San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival Coming Nov. 14 to 18

by Frank Mangio
The excitement is building.  The 9th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, five days of the celebration of the joy of food and wine, will be with us soon.  A small army of chefs and wine makers will flood San Diego with unforgettable tasting.  200 wineries pouring over 1,000 different wines, breweries, spirits and 70 of the country’s culinary greats, will create over 25 city-wide events for a "luxury liner" of events and offerings unlike any other.

If you can only attend one event, make it the Grand Tasting Event on Saturday, November 17 at Embarcadero Park behind Seaport Village.  It’s a love-fest of wineries, celebrity chefs, over 100 restaurants and live music from two stages.  Admission time is 11 am to 3pm.

The official poster for the Festival is “Beautiful Day” by featured artist Stephanie Clair.

Look for great wines from many parts of the world, incuding Duckhorn, Niner, Opolo, and Rodney Strong.  Local wineries to know include South Coast, Callaway, and Falkner.  Pans will be flying in this event as the “Chef of the Fest,” a culinary showdown, will feature San Diego’s top culinary talent testing their skills.  One chef will be awarded top honors with $50,000. in cash and prizes. Look for the action in the Creekstone Farms Pavilion.

Equally in demand is The Vault, a Reserve Wine Tasting Experience & Silent Auction, Friday November 16 from 5pm to 8:30pm at the Marriott Marquis & Marina Hotel, next to the Convention Center.  Selections from 160 acclaimed wineries are lined up for this event.

This year, the after-dark events have been ramped up at the hottest spots in town, Wednesday night through Saturday night, and day time seminars are boosted, on Thursday and Friday. We could go on and on about the cooking classes, winemaker dinners and Celebrity Chef’s luncheons, but it’s time for you to pick your best  memorable events and go for it!  The web site is www.sandiegowineclassic.com. for everything you need to know about the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival.

Meritage Wine Market:  A Showcase for Fine Wines
With the press of more wine territory for me to cover and report on, and more publications and web sites looking for  wine and food news, I don’t’ get around to neighborhood wine shops as much as I would like. But I know that’s where the customer action is and Meritage Wine Market in Encinitas does it as well as any.

2012 has certainly been a transition year for this powerhouse wine shop.  Former GM Mark has gone up to Napa Valley to make wine with his new Hiatus label.  Whitney Woodall has orchestrated the changes and has brought in former hotel man Dustin Cano as wine buyer.

Dustin Cano is the new wine buyer  and helps Whitney Woodall operate 

Meritage Wine Market in Encinitas.

This operation has been named “Best Wine Shop in San Diego” 4 times in a row so it’s hard to improve on that accolade.  But so far this year, Meritage has brought in wine pouring Enomatic Machines to allow customers to experience top quality wines day and day out; added a chef to increase wine dinners like “grillin and chillin” on site; and introduced seminars and basic wine education.

New store hours are:  Tuesday thru Thursday 10 to 6:30pm, Friday 10 to 8pm and Saturday 10 to 6:30pm. Sunday and Monday Meritage is closed.  The team continues to find lesser known, high quality wines like a recent Cabernet from Chile, the Cousino Macul, for just $10.  See more at www.meritagewinemarket.com.

Wine Bytes
The 3rd Annual OktoberWest in Carlsbad is at Bistro West, Sat. Oct. 13 from Noon to 3pm.  Six authentic gourmet foods, beer & wine and music will liven up your weekend.  Must be 21+ to attend.  $35. PP.  Tickets are at Bistro West.  Call 760-930-8008 for details.

Sips for Shelter Unlimited Wine Tasting benefit is Sat. Oct. 13 from 7 to 10pm at the Marriott Del Mar on El Camino Real.  50 vintners from around the world will gather with no limit on wine tasting.  $45. tickets.  RSVP at 619-702-5399.

The two day La Jolla Street Art and Wine Festival is Sat. Oct. 13 and Sun. Oct. 14 from 10 to 6pm.  Location is Girard between Prospect and Kline streets.  This event is FREE (suggested cash donation of $5).  150 artists with a wine and beer garden. Website is www.ljawf.org.

A benefit wine dinner is being held at The Red Door Restaurant and Wine Bar in Mission Hills, Wed. Oct. 17. Reception at 5:30pm.  $49. for dinner, $79. with wine pairings.  Details at 619-295-6000.

Europa Village, the old world winery in Temecula, has a Festival of the Grape wine dinner, a dinner show, on Thurs. Oct. 18 from 6:30 to 9pm.  Its’ a 4 course Italian style menu with musical performances by costumed singing waiters. $79. pp. RSVP at 951-506-1818.

Europa Village also is hosting a benefit for Habitat for Humanity with live music on Fri. Oct. 19 from 6:30 to 9:30pm, featuring the Marie Alcantar Band. Cost is FREE.  Nominal cost for wines.  Contact: 951-216-3380.

Callaway’s Return to Greatness

by Frank Mangio

A little over 40 years ago, a dynamic businessman named Ely Callaway started up a winery in Temecula with his name on the building. Callaway Vineyard and Winery was born. His heart was really in golf and the equipment that makes the sport work, but he also loved premium wines and found in the Temecula area, the perfect spot to start a winery. It was a 1,600 foot plateau on what would be the entrance to Temecula Wine Country. He ignored so called experts who said the area would never produce premium wine and went about promoting the region. Ely Callaway sold the winery in 1981 and went on to fame and fortune in golf equipment, and a succession of corporate owners ruled Callaway Winery and produced boring wine.

Ely Callaway

Now in the hands of the Linn Family of San Diego, the passion and quality have come back and the Ely Callaway legacy continues.

Much of the credit is given the Executive Chef of the winery’s Meritage Restaurant, Michael Henry; and their wine maker Craig Larson, a Canadian with a passion for Old World Wines.

Henry, a world traveler, developed an old world style with a farmer’s approach, insisting on the freshest ingredients available. The day I sampled the eclectic menu, Henry was in an Italian mood and the result was a delicious combination of Shaved Prosciutto Flatbread with Zucchini, Fennel, Baby Tomato and Basil for openers. Then we moved into the Pan Roasted Organic Chicken Cutlet, and finished with the Veal, Beef and Ricotta Meatball Parmesan with Rigatoni “Agli Olio,” Capers and Arugula.

Craig Larson, the newest wine maker for Callaway got right to the point. “I am a lover of the French Rhone Valley varietal, especially southern Rhone like the Chateau du Pape district that offers Syrah, Grenache and Cincault,” he said. “They do more blending and get more flavors with fruit-forward wine.” Larsen is unique as a wine maker. He earned a Master Sommelier certification and was Wine Director at the world-renowned Ritz-Carlton Resort in Laguna Niguel, before resuming wine making in Washington prior to coming to Callaway. “I want all grapes to be estate grapes,” he declared. “We have harvested and bottled Mouvedre and will be planting Grenache, Cincault and Rousanne. We need to get to know what this soil can do. We have produced less, so the quality can be the best.”

In a recent column, I wrote about the beautiful 2008 Viognier coming out of Callaway, with its tropical, sensuous pleasures. It’s what you can expect from the new Callaway. Learn more at www.callawaywinery.com.

Sniffing Around the Temecula Wine Scene

An old seafaring phrase is that a higher tide raises all boats; and so it is that Temecula Wine Country is producing much better wine from many wineries these days.

I first met Marcelo Doffo over a month ago at the most recent Wine Country event, the World of Wine Barrel Tasting. I like a lot of things about my job but right up there on top is the private tastings of ultra premium varietals that are “under the table.” Doffo had some real treasures. His Italian-Argentinian heritage oozed Old World.

Marcelo Doffo

Marcelo Doffo makes a point on making wine next to his 2006 Tiarella Blend at Doffo Winery in Temecula. His outdoor courtyard, part of the 15 acres tucked away in wine country, has a wood-burning oven and grill for gatherings, while classical music plays in the vineyard to “soothe the grapes.”

Wines to try at Doffo include: 2009 Malbec, 2009 Zinfandel, 2006 Tiarella Blend and a vintage Merlot that goes for $300., if there are any bottles left. See www.doffowines.com.

The new Europa Village has opened its doors, opening a new era in wineries in Temecula. The owners envision a muti-cultural French, Spanish and Italian setting with buildings for shops, wine tasting, events and gracious service. It’s open daily from 10am to 5pm and located near Callaway. Access information at www.europavillage.com.

A guided walking tour of Old Town Temecula Tasting Rooms is now available through an Apple I Phone application. It offers narrated accurate turning directions and insights to wine tasting in Old Town. It’s offered though GPSmyCity.com. For details, contact Linda Kissam at 951-526-4540

Wine Bytes

The Wine Rave, scheduled for Apr. 28 has been moved forward to Thurs. June 23 from 7 to 10pm at FLUXX nightclub downtown San Diego. Questions, call 619-312-1212.

Il Fornaio in the Del Mar Plaza has the next Festa Regionale now to Wed. May 15. This time the region of Abruzzo is saluted. Entrees from this district are presented, along with native wines. For an RSVP, call 1-888-ITALIAN.

Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido is doing a Mothers Day Champagne and Cupcakes event Sat. May 7 from 2 to 4pm, including Blanc de Blanc and Rose’ for $10. pp. Details at 760-745-1200.

Opolo Wines from Paso Robles are the featured varietals at the Wine Encounter in Hillcrest, Tues. May 10 from 7 to 9pm. Light appetizers included. Cost is $18. Call 619-543-WINE.

SAGE Grill in Encinitas has a Franciscan wine dinner Mon. May 16 starting with a reception at 6:30pm. RSVP and details at 760-943-7243.

The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas is the site for Wine Spectator’s Grand Wine Tour 2011, Sat. May 14 from 7 to 10pm. Over 200 of the world’s finest wines will be poured. Light buffet and free Riedel glass included. See www.grandtour.winespectator.com.