J VINEYARDS WRAPS UP 2009 HARVEST

J VINEYARDS WRAPS UP 2009 HARVEST
Completed Before Heavy Rains Arrive

HEALDSBURG, CALIFORNIA — (November 9, 2009) — J Vineyards & Winery wrapped up its 2009 harvest in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley on October 9, and not a moment too soon. It started pouring rain on October 12. Despite the rain, cheers were heard on the winery crush pad with the loudest coming from winemaker George Bursick, a veteran of 31 North Coast harvests.

Bursick looked quite pleased with the overall quality of the fruit and expects to make exceptional wines from the 2009 vintage. He also breathed a sigh of relief, dodging a typhoon-influenced storm that dropped some of the heaviest amounts of rain ever recorded in October in the San Francisco Bay Area.

“It’s a great feeling to have all the grapes in the winery just as the October deluge began,” said Bursick. “The long, cool growing season in our Estate vineyards and throughout our independent grower vineyards provided an excellent opportunity for the grapes to achieve perfect phenolic ripeness and superb fruit flavors,” he added. “Given the samples I’ve tasted so far, I expect 2009 will be another banner year for our Russian River Valley wines.”

For most of the growing season, weather conditions along the Russian River Valley could not have cooperated more fully for vineyard managers. The growing season was generally uneventful, marked by slightly cooler than average temperatures and highlighted by fewer heat spikes in June, July and August. A late burst of heat in September kicked harvest into high gear, and although one rainstorm made its way through Sonoma County the same month, it was just light enough to settle the dust.

J Vineyards viticulturist John Erbe agrees with the assessment. “The overall cool weather combined with warm, but not hot, afternoons allowed the grapes to ripen at a nice, even pace,” he said. “There were no weather issues, and the progress of this harvest, ending before the onset the first major fall storm, proved to be well-timed.”

Erbe added, “This ‘almost perfect’ ripening period produced grapes with uncharacteristically small berries which contributed to ‘low juice-to-skin’ ratios, creating wines of unusual depth and concentration. In most cases, the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir berries were less than one-quarter inch in diameter.”

J Vineyards & Winery is unique in that for twenty years, the winery was focused entirely on producing highly acclaimed Russian River Valley sparkling wines. With the arrival of George Bursick in 2006, however, the winery began a program of high-end Russian River Valley Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varietal wines. There is also a Vin Gris, a Viognier, and a Pinotage in the Russian River Valley portfolio sold exclusively at the winery. A seductive Pinot Gris is made by the winery, although a good portion of the fruit is presently sourced in cool climates outside the Russian River Valley, and this will be the case until additional vines can be planted.

The sparkling wine harvest began in early August, with grapes picked for their optimum acidity and low sugar levels, a necessity in making world-class méthode champenoise. Upon the completion of the sparkling wine harvest, it was then time to pick grapes for J’s signature Russian River Valley Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. J’s varietal wine program now represents about fifty percent of the winery’s production, and more than a few lots from the 2009 Harvest are being considered for special single-vineyard designations.

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TASTING J WINES
A visit to the J Vineyards & Winery “Signature Bar” and “Bubble Room” is a must for anyone headed to Sonoma County and the Russian River Valley. J’s two tasting salons are the perfect hip locations to sample the current vintages and catch up on the latest winery news and information. The Signature Bar is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tastings are $20 per person for a selection of five wines.

The Bubble Room features a three-part seasonal food and wine experience prepared by Executive Chef Mark Caldwell. The menu is designed to highlight the “terroir” of each of the six wines in the pairings. The cost for the Bubble Room tasting is $60 per person and reservations are encouraged.

J Vineyards & Winery is located at 11447 Old Redwood Highway in Healdsburg. For more information call (707) 431-3646 or go to www.jwine.com.

Media Contact:

George Rose

(707) 431-5233

georgerose@jwine.com

Jewels and J

The setting was perfect - a beautiful sunny day in the California wine country, a waterfall flowing into a small stream, leaves turning into their fall colors of purple, lavender, gold, and rose, and an elegant contemporary winery ready for tasting and Dilek Sezen.

Visitors at J Vineyards and Winery in Healdsburg were treated to a cornucopia of pleasures on October 17 – Jewels and J – a coupling of brilliant gemstones and extraordinary wines.

Colors shone inside as well. At five stations, wines were paired with jewels of a similar hue. A table of wine-related objects d’art greeted guests as they entered, as did glasses of Chardonnay.

Pinot Gris complemented dazzling South Sea pearls and lustrous pink and white pearls. Brut Rose' partnered with pink shades of fine jewelry.

Upstairs in the hip tasting salon, Dilek displayed and explained rare color gems. Red rubies, sapphires, spinels, and rubelites were paired with Pinot Noir. Brown and champagne color diamonds, brown topaz, and orange zircons were matched with Vintage Brut. Mediterranean-inspired hors d’oeuvres were a delicious addition.

Guests were invited to model the jewelry. And they did - with a wine glass in one hand, a ring or bracelet on the other, and big smiles on their faces. A good time was had by all, and a harmonious relationship was born.

We sincerely thank J Vineyards and Winery for their warm hospitality.

Many thanks to Mandy Scott Flowers: www.mandyscott.com

Please call to arrange a personal appointment: 415.810.1002,

1757 Union Street at Octavia, San Francisco

J VINEYARDS & WINERY TO BECOME EXCLUSIVE SPARKLING WINE SPONSOR OF WELLS FARGO CENTER FOR THE ARTS

50 Mark West Springs Road Santa Rosa California 95403
Box Office: 707-546-3600

For Immediate Release November 10, 2009
Media Contact:
Kristi Buffo, Wells Fargo Center for the Arts - 707-527-7006
George Rose, J Vineyards & Winery - 707- 431-5233

J VINEYARDS & WINERY TO BECOME EXCLUSIVE SPARKLING WINE SPONSOR OF WELLS FARGO CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Santa Rosa, CA (November 10, 2009)—J Vineyards & Winery located in Healdsburg, California in the heart of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley is joining Santa Rosa’s community non-profit arts center, Wells Fargo Center for the Arts as its exclusive sparkling wine sponsor. Beginning November 16 with the performance of Champions of the Dance, J’s Méthode Champenoise Cuvée 20 Brut Non-Vintage will be available at all performances, events, and annual fundraising activities. Proceeds from the one-year exclusive partnership, which includes financial and in-kind donation, will benefit the Center’s arts and education programs, including its Education Through the Arts program serving 30,000 students annually.

Founded in 1981, the non-profit Wells Fargo Center for the Arts hosts an impressive 1,000 events with 500,000 patrons and visitors annually. “Their consistent messaging is to enrich, educate and entertain members of this community,” says J Founder & President Judy Jordan. “And I am delighted to share this ambitious vision with Wells Fargo Center for the Arts.”

“We’re excited to offer our patrons the added opportunity to enjoy J’s signature sparkling wine at our performances and events,” says Rick Nowlin, the Arts Center’s executive director, “and, grateful for the generosity of J Vineyards and Winery. Our mission and our programs rely on contributions such as this—enabling us to present world-class performances and education programs serving children and families, and nurture the arts in our community by providing a home for six local performing arts companies.”

Judy Jordan recognizes J Vineyards & Winery’s sponsorship with Wells Fargo Center for the Arts as “the latest in great pairings.” “At J Vineyards & Winery we are committed to providing wines of unparalleled quality and to creating an experience that enhances the lives of our guests,” says Jordan. “Our core values embrace a strong sense of community and we are hopeful J’s sponsorship will promote art, the North Bay community and all the wonderful citizens in this county.”

About J Vineyards & Winery
Founded in 1986 by Judy Jordan, J Vineyards & Winery produces site-specific, cool climate and Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, as well as the highly lauded J Sparkling Wines. J’s Healdsburg Visitor Center has elegantly showcased sparkling and varietal wines with artisanal food pairings since its opening in 1999. The sophisticated contemporary setting offers wine tastings at the signature bar or table service in the private tasting salon…..The Bubble Room.

About Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
A non-profit community arts center, Wells Fargo Center for the Arts is home to world-class performances, nationally recognized education programs, contemporary sculpture, and many popular events. The Arts Center is located in the heart of the Sonoma wine country and ranked among California’s top performing arts presenters. Together with its resident companies, the Center presents more than 100 performances each year in music, dance, theater, renowned speakers, and comedy; and education programs serving 30,000 children and adults annually. Owned and operated by the Luther Burbank Memorial Foundation, the Center relies on charitable community donations to achieve its mission—to enrich, educate, and entertain.

Winner of Best Winery Tasting Room via Sunset Magazine!

Best Winery Tasting Room: J Vineyards & Winery, Healdsburg, CA

The vibe: Sleek, artful, and very much about good bubbles with food: On weekends, spring for the sit-down pairing ($60) in the Bubble Room, for inspired food like the "BLT"―foie gras, applewood-smoked bacon, heirloom tomato, and mâche on toast points with the J Brut Rosé. Sips to try: J "Cuvée 20" Brut, J Pinot Gris, and J Robert Thomas Vineyard Pinot Noir.

Extras: Stellar still wines along with the sparklers. $20 tasting fee (5-wine pour); 707/431-3646.

Runners-up: Dunham Cellars, Walla Walla, WA; Robert Sinskey, Napa Valley; Press Club, San Francisco.

J NV Cuvee 20, A Sparkling Choice - Martha Stewart Living!

Made from a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier grown in California’s Russian River valley, this sparkling wine (NV, $20) has bright citrus flavors but a silky texture and doughy notes that give it distinction and complexity.

Matt Lee and Ted Lee, Martha Stewart Living

Smokin' J's! Desert Living Scoop

Smokin' J's A quick chat with a winemaker who can kick your Thanksgiving dinner up by many, many notches. Smokin' J's A quick chat with a winemaker who can kick your Thanksgiving dinner up by many, many notches.

Harvest is over and George Bursick finally has a second to breathe. The VP of winemaking for J Vineyards & Winery makes a suite of wines with plots of land that are unlike anything coming out of northern California. Go ahead and Google “J wines” and witness the lauding. So now’s the time to place an order for your Thanksgiving meal (all available at www.jwine.com). Start with Cuvee 20, an affordable sparkler that will set the tone right, then move into Pinot Gris and then J’s signature Pinot Noirs. Since J makes sparkling wines that give the French guys a run for their grapes, we suggest a night-cap of J’s late-disgorged vintage Brut.

SF: What’s the secret to making sparkling wine as complex as yours with northern CA grapes?
GB: We are one of only a handful of wineries outside of France to use a Coquard press. It presses the fruit gently from side-to-side, which minimizes the extraction of tannin and allowing for virtually no maceration, preserving the wine’s flavor.

SF: J seems to have a small monopoly on the Russian River Valley. Is it common for one winery to have land all over the place?
GB: Not many wineries have this much dirt – J farms 257 acres of vineyards checkerboarded throughout the Valley with over 20 different soil types in varying climates. This means I have a broad palette of flavors with which to make our wines.

SF: You’re in a band called Private Reserve with other wine guys. Do you drink beer or wine after the show?
GB: At practices and before gigs, we usually compare unreleased wines with each other. After playing drums hard on stage, though, believe me, nothing beats a cold beer.

http://scoopfactory.com/email/?content=2388&preview=true

90 Points - Wine Review Online for J Vineyards 2007 RRV Chardonnay!

This winery rarely fails to hit its mark. Well-known for its graceful, refined sparklers, its still wines tend to be equally good. They may not be the most exciting in California, but they consistently exhibit a stylish sophistication that is all too rare in Golden State wine. This Chardonnay provides a case in point. It exhibits plenty of ripe apple-tinged fruit, but it tempers its exuberance with crisp acidity and a spicy finish. Oak plays an appropriate supporting role, so the end result is extremely harmonious. This is not a blockbuster wine that demands your attention. Instead, it’s a suave, debonair charmer.

90 Paul Lukacs Oct 13, 2009

http://winereviewonline.com/wine_reviews.cfm

100 Perfect Pours - Robb Report for J Brut Rose NV & J Vineyards 2007 RRV Chardonnay!

FOUR STARS - Restaurant Wine for J Vineyards 2007 RRV Chardonnay!

FOUR STARS!
J Vineyards 2007 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley

Elegant in style; full bodied, crisp, finely flavored (pear, spicy, oak, grapefruit, toast), and medium long on the finish.

Very stylish Chardonnay.

90 Points - California Grapevine for J Vineyards 2007 RRV Chardonnay!

90 Points!

2007 J Vineyards Chardonnay, Russian River Valley

Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, floral, spicy, toasty, white peach and green apple aroma with hints of zest and honey; medium-full body; slightly viscous, buttery, tropical fruit flavors with a slightly creamy mouthfeel; lingering aftertaste.


Very highly recommended.

J Brut Magnum for Team Brut Force in Support of Multiple Sclerosis via Bike MS!

Team Brut Force had a great weekend at the MS150. We had a solid team of riders and we worked hard all weekend.

The weather was perfect and we were able to ride day one in 5 hours, 44 minutes. Actually, it was the MS 170 for our team. A missed turn added 8 miles to our ride for a total of 108! I am not going to lie, the first 10 miles of day two hurt, but by the second half of the ride we were ready to drop the hammer again. Banged out the 62 miles in 3 hours 19 minutes.

Totals over the two days - 9 hours of saddle time, 170 miles, total average ~19mph. I must say, we were driven on by some 'friendly' competition within Team Brut Force - our last place finisher took some good natured abuse. (Note: It wasn't me; I was on the Podium both days).

We all rode strong and hard and served a worthy cause. The J Champagne at the finish was fantastic! Thanks again!

I’ve attached some pictures of the team. We also took a picture of the top three team riders on “the podium”. (I was second. On the right)

Thanks again for your help and support! Marc O’Connor of Team Brut Force

What is the Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride?

Endorsed by ardent cyclists and novices alike, the ride offers a two-day fundraising ride through the beautiful surrounding countryside of Callaway Gardens and Pine Mountain, Georgia, a short distance from Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson Airport, with spectacular views and historic towns along the way. Georgia's Two-Day Cycling Tradition is a non-profit sporting event celebrating its 23rd year in the fight against multiple sclerosis benefiting the National MS Society-Georgia Chapter.

Like its sister ride, the Bike MS: Georgia Power Savannah Ride, the ride is reaching new heights in an effort to better the lives of all Georgians living with MS. By joining hundreds of riders, participants will be making a profound difference in the lives of people living with MS who are served by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Georgia Chapter. The Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride is one of two rides hosted by the National MS Society-Georgia Chapter and together will raise more than $1.4 million for client programs and research in 2009. Both rides are regarded by cycling enthusiasts as premier rides in Georgia with experienced management, well-coordinated routes, and special attention to riders' safety, comfort and enjoyment.

Proceeds from the ride will help support various programs that aid the 8,500 Georgians with MS and their families in all 159 counties of Georgia. The Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride also joins thousands of cyclists nationwide in raising $77 million in an effort to fund research and local client programs. By joining the movement and riding in the Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride, you have the power to create a world free of MS.

Ride History

Bike MS began winding through the spectacular beauty of Georgia's scenic routes in 1986, raising $40,000 in its first year and setting the ground for what is now the Georgia Chapter's largest annual fundraising event.

After spending the majority of its history nestled between Conyers and Eatonton, GA, Bike MS made a bold move for its 20th Anniversary and relocated to the stunning Callaway Gardens in 2006. This year, we're fortunate to have Cox Enterprises as our title sponsor.

For more information on this very rewarding and enjoyable fundraiser visit: http://www.bikemsatlanta.org/

And for more information on J Vineyards & Winery visit: www.jwine.com

Exceptional! Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences for J NV Cuvée 20

Exceptional!

NV J Sparkling Wine, Russian River Valley, “Cuvée 20” ($20): A fresh citrus aroma with notes of lees contact/dough, and a rich, soft mid-palate and finish. Lots of flavor in a wine that’s just a bit softer than J’s other vintage-dated wine. Best with spiced foods.