News & Events
HERITAGE ROSE SCORES 90 POINTS
August 20, 2010--We are excited to announce that our new release 2009 Heritage Rosé earns a score of 90 points in the latest issue of California Grapevine. The 2009 vintage is a classic Rhône-style blend of Mourvèdre (48%), Grenache (25%), Cinsault (16%) and Syrah (11%) from the Curtis Estate.
VIOGNIER, HERITAGE BLANC RATED "EXCEPTIONAL"
August 10, 2010--Our new release 2009 Heritage Blanc and 2009 Viognier were both rated as "Exceptional" on BevX.com. The Heritage Blanc was described as "a charming wine that is all about the grapes," while the Viognier was praised as "wonderfully complex."
PRE-HARVEST UPDATE FROM WINEMAKER CHUCK CARLSON
August 3, 2010--"The relatively cool summer has us on pace for a later harvest compared to recent years, which were warmer and drier. The drought cycle was broken with a succession of winter and spring rains, which was great for the vineyards as well as the aquifers. Now, with the steady ripening and extended hang time, I think we can expect to see a lot of natural depth and structure in the fruit we pick this fall."
HERITAGE BLANC STRIKES AGAIN AT CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR
July 5, 2010--Following up on a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco International Wine Competition, the new release 2009 Heritage Blanc earned a Gold Medal and 94 Points at the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition. Meanwhile, the 2006 Syrah from Ambassador's Vineyard earned 91 Points, while the 2007 Grenache and 2006 Heritage Cuvee both earned 90 Points.
NEW RELEASE HERITAGE BLANC EARNS DOUBLE GOLD
June 23, 2010--The new release 2009 Heritage Blanc earned a double gold medal at the San Francisco International Wine Competition. The 2009 vintage picks up right where the previous vintage left off, as the 2008 Heritage Blanc won a Platinum Medal at the Critics Challenge Wine Competition and a Gold Medal at the Orange County Fair Wine Competition.
CROSSROADS VINEYARD SYRAH EARNS RAVES
June 21, 2010--In its latest issue, the Wine Enthusiast gives our 2006 Syrah from Crossroads Vineyard a rating of 89 Points, describing it as "Powerful in chocolate, blackberry and cherry jam flavors." This follows an earlier rating of 89 points from Robert Parker, who praised the wine for its "good depth, purity and richness." This Syrah also earned a gold medal at the prestigious Critics Challenge Wine Competition.
HERITAGE BLANC EARNS PLATINUM MEDAL, SYRAHS STRIKE GOLD
June 3, 2010--Our 2008 Heritage Blanc earned a platinum medal at the prestigious 2010 Critics Challenge Wine Competition, earning a nomination for Best of Show. Meanwhile, our 2006 Syrah from Rock Hollow Vineyard and 2006 Syrah from Crossroads Vineyard both earned gold medals at the competition.
JOIN US FOR DINNER AT THE SECRET GARDEN
May 29, 2010--Join Curtis Winery and The Secret Garden restaurant in Moorpark, California for an evening of Rhône-style wines, fine fare and good cheer on June 11 starting at 6:30 p.m. The six-course meal will include pan-seared salmon, wild mushroom risotto, braised short ribs and chocolate Grenache tart, all paired with our latest releases. Cost is $75 per person. For reservations, please call (805) 552-9523.
TASTING PANEL MAGAZINE PRAISES HERITAGE CUVEE
May 10, 2010--Meridith May of the Tasting Panel Magazine gives a rave review of our 2006 Heritage Cuvee in her Publisher's Picks in the latest issue: “92 POINTS…Hearty and earthy, this is a jubilant Rhone blend that boasts sweet, juicy cherries in a vanilla-cream textured base.”
BevX GIVES RAVE REVIEWS TO 2006 REDS FROM CURTIS
April 18, 2010--Leading beverage review web site BevX.com gives high marks to four 2006 vintage red wines from Curtis Winery. In its reviews for the second week of April, BevX bestows four stars for "exceptional" to the 2006 Heritage Cuvee, as well as the 2006 Syrahs from Crossroads, Vogelzang, Ambassador's vineyards.
SPRING VINEYARD UPDATE FROM WINEMAKER CHUCK CARLSON
April 2, 2010--"We are now about halfway through bud break, which is when the dormant vines begin to push the first green growth of the season. The timing of bud break varies from year to year, and varietal to varietal. Viognier and Grenache are typically the first varietals to push. We are on what I would call a "normal" schedule so far this year, in terms of the timing of bud break. The wet winter really recharged our vineyards, and I expect good things from the coming vintage."
JOIN US FOR VINTNERS FESTIVAL
March 30, 2010--Get ready for an extravaganza of local flavors as the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association hosts its 28th annual Vintners’ Festival on Saturday, April 17 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at River Park in Lompoc. We will join more than 100 wineries from Santa BarbaraCounty in pouring our wines, and the festivities will include live music and appetizers from a variety of local restaurants. Please visit www.sbcountywines.com or call (805) 688-0881 for tickets and information.
RHONE MADNESS STRIKES SAN FRANCISCO
March 30, 2010--Get ready for an extravaganza of local flavors as the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association hosts its 28th annual Vintners’ Festival on Saturday, April 17 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at River Park in Lompoc. We will join more than 100 wineries from Santa BarbaraCounty in pouring our wines, and the festivities will include live music and appetizers from a variety of local restaurants. Please visit www.sbcountywines.com or call (805) 688-0881 for tickets and information.
RHONE MADNESS STRIKES SAN FRANCISCO
March 15, 2010--Do you ever suffer from Rhone withdrawal? Do you ever suffer from Rhône withdrawal? Do you ever feel Rhône-ly? Well, we have the perfect cure for you: the Rhône Rangers Grand Tasting weekend at Fort Mason in San Francisco on March 27-28. From dinners to seminars to the big tasting itself, this is the ultimate event for Rhône fanatics. For tickets and information, visit www.rhonerangers.org. We hope to see you there!
CURTIS WINEMAKER’S DINNER ON MARCH 16
February 9, 2010--We are excited to announce that Winemaker Chuck Carlson is teaming up with the new Central City Market restaurant in downtown Santa Maria for a five-course winemaker’s dinner on Tuesday, March 16. The menu will include spicy grilled shrimp with Viognier romesco, mango and avocado paired with our 2007 Viognier; salt and pepper smoked short ribs with pinquito beans paired with our 2005 Syrah from Vogelzang Vineyard; and an artisan cheese plate with honey panna cotta and lavender cookies paired with our 2005 late-harvest Viognier. Dinner begins at 7 p.m. The cost is $65 per person. For reservations, please call Central City Market at (805) 925-7766.
CURTIS VIOGNIER EARNS RAVES
January 5, 2010--Our 2007 Viognier has been a hit with the wine critics, with Robert Parker calling it an “excellent value” and Sante Magazine recommending it for its “Vanilla and orange blossom aromas and flavors of stone fruit.” BevX.com called the 2007 Viognier “exceptional…vibrant and expressive.” Meanwhile, our 2006 The Crossroad blend earned 90 points from California Grapevine, and our upcoming new release from Rock Hollow Vineyard earned 89 points from the same publication. Lastly, Dee Ann Quinones of the Los Angeles Examiner called our 2005 Heritage Cuvee "a must-try wine."
BECOME A CURTIS FAN ON FACEBOOK
October 10, 2009--We are excited to announce that we have established a Curtis Winery page on Facebook (500 fans and counting!), where we are posting events as well as discussions, wine specials and more. Please consider becoming a Curtis Winery "fan" on Facebook to receive automatic updates. We hope to see you on Facebook!
CURTIS SCORES GOLD RUSH AT CRITICS CHALLENGE
June 5, 2009--We are excited to report that a trio of Curtis wines scored gold medals at the 2009 Critics Challenge Wine Competition, which features one of the nation’s most prestigious judging panels. The gold medalists were the 2007 Viognier, 2006 Syrah Crossroads Vineyard (featured in your last Cellar Crew shipment) and 2006 Syrah Ambassador’s Vineyard (featured in your next shipment). The Critics Challenge judging panel is comprised of leading wine critics, including Robert Whitley of Copley News and Wine Review Online, Patrick Comiskey of Wine & Spirits Magazine, Jon Bonne of the San Francisco Chronicle and Nick Passmore of Business Week.
February 9, 2010--We are excited to announce that Winemaker Chuck Carlson is teaming up with the new Central City Market restaurant in downtown Santa Maria for a five-course winemaker’s dinner on Tuesday, March 16. The menu will include spicy grilled shrimp with Viognier romesco, mango and avocado paired with our 2007 Viognier; salt and pepper smoked short ribs with pinquito beans paired with our 2005 Syrah from Vogelzang Vineyard; and an artisan cheese plate with honey panna cotta and lavender cookies paired with our 2005 late-harvest Viognier. Dinner begins at 7 p.m. The cost is $65 per person. For reservations, please call Central City Market at (805) 925-7766.
CURTIS VIOGNIER EARNS RAVES
January 5, 2010--Our 2007 Viognier has been a hit with the wine critics, with Robert Parker calling it an “excellent value” and Sante Magazine recommending it for its “Vanilla and orange blossom aromas and flavors of stone fruit.” BevX.com called the 2007 Viognier “exceptional…vibrant and expressive.” Meanwhile, our 2006 The Crossroad blend earned 90 points from California Grapevine, and our upcoming new release from Rock Hollow Vineyard earned 89 points from the same publication. Lastly, Dee Ann Quinones of the Los Angeles Examiner called our 2005 Heritage Cuvee "a must-try wine."
BECOME A CURTIS FAN ON FACEBOOK
October 10, 2009--We are excited to announce that we have established a Curtis Winery page on Facebook (500 fans and counting!), where we are posting events as well as discussions, wine specials and more. Please consider becoming a Curtis Winery "fan" on Facebook to receive automatic updates. We hope to see you on Facebook!
CURTIS SCORES GOLD RUSH AT CRITICS CHALLENGE
June 5, 2009--We are excited to report that a trio of Curtis wines scored gold medals at the 2009 Critics Challenge Wine Competition, which features one of the nation’s most prestigious judging panels. The gold medalists were the 2007 Viognier, 2006 Syrah Crossroads Vineyard (featured in your last Cellar Crew shipment) and 2006 Syrah Ambassador’s Vineyard (featured in your next shipment). The Critics Challenge judging panel is comprised of leading wine critics, including Robert Whitley of Copley News and Wine Review Online, Patrick Comiskey of Wine & Spirits Magazine, Jon Bonne of the San Francisco Chronicle and Nick Passmore of Business Week.
