Celebrate the Holidays at the Festive Grand Del Mar

by Frank Mangio

The nationally known Successful Meetings organization has just awarded Addison at the Grand Del Mar Resort the best Hotel Restaurant in the nation this year. Those of us who have been pleasured by this signature restaurant and its Relais & Chateaux Grand Chef William Bradley are not surprised by this latest accolade.

Bradley’s simple, refined style of cooking, taking local ingredients and masterfully engaging French influences, has inspired diners since the dining room opened with the resort in 2006. “I am driven not by trends but by the history of food,” he declared. “My emphasis is on mastering simplicity with a keen focus on taste and technique.”

Relais & Chateaux Grand Chef William Bradley

Addison Wine Director Jesse Rodriguez is in step with Bradley, building a 36,000 bottle wine inventory that is impressive by any standard, and includes fine wines from France, Italy and Spain. Famous California top vintage wines can be discovered along with newly respected selections from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America.

Events in honor of the holidays include: an Artisan Carte Blanche 7 course Thanksgiving Day Menu from 3 to 8pm on November 24; a Lewis Cellars Wine Dinner on Thursday December 8 at 6:30pm with Dennis Bell of Lewis collaborating with Rodriguez and Bradley for a 3 course wine dinner; a Christmas eve dinner at Addison is Saturday December 24 from 5:30 to 9pm; and a 7 course dinner at Addison is planned for New Years Eve Saturday December 31 from 5:30 to 10:30pm. Dinner guests will have complimentary access to the Grand New Years Eve Party with dancing to Wayne Foster’s 6 piece band and DJ.

For all events, RSVP at 858-314-1900. Visit www.TheGrandDelMar.com.

Wines for the Holidays

Here are 9 that will serve you well as you pour the wine for Thanksgiving, Christmas and other parties coming up:

* Alec’s Blend, Lewis Cellars, Napa Valley, 2009. $60. Newest creation from Lewis is 80% Syrah, 17% Merlot & 3% Cab. Lively on the palate!

* Acacia Chardonnay, Carneros, 2009. $12. Ginger-honeycomb flavors put this over the top.

* Banfi Belnero Blend, Tuscany, 2008. $28. Sangiovese, with tastes of Cabernet and Merlot. Violet and cherry flavors.

* Chateau Rollan Le By, Bordeaux, 2008. $23. 70% Merlot, 10% Cab, 10% Cab Franc, 10% Petit Verdot. Fine French wine at a value price.

Peter Ackley of Alternative Wines in San Diego introduced the new 2010 “The Prisoner” from Orin Swift, a sought-after Napa Valley blend.

* Conundrum blended white wine, 2010, Napa. $17. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Muscat. A honey of a white wine.

* Montes Alpha Cabernet, Chile, 2006. $16. This power cab was laid down for 2 years. Incredible flavor enhancement.

* Orfila Estate Montepulciano, San Pasqual Valley, 2009. $29. First Orfila release of this Italian grape favorite. Spicy characteristics.

* Orin Swift The Prisoner blend, Napa Valley, 2010. $37. 44% Zinfandel swings the flavor up. Legendary winemaker Dave Phinney’s signature blend.

* V. Sattui Zinfandel, Russian River Sonoma, 2008. $36. Slow growth vines and moderate vigor provide perfect maturity at harvest.

Wine Bytes

North County Wine Company in San Marcos has 7 Thanksgiving Wines for tasting Fri. Nov. 18 from 4 til 10pm. $10. ea. includes appetizers. Call 760-744-2119.

PAON Restaurant and Wine Bar in Carlsbad Nov. 17 thru 23 has Thanksgiving wines, with 6 one ounce tastings for $16. Check in for details at 760-729-7377.

Taste Champagne and Sparkling Wines Sat. Nov. 19 from 11 to 3:30pm. Reserve time slot by calling 858-586-WINE. $10.

Thornton Winery in Temecula has a Thanksgiving Day Dinner Thurs. Nov. 24 from Noon to 5pm. Includes one glass of non- vintage Brut. $49.95. RSVP at 951-699-0099.

Ramona Valley Wineries Link Up

by Frank Mangio

A wine country in San Diego? After a series of patchwork plots and crazy-in-love individuals making a hundred or so cases of their favorite varietals all over San Diego County, you might just be able to say, there is the makings of a wine country in these here parts. Weirdly enough California’s wine making began with the Franciscan fathers in San Diego in the 1700’s. Spanish explorers built a string of missions from San Diego north all with vineyards. After historic bouts with phylloxera diseases in the 1880’s and prohibition in the 1920’s, most of the wineries of note finally settled in Napa and Sonoma. In San Diego County, there were pockets of vineyards, largely disregarded as serving only family and friends.

Rose and Herman Salerno are among ambitious wine makers in the Ramona Valley of San Diego who make respected wines.

Two life-changing events have recently occurred that have lifted SanDiego County’s Ramona Valley into the light of day. In January 2006, the area of some 89,000 acres was designated as the Ramona Valley Viticultural Area, based on its “unique microculture, terrior and history of grape production.” The area surrounds the town of Ramona. There are about 50 vineyards and 16 wineries doing business. This is only the 2nd “AVA” in this county and the 3rd in Southern California.

The other event, a “Boutique Wine Ordinance” approved last year by the county allows, and would make it easier, to offer public tasting rooms in the area’s wineries for the public to “try before they buy.” After a flurry of objections from environmentalists, it finally was written into the books a few months ago.

At an average elevation of 1,400 feet and rainfall of some 16.5 inches per year, the Ramona area is well suited for quality wine grapes.

Rose and Herman Salerno’s first vintage was 2002, made in the garage of their adobe home in the hills of Ramona. They had been making wine for their personal use 18 years prior. They proudly point to their tasting room as a “godsend” for their business which makes some 12 wines, including a 2007 Lagrein Red ( $32. wine club price).

Ninety cases have been made. It’s an Italian wine from the slopes of the Alto Adige Alps. You’ll enjoy the mineral-rich mouth-feel of very high quality. And while you’re tasting, you can coax Herman into a game of Bocce Ball. Her has two courts on the property.

Tasting hours are: 11am to sunset; Salerno Winery is closed Monday and Tuesday.

Other wineries of note in the Ramona Valley and vicinity include:

Hacienda de las Rosas, Lenora, Woof ‘n Rose, Cordiano, Mahogany Mountain, Pamo Valley, and in nearby Warner Springs, Serenissima.

For more on Ramona Valley Vineyards and Wineries, see www.ramonvalleyvineyards.org.

Another Look at Las Vegas

Vegas watchers never had it so good these days. For starters, the space-age City Center, built by MGM Grand on 67 acres between Bellagio and Monte Carlo for nearly 9 billion dollars, has 6 hotels and condo towers, with 4,000 more rooms to fill on the Las Vegas Strip.

Also pitching for customers are 17 restaurants and 9 bars in one hotel alone, ARIA.

To its credit, fine wine dining has never been better in this scintillating city. This is partly due to the caliber of nationally known chefs that have descended on finely appointed dining rooms in the upscale hotels. It was started by Wolfgang Puck a number of yards ago. The latest big celebrity chef in town is Michael Mina with no less than five restaurants including American Fish at ARIA.

If you’re looking for star-power at your table, try actress Eva Longoria’s new Beso Steakhouse in Crystal’s, the high-end retail dining and entertainment center that fronts City Center and is currently showing an Elvis Presley Tribute by Cirque du Soliel. Start by visiting www.citycenter.com.

Wine Bytes

The newest Dining Out San Diego, the free glossy magazine with all you need to know about the area wine and dine scene, is due out this week. It can be picked up in most fine dining establishments.

The University of San Diego Wine Classic is Sun. July 24 from 2 to 5pm at the USD Garden by the Sea Center. It raises money for scholarships. $75. admission. Visit www.usdwineclassic.com.

57 Degrees Wine Bar in San Diego has a Classic Regions and Varietals Event, Tues. July 26 from 6:30 – 8pm. $40. pp. with seminar. Call 619-955-8884.

A Gondola Wine Tasting is featured at Loews Hotel Coronado Wed. July 27 and every Wed. through summer, from 6:30 – 7:45pm. Cost is $45. ea. Details at 619-429-6317.

North County Wine Company in San Marcos celebrates its 1st Anniversary with wine events Fri. July 29 through Sun. July 31. A “Big Gun” tasting highlights Fri. from 4 – 9pm. Cost is $15. Get more information at 760-744-2119.

PAON Restaurant downtown Carlsbad presents a Chateau Montelena Winery Dinner, Wed. July 27. Four course gourmet menu with five glasses of one of Napa Valley historic wines. RSVP at 760-729-7377.

V.Sattui Winery in St. Helena, Napa Valley, has its outdoor annual Festa Italiana, Sat. July 30 from 6:30 – 9:30pm. Music, huge amounts of Italian food and Sattui Wines that were recently awarded 2011 Winery of the Year. All for $79. ea. Call 707-963-7774 for tickets.