Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 8:52
PM
Subject: Wine at Orangewood Consulting - 44
To Our Wine Aficionados,
Introduction
As of the beginning of December,
we have moved forward with our wine portfolio expansion. We now represent
4 additional wineries. Our sales coverage has expanded again and we feel
we are poised for serious growth. Stay tuned…
Box Score
New Retail Outlets: 1
New sales people: 1
New wineries: 4
Contents
Events
Sierra Foothills kickoff - Nello’s
(Tempe) - December 9th
RustRidge New Vintages - AZ Wine
(Scottsdale) - December 12th
New location
New sales person – David Zurowski
New suppliers (Wineries)
Young’s Vineyard
Granite Springs Winery
Latcham Vineyards
Hyatt-Baumbach Wines
Events
Sierra Foothills Kickoff - New
wines sampling - Nello’s, Tempe December 9th, 4:30 – 6:00 PM
Our
wine consultants are planning to pour most of the wines from our new wineries
(see below). You will be able to sample the wines, purchase a bottle to
have with dinner or to take with you. You can also place orders for cases
of wine if you wish to stock up for the holidays.
RustRidge New Vintages Tasting -
AZ Wine, Scottsdale - December 12th, 5:00 – 7:00 PM
As I said
last month, RustRidge Ranch and Winery has released their new vintages together
with an exciting new label. The label features a picture of Man O’ War,
grandfather to Seabiscuit, of recent movie fame. It replaces the dark red
label with racehorses dashing around the top. The new vintages include
their 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon. Their wine consultant, Kent Rosenblum, has
been more active in making this wine, so we are hoping some of his magic rubs
off. We, meanwhile, will be implementing our drinking program for the
1998, which is itself quite grand. The 2000 Zinfandel is just as good as
the spectacular 1999 that we have been selling. We will also be bringing
in the Chardonnay and Chardonnay Reserve to see if we can crack the Chardonnay
market at all.
Anyway, Jim Fresquez and Susan Meyer, the winery owners and operators, will be
at AZ Wine in Scottsdale for this kick-off event. It runs from 5:00 –
7:00 PM. Stop by to try the wines, get a bottle autographed and hear more
about their unique winery/bed and breakfast/thoroughbred racehorse ranch.
New Location
Classic Italian - 1030 East
Baseline Rd #156, Tempe
If you
head West from where Loop 101 crosses Baseline Road, you get to wonder who
figures out the road numbering. Ignoring that, after you pass Rural Rd
you can look out for the Lake Country Shopping Center. It’s a collection
of furniture stores including Tres Amigos where all kinds of neat Mexican
furniture can be found. Tucked at the East end of this shopping center is
a clock under which is the Classic Italian Pizza restaurant. One of
Howard Seftel’s top pizza places in the Valley of the Sun, this small
restaurant is run by Marijana and Azhar Began. They have a wood fired
oven and know how to use it. They now have some good wine, too - they
have started with Noceto and Westberg.
New Sales Person
David Zurowski
David recently
moved from the Napa Valley to Prescott. When he looked for Arizona wine
distributors, Orangewood showed up in his internet search. David read all
the newsletters and still sent me his résumé. We met at Nello’s, because
it’s a tradition, and made sure that he liked the Noceto Sangiovese - a
requirement. He is now signed up as our newest wine consultant and will
be paying attention to the Prescott and Sedona markets right away and the
Flagstaff area subsequently.
New Wineries
Young’s Vineyard
Young’s
Vineyard is located about a mile west of Vino Noceto. Dick and I visited
the winery in August. Even though we thought we had an appointment, we
could not get in. Jim Gullett, from Vino Noceto, helped us break the code
and we were welcomed by Stell Young. I’m not sure who owns the winery,
but Stell is the Dad and tends the grapes and usually answers the phone when I
call. Steve Young seems to be the “business manager”. Dick and I
met with both of them that day. They were anxious to do business.
We agreed to distribute their wines in Arizona and they gave us half a case of
their wine to drink. In addition to their wines being spectacular, the
packaging is outstanding. Steve’s sister designs the labels featuring
harlequin figures. Steve’s wife runs the tasting room - when they have
wine to sell. In the past they have typically sold out their wine in a weekend
or two to Sacramento residents who are in the know. Initially we are bringing
in only their Syrah and Barbera because the Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel
are sold out. We should get some of those in the spring.
Granite Springs Winery
This winery is further east in an area called Fair Play. Fair Play has a
number of small wineries, one of which is Granite Springs. They have a
large selection of wines, several of which we brought back to Phoenix for the
September tasting. Initially we are offering their Sierra Reserve Red and
their Estate Merlot. These wines are very tasty and very reasonably
priced. The labels feature a quail - we’re seeing a lot of them around
our Cave Creek house. Quail that is. Another of the wines
that we may offer in the future is a Petit Syrah Port – we tasted it with a
little chocolate concoction. Yum! Granite Springs was started in
1981 and bought by Jon Latcham in 1984. He is also the owner of…
Latcham Vineyards
These vineyards are a few minutes drive from Granite Springs. Jon started
them in 1981 and had his wines made at Granite Springs. He still gets the
wines made at Granite - but now owns both. Latcham Vineyards also have a
large selection of wines. We have whittled down our initial offering to
their Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc and a Muscat Canelli. This Muscat
is reminiscent of the Noceto Frivolo - but is heavier and sweeter.
Hyatt-Baumbach Wines
Ron Hyatt is a teacher; Neil Baumbach is a doctor. They both love wines
and wine making and have been making a small amount of wine in an old winery in
their spare time. They tend and harvest the grapes and do all the wine
making themselves - a labor of love. Hyatt-Baumbach produces small
quantities of Barbera, Merlot and Zinfandel. This wine may be hard to
find, but it will be worth the search.
Cin-cin, alla salute!
Richard and Laurie
Richard (newsletter writer) and Laurie Corles
(editor)
Orangewood Consulting LLC
480.488.4794 or 602.410.3774