Art and Wine: One Love

I attended a wine tasting dinner in downtown Los Angeles last night. It was held in the beautiful loft home of the charming Tarryn Soderberg who owns her own art gallery, Tarryn Teresa Gallery.

Tarryn asked me if I had any involvement in the arts. And I said yes, I sell wine.

She looked at me quizzically for a moment and then seemed to understand my meaning.
Wine is art to me and the winemakers are artists. Some bottles are like a cheap velvet Elvis and some are like the Mona Lisa, and the great ones for me are like Frida Kahlo on a sad but defiant day.
Below is the story of another wine professional who celebrates the connection between art and wine.

Brigitte and Philippe Armenier are the former owners of Domaine de Marcoux in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, which they converted to Biodynamics in 1989.

They both moved to California in 2001 and have acted as Biodynamics consultants to many U.S. wineries including:
Demeter certified: Beckmen / Bergstrom / Cayuse Vyds / Grgich Hills / Montinore / Sawyer-lindquist / Sycamore Vyds;
Total or partial Biodynamics: L'Aventure / Beacon Hill / Beaux-Freres / Black Family Vyds / Brooks / Cain Vyds / Demetria / DuMol / Ehlers / Freestone Vyds / Grace Family / Halter Ranch Vyds / Hartford Vyds / Hedges Estate / Holloran / Justin / Oakville East / Joseph Phelps Vyds - Insignia / Resonance / SeaSmoke / Solena / Sullivan / Unti / White Cottage Ranch / Wilridge...


Brigitte is also a musician and has recently released her new CD,Analogos, in which she plays Schubert and Brahms. She believes "Biodynamics is music applied to the realm of agriculture".
There is a lengthy interview attached to the CD where Brigitte explains her philosophy on music and biodynamics.

"Biodynamic agriculture emphasizes the importance of the natural environment, meaning not only Earth but also cosmos. Chemical-free, it stresses the conscious observation of and work with the rhythms and evolutionary forces of the living. Through its practices and particularly from its specific preparations made from natural substances, Biodynamic farming revitalizes the soils, enlivens all their processes of fertility and as a result, enables the full expression of their uniqueness in a sort of “melody of the terroir.”

What is your connection between art and wine?

A Rose is a Rose is a Rosé wine: Organic Wine for Under $15

I am lucky. I get to celebrate warm weather and blooming flowers most of the year. This is the wonderful flip side to California's droughts, bushfires and mismanaged state budgets.

One clear benefit for me is that I drink rosé wines year round as well. Rosé wines have finally become hip as wine lovers discover their versatility with food and delicious red fruit flavors.

While the French continue to do battle over what defines a rosé wine and how it is made, Americans are starting a love affair with this luscious libation.

Quick rose wine facts:
1.Rosé wine can be made from any grape or combination of grapes, some red grapes are necessary for the beautiful pinkish hue.
2.Rosé wine can be made by blending finished white and red wines together.
3.The Saignée method involves 'bleeding the vats'. Basically, the winemaker removes the skins immediately after crushing the grapes so that there is minimal tannin and color from the skins.
4. Rosé wines make the absolute best beach and picnic wines.
5.Rosé wines can be enticingly fruity or bone dry, as well as anywhere in between.

Bonterra Vineyards just released their 2008 Dry Rosé and it is a stunner for the price.
Gorgeous dark pink color with fresh strawberry and watermelon flavors. Hibiscus tea and cherry aromas. There is some refreshing acidity on the dry finish.The Bonterra Rosé is made from zinfandel, syrah and sangiovese grapes.

All of Bonterra's wines are made from certified organic grapes, including this rose.
Bonterra also makes wines from certified biodynamic grapes as well. Bonterra Vineyards has been a leader in producing high quality wines from organic grapes for under $15.

Like the gorgeous Bonterra Zinfandel 2007.This juicy red wine is perfect for spring barbecues. Dense, dark purple color. Juicy blackberry fruit flavors with a touch of pepper and spice for balance.

Bonterra Dry Rosé 2008 $14, widely available
Bonterra Zinfandel 2007 $15, widely available

The Rise of Wine on Tap and Gastropubs

Last week's NY Times had an interesting article about the new trend of serving wine on tap.

Wine on tap addresses several problems with ordering wine by the glass at restaurants.
First is that the wine is often oxidized because the bottle has been open too long.
The tap system keeps the wine fresh.
And of course, since the restaurant is ordering the wine in bulk, the price per glass should be more reasonable.
This reusable keg system also cuts down on glass bottle usage, which is good for all concerned.

That article prompted me to visit the new Father's Office in Culver City. Father's Office is a well known gastropub in Los Angeles. I had been hearing raves about the original location in Santa Monica for years.

The menu was small and the food was perfectly executed. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon on the patio with friends. I will return soon.
We tried two of the wines on tap and both were excellent.

Topanga Vineyards Grenache Blanc was fresh and lively. Aromas of lemon and beeswax were matched by stonefruit flavors and a nice acidity on the finish.

Melville Pinot Noir had fresh raspberry and cherry flavors with a touch of herbs and black tea to give it depth.

Would you order more wine by the glass if it was always fresh and well-priced?

More on HR 875

Two days ago, I passed on a letter I received about HR 875. It was a letter written to clearly grab people's attention.
Although I do not agree with the tone of that letter, I still do not support this bill and I do believe it does contain worrisome language.
Despite that, I have included links with differing points of view below.


I have had many emails and responses questioning the 'facts' of the letter.
Having spent more time than I can spare reading about this bill, I have discovered a few things:

1. Representative DeLauro's husband, Stanley Greenberg, was a consultant for Monsanto, not an employee. ( Fine distinction but one that many people cared to have clarified)
2. There are some reasons for concern with this bill. One is that there is no exceptions for small or organic farms to adhere to any new regulations, whether they can afford the regulations or not. And also, that the bill suggests setting 'new minimum standards for fertilizer and nutrients'.
3. Everyone seems to be believe that this bill will not pass as it stands.

I have found too many sites and forums discussing this issue to pass on here but here are a few links. Educate yourself and form your own opinion about this bill.

Here is Representative Delauro's official HR 875 info page.
My Left Nutmeg
Organic Consumers Association

Organic Farming to be Outlawed?

Greetings all lovers of Organic and Biodynamic wines,
I received the below and felt compelled to pass it on asap.

Important Notice:

Next week the U.S. house and senate are voting on a bill that will OUTLAW ORGANIC FARMING!!

The bill is called:The Food Safety and Modernization Act of 2009 (Bill HR 875).

In February a House Resolution #875 was introduced by Rosa DeLauro, a democrat, who is the wife of Stanley Greenburg an executive at Monsanto, the world's leading producer of herbicides and genetically engineered seeds.

The passing of this bill would allow the government to search and seize properties with small organic production and insist on the use of toxic chemicals on that can cause serious medical problems including cancer.

Please call 202-224-3121, or email your Congressman and Senator and ask them to vote NO on "Food Safety and Modernization Act (Bill HR 875) Section 3: 103, 206 and 207-

The website links here will take you to a site where you can email a copy of the letter suggested below:



Dianne Feinstein

http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUS.EmailMe



Barbara Boxer's

http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/email/thankyou.cfm?CFID=12512752&CFTOKEN=44047145



An example email:



To Senator Barbara Boxer:



Please oppose the new law that is going to be voted in next week: HR 875 and S 425! Have you read the legislation? It is a law that will OUTLAW ORGANIC FARMING!! requiring organic farms to use specific fertilizers and POISONOUS insect sprays dictated by the newly formed agency. This will include back yard gardens that grow food only for family use. If this passes there will be no more heirloom clean seeds, but only Monsanto genetically altered seeds that are now showing up to cause UNEXPECTED DISEASES in humans! This bill would allow the government to SEARCH AND SEIZE PROPERTIES that have small organic production.



What is your position on this?



Thank you,

Your Name

Friday Night and The Living is Easy

There is a gentle breeze blowing and the week's work is done.

It is Friday late afternoon and I am drinking the Tarantas Cava. Natural Merchants imports this delicious sparkling wine from Spain.
Bodegas Iranzo is the producer and their grapes are certified organic since 1994.

I have written about Natural Merchants before for two reasons.
1. They import amazing organic food and wine from Europe that you need to check out.
2. I want to be them when I grow up.

The Tarantas Cava is full of apple fritter aromas with a touch of cinnamon and has a dry, refreshing finish. Gorgeous bubbles and low alcohol make this a perfect celebratory aperitif at week's end.
You can find it at Wholefoods for about $12.99.