Third Annual Family Winemakers Event, March 13

Family Winemakers of California, an association of small, family-owned California wineries, announced today that "Tasting 2011" will be held on Sunday, March 13, and feature over 200 wineries.

The event is the Association's only Southern California wine tasting that is open to both the public and wine buying trade, and it will be held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. "Tasting 2011" allows wine enthusiasts and trade members to taste and explore new wines from many California regions, while small and family-owned wine producers have the opportunity to expand their reach into the Southern California market, said Paul Kronenberg, president of Family Winemakers of California.

"We're pleased to return to San Diego with 'Tasting 2011' for our third consecutive year," added Kronenberg. "As the region's largest tasting of California wines, 'Tasting 2011' gives wine lovers the unique opportunity to taste from over 200 family-owned wineries pouring 1,000 wines, all in the course of one afternoon. Wine fans will get to meet winery owners and winemakers who are committed to the craft of producing quality and passion-driven wines, while tasting from a selection of small-production and hard-to-find wines that may not have local retail distribution."

The single day event takes place on Sunday, March 13, and will be held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The event is open to members of the wine trade from 1:00-3:00 p.m. and is open to both trade and the general public from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Tickets for the general public are now on sale with ticket prices beginning at $45 for early bird tickets purchased by February 21, $55 for advance tickets purchased by March 12, and $65 at the door. Trade segment admission for consumers is also available to the first 50 ticket buyers at $75 per ticket. Qualified trade and media interested in attending the tasting may register online at www.familywinemakers.org

MELLOW: a wine bar…is all that and more

By Frank Mangio

You don’t’ have to be big to make a splash in the San Diego wine scene.

It really works when you’re MELLOW. When five o’clock rolls around, more than a few young professionals are mixing it up and comparing vintages at the recently opened MELLOW a wine bar, at Liberty Station in the Rosecrans district.

Phil Cutting and his special events director, Nikole Atterholm ( both shown in the accompanying photo) have set the wine and dine table with a cozy kind of “Cheers” atmosphere, where the bartenders and patrons seem to be equally able to make friends and keep them. The menu is bistro Mediterranean style with light, rustic cuisine…nothing pretentious and definitely wine-friendly.

Wine selections fall into the little-known, low production style. Phil prides himself on finding and presenting wines that customers won’t see everywhere.

On the day we stopped by, he was pouring a Filus ’05 Malbec from Argentina, in the Mendoza district. All his wines can be purchased on the retail side, but an opportunity always exists to “try before you buy” on the bar side. Too many wine bars in town are small and tucked away, almost hidden by retail. Not this one. MELLOW is all bar. Phil, it turns out, took courses at San Diego State’s comprehensive Business of Wine, and was in my lecture classes on Old World Wines. Nice success story for Wendy Evers of SDSU who founded and guided the course to where it is now…turning out students like Phil who go on to great things in the industry.

Hours at MELLOW are Monday through Saturday 11am to 11pm and Sunday 4pm to 11pm. Check out the web site for a constant stream of events, at www.mellowawinebar.com.

Washington 2nd to California in Wine Production

If you are seeking a wine “getaway” far from the traffic crush, consider the State of Washington with its more than 500 wineries. Washington wine country can be deceiving. Most of the wineries are clustered near Seattle, with its wet, damp and cool climate. But nearly all of the vineyards are in the dry, warm eastern part of the state, separated from Seattle by the Cascade mountain range. Areas like the Columbia Valley, Walla Walla, Red Mountain and Yakima produce winning Cabernet, Chardonnay, Merlot, Lemberger and Syrah.

Are the wines wonderful? Consider this: I attended a wine auction recently at the Museum of Photogaphic Arts in San Diego’s Balboa Park and recognized the lovely and often applauded Quilceda Creek, one of Washington’s finest. It was presented as a 100 point three-pack vertical (3 different vintages: ’02, ’03 and ’04) Cabernet Sauvignon. I kept bidding and gave up after the price zoomed to over $600.

Chateau San Michelle, founded in 1934 and based in Woodinville near Seattle, is the most known of the wineries. Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet are its most popular varietals. Their just-released White Riesling Columbia Valley ’06 just received a 97 point rating in Wine Spectator.

There is a lot of excitement at DiStefano Winery, also in Woodinville, as it claimed the title of Washington Winery of the Year, according to the Wine Press Northwest in its latest competition. Owner Mark Newton and winemaker Hillary Sjolund have come up with a luscious, spicy Syrah. Their 2003 version is from the Columbia Valley and is lovely to look at and beautifully knit to the taste. It’s actually a brilliantly conceived blend of 94% Syrah, 4% Viognier and 2% Cabernet. There is no better wine from Washington. Retail is $24.99.

The full story at www.distefanowinery.com.

Check out the latest website for Washington wines: www.washingtonwine.org.

Vigilucci’s Sparks the La Jolla Wine & Dine Scene

by Frank Mangio

Daniel Brunner, the manager of the 7th Vigilucci’s restaurant in San Diego County, this one a palatial villa in La Jolla, likes to show the personal wine collection of Roberto Vigilucci. It’s in a private dining area, and contains lovely Italian collectables like Gaja, Sassicaia, aged Antinoris and Amarones.

The wine list for patrons is only a little less impressive with a lengthy collection from the most popular varietals in the world with the emphasis on Italian.
The latest triumph for Roberto is at Fay and Propsect and is described as serving “the finest steaks, fresh seafood, chops and pasta,” for lunch and dinner. A different risotto of the day distinguishes the cuisine by chef Giorgio Coverde.
Our evening’s risotto dish incorporated beef tips, tuna, scallops, shrimp and mixed vegetables, simmered in a light tomato cream sauce.

Roberto was brought up on his mother’s cooking in their Tuscan kitchen, and when his travels brought him to San Diego County, he saw a need for authentic Tuscan cuisine and opened the first Vigilucci’s in Encinitas in 1994. Today, in addition to Encinitas and La Jolla, you can find a Vigilucci’s in Oceanside, two in Carlsbad, two in Leucadia as well as Vigilucci’s Catering. But none of the others compares with the magnificence of the La Jolla location. I was struck by the authentic Murano glass, used as hanging lighting over the tables. The bar area, at once intimate yet dramatic looking in its showcase presentation, is home to a lively happy hour from 4 to 6pm with complimentary appetizers.

Daniel and the District Manager, Maurizio Carbone,( shown in accompanying photo) introduced me to a striking wine from Campania, the 2005 Terradora Aglianico. The Aglianico grape is red with the highest rating in the Campania area, a long stretch of terroir that touches Naples and the Mt. Vesuvius volcano that is still active. Almost black in color, it tasted a lovely chocolate, earthy flavor. It’s another under-the-radar Italian wine, still inexpensive for the quality of taste. For more on Vigilucci’s, access the restaurant’s website at www.vigiluccis.com.

Win a Cruise to Ensenada, Wine, Food, more This Saturday

Mention this blog entry when you visit the Taste Of Wine TV booth Saturday at the San Diego Bay Food and Wine Festival, and you can enter our special drawings for wine, dinners, and a Cruise to Ensenada. (Must be 21 or over to participate. (Winners will be contacted by cellphone during the festival via text messaging, or e-mail). Ensenada cruise courtesy of Kimberly at www.BraggAboutTravel.com

11:15 Falkner Winery, Temecula

11:30 Opolo Winery, Paso Robles

11:45 Pedroncelli Winery, Sonoma

12: noon Williamette Valley Winery, Oregon

12:30 Ghiardelli Chocolates

12:45 La Cereza, Temecula

1p.m. Nature Sweet

1:15 Vina Robles, Paso Robles

1:30 Flora Springs, Napa

Still time to get tickets for the biggest wine even on the West Coast:
www.WorldOfWineEvents.com

San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival is Just About Here

If there is only one wine event that you must experience, it’s the San Diego Bay 4^th annual Wine and Food Festival, ready to go Wednesday November 14 thru Sunday November 18, at several locations downtown. World of Wine Events, the producers, have five days of fun and education on wine and food, unmatched anywhere in Southern California.

I do hope my readers and viewers come to the Saturday Grand Tasting at the Embarcadero North Park next to Seaport Village from 12 Noon to 4pm.

Just beyond the entrance, Mike Bragg, executive producer of Taste of Wine Tv.com and myself, (shown in the attached photo) will be interviewing several wine and food personalities from Noon to 2pm and would love to have you stop by and talk wine with us. Over 160 wines will be poured, with food service from 60 restaurants and food suppliers. The “chef of the fest” is a highlight competition that’s sure to attract. Olive oil tasting, fine wine auctions and entertainment put a bow on the whole scene.

Start-up is the Wednesday “Wine Rave 2007” from 7 to 10pm at the Little Italy Urban Bar and Restaurant. A hip “Bling and Bubbly” will rock the downtown Ivy Hotel from 6:30 to 9pm with fashion and show-stopping champagnes and cuisine. Thursday has 7 seminars on wine and cuisine at the San Diego Wine and Culinary Center and Macy’s. Friday finds 8 seminars at the same venues, and a super Reserve and New Release Tasting from 6:30pm to 9:30pm on the good ship Inspiration, docked near Broadway and Harbor Drive. 150 wineries and spirits producers will wow the visitors, along with delicious cuisine from notable restaurants and caterers.

Sunday from a 10:30 am boarding to 1pm, the table is set on the Hornblower with a cruise around the bay that includes a lavish brunch, free-flowing Mumm Napa Brut and other fine champagnes from Mumm. The music’s on fire too with the David Patrone Band. Reservations are a must for this attraction.

Now to the most important part of this journey of wine and food, how to get tickets and get in on the action. Two ways to do it: Call 619-342-7337 for any date, or a package for all! You can also access ticket information on-line at www.worldofwineevents.com.