A Wine Oasis in the Desert

by Frank Mangio
Odd place for a wine renaissance, but on closer examination, the Palm Desert, Palm Springs, La Quinta resort areas are blooming attractions for the wine crowd.  An enormous amount of restaurants serve a growing population and increased visitor count, and guess what, the Palm Desert COSTCO has the 2nd largest wine department in the chain, right behind Carlsbad in San Diego County.

Palm Desert is one of my favorite get-a-ways and when I go, I have an eye open for the latest developments at the JW Marriott’s Desert Springs Resort.  The latest trip was a real eye-opener as they are celebrating their 25th year with an upscale building program for their restaurants and wine bar.
Paul Bologna conducts the best wine tastings south of Napa Valley and he produces the wine programs at Desert Springs.  Actually he spent the first part of his wine career working in Napa Valley so he closely follows those wines.

JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort Sommelier Paul Bologna conducts Boat Dock Wine Tastings most days of the month.

The day I participated, Bologna was profiling Full Bodied Reds From Napa Valley.  A  $50. charge got you five luscious reds and a delicious artisan cheese tasting.  The wines were all “mountain wines:”  merlots, cabernets and blends from Mt. Veeder, Pride Mt., Diamond Mt. and Pine Mt. I was struck by the power and finesse of the J. Davies Cabernet from Diamond Mt., a 2008 that retails for $80.  “We love Napa Valley small producers,” exclaimed Bologna.  Most are 100 case producers or less, and both our wine and food suppliers are all from California.”

Ciprian Orian is the enthusiastic restaurant manager of the new Rockwood Grill and the posh Blue Star Lounge. The Rockwood Grill opens up the dining experience with extra virgin olive oil served with grilled bread.  The salads are home grown in the Coachella Valley.  Mine had greens, shaved apple, fennel, radish, candied pecans, tangerine and pomegranate.  Nicely done.

The San Diego Brandt Farms provided the Filet and it was excellent with sides of grilled asparagus and polenta.

“We are working on a new expansive patio dining concept, adding 80 seats in September,” Orian revealed.  “It will extend into the existing lake and give diners an island sensation.  The Blue Star Lounge will also expand around the dining area, for a total of 468 seats.  Small bites will be big in the lounge area.”   Lots to know about at the web site:  www.desertspringsresort.com.

San Diego’s Little Italy & Enoteca Style Taste Great

It was Open House along India Street in San Diego’s Little Italy recently
as hundreds of visitors, hungry for old world food and drink, descended on nearly 30 restaurants. The new format restaurants are exciting to see and to dine in.  They include: Davanti, a small bites bar with a large inside and outside dining area; ISOLA, a pizza bar with huge blowups of Italian actress Sophia Loren and a red wood-burning pizza oven direct from Naples; Bencotto, an urban dining room featuring take-out and two $12,000. Prosciutto curing and cutting “red wheel” slicers.

ISOLA Pizza Bar is one of the newest Italian food and wine bars in the Little Italy district of San Diego.

Be sure to check out Enoteca Style, owned by chef Scott Thomas, who also owns Salad Style in the Gaslamp District.

The wine list is one of the largest in Little Italy, from sparkling Prosecco to a regal, velvety  Nebbiolo d’Alba, both popular Italian wines.  The food is California fusion with the Italian tradition.  And they do deliver, whether it be fresh, creative paninis, international style salads or full plate entrees such as Tuna Tatare and Roasted Garlic Chicken Meatballs.  Every Wednesday, it’s half price wine night. Have look at www.enotecastyle.com.

Wine Bytes
The 2nd annual San Diego Wine Country Festival returns to Bernardo Winery in Rancho Bernardo Sat. Aug. 11 from 1 to 5pm.  Over 20 wineries will be pouring.  Tickets on line for $25. or day of event for $30.  Full details by calling 858-487-1866 or www.bernardowinery.com.

The 17th annual Mamas Kitchen benefit Wine & Food Tasting is Thurs. Aug. 16 from 6 to 9pm in San Diego.  The organization delivers food daily to the AIDS stricken.  $60. advance, $70. day of event.  Call 619-233-6262.

Europa Village Winery in Temecula has a Celebrity Art event  Sun. Aug. 19 from 11 to 3pm.  Art viewing and live music are free to the public.  Wines available for purchase.  Details by calling 951-216-3380.

The San Diego Spirits Festival is Sat. Aug. 25 and Sun. Aug. 26 from 1 to 6pm, on the Broadway Pier in San Diego.  This is the biggest mix of Cocktails, Culinary and Culture on the West Coast. Bands and mixology contests.  Check out prices and other fun stuff at www.sandiegospiritsfestival.com.  Or call 858-551-1605.

Screw Cap Wine Bottle Closures Gain in Popularity

by Frank Mangio

In what could be an inflection point in the wine industry, an announcement came out recently from the 4th largest winery in the state of Washington that Hogue Cellars, as a “result of groundbreaking research” is moving 100% of its wine production to screwcap closures.

It took Hogue Cellars about 5 years to arrive at the decision that screwcaps were the ideal closure for “preserving and aging wines.”I have long felt that screwcaps have a place in the wine world. You cannot beat Hogue Cellars of Washington is now using Screwcap Closures (photo) on all their wines. the convenience in eliminating the corkscrew opener. In the research, screwcap closures were proven to hold fruit flavors and aromas without reducing the character of the wines. Sure, corks will always be a part of the ritual of opening a powerful and expensive wine in a 5 star restaurant.

There is something to getting your moneys’ worth in this condescending approach to the pampering of the wine experience. But in this Hogue Cellars study which is the most extensive one ever, the right type of screwcap closure allows better preservation and quality compared to natural cork closures,due to a controlled ratio of oxygen to come in contact with the wine.

Over 3,200 samples were tested over 5 years. In blind samplings, the screwcap closure had the best taste consistency. “It all comes down to quality,” said Hogue Director of Winemaking Coman Dinn. “We want customers to know that when they purchase a bottle of Hogue Cellars wine, whether it’s to enjoy that night or in 5 years, the wine in the bottle will be fresh because it has been sealed in the best closure currently on the market.”

Try the Hogue Cellars 2008 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with a dash of Merlot, Lemberger and Syrah, for an example of a beautifully crafted complex red ( $11.) with the newest generation of a screwcap closure. www.hoguecellars.com

“La Familia” Wines of Napa Valley

The roots of the wine world can be truly traced to husband and wife, father and son or daughter and generally can be said to be Italian in origin, in the sweeping fields of Napa and Sonoma.

In the story of Carolyn Lawrence of Leo Joseph Wines, going back to 2002, it was four generations of women learning as they went; from Carolyn’s 100 + year old mother, her daughter to her granddaughter. At the family home in St. Helena, they had planted nearly an acre of vines around the family home and began producing wines starting with the 2005 vintage. The vineyard yields 3 ½ tons of Cabernet and almost ½ ton of Cab Franc.

Carolyn Lawrence Murphy and husband Bill display their Napa Valley Cabernet vintages at a Sons of Italy gathering in Carlsbad.

Leo Joseph was her father who was born and raised in St Helena. For more on the wines and how to purchase, access www.leojosephwines.com.

Wine Bytes

§ Laguna Canyon Winery’s next monthly tasting is Fri.Aug. 5 from 6 to 9pm. For $35. ea. select from 15 different wines including Brut Champagne. Appetizers include assorted cheeses and grapes. RSVP at 949-715-1621.

§ Tesoro Winery in Temecula has the Valley Winds Swing Band Fri. Aug. 5 and 19, from 6 to 9pm just outside the tasting room in Old Town. Free Admission. Call 951-308-0000.

§ The San Diego Wine Country Festival is Sat Aug 6 from 1 to 5pm at Bernardo Winery in Rancho Bernardo. Nearly 20 wineries in San Diego County are pouring. Education booths to learn how to make wine. Music and food add to the festivities. $20. admission. Food extra. Call 858-487-1866 x 115 for more.

§ The Venetian Masquerade is coming to Little Italy in San Diego Sat. Aug. 13, 6 to 10pm in Amici Park . Come in Costume. Italian music, food, dance and art. Silent auction. $100. pp. Tickets at www.ferragostosd.org.

§ Schlossadler International Wines in Oceanside has its annual Warehouse Tasting Sat. Aug. 13 from 2 to 5pm. Open to the public for $15. ( buy a bottle and get a your admission applied to the wine) Music, food, wines from around the world. More by calling 800-371-9463.