Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Benise Benefit Concert: Good Vinebrations to Evening in Temecula Wine Country


Concert Promoter Buddy Linn, (who also owns La Cereza Winery with wife Cheri) snapped this pre-concert photo of Roni Benise about to be cornered by Taste of Wine TV producers Mike Bragg (left) and Frank Mangio. An exclusive on-camera interview of Benise by show host J.T. Meadows will be posted later this week on YouTube, and will appear in the September TV program on San Diego CW/6. Frank Mangio will review the Benise concert and associated summer evening La Cereza party in an upcoming posting here at www.TasteOfWineTV.com

Amaya Grand Del Mar is Garden-Fresh

by Frank Mangio

The Mediterranean splendor that is the Grand Del Mar has been documented in this column and publications world-wide. The decorative arts of Spain , Portugal Italy and Morocco are perfectly in harmony in this resort and this perfection is extended to the richly appointed restaurants.

We were treated the Addison dining room with its 2,500 bottle wine room under the brilliant leadership of Wine Director Jesse Rodriguz, so it was with great anticipation that the invitation came to review the other, more intimate and seductive Amaya with its delightful herb and vegetable garden just steps away.

Amaya was also unveiling its new summer menu, created by Chef Camron Woods and Food/Beverage director Ekrem Tercanoglu, which included: Grilled Swordfish, Roasted Halibut, Seared Seabass, Braised Short Rib and Whole Roasted Pork.

On the subject of his lovely garden of herbs, Camron said “I will use unusual flavors to mix with our marquee Mediterranean cuisine, like an Asian influence Terragon to accent the Sea Bass in Yellow Tomato Sauce. We cultivate freshness at Amaya.” As evidence, we walked into his expertly prepared garden. “Here you will find lots of Basil, Dill, Parsely Oregano, even tomatoes. It’s a feast for the senses with the emphasis on flavor.”Jesse Rodriguez was also in a celebratory mood as he uncorked his latest wines with an Italian theme. He introduced La Cappuccina, Soave 2007, a white from Veneto; and Morrano, Chianti 2007, a red from Tuscany , to pair with the chef’s creations.

Wine Director Jesse Rodriguez, and Chef Camron Woods, Amaya’s personable team at The Grand Del Mar

On Amaya’s terrace next to the herb garden, luscious pastries deserved the finale with such decadence as Carmelized Apricot with Vanilla Cream, Chocolate Royal Hazelnut, and Vanilla Strawberry Panna Cotta. To wash down dessert, a Banfi favorite was served, the Rosso Regale, a delicious strawberry flavored sparkling dessert wine. A perfect 24 hours would be to enjoy Amaya and taste as many of the fine wines as humanly possible; then stay over at one of the 249 rooms at this world-class resort. See more at www.TheGrandDelMar.com.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa Again Wins Winery of the Year


They’re dancing in the tasting room at South Coast Winery Resort and Spa in Temecula as the fashionable estate has again won the California State Fair “Golden Bear” Wine Competition. It remains at the top of the state’s “Best of the Best” for the second consecutive year. Jim Carter, owner/vintner for South Coast declared “we are proud to share this accomplishment and the attention it has given to the entire Temecula area.”

Winemakers Jon McPherson and Javier Flores have assembled some 650 winning wines since the winery started in 2003. and according to Carter “the best wines are being bottled now.” Get more information at www.wineresort.com.

Wine Bytes

* Vino 100 in San Marcos has the mighty Napa favorite Caymus Wine Tasting Fri. July 24 from 5 to 9pm. Fee starts at $15. Call 760-591-9113.

* Carlsbad Wine Merchants in the Island Center features small Italian Family Vineyards Fri. July 24 from 5 to 8pm. Audio League plays. Fee is $20. Details at 760-804-9994.

* Vine to Glass in Oceanside brings in wines from Wiens in Temecula, Sat. July 25 from 6 to 9pm . Six varietals poured for $15. Call 760-757-1037.

* North County Wine Company has two events coming up, including Fri. July 24 with a Pinot Noir and BBQ tasting and July 31 Nothing but Cabernet and BBQ. Call for times and price at 760-744-2119.

* Bacchus Wine Market in San Diego ’s Gaslamp District pours Grenache wines on Fri. July 24 from 4 to 8:30pm . Get seven samples from the south of France for $15. Call them at 619-236-0005.

* Temecula’s best wines will be unveiled in a gala Awards Ceremony and Banquet open to the public on Wed. July 29, 6pm at Wiens Family Cellars. Competition wines will be served. Mix and mingle with the winemakers. For an RSVP, call 951-926-1160.

* The 5th annual “Chocolate & Vino Affair” happens Thurs. July 30 with a 6pm start at Stingaree, downtown San Diego . It benefits San Diego Big Brothers, Big Sisters. Wineries, downtown restaurants and chocolate shops all donate. Pre sale $40 and $50. at the door. Check it out at 619-339-4564 or events@ypcsd.com.

* Bistro West in Carlsbad has “A Night at the Bistro” Tues. July 28, 7-9pm . An exclusive menu plus Beringer wines will be featured. $55. pp. Contact 760-930-8008 for more.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Tickets Now on Sale for 6th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival

by Frank Mangio
It is a joy for me to see a hard-working, street-smart team create a public event that is a masterpiece of perfection. I used to be in the special events business and produced shows up and down the Southern California coast.

When you make wine the star of the show, and blend brilliant chefs, music, education, and a comprehensive trade show in the mix, then you have the San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival. It’s a feast for the senses and it happens for a 6th time from November 18 through the 22nd.

When life began in 2004 for this largest wine and food experience of its kind in Southern California, Michelle Metter and Ken Loyst, the producers, were virtually doing it all as event planners with a new, blockbuster idea: make wine the crown jewel in a series of feel-good events centered around wine and food that gave visitors a wonderful time and a learning experience.

Fast forward to the 2009 festival this year, and on tap are some 170 world-class wineries, 70 fine dining restaurants, gourmet food companies, wine tasting seminars, cooking classes and an expected 8,000 plus enthusiastic guests over the 5 days of tasting fun. Live and silent auctions will benefit the American Institute of Wine and Food scholarships in San Diego.


Ken Loyst and Michelle Metter are the founders of the San Diego Bay
Wine & Food Festival.

Wineries are pouring into the 2009 festival, including such notables as: Duckhorn, Pedroncelli, Cotes Du Rhone, L’Aventure, Cass, Trefethen, Hall and many more. Restaurants lining up include: The Prado, Island Prime, Truluck’s, Morton’s, Jakes, The Shores and much more. Sponsorship and booth opportunities are still available but filling fast. Go to: www.worldofwineevents.com, or call 858-578-9463 for details.

Tickets for the public are on sale for all five days or individual events. See the event descriptions, locations and pricing at the web site or call a special phone number: 877-808-9463. This column will be updating the latest information as it becomes available right up to festival time, November 18 through 22.

Pala Mesa Re-visited

Tucked away in a pristine resort and golf course area of Fallbrook just off the 15, Aqua Terra at Pala Mesa Resort has made great strides in its presentation of wine and cuisine.

Kevin Poorbaugh the Director of Wine and Food has paid close attention to pairing his selections of whites and reds with such menu selections as crab-stuffed seasonal seabass, grilled ahi tuna and king crab legs. Excutive Chef Sean Sullivan shows talent and creativity in his monthly features, recently showing a combination of braised beef short ribs and shrimp.

I found the Napa Valley Raymond 2002 Reserve Merlot was a lovely red wine mate with this dish. For an exciting white, choose the Central Coast Firestone 2007 Riesling. The website is www.palamesa.com.

Wine Bytes
 Jim Barrasso at Firefly Grill and Wine Bar in Encinitas is presenting an incredible value with Napa Valley’s great Spring Mountain Vineyard Wine Dinner, Wed. July 22 starting at 6:30pm. Braised Pork Osso Bucca is the main course in this four course feast, and he’s dramatically lowered the price to just $60. pp. Spring Mountain will serve one of its prized library wines among others: the 1987 Cabernet Sauvignon! Magnum bottles will be auctioned. RSVP at 760-635-1066

 Congratulations to Callaway Vineyard and Winery in Temecula for its 40th Anniversary and Birthday party on Sun. July 19 from 1 to 4pm. Appetizers, live band, gifts and steep discounts on wines. Their red blend, the 2008 “Quartet” recently got gold in a San Diego competition. Call 951-676-4001 for details.
 Wine Street in Carlsbad has changed its name to La Costa Wine Company and has a remodeling and new format including a new wine and cheese bar. New value pricing is being rolled out. Next event is a Spanish wine tasting on Wed. July 22, 6 to 8pm. $15. pp. Details at 760-431-8455.

 Oak Mountain Winery in Temecula has its Woof and Purrs in the Vines event on Sun. July 19 from 3 to 7pm. $35. ea. for great food, live music, wine and an auction with great items to benefit animal causes. Reserve tickets by calling 951-699-9102.

 Hacienda de las Rosas Winery in the Fiesta de Reyes Plaza in Old Town San Diego is hosting a book signing on Fri. July 24 from 5 to 7pm. It’s Janene Roberts new book “Wine Tasting in Southern California and Beyond.” It features a guide to the unique wineries, wine bar, restaurants and more. Meet the author, enjoy the wine, and purchase a signed book, all for $20. Contact is haciendawine@aol.com.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Top Ten Wine Tastings 1st Half of 2009

by Frank Mangio
What a wonderful last six months for the wine experience it has been. Of course the recession has hurt wine sales a bit and on the retail level, the discount coupons and price incentives were in evidence. But if you’re like me and saw the glass as half full and not half empty, it’s been a breakthrough 6 months, with biodynamic style vineyards growing, alcohol content moderating and the rise of winning Temecula wineries.

Then there is the huge growth in Paso Robles, and yes, the Napa Valley renaissance of young brilliant winemakers. Put it all together and you have to be happy with where we are with wine.

I reported on some 400 wine bars, resorts, restaurants, special tasting events and wineries, tasting many hundreds of bottles in the past 6 months. Price to value and availability were important. I favor a less complicated 1 to 5, “bad to excellent” rating and choose not to rank my top ten wines. All of the following are listed alphabetically, and were brilliantly crafted. Prices are suggested retail.


Francesco Mazzei and his Tuscan Fonterutoli Chianti Classic0 2005 is the only European wine in the Top Ten Tastings from the first half of 2009.


Chateau St. Michelle Col Solare, Red Mt.Washington. 2005. $75. Accented aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate and rich spices. A partnership of St. Michelle and Tuscany ’s Marchesi Antinori blending 71% Cabernet, 25% Merlot and 4% Cab Franc. www.ste-michelle.com.

Denner Viognier, Paso Robles CA. 2008. $30. Splashes of peach, yellow apple and tropical scents lead the way for this complex, pleasing white, sure to challenge Chardonnay for domination. West side winery, growing in stature and popularity. www.dennervineyards.com.

Ferrari-Carano Siena, Sonoma Ca. 2007. $23. If you enjoy a blend, you will love this low priced Italian style red, with 78% Sangiovese and 22% Malbec. Great care in handling and barreling. No better with Italian dishes. A staple in my collection. www.ferrari-carano.com

Justin Isosceles, Paso Robles CA. 2006. $62. Intense flavors of 86% Cabernet, 9% Cab Franc and 5% Merlot that adjusts with each vintage based on Justin’s experts from around the world. A work of art that only gets better with age. 24 months in French Oak barrels. Amazing retention of superior taste once opened. www.justinwine.com.

La Cereza Viognier, Temecula CA. 2008. $24.95. Surprise grand best-of-show white at the recent Critics Challenge International in San Diego , this off-dry Viognier is rich, complex and perfumed with tropical accents of apricot and orange. Continues on the palate with fresh peach. Perfect time of the year to enjoy! www.lacerezawinery.com.

Marilyn Remarke Grenache, Monterey CA. 2006. $45. France ’s Rhone Valley grapes work very well here and this noble presentation achieves excellence with its 6th vintage of lovable Grenache. Limted to just 400 cases but worth the search. Power and finesse in a bottle. www.remarkewines.com.

Mazzei Fonterutoli Chianti Classico, Tuscany Italy. 2005. $24.99. Ancestors were the fathers of chianti wines. 24 generations later, exciting earth and minerality in bouquet and taste with 100% Sangiovese grapes from Castellina in Chianti. www.palmbayimports.com.

Pedroncelli Dry Creek Zinfandel, Sonoma CA. 2006. $18. Cheers to this winery for its economy pricing with quality in its bottles. Jammy and concentrated fruit from one of the pioneer Zin families in Sonoma . Their “Mother Clone” Zin adds another dimension to the lineup www.pedroncelli.com.

Thornton Nebbiolo, Temecula CA. 2006. $32. Northern Italian varietal, California style. Winemaker Don Reha achieves singular success with this luscious, wide-body grape. Rich, black fruit with bursts of cherry, plum and leather. Direct sales only. Access at www.thorntonwine.com.

ZD Pinot Noir, Napa Valley CA. 2007. $40. Making great wine on the Silverado Trail of Napa is nothing new for ZD. Dark, ruby red in color and character, this example of the “Queen of Wines” is exotic and demands attention with its silky, well integrated tannins. www.zdwines.com.

Wine Bytes
La Cereza Winery in Temecula returns the great Spanish Flemenco guitarist BENISE in concert with his supporting cast, Sat. July 18 with doors open at 5:30 and Benise appearing at 8:30pm. This Vegas style show is filled with visual and musical surprises, including the master electric cellist Marston Smith. Auction item money raised will benefit California Family Life Center . Items include: an African Safari! Dinner prices include individual and VIP tables plus a Benise meet and greet in La Cereza’s Barrel Room. Admission starts at $55. with tickets available at 951-699-6952 or www.lacerezawinery.com.

A Bastille Day celebration is planned for Sat. July 11, 4 to 8pm at the Fairbanks Ranch clubhouse in Rancho Sante Fe. Enjoy wine tasting, food, live entertainment and auction items. Donation of $125. pp goes to the Southern Caregiver Resource Center. Call 858-268-4432.

Free jazz on Sundays is back at Falkner Winery starting Sun. July 12 and through September, 12 to 3pm . Jazz saxman Jason Weber plays. Concert style seating. Details at 951-676-8231.

The Summer Legacy dinner featuring owners Gerry and Rosie Wilson is Sat. evening July 18 at Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula. For complete details and menu, call 951-699-WINE.