Banfi Pours at the 3rd Corner-Will be the Top Stop in Taste of Wine Tour of Tuscany

by Frank Mangio

The wine glasses were being toasted high and loud recently at the 3rd Corner Wine Shop & Bistro in Encinitas. Not only was there a classic lineup of Castello Banfi Chianti Classico, Super Tuscan Blends and a 4 course menu especially created for the occasion by the 3rd Corner Executive Chef Lincoln Williams; it also kicked off the news of a special, personal tour of great Tuscan wineries that I will lead October 7th to the 10th of this year.

I have teamed up with Banfi, the Mazzei Winery, Celebrity Cruise Lines and Vineyard Travel in Escondido for a round- trip Rome to Rome 10 day Mediterranean Cruise with on-board wine events from October 10th to the 20th. Ports of call include Naples, Messina Sicily, Mykonos, Santorini, other Greek Islands and Kusadasi, Turkey.

The 3rd Corner Encinitas Executive Chef Lincoln Williams and Banfi Wines Representative Diane Cappetta Nares

Prior to the cruise, our privileged group will set out 3 days earlier and enjoy hotels,transfers, rustic breakfasts, lunches and dinners in the wine country of Tuscany. It will include castles, wine tastings with extensive winery tours in Montalcino and Castellina, an Italian cooking class and an ancient glass museum.

There is no other place on earth like the sun-kissed hills of beautiful Tuscany. I know, I have walked the hills and felt the joy of life in this wine country. I have carefully chosen Mazzei with its legendary Fonterutoli and Banfi with its Brunello Di Montalcino wines as excellence in a bottle. The wineries are known worldwide for their graciousness and hospitality.

Italy is the largest importer of wine into the U.S. and makes roughly 20% of all the wine in the world. All 20 regions of this amazing country, from Sicily to the Alps, offer high quality old world wines from some 3,000 different grape varietals.

Other master-produced wines include: Gaja Barbaresco, Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, Pio Casare Barolo, Bertani Amerone della Valpolicella Classico, Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico, Marchesi Antinori Tignanello, Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia, Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia and Planeta Santa Cecilia.

That is an unforgettable Italian wine journey and we get to sample the heart, in Tuscany. Complete details are at www.vineyardtravel.net. Enter offer #676757. Or call Rosemary Nigro at 800-359-3772.

Wine Bytes

A Cupid Wine Party is planned for Fri. Feb. 11 from 6 to 9pm at Bacchus Wine Market in the Gaslamp downtown San Diego. Appetizers, deserts and plenty of wines on hand for the party. $25. cost. Call 619-236-0005.

La Costa Wine Company has an Italian Tasting on Fri. Feb. 11 from 5 to 8:30pm. For $20. pp., taste 5 great Italian varietals including the ’07 Oreno awarded 95 points. New are “Wine Wednesdays” …a three wine flight for just $10. Details at 760-431-8455.

Meritage Wine Market in Encinitas is planning a Bordeaux night on Fri. Feb. 11 from 6 – 8pm. Call the shop at 760-479-2500 for brands and varietals.

Orfila Vineyards and Winery in Escondido has a special Valentines Day concert in the vines, Sun. Feb. 13. $20. ea. or $35. per couple. Includes a welcome glass of sparkling Moscato. Check for times and tickets at 877-727-9463.

San Diego State University’s next wine class starts Tues. Feb. 15 from 6 – 9pm. Advance sommelier Lisa Redwine teaches “Exploring Wine.” Call 619-594-6924 for more.

San Clemente Wine Company has a Cheese and Wine Pairing Class with Starr Cornwall on Wed. Feb. 16 from 6:30 to 7:30pm. 5 wines, chocolate, cheeses and educational materials are included for $35. To learn more, call 949-429-7067.

Krupp Brothers Came/Conquered at Dolce

by Frank Mangio
In a spirit of constant discovery, the full house at Dolce Pane E Vino in Rancho Santa Fe sipped, laughed and buzzed about the collection of wines from the revered hills of Napa Valley, from Krupp Brothers. Krupp Brothers actually are brothers, Jan and Bart and 1800 feet above the valley floor, they harvest some of the most valuable land in the area.

It’s called Stagecoach Vineyards, with 600 acres of vines in 100 uniquely different blocks over the past 20 years. This is rugged terrain and any knowledgeable wine aficionado will get excited anticipating wines that build to a smooth boldness that will radiate its taste though front and middle palate, with a long, lingering finish.



Brian Thompson, Regional Sales Manager for Krupp Brothers Napa Valley wines, with Lauryn Weinstein of Dolce Pane E Vino in Rancho Santa Fe.


In speaking with Krupp Brothers Sales Manager Brian Thompson, he revealed that the Vineyard sells grapes to some 4 dozen of the leading wineries in Napa Valley and just 7% winds up in Krupp bottles. We agreed that by far the signature wine was the 2006 “The Advocate.” This wine is a blend of 42% Merlot, 32% Malbec, and 26% Petit Verdot, barreled 15 months in French Oak. Just 628 cases were produced, and the media treated it like I did, with a lot of respect. 92 points was the norm. It goes for a market price of $66. a bottle.

Steve Flowers, who came on board Dolce Pane E Vino recently from Vigilucci’s Italian restaurants, is on a mission to brand the wine bar/restaurant as an upscale, comfortable place to test drive great wines. If you like them, he has a retail component that he can sell them to you. You can drink them there, or take it home.

Other Krupp favorites were: the Black Bart Syrah 2007 and the Krupp Brothers Synchrony 2006. This one has 56% Cabernet Franc, 38% Cabernet, 5% Merlot and 2% Malbec. ( $60.)

Check out more on Krupp Brothers at www.kruppbrothers.com. Dolce has a Caymus Family Wine Dinner on Wed. Dec. 15. It will be

LocalWineEvents.Com for Wine Tastings
This web site is my favorite for finding out about wine events around the nation. It is the world’s largest calendar of food and wine places to go. Yet you can pick your locations and focus in on exactly where you are or where you are going. The information is free. And if you are an owner wanting to get your event out there, it is also a free posting, including a map on how to get to your event, with a link to your website. So, no sending of press releases or phoning in information. What a concept!

Eric Orange is the genius who has the site. He also includes wine information and columns that I have been featured on. Last I checked he had over 4 million events tickets that his service had sold to users. Here is his web site: www.localwineevents.com. For questions, call Eric at 610-647-4888 xt 2.


Wine Bytes
§ Bacchus Wine Market in the Gaslamp district of San Diego has a 90 point wine event, Fri. Dec. 10 from 4 to 8:30pm. They promise to show you that not all highly rated wines cost big bucks. 7 of them will be poured. Fee is $20. Call 619-236-0005

§ Callaway Winery in Temecula presents a Babes in Toyland Holiday Sat. Dec. 11 from 6 to 9pm. Enjoy sparkling wine and appetizers, buffet dinner and Callaway’s best wines. Jazz musicians play seasonal favorites. Photos with Santa for the kids. $60. pp. Kids $30. RSVP at 951-676-4001.

§ Gondola Wine Tasting is on Saturday through the season at Loews Coronado. Next one is on Dec. 11, 6:30-8pm. Sommelier Kurt Kirschneman takes you on a wine flight of 6 varietals. Cost is $45. ea. Call 619-429-6317.

§ Orfila Vineyards and Winery now has Concerts in the Vines with local, talented musicians. Next is Sun. Dec. 12 starting at 6:30pm. $20. cost includes one Orfila wine. Bring blankets and low back chairs. Order tickets at 800-868-9463.

§ The great masters collection of Beaulieu Wines from George de Latour will be featured in a fine wine dinner at the Sky Room of La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla, Thurs. Dec. 16 from 6 to 10pm. This is a vertical wine pairing starting with the legendary 1976 vintage! Cost is $175. RSVP at 858-551-3765.