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Riesling Rediscovered Book

Riesling rediscovered, Claiborne and Churchill, Riesling, John Winthrop Haeger

Riesling Rediscovered Overview

A new book has been released telling the story of something dear to our hearts: Riesling. In November of 2015, John Winthrop Haeger released his account of this white wine grape variety titled Riesling Rediscovered.

At Claiborne & Churchill, we make our Rieslings dry compared to the common sweet Rieslings of North America. As the book’s description says, “Now usually made dry in most of Europe and Australia, and assumed dry by most German consumers, Riesling is made mostly sweet or lightly sweet in North America and is believed sweet in the American marketplace irrespective of origin. Riesling is thus consequently—but mistakenly—shunned by the mainstream of American wine drinkers, whose tastes and habits have been overwhelmingly dry for two generations.” We see that most of our guests that say they dislike Riesling are pleasantly surprised by the dryness of our varieties.

This book takes an in depth look into how variety, place, and style impact the final taste of the Riesling. The variety looks into how the cultivar of Riesling, a variety created by selective breeding, will change the taste. Place investigates how the location, topography, climate and other factors alter the wine. Style looks at how growing practices, processing, and storing methods modify how the winery’s Riesling will taste. Haegar also talks about the history of Riesling, how it is made, and a map of winery locations. Another section of the book features a number of vineyards and wineries known for Riesling, including Claiborne & Churchill.


Riesling rediscovered, Claiborne and Churchill, Riesling, John Winthrop Haeger

Claiborne & Churchill Highlight

We are very honored to be highlighted in this renowned book. Our section starts with a look into the Claiborne Vineyard. He discusses where the vineyard is located, climate, and other factors of our vineyard. In the next section, Haegar follows the story of Clay and Fredericka, the start of the winery, Coby’s time as our winemaker, and a look into the Riesling we produce.

Make sure to grab a copy of Riesling Rediscovered here! It gives a great insight into the variety we love so much!

We appreciate the width and depth of information that Haeger shares in Riesling Rediscovered. It is evident that he made sure to represent Riesling as a whole. As Oliver Humbrecht said, “John Winthrop Haeger has captured the essence of Riesling. The author goes against the modern trend that favors sweeter and softer styles, demonstrating that Riesling can be at its best as a dry wine. Riesling wine producers from around the world will applaud this research.”


New Winery Guest Cottage

For a weekend filled with wine tasting, stay conveniently in the middle of the beautiful Edna Valley on the California Central Coast. Come join us at our new Winery Guest Cottage! This quaint property occupies half of the original farmhouse on the Claiborne & Churchill property and was restored in 2015 with new appliances, floors, and furnishings for your comfort.  The cottage’s charm and character is sure to make your trip extra special. The location is perfect next to our tasting room and vineyards on Highway 227 that runs through the valley.

Claiborne & Churchill, Winery Guest Cottage, BedroomClaiborne & Churchill, Winery Guest Cottage, Bedroom

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cottage comfortably sleeps four people in two bedrooms with queen beds. The single bathroom is complete with a tub and shower. It also includes a full kitchen allowing you the opportunity to cook your own meals during your stay to pair with some of the best wines our our SLO Wine Country has to offer.

Claiborne & Churchill, Winery Guest Cottage, Kitchen

Other accommodations include washer, dryer, towels, linens, wifi, television, heating, dining for four, and personal outdoor area. It offers more amenities than a hotel room provides in over 700 square feet.

Claiborne & Churchill, Winery Guest Cottage, Dining Room

The Winery Guest Cottage is surrounded by Edna wineries, tourist attractions, theaters, restaurants, festivals, museums, antiquing, shopping, hiking trails, golf courses, and even more activities listed here. With this long list of available activities, there is plenty for you to experience.

Claiborne & Churchill, Winery Guest Cottage, Living Room

One of the greatest benefits of this cottage is the incomparable views. From the living room and front porch, you can see the sweeping green hills and rolling vineyards across the valley in front of the foothills of the Los Padres National Forest.

Claiborne & Churchill, Winery Guest Cottage

To make the deal even sweeter, our Claiborne & Churchill Cellar Club members will be offered a special, discounted price on their stays.

We can’t wait to help you make this unique experience possible. Click on this link to see our VRBO listing at www.vrbo.com/820452  or contact Elizabeth at Elizabeth@claibornechurchill.com.


Claiborne & Churchill Wine Library Weekend

Spring is on its way, and that means one of our favorite events of the year is around the bend! If you have never attended our annual Claiborne & Churchill Wine Library Weekend, you’re in for a treat. We’re pulling out our favorite vintages from the last decade – wines that have been waiting for their perfect moment to shine! Our Wine Library Winemaker Dinner on Friday, March 11 with Executive Chef Russell Thomas of Two Cooks Catering on Friday, March 11 is sold out, but we still have tickets left for our other events that weekend. We will be showcasing dozens of library wines over the course of the weekend. Below are a few of the wines we are most excited about!

Wine Library Weekend

2006 Pinot Gris
Contrary to the belief of many, certain white wines, when made and stored well, have remarkable aging potential. This is one reason why we are so excited to show off a 2006 Pinot Gris — one of the older wines we’ll be showcasing during the Library Grand Tasting! When this wine was released a decade ago, it was youthful and fresh with stone-fruit aromas and flavors. But as a good Pinot Gris matures, it takes on increasingly smokey and nutty nuances. This is a wine you’ll want to experience for yourself.

2007 Dry Gewürztraminer
If you’ve any spent time around Claiborne & Churchill, you know our deep love of Gewürtztraminer, a wine we usually serve in its youth. When young, Gewürz is aromatic, fresh, floral, and bright. In its later years, the complexity of the varietal is showcased, giving off a golden-hued color with spicy aromas, rich flavors of passion fruit, and a legendary long finish. Aged Gewürztraminer is one of the more unique tasting experiences we offer.Claiborne & Churchill Library Wines

2008 Classic Pinot Noir
If you’ve wondered about the aging potential of our Pinot Noir, the 2008 Classic Pinot is the proof you are looking for. This wine won plenty of awards in its early days, showcasing ample fruit and a deep garnet color while maintaining a restrained elegance. With 8 years of bottle age on it, the 2008 Classic is burgundy-brown with herbaceous aromas and flavors of cranberry skins, pomegranate, and brown sugar. The long finish is smooth and velvety. This is a Pinot in its prime!

2006 Nektar (Late Harvest Riesling)
Are you on the fence about dessert wine? There is no better time than at our tasting to experience the remarkable, time-honored tradition of a fine, aged Late Harvest Riesling. Made in a style of an ice wine, our 2006 Nektar was pretty special at the time, and is even more exceptional after ten years of maturity in the bottle. Golden in color with a creamy and balanced mouthfeel, the 2006 Nektar has aromas of apple pie and flavors of cider and ripened peach. These wines are just a handful of the diverse offerings featured at our upcoming Wine Library Weekend. If you are interested in trying these wines and more, join us March 12-13 at one of our featured events! Ticket information below.


Upcoming Event: Claiborne & Churchill Wine Library Weekend
March 11-13, 2016

Wine Library Grand Tasting
March 12, 2016, 1-4 pm

Experience a tasting showcasing the best vintages of our library wines. You’ll have the opportunity to taste from among two dozen white and red wines which have been carefully cellared for several years. Love what you tried? You’ll also have the opportunity to purchase these wines and bring them home with you!

Price $15 Club | $25 General Admission → For Tickets, please click here.

Wine and Cheese Pairing (Featuring Library Wines)
March 13, 2016, 1-4 pm

“Wine down” on Sunday in our garden patio with a flight of library wines and a gourmet cheese plate featuring artisanal, European cheeses curated by Fromagerie Sophie. Each cheese has been specially selected to pair with these stellar library wines, poured at the peak of their aging potential. Don’t miss this special event!

$15 Club | $20 General Admission → For Tickets, please click here.


The Guest Cottage at Claiborne & Churchill is available for our Wine Library Weekend!

The Guest Cottage at Claiborne & Churchill WineryThe Guest Cottage at Claiborne & Churchill Winery is conveniently located in the heart of wine country, just minutes from historic San Luis Obispo, the charming village of Arroyo Grande and the oceanfront town of Pismo Beach.  This charming two bedroom one bath guest house offers picturesque vineyard and mountain views and is the perfect place to relax and “wine-down”. Please visit VRBO/Homeaway Listing #820452, or email elizabeth@claibornechurchill.com for rates and more information. Claiborne & Churchill Cellar Club members will be offered a special, discounted price on their stays.