Some Gift Ideas for Golfers

We've just released a couple new wines that I'm really excited about. Actually a Tiger Woods fist pump for a 2004 Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2007 Merlot (we call it Mer-Moe)from Dry Creek Valley. They're excellent wines tasting like $25 bottles but as a special until the end of the month I'm doing $180 a case!

Just in time for the gift giving season we've got in these cool two bottle wooden boxes that are a great keep sake for you or a fun gift for a friend. Right now we're packing them with a bottle of our Cabernet Sauvignon and the Merlot along with some lucky golf tees.

With shipping the cost for the box and wine is $79. You can call us at 707-529-6458 if you'd like to order a set.

Check out the 19th Hole Wine website.

19th Hole Wine Club Event!

It's about time for a 19th Hole Wine Club event and with the Schwab Cup in Sonoma I thought we should piggy back watching a little golf with wine tasting in some real cool places in the Sonoma Valley.

Saturday, November 1, 2008, we'll start the day meeting at Deerfield Ranch Winery in Kenwood at 11:00 a.m.. You'll see where we produce 19th Hole Wine and walk the caves where we store the wine. You'll taste some of our new wines and some of the releases like our Cabernet Sauvignon and our tasty Red Blend.

Heading back toward Sonoma, about two miles, we'll have lunch at one of my favorite destinations and gems of the Sonoma Valley, Olive and Vine in the the Jack London Village in Glen Ellen. You'll also get to see and taste a few other treats next door from vendors in the village who make chocolate, cheese and olive oil (this is why I live here). About another mile down is parking for the golf tournament and we'll shuttle in to event where you see up close Fred Funk, Jay Haas and Jeff Sluman play flawless golf. You may stay until play finishes, about six o' clock, or leave whenever you wish.

The cost for the day is $60 and this covers the wine tasting, lunch and the ticket for the golf tournament.

Call me if you'd like to attend and I'll save you a ticket.

707-529-6458

Making Wine in Sonoma

In many places in the wine country as you drive or walk around you'll get the sweet and distinct fragrance of the fermentation taking place in the surrounding wineries. I love each year being a part of this wine making process. It has so many interesting and satisfying steps and I'm happy to share some of those with you.

We just wrapped up our harvest and now we wait for the grapes to turn its sugars into alcohol. This year we made 250 cases (or 3,000 bottles).

I shot a couple videos for the fun of it and for you to enjoy what I am lucky enough to experience. Making wine is truely a joy (well most of the time). I love to visit the vineyards during the year and watch the grapes grow. Tasting them as their getting closer to picking time.

The barrel room is also a favorite of mine, the combination of oak and wine is something I'm never tired of. I would love to have more meals in the cellar surrounded by the abundance of wine and the enticing smells (keep an eye out, I'll be doing a dinner in the cave at some point and everyone will be invited).

Pulling wine from the barrel with a wine thief (glass gadget that can sucks in wine for tasting) is something I do and relish during the entire year. It's a rough job but someone has to do it. You really do have to stay on top of the wine as it's on it's journey to be a finished wine. Is it oaked enough? How's the acid levels?

At the end of a long day, you pull a bottle from the past, pop it open and toast all it took to make that tasty glass of wine.

Harvest time in Sonoma

After quite a heat spell the weather has turned to foggy mornings and perfectly comfortable 80 degree afternoons. I'd say 30% of the grapes have been picked. I've got Chardonnay cooking down in fermentation and ready to press this weekend. The first of the month we'll be picking Cabernet and Merlot. I shot of my wine maker, Robert Rex owner of Deerfield Ranch Winery in Kenwood, walking the vineyard and describing what he's looking for in the ready-to-pick grape.



On the golf side Sonoma Golf Club is in great shape for the Schwab Cup next month. I'm going to put an event up for October 4 where we play some in the am and check out some of the wine production taking place at Deerfield. Until then!

Exploring the Wine World in Hong Kong

I'm exploring the Hong Kong Wine Expo and of course with the Olympics and all there is quite a buzz. In almost every restaurant there is a TV switched onto the Olympics with eye balls glued to ping pong matches or some other fringe sport us Americans rarely see.

The evolution of golf and wine in these region go hand in hand. Let's face it both are status hobbies. Enjoying or pretending to enjoy either tells folks you're sophisticated and who doesn't like to be perceived as sophisticated and worldly. The membership manager of the largest golf development in the world, Mission Hills (20 minutes outside of HK with over 12 golf courses) says the new members of the golf club have no idea how to conduct themselves on the golf course. How would you tell a 20 millionaire to "shape up"? How do you tell the same guy buying a bottle Chateau Petrus or Screaming Eagle that you can't mix it with a Coke?


It was very interesting learning from the people at the expo about the winemarket .
here. This is where the majority of the wine market is in Asia. At the same time I have friends in Korea whom I introduced to wine a few years back who have caught up and passed me with their palates. I expect the same to happen here and it's fun to see where it is starting from
On the business end most of you probably don't know that Hong Kong just did away with taxes on wine (before it had been 100% plus). HK wants to be the culinary center of Asia and by relaxing those tariffs, Big Brother or the central government in their infinate wisdom, just opened the door to welcome in more of the top wine producers.

California wines are way behind in the race to market to the Australian, French and other European wines. These countries have been creating relationships with vendors and consumers and the local palate has become very loyal to these wines. California wines are perceived as over priced. Still with some marketing prowess this stereo type will quickly be turned into a positive in the same way status rich brands such as Coach and Armani enjoy.

I'm hoping my first restaurant placement with 19th Hole wine is the City Golf Club driving range on the kowloon side of HK. This four deck ball-whacking haven is situated on some of the most valuable property in HK and the place is full of golfers all day long (6:00 am-midnight). These guys know their wines and also have a world class Thai restaurant on the same property. It might be fun putting a thumb tack on the map for Hong Kong.

July 19th Nine and Wine a Blast!

After playing a deviously challenging executive nine in Sebastopol (most of the holes were par threes but they 200 yards plus and they had tiny greens). We scooted over to the winery for some refreshing tastes of a 2005 Sauvignon Blanc. On hand was a friend of my father, Danny Chung, who happens to be a Master Sommelier (fewer than 200 in the US). So discussions of wine was at a higher level than normal.

After lunch at the winery long table, we enjoyed tasting some futures wine in the cellar room. We tried Malbecs, Merlots, Cabs and even Ports. At the end we filled a few bottles and our guests not only corked the bottles but labeled them too. Just another golf and wine event with the 19th Hole Wine Club. Come out for the next one!

Wine Business Investment Opportunities

19th Hole Wines is gaining traction in the local private club market and being introduced next month to the Asian market (which is exploding for wine and golf). I need funding to help ramp up production and assist with marketing and sales efforts. The model I have constructed is for a 10,000 case production and sales of whites and reds at a custom crush facility in the Sonoma Valley.

If you'd like to discuss these further my phone number is 707-529-6458.