Valley of the World Update
Even though we didn't make it along to see many our fellow bloggers at ZAP on Saturday, we had a great time at The Valley of the World Wine and Food Festival. Approximately 40 local wineries, and some of Monterey County's top restaurants filled the Steinbeck center in downtown Salinas, offering some of the best wine and food to be found on the Central Coast. We received lots of reports that our Petit Verdot and Zin were among the favorite wines of the evening! Apart from the perfect setting, the thing I love most about this event is the people who attend. All passionate about local agriculture and wines, and all excited to be part of the growth of the Monterey County wine industry. If you have the opportunity to attend next year, pick up your tickets early! Elsbeth Escafeld Vineyards
A Taste of Wine & Broadway: South County Strings
If you'll be in South Monterey County this Sunday, put this event on your calendar: South County Strings is hosting a benefit from 5:30-8:30pm on Sunday January 28th at St. Marks Episcopal Church at 301 Bassett St in King City. The event will feature live performances of your favorite Broadway tunes, a sampling of fine local wines, delicious hors d'oeuvres and a silent auction. All proceeds benefit South County Strings, which provides free instruction for students playing violin, viola, cello and bass in South County schools. I'll be there, pouring along with Scheid, Paraiso, San Bernabe, Lockwood Vineyards, Hahn, Black Diamond and Rotta. Don't miss this fun and very worthwhile event! More information is available by calling Jackie at (831) 385-0669. Elsbeth Escafeld Vineyards
Valley of the World Wine & Food Festival
 We won't make it along to the ZAP tasting this weekend, but if you're in the Monterey County area, you can taste our wines this coming Saturday at the Valley of the World Wine and Food Festival. This is always a fun event, held at the Steinbeck Center, so be there promptly at 6pm and head straight for the Escafeld table. Steve and I will both be there pouring our new releases. You'll also have an opportunity to bid on our silent auction item: 6 bottles of our Double Gold medal winning pure varietal Petit Verdot! See you there! Elsbeth Escafeld Vineyards
News Link
There was a nice article about Escafeld and our latest San Antonio Valley release in The Californian on Monday. You can view it online here. Elsbeth Escafeld Vineyards
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition: Results Are In!
The results of the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle wine competition were released today, and I'm thrilled to say that our '04 Petit Verdot did us proud, winning Double Gold, Best of Class! This competition is the largest wine competition of American wines in the world. Fifty five professional judges, representing trade, education, media, retail, and restaurants throughout the United States spent the week of Jan 8 evaluating 3,800 wines. Winning wines were awarded bronze, silver, gold, and double gold (unanimous gold by the judges). In addition, there were Best of Class awards given for each category. A public tasting will be held in San Francisco at the Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center on February 24, 2007, 1-5 PM, so be sure to save the date. Tickets for the event are available online. Elsbeth Escafeld Vineyards
PinotBlogger
 We had fun at Argyle Vineyards yesterday. Steve, Jon and I went along to do a shoot for the Californian, and while there I snapped this shot for Josh over at PinotBlogger. Great t-shirt, Josh, I love it! Josh and his family own Capozzi Winery in the Russian River Valley, and his blog details the process of starting and building a family winery. Also in the middle of planning their tasting room, his latest post, and a great read, is about what can make and break an exceptional tasting room experience. There are some great ideas there, and as Escafeld is getting closer to breaking ground for our own tasting room, I'm taking careful notes! Elsbeth Escafeld Vineyards
Variety: The Spice of Life
 Grape variety that is... I've been thrilled with public response to the recent release of our 2004 Petit Verdot. At first, Steve and I weren't sure how sales would go. Some retailers said there would be no market for such an unusual varietal, and others couldn't wait to get behind it--all we knew was that we loved it! We produced less than 500 cases of this wine, and it's quickly become something of a breakout product for us. Even the label is unique, as this is the first wine released under the San Antonio Valley appellation designation. We decided on the label's soft green background due to PVs reputation as a late ripener--Petit Verdot, loosely translated from the French, means small green one! Our PV vines, however, enjoy plenty of sunshine, and reach their ripening potential, producing a delicious and ageworthy wine that is soft, spicy and full on the palate. So if you're looking to explore something new and quite wonderful, I think our 2004 Petit Verdot might just be the perfect wine for you! Elsbeth Escafeld Vineyards
American Wine Blog Awards, 2007
 The 2007 American Wine Blog Awards are here! Nominations began yesterday, and I'm excited to see that Escafeld has been nominated in the Best Winery Blog category! The awards are hosted by Tom Wark, who's hugely popular blog, Fermentation: The Daily Wine Blog, is a favorite of mine. If you're like me, and you've gotta have your blogs, take a look and vote for your favorites. The deadline for nominations is Jan 18, 2007. Elsbeth Escafeld Vineyards
AVAWine.com
 Escafeld wines are now available online at AVAwine.com. This site is a terrific resource for wine lovers, as it focuses exclusively on top quality, smaller, privately owned wineries, whose selections are often difficult to track down. Their wine of the month club is the oldest on the internet, and shipping with AVAWine.com is always free! In addition to Escafeld, they also offer some other great Monterey County wines by Pessagno and Manzoni, so check them out at www.avawine.com. And while you're there, take a look at the two very informative blogs maintained by: William Bellomo and Alan Uchrinscko. Happy Shopping, Elsbeth Escafeld Vineyards
A Rosy Reflection...
The first week of January has been filled with a rosy glow here at Escafeld, as we've received lots of feedback and stories about how much you all enjoyed sharing our wines with friends and family during the holidays. Thanks for all the kind comments, it's encouraging to know that we're establishing a strong niche in a very competitive market, and that our wines are finding a following, not only within Monterey County, but also across the US! Keep on writing and e-mailing us your stories (and tapping me on the shoulder in Vons!). We love to hear from you, afterall, without your support our endeavors don't mean a thing! Elsbeth Escafeld Vineyards
Big Sur Coast Camping, Hiking, Wining & Dining
 We've just returned from an amazing camping trip on the Big Sur coast. Immediately after boxing day (you'll have to look that one up), we took the Nacimiento-Ferguson road from Jolon, which winds over the Santa Lucia mountain range to coastal Highway 1, where we settled in at a campground near a craggy beach, probably just 20 miles or so (as the crow flies) from Escafeld. We spent mornings overlooking a sparkling ocean with steaming coffee cups in hand and breakfast sizzling on the grill; afternoons exploring rock pools, or hiking through quiet redwood flanked creeks; and evenings around a roaring campfire enjoying some of the best BBQ we've had in some time, paired, of course, with Escafeld 2003 Merlot.  This Merlot is a great compliment to wintertime grilling; the fresh black cherry and berry flavors, and soft oak undertones were a wonderful combination with the dishes we grilled over our oakwood firepit. My favorite dish this trip was half chicken, liberally seasoned with garlic pepper and a pinch of wild aniseed, then barbecued and basted with garlicy melted butter. No interruptions, no phone service, no e-mail, no TV, just good friends, gorgeous scenery, adjusted perspectives, great food and wine, lots of exercise, and treasured memories. Elsbeth Escafeld Vineyards
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