Chateau Julien Wine Estate

New Wine Blog Features Chateau Julien Wine Estate

2011-01-17T07:15:00.000-08:00

CHECK OUT THIS NEW CARMEL VALLEY WINE BLOG BY CLICKING THE LINK.

http://www.carmelvalleybytheglass.blogspot.com

San Francisco Chronicle Article - 10/24/2010

2010-10-28T15:47:00.000-07:00

French-inspired chateau in Carmel Valley vineyards
Sarah Fritsche, Chronicle Staff Writer

San Francisco Chronicle October 24, 2010 04:00 AM Copyright San Francisco Chronicle. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
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.12 ..Chad Ziemendorf / The Chronicle

The tasting room and grounds of Chateau Julien in Carmel Valley, Calif., are photographed on Monday, September 6, 2010.
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The Tasting Room
French-inspired chateau in Carmel Valley vineyards 10.24.10
Small labels star at collective's bustling bar 10.17.10
David Coffaro vineyard specializes in varietals 10.03.10
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Carmel Valley offers a trove of tucked-away charm. Most tasting rooms in the valley serve as outposts for their respective wineries, located elsewhere in Monterey County. Chateau Julien, however, offers a complete vine-to-wine experience.

The vibe: Cradled by picturesque hillsides, the winery is built in the style of a French chateau. Walking up the cobblestone path toward the entrance, you're struck by the grand elegance. The wood-beamed ceilings of the Great Hall, wrought-iron chandeliers, large fireplace and 18-foot mahogany table that serves as a tasting area all add to the ambience. Handblown stained-glass windows and French doors give an airy feel. The hall also serves as gift shop and awards showcase, displaying the winery's numerous wines and accompanying medals and ribbons.

The team: In 1978, New Jersey natives Bob and Patty Brower moved to Carmel with the goal of establishing a winery that reflected the charm, hospitality and quality of wines they had fallen in love with while traveling in Europe. Four years later, they opened their French-inspired winery. Winemaker Bill Anderson has been with the winery since it opened in 1982.

The wines: Anderson strives for straightforward elegance in his wines. While the winery's focus is on reds, with Merlot as its flagship varietal, they also produce a number of whites. A tasting of six specialty and reserve wines is $5. During our visit, my friend and I started off with a 2009 Gewurztraminer ($22) and a sur-lie 2008 Private Reserve Chardonnay ($32). Moving onto reds, we sampled a 2006 Private Reserve Merlot ($42), followed by the 2006 Black Nova ($78), a Zinfandel-Syrah blend. We also got to try a wine not listed, the 2007 La Conviviance ($90), a Bordeaux-style red blend. We capped off the tasting with a Carmel Cream Sherry ($28).

The experience: We visited the winery on a quiet Tuesday morning. Our host, Fina, who's been with the winery for over 25 years, was warm, friendly and thoroughly knowledgeable about the wines and the winery's history. She even helpfully offered us advice on a shortcut to our next destination.

The extras: An inviting cobblestone courtyard is perfect for taking in the scenery over a glass of wine. Cheese plates are available for purchase, or BYO goodies. Free winery tours are offered at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. during the weekdays and 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. on the weekends; it's a good idea to reserve a spot. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and include the vineyards, winemaking facilities and barrel room. Considering the tours include tasting, it's a steal.

Private tours and tasting packages are available with advance reservations. The winery's facilities can also be rented out for private events.

If you go: 8940 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel; (831) 624-2600 or chateaujulien.com. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Rating: Rating: THREE STARS

This article appeared on page M - 6 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/22/TRUS1FLJAD.DTL#ixzz13hEzi9Od

For Immediate Release

2010-10-18T11:41:00.001-07:00

Carmel, Ca- With a degree in Enology from Fresno State University, second generation Bobby Brower Jr, joined the Chateau Julien team as National Sales Manager earlier this year. After nearly thirty years in production, Chateau Julien wines will now continue to be represented by the Brower family nationwide. The Wine Estate’s Proprietor, Bob Brower will work closely with his son in the national market to solidify existing accounts and re-align Chateau Julien wines in the retail segment of the market.

“We are thrilled to have Bobby on board,” comments father and Proprietor Bob Brower. “His fresh, exciting perspective has brought a new life to the brand nationally, while the distributors and sales teams still receive direct contact from a winery family member. Bobby grew up around the vineyard and Wine Estate, so it is a natural fit.” Brower Jr. is based out of New York, with a nationwide territory extending west to California and south to Texas. After years of roaming the Estate grounds as a child, he has more recently learned about the industry through summer vineyard work, cellar jobs alongside Winemaker Bill Anderson, regional wine sales and as President of the Fresno State Enology Society.
Chateau Julien Wine Estate is family owned and operated by Bob and Patty Brower in Carmel Valley, California. The winery produces wines under three tiers: Chateau Julien Proprietary Blends, Private Reserve and Barrel Selected. Varietals are locally grown in Monterey County and include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Syrah, Sangiovese and Pinot Grigio. For more information on Chateau Julien wines or the Wine Estate, please visit www.chateaujulien.com

Proprietor, Bob Brower, in Stutgart, Germany

2010-09-18T14:21:00.000-07:00

Explaining our new package and new vintages to Martina, Pacific Wine Company in Stutgart, Germany - September 2010

Wine feature in Kansas City, Kansas

2010-09-15T14:37:00.000-07:00

Bobby gets his first Holiday feature in Kansas City, Kansas at Lucas Wine & Liquor. This display features our new Holiday Case Card and our new Mail-In Rebate coupon.
Great job Bobby!

Check out this Wedding at Chateau Julien

2010-08-26T15:17:00.000-07:00

http://brunkblog.com/2010/08/25/neha-raj-married-chateau-julien-wedding-carmel/

The wedding pictures are very memorable - Click on the link

Ferrari Event at Chateau Julien Wine Estate - August 2010

2010-08-20T11:32:00.000-07:00

Web 1 new result for chateau julien

YouTube Ferrari Fra Vigna Chateau Julien 81210
Walking around the Chateau Julien winery during the Ferrari Club of America Pacific region meet.
www.youtube.com/?v=63ur5Q88x3M

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Check out this Video - Scroll down

2010-08-05T15:35:00.000-07:00

Ferrari Club of America Pacific region meet @ Chateau Julien ...
By admin
This wonderful event was hosted by Chateau Julien on the beautiful sweeping hillsides of Carmel Valley in the Central Pacific Coast of California. If you find yourself in this region of California, I recommend paying Chateau Julien a ...
Ferraristi - http://www.ferraristi.net/blog/

See us on Facebook

2010-08-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

Look for us on Facebook at:

Chateau Julien Wine Estate - Proprietor

Chateau Julien Wine Estate - National

With "Proprietor" you get messages from Bob and with "National" you get messages from Bobby (National Sales Manager) and son of Bob and Patty!

The Ultimate Beverage Challenge results are in.

2010-06-22T11:28:00.001-07:00

The Results of the Inaugural Ultimate Wine Challenge Are In!

June 22, 2010 (New York, NY) - The first Ultimate Wine Challenge was conducted at Astor Center in New York City this past June 7-11. Operated by Ultimate Beverage Challenge, a New York-based beverage competition and events company created by award-winning journalist/author F. Paul Pacult, David Talbot and Sue Woodley, Ultimate Wine Challenge set a new standard for how wines should be evaluated by panels of judges.

The Chairman’s Trophy 2010 winners are:

Champagne: Piper-Heidsieck Rare 1999, $275.00

Red Blend: Chateau Julien la Conviviance 2006, $90.00

For the complete list of results, go to www.ultimate-beverage.com/uwc2010-results/

Four panels of best-of-the-best judges led by Judging Chairman F. Paul Pacult - specifically Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan MW, Mary Ewing-Mulligan MW, Laura Maniec MS, Steve Olson, Nick Passmore, Ed McCarthy, David Lusby, James Conley, John McClement, Michael Apstein, Patricia Savoie, Mary Gorman and Sean Ludford, Assistant Judging Chairman - carefully assessed nearly 500 domestic and international wines. The judging panels did not know the identity of any of the entered still, sparkling, fortified and sake wines in order to promote a completely level playing field for all entrants. Entrants were judged on the 100-point rating system in multiple stages to arrive at the top wine per category. All wines were judged in flights according to price, grape type and region. The highest scoring wine in each category was awarded the coveted Ultimate Wine Challenge Chairman’s Trophy.

Said Pacult of the first Ultimate Wine Challenge, “With UBC’s emphasis on integrity, method and credibility, coupled with the enormous experience of our world-class judges, we’ve created an innovative, exciting and authentic way for wines to be assessed and then presented to consumers.”

CHATEAU JULIEN - BEST TASTING ROOM AWARD

2010-04-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

County of Monterey - Resolution honoring Robert Brower

2010-03-23T11:33:00.000-07:00

Pretty Neat - A picture of Bob and Patty's wine next to Bobby's

2010-03-17T15:25:00.000-07:00

As mentioned earlier - Bobby's first wine debut was on March 6th and he was pouring his PioZ Merlot right along with our Chateau Julien Wine Estate Chardonnay. Second generation is coming on!

Bob Brower - Hospitality Professional of the Year 2010.

2010-03-13T16:34:00.000-08:00

The Monterey County Herald
Posted: 03/13/2010 01:52:53 AM PST

MONTEREY Hospitality group will honor Brower

Bob Brower, owner of Chateau Julien Wine Estate in Carmel Valley, will receive the Hospitality Professional of the Year award from the Monterey County Hospitality Association on March 26.

Brower has been a member of the association for 15 years and has served on the board of directors and executive committee for 11 years. He is an active member of the government affairs committee and represents MCHA and the hospitality industry as a trustee on the Monterey County Political Action Committee. He has served on the boards of the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association and the Workforce Investment Board.

He is a director of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District.

Brower will be honored at the association's annual dinner at Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa. The reception is at 6p.m., followed by dinner. Cost is $120. For information, contact 626-8636 or.mcha.net.

Chateau Julien event launches PoiZ Wine Estate first product release

2010-03-07T15:52:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, March 6, 2010 we celebrated the launch of our son's brand, PoiZ Wine Estate at an event held at Chateau Julien Wine Estate. The event was a fashion show that was sponsered by Woogiewoo and is owned by Bobby's good friend Brandon Eaches. The event was a hugh success and food was provided by the world famous Baja Cantina. Bobby's first release is a 2007 Merlot from Monterey County. This is the first of many great vintages from this young winemaker.

Chateau Julien's La Conviviance rated 94 points - Exceptional

2010-02-26T15:53:00.000-08:00

BEVERAGE TASTING INSTITUTE IN CHICAGO:

Château Julien 2006 "La Conviviance", Monterey County $90.

Now-3 Yrs
from
2010-02-08
Rich garnet color. Lovely aromas of toffeed chocolate rice bars and baking spices follow through on a round, supple entry to a dryish medium-to-full body with great depth and a tangy, lively, lightly meaty finish. A fun sipper or table wine to experiment with haute Asian cuisine.

WORLD WINE CHAMPIONSHIPS AWARD: Gold Medal

RATING: 94 points (Exceptional)

Chateau Julien winemaker, Bill Anderson in Italy for a wine event!

2010-02-18T16:42:00.000-08:00

Great wine Ratings from Cork'd

2010-02-14T16:31:00.000-08:00

Sign on to the website Cork'd for great wine reviews on our wines. This new service allows the consumer and the winery to communicate what the wine actually tastes like. A consumer panel will review all of our wines on April 1st. Can't wait.

What an Honor when someone names their boat from your Wine!

2010-02-12T14:36:00.000-08:00

Yes - One our great friends and long time customers actually named their boat after our product La Conviviance.

As reported by Wine & Spirits Daily

2010-02-12T14:34:00.000-08:00

MERLOT'S REPUTATION BETTER THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT

Although merlot sometimes gets a bad rap, a new study by Nielsen and commissioned by Blackstone Winery found that merlot "has the single largest consumer base of any varietal wine in the U.S. and, of the major wine varietals, is the one most closely associated with high quality at an affordable price." Interesting. Conventional wisdom tells us that merlot took a big hit from Sideways, while pinot noir benefited. Not so says Nielsen. "Contrary to what people may think, Merlot never died," says Danny Brager, Nielsen vp of beverage alcohol. Perhaps that's because the majority of loyal merlot drinkers never saw Sideways. Forty-five percent of participants in Nielsen's survey of merlot drinkers never saw the movie, and 93% of those that saw the movie say it had no effect on their opinion of merlot. Since Sideways, merlot dollar sales and volume have grown steadily and the number of US households purchasing merlot more than doubles those purchasing pinot noir. This isn't surprising since pinot noir's growth comes off a much lower base than merlot.

More American households purchase merlot than any other wine variety, red or white. The varietal is reportedly loved for its taste, value and approachability, and also has the highest repeat purchase rate of any wine variety in the U.S. A majority of 90% of respondents say "taste" is the most important factor in their wine-buying decisions, with "good value" ranking second. Not surprisingly, 80% of respondents consider merlot "a good everyday and food wine," while roughly 70% find merlot to be "a good value" (rising to "great" when priced under $12 per bottle), "a good wine to drink at home," and "approachable and reliable."

Although merlot is the third most popular varietal after chardonnay and cabernet, it has a higher household penetration than any other wine variety, with 9.5% of U.S. households purchasing at least one bottle of merlot in 2008 compared to 9.3% for chardonnay and 8.8% for cabernet sauvignon. Merlot also boasts the highest repeat purchase rate of any variety, with 49% of merlot consumers making multiple purchases year over year.

Gary Sitton, winemaker for Blackstone Winery said: "There's no question there was some mediocre Merlot in the market earlier this decade as a result of growers planting too much in ill-advised areas. But much of that acreage has been pulled out, and the quality of California Merlot has greatly improved - supply and demand have come back into balance."

Chateau Julien Wine Estate is known for its' outstanding Merlot.

Chateau Julien's LaConviviance wins its First Award

2010-02-06T15:26:00.000-08:00

While we have just sent the wine to various judging around the country the first award is in. The package won for its unique design and we are incredibly impressed to wine this prestigious award.

Kudos to our son and his product launch - PoiZ Wine Estate

2010-02-06T09:27:00.000-08:00

It's always a great thing to be proud of your children's accomplishments. Our son, Bobby, has launched his website and has begun sales of his brand, PoiZ. Take a look at his site www.poizwineestate.com

Winter and time for New Oak Barrels

2010-01-17T15:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from us at Chateau Julien Wine Estate

2010-01-02T16:27:00.000-08:00

49ers vs Lions - Tailgate party 12/27/09

2009-12-29T14:44:00.001-08:00

Chateau Julien's "Black Nova" was one of the featured wines at this weeks 49er Tailgate party. Since this was the last tailgate of the year, Chef and friend Glenn Hammer was chosen to participate in the tailgate cookoff. What a great party with great wine!

Blog new as carried by Others!

2009-11-28T13:29:00.001-08:00

dwightthewinedoctor Monterey stars shine brightly in the wine ...
Chateau is what were all about Brower said emphaticallyJulien is the name ... Chateau Julien wines are readily available at most stores that sell wine and ...

Chateau Julien wine diner at Fandango's Restaurant

2009-11-16T09:09:00.001-08:00

This weekend was the "Great Wine Escape" weekend in Monterey. The Chateau Julien wine dinner has held at the world famous Fandango Restaurant in Pacific Grove. The Proprietors of this incredible restaurant are Pierri and Marietta Bain. If you have never dined in this great restaurant, you have missed a great experience!

New Packaging for Chateau Julien BBL Selected Wines

2009-11-13T13:38:00.000-08:00

New packaging will start to be released with the current bottling of Chateau Julien Barrel Selected wines. The Pinot Grigio was the first to be released, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon. By early spring of 2010, all four BBL Selected products will be available in the National Market with the new package.

Take a quick look at the bottling line "in action".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLuzsCPxyvc

2009 Sangiovese in Carmel Valley - Ready to harvest

2009-11-07T13:41:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since Bill picked some grapes. This year he was out in the field due to a shortage of folks picking the grapes. Good excercise!

Sometimes you forget the picture!

2009-11-01T16:21:00.000-08:00

Just poking around the sales files and came up with this great picture. The First Lady of California with us!

Happy Halloween from everyone at Chateau Julien

2009-10-31T13:45:00.000-07:00

What can happen with an early Winter Storm!

2009-10-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

An early winter storm brought 5 inches of rain to Carmel Valley. Our grapes were still not mature enough to harvest prior to the rain - so here is what happened. The weight of the rain, the amount of rain and then 30 mph winds severly damaged the vineyard. We were able to reset the vines after the storm, however we cannot repair the damage until winter. Stay tuned!

As Reported by "Ferrari market Letter" about the Vintage Concours at Chateau Julien Wine Estate

2009-09-29T15:14:00.000-07:00

German Roadshow 2009

2009-09-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

Travelling the German countryside each September is always a thrill. A chance to see our importer and customers that support Chateau Julien wine Estate. The event this year contained tastings in Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Hannover and Hamburg. The thrill of the event was to have Bobby Brower Jr. join me in Frankfurt. This was Bobby's first international tasting and a great learning experience.

Back to Ferrari Vintage Concours at Chateau Julien Wine Estate in August

2009-09-16T14:46:00.000-07:00

Just in - Pictures at the August 13th Concours at Chateau Julien Wine Estate. Included in the pictures below are Bob with his Platinum award for his 275-GTS, Bob with Expert Restoration Specialist and Mechanic John Bajioli, and Tish Thinesen the Chief Judge for the Ferrari Concours.

Chateau Julien at the German Roadshow - 2009

2009-09-13T15:24:00.000-07:00

The past week was the annual German Roadshow. We have participated for the past 5 years and this year was another successful show. While I had new support this year with the addition of Bobby Brower, joining me, the events in Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Hannover and Hamburg were well attended. In fact, we only had 5 less visitors this year than in 2007 (a record year). Prior to the show, Bobby and I had a chance to visit the Rheingau and enjoy some of the German countryside.

More from U-tube on the Ferrari Event

2009-09-03T16:38:00.000-07:00

from Ferrari Chat!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9qAGtO9EZo

Sangiovese grapes just reaching Verasion

2009-08-24T15:02:00.001-07:00

Somehow the grapes know, each year, to begin the maturing process and turning from green hard berries to the soft red fruit we expect. Right on schedule this year the Sangiovese looks and tastes great.

Pictures from Dine in De-Vine - August 11th to 15th

2009-08-21T10:44:00.000-07:00

Video of the Ferrari Concours at Chateau Julien - August 13, 2009

2009-08-18T08:39:00.000-07:00

Chateau Julien and Ferrari Club of America - 1st Concours

2009-08-18T08:35:00.001-07:00

The Ferrari Club of America and Chateau Julien Wine Estate have joined forces to create the 1st "stand alone" club event concours judging. Under the guidelines established by the IAC/PFA - International Advisory Council for the Preservation of the Ferrari Automobile. The event, as seen from the air was spatacular.

Happy Birthday to our Daughter - Amy

2009-08-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

Ever see how we clean barrels?

2009-08-08T15:53:00.000-07:00

Ferrari Concours at Chateau Julien - August 13th

2009-07-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

FCA VINTAGE CONCOURS

Event Chairperson: Paul Reps, preps@sbcglobal.net
Judging Chairperson: Tish Thinesen tisht2@aol.com
Space is still available!

ALL TICKETS MUST BE PRE-PURCHASED.
NO TICKET SALES ON THE DAY OF EVENT
The Ferraris will be staged “fra vigne” throughout the vineyard.
"You will not be parking in the dirt"

Full entry will include one Ferrari, a BBQ lunch for two catered by the Chateau, (grilled chicken, smoked ribs, Texas-style brisket, grilled cheese garlic bread & salads).
Available for purchase will be a full morning beverage service with pastries, biscotti and espresso. Also for purchase during the day: soda, water, beer, gelato, lemonade and of course WINE. What more could you ask for?
No Alcoholic Beverages May Be Brought in

This will be a Ferrari only event, closed to the public. You must either have a car entered, or pre-purchase a lunch/entry or entry only ticket for admittance.
The FCA Vintage Concours will be conducted per IAC/PFA guidelines, with awards for Silver, Gold, and all Platinum point cars.
FERRARI'S THRU 1999 ELIGIBLE FOR JUDGING

Judging Entry Deadline July 31st
Event Entry Deadline August 7th

Enter Online: www.ferraripacific.org

Nice to hear about our Great Hospitality

2009-07-13T16:42:00.000-07:00

First Name: TIM
City: Sunnyvale
State: CA
Country: US
Comments: I'd like to acknowledge what a wonderful time we had on your "Outdoor Winery Tour " visit on saturday.

" We are spreading the word " to all acquaintance's and friends. Thank You

We talked to Melinda, WOW, " very informative she is " and Shawn, our outdoor guide - WONDERFUL

Thanks, Tim & Janice

Mom's Birthday - Happy XX Birthday

2009-07-12T11:35:00.000-07:00

You make the call!

2009-06-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

On May 27th I made a funny post about a customer complaint issue. While written "tongue and cheek" the post has generated 9 comments (not a lot), however the negative responses suggest that I remove the post and some even threaten "never to do business" with us. I feel the intimidation threat.
My sense of fairness has caused me to appeal to my Blog readers to comment and tell me if they think I should yeild to the threat and remove the post.
Again, I was just having a little fun.

Black Nova - rated 94 points by Beverage Tasting Institute, Chicago

2009-06-26T10:31:00.000-07:00

94 Points

Chateau Julien Black Nova - 94 Points

Deep garnet violet color. Lovely aromas of toffee, cedar, honeycomb, and blueberry cobbler a la mode follow through on a smooth, supple entry to a fruity-yet-dry medium-full body with excellent depth and highly polished oak beautifully supporting the fruit. Finishes with a long, creamy, nutty fade. Very sensual and enticing."

- tastings.com, Beverage Testing Institute

Due to high demand, we have decided to offer a second bottling... same great wine, bottled six months after the first release. Click Here to order today!

Bobby - Bobby's Corner

2009-06-12T17:53:00.000-07:00

Visit Bobby Brower at his Fresno market. his Blogspot is http://bobbyswinecorner.blogspot.com/

Car Week in Monterey is coming and Chateau Julien Wine Estate is ready!

2009-06-12T10:33:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2009

Contact:
Kristin Horton
Chateau Julien Wine Estate
khorton@chateaujulien.com
(831) 624-2600

Ferrari image at Estate.jpeg

Wine Estate gears up for wine & car enthusiasts

during August’s classic car week

Dine amongst the vines and view vintage Ferraris at first annual event

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Carmel, Ca. – Chateau Julien Wine Estate has organized week-long festivities to coincide with the region’s popular classic car week August 11 – 15, 2009. A premier Dine in De-Vine event will welcome guests into the vineyard for an authentic wine country dining experience nightly beginning at 6:30pm, with vintage cars on display throughout the evening. The Wine Estate will also host the Ferrari’s FCA Vintage Concours on Thursday August 13th, and welcome guests from 1:00pm to 4:00pm to view the rare collections. Both events take place amongst the winery’s 16-acre estate of vineyards, Chateau and cobblestone courtyards.
Effortlessly set tables will line the plush Sangiovese vineyard Tuesday through Saturday evening for the first annual Dine in De-Vine, offering guests a new option for dining during the busy week. Chef Terry N. Teplizky has prepared an inviting, elegant pre-fix Basque menu, with choice of entrée and wine, to be served amongst the vines, followed by a dessert lounge and vintage car display at the Chateau. “As long-time fans of the local classic car events, we hope that our evening dinners will enable visitors to experience our local wine country after hours- and see some rare concours quality cars,” comments Chateau Julien Special Events Director Michele Gogliucci. Featured evening highlights to date include Porsche, early 911S and R Group 1967- 1973, and Ferrari. Dine in De-Vine menu selections begin at $47 per person. Learn more about the menu, Chef and featured cars on the Chateau Julien website- News & Events. Reservations begin at 6:30pm each evening. Seating is limited so please make your reservations early.

During the day on August 13, 2009, the Wine Estate will also host its first Ferrari FCA Vintage Concours which will be open to the public from 1-4pm. Guests can view over 175 concours-quality Ferraris parked eloquently throughout the Estate, stroll Ferrari-lifestyle booths or indulge in a choice of BBQ, espresso bar, gelato or favorite Chateau Julien wine. Cost: $30/person, admittance fee, parking off-site.

Chateau Julien Wine Estate is located at 8940 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley. Reservations can be made for both events on-line at www.chateaujulien.com or by calling (831)624-2600.

Cigar and Wine Dinner - June 12th

2009-06-05T14:52:00.000-07:00

Hi, Bob and Patty..............

I sure wish I could be a part of this affair. Love a fine cigar anytime and your wines are tops!

Give my regards to Fina and Bill.

As ever,
Bob Hendrickson

"Stay in Touch"

--- On Thu, 6/4/09, Chateau Julien Wine Estate wrote:

From: Chateau Julien Wine Estate
Subject: Join Proprietor Bob Brower for Wine & Cigars this month
To: "Robert Hendrickson"
Date: Thursday, June 4, 2009, 12:08 AM

View This Message Online Forward to a Friend

Friday, June 12, 2009

Bold flavors, rich aromas and complex textures will undoubtedly please the palate this evening in the Wine Estate’s Conservatory.

Owner and this evening’s host Bob Brower will showcase a selection of proprietary Dominican Cigars paired with hearty cuisine and Chateau Julien wines.

Reception ~ 6:30pm
Dinner ~ 7:30pm

Space is limited. Reservations can be made on-line or through the winery directly. We hope to see you at this festive event!

photo curtesy of Scott Campbell Photography

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BOBBY BROWER - FRESNO CBS NEWS

2009-06-01T12:42:00.000-07:00

Bobby Jr. now has his own Blog. Visit him at:
http://bobbyswinecorner.blogspot.com/

or simply double click the title to go to his site!

Congratulations, Bobby

See Chateau Julien 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon on "Adam the Wine Guy"

2009-06-01T11:05:00.000-07:00

One again, Adam the wine guy" visits the estate. See the clip on our Cabernet Sauvignon - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vBxwQe2tHk

This is funny! I suggest he call his insurance company!

2009-05-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

This email was received by the Wine Estate:

Recipient: Other
First Name: Sid
State: OR
Country: US
Fax: - no data -
Comments: I received a bottle of wine as a gift a short while ago and when I opened it up it was 'Rank'. It was kept in a wine cooler. It is a 2005 Chateau Julien Cabernet S. with barcode 016299144103. I still have the bottle and contents.
Have you visited?: - no data -

This was our response!!!!

Hi Sid,

Good afternoon!

Thank you for your inquiry. Your gift giver certainly chose a lovely bottle of wine to give you as a gift. This wine has received numerous awards and accolades. I have not heard of any other complaints. Once the wine leaves the winery premises I can't guarantee how the wine will be stored. A red wine in a very cold cooler certainly can turn the wine a different color and flavor. I don't know what "rank" is, but I get the feeling it is something you don't care for very much.

Your best bet is to send a thank you note and move on. I once received a broken bracelet as a gift, but didn't have the heart to let the giver know.

Cheers,

Ferrari Club at Chateau Julien Wine Estate - August 13th

2009-05-20T16:38:00.000-07:00

Our own - Barbara Gogliucci and Sam's Town, Las Vegas

2009-05-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

Adam the Wine Guy and Patty Brower

2009-05-13T15:53:00.000-07:00

Check out Adam the Wine guy and our very own - Patty Brower at

Click on the Title and listen to the great program!

Ferrari Event at Chateau Julien Wine Estate

2009-05-05T14:44:00.000-07:00

Calling all volunteers…

We need friendly folks to help register and park

Ferraris at two events. The first event is our Pacific

Region Vintage Concours at Château Julien in

Carmel on Thursday August 13t

Happy XX Birthday - Mom

2009-05-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

Pebble Beach Food & Wine - 2009

2009-04-20T11:02:00.000-07:00

Thousands attended the 2nd annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine Event where Chateau Julien Wine Estate debuted it's newest proprietory blend "La Conviviance". This was a truly great event.

Watch for Taxation on Wine!

2009-04-17T13:18:00.000-07:00

Wine & Spirits Daily
April 17, 2009
Researcher Blasts CA's Dime a Drink Tax

Dear Client:

After successful lobbying from The Wine Institute and other trade groups prompted California lawmakers to drop the controversial nickel-a-drink tax last month, state assemblyman Jim Beall Jr. has introduced a bill that would raise state alcohol taxes by a dime a drink. According to him, "The alcohol industry creates devastating problems - traffic accidents, alcoholism - and walks away with money stuffed in its pockets while the public - including nondrinkers - are left to pay billions for the mess." As usual, it's leaders like Beall that refuse to credit the alcohol industry for all the effort and money it invests in curbing underage drinking and alcohol abuse. Instead, they are more interested in pushing their own agenda and prying tax dollars from Americans who are overwhelmingly moderate and responsible drinkers.

In a local California newspaper paper, a professor heading the Reason Foundation said the assemblyman's claim that the alcohol industry creates problems "is false" according to his own research. In fact, affluent and successful people are more likely to drink. His 2006 study found that drinkers earn 10% to 14% more money than nondrinkers. Men who drink socially, visiting a bar at least once a month, bring home an additional 7% in pay.

A 2005 study sponsored by the National Institute for Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse similarly found that drinking actually increased the returns to both education and work experience. And a 2001 study, "The Impact of Problem Drinking on Employment," found that even "problem drinking is not negatively related to labor supply," writes Professor Edward Stringham in the OC Register.

Furthermore, research indicates that only one-third of violent crimes involve alcohol, although The Marin Institute says $8 billion in annual costs to taxpayers stem from alcohol-related crime.

Finally, he ends the article by rightly claiming "the overwhelming majority of people who consume alcohol do so responsibly." Heavy drinkers do not curb their drinking in response to higher prices. Instead, it is light-to-moderate drinkers who are affected. "If alcohol abusers are truly addicted, will an extra 'dime a drink' stop them? Will a career criminal decide to not get drunk before his next crime spree because of a 10-cent-per-drink tax? Of course not."

BOBBY BROWER - FRESNO CBS NEWS

2009-04-15T09:31:00.000-07:00

Save the Date - May 16th at Chateau Julien Wine Estate!

2009-04-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

Intercompany Message - Revealed to You!

Do you have your outfit selected?

Did you tell your spouse or significant other?

Have you called your customers to remind them that an invitation is coming soon?

Are you looking forward to Saturday, May 16th, 5-7?

Well, if you answered "no" to any of these questions, you better get on it.

An exciting new event is being born this year! We are planning to celebrate, as the winery rolls out with La Conviviance, Black Nova II and last release of Bravura.

Tickets are $50.00 or $40.00 for club members. There will be a number of complimentary tickets available for your special clients or customers. You need to see KH asap if you want some of those. We are only a month away from this event. Please spread the word.

Guys, no tuxes necessary, but we are requesting jacket or suit and tie.

Ladies, evening attire please.

We will not need everyone to actually work the event, but we want to extend the invitation for all staff to participate in this celebration.

Thank you,
Bob, & Patty

Carriage House Wine Dinner - April 9th

2009-03-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

Subject: Litchfield Plantation's Chateau Julien Vintners Dinner

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You're invited!
To a very special event

Join us!

Chateau Julien
Vintners Dinner
Date: April 9, 2009
Time: 6:30pm
Location: The Carriage House Club
Join Our Mailing List!

We're having a very special event and you're invited! Please join us on Thursday, April 9 at The Carriage House Club as our guest for the Chateau Julien Vintner's Dinner! The proprietor of Chateau Julien Estate, Mr. Bob Brower, will be hosting this special occasion. Executive Chef Robert Beuth has created an impeccable Five-Course menu to complement the selection of Fine Wines. All Featured Wines will be available for purchase at greatly reduced rates.

On behalf of The Carriage House Club Team, we look forward to welcoming you on Thursday, April 9, 2009.

Chateau Julien Wine Estate Vintner's Dinner
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Special Host: Mr. Bob Brower, Proprietor
$72.00 per person

Welcome Reception 6:30pm

Appetizer
Berkshire Farms Pork Belly
Slow Braised Kurobuta Pork Belly over a White Bean Ragout
Caramelized Onions & Apple Smoked Bacon, finished with a Natural Jus
Chateau Julien Pinot Grigio

Salad
Golden Beet Salad
Butter and Brown Sugar Poached Golden Beets, Toasted Pistachios,
Goat Cheese with Baby Mache and a Herbed Vinaigrette
Chateau Julien Gewurztraminer

Seafood Course
Fresh Locally Caught Atlantic Black Sea Bass
Pan Seared Black Sea Bass over Fresh Vegetable Ratatouille,
Basil Pesto Tomato Broth, Topped with a Kalamata Olive Tapenade
Chateau Julien 2007 Reserve Chardonnay

Intermezzo
Lemon Sorbet

Main Course
Duck Trio
Sliced Duck Breast over a Duck Leg and Wild Mushroom Ragout
Topped with Pan Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras & a Lingonberry Infused Duck Jus
Chateau Julien 3.2 Ton Reserve Merlot

Dessert
Peach "Melba"
Vanilla and Cinnamon Poached Peach over a Vanilla Ice Cream Torte with a Lemon Pecan Crust, Finished with a Fresh Raspberry Coulis
Chateau Julien Port

Executive Chef Robert Beuth
and the Carriage House Club Culinary Team
For Reservations Please Call
843-237-9322
Today!

Litchfield Plantation | 9 Simons Lane | P.O. Box 290 | Pawleys Island | SC | 29585

Silicon's Valley's Top Wineries

2009-03-23T13:32:00.000-07:00

America’s Favorite Plaque – Since 1997

In The Know, Inc.

Congratulates Chateau Julien Wine Estate on making the list,

Your winery is ranked #5

Silicon Valley's Top Wineries

Ranked by number of cases produced in 2008 in Silicon Valley

as published in the

Silicon Valley Business Journal

March 20th, 2009

Highest Quality >> Affordable >> Easy to Order

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Wine Dinner at Litchfield Plantation - AGAIN!!!!

2009-03-19T13:34:00.000-07:00

Myrtle Beach Restaurant News
Welcome readers of MyrtleBeachRestaurantNews.com! We are so happy to welcome you to the Myrtle Beach Restaurant News and Entertainment section of MyrtleBeachCompass.com!
Certified Executive Chef Rob Beuth is settling in at his new position at Litchfield Plantation's Carriage House Club, and on April 9 he is preparing a special menu for a Chateau Julien Estate Wine Dinner. He says this meal will be extra-special because the vineyard owner is hosting the event.
"Chateau Julien is our house wine," Chef Beuth wrote in an e-mail. "We currently are the only restaurant outside of Charleston who uses this label. Each year the owner of the vineyard, Bob Brower, comes to the Carriage House and presents a wine dinner of all his favorite wines. There aren't many wine dinners around town where the actual owner of the vineyard is present. He presents each wine and gives a small story of each wine and will greet each table towards the end of the evening."
Chateau Julien Estate owner Bob Brower, shown here with his wife, Patty Brower, will host an upcoming wine dinner at Litchfield Plantation's Carriage House Club.The Chateau Julien Estate was founded by Bob and Patty Brower in 1982. It is in Carmel Valley, Calif., and Winemaker Bill Anderson has worked with the Browers since 1982.
A seat at this special table costs $72, and the evening gets underway at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 9.
The menu includes:

Appetizer
Berkshire Farms Pork Belly: Slow-Braised Kurobuta Pork Belly over White Bean Ragout with Caramelized Onions and Apple Smoked Bacon, finished with a Natural Jus
Paired with: Chateau Julien Pinot Grigio

Salad
Golden Beet Salad: Butter and Brown Sugar Poached Golden Beets with Toasted Pistachios and Goat Cheese, with Baby Mache and Herbed Vinaigrette
Chateau Julien Gewurztraminer

Fish Course
Fresh Atlantic Black Sea Bass: Pan-Seared Black Sea Bass over Fresh Vegetable Ratatouille with Basil Pesto Tomato Broth, topped with Kalamata Olive Tapenade
Chateau Julien 2007 Reserve Chardonnay

Intermezzo
Lemon Sorbet

Main Course
Duck Trio: Sliced Duck Breast over a Duck Leg and Wild Mushroom Ragout, topped with Pan-Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras and Lingonberry Infused Duck Jus
Chateau Julien 3.2 ton Reserve Merlot

Dessert
Peach "Melba": Vanilla and Cinnamon Poached Peach over a Vanilla Ice Cream Torte with a Lemon Pecan Crust, and finished with a Fresh Raspberry Coulis
Chateau Julien Port

Litchfield Plantation is on Kings River Road in Pawleys Island. Call (843) 237-9322 for reservations. The Carriage House Club is open for breakfast daily from 7-10 a.m., and for dinner from 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays

Merlot - It's about time to return!

2009-03-17T07:55:00.000-07:00

Wine & Spirits Daily

March 16, 2009

Recession Gives Merlot a Chance to Shine

Dear Client:

Several years ago the "Sideways effect" on Merlot sales was one of the major issues in the wine business, but an article in WSJ contends the varietal is making a "Rocky"-like comeback. Could the recession prompt a comeback for the wine industry's prodigal son?

"Americans fell in love with Merlot, after all, because it was a meatloaf kind of wine, easy and unfussy, round and fairly soft, and we all need that kind of comfort these days. Not only that, but everyone is looking for value and so many Merlots are inexpensive. And Americans are clearly in a buy-American mood..." wrote wine critics Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher.

In addition to the "Sideways" curse, many producers were making "really bad" merlot "for a really long time" after it became popular in the 1990s (which is something we see happening to Pinot Noir right now). As a result, the Merlot crush in 2008 was down -25% for the year "at its lowest level in more than eight years," said wine and grape brokerage firm Ciatti Co. after studying the 2008 California grape crush report.

WSJ hopes this means that "less Merlot will mean better Merlot" and that produces will focus on what is inside the bottle rather than producing "cute labels." After tasting more than 50 Merlots, Dorothy and John said the varietal "is struggling out of the hole that greedy winemakers dug for it. The wines were not uniformly good, but they were uniformly better than they have been in years." They admit that Merlot still has a long way to go before it becomes "a consistent treat," but there is hope.

In the four weeks to February 22, IRI reports that dollar sales of Merlot grew 3.2%, while red wines altogether grew 7.1%. In terms of volume, Merlot grew 5% and red wines grew 6.2%. Merlot lost -0.4 market share points in dollar sales but gained 0.1 share points in volume. So while it's not growing near as fast as other varietals, Merlot is showing some promise for the future.

What is new in the Vineyard?

2009-02-28T15:04:00.000-08:00

A one year old Saker Hawk visited the wine estate to take a look around. The Hawk is capable of chasing invasive species of birds that are present during harvest season. The Hawk effort is to increase the sustainable efforts of the wine estate to use natural predators in the vineyard.

Nice to know that we were missed!!!!

2009-02-17T08:26:00.001-08:00

Monday, February 16, 2009

Overpriced, over-sold, and over-hyped!
I'm talking about the Grand Cru Lounge at the Washington, DC International Wine & Food Festival held on February 14 and 15. The Grand Cru Lounge is billed as an exclusive part of the festival: " - Pamper yourself by visiting the ultra-special Grand Cru Wine Lounge. Sample the best of the best and taste creations from the area's top chefs." What I experienced yesterday was nothing of the sort.I attended the Grand Cru Lounge last year and in 2007, the year it debuted as part of the festival. I attended because the Grand Tasting part of the festival had become so popular and overcrowded that even the trade hours were too much. In both of the two previous years, the Grand Cru Lounge was as it was billed: "Reserve level wines will be featured in this separate and sophisticated setting for the most serious wine enthusiast. All wines have been hand-selected and will be presented at specific times throughout the day. Several top winemakers will be on hand to discuss their wines as they are poured. A limited number of tickets are available in order to maintain a high-quality tasting experience..." Each year, the tasting was held in a very large, circular room called the Pavilion, with the Pavillion Prefunction room also being used. Many restaurants were represented, serving tastes of some of their signature dishes. The wines were for the most part the ultra-premium selections from excellent wineries, known and obscure, from all over the world. A live jazz band played, and some of the guests even danced. Overall, the Grand Cru Lounge events in 2007 and 2008 were a good value and an excellent experience.Not so this year! At 2 p.m. those of us with tickets were admitted to a long, narrow, tomb-like room. As is my habit, I proceeded through the room to the back, to scope out what the offerings were and to avoid the crush of people at Table #1. Maybe I didn't read the description of this year's event properly, I'm thinking. I got to the back of the room, and the only chef I saw was from the Occidental Restaurant, and he was arranging pastries on a display. There was also a table set up with Capitol Chocolate Fountains. A cheese display was in the middle of the center of the room, near the back. It had a nice selection of cheeses, fruits, breads and the like. But it was so large it made the already-cramped room seem more cramped. Walking back up towards the front of the room, I saw a beautiful display of colorful crudite, with some bowls of dressing on the side. By the time I got back to the very front, the room was completely full and there was very little room to move, let alone approach the tables to try to get a taste of wine. The room was more crowded than the Grand Tasting, and the selection of wines was certainly not up to par with the previous years'. Where was Hunt Cellars? Chateau Julien? Where was Nage and all of the other great restaurants from before? So I paid $125 to eat raw vegetables and cheese and crackers with my samples of wine? That was the only savory food being offered. As for the desserts, well, I did not pay $125 to enjoy a sample of Jadot Puligny-Montrachet 2006 with a chocolate-covered strawberry marshmallow. I didn't sample the desserts because I don't eat chocolate and I'm not a big fan of sweets. By 4:30 p.m., a full hour and a half before the event was scheduled to end, several of the wines were gone, and so was I.I'd love to hear comments from those of you who attended this year's Grand Cru Lounge, especially if you attended in previous years. I will be contacting ResourcePlus Shows & Events to express my dissatisfaction with this event. I hope you will, too. Just click on this link: http://www.wine-expos.com/Wine/DC/contact-us.asp?SHID=47699716.04953754.
Posted by Wine-Know at 7:37 PM 0 comments
Labels: DC Wine Festival, Grand Cru Lounge, overpriced, ResourcePlus

February Wine Special

2009-02-13T15:51:00.001-08:00

Shipping Special
02/01/2009

28 cent SHIPPING SPECIALShip SIX bottles of your favorite Chateau Julien wine this month, anywhere in the Continental U.S., for only $.28 cents!
From now until February 28th, visit the Chateau Julien store, choose your favorite wines (any 6 bottles) and ship for only $.28 cents! A great time to take advantage of your club member price - have fun shopping!
*Please note: Wines will be shipped via ground service to one destination. Shipping materials are not included in the special and orders must be in multiples of six. Offer expires 2/28/09, midnight

Under the Title of "I didn"t know that"

2009-02-12T13:46:00.001-08:00

As reported by "Wine & Spirits Daily"

WASHINGTON GROWERS LOOK TO REFINE 75% PURITY LAW

Washington growers are supporting a bill that would require that 95% of Washington wines consist of Washington-grown grapes. WAWGG and the Washington Wine Institute are backing the bill, which received first reading by state lawmakers Jan. 29, 2009. The rule would also cover wines from AVAs that cross state lines, such as the Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley and Columbia Gorge AVAs, which include both Washington and Oregon vineyards.

Washington currently requires that only 75% of its wines be made from Washington grapes.
The bill seeks to require that Wines bearing labels referencing a specific viticultural area would have to be made 95% from grapes grown within the designated American Viticultural Area. If the bill becomes law, it would take effect 90 days after the adjournment of the current session. The latest possible date for legislation passed in the current session to take effect is July 25.

Time to go to - El Paso Texas for February 7th

2009-01-21T16:32:00.000-08:00

Great Survey - Nice Date

2009-01-19T15:51:00.000-08:00

SURVEY: WOMEN AND WINE

Women are more likely to order a glass of wine at a restaurant to save money, according to a new survey conducted by Women & Wine and Full Glass Research. About 40,000 women averaging 29-44 were surveyed via social networks and Women & Wine subscribers, with 72% claiming they always or almost always order wine at a sit-down dinner. However, a majority of 70% said bottle prices were too high and that ordering by the glass was a good inexpensive way to enjoy wine in a restaurant. Thirty-two percent said they would scale back on their wine purchases in restaurants because of the economy, while 55% stated that they are comfortable bringing their own bottle and paying a corkage fee.

The study concluded "that while this economy presents challenges to all of us, there is a real opportunity for restaurants to gain loyalty from customers by listening to their requests for more diverse wines by the glass, educating the service staff on the wines and the etiquette of serving them and giving loyal customers an opportunity to bring their own bottle if they choose."

Industry News - As reported by Wine & Spirits Daily

2009-01-09T16:19:00.001-08:00

Wine & Spirits Daily

January 9, 2009

Alcohol Sales Soft in December

Alcohol sales over the holidays were not so good, according to IRI's four week data ending December 28. A calendar shift is one reason for the decline. Not only was Thanksgiving late this year, but the period ended two days earlier than the same period last year. The next set of data should give a better read.

Nonetheless, Morgan Stanley noted that alcohol volumes were soft, declining -3.6% altogether. Beer volumes were down -3.3%, while spirits volumes declined -5.6% and wine dropped -2.9%. Domestic beer volumes fared better than imports.

Meanwhile, the average price per volume softened somewhat. The industry average increased 2.3% with domestic beer's average price growing 6%. The average price of imported beer grew 1%, while spirits pricing was flat and wine pricing increased 1%.

The shift in the calendar exacerbated trade-down in wine, said Morgan Stanley. In the latest 4 weeks, wine priced $7 and above wine saw sales decline -4.5%, while $7 and below grew 1%. Constellation continued to lose share in wine.

HARD TIMES FOR AUSSIE WINERIES

The global recession is making things difficult for wine grape growers in Western Australia who are struggling to find buyers for this season's grapes. It doesn't help that its two largest export markets, the United States and the United Kingdom, are in a recession, prompting large winemakers to think long and hard before entering into a contract. According to the AWBC, exports to the U.S. and Britain declined -26.5% and -18.2%, respectively. Australia's overall wine exports dropped a whopping -26.3% in November and value fell -18% to $2.47 billion last year.

As a result, winemakers are lending premium quality grapes to cheaper labels, or dropping prices altogether. According to local reports, Winemakers Federation of Australia chief Stephen Strachan said he expected the situation to last for about 12 months, which will force the industry to make some adjustments.

In the beginning of 2008, the strong Australian dollar was making it more difficult for winemakers to compete internationally, and a low 2007 grape harvest put pressure on supply. In the second half of the year, the Aussie dollar declined some and a large 2008 harvest took care of supply concerns. However, the poor economy has put a big constraint on exports.

For example, wine grape growers in the Riverland district were reportedly warned they would be paid 30% less than normal, sometimes even below the cost. Constellation also said Wednesday that the situation in Australia, along with the UK, is posing difficulties for the company. Meanwhile, Foster's is still trying to sort out its wine business. Theoretically, we should know what Foster's plans to do with the company by mid February when it releases the outcome of its Strategic Wine Review.

Happy Holidays from our European Sales Team

2008-12-11T10:51:00.000-08:00

Wine Industry News

2008-12-04T14:45:00.000-08:00

As reported by Wine & Spirits Daily"

"REPEAL OF PROHIBITION TURNS 75

Tomorrow (Friday, Dec. 5) marks the 75th anniversary of Prohibition Repeal, but Discus says a handful of states continue to suffer from Prohibition-era attitudes against alcohol that "punish consumers and small business owners across the country -- especially during this economic downturn."

Fifteen states still ban Sunday spirits sales at package stores. Seven states ban all forms of spirits tastings, while another 7 states continue some form of a ban on the sale of alcohol on Election Days.

"Consumers deserve and are increasingly demanding more convenience," Dicus president Peter Cressy said, adding that states are repealing Blue Laws as a means to increase revenue without raising taxes. Since 2002, 13 states have repealed Sunday sales bans.

"As America marks this historic Anniversary of Prohibition Repeal, let's raise a toast to those states who took a stand 75 years ago against one of the biggest policy debacles in American history," he concluded"

New Distributors for California

2008-11-26T10:59:00.000-08:00

Chateau Julien Wine Estate and Emerald Bay are proud to announce that J &L Wines and Megawines will distribute our brands throughout California. See the below map and details for the company that carries our great wines!

Greetings!
I thought it prudent to notify everyone, with details, of our new California distributors. Please find attached a map of our state with color coded counties. Counties in Blue being MEGA WINE Inc. and counties in yellow being J&L WINES.
Mega Wines Corporate / Southern California Office:14718 Raymer Street, Van Nuys, CA 91405 T: 877-MEGAWINE
T: 818 781 9686 Fax: 818 781 9292 e-mail: info@megawine.com
Web: http://www.megawines.com/

Mega Wines Northern California:8359 Elk Grove Florin Rd, Suite 103-171 Sacramento, CA 95829 Tel: 916 686 2144 Fax: 916 686 1574

J & L Wines
P.O. Box 2399Paso Robles, CA 93447 OFFICE: (805) 239-1377FAX: (805) 239-2466EMAIL: manager@JandLWines.com
Web: http://www.jandlwines.com/

Thank you!
Lisa Belle Kaufman
National Sales & Marketing Manager
Chateau Julien Wine Estate
T 831-624-2600
C 831-224-2224

What is up for "Wine Consumption" at the Holiday's

2008-11-18T15:10:00.000-08:00

As reported by Wine & Spirits Daily:

NIELSEN: CHANGING TRENDS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

A new report from Nielsen says consumers are likely to view alcoholic beverages as an "affordable indulgence" this holiday season. In fact, Nielsen expects more Americans to give alcoholic beverages as gifts this year, "helped by the usual selection of special 'value-added' packs." Nielsen's report gives a much brighter outlook then other outlets that have suggested the business will suffer in November and December, which accounts for a big chunk of annual sales. For example, AdAge printed an article yesterday claiming Champagne sales are expected to take a serious hit.

Grocery stores, c-stores and other off-premise retailers will benefit most as Americans increasingly choose to drink at home. Meanwhile, restaurants, bars and nightclubs "are facing serious challenges in the current economy" during a period when more consumers go out than any other time of year.

When Americans are eating out, some people are cutting back on how much they spend by ordering fewer or lower-priced drinks, especially as it relates to higher-priced wines and spirits. Other consumers are trading down by visiting "fast casual" restaurants and quick service restaurants that may offer few or no alcoholic beverages.

"Given the importance of the holiday season to restaurants and bars, these establishments will need to pull out all the stops to lure consumer traffic back, using a variety of creative incentives as a hook," said Richard Hurst, senior vice president, Beverage Alcohol, The Nielsen Company. "Watch for on-premise outlets to push customer loyalty programs to drive repeat business."

On-premise retailers are targeting consumers who used to go out more in order to drive repeat business. For example, Nielsen said grocery stores are targeting restaurant-goers with well-priced easy meals, and other stores are adding alcoholic beverages to their line up. Nielsen also expects to see a continued increase in online shopping, especially for wine, where legal to do so.

Richard suggests that on-premise retailers "consider multiple store display locations to capitalize on impulse purchasing, as well as providing gift accessories nearby, such as bottle openers, gift bags, mixed drink party pack ingredients and glassware."

DOMESTIC VS IMPORTS. Domestic wine, spirits and beer is now outperforming imports for a couple of reasons. For one, a weak USD is making imports more expensive. Also, "consumers are often biased toward national or local products" in tough economic times. According to Nielsen, domestic and imported wines were growing at the same double-digit rates last year, but domestic growth is now ahead of imports.

"While there is evidence of consumers reducing on-premise consumption, as well as trading down to less expensive beverages, they are reluctant to cut back significantly on beer, wine and spirits, especially for at home consumption and entertaining. With the prospect of limited economic recovery in 2009, consumers are likely to consider alcoholic beverages as an affordable indulgence during the holiday season."

Last Day of harvest at the Chateau

2008-11-12T15:23:00.000-08:00

Harvest 2008 came to a close on the 30th of October, just one day ahead of the rain. The quality of the harvest was exceptional (another California vintage year). The last grapes harvested are at the Chateau main estate and are Sangiovese. These grapes will become the Rosato (Rose) and Sangiovese (Red).

Happy Halloween from Chateau Julien Wine Estate

2008-10-31T14:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween and Happy Birthday Melinda. Have a safe and sane evening!

Is your Wine - Too Smokey?

2008-10-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

As reported by "Wine & Spirits Daily"

October 22, 2008

Smoke Taint Abroad

California is not the only wine grape producing region that has faced smoke taint in recent years. Australian vintners, Canadians and producers from Greece, among others, have reported brushfires which some scientists warn could get worse in the future as the climate changes. Exposed wine grapes run the risk of passing the flavor to wine, resulting in a not-so-pleasant product that is described as tasting like smoked meat.

Scientists are focusing their attention on smoke taint and ways to prevent it. An article in ABC news claims a variety of solutions are now on trial, including vine sprays and reverse osmosis. One thing scientists recently learned: grape leaves are most likely responsible for absorbing the smoke, although the skin of the grapes was initially considered the gateway.

Causes for alarm began with the 2003 brushfires in southern Australia and were heightened after Napa Valley faced its own brush fires this summer, which is now beginning to show effects in California wine.

Wine Pouring in New Jersey

2008-10-21T14:23:00.000-07:00

Brother in laws can be great. I sure have one in Tony Jackapino. The top picture is Tony with Piero Ferrari, in Italy (for Ferrari 60th anniversary event, with me) and the next picture, Tony is pouring our wine with his lovely wife, Raeanne (unfortunately not pictured), in New Jersey at a fundraising event. Am I ever lucky!

Water and Climate in California as reported by ACWA

2008-10-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

Delta Vision Strategic Plan to be DiscussedThe fifth and final staff draft of a strategic plan for the Delta was released Friday by the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force. The task force will meet this Thursday and Friday to discuss the plan. Once finalized, it will be sent to a cabinet-level Delta Vision Committee charged with making recommendations to the governor and the Legislature.ACWA submitted formal comments last month on the fourth draft of the plan. ACWA’s comments are available here. The fifth staff draft is available here.The task force meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, at the West Sacramento City Hall Galleria, 1110 West Capitol Avenue, West Sacramento.Visit http://www.deltavision.ca.gov/ for more information.

MWD Closes Boat Ramps at Diamond Valley, Warns of RationingThe Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which serves nearly 18 million people, closed the boat ramps at Diamond Valley Lake in Riverside County due to low water level. The lake is at 60% capacity. Opened in 2003, Diamond Valley was meant to be the major drinking-water storage facility for Southern California, as well as an insurance policy against a traumatic cutoff of water. MWD General Manager Jeff Kightlinger said that the district’s board will soon be considering rationing, either by “easing into it” in 2009 or cutting “steeply” in 2010.

New Report Says California's Heating UpAverage temperatures are on the rise in California and especially in the Central Valley, according to a new report released today by Environment California Research & Policy Center. The report, “Feeling the Heat: Global Warming and Rising Temperatures in the United States,” compares government temperature data for the years 2000-2007 with average temperatures for the preceding 30 years. It finds that Central Valley cities such as Redding, Stockton and Fresno recorded average temperatures up to 1.8° F above the historical average in 2000-2007. In 2007 alone, the average temperature was 1.4° F above normal in Redding and 1.6° F in Fresno.The report cites a recent report by the Bush administration that identified water shortages from early snowmelt, degraded air quality, wildfires, drought, extreme rainfall with flooding and sea-level rise as particular risks for California and the Pacific region if warming continues as projected.The Environment California report is available here.

Some Bottled Water Exceeds State Limits, Tests FindOakland-based Environmental Working Group has tested 10 brands of bottled water and found that several contained chemical levels that exceeded legal limits in California.The tests discovered an average of eight contaminants in each brand. Four brands including Wal-Mart's Sam’s Choice also were contaminated with bacteria.The environmental group filed a notice of intent to sue Wal-Mart Tuesday, alleging that the mega-chain failed to warn the public of illegal concentrations of trihalomethanes, which are cancer-causing chemicals.

Great kudo's for our winemaker Marta Kraftzeck

2008-10-15T15:25:00.000-07:00

Dean of female winemakers
Kraftzeck crafts products for Chateau Julien
By ROBERT WALCH • For The Salinas Californian • October 13, 2008

http://www.thecalifornian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081013/BUSINESS/810130319

CARMEL VALLEY - It's very possible that had Marta Kraftzeck not become a winemaker, the Monterey native would have gone into teaching.

The veteran Monterey County winemaker, who will celebrate two decades at Chateau Julien in Carmel Valley next year, has discovered she enjoys sharing her knowledge of wine and winemaking with anyone interested enough to listen.
In fact, her eyes light up when someone asks a question about her profession. In a sense, she considers herself an ambassador for the wine industry.
"I enjoy explaining how we make wine and why we do the things we do," Kraftzeck said.
She also likes to help people determine why they like a particular wine. If an individual can master a few "descriptors" - adjectives that describe a given wine - he or she will be better equipped to make intelligent wine purchases, she said.
"Rather than asking for a bottle of white wine, if a person can say he or she wants a Chardonnay with no oak or a 'soft' cabernet, the individual is saying much more," Kraftzeck said, as she explained why some knowledge is important when selecting wine. "I think the key is to determine what you like or what you don't like and then be able to describe that wine in simple terms."
Although she has always enjoyed talking about wine, the dean of Monterey County's female winemakers has discovered there are a lot of people eager to hear what she has to say.
About 10 years ago when Peter Meckel, director of Hidden Valley in Carmel Valley, asked Kraftzeck if she would be interested in conducting wine classes as part of the Elderhostel program offered at the center, she said, "Sure, why not?"
Since then, Kraftzeck has become certified as a wine educator. There are only a few hundred individuals in the U.S. holding such certification.
Liking an educational challenge, Kraftzeck said she took the test not because she was conducting Elderhostel classes but because she wanted to see if she could get the certification.
"I think there's a little intimidation that's been created by some people in the wine industry," she said. "I'd like to lessen that fear some people have that they should be afraid of voicing their likes or dislikes about wine."
Kraftzeck emphatically stated that she encourages her students to "follow their own taste buds" and not be influenced by someone's ranking or how many medals a wine has captured.
When she conducts her Elderhostel classes two or three times a month, Kraftzeck will have between 12 and 50 people in the room. What she likes about working with seniors is that they are very honest.
"They are very up-front and not afraid to say anything," she said. "At their time in life they aren't shy, nor do they care what someone else thinks. But best of all, they are still interested in learning and that's why they participate in the Elderhostel program."
Does she ever take offense when some of the seniors nod off during a class?
"Never!" Kraftzeck exclaimed. "It's after dinner, so of course that will happen occasionally. I never take it personally. Someone falling asleep doesn't faze me at all - as long as there's no snoring."
Kraftzeck also teaches a monthly class at Chateau Julien called The World of Wine.
"I give a slide presentation of various wine regions so everyone has a visual idea of the area, and then we do some wine tasting," she said. "We have had about 25 people at each session."
As with any dedicated teacher, Kraftzeck is also striving to learn more about her subject area.
"I like to study and keep learning new things," she said. "I believe learning should be a lifelong passion, not something that stops when you leave school."
To this end she recently took and passed the first level test to be a certified sommelier. In December she'll tackle the second of four levels.
"I don't think I'll go any further than level two, since I have no real desire to serve wine," she said. "I just wanted to see if I could do it."

What Does the Federal Reserve have to say about the West

2008-10-15T15:22:00.000-07:00

October 15, 2008
Federal Reserve Districts
Twelfth District--San Francisco
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Summary
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Full report

Economic activity in the Twelfth District weakened further during the survey period of September through early October. Retail sales were very sluggish on net, and demand fell for most categories of services. Manufacturing activity slowed, but sales continued to grow for agricultural products and natural resources. Activity in District housing markets generally remained anemic, and demand for commercial real estate weakened further. Contacts from financial institutions reported a decline in loan demand and credit quality, along with a drop in credit availability. Upward pressures on prices remained significant overall, due to the delayed influence of past increases in the prices of energy and selected commodities.
Wages and PricesDespite some easing of late, upward pressures on prices remained substantial. Prices on energy and selected commodities, including food products and some raw materials, have come down from their recent highs. However, these prices generally remained at elevated levels and continued to exert substantial upward pressure on overall final prices, due to the delayed effects of earlier price increases. Prices for many retail items were held down by extensive discounting, but some contacts cautioned that pending increases have been working their way through the supply chain and will reach consumers late this year and in 2009.
Wage pressures eased further as the degree of labor market slack deepened. Job cuts were reported across a wide range of industries, particularly in the construction, finance, and real estate sectors. As a result, unemployment rose throughout the District, and contacts noted that wages have been largely flat of late. The primary exception is worker groups whose skills enable them to use advanced technologies, for whom wage gains remained significant.
Retail Trade and ServicesRetail sales were quite sluggish and appeared to fall during the survey period, despite the influence of the back-to-school shopping season. Sales remained weak and inventories rose further for department stores and smaller retail outlets alike. Discount chains continued to see stronger demand than traditional department stores, as consumers switched away from high-priced items and curbed discretionary spending; outdoor equipment such as camping gear was one bright spot, as households gravitated towards low-cost vacation options. Sales for retailers of furniture and household appliances continued to slide from already low levels, and unit sales of gasoline fell further. Sales fell considerably for all types of automobiles, both new and used, with reduced credit availability reportedly emerging as a significant constraint.
Demand for services fell further compared with the previous survey period. Health-care providers reported declining demand, with some medical centers noting a significant drop in cash collectibles recently. Sales weakened for providers of advertising, professional, and legal services, idling some workers and reducing capacity utilization. Activity remained moribund for providers of real estate services such as title insurance. Contacts noted modest declines in tourist activity in some major tourist destinations in the District, such as Southern California and Las Vegas; the drop was more significant in Hawaii and was accompanied by layoffs there.
ManufacturingDistrict manufacturing activity slowed during the survey period of September through early October. Although manufacturers of commercial aircraft still faced an extensive backlog of orders, activity in that sector was sharply curtailed by an ongoing labor dispute. Makers of semiconductors and other information technology products continued to experience high rates of capacity utilization and moderate sales gains, but signs of a softening in global demand have emerged. Demand for wood products remained very weak, causing additional mill shutdowns. Activity at petroleum refineries continued at low levels, and capacity utilization remained well below its longer-term average. Capacity utilization also was very low among metal fabricators, for whom demand has weakened substantially. Firms in most sectors reported limited capital spending of late, with plans to hold flat or reduce spending during the balance of 2008.
Agriculture and Resource-related IndustriesDemand and sales for agricultural items and natural resources continued to expand during the recent survey period. Brisk sales were reported for most crops, propelled in part by strong export demand. Demand remained solid for petroleum products, spurring further expansion of extraction capacity. However, the recent decline in oil prices has reduced the viability of some high-cost expansion projects, and the recent hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico sharply curtailed capacity utilization for District companies with operations there.
Real Estate and ConstructionThe District's severe housing slump continued, while demand for commercial real estate eroded further. Demand and sales remained very weak for new and existing homes, and prices continued to fall. Foreclosure rates on existing homes, which were already high in parts of Arizona, California, and Nevada, rose noticeably in Utah and Idaho. Widespread availability of foreclosed homes at bargain basement prices spurred sales of existing homes to exceed their levels from twelve months earlier in some parts of California. Demand for nonresidential real estate fell, and limited credit availability reportedly constrained property purchases and the number and scope of projects that were underway in some areas. Vacancy rates on commercial space rose in Las Vegas and other major metropolitan areas. Contacts noted that the strongest construction activity by far was for public buildings such as hospitals and schools.
Financial InstitutionsLending activity and credit conditions weakened noticeably during the survey period. Demand for commercial and industrial loans fell further, and demand for new residential mortgages remained very weak. Credit availability declined significantly as banks and other financial institutions faced rising difficulties securing short-term funding. Contacts also pointed to higher delinquency rates in all loan categories. Banks and customers are taking steps to enhance deposit-insurance coverage of existing holdings by spreading deposits across multiple banks.

Stock and Credit Market Woo's - What a Week!

2008-10-11T14:47:00.000-07:00

This has been a difficult week to pay attention to anything other than CNBC. The world has, once again, is in financial distress. Hard to find fun things to Blog about.
One good thing, our Estate Sangiovese, used for Rosato and Sangiovese, is nearing harvest as the Brix level has reached 20.2. We are fully two weeks ahead of last year and look forward to harvest in a few weeks.
Observation - A few Glasses of wine and the world seems to be a better place!

$3,800 per Bottle - Now that's expensive

2008-09-25T09:46:00.000-07:00

As Reported by Wine & Spirits Daily -

HART DAVIS HART WINE ACUTION REALIZES OVER $11M

In the Chicago this weekend Hart Davis Hart Wine Company sold one of the largest single-owner wine collections to date. The Fox Cellar, whose pre-sale estimate was $6.8-$10.2 million, exceeded expectations with $11,160,583 realized, becoming the fourth largest wine auction in history, and the largest cellar sold so far in 2008. 100% of the 1746 lots on offer sold.

An "unprecedented" selection of Château Lafite-Rothschild realized $1,819,627 against a pre-sale estimate of $1,067,200-1,598,700. The price achieved by the first lot of a seven case parcel of 1982 Château Lafite-Rothschild beat the world record for the wine. It sold to a Chinese bidder in the room for $54,970 against an estimate of $20,000-30,000. A case of 1982 Lafite sold for $46,000 (aggregate $54,970).

Large selections of wines from Haut-Brion, Latour, Margaux, Pétrus, and Domaine de la Romanée -Conti all soared over their respective pre-sale high estimates. The average lot value in the sale exceeded $6300 per lot over 1746 lots.

Bidders traveled to Chicago from 40 states as well as Australia, Europe, Canada and Asia to attend the acution which took place at Tru restaurant.

"During these times of uncertainty in the financial markets, the relationships that we have built over decades with buyers from all over the world are invaluable, and the results bear this out," said chairman John Hart in a statement. "I am thrilled for the consignor, and so proud of our team at Hart Davis Hart."

Chateau Julien Team for the Best Buddies Event

2008-09-24T11:38:00.000-07:00

Team Chateau Julien raised $8,324.00 for the Best Buddies program through donations raised by our team. The most money was raised by our Manager of Wine Collector programs, Melinda Klescewski. The bike run was from Chateau Julien Wine Estate to Hearst Castle - a 100 mile trip. All ten of the group participated in the run.

Chateau Julien Event in Fresno

2008-09-17T15:34:00.000-07:00

Well, the father and son team from Chateau Julien Wine Estate worked together at Max's Restaurant in Fresno for a wine magazine event. Son, Bobby, is a student at Fresno State studying Enology.

Germany Roadshow 2008

2008-09-16T15:15:00.000-07:00

The fourth annual German Roadshow was held from September 8th through the 12th. We visited Koln and stayed at the local Hotel Lyskirchen - then on to Wiesbaden to stay at the Hotel Hansa (don't stay there) - then on to Stuttgart and the Hotel Maritim (great) and finally on to Muchen and the ACHAT Hotel and back to Frankfurt. As in the past, old supplier friends got together to share notes and enjoy the show. I began to call the show the 24 hours of Roadshow, as we poured wines for 4 days in 6 hour increments. Thanks to Mike and Gunda (our importers - Pacific Wine Company) for putting on the show and we will be back next year for another adventure.
ps - The beer was so heavy it required two hands to lift!

Where in the world are we going this week?

2008-08-30T11:17:00.000-07:00

Any Guess on where we are going?

Les Kincaid's Lifestyles show in Las Vegas

2008-08-27T14:51:00.000-07:00

On August 21st, 2008 I had the privilege of appearing on Les Kincaid's Lifestyles show. As some of you remember, in September of 2000 he started a unique wine show with Americas first wine show that has a live audience and tastes wine during the show while interviewing the winery owner (me), winemaker, wine writer, sommelier or master sommelier. I brought our 2007 Reserve Chardonnay, 2005 Reserve Merlot and 2006 Black Nova. The wine and food was a great experience.

Off to the Les Kincaid Show - Las Vegas

2008-08-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post a picture taken from last weeks Ocean Avenue Concours by a fan of the wine estate. Next post should be from the Les Kincaid Radio Show in Las Vegas. I look forward to pairing our Chardonnay, Merlot and Black Nova with the restaurant that Les has selected for the event.

Car Week on the Monterey Peninsula - 2008

2008-08-18T14:29:00.000-07:00

Car week on the Monterey Peninsula is 9 days of pure enjoyment for car enthusiasts (no time to post to the blog). From the pre-historic early weekend with FXX and Formula Clienti to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance the week was full of great historic automobiles and just plain fun. I participated in the Ocean Avenue Concours and the Concorso Italiano. In the later, a double podium finish for third overall and Platinum (Best of Class) award. Now for the deserved rest! - forgot - back to work!

Really Good News in the WALL STREET JOURNAL

2008-08-01T23:05:00.000-07:00

While on family holiday - some really good news on Chateau Julien Merlot - our Hallmark product.

Chateau Julien - Summer Jamboree 2008 - Part 1

2008-07-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

It takes a cast of all of our current and past employees to put on the Jamboree. From the days of Edna (past employee) to the newest employee, we all had a great time. Our guests enjoyed fine wine, great food, hat making and music from the Dennis Murphy band!

As Reported by Wine & Spirits Daily

2008-07-15T14:20:00.000-07:00

ROSÉ SURPASSES WHITE WINE VOLUME IN FRANCE. Rosé has seen a surge in France particularly among young adults, who view rosé as a festive drink. Approximately one in five bottles of wine sold in France is a rosé, with the gains coming from falling red sales. Rosé's popularity is also being seen in Britain and especially the U.S. where the pink wine is booming.

Now - Do you think America will wake up to really good Rose wines. Our Rosato is "sold out" for the year.

Chateau Julien Wine Estate - from the air!

2008-07-11T10:10:00.000-07:00

We must be ready for the summer jamboree, because the overflow parking has been marked. Join us this Sunday, July 13th for a fun filled day of entertainment, food and great Wine!

Big Sur "Basin Fire" gets close to Chateau Julien Wine Estate

2008-07-10T15:15:00.000-07:00

The Big Sur "Basin Complex" fire just got a little closer to Chateau Julien Wine Estate with the eruption of a visual blaze about 3 - 4 miles away. The fire is just over a ridge or two. Pray for rain!

As reported by Wine & Spirits Daily

2008-07-07T15:02:00.001-07:00

RED WINE IMPROVES HEALTH, NOT LIFE SPAN

Researchers have found that resveratrol (a compound found in red wine grapes) will help slow the signs of aging although it will not necessarily prolong your lifespan. Previous studies suggested red wine could help people live longer, but new evidence says that's not the case. Instead, it will improve quality of life by providing heart benefits, stronger bones and help prevent cataracts.

"We found that while quality of life improved with resveratrol, the compound did not significantly affect overall survival or maximum lifespan," Rafael de Cabo of the US National Institute of Ageing said.

In the study, some mice were fed a standard diet, some a high-calorie diet and some got food only every other day. The researchers then began giving some of the mice resveratrol in either low or high doses when they were 12 months old, roughly the same as 35 years old in a person. The mice given resveratrol experienced broad health benefits compared to mice not given the compound, reports Reuters. De Cabo told the publication that Resveratrol "wiped out the negatives effect of the high fat."

However, De Cabo said it would be too early for people to start taking resveratrol supplements to improve health until more research is done