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.

New Wine Releases – Tasting the Future

by Frank Mangio
A wealth of new releases, poured in double the number of wine shows and winemaker appearances in restaurants, resorts and wine bars, have swept into the market.  This has given consumers more choices than ever. In California, the size and value of the wine grape crop in 2012 has been over the top at over 4 million tons, surpassing the record in 2005 by 6.5%. And more importantly, the price of wine grapes rose 20% to $772. per ton.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is the price champ at over 5 thousand dollars per ton. By comparison, Chardonnay, the next pricey wine grape is in at a little over 3 thousand dollars per ton.  A good rule of thumb for pricing is to move the decimal point over two places for the average price per bottle.  If we take the 2012 “Cab” price per ton of $5,000. and apply the rule, the typical “Cab” in Napa Valley would be $50.

A trend to watch for in the flood of new releases are the white wine blends.  Pedroncelli  2012  Friends White, Sonoma, $12. is a proprietary blend of Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.  This is a smart follow up to the successful red version of Friends, and was introduced recently at Rossi’s Pasta and Sports Bar in San Marcos. www.pedroncelli.com.

So Cal’s Pedroncelli Wine Sales Manager, Mark Abraham premiered the new Pedroncelli “Friends” at Rossi’s San Marcos. Friends is one of a growing number of white blends.

Season’s 52 Restaurants, with locations in San Diego and Costa Mesa Ca. has a trendy attraction with wines.  It’s a “Drink Them Before They’re Famous” list, an insider wine lineup carefully selected by Master Sommelier George Miliotes that changes every season.  Two Pinots, a Sauvignon Blanc and a white blend from Arizona are the spotlights for this Spring.  Other new release wines worth trying are:

      Jordan 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Sonoma. $53.  Since 1972, French style with superior California flavor and elegance.  www.jordanwinery.com.

      Mazzei 2010 Badiola Red, Tuscany Italy. $10.  Could be the best value of the group, with 70% Sangiovese, 30% Merlot.  Mazzei has been making wine since 1435.  Aged 9 months in Oak. A “Super Tuscan” with a super price.  www.mazzei.it.

      Norton 2010 Privada Blend, Mendoza Argentina.  $18. 40% Malbec, 30% Merlot and 30% Cabernet, produces a top rated Norton with elements of primal pleasure.  www.norton.com.ar.

      Niner 2009 Pinot Noir, Edna Valley, San Luis Obispo.  $41.  Newest breakthrough wine from world class winemaker Amanda Cramer. Sustainable farmed.  www.ninerwine.com

      South Coast 2008 Wild Horse Peak Sangiovese, Temecula. $34.  An Italian style mountain wine from master winemaker Jon McPherson. The vineyard grapes are selected from a 2,200 foot steep terrain. Competitive with the best of Tuscany.  www.southcoastwinery.com.

      Smokescreen 2011 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley/made in the Napa Valley.  $19.  Here’s the darkhorse of the lot.  An affordable, quality wine that defines the Napa Valley pinot style. Even has a convenient twist-cap.  www.smokescreencellars.com.

Wine Winners Showing at the Paddock, Del Mar Fairgrounds, Sat. & Sun. Apr. 27 & 28

The 2nd annual San Diego Wine Show comes to the Del Mar Fairground’s Paddock, Sat. Apr. 27th from 2 to 6pm and Sun. Apr. 28th from 1 to 5pm.  Make your plans to experience fine wines, gourmet food trucks, food sampling from celebrity chefs, entertainment and a Pinot Noir Blind Tasting by an expert sommelier on Saturday.

A major feature will be wines from the Guadalupe Valley of Baja, in the beautiful outdoor setting of the manicured Paddock area, scene of the parading of the racehorses when in season. Tickets are $55. presale, $65. at the door. Go to  www.sandiegowineshow.com to buy tickets.

Local winemakers Justin Mund of Orfila, left, and Chris Broomell of Vesper, right, with Donato Santarsieri of the San Diego Wine Show.



Wine Bytes

The Campo Railway Museum in Campo has a benefit food and wine festival, Sat. Apr. 20 from Noon to 5pm.  Enjoy locally produced wines from San Diego County.  $25. pre sale, $30. day of event.  Call 619-465-7776.

North County Wine Company in San Marcos invites you to meet the winemaker and drink the 2010 vintage of Powell Mountain, Paso Robles, Fri. Apr. 19th from4 to 10pm.  $15. fee includes appetizers.  760-744-2119.

The Carmel Mt. Ranch Country Club will present a Wine & Chocolate Tasting and benefit auction Sun. Sun. Apr. 21 from 3 to 6pm.  Cost is $50. pre sale, $60. at the door.  Info at 904-477-7084.

Encinitas Wine Merchants has a premium Champagne Tasting Wed. Apr. 24th from 5 to 7:30pm.  Names like Dom Perignon, Clicquot and others, for $38.pp.  Call 760-479-9891.

Vigilucci’s Seafood & Steakhouse has a Girard Winery Wine Dinner, Fri. Apr. 26 at 6:30pm.  Feature menu includes Grilled Filet Mignon and porcini truffle sauce, with a 2009 Girard Cabernet.  $80. ea.  RSVP at 760-434-2580.

TOAST Enoteca and Cucina, downtown San Diego hosts an Italian “Vinitaly” with more than 30 award winning Italian wineries, Thurs. Apr. 25th, 6:30 to 9:30pm. Appetizers, antipasti and menu samples.  Tickets $50. pp.  RSVP at 619-269-4207.