This Monday, June 6th, marks the launch of the Sud de France Festival in New York. The month-long festival, now in its third year, encourages attendees to experience the spirit of the Mediterranean lifestyle, complete with fine wine, foods and entertainment from the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It allows people the opportunity to learn more about the culture and specialties of the region through a convivial approach of tastings and experimentation, all at exciting venues with welcoming ambiance and alongside local winemakers and artists.

For a region with so much to offer, the concept behind the annual festival couldn’t be more appropriate. Check out some more of the event details here. But, this is an area of France that, despite being the largest wine-producing region in the world, many people are not familiar with and certainly would have difficulty differentiating between the various AOCs.

Producers and promoters of the region are optimistic that the new classification system agreed upon in August 2010 (read our article here) will help to clear things up for many consumers. Rankings based on familiar buzz words like Grand Cru and Grand Vin will hopefully provide a bit more insight and value to the wines of each appellation, prompting consumers to learn more about their favorites.

But there’s little better to help people form connections with new wines than having them taste for themselves. Add to that the food and cultural elements of the Sud de France way of life and it’s almost like being transported to the region itself, idyllic Mediterranean lifestyle and all. The greater association between a wine and its sense of place helps consumers to feel comfortable since they understand where it is coming from, what it’s made of, the kind of people who produce it and why they enjoy drinking it.

Many of the wines are fantastic, and the options to try them are plentiful throughout the festival at various events and tastings at venues of all types. Visit festival-suddefrance.com for more information or browse the full schedule of events here.

Also be sure to check out reviews for wines from the South of France in our Buying Guide at buyingguide.winemag.com or by clicking here.

Are you currently familiar with any Sud de France (Languedoc-Roussillon) wines? Which are your faves now, or what are you hoping to discover from the region in the future? What part of the festival sounds the best to you?

Every year, the CIVL (The Conseil Interprofessionel des Vins du Languedoc) organizes the Languedoc Ambassador Wine Tour, a trade and media tasting designed to promote the great diversity and superb quality of AOC wines found in the Languedoc wine region. This year is no exception, with fantastic wines announced today as the official CIVL Ambassador Wines of 2011.

It’s fantastic exposure for an oft-overlooked region. The wines will be served at organized events throughout the country, including Washington DC, Chicago and San Francisco. In addition, several owners and winemakers  attend the events, providing additional information and insight into the area and its beautiful wine bounty to attendees as their products are sampled. It’s an experience that’s second only to actually visiting the wineries in France.

This year excites me more than previous years, as the newly established hierarchy of appellations will truly be put to the test as we see how people respond to the new organization of classifications. For a recap of the changes, check out my article on it. Will the Cru system resonate with consumers? Will it help buyers to sort through the numerous regions and sub-appellations, finally bringing some clarity to the labels and what people should expect from the wines?

I hope so. I’ve been reviewing the wines of the region for the magazine for four years now, and although I’ve seen overall interest in the wines rise, it has not yet soared to the peaks that I believe the wines merit and have the potential for. In a wine culture currently hot on interesting varieties and rising star regions, Languedoc has potential to grab the spotlight; the wines are unique, high quality and frequently available at ridiculously reasonable prices.

This concept is the Languedoc in a nutshell. Of course, there are exceptions and outliers, as there always will be, and let’s keep in mind that I’m not talking about the Vin de Pays/IGP offerings. But the Languedoc AOC options – be it just AOC Languedoc, Grand Vins du Languedoc or Grand Crus du Languedoc – are largely excellent wines at extremely reasonable retail.

So here’s to the hope that the 2011 Ambassadors will open the eyes of consumers to their region. Based on the list of winners (many of which are reviewed in our Buying Guide), I’d be shocked if they didn’t.

The 2011 Ambassadors are:

AOC Languedoc:
Château des Karantes – Blanc – Languedoc –2009
Plan de L’Homme – Sapiens – Blanc – Languedoc – 2009
Vignobles Gilles Louvet – Rouge – Languedoc –2009
Jeanjean en Languedoc – Devois des Agneaux – Rouge – Languedoc – 2008

Grands Vins du Languedoc:
Vignobles Gilles Louvet – Esprit du Sud – Blanquette de Limoux NV
Bernard Delmas – Blanquette de Limoux – 2007
Domaine de Félines Jourdan – Blanc – Picpoul de Pinet – 2009
Mont Tauch – L’Ancien Comté – Blanc – Corbières – 2009
Castelmaure – Col des Vents – Rouge – Corbières – 2008
Château Ollieux Romanis – Classique – Rouge – Corbières – 2009
Domaine de Fenouillet – Réserve – Rouge – Faugères – 2006
Château du Donjon – Rosé – Minervois – 2009
Château Sainte Eulalie – Printemps d’Eulalie – Rosé – Minervois – 2010
Château de Paraza – Cuvée Speciale – Rouge – Minervois – 2007
Vignoble du Loup Blanc – Mère Grand – Rouge – Minervois – 2007
Château La Dournie – Cuvée Elise – Rouge – Saint Chinian – 2008
Domaine la Madura – Grand Vin – Rouge – Saint Chinian – 2007
Château Saint Bauléry – Rouge – Saint Chinian – 2009
Clos du Gravillas – Douce Providence – Muscat de Saint Jean de Minervois – 2007
Les Vignerons de la Méditerranée – Les Petits Grains – Muscat de Saint Jean de Minervois NV

Grands Crus du Languedoc:
Château Rives Blanques – Dédicace – Blanc – Limoux – 2008
Château Rives Blanques – Odyssée – Blanc – Limoux – 2009
Château Sainte Eulalie – La Cantilène – Rouge – Minervois la Livinière – 2008
Gérard Bertrand – Le Viala – Rouge – Minervois la Livinière – 2007
Gérard Bertrand – La Forge – Rouge – Corbières Boutenac – 2007
Château Ollieux Romanis – Atal Sia – Rouge – Corbières Boutenac – 2008
Château des Karantes – Diamant – Rouge – La Clape – 2006
Mas du Soleilla – Les Bartelles – Rouge – La Clape – 2008
Château de Lancyre – Coste d’Aleyrac – Rouge – Pic Saint Loup – 2008
Château du Lancyre – Vielles Vignes – Rouge – Pic Saint Loup – 2008
Domaine la Croix Chaptal – Les Terrasses – Rouge – Terrasses du Larzac – 2007

What do you think about the list? If you’ve had any of these, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Or what other producer or appellation you would have liked to see included?

Demonstrators protest at the site of a new bridge over Germany's Mosel River.

The wine business has almost always had a complicated relationship with the natural environment. There is little natural about vineyards–nonnative species, terraforming, soil amendments, artificial drainage and/or irrigation systems, metal, plastic or treated-wood stakes and metal wires–all lead to a profoundly altered environment. Not to mention the various chemical treatments used in viticulture, even in certified organic and biodynamic vineyards.

Yet in the past couple of decades, wineries and vineyards have become more aware of environmental issues and made great strides in reducing chemical inputs, providing nesting boxes for native predators (as at Shafer Vineyards) and restoring native and riparian habitats (see the tremendous efforts by the Rutherford Dust Society to protect fish spawning grounds in the Napa River).

Perhaps because of these advances–the increased awareness among wine producers of just how necessary sustainable agriculture is–it’s no wonder that the wine industry finds itself resolutely opposing several instances of “progress” in various parts of the world.

Unfortunately Germany’s bridge over some of the Mosel’s most famous vineyards looks to be moving full-speed ahead, even if that means tree cutting under cover of darkness before scheduled protests could interfere. If you are squeamish about this sort of thing, don’t look here.

But in Australia, there are a couple of pending development projects that there may still be time to affect. In Coonawarra, the government has proposed building a highway to bypass the majority of cellar doors, improving safety and allowing trucks to maintain superhighway speeds through the region. The catch? The planned bypass would cut through existing terra rossa vineyards. Treasury Wine Estates (the new name for Foster’s wine division) has been sponsoring a campaign against the project.

In McLaren Vale, winemakers are protesting against a suburban development slated for a subregion they claim has great viticultural potential. This open land hasn’t yet been developed as vineyards, but the McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism Association is fighting to keep that option open. As its chairman, Dudley Brown recently wrote me via e-mail:

Similar [soil] formations recur in the Barossa in the Seppeltsfield/Greenock area (Greenock Creek, Seppeltsfield, Torbreck, Two Hands, etc) and in the Clare at Polish Hill (Jeffrey Grosset Riesling, etc). These two areas have produced more of the highest scoring wines from single region vineyards in Australia than any other. …However, if this land is developed, we’ll never have the chance to find out what we’ve lost. Moreover, it takes 20 years just for vines to really hit their straps. The point is that we need to take a point of view of 50, 100, 200 years in the future and say “was this a good decision or bad?” Not “Is the soil suitable for foundations and gardens?”

The wild Douro landscape

Last week, I had the pleasure of tasting through a vertical of Chryseia, an expensive Douro wine with an international pedigree. It’s a Portuguese wine produced by a partnership between the English Symington family–owners of Dow’s, W.&J. Graham’s and Warre’s, among other Douro properties–and the French Prats family (Bruno Prats sold Château Cos d’Estournel in 1998).

I liked the wines well enough–especially the 2004 and 2007 vintages–but I have to confess to some reservations about the style, which Rupert Symington described as “trying to make a more elegant style of Douro wines.” He and Prats want the wine to come in under 14% alcohol, which has a definite impact on the wine’s character.

To me, the result comes across as something akin to reserve or restraint, which I personally find at odds with the naturally wild character of the region’s steep, rocky hillsides and gnarled old vines. One might be tempted to say it is the indigenous Portuguese varieties and extreme terroir seen through the polished winemaking of Bordeaux and the stereotypical reserve of the English.

Is it possible that those lenses, meant to sharpen and refine the focus, have done their jobs too well, creating a difference analagous to the sound quality variation debated between vinyl and compact disc? The result is a wine that excels technically, but to me lacks some of the hedonistic impact I’ve felt from several other modern Douro wines, such as Pintas, Quinta do Vale Meão, Quinta Vale Dona Maria and some of the Niepoort offerings. I want to feel the wildness and warmth of the Douro in the wine, and yet others will argue that the Chryseia expression–one of refinement and elegance–is superior.

Even Rupert Symington admits that in a blind tasting, he’s not sure people would pick Chryseia as a Douro wine. To me, that suggests an overly heavy emphasis on winemaking at the expense of terroir expression. But there’s reason to believe that is changing. Chryseia’s day-to-day winemaker is now Portuguese, replacing his French predecessor. More importantly, the 2007 and 2008 vintages show more spice and Douro character than previous vintages, while still retaining freshness and structure.

Vertical Tasting Notes

Retailing for around $55-65, Chryseia’s blend varies from year to year, but customarily consists of Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca. Tinta Roriz was included in the 2001, and a small amount of Tinto Cão made it into the 2003. Aging is in 400-liter new French oak casks for 9-12 months.

2001: Fine and silky on the palate, with cigar box and subdued fruit on the nose, followed up by notes of cherry and sandalwood on the palate. Ready to drink. 89 points.

2003: No 2002 Chryseia was released. Full-bodied, slightly warm and rough in texture. Dried cherries, cedar and chocolate; a bit coarse and astringent on finish, but not for keeping. 87 points.

2004: Cedary and restrained fruit on the nose, but more effusive on the palate, with hints of cherry, plum and vanilla. Medium to full bodied, with a long, lush, silky finish. At peak. 93 points.

2005: Lacks the richness and depth of ’04, and shows more plummy–almost pruny–notes, yet the tannins are still fine in texture. At peak. 91 points.

2006: This is the current release in the U.S., charming for its forward cherry fruit and refined baking spices. The oak seems more subtle, hinting at almond skin. Supple and fresh on the finish. Drink now or hold. 91 points.

2007: Thick, chewy and dense, this vintage is more Port-like, yet at the same time dry and fresh. Chocolate, cedar, plum and black cherry flavors flow easily in waves, ending long and lush. Drink now or hold. 93 points.

2008: Hugely primary at this stage, with floral notes, layers of blueberry, pie spice and chocolate backed by firm tannins that should soften nicely within a couple of years. 90 points.

For the official Wine Enthusiast ratings of these wines and the very good Post Scriptum (Chryseia’s more affordable second label), as reviewed on release by European Editor Roger Voss, please visit our online Buying Guide and search on Chryseia.

One of my favorite things to come out of the rise and proliferation of social media is the online or synchronized tasting. Whether it’s for wine, beer or spirits, online tastings have become one of the best ways to share the same bottle and informative experience with hundreds or even thousands of people simultaneously all over the world. Through the use of networking sites like Facebook and Twitter as well as personal blogs and organizational sites, people can share comments and opinions about a beverage and learn from participating representatives or producers all from the comfort of their home. Aside from being there one on one with the respective producer, what could be better than that?

And for the “sponsoring” producer, region or organization, what could be better than spreading the word on your product to all those people simultaneously, engaging them in conversation, soliciting their opinions and offering up additional information when required. Strong word of mouth is undeniably influential, especially when it comes to shopping and trying brands outside the mainstream. Especially when it comes to wine recommendations.

So, to kick off the summer, I decided to participate in a synchronized worldwide tasting organized by the folks at Sud de France in celebration of their 4th anniversary. Sud de France is a wonderful concept, acting as an umbrella brand for wine and food products from Languedoc-Roussillon. With over 30 appellations and 60 Vin de Pays situated within the region, there is obviously more than they could ever show with just one online tasting. However, the concept for this event was simply to offer an idea as to the breadth and diversity of the wines the region has to offer. As a fan of the region and the reviewer of the wines for the magazine, I couldn’t have been happier to participate and help spread the word about the bountiful offerings of the region.

Here were my impressions of the five wines selected for the synchronized tasting.

Sieur d’Arques NV Grande Cuvée 1531 Brut (Crémant de Limoux); $16, 12%.
Extremely pale yellow in color with delicate, fine bubble carbonation dancing up through the middle of the glass. The nose offers soft citrus (like pink grapefruit rind) alongside notes of Granny Smith apple and hints of yeast and yellow florals. The mouth is creamy and full with well-balanced acidity and a brisk lemony citrus character leading through to the clean finish. At about $16, this is an excellent value sparkler for brunch or casual bubbly with friends.

Gérard Bertrand 2008 Cigalus (Vin de Pays d’Oc); $30, 13.5%.
Composed of 75% Chardonnay, 20% Viognier, 5% Sauvignon Blanc, this is a beautiful wine from former rugby player turned rockstar vigneron Gérard Bertrand. The nose screams of Chardonnay goodness, with aromas of wood-grilled red apples, peach pit and butter-toasted almonds. After you get over that, the other components of the blend start to come in (the Viognier and Sauv Blanc) to liven things up with nuanced white floral notes (reminiscent to me of gardenia) and a suggestion of tropical acidity. Medium-light weight with full ripe apple and orange oil flavors, and toast coming through strong on the finish. Well-balanced and very enjoyable, this is a complex and very food-friendly wine that offers a higher-end VdP experience than I’m sure most people (unfortunately) haven’t yet had.

Vignerons Catalans NV Fruité Catalan Rosé (Côtes du Roussillon); $12, 13%.
Deep color for a rosé, like a true strawberry. The assertive bouquet offers plenty of small red berries and suggestions of strawberries and cream. It has a touch of sweetness to it, as though there was some simple syrup mixed in there with all those berries. The mouth is light and fresh with a ton of red cherry flavors and a hint of sweet spice in the background. Balanced and fruit-forward for sure, this rosé would be a great choice for the upcoming hot summer days to pair with lighter fare such as grilled chicken salad.

Domaine Dromadaire 30670 2006 Vin de Pays d’Oc; $12, 13%.
Wow… this pours impressively: opaque and almost black in color, like really dark prune juice. The nose is loaded with black fruit, including cherry, plum and berry, supported by some black olive and pepper flecks in the background. Moderately tannic and austere with a firm structure and more of that dark black fruit holding it all together. Leather, licorice and a touch of oak in the form of ground cocoa nibs appear on the finish. Balanced and big with plenty of fruit and spice for lovers of both. A superb value, indeed.

Mas de Madame 2006 Muscat de Frontignan; $17, 15.5%.
This wine is immediately attractive in the glass, with that nice, very typical nose of musky sweetness. Lovely aromas of mushy peach, honeysuckle and orange marmalade citrus are all very enticing, luring you in to a promisingly sweet experience. The mouth is a touch viscous and weighty, but the acidity livens up the ripe, lingering honeyed flavors. Apricot pit and dried orange rind drizzled with clover honey round out the finish. Well balanced, clean and easy to drink. A lovely choice for dessert, but just give me a nice chunk of blue cheese to go with it and I’m as happy as could be.

All in all, I think Sud de France did an excellent job of showing off the diverse selections the region has to offer. Even if they were all not my personal preference (though they did a darn good job nailing almost all five as such), the experience certainly showed some folks that there’s more to the region than what you might have tasted before, and with a little knowledge and adventure you can find some superb wines at excellent values.

To see what other people thought about the tasting, use the Twitter hashtag #SudDeFrance or #WorldTastingSync or check out the event’s website here and check out articles and comments on the tasting here.

What do you think about synchronized online tastings? Do you find them fun and informative like me, or would you rather just taste alone? I’m curious to hear your thoughts on the subject!

The question—probably designed to elicit a more interesting response than “how did you get into wine”—refers to those climactic, cathartic drinking experiences after which you realize you really love wine and, for some, decide you want to make it an integral part of your life. The first time you sipped something truly spectacular, were exposed to a dynamite food and wine pairing or witnessed the rustic beauty of wine country. (See our Meet the Editors page for our editors’ responses to the question.)

I opted not to answer. I could think of no singular, magical moment that officially turned me onto the world of wine. Sure, I had plenty of fond early drinking memories, but nothing stood out as a watershed.

After mulling through my early wine experiences, though, I began to see that the most memorable were converging on a particular place—the North Fork of Long Island. And, during a particular time period—the summer in the immediate wake of my college graduation. It was a time for serious self-reflection and, perhaps more relevant to this discussion, for finding some diversions from all that serious reflection. Here’s a brief rundown of some of that summer’s standout wine experiences:

Pondering potential careers and Picpoul with a good friend at Vine, a wine bar-restaurant in the maritime town of Greenport whose selection, handpicked by owner and Manhattan transplant Joe Watson, spans the world (somewhat of a rarity out there);

Sipping Cabernet Franc with that same friend one early evening at Osprey’s Dominion, while listening to local bands perform beside the vines—a popular North Fork summertime pastime that makes you realize how beautiful a vineyard can be;

Discovering unoaked Chardonnay. My mother like so many other enophile locals works part-time in the tasting room of a local winery (Borghese), and she brought a bottle home to have with dinner. This was also one of the last home-cooked meals I would have (and not appreciate enough) before moving to Manhattan. 

These moments were not immediately life-transforming—that winter I took a job in travel publishing and would only enter the wine industry years later. And, since arriving in Manhattan, some of them might fall from the list of “most spectacular life wine moments.” But they are the experiences to which I always return when someone asks how I got into wine. Family, friends, food and wine. Perhaps it’s a pretty classic combination?

This summer, like almost every other native North Forker currently living in NYC, I plan on spending several weekends out east. I intend to do a considerable amount of wine tasting—this time with a more strategic approach—and will hopefully be able to add a few more Aha moments to my ever-growing list.

What about you? Do you have any singular moments that turned you onto the world of wine? Or any memorable experiences you’d simply like to share?

I’ve always had a soft spot for Cabernet Franc. To me, it’s one of the more seductively refined yet pronounced grapes used to make great wine. It speaks of its terroir like few others, painting a landscape of its origins through varying characteristics and intensity. It is a significant component to some of the world’s greatest and most sought-after wines, particulary Bordeaux blends, like Château Cheval Blanc and Château Ausone. It can also be used to produce a single-varietal wine, of which there are stunning examples made throughout the world including California, Washington, New York, Italy and Canada, among others. Given its prominence and permeation, why does the grape get such little respect?

It’s time for us all to Franc-ify ourselves. But where to begin?

Perhaps some of Cabernet Franc’s greatest expressions come from the Loire Valley in France. Producers here have been working with the grape since the 11th century, mainly in the Chinon, Bourgueil, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Saumur, Saumur Champigny, Anjou and Anjou-Villages appellations. The wines are generally quite aromatic with notes of red berry and cherry as well as varying degrees of charming herbal, floral, pepper, tobacco and cigar-spice notes. They are typically more rustic in character, providing a great alternative to some of the overblown fruit bombs that saturate the market today.

The other great thing about Loire Cab Francs? Their value! Sure, we would all love to have a cellar loaded with Cheval Blanc and the like, but few of us have the means to do so while still eating three meals a day. The Loire offers a fantastic value for those looking to taste some predominantly or solely Cab Franc wines; we’re talking $20-$50 for what are in some cases 90+ point wines. Sure, quality varies by producer and vintage, as it does in any wine producing region the world over, but if you do a little research and stick to some respected producers (like Charles Joguet, Bernard Baudry, Olga Raffault and Yannick Amirault to name a few) you’ll avoid the thin and weedy unripe or poorly made wines too many people associate with the region or variety as a whole.

Of course, as I mentioned above, Cab Franc is not limited to being produced in the Loire. Excellent examples can be found virtually everywhere at varying price points, and they all have an individual identity of their own to offer. You can always check out our online Buying Guide for a little recon before you head out to your local winery or retailer and see what they have.

Trust me, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to give Franc a chance. And hopefully, like me, you’ll be happy you finally did.

Man o' War's vineyards on Waiheke Island

Something like 90% of the New Zealand wine imported to the U.S. is Sauvignon Blanc, which makes it easy for American wine drinkers to completely disregard the other 10%. Sure, some folks go on about Pinot Noir–the latest flavor du jour in the U.S. and New Zealand’s most prominent red wine grape–but what’s remarkable is the diversity of grape varieties now being grown in this remote corner of the world.

Despite some draconian quarantine laws on foreign plant material, innovative growers continue to introduce new varieties and resuscitate old ones. Syrah has actually been present in New Zealand for more than 150 years, but only in the past two decades has it come of age. Alan Limmer at Stonecroft deserves much of the credit for preserving the original genetic material, and continues to make a wonderfully perfumed style of Syrah (alas, not imported to the U.S.).

Because of its relatively warm climate, Hawkes Bay has become the epicenter of New Zealand’s Syrah resurgence, with solid examples being turned out by Babich, Bilancia, C.J. Pask, Craggy Range, Esk Valley, Matariki, Mills Reef, Te Awa, Te Mata, Trinity Hill, Vidal and Villa Maria. I’m sure there are more, but I’ve restricted this list to wines I’ve actually tasted.

The wines typically marry peppery spice with bright New World fruit in a unique expression of Syrah that’s worth seeking out. With only a few exceptions (Bilancia’s La Collina, Craggy Range’s Le Sol, Trinity Hill’s Homage), these are medium-bodied reds with modest tannins and great drinkability, capable of pairing with most red-meat dishes.

Although Hawke’s Bay is ground zero for New Zealand’s Syrah explosion, the interest has carried over into other parts of the country as well. Gisborne’s Millton makes a dark, almost jammy Syrah from its vineyards, while at the other end of the country intrepid wineries in Central Otago have ventured to plant it in some of the region’s warmest locales.

In between, Martinborough producers like Dry River, Kusuda and Schubert are producing dense, savory styles of Syrah, while Man o’ War‘s Dreadnought Syrah from Waiheke Island is a potential classic in the making. The 2008 was a revelation at this year’s New Zealand Syrah Symposium, showcasing peppered meat, brambly fruit and plenty of richness without excessive weight.

Whether you enjoy Syrah from other parts of the world and are looking for a different take on this versatile variety, or have yet to find a Syrah you can truly warm up to, I think that if you try one from New Zealand, you’ll be hooked. If you’ve had any others you’d like to recommend, post them below and I’ll see if I can track them down here in the U.S.

As a wine lover, there are certain region/varietal combinations that I hang my hat on. Dry Creek Valley is good for Zinfandel, Russian River Valley is good for Pinot, Malbec in Argentina, Chardonnay in Burgundy, the list goes on. It serves as a blueprint for making wine selections. But sometimes I can get so bogged down by these preconceptions that I fail to see the larger picture. It has led me to be unfairly judgmental at times, something that I’m not proud of. These are the moments when wine lovers can get that bed reputation. It’s the moment when wine “lover” turns to wine “snob” because these concepts turn from points of guidance to points of judgment. So I love when some of my deep-rooted dogmas are challenged.

On Thanksgiving eve, my family was in the kitchen preparing for the 35 people whom we would be welcoming into our home the next day. My Dad perused his cellar, thinking of what to open. He came upon a 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon from Umpqua Valley in Southern Oregon. Since I was recently on an Oregon vacation, he asked for my opinion.

“Hey, should I open this tomorrow? Think it will be any good?”  He asked.

“What is it?” I replied with excited anticipation.

“It’s a Cabernet Sauvignon from Oregon, from 1990.”

Suddenly, my entire family burst into laughter. The whole kitchen reverberated with the sound. An onlooker would have thought we were watching a Steve Carrell flick.

“Yea, that’ll be really good” I said with fierce sarcasm. A 20-year-old Cabernet, from Oregon! Yahahaha!

Knowing Oregon strictly as Pinot Noir land, this was a hilarious joke for a family so embedded in wine preconceptions. I stepped outside of the moment and chuckled even further at what a group of snobs we were. What other family would find this SO hilarious? Not many.

The next morning my Dad opened a Carter Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville (more in line with common preconceptions). It drank beautifully. My boyfriend took one look at the over 14% alcohol content though and knew, this wine wasn’t for him. Seeking subtly, my Dad turned to the aforementioned 1990 Oregon Cab and opened it for him.

This wine was phenomenal. After nearly twenty years of age it was showing gorgeous layers of aroma. There was black cherry and soft spice but then hints of lead pencil. It had a solid backbone of tannin, creating elegant structure. I turned from my Napa Cab and became enveloped in this old Umpqua Valley Cab.

The joke was on us! Any laughter coming from the room was simply in our enjoyment of this wine that had really surprised us, humbling a group of snobs.

I love being proven wrong like that. It forces you to recalibrate your stigmas or perhaps, abandon them altogether. We were all caught in a wine snob moment. And we were wrong!

For your information, the wine was a Henry Estate 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon, one of Oregon’s oldest producers. Sadly they don’t make a straight Cabernet anymore. Perhaps they’ve fallen victim to wine snob preconceptions and Oregon Cabs won’t sell. But I wish they would!

Have you ever been caught in a wine snob moment?

One of the most eye-opening (and hilarious) experiences was on a morning when my friend and I were leaving Portland for an appointment at Scott Paul Wines. We were already running late, but had to taste some real Portland coffee before departing. Locals highly recommended the Portland chain, Stumptown,  so we decided to check it out.

This is, essentially, a transcript of what occurred in our coffee-ordering-process:

Stumptown Barista: Hey guys, how’s it going?
Us: Good and you?
Stumptown Barista: Good, good. What are you guys up to? You from here? (still hasn’t taken our order)
Us: No, we’re from New York, just visiting.
Stumptown Barista: Rad. You staying with some people out here?
Us: No, we’re staying at a hotel. We are here on vacation. (confusion building in my head)
Stumptown Barista: Whoa! Foreal? A real legit vacation with hotels? That is pretty rad. (a line builds behind us)
Us: Yea, we’re having a great time.
Stumptown Barista: Nice, nice. So, what else is up guys?
Us: Um, nothing much, we’re headed to Willamette Valley.
Stumptown Barista: Rad, so what would you guys like?

We eventually placed our order, but the tiny exchange we had prior to that felt like an eternity as the line was building and we were becoming more tardy for our appointment. Nevertheless, the guy cracked us up, and nothing horrible happened as a result of slowing down, and sharing a few words with a stranger. He wasn’t the most efficient guy, but he sure put a smile on our face that morning, and the coffee was worth the wait. Maybe there is a lesson to learn.

After experiencing the Portland attitude at Stumptown we headed to Scott Paul. The painting to the left is called “Rabbit Receiving His Own Information”, which was the inspiration for the Scott Paul logo.

We learned the story of the rabbit from Scott, which is that people often have to be forced to slow down so they can receive their own inner wisdom. You see, Scott was previously in the music industry and was grappling with the idea of leaving to start the winery. He became sick with stress until uncovering the meaning of the painting he had purchased. Getting sick actually forced him to slow down and choose his path in life. The tiny-production, Scott Paul Audrey 2007 Pinot Noirwas the standout Pinot of the trip, so I’m glad Scott decided to slow down and receive his own information. Imagine what might happen if we learned to slow down once in a while, without being forced by sickness!

Do you ever let yourself slow down?