T O O RDER M ORE F EA T URED W INES C ALL 1-800-823-5527 T ODAY ! Volume 23 Number 12 The ©Vinesse Wine Club 2015 The SKU 25742 GrThe Officiala NewslepTTer fOrevine ViiNesse wiiNe club MeMbers How to Uncork a Holiday Gift Ideas Champagne Bottle for Those Into Wine Special Holiday Edition Perfect Wines for 2 Festive Recipes Holiday Gatherings Guests Will Love G E T Y OUR D AILY D OSE O F W INE N E W S A T http://blog.vinesse.com 2 • The Grapevine • Visit vinesse.com OUR MISSION: To uncover and bring you wine gems from around the world, which you’re ediTOr’s JOurNal not likely to discover on your own, and which enhance your wine enjoyment. YOUR GRAPEVINE TEAM: Timely Ideas to Make Intrepid Wine Enthusiast, Chief Taster and Winehound: Your Holidays Bright Martin Stewart Chief Operating Officer By Robert Johnson (aka “The Buck Stops Here”): Lawrence D. Dutra ell, the weather outside is frightful, but the wine Editor: Winside’s delightful, and since we’ve got wine to Robert Johnson pour, there’s no need to open the door. Wine Steward: Katie Montgomery And now you know why I stick to The Grapevine is published by Vinesse, writing about wine, and leave the 822 Hampshire Road, Suite E, Westlake songwriting to the experts. Village, CA 91361; 1-800-823-5527. Copyright by Vinesse, LLC. Printed in USA. In case you couldn’t figure it out No responsibility is assumed for loss or from the cover, this is our annual damage to unsolicited materials. Holiday Edition of The Grapevine. It’s packed with entertaining reading and Be good to the planet useful information to help you get the most out of the season — which RECYCLE means making sure that wine plays a big part in it. Need a gift idea for someone who At this most wonderful time of the is just as into wine as you are? Or CHARTER MEMBER year, we’ve devoted our Cellarmaster perhaps someone you’d like to have BENEFITS: feature to an extremely important catch the wine bug? Our Vinesse Style The Grapevine Newsletter topic: how to safely open a bottle department is devoted to ideas for Premium wine selections at of Champagne (or other sparkling holiday gifts that have a wine theme. members-only prices wine such as Prosecco from Italy or Of course, our Cookbook page Cava from Spain). It’s important for includes a pair of recipes that are best Wine tasting as a participant two reasons: 1. The methodology described as “festive,” with suggested on VINESSE’s Gold Medal Award Panel we suggest will help you avoid eye wine pairings included. injuries caused by flying corks, and And finally, our Food & Wine Pairing Complimentary subscription 2. It will help you enjoy the sparkling feature takes a detailed look at the to VINESSE’s Cyber Circle Community wine more by transferring the bubbles perfect wines for holiday gatherings. to your glass, rather than having them That means everything from a simple Random giveaways of wine escape in a spray of foam. game-day party to an elaborate New and accessories Speaking of sparkling wine, we’ve Year’s dinner, and from a holiday Wine Finders Reward — found a restaurant in New York City brunch for a few friends to a company identify a future wine selection where the sommelier takes pairing party for dozens. and earn a reward wine and pizza seriously — and he’s I always look forward to producing Perfectly matched recipes for using Champagne for most of his this issue of The Grapevine, and I hope featured wine selections recommended pairings. You can read you enjoy reading it just as much. Complimentary wine tasting more about it in our Vinesse Hot List Happy Holidays… and Happy New department. Year! Visit vinesse.com • The Grapevine • 3 How to (Safely) Remove a Champagne Cork ack in the “good old days,” a team B would win the World Series, and shortly thereafter, the cameras would take you inside the winning team’s locker room. Bedlam then would ensue as Champagne bottles would be opened, with corks flying in all directions and foam spraying from the bottles. Within a few seconds, the eyes of both the TV announcer and the players would be stinging. 1. Remove the foil on the top of the bottle. Those were not tears of happiness we saw on our screens. 2. Slowly “unwind” the wire “cage” handle. After this year’s World Series, most of the Kansas City 3. As you remove the cage, quickly place a hand towel Royals players were decked out in elaborate glasses to on top of the cork. protect their eyes. A few looked like they were going scuba 4. While gently pressing down, slowly twist the cork. diving. One can only wonder whether the company that Note: You need to press down in order to counter the provided that eyewear had to pay a placement fee. pressure of the bubbles inside the bottle. The glasses would not have been necessary had those 5. Keep holding the cork with the towel while it comes bottles of Champagne been opened properly — beginning out of the bottle’s neck. with admonishment to not shake them. Shaking builds the Instead of a loud “pop,” you’ll instead hear a gentle pressure inside the bottle and can transform a cork into a “poof,” and the wine will be ready to pour. dangerous flying object. By choosing “poof” over “pop,” you’ll be protecting Step by step, here’s how to remove a Champagne cork not only your eyes, but also those of everyone else in the safely: room. EACH SHIPMENT WINE COLOR MIX: INCLUDES: Reds, Whites, or Both ­­— • 4 bottles of the best finds It’s Your Choice! FEATURED WINES MADE from California FREQUENCY: IN CALIFORNIA EXCLUSIVELY! Approximately • Detailed Tasting Notes • Napa • Sacramento Delta for each wine Every Other Month • Sonoma • Amador County PRICE: • Santa Ynez • Mendocino Only $15-$17 average per bottle plus shipping • Monterey ... and More! To learn more about this Club, call 800-823-5527 or visit www.Vinesse.com 4 • The Grapevine • Visit vinesse.com A Major Award for Caymus Vineyards’ Chuck Wagner WINES THAT MATCH THE SEASON Summer — wines for barbecues, picnics or just for legendary Napa Valley sipping. Fall — wines for hearty, vintner has been honored harvest-time dishes. You get the A with one of the wine world’s most idea. All wines are selected by our prestigious awards — a nice way Tasting Panel to pair beautifully to begin the holiday season. with the foods you love. The American Wine Society selected Since 1971, the AWS Award of Merit Caymus Vineyards co-founder Chuck has been given to a wine industry EACH SHIPMENT INCLUDES: Wagner for the 2015 AWS Award of luminary. The basic criterion for the Merit. Wagner received the award at award is substantial and meritorious • 4 bottles of specially-selected the AWS Annual Conference’s Grand achievement in at least one phase wines Banquet on November 7. of wine activity, such as viticulture, • Detailed Tasting Notes for “Being recognized by the American enology, education, journalism or each featured wine Wine Society is a great honor,” said merchandising. Wagner, who started Caymus in 1972 For each nominee, consideration with his parents, Charlie and Lorna is given to his or her actual WINE COLOR MIX: Belle Glos Wagner. “After more than accomplishments in comparison to 40 years in the wine business, I’m others in the same field, and their Reds, Whites, or Mixed still learning, so the mission of AWS impact on improving the quality of FREQUENCY: to help people discover and enjoy wine, increasing or extending the the world of wine means a lot to me consumption or appreciation of wine, 4-times per year, plus a special personally.” and so on — in other words, the sum holiday shipment PRICE: Winery 4-1-1 $98.99 average per Caymus Vineyards shipment including shipping The winery is located in Rutherford, Calif., and seated tastings are available by appointment. The tasting lasts approximately 45 minutes and features wines from the Wagner Family portfolio, including To learn more about the “Special Selection” Cabernet Sauvignon, along with a small this Club, call 800-823-5527 sampling of artisan cheeses. The cost is $40 per person, or visit www.Vinesse.com and reservations may be made by calling 707-967-3010. Visit vinesse.com • The Grapevine • 5 Caymus Vineyards co-founder Their desire to Chuck Wagner do something truly special, and make the finest wines they can, drives them to try new techniques, refine & practices, and continue to improve the quality of their wines. Charlie Wagner Sr. began as a “home THE Fastest-groWING winemaker” in the CLUB IN VINESSE 1960s, using grapes HISTORY! total of accomplishments over a period planted behind their farmhouse, and of time. today his son, Chuck Wagner, continues A club for people who enjoy “Chuck Wagner started Caymus to make world-renowned Caymus a touch of sweetness in Vineyards with his parents at a time Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley. their wines. when Napa Valley was barely on the To date, Caymus is the only winery map, and he played a huge role in to ever receive Wine Spectator’s Wine Wines that are lighter in style, changing that,” said John Hames, of the Year award twice. Each time, it sometimes sparkle, Executive Director of the AWS. was for its “Special Selection” Cabernet occasionally blush, and are “Today, Caymus is a leading producer Sauvignon bottling.