B. R. Cohn Winery

Infobox Winery
winery_name = B.R. Cohn Winery
winery_
location_city = Glen Ellen, California
location_country =
appellation = Sonoma Valley
former_name = Olive Hill Estate Vineyards
other_labels=
year_founded =1984
first_vintage =
key_people = Bruce Cohn, proprietor
Tom Montgomery, winemaker
parent_company =
cases_per_year =29,000
signature_wine = Olive Hill Cabernet
varietal1 = cabernet sauvignon
varietal2 = merlot
varietal3 = chardonnay
varietal4 = pinot noir
varietal5 = zinfandel
varietal6 = petite sirah
varietal7 = syrah
varietal8 = cabernet franc
varietal9 = petit verdot
varietal10 = malbec
other_product1= olive oil
other_product2= vinegar
other_product3= rosé
other_product4= port
other_product5=
homepage=http://www.brcohn.com
distribution= USA, Canada, Mexico
tasting= open to public

B.R. Cohn Winery is a midsized boutique family winery in Sonoma Valley, California.

History

Bruce Cohn, manager of the California rock band, The Doobie Brothers, purchased the original area in 1974. He named the property the Olive Hill Estate Vineyards after the grove of 140-year-old olive trees, from which a sister operation continues to make ultrapremium olive oil.

After selling grapes to other wineries for several years, Cohn founded his own winery, B.R. Cohn, in 1984. His first winemaker was the now-famous Helen Turley [cite news
last = Walker
first = Larry
coauthors =
title = The storied wines of B.R. Cohn
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = Wines and Vines Magazine
date = March, 2004
url = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3488/is_3_85/ai_n6011061
accessdate = 2007-01-27 ] . The winery has hosted a popular yearly charity music concert and golf event since 1987. Like other wineries in the area it maintains a wine club and public tasting room, and hosts weddings and other events. Bruce Cohn continues to live on the estate, from where he manages both the Doobie Brothers band and the wine and oil operations.

Wines

The vineyards surrounding the winery are planted mostly in cabernet sauvignon grapes, with some pinot noir, zinfandel, petite sirah, cabernet franc, petit verdot, and malbec. Syrah (sold only from the tasting room) and Chardonnay is grown in the carneros region.

The winery's flagship 1985 and 1986 Olive Hill Cabernets were ranked among the top ten in America and top 50 in the World by Wine Spectator, which gave each a rating of 94 out of 100. The 2003 vintage was rated 93. The North Cost Petit Syrah was one of two red "sweepstakes winners" at the prestigious 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition [cite web
last =Chronicle Staff
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Best of Class
work =
publisher = San Francisco Chronicle
date =
url = http://www.sfgate.com/bestofclass/
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-01-27] . The winery also produces merlot, rosé, and port.

Oil and vinegar

Starting in the 1990s, B.R. Cohn was among the first companies involved in the re-emergence of artisan olive oil production in California. Today it produces several flavored and unflavored oils, including an organic variety.

The company also produces vinegar on-site from cabernet, chardonnay, and sparkling wine (including pear chardonnay and a raspberry champagne flavors), using the French "Orleans" method whereby batches of vinegar are produced by adding a "mother" dose of old vinegar to fresh wine, then aging 18-22 months in oak barrels. It also bottles a 25, 15 and a 12 year-old balsamic vinegar imported from Modena, Italy.

Cohn's oil and vinegar is widely available in premium grocery stores in California, although some limited-production varieties are sold only directly.

References

External links

* [http://www.brcohn.com brcohn.com] (official winery website)
* [http://www.brcohnoliveoil.com/ brcohnoliveoil.com] (official olive oil website)
* [http://www.madehow.com/Volume-7/Vinegar.html madehow.com discussion of vinegar production]