Avenue Vine

As I made ready for the journey from Sacramento, CA to San Francisco... packing cameras, recorders, Reporters Notebook... all things deemed necessary for the reporting and recording of such an event. Suddenly the television news blared out... “a huge deadly crash on highway 80--cars back up for 19 miles . . . expect at least a two hour delay getting to the Bay Area from Sacramento!“

That was all I needed to hear... down the river road ole’ HWY 160, back an forth crossing beautiful old iron and concrete draw-bridges. The pear harvest, just ramping up spilled truck loads block the road.

Ahead of me plod small tractors in tandem pulling trailer filled containers of pears slowing my hurried progress. Little towns, Lock, Oak Grove and wineries pass me by as I rush along the winding Sacramento River.

The winds in Antioch could rip the paint off your car, they blew so hard, but cool and smelly fresh of sea air.

Closer to the City the lanes and cars multiply exponentially.

At the station now, feels good to be out of the car, out of the Valley heat, trundling onto the Bart train, no hurry now, just ride.

In the City, stop for Italian ice cream and espresso, cool fresh Bay breezes, the hustle and bustle of Market Street buzzing around me.

The Marine layer lurks just beyond the Golden Gate–a cooling fog trying to press its way from the Bay to the Valley of Sacramento.

At Butterfly restaurant now, windows floor to ceiling, the view of the giant old ship birth beyond; black with gold rubbed nuts and foundation bolts hold steal plates against the huge old wooden post that frame the interior of the bistro; a sixty inch Panasonic liquid crystal screen on the west wall; modern art hangs from the walls, and glowing dragonflies act as mood lighting.

The fog roles by, just out past the dock, water dark emerald green. The girls at their designated tables, single vintages–many one Rosé per station. Bottles at the ready iced and corked.

Where’s the spittoons? Buckets to expel the delightful sips soon to be had.

A boat passes slowly by painted against fog, bay and sky. Cormorants dive and an occasional California Sea Lion flippers the air leaving trace ripple where ships once rested.

Peju, Hadley, Merher, Van Rutten Family and Saintsbury before me 3:07p.m. and the girls pour for one another. There’s one of those Bay Cruse Ships going the other way.

A black and white booie steady against the incoming tide.

Electric Pinks to Peachy Plum their colors as the light from the bay streams through the many bottles of wine.

San Francisco, California, U.S.A., July 22, 2004: Rosé Avengers and Producers Raise the Bar for Pink Wine First Annual RAP PINK OUT! Draws More Than 400... the press release tells us.

Rosé (roh-ZAY) French for, what else, “pink” or “rose-colored,” used in the wine world to refer to wines of this color. Often referred to as “blush” wines in America, “rosato” in Italy and “rosado” in Spain, these wines take their color from thhe skins of the red grapes from which they are made. Limited skin contact gives thewine its pink color. Rosé can takeon many hues, from barely pink to almost red; however, most dall somewhere in between.

More than 400 wine-loving consumers, trade and media converged at San Francisco's Butterfly restaurant on July 18 to celebrate dry rosé, the nation's hottest new wine trend. With an international collection of 53 wineries (51 still, 2 sparkling) pouring their rosés to a thirsty, summertime crowd, the mood was one of heady appreciation for a wine whose time has definitely come.

California rosé wine pioneers like Randall Graham of Bonny Doon Vineyard, David Graves of Saintsbury, and Bill Crawford of McDowell Valley Vineyards were on hand to pour their latest pink wines, as were producers from many of California's wine regions, including Napa's Miner Family Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley's Michel-Schlumberger Wine Estate and Unti Vineyards, Central Coast's Verdad, and Santa Cruz

Mountains-based newcomers Fleming Jenkins Vineyards & Winery. A slew of French and Spanish winemakers attended as well. Alain Baccino, president of the French National Research Center for Rosé Wines in Provence flew in from his vineyard in Pierrefeu, France–real good wine! "I didn't know, until recently, that Americans had such an appreciation for rosé," he said. "And I had no idea that so many Americans were making rosé themselves!"

Also on hand was RAP co-founder, Jeff Morgan, who makes a California rosé called SoloRosa–tasty stuff! The bar was covered with fresh copies of his new book: "Rosé, A Guide to the World's Most Versatile Wine" (Chronicle Books). "When we came up with this idea a year ago, we figured we'd get 15 or 20 wineries to sign up and maybe bring in 50 consumers," Morgan said. "But we actually had to turn wineries away because of a lack of space. And we sold out in advance. We couldn't even sell any more tickets at the door! I guess there really is a rosé renaissance. We'll have to get a bigger space for future events."

Enough of the “Press Release” banter! Life and other commitments have kept the finish of this report long enough.

On to the wines... the wineries, their links (at least most of them) all in alphabetical order, laced with my impressions of their pours where it commands:

Winery: Wine–Impresions

Alderbrook Foothill Winery: 2003 Rosé, Dry Creek Valley–Cherry, strawberry, rich and cramy, lingers.

Amador Foothill Winery: Great people, 2004 Rosato of Sangiovese–Reddish-pink, fruity, well rounded, good crisp acidity, nice finish.

Bonny Doon Vineyards: As predicted, 2003 Rosato Di Refosco–Mouth watering berry hit super refreshing!
2004 Big House Pink–Still have a tough time with that name, but oh what a wine wraught with Zinfandel flavors, delightfully floral, mellon, berries–a sreaming pink delight to say the least.
2004 Vin Gris de Cigare–Paint the skies pink this one delivers spice, delicious presence, lingering afterthought a way fun bottle of blush.

Chateau du Rouet: Rouvière Rosé–Pretty pink, berries, flora, spice, anise and pepper to a nice finish–I would like to taste their other wines.

Chateau Marouine, the Rose:--I had from France were stylish, well made concious of place–a pleasure to taste and elagantly long on their finish.

Chateau Potelle Winery: Riviera–A tasty, complex Rose of Syrah and Zinfandel.

Domaine Chandon: NV, étoile ROSÉ–Smoked salmon in color, lots of mid sized bubbles, fruit and berries, pie spice, plum, cherry, elegant yeast, subtle, reasonably long and complex.

Domaines Bunan: Chateau De La Rouvière 2004 Rrosé–Clear and pale, floral, vegitable in nature, racy and refreshing.

Folie à Deux Winery: 2004 Ménage à Trois Rose--Merlot, Syrah and Gewürztraminer; abundant fruits–straw and raspberries, tropical and floral, long full and wonderfully dry on the finish.

Handley Cellars: 2004 Pinot Rosé, Anderson Valley–Bright and clear, berries, both straw and raspberry all the way through, crisp, rich and refreshing–another Hadley winner!

Jean Luc Colombo: Rosé De Cônte Bleue–Syrah, Mourvèdre and Counoise light delicate pink in color, peach, floral roses maybe, berry, cherry, charmingly complex, olive on a long lingering developing finish. This wine captured the sence of France for me–not a Beaujolais style wine, distinct and of itself. I can’t tell how much this wine speaks of place character.

Korbel Champagne Cellars: NV Brut Rose–Bright, frizant-large bubbles, berry, cherry, mellon, refreshing and distinct.

L'Uvaggio di Giacomo: il Gufo 2004, Lodi Barbera Rosato– Briliant, light pinkish red in color, full of berry fruits both nose and taste, dry, refreshing and long on the finish–this winery is a must visit.

Mantra Wines: Bliss, Dry Creek Valley--Merlot and Zinfandel, strawberry, citrus, honey floral, fruit in yer face, tangy acidity, dry lengthy finish–very nice stuff!

Meeker Vineyards: 2003, PINK ELEPHANT Dry Rosé–Great people, charming to talk to and sip wine with; lots of berry fruits here, smooth and supple on the finish blooming with frute wonders. I will be reviewing this wine later this month as part of a our formal comparative tastings.

Montevina Winery: 2003 Montevina Nebbiolo Rosato–bright peach in color, tart citrus, peach, jasmin–a great party wine!

Niebaum-Coppola Estate Winery: 2004 Sofia Rose’–Yummm! Berries and flowers–both taste and aroma, Pink Pinot Noir, fruity yet dry and racy, lingering to a hint of sweetness, well worth looking for!

Peju Province Winery: NV, Province table Wine --I must admit I fell in love with this wine--clear, medium pale ruby in color and hue, strawberry, fig, raspberry jam, herb, a trace of oak and wonderful coffee, modreate acidity, smooth, medium full bodied, well balanced, complex changing over time finish. I will be reviewing this wine later this month as part of a our formal comparative tastings. And I look forward to tasting many more Peju wines.

Perbacco: 2004 Arroyo Grande Valley Rose–clear, dark salmon in color and hue, berry and ripe cherries, full and creamy in body and texture, to a spicy crisp velvet finish.

Rutherford Hill: 2004, Rosé of Merlot–brisk fresh berry, florad and a touch of oak, clean and fresh on the finish.

Saintsbury: 2004, Carneros Vin Gris–a blush Pinot Noir, lightly purple pink, spicy berry greets the nose, strawberry, citrus, fat and soft, fun and interesting.

Sanford: 2003 Pinot Noir - Vin Gris–berry, fruit, smooth, racy, mineral dance across the finish. A fun wine for sure!

SoloRosa Wines: 2004, SoloRosa–briliant neon pink in color and hue, full of berry, cherry, very well balance acidity, mineral with a touch of lightly toasted oak, linger well developing and refreshing.

Tablas Creek Vineyard: 2004, Estate Rosé--Mourvèdre, Grenache and Counoise; spice, fruit, fresh field strawberries, good acidity, dry and lingering on the finish.

Titus Vinyards: A delightful wine–that’s all I wrote on the back of Eric’s business card–must have been good!

Toad Hollow Vineyards: 2004 Eye of the Toad Rose'–please se my article “A Red Eyed Toad & Spectacled Badger?” In addition to that wine he had another of a slightly older vintage, a reserve sold only at the Toad Hollow Tasting Room–anyway: another well balanced, very distinct Rose’ of Pinot Noir of incredible depth and flavor–well worth a trip to Healdsburg, CA to add to life’s delights.

Unti Vineyards: 2004, Dry Creek Valley, Grenache Rose’–Bright, spice, pepper, berries and jam, tar, complex, warm and clean–a well made wine.

Van Ruiten Family Winery: 2004 ROSE OF CABERNET-SHIRAZ–bright, clear, fruit and spice greet you bith nose and palate, smooth and interesting through to the end.

Ventana, Verdad Wine Cellars: Dry Rosado–red fruits, crisp acidity, very dry and lingering.

Didn’t get to all of them, *Chimney Rock, *Domaine de Nizas, *Fife Vineyards, *Goats do Roam, *Herzog Wine Cellars, *Iron Horse Vineyards, *McDowell Valley Vineyards, *Michel-Schlumberger Wine Estate--to mention a few, but I think you’ll get the idea this event featured some fine Rosé set in a cozy venue with really nice folks.

Now you ask “Why would you ever want to go to an event like this?” To meet and greet wine makers, dedicated sales personnel, people watch–definetly learn that Rosé can be VERY DRY! Taste and drink far to many different wines to ever remember, Sherri Releford, one from the other–the “strictly bubbles.” Maybe, but an event as well done as this one was–you’d learn and enjoy the wonders of the the world of wine.

Next year, the RAP group is talking about bring the PINK OUT! to New York and possibly other cities. Ah! Dreams and further PINK aspirations.

I think that about covers it.