Wine Tasting at the US Embassador's Residence in Paris

With a conference on "Sustainability in California", and "
California's own Grape Zinfandel"

For the 2nd time, on March 24th, the US Embassador's Residence in Paris welcomed producers from 10 states for a great tasting of their best wines and spirits. There were more than 80 producers coming from 10 states (California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Oregon, Missouri, Michigan, New York State, Washington State). If needed, this gathering demonstrates how strong is becoming the wine culture all over the USA.

Among the spirits, we had of course the pleasure to taste not only great bourbons from Kentucky (Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Blanton's or Heaven Hill, but also the Tuthilltown whiskeys from the Hudson Valley.

	US Ambassador Charles H. Rivkin, and his wife with Daryl A. Brehm, Counsellor for Agriculture, speaking
	US Ambassador address
	Bruno Meens, director of Baarsma France, importer of Wente wines
	Camille Seghesio, heir of the Seghesio family and Export Director, with a bottle of Zinfandel. Her ancestor, Edoardo Seghesio left the family's Piedmont vineyards and settled in California where he started to make wine in the late 80s (1880s that is!) The estate is located in Healdsburg.
	Paul Dolan, producer of Organic and Biodynamic wines Ukiah, Mendocino County. Former President of the California Wine Institute, he gave us the lecture on Zinfandel and Sustainability in California, followed by a commented tasting.
	Steve Messinger, lives in Santa Rosa where he runs Vinum Exports, a company which sell the wines from the Flowers Winery, whose vineyards grow in the Sonoma hills, 2 miles off the Pacific Ocean, about 500 meters high. Steve made me taste a splendid Pinot Noir, with a superb balance, thin tannins and just enough wood.
	Ricardo Uztarroz and Claude Gilois from the Vins du Monde import company, with their last book about their quest for the best unknown cru wines all over the world (picture taken at the 1855.com tasting at the Paris Intercontinental Grand Hotel the day before)