Matt Bellamy of Muse and Kate Hudson Offer Eponymous Wine

As reported in Life & Style magazine, Matt Bellamy of Muse and Kate Hudson were so happy with their 2010 HudsonBellamy rosé wine that they will now begin selling it in restaurants and bars.

This strategy by Hudson and Bellamy is the latest in a long line of celebrities including actress Drew Barrymore, Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie and film director Francis Ford Coppola, who has restored California’s historic Inglenook brand and recently won 26 medals from the International Wine & Spirits Competition 2013.

Bellamy and Hudson are said to have offered friends and family the chance to purchase cases before it goes on sale to the public, describing the wine as “crisp, bright and perfect for upcoming summer.”

Another high profile couple who seem keen to be taken seriously within the industry are Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Their Château Miraval rosé project with Beaucastel’s Perrin family is now on sale in the UK through Berry Brothers & Rudd.

A more detailed look at celebrity wine success stories and failures, from Motörhead’s bag-in-box Shiraz to fashion designer Roberto Cavalli’s leopard print take on Chianti, appeared in May’s issue of the drinks business.

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

2013 Provence Grape Harvest Wraps Up after Late Start

The grape harvest in the Provence region of France began on Sept. 2 in early-ripening areas – two weeks later than last year’s start date – and in early October in later areas. By the end of September, about half of the harvest had reached local cellars. Wine producers in this sun-soaked region, known for its gold standard rosé wines, are reporting a healthy crop and beautiful berries.

“Grape maturation this year was slow and smooth, which should foster a beautiful aromatic richness and a nice balance of freshness,” said Gilles Masson, director of the Center for Rosé Research in Provence.

Review of weather conditions
Provence experienced a long, cold, wet winter in 2012-2013, followed by a cool, wet spring. Since late June, however, the weather has been typical for the region: hot and sunny in the summer, with the first signs of autumn coming in September.

The summer heat was accompanied by the kind of thunderstorms that regularly cross Provence. Episodes of hail hit the central Var department in June and in western Provence in July and August. Localized damage was reported, particularly in the Sainte-Victoire Mountain area, but total harvest volumes for the region were not affected. In a pattern that’s normal for Provence, September brought beneficial rains that alternated with hot, windy weather.

Review of vine conditions
Vine growth in the spring began 15 days later than normal but was very strong early in the season. Flowering took place quickly under high daytime and low nighttime temperatures. In general, water stress was low, creating favorable conditions for high-quality rosés.

Mildew, which is promoted by humidity and intense heat, was present on the leaves but rarely on the grapes. It was kept in check by the cleansing mistral winds, which were prevalent near the end of the summer season. August and September saw a clear contrast between high daytime temperatures and low nighttime temperatures, a situation favorable to flavor development in the grapes. [View a video on how Provence rosé producers know when grapes are ready for harvest.]

Early harvest estimates
At the time of this release, it is too early to know total harvest volumes, but estimates from oenologists and technicians indicate normal levels. “After a poor harvest in 2012 due to climatic events, the quantity of grapes harvested this year should be close to the average of the past few years, creating a typical supply for our markets,” said Jean-Jacques Bréban, president of the CIVP/Provence Wine Council. Estimates will be refined in late October, after all domaines have completed the harvest.

Juice volumes yielded during pressing also appear to be average, and the aromatic potential is very good. According to Masson of Center for Rosé Research, “The maturation of the grapes took place with moderate water stress and without excess of heat. With the slow, steady maturation we observed on the vine, we expect the harvest to yield balanced and beautiful wines.”

The Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Provence (CIVP), known in the United States as the Provence Wine Council, is an organization representing more than 600 wine producers and 40 trade companies from the Provence region of France. Its mission is to promote and advance the wines of the region’s principal appellations. The organization’s members together produce 96 percent of Provence’s Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP) wines. More information can be found online at
www.winesofprovence.com or
www.facebook.com/winesofprovence or
http://twitter.com/winesofprovence.

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

Winter Wine and Food Tours: South America and South Africa with BKWine

The wine and food tour specialist BKWine has launched the coming winter’s wine and gourmet tours. There are two tours to New World wine countries: Chile and Argentina in South America in February, and South Africa in March. Both tours extend over a bit more than ten days. They include several winery visits, gastronomic meal, and also other sights and experiences on these two long-range tours. The full programs are available on BKWineTours.com.

The first winter wine tour goes to the two main wine countries in South America: Chile and Argentina, 1-16 February 2014.

The tour starts on the Pampas. From the airport one goes directly to a comfortable estancia to recover from the long flight and to forget quickly the northern winter. This is followed by a few days visits to Buenos Aires, including tango, before it is time to head for the Mendoza wine region. In this Argentina’s biggest and most famous wine region the vineyard visits are mixed with Argentinean asados, the typical barbecue feasts, and with views of the magnificent landscape. From Mendoza the tour continues spectacularly on road across the Andes, reaching more than 10 000 feet, with Aconcagua, the highest peak, not far away.

Having arrived in Chile the winery visits and tastings, as well as the gastronomic meals, continue. There is also a unique opportunity to be winemaker for a day: a wine blending workshop in a winery to blend one’s own wine. Santiago, Santa Cruz and Valparaiso are also on the program.

Britt Karlsson, co-founder of BKWine, says: “This is a ‘full-bodied’ program where we have put together all of the best of what Chile and Argentina can offer in terms of wine, food and sights. I have been to South America several times and I have picked the gems. A very special program.”

The second wine and food tour of the winter is to South Africa, 28 February – 10 March 2014.

South Africa has quickly advanced to become one of the top wine producers in the New World. On this wine tour there will be visits to the classic regions like Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. But the program also includes the “newcomer” Swartland. Some consider this to be the very best wine region in South Africa. The tour starts and ends in Cape Town and will also include the famous Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope. There is a possibility to add two days of very luxurious wildlife safari.

The tour also contributes to the development of the South African society. It sponsors a South African school as well as volunteer work at a Red Cross children’s hospital.

Per Karlsson, the other co-founder of BKWine, comments: “South Africa sometimes has a reputation for entry level wines. Forget that! On this tour we will meet personally with some of South Africa’s greatest and most famous winemakers. Since we at BKWine are also internationally recognised wine writers we have unique contacts in the wine world. There will also be some lazy afternoons and luxurious gourmet meals. Not to forget the landscape and the wildlife that will also be part of the tour.”

BKWine is a tour operator specialised in top quality wine tours and gourmet tours. BKWine tours have been named “world’s top wine tours” by Travel + Leisure Magazine. Each year BKWine organises around 30 wine tours, both custom designed and on schedule.

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

Wine Lovers Finally Have An iPhone App To Call Their Own

Dallas, Texas - Purple Falcon today is proud to announce the release of My Favorite Wine, its new food and drink app for iOS. Designed for wine connoisseurs, the app allows users to keep track of their wine tasting events- rating each brand, taking photos, noting the location of consumption and making comments. The mobile app also enables the user to share all this information with friends via a single button click.

Want to keep track of all of those wonderful, obscure wines? Want to easily share your photos and experiences with your fellow oenophiles? Then My Favorite Wine is for you!

Keep track of the following:
* Wine
* Location
* Latitude / longitude
* Date and time
* Comments
* Photos
* Ratings

My Favorite Wine contains these features:
* Email all of the information regarding a wine tasting event to a friend (including photos) with the click of a button
* Filter your drinking history by wine, location or date
* Attach as many photos as you wish to an event
* Enter wines and locations only once. After they are entered, simply choose from the list
* Export all of your data to a CSV file
* Rate each wine with a 5-star system
* View a map of the location of your wine tasting event with the click of a button

After being ignored by the software development community for far too long, wine connoisseurs finally have an app to call their own!

Languages supported:
* English, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese - Simplified, Chinese - Traditional and German

Device Requirements:
* iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
* Requires iOS 6.0 or later
* Optimized for iPhone 5
* 1.4 MB Hard Drive space

Pricing and Availability:
My Favorite Wine 1.1 is only $4.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Food & Drink category.

Located in Dallas, TX/USA, Purple Falcon Software was founded in 2003 by Jeffrey Dale Starr. After starting out as an enterprise web application and database company, in recent years the company has shifted its focus to mobile applications, particularly targeting iPhone and iPad. Purple Falcon's main areas of app development pertain to Humor, Educational Apps for Children, Games, and Mobile Journals. All Material and Software (C) 2003-2013 Purple Falcon Software / All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other trademarks and registered trademarks may be the property of their respective owners.

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

Wine Can Reduce Risk of Depression According to PREDIMED Study

Drinking wine in moderation may be associated with a lower risk of developing depression, according to research published in Biomed Central’s open access journal BMC Medicine. The reported findings by the PREDIMED research Network suggest that the moderate amounts of alcohol consumed may have similar protective effects on depression to those that have been observed for coronary heart disease.

Alcohol consumption around the world is increasing, and previous studies have shown that heavy alcohol intake is related to mental health problems, such as depression. Few studies have looked at the relationship between mental health and moderate alcohol intake. In a new article in BMC Medicine, researchers report on a cohort study that followed over 5,500 light-to-moderate drinkers for up to seven years. The results show an inverse relationship between alcohol intake and incidence of depression.

The study participants are from the PREDIMED study, aged between 55 and 80 years old, had never suffered from depression or had alcohol-related problems when the study started. Their alcohol consumption, mental health and lifestyles were followed for up to seven years through yearly visits, repeated medical exams, interviews with dieticians and questionnaires.

The main alcoholic beverage drunk by the study participants was wine. When analysed, it was shown that those who drank moderate amounts of wine each week were less likely to suffer from depression. The lowest rates of depression were seen in the group of individuals who drank two to seven small glasses of wine per week. These results remained significant even when the group adjusted them for lifestyle and social factors, such as smoking, diet and marital status.

Professor Miguel A. Martínez-González, from the University of Navarra (Spain), senior author of the paper, said, ‘Lower amounts of alcohol intake might exert protection in a similar way to what has been observed for coronary heart disease. In fact, it is believed that depression and coronary heart disease share some common disease mechanisms.’ Previous studies have indicated that non-alcoholic compounds in the wine, such as resveratrol and other phenolic compounds, may have protective effects on certain areas of the brain.

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

Napa Valley Vintners Announces Publication of Perspective Napa Valley Fine Art Photography Book

The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) has announced the publication of Perspective Napa Valley, a compelling visual telling of the Napa Valley story in a unique and hauntingly beautiful coffee table book. The project was created in collaboration with local art photographer Sam Aslanian, who employs the unusual technique of using of long-expired, high-speed film.

Perspective Napa Valley, the first book of this kind ever produced by the nonprofit, regional wine trade association, captures scenes of life in Napa Valley: from culture, history and civic life to the bucolic towns and vintner community, as well as the geology, climate and geography that make Napa Valley an ideal place for the growing of fine wine grapes.

"For nearly 70 years, the NVV has been telling wine consumers, members of the wine trade and media around the globe about America's premier wine region, but this is the first time we’ve presented such an evocative, artistic look at Napa Valley," commented Linda Reiff, NVV’s president and CEO. "What drew me to Sam's work is the manner in which he grabs the essence of Napa Valley in a refreshingly new way, and yet his tools are rather old fashioned. Much like our winemakers' wares are works of art portraying the region in a sensual, tactile fashion, so are these photographs. Our wines capture a vintage, and Sam's photos grab a moment within them."

From back road to main street , Aslanian's photographs capture scenes of life in and around the famous wine region that evoke the agricultural texture of the valley's old barns, stone buildings, fog-infused vineyard mornings, scenes from the cellar, and moments great and small of the people who comprise the fabric of Napa Valley’s vibrant small town communities. The surprising color variations brought out by the aging film and the grainy quality that seems more akin to hand drawing than a photograph bring to each page an intimate perspective, accompanied by short essays contributed by Terry Hall, the NVV's former communications director.

The limited-run first edition of Perspective Napa Valley was produced and printed on recycled paper in California and showcases 86 images. Copies of Perspective Napa Valley can be purchased at napavintners.com/perspective_napa_valley, where a slideshow of select photos from the book can also be viewed.

All proceeds from the sale of Perspective Napa Valley help the NVV to promote, protect and enhance the Napa Valley appellation, its wines, vintners and community. Limited edition art prints from the book are also available directly from the photographer.

About the Napa Valley Vintners

The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) is the nonprofit trade association responsible for promoting and protecting the Napa Valley appellation as the premier winegrowing region. From seven founding members in 1944, today the association represents nearly 500 Napa Valley wineries and is a leader in the worldwide wine industry. To learn more about our region and its extraordinary American wines, visit napavintners.com.

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

European Union To Open Fully Its Market To Moldovan Wines

The European Commission proposes to fully open the European Union's market to wine imports from the Republic of Moldova, in advance of the envisaged provisional application of the EU - Republic of Moldova Association Agreement and the related Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), as a measure to ease some of the difficulties the Republic of Moldova is experiencing with its wine exports to some of its traditional markets.

"The European Union's market is a sustainable alternative and a viable pole of stability for the Moldovan wine sector. A fully opened EU market for Moldovan wines in a time when Moldovan farmers are in difficulty, reflects that, beyond being a very successful economic integration project, the EU is also a space of solidarity", stated Dacian Cioloş, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development.

In June 2013, the European Union (EU) and the Republic of Moldova finalised the negotiations of a historic Association Agreement, which foresees the creation of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), thus fostering the economic integration of the Republic of Moldova into the EU. The Association Agreement is expected to be initialled at the Eastern Partnership Summit, to be held in Vilnius, Lithuania in November 2013, and some of its main elements, including the DCFTA, to be provisionally applied soon after the signing of the Agreement.

The DCFTA foresees the full liberalisation, with no restriction of the EU market, for the imports of Moldovan wine, revoking the current regime of Autonomous Trade Preferences (which provide for a quota of 240.000 hl of wine per year).

The European Commission will propose to the Council and the European Parliament to modify the Autonomous Trade Preferences so that the EU imports of Moldovan wines becomes completely liberalised without waiting for the provisional application of the Association Agreement, including its DCFTA. The European Commission will ask the Council and Parliament to do their utmost for a speedy adoption of this modification.

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

Governor Cuomo Signs Legislation Allowing Wine to be Sold at Farmer's Markets and Designating New Wine Trails Along State Roadways

NEW YORK - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the signing of a series of new laws that will continue the state's efforts to better market and promote New York wine by allowing wine to be sold at roadside farm markets and designating portions of the state highways near wineries and vineyards as "Wine Trails."

“These new laws will build on our continuing efforts to promote New York’s wine industry across the state and beyond, boosting tourism, local economies and job growth,” Governor Cuomo said. “We are increasing market opportunities for local producers and farmers and expanding our wine trails to attract tourists to communities across Upstate New York. Our state is home to hundreds of wineries that produce some of the best wine in the world, and we want both New Yorkers and visitors to come and enjoy them.”

The farm markets legislation (S.267/A.1512) will create a new venue for New York wineries to sell their products by allowing roadside farm markets to sell wine manufactured and produced by up to two licensed farm wineries, special wineries or micro-wineries located within 20 miles of the roadside farm market.

The Governor also signed four wine trail laws: one establishes a new wine trail; one expands an existing wine trail; one both expands two existing wine trails and changes their names; and one simply changes the name of an existing wine trail. Wine trails help guide tourists to local attractions, vineyards, and wine tasting rooms, and to experience all that New York’s wine regions have to offer. There are currently 16 wine trails designated by state law.

Senator William Larkin said, “I am very pleased that two of my bills helping the wine industry were signed into law,” said Senator Larkin. “By authorizing licensed farm stands to sell local wine and expanding the Shawangunk East Wine Trail, we are creating more opportunities for New York State to promote its wine industry. These measures will also boost tourism and grow our local economies. I thank Governor Cuomo for his approval of these two laws.”

Assemblymember William Magee said, “By allowing New York’s wide variety of quality wines to be sold at roadside farm markets, we are opening another door for this important industry. This is a measure that will support the growth of local businesses in our communities, and provide an important boost to wine producers across the state.”

The legislation signed today by the Governor includes the following wine trail designations:

The “Shawangunk East Wine Trail” will be expanded to include State Route 32 from State Route 17 in Orange County, to County Route 94 in New Windsor, to U.S. Route 9-W continuing westward on to U.S. Route 44/State Route 55 within the Town of Lloyd to its intersection with State Route 208 in the Town of Gardiner in Ulster County. (A.4614-A / S.2790-A)

Assemblymember James Skoufis said, “New York wine has hit the national stage and has proven to be a growing industry, especially here in Orange County. Expanding the already successful Shawangunk East Wine Trail benefits our communities by helping attract more tourism to the area while continuing to encourage the growth of new and existing small businesses.”

The “Niagara Escarpment Wine Trail” will be renamed the “Niagara Wine Trail Ridge” and will be extended to include all of State Route 104 through State Route 390. The “Niagara Wine Trail” will be renamed the “Niagara Wine Trail Lake” and will be extended to include portions of Country Route 269, State Routes 104 and 18, County Route 425, and U.S Route 62 in Niagara and Erie Counties. (A.2024-A / S.1095-A)

Senator George Maziarz (R-C, Newfane) said, “As the wine industry grows in the Niagara Region, we need to keep supporting it and helping it realize its potential. The Niagara Wine Trial is a homegrown success story that lead to jobs and tourists in our area. I thank the governor for recognizing how important this measure is to our communities.”

The newly established “Adirondack Coast Wine Trail” will begin at Exit 35 of the I-87 in the Town of Peru and continue into the Town of Plattsburgh. (S.1013-B / A.3758-C)

Senator Betty Little said, “Communities in the North Country have found great success in growing grapes and producing wine, and the Adirondack Coast Wine Trail will help promote and direct people to this local treasure. The number of wineries is increasing in the region, and we look forward to adding more as the industry grows.”

Assemblymember Janet L. Duprey, said, “I am pleased the Governor has signed into Law the Adirondack Coast Wine Trail legislation. This bill which was strongly supported by local wineries, the North Country Chamber of Commerce and the Farm Bureau will bring further attention to this growing agribusiness. Our local wineries offer great views of the Adirondack Mountains and Lake Champlain while providing a wide variety of award winning wines. As the first international wine trail, the Adirondack Coast Wine Trail will connect to trails in Vermont and Quebec supporting tourism throughout the region.”

The “Chautauqua Wine Trail” will be renamed the “Lake Erie Wine Country Trail.” The route will remain unchanged. (S.3923-B / A.5721-B)

Senator Catharine M. Young, said, "New York’s wine industry is a robust and thriving part of our agricultural sector and one of our state’s greatest economic assets. Our wine and wineries often go unheralded, which is why this legislation is so important to making consumers aware of all that New York State wine has to offer. Through strengthened marketing and promotional efforts we will improve wine tourism and economic development and our state will benefit significantly."

Assemblymember Andrew Goodell said, “The Lake Erie Wine Country Trial highlights the largest concord grape growing area in the nation and our historic villages, lakes, unspoiled woods and farmland that are unique from Silver Creek to Harborcreek, Pennsylvania. Since its creation in 2000, the trail has continued to grow, and now includes over 30,000 acres of vineyards with a long list of world class wineries. With today’s re-branding of the Chautauqua Wine Trail – now the Lake Erie Wine Country Trail – we are able to implement a joint marketing program with our friends and neighbors in Pennsylvania, bringing national attention to these great resources and spurring economic success for farms, vineyards and all businesses across Chautauqua County. In addition to our own marketing efforts, we will now also benefit from the marketing efforts of the Pennsylvania wineries, thereby making the entire region even more attractive as a destination”

New York is home to nearly 500 wineries, breweries, distilleries, and cideries. Producers account for more than $22 billion in annual total economic impact in the state and support tens of thousands of jobs statewide. The state ranks third in the nation in wine and grape production, has the second-most distilleries, and three of the top-producing 20 brewers in the United States are located in New York.

Since taking office, Governor Cuomo has worked to further develop this industry, which is a major driver of job creation and economic development in communities across the state.

• In July 2012, the Governor signed legislation designed to support New York's breweries and wineries, as well as increase demand for locally grown farm products, and expand industry-related economic development and tourism.
• In October 2012, the Governor hosted New York's first Wine, Beer and Spirits Summit where he announced plans for a new marketing campaign to promote state-produced wine, beer, cider and spirits sales and tourism, as well as a series of regulatory reforms that will significantly reduce business costs for beverage producers. The Wine, Beer and Spirits Summit was attended by dozens of beer, wine, cider, and spirits producers, as well as farmers, industry officials, and tourism experts, who discussed with state agency officials and members of the Governor's Cabinet specific legislative and regulatory issues facing the beer and wine industry. The participants also explored new ways for the state to work as a partner to further solidify New York's position as a leading hub of beer, wine and spirits production and tourism.
• The 2013-14 State Budget introduced several new initiatives to help improve the marketing of New York State products, including a total of $7 million for Market New York and Taste NY to support a multi-faceted regional marketing plan that will promote regional tourism and New York goods and products.
• This August, the Governor hosted the Governor’s Cup and wine tour in the Finger Lakes region, which brought together leading wine industry professionals, restaurateurs and tourism officials to promote the state’s award-winning wines. After presenting the Governor’s Cup, the Governor launched a television ad campaign to help promote New York State wines and encourage the purchase of locally produced wine and products through the Taste NY initiative.

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

Wine Oh TV Announces Video Series on Bordeaux Wines

Founder and host of Wine Oh TV Monique Soltani is pleased to announce that she is planning a new three-part video series based on her recent trip to the Bordeaux AOC wine region of southwestern France.

During the week-long trip, Soltani traveled to the wine estates, chateaux, and other points of interest in the countryside surrounding the city of Bordeaux. This area is renowned worldwide for the diverse and exceptional wines it produces.

Beginning in the beautiful golden-stone city of Bordeaux near the Atlantic coast, Soltani has traveled through many of the Bordeaux AOCs (Appellations d'Origine Contrôlees), which are the only areas which can produce wines labeled as specific areas of the Bordeaux region.

"It was such a thrill for me to meet the people behind the bottle in the world's best wine region. I am looking forward to sharing my adventures with audiences and showing them that the wines of Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superieur are affordable and accessible for everyone."

The estates along the great rivers Garonne and Dordogne have been known since antiquity for their superior winemaking grapes and a climate perfectly suited to growing them. Today, Bordeaux is the largest wine producing region in France with hundreds of millions of bottles produced per year under 54 separate appellations. While Bordeaux produces wines along the entire spectrum of quality, the very finest vintages are prized throughout the world.

Monique Soltani and Wine Oh TV are eager to present their video series on the wines, sights, and culture of Bordeaux and southwest France. For more information on this video series and to view other wine videos, please visit Wine Oh TV at http://wineoh.tv. Also visit their facebook page at http://facebook.com/WineOhTV or follow them on Twitter at http://twitter.com/WineOhTV for wine videos, recipes, reviews, travel and more ways to elevate your taste!

About Wine Oh TV

The award-winning Wine Oh TV is based in San Francisco, CA and is a place for Wine Oh's and Foodies to get their fill with a front row seat and an all-access pass to the world of wining and dining.

From celebrations to everyday occasions there's always a time for wine! Monique Soltani created Wine Oh TV to educate, entertain and enlighten everyone to the world of wine and she is thrilled to help you "Elevate Your Taste!" She holds a certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers and is a seasoned journalist with more than 10 years of experience in broadcast journalism.

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

Some Remarkable Fine Wines and Rare Spirits Await Visitors to Asia's Premier Industry Event

Hong Kong has emerged as the wine hub of Asia, reputed for its favorable wine trading environment and supporting the substantial demand for wine and spirits in neighboring regions.

The annual HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair takes place November 7-9 in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The fair has developed into a significant marketing platform for vineyards and wineries and a must-visit sourcing ground for international buyers. This edition, joined for the first time by wineries from Jordan, Lithuania, Montenegro and Morocco, presents some 1,000 exhibitors from more than 35 countries and regions to showcase their wines and spirits, seek trade opportunities and reach out to wine lovers.

Exclusive Spirits and Rare Wines

Premium spirits are often reserved for important guests and US President Barack Obama picked Cognac Rastignac for an Independence Day banquet; this cognac will be showcased at the fair. Another rarity is Rémy Martin’s Louis XIII Black Pearl Magnum in a limited edition priced at HKD500,000 by Amazing Wine Global Ltd. The fabulous spirit is made from carefully chosen grapes from the Grande Champagne territory of Cognac, France, blended from 1,200 eaux de vie and finally aged in old oak barrels tiercons. Also at the fair is an innovative ginger liqueur, Domaine de Canton, blending the flavors of Vietnamese ginger, Tahitian vanilla beans, French Provencal honey, and Tunisian ginseng.

Among the rare wines to be seen at the fair is the extremely limited Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato, made with the rare Ruché grape varietal in Monferrato, Italy. Renowned wine critic Robert Parker has made positive comments about its winery Romano Dal Forno for the effort of maintaining high quality products. Of great interest to buyers is Kyoho 2008, produced by Bella Ridge, the one and only Australian winery making wine from Japanese Kyoho grapes.

Multiple Award Winners

Lithuanian exhibitor JSC Stumbras will participate in the fair for the first time. Its vodka is made of natural ingredients and its brewing techniques originated a century ago. JSC Stumbras products have received international acclaim and ranked well in spirits competitions in UK and USA. Milon Wine will present another award winner which is the flagship wine St. Andrews Shiraz 2009 of Taylors Wines from Australia, which won 10 international awards, including the gold prize at the Monde Selections International Wine Contest 2013.

Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Kagoshima Prefectural Government and Niigata Sake Brewers Association will all form pavilions at the fairground, highlighting sakes. One of the best examples is Suigei Kochikobo Daiginjo which has won the gold prize in the Japan National New Sake Competition for five consecutive years. Under “the 101 Must-Drink Whiskies in Life” is Taiwan’s Kavalan Single Malt Whisky, which was also named “the New World’s Whisky of the Year.”

Good Mix of Different Cultures

Haddad Distilleries from Jordan is another first-time exhibitor; it will showcase “the milk of lion” Arak, a distilled alcoholic drink favored in the Middle East with an alcohol content which can reach 70 percent. Domaine Wardy’s Private Collection from Lebanon expresses traditional Lebanese character in its luxurious flavor of red fruits with a cameralised finish. One of the three largest Turkish wineries, Kavaklidere Saraplari AS., will introduce wine produced from a local grape species, Öküzgözü.

The 30th Anniversary limited edition of Ron Barcelo Imperial Premium Blend, produced in the Dominican Republic, was made with Dominican cane and finished in special imported barrels. For the Chinese taste for 'softer' spirits, Sujiu has created Blue Dream M9. Knipser will present their best German Riesling, which is famous for its freshness and versatility for food-pairing.

Viento of Spain

Spain is the fair partner country for the first time, a number of Spanish wines tasting sessions will take place, including “the Finest Wines from Spain - Grand Tasting” organised by the Spanish Trade Commission (Hong Kong). Alongside over 20 wine tasting sessions in which visitors can sample assorted wines from France, Japan, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, US and more. The annual Wine Industry Conference with the theme ‘Driving Growth: Global Wine Industry Trends’ and the 5th Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition are significant wine industry events. And the competition has explored numerous wineries, brands and wine & spirits with great potentials in previous editions. Its cocktail reception and award presentation ceremony will be held on the first day of the wine fair.

During the three-day fair, seminars focus on the Asian and the Chinese mainland market, blind tasting sessions on gin and sparkling wines, master classes and guided tours, and cocktail demonstrations in the Ice Bar will also offer ample information for visitors. The Asia Top Sommelier Summit and the Hong Kong Wine Registration Scheme Kickoff Ceremony - the 5th Wine Storage Management Systems Certificate Presentation will take place on the second day of the fair. More event details and pre-registration is available at the fair website: www.hktdc.com/hkwinefair

About the HKTDC

Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and service providers. With more than 40 offices worldwide, including 11 in the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and Asia. The HKTDC also organises trade fairs and business missions to connect companies with opportunities in Hong Kong and the mainland, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and online. For more information, visit www.hktdc.com.

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

Le Clos Unveils World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine in Dubai

Exclusive wine merchant Le Clos unveiled today a Balthazar (12 L) of Château Margaux 2009 at the cost of USD $195,000, making it the world's most expensive bottle of red wine to ever be retailed. Le Clos, the game-changing retailer of fine wines and luxury spirits, is the globally exclusive partner selected to offer the Château Margaux Balthazar which is on display at Le Clos' flagship store at Dubai International.

This is the first time in the history of Château Margaux that Balthazars have been bottled. The 2009 vintage, which can be aged for over a century, is widely reputed to be one of the best vintages ever produced by Château Margaux. Only six Balthazars have been produced, of which only three will be offered for sale; all available exclusively through Le Clos. The 12 litre Balthazar is housed in an impressive case of oak and raised on steel legs symbolising the barrels resting in the Château Margaux cellars. Beautifully engraved with gold by master craftsmen, the Balthazar's visual appearance is eclipsed only by the quality of wine itself.

Its owner will enjoy a priceless experience - being flown first class to France to visit the first growth's estate, enjoying a private tour of its cellars and vineyard, before having dinner at the Château hosted by Paul Pontallier, Chief Winemaker and Managing Director of Château Margaux.

The Château Margaux 2009 is undoubtedly one of the best vintages produced since the Mentzelopoulos family took over the ownership in 1977. It is a wine of wonderful concentration, finesse, balance and freshness. Its finish remains fresh, flavoursome and of astonishing length.

Speaking about Le Clos' selection as the exclusive wine retailer of the Balthazars of Château Margaux 2009, Oliver Dixon, Head of Fine Wine at Le Clos, said: "To be given this honour by Château Margaux underlines Le Clos' position as a world leader in bringing rare fine wines to market. We are immensely proud to display this limited edition of the Balthazar of Château Margaux 2009 at our flagship store in Dubai Airport's Terminal 3."

Mr Pontallier commented: "To mark this fantastic vintage, we are delighted to create a unique opportunity by partnering with Le Clos to offer three Balthazars to the world's international and discerning wine buyers. Château Margaux's history stretches back over 400 years, during which the estate has produced some of the world's best wines time and again. The Château Margaux 2009 vintage is one of the finest we have ever produced, hence why we chose to bottle it in this magnificent format."

The famous vineyard of Château Margaux sits on top of one of the deepest gravel deposits in the Medoc area of Bordeaux. It is this lightness of soil and depth of gravel that give Château Margaux its perfumed nose, elegance and poise.

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

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Have A Hit With Miraval Rosé

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie recently purchased a vineyard estate - the legendary Chateau Miraval in Provence. There were many skeptics - would the wine be worth drinking? Would Jolie and Pitt simply be dabblers or not involved in any meaningful way?

Well, Wine Spectator says the couple was very much involved in working out the key decisions of flavor, look and branding.

The wine itself is a bouquet of fruit - raspberries, strawberries...a refreshing treat for a warm afternoon. Priced at a reasonable $23, this wine is an excellent value. And it has been selling out everywhere.

All of this bodes well for future wines from Miraval.

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

Belhurst New Releases Take Top Awards at Tasters Guild Wine Competition

GENEVA, NEW YORK — Belhurst Estate Winery president Mr. Duane Reeder proudly announces winning eight wine awards, including two gold, five silver, and one bronze Belhurst Estate Winery has won over 250 wine medals.

The 26th annual Tasters Guild International Wine Judging took place in Grand Rapids, MI earlier this month. The competition was judged by thirty experts from around the country. These experts completed over 2,000 evaluations of wine from 10 different countries and 27 different states and provinces. This competition completes a total wine evaluation process, randomly selecting nearly 35% of the entered wines for reevaluation. This process is completed to verify accuracy and fairness of medal considerations. Stay tuned for the release of our new 2012 vintage wines.

2013 Taster Guild International Wine Judging
2012 Semi Dry Riesling – Gold
2012 Pinot Grigio - Gold
2012 Dry Riesling – Silver
2012 Dry Rose – Silver
Tower Port – Silver
Neptune - Silver
Naturel Sparkling – Silver
Cabernet Sauvignon - Bronze


With a unique winery philosophy, Belhurst Estate Winery includes a committee of experts who carefully seek fruit, vineyards, wine varieties and winemakers who will contribute to the palette of wines sold by Belhurst. The committee continually collaborates with area winemakers to produce consistently high quality wines which quickly become Finger Lakes favorites. All Belhurst wines are available for tasting and purchase in the Belhurst Wine & Gift Shop on the shores of Seneca Lake, and for purchase on our website at www.Belhurst.com.

Known for its charm, unique architecture, and stunning lake views, the Belhurst properties include Belhurst Castle, originally built in 1885; White Springs Manor, originally built around 1900; and The Vinifera Inn which opened in 2004. Belhurst is on the National Register of Historic Properties, has been voted One of the Most Romantic Places in NYS, has won sixteen Awards of Excellence in the Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards Program, and continues to be one of the most beloved destinations in the Finger Lakes.

To Receive Belhurst Wine Samples please call Mallory Giambra at 585-576-5671.

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

Forbes Media and Tasting Room by Lot18 Launch Forbes Wine Club

Forbes Media and Lot 18, the New York-based wine e-commerce company, today announced the launch of Forbes Wine Club. ForbesWineClub.com is powered by Tasting Room, the one-of-a-kind wine subscription service by Lot18 in which members can create their personal WinePrints and receive wine selections tailored to their specific tastes.

“We investigated all the existing wine clubs and really love Tasting Room by Lot18’s combination of wine expertise, personalization and technology coming together under the Forbes brand to form a truly unique partnership,” said Mike Federle, chief operating officer at Forbes Media. “What Pandora is to finding your music genome, Forbes Wine Club is to finding your wine genome.”

“Forbes Wine Club by Tasting Room is the first wine club that caters to each individual member’s personal tastes. For decades, customers have only had access to traditional clubs that, no matter how much they cost, offer members little or no choice in the wines they’ll receive,” said Lot18’s CEO Jay Sung. “We’re elated that Forbes, a brand that’s synonymous with innovation and entrepreneurship, chose us to be its wine club partner to give Forbes readers a better way to discover, experience and enjoy wine.”

To create their personal WinePrint, members of Forbes Wine Club start with a tasting kit containing six miniature bottles of various wines. They then sample the wines and rate them in a simple, guided comparative tasting on ForbesWineClub.com, establishing the foundation for their individual profile of likes and dislikes on the membership site. Based on their WinePrint, members will receive and be able to rate specially selected and priced wines in the subsequent shipments, further refining their individual WinePrint. In addition, Forbes Wine Club members will be able to purchase additional bottles of any particular wine that they discover through a club shipment.

Forbes Wine Club members will benefit from the expertise of Tasting Room’s wine procurement staff, who have a combined 100 years’ experience in the wine business.

About Forbes Media

Forbes Media LLC, publisher of Forbes magazine and forbes.com, is an authoritative source of news and information on business, investing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership and affluent lifestyles. Forbes.com, a leading business website, currently reaches 46 million monthly unique visitors, according to Omniture. Forbes magazine, Forbes Asia and Forbes Europe attract a global audience of 5 million readers. The Forbes magazine iPad app merges the power of print storytelling with social sharing and the web. The Company also publishes ForbesLife magazine, as well as 29 licensed local editions around the world.

About Tasting Room by Lot18

Lot18 is a New York-based e-commerce site that launched in 2010, connecting its members with opportunities to purchase directly from wineries. Today the site offers a wide selection of wines from around the world, each one individually evaluated for quality by Lot18’s team of experts. In early 2013, Lot18 acquired the assets of Tasting Room, then relaunched Tastingroom.com as the first subscription wine service personalized based on taste in May 2013. For more information, visit www.TastingRoom.com.

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

San Francisco Wine School Offers New Program: The French Wine Scholar Program

San Francisco, CA – San Francisco Wine School is excited to introduce a brand new program offering to their current curriculum. The French Wine Scholar Program, developed by the French Wine Society (FWS), is designed to provide current, accurate information on the wine regions of France and validate proficiency in the Wines of France. The program consists of ten courses and an exam covering all the wine regions of France. Upon passing the FWS exam, students will earn the FWS professional wine certificate.

The San Francisco Wine School is exclusively licensed in the Greater Bay Area to teach the French Wine Scholar program. With the significant revisions and even more challenging FWS course content, San Francisco Wine School has lengthened their FWS Program from 9 to 10 classes. Some of the updates to the material include European Union regulations and their impact on French wine, and more in-depth information on the Alsace region which is expanding from 3 to 14 Appellation d’Origine Controllee (AOC). There is also new coverage of the lesser-known regions of Jura, Savoie and Corsica. The ultimate source of FWS information is from the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine (INAO) supplemented by all of the grower councils of France and ongoing feedback from FWS instructors and students.

This new and exciting program will be held on Wednesdays from June 19th – September 4th, 6-9 p.m. Click here to register for the program or to enroll in single courses.

The full program includes 29 hours of instruction with tutored tastings, a 250-page, full color FWS study manual & FWS exam registration (a $125 value), access for one full year to the FWS Online Study Program (a $285 value), a set of four professional tasting glasses (a $49 value) and earning the FWS professional wine certification upon passing the exam. In addition, if qualified, you may have the opportunity to teach SF Wine School programs, attend the semi-annual French Wine Society conference and participate in study abroad programs if you are an active FWS instructor.

About The San Francisco Wine School The San Francisco Wine School serves to provide world-class wine education and professional training for successful wine careers. Bringing all relevant credential programs under one roof, students are offered a number of career path choices in the wine business. A roster of top instructors offers up in-depth certification programs on a frequent basis. For more information please visit www.sfwineschool.com, look for San Francisco Wine School on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or contact David Glancy, MS, CWE, CSS, FWS at dglancy@sfwineschool.com or 415|505-9382.

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

Tyrrell’s Hunter Valley Wine Show Results 2013 - The Tradition Continues

The Australian family owned Tyrrell’s winery has received more trophies and medals for their white wines and the success was emphasised once again at last week’s Hunter Valley wine show.

The 155 year old winery was awarded four trophies, seven gold, 12 silver and 12 bronze medals in number of classes:
o    Class 4       2013 Dry White, Semillon
o    Class 6       2013 Dry White, Verdelho
o    Class 10     2012 Dry White, Semillon
o    Class 11     2012 Dry White, Chardonnay
o    Class 13     2011 and Older, Dry Red, Shiraz
o    Class 15     2011 and Older, Dry White, Semillon
o    Class 16     2011 and Older, Dry White, Chardonnay
o    Class 21     2005 and Older, Dry Red
o    Class 22     2005 and Older, Dry White
o    Class 24     2011 and Older, Dry, Red, Shiraz, Named Vineyard
o    Class 26     2013 and Older, Dry White, Semillon, Named Vineyard
o    Class 27     2012 and Older, Dry White, Semillon, Named Vineyard
o    Class 29     2012 and Older, Dry White Chardonnay, Named Vineyard


Bruce said today “2013 was one of the greatest years for Australian white wines in the last decade and it was great to get recognised.”

Tyrrell’s was awarded the Singleton Council Trophy for the most successful exhibitor of young wines, Tyrrell’s have received this award eight times in the last 10 years: 2013, 2012, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003.

Tyrrells chardonnay’s collected three of the four gold medals awarded for chardonnay. Tyrrell’s Old Vines 2012 Chardonnay was the stand out and went on to win the Ed Jouault Trophy for Best One Year Old Dry White Wine and the Murray Tyrrell Chardonnay Trophy for best chardonnay any vintage. The Old Vines Chardonnay comes from the original chardonnay block planted at Tyrrell’s in 1968 a small parcel from this block was hand picked and basket pressed. The wine is due for release September 2014.

HVD Semillon 2007 picked up the Tyrrell’s Family Trophy for Best Named Vineyard Dry White Wine which followed its success at the 2013 Cowra show where it picked up three trophies (best semillon, best named vineyard white and best dry white wine of show). HVD Semillon comes from the original block planted in 1908.

The 2013 semillon class was full of spectacular wines with the Tyrrell’s Vat 1 2013 being the highest pointed wine in the class at 96 points. This was the 1st year the Hunter Valley wine show has used the 100 Point system.

All up Tyrrell’s received seven gold medals with the next most successful exhibitor receiving four.

Tyrrell’s trophy and gold results:

TROPHY
Most Successful Exhibitor of Young Wines – Tyrrell’s Wines
Best One Year Old Dry White Wine – 2012 Tyrrell’s Old Vines Chardonnay
Best Chardonnay any Vintage – 2012 Tyrrell’s Old Vines Chardonnay
Best Named Vineyard Dry White Wine - 2007 HVD Semilon


GOLD MEDAL
2013 Vat 1 Semillon
2013 Brookdale Semillon
2012 Belford Chardonnay
2009 Vat 47 Chardonnay
2007 HVD Semillon
2012 Old Vines Chardonnay
2011 Old Vines Chardonnay

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

J Pinot Gris Rockets to #1

The search for a classy “California-style” Pinot Gris wine starts and ends with the letter “J”.

With its unveiling of the 2012 vintage, J Vineyards & Winery continues its streak to the top of the category, producing the #1 best-selling California Pinot Gris in America (above $14), this according to AC Nielsen.

If you are enjoying a cool, crisp Pinot Gris tonight, you are most certainly riding America’s hottest white wine trend — the move away from oaky, buttery Chardonnays. J Pinot Gris is so hot, it continued to outpace overall category growth by 50% during the last 13 weeks of 2012 (AC Nielsen).

Because of its more delicate fruit flavors and ability to pair with a wide variety of foods, consumer interest in Pinot Gris (and the Italian version of the same grape, Pinot Grigio) has grown nearly 10% in the past year to become the #5 most-enjoyed wine in the country behind Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and White Zinfandel.

And while France, Italy, Canada, and the Pacific Northwest all had a head start in making delightful variations of Pinot Gris, California has recently begun to flex its market power, taking this unique grape variety to a more stylish level.

“The rising popularity of Pinot Gris can be attributed to the wine’s food pairing appeal,” says Melissa Stackhouse, J VP of Winemaking. “This multi-dimensional wine, in a screw-cap, is a delicious social sipper, and also a great accompaniment to a variety of Asian dishes accented with edgy spices and flavors.”

“The introduction of J’s California Pinot Gris in 2009 was a classic example of the right wine at exactly the right time,” adds Stackhouse. “Consumers were demanding great quality and value during the downturn in the economy and, today, our Pinot Gris continues to deliver on that promise.”

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

Oregon Receives Wine Consumer Group's Top Ranking

Oregon received the No. 1 ranking in the nation for its friendliness to wine consumers, according to a report released yesterday by the American Wine Consumer Coalition. Oregon was one of only six states whose regulatory environment received an A+ rating in AWCC’s annual state-by-state report card.

The report used a number of criteria in its report card, giving each a grade from A to F. Among the criteria considered in the evaluation were access to products, government control, blue laws, winery-to-consumer shipping, retail-to-consumer shipping, government control of wine sales, Sunday sales of wine, BYO/corkage in restaurants and wine sold in grocery stores.

According to the report, “Oregon possesses the most consumer friendly wine laws in the nation.” Other states receiving an A+ grade were California, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire and Virginia. The District of Columbia also received an A+ grade.

“Oregon’s wine producers have worked hard in cooperation with the governor and the state legislature to ensure that Oregon’s regulation of wine in the state is both responsible and supports our thriving wine industry,” said Leigh Bartholomew, chairwoman of the Oregon Wine Board (OWB).

Bartholomew added, “The legislative efforts of the Oregon Winegrowers Association (OWA) in particular working with licensed distributors and retailers have helped create a positive environment for one of Oregon’s most promising industries.”

The wine industry contributed more than $2.7 billion to the Oregon economy in 2010. In 2011, Oregon wine sales passed the 2 million case mark for the first time. The industry employs more than 13,500 people and is comprised of 463 wineries and 849 vineyards.

The American Wine Consumer Coalition (AWCC) is the only national advocacy group that works to advance the interests of America’s wine consumers. Member funded, the AWCC provides a voice for wine consumers, representing them in front of lawmakers, the media, and the trade. The group also provides its members with benefits to help them pursue their love of wine.

“Eighty years after passage of the 21st Amendment, many of the alcohol and wine-related laws put in place in the 1930s are still in place in most states, despite a cultural, economic and commercial reality that is starkly different from the 1930’s. In some cases, however, laws concerning how consumers may access wine products and use wine have been updated to match the economic changes that have occurred, to accommodate legal rulings that showed many of the earlier laws to be unconstitutional and to meet the demands of an American consumer base that has become fervently interested in the wines produced now in every state in the country,” the report said.

Oregon’s wine producing community has continued its push in the area of wine consumer friendly laws by leading the passage of the Oregon Wine Growler bill by the 2013 state legislature. The recently enacted law allows Oregon wine shops, grocery stores, wine bars and restaurants to offer wine on tap and sell bulk wine to go, in the same way beer has been sold by the growler at brewpubs and taverns.

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

10 Great Wine Quotes

“In victory, you deserve Champagne. In defeat you need it.”
― Napoleon Bonaparte


“I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.”
― W.C. Fields


“Give me books, French wine, fruit, fine weather and a little music played out of doors by somebody I do not know.”
― John Keats


“Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.”
― Ernest Hemingway


“his lips drink water
but his heart drinks wine”
― E.E. Cummings


“I love everything that is old; old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines.”
― Oliver Goldsmith


“Wine is the most healthful and most hygienic of beverages.”
― Louis Pasteur


“I like on the table,
when we're speaking,
the light of a bottle
of intelligent wine.”
― Pablo Neruda


“This is one of the disadvantages of wine, it makes a man mistake words for thoughts.”
― Samuel Johnson


“Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, every day more civilized.”
― Andre Simon

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

Sonoma County 15th Annual Food & Wine Affair November 2nd and 3rd

Saturday & Sunday, November 2 & 3, 2013 ~ 11 am to 4 pm each day

A Wine & Food Affair is the premier event for Wine Road - Northern Sonoma County!
Join us for a weekend of wine and food pairing in the Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys. 
All of the wineries participating will have a favorite winery recipe in the cookbook, which they will prepare both days for you to sample, along with the perfect wine.

Ticket holders will receive their cookbook, tasting glass and wristband upon check-in.
Designated Drivers are given a different color wristband and they are not served wine.
Designated Drivers do receive the cookbook!

Click on the tabs directly above for information about the event:
TICKETS - Registrations on sale now! GOOGLE MAP of 2013 participants available here
PARTICIPANTS See the 107 WINERY locations that are participating in this year's event.
PROGRAM including winery name, location, the recipe they will prepare & serve which is included in this year's cookbook.
COOKBOOK....each registration type receives the 15th annual Tasting Along the Wine Road cookbook.
Under RULES you'll find requests and recommendations from Wine Road to help our events be the most enjoyable for all attendees!

Website: Food & Wine Affair

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

Savannah Food & Wine Festival November 11 - 17, 2013

The 2013 Savannah Food & Wine Festival is a week-long celebration of wine and food set amongst the towering Spanish moss draped oak trees in historic Savannah Georgia.

Nothing exudes Southern hospitality quite like the City of Savannah. From its bountiful historic district of antebellum homes, to the numerous parks and beautiful Squares. Savannah's famous River Street is the perfect backdrop for several Festival events, where once upon a time pirates and buccaneers strolled.

Festival Highlights

Monday, Nov. 11

•  "Farm to Table" Wine Dinner: Reception 5:00 pm - Bethesda Academy, featuring Chef Elizabeth Terry and Master Sommelier, Robert Jones.

Tuesday, Nov. 12

• Connoisseur Wine Dinner: 6:30 pm - Elizabeth on 37th

• Connoisseur Wine Dinner: 6:30 pm - Circa 1875

• Connoisseur Wine Dinner: 6:30 pm - Olde Pink House

• Movie Screening, SOMM the Documentary presented by Treasury Wine Estates: 6:00 pm; Hosts Master Sommelier, Robert Jones, The Local Palate Magazine and The Big Green Egg - Savannah Theater

Wednesday, Nov. 13

• Celebrity Chef Tour Dinner: 6:30 pm - 700 Drayton, The Mansion on Forsyth Park  - featuring Chefs Hugh Acheson, Chris Hastings, Steven Satterfield and Elizabeth Terry.

Thursday, Nov. 14

• 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm:  $85.  Cooking Class with Chef Hugh Acheson at The Mansion on Forsyth Park

• Grand Reserve Tasting: 5:30-7:30 pm - Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa

• Connoisseur Wine Dinner: 8:00 pm - Ruth's Chris Steak House

• Connoisseur Wine Dinner: 8:00 pm - Sapphire Grill

• Connoisseur Wine Dinner: 8:00 pm - Noble Fare

Epicurean Pass

Tickets to the Friday, November 15, 2013 Learning Experiences: cooking classes, seminars and demonstrations are being sold separately; An all-day, one price Epicurean Pass offers tremendous savings to the Friday, Learning Experiences taking place at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center for only $150 – a great way to fully experience all of the learning opportunities.

Friday, Nov. 15

Learning Experiences at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center

10:00 am to 11:00 am:  $50.  Cooking Class/Demonstration & Wine Tasting with Sallie Ann Robinson.  Moderator Tim Rutherford

11:15 am to 12:30 pm:  $35.  Master Sommelier Robert Jones, “Seasonal Holiday Values” Wine Tasting & Seminar

12:45 pm to   1:45 pm:  $50.  Cooking Class/Demonstration & Wine Tasting with Chef Joe Randall & Master Sommelier Michael McNeill

  2:00 pm to   2:45 pm:  $35.  Joe Shirley, Winemaker, Napa Cellars “Napa vs. Sonoma” Wine Tasting

  3:00 pm to   3:45 pm:  $35.  Randall Roberts, Four Roses Bourbon Tasting

  4:00 pm to   5:00 pm:  $50.  Big Green Egg "Grilling Gurus" & Wine Tasting.  With Kent Rathbun & Rob Mondavi, Jr. Riverfront Esplanade

Cooking Class/Demonstration with The Lee Brothers

Mansion on Forsyth Park/Cooking School, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm; $85*

River Street Wine Stroll: 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Rousakis Plaza, River St.  Wine & spirit tastings in a "casual atmosphere* setting, with the Savannah River as the ultimate backdrop.  Special additions will include The Big Green Egg and Stella Artois!

Riverboat Wine Dinner & Cruise: 8:00 pm - River Street Riverboat Company.  With Food Network, Extreme Chef, Anthony Lamas and Vintner, Joy Sterling of Iron Horse Vineyards*

*Friday, November 15th Cooking Classes at the Mansion on Forsyth Park, River Street Wine Stroll and the Riverboat Wine Dinner & Cruise are not part of the Epicurean Pass.

Saturday, Nov. 16

Taste of Savannah:  12:00 pm to 4:00 pm: Ellis Square

*Schedule of events subject to change. Many special event venues have limited seating and are available on a first come, first served basis.

12:00 pm to 4:00 pm: Wine & Spirits Booths with free tastings, Celebrity Chef Kitchen, Cookbook Authors, Big Green Egg Grilling Gurus, Learning Experiences Tent open with general admission ticket; Artisan Market, Culinary Court, Waiter’s Race and Bartender’s Challenge open to the general public at no charge. VIP Vintner’s Lounge is a separate ticket, which provides special access to the VIP Vintner’s Lounge area.

12:30 pm to 1:30 pm: Waiter’s Race

  2:00 pm to 3:30 pm: Bartender’s Challenge

VIP Vintner's Lounge:  12:00 pm to 4:00 pm: Courtyard at the Inn at Ellis Square

12:00 pm to 12:30 pm: The Lee Brothers - Meet & Greet

12:30 pm to 12:45 pm: Food Network, Extreme Chef Anthony Lamas, Meet & Greet

  1:00 pm to   2:00 pm: Mark Fine, Gerard Bertrand “South of France Wines” Tasting w/special Savannah treats

  2:00 pm to   2:30 pm: Chef Shaun Doty, Meet & Greet

  2:30 pm to   3:15 pm: Joe Shirley, Vintner, Napa Cellars - Meet & Greet/Tasting

  3:30 pm to   4:00 pm: Champagne/Sparkling Wine – Tasting

Big Green Egg Grilling Gurus: 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

12:00 pm to 12:45 pm: Chef Kent Rathbun

  1:00 pm to   2:00 pm: Local Chefs – TBD

  2:15 pm to   3:00 pm: Savannah Technical College Student Chefs

  3:15 pm to   4:00 pm: Culinard, Virginia College Student Chefs

Learning Experiences Tent:  12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

12:00 pm to 12:45 pm: Napa Valley Winemakers – “Napa Valley Rocks” Presentation: Rob Mondavi, Jr., Joe Shirley, Jeanne Cabral and more.

  1:00 pm to   2:00 pm: “Local Sustainability & Sourcing” – The Lee Brothers will be moderating a panel of celebrity guest chefs: Chris Hastings, Anthony Lamas, Shaun Doty and more.

  2:15 pm to   3:00 pm: Master Sommelier, Robert Jones “Wines of South Africa” Tasting

  3:15 pm to   4:00 pm: “Heritage of African American Cooking in Savannah & the Lowcountry” with Chefs Joe Randall, Sallie Ann Robinson and more.

The Local Palate Celebrity Chef Kitchen:  12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

12:00 pm to 12:30 pm: Savannah Technical College Presentation

  1:45 pm to   2:15 pm: Culinard, Virginia College Presentation

  2:30 pm to   3:15 pm: Cooking Demo – Food Network, Extreme Chef Anthony Lamas & Master Sommelier, Michael McNeill

  3:20 pm to   4:00 pm: Cooking Demo - Shaun Doty

Andaz Experience: Patron Circle Members only.  12:00 pm to 4 pm.  22 Square, Andaz Hotel

12:00 pm to  12:45 pm: Joy Sterling, CEO, Iron Horse Vineyards Tasting

  1:00 pm to    1:45 pm: Joe Shirley, Vintner Napa Cellars Tasting

  2:00 pm to    3:30 pm: Rob Mondavi, Jr. “Private Mondavi Family Cellar Tasting” extremely rare wine collection *Limited to the first enrolled 50 Patron Circle members

  3:30 pm to    4:00 pm: V.I.P. Meet & Greet with celebrity guest chefs, authors and wine makers

Celebrity Author's Tent:  12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  Autograph Signings Schedule TBD

City Market “Official After Party”: 4:00 pm - City Market next to Ellis Square

Michael Mondavi Family Estate Dinner

8:00 pm:  Michael Mondavi Family Estate Dinner.  Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa

Sunday, Nov.17

Jazz & Bubbles Brunch: 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa

Website: Savannah Food & Wine Festival

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

Autumn in Chianti: itineraries of tastes and culture

4th November sees the beginning of the 2013 edition of Autumn in Chianti, the event in collaboration between the provinces of Florence and Siena, with the eight councils of the Chianti reunited in a wide series of appointments.

Ten days of culture and flavours, Autumn in Chianti is the best way to discover typical dishes of the area and to visit all those little villages that are home to some of Tuscany’s historical and artistic jewels: the Museo Archeologico of Chianti Senese in Gaiole in Chianti, the Museo di Arte Sacra in San Casciano Val di Pesa, the Antiquarium di Sant'Appiano in Barberino Val d'Elsa, the Museo di Arte Sacra di San Francesco in Greve in Chianti and the Parco e sculture del Chianti in Castelnuovo Berardenga.

Culture, traditions, wine and food, crafts and typical products: these are the ingredients that make this occasion so unique.

The councils of Barberino Val d'Elsa, Greve in Chianti, Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, San Casciano Val di Pesa and Castellina in Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Gaiole in Chianti and Radda in Chianti will be home to music, tastings, meetings, exhibitions, conventions and markets, and "Quinto quarto" is back, the gourmet food initiative involving approximately 50 restaurants in the area committed to proposing simple but delicious traditional dishes – hard to find in other seasons of the year – on the menu at special prices.

The programme is full, from the market-exhibition Olio Sapiens, the exhibition of extra virgin olive oil, the 5th November in Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, to the visits to the Wine Museum in Greve in Chianti; from the Abissina theatre show at San Casciano on 9th November, to the bicycle tour “Chianti’s Etruscan origins” on 12th November between Panzano in Chianti, Radda and Castellina, to the Olive Mill in Jazz, a musical aperitif in an olive mill at Greve in Chianti on 12 November.

Website: Tuscany Tourist Bureau

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

Robot Philosopher Delivers Garbled Wisdom For iOS

Dallas, Texas - Tired of Plato and Socrates? Tired of things making sense? Then Robo-Philosopher is for you. Purple Falcon today is proud to announce the release of a new app for iPhone and iPad with this premise: a robot has been programmed to be a philosopher, but due to bugs in his software, he mixes everything up and outputs nonsense! His terrible proverbs are sure to entertain, annoy and irritate even the most serious-minded individuals.

Robo-Philosopher randomizes and matches endless phrases to hilarious effect. The resulting nuggets of wisdom recall the inspired nonsense of Monty Python and the early writings of Woody Allen. A typical example- "Like ripened cherries, zebras have a fear of glass blowers."

Features:
* Tap on the "Another!" button to generate a new chunk of pseudo-philosophy
* Tap the share button to send it to your friends via text, email, Twitter, and Facebook




Standing apart from the vast sea of sameness in mobile apps, Purple Falcon's "Robo" series of applications offers a welcome and refreshing change. Aside from Philosopher, the software company also offers Robo-Doctor and Robo-Poet.

Device Requirements:
* iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
* Requires iOS 6.0 or later
* Optimized for iPhone 5
* 0.7 MB Hard Drive space


Pricing and Availability:
Robo-Philosopher 1.3 is only $0.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Entertainment category.

Located in Dallas, TX/USA, Purple Falcon Software was founded in 2003 by Jeffrey Dale Starr. After starting out as an enterprise web application and database company, in recent years the company has shifted its focus to mobile applications, particularly targeting iPhone and iPad. Purple Falcon's main areas of app development pertain to Humor, Educational Apps for Children, Games, and Mobile Journals. All Material and Software (C) 2003-2013 Purple Falcon Software / All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other trademarks and registered trademarks may be the property of their respective owners.