Touring Napa-Sonoma Wine Country

Photo and Article by Frank Mangio

I recently viewed the movie Bottle Shock, an attempt to capture the essence of the wine event that catapulted the Napa appellation into world prominence: the Paris Wine tasting of 1976, when French judges declared two Napa wineries, Stags Leap with its Cabernet Sauvignon and Chateau Montelana with its Chardonnay, to be the winners against a group of established French counterparts. It was another disappointment by movie makers who only deal in what may make money, with disregard for the truth and beauty of the matter.

If you want to know what really makes Napa-Sonoma the crown jewel of winemaking, you have to walk the walk and get up there. It’s the only place I know where the heady odor of grapes fill the air and the senses with the scent of sweet Cabernet and Chardonnay perfume-like vapors. These two varietals rule.

Cabernet Sauvignon is really a hybrid grape, originally a Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc that thrives in both Sonoma and Napa.

The same for Chardonnay, California’s most popular white wine with many styles to choose from. You can get a toasty, full-bodied “chard” or a lean mineral-like version. The traditional barrel fermented kind will give off a butterscotch and toast quality, while the newly popular un-wooded types will go toward a citrus and mineral-like profile.

A good place to begin your Chardonnay tasting tour would be Grigich Hills on Napa’s Highway 29. You may see 82 year old Mike Grgich in the tasting room talking up his latest lovely Chardonnay, the 2006 and the first one certified organic and biodynamic, a natural process without chemicals of any kind. Mike was the winemaker of the Chardonnay that won it all at the famous ’76 Paris Tasting.

Grgich Hills is one of the most visited wineries in Napa, home of 50 year winemaker Mike Grgich.

It gets a little more complicated when it comes to “best Cabernet Sauvignon” as both Sonoma and Napa have champions. Sonoma Cab was recently complimented in a recent article by my friends at Wine Spectator, the world-best wine publication. In it, the top Cab was from the Knights Valley area of Sonoma, a 2005 Les Pavots which scored 97 points. 11,000 acres are devoted to Sonoma Cab, but Napa devotes 19,000 acres. The argument can be made though that with Sonoma closer to the ocean and cooler, Cab grapes feel more at home in that environment. One thing you can count on when you go: the wines you taste will be among the world’s best.

Frankie’s Steak & Seafood in Temecula
Fast becoming a local favorite in Temecula, Frankie’s Steak & Seafood delivers with delicious entrees, big town ambience and some cool jazz and other entertainment in the busy bar.

Sinatra, Sammy and Dino of the Las Vegas “Rat Pack” are in full evidence with a piano, martini bar and images reminding customers of the fun and decadence of the “good old days.” Owner Frank Vessia features aged New York steaks paired with an extensive wine list. Wine Tasting Wednesdays from 5-7pm are a must.

Five wines paired with rustic appetizers are just $20. per person. Vessia has his own vineyard and produces Italian style in-house wines. For a reservation call 951-514-5212.

The Local Sip
Congratulations to Meritage Wine Market in Encinitas on being awarded “Best Wine Shop in San Diego,” by ABC TV San Diego’s Channel 10. They cited Meritage’s ability to provide the best of the personal and business wine needs of the community. Contact number is 760-479-2500.

Vino 100 in San Marcos is staging a “Wicked Zin” Halloween party on Fri. Oct. 31. $15. ea. Call for details at 760-591-3113.

Celebrate the Craft is a two day art,wine and food celebration at the Lodge at Torrey Pines, Sat. and Sun, Nov. 1 and 2. For more information please call 858-777-6635.

Meet winemaker Pablo Fallabrino with wines from Uruguay at Bacchus Wine Market in the Gaslamp District of downtown San Diego Sat. Nov. 1 from 5 to 8pm. Fee is $10. ea. Signature wine is Angel’s Cuvee Ripasso from Tannat. Details call 619-236-0005.

When in Rome Restaurant in Encinitas has its annual Harvest Wine Dinner Thurs. Nov. 6 from 6:30pm. Five wines from Puglia, Italy will be served, including Primitivo and Aglianico. $75. pp. Call 760-944-1771.
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Note: Taste of Wine TV will be on location at the 2008 San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival. We are looking for an experienced on-camera co-host to interview chefs and winemakers. In exchange, we will provide an entry ticket to the event, and access to the wine, food, and fun that comes with this world-known festival. The time committment for helping us will be around 90 minutes, then you are free to enjoy the event. If interested, please e-mail Mike Bragg at: WineNews@TasteOfWineTV.com

Rodney Strong and the Alexander Valley of Sonoma

I first laid eyes on the Alexander Valley of Sonoma a couple of years ago ( see accompanying photo) and when I did, I was astounded at its beauty, but more than that, it was the only place on earth that I had been to where the air was full of the perfume of grapes. It was a heady mix of cabernet sauvignon, cab franc, zinfandel and merlot.

The valley was carpeted with grapevines, ready to be picked and treated like royalty by the brilliant winemakers of Sonoma. The soil is well-drained and volcanic in color, ideal growing conditions for a Bordeaux style varietal.

Into this garden, the winemaker of Rodney Strong Vineyards, Rick Sayre, carefully chooses his crop and hand- harvests only the best for his premium blend: Symmetry Meritage from the Alexander Valley. The current release is the 2004, where it was recently showcased at the Prado Restaurant in Balboa Park, San Diego. He also previewed the ’05 which was equally impressive. The ‘04 sells for $55. on the winery’s website. Rick was present and revealed that Rodney Strong next year would be celebrating its 50th anniversary in Sonoma. Rick himself will also be celebrating his 30th anniversary at the vineyard, next year. Rick is the consummate farmer. He brings grapes to their highest form of perfection and his signature triumph is the Symmetry blend, which can slightly change in ratio from year to year, depending on his expertise in judging which of his cab, merlot and cab franc grapes are best for a particular vintage. The layers of opulent blackberries, dark plum and sweet spices seem always to distinguish Symmetry no matter the year.

The Alexander Valley has helped produce world-class wines for Rodney Strong. Yet the winery sources from 12 estate owned vineyards from four appellations within Sonoma: in addition to the Alexander Valley, others include Chalk Hill, Russian River Valley, and Sonoma Coast.

Other wines paired with the wine dinner at the Prado included a divine 2006 Pinot Noir, a 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, an exceptional 2006 Chardonnay, and a 2004 Port.

The vineyard headquarters in Sonoma is open for tours daily at 11am and 3pm. Tasting room hours are daily 10am to 5pm. For more, see their website: www.rodneystrong.com.

by Frank Mangio

Coppola Names Latest Winery Rosso & Bianco

by Frank Mangio

After over a year of silence on what he would call his newest acquisition in Geyserville, Sonoma, Francis Ford Coppola of “Godfather” fame finally broke his silence. He purchased his second winery (the first one is in Napa), formerly Chateau Souverain, and let it sit while he thought about it.

The new winery is now Rosso & Bianco. His grandfather from his Italian family back in New York used to make “Rosso y Bianco,” which means simply red and white wine. Coppola wanted to pay honor to his Italian ancestry, so he describes his latest winery as one that will “provide the theme of life with a happy Italian family, where I have provided my private collection of film and personal memorabilia for public enjoyment.” An Italian Pizzeria has been open, with beautiful views of the Alexander Valley, where diners can savor rustic dishes including Neapolitan style pizzas. Visit the website at www.rossobianco.com.

Coppola himself has named his recent favorite wines and none are from Napa or Sonoma. They are: a white from Romania, Feteasca Alba; three wines from Argentina: a Malbec, a Cabernet and a Torrentes; and finally a Southern Italian wine, a “Negromaro, which has a fruity, rich flavor. This wine is where my people come from,” he proclaimed.

La Cereza Shines Silver

Temecula, Calif. / Feb. 1. 2008

Wine drinkers seeking to explore new and exciting worlds in the vast cosmos called the wine industry often find themselves overwhelmed by the seemingly infinite amount of wines available to them. Add to this conundrum a whole slew of promotional schemes by labels including point systems, critics’ reviews and shelf talkers…all aimed to assuage possible buyers to purchase their bottle of wine instead of the one next to it. Is your head spinning yet?

Well, just like any other competitive market, wineries have the ability to have their products rated objectively each year during a handful of annual wine competitions. One of largest of which is the annual San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Located at the doorstep of Napa Valley, wineries that earn medals during this wine competition consider it a huge feat, a right of passage, so to speak, in the wine world.

La Cereza Vineyard and Winery, located in Temecula Valley, is now the proud bearer of that title after winning silver medals in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition for both their Sangiovese and Tempranillo red wines.
Judged next to wines from appellations long-recognized for excellence in red wine-making like Napa, Sonoma and Central Coast, La Cereza considers these awards a great honor as well as a testimony to their desire to produce high-quality wines capable of competing with the best.

The earning of a silver medal for their Tempranillo varietal is especially exciting for the Spanish-themed winery, as this grape is considered to be the quintessential Spanish grape, used to make the world-famous Rioja red wine.
“The choice to produce this wine here denotes the foresight of our winemaker to acquire tempranillo grapes from Guadalupe Valley,“ said Buddy Linn, owner of La Cereza. “This fruit is extremely high-quality and the outcome has been a very consistent and exceptional wine.”

La Cereza’s silver medal award for their Sangiovese is also remarkable, considering it’s the first year that the winery has ever produced this unique Italian varietal.
La Cereza winemaker Gus Vizgirda said he has long been honing in on his winery’s potential to produce excellent wines from Mediterranean grapes such as Tempranillo and Sangiovese.

“We have a very unique winemaking style here in the (Temecula) Valley and particularly at La Cereza,” said Vizgirda. “It’s based on the fact that we have a terroir here that is very similar to the Mediterranean, so although we may not be producing wines like the ones you’ll find up North, we’re confident and proud that we have a style that’s totally different and the quality is just as good.”

Wine Girl Says...

JANENE ROBERTS - San Diego
It's a mix of one bride and groom, a beautiful Syrah, and a drunken guest, all at a Sonoma winery-no it's not a Harlequin romance novel, but a wedding I attended during this fall's harvest.

So a wedding at a winery in Sonoma, California, what could be more romantic than that? I was thinking that anyway when my friend Dave, asked me to go to his cousin's wedding at Nicholson Ranch. It was September and the wineries would be harvesting their latest creations and I couldn't wait. Like all romance novels, err, weddings, there are unique characters wound into an almost too beautiful to be real setting. The sun was lowering itself as the bride and groom said their vows under a flower-embellished arbor among the vineyards.

There was a glint of emotion in the groom's eyes and voice. The bride was beautiful in a shoulder less dress that reportedly was a copy of the one worn by Marcia Cross. The four bridesmaids all wore a different shade of purple. In the background was a hilly knoll of grass that had turned into straw.

A family friend officiated and the vows were quickly exchanged. Once the bride and groom strolled down the aisle the guests luxuriously walked through a thick carpet of rose pedals toward the reception that was held in the courtyard of the winery. White lights flanked guests overhead. I kept wondering if I had stepped into a photo shoot for Wine Spectator magazine.

Round reception tables were dressed in white and purple floor length tablecloths that blew in the wind. Heat lamps blazed near the tables and the guests found their seats. Wine was flowing around the table and that's when the star appeared. Of course, the star beyond the bride and groom. The object of my attention was dressed in deep purple and sparkled against glass.

When I gazed intently at it I thought I was being winked at. The aroma was a mix of my favorite cologne and luscious raspberries. I became intoxicated by the scent. It wasn't enough just to look at it and breathe in the aroma. I had to have a taste. I drank in the warm glow of plush berries and perfume. This, I decided was what they meant when they described a wine as being perfumy. I imbibed in a full glass of the 2004 Bennett Valley Syrah, and was so thrilled to have found a wine soul mate that I barely noticed the drunken guest sitting next to Dave.

She was loudly clanging the wine and water glasses and eventually aroused enough attention in the bride and groom that they kissed. I was so enthralled with the wine that I just smiled and sank in the sparkle hoping some of its star power would glow inside of me.

You can find the wine at http://www.nicholsonranch.com/syrah.shtml

2004 Bennett Valley Syrah (listed $35/bottle)

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

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