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Press
February, 2007
Escafeld Wins Double Gold, Best of Class for First AVA Wine
San Antonio Valley, Calif.-- Feb. 16, 2007-- Escafeld Vineyards' 2004 San Antonio Valley Petit Verdot wine has won Double Gold and Best of Class at the prestigious 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition--the largest competition for American wines in the world.
Escafeld’s 2004 Petit Verdot is the first ever wine released under the San Antonio Valley AVA designation--the ninth and newest appellation in California’s Monterey County.
At the competition, fifty five professional wine judges 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.
“We’re thrilled to receive this significant award for our 2004 Escafeld Petit Verdot wine,” said Steve Wetherill, co-owner of Escafeld. “This is the first wine to bear the San Antonio Valley AVA designation, and the award is confirmation that we’re creating world class Bordeaux varietal wines the in vineyards of the San Antonio Valley.”
One of Bordeaux’s classic grape varieties, Petit Verdot is a late ripener, requiring specific climate conditions, such as those found in the San Antonio Valley, to reach its full potential. For this reason it is rarely found in 100% pure varietal form. Escafeld’s 2004 Petit Verdot is full bodied, age-worthy and eminently drinkable with a complexity of mixed berries, spice and hints of mocha.
Taste Escafeld’s 2004 Petit Verdot at the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Tasting event on February 24, 2007, 1-5 PM, in the Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco.
Escafeld Vineyards is a small family owned and operated wine producer located in the northern foothills of the San Antonio Valley in Southern Monterey County, just north of the Paso Robles region. Escafeld also produces premium Merlot, Zinfandel and Syrah. Their award winning wines are available at fine wine retailers throughout the Central Coast and online at www.escafeld.com.
For more information:
www.escafeld.com
E-mail: info@escafeld.com
Phone: (831) 385-4960
October, 2006
San Antonio Valley’s First Official Wine Release: Petit Verdot
San Antonio Valley, October 6, 2006. Escafeld Vineyards will soon be releasing their 2004 Petit Verdot. This unusual varietal will be Escafeld's third variety and the first wine released with the San Antonio Valley appellation designation on the label.
Petit Verdot, loosely translated from the French, means small green one--hence the verdant green color chosen for the label.
One of Bordeaux's classic grape varieties, Petit Verdot is a vital component of some of the most prestigious wines produced in the Medoc. It tends, however, to live up to its name, in that it is a late ripener and often does not reach its full potential. But when given the opportunity to fully ripen, as it does in the San Antonio Valley, it produces a wonderfully fragrant, complex and age-worthy wine, packed with concentrated fruit and spice.
Escafeld Vineyards '04 Petit Verdot is grown at Argyle Vineyards, located in Jolon, in the northern foothills of the San Antonio Valley. The vineyard is owned by Joe & Siobhan Greene and expertly cared for by Vineyard Manager Jon Gerard.
The San Antonio Valley is Monterey County's ninth and newest appellation. This unique highland appellation is warmer than much of Monterey County and was originally one of the first viticultural areas in the USA, thanks to Mission San Antonio De Padua, which was the third Mission built in California (1771). The monks planted vineyards and established a winery, the remains of which can still be explored today.
Escafeld also produces premium Merlot and Zinfandel. Their award winning wines are available at fine wine retailers throughout Monterey County and online at www.escafeld.com.
September, 2006
Appellation America's Featured Winery
Vineyard Diary, September 30, 2006
Escafeld Vineyards is the featured winery over at Appellation America this week.
One of our favorite websites, Appellation America is a great resource, packed with articles and insight about the meaningful geographical identity of North American wines. It's also a hub for some of the best wine writers in the business. Visit them online at www.appellationamerica.com.
Fall, 2006
Escafeld Releases 2003 Merlot and Zinfandel
Monterey Bay Wine and Travel Magazine, Fall 2006
Escafeld Vineyards has announced the release of their limited edition 2003 Merlot and 2003 Zinfandel. Family owned and operated in the San Antonio Valley, Monterey County’s newest wine appellation, Escafeld produces traditionally crafted award winning wines. “Last year our Zinfandel sold out quickly,” said Steve Wetherill, co-owner of Escafeld with wife Elsbeth, “and we’re keen to see what will happen with this latest release.”
Escafeld has garnered numerous awards and accolades since their first commercial release last year. With plans to establish a local tasting room in the near future, Escafeld is on it’s way to becoming one of Monterey county’s premier boutique producers.
Sample the Escafeld wines at fine wine retailers including A Taste of Monterey on Cannery Row in Monterey, or next to the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. For more information, and to receive their newsletter, log on to www.escafeld.com.
Spring, 2006
Escafeld Winemaker Edits Book about Thoreau
Monterey bay Wine and Travel Magazine, Spring 2006
Elsbeth Wetherill of Monterey County’s Escafeld Vineyards is making a name for herself as a literary editor as well as a winemaker. She edited the manuscript of the newly published book, “Build Your Castles in the Air: Thoreau’s Inspiring Advice for Success in Business (and Life) in the 21st Century”. As Elsbeth explained, “before the winery was fully established, I was looking for a purposeful use for my spare time and was contacted by author Chuck Hansen. We worked together to refine his manuscript and prepare the project for publication.”
“For over a century, the writings of Henry David Thoreau have inspired many of the world’s greatest minds. Mohandas Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are two of the many leaders who were deeply influenced by Thoreau’s philosophy,” Elsbeth said. “This book provides insight in Thoreau’s wisdom in an enjoyable, user-friendly format that is readily accessed by the modern reader.” In “Build Your Castles in the Air,” author Hansen selects 120 quotes from Thoreau’s timeless masterpiece “Walden,” and adds a commentary comprised of reflections from his remarkable personal experiences in politics and business. The book has received glowing reviews and contains a foreword composed by Nigel Morris, vice chairman and co-founder of Capital One.
Asked if she would be expanding her editing career, Elsbeth said “from here on, most of my time is going to be spent working with my husband Steve in our vineyard.” Escafeld is fast becoming one of the central coast’s favorite small wine producers and won numerous awards after its first commercial release last year.
June 26, 2006
Monterey Forey
Basic Juice, June 26 2006
Basic Juice: Monterey Foray
June 19, 2006
SAN ANTONIO VALLEY GRANTED OFFICIAL APPELLATION STATUS
San Antonio Valley Becomes Monterey County’s Ninth A.V.A.
"We are pleased to announce the issuance of our long awaited AVA status," states Steven Yates, president of the San Antonio Valley Vintners and Growers Association. "We have always known of the uniqueness of our valley as a grape growing area and have pursued official recognition for the past two years. The establishment of the San Antonio Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area) by the Treasury Department has formalized our status as one of Monterey County’s premiere winegrowing districts." The San Antonio Valley AVA was published in the Federal Register as Rule 46 on June 8th 2006.
The San Antonio Valley is located on the Central Coast of California in Southern Monterey County. The valley is tucked into the Santa Lucia Mountains, north of Paso Robles and halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Historic Jolon Road, now a part of The Monterey County Wine Corridor, meanders through the San Antonio Valley and provides a scenic wine country detour off of Highway 101.
The San Antonio Valley currently has over 800 acres of vineyards offering more than 20 varietals. The grapes grown in this warm highland valley, elevation 980 to 1120 feet, enjoy sunny, dry days and evenings cooled by breezes from the near-by Pacific. The early morning fog from Lake San Antonio contributes to the prime growing conditions enhancing the bold varietal characteristics found in the grapes and wine. Because of its warmer climate and its gravelly loam and clay soils, the valley is able to produce exceptional Rhone and Bordeaux varietals.
"This is an exciting time for the growers and winemakers of the San Antonio Valley. Our valley’s unique characteristics produce truly outstanding wines - many crafted by small, limited production wineries that are fast gaining recognition across the nation," commented Elsbeth Wetherill of Escafeld Vineyards.
While the Franciscan padres planted grapes here in the late 1700s, the modern era was ushered in by the late John Gill of Lockwood Valley Vineyards. He planted the first commercial grape vines and founded the original grower’s association in 1997. Today the San Antonio Valley Vintners and Growers Association is comprised of more than 5 wineries and 20 growers. "This AVA is a great tribute to Johnny Gill. He gave all of us the vision and personal encouragement to follow in his footsteps. To be now recognized as an AVA validates the uniqueness of our climate and our regional attributes and is a testimonial to our passion," commented Brenda Wolgamott of Marin's Vineyard.
"The approval of the San Antonio Valley AVA gives consumers yet another "sense of place" when making their purchasing decisions," commented Rhonda Motil, Executive Director of the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association. "Many wine consumers assume that Monterey County is solely a cool climate area due to Monterey Bay's influence. San Antonio Valley's AVA helps to further differentiate our wine region with expanded warmer climate Rhone and Bordeaux varietals, once again highlighting the diversity of quality wines coming from Monterey Wine Country."
Yates added, "We are very fortunate here in the San Antonio Valley. Monterey County has incorporated us into the scenic wine corridor and this portends well for development of wineries and tasting rooms as well as the appurtenant industries that service visitors. We have experienced growth in both vineyard planting as well as winery investments. The future is bright and we are very optimistic about our prospects." To contact SAVVGA or for more information, please visit www.savvga.com or email vineyards@inreach.com.
Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association (MCVGA) brings together the talents and resources of members, partners and our community in order to promote and support our leadership in the art, the science and the business of wine. Founded in 1974, MCVGA is a non-profit organization representing over 85 vintners and growers in Monterey County. For a listing of members and additional information on MCVGA, please visit www.montereywines.org.
Wines from the San Antonio Valley AVA will be featured at several upcoming events sponsored by MCVGA. Wine enthusiasts won’t want to miss the debut of many SAV wines at the 14th Annual Winemakers’ Celebration on August 12th or the 10th Annual Great Wine Escape Weekend from November 9-12th, 2006.
August, 2005
International Awards Continue to Pour in for Local Wines
Escafeld Vineyards recently received a number of awards at the Indy International Wine Competition.
One of the largest wine competitions in the US, the Indy International brought in over 3,600 wines from around the world, which were reviewed by 80 judges over a three day period. Escafeld brought home a Bronze medal for their 2002 Merlot, and a Bronze medal for their 2002 Zinfandel.
In June, Escafeld won Gold for their 2002 Zinfandel, and Bronze for their 2002 Merlot at the Lone Star International Wine Competition. "It’s rewarding to see Escafeld wines gaining such great recognition,” said Elsbeth Wetherill, Escafeld’s owner, "People from all over the country are enjoying our wines and discovering all that our local area has to offer."
Escafeld Vineyards is located in the San Antonio Valley, a proposed AVA (American Viticultural Area). You can sample Escafeld’s award winning wines at A Taste of Monterey, and they are available for purchase throughout Monterey County. For more information, log on to www.escafeld.com.
December 13, 2004
First Release
Escafeld Vineyards recently announced the availability of their limited production 2002 Monterey County Merlot and 2002 Monterey County Zinfandel. "We are very excited about our first wine release," said Elsbeth Wetherill, co-owner of Escafeld Vineyards, "We're proud to be one of the first local wine labels here in the San Antonio Valley. Our 2002 Merlot and Zinfandel wines are very representative of the remarkable wines that are emerging from this valley."
Just a short drive from Paso Robles, this unspoiled valley, and proposed AVA (American Viticultural Area), is exceptional in terms of its soils and climate. Local growers and winemakers agree that some of the best Bordeaux and Rhone-style grapes on the Central Coast are grown in the San Antonio Valley.
Paula Getzelman, president of the San Antonio Valley Vintners and Growers Association, (www.savvga.com) and MCVGA board member, said "These delightful wines from Escafeld Vineyards exemplify the bold varietal characteristics of San Antonio Valley grapes at their very best."
Escafeld Vineyards wines are currently available at select retail outlets and can be ordered online at www.escafeld.com.
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