Wine Club News - February 2013
Greetings for 2013 from our family at Williamson Wines. Last year we started bringing you the wine and cheese newsletter via email with links to our website, where a copy of the newsletter was also repeated right here in our blog. This was our effort to save resources and give you reusable copy.
We asked for your feedback and the overwhelming opinion was very positive so here we are again with our email newsletter and this copy on our blog. You can click on any of the highlighted areas for more information on that topic. If you inadvertently delete your email then the whole newsletter is still available here in our blog and naturally you can print any of the recipes if you prefer to use a paper copy in the kitchen.
Dawn, Sam and Bill Visit Australia
In January we visited the Australian wine regions of Mudgee, Hunter Valley, Barossa and McLaren Vale to establish additional places of interest for our OZ Odyssey Wine Club Trip scheduled for March 2014. Harvest was about to commence and, after a great growing year, it appears the Australian wine industry may be returning to a quality and quantity balance following years of over-supply issues.
We met with several Australian vintners who, like us, grow their own grapes and make small quantities of superb wines. Happily we were able to choose several wines suitable for our new Bill's Cellar Wine Club made up of unique, desirable Australian wines and offered exclusively to existing wine club members so look for an email on this over the next month.
Bottling the 2010 Red Wines
Back on the ranch in California we are looking forward to an exciting February. Our 2010 red wines are being bottled and will commence their bottle ageing period prior to release.
As is our tradition, Wine Club Members will be the first to taste these beautiful examples of the 2010 harvest which was a challenging year in the vineyards. Consequently the harvest was small and the quantity of wine produced was limited, so the wine club is likely to take the majority of this year's bottling.
February Pickup Party Schedule
February also brings our Pickup Party events held each Sunday (except Super Bowl Sunday) on February 10, 17 or 24. Join us on one of these Sundays in the Tasting Room and enjoy our featured February wines paired with the recipes and cheeses of the quarter! Please RSVP to Jen with your number of attendees by clicking on the appropriate "confirm" below:
- I will be there on Sunday, February 10 . . . {Confirm}
- I will be there on Sunday, February 17 . . . {Confirm}
- I will be there on Sunday, February 24 . . . {Confirm}
Please have your RSVP to us by the Wednesday before the Sunday you wish to attend. As always, the Tasting Room is closed to the public and attendance is complimentary for Wine Club Members and Partner. You may bring extra guests at $25 each + CA Tax which will be charged to your card on file to confirm your reservation. Since we use this information to schedule our menu there can be no refunds after each Wednesday's deadline date.
Another February event is Super Bowl XLVII on February 3 and this year the San Francisco 49ers play the Baltimore Ravens. Sporting books have reported that nearly two-thirds of the bets are on the underdog Baltimore Ravens over San Francisco. Sorry Baltimore fans but "go Niners!"
Remember, no Pickup Party on February 3 Super Bowl Sunday but the Tasting Room will be open. We don't have a TV in the Tasting Room so non-football people can come try some great wines without the Super Bowl in the background.
Wine, Cheese & Recipes for February Shipment
Here are the wines, recipes and cheese selections for our February Wine Club. Based on your club selection (e.g., 1 white 2 red) you will receive three of these six wines.
GOLD MEDAL WINNER Indulge Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Shipping Update
If we ship to you, please look for your wine (and cheese – if applicable!) to arrive the week of February 11. California residents can expect delivery by Friday, February 8.
Someone does need to sign for all wine shipments and please remember to move the cheese to your refrigerator as soon as possible. If you need to change your shipping date or delivery address please contact Christine as soon as possible.
If you pick-up your wines, they are now available in the Tasting Room anytime between 11am-ish and 7pm daily or at any of the Wine Club Pickup Parties!
2013 Events
Epicurean Dinners
Dawn and Bill host an Epicurean Dinner for Wine Club Members ($150 per person) and their guests ($185 per person) on the first Friday of every month in 2013.
Dinner is from 7:30pm to 11:30pm, located in the rare wine library of the Hotel Healdsburg and each dinner is limited to only ten attendees. This is the sixth year of the Epicurean Dinner and seats sell out quickly, sometimes months in advance, so contact Jen now to make your reservation for one of the best dinners of your life.
Pig Roast Pork in the Vines
August is the start of harvest and we celebrate with Wine Club Members in our home ranch vineyard with the spit roast barbecue of whole hogs, bred especially for us. Attendance is limited to the first 150 Wine Club Members and Partner (only) at $125 each. Sorry, no guests.
Date: Saturday, August 10, 2013, Time: 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Private bus pickup will be available from selected local hotels and Williamson Wines Tasting Room, Healdsburg.* Bus fare of $35 includes return to pickup points so please take the bus and enjoy the whole weekend. Contact Jen now to make your reservation.
Lobster Feast Nippers in the Vines
September is the last month of predictably great weather so we celebrate with a Lobster feast in the vineyard. Attendance is limited to the first 150 Wine Club Members and Partner (only) at $125 each, Sorry, no guests.
Date: Sunday, September 15, 2013 Time: 12 noon to 4:00 pm. Private bus pickup will be available from selected local hotels and Williamson Wines Tasting Room, Healdsburg. Bus fare of $35 includes return to pickup points so please take the bus and be safe. Contact Jen now to make your reservation.
On Line Access
The Wine Club Newsletter is now electronic via email and repeated on our website blog. Every day we publish local happenings on our Facebook page, but there's a lot more going online! We are now pairing almost 200 recipes with our wines and have almost 400 spices and 100 cheeses plus specialty food products like our mustard, jam, relish and truffle salt, all paired with our wines and all available for quick, easy delivery direct to you.
Just try clicking on any of the highlighted text above to explore the web site designed to inform and support our wine and food lifestyle. If you do not have your WilliamsonWines.com log-on information, please contact Jen for your password and account access.
Kind regards,
Dawn & Bill Williamson