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Wine’s role on the public health stage has fluctuated between friend and foe throughout the ages and has found a resting place in our time as beneficial when consumed in moderate amounts. The tricky part is, what is considered “moderate” can vary greatly depending upon with whom you are talking. It is generally accepted in medical studies that moderate drinking is limited to one glass of wine, 4-5 ounces, for women and two for men and no they are not being sexist just scientific, as men tend to weigh more and absorb alcohol more slowly. The health benefits decrease dramatically and in fact turn detrimental when the level of alcohol becomes excessive. I found a quote on wikipedia from Eubulus, a writer in Ancient Greece, that I found strikingly true even today:
“Three bowls do I mix for the temperate: one to health, which they empty first, the second to love and pleasure, the third to sleep. When this bowl is drunk up, wise guests go home. The fourth bowl is ours no longer, but belongs to violence; the fifth to uproar, the sixth to drunken revel, the seventh to black eyes, the eight is the policeman’s, the ninth belong to biliousness, and the tenth to madness and hurling the furniture”
So limit your intake and maintain not only a pleasurable evening, but reap in the added health benefits of your extracurricular activity.
Wine is considered to be the oldest documented man-made medicine, being utilized in 2200 BC by the Egyptians as an antiseptic on wounds and ingested for relief of pain during childbirth. The use of wine continued to perpetuate through middle eastern countries before reaching Europe, where it was most often utilized in conjuncture with religion or belief in the supernatural. Greeks included wine as part of a healthy diet and Roman doctors saved hundreds of gladiators lives by the simple application of wine as a disinfectant to their battle wounds. When access to clean water was problematic wine was drank as a substitute since the fermentation process kills most harmful bacteria.
The 19th and 20th centuries brought about a shift in the acceptance of wine as the outcry against alcoholism began to grow. The excessive use and abuse of alcohol became more prevalent in society and as a result the Temperance movement was born and started gaining momentum in Europe and the US. This movement lead to Prohibition in the US from 1920 through 1933 when finally the trials and tribulations of The Great Depression aided in the repeal on the ban of alcohol.
The next major turn in the view on alcohol arose in the 1990’s when the “French Paradox” became a buzz phrase and phenomenon. During this time period Americans were gaining more weight and suffering from increased rates of heart disease. As scientist searched for the cause they began pointing the finger at our high consumption levels of saturated (animal) fat. One study began researching the French culture, which maintains a relatively low percentage of overweight citizens as well as low incidence of cardiovascular disease, hoping to gain insight on ways to reduce Americans struggles. The paradox lies in the fact that the French consume significantly higher amounts of animal fat than the US and yet seem to evade the adverse effects. One theory that was found focused on the amount of red wine consumed by the French people and the compound contained within the wine, Resveratol. It was concluded that this specific conglomerate of molecules found in the skins of grapes promoted longevity and cancer prevention.
Today varying studies have found results favoring the moderate consumption of wine. Its abilities have been toted with the potential of increasing bone density in women, decreasing the risk of certain types of cancer, aiding in digestion, improving the balance of LDL (bad cholesterol) and HDL (good cholesterol) thus building a healthy heart, maintaining good eyesight by decreasing macular degeneration and may even reduce the risk of dementia related ailments. A glass a day will keep the doctor away, but remember to keep your life and consumption in balance in order to receive the greatest health rewards.
In honor of healthy lifestyles paired with delicious wine, we put together the “Play Hard and Drink Epic Wine Special,” with suggested fun outdoor activities!
Salud,
Courtney Black
Posted 10 months, 1 week ago. 2 comments
Bordeaux: Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot
The Bordeaux region is among the oldest and is the second largest wine producing area in the world releasing over 700 million bottles each year. The even tempered climate produces modest temperatures and an average yearly rainfall of 33 inches, very similar to the nooks and crannies of the Hood River Valley. Terroir also plays an important role for both the Bordeaux regions in France and the parallel growing regions in the Columbia Valley. Terroir refers to the qualities attributed to the varietals based on the geography of the vineyards. This can mean the soil, the moisture, the farming technique, or any factors that affect the area. In the Bordeaux region, the premium grapes tend to hail from vineyards near the river. Likewise, the vineyards in the Columbia Valley benefit from the nearby river and the quality of soil.
Big, bold reds make up the majority of Bordeaux wines. Most common are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Great Bordeaux varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot also flourish in the Hood River Valley with rich, beautiful colors and bold tastes. Bordeaux wineries, or Châteaux, choose more often than not to create blends, and the most famous pair is Cabernet/Merlot. On that note, our Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot is a 50/50 blend of premium grapes from the Columbia Valley. Together they represent the boldness of the Bordeaux region with a touch of Columbia Valley charm.
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot Tasting Notes:
Dark berries, milk chocolate, and cassis on the nose followed by a smooth, balanced mouth feel & soft tannins on the finish make this a very approachable red wine.
Of the many Bordeaux-style wines we produce, our Cabernet/Merlot blend is the most approachable. The intent of our “Cab/Merlot” is to broaden our flavor spectrum of full-bodied red wines. This wine takes the softest qualities of the two varietals and blends them together to produce a young and appealing wine that retains some of the tannin from its parent wines.
Our Cabernet/Merlot presents a more youthful approach to a red wine. The Merlot component adds bright fruit qualities, while the Cabernet tops it with richer fruit and “bursts” of tannin. The resulting blend is an exquisite array of full textures with wonderful fruit highlights.We age our Cab/Merlot for up to 11 months in oak barrels, and bottle the final blend as young-drinking red wine. Even though its heritage lends to a full bottle aging potential, it is a wonderful wine while served young and pleases most red wine admirers.
Burgundy: Pinot Noir
The Burgundy region is nestled in eastern France along the banks of the Saone River, a tributary of the famous Rhone River. With very cold winters and parching hot summers, Burgundy is toted as the most terroir focused wine region in the world. This same Burgundy climate is scattered along the Columbia Gorge tucked away by the Columbia River. Similar to the Burgundy region, the Columbia Gorge experiences sporadic weather ranging from unpredictable snow, rain, frost, and even heat. All of these factors affect harvest and creates a lot of variance from vintage to vintage. Burgundian varietals require a lot of attention and care for optimum results, but they are well worth the effort.
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are both very popular in the Burgundy region of France. With Cathedral Ridge wines, we strive to represent these varietals in their true Burgundian styles. Fortunate to live in a climate and geographical setting conducive to growing premium Burgundian varietals, we carefully complete each step of the winemaking process to ensure the best results. With Michael Sebastiani’s master palate, Robb’s and Francisco’s work in the winery and the field, and the efforts of the whole team these wines receive the attention and care required. The result is a spicy, elegant, and ready to drink but ready to age Pinot Noir.
2007 Huber Vineyard Pinot Noir Tasting Notes:
Located on the north side of Columbia River sits Huber (also known as Dampier) Vineyard in Underwood Mountain, WA. Much higher in elevation, approximately 1100 feet, this vineyard benefits from south facing slopes with great exposure to the sun and cool gorge winds throughout the growing season. This is a true Columbia Gorge Pinot Noir.
This wine begins with aromas of ripe cherry, raspberry, and rhubarb, followed by a palate full of strawberry, more cherry, and a touch of spice. The silky texture of the wine, along with light tannins provide for a lingering finish. A bright light-bodied Pinot Noir, this wine will pair well with grilled salmon.
Awards: Bronze: San Francisco International Wine Competition
Bronze: Crab Festival Wine Competition, Astoria, OR
The Rhine River flows through southwest Germany along vineyards that boast the most northerly location in the world just below the 50th parallel. The river feeds a plethora of micro-climates fit for
vines. The best grapes are said to come from vineyards closer to the river. The reflected sunlight adds that extra touch of heat tfor the best ripening.. Similarly, the Rhine style grapes in the Columbia Valley grow near bodies of water that feed the grapes and reflect extra sunlight. Terroir, or the unique geography of a specific vineyard, plays an important role in the Rhine growing region, as it does it here.
Rhine wines vary from dry, semi-sweet, to sweet depending on the winery and the vineyard.
Riesling is one of the most well known Rhine varietals, and can embody sweet, fruit forward flavors as well as dry, lighter qualities. Here at Cathedral Ridge, we have produced sweet Rieslings, Dry Rieslings, Gewürztraminers, and Pinot Gris all in the Rhine style with a touch of the Columbia Valley. After locating the closest, premium grapes, everyone does their part to ensure the grapes make it to bottle with the utmost of care and attention. The 2007 Cathedral Ridge Riesling exhibits the lightly sweetened flavors of fruit with a refreshingly crisp finish.
2007 Cathedral Ridge Winery Riesling Tasting Notes:
Fuji apples, apricots and mineral tones fill the nose followed by a juicy and refreshing mouth feel, clean with light acidity. As refreshing as biting into a fresh and juicy Fuji apple.
This Riesling is semi-sweet (with residual sugar less than 2%) with a balanced acidity that makes this a wonderful, fresh wine that is easy to drink and pairs well with many foods. This is the perfect summer drinking wine!
Awards: Bronze: McMinnville, OR Wine and Food Classic
Posted 11 months, 2 weeks ago. Add a comment
“Wine, being among the earliest luxuries in which we indulge ourselves, it is desirable that it should be made here and we have every soil, aspect and climate of the best wine countries.” ~Thomas Jefferson
The third president of the United States held many dreams for this country. Among them, Jefferson envisioned a nation passionate about and actively producing the world’s greatest wines. The president had a pretty strong grasp of the intricacies of quality wine and saw no reason why America should leave all the wine making to Europe. He proclaimed, “We could in the United States make as great a variety of wines as are made in Europe, not exactly of the same kinds, but doubtless as good.” This is the philosophy by which Jefferson lived. As president, he confronted numerous world and domestic issues on his plate everyday. But, he also made sure to have wine in his glass.
Jefferson pursued an interest in wine far before his presidency. Always known as the “cultured” Virginian, he also made sure to study his subjects inside and out. When his taste buds tingled at every sip of delightfully delicious wine, he knew he had to undertake an ardent study of the subject of wine. So, in 1784 when he traveled to Paris to replace Benjamin Franklin as the United States minister to the court of Louis XVI, Jefferson viewed the placement as his opportunity to probe the French wine country. Conveniently, Franklin, known for indulging in all the pleasures of the French court, was also a bit of a connoisseur. Franklin shared his insider knowledge of the French wine industry and even had Jefferson shaking hands with some of the most pronounced wine merchants around. From that point, Jefferson represented America as diplomat and oenophile.
Jefferson used his five years in Paris to learn everything possible about French and other European wines. In 1787, he embarked on the “great wine tour.” For three and a half months he explored southern France and northern Italy visiting Burgundy, the Rhone Valley, the French Riviera, and finally the Bordeaux region. While this extensive wine tour was not exactly in Jefferson’s job description, it dramatically transformed his appreciation for the good juice and motivated him to inspire a passion for wine in his fellow Americans. With new found knowledge and a whole list of European merchants as lifelong contacts Jefferson returned to the United States.
By the end of his five year sojourn in France, Jefferson quickly earned the reputation as the wine guy. In 1789 when voters elected him as Secretary of State to George Washington the Senate also appointed him the title “wine consultant.” He was essentially the middle man for scoring rare French wines. The position suited him.It seemed Jefferson loved acquiring wine as much as he liked drinking it. While in France he built a collection of over 600 bottles, and within four months of his return he added 654 more. He always threw the best parties, and began each soirée with an anecdote about wine and a tidbit of history of every vintage. During his presidency he spent over $7,000 a year on his wine collection, but was very generous with his purchases and only hoped to pass on his passion to his fellow Americans. Some mocked the President for his decadence and “French tendencies,” but in time the country would come to appreciate what Jefferson did for wine in America.
Unfortunately, Jefferson never lived to witness the fulfillment of his dream of an American wine country. While America never built a strong wine industry in his lifetime, his vision did not sucuumb to futility. He still left an impression. Today, every state in America has its hands in the production of wine and Americans nationwide take to wine touring as a luxurious pastime much like Jefferson had in France. Here in Oregon, the growth of wineries around the state attests to this expansion of wine enthusiasm. And, we in the Columbia gorge are fortunate to live in an area where a plethora of varietals can flourish and promise a future of high quality wine. From our whites to our reds, we are constantly updating the wine list, blending the greats, and releasing satisfyingly insatiable wines.
We will always appreciate what Jefferson did for wine production in the country. He achieved countless laurels in one lifetime, and he always managed to inspire. As far as wine goes, he left us with the quote “Good wine is a necessity of life,” and we pay tribute to him and carry on that concept with our deliciously light and spicy Necessity Red. By blending our Pinot Noir and our Zinfandel grapes from the Columbia Valley region we present a wine representative of the wonderful varieties we are able to produce in this area. We trademarked the title “Necessity Red,” as a tribute to Jefferson and to the “Good wine” now produced in America.
Cheers!
Sarah Cullington
Posted 1 year, 1 month ago. Add a comment
Half-way through college I was bitten, suddenly my life and view of the world was irrevocably changed. From that point on my reality was that I could think of little other than fleeing the place I was in and discovering a new way of life. That’s right the travel bug got me and since my first journey outside these American borders I have thirsted and craved for experiences not attainable from my home ground.
The affliction began with a grand European tour, Italy, France, Switzerland, The Netherlands and Germany. Before I knew what was happening I found myself traveling through Guatemala exploring NGO work and learning the hardships of a third world nation. Next up came the need for something more extreme, exotic and distant, a place that shared nearly nothing in common with what I had ever known, India. Three months spent touring alone through India and Thailand set my fire aglow. Now that I had become a seasoned traveler (notice the absence of the word tourist, we true globe trotters find solace in immersing ourselves in culture not peering in at the scene displayed in front of us) I returned to Europe alone beginning in Greece, before joining my mom in Hungry, Croatia and Italy (only Venice, which I swear to NEVER return to again). There was a brief trip to Canada in the mix somewhere and a winter spent living on the beach in Baja.
I embarked on my second full winter in the gorge this past season and by March I was dying to strap on my backpack and spread my wings. The destination was set, plane tickets were lined up, plans were laid, my travel book had become my dearest companion and then I saw the help wanted ad that was to put all my travel plans to rest. Chile will always be there, but will the chance to embrace a new job in a field that I love always remain within reach? I am thrilled to be a part of the Cathedral Ridge team, but continue to look forward to diving into the thrill of travel to South America.
Chile’s oddly slender placement in our world lends itself to a huge variety of wine growing regions. Situated cozily between the vast Pacific ocean and the magnificent Andes mountains, climates can vary from steady maritime scenarios to extreme daytime highs and chilled mountain nights. The wine areas of Chile rest between 30 and 38 degrees south latitude, balancing in zones of 1300 to 3300 feet in elevation, receiving approximately 15 inches of rainfall annually. Winery’s produce the typically recognized varieties, Merlot, Cabernet, Pinot, Chardonnay, Riesling and so on, but Chile is the only country able to grow Carmenere. Once perceived as Merlot, DNA testing has proven the source of the Camenere grape to be Grand Vidure, a variety wiped out in Europe by phylloxera. It is assumed to have arrived in Chile in the 19th century where it thrived in protection from the dreaded insects due to the impassibility of the Andes.
This variety is making a come back on the world stage with its deep flavors, chocolate tones and high levels of alcohol. In recent times the well known American wine enterprise of Mondavi has invested time and energies into establishing a label for Chilean wine, Sena, intended to ensure quality and relay the message of superior character found in Chilean wine. Mondavi has also been essential in the creation of unique blends of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere displaying complex and elegant flavors of Chilean terroir.
Salud,
Courtney
Posted 1 year, 1 month ago. Add a comment
I sit cross-legged dowsed in a fine mist, mesmerized by the torrent of cascading liquid before me. The immense propensity of nature to create the perfectly divine, displayed in all its splendor directly in front of my eyes. My Memorial Day weekend consisted of an exciting Saturday of Burgundy, Brats & Blues at Cathedral Ridge, followed by two glorious days of waterfall exploration. The rock wall foundation diverting stark white trails through thick emerald moss drew my thoughts to the evolution of ecosystems and the progression of life to adapt to specific climates. With the lengthy afternoon still in ahead of me, my mind wanders to some of the basic questions that elude me in common day circumstances. I hold a deep passion for agriculture and wine, but had never ventured to ask the obvious inquiry of where was the grape vine born?
The ancient origins of grape cultivation and the production of wine stretches over 8000 years back to cultures based around the Black Sea. The earliest archaeological evidence of established grape cultivation dates to around 6500 BC in what is now known as Georgia (and no not Ol’ Dixie kind of Georgia, rather the area previously part of the Soviet Union). The truth of how wine was discovered by man may never fully be understood, but there is a strong possibility that it was stumbled upon accidentally when man placed wild grapes into some form of container where they fermented in reaction to the naturally occurring yeast found on the skins. Around 5000 BC a civilization near the Zagros Mountains in current day western Iran began storing large quantities of wine in the hillsides. After its dissemination from the Black Sea region three main cultures, the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, adopted and adapted viticultural practices, thus defining and ensuring mans affinity towards wine throughout the ages.
The desire for grapes and wine traveled west becoming essential in everyday life as food, drink, pure enjoyment and an important piece of religion. Egyptian kings were buried with jars of wine in the 3rd millennium BC and detailed records of grape harvest, wine production and subsequent transportation were discovered dating to around 1500 BC. Wine was not only a wonder to mankind, but became an integral staple in ceremonial offerings to the Egyptian Gods. Their God of wine Osiris was held in high regard as he was the provider of and keeper of the fertile Nile Delta vineyards. Formulating varying qualities of wine, the Egyptians produced everyday wine for the commoners all the way to royal wines that were an essential feature of the burial process.
Historical evidence points to the presence of wine in Greece where grapes remnants were found dating to back to 4000 BC, representing the earliest production of wine in Europe. Dionysus, the Greek God of wine and revelry, was a popular character in famous Greek works written by Homer. Vineyards thrived in the Greek sun and the finesse of the wine making process became finely tuned. By 300 BC the Greeks dominated in quality and quantity production of wine. From this jumping off point grapes and wine continued their journey farther into the European heartland of Italy, France, Germany and Spain.
As the Roman stage grew in scope and stature their love of wine flourished and proliferated along with their empire. They introduced vines to the Bordeaux region of France and established the Rhone and Mosel Rivers as fundamental modes of transportation. In 79 AD Mt Vesuvius erupted destroying the crucial port of Pompeii, thus crippling the Italian’s ability to import and export wine. Wine became more commonly incorporated into the Christian faiths in Catholic Mass and as a generally popular Christian libation around 300 AD. As the Roman rule collapsed around 500 AD the future of wine found itself in great peril, but with the luck of divine intervention the monks and their protective abbeys took the sacred liquid under their wing.
The true golden age of wine begins in this era with the monks conducting vineyard experiments in yield, flavors and differing varieties. Here behind the monastery walls vineyards flourished and angelic wine was created. European regions continued to specialize in varietals adapted to suit their unique climates, thus establishing some of the worlds finest grape growing regions.
Salud,
Courtney Black
Posted 1 year, 2 months ago. 1 comment
Zinfandel: the international varietal of mystery. This American loved wine has been wrapped in controversy since debaters brought the origin of its name to the floor. For years, California and Italian wine producers have argued over the usage of a the title Zinfandel. When the European Union granted Italian wine growers the use of the term “Zinfandel” in 1999, a crowd of California wineries raised their voices in protest. What’s the big deal? Well, looking back on the history of Zinfandel in the United States reveals the intimate relationship the country shares with the name.
In 1857 a man named Joe Osborne allegedly produced the first official California Zinfandel north of Napa Valley thus spurring the Western Zin boom. Following Osborne’s lead, more wine producers bought up “old vines” around the state and released some of this country’s most treasured wines. Proud of its robust flavors entwined with spice and berry, Californians soon proclaimed the fruit theirs. But, the true origin of the Zinfandel variety was essentially unknown due the sheer impossibility of following a detailed history of the travel of goods during a time when hordes of people were in transition from Europe to America and from the American East Coast to the West. Suspicions started when people learned the variety actually arrived from the East Coast with William Robert Prince during the Gold Rush. Prince is believed to have acquired a variety he called “Black Zinfandel of Hungary,” from the Imperial Nursery in Vienna, Austria. Thus, the Zinfandel grape may have actually traveled across seas to American soil. This theory certainly interested Europe and wine makers and the Zinfandel grape approached the stage of international controversy. Thus began the hunt for the truth; the vrai origine of the Zinfandel variety.
First stop: Italy. The Italian wine country was naturally the first scene investigated in the search for truth. Why? Well, In the boot of Italy, Italian wine makers produced a wine very similar to the delightfully spicy Californian Zinfandel called Primitivo. Before the mid 20th century, the wine community accepted Zinfandel as the American wine. But, in 1967, UCD professor, Austin Goheen, burst that bubble when he tasted the Primitivo wine made in Italy. Noticing clear similarities, Goheen returned to California with the Primitivo variety where grapevine geneticists probed the plant. In the end, they found the two genetically compatible and thus of the same variety.
The uproar ensued shortly thereafter and the race was on to outline the history of Zin. Over ten years after discovering the genetic link between Primitivo and Zinfandel, Professor Goheen began tracing the Primitivo genes to lands beyond Italy. Turning attention to Croatia after a few suggestions from friends, he first investigated the Croatian variety, Plavac Mali in 1982. While his tests concluded the two shared similarities but not the same gene pool, his trespass into Croatian territory sparked interest among some local wine makers such as Mike Grgich, who formed the “Zinfandel Advocates and Producers,”(ZAP) to prolong the theory that their Plavac Mali was the true parent of Primitivo and thus of Zinfandel.
Although ZAP never found enough evidence to support the original Plavac Mali theory they did open the floodgates for other theories. Another UCD professor, Carole Meredith, accepted a grant from ZAP to study samples of the Plavac Mali from the coast of Croatia against Primitivo and Zinfandel. In the early to late 90s she gradually released her findings to the world. First, she concluded that Primitivo and Zinfandel did indeed stem from the same variety with only subtle differences due to soil changes between the two countries. Much to the dismay of ZAP, Meredith and her team of experts declared Plavac Mali, unlike Primitivo, was not of the same variety as Zinfandel. Instead, she instigated shock when she declared that the Croatian variety was actually the long lost infant of Zinfandel and Primitivo. Years ago, before the world underwent debates of variety significance, Primitivo/Zinfandel and another attractive but ancient variety from the island Šolta, Dobricic, got together. The result was the Plavac Mali variety which presumably traveled from Greece or Albania to the Croatian Coast.
After reuniting Plavac Mali temporarily with its parent varietal, Meredith believed her discovery warranted a further investigation into the Croatian coast. Using DNA profiling, the geneticist finally found her long sought answer: the Dalmatian varietal Crljenak Kaštelanski. Studies proved this Dalmatian grape was identical to Primitivo and Zinfandel. Convinced that this varietal marked the beginning of Zinfandel, she proclaimed the beloved Zin the “ZPC variety,” or the Zinfandel/Primitivo/ Crljenak Kaštelanski varietal.
Imagine that title on the label of your next wine bottle! Meredith may have uncovered some of the mystery surrounding Zin, but her speculations did not solve the matter of naming the varietal. The term Zinfandel was too steeped into the history of American red wine. Zinfandel standing as one of the second most popular varieties to come from Califorina, second only to Cabernet Sauvignon, it is not hard to understand why some Italian wine makers wanted in on the name as well. With their Primitivo grape the same as the Zinfandel, what’s really in a name? Some say the term speaks more to an American culture and for Italy to use the name steals that piece of American history. While the debate continues, it is important not to overlook the most important matter: the sheer quality of Zinfandel, call it Primitivo, Zin or Crljenak Kaštelanski.
While the Californian wine industry leads the debate about Zin’s history, the grape has traveled further north and now flourishes closer to our home. Zin, a bit finicky, prefers warm weather and little travel. Forcing this grape to endure long hauls on the road risks arriving with a rotten supply. So, some people doubted the possibility of producing this delectably peppery and fruity wine in the wet state of Oregon. That is until the discovery of the growing potential here in the Columbia Valley where we benefit from diverse micro climates including dry desert. Coupling the passion of our Californian wine maker, Michael Sebastiani, and the potential of the Columbia Valley AVA, we proudly deliver our long revered and award winning Zinfandel. While we carry on the name Zinfandel, we keep in mind the important matter at hand; this is a truly delightful grape lending to some of the best red wines to come from this area.
Cheers!
Sarah Cullington
Posted 1 year, 2 months ago. Add a comment
