New Years 2014 Wine Idulgences Here & There

by Frank Mangio
Indulgences can be anything above and beyond your time-honored habits that get you through the day.
To me indulgences should stimulate the senses with a surge of excitement.  This time of the year is a natural time to indulge.  Parties, people, gifts, food, and yes, fine wines all play their part. With those elements in mind, let me take you on an indulgence of flashy, feed-festive, wine infused restaurants that feature excesses of party-play and fun. (As the Italians like to say “La Dolce Vita.”) First stop is Cucina Enoteca in Del Mar.

Before you are escorted to your table to choose many stylish, Italian influenced dishes, you pass through a wine store with more selections than you can count, including some Napa Valley and Italian legends that will indulge the senses and your budget.  Example:  a 1976 Beaulieu Napa Valley Vineyard Private Reserve for $350 and an Italian Super Tuscan 2010 Sassicaia for $275.

Cate Hughes, the Director of Wine & Beverage, pointed to a Vietti Italian Castiglione Barolo at a reasonable $50. that took my breath away with its sumptuous quality. Another Vietti worth trying, the Barbera D’Alba for even less.

Ask for waiter Shannon Stegeman when you go.  She knows the food menu better than the kitchen team.  Cucina Enoteca is a two story emporium with an enormous bar capturing the culinary flavors of Italy with the organic freshness of California.  See it all at www.urbankitchengroup.com.

San Diego has it made with an indulgent island of fun, food and wine called Coronado.  It all comes together at Vigilucci’s, next door to the famous Del Coronado Resort. This night, the celebration was about the Feudi di San Gregorio lineup from the Campania area near Naples.  It was a wine pairing event, with the winery  recently declared the Winery of the Year in Italy. The place was packed as Chef Dana Sills spoke about the fresh ingredients mirroring the same terroir as the wines.

Her colorful roasted tomato soup with buffalo mozzarella and basil pesto, and the risotto with calamari and shrimp, soaked in sweet squid ink, share the same rich soil types as the grapes from Feudi Di San Gregorio.  Vigilucci’s, long a North San Diego County favorite is combining restaurants in Leucadia to debut a new look that should add to the fun, feed the soul and indulge the senses, open sometime beyond the holidays. See more at www.vigiluccis.com.

The TASTE OF WINE Top Ten Tastings for 2013 are coming in next week’s column.   Be sure to look for them.  In the meantime I’ll be reviewing all my wine notes from the approximately 400 wine places I have visited, and re-taste my wines of the month, to come up with the Top Ten.  It’s my idea of the ultimate indulgence.

Wine Bytes
More New Year’s Eve places to go include the Marina Kitchen at the San Diego Marriott Marquis and Marina Dec. 31 starting at 7pm. and ending at 2am.  Gourmet food, craft beers, cult wines, spirits and live music are featured, along with ten food stations. Admission is $150. pp.  Ask about the VIP Party from 10 to 2am with special experiences for $200. ea.  Call 619-699-8222 for an RSVP.

The Estancia Hotel & Spa in La Jolla event is Dec. 31 from 6 to 9pm with a 4 course Prix Fixe Dinner Menu.  Cost is $60. Learn more at 858-964-6521.

Loews Coronado has its Dec. 31 New Years’ Eve Bash from 8 to 2am.  6 hours hosted bar, hors d’ourves & dessert bar, live DJ and a 5000 balloon drop at midnight.  $179. advance, $199. at the door, $263 for the VIP experience. 619-424-4000 for an RSVP.

The Napa - Verona Wine Connection

by Frank Mangio
When Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa owner Tim Busch recently introduced his Italian winemaking friend and partner Marchesi Armando Fumanelli at a recent gathering, wine history was being made.  For the first time in anyone’s memory, a California bottle of Amarone was available.  The Trinitas Napa Valley 2006 Amorone, also owned by Busch, made its debut at Estancia in a posh dinner featuring Fumanelli from Verona Italy, who has helped him develop this wine.

The evening was heightened when it was announced that this was going to be a “Parallel” tasting, the Old World versus the New World of Fumanelli and Trinitas wines for  each of the five course menus.

An alliance between the two men formed some 15 years ago, when Tim Busch sipped a glass of dark, full-bodied Amarone  in the ancient town of Verona, known more for Romeo and Juliet’s liaison. The wine’s unique character stayed with him until he had to make an American version to add to his Trinitas Family Collection of wines in 2011.  He set out to Italy and met Armando Fumanelli, whose family has been making wines since 1470.

Tim Busch of Trinitas Family Wines and Marchesi Armando Fumanelli of Fumanelli Wines.

 The two shared their wines, introduced their families and that led to the unveiling of the 2006 Amarone from Trinitas.  “Very few people know about Amarone,” explained Busch.  I want to offer a unique old world wine experience.” Fumanelli is the Valpolicello District’s largest landowner, northeast of Verona in the Lessini Mountains.  The primary grapes are Corvina, Molinara and Rondinella.  The wines are concentrated, flavorful and complex.

Busch also had a blockbuster resort alliance announcement to make that night. His lifestyle company, Meritage Collection, now has four esteemed properties linked together for “a complete resort experience,” asserted Busch.  They are: Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, Balboa Bay Resort Newport Beach, Bacara Resort & Spa Santa Barbara and The Meritage Resort & Spa Napa Valley.  An immediate benefit for guests of any of these properties will be VIP access to the Fumanelli estate with stays at the vineyard for wine tasting and cooking classes.

Like others of its class, Estancia has been undergoing extensive upgrading of its rooms and its Mustangs and Burros restaurant and bar, under the watchful eye of General Manager Terry Buchholz.  Its Rancho style décor remains the dominant look at the 210 guest room hotel with a world class spa in place.

The Executive Chef at Estancia La Jolla is Kimberly Kramer preparing 

Southwest style plates motivated by the season.

Kimberly Kramer is always “searching for great flavor.” As Executive Chef at Estancia, Chef Kramer oversees the AAA Four-Diamond hotel’s kitchen.  She has steered the Mustangs and Burros restaurant into regional cuisine inspired by the season.  The special dinners, breakfast and lunch are at Adobe El Restaurante with fresh California fare. She has developed expertise in Asian and Latin influences.

“I’m passionate about seasonal foods, especially fresh seafood caught with sustainable practices,” she said. Most recently, she was at the Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa Valley, now one of the partner resorts for Estancia.

Her Sea Bass with mélange of mushroom, asparagus and roasted pepper was a delight to the senses.
Mustangs and Burros spotlights a Monday through Friday Happy Hour until 6pm, with discounted drinks and food.  Try the Trinitas family of wines led by the new Amarone 2006, and a knockout  2009 blend called “Mysterium” Mendocino Red. It’s Estancia’s family wine.  Learn more at www.estancialajolla.com


Wine Bytes
Dolce Pane E Vino in Rancho Santa Fe is donating a dollar for every glass of wine sold to benefit National Parkinson’s Disease Awareness month during April.  For details call 858-832-1518.

PAON in Carlsbad has a Joseph Jewell Wine event Wed. Apr. 17 from 5:30 to 8:30pm, with the owner/winemaker as special guest.  Sonoma based wines are featured.  Six wines with small bites for $28.  No RSVP needed.

North County Wine Company in San Marcos is featuring a “Blend Party” Wed. Apr. 17 from 5 to 9pm for $25.  Each customer will get carafes of Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc and Malbec, to create their own blends.  Fun contest with winner getting a $25. gift card.  Details at 760-744-2119.

The Big Red Fest is back with wineries on the DePortola Trail in Temecula, Sun. Apr. 21 from 10 to 5pm.  Taste three wines paired with gourmet food at each of the 10 wineries and receive a free logo glass.  Early price $45.,  $55. after Apr. 15.  For more information call 855-398-9463.

West Steak and Seafood in Carlsbad presents the Silver Oak/Twomey Wine Dinner with vineyards in Napa Valley and Sonoma, Tues. Apr. 23 at 6:30pm.  This will be the wine/food event of the season with marquee names and an elite menu.  $175. pp.  RSVP a must at 760-930-9100.