October 21st - This Date in Wine History

/
Benalish_Muller-Thurgau.jpg

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence was born in 1449.  He was accused of plotting his brother Edward IV and was executed in the Tower of London by being drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine.

  • Horatio Nelson, Lord Admiral of the British Navy and the Hero of Trafalgar died in 1805. His body was placed in cask of brandy, mixed with camphor and myrrh and later transferred to a lead coffin filled with spirits of wine.

  • Hermann Müller, a Swiss botanist and oenologist created the Müller-Thurgau varietal in 1882 was born in 1850.

  • Ohio's Grand River Valley AVA was designated in 1983.

  • New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania Lake Erie AVA was designated in 1983.

  • California's Chalk Hill, Knights Valley, Russian River Valley AVA were designated in 1983.

  • Verbicaro DOC was created in 1995.

  • Wine for the Confused, a movie by John Cleese was released in 2004.

October 21st - This Date in Wine History

/
George_Plantagenet,_Duke_of_Clarence.jpg

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence was born in 1449.  He was accused of plotting his brother Edward IV and was executed in the Tower of London by being drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine.
  • Horatio Nelson, Lord Admiral of the British Navy and the Hero of Trafalgar died in 1805. His body was placed in cask of brandy, mixed with camphor and myrrh and later transferred to a lead coffin filled with spirits of wine.
  • Hermann Müller, a Swiss botanist and oenologist created the Müller-Thurgau varietal in 1882 was born in 1850.
  • Ohio's Grand River Valley AVA was designated in 1983.
  • New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania Lake Erie AVA was designated in 1983.
  • California's Chalk Hill, Knights Valley, Russian River Valley AVA were designated in 1983.
  • Verbicaro DOC was created in 1995.
  • Wine for the Confused, a movie by John Cleese was released in 2004.

Northern Sonoma - Wine Region of the Day

/
Northern_Sonoma_-_Fixed_2-Q_1024x1024.jpg

Northern Sonoma received its designation as an AVA in 1990. Situated over 329,000 acres, Northern Sonoma is home to sub-appellations Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Knights Valley, Rockpile, Russian River Valley, and Sonoma Coast.  It is the second largest appellation within Sonoma County.  It contains myriad elevations, soil types and climates.  It was designated, in large part to allow the term, "Estate" to be applied to vintages from large producers like Gallo and Rodney Strong but is home to some small producers as well.  The primary grape produced in this area is Cabernet Sauvignon but Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel are grown here as well.

2015 Petrified Forest Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc - Wine of the Day

/
2015 Petrified Forest Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

2015 Petrified Forest Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

$23

Pale yellow with a tinge of green, gooseberry , melon rind on the nose with a touch of Serrano pepper. The palate is lively with vibrant acidity and finishes seamlessly with flavors of kiwi and lime zest

The 2014 Vintage was warm and sunny from April on. That compounded with almost no rain contributed to early ripening and concentrated fruit. Reds will benefit from some bottle age and cellar well, this white wine is drinking beautifully right now.

The grapes were picked at dawn and whole cluster pressed immediately. The newly pressed juice was cold settled in tank overnight then racked off heavy solids to it’s fermentation tank and a small amount of neutral French oak barrels. The tank was inoculated with a proprietary yeast blend while the barrels were left to ferment with indigenous yeast. After a slow, cool fermentation the new wine was racked off the lees and bottled as early as possible to preserve it’s vibrant character.

2011 Petrified Forest Merlot - Wine of the Day

/
2011 Petrified Forest Merlot

2011 Petrified Forest Merlot

$36

"Smooth and elegant with red fruit notes of dried cranberry, raspberry, and strawberry jam.  Framing the mouthwatering fruit are toasty oak notes of chocolate and caramel.  This compelling and nuanced wine has great balance now and is sure to please for years to come."  Leigh Meyering, winemaker (January, 2014)

Northern Sonoma - Wine Region of the Day

/

Northern Sonoma received its designation as an AVA in 1990. Situated over 329,000 acres, Northern Sonoma is home to sub-appellations Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Knights Valley, Rockpile, Russian River Valley, and Sonoma Coast.  It is the second largest appellation within Sonoma County.  It contains myriad elevations, soil types and climates.  It was designated, in large part to allow the term, "Estate" to be applied to vintages from large producers like Gallo and Rodney Strong but is home to some small producers as well.  The primary grape produced in this area is Cabernet Sauvignon but Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel are grown here as well.

Northern Sonoma - Wine Region of the Day

/
Northern Sonoma

Northern Sonoma received its designation as an AVA in 1990. Situated over 329,000 acres, Northern Sonoma is home to sub-appellations Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Knights Valley, Rockpile, Russian River Valley, and Sonoma Coast.

2011 Petrified Forest Cabernet Sauvignon - Wine of the Day

/
2011 Petrified Forest Cabernet Sauvignon

 2011 Petrified Forest Cabernet Sauvignon

$48

"Aromas of black cherry, pepper, cola, and toasty oak.  Rich and silky texture with firm but yielding tannins.  The blackberry and black cherry fruit is complemented by the spice, pepper, and oak notes.  Drinking nicely now, but will age well for 10 years or more."  Leigh Meyering, winemaker (January, 2014).

2009 Petrified Forest Vineyards Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc

/

 2009 Petrified Forest Vineyards Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc

$39

"Wonderful floral aromas give way to flavors of pineapple, apricots, and citrus.  Its clean, crisp finish and just the right amount of sweetness make this wine the perfect accompaniment to both sweet and savory food pairings."  Baci Cafe & Wine Bar (2012).

Late harvest wines have always captivated our imagination. When we purchased our property in Knights Valley in 1987, the existing Sauvignon blanc vineyard surprised us with an area that provided the necessary conditions for botrytis cinerea each harvest. This “noble rot” has allowed us to coax an amazingly complex wine from our tiny hillside vineyard. Once only produced for family and close friends, we can now share the fruit of our passion with you.

2014 Petrified Forest Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc - Wine Region of the Day

/

2014 Petrified Forest Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

$23

The 2014 Vintage was warm and sunny from April on. That compounded with almost no rain contributed to early ripening and concentrated fruit. Reds will benefit from some bottle age and cellar well, this white wine is drinking beautifully right now.

Pale yellow with a tinge of green, gooseberry , melon rind on the nose with a touch of Serrano pepper. The palate is lively with vibrant acidity and finishes seamlessly with flavors of kiwi and lime zest

2010 Petrified Forest Cabernet Sauvignon - Wine of the Day

/

2010 Petrified Forest Cabernet Sauvignon

$48

"Dark red magenta in the glass, it's dark and yet bright.  The purity on the nose is impressive, with ripeness perfected and the oak balanced.  There's a sweet core of fruit on the palate, chock full of dark red cherries, cassis, wet tobacco and sweet earth.  60+second finish that has nice tannic grip without being 'drying'.  Impressively rich in all the right places, the wine continues to evolve with air, telling me that a two-hour decant is probably wise.  Drink now and for 7-8 more years for optimum drinking."  Chris at Calwine.  (Dec.2014)

"Don't fear the herbs.  This savory wine has a beautiful green olive and fresh herb character in small amounts, adding great complexity."  Sunset magazine, October 2015 issue.

Knights Valley - Wine Region Of The Day

/

Knights Valley 

The Knights Valley AVA is located on 37,000 acres in Sonoma County, California. Knights Valley was formally designated an AVA in 1983. The region is the eastern most region of Sonoma before you reach Napa County. Like much of Sonoma, the soil in the Knights Valley is volcanic and well draining. Knights Valley has the distinction of being the warmest climate in Sonoma County. The valley is free from coastal breezes that are frequently found in Sonoma and results in an ideal climate for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, the region produces Malbec, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and world-class Sauvignon Blanc.

Knights Valley Wines Available In The Qorkz Marketplace