Judging the First-Ever San Diego Wine Competition

 by Frank Mangio
When I got the call to be a judge for the first-ever commercial wine competition at the San Diego County Fair, it made me stop and think about just how far the quality of San Diego wines had come that the district could take its place as a formidable wine country.  As of this writing, there are 60 wineries and according to Wine Competition Director Rich Cook, soon to be 100. He received entries for judging from Carlsbad to Jamul.

Cook had his work cut out for him.  For many San Diego area wineries this would be their first venture into the quirky world of judgment.  “ I went to each winery to speak to each of the owners and assure them this would be a professional competition with the highest standards of fairness,” he explained.  Thirteen judges from outside winemakers to people who judge competitions for a living, settled in at one of the fairground racetrack conference rooms as the “blind” entries were split up for several tables of judges to make comments and rate the tasted wine a double gold or gold ( best of class or category), silver, bronze or no award. Notes on each wine were encouraged, as well as discussion which was mandatory if a gold or double gold was assigned.

Fallbrook Winery winemaker Duncan Williams and owner Ira Gourvitz made the Wine of the year, a Rose’ called 33 Degree N Rosato, 2011.

Our congratulations go out to Fallbrook Winery, winemaker Duncan Williams and winery owner Ira Gourvitz for the wine of the year, a 2011 33 Degree N Rosato Rose’.  It was also the Best of Class in Rose’ Wine.  Fallbrook Winery showed it wasn’t a one trick pony as it took Best White Wine with its 2010 Chardonnay.  The winery has been producing quality wines since 1981 on 36 acres of rolling hillside vineyards.  Check out the web site at www.fallbrookwinery.com.  The phone number is 760-728-0156.

The Best Red Wine award went to Glorioso Vineyard of Pine Valley for its Zinfandel.  Other Gold/Double Gold winners included:  Christopher Cameron Vineyards/Costa Azul of Carlsbad, Hawk Watch Winery of Warner Springs, Milagro Farm of Ramona, San Pasqual of La Mesa, Sunshine Mountain of San Marcos and Woof n Rose of Ramona.

In all, 121 wines were tasted by the panel of judges.  71% of the wines entered received medals, a testimony to the rising quality of this region, which is just waking up to its potential to produce medal-wining wines.

As for this columnist, for the first time since I have been tasting and writing about wines, I quickly learned that in this type of high volume tasting, you must spit rather than swallow, or there’s a good chance of being carried out of this world and into “Planet Wine.”

Some of the 121 local San Diego County wines enjoyed by  judges and staff after a hard-day’s work of determining winners in the first annual San Diego County Fair Wine Competition.

Winning Wines Tasted by the Public at the County Fair Saturday June 9

County Fair officials are planning to showcase San Diego wine entrees at their first-ever Wine Festival from 1 to 5pm at the Flower and Garden Show on June 9th. The price will be $53. which will include Fair Admission.  ($40. for those that have admission passes.)  Purchasers will receive a wristband voucher  that allows unlimited samplings of the wines entered into competition. (You must be 21 or older to enter the area and consume wine.)  You can buy tickets at Ticketmaster or at the Fairgrounds Box Office.

Wine Bytes
A reminder, the Salute to Corporal Dominguez, the Marine triple amputee is Fri. May 25 from 6 to 9pm at Monte De Oro Winery in Temecula.  It’s an evening of food, wine and entertainment with a live and silent auction. $65. a ticket, $120 per couple.  All proceeds to Corporal Dominguez.  Get tickets at www.deportolatrail.com.

Europa Village Winery in Temecula now has free live music every Fri. 6:30 to 9:30pm and Sun. 12 Noon to 3pm.  Sun. June 3, enjoy the Jazz guitar of Mathew Fagan.  951-216-3380 for details.
North County Wine Company in San Marcos presents 7 great Pizza Wines Fri. May 25 from 5 to 8pm.  $10. for the tasting.  Also enjoy a great pizza from the Red Oven Pizza Truck. Get the wine names at 760-744-2119.

A Grand Tasting is being held at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort, Coast Highway Newport Beach, Sat. night, May 26 from 7 to 10:30pm.  60 wineries from around the world will be pouring paired with culinary creations from Executive Chef Josef Lageder.  Cheeses and Sushi complete the food offerings.  Live Music.  $125. pp.  Details at 888-445-7153.

The Vista Strawberry Festival, downtown Vista is happening Sun. May 27 from 9am to 7pm.  Feature attraction will be the new Strawberry Stiletto wine, handcrafted from fresh strawberries, at a Vista winery, California Fruit Wine.  For more, call 760-519-4221.

PAON Restaurant & Wine Bar in Carlsbad is pouring its Red World Tour 305:  Barbera, Corvina, Nebbiolo and Sangiovese, Tues. May 29 from 6 to 8pm. From Tuscany to Piedmont, this tasting class will offer the great wines of these regions.  Cost is $49.  Ticket information at 858-442-2749.

Wine is Right Ingredient for Fund Raising

by Frank Mangio
Community organizations large and small can be grateful for the powerful draw that wine can be, to raise funds for their activities to help the needy.

It seems more and more events spotlight wine to increase  attendance and support for worth causes.  America helps those that need help, a truly noble way to give and make a difference. Pacific Symphony in Orange County is a classic example of a memorable evening that raised $160,000. from some 300 happy attendees.  Wine enthusiasts were eager to bid up some very attractive auction items, mostly well-known wines that they were able to also taste.

The recent annual fund-raiser for Pacific Symphony at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach made $160,000. for the organization.

Winemakers and Sommeliers were available foranswering questions, the entertainment was by a cellist who lavished the dinner guests with a solo performance of moving renditions of symphonic favorites.  

He was a stunning example of why the guests were there.

The planners of this event went to great lengths to insure that popular wine brands were on hand to satisfy the most demanding tastes. Names that stood out were:  Chateau Montelena, Miner, Beaulieu, Chappellet, Foley, Seghesio, Silver Oak and Paul Hobbs.  Clearly, Napa Valley wines were well represented. Tickets were $375. each and the value was there.

Over in Palm Desert, another strategy, equally effective, was in place for the many hundreds that visited the recent Food & Wine Festival, held under three large, impressive tents.  Here the spotlight was on the greats of the culinary world, as over 20 celebrity chefs and restaurateurs shared specialty dishes with the assembled.  This event benefits scholarship funds to send student chefs to the best culinary schools in the world.

This was the 3rd annual Food & Wine Festival and it’s drawing some household names, including top drawer wine and food personalities from San Diego: Jesse Rodriguez Wine Director from The Grand Resort Del Mar, and William Bradley, Executive Chef from 5 star restaurant Addison, also at the Grand Del Mar.

The crowd saved their best energy for the legendary chef Roy Yamaguchi, highest award winner of the group and owner of Roy’s Asian flavored restaurants. He wowed everyone with a Yellowtail Fish, Hamachi style, with Sesame.

The animated Roy Yamaguchi  emphasized the finer points of making Yellowtail Hamachi at the recent

Food & Wine Festival in Palm Desert.

The wines here were well-known quality brands, attracting crowds to taste the latest releases from:  Frescobaldi, Grgich Hills Estate, Hall, Kenwood, King Estate, Lancaster, Seghesio, St Francis and Turnbull.

In San Diego at a Gaslamp District hotel, a benefit wine-food event for Elder Help, an organization that helps local seniors, took another turn.  Themed entertainment, namely Prohibition and the Roaring 20’s, brought guests out mostly in costume for the music, dancing, food and wine sampling and many fun auction items.  The movie Chicago played on the side of an adjacent building, while “mobsters” mixed and mingled with the guests, most of whom wound up in the “Casino Gaming Room.” This was yet another well planned, unique fun event designed around wine and food.  Organizers promise a “Masquerade” night next year.

For details on the Pacific Symphony’s next event, visit www.pacificcoastwinefestival.com.  For the Food & Wine Festival, details are at www.palmdesertfoodandwine.com.  The event website for Wine & Dine San Diego is www.winedinesd.com.

Nipozzano Reserva 2008 Just Released
With 90% Sangiovese carefully mixed with 10% Malvasia, Colorino, Merlot and Cabernet, the new 2008 Frescobaldi Nipozzano Reserve is a celebratory wine from the Chianti Rufina District of Tuscany.  It’s deep red eyes captivate, and once consumed, display cherry, raspberry and a slight spice accent, typical of great Sangiovese. ( $20.) It earned Wine Enthusiast’s “Wine of the Year.”

 Wine Bytes

San Diego Wine Company in the Miramar area has a Cabernet Wine Tasting Sat. May 19 from 11 to 4:30pm for $15.  Details and wines available at 858-586-WINE.

Fleming’s Steakhouse  & Wine Bar has a Grgich Hills Wine Dinner Fri. May 18 at 6:30pm.  For $95. per guest, it includes appetizers, 4 courses and wines.  Call 858-535-0078 for details and an RSVP.

Sbicca Del Mar presents “far from ordinary” white wines Sat. May 19 from 2 to 4pm for $45. for one, $84. for two.  Find out about a global assortment of different whites.  Call 858-442-2749.

The Wine, Brews and Blues Festival is at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido Sat. May 19 from 5:30 to 10pm, brought to you by the Rotary Club of Bonsall.  General Admission $65. Two stages of entertainment, silent auction, wines from all over the world and restaurant tasting.  Go to bonsallrotary.com/events.html for ticket information.

The next Concerts in the Vines event at Orfila Winery in Escondido is Sun. May 20 from 6 to 8pm with the Stoney B Blues Band. $ 25. includes a glass of wine.  Call 800-868-9463 for ticket info.

Chicago Style Wine & Food Launches in San Diego

by Frank Mangio
A twin launch recently resonated with San Diego diners when Davanti Enoteca and Mia Francesca opened side by side in an upscale food court in the Del Mar Highlands Center, next to the renovated movie theatre.  I was surprised and moved by the flavor and friendliness of both operations, owned by the same group from Chicago, where several restaurants are thriving, mostly with the same favorite Italian theme.

Brittany Ziegler-Hastings is the congenial manager of Mia Francesca which she describes as ”the big sister” to Davanti.  “Here it’s family style with upscale surroundings and white table cloths with a Roman style Trattoria and full service bar.” 70% of the wines are Italian with such  names as Vietti, Il Po9ggioni, Tignanello, and Tenuta Brunello.

The “warm welcome” theme is so important to both Mia Francesca and Davanti that new help is brought back to Chicago to get personal training for months to understand that the customer is “family” with both restaurants.

I believe a dinner is off to the best start when the salad is fresh, flavorful and leaves you wanting more.
The salads at Mia Francesca included fresh asparagus, pea pods, warm lentils with spinach and goat cheese, tomato and cucumber and many more discoveries.  Moving into the pastas, I would recommend the Rigatoni alla Siciliana.  The pasta is sautéed with a spicy tomato sauce, roasted eggplant and parmigiano.  The “secondi” or main course is rich with healthy, exotic chicken dinners and fish dishes like salmon, tilapia and sea scallops.

A handout accompanies the menu and serves as today’s news with hot topics like today’s wine specials and chef’s creations.  Davanti Enoteca is not new to TASTE OF WINE readers who have been treated to the story on the original Little Italy San Diego location that opened some months ago, managed by the former Napa Valley wine manager Josh Zanow.  The new Del Mar location is run by Nicole Holderman, a wine writer with local restaurant experience.

At Davanti the tempo is up with lots of drop-ins.  The wine and dine experience is as much social as anything with a huge Italian wine selection, from the “Wine of the Week,” this week a Prosecco sparkler either by the glass or bottle, to a La Poderina or Argiano Brunello from Tuscany. Enjoy both with a quick salad or an oven roasted wagyu tri tip made to perfection in a few minutes more.  Both Davanti locations are serving a weekend brunch from 10 to 2pm.

You will love the amusing but informative menus as they define and de-mystify Italian cuisine language that sometimes defy pronunciation. It’s “mangia bene” at Davanti Enoteca and Mia Francesca.  The only hard part is deciding which one to dine at next…a happy problem. And, since they’re connected, why not both!  For reservations it’s 858-519-5055 for Mia Francesca, and 858-519-5060 for Davanti.

Wine Bytes
PAON Restaurant & Wine Bar in Carlsbad is featuring Classic Italian Wines in the wine store now though Thurs. May 9.  Six 1 ounce tastings for $16. Call 760-729-7377 for times and names.

A High End Super Tuscan Tasting is planned at Bacchus Wine market downtown San Diego, Sat. May 5 from 2 to 8:30pm.  Cost is $30. to taste Brunello, Chianti Classico, and Cab-based blends.  Details at 619-236-0005.

It’s Women, Wine and Golf Wed. May 9 from 2:30 to 7pm at the Country Club in Rancho Bernardo.  The event is looking for business women from all skill levels.  $79. non-members/$59. members includes all golf, wine, appetizers, gift bags and more. Call 703-268-5078 for an RSVP.

A Night at the Mission, Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, happens Fri. May 11 from 6:30 to 9:30pm.  Sample wine tasting, hors d’eurves and live music plus silent auction.  $25. advance by calling 760-213-5622.

Pacifica Del Mar at the Del Mar Plaza hosts a Kim Crawford Wine dinner Wed. May 16 from 6:30 to 9:30pm.  Selections from this award-winning New Zealand winery plus a multi-course dinner.  Cost is $85. pp includes parking, tip and tax.  More at 858-792-0476.

A Cinco de Mayo Treat, With or Without Tequila

Thornton Unveils Champagne Jazz with an Energized Mindi Abair

by Frank Mangio
If I likened the kickoff Mindi Abair  Concert at the beautiful outdoor Thornton Winery  in Temecula to wine, my quote would be:  “I came expecting Merlot and got Zinfandel!”  Mindi, ever seductive charmer with her cooing smooth jazz and tenor sax notes, this time came with two legendary rockers from the 80’s, Jeff Golub who played for Rod Stewart, and David Pack, the lead singer for the hit makers Ambrosia. This was a brilliant, exciting musical stroke of genius

 Mindi jumped into music by Jimmy Hendrix, the Rolling Stones and James Brown.  What a big moment for the 24th season of Champagne Jazz at Thornton Winery.  It will be hard to top it, but with the lineup coming in, they’ll match it.  Some recommendations:  Chris Botti June 3, Bobby Caldwell and David Benoit June 24, Brian Culbertson and David Sanborn July 15, Dave Koz and Candy Duffer August 18 & 19 and Peter White Sept. 16.

Mindi Abair opened the Thornton Winery 24th Annual  Champagne Jazz Concerts in Temecula.

The series goes to Oct. 21. Mindi was gracious enough to sip some beautifully crafted Thornton Brut Rose’at a pre concert press gathering, signed autographs and stayed for photos.  She bubbled over as much as the wine and saluted the Thornton Family on the best orchestrated concert series on the circuit.

At Thornton, the audience is offered the “culinary fusion” 3 course gourmet dinner created by Thornton’s restaurant Café Champagne under the direction of Executive Chef Steve Pickell.

Wines recommended with the dinner included:  Thornton 2010 Viognier, Thornton 2010 Mourvedre and Thornton 2010 Zinfandel, under the direction of winemaker David Vergari. He was in a celebratory mood this night as we found out that the Thornton 2010 Tempranillo ($25.) and  2010 Estate Petite Sirah ($22.) had won Gold at the important Monterey Wine Competition.  It was a dazzling night for the audience and for Thornton Winery.  For details on the concerts and levels of tickets available call 951-699-3021 or visit www.thorntonwine.com.

New Wine Releases-Try Them!
The tempo of new releases has stepped up exponentially as wine events have picked up the last few months, giving brands an opportunity to unveil their latest.  Here are 5 worth trying:

Banfi Centine Rosso Toscana Montalcino Italy, 2009.  $10.  A marriage of Sangiovese and Cab/Merlot grapes offering intensity and spice for such a young Italian red.  Best value on anyone’s list.
Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc, Sonoma, CA 2011. $15.  A fresh vibrant white blended wine with a rich mouth-feel.  Subtle oak character.

Orin Swift The Prisoner Red Blend, Napa Valley, CA.  2010.  $38.  A Zin-based ripe red spice box.  Added varietals include Cabernet, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Charbono and Grenache.

Sausal Century Vines Zinfandel, Sonoma, Ca.  2009.  $40.  Big, powerful, yet smooth on the palate. Well Balanced notes.

Trentadue La Storia Zinfandel, Sonoma, CA.  2010.  $30.  Bright, intense fruit with a touch of Petite Sirah for cherry, blueberry.  Fine oak barrel age for brown sugar, vanilla accent.


Wine Bytes
Meritage Wine Market is presenting an Italian Wine & Food event Sat. May 12 from 5 to 7pm, for $50. pp.  North, South, East and West are all represented with premium cuisine and wines.  Call 760-479-2500.

Mothers Day dinners in Temecula on Sun. May 13 include: Wilson Creek with a Brunch from 10am to 4pm with piano music, $49.95 ea. Call 951-699-9463; Monte De Oro Brunch includes a free bottle of wine and sweet gift.  Two seatings 10am and Noon.  Go to www.montedeoro.com; Café Champagne at Thornton Winery buffet with live music from 12 to 5pm, includes a glass of Brut Champagne for $49.95.

Enjoy Mothers Day menu items at Firenze Trattoria in Encinitas.  Seatings starting at 1pm.  Long stem rose for Mom plus live Jazz starting at 5:30pm.  RSVP at 760-944-9000.

3rd Corner in Encinitas has a Mothers Day Prix Fixe Menu with three wines for $25.  RSVP at 760-942-2104.

Castello Banfi will be the star wine at a dinner at Vigilucci’s at the Carlsbad Beach location Fri. May 18 starting at 6:30pm.  A special menu will be prepared.  $80. pp.  Call 760-434-2580 for reservations and the menu.