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Blog

26 Aug

Posted at 19:11h in Wine
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Comparing Pinots: Part 1  The similarities and differences in geology and geography between Humboldt County and Russian River Valley Pinot Noir made by Joseph Jewell Wines.   Acreage Before we begin our deep dive comparison between Humboldt County and Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, it is important to have an understanding of the size of areas we’re discussing. Humboldt County is roughly 200 miles north of San Francisco with Del Norte County at its northern border, Mendocino County on its southern border,Trinity County to its east and ~150 miles of fog-shrouded Pacific coastline. Humboldt is ~2.5 million acres in total with a measly 150 acres of grape vines planted majority of which are in southern Humboldt County with one AVA (American Viticultural Area), Willow Creek, containing 30 acres in the northeastern part of the...

05 Aug

Posted at 21:51h in Wine
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Where Does Vermentino Come From? If you ever venture to old-world Europe, keep your eyes peeled for wines by the name of Pigato (Liguria, Italy), Favorita (Piedmonte, Italy), or Rolle (Provence, France). All of these are localized names for Vermentino.  When exploring the Mediterranean basin you’ll find these common Vermentino names from Provence and Piedmont, to Tuscany and the islands of Sardinia and Corsica. All of these warmer climate regions near the Mediterranean provide Vermentino the optimal growing conditions with plenty of UV light to ripen easily and cooling winds from the sea. As California's wine growing regions boast a “Mediterranean climate,” you can often find great examples of Southern France and Northern Italian grape varietals. While Vermentino isn’t as common in these parts, varietals like Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Barbera, Nebbiolo, and...

26 Jul

Posted at 15:16h in Wine
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Thanks to our very brief history of rosé, we know that rosé has been made around the world for quite some time now. But how exactly is it made? Traditionally there are three ways to make rosé. Depending on who you talk to, you’ll get a different answer as to which is the “best” way to make it. Essentially, winemaking doesn’t really have any hard-and-fast rule to what is “correct.” There are rough guides of how to do things, but part of the beauty of winemaking is that it's a blend of art and science. Everyone has their interpretations, and that’s okay. As the saying goes, “ask four different winemakers a question, you’ll get 16 different answers.”   For the most part, rosé is made in the following ways… courtesy of Wine Folly Direct...

18 Jul

Posted at 16:36h in Wine
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Long before the favored mantras of  “yes way rosé,” today’s favorite pink drink was popular around the known world at the time, i.e. the Mediterranean basin. And although I see your wheels turning to quickly assume that our friends in the land of berets and baguettes invented the beverage, you would be mistaken. The production and consumption of rosé dates back to the Pheonicians, circa 1550 B.C. - 300 B.C. and the Ancient Greeks, circa 600 B.C. It’s just taken us this long to associate catchy hashtags with the drink.The rosé of long ago wasn’t like the picture perfect poolside salmon pink libations we love today. The ancients actually made rosé in a manner that today many wine people might scoff at--  by watering it down. Ice cubes weren’t available,...

13 Jul

Posted at 16:29h in Wine
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Making a final wine blend before bottling is as much a science as it is an art. First off, there are legal requirements that a wine must meet to hold certain designations. Those designations refer to the vintage, varietal(s), appellation, and sub-appellation. Next is understanding the purpose of the final wine. Is it meant to age for many years to come, or be enjoyed younger? This creates further parameters for how a winemaker will decide on a final wine blend that you’ll eventually enjoy in your glass. Finally, it comes down to taste. When the sum is greater than the parts, you know you've got it! Are all wines blended?? You might be surprised to learn that not all wines are blended. However, what you may not have known is that even...

11 Aug

Posted at 17:02h in Recipes
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Remember growing up when school was out and everyone vowed that THIS summer would be the one for the records? Well, it finally came true. With a summer fit for the history books and limited opportunities for outings, we’ve found ourselves appreciating the bounty of California produce and all that it offers even more than we usually do. So, as the season begins to wind-down, we thought we'd share some of the recipes we've been enjoying while spending more time at home and summer gardens are plentiful. photo credit: Life & Thyme Chef Neal Fraser’s Garden Pesto Pizza Pair with 2019 Raymond Burr Vineyard Vermentino Why we love it When it comes to family bonding in the kitchen, pizza is perfect for getting everyone involved, especially the kids. Whether you have a pizza competition...

09 Jul

Posted at 04:57h in Uncategorized
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"Raising our Glass to Starscape Vineyard!"   If you’re familiar with our journey here at Joseph Jewell Wines, you know we have quite the history with our “home” vineyard, Starscape Vineyard, formerly known as Floodgate Vineyard. Over the last 10 years, we’ve seen the name and ownership, as well as our relationship with the vineyard change and thrive.   From the multiple blocks and different clones we use for our Pinot and Chardonnay, to the way we process the fruit, the terroir of the vineyard is truly highlighted in the wines we produce from Starscape. Usually we highlight this vineyard with our summer vineyard dinner, but this year we will instead be featuring a special Starscape tasting menu of library wines ranging from the 2012 to 2016 vintages, available for our Seated Tasting and our...

27 Aug

Posted at 20:30h in Uncategorized
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[caption id="attachment_1802" align="alignright" width="326"] Adrian with Chef John Ash[/caption] For Adrian, becoming a winemaker and creating Joseph Jewell was not an overnight decision. It was a series of unforgettable moments that led him to his passion. One of those aha moments happened over 15 years ago, at his birthday dinner. The location was John Ash’s restaurant. The dinner was for Adrian’s 25th birthday. The bottle was a 1978 Iron Horse Cabernet Sauvignon. At first sight the bottle was special because the vintage was Adrian’s birth year, but on closer inspection, Adrian discovered himself pondering the time and effort that really goes into harvest and the wine making process. “I turned the bottle around to see the back label, I was already excited because of the vintage, but then I saw the grapes...

16 Jul

Posted at 21:13h in Uncategorized
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As we look forward to our Dinner in Starscape, I think it’s important to look back and reflect on the history of this great vineyard and how our relationship and wine portfolio have grown with the vineyard. Starscape Vineyard, previously known as Floodgate Vineyard, is in the Middle Reach area of the Russian River Valley AVA.  It is in a highly sought-after part of the Russian River Valley with vineyards like Richie Vineyard to the North, and Kistler's Vineyard to the North East. The vineyard is 70 acres planted, with about 50 acres planted to Pinot Noir with 7 different clonal selections:  Calera, Pommard, Martini, and Dijon clones 828, 115, 777 and 667. There are also 15 acres of Chardonnay and 5 acres of Sauvignon Blanc. One of the things that...