Orange County Wine Scene Continues to Pour it On

by Frank Mangio
Let me be clear right away, we don’t mean orange juice.  Wine events are lining up with the major wine players, many of them from Napa Valley and Sonoma , being treated to marquee performances by their hosts. There is no better example of wine mania in OC than the Newport Beach Wine & Food Festival, a three day romp through the wines of the world, with healthy doses of beer and spirits, to match up with some excellent food samples.

We’ll be reviewing one of these restaurants in the 2nd half of this issue. The festival, sponsored by American & Southern Wine & Spirits, celebrated its second year the first week in October and sold out all three days. The names on the honor roll of wineries and celebrity guests read like a who’s who. The tasting provided and chance to savor the likes of  Argyle, Francis Ford Coppola, Ferrari Carano, Franciscan, Jackson Family, Joseph Phelps and a close-to-the-top favorite of mine, Laetitia Winery, makers of big-time Pinot Noir.  Here’s the take on this remarkable winery.  It is located in southern San Luis Obispo County overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Originally known for sparkling wines and still producing seven different styles, it is now known for its handcrafted Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  Their fruit comes from the Arroyo Grande AVA.

French founders started planting at Laetitia in 1982.  They found the land to be very similar to their homeland.  The winemaker for these 600+ acres of vineyard land is Eric Dickey along with his brother Dave.  Buy the Laetitia Whole Cluster Pinot Noir.($42.)  Whole cluster is the process of fermentation when the bunch or cluster of grapes, including the stem, is used in alcoholic fermentation. It is old world, French Burgundy style Pinot Noir, at its best. At the festival, Bravo TV’s Top Chefs were out in full force, led by Rick Bayless, in his 11th year on Public Television. He has written 8 cookbooks.

For information on next year’s Newport Beach event, call Lindsey Henn at 626-893-4228.

Canaletto Restorante of Newport Beach
I first reviewed Canaletto in Las Vegas at the Venetian Hotel.  I was transplanted to Italy by the design, food, wine and premium service.

But, you don’t have to go to Vegas. The Orange County Canaletto in Fashion Island has perfected the same art of Italian cuisine, with General Manager Antonio Bevacqua and Executive Chef Moises Mendoza.  On this night, Canaletto collaborated with Heitz Wines of Napa Valley.

Antonio Bevacqua is the GM, and Moises Mondoza is the 

Executive Chef at Canaletto in Orange County.

 
Their latest release is the 2010 Napa Cabernet single vineyard Trailside Vineyard. It’s a dense and powerful wine with aromas and taste of fresh-picked blackberry and a touch of rich cocoa ($80.)

At Canaletto, the wines come first, with  chef Moises building lusciously paired dishes to compliment. With the Heitz Cabernet, it was a Ravioli di Melanzane (roasted eggplant ravioli with burrata cheese, basil and garlic sauce.  Learn more about Canaletto and RSVP for dinner at 949-640-0900.

Wine Bytes
The next great wine dinner in Orange County is at 21 Oceanfront in Newport Beach. It’s Tues. Dec. 8th at 6:30pm with Grgich Hills Estate. Enjoy wines from Chardonnay to Cabernet with a 4 course fine dinner. Cost is $110. ea.  Call for an RSVP at 949-673-2100.

Beach House Winery in Fallbrook has its annual Christmas Bazaar Sat. Nov. 28th from 11 to 4pm.  No charge for this event featuring local artists and businesses.  Enjoy your holiday shopping with a glass of their wine and live music.  For more call 760-732-3236.

Capri Blu in Rancho Bernardo is presenting a Frescobaldi Wine dinner Wed. Dec. 2nd at 6pm. This is a 4 course super dinner featuring grilled Filet Mignon Medallions, paired with a 2009 Frescobaldi Brunello.  $55. pp. RSVP at 858-673-5100.

Notes from the Wine Warehouse Spring Tasting

by Frank Mangio
I have reported several times this year on the extraordinary number of wine events and outreach that have been staged in an effort to get before the trade and public. The pace has been dizzying ( no pun intended ) to keep up with all of them and bring you up to date on the newest and best releases.

One of the most influential wine marketing and distribution companies in the world is Wine Warehouse. For 30 plus years it has offered more 10,000 wines other beverages for sale to the retail trade in California. Retail and restaurant customers look to Wine Warehouse for superior wine and related products.

Over 500 new release wines were brought by recently by some 120 wineries from all over the world. Many of the owners and winemakers were at this gathering at the Hilton Bayfront in San Diego, to engage first-hand with potential and current customers. When I arrived, I went over right away to Temecula’s Thornton Winery to visit with owners Steve and John Thornton with winemaker Don Reha. They were excited about the seven new Spring wines that have just been released that I will be reporting on in a future TASTE OF WINE. Then I moved over to Enrico Nicoletta’s booth. He manages the Italian wine portfolio for Wine Warehouse and was anxious to have me taste the latest from Felsina and Barone Ricasoli, both Chianti Classico front-runners from Tuscany. The Felsina 2007 “Beradenga” with 100% Sangiovese sells for $20. and is made by one of the master makers Guiseppe Mazzocolin. Barone Ricasoli is a bigger winery that is just North of Felsina. Its Chianti Classico 2006 was in the top five wines in the world awarded by Wine Spectator in 2009.

My TASTE OF WINE Top Ten Tastes for 2009 had the Brolio Ricasoli Chianti Classico Tuscany 2003 listed. Price is just $11. if you can find it. Just a dash of Merlot and Cabernet adds great depth to the Sangiovese base.

Finally I want to mention a strong, fruity find in Consilience from Santa Barbara County and its 2006 Syrah. Brett Escalera is the owner-winemaker. Brett also served at Byron and Fess Parker wineries. Normally I don’t think much of wines with over 15% alcohol, but this one is balanced to perfection. It’s a true premium Syrah and one to watch for at just $18. Look it up at www.consiliencewines.com.

Water in Wine is the Purest
Most people know that wine is made up of mostly water but what they may not know is that the water in wine is the purest available. As the wise and humble Ben Franklin once said: “In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” In the fermentation for wine, there is a process of boiling, filtering and fermenting. So, enjoy that glass of wine. Not only does it taste good and make you feel good, your body is getting the most healthy irrigation known to man.

Wine Bytes
VINZ Wine Bar downtown Escondido is back with Vinnie Griffin as owner with the wine bar and German beer garden linked up. The V Lounge again has Friday entertainment with guitarist Jimmy Patton from 7 to 9pm. Details at 760-743-8466.

Wine Steals in San Diego, Hillcrest and Cardiff now has a wine cask feature with wine on tap! They are offering great low prices on wine by the glass. Call the location nearest you for more.

St. Germain’s Café in Encinitas has a “Yappy Hour” on Fridays and Saturdays with special incentives for your dog and you from 4 – 7pm. Sat. and Sun. June 18 and 19 enjoy Pannini “Yappetizers” and a glass of local Poway Old Coach Wines. Local music and raffle drawings. Call 760-753-5411.

La Costa Wine Company in Carlsbad has light and refreshing German Riesling wines for tasting Fri. June 18 from 5 to 8:30pm. $15. ea. And on Fri. June 25, Sonoma wines for tasting. $20. pp. Call 760-431-8455.

San Diego Wine Company on Miramar Road is pouring ten terrific Pinots for $10. Sat. June 19 from 11-4:30pm. Erath is one of the featured wines. Phone 858-586-WINE.

Island Prime on Harbor Island in San Diego is hosting a Great Fathers Day Wines sale Sat. June 19 from 11:30 to 2pm. Sample select wines and hors d’oeuvres and win prizes with each purchase. Contact Maurice at 619-557-9441 ext 203 for the wine list.

Café Merlot in the Bernardo Winery in Rancho Bernardo extends an invitation to join them for a TAPS benefit dinner and wine tasting to help troubled teens and their families, Sat. June 26 from 6 to 9pm. Cost is $75. per person or $120. per couple. For tickets, call 858-668-2273.