Baywood Cellars winery and celebrity chef and national television personality Lorena Garcia today announced a deal in which Baywood Cellars will bottle and distribute a new collection of varietals under the Lorena Garcia name.

Tasty Thoughts had the opportunity to ask a few questions of both Baywood Cellars and Lorena Garcia about their launch:

Q: What is the biggest thing that separates Baywood Cellars from other California wineries?

A: “Baywood Cellars’ Central Coast winery is comparable, if not superior, to the Napa and Sonoma growing regions. We have focused our wine making talents and efforts on producing only ultra-premium wines from Monterey County and the Central Coast. At a time when lighter, fruitier wines have found favor among wine consumers and diners seeking lighter fare - we have developed a perfect lively, vibrant fruit, with outstanding purity, for the Chef Lorena line of wine varietals, that will appeal to every palate,” said President and winemaker John Cotta.

Q: Is approaching the Hispanic community part of Baywood’s strategy? If so, why?

A: “The Lorena Garcia brand of wines is intended to appeal to all audiences, which includes Latinos. I grew up in Venezuela, a tropical country, where the spirits of choice are rum, beer and whisky. Many of the dishes in Venezuela are based on French, Italian and Spanish recipes, all countries where world-class wine is produced and paired nicely with the region’s foods,” said Chef Lorena Garcia. “Although wine is an integral part of the culture of Spain and some parts of South America, Latinos in the United States, many of whom are of Mexican heritage, and those from tropical regions like Venezuela have not historically been major consumers of wine. Latinos are very family-oriented and food-oriented, and wine fits because it has traditionally been a beverage of the table,” adds Garcia.

Chef Lorena Garcia continues,”the United States is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-racial country. I feel that the wine business should reflect that. Bringing loved ones together to enjoy wonderful food is something that has always fulfilled me. I hope to introduce my wines to the Latino community by offering Latino food and wine pairing ideas and regular special wine infused cooking demonstrations on my television show in the coming year.”

Q: What are the future markets that the Lorena Garcia line will be released to after the initial rollout?

A: “The premium wine will retail for $10.99 and is currently available in restaurants, wine shops and grocers in North Carolina and will be available in Florida later this month. Additional distribution will be added through the rest of 2007 and 2008,” said Reno Aragon, executive vice president, Baywood Cellars.

Read the entire release about the launch.

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Beaucanon Estate releases their 2007 Sauvignon Blanc—a mineral wine with blends of citrus, floral aromas and of tropical passion fruit, mango and kiwifruit flavors.

Produced at Beaucanon Estate in the heart of Napa Valley, the Sauvignon Blanc Bordeaux-inspired blend is sourced from premium grapes grown on the hillside vineyards of High Valley.
Beaucanon Estate wines are born of a family tradition spanning seven generations and are produced by Winemaker Louis de Coninck, who has cultivated a rich background in winemaking over the past 22 years. Following in his forefathers’ footsteps, de Coninck is known for working hard to make all his wines taste earthy, elegant and rich with quality.
This year’s Beaucanon Estate 2007 Sauvignon Blanc is an extremely versatile and drinkable wine and has the capacity to go with seafood and white meats such as chicken, veal, turkey and pork and will hold up nicely to herbal preparations (thyme, rosemary, basil, tarragon, and coriander). This wine has vibrant mineral and fruity flavors that compliment spicy and ethnic cuisines, as well as traditional French fare.

At TastyThoughts, we love great wine, but we also realize that it is best in moderation. If someone you know is suffering from alcoholism please visit one of these great sites:

Florida Alcohol Rehab

Idaho Alcohol Rehab Center

Illinois Alcohol Rehabilitation Center

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Wine connoisseurs with small living spaces can now store and display their favorite wines without all the clutter.

Vigilant, Inc., a company that designs and manufactures high-quality, handcrafted wine cellars, wine racks and custom cigar humidors, today announced the release of its new Wine Wave Cubes�, short-term storage cubes that offer maximum versatility at an affordable price.

According to a 2007 study of 407 Unique Homes’ readers and luxury homeowners, interest in wine amenities has increased over the last five years as a result of more and more people collecting wine.

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