COSTCO Wine Selection: View of the Vintages, Aisle After Aisle

by Frank Mangio
I may need a few household things, but when I am finished at the COSTCO in Carlsbad , I have my few things PLUS  nearly a case of a variety of wines to fill the cart. Sound familiar?  The Carlsbad COSTCO has the 2nd largest liquor department in the chain, topped only by the Scottsdale Arizona location. This vast inventory of wines representing most countries that produce wine, can  stock up to 100,000 bottles. To put it in perspective, most community wine shops offer from 300 to 600 bottles.

 Mathew Allen is the chief cork and bottle-watcher in the wine beer and spirit department
at COSTCO Carlsbad.

Mathew Allen started at the Carlsbad location of COSTCO when it first opened in 1992, but it wasn’t until 10 years ago that he took charge of the wine, beer and spirits department.  Sales in the COSTCO Carlsbad location have rocketed in the last ten years, following the U.S. consumption ramp-up.  A report just out from Wine Spectator headlined that “the U.S. has passed France as the world’s #1 wine drinking country,” according to a 2013 Wine Market release.  A younger generation of Americans are choosing wine, especially imported, sweet wine, sparkling and Rose’.

COSTCO is notable for moving product around.  Their mantra to the consumer is “if you see something you like at our store, you’d better buy it, because it may not be here next week.”
In the wine department, Allen talks to his customers constantly.  He answers their questions.  He loves wines that “taste better than the price.”   COSTCO’s wine department  is one of the few where customers are not alone.  Allen knows where every bottle is located and after assessing what a customer would like, leads them to the usual names, plus some new discoveries.

He introduced me to his hot new Italian bottle, the Tenuta La Badiola 2009 Rosso 6/42, with a blend of 6 grapes in a Super Tuscan.($11.99). He  had tasted it and pointed out that it was from coastal Tuscany , a popular new Italian growing ground  where large, influential wineries like Antinori and Gaja have taken positions.  “With an unfamiliar wine, I taste it, then talk to customers about their reaction to the wine.  If it seems positive, I order more.  Ratings are important signage.  Showing a high number moves a lot of product, but I educate the buyer on exploring something new and expanding their tastes,” he advised.

So where are the bargains these days in COSTCO?  Allen advised to look through the pallets that hold many cases of new value wines,  bought by COSTCO in high volume.  This is where the Italian  Badiola 6/42 sits at $11.99.  The Super Tuscan Bordeaux style established names like Sassicaia, Tignanello and Solaia will command 50 and 100 times that price, a good reason to try something new in that category. What’s in the future for COSTCO?  Chances are complimentary tastings will begin soon.  Permitting has been obtained and the timing is being discussed.

Vittorio’s Continues its Wine Dinner Rollout
 Vittorio’s Trattoria in Carmel Valley does a exemplary job of bringing in top wineries around the world to match up with its gourmet 4 course wine dinners, in the $50. range.  Foxen Vineyards in Santa Barbera County recently wowed diners with their Pinot Noir ($24.)  and other French style wines.

Katlin Armstrong of Foxen, Victor Megalhaes of Vittorio’s and
Penny Williamson Dore’ of Foxen

Next date will be a wine dinner with the best wines from Argentina on Thurs. May 29th at 6pm. five courses are planned.  The loveliest wine to look for is a Malbec by Bodega Colome with roasted leg of lamb.  Cost is $49.50 per person.  RSVP at  858-538-5884.

Wine Bytes
Fallbrook Winery’s “Flash Dinner”  and music by SM Familia Reggae will be held at Pala Mesa’s Aquaterra Fri. May 23 from 6:30 to 10pm.  RSVP at 760-731-6805.

Harry’s Bar & Grill on La Jolla Village Dr. San Diego , kicks off its new series with a showcase of Beni di Batasiolo’s wines  paired with Chef Vicens dishes, Wed. May 28 from 6:30 to 9pm. RSVP and check the cost at 858-373-1252.  All wines are from Piemonte Italy. This event celebrates the new owner, Garo Minassian.

Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido has a Foley Family Wines event, Fri. May 30 from 6:30 to 8pm.  Call 760-745-1200 for an RSVP and cost.

The Temecula Balloon and Wine Festival is a weekend of wine and food tasting, and the massive ascension of hot air balloons, Fri. Sat. and Sun. May 30 and 31, and June 1.  Many levels of ticket values are available.  Visit  www.bwf.com for the complete lineup and to buy tickets.

Sipping Around Carlsbad

by Frank Mangio
Carlsbad is a lovely beach and BBQ town and a city that I have called home for many years. It never occurred to me until recently that in casting around for a story on a North Coastal San Diego community that seemed to be dominating the social wine scene, Carlsbad gets the nod.

Active, events-driven wine shops like Carlsbad Wine Merchants, Wine Loft and La Costa Wine Company compete with restaurants and resorts. New wine and dine places are going up in both the downtown district and village style shopping centers in new communities like Bressi Ranch.

Wine shoppers keep coming back to well run specialty centers like The Forum and Carlsbad Premium Outlets. The city even has its own winery by the sea with Witch Creek Winery, releasing 24 hand-crafted wines from its location on Highway 101. A few blocks away on

Carlsbad Village Drive, the classy, richly appointed PAON Restaurant and Wine Bar is attracting a big following with its steady stream of stylish wine events, including the legendary Frenchman Stephan Asseo of Paso Robles’ L’Aventure.

The winery was a perfect fit for the restaurant’s California-French cuisine and European style service. PAON was recently named the Best Restaurant in the San Diego area for 2010 by San Diego Magazine. The wine list has an abundance of Cabernet and Bordeaux style blends. L’Aventure has been a Paso signature winery for some 13 years and tonight was spotlighting its new release 2008 Estate Cuvee ($85.), a blend of 50% Syrah, 36% Cabernet and14% Petit Verdot, served with an Angus Veal entrée. Asseo’s pledge is to make “balanced wines for your pleasure.” He asserted that “Paso Robles is one of the few wine countries that French Bordeaux style wines co-exist with French Rhone style wines. This is why I left France. I could not do a wine like the Estate Cuvee there due to restrictions on blends. I don’t have a formula when I make this wine. I do have the freedom to create what the harvest, the earth and the weather have given me. I try all the grapes in my vineyard, come up with 5 or 6 blend combinations before choosing the best that I have tasted. 2008 was not the best for the cabernet, so I made this blend mostly Syrah. You can see and taste the strength in the 15.9% alcohol and the purple/black tones and flavors, with the long, spicy finish. This is an enormously balanced wine which will get even better with aging.”

It was an adventure (which is English for L’Aventure) to engage with this firebrand of fine wine. We hope to see more of Stephan Asseo and his passionate love of French style wines.

I was also fascinated by PAON’s well-cared-for retail wine shop, presently at 170 carefully selected bottles of fine wine, soon to be up to 400 bottles. It’s managed by Jen Graves who has been crafting her abilities for a number of years in San Diego. Not a day later, PAON hosted an important Italian wine tasting in cooperation with Maddelana Brands of Southern California, representing may fine Italian vineyards and wineries. As many of my readers know, Italian wines are more earthy, acidic and made to compliment food, than their California brethren. Names to know from this tasting included: La Montecchia from Veneto, Marotti Campi from Marche and Fornacina from Montalcino in Tuscany.

Other interesting Carlsbad locations for great wine and food are: the new Tommy V’s in Bressi Ranch, Vigilucci’s two locations, West and Bistro West and the Mediterranean Café. All will reward you with a Carlsbad style wine and food experience.

Merlot’s Comeback

I have to admit I am one of these closet Merlot fans that maybe roots for an underdog and hopes that this comeback kid rises from the ashes.

Merlot was blind-sided with a sucker punch when the enormously successful Sideways movie and its main character, Miles, slammed Merlot and put Pinot Noir on a pedestal. Merlot growers like Beringer and Provenance in the Napa Valley and a number of Washington growers are fighting back. In my top ten tasting, I placed the Grgich Hills 2006 Napa Valley ($42.) as a leading edge Merlot. At its best, Merlots like Grgich have that velvety, black cherry at the front palate. Many have said the ’07 is equally concentrated in lovely flavor that builds to rich, cherry /oak finishes. You will have to spend more for peak Merlot, but the rewards will be there.

Wine Bytes
Bacchus Wine Market downtown San Diego has a 4th of July BIG Zin and BBQ event Fri. July 2 from 4 to 9pm. Cost is $15. pp. Details at 619-236-0005.

Falkner Winery in Temecula Wine Country is celebrating its 10th Anniversary Sat. July 3 – Sun. July 4. Includes free Jazz music 12 to 3pm, BBQ, tours, hourly raffles and big discounts on their award winning wine. More info by calling 951-676-8231 x1.
San Diego State University is offering its “Exploring Wine” course Tuesdays, starting July 6 – Aug. 3 from 6 to 9pm. It’s part of SDSU’s certification program. Call 619-594-6924.

The Temecula Valley International Jazz Festival is on for Fri. July 9 – Sun. July 11. Prices start at $35. Acts include Herb Jefferies and Freda Payne, Poncho Sanchez and Trini Lopez. Full details at 951-678-2517.

Restaurant Week Fires Up Starting Jan. 17

by Frank Mangio
This month, some 200 restaurants in San Diego County cooperate in multi course meals of their best specialties at prices far less than the usual menu numbers, in a “Restaurant Week” event January 17 to 22. This was kicked off last year with great success. Tables filled up so fast, the participating restaurants repeated it later in the year.

Jim Barrasso, the affable owner of Firefly Grill and Winebar on El Camino Real in Encinitas loves this promotion. “We get an opportunity to get a lot of new customers through the door at a price point that is very attractive. Once they have one of our personally prepared entrees, we have a customer that will come back,” he said. It worked so well for Barrasso last year, that this year he is extending the date.

At Firefly, Restaurant Week is January 17 to 31,.with a choice of entrée to include: Monkfish Picatta, Chili Rubbed Skirtsteak or a Chicken Medley. Appetizer and dessert are included, all for $30. Carefully chosen wines are suggested for each menu item and wine pairings are packaged for a nominal extra charge.
Firefly Grill & Winebar owner Jim Barrasso with Executive Chef Aaron Dailey at a recent Caymus Vineyard Wine Dinner.

Firefly is always the innovator with its special WeekendTasting Menu, an exciting four course prix fixe offering that changes every weekend. Optional wine packages accent each course. Barrasso and Executive Chef Aaron Dailey personally craft each wine to a menu item that weaves in beautifully with the food. A recent wine list started with a Monterey Chardonnay, moved into a Pinot Noir for the fish course, continued with a Cabernet for the beef and climaxed with a 10 year old Tawny Port from Portugal to enhance the Almond Sponge Cake. Truly a wine lover’s delight!

Late last year, Firefly hosted a Caymus Napa Valley Wine Dinner that saw Chef Aaron do a Salmon Roulade that paired with a Caymus ’07 Cab. The main course was a Roasted Lamb Loin capped with the Caymus “Special Selection” ’07 Cab that made my Top Ten Tastes for 2009. Find out more about Restaurant Week by accessing www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com, and check out what else is new with Firefly at www.fireflygrillandwinebar.com.

The Millennial Market for Wine
Consumers 21 to 30 years old are a huge force in moving products these days. Traditional media has lost this generation to such new-age media as Twitter, Facebook and text messaging. This has not fallen through the cracks for vineyards, wineries, wine shops and special events.

In Paso Robles Wine Country, their association has created CRAVE, a marketing strategy to educate this vast market, estimated to be 40 million. This market comprises about 19% of the wine buying public as we speak. Upbeat, friendly, to-the-point information at specially crafted events, focused on college towns, have paid off for Paso. “Word-of-mouth” has taken on a new meaning with this millennial generation of networkers that are connected socially every minute of the day.

International products have shifted important dollars over to “social media” on the internet for easy-to-prove documented exposure to this audience. Twitter, a social media site was last reported to be “home” to some 30 million registered users and is growing by millions per month.

Wine Bytes
* Pinot Days comes to Los Angeles, an all Pinot Noir Grand Tasting and an important event for this varietal, Thurs. Jan. 14 thru Sun. Jan. 17. The Sunday show is public and at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica from 1 to 5pm. For ticket info, access www.pinotdays.com.

* A Flora Springs Vineyard Wine Dinner is being presented by West Steak, Seafood and Spirits in Carlsbad, Mon. Jan. 18 from 6:30 to 9:30pm. This premier winery will have its owner, John Komes in attendance. Five delicious courses for $75. pp. RSVP at 760-930-9100.

* The Wine Loft at the Forum in Carlsbad is kicking off this year’s $10. Tuesdays all this month, 5 to 7pm. Your choice of any four wines off the tasting list for just $10. Call 760-944-1412 for details.

* La Costa Wine Company has a wine/cheese pairing on Fri. Jan. 22 from 5 to 8pm for $20. ea. 4 half glasses of wine with a perfect cheese pairing. The shop now features cheeses for sale from around the world. Call 760-431-8455.

* Wine Steals in San Diego’s Hillcrest, Point Loma and in Cardiff, has an exclusive on its wine of the month, the 2006 Tolosa Pinot Noir from the Edna Valley, California. Price is just 19.99. In Cardiff the number is 760-230-2657.

Coastal Carlsbad’s Winery: WitchCreek

Photo: Ryan Baker (left), along with two of the WitchCreek owners

by Frank Mangio

Ok, so I’ve been not seeing and tasting what’s under my nose. After four years and 160 or so wine columns, I have never stepped into a winery in my own home town of Carlsbad. My miss. A grape-growing friend of mine who has a virtual Italian vineyard laboratory in his back yard in Carlsbad, called to alert me to the fact that WitchCreek Winery, along the shore near downtown Carlsbad had just won double gold at the latest, prestigous San Francisco Chronicle Newspaper Wine Competition for its 2005 Nebbiolo.

Pete Anderson could hardly contain his excitement, as he is a contributing consultant for WitchCreek. The Italian grapes actually come up from the Guadalupe Valley of Mexico, under the watchful eye of the L.A. Cetto vineyard and winery and their world-renowned winemaker Camillo Magoni. I have interviewed this native Piedmont Italian sage, and he is a brilliant sculpture of Nebbiolo grapes. Camillo nurtured the winning Nebbiolo to display deep fruit, chocolate and a light berry hint. The bottle retails for $35. and is only available at the Carlsbad and Ramona locations for WitchCreek.

The winery has a history that dates back to 1993, founded by the Wodehouse family. Dave Wodehouse focused on handcrafted, full-bodied wines. He still pays an active role as Executive Winemaker and enjoys digging into some fascinating Italian style grapes, along with Ryan and Pete. They had me try a little know varietal from the Campania area of Italy: their 2006 Aglianico (pronounced ah-lian-eeco).

These grapes also came up from Camillo’s vineyard and sells for $20. The Greeks first introduced this grape to the area in and around Naples and the Amalfi Coast. A very dark color sets the stage for an earthy, chocolate accent. The Aglianico grape loves heat, so it does nicely in the Guadalupe Valley.

Other recent wines at WitchCreek include a just-bottled “Kathy’s Cuvee” a blend of five grapes ( $35.), and “Fat Cat Red,”a lovely everyday red wine ($10.). Check out WitchCreek Winery in Carlsbad and Ramona at www.witchcreekwinery.com.


The Latest in Temecula Wine Country

There always something new in Southern California’s Wine Country.

Stuart Cellars also did very well at the 200 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Their ’06 Syrah won double gold and best of class! Falkner’s ’06 Sauvignon Blanc also took a double gold and best of class. Maurice Carrie’s 2007 Sauvignon Blanc won gold. Congrats to all the winners from our closest wine country.

Oak Mountain Winery is the newest member of the winery association. Located on 10 acres just off DePortola Road and owned by Valerie and Steve Andrews, they emphasize Bordeuax varietals.

Easter festivities are coming to Wine Country and Falkner Winery has an annual brunch Sunday March 23 from 11am to 4pm at the Pinnacle Restaurant. Champagne and wine will be in abundance, as well as traditional cuisine from eggs to salmon. $54.95 per person and $24.50 for kids. RSVP at 951-676-8231. Ponte has its Easter Brunch from 11am to 3pm, with an Alice in Wonderland theme. Easter Egg Hunt for the kids. $70. per person, children $30. Call 800-931-6617.