Gold Medal Wine Club Newsletter: Vol. 22 No. 1AVan Ruiten Family Vineyards

John Van Ruiten, Sr. planted the first family vineyard over 50 years ago, and still utilizes its prized fruit for the winery’s famous Old Vine Zinfandels.

G O L D M E D A L W I N E C L U B - A M E R I C A’ S L E A D I N G I N D E P E N D E N T W I N E C L U B S I N C E 1 9 9 2

Mid-way between the Sierra Foothills and the San Francisco Bay Delta, the Van Ruiten Family’s state-of-the-art winery sits amongst their vineyards on Highway 12.

With top quality estate vineyards, a world class winery, and an experienced team, the Van Ruiten Family is one of the most recognized names in the California wine world.

WINE PRESS

Van Ruiten Family Vineyards

Fifty years of setting the standard

for exceptional Lodi grown fruit.

While a large number of California wineries can trace their existence to their ancestor’s immigration

to this country at the beginning of the 20th Century, the Lodi-based Van Ruiten Family Winery is a more

recent story.

The Van Ruiten (pronounced van root-en) saga actually took place immediately following the Second

World War. Family patriarch John Van Ruiten was a native of tiny Spaarnwoude in Holland where he labored in his family’s

dairy business. Wartime Holland was a most difficult environment and John Van Ruiten survived due to his business

acumen and ability to provide certain needed services (including moonshine) whenever the occasion arose.

When the father of his future wife (Ann) returned from the United States after the war, John listened to the tales of

potential prosperity and decided to make the move. In 1948, John landed in the Central Valley crossroads of Lodi and

Page 2

an Ruiten Family VineyardsV

2008 PINOT NOIR

Van Ruiten’s 2008 Pinot Noir comes from the Steamboat Vineyard located in Lodi’s adjoining Delta region. Since this varietal prefers cooler growing conditions, the Van Ruiten family turned to this colder Delta pocket to source its premium Pinot Noir fruit. Staying true to the heritage of Pinot Noir, Van Ruiten produces this wine in the classic Burgundian style, with earthy aromas and brambly red berry characteristics. The 2008 Pinot Noir is soft yet zesty in style, with a deep ruby color and soft aromas of red cherry, spice, vanilla, and caramel. The red ripe fruit, cedar, and toasted butterscotch flavors give this wine a long, lingering finish. A multi-medal winning wine, the Van Ruiten 2008 Pinot Noir garnered a Silver Medal at the Denver International Wine Competition, a Silver Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and a Silver Medal at the Consumer Wine Awards. Winemaker Ryan Leeman suggests pairing the 2008 Pinot Noir with mushroom risotto, roast pork, or beef stroganoff. Aged 18 months in oak. 100% Pinot Noir. Enjoy now until 2015.

pH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.55Total Acidity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.66 g/100 mlsAlcohol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.9%Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 months in oakCases Produced. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,200Drink Now or Up to Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2015

Just the facts:

2008 VINTAGE: SILVER MEDAL - Denver International Wine Competition

SILVER MEDAL - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

SILVER MEDAL - Consumer Wine Awards

began operating a business he knew

well—a full service dairy.

“When I came to Lodi,” recalled

John Van Ruiten, Sr.,“I simply fell

in love with the place. I appreciated

the climate, the soils and most

importantly, the wonderful reception

of the people here.”

With the help of loans from

the local bank, John’s business

flourished. He soon opened several

convenience-style drive-through dairy

stops where milk and juices were the

main items of fare. In the meantime,

Ann’s family had also

immigrated to California

and the two were soon

married.

A decade later, John

Van Ruiten, Sr. became

fascinated with another

California agricultural

phenomenon, the seemingly

prestigious grape growing

business. Local farmers

were reporting increasing

demand for their high

quality grapes and the

After five decades, the Van Ruiten family farms an estimated 1,000 acres of wine grapes, with only their best fruit destined to carry the family name.

Page 3

2008 RESERVE CHARDONNAY

Van Ruiten’s 2008 “Double Barrel” Reserve Chardonnay hails from John’s Home Ranch Vineyard in Lodi, California. The wine earns its “Double Barrel” name because it takes two New French Oak barrels to make this Chardonnay. After the wine is barrel fermented in New French Oak, winemaker Ryan Leeman allows the juice to settle in a tank before moving it to new barrel where it ages and develops deeper flavor complexities. Lush and round on the palate, the Van Ruiten 2008 “Double Barrel” Reserve Chardonnay displays intense fruit and spicy oak aromas with notes of creamy lemon bar, apple, papaya, and hazelnut. While the

finish is long and clean, the flavors become increasingly full and complex with time. Bright acidity and nice tannins give a wonderful balance to the Chardonnay and allows for a multitude of food pairings. Try pairing the Van Ruiten 2008 Reserve Chardonnay with fettuccini or chicken with cream butter sauces. With such limited production, this special wine was not sent out for review, but we knew it was worthy of your attention. Enjoy this Gold Medal Special Selection from one of Lodi’s best family wineries! Aged 8 months in oak. 98% Chardonnay, 2% Viognier. Enjoy now until 2013.

2008 VINTAGE: GOLD MEDAL SPECIAL

SELECTION

pH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.57Total Acidity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.52 g/100 mlsAlcohol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.5%Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 months in oakCases Produced. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200Drink Now or Up to Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2013

Just the facts:

rigors of a full service dairy farm were

beginning to wear on John Van Ruiten.

John made a sharp-eyed purchase of an

Old Zinfandel Vineyard, and with a

large amount of sweat equity, he planted

additional Zinfandel vines and began

growing grapes in the Lodi Appellation.

Before long, a number of local

wineries and “over the hill” wineries

(those located in the Central Coast

and Napa/Sonoma) were also

beginning to seek some of the prized

Van Ruiten grapes for their varied

production.

After spending several years

deciding on just the right combination

of factors, ground was broken on a

two-acre tract for a new state-of-the-art

winery. The first Van Ruiten Family

Winery release came in 1999 as a

product of some of Van Ruiten’s top

fruit that was custom crushed at

another winery. The initial release of

between 7,000 and 8,000 cases has been

increased to the company’s present level

of around 20,000 cases.

John Van Ruiten can take great

pride in the accomplishment of his

young winery that is collecting accolades

of its own in major wine competitions.

Throughout it all, Van Ruiten has

remained steadfast in his work

ethic that he brought with him

from his native Holland.

His business acumen and

his persistent work habits have

rubbed off on his entire family

and, equally importantly, his

wonderful family

of wines.

It is a great

pleasure for us to

be able to share

the Van Ruiten

Family Winery Gold

Series selections with

you this month.

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See Page 7 for Answers.

The Van Ruiten Family Winery offers

an inviting tasting room, complemented

by the ambiance of an outdoor

courtyard and patio on which to

enjoy their award-winning wines.

1) What is the best way to store and preserve leftover

wine from dinner?

2) What does it mean to say a wine is “rustic” in character?

3) What are the flavor differences in cool-climate Syrah versus a

warm-climate Syrah?

The Wine Wizard

About The WinemakerWinemaker Ryan Leeman joined

the Van Ruiten Family Winery in 2003, after gaining experience at

Paumanok Vineyards on Long Island, New York. Here, Ryan

successfully created a number of wines that were recognized by

Robert Parker and Anthony Dias Blue. At Van Ruiten, Ryan has the

opportunity to work with top quality wine grape growers and

continues to produce super premium wines for the family winery.

In Ryan’s words, “The Van Ruiten

Family possesses all the elements to make us one

of California’s most recognized producers –

top quality estate vineyards, a state of the art winery, and

an experienced team to help us realize

this goal.”

“When I came to Lodi,” recalled John Van Ruiten, Sr.,

“I simply fell in love with the place. I appreciated the climate, the soils and most importantly,

the wonderful reception of the people here.”

Page 5

The Wine Wizard

Three generations of the Van Ruiten family work together tending the vineyards, managing the winery, and bringing the finest wines to market. Sharing this month’s spotlight are Van Ruiten brothers Jim and John Jr., who co-manage the Van Ruiten Family’s extensive grape growing business.

“My brother and I have a great relationship,” offered Jim Van Ruiten. “I feel we utilize each other’s strengths nicely. John Jr. is meticulous in his approach to growing and it shows up each vintage year when our wines get even better with each new bottling.”

But Van Ruiten admits that this propensity for the wine business didn’t come easily to the close-knit pair.

“When we were younger,” he added, “all we knew about was the dairy business. We would get up early before school and do our chores and then would continue them when we got home from school. This went on seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. When Dad started talking about the grape business, we were very supportive even though we were still both very young. We both knew it had to be easier than the dairy business, anything we did would have been easier than tending cows all the time.”

Jim Van Ruiten feels that his family’s entry into the winery business was the smartest move the family could make. He also feels that the Van Ruiten Family Winery’s greatest days are still ahead.

“It is important to remember that we are still first and foremost grape growers,” he explained. “Growing quality grapes is what gave us the opportunity to expand and build the winery. When we noted the incredible success other wineries were having utilizing our grapes we just felt we should take the chance and see what we could do on our own. Dad taught us that everything important was ‘in the dirt’ and when our g

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Lodi wine country traces its roots

back to the mid 1800s, and today is most

widely known for its distinctive and

legendary Old Vine Zinfandel. The

region became an official AVA (American

Viticultural Area) in 1986, and since has

become a rapidly expanding location for

growing and producing premium wines.

The Van Ruiten Family has been

growing grapes in the Lodi area for more

than 50 years, and John Van Ruiten, Sr.’s

first acres of Zinfandel still remain as

part of the estate today. These Zinfandel

vines are among the oldest, most historic

and shyest bearing vines. After five

decades, the family farms an estimated

1,000 acres of wine grapes, with only

their best fruit destined to carry the Van

Ruiten Family name.

Continued on page 7

The Van Ruiten Family

The Wine Region

Jackie Van Ruiten’s Beef Stroganoff

Fettucini Alfredo with Chicken and Vegetables

Page 6

food for thoughtPair with the Van Ruiten 2008 Chardonnay

Kosher salt3 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil2-3 garlic cloves, minced2 zucchinis, thinly sliced1 container of baby bella mushrooms4 skinless, boneless chicken breastsFreshly ground pepper

12 ounces fettuccini 1 Tbs. all-purpose flour1 cup cold 1% milk½ cup evaporated nonfat milk¾ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese¼ cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

Preparation:Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasts water and set the cooked pasta aside. Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbs. of olive oil in a large nonstick skillet or dutch oven. Add 1-2 cloves of garlic and sauté over medium heat for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the zucchini and mushrooms and cook until tender, stirring occasionally, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer the veggies to a bowl.Heat another Tbs. of oil in the skillet. Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Cook the chicken in the pan, about 2 to 3 minutes per side, depending on the thickness. Set the chicken aside.In a small bowl, whisk the low fat milk and flour together. Add another tablespoon of oil to the skillet with the remaining garlic. Cook 30 seconds on medium heat, until the garlic is fragrant. Add the milk-flour mixture and bring it to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low and cook, continuing to stir, for about two minutes. Finally, add the evaporated milk, ½ tsp. of salt, and the grated cheese. Stir to melt the mixture, for approximately 1 minute.Cut the chicken into strips and toss together the pasts, alfredo sauce, zucchini, mushrooms, and parsley. Add reserve pasta water to loosen if necessary. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Find these recipes and all of your favorites online at www.GoldMedalWineClub.com/recipes. We have a delicious collection of entreé recipes to pair with your favorite Gold Medal wines.

Pair with the Van Ruiten 2008 Pinot NoirThis family recipe is a simple dish that is a crowd pleaser. It’s easy enough to make on any weeknight, and can be dressed up when serving friends and family on the weekend. Enjoy!

1 lb. London broil or sirloin steak (choice cut), sliced in ½ inch strips16 oz. sliced button mushrooms1 medium yellow onion, chopped1 cup beef broth8 ounces sour cream2 Tbs. flour1 bottle Van Ruiten Family Vineyards Pinot NoirParsley to garnish

Preparation:Sauté onions and mushrooms in 1 Tbs. butter and 1 Tbs. olive oil until tender. When tender, remove from pan and reserve for later.Season meat with salt and pepper. In the same pan, sauté beef until browned on all sides. When browned, add sautéed onions and mushrooms, along with 1 cup beef broth and about a half of a bottle of Van Ruiten Pinot Noir (the rest is for the chef!). Simmer on low, covered, for 45 minutes until tender and the juices are reduced.Meanwhile, mix 2 Tbs. flour into 8 oz. of sour cream. Once the meat is tender and the juices are reduced, add the sour cream mixture and heat through. Serve over bowtie pasta or egg noodles, with French bread, and garnish with parsley. Don’t forget to pair with a glass of 2008 Van Ruiten Pinot Noir. Enjoy!

A n s w e r s

The Wine Wizard

1) While there are a number of products and methods used to preserve wine (from filling the partially filled bottle of wine with inert gas to using a hand vacuum pump), here’s a simple and effective way to save your leftover wine: pour the wine into a smaller container, which will help protect it from oxygen. A spare 375 mL bottle works great, especially if it has a twist off top. Keep it in the refrigerator to further prolong its life. Wines with higher acidity or more aggressive tannins tend to keep longer on average, but most wines will start to turn after day two or three.

2) A “rustic” wine is one that can be described as hearty, earthy or rough-edged. It’s also a good way to describe a wine with tannins that have a chewy or coarse texture. The opposite of a rustic wine would be one that’s refined or light. Depending on the varietal, rusticity can be seen in either a positive or negative way. For example, when it comes to an Old Vine Zinfandel or Petite Sirah, a “rustic” quality is usually desired, but in a Burgundian Pinot Noir, the preferred style is usually more refined and elegant.

3) Syrah that is grown in warmer climates ripens quicker and more easily, so the finished wine will typically have riper fruit flavors such as blackberry and plum, with a lush, full-bodied profile. Cool-climate Syrahs are more likely to have red fruit notes and a peppery, spicy side with a leaner, more medium body. Both are exceptional styles and are worth tasting for yourself!

to your next wine delivery!add a plus! bottle

Page 7

The art of fine wine

fruit comes in each year it brings a smile to practically everyone’s face. That’s when we know that everything is going well.”

Van Ruiten also feels that Lodi’s central location between the Bay Area and California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains on Highway 12 is a boon to the exposure and practicability that any delta winery needs to succeed. The winery’s impressive tasting room does a remarkable business and keeps many members of the family engaged in the operation.

With plans to increase the Van Ruiten Family Winery’s production to around the fifty thousand case level in the near future, such exposure and financial security are important ingredients.

Both Jim and John Jr. are also excited about their own family’s participation in the eventual growth of the family’s business. John and Anne’s children; Coby, Mary, Angie, James, John Jr., Theresa, Jackie and now the extended Van Ruiten family, believe that hard work and an uncompromising commitment to excellence is the cornerstone of success today and for the generations to come.

“We are an incredibly close family,” Jim Van Ruiten concluded, “and we all like it that way. For some reason, we seem to accomplish more when everyone gets along. It’s been that way since our Dad first came to California. I guess some of his work habits rubbed off on us.”

Such humbleness is also a part of the Van Ruiten tradition that seems destined for additional plaudits and accolades. It is also quite refreshing to imagine that it exists within the confines of the often-spirited competition of the modern California wine industry.

An Afternoon Near Murphy’s was painted by Gil Dellinger who spent a year painting in the Sierra Foothills and in the Lodi-Woodbridge region of California. The goal was to capture the

beauty of the region’s wine industry.

Spotlight, continued from page 5

The Van Ruiten Family

Plus! wines are all highly-rated, very small production wines with availability too limited for all regular club members to receive. Only

Plus! Program participants receive these rare gems!

The Plus! Program automatically adds on a special wine to each regular scheduled wine delivery, or as often as you like!

Don’t miss out on another shipment! Join the Plus! Program today!

$18-$22 each delivery

This month’s Gold Series featured Plus! wine:

Domenico 2006 AgliAnicoPlatinum Medal + Double Gold Medal + 2 Gold Medals!

Just 234 Cases Produced! Learn more at: www.GoldMedalWineClub.com/plus or Call 1-800-266-8888

The Van Ruiten Family is leaving their mark on Lodi wine country, producing some of the top value-driven wines, not only in the region, but in the entire state. With hard work and an uncompromising commitment to excellence, the Van Ruitens turn out award-winning wines each vintage and today are one of the most recognized families in the industry. Enjoy this month’s special selections, and order them while you still can!

Reorder Online: www.GoldMedalWineClub.comToll Free: 1-800-266-8888 Fax: 1-800-266-8889

Gold Medal Wine Club – 5330 Debbie Road, Suite 200 • Santa Barbara, California 93111

*Availability is extremely limited Note: Shipping and tax (if applicable) not included in the above prices. Call for details.

Save up to 35% off Winery Direct

Retail Price Club Price Club PriceVan Ruiten Winery-Direct 2-Bottle Members 4-Bottle Members And Multiple Series Members

2008 Pinot Noir* $23.00/btl. $16.00/btl. Save 30% $15.00/btl. Save 35% 2008 Reserve Chardonnay $23.00/btl. $16.00/btl. Save 30% $15.00/btl. Save 35%

NewNew

If you are also a 2-bottle member of

another Series, you are now eligible to receive the 4-bottle

member prices above!

NewNew2 bottle minimum, per wine, per order

The Gold Series features wines from only the best small wineries of California. The selected wines have earned medals in the top wine-industry competitions or have been highly rated by respected national wine publications. On occasion we feature a wine of high medal-quality with very limited availability that

may not be submitted to these venues for review.

the grapevine“I have gotten his for my husband for

Christmas for the past four years and we

love it! I highly recommend it to anyone

who loves wine.”

– J. Sauvageau-Baranko

““Tried both reds, they were very good

[Cal Poly 2007 & 2008 Pinot Noir]!”

– H. Ward

ReordersThe gold medal wine store

Cheers to the New Year! Our special seasonal Champagne offering is the perfect way to toast the new year (and the new year of award-winning wines we’ll be featuring in the wine club!). For this celebrated Champagne Special, we are pleased to feature an exclusive import from one of France’s top Champagne Houses – Champagne Charpentier. Located in the Marne Valley of France, this famed Champagne House dates back to 1855 and has established itself as a world-class producer, crafting nine different bottlings each vintage. For our members, we selected the Terre d’Emotion Brut as the special Champagne feature, comprised of predominantly Chardonnay, with smaller amounts of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from very old, sustainably grown vines on the hillsides surrounding the Champagne Charpentier estate. A pure Champagne, the Terre d’Emotion Brut reflects its terrior with a unique complexity of aromas including violets, pear, peaches, and mandarin. The caressingly silky body is balanced by lively acidity and a wonderful freshness – perfect for celebrating! Just 135 cases were imported, so get it while you still can! For a limited time, save up to 31% OFF case orders – Bring on the Bubbly!