Free Market Wine Group and Summer Travel Plans

It's Spring Time!
It's been 6 month's since the merger of Vinture Wine Group and Free Market Wine Group. After a view bumps in the road we are now ready to roll. A lot of new items and brands have been added to the portfolio of Free Market Wine Group:
Brandborg Wines from Oregon
Chateau Laubade Armagnac
Lamplighter and Alias Wines from California,
Michel-Schlumberger from Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma
Axios and Worthy from Napa,
Michael Pozzan Wines (Dante, Annabella)
look forward to some craft Boubons coming soon

Follow us on Facebook for updates on different wine tastings that are upcoming now.

More new for the summer: Patty and I will fly to Madrid in June. There we will pick up a rental car and drive up to Rueda, Ribera del Duero, Rioja - visit at Heredad Ugarte - to San Sebastian. Crossing over to France we arrange a visit to Chateau Peyros - our Producer of Tanat Wines in Madiran - then an over-nighter at Chateau Laubade - producer of wonderful Bas Armagnac's. Up to Bordeaux to visit Chateau Haut-Selve in Graves and Chateau Leoville Poyferre (2nd Growth in St. Julien) There will still be time to look up some places in Pomerol where we hope to meet our Friend Marcello Pelleriti from Argentina - who recently received 100 Points from Parker for his LaViolet (Pomerol) wine. Unfortunately, Catherine Vere-Perge, owner of Monteviejo and Chat La Violet and Chat. LeGay passed away earlier this week. This great Lady of many good wines will be missed by many friends.

A quick trip in the Fall to Italy

My wife Patty and I were fortunate enough to have received an invitation from very good friends to join them for a week in Lake Como. they had rented a beautiful villa directly on the lake a stone throw away from the famous Villa d' Este Hotel in Cernobbio. (We went to the Hotel one night for cocktails and our bill for 10 cocktails was Euro 275 - without tip).
We had fantastic weather and the accommodation (the villa) was superb and the company could not have been any better. Day trips to the town of Como or Bellagio were easy....all we had to do was jump on a water taxi (ferry).
We did visit an Olive Oil producer in Lenno (Vanini Oswaldo) tasted and of course bought many bottles of delicious olive oil. After that we drove up the hillside in Tremezzo and had a fantastic Lunch at Al Veluu Ristorante. This is one of these places that have a million dollar view.

The 1927 Alfa Romeo

 On a Tuesday morning we got our group together, rented a small Mercedes bus and drove from Lake Como down to Alba in Piedmont. There our good friend Giacomo Vico gave us a royal reception and showed us their improvements to their winery - a new building as well as a new tasting room where delicious Vitello Tonnato was served for Lunch. We toured the Winery, checked out Giacomo old family Alfa Romeo's drank plenty of Favorita, roero Arneis and Roero Superiore. I took home some of his 2008 Barolo which I am now patiently waiting for it to get ready to drink.

Giacomo explaining wine making

   

Later that afternoon we dove a few miles from Canale over to Negro Angelo Winery. I had seen Giuseppe Negro at the Gambero Rosso Tasting in Chicago earlier in the year. Again, after touring their wonderful winery and their cellars we got together in their beautiful tasting room and tasted Roero Arneis including an oak aged 2004 that was superb, then moved on to Barbera"s, Nebbiolo's and ended up with delicious Barbaresco Basarin.
Needless to say, it was very quiet on the way from from Piedmont to Lake Como

Cellar at Negro

Tasting Room at Negro

Our wonderful travel and wine tasting group at Negro's

Look forward to Negro wines in Indianapolis soon available through Free Market Wine Group

TIME IS FLYING - CHANGES WERE UPON ME

Just looking at the history (timeline) of this blog makes me realize how fast time is passing.

Almost a year ago I started a new venture by leaving Vino LeFebvre after 3 years...the promised partnership never came through and it was therefore time to move on.

I have been working for the past year witch Michael Palmer, owner of Vinture wine group. It has been an exiting year! Three different wine suppliers followed me to Vinture Wine Group.

I am not going much into details about the past year. Little travelling was done with the exception of visiting the US Virgin Island - St. Croix, St.Thomas and St. John.......just a little Rum Tasting on St. Croix where CRUZAN Distillery is located.

Anyhow, a year later a new chapter is opening up. Vinture Wine Group has just merged with Free Market Wine Group.....soon to be called "FREE MARKET WINE & SPIRITS".
So, I am looking forward to continuing this blog and let to let you know what we are up to.

The New Beginning

Starting Monday September 17th, 2011, I will be representing VINTURE WINE GROUP  of Indianapolis, IN.This is the Philosophy that Vinture Wine Group believes in and as a new member of that group it will be the one I believe in:
"Vinture Wine Group is dedicated to promoting wines of regional distinction. The heart of a wine is found in the vineyard and our mission is to find the very best in quality wines from small, regional wineries and successfully bring these wines to the market. Our focus is on estate wineries or those who produce wines from regionally grown grapes. We are strongly committed to the belief that the unique characteristics of regional fruit give wines a sens of place that can not be rivaled or matched anywhere else in the world.

Our goal is to build long-term relationships with small suppliers, retailers and restaurants who share in this vision. Within the Vinture Wine Group wine portflio, you will find the true expression of quality vineyards. The unique characteristics of terroir driven wines distinct culture, climate, soil and the artisan winemaking technique that goes into producing each of these wonderful wines."

Goodbye

After 3 years with Vino LeFebvre I am moving on to a new project.
Thank you for following this Blog. When I started working with Steve I had a one sheet wine portfolio and I am leaving him a 12 page wine portfolio. My tenure at Vino LeFebvre brought me to ProWein Trade Fair in Duesseldorf, Germany as well as traveling to Argentina, Chile and Spain.

This is the end of the Vino LeFebvre Blog. Coming soon will be stories about my new ventures.

Fall arrives, and so do visitors

I love fall! There is always so much activity going on. Wine dinners, wine tastings, visitors arriving from all over the world.
Next Monday 9/19th...Export Manager Carlos Briones and my good friend Fernando Espina, the Wine Maker at Vina Chocalan in the Antonio Valley in Chile, ...are visiting our office in Ft. Wayne. They are only there for a few hours...I wish they had more time and I could introduce Fernando to the wine lovers of Indianapolis.





Tuesday morning ( 9/20th) an old friend of Indianapolis.....Jigar Patel and his wife Stephanie will arrive. Stephanie tended bar at Chumleys in Broadripple for years. Jigar was at Purdue...for years. You will have two opportunities to meet Jigar in Person....Wednesday at TASTINGS at the Conrad hotel, and Thursday at Crown Liquor at 116th/Lantern in Fishers from 6-7, then at Chatham Tap in Fishers for a free tasting of Jigars wines. There will be special discounts available for his wines at Crown's...just give Patty a call at  (317) 288-0145 for details. 


In November we will receive Monsieur Thibault Marronier, the Brand Ambassadors of Vignobles-lesgourgues. Thibault will introduce some of his wines at Tastings on November 2nd (including some his his fantastic Chateau Laubade Armagnac). We shall see some real interesting wines from Bordeaux, Madiran and their properties in Uruguay.


Wednesday Nov 9th we will have Giacomo Vico from Piedmont/Italy in town - another great tasting at TASTINGS that day, than a stunning wine dinner at R-Bistro on Thursday night - I am dying to see the food that Regina and Erin will match with Giacomo's wines.
After many years on non-production, Giacomo finally produced again a BAROLO ....and received 94 Points (!) for his 2006 vintage from the Wine Enthusiast (my heart is in Barolo)

Mr. Luis Garcia from Grupo Matarromerea was just in town. We visited many of our clients and we tasted Emina Verdejo, VALdelosfrailes Tempranillo from DO Cigales (a "Joven" = young, unoaked Tempranillo) and Cyan 12 meses (Crianza 2005) from DO Toro in Spain. Great response....we need to get him back here in the near future and do some more Spanish tastings

This Saturday we will pour many good wines at Cork & Cracker at 62nd/Keystone in Indianapolis from 3-6 pm, then next week (Friday 9/23) I shall be at the Madison Apothecary and introduce many of our wines to the folks down there.

Wine Dinner at the Story Inn

On September 2,2011  I was invited to host a wine dinner at the Story Inn in Nashville IN.   We decided to feature wines of Giacomo Vico of Piedmont/Italy. 
Chef Erin created a wonderful menu & Rick Hofstaetter, the owner of the Story Inn , was the perfect host. The event was sold out right away.
Menu:
Mussels in white wine with Story Inn lemon basil served with 2010 Roero Arneis, docg.
Gnocchi with porcini mushroom sauce accompanied by Langhe Rosso NV (08 Barbera/07 Nebbiolo blend)
Agnolotti with tomato sauce and fresh roasted heirloom tomatoes was matched with 2009 Langhe Nebbiolo, doc
Brasato al Barolo with creamy polenta had a beautiful bold Barbera d'Alba 2009, doc with it.

Fresh roasted pears drizzled with honey, walnuts and Gorgonzola were served with ice cold BIRBET (sweet low alcoholic Bracchetto)

Giacomo Vico Wines

Getting the wines ready

Rick Hofstaetter with duaghter Anna & Karl S Mann

Please go to the web page of Story Inn or even better, visit the Story Inn and sign up for their newsletter. They host monthly, very interesting wine dinners. Story Inn (their slogan is " one inconvenient location since 1851") is located just south of Brown County State Park near Nashville, IN

Vina Chocalan

Our first container of wines from Vina Chocalan in San Antonio Valley, Chile is on it's way and should arrive by the first week of April 2011. I previously wrote about my visit at the winery in chile. The make very interesting wines and I believed in the work of their wine maker.
I just received an e-mail from the winery yesterday telling me that during a dinner of President Barak Obama and the President of Chile that the wines of Vina Chocalan were served.





Viña Chocalán was present at the dinner with Barack Obama
On Monday the 21st of March, a dinner took place in Santiago de Chile, in the government palace, La Moneda, in honor of United States President, Barack Obama.
Viña Chocalán was selected with two of its wines, to pair with the four course meal prepared by the prestigious cater Sofía Jottar.
Both presidents, Chilean and U.S., had the chance to taste the 2009 Pinot Noir Gran Reserva, from Viña Chocalán, Maipo Valley. It is a delicate wine, with high varietal tipicity and elegance. Fresh, silky, with soft tannins and ripe black cherry framed by delicate species and toasty notes, due to its ageing in French oak barrels.
The second wine chosen was the 2009 Chardonnay Chocalán Malvilla. The vineyard is located just 4 km from the Pacific Ocean; this Terroir gives to the wines its particular essence.
The cool climate, the breeze coming from the sea, the roots growing in soils with presence of shells and marine fossils made this Chardonnay to be known as one of the best in Chile.
Discover in each glass the real harmony between fruity notes, minerals, smoky and crunchy freshness. A mouth well structured, showing complexity and velvety tones; great character and refinement.
The Malvilla Chocalan wines are the perfect paring for delicious seafood coming from the Chilean coast.

Visiting Wine Makers

Aaahhh - some sunshine and the snow has already melted.
February 28th through March 3rd 2001 we will host Sue and Terry Brandborg from Brandborg wineries of Umpqua Valley Oregon. It's been a while since my wife Patty and I visited their winery in Elkton OR.

While here in Indianapolis Sue and Terry will present their wines during one tasting at Crown Wine & Spirits, 150 N Delaware, Indianapolis (Tuesday March 1st from 5-7 pm) and also at TASTINGS at the Conrad Hotel on March 2nd. There will be two seating at Tastings (6.30 and 8.30) -cost is a mere $ 25 and 5 wines are matched with food by Chef Stephen. Let me tell you from experience that Stephen is extremely talented pairing food and wines.

The Brandborg produce 3 Pinot Noirs, Riesling, Pinot Bland, Pinot Gris, Gewuerztraminer and Hurrah Syrah Dessert wine.
Please join us at one of the events and meet Sue & Terry and taste some of their wonderful wines