Far Niente Partners Introduce EnRoute Winery in the Russian River Valley

The partners of Napa Valley's Far Niente winery announced the creation of EnRoute, a winery specializing in the production of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. EnRoute was introduced in May 2009, and its release will ship nationally in September. The name, EnRoute, is a nod to the journey the partners have taken on their way to producing Pinot Noir.

EnRoute will debut with "Les Pommiers," a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir from the 2007 vintage. Named for the apple orchards that once flourished in the region, Les Pommiers reflects a blend of vineyards primarily from Green Valley and the upper Middle Reach area of the Russian River Valley AVA.

The partners, who include Beth Nickel, Erik Nickel, Jeremy Nickel, Dirk Hampson and Larry Maguire, jointly own EnRoute and sister wineries Far Niente, Dolce and Nickel & Nickel. They purchased two vineyards in the Russian River Valley specifically for EnRoute.

"We have always believed in vineyard ownership as a way to produce the best fruit for our wines," said Dirk Hamson, EnRoute co-founder. "In addition to the vineyards we own, we are also fortunate to have good relationships with some of the region's long-established growers."

Winemaking will be overseen by director of winemaking Dirk Hampson, with winemaker Andrew Delos, who spent three years as the assistant winemaker at Nickel & Nickel. Delos previously was the assistant winemaker at Pelligrini Family Winery. The EnRoute wines are crushed, fermented and barrel-aged at a separate facility in Sebastopol.

EnRoute Les Pommiers will sell for a suggested retail price of $50. Approximately 1,275 nine-liter cases were produced. For more information, visit www.enroutewinery.com.

Boisset's Fog Mountain Distributes California Wine in a 1-Liter PET Bottle

Boisset Family Estates, a Burgundy, France-based wine and spirits maker, recently began US distribution of Fog Mountain Merlot in a one-liter PET bottle, the first California wine in the larger sized, lightweight bottle.

Boisset said the decision to introduce Fog Mountain Merlot in a one-liter PET bottle rather than a 750 ml PET bottle is based on consumer feedback. Because PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is significantly thinner than glass, 750 ml plastic bottles are smaller than their glass counterparts, creating the perception of containing less wine; so Boisset decided to move from the traditional 750 ml size to a one-liter format, which contains 33 percent more wine than a standard 750 ml glass bottle even though the two bottles are similar in physical size. The additional volume equates to more servings--about seven in all.

PET bottles have a smaller carbon footprint than comparable glass bottles and require less energy to produce, ship and recycle. After contents have been enjoyed, the bottles can be placed in curbside recycling bins and the reclaimed material used to make a host of new products such as packaging, sleeping bags, clothing, carpeting and even tires.

Fog Mountain retails for about $12 per bottle. The lightweight plastic bottle is finished with a convenient screw closure. PET bottles of Fog Mountain Merlot are available nationwide on-premise at JW Marriott hotels and off-premise at Total Wine stores, with additional restaurant, retail and hotel partners expected by mid-2009. For more information, visit www.boissetfamilyestates.com.

Miami Lawyer Launches Wine Brand Mattebella

Miami lawyer Mark Tobin and his wife Christine Ferrari Tobin recently introduced their new wine brand Mattebella, an Old World-style wine from their vineyard in Long Island, New York, to the South Florida market. The name Mattebella was inspired by a combination of the Tobin's children's names--Matthew and Isabella.

"After four years of nurturing and aging, we are finally able to introduce our wines to the market," said Tobin, a partner in the private property rights law firm of Brigham Moore, LLP. "We are extremely proud of what is in our bottles."

Tobin oversees all production and winemaking, which takes place in a state-of-the-art custom crushing facility with the guidance of an internationally trained master vintner.

Mattebella Vineyards is dedicated to sustainable farming practices and a cleaner, safer, environmentally-friendly form of farming. "This is our commitment, and we have eliminated the use of herbicides and incorporated the use of organic fertilizers," said Christine Ferrari Tobin, who oversees the vineyard with guidance from a vineyard management expert trained in Europe.

Mattebella Vineyards currently produces three wines, two red wines and one white wine. A fourth wine, a Rosé, will be introduced this summer. The Mattebella Familigia wine is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc and retails for $13.95. The 2005 Old World Blend is a classic Bordeaux blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon and retails for $29.95. Mattebella Vineyards also produces a Chablis-style Chardonnay which retails for $13.95.

Mattebella Vineyards is located on the North Fork of Long Island in New York. Corporate headquarters is located in Miami Beach. For more information, visit www.mattebellavineyards.com.

Don Sebastiani & Sons Releases "The Crusher"

As a tribute to the fundamental relationship between the grower and the winemaker, Don Sebastiani & Sons has released a new line of wines named The Crusher. Sourced from the Clarksburg appellation, The Crusher was born through a partnership with Wilson Family Vineyards, which has been farming and growing grapevines for almost four
generations.

According to Don & Sons, The Crusher label offers affordable single-vineyard varietals from Clarksburg and other up-and-coming grape growing areas that celebrate the classic relationship between the growers and the winery.

The Crusher label highlights vineyard sources, giving due accolades to the individual grower. The release includes a 2007 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier and Chardonnay, and a 2008 Petite Sirah.

The wines will be sold through the company's Three Loose Screws division and will retail for around $12.99 per bottle ($9 by the glass).

Don Sebastiani & Sons is headquartered in Sonoma Valley and has a winery in the Napa Valley. Don Sebastiani & Sons'
The Other Guys portfolio is currently expanding at an annual growth rate of 200 percent; the more established Three Loose Screws portfolio includes Smoking Loon and Pepperwood Grove. For more information, visit www.donandsons.com.

Niven Family Wine Estates Launches Trenza Wines

The Niven Family launched their latest project, Trenza, a line of New World blends made with Spanish varietals created in the diverse cool and warm climates of the San Luis Obispo County wine region.

"We named it Trenza because it is the Spanish word for 'braid,' and a blend represents a 'braid' of sorts," said John H. Niven. "Each wine is made of Iberian varietals typically grown in regions of Spain-like Ribera del Duoro, the Priorat and the Rías Baixas in Galicia, but we threw out the traditional Old World rules. We made these in the spirit of the New World, with an avant-garde approach to blending these traditional Spanish varietals."

The family considered coming up with esoteric names for the three wines but ultimately decided to keep it simple by naming the wines by color: the white wine is Blanco ($20), the Rosé is Rosado ($17) and the red is Tinto ($33).

Christian Roguenant, a native of France, is the winemaker. Roguenant has made wine on five continents and speaks French, English and Spanish. He chose Albariño and Grenache Blanc for the white wine; Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre for the Rosé and Tempranillo, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache for the red blend. If he wishes to include them, Treixadura and Loureiro will be available from the family's Paragon Vineyard in upcoming vintages to add to the Blanco.

Trenza is owned by Niven Family Wine Estates, where the second and third wine-industry generations currently manage the business. They believe in sustainability, quality, community and, when warranted, tradition. Trenza's sister-wineries include Baileyana and Tangent, with their Pinot Noir project, Cadre, set to launch in 2010. For more information, visit www.trenzawines.com.

B.R. Cohn Winery Releases Woody White

B.R. Cohn Winery has announced the release of Woody White. The wine is named after owner Bruce Cohn's beloved 1946 Ford Woody Wagon as part of a series of wines named after his collection of classic cars.

This Woody was shipped new to Manila in the Philippines. It was a U.S. Embassy car until 1986, when purchased by Bruce Cohn. General Eisenhower and General MacArthur used the Woody as their personal vehicle while working in Manila after WWII. The wood is Philippine mahogany and was restored by local craftsmen in the Philippines. This is unique as other Woodys used oak or birch.

The wine is a white blend made up of 76 percent Symphony and 24 percent Chardonnay. It retails for $15, and 500 cases were produced.

Founded in 1984 by Bruce Cohn, the estate winery is known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir and gourmet estate olive oils, vinegars and gourmet specialty food products. For more information visit www.brcohn.com.

X Winery Announces Release of White X

X Winery announced the release of White X--a white blend made with Sauvignon Blanc (57 percent), Muscat Blanc (20 percent), Chardonnay (19 percent) and Roussanne (4 percent) grapes. It is the first white blend to be produced by X Winery. The grapes used in X White come from five different counties in the North Coast AVA: Napa, Solano, Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma.

X Winery said that they hope White X will be embraced by young consumers because of the winery's sustainable commitment and the wines' approachable price point of $14.99. They said it is a continuation of X Winery's dedication to quality at an affordable price--the winery offers nine wines for less than $25. The new White X joins Red X as two unique blends in X's portfolio.

X Winery said their investment in "green" business also extends to its bottles, which are made in California and Washington from 75 percent recycled material. Another example of X's sustainable winemaking processes is the use of cross flow filtration, which relies on re-usable ceramic filters rather than the diatomaceous earth that ends up in landfills as a waste product. For more information visit www.xwinery.com.

JGC Introduces Don Simon in PET Packaging

J. Garcia-Carrion (JGC), producer of Cristalino Cava, has introduced Spanish table wine Don Simon Class, packaged in lightweight recyclable premium non-glass PET bottles, to the U.S. market.

Don Simon's PET bottles have a greener carbon footprint than regular glass containers because they produce 50 to 60 percent fewer greenhouse emissions, consume less energy, generate less solid waste and weigh 30 percent less. The wine is closed with a screw cap.

"As producers and global distributors of consumer goods, we have an environmental responsibility to prevent waste of potentially useful materials while helping reduce pollution," said José García-Carrión Jordán. "By using eco-friendly non-glass bottles, we hope to promote environmental consciousness and bring our customers a product they can feel good about enjoying."

Don Simon Class wines are developed in Daimiel in the region of Castilla-La Mancha and are sold in more than 120 countries. For more information, please visit www.donsimon.com.

Wine Garage Releases Joy Ride and Shade Tree and Allows Wine Customers to Pump from 'Nozzles'

The Wine Garage founders Todd and Joy Miller announced several new developments at their store in Calistoga, including a new line of proprietary "premium"-priced wine brands Joy Ride and Shade Tree.

"Being a retailer, I know how important it is to have $50 wines down to $15 wines," Todd said. The ($20) 2008 Joy Ride, White Blend North Coast, is composed of Albarino, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Muscat Canelli sourced from Suisun and Napa valleys and is currently available in the store and online; only 400 cases were made. The 2007 Shade Tree is a blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Charbono, sourced from North Coast vineyards, with a price of $25.

In addition to the new brands, the Millers announced they may "literally be the only wine store on the planet to offer wine you can pump. After a year of research and custom-design work, we now offer customers the fun 'chore' of pumping their own wine from our stainless steel gas-station-type nozzles," Todd said.

In keeping with the store's "garage" theme, Todd found, sourced and blended a Rhône Blend (R1) and a Bordeaux Blend (B1); customers take a half-gallon jug-style bottle and pump whichever wine they want from the nozzles, which are fed from barrels in an adjoining room of the store. Todd commissioned a metalworker to create the customized stainless steel nozzles, a new signature for The Wine Garage.

Under Todd's direction, Massimo Monticelli is the winemaker. B1 is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot and Petit Verdot and is sourced from Sonoma, Lake, Napa and Solano counties. R1 also is a cépage of Syrah, Zinfandel, Grenache, Mourvedre and Petite Sirah, sourced from Sonoma, Lake and Napa counties. A jug costs $29.99. For more information, visit www.winegarage.net.

Bronco Wine Company Poised to Introduce Down Under

Bronco Wine Company is launching Down Under by Crane Lake, an Australian Chardonnay that will be priced to compete with best selling Australian wine brand yellowtail.

Bronco chief executive Fred Franzia said the new offering is priced so retailers can offer it at roughly half of yellowtail's price. Yellowtail is the leading Australian brand in America and typically sells for about $6 per 750 ml bottle.

While Franzia has been critical in the past of other large U.S. wine companies that import wine from Australia, he said there is a difference with Down Under by Crane Lake.

"Our package is clearly marked as Australian wine. We're not trying to substitute (for California wine). It's in a Claret bottle, not in a Chardonnay bottle. We definitely don't want it to sell in place of California wines.

"We're competing with the other Australian wines, not trying to compete with ourselves."

Asked if Down Under would compete with Charles Shaw Wines (Two Buck Chuck), Franzia quipped, "Everything competes with Two Buck Chuck."

"This is targeted against Australian wines, showing that the consumer has been charged too much money for Australian wines all these years," he said. "If we can sell it at that price, the Australians can too."

Asked if Bronco will be able to maintain such low pricing over time, Franzia responded, "I heard the same thing about Two Buck Chuck seven years ago. If you choose to be competitive, you make yourself competitive. The facts are we are pricing it so the retailer can sell it at half the price of yellowtail if they want. We think it's just as good as anything else that comes from Australia.

"It's aimed at the Australian wine drinker," Franzia said of the wine. "We want to give them a fair price. We don't expect to convert any California wine drinkers."

Asked if some consumers might drink both Australian and California wines, Franzia said, "I hope not."

Asked if there are really are two distinct groups of consumers out there, one with a preference for Australia, the other for California, he said, "I hope so."

The wine is just starting to roll out and became available July 1. wbm