2011 SD Bay Wine & Food Festival = TOTAL FUN!

by Mike Bragg

It's the week that foodies and lovers lof adult beverages anxiously await each year; After last year's near mini-hurricane weather conditions, attendees of this year's San Diego Bay Wine & Food grand event were treated to a picture perfect Saturday afternoon, with blue skies, ocean breezes, and sunshine joining with vendors to offer an exciting open-air bash of wine, food, beer, spirits, ideas, and expertise that make Michelle Metter's and Ken Loyst' annual event the envious benchmark for all other west coast wine festival promoters.

Festival guest Kimberly Koll, with Pascal Courtin

of Sidney Frank Importing (Jägermeister) at Friday's Reserve Tasting at San Diego Air and Space Museum

Videojournalist Eric Michelson takes a break with a couple of guests during Saturday's grand event. Check back for video by Eric, Mike Bragg, and Daniel Sanchez, and photos and articles from J.T. Meadows and Janene Roberts.

Over the next few weeks, Taste of Wine TV will showcase highlights of the week-long festival by posting video, photos, and articles that portray the heart and soul of the people, products, and fun that made the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival 2011 a smashing success.

San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival is this week

By Janene Roberts

I often have discussions with my client at the San Diego Culinary Institute about the exciting changes the last ten years have seen in the San Diego culinary scene. Many people are surprised when I mention I work with a high-level culinary school here,
"We have a culinary school in San Diego?" I'm often asked. It's the same sort of reaction I get when I mention that there are quite a few artisan wineries here too.

Anyway, I have a lot of respect for the producers of the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival because they've recognized this trend and have created a week-long celebration (starting this week) of these creators–And it's right before the holiday food season when most of us want to be up on the latest wines to pair for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals and how to cook using the local, organic produce at our farmers markets.

With the rock star status chefs have been getting lately, I'm proud to say some of the local stars have ties to training at the San Diego Culinary Institute. Can you guess one of them? A hint, he was on that sleeper show on Bravo called, yawn, Top Chef.

Anyway, if you want to get up close and semi-personal with these demigods you'll find them at the Festival's Tastemaker Dinner Series where they've matched nationally acclaimed chefs with local celebrity chefs.

Thursday, November 18, 6pm
It's Chef Suzette Gresham and Chef William Bradley for an Italian inspired seven course meal paired with Domaine Serene wine.

At another venue you'll find Chefs Thierry Rautureau and Paul McCabe presenting a four course meal plus dessert with wines by Justin Winery.

Friday, November 19, 6pm
Chefs Kim Canteenwalla, Deborah Scott and Mike Suttles are creating a five course meal with wines by Robert Mondavi.

Another dinner matches Chefs Billy Strynkowski and Scott Wagner preparing a five course meal paired with Zonin USA wine.

You'll find the complete list of events, dinners, classes and grand festival information in all price ranges at the festival's website www.worldofwineevents.com. Event runs from November 17 to the 21st.

The "Magnificent 7" at Thornton Winery

by Frank Mangio
Success in any endeavor these days, no matter what the product or service, is measured by a number of different yardsticks. Image means a lot in any enterprise, but in the wine world, product is first and foremost.
In the Temecula Valley, Thornton Winery’s 22 years making acclaimed wine seems a lifetime compared to the recent flurry of new wineries that have come on board or have aspirations. A recent drive-thru revealed six colorful “coming soon” vineyard and winery signs.

In 1988, a prominent San Diego family, John, Sally and son Steve Thornton, made the decision to purchase an existing winery and opened Thornton Winery at the gateway to the Temecula Valley.

They concentrated on award-winning and premium varietal wines. Using a process called Methode Champenoise to make sparklingwine/champagne, the awards and medals quickly followed, in a burst of fame from this traditional French method of production.


Steve Thornton, the President of Thornton Winery and Café Champagne, has steered the winery into adding Mediterranean and Rhone style wines.

Their Brut Reserve is considered one of the finest classically made Methode Champenoise in the country. This varietal got so much of a reputation that for a while, Thornton was considered a “one trick pony,” a winery that was known for this one style of wine. No More. Under Steve Thornton’s direction, the winery smartly diversified into the French Rhone-Italian style that has uncorked a magnificent 7 new releases, mostly 2007 vintage wines. They are:

1. 2008 Viognier $28. My favorite white. Floral notes with a tropical underbelly of coconut and tangerine.

2. 2007 Thorny’s Coast Red. $18. What’s a complex wine like this doing with a value price like that? A blend of 9 vineyards with a combination of Syrah, Grenache, Barbera, and Sangiovese.

3. 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. $30. Native grapes from the west hills of Temecula and the Deluz area of Fallbrook.

4. 2007 Old Vine Zinfandel $28. Produced from century-old vines from Cucamonga, with original clones planted by Italian and Portuguese farmers. Rich berry fruit and spice.

5. 2007 Huis Vineyard Zinfandel. $36. Barrel aged 22 months highlights what the Temecula Valley can do with Zinfandel. Balanced flavors and lowered alcohol. A “delicate monster,” raves the winery.

6. 2007 Nebbiolo. $34. My personal favorite of the 7. The grape backbone for the famous Italian twin towers: Barolo and Barbaresco. Rich, visceral red fruit and mocha on the palate. A sell-out every year.

7. 2007 Estate Petite Sirah. $40. Complex and big, color and structure reaches new heights. California style wine, grown on the property.

So there it is, a five-star lineup of new, exciting wines from the proven cellars of Thornton. Other features to be familiar with are: the wine clubs and their special pricing and benefits, and the Champagne Jazz and Supper Club Concerts that run every weekend through September. Get all you need to know at www.thorntonwine.com.

Wrap Your Lips Around These
Other wine tastes worth noting this past month or so…

Banfi Chianti Classcio, Tuscany Italy, 2007. $10. Banfi just won the Best of Italy award at the San Francisco International Wine competition. It’s easy to see why with this worthy value wine. Lovely cherry and plum flavors.

Ferrari-Carano Prevail West Face, Sonoma, 2005. $55. Deep purple. Vineyards faced for ideal exposure. Blend is 65% Cabernet, 35% Syrah. Classic Proportion.

J Vineyards Pinot Noir Nicole’s Vineyard Sonoma, 2007. $50. Dark plum, cherry and fennel. Steeply banked hillside vineyard that stresses the vines, bringing intense flavor.

Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon, Three Vineyards Sonoma, 2008. $16. Full bodied, hand picked fruit from the first family of value wines in Sonoma. Recent gold winner at the Orange County Fair. Will excel even more with age.

Wine Bytes

Cal State San Marcos has a Wine & Brew Festival for Sat. Aug. 14 from 4 to 7pm. 12 local wine and beer names to know. A variety of local restaurants will be offering food samplings. Live music and silent auction. Cost is $35. for alumni and $50. for the public. Call 760-750-4270.

San Diego Wine Company presents Italian and French wines Sat. Aug. 14 from 11 to 4:30pm. $10. fee. Contact 858-586-9463.

Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido has come up with a $5. Wine-Down Monday starting at 5:30pm. Aug. 16 it’s the Wines of Portugal and the 23rd it’s Chardonnay. Details at 760-745-1200.

San Diego State’s next wine class is “Red, White and Champagne,” Mondays starting Aug. 16, part of its Professional Certificate in the Business of Wine. Call 619-594-6924 for the complete story.

Wine Girl (Janene Roberts) Presents Wine/Wellness Weekend

By Janene Roberts


I'm really excited to present the first Wine and Wellness Weekend to be held Saturday and Sunday April 24 and April 25 in Julian, California.

This fun, jam packed weekend brings you what you need to improve your body, mind and soul while enjoying local wine. Saturday morning starts with a guided hike through the local mountains, and continues with Tai Chi and Yoga. Then you'll enjoy boxed lunch, and wine tasting at Jenkins Winery. Saturday afternoon begins with Summer McStravick offering her Flowdreaming techniques. Summer is the author of the book Flowdreaming, the Art of Creative Manifesting, and has been recognized by teachers like Wayne Dyer and Cheryl Richardson. After that, John Alonge, the 2009 "Best Wine Coach" winner from San Diego Magazine's Best of San Diego issue and author of the Wine Heretic will demonstrate wine blending techniques and will answer your wine tasting questions. You'll have a little time to rest before Saturday evening's dinner paired with local wines. You'll stay at an upscale lodge and enjoy breakfast on Sunday morning as well as a guided meditation to send you off. $399 per person based on double occupancy. Rooms have queen beds so couples and/or good friends would be appropriate.

To secure your spot, the number of participants is limited in order to create a close environment, please email me at janene@popcornpressandmedia.com, with the names and number in your party and either pay online (go to
http://www.popcornpressmedia.com/bookorder.html
and click on the Buy Now button) or mail a check to Popcorn Press & Media at PO Box 3375, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067.

Looking forward to seeing you there.



A sampling of some of the wineries in the Paso Robles District made an appearance in San Diego earlier this month. Paso Robles is centrally located between Los Angeles and San Francisco on the Central Coast. Some of the local wine bars, like Wine Steals, featured their wines and I attended a trade tasting at the McMillin Event Center in Point Loma last month. Since I like to experiment with new varieties the wines I enjoyed and recommend are:

•Adelaida Cellars, 2008 Version White, Grenache/Roussanne blend $28. Their 2006 vintage earned 91 points by Robert Parker in the Wine Advocate's June '08 issue. He wrote, "The superb 2006 Grenache Blanc/Roussanne from Glenrose Vineyard possesses classic notes of honeysuckle, rose petals, flowers, and tropical fruit. Impressively deep, rich, and dry with a gorgeous texture. This beauty can be drunk now and over the following two years." I liked the '08's dry notes and peachy crisp taste. Look for their wines in San Diego at Wine Steals, and Harvest Ranch markets. www.adelaida.com

•Ancient Peaks Winery, 2007 Petit Verdot $35. Available in limited quantities. Traditionally Petit Verdot has been a wine that is blended with other varieties. By itself, it's known to have aromas of violet, black currant, and spice. Ancient Peak's Verdot is well balanced and has a note of tannin on the finish. Your best bet is to order direct. 805-365-7045, www.ancientpeaks.com

How would you like to pretend to be a part of the wine trade? Well, this Sunday, March 14, Family Winemakers of California is presenting 200 small, family-owned California wineries in wine trade-like fashion at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The wineries will be pouring over 750 wines. The event opens to the public at 3 p.m. and runs until 6 p.m. Tickets are $45 in advance or $55 at the door.
Order online at www.familywinemakers.org. What wines will you recommend?

Laguna Beach Wineries Bus Tour

By Janene Roberts

There's a fun event coming up February 27, a Saturday. I'm the coordinator of my homeowner association wine club and thought you might be interested in joining us for this event.

Laguna Beach Winery Bus Tour $65
February 27, 2010 (Sat)
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

LOCATION:
Board the Bus at the Del Sur Ranch House
15455 Paseo Del Sur
San Diego, CA 92127
ph. 858-759-2779

This fun day long trip will begin outside of the Del Sur Ranch House located at 15455 Paseo Del Sur, San Diego, CA 92127 at 9 a.m. where we will board the bus. The day will include visiting Hamilton Oaks Winery, Laguna Canyon Winery and lunch near the water. Price includes bus ride, wine tastings and water and snacks on the bus. Bring money for lunch. $65. Send a check made payable to Popcorn Press & Media, PO Box 3375, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067. Checks must be received by February 15th in order to secure your spot. A minimum of 25 people need to sign up in order for event to happen. Want to use a credit card? Go to www.popcornpressmedia.com under the Wine Tasting tab and there is a pay pal link there. Looking forward to having you on the bus with us. The event is part of the Del Sur Homeowners Wine Club. Meet new, fun people.

Is that a bubbly in your glass?

By Janene Roberts
It's December and the holiday season is in full swing. I'm sure you've seen sparkling wine advertised at your favorite wine shop, but how do you really know what to buy if you haven't tasted a lot of them? And, do you really need to go to a bunch of wine tastings to find out? Well, I'm always a proponent of drinking what you like whether it's a $5 or $50 bottle doesn't matter if your taste buds are happy.

I don't think you need to go to a bunch of tastings either unless you're looking for something fun to do or haven't experienced the characteristics of the different styles. So, if you're at the wine shop and looking at the bubbly options available here's a few things to look for.

•If a bottle is labeled Champagne, it should be from the Northern region of Champagne France. If it's from another area, it's not a true champagne. True champagnes should have scents of nuts, breads and apples. Champagnes are generally more expensive than sparkling wines produced elsewhere.

•California, Australia and New Zealand producers make sparkling wine that's made in the same way as champagne but they're usually not as expensive.

•Italian sparkling producers create Prosecco that's a bit more creamy and light than Champagne. They also make Asti and Lambrusco, both are a bit more sweet.

To learn more read the book Introducing Wine by Oz Clarke.

"Wine Girl" Hits the Book Signing Circuit

Janene Roberts, (aka Wine Girl in several blogs, including this one) recently took delivery on her new book "Guide to Wine Tasting in Southern California and Beyond". This is the third edition of the popular guide to wine and wineries, that Janene has put together for learned wine lovers, as well as neophytes.

Wine Girl is making at least one appearance a week at local restaurants. book stores, wine lounges, etc. to offer her (signed) book, chat with folks, and exchange notes about wine and venues that may be considered for her next issue. This edition includes around $100 worth of money saving offers and discounts, not to mention the time and frustration saved by avoiding wine and wine places that may not be good for your budget (or palate).

You can check Janene's website for upcoming appearances (www.PopCornPressMedia.com)or order a copy of her book for just $15.95.

Janene Roberts (right) with Dorian Linkogle, owner of Briar Rose Winery in Temecula Wine Country. Dorian recently co-sponsored a book signing party for Janene, at Decanter Wine Lounge in Rancho Santa Fe.


Janene Roberts, author of Guide to Wine Tasting in Southern California and wine Beyond, is signing new books and comparing wine and food notes with friends at various locations around southern California.

Leon Santoro: A Great Winemaker, and a Great Guy...

Article and photo by Janene Roberts (Wine Girl)

“You’re a romantic,” Leon Santoro tells me as I sit across from him in his office at Orfila Winery in Escondido.

“It takes one to know one,” I respond. He smiles and says, “These other people, they’re just about the money.”

Leon starts telling me stories and there are a lot of them. He takes me with him on his life’s trails as he traces his index finger along a map from Italy to New York to Napa Valley and finally to San Diego. He tells me he was learning his winemaking skills in areas that weren’t known for their wines until after he had already left. “You know,” Leon’s saying, “I’m not going to be around forever. You’re going to have to tell this winery’s stories.”

“Oh stop it,” I say.
“No, it’s true.”

Little did I know these were words of a dying man. On Thursday, January 22, 2009, Leon Santoro the award winning winemaker at Orfila Winery died at the age of 58 while awaiting a lung transplant. I was shocked, as most people that did business with him were.

“You know we all went back to Italy last summer,” his brother Paul Santoro is telling me after Leon’s funeral at the table where they have pictures of Leon and Paul and their family in Italy. “Our dad died just one month before on the same day, “he continues. “Leon was still doing business with his Blackberry in the hospital.”

“You’ve had a lot of losses,” I say. “I’m sorry.”

I tried not to cry when the contemporary singers at Grace Lutheran Church sang Amazing Grace, but my efforts didn’t work. I wasn’t the only one there with tears in my eyes. Leon affected a lot of lives with his big heart. The church had to set up folding chairs in the back of the chapel to seat all the people that were there for him. There were people from his son’s soccer team, from the church and the wine community.

Leon leaves behind a wife, and a young son and daughter. He also leaves behind a huge hole in the San Diego winemaking scene.

Wine Girl Says...

JANENE ROBERTS - San Diego
It's a mix of one bride and groom, a beautiful Syrah, and a drunken guest, all at a Sonoma winery-no it's not a Harlequin romance novel, but a wedding I attended during this fall's harvest.

So a wedding at a winery in Sonoma, California, what could be more romantic than that? I was thinking that anyway when my friend Dave, asked me to go to his cousin's wedding at Nicholson Ranch. It was September and the wineries would be harvesting their latest creations and I couldn't wait. Like all romance novels, err, weddings, there are unique characters wound into an almost too beautiful to be real setting. The sun was lowering itself as the bride and groom said their vows under a flower-embellished arbor among the vineyards.

There was a glint of emotion in the groom's eyes and voice. The bride was beautiful in a shoulder less dress that reportedly was a copy of the one worn by Marcia Cross. The four bridesmaids all wore a different shade of purple. In the background was a hilly knoll of grass that had turned into straw.

A family friend officiated and the vows were quickly exchanged. Once the bride and groom strolled down the aisle the guests luxuriously walked through a thick carpet of rose pedals toward the reception that was held in the courtyard of the winery. White lights flanked guests overhead. I kept wondering if I had stepped into a photo shoot for Wine Spectator magazine.

Round reception tables were dressed in white and purple floor length tablecloths that blew in the wind. Heat lamps blazed near the tables and the guests found their seats. Wine was flowing around the table and that's when the star appeared. Of course, the star beyond the bride and groom. The object of my attention was dressed in deep purple and sparkled against glass.

When I gazed intently at it I thought I was being winked at. The aroma was a mix of my favorite cologne and luscious raspberries. I became intoxicated by the scent. It wasn't enough just to look at it and breathe in the aroma. I had to have a taste. I drank in the warm glow of plush berries and perfume. This, I decided was what they meant when they described a wine as being perfumy. I imbibed in a full glass of the 2004 Bennett Valley Syrah, and was so thrilled to have found a wine soul mate that I barely noticed the drunken guest sitting next to Dave.

She was loudly clanging the wine and water glasses and eventually aroused enough attention in the bride and groom that they kissed. I was so enthralled with the wine that I just smiled and sank in the sparkle hoping some of its star power would glow inside of me.

You can find the wine at http://www.nicholsonranch.com/syrah.shtml

2004 Bennett Valley Syrah (listed $35/bottle)