Featuring: Sean Minor ’88 

 W. P. Carey alumnus Sean Minor ’88, along with his wife Nicole Fregosi Minor ’89, are the founders and owners of Four Bears Winery and Sean Minor Wines. The couple stated that their perspective of ASU has progressed from “we went to ASU” to “we are proud graduates of Arizona State University!”

Both Sean and Nicole attribute their success to the strong foundations instilled in them during their time as undergraduates. Heavily involved in campus life, Sean shared that he had the opportunity to gain leadership experiences that helped him to overcome his shyness and opened the doors for professional opportunities.

Additionally, Sean believes that the classes in entrepreneurship, marketing and business analysis had a significant and real world application. Specifically, the mandatory upper division marketing class allowed Sean to not only work in a cross functional team but also to hone his talents in developing forward thinking strategies – skills heavily relied upon in his business operations.

Compelled by the spirit of entrepreneurialism, Sean and Nicole founded Four Bears Winery and Sean Minor Wines in 2005. They are all about family and named the business for their four children: Nick, Elle, Jack and Charlie. Starting the winery was both a professional and personal dream. After a number of years in the industry, Sean knew there had to be an affordable way to produce great wines at an affordable price. The initial production featured a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast Chardonnay, and Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc. Wine selections have grown to include the Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley Merlot, and a Napa Valley Carneros Pinot Noir.

For today’s W. P. Carey student, Sean and Nicole offer this advice: “Concentrate on being well-rounded! Be involved. The size of ASU is a benefit in that it offers something for everyone. Learn to manage multiple priorities and prepare for doing well with a variety of tasks. The world does not function in a single dimension and neither should you!” “Don’t be afraid to fail. Putting yourself on the line is worth the risk. Practice humility…realize you are not the smartest person in the room…only then can you learn from others.”

We hosted our first local wine dinner here in Sacramento mid-January at Tuli Bistro. We had such a wonderful time meeting new people and reconnecting with friends. Not only was it our first local dinner, but it was also the inaugural wine dinner for the restaurant. As Chef Adam Pechal recently recalled, “it sold out in about five minutes!” The food and wine pairings were outstanding. The menu and pictures from the evening are available for viewing on our Facebook fan page. We really appreciate all of you who attended and we are hoping to do another dinner at Tuli in the near future.                  

New Release                     

We are pleased to announce the release of our 2008 Central Coast Chardonnay. Our Central Coast Chardonnay displays aromas of peach, green apples and tropical nuances.  On the entry, the wine is soft with green apple, white peach and pineapple notes.  The mid-palate displays subtle oak nuances which evolve into a hint of minerality and continue into a lingering clean finish. We had such a great response to our last vintage and are confident the new vintage will exceed your expectations! Be sure to visit our website and take advantage of FREE SHIPPING on all case orders.                     

 Upcoming Releases                     

We are looking forward to releasing our 2009 Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc. We have finalized the blend and it tastes great. We will be releasing the wine Mid-April just in time for Spring and leading into Summer – the perfect seasons for crisp white wines. We have less than a case of our remaining 2008 Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc so if you would like to order please contact us in our office at 707-226-1414.                     

Recipes               

Our Sean Minor Wines Community has continually asked us to share wine pairings and we recently found a recipe for Foil Baked Salmon paired with our 2008 Carneros Pinot Noir on the Wine and Walnuts Blog.  We posted it on our Facebook fan page and one of our loyal fans/friends tried it the same night and here is what she had to say:                    

Salmon Baked in Foil

“Wow, it was really fantastic! I decreased the baking time to 18 minutes and used Pam instead of oil…trying to keep up the New Year’s resolution.  Delicious and very healthy….especially the wine for my heart. Wish all my dinners were this easy and delicious!” -Erin L.                     

We also posted two new recipes in our blog. The first is Nicole’s recipe for Asparagus Soup served either hot or cold and perfectly paired with our Sauvignon Blanc, a perfect Spring and Summer soup. The second, submitted by a friend and fan in Utah, is for Moroccan Spiced Game Hen with Couscous, which he also paired with our Sauvignon Blanc. Be sure to check out the recipes and if you happen to try them, let us know what you think!             

Expanded Distribution            

Once again, we are expanding our distribution throughout the US! We mentioned in our November newsletter our new representation in New York and New Jersey by Polaner Selections, in Arizona by Quail Distributing, and in Oregon and Washington by Triage Wines. We are pleased to announce our wines are once again available in Illinois through our new distributor Novovino Wine Company! We are currently working on expanding into Pennsylvania and Connecticut, and possibly Florida, too. We will keep you posted as we continue to expand our distribution!            

For those of you who live in these markets start looking for our wines in retailers and restaurants near you over the next few months! And if you don’t see them help us spread the word by mentioning us to your favorite wine shop or sommelier!  You are our BEST customers.

Outside museum of natural history in NYC. They just needed one more bear for a proper Sean Minor Wines kickoff!

  On the road again                 

I’ve spent the first few months of 2010 traveling throughout the U.S. selling our wines and it doesn’t look like I will be slowing down for at least a few more months. My favorite thing about being out in the different markets is hearing feedback from our satisfied customers.                   

Nicole and I spent the first week of February in New York City kicking off the Sean Minor 4 Bears brand with our new distributor Polaner Selections. Wow, we love NYC! I went to an incredible account for dinner called Co.(pronounced Company)- 230 9th Ave – fantastic artisan pizza! They just started pouring our Sauvignon Blanc by the glass. I had the good fortune to try the Meatball pizza and the Honshimeji & Guanciale pizza… crazy delicious crust, really good! I enjoyed the atmosphere, great crust and great staff/service – a must have in NYC!                   

I also spent some time in Arizona with our new distributor, Quail Distributing. They are doing an excellent job getting our brand out there in the short time they have been representing our wines. For those of you in Arizona you can view our list of AZ accounts by city (both restaurants and retailers) who carry Sean Minor 4 Bears wines. One account in particular, Fat Cat in Chandler, is pouring all five of our wines by the glass! They just recently opened and you can read more about them in the First Taste: Fat Cat article from The Dish section of the East Valley Tribune.  Great support and kudos to Arizona!                     

I spent the first week of March in Kansas. Our distributor, LDF, is rocking with our brand. Our wines are everywhere! We did a wine tasting at JP Wine Bar in Leawood where they expected approximately 40 patrons to attend. The actual number of guests who attended was more than double that figure! We also held a tasting at Yia Yia’s Euro Bistro in Wichita and had a great turn out. Unbelievable representation in my home state, keep up the good work Kansas!
  
Wine Competitions and Reviews
  
San Francisco Chronicle results are in and we scored silvers across the board. The wine competition season is upon us and we are gearing up to submit our wines for review at several of the major competitions. We also recently received 87 points on our 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from the Wine Spectator and were featured as a daily wine pick in the Under $20 category.         

“Supple, graceful, complex and harmonious, this is firm and taut, with spicy plum, currant, cedar and mineral notes. Drink now through 2014. 12,000 cases made.” –JL         

Be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages to get all the updates on awards and accolades as they come in! And if you ever are curious as to how our wines stack up the most recent list of accolades is available in the Press section of our website.                    

Featured Accounts

Heritage Wine Co.

We would like to highlight Heritage Wine Company in Pasadena, CA. They are a family owned business, just like us, and they carry our wines! I did a wine tasting in their shop last July and they have since turned several of their customers onto Sean Minor 4 Bears and we have heard nothing but excellent things about them. Thank you Heritage Wine Co.!                     

We also received a tip from one of our loyal Sean Minor 4 Bears fans letting us know Green Restaurant at Fort Mason in San Francisco is carrying three of our wines! Green Restaurant was built in 1979 and helped establish vegetarian cuisine in the ranks of fine dining restaurants in the United States.  Their wine list emphasizes small high-quality producers from the West Coast and Europe. We are proud to be included and thankful for their support!                  

If you have a favorite account you frequent, let us know! We would be happy to include them in our newsletter and Facebook page.                

Events

We recently had the pleasure of presenting our wines to the Heritage Park Wine Club in Natomas. Not only was the community and clubhouse beautiful, but we really enjoyed meeting their Wine Club members and appreciated having the opportunity to showcase our wines. Thanks to the Heritage Park Wine Club for inviting us to be their featured winery!             

We will be participating in Sierra College Foundation’s Taste of Excellence on Saturday, April 10, 2010. This elegant affair has become a must-attend event in Placer County and the proceeds have enabled the foundation to do extraordinary things for Sierra College. If you live in the area and would like to attend please click HERE to visit their website. Thank you to Capitol Cellars in Roseville for including us in this prestigious event!     

 This is always an exciting time of year! Spring brings warmer weather and longer days. The vines have awoken from their winter slumber and grow almost in front of your eyes. Spring is also a time for new releases from Sean Minor Wines: Four Bears, which is always an exciting part of the wine making process. It’s like introducing a new family member! We will keep you posted on our upcoming wine releases, events and happenings around the winery. In the meantime, we would love to hear from you! Send us your thoughts, questions and comments at info@4bearswinery.com!    

Cheers,    

Sean and Nicole Minor (& the 4 Bears)

“Last night I prepared Moroccan spiced game hen with couscous, a veg medley, and olive bread. This was artfully enjoyed with one of the most AMAZING Sauvignon Blancs I’ve ever experienced, thanks to your skillfull mastery of some Sonoma grapes!! I LOVED IT!! Whoo-hoo!! I’m one happy camper, so thanks for all your help in getting me introduced to 4B!! Consider me hooked!”

Although it can be altered, this is what I prepared for Moroccan Game Hen, which I was very happy with:
2 Game Hens (can be either rotisseried, or spatchcocked flat for the grill)
1 Grated Onion
2 Tbs chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 Tbs chopeed fresh cilantro
3 Tbs fresh lemon juice
2 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp hot paprika
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp white pepper
Combine everything and whisk to mix, then add hens, cover and marinate for 8 hours. Then grill for 16-22 mins, alternating med and hot sides of grill on both sides.

for the Moroccan veg w/ couscous, I used a receipe I found on Epicurious:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Quick-Moroccan-Vegetable-Couscous-1194

-Steve, Salt Lake City, UT

If you try out this recipe let us know what you think! A big thanks to Steve for giving us the opportunity to please his palate.

Cheers,

Sean and Nicole Minor

Cheers,

Sean and Nicole

www.twitter.com/seanminor

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sean-Minor-Wines-Four-Bears-Winery/47146839849?ref=ts

Bring separate pot of salted water to boil, add asparagus tips 2-3 minutes, remove them and place in ice water, when they are cooled pat them dry and reserve to side.

In a blender, puree asparagus stock mixture, strain and adjust taste with seasoning. CHILL or have HOT

Garnish soup with tips and goat cheese! It is terrific! And looks so gourmet!!

Holiday Orders Ready for Delivery!

The winery is gearing up for holiday orders, parties, and client gifting and we hope that you will join us in sharing a bottle of Sean Minor Four Bears wine with your collegues.  At the request of some of our Sean Minor Four Bears fans, we have limited edition bottles of Sean Minor: Four Bears 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet signed by Sean available.  This makes a wonderful gift more personal and certainly a great way for us to show our appreciation.  Orders may include any varietal or quantity for shipping, however, if you include limited edition 07 Cab, it will be hand signed.  The winery will enclose a gift card and if you wish to save time, email us your “SEND TO” list or fax it to 707-307-7120 and we will handle the rest. Remember that as a member of our Sean Minor Four Bears Community, you will receive FREE SHIPPING on case orders!  That can be a $30 savings to you on every case! 

Expanded Distribution

We have recently partnered with three new distributors which will allow us to expand our retail and restaurant business into FIVE new states! Sean Minor Four Bears wines will be represented in New York and New Jersey by Polaner Selections, in Arizona by Quail Distributing, and in Oregon and Washington by Triage Wines. For those of you who live in these markets start looking for our wines in retailers and restaurants near you over the next few months! And if you don’t see them help us spread the word by mentioning us to your favorite wine shop or sommelier!  You are our BEST customers.

New Releases 

We are pleased to announce the release of our 2007 Napa Valley Merlot! We just started shipping this new vintage in October and it is tasting great. The wine displays lush aromas and silky flavors of ripe black cherry, plum and mocha. On the palate the wine demonstrates those same fruit flavors with an integrated mid-pallet of sweet oak and tannins that offer a lingering and full finish. We also just released our 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and 2008 Carneros Pinot Noir just in time for the holidays. Be sure to check our website for all the latest releases. The 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is deep ruby in color and displays aromas of ripe cherry, cassis and blackberry fruit.  Flavors of blackberries and raspberries combined with hints of savory spices coat the palate. The soft tannins and sweet oak balance lead to a long and lingering finish. The 2008 Napa Valley Carneros Pinot Noir is medium-bodied with blueberry, cherry, plum and light toast flavors.  On entry, the wine displays blue fruit characters that are balanced with the lingering spicy/earthy notes.  The vanilla and toast nuances integrate well with the silky round tannins which evolve into a lengthy finish.
 

Social Networking

 Over the past months we have begun exploring social networking through sites such as Facebook and Twitter. We have heard a ton of feedback from fans of our wines all over North America. We have started a new testimonial page on our blog which includes all the comments we have received via email and Facebook from our customers. We really appreciate all of you who have taken the time to send us notes. We always like to hear how you heard about us, where you tried our wines, etc. Check out our testimonial page to read some of the incredible things our customers have sent us! Also, we have received a few photos from fans and posted them in our blog and in our Facebook Fan Photos album. If you would like to be included go ahead and send us a photo of you and/or your friends enjoying our wine via email to info@4bearswinery.com or become a fan and post it on our Facebook! Tell us where you were and where you are from. We will include it in our collection of fan photos. Meet one of our followers; Desiderio Restaurant in Gainsville, Virginia, followed Sean on Twitter and was one of the first to carry our 2007 Carneros Pinot Noir. They recently added the 2006 Napa Valley Cab to their list based on consumer recommendations.  We send out Facebook updates anytime we receive new press, awards and/or accolades, we post upcoming events, videos of us tasting the newest vintages, etc. Be sure to check it out and become a fan today!

 
We are constantly striving to stay up to date in the social media world and maintain contact with fans of our wines. Be sure to check us out on Facebook and/or Twitter  for daily updates on what we are doing, recent reviews and winery news. We have also recently added a Testimonial  page to our blog! If you have something to say about your experience with our wine please email us at info@4bearswinery.com or post it on our Facebook and we will add it to our blog testimonials. We always enjoy hearing feedback from our customers.

 
The Wine Spy recently reviewed our 2007 Carneros Napa Valley Pinot Noir in the Flathead Beacon in Montana. Our distributor in Montana, George’s Distributing, is doing a great job!

The Beaune Yard is an interesting blog we just learned about. Earl gives insight into various places to try, wines to drink, wines to avoid and other vices he enjoys while living life. Luckily our 2006 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine he enjoyed on a recent vacation and recommends to his readers! Be sure to check out his blog!

Cheers!

Sean & Nicole Minor

Click PLAY to hear Sean talk about the newest wine in the Four Bears portfolio.