Autism Blog
New May Featured Wines Are Here & Start At Just $14.99
By Francis Sanders
Instead of traipsing our military might, equipment and workers through Red Square in front of the state’s military and political leaders, for May we’re parading this month’s award-winning and soon-to-be award-winning features for our clients.
LAK021, $14.99 2007 Lakeville Cellars, Maxwell Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County, California: bronze, recommended 2008 WWC
Sauvignon Blanc remains the Rodney Dangerfield of the big three whites in the US, though people really should be lining up for this versatile gem. Vintner Hossein Namdar owns one of the greatest sites for Sauvignon in the nation, Lake County’s Maxwell Vineyard. He, Bob Goyette and I bottled this Loire tradition Sauvignon (100% varietal, no oak) under the guidance of the world’s number one winemaker, Mother Nature, in her quite accessible 2007 vintage. This textbook high quality Sauvignon displays old world winemaking traditions in the service of top new world terroir. Tangy acidity supports aromas and flavors of herbs, lemon-lime (7 Up!), figs, grapefruit and pineapple, all nicely integrated. Perfect as the warm weather approaches, particularly with salads and seafood.
ITA684, $14.99 2008 Masserie Civitella, Rossone, Negro Amaro Malvasia Nera, Salento IGT, Italy 
OK, so they’re not gonna be asking for this Puglian red by name, but once they taste it, they’ll be fighting over the rest of the bottle - the price/value ratio here is off the charts! Legendary Northeast Italy vintner Gian Andrea Tinazzi also works down South, (as well as in Abruzzi) and we’re offering his version of the traditionally-already-among the-greatest–of-values, the Salice Salentino Riserva blend. Tinazzi uses the identical local Puglian grapes, but sourced from slightly beyond the area boundaries. The less expensive raw materials, Tinazzi winemaking ability, plus the unique local techniques, yield additional value. Floral, mature-but-not-old red berry and plum aromas and flavors, framed in toasty vanilla and cigar box oak, supply the hook. Beginner friendly, yet rustic and earthy, with the smooth, supple feel and heft of the finest California Merlots, this wine works well with most white and red meats. Guaranteed-to-be-an-award-winner-soon, the Puglian delivers accessibility and character via virtuoso wine-making, but you’ll be too busy enjoying it to take notice.
AUS292, $17.99 2007 Strongroom, Geographe Shiraz, Western Australia silver, highly recommended 2010 WWC
Australian wines are in an interesting place right now in the US. Recently forced to sell their wines as fine wine, rather than subsidized, low price commodities with a gimmick, the jury is still out on how many down under bottlings really stack up now, dollar-for-dollar apples-to-apples with the rest of the wine world, and if the buying public will continue to embrace them. Since Western Australia has always been one of the country’s lesser known and undervalued regions, I suspect that at least WA wines will be able to continue to expand on their tiny American market share, hence this signature-Aussie-red Shiraz feature. Since I’m flogging the 07 Strongroom, from a relatively new Geographe appellation, as an optimum value versus the rest of the planet’s Syrahs, I’d rather that you heed the notes of the 2010 World Wine Championships judges – don’t just take my word for it: "Dense inky violet black color. Aromas of blueberry compote and eucalyptus follow through on a round, supple entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium-full body with great spicy depth and a rounded creme brulee note. Finishes with a long, juicy tangy fade. A delicious, zesty shiraz for sipping or the table"
(re-purposed from November, 2009) NAP960, $24.99 2004 Brava Terra Reserve, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, California:
silver, highly recommended 2010 WWCBrava Terra is our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon label and we almost never - one time in the past twelve years – bottle a Brava Terra Reserve, to give some perspective as to how special this wine really is. Fruit for the 04 Brava Terra Reserve originated at a model-for-sustainability, a family-owned ranch farmed in a tranquil corner of Napa Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon is one the family’s trademark varietals. Here the Napa Valley ‘s warm days and cool nights are exaggerated a bit, due to elevation and distance from the moderating influences of the San Francisco Bay. This yields ripe, luscious fruit with crisp acidity – well balanced grapes that produce well balanced wines. Enough stress on the vines insures concentrated, complex flavors. This yields rich, sophisticated, accessible-when-young wines that unfurl layer upon layer with bottle age. And this 2004 was already aged for two additional years on the family’s dime! (Most of Napa Valley is shipping 2006’s or 2007’s.) This is classic, delicious now, intense, luxurious Napa Cab. A blueberry, cherry and currant nose precedes explosive cassis, cherry and anise flavors in the mouth. The topper is that we’ve seen current vintages of Cabernet from this ranch for $30 to $40 per bottle, back vintages at $100 to $130. And since this $24.99 wine will continue to age gracefully minimum another six years, I’ll let you do the back vintage price math…
And not a politician in sight!
May 14, 2010 at 7:04 AM
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Be the first to comment on this postFree Pass to AutismOne/Generation Rescue 2010 Conference!
LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY TO SEE 170 GREAT SPEAKERS: AUTISM ONE/GENERATION RESCUE 2010 CONFERENCE!
Chicago, IL, May 24-30 www.autismone.org
AND
YOUR CHANCE TO EARN A FREE PASS THAT IS A $295 SAVINGS!
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT THE WINES FOR AUTISM BOOTH DURING THE CONFERENCE!
Would you love to attend the largest and most comprehensive Conference in the world but your budget screams “No”?
Here is your chance!!!
We need a few volunteers to help us at our booth every day.
Don’t worry we will train you and by the time you leave the Conference not only will you have gathered precious information about healing children but you will also have learned a little bit lot about wines:)!
If interested, just send us an e-mail at info@winesforautism.com
Cheers!
Send Mom a Rescue Kit!
... Make her next Tough Day more bearable.
Yes! We can get it there by Mother's Day! Just place your order by Monday, 05/03!
Relax, rejuvenate and reward that special lady in your life this Mother's Day with our exclusive Tough Day Rescue Kit! This gift set is the perfect recipe to help Mom unwind after a tough day. Our complete rescue kit arrives in a whimsical gift box featuring the Tough Day character and includes one bottle of our very own Tough Day Chardonnay and one bottle of Alazar Merlot. Accompanying this dynamic duo is what else but two boxes of Harry London gourmet dark chocolates containing 13 raspberry flavored chocolate squares and 13 orange flavored chocolate squares. Also included are instructions for how to unwind after a tough day including fast food pairing suggestions and tongue-in-cheek relaxation tips. Gentleman, we suggest stocking up on more than one!
Kit Includes:
1 bottle Mira Luna 2009 "Tough Day" Sonoma, Carneros, Chardonnay (750ml)
1 bottle 2006 Alazar Winery & Vineyards, Clarksburg Merlot, California (750ml)
1 box 13 Harry London Dark Chocolate Orange Squares
1 box 13 Harry London Dark Chocolate Raspberry Squares
Tongue in cheek instructions for how to unwind after a tough day + popular take-out food wine pairing suggestions
Arrives "pretty in pink" within a collector's gift boxTough Day Rescue Kit
$60.00$39.99 including shipping!
WINES FOR AUTISM GIVES ONE THIRD OF ITS GROSS PROFITS FROM EACH SALE TO THE ORGANIZATION OF YOUR CHOICE FROM AMONG OUR CHARITY PARTNERS.
Order Details: *This offer cannot be be combined with coupons and/or other promotions. No additional discounts apply. Orders must be received by 05/03/2010 to ensure delivery by Mother's Day. Delivery by Mother's Day is not available in the states of AZ, CT, NJ & MA. Please note that package does require an adult signature at the time of delivery. Offer available via web or phone
Honor our loved ones with a basket of goodies!
April is the coolest month, breeding libations out of the sustainably farmed land...
By Francis Sanders, our wine geek and wine director
CAL916, $11.99 2008 Glass Ridge, California Pinot Grigio:
I’m typing this on a late Wednesday in March, and decided to lead with the white wine feature because on Monday I received the 2010 New World International Wine Competition silver medal notification for this, our first ever Glass (value-is-my-middle-name) Ridge Pinot Grigio.
Why bother with California Pinot Grigio? Is it really an affirmation of Old World heritage - a labor of love for West Coast vintners and winemakers with last names that end in a vowel, or is it a blatant attempt to carve back a slice from the still-growing Italian white wine market share for the Golden State? In California’s favor, is the bulk of the Pinot Grigio consumed in the States with any thought towards its Northeast Italian origins? I suspect most is used as a cocktail, far less, for example, than when carefully paired with a Veronese seafood and rice dish. Still, “Sketches of Spain” remains a masterpiece, though Miles Davis & Gil Evans were not Spanish.
Is there anything special about Pinot Grigio, ignoring geography for a minute? Any honest wine merchant will tell you that it sells like crazy, and the subsequent cash flow generated helps support said merchant’s ability to offer more interesting and expensive wines. Pinot Grigio is partially responsible for the current shift away from oaked whites. And since when is an introductory fine white for the masses a bad thing? Wine is supposed to be a beverage of pleasure, which we jaded industry types often forget. To take this even further, as a fledgling wine bottler I was taught that we have an obligation to steer clients to Alsatian (formerly Tokay) Pinot Gris and the like from Oregon and New Zealand, “wines that Pinot Grigio wants to be when it grows up”, but elitism never pairs well with a tough economy.
Tasted table loads of affordable 2008 Pinot Grigios to unearth this wine, including more non-Italians than ever before. Shorter form is that all of the wines making the first cut confirmed the ubiquitous generic Italian white wine traits of light, clean, crisp, refreshing, with no oak. Second cut, wines exhibited some sort of pronounced white flower nose and in the mouth, melon. Some of the more complex (and pricey, it turns out) wines also displayed aromas and flavors of dates, figs and nuts. Where Old World versus New really was apparent, the Italians proved uniformly a touch lighter in body, featured mineral elements in both the nose and on the palate, and boasted fresh acidity. Californians, side-by-side comparison, possessed more body, texture and, to a wine, were a little sweeter. Ginger ale versus Coca-Cola, better with food versus satisfying alone, vibrant and exuberant versus luscious and rich. And, for my money, the best value price range California Pinot Grigio proved to be from a grower that actively cultivates his Italian-American heritage, and that’s what we bottled as the 08 Glass Ridge.
ARG039, $11.99 2008 Baudron, Mendoza Tempranillo, Argentina:
Argentine wines remain a hot commodity for a variety of reasons. The US dollar is still strong there - how many wine-producing countries can you say that about? The thriving Malbec business obviously strengthens growers and wineries, but it has also shifted US consumer perception of Argentine wines from cheap to value to world class. And has gotten Americans to look beyond just Malbec and Malbec blends to re-consider once-unjustly-overlooked Argentine Cabernet Sauvignon – this is a big beef producer of a nation, after all – and to appreciate other Argentine signature wines like Torrontes and Bonarda.
Tempranillo is still way undervalued in the US if not from one of the top regions in Spain. Even more so Tempranillo from Argentina, which flies beneath the radar. With a Merlot-like heft and supple mouth feel, vibrant, herbaceous, olive, nut, black, brown and red berry fruit flavors, the Baudron’s a perfect barbeque red or served with Mediterranean cuisine. And to seal the deal, here’s the notes from the judges at the 2010 World Wine Championships, where this wine recently earned a silver medal and best buy designation: ”Deep garnet violet color. Ripe cherry and boysenberry aromas reveal a touch of pencil shavings and roasted peppers and fennel and follow through on a round, supple entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with very good, intensity and balance. Finishes with a tangy oak spice kissed fade. Very tasty and food affined. (tasted on Feb-18-2010)”
ITA667, $14.99 2006 Podere Volpaio, Toscana IGT, Italy: Don’t take this the wrong way – I love Tuscany, I’m just depressed that as a nation we’ve devolved what should be properly feted as the cradle of the Renaissance into a Food Network cliché. Marketing gurus put the word “Tuscan” on anything and everything, accuracy flushed right down the toilet – obviously they teach misuse of the word “Tuscan” as a case study in a business school somewhere…best practices: “No one knows that we brew up the sauce in Pasaic, call it Sun Kissed Tuscan and we’re golden”…I believe this Tuscan-as-an-adjective phenomenon was exacerbated by the film “Under the Tuscan Sun”. Admittedly, I was paying way too much attention to Diane Lane in her underoos to take seriously any tale of a personal journey towards fulfillment. But since 2003 I’ve received scads of requests to arrange visits to producers in the region all starting with these identical words, “we’ve rented a villa…”
You’d like to think that Americans would be more savvy equating Tuscan food and wine with art and culture - every major US city has an Italian-American region known for its restaurants that’s done a portion of this education for the masses – North Beach, Little Italy, the North End. I’m saddened that the area that birthed peerless olive oil, the architecture of Florence, Siena, and Pisa, brought us Machiavelli, the Medicis and the Uffizi may have a lower Q rating than three-quarters of the named-after-Tuscan-greats Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. (I always associated Raphael with Rome, though I may be wrong.)
Toscana/Toscano IGT items, essentially the Super Tuscan and baby Super Tuscan categories, bring out the cynic in me. Originally conceived as blends of estate grown Sangiovese plus Bordeaux varietals, this late 1970’s “producer-led rebellion against the DOC and DOCG” helped put Tuscany back on the map in the eyes of many Americans, particularly certain members of the then-fledgling US wine press. In some eyes, lowly Sangiovese had come a long way. This attention also improved Chianti wines. But was this really a new expression of the area’s potential, or merely a reaction to produce wines in a more international style to fetch some of the astronomical dollars being generated by the sales of classified Bordeaux and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon pricing? Especially now that we see more and more Merlot and Syrah in the blends.
My original blind tasting notes on this April feature: “herbaceous, bit vinous red berry nose. Textbook affordable Sangiovese with less acidity than I look for (personal, not a flaw). Satisfying in the mouth, some texture, some vif, want more intensity and heft, price will play more of a role on this one”. Three things, beyond the blind tasting results sold us on the wine – this pushed our old price value relationship standards-for-baby-Super-Tuscans Canta Lupo, and Corte alle Mine Cuvee MNT right off the tasting table. Plus there is only a tiny amount of the wine available at this price point, making it a legitimate almost-too-good-to-be-true-deal. Finally, the vineyard is certified organic.
NAP952, $17.99 2005 Lakeville Cellars, Napa County Cabernet Sauvignon, California:The final April feature is the last hurrah of an old client favorite and 2008 World Wine Championships silver medal winner, highly recommended. This gem from the magnificent 2005 vintage is at optimum drinking now, and was aged to perfection on the winery’s and our dime, rather than sitting in your cellar. The winemaking problem here, solved by the team of Hossein Namdar, Bob Goyette, Guy Davis and myself was to preserve the integrity of our original $21.99 Napa Valley Cabernet that we know we had nailed, but at noticeably less than twenty dollars per bottle price, within reason. Several hours and a zillion blend variations later we had our price point without compromising the wine quality. We sacrificed the prestigious Napa Valley appellation in favor of Napa County and a more accessible price. Here’s the judge’s notes from the 2008 World Wine Championships: “Deep ruby color. Chocolate covered cherry and currant aromas with a touch of vanilla nut fudge follow through to a smooth, fruity medium-to-full body with cola nut, ginger, and roasted pepper notes. Finishes with a bittersweet chocolate, berry, and savory tomato fade. A rewarding table wine to serve with meat and pasta dishes. (tasted on Feb-26-2008)”
And mercifully, no feeble “Waste Land” rip-off in closing.
WINES FOR AUTISM GIVES ONE THIRD OF ITS GROSS PROFITS FROM EACH SALE TO THE ORGANIZATION OF YOUR CHOICE FROM AMONG OUR CHARITY PARTNERS.
No delivery deadline to honor April Autism Awareness Month!
41 Things to Know about Autism by Chantal Sicile-Kira
41 Things to Know about Autism
Courtesy of Chantal Sicile-Kira
Every year, 1 in every 100 children in America are diagnosed with autism. Although autism has reached epidemic proportions, it is far from understood.
In 41 Things To Know About Autism, Chantal Sicile-Kira provides a clear, instructive explanation of autism. If you know someone with autism and would benefit from a quick, straightforward explanation of the condition, this book is for you.
Read more at http://www.chantalsicile-kira.com
Besides her latest book, Chantal keeps busy moderating momsfightingautism.com, a monthly webinar service dedicated to helping moms who have children with autism.
On Saturday, April 10th and Sunday 11th from 8:00 to 5:00 PST a free virtual conference is offered with Temple Grandin and Chantal’s son, Jeremy Sicile-Kira as keynote presenters.
To register go to momsfightingautism.com
“Acknowledging that autism is a spectrum with different abilities and challenges, the keynote on Sunday April 11 at 8:00 am PST will be given by Jeremy Sicile-Kira who was highlighted in the MTV award-winning True Life episode, “I Have Autism.” Jeremy will present on Learning With Autism: A Personal Viewpoint using power point with voice output. “Jeremy has experienced home schooling, special education and inclusion, and many types of therapies in California, France and the UK. It’s not often we get to hear from someone as impacted as Jeremy about what it is like to be on the receiving end of therapies and treatments,” explained Chantal Sicile-Kira.
To share exciting events with us, join us!
I love Someone with Autism
by John LeSieur
The video “I Love Someone with Autism” all started with a message from Carol Janusky DeMaio on my Facebook page. Carol wrote, “It would be nice if parents could share a picture of a loved one on the autism spectrum.” What a fabulous idea, I thought. Let’s post a message on my wall. It's the weekend, so if we get around 50 pictures, then I can create a quick video and send it April 2nd.
I was stunned. In less than 48 hours, over 500 pictures arrived on my wall, inbox and email.
However, I was traveling and knew it was impossible to manage so much information and images by April 2nd.
I decided to stop in a hotel room and lock myself in for three days. I hung a “Do not disturb” sign on the door, rolled up my sleeves and got to work.
After hours of wrestling with the most basic internet connection ever, things began to become organized. But something was lacking. What I needed was the perfect song to accompany the images, but I couldn’t decide on the proper one. That problem too was quickly resolved, thanks to the generosity of Valerie Foley - Flame (The band) and Hannah Hatt (for the song of Bruce Anderson).
At last, it all came together. It is my honor to introduce you to hundreds of families of fabulous angels on the autism spectrum.
There are millions of them around the world – Let’s make this place a better world for them!
http://www.theautismnews.com/video/ilovesomeonewithautism.wmv
With all my heart and back pain (thanks to chair in my room),
John
Wines for Autism Who Is A Facebook ShopTab User Supports Therapeutic Sailing With Heart Of Sailing Foundation
by Jay Feitlinger, Founder of Facebook ShopTab Application
On March 12, 2010 Wines for Autism, Inc. and the Heart of Sailing Foundation announced multiple initiatives designed to enrich, strengthen and expand non-profit sailing programs benefiting children and adults with special needs.
Heart of Sailing’s rapid growth over the past four years is a testament to the sailing community’s willingness to volunteer as well as the desire of children and adults with developmental disabilities to go sailing.
Read more at ShopTab's site http://www.shoptab.net/blog/wines-for-autism-who-is-a-facebook-shoptab-user-supports-therapeutic-sailing-with-heart-of-sailing-
We will be serving two of our featured organic wines which will not break the bank. You will be able to order them at the event to help us support our cause.
WINES FOR AUTISM GIVES ONE THIRD OF ITS GROSS PROFITS FROM EACH SALE TO THE ORGANIZATION OF YOUR CHOICE FROM AMONG OUR CHARITY PARTNERS.
For delivery in time for Easter order by 03/27/2010
No delivery deadline to honor April Autism Awareness Month
Raising a glass of Ops to Pablo Casals and to Autism Warriors
2007 Loxarel OPS Penedes, Spain (91 Points)
From our wine director, Francis Sanders
“Just in case you missed this gem during past holiday season, we’re featuring this bargain for the last time, while we still have adequate wine on hand to emphasize this Spanish envelope-pusher. The $14.99 07 Loxarel Ops, D, unfiltered, from the Penedes, hails from Spain’s spiritual and ancestral home of Cabernet Sauvignon, the land of Jean Leon and Miguel Torres. The wine’s model, named for the Roman goddess of plenty, appears to be the Super Tuscans - indigenous Tempranillo, blended with Bordeaux grapes - but at a fraction of the price. Obviously, the Cabernet component has the right pedigree, and Merlot also works well in Spanish Cabernet Central – think Bordeaux and California’s North Coast. Brawny yet appealing, licorice, leather, tobacco, smoke, berries, vanilla oak cry out for big Mediterranean dishes, or if you’re a carnivore like myself, steak and mushrooms on the grill. And for you green scorekeepers, how many wineries do you know of that use sheep to trim their vines?”
This is one of our March featured wines and it will knock your socks off. It is an absolute steal for the price. I enjoyed Loxarel Ops with dear friends over Christmas dinner and everybody loved it. You get the quality without paying the high price tag of its neighbors in the Priorato appelation.
Granted that I may be slightly partial to this wine because it is from my native land in Catalonia 2007 Loxarel Ops (you say “ch” for the “x” in Catalan) comes from a small winery located in Alto Penedès (versus Bajo Penedès) a gentle rolling countryside where the rows of the vineyards are interrupted only by the scattered villages and medieval architecture.
The lower part of the region, called "Bajo Penedès" is better known for its Cavas (sparkling wines made either with the method champenoise or the Charmat method) and also the native land of famous cellist and pacifist, Pablo Casals.
Raising a glass of Ops (aka "hopes" pronounced with a thick French accent) to Pablo Casals’ fight for freedom, genius musical talent and to Autism Warriors.
WINES FOR AUTISM GIVES ONE THIRD OF ITS GROSS PROFITS FROM EACH SALE TO THE ORGANIZATION OF YOUR CHOICE FROM AMONG OUR CHARITY PARTNERS.
For delivery in time for Easter, order by 03/27/2010.
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