Out of the Kitchen and into the Cellar
Author: Carolyn Koenig
February 2008
Food + Beverage
When it comes to wine, we may not be experts in the field, but, to quote a common refrain, “we know what we like.”
As it turns out, that’s all you do need to know with a new trend that’s capturing the imagination of planners and meeting-goers alike.
Just as chefs today enjoy a certain cachet, so do winemakers. They’re celebrities: recognized, quoted and emulated. And wineries all over the West—particularly in California—are giving groups the opportunity to become winemakers for a morning, an afternoon or a day in a vast array of wine-blending programs. Whether you’ve got an incentive, a board of directors who are wine buffs or a team-building meeting, wineries can provide an experience that will polish attendees’ image and provide instant camaraderie while educating their palate.
Artiste Winery & Tasting Studio
The wine blending program offered at Artiste Winery & Tasting Studio in Santa Ynez (part of Santa Barbara’s wine country) is a unique hands-on approach that’s ideal for team building. Guests are greeted by the winemaker, who talks about the winery’s focus (all blends, no varietals) and their concept (blending as an art, and art for its own sake). Your group is divided into two teams: one dubbed “winemakers,” with a winemaker as host; the other, named “artists,” with an artist in charge. Each group goes off with its leader, the winemakers tasting and learning about individual varietals while they create three blends in the allotted time (usually about 30 minutes). The team reaches a consensus on the best of the three for the upcoming competition.
The artists, meanwhile, take up brushes, paints, sketchbooks, etc. and work together to create a painting. “Everyone must contribute,” says Christina LoCascio, director of marketing. “This is where corporate groups have fun with inside jokes, where sales goals may come into play or the story behind the name of the company,” she says. The painting later becomes the team’s wine label. “We’ve never had a problem with participation, even with a group of engineers who had never painted before.”
When time is called, the two groups switch hats. The two top wines compete against each other in a blind tasting by a third-party judge to find the winner. It’s a fun program that has attracted the likes of McKesson, Aramark, Microsoft, Amgen and Pfizer.
Good news for planners who are heading to Northern California instead: Artiste plans to open a second location—primarily focusing on education and classes—in Healdsburg (Sonoma County) this spring. artiste.com
Clos LaChance
About 30 minutes south of San Jose, and 45 minutes north of Monterey, CordeValle, A Rosewood Resort sprawls across 1,700 acres of picturesque landscape. This luxury resort encompasses accommodations in bungalows, villa suites and homes, a Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed golf course, meeting space just off the clubhouse lobby, a spa—and, oh yes, an award-winning winery, Clos LaChance. Depending on which wines are available at the time of your customized program, your attendees will use Bordeaux wines (merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec, petit verdot) or Rhones (grenache, syrah, cinsault, petite sirah, mourvedre) to create their own personalized blend. The winery offers two options—Winemaker for the Day, a team-building opportunity, and a Wine Blending Table, an educational program—both led by an estate sommelier. For team building, the maximum size group is 24; for the wine-blending table, the number can go up higher, as it’s usually part of a larger event, such as a final-night dinner. Cheryl Durzy, vice president of sales and marketing, advises that participants in the winemaker-for-a day program wear appropriate clothing “or bring an extra shirt that can get stained!” cordevalle.com; closlachance.com
Franciscan Oakville Estate
Conveniently located on Napa’s Route 29, Franciscan Oakville Estate has been one of the valley’s most innovative wineries since it was founded, about 25 years ago. It produced the first wild-yeast fermented chardonnay and one of the region’s first Bordeaux-style proprietary blends (Magnificat). It’s this blend that spurred one of Franciscan’s most popular taste exploration programs: Mastering Magnificat, The Art of the Blend. Led by the well-educated tasting-room staff, you’ll learn how Franciscan’s winemakers create their signature blend, which differs from year to year, after which you’ll create your own, using the five classic Bordeaux varietals produced by their own vineyards. “You’ll have a taste of each, then you’ll mix and match,” says Rebecca Valendis, public relations manager for Franciscan. It can be done mathematically, say, 30 percent cab, 30 percent merlot, etc. or whimsically, by tasting as you go along and adding what seems good on your palate. “If you’re a malbec fan, your wine may be heavy on malbec. If you’re a cabernet fan, it can be heavy on cabernet,” she says. “It really is individual; you taste it and create it.” As an adjunct to the program, you can arrange for personal tours through the vineyards, wine and cheese pairings—or create a team-building contest. The only problem, they say, is deciding on a name for your unique blend. franciscan.com
Thornton Winery
In Southern California’s Temecula Valley, Thornton Winery offers a customized wine-blending session that’s also fun and informative for novices and aficionados alike. Winemaker Don Reha takes groups step-by-step through the winemaking process, explaining the subtle marriage of different varietals to enhance the overall final blend. First he shares barrel samples of selected wines, to introduce guests to the art of blending. As the seminar progresses, he explains the appellation-specific nuances of Temecula wines (they’re very fruit forward), then guides you through tasting and blending your own, focusing on the Rhone varietals. This brand-new program is held in the winery’s Champagne Caves, although groups larger than 24 might meet in the production area or Vineyard View Room. The winery is open to the idea of presenting their program as a team-building exercise, as well as an educational or pure relaxation event—just ask! thorntonwine.com
