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| October 2003
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Monterey •
Mendocino
• NapaValley
• Santa
Barbara
Santa Cruz
• Sonoma •
WineCountry
• San
Luis Obispo
Gold Country
• Virginia
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Spotlight
Niebaum-Coppola
"The Grapes are Coming"
October is a crucial time at the Niebaum-Coppola Estate. Harvest is at its peak with the small berried, late ripening Cabernet Sauvignon that makes this Estate and the Rutherford appellation famous reaching its optimal ripeness. To capture the essence of this grape our full time harvest crew hand selects vine by vine only the best Cabernet to produce our flagship wine, Rubicon. We welcome you to visit during this time and see the Cabernet being crushed in our new winemaking facility, the Rubicon Winery.
In addition to wine, we offer many specialty food and exclusive retail items only available at the Winery or online at: store.niebaum-coppola.com. We're offering first-time web shoppers a 15% discount on all online purchases made from now until Nov. 1, 2003. Simply enter the coupon code FRN33 before you begin your online shopping. For additional assistance please contact us at: service@niebaum-coppola.com. Cheers and see you soon!
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Spotlight
Quality Inn-Petaluma
Wireless in the Wine Country !
The Quality Inn-Petaluma invites you to pack up your grape stompin' shoes, windbreaker, golf clubs and laptop to come stay with us in the wine country! Located 38 miles north of San Francisco with easy access to Napa and Sonoma wineries, Pacific coast beaches and golf courses, antique and art galleries, redwood forests and pumpkin patches.
The charming inn has 110 spacious guest rooms and suites with in-room coffee makers and small refrigerators, modem-friendly phones, free local calls, and free "Primestar" TV. Other guest amenities include a deluxe complimentary continental breakfast daily in our sunny lobby, free wireless internet connectivity, on-site guest coin laundry, fitness room, outdoor heated pool and spa, dry heat sauna.
Come for the crush, the coast, the courses or the pumpkins…and stay comfortable, stay convenient and stay connected at the Quality Inn-Petaluma.
Reserve on-line or call 707-664-1155. Three-diamond AAA rated, Choice Hotels Gold Award Winner. Pet-friendly.
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Spotlight
The Yountville Inn
Winter in the Wine Country October 30 - March 31, 2004
Visit the Napa Valley during a "time less traveled" this Winter Season. Enjoy great room rates starting at $175 at the Yountville Inn! During this time of year guests will be able to visit the local tasting rooms, secure restaurant reservations and move about the valley in a leisurely fashion.
Nestled into the lush landscape of Hopper Creek, the Yountville Inn provides visitors with a warm and welcoming experience indicative of wine country hospitality. The fieldstone exteriors with slate entryways, wood beamed vaulted ceilings and luxurious furnishings please the most seasoned traveler.
Guestrooms are appointed with king or queen beds, fieldstone fireplace, robes, refrigerator, honor bar, coffee maker, patio, balcony or high vaulted ceiling. A complimentary California breakfast is served each morning, and the large heated pool and spa are open until midnight. In-room massage is available, as well as nearby golf, bocce ball and spa services.
Visit www.yountvilleinn.com for information and special promotions.
707.944.5600
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Wine Country Tours
Your Guides to Wine Country Travel
Planning a Special Event or Tour in the Wine
Country? Let the experts invest in your celebration –
each in their own unique way!
Sonoma Wine Tours
Experience Sonoma
Wine Tours ~ specializing in private, dynamic tours with
access to exclusive wineries and reserve rooms. Relax in an
intimate atmosphere where owners, Soussan Talegahni-Rudel and
her husband Norby Rudel, are dedicated to helping others experience
the beauty and essence of the Northern California wine culture.
They offer the finest quality tours and services at a good value
while educating, informing and entertaining their customers.
Soussan and Norby always conduct their own tours, never hiring
drivers and guides. Sonoma Wine Tours provides unique, dynamic
services that can be added on to any tour, such as Wine Education
Classes – an educational hour on food and wine pairing.
Or, for an evening you will never forget, let Soussan plan a
private and exclusive dinner at a winery. Sonoma Wine Tours
can customize any tour or event to meet and exceed each client's
request. Explore the beauty and romance of Sonoma, Napa and
Mendocino wine regions with Sonoma
Wine Tours.
Wine Country Tours Virginia
 Presenting
Virginia Wine Country Limousine
Tours! Guests can now enjoy safe and affordable wine tasting
tours to regional wineries, restaurants and cultural destinations
in Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland. They offer a diverse
selection of vehicles ranging from sedans, stretch limousines,
HUM-V Limousines, mini-coaches, and large motor coaches. Leave
the choice of wineries based on your palate, driving, and stress
to them while their drivers whisk you away to your perfect day!
Wine Country Tours is the only company in the world that has
its chauffeurs & hospitality drivers trained by a University
of California Davis Enologist, making them the true experts
in the Virginia Wine Country! Guests receive special VIP treatment
at participating wineries, such as reserved tastings, private
tours and complimentary hors d'oeuvres. Wine
Country Tours also offers wine tasting gourmet luncheons,
corporate outings, romantic rendezvous, wedding transportation/coordination,
gourmet wine dinners, or nights-on-the-town—or an evening
on their Yacht with award-winning Virginia wines! Voted Best
of the Best by readers of Washingtonian Magazine.
Viviani, Inc. Napa
 Founded
in 1980, Viviani,
Inc. has become one of the most respected destination management
companies and remains at the forefront of event planning in
Northern California. Specializing in comprehensive events, planning,
seminars, teambuilding, activities, executive retreats, corporate
or incentive programs, and individual travel – Viviani’s
innovative staff always designs a unique experience. A dedicated
team of designers, florists and entertainers are assembled to
create themes as elaborate as Tuscan feasts, Venetian carnivals,
bacchanals, or cave operas. Viviani will get you there in class
with your choice of stretch limousines, full size motor coaches
to antique cars, or the new Hummer 2! Viviani, Inc. is proud
to be the only Virtuoso On-site in Northern California. They
customize exclusive itineraries for the clientele of the top
independent luxury travel agencies, who specialize in elite
travel around the world. Service is the focus of Viviani,
Inc. Allow them to exceed your expectations.
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WineVision Survey
Complete the WineVision Survey and You Could Win
up to $200 Cash!
 WineVision:
American Wine in the 21st Century is conducting a nationwide
wine consumption survey on behalf of the wine community. They
need to hear from wine drinkers of all sorts—frequent,
occasional or even those who rarely take a sip of the Wine Country's
finest.
Do you drink wine, even infrequently? Does your
spouse, friend or mom? If you answered yes to any of the above,
please help WineVision obtain additional responses by completing
their survey. The survey (check the scrollbar on the bottom
left of the WineVision.org
home page) already has attracted nearly 5,000 responses (making
it the largest U.S. wine consumer survey ever done!), but the
responses so far have been mostly from regular drinkers.
They are not trying to sell anything and your
name and/or email address will not be used for any purpose other
than this study. In exchange for your time you will be entered
in a drawing to win a $200.00 cash prize or one of three $100
cash prizes. You will be notified via email within 45 days if
you are one of the winners.
Thank you in advance for helping WineVision
build a bridge between the wine industry and its customers.
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Featured Sponsor
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E-Postcards - Greetings From The Wine Country!
Do you find you can't stop reading email, even while on holiday in the Wine Country? Or perhaps you are a virtual visitor, planning for that glorious day you find yourself among the vines, discovering treasures in the cellars and tasting rooms! While online send a Wine Country e-postcard to friends and family! Visit WineCountry.com E-Postcards and build a postcard from five beautiful photographs and your own personal message.
Now you won't return from vacation before your "Wish You Were Here" postcards arrive!
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News Flash!
 Sniff,
Swirl, Vote
The office of California’s Secretary of
State, which is overseeing the state’s upcoming, stranger-than-fiction
gubernatorial recall election, has announced it has approved
a last-minute addition to the ballot. Responding to a legal
challenge from numerous Zinfanatics – rabid consumers
of the state’s signature wine, Zinfandel – the Secretary
of State is permitting the candidacy of a mystery man named
the Czar of Zinfandel (COZ), whose campaign slogan apparently
is "Elect me, for I have zinned."
Spice E. Berry, leader of the last-ditch effort
to get COZ on the ballot, says, "COZ is a natural. He’s
been making great Zinfandel in the Sierra foothills for over
20 years, in the process making lots of Californians very happy.
I think we all can agree that Zinfandel is the right choice
for just about everything – burgers, barbecue, budget
deficits, you name it. COZ is a candidate everyone will rally
around, especially after we pass out big glasses of his wine
at polling places. Our message will be simple: Sniff, Swirl,
Vote."
Although the COZ’s identity has yet to be
revealed, Sacramento is buzzing with rumors that the mystery
candidate may be Jeffrey B. Meyers, longtime winemaker at Montevina
Winery in Amador County.  When
reached at his spartan log cabin in the small Amador burg of
Plymouth, Meyers denied he was COZ, but said if he were, he’d
have no trouble trouncing Arnold, Cruz, Peter, Tom, or any of
the ballot’s other wacko candidates.
"Think what these people would serve at
state dinners," Meyers fumed. "If Arnold wins, it’ll
be Grüner Vetliner. Have you ever tried that stuff. Ugh!
If McClintock wins - well, obviously, it will be white and cheap.
Gray? Thin, insipid Vin Gris, naturally. And God forbid Peter
Camejo gets elected. How would you like to drink Green wine?
"I don’t know who this Czar guy is,
although I hear he’s brilliant and good-looking. The effete
white and pinko wine crowd will probably try to Cruzify him,
but they should keep in mind what the Wine Bible says: "He
who is without zin, let him hang the first chad."
VOTE EARLY! VOTE OFTEN! VOTE COZ!
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Featured Sponsor
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The Wine Buzz Newsletter!
DrinkWine.com, a WineCountry.com portal, is proud to announce The Wine Buzz, a new email newsletter where the focus is on All Things Wine! This quarterly bulletin will bring to the serious wine lover a Wine of the Quarter, the latest wine news, inspirational food and wine pairing suggestions, drawings and select wine related events. The launch date is October 15th - so sign up now for the premiere issue of this exciting new electronic publication at: www.drinkwine.com/forms/news.html
Now you won't return from vacation before your "Wish You Were Here" postcards arrive!
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Wine Country Featured Destination
 Wine
Country Lodging at The Yountville Inn
Next time you take a trip to the
Napa Valley, consider exploring Yountville and staying at the
wonderfully situated
Yountville Inn. A recent stay at the Inn was a relaxing
experience and put us close to many valley activities. Yountville
Inn is within strolling distance of the great shopping and delicious
restaurants located in this quaint town, and the valley's wineries
are only a short drive as well!
The extremely spacious rooms will surprise frequent
travelers who may be used to cramped quarters. Yountville Inn
provides room to spread out and relax! King beds, vaulted ceilings
and large fieldstone fireplaces are complemented by plush amenities.
Some rooms include French doors with outdoor patios. The quiet
creek-side setting and beautiful landscaping invite one to relax
in casual elegance. There is a heated pool and spa to further
tempt you into relaxation mode. Just remember, technically you
are not considered a couch potato if you’re sitting outside!
 A
sumptuous breakfast is served each morning, with the option
of guest room delivery by request. The staff is courteous and
helpful, and can assist you in planning a full day in the Napa
Valley. They are eager to make sure your Wine Country experience
is most delightful, even helping with reservations for your
adventures. Upon returning from your day, be sure to stop by
the "Club Room" where the Inn features a local winery
on Friday nights for a complimentary wine tasting!
The intimate retreat setting of Yountville
Inn also is an extraordinary place for a group conference.
The staff at the Inn is extremely professional and specializes
in small groups, assisting with the planning, catering, and
presentation needs for your Executive Conference.
Whether you are traveling the Wine Country for
business or pleasure, the Yountville Inn is the perfect setting
of elegance and beauty–tucked away in the Napa Valley.
For more information on Yountville Inn visit www.yountvilleinn.com!
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Wine Country Recipe
WILD MUSHROOM CROSTINI
Each November, the Mendocino Wine
& Mushroom Fest, a county-wide celebration of two of Mendocino's
products - fine wine and magnificent mushrooms! Events include
winemaker dinners, cooking classes, guided mushroom walking
tours, demonstrations, exhibits, special winter lodging rates,
and featured cuisines.
 This
year's Mendocino Wine & Mushroom Fest will be held November
12-24.
Here is a recipe from last year:
WILD MUSHROOM CROSTINI
Courtesy of the Joshua Grindle
Inn
Makes approximately 24 crostini
5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 pounds mushrooms, trimmed, brushed clean and finely chopped
1/3 cup finely diced shallots
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon fresh tarragon, minced
1 teaspoon fresh thyme, minced
2 cups Mendocino County dry white wine
one baguette
Heat three tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet set
over medium heat, and sauté mushrooms until golden, about
ten minutes. Add shallots, garlic and herbs and sauté
two minutes longer, taking care not to let the garlic brown.
Add wine, and simmer until mushrooms are tender and liquid has
thickened.
Slice baguette thinly and brush each side of the
slices using the remaining two tablespoons of olive oil. Grill
bread (or toast in oven) turning once, until toasted on both
sides.
Serve mushrooms on grilled baguette slices.
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Wine Country Featured Events
Things to Do in the Wine Country:
November 18 - 23 -- Callaway
Golf Pebble Beach Invitational
The Callaway Golf Pebble Beach International Invitational is
golf's only head-to-head competition among PGA, LPGA, Champions
and Nationwide Tour players for the same purse. As always, this
32nd playing will be held on Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass
Hill Golf Course and Del Monte Golf Course.
Fee: Please Call Time: Please
Call Phone Number: 831-625-8575
For a complete calendar
of events by region, visit: Gold
Country, Mendocino,
Monterey,
Napa Valley, San
Luis Obispo, Santa
Barbara, Santa
Cruz, Sonoma
County, Virginia
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WineCountry.com Info
WineCountry.com
Contest:
 For
all the Food & Wine Lover’s out there…. Now’s
your chance to show your stuff! WineCountry.com would like to
offer you the opportunity to enter your favorite Wine Country
inspired recipe in our contest!
The best Wine Country recipe will be determined
by our editorial staff, and the winner will receive a prize,
and their winning recipe published in our next Newsletter! (By
submitting your recipe, you are granting Freerun Technologies
the right to include it in our newsletters and on our web sites).
The winner receives either 2 WineCountry.com
T-shirts or 2 WineCountry.com Riedel Wine Glasses
!
To enter the contest:
1. Click
here and fill out the entry form! It’s that
simple!
** Deadline for response is 8:00 am (Pacific Daylight
Savings Time) November 17, 2003**
***No purchase necessary.
To participate you must be 21 years of age or older. Only one
entry per person permitted. Prize is same as cash, Freerun Technologies,
Inc/WineCountry.com is not responsible if lost or stolen. Winner
name and state of residence will be announced in a future issue
of WineCountry.com Lifestyle Online newsletter. Employees of
FreeRun echnologies are ineligible. Void where prohibited.
WineCountry.com Info...
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