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Lisa SimonJuly 2008I just arrived back in NY after a quick visit to the winery! I often receive comments from our friends and customers that their visit to the winery is a highlight of their overall trip! I could not agree more... Halfway up from San Francisco, I noticed my mind started to relax and was able to take a very long deep breath...the smell of sweet air in Northern California from all of the blossoms, trees, fog and vineyards is intoxicating.. Everything is blooming at the winery and being so close to harvest and being unscathed in the drastic temperature changes and fires is a blessing. The hard work that is a constant not only to bring harvest to fruition but also the continuing nature of precision farming involves great passion, love and constant reinvestment. David and I did a lot of barrel tasting and sat and talked at length about all of the progress at the winery. It is clear that the vines feel his and the family's love and are well taken care of! His wholistic approach to winemaking and his ability to make such diverse wines make it fun for me to sell! We did dosage tastings for the Classic Vintage Brut 2004 and Russian Cuvee 2004 for next release...to be continued... Laurence and I spent time in the vineyard in every block analyzing their nuances...and the work that went into them and that they are still undergoing... and then we picked and tasted some of the first tomatoes and lettuces with friends which is one of the many highlights of summer. With all the pressure in the news about the economic situation, I think it is important to remember, this is my favorite way to celebrate life, friends, family and nature! Grilled fish and Unoaked Chardonnay 2006 or some bubbly and bbq!
April 2008 Spring is here finally, no really, in NY as well! I feel so spoiled that I get a glimpse every year before we see it here by sneaking off to California, this year to work the market with Dawnelise in Carmel and Monterey. Then, on my day off at The Carneros Inn which is a stunning hotel I highly recommend with a beautiful panoramic view. While Pebble Beach was all work, we had some opportunities to rest our feet after the Pebble Beach Food and Wine festival with friends. Michael Nelson, Gotham Bar & Grill....creatively chilling some Classic Vintage Brut 2002 and Brut Rose 2003 "And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter and the sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed" - Kahlil Gibran Real men do drink pink!, Mark from Sona restaurant, LA, Dawnelise Regnery, Hayden Felice, Craft Bar in NY, Michael Nelson Gotham Bar and Grill, NY, Petr Landa, Piano Due, NY We look forward to a wonderful celebration and benefit for good cause, Earth Day on April 20th, hope to see you all there! Happy Spring! Lisa February 2008 I am writing this on a flight home from Ft. Meyers after visiting The Keys, Miami, Hollywood, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Naples calling on old friends and making many, many new ones. Our team was on the East Coast working the market with many of the really great people from Premier Beverage, our distributor in Florida. We were invited to be the guest winery last week at The Royal Poinciana Country Club. I was honored to be the guest speaker. Truly an amazing evening, in which everyone enjoyed! As we are such a small team at the winery, these fine dinners are a rare and wonderful event. We were the first winery to be featured at The Metropolitan Museum of Art amongst many other spectacular venues with phenomenal chefs. All of the guests (myself included) found these dishes the perfect accompaniment to our wines. Thank you to Mr. Remington, Mr. McDonald and Executive Chef Manfred Bauer of Royal Poinciana as well as Ellie Sexton of Premier for putting this all together. Iron Horse Winemaker Dinner January 25, 2008
Reception
Santa Barbara Shrimp Tempura, Mild Curry Coconut Sauce, Portabello Mushroom Steak Fries, Balsamic Roasted Garlic Aioli, Triple Creme Truffled Profiteroles, Sauce Verte Chilled Japanese Cucumber Bisque Shooter with Cream Fraiche Smoked Salmon and Celery Root Truffles Coated in Lemon Pumpernickel Crumbs
2002 Classic Vintage Brut ~ 2006 Rosato di Sangiovese
Le MenÛ
Amuse Bouche
Mediterranean Zá atar Seared Rare Tuna
2006 Viognier
First
Pan Roasted Spiney Lobster Paella Shrimp, Chorizo, Pea Foam, Saffron Risotto
2005 Estate Chardonnay
Second
Orange Honey Blossom and Bourbon Molasses Roasted Ojai Valley Squab Supreme Tamarind Infused Salsify, Huckleberries Grand Cru Reduction
2005 Estate Pinot Noir
Intermezzo
Basil Lime Sorbet
Entrée
Axis Venison and Foie Gras “Wellington” Winter Spiced Seckel Pear, Celeriac Parsley, Prune, Broken Fig Sauce
2004 BDX 3 Meritage Le Gran Finale
Chambord Crème Fraiche Soufflé Minted Raspberry Compote, Hazelnut Gelato
2003 Brut Rosé
Some other not to be missed events that are coming up for us at Iron Horse are The Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival in Carmel, California www.pebblebeachfoodandwine.com March 27-30, 2008 866.907.3663
And our 2nd Annual Earth Day event at Iron Horse! As seen in USA Today Be prepared to contribute to saving the earth while enjoying amazing food, wine, music and merriment. See our events page for more details. November 2007 Fall is one of my favorite seasons..not only for all the beautiful foliage drives I get to take but also because it one of the most fun seasons in New York. Whether it is wine tasting at the Wine experience, ice skating in Central Park, cheering on the marathon runners or dressing up, decorating pumpkins and going incognito to a Halloween party, the city is bustling with excitement and tourists..Everyday I can enjoy the sounds of all of the different cultures that represent New Yorkers, even if they are only in for a day! Preparing for Thanksgiving, I would like to take the time to thank our biggest supporters and some of my favorite spots to dine at or send friends to for a good nights sleep.. Here is just a taste of where you might enjoy our wines... Loews Regency Hotel Django Four Seasons BarAmericain Maloney & Porcelli Mesa Grill The Grand Hyatt Smith & Wollensky The New York Palace Gotham Bar & Grill Aureole Metropolitan Museum of Art Grand Central Oyster Bar Central Park Boathouse Jean Georges Michael Jordan's The Intercontinental Hotel Outside Manhattan Iron Horse Grill Cippolini July 2007 Updating a blog is very difficult when life here at Iron Horse is so exciting! I was at the winery in April for the Earth Day celebration! This event is a not to be missed event! (yes, it will happen next year!) If you were not able to make it please put it on your calendar. Green Valley vintners lined the entrance way up to the winery showcasing just released wines paired with Chef Chris’ recreations of street fair from all over Asia. There was a fantastic grass roots band! Most importantly, it showed how many people truly care about saving the environment and choosing better green solutions including of course all of us at Iron Horse! Living in Manhattan, this was so inspiring as we could all be more green! I was also able to attend The Green Valley Symposium, if you are in the trade and have interest in attending this, please e-mail me at lsasimon@aol.com There were expert presentations on the history, temperature swings, defining geology, fog patterns and sustainable farming practices of the appellation as well as interactive tasting's of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Green Valley and other CA appellations, led by MS Bob Bath. There were interesting and fun Food & Wine pairings at 4 of the Green Valley wineries! Precision Farming for us at Iron Horse has been so exciting…with each passing vintage you can see how much more interesting Chardonnay and Pinot Noir really are and the constant evolution at the vineyard. If you have ever met the Sterling Family then you know, personally and professionally consistently evolving and recreating makes life and grapes more exciting. I think David agrees! If you have not been to visit us please come, come 1 and come all, Audrey once told me that their story and the whole picture really comes alive when someone visits! If you have not been in 2 to 3 years, you are overdue for another visit as you will not believe how much can change! Of course travel has definitely been on the agenda personally and professionally.. Our team enjoyed several market blitzes this year in Arizona and New York, we saw many loyal faces on these trips and made many new friends and fans! We feel every case of support 1 case at a time! We may have an iconic name but it is still a small family owned winery! What is my idea of a perfect summer? Blanc de Blancs 2001 to celebrate Eartha Kitts 80th birthday or having a lobster bake under the warm sunlight with family and friends drinking Viognier, Rosato di Sangiovese or Brut Rose, depending on how decadent you feel!!! Warm Regards, Lisa
January, 2007
June, 2006 I am not much of a blogger per se, but I am happy to share some of my experiences with our new vintage of Estate Chardonnay. I have had the pleasure of tasting with the best chefs and sommeliers in my territory and everyone is going crazy for it. Here's one of my favorite quotes from Bobby Flay. "Whenever I'm grilling fish with spicy flavors or
slow-roasting chicken crusted with fresh herbs I always reach for Iron Horse
Chardonnay. It's a perfect partner for the foods I like to cook!" May, 2006 Introductory Q & A Title: Joy’s Angel Territory: New York, Florida, New Jersey, coming soon Pennsylvania, Massachusetts. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Having a loving family and true friends close to me, cherishing the moments, going about the day, not sweating the small stuff. Which historical figure do you most admire? Gandhi. What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Could there really be an overrated virtue? I am an idealist. Do you lie? Terribly and rarely. Which living person do you most despise? I plead the 5th on this one. How old are you? Young. What is your favorite word to use to describe wine? Sexy, just kidding. Which words or phrases do you most use in describing Iron Horse wines? Lingering finish, big mouth feel, round, pear, vanilla, apple, supple, blackberry, strawberry, smooth tannins, elegant….I can go on and on ... tobacco, chocolate covered cherry, smoke, balanced, evolved… To what or to whom would you toast a glass of bubbly in this very moment? To living harmoniously, to meeting new people, to cherry blossoms and art. What is the most awe-inspiring talent you possess? The ability to surprise myself, patience in spite of… What inspired you to work for Iron Horse? A woman I adore, I’ll give you one guess and she is a perfect representation of the meaning of her name and of course their fantastic wines which I supported and had on my wine lists for years. What future do you predict for Iron Horse Vineyards? One with many celebrations with heaps of new friends drinking great wine and enjoying life. If you could change one thing about your job, what would it be? I would make all my sales calls from a home on the beach via satellite having an interactive tasting. If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be? For all peoples to live in peace. What is your most priceless possession? Life. What is the quality you like most in a red? Passion. What is the quality you like most in a white? Its ability to be changeable What is the quality you most admire in bubbly? Its ability to make me happy. What are you reading these days? “The Tipping Point” and “Don’t Lets Go To The Dogs Tonight". Who is your greatest influence? My Mom. What is your motto? Love and be loved. |
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