May, 2009
What depression?
With the help of our GM, Dick Wallingford, we have now penetrated Europe in a nice way, and our first shipments are now swimming across the pond.
In London, prominent wine writer Robert Joseph tasted the 2006 Cabernet and said, "This wine is like somebody you know is strong, but you can't see the muscles". He said he is looking forward to meeting Vito and Linda in the flesh. Our winemaker of course has to be present because it is British tradition to never taste wine without the presence of THE winemaker.
In Amsterdam, a top importer specializing in Burgundy and Bordeaux expressed no interest at all in Bialla. After tasting and re-tasting the wines against Burgundy and Bordeaux, they said they could consider placing a very small order. They were offered five cases, and ordered... ten! They insisted on Bialla sun visors to wear at their launch of Bialla in Amsterdam.
In Stockholm, Sweden's top Bordeaux importer said they are not ordering any new wines, due to the difficult economy. Then after a tasting, the editor of the lifestyle magazine "The Good Life" and the sommelier at Pontus restaurant in Stockholm demanded Bialla Cabernet. The importer was glad to order ten cases. Europeans are falling in love with Bialla!
Those are just small bits of news we love getting each week.
Another good news item is Bialla Winery is being featured on the national TV show In Wine Country. This show is owned by NBC and aired nationally to over two million viewers. We are shooting the feature this week and then our story will air sometime in July.
This should be a lot of fun. Mary Babbitt is quite the host and is as enthusiastic as we are about wine and good living. We'll send an update when the schedule for airing is revealed.
You've heard me crow about our latest adventure of hand de-stemming. Well here is a picture of the world's first custom-made hand de-stemming table. Yah really ;) Maybe we should patent it.
Every person we talk to in the wine industry is telling us it will make a big difference in the quality of our wine. I can't wait. I have to say pushing the envelope in wine making and being innovative is a lot more fun than imitating.
Remember our special offer to support our Wounded Warrior Project is good till June 1st. Since we announced this offer last month I have been writing checks like crazy to WWP making donations on your behalf. It is truly a pleasure to do this.
To make your support to WWP a little inviting here at Bialla Vineyards we are doing a special offering of the following. You buy three bottles of our 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon and we will make a donation in your name for $93, the equivalent of one bottle, and send you a tax deductible copy of the check made out to Wounded Warrior Project. This offer is available on www.biallavineyards.com/store/WWP.html
Please send this newsletter to a friend who you think likes good wine and or shares our interest in this cause.
As always thank you for sharing our passions
Vito & Linda Bialla