Muscle Wine Nebbiolo Gets Witch Creek Gold

by Frank Mangio

With the heady scent of high tide at a Carlsbad beach, I entered Witch Creek Winery on the Coast Highway. It had been awhile and the news recently from this highly focused Italian style winery was all good. Earlier this year, it had captured Best of Class with its 2006 Nebbiolo at the prestigious San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. That wasn’t all…Witch Creek entered 7 wines, and all 7 took medals.

Founded in 1993 by the Wodehouse family, the winery also has a tasting room in the mountain town of Julian. In addition to the usual popular wines like Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and other household names, a decision was made to source known and lesser known Italian grape varietals from the Guadalupe Valley near Ensenada Mexico, long-known for its excellence in growing Nebbiolo, Barbera, Sangiovese, Montepulciano and Aglianico.

Pete Anderson, an area specialist in Italian viticulture, works closely with Witch Creek and his winemaker contact at L.A. Cetto in the Mexican wine country, Camillo Magoni, to bring award winning Italian grape varietals to the U.S. market with price points that are well below wines from Italy.

Although the 2006 Nebbiolo is now sold out, the rave is building for the 2007 vintage. Palate pleasing with huge potential in its blueberry and blackberry combination, this vintage is still in the grip of strong tannins and needs some lay-down time.


The creative style of winemaker Ryan Baker shows best in his touch with Witch Creek Blends. (foto by Frank Mangio)

If you have a “drink-now” occasion, open it up about an hour before consumption for a mouth-feel that flourishes with the full flavor of true Nebbiolo. Cost at the winery is $35.

Ryan Baker, the eclectic Witch Creek winemaker is constantly experimenting, trying new combinations and mixes, to come up with the next big thing. His work with the blend of Brunello and Aglianico in the 2006 Due Pastore deserves cheers. Hearty meats will get a flavor boost from this vintage and well as the later 2007 model that mates Aglianico and Montepulciano. They sell for $20. and $23. respectively. For the latest information and wine releases, the website is: www.witchcreekwinery.com.

Enjoy Your Own Fine Wine at Addison
Addison, the upscale restaurant in the Grand Resort Del Mar, recently was awarded Mobil’s prestigious Five-Star designation. This award really defines the highest standard of excellence in dining establishments. It also announced that on Tuesday and Wednesday dinners, guests can bring in a wine of their own with no corkage fee. This is a first in fine dining in the San Diego market and should be applauded. Customers in that price range often want to share their wines at a dining room of Addison’s stature.

Master Sommelier Jesse Rodriguez wants guests to know that he has brought in private bottlings with Grand Del Mar supervision, in collaboration some of the best vintners available. Rodriguez said “we have been busy making some incredible wine from all over California and Europe with proprietary offerings.”

Wine Spectator recently awarded Addison the “Best of Award of Excellence.” Learn more at www.TheGrandDelMar.com.

Wine Bytes
 Il Fornaio, in Del Mar and Coronado, continues its Festa Regionale salute to Italy’s culinary regions with Campania dinners and wines, now through May 17. Campania includes Naples, Sorrento and the Amafli Coast, home to Aglianico wines and Limoncello liqueurs. The Del Mar location number is 858-755-8876.

 Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido offers German Rieslings at a tasting on Fri. May 8 from 5:30 to 7pm. Rieslings are lovely summertime wines from dry to sweet. Cost is $10. with appetizers. Call for details at 760-745-1200.

 3rd Corner in Encinitas presents an Italian wine tasting on Sat. May 9 from 2 to 5pm for $10. each. Learn which labels by calling 760-942-2104.

 Haciendas de Las Rosas heads up the next elegant 5 course winemaker dinner at Café Merlot and Bernardo Winery in Rancho Bernardo, Fri. May 15 starting at 6:30pm. $85. pp. Reservations at 858-592-7785.

 Paso Robles Wine Country is planning their 27th annual Wine Festival for Fri. May 15 to Sun. May 17. Fri. is the reserve tasting and Sat. the Grand Tasting with over 90 wineries participating. Local chefs also get involved. For ticket information, call 805-239-8463, or visit www.pasowine.com.

 The Four Seasons Aviara and its wine club invites guests to the 5th annual Around the World Wine Tasting, Wed. May 20 at 6:30pm. Only the best of the best wines are tasted, with food sampling from the resort’s Executive Chef. For more information, call 760-603-3790.