Merkin Vineyards’ Post

As a 325-year-old wine and spirits merchant, we get to work with some of the greatest producers in the world. One such winemaker is Eben Sadie. Regularly named as one of South Africa’s most dynamic and talented producers, his winemaking skill is phenomenal. Imagine our delight then, that he has created two new wines for our Own Selection range – a range created to help customers explore new and classic wines from world-class producers.   Eben himself says “In essence, these wines encapsulate all of our futuristic plantings that are just too young to make it into our Signature Wines, and they will be locked into this project for now. But they are all incredible terroir we have planted over the past ten years. So that is the heart and the origin of these wines—a viewpoint into the future vineyard and terroir development.”   These wines are blends and the composition will change each year, to allow Eben to make the very best wines possible. This is the sort of project that wine merchants, wine buyers and indeed wine producers get very excited about. Working with incredible people, brilliant fruit, and with the flexibility to simply create the best wines possible. The wines are a Swartland White and a Swartland Red. The white is a blend of Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Vermentino and Verdelho, mainly from the granite slopes of the Paardeberg mountain and vineyards on limestone soil covered with pure white sand in St Helena Bay. The red meanwhile is 100% Syrah. If you’ve been paying attention, you might now be rechecking the previous paragraphs. Yes, both wines are blends. In fact you could argue that almost all wines are blends, with blending across vineyard sites, winery tanks and different oak barrels absolutely the norm across the industry. This year, the Berry Bros. & Rudd Swartland Red by The Sadie Family Wines happens to be a blend of 100% Syrah, from the Paardeberg and Kasteelberg. In future years it may include other grapes as well. And although we are slightly biased, these are already our new favourite wines. #blends    photo: Jason Lowe

Why a supply-constrained Sonoma wine wants to be in the UK 24 NOVEMBER 2023 By Patrick Schmitt Using organically-grown grapes from a pre-prohibition wine estate on the Sonoma side of Spring Mountain, the high-scoring wines of Cornell Vineyards are a sell-out in the US – so why is it bothering with the UK? That’s the question I put to the property’s owner, Henry Cornell, when speaking with him last month, following his decision to assign Pol Roger Portfolio as the first importer to bring Cornell’s wines to British shores. Half-joking, Henry was quick to answer, commenting, “I like to build on the tradition of Roosevelt and Churchill,” referring to the ‘special relationship’ between the US and UK that can be traced back to the close bond formed by the nations’ statesmen during World War II. But on a more serious note, his desire to see his wines distributed in the UK stems from both his deep affection for the country, and his belief that Cornell’s style of Cabernet suits the British palate. Speaking on behalf of his wife Vanessa – who works closely with him at Cornell – Henry told db, “We are Anglophiles,” before explaining that his love for the UK followed a stint working in London from 1981-82 when he was a young lawyer. and the location on Spring Mountain.” Vanessa added, “People are starting to pay attention to Sonoma Cabernets, and there are a small number of producers making Cabernets of very high quality, and it’s exciting to be part of that.” She also said that there are benefits to being from Sonoma County, “We are making wine that people seek out and collectors know, and we stand out from the sea of Napa Cabs.” Unusually, Cornell is planted with the full six Bordeaux red grapes, which means that the property has Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot as one might expect, but also the much rarer Petit Verdot, Malbec and most recently, Carmenère grapes too. Henry explained, “The reason for that is because our winemaker, Françoise Peschon – who is a genius – said that we should plant all the varieties so we have enough to play with when blending, and then we can get you a Haut Brion ’89.” Establishing Cornell Vineyards has been a long process, and with setbacks, explained Henry. Not only did Henry wait until the 2013 vintage before the first commercial release under the Cornell Vineyards label, but in 2020, “just as we were getting to break even, with peak production, we were hit by fire, which has set us back another 5-7 years.” Wildfires in that year saw Cornell lose half its vineyards, and half its buildings too, including the family’s house on the property, which they have yet to be able to afford to rebuild. “We lost 10 hectares [of 20] and if our vineyard is my hand, then all the fingers were burned, but the core vineyard, which is contiguous, acted as a fire break; it’s as though God was testing us, and saving us, because that is the backbone of every vintage,” said Henry, adding.

The worldwide journey of American wines started in those Revolutionary May in 1976. This Paris tasting will forever be remembered as the day that transformed the wine industry. To everyone's surprise, the two wines (unknown before) came out in the blind testing on top, both were from Napa Valley: Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignion (vintage 1973). It was an awesome start not only for well known and highly respected until now California Chardonnays and the Cabernet blends, but also for whole range of New World wines (from Chili, Argentina, New Zealand etc). But when it is coming to red wines … For many years Napa valley has been a pioneer with its vineyards and renowned vintages. But seems, Oregon became a new star wine region worth exploring and the adobe of New World of Pinot Noirs. Oregon-grown Pinot Noir is truly one of the outstanding New World Pinot. After the New Zealand ones, of course. Nothing compares to these two, like they can not be compared to each other.

🍷 Flash Sale Alert: Enjoy 15% Off Our Clean-Crafted™️ Rosé Wines! 🍷   Hello, wine lovers! Exciting news from our winery team!    We’re thrilled to announce a limited-time flash sale on all our Clean-Crafted™️ Rosé wines. For a short period, you can indulge in our meticulously curated rosés at a delightful 15% discount!   But wait, there's more! Want to deepen your love for wine and get even more benefits? Join our exclusive Scout Circle wine club today. As a member, not only will you gain access to our premium selections, expert pairing tips, and fun community events, but you'll also receive an additional 10% off your rosé purchases during this sale. But…you have to be a Scout Circle Member to get the additional 10%!   Here’s how to make the most of this offer: ✔️ Go to my website (link in comments) and join Scout Circle at any level. ✔️ Browse our selection of Clean-Crafted™️ Rosé wines. ✔️ Add your favorite rosés to your cart to enjoy a total of 25% off during checkout. ✔️ The discounts will show up when you check out. Oh, not that I don't think you will enjoy our wines…but there is no long term commitment on a Scout Circle membership. You can change or cancel your membership at any time! Why wouldn't you give Clean-Crafted™️ a try?   Don’t miss this chance to stock up on beautifully crafted wines that promise purity and quality with every sip. Whether you’re a rosé aficionado or new to the scene, there’s never been a better time to explore our collection.   👉 Join Now and Start Saving! Cheers to great wine and even greater times! #WineLovers #RoséAllDay #ScoutCircle #WineClub #FlashSale  

BOXT, the female-founded, direct-to-consumer winery, has launched its first-ever limited-edition, signed, small-vineyard press. Founder & CEO Sarah Puil and the BOXT master winemaker meticulously crafted these exceptional wines, sourcing grapes from family-owned vineyards and perfecting the blends over months of tasting sessions. 'We spent months perfecting these limited-edition wines, sourcing each grape from family-owned vineyards up and down California and Washington, fulfilling my vision of what I wanted to create: making wines that would honor the terroir – the sense of place – unique to each vineyard, each grape,' said Puil. Sustainability is a core focus for BOXT. The winery aims to reduce the astronomical waste produced by single-use glass bottles in an industry where 90% of wines are meant for consumption within a year. BOXT's innovative packaging allows wines to remain fresh for over 30 days after opening. The limited-edition wines join BOXT's collection of whites, reds, and rosés. Each bottle is numbered and hand-signed by Puil. Vineyards were carefully selected, grapes handpicked and sorted in the meticulous crafting process. @drinkboxt #sustainability #winemaking #limitededition

"Wine is one of life's pleasures; you doin't need to take it too seriously or have an extensive knowledge about wine to enjoy and appreciate it." -Faryn & Nina Schatz of @PeltierWinery Check out our newest blog "Seasonal Sensory Experience: An Approach to Wine Tasting with Peltier Winery" below to learn about wine tasting experiences in Lodi, Ca. 

The World's Best Cabernets, according to Wine Searcher https://lnkd.in/gZwxhyS3 "Cabernet is the most sought-after single grape variety on Wine-Searcher, and, combined with the Cabernet-heavy Bordeaux Blend https://lnkd.in/gnRPSjPv, it features in an impressive 42 of our 100 most-searched-for wines." (Source: https://lnkd.in/g4EBBg86) Often, I get asked the question: which wine is the best? My answer: the one that you like.

Decanting wine over the holidays? Learn five tips and tricks from sommeliers and wine industry professionals on how to best decant wines. #JordanWinery #Decanters #WineEducation

🍇 ✨ We're shaking things up! If wine is to be shared, shouldn't the winemaking process be shared as well? We're breaking the mold by offering a unique Private Reserve Program. This program allows participants to choose their wine type and collaborate with the winery team from grape to bottle, including tastings, blending sessions, and personalized labels. Perfect for wine enthusiasts and restaurant owners who want something a bit extra, it's a chance to experience the art of winemaking firsthand. 🍷 Learn more about the program in our recent press release: https://lnkd.in/eDq7sN_e

Our longtime Winemaker, Paul Draper, was once posed with a question: What is the most crucial tool to crafting fine wine. His response was ‘The wine glass’. There is no better example of this than how we assemble our Monte Bello wine each vintage. The various vineyard lots are blind tasted without knowledge of the specific grape variety makeup or the volume of each lot. The decision to include or exclude is final regardless of the specifics that are unveiled at the end. This approach is free from any preconceived notions in the blending process and ensures the highest possible quality of the final wine. https://lnkd.in/dU3Yy7Sw #wine #winebusiness