Pride Mountain News

2006 Merlot "best American Merlot at any price" from Food & Wine Magazine

wendy — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:50:00 -0600

The October, 2009 issue of Food & Wine Magazine gives the results of their 12th Annual American Wine Awards. A 33-member panel of sommeliers, critics, winemakers and retailers blind tasted wines in 20 different categories and awarded the Pride Mountain Vineyards 2006 Merlot ($56) as "the best American merlot at any price". Boy does that feel good! Especially since the 2006 red wines are the first that the winemaking team of Sally Johnson (head winemaker), Romel Rivera (associate winemaker) and Steve Pride have crafted together. What feels even better is that we know this is just a first verification of the many good things coming your way. Wait until you open the profoundly unctuous 2007 Merlot that is about to be shipped. Yowza! And the 2008 Merlot coming down the pike is quite simply mind blowing...we have never had such concentrated flavors in our Merlot before. Enjoy!

Food & Wine Magazine's 12th Annual American Wine Awards

Pride wines, MC Hammer and a tribute to Ed DeBartolo Jr. all in one night!

wendy — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:21:34 -0600

It's late September and we've only harvested fifteen tons of fruit - nine tons of Chardonnay and six tons of Pinot noir, most of it for client winery, Schoolhouse Vineyards.

What better way for winemaker Sally Johnson to enjoy a little unexpected down time than to head to the Palace Hotel in San Francisco? Here she joined an all-star cast of pro-football players, rock stars (MC Hammer joined her for a quick photo) and politicos (including Willie Brown and Diane Feinstein) all honoring legendary owner of the SF 49'ers Ed DeBartolo, Jr. DeBartolo was inducted into an internal Hall of Fame created by the 49'ers to honor the numerous legends that have emerged from their organization.

Pride Mountain Vineyards, along with a few other exceptional wineries, was invited to pour our wines for the group, which included Steve Young, Ronnie Lott and Jerry Rice. A ceremony was held to induct DeBartolo featuring tributes from many luminaries and a serenade from his good friend Paul Anka, who had re-written the lyrics to his classic song, My Way, to commemorate DeBartolo having done it "Your Way."

A night to remember, we were thrilled to share our wines with the guests.

More information about the event can be found on the 49'ers website.

San Francisco 49ers

Welcome Renée Dale!

wendy — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:00:02 -0600

There is a new face at the top of Spring Mountain – kiwi Renée Dale, who joins the Pride wine team as this year’s international harvest enologist. Originally from Auckland, New Zealand, Renée has traveled the world learning about winemaking, studying in Italy and working at Coldstream Hills winery in Australia, Stags’ Leap Winery in Napa, and Villa Maria and Trinity Hill wineries in New Zealand. While traveling the globe working two harvests each year, she has also created a poster featuring the beautiful winery doors of New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay region (visit http://www.fotorap.com/wine.htm to take a peak), and writes an insider’s blog about her winery experiences at www.harvesthopper.blogspot.com. She can also grill up a mean steak, so she has become quite popular around the winery. Come on up to say hello!

2009 Winesong!

wendy — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:36:51 -0600

Brrrrrr! Saturday, September 12th was a gray and chilly day at the Mendocino Botanical Gardens, but spirits weren't dampened as the sell-out crowd of 1,100 enjoyed a terrific day wandering the trails, tasting great wine and sampling delicious food.

Despite worries over the economy, it was a joy to see how successful auctioneers David Reynolds and DawnMarie Kotsonis were in getting guests to raise their paddles high to benefit the Mendocino Coast District Hospital. As a spectator said, "Mendocino is an island. That hospital is our lifeline." The bidding was a testament to that. Watching DawnMarie (pictured at left) work the crowd was worth the price of admission alone, and David Reynolds hammered home $69,000 in under fifteen minutes through fund-a-need pledges designated for a new portable ultrasound machine that the emergency department desperately needs.

The Pride lot comprised of wine and a visit to the winery, raised $3,800 and was purchased by two couples from San Francisco who had just tasted Pride wine for the first time at Winesong! this year. They are looking forward to visiting us and we are looking forward to treating them to a full immersion course in life and winemaking at 2200 feet!

It was a pleasure to be part of such an important and successful event.

PMV @ The Battle of the Bay

wendy — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:36:02 -0600

Pride Mountain Vineyards joined San Francisco 49ers owner Dr. John York and his daughters Jenna and Mara York in the owner’s suite at Game 2 of the 2009 pre-season. Guests from Pride Mountain Vineyards included founder Carolyn Pride, her daughter and son-in-law Suzanne Pride-Bryan and Stuart Bryan, and their children Elizabeth Bryan (pictured) and Katy Bryan, and winemaker Sally Johnson and her husband Max Blum. Katy is currently training as a photographer, and spent the day photographing the game from the sidelines. The game was the annual “Battle of the Bay,” pitting the San Francisco 49ers against the Oakland Raiders, and provided the 49ers with a nail-biting win in the fourth quarter. Dr. York’s guests, including the Reverend Cecil Williams from San Francisco’s Glide Memorial Church and legendary retired linebacker Dan Bunz, enjoyed a selection of Pride wines – our 2007 Chardonnay and Viognier as well as our 2006 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Birdies for Breast Cancer Charity Golf Classic

wendy — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:22:17 -0600

LPGA leader Cristie Kerr is also a leader in the fight against breast cancer. Every year she hosts her Birdies for Breast Cancer Charity Golf Classic to raise funds to help women with breast cancer, and most recently has created the Cristie Kerr Women’s Health Center on the campus of the Jersey City Medical Center. The Cristie Kerr Women’s Health Center will provide screening, education, recovery and support services for women with breast cancer. Services will be available for women with and without medical insurance.

Kathy Bertolino, Pride Mountain Vineyards’ CFO enjoys playing golf with the LPGA pros at Liberty National Golf Course in New Jersey on August 14, 2009. Kathy golfed like a pro herself, with Team Bertolino shooting a 67 on 18 holes.

Cristie Kerr is joined by Suzanne Pride Bryan for the Birdies for Breast Cancer gala dinner and auction.

Pride Mountain Vineyards provided the wines and Celebrity Chef Todd English and his team provided dinner for the event at Liberty National overlooking the beauty of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. Here Suzanne poses with Chef Todd and his team in a calm moment before dinner.

Sun Valley Center Wine Auction

wendy — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:59:24 -0600

On July 22nd, we headed to Idaho to participate in the 28th Annual Sun Valley Center Wine Auction. On hand to present our wines was Stuart Bryan, national sales manager.

Events for the 2009 program included Vintner Dinners at area restaurants and private homes, educational seminars featuring Riedel Glassware, the annual Wine Auction Gala, and a Wine Tasting Extravaganza for the wine trade and consumers.

Pictured here at the Vintner Dinner at Chip and Sandra Fisher's residence are hosts Chip and Sandra Fisher (left), Trina Peters, board president, Courtney Gilbert, curator of visual arts, and Bill Ryberg executive director for the Center. The dinner featured the wines of Pride Mountain Vineyards and Hyde de Villaine paired with five courses from acclaimed chef John Tesar from Tesar's Modern Steak & Seafood in Houston, Texas. Forty people enjoyed the evening in a magical creek-side setting.

Shown in preparation for the Vintner Dinner are Stuart Bryan (left), Chef John Tesar of Tesar's (center) and Sous Chef Jeremy Robison in the Fisher's kitchen.

Two engagements in one day!

wendy — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:39:35 -0600

Ezra Williams chose the view at the top of Pride Mountain Vineyards as the perfect back-drop to propose to Jenica Horn, presenting her with a beautiful engagement ring. The couple, both from Sacramento, California, are excited about planning their wedding, and say they will be back to relive this special moment.

Alexandra Samara was completely caught off-guard when Nolan Duncan popped the question at Pride Mountain Vineyards high above the Napa Valley. The couple’s dear friends, Spencer and Cindy Bain of Illinois helped Nolan plan the big moment. Alexandra and Nolan are from Texas and plan on using a 5.0 liter bottle of Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon for their guests to sign at the wedding.