Leslie Cramer has worked in the fine wine industry for twenty- something years. Known in some circles as "The Wine Wizardess," she'll cover topics from wine education, to trends o' the day and how to properly propose a toast, to health benefits of the grape.

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Showing entries for Category: biodynamic-wines

Sustainable wines at the DNC- Hats off to Levy Restaurants, official caterers to the Convention

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July 30, 9:42 AM

by Leslie Cramer, Wine Examiner

Who garnered the wine vote?

Kudos go out to Levy Restaurants, the caterers chosen to design the food and beverage menu for the Democratic National Convention. And here's the best part: they have created an entire menu of sustainable wines for the participants and attendees. (On their website it says "America's best local,organic, biodynamic and/or sustainable wines" meant to "complement the excitement of the Convention." And it just keeps getting better; the menu itself is printed on 100% recycled paper- job well done, Levy Restaurants.

Though there is a substantial "regular" wine menu as well, check out their offerings for just the sustainable wines: (Wines with asterisks next to them are wines I've tried personally and to which I give the big "thumbs up." (Many of these are not available in my area.) The prices are along with the lines of restaurant pricing, wines listed are from least-expensive to most-expensive.

Colorado Wines

Carlson Cougar Run Chardonnay, Palisade
Jack Rabbit Hill Barn Yard Estate Organic Blend, Hotchkiss (I wish I knew what the blend was...)

Sparkling Wines

Domaine Carneros Brut Rose (*)
Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs (*)
"J" Vintage Brut Late-Disgorged, Russian River Valley

White Wines

Snoqualmie Nearly Naked Gewurtztraminer, Columbia Valley (*)
Jax Y 3 Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma
Kenwood Sonoma Pinot Gris (*)
Cambria Katherine's Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley
Stonestreet Alexander Valley Chardonnay, Sonoma

Red Wines

Bonterra 'Organic' Syrah, Mendocino County (*)
Robert Hall Merlot, Paso Robles (*)
Kunde Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley
La Crema Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, Sonoma (*)
Heitz Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa (*)
Benziger Tribute"Biodynamic, " Sonoma Mountain

From someone who wrote wine lists for restaurants for years, my opinion of this list is right on the money. Every major category is covered (well most, at least, I wouldn't have minded if a zinfandel had squeezed its way in there) which is the ultimate goal of the wine list, especially if you are limited, product-wise, space-wise or whatever. And the fact that they stuck with American-only wines made it suit the occasion all the better.