Live Wine Social events at the Wine Media Conference (#wmc21) meant that we had the opportunity to participate in two live blogging sessions. Live Wine Social is known as the signature event of the Wine Media Conference. Participating wineries each have about five minutes to pour one wine for a table of attendees. The attendees taste, analyze, and write about the wine and/or winery on the spot. Wineries then move to a new table in a speed-dating format. The Live Wine Social event is one of the highlights that we look forward to each year. Imagine if you combined speed dating and tasting that makes the Live Wine Social! So much fun, right?
Live Wine Social: White, Rosé, and Amber Wines
Conference attendees (serious journalists, bloggers, influencers, and podcast hosts) sit round tables as winemakers and winery representatives circle around the room, pour wines and talk about them, while we tweet and post on social media. This event is live and in real time. This year the white, rosé, and amber wines I tasted included the following wines (Longevity Wines, Troon Vineyard, Benton-Lane, Brooks Wine, and Rodney Strong):
1. Longevity Wines
We began with a Longevity Wines, Vitners Select Pink Pinot Grigio, Livermore Valley 2019
Longevity, Vitners Select Pinot Grigio, Livermore Valley 2019 © Spaswinefood
Longevity Vitners Select © Spaswinefood
This Pinot Grigio is available at Livermore Valley's Longevity Wines, a family owned boutique winery, founded in 2003. Phil Long winemaker and owner is also president of the Association of African American Vintners. Longevity recently became an internationally distributed as a result of a partnership between Long and the Franzia family.
The Pinot Grigio grape grows in range of colors hence this "Pink" Pinot Grigio is all natural. After the grapes are pressed, it is given just the among of contact to give its color and taste. It is a great aperitif and pairs well with Caesar salad, chicken, pork, turkey, and veal.
2. Troon Vineyard
Oregon's Troon Vineyard has a long history of sharing their wines at the wine media conference. I always look forward to discovering their latest wines. This year they shared one of their amber wines. This 64% Riesling, 27% Vermentino, and 9% Viognier
Troon Vineyard, Kubli Bench Amber, Applegate Valley 2020
Kubli Bench Amber, Applegate Valley 2020 (back label) © Spaswinefood
Troon Vineyard is focused on naturally crafted creative wines using a minimalist and biodynamic approach. They are CCOF Organic Certified, and Demeter Certified Biodynamic.
In the glass this amber wine is a gentle expression of amber wines (orange wines). It is part of what Simon J. Woolf would describe as the Amber Revolution. Woolf for the purpose of his recent book describes orange wine, as wine made from white grapes being treated as if it was red. That is, they were fermented together with their skins(and sometimes stems, too) for a period of multiple days, weeks or months. In this case there was three weeks of skin contact during fermentation. Besides this Troon Vineyard Kubli Bench Amber wine being typical of wines with a sense of place, I would add that wine making style has a great influence as well.
3. Benton-Lane Winery
Benton-Lane, a family owned winery, produces estate grown wines from its vineyard, which uses sustainable, organic and biodynamic methods.
Benton-Lane, Chardonnay First Class, Willamette Valley 2019
This chardonnay is a representative of Benton-Lane wine quality. Benton-Lane was founded by Steve and Carol Girard who established their first winery, Girard Winery in Napa Valley. Girard Winery produced sought-after wines for state dinners, gifts for heads of state, and Julia Child even selected the winery for one of her events. It was the Girard's desire to produce Pinot Noir, which resulted in a search for the perfect location for a Pinot Noir vineyard. This search led them to Oregon. Their vineyard has grown to 142 acres of Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay. Wines from Benton-Lane Winery are now distributed in all fifty states and international markets including Canada, Puerto Rico, China, and Japan. Benton-Lane has been listed on Top 100 Wines of the Year many times.
4. Brooks Wine
Brooks Wine founded in 1998 is one of Willamette Valley's top wineries. Brooks is a biodynamic winery renowned for producing world-class Pinot Noir and Riesling.
Brooks Wine, along with other Oregon wineries have earned a spot on Wine & Spirits magazine’s prestigious annual Top 100 Wineries list for 2019. Wineries on the 2019 list were selected based on “their performance in the magazine’s two-step blind-tasting process and celebrated for their exceptional wines,” according to the magazine’s website. It has been recognized as an outstanding producer of Pinot Noir and Riesling.
5. Rodney Strong Vineyards
This Rodney Strong Rosé of Pinot Noir is from the Russian River Valley AVA. Rodney Strong Vineyards, Healdsburg produces wine from 12 estate vineyards in Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, Chalk Hill and Sonoma Coast AVAs.
Rodney Strong, Rosé of Pinot Noir in the Glass © Spaswinefood
Rodney Strong is a regular participant at the Wine Media Conference. The California winery dates back over 50 years to when Rodney Strong established Sonoma County's 13th bonded winery in 1959. Obviously, there have been many changes since then, which makes it so much fun to visit this winery.
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| Rodney Strong Vineyards © Spaswinefood |
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| Rodney Strong Estate Vineyards, Healdsburg, Sonoma County © Spaswinefood |
YES, we have visited Rodney Strong Vineyards in Healdsburg, California.
Tasting these three Oregon (Troon Vineyard, Benton-Lane, Brooks Wine) and two California (Longevity Wines, Rodney Strong) wines was very engaging experience. Our annual Wine Media Conference (or as some like to call it Wine Summer Camp) #WMC21 took place in Eugene, Oregon. This live blogging session was so much fun indeed. We invite you to join us in our travels in Oregon wine country and elsewhere at Spaswinefood.
Sharon & John
August 2021
© Spaswinefood
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