Passaggio Wines

Cheers to 2011 Rosé

passaggiowines — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:24:34 +0000

Yesterday was an awesome bottling day…I bottled the 2011 Passaggio Unoaked Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and the Rosé. (whew!!) The Rosé was a particularly fun project for me simply because it’s an unusual blend. The stainless 2011 Rosé is 82% Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley and 18% Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.

These wines will soon be released to the Passaggio wine club members. If you haven’t joined the Passaggio Passionistas yet check it out here. Stay tuned for some more exciting news coming soon…

A big shout out to Leslie who helped me pack boxes…

Cheers,

Passaggio Wines

Last Call

passaggiowines — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:07:50 +0000

Passaggio Wines will soon be sporting new labels. It has been a wonderful journey and I hope that you are following your passion as well. I started this journey in 2004, launching the 2007 Unoaked Chardonnay in 2008. Since that time, Passaggio Wines has added a Pinot Grigio, Rosé, and Pinot Noir.
I am very excited about the new labels this year
The 2010 Unoaked Chardonnay and Rosé are already sold out. There are only a few cases left of the 2010 Pinot Grigio…
To make some room for the 2011 vintage I am offering a 50% discount on the remaining 2010 Pinot Grigio. This may be the last time I make a 50% discount offer…Passaggio Passionistas Wine Club members receive a 20% discount on all wines…

When you log in to the Passaggio website all you need to do is add the following coupon code to your order.

Coupon code: labels

Thank you so much for all your support throughout this wonderful journey…

Follow Your Passion

Passaggio Wines

Racking 2011

passaggiowines — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:35:39 +0000

2011 Harvest for Passaggio Wines has been a memorable one thus far…it’s gonna be a great vintage…click on the Racking 2011 slide show of the Rosé, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio. Get ready for some awesome wines…

Racking 2011

Cheers,

Passaggio Wines

Discover It in Slow Motion

passaggiowines — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:05:46 +0000

Sometimes we get so busy with our everyday lives that it’s easy to lose focus on what really matters. We tend to put on those blinders and charge full steam ahead without seeing our journey along the way .

What would it be like if we put our lives in slow motion? You know…like in the movies when they put the film in slow motion…you can see everything that is happening. I like to take the time to look at wine this way. A part of enjoying the wine that’s in the bottle starts with taking the time to learn about the wine and its journey to the bottle. Pick up the bottle and take a look at the label. Slow down…take your time…what does the label say about the wine or the winemaker’s passion? I love reading wine labels. Sometimes there is actually some pretty good information on them. Other times, I am left wanting. Some people are label-buyers…they select the wine because the label intrigued them in some way. Did you choose this bottle of wine for the label and why?

Next take a look at the closure. What type of foil is covering the cork? Does it even have a foil? I have bought some wines that don’t have a foil. What type of cork or closure does it have? Is it a real cork? There are a lot of alternative styles of corks on the market. Does the cork have any writing on it? Have you ever noticed that some wineries take special care to put their logo, the year, website, or a saying on the cork? Some are just plain cork without any information. Does the closure pull easily? My favorite observation is the bottom of the cork…has the wine stained the cork with its own stamp of identity?

Now you are ready to pour…What type of glass are you pouring it in? (but that’s another blog…) How does it look? Is the color what you expected? You can tell a lot about wine by the color (that’s another blog, too.) Can you smell it as its being poured? How does it smell? Is it what you expected? (and yet another blog…LOL) Slow down and approach the wine. Sometimes I like to smell the aroma a few times before I actually taste the wine. There are times when the aroma is so enticing, I just keep sniffing it. What aromas do you get? Can you describe what you are sensing?

OK… now the big moment…let’s taste it. That first sip…does it measure up to what you are smelling? Does it measure up to the label description? Does it measure up to everything you expected? What do you taste? Follow up that first impression with another sip. Can you describe it better? Can you imagine what food you would like to pair with it? Smell it again…swirl it around and stick your nose down in the glass – take a deep breath.

Savor the moment…sip your wine and take in all you can learn about it. Share it with someone special…that’s why it’s made…

Follow your passion…I know I am…

Cheers,

Passaggio Wines

All Grown Up

passaggiowines — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:52:19 +0000

These past eight years have been a wonderful journey for me. Leaving a 15yr Law Enforcement Career behind to follow my passion for wine making has been an awesome dream come true. Passaggio Wines first vintage was a 2007 Unoaked Chardonnay. I added the Pinot Grigio in 2009. Passaggio Wines now has a Rosé and will launch the 2011 Pinot Noir this fall.

I cannot believe how far I have come…and it’s all because of you… I am very excited about Passaggio’s new labels and wanted to share them with you. I want to thank you for your belief in me and your support. It’s been a great journey…life does look better through Rose Colored Glasses…

All grown up? Well…maybe – LOL

Follow Your Passion

Passaggio Wines

Wine, Art, Food, Friends

passaggiowines — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:55:18 +0000

What goes together better than wonderful friends, great wine, awesome art, and great food? As we walked around the Quent Cordair Fine Art Gallery on Friday night, we wandered through the gallery discussing the amazing pieces of art, shared events of our week with one another, nibbled on some great appetizers and sipped on some great wine. What a great ending to our week!

It’s all about community. We come together at these special times to unwind and enjoy each other’s company. We share our concerns and our joys. We share our triumphs and our setbacks. We share our hearts. We get inspired, encouraged, and uplifted. Then we go our separate ways to do our part out in our own communities…to touch the lives of others.

Thank you for touching my life

Passaggio Wines

Chardonnay Blending

passaggiowines — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:56:34 +0000

I have to admit, other than harvest, this is one of my favorite times of the year. I get to start the blending process. It is amazing to blend separate lots of unoaked Chardonnay together and end up with an awesome wine…gotta love that!!

I started out with four different stainless steel vessels of Chardonnay, fermenting each with different yeasts. After fermentation was complete, I added SO2 to stop the secondary fermentation process. SO2 also helps inhibit spoilage, prevent oxidation, and preserve the fruity flavors. I stirred the lees of each vessel about every other week until I got the desired mouthfeel. (what we call “sur lie” aging)

Today was the day I played around with some blending trials. Each vessel has its own unique characteristic and when blended as a whole it gave the wine several flavors of complexity. Although I have a few more things to do before it’s bottled, I do believe it will be a fantastic unoaked Chardonnay.

I can’t wait to share it with you

Follow Your Passion

Passaggio Wines

Rosé Weather is Almost Here

passaggiowines — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:33:25 +0000

It’s almost rosé weather…I can’t wait to sit on the deck with some great friends and sip some awesome rosé. I just finished racking and blending the 2011 Passaggio Rose Colored Glasses Rosé and I can’t wait to get it in the bottle and shipped to your door.

This year’s blend of the Passaggio Rosé is 82% Zinfandel and 18% Cabernet. An interesting blend to say the least. Soon you will be able to light up the grill, call a few of your closest friends and open a bottle of Passaggio Rosé…keep an eye out for it…coming soon!!

Follow Your Passion

Passaggio Wines

Happy Valentine’s Day

passaggiowines — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:05:13 +0000

Happy Valentine’s Day – may your day be a thankful and blessed one…

Cheers,

Passaggio Wines

A Great Recipe with Liquid Gold for Valentines Day

passaggiowines — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:27:50 +0000

There’s a lot of talk about Valentine’s Day and the whole gift giving idea…but if you plan on getting your significant other a diamond for this Valentine’s Day good for you. One of the best recipes I have found for such an occasion is diamonds, flowers, and a great bottle of wine. You could say the Passaggio Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio are like liquid gold that pairs very well with diamonds. Do you think they would fall for it?

Sounds good to me!!!

Oh…and don’t forget the card

Happy Valentine’s Day

Passaggio Wines