Letter to Rachel

We've just hired a new girl in Southern California. She's going to be doing her own blog so I'll let her introduce herself, trust me.. she doesnt need my help in introducing herself.

She's gearing up to do her first tasting.. and I'm jamming out on my computer trying to give her the appropriate "Gipper" speech... while trying to avoid either of us sounding like sleazy used-car salesmen (apologies to all refurbished automobile consultants in the audience).

I read it again.. and felt it should be posted.. black eyes and all. Buckle Up.

"Big corporate wines have networks where the managers can source grapes they need from other managers, because their job is to make enough to meet demand.
Our producers dont have jobs, they make wine because they cannot imagine doing anything else.
Quality and Taste suffer with corporate wines. Ask them if they know the winemaker of their favorite brand? Tell them you just introduced them to winemaker who's wine they're drinking right there that night. Tell them that your producers dont put crap into bottles that have their names on them, because they're accountable. They would consider it "rude" to fill a bottle with something less than superior. Tell them what your producers do when they dont like the way their juice is coming along (they sell it to the corporate wineries so they can meet demand). Let them know that a lot of the "labels" that they're buying now dont even have vineyards. Some kooky artsy weirdo in the marketing department came up with a bogus story.. and a catchy aestheticly pleasing label.. and all that's left is sourcing juice to fill the bottles that those labels get glued to. So they go out to their manager network to get whatever wine is specified, or available... it doesnt really matter... they're not buying the wine... they bought the label."

It's The Same All Over

I've been bouncing around southern California all week. And since I dont live here (yet), I frequently am forced to take my meals at restaurants. Now this probably sounds wonderful to some of you, and it is (sometimes), but sometimes when you're on the road you just want to grill a piece of chicken, slice a tomato, and be done with it.

What makes it worse is being subjected to the garden variety wine lists these restaurants so proudly display. Like serving that bottle of Zinfandel found in any local liquor store with a funny name for $45 is such a treat. Seeing that same bottle in the aisles for $14, it gets my dander up.

A rising star in the www.avawine.com arsenal is Fallbrook Winery. They're located between here and Temecula up in the hills, and they're selections have been very warmly received by our wine club members over the years. I met their winemaker last February, and quite frankly he could have cared less about me or my stupid website. He makes wine, and if you cant speak in that language, he'd just assume be doing something with his grapes.

The result is some pretty spectacular selections. If you're in the market for a Merlot, look no further. By clicking this link, you get twelve bottles of a Merlot you cant find anywhere else, for about the same price as those marketing gimmick selections I talked about up top. And I'll even pay for the shipping.

http://www.avawine.com/fallbrook-winery-2003-merlot-reserve-p-119.html

AVAWine.com Proud to Present: Core Wine Company!

Dave and Becky Corey are the two people behind the operation of CORE, involved in every aspect of the family run business. After working in different areas of the vineyard & winery industry for many years, they decided to take the plunge and introduced the CORE label in 2001. The focus is working with Mourvedre and Grenache, making blends that feature these varietals. Their vineyard sources include grapes from the Cuyama Valley in Santa Barbara County. Currently, they purchase small amounts of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon from Barnwood Vineyards and farm a 17.5 acre vineyard (Alta Mesa Vineyard) on a long-term lease.

Total production available for sale this year will be just under 1000 cases. They are fully integrated into their business--from growing the grapes to selling winery direct to all CA accounts which currently represents about 55 on and off-premise accounts.

All of us at www.avawine.com are thrilled to be bringing you such a high-quality California Boutique wine. The Corey's are what we promised you, and delivering selections such as these are what we're all about!

Purchasing Corey Wine Company wines is easy, and just a few clicks away.
We pay for shipping, why not introduce yourself to quality?

http://www.avawine.com/wineries-core-wine-company-c-42_212.html?osCsid=6a9e1f5ef605603939aec31daa49ef32

Cooper-Garrod and Escafeld Vineyards Come Aboard!

Two more perfect examples of what we are trying to respresent have decided to join the www.avawine.com team. Both produce fantastic wines, both refuse to become something less than honest, and both can be delivered directly to your door without spending a dime on shipping costs. This further proves that you can get the highest quality wines California has to offer for the exact same price you're presently paying for the inferior conglomerate corporation smorgasboard labels at the wine shop.

First up, Escafeld Vineyards is owned and operated by Steve and Elsbeth Wetherill. Located in Jolon (pronounced "whole-own"), they're nestled in the northern foothills of the San Antonio Valley appellation in Monterey County, California. Steve & Elsbeth purchased land for their vineyard in 1997 and today Escafeld Vineyards is crafting wines from three acres of own-rooted Merlot grapes and two acres of Zinfandel. Additionally, 2 acres of Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot & Malbec) were prepared and planted in 2002/2003.

Elsbeth keeps a very interesting online blog, if you'd like to check it out click here:

http://www.escafeld.com/diary/

Escafeld's selections can be purchased by clicking here:

http://www.avawine.com/wineries-escafeld-vineyards-c-42_210.html

Next, the family owned and operated Cooper-Garrod Vineyard. When I learn someone has served our country in wartime, I generally become very interested. George Cooper served with the 412nd Airborne Division in the European Theater. Can you believe that? One of our producers was a Thunderbolt pilot in WWII! It's humbling to think about the bravery and raw courage those guys have.

I would sit at his side and listen for hours as my Uncle John described how he and his squad mates stormed the beach at Normandy, and how his younger brother Joe died defending "The Slot" in the Pacific. I have an immense respect for the men and women who pitch in to serve our country, and am proud and honored to have the opportunity to work with Cooper-Garrod Vineyards.

After the war George pitched in at NASA! and finally retired in 1973. After producing enough wine to accomodate his friends and family for 20 years, he decided to share it with the rest of us. That was 23 years ago. I think it's safe to say the Coopers and the Garrods have a firm grasp on what they're doing. He's got a nephew overseeing the vineyard, and his son and daughter-in-law look after everything else. Apparently there's a whole bunch of family members running around keeping this a working farm and stable, probably in very much the same way it did when it was founded in 1893.

We at www.avawine.com invite you to enjoy what is certainly a tremendous creation, and as always its just a few clicks away.

http://www.avawine.com/wineries-escafeld-vineyards-c-42_210.html