The Toad Hollow Gazette
Since 1983
"All the News That's Hoppinin' in The Hollow"
Spring 2002, Issue 16
So where were you on 9/11/01 when life as
we knew it changed forever? We were in the great state of Texas, just starting
our San Antonio/Austin/Dallas/Houston tour. We considered simply returning home
- but how would we get there? We ended up just driving from place to place (up
very early to get where we were going, and then up late working - you know,
eating and drinking - made for some extremely long days). We were very lucky to
get a rental car - especially since we needed to pick it up in San Antonio and
leave it in Houston. We heard that an acquaintance had to drive cross country to
get home - and he had to buy a car to do it! Luckily he has more money than we
do. By the time we were due to head home air traffic was pretty much back to
normal (normal? I don't think so) and we got home without a hitch. It was pretty
strange in the airports - certainly no crowds to speak of - but everyone who was
around seemed anxious to connect. Friendliness, helpfulness, and kindness seemed
to prevail - which was a nice feeling. Too bad it often takes a disaster or
crisis to make people stop and pay attention and appreciate the little things.
All things considered, it was a good trip. We found that most folks were looking
for a distraction and a Toad Hollow dinner or tasting pretty much filled the
bill.
Shall we talk wine and get that out of
the way? There will still be 2000
Toad Hollow Chardonnay available when you get this letter. We increased
production last year, which we thought would be good. But then the economy blew
out and the market was flooded with wines from everywhere - some good, some not
so good, but definitely lots of it. And then 9-11 - like we needed a real
disaster. So we have wine. Therefore the 2001 Chardonnay will not be released on
April 1 as in years past but will be available in May. The 2001 harvest was a
good one and we're sure you will enjoy the wine when it is released. But in the
meantime drink more (and faster)!
 The Eye
of the Toad 2001 Dry Pinot Noir Rosé was released in mid-January. We're
excited! We've been in search of the perfect rosé and each year we get a little
bit closer. We've been getting very positive feedback from those who have tried
the new vintage. The package has changed a bit - back to clear bottles that
allows the beautiful color to shine through - and we've decided to go with a
bright yellow branded synthetic cork. Rosés are best when young and fresh,
which negates the need to age. We figured a synthetic cork would work just fine.
 Both the 1999
Reserve Pinot Noir and Merlot
are available in your market. The Pinot production was about twice that of the
Merlot, and you will find availability accordingly. Enjoy them now or save them
for several years. If you do manage to save them please plan to share them with
us because you know we won't have any around. We here at Toad Hollow are into
immediate gratification. The 2000 vintages are coming along nicely. We expect to
release the Pinot on May first, and then the Merlot on June first. We're happy
to report that the 2000 Merlot production has been increased. These reserve wines
are in limited quantities, especially considering how many markets we're in, so
scoop them up while you can.
As most of you are aware, we have been
zinless since the 1998 vintage. We occasionally see a few bottles in the various
markets but very rarely. My suggestion is if you see it grab it immediately. We
are planning to release a 2001 Paso Robles Zin sometime around September. This
is a new venture for us and the quality of the wine is superlative. If all goes
accordingly to plan we will never bee zinless again. Let he who is without zin
cast the first stone (or cork).
Now we leave California and take a trip
to France. Bonjour. Have you had your Le Faux Frog today? Le Faux Frog wines
(Merlot, Chardonnay, and Syrah) are out and about and doing well. You'll
probably see some of the 1999 vintages on the shelves a bit longer but the 2000
vintage wines have been available for the last few  weeks and should start
turning up soon. The prices on these wines are more than reasonable - especially
given the amazing quality. Lucky for you ( and us) the 2000 vintage is every bit
is as good as the 1999! While speaking of the French - ooh la la - we must not
forget the Amplexus Crémant
Brut. The fan base for this wine continues to grow.
If you have not had the pleasure you should give it a try. This wine fits in
most everywhere. Enjoy it as an apéritif, with a main course (salmon works
wonderfully), with a dessert (try something with caramel as part of the mix), or
all by itself. Remember, it's always a good time for bubbles!
Be on the lookout for something new and
different from Toad Hollow. It's a dessert wine from the same people who make
our Le Faux Frog wines and Amplexus. It's called Proprietaire and is it ever
yummy. It's a late harvest Mauzac (the predominant grape in the Amplexus) and
smells and tastes of delicious fresh pears. It is slightly effervescent and
sweet - but not too much. Great as a palate cleanser between courses or with
dessert. I think you will find it so clean, refreshing, and tasty that you will
be able to enjoy a glass any old time. This wine will be available in very
limited quantities to start so you will probably have to make a special request
at your local wine shop. There you have it!
We often hear from our fans complaining
that they are having difficulty finding our wines. Suggested solution - go to
your favorite wine shop, tell them about us, and ask them to carry our wines. If
you assure them that you're anxious to purchase the wine that should do the
trick. We also appreciate it when you ask for Toad Hollow at your favorite
restaurants when you don't see us on the list. It is so great and very important
to have you as a Toad Hollow advocate. I know it's hard to believe but there are
still lots of people who don't know we exist - won't you help us let them in on
the secret? I think you know that Toad Hollow is more than just a producer of
fine wine. We're like a family and you're part of it. We believe that drinking
wine should be a fun and pleasurable experience to be shared with good friends
and combined with good food. I can't believe the friendships that have grown out
of the Toad Hollow experience. People all over the country welcome us into their
homes and their hearts. I think you know how hard we work to make Toad Hollow
what it is - and you, the people, are what make it all worthwhile. Cheers to
you!
Check out our webbed site regularly for
new pictures of the gang and Hank the wonder wiener dog. Watch for details of
the travel schedule, which is constantly being updated.
Check out the soft goods
for sales. We're working on a new poster series sure to remind you to "Tip
Toad". The first should be out by April; get a sneak preview on our webbed
site. We're planning to email our newsletter by the fall so be first on your
block to send us your email address!
Toad on the Road
Click here for Todd's (& sometimes Frankie's) travel schedule.
Toad Tales of Woe
We've have some scary moments in the last few months but Dr. Toad is on the
mend. Todd is now sporting a defibrillator (or dephibrillator in Toad speak).
This little computer (about the size of a cigarette lighter) is implanted in his
chest and makes sure that Todd's heart is beating correctly. It's really cutting
edge stuff - and he got the deluxe model! Take that all you PDA/mobile
phone/Blackberry toting technophiles. One thing's for sure; our Bionic Toad
(knee and heart) will be setting off alarms at airports across the US of A!
Check out our Toad Hollow 2003 Release
Schedule!
Come see us whether we are in your
neighborhood or you're in ours. We try to hop around to as many locales as
possible. But these days, between Todd's health concerns and the many hoops we
have to go through to fly, the challenges are great. Imagine Dr. Toad with no
corkscrew in his pocket. But do look for Kate (our National Sales Manager) in
your market. She's doing a great job and we know you'll like her.
Quote:
"Virtue and safety in wine-bibbing's found,
while all that drink water deserve to be drown'd."
-- Benjamin Franklin
We've settled into our new space - and
managed to fill it up! Isn't it amazing that you make do with 800 sq. ft. + a
trailer - and then you move into a space four times larger and it's still not
big enough?
Our partner Rodney is at home
recuperating from a stroke. It's a slow road but progress is being made. I'm
sure he would appreciate hearing from some of you. Why not send a card or note
c/o the winery?
Golden Toad Award
The Second Annual Golden Toad Award goes to Fran Magner, our New
England broker. Fran rides herd on CT, VT, MA, NH, ME and RI. He's doing a great
job making Toad Hollow a household name in many of the original colonies. Thanks
Fran!
For the last several years it has been our custom to host our April 1 release
party to kick off the new Chardonnay vintage. Since we will not be releasing the
2001 Chardonnay until later, we have decided to forego the party this year. By
the time the new vintage is on the shelves we will have hit the road big time.
Once our travels for the year begin we are rarely home and definitely not
available to plan and host a big toad-do. Perhaps by 2003 we will be back on the
original schedule. In the meantime please think about us fools on April 1 and
raise a glass of your favorite  Toad
Hollow wine. We'll do the same to you fools wherever we happen to be.
Address Correction Requested: Please let us know if we have any part of your name or address incorrect, so that we can update our mailing list. Let us know too, if you are getting more than one copy; or, for some reason that we can't possibly imagine, you'd like to be removed from our mailing list.
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