Frey Organic Wine Blog
POSTED WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2010
From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, a good article on the exploding interest in certified organic wines as well as the history of the organic grape-growing tradition in Mendocino County, California, where Frey Organic Winery is located.
POSTED MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2010
We liked this talk by chef and scholar Dan Barber and had to share it with you. He covers food, flavor, and true sustainability. We hope you like it!
POSTED SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010 – By Paul Frey, Frey Organic Winemaker
Frey Winery was invited to give a one hour presentation at Millésime Bio 2010 in Montpellier, France last January. I gave a talk on "The History of No Sulfite Added Organic Wine." There is much interest now in Europe on organic non-sulfited wines as three years ago a "Contains Sulfites" warning was required on all EU wine labels that contain above 10ppm total sulfites.
At the lectern! Millésime Bio 2010, the worlds largest organic wine fair, at Montpellier, France.
I got to meet many wine distributors and winemakers at Millésime Bio 2010.
At a lunch meeting with with top wine scientists from Vivelys, a wine research company in France, discussing the latest theories in wine chemistry and no-sulfite winemaking history.
Here I am with famous wine historian Michel Bouvier in Lyon, France. We discussed the history of no-sulfites-added winemaking. His book on the history of ancient wine won an award in 2007.
Visiting the famous Lapierre winery in Morgon, France. One of the first in France to make wine without sulfites added. I am here with Mathieu Lapierre in his snow-covered vineyards.
Visiting the famous Trapet winery. Jean Louis Trapet and I exchange bottles of organic wine. We discussed wine making methods of his Grandfather and tasted some of his no-sulfites-added wines.
I visited Logrono in Rioja region of Spain and stopped at a research center that made some wines as part of the Orwine Project. The project was created to define organic wine in Europe. Here I am with Pedro tasting some of their wine.
After a one month tour of Europe visiting organic distributors, winemakers and scientists, I attended Biofach 2010, the worlds largest organic food and wine show. Frey Winery presented a talk on "The History of No Sulfite Added Wine in the USA" at Biofach, and poured organic wine to the visitors. Frey wine is now available in some European countries.
POSTED FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010
Check out this interview with Katrina & Jonathan Frey of Frey Organic Wines, produced by the great people at GIAIM – Healthy Green Living. The interview was recorded a few years ago.
POSTED FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2010
A few photos we'd like to share with you from our first-annual "In Love with Redwood Valley" Wine & Chocolate Pairing, in conjunction with other wineries of the valley. There was a large turnout of chocolate nibblers and wine sippers. We hope you can join us next year! By the way, here's an interesting article on the health benefits of wine and chocolate in moderation. There are also studies out there showing that organic foods have higher levels of anti-cancer substances than non-organic foods, which we'd like to write about in a future post.
Peter and Derek pour wine and answer questions at this year's wine and chocolate pairing.
An array of gourmet organic chocolates, dark and white, to sample with the wine.
Guests relax outside the winery on a fine February afternoon. We hope to see you next year!
POSTED MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2010
Harvest 2010 will be our 30th harvest here at Frey Vineyards. In celebration we invite you, our valued customers and fans, to our recipe contest!
Please consider submitting a recipe that uses any Frey Wine. The winner will receive a wine-free goodie basket featuring an organic cotton Frey Vineyards apron, hat and corkscrew, a bottle of Frey Estate cold pressed grapeseed oil, the Solar Living Source Book, and some organic chocolate (it is against the law to offer wine as a prize). The winning recipe will be selected and prepared by Chef Tamara Frey, then photographed and featured in the recipes section of our website! A selection of the submitted recipes will be included as well. Good luck, and we hope all of you will share your culinary masterpiece!
Contest Guidelines:
- Recipe must contain Frey Organic or Biodynamic Wine.
- Email recipe to info@freywine.com. In subject line, please write: Recipe Submission. Or send by mail to:
Frey Vineyards
Recipe Contest
14000 Tomki Road
Redwood Valley, CA 95470 - Contest closes March 31, 2010.
- Prizes cannot be delivered outside the USA.
POSTED MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2010 – By Eliza Frey
Attention future brides and grooms! As we seek to bring eco-consciousness into all aspects of our lives, your wedding celebrations can take on a whole new dimension. Frey Organic Wines was recently featured in the new book Green Wedding: Planning Your Eco-Friendly Celebration. The book, written by New York Times style correspondent Mireya Navarro, lists our certified Organic Wines as a perfect fit for eco friendly nuptials!
It is a beautiful book full of nice photos, inspirational examples and practical solutions to common challenges in wedding planning. Also included are ideas for locations, alternative gifting options, tree-free invitations, local decorations, seasonal cuisine, socially responsible honeymooning and green lifestyle choices for the new couple.
The book is available at mireyanavarro.com. The book cover is shown below.
Bird Watching at Frey Vineyards, by Beba FreyPOSTED SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010 – By Beba Frey
(Eighty-five year old Beba Frey of Frey Vineyards is an avid bird watcher. She recently wrote down some thoughts on her favorite pastime. The bird to the right is a Pileated Woodpecker, taken by Nathan Frey in woodlands adjacent the vineyards. In a future post we will talk about the many bird houses we have set up around the vineyards and the species of birds that use them to raise their hatchlings each year.)
I yelped. I was looking at the bird feeder outside my window. There, pecking bird seeds, was a strange (to me) large black saucy bird. For a fleeting moment I took it for a Brewer’s blackbird. But no, it had a graceful crest of black and fiery red eyes. It was early March. Then I remembered. Thirty years earlier in northern Mexico I had seen and identified the same black bird sitting proudly on a bush as the Phainopepla. It was my only sighting here in Redwood Valley. The name is as lovely as the bird. It is Greek for “shining robe,” undoubtedly referring to its sleek smooth body. Then two weeks later, for a scarce 4 minutes, two male Phainopeplas and 2 females (gray in color but with a similar crown) visited my feeder. They like mistletoe berries. I have never heard its “short soft whistle,” as described in the bird book. But I look for their return every day.
Mendocino County is the proverbial birder’s paradise. The temperate climate keeps many species here year round. Rivers, lakes, fields, woods, meadows abound with our fine feathered friends. And the mighty Pacific with its large swooping sea birds hugs the Mendocino coastline. The result is a plethora of bird species, here either all year long or passing through along the coastline or inland valleys on their way north or south. We love the loud honking of geese as they head north or south in their elongated V high in the sky. As our valley narrows on its way north it is home to the occasional pair of bald eagles which hunt unsuspecting smaller prey up and down the swiftly descending creek.
A pair of red-tailed hawks and their descendents have been in the same stretch of woods adjacent the vineyards for the last 40 years. We hear their particular series of cries, always starting on the same note and slurring downward. We wonder whether they nest in the same tree year after year or just in the same area. They consider this region home as surely as we do.
POSTED MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2010
A Day of Wine, Spirits, and Chocolate
Saturday, February 13, the day before Valentine's Day
Professional chocolatiers will fine-tune pairings of exquisite chocolates with Redwood Valley's rich, complex Zinfandels, Cabernet Sauvignons, Petite Sirahs, and Syrahs – the perfect complements to chocolate. Ports, liqueurs, and world-class Germain-Robin brandies will seal the valley's claim on your palate and warm your true love's heart. The festival has been listed as an "Esteemed Wine and Chocolate Event" in Via Magazine.
Learn more at A Taste of Redwood Valley.
POSTED TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2009 – By Caroline Frey
Harvest 2009 at Frey Organic Vineyards finally came to a close when the last gondola of organic Cabernet dumped into the crusher at 10PM, October 27th. During harvest, the cellar crew (affectionately known as "cellar rats") stayed up late each night making sure all the tasty grapes got crushed and pumped to the tanks for fermentation. 2009 is proving to be good year for organic winegrapes, with nice yields and delicious fruit – a welcome change for all of Mendocino County as last year many grape growers lost a significant percentage of grapes to severe frosts in the spring. This year's quality grapes are sure to produce some fantastic wines. Harvest might be wrapped up, but organic & biodynamic winemaking continues fast and furious until the end of the year. We should be releasing the first of the 2009 vintage white wines early next year.
POSTED TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2009 – By Caroline Frey
Frey Vineyards is proud to sponsor the Vegan Vixens! This group of gorgeous gals describe themselves as “four talented ecotainers who care about the future of our world.” They educate the public about health and fitness, animal issues, planet stewardship, and climate change – and they make it fun and exciting. Check out their website at www.veganvixens.com and remember that all Frey Organic wines are 100% vegan friendly and Vegan Vixen approved!
The Vegan Vixens showing off their favorite vino!
POSTED TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2009 – By Caroline Frey
#1 New York Times Bestseller Skinny Bitch recommends Frey Wine. This very popular book is a “no-nonsense guide for savvy girls who want to stop eating crap and start looking fabulous!” The book details the benefits of a vegan diet and exposes some of the dangerous hidden chemicals and cruelty in many of the foods we eat, including the dangers of sulfites and other synthetic preservatives added to wine. Give Skinny Bitch a read today!
POSTED TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2009 – By Katrina Frey
MyRecipes.com has recently posted their EcoWine Guide. Frey Biodynamic Syrah, 2006 vintage, was their top pick under the Biodynamic Wine category. Check it out at EcoWine.com.
POSTED FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2009
Katrina Frey of Frey Vineyards discusses the secrets of Biodynamic agriculture in an interview on Helge Hellberg's Organic Conversation radio show.
POSTED FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2009
Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson recently chose her top 5 earth-friendly wines, among them Frey Organic Petite Sirah, 2006 vintage. We have recently sold out of 2006 Organic Petite Sirah, but bottles may still be available in stores. Our current Organic Petite Sirah is from vintage 2007, and similarly delicious.
Ms. Robinson adds, "This winery has long been committed to organic farming and winemaking without added sulfites...." You may read al of it at delish.com.
POSTED THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
We haven't included this topic yet on our own website, but we're happy to let PlantWhateverBringsYouJoy.com beat us to it! Local author Kathryn Hall visited us recently to check out straw bale gardening by our resident gardener Marie.
POSTED THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
Our apprentice winemaker Eliza Frey writes about raw and vegan wines at RawEpicurean.net. We plan to write more on this topic here at FreyWine.com. Stay tuned! If you haven't seen it yet, we have already a page on vegan wines.
POSTED WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009
Dr. Nancy Gahles, writing at ProgessiveGrocer.com, has a good introduction to Biodynamic winemaking and talks about her meeting with winemaker Jonathan Frey at this year's All Things Organic Conference.
POSTED WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2009 – By Molly Frey
The Biodynamic Association of Northern California will be meeting for the Fall session on September 26th and 27th at Live Power Farm in Covelo (Northern Mendocino County, California). The weekend's activities will include making biodynamic preparations and discussing trends in the biodynamic movement. Members of the Frey Vineyards biodynamic group will be in attendance. Hope to see you there!
POSTED FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2009
Pure Mendocino is this weekend, a benefit for the Cancer Resource Center of Mendocino County. The Ukiah Daily Journal has a recent informative article on this weekend's celebration of organic food, organic wine and beer, all produced in Mendocino County. This is an annual event, so if you can't attend, do come next year!
POSTED TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2009, By Eliza Frey
Frey Organic Wine wins the People’s Choice Award for Best Organic Red and White Wine at the 2009 All Things Organic Show!
Thank you to all who voted for our 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2007 Chardonnay.
Hosted by the Organic Trade Association, the 2009 All Things Organic Show took place in Chicago at McCormick Place on June 17th and 18th, 2009. Attendees participated in the largest Trade Show in the United States dedicated to organic products and the well being of the organic industry here and abroad. Speakers included Phil Lempart, the Supermarket Guru and Kathleen Merrigan, USDA Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Thanks again to all of those who participated in the award and cast your vote!
Derek, Eliza, & Dale at the 2009 All Things Organic.
POSTED MONDAY, JULY 20, 2009, By Eliza Frey
Our 2008 Organic Pinot Noir has just been released! Crafted from Frey Vineyards’ 13 year-old vineyard in Potter Valley and fruit from two other certified organic family farms in Mendocino County, this wine is a delicious representation of warm climate Pinot Noirs: light-bodied with delicate strawberry and pomegranate tones. Served chilled or at room temperature, it is a perfect wine for picnics and hot summer afternoons. 
POSTED MONDAY, JULY 20, 2009, By Eliza Frey
Over the course of history, all favorable grape varieties have been selected and cloned from wild vines.To reproduce a desirable grape, new plants are made from cuttings. All established grape varietals grown today were cloned from individual seedlings that people favored centuries ago.
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay share a parent grape, Gouais blanc, which is believed to have originated in Croatia. Seldom grown today, it is an important ancestor of many French and German grape varieties. Pinot Noir has been cultivated since at least Roman times and is believed to be only 1 or 2 generations removed from its wild ancestors in northeastern France or southwestern Germany.
Pinot Noir is one of the parent varieties of Chardonnay, which originated in the Burgundy region of France, from 700 to 1,700 years ago. Our 2008 Organic Chardonnay white wine is the perfect balance of fruity aromas and light French oak and pairs well with grilled fresh veggies, chicken and fish. It also tastes great mixed with a little sparkling water and ice cubes next to a plate of cheese and fruit – a favorite after-work snack for our office staff.
We source our top quality organic & biodynamic Chardonnay grapes from family-owned organic vineyards as well as from expert grape growers of the Ukiah and Redwood Valleys. The 2008 organic vintage combines the rich flavors of these two terriors. Our long established relationship with these growers, many whose families have been farming in our area for multiple generations, ensure excellent wines year after year.
Long prized in Europe by the upper classes for their superior quality, both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay arrived in California in the mid 1800’s. Traditionally grown in cool areas similar to Burgundy, both are now widely planted due to their popularity and adaptability to different growing regions. Today California boasts the largest acreage of both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the United States, with a variety of styles to mirror our diverse landscapes and microclimates.
We hope you enjoy our versions of these two amazing wines, crafted with care from 100% organic fruits, with no sulfites, preservatives or other additives.
Frey Organic Chardonnay Vineyard, Potter Valley, Mendocino County, California.
POSTED TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2009
We have added our first recipe to FreyWine.com: a simple but delicious leeks dish, and an original from Katrina Frey. We will be adding more to our new recipes page, with favorites from the Frey Family as well as from friends and employees.
POSTED MONDAY, MAY 4, 2009
Now and then we'll post interesting news for you from the world of organic wine and organic agriculture. The following is from CCOF Magazine, Spring 2009 Issue:
"The Pesticide Action Network-Europe conducted a study of pesticide residues in European wine and found that on average a conventional bottle of wine contains four pesticides (one bottle in the study contained ten detected residues, while all bottles contained at least one). In comparison, the organic wines tested contained almost no residues (one residue was detected in one bottle). Grapes are one of the most contaminated crops in Europe and elsewhere, and the problem is growing in the wine industry as many farmers opt for synthetic pesticides. These pesticides are not fully removed in the winemaking process, as this study and a 14 year study conducted by the French Ministry of Agriculture have both shown. Organic wines are virtually pesticide free, as organic farming requires alternative pest control methods."
See the full report at Pesticide Action Network-Europe.
POSTED ON MONDAY, March 30, 2009
Alan Greene, M.D., here with Katrina Frey at Expo West Earlier this month, is the pediatrician at the Stanford School of Medicine and a board member of the Organic Center. He promotes the benefits of organic food for a healthier future for our children and also enjoys an occasional glass of Frey Organic Wine.
The Organic Center generates peer reviewed scientific studies that verify the benefits of organic farming.
The Organic Center held their VIP dinner at Expo West where they announced their 2009 campaign to promote and research the huge capacities of organic soils to sequester carbon and reverse global warming. Frey Vineyards provided wine for the dinner.
POSTED ON FRIDAY, March 27, 2009
Welcome to our first posting of the Frey Wine Blog! And welcome to the new FreyWine.com website. We will keep you up-to-date with with the latest from down in the cellar to out in the grape fields. We'll fill you in on how the vines are faring through the phases of the seasons, and get into the details of organic and biodynamic grape growing. We'll post intriguing thoughts and ideas from our winemaker and others, and tell you about events and news from the Organic & Biodynamic wine and food movement. It's just the beginning!
We are all greatly relieved our new website is finished. It was made completely in-house by Nathan Frey and other members of the Frey Winery family. Designing and writing a new website is a colossal task, and perhaps we could've made it easier on ourselves by hiring an outside firm to do the work. But there's nothing like home-made, and we wanted to offer our friends and fans of Organic & Biodynamic wines something similarly authentic and down-to-earth. We think of our new website as a product of the local terrior.
It couldn't have been possible without the writing from Eliza, Paul, Caroline, Katrina, Molly, Isabel, and Nathan Frey, as well as our vineyard manager Derek Dahlen. All of them and others will be contributing more to this blog and to our Bee Blog and Farm & Garden Blog.
Nathan Frey crammed 3 thick manuals on CSS (website design coding) before starting this project. Nearly all the photos are his own and were exclusively shot in our vineyards, winery, studio, and in the air! Stay tuned for his new photo-tour, coming in a few weeks.
Also in the works: a recipe page from our chef Mimi Frey, and a page on the history of winemaking from winemaker Paul Frey. We will also be adding more photos of people.
We hope you like the new design and can easily find the information you want. Please don't hesitate to send us comments or suggestions. We'll continue to fine-tune the look and feel as we enter a new era at FreyWine.com!
