Wine Cloud
January 27th, 2012

Learn About Wine Blog

STARS of Santa Barbara – A Free Tasting Opportunity

FREE WINE TASTING OPPORTUNITY

Something new and different… Something FREE!

Three ways to make this Thursday’s STARS of Santa Barbara a FREE Tasting!

1. The Automatic Winner

Buy a ticket at Full Fair VIP ticket at $159 – and get a second ticket free

Click Here to Purchase VIP Ticket (Only good on this link)

Your name will be on a VIP list at the door.

You will be a VIP guest and allowed in at 6:45 for an inside tasting with Ian Blackburn….

And get to taste Sea Smoke before the doors open (must be on time to capture this amenity)

Or

Join our membership and get this as a free gift

Click here to join membership

Check out the incredible number of benefits you get this month!

All members get upgraded to VIP as well.

2. The Lucky Winner

Review LearnAboutWine on Trip Advisor or Yelp – all reviews get entered into a random drawing to receive four free tickets!

RULES

  • Once you write your review
  • Grab the link and email it to us.
  • Email info@learnaboutwine.com
  • Include your name & phone number for us to confirm you.
  • One lucky winner will be selected randomly
  • This is not a writing contest
  • This is not a race
  • All reviews of any quality and score will be entered.
  • Review must remain on line for a minimum 1 year to qualify
  • It only takes a moment to set up a review account on either service.
  • You can enter twice by reviewing on each website.
  • Limit one entry per website per person.
  • All reviews must be submitted by Noon on Wed, Jan 25th
  • No phone calls please

3. The Old Fashioned Bribe!

Send us a creative email telling us what you would be willing to trade, barter, or pay for a ticket or two…. We can be bribed if the offer is good – you will be accepted.  We will publish these … so keep them clean!

  • Creativity counts
  • Not all Bribes are accepted
  • ONLY equitable bribes will be accepted – deemed equitable by Ian Blackburn
  • Business owners are encouraged to use assets, services, or talents in trade.
  • Skilled laborers, artists, designers – welcome
  • Submit the detail information about your bribe via the link: CLICK HERE
  • Include your offer, your contact information, and we will respond after Wednesday at 12 noon.
  • Wait for confirmation email or contact – to know that your bribe was acceptable.
  • No phone calls please.

STARS of Santa Barbara Press List

Ian Blackburn, Founder of LearnAboutWine will be hosting a exciting wine event STARS of Santa Barbara, featuring 37 great wineries from Santa Barbara.

See below for Press/ Media mentions:

Examiner.com by Cori Solomon : Click here to read the article

Kathryn Kennedy Cab – First Wine Offer from Wine Cloud

Exciting announcement! This is a first wine offer from Wine Cloud.

Wine Cloud (with LearnAboutWine) has launched a unique on-line wine shopping store.  Wine Cloud will offer the top wines to buy right now along with educational resources and stories behind every bottle.

About Wine Cloud:

These are exciting times in the wine business and sharing top wine finds will be our focus;  best producers – best vintages – great value – at all price points.  Our selection will be small but timely, and we may not have the brand you are looking for… but let us steer you towards something new, artisan, and unique.  Our prices are very competitive and come with added value of education, information and experience – Trust us to impress you.

Also follow Wine Cloud on Social Media:

Check out Wine Cloud official website: CLICK HERE

Follow Wine Cloud on twitter: CLICK HERE

Like us on Wine Cloud facebook: CLICK HERE

Now we are proud to announce our first wine offer featuring Kathryn Kennedy Small Lot Cabernet Santa Cruz Mountains 2007 Vintage.

The Story Behind our selection of Kathyrn Kennedy Small Lot Cabernet:

In 1997, I had just started working in Sales for Kenwood Vineyards. For years, I had heard of the grand tasting wine event at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Beach.. but t was much more expensive than my modest salary could afford.  However, my position at Kenwood allowed me to work the event – my ticket to the event was secured.  Upon setting up my presentation table (one of 50 different wineries in the room), I set out to meet the others and made a few new connections… I was letter “K” for Kenwood…. my neighbor was a small artisan cabernet producer I had never heard of – Kathryn Kennedy, a producer from Santa Cruz Mountains.

I was a proud Kenwood representative – and everyone that worked at Kenwood knew that Mike Lee our winemaker was part artist, part genius and part miracle worker… the wines were great, available, and reasonably priced.  It was amazing to watch people come up to my well know brand and taste the wines and ignore the artist next to me, sad but was a reality in the wine business – those that are known – are trusted…. those that are not, are not.  I literally started talking to Marty Mathias the winemaker (he was the salesperson and the winemaker – tells you a great deal about the size of the winery) and exploring this phenomena – as a new rep, I was surprised… Marty was use to it.

I tasted Marty’s wine lineup of Cabernets – I was dumbfounded… why isn’t everyone in the room swamping to taste these jewels!   Instead they were ignoring them and visiting the wines they loved and trusted.  There was a line at Silver Oak, The BV table was packed, Marty stood there calmly and occasionally received a brave and experienced taster to come to the table. Slowly but surely, the buzz in the room built… did you try wine from Kathryn Kennedy?   Slowly but surely, those filling their glasses with Silver Oak were finally listening to the tastemakers in the room, and sought to gain the same experience they ignored 30 minutes earlier.

This was a revolution to me.  This is how you build a brand – this is what the wine industry needs.  A platform for both famous brands and the new stars to be found.  There were already an elite set of tastings for the well paid, but what about those on the rise… it planted a seed in my mind that would eventually craft the type of events we hosted at LearnAboutWine.com

Flash forward 15 years… 2011 – Marty Mathias and Kathryn Kennedy are still a small brand, privately owned, highly respected, but small… small enough to still be ignored somewhat – Marty is still the winemaker and the lead salesperson which also tells you a great deal about the wine.  He is no longer unknown, the wine spectator and other publications have all visited him and praised his hands on approach – he just chooses to remain small and make wines that speak of his philosophy and to maintain the “micro managed” style.

In November – I tasted this wine and it hit me!  ”I think this is a fitting place to start Wine Cloud” – we secured a modest allocation and our journey begins.

Wine Cloud will celebrate the small brands, top artisan producer, and new discoveries… wines that have a need for someone else to tell the story.  We are not just treasure hunters selling 100-point wines, we are story tellers helping you avoid the pitfalls of “group think”.  Trust Me” does apply.

As a new wine retailer – I want to establish trust – I will tell you why you should by the wine and hopefully you will be compelled to buy the wine from me.  ”Trust Me” comes with a big responsibility to sell you something special – unique – qualified.  This will be a great deal of work… tasting to find treasure is something I enjoy… and letting you know what I find is even more fun for me.  Value is obviously in the eye of the beholder – but if you value wines that are true, of place, and made with passion and not made like a commodity – “trust us” to take you on a journey.

One word of caution – I’m not trying to change your mind and tell you what you like is wrong – large wineries can make great wine – but I am hoping to open your eyes to see other options.  I’m also not going to tell you that my selections will be better than you favorite wine – that would not be wise either – but following us will improve your wine knowledge and improve the wine industry at the same time.

Finally – unlike others – we are not trying to sell wine that failed in the market and blowing out prices that wineries cannot really afford to support. I do promise that our prices will be very competitive and we also will have low cost shipping and waive the shipping fee on a 12-bottle purchase (assorted 12 bottles are fine).  (All wines must ship within 7 days).

Reasons to purchase:

  • Ready to drink but should improve for 5+ years
  • Cabernet that is pure, balanced, and special
  • Similar in style to well aged Ridge Montebello
  • More “Right Bank” in style than Napa
  • Great vintage – 2007, Santa Cruz Mountains
  • Price/Value – I expected it to cost double
  • Small producer that deserves your awareness
  • My rating – 94 Points for Quality/Value/Finesse
  • Tasting Value – $75
  • Our Price – $39

Quote from the Kathryn Kennedy Website:

Everyone agrees 2007 was really special. The weather in the Santa Cruz Mountains that year was ideal for growing Cabernet. This wine was fermented in open top tanks with hand punch down. It was then aged in a combination of American and French oak barrels for 21 months; only 876 cases were produced.

Who should buy this wine?

This is a classic California Cabernet lover’s wine.  Pure, long aging, balanced, terrific from start to finish.  I also recommend this for Bordeaux enthusiasts – fine tannins, great restraint, style and finesse.

Who should not buy this?

If you like a more modern ultra rip wine with major extraction and power – maybe this isn’t the one you want.

We value your business and give you more than just wine for your purchase:

To hear our story to tell – AS SEEN ABOUT

The tasting video – CLICK HERE

The Winery Website – CLICK HERE

Winery Tech Sheet – PDF – CLICK HERE

Map of Region – CLICK HERE

About the Grape – Cabernet – CLICK HERE

Winemaker – Marty Mathis

876 cases were produced from small vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains

Supply: Only 48 bottles available  - First come first serve.

Shipping: CLICK HERE to learn about free shipping

Champagne Session Tasting Rare & High Quality Bubbles – Toast Goodbye to 2011 – Hello 2012!

On December 29th, 2011, Ian Blackburn, CEO and Founder of LearnAboutWine.com and Wine Cloud Inc. hosted a fancy Champagne event featuring top of the top lists.

Details are below:

Champagne Session

Tasting Rare & High Quality Bubbles - Toast Goodbye to 2011 – Hello 2012!

Thursday, December 29th 7pm at Downtown LOFT 218

File Under: Seated tasting class, rare and high quality champagne, fun tasting event, become an expert in Champagne in one day, limited seats available …
Taste great wines – watch us Sabor open a bottle –  learn about the grower terroir wines (RM) and Negociant branded wines (NM) – and what is the latest in Champagne news and information.

Revised Wine List (12 wines total)… cheese and appetizers served.

THE WISE – 1990 was an incredible vintage

Dom Perignon “Oenotheque” Vintage 1990 – Valued at $500 – BOOM!

Delamotte Blanc de Blancs 1990 – magical

THE HIP – smaller producers of insane quality

Vilmart – Grand Cellier, Brut Premier Cru

Pierre Peters – Les Chetilllons, Cuvee Speciale “Le Mesnil” Blanc de Blancs, Grand Cru 2002

Just Added – Paul Bara – Bouzy, Grand Cru 1989 – A $200 value!

Champagne Supreme – Top Producers you can trust

Champagne Lanson – poised to take what is rightly theirs

Heidersick and Co.  - best champagne for the dollar

Krug – when we sell out at 20 guests – we turn the regular Krug into 1989 Vintage!!!!

The BUBBLES from another mother – Not Champagne but truly extraordinary

Gruet Blanc de Noirs – WINE SPECTATOR TOP 100 – 2011

Cava Avinyo Reserva Brut – Best Cava ever?

Le Vigne di Alice Doro Valdobbiadene D.O.C.G. Brut – Best Prosecco ever?

Cleto Chiarli “Vecchia Modena”  - not your Grandmothers Lambrusco!

To see the Champagne Map: CLICK HERE

Chardonnay

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is often referred to as the king of white grapes; a traditional grape responsible for producing the white wines of Burgundy and it is known for its noted importance in the production of Champagne.

STYLE:  Chardonnay can be bone dry crispy with clean acidity, when unoaked, as seen in Chablis, or full bodied/baked apple and oaky/buttery style as found in barrel fermented versions of the New World, like Sonoma County.  Flavors can depend greatly on winemaking techniques. Stainless steel fermentation allows much more focus on acidity and mineral, with hints of lemon, pear and or apple.  When allowed to go through malolactic fermentation (MLF), with battonage (lees stirring) and barrel aging; a softer, richer, and toasty style can emerge.

In North America, California produces largest quantity of and most popular style of Chardonnay.  The first successful production of commercial wines using Chardonnay started early1940s.  In 1976 “The Judgment of Paris” crowned Chateau Montelena victorious in a field of French wines and rocketed California Chardonnay to popularity in America.

ORIGIN: The origin of Chardonnay appears to come from Croatia (yes them again) with a seemingly extinct varietal called Gouais Blanc (although once I post this – someone may tell me of a producer still making it). The Romans then planted a cross-version of Gouais and a Pinot varietal in a “Jardin” (garden) and it adopted the name “Chardonnay” … perhaps the Jardin was in the town of Chardonnay (which is in the Macon)?

Chardonnay is also planted in Austria, Australia, Argentina, Chile, Hungry, Italy, Israel, Lebanon, New Zealand, Oregon, and South Africa.

AKA Aubaine, Beaunois, Gamay Blanc, Melon Blanc

 

LAW Facts

In the region of Bordeaux, the Left Bank generally produces big bold and tannic Cabernet-based wines with pronounced blackcurrant and cassis flavors.  The Right Bank wines are dominated by Merlot or Cabernet Franc and are generally more elegant, lean and fruit forward.