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Week 17: Crios Rose of Malbec
Wine: Crios Rose of Malbec
Varietal: 100% Malbec
Vintage: 2011
Vineyard: Susana Balbo Crios Vineyards
Region Mendoza, Argentina
Alcohol: 13.9%
Points: 89
Price: $13.99
Susana Balbo is one of only a handful of female winemakers in Argentina, and with 25+ years as a renowned winemaker, she knows what she wants from her wines. From every harvest, she creates the best possible wines under her Susana Balbo label. To achieve this, she makes a rigorous selection of the finest barrels prior to making her final blends, dividing them into the parents (reserve level wines) and offspring or “crios”. Wines under her Crios label display ripe fruit flavors, good balance and fruit-forwardness, and are meant to be enjoyed in their vibrant youth.
This was the first Rose for this blog, and I have to say I haven’t really ordered them too often in the past. I had some friends over @AlleyGirlAZ and @ArousingSuccess to help sample this lovely wine. Served it very chilled and could smell the ripe strawberries wafting off as I poured it into the glass. Crios Rose is very dry, much drier than I was anticipating. It had a crisp, clean finish and definitely had characteristics of a typical Malbec. Drink this Rose on a hot summer afternoon while soaking up the sun’s rays at the pool. Very refreshing!
Week 17 of 52Wines52Weeks.com wine blog was sponsored by Phaedra Earhart of Farmers Insurance. I met Phaedra in the Scottsdale WCN meetings about a month ago. I was always impressed with how she always wanted to impart little nuggets of knowledge about the insurance world to us. And let me tell you, she didn’t do it in a boring ‘ol fashion. She would tell us these stories of what had happened to her clients or out in the world and how a small change in their insurance either did save them or could have saved them from catastrophe. Phaedra has a really sweet soul and generally wants to help everyone she can. If she can’t help you, she honestly lets you know what would be your best option, even if it isn’t her. Now that is great character!
Farmers Insurance has great auto and home insurance policies – why not call Phaedra and see how she can help you? They also have some competitive life insurance policies too. Best time to start planning for the What Ifs, is when you’re not expecting them. Have a business? Do you have business insurance? Let Phaedra help write a policy that will protect you, your business, and your assets.
Thanks Phaedra for sponsoring my little wine blog and for being such a great woman – and a fellow 3-Day Walker!
Find Phaedra Earhart:
Phone Number: 602.616.7096
Website: FarmersAgent.com/PEarhart
Email: pearhart@farmersagent.com
Follow the conversation on Twitter: @52Wines52Weeks and #52W52W
Facebook Page: Facebook.com/52Wines52Weeks
Week 16: Main & Geary Pinot Grigio
Wine: Main & Geary
Varietal: Pinot Grigio
Vintage: 2011
Vineyard: Main & Geary Vineyards
Region Sonoma County, CA
Blend: 100% Pinot Grigio
Alcohol: 13.0%
Points: 89
Price: $14.99
Sometimes when I have a week where the sponsor hasn’t specified a wine, I like to go into a wine store and ask for recommendations. I went into BevMo on a time crunch and asked for something white, anything under $20. He pointed me towards Main & Geary Pinot Grigio and said it was the most popular white that flies off of their shelves. When I went to research this wine for their social presence and to get the skinny on alcohol content and award points, I was surprised that there isn’t any information out there. It’s like a ghost – no real wine reviews except one on the BevMo website and absolutely no website nor anything on social. Kind of strange honestly. I wonder if it is a wine sold exclusively by BevMo. Why does this matter… it doesn’t, I just find certain things intriguing and thought I would share.
Now this wine was a good table white wine and one that would work quite well in the heat of the summer when you need a wine to go with a salad or if you are grilling fish. It is crisp, vibrant, and really quite refreshing. It was more on the acidic side and had a lot of citrus notes in it. I tasted the faintest of pears on the finish. Nothing overly special about the flavor profile, while still a good solid Pinot Grigio.
Week 16 of 52Wines52Weeks.com wine blog was sponsored by Debbie Sweet of artZengraving. Have a special wine bottle that you want to have as a keepsake? Turn it into a spoon rest or a cheese plate. I have a bunch of the Breast Cancer Wine Charms and it really helps me from drinking everyone else’s wine. Debbie creates unique, personalized wine accessories that can’t be found anywhere else. My favorite are the engraved flattened wine bottles that can be used as a cheese plate, serving tray, spoon rest, or as a custom recognition award. Those cute wine charms come in an assortment of shapes, colors, and can have anything your mind can dream up engraved on them. Check out the pic of the wine stopper – that is a great item to put into the Swag Bag at your next corporate event, I surely could use another one. Wait, there is supposed to be wine left over?
ArtZengraving is launching a new website, EBay and Etsy store under the name WineOWare. I like it! A great place to find the wine enthusiast in your life presents. We love presents – and not only the ones you drink! Sometimes it is hard to know just what to get that special someone, artZengraving makes the task just a little bit easier as she can engrave on just about any surface and turn a memory into a lifetime keepsake. Support our sponsors, as they make this wine blog just a little bit more awesome.
Thanks Debbie for sponsoring my little wine blog and for being such a kind-hearted woman!
Find Debbie Sweet:
Phone Number: 480.528.8995
Website: artZengraving.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/Artemeus.art.z.engraving
Twitter: @ArtemeusDesign
Pinterest: artZengraving
Email: debbie@artzengraving.com
Follow the conversation on Twitter: @52Wines52Weeks and #52W52W
Facebook Page: Facebook.com/52Wines52Weeks
Week 15: Silver Palm Cabernet Sauvignon
Wine: Silver Palm
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2009
Vineyard: North Coast Vineyards
Region Santa Rosa, CA
Blend: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, 3% Petite Syrah, 2% Petit Verdot
Alcohol: 13.9%
Price: $17.00
I sometimes fall in love with the bottle before I have even tasted the yumminess that awaits my palate on the inside. This Silver Palm Cabernet Sauvignon bottle is just gorgeous! The outside symbolizes what I hope to find on the inside – rich complex notes with a touch of flair. And you know what, the symbolization was spot on. The wine is a deep dark ruby with many facets to its flavor profile. Initially, the black cherries hit your senses and then the intense notes of the blackberries and raspberries come out to play. There is a distinct vanilla undertone to the layers of this Cab. There is nothing subtle about the Silver Palm Cab – just the way I like my reds – Big, Bold, and Boundless with character.
Some interesting notes I found out about the vineyard: Silver Palm is owned by Kendall Jackson. What’s different about this winery than of its parent company, is the goal of Silver Palm Winery is to produce small-lot wines that are best be served at high-quality restaurants or a wine lover’s table rather than mass marketed in every store. Silver Palm winemaker Matt Smith sources small lots of grapes from outstanding vineyards in California’s leading North Coast wine regions. The beauty is in the details with this vineyard, and I like it!
This wine was opened up at WCN: Central Phoenix and five women were able to taste it. Lynda Bishop, this week’s sponsor had already tried this bottle and felt it was perfect for this week’s wine blog. She was right! The other women at the meeting had awesome things to say about this wine too. It was a tad strong for one woman who was new to the wine world. I had to hide the bottle with enough left for a glass so I could remember all my tasting notes to write the blog. What I loved was introducing a new wine to others and hearing their opinions. They then asked me what I thought and were amazed when I described the wine from my perspective. They seemed to have a much deeper appreciation for the wine and for what goes into a wine blog!
Grab a steak, or a pot roast, or better yet, cuddle up to the special someone and enjoy this wine together. It is a very romantic wine and is bound to help set the mood when you want to dim the lights and enjoy the company of your special someone.
Website: SilverPalmWines
Facebook: Facebook.com/SilverPalmWines
Week 15 of 52Wines52Weeks.com wine blog was sponsored by the crazy amazing Lynda Bishop of LyndaBishop.com. If there is one woman who I look up to and whom I find to somehow always have the right answers to any question I seek, it would be Lynda Bishop. Her new website LyndaBishop.com shows the many facets of her life, from the professional focus of her business, to the community involvement that feeds her soul. Lynda is a Masters Level Therapist, a Divorce Recovery Coach, and an amazing Business Coach. She believes deeply in Community, Compassion, and Leadership and these tenets are evident in everything she does.
Lynda firmly believes that helping women to change the world first starts by being the best leaders of their own lives. Through this belief, she has traveled to China and this year to Cambodia with the World Academy for the Future of Women. She is the President-elect of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), which is currently the 3rd largest chapter in the nation. Lynda is the founder of Women’s Circle Network (WCN), which helps local entrepreneurial woman all over the Phoenix valley. One of her latest endeavors is Single, Not Broken which is a self-development and divorce recovery program. Can’t forget that she is a Board member of the Trillium Healing Project and supporter of Fresh Start Foundation. Whew! That’s what I call being involved in your community!
Compassion, Community, Leadership. Changing the world, one amazing woman at a time.
Thanks Lynda for sponsoring my little wine blog and for being the kind of woman so many women admire!
Find Lynda Bishop:
Phone Number: 480.751.9509
Website: LyndaBishop.com and Single-Not-Broken.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/LyndaKBishop
Twitter: @CoachLynda
Email: lkbishop@cox.net
Follow the conversation on Twitter: @52Wines52Weeks and #52W52W
Facebook Page: Facebook.com/52Wines52Weeks
Week 14: New Age
Wine: New Age
Varietal: White Wine
Vintage: Non–Vintage
Vineyard: Bodegas Valentin Bianchi
Region San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: 50% Malvasia, 50% Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol: 10.6%
Price: $9.99
I was a little giddy when I learned that this week’s wine was New Age. I first tried this wine a couple years ago when at a wine tasting with about 100 other wines for me to try. This one stood out though. I was told by the wine rep to drink this wine over ice with a half a lime, like a margarita. Say what? That had me intrigued. So I did, and I was hooked from that moment on. New Age is one of those wines that is so versatile and is often found in my fridge during the hot summer months. It is a light white to pale yellow in color and has is a blended wine that has added carbon dioxide. Since the carbonation is not present in the wine from a natural fermentation, it is therefore not like a moscato or cava. New Age White Wine comes from Bodega Valentin Bianchi, one of Argentina’s oldest wineries – I need to visit there soon!
If you drink it without the added lime, it is a very nice refreshing wine that is well balanced, not too acidic, and very light-bodied, but utterly crisp and clean. The sweetness taste comes from the honeydew melon, apricot, and citrus notes of the wine. On the nose, there is a strong floral scent of petunias, gardenias and jasmine blossom. This wine awakens your senses! With the screw cap top this wine is perfect to pack up and take up the mountain and enjoy while taking in the magnificent views. Having a BBQ or hanging out by the pool? Bring New Age, a few limes, and you will have an instant party. Awesome wine, I think it is time to try the Rose too…
This wine doesn’t have it’s own contact information, but rather is represented by their exclusive distribution company Quintessential Wines.
Website: QuintessentialWines.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/QuintessentialWines
Twitter: @QuintWines
Week 14 of 52Wines52Weeks.com wine blog was sponsored Melanie Dunlap with Peaceful Spirit Enrichment Center. I met Melanie three years ago and I was captivated by this woman. She is one of those wise women who has a way of looking at a situation and seeing aspects of it that you never thought possible. I’ve always been open-minded about alternative medicines and the healing properties of of what Mother Nature provides us. I tried the Dragon Balm Muscle Rub when I was so sore from training. It is overloaded with essential oils and soothed my sore muscles and increased my circulation – but I’m not going to lie, the scent is not my fave.
Whenever I feel out of balance in my life, I go to Melanie and have her do Reiki energy work on me. Energy therapy is a gentle, non-invasive healing modality that restores your body to a state of balance, that when achieved, allows overall physical health to improve. She usually does Reiki, chakra balancing, and flower essences to help me find the balance and peace-of-mind that eludes me. I often leave refreshed, centered, and clear-headed. I can’t stress enough how at first I thought this was just gibberish, but after my first session, I realized that I was the one that hadn’t been open-minded to different ways to heal the mind, body, and spirit.
I highly recommend calling Melanie and taking a trip out to the Peaceful Spirit Enrichment Center. Visit the amazing desert gardens, walk the Labyrinth, and reconnect with yourself while you allow your senses to be reawakened by what Mother Nature has to offer. I often think of Melanie as my reminder to honor Mother Earth.
Thanks Melanie for sponsoring my little wine blog and for being just an amazing source of strength, love, and pure awesomeness!
Find Melanie Dunlap here:
Phone Number: 623.465.5875
Facebook: Facebook.com/PeacefulSpiritCenter
Website: PeacefulSpiritCenter.com
YouTube: YouTube.com/PeacefulSpiritCenter
Email: Melanie@SpiritEnrichmentCenter
Follow the conversation on Twitter: @52Wines52Weeks and #52W52W
Facebook Page: Facebook.com/52Wines52Weeks
Week 13: Bon Midi Red
Wine: Bon Midi Red
Varietal: Red Blend
Vintage: 2010
Vineyard: Bon Midi
Region Pays D’ Herault, Midi, France
Blend: 55% Merlot, 45% Grenache
Price: $4.99
This is another wine from the new Fresh & Easy collection that you can find for under $5. I have to admit, I might be a wine snob now, because I used to really enjoy cheap wines (under $5), but I couldn’t seem to fall in love with this one. I knew this wine was from Cezanne country in France – the land of great artists and wines. The landscape there is covered with sunflowers, lavenders, and lush delicious grapes.Bon Midi Red is a blend of Merlot and Grenache and has a light ruby color, with a hint of raspberry in the flavor and on the nose. With such a heavy Merlot influence I wasn’t surprised when this wine was a tad dry and jammy. The fruit was vibrate but not quite well-balanced. I decanted and aerated this wine to open it up, which is essential for any red wine, but especially so when that wine is under $5.
Have to admit, I don’t think I would buy this again to drink. I would however, use it in quite a few recipes from adding it into a Ragu or to marinate meat. For those new to the wine world, this would be an ok wine to test your palate with to see how you like a tad dry red wine.
This vineyard has no website or social presence and can only be purchased at Fresh & Easy.
Week 13 of 52Wines52Weeks.com wine blog, and the 1st week of the 2nd Quarter, was sponsored Esther Zack with A.C.N. ACN is the largest direct seller of home services in the world! They can offer the great service, at some pretty great prices. Have you ever wanted to have residual income or start your own business? Esther’s ACN team is looking for partners in every country in the world, so who do you know who wants to make money every time someone turns on their lights, cooks dinner, talks on the phone or works on the internet? Give Esther a call today!
Esther Zach offers a free Home Services Review to see if you can save money on services that you are already using such as electricity, telephone and internet service, plus television services. Don’t let another month go by without asking for a Home Services Review… you’re letting money fly out the window. Better in your pocket than theirs is Esther’s motto.
Thanks Esther for sponsoring my little wine blog and for being just an awesome person, community advocate, and a loving woman!
Find Esther Zach here:
Phone Number: 480.451.1194
Facebook: Facebook.com/ScottsdaleLiving
Website: chicagolady.acnibo.com
Email: estherzack9@gmail.com
Follow the conversation on Twitter: @52Wines52Weeks and #52W52W
Facebook Page: Facebook.com/52Wines52Weeks
Poured Wine in Review: 1st Quarter
This is Week 12 of 52Wines52Weeks.com wine blog and will give a synopsis of the first quarter wines and their sponsors. What a great way to start out 2012!
Week 1: Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Blanc Sparkling Wine Rating: 
Type: Sparkling Wine
Thoughts: Crisp with wonderful overwhelming pear taste accented with Meyer lemons lend to its tartness. I’m a huge chardonnay fan, and I can taste the wonderful Carneros Chardonnay grape in every drop.
Sponsor: Interior Designer Julie Heiland . Julie has a crazy knack for color and arranging your personal or business space so you actually enjoy being home living in it or working hard in it.
Week 2: Beaujolais-Villages by Louis Jadot Rating: 
Type: Red Burgundy
Thoughts: It is very light, fruit forward, and an easy drinking wine with a light fruity finish. It is best decanted and given at least 30 minutes to open up and breathe otherwise it is very jammy and acidic.
Sponsor: Scrapbook Extraordinaire Kelly Hammonds. Everyone has a story worth saving. Stories Savors shows you how to celebrate relationships through discovering your creativity, preserving your photos, and then sharing the moments that matter the most.
Week 3: Crush by The Dreaming Tree Rating: 
Type: Merlot & Zinfandel Blend
Thoughts: Very fruit forward with a hint of smokiness and starts out very bold and strong. This wine really open ups when paired with food – especially hummus or hard cheeses.
Sponsor: Single-Not-Broken Founder Lynda Bishop. Lynda is a Masters Level Therapist, a Divorce Recovery Coach, and an awesome Business Coach. As a therapist, coach, and community leader, Lynda loves nothing more than gathering with great women in her community and fostering a sense of unity, collaboration, and purpose for a better future for all of us.
Week 4: Syrah by Red Bicyclette Rating:
Type: Syrah
Thoughts: This wine tasted delicious and I could make out the blackberries that stayed on the back of my palate even after the first sip. As the wine opened up, it really had a beautiful velvety texture and had a very full, robust body to it.
Sponsor: Half Moon Events by Christie Cothrun. Christie’s has her own boutique flower design studio and is an amazing floral designer and specializes in creating beautiful memories in some of our smaller Arizona towns like Globe, Miami, Heber, and Safford and even a few destination weddings.
Week 5: Layer Cake Malbec Rating: 
Type: Malbec
Thoughts: It opened up into a smooth, rich wine that I kind of liked. It is definitely a wine that needs to breathe – so go ahead and pull the decanter out for this one. I would also pair it with some cheese like Parmesan or a berry fruit.
Sponsor: Arbonne Martha Knight. With Arbonne, the products are all natural and plant-based, with none of the harmful chemicals. She shows through Arbonne’s health line how you can rid the toxins from your body which allows you to heal from the inside out.
Week 6: WineWrights Chardonnay Rating: 
Type: Chardonnay
Thoughts: This chardonnay was well rounded with a more citrus tone than buttery. I could taste the pear undertones and the vanilla spice awaked my senses and was quite pleasing. Definitely serve this wine well chilled and would be great to eat with chicken or grilled salmon.
Sponsor: Comfortable Weddings by Carol Hushek. Rev. Carol Hushek and her husband Fr. Jim Hushek have been marrying couples for over 30 years! Fr. Hushek is a Married Catholic Priest and is available for those in need of a Catholic ceremony outside the Catholic Church. Their focus is to plan your ceremony specifically to your desires.
Week 7: Elena by Bodega de Mendoza Rating: 
Type: Malbec
Thoughts: This wine was very soft on the nose and had a robust flavor on the tongue. And in an instant it was gone. It doesn’t linger on your palate like some Malbecs. You taste its yummy goodness and then, whoosh, it’s gone.
Sponsor: Uniquely U Jewelry by Pat Fehlhaber. Uniquely U Jewelry has one-of-a-kind jewelry that makes a lasting impression. These one-of-a-kind pieces are fashioned from hand-blown glass, forks and spoons, Peruvian, fashion, and vintage jewelry.
Week 8: Pinot Grigio Trentino by Bollini Rating: 
Type: Pinot Grigio
Thoughts: So fragrant! I immediately tasted a nice ripe pear, and even a faint taste of melons on the finish. Very crisp, slightly dry, but not overly. And the finish – sweet nuttiness abounds. For me, I could taste the acidity in this grape, but overall, it has a really smooth acidic flavor for Pinot Grigios. It is light, crisp, and well balanced.
Sponsor: ACN by Esther Zack. ACN has some great products for small business owners such as digital phone services, local and long distance, high speed internet, wireless, television services, home security, home automation, and customer support service.
Week 9: Syrah by Javelina Leap Rating: 
Type: Syrah
Thoughts: The grapes are 100% Arizona Syrah! The abundance of blackberries hits right on the center of my tongue, is just a tish on the dry side, and opens up beautifully with the taste of vanilla and honey lingering on my palate.
Sponsor: Javelina Leap Vineyard and Winery. Javelina Leap Winery is near Page Springs and Sedona, AZ. They have a Tasting Room open daily from 11am-5pm, and offer free winery tours with your wine tasting purchase every Friday and Saturday. They offer wine tasting flights and premium tastings too! Javelina Leap is offering 10% off any bottle!! Just mention this blog to receive your discount.
Week 10: Bryan Arden Syrah Rating:
Type: Syrah
Thoughts: Right away I could taste the deepness in the Syrah, there were so many layers of taste playing on my tongue. From blackberries to ripe black cherries, to the slight hint of pepper and even soft notes of vanilla from the oak barrels was present. It was a medium full-bodied Syrah with a lot of character and was kind of amazingly awesome.
Sponsor: Kristi Trimmer with Orange Dragonfly Media. ODM is my little boutique marketing firm. At ODM, we pride ourselves on our graphic and web design and create a lot of awesome social media branding pieces like Facebook Cover Photos and custom Twitter Backgrounds. One thing we love to do at ODM is to teach people how to use social media for their small businesses.
Week 11: Ghost Pines Chardonnay Rating:
Type: Chardonnay
Thoughts: The wine gives off a citrusy apple aroma that somewhat resembles an apple tart. It has some amazing apple and citrus flavors that came bursting through the buttered toast flavors.
Donated: Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Muscle Walk Campaign. The Walk aims to raise money and awareness for MDA which is the largest non-government funder of research seeking treatment and cures for more than 40 neuromuscular diseases. Team Double Trouble was captained by Cassandra “Cass” Byrd (@aclevergirl) who’s 4-year old twins have Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) which is a form of MDA. Cass, along with her husband Chris (@justchrisbyrd), daughter Jenna, and twins Kyle and Lauren fight tirelessly to raise awareness and money for a cure.
Week 12: Whoops, no wine was harmed while the blog took a mini vacay. Have you tried any of the wines that were poured this quarter? What are you thoughts on them? Want to sponsor a wine blog for your company or organization? Contact us today to see what week bets fits your needs!
Find Kristi Trimmer with Orange Dragonfly Media here:
Website: OrangeDragonflyBlog.com and OrangeDragonfly.com
Phone: 602.377.3675
Facebook: Facebook.com/OrangeDragonflyEditing
Twitter: @dragonflytweet
Pinterest: Pinterest.com/dragonflytweet
YouTube: YouTube.com/dragonflytweet
Follow the conversation on Twitter: @52Wines52Weeks and #52W52W
Facebook Page: Facebook.com/52Wines52Weeks
Week 11: Ghost Pines Chardonnay
Wine: Chardonnay
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2007
Vineyard: Louis P. Martini
Region 64% Sonoma County, 22% Monterey County, 11% Napa County, California
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Price: $18.99
Happy wine drinking everyone. This is Alicia (@alleygirlaz) taking over the blog this week and I will be your guest reviewer. I love wine and this is my first opportunity to review a wine for someone other than my parents or closest friends. I’m not partial to any particular varietal. If it’s wine, I’ll try it. I’m slowly learning about appreciating wine and letting the flavors develop over my palate. I poured my glass, swirled it around, and allowed the aromas of the wine to entice me and I was not disappointed. The wine gives off a citrusy apple aroma that somewhat resembles an apple tart. This definitely encouraged me to continue on the journey. I have not had many Chardonnays simply because I’m not a huge fan of the big oaky and buttery flavors. I did not get that from Ghost Pines. I picked up hints of oaky butter but it was not overwhelming like I have found in other Chardonnays. Ghost Pines had some amazing apple and citrus flavors that came bursting through the buttered toast flavors. One of the things I liked most about this wine was the marriage of tropical citrus flavors and buttered toast with just a hint of vanilla lingering around as if to say “hey, I’m here”. I could definitely see this as a stand alone wine or paired with a creamy dish like Alfredo or a cream-based soup.
Ghost Pines was named after the tree of the same name which grew abundantly around the vineyard owned by the Louis Martini family. Since 1935, the Martini family has believed that making great wine means using the best grapes regardless of the region they’re from. This particular Chardonnay blends the best grapes from Sonoma, Monterey, and Napa Counties into one amazing and affordable wine. Blending grapes from several regions allows the winemakers to play off of the best characteristics of each the regions grapes and truly crafting a unique and flavorful wine.
Website: GhostPines.com
Twitter: none. I think someone (us) needs to get on this
Facebook: none. Again I think someone needs to get on this
Week 11 of 52Wines52Weeks.com is not about sponsorship, but about donation. This week’s blog is donated to the Team Double Trouble’ Muscular Dystrophy Associations (MDA) Muscle Walk Campaign. Team Double Trouble is captained by Cassandra “Cass” Byrd (@aclevergirl) who’s four year twins have Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) which is a form of MDA. Cass, along with her husband Chris (@justchrisbyrd), daughter Jenna, and twins Kyle and Lauren fight tirelessly to raise awareness and money for a cure. The MDA Muscle Walk is this Saturday March 24 at Tempe Beach Park. The Walk aims to raise money and awareness for MDA which is the largest non-government funder of research seeking treatment and cures for more than 40 neuromuscular diseases.
To donate to Team Double Trouble’s MDA Muscle walk campaign click here.
For more information on the Byrd family and Byrds for a Cure click here.
Week 10: Brian Arden Syrah
Wine: Syrah
Varietal: Syrah
Vintage: 2008
Vineyard: Masked Man Vineyards
Region Napa County, CA
Blend: 100% Syrah
Price: $45.00
I was given this bottle of Brian Arden Syrah as a gift last fall as for doing a little tweeting. I was surprised when I opened up the box and there was this bottle of wine tucked inside. On the note inside, it said just a little something to tell you that we appreciate you tweeting about the wine in your glass. I was floored, that was so incredibly nice, and unexpected. The note wasn’t signed, and that was ok, it had made my day though. I still don’t know who sent the bottle. I thought though, that for this week, it would be great to open it up and taste what was inside.
My friend @alleygirlaz came over and we uncorked the Brian Arden Syrah and poured a couple glasses to let the wine breathe. Right away I could taste the deepness in the Syrah, there were so many layers of taste playing on my tongue. From blackberries to ripe black cherries, to the slight hint of pepper and even soft notes of vanilla from the oak barrels was present. The Syrah opened up beautifully, not acidic at all, and had a good structure to it. It was a medium full-bodied Syrah with a lot of character and was kind of amazingly awesome. Alicia hadn’t experienced a Syrah before as she drinks Pinot Noirs normally and she quickly became a fan of this yummy wine in the beautiful dark green bottle with the amazing label – you know I love these tree labels!
2008 was the last vintage from this vineyard, as rumor has it that the Zinfandel grapes were pulled up and replanted with Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. I did see a recent article though that the Brian Arden Vineyard has secured other land in Napa Valley for a new vineyard, read about it here. Currently, you can only enjoy the wine in Napa Valley restaurants or have the winery ship it directly to you. I would like a few more bottles if you are going that route! Would love to taste their Zinfandel. Is that a big enough hint? Can’t wait for their website to be updated to tell us more about the new land, the family’s grapes and what to expect from them in the coming years.
Website: BrianArdenWines.com
Twitter: @BrianArdenWines (they seriously need some help here – I work for wine! 
Facebook: Facebook.com/BrianArdenWines
Week 10 of 52Wines52Weeks.com wine blog was sponsored Orange Dragonfly Media (ODM), my little boutique marketing firm. I started the company back in 2010 and it has continued to grow in amazing ways. Not only has my business grown, but so have I as a woman and a business owner. In case you don’t know me, I am Kristi Trimmer the blogger behind both OrangeDragonflyBlog and 52Wines52Weeks. My company also ghost writes and edits for other blogs and creates website content. At ODM, we pride ourselves on our graphic and web design and create a lot of awesome social media branding pieces like this Facebook Cover Photo and custom Twitter Backgrounds. One thing I love to do is to teach people how to use social media for their small businesses. At first, it was just teaching what Facebook and Twitter were and how to navigate around them. Then it evolved in how to properly engage and interact with friends and followers, and honestly, what not to do. At ODM, we teach you how to use Social for your business, or we can take the reigns and drive the campaign for you.
Here are some business cards and postcards we have created for our clients:
Custom Logo Work:
Find Kristi Trimmer with Orange Dragonfly Media here:
Website: OrangeDragonflyBlog.com and OrangeDragonfly.com
Phone: 602.377.3675
Facebook: Facebook.com/OrangeDragonflyEditing
Twitter: @dragonflytweet
Pinterest: Pinterest.com/dragonflytweet
YouTube: YouTube.com/dragonflytweet
Follow the conversation on Twitter: @52Wines52Weeks and #52Wines52Weeks or #52W52W
Facebook Page: Facebook.com/52Wines52Weeks.com
Week 9: Syrah by Javelina Leap
Wine: Syrah
Varietal: Syrah
Vintage: 2010
Vineyard: Javelina Leap
Region Cornville, AZ
Blend: 100% Syrah
Price: $45.00
I was beyond excited to try my first Arizona wine for the 52Wines52Weeks.com blog and to have them as a sponsor – pure awesomeness. I have never tried any of their wines before, so this really was a treat for me. Javelina Leap Vineyard and Winery is nestled in Cornville, AZ which is just down the road from Sedona. The vineyard is located at 3400 feet above sea level in Northern Arizona where the days are hot and the nights are cool. I’m really trying to contain myself and not jump in the car to go check them out! I see a Tweetup in my future there for sure! Maybe for my birthday?
Javelina Leap is known for their amazing Estate Zinfandel, but I wanted to see what all the fuss was about with their Syrah. As you know, I like my wines bold, deep, and loaded with flavor. This wine did not disappoint! The grapes are 100% Arizona Syrah, which truly floored me, that this deep-flavored of a wine is being grown right here in my background. The abundance of blackberries hits right on the center of my tongue, is just a tish on the dry side, and opens up beautifully with the taste of vanilla and honey lingering on my palate. I also really like that violets are used in this varietal – one of the best edible flowers there are, and gives a nice note to the nose as well.
This wine is $45 a bottle and has a 3-bottle limit (I can certainly tell why!) and is one that I would open up on a special occasion. It is so rich and full-bodied that I would love to serve this at a sit-down dinner with a juicy prime rib or Beef Wellington (although I have no idea how to make one of those). I also would open this bottle up for any good news that I heard, even the success of this little wine blog. Javelina Leap – you are going down in my wine book as truly awesome. This is the first 5-Star rating I’ve given out on 52Wines52Weeks.com blog – Congratulations!
Week 9 of 52Wines52Weeks.com wine blog was sponsored Javelina Leap Vineyard and Winery, near Page Springs and Sedona, AZ. They have a Tasting Room open daily from 11am-5pm, and offer free winery tours with your wine tasting purchase every Friday and Saturday. They offer wine tasting flights and premium tastings too! Currently on the Tasting Menu are 2010 samplings of Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Rockslide, Estate Zinfandel, Petite Syrah, and the Arizona Syrah. Oh my, can I have one of each please?!?
Javelina Leap Vineyard can ship your wine directly to your doorstep, as they are not currently in any retail stores. Look at where you can find it in Phoenix though! Impressive list – I see some of my fave restaurants on here:
5th & Wine
Canta Mia
Cheuvronts
Down Under Wine Bar
FnB Restaurant
Hope & Tannins
Rock Bottom Brewery
Sibley’s West
Sphinx Ranch
Studio Vino
The Bistro at Kokopelli Winery
Vine Expressions
Wedge & Bottle
Wine Styles
As a special for 52Wines52Weeks.com readers and community, Javelina Leap is offering 10% off any bottle!! Just mention this blog to receive your discount. That was very gracious of them to offer a special to my readers. Support local, try an Arizona wine today. You will not be disappointed to sip the 2010 Syrah from Javelina Leap… I can’t wait for my next bottle!
Thanks Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery for sponsoring my little wine blog and for being a great local gem, passion for winemaking, and creating awesome wine! Special thanks to @KrazyTravelDeal for putting me in touch with Javelina Leap to sponsor my blog – much appreciated!
Find Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery here:
Website: JavelinaLeapWinery.com
Address: 1565 Page Springe Rd
Cornville, AZ 86325
Phone Number: 928.649.2681
Facebook: Facebook.com/Javelina.Leap
Follow the conversation on Twitter: @52Wines52Weeks and #52Wines52Weeks or #52W52W
Facebook Page: Facebook.com/52Wines52Weeks.com
Week 8: Pinot Grigio Trentino by Bollini
Wine: Trentino
Varietal: Pinot Grigio
Vintage: 2009
Vineyard: Bollini
Region Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
Blend: 100% Pinot Grigio
Points: 87
Price: $12.99
I enjoy a good Pinot Grigio in the spring and summer on a warm day. I like that most are crisp, and make a good mid-balance type wine. The Pinot Grigio grape, is a variety with dusky purple skin and white pulp, and was the result of a genetic color mutation of the noble Pinot Noir variety. Trentino is a really smooth Pinot Grigio and tastes a little different than other ones I’ve tried. The first thing you notice is the heady aromas that come off of the glass once it’s poured. So fragrant! I immediately tasted a nice ripe pear, and even a faint taste of melons on the finish. Very crisp, slightly dry, but not overly. And the finish – sweet nuttiness abounds. For me, I could taste the acidity in this grape, but overall, it has a really smooth acidic flavor for Pinot Grigios. It is light, crisp, and well balanced.
Trentino Pinot Grigio would be best served with a seafood dinner. Hanging out watching the sunset and want a wine to help you relax the day’s worries away? Then this is your wine. It is a good one to pour for dinner or as an aperitif on the patio or deck. It has a label of a pencil art of a mighty tree – this seems to be a theme so far this year. I’m not complaining! I love trees, nature, and it seems the trees kiss these wines with their approval. This wine was picked up at Total Wine & More for $12.99and has a screw cap – so great price and easy access. Win!
Website: BolliniWines.com
Email: Info@BolliniWines.com
Week 8 of 52Wines52Weeks.com wine blog was sponsored Esther Zack with A.C.N. ACN is a telecommunications company that can help you get into a mobile plan inexpensively and with 4G phones! So awesome. They have some great products for small business owners such as digital phone services, local and long distance, high speed internet, wireless, television services, home security, home automation, and customer support service. They have a lot of great tech products to help your business or to help you save money at home.
I met Esther at a Scottsdale WCN meeting and loved her great spirit and caring nature for all those around her. She is enthusiastic about helping others lower their monthly telecommunications bills, and even helping others start their own small business with ACN. If you are looking to supplement your current revenue stream, give Esther a call and see if ACN is a good fit for you and your family. It is a great way to have the opportunity to earn residual income every month.
Thanks Esther for sponsoring my little wine blog and for being just an awesome person, community advocate, and a loving woman!
Find Esther Zach here:
Phone Number: 480.451.1194
Facebook: Facebook.com/ScottsdaleLiving
Website: chicagolady.acnibo.com
Email: estherzack9@gmail.com
Follow the conversation on Twitter: @52Wines52Weeks and #52Wines52Weeks or #52W52W
Facebook Page: Facebook.com/52Wines52Weeks.com
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