Monthly Archives: July 2015

The new West Burgundy Wine Group: focusing on world-class chardonnay and pinot noir

Written by Allison Levine on
Wine

West Burgundy Wine Group is a new division at Jackson Family Wines that is focused on estate-grown, site-specific wines crafted from classic Burgundian varieties.

West Burgundy Wine Group is a portfolio that includes wineries form the notable appellations of Los Carneros, Anderson Valley, Sonoma Coast and Oregon’s Willamette Valley. West Burgundy Wine Group is also the exclusive importer for Nuits-St-Georges-based négociant Moillard-Grivot.

Here’s a look at the current domestic properties in the new group:

Champ de Reves Pinot Noir and Gran Moraine Yamhill Carlton Pinot Noir Wild Ridge Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Moillard Grivot Nuit St Georges Les St Georges

Carneros Hills Winery was established in 2013 at historic Buena Vista Winery and is the home base for the West Burgundy Wine Group. An area known for its wind and cool weather as well as chalky soils results in pinot noir with a floral perfume nose and bright acidity.

Carneros Hills Winery, under winemaker Eric Johannsen, also produces chardonnay under the label Chardenet, the original spelling of chardonnay in France. Chardenet is focused on single vineyard Sonoma Coast chardonnay from the Coteau Blanc and Durell vineyards.

Read the complete story in the Napa Valley Register.

Old Is New at Iron Gate Washington DC

Written by Allison Levine on
Food

As I have been working with some Greek wines of recent, I took note when I read an article in the Wall Street Journal about Greek wines. What surprised me all the more was that two of the restaurants quoted (Iron Gate and Zaytinya) were Washington DC restaurants. So, when work took me to DC, I made a point of checking out Iron Gate and headed there for dinner with a couple friends.

Iron Gate

Opened in 1923 by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, Iron Gate held the title of the oldest continuously open restaurant in Washington DC until it closed in 2010. Then, in 2013, the Neighborhood Restaurant Group and Executive Chef Anthony Chittum reopened Iron Gate, featuring a Mediterranean menu inspired by Greece and Italy. Read More +

48 Hours in Milwaukee

Written by Allison Levine on
Travel Lifestyle Food Cocktails Wine

With a free weekend in between events in Washington DC and Chicago, it was time to visit Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the first time. With two food/wine/spirits/travel writer friends living there, I wanted to see the city they call home.

Milwaukee

I arrived on Saturday afternoon and we immediately headed over to Bert’s Bar (3907 S. Lake Drive), a local bar on the south shore of St. Francis. It was a perfect early summer day with temperatures in the high 70s and the sun shining as we sat on the patio, looking out to the lake. Surprisingly, for a local bar, Bert’s has a very substantial and interesting wine and beer selection. We enjoyed a bottle of the crisp private labeled Bert’s Bar Chardonnay (the grapes come from California) and typical bar food – fried mozzarella sticks and fried zucchini.  Read More +

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