Celebrating 30 Years at the August 2012 Mixer

Chateau Julien Wine Estate was pleased to host a spectacular joint Mixer on August 1st, 2012. Both Chateau Julien and Morgan Winery are celebrating 30 Years of Excellence & this was an exceptional way to celebrate. Our mixer welcomed businesses from the Monterey, Carmel by the Sea & Carmel Valley Chambers of Commerce. It was a fun event of networking, wine tasting and dining! Chateau Julien would like to send a special Thank You to all the great vendors who volunteered their time, talent and goods to make this such an enjoyable evening.

Grapes of Wrath
Contact Dana if you are looking for a spectacular caterer for you next event. Her love of good food and service has allowed Grapes of Wrath to grow and prosper for 20 years.

Allegro Pizzeria
Located in the Barnyard, Allegro has been Carmel's Best Trattoria since 1988


Baja Cantina
Baja Cantina is a fun, friendly place to dine, catch up with friends, watch sporting events, or hang out and enjoy an award winning margarita.

Bart Keagy
Bart Keagy’s photography captures dramatic coastal, sea and golf course scenes. His work has been featured in numerous golf, surfing and home design publications.

Shelley Cost
Shelley Cost is known for the exceptional warmth and life reflected in her oil paintings. Graduating with a fine arts degree from UCLA, Shelley joined her talented father, James Peter Cost, in the Cost Gallery-Carmel for twenty-nine years.

Chic Events
Chic Events experienced and creative design consultants understand the importance of spotlighting each and every client’s individual personality and vision.  Whether it’s the perfect napkin ring or the tent of your dreams, Chic specializes in customizable pieces that are sure to create a unique experience for you and your guests.

Here are some fun pictures from the event

 

Allegro Pizzeria Serving some delicious pizza & caesar salads

 

Some helpers for Allegro Pizzeria

 

Barrie & Shawn from Chateau Julien

 

Mark and Bob Brower welcome the guests into our Chai

 

 

Dana is working hard to prepare her delicious Salmon tostadas

Melinda & Shonda

 

Artist Shelley Cost with the raffle prize winner!

 

Baja Cantina serving some scrumptious munchies!

 

Winemakers' Celebration this Saturday

Come see our winemaker Bill Anderson this Saturday at the 20th Annual Winemakers' Celebration. Click HERE for more information. We hope to see you there!!

August 1st Mixer

Help Chateau Julien and Morgan Winery celebrate our 30 years of excellence at a fun filled mixer Wednesday August 1st! This joint mixer is hosted by the Carmel, Carmel Valley & Monterey Chambers of Commerce. Enjoy wines from both wineries, delicious food from Allegro Pizzeria, Baja Cantina & Grapes of Wrath. There will also be great prizes from Chateau Julien, Morgan Winery, Local artist Shelley Cost & photographer Bart Keagy. 5:00-7:00pm 8940 Carmel Valley Road 831-624-2600 $10 for chamber members $20 for non members Contact your local chamber to join! Carmel by the Sea: http://www.carmelcalifornia.org/ Monterey: http://www.mpcc.com/ Carmel Valley: http://www.carmelvalleychamber.com/

Here are a couple beautiful raffle prizes you can win by simply submitting your business card at the check in table on August 1st.

SHELLEY COST
www.shelleycost.com
This beautiful painting is by local artist Shelley A. Cost. Shelley has donated a framed giclee of this painting printed on museum quality paper. Shelley Cost is known for the exceptional warmth and life reflected in her oil paintings. Graduating with a fine arts degree from UCLA, Shelley joined her talented father, James Peter Cost, in the Cost Gallery-Carmel for twenty-nine years. Recognizing the widespread appeal of her work, the prestigious Pebble Beach Company, Golf Links and Resorts, asked Shelley to provide paintings of golf and other scenes within the property. Recently, she has been selected to provide artwork for the 2010 US Open.

BART KEAGY
A local photographer living in Carmel Highlands, Bart Keagy  photography captures dramatic coastal, sea and golf course scenes. His work has been featured in numerous golf and home design publications.Bart has donated a fine art giclee print of this photograph for our August 1st Mixer.

Virtual Summer Jamboree

Our best Sale of the Year!!

FREE SHIPPING ON ALL CASE ORDERS

*Hot weather advisory
Click here for more information

Shrimp & Lobster Burger Recipe Paired with Cool Climate Chardonnay – Natalie MacLean

I found this delicious recipe on the Natalie Maclean blog (Shrimp & Lobster Burger Recipe Paired with Cool Climate Chardonnay – Natalie MacLean) and had to share. It looks delicious! She recommends pairing it with a cool climate chardonnay. If it is a party, I have to recommend a new release from Chateau Julien, our 2011 Private Reserve Chardonnay Joroboam 3 liter bottle! Normally $330 but this month you can get it for $192. Click here for more info.

Shrimp & Lobster Burger

This burger is perfect for al fresco summer dining, paired with a crisp chardonnay. Meet Chef Pasto at the WILD About Chardonnay lunch at Rosewood Estate Winery Saturday, July 21. Tickets at coolchardonnay.org.

Serves 8

Ingredients:

3 Cups shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 Cup cooked lobster, diced

7 oz coconut milk

3 tsp. lemongrass, finely chopped

1 tsp. kaffir lime leaf, finely chopped
1 tsp. fresh chili, finely chopped
4 tsp. fresh coriander, finely chopped
2 Tbsp. fish sauce
1 ½ tsp. salt
2/3 Cup    asparagus, blanched and diced
Garnish:
8 sesame seed buns
1 Cup bean sprouts
½ Cup carrots
2 Tbsp fresh coriander
1 Tbsp fresh Chilli (optional)
8 leaves Boston lettuce
8 Tbsp sriracha  sauce
8 Tbsp mayonnaise
Pasto’s Method:
In a food processor process the shrimp.  With the motor still running, add coconut milk and process until smooth. Add fish sauce, lemongrass, lime leaf, chilli, salt and coriander.  Pulse in the processor a few times to incorporate. Fold in lobster and asparagus. Form into 8 round burgers.  Lightly oil each burger and grill or pan sear on medium heat until cooked through.
Pasto’s Assembly:
Spread 1 Tbsp. Good Earth Sriracha (or store bought substitute) and 1 Tbsp. mayonnaise on each bun. Top the burger with Boston lettuce, bean sprouts, carrots, chopped fresh coriander and chili. Enjoy!

20th Annual Winemaker's Celebration

Join Chateau Julien as we participate in the 20th Annual Winemaker's Celebration. Click here for more information.

Q & A from the Wine Spectator

The Wine Spectator has a great Q & A section, here is an interesting one:

Q: Can you lose something if wine is decanted too long before consuming?—John
A: In two words, it depends. There are two fundamental reasons to decant a wine:
1. To provide extra aeration for a recent vintage by exposing it to the air as it is poured from the bottle into a decanter.
2. To separate the sediment or deposit of tartrate crystals that have accumulated at the bottom of an older bottle.
The former poses little risk or damage to a wine, and may aid in "opening up" its contents. Some collectors open and decant a recent vintage several hours prior to serving to facilitate the process. While the latter may succeed in eliminating the sediment (you stop pouring when the deposit reaches the neck of the bottle), you also expose the wine to oxygenation in the process, which poses a risk. I have attended tastings of older vintage wines where the bottles were opened too soon (2-plus hours before pouring), and the wine was slightly madeirized. My suggestion is to open and decant an older bottle about half an hour prior to serving.

It also made me think about all the WILD decanter shapes there are!! Here are a few interesting ones:

Chateau Julien

Love this beautiful photograph by Jason Laurea!

Cheers!

The STARS of Team Chateau Julien

We will be Walking - Running - Rocking & Rolling next week as we raise money for charity! Here is the team of Super Start representing Chateau Julien Wine Estate!

http://www.chateaujulien.com/news/events/97

We Welcome Savanna Grow: Manager of Events

Savanna Grow Joins the Chateau Julien Team

Manager of Events

Carmel, CA (May 2012)… Chateau Julien is pleased to announce the appointment of Savanna Grow as Manager of Events. With a degree in Journalism and an emphasis on Public Relations from CA State Northridge, Savanna brings her experience, excellent organizational skills and enthusiasm for creating all kinds of special events.

Savanna has already managed grand events in our Chai as well as intimate luncheon parties in our vineyard and says she loves to “Put an idea to life and watch it unfold”. She is also learning first hand how to create the perfect affair as she plans her own wedding which will be this June. Proprietor Bob Brower states her education and experience was an ideal fit for the growth and development of our company.

Mother's Day Weekend

 

Mother's Day is this Sunday and we are celebrating Mom 

all weekend at Chateau Julien

Chateau Julien is offering free tasting's for mom all weekend long.
We also will be showcasing a One-Woman-Show with local artist Shelley Cost.
Shelley will be here painting both Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00.

Shelley Cost is known for the exceptional warmth and life reflected in her oil paintings. Graduating with a fine arts degree from UCLA, Shelley joined her talented father, James Peter Cost, in the Cost Gallery-Carmel for twenty-nine years. Recently, she has been selected to provide artwork for the 2010 US Open. Originals and their reproductions are now available at Images Gallery, directly across from the Lodge at Pebble Beach.

 Why not pack a picnic lunch,
Taste some delicious Chateau Julien wines, 

meet renowned artist Shelley Cost and make a day of it!

 

I really enjoyed this review from the Wine Weirdos! 

Ultimate Wine Challenge

We are so proud of our fabulous winemaker Bill Anderson and want to say Congratulations on the excellent score from the Ultimate Wine Challenge. Our score of 87 is considered a "Very Good, Strong Recommendation". In addition to the strong scoring, we also received a "Great Value" emblem which is fantastic! I included the final list of our category, check out the stiff competition. Royalty Red has surpassed some impressive wines in taste and demolished most in value!

If you have not tasted our newest blend, here are some notes to entice you:Royalty Red has a deep dark red hue, and rich purple edge is followed by a plum, jammy aroma reminiscent of freshly ripened fruit. Its mild, smooth tannins showcase a bit of oak aging, balanced with complexity through the finish.

 

3 Tips for Wine Tasting

I wanted to blog some great information from the May issue of Wine Enthusiast.  This is taken from an article by Ryan Hamilton. You can read more great articles here: http://www.winemag.com/

Three easy wine tasting tips that will
ensure you have a great experience.
I think the last line of number 3 is important “Have Fun”!

1. Eat a big breakfast at least two hours before your tasting. You should avoid strong -flavors; so don’t eat anything spicy or garlicky. Forego coffee if you can, and don’t smoke before your tour: That’s the worst thing you can do to your palate. Drink a lot of water between tasting wines, and don’t be shy to use a spittoon. Bring a note pad to take tasting notes, focusing on appearance, nose, palate and conclusions. Make it fun and give it a -personal score so you can remember which wines you liked best. The ideal time for wine tasting is 10 am to midday, when your palate is clean and fresh.
2. Focus on small producers rather than big, commercial wineries. With smaller wineries, you’ll get a more intimate experience. Make sure to call ahead (or have your tour guide do so) to make sure the winemakers are expecting you. Chateau Julien has a couple tours each day for only $7 or free with your wine tasting. As the only fully operating winery, you should definitely check out our vine to wine experience!
3. Hire a driver or have a designated one. You don’t have to overdo it, but if you’re making a day of it, you’ll want to sit down to a nice lunch and learn about pairing foods with the wines you’re drinking. It just makes for a more relaxed and educational experience. Most importantly? Enjoy the culture, and have fun.

Don’t forget Chateau Julien is accessible on the Grape Vine Express!  Walk or taxi to the nearest bus stop and head on down to our tasting room. http://www.mst.org/wp-content/media/24.pdf

I'd love to hear from you about what you think is important to remember when wine tasting?

Support Team Chateau Julien

Chateau Julien is proud to support the MCVGA in their 

3rd Annual Winery Walk, Rock & Run!

This is a great event and the foundation's main fundraiser for scholarships for agriculture employee's children. Last year over $15,000 in scholarships was given away. If you would like to help Chateau Julien meet our personal goal of $2000 there are a couple ways to help.

First, join our team! It would be a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon raising money for a great cause! We would love to see our old friends and meet new ones.

Second, you can donate to Team Chateau Julien. Donations are tax deductible. (Tax ID #31-1790962)

 

To donate, click here

For more information on how to join Team Chateau Julien, click here

!!Raffle Prizes!!

If you donate any amount your name will be entered in our raffle!!
There are 2 awesome prizes:

  1. 2 tickets to our Holiday Extravaganza. This fabulous event sells out every year and is a fun and festive way to kick off the holiday season.

  2. A picnic basket filled with fabulous Chateau Julien wine paraphernalia.

Please contact Melinda if you have any questions

The First Sign of Grapes!!

I participated in a fantastic tour with Melinda, Patty and Shawn over the weekend. One of the most exciting parts was when we observed the very beginnings of our grapes. Look at that beautiful little cluster. Now, as long as we keep the voracious little birds, deer and gophers away, this cluster will stand a chance!

  

Check us out on Pintrest! We are gathering a beautiful collection from Weddings, events, the Chateau, the Vineyard our wines and more. Do you know what Pintrest is? Well, I'll tell you. Pintrest is a virtual pinboard! It is a very cool social networking site based on photos. Each user has a theme board where you can upload pictures of your own or 'pin' others images that you like. Let's say you are getting married, create a board where you can fill it with all the beautiful images of flowers, venues, desses, food, location... Several people have already 'pinned' our wedding photos to their boards. Personally, I have a recipe pinboard which I use all the time. Any boards you would like to see from us? I am starting to gather a month to month photo series of our vines. It is amazing to see the changes and I thing will make an interesting collection for a new Pintrest board.

Vintage Affair 2012

Our Vintage Affair was a huge success. Check out some fun pictures from last weekend's event!



Chicagoland

To all our Chicagoland friends, 

we are proud to release Chateau Julien wines at Woodman's in Carpentersville. 

Stop by if you are in the area and check out this awesome display!

This is a coupon period (where legal) Up to $15.00 mail in rebate on 6 bottles purchased. See coupon for details. 

    

2009 Merlot

Tasting Notes: Forward Fruit aromas of ripe plum, cherry and soft raspberry balance mild tannins and a hint of cedar. A full bodied palate with complexity through the finish.

Appellation: Monterey County.

Varietal Composition: 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel

Aging: Aged for 14 months in 1 and 2 year old French and American medium toast oak barrels after 12 days of warm, temperature- controlled fermentation on the skins

2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting Notes: Aromas of dark blackberry fruit, dark chocolate and spice and highlighted by the perfect touch of vanilla. Medium bodies and well balanced, with structure throughout a full, round finish.

Appellation: Monterey County.

Varietal Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Barrel Aging: Slow fermented on the skins for two weeks and aged 14 months in 1 and 2 year old French and American barrels. 

   

2009 Royalty Red 

Tasting Notes: A deep dark red hue and rich purple edge is followed by a plum, jammy aroma reminiscent of freshly ripened fruit. Its mild, smooth tannins showcase a bit of oak aging, balanced with complexity through the finish.

Appellation: Monterey County.

Varietal Composition: 48% Merlot, 36& Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Syrah

Barrel Aging: Aged for 12 months in 1 and 2 year old French and American medium toast oak barrels after 12 days of warm, temperature controlled fermentation on the skins. 

2010 Moscato

Tasting Notes: Refreshing aromas of White peaches, honeydew melon and ripe apricots are balanced with a hint of citrusy lemon. This off-dry, easy sipping wine has a great mount-feel with a bright, crisp finish. A wonderful aperitif, paired with a selection of light cheeses or sorbet.

Appellation:Monterey County.

Varietal Composition:100% Moscato. 

2010 Chardonnay

Tasting Notes: Aromas of ripe peaches, pear and lemony citrus are complemented with notes of toasted vanilla on the palate. Nice texture and balanced acidity with well-integrated components through a full finish.

Appellation: Monterey County.

Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay.
Barrel Aging: One hundred percent barrel fermented and aged for 9 months in 1 and 2 year old French and American medium toast oak barrels. 

2010 Pinot Grigio

Tasting Notes: A forward floral aroma of sun basked honeysuckles complements lively acidity and fresh melon nuances. This lighter style wine holds a full mouth texture and soft lingering finish.

Appellation: Monterey County.

Varietal Composition: 97% Pinot Grigio, 3% Gewurztraminer 

    

New Wine Blog Features Chateau Julien Wine Estate

CHECK OUT THIS NEW CARMEL VALLEY WINE BLOG BY CLICKING THE LINK.

http://www.carmelvalleybytheglass.blogspot.com

San Francisco Chronicle Article - 10/24/2010

French-inspired chateau in Carmel Valley vineyards
Sarah Fritsche, Chronicle Staff Writer

San Francisco Chronicle October 24, 2010 04:00 AM Copyright San Francisco Chronicle. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
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.12 ..Chad Ziemendorf / The Chronicle

The tasting room and grounds of Chateau Julien in Carmel Valley, Calif., are photographed on Monday, September 6, 2010.
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The Tasting Room
French-inspired chateau in Carmel Valley vineyards 10.24.10
Small labels star at collective's bustling bar 10.17.10
David Coffaro vineyard specializes in varietals 10.03.10
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Carmel Valley offers a trove of tucked-away charm. Most tasting rooms in the valley serve as outposts for their respective wineries, located elsewhere in Monterey County. Chateau Julien, however, offers a complete vine-to-wine experience.

The vibe: Cradled by picturesque hillsides, the winery is built in the style of a French chateau. Walking up the cobblestone path toward the entrance, you're struck by the grand elegance. The wood-beamed ceilings of the Great Hall, wrought-iron chandeliers, large fireplace and 18-foot mahogany table that serves as a tasting area all add to the ambience. Handblown stained-glass windows and French doors give an airy feel. The hall also serves as gift shop and awards showcase, displaying the winery's numerous wines and accompanying medals and ribbons.

The team: In 1978, New Jersey natives Bob and Patty Brower moved to Carmel with the goal of establishing a winery that reflected the charm, hospitality and quality of wines they had fallen in love with while traveling in Europe. Four years later, they opened their French-inspired winery. Winemaker Bill Anderson has been with the winery since it opened in 1982.

The wines: Anderson strives for straightforward elegance in his wines. While the winery's focus is on reds, with Merlot as its flagship varietal, they also produce a number of whites. A tasting of six specialty and reserve wines is $5. During our visit, my friend and I started off with a 2009 Gewurztraminer ($22) and a sur-lie 2008 Private Reserve Chardonnay ($32). Moving onto reds, we sampled a 2006 Private Reserve Merlot ($42), followed by the 2006 Black Nova ($78), a Zinfandel-Syrah blend. We also got to try a wine not listed, the 2007 La Conviviance ($90), a Bordeaux-style red blend. We capped off the tasting with a Carmel Cream Sherry ($28).

The experience: We visited the winery on a quiet Tuesday morning. Our host, Fina, who's been with the winery for over 25 years, was warm, friendly and thoroughly knowledgeable about the wines and the winery's history. She even helpfully offered us advice on a shortcut to our next destination.

The extras: An inviting cobblestone courtyard is perfect for taking in the scenery over a glass of wine. Cheese plates are available for purchase, or BYO goodies. Free winery tours are offered at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. during the weekdays and 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. on the weekends; it's a good idea to reserve a spot. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and include the vineyards, winemaking facilities and barrel room. Considering the tours include tasting, it's a steal.

Private tours and tasting packages are available with advance reservations. The winery's facilities can also be rented out for private events.

If you go: 8940 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel; (831) 624-2600 or chateaujulien.com. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Rating: Rating: THREE STARS

This article appeared on page M - 6 of the San Francisco Chronicle



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/22/TRUS1FLJAD.DTL#ixzz13hEzi9Od

For Immediate Release

Carmel, Ca- With a degree in Enology from Fresno State University, second generation Bobby Brower Jr, joined the Chateau Julien team as National Sales Manager earlier this year. After nearly thirty years in production, Chateau Julien wines will now continue to be represented by the Brower family nationwide. The Wine Estate’s Proprietor, Bob Brower will work closely with his son in the national market to solidify existing accounts and re-align Chateau Julien wines in the retail segment of the market.

“We are thrilled to have Bobby on board,” comments father and Proprietor Bob Brower. “His fresh, exciting perspective has brought a new life to the brand nationally, while the distributors and sales teams still receive direct contact from a winery family member. Bobby grew up around the vineyard and Wine Estate, so it is a natural fit.” Brower Jr. is based out of New York, with a nationwide territory extending west to California and south to Texas. After years of roaming the Estate grounds as a child, he has more recently learned about the industry through summer vineyard work, cellar jobs alongside Winemaker Bill Anderson, regional wine sales and as President of the Fresno State Enology Society.
Chateau Julien Wine Estate is family owned and operated by Bob and Patty Brower in Carmel Valley, California. The winery produces wines under three tiers: Chateau Julien Proprietary Blends, Private Reserve and Barrel Selected. Varietals are locally grown in Monterey County and include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Syrah, Sangiovese and Pinot Grigio. For more information on Chateau Julien wines or the Wine Estate, please visit www.chateaujulien.com

Proprietor, Bob Brower, in Stutgart, Germany

Explaining our new package and new vintages to Martina, Pacific Wine Company in Stutgart, Germany - September 2010

Wine feature in Kansas City, Kansas

Bobby gets his first Holiday feature in Kansas City, Kansas at Lucas Wine & Liquor. This display features our new Holiday Case Card and our new Mail-In Rebate coupon.
Great job Bobby!