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Wine Region Gifts for all Occasions! |
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WINE OF THE MONTH CLUBS - FEATURED WINES FOR AUGUST 2009PREMIUM WINE CLUBBodega Privada - ArgentinaIn the year 1959, Rufino Pablo Baggio established Bodega Privada in the city of Maipu, province of Mendoza. Maipu is where most
of the early immigrants were settled, some arriving as far back as 1878 and it is here that their parcel of free land was located.
Many of these new and welcome arrivals were from Italy. Consequently Maipu boasts as many Olive trees as vines. With altitudes
at 750 to 1,060 meters, and an abundance of minerals deposited from the Andes river, conditions for growing grapes are ideal.
Presently Bodega Privada is creating Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Syrah, Torrontes, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. MandraRossa - ItalyMandraRossa is a premium range of estate-bottled wines from one of Sicily's most respected and progressive wine producers.
Located in the historic town of Menfi in the southwest corner of this idyllic Mediterranean island, MandraRossa is led by Diego
Planeta, President since 1973. MandraRossa's extensive investment in advanced winemaking technology, combined with the expertise
of a distinguished team of five full time winemakers (headed by internationally renowned enologist Carlo Corino) has resulted in
an outstanding line of wines that capture the flavors, essence and mystique of Sicily. Vinedos Terranoble - ChileThis outstanding winery was founded in 1993, and it has produced high quality wines that have been recognized and awarded. The
owners, driven by their passion for viniculture, are dedicated to producing the best wines by combining the excellent premises of
a magnificent nature with the best in tradition and modernism. The winery is located in the Maule Valley and the vineyards are in
the Maule, Colchagua and Casablanca valleys. Each property was specially selected to extract the best attributes of each grape
variety. The philosophy of Vinedos Terranoble is to produce elegant, noble and pleasant drinking wines, with fruit-bearing flavors
and aromas that maintain the characteristics of each variety. INTERNATIONAL WINE CLUB96 Points Wines - AustraliaPoking fun at the points system which many consumers have grown to steer their wine purchases, 96 Points Wines was created by
the Davey Family Vineyard whose mission is to deliver world class wines from Australia by letting the wines speak for themselves.
Brothers Kym and John Davey planted this family-owned estate vineyard on land their grandfather purchased in 1959. Superior fruit
is grown by managing canopies for balance through a moveable foliage wire system; hand-pruning; precise deficit irrigation and
integrated pest management and attention to detail. Vina Gormaz - SpainHaving pioneered the founding and international market penetration of Spain's Ribera del Duero region from the early 1980s,
it is our distinct privilege to and introduce the Tempranillo from Bodegas Gormaz. A former cooperative, this
recently privatized company controls the majority of vines in Ribera del Duero's Soria province, the highest and least exploited
of the region's sub districts. Remaining just outside the focus of major commercial development, the vineyards here have not
undergone restructuring, being for the most part 50 years of age and older and commonly propagated from vine to vine in the
prephylloxeric "promiscuous" manner. Eximius - PortugalEximius is situated in Alenquer, approximately 45 kms North of Lisbon, in a very traditional wine region and where the typical
Portuguese rural landscape appears in all its glory. Eximius has been a family owned company for several generations and was
founded by Joaquim Santos Lima, who in the turn of the XIXth century, was a great producer and exporter. Other cultures like
apples, pears and prunes are also produced, though the vineyard is definitely the most important. The winery has benefited over
the years, of numerous improvements and the introduction of recent technologies. A modern bottling line was also installed. Yarraman Estate - AustraliaYarraman Estate is an Australian winery with a distinguished history and an international reputation for outstanding quality
wines. Located in Australia's oldest wine growing region, the Upper Hunter Valley, the region boasts a history of viticulture and
wine making dating back to 1825. The Estate vineyard was originally established as the famous Penfolds Dalwood Estate in 1958 by
the founder of Grange, Max Schubert, and McGuigan winemaking patriarch, Perc McGuigan with Shiraz vine cuttings from the Magill
vineyard and other varieties that were little known at the time. WEST COAST WINE CLUBPeirano Estate - Graton, CaliforniaIn 1879, with only fifty dollars in his pocket, Giacomo Peirano, a grape farmer from Genoa Italy, immigrated to Lodi, CA.
In 1992, Lance Randolph, the fourth generation of Peirano to farm the 300 acre estate, began making Peirano wine simply for him
and to prove Lodi could produce desirable wines. The history of Peirano Estate Vineyards is a tale deeply rooted in Lodi history
and the importance is felt by every member of the Peirano family. Legend has it that Lodi was named after Giacomo's famous racer
horse, Alta Genoa, he brought from Lodi, Italy. Over the years, the vineyards have grown to not only include the same naturally
rooted, head trained Old Vine Zinfandel imported to the United States by Lance's great grandfather, but Cabernet Sauvignon,
Viognier, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Merlot, Shiraz, Tempranillo, Petite Sirah, Barbera, Syrah and Malbec as
well. Rodney Strong - Healdsburg, CaliforniaRodney Strong Vineyards was founded on the recognition of Sonoma County's potential for excellence. Through decades of grape
growing and winemaking, they continue to fulfill the promise of the fine land. Their approach is for the grapes from each vineyard
and growing region to express their intrinsic character in the special wines they craft. Gentle handling, careful use of barrel
and stainless steel fermentation and proper oak aging are guided and monitored to enhance the natural characteristics of the
fruit. Today the winery owns and farms many exceptional vineyards in Sonoma County's prime grape growing appellations where their
critically acclaimed Estate wines are grown Dancing Coyote - Rio Vista, CaliforniaDancing Coyote is a family run, owned and operated vineyard located in a beautiful stretch of land in California's Clarksburg
appellation. They've been farming in the Delta region along the Sacramento River for five generations. These days they keep busy
nurturing over 600 acres of exquisite wine grapes in the ideal climate and soil of the Sacramento Valley. Their family's devotion
to producing wines of exceptional quality and character is unwavering. So, it's no surprise they are involved in the winemaking
process every step of the way. Apex Cellars - Sunnyside, WashingtonIn the late 1980s, Harry Alhadeff, one of the Northwest's most knowledgeable wine retailers and distributors, and Brian Carter,
a winemaker of extraordinary depth and experience, launched Apex Cellars. The combination of Harry's knowledge and experience in
the wine business and Brian's uncanny ability to combine the science and art of winemaking resulted in extraordinary wines and
extraordinary success. Today Apex Cellars is one of Washington's most respected wineries. RED TRIO WINE CLUBBodega Privada - ArgentinaIn the year 1959, Rufino Pablo Baggio established Bodega Privada in the city of Maipu, province of Mendoza. Maipu is where most
of the early immigrants were settled, some arriving as far back as 1878 and it is here that their parcel of free land was
located. Many of these new and welcome arrivals were from Italy. Consequently Maipu boasts as many Olive trees as vines.
With altitudes at 750 to 1,060 meters, and an abundance of minerals deposited from the Andes river, conditions for growing grapes
are ideal. Presently Bodega Privada is creating Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Syrah, Torrontes, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon
Blanc. Rodney Strong - Healdsburg, CaliforniaRodney Strong Vineyards was founded on the recognition of Sonoma County's potential for excellence. Through decades of grape
growing and winemaking, they continue to fulfill the promise of the fine land. Their approach is for the grapes from each vineyard
and growing region to express their intrinsic character in the special wines they craft. Gentle handling, careful use of barrel
and stainless steel fermentation and proper oak aging are guided and monitored to enhance the natural characteristics of the
fruit. Today the winery owns and farms many exceptional vineyards in Sonoma County's prime grape growing appellations where their
critically acclaimed Estate wines are grown Vina Gormaz - SpainHaving pioneered the founding and international market penetration of Spain's Ribera del Duero region from the early 1980s,
it is our distinct privilege to and introduce the Tempranillo from Bodegas Gormaz. A former cooperative, this recently privatized
company controls the majority of vines in Ribera del Duero's Soria province, the highest and least exploited of the region's sub
districts. Remaining just outside the focus of major commercial development, the vineyards here have not undergone restructuring,
being for the most part 50 years of age and older and commonly propagated from vine to vine in the prephylloxeric "promiscuous"
manner. SINGLE BOTTLE WINE CLUB96 Points Wines - AustraliaPoking fun at the points system which many consumers have grown to steer their wine purchases, 96 Points Wines was created by
the Davey Family Vineyard whose mission is to deliver world class wines from Australia by letting the wines speak for themselves.
Brothers Kym and John Davey planted this family-owned estate vineyard on land their grandfather purchased in 1959. Superior fruit
is grown by managing canopies for balance through a moveable foliage wire system; hand-pruning; precise deficit irrigation and
integrated pest management and attention to detail. Yarraman Estate - AustraliaYarraman Estate is an Australian winery with a distinguished history and an international reputation for outstanding quality
wines. Located in Australia's oldest wine growing region, the Upper Hunter Valley, the region boasts a history of viticulture and
wine making dating back to 1825. The Estate vineyard was originally established as the famous Penfolds Dalwood Estate in 1958 by
the founder of Grange, Max Schubert, and McGuigan winemaking patriarch, Perc McGuigan with Shiraz vine cuttings from the Magill
vineyard and other varieties that were little known at the time. PLATINUM WINE CLUBMercer Estates - Prosser, WashingtonMercer Estates is a family owned Washington State winery devoted to producing premium wines through a partnership of the Mercer
and Hogue families. Guided by more than twenty-five years of grape growing and winemaking experience, they aspire to create
outstanding wines that exceed your expectations. Their state-of-the-art production facility and tasting room is located in
Prosser, Washington. Prosser is the seat of Benton County and considered to be the birthplace of Washington State's modern wine
industry. The winery and many of their estate owned vineyards are within Yakima Valley, the state's first AVA and source of grapes
for more than half of all Washington wines. Perfecta Wines - Napa, CaliforniaPerfecta is the pursuit of balance. They strive to create wines that are elegant, structured, and farmed in a sustainable
method. They support non-profit organizations that promote equality and sustainability around the world through annual donations
from the sale of their wines. The artwork for the Perfecta label was created by art nouveau master, Alphonse Mucha, in 1906,
exactly 100 years before Perfecta's founding. Honig Winery - Rutherford, CaliforniaThe Honig Winery was conceived by Louis Honig, who ran classic advertising campaigns for some of the Napa Valley's earliest
wineries and, in 1964, purchased a 68 acre ranch and vineyard in Rutherford. Now his children and grandchildren manage the
vineyard and winery. Production has grown and in 1989, changed from exclusively Sauvignon Blanc to include Cabernet Sauvignon
wines. 90+ POINT WINE CLUBRidge - Cupertino, CaliforniaRidge's history begins in 1885, when Osea Perrone, a doctor and prominent member of San Francisco's Italian community, bought
180 acres near the top of Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He planted vineyards and constructed a winery of redwood
and native limestone in time to produce the first vintage of Monte Bello in 1892. The historic building now serves as the Ridge
production facility. The Ridge approach is straightforward: find the most intense and flavorful grapes, guide the natural process,
draw all the fruit's richness into the wine. Decisions on when to pick, when to press, when to rack, what varietals and what
parcels to include and when to bottle, are based on taste. To retain the nuances that increase complexity, Ridge winemakers handle
the grapes and wine as gently as possible. There are no recipes, only attention and sensitivity. Bodegas Rejadorada - SpainBodega Rejadorada's offices and ancient winery are located in the magnificent XV Century Palace of Monroy in the old city of
Toro. In 1476, the Portuguese that invaded the city killed Antonia Garcia, wife of the Marquee of Monroy among other Castilian
rebels. She was hung from the cast iron bars which formed the grill outside her window. The word grill in Spanish is "reja".
Later, when Queen Isabel La Catolica took over the town again, she ordered the grill to be gold plated ('dorada' in Spanish) in
her honor. These words together form the word "Rejadorada", the name of the winery and the street in Toro where it is located. The
main objective of Bodega Rejadorada is to make very high quality red wines with all the character and personality of Toro. Penner-Ash Wine Cellars - Newberg, OregonLynn Penner-Ash started Penner-Ash Wine Cellars with husband Ron in 1998, carefully crafting small amounts of Pinot Noir and
Syrah. Their early success with the label caused them to dream of what they could create, and in 2001, with investment partners
Chris and Tyanne Dussin, they began building the Penner-Ash brand full time. Penner-Ash has achieved impressive growth, going from
125 cases of Pinot noir in 1998 to a projected 5,000 cases of Pinot Noir, Syrah and Viognier in 2008. The growth is possible not
only based upon their own partnership but with the help of investors and friends, Chris and Tyanne Dussin. Oregon's northern
latitude brings long hours of summer sunshine and cool nights to their vineyard which helps fully ripen their grapes and retain
natural acidity. Their unique growing season allows for the development of complex fruit flavors, aromatics and nuances associated
with world-class wines. THE ULTIMATE WINE CELLAR CLUBShafer Vineyards - Napa CaliforniaShafer Vineyards traces its beginnings to 1972 when John Shafer left a 23-year career in the publishing industry and, with his
family, moved to the Napa Valley to pursue a second career in wine. After purchasing a 210-acre estate in Napa Valley's Stags Leap
District, the Shafer family faced the arduous task of replanting the existing vineyards, which dated to the 1920s, and terracing
the steep and rocky hillsides, eventually expanding vineyard acreage to its current 50 acres. Evolving from grape growers to
vintners, the Shafers crushed their first Cabernet grapes in 1978 and began construction on their winery a year later. The first
Shafer Cabernet became a benchmark, winning the acclaimed San Francisco Vintners Club taste-off upon release and, over a decade
later taking first place in an international blind tasting held in Germany, where it outranked such wines as Chateau Margaux,
Chateau Latour and Chateau Palmer. Doug Shafer became winemaker in 1983 after graduating from the University of California at
Davis with a degree in enology and viticulture. A year later Elias Fernandez joined the winery as assistant winemaker. Together
Doug and Elias have worked closely to forge the Shafer style of quality, consistency and elegance. Delas Freres - FranceDelas Freres is a winery of tradition and renewal. Founded 160 years ago in the heart of the northern Cotes du Rhone, the
winery enjoyed the dynamism of its original founders and their heirs and more recently, the renewed energy of the Lallier-Deutz
family, owners of champagne house, Champagne Deutz. Delas Freres and Champagne Deutz were acquired by the Champagne House of Louis
Roederer in 1993. Andre Lallier retired from daily winery duties in 1996, and Fabrice Rosset, a 20-year executive with Roederer,
has taken the helm at both Delas and Deutz. Today, the Delas wines are crafted by a panel of experts headed by winemaker Jacques
Grange. Together, the team makes wines that have been heralded for their intensity of flavor and excellent value. The winery was
updated in 1988 with new barrels and small wood barriques. These changes have made a remarkable difference, and critics have
remarked on the improved quality of the wines, which tended to be hard, dry and tannic in the 1970s and 80s. The majority of Delas
Freres 50 acres of vineyard holdings are in Hermitage, and three abundant reds are made there from the Syrah grape, the classic
varietal of the northern Rhone: Hermitage Les Bessards, Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette (red and white), and an Hermitage blend
from several vineyards. Other reds are made from grapes grown in Croze Hermitage, Chateauneuf du Pape, Cote Rotie, Condrieu, Cotes
du Rhone, and Cotes du Ventoux regions. Schiavenza - ItalyThe Schiavenza company operates in the territory of Serralunga d'Alba since 1956. The firm was started by brothers Vittorio and
Ugo Alessandria and is now managed by Vittorio's son-in-law Luciano Pira, his wife Maura and Maura's brother Walter. In the past
the farm and the surrounding lands were owned by the Opera Pia Barolo and the work was done by sharecroppers called "schiavenza".
It is from this tradition which derives the company's curious name. The Barolo zone can be broadly divided into two valleys. The
Serralunga Valley to the east includes the communes of Castiglione Falletto, Monforte d'Alba and Serralunga d'Alba. Planted with
soils higher in sand, limestone, iron, phosphorous and potassium, the wines of Serralunga Valley tend to be austere and powerful
and require significant aging (at least 12-15 years) to develop. The Central Valley to the west includes the communes of Barolo
and La Morra with soils higher in clay, manganese and magnesium oxide. This region tends to produce wines with more perfumed
aromas and velvety textures. These wines tend to be less tannic and full bodied than those from the Serralunga Valley and can
require less aging (8 to 10 years). The most widely planted and productive region of the Barolo zone is La Morra which is
responsible for nearly a third of all wine labeled as Barolo and produces twice as much wine as the next leading zone of
Serralunga d'Alba. SPARKLING WINE & CHAMPAGNE CLUBConde de Subirats - SpainThe vineyards for this winery once belonged to the Subirats Castle, hence Conde de Subirats. As a commercial concern, the
winery was started in 1948. In 1990 and 1991 the current vineyards were purchased and planted, including Chardonnay, a rarity at
that time. A new winery building with the latest winemaking technology was started in 2003 with construction being completed in
2005. The estate vineyards are planted predominantly to Chardonnay, with lesser amounts of Pinot Noir, Macabeo, Xarel-lo and
Parellada. Farming the vineyards is conducted vine by vine, with each vine getting differing amount of pruning, leaf thinning and
irrigation based on a technical analysis of the soils and exposition of the vineyards. Captiello Wines - Eugene, OregonThe name "Capitello" refers to the traditional Italian shrine that hosts a statue of a saint or Mother Mary and is positioned
in the vineyard to bless the vines and the people who live within the vineyard. Choosing this name to define the brand was
owner/winemaker Ray Walsh's way of abandoning the egoism of the industry by opting not to use name on the label. Instead he has
created an image that symbolized his own unique characteristics, a "New World" winemaker from under the Southern Cross bringing
new ideas, new approach, and a refreshing style of craft.
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