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MIDDLETOWN – Langtry Estate & Vineyards pulled down some impressive accolades for its Lake County wines from prestigious national press in the last month, as Wine & Spirits Magazine named Langtry’s Guenoc brand one of the Top Value Brands of the Year, and Food & Wine Magazine picked the Guenoc Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon as one of its 25 Best Wines for Summer.
The cover story of the June issue of Wine & Spirits Magazine was the 100 Top Values of the Year, and the magazine’s editors selected Guenoc as one of 11 American wine brands that represent top value and “perform consistently well across a range of wines.”
Notably, Guenoc has significantly lower production volume than any of the other wine brands singled out for recognition. Wine & Spirits observed that Guenoc is noted for “crisp whites and cool-climate reds from a pioneer in Lake County…” They singled out the Guenoc Lake County Sauvignon Blanc and Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon as “standout” wines.
In the June issue of Food & Wine Magazine, senior editor Ray Isle wrote a feature article on the 25 Best Wines for Summer and focused in particular on wines $20 or less that go well with grilled foods. For pairing with steak and lamb, Isle recommended the Guenoc Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon as one of his five favorite picks. He also noted that Lake County was beginning to make a name for itself as a wine region and that Guenoc is one of the oldest wineries.
The history of the winery dates back to 1854 when winegrapes were first planted in the Guenoc Valley. Victorian actress Lillie Langtry owned the property from 1888 to 1906. Today, the property is owned by Hawaii-based Malulani Investments.
Langtry Estate & Vineyards has extensive vineyard holdings in Lake County and is the oldest and largest winegrower in the region. The picturesque estate consists of 21,349 acres and straddles Lake and Napa counties. Vineyards are limited to 449 prime acres.
For more visit www.langtryestate.com or call 987-2385. Langtry Estate & Vineyards is located at 21000 Butts Canyon Road, Middletown.
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MIDDLETOWN – Gearing up for Middletown Days, Scott Fergusson of Fergusson Cutlery and Outdoor is ready to celebrate his two-year anniversary with a free raffle.
Come in to pick up your free raffle ticket (one per person) to win a Kershaw kitchen knife and cutting board set.
Middletown Days is Saturday and Sunday, June 16-17. The winner of the free raffle will be announced during the Middletown Days festivities, so mark your calendar and plan to attend. Stop by the store during Middletown Days for a free bottle of water.
Scott Fergusson, a former US Marine raised in Sebastopol, has been buying, selling, sharpening and trading knives since he was an active US Marine (1981-1991). He moved to Middletown in 2000 with his wife Linda.
In 2005 Fergusson decided to follow his passion by opening Fergusson Cutlery and Outdoor. This is the only place in Lake County to find brand-name cutlery. The store specializes in interesting custom and hard to find pieces as well as high-end kitchen, hunting, fishing, tactical cutlery and multi-tools.
The story also carries surplus gear and keep their prices at the lowest. They offer expert sharpening service as well as useful gadgets for outdoors people and service professionals such as law enforcement officials, firefighters, EMTs, chefs and members of the military.
Fergusson is active in his local community. He is in the process of becoming the Middletown/Hidden Valley/Cobb representative for the Disaster Assistance Response Team. He also is an Entered Apprentice Mason and a volunteer for the Bridges program at Middletown High School.
Fergusson Cutlery is located at 21153 Calistoga St., No. 101, in Middletown. For more information contact Scott Fergusson, 987-0121, or visit his Web site, www.fergussoncutlery.com.
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CLEARLAKE OAKS – Shannon Ridge Winery in Lake County has launched the new “Wrangler Tour,” an experience that goes beyond the typical tasting room visit and allows visitors to tour the unique terrain that makes up Shannon Ridge and the High Valley AVA.
The tour includes a tasting of the Shannon Ridge wines along the way. Guests will ride in a rugged four wheel drive vehicle during the tour.
The first stop on the tour is Mount Konocti Station, which offers stunning views of Mount Konocti, an extinct volcano, and Clear Lake, the largest freshwater lake in California. Guests will enjoy a tasting of the Shannon Ridge Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier.
The tour then continues to La Sierra Station, which presents a panoramic view of Clear Lake and the surrounding mountains. A brief walk among the vines familiarizes guests with the Shannon Ridge grapes as they enjoy some of the award winning Shannon Ridge red varietals. The final stop on the tour is Valley Station, a picturesque setting where guests can relax and enjoy the views and the wines.
The Wrangler Tour is offered Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. for $25 per person. Additionally, the tour and a picnic lunch are offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m. for $40 per person.
In 1995, Clay and Margarita Shannon purchased a mountain property in the High Valley appellation in Lake County. They began planting vineyards along the steep volcanic ridges and now have 350 acres of prime vineyards on the ranch.
Shannon Ridge released its first wines, made by winemaker Robert Pepi, in 2004. The winery currently makes Cabernet Sauvignon (High Valley), Syrah (High Valley), Zinfandel (Lake County), Petite Sirah (Lake County), Barbera (High Valley), Sauvignon Blanc (Lake County) and Viognier (Lake County).
All tours depart from and return to the Shannon Ridge tasting room, an old one-room school house located at 12599 East Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks. Reservations can be made by calling 998-9656.
For more information about Shannon Ridge and its unique wines, visit www.shannonridge.com.
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SACRAMENTO – The powerful Senate Appropriations Committee has unanimously approved a bill by Sen. Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) to encourage the use of environmentally-safe products in state highway landscape maintenance, setting the stage for a vote by the full Senate in the near future.
SB 697, which is sponsored by the California Refuse Removal Council, would require the state Department of Transportation (CalTrans) to assess the amount of compost, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, mulch and other products for erosion control that have been used over the past five years and report its finding back to the Legislature.
Wiggins’ bill also would require CalTrans to develop a 10-year plan to increase the use of environmentally-safe materials in the state’s highway landscape maintenance program while phasing out the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
According to the California Integrated Waste Management Board, organic materials comprise 30 percent of the waste disposed of in landfills.
Wiggins says the goal of her legislation is to stimulate markets for markets that can be diverted away from landfills and toward productive purposes.
“Compost is an effective erosion control, it provides the same benefits as other chemical products without the dangers of polluting while being environmentally safe,” Wiggins said.
She added, “My bill would create the first step toward ensuring that our state is utilizing existing resources and is effectively recycling compost in an efficient and environmentally sound way.”
For more about Wiggins' bills or to contact her office, visit http://dist02.casen.govoffice.com/.
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