Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/188061
PHOTO: JASON KINDIG The New Noir in Dallas After finding success with two of her famous Dee Lincoln's Restaurant and Bubble Bar locations, the eponymous steakhouse maven has unleashed another successful concept on the Dallas food scene: Dee Lincoln's Steak and Burger Bar, a classic steakhouse eatery where Oyster Bay Pinot Noir has received a welcome reception—again. "We turned a lot of our guests onto Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc at our Bubble Bar, explains General Manager Anthony Porcaro, "and we take " pride in maintaining relationships with our customers, so they know that if we like the Oyster Bay Pinot Noir, they will too. " But there's more to staff support when it comes to Oyster Bay Pinot's inroads at Dee Lincoln's: "Pinot Noir as a varietal has been on fire, says " Porcaro, who explains that Oyster Bay Pinot has been a hit in the restaurant's by-the-glass program. "And they're willing to try new Pinots from new regions. They're looking for approachable wines that also offer a great value, and Oyster Bay Pinot fulfills all of that. —Rachel Burkons " Adrienne Ward, Oyster Bay Account Sales Manager, North Texas, joins GM Anthony Porcaro at Dallas' Dee Lincoln's Steak and Burger Bar. A Seaside Perch PHOTO: JEREMY BALL notably terroir-driven style. Made from cool climate Marlborough-grown fruit, a new New Zealand Pinot is on the rise, rich, elegant and seductively silky. No producer has been more successful in unlocking the consumer trend clamoring for this "New Pinot" than Oyster Bay. Their Pinot Noir is a leading premium wine in many countries around the word and has a pedigree of quality credentials, such as the 91 points recently awarded by Natalie MacLean to the '11 vintage. It has established itself as one of the world's great Pinot Noirs and is making significant headway now in the U.S. "New Zealand has a unique combination of a maritime, cool climate and ancient alluvial soils," says Peter Edgar, VP and National Sales Manager, Oyster Bay Wines USA. "They create an elegant, aromatic and seductive style, and consumer trends are favoring these wines, as customers unlock the true potential of New Zealand wines beyond Sauvignon Blanc," says Edgar. Current wine consumption, particularly among Millennials, embraces the many guises of wine—from varietals themselves to varietal nuances. Right now, according to Edgar, the market is enthused with New Zealand Pinot Noir's quintessential intensity and fruit concentration, and notes Oyster Bay's dedication to consistency. "Our brand resonates with global aspirational wine consumers," he says. "We are highly fortunate to have wines of high quality year after year. The demand for Oyster Bay is the outcome from many years of strategic planning, and we continue to grow our sales team and support infrastructure across each trade channel. We then can work more closely with our customers." Just blocks from the ocean, atop the très-chic Santa Monica Place shopping center, The Sonoma Wine Garden offers an elegant retreat from the throngs of tourists, street performers and beachgoers who populate Santa Monica, CA's famous Third Street Promenade. "Who says you can't drink wine with great pizza?" asks owner Jeremy Umland, a man known for his "Who says you can't?" mantra in life and business. With a gourmet slice of prosciutto pizza in one hand Ozumo Concepts owner Jeremy and a glass of Oyster Bay Umland pairs Oyster Bay Pinot Pinot Noir in the other, Noir with a gourmet prosciutto pizza topped with figs, goat cheese Umland proves that you can, indeed, have it all: and caramelized onion. "Pairing a humble pizza with the smooth and seductive nature of Oyster Bay Pinot Noir? That's what we're here to do!" Umland's philosophy seems to have trickled down to the restaurants guests, an ever-educated crowd whose adventuresome spirit pushes them to delve into Oyster Bay's New Zealand Pinot Noir. "Oyster Bay was one of the brands to put New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc on the map, says Umland. "Now, it's inspiring to " hear the guest call out New Zealand by region, and it's great that they're recognizing quality and value in Oyster Bay Pinot Noir. " —R. B. october 2013 / the tasting panel / 7 TP1013_001-33.indd 7 9/23/13 10:33 PM