Go West for a Harvest of Fresh Food & Fine Wines

by Frank Mangio
It was billed as Oktober West and the celebration was on to toast the harvest of the West Steak and Seafood Carlsbad Organic Farm. I was greeted at the tented entrance by a smiling group, no actually a happy-to-see-you family: owners, management, an executive chef, kitchen and wait help, all with a big contribution to this amazing world-class rustic farm-to-table feast. They included the other two hospitality favorites Bistro West and West Inn & Suites.

All were excited about Executive Chef Eugenio Martignago’s six generous food and wine pairings on this sun–filled fall day. The small bites offerings included: red and gold beets napoleon layered with truffle goat cheese, baby greens tossed with basil, pesto and balsamic honey glaze. Then there was coconut shrimp with mango and horseradish cocktail sauce. But the two that made my day were: butternut squash ravioli with prosciutto, zucchini flowers, cherry tomatoes, fresh sage and white wine sauce; and New York steak pomodoro with asiagio cheese, garlic and basil.
Part of the management team at West: left to right, Linda Fietz Eugenio Martignago, Tom Bertrand, Alex Sadeghee, Kristine Bane, Kim Akers and Jason Connolly.


Chef Eugenio did not disappoint with his selection of wines. The stand-out was Banfi of Montalcino Tuscany and its value selection, Centine. This is a beautifully crafted Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot, blended to produce a smooth, fragrantly satisfying wine with Italian character. Banfi dates back to the 11th century when it was known as Castello di Poggio alle Mura. It has been owned by the Mariani Family since 1978 and officially known as Castello Banfi with 7,100 acres.
For more on West, check out www.weststeakandseafood.com, and www.bistrowest.com.

Wines to Know for the Holidays
The excitement is building at the biggest wine trade publication in the world, Wine Spectator. They have revealed 4 or their top ten wines for 2010. They have reviewed nearly 16,000 wines from all over the world in blind tastings. 3,900 received classic or 90 + ratings. Spectator observed an increase in expensive, limited production wines. Average price of the top 100 is $48.
Here are the number 10 through 6 rated wines:

10: Clos des Papes, Chateaneuf-du-Pape White 2009. France. $100.

9: CARM, Douro Reserva, Red 2007. Portugal. $27.

8: Fontodi, Coli della Toscana, Flacianello, Sangiovese Red. 2007. Italy. $110.

7. Schild, Shiraz Barossa, Red 2008. Australia. $20.

6. Paul Hobbs, Pinot Noir Russian River Valley, Red 2008. Sonoma. $45.

Next week I will reveal the rest of the top ten, plus my recent picks in over 70 tastings I have attended since my last “favorites” column in September.

Put Pinot on your Holiday Wine List

by Frank Mangio
Much has been written about the poetry of wine and the lofty loveliness of each savory taste. There is no better wine family that ushers in these qualities than the Pinots of Oregon.

With the holidays approaching, opinions are paraded in the press about which food-friendly wines go best with an array of menus to celebrate the dinner of the year. Wine Spectator recently quizzed 9 Sommeliers about their recommendations for matching turkey, stuffing, and all the other trimmings. They all had a cornucopia of suggestions from heavy- bodied French to light-bodied German. For me, there is only one choice. I am passionate about Pinot, whether it is the white wine Pinot Gris or its more famous red wine-mate, Pinot Noir. With this pair, you need go no further for an ideal turkey dinner pairing.

Recently I responded to an invitation by my good friend Jesse Rodriguez, the Wine Director at the Five Diamond rated Grand Del Mar Resort. Jesse wanted to present a favorite Oregon winery, Sokol Blosser, from the Dundee Hills. It’s a family-owned and operated winery with a commitment to sustainability in their Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, as well as other wines. They were the first in the country to be certified for their “green” wines.
Alex Sokol Blosser and sister Alison carry on the the tradition of fine Pinot Noir founded by their pioneer parents in 1971.

You have to love a wine whose label describes the wine as containing: “Sunshine. Buckets of Rain. More Sunshine. Morning Dew. The fruits of sustainable farming. Delicate aromas of apple blossoms mingling with flavors of fig and citrus and spice. Kindness.” That’s the Pinot Gris.

The Pinot Noir notes include: “Sun. Rain. Drizzle. More sun. Some fog. The fruits of sustainable farming. Flavors of black cherry and raspberry mingling with earth and truffle. Aromas of the same. 16 months in French Oak. Love and care.” Thanksgiving could not have a more heartfelt message.

For more than 30 years, since before anyone knew there was a wine country in Oregon , there was Sokol Blosser. They learned as they grew these fickle, subtle , sensitive Pinot grapes.

“Our current 2007 Pinot Noir is delicate and light,” Alison said at the Grand Del Mar event. “It has a long lingering finish. The harvest produced Pinot Noir of great structure and similar to the classic Burgundies of France. The climate is close to Burgundy, with cooler temperatures, a longer growing season and long hang-time on the vine. This allows the grape to ripen and mature at its optimum pace, with perfect acidity,” she exclaimed.

At Sokol Blosser, growing grapes organically and embracing sustainability is a way of life and enhances the wine’s excellence. The 2007 is newly released with over 6,000 cases at $38. per bottle. The 2008 Pinot Gris sells for $18. See the complete story at www.sokolblosser.com.

If your taste goes toward beef or Italian style Thanksgiving meals, I would favor the following heavier bodied reds:


Montes Alpha 2007 Syrah , Chile . $18.
Finca Lalande 2007 Malbec , Argentina $15.
Pedroncelli 2007 Mother Cline Zinfandel, Sonoma . $15.
ZD 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley . $50.


Wine Bytes

*The San Diego Wine Company on Miramar Road has a Sparkling Wine and Champagne Tasting Sat. Nov. 21 at 11am , 12:30 , 2 and 3:30pm . Names like Dom Perignon, Domaine Carneros and others. $20.pp. Reserve now at 858-586-9463.

*The French Gourmet in San Diego presents wines from the Piemonte region of Italy , Sun. Nov. 22 from 5 to 7pm . Sommelier Gino Campbell conducts. Cost is $25. ea. Call 858-488-1725.

*Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido spotlights Budget-Friendly Thanksgiving Wines on Mon. Nov. 23 from 5:30 to 7:30pm . $5. fee. Give them a call at 760-745-1200.

*Wine Styles in Encinitas has Wine and the Electric Lounge on Fri. Nov. 27, 6 to 8:30pm . Three choices of wines, sandwiches and other surprises. No cover fee. Details at 760-633-0057.