Totally ZIN at ZAP-Fest

by Frank Mangio

The ZAP-Fest, an annual gathering of Zinfandel fanatics in San Francisco by the Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP) was everything I had heard that it was, and more.

Not your usual namby-pamby gathering, it was an exciting delight from the start of its 3 days of creativity to the Grand Tasting that filled two large buildings with over 200 wineries at Fort Mason, with the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop.

8,000 guests poured over the wines offered. It was the 20th ZAP gathering so a Roaring 20’s theme was cut loose and burst through expectations with new ways to learn about this grape with a strong European influence.

Chiarello Family Vineyards was a new entry in the ZAP Festival, the creation of Napa Valley’s master chef Michael Chiarello.

This “used-to-be” jug wine with boyish fruit and high alcohol has its roots in such far away places as Campania, Italy where it is known as Primitivo, with traces of this varietal verified across the Adriatic, in Croatia. Cuttings were brought to California in the 1820s from Austrian sources who gave it the Germanic name. It grew vigorously and later in the 1900s became popular as a blush wine, White Zinfandel. Old vines were preserved for their lengthy production.

Joel Peterson, founder and winemaker for Ravenswood since its beginnings in 1976, is also one of the founders of ZAP. He is also a member of the 2011 Vintners Hall of Fame as the Zinfandel Pioneer who held the varietal together and changed its perception to that of a premier, premium wine.

Joel Peterson, is founder of the popular Ravenswood Zinfandel, now producing 800,000 cases of red wine.

Joel works with over 100 plus growers that provide grapes for Ravenswood, which offers a huge variety and range of Zins, from the Vintners Blend Zin, seen in most supermarkets, to select vineyard premiums from Napa Valley, Sonoma and Lodi ( $35.) www.ravenswood.com.

Other Zin favorites at the festival included: BR Cohn Sonoma Valley($28.), Bogle Old Vine Zin from Lodi($11.), V Sattui Winery Napa Valley make 12 different styles of Zin($36.), Seghesio Family Wineries has won world-wide awards for its 6 collections of estate Zins ($36.), Pedroncelli in Sonoma has scored well with its Mother Clone Old Vine and Dry Rose’ of Zin($15.), and a newcomer, Wine Guerrilla of Sonoma is worth a try($30.).

The next Zinfandel Festival is in Paso Robles March 18 to 20. From great Paso Zins, food from master chefs and auctions, there are many ways to enjoy this major event. See all the options at www.pasowine.com.

Wine Bytes

Il Farro Italian Restaurant in Newport Beach has a Sardinian Wine Dinner Thurs. March 10 at 6:30pm. Wine owners Pina and Francesco Soletta will present the wines. $59. pp. Call 949-723-5711.

Orfila Winery in Escondido has a 8-wine blind tasting Thurs. March 10 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. $25. ea. includes a How to Taste guide. Top score wins a bottle of Orfila Wine. Call 800-868-9463.

Cakebread Wines are the select feature at the Wine Bank in the Gaslamp, downtown San Diego Fri. March 11 from 6 to 8pm. Cost is $20. for Napa Valley’s elite wines. Details at 619-234-7487.

Canapes in the San Marcos Restaurant Row has the Robert Hall wines for a tasting Sun. March 13 from 3 to 6pm. $10. pp includes paired appetizers. RSVP at 760-510-2088.

Firefly Grill and Wine Bar in Encinitas has a Treana Winemaker Dinner Mon. March 14 at 6:30pm. These wines are some of Paso Robles’s best. Cost is $59. Reserve your place at 760-635-1066.

Il Fornaio at the Del Mar Plaza has its next Festa Regionale with a salute to the wine and food of the Trentino-Alto Adige districts of Italy, March 6 to 20. Local wines and food featured. See www.ilfornaio.com.

The Trifecta Wins in the Wine World

by Frank Mangio

Trifecta is a thing of beauty in the horse tracks of America. You make a wager on 3 races, naming the race and the horse that will come in a winner. This takes creativity and a certain amount of bravado to come home on top, with an oversized payoff for your gamble.

I find that same amount of risk and reward in the new breed of wine shop personalities who have opened their doors and offered what I call a “Trifecta” for the wine consumer. Here are some winners worth betting on.

Downtown Carlsbad was the location chosen by a former wine wholesaler turned retailer, Rene Fleming, for her new enterprise. It’s a wine shop with a “Trifecta format of wine bar, wine sales by the bottle and small bites rustic menu of hot, fresh food that pairs well with the wines offered. She named the shop RELM…meaning “Really Enjoy Laugh More. Rene, along with support staff

A wine bar and a lot more defines RELM in downtown Carlsbad.

Sherry Martin and Katie Murray, spins the magic. From wine appreciation classes and fresh tasting ideas, to artists and jazz musicians, RELM keeps customers coming in and staying to enjoy their “Trifecta.” www.thewinerelm.com.

Over in San Marcos, the master blaster orchestrating his version of the “Trifecta” is James Allyn at Canape’s. James sold North Country Wine Company across the street and built out Canape’s in the San Marcos Restaurant Row. It too is one part retail wine shop, one part wine bar and one part small bite restaurant. Canape’s plugs in a 4th part with a major schedule of entertainment. From Blues to Flemenco, you’ll hear it all while you sip on your Pinot Noir.

In Rancho Sante Fe, the place to see and be seen is Dolce Pane E Vino with Steve Flowers managing. Italy never looked so beautiful as this posh wine bar, rustic dining, living room and wine bottle retail creation with Tuscan surrounds. Another intimate touch…you can sit across from the chef and chat about your menu choice while it’s being cooked for you. www.dolcepaneevino.com.

Finally I have to include the WineSellar & Brasserie with Gary Parker the owner. Hard to find in the Sorrento Valley industrial area but wow!...amazing collection of wines and a small sit down restaurant that has been honored by Wine Spectator Magazine with its Grand Award for best wines with food since 1989.

Other area restaurants that have converted to the “Trifecta” format include: Sage Grill in Encinitas, San Diego Wine & Culinary Center, PAON in Carlsbad and VINZ Wine Bar & Tasting Room in Escondido.

Wine News to Use

I hope you have tried FLAVOR, the new restaurant in the Del Mar Plaza, with a view of the Pacific to die for.

A first-step into the dining room from the remarkable front entrance and bar area, gets a A-rated WOW for its expansive view of the Pacific from nearly every table. The sweeping window is about a 180 degree panorama. It’s all well and good, but the wine and food is really what FLAVOR is all about. Try one of the extensive collection of half-bottles, a brilliant idea to keep costs down, yet enjoy a premium, memorable wine. And as the name suggests, the menu is seasonal and as fresh as today with all ingredients working to enhance the flavor of the menu selection. See more FLAVOR at www.flavordelmar.com.

Lovely Pinot Noir in Temecula Wine Country? Yes, from Woodworth Vineyards, a micro-winery in the De Luz hills west of Temecula. Its 2008 vintage was one of 64 to be featured at the recent Pinot Noir Summit in San Francisco. These grapes are grown at the winery, where warm days and cool nights, embellished with coastal fog, make it a reliable growing ground for Woodworth. The wine is available at The Collective in Old Town. www.tvwinecollective.com.