When I heard – via an email from Thief Wine – that Paul Dolan Vineyards would be sending its winemaker to Milwaukee for a tasting I practically jumped out of my chair.
Not only does this Ukiah, Calif., winery put out quality wines, they are green to the core. In addition to growing certified-organic grapes, the winery practices biodynamic farming (where the earth's ebbs and flows are considered, a much more holistic method than organic) in its vineyards.
Mendocino County is the country's greenest wine region (28 percent of the region's wineries are certified organic or certified biodynamic) and Paul Dolan is no exception.
On Thursday, Aug. 4, Mark Beaman, who is assistant winemaker for Paul Dolan Wines, will chat about this with 25 lucky people who have signed up for a Biodynamic Seminar and Winemaker Tasting of Paul Dolan Wines. It will be held in the Milwaukee Public Market's demonstration kitchen, one level above Thief Wine's first location.
While I don't have all of the details, he's definitely going to flip through a slide show and uncork some of his wines. For $20 you can try five Paul Dolan wines, including Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and two whites (Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc).
Just last night I enjoyed a glass of 2009 Paul Dolan Wine Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendocino County. For $25, it's a steal: lengthy finish, and plum notes with layers of baking spices. The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon earned 92 points from Wine Enthusiast earlier this year. And anytime you can support a green-minded business, it's all good, right?
