Artesa at First Crush

WINE RELEASE BREAKING NEWS

2011-06-21T10:59:00.001-07:00

Artesa Vineyards & Winery - Our 2010 Artisan Albarino, Carneros and 2010 Artisan Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley are now and available via our Website and our Tasting Room! Please check them out on our website and read the tech sheets for each wine! They are very special and come to you just in time for summer!!

Our Vineyards are now in bloom!

2011-06-10T14:12:00.000-07:00

Just a quick Artesa Blog update following up from our "Bloom Update" on May 23ed – We are now at 75% bloom in our Estate Vineyards in Carneros! The attached photo was taken this afternoon, June 10th, in one of our Pinot Noir Vineyards.

Join us at our winery in Napa for a special midsummer vertical tasting!

2011-06-07T16:20:00.000-07:00

Library Vertical Tasting - Saturday June 25th, 2011 6:00-8:00pm
Where: Artesa Vineyards & Winery
1345 Henry Road
Napa, CA 94559

Members & Friends of Artesa Only

We've dug deep into our library and found wines that were believed to have been gone long ago...and this could be your last chance to try them! Join our winemaking team as they take you through a special vertical tasting of six different Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon vintages paired with hors d' oeuvres. Space is limited to 50 guests...so be sure to RSVP today!

$55 for Friends of Artesa

$50 for Club Artesa Members

To RSVP please contact us at 877.224.8309 or email club@artesawinery.com

Upcoming Local Events at Artesa Vineyards & Winery

2011-06-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

Sunday, June 26, 2011 | 1:30pm - 3:30pm Attire: Business Casual
Single Vineyard Release Party at Artesa Vineyards & Winery!
Open Event - Very limited so please book now!

$20 per person - each guest will receive a Limited Edition Artesa Single Vineyard Wine Glass. Please join Artesa Winery for a very special tasting of Artesa's Exclusive Single Vineyard Wines.

2009 Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir
2008 Block 91D Pinot Noir
2006 Hyde Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 Tambor Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 Foss Valley Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon

Each of Artesa's Single Vineyard wines will be paired with an artisan cheese selected by Artesa's cheese specialists.

Space is very limited so please RSVP to:
michaelm@artesawinery.com
(707) 254-2148

Artesa Vineyards & Winery’s Grapevine Bloom Update!

2011-05-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

Following up on our last Artesa Vineyards & Winery’s blog report with Mark Beringer, we have heard rumors that grapevines are slowly starting to bloom across the Napa Valley. Due to the fact that Artesa Vineyards & Winery is in the cooler Carneros appellation, we have not experienced any vines blooming quite yet, though they are very close indeed! It has been an absolute blessing to us that we’re in the cooler region, due to all the rain Napa Valley has been experiencing over the past two weeks. This weather pattern could have been devastating to the delicate vines, had they already bloomed. With the forecast predicting much warmer weather and sunny skies over the next few days and weeks, we’re expecting things to change fast and furious, any day now. Keep checking back for latest updates and photographs as we post them!

A Trip to the Vineyards with Mark Beringer

2011-05-06T17:03:00.000-07:00

Early on a warm May morning, our Head Winemaker, Mark Beringer and I took a trip through Artesa Vineyards & Winery’s 150 acres Carneros Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay Vineyards. I must say this was a beautiful way to spend a Monday morning out of the office, high up in the rolling hills of the Carneros appellation, overlooking San Pablo Bay with the panoramic views of the Napa Valley and the San Francisco skyline way in the distance. Mark closely studies our vineyards almost daily, keeping an eye on the growth pattern of our grapevines. Though it’s only been about a month since budding began, with the warmer weather starting to arrive, the vines have fully awoken and are starting to kick into high gear. Not only are there large green leaves growing, but there are clusters of grape buds showing up all over the vineyard. Mark mentioned that the vines are right on track for this time of year and they are looking very healthy, strong and full of vibrant life. Over the next two weeks we expect to witness the vines blooming, which can last for a matter of days or a couple of weeks, depending on how kind the weather is during this sensitive period. The vine blooms are actually hard to see unless you are standing pretty close to the vine itself and, unless you’re paying attention, these blooms can come and go very quickly as the vines move rapidly forward though their yearly growing cycle.

Mother's Day is just over a week away!

2011-04-27T15:44:00.000-07:00

We cordially invite all of you to visit our winery this Mother's Day, May 8th. Our tasting room staff will be offering all moms a complimentary glass of Artesa's Grand Reserve Sparkling Wine along with fresh strawberries. What a lovely way to spend a few relaxing hours on this special day - Come for the enjoyment, come see the views and come taste the wines!

Carneros Run Brings Out Young & Old Despite Threatening Weather

2011-04-08T05:55:00.000-07:00

Artesa sponsored and hosted another successful Carneros Vineyard 5K/10K Run on March 26th. The race, benefiting the Carneros Volunteer Fire Department, featured kids and adults including 90-year-old Lois Gammon (pictured here and featured in a Napa Valley Register article).

All braved spring rainy conditions to walk, run and cheer on participants from the winery down the hill, around Carneros and back again. Then they were treated to massages, wine and breakfast (and birthday cake with Lois, who had became a nonagenarian -- the term for someone entering their nineties -- the day before the race) in Artesa's subterranean barrel room.

"It was fun to bring everyone together and see the adventuresome spirit and everyone's high energy level," said Artesa Vice President & General Manager Rich Richardson, who took these posted pictures and had early on encouraged the staff to lace up running shoes for the occasion.

Thanks to everyone who turned out, walked, ran, volunteered and cheered. Hope to see you next year!

Single Vineyard Tasting Lounge -- Grand Opening, February 19th

2011-02-18T07:27:00.000-08:00

Imagine the coziness of your living room with a wine bar stocked with our award-winning Single Vineyard wines, staffed by a friendly Artesa representative ready to pour and answer questions about each varietal. We have created a new private lounge that evokes the comfort of one's own home with a touch of our Old World heritage. And we invite you to come check out this space for yourself starting this President's Day weekend.

Make your reservation today by calling 707-254-2126 or book your reservation here.

In celebration of the Grand Opening of our Single Vineyard Tasting Lounge,
all Single Vineyard Cabernet Saugvignons are 20% off.
To access these savings, visit www.artesawinery.com, click shop and enter coupon code: SVWINES.

Single Vineyard Members receive complimentary access for up to four people per visit

Club Artesa Members: $18.75 per person (includes 25% discount off retail price)

General Admission: $25 per person

Not a Club Artesa member? Join today!

If you are already a Club Artesa member and would like to upgrade your membership to receive the Single Vineyard option, please call Club Services at 877-224-8309.

Our Single Vineyard Lounge is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30am to 4:30pm.

Although not required, reservations are recommended to ensure that we are able to accommodate your party at your desired time.

Winemaking Update, Winter 2011

2011-02-03T08:17:00.000-08:00

After the flurry of harvest last autumn, this is the time of year when our winemaking team gets to catch their breath.

Most of the wines have finished malolactic fermentation. The Chardonnays take a little bit longer to go through the process so they are being kept in a temperature-controlled room that is a little warmer than our subterranean cellar otherwise would be, while they finish fermenting.

The aging wines are being stirred on their lees twice a week, as they develop the characteristics that you will see in the finished product.

The winemaking team is also starting to blend the 2009 red wines. This means that they are experimenting with different compositions and deciding on their favorites.

We can't wait for you to try these delicious wines!

Cellar Tags -- new for Club Artesa members!

2011-02-03T08:12:00.001-08:00

Attention Club Artesa members: here's a treat to help you organize your wine collection better.

Cellar tags will now be included for all of the wines in your club selections, allowing you to keep all pertinent information about the wines (such as cellar dates, pricing, and reorder details) right at your fingertips! We have heard that many of our members would like this information to help manage their wine cellars, big and small. So we hope you enjoy this new benefit of being a Club Artesa member!

The Sheep Are Back! The Sheep Are Back!

2011-02-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

Upon arriving at our Carneros estate, many notice right away our "green roof," the dirt and native grasses that cover our subterranean winery.

We at Artesa pride ourselves on sustainable farming and responsible land stewardship that minimize the carbon footprint we leave on the 850 acres that comprise our estates in Carneros, Atlas Peak and Alexander Valley (350 of which are planted vineyard).

As a way of maintaining our green practices, hoof marks annually grace us with their presence and do the natural things they do to trim our foliage and fertilize the soil. Starting February 9th, the sheep are back in Carneros, roaming in our largest estate!

The Rocky Mountain Wooly Weeders, an open-range herding company based out of Loveland, Colorado, provides environmentally sensitive mowing service for vineyards and open lands.

Serving areas from the Pacific to the Rockies, the Wooly Weeders are more talented than any other mower we know of, mowing and fertilizing at the same time!

They are capable of turning almost any grassland into the likes of a well-manicured ballpark in just a matter of days.

We are so glad the Wooly Wedders are here to help us stay green, by digesting some green and leaving some brown (sorry for the Crayola-hued imagery).

You can catch the Wooly Weeders live and in person at Artesa Winery for a short period of time. Come by and bring a camera, before they move on to their next assignment. Baaaaaaaa!

Artesa scores 91+ ratings in Wine Enthusiast

2011-01-20T18:26:00.000-08:00

With a new year comes new accolades for Artesa's stellar lineup of wines.

We are proud to receive a 91/Editors' Choice rating from Wine Enthusiast's February 2011 issue for the 2009 Limited Release Albarino, Carneros Estate:

"The combination of stainless-steel and oak-barrel fermentation has been good for this wine. It’s bright and steely in acidity, and lifts the variety’s mineral and citrus flavors to new heights, adding a rich level of smoky cream. Just beautiful and versatile at the table, a sommelier’s dream wine. Production was a mere 850 cases."

Also very humbling is the 92-point rating that Wine Enthusiast gave us for the 2009 Pinot Blanc, Carneros Estate (pictured above):

"One of the best Pinot Blancs of this or any vintage. It was mostly fermented in stainless steel, with about one-fifth in new French oak. Just beautiful, with the creamy lushness of a fine Chardonnay. The fruit flavor is all about ripe, zesty citrus, spicy pears, tangerines and tangy green apples."

In their "Best of Year 2010" special issue released on December 31st, Wine Enthusiast conferred 92 points to the 2008 Pinot Noir Block 91D, Carneros:

"Made from a small block in Artesa's estate vineyard, this low production (250 cases) Pinot is rich and concentrated in bright raspberry, cherry, licorice and bacon flavors. It's powerful enough to support lots of new French oak, yet is balanced and refined in the mouth. Should develop over the next 4-5 years."

The February 2011 issue of Wine Enthusiast also awarded Artesa's 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley (Winemaker Mark Beringer's inaugural release) with 91 points; it is considered by many to be our best ever vintage of that varietal.

Last but certainly not least, the same issue of Wine Enthusiast recognized a perennial favorite, the 2009 Chardonnay, Carneros, with a 91-point rating (pictured right). Artesa's Chardonnay consistently wows fans looking for a more crisp and fruity Napa Chardonnay, made in the Old World tradition of balanced acidity with a touch of oak and butter derived from stainless steel as well as French oak barrel fermentation.

Try these wines for yourself to see how they measure up on your ratings scale!

Elevating The Artesa Experience: Pairing Fine Wines with Gourmet Cheese & Chocolates

2010-09-20T11:04:00.000-07:00

As summer slips away, the kids are back in school and harvest season approaches in the wine country. Artesa’s Assistant Winemaker Nori Nakamura told us in the last Artesa blog entry that harvest this year will be late and fast. What better time than to see for yourself how the grapes are ripening with a “Vines and Wines” tour and tasting, one of several specialty programs available to visitors looking for an intimate experience away from the crowds and with your own assigned guide and wine educator.

While “Vines and Wines” is offered seasonally (for another few weeks or so) until workers descend into our vineyards practically around the clock, a number of additional tour options await groups looking for specialized attention leading to a truly memorable experience at Artesa Winery. Thanks to Vino Visit, a new online booking service available on Artesa’s website, you can reserve an educational tour and program, day or night, from the comfort of your home.

One of the newest specialty programs is “Chocolate Indulgence,” a daily-offered journey through five of Artesa’s finest reserve wines paired with five hand-produced chocolate truffles from local Napa chocolatier, Anette’s Chocolates. “It was extremely hard finding the right pairing between chocolate and wine,” said Tasting Room Manager Michael McKinley. Staff went through literally hundreds of chocolates finding just the right match with Artesa’s handcrafted ultra-premium wines, an endeavor anyone with a sweet tooth would envy.

“Vino con Queso” is Artesa’s intimate wine and cheese tasting which starts off with a glass of Codorniu Napa Grand Reserve sparkling wine. Artisan cheeses are purchased daily at Napa’s Oxbow Market to ensure maximum freshness, to be presented with Artesa’s small production Limited Release and Reserve wines.

Assistant Tasting Room Manager Rick Dudley pointed out that the staff selected to lead these educational tours and programs attended seminars and classes dedicated to this type of specialized pairings. Come see for yourself how locally produced gourmet chocolate can elevate one’s wine tasting experience. Or maybe fine cheese is more your style. Visit www.artesawinery.com/tours anytime to book your reservation for this or any other specialty program. You won’t forget the experience anytime soon.

Vineyard Update from Artesa's Assistant Winemaker

2010-07-14T04:54:00.000-07:00

A cold, wet spring pushed back bud break for three weeks this year and we are now finally experiencing a full bloom everywhere in the Napa Valley. With the current vine growth, the 2010 harvest may start very late and will likely be very hectic.

We have already hired our harvest interns from USA, Spain, Italy, and Australia for this year and we are excited for their arrival. To be honest, we would like to think that harvest is still three more months away but we know it will be upon us very soon.

In preparation, we are busy bottling our '09 Chardonnay, Carneros and '09 Pinot Noir, Carneros and we cannot wait to show you these beautiful wines.

-Nori Nakamura, Assistant Winemaker, Artesa Vineyards & Winery, Carneros, Napa

Meet Rich Richardson, Artesa's General Manager

2010-05-24T04:41:00.000-07:00

It is been a fast six months since Rich Richardson joined Artesa Vineyards & Winery as General Manager. After several years at Justin Vineyards & Winery in Paso Robles, California, he was looking for a change.

Several things attracted him to Artesa. The first time Rich walked up to the winery, he was struck by the views, as many inaugural visitors are. “It was like a national park,” he remarked. Beyond aesthetics, he liked the fact that Artesa is family-owned, much like his previous winery. He is also a huge fan of Pinots, and Artesa has a stellar lineup. “The single-vineyard Block 91D Pinot Noir is outstanding,” he raved in a recent interview. “I like the depth; it’s very complex, well-structured. It’s got great viscosity and good color, and it pairs well with a wide range of dishes.”

What is behind such great wines is not just top Napa and Sonoma grapes, it is also “the passionate, artistic people here…[with] the resources to continually improve wine to be the best it can be,” Rich pointed out. For example, he cites Winemaker Mark Beringer, “who brings a level of success from Duckhorn.”

People, product and principles fueled Rich’s journey from the California Central Coast northward. Strong was his desire to return to Napa. Among his list of reasons Napa beckoned was the sophistication and diversity of the area. The area’s exciting cuisine prompts him and his wife to dine out around town often, and with San Francisco less than an hour away, this wine capital of America was too hard to resist.

When you find Napa too alluring to pass up, please come by Artesa and see what Rich lives and breathes every day.

Artesa Out On The Town!

2010-04-22T03:06:00.000-07:00

Next time you’re going out to dine and you’d like to drink some of our award-winning wines, whether you’re in Napa or Sonoma, think of these wonderful restaurants who proudly pour Artesa!

Napa:

Bistro Don Giovanni

Annalien

ZuZu

Uva

Compadres

Mustards

Sonoma:

The Swiss Hotel

El Dorado Kitchen

Taste of the Himalayas

Steiner’s Tavern

Artesa is proud to announce that Sambuca in Texas, Georgia and Tennessee is now pouring our Elements!

Artesa Hosts Carneros Run Benefit

2010-04-22T02:51:00.000-07:00

"Please check out the following pictures from our Carneros 5K & 10K Run/ pancake breakfast on Saturday, March 26th. Very successful and fun event. We had 1,000 people turn out for the event this year.

For next year’s event we will field an ARTESA “running” team. We would also like to have a running category for Wine Club members. First-place finisher for the 10K and 5K get a prize, same with the ARTESA running team.

Excellent team effort to pull this off so well. Great event for a great cause, the Carneros Volunteer Fire Department!"

- Rich Richardson, Artesa Vice President & General Manager

Artesa Vineyards & Winery is having a Wine Naming Contest!

2010-04-22T02:29:00.000-07:00

We want YOU, our biggest fans, to help name Artesa’s newest releases from Winemaker Mark Beringer. In addition to renaming of our single-vineyard Cabernets and one of our single-vineyard Pinots, we’re also looking to name three new WINE CLUB EXCLUSIVE blends that will be released in the next 12 months. We are over the moon that Mark has decided to reach out to our Club Members for help with this very important project!

Mark is hoping to find a new name for our Foss Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and the Block 91D Pinot Noir. But in addition, he’s got three amazing new blends coming out that needs names as well: a Rioja blend, a Cabernet/Bordeaux Blend, and a Merlot/Cabernet Franc Blend.

If we choose your name, you will receive a very special gift from Mark and the entire Artesa family, as well as having your name mentioned on our website, in our newsletter and in other print publications right alongside Mark Beringer!

Artesa’s Vines and Wines Vineyard Tour Returns

2010-04-22T02:01:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to taste a grape right off the vine? Now is your chance to give this a try, and much more. Lace up your hiking boots, grab a glass of bubbly and journey down to the vineyard. Enjoy a glass of Pinot Noir while standing in one of Artesa’s estate Pinot Noir vineyards where the grapes are grown and discover how the coolness of the San Pablo Bay breeze has influenced the wine you are sipping.

This year, guests have the option to make their reservations online through Vino Visit. Go to artesawinery.com and click on Visit Artesa. Reservations are required - $40 per person / $30 per person for Club Artesa members.

“The Art of Making People Feel Like VIPs: A Profile of Artesa’s Anne Salazar”

2010-03-04T03:45:00.000-08:00

Walking into the modern, high-ceiling Visitor Center of Artesa Vineyards and Winery, you might overhear a cheery, British-accented “Hello Love” from Anne Salazar as she greets guests. As VIP Specialist and Wine Educator, she is more likely in one of the private event rooms in the back doing a sit-down tasting or downstairs in the cellar conducting a tour for trade representatives or other visitors needing that extra attention and a quiet, intimate experience at one of Napa’s premier wineries.

Essentially, Anne can and does meet anyone from business executives to a group celebrating a birthday to a couple marking an anniversary. In the process, she consistently displays an uncanny ability to make each of them feel important and valued. That innate skill is ingrained her personality and rooted in her rich experience. She has lived in a dizzying succession of places throughout her life and met a wide variety of people, each an opportunity to inform her vibrant and unquenchable mind.

After living in a dozen places in England, Canada and the United States as part of a military family, Anne started a new life in Napa Valley three decades ago and worked at Domaine Chandon, Conn Creek and Franciscan wineries, among other places. She was wooed by Artesa in April 2008 by Director of Hospitality Linda Champagne, who regards her as “legendary” and one of Napa’s best assets. “She has boundless energy surpassing those half her age, loves her job everyday and is extremely knowledgeable,” attests Linda.

What drives her? “The product is so interesting, you never learn everything there is to learn,” Anne responds, providing a window into her insatiable appetite to discover new things. Moreover, Anne finds the industry fun, each day furnishing her a chance to meet interesting people from whom she can learn something new.

The sheer joy Anne gets from making people feel important, from the time they are at Artesa to the time they leave, also greatly motivates her. “Life can be frustrating and tough sometimes,” she says. “So for an hour or two, I can make you feel valued and leave Artesa feeling good about yourself and the experience you’ve just had.”

Though she humbly declines the distinction, Anne Salazar is one of Artesa’s VIPs – for the inimitable way she makes everyone feel like a VIP. Her trademark “Hello Love” greeting and warm embrace are the quintessential currency of hospitality she has honed from decades of work and life experience and shared regularly at Artesa with wine lovers from all over the world.

An Artesa Winery Pet: Bodie

2010-03-01T01:56:00.000-08:00

Welcome to a new feature of Artesa's blog, a feature on one of our winery pets.

First, some background on Bodie’s wine-loving owner: A local product hailing from St. Helena, Artesa’s Vice President of Finance, Tim O’Leary, is one of the longest employed people at the winery, even when it was known as Codorniu Napa. For twelve and a half years, Tim has been in charge of finance either as controller or in his current position. That places his starting date shortly after Artesa’s first crush in 1997. (The winery was reborn as Artesa at a black-tie dinner celebration on July 24, 1999.)

On August 23, 2001, a Yellow Labrador Retriever named Bodie was born and became a member of the O’Leary family, as well as the Artesa family. As the first “winery pet” featured in our blog, Bodie brings with him a brother, a Black Labrador Retriever named Jake, born last year on the Fourth of July. Jake, incidentally, has been described as Bodie’s favorite toy. When not carousing with Jake, Bodie loves typical dog things such as swimming. Less common is that when Bodie knows he did something wrong, he smiles (which is rare, for the record). Think about that next time you run into a smiling Yellow Lab with a Black Lab trailing not too far behind him.