Regal Wine Imports

Meet The Producer: Bellview Winery

4/28/2011 12:18:28 PM

Meet Jim Quarella, owner of Bellview Winery. A humble spirit creating phenomenal wines from 20 different varietals. Read more for my in-depth interview with one of my favorite producers to work with...

I have had the pleasure of being a part of a recent renaissance in the NJ wine industry. A few years ago, retail stores and� restaurants barely had any New Jersey wineries present in their establishments. Today, most places have an aisle dedicated to the garden state's production and I feel honored to represent one of the finest on the shelves. Jim Quarella of Bellview Winery has been out in the marketplace with me several times and on each occasion we have had a 100% success rate. In a nut shell, people taste the wine and fall in love. Expert palates are impressed that Jersey has surpassed the sweet wine stigma and are producing quality all across the board.Today I will be featuring and pouring Jim's wines in a store. Jersey Devil Red, a dry red blend of his favored varietals and Jersey Devil White, an off-dry patio sipper are some of the best values in his portfolio. In conjunction with this tasting, I thought I'd post an interview I engaged in recently with Jim. This guy brings just as much to the table as his wines do!

Interview With Jim Quarella Of Bellview Winery

4/28/2011 12:04:02 PM

1. How many grape varietals are you currently growing? Which ones do you see gaining presence in the marketplace?
We currently grow 20 grape varietals. We have been getting really great reviews of our Cabernet Franc lately and it is definitely one of the finest wines we make but I also think the Petit Verdot, Lemberger, Syrah, and Viogner have the gusto to make� Bellview Wine a nationwide presence.

2. How did you get involved in the wine industry?
I am a fourth generation vegetable farmer of the land that BellviewWinery is on now. However, when I was 16, I was tending to my owngrapes and making wine. I graduated from college and decided to stick with the family business of vegetable farming until 1999 when I startedto think about planting a little bit of grapes to make wine for my families own consumption. That rekindled the spark of my true passion and I?ve been growing grapes and making wine ever since and exclusively now since 2003.

3. You produce both dry and sweet styled single varietals and blends. What about Jersey gives these wines a unique edge to other regions?
We are located in the Outer Coastal Plain American Viticulture Areaand this region is given the designation of an American ViticultureArea because of its unique climate ideally suitable for grapes. Wehave long warm summers and moderate winters. We also have a sandy loam type soil. These conditions allow us to grow some very good qualityEuropean and especially Bordeaux varietals that have a uniquecharacteristic that emanate the terroir of south Jersey and usuallyincludes more secondary aromas in the reds like leather and tobacco rather than bold ripe fruit that can overpower the nose like a lot of Napa Cabs you see today.

4. You put on various festivals and events all year, any coming up we should all be aware of?
Well we have our Cinco de Mayo celebration on April 30 and May 1 whichshould be a lot of fun as we are bringing in the authentic Mexicanfood vendor Sierra Juarez Restaurant as well as serving 3 differenttypes of Sangria and we are currently trying to wrangle up some Salsabands but no promises there yet. Also on June 4&5 (12-8 Sat and 12-5Sun) we are having our 10 year Anniversary celebration. We will have amultitude of food and other vendors along with live music all day bothdays to celebrate 10 years of Bellview Wine.

5. Can I find your wines in retail stores? If so, which ones carry the brand?
Yes. Almost all stores in SJ carry the brand. If not, you can always request to management and they will likely bring the wine in.

6. What are your flagship wines?
Our best sellers are definitely our Fiesta(sangria wine) and Homestead(sweet red) but I think as far as our brand image in the national and eventually global winemarket we would like to think our Flagship wines will be Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Viogner.

7. Which wine of yours do you find yourself sipping on the most often?
At the end of the day, although it definitely depends on the day, I usually head over to a bottle of Cabernet Franc or Syrah for a nice evening glass.

8. Favorite wine producing region other than Jersey?
I haven?t found one that I haven?t enjoyed. I love the local varietiesand their uniqueness and the difference in wine making styles from the many regions.

9. What has been your biggest challenge as a wine producer?
Over coming the stigma that NJ can not make world class wines. Now all we have to do is get people to taste our wines. I enjoy the look of surprise on their face because they are so pleasantly pleased by awine made right here.

10. One fun fact about the winery.
We are the only winery in NJ and one of two in the U.S. that produces Dandelion Wine. It is an old family recipe handed down to us from mygreat Aunts Ada and Mary.

Wine Of The Week: Mounton Noir

4/28/2011 11:52:52 AM

Serious wines with a casual approach. With projects in Argentina and the West Coast, Mouton Noir is calling out to all consumers these days.

The more I dive into the wine industry, I am reminded that the beautiful substance swirling in our glass need not be limited to a specific class of pretentious individuals. Wine is fun. Simple as that. When I first started with Regal Wine Imports and sat in on a sales meeting, I felt intimidated beyond belief. I carried this inferiority chip on my shoulder for the first six months in sales. I almost didn't feel worthy to promote high end wine. My knowledge and palate has surely evolved but I realize now that I never should have felt that way. To be a true wine aficionado, a consumer really just needs passion. Wine will never become anything significant if we just associate it with something red or white in our glass. When we actually take a minute to look at the label, decipher where it's from, and characterize the smell/taste, our palate starts to evolve with our interest.

Today I worked with a winemaker of a particularly unique personality that justified all of these notions just described. Andre Mack, of Mouton Noir Wines, reminded me of how fun wine can be. Mouton Noir translates to "Black Sheep". Andre arrived today in jeans, Ray Ban glasses, and colorful Vans; set for a day of selling to various stores and restaurants. A man with a serious background but with a casual approach. Named Best Sommelier in America for 2003, he has been recognized time and time again for his efforts managing some of the top restaurants in the country. His driven spirit took him from office work to pursuing a career in wine. Recently, he started producing through different projects around the globe. In the near future, he will open a wine bar in Manhattan. If he's curious, he will pursue. Andre carries a "why not?" approach to life and I truly believe we all should look at wine the same way. If you are standing in the aisle at a retail shop and your interest is peaked by a varietal you haven't tried, why not give it a shot?

In addition to his eclectic demeanor, his wines parallel this style as well. For instance, his Torrontes stays true to the traditional floral aroma; however, he creates a dry and subtle crispness that pairs perfectly with food. His Malbec carries the typical plum and spiced notes but he also adds a touch of oak. The alcohol level stands much lower than others in the category so as to promote culinary pairings . My favorite of his line is the Merlot from Rattlesnake Hills, Washington. Again, Andre stays true to the red berry properties often seen in this varietal but the smoky edge defines this bottle as something truly unique.

Breathtaking Sauvignon Blanc

1/24/2011 4:56:29 PM

The 2009 Domaine Alain Assader Menetou-Salon Blanc from Robert Katcher Selections is an astounding - and incredibly inexpensive - French Sauvignon Blanc.

Last week and this, I am featuring two inexpensive yet flavor-packed wines imported by the maverick Robert Kacher.

His specialty is France, and my new Wine of the Week, his 2009 Domaine Alain Assadet Menetou-Salon Blanc ($16) from the Loire Valley, is typical of the sort of artisanal wines he has made his forte.

They couldn't be more different from the sort of mass-market, lowest-common-denominator wines that dominate supermarket shelves. Rather, they are wines of verve and personality, and while they won't appeal to every palate, that doesn't matter. If you are only bringing in a hundred cases, you can afford to appeal to the discriminating consumer. You don't need to be in every wine warehouse; just a few wine-centric restaurants and specialty retailers will suffice.

Kacher's approach is deceptively simple: "I'm interested in a high concentration of flavor. I'm not interested in overextraction. And I've learned that all the concentration and flavor intensity you have in a wine really doesn't come from the winery but from farming properly, and harvesting as late as possible, taking risks and producing low yields."

But low yields mean less revenue, at least in the short term, and therefore these sorts of dedicated artisanal producers are few and far between.

Kacher also only deals with domaine-grown fruit because "if you're buying grapes, you're buying juice, and you don't control a thing."

Menetou-Salon is a small appellation just southwest of the more famous Sancerre. The area is favored with a high proportion of sauvignon-blanc-friendly limestone soil, and its reputation is growing fast.

And this particular example is a fine indication of why - it's the most exotic sauvignon blanc I have ever encountered. A long, cold fermentation combined with long skin contact results in a concentration of ripe fruit flavors I'd never imagined was possible in a sauvignon blanc. This is, quite simply, an astounding wine.

When to Drink: Now

Breathing/Decanting: Not necessary

Food Pairing: Shellfish, especially oysters; any seafood

Grape: Sauvignon blanc

Appellation: Menetou-Salon

Region: Loire Valley

Country: France

Price: An astounding $16

Website: www.robertkacherselections.com

Eno Tech

1/24/2011 2:25:52 PM

Rocca di Castagnoli Poggio Ai Frati Chianti Classico Riserva 06

1/24/2011 11:30:12 AM

Check out one of the most beautiful wines for food pairings below... Chianti Classico Read here >

Toasting a Vintage, With Few Quibbles

1/24/2011 11:19:14 AM

The critics have weighed in from every conceivable angle, and the results seem to be unanimous. The 2008 vintage for Oregon pinot noir is superb. Read here >