Wine of the Month – Syrah

Wine of the Month – Syrah

by | Feb 28, 2022 | Wine of the Month

Syrah is an ancient grape variety that was naturally hybridized in the northern end of France’s Rhone Valley over 2,000 years ago from two obscure parent grapes. It’s the 7th most widely planted grape in the world – grown on all continents. It is regarded as one of the Noble Varieties*. A complex and flavorful wine with depth and power, Syrah was one of the two wine varieties that we wanted to explore when we founded Crystal Basin. Our best results were perhaps from our 2010 vintage, when we won Best of Class at the 2013 CA State Fair.

Our Syrah grapes come from two sites in El Dorado County – both at high altitude. Once is behind the Apple Mountain Golf Resort off Carson Road and the other is up Happy Valley Road in an especially remote location. We’ve also purchased a small amount of Syrah from Pleasant Valley since 1993 and there are times when that vineyard produces transcendent fruit. All these vineyards get ripe in mid-October and the pick point can be determined by how ‘slippery’ the grape skin is over the pulp and seeds of the grape.

Syrah Crystal Basin Cellars
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Wine of the Month

Every month we highlight one of our favorite wines. In March 2022, that’s our award winning Syrah. Join Mike Owens and Rex on the Radio McNeil as they demonstrate the wine of the month tastings you can expect this month.

Schedule Your
Wine of the Month
Syrah Vertical Tastings Below

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Syrah Blends

We use Syrah as a component of two of our Ascendance blends – our Victorie Rhone blend and our Xpealidocious SuperCalifornian. We also find a batch of Syrah from time to time that is worth of our Red Cap program, which is our Best of the Best. The process of blending these wines is like unwrapping presents under a Christmas tree! We hope you enjoy the results as much as we enjoy making our wines.

VICTORIE, “GRAND RESERVE”
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XPEALIDOCIOUS, “GRAND RESERVE”
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Syrah Blends

Extra credit? Check this cool article about Noble Varieties and the range of wine flavors here: https://winefolly.com/lifestyle/the-18-noble-grapes-wine-challenge/
Meau-Fauxs in March

Meau-Fauxs in March

by | Feb 26, 2022 | Cellar Events, Station Events

Crystal Basin is always seeking to identify and honor innovative leadership. We’ve created a way for us all to recognize and celebrate truly unique folks on their respective birthdays. Each month, Crystal Basin will select three special Meau-Fauxs who have made an indelible mark on the world in their own way.

This moniker is not to be taken lightly. It takes a LOT to be a Meau-Faux. You have to get up early, stay up late, and in many specific cases, be able to party like a rockstar. We all know and recognize these personalities and what they stand for instantly. By calling our attention to these leaders, we hope you’ll be able to pull some essence of their spirit into you daily life. They are, quite simply, Meau-Fauxs.

 

For March –
We honor our third batch of amazing Meau-Fauxs for this year!

Neo – Thomas Anderson (from the Matrix)
March 11

As we celebrate Neo’s 60th birthday, we note the unfortunate fact that Neo was a frighteningly predictive Meau-Faux. He knew something was off. He wasn’t afraid to chase it down. He was willing to take a great personal risk to understand, challenge and ultimately best the horrifying Status Quo. He figured out how to beat the agents. He had a red pill – we have red wine. Pro Tip? Teach your kids to be like Neo.

Julio Gallo
March 21

Julio agreed to sell all of the wine his brother could make. His brother agreed to make all the wine Julio could sell. Julio turned this sibling rivalry into a Billion dollar company that dominates the wine market in the US. Perhaps even more remarkable is that he and his brother were able to arrange for the transfer of control of their business between generations to ensure its on-going success. He is a vinous Meau-Faux if one ever existed.

Vincent Van Gogh
March 30

Vincent van Gogh a famous Dutch painter who spent his creative years in Southern France, was a slightly crazy but talented Meau-Faux. He was able to describe his episodic fits on canvas visually and for all time. It proves that you don’t have to be popular or coherent to be a Meau-Faux. It shows that we all can aspire to be one! Pro Tip – Watch out for the Absinthe!

CBC Fans – It has been decreed, mandated and codified that on each of the birthdays of these storied Meau-Fauxs, CBC will be selling our Chateau Meau-Faux Red Blend and our Kougar Coolaid White Blend 1.5 liter pouch for $25. Phone in orders are acceptable, but we suggest that toasting one or more of these Meau-Fauxs at the winery on their birthdays may be just the ticket.

Visit Us in Camino
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Renegade Rag : January 2022

Renegade Rag : January 2022

by | Feb 6, 2022 | Renegade Rag

Have you read the Renegade Rag, January 2022 edition?

This quarterly newsletter from Crystal Basin Cellars gives our fans a giant dose of What’s Happening at our locations.

Learn about our current Wine of the Month, Celebratory Meau-Fauxs, Tasting & Events, Wine Club releases, and all around 411 to find the best time for your visit one of our locations.

Learn more about our team, why we love what we do, and maybe a little wine jargon.

Every quarter! HUZZAH!

Inside Crystal Basin Cellars Renegade Rag January 2022, our current edition,

Renegade Rag Event | Crystal Basin Cellars El Dorado Countyn Winery

Are you on our mailing list?

Our quarterly newsletter provides you a snippet of what’s happening over the next 3 months (or as far as we can tell anyway 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♂️). To make sure you don’t miss out on something like our 2 for 1 wine specials, or our wine and cuisine events, use the form below to sign up for our weekly email list. We promise you will never have to ask, “What should we do this weekend?”, the answer will always be, “Crystal Basin Cellars”.

2022 Folsom Wine and Jazz Festival

2022 Folsom Wine and Jazz Festival

by | Feb 5, 2022 | The Road Show

2022 Folsom Wine and Jazz Festival returns March 11, 2022. Set at the gorgeous grounds at the Zittel Family Amphitheater, you’ll enjoy an evening of excellent wine, delectable cuisine, and award winning jazz.

The evening’s entertainment will be provided by the nationally recognized jazz musicians of Folsom High School and Sutter and Folsom Middle Schools.

Included in the night’s activities will be a Silent Auction including donations from our participating servers as well as local businesses to support the Folsom High Music Program.

Don’t miss it. Buy your tickets today!

Price is $40.00 per person

Learn More Here

Uncle Bob’s Dinty Day

Uncle Bob’s Dinty Day

by | Feb 2, 2022 | Cellar Events

February 5, 2022 : Camino

Crystal Basin’s Uncle Bob was, in the very meaning of the phrase, a Jolly Good Fellow.

Bob helped found our company and still contributes to our hospitality style every day.

We celebrate his birthday each year and some version of an anti-Super Bowl event.

Q: Why do we call his birthday celebration Dinty Day?

A: When the tasting room was winery first opened in Camino, Mike showed up with glassware and signs and other gifty items to put on the shelves. Uncle Bob was incensed. His quote: “We’re not a gift shop, we’re a winery. We might as well sell Dinty Moore Beef Stew.”

So, each year on his birthday after that fateful day, Bob would whip up a batch of his version of Dinty Moore Beef Stew and ladle it out to his fans. He was even known to attach tattoos to various body parts of those (mostly female) fans during the process. While the tattoo thing is strictly a memory at this point, we invite all of our friends and fans up to Camino to enjoy some tasty Beef Stew and clink some glasses in Bob’s memory.

Cheers To All!