Do Wine Competition Medals Impact The Price Of Your Wine?

When you visit wineries, no doubt you’ve seen shiny medals on ribbons draped around bottles of wine. A new study by French economists examines whether wine competition awards have an impact on wine price and are indicators of quality.

By Dave Nershi, CSW, Vino-Sphere publisher

Judging A Book By Its Cover

Producers of “experience goods” such as books, movies or wine, all encounter the same problem. How do you demonstrate quality before the book is opened, the movie viewed or the cork popped?

Some information may be gleaned through word of mouth, social media or advertising. A wine consumer also has the information required on a wine label. Even so, hidden characteristics remain.

One way wine producers can inform potential buyers of the quality of their goods is by participating in (and winning medals at) wine competitions. French economists Emmanuel Paroissien of the University of Bordeaux and Michael Visser of University of Paris-Saclay examined the relationship between wine competition medals and the quality and price of your wine. In January, their research was released as an American Association of Wine Economists working paper: The Causal Impact of Medals on Wine Producers’ Prices and the Gains From Participating in Contests. (AAWE Working Papers are circulated for discussion and comment purposes. They have not been subject to a peer review process.)

The Link Between Competition Medals And Increased Wine Prices

Paroissien and Visser used microeconometrics to study individual transactions from a large Bordeaux-based wine broker matched with the records of 11 important wine competitions including winners by medal color. In France, the government greatly limits the amount of marketing and publicity for alcohol. As a result, wine competitions take on added importance. There were 11 wine contests studied, with nine in France and two others in Europe.

The research provides good news for wineries participating in competition. Winning a medal has a strong effect on wine prices. Wine producers who win a gold medal can increase their prices by 13%. Garnering a silver or bronze medal allows a smaller increases, 4.4% and 4.2% respectively. According to Paroissien and Visser, the prestige of the competition makes a big difference, with awards at the most prestigious competitions allowing wineries to augment their prices with the largest markups.

Wine Judging, Medals And Wine Quality

The study by Paroissien and Visser is focused on Bordeaux wine prices. Do the findings translate to the New World? The economists respond, “It’s difficult to say since France is not really comparable to other countries. In the U.S. for example there are much fewer wine contests. How this affects the impact of medals is unclear. But it would be interesting to replicate our methods with other countries and wines.”

Illustrating one difference, French regulations prohibit contests from awarding more than 33% of the participating wines. Some stick closely to this limit, while others are even more restrictive.

There is considerable cost to a wine producer to participate in a contest: entry fee, samples, etc. Is this something a winery, perhaps one with limited finances, should undertake? The research suggests that it is profitable to participate in certain competitions, especially the most prestigious ones, even if the probability of actually winning a medal is small.

While the research shows a strong connection between winning a wine competition and increased wine prices, the linkage between wine medals and wine quality is a different story. The authors comment, “Only a minority of contests attribute medals that are significantly correlated with quality.
These are primarily the ones founded a long time ago, and whose judges are required to evaluate relatively few wines per day.”

Photo credits: Wine medals - Susan Sharpless Smith Flickr via Compfight cc, Wine judging – Dave Nershi, Vino-Sphere

Sisters Shine With Breathless Sparkling Wines

Of the more than 4,000 wineries in California, only 10% have a woman as their lead winemaker. Of those wineries, an even smaller number are owned by women. Here’s one winery that flips the script.

Breathless In California

In the male-dominated world of California wine, Breathless Sparkling Wines shows the industry just what it is missing. Breathless is a family affair, built through the passion and hard work of three sisters, Cynthia Faust, Rebecca Faust and Sharon Cohn. Their winery was inspired by their mother, Martha, who encouraged them to aim high and “never take a breath for granted.” We explored Breathless wines during a recent Wine Studio education program focused on women-owned wineries of Sonoma.

The sisters are aided by “honorary sister” Penny Gadd Coster, who is an expert winemaker with sparkling wine experience at Jordan Vineyards and J Vineyards and Winery. Penny’s talents have earned more than 100 medals and 90+ ratings for wines she created.

The winery opened in 2011 and was nominated as Best New Winery by San Francisco magazine. Visitors also rave about the Healdsburg tasting room, that has a vintage 1920s feel – and is built from recycled shipping containers. It blends Art Deco and Industrial Chic styles.

Méthode Champenoise Sparkling Vino

There are many great sparkling wines around the world and different techniques are used to good result. For us, however, the favorite is the traditional method, the Méthode Champenoise by which Champagne is made in France.

It’s labor intensive and demands constant attention through the time-consuming work. In the process, the wine undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle – which creates 90 to 100 pounds per square inch of pressure inside each bottle. That’s enough to speed a cork across the room at up to 50 miles per hour. It’s also how Breathless makes their wines.

Breaking Out The Bubbles

For our tasting, we sampled two bottles of Breathless bubbly, the Breathless North Coast Brut and the Breathless Blanc de Noirs. To accompany our wines, we enjoyed some nice Swiss fondue.

We had sampled the Brut a few months earlier during the Wine Bloggers Conference in Santa Rosa. It was outstanding then, but the setting was less than optimal. You have 200+ wine bloggers in a room with winemakers traipsing from table to table with five minutes to serve and talk about their wine. This time the setting was more relaxed and we were able to savor these beautiful wines.

I noticed on the Breathless website that when you visit the tasting room, you have the opportunity to saber a bottle – knocking off the top of the bottle with a sword. I’ve done this a number of times and I’ll plan on doing that next time I open Breathless – but this evening I opened in a more traditional way – gently pulling the cork while rotating the bottle.

Both bottles had plentiful foamy mousse when poured. The mousse gave way to a swirl of bubbles.
The Brut is made with traditional Champagne grapes: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and a dash of Pinot Meunier. It is aged for 27 months. It retails for $25 and is also available in a magnum for $79. After sipping the light refreshing sparkler, which has notes of citrus and apples, we’d recommend the magnum. Go big or go home!

Our favorite of the evening was the Blanc de Noir, which has grapes from the North Coast (notably Carneros) and Sonoma. A Blanc de Noirs is a white sparkling wine made with red grapes. In this case, the blend is 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay.

Many sparkling wines are austere, with yeasty or minerally flavor notes. This one has delicious berry notes mingling with citrus and that delightful effervescence. It’s a complex and enjoyable bottle for $30.

These wines left us, well, breathless. The quality is earning top recognition and, we hope, excellent sales. Enjoy a bottle or two, not only for the premium experience, but also to demonstrate your support for women in the wine industry.

Technorati Tags: women in wine,wine,Sonoma,sparkling wine,California wine

WIYG? Vino-Sphere Tasting Team Answers The Question

If you frequent wine social media sites, you might see “WIYG?” What’s that, you may ask – it’s What’s In Your Glass. Our indispensable tasting team answers the question.

Tasty Napa Cabernet

Josh (aka Dr. J) Kessler, reports the following: Casey and I recently shared a bottle of 2008 Corley St. Helena, Yewell Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. 

This is a New Year's Invino clearance score from two years ago.  (This year kind of stunk for deals.)  A big, full-bodied wine, the oak was apparent on the nose with additional hints of cherries and chocolate.  There was also a touch of eucalyptus that we so very much enjoy in a heavy Cabernet.  On the palate, the wine is velvety and lush with more red berries, coffee, and dark chocolate.  The tannins are firm and there was a good amount of life left in this one!

Publisher – We’ve seen this bottle listed for $60 to $90, so looks like a good score!

White From A Favorite FLX Winery

Stephanie Wise (Wine Chick), sent in the following bulletin: Lakewood Vineyards 2014 Chardonnay was in my glass this week. This is one of our favorite wineries in the Finger Lakes Region and the first one that Patrick (Sax Man) ever took me to.

As you know I love a good Chardonnay, and this one doesn't disappoint. Not only is it oaky and buttery the way I like it, I think it's also for those who don't typically care for the oakiness. The nose is slightly metallic and the first sip tends to be more stainless steel in nature with hints of vanilla and then a buttery finish. I opened it strictly for drinking, but think that it would go well with any chicken or white fish entree as well as a meat and cheese tray with some fruit.

Needless to say the bottle was all mine as Patrick goes more for the Rieslings.

Publisher – The Finger Lakes is one of our favorite regions and its crisp whites are sensational.

Pinot Noir From Australia’s Yarra Valley

Green Dragon and I uncorked – actually, unscrewed! -- a 2016 Mac Forbes Pinot Noir from Yarra Valley, Australia. As you might guess, we opened it on Mardi Gras night.

At first I wasn’t overwhelmed by this wine. One glass was enough. I opened it again the following night, and found I really enjoyed it. It has earthy notes with wafts of eucalyptus and flavors of tart cranberries. It is a light garnet in the glass with a lot more complexity than revealed at first sip.

This wine is $19.99 and is available at Lidl grocery stores (they provided this sample).

Publisher – Our jet-setting tasting team members Cabernetor and Glorious T will also provide a WIYG update, but it wasn’t ready by press time – so we’ll share it when it becomes available. Meanwhile, raise a glass!

Technorati Tags: Finger Lakes wine,Chardonnay,Pinot Noir,Cabernet Sauvignon,wine

Three Wine, Cheese And Food Books To Savor

Need a good read to tide you over to the spring thaw? We found three three books that should be on your bookshelf now.

The Winemaker Cooks: Menus, Parties and Pairings by Christine Hanna, Photos by Sheri Giblin

I couldn’t use a photo of my copy of this cookbook by Christine Hanna of Hanna Winery and Vineyards in Sonoma. That copy is stained by aioli sauce, noodles and unidentified meal ingredients. We received this book during a recent visit to Hanna’s Alexander Valley tasting room. We had the opportunity to meet Chris Hanna and have a sensational meal overlooking the vineyards.

When we got home, my wife (aka Green Dragon) used the recipes in the book for a wine pairing bash we hosted. The recipes were as promised, “wine country style with its hallmark of casual elegance.”

The book is organized by seasons. Each season has dinner menus followed by recipes, plus there are menus for other occasions, such as springtime brunch, summer dinner under the stars, harvest picnic in the vineyard and holiday open house. The picnic includes recipes for French Lentil, Prosciutto and Pepper Salad as well as Pan-Seared Five-Spice Duck Breast with Balsamic Jus. There are many recipes to try and love – sprinkled with bites of knowledge from the winemaker.

The book is published by Chronicle Books and can be found on Amazon.

The Winemakers of Paso Robles by Julia Perez, Words by Paul Hodgins

This splendid book is one to be savored a chapter or two at a time, like sipping a glass of fine Paso Robles red. Paso Robles is a region that has a long history in wine, reaching back to the 1840s, but in the last two decades it has emerged as the Mecca of ultra-premium California wine. When the AVA was founded in 1983, there were 17 wineries. Today there are more than 200 and over 32,000 acres of vineyards.

The catalyst has been a group of unique and unlikely winemakers. Their stories are told in magnificent photos by Perez and engaging narrative by Hodgins. The book is large (15.7 x 13.5 x 2.3 inches), a perfect size to showcase the insightful portraits and striking shots of the vineyards, wineries and wine.

Winemakers featured include the known, like Justin Baldwin of ISOCELES fame, and little known, like former NFL player Terry Hoage and wife Jennifer of micro-producer TH Estates. The story of Tobin James, the maverick winemaker of the region, is related, detailing how he got his start by making wine from Zinfandel grapes the truck driver was trying to dump. James ended up marrying the truck driver’s daughter.

Fifty-six winemakers are featured. We’d suggest a glass of a Paso Robles wine per chapter. This magnificent book is available at The Winemakers Series or Amazon for $85.

Cheese & Wine: A Guide to Selecting, Pairing, and Enjoying by Janet Fletcher, Photos by Victoria Pearson

Janet Fletcher is a food columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle and winner of two James Beard Awards for her writing. She also makes a mean homemade Ricotta. During a recent visit to Beringer Winery in Napa during the Wine Bloggers Conference we saw her demonstrate cheesemaking.

Her love of cheese and wine shine through this 143-page book. The heart of the book is profiles of 70 cheeses with origins and descriptions as well as suggested wine pairings. The book organizes the cheeses by cheese platter themes, such as “Salute to Spain” and “Aging Gracefully.” There’s also great information on strategies for harmonious wine and cheese pairings, handling and serving cheese, and a convenient table showing cheese options for various wines.

This is a volume that should be on the bookshelf of any wine lover, and off the shelf at your next party. Published by Chronicle Books at $24.95.

Adorada Wines Aim To Create Fragrant, Sensory Experience

Most wines are crafted to appeal to the taste buds. Adorada is a treat for all the senses with stunning visuals and aromatics.

Is It Perfume Or Wine?

When presented with a bottle of Adorada wine, you can be forgiven if you mistake it for a gargantuan bottle of perfume. The label proclaims “Eau de California” and is printed in a style that mirrors high end perfume.

The bottle is also stylish, sealed with an angled coating of black wax. The beautiful color of the contents look remarkably like what you see on the counters in high end cosmetic departments.

We have to stop you right there. We don’t want you dabbing this wine behind your ears. That would be a terrible waste.

Adorada is the creation of winemaker Margaret Leonardi. The wines are meticulously crafted using distinctive aromatic grape varieties. We sampled two Adorada wines during a recent  Wine Studio education session.

How To Open A Wax-Sealed Wine Bottle

An initial hurdle was opening the wax-sealed bottle. I’ve had some less than successful attempts with other such bottles – resulting in long, frustrating opening times and crumbly wax in the wine. You can teach an old horse new tricks. I learned that you should hold the top of the bottle in hot water (only as far as the cork so you don’t heat the wine) for about a half minute. Then insert your corkscrew into the cork right through the wax seal. Twist and then pull up as usual – the cork comes up right through the wax.

The Adorada Experience

Our first bottle was the 2016 Pinot Gris. The grapes are 100% Californian, but the actual varieties are less certain. At least 75% must be Pinot Gris, but Adorada has blended a “selection of aromatic white grape varieties from premier vineyards” throughout the state. My guess is that there is at least some Viognier, a Rhone grape know for its aromatics.

We paired the Pinot Gris with Duo of Maryland Style Crab Cakes and Sautéed Lemon Garlic Shrimp with spinach polenta and buttered carrots. The awe-inspiring dish was prepared by the Green Dragon.
Both bottles have a gem-like color and have a touch of sweetness. Like the Oregon Pinot Gris that we favor, the Adorada had the pop of sweetness balanced with natural acidity. The flavor is a mélange of lemon and orange blossom.

A night later, it was time to open our second aromatic jewel: The 2016 Rosé. The color is a dazzling orange-rose-salmon. The aroma is an intoxicating blend of floral and fresh red berries. We drank in this wine with our eyes and noses before we tasted a drop.

The rosé was paired with Herb-Marinated Chicken Breast with Apricot Tri-Color Pepper Relish, fresh beet rounds and Mediterranean quinoa medley. The Green Dragon was on a culinary roll!

In our Wine Studio session with the winemaker, I tried getting the specific grapes used in the rosé, but no dice. I was told the information is proprietary. However, there are a lot of proprietary wine blends out there – but many of them still list the grapes (just not the percentages).

Since Adorada is located in Mendocino County, my guess is that this is a rosé of Zinfandel or Pinot Noir. Whatever the composition, this is a drinking experience that pleases the eye, nose and palate. The rosé is medium bodied, which is fuller than many blush wines. The aromatics “primed” our palates – loving it before the first sip. Juicy honey and strawberry flavors made this one of the best rosé wines we’ve had in months.

Adorada means “adored” in Spanish, and the wines are worthy of that name. This wines are a sensory experience and the price point is an affordable $20 each.

Not only are these wines suitable for special dinners and events at home, they would make excellent gifts. The packaging is so beautiful, that a positive impression is made even before the cork is popped. We sense the smell of success!

Technorati Tags: rosé,wine,Pinot Gris,California wine

Raffaldini Vineyards: Yadkin Valley Winery Visit

Chianti in the Carolinas? Yadkin Valley’s Raffaldini Vineyards aims to inspire with Italian excellence.

Wine Tasting in Carolina Wine Country

We are big believers in drinking local – patronizing local wineries who are crafting vino in our own backyards. Just like the farm to table food movement, there’s a lot to be said about the “locopour” movement. Regional wineries are members of the community, caring for the land and often producing great wine. Frequently they fly under the radar, without the benefit of the huge marketing budgets of national brands.

With a break in the winter weather, Green Dragon and I set out for North Carolina wine country. Wineries dot much of the state map, but Yadkin Valley has a reputation for producing the best wine in the state. We targeted the Swan Creek AVA, which is located 35 miles west of Winston Salem and includes seven wineries.

Our first stop was Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery. The Raffaldini name harkens back to 1348 in Lombardy, Italy. As we neared the estate, we beheld a striking villa silhouetted against the light blue winter sky that would look right at home in Tuscany.

Italian Pleasure In The Hills

Walking to the tasting room, we were struck by the beautiful surroundings. Perched on a hill overlooking sloped hillside vineyards, Raffaldini’s tasting room and large terrace have a commanding view of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance.

Entering the tasting room, decorated in Tuscan yellow and dark wood, we had a surprise. There was world famous singer Rod Stewart!

Actually, we discovered it was Rob Caudill, who performs a tribute to Rod Stewart called “Tonight’s the Night.” He was joined by friend Helen Anthony.

Already impressed with the first class surroundings and clientele, we were ready to taste some wine.

The cost for a tasting is $12 per person for eight wines and includes a high quality Riedel glass. We started our tasting journey with the whites.

Kicking off was the 2016 Pinot Grigio. We had been driving for several hours, so the refreshing bouquet was welcome. We also sampled the 2016 Girasole Rosato, an orange-hued rosé made with Sangiovese and Motepulciano grapes.

Our favorite of the opening trio was the 2016 Vermentino Superiore. Raffaldini was the first winery on the east coast to plant Vermentino and this is a full-bodied white. Most of the grapes come from the oldest block of Vermentino on the estate. The soil has schist and mica, adding a delightful minerality to the wine.

Carolina Chianti – That’s A Big Yes!

Reds were next in line and we were ready to see if the “Chianti in the Carolinas” etched on our tasting glasses was only an idle boast. The 2015 Bella Misto is a beautiful mix of four grapes that is light ruby in the glass.
The blend is Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot and Malbec. This is juicy and rewarding at an SRP of $19. We bought a bottle of this and drank it at the hotel’s hot tub that night.

We next sipped a pair of Sangiovese, the 2015 and 2014 Sangiovese Classico. Chianti is the world-famous Sangiovese wine from Tuscany and Classico designates wine made in the historic center of the region. The Raffaldini Sangiovese is some of the best I’ve had from the US. The Vino Nobile clone (there are several Sangiovese variants) is used, but the main difference is the use of the appassimento process.

Drying Grapes – For What?

Appassimento involves partially drying grapes on a rack to concentrate flavor. In fact, Raffaldini is the foremost practitioner of appassimento in the US and dries more fruit than any other vineyard.This gives weight and complexity to the wine. The 2015 was our favorite with juicy sour cherry flavors, soft tannins and a nice acidity. The Sangiovese retails for $29.

The 2015 Montepulciano Riserva is co-fermented with Petit Verdot and gets oak aging. Raffaldini is one of a handful of wineries in North Carolina that grows Montepulciano.

We closed with the 2016 La Dolce Vita, a frizzante style sweet wine similar to Moscato, but made with Traminette. This didn’t flip our switch, but there’s no doubt this would be tasty on the sunny terrace in the summer.

The “big daddy” wine is the 2015 Grande Riserva. This is a blend of Montepulciano, Petit Verdot and Sagrantino grapes. Unfortunately, this wasn’t on the tasting menu. I asked if they would open a bottle if Rod Stewart sang a song – but that ploy didn’t work. Nevertheless, we bought a bottle for $55 and look forward to uncorking it with a nice Italian meal.

Raffaldini checks all the boxes. Their tasting room is first class inside and out. The staff is friendly and helpful and the wine offers complexity and a taste of Italy. We suggest you visit the Raffaldini villa and make a memory.

Soléna 2010 Syrah, Del Rio, Rogue Valley

What happens when an entire valley “goes rogue?” In the case of Oregon’s Rogue Valley, the result is pretty impressive red wine.

Going Rogue

Oregon is a fountain of fantastic wine. Most of the wineries are located in the valley of the Willamette River. This area is cooler than many US vineyards and is well suited for cool climate grapes like Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir.

Further south in the state, closer to the border with California, it is a different story. The Rogue Valley is a warmer region, protected from cooling ocean breezes. It’s ideal for ripening red grapes like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

Check out our reports on more than 100 wineries

When we moved from Ohio to our new home in North Carolina, it disrupted the record keeping system for my wine. It was all loaded into Cellar Tracker, but the numbering system was outmoded when I had to switch to a couple of wine coolers in our new home. In the process of re-entering and reorganizing our wine, I came across the 2010 Soléna Syrah from sunny Rogue Valley! The corkscrew came out quickly after that…

Soléna – A Standout Winery

Soléna is a winery that we know best from their lineup of superb single vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. It is owned by husband and wife team Laurent Montalieu and Danielle Andrus Montalieu. They bottled their first wine in 2002.

They also produce Chardonnay and Pinot Gris and also source grapes from select vineyards in other Oregon locations and Washington State as well. That’s the case with the Del Rio Vineyard Syrah from Rogue Valley.

Del Rio Vineyards lies 15 miles northwest of Medford, Oregon at historic Rock Point in the beautiful Rogue River Valley. The rocky slopes of the vineyard face south and drain well, providing an excellent site for producing premium wine grapes.

The wine underwent a cold maceration, keeping the skins in contact with the juice to draw out the beautiful color and flavors. It was aged 15 months in 20% new French oak.

This is a limited run wine, with only 70 cases produced. In the glass, this unfiltered and unfined wine is opaque. On the nose, there is a stew of earthy and savory aromas. On the palate the flavors are concentrated and evoke raisins, warm black cherry and cooked fruit. The finish is medium length.

Soléna reds run from $30 to $55 and their whites from $20 to $75. This is a quality winery with selections that will keep you coming back for more.

Bonterra Organic Vineyards A Sustainable Success

Bonterra vineyards have been farmed organically since 1987, long before organic products were widely available. Does care in the field translate to quality in the bottle? Read on.

Organic Wines, And Then Some

The growing of organic grapes is booming. Perceived by the public as being of higher quality, they are often in high demand.

Bonterra is the number one producer of organically farmed wine. Practices include using such “partners” as bees, chickens and goats to promote native plant growth, reduce pests, fertilize and reduce weeds.

Check out our reports on more than 100 wineries

Bonterra has a wide offering of organic wines plus a trio of wines from their biodynamic ranches. Biodynamic farming is a holistic view of agriculture with high awareness of the inter-connectivity between earth, plants, animals, humans, the moon and planets.

Taking A Sip, Naturally!

We’re big boosters of sustainability and environmental awareness. Since winemaking is an agricultural undertaking, it just makes sense to show care in the use of land and resources. For this reason, we’d have to tip our cap to Bonterra even if we never opened one of their bottles.

Thankfully, that scenario didn’t play out! As part of the Wine Studio education program, we had an opportunity to sample two Bonterra offerings: the 2015 Bonterra Merlot and the 2015 The Roost Blue Heron Vineyard Chardonnay. The Merlot carries a California appellation and The Roost hails from Mendocino County.

The Merlot has a full, round flavor of black cherries with oak and vanilla. It has small amounts of Petite Sirah and Malbec – always welcome additions – to give the bottle a bit of complexity.

Aging is in a combination of French and American oak, about 45% being new. The overall effect is soft tannins and a laid back elegance.This is a $16 buy that will please the crowd.

The Roost is a different sort of bird. The Blue Heron Ranch is farmed biodynamically. That takes the organic practices and adds on some metaphysical elements. The viewpoint is that all parts of the universe, including the vineyard, are connected as an ecosystem.

After those heavy thoughts, we were ready for some wine! Green Dragon had prepared stuffed chicken breasts served with butternut squash and spinach faro and steamed broccoli.

Only 200 cases (actually 400 half cases) of The Roost were produced. It sells for $40 and compares favorably to a high quality Sonoma Chardonnay.

The Blue Heron Ranch is cradled between the shore of the Upper Russian River and a Blue Heron nesting site. This is the coolest part of the area thanks to the river and a nightly coastal fog. Prime Chardonnay conditions!

In the glass it is an appealing light gold. Swirling in the glass releases aromas of citrus. Green Dragon doesn’t care for overly oaked Chardonnay and the Bonterra gained her seal of approval. While the wine was aged for 18 months in French oak, only 30% was new. The oak is there in balance with threads of lemon meringue and melon.

The Roost is an elegant Chardonnay. The care in the vineyard is evident in the glass.

Looking to couple your support for Mother Earth with a bottle of wine? Or maybe just looking for a tasty selection for dinner? Bonterra offers some excellent options.

Technorati Tags: Organic wine,biodynamic wine,California wine,wine