The Buzz about Bee's Box Wines

In August 2017, Family Coppola Wines (including Francis Ford Coppola Winery and the Virginia Dare Winery) debuted Bee's Box wines, further expanding their commitment to sustainability. On National Honeybee Day, Bee's Box released their 2016 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir at the Virginia Dare Winery. Like Francis Ford Coppola Winery, a recipient of the 2017 Green Medal of Leadership for Sustainable Winegrowing, Bee's Box Wines is dedicated to sustainability. It has pledged to donate at least 10% of their profits to bee-friendly organizations supporting their plight, including the Pollinator Partnership, whose mission is "to promote the health of pollinators, critical to food and ecosystems, through conservation, education, and research." Buy a Bottle, Save A Bee is Bee's Box wines' slogan, and they visited Phoenix for the introduction of these affordable wines, with their tasting notes below:  

2016 Bee's Box Chardonnay (Monterey, Mendocino and Lodi) 
Nose: ripe tropical fruits, including pineapple, pears, and melon layered between tones of vanilla, roasted nuts, and mocha.
Palate: rich crème brulée texture with flavor of a fruit compote finish and blend of baking spices.

2016 Bee's Box Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara, Monterey, and Clarksburg)
Nose: vibrant fragrance of cranberries, black cherries, nutmeg, vanilla, and oak.
Palate: opens with red raspberries and plums, silky flavors carry through to mid-palate, and finish with delicate nuances of cloves and dark roasted coffee. 

While I wasn't able to attend the media launch and dinner (catered by Chef Tom D’Ambrosio of Aioli Catering), guest contributor Jennifer Lind Schutsky, creator of the popular Bitches Food Club blog, shares her experience and photos for Write On Rubee: 

As the story goes, Bee's Box started as a solution to a problem. A swarm of bees in a fully-packed vineyard doesn’t bode well for guests and, as a responsible company, hiring a pest company to remove them doesn't sit well either.  So when the VP of Finance and Operations shared her hobby beekeeping techniques with Francis Ford Coppola Winery’s staff, all recognized the significance of the ethical relocation of the bees, thus bringing Bee's Box to the vineyard in an effort to preserve the bees. This experience inspired them to find ways to secure more bee colonies, with 200,000 bees currently on their property. They help pollinate our food, and the more bees we have, the better the chance of protecting against the colony collapses caused by pesticides. 

Chilean sea bass ceviche with sweet potato, avocado puree, and lemon oil

There are currently two options, a red and a white, and both paired well with the coastal dishes we enjoyed. The idea was to experience a pairing of Bee's Box wine with a culinary adventure from South America to the northern coast.  We started with ceviche with Peruvian sweet potatoes and avocado purée to begin the experience of our culinary coastal journey.

Second Course: Picadillo Empanadas with Argentinian Beef, Golden Raisins, Green Olives, and Guava Dipping Sauce

Third course: Jidori Chicken Breast with Guatemalan Mole, Plantains and Wild Rice

Fourtth course: Arizona Grass-Fed Beef Carpaccio. Lemon, Arugula, and Caramelized Onion Fritter

Farm Cheese Course with Habanero-Peach Chutney

Bee's Box wine has totally inspired me to get bees and have my own bees box in my backyard. The wine is one of the most humanitarian efforts I've seen. By saving bees, they're actually also helping people (and the economy).

They're also looking for a local bee keeping organization to support at the state level. - Jennifer Lind Schutsky

You can find Bee's Box wines being poured locally in Phoenix at establishments such as The Covenant, JW Marriott Desert Ridge, L'Amore, Lucy's Healthy Marketplace, Phoenix Art Museum, and Wrigley Mansion, and in Scottsdale at Lon's at the Hermosa, EVO, Malee's Thai Gourmet, Duke's Bar and Grill, and Tottie's Asian Fusion.