Fizzy, Sweet & Sparkling Wines

by Frank Mangio
One of the missing links to my knowledge of wine has always been the array of before and after dinner champagnes, sparkling wines, ports, and grape-based exotic and vibrant drinks like Grappa,Vin Sante, Sherry and Vermouth.

Port is a beautifully sweet, powerful wine, mostly consumed after dinner and is especially delectable with chocolate. Its genetic home is Portugal but England embraced it as its own and some of the finest brands of port still come from the “mother country.”

The best Port grapes come from the Douro Valley in Northeast Portugal where a town, Oporto, gave it the name. The steep hillsides on both sides of the Douro make the vineyards some of the most challenging in the world. Roots have been known to go some 65 feet into the ground for stability and to survive the blazing hot summer days.

In California, Pedroncelli in Sonoma makes “Four Grapes” 2005 Vintage Port in the Dry Creek area. The most popular Portugese grapes are grown on the estate and aged 4 years before bottling, softening and maturing the wine.





“Four Grapes” Vintage Port from Pedroncelli Winery in Sonoma is a prime California Port, rewarded with a Best of Class in recent international competition.

Alcohol content is 19%, emphasizing ripe berries, caramel and toffee aromas that lead to warm spice, raspberry and cream soda on the palate. This is the ultimate Port value at $18. for a 500ml bottle. Look it up at www.pedroncelli.com.


Madeira comes from the island of the same name off the coast of Africa which is a Portugese colony. It was the wine of choice at the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and considered the most prestigious after-dinner wine at the time. It is a fortified(small amount of Brandy), mostly white wine with a similar 19% alcohol content.

Not all sparkling wine can be called Champagne; only those from the region of Champagne France, made with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The method of production, “Methode Champenoise” can be used worldwide, but the Champagne French keep a lid on the brand. Other old world Sparkling Wines that are popular are in Italy: Prosecco and Moscato D’Asti. One of the most respected Champagnes is Dom Perignon. The 2002 which is available now is $149.99 in most retail stores. Fresh almonds and dried fruit capture the palate, along with intensely floral, perfumed jasmine that leads a tropical surge from the Chardonnay base. Some of the best domestic Sparkling Wines come from Oregon and California. Argyle from the Willamette Valley is refined and elegant in its 2000 vintage. ($60.) On the value side, Mumm Napa Valley is just $20. and V. Sattui Brut Napa Valley with ripe flavors of apple pie is just $22.

Just up the road in Temecula, the veteran Sparkling Wine maker, medal and award winner, Jon McPherson, is expanding his skills in this style of wine for South Coast Winery. Long known for his expertise in the “Methode Champenoise”style, he has now released a 2010 Pinot Grigio for sparkling wine. McPherson has long admired the Italian style of winemaking and this time looked to the Alto Adige district of Italy for this bright citrus and delicate apple taste. McPherson recommends it, not just for celebration, but paired to a seafood or chicken dinner.


New drink treats are coming out of South Coast Winery Resort & Spa: A Pinot Grigio Sparkling wine and a Grappa based menu of cocktails.

In South Coast’s Vineyard Rose Restaurant, mixed drinks are made with a grape-based Italian favorite called Grappa, made from the skin of the grape. Grappa has a uniquely different quality about it and no two grappas taste quite the same. Jacobi Poli was chosen as supplier, among the oldest in use today. Over 7 popular drinks are now woven with the popular Grappa., including Margarita and Bloody Mary. Learn more at www.wineresort.com.

Wine Bytes
Il Fornaio in Del Mar opens its 2011 Festa Regionale Series now to Sun. Jan . 16. The regional cuisine is the Friuli-Venezie with local Pastas, Secondi and Dolce. Wines of the regions are also featured. For reservations, call 1-888-ITALIAN.

Meritage Wine Market presents a World Cabernet Face-off Fri. Jan. 7 from 6 to 8pm. $20. fee. Call 760-479-2500 for winery names.

Bacchus Wine Market has its famous Blind Tasting Game, in the Gaslamp District of Downtown San Diego, Sat. Jan 8 from 2pm to 8:30pm. Cost is $15. They brown bag 8 wines and taste each. Prize for closest picks. RSVP at 619-236-0005.

Curds and Wine in Clairemont has a Winemaking Class Sat. Jan. 8 from 1 to 2pm. This is FREE to the public. Call 858-384-6566.

La Costa Wine Company and the Wine Smarties present a “Blind Taste Like a Pro” Seminar, Sat. Jan. 15 from 3 to 5pm. Cost is $40. ea. Taste 5 wines. RSVP at 619-955-8884.

The Two Sides of Catalina Island

by Frank Mangio
The Catalina Express speed boat from San Pedro to Two Harbors, Catalina Island, drew up to the dock. I gazed around at the surroundings on this first-time visit for the next few days and couldn’t help think I was in a virtually undiscovered paradise, just 12 miles from Avalon, the bustling, tourist-driven Catalina hot spot which is like many of the beach communities of Southern California.

I was there with Sonoma based Winery Pedroncelli and their Southern California manager Mark Abraham to present a signature magnum to Banning House Lodge Bed and Breakfast, in celebration of their 100th anniversary.

Kate Panzer is the Innkeeper and couldn’t be happier. “It’s an ideal, timeless place to work and live, with guests who become friends and return year after year,” she said with a big smile. “Here, buffalo really do roam, brought here years ago for western movies (we met 3 of them on the road). Many were transported to South Dakota, but 100 still live close by.”

I learned that the chewing gum magnates, the Wrigley Family, purchased the property and the island in 1918 and family companies still operate the various enterprises that attract boaters and tourists.

Banner House has stunning views of Catalina Harbor on the mainland side, and Isthmus Cove and 4th of July Cove on the Pacific Ocean side. The 3 have moorings and anchorages for about 700 boats. The Lodge also has a busy wine bar featuring the sought-after Pedroncelli brand and other California style wines. Check out www.visittwoharbors.com.

Yes, Catalina Island does have its own vineyard. In what’s known as El Rancho Escondido, not far from Two Harbors, the first vines were planted in 2007 by Geoff and Allison Rusack. Three varietals were harvested in 2009: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel. Allison is from the Wrigley family and both established themselves as wine makers back in 1995 in the Santa Ynez Valley north of Santa Barbara. Rusack Wines are small-batch, handcrafted wines of premium quality.

They have a tasting room in Solvang, where you can try the wines from Catalina Island. See more at www.rusackvineyards.com.

The New Gallo: Not your Father’s Wine
Ernest and Julio Gallo, the brothers from Modesto that helped changed the wine world, have passed on. Their Gallo Family successors have vowed to bring the brand into the next decade of the 21st century focused on the young hip community with their Bear Flag Brand.

I spoke of this inflection point with Shannon Soria Palmer at the recent La Jolla Art and Wine Festival. The labels are all from a magical world of strange creatures; whatever they think will float your collective boat. Bear Flag, which is a take-off on California’s state flag, pushes a “super secret formula” that is really a potpourri-blend of grapes.
For instance, the Bright White Blend is Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurztraminer. The Dark Red Blend is a combo of Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet, Zinfandel, Petit Verdot and Tempranillo.

Woo Woo! Look for the graffiti style bottles in most supermarkets. Look for more at www.bearflagwine.com.

Wine Bytes
§ Meritage Wine Market in Encinitas hosts a Back to Napa Tasting Event Fri Nov. 5, 6 to 8pm. $20. pp. Check with Meritage for names, at 760-479-2500.

§ Bacchus Wine Market in the Gaslamp, downtown San Diego has a High End Cabernet event Fri. Nov. 5 from 4 to 8:30pm. Names being poured include Raymond, Rutherford and Bordeaux French wines. $35. ea. 619-236-0005.

§ Wine Loft in Carlsbad has a $10. Tues. on Nov. 9 with the wines of BR Cohn, 5 to 7pm. They’ll also offer oils, dipping sauces and tapenades. More at 760-944-1412.

§ PAON Restaurant downtown Carlsbad presents a two hour tasting and seminar on fortified and sparkling wines, Tues. Nov. 9 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Includes how to taste and compare and evaluation. RSVP at 760-729-7377.

§ Dolce Pane E Vino in Rancho Santa Fe brings in Krupp Brothers and Stagecoach Wines Wed. Nov. 10 from 5 to 8pm. Cost of $25. includes paired appetizers. RSVP at 858-832-1518.

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.

San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival - All About Wine Glasses