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.

Vina von Siebenthal Announces 700th Barrel Arrives at Valparaiso Chile

Today, the 700th barrel arrived at Viña Von Siebenthal. It travelled all the way from Bordeaux and arrived by boat to the port of Valparaiso. The last barrel was carefully produced by the French masters at the Tonnellerie Baron, which enjoys a worldwide reputation of being one of the best barrel makers.

The 700 barrels, accumulated over the 15 years since the creation of Viña Von Siebenthal, serve to refine the 220,000 bottles that are produced annually. Indeed, one of the main characteristics of Viña Von Siebenthal is that all the wines are matured in barrel from 12 to 24 months before being bottled.

This process will help increase the aroma and complexity of the wine, providing it with unmatched elegance. Moreover, it is an essential step in the construction of the wine; it fixes tannins and colour as well as enabling it to age harmoniously in the bottles afterwards. The soutirage process is done every four months and involves two employees who work to clean, dry and disinfect the barrels during the procedure.

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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.

Wine Institute to Feature Sixty California Wineries at First ProWine China Trade Show

SAN FRANCISCO — A delegation of sixty California wineries will exhibit in Wine Institute's California Pavilion at the first-ever ProWine China 2013 Trade Fair Nov. 13-15, 2013 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. The wineries will represent 110 brands and 32 American Viticultural Areas, and regional associations representing Napa Valley, Paso Robles and Santa Barbara wine regions will have a presence in Wine Institute's Pavilion at the sold-out trade show. Thousands of wine buyers are expected to attend.

China is the fifth largest market for California wine exports. In 2012, U.S. wine exports, 90% from California, reached $73.6 million to China, up over 18% from the previous year. U.S. wine exports year-to-date for the eight months Jan. - Aug. 2013 were up 4% by value to China compared to the same time period last year.

News reports say the China wine market is slowing because the Chinese central government began a new austerity program in 2012 that limits spending on gift giving and entertainment by government officials. A portion of private companies in China are also said to be adopting reductions in expenditures to fall in line with government policy.

"Despite the austerity measures, China remains one of the world's fastest growing wine markets, and we are continuing to invest in our California wines awareness program and a full slate of category building efforts," said Linsey Gallagher, Wine Institute Vice President of International Marketing. U.S. wine exports to China, 90 percent from California, have grown dramatically by over 2700% in a decade, from $2.6 million in 2003 to $73.6 million in 2012.

Since 2000, Wine Institute has conducted annual trade missions to China and engaged a full-time marketing agency that has been in place in China for three years. The "California Wines Master Class" program launched last spring will be expanded to 25 cities throughout the country for trade and media covering history, climate, regions, varietals and food pairing. Wine Institute also sponsors several annual tours of California wine country for Chinese media and trade. These activities support Wine Institute's California wines awareness-building campaign in China which includes retail and on-premise promotions, consumer events, advertising, point-of-sale and educational materials, a dedicated website www.discovercaliforniawines.com.cn and social media.

In support of its Asia marketing efforts, Wine Institute is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Wine Regulatory Forum's 2013 Technical Workshop in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 4-6, 2013. More than 130 wine regulators and stakeholders from 20 Pacific Rim governments will meet as part of the first year of a new five-year "Good Regulatory Practices Action Plan," sponsored by the U.S. Government, to facilitate the wine trade among the Asia-Pacific countries.

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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.

How Silicon Valley is Transforming the Wine Industry

Silicon Valley and the greater San Francisco Bay area have long had a reputation for being both the center of high tech innovation and a hub of viticultural refinement. Now, these two seemingly disparate worlds are beginning to intertwine. The innovative spirit of Silicon Valley is turning its attention on the age-old traditions surrounding wine, creating big changes in the ways wine is made, marketed, and sold.

WINE SERVICE INNOVATION
Wine preservation and sales are undergoing a transformation thanks in part to Napa Technology, a designer and manufacturer of intelligent dispensing systems based in the heart of Silicon Valley. NapaTechology’s WineStation system uses argon gas in a stationary dispensing unit that allows fine wines to be uncorked and preserved for up to 60 days without spoiling, creating an opportunity for restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues to serve more expensive, finer wines by the glass. Wine preservation systems like the WineStation have created a world in which diners no longer have to settle for mediocre house wines by the glass. The WineStation precisely measures how much wine is dispensensed, minimizing loss and maximizing profits for operators. The unit is also showing up in supermarket aisles, giving shoppers a chance to try before they buy and grocers an opportunity to increase sales.

Apple’s iPad is another facet of technological innovation that has begun to creep into the world of wine service. Several top restaurants in the Bay Area, including Barbacco in San Francisco’s Financial District, have begun to list their wines on iPads placed at every table. Using iPads instead of traditional paper wine lists allows restaurants to save time and money on designing and printing new menus. Flemings Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar has also created a wine list using iPad. The interactive nature of the device allows for extensive tasting notes, pairing suggestions and deeper insights about the wine, ultimately creating a richer experience for diners, and a better sales opportunity for the restaurant.

TRANSFORMATIVE WINE GROWING
Tech titan T. J. Rodgers, who made a fortune at Cypress Semiconductor, has set his sights on transforming the time-honored way in which wine is made. His new fermenters automatically regulate temperature and measure sugar content, a process that is traditionally done by hand in a time-consuming process. His highly efficient fermenters, which wirelessly send data to a central computer, are currently being tested at U. C. Davis. Wines made by his new method can already be purchased from his own Silicon Valley winery, aptly named Clos de la Tech.

TECHNOLOGY INFORMS WINE MARKETING
Technology is also influencing the way wine brands are marketed. Former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s new Odette Estate in Napa County used technological advancements to achieve LEED certification for all structures on the property, a distinction that lends cachet to the Odette brand in tech circles. A few years back, Parducci Winery in Mendocino County captured media attention when it started touting the fact that it was the first winery in the country to become completely carbon-neutral by using technological advancements like wind and solar to power its winemaking operations.

Mobile applications like My Favorite Wine and Drync are having an impact on the ways consumers discover and keep track of their favorite wines. Applications that share reviews, create personal wine journals, and keep track of wine cellar inventory are making a big splash in the otherwise analog world of wine.

Napa Technology has also improved the marketing capabilities for restaurants, retailers and hotels by creating a system for tracking inventory and consumption patterns. The WineStation AccuServe Smartcard can track and manage not just wine inventories and total sales, but can also track what individual guests consume so that operators can market to them based on their preferences.

Tradition and innovation are not usually seen as compatible but when it comes to wine and high tech, the formation of a new symbiotic relationship that is well on its way to transforming both the old and the new.

About Napa Technology
Napa Technology, LLC is a designer and manufacturer of Intelligent Dispensing Solutions for wine that ensures optimum freshness with each pour. The company’s breakthrough product, WineStation®, is designed to drive revenues and maximize the profitability of each bottle. WineStation® has been adopted by hospitality, entertainment and foodservice industries as a new way to serve, preserve and capitalize on the value of available customer preference data.

For additional information on WineStation® and Napa Technology visit www.napatechnology.com.

For additional information on the mobile wine app My Favorite Wine visit www.purplefalcon.com.

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

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Unveils the Design for its New Visitor Center with Sweeping Views of its Historic Estate Vineyards

Napa, CA – Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, one of Napa Valley’s most iconic wineries, unveiled the design for its state-of-the-art Visitor Center at an official ceremony with winery principals Ted Baseler (President and CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates) and Marchese Piero Antinori (President of Marchesi Antinori of Italy). Earlier this year, the winery broke ground on the new Visitor Center which will overlook its historic estate vineyards – FAY and S.L.V.

At the ceremony, Ted Baseler and Marchese Piero Antinori were joined by Barcelona-based designer Javier Barba and local architect Dan Macdonald to reveal the watercolor rendering of the new Visitor Center by artist Clayton Perry, which they signed at the ceremony to commemorate this major milestone. The signed artwork will be displayed in the current tasting room for visitors to enjoy until the new 6,000 square foot Visitor Center is completed during the 2014 harvest.

“Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is one of the world’s most highly regarded winery estates,” said Ted Baseler, President and CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. “When we purchased the winery in 2007 in partnership with Marchesi Antinori, our focus was on enhancing the quality of the wines and preserving the legacy of this benchmark producer. We have been investing in every aspect of the winery including enhanced temperature control in the cellar and technology like the Mistral berry sorting system, as well as undergoing vineyard replanting – all with the goal of crafting exceptional wines. With these pieces in place, we believe it’s time to continue our investment in the winery and to Napa Valley by giving our customers a tasting experience that matches the world-class wines being produced.”

Marchese Piero Antinori, whose family has been a leader in the wine business for more than 625 years, believes that quality, passion and innovation are all critical elements in a winery’s success. “There’s no question that the significant investments and enhancements we’ve made are being reflected in the current and upcoming releases,” said Marchese Piero Antinori. “We are very proud that visitors to Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars will soon have a visitor center experience worthy of the wines of this historic estate.”

World-renowned Barcelona-based architect Javier Barba, created the design for the new Visitor Center to take advantage of the stunning views of the estate vineyards and the Stags Leap Palisades as the mountain and its legend are central to the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars story. Using plenty of glass in the design for natural light, the space is bright and natural. More importantly, Barba said, it also allows you to witness the changes the seasons and climate have on our vines in a way that has never been seen before.

Barba also designed and oversaw the building of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Arcade, the Great Room and the Round Room in the wine caves (34,000 square foot) – a four-year project that was completed in 2000. The new Visitor Center will have a similar contemporary look and uses materials that blend with the winery setting and elements from the land. Dan Macdonald of Daniel Macdonald AIA Architects, Inc., and Landscape Architect Sandra Reed of ZAC Landscape Architects are bringing Javier Barba’s vision to life.

The design team plans to source all of the stone for this project from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars land so that visitors can appreciate the natural beauty of the earth occurring in the cliffs of the palisades up close. Each of these design elements will ensure the visitor experience is architecturally harmonious and true to the natural surroundings.

The new Visitor Center will cost approximately $7 million to build; a financial commitment shared by the joint venture partnership of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Marchesi Antinori. Together, they purchased Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in August 2007 for $187 million. The sale included the estate’s historic brand, spectacular Napa Valley winery, and its signature Napa Valley estate vineyards, S.L.V. and FAY.

The winery’s story today is one of Renaissance. Since acquiring the winery in the summer of 2007, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Marchesi Antinori have worked tirelessly to enhance the legacy of this iconic Napa Valley winery. The partners have brought tremendous resources together – not just financial, but also technical and historical expertise plus a passion for innovation and making the very best wines possible.

The 2007 vintage represented the first releases made under the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates/Marchesi Antinori partnership. The 2008 vintage marked the first wines crafted from bud break to bottle. The 2009 CASK 23, S.L.V. and FAY show a stylistic enhancement to even more upfront fruit character and sense of place. They have a beautiful purity of fruit while retaining the balance, elegance and restraint that is the winery’s hallmark.

The 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon, produced from the vineyard’s first commercial crop, stunned the wine world when it bested four top-ranked Bordeaux wines, including two First Growths, in a blind tasting held in Paris. At that time, California wines were considered curiosities, hardly in the same class as the best French wines. This seismic event has been described as “sparking a staggering revolution in vineyard technology,” “a major turning point in consumers’ attitudes,” and “a moment that shook the global wine establishment to its roots.” A 2005 book by George Taber documented the tasting, Judgment of Paris: California vs France and the 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine.

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