Wine Guru Again Wins Top Restaurant Award

by Frank Mangio
The WineSellar and Brasserie has once again taken the top annual Wine Spectator Grand Award for having one of the greatest wine lists in the world.  Tucked into the Sorrento Valley with wine storage ,a wine shop, wine bar, bistro and brasserie, it has captured this international recognition annually since 1989,  shortly after owner Gary Parker opened his business in 1988.

“I started out with wine storage then moved into retail wine sales before it was ever cool to do it,” he observed. “I had restaurant experience working with Bertrand Hugg who owns Mille Fleur in Rancho Sante Fe, and before that  I was with him at the old Mona Lisa in Solana Beach.  In the early 80’s I sold wine door to door and tutored restaurateurs on how to taste wine.   I saw an opportunity to combine all my talents and WineSellar and Brasserie was born.  I was way ahead of my time with this format where storage customers brought in restaurant customers and the retail side helped the restaurant."

Gary Parker, owner of WineSellar and Brasserie in San Diego, in front of his newly finished 

Wine & Craft Beer Bar.

Word got out fast that the brasserie had internationally known French style, decades-old Bordeaux wines on the menu, and it soon caught the attention of the world-class publication Wine Spectator.

“My wine storage customers, mostly high end collectors, got me going with the great French wines,” he chuckled.  “A lot of them left their wines due to the three D’s:  debt, divorce and death.  They and their families wanted me to take their wines off their hands, then I would add them to my restaurant wine list.  They were some of the greatest wines ever known.”

Parker still stocks a lot of California and French wines in his restaurant inventory which numbers about 1,600 choices.

As everyone knows the market is changing and Parker knows, so now he points to his new wine bar and small bites menu for a casual WineSellar Brasserie experience, while still focusing on the multi course French style, sit down lunches and dinners upstairs in the brasserie, with Chef Alfred Fierro’s creations.

The day I reviewed the menu, it was Scallops Carpaccio, a mixed grill of Lamb, Beef, Potato Puree and a red wine reduction to highlight a Prix Fixe presentation, washed down with wines from Spain.  Diners and wine tasters have many options at WineSellar and Brasserie, making it a fun discovery.  Now Parker is developing a new value wine label, KARMA, with whites and reds from the Mendoza district of Argentina.  The 2007 Malbec Gran Reserva was lovely.  Congratulations to WineSellar and Brasserie on yet another Wine Spectator Grand Award winner for 2012.  See www.winesellar.com.

Search and Try These Wines
About once a month I check back into my wine rating list of bottles I have tasted and rated as I experience them.  The name, varietal, vintage and wine country are noted, as well as price and a rating, one to 5, with 5 as an “Excellent” rating.  So, here are some “5’s” for your consideration, by alphabetic order:

- Anciano Tempranillo Gran Reserva, Spain, 2001. $8. Aged a whopping ten years. From the Valdepenas District. Mature fruit flavored.

- Castello Amorosa Dolcino Gewurstraminer, Napa Valley, 2001.  $24.  Lightly sweet, summer perfect.

- Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany.  2007. $55.  Aristocratic, fine balance. of Sangiovese grape clones producing a ruby rich flavor with hints of licorice.

- Fog Crest Chardonnay, Russian River Sonoma, 2010.  $28.  Platinum Medal Winner at the Monterey Wine Competition and Double Gold Winner at the San Francisco Chronicle Tasting.  Beautifully crafted.

- J. Davies Cabernet, Diamond Mountain Napa Valley, 2008. $80.  Voluptuous fruit forward wine that will capture your senses.

- Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel, Dry Creek Sonoma, 2010. $16.  Petite Sirah added for balance, combined with 100 plus year old vine flavor, equals a rare Zin value.

- Robert Renzoni Sonata Blend, Temecula Valley, 2009.  $38.  All estate grown Cabernet and Brunello grapes, a bold duo of French and Italian connections.  Won Silver at the Orange County Fair.

- Sassacaia Tenuta San Guido “Super Tuscan,” Bolgheri Italy.  2006.  $225.  At least once in your wine life, you must taste this “stony ground” Cabernet and Cab Franc Italian blend from the slopes of Bolgheri.  Deep,refined tannins.  The 2006 was the best in a decade.

Wine Bytes

Meritage Wine Market in Encinitas presents a U.S. Pinot Noir pouring Fri. Aug. 10 from 6 to 8pm.  Cost is $20. for 6 wine tastings.  Check it out at 760-479-2500.

La Costa Wine Company is planning its annual Wine Expo on Sat. Aug. 11 from 2 to 5pm.  $25. pp.  30 different wines to try. RSVP on this one.  760-431-8646.

Monte De Oro Winery in Temecula has an evening concert with Steel Magnolia on Fri. Aug. 10.  Details at 951-491-6551.

Digging Up Dirt in the Vineyard

by Frank Mangio

Don’t be surprised if, along with other nutritional revelations on wine labels, you will also be made aware of the amount of calories in a standard sized glass of wine.  What is considered standard for wine is a five ounce glass.

So if you are a calorie counter, you are consuming roughly 120 calories per 5 ounce serving.
That should not be a concern, if you drink in moderation. This is the latest in a string of reports that are positive for wine as a healthy drink, all things considered.

Where wine really shines is in its capacity to deliver resveratrol, an antioxidant that combats cardiovascular conditions.

A standard 5 ounce glass ofmwine has been found to contain 120 calories.

My good friends at Italo Americano published a report from Italy’s Higher Health Institute, among others that also found that resveratrol is capable of ”blocking the flu virus….  at present there is no known pharmaceutical product which can effectively block the flu virus.”  Other medical analysis suggests that drinking two glasses of red wine per day helps prevent a host of other diseases related to the heart and nervous system.

One of the most frequent questions I get is the “Contains Sulfite” notice on the wine bottles.  We all know that the government can get over-protective at times and this may be one of them. The fact is that a tiny amount of sulfur dioxide is added to the fermentation process, to control oxidation in the wine and protect spoilage, like turning the wine into vinegar during aging.  Nearly every wine maker adds sulfites.  Only Australia and the U.S. require a label mentioning the additive.   Sulfites don’t give you headaches, like some say.  Likely it’s an allergic reaction.  I know individuals who pop an anti- histamine before consuming wine and that seems to calm the problem.

Hats off to Charles Krug Winery, Napa Valley’s first winery and the sanctuary for several of the venerable Mondavi Family members.  They invented the public wine tasting event in 1951 at the onset of their harvest that year.  This year, Peter Mondavi Senior, 98 years young, will conduct his 61st tasting and break ground for an exciting new hospitality center on September 8, on the Great Lawn.  The winery was founded in 1861. Check out the details at www.charleskrug.com.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine just came out with their top 100 Restaurants in America, and in the San Diego area where this column is produced, Addison at the Grand Del Mar is the clear leader.  The wine program, directed by Jesse Rodriguez since its beginnings is “extensive and deep, strong on verticals and diverse, highlighting small producers.”  Rodriguez has some 25,000 bottles in the cellar as last count. The signature dish is the Braised Short Ribs, having gone from rustic to refined, using Port Wine and various spices. Learn more at www.addisondelmar.com. If you are in Beverly Hills, try CUT by Wolfgang Puck.

Here’s a brief but reliable wine pairing rule of thumb for popular dishes:
·        Lobster/Crab- open a premium Chardonnay to compliment the richness of the flavor.

·        Chicken-Can be paired with either red or white, but also is best suited to a robust Chardonnay or Viognier.

·        Fish-with the more flavored fish, a Pinot Noir red is a great choice.

·        BBQ Pork or Ribs-To balance the BBQ sauce and hot, peppery accents, a sweet Riesling is
always a smart wine.

·        Steak-with strong tannins, flavor and acidity, a Cabernet or Syrah is the flavor choice.

With the New Bunz in Town, Open a Red

With a revolutionary approach to the all-American Burger, noted San Diego Chef Jeff Rossman of Terra fame, has opened BUNZ, a casual restaurant with fresh-picked local produce,
100% aged beef for burgers and local seasonal fruit for shakes.

What caught my eye was the wine menu as well as draft and bottled beer in this short order format. The Merlot was a Canyon Road from California’s Central Coast, a nice choice to wash down 8 choices of burgers.  The condiments are all home-made, like the BBQ sauce in the “Cowboy Burger” I ordered, onion rings, ketchup  and pickles. All salads are organic.  Rossman’s 13 years as an Executive Chef is pulled in to create new and exotic tastes on a burger menu.

Jeff Rossman has created the new BUNZ in San Diego, an individual taste experience.

He has a “Vegan” Burger, ground turkey burger and a really different tasting “Smashed Medianoche Sandwich,” a Cuban delight with roasted pork and swiss cheese.
Check out BUNZ  at bunzsd.com, or call 619-298-6515.

Wine Bytes
There’s a new wine bar in Encinitas that just opened, Encinitas Wine Merchants and Wine Bar, located in the Kohl’s Center on El Camino Real. The wine specials served change weekly, with Happy Hour from 4 to 6pm.  Call 760-407-4265.

Flemings Steakhouse has its next wine dinner Fri. July 27 at 6:30pm, with the wines of Bianchi of Paso Robles.  Four course dinner with matching wines.  $75. pp.  Call 858-535-0078 for an RSVP.

Roll Out the Barrel Food and Wine benefiting Make A Wish is Sat. July 28 from 6 to 10pm at Humphreys By The Bay on Shelter Island.  Unique auction items included.  Live Entertainment.  Cost is $200. each.  Purchase tickets at www.sdwineandwishes.com.

Monte De Oro Winery in Temecula spotlights Big Bad Voodoo Daddy in a concert on Sat. July 28 starting at 6pm.  Tickets go from $55.  Phone 951-491-6551.

Altipiano Winery in Escondido is the host for the Ramona Heart Murals benefit food and wine event Sat. Aug. 4 from 2 to 6pm.  An exclusive Great Room is the winery venue with gourmet food to match the wine pairings.  Piano entertainment.  Price is $45. Call 760-787-1102.

The Volcanic Wines of Italy

by Frank Mangio
Ever since I can remember tasting wine (4 years old and counting) I have known Italian wines to be either Chianti ( Sangiovese grape) or Barolo/Barbaresco ( Nebbiolo grape) and that was satisfactory until I started digging deeper into  this vast wine barrel of Italy, with 20 regions from Sicily in the south to Trentino-Alto Adige in the north.

Italy has passed France to become the biggest wine exporter in the world.  The quality has increased dramatically with over 60% of the wines made being awarded Italy’s top designation of DOC or DOCG, a government measurement of comparative quality to its highest standards.

The roots of Italian wines go back to biblical times with the ancient Greeks and Etruscans many thousands of years ago, who brought vines to the peninsula.  Later the Romans did the same thing when they marched into other European lands, including Gaul which became what we now know as France.  This is a point not lost with Italians who look at French wines as their legacy.

What shaped Italian wines into the powerful force that they are in the world of wine are the unique climate and terrain:  sun, soil, air and rain.  An added blessing is the fine food, valued by Italians as essential to fine wine and the Italian way of life.

Sicily’s active volcano is  Mt. Aetna, whose rich  soil surrounds its base for vineyards to grow strong, richly endowed wine grapes. Photo-Flikr Award Gallery

With over 2,000 different varieties of Italian wine grown in Italy, something no other country even comes close to, the urge to explore beyond Tuscany with its Sangiovese and Piedmont with its Nebbiolo, is enticing.

My last wine trip to Italy last year, I vowed to take the road less traveled in my search for extraordinary wines off the radar.  I had met recently in San Francisco and spoken to Italian “Consorzios” (Associations) that represented Veneto (Venetian) wines and learned about Amorone and Prosecco.  I also spent time with winemakers of Montepulciano and tasted their Montepulciano di Abruzzo and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.  But the natural forces that exponentially would make for rich and powerful reds had eluded me up to this last trip….the volcanic wines of Italy, around the base of Mt. Vesuvius near Naples, and Mt. Aetna, the largest active volcano in Europe, on the island of Sicily.  Both locations are easily accessible as port stops on a number of cruise routes.

Sicily is that hybrid island of such strategic importance in the Mediterranean that it has been governed by more foreign powers than any other land mass.  It has been only since 1948 that the Italian government declared Sicily as a autonomous region of Italy, with powers of self government.  Between jokes about Rome governing, the Sicilians are proudest of their Mt. Aetna and its fertile, volcanic soils.  It sits between Messina and Taormina on the eastern coast, and its worst eruption was when it buried the nearby city of Catania, killing 15,000 in 1169 AD.  Aetna’s 11,000 feet is often capped with snow and frequently has minor eruptions, the last one being March of this year.  The wines there are dominated by the native Nero D’Avola, which the world is just now noticing.  These are sumptuous, bold wines with ripe fruit flavors, unlike the mainland wines that are earthy and mineralized.

Another grape to look for is Nerello Mascalese, grown higher on the slopes, where winemakers brave the rumblings and eruptions at over 3,300 feet. The mountain has erupted some 200 times as the oldest active volcano in the world.  Planeta is a name to know.  The winery has six large vineyards in Sicily including one on Mr. Aetna, and another south of the volcano at Noto.  The island has more terrain under vine that any other winemaking region in Italy. My other “volcanic wine” stop was in the Campania district at the historically more famous Mt. Vesuvius . It infamously gained fame when it flattened the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 AD.

Mt. Vesuvius overlooks the Bay of Naples in Italy. Photo:  Bing

 It menacingly overlooks the city of Naples  and lasterupted in 1944 during World War Two, destroying allied planes at a nearby airbase.

The Aglianico grape is the basis for  Campania’s 100,000 acres under vine. Compare this to the largest wine district in California, Paso Robles, with just 26,000 acres.  The wine Taurasi, made from the ancient Aglianico, is the only one with the highest DOCG status.  It has the capacity to age and become full bodied and rich in pleasurable flavor, shedding its youthful, tannic taste. The finest examples of this grape are on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius.

Maurizio Russo is the owner and winemaker at Cantina Del Vesuvio, with acreage high on the western side of the volcano. His wines benefit from the enriched soil, so his wines are bottled and sold now from the 2010 harvest.  Soil characteristics include:  calcium, iron, nitrogen and potassium, ingredients that Russo says “make my vines of fire strong and productive.”

Columnist Frank Mangio ( right) high on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius near Naples Italy, with winery owner Maurizio Russo. Photo: Mangio

Russo, an unusually large, tall man was ever the congenial host as he sat us down to taste his family of wines over farm-fresh tomato sauce in a bed of home-made pasta, freshly picked mushrooms and zucchini.  The always present baked bread with sesame crust was brought out as fast as the select Aglianico reds from the ’09 harvest that sold for 10 Euro (about 13 dollars ).

Farming generally in Italy is very difficult due to limestone formations in the bedrock producing poor soil, except for the volcanic areas around Mt. Vesuvius. This is due to the eruptions some 35,000 and 12,000 years ago enriching the soil with nutrients.  It’s not unusual to see a vineyard with wine grapes, mixed in with fava beans, cauliflower, onions, orange and lemon trees, herbs and flowers.  Look a little more and you will see huge tomatoes being grown.

While the winemakers and farmers thank the heavens and their volcanic mountain for this bonanza, they also cast a wary eye at the hissing peak, wondering…..when is the next disastrous eruption coming.

Wine Bytes
Rossi’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant in San Marcos is having a Tolosa Wine Dinner Sat. July 14 at 6:30pm.  A gourmet 4 course dinner featuring Chicken Parmesan and 5 glasses of Tolosa wine for just $40., normally a $60. value.  Tolosa of Edna Valley is a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir specialist.  For an RSVP, call 760-727-4747 or 760-533-4486.

Tommy V’s in Carlsbad at Bressi Ranch has a special wine dinner with  Monte Olimpo Luxus Five wines from Sicily, Sat. July 14 at 6:30pm.  RSVP at 760-602-1949.  Cost is $75. pp.

San Antonio Winery downtown Los Angeles presents a 4 course lunch and wine seminar:  Understanding Classic Grape Varietals with Michael Papalia, Sun. July 15 from 1 to 4pm.  Cost is $58. pp.  Reserve at 888-223-1401.

The Grand Resort Del Mar opens a Summer Five Star Soundtrack  8-concert series, opening with Hiroshima Fusion Jazz, Sun. July 15.  Show times at 7pm. General seating $65., VIP $95.  Call 800-820-9884.

Mille Fleurs brings Jazz on the Patio to Rancho Santa Fe, Tues. thru Sun. starting July 17 from 6 to 9pm. Enjoy a drink or dinner with sax music from Chicago.  No RSVP needed.

Bastille Day is the wine and dinner theme at Europa Village Winery in Temecula, Wed. and Thurs. July 18 and 19, 6:30 to 9:30pm. French music and fun throughout.  $85. ea.  Club members are $76.50.  Call for RSVP at 951-216-3380.

Kenny G, the premier Jazz Saxman has been added to the Thornton Winery Champagne Jazz Series with a concert on Sun. July 22 at 5pm, along with Earl Klugh.  Order tickets at 951-699-0099 or champagnejazz.com.

Top Ten Tastings 1st half of 2012

by Frank Mangio
The first half of 2012 had a sense of positive change for the comeback of premium wines (those wines over $20.)  The famous (or infamous, depending on your outlook) “Two Buck Chuck”  is finally down in sales after 10 years, partly due to the fact that grape production in the Napa Valley and other premium wine countries in California is down, leaving less grapes to sell at steep discounts. Demand is pushing up prices.  Red grapes especially saw an average of $12. a ton more in 2011 than the year before, across the varietal board.

The French are still the biggest consumers of wine, followed by Italy.  The U.S. is #3 in consumption.  China has moved up to #6. Direct sales from the winery through the internet is the fastest growing way to sell wine, with Cabernet Sauvignon the most popular followed by Pinot Noir.

It was a great first half for TASTE OF WINE.  I attended many international wine trade shows as wines from Italy, Spain and France brought their biggest name wines to the West Coast.  I was named a judge at the first commercial wine competition at the County Fair, a big plus for San Diego based vineyards.

My 10 choices are priced at the best prices I could find.  Napa Valley boasts six choices, with California showing a total of nine wines.  The only overseas selection is Argentina.  All ten are equally treated on an excellence scale from 1 to 5, considering flavor, body and value.  The list is alphabetical  and does NOT indicate any ranking.

Ft. Ross Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast Ca.  2008.  $19. This winning Pinot Noir has roots high on a ridge overlooking the Pacific.  Night time fog and plenty of daytime sun makes it special.  www.fortrossvineyard.com.

Frank Family Pinot Noir, Napa Valley CA.  2010.  $30.  Another Pinot for the ages.  Cherry and cinnamon are the dominant flavors.  Fine tannins are the ticket to an elegant structure. Frank also makes a dashing Zinfandel ( $30.) and a royal Cabernet Sauvignon ($40.) www.frankfamilyvineyards.

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley CA.  2008.  $90.  This wine was #2 in all the world in the Wine Spectator Top 100.  8% Merlot added to smooth out the tannins. Depth and power. www.hallwines.com.

Hess Collection 19 Block Cuvee, Napa Valley CA.  2007. $36.  A 5 varietal blend, Cab based.  A core of 19 blocks of grapes from Hess’s highest altitude vineyard, Veeder Summit.  Aromas of plum and currant.  www.hesscollection.com.

Lewis Cellars Cabernet Reserve, Napa Valley CA.  2009.  $130.  Opulent spices from a small collection of vineyards in Oak Knoll and Calistoga.  Small dose of Petit Verdot for sensitive sweetness.  www.lewiscellars.com.

Norton Reserve Malbec, Mendoza Argentina.  2008.  $13.  Big stallion style reds, Malbecs are giving Cabs a run for it.  Norton is the premium horse in the group.  www.norton.com

Pedroncelli friends.red, Sonoma, CA.  2010.  $11.  The Italian tradition of friends and wine are wrapped up in this blend of Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah and Sangiovese.  www.pedroncelli.com.

Sean Minor Pinot Noir, Napa Valley, CA.  2010.  $16.  A beautiful value Pinot with grapes from the Carneros District.  Expect a bowl of strawberries, cherries and raspberries with velvety tannins.  Try it with salmon, or chicken.  www.seanminorwines.com.

Thornton Winery Mourvedre, Temecula CA. 2010.  $15.20.  One of the great reds from the Rhone Valley of France.  Has an earthy quality of its European origin.  A “drink now” red.
www.thorntonwine.com.

VSattui Winery Chardonnay, Napa Valley, CA.  2010.  $30.  Grown in the Carneros District.  Barrel fermented and aged in barrel for 10 months, Toasty aromas and flavors from a stirring process.  Slight peppery accent. www.vsattui.com.

Wine Bytes
The new Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort and Spa has just opened with the state of the art Chandler’s Restaurant, with local celebrity chef Pasqual Vignau as Executive Chef. Call 760-602-0800. Panoramic views and a private wine room are featured.

Il Fornaio in Del Mar and Coronado has Sicily as its Festa Regionale theme, July 2 through July 15. Enjoy a three course tasting menu for $29.99 and a Sicilian wine flight for $13.99.  RSVP at 888-ITALIAN.

World Wine Market and Competition is the name of a major wine seminar at SDSU Mon. July 9 from 6 to 9pm.  Credits go to the Business of Wine Program.  Call 619-265-7378 for details.

Twisted Vine Bistro and Wine Bar in Carmel Valley has a July 7 and a July 21 cooking class with Chef Mia called “Capture Napa Valley.”  Two glasses of wine included.  Call 858-780-2501 for times and pricing.

Wine’s Favorite Companion is Olive Oil

by Frank Mangio
It’s remarkable how olive oil has walked in the same footprint as wine in recently capturing the public’s fancy for flavor.  No longer content to use the plain tasting traditional olive oil their ancestors used, like wine, it’s what’s new and different.

 Olive oil boutiques are sprouting up in shopping districts with tasting events booking fast. A new genre of marketing terms has the U.S. Department of Agriculture scrambling for standards. Extra Virgin, light with lemon, unfiltered, cold-pressed:  the variety of olive oil on the shelves is confusing at best, and never been defined, until now.  Now, scientific standards for “virgin” and extra-virgin” will be enforced later this year, leveling the playing field for small producers and retailers.  Why the rush to olive oil?  For wineries, its’ simple.  This is a ready cash crop that they can sell almost as soon as they can pick their olives, crush them and bottle them, while their wine ages in barrels for a year or much more before being sold.

Nutritionists keep telling us what those in Mediterranean countries have known for centuries; olive oil is the backbone of a rustic, farm-to-table diet that will keep your weight down and put years on to your life.  Sprinkled in salads, added to pastas, a dip for home-made bread, this tasty and nutritious liquid gold, is medicinal, magical and dependable.  It can last at least a year on the shelf and will not go rancid.

Up in Temecula, Villa Calabro Winery and Olive Oil Company in Old Town Temecula with Mike Calabro, a wine and olive oil maker, does olive oil tasting with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and flavor infused accents such as Garlic, Scallion, Rosemary, Basil and Oregano.  It is one of only two locations in Southern California that make their own olive oil. Call for hours at 951-695-4525.

Baker and Olive is a more urban operation in Encinitas, and now in Carmel Valley.  They specialize in freshly pressed Extra Virgin olive oil and nicely aged balsamic vinegars. Fresh home made breads are also sold.  For more on Baker and Olive, call 760-944-7840.

At harvest, olive picking is by hand with a wide net at the base of the  tree to catch them. Baskets (in Italy they’re called cassettas) should make about 3 liters of Olive oil.  Extra Virgin olive oil is considered the finest and means there has been no chemical treatment to enhance and refine the product.  It also has nearly no acidity , thus a vastly superior taste.

A rare and historic occasion is coming to San Diego Thursday July 26 when Villa Capri 2 brings Napa Valley’s Chateau Montelena in for a 5 course dinner and wine tasting, starting at 6pm.  This follows a historic wine event recently with the Italian favorite, Allegrini from Valpolicella.


The restaurant enriches its wine dinner events with a passion for a sweeping variety of great tastes. On the Allegrini night, diners feasted on Calamari, Salmon, Ravioli, New Zealand Lamb Chops and special homemade dessert. The best Allegrini of the evening was the Amarone blend, 2007, the “Palazzo Della Torre.”  Chateau Montelena is sure to please and sell out. It is priced at $75. per person.  Call in an RSVP at 858-538-5884.

Wine Bytes
Northern Italian wines are tasted Fri. June 29 from 4 to 8:30pm at Bacchus Wine Market in the Gaslamp, downtown San Diego.  Cost is $20. for 7 tastes from Barolo, Amarone and elsewhere.  Call 619-236-0005.

Falkner Winery in Temecula is celebrating their 12th Anniversary Sat. June 30 and Sun. July 1.  Lots of Jazz music, winery tours, hourly raffles and big discounts on wines and lunches in the Pinnacle Restaurant.  More info at 951-676-8231 x 1.

Carruth Cellars in Solana Beach is having a bottling party Sat. June 30 and Sun. July 1 from 7am to 7pm.  They are bottling 2,900 wines.  Cost to participate is $30. and includes a bottle of the new wine and live entertainment.  Call 858-847-9463 for details.

The new Marina Kitchen in the Marriott San Diego Marina is presenting Social Media Day, Sat. June 30.  Enthusiasts are urged to mix, mingle and network. Time will be 5 to 9pm.  Food and wine sampling highlighted.  First 100 get a goodie bag with free items.  To RSVP this free event, visit www.socialmediadaysandiego.com.

Flemings La Jolla wants you to celebrate your favorite wines with complimentary corkage, now thru August 31.  Limit two bottles per visit.  Fleming’s First Friday features Paso Robles wines Fri. July 6, 5:30 to 7:30pm.  $25. pp. For more call 858-535-0078.