As always, our Merlot is fruit forward and lush on the palate. Geoff is looking for rich flavor concentration and round, polished tannins so, following a few days "cold soak", he guided the wine through a warm fermentation to coax the dark, plummy lusciousness out of the fruit. Full, rich and complex, it's loaded with black cherry, sweet boysenberry, dusty earth and mocha finishing with lingering toasty oak and a hint of aromatic herbs. "This vintage has the generosity of fruit and supple elegance I look for in a Merlot."

The abundant fruit and soft tannins make our Merlot an easy-going match for a variety of foods. It's a delicious partner for everything from roast chicken or pork, to grilled rib-eye. Merlot is a time-honored and sumptuous favorite with grilled or roast lamb. Geoff loves it with Colleen's recipe for Cornish Hens with Merlot Glaze. "The rosemary and thyme bring out the subtle herb and woodsy character in the wine. It's great!"

There are many more recipes to choose from in Colleen's Kitchen recipe collection.

You may listen to the audio winemaker notes for this wine online!

Visit Goosecross on line at www.goosecross.com for your complete virtual wine tasting experience!

Experience Napa Valley Wine Radio. Goosecross was the first winery in the world to offer this educational and engaging service! A podcast, blog, direct access to our Director of Wine Education, recipes, and wine forums, all in one location!

Geoff farms our Chardonnay in the breezy Carneros District where the cooling bay fog added to the effect of the long ripening season yielding small, intensely flavored clusters. Following harvest the first week of October, he fermented half the juice in oak for roundness and richness and the other half in stainless steel for vibrant fruit character. He brought the two together to create a fresh style of great complexity and vitality. A bright perfume of green apple, sweet vanilla, pineapple and spice anticipates lively flavors of Asian pear, Meyer lemon and toasty oak. The creamy, lingering finish is the mark of several months of aging sur lies.

The crisp acidity makes our Chardonnay very versatile at the table. Geoff loves it with Colleen's recipe for Salmon Cakes with Lemon Herb Aioli. "Salmon is a classic with Chardonnay and Colleen's aioli sauce has just the right amount of lemon to bring out the citrus notes in the wine. It's a great combination!" Enjoy the Chardonnay with everything from sautéed shellfish to roast pork loin or pasta with cream sauce. It's an easy-going partner for a wide variety of cheeses. The tasting room staff loves it with Gruyere or a bit of Brie at the end of the day. Cheers!

There are many more recipes to choose from in Colleen's Kitchen recipe collection.

You may listen to the audio winemaker notes for this wine online!

Visit Goosecross on line at www.goosecross.com for your complete virtual wine tasting experience!

Experience Napa Valley Wine Radio. Goosecross was the first winery in the world to offer this educational and engaging service! A podcast, blog, direct access to our Director of Wine Education, recipes, and wine forums, all in one location!

Syrah is an ancient variety of the Rhone Valley in southern France, famous for its deep color, full flavor and longevity. Perhaps the ancient Romans enjoyed a glass of Syrah in their time just as much as we do today! One taste of this Goosecross 2005 Napa Valley Syrah will tell you why it's survived the centuries. Rich, deep flavors of black currant, boysenberry, dark chocolate and smoke finish with a subtle hint of earth and spice. Enjoy it now or lay it down in the cellar to develop even greater complexity over the coming years.

The robust flavors of our Syrah make it a natural for hearty foods, like grilled steak, wild game or sausages. Mediterranean-style preparations that include lots of herbs, garlic and olive oil meld beautifully with the richly fruity, slightly smoky character. Geoff loves the Syrah with Colleen's recipe for Wild Mixed Mushroom Fettuccine. "The rich, meaty flavor of the mushrooms brings out the earthy flavor in the wine. It's a perfect match. Plus, it's easy to make!" Santé!

There are many more recipes to choose from in Colleen's Kitchen recipe collection.

You may listen to the audio winemaker notes for this wine online!

Visit Goosecross on line at www.goosecross.com for your complete virtual wine tasting experience!

Experience Napa Valley Wine Radio. Goosecross was the first winery in the world to offer this educational and engaging service! A podcast, blog, direct access to our Director of Wine Education, recipes, and wine forums, all in one location!

"What a great year to debut our Estate vineyard! Great looking fruit just packed with flavor..." recalls Geoff Gorsuch, our Winemaker, of our first estate harvest since replanting in 2003. The 2005 vintage presented almost textbook conditions with warm, sunny days and cool, foggy nights throughout the growing season. The new vineyard is planted to 3 different clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, 2 clones each of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, plus a bit of Petit Verdot. "...If this first vintage is any indicator, we've got a pretty darned nice vineyard on our hands."

"I really like the way this wine came into balance. The Cabernet from the young vines on our estate gave us lots of bright, vibrant fruit character and then I blended in some mature Cabernet from our Howell Mountain vineyard for added depth and complexity." Geoff guided the wine through a warm fermentation to bring out the rich boysenberry, black cherry, blueberry and dark chocolate. Layers of ripe plum, sweet strawberry, vanilla spice and toasty oak linger on the palate, finishing with round, polished tannins.

This Cabernet is the perfect partner for grilled steak or roast rack of lamb. It's wonderful with slow-cooked dishes like osso-buco or a savory beef stew. Geoff's favorite comfort food is Colleen's recipe for Short Ribs with Coffee Cocoa Sauce. "The coffee and cocoa in the sauce add a subtle richness and with a glass of the Cab, it just feels like home."

There are many more recipes to choose from in Colleen's Kitchen recipe collection.

You may listen to the audio winemaker notes for this wine online!

Visit Goosecross on line at www.goosecross.com for your complete virtual wine tasting experience!

Experience Napa Valley Wine Radio. Goosecross was the first winery in the world to offer this educational and engaging service! A podcast, blog, direct access to our Director of Wine Education, recipes, and wine forums, all in one location!

"It's funny how 2004 was the polar opposite of 2003, and yet the quality and consistency of this vineyard really comes through in both vintages..." comments Winemaker Geoff Gorsuch. While the 2003 vintage was late to ripen, 2004 got off to a jack-rabbit start with a false summer in March and never let up, ending with one of the earliest harvests in memory. "...yields were down a bit, but the fruit was gorgeous. This has all the richness and elegance I look for in a top-notch Merlot."

The Merlot was gently crushed and allowed a few days "cold soak" before the fermentation to increase flavor extraction without picking up excess tannins. Geoff found that adding a bit of Petit Verdot brought a sense of subtle sweetness to the nose and enhanced the luscious, palate-coating mouth feel--the first crop from our estate vineyard since re-planting it a few years ago. Enticing aromas of black cherry, sweet strawberry, mint and spice anticipate lush layers of velvety plum, rich blackberry, a hint of aromatic herbs and toasty oak that linger on the palate.

With its silky tannins the Merlot is very versatile at the table. It's a rich and wonderful partner for the sweetness of roast pork. An herb-stuffed roast chicken or duck will complement the subtle hint of herbs in the wine. Rediscover a classic combination and enjoy our Merlot with lamb. For a special treat, Geoff loves to savor a glass of the Merlot with Colleen's recipe for Rack of Lamb with Pomegranate Molasses. Give it a try!

There are many more recipes to choose from in Colleen's Kitchen recipe collection.

You may listen to the audio winemaker notes for this wine online!

Visit Goosecross on line at www.goosecross.com for your complete virtual wine tasting experience!

Experience Napa Valley Wine Radio. Goosecross was the first winery in the world to offer this educational and engaging service! A podcast, blog, direct access to our Director of Wine Education, recipes, and wine forums, all in one location!

Our new release from the Howell Mountain appellation of Napa Valley where rugged terrain and elevation produce bold, complex wines is ready to be served at your table!

This Howell Mountain Cabernet is abundantly aromatic with rich, dark chocolate, cherry, toasty oak and a hint of earth. The flavors present layers of tart cherry, cinnamon, blackberry and mocha, finishing with subtle nuances of smoke and spice with firm, chewy tannins.

Its depth and structure make it a great candidate to cellar for years to come, or decant and enjoy it now.

A big and bold tannic wine calls for substantial food, and this limited release Cabernet pairs beautifully with braised short ribs, prime rib or wild game. This wine would nicely complement Colleen's recipe for Steaks with Cabernet Mushroom Sauce.

There are many more recipes to choose from in Colleen's Kitchen recipe collection.

You may listen to the audio winemaker notes for this wine online!

Visit Goosecross on line at www.goosecross.com for your complete virtual wine tasting experience!

Experience Napa Valley Wine Radio. Goosecross was the first winery in the world to offer this educational and engaging service! A podcast, blog, direct access to our Director of Wine Education, recipes, and wine forums, all in one location!

This ÆROS blend is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.5% Cabernet Franc and 2.5% Petit Verdot. Grapes were hand-selected from the finest lots grown in our Howell Mountain and Yountville Estate vineyards. This Cabernet exemplifies a sensual expression of purpose, form, and passion.

ÆROS 2004 is elegantly fragrant with aromas of black cherry, plum, cedar and spice. Generous layers of boysenberry, tobacco, anise and toasty oak linger on the palate. Absorbing and expressive now, but will continue to develop in the cellar for years to come.

It's great to showcase a rare wine like this with simple, but elegant food. There's something to be said for tradition, and pairing ÆROS with a good steak or prime rib of beef is excellent. Or try it with rack of lamb. The richness of the lamb makes a hedonistic partner for the rich complexity of ÆROS.

Bon appetit!

There are many more recipes to choose from in Colleen's Kitchen recipe collection.

You may listen to the audio winemaker notes for this wine online!

Visit Goosecross on line at www.goosecross.com for your complete virtual wine tasting experience!

Experience Napa Valley Wine Radio. Goosecross was the first winery in the world to offer this educational and engaging service! A podcast, blog, direct access to our Director of Wine Education, recipes, and wine forums, all in one location!

Seductively perfumed and fresh on the palate, there's no oak to mask the fragrant honeysuckle, sweet Asian pear, fresh green apple and hint of spice. A crisp, citrus finish offsets the soft, subtle sweetness.

For a beautiful complement, try the Chenin Blanc with "sweet" meats like duck or pork, and seal the match by using a little of the wine and some fruit in the sauce. For a lively contrast, the crisp, refreshing Chenin Blanc is an ideal counterpoint to the heat and spice of Szechwan chicken or hot curry.

There are many more recipes to choose from in Colleen's Kitchen recipe collection.

You may listen to the audio winemaker notes for this wine online!

Visit Goosecross on line at www.goosecross.com for your complete virtual wine tasting experience!

Experience Napa Valley Wine Radio. Goosecross was the first winery in the world to offer this educational and engaging service! A podcast, blog, direct access to our Director of Wine Education, recipes, and wine forums, all in one location!

Enticing aromas of orange blossom, white peach, green apple and spice. Full, luscious layers of ripe melon, honeyed pear and tropical fruit intermingle with fresh citrus to refresh the palate.

Serve with "sweet" meats like shellfish, pork and duck. The fresh, tropical flavors offset spicy Asian and Indian dishes for a lively contrast. The exotic flavors in Colleen's recipe for Grilled Mahi Mahi with Pear-Ginger Salsa meld beautifully with the citrus and spice in the Viognier.

There are many more recipes to choose from in Colleen's Kitchen recipe collection.

You may listen to the audio winemaker notes for this wine online!

Visit Goosecross on line at www.goosecross.com for your complete virtual wine tasting experience!

Experience Napa Valley Wine Radio. Goosecross was the first winery in the world to offer this educational and engaging service! A podcast, blog, direct access to our Director of Wine Education, recipes, and wine forums, all in one location!

This popular wine is finally here (but our waiting list purchased over half the inventory)!

Our vintage 2006 Sauvignon Blanc... Fresh pear, zesty citrus and hint of grassiness. Light and vivacious on the palate, there's no oak to mask the exotic lemongrass, crisp green apple, ripe melon and a lingering grapefruit finish.

The clean, refreshing acidity makes this a very versatile partner at the table. The perfect choice for everything from ceviche to grilled prawns to sautéed sea bass.Try it with Colleen's recipe for Gourmet Grilled Chicken and Garlic Pizza.

There are many more recipes to choose from in Colleen's Kitchen recipe collection.

You may listen to the audio winemaker notes for this wine online!

Visit Goosecross on line at www.goosecross.com for your complete virtual wine tasting experience!

Experience Napa Valley Wine Radio. Goosecross was the first winery in the world to offer this educational and engaging service! A podcast, blog, direct access to our Director of Wine Education, recipes, and wine forums, all in one location!

Over the past year the episodes have included diverse topics such as advice on wine and food pairing, interviews with the cork and closure industry, a vineyard manager explaining viticultural practices, interviews with culinary excursion companies, an episode on wine components and spoilage and numerous other subjects. The podcast episodes are released every two weeks.

"We've had a lot of fun and learned some things the hard way, but, as always, we're focused on our customers and providing them with high-quality wine education in a variety of formats. Our goal is to enhance the listeners' overall wine experience and engagement with us, and to reach the next generation of wine consumers via a medium they readily and enthusiastically embrace.

After running multiple surveys, we listened to our subscribers and Napa Valley Wine Radio has now evolved into a wine community incorporating podcasts, blogs, forums, recipes, direct access to our Director of Wine Education, and more" explains David Topper, Goosecross Owner and President.

Listeners can subscribe to these podcast episodes from the napavalleywineradio.com website, or listen to them on their Mac or PC using any of the widely available podcasting applications, such as Mobilize, iTunes, QuickTime, Juice, and jPodder.

To participate in the Napa Valley Wine Radio wine & lifestyle community, go to napavalleywineradio.com. More information about Goosecross Cellars can be found online at goosecross.com

The very mild weather we've had this month and last was great for hang-time and allowed for plenty of flavor development without too much sugar. Overall balance looks terrific. We're thankful to have the crop 'in the barn' and that it looks like an excellent vintage for us."

Visit Goosecross online at goosecross.com.

Goosecross online recipe collection.

You may listen to our audio winemaker notes online for a complete virtual wine tasting experience!

Listen to our Napa Valley Wine Radio podcast! Goosecross was the first winery in the world to offer this educational and engaging service!

Goosecross is pleased to announce the availability of three new key positions to round out it's team and prepare for continued growth and success.

SALES & NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious, career-oriented individual committed to being part of our evolving and successful winery with the ability to impact our future success. We offer competitive compensation, bonus opportunities and benefits as well as exceptional career growth potential.

MARKETING

Goosecross is currently seeking an enthusiastic, strategic and analytical individual with a mind for data-driven marketing and a flair for creative execution. This is a "you create it...you do it position" with the advice and full support of this small-family winery team.

Candidates must have a "customer-centric" approach to marketing. Primary focus for this position is customer acquisition and retention. Must be able to analyze current and potential customer needs, data and purchasing habits in an effort to identify most effective opportunities for return on investment and revenue opportunities online, in tasting room and in local community. Must be able to communicate effectively, efficiently and timely with a team in multiple locations, coordinate various consultants, contractors and agencies, and have the ability to work autonomously.

SALES ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Goosecross Cellars is currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Sales Administrative Assistant. This integral member of the team will provide administrative support to sales and customer support within the winery office.

For more information, go to: goosecross.com

We are excited to announce that the satellite radio debut of Napa Valley Wine Radio will occur this coming Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 1:20PM EST.

The show will be aired on:
Telstar 5 (Intelsat Americas 5) KU Band
Transponder 5
Frequency: 11836
Symbol Rate: 20765
Vertical Polarization
PID 64 Left Feed

A complimentary Internet stream of this PSN broadcast is available here: http://207.36.209.181/asx/star6.asx (this PSN feed requires Windows Media Player and will only work at our scheduled air time each week).

Podcasts are part of Goosecross' on-going commitment to provide its consumers with top quality, cutting-edge service, and to provide other wine enthusiasts with creative and convenient ways to learn about Goosecross wines. "Because we focus on direct sales to consumers and do not rely heavily on the marketing efforts of wholesalers and retailers, we strive to be leaders in the wine industry in the use of new and unique services, in order to reach a wide range of consumers," explains David Topper, Goosecross co-owner and President.

Goosecross Cellars, founded in 1985 is a family winery in Yountville (Napa Valley, California) that is committed to providing the finest wines for every budget and lifestyle. We never forget that fine wines are made, quite simply, to be enjoyed. At Goosecross Cellars our goal is to consistently produce the finest Napa Valley wines with our unique signature style. Our purist approach accepts and portrays the natural qualities and complex characteristics of the grape which produces our elegant ultra-premium trademark.

Abundantly fragrant with distinctive and intense fruit. Loaded with spicy pineapple, rich guava, creamy vanilla, and crisp citrus. The lingering signature finish is the mark of several months of aging sur lies.

Our Chardonnay ripened slowly in the cool, Carneros fog, intensifying the fruit and lending it our signature crisp finish. Geoff fermented about 40% of the wine in barrels for fullness and complexity, and the balance at low temperatures in stainless steel for purity of fruit. By bringing the two together he created one wine that's both opulent and lively. Bright and nicely focused.

Visit Goosecross online at www.goosecross.com to find out more about this wine, or to pair this Chardonnay with a wide variety of recipes contained in the Goosecross online searchable recipe collection.

It's hard to resist our Chardonnay with the richness of shellfish or salmon. Geoff loves to pair it with Colleen's recipe for Red Snapper with Lemon Butter, saying the sauce brings out the lemony notes in the wine. It's a great partner for pasta sauced with cream or cheese. The crisp Chardonnay cuts through the richness and refreshes the palate for the next bite. Our tasting room staff loves to enjoy a glass of Chardonnay with some Brie or St. André to unwind after a busy day. Cheers!

You may listen to the audio winemaker notes for this wine online! Visit Goosecross on line at www.goosecross.com for your complete virtual wine tasting experience!

Listen to our new Napa Valley Wine Radio podcast! Goosecross was the first winery in the world to offer this educational and engaging service!

Our 2002 Cabernet is generous with abundant cassis, black cherry and soft, supple tannins. Winemaker Geoff Gorsuch allowed the juice and skins to soak together for a few days before guiding the wine through a warm fermentation for a luscious extraction of black currant, plum and cocoa. He followed up with an early pressing for very fine, velvety tannins. The fruit-forward flavors so characteristic of mid-valley Cabernet are complemented by deep layers of blackberry, smoke and spice that linger on the palate.

Visit Goosecross online at www.goosecross.com to find out more about this wine, or to pair this Cabernet with a wide variety of recipes contained in the Goosecross online searchable recipe collection.

The rich, full flavors make this Cabernet a perfect partner for a grilled rib-eye or long-cooked dishes like lamb shanks or short ribs. It's wonderful with an assortment of dry, aged cheeses. Try it with hearty, full-flavored dishes like marinated, grilled tri-tip, Osso Buco or a Goosecross tasting room favorite - grilled Portobello burgers!

You may listen to the audio winemaker notes for this wine online! Visit Goosecross on line at www.goosecross.com for your complete virtual wine tasting experience!

Listen to our new Napa Valley Wine Radio podcast! Goosecross was the first winery in the world to offer this educational and engaging service!

Go to the wine pages of the Goosecross website at goosecross.com. There you will find .mp3 audio winemaker notes, which can be heard with a simple click of your mouse. Running about 3 minutes long, they provide an auditory wine tasting, food and wine pairing recommendations, and educational experience that a consumer of Goosecross Club member can enjoy when opening a new wine in their club shipment, or an on-line wine shopper can use to learn more about a Goosecross wine they are considering for purchase.

Visit Goosecross on line at www.goosecross.com, for your virtual wine tasting experience!

On Saturday, March 25th, they featured Nancy Hawks Miller, Director of Wine Education for Goosecross Cellars, who was on hand to discuss topics such as Wine & Food Pairing, Essences in Wine, Cellaring Wine and other hot wine topics.

Combining informal, brief presentations with friendly, relaxed conversation, Nancy, along with a knowledgeable hospitality staff, ensured that visitors not only enjoyed their wine tasting, but also left with valuable information, and tips on how to continue wine education through Napa Valley Wine Radio, Goosecross' popular new podcast series accessible through iTunes.

Wineries of Napa Valley is a multi-winery tasting room which opened two and a half years ago to provide Napa residents and visitors an opportunity to taste hard-to-find wines from select, local, family-owned wineries. Currently, the wineries include: Burgess Cellars, Dusinberré Cellars, Girard Winery, Goosecross Cellars and Ilona Howell Mountain Winery.

Stay subscribed for notice of upcoming events. Also, information can be obtained from their website at www.napavintages.com, where you can download the event calendars for each month.

This episode is one of many in Goosecross' Napa Valley Wine Radio podcast series, which is accessible from iTunes, Yahoo!, Juice, Odeo, iPodderX, and other quality podcast aggregators (all available through goosecross.com).

In this special holiday episode, Nancy Hawks Miller, Goosecross' Director of Wine Education, reveals the derivation of many interesting symbols and traditions surrounding these holidays. Colleen Topper, Goosecross Proprietor and gourmet "chef" then offers delicious recipes and wine pairing advice to perfect your spring holiday celebrations.

After enjoying the episode, you can go to goosecross.com, click on Colleen's kitchen, and enjoy Colleen's recipes for Passover and Easter such as Caramelized Onion Beef Brisket and Grilled Marinated Lamb Roast with Pinot Noir and Pomegranate, accessible in Goosecross' on-line searchable recipe database.

Napa Valley Wine Radio podcasts are part of Goosecross' on-going commitment to provide its Wine Club members with top quality, cutting-edge service, and to provide other wine enthusiasts with creative and convenient ways to learn about wine and food from an insiders perspective. "Because we focus on direct sales to consumers and do not rely heavily on the marketing efforts of wholesalers and retailers, we strive to be leaders in the wine industry in the use of new and unique services, in order to reach a wide range of consumers. We're again embracing the latest technology to offer interesting content and greater value to our customers. This information simply isn't available elsewhere in a similar format and presentation," states winery owner David Topper.

For more information, please contact wine@goosecross.com or call Goosecross toll-free at (800) 276-9210.

Never heard of Viognier? "That is not uncommon," explains proprietor Colleen Topper. "Viognier may be the world's least planted premium grape - but it is currently one of the most prized," she adds.

The Goosecross 2005 Vintage Napa Valley "Oak Knoll" Viognier is aromatic, exotic and enticing, with aromas of honeysuckle, apricot and spice. Full, luscious layers of ripe melon, pear and tropical fruit intermingle with fresh citrus to refresh the palate. This well-made Viognier displays a soft, yellow color and an exquisite, exotic bouquet - apricots, pears, and tropical fruits.

Visit Goosecross online at www.goosecross.com to find out more about this wine, or to pair this Viognier with a wide variety of recipes contained in the Goosecross online searchable recipe database.

When asked why he chose to produce a variety that is not as well known as some others, Winemaker Geoff Gorsuch commented that "It's the best choice for the style of wine I want to create." He wanted something very delicate, a slightly sweet style and "Chenin Blanc has all that beautiful melon and honeysuckle character--a touch of sweetness accentuates it. It's the perfect complement to our line of dry whites."

The 2005 vintage is the second "flight" of Chenin Blanc from Goosecross Cellars and appears to have filled a void. The 2004 vintage was extremely well received and disappeared within a few months of release. Abundantly floral and fragrant, this vintage is soft and graceful on the palate with a bright acidity to offset the subtle sweetness.

Visit Goosecross online at www.goosecross.com to find out more about this wine, or to pair this Chenin Blanc with a wide variety of recipes contained in the Goosecross online searchable recipe database.

"This new vineyard is just great!" enthuses Geoff Gorsuch, Goosecross winemaker. "This is just the style I was looking for... lively, refreshing with focused acidity." The 2005 vintage marks a change in style and a new vineyard location for Goosecross. Looking for a vibrant Loire Valley style, Geoff enlisted the help of consulting winemaker Bob Pepi who is recognized industry-wide as an innovator and pioneer in the production of fine Sauvignon Blanc.

The 2005 Lake County Sauvignon Blanc is beautifully perfumed with notes of lemon grass, honey, and crisp, green apple. Fresh on the palate, it's loaded with melon and citrus with a clean, grapefruit finish.

Visit Goosecross online at www.goosecross.com to find out more about this wine, or to pair this Sauvignon Blanc with a wide variety of recipes contained in the Goosecross online searchable recipe database.

From February 11th through February 14th, in celebration of Valentine's Day, they will pair deep, rich red wines with every kind of chocolate imaginable. Pastries, artisan chocolate and fondue will be some of the sweet treats on hand to complement several luscious wines.

"When we ask our customers where their interests lie - it always comes back to wine and food pairing", explains tasting room supervisor Mark Jardarian. "We offer several exquisite boutique red wines, which pair amazingly well with chocolate for Valentine's Day".

Cost for the event is $10.00 which includes 5 wine & chocolate samples.

Wineries of Napa Valley opened two and a half years ago to provide Napa residents and visitors an opportunity to taste hard-to-find wines from local, family-owned wineries. Currently, the wineries include: Burgess Cellars, Dusinberré Cellars, Girard Winery, Goosecross Cellars and Ilona Howell Mountain Winery.

Reservations are not required for the event, but information can be obtained from the tasting room at 707-253-9450 or their website at www.napavintages.com

"Our customers love to meet winery owners and family members", explains store supervisor Mark Jardarian. "Goosecross Cellars is known for its personal relationships with their customers, so this is a great opportunity for us to get the Goosecross family together with consumers in an informal environment."

Cost for the event is $10.00, which includes a full wine tasting.

Wineries of Napa Valley opened two and a half years ago to provide Napa residents and visitors an opportunity to taste hard-to-find wines from local, family-owned wineries. Currently, the wineries represented in the room include: Burgess Cellars, Dusinberré Cellars, Girard Winery, Goosecross Cellars and Ilona Howell Mountain Winery.

Reservations are not required for the event, but information can be obtained from the tasting room at 707-253-9450 or their website at www.napavintages.com

From February 11th through February 14th, in celebration of Valentine’s Day, they will pair deep, rich red wines with every kind of chocolate imaginable. Pastries, artisan chocolate and fondue will be some of the sweet treats on hand to complement several luscious wines.

"When we ask our customers where their interests lie - it always comes back to wine and food pairing", explains tasting room supervisor Mark Jardarian. "We offer several exquisite boutique red wines, which pair amazingly well with chocolate for Valentine's Day".

Cost for the event is $10.00 which includes 5 wine & chocolate samples.

Wineries of Napa Valley opened two and a half years ago to provide Napa residents and visitors an opportunity to taste hard-to-find wines from local, family-owned wineries. Currently, the wineries include: Burgess Cellars, Dusinberré Cellars, Girard Winery, Goosecross Cellars and Illona Howell Mountain Winery.

Reservations are not required for the event, but information can be obtained from the tasting room at 707-253-9450 or their website at www.napavintages.com

It took a little experimentation, but it's down to a science now. First, Goosecross selects one of their premium red wines that best complements the chocolate. Next, the chocolatier shrink-wraps the full bottle of wine, dips it into a half-pound of dark or milk chocolate, and then finishes it with a festive cellophane gift wrap. The instructions are simple: remove the decorative paper, break the chocolate away by beginning at the neck and peeling down the shrink-wrap, then enjoy the chocolate with your wine. It's the ultimate indulgence!

Goosecross' chocolate-dipped bottles of wine make Valentine's Day, birthdays, honeymoons, anniversaries and other special occasions more romantic and fun. Unique wines and chocolate-dipped bottles can be ordered online at www.napavintages.com

Goosecross produces Napa Valley Wine Radio® podcasts that can be easily accessed through Apple iTunes.]]> Fri, 27 Jan 2006 18:19:10 -0800 chocolatedipped-wine-bottles-the-ultimate-indulgence-for-valentines-day http://www.goosecross.com/about/podcast.html Goosecross Cellars launches Napa Valley Wine Radio.

Goosecross Wine Club podcasts are comprised of a series of brief .mp3 segments with information about each wine in the periodic Wine Club shipments. Each Club podcast guides the customer through a personal tasting experience including aromas, flavors, the vineyard and the winemaking process, and ends with food pairing suggestions. "These podcasts can be accessed at the customers' convenience, to deliver virtual personalized wine tasting seminars on the specific wines our Wine Club members have in their hands," explains David Topper, Goosecross co-owner and CEO.

Other current podcasts available from Goosecross include an assessment of the 2005 Harvest and an informative segment on Wine Closures. "Our goal is to enhance the listeners' overall wine experience and engagement with us, and to reach the next generation of wine consumers via a medium they readily and enthusiastically embrace," explains David Topper.

Podcasts are part of Goosecross' on-going commitment to provide its Wine Club members with top quality, cutting-edge service, and to provide other wine enthusiasts with creative and convenient ways to learn about Goosecross wines. "Because we focus on direct sales to consumers and do not rely heavily on the marketing efforts of wholesalers and retailers, we strive to be leaders in the wine industry in the use of new and unique services, in order to reach a wide range of consumers.

We were one of the first wineries to create a website back in 1994, the first to offer RSS feeds and the innovative "Push to Talk" customer service tool powered by eStara. Now we're again embracing the latest technology, and forming partnerships with key players in the wine industry, to offer interesting content and greater value to our customers. This information simply isn't available elsewhere in a similar format and presentation," states Topper.

Recently accepted by Apple as a part of its iTunes podcast offerings, these initial Goosecross Cellars podcasts, and others to be added soon, can be downloaded from the goosecross.com website, or accessed through various software applications such as Juice, iPodderX (all available through goosecross.com) and current versions of iTunes on Windows or Macintosh. Once the iTunes application is installed on your personal computer, launch iTunes, click on Music Store, then click on Podcasts and search for Napa Valley Wine Radio.

Wineries of Napa Valley, the Napa downtown tasting room owned by Goosecross Cellars, now offers RSS service. Wineries of Napa Valley RSS subscribers can stay current with new wine releases, events hosted at the tasting room, Goosecross news, specials, promotions and discounts, wine club news and activities, and recipes designed to pair with their wines.

RSS is an XML format designed for sharing web content such as news headlines. All RSS feeds from Wineries of Napa Valley are based on the RSS 2.0 specification. The full content of Wineries of Napa Valley RSS service, including full-text articles and video, can be accessed through the RSS link at www.napavintages.com

Wineries of Napa Valley opened two years ago to allow Napa residents and visitors an opportunity to taste hard-to-find wines from local, family-owned wineries. Currently, the wineries represented in the tasting room include: Bourassa Vineyards, Burgess Cellars, Dusinberre Cellars, Girard Winery, Goosecross Cellars and Illona Howell Mountain Winery. More information about Wineries of Napa Valley can be found at www.napavintages.com

You can enjoy a glass of wine while surfing the Internet or your corporate Intranet, using any Internet enabled device.

Wineries of Napa Valley is a cooperative tasting room, owned and operated by Goosecross Cellars (Yountville, CA), that offers wines from multiple wineries. Find them at www.napavintages.com or call 800-328-7815.

ÆROS Vintage 2003 is the fifth Cabernet Sauvignon ever produced by Goosecross Cellars in this Collector Series of wines. "ÆROS labeled wines are reserved for those that enjoy the exhilarating experience of rich, flavorful, complex and well balanced wines", explains Goosecross winemaker Geoff Gorsuch. "This wine presents outstanding quality and blends our passion for winemaking with the art of design".

This unique ÆROS vintage consists of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon from the prestigious and highly-prized Howell Mountain appellation, blended with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa "valley floor".

Initially forged by a jeweler, the ÆROS label, unveiled with vintage 1992, is made of nickel and copper and was the first metal label in the industry.

The resulting 2003 wine offers lush berry and black cherry flavors accented by hints of clove, leather, mint, licorice almond and vanilla oak. This finely structured vintage, with its long dusty tannins, presents a seductive, smoky quality that is smooth, round, balanced and beautifully expressive. ÆROS will age gracefully for years to come when cellared.

To find out more and order this extraordinary wine, go to www.goosecross.com

Still in it's infancy, the database already includes over 60 recipes that have been tested and paired with Goosecross wines. Goosecross knows that great wine is wonderful on its own... but shared with family and friends over appetizers, dinner or dessert, great wine becomes a lifestyle... an affordable enhancement to everyday dining, and to a customer's everyday experience.

"Our customers range from the novice to the sophisticated," explains Colleen Topper, proprietor of Goosecross Cellars and the chef behind most of the recipes. "This easy-to-use database, which can be searched by the recipe, main ingredient, wine or wine varietal, assists them with wine and food pairing in a very personalized way. With this database, entertaining becomes easy and fun. We're one of the only wineries in the world that offers access to gourmet menu selections, searchable in database format, paired specifically to serve with each of our wines!"

And what if a customer has a recipe of their own? "We always welcome submissions," says Topper. "The more participation by our customers, the more fun it is!".

Goosecross wines and the recipe database can be found at www.goosecross.com

The winery has been crafting Cabernet Sauvignon from the renowned district of Howell Mountain since 1997. The impressive altitude of Howell Mountain, along with cooling ocean fog, create one of the valley's longest growing seasons and produce rich, bold fruit. In addition, the dry, rocky soil in the Goosecross vineyard on Howell Mountain stresses the vines, producing small, powerful, concentrated grapes which provide great balance and complexity in this spectacular vintage. The resulting wine offers intense blackberry, plum and strawberry flavors, tempered with luscious chocolate and black currant, and rounded with wonderful, chewy tannins. This is a very limited production gem from this small, family winery, which you won't want to miss.

To find out more and order this wine, go to www.goosecross.com

With 20 vintages of Chardonnay under his belt, Winemaker Geoff Gorsuch made the tough decision to replant the aging estate Chardonnay vineyard in 2001, with a new single vineyard, Yountville appellation Meritage blend of red varietals. From that point, Gorsuch and business partner David Topper searched for a new Chardonnay vineyard source from which they could acquire grapes of the extraordinary quality and distinctive character, as the basis for their signature Gran Cru style Chardonnay.

Forced to skip two vintages while they searched for the ultimate grape source, they finally discovered the perfect vineyard in the acclaimed Napa Carneros region, renowned for producing extraordinary and complex Chardonnay under perfect growing conditions for the varietal.

Chardonnay "Dijon clones", with their intensity of fruit flavors from small berries and small clusters, thrive in the cool climate of Carneros and produce wine with delightful citrus notes," explains Gorsuch. "Furthermore, this vineyard block consists of clay loam soil interspersed with some gravel and sand that make it ideal for superior Chardonnay production."

CEO David Topper added, "It is important that we continue to meet the style and quality standards that our customers expect. We've achieved that goal with our new vineyard in the prestigious Napa Carneros district. The new 2004 Chardonnay exceeds our expectations, and will be an easy transition for our clients who have come to know and love our distinctive Goosecross Chardonnay."

The 2004 Goosecross Carneros Estate Chardonnay offers a cascade of lemon, pear, green apple, guava, banana, and grapefruit that flow across the palate unfolding in lush layers with subtle, spicy, vanilla oak on the finish. This is a limited production gem from this small, family winery, which you won't want to miss.

To find out more and order this wine, go to www.goosecross.com

This is especially true at small family wineries, where hand-picking, sorting and blending is still part of the process, and there is personal attention to quality and detail not seen at more commercial, mass-production wineries.

Goosecross Cellars is one of those small family Napa Valley wineries. Located on State Lane in Yountville, they are now releasing their third vintage (vintage 2002) of 100% Zinfandel grown on the vineyard lot located across the street to the winery production facility and tasting room.

Winemaker Geoff Gorsuch stated, "We are proud of our home within the Yountville appellation, where so many varietals thrive in the volcanic alluvial soil." Gorsuch added, "I've often heard it said that Yountville is the combination of all that is possible in the Napa Valley."

Elegant and stylish, this single-vineyard Yountville "State Lane" Zinfandel sweeps across the palate with rich and ripe flavors of wild berry jam, white pepper and cherry spice. Intriguing  Black cherry and pungent spices round out the middle picking up a pretty touch of raspberry and watermelon which mingle with a touch of vanilla oak on the finish. You won't want to miss this very limited-production gem from this small, family winery.

To find out more and order this wine, go to www.goosecross.com

But for visitors of Goosecross Cellars, located in Yountville, Napa Valley, there's no need to be intimidated. To demystify wine tasting techniques and etiquette, Goosecross offers free classes for visitors every Saturday morning during harvest.

Sitting on the lawn facing the vineyard for 90 minutes, class attendees will learn about tasting techniques, structure and components of wine, winemaking preferences and styles, industry jargon, serving hints and proper storage. Although full of information, the class is presented in a light and humorous style, engaging the novice without jargon and industry pretension.

Goosecross offers this class for FREE, to ensure that all are welcome and to provide a service to Napa Valley visitors. However, space is limited to 30 attendees per class. To find out more information and register for classes through October 2005, go to the Goosecross website

Goosecross Syrah is often described as "Rhone-style", as it is reminiscent of the great wines of the Rhone valley in southern France. "The French Rhone region made Syrah famous", explains winemaker Geoff Gorsuch, "And, we've carried on that tradition of excellence. I know that our Syrah has always been a popular wine among our customers, and if I do say so myself, I believe the 2002 is the best vintage of Syrah we've ever made."

Like those great "Old World" Syrahs of France, the Goosecross 2002 Syrah boasts ripe fruit flavor and exceptional character with rich, dark notes. This wine's fruit-forward profile of wild berry, strawberry jam and dark plum finishes with spicy peppers and ample tannins.

Visit Goosecross online at www.goosecross.com to find out more about this wine, or to pair this wine with grilled meats and other hearty foods in the Goosecross online searchable recipe database.

Popular local Blues musician Eddie Ceballos will provide entertainment.

On October 14th, Winemaker Jeff Smith from Dusinberre Cellars will be pouring tastes of his wines, paired with savory appetizers presented by Chef Ramiro Nolazco from Ristorante Allegria.

On October 21st, Winemaker Geoff Gorsuch of Goosecross Cellars will be presenting Goosecross wines along with hors d'oeuvres prepared and presented by guest restaurant Piccolino's.

On October 28th, Proprietor Vic Bourassa of Bourassa Vineyards will pour his wines to pair with appetizers from featured restaurant Posticino.

All of these restaurants are walking distance from Wineries of Napa Valley, so to cap off each evening, attendees can bring a bottle of a featured wine from Wineries of Napa Valley to the featured restaurant to enjoy with a meal, and will not be charged the traditional "corkage fee". And of course, the Winemakers will be pleased to sign any bottles attendees purchase to carry out or ship home.

Wineries of Napa Valley is a multi-winery tasting room which opened two years ago to allow Napa residents and visitors an opportunity to taste hard-to-find wines from select local family-owned wineries. Currently, the wineries poured in the room include: Goosecross Cellars, Bourassa Vineyards,Burgess Cellars, Dusinberre Cellars, Girard Winery and Illona Howell Mountain Winery. These wines will also be available for tasting on event nights, for a nominal additional fee.

Reservations are not required for the events, but information can be obtained by calling the tasting room at 707-253-9450, or on their website at www.napavintages.com