Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Juicy News from Temecula Wine Country
by Frank Mangio
Activity is ratcheting up in Temecula Wine Country. New releases from several wineries have come back with gold and silver at important competitive events, a newly opened winery is a stately, beautiful Tuscan style villa on a hill, Old Town Temecula is adding to its lineup of wine shops and weddings are being booked in the vineyards.
Jim Carter’s South Coast Winery Resort and Spa has hit it big with its 2008 Wild Horse Peak Mountain Vineyard Sangiovese. At the recent New World International Wine Competition, this flavor champion took Best of Varietal, Best of Class and Double Gold.
Taste of Wine colunmnist Frank Mangio with South Coast owner Jim Carter
The winery reports that over its six year history, it has received over 1,000 awards and medals from regional and international competition.
Callaway Winery is off to a good start this year with gold for its 2008 Muscat Canelli. At Briar Rose Winery, the 2004 Petite Verdot won the Chairman’s Award at the Riverside International Wine Competition late last year and its 2004 Cabernet was judged Gold Best of Class.
An impressive new winery is Monte De Oro Winery and Vineyard with its old world architecture, 100% estate wines and underground barrel room that holds 900 plus barrels in its 9,000 square feet. It’s viewed from the tasting room through a 16’ by 16’ glass floor which is the barrel room’s ceiling. My initial tastings revealed a lovely 2007 Viognier and a 2006 Syrah that I felt were the best on the list.
In Old Town Temecula, Tesoro Winery’s Tasting Room is causing a buzz with its Artist Series Food, Wine and Fine Art. Their wines trend toward big reds like Cabernet, Tempranillo, Petite Sirah and Tribordo Port. The owners will be operating from a future vineyard location in wine country in the near future.
Free jazz starts up at Falkner Winery Sunday April 11 and every Sunday through the season. Performances will be 3 hours beginning at noon and going until 3pm. Chairs and tables are provided.
The big name concerts are again planned for Thornton, Wiens and South Coast and we’ll be doing a later column alerting you to the lineup which is among the best in Southern California.
Finally, if marriage is in your near future, you can’t do better than a wedding in the vines. Orfila Winery in Escondido has a lovely intimate setting and some attractive early-season discounts. In Temecula, look to: Wilson Creek for Tuscan inspired gardens, an events center and a dramatic open air gazebo.
At Ponte Winery, current specials include big discounts on small weddings, including Saturdays. A wedding here before April 30 receives a case of wine at the time of booking. Falkner Winery is on a hill with a beautiful view of the valley. Special custom-designed themes to personalize the event include hot air balloon rides for a unique experience to “Here Comes the Bride.” South Coast Winery Resort and Spa can offer custom labeled wines and spa packages for the wedding party. Bridal shower, bachelor parties and rehearsal dinners are arranged.
Wedding events at wineries are available in Temecula Wine Country. Ponte Winery is shown in the photo.
For wedding night and honeymoon stays, South Coast has many villas in the vines for an elegant stay. Thornton Winery offers the romantic Champagne Caves or a fountain terrace overlooking the vineyards. Experienced event specialists achieve perfection in every detail including wine and food pairings. Wiens Family Cellars offer a fully enclosed event pavilion, outdoor patio or intimate barrel room. Early season offers are available. Enjoy one of the happiest days in anyone’s life, with a memorable wedding in the vineyards.
Wine Bytes
Pack your bags and travel to Verona Italy for the world’s biggest wine tasting, Vinitaly Wine and Spirits Exhibition. Taste and enjoy high quality wine and other beverages from over 4,000 exhibitors. For details phone 39-45-8298111.
The Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival Thurs. Apr. 8 to Sun. Apr. 11 brings together 60 celebrity chefs and 250 wineries. Grand Tasting is Sat. April 10. Go to www.pebblebeachfoodandwine.com for details.
Carlsbad Wine Merchants has started up live music and wine tastings with appetizers every Fri. from 6:30 to 9:30pm. Call 760-804-9994.
A Fruity and Floral Wine Tasting is offered at Morgan Run Resort in Rancho Santa Fe, Wed. Apr. 7 from 5:30 to 7pm. Whites and reds will be poured. $30. cost. Call 619-955-8884.
Activity is ratcheting up in Temecula Wine Country. New releases from several wineries have come back with gold and silver at important competitive events, a newly opened winery is a stately, beautiful Tuscan style villa on a hill, Old Town Temecula is adding to its lineup of wine shops and weddings are being booked in the vineyards.
Jim Carter’s South Coast Winery Resort and Spa has hit it big with its 2008 Wild Horse Peak Mountain Vineyard Sangiovese. At the recent New World International Wine Competition, this flavor champion took Best of Varietal, Best of Class and Double Gold.
Taste of Wine colunmnist Frank Mangio with South Coast owner Jim Carter
The winery reports that over its six year history, it has received over 1,000 awards and medals from regional and international competition.
Callaway Winery is off to a good start this year with gold for its 2008 Muscat Canelli. At Briar Rose Winery, the 2004 Petite Verdot won the Chairman’s Award at the Riverside International Wine Competition late last year and its 2004 Cabernet was judged Gold Best of Class.
An impressive new winery is Monte De Oro Winery and Vineyard with its old world architecture, 100% estate wines and underground barrel room that holds 900 plus barrels in its 9,000 square feet. It’s viewed from the tasting room through a 16’ by 16’ glass floor which is the barrel room’s ceiling. My initial tastings revealed a lovely 2007 Viognier and a 2006 Syrah that I felt were the best on the list.
In Old Town Temecula, Tesoro Winery’s Tasting Room is causing a buzz with its Artist Series Food, Wine and Fine Art. Their wines trend toward big reds like Cabernet, Tempranillo, Petite Sirah and Tribordo Port. The owners will be operating from a future vineyard location in wine country in the near future.
Free jazz starts up at Falkner Winery Sunday April 11 and every Sunday through the season. Performances will be 3 hours beginning at noon and going until 3pm. Chairs and tables are provided.
The big name concerts are again planned for Thornton, Wiens and South Coast and we’ll be doing a later column alerting you to the lineup which is among the best in Southern California.
Finally, if marriage is in your near future, you can’t do better than a wedding in the vines. Orfila Winery in Escondido has a lovely intimate setting and some attractive early-season discounts. In Temecula, look to: Wilson Creek for Tuscan inspired gardens, an events center and a dramatic open air gazebo.
At Ponte Winery, current specials include big discounts on small weddings, including Saturdays. A wedding here before April 30 receives a case of wine at the time of booking. Falkner Winery is on a hill with a beautiful view of the valley. Special custom-designed themes to personalize the event include hot air balloon rides for a unique experience to “Here Comes the Bride.” South Coast Winery Resort and Spa can offer custom labeled wines and spa packages for the wedding party. Bridal shower, bachelor parties and rehearsal dinners are arranged.
Wedding events at wineries are available in Temecula Wine Country. Ponte Winery is shown in the photo.
For wedding night and honeymoon stays, South Coast has many villas in the vines for an elegant stay. Thornton Winery offers the romantic Champagne Caves or a fountain terrace overlooking the vineyards. Experienced event specialists achieve perfection in every detail including wine and food pairings. Wiens Family Cellars offer a fully enclosed event pavilion, outdoor patio or intimate barrel room. Early season offers are available. Enjoy one of the happiest days in anyone’s life, with a memorable wedding in the vineyards.
Wine Bytes
Pack your bags and travel to Verona Italy for the world’s biggest wine tasting, Vinitaly Wine and Spirits Exhibition. Taste and enjoy high quality wine and other beverages from over 4,000 exhibitors. For details phone 39-45-8298111.
The Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival Thurs. Apr. 8 to Sun. Apr. 11 brings together 60 celebrity chefs and 250 wineries. Grand Tasting is Sat. April 10. Go to www.pebblebeachfoodandwine.com for details.
Carlsbad Wine Merchants has started up live music and wine tastings with appetizers every Fri. from 6:30 to 9:30pm. Call 760-804-9994.
A Fruity and Floral Wine Tasting is offered at Morgan Run Resort in Rancho Santa Fe, Wed. Apr. 7 from 5:30 to 7pm. Whites and reds will be poured. $30. cost. Call 619-955-8884.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Charm of Venice and Tuscany at Bella Dolce in Rancho Santa Fe
by Frank Mangio
Italy never looked or tasted as beautiful as it does at the new Dolce Pane E Vino in the Del Rayo Center in Rancho Santa Fe. Guests are literally transformed in this rustic, elegant creation that is at once a world of wine, a wine bar of elegance and a small-bites master restaurant with the charm of Venice and Tuscan surrounds.
Dolce Pane E Vino (sweet bread and wine) is the creation of Michael Melone and Dr. Anthony Smith who have carefully crafted an original Italian design unlike anything I have experienced. They bring a passion for the customer, cultivated from remarkable dining experiences worldwide. You’ll marvel at the tables that are crafted for sharing, and lighting that is linked in communal harmony, yet each element is its own artistic rendering. The entire atmosphere is an architectural triumph.
Dr. Anthony Smith and Michael Melone partnered to create Dolce Pane E Vino, a wine and cuisine restaurant experience unlike any other.
I would be remiss by not devoting space to the wine and cuisine. Wine flights of three offerings are paired with the meal as a delightful option, especially since bottles can be purchased that match the flavors. On the evening I visited, wines from Fort Ross, Wolf Family and Orin Swift were served and all had rich flavors to pair with an ever-evolving Mediterranean menu.
Dolce Pane E Vino is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Mondays just dinner is served. Local seasonal produce is used with the freshest quality available. Dolce is now booking inspiring wineries for special events including Laird Family Estate Wed. March 24 at 5:30pm with Rebbecca Laird. There is more to know at their website DolcePanEVino.com. The phone number is 858-832-1518.
New Wines and a Perfect Gift Idea
In the past 30 days I have tasted some 500 wines of note and the following wines were especially memorable:
- Castel Giocondo Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, 2004. $45. From the Frescobaldi family of traditional Italian winemaking with 100% four year aged Sangiovese. The first of the recently great harvest years in Tuscany. Gets greater with more aging.
- Chateau Tanunda Grand Barossa Shiraz, Australia, 2007. $19. This striking, flavorful wine comes from the oldest winery in the Aussie nation in the heart of the Barossa Valley. First vines were planted in 1845. Classic and refined.
- Leal San Benito Estate Grown Cabernet, Hollister Ca. 2006. $20. North Central Coast flavor of soft, rich intense wines. A cab that is delicious and easy on the palate.
- Louis Latour Beaune Burgundy, Cote-D’or, France. 2005. $39. Burgundian wines fathered the immensely popular Pinot Noirs of the West Coast of the U.S. Mellow cherry with a smoky licorice taste. Balanced, mellow tannins. ’05 was a golden harvest in France.
- Oak Mountain Meritage, Temecula, 2005. $42. One for the locals with a nicely calculated 40% Cabernet, 40% Cab Franc and 20% Merlot Bordeaux classic style. Long, smooth finish.
- Pedroncelli Block 007 Estate Vineyard Sonoma Cabernet, 2007. $25. Ninety one points in a major wine publication, this is 100% cab grape with 18 months in oak. Elegant premium quality.
- Rodney Strong Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Sonoma 2008. $20. Another master stroke from winemaker Rick Sayres, pulling a premier harvest from this popular pinot area. Silky texture, floral accents and a hint of spice make this one a standard to look up to.
A personal expression on a bottle or glass makes the perfect gift to give for wine lovers.
Tom Bwarie of Bwarie Gift Baskets in Carlsbad (photo) has made hand engraving an art form. As a focal point of your custom gift basket order, this personalized service is free of charge. He showed me a popular new wine aerator that he is engraving for customers, the Soiree, a glass globe with an aeration chamber that is secured to the top of a wine bottle to enhance balance and flavor.
He also does wine events where he quickly engraves the names of visitors on their tasting glasses. It’s a “take-home” gift that insures branding life for the hosts. Contact information is 760-730-1458 or access the website BWarieGiftBaskets.com
Wine Bytes
Meritage Wine Market in Encinitas is serving Italian “Succulent Sangioveses” at their weekly wine tasting on Fri. March 26 from 6 to 8pm. Check with them for price and the wine lineup. 760-479-2500.
Wine Styles in Encinitas has live jazz and wine with the flamenco group En Fuego, Fri. March 26, 6 to 8pm. An extensive menu of wines from around the world, with a small bite menu of cheeses and paninis. No cover charge. Call 760-633-0057.
The Wine Bank in the Gaslamp District of downtown San Diego has the Best of Italian Wines for its event of Sat. March 27 from 6 to 8pm. Names like Gaja, Masi Amarone and Sassicaia will be poured. $50. pp. RSVP on pre-purchase at 619-239-0334.
3rd Corner in Encinitas has a Hitching Post Wine Dinner coming on Tues. March 30 at 6pm for $65. ea. This was the Santa Barbara winery made famous in the movie “Sideways.” RSVP at 760-942-2104. The Hitching Post winemaker will also be at La Costa Wine Company on Wed. March 31 from 6 to 8pm. Cost is $20. For details call 760-431-8455.
Italy never looked or tasted as beautiful as it does at the new Dolce Pane E Vino in the Del Rayo Center in Rancho Santa Fe. Guests are literally transformed in this rustic, elegant creation that is at once a world of wine, a wine bar of elegance and a small-bites master restaurant with the charm of Venice and Tuscan surrounds.
Dolce Pane E Vino (sweet bread and wine) is the creation of Michael Melone and Dr. Anthony Smith who have carefully crafted an original Italian design unlike anything I have experienced. They bring a passion for the customer, cultivated from remarkable dining experiences worldwide. You’ll marvel at the tables that are crafted for sharing, and lighting that is linked in communal harmony, yet each element is its own artistic rendering. The entire atmosphere is an architectural triumph.
Dr. Anthony Smith and Michael Melone partnered to create Dolce Pane E Vino, a wine and cuisine restaurant experience unlike any other.I would be remiss by not devoting space to the wine and cuisine. Wine flights of three offerings are paired with the meal as a delightful option, especially since bottles can be purchased that match the flavors. On the evening I visited, wines from Fort Ross, Wolf Family and Orin Swift were served and all had rich flavors to pair with an ever-evolving Mediterranean menu.
Dolce Pane E Vino is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Mondays just dinner is served. Local seasonal produce is used with the freshest quality available. Dolce is now booking inspiring wineries for special events including Laird Family Estate Wed. March 24 at 5:30pm with Rebbecca Laird. There is more to know at their website DolcePanEVino.com. The phone number is 858-832-1518.
New Wines and a Perfect Gift Idea
In the past 30 days I have tasted some 500 wines of note and the following wines were especially memorable:
- Castel Giocondo Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, 2004. $45. From the Frescobaldi family of traditional Italian winemaking with 100% four year aged Sangiovese. The first of the recently great harvest years in Tuscany. Gets greater with more aging.
- Chateau Tanunda Grand Barossa Shiraz, Australia, 2007. $19. This striking, flavorful wine comes from the oldest winery in the Aussie nation in the heart of the Barossa Valley. First vines were planted in 1845. Classic and refined.
- Leal San Benito Estate Grown Cabernet, Hollister Ca. 2006. $20. North Central Coast flavor of soft, rich intense wines. A cab that is delicious and easy on the palate.
- Louis Latour Beaune Burgundy, Cote-D’or, France. 2005. $39. Burgundian wines fathered the immensely popular Pinot Noirs of the West Coast of the U.S. Mellow cherry with a smoky licorice taste. Balanced, mellow tannins. ’05 was a golden harvest in France.
- Oak Mountain Meritage, Temecula, 2005. $42. One for the locals with a nicely calculated 40% Cabernet, 40% Cab Franc and 20% Merlot Bordeaux classic style. Long, smooth finish.
- Pedroncelli Block 007 Estate Vineyard Sonoma Cabernet, 2007. $25. Ninety one points in a major wine publication, this is 100% cab grape with 18 months in oak. Elegant premium quality.
- Rodney Strong Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Sonoma 2008. $20. Another master stroke from winemaker Rick Sayres, pulling a premier harvest from this popular pinot area. Silky texture, floral accents and a hint of spice make this one a standard to look up to.
A personal expression on a bottle or glass makes the perfect gift to give for wine lovers.
Tom Bwarie of Bwarie Gift Baskets in Carlsbad (photo) has made hand engraving an art form. As a focal point of your custom gift basket order, this personalized service is free of charge. He showed me a popular new wine aerator that he is engraving for customers, the Soiree, a glass globe with an aeration chamber that is secured to the top of a wine bottle to enhance balance and flavor.
He also does wine events where he quickly engraves the names of visitors on their tasting glasses. It’s a “take-home” gift that insures branding life for the hosts. Contact information is 760-730-1458 or access the website BWarieGiftBaskets.comWine Bytes
Meritage Wine Market in Encinitas is serving Italian “Succulent Sangioveses” at their weekly wine tasting on Fri. March 26 from 6 to 8pm. Check with them for price and the wine lineup. 760-479-2500.
Wine Styles in Encinitas has live jazz and wine with the flamenco group En Fuego, Fri. March 26, 6 to 8pm. An extensive menu of wines from around the world, with a small bite menu of cheeses and paninis. No cover charge. Call 760-633-0057.
The Wine Bank in the Gaslamp District of downtown San Diego has the Best of Italian Wines for its event of Sat. March 27 from 6 to 8pm. Names like Gaja, Masi Amarone and Sassicaia will be poured. $50. pp. RSVP on pre-purchase at 619-239-0334.
3rd Corner in Encinitas has a Hitching Post Wine Dinner coming on Tues. March 30 at 6pm for $65. ea. This was the Santa Barbara winery made famous in the movie “Sideways.” RSVP at 760-942-2104. The Hitching Post winemaker will also be at La Costa Wine Company on Wed. March 31 from 6 to 8pm. Cost is $20. For details call 760-431-8455.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Wine Girl (Janene Roberts) Presents Wine/Wellness Weekend
By Janene Roberts
I'm really excited to present the first Wine and Wellness Weekend to be held Saturday and Sunday April 24 and April 25 in Julian, California.
This fun, jam packed weekend brings you what you need to improve your body, mind and soul while enjoying local wine. Saturday morning starts with a guided hike through the local mountains, and continues with Tai Chi and Yoga. Then you'll enjoy boxed lunch, and wine tasting at Jenkins Winery. Saturday afternoon begins with Summer McStravick offering her Flowdreaming techniques. Summer is the author of the book Flowdreaming, the Art of Creative Manifesting, and has been recognized by teachers like Wayne Dyer and Cheryl Richardson. After that, John Alonge, the 2009 "Best Wine Coach" winner from San Diego Magazine's Best of San Diego issue and author of the Wine Heretic will demonstrate wine blending techniques and will answer your wine tasting questions. You'll have a little time to rest before Saturday evening's dinner paired with local wines. You'll stay at an upscale lodge and enjoy breakfast on Sunday morning as well as a guided meditation to send you off. $399 per person based on double occupancy. Rooms have queen beds so couples and/or good friends would be appropriate.
To secure your spot, the number of participants is limited in order to create a close environment, please email me at janene@popcornpressandmedia.com, with the names and number in your party and either pay online (go to
http://www.popcornpressmedia.com/bookorder.html
and click on the Buy Now button) or mail a check to Popcorn Press & Media at PO Box 3375, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
A sampling of some of the wineries in the Paso Robles District made an appearance in San Diego earlier this month. Paso Robles is centrally located between Los Angeles and San Francisco on the Central Coast. Some of the local wine bars, like Wine Steals, featured their wines and I attended a trade tasting at the McMillin Event Center in Point Loma last month. Since I like to experiment with new varieties the wines I enjoyed and recommend are:
•Adelaida Cellars, 2008 Version White, Grenache/Roussanne blend $28. Their 2006 vintage earned 91 points by Robert Parker in the Wine Advocate's June '08 issue. He wrote, "The superb 2006 Grenache Blanc/Roussanne from Glenrose Vineyard possesses classic notes of honeysuckle, rose petals, flowers, and tropical fruit. Impressively deep, rich, and dry with a gorgeous texture. This beauty can be drunk now and over the following two years." I liked the '08's dry notes and peachy crisp taste. Look for their wines in San Diego at Wine Steals, and Harvest Ranch markets. www.adelaida.com
•Ancient Peaks Winery, 2007 Petit Verdot $35. Available in limited quantities. Traditionally Petit Verdot has been a wine that is blended with other varieties. By itself, it's known to have aromas of violet, black currant, and spice. Ancient Peak's Verdot is well balanced and has a note of tannin on the finish. Your best bet is to order direct. 805-365-7045, www.ancientpeaks.com
How would you like to pretend to be a part of the wine trade? Well, this Sunday, March 14, Family Winemakers of California is presenting 200 small, family-owned California wineries in wine trade-like fashion at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The wineries will be pouring over 750 wines. The event opens to the public at 3 p.m. and runs until 6 p.m. Tickets are $45 in advance or $55 at the door. Order online at www.familywinemakers.org. What wines will you recommend?
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuscany in the Desert
by Frank Mangio
It was a sunny, temperate day in Palm Desert recently, adding a lively garden atmosphere to the driveway leading to the grand entrance of the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa. I was there to renew my friendship with Paul Bologna, the wine sommelier for the restaurants, and to review the lush Italian style Tuscany Ristorante that sits by a lake within the property. Paul was guiding guests through a holiday wine tasting of California and Oregon Pinot Noirs at the boat dock.
His “Pinot Showdown” pitted Oregon names like Domaine Serene and Chehalem Reserve against California’s Sequana and MacPhail Toulouse. All were lovely picks, but I am partial to Pinot in Oregon so my favorite was the ’05 Chehalem from the Willamette Valley.
Tuscany’s menu, with its Northern Italian cuisine, is the creation of Executive Chef Oliver Wolf. He contributes to the relaxed, sophisticated atmosphere with a lovely selection of wines and fresh, seasonal flavors. The venerable Lobster Ravioli is chef’s favorite and has been on the Tuscany menu since its inception.
Tuscany Executive Chef Oliver Wolf, 2nd from the right, with his kitchen staff, prepares a menu of the finest flavors in the desert at the JW Marriott Desert Springs.
When you go, you must ask for Elena Sembenini for table service. She has been with the ristorante for 18 years. Her presentation is show business quality as she guides her diners through the history of each menu item. It is classic Italian. She personally selected my wine, Castel Ciocondo Frescobaldi 2004 Brunello di Montalcino. Its elegance cannot be overstated.
The wine list, a world tour of all that is superb, touches all budgets and is a credit to the selection decisions of Paul Bologna.
Life is beautiful when it’s spent dining at Tuscany Ristorante at JW Marriot’s Desert Springs. www.desertsprings.com.
What’s in your Cooler?
Keeping wine for years, to open and enjoy at another time, was the last thing I thought I would do when I began collecting my knowledge and thoughts about the qualities of great wine. After a while I began to realize that some red wines do get more magnificent with age.
They become like prized possessions, stored away developing flavors that would be unknown without years of aging.
Old world red wines, whether from the country of origin or a new world adopted country, do best when aged. These are big in tannins, those character-building components of the skins and seeds of grapes that make wine live longer.
My wine storage and coolers hold about 300 bottles of reds, the oldest being 10 years old. All will be consumed as I don’t believe in “collecting wine” just for the sake of name-dropping. Tuscany Italy and Napa Valley California are the wine countries I favor. Varietals I prefer to keep in storage for increased body and flavor include: Cabernet, Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, Tempranillo, Barolo, Barbaresco, Syrah, many blends from France, Super Tuscans from Italy, Sonoma, Napa Valley, Paso Robles and Temecula.
My prize wine, until I drink it, is a Sassicaia Super Tuscan.
A couple of last thoughts on storing wine: Always keep the bottles laid down horizontally to keep the cork moist, and keep a record of what you have, when you bought it and exactly where it is stored. Salute!
Wine Bytes
San Antonio Winery in downtown Los Angeles has a wine seminar luncheon, Understanding Bordeaux Varietals, on Sat. March 20 from 1 to 4pm. Call 323-223-1401 for pricing and details.
The 9 DePortola Trail Wineries of Temecula are presenting a Zinfandel and Pasta Fest Sat. and Sun. March 20 and 21 from 11 to 5pm. Each winery has pasta, wine and a logo glass for guests. $45. fee. Tickets at the wineries or access www.deportolawinetrail.com.
West Steak, Seafood and Spirits in Carlsbad is hosting the Caymus Napa Valley Family of Wines Mon. March 22 at 6:30pm. Enjoy a five-course dinner featuring seared Prime Angus Filet Mignon paired with Caymus Wines. $95. ea. RSVP at 760-930-9100.
BICE Restaurant in the Gaslamp District downtown San Diego celebrates several winemakers from Italy with a 4 course dinner paired with Chianti Classico, Barbaresco, Barolo, Montepulciano and other Italian districts, Tues. March 23 from 7 to 10pm. $80. pp. RSVP at 619-239-2423.
The Napa Valley Vintners will be well representated at a wine tasting at Fleming’s Prime Steakhoue in La Jolla on Thurs. March 25 from 6 to 8:30pm. Enjoy small bites and big wines with winemakers. $45. ea. Contact Fleming’s at 858-535-0078.
It was a sunny, temperate day in Palm Desert recently, adding a lively garden atmosphere to the driveway leading to the grand entrance of the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa. I was there to renew my friendship with Paul Bologna, the wine sommelier for the restaurants, and to review the lush Italian style Tuscany Ristorante that sits by a lake within the property. Paul was guiding guests through a holiday wine tasting of California and Oregon Pinot Noirs at the boat dock.
His “Pinot Showdown” pitted Oregon names like Domaine Serene and Chehalem Reserve against California’s Sequana and MacPhail Toulouse. All were lovely picks, but I am partial to Pinot in Oregon so my favorite was the ’05 Chehalem from the Willamette Valley.
Tuscany’s menu, with its Northern Italian cuisine, is the creation of Executive Chef Oliver Wolf. He contributes to the relaxed, sophisticated atmosphere with a lovely selection of wines and fresh, seasonal flavors. The venerable Lobster Ravioli is chef’s favorite and has been on the Tuscany menu since its inception.
Tuscany Executive Chef Oliver Wolf, 2nd from the right, with his kitchen staff, prepares a menu of the finest flavors in the desert at the JW Marriott Desert Springs.When you go, you must ask for Elena Sembenini for table service. She has been with the ristorante for 18 years. Her presentation is show business quality as she guides her diners through the history of each menu item. It is classic Italian. She personally selected my wine, Castel Ciocondo Frescobaldi 2004 Brunello di Montalcino. Its elegance cannot be overstated.
The wine list, a world tour of all that is superb, touches all budgets and is a credit to the selection decisions of Paul Bologna.
Life is beautiful when it’s spent dining at Tuscany Ristorante at JW Marriot’s Desert Springs. www.desertsprings.com.
What’s in your Cooler?
Keeping wine for years, to open and enjoy at another time, was the last thing I thought I would do when I began collecting my knowledge and thoughts about the qualities of great wine. After a while I began to realize that some red wines do get more magnificent with age.
They become like prized possessions, stored away developing flavors that would be unknown without years of aging.
Old world red wines, whether from the country of origin or a new world adopted country, do best when aged. These are big in tannins, those character-building components of the skins and seeds of grapes that make wine live longer.
My wine storage and coolers hold about 300 bottles of reds, the oldest being 10 years old. All will be consumed as I don’t believe in “collecting wine” just for the sake of name-dropping. Tuscany Italy and Napa Valley California are the wine countries I favor. Varietals I prefer to keep in storage for increased body and flavor include: Cabernet, Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, Tempranillo, Barolo, Barbaresco, Syrah, many blends from France, Super Tuscans from Italy, Sonoma, Napa Valley, Paso Robles and Temecula.
My prize wine, until I drink it, is a Sassicaia Super Tuscan.
A couple of last thoughts on storing wine: Always keep the bottles laid down horizontally to keep the cork moist, and keep a record of what you have, when you bought it and exactly where it is stored. Salute!
Wine Bytes
San Antonio Winery in downtown Los Angeles has a wine seminar luncheon, Understanding Bordeaux Varietals, on Sat. March 20 from 1 to 4pm. Call 323-223-1401 for pricing and details.
The 9 DePortola Trail Wineries of Temecula are presenting a Zinfandel and Pasta Fest Sat. and Sun. March 20 and 21 from 11 to 5pm. Each winery has pasta, wine and a logo glass for guests. $45. fee. Tickets at the wineries or access www.deportolawinetrail.com.
West Steak, Seafood and Spirits in Carlsbad is hosting the Caymus Napa Valley Family of Wines Mon. March 22 at 6:30pm. Enjoy a five-course dinner featuring seared Prime Angus Filet Mignon paired with Caymus Wines. $95. ea. RSVP at 760-930-9100.
BICE Restaurant in the Gaslamp District downtown San Diego celebrates several winemakers from Italy with a 4 course dinner paired with Chianti Classico, Barbaresco, Barolo, Montepulciano and other Italian districts, Tues. March 23 from 7 to 10pm. $80. pp. RSVP at 619-239-2423.
The Napa Valley Vintners will be well representated at a wine tasting at Fleming’s Prime Steakhoue in La Jolla on Thurs. March 25 from 6 to 8:30pm. Enjoy small bites and big wines with winemakers. $45. ea. Contact Fleming’s at 858-535-0078.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Taste of Wine TV's “How to Taste” is Most Watched
by Frank Mangio
I had good cause to break open a favorite red the other day as the news crossed my computer that my wine appreciation video on You Tube “How to Taste Wine” had surpassed the Wine Spectator version. No only that, other versions had just half the viewers we have attracted. The Taste of Wine TV count of a short and long conversation is now: 19,899 and 37,605 respectively. You may view the short version by Clicking Here or the longer version by Clicking Here
It’s always a good idea to occasionally think about the essence of wine tasting and how to get the most out of the experience.
Photo:The late Leon Santoro who was a brilliant winemaker from Orfila Winery in Escondido California was the best wine taster I ever knew.
Anyone can drink wine. You raise the glass and down it goes. That may be acceptable for some. But with over 5,000 different wines available, each one just a little bit different from the next in several ways, a simple four step guide goes a long way in measuring thequality of a wine choice. I call it a four part harmony “S” test.
Wine tasting really begins with the valuable information on the label.
You learn about the vineyard, location, harvest year and the winemaker’s philosophy of the wine’s value. With a wide bowled, “tulip” style glass that is not cluttered by silly design elements, you are now ready to judge a wine by the following characteristics:
Sight – including color and clarity.
Swirl – aerating the wine and observing its “legs.”
Sniff – smelling its aroma and body.
Sip – tasting the wine, and the lasting effect of its taste.
Sight is like viewing a portrait for rich color and texture. After pouring an amount of wine, about a third of the size of the glass, view the content from the top of the glass. The wine should be clear with no sediment. With whites it will appear more intense in Chardonnay than say a Riesling. With reds, Cabernet should have a deeper, darker color than say a Pinot Noir. Next, swirl the wine by holding the stem tightly and rotate in a counter clockwise direction, but not so hard that the wine spills over the side. You are aerating, allowing air to penetrate the wine and release lovely aromas. Look for the “legs” or residue on the side of the glass. This is evaporated alcohol. If the lines are thick and “leggy” then you have a stronger, alcohol-forward wine. 14% or more alcohol content will show itself as “leggy.”
The smell of the wine is its “bouquet” or “the nose” of the wine.
There are over 200 different scents attributed to wine, but you may just smell wine, and that’s OK too. I recommend getting your nose down into the bowl and do short, sharp inhalations for the most revealing sensation. Don’t analyze too much, just enjoy!
The final, most enjoyable climax to this four part harmony is the sip, and you might add swallow as another by-product of the last “S” to find wines you really love. Slowly let the liquid envelope the many taste buds you possess in your mouth and tongue. It’s a wild ride of flavors: fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts, spices, flowers, earth, oak, honey…and… (you fill in the rest).
So there it is! Sight – Swirl – Smell – Sip. Salute!
Family Winemakers Gather in Del Mar
California is home to many small production winemakers who place quality over quantity. Wine lovers will have an opportunity to meet and taste many of these wineries in a public event at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Sunday March 14 from 3 to 6pm. The list of wines is impressive and includes: Chalk Hill, Ecluse, Elizabeth Spencer, Frank Family, Hall, Halter Ranch, JUSTIN, Pisoni, Spring Mountain and ZD, just to name a few. Cost is $45. in advance and $55. at the door. To purchase tickets, go to www.familywinemakers.org. For questions, call 415-705-0646.
Wine Bytes
§ Bistro 39 in the Hilton Garden Inn at San Diego’s Sorrento Valley has a Napa Cabs event Sat. March 13 from 3:30 to 5:30pm. Four exceptional wineries will be tasted and discussed. Cost is $20. ea. For more information call 858-720-9500.
§ Gary Parker’s WineSellar and Brasserie, also in Sorrento Valley, has a Burgundy Bliss Wine Dinner Fri. March 12. 6pm start. 6:30pm dinner. $88. pp. Wines are from Gary’s own collection. RSVP at 858-450-9557.
§ Next San Diego State University wine class is Dynamic Wine and Food Pairing Sat. March 13 from 9 to 4:30pm at Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula. The class is part of a wine certification. Call 619-594-6924 for pricing.
§ Tesoro Winery in old town Temecula has a benefit wine event for Homeless Prevention Sun. March 21 from Noon to 4pm. Special $8. tastings will be offered with all fees being donated to the cause. For more call 951-308-0000.
I had good cause to break open a favorite red the other day as the news crossed my computer that my wine appreciation video on You Tube “How to Taste Wine” had surpassed the Wine Spectator version. No only that, other versions had just half the viewers we have attracted. The Taste of Wine TV count of a short and long conversation is now: 19,899 and 37,605 respectively. You may view the short version by Clicking Here or the longer version by Clicking Here
It’s always a good idea to occasionally think about the essence of wine tasting and how to get the most out of the experience.
Photo:The late Leon Santoro who was a brilliant winemaker from Orfila Winery in Escondido California was the best wine taster I ever knew.
Anyone can drink wine. You raise the glass and down it goes. That may be acceptable for some. But with over 5,000 different wines available, each one just a little bit different from the next in several ways, a simple four step guide goes a long way in measuring thequality of a wine choice. I call it a four part harmony “S” test.
Wine tasting really begins with the valuable information on the label.
You learn about the vineyard, location, harvest year and the winemaker’s philosophy of the wine’s value. With a wide bowled, “tulip” style glass that is not cluttered by silly design elements, you are now ready to judge a wine by the following characteristics:
Sight – including color and clarity.
Swirl – aerating the wine and observing its “legs.”
Sniff – smelling its aroma and body.
Sip – tasting the wine, and the lasting effect of its taste.
Sight is like viewing a portrait for rich color and texture. After pouring an amount of wine, about a third of the size of the glass, view the content from the top of the glass. The wine should be clear with no sediment. With whites it will appear more intense in Chardonnay than say a Riesling. With reds, Cabernet should have a deeper, darker color than say a Pinot Noir. Next, swirl the wine by holding the stem tightly and rotate in a counter clockwise direction, but not so hard that the wine spills over the side. You are aerating, allowing air to penetrate the wine and release lovely aromas. Look for the “legs” or residue on the side of the glass. This is evaporated alcohol. If the lines are thick and “leggy” then you have a stronger, alcohol-forward wine. 14% or more alcohol content will show itself as “leggy.”
The smell of the wine is its “bouquet” or “the nose” of the wine.
There are over 200 different scents attributed to wine, but you may just smell wine, and that’s OK too. I recommend getting your nose down into the bowl and do short, sharp inhalations for the most revealing sensation. Don’t analyze too much, just enjoy!
The final, most enjoyable climax to this four part harmony is the sip, and you might add swallow as another by-product of the last “S” to find wines you really love. Slowly let the liquid envelope the many taste buds you possess in your mouth and tongue. It’s a wild ride of flavors: fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts, spices, flowers, earth, oak, honey…and… (you fill in the rest).
So there it is! Sight – Swirl – Smell – Sip. Salute!
Family Winemakers Gather in Del Mar
California is home to many small production winemakers who place quality over quantity. Wine lovers will have an opportunity to meet and taste many of these wineries in a public event at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Sunday March 14 from 3 to 6pm. The list of wines is impressive and includes: Chalk Hill, Ecluse, Elizabeth Spencer, Frank Family, Hall, Halter Ranch, JUSTIN, Pisoni, Spring Mountain and ZD, just to name a few. Cost is $45. in advance and $55. at the door. To purchase tickets, go to www.familywinemakers.org. For questions, call 415-705-0646.
Wine Bytes
§ Bistro 39 in the Hilton Garden Inn at San Diego’s Sorrento Valley has a Napa Cabs event Sat. March 13 from 3:30 to 5:30pm. Four exceptional wineries will be tasted and discussed. Cost is $20. ea. For more information call 858-720-9500.
§ Gary Parker’s WineSellar and Brasserie, also in Sorrento Valley, has a Burgundy Bliss Wine Dinner Fri. March 12. 6pm start. 6:30pm dinner. $88. pp. Wines are from Gary’s own collection. RSVP at 858-450-9557.
§ Next San Diego State University wine class is Dynamic Wine and Food Pairing Sat. March 13 from 9 to 4:30pm at Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula. The class is part of a wine certification. Call 619-594-6924 for pricing.
§ Tesoro Winery in old town Temecula has a benefit wine event for Homeless Prevention Sun. March 21 from Noon to 4pm. Special $8. tastings will be offered with all fees being donated to the cause. For more call 951-308-0000.
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