Niche Wine Blog

As wine blogs mature, what's the impact?

"Wine blogging is the attention-seeking barking of lonely poodles," says Ron Washam. Few wine bloggers would be surprised to hear him say it. Washam uses his own blog, Hosemaster of Wine (hosemasterofwine.blogspot.com), to skewer the industry in general and wine blogs in particular. If your mouse scoots to your browser's close box while reading a wine blog, Washam may be the blogger for you.

via www.sfgate.com

What are everybody's thoughts on the impact of wine blogs? Is this article correct?

6TH ANNUAL PINK OUT! SF, MAY 11, 2010

Premium Rosé Continues Double-Digit Growth, Outperforming Overall Table Wine Market, Reports The Nielsen Company

(Santa Rosa, CA, February 17th 2010)--Rosé Avengers & Producers (RAP) announced today that its signature annual tasting event, PINK OUT! SF will be held on Tuesday, May 11th 2010. The celebration will take place at Butterfly restaurant on the Embarcadero at Pier 33. Overlooking San Francisco Bay, the 6th annual fine rosé tasting will feature 40 participating wineries pouring still and sparkling rosés from around the world, with many of the winemakers who craft them in attendance. Butterfly's executive chef and owner Robert Lam will create rosé-inspired Pan-Asian appetizers from sustainably and organically sourced ingredients.

PINK OUT! SF underscores the continued ascendancy of the $8.00 and above rosé category. According to The Nielsen Company, premium rosé table wines outpaced the market, growing at double-digit levels on both dollars and volume in 2009. Premium Rosé wines grew by 13.5% on dollars, and 12.8% on volume, 5 times faster on dollars and 12 times faster on volume than the overall Table Wine category. The Table Wine category grew at 2.6% on dollars, and just 0.9% on volume (Total U.S. Food, Drug, and Major Liquor Markets, 52 weeks ending 12/12/09).

"Rosé wines continue to rise in popularity and maturity," said Danny Brager, vice president, group client director, Beverage Alcohol, The Nielsen Company. "At Nielsen, we measure what consumers watch and what consumers buy and we find that consumers are giving rosé wine more attention as they make their wine selections, while retailers are giving rosés more prominence among their offerings."

Additionally, while the overall Table Wine category has an average price of $6.10 for an equivalent 750 ml package size, the Premium Rosé category's average price is $10.17 -- a 67% premium. "That's good for retailers looking for a trade up option in this time of trading down," said Brager.

From its inaugural event in 2005, PINK OUT! tastings have drawn full house crowds. This year is expected to sell-out in advance once again. The trade and media portion runs 3:30pm to 6:00pm. The consumer tasting is open 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Consumer tickets are $35 in advance online only at www.rapwine.com, and $45 at the door if available.

Media and trade RSVPs and credentials are required. Passes can be secured by contacting Joel Quigley or Cailyn McCauley at (707) 495-0831 or emailing info@creativefurnace.com. To learn more about RAP and to sign-up for winery membership, please visit RAP Wine online.

Why gen Y might not save Foster's

AFTER detailing how its December half profit was battered by the strength of the dollar, declining beer market share, a grape glut and falling demand for wine in recession-racked Europe and the US, Foster's yesterday suggested generation Y might ride to the rescue.

via www.smh.com.au

19th Annual Wine Festival of Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS (Feb. 3, 2010) – The Wine Festival of Colorado Springs, the premier wine festival in the Front Range, will feature The Wines of South Africa, March 5-6, with events held at The Broadmoor, Garden of the Gods Club and Paragon Culinary School.

 

All proceeds will benefit the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center.

 

South Africa’s wine culture goes back some 350 years, and from that long history comes a wine tradition of tastes and styles with its roots in the classic “Old World” of France, German and Italy. But it also has an acute awareness of the contemporary consumer, as has been defined by the winemaking in the “New World” of California and Australia. It has often been said that South African wine is in the unique position of straddling both of these wonderful worlds.

 

The weekend-long Festival kicks off at the Broadmoor Hotel on the evening of Friday, March 5, with the South African Wine Experience Seminar. The perfect preview of this unique weekend, our South African wine ambassadors will offer a journey of the palate and the eyes. Through their wines and photographs, you will experience the 350-year-old winemaking tradition from one of the world’s most diversely beautiful countries. Next up is the Grand Tasting, featuring over 300 varieties of wine, culinary delights from a wide assortment of the region’s finest restaurants and caterers, a silent wine market auction, music and dancing.

 

During the day on Saturday, March 6, you can educate your palate at two seminars. In the South African Wine, But What Cheese? Seminar, our experts carefully choose the cheeses that best accompany the wines. The Classic Food & Wine Pairing Seminar, hosted by Chef Victor Matthews at the Paragon Culinary School, is structured for elegance and food compatibility. South African wines perfectly fit the bill for this delicious, sell-out luncheon seminar. Chef and our guests, using the flavors of South Africa, will shed light on the art of food & wine pairing.

 

The culmination of the Festival is the Gourmet Wine Dinner and Live Auction held at the Garden of the Gods Club on Saturday, March 6. A five-course, world-class gourmet dinner, each course paired with the elegant wines of our distinguished guests, will be followed by an exciting live auction of rare and one-of-a-kind collectible wine and wine-related lifestyle packages.

 

The Festival has benefitted the Fine Arts Center since 2006. In its 19^th year, the Festival has become one of the preeminent arts fundraisers in the Pikes Peak region, raising millions of dollars for art causes and bringing some of wine’s biggest names and wineries to Colorado Springs. The featured guests this year include South African Peter Koff, who has earned two very special distinctions in the wine world: becoming a Cape Wine Master in 1984, one of only five in South Africa at the time; and then qualifying as a Master of Wine in 1993, one of just 12 in the United States at that time.

 

Featured Guests

Jim Clarke                               Wines of South Africa                                        Wines of South Africa

Peter Clinton                           Vinnovative Imports                                          Vinnovative Imports

Alister Glen                             Douglas Green-Bellingham                                DGB

Peter Koff, MW                       Fairest Cape Beverage Company                        Fairest Cape

Scott High                               Southern Starz/Classic Wines                            Southern Starz Wines

Berenice Wallace                   Savanha Wines                                                 Spier Wines

 

TICKET INFORMATION                                                                                                                             

 

All events are open to the public with FAC Members receiving discounted rates.  Reservations are required for all events, except for the Grand Tasting, where walk-ins are accepted.

 

Call the FAC Box Office at 719.634.5583 to reserve your spot or visit the FAC’s special Wine Festival website at csfineartscenter.org. Tickets can be purchased by event or via the Gala Festival Package, which includes admission to all events.

 

Gala Festival Packages

$300 per FAC member | $340 per non-member ($160 tax deductible)
Includes all events. No substitutions, exchanges or refunds.

 

LODGING                                                                                                                                                    

 

The Broadmoor Hotel and the Garden of the Gods Club are offering special room rates.
Available on a space available basis; mention “Wine Festival” to make reservations

 

·          $130 at the Garden of the Gods | Call 719.632.5541

·          $130 at the Broadmoor Hotel | Call 800.634.7711