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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Watch SOU championship on big screen at HEC in Medford Free guided day hikes planned at TouVelle, Valley of the Rogue 10 things to know for Wednesday Since You Asked: Birders disagree on the species of large black birds spotted near Roxy Ann Get Up & Go: Dec. 17 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Man pleads guilty to gang-fight charges Emergency Services Police utilize social media to track down sex offender Man dies in early morning crash near Prospect Politics and Elections State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Time running out for O&C funds GMO vote recount still shows little change GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means Education Logos may offer students 'fifth year' at RCC or SOU St. Mary's plays host to youth robotics tournament A lesson in giving Hedrick student council works to clean up the language Table Rock solid: Elementary school praised for keeping attendance up Environment No fish, no funding for problem dams Most residents speak against gas pipeline Coalition asks for defense of GMO ban Home Help: Make your new house feel like home Bighorn sheep reintroduced along Klamath River State News As deadline nears, Oregon's health insurance signups still low Gang-related shooting in Portland sends 3 youth to hospital GMO labeling proponents concede defeat Tribes can decide whether to legalize pot Lawyer says football player had altercation Nation - World Grand jury won't indict Ferguson cop in shooting Obituaries Dolores Jean Marier Christina Lea "Mima" Jacobson Donna Jeanne Brawn DeCamp Joan E. 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Dunbar Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable ACCESS receives $50,000 donation from Wells Fargo Sports Latest Stories North Medford hands Comets first loss Warriors stopped at 16 Johnson scores 18 in No. 3 Arizona's rout of Oakland Four Raiders selected to All-American teams SOU offense, Marian defense form dream matchup Varsity 541 College Sports Johnson scores 18 in No. 3 Arizona's rout of Oakland Four Raiders selected to All-American teams SOU offense, Marian defense form dream matchup Raider for life In Eugene, focus returns to football Pro Sports Warriors stopped at 16 Costly triumph Saints rout Bears, take lead in South Griffin, Jordan lead Clippers over Pistons Deal puts Headley at third for Yanks, not A-Rod Community Sports Keeping Fit: Runners need to do more than run to stay in shape RESULTS/STANDINGS LOCAL EVENTS Business Latest Stories Employment in Oregon surpasses pre-recession levels Free lunchtime presentation covers business planning Ride & Drive: 2015 Nissan Juke Nismo Honda’s CR-V goes uptown again Rental owners group reports 2.48 percent vacancy rate Real Estate News Rental owners group reports 2.48 percent vacancy rate More sales, but no change in residential housing median price Dear Monty: Violation of HOA rules creates conflict Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban People In Business People in Business, Dec. 3 Transportation Allegiant Air will resume Medford-Phoenix service May 22 Agriculture K-BAR ignites agriculture boom beneath Table Rocks Southern Oregon wine industry had a robust 2013 Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Lawsuit seeks to overturn Jackson County's GMO ban or net $4.2 million for farms Opinion Latest Jim Brock: Just enjoy the holiday, already Granlund cartoon: Christmas season Our View: Celebrate by helping those in need Letters to the Editor, Dec. 17 Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon Editorials Our View: Celebrate by helping those in need Our View: Ashland Hospital's remarkable turnaround Our View: Councilors' criticism less troubling than secrecy Other Views: Riley leaves strong legacy at OSU Our View: Cheers and jeers Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Dec. 17 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 16 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 15 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 14 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 12 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon Guest Opinion: Forest thinning means water for the future Guest Opinion: Suit threatens family farms and democratic vote Guest Opinion: SOU pool decision short-sighted Guest Opinion: It's time for biologists to let OR-7 go dark Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: Liver pat� an easy nosh for Hanukkah and beyond How NOT to install drywall 5 Things to Do This Weekend (Dec. 19-21) Dave Ramsey: When children steal money Dear Monty: Siblings dispute inherited real estate Food Community blog: Liver pat� an easy nosh for Hanukkah and beyond Local bubbly can ring in the New Year Food for Thought: How to keep your kitchen organized during the holidays Kitchen Call: Shopping for the cook Community blog: Gobble gougeres as appetizers or with light meals Home and Garden How NOT to install drywall Dear Monty: Siblings dispute inherited real estate Home Help: Create a happy homemade holiday Rogue Valley Christmas light displays Remodeling your attic: Know the details before you start Health Community blog: The Promise of Hope � and Health - Fulfilled Community blog: Saving Lives Health Watch: Curb your kitchen cravings this holiday season Community blog: Unsubscribe.com Community blog: Redefining Family Hiking Biking Faith Religion news: Pope aims to expedite sex abuse rulings Milestones and Achievements Ashland celebrates 'Wild' screening with Cheryl Strayed Asante merger stabilizes Ashland hospital's finances Time running out for O&C funds Hire 'em and pray for snow Madi-Stiles Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Seattle rock band Smokey Brights plays Howiee's ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Eight Dollar Mountain and Fruition play Applegate Lodge Dance to the Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra John Nilsen's holiday concerts kick off this week Theater ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Meet the real Jacob Marley This Nutcracker ballet will have a superhero twist Plumbing the depths of meaning TMTO presents 'A Christmas Carol: The Musical' Music Seattle rock band Smokey Brights plays Howiee's Eight Dollar Mountain and Fruition play Applegate Lodge John Nilsen's holiday concerts kick off this week Ashland Blues Society hosts open jam Rating old-timers’ albums from 2014 Community Events Dance to the Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Rogue Valley Christmas light displays It's a Hamazon holiday at the Playwright Public House 4 Things to do this Week Soroptimist holiday home tour features four houses this weekend Dining Over Easy serves 'pop-up' brunch Sundays Ooblies Artisan Waffle Sandwiches Brunch at Loft Brasserie The Bohemian Club Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Watch SOU championship on big screen at HEC in Medford ... Our View: Celebrate by helping those in need ... Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon ... Watch SOU championship on big screen at HEC in Medford ... Our View: Celebrate by helping those in need ... Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon ... NOTES FROM THE CRUSH Local bubbly can ring in the New Year By Roberta Kent for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Roberta Kent for the Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 17, 2014 @ 12:01 am By Roberta Kent for the Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 17, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Social News If you are planning to toast the New Year with champagne or sparkling wine, there are many labels to choose from. Sparkling wine is made all over the world. Why not welcome 2015 with an outstanding sparkling wine made right here in Southern Oregon? Michael Giudici, owner of John Michael Champagne Cellars in the Applegate, is a man with a passion for making exceptional sparkling wine. And, he has a wall full of gold and silver medals that prove his bottlings rival the best of the world’s sparkling wines, even many produced in the Champagne region of France. John Michael Champagne Cellars is located at 1425 Humbug Creek Road, an oblique turn off Route 238 just before it gets to the town of Applegate. Giudici began his winery in 1992, making him the second-oldest winery in the Applegate, after Valley View (1976) and a year before Troon. The winery produces four sparkling wines and a sparkling sake, as well as seven still wines. All the wines are estate grown and bottled. The featured sparkling wines are a Blanc de Blanc ($50), made with white grapes; a Blanc de Noir ($25), made with three varieties of red grapes taken off their skins before fermentation; a Classic Cuvee ($40), a blend of white grapes and red grapes fermented off their skins; a Rouge ($40) made from red grapes allowed to rest a brief period on the skins; and that Sparkling Sake ($25), rarely made except by sake producers. All of Giudici’s sparkling wines are “brut” (the driest of sparkling wine types) and made by the “method champenoise,” the ancient technique for making a sparkling wine in the manner of the wines made in the Champagne region of northeast France. (According to international trade treaties, a wine must come from the Champagne region and be made by the “methode champenoise” to be labeled “champagne.” John Michael Champagne Cellars can use “champagne” in the winery name, but the wines must be labeled “sparkling wine.”) “Methode champenoise” or “methode traditionelle” indicates that the wine is first fermented in vats or barrels and then undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle, with the addition of sugar and yeast to develop natural carbon dioxide for its fizz. After the second fermentation, the bottle is manipulated so the sediment (“lees”) settles in the neck and is then frozen. The temporary cap on the bottle is removed, the sediment is blown out by the bottle’s carbon dioxide, and the bottle is quickly corked and wired down with the familiar cap to keep the rest of the carbon dioxide in the wine. The process is extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive. Giudici estimates that each bottled is handled 65 times before it is ready to be sold. John Michael Champagne Cellars is a family owned and run winery. Giudici, his wife, Becky, and their two sons tend the 10 acres of grapes and create the wines. The wines are available in a few local retail outlets such as the Jacksonville Inn and Ashland Wine Cellar, as well as at local restaurants such as Lark’s and the Applegate River Ranch House. Most sales are through the tasting room, which is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, May through December, or online. Giudici grew up around Palo Alto, Calif. He earned a master's degree in fine arts from California State University at San Jose and has made a living with his art glass, bronze castings and pottery — the winery’s tasting room is filled with gorgeous examples of his glass-blowing expertise. He starting making wine with his Italian father and grandfather, crafting homemade wine from local grapes. After college, he began working in the cellars at Geyser Peak Winery and then studied enology, going on to work in the laboratories at Gallo and Frei Brothers. He became fascinated with the “methode champenoise” and started making sparkling wine on his own in 1974. He briefly had his own label, “Don Giovanni,” in Sonoma County before moving to Oregon in 1991. “Oregon is the perfect viticulture area,” Giudici says. “It grows beautiful chardonnay, pinot noir or zinfandel. I believed my sparkling wines could go against the finest in the world, and I’ve earned the gold and silver medals that prove it.” Roberta Kent is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Reach her at [email protected].                 By Roberta Kent for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Roberta Kent for the Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 17, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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