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july 2015 / the tasting panel / 99 Truvée Wines Sisters Robin and Andréa McBride have found their calling with the Truvée wine brand, and since it is named after the French word meaning "to find," we'll bet your customers will find exactly what they're looking for with these wines. The Central Coast Chardonnay will have tasters exploring clean notes of tropicality mingled with vanilla citrus, while the Central Coast Red Blend is ripe with deep red berry fruit and soft tannins. Woodwork Born out of a desire to celebrate the art of winemak- ing, Woodwork is all about craftsmanship. Produced in small batches in the Central Coast, the name Woodwork speaks to the unique oak influences used to bring out each varietal's natural characteristics. The family includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with Merlot, Zinfandel and a red blend recently added to the lineup. Dynamite Named in honor of the explo- sives used to clear the way for vine rows in its original rocky Northern California vine- yards, Dynamite Vineyards continues to operate with that same sense of intrepid daring, nearly 25 years after its first vintage. From its North Coast Cabernet and Zin to its Central Coast Merlot, Dynamite continues to push boundaries by releasing a big, unexpected red blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Syrah, Merlot, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah), along with a packaging redesign later this year. Uppercut With food pairing at the forefront of its focus, Uppercut strives to offer varietally representative wines that reflect their appellation. A dark and juicy Uppercut Cab pairs beautifully with steaks and hearty meaty dishes, while the balanced Napa Cab can offer fruity with toasty oak, ideal for lighter Asian dishes. The Uppercut Napa Meritage brims with raspberry and dark cherry fruit, ideal for gamey meats. The North Coast Sauv Blanc offers vibrant key lime and melon with a mineral backbone, ideal for grilled fish or oysters. A newly released Napa Merlot offers spice and chocolate, perfect with a rack of lamb, and a 100% North Coast Zin demands barbeque meats with its ripe berry character. Wines with a Story In addition to its charitably minded wines, the Diageo Chateau & Estates portfolio is host to a variety of wines, each with its own unique story and personality. Here are a few of our favorites: PHOTO: STEPHANIE SEACREST American Wine Company. "We are honored to support this great American charity," says Geoff Mace, Winemaker, The Great American Wine Company, who served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps before studying to become a winemaker. "I personally felt the comfort and relief the USO provides, whether it was catching a few minutes rest when transitioning to and from oversees deployments or enjoying a concert back home. The USO makes service members feel the gratitude of our nation. The Great American Wine Company makes it easy to support this great American cause." Lisa Turner Anastasi, Chief Development Officer for the USO, explains that the support of The Great American Wine Company will go a long way: "With the donation from The Great American Wine Company, we will fund our programs and services that boost morale and keep our nation's military community entertained, comforted and connected from the moment they join the military, during their deployments and through their transition out of the military." The Great American Wine Company's Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel are as sippable as they are charitable: "Our first goal is to make big, bold, delicious wines that pay tribute to classic American varietals," com- ments Mace. "We start in the vineyard, allowing the fruit to reach the peak of ripeness to bring rich, intense flavors to the wine. We then age the wine with American oak to create subtle, nuanced aromas and textures."