Appellation SoCal

ROCK CANYON VINEYARDS AND WINERY

2012-08-02T19:13:00.000-07:00

Tim and Mona Petersons' Alpine-area estate encompasses – besides the vineyard and winery – stalls and corrals for their Andalusian horses, an art studio, a chicken house, and limited guest accommodations. They started with 75 plants in 2000 and currently have about 1500 Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Syrah vines strategically positioned across their property. Winemaker Tim augments his estate vines with grapes from other San Diego County vineyards. The first thing he poured for us in his underground, rock-framed barrel room was a pleasantly buttery Viognier that originated in San Marcos.

New Grapes

Then... some reds. We first enjoyed a 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon aged in American oak, then tried two 2009 Zinfandels: one in American oak (lots of plum!), the other in Hungarian oak (less fruit, more spice, well developed tannins). We moved on to some barrel tasting including a 2010 Syrah (American oak), which is coming along very nicely; people are already reserving bottles. Next we hopped into Tim's small and efficient ATV to tour the property. We admired the horses, got a first-hand look at (and delicious taste of) the grapes and petted resident burros Roxy, Bonnie, and Clyde. Mona’s beautiful drawings of the burros distinguish Rock Canyon’s wine labels.

The Burros

Rock Canyon wholesales to supermarkets (e.g., Albertson’s, Costco, Whole Foods) and local restaurants, and offers a memorable on-site experience to visitors who are willing to drive a couple miles up a winding dirt road. Besides tasting wine one can arrange to hike and/or ride horses on the many trails that surround the property and even end the day in the Jacuzzi. Bottles in the barrel room are available at (very reasonable) retail prices and Tim can arrange shipping.

Rock Canyon is open by appointment. 619.445.4763

Link to first Rock Canyon post

KOHILL WINERY

2012-07-09T09:03:00.000-07:00

Mike Kohill loves wine. He got serious about winemaking shortly after he met Johnny Schwaesdall (one of the Grand Daddies of the Ramona winemaking scene). Mike’s vocation is engineering, making him part of a significant subset of San Diego County winemakers. A UC-Davis distance-learning course helped him launch what is still a “weekend winery” as he still holds a fulltime job away from the estate. Kohill Winery released its first vintage in 2006 and is now producing 250-300 cases per year, made exclusively from Ramona Valley grapes. We especially like Mike's reds, including the 2008 "Aurora's Blend" (Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Viognier), and the bright and pleasantly tannic 2008 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.

Barbera Grapes Fermenting
The 2008 vintage will be released this year.

The wine club here is pretty casual - an email list that affords members the first opportunity to puchase new wines.

Kohill Winery is a great place to taste. Open weekends 12:00-5:00. 760.787.1042

WINE TOURING IN TEMECULA

2012-07-05T12:19:00.000-07:00

Wine tasting in Temecula is a lot like listening to smooth jazz; it’s easy and fairly predictable. The most recent Temecula Wine Country brochure lists 35 tasting rooms, most of which are open daily, within about a ten-mile range. Weekend crowds are dominated by buses and limos full of partiers from all over Southern California, and the wineries do a great job of accommodating them. Winery restaurants are proliferating; so are after-closing parties with live music – popular with locals and accessible to visitors who opt to spend the night at one of the area’s numerous hotels.

The tasting route we propose encapsulates the diversity that one can still find among Temecula wineries that are doing interesting things. Start at Mount Palomar (A on map), a giant winery with local roots. Everyone can find something to like here, in terms of food as well as wine. About a mile up the road from Palomar is Van Roekel (B), which will seem small and homey and is a nice place to picnic. Continue to Doffo Winery (C), situated just off Rancho California Road in what looks like a residential neighborhood. You’re likely to meet the Doffo family, especially on a weekday. (Note that they’re closed on Wednesdays.) Right across the street from Doffo is Chapin Family Vineyards, where Steve Chapin pours some excellent reds and there's a comfortable picnic patio with vineyard views. Next, head back west about a mile and take a left on Glenoaks Road to find Foot Path (D) – the proudly funkiest winery of the lot. Leaving Foot Path, go left onto Glenoaks Road and then make a right on De Portola, where you will encounter at least eight more wineries. We recommend a stop at Frangipani (E) or Robert Renzoni (F) – or both if you have time. Frangipani has indoor picnic tables, which are rare in these parts and proved invaluable when we hosted guests on a rainy November day. Renzoni also has a very nice picnic area perched atop a little hill that overlooks his vineyard.

Temecula Touring Map

FRIDAY TOURING IN JULIAN & RAMONA

2012-06-28T20:03:00.000-07:00

Friday touring requires a bit of preparation as some tasting rooms are only open on weekends. Here's a lineup we put together to introduce our friend Edgar, visiting from Seattle, to San Diego County wines and some memorable scenery.

We started the day at the Blue Door Winery tasting room in Julian. After six years, winemaker Marc Hashagan is in the business full time, and the wines reflect his skill and attention. We loved the newly released Press Cuvée, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Barbera. And on its own, the 2009 Barbera is a winner. Kameron is a wonderful tasting room host - knowledgeable and welcoming. We always have a good time here.

Next we drove up the road to see Mel at J. Jenkins Winery. She was pouring a new Vin Gris de Syrah - perfect for a hot day, and a nice 2009 Sauvignon Blanc with notes of grapefruit and melon. Moving on to reds, the current standouts are a smoky 2005 Syrah and the newly released 2010 Merlot - dry and full bodied, with a complex spectrum of flavors.

Outside the J. Jenkins tasting room

Heading towards Ramona, we spread our picnic on the patio at Milagro Farms Vineyard and Winery, where tasting room manager Kyle and marketing manager Audrey kindly served us each a flight. We can't seem to leave this place without (at least) a bottle of Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.

Vines at Milagro

We'd made an appointment to visit Marilyn and Steve Kahle's Woof 'n Rose Winery, tucked away on a hillside overlooking the Ramona Valley. A lot is new since the last time we stopped by, including a delicious 2009 Highland Valley Merlot, 2009 Eglantine (Cab. Franc, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon), and 2009 Estate Cabernet Franc. Steve and Marilyn were the first to grow Cabernet Franc in Ramona; their award-winning wines are clear evidence that this was a good idea!

Modest about their success, the Kahles told us they never stop learning about viticulture and wine making, stressing the importance of belonging to other wine clubs (to avoid "cellar mouth" - developing a narrow palate for one's own wines) and a spirit of cooperation among the region's grape growers and winemakers.

To end the day we stopped in to see Rose and Herman Salerno at their winery. In contrast to the bustling weekend scene, late on a Friday afternoon it was quiet enough to visit with the Salernos while we tasted Herman's excellent red wines, all made without added sulfites. Our favorite is (still) the 2007 Lagrein. We left with a bottle, plus two giant zucchinis from the garden.

Blue Door Winery Tasting Room

2608 B Street, Julian

760.765.0316

Open Thursday - Monday noon-5

J. Jenkins Winery

1255 Julian Orchards Drive, Julian

760.765.3267

Open Thursday - Sunday 11-5

Milagro Farms Vineyard and Winery

18750 Littlepage Road, Ramona

760.787.0738

Open Friday - Sunday 11-5

Woof 'n Rose Winery

17073 Garjan Lane, Ramona

760.788.4818

Open by appointment

Salerno Winery

17948 Highway 67, Ramona

760.788.7160

Open Wednesday-Sunday 11-6 (or later)

GRAPE CONNECTIONS tasting room & wine shop

2012-06-12T20:48:00.001-07:00

Bob Gelman has been in the wine business for 30 years. He etablished this cozy wine shop on Scott Street in Point Loma in 2000, stocking a sophisticated and well priced collection of wines from around the world, including San Deigo County. There are always some nice bottles open for tasting between noon and 6pm daily. On a recent visit we especially enjoyed a 2006 Diamond Terrace Napa Cab.

The tasting bar

Bob has recently become the exclusive U.S. importer and distributor of Domaine du Grand Crès estate wines from the Languedoc region of France. There's a steel tank-fermented Roussane/Viognier blend, a soft, delicate "Cuvee Classique" (Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault), a spicy, full-bodied "Cuvee Majeure" (Syrah, Grenache), and an easy drinking Cabernet Sauvignon. As is true of the other wines at Grape Connections, the Domaine du Grand Crès line offers excellent value for the price.

Loyal customer patiently await "Bob's Big Blowout Sale," with deeply discounted wines from about forty different producers, all available to taste before you buy.

Grape Connections is open Monday-Saturday 10am - 7pm.
1130 Scott Street, San Diego
619.523.6441

CARRUTH CELLARS

2012-05-31T18:43:00.001-07:00

A lot is new since the last time we stopped by Carruth Cellars, an impressive urban winery on Cedros Avenue in Solana Beach. They've enlarged their space , there's lots more wine now, and they're offering several new releases to taste.

Barrels galore

Carruth's 2011 Lake County Sauvignon Blanc is pear essence in a glass from nose to finish. Of the five reds we tasted our favorites were the 2009 South Coast Barbera - medium-bodied with lots of dark cherry, and 2008 Paso Robles Petit Syrah - full-bodied with a nice, dry finish.

The tasting bar

This fall Carruth Cellars will open a second larger location next to the new Stone Brewery in Point Loma's Liberty Station. Most of the winemaking will take place there, leaving more space for tasting and relaxing around tables in the Solana Beach space.

Link to first Carruth Cellars post...

MAHOGANY MOUNTAIN VINEYARD AND WINERY

2012-05-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Mahogany Mountain Vineyards and Winery invited wine club members and friends to try five new releases - all 100% varietals from the Ramona AVA, vintage 2009. A nice dry Barbera has the tannin structure to compliment red meats or rich pasta dishes. The Mourvedre, light and fruit forward, moved our palates in a different but also pleasant direction that led to a Merlot that is slightly sweeter, with fruit lingering on the finish. Our two favorites were the Zinfandel - dry and spicy, with a hint of black cherry, and a well-balanced Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaker Michael Hargett has a strong hunch that this wine will be even better in three or four years.

Kim Hargett described each wine.

All of the wines in this release are estate grown except the Barbera, which was made with grapes from nearby Highland Hills Vineyard. The new wines are already available to wine club members and will be offered in the tasting room over the summer.

If you like red wines, this is a great place to taste.

Mahogany Mountain wines showcase the characteristics of each grape and vintage. It's always fun to see what's new! And lately it's been easier to do so; flags and signs now point the way to the tasting room, open 1-5 on weekends.

760.788.7048

Link to first Mahogany Mountain post...

HACIENDA DE LAS ROSAS WINERY Tasting Room

2012-05-22T20:09:00.000-07:00

We hadn't stopped by the Hacienda de las Rosas tasting room for six months or so, and found lots new when we did. For starters there's a clean, bright 2009 Santa Barbara Chardonnay. Next we tried the very unique estate-grown Mission-Grenache blend; these grape varietals go back to the earliest days of winemaking in San Diego County. The wine is light and dry with citrus notes.

Winemaker William Rimes with newly bottled Mission Grenache

We liked the 2009 'Rey de Rosa' Syrah and the 2010 Merlot - both fruit-forward with a dry finish. But our favorite was definitely the 2008 'Corazon' Cabernet Sauvignon. It's earthy and smooth with an interesting finish - a really fun wine to drink.

There are at least ten wines to taste

Inside the tasting room

Soon Hacienda de las Rosas will open a tasting room at their vineyard in Ramona. There'll be a hitching post for visiting horses too. Meanwhile, the tasting room in Fiesta de Reyes Plaza, Old Town San Diego is open daily from 11:30am - 9pm. 619.840.5557

Link to another post about this winery...

Link to first Hacienda de las Rosas post...

RAMONA RANCH VINEYARD AND WINERY - Opening Soon!

2012-05-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

Since 2004 Teri Kerns and Micole Moore have been transforming their property to incorporate a vineyard; a winery; a garden; a well tended menagerie of barn animals, working dogs, and housepets; and a comfortable home. They make it look easy. Soon their new tasting patio will be open and we'll all be able to sample and take home Micole's delicious wines.

Tickled Pink Sangiovese Rosé - from foot-stomped Ramona grapes!

Teri

Joined on the patio by Ramona Valley Wine Region Magazine publisher and designer Dave Billick, we sipped Rosé and talked about what's to come. Dave firmly believes that making wine in Ramona is "a collective and better learning environment." In the vast pool of California... wine, it makes sense for these winemakers to share their knowledge rather than compete with one another.

Test rows of different grape varietals

Next we tasted Ramona Ranch's 2009 Zinfandel made with grapes from Hatfield Creek Vineyards, about half a mile away. It was easy to see why this wine was awarded "Best in Show Red" by Amateur Winemaker magazine. After a fun visit with the outdoor animals: two horses, a pet steer, three goats, and a small flock of heirloom hens we moved inside to do some barrel tasting.

Micole

These wines are good! Our favorites: 2010 Petit Syrah (Hatfield Creek grapes) and a slightly grassy Cabernet Sauvignon (Adobe Vineyards grapes) that's fruit forward at first but shows nice tannins on the finish. We also liked the Super Tuscan blend, but after so much wine all we managed to write about it was "yum."

Medals already!

Stay tuned for more news from Ramona Ranch, a welcome addition to the Ramona winery community. 760.769.1622

MILAGRO FARM VINEYARDS AND WINERY

2012-05-15T20:21:00.001-07:00

The vineyard house

We always have a great time at Milagro Farm in the Ramona Valley, but this weekend we were in for a special treat: a guided, golf-cart-propelled tour of the 110-acre property. Well tended rows of vines grow among rock formations, stands of olive trees, ponds, and some impressive man-made structures.

The house overlooks a healthy pond

So many choices

We finally met a wild turkey. People tell us they're really not elusive.

Entrance to the cave

Tony's incredible stonework

The greenhouse

Vintage 2012 in the making

There's a rose bush at the end of every row of grapes because, as we learned from Kyle in the tasting room, roses and grapes are succeptible to the same diseases. At least sometimes the roses succumb first, warning the grape grower in time to apply a fungicide.

Master Guide Vicente

Happy guests in the tasting room

What's wonderful in the tasting room right now? The weather's warming up; a lot of guests were sipping slightly sweet Manzana de Milagro sparkling apple wine, crisp and grassy Sauvignon Blanc, or an exceptional dry Rosé of Cabernet Franc. But as usual we gravitated towards the reds, especially Sangiovese and Barbera. All of these estate-grown wines are vintage 2010. The Barbera won a gold medal at the 2012 Riverside International Wine Competition.

Milagro Farm Vineyards and Winery is open Fridays-Sundays 11-5. We don't promise you'll get a guided tour, but you will encounter some excellent wines and friendly people in a stunning setting.

Link to post about bottling at Milagro...

Link to older Milagro post...

BARRIQUE

2012-05-10T23:27:00.001-07:00

461 Pacific Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94133
415.421.9200

We sought out Barrique because we're interested in the ecological and cost-saving potential of serving wines straight from the barrels. But we didn't realize that Cellar Master Matt Weese has a hand in production too; all of the barrel wine is private labelled. With six reds and three whites on tap, ordering two flights was the perfect way to get a sense of what Barrique has to offer.

The 2010 Russian River Chardonnay tastes of oak but not butter and fruit but not sweetness. According to Matt, "This is what Chardonnay tastes like. It's all about the grape." Who would argue? Another Chardonnay from Yorkville Highlands was mildly spicy, with a tantalizing nose. We moved on to a toasty 2010 Russian River Pinot Noir - mid-range in weight and a bit sweet at first, with tannins that emerge slowly, and a 2009 Arroyo Seco Syrah - bursting with black cherry and peppery on the finish, and a special treat: 2003 Bordeaux style Merlot. There's an element of surprise in these wines. The first burst of flavor doen't tell what's coming next, yet in every case we noted an exceptional finish.

Matt studied winemaking in college and is clearly following his passion to offer high-quality wines at reasonable prices via a business that's sustainable for people and the planet. Barrique is a wonderful venue for tasting and learning, or just relaxing after work or on weekends. In addition to the barrel selections there's a nice list of Northern California and French wines by the glass or bottle and a well curated snack menu.

Barrique is open Tuesday-Saturday 10am - 12am, Sunday & Monday 3pm - 10pm

WINE ON TREASURE ISLAND

2012-05-10T15:52:00.001-07:00

On a recent visit to San Francisco we were delighted to discover a cluster of wineries right across the bay, housed in buildings that were part of the now-decommissioned Treasure Island Naval Base. We spent a memorable afternoon at Fat Grape Winery, Bodega Wine Estates, and Treasure Island Wines.

TREASURE ISLAND WINES

2012-05-10T15:51:00.001-07:00

Treasure Island Wines, established in 2007, is a spacious urban winery that houses four winemakers producing under their own labels: Treasure Island, Eristavi, Bravium, and Heartfelt. Hosted by expert pourer Deneane and master vintner Victor Eristavi, we started with a crisp, mineral-tinged Treasure Island Sauvignon Blanc. Next we tried Eristavi's Symphony - a lesser-know grape varietal that's a hybrid of Muscat and Grenache. The wine is dry, with a delightfully intense floral bouquet. A pleasant taste of Rkatsiteli was another first for us.

Moving on to the reds, we enjoyed the 2010 Bravium Carneros Pinot Noir and 2009 Eristavi Zinfandel, which is lighter and drier than most. Even more impressive: Eristavi's 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon and award-winning Syrah.

Lots of space, lots of wine!

Victor, who hails from the Republic of Georgia, is a chemist who has revived his family's winemaking tradition in a new setting, melding old-world techniques with modern technology. He enthusiastically sources unique grape varietals from Sonoma, Lodi, and Amador County where "the grapes are so good, it's hard to make bad wine." To be sure, we only encountered good wine, including some barrel tastes of what is to come.

Heartfelt will be bottling in July, which means that soon there will be even more to experience at Treasure Island Wines. The tasting room is open most Saturdays from 1:00-5:00 and sometimes on Sunday.

995 9th Street Building 201,
(Corner of 9th Street and Avenue I)
Treasure Island
San Francisco, Ca. 94130
415.394.9463

BODEGA WINE ESTATES tasting room

2012-05-09T20:13:00.000-07:00

Bodega Wine estates is "a collaborative artists' colony" where Northern California winemakers showcase their offerings. Warmly welcomed by the colony's president Robert Amox and his friendly Basset Hound Bentley, we tasted wines from his own Knightwood Winery (Morningwood label) as well as Stein Family Wines and Curveball Winery.

Bentley

Standouts include Stein's 2010 "Vaquero" Chardonnay and 2007 Tempranillo, and Morningwood's 2005 Merlot (plum and spice!) and 2005 Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon (our favorite).

With Robert in the tasting room

Bodega Wine Estates' wine club offers several membership options. Members are invited to special events and receive a special holiday shipment.

The tasting room is open Friday-Sunday 1:00-6:30.
751 13th Street at Avenue I
San Francisco, CA 94130
415.525.4154

FAT GRAPE WINERY

2012-05-09T20:00:00.000-07:00

Since 2007, Patrick Bowen has been making his all-natural wines in a former Navy brig on Treasure Island, just minutes from downtown San Francisco. The wines, some of which are sold straight from the cask, are 100% varietals and contain no added sulfites. Patrick started making wine in the 1990s. When he retired from his job as a contractor he thought about going to the mountains to look for gold, but instead started a winery. He sources grapes from Amador County and Lodi and ages in French, American, and Hungarian oak.

Tasting room in what was the brig's men's dormitory

We tasted nine delicious wines - all red - plus a few more from the barrels. Our favorites: 2008 Patrick Bowen Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008 Fat Grape Sangiovese, and award-winning 2008 Fat Grape Merlot.

Patrick telling us about his wines

Fat Grape Winery's tasting room is open Thursday-Sunday from noon-5:30. Tasting is complimentary.
1080 Ave M San Francisco, CA 94130
415.613.8925

SAN DIEGO CELLARS & MATTHEW RICHARDS CELLARS

2012-04-17T21:00:00.000-07:00

There's excitement in the air as Matt and Todd prepare to move their operation to nicer digs in Little Italy. They expect to open the new place on Kettner and Ivy in early June. Besides offering their amazing wines by the taste, glass, or bottle, the master plan includes patio parties, a full kitchen, and wines on tap - straight from the barrels. Imagine a Saturday morning spent stocking up on produce at the Little Italy Mercato, visiting a few of neighborhood's excellent Mediterranean food shops to enhance your provisions, and then stopping by Matt and Todd's place to refill your bottle(s) with affordable, premium wine and/or to relax over a nice lunch. We can hardly wait for this place to open!

Matt using the "wine stealer" to extract a few tastes

On our most recent visit to Todd and Matt's winery on Silverton Street in Mira Mesa we sampled some yet-to-be-bottled wines from the barrels. One of our favorites is a 2009 Carneros Pinot Noir aged a ridiculously long time (38 months!). The eucalyptus notes are prenounced but not overwhelming. Matt told a great story about discovering a little vineyard and camping out in a yurt on the owner's property. We also love the 2010 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon. Stay tuned for these in the new venue, and in the meantime stop by the present location to taste and buy a few bottles to take home. One couldn't possibly go wrong with the 2008 Edna Chardonnay or the 2008 San Marcos Syrah.

7919 Silverton St., Suite 408. Open Fridays and Saturdays, 3:30-7:30. 858.527.0944

Link to our first post about this unique urban winery....

A RAMONA SWEEP IN THE FRENCH-AMERICAN WINE CHALLENGE

2012-04-17T19:59:00.000-07:00

Wine lovers mingling at 57 Degrees in San Diego

A fun event on April 13 pitted - in a good-spirited way - three French wines from long- established wineries against three estate wines from San Diego County's up-and-coming Ramona Valley AVA. The official double-blind competition - judged by local winemakers, sommelliers, and chefs - was conducted according to American Wine Society rules. Later on nearly 200 guests tasted the same wines with the labels in full view, and voted for their favorites. Here's the lineup:

Sauvignon Blanc

2009 Simmonet Febvre from Saint Bris

2010 Milagro Farm Vineyards and Winery from Ramona Valley

Cabernet Franc

2010 Thierry Germain from Saumur Champigny

2008 Woof 'n Rose Winery from Ramona Valley

Syrah

2007 Vidal Fleury Saint Joseph

2006 Edwards Vineyards and Cellars Syrah

The medals...

And the winners are... Milagro, Woof 'n Rose, and Edwards! Woof 'n Rose's Cabernet Franc got top honors in both judgings.

Congratulations to these and other winemakers who are putting Ramona on the map!

Luci and Audrey of Milagro Farm pouring Sauvignon Blanc

Woof 'n Rose proprietors Marilyn and Steve Kahle pouring Cab Franc

Victor and Beth of Edwards Vineyards and Cellars

BLUE DOOR WINERY tasting room

2012-04-10T19:19:00.001-07:00

Blue Door Winery’s tasting room is expanding and there are new offerings. We really liked the crispy 2010 steel tank Chardonnay from Santa Barbara grapes; this would be a great oyster wine! Our other favorites are the 2009 Barbera – nicely tannic, and ooooh, the Merlot. The 2010 vintage was made from local fruit (Hidden Meadows in Escondido) and aged in brand new French oak barrels. After only eleven days in the bottle, this wine was redolent of pipe tobacco and leather with a dry, fruit-scented finish. We had to bring some of this home.

Link to first Blue Door post...

GOLD MEDALS FOR RAMONA WINEMAKERS

2012-04-10T19:11:00.001-07:00

Cactus Star Vineyard "Scaredy Cat Ranch" 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon and Woof'n Rose 2009 Eglantine (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot) both won gold medals in the 2012 Finger Lakes (NY) International Wine Competition.

Congratulations!

J. JENKINS WINERY

2012-04-09T19:40:00.000-07:00

Retired pediatrician Jim Jenkins has been making wine for many years, and doing so commercially since 2003. He and his wife Jeanne have ten acres of vines and apple trees just two miles north of Julian. Their estate grapes include Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir; Jim sources additional grapes from Ramona and other SoCal vineyards.

We were happy to find the Jenkins’ original tasting room re-opened after a hiatus. And we liked the Dolcezza apple wine! With only 0.5% residual sugar, it'll be a pleasant summer sipper. The 2009 Estate Pinot Noir has mineral notes and more weight than we generally encounter; it would be perfect with salmon. But the 2004 Syrah with its smoky and grassy nose won the day. What an amazing find for $25 – and the grapes came from Pyramid Vineyard, just down the road in Ramona.

The Jenkins estate includes kid- and dog-friendly picnic spots. In early fall look for a farm stand too, with tomatoes, pears… and of course apples and cider.

The J. Jenkins tasting room is open Thursday – Sunday 11:00-5:00. 760.765.3267

A DAY OF BOTTLING AT MILAGRO FARM VINEYARDS & WINERY

2012-04-09T19:00:00.000-07:00

The Bottling Truck

March 14, 2012
April helped out with bottling at Milagro this week. Home in San Diego after a long day, her first thought was, "Wow - I'll never look at a wine bottle the same way again!" Here are the details:

Our work started with re-stacking and moving pallets to make room for all the newly bottled wine. Most of the heavy lifting involved a forklift or pallet jack navigated by winemaker Jim or farm managers Tony and Olga. We volunteers made sure that plenty of wine was ready for the tasting room crew.

Moving stuff around

While we rearranged things, bottling truck owners Dan and Rebecca were busy sterilizing and preparing the system that would transport a big batch of Sauvignon Blanc from its tank to theirs.

Prepping the lines

In the blue wheel, nitrogen sterilizes the bottles

Filling bottles of Sauvignon Blanc

We finished the day with a small batch of Rosé.

This machine seals foil capsules over the corks.

The wine travels through a filter into the bottles, which then pass through some rather ingenious corking machinery. After that come foil caps, labels, quality control, and then the bottles are ready to box up and stack on pallets. With competent humans stationed all along the production line, it all functions like clockwork, right? Well, maybe on a really good day. But next time you look at a bottle of wine, pay attention to its shape, the material the label is made of, and the label's position. Then think about how easy or difficult it would be for a machine to smoothly attach that label to bottles coming along a conveyor belt. We certainly encountered some challenges during the day's first bottling, but nothing will go to waste. The experience made me seriously consider, for the first time, the effort boutique wineries put into their packaging - from the color and weight of the glass to the size and composition of the cork to, of course, the label. At the end of the day we'd bottled almost 500 cases. Besides the satisfaction of a job well done, we'd made new wine-lover friends. I wouldn't want to do this every day, but I'd certainly do it again.

April 9, 2012

Update: The next day another crew helped bottle two more Milagro Estate wines (vintage 2010): a classic, well balanced Sangiovese and a standout Barbera with dry cherry on the front and nice tannins on the finish. Mmmm... We had the Barbera with dinner last night.

Link to first Milagro post...

SAN ANTONIO WINERY

2012-03-28T22:39:00.000-07:00

We don't often visit wineries that bottle about 500,000 cases a year and ship all over the world. Boutique this isn't! But it's L.A.'s only winery and a historical landmark with deep roots. Established in 1917 by Italian immigrant Santo Cambianica, whose nephew Stefano Riboli later joined him in the business, San Antonio has stayed in the family through multiple expansions and modernizations. For a long time the Ribolis specialized in sweet wines; they still do an astonishingly brisk business in the Stella Rosa brand, which they import from Italy. Also of note: they're the largest wine supplier to the U.S. Catholic church.

Almost there!

The wines produced in San Antonio's expansive facility come from the Riboli family's vineyards in Rancho Cucamonga, Paso Robles, Monterey, and Napa. All the crushing takes place in the vineyards, as does fermentation for the reds. The whites ferment on-site in huge, climate-controlled steel tanks. Right next to them, retired California redwood tanks hark back to earlier times. Our knowledgeable and entertaining guide Christopher Cuyler talked history and winemaking terminology as he took us through rows and rows of American and French Oak barrels, stacked to the ceiling, in which the red wines age fourteen months to two years. Next he explained the winery’s formidable, fully automated bottling system.

Steel fermentation tanks

Chardonnay lees

Bottling machinery

Visitors to San Antonio are invited to taste three wines at no charge or to try an “artisan series tasting” for $10. We chose the latter, and especially liked the 2007 Paso Robles Pretty Penny Vineyard Estate Syrah. Complementary tours take place Monday-Friday at noon, 1:00, and 2:00 and weekends between 11:00 and 4:00, on the hour. The winery sells a diverse selection of wine, beer, and spirits from around the world. There is a restaurant serving lunch and dinner (last seatings are at 6:15, 7:00 on weekends) as well as three dining rooms that can be reserved for private events.

Store and tasting room

737 Lamar St., Los Angeles

Open daily

323.221.7261

CORKBAR

2012-03-26T17:32:00.000-07:00

403 W. 12^th St., Downtown Los Angeles

213.746.0050

In Corkbar's roomy downtown space, guests can choose from more than fifty wines by the glass – all from northern and central California. The general palate is quite fruit-forward, but we encountered a couple of Pinot Noirs to our liking: 2009 Foxen (Santa Maria) and 2009 Morgan (Monterey). There are also whites from Alma Rosa, one of our favorite Santa Barbara County wineries.

The prices may seem a bit steep, but pours are generous and our bartender Rob was happy to offer a few tastes. There’s also beer and food worthy of a snack or a meal. We'd love to see some SoCal wines here!

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WINE HISTORY

2012-03-26T16:29:00.000-07:00

San Diego County played a significant role in the history of California winemaking. The county’s wine roots extend back to the early 1800s, when San Diego was still part of Mexico. Mission San Diego de Alcalá (its basilica is the heart of Old Town) was well known for wine.

The Basilica, Mission San Diego

Most wine enthusiasts don't know that, back in the day, there were over a hundred wineries in Los Angeles County. Joseph Filippi Winery, established in 1922, is one of the last reminders of the region's viticultural history. The Filippi family still owns 80 acres in Cucamonga, producing around 40,000 cases per year of red varietals and fortified wines. Guests can taste at a bar was cut from the largest redwood wine cask in California.

A bit of Filippi family history
(Click Photo)

Likewise, European immigrants took up planting, harvesting, and fermenting the produce of San Diego County's vines. The Otay Valley was home to a large community of Italians and, towards the late 1800s, produced more wine than anywhere else in the county. Meanwhile, French immigrants were establishing themselves and their vineyards in the town of Nuevo (present-day Ramona), Julian, and Vista. Early 20th-Century customers at the wineries and wine shops such as Bradley's in downtown San Diego were encouraged to bring their own casks of gallon jugs for filling; bottling was the exception, not the rule. Aged and/or imported wines were definitely not for the average person.

Grape growing increased during Prohibition because grapes could be legally sold for home winemaking. Post-Prohibition there was a short upsurge in commercial winemaking, but during World War II rationing, labor shortages, decrease in wine consumption, and huge profits to be made in growing food for the war effort nearly destroyed the region's wine industry. The post-war generation didn't emmbrace wine the way their parents had; hard liquor and beer becaue the alcoholic beveragees of choice.

Now things have changed again. According to historian Richard Carrico, whose 2007 monograph History of the Wineries of San Diego County informs this post, "San Diego is poised to take its place in the surging Rhone style wine craze and the Cal-Italia surge. Escondido, Ramona, Fallbrook, and Julian may never be Sonoma or Napa but they could become something in the wine world that is uniquely San Diego County.”

Cheers! Carrico is in the process of updating his work; we’ll keep you posted.

Some Historic SoCal Wineries

Bernardo (founded 1889)
Tasting room open daily
13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte
San Diego
858.487.1866

San Antonio (founded 1917)
Tasting room open daily

737 Lamar St.
Los Angeles

323.221.7261

Joseph Filippi (founded 1922)

Tasting room open daily

12467 Base Line Road
Rancho Cucamonga
909.899.5755

Galleano (founded 1933)
Tasting room open daily
4321 Wineville Road
Mira Loma
951.685.5376

FINCH'S WINE BAR AND BISTRO

2012-03-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

7644 Girard Ave, La Jolla
Open Tuesday-Saturday 11:30-10
858.456.4056

We didn't quite know what to make of a wine bar without any wine on its website, but were very pleasantly surprised on a recent visit to Finch's. There are 29 wines by the glass; our server knew them and was happy to pour a few tastes. The selections come from all over the map, but there's clearly a palate here, and one we liked. Thoughtfully assembled three-wine flights are also an option.

Behind the bar at Finch's

Guests can enjoy a full meal or just snack. In the latter category, the musroom paté is excellent. Next time we'll sit at the bar - a pleasant spot totally hidden from the street. There's also a very nice patio.