Taste of Wine TV - Weekly Update

The Great Eight Wines from Quarter One 2017

2017-03-19T16:54:00.000-07:00

by Frank Mangio
The first few months of any wine year are always fun and exciting as road shows and other grand events are presented with a multitude of new wine releases to become familiar with. Aside from a few rainouts and a bout with a severe virus, I attended and tasted most all invites that came my way.
Every few months I open all the wine notes and share my picks with the column faithful. This time there are 4 from Napa Valley , 2 from Oregon , one from Paso Robles and one from Argentina . There are 2 blends, 2 Pinot Noirs, a Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Malbec and a Cabernet Sauvignon.
Prices are best available and the list is alphabetical. All are equally excellent values.

Acumen Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley , 2013. $60. Inhale violets and fresh rosemary. Catch the fresh turned earth tones. Must be the Rutherford dust in this part of the valley. 2,500 cases produced. Visit acumenwine.com.

Argyle Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley , Oregon , 2013. $27. This reserve is classic Burgundian powerful Pinot with a silky texture. Willamette Valley is more old world than new world. Small batch handling and gentle aging for 16 months in French Oak. See argylewinery.com.

Biale Vineyards Black Chicken Zinfandel, Napa Valley , 2014. $46. Dark, ripe aromatics and juicy acidity. Muscular with 15.3% alcohol. Vibrant cherry berry flavors and aged 14 months. Black Chicken was a secret code from the Depression days. Read about it at biale.com.

Conundrum Red Blend, Napa Valley , 2014. $20. A scent of alluring German chocolate, rich berry and lavender. Lush flavors of candied cherries fit nicely in the front palate. The finish is that of cocoa. Serve more chilled than a normal red. conundrumwines.com.

Celebrating the Grgich Hills Estate 40th Anniversary Chardonnay: Founder Mike Grgich, Co-proprietor Violet Grgich and winemaker Ivo Jeramaz.

Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay, Napa Valley , 2014. $50. A special bottling from a key vintage, that celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the founding of Grgich Estates in Rutherford, Napa Valley in 1977. It showcases Mike Grgich’s style that made him famous at the 1976 breakthrough Paris Tasting. View more at grgich.com.

San Simeon Stormwatch Blend, Paso Robles, 2013. $70. A rich, mouth-filling wine of dark cherry and raspberry. French oak barrels add a sense of elegance to the presentation. This is a Bordeaux style blend prominently Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with touches of Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cab Franc. Made by the renowned Riboli family, well known for their stewardship of San Antonio Winery in downtown L.A. since 1917. Visit sansimeonwines.com.

Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec, Mendoza Argentina , 2012. $21. Grapes from the Lujan de Cuyo vineyards planted in 1912. This is very high altitude viticulture from over 3 thousand acres. Look for more at excelciorwines.com.

Willakenzie Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley Oregon , 2013. $16.99. Here’s a low-ball price from another lovely Pinot from the Willamette Valley . Ruby red and purple with a juicy rasberry flavor. Should even get better with some age. Pairs great with salmon and roasted poultry. WillaKenzie.com.

Ramona Valley Wines Awarded Gold in San Francisco
The 2017 San Francisco Chronicle competition, judging over 7,000 entries, awarded two silvers to the Ramona Ranch winery for its 2012 Reserve Sangiovese and a Tannat 2013.
Two bronze and a gold medal were awarded to Altipiano vineyard and winery. The bronze went to its 2014 Petite Sirah and the 2014 Estate Sangiovese.

Altipiano Vineyard and winery co-owner Peter Clarke pours a Super Tuscan
for columnist Frank Mangio. The wine was a recent gold medal winner.

The big prize of gold went to the 2014 Super Tuscanmade with the Estate Sangiovese Grosso, Brunello clone of Montalcino. Denise Clarke is the winemaker. She also makes Baerbera, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Zinfandel and Pinot Gris. Details at altipianovineyard.com.

Wine Bytes
Tasting Room Del Mar has an Ole’ Imports Spanish Wine Tasting, Wed. March 29 from 6 to 9pm. Everything from the bubbles of Cava to the fortified Sherry will be tasted. Cost is $25. for seven wines. Call 760-212-7826.

Brews, Beats and Eats is the theme at Chandler’s in the Cape Rey Resort in Carlsbad Fri. March 24 from 5:30 to 8:30pm at the poolside beer garden. Brews from Stone Brewing, beats from the Ottopilot band and eats from the Cape Rey Taco Bar. 10% of proceeds go to the Ca. Surf Museum . Tickets range from $15. to $35. See eventbrite.com.

The Barrel Room Rolls Out New Wine Concepts – Hosts Laird Family Estate

2017-03-19T16:45:00.000-07:00

by Frank Mangio
It’s customer first for the many happy guests who have discovered all there is to know about The Barrel Room in Rancho Bernardo, a vintage wine bar and bistro that is raising the bar skyward with some grand plans for the future. They started the year our right by bringing in the legendary Laird Family Estate from Napa Valley. The last time I saw Rebecca Laird she was holding court in Del Mar at a dinner years ago. She hasn’t aged a bit but her wines have. Laird wines are simply in great demand, especially from other wineries. Confusing you say? Not really.

Rebecca Laird brought her brilliant Napa Valley wines to The Barrel Room in Rancho Bernardo. She is shown with GM Brett Preston and Exec Chef Trevor Chappell.

After founding Laird in 1970 by buying 200 acres, her father Ken Laird and his wife enlisted the help of the one and only Robert Mondavi. He mentored them to specialize in Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay. The first few years, they did 3,000 cases, and in the boom in production in the valley that followed, wineries were coming to them to buy all the grapes they could produce. Today, the Laird empire owns 2,400 acres with 40 vineyards. They count the legendary winemaker Paul Hobbs and Merryvale/Starmont as star customers for their grapes.

I asked her about all the rain this season and the affect on the grapes. “This season the rain has been vey beneficial for the grapes, but”…she hesitated. “Any more rain, we may have a big problem with the crop.” She wound up the presentation at The Barrel Room with a vertical flight of three years worth of her Jillian’s Blend of Cab, Merlot, Syrah and Petite Verdot: 2011, 2012 and 2013. My vote went to the 2013, a carefully prepared vintage with subtle, elegantly mixed grapes. Most of the rest of the room thought so too.

I didn’t know a lot about the Barrel Room until I witnessed the professionalism and the fun of the Laird wine dinner. The team has worked hard to make it a retail wine shop, a wine bar, full casual dining restaurant, and I would add, a source of memorable wine dinners.

The Barrel Room Executive Chef Trevor Chappell offered a main entrée of Oxtail Terrine, Espresso Elk Striploin and Braised Short Rib, to go with the vertical wine threesome of Laird Jillian’s Blend.

To match the Laird offering of a 3 vintage vertical tasting of their most popular blend, The Barrel Room came up with 3 connected entrees: an Oxtail Terrine, an Espresso Elk Striploin and a Braised Rib. The next extraordinary wine dinner is scheduled for Tuesday March 21st at 6pm. It’s a 90+ point Argentina Wine Dinner with Marcos Mizzau, a wine expert from the country. He will showcase the diversity of Malbec, the signature wine from Argentina . Cost is $75. per guest. RSVP at 858-673-7512.

I sat down with the GM, Brett Preston, who enthusiastically revealed plans for an expansion into Carmel Valley soon. “Our new location will have a full bar, amazing patio dining and a sister concept, Brother’s Provisions, next door. Another restaurant is close to opening. It will be called Urge Common House and is a full service restaurant, brewery and bowling alley.” He also confirmed that “all of our 250 + wines at The Barrel Room are also sold for guests that want to buy them for take home purchase, at a discounted price.”

The Barrel Room is in The Plaza, off Bernardo Center Drive , just east of the I-15. Find out more at TBRSD.COM.

Cabernet Sauvignon – the Classic Red Wine

2017-03-19T16:39:00.002-07:00

by Frank Mangio
In Napa Valley , the reviews are in for the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon harvest. The judgment is this is the 5th consecutive year of exceptional wine grapes for this iconic varietal. The only regret is they didn’t get enough fruit due to 5 years of drought conditions. Well, as a Calilfornian, I can assure all that in 2017, all of our wineries will be producing more than enough wine grapes this year. The drought is over!

For the last 12 years of writing on wine, I have marveled at how Cabernet Sauvignon has dominated the world of wine. With the exception of the terrible years of the” Great Recession,” Cab producers have cranked up prices and its adoring public has bought more and more. California and Washington are America ’s Cab capitals, emulating the French Bordeaux style cabs that are the reverential kings of the castle. If I asked my readers for a show of hands as to whether

The 2012 vintage Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley
has been just released to rave reviews.

Cabernet is their favorite red wine, it would be Cabernet overwhelmingly. Cabernet buyers base their purchases on the optimistic notion that there is a greater Cabernet just over the horizon, and that perfection is just ahead with the next brand discovery, unlike most other wine varietals. What other varietal would be so coddled and prized in a cooler for several years, maybe a decade, before being carefully opened at a birthday, anniversary or other special event.

Cabernet is one of the most tannic of red wines. The skins need aging for a certain power and elegance in the “royal” wineries that know how to get the most out of these complex wines. The Napa “country club” lineup would include: Silver Oak, Lewis, Far Niente, Opus One, Caymus, Harlan, Hall, Joseph Carr, Chappellet, Joseph Phelps, Screaming Eagle, Shrader and Grgich in Napa Valley . In Washington, turn to Leonetti, Pepper Bridge and Columbia Crest premiums.

The greatest vineyard producing California Cab would be To Kalon vineyard in Napa ’s Oakville , where grapes go for upwards of $60,000. a ton. It is where Opus One is harvested, along with other very high- end Cabs.

New Cabernet releases are celebrated in Napa Valley about this time of year. One of my contributing writers just returned from events at Far Niente and Silver Oak. Both are estate bottled Cabernets. The 2014 Far Niente ($160.) and the 2012 Silver Oak ($125.) were both critically acclaimed.

Far Niente of Napa Valley celebrated its new release 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon at the luxurious Meritage Resort in Napa . From left: Executive Chef Dana Hicks, guest chef Miller McRae,
and Far Niente winemaker Nicole Marchesi.

The 2015 Far Niente was offered directly from the barrel and showed complexity and elegance. Winemaker Nicole Marchesi has crafted her talents at Far Niente since 2005 and has been chief winemaker since 2009, working with the vineyard sites and blocks to capture place and vintage excellence.

The Silver Oak release party was, as always, an original event at their Oakville winery. It was a celebratory day of new release Cabernet, food pairings and bottle signings with the proprietors, the Duncan family. Oakville is considered central to Napa Valley world-class Cabs. Over 80 wineries dot the district with over 5 thousand acres under vine including Silver Oak and Far Niente. Others include Heitz Cellars, Paradigm, Plumpjack, Girard, Nickel and Nickel, Turnbull, Ramey, Screaming Eagle, Cakebread, Bay, Opus One and Robert Mondavi.

You can almost always get a Cabernet Sauvignon in a blend as most Napa Valley blends are Bordeaux style, which mandates a Cab as lead varietal. If an authentic single vineyard 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is your style, be prepared to pay up for the real deal. Visit farniente.com and silveroak.com.

On the Wine Map: Washington State has Unique Global Position

2017-03-19T16:28:00.003-07:00

by Frank Mangio
A look at a wine map of the state of Washington and the light bulb goes on. It’s really two states of weather. One has over 240 inches of annual rainfall and a ton of population in the Puget Sound district, including the Emerald city of Seattle , resting west of the Cascade Mountains . The other, known as the Columbia Valley, is protected from wet weather systems by these same Cascades plus the Olympic Mountains , and sees only about 8 inches of rain per year.

Some 900 wineries come out of Washington state from 14 appellations, the largest being the Yakima Valley with its 13,500 wine grape acres. Washington is the northern-most wine country in the U.S. with over 16 hours of sun in the critical summer growing season. If you drew a line around the globe from the middle of Washington, it would travel between Bordeaux and Burgundy in France, both legendary wine countries for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay, a direct link of new world vineyards with old world tannin and acid structure. This is America ’s 2nd largest wine region with over 50,000 acres under vine and 40 varietals led by Cabernet Sauvignon.

Washington state wines were on display in San Diego with Columbia Crest’s
winemaker Juan Munoz Oca unveiling his new Intrinsic wines ($19.99).

With this backdrop, Washington wines with newly won respect in the wine world, came into San Diego to say hello. They have done so before but this year there were more wineries and their two best known brands, Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest, were in attendance.

I have written a lot about these two wineries and their accomplishments. They have a knack for marketing lovely tasting wines at value prices, and their talent for premium wines is up there with the best that the state has to offer.

In 2009, Wine Spectator shocked the wine world by awarding the Columbia Crest Cabernert Sauvignon 2005 vintage ($25.) “the #1 wine in the world.” It was the first time a wine from Washington state had received this honor.

At the road show, Senior Director of Winemaking Juan Munoz Oca introduced the newest wine in the collection, Intrinsic. ($19.99). My personal favorite of the group is a maximum value H3 Les Chevaux Red Blend from the Horse Heaven Hills appellation ($9.). The current vintage is 2013, a banner year for west coast wines. La Chevaux is a French word for horses. Circulation is very high and you can find it just about everywhere. Visit ColumbiaCrest.com.

Another dual collaboration is Amavi Cellars and Pepper Bridge , in the Walla Walla district. National Sales Manager Mark Melia had his Amavi Cellars 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($34.); and his Pepper Bridge Trine Red Blend 2013 ($65.) with Cabernet, Cab Franc, Petite Verdot and Merlot, turned some heads at the show. By the way, downtown Walla Walla has the highest concentration of tasting rooms in the state. AmaviCellars.com and PepperBridge.com.

Washington state will surprise you when you open a bottle from their state.

San Diego Winemaker Challenge Awards Gold to Thornton Winery
Thornton Winery in Temecula is scheduling its next Champagne Jazz concerts for Spring, Summer and Fall of this year. But today, they are celebrating a prestigious 4 gold medals for their wines! The Winemaker Challenge, an International Wine Competition, held recently in San Diego, awarded 4 gold and 3 silver medals for 3 sparkling wines, 2 Chardonnays, a Petite Verdot and my favorite from the winning group, the 2014 Cabernet Franc. ($39.)

Thornton Winery in Temecula, known for its Champagne Jazz concerts, picked up
4 gold and 3 silver medals at the San Diego Winemaker Challenge.

This one has flavor notes of violets, raspberry and cedar, with velvet-smooth tannins. The word is out so I would advise you to contact the bottle and gift shop at Thornton at 951-699-0099 xt 3113.

NOTE: Many thanks for the dozens of e mails to the TASTE OF WINE column, commenting on the new, noisy restaurants that are being passed off as happy dining establishments. Many were unhappy with the conditions that make it impossible to peacefully dine and hear their guests who are sitting next to them.

Lots of Wine Open Spaces in Temecula

2017-03-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

by Frank Mangio
The Temecula Valley Wine Country’s special occasional events are always full of value and offers visitors focused knowledge about wineries of their choice. Its recent two day Barrel Tasting Event offered a “drop-in to your favorite winery” format with a passport ticket for admission to a number of wineries of your choice. There, you could be assured of visiting with the management team or the winemaker, with tasting from barrels as well as newly released bottles.

This wine country was the first I covered as a newly minted wine journalist some 12 years ago. Joe Hart was my first interview. I threw him a few softball questions abut his winery and some 30 minutes later he was still engaged in convincing me that Temecula had a lot going for it. The Wiens brothers had just come in and set up a trailer while they tended their new crop of vines and John Thornton was operating the best and most successful Champagne Jazz Concert series in Southern California.

Wine columnist Frank Mangio samples a Zinfandel blend from the new Avensole Winery

with Hospitality Manager Jennifer Capps and Marketing Manager Stephanie Swinton.

He still does with his son Steve, now the President of the winery, and his long-time special events manager Tonya Wake. And 12 or so years ago, Robert Renzoni, then a sales manager for Leoness Cellars, convinced his father Fred, that the time was right for their own winery in an area that would later be called the De Portola Wine Trail, an important link with the Temecula Valley wineries.
My entourage and I had planned this day with a set number of wineries to visit, topped by the “newest kid on the block,” Avensole Winery, occupying what used to be Van Roekel winery, then La Cereza. In 2013 the Lytton Family saw that the property was for sale and purchased it in 2014, naming it Avensole. It’s a word comprised of “aventura” ( Italian for adventure), and “sole” (meaning one of a kind).

Avensole has been open since April 2016 and its first bottles are a fascinating potpourri of wine varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Muscat Canelli, Gewurztraminer, “new vine” Zinfandel and “old vine” Zinfandel, plus some relatable blends. Avensole’s energetic Marketing and Business Development Manager is Stephanie Swinton who pointed out that the vines are still young
with the important exception of the old vine zin. “We can trace their origins to the hills of Croatia,” she said pointing to the 2013 Aventura, a robust wine with 95% Zinfandel and 5% Syrah. “We have them on the property because some of the early pioneers in the late 60’s planted them, along with Muscat Canelli and Cabernet Sauvignon.” The 2013 Aventura ($46.95 at the winery) is a classic old vine zin and I recommend you enjoy a bottle. The newest release should be out this Spring. Visit the winery first on line at AvensoleWinery.com. it also has a full service restaurant, Marketplace, with a beautiful terrace and pond with occasional live music.

Sonoma’s Ferrari Carano has Wine Dinners at Seasalt and La Gran Terraza
Fume’ Blanc, SIENA and Tresor. These are household names at Sonoma ’s best-known Ferrari Carano, due in large part to the efforts and hospitality of Michael Hurst, the voice for this winery in Southern California .

La Gran Terraza Manager Emma Van Dusen with Ferrari Carano Wine Manager Michael Hurst.

“Fume’ Blanc ($12.) is our biggest seller by far,” Hurst pointed out. “Tresor is a deluxe Bordeaux style blend ($34.) that sits 18 months in a barrel before release and SIENA is an Italian Sangiovese-based red blend with supple tannins and a delicious strawberry jam flavor ($16.). The SIENA label is really unique. It was designed by Rhonda Carano. She took the red soil of Sonoma and artfully swirled it across a label. The latest vintage is the 2014. It pairs beautifully with Italian food.”

Leading restaurants like Seasalt in Del Mar and La Gran Terraza in San Diego have great success on the wine menus and at the bar with this label. See more at Ferrari-Carano.com.

A Coastal Festival of Wine & Food Fresh Daily

2017-03-19T16:14:00.001-07:00

by Frank Mangio

At first glance, the entrance to Seaside Market in Cardiff appears more a promenade of relaxed coastal beach colors and culture that have attracted the beach community for years. A large signature logo in inviting blues, a lively entrance in wood décor that links with similar looking patio and cafe seating and a multi–hued stone walkway leading to fruit and veggie stands, is as attractive, relaxing and comfortable a natural food market as you can discover. Once inside, Sinatra music, and a festival of eye-pleasing imagery of coastal beaches, fishing and surfing are presented in larger-than-life vivid photography. Another wall reveals a historic collection of surfboards and a 4 panel super sized video board of special products and an outside weather station.

Seaside Market in Cardiff, serving this North San Diego community since 1985, recently underwent significant improvements with a festival lifestyle of coastal excitement

Each department in Seaside Market is bustling, attractive and well-stocked with fresh food, health products and services, beverages, baked goods, floral and gift, meats, seafood, cuisine to go and a charcuterie of cheeses and cold cut meats.

I was on assignment to meet the wine department buyer, Steve Ark, who is the architect of a vastly expanded wine department that has grown some 50% since the market improvement projects were put in place. The well-lit, soft circle department, invites consumers to surround themselves with a world of choices, exciting to review familiar favorites as well as new discoveries. Ark has been involved with Seaside and its wine department for some 15 years and has seen it all. He has a self-assured confidence in all the names and wine countries chosen, and keeps up to date with wine trends.

The talk of Seaside Market in Cardiff is its complete wine department under
the expert direction of Wine Buyer Steve Ark.

I asked him what was moving off the shelves these days. “Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are still kings of the reds and whites we sell,” he revealed. “We also see a lot of Pinot Noir being sold. Argentina and New Zealand are up and coming countries with quality wines. We get solid sales from France , Italy and Spain . When it comes to California, I personally love the wines from the Central Coast ( featured recently in TASTE OF WINE), and the Russian River district of Sonoma. I watch the wine vintages each year for any weather concerns that might lower the quality of each country’s wines. Quality of production for our inventory is first priority.”

I noticed that the wines offered were in most price ranges and were stable, well marked and in easy to read categories. Ark commented that “we have a full range of customers from value to premium that know their wines and what they like. We don’t play with pricing. Our most popular wines are easy to find at eye level. We have some great relationships with suppliers over the years and can get some special brands and vintages that our customers appreciate greatly.”

Seaside Market has a famous Burgundy Pepper Tri Tip, infused with a secret tumbling process that only Seaside presents. At $16.99 a pound, it quickly sells out daily. I put the question to Ark about pairing it with wine. “I would recommend a big red like a Zinfandel or a Syrah,” he offered.
Moving closer to me and pointing to an Oregon Pinot Noir with a decidedly Burgundy flavor, his personal choice became evident. “But that’s the one I would have with it.”

Just above the wine department sits an upstairs mezzanine with a kitchen for food preparation. Wine tastings and full courses of wine and dinner events are in the planning stages. More than ever, Seaside Market will be more of a community gathering place of special of importance. Visit seasidemarket.com.

Wake Up Call from Via Guadalupe Wines

2017-03-19T16:09:00.000-07:00

by Frank Mangio
Is there bias in the wine business? You bet there is! Taste and companionship are two big reasons why we have favorites in life. With wines as in our other close-to-the-heart precious subjects, you fall in love and you tend not to change your choices. I believe that the wine experience should also include discovery.

I have written more than a few times about budgeting some of your wine dollars for new selections, and that brings us to the vineyards and surprisingly great wines coming from our friends to the south of San Diego , in the Guadalupe Valley , near Ensenada . Back in the 90’s, word was spreading about a pristine but primitive valley about 2 hours drive from San Diego that made some nice Cabernet, Merlot and Chardonnay, maybe a dozen or so vineyards, and if you were vacationing in Ensenada or Cabo San Lucas, or maybe on a cruise ship around Baja, you might see a few of the Baja wines. Fast forward to 2007 and the dozen or so wineries were now up to a few dozen and producing about 85% of the wines in all of Mexico .

Fernando Gaxiola is the major spokesman for the wines of the Guadalupe Valley in Baja,
seen at the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival.

The valley caught the attention of TASTE OF WINE and a visit to see for myself. The beauty of the valley was unmistakable with the perfect weather patterns and coastal breezes for plump, dynamic grapes. What I found was a setting perfectly aligned for Italian grapes such as Sangiovese from Tuscany and Nebbiolo from Piemonte. A master from the old country, Camillo Magoni, was chief winemaker for LA Cetto, at that time the largest winery in Mexico. His Nebbiolo was 3 years in a barrel and sold for just $15.

Today, there are over 80 vineyards in Via Guadalupe with 20 thousand plus acres under vine, and 12 luxury boutique hotels. It’s estimated that over 600 thousand visitors come to the valley to taste and purchase the wines.

Fernando Gaxiola knows as much about the wines of the Gudalalupe as anyone. He is a tireless promoter of the wines and has connections with tour companies, restaurants and events in San Diego that allow him to present his Guadalupe Valley wine clients. On a recent day, we met and spoke over a lovely wine dinner at the popular rustic-style Bracero in San Diego’s Little Italy district.

This restaurant, and Coasterra, a “Modern Mexican” food format on Harbor Island , have many great Baja wines on their wine menu. I asked him what he does to promote the Guadalupe wines. “I am working hard to produce tours of the valley to show first hand where and how these wines are made and the quality of the producers.

Bracero in San Diego ’s Little Italy is a hot spot for rustic country style Mexican cuisine, and a showcase for Via Guadalupe wines. A favorite on the menu is “Nana’s Lentil Soup”

We also present wine tasting at the biggest events in Southern California . A name to know is Monte Xanic ( shah-neek), with 50,000 cases of wine a year. They do a blend, the Don Ricardo, with only the best grapes from Cabernet, Merlot and Petit Verdot. ($50.) I also recommend the Rafael from Adobe Guadalupe Vineyards and Inn , a blended wine of great elegance and intensity with Cabernet and Nebbiolo. ($40.),” Fernando concluded. Rafael was so flavorful, it landed in the TASTE OF WINE Top Ten Tastes for 2016.

For more visit adobeguadalupe.com.

Here and There in the Wine World

2017-03-19T16:04:00.000-07:00

by Frank Mangio
2017 is off to a speedy wet start for wine events, like our “atmospheric river” of seasonal rains here on the west coast. Word from the Napa Valley is that flooding is causing great concern for the 2017 vintage. On the bright side, the 6 year drought is done and over with in California .

You have to know the rainy season is getting extreme when rain is in its 3rd week in the Palm Springs desert in Southern California, where I spent time with my close friend Mike Grgich, the pioneer winemaker who created the foundation for Napa Valley wine greatness.
Grgich has been my hero since I began writing on wine in 2005.

Wine columnist Frank Mangio visits with Napa Valley wine pioneer
Mike Grgich and samples his new release 2013 Merlot.

His rise in the 60’s and 70’s as a premier winemaker is well known. This year Grgich and family are celebrating their 40th anniversary since founding Grgich Hills Estate in the Rutherford district in 1977. His current release 2013 Merlot is one to taste. ($43.) Consistent sunshine and temperatures created a complex, excellently balanced wine. As Grgich determined, “this is a Cabernet lover’s Merlot.”

Croatian born and raised, Grgich and his daughter Violet, established a Croatian winery in 1996, Grgic’ Vina , overlooking the Adriatic Sea at Dubrovnik. See more at grgich.com.

How long can wine last once the cork is opened?
Like many wine topics, this one is subject to a lot of discussion. Variables abound. The easy answer is drink it all as soon as it’s opened, preferably with a friend. With a standard .75 ltr. bottle, the rule of thumb is 3 days before the oxygen intrusion begins to turn the taste toward vinegar. Use a pump and stopper to get the air out of the bottle before it accumulates and you can extend the time in a bottle to four days. If the bottle has a twist cap, you can get a week out of it. Another thing that will help longevity is to keep it in a refrigerator after opening and buy quality wines whose tannins will help preserve its life to a week.

Did you know that one of the foremost Port and Sherry style wineries is in Vista, in San Diego County ?

Eric Brooking took us back to pre-prohibition days in the city of Vista and other North San Diego hubs that were making wine, especially fortified wine. With a climate and topography that was distinctly Mediterranean and looked for all the world like a hillside in Portugal , some 120
wineries were producing fortified wine before Prohibition. When that hideous law swept across America , most of the wineries in San Diego County were wiped out and swept into the history books.

Brooking Vineyards in Vista is an oasis of top quality Cream Sherry and Port style

wines, one of which, the Old Fashioned Angelica,
won gold at the San Diego County Fair.

Eric Brooking and his family survived and mastered the technique of fortification, where grapes grown in a warm Mediterranean climate like Vista , were fermented and interrupted by the addition of grape brandy, retaining the natural sugars. The grapes used are Tempranillos, those used in Portugal and Spain , generic homes for Sherry and Port. He also makes Muscat Canelli Angelica on his 6 acre estate. Wines are $49. per bottle. See brookingvineyards.com

Wine Stewards and Growlers – only at LJ Crafted Wines

2017-01-11T01:42:00.000-08:00

by Frank Mangio
I have been writing frequently about the surge in Urban Wineries, smartly located in large communities with high traffic volume and offering high quality branded wines by the glass or bottle.

TASTE OF WINE has found another remarkable play on the Urban Winery format in the Birdrock area of La Jolla , LJ Crafted Wines. What’s different here? Plenty! Guests at the indoor or outdoor tables and bar in the tasting room are served wine direct from the barrel that made the wine, thanks to a revolutionary device called the Wine Steward, a pouring device that allows the wine to be served from the barrel while it is aging, while maintaining the integrity of the remaining wine.

Scott and Nancine Hagner from the Grapeheads Association with

Lowell Jooste of LJ Crafted Wines and columnist Frank Mangio.

The barrels are displayed in bold, easy to read labels that show the vintage, varietal, vineyard and appellation. On the day we were given a walk-through by the owner, Lowell Jooste, himself a 4th generation, 20 year winemaker from South Africa, the barrels represented some of the finest to be made from Napa and Sonoma vineyards. Favorites were a 2014 Pinot Noir Rose’($8./glass, $24./bottle) from the Sonoma Coast with a lilting light raspberry, strawberry twist to it. Drop in a hint of honey and you have a spritzy refreshing wine.

LJ Crafted Wines also offers a tropical flavored 2015 Viognier with a slightly lemon-drop hint, with the bedrock tropical fruit that makes it special ( $11/glass and $32./bottle). On the red side, my heart belonged to the 2014 Petit Verdot Napa Valley ($14. /glass, $40./bottle) with a big elegant nose of violets, molasses and vanilla. Lots of plum on the palate.

I mention bottle, but many of these juicy wines are offered only in a re-fillable “Growler,” a liter sized vessel with a flip top cap, previously only used in breweries. This gives the customer an extra 6 ounce pour. When joining the wine club, a complimentary wine growler and tote are received. Growlers are filled with your favorite wine selection straight from the barrel with the wine steward.

When you’re finished, you return it for more or something different from the many barrels available. Seasonal gourmet small bite plates are also offered. LJ Crafted Wines is open 7 days a week. See more at ljcraftedwines.com.

Beautiful Beaujolais , the Seasonal Wine
Beaujolais wine is meant to be consumed young, in some cases the same year as it’s harvested. The French play it up as an every-day party wine. They have about 120 celebrations in November in the Beaujolais region north of the Rhone Valley. It was fitting that La Gran Terraza Restaurant on the USD Campus has the best San Diego celebration. Manager Emma Van Dusen (photo) welcomed a full house, along with John Yelenosky (photo), the Beaujolais specialist from American Wine & Spirits. Yelenosky talked about the seasonality of Beaujolais and its timely distribution during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Its genetics are sourced to old world vines from the Gamay grape. Occasionally you will be able to find an aged Beaujolais like what was poured to pair an entrée at La Gran Terraza with their Beef Tenderloin. This was a 2013 Chateau Des Labourons Fleurie, a “cru Beaujolais ” from a single village, made by Henry Fessy ($16.). That was the most expensive bottle of Beaujolais that evening, an amazing value. See other wine dinners and info about the restaurant at lagranterraza.com.

Wine Bytes
Wiens Family Cellars in Temecula has its popular Wine Blending Experience, Sat. Jan. 21at 6pm. Find your inner winemaker in you. Guided by a winemaker, you will taste, evaluate and blend selected varietals and create your own bottle of wine. Includes appetizers, and you get to keep your own creation. Priced from $80. Call 888-98WIENS.

Pechanga Casino in Temecula presents its 9th annual Wine Festival and Chocolate Decadence Fri. and Sat. Jan. 10 and 11. Check out the details at pechanga.com or call 877-711-2WIN.

Meritage Wine Market in Encinitas continues their top shelf wine events on Fridays at 6pm. On the 27th it has The Noble Six wine tasting. Cost is $30. Details at 760-479-2500.

The Winner – Best Wine Dinners - Vittorio’s

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Victor Magalhaes is the first to greet his customers at his family style Italian restaurant, Vittorio’s, in the burgeoning Carmel Valley community just below Del Mar, in the San Diego region.

Diners come from all over the county to enjoy the Italian food, much of it made from scratch. A unique feature of each entrée is the option of an individual size, or a large size, that will serve two or more diners at a discount. An extensive pasta menu includes: Tortelloni, Linguini, Ravioli, Rigatoni, Gnocchi, Lasagna,… well I could go on and on. The pizzas are too extensive to list. I’d rather list the amazing number of top shelf wineries that Magalhaes has brought in the last year.

Victor Magalhaes, owner of Vittorio’s Restaurant, presents Miner Family Winery
of Napa Valley, with the collaboration of Mindy Hewitson,
Sales Manager of the Estates Group of San Diego.

Month in, month out, with the help of professional wine expert and Vice President of the Estates Group of San Diego , Mindy Hewitson, event diners have been treated to a 4 course custom dinner with accompanying premium wines.

“I offer these dinners as a kind of thank you to my customers,” he confided. “I also hope that new diners will see the value and introduce themselves to our restaurant family through our wine dinners.” And a value they are! Most dinners are $49.95 to $55.95 for a fixed custom 4 course stylish dinner, with 4 to 5 wines generously poured. At times, the winemaker will make an appearance and lead the audience of diners through the vintage and harvest of the wines that are presented.

Hewitson herself knows about as much as the winery owners and can speak from the experience of walking the walk through the vines. On a recent Miner Family Wines event, Hewitson spoke about the owner, Dave Miner and his beginnings in Napa Valley in 1993. A former Oracle tech exec, he quit to manage a winery, then started up Miner in 1996 . In 2007 , his wines were served in a White House Presidential dinner. She then walked us through Viognier, Chardonnay, Sangiovese and a beautiful red blend, Emily’s Cuvee ($38.).

Magalhaes also owns a sister restaurant in Rancho Bernardo, Capri Blu, which also produces excellent wine dinners. The first wine dinner this year for Vittorio’s will be a panorama of Italian wines Thursday January 26th at 6pm. Diners will be treated to a 4 course dinner highlighted by a Duck confit and fava bean risotto, with shaved Grana Padano cheese. It will be paired with an Italian Barolo from Piemonte, 2011. Cost is $55.95 per person. Be sure to call in a reservation soon at 858-538-5884. Visit vittoriossandiego.com.

Temecula Barrel Tasting 2017
Temecula Wine Country is starting the year out by rolling out the barrels and giving guests a chance to test taste before the vintages get to market. Current releases will also be poured at their annual barrel tasting, Saturday January 28 and Sunday January 29 from 11am to 4pm. It’s a self-guided tour and tasting.

Up to 18 different wineries per day will pair their best with gourmet food sampling. Single day “passports” are $78. per day, entitling the holder to up to 18 wineries per day. Two days gets you a discount with tastings from up to 36 wineries. Go to temeculawines.org. Tickets will be sold the day of the event, but the cost will be higher. You can learn how to participate in a shuttle service and other packages at the same web site.

Wine Bytes
Firenze Trattoria in Encinitas is planning an Evening in Tuscany wine dinner with personality Marco Barat, Thurs. Jan. 19th at 6pm. The wine pairing dinner will choose an exceptional lineup of Tuscan and Sicilian wines with a custom pairing dinner. Cost is $75. each. RSVP at 760-944-9000.

The 6th annual Winter Wine Classic is at the Fess Parker Resort in Santa Barbara , Sat. Jan. 21 from 4 to 7:30pm. Various prices start at $90. Taste over 200 wine samples plus gourmet food. Visit nightout.com/events.

Exploring Wine is the next wine course at San Diego State University starting Mon. Jan. 23 from 6 to 9pm. It’s a foundation course for further education, part of a Professional Certificate in the Business of Wine. Cost is $339. or $369. after Jan. 13. Call 619-265-7378 for details.

The WineSellar and Brasserie in Sorrento Valley , San Diego , brings in Dragonette Cellars, with founder John Dragonette, Sat. Jan. 28 for a 6pm reception and 6:30pm dinner. Dragonette is one of the best wineries in the California Central Coast . $99. per person. Call 858-450-9557 to make reservations.

The Wine Educator to Learn from is ‘M’

2017-01-11T01:11:00.000-08:00

bt Frank Mangio
As we cross the threshold into 2017, let me thank you all for continuing to enjoy my column as I promise to outreach to every corner of the wine world to present to you, wine news that you can use, to add to your joy of wine.

Let’s start the year off with the pure pleasure of the most comprehensive educator of wine that I have experienced in some time, Michele Graber, known to all who know her as ‘M.’

The setting for her 2 hour seminars, with 9 or so premium wine tastings enhanced by regional small bites that match up with the wines, is Meritage Wine Market in Encinitas, in their executive tasting room. Graber’s preparation is unmatched.

An ‘M’ wine class on ”The Killer B’s of Wine” drew a full house of eager tasters

at Meritage Wine Market in Encinitas.

The evening I sat in on her most recent class, “The Killer B’s of Wine – Barolo, Barberesco, Brunello and Burgundy ,” I was struck by her first-hand information, having walked the walk in most of those wine venues: Piedmont and Tuscany in Italy , and Burgundy in France . She called these wines, “among the most collectible wines of not just Italy and France but of the world.” Her presentation was a basketful of education and tasting, backed up by the background, credentials, ratings, maps for all, and tasting notes for each.

A fascinating bonus for those in attendance was the cheese plate with four unique kinds: the French Le Rustique Camembert; Epoisses by Germain described as a “good stinky, runny French cheese; Taleggio, a soft, creamy Italian style; and Pecorino Toscsano, a 100% sheeps milk cheese. This one was easily my favorite, a hard cheese, distinctly Italian that demands a rich Brunello as its table-mate.

On Saturday January 21, ‘M’ will direct “An Intro to Wine Intensive,” at Meritage Wine Market, from 12 Noon to 4pm. Cost is $140. to taste 17 premium reds and 17 luscious whites plus a surprise wine. “I will focus on the noble varieties and their growing regions, readily available on the shelves, ‘M’ declared. Our guests will come to understand how each is made, how to taste, evaluate and correctly serve.” Light appetizers will be served along with informative handouts. Class size is limited to 17. Contact for your RSVP is 858-442-2749. For more on ‘M’ see mwineeducation.com.

Frank Family Featured at Parc Bistro-Brasserie
Recently, Parc Bistro-Brasserie and wine sommelier Dino Buzunis arranged to bring Frank Family Vineyards and winemaker Todd Graff to town for a wine pairing dinner. The most asked question I get is what are your favorite wineries in Napa Valley. Frank Family is always in the mix.

Napa Valley’s Frank Family Vineyards winemaker Todd Graff and Sommelier
Dino Buzunis share notes on the latest Frank releases, at the wine dinner
hosted by Parc Bistro-Brasserie in San Diego.

Graff has been with owner Rich Frank, a former Disney Senior Executive, for some 14 years. Frank owns 250 acres in 4 vineyards in and around Calistoga. “We make our wines to accommodate the public’s desire to drink their wines when they purchase them,” he revealed. “ Our wines drink well, anytime. Tonight we brought a 2012 Brut Rose, a 2014 Chardonnay, a 2014 Pinot Noir, a 2012 Petite Sirah and a 2013 Reserve Cabernet.” ($95…an absolutely great selection)

A sad note: long-time tasting room manager for Frank Family, Dennis Zablosky passed away early in December. He was the first employee for Frank, 23 years ago, and was a affectionately known as the “concierge of Napa Valley .” For more on Frank Family, visit frankfamilyvineyards.com.

Wine Bytes
The Barrel Room in Rancho Bernardo turns 10 this month. On Thurs. Jan. 12 they are bringing in 10 food and wine pairing stations under the supervision of Executive Chef Trevor Chappell. Wines include the legendary Silver Oak and Duckhorn. Several choices of price levels. Call 858-673-7512

Paso Robles Wine Country is the place to be Sat. Jan. 14 from 1 to 6:30pm for the Blendfest Grand Tasting at the Cambria Pines Lodge in Cambria . 90 unique blended wines are offered including a blending seminar. Afternoon tasting is 1-3pm for $45….evening tasting 4:30 to 6:30pm $65. See pasowine.com/events.

San Diego Restaurant Week returns in 2017, from Jan. 15 to 22. 180 restaurants will participate. 3 course dinner and 2 course lunches at big discounts. Visit sandiegorestauantweeek.com.

The Top Ten Tasting Wines of 2016

2017-01-11T01:00:00.000-08:00

by Frank Mangio
This past year was a fascinating one for the wine industry which has never been one to rest on past successes. Great chefs have flocked to San Diego and brought with them menu formats that included great wines. The urban winery format has multiplied in our large communities where one brand is served, made from grapes brought in from the best vineyards in the state. The wines of Baja Mexico are finally showing what they are made of ( I have one in my Top 10). The list also includes 2 from Italy , 1 from Washington and 6 from California . An amazing 6 blends make up the majority of flavors, with 2 Pinot Noirs, 1 Chardonnay and 1 Sangiovese. Prices can vary, but the ones shown are the best I could find after sourcing. Wines are shown by alphabetical order. All are ranked Excellent by my guidelines of flavor, body and value. (5 are under $25.)

Arcanum Il Fauno Blend , Tuscany Italy , 2012. $20. Here’s what’s called a “Super Tuscan” in the old country, but at a price that can’t be beat! It’s a polished, flavorful red in a spicy, earthy style . Made #19 in Wine Spectator’s year end top 100.
www.winesearcher.com

Columbia Crest H3 Les Chevaux Red Blend, WA., 2012. $12. A lively blend named for the horses that roamed Horse Heaven Hills in Eastern Washington . Dark, fruity, cherry flavors, with smooth tannins. Another low priced triumph for Columbia Crest.
www.columbiacrest.com

North County Wine Company’s Bill and Jim Tobin poured samples of their Top Ten recently and it included the Arcanum Il Fauno 2012 from Tuscany, a TASTE OF WINE choice.

Enlace Pinot Noir, Monterey CA , 2014. $16. The values keep coming. This one fills a few bins at COSTCO. Deep, inky red. Fruit forward boysenberry sourced from several Santa Lucia Highlands vineyards. Long elegant finish. www.liparita.com.

Fattoria del Cerro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Tuscany IT, 2012. $21. A rich handcrafted wine of Sangiovese clones. Flavors peak with beef and sharp cheeses. www.fattoriadelcerro.it

Frei Brothers Chardonnay, Sonoma CA , 2015. $12. Russian River Chardonnay with quality way above its price. Cool climate brings out the flavor of green apple and zesty orange with nutty notes. www.freibrothers.com

Ferrari-Carano Tresor Blend, Sonoma CA , 2012. $38. Bordeaux style wine from the vineyard’s finest lots of Cabernet, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec & Merlot. Dramatic sunset painting alone worth the price. www.ferrari-carano.com

Lewis Cellars Alec’s Blend, Napa Valley CA , 2014. $62. A big powerful red with candied black fruit flavors. Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet team up for this muscle wine. Lewis’s all-Cabernet was awarded the top wine in the world by Wine Spectator. www.lewiscellars.com

The lovely wine and bottle design of Ferrari Carano’s 2012 Tresor

Rafael Adobe Guadalupe Blend, Baja CA , 2012. $98. A south of the border red blend from 55% Cabernet and 45% Nebbiolo (yes, the legendary Italian grape from Piedmont , Italy ). Small production and strong, luscious flavor reminds me of Italy ’s Barolo. www.adobeguadalupe.com

The Prisoner Blend, Napa Valley CA , 2013. $36. Launched in 2003, this was the first of the new breed red blends, with mainly Zinfandel to go with Cabernet, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Charbono. Pure cherry and chocolate flavor. Delicious! www.theprisonerwine.com

Tolosa “1772” Pinot Noir, Edna Valley San Luis Obispo CA , 2014. $60. A favorite appellation with its rolling fog into the vines. Best grape blocks used to produce a wine of exceptional character. Aged in French oak. Rich mouthfeel. www.tolosawinery.com.

Wine Sipping and Food Tasting in San Diego's Woods of Torrey Pines

2016-12-17T16:01:00.000-08:00

by Frank Mangio
In the era of urban this and urban that, I am here to comfort you that it doesn’t have to be that way for excellent wine and food hospitality in the San Diego region. We all should know that the iconic Torrey Pines Golf Course is internationally known, located on a pristine miles-long bluff between Del Mar and San Diego . The nearby Torrey Pines State Reserve captures this region for public hiking and gazing at these magnificent trees and the inspiring Pacific Ocean.

Nestled in this bucolic environment is the five diamond hotel, the Lodge at Torrey Pines, with its latest excitingdevelopment, The Grill. A.R. Valentien is their signature restaurant, but The Grill has an indoor-outdoor romance and an exclusive view of the golf course in the intimate woods of Torrey Pines.

The Grill is an inviting stop for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and is under the direction of Executive Chef Jeff Jackson, who is credited with creating the movement in San Diego called “farm to table” in the early 2000’s. His Sous Chef de Cuisine is Kyle Wiegand, who has been with Jackson for 14 years. “We increased space some 30% inside and outside with the focal point being a large outside rotisserie where the entrees are grilled before being served,” he explained. “Local sustainable farm to table, with a California Coast and Baja style woodfire menu, is what our customers can expect at The Grill. Our Executive Chef Jeff Jackson lets the ingredients speak for themselves through their unbeatable flavor.”

Indeed! With the trees, rocks and foliage surrounding some tables centered around oversized fireplaces and firepits, the enticing menu takes over. My recommendations include: Poached Pear Salad with Arugula, Endive, Candied Pecans and Roquefort Cheese, washed down with a Raymond Napa Valley 2013 Chardonnay. The best example of the Santa Maria style rotisserie is the lead entrée: a Wood-Grilled Tri-Tip Steak with Pinquito Beans Cassoulet, Salsa and Homemade Steak Sauce. Try this with the Napa Valley Jamieson Ranch 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon. The Soux Chef’s recommendation is the Wood Smoked Pork Chop with market greens, sweet potato, roasted apples and cider jus. For more information, call 858-453-4420 or visit lodgetorreypines.com.

The Lodge at Torrey Pines-Celebrate The Craft
A few weeks before The Grill familiarization, I covered the premier food festival, the 14th annual Celebrate The Craft, on the grounds of the Lodge at Torrey Pines. SoCal’s finest chefs led by Executive Chef Jeff Jackson, food artisans, produce, wine and craft beers, all contributed. The golf course and Pacific Ocean formed the backdrop.

The Lodge’s sommelier Paul Krikorian hand picked the mostly Napa Valley wines to taste, including: Robert Craig, ZD, Grgich Hills and Nickel and Nickel. An impressive up-and- coming Robert Biale Vineyards caught my eye with his “Black Chicken” 2014 Zinfandel ($49.95), and the “Royal Punisher” 2014 Petite Sirah Rutherford.($49.95)

Robert Biale is located just north of Napa city in the Oak Knoll District. Zin and Petite Sirah are rare choices in Napa Valley . This Zin is stunningly fleshy and chewy with a powerful delivery. The Petite Sirah has exploding aromas of plum and fig, with rich, black fruit flavors. See more at robertbialevineyards.com.

Wine Bytes
PAON in downtown Carlsbad has a holiday wine tasting Wed. Dec. 28 at 6pm featuring French Cru choices from the Cellar Master formerly at the University of Bordeaux , Gino Campbell. Some of the 1st growth Crus reportedly go for $1,000. a bottle. The event price had not been determined at publishing time so call 760-729-7377 if interested.

Wine Vault & Bistro on India Street San Diego has a 10 course tasting menu paired with their “Top 5 Reds of 2016,” Thurs. Dec. 29 from 5 to 10pm. Cost is $57.50. Call 619-295-3939 for an RSVP.
A New Years Eve dinner is being planned at the Meritage restaurant at Callaway Vineyard and Winery in Temecula on Dec. 31 from 5 to 8pm. Cost is $75. per person. 4 course meal with live music. RSVP at 951-587-8889.

Pala Casino Spa & Resort has several New Years Eve dinners on Dec. 31. The Oak Room has a price fixed menu for $109 ea., $140 with wine pairings. CAVE has a New Years Eve menu with a fixed price of $69, or $89 with wine pairings. And Pala Café has dinner for $36.95 per person. Call for an RSVP with your choice, at 877-946-7252.

The Wine & Food of San Luis Obispo

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by Frank Mangio
Like no other appellation in this country, the bond with wine and ocean is seamless and collaborative in the San Luis Obispo Wine Country. In my last column I underlined the morning and afternoon fog that sweeps in from many of the pristine beaches that define the central coast. Wineries in the know have chosen Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as their signature varietals. The weather conditions
romance these two “Play Misty For Me” grapes. All the wineries in this intimate wine country are no more than 5 miles from this marine cooling, some are less than one mile.

Dave Hickey, winemaker at Laetitia Vineyard and Winery, and Franco Lastreto, Tasting Room Supervisor, display two of their latest Pinot Noir releases.

If you are coming up from Southern California to visit, go by Amtrak. It hugs the coast and you will see breathtaking coastal sights that only a train can show you. It drops you off in the middle of San Luis Obispo . Request an Enterprise rental car in advance, since they will pick you up at the station and drop you off when you’re ready to leave. You will need a car to get around to the wineries, restaurants and a resort style hotel overlooking one of the beaches.

The Inn at the Cove is a gem overlooking Pismo Beach with private beach access and 180 degree views of the ocean. At least one of the nights in your stay will have to be at the Suite Edna, a converted 1908 farmhouse in the middle of historic Old Edna, an adventurous townsite. You’ll also find a gypsy wagon, a sippin’ cellar, bluebelly barn, a bordello and 3 lovely goats. Pattea Torrence if the “mayor” of Old Edna and will be happy to tell you more, by calling 805-710-3701 or visit oldedna.com.

Be sure to stop by the on-site Sextant Winery next to Old Edna. Established in 2004, it has a wide variety of old world wines. These are all-estate wines like Zinfandel, Petite Syrah, Tannat from Spain and of course, my favorite, the lovely Pinot Noir. This release was a 2014 at $25. per bottle and well worth it.

Dave Hickey knows every square foot of Laetitia Vineyard and Winery in nearby Arroyo Grande, about 10 miles south of San Luis Obispo. He and his son, Eric Hickey, who is President of Laetitia, make the wines that have a decided Rhone, Burgundy and Bordeaux French fruit approach. “ 440 of our 625 acres are devoted to Pinot Noir and are highland vineyards,” said Hickey. “We release Pinots with more age than most other wineries, so they have a drink-now quality.” TASTE OF WINE featured the Laetitia Reserve du Domaine 2013 ($42.) in its Top Ten Tastings a few months ago. Check out our end-of-the-year report coming up the end of this month. More on Laetitia wines at laetitiawine.com.

A winery to discover is Tolosa , a large, sweeping vista vineyard just south of San Luis Obispo ’s airport in the Edna Valley . Tolosa is named after the Franciscan Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, that grew wine grapes in the 18th century, and still stands today. Those Pacific coastal winds make this the coldest appellation in California and reminiscent of Burgundy in France . It is a prime environment for Pinot Noir. The Tolosa Pinot to search for is “1772,”($60.) the year the mission was built. This 2014 release is a blend of 4 different blocks, aged 11 months in French Oak barrels. It has a rich, black cherry mouthfeel, with refined tannins. See more at tolosawinery.com.

Before leaving SLO Country, I want to focus on a restaurant, lounge and wine shop, all under one roof, in the downtown district that will need no introduction once you try it. Foremost Wine Co. and its menu offerings are thoughtfully sourced from all local ingredients, and constantly changes monthly.

Foremost Wine Co. in downtown San Luis Obsipo is a restaurant, lounge and wine shop.
The Miso Glazed Black Cod is shown with squash and grilled corn.

A novel “Burrata Bar” is a great way to start, with Gorgonzola cheese and Heirloom Tomato. On the night of the visit, entrees included: grilled hanger steak, pesto farro risotto, duck breast, chile shrimp and my favorite, the glazed black cod with grilled squash and corn. The chef is the celebrated Julie Simon who was raised in Paris and has traveled the world studying the emotional response of food that is deep in flavor. She enjoys making what she calls “comfort food.” Get more at foremostwineco.com.

Wine Bytes
Now that I have included Laetitia wines and Foremost Wine Co., the two will collaborate on a very special event Thurs. Dec. 29 at 6pm in downtown San Luis Obispo . Laetitia winemaker Eric Hickey and Chef Julie Simon combine talents for a portfolio of wines and menu items. Cost is $85. Contact the restaurant at 805-481-1772.

Meritage Wine Market in Encinitas has its special cellar selections spotlighted Fri. Dec. 23 from 6 to 8pm. Lineup includes selections from California and France. RSVP at 760-479-2500.

San Luis Obispo - Natural Beauty Along the Central Coast

2016-12-17T15:43:00.000-08:00

by Frank Mangio
I had been tasting the wines of the Central Coast for some time without much knowledge of the place where they came from and why the Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays were so good from this part of California .

This part seemed an obscure treasure and I hadn’t yet put all the pieces together with any clarity. It turns out that San Luis Obispo County is systemically the heart of the Central Coast, situated between Monterey and Santa Barbara Counties .

Tolosa Winery paints a beautiful portrait of the vineyard landscape just south of
the city of San Luis Obispo , along the Central Coast of California .

Within the county, Paso Robles boasts 220 wineries, while the Edna and Arroyo Grande Valleys just south of San Luis Obispo (“SLO”) has 30 wineries, with all of them just 3 to 5 miles from the rugged, breathtaking beaches, some 80 miles long. Names like Grover, Pismo, Avila , Morro Bay , Cayucos, Cambria and San Simeon are fantastic early California coastal communities. Many have piers and in some, you can park your car on the beach.

All contribute to the luscious quality of the wines with their cooler, coastal late afternoon and evening fog, giving structure, plumpness and extensive ripening to the grapes, along with a longer growing season.

Coastal fog rolling in just north of Pismo Beach in late afternoon, cools down the wineries
off the Central Coast , enhancing the quality of their grapes.

Chuck Davison may have the best travel, tourism and hospitality job in the state. For nearly 2 years he has been the President and CEO of Visit San Luis Obispo County, after years of visiting and vacationing along the Central Coast . “We have 18 communities, all contributing a lot of what makes this the best county to live in,” he declared. “For the example of who we are, SLO it down and enjoy the county’s hub of San Luis Obispo.

Its a home-style downtown, including a leadng state university, the famous Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa and more wine bars and restaurants than you can count. We’ve created a major display that has hit the road called ‘SAVOR, a San Luis Obispo Country Experience’ with restaurants, wineries, breweries and activity partners at major events like the recent San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival. We’re encouraging people to plan a trip to encounter our destination first-hand.”

I have had the great pleasure of meeting and greeting wineries in Paso Robles wine country and love to roam the Highway 46 West properties that lead up to Highway 1, San Simeon and the mighty Hearst Castle .

In my next column, I will take you with me on my first journey to the southern wine country in and around the city of San Luis Obispo , a visitor experience they call “the SLO Life.”
If you would like a preview of this experience, visit SLOwine.com.

Gen 7 Festa Del Vino Unveils New Wines

2016-12-17T15:38:00.001-08:00

by Frank Mangio
No one does it better when it comes to introducing the newest vintages of his acclaimed Gen 7 wines than Tim Bacino. He is the 6th generation of the Vache’ and Biane wine families, who brought wine fame to Southern California with their Brookside Winery, one of the largest in the U.S. in its time, with 36 locations featuring California wines and specialty foods.

Bacino created Gen 7 seven years ago, with his wife Susanne, in honor of the 7th generation in the family, his daughter Gabriella. It was a re-start of the legacy of California ’s “first family” of wine. Addressing what was in effect, his extended family, gathered at a huge picnic table at his handsome home in Rancho Santa Fe, Bacino and his family unveiled a luscious menu of Italian buffet cuisine fit for royalty.

Tim Bacino points to his historic family of wine makers, in praise of their accomplishments
and help in his success with his wine , Gen 7, at a new release party, Festa Del Vino.

Guests filled up on butternut squash cannelloni, chicken sagu, bolognese pasta al forno lasagna, assorted salads and a carving station. Each food station had a suggested pairing of his new releases, 7seven handcrafted wines with grapes drawn from Sonoma and from over 1,000 acres of vineyards in the St. Helena area of Napa Valley. In his remarks to the gathering, Bacino asserted that “these grape sources that have made Gen 7 possible, could not have been accomplished without the relationships with my family from generations before me. It is a family effort, blessed by my family’s legacy.” Gen 7 wines are very special selections of the best blocks from vineyards with a proven track record of prime flavor.

The one that remains a memorable taste from this release event is the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Premium Reserve 1832. (suggested retail $95.) You will taste dark chocolate and blackberry on the nose, with smooth velvety textures throughout. It was made carefully from St. Helena Napa Valley grapes, from one of the greatest harvests in Napa Valley history.

Gen 7 is now making plans to enter Napa Valley in a big way, forming a partnership with established Napa wine names to create a next-level tasting room in the city of Napa . Along with Trinitas Winery, B Cellars and others, Gen 7 will be part of a wine and food pavilion unlike anything else. 2018 is the date for the planned grand opening. To learn more about Gen 7 and its new wine releases, contact Tim Bacino at 619-540-1986 or visit Gen7wines.com.

San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival Brings Out the Winners

What a WOW week it was in San Diego last month, as the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival came to an end Sunday November 20th after six days of wine and food events like no other. It has taken its place as one of the largest in the nation. This year San Diego ’s thriving food scene was spotlighted with the Chef of the Fest awarded to Mark Kropcynski of Grant Grill downtown. He wowed the judges with his roasted baby root veggies with grilled lamb loin, pumpkin seed oil and fig vincotto.

My best wine of the “Fest” in San Diego was Alec’s Blend 2014 from Lewis Cellars of Napa Valley , made by Dennis Bell, left, shown with wine columnist Frank Mangio.

I attended the Friday night Sommcon wine tasting and the Saturday Grand Tasting, easily tasting close to 200 wineries and 60 restaurants. My top wine of the “Fest” is one you have read about before in TASTE OF WINE, Lewis Cellars of Napa Valley. Dennis Bell was pouring his Alec’s Blend 2014 at the Friday night event at the Marriott Marina. This high award-inning wine from 60% Syrah, 34% Merlot and 6% Cabernet, was named after Dennis’s son Alec. ($65.) See LewisCellars.com. Other wine discoveries included Dutton Goldfield of Sonoma’s cool climate elevations doing Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, Ramey Wines of Sonoma and a huge tent full of San Luis Obispo wines.

Modern Mexican with a Delicious Bay View

2016-12-17T15:30:00.000-08:00

by Frank Mangio
Coasterra is a dining experience unlike any other in San Diego . This cruise- ship-style restaurant at the east end of Harbor Island is also an outdoor lounge, an events venue and the trophy dining venue of the Cohn Restaurant Group.

It is also a “once-in-a–lifetime opportunity” for owner David Cohn to display his magical abilities to offer a fantastic expression of unique dining as he has brught to his other restaurants.
The mostly outside seating offers panoramic views of downtown. The menu is inspired by the fine dining found in Mexico City but with a modern adaptation.

Tableside service is evident in a number of ways. The hand-shaken Margaritas are mesmerizing and made to order with Coasterra’s own brand of Repesado Tequila. But the main attraction was to be created by “Guacamigo James,” a specialist in the art of making tableside Guacamole.

Coasterra on Harbor Island San Diego has created a

tableside Guacamole sensation that could pass for dinner.

This is the ultimate “Ole” moment with bowls of crushed avocado, tomato, red onion, cilantro, cracked black pepper, cotijas, lime and serrano. Don’t think for a moment that tacos or enchiladas will be all that’s on the dinner menu.

I chose the juicy and flavorful “Filete del Campo.” It was an 8 ounce certified angus filet mignon, one of the best I have tasted in some time, with brown sugar wrapped bacon, creamed corn and chorizo spiked potatoes on the side. It was a masterpiece. ($38.)

The wines were generously California chosen, but with an added Guadalupe Valley Mexican wine list that I had not seen before in such a premium restaurant like Coasterra. This is the work of esteemed Cohn Restaurant Beverage Director Maurice DiMarino. This Cali-Baja connection couldn’t be paired better than with Coasterra’s menu. DiMarino even has a custom made south of the border blend called Costa Terra, with help from one of the leading wineries in Guadalupe, Santo Tomas. ($36.)

Coasterra now has a Happy Hour from 3:30pm to 5:30pm Monday through Friday. Enjoy $7. appetizers and sip on $7. cocktails or house wines and $5. select draft beers. Oh, by the way, the million dollar panoramic bay view is at no extra charge. Visit cohnrestaurants.com.

Italians put on a “Molto Bene” Wine Show
Brunello in Italian means “nice dark one” and it’s Italy ’s most sought after wine, made in the hills and valleys of Montalcino, in Tuscany . The 2011 vintage is the current one, released in the summer of this year after 4 years in barrel and 1 in bottle, But the most excitement at the recent San Diego Kobrand Tour d’ Italia was for a 2010 Brunello from Tenute Silvio Nardi. ($63.)

Michela Fiorucci, Brand Manager of Tenute Silvio Nardi pours its 2010 Brunello di Montalcino, with velvety tannins and smootlhy persistent notes of red berries and high mineral concentration.

2010 was a brilliant year for Brunello. Every once in a decade, Italy has flawless weather for peak flavor of its 5,200 acres devoted to the glory of Brunello. Some 400 wineries patiently wait the years of required 5 year maturation before releasingits wines to an impatient, adoring public.

This road show included other iconic wine producers who trust their futures to Kobrand, a world-renowned wine distributor who represents such names as San Guido with its Sassicaia brand, Sette Ponti, Michele Chiarlo, Masi, Biserno and one of my most recent top ten tastes, Sette Ponti Oreno from Tuscany . To learn more, visit kobrandwineandspirits.com.

A Visit to Los Olivos and Santa Barbara

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by Don Nunn

Growing up in Santa Barbara in a wonderful, nostalgic decade I won’t specifically identify because of its antiquity, I was going back for the first time in many years to attend my nephew’s wedding.

Having spent my youth growing up on the “American Rivera”, I consider Santa Ynez, Solvang, and Los Olivos to be part of the generic description encompassed within the mention of “Santa Barbara”, both because of their proximity and because they were all part of my childhood home base. Of course those three towns are actually up and over the Santa Ynez Mountain Range north of Santa Barbara, and are found in the rolling oak covered hills of the Santa Ynez Valley, and only a thirty to forty minute drive. Those mountains, and the Pacific Ocean, squeeze Santa Barbara into a ribbon along the coast, thus inviting the comparison, both geographic and lifestyle, to the French Cote d’Azur.

When I left Santa Barbara at the age of 22 after graduating from UC Santa Barbara, heading for USD law school in San Diego, there was not a single winery in the Santa Ynez Valley. Forty-five odd years later, there are many dozens of wineries spread around the valley, with the greatest number situated in the vicinity of the village of Los Olivos, but with many spreading out along Foxen Canyon Road towards southern Santa Maria County.

Like a number of wine producing regions of California, vines were originally planted by the Franciscan Friars in the early 1800’s, and a thriving wine industry developed in the latter part of the 19th century. The wineries were subsequently virtually wiped out by Prohibition, only to rise again in the latter part of the 20th century.

From the moment I hit town for the wedding, I took the opportunity to solicit present day local’s for their advice on tasting rooms located in a picturesque setting, possessing character, and that remained relatively small. I readily confess to a prejudice in favor of the old style tasting rooms in a barn or rustic building full of ambience, sampling the tastings over a barrel in conversation with the winery owner, who in the old days (twenty years ago), was frequently also the wine maker. Today, while varying to some extent by viticultural region, the competition amongst winery owners to build the most impressive tasting room is frequently as intense as the competition to make the best wine.

While I may occasionally visit one of the larger establishments for the architecture, design, or some other peculiarity of note, the experience for this writer is most enjoyable when I find a small, unpretentious, old style tasting room or patio, full of charm, atmosphere, and the genuine opportunity to discuss and learn about the wines, as opposed to simply tasting the offerings while reading the chart notes. To this writer, the ambience enhances the tasting experience, best enjoyed as far away as possible from the crowds who descend upon the mega-winery tasting rooms in their limos. In general a “limo sighting” is for me, motivation to skip that winery.

Among the opinions proffered were Barbieri, Samsara, Blair Fox, Tensley, Demetria, and Beckmen. When receiving the recommendation to Demetria, I knew immediately that it would be on the top of my list. Among the information imparted was that it was small with a very rural setting, and a little difficult to find. We were also advised to make a picnic of it, to best enjoy the surroundings, and that picnicking was welcomed by the winery (not always the case these days). On this occasion, the advice turned out to be knowledgeable and spot on.

Inquiring upon arrival at Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn in Los Olivos, reception offered to secure for us the following day the reservation that was necessary in order to obtain the gate code to drive two miles through the property of the Zaca Mesa winery estate to reach Demetria. Arriving at an Italianesque Villa on top of a hill, the setting was precisely the atmosphere I am continually searching for. The second part of the equation, of course, is wine of a quality to match the ambience. We found both at Demetria.

Before introducing myself to Mark in the tasting room, we were greeted (sort of – amused by would be more accurate) Murphy, one of the resident cats, who was “sacked out” on a picnic table. Contented cats have a way of looking comfortable when lounging, but I don’t think I have ever seen one looking more comfortable than Murphy. His only movements were an occasional yawn, followed by a stretch and a rollover to the opposing aspect. Despite his lethargic persona at noon, I was subsequently assured that when night rolled around, Murphy would be found hard at work patrolling the grounds in search of fresh protein.

We were invited to select our desired seating and Mark would serve our tasting menu. As the midday sun was presenting a magnificent palate of warm summer blue, accentuated by slivers of sunlight thrusting randomly amongst the oaks inhabiting the hilltop, we happily selected an outside table under a mature oak perfectly suited to provide us with the maximum view of the surroundings.

Mark soon arrived with the 2014 Santa Barbara County Chardonnay – medium bodied, crisp citrus, with lime zest and green apple ($39.00). This was followed with the 2015 Grenache Rosé, having a delicate pink color, aromas of strawberry with floral overtones, watermelon and cranberry on the palate, and very dry ($25.00). Being old enough to remember when the rosés available in California were mostly sweet, I have been pleased to observe that as the wine makers and drinkers have both become more sophisticated, the clear trend is in favor of the drier style that predominates in France. A subtle, light rosé on the dry side is a perfect picnic lunch accompaniment on a warm summer day.

Cuvée Constantine (2013), an unusual blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, and Syrah, topped off with 3% Counoise, was the third tasting ($47.00). Earthy and full of substance, it had aromas of lavender, blackberry, and herbs, with the mouth flavors developing at the same time a hint of ripe berry coupled with dried stone fruit. Next followed 2013 Cuvée Matia, a Grenache with raspberry and red licorice on the nose, and tasting of pomegranate and spice. Demetria likes it with grilled meats and tomato based pasta dishes. The winery assesses it as aging well through at least 2020 ($60.00).

The fifth and final tasting was a 2013 “North Slope” Syrah (with 7% Viognier). An earthy wine, tasting of blackberry, coffee, and crème de cassis follows after complex aromas that include truffles and spices. Mark advised that this wine is Côte Rôtie styled. The Côte Rôtie AOC is located in the northern Rhône region of France. Guigal is perhaps one of the best known producers from this region

Having heeded the advice, we came prepared for a leisurely lunch. After enjoying cheese and crackers with our tasting menu, we then broke out the sandwiches and some heirloom tomatoes from my garden in Poway, to accompany a bottle of Cuvée Constantine which proved to be my tasting favorite. I purchased two more bottles of the same for home. I am accustomed to seeing wildlife, including quail, at my home in eastern Poway, but during our most enjoyable half afternoon at Demetria, we were witness to the largest covey of California quail I have ever seen. I counted at least 30 in a marching line at the edge of the vine rows, including an almost endless supply of chicks.

Demetria Estate is located on the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail just outside of Los Olivos. Also visited on this trip were tasting rooms at Kenneth Volk, Fess Parker, Foxen Vineyard and others, which will be the subject of a future report.

Urban Wineries Expand Led by Adam Carruth

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by Frank Mangio

Adam Carruth has re-arranged the landscape in downtown Carlsbad Village with his 2nd North San Diego location. He petitioned successfully with the city of Carlsbad to extend the boundaries of the Village along State Street , and now joins Campfire Restaurant and Baba Coffee for a fascinating group of hospitality service businesses. He has successfully operated Carruth Cellars in Solana Beach for some 6 years offering Carruth Cellars wines exclusively. Carruth sources North Coast grapes from wine countries like Sonoma , Napa and Santa Maria . They are then crushed, pressed, fermented, barrel aged and bottled at his local urban wineries and tasting rooms. He likes to call it “bringing grapes to the people.”

Adam Carruth has just opened his 2nd Carruth Cellars Urban Winery in downtown Carlsbad Village.

And some very nice grapes they are! On the white side, you can taste a Sauvignon Blanc 2015 from Lake County with a pink grapefruit and apple flavor. A step up is the 2014 Russian River Chardonnay with a creamy cover for a fresh citrus pop. On the red side, don’t miss the Napa Knight’s Valley Carruth Merlot from the fabulous 2012 vintage, with a note of caramel to blend with the clove and currant flavor. In a recent interview with Carruth, he was ready to roll in the Carlsbad wine scene. “I’m open, and it’s a work in progress. Improvements are still being made. Were really excited about our grape sources from Napa and Sonoma , and our Pinots coming from Oregon ’s Willamette Valley. I can tell you that Pinot Noirs and Rose’s are really increasing in popularity here. My customers love the smooth, easy flavor with a finish that really begs for more.” I asked him about the layout of the winery. “We have a lot more seating than we do in Solana Beach . I’m happy about the bistro style outdoor seating that was allowed, plus the lounge for communal seating.

Carruth’s reds go for a premium and that’s fine with him. His 2012 Cabernet from Napa Valley is $50. ($40. for club members) Here’s the nice thing about urban wineries. They’re like wineries, but they’re so convenient to the cities where they operate, without the big expense of a vineyard. You can try a glass to assess its flavor before you commit to a bottle. There are now 20 urban wineries in San Diego county. A special Annual Reserve Sale is planned for Carruth Cellars for one day only, Sat. Nov. 12. Check on the details at carruthcellars.com. or call 760-207-5324.

Newport Beach Crushes it, at its Wine & Food Festival
It’s hard to imagine that the Newport Beach Wine and Food Festival is only in its 3rd year. The level of sophistication is something to behold. Every one of the over 200 boutique, cult and world-renowned wines are some of the most sought-after brands in the world. The set up alone is dazzling, something out of grand resort setting. Antique and contemporary lounges and couches dot the green belt areas in relaxing settings between the grand tasting pavilions.

Tyler Painter of Matanzas Creek Winery in Sonoma offers an elegant Merlot 2013
at the Newport Beach Wine & Food Festival.

A total of 20 restaurants prepare and serve cuisine from the executive chefs that are always on-scene chatting and demonstrating their menu secrets for the foodies that eagerly try new flavors. Some of Orange County ’s finest were there. I singled out Mastro’s Steakhouse, Andrea’s Restaurant at Pelican Hill Resort and Filomena’s Italian Kitchen as worthy of an evening of fine dining. Silver Oak, Duckhorn, Matanzas Creek and Chappellet were the wines to taste. The stage had chef luminaries such as Rick Bayless and Hubert Keller doing cooking demos. Some 3,000 guests came during the 2 day daytime Grand Festival events. You can go to newportwineandfood.com for update information or call 1-888-511-FEST for the next date.

Wine Bytes
West Steak and Seafood in Carlsbad is planning a Chateau Montelena Wine Dinner Mon. Nov. 14 from 6 to 8:30pm. The iconic Napa Valley wines are considered among the best. Cost is $150. each and includes a 6 course dinner with pairings. RSVP at 760-930-9100.

Vittorio’s Trattoria in Carmel Valley presents a Bubbles dinner Thurs. Nov. 17 at 6pm. From Prosecco to Brut Champagne, you’ll taste all the bubbly with a 4 course dinner + dessert. $49.50 per person. Call 858-538-5884 for a place at the event.

Meritage Wine Market in Encinitas invites you to a Hiatus Cellars Napa Valley wine event Fri. Nov. 19 from 6 to 8pm. Cost is $40. each. Call 760-479-2500 for details.

Premier San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival Nov. 14 – 20

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by Frank Mangio

It’s the west coast’s largest luxury wine and food event, a week-long extravaganza of wine, food, beer, spirits and numerous classes and demonstrations, planned for many locations in San Diego.
The Grand Tasting with star-studded wines and chef personalities returns Saturday November 18th from 12 to 3pm at the Embarcadero, behind Seaport Village. It includes 150 wineries, breweries and spirits from around the world.

The one and only 13th annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival is coming Nov. 14 to 20.

That’s only one of over 50 events at the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival. Included in the festive Saturday event is the “Chef of the Fest” competition, where San Diego ’s leading chefs battle head to head in a fierce culinary showdown.

Friday the 18th is the Trade Tasting at SommCon, from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the Marriott Marquis & Marina on Harbor Drive. Beginners, Master Sommeliers and everyone in between will have something to taste and love at this largest event of the SommCon conference, tasting over 100 wine, brewery and spirit producers, while meeting and greeting wine producers.

Thursday November 17th you may want to join in a dinner and live auction with culinary greats, from 6 to 10pm at the Marriott. Gather your friends and reserve a table. It’s a once in a lifetime dining experience. The auction will benefit tomorrow’s culinary stars with scholarships for deserving students.

Skipping to Sun. Nov. 20th, join the Battle of the Bartenders combined with a Pizzapalooza, the best pizzas in the known world, from New York, Naples, Sicily, SoCal and other pizza capitals.. The fun goes from 11am to 2pm. The smartest way to go is to combine the week’s events into prepared packages. For instance, the Grand Cru VIP is: the Pizzapalooza on Sunday, wine or culinary classes, the Friday tasting at SommCon, the Lexus Grand Tasting on Saturday and a Party after Dark by Stella Artois beer. All the event details are in front of you, along with pricing, at sandiegowineclassic.com.

Rotary Carlsbad Brewfest draws big crowd

Over a thousand visitors partied with area craft brewers recently at the 3rd annual Carlsbad Brewfest, held at Holiday Park off the Interstate 5 freeway. There was a wonderful mix of beers to choose from, testimony to the rage of interest in craft beers. Forget about your father’s favorites like Coors and Bud. All the current best selling craft beer sellers were there, like Ballast Point, Stone, Karl Strauss and Green Flash.

The beer king of the Encinitas Oktoberfest, Edgar Engert with his wife Renate, are shown admiring Alpine Beer, a German style brew from Alpine, in East San Diego County.

There was a lot of interest in New Belgium, Belching Beaver, Firestone, Lost Abbey, Stumblefoot, Booze Brothers; 30 in all, with over 70 types of beer to taste. Music and games kept the fun at a high level. The Carlsbad High-Noon Rotary hosted the event with proceeds to benefit North County teens and Marines through scholarships. Details at carlsbadbrewfest.org.

Meet Peachy Canyon and Benziger from the Wine & Roses Tasting

For 33 years, the venerable Wine and Roses event has graced the wine events calendars in San Diego. It’s the longest running event of its kind here and it has benefited Camp Oliver , a disadvantaged youth summer camp in nearby Descanso, where over 2 million dollars has been donated.

This year it was held in a luxurious intimate atmosphere, the elegant Darlington House in downtown La Jolla , now open for meetings and events. The Egyptian and Andalusian patios, surrounded by blooming gardens, fit some 25 wineries that were carefully selected. Selections poured ranged from nearby Temecula to the legendary Napa Valley , and most wine countries in between.

Paso Robles and Sonoma are high on my list of excellent wine appellations. Large and rangy, they have hundreds of wineries. We’ll spotlight two, from Wine and Roses.

Peachy Canyon winery was born in 1988, founded by Doug and Nancy Beckett. These dedicated owners make nothing but low production sustainable wines. One of the best known wineries in Paso Robles, it’s just off Highway 46 west, a blessed terrain with the right amount of heat spikes and foggy cool-downs, and where Cabernets can thrive right alongside Zinfandels.

Zin has for a long time been Peachy Canyon ’s go-to wine varietal. Their 2014’s are out now and are showing a wild vibrancy with deep plum and mushroom flavors leading to a long textured finish. Visit peachycanyon.com for brands and prices.

Another winery at the event was Benziger and its limited production sister, Imagery. Both are minutes away from each other near the city of Sonoma . Benziger is well known for its Bordeaux style wines on 85 terraced acres. Imagery produces rare and small production varietals from far-away places, and only purchased at the winery. Wines like the 2013 Lagrein and the 2013 Teroldego from northern Italy , 2015 Alberino from northwest Spain and my favorite, a 2013 Petit Verdot from France , all produced in Sonoma . This robust Petit Verdot is cellar-worthy for several years, with 18 months of oak aging ($42.). For Benziger, visit benziger.com….for Imagery, visit imagerywinery.com.

Cape Rey Resort rocks on with a new season of fun.

Cape Rey Resort in Carlsbad is becoming the fun capital of North San Diego with well placed party themes including live bands, small bite gourmet food, beer and wine and beach town fashion, all done around a playful pool and an ocean view fire lounge. Their End of Summer Celebration lit up the night, with a partnership by Stone Brewing Company, in a beer garden atmosphere.

Lane Thompson, Stone Brewing sales rep and Jillian Holmes,
Chandler’s Restaurant Bartender, at the Cape Rey End of Summer Celebration.

Next up is a fun Halloween trick or treat party Monday October 31st from 5 to 8pm. Come in costume and little ones if you have one or more. All night happy hour at Chandler ’s with discounts on wine and beer. Details at 1-760-602-0800.

On the Road Again Tasting Northwest Wines

My all-time favorite County music singer is Willie Nelson, especially when he sings “On the road again, just can’t wait to get on the road again…”I’ve got a couple of close friends that I want to introduce you to, Nancine and Scott Hagner. Willie’s song could have been written for them.

After twin careers in the San Diego Unified School District, they have both retired to pursue twin loves, traveling in their motor home and visiting wineries. They just recently returned from their latest adventure, a 2 month journey including tasting and experiencing the great wine countries of Oregon and Washington . It was their 93rd road trip, and like Willie sings, they can’t wait to get on the road again.

Frequent wine travelers Scott and Nancine Hagner,
in the Appplegate Valley of southern Oregon, at the Wooldridge Creek Winery.

“We are now retired and we have had an RV motor home that can pull a small vehicle,” said Hagner. “Nancine and I have been planning to see the countryside of the Yakima Valley and Walla Walla in Eastern Washington for a long time. We combined it with the beauty of Oregon and set our sights for our longest trip yet, with a no-reservation adventure. We depended on the network of RV parks, traveled for 3 to 4 hours, then parked and explored. It is a great feeling of freedom for us on the open road.”

On their way up, the Hagners went through Napa Valley, tasting and touring through some of the wineries on their short list. They got to know Beaulieu, Provenance, Sterling and a favorite of mine, Castello di Amorosa.

Interstate 5 provided access to Oregon and on to State 238 and the powerful Rogue River near the city of Grants Pass. This is rugged fir and rapids country and the 18 wineries follow suit: powerful, flavorful and rugged. Two names to know in this Applegate Valley wine country in the south of Oregon: Troon Vineyard and Woolridge Creek Winery. Troon was the earliest of the wineries to plant Zinfandel. They have expanded their wine menu to 10 more on 25+ acres, including the Italian heavyweight varietal, Vermentino. Visit troonvineyard.com. It gets an emphatic thumbs up from the Hagners.

Close behind is Woolridge Creek, 56 acres of Cabernet, Merlot, Cab Franc and 9 other mostly French style wines. Check out wcwinery.com.

After a detour to the Oregon coast and the city of Florence , the Hagners set out on Interstate 84 to get to the state of Washington and the Yakima Valley. The first people to inhabit this fertile valley were the Indian tribes of the Yakima nation. The wild sagebrush and sloping foothills still mould the culture and living of the wineries and other farms of this vast area of central Washington. The Hagners camped in this area for 3 days and it was here they discovered Kana Winery in the historic downtown of Yakima, one of the few in-town tasting rooms.

Kana winemaker Tony Lombardo checks next year’s vintage in Yakima Washington,
one of over 900 wineries in the state.

Up until the Kana Winery experience, Yakima was a disappointment with the best comment being “decent and drinkable.”

Kana is a native word for the spirit or the fire within a volcano. Volcanic influences abound in the soil of central and eastern Washington. The winemaker is Tony Lombardo who joined Kana in 2012 bringing his philosophy that “90% of winemaking is done in the vineyard.” Recent vintages from 2008 to the most recently bottled 2014 have all been above average. The best varietal was brought back to me by the Hagners, a Kana Old Vine Blaufrankisch Lemberger 2011, a recent award winner at a Seattle tasting, with dark, spicy, balanced tannins. This grape is well known and grown in Austria , the Czech Republic and Croatia. The Yakima Valley is one of the few places in the U.S. where this grape is grown. Kana sells this bottle for $18. Visit kanawinery.com.

Two hours from Yakima, Nancine and Scott Hagner settled into Walla Walla and it was here they hit the mother lode of wines, as downtown Walla Walla has over 22 tasting rooms and over 60 wineries in the district. Long Shadows, Amavi and LeEcole are 3 well known wineries in the Walla Walla district, but Nancine and Scott are seekers of small, more handcrafted wineries, wineries less traveled. The top of the list was Spring Valley Vineyard, home of big red wines. Their 115 acres produce Merlot, Cab Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Malbec and Petit Verdot. Spring Valley’s brand names reach out and grab like Muleskinner, Derby and a 3,000 case Uriah 2013 blend that has all of the above varietals, for $50. a bottle. Visit at springvalleyvineyard.com. Other discoveries in Walla Walla were: Kontos, Seven Hills, Henry Earl, TERO, Saviah and Northstar.

The Hagners ( a.k.a. Willie and Willamina) are taking short trips to keep in shape for a possible big one in 2017, a river trip through the Rhone Valley of France. I guess they will have to keep the RV home for that one.

Taste of Wine Finds: August/September 2016

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by Frank Mangio

Here and there during California’s Wine Month
The past month or so have been a merry-go-round, with the emphasis on merry. Both pre-events celebrating Wine Month in California in September, and merry-making in September and its final days have been stuffed with tributes to this great state and its elegant wine industry, twenty one events to be exact. I wrote a column on the unique history of California wines presented by Coasterra Restaurant on San Diego ’s Harbor Island with the knowledgeable experience of Maurice DiMarino at work.

September took me to San Luis Obispo with its heritage of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with many of the wineries just a few miles from the brisk fog of the Central Coast , something that Pinot lovers know is the living breathing life- giving nutrition for this quirky grape. I will get into the details of these two events in a later column.

Two standouts for the wine celebration were the Pala Casino Food & Wine Festival and the Palomar College Starlit Gala featuring Lorimar wines. Just goes to again prove that there is a market for wine events in just about any venue.

Pala is a short run from San Diego County and they have recently worked very hard to establish their wine program as a leading one for resorts and casino in the district. Their CAVE underground wine bar and restaurant has caused and increase in interest for wine. Their first annual Food & Wine Festival drew 50 big names, mostly in California to nearly dovetail with the California wine month theme. They staged it along with a feast of food sampling from their many restaurants, at a time frame of 4 to 8pm on a Sunday, next to their big-time concert Starlight theatre. Wines included: Banfi and Santa Margherita from Italy, Oyster Bay from New Zealand , Daou, Justin and Wild Horse from Paso Robles, Dry Creek, J Vneyards and Ferrari Carano from Sonoma and many Napa Valley brands like Beaulieu, Beringer, Robert Mondavi and Trinitas. An creative idea I applauded was the spacious tables and comfy chairs placed so that all of the large guests attandees could sit and spread out their food and wine to their comfort. Bravo! Check out more at PalaCasino.com

Palomar College Starlit Gala chooses Lorimar Wines
Palomar College in my days when I struggled with 2 jobs and a night education, provided me with a 2 year college degree that I took to San Diego State University to acquire a 4 year Journalism and Advertising degree with honors. So it was with great pleasure that accepted an invitation to their 25th annual Gala With the added pleasure of wines from Lorimar Vineyards and winery in Temecula.

The full-house guest list included Congressman Darrel Issa from the 49th District that includes Palomar College . His wife Kathy Issa was honored with the Comet Award for her philanthropic
Work with education. Lorimar gifted the school several cases of their 2015 Viognier and the 2012 Cabernet Franc. I was high bidder on several of their Lorimar Medley 2012 Meritage blends.

At Lorimar, they craft wines that are approachable with a fruit forward style that showcases the Temecula Valley . This one is 60% Cabernet, 20% Merlot, along with Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Learn more at LorimarWinery.com.

Perfect Score: Indelible Inflection for a Modern Winery in Napa Valley
Finally, a book about a modern winery of this century, authored by the individuals that lived it, is published for all to read. The book, a Perfect Score, The Art, Soul and Business of a 21st-Century Winery, is written in an honest and straight-forward way by Craig and Kathryn Hall.

The Halls open their minds and hearts to the powerful passion for what can be described as true millenial wineries, Hall and Walt, constructed and operated after the year 2000, in Rutherford and St. Helena, Napa Valley . They open the book with a real, pixy-like symbol of the Halls success, “Bunny Foo Foo,” a 35 foot long stainless steel sculpture seemingly jumping over the Hall vineyards in St. Helena . “Bunny Foo Foo really represents our wine experience at the intersection of of art, nature, globalization and technology,” exclaimed Kathryn Hall. “Our personalities and passions have dictated our decisions and shaped everything, from the design of our wineries to the taste of the wine.”

Proof of that winning taste is evident in the book title A Perfect Score. That came on October 31, 2013 when, in a personal letter to the Halls, Robert Parker, the wine world’s most renowned wine critic, awarded their 2010 HALL Exzelenz Cabernet Sauvingon a perfect 100 points. How the Halls got to that point in their wine careers, is full of flash points and they aren’t all rainbows.

There was the year in the late 90’s when they didn’t yet have their own winery but had wine made for them by the famed Rombauer winery. Late one night, the Rombauer warehouse burned down and took with it, 2,200 cases of Hall wine leaving the Halls with no wine to sell for 2 years and no insurance on the disaster. It took a hero’s resolve to get going again.

The style of this book had me wanting more with each of the 22 chapters. Like “Bunny Foo Foo,” it bounces through a number of fascinating topics on the winding road to success. Most chapters have both Kathryn and Craig pausing in their story to be interviewed 20/20 style, commenting on the
poignant moments in their lives that relate to each chapter’s subject.

This book is really a love story on many levels, and it’s an American story of great passions and personalities. Whether you are thinking about owning a vineyard and winery, or just enjoy an award-winning glass of wine, there I something rich and lively in A Perfect Score to inspire readers to follow their dreams.

Today, the Halls operate 500 acres of estate vineyards. They will be traveling across the country and signing books, and plan to stop at La Gran Terraza on the Campus of the University of San Diego on Tuesday November 15th. The book is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Books-A-Million. See their website at hallwines.com.

Hall Winery’s latest 2013 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon will be served along with other lovely wines at a Hall and Walt Wine Diiner at SEASALT DEL MAR Seafood Bistro, Thursday September 29th starting at 6pm. These wines will be paired with the magnificent five course dinner planned by Seasalt owner Sal Ercolano. The cost is only $54.95 per person. Call 858-755-7100 to reserve your place and an opportunity to savor Hall and Walt wines.

Carcofi with Full Bodied Reds are Sure to Please
Looking for a patio party pleaser with a distinctly Italian flavor to it? Look no further than Carcofi Ripieni for a desirable headliner, paired with a bevy of monster red wines with an Italian/California pedigree.

Artichokes are a fascinating bowl-like green vegetable with lots of nutritional value. They are a very delicious treat when each leaf or bract of the Carcofi is stuffed with Italian delights such as grated
aged Pecorino cheese, Italian breadcrumbs with seasonings and sweet basil and crushed garlic, all drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and white wine.

You have to have time and patience to consume artichokes of any kind but especially stuffed Italian style. The edible portion is the leaf pulp (also called flower buds) before the flowers come into bloom. The base or heart of the plant is also edible and is the most delicious of this eat-by-hand meal.

Artichokes are healthy choices. They contain the highest antioxidant ingredient reported for a vegetable and were first cultivated for eating by the Sicilians and popularized as a delicacy by the Greeks, Spanish, Italians and French. In America , California produces 42,000 tons, with nearly 100% of the U.S. crop in the City of Castroville, proclaiming itself the “Artichoke Center of the World.” But this is still far behind Italy with over 500 thousand tons produced.

Briefly, stuffed Carciofi is made after cutting off the top thorns of the leaves, and trimming the stem at the bottom. Open the leaves and stuff with mixed breadcrumbs, grated cheese, ground garlic and sweet basil. Drizzle over the top of the leaves with olive oil and white wine. Place the artichokes in a baking dish with a small amount of water in the dish. Cover the artichokes with foil and bake at 350 degrees for about 1 ½ hours. The stuffed leaves should pull out easily when they are done. To eat, grab each leaf by the top and scrape out the pulp with the delicious stuffing, with your teeth.

Noted New York chef brings original dining to Carmel Valley
Chef Pascual Lorange is a culinary household name in New York City and some of the multi-starred dining houses of Europe. He was once the private chef for international singer Julio Iglesias. Well, New York now has that sinking feeling and San Diego suddenly is looked up to as very attractive for must-dine restaurants, including Lorange’s new CRUDO.

I had the pleasure of interviewing this charming man who has raised the cooking bar for other restaurants in the city. He’s brought with him a creative bond for the menu which is somewhere between Mediterranean and Japanese-inspired infusions. He is convinced it’s the perfect fit for the SoCal coastal lifestyle and so do I. “I wanted to bring something new to San Diego but at the some tine, it had to be a sophisticated dining experience, yet affordable,” he enthused. “CRUDO is a method of cooking fish and other seafood, although we have many selections on the menu like steak, chicken and lamb.”

Before I get into the inflection point of this amazing menu, I was joined by Jason Mosley, the General Manager and Wine Director, who opened four distinctly different wines, two whites and two reds, all of which can be ordered by the glass or bottle, and which pair perfectly with menu specialties that were shaped for these wines. “The whites cozy up to the many seafood delicacies and have great elegance to match the food,” he asserted. “Chateau Ducasse is a Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc from 2012, fleshy with earth tones and minerality, and the Trefethen Napa Valley Chardonnay 2014 is natural with no butter or malolactic to alter the original flavor.” Over on the red side, Mosley presented a Louis Jadot Pinot Noir 2013 from Burgundy and a Terrior Cabernet 2014 from Napa Valley , a blend of some magnitude. Mosely observed that “although all were young, it is now what the public wants, rather than wait for a presumed aging advantage.”

Every corner of CRUDO has a light, appealing color and design element to match the menu. “It’s who I am as a chef,” declared Lorange. At CRUDO you must try the Papillote specialties. They are what are uniquely delicious about this inflection point restaurant. The food is steamed into parchment paper, then slowly baked to perfection. They include choices like: Chicken, Lamb, Crudo Lobster and my personal favorite, the Chilean Sea Bass with marble potato confit, asparagus, leek, heirloom carrot, herbs tapenade and green olives. Unforgettable. Visit at crudopl.com, or call for a reservation at 1-858-847-2797.

Avensole is the newest winery in Temecula
Avensole Winery, a beautiful 20 acre vineyard, winery and restaurant that sits on a petite lake off Rancho California road, is the 40th winery in Temcula. Varietals include: Cabernet Sauvignon, Muscat Canelli, old and new vine Zinfandel and Gewurztraminer. Bought by the Lytton Family in 2014, Avensole combined means one-of-a-kind adventure in Italian. Grapes have been grown on this property for over 4 decades. You might remember two of my nicest friends, Buddy and Cheri Linn, who operated the winery when it was La Cereza, a premium Spanish winery. I’m certain they are pleased with the results of Avensole. The winery has free live music on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 8pm. See avensolewinery.com. or call 1-951-252-2003 x312.

Now on to the wines, a selection of six, with each guest encouraged to “taste them all and note the changes in taste with the Carciofi.” The wines chosen for this party were:

· Gerard Bertrand Cote des Rose,’ France . 2015. $12.
· Cantina Zaccagnini Montepuciano , Italy . 2013 $12.
· The Prisoner blend, Napa Valley , Ca. 2014. $35.
· Ferrari Carano UNA blend, Sonoma Ca. 2014. $39.
· Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Ca. $75.

These wines range from light and airy with the Rose’ for those that love a wine that was simpatico with the artichoke flavor, to heavy bodied and tannic with the Cabernet for the guests that wanted a pairing with the strong garlic and cheesy element in the stuffing. One Carciofi is easily enough for a meal. I suggest that all the food you need is in that one fat, plump artichoke. More details on the recipe can be found at food.com.

September is California Wine Month.
Any day of the week, any month of the year is the time to celebrate the greatness of California wines. But the table is set and the glass is full for California to shine in September so let’s toast the world’s most coveted wine country producing 120 grape varietals, more than any country in the world. Napa Valley, Sonoma, Paso Robles, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara, Temecula and yes, San Diego County, all produce more than 90% of all the wine in the U.S. Some 3,500 wine producers dot the state.

Spanish missionaries began planting in the 1700’s. The first commercial wineries started in Los Angeles in the 1830’s, then later in the century in Napa Valley and Sonoma .

Ponsaty’s – a Return to Elegance
Fifth generation Master French Chef Patrick Ponsaty has applied his masters touch to a new, elegant restaurant in Rancho Santa Fe, Ponsaty’s. It replaces Delicias at a key corner in the village. He was corporate chef at the Grand Restaurant Group which has partnered in the new operation. As you enter

Ponsaty’s, the elegance is evident in the soft browns, greys and gold- toned massive Murano glass chandelier in the main dining room. Chef Patrick has created a menu that “features my family’s recipes and my visions from top to bottom,” he said. He grew up in the south of France and started his career in cooking at age 15. Next was Monaco, Spain, New York, and finally San Diego where he was chef at the Rancho Bernardo Inn and his own Bernardo Restaurant. Recommended entrees include: the Lightly Seared Cortez Corvina with Lobster-Saffron Risotto and the Lacquered Scottish Salmon with long-stem artichokes. The winning wine was the 2009 Bonnacorsi Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara . RSVP at 858-771-1871.

Dave Phinney – Mastermind of The Prisoner

2016-08-16T12:28:00.002-07:00

by Frank Mangio
This is a story about “new world” wine in the Napa Valley and the meteoric rise of Dave Phinney, who had an idea about blending wine out of the box. You might say he released “the Prisoner” and freed him to hit a creative home run in the wine world. But we digress. The story started in 1995 when Phinney, confused about what he wanted out of life, took a friend’s advice and studied wine for a semester in Florence Italy .

Once graduated from university life, he set out to find work in a Napa Valley vineyard and found one at Robert Mondavi Winery in 1997. A year later he started his own winery, Orin Swift Cellars with 2 tons of Zinfandel, and not much else.

Master winemaker Dave Phinney is living the Napa Valley dream, when in 2003 he created the now-famous blend The Prisoner at his Orin Swift Cellars winery, which has reportedly sold recently for 100 mlllion dollars to E. and J. Gallo wines.

He spent the next few years making wine for others as well as himself, experimenting with the way the wines tasted and looked, with mixing and expressive labeling. It hit him in 2003, when he added together “mixed blacks,” like the old Italian immigrants who came to Napa Valley used to do. He made Zinfandel the major varietal and added it to the standard traditional “black” blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Charbono. He called it The Prisoner from the label he chose, an etching of a prisoner drawn by the famous artist Goya.

At first, the Prisoner produced just 385 cases in its first vintage. It caught on quickly as the new world’s newest and tastiest blend, and eventually went to 85,000 cases in 10 years. The last vintage of The Prisoner made by Phinney before he sold the name is the 2013 vintage.( $45.) It has 44% Zinfandel with 20% Cabernet and 16% Petite Sirah, and the rest Grenache and Charbono. Alcohol content is a hefty 15.2%. It is a deep ruby red hue with aromas of black cherry and plum and roasted coffee beans, with a long finish.

It had me going back for more. I was captivated. Without The Prisoner, Orin Swift and Dave Phinney went international with old vine Grenache made on 200 acres in the French Langedoc region as well as Napa Valley Cabernet brands like Mercury Head, Papillion and Palermo. Mannequin is a Chardonnay based brand and Abstract is a red blend mainly with Grenache.

Locations is a value brand lineup from places around the world. Look for a single large letter on the label. Most recently, this story shot skyward when E. and J. Gallo, the legendary decades-long jug wine bottle company from Modesto, announced that it had acquired Phinney’s company, Orin Swift Cellars, for a reported 100 million dollars. Phinney will remain in charge. Learn more at orinswift.com/information.

Antinori Wines at La Gran Terraza USD
Antinori, as most of us know, is one of the iconic Tuscan wines to know. His family has been making wne since 1385. I learned about Italian wines from Piero Antinori and Wine Spectator when I first began TASTE OF WINE in 2005. At a recent wine dinner at the University of San Diego ’s posh La Gran Terraza, the next chapter of Antinori was revealed by its Business Manager in Southern California , Alessia Botturi.

Alessia Botturi of Antinori Winery of Tuscany with La Gran Terraza manager
Luis Rosas as they display the Tormaresca wines.

It is the Antinori Tormaresca brand from the Puglia district of Italy. Tormaresco means watchtower in Italian and they were built to keep away feudal empires from conquering Puglia , now more known for its Primitivo, a grape that closely resembles Zinfandel in California. The Tomraresca Toricicoda 2013 ($20.97) is closest to what we call Zinfandel.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Antinori’s legendary Tignanello, one of the first and best “Super Tuscans,” pioneer wines that were the first in Italy to blend the Sangiovese grape with other varietals. ($95.) They now command very high prices, and are not made unless the vintage is among the best. Details about La Gran Terraza and other wine dinners can be found at lagranterraza.com.

Wine Bytes
Vittorio’s in Carmel Valley off the 56 will be presenting a Cakebread Cellars wine dinner, Thurs. Aug. 25th at 6pm. This well respected Napa Valley winery will be paired with Vittroio’s splendid dinner menus featuring Beef Wellington and Cakebread’s Cabernet. Cost is $59.50 pp. RSVP at 858-538-5884.

Decoy Dockside in Lake San Marcos has its Sneak Preview special event for the new restaurant, Sat. Aug. 27th from 6 to 10pm. Cost is $100. ea. Enjoy complimentary welcome cocktail, appetizers, chef demos, live music and a fireworks spectacular. RSVP at 619-236-8397.

Live at Lake Henshaw at Santa Ysabel, a food, wine and music festival across from the Roundup Grill. Date is Sun. Aug. 28th from 11 to 5pm. Cost is $30 to benefit Shelter to Soldier. Music by Steelhorse Country. Wine from Ramona Ranch Winery. Tickets by calling 760-782-2729.

California State University San Marcos is offering its next course in the Certificate for Wine, Beer and Spirits, starting Sept. 8th and emphasizing craft beer. Fee is $269. More info at csusm.edu/el/wbsq.

PORTUGAL WINE ADVENTURE - PART VI: GUIMARÃES

2016-08-05T23:34:00.000-07:00

by Don Nunn

To any world traveler (as diametrically opposed to tourist), experiencing the indigenous customs of the host country is welcomed as an interesting and educational opportunity to learn about another culture. The French greet virtually every stranger on the sidewalk going in the opposite direction with “Bonjour” (contrary to their reputation among American tourists as being somewhat stuffy), and the Scots accompany every (always hearty) breakfast with the world’s best bacon. Sparkling wine available to mix with the ever present orange juice (if so inclined), and warm milk for the coffee are ubiquitous Portuguese breakfast offerings.

After leaving Porto, our Portugal journey continued northward, with the next stop being the Pousada de Guimarães Santa Marinha, a completely restored monastery (Mosteiro). Proof that true craftsmen still exist (at least in Europe) is everywhere evident in the restored historical edifices throughout the continent, and Portugal proved to be no exception.

Guimaraes from Pousada

The monastery at Guimarães has been restored architecturally as needed, but the new and refurbished masonry work is indistinguishable from the original, of which a large part remains. Plumbing and electrical is installed in historical buildings constructed centuries ago, but is done in such a way that the wires and pipes are unnoticeable. The magnificent end result is a four star hotel in an historical building furnished with all of the modern conveniences, including a fine dining restaurant. Yet the guest walks the same cloisters, and muses contemplatively in the same terraces and courtyards, as the Augustinian Monks who built and occupied it starting eight centuries ago.

Most of the antiques that now fill the Pousada are hotel furnishing additions that enhance the atmospheric surroundings, but were not present when the monks walked the halls. No doubt, however, the stark and uncomfortable looking benches that line the long and spacious corridors of the present Pousada were familiar to the spartan lives of those long ago monks. Sternly self-disciplined by their religious vows, living rigorously simple lives, perhaps those monks would not approve of the comfort that permeates their hotel monastery today, but I certainly did.

Terrace at Pousada de Guimaraes

The Pousada sits, as did its predecessor monastery, high on a hill with a commanding view over the valley below, in which reposes the substantial town of Guimarães. My favorite place in the Pousada was a very large terraço (terrace) at the end of a long hallway of guest rooms on the top story of the former religious edifice. I found it early in my customary exploration just after checking into our room. The terrace was centered with a 15 foot high fountain, covered on its one enclosed side wall with giant azulejo (tile) panels depicting historical themes (everything here was overly spacious or of large stature) , and overlooked Guimarães far below.

Open on three sides and supported by immense (of course) stone columns, the terrace was mostly shaded from the afternoon sun and provided the perfect place to relax, enjoy the view, and reflect upon the satisfaction of finding such an atmospheric lodging in which to spend the night. The terraço was intended for the common use of all hotel guests, but we happily found ourselves entirely alone to soak up the ambience.

Pousada de Guimaraes

Guimarães was Portugal’s first capital and also the birthplace of Afonso Henriques, the first King. Its history dates back to the 10th Century, and the medieval town center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

One custom that I could do without is the meal cover charge, 4€ each at this location. Nevertheless it is a small price to pay for the enjoyment of a relaxing dinner amongst the stone columns and buried memories of the dining area in this historical monastery. The restaurant area was filled on all sides by many more azulejo panels. As these panels are done in cobalt blue, are mostly antiques themselves (fifty or more to hundreds of years old), and depict primarily historical themes, I knew before embarking on the trip that I would be a fan. Of all the things I like about Portugal, the Azulejo Panels are certainly my favorite (yes, even more than Port).

Dining Room Pousada de Guimaraes

Dinner tonight consisted of a cured duck salad with pine nuts & raspberry vinaigrette starter, intermezzo of carpaccio with melon ice cream, fig jam, and herbed crème cheese, and main course of filet mignon, with a side dish of mushrooms and rice served in a cast iron pot.

The wine this night was a red from the Dão region. The name comes from the Dão River. The Dão is a mountainous region of north central Portugal, a little east of Guimarães, and is favored with a moderate climate. The Dão has its own DOC, and for the Dão DOC to be on the label, it must be produced with at least 20% Touriga Nacional grapes. The wine I had was blended with a mouthful of other Portuguese varietals. The cost of the wine was consumer friendly.

This was the best meal of the trip thus far. On my own personal 5 point scale for food quality, I rated it 4+, a score that was only equaled or exceeded twice in three weeks, and both of those other times were in surprising locations.

In our next installment, we continue still farther north, to the Peneda-Gerês National Park, which demarcates a portion of Portugal’s border with northwest Spain. The National Park is a mountainous area of forests, lakes, and remarkable beauty.

Cool Down with Viognier and other White Wines

2016-08-05T23:20:00.000-07:00

by Frank Mangio
The first time I put my lips to a Viognier wine it was love at first taste. This white wine, so thirst-quenching and delicious, deserves better. Its roots are deeply laid in the northern Rhone Valley of France and is the only permitted grape for the French wine Condrieu in the Rhone. Viognier is hard to pronounce and is lagging way behind the leader of the white wine pack, Chardonnay.

First let’s get the pronunciation right. It’s (Vee-on-Yay) and like Chardonnay, Viognier has the potential to produce full-bodied complex white wine, with a pretty, golden hue to it to tempt the palate. Unlike most simpler whites, both Chardonnay and Viognier age well, so it’s not unusual to see a year or two of vintage on the label. Another interesting thing about this wine is that it blends well with other whites. Our friends at Robert Renzoni in Temecula Valley make a Cantata blend with 60% Pinot Grigio and 40% Viognier. Lots of apple and pear on the nose, with a hint of pineapple on the finish.

Viognier grapes are bursting with notes of fruit like Peach, Pear and Mango,
and it does well in Temecula Wine Country.

Viognier seems to have found a home in Southern California. A number of wineries in Temecula have embraced its heat-loving properties and distinguished palatable accents. Besides Robert Renzoni, several other wineries feature Viognier in their white wine lineup. Falkner Winery has always done well and Ray Falkner was an early believer in the varietal. His new release Viognier is a gold medal winner, grown on the estate. White peach, pineapple, key lime and honeysuckle are clear plate-pleasing fruits, evident in Falkner Viognier. South Coast does well with their entry. Aromas of peach and nectarine dominate, along with a velvety finish, evident in all Viogniers.

Maurice Car’rie Winery is an all-white varietal winery and its Viognier is accented with apricot , Asian pear notes and citrus blossom. Most Viogniers will be in the $20. price point. Viognier was out of favor and in the 60’s, with just a few acres in the northern Rhone Valley of France. The popularity and price of the grape has risen since then. It’s a difficult grape to grow and prone to mildew and up and down yields. A just-right Viognier will have a high level of sugar with high alcohol and perfume, compared to other whites. Source Wikipedia.org/wiki/viognier.

Pinnacle at the Top for Lunch in Temecula Wine Country
Pinnacle Restaurant, high atop a lookout with a sweeping view of Temecula Wine Country is Falkner Winery’s premium lunch restaurant. Executive Chef Gianni Ciciliot has fashioned a food lover’s menu that pairs well with the many marquee varietals, headlined by the Falkner 2012 Amante Super Tuscan red blend, my wine of the month for August. August is Lobster Fest month at Pinnacle.

Each week Chef Gianni presents this elite seafood in a unique way. This weekend dine on Maine Lobster charbroiled with garlic butter, whipped Boursin cheese mashed potatoes, asparagus and a triple onion cream sauce. Lunch is served daily from 11:30 to 3:30pm. RSVP by calling 951-676-8231 x4.

Wine Bytes
Gianni Buonomo Vintners, San Diego ’s first beach winery in Ocean Beach has a new wine release gala, Fri. Aug. 12th at 7pm, paired with several favorite restaurants. The 2013’s include Rhone style blends, Bordeaux inspired blends and a Super Tuscan style Sangiovese. The winery will introduce their new label, Gianni California . Ticket info at gbv2013release.eventbrite.com.

It’s Summer in Pink at Cucina Enoteca Del Mar, Sat. Aug. 13th from 2 to 4pm. 5 Rose’ samples will be offered along with an impressive anti pasti spread by chef Joe Mangnanelli. Cost is $40. Call 858-704-4500 for an RSVP.

Il Fornaio with locations in Coronado and Del Mar presents its Sicilia Fest Regionale dishes, now til Aug. 21st. Specially crafted menu delights from the island of Sicily .

La Costa Wine on El Camino Real in Carlsbad has a beer and cheese tasting with the “Booze Bothers,” Sun. Aug. 14th from 2 to 4pm. It’s an all craft beer offering, for $25. ea. RSVP at 760-431-8455.

New Skater Girl Wine is on Board with San Diego Restaurants and Wine Shops

2016-08-05T23:07:00.000-07:00

by Frank Mangio
From the wine entrepreneurs who gave us Coomber Family Wines, a fast rising premium brand of vintners collection varietals from the Central Coast and Napa Valley , now brings us Skater Girl, with a 7 year old English Bulldog named Maggie, with “a lot more than just a pretty face.”

Skip and Maureen Coomber, seeing success with their original brands of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet in the higher end market, with a link to contributing a portion of sales to various animal rescue shelters, looked to their love of animals for inspiration to the next level of winemaking. For 7 years, they laughed and had fun with their skate boarding Maggie. ” We wanted to create a fun, everyday brand of wines that were easy to drink, had great value and honor our talented Maggie” Coomber explained. ($15. each, estimated retail.)

Skater Girl starring the Carlsbad English Bulldog Maggie, is the latest wine creation of the Coomber Family, now available in many wine shops and restaurants in San Diego .

I asked about how he was able to teach Maggie to ride a skateboard. “Bulldogs have a thing about the sound of wheels. She would run around the board after one of our family had pushed it, then want to jump on, then push on it, eventually learning how to ride it. She loves to have an audience. Well, she has one now. We submitted a video of Maggie to You-Tube and it went viral. It was played on the big screen at last year’s KAABOO Festival in Del Mar and the audience went crazy.”

The Coombers have a very successful custom crush service facility in Buellton, and purchase quality grapes from the Central Coast and Napa Valley for both Skater Girl and Coomber Family Wines. They have a personal test for all their wines. They both must personally enjoy the wines they produce. The Chardonnay must have natural flavor with superior grape style, the Pinot Noir must have a Burgundian aroma and flavor profile and the Cabernet must have a strong, powerful body with deeply toned elegance.

Wherever presented, Skater Girl wines have received orders. Check the Del Mar Wine Company, Wine Loft Carlsbad, Rosati’s Encinitas and the Hilton Del Mar among others. Trade inquiries are encouraged at 858-354-3910.

Meet Agata Lozano – Global Wine Ambassador
I have never met a more energetic, enthusiastic wine ambassador than Agata Lozano, from Lozano Family Wine Cellars of La Mancha, Spain. After learning the wines as a 4th generation Lozano, she set out all over Spain, China and Russia promoting her family’s annual production of more than 1.5 million bottles a year from over 2,500 acres.

Agata Lozano, now a La Jolla resident, has traveled the world promoting her family’s Lozano Family Wines from La Mancha in Spain , the country’s 10th largest wine exporter, founded in 1853.

Lozano makes a wide assortment of wines including: Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo Rose and Temprnillo reds, plus many brands of sparkling wines. On this day of discovery, we tasted the new release Oristan, a premium oak aged Tempranillo, with small amounts of Cabernet and Shiraz. Agata now declares La Jolla her permanent home, reminding her of her favorite Spanish cities of Valencia and Seville. Currently she is looking for a well-known distributor for her Lozano wines and is now interviewing. She can be reached at 707-266-4350.

Wine Bytes
Tuscany Restaurant in La Costa now has live romantic Jazz available with dinner the first Friday of each month in the Encore Room starting at 6:30pm with the Jazztones. RSVP at 760-929-8111.

The Marine Room in La Jolla has a Cooking Class & Dinner, Wed. Aug. 10th from 6 to 8pm. Cost is $85. Three-course dinner with wine pairings. RSVP at 858-459-7222.

Bernardo Winery in Rancho Bernardo has its Summer Cellar Series with the Winemaker, starting Wed. Aug. 17th from 6:30 to 9:30pm. Each of the 3 events will be a different experience with seasonal foods and wine pairings. Go to Bernardowinery.com to find out more including pricing.

Pala Casino Spa & Resort, off Highway76 in Pala has its Starlight Food & Wine Festival, Sat. Aug. 20th from 4 to 8pm on the lawn of its Starlight Theater and the Wine Cave. Over 50 premium wines from Napa Valley, Sonoma and Paso Robles, accompanied by food pairings and entertainment. Tickets are $75. ea. Call 1-877-946-7252 or visit startickets.com.