It is not often we can see a part of history
take place before our eyes. Recently VinoLas Vegas not only
had the opportunity to watch history being made but actually
participate in it. The Pahrump Valley winery has been a fixture in Pahrump Nevada for many years. A few years ago Bill Loken and his wife Gretchen became
the new owners. They have really stepped it up a notch. For years the winery sold many varietals from Chardonnay to Merlot. Names like
participate in it. The Pahrump Valley winery has been a fixture in Pahrump Nevada for many years. A few years ago Bill Loken and his wife Gretchen becamethe new owners. They have really stepped it up a notch. For years the winery sold many varietals from Chardonnay to Merlot. Names like
Symphony , Peak , Desert Blush and white Merlot were well known to the winery's visitors.
In 2005 the Lokens harvested Zinfandel that had been planted at the winery. For three years Gretchen and Bill worked on perfecting what
would become their first estate Red Wine.
In April 2008 , the wine was ready and the
history books were about to be rewritten.
The first commercial estate bottled Red Wine in the State of Nevada was bottled at the winery.
As members of the Press and bottling crew watched, Bill placed the first bottle of Nevada Ridge Zinfandel 2005 "First Crush" into the Fill machine and corked the bottle. A large round of applause filled the room and history was made. Bill 's wife and winemaker Gretchen took his side and signed the bottle. And thus bottle number one was made. The bottling crew took Their places and the line began in full operation. The entire production of 1200 bottles was in full swing. The first commercial estate grown Red wine in Nevada History was now in production.
In 2005 the Lokens harvested Zinfandel that had been planted at the winery. For three years Gretchen and Bill worked on perfecting what
would become their first estate Red Wine.
In April 2008 , the wine was ready and thehistory books were about to be rewritten.
The first commercial estate bottled Red Wine in the State of Nevada was bottled at the winery.
As members of the Press and bottling crew watched, Bill placed the first bottle of Nevada Ridge Zinfandel 2005 "First Crush" into the Fill machine and corked the bottle. A large round of applause filled the room and history was made. Bill 's wife and winemaker Gretchen took his side and signed the bottle. And thus bottle number one was made. The bottling crew took Their places and the line began in full operation. The entire production of 1200 bottles was in full swing. The first commercial estate grown Red wine in Nevada History was now in production.
Bill offered Scott of Vino Las Vegas the opportunity to bottle his own piece of Nevada History and Scott jumped at the chance. Vino Las Vegas is proud to have been a little piece of Nevada Food and Wine History. Once inside the winery you could even think you are in a tasting room in Napa valley or the Central Coast. Their Zagat rated gourmet restaurant Symphony is open for lunch and dinner, offers fine food served in an atmosphere of quiet elegance, at reasonable prices. Symphony have been given rave reviews by food critics and travel writers countrywide. Pahrump is located about 1 hour from Las Vegas and well worth a visit for Lunch , Dinner or just stop by and say hello.
We here at Vino Las Vegas would like to congratulate the Pahrump Valley Winery and its staff for a job well done. We know this is the first step toward many good things to come.
Many of the experts all over the world have known that Las Vegas over the last 6 years has become world renown for its Food, Wine and Enternatinment. This past week another bit of Food and Wine History was made here in Las Vegas. With the induction of Joseph Phillips of Sensi into the Court of Master Sommeliers, The Bellagio Resort has more master sommeliers than any other property in the world. The others are Robert Smith of Picasso, Jason Smith of Michael Mina Bellagio and Robert Bigelow Director of Wine.
