Bonnie Brae Wine & Liquor Mart
785 S. University Boulevard • Denver, CO 80209
Phone: (303) 733-7261

A TO Z Wineworks
– Oregon

“USA Winery of the year.” “ Aristocratic wines at democratic prices!” “ The business model is simple: to produce and market Oregon’s best wine values by eliminating unproductive fixed investment and unnecessary overhead”…“Everyone’s back office is someone else’s front office.”

The Monthly Selections

2007 Oregon Chardonnay

Winemaker Comments: The 2007 A to Z Oregon Chardonnay has an expansive aromatic profile of lime blossoms, wet stones, lemon honey, tangerine, guava, granny smith apple and brioche. In the mouth, the wine is bright and intense with good complexity and balance between acid and richness. Classic Oregon steely Chardonnay with a long, clean finish with lingering mineral and citrus notes. We are excited about our Oregon Chardonnays made with the Dijon clones. This wine is blended from a minimum of 19 different lots.

Regular Price $14.99 Web Special $11.99

2008 Oregon Pinot Gris  

Winemaker Comments: Pale yellow gold the 2008 A to Z Pinot Gris has aromas of ripe citrus fruits, kiwi, lychee, wet stones, minerals, honeysuckle and nectarines. As the wine opens aromatics of spices, nutmeg, lime blossom & tangerine are revealed. The concentrated attack is pure and bright with wonderful lush fruit and mineral notes and is framed by ripe acidity giving classic Oregon Pinot Gris proportions and lift to the richness. The finish rolls seamlessly off the mid-palate and goes on and on. The lasting impression of the wine is of great purity and intensity balanced by wonderful juiciness and succulence.

Regular Price $12.99 Web Special $10.99

2007 Oregon Pinot Noir  

Winemaker Comments: The dark spices on the nose and palate, with hints of anise and lavender, complement the pronounced blackberry, raspberry, and black cherry flavors, and the unmistakable earthy-mushroom “bloom” of all excellent of Pinot Noir. This is a fragrant, forward and juicy “negociant” blend, crafted from the lots of 30 different vineyard sites. Focused and pretty the palate is silky, elegant, and sophisticated, with a velvety smooth frame and wonderful lingering finish.

Regular Price $19.99 Web Special $15.99

The A-Z Story

Founded in 2002, A-Z Winery is Oregon's fastest growing winery. The business model is simple: to produce and market Oregon's best wine values by concentrating on their core competencies of acquisition, blending and marketing. Why A-Z?! We have a bargain with other wineries from whom we source wines that we will not reveal their identities; component wines could be from any winery in Oregon from “A to Z.” In addition, we wanted a name that suggested that our wines are blended from many sources. Even now as we are more and more sourcing grapes as well as wine, we still build our blends to craft balanced wines that aim to be the essence of Oregon, rather than reflect a specific single vineyard or style.

Unique to say the least, A to Z Wineworks originally, sourced and blended excess wines from other Oregon producers. Although the company continues to purchase wine, they have gradually decreased their dependence on the variability of those supplies in favor of long-term grape agreements from Hood River through the Willamette Valley and south to Medford. While the contracts themselves ensure continuous sources of fruit, the 350 mile geographic dispersion of these supplies serves as a hedge against quality and weather variability, and even against a climatic calamity in any particular region. Their simply stated goal at A TO Z is to bring high quality Oregon wines to the market for great prices, specializing in blending wines to achieve richness, harmony and complexity.

A TO Z is a partnership of two winemaking families made up of a collection of extremely talented individuals. William Hatcher developed and managed Domaine Drouhin Oregon from its conception in 1987, until the Spring of 2001. His wife Debra was active in that venture as well, but also worked with David Lett at The Eyrie Vineyards, the man who originally put Oregon wines on the map with the legendary blind tasting and thorough butt-kicking of several of Burgundy’s most expensive bottlings. Partner Sam Tannahill was the winemaker at Archery Summit from 1995 until Spring 2002, but before that he worked at Domaine l’Arlot in Nuits St. Georges in Burgundy. Sam’s wife, Cheryl Francis, was Chehalem’s winemaker from 1996 through 2003, after stints of her own in Burgundy and New Zealand.

The partnership blends unique skills that have allowed A TO Z to maintain the same quality at 40,000 cases as with the release of the first 2,500 cases that earned A to Z Food & Wine Magazine’s award for the best American Pinot Noir under $20. Founded only three years ago, the company has quickly become Oregon’s fastest growing winery. The business model is simple: to produce and market Oregon’s best wine values by eliminating unproductive fixed investment and unnecessary overhead. Moreover, the overwhelmingly variable nature of costs gives them great flexibility in adapting to shifts in the marketplace, both in terms of overall demand and specific product offerings. Applying the adage that “Everyone’s back office is someone else’s front office,” they concentrate on their core competencies of acquisition, blending and marketing with only five partner/employees.

April 2010 SPECIAL FEATURES

Kim Crawford Winery - New Zealand
• 2008 “Marlborough”
  Sauvignon Blanc
• 2008 “Un-Oaked”
  Chardonnay 
• 2008 “Marlborough” Pinot
  Noir