Dona Paula Wines of Trinchero Family Estates Launches Estate Black Edition Red Blend

Doña Paula Wines today announced the launch of a ‘Black Edition’ Red Blend from Mendoza, Argentina under the brand’s Estate tier of wines. This inaugural red blend joins a highly-lauded line-up of four varietals from the Estate tier, including Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Torrontés, all grown and produced in Argentina.

One of Argentina’s largest exporters of premium wines, Doña Paula currently exports to more than 60 countries. The ‘Black Edition’ Red Blend is comprised of 60% Malbec, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Petite Verdot, grown on the El Alto Estate in the Luján de Cuyo region of Argentina, over 3,400 feet above sea level. The 2012 ‘Black Edition’ Red Blend will be distributed nationally and is priced at $14.99.

“Our ‘Black Edition’ Red Blend is well-balanced and complex and at the crossroads where power meets finesse,” commented head viticulturist Martín Kaiser, “and the eye-catching, new package, sets this special blend apart.”

The Doña Paula winemaking team has been scouring Argentina, since the brand’s conception, to find the right vineyards to produce the refined wines their consumers love and expect. Today, Argentinean Red Blends are up 84%, the second fastest growing varietal after Moscato and Argentina is the fastest growing country of origin, up 16%*. “We are proud to add this new wine to our portfolio and certain our fans will enjoy it as much as we do,” added Kaiser.

The 2012 Doña Paula ‘Black Edition’ Red Blend underwent cold pre-fermentation maceration to extract primary aromas and was aged in French Oak barrel for 10 months. The wine has an intense black, purple color in the glass and offers aromas of plum, spice, and red pepper. In the mouth, the wine has round tannins and a long finish. The Doña Paula winemaking team recommends pairing it with beef, lamb, game meat, pasta and risotto.

About Doña Paula

Doña Paula is imported, sold and marketed by Trinchero Family Estates (TFE), Napa Valley vintners since 1948. TFE’s diverse portfolio of more than 40 wines and spirits includes such brands such as Sutter Home, Ménage à Trois, Trinchero Napa Valley, SeaGlass, Fancy Pants, Napa Cellars, Terra d’Oro, Trinity Oaks, Folie à Deux, Duck Commander Wines, Sugar Island Rum, and the number one alcohol-removed wine, Fre. Trinchero Family Estates also markets and sells Joel Gott Wines; The Three Thieves (Bandit, Newman’s Own, and The SHOW); Charles & Charles; Taken Wine Co.; Angove Wines from Australia; Carmen Wines from Chile; Shatter Wines from France; and CRUZ and Tres Agaves Tequilas from Mexico.

Visit TFEWines.com to learn more.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

80% of World Leaders Now on Twitter

The Digital Policy Council (DPC) released its fourth annual ranking of world leaders' use of the social media website Twitter.com. DPC's latest report indicates continued but decelerated growth in the number of heads of state on this medium. In 2013, 80% or 4 out of 5 world leaders were using Twitter. This figure represents a growth of 8% over 2012 contrasting sharply with the upsurge of 78% between 2011 and 2012.

Top 10 World Leaders who Tweet

President Obama of the United States continues to occupy the #1 spot, gaining 16 million followers in just one year, due to the president's popularity and comfort with social media. A noticeable upturn occurred during the U.S. government shutdown in the fall of 2013 as Obama, politicians and citizens alike tweeted their frustrations about the situation.

The most dramatic debut was the rocketing ascent of Indonesian leader President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY for short) to the #2 spot. SBY joined Twitter in 2013, and quickly gained 4.2 million followers. As the leader of the most populous Islamic country, SBY shares candid and personal opinions in an effort to strengthen democracy at home and throughout the region.

Venezuela was another big mover, slumping from #2 to #13. The passing of the popular Hugo Chávez triggered the drop, although Chávez's successor, President Nicolas Maduro was immediately accepted, entering the ranking in the Top 15.

The greatest upward movement among the top 10 was that of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai. He jumped from #10 last year to #7 in 2013. Sheikh Mohammed's followers increased by 1 million to 2.4 million, an indication that his openness to different cultures and public dialog resonates with UAE citizens and residents who, Sheikh Mohammed says, "continually arise to the occasion whenever approached to contribute to innovative ideas."

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of Argentina moved up one spot to #6. Fernández's preference to communicate with the public directly via social media rather than traditional press conferences is prophetic of how leaders will leverage Twitter in the future.

Who are the Holdouts?

With 80 percent saturation among world leaders on Twitter, the profile of holdouts warrants examination.

Political leaders in China, the world's most populous country, remain absent on social media. Twitter has been blocked since 2009, and while China does have its own micro-blogging platform, called Sina Weibo, it is strictly regulated by government censors. U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron opened a Weibo account prior to his visit to China in 2013 prompting calls for President Xi Jinping to follow suit.

More surprising is the European democracies that do not utilize Twitter, with Denmark and Sweden as notable examples. In fact, no European leaders are even represented in the Top 10. Perhaps more apparent are the leaders of politically unstable governments who simply shun social media or jumped onto Twitter only to let their accounts go dormant.

Indeed, according to DPC's analysis, 67% of the countries that utilize Twitter were politically stable, indicating that leaders confident in their political legitimacy are most apt to utilize social media.

In 2014, the DPC expects penetration on Twitter for world leaders to rekindle and reach 90 percent, with leaders ultimately realizing how to employ Twitter effectively as a means of strategic communications — an insight seized by Iran's newly-elected President Hassan Rouhani who became active on Twitter in 2013 for international relations even though the site is blocked in his own country.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Winter Wine and Food Tours: South America and South Africa with BKWine

The wine and food tour specialist BKWine has launched the coming winter’s wine and gourmet tours. There are two tours to New World wine countries: Chile and Argentina in South America in February, and South Africa in March. Both tours extend over a bit more than ten days. They include several winery visits, gastronomic meal, and also other sights and experiences on these two long-range tours. The full programs are available on BKWineTours.com.

The first winter wine tour goes to the two main wine countries in South America: Chile and Argentina, 1-16 February 2014.

The tour starts on the Pampas. From the airport one goes directly to a comfortable estancia to recover from the long flight and to forget quickly the northern winter. This is followed by a few days visits to Buenos Aires, including tango, before it is time to head for the Mendoza wine region. In this Argentina’s biggest and most famous wine region the vineyard visits are mixed with Argentinean asados, the typical barbecue feasts, and with views of the magnificent landscape. From Mendoza the tour continues spectacularly on road across the Andes, reaching more than 10 000 feet, with Aconcagua, the highest peak, not far away.

Having arrived in Chile the winery visits and tastings, as well as the gastronomic meals, continue. There is also a unique opportunity to be winemaker for a day: a wine blending workshop in a winery to blend one’s own wine. Santiago, Santa Cruz and Valparaiso are also on the program.

Britt Karlsson, co-founder of BKWine, says: “This is a ‘full-bodied’ program where we have put together all of the best of what Chile and Argentina can offer in terms of wine, food and sights. I have been to South America several times and I have picked the gems. A very special program.”

The second wine and food tour of the winter is to South Africa, 28 February – 10 March 2014.

South Africa has quickly advanced to become one of the top wine producers in the New World. On this wine tour there will be visits to the classic regions like Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. But the program also includes the “newcomer” Swartland. Some consider this to be the very best wine region in South Africa. The tour starts and ends in Cape Town and will also include the famous Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope. There is a possibility to add two days of very luxurious wildlife safari.

The tour also contributes to the development of the South African society. It sponsors a South African school as well as volunteer work at a Red Cross children’s hospital.

Per Karlsson, the other co-founder of BKWine, comments: “South Africa sometimes has a reputation for entry level wines. Forget that! On this tour we will meet personally with some of South Africa’s greatest and most famous winemakers. Since we at BKWine are also internationally recognised wine writers we have unique contacts in the wine world. There will also be some lazy afternoons and luxurious gourmet meals. Not to forget the landscape and the wildlife that will also be part of the tour.”

BKWine is a tour operator specialised in top quality wine tours and gourmet tours. BKWine tours have been named “world’s top wine tours” by Travel + Leisure Magazine. Each year BKWine organises around 30 wine tours, both custom designed and on schedule.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.