The Governator Pitches CA Wine in Japan

Arnold Schwarzenegger visited Japan, earlier this month, to pitch California wines to our Asian brothers. A waste of time? It would be for Oklahoma, but it turns out Japan pumps quite a sum of money into The Left Coast's wine industry.

It turns out that Japan is the largest wine market in Asia, and the third-largest export market for California wine, behind the United Kingdom and Canada.
More than 250 California wine brands are sold in Japan, and the wine store with the largest number of California wine products outside of California is in Tokyo.
That's according to the Wine Institute, whose president, Bobby Koch, went along on the governor's trip.

If our Oklahoma leaders ever get finished protecting our morals and promoting their own, maybe they will start working on expanding our economic base.

Arnold Puts Some Muscle Behind State Wine Industry by Tim Moran

Nouveau Wine and OU Blogs

Wine Release!
Tidal School Vineyards in Drumright released this year's Nouveau on Friday, November 26. The Oklahoma grapes used in this wine are all from this year's harvest!

Tidal School winery was recently voted the Outstanding New Attraction and presented the Redbud Award at the Governor's Conference on Tourism. Stop by and try the Nouveau, then drop us a comment with your wine tasting notes!

Oklahoma Winery Website Updates
Summerside Vineyards has some new specials for Bus Tour operators.


Wakefield Country Inn has posted their special recipe for Sourdough Rolls.


They also have posted a helpful list of resources they used for the restoration of their Oklahoma Bed & Breakfast.


Oklahoma Blogging
Those interested in blogging should check out: Boomer Bytes Freshman Journals - 6 OU students blog their experiences at Oklahoma University.


Welcome BlogExplosion Visitors
This week I have been learning about lots of new blogs. Most of them I have found through the blog traffic exchange called BlogExplosion.


I've used traffic exchanges before, but they usually are terminally boring. I always thought that traffic exchanges could be useful, if the sites were not ALL lame get-rich-quick schemes.


BlogExplosion is different because they have weeded out the scam sites and only include blogs in their listings. This adds a cool voyeuristic feeling to the surfing and improves the value of the traffic you get.

If you are looking for more viewers to see your blog - I can endorse BlogExplosion heartily!


Google Blogoscoped - How do you tap the global brain? All about Google, search and search engines, programming and fun links.


News, Reviews, & Shameless Self-Promotion - News from the traditional, print-on-demand, epublishing, and self-publishing industries, reviews of books and writer's software, and announcements of my writing achievements.

Winery Business Plan Links, part two

Sadly, it looks like the entire domain for Cornell's AEM web presence is having problems, bad luck for those looking for an excellent winery business plan example.

Here are a few links to similar info to hold you over until the Pisoni PDF returns to the web (if ever).

http://www.agmrc.org/fruits/info/wineryfeasibility.pdf

http://www.ohiowines.org/winery_starter_kit.htm

http://lenewa.netsync.net/public/FBMHome.htm

Good luck!

CA High School Establishes Viticulture Program and School Vineyard

Ever wonder how California rapidly became a world class player in the wine market? Investment, education and community support were a big part of the answer and they still are today. Case in point: El Molino High School. (from Santa Rosa, Ca publication - The Press Democrat)

Winemaker Merry Edwards, a woman who knows a lot about forging her own path, is part of a community of educators, vineyard managers, grape growers and members of the Russian River Winegrowers Association that has helped establish a viticulture program at Forestville's El Molino High School, where a successful culinary arts program has been part of the curriculum for years.

The program they are putting on is far from small-time. It intends to pump money into both the school and the local wine grape growers organization. Here's another quote from the full article:

Figuring on making about 125 cases in all, Edwards will sell the as-yet-to-be-named wine under her own license and split the proceeds between the El Molino class and the Russian River Valley Winegrowers Association. At an expected retail price of $30, she hopes to net $45,000 or so from this harvest alone. Once the vineyard is at full production, she expects that number to rise to $60,000 or $80,000 a year.

Full article from The Press Demorat: Winemaker planting seeds early

Terroir Creating Sham Pain or Real Pain?

United States and Australia Battle the WTO Over Wine Labeling

According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal,(registration required) the United States and Australia are likely to triumph in the WTO and then everyone will have to agree that the bubbly, white wine produced in either of the two former colonies is Champagne and not merely Sparkling Wine.

The EU has been pushing protection over regional products including cheeses, wines and meat for many years. The EU wants to continue the tradition of limiting the title of Champagne to sparkling wine products produced in the Champagne region of France.

Of course, the grapes used to make Champagne in the U.S. are often identical to the ones grown in France. Even if the method of production is identical and the U.S. wineries are founded by immigrants from French wine making regions, the EU is convinced that Terroir cannot be exported. Terroir is a French language term for all the characteristics of the vineyard site thought to be imparted to a particular wine. It is a term that includes geographic, geological, climatic and other attributes that can affect an area of growth as small as a few square metres.

The E.U. maintains the view that consumers expect any wine labeled as Champagne to be from a specific part of France. They deny that there is any significant population that thinks champagne is merely wine with bubbles. Most winemakers and vineyard managers agree that Terroir exists (with such a broad definition, how could it not exist?). However, few accept the idea that the French government should be picking the winners and losers in the world wine market.

As you can expect, the biggest proponents of the Theory of Terroir are winemakers from France and to a lesser extent Napa Valley. Winemakers from Oklahoma, Texas, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, etc. are expected to stay out of existing wine markets and develop their own product names. The fact that the vast majority of wine buyers would have NO IDEA what they contain, is apparently not a problem. So long as the status quo is maintained, wine snobs can be properly protected from the foxy new world posers that threaten their way of life.

Oklahoma residents will be glad to know that beer varities are still free to be brewed anywhere in the world. I say, if the French are so convinced that wine buyers only want Champagne from France, they should put made-in-France on the label and then let the market speak.

Although the WTO has not reached a final decision, the WSJ thinks it is likely to allow a new breed of winemakers entry into the lucrative Champagne market. This should be good news for states like Oklahoma and Missouri that currently produce sparkling wines, if state regulators go along.

Sadly, rich, powerful, international lobbies are at work on issues like this and even if they lose in the WTO, you can bet that they will counter attack at the Federal and State government levels. Ultimately, the chances for the extremely small and underfunded U.S. wineries outside of California to compete against these international lobbies is very small.

I predict the only real winners will come in states (and countries like Australia) whose governments have recognized the positive economic impact of supporting their fledgling wine industries. (Hat tip to the: IP News Blog, courtesy of the Pierce Law IP Mall, for the WSJ link.)

Creating The Ultimate Wine Tasting Venue

New Wine Tasting Room Technology

I heard an interesting story on NPR Radio today about a reluctance from winemakers for discussing the role of technology in their processes. Since winemaking is typically viewed as an old world art, many are surprised to find that most wineries strive to use the most advanced processes available.

One new technology that promises to have a big impact on the wine business comes from a Frisco wine retailer known as VinoVenue.

VinoVenue is a San Francisco business that offers wine tasting through self service wine bars and the use of digital smartcards. Their unique wine bar uses a new self-dispensing technology to offer customers the chance to try the wine before they buy it. The smart card tracks the activity for each customer providing a record of what they have tasted. Their automated one-ounce wine-tastings portions allow them to provide tastings of a much larger variety of wines, while keeping costs under control.

Part wine lounge, part retail shop, VinoVenue is a place to taste and experience wine. Oklahoma winemakers would be well served by having a wine venue like this available in our state.

Texan, French, Mexican and Korean Fusion Weekend

Our Weekend Glimpse of Other Cultures

The Dallas Beaujolais Nouveau Festival this weekend turned into a tale of much mirth and woe. Dianne and I dressed up nice and hit the shindig early enough to taste all of the wines and most of the food. Both were excellent. There were two caricature artists on hand, which was great because Dianne and I always like to get caricatures done when traveling. After failing in our attempt to win the raffle for a trip to France, we stumbled back to the hotel for an evening swim and some much needed sleep.

Upon the recommendation of my mother, we spent the next day visiting the Harry Hines Boulevard section of Dallas. Around Harry Hines blvd and Royal Lane, you will find strip mall after strip mall containing a strange fusion of Mexican and Korean operated stores selling jewelry, clothes, toys and furniture at bargain prices. If we ever return, I would really enjoy having some kind of guide to direct us to the best parts of this exotic part of Dallas.

I think we had the most fun at this Korean Barbecue restaurant. It was so authentic, I felt like I had brought my wife back to the late 80's, to visit the village near my Army base in South Korea. Gas-fired hibachi grills are built into each table for diners who wish to prepare their own chosen cuts of meat. However, I let them cook it themselves.

We had Beef and Pork Bul-go-gi (aka: bulgoki). Bulgoki was the only Korean food I came to relish in the 80’s. It is thinly sliced steak marinated in a garlic and red pepper or sesame mixture. Our entrees came with numerous other side items that I could neither name nor recognize, but we both enjoyed snapping away at them with our chopsticks.

The trip went downhill fast after lunch. We did a couple hours more shopping, only to return to the parking lot to find a crowd surrounding our car. As a bit of background I have to tell you that we were in my wife's 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse GTS, her pride and joy. Fearing that our car was being towed, we ran to the scene only to be met by a...fireman!

Actually, she was a firewoman, wrapping up an accident where a young man ran his late model Silverado pickup over the curve striking two innocently parked cars. My wife's Eclipse and a 2003 Mustang sustained most of the damage. Blessedly, no one was hurt, everyone had insurance and Dianne didn't choke anyone. We were able to limp the damaged Eclipse back to Oklahoma, were the wine is cheaper and the parking more abundant. Sadly, our washer and dryer quit on us shortly after returning home.

We had some fun, but I am beginning to think that the turkeys will be the lucky ones this year. Happy Thanksgiving!

Buy Your Wine Grape Vines While Supplies Last

Wine Grape Vines for Planting are Back!

Winter is a great time to order those specialty wine grape varieties to build up your vineyard. Once the summer heat rolls in, the grapevine selling nurseries will become unwilling to ship their plants.

VineByDesign.com has just begun their wine grape vine selling season. Grab your grape vines before the supply runs out. Here's a couple bargains that are likely to sell out before Spring:

• Cynthiana Wine grapes 3 vines for: $16.75


• Cabernet Sauvignon grapes 3 vines for: $21.50

Cynthiana wine grapes often sell out at the nurseries because the grape is much more difficult to clone than other wine grape varieties. The Cabernet Sauvignon grape sells out fast because it is the most popular wine grape in the world.

In addition, Nuyaka Creek Winery has begun their annual Autumn Pecan Sale!

Check out these bargains you can catch while tasting the dozens of Made-In-Oklahoma wines they offer:

• Papershell Pecans $2.25 per lb.


• Cracked Papershell Pecan Goodies $2.60 per lb.


• Native Pecans $1.25 a lb.


• Cracked Native Pecans $1.60 per lb.


• Fully Shelled Papershell Pecan Goodies $7.99 per lb.


• Fully Shelled Native Pecan Goodies $6.99 per lb.

VineByDesign.com - Promoting Oklahoma Wines and Specialty Items

Choosing Wine for the Thanksgiving Table

Spirit of the Day Calls for a Toast with Local Spirits

New Jersey Star-Ledge columnist T.J. Foderaro has written an excellent article on why he thinks that Thanksgiving calls for local wines. I can imagine there are plenty of Oklahoma wineries that would agree!

I happen to think that Europe, led by France, Italy and Germany, produces the most food-friendly wines on Earth. But drinking them for Thanksgiving would be like serving pad thai at a Fourth of July barbecue. It just wouldn't feel right.

Call me parochial, but Thanksgiving demands American wines. Or even better -- regional wines. As in wines from our region.

Here at Oklahoma Wine News, we think everyday is perfect for trying some local Oklahoma wines. One of the best things about the emerging Oklahoma wine industry, or any state's wine industry for that matter, is the synergistic impact wine tourism has on other local businesses. Wine tourism creates opportunities to establish new products, facilities and services, and expand existing businesses which would not otherwise be sustainable based on the resident population alone. This holiday season, think about giving some fellow Okies something to be thankful for by doing your shopping at Oklahoma wineries.

As T.J. Foderaro says:

When the Pilgrim Fathers were preparing for the first Thanksgiving, do you think they imported turkeys from Jamestown? Do you imagine they contracted with Basque fishermen to supply salt cod, or had bushels of corn shipped from South America?

Spirit of the day calls for a toast with local spirits

Deck the Malls with Oklahoma Wines

You may be able to taste some fine Oklahoma wines on this year's Christmas shopping missions. Some Oklahoma wineries will be hosting booths at area shopping malls.

Evening of Giving

Date: Nov 21, 2004. Sunday 7-9 pm.
Place:Shawnee Mall in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

A special sneak preview of the holiday gifts and an early bird shopping spree. A variety of door prize is available, including fine wines by Sparks Vineyard & Winery. Mark your calendar now!

Stone Bluff Cellars at Promenade Mall
Date: Friday, November 26, 2004

Lower level by Dillard's. Stone Bluff winery will have wine, gift bags, gift boxes, and gift baskets for sale.

Sparks Vineyard and Winery

An American Winery Remembers Prohibition

Here's a link to a nice article on the effects of prohibition.

January 16, 1920 was a dark day for wine lovers. That was the day that the 18th Amendment - the National Prohibition Act and its defining document the Volstead Act - became the law of the land.

As a cultural phenomenon, Prohibition - also called the Great Experiment - was a dismal failure. The measure, designed to address the growing public disgust with alcohol abuse, actually made things worse. For example, during Prohibition drunken driving busts went up 81 percent.

Check out the full article: Morgan Hill Times - Respected winery with a bootlegging past

Wine Release Party in Okemah Nov 21

Holiday Wine Release Party at Grape Ranch

Taste the 2001 Monterey Syrah and enjoy Live Music

Sunday, November 21 from Noon until 5pm

Grape Ranch Winery website

Wine Sales Tips from a Pour Girl

Interested in some well presented insider tips into the age old business of wine marketing? Check out the blog, WriteOutLoud, for an interesting overview of the ways of the 'pour-girl' and the fine art of touting tasting room visits via promotional winetasting cards.

WriteOutLoud: Just A Shopgirl II: Deep Thoughts

Alternative Flu Remedies Elderberry, Echinacea and Zinc

Ancient Herbal Flu Remedy
Expect a brief slow-down in blog postings this week. As usual, I have managed to quickly catch the first round of flu in my area. Since flu shots were not available this year, I have stocked up on alternative cold and flu remedies. Most are based on some combination of elderberry, echinacea and zinc.

These alternative flu medicines come in a variety of forms such as elderberry capsules, elderberry syrups and elderberry lozenges. Heck, you can even find sugar-free elderberry syrup!

Of course, my Dad's elderberry wine provides the most enjoyable form. Dad started making elderberry wine in 1967 and it has been a local favorite since then. Anyone unfamiliar with the benefits of elderberry for improving health should check out our elderberry page at NuyakaCreek.com.
Oklahoma Wine News - Wine Events and Information for the Sooner State

Water into Wine Controversy Brewing

Selling Water for the Price of Wine
Though illegal in France, California winemakers have long been adding water to their wine to tone down the alcohol. In fact, adding water at any point in the winemaking process is now illegal in all countries that are members of the International Organization of Vine and Wine.

The necessity of adding water is a matter of simple chemistry for winemakers such as D'Alfonso and Wente. In much of California, sugars develop early in wine grapes and continue to build up until harvest. The rest of the flavors and tannins that make great wine may not show until later, in some cases not until the grapes are overripe.

Now many winemakers are starting to question whether improved flavor intensity should be achieved through the questionable practice of 'watering back' their wines.

Wineries uncork a secret - Makers add water to control sugar

Sparks Winery Adds Page Listing Retail Outlets

Sparks Vineyard & Winery has added a new page to their website listing the retail outlets where Sparks Vineyard wines can be purchased.

Elegant Dinner and Concert at Drumright Winery Nov 13

Saturday Nov. 13 at Tidal School Vineyards in Drumright
4pm to 7 pm
Enjoy an elegant dinner and concert in a stunning setting!
4 O’Clock At the Winery

• Live Jazz concert with "Score" Jazz trio.


• Catered Dinner


• Free glass of wine


• Reservations Required-Limited Seating


• $25.00 per person

To reserve your seats simply call our toll free number:
1-866-258-1903 or use the Tidal School Vineyards Online Reservations Form.

Vineyard Consultation Service from Summerside Vineyards

Need Help Starting an Oklahoma Winery or Vineyard Business?
Summerside Winery owners, Marsha and Gary Butler, are now offering their consulting services on a case by case basis. If you are considering planting a vineyard, starting a winery, need assistance with ABLE or TTB applications, or label approval online, you may benefit from their consultation.

Consultation fees: 3 hours/$250 plus travel expenses
Call Summerside New Vineyard & Winery Establishment Consultants at 918-256-3000.

Natura Winery Barrel Tasting Party November 13

Barrel Tasting Party November 13
Natura Vineyards and Winery
Saturday at 7:00 pm
Price: $18.00 per person

Enjoy a relaxing Fall evening tasting new wines with a variety of sausages and cheeses, plus listening to live music - Blues, Country, and more!

Please call the Winery for reservations
By Thursday, November 11
918-756-9463

OSU Investing in State Wine Industry

Creating Sustainable Economic Growth

Dr. Ulrich Orth and about 50 OSU researchers and staff are building an Oregon Vine and Wine Intelligence Network. The new interdisciplinary program will serve the 250 existing wineries in the state with research, courses, seminars, internships, networking opportunities, and consulting services. Oregon State University (the other OSU) will be providing experts in everything from growing grapes to marketing and consumer research to help Oregon's rapidly growing wine industry.

Although other wine centers exist in California, Texas, France and Italy, they typically focus solely on the grape or the wine. Oregon's program is targeted at creating a sustainable engine of growth for the state economy. To do this they will apply the considerable knowledge resources of their Land Grant college to a diverse spectrum of disciplines from entomology, viticulture, and flavor chemistry to wine making, finance and wine tourism marketing.

OSU Knowledge Resources

Berry & Grape Information Network
Oregon Wine Board
OSU Viticulture Extension

Already contributing $200 million to the Oregon economy, the wine industry stands to benefit even further from the network and become an invaluable resource for Oregon's future. The wine industry has grown more than 30 percent in the past four years and the new network will make the exchange of knowledge between the academic world and industry even better, say those in the wine industry.

FYI - Today, Oregon produces more than 1.2 million cases of wine annually, with wine sales alone producing $200 million in revenue.

OSU will attempt to turn the Vine and Wine Intelligence Network into a professionally-managed Center of Excellence if they can aquire external funding to pay an executive director.

Red Zinfandel Release Celebration at Cabin Creek Winery Nov 21

A Zinfully Delicious Afternoon At Cabin Creek Winery!

Zinful Rouge, Cabin Creek's newest wine, is ready for purchase!

To celebrate they are spicing things up with Homemade Chili and live music. To ward of the chill they will have fires blazing so bring your favorite gourmet s'mores and roast marshmallows by the fire while enjoying the new Red Zinfandel.

Price: $10.00 per person
Please call (918) 606-3608 or email for a reservation -- info@cabincreekwine.com
(If you chose to send an email you will receive a confirmation to ensure your reservation was received)


Cabin Creek Winery Events page

Backyard Vineyards and Wineries in Garages?

Small Wineries Get Big Results and Rave Reviews

The San Francisco Chronicle has published a very interesting story on the growing number of small boutique wineries - called Garagistes. These bare-bones operations bring a wealth of passion and effort that far exceeds their low output.

Garagistes share a passion in their approach to winemaking that often trumps profit. Marketing and sales usually take the form of a basic Web site, a mailing list, local restaurants and possibly a few small distributors. Gottl parcels out Merus three bottles at a time to devoted customers willing to pay $105 a bottle. But most garagiste efforts retail between $20 and $50.

Moving such small quantities can be less demanding than, say, the 10,000 cases or more that a small winery like Everett Ridge in Healdsburg is likely to produce in a year, or the 200,000 cases produced by a medium-sized winery like Sebastiani in Sonoma. Word-of-mouth -- or word-of-mouthfeel -- among wine aficionados does the heavy lifting. There are no branding consultants. Although many of these wineries make a profit and provide a comfortable living for their owners, a considerable portion of their gross revenues typically goes back into buying and repairing equipment, purchasing new barrels, and related expenses.

Next time I find myself in Napa, I think I'll stop by and visit a few of the so-called Garagistes listed in the article. Their insights could be quite valuable to Oklahoma's small wineries.

Full article: Two-tank garages / Micro-sized, owner-operated wineries punch more than their weight with critics and fans

Windmill Winery - New Oklahoma Winery

Has anyone stopped by Windmill Winery in Roosevelt, yet?

Windmill Winery
Rt. 1 Box 20
Roosevelt, OK 73564

Owners: Russell and Dawnita Allard
Phone: (580) 639-2141
E-mail: windmillwinery@swoi.net
Hours: Sunday 12-5

OGGWMA Oklahoma Wineries List

Grape Growers and Wine Makers Association Board Elections

OGGWMA Annual Meeting on January 15-16, 2005

The Oklahoma Grape Growers and Wine Makers Association A.K.A. OGGWMA is seeking nominations for 2005 Board Members.

• President


• Vice President


• Secretary/Treasurer


• Education Committee Chair


• Tourism Committee Chair


• Legislative Committee Chair

Elections will be held at the Annual Meeting on January 15-16, 2005, Embassy Suites on Meridian in Oklahoma City. Each dues paying member present at the meeting is entitled to the following vote:
Professional members - 3 votes
Amateur members - 1 vote
Friends members - 0 vote
No proxy voting is allowed.

Officers shall be members in good standing and uphold the code of ethics of the association for a minimum of 3 years and had to of served on one or more committees at some time and be either a grape grower and/or a wine maker.

OGGWMA - Oklahoma Wine Tourism Site

Oklahoma Sparkling Blackberry Wine and Elderberry

Nuyaka Creek Winery Offers Two Non-Traditional Wines for the Season

Nuyaka Creek Winery, the state's largest maker of non-traditional wines, are inviting the public to hurry out to the winery and taste two great new wines for the upcoming seasons. Sparkling Blackberry Table Wine for the holiday season and Elderberry for the Cold and Flu season.

1. Sparkling Blackberry - This sweet, fun little sparkling wine is produced by the traditional 'French Method' usually labeled 'Methode Champenoise'. To my knowledge, it is the only Oklahoma wine being produced in this way. Take one home to pop a cork for New Year's Eve for only $15.

2. Dry or Sweet Elderberry - Nuyaka Creek Winery is reporting a huge increase in sales for their elderberry wines. This is due to ecent research that has shown that the elder plant stimulates and builds up the resistance of the immune system, and also directly inhibits the influenza virus. With this year's shortage of Flu Vaccine folks are stocking up on traditional home remedies for cold and flu.

Nuyaka Creek Winemaker Pete Jones assures customers that his Nuyaka Creek Elderberry Wine is made from 100% Oklahoma elderberry juice. They never add Concord grape juice to cut costs like other wineries making elderberry wine. This makes it popular with wine lovers who are allergic to grapes. For more information on elderberry try: Elderberry Products, Recipes, Health Benefits and Growing Information for Elderberries from Nuyaka Creek Winery.

Dawn of the New Wine Season - Beaujolais Nouveau

The Traditional Dawn of the New Wine Season - Beaujolais Nouveau

Now it is just a short time away from the annual return of Beaujolais Nouveau. This year, my wife Dianne and I will be attending the Dallas Beaujolais Nouveau Festival on Nov. 19, 2004.

Beaujolais Nouveau, the first wine of the season, is bottled just weeks after the grapes are picked. Each year, these first wines are released to be drunk all over the world on the third Thursday of November. It is understood to be the official start of the new vintage and a celebration, like Thanksgiving, of the harvest.

I like to think that, in tasting Beaujolais Nouveau, I am tasting with thousands of people around the world. An incredible one third of the entire Beaujolais wine grape production is shipped as Beaujolais Nouveau. There are several classifications of Beaujolais wines, ranging in quality and price, from Nouveau (lowest quality) to Cru (highestquality). The annual Beaujolais Nouveau tasting is used by wine experts as a benchmark to predict the quality each year's grapes.

Beaujolais wines are made from the very fruity Gamay grape that is low in the tannins. It is described by some as a white wine that looks red. In fact, people who drink only white wine, or white zinfandel, can depend on Beaujolais as a non-threatening approach to red wine. Beaujolais Nouveau is produced entirely from the gamay grape, grown in the southern region of Burgundy, near Lyon, France.

More than a beloved custom, the BN Event is a great promotion for winemakers who reap a quick return on a crop that is barely two months off the vine. Originally, consumers brought their own containers to purchase Beaujolais Nouveau, saving themselves and the vintners the money and time that would normally go into bottling. Since VineByDesign.com is always looking for new ways to promote Oklahoma wines, we are hoping to bring back some key lessons for Oklahoma wineries.

Georges Duboeuf, the largest negociant in the region, is one of the driving forces behind the success of Beaujolais Nouveau. More than a fifth of his annual production of about 20 million bottles is Beaujolais Nouveau. Duboeuf emphasizes temperature-controlled fermentation and the technique of carbonic maceration, which yields a dependable fruity character in the wine.

In Carbonic Maceration fermentation, whole bunches of grapes are allowed to ferment in sealed containers with carbon dioxide gas, this allows the wine to have lots of fruit and color and little tannin. The result is a light, crisp, fresh wine, that is very easy to drink. Many consider Beaujolais Nouveau at its best when served lightly chilled and gulped in large mouthfuls like beer.

Beaujolais Wine Nouveau 2004!
http://www.faccdallas.com/EVENTS/bfestPay.htm

Friday, November 19, 2004
7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Adam's Mark Hotel Dallas
400 North Olive Street
(between Live Oak & Bryan)
Dallas, TX 75201
The Beaujolais Festival ticket price includes: Commemorative Wine Glass, Food and Wine Tasting.

Dianne and I would love to meet any Oklahoma Wine News readers planning to attend!