Bruery Top Chef Sighting

For sure, we love all things Top Chef, but their latest permutation, Top Chef Desserts has really stretched our patience boundaries-a more dysfunctional collection of egos, tempers and flat out oddballs we've never seen.

On October 6th's episode, we couldn't help noticing a (seemingly) accidental product placement (compared to their many, many premeditated ones). Near the episode's end, while the chefs were engaged in a finger pointing bickerfest a near empty bottle of The Bruery Orchard White could clearly be seen on the table behind them. Nice.

 I'm sure the stress of competition weighs heavy on the Top Chef contestants, but seriously, how angry can a person be with a full glass of Orchard White in their hand?

Warehouse Trade Show Blind Tasting Results

As previously reported, Dave Moore of Divino was our 2010 Warehouse Trade Show Blind Tasting contest winner. Congrats again to Dave.
As everyone in the wine business already knows--blind tasting is hard. A lot of folks were on the right track and made sound assessments, but as usual, guesses ran the gamut of potential grape varieties and place of origin.
Wine #2, the Bierzo from Castro Ventosa proved particularly difficult. It wasn't a surprise that nobody pegged it correctly, although many were able to peg it as an Old World based on it's tannin and earth notes.
It's worth pointing out that both of the blind tasting wines wholesale for less than $11.00, and many of our tasters identified them as wines that sold for higher price points, which officially makes them great values.
Thanks to all who participated. We had fun, and we hope you did too.
Here's the scoop:

Wine #1. Cooper Hill Pinot Gris Oregon 2009

Old/New World Wine   
Old World      50%
New World    50%

Country   
Australia    7%
Chile    7%
France    32%
Italy    11%
New Zealand    14%
Spain     7%
USA     22%

Region   
Alsace    6%
Bordeaux    13%
California    6%
Loire    19%
Marlborough    6%
Oregon    13%
Other    13%
Rias Biaxas    6%
Veneto    6%
Vouvray    6%
Washington    6%

Varietal   
Albarino    7%
Chardonnay    7%
Chenin Blanc    7%
Muscadet    3%
Pinot Blanc    4%
Pinot Gris/Grigio    14%
Riesling    7%
Sauvignon Blanc    43%
Torrontes    4%
White Blend    4%

Vintage
2006    4%
2007    4%
2008    62%
2009    27%
2010    4%

Alc. Content   
<12.5%       32%
12.5%-13.0%    36%
13.1%-13.5%    29%
13.6%-14.0%    4%
>14.0%       0%
   
Approx. Wholesale Price   
$6-$11              43%
$11.25-$15.00    36%
$15.25-$20.00    21%
>$20.00        0%

Wine #2. El Castro de Valtuille Bierzo 2007

Old World/New World Wine
Old World    52%
New World    48%

Country   
Argentina   4%
Australia    8%
Chile       4%
France    8%
Italy      35%
Spain    15%
Uruguay    4%
USA    23%

Region   
Abbruzzo    8%
Barossa     8%
Bierzo      0%
Central Coast    8%
Napa      8%
Oregon    8%
Other    8%
Priorat    8%
Rhone    15%
Santa Rita    8%
Sonoma    8%
Tuscany    8%
Umbria     8%

Varietal   
Cabernet Sauvignon    12%
Carignan    4%
Carmenere    4%
Grenache    4%
Malbec    4%
Mencia    0%
Merlot    15%
Montepulciano    4%
Negroamaro    8%
Pinot Noir    12%
Sangiovese    15%
Shiraz    8%
Syrah    4%
Tannat    4%
Tempranillo    4%

Vintage   
2002    8%
2005    17%
2006    8%
2007    25%
2008    33%
2009    8%

Alc. Content   
<12.5%         0%
12.5%-13.0%    19%
13.1%-13.5%    26%
13.6%-14.0%    52%
>14.0%        4%

Approx. Wholesale Price   
$6-$11           15%
$11.25-$15.00    54%
$15.25-$20.00    19%
>$20.00       12%

2010 Warehouse Blind Tasting Winner

The results are in, and we have a winner!

Dave Moore of Divino Wine and Spirits came closest to identifying the two contest wines. He guessed Wine #1 as an Oregon Pinot Gris, and it indeed was an Oregon Pinot Gris.

The two wines were:
  1. Cooper Hill Pinot Gris Oregon 2009
  2. El Castro de Valtuille Bierzo 2007  (100% Mencia)


More (lots) detailed stats to follow soon about everyone's guesses. Thanks to everyone who participated, and have a great flight to California, Dave!

Postcard From Belgium

Several members of our lucky deserving sales staff have been spending the last week in beautiful Belgium on vacation an educational product knowledge fact finding mission.

Here's an update from our Boulder rep Joe (with more to follow later):

Our Elite crew just left Mechlin after some breakfast and a walk, and still am in awe on how great this country is. Yesterday we toured a brewery (Het Ancher) that has been around since the 1600's. One of the oldest breweries in Belgium, and has been in the family for 5 generations. Amazing. All the beers (Gouden Carolus) are TOP QUALITY. So much so, he brews many of the beers from other brewers in Belgium at his facility because of quality control.

After the tour, we went to the top of the chapel in Mechlin, I have some great pictures of this place. It took the people of the town 70 years to complete this, talk about the energy put into something, many families spent their whole life on this, and still never witnessed it's completion.

Then, we went to Charles LeClef's family home, (owner of the Brewery) that was built in 1630, older than America, where he just put two giant copper distillers in the old living room. He has been experimenting with single malt whiskey. Good product, can't wait for it to age another 10 years.

Right now the Elite crew, along with the Wetten Importing crew and guests, are headed to Bruges for a tour of the Halve Maan Brewerym.

Ciao,

Joe