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26 Jul

Posted at 15:16h in Wine
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Thanks to our very brief history of rosé, we know that rosé has been made around the world for quite some time now. But how exactly is it made? Traditionally there are three ways to make rosé. Depending on who you talk to, you’ll get a different answer as to which is the “best” way to make it. Essentially, winemaking doesn’t really have any hard-and-fast rule to what is “correct.” There are rough guides of how to do things, but part of the beauty of winemaking is that it's a blend of art and science. Everyone has their interpretations, and that’s okay. As the saying goes, “ask four different winemakers a question, you’ll get 16 different answers.”   For the most part, rosé is made in the following ways… courtesy of Wine Folly Direct...

18 Jul

Posted at 16:36h in Wine
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Long before the favored mantras of  “yes way rosé,” today’s favorite pink drink was popular around the known world at the time, i.e. the Mediterranean basin. And although I see your wheels turning to quickly assume that our friends in the land of berets and baguettes invented the beverage, you would be mistaken. The production and consumption of rosé dates back to the Pheonicians, circa 1550 B.C. - 300 B.C. and the Ancient Greeks, circa 600 B.C. It’s just taken us this long to associate catchy hashtags with the drink.The rosé of long ago wasn’t like the picture perfect poolside salmon pink libations we love today. The ancients actually made rosé in a manner that today many wine people might scoff at--  by watering it down. Ice cubes weren’t available,...

13 Jul

Posted at 16:29h in Wine
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Making a final wine blend before bottling is as much a science as it is an art. First off, there are legal requirements that a wine must meet to hold certain designations. Those designations refer to the vintage, varietal(s), appellation, and sub-appellation. Next is understanding the purpose of the final wine. Is it meant to age for many years to come, or be enjoyed younger? This creates further parameters for how a winemaker will decide on a final wine blend that you’ll eventually enjoy in your glass. Finally, it comes down to taste. When the sum is greater than the parts, you know you've got it! Are all wines blended?? You might be surprised to learn that not all wines are blended. However, what you may not have known is that even...

11 Aug

Posted at 17:02h in Recipes
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Remember growing up when school was out and everyone vowed that THIS summer would be the one for the records? Well, it finally came true. With a summer fit for the history books and limited opportunities for outings, we’ve found ourselves appreciating the bounty of California produce and all that it offers even more than we usually do. So, as the season begins to wind-down, we thought we'd share some of the recipes we've been enjoying while spending more time at home and summer gardens are plentiful. photo credit: Life & Thyme Chef Neal Fraser’s Garden Pesto Pizza Pair with 2019 Raymond Burr Vineyard Vermentino Why we love it When it comes to family bonding in the kitchen, pizza is perfect for getting everyone involved, especially the kids. Whether you have a pizza competition...

09 Jul

Posted at 04:57h in Uncategorized
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"Raising our Glass to Starscape Vineyard!"   If you’re familiar with our journey here at Joseph Jewell Wines, you know we have quite the history with our “home” vineyard, Starscape Vineyard, formerly known as Floodgate Vineyard. Over the last 10 years, we’ve seen the name and ownership, as well as our relationship with the vineyard change and thrive.   From the multiple blocks and different clones we use for our Pinot and Chardonnay, to the way we process the fruit, the terroir of the vineyard is truly highlighted in the wines we produce from Starscape. Usually we highlight this vineyard with our summer vineyard dinner, but this year we will instead be featuring a special Starscape tasting menu of library wines ranging from the 2012 to 2016 vintages, available for our Seated Tasting and our...

27 Aug

Posted at 20:30h in Uncategorized
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[caption id="attachment_1802" align="alignright" width="326"] Adrian with Chef John Ash[/caption] For Adrian, becoming a winemaker and creating Joseph Jewell was not an overnight decision. It was a series of unforgettable moments that led him to his passion. One of those aha moments happened over 15 years ago, at his birthday dinner. The location was John Ash’s restaurant. The dinner was for Adrian’s 25th birthday. The bottle was a 1978 Iron Horse Cabernet Sauvignon. At first sight the bottle was special because the vintage was Adrian’s birth year, but on closer inspection, Adrian discovered himself pondering the time and effort that really goes into harvest and the wine making process. “I turned the bottle around to see the back label, I was already excited because of the vintage, but then I saw the grapes...

16 Jul

Posted at 21:13h in Uncategorized
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As we look forward to our Dinner in Starscape, I think it’s important to look back and reflect on the history of this great vineyard and how our relationship and wine portfolio have grown with the vineyard. Starscape Vineyard, previously known as Floodgate Vineyard, is in the Middle Reach area of the Russian River Valley AVA.  It is in a highly sought-after part of the Russian River Valley with vineyards like Richie Vineyard to the North, and Kistler's Vineyard to the North East. The vineyard is 70 acres planted, with about 50 acres planted to Pinot Noir with 7 different clonal selections:  Calera, Pommard, Martini, and Dijon clones 828, 115, 777 and 667. There are also 15 acres of Chardonnay and 5 acres of Sauvignon Blanc. One of the things that...

12 Jun

Posted at 18:43h in Uncategorized
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Wine brings people together and, when paired properly, creates an experience unlike any other. Recently, Adrian asked his team to select a wine from the current releases and create a dish that would bring wine, food, and people together. The results were somewhat surprising, very unique, and overall, wonderful reflections of the versatility of Joseph Jewell wines. Below are the three pairings with the tasting notes and recipe for each pairing. We invite you to try them for yourself and tag us in your social posts with #JosephJewellPairing. You may also purchase these wines in packs of 3, 6 or 12 here. [vc_row][vc_column width='1/3'][image_with_text image='https://josephjewell.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Spring-Roll-Small.jpg' title='Grilled Shrimp Spring Rolls' title_color='' title_tag=''] 2018 Rosé of Pinot Noir, Ryan Vineyard, Humboldt County This pairing, submitted by Dee, is a wonderful example of balance. The floral notes...

08 Apr

Posted at 19:12h in Uncategorized
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There are few things as lovely as a bright Spring day after an overly dreary Winter, which is why we are excited to greet the new season with the release of our 2018 Vermentino and our 2018 Rosé of Pinot Noir. Bright, crisp, and pleasantly palatable these Jewells of Spring will take you happily into the warmer months ahead. For our very first vintage of Vermentino, the 2018 from the Raymond Burr Vineyard in Sonoma County is a spectacular example of what happens when opportunity meets aspiration. When we first introduced this new wine, it was still aging in the tank and Adrian revealed he could not definitively describe the flavors and aromas of this wine yet due to the sediment and esters from the fermentation process. His hope was to...