L.A. WINELINE RABBIT VINTAGES HOP OVER FROM CONTINENT.Byline: LARRY LIPSON The French name for rabbit is lapin. But a new South of France South of France south n the South of France → le Sud de la France, le Midi line of vintage-dated wines in either a box or bottle from Boisset is called ``French rabbit,'' which suggests that you won't find it in France. Buoyed by a hefty (30 percent) increase in box or ``non-bottle'' wine sales in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. in 2004 (as reported in BusinessWeek magazine last July) and spurred by the results of a marketing test in Canada where it was made available in both box and bottle (box sales were 21 times greater than bottle sales), Boisset's French rabbit wines made their debut in this country on Feb. 1. Both the 1-liter boxes and 750-milliliter bottles carry a suggested retail price of $9.99 and come in four varieties - pinot noir, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon Cab·er·net Sauvignon n. 1. A variety of black grape used to make red wine, notably in Bordeaux and the Napa Valley. 2. A dry red wine made from this grape. [French. and merlot. Though not available yet in the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. area, the Northern California Northern California, sometimes referred to as NorCal, is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The region contains the San Francisco Bay Area, the state capital, Sacramento; as well as the substantial natural beauty of the redwood forests, the northern distributor expects it to be on supermarket shelves within two to three weeks. Information: www.frenchrabbit.com. or (415) 289-0633. ROLL OUT THE BARREL: This year's Central Coast Wine Classic, now a huge, annual, charitable wine event, kicks off on July 13 with an afternoon barrel tasting at the Cliffs Resort in Shell Beach. It features numerous wine-related seminars and tastings, as well as cooking demonstrations, a whiskey symposium, lavish dinners, auctions, special lunch events, and even coffee and auto design seminars. Information: (805) 544-1285 or www.wineclassic.org. NEW RELEASES: Oxnard's Herzog Wine Cellars offers three wines next month from its new winery, a 2003 special reserve Edna Valley syrah ($30), a 2005 late harvest zinfandel ($20) and a 2004 Baron Herzog cabernet sauvignon ($13). Information: (805) 983-1560 or www.herzogwinecellars.com. ... Winter-spring releases from Napa Valley's Long Vineyards are the 2002 estate-grown chardonnay ($32), 2002 cabernet sauvignon ($50), 2004 Patricia white (two thirds riesling and one third chardonnay, $21) and Patricia red (two thirds syrah and one third cabernet sauvignon, $30). Information: (707) 963-2496 or www.longvineyards.com. ... There's a new premium tequila on the shelves titled Tequila Distinguido priced from $44 for the silver to $59 for the anejo. ... L.A.'s San Antonio Winery The San Antonio Winery is the only remaining winery in the city of Los Angeles, and has operated since 1917. It only produces white wine. However, it does not grow the grapes at its Los Angeles location as its former vineyards have been developed with dense industry. has released two of its San Simeon San Simeon Former estate of William Randolph Hearst in southern California. It was built on a vast private estate of 245,000 acres (99,000 hectares), developed in the 1860s by Hearst's father. labels, the 2004 pinot gris ($15) and the 2002 cabernet sauvignon ($20). Information: (323) 223-1401 or www.sanantoniowinery.com. ... Kendall-Jackson's new 2005 riesling ($10) from its Vintner's Reserve line promises ``honeysuckle honeysuckle, common name for some members of the Caprifoliaceae, a family comprised mostly of vines and shrubs of the Northern Hemisphere, especially abundant in E Asia and E North America. , apricot and peach flavors delicately mingle(d) with hints of Anjou pear.'' Information (800) 769-3649 or www.kj.com. ... Dry Creek Vineyard names its latest dry chenin blanc, a 2005 ($11.50), as a Clarksburg (Sacramento Delta) wine. Also currently available from Dry Creek: a 2004 Russian River Valley chardonnay ($18), a 2003 Dry Creek Valley merlot ($18) and a 2002 Dry Creek Valley meritage ($28). Information: (707) 433-5329 or www.drycreekvineyard.com. SIPS & NIBBLES: Solar-powered, eco-friendly Quivera Vineyards in Sonoma County, currently readying its 2004 Fig Tree sauvignon blanc for release, is brimming with pride over its new biodynamic bi·o·dy·nam·ic adj. 1. Of or relating to the study of the effects of dynamic processes, such as motion or acceleration, on living organisms. 2. and organic certifications. Information: (707) 431-8354 or www.quiverawine.com ... Albarino whites representing 19 wineries from Rias Baixas, Spain, were recently introduced to 200 press and trade attendees at a New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. seminar. Nine different albarino styles were tasted. Information: www.riasbaixaswines.com. ... Big winners at the San Francisco Chronicle The San Francisco Chronicle was founded in 1865 as The Daily Dramatic Chronicle by teenage brothers Charles de Young and Michael H. de Young.[2] The paper grew along with San Francisco to become the largest circulation newspaper on the West Coast of the wine competition last month were the wineries of the Santa Cruz Mountains with 78 medals, including 19 golds, mostly for pinot noirs. Information: (831) 685-8463 or www.scmwa.com. ... Sutter Home has introduced a new look in its packaging (labels, capsules and corks) on its many varietals , including its blush line of white zinfandel, white cabernet sauvignon and white merlot. Information: (707) 963-3104 or www.sutterhome.com. Larry Lipson, (818) 713-3668 larry.lipson(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- 3) DRY CREEK VINEYARD |
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