Hosted by Cyndi Edwards of Daytime TV
September 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Join J Vineyards & Winery on Sunday, October 24 in the Russian River Valley for the 7th Annual "Pinot On The River" Grand Tasting
PINOT ON THE RIVER 2010!
PINOT, PIZZA, BBQ, CHEESE, CHOCOLATE & more.
Join J Vineyards & Winery on Sunday, October 24 in the Russian River Valley for the 7th Annual "Pinot On The River" Grand Tasting
J Vineyards & Winery will be pouring:
Pinot on the River 2010 event will be held at Rodney Strong Vineyards in Healdsburg, CA
Purchase your tickets:
(wine, cheese & chocolate tasting)
Pizza, BBQ & Desserts available for purchase
(11 AM VIP) or 12 noon to 4 p.m. - Artisanal Pinot Noir Grand Tasting
Taste current releases, special bottlings and library wines from over 100 top Pinot producers from the
West Coast at this festival tasting.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Sonoma County will be conducting a Magnum Silent Auction & Door Prize.
Participating Artisan Cheese Vendors:
Nicasio Valley Cheese Co. - Redwood Hill Farm - Shamrock Artisan Goat Cheese
Marin French Cheese Co.- Cypress Grove Chevre - Cheese Plus
Valley Ford Cheese Co. - Cabot Creamery Cooperative
Music on the Terrace at J Vineyards & Winery
September 25, 2010
1:00pm - 4:00pm
J Vineyards & Winery Terrace
Robert Thomas Webber
Always a favorite of our J guests, Adam Lieb and his band will join us on Saturday, September 25th to perform with special guest Robert Thomas Webber.
Relax on the fountain terrace and listen as Adam & Robert perform your favorite rock & roll hits, as well as some of their own compositions from 1pm to 4pm.
Naturally, we’ll be pouring the pinot noir from the Robert Thomas Vineyard for you to sip as you enjoy the music and celebrate harvest in the Russian River Valley Wine Country!
No additional charge for this event, and no reservations required.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
J VINEYARDS & WINERY WRAPS UP SPARKLING WINE HARVEST
J Vineyards & Wine ry Wraps Up Sparkling Wine Harvest
J Vineyards & Winery concluded its 2010 Russian River Valley sparkling wine harvest with a flourish this past Tuesday.
Pinot Noir grapes destined for Cuvée 20 and Brut Rosé were hand-picked in the early morning hours from “Nicole’s Vineyard,” the winery’s Russian River Valley estate located on Eastside Road. A load of Chardonnay from the “Ross Ranch Vineyard” near Sebastopol brought a close to what J Winemaker George Bursick is describing as “a very compressed harvest.”
Heavy coastal fog and low clouds have shrouded the region for most of the summer, pushing the annual grape harvest back about three to four weeks. Temperatures did warm up in early September helping to jumpstart the sluggish harvest. With the sparkling wine grapes safely fermenting in the winery, the varietal wine harvest throughout J’s ten Russian River Valley estate vineyards is expected to continue into early October.
“Though yields are down about 10%, tasting the Pinot Noir grapes now at the winery, we find them to be delicately balanced with luscious aromatics of raspberry and strawberry,” said Bursick. “This harvest appears to have similarities to the 1999 vintage, which was also a late harvest. The wines from 1999 were delicate and delicious.”
The winery, located on Old Redwood Highway south of Healdsburg, focuses on Brut and Brut Rosé sparkling wines, as well as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris varietal wines, produced from grapes farmed primarily within Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley appellation.
Founded by Judy Jordan in 1986, J Vineyards & Winery is an independently-owned Sonoma County winery. J will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary next year. To learn more, or to join the J Wine Club, please call (707) 431-3646, or go to www.jwine.com.
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER ENJOYS GLASS OF J BRUT ROSÉ DURING ASIA TRADE MISSION
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Enjoys Glass of J Brut Rosé During Asia Trade Mission
TOKYO, JAPAN — (September 16, 2010) — California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was seen reaching for a glass of J Brut Rosé sparkling wine during a party this past weekend held at the private Tokyo residence of John Roos, the U.S. Ambassador to Japan.
The Governor, a dedicated promoter of California technology, tourism, and wine, is on a weeklong trade mission to China, Japan and Korea. J Vineyards & Winery sells its Russian River Valley Cuvée 20 and Brut Rosé sparkling wines, as well as its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Gris estate varietal wines, in several Asian markets, including Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea.
Founded by Judy Jordan in 1986, J Vineyards & Winery is an independently-owned Sonoma County winery. J will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary next year. To learn more, or to join the J Wine Club, please call (707) 431-3646, or go to www.jwine.com.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
J VINEYARDS & WINERY 2010 HARVEST KICKS INTO HIGH GEAR
J VINEYARDS & WINERY 2010 HARVEST KICKS INTO HIGH GEAR
HEALDSBURG, CALIFORNIA— (August 25, 2010) — With the arrival of warmer weather along Sonoma County’s coastal hills and valleys, the 2010 grape harvest at J Vineyards & Winery kicked into high gear. Harvest crews were busy picking Pinot Noir grapes from J’s “Nicole’s” and “Robert Thomas” Russian River Valley estate vineyards throughout the early morning hours, arriving just in time for a short “Blessing of the Grapes” ceremony at the winery.
Heavy coastal fog and low clouds shrouded the region in June, July, and most of August, pushing the annual grape harvest back about three weeks. Temperatures, however, began to spike warmer this week, pushing the coastal clouds offshore and helping grapes destined for sparkling wine to mature to their desired ripeness and bright acidity. The varietal wine harvest throughout J’s ten Russian River Valley estate vineyards is expected to begin by mid-September.
“We finally hit our optimum sugar levels for sparkling wine,” said J Viticulturalist John Erbe. “We will continue concentrating on sparkling wine for the next three weeks, and then follow up with a three-week harvest of our grapes bound for varietal wines.”
With the harvest delayed due to the unusually cool weather, both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay appear to be ripening on a parallel path. Such a compressed, rigorous harvest can push a winery to its limits. At J Vineyards & Winery, a complex “battle plan” has been put in place by winemaker George Bursick to make both the sparkling wine and varietal wine harvest transition smoothly.
“J’s ‘two wineries under one roof’ production concept comes naturally to our team,” said George Bursick, Vice President of Winemaking. “Everyone has a key role — whether making sparkling wine or varietal wines — to ensure that the grapes John Erbe has nurtured are turned into extraordinary wines.”
“Mother Nature definitely threw us a curve ball this year; however, the extended grape hang-time has allowed for some stunning flavors to develop. Everyone at the winery is excited about vintage 2010’s quality,” Bursick added.
The winery, located on Old Redwood Highway south of Healdsburg, focuses on Brut and Brut Rosé sparkling wines, as well as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris varietal wines, produced from grapes farmed primarily within Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley appellation.
The winery, founded by Judy Jordan in 1986, will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary next year.
To learn more about the winery, or to join the J Wine Club, please call (707) 431-3646, or go to www.jwine.com.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Pam & Alan Bergstrom in support of Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute with J Vineyards Cycling Jerseys!
Pam & Alan Bergstrom
Attached is a picture of us at a rest stop during the ride. Thank you again!
Kind regards,
Pam & Alan Bergstrom
Mountain Stream Farm
New Jersey
Livestrong Cycling Jersey - J Vineyards
The Lance Armstrong Foundation is a registered non-profit organization located in Austin, TX which was established in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist, Lance Armstrong. The LAF unites, inspires and empowers people with cancer.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Judy Jordan is blazing her own trail through J Vineyards & Winery in the Russian River Valley
By
Taking over a successful family business sounds like a cush job most people dream of…key word being “most!” Judy Jordan, daughter of Jordan Winery founder Tom Jordan, decided to take a different path, founding her own business, J Vineyards and Winery, in 1986. Her intention was to honor her family’s heritage and capture the essence of California’s Russian River Valley through the production of world class sparkling and single varietal wines.
Judy Jordan, J Founder & President
Approved as an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1983, the highly acclaimed Russian River Valley is found along the Western side of Sonoma County before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. The region is blessed with long, steady growing seasons thanks to its proximity to the ocean and cooling effects created by a blanket of fog that blankets its vineyards in the morning hours. These conditions have allowed the Russian River to build a name for itself with the Burgundian varietals, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Presently the Russian River Valley has approximately 15,000 acres under vine, is home to about 150 wineries and over 200 growers. This competition has led to some stiff competition among Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producers, and J Vineyards has risen to the challenge.
For almost 25 years, J Vineyards had been focusing on producing their signature, sparkling wines. Recently, however, they’ve added a new collection to their varietal-series of wines, including an Alsatian specialty, Pinot Gris. I recently had the pleasure of receiving a sampling of these new releases.
2009 J Vineyards California Pinot Gris: This crisp, refreshing white is 100% Pinot Gris sourced primarily from the Russian River Valley. Whole grape clusters are gently pressed to minimize the extraction of harsh components from the skins and seeds. This wine had a delightfully citrusy nose and zesty lemon-lime on the palate with great acidity and tart, refreshing mineral finish. Fermented in stainless steel to preserve its fresh flavors and varietal character, this bottling is conveniently sealed with a Stelvin closure. This is the ideal wine to pair with oysters, grilled shrimp or a beautiful plateau de fruits de mer.
2007 J Vineyards Russian River Valley Chardonnay: This elegant expression of Russian River Valley Chard is 100% barrel-fermented and aged in 60-gallon Burgundian oak barrels (40% new). A six-month malolactic fermentation is then carried out, resulting in a creamy, rich, sur lie character. Enticing aromas of butterscotch, tropical fruit and toasted hazelnuts were followed by rich, complex layers of fruit, spice and minerality with a creamy mouthfeel and long, lingering finish. Pair this full bodied wine with decadent dishes such as Lobster Mac and Cheese dusted with freshly grated nutmeg and you are all set! 
2007 J Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir: While the Russian River Valley is known for its fabulous Chardonnay, Pinot Noir is its hallmark! A variety of Pinot Noir clones were used to produce this wine in order to convey a comprehensive expression of Russian River Valley Pinot. Aged for 15 months in French oak barrels (30% new), this wine spends another six months in the bottle prior to release. In the glass, this wine was a classic, translucent ruby red color with alluring aromas of ripe cherries, violets and earth. On the palate, ripe black cherries, cassis and cocoa mingled with a sexy, earthy spice that was executed in an elegant, yet restrained style. Executive Chef for J Vineyards & Winery, Mark Caldwell, recommends pairing this delicious Pinot Noir with Wild Mushroom Duxelles or Seared Lamb Loin with Black Truffle Tapenade – I’d do what the man says!Ranging in price from $16-$35, these new offerings from J Vineyards and Winery represent lovely expressions of Russian River Valley terroir. Better yet, these can be found at an approachable price, whereas much of their neighbor’s wines have seen their prices soar. This winery also subscribes to the philosophy that food and wine are meant to be enjoyed together (gotta love that).
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
THE 2010 RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY GRAPE HARVEST DELAYED BY COLD WEATHER
The summer of 2010 has been an exceptional year for growing redwood trees and rhododendrons; however, the unusually cold weather has proved to be a challengefor wine grapes.
Those who farm Sonoma County vineyards along the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley have seen temperatures hover in the 60s and 70s, as opposed to 80s and 90s, for most of the growing season. At this point, the unusual weather pattern has had only positive effects on the quality of the fruit slowly growing on the vines. The late start to grape maturation, however, has growers concerned about wrapping up the harvest before the fall rains appear in October.
While much of the nation wilts under high temperatures, a low-pressure weather system has been parked off the North Coast of California, pumping moderating air and coastal fog into the hills and valleys of Sonoma County throughout June and July.
“We pride ourselves on growing grapes in the cool climate of the Russian River Valley,” says J Viticulturalist John Erbe, “but this cold summer weather has put the brakes on a harvest that typically would have already started.”
John Erbe, J Viticulturalist
“Verasion is taking place in most of our Pinot Noir vineyards, and that generally means we will begin harvest in about 30-45 days,” says Erbe. “Our concerns will ease should a warmer summer weather pattern arrive. At this stage, we expect to be picking grapes for our sparkling wine just before Labor Day, a good two to three weeks late.”
Verasion in Nicole’s Vineyard
J Vineyards & Winery is one of the few producers in California to make both sparkling and varietal wines. Located on Old Redwood Highway south of Healdsburg, J focuses on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, farmed on its ten estate vineyards sprinkled throughout the Russian River Valley. In recent years an emphasis has been placed on developing a varietal wine program uniquely separate from its famed sparkling wines.
The winery, founded by Judy Jordan in 1986, will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary next year. To learn more about the winery, or to join the J Wine Club, please call (707) 431-3646, or go to www.jwine.com.
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