Discover the Wines of Don Quixote's Spain

Don Quixote by Ciprian Frunza

The wineries of Castilla-La Mancha look forward to bringing their distinctive wines to three US cities during the week of February 24th 2014. Just as local ‘celebrity’, Don Quixote, traveled through his region seeking adventure and noble experiences, trade and press at the Castilla-La Mancha US tastings will do the same as they discover the wines of 25 participating producers. Each of these events will offer guests the opportunity to experience the wines and traditions of this distinctive region. The events will welcome members of US wine trade and press.

Castilla-La Mancha is the most expansive wine-producing region in the world. It is a land of fascinating foods and cultural traditions and, naturally, a wide variety of wines. The land, composed of limestone clay and a great variety of subsoils, makes the region ideal for growing grape vines. Within the Castilla-La Mancha area, there are nine appellations of origin, four estates with their own appellations and many ‘Geographical Indication Wines’.

After years of focus and investment in quality wine production and a very successful reception of our wines by industry professionals on the 2013 tour, Castilla la Mancha is excited to bring their distinctive traditions to new cities and educate press and trade about the quality and diversity of these wines through these tastings.

Each event in all three cities will be hosted by wine expert Geralyn Brostrom, Advanced Sommelier and Certified Wine Educator. She will share the winemaking history of the region of Castilla-La Mancha, the technical qualities of its wines, and the sales opportunity for these wines in the US market with the trade and press, followed by an afternoon walk-around.

The participating wineries include Alcoholes de Tomelloso, Bodegas Arrayan, Bodegas Cristo de la Vega, Bodega Dehesa de Luna, Bodega Familia Mateos de la Higuera, Bodegas Los Aljibes, Bodegas Real, Bodegas Romero de Avila, Bodegas San Dionisio, Bodegas Videl del Saz, Bodegas Yuntero, Bodegas Zagarron, Bogarve 1915, Dominio de Punctum, El Progreso, Encomienda de Cervera, Finca el Refugio, Finca la Blanca, Finca la Estacada, Finca Los Alijares, Finca Rio Negro, Ntra. Sra. De La Cabeza, Vinicola de Castilla, Vinicola de Tomelloso and Vinos & Bodegas.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Five Helpful Tips to Ensure A Memorable Napa Valley Vacation

TourVin.net, a Napa Valley concierge service specializing in creating custom winery tours based on your individual preferences, would like to offer 5 tips for anyone preparing to plan their next trip to the wine country. The wine tasting, dining, lodging accommodations and unique activities available in Napa are endless. Incorporating the following tips, or the expertise of a professional like Tour Vin, will help you create an unforgettable vacation experience.

Whether you consider yourself a wine connoisseur, a grape nut or just enjoy an occasional glass with dinner many consider Napa Valley to be the Holy Grail of wine production in the United States. Here is a bucket list checkmark that needs to be penned in before one takes the eternal afternoon nap. With that being said, the "Tour Vin", Napa Valley Concierge, would like to share with you 5 tips to consider when visiting Napa Valley.

1. Visit during high season

The right time to visit Napa depends on when you can visit and what activities you plan on participating in, but to industry professionals the best time to visit is the Fall. September to October is "Crush" time when the grapes are harvested. And in November the wineries are in full scale production, the weather is nice, the crowds dwindle and rates drop. The vineyards swing into full production mode and are full of action. The Summer months are enjoyable but draw the largest crowds especially on the weekends when day trippers from the “Bay area” compete with overnight visitors. Plan your trip in advance and your Napa Valley vacation will be enjoyable whenever you choose to visit.

2. Take advantage of deals

Most wineries charge between $25 and $50 per person, depending on the wines and food pairings. With that being said there are plenty of deals available to visitors . Many wineries offer free two-for-one coupons, or a % off of wine purchases, buy 2 bottles get one free or free vineyard tours. So do your research. A visit to Napa Valley should be a memorable experience for everyone that does not have to break the bank. Plan your trip accordingly and let Tour Vin help do your research in advance.

3. Choose centrally located lodging accommodations

Whether you're seeking a hotel close to night life and dining, or a remote vineyard setting, finding the perfect place to stay can be a daunting task for newcomers. It’s a 45 minute ride between the town of Napa in the south and Calistoga in the north. You can find a multitude of lodging options in this area but choosing one that is close to the wineries you are visiting and activities you are participating in is recommended. You will have more fun if you match where you stay to your plans and preferences. The towns of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga are all great locations with many lodging options to consider depending on the activities you have planned. Consulting with a concierge service is a great idea when planning your itinerary.

4. Stick to your itinerary

It's not called the Napa Valley Raceway! It is easy to get excited about the magnitude of offerings available to you when visiting the wine country. With so many options available to you it is difficult not to feel like a kid in a candy shop. For many visitors their vacation becomes one of quantity not quality. "On our first day we hit 5 wineries before noon, when do the rest of them close?” The Tour Vin suggests that "you take time to smell the grapes (roses), the Napa valley experience should not be a race". Plan your trip accordingly and leave time in between activities that allow for the occasional detour and try to relax. A well planned trip can be very rewarding.

5. Take advantage of the many unique activities Napa Valley has to offer

Yes, Napa produces world class wines that need to be explored but there are a multitude of other unique activities visitors can enjoy. Your Napa Valley vacation should be a memorable experience. Why not take a day off from wine tasting and enjoy some of the other activities Napa Valley has to offer? From hot air balloon rides, cycling tours, golf, tennis and hiking to live music and nightlife, culinary adventures, spas, galleries and shopping.

When planning your next Napa Valley Vacation remember to follow these 5 tips to ensure that your Napa experience is a memorable one. Tour Vin states that "The wine country is a beautiful place that begs to be explored and has something for everyone and every budget.”

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

World’s Leading Winemakers Descend on New Hampshire Next Week

In less than one week the biggest names in the wine world will flock to New Hampshire – not Napa Valley – for a week-long celebration of wine known as New Hampshire Wine Week. For the past 9 years New Hampshire Wine Week has attracted legends like Michael Mondavi, Cristina Mariani-May, Joel Peterson and Merry Edwards who participated in intimate wine dinners, exclusive panel discussions and tastings and the largest wine event in northern New England, the Winter Wine Spectacular. Dozens of wine industry titans, boutique vineyard owners and local producers will participate in the New Hampshire Liquor Commission’s 9th Annual New Hampshire Wine Week, which takes place January 27 – February 2. View a full list of celebrity appearances and register for events online at NHWineWeek.com.

“With dozens of intimate wine dinners in every corner of the state pairing delectable cuisine with fantastic wines, bottle signings, two exclusive wine discussions and tastings, and the Winter Wine Spectacular, Wine Week simply cannot be missed,” said Nicole Brassard Jordan, New Hampshire Liquor Commission Wine Marketing Specialist. “Only in New Hampshire will you be able to interact and learn directly from wine celebrities and sample a wide variety of wines. At some events, you can purchase the wines of your choice, and at the Winter Wine Spectacular attendees can pre-order their favorites with an exclusive show discount. Attendees can also use our all new, state-of-the-art web app with their smart phones.”

The New Hampshire Liquor Commission created Wine Week in 2005 after two great years of the Winter Wine Spectacular, the largest wine event north of Boston. This event gives customers the opportunity to sample some of the 7,000 wines available at New Hampshire’s 77 Liquor & Wine Outlets and allow them to meet with nationally and internationally acclaimed winemakers at dozens of events throughout the state.

“Wine Week taps into New Hampshire, and the region’s love of wine,” said Joseph W. Mollica, Chairman of the New Hampshire Liquor Commission. “With more than $273 million in wine sales last Fiscal Year, which marks a 7.3-percent increase from the previous year, New Hampshire is a significant player in the wine world. Our status draws the industry’s premier wine producers, who travel great distances each January to interact with our customers. The wine world has taken notice; New Hampshire is wine country.”

NHLC’s 9th Annual Wine Week features numerous events and celebrity bottle signings at select NH Liquor & Wine Outlets, celebrity wine dinners at some of New Hampshire’s leading restaurants and three signature events.

On Wednesday January 29th, NHLC will host two “Cellar Notes” series events, each featuring four elite wine experts for an educational tasting seminar, reception, bottle-signing and delicious hors d’oeuvres.

The Manchester Cellar Notes series will feature the following winemakers at the Puritan Backroom Event & Conference Center located at 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, NH:

• Rob Mondavi Jr. - President of Winemaking and Co-Founder, Folio Wine Partners & Michael Mondavi Family Estates
• Joel Peterson – Winemaker, Ravenswood Winery
• Farrah Felten- Jolley – Co-owner of Klinker Brick Winery
• Cheryl Indelicato – Owner, Handcraft Artisan Collection

Due to the success of last year’s Cellar Notes series a second event has been added for 2014. The Portsmouth Cellar Notes series will feature the following winemakers at the Portsmouth Harbor Events and Conference Center located at 100 Deer Street, Portsmouth, NH:

• Michael Philips – Co-owner and CEO, Michael David Winery
• Joseph Carr – Owner, Joseph Carr Wines
• Janice Mondavi – Co-proprietor, Charles Krug Winery
• Melissa Stackhouse – Vice-president / winemaking, J Vineyards & Winery

Wine Week culminates with the 11th Easter Seals Winter Wine Spectacular, the largest wine tasting in northern New England which takes place at the Radisson Hotel Manchester on Thursday, January 30th, from 6 to 9 p.m. Along with nearly 1,800 wines, the Winter Wine Spectacular features scrumptious local fare, a silent auction and raffle, the Bellman Cellar Select VIP tasting room, and the chance to meet and learn from more than 50 wine personalities. This marquee event drew a sold-out crowd of 1,500 people last year. The 2014 Winter Wine Spectacular will be hosted in the Radisson Hotel’s ballroom and Armory.

The New Hampshire Liquor Commission has launched a unique, one-of-a-kind web app that will enable visitors to use their mobile devices, phones or tablets, to explore the various wine products, make tasting notes, and even order their favorite selections from the event. The checkout process will allow the user to modify selections, select one of the 77 convenient store locations to pick up their order, and take full advantage of the 15% discount on the purchase of 6-11 bottles, or even 20% on 12 or more bottles.

The Winter Wine Spectacular raises much-needed funds for Easter Seals New Hampshire, which provides exceptional services to ensure that all people with disabilities or special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities.

“Proceeds from the Winter Wine Spectacular directly support our early intervention program,” said Christine Pederson, director of events and corporate relations with Easter Seals New Hampshire. “This statewide program provides much-needed services and therapy for hundreds of children ages three months to three years with a variety of developmental delays and physical disabilities. Studies have shown that these early intervention programs can help many children from needing support later in life.”

Tickets for the Grand Tasting cost $65 per person, and tickets providing access to the Grand Tasting and Bellman’s Cellar Select cost $125 per person.

“Wine Week is a week for everyone who enjoys wine,” Brassard Jordan said. “With so many wines to choose from in New Hampshire, wine can be overwhelming. That’s why Wine Week is such a great time to get out there, try something new, learn about its origins and appreciate all the great wines New Hampshire has to offer, from local and international wineries.”

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Make Plans Now for the 2014 Calabasas Malibu Wine & Food Festival

With a national advertising campaign resulting in over 100 million media impressions, the Calabasas Malibu Wine & Food Festival provides an unprecedented opportunity for local businesses to increase the amount of publicity and recognition that their brand receives. Local eateries and tourist attractions have had greatly increased traffic during past festival events, and this year is on track to break previous attendance records.

The festival offers businesses a great partnership and even greater visibility due to this massive national campaign. With premiere media partnerships such as the LA TIMES, Travelzoo, and other notable national publications, the Calabasas Malibu Wine & Food Festival brings added attention, revenue and good will to the community, all while benefiting a worthy cause.

This two week long event features a slate of tasting affairs that highlight numerous local eateries and restaurants, bringing media attention and new customers to local businesses that might not otherwise gain this level of exposure.

Local hotels and motels in Calabasas and Malibu have historically experienced a surge in occupancy rates, and are typically sold out during the two weeks of the Calabasas Malibu Wine & Food Festival.

Area restaurants and bars are packed during the two week festivities, and enjoy a proven increase in residual business that multiplies each year with the coming of the next festival. The impact of participating in previous festivals is now being felt by a variety of local businesses such as providers of scenic tours and excursions, specialty boutiques, auto mobile dealerships and a variety of shopping destinations.

Businesses in Malibu and Calabasas alike are seeing an increase in their profitability because of the traffic and visibility that a partnership with the festival brings. Local wineries report that they are filled with out of town guests looking to get their hands on the Malibu gold, some of the best wines that California has to offer.

More and more, this event is making a prominent impact not only on area businesses, but is giving back to the community as well. Last year, proceeds from the event were used to purchase all new equipment for the local high school.

Both businesses and the community benefit from the increased tourism and national recognition that this unprecedented media exposure will provide.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay Presents a Wine Blending Workshop

The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay is pleased to present a Wine Blending Workshop where guests will blend and create their own bottle of wine. Held on Saturday, January 18, 2014 from 2 to 4 p.m., the workshop is $75 per person, including tax and gratuity.

Guests will swirl, sniff, and taste glasses of single varietal cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc that will be blended together to create a personally crafted wine. The resort’s blending guide will lead guests through an education of grape varietals and a blending session using graduated cylinders and beakers.

Once the perfect percentages of grapes have been determined, the wine will be bottled, corked and highlighted with a label designed during the workshop. The Wine Blending Workshop includes education and instruction of wine blending, light hors d’oeuvres and one 750 ml bottle of wine. Advance reservations are required and can be made by calling (650) 712-7000.

Situated 23 miles southwest of the San Francisco International Airport, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay is a 261-room destination spa and golf coastal hotel and the San Francisco Bay Area’s only oceanfront resort. Set atop a rugged bluff overlooking 50 miles of pristine California coastline, the timeless oceanfront estate provides guests with a relaxed yet refined experience, whether for a romantic getaway, meeting or special event.

For more information on fall activities, please contact The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay at (650) 712-7000. For room reservations, contact a travel professional, visit RitzCarlton.com/hmb or call Ritz-Carlton worldwide reservations at (800) 241-3333. Visit ExperienceHalfMoonBay.com to learn more about the destination.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Wine Country Gift Baskets Now Offers Fresh Fruit Gift Baskets

Wine Country Gift Baskets, the premier supplier of gourmet food and wine gift baskets, recently expanded their selection of fruit gift baskets. Fresh apples, pears and oranges arrive at their peak ripeness with an assortment of other Wine Country favorites including Ghirardelli chocolate, crackers, Sonoma Jacks cheese spread, truffles and chocolate gingerbread cookies. Two of their more popular fruit basket selections include your choice of Cliffside Vineyards cabernet sauvignon or chardonnay.

“We were a little surprised that customers were asking for fruit gift baskets with wine; most of our wine gift baskets have specially selected sweet and savory assortments that complement those specific wines in that gift basket,” says David Casares, Wine Country Gift Baskets Director of Sales. “But I guess it goes to show you, wine makes everything better.”

Fruit gift baskets and fruit gift towers start under $25. The Deluxe Fruit Assortment, a bounty of goodness with 7 oranges, 5 apples, 5 pears chocolate, crackers and more, is $79.95 with free shipping. Not quite as healthy but just as exciting are their assortments of chocolate dipped strawberries and apples, some drizzled with caramel or rolled in nuts!

Every fresh fruit gift basket comes with a free personalized greeting card so you can send friends a customized greeting.

To order your fruit gift baskets, wine gifts or fruit and wine gift baskets, go to WineCountryGiftBaskets.com. Gift consultants are also available by phone 24/7 at (800) 394-0394 or online chat.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Chabot Space and Science Center and Dashe Cellars Launch THE COMET Wine

Chabot Space & Science Center, in partnership with Oakland-based Dashe Cellars, announces the launch of THE COMET, a new wine produced and named to honor the Comet ISON, the recent comet attracting extraordinary media attention in November.

THE COMET follows in a centuries old tradition of "comet vintages," in which vintners would create a special wine to commemorate years in which major comets passed Earth. Dashe Cellars has renewed the tradition with a unique limited edition wine, and 10% of the proceeds from sales of THE COMET will be donated to Chabot Space & Science Center.

According to Dashe Cellars, "THE COMET was created by carefully selecting individual barrels of old-vine zinfandel made from the Todd Brothers Ranch in Alexander Valley, a high end vineyard in Sonoma County. These selected barrels were then blended with a small amount of dark, intense Petite Sirah to add balance. The wine include with intense aromas of black raspberry, wild cherry, and black currant fruit, with highlights of chocolate and black pepper spice. In the mouth, the wine has a great velvety texture and explosive flavors of blackberry, cassis, plum, clove, and black pepper, with a long, spicy finish that lasts for minutes. A rich, full-bodied wine, THE COMET has the intensity and complexity that is the perfect accompaniment to holiday feasts of any type."

Chabot CEO Alexander Zwissler stated, "Our partnership with Dashe Cellars is based on our mutual appreciation of science. Michael and Anne Dashe – both with science backgrounds – share our commitment to strengthening science education in our community. We hope Chabot supporters and wine enthusiasts will gift THE COMET to their friends and family, and spark discussions of what's happening in astronomy and science."

Although the Comet ISON was predicted to be "the comet of the century" by some astronomers, it fizzled out spectacularly on Thanksgiving Day after its perihelion, or journey close to the Sun. THE COMET wine is expected to have a longer life, but production is limited to 100 cases. THE COMET is available directly from Dashe Cellars at $35 a bottle, or by the case, and can be ordered online at DasheCellars.com or may be purchased from Dashe Cellars at the tasting room, located at 55 4th St. in the Jack London Square Historic Warehouse district.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Italian Wine Sets a New Trend Among Russian Consumers

The tenth edition of Vinitaly Russia opens with a flurry of bottles and ends with a smile as producers, importers, journalists and key players of the Russian world of wine share with Vinitaly International their optimistic view of the future of Italian wine in a difficult but promising market where all that is Italian has become fashionable and stylish.

“Italian wine is a great success story in the Russian market, it sells more and more and we love to spend money on it: we love Italy, we love to go to Italy and we love to spend money on Italian wine inside Russia. Italy is fashionable and very successful” said Igor Serdyuk, nominated in 2007 the "Most Influential Wine Writer" by Meininger's Who's Who in Russia and recently appointed Chief analyst for Simple Wine News.

The love for Italian wine, culture and food is also shared by top brasses of some of the most important Importing Companies in Russia such as Irina Fomina, Chairman of the Board at MBG and Dmitry Pinsky, Manging Director of DPTrade who also stressed that the strength of Italian wines in Russia owes a lot to the great success of Italian cuisine: “You can count hundreds and hundreds of Italian restaurants in Moscow and Trattorias and that's what is supporting the sales of Italian wines. Another advantage to Italian wines is a much better price to quality ratio than that of French wines. If we consider our portfolio, our sales are 40% Italian wines in value and only 22 to 25 % French. I personally consider the destiny of Italian wines in Russia as absolutely positive.”

Russia is undoubtedly a market that we need to target since it quite obviously loves the Italian style.” Says Daniela Mastrobernardino from Terradora Winery and President of Movimento del Turismo del Vino. “Vinitaly International is the best way to promote Italian wine especially since it helps consumers acquire a better knowledge of the excellence and richness of Italian produce”. Slow Food’s wine guide, Slow Wine, is at its third stop, after New York and Hong Kong, of a year long collaboration with Vinitaly International: “I am positively impressed by this event, not only because it has been a success but also because of the high level of interest shown by operators and consumers” explains Fabio Giavedoni. “ We know we have a great appeal here in Russia but I did not expect attendees to be so interested not only in the wine itself but also in the land and the way in which wine is produced. This is exactly the message we try to convey to all our readers though our guide.”

“This year’s edition of Vinitaly Russia was mostly focused on the quality of attendees rather than the quantity, thanks to a strict selection carried out through a double level registration system” explained Stevie Kim, Managing Director of Vinitaly International. “Talking with importers, journalists and producers during the event the general sentiment was that Italian wine has become the new trend of the moment in Russia. If we take advantage of this tendency and work as a team we can strengthen our presence in the Russian Market. In the mean time, we have been trying to help people live our events in real time through a continuous stream of videos, photos and information, which were published throughout the event on all our social media channels. We don’t presume to be perfect but we are really keen on engaging as much as possible all those producers, importers and Italian wine drinkers who follow us with such enthusiasm.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

A Journey Through the Veneto Coming to New York City

During the month of December, New York City will be home to various wine and culinary events dedicated to celebrating the great wines of the Veneto just in time for the holidays. The month-long schedule of festivities is brought to the city by U.Vi.Ve., the ‘Union Consortia of Veneto Wines’, and will kick off on December 2nd with a press event at Eataly's La Scuola Grande, epicenter of the promotion and flagship store in the US for all things Italian.

As part of the month-long celebration, all of Eataly’s restaurants will pour signature wines from participating consortia including Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, Lugana DOC, Lessini Durello DOC, Montello e Colli Asolani DOC Prosecco DOC, Soave DOC and Valpolicella DOC. Consumers will also be able to learn more about the great wines of the Veneto in weekly classes, and there will be tastings at the wine store and Eataly’s La Piazza on Fridays and Saturdays.

"Move the Passion" is an exclusive event promoted by U.Vi.Ve. taking place on December 3, 2013. It is the first wine “marathon” to be held through the streets of Manhattan. From 6 to 10 pm, tastings will be held at seven different locations, which include some of the most popular stores and restaurants in the Big Apple, to taste the fine wines of the seven Italian consortiums. The locations have been chosen for their combination of Made-in-Italy style and exclusivity: from Urbani Truffles to Giovanni Rana’s restaurant, the Arc Linea design showroom to the wine & food temples of Astor Center, Risotteria Melotto, Revel, and Maslow 6. The participants will receive a kit with a wine tasting pouch, a map, a notebook and can explore these seven locations to discover wonderful Veneto wines matched with Italian gastronomic specialties. The official sponsors are: Urbani Tartufi, Sanpellegrino, Pasta De Cecco, Risotteria Melotti, Arc Linea Cucine, Loison Pasticceria, Revel, and Giovanni Rana. Guests can register for the event upon invitation at http://www.movethepassion.com.

An additional trade tasting event, "Secret Somm," will be held at Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria in the heart of NoHo the night of December 4th. Fellow sommeliers will mingle and toast the holidays by exchanging their favorite bottle of Veneto wine in a casual, festive setting.

Located in northeast Italy, the Veneto is the largest producer of DOC wines in the "Tre Venezie", a group of three highly prolific Italian wine regions, named after the ancient Venetian Republic. From the foothills of the Alps to the coast of the Adriatic, the Veneto’s diverse terroir is well-suited to both red and white varietals. Home to the world’s largest wine fair every spring, Vinitaly, the Veneto boasts a wide range of popular grapes, both indigenous and native.

Participating producers are: Astoria, Bellenda, Bosco Malera, Bottega, Ca' Lojera, Canella, Cantina del Castello, Cantina di Soave, Cantina Riondo, Cantina di Monteforte, Cesari, Corte Moschina, Dal Cero (Tenuta di Corte Giacobbe) , Gerardo Cesari, La Tordera, Le Colture, Marcato, Mionetto, Monte del Fra', Montelvini, Otella, Santa Sofia, Tenuta degli Ultimi, Tinazzi, Toffoli, Valdellovo, Valdo, Vicentini, Villa Sandi, Zardetto, Zenato, Zonin. To learn more about the events being held throughout New York City in December, please visit:
VenetoWinesNYC.com

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Create a Masterpiece While Drinking Wine

Pinot’s Palette is born. Pinot’s Palette-Stamford is a Paint and Sip Studio providing guests with a great night out - an entertaining evening of interactive art and wine.

Pinot's Palette announces today the opening of an Interactive Art Studio in the Harbor Point area of Stamford. The new studio, located at 2200 Atlantic St. #109, is scheduled to open December 14th 2013 and will be the latest launch for the Pinot’s Palette franchise as the growing company expands nationwide.

Guests sign up online at PinotsPalette.com to attend a two-hour or three-hour painting class where they are instructed by a local, trained artist on how to recreate the featured painting of the night. Patrons will enjoy vibrant music, refreshing adult beverages and snacks while painting their very own masterpiece, which they get to take home at the end of the evening.

Pinot’s Palette will provide everything needed: Art supplies, plates and wine glasses—all guests need do is show up and prepare to have fun for an evening as the artist they never thought they could be. In short, Pinot’s Palette-Stamford is Fairfield county’s best night out, where customers can go to Paint. Drink. Have Fun.

Franchisee Chad M. Smith, and Joanne Christena Amico, residents of Stamford, will open the studio location in the city’s newest up and coming area--Harbor Point. Pinot's Palette will be celebrating arrival into this vibrant area of Stamford with the 14 December Grand Opening where engaging artists will walk customers through a fun holiday-inspired painting to kick off the December calendar. Studio Manager Christena Amico says 'There will be nibbles and door prizes and raffles. Wine and beer is always reasonably priced and available for purchase at our fully-stocked bar. A media night will be held on December 11th, where influencers and bloggers in the community can come and enjoy all Pinot’s Palette has to offer.'

“We expect Stamford to be a terrific market for Pinot’s Palette," says owner Chad Smith. He continues, ‘This is a community that is highly supportive of the arts and always keen to get the most from a night out. This is where Pinot’s Palette comes in. We take our motto of Paint. Drink. Have Fun very seriously and think the local community will embrace our concept with open arms. Whether it’s for Girls Night Out, a Bachelorette, a Corporate Party, Date Night, Mobile Events or even a thoughtful Gift Certificate, we have many ways to bring the party to you.’

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Wine Country Gift Baskets now offering Hello Kitty Wine Gifts

Hello Kitty's adult fans can now enjoy five varietals of Hello Kitty wine! This sophisticated collection is produced by Torti "Tenimenti Castelrotto" Wines. From sparkling wines from Italy to fruit forward red & white wines from California, Hello Kitty wines make a great gift and are perfect for any special occasion!

Hello Kitty Sweet Pink in a special limited edition bottle, Sparkling Italian Spumante, Sparkling Rosé, California Chardonnay and Red Wine are available by the bottle, in mixed assortments and will soon be available in several Hello Kitty wine gift baskets.

To order Hello Kitty wine and wine gifts, go to WineCountryGiftBaskets.com. Gift consultants are also available by phone (800) 394-0394 or online chat.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Pine Mountain Cloverdale Peak Elevating the Taste of Wine

The Pine Mountain - Cloverdale Peak (PM-CP) Appellation Winegrowers Association recently hosted its first official tasting event at AQ Restaurant in San Francisco. The happy attendees included members of the wine industry, media and marketing people from around the bay area and wine educators from San Francisco Wine School and elsewhere.

The program began with a welcome from Barry Hoffner, president of the PM-CP winegrowers organization sponsoring the event. He expressed the sentiment of the appellation growers that PM-CP grows very special grapes under the most arduous of growing conditions, in terms of terroir, temperatures, elevation and isolation.

Mr. Hoffner was followed by Joe Benziger (Imagery Estate Winery) and Mark Burningham (Vice President, Winegrowing for Benziger Family) who talked about their 15 years of making wine from Pine Mountain grapes with a particular focus on Bordeaux Reds. They explained that this Bordeaux focus is the best use of the soft tannins, dark colors and distinct flavors resulting from the long hang-time possible on Pine Mountain. They also talked about the beautiful nature that exists in this fairly isolated and relatively undisturbed mountain.

The wines available for tasting, all made from Pine Mountain grapes, included several Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings from Coppola, Ampère, Treasure Island Wines, Bergeron Monks, Respite Wines, Miro Cellars, Captûre Wines and Arbios Cellars. Malbec and Sauvignon Blanc from Imagery Estates as well as a Chardonnay from Captûre were also offered.

The growers on the mountain include Oak Ridge Ranch and Vineyards, Pine Mountain Vineyards, Reichel Vineyards, Silverwood Ranch, Sky Pine Vineyards and Tin Cross Vineyards. All are very serious growers focused on ultra-premium grapes. About half of those produce their own wines including Sky Pine Vineyards (Bob Dog Wines), Reichel Vineyards (Respite Wines), Tin Cross Vineyards (Captûre Wines) and Pine Mountain Vineyard (Ampère). Many employ renowned winemakers to exploit the exceptional fruit produced on Pine Mountain. Winemakers May-Britt Malbec, Denis Malbec and Thomas Rivers Brown, among others, are producing amazing Cabernet Sauvignon. (The only winery actually on the mountain is Bob Dog Wines which is owned by Kandy Ward the proprietor of Sky Pines Vineyards.)

Matt Semmelhack, co-proprietor of AQ Restaurant, (1085 Mission Street, San Francisco) described the food preparations that were being offered at the event. All the vegetables, game and olive oil were obtained from or produced with Pine Mountain farm/ranch-to-table items. The Smoked Wild Boar Sausage and the Wild Boar Rillettes (with Crostini and Raisins) used wild boar from Split Rock Springs Ranch on Pine Mountain. The vegetables came from Hoffner's Silverwood Ranch while olive oil from Split Rock Springs Ranch and Silverwood Ranch was served for tasting and used in the preparations. Other menu items included: Autumn Vegetable & Goat Cheese Frittata, Wild Boar Sliders with Tomato Jam and Aged Cheddar, Local Farmstead Cheeses and Chilled Heirloom Tomato Soup.

The common theme from the feedback received at the event was how consistently good the wines poured and paired at the event were. Other comments identified the intense concentration, velvety tannins, consistency in structure and fruit profile among the reds and black fruit combined.

Perhaps most astute were the comments about the "feel" of the appellation, the community, and the similarities in terroir among the wines offered. That feeling is likely created by the community of Pine Mountain residents, ranchers, farmers and winegrape growers.

In addition to the focus on growing premium high-elevation winegrapes, Pine Mountain Cloverdale Peak members are passionate about preserving the abundant and special natural environment and history that has long been known as Pine Mountain near the town of Cloverdale. The Winegrowers associations prides itself on having a number of members who are not winegrape growers like Matt Semmelhack (Longview Ranch). Jamie White and Joakim Silvanderson, the owners of Solliden on Pine Mountain (soon to be an ecological retreat with Scandinavian sensibilities) are also members. They are bringing their artistic skills and PM-CP supporter-friends into the fold to help with the marketing of the new AVA and in the process, creating a strong community of sustainable ranchers/farmers.

"The sky is the limit for this area and it is where one of our signature vineyards is located," says Joe Benziger.

Pine Mountain - Cloverdale Peak AVA was approved by the Federal Tobacco, Tax & Trade Bureau for AVA designation in December 2011 and is highlighted by a small number of growers using sustainable vineyard practices on their high elevation vineyards.

For more information on the Pine Mountain Cloverdale Peak AVA, please see pinemountainava.org.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

5 Amazing Benefits from Drinking Wine

1. A Longer Life

Those who drink wine have a 34 percent lower mortality rate than beer or spirits drinkers, according to a Finnish study of 2,468 men over a 29-year period, published in the Journals of Gerontology.

2. Reduces Risk of Heart Disease

Red-wine tannins contain procyanidins, which protect against heart disease. Wines from Sardinia and southwest France have more procyanidins than other wines revealed a study at Queen Mary University in London.

3. Lowers Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

It has been found that moderate drinkers have 30 percent less risk than nondrinkers of developing type 2 diabetes. These were the findings from Amsterdam's VU University Medical Center based on 369,862 individuals studied over an average of 12 years each.

4. Can Lower the Risk of Stroke

For those who consume moderate amounts of alcohol, the possibility of suffering a blood clot–related stroke drops by about 50 percent. This encouraging fact was uncovered by a Columbia University study of 3,176 individuals over an eight-year period.

5. Slows Decline of Brain Function

Maybe the most impressive stat of all, brain function declines at a markedly faster rate in nondrinkers than in moderate drinkers according to a Columbia University study of 1,416 people.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Seneca Lake Wine Trail in New York Announces Chocolate and Wine Weekend

Enjoy a self-guided tour around beautiful Seneca Lake. Pick up your gift item at your chosen starting winery then start sampling chocolates, or foods prepared with chocolate, creatively paired with wine. Over the 2-1/2 day event, visit over 30 unique participating wineries and enjoy a weekend of fun and relaxation.

Spending the weekend with a loved one, sampling wine and eating an diverse variety of chocolate and chocolate-themed dishes... there is no better way to your love for each other than by enjoying this weekend-long event together. Regular tickets purchased in advance are $35 per person.

Each attendee will enjoy a complimentary sample of the dish served by the winery, paired with about 3 different modest samples of wine intended to complement that dish best. With so many wineries participating in our events, attendees oftentimes visit many wineries in a day, therefore entire flights of wine samples are not served by each winery during the event. Certainly if you're especially enthusiastic about the samples you enjoyed initially, you will be permitted to purchase an entire flight.

For more information: SenecaLakeWine.com

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Picking the Perfect Business Dinner Wine is Both an Art and a Science

“Wine is bottled poetry,” said Robert Louis Stevenson, author of “Treasure Island.” Colleen Fanning of Grey Market Wine agrees and offers half-a-dozen insights on how to choose the just right wine to help produce an enjoyable business dinner.

“If you're looking to build your own knowledge of wine, explore smaller labels and a variety of grape options, consider attending wine tastings or hosting a wine tasting in your home with multiple clients,” Fanning suggests. “This can be successfully done with simple planning and a straight-forward budget.”

Here are Fanning’s insights on “Picking the Perfect Business Dinner Wine,” followed by her comments on each:

INSIGHT #1: Use the best available resources. “If the restaurant has a sommelier, get them involved right away. If there is no sommelier, a well-informed server can certainly help. Let the wine expert do the work; they will guide you toward the right bottle by considering menu choices, taste and price.”

INSIGHT #2: Find something on the wine list at the right price point and suggest it to your server. “That will discreetly signal your wine budget and help the staffer make appropriate suggestions. Keep in mind you may need multiple bottles. Each bottle pours four to five glasses; plan two glasses per person. Keep in mind there are more wine options than simply red or white and don't be afraid to test out a few new bottles at your dinner. Maybe you'll all find a new winner, and the simple act of trying something new together opens the door for flowing conversations and creating solid memories.”

INSIGHT #3: Take the pressure off yourself. “Seriously! A lot of people who claim to know a lot about wine simply don't. Don't worry about impressing them. Instead, trust your choice of restaurant and their wine selection. I often choose business dinner locations according to the wine list; think of it as an insurance policy. If you're unsure of a restaurant's wine list, you can often find just what you need to know by visiting their website. Some restaurants also offer flights of wines—this is another great way to try new wines in a casual way.”

INSIGHT #4: Consider your goals. “This is a wonderful opportunity to express something about yourself and your company to your guests. Trying to revolutionize your industry? Choose a boutique bottle with a lesser-known grape variety like [Cabernet Franc, Grenache, or Torrontes. Position it as a tasting adventure for the table to experience together. Instilling confidence in the longevity of your brand? No need to reinvent the wheel. Go with a time-honored favorite like a great Napa Valley or Washington Cabernet Sauvignon, an Oregon Pinot."

INSIGHT #5: Pairing food and wine is a great bonus. “Ask your server for help if this is not in your wheelhouse. Servers generally delight in the opportunity and could take your night's dinner to a new level of entertainment. As a fine dining server I jumped at the chance to help guests have the perfectly paired bite. Why? The total is so much greater than the sum of the parts. In other words, even if the bottle you choose isn't a guest's favorite, a spot-on food pairing can make it a show-stopper.”

INSIGHT #6: Remember to trust yourself. “You don't have to be well-informed about wine to choose a great bottle. Use the resources at hand; pay attention to your surroundings. Use your instincts. In other words, use the same skills that helped you get your client in the first place.”

And one more thing to remember: “Life is too short to drink bad wine.”

For more information about Grey Market Wine, visit GreyMarketWine.com or call (317) 515-4397.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Central Coast Wine & Food to Host Live Twitter Simultasting with California Winemaker Wes Hagen of Clos Pepe

Central Coast Wine & Food will host wine bloggers and enthusiasts from every corner of the United States on November 13th to a simultaneous tasting of wine from Clos Pepe and a live Twitter Q&A session with Wes Hagen (@WesHagen), renowned vineyard manager and winemaker at Clos Pepe Vineyards. For the tasting, bottles of 2009 Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir will be shipped to a short list of participating bloggers from across the country.

“In the vineyard, my job is to get out of the way and let the dirt do the talking,” said Hagen. “Now we get to use technology to enhance the last great analog experience in American culture - sitting around a table sharing food and wine.”

Join in on November 13th at 5:30 PM Pacific/7:30 CST/8:30 EST to ask your questions and learn the finer points of the vine. By using the hashtag #DirtDontLie on Twitter, any messages will automatically become part of the discussion.

Central Coast Wine & Food recently hosted a video simultasting with Morgan Clendenen, “the Queen of Viognier,” at the Texas Wine School in Houston.

“I was surprised, it was my first time doing a video tasting like this, but it really felt like we were in the same room together,” said Clendenen, winemaker at Cold Heaven Cellars. “It was fun and I’d do it again.”

Central Coast Wine & Food, a marketing and new media campaign, connects the up-and-coming agricultural regions between Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz with wine and food enthusiasts through social media and pop-up tasting events.

“Using social media channels like this creates a deep connection with the wine that you can’t get unless you visit the vineyard for a private tour,” said William Fernandez, founder of Central Coast Wine & Food. “Anyone with an internet connection can join and ask a small production winemaker questions while they taste their wine - that kind of access is priceless.”

The country’s best wine bloggers will participate in the simultaste, including:

• Amy Power and Joe Power - AnotherWineBlog.com
• Joe Roberts - 1WineDude.com wine reviewer
• Pamela Heiligenthal - Enobytes.com
• Melanie Ofenloch - DallasWineChic.com
• Frank Morgan - DrinkWhatYouLike.com
• Dezel Quillen - MyVineSpot.com
• Megan Kenney - WannabeWino.com
• Dave Nershi - Toledo Wines & Vines
• Nannette Eaton - Wine Harlots
• Mary Cressler - Vindulge
• Matt Horbund - A Good Time with Wine and TV Personality

The campaign is currently halfway through a national pop-up tasting tour that spans from Santa Barbara to Phoenix, Houston, New Orleans, Miami, and Key West, Florida.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Valdellövo's Anno Zero Extra-Dry Prosecco Now Available in New York

Valdellövo winery is located in what the local farmers call the “Valley of the wolf”, in the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene area, in Veneto, Italy and Benedetto Ricci with his wife Clotilde are behind this estate.

Annozero is Valdellövo's signature extra-dry prosecco, which combines the best of Valdellövo grapes with the latest winemaking technology, to obtain a sparkling wine that’s elegant, smooth and fresh with a broad array of aromas that capture the essence of the Conegliano’s lush and sunny hillsides. Anno Zero means “year zero”, when it all began for Valdellövo. “We’re taking care of our vineyards following the uses and tradition of the local farmers” says Clotilde. “There are people harvesting the grapes, not machines”.

"We met Benedetto and Clotilde at the award ceremony of the 2012 New York International Wine Competition," said Gal Keren, co-founder of Santa Armosa, which brings authentic wines and olive oils to the New York and New Jersey states. Santa Armosa was awarded Importer of the year, while Valdellövo also received a medal for Anno Zero. “As for all Santa Armosa’s wines, Valdellövo makes no compromise on quality.”

About Valdellövo

The winery is located in a hilly area between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, and extends for about 10 hectares with production of Prosecco DOCG Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. The wines are made only from grapes grown in the Valdellövo vineyards.

About Santa Armosa

Santa Armosa is an importer of wines and olive oils established in 2009. Santa Armosa imports products that are expressions of the terroirs where they come from. This attachment to tradition and roots translates into wines that give a unique drinking experience and olive oils that are fragrant, vibrant and unlike any other you have tasted before. Additionally, Santa Armosa wines and olive oils are environmentally-friendly, as they are produced by very attentive to the nature farmers and winemakers.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Take the Fun-filled Café Bus to Exotic Winery Locations Around Melbourne

Whether one is planning his or her first ever trip, or is coming back for the love of this city; no trip in Melbourne can ever be complete without Café Bus’s holistic tour of its magnificent wine regions.

Considering the ever famous café culture in Melbourne, Café Bus offers a fine balance of two of the biggest specialties of the region - by offering a unique wine touring option in a small bus that comes with large and comfortable lounge seats that help create a warm and enjoyable atmosphere for each tour group.

A Café Bus tour to Yarra Valley or the Mornington Peninsula, will present exclusive gourmet experiences that are representative of the local farms and its produce. The Café Bus has designed a range of tours that can include some exquisite experiences in the form of wine tasting tours and chocolate, cheese, strawberries and cider tasting tours as well.

Combine this with impeccably prepared gourmet picnic lunches topped off with refreshing afternoon teas, and one is bound to come back with elegant memories that can certainly spark some romance.

The Café Bus company also provides private charter tours in the Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley and some other popular regions in and around Melbourne. With a service to customize its packages to meet the needs of individuals and groups, many travelers simply love to include attractions such as the hot springs in Mornington Penninsula, the Healesville Sanctuary with special gourmet winery lunches.

At an extremely affordable price, experience a memorable ride for wine and cider tastings with a professional tour guide to help you make the most of your experience.

Furthermore, Café Bus also provides door to door pick-up service from many hotels all over Melbourne.

Tourists simply love visiting the ‘River of Mists’ in the Yarra Valley. This particular tour includes an exclusive chocolaterie and Ice-Creamery, the Napoleon and Co Cider where refreshing handcrafted ciders created by one of the largest producers of apples and stone fruits in the country can be sampled. Also visit the dairy that offers a mouthwatering selection of cheeses and gourmet deli goods.

Get a chance to visit popular wineries like the Domonique Portet Winery, the illara Estate Winery and the Payne’s Rise Winery.

A trip on Café Bus is made extremely comfortable with the help of unlimited coffee onboard the Café Bus and a range of other items such as fresh produce, tea and snacks.

Plan a tour with friends or family and come back with memories that will last you a lifetime!

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Chicago Area Restaurant Waterleaf to Host Beckmen Wine Dinner on November 14

The evening begins with a Champagne Reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by an exclusive four-course prix fixe dinner complete with Beckman wine pairings beginning at 7 p.m. The exclusive Beckman Vineyards wine dinner is offered at a price of $75 per guest plus taxes/gratuities. Limited spots are available. To make reservations, call (630) 942-6881.

Executive Chef Nadia Tilkian works closely with General Manager Jean-Pierre Leroux to expertly pair her menu with Beckmen wines. The first course of Ceviche of Laughing Shrimp is paired with 2012 Beckmen Sauvignon Blanc Purisima Mountain; followed by the second course, Kaboucha Squash Soup, paired with 2011 Beckmen Cuvee Le Bec Blanc Purisima Mountain. The third course, Roasted Sirloin of Beef, is paired with 2011 Beckmen Cabernet Sauvignon Purisima Mountain. The dessert course features Pumpkin-Caramel Mousse Cake paired with 2011 Beckmen Syrah Purisima Mountain.

About Beckman Winery

Founded in 1994 by Tom and Steve Beckmen, Beckmen Vineyards is a family-run, estate winery located in Santa Barbara County's Santa Ynez Valley. Since its founding, Beckmen Vineyards has emerged as one of North America's premier producers of Rhone varietal wines, while also helping to establish Santa Barbara County as one of California's most highly regarded winegrowing regions.

Eager to return to his farming roots, and convinced of the Santa Ynez Valley's vast potential to produce world-class wines, Tom Beckmen began searching for promising vineyard property in the early '90s. He found what he was looking for on a 40-acre parcel of land with an existing small winery. There he established Beckmen Vineyards. Working together, Tom and Steve began revitalizing the site. Convinced that the vineyard had been planted incorrectly, they painstakingly removed the 16 original acres of vines, and replanted the vineyard with carefully selected varietals, clones and rootstocks.

Committed to building a world-class estate-vineyard program, the Beckmens also purchased a spectacular, unplanted 365-acre Santa Ynez Valley ranch in 1996. Naming it Purisima Mountain Vineyard, Tom and Steve began a meticulous planting process designed to maintain the natural diversity of the site. With an ideal climate and rare limestone subsoils similar to those found in Cote Rotie and Chateauneuf du Pape, the vineyard has proven perfect for producing a range of stunning Rhone varietals, especially Syrah and Grenache.

Under the care and guidance of Tom and Steve, Purisima Mountain Vineyard has earned acclaim as one of California's great Rhone-varietal vineyards. Adding to its reputation as one of the most meticulously cultivated winegrowing sites in all of Santa Barbara County, the vineyard has been farmed 100 percent biodynamically since 2006. Reflecting a passion for quality and a belief in the natural character of the land, the adoption of biodynamic farming practices has only reinforced Steve's vineyard-focused style of winemaking. Believing that the wine in the bottle begins in the soil, Steve and the winemaking team craft wines that capture the unique terroir of Purisima Mountain.

Beckmen Vineyards produces a full line of exceptional estate-grown Rhone varietals including Syrah, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Rose, Marsanne, and the Cuvee Le Bec blend. It also produces small quantities of exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Hailed for the excellence of its portfolio, Beckmen Vineyards was named Food & Wine's "Most Promising Winery" in the magazine's 2000 American Wine Awards. Since then, Beckmen Vineyards has lived up to that promise. In 2007, it was selected as one of the "Top 100 Wineries" in the world by Wine & Spirits magazine.

Beckmen Wine Dinner November 14

Champagne reception

First Course
Ceviche of Laughing Shrimp
Basil, lime and pear
2012 Beckmen Sauvignon Blanc Purisima Mountain, Santa Barbara County

Second Course
Kaboucha Squash Soup
Scented with orange blossom
2011 Beckmen Cuvee Le Bec Blanc Purisima Mountain, Santa Barbara County

Third Course
Roasted Sirloin of Beef
Potato Colcannon, Asparagus, Roasted Marrow, Sauce Bordelaise
2011 Beckmen Cabernet Sauvignon Purisima Mountain, Santa Barbara County
2011 Beckmen Syrah Purisima Mountain, Santa Barbara County

Fourth Course
Pumpkin-Caramel Mousse Cake
Caramel Glaze, Ginger Snaps


$75 plus tax and gratuity

About Waterleaf

Waterleaf restaurant is located at 425 Fawell Boulevard in Glen Ellyn, IL. The 150-seat restaurant lead by General Manager Jean-Pierre Leroux and Executive Chef Nadia Tilkian (left) is a hidden gem, nestled on the campus of the College of DuPage.

Featuring moderately priced brunch, lunch and dinner options, expect to find locally-sourced ingredients on its approachable menu. In addition to a seasonal a la carte menu, Waterleaf features specials events like wine dinners, a prix-fixe 3-course dinner for $33 and an annual food & wine festival every fall.

The contemporary light filled dining room is the understated counterpart to exciting eclectic cuisine. The main dining room has a modern decor and dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows. Its walls display a collection of black-and-white lithographs by renowned American artist Richard Serra. There's a cozy bar area to enjoy libations and light snacks.

Waterleaf Restaurant has earned Diner's Choice Awards for Best Ambience, Best Overall, Best Service, Fit for Foodies and Special Occasion on OpenTable.com, where it maintains a 4.8/5.0 rating.

Most recently, Waterleaf received its second consecutive 2013 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. This award, given annually to restaurants in the U.S. and 65 countries worldwide, acknowledges that Waterleaf's beverage program is consistent with its dining concept, style and price point.

The restaurant is widely recognized as the dining destination of choice for food aficionados living and visiting Chicago's western suburbs.

Waterleaf serves lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday. It is closed on Monday and Tuesday. Lunch hours are 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday; dinner hours are 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Brunch is served 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Call 630-942-6881 for information or reservations or visit: waterleafrestaurant.com.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Delille Cellars to Open a Wine Tasting Room in Downtown Kirkland Washington

Representatives of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty announced today that DeLille Cellars of Woodinville, Washington will be opening a wine tasting room and wine shop within the retail storefront of the new flagship branch office of the global real estate company located in downtown Kirkland.

“We’re thrilled that DeLille Cellars, an award-winning Washington State wine, will anchor our retail gallery with their new tasting room and wine store,” said Dean Jones, President & CEO of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty. “Together we will create an experiential venue for connoisseurs of life, offering an opportunity for visitors to savor fine wines, enjoy a rotating collection of art for sale in the gallery and explore extraordinary properties both from around the corner as well as around the world.”

Located at 15 Lake Street, the epicenter of Kirkland’s vibrant core, the dramatic showroom will feature full height, roll-up garage doors to encourage visitors into the open air-like marketplace. The Tom Kundig-designed building will also include a real estate branch office for Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty and other lifestyle-oriented retailers to be announced.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for DeLille Cellars,” commented Greg Lill, Co-founder and President of the firm. “Extending our brand beyond our own Woodinville Chateau and Carriage House, which have become a well-known destination in their own right, is very exciting. We look forward to being a part of downtown Kirkland’s vibrant culture. Sharing this platform with Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty is a natural fit and we look forward to much success together.”

Currently in planning and scheduled for occupancy by year end, the showroom at 15 Lake Street in downtown Kirkland has been developed in partnership between Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty and Eastside Branch Manager Chad Shriner, a Kirkland native drawing on three generations of success in Eastside brokerage.

The 3,200-sq. ft. retail showroom is designed by Atelier Drome Architects and will be built out by Adatto Construction.

“This exciting project brings a globally-recognized luxury lifestyle brand down to a pedestrian level, while knitting an acclaimed winery into the very urban fabric of the City of Kirkland, in a very approachable way,” said Henry Walters, Principal of Atelier Drome Architecture, LLP.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.