the wine world. Oenophiles worldwide can try their hand (and nose) at obtaining the elusive title of MV. A title which, according to the Institute, is "internationally recognised as the pinnacle of professional achievement in the world of wine." Says them... Apart from being in the exclusive company of Jancis Robinson, what does the title really get you? Mike Steinberg of Slate looks for an answer.

Sonoma Jazz Fest: The survival of the very popular Sonoma Jazz Fest is looking bleak according to festival organizers. Last month marked the 7th season for the SJF, but due to a large operational budget deficit, it doesn't seem likely that there will be another year, as reported by The Press Democrat. Local communities and businesses are rallying to raise money for the festival which has continuously brought in big name music acts and celebrated the Sonoma wine region.

Big Bottle for Big Win: So, the Mavs did it. Happy about it? Sad? Team owner Mark Cuban, being very happy about his team winning their first NBA champinonship, celebrated in big style by dropping $90K on a bottle of Armand de Brignac champagne, which is produced by the Cattier family. That's something we do here at CORKZILLA on the first friday of every month.

'Zilla's Weekly Wine and Tunes Pairing

By Ben Heskett

Summer is upon us, ladies and gentlemen, though technically the Summer Solstice is not until June 21st. In honor of this momentous event, as well as a new addition to the ‘Zilla family, I thought I’d dust off an artist that goes well with a summer afternoon at the beach and also brings back memories of my New England upbringing.

To pair with old friend James Taylor, I’ll have to go with a recent gem that hit all the right notes on a warm afternoon at an East Bay barbeque (Bay Area, California) – The Tablas Creek Vineyard Roussanne. I’ve become more and more intrigued by this grape, and the 2008 vintage I drank underscored the interest – full-bodied, with hints of honey and mild oak, with a long, elegant finish for a white wine. Great stuff!

In honor of JT, we’re giving you a double dose:

Editor’s note: Joe Colgan’s Wine and Tunes Pairing will return shortly. He’s tending to a new addition to the Colgan clan (As referenced above), so he’s a bit busy this week.

Weekly Wine News Around the Web

Weather Update: Optimism abounds in the wine industry that a set of odd weather may yet reap rewards, according to a report in the Contra Costa Times. Late rains and cool weather may produce a vintage to remember, but debate abounds. It seems like this year will be rife with opinions until the grapes are harvested and the juice is evolving in the barrel.

More AVAs for Washington?: Washington State’s growing wine regions may add more American Viticultural Area (AVA) designations, an important component for any emerging area. The Naches Heights area north of Yakima is the next likely candidate, according to this report in Wines and Vines.

Lots of Interest in Lot18 Site: The founder of Snooth is roiling the wine industry with what some have called “The Groupon of Wine,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The site is turning heads with the type of wine inventory it promotes in its deals.

Napa Auction Review: Finally, the annual Auction Napa Valley ended on a high note, despite less than hospitable weather, with the event raising $7.3 million for local organizations in need. The top single bid at the event was $180,000 for an Opus One lot that included a group trip to China, according to the Wine Spectator.

Uco, My Head Hurts

By Ben Heskett

UCO VALLEY, Argentina – First reactions are sometimes tough to articulate, but as we drove to our first bodega within the confines of uber wine consultant Michel Rolland’s Clos de los Siete compound here, it ended up being pretty simple: Really?

This is not a negative reaction, just one of wonderment. The set of wineries within the Clos de los Siete property – currently comprised of five bodegas of a proposed seven (Hence, the seven points in the star on the label of the Clos de los Siete blend) – have prescribed to a “go big or go home” architectural ideal that results in jaw-dropping structures popping up amid huge lots of vines. It takes some getting used to, frankly. All of these structures (To be fair, we visited only two) could double as headquarters for James Bond’s latest villain antagonist.

A somewhat dated history (Some of the facts have changed over time) of the Clos de los Siete project can be found here, courtesy of the Wine Business Monthly publication.

The project also boast some of the most sophisticated wine operations and equipment I've seen, and though my experience in the "back rooms" of wineries is not extensive, there's clearly a thrust toward the wine making future here.

I had read about Rolland’s efforts in the Mendoza region and the aspirations of the Clos de los Siete set of wineries, built across a vast stretch of 2,000 acres of land near the Andes mountains to the west. Seeing the results is a different story all together (Below is a picture of the different varietal plots at Clos de los Siete).

In the interests of brevity, we visited two wineries here: Diamandes and Bodega Monteviejo. We also drove another 20-30 minutes within the Uco Valley to yet another impressive structure that sprouted out of nowhere - O. Fournier. Monteviejo showcased one of the stellar Malbecs of the trip. O. Fournier offered another odd but enjoyable wine and food pairing for lunch, with our group comprising the only guests at the restaurant (To be clear, May is after harvest and typically viewed as the off-season in Mendoza).

The wine highlights of the trip have been reviewed here, but to me the great takeaway is the unimpeded effort to build a world class wine region through brute force. During my stay in Mendoza, I heard variations on the following phrase - "Uco Valley is the next Napa Valley." It was spoken, written in wine literature, and declared through the vast infrastructure built to make wine here.

It's almost as if Uco advocates are trying to will this to happen. I don't doubt the hard work, sincerity and genuine struggles involved in building up the Uco Valley - and I had some good wines here - but I just wonder where all the effort will lead.

As a side note, what other regions offer a similar experience to Clos de Siete? Send me a note if you have any insights. It seems to me this is a very unique approach, but I’m not sure I know enough about the wine regions of the world to know.

'Zilla's Weekly Wine and Tunes Pairing

By Joe Colgan

It’s Friday folks and that makes us happy here at CORKZILLA!! For this week's pairing I'm going to offer up a little something that also makes us very happy, The Rolling Stones. It's 1972 and Mick/Keith and the Boys are struttin' their stuff, touring the US in support of one of the greatest rock-n-roll albums of all time - Exile on Main Street.

The Stones are in their prime at this point and they have a band on tour to prove that they are indeed 'The World's greatest Rock and Roll Band'. With newly hired guitar gun Mick Taylor, Nicky Hopkins on keys, Bobby Keys on sax, and Ian Price on horns, the band is on fire. This little taste is from the concert movie - Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones - which documents a portion of the '72 tour. A must see if you're a fan.. Even if you're not a fan, this flick could make you think twice.

The tune is 'Happy'. The wine this week is one that has recently made me very happy, Epoch Estate Wines' 2007 Tempranillo. Being one of CORKZILLA's favorite new finds, Epoch creates a very nice 100% Tempranillo that is aged in new French oak for 23 months. This grape varietal is fairly new to the Paso Robles Region, but it's making a strong showing in wines like Epoch's. The wine represents a lot of what you'd expect from this type of grape - dark purple color, berry on the nose, large fruit/plum and smoky leather taste. Happy.

Cheers!

By Ben Heskett

Quick one this week, ladies and gentlemen. Having just returned from Argentina, I thought I'd turn all of you 'Zilla readers onto a local phenomenon in Buenos Aires, La Bomba de Tiempo. This weekly event (Every Mon.) offers a great vibe, a terrific crowd, and some inspiring percussive journeys. I was lucky enough to attend its 5th anniversary party while in Buenos Aires last week. Great stuff.

To accompany such a racket, I'll have to go local and choose one of the better value Malbecs I drank during my Argentina trip - the Ruca Malen 2008 Malbec. All of the strong dark berry fruit you'd expect, with a good, velvety finish. Enjoy!

Weekly Wine News Around the Web

Seghesio Sold: One of Sonoma County’s premier Zinfandel producers is being sold to the Napa-based Crimson Wine Group, according to a Wine Spectator exclusive report. The sale is the latest among historic Sonoma and Napa wine-making families and continues a growing industry trend among smaller and mid-sized family-owned wineries. The Crimson Wine Group is a subsidiary of financial conglomerate Leucadia National.

Weather Issues in CA: Ongoing storms in Northern California are wreaking havoc on this year’s grape crop in Sonoma County. Estimates call for possible record rainfall in June, according to a report in the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat.

Wine Discovery Gets Social: Snooth announced a new social gaming tool called “Wine Rack” to promote the discovery and sharing of wine, with interesting payoffs along the way. Users of the app can receive “trophies” for various achievements related to wine discovery. In related app news, the Wine Road Sonoma County winery organization released their own app for the iPhone and iPad.

A Legend Speaks: Ridge’s Paul Draper sits down with James Suckling and answers three questions about wine. His answers are thoughtful, insightful and inspiring for those of us who enjoy drinking wine.

That Time of Year Again: The Napa Valley Auction 2011 is this weekend, with hundreds of wine lovers descending on the region to check out the latest creations – in barrel form – from well-known area wineries. The Auction’s impact is discussed here.  To close this week’s news, check this video on some barrel tasting and auction basics: