Hospice du Rhône

December 13, 2010

Hospice du Rhone has MoJo!

Greetings to the Rhône Obsessed!

We have some hot news for you. Our news spans from newest addition to the 2011 Seminar Series to Rhône wine and food pairings for this busy holiday season. What are you waiting for? Get reading!

MOrgan and JOey Join the Show
Joining the stellar 2011 Seminar Series will be Joey Tensley of Tensley representing the Santa Barbara growing region and from another famous corner of California will be Morgan Twain-Peterson of Bedrock Wine Co. sharing tastes from the North Coast. Both tout a strong obsession with Syrah and a passion for multiple vineyard sourcing. Together they will share their Syrahs and additional Rhône varieties along with stories of how they have become staunch Rhône advocates and winemakers.

Rhône for the Holidays
We are a lucky bunch, yes we are. Why? Well, Rhône wines are extremely versatile when it comes to the vast selections of holiday dishes we will encounter this month. As you party hop, take a Rhône wine or two with you to share with friends and family. Head to our blog for a few tidbits on Viognier, Mourvèdre and Syrah along with food pairing suggestions.

Hashtag Central
For you Twitter folks out there we would like to announce our official #Hashtag for the 2011 event! Drum roll please, it is…#HdR2011. Use this Hashtag when tweeting so that all can easily search to see what the current Rhône buzz is. If you do not tweet, jump on board with us. It is a fun way to stay up-to-date on items of interest to you.

Give the Gift of Rhône
The time is now to grab your wine lover a pass to attend the annual event! We will even send you a certificate to wrap for the lucky recipient.

Have a happy and safe holiday season!

Cheers,
The Hospice du Rhône Team

Comments [0]

November 5, 2010

It's Noon

At last, the opportunity to present Noon Winery at Hospice du Rhône has arrived. We are excited to announce the first seminar, in our series of four, will feature Drew Noon of Noon Winery hailing from McLaren Vale, Australia.

Throughout the present growing season, Drew and Rae Noon will record all aspects of the season as they occur. They will carefully document all the physiological stages, overlaying and describing the important climate data. You will have the opportunity to taste the wines from this vintage as well as past vintages. This unique opportunity will allow us to vicariously experience the development of an Eclipse.

No on Winery is a small family-owned winery making only red wines and concentrating on full-bodied styles with minimal processing. Their vineyards include a 4.2 ha Grenache block, planted in 1934 and 1943. From this incredible property they produce about 2,500 cases of wine annually.

Drew and Rae run their two-person show, with some help from family and friends. Their predecessor was Drew’s father, David, who handed over the reins to Drew and Rae in 1996.

Join us at the 19th Annual Hospice du Rhône celebration April 28-30, 2011 as we welcome Drew to this Rhône loving community– with eager minds and palates.

Comments [1]

June 22, 2010

Show a Little Leg with Social Media!

Don’t be shy, Social Media won’t bite. Really, it won’t. Just take it one step at a time and don’t get in a hurry. Watch what others are doing and create a program that will fit the personality of your business.

At Hospice du Rhône we just love Social Media. If there is a day without Tweeting or a Facebook post, then it has been a very busy day in the office. For us, Social Media is an awareness builder. This has been our goal from launching our program and continues to be to this day. We thrive on this instant communication tool that allows us to shoot out information and receive information on what is happening out there in our greater Rhône loving community.

When our program began, in the winter of 2009, we jumped in with an open mind and an overall idea of what we thought we wanted to accomplish. We never could have imagined where we would go in one year. We have so many newfound friendships, an iPhone application and have held online tastings in multiple countries all at once! Today, we continue to explore, develop and execute programs within the Social Media world. We find this communication tool effective in reaching a varied demographic and we find that we learn something new each day.

Tomorrow, our Communications Director, Faith Wells will be speaking on Social Media at a seminar hosted by the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Tourism Council. Faith will speak specifically as to how Social Media has been integrated into the overall communication plan at Hospice du Rhône during the past year. Her discussion will include how we developed focused online Rhône tastings hosted through TasteLive.com to launching the first wine event/organization iPhone application, iRhône. We are excited for this opportunity and are in hopes that we will encourage other businesses and individuals to take their Social Media platform to another level.

Before we depart, do know it is okay to take small steps. Watch what others are doing out there. Ask questions and know that you will learn something new each day, as this is an ever-changing communication tool. So with this we say, show a little leg with Social Media.

Comments [0]

May 26, 2010

The "After Tasting Tasting"

The "After Tasting Tasting." What it is? It is an opportunity that comes
around once a year to those in the wine trade on the Central Coast. It is
an opportunity to taste, discuss and explore Rhône wines from all wine
producing regions in California. The "After Tasting Tasting" is a result
of Robert Parker, Jr.'s annual California Rhône Wine Review.

Last week we had the pleasure to once again host Robert Parker, Jr. for
his annual California Rhône Wine Review. This was the eighth year he has
called upon Hospice du Rhône to coordinate this annual tasting. A tasting
that stretches over three days and encompasses over 400 California Rhône
wines. At his request, the focus at this year's tasting was on California
Rhône wines from the 2008 vintage with late releases from the 2007
vintage.

Each day, Mr. Parker tastes through an average of 140 wines. Our role is
to arrive early, to the tasting venue, set-up the tasting and then leave
the room so he can do what he does best. After hours have passed he
emerges from the tasting and we head in to pack-up. In the end, we are
left with nearly full bottles of Rhône wines.

Alas, the "After Tasting Tasting" was born. For the past eight years, we
have worked with local Central Coast wineries to hold the three-day "After
Tasting Tasting." So, on the day Parker tastes wines A-H so does the wine
trade; just in a different location and with industry peers. Open to all
wine trade in the region or wine trade who happen to be passing through
this is a three-day opportunity to taste a versatile group of Rhône wines
with a specific vintage focus from throughout California. These tastings
allow those in attendance to expand or even begin their quest of exploring
the world of Rhône.

We hope those in attendance enjoyed the three "After Tasting Tastings" as
much as we did. So, until the next "After Tasting Tasting," cheers!

*The Robert Parker, Jr. California Rhône Wine Review comes open every
spring. Hospice du Rhône does its best to collect emails for all
California Rhône producers but with so many new producers coming on board
we know we don't have them all. To add your email to this notification
list please email hdrinfo@hospicedurhone.org.

Comments [1]

April 12, 2010

Hospice du Rhone has an App for That!

We are thrilled to announce the Hospice du Rhône application for your iDevice! With over 1000 Rhône wines and over 140 international Rhône producers and importers you will never be at a lost for Rhône wines when at the event or at home. From inside the application you will be able sort by attending producers, variety and region or filter by any combination of the three. Tweet from inside the application to share your tasting notes or adventures at the event. Try your hand at a variety quiz, chart your course with our event schedule and much more! Download iRhône today from your iDevice or iTunes. Search Hospice du Rhône for this free Rhône guide! In the coming days, updates to this application will occur which will give you even more sorting ability and interactive elements!

Comments [0]

March 26, 2010

The Rhônes are Coming! The Rhônes are Coming!

At the end of April, Rhône wine producers from throughout the world and enthusiasts alike will converge in Paso Robles, California for the 18th Annual Hospice du Rhône Celebration! Throughout the weekend attendees will explore the wondrous international world of Rhône through wine, food, discussion and of course fun.

We can hardly wait until the end of April when we are able to divulge in wines from around the globe, taste food created with the Rhône wines in mind and enjoy wines handpicked by the attending Sommeliers. Due to our excitement we are going to applaud the 22 Rhône varieties with 22 Days of Rhône beginning March 31, 2010!

Over the course of 22 days (weekdays only) the HdR team will hold online Rhône wine tastings, test your Rhône knowledge with trivia questions, reveal super top-secret information about the upcoming event and so much more. So be sure to watch your inbox often and check our Facebook and Twitter pages daily as you never know what we will reveal, reward or Rhône about during the 22 Days of Rhône.

To kick-off the 22 Days of Rhône, the Rhônes will take over TasteLive.com for four online Rhône wine tasting events and we want you to join us! Each Wednesday, we encourage you to grab a bottle and login online to discuss the featured Rhône variety. Then during the two hour tasting window we will tweet about flavor profiles, regions, winemaking styles, vineyard techniques, food pairings and so much more.

22 Days of Rhône Variety Tastings
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. PST – Featured Variety: Syrah
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. PST – Featured Variety: Viognier
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. PST – Featured Variety: Grenache
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. PST – Feature wine: Rhône Red Blends

Tasting Guidelines:
1. Pick up a bottle of the featured Rhône variety
2. Gather with friends, at home, a restaurant, winery or local wine bar
3. Tweet about the variety, flavor profile and more on TasteLive.com or Twitter.com
4. Use #HdR2010 in each to filter the Rhônely discussion
5. Have fun

We look forward to celebrating the 22 varieties with during the 22 Days of Rhône and in person at the 18th Annual Hospice du Rhône Celebration April 29 – May 1, 2010 in Paso Robles, California!

Comments [0]

March 10, 2010

Drum Roll Please! Moderators Announced for the 2010 HdR Seminar Series

We are so very excited to share with you the astounding moderators who will guide the 2010 Hospice du Rhône Seminar Series. Below is the list of moderators along with the specific seminar they will preside over. Please join us in welcoming them to the 18^th Annual Hospice du Rhône Celebration.

Seminar One

Moderator: James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

Six South African producers will share their wines, winemaking styles, techniques and history surrounding the South African Rhône movement. They are: Boekenhoutskloof based in Franschoek, De Trafford based in Stellenbosh, Mullineux Family Wines based in the Swartland, Sadie Family based in the Swartland, Stellenzicht based in Stellenbosch, and Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards based in the Tulbagh Valley.

Seminar Two

Moderator: John Alban, Founder of Hospice du Rhône and Alban Vineyards

Stéphane Ogier of Domaine Michel and Stéphane Ogier of Ampuis, France has been confirmed for the 2010 lineup.

Seminar Three

Moderator: Alan Kropf, Mutineer Magazine

Charles Smith of K Vintners and Charles Smith Wines of Washington State is set to lead a rousing seminar.

Seminar Four

Moderator: Jeb Dunnuck, The Rhône Report

Vincent Maurel of Clos Saint Jean and Michel Tardieu of Tardieu-Laurent, both hailing from Châteauneuf du Pape, along with consultant Philippe Cambie (named by Robert Parker as “the Michel Rolland of the Rhône”), will join the 2010 Seminar Series.

Comments [0]

February 5, 2010

Rhone with us at Blackberry Farm!

Hospice du Rhône is heading to Blackberry Farm for a mesmerizing weekend of Rhône, March 18-21, 2010!

This exceptional weekend, in the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains, will feature worldly Rhône producers along with their alluring wines. The seminars will indulge your palate with wines from Domaine les Cailloux and Domaine de Pegau both hailing from Châteauneuf du Pape along with Chris Ringland Wines from Australia. Representing California’s Central Coast will be Paul Lato Wines and Torrin.

The weekend could not be complete without the Rhône inspired dishes from our friends Proprietor Sondra Bernstein and Chef John Toulze of the girl & the fig from Sonoma, California. These passionate Rhône advocates will lead a cooking demonstration as well as create a multi-course dinner, one that is sure to tantalize taste buds.

We hope you will join us for this leg of the 2010 Rhônely Hearts Club tour where together we will bring you an unbelievable taste of Rhône. To reserve your place for this remarkable gathering, contact Blackberry Farm at 800.648.4252.

Comments [0]

January 30, 2010

The Story Behind the 2010 Rhônely Hearts Club

Hospice du Rhône (HdR) is a community of wine lovers, specifically Rhône wine fanatics. Once a year for 18 years, Rhône enthusiasts from throughout the world travel to Paso Robles, California USA for a three-day Rhône extravaganza. One filled with Rhône focused seminars, meals featuring Rhône inspired cuisine and over 130 worldly Rhône wine producers sharing their wines with eager Rhône zealots.

Drawing on the Rhône loving community that has been cultivated over the past 18 years, the 2010 event will boast the “Rhônely Hearts Club.” The 2010 theme image, that resembles an album cover of a well-known singing foursome, holds photographs of 22 dedicated Rhône advocates and pioneers from around the world. The gathering of 22 is significant as it pays tribute to the unique 22 Rhône wine varieties and is a snapshot of the greater Rhône community that is celebrated at the annual international Rhône event.

Head over to our official website to see who is present in the crowd.

Comments [0]