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Happy New Year!
With 2001 behind us it is time to look to the New Year for great
new beginnings, challenges and adventures. At Cline Cellars we look forward to introducing the 2000 red wine releases
and 2001 white wine releases.
We begin with the release of our 2000 California Zinfandel. A wine
that is consistently rated a Best Buy for its quality and price. The wine continues to draw from an assortment of old vineyards
throughout Northern California. The "Cal Zin" showcases a wide array of dark berry fruit with supple tannins to
add some complexity to the wine.
Slated next for release is another Cline Cellars past recipient of the Best
Buy category and Food
& Wine Magazine Best
Wines in America Award (1998 & 1999 California Syrah)
the 2000 California
Syrah. This wine is also produced from multiple vineyards throughout Northern California. However, beginning with
the 2000 vintage 30% of the Syrah will be from our Sonoma County vineyards.
Cline, no stranger to Syrah, a fruit friendly and appealing
variety, will add one more single bottling to its already impressive Syrah program. In the spring 2002, Cline Cellars
will introduce the 2000 Sonoma County Syrah. The Sonoma County vineyards are located over the hill from the winery in the
Tolay Valley off of Stage Gulch Road in the Petaluma area. These young vineyards now in production are providing
enough fruit to select out individual lots. The superior fruit will be bottled into a new bottling under the Sonoma County
appellation with the remainder blended into the California Syrah. The final Syrah to be released (late spring 2002) is our award-winning
Los Carneros
Syrah.
What distinguishes the
Sonoma County and Los
Carneros vineyards apart is the Sonoma County Syrah is grown
in a cooler climate that exhibits dark berry and black fruit with spicy elements. While the Los Carneros Syrah, grown on
the hillside behind the winery in shallow soil, is darker with more structure and depth of flavor. It will be exciting
to compare the California, Los Carneros and Sonoma County Syrah side-by-side to taste, learn and enjoy all the different nuances
and character these wines have to offer.
Moving onto our take-no-prisoners Zinfandel's as with the Mourvèdre
program they are going through their final transformation. I will report in February on their status and what we
have to look forward this spring.
If you want a sneak preview of the 2000 Zinfandel's join us at
the 11th Annual Zinfandel Tasting hosted by Zinfandel Advocates
& Producers on January 25th in San Francisco at the
Fort Mason Center. For more information check-out the Upcoming
Events section.
The 2001 white wines faired extremely well with great acidity
and in full ripeness. Our Pinot Gris/Chardonnay experiment was a big hit therefore we are roughly doubling its
production where as we are tripling the Pinot Gris because it to was extremely well received. Our Viognier program
is also growing by leaps & bounds going from 3,000 cases to 8,000 cases as our young vineyards come into production.
Look for all these exciting wines beginning March 2002.
Question of the Month?
Since I have not received any new wine questions I asked Cline
Cellars' Tasting Room Staff for the Top 5 Questions they receive.
5) Zinfandel's Red? Yes, it is and to learn more about America's Heritage Grape attend the Zinfandel Advocates & Produces (ZAP) 11th Annual
Zinfandel Tasting January 25th at Fort Mason in San Francisco.
Visit ZAP's website for more information Zinfandel.org
4) It's really nice to be in the Napa Valley (not a question but we hear it daily.) Just a slight problem with
this comment, Cline Cellars is located in the Sonoma Valley.
3) Is all this rain hurting the vines? No, because our vineyards are in the dormant season and taking a long winters
nap. If it were two weeks before harvest, then our situation would be a disaster.
2) Are those vines dead? No again, they are dormant, sleeping. Dormancy begins with the leaves falling in autumn
and ends with bud break in spring.
1) Where are the bathrooms?
Wine Question? E-mail epcline@sonic.net
Come visit CLINE CELLARS' beautiful
winery, located in the Carneros District in Sonoma Valley.Tours everyday at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m..Call
our Tasting Room for a reservation 800/546-2070 or 707/935-4310.Cline Cellars 24737 Hwy. 121, Sonoma, CA
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Upcoming Events
Wednesday, January 23, 2002
Flights of Fancy
A Regional Showcase of 1999 California Zinfandels
Co-Sponsored by:
&
The American Center for Wine, Food & The Arts
500 First Street, Napa
(707) 259-1600 1:00-5:00 p.m.
$90 (ZAP & COPIA members) and $100 (non-members)
Thursday, January 24, 2002
Good Eats & Zinfandel Pairing
Rosenblum Cellars, Alameda
(across the Bay from San Francisco)
510-865-7007 5:30-8:30 p.m.
$60 (ZAP members) and $70 (non-members)
Friday, January 25, 2002
"An Evening with the Winemakers"
Fort Mason Center, Festival Pavilion
San Francisco 415-441-3400
6:00 p.m.
$120 (ZAP members) and $135 (non-members)
Saturday, January 25, 2002
11th Annual Zinfandel Tasting
Fort Mason Center, San Francisco
Marina Boulevard at Buchanan
415-441-3400
Press and Trade 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
(requires special ticket and badge)
General Public 1:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
$35 (ZAP members) and $45 (non-members)
For tickets call Fort Mason Box Office phone number is 415-345-7575.
The Box Office is available Tues. - Sat., 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
or visit Zinfandel Advocates & Producers website at www.zinfandel.org
FIFTH ANNUAL RHONE RANGERS
Saturday, April 27, 2002
Trade: 12:00 - 2:00PM
Public: 2:00 - 5:00PM
150 Rhone Ranger Wineries will be pouring barrel samples
and new releases of American Rhone-style wines. LOCATION: Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco -
Tickets for the public will go on sale after January 1, 2002.
Visit the RhoneRangers
Visit our Cline Cellars Calendar
Page for upcoming winery events.
For Cline Cellars wine reviews visit our Current Accolades page.
Visit Cline Cellars' Distributors
Websites
Bacchus Importers Ltd.
- Maryland and Washington D.C.
Martin Scott - New York City Distributor
Southern Wines & Spirits - California
Vinsouth - Atlanta, Florida, Texas
WineAccess
The Wine Treasury - United Kingdom
Wordens Market and Deli in Missoula, MT
Margot-Schmitt - Germany
Distributor
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