Courtesy of a friend at Coran Capshaw’s Red Light Management Company in Charlottesville, a much anticipated package arrived at my doorstep. Carefully tearing open the shipping box and immersed in peanuts (not sure if they’re recycleable?) I found an artistically packaged box containing the first three bottles of Dreaming Tree wines. The labels are made with 100% recycled paper, the bottles weigh 1/4 pound less than normal bottles so they cost less to ship showing their commitment to saving energy and sustainability.
The crossover between wine lover and music lover placed me in an immediate quandary. First instinct: Invite my closest family members for a blind tasting to determine how really good these wines are OR close second: save the wines as a collectable bit of Dave Matthews memorabilia. The jury is still out and I’m looking for feedback from wine afficionadoes and/or Dave Matthews Band fans. Everything about me is in battle over this decision. I looked on the website and the wines are sold out but I think I can find the wines individually at retail stores.
The Chardonnay- “When I first met Dave, we talked about making a Chardonnay that captured the distinct citrus notes of the Central Coast. With its big fruit and loads of spice, we think this wine lives up to that promise. We hope you agree.” – Steve Reeder
The Cabernet Sauvignon- has classic aromas of blackberry, cherry and herbal notes wrapped by toasted vanilla. They had this one at our local Target store.
Crush is the wine I’m most curious about especially since it’s had such rave reviews! 
“…maybe most important is where you drink it, and who you’re with when you do. When it came time to pick the flavors for their Dreaming Tree Crush wine, Steve, Dave and Tom already considered each other pretty good company (and Dodger and Moose just sweetened the deal). But something about an afternoon under a warm California sun, on an old pier down by a quiet pond and suddenly that wine’s giving up flavors you never knew were there. ” Dodger and Moose are beloved vineyard dogs of Tom Gore! Tom Gore is the director of vineyards at Simi Winery in california.
Returning to my dilemna, the bottle is so cool, the seal on the cork is reflective
and the cork itself is collectable. For the moment I have determined to keep the set in the box-this is probably bad for the wine so maybe I should lay it down? Also, the whole reason that Dave and Steve made this wine is to drink it! Contra-purpose if I store it. Hmmmmm….as for now, no tasting notes from Charlottesville, I’m keeping the bottles corked!
Your thoughts?
Charlottesville UnCorked 
Hmmm – to quote from your September blog “Steve: “I make wines for people to drink, I don’t make wines for people to put in their cellar”. ”
Are you expected, by the sender, to respond with tasting comments or comments on the packaging and future value of not tasting the wine sent to you. I think not. Oh well, its probably just another celebrity CA wine from the other coast – LOL – but you won’t know unless you UNCORK IT!
No, I’m not expected to provide tasting comments. I’m just curious, I wonder if Blenheim might blend a wine also under the Dreaming Tree label or if it is an exclusive relationship with the West coast team? Still might just buy the Crush this weekend and celebrate our daughter’s engagement, being the huge DMB fan that she is 🙂 Thanks for the comment, Mark!