Dolce’s New Location is Sweet Dining

by Frank Mangio

About 5 years ago, old world Italian wines and cuisine came to Rancho Sante Fe with the romantic name( for Italian sweet bread and wine), Dolce Pane Y Vino.  Success was immediate, so fast forward to 2016 and the newest Dolce at the Highlands has come to Carmel Valley in the new Pacific Highlands Center .

Like its parent restaurant in the ranch, the new and vivacious Dolce treats its guests with an expansive dining room, and a bar that seems endless from the front door to the kitchen.  It has both community tables and tables for two or four, with views of very large and comprehensive wine racks, created by the GM for both locations, Steve Flowers. The wait help on my visit was Gwen Blome, who was quick to point out her favorite wines.  She was particularly excited by the showcase

Dolce at the Highlands is the new Italian style restaurant in Carmel Valley with delicious new Mediterranean style cuisine served up with gusto by table servers  like Gwen Blome.

Champagne chosen for the meal, the Nicolas Feuillatte Brut NV from France. The shimmering gold bubbly has an enticing fruity nose showing savory texture and refined bubbles. This is a lively dry Champagne for appetizers, or a long happy party. ($34.).

Other wine menu whites worth noting were the B Cellars White Blend 2012 and the Arneis “Barola Bianca” white from Piemonte Italy .

Chef Rhoelle Gabriel came to the table and spoke about her California influenced style of Mediterranean-American farm fresh food.   Her favorites included a “Regiatelle” pasta dish with Calabria style meat sauce, and a “Branzino” Italian style Sea Bass fish dinner entrée with potatoes and greens. This was washed down with a bottle of Napa Valley Laird Meritage “Jilian’s Blend” Red, 2013. ($44.)

The prized dish at Dolce at the Highlands is The “Branzino” Italian style Sea Bass.

Come prepared for a wine and dine experience at Dolce’s.  The atmosphere is perfect, with a wide choice of wines and menu entrees. Reservations are recommended at 858-847-2740, or visit dolcephr.com.

Quality Wine Dinners Excel at Vittorio’s
Back to back wine winners, world’s apart, have been on the marquee at Vittorio’s, also in Carmel Valley .  Last month, the popular Italian restaurant featured Chateau Montelena Napa Valley wines with  a five course dinner. Thursday May 26th at 6pm, one of the south of France ’s finest wineries, Gerard Bertrand, will open their best from the Languedoc District. The main course will live up to consistently great supporting menus Vittorio’s is known for:  Roasted Lamb Chops with Hazelnut Crust and Grilled Asparagus will be served with a 2013 Chateau de l’Hospitalet La Reserve Rouge. Cost will be just $49.50 per person.

A favorite at the Chateau Montelena dinner was the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, a luxurious vintage, rich in flavor. ($50.) RSVP Vittorio’s for the May 26th date at 858-538-5884.

Wine Bytes
Capri Blu in Rancho Bernardo has a Roth wine dinner Wed. June 1st at 6pm.  This Sonoma winery is family owned and makes only full flavored wines. Classic Bordeaux style wines are on the menu. Call for details at 858-673-5100.

Meritage Wine Market in Encinitas is planning their annual Oysterfest for this year on June 11, 2016, from 4 to 7pm. Call for more details at 760-479-2500.

South Coast Winery in Temecula is presenting a Celebrity Chef Dinner Fri. June 17th from 6 to 11pm.  Claudia Sandoval, a master chef winner, will direct a champagne cocktail hour, 7 course dining journey with South Coast and Carter Estates wines, live music and a copy of Claudia’s cookbook.  $195. per person.  Visit store.wineresort.com for more details and tickets.

COSTCO Wine Selection: View of the Vintages, Aisle After Aisle

by Frank Mangio
I may need a few household things, but when I am finished at the COSTCO in Carlsbad , I have my few things PLUS  nearly a case of a variety of wines to fill the cart. Sound familiar?  The Carlsbad COSTCO has the 2nd largest liquor department in the chain, topped only by the Scottsdale Arizona location. This vast inventory of wines representing most countries that produce wine, can  stock up to 100,000 bottles. To put it in perspective, most community wine shops offer from 300 to 600 bottles.

 Mathew Allen is the chief cork and bottle-watcher in the wine beer and spirit department
at COSTCO Carlsbad.

Mathew Allen started at the Carlsbad location of COSTCO when it first opened in 1992, but it wasn’t until 10 years ago that he took charge of the wine, beer and spirits department.  Sales in the COSTCO Carlsbad location have rocketed in the last ten years, following the U.S. consumption ramp-up.  A report just out from Wine Spectator headlined that “the U.S. has passed France as the world’s #1 wine drinking country,” according to a 2013 Wine Market release.  A younger generation of Americans are choosing wine, especially imported, sweet wine, sparkling and Rose’.

COSTCO is notable for moving product around.  Their mantra to the consumer is “if you see something you like at our store, you’d better buy it, because it may not be here next week.”
In the wine department, Allen talks to his customers constantly.  He answers their questions.  He loves wines that “taste better than the price.”   COSTCO’s wine department  is one of the few where customers are not alone.  Allen knows where every bottle is located and after assessing what a customer would like, leads them to the usual names, plus some new discoveries.

He introduced me to his hot new Italian bottle, the Tenuta La Badiola 2009 Rosso 6/42, with a blend of 6 grapes in a Super Tuscan.($11.99). He  had tasted it and pointed out that it was from coastal Tuscany , a popular new Italian growing ground  where large, influential wineries like Antinori and Gaja have taken positions.  “With an unfamiliar wine, I taste it, then talk to customers about their reaction to the wine.  If it seems positive, I order more.  Ratings are important signage.  Showing a high number moves a lot of product, but I educate the buyer on exploring something new and expanding their tastes,” he advised.

So where are the bargains these days in COSTCO?  Allen advised to look through the pallets that hold many cases of new value wines,  bought by COSTCO in high volume.  This is where the Italian  Badiola 6/42 sits at $11.99.  The Super Tuscan Bordeaux style established names like Sassicaia, Tignanello and Solaia will command 50 and 100 times that price, a good reason to try something new in that category. What’s in the future for COSTCO?  Chances are complimentary tastings will begin soon.  Permitting has been obtained and the timing is being discussed.

Vittorio’s Continues its Wine Dinner Rollout
 Vittorio’s Trattoria in Carmel Valley does a exemplary job of bringing in top wineries around the world to match up with its gourmet 4 course wine dinners, in the $50. range.  Foxen Vineyards in Santa Barbera County recently wowed diners with their Pinot Noir ($24.)  and other French style wines.

Katlin Armstrong of Foxen, Victor Megalhaes of Vittorio’s and
Penny Williamson Dore’ of Foxen

Next date will be a wine dinner with the best wines from Argentina on Thurs. May 29th at 6pm. five courses are planned.  The loveliest wine to look for is a Malbec by Bodega Colome with roasted leg of lamb.  Cost is $49.50 per person.  RSVP at  858-538-5884.

Wine Bytes
Fallbrook Winery’s “Flash Dinner”  and music by SM Familia Reggae will be held at Pala Mesa’s Aquaterra Fri. May 23 from 6:30 to 10pm.  RSVP at 760-731-6805.

Harry’s Bar & Grill on La Jolla Village Dr. San Diego , kicks off its new series with a showcase of Beni di Batasiolo’s wines  paired with Chef Vicens dishes, Wed. May 28 from 6:30 to 9pm. RSVP and check the cost at 858-373-1252.  All wines are from Piemonte Italy. This event celebrates the new owner, Garo Minassian.

Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido has a Foley Family Wines event, Fri. May 30 from 6:30 to 8pm.  Call 760-745-1200 for an RSVP and cost.

The Temecula Balloon and Wine Festival is a weekend of wine and food tasting, and the massive ascension of hot air balloons, Fri. Sat. and Sun. May 30 and 31, and June 1.  Many levels of ticket values are available.  Visit  www.bwf.com for the complete lineup and to buy tickets.