I’ll Drink to That!

With all the wine tasting events held each year in California, Family Winemakers of California is always a favorite of mine. First of all, the event is all about exactly what the name implies. It truly celebrates family owned wineries, big and small. But mostly small. And every year there are so many new wineries to get to know, winemakers to meet and wonderful wines to try. What’s not to like?

With close to 200 wineries represented, some pre-event planning is definitely called for. This year I pulled the exhibitor list off the website with the site map and highlighted the tables I would give priority to. While there were so many old favorites I wanted to visit, I tried to choose those wineries I had heard about over the last year, but had yet to try.

Somewhere in the vortex of the internet I had heard about  A Cellar Full of Noise, operated by two charming young men, James Judd and Eric Alvarez. Their reds, made from Paso Robles area fruit, were rich and full, the Cab and Malbec with their other label, James Judd & Son, being standouts.

Just prior to the event I had received an invitation to taste from BX of Napa Wines. Her label logo is BX, and since those initials are near and dear to my heart, I was intrigued. I also liked the fact that she was a one woman show producing only 100 cases of wine in her inaugural release. This release was comprised of 3 wines, a Syrah, a Chardonnay, and the only 100%  Ruby Cabernet in America! I loved the Chardonnay and the Ruby Cab is a light, fruit forward red which would make an easy sipping wine with summer bbq’s. Owner/winemaker Bex Bishop is charming, knowledgeable and passionate and I really enjoyed meeting her.

Bex Bishop of BX of Napa Wines

I first tasted the Chardonnays and Pinots of Fog Crest Vineyard at last year’s event, so this year I was anxious to try their just about to be released 2010 Pinots and say hi to James Manoogian, owner and passionate force behind these fine wines. (Daniel Moore is their winemaker). The 2010 Estate Pinot Noir , Russian River Valley,  (200 cases produced),  is a beautifully balanced wine with long lingering fruit, and upon release I’m sure will be a hit with Pinot lovers.

James Manoogian, owner, Fog Crest Vineyard

I really enjoyed the wines from Harrington Wine, a new find for me this year. They are producers of an extensive line of Pinots, but they had brought with them this year their new releases which included a  Grenache Blanc and their 2011 Fiano, a white varietal I hadn’t heard of before. Fiano was a popular grape in ancient Rome, now primarily grown around the town of Avellino in the southern Italian region of Campania. The wine was similar to a Pinot Grigio, crisp and clean, but with a lusher, fuller mouth feel. I’m generally not a fan of Pinot Grigio, so this Fiano would be a welcome summer white at my house.

Getting back to reds, I really enjoyed those of Muscardini Cellars. Their Zinfandel was big but not jammy, their Syrah, lush, and my favorite was the “Tesoro“, a Super Tuscan style blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

Some old favs visited were Buttonwood Winery, Cass (never want to miss an opportunity to say hi to co-owner Ted Plemons), Les Deux Chats (love their Roussanne and Viognier), Eberle, and Tercero, where I found owner/winemaker Larry Schaffer almost unrecognizable with a new, way shorter haircut.

Ted Plemons, co-owner, Cass Winery, Paso Robles

Larry Schaffer, owner/winemaker, Tercero Wines

The wonderful whites of Les Deux Chats

Hope your own tasting adventures have led you to some delicious new finds, and I totally recommend you seek out and try some, (or all), of the wineries I mentioned here. Support family owned business… of any kind - it’s a really good thing. Cheers!

Well here it is January, and I’m just getting around to writing about this trip. Will I ever get caught up? I think we all know the answer to that. But I’ve been busy. I love my clients, and it was my pleasure to spend December getting out their newsletters, promoting their special events and toasting to their success for 2012.

A trip to the beautiful wine country of Paso Robles is always a treat for me, but this time was extra special as I was attending the first presentation of a new wine festival and sharing my “happy place” with some friends who had never spent time there. While the drive up was a bit threatening as the rain was torrential at some points, the storm was gone by the time we arrived in Paso and not to be heard from again for the rest of the weekend.

Our first stop on Friday was Venteux Vineyards. I’d always wanted to visit there as I knew they also had a beautiful B&B on the vineyard property. I wasn’t disappointed - the estate is beautiful complete with vintage truck. Always a plus in my book. Sorry I didn’t get a picture of it. Enjoyed the wines, the hosts, the cats and made a mental note that I would love to stay at the property in the future.

Wine display at Venteux Vineyards

Tasting room lineup at Venteux Vineyards

Fall at Venteux Vineyards

We had made plans to dine that night at one of our favorites, Thomas Hill Organics. Joining us and our friends would be the Goddess of Wine herself, Denise Lowe, who was also there to attend the Paso Garagiste Festival. The great food and company was accentuated by great wine conversation and a first tasting or our friend Michael’s first bottling of Syrah with the Harridge House label.  Very exciting and so delicious! Congrats Michael!

Saturday was the day we had been waiting for and talking about for months. The premier of The Garagiste Festival, an event focusing on the artisan winemakers of the Central Coast. The venue chosen for the event was the gorgeous Windfall Farms in Templeton, a short scenic drive just southeast of Paso. Everyone was there, the weather was beautiful, the winemakers were excited and so were we. We tasted some wonderful wines, talked with the winemakers, and met up with other wine “friends” from my social media circles. The event was a huge success and I look forward to next year! Have a look at my photo album for pics from event.

After the festival, believe it or not, we went wine tasting! Bella Luna and Cass Winery were nearby so off we went. Cass we’ve known and loved for years, but this was our first visit to Bella Luna, and we were quite pleased with their wines and promptly bought a few to go. 3 winery dogs here! Love the dogs…

This trip concluded the next day with a private tasting at Frolicking Frog Cellars. This charming “garagiste” winery is owned and operated by Stuart and Maria Goldman, lovely people with a true passion for winemaking. They took us through a tasting of all their bottled wines and then a barrel tasting. Truly something for everyone here. Mostly reds - big, bold, soft and balanced with plenty of fruit. Stuart is always trying something new in his quest to make interesting wines and he loves to regale his tasters with his wine stories. Maria is a gracious hostess who instantly made us feel at home in their cozy tasting room on their rustic property overseen by their ….winery dog, a beautiful chocolate lab.

Wines at Frolicking Frog tasting.

Stuart Goldman, owner/winemaker of Frolicking Frog Cellars

So February and Valentine’s Day are coming up soon. Why not plan a romantic wine country getaway to Paso Robles? And…Zin Fest is coming up in March. Have a look at the calendar of upcoming events here and enjoy!

GARAGISTES - (gar-uh-zhē-stuh) n, Fr. – A term originally used in the Bordeaux region of France to denigrate renegade small-lot wine makers, sometimes working in their garage, who refused to follow the “rules.”

This movement has taken hold all over the world and thankfully more and more of these small family owned wineries are being recognized for the true artisanal qualities that make these wines and their winemakers so special.  Now there is a new festival in town, Paso Robles that is, that focuses solely on the “artisan winemaker”. The Paso Garagiste Festival is quickly coming together and will be held Saturday November 12, 2011 in Creston, just a bit south of Paso Robles.

The festival is the brainchild of three friends who love wine and share an appreciation for the small lot winemaker. While attending a Rhone Ranger event in LA a couple of years back Stewart McClennan, Doug Minnick and Dan Erland Anderson started brainstorming for a way they could help promote these boutique wineries, primarily those of Paso Robles. They admired the fact that most of these winemakers, fueled by their passion for making exceptional wine, were working other day jobs, some commuting hundreds of miles weekly to do both, or were working for larger wineries while making their wine in their “spare time”. Many do not have tasting rooms and their case production is so small they can’t get the representation that the “big boys” get. They felt these “garagistes” needed some help in getting the word out and the plan for the festival began to take form. Well the word got out fast and soon wineries from further south along the Central Coast were asking to participate and now over 40 small production wineries who are producing under 1200 cases annually  are scheduled to participate.

Not just the wineries in this festival are special. The venue is fantastic! The magnificent Windfall Farms, a 750 acre horse farm in Creston, has been chosen, and the beautiful stallion barn will serve as the unique location for this special tasting event. Check out this video for a complete tour of the venue.

Entrance to "after party" room

"After Party" room where Australian country singer Stephen Rowe will perform

Needless to say I am thrilled with the idea of this festival! I have met with Doug and Stewart and we are completely of the same mindset - we love these wines and the people behind them, and we want to do whatever we can to help them get the word out about them. And…proceeds from the festival will go to support young winemakers at the Wine and Viticulture Program at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. So I urge you to visit their website, watch the videos on their homepage and order your tickets. It’s going to be great!

I’LL DRINK TO THAT!

Very often the most charming of surprises wait for us off “the beaten path”. Such is the case with Bedford Winery. Located in the small historic town of Los Alamos, California, Bedford Winery is just a short 15 minute drive north of Buellton on the 101 freeway. A little over a mile or so down Bell St. past historic buildings housing the town’s small businesses you’ll find the tasting room with it’s large patio next to a building called The General Store, although I think it’s now an art/antiques dealer. Bedford is a small family operated winery helmed by winemaker/owner Stephan Bedford. Turns out Stephan also loves to cook and regularly turns the patio into a gathering place where he cooks up lavish barbeque feasts for special occasions and holidays.

Over the Labor Day weekend Bedford presented their annual W.I.N.O. Radio Dinner Show to a sold out, hungry and appreciative crowd. Helen, the tasting room manager, greeted us with an invitation to taste some of the wines from Bedford’s large array of varietal offerings. I gladly accepted a glass of  their 2009 Santa Barbara County Chardonnay, a rich, full-bodied wine with some soft oaky nuances. Just what I needed after the drive up from LA. We wandered around the tasting room and patio, nibbling on appetizers of freshly baked flatbread pizza, baked brie, caprese skewers, salty olives, and fresh garden gazpacho. We were introduced to all the family members, most of whom were busy either at the food prep area, pouring wine or passing the hors. Once the dinner bell was rung, literally, everyone queued up and  grabbed a cowboy style enamelware plate which was heaped with spit roasted pork loin with two side-by-side sauces, cast iron pot cooked beans, colorful and crunchy chow chow and chunks of hearty wheat bread. With dinner, I opted for a glass of  2008 Santa Barbara County Tempranillo. This Spanish red varietal, quickly gaining popularity in the Central Coast, is a wine of depth and spice, making it very food friendly and was delicious with the roasted pork. Old-fashioned peach cobbler made for the perfect dessert ending.

The show, loosely fashioned after the Home Prairie Companion radio show, was a collection of cleverly created wine related comedy skits, blue grass style music, readings and commercials taking you back to a time when radio shows were the primary source of home entertainment. The show was hosted by Garrison Sanders, and featured the music of  Susie Glaze and the HiLonesome Band. Also included was an installment of “The Pinot Noir Wine Detective series performed by the Bedford Winery Players, all professionals in the entertainment industry.  What a pleasant change from our high-tech lives to sit outside on a beautiful summer night and enjoy some good old-fashioned, creative, somewhat silly and amusing entertainment in the middle of this little town that seems frozen in time.

So on your next drive to the Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo County wine regions, I strongly urge you to make the little detour in time and go visit the folks at the Bedford Winery tasting room. Chances are if you visit on a Sunday, Stephan himself will be there to engage you in lively conversation about wine, food, history, gardening or even baseball. Los Alamos also boasts a popular restaurant,  Flatbread Pizza, and a historic Victorian B&B, The Victorian Mansion.

I’LL DRINK TO THAT!

Last Friday night, being as our regular Friday night dining companions were out of town, we decided to try something different. We’d heard that Truxton’s American Bistro in Westchester has monthly wine tastings featuring the wines of a specific winery and paired with their food. I’d been to lunch there a couple of times, so I knew the food was good, but really, why in the world would we get in our car at 6:00pm on a Friday night and take the 405 anywhere, let alone to Westchester from the Valley?Well…wine was involved…it’s summer…and we didn’t want to be whiners…so we went! And no traffic! I know, shocking.

About 30 guests had gathered in the private dining room at Truxton’s for the event and within a few minutes the guest of honor arrived. Peter Huwiler is the driving force behind Napa Station Wines. The winery is a family endeavor, with his son Peter working closely by his side. Peter Sr, a native of Switzerland, lived in Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand before landing in Seattle where he spent many years in the restaurant business. It wasn’t long before the wine industry beckoned and he went to work for what was to become Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, later for Kendall Jackson and finally Merryvale in Napa. With his passion for all aspects of the wine making business, it was inevitable that he would end up owning his own winery. It is here at Napa Station wines that Peter truly shines. And it was at this tasting that Peter Huwiler shared his boundless knowledge and passion with his captive audience. While most winery owners/winemakers like to talk primarily about the wine, Peter regaled us with stories about Napa soil structures, (there are 110), tannin management, the density of woods used to make the barrels, cork taint and NASA images taken to determine micro climates in the vineyard. He talked about racking and fining, the astringency of grape seeds, acidity and sugars and how the Carneros AVA straddles both Napa and Sonoma counties. I hung on every word.

The wines of Napa Station

His first wine of the evening was a 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, (with 2% Semillon). This wine was complex with good acidity and a long finish. (Bought 2 bottles) 27% of his 08 Chardonnay is  fermented in 2 yr old oak while the rest goes into stainless. I didn’t think the food brought out the best in this wine, but the Shrimp Po Boy Sliders with Cajun Remoulade were really tasty.

Shrimp Po Boy Sliders

The 07 Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic blend of 88% Cab, 9% Merlot, 2% Malbec and 1% Petite Verdot. Paired nicely with Chef Greg’s Chanterelle Flatbread Pizza with Yukon Gold Potatoes, Fontina Cheese, Arugula and Truffle Oil. The arugula complemented the anise notes in the wine. (Love that)

Chanterelle Flatbread Pizza w/Yukon Gold Potatoes, Fontina Cheese, Arugula & Truffle Oil

Of the two Merlots poured, 07 and 08, I preferred the latter. A smooth, elegant wine, the 08 Merlot displays notes of black fruit and bittersweet chocolate, with more complexity and character than the 07. (I bought one bottle of that as well)

Needless to say, I really enjoyed meeting Mr. Huwiler, chatting with my table mates, the food and an evening out.

Me with Peter Huwiler

I’LL DRINK TO THAT!

Last Sunday I attended the Rhone Rangers tasting at Pier 59 Studios West in Santa Monica. Year after year, this continues to be one of my favorite events. Not too big, nice open venue, and lots of my favorite Rhone style wines, many from Paso Robles.

So, in case you’re wondering what is Rhone Rangers….it is an association devoted to promoting producers in California, Washington, New York and Oregon who specialize in the varietals originally from the Rhone region of France. While there are 22 recognized Rhone varietals, only a few stand out as the principal players.  The whites include Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc. Reds are headed up by Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre and supported by others like Cinsault, Petite Sirah and Carignan. Many of these show up in blends, adding even more interest, intensity, color and flavor to these already luscious, complex wines.

The  Central Coast is well suited for these varietals and more and more winemakers are producing these wines, experimenting with all matter of blends and styles. Lucky us - so much to taste!

Some of my favorite producers are:

Cypher - Templeton, CA

Ecluse - Paso Robles, CA

Edward Sellers - Paso Robles, CA

Frick - Geyserville, CA

Villa Creek - Paso Robles, CA

Holly’s Hill - Placerville, CA

Ridge Vineyards - Cupertino, CA

Kiamie Wine Cellars - Paso Robles, CA

Cass - Paso Robles

….just to name a few! One new one to add to the list is Jada Vineyard & Winery. I tasted their wines for the first time at this event  and was intrigued by their unique 09 White Blend and their rich 08 Syrah, Jersey Girl.

Besides tasting new wines, these events are also a great time to make new friends and catch up with old ones.

Denise Lowe and Xochitl Maiman

I’LL DRINK TO THAT !

As luck would have it I had lunch with rock stars today! It may have been in the heart of Beverly Hills, but the celebs I was with weren’t J Lo or Steven Tyler or Lady Gaga. No these “stars” were  some of the stars of Paso Robles!  Living my whole life in Hollywood means I have seen many superstars of film, television and music. But meeting a winemaker or other wine persona is always a much bigger thrill. Now I don’t usually admit that to anyone but my husband, but when Ian Blackburn of Learn About Wine said the same thing at lunch today I knew I was in good company.

Today’s winemaker lunch was  the preamble to yet another of Ian’s wonderful” Stars of…” events with Paso Robles taking center stage. “The Stars of Paso Robles Wine” tasting event was a two day event held one day in Orange County and one day at Two Rodeo on the famous Rodeo Dr in Beverly Hills, showcasing  over 25 of the top wine producers from the area.  Now as many of you know, my favorite wine region is Paso and over the years I have met so many wonderful winery owners, winemakers, B&B proprietors and restauranteurs. But today I met three wine personalities for the first time.

Michael Mooney is the owner and winemaker at Chateau Margene,  a boutique micro winery specializing in the production of small lots of premium Cabernet Sauvignon. His other label, Mooney Family Wines produces Rhone blends from the Paso Robles AVA  and Pinot Noir made with fruit from the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. Their wines are sold only direct from either their estate winery set amidst the gorgeous rolling hills of Creston, or from their Westside tasting room located at the intersection of Vineyard Dr and Peachy Canyon Road, just West of the 101 freeway. I have a very close friend who has been a club member of Chateau Margene for a couple of years and has shared with me some of their delicious wines. She is constantly talking about her visit to the estate winery, before the tasting room was opened, so I was thrilled to finally meet Michael and taste some more of his wine. His first offering was his Mooney Family 2009 Pinot Noir, made with fruit sourced from the Vigna Monte Nero Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. This wine, released in April of this year, is a classic, elegant Pinot exhibiting lots of cherry in the nose, anise and tobacco in the palate with a long finish. This was poured with a dish of sea bass on a corn chowder/succotash like sauce with crisp edamames, and topped with micro greens.

Michael’s second wine was served with our last course, which was piquillo peppers stuffed with shredded beef in a robust tomato based ragu.

He explained that his 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was made from 60% estate fruit and that it was comprised of 90% Cab and 10% Merlot. He further explained the extended lees aging, (no racking for 16 months), and that the case production on this wine was 500 cases. He described this intense full bodied wine as having aromas of  black fruit, cassis, cedar, mocha and eucalyptus. I describe it as just plain delicious, and as it opened up in my glass it just kept getting better!

Chateau Margene Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

The second wine celeb is probably better described as part of wine royalty. Christina Turley of Turley Wine Cellars is the daughter of Larry Turley, an ex ER doc who co-founded Frog’s Leap, and the niece of winemaker extraordinaire, Helen Turley. Turley has established itself an an ultra-premium Zinfandel producer and in 2000 purchased the old Pesenti Vineyard in Templeton, where they dry farm 85 year old zin vines. They also have a winery in St Helena and produce Petite Sirah, white Rhone blends and Charbono. The Turleys recently planted 5 acres of what Larry calls “truffle trees” in hopes of producing domestic truffles on their Templeton property.

The first Turley wine we tasted was 100% Rousanne, Rattlesnake Ridge from Howell Mtn in Napa, 2008. This slightly opaque wine had a figgy  nose with good minerality, full mouthfeel and a long, full finish.  This was poured with a salad of arugula, roasted red beets, candied walnuts, pink grapefruit and goat cheese.

Christina poured her 2008 Pesenti Vineyard Zinfandel with seared tuna wrapped in seaweed, batter fried and topped with lotus root chips. This deep garnet wine had a slightly odd nose, but the depth and spice of this full bodied wine made it a delicious choice for the entree.

The third member of the panel, although not a winemaker or winery owner, is a huge celeb in the wine industry for what he has contributed in the way of industry focused social media marketing.  Dare I gush and say that he is my version  of an American Idol, wine/social media style? Yes. I have followed his work and was just thrilled to finally meet him in person. Joel has worked for many prestigious wineries, but for the last 6 years has been at Hope Family Wines in Paso as their Director of Communications. Last year, with the help of Dina Mande of Juice Marketing, he created the video, “What is Wine”, winning first place in the 2010 Wine Spectator video contest. This video just makes me smile every time I watch it and everyone in it is a star of Paso Robles. And as long as you’re going to YouTube, you should have a look at the video introducing  the new wine being released by Hope Family Wines under the label of “Troublemaker”.

Joel’s first wine, also poured with the salad, was the Treana (another Hope Family label and symbolizing the trinity of elements, sun,sea and soil) White 2008, a blend of 55% Marsanne and 45% Viognier. For those of you still not acquainted with white Rhone varietals, grab a bottle of this wine  - drink it as an aperitif or pair it with summer salads, sushi and really any kind of spicy food. The wine has a floral nose and flavors of stone fruits with honey. Very full mouthfeel. Just delicious! His second wine was the Treana Red, a blend of 70% Cabernet and 30% Syrah, all sourced from Paso fruit. Joel told us that this 2008 is the 12th vintage of this wine.This full bodied  wine  had an initial licorice component that I really liked, but the flavor profile continued to evolve as it opened up in the glass. Also great paired with the beef dish.

Michael Mooney, Christina Turley and Joel Peterson

The food was delicious, the wine was amazing and the company was stellar. I should say also that I really enjoyed meeting the other lunch attendees from the media who provided lively conversation about our common passions…food, wine and writing.

After lunch I popped in at the tasting upstairs and said hi to a couple of my favorite wine people from Paso. Aram Deirmenjian of Kiamie Wine Cellars was uncorking his White Kuvée, one of my favorite white Rhone blends. He was truly looking like a rockstar with his new longer hair!

Aram Deirmenjian of Kiamie Wine Cellars

Ted Plemons of Cass Winery was doing what he does best - smiling and pouring wine. I had the pleasure of working with Ted and his wife, Lisa, during the Viognier harvest in 2009. They are just some of the nicest people I have met in Paso and perfect Paso wine ambassadors.

Ted Plemons of Cass Winery

Cass wines being poured at the Stars of Paso Robles - 2011

So if you haven’t visited Paso Robles yet…what are you waiting for? Great people, restaurants, B&B’s, wineries, parks, farmer’s markets, beautiful rolling hills and back roads and some of the most beautiful sunsets ever! And don’t forget the oaks…Paso Robles means “pass of the oaks”, and they dot the vineyards and frame the views everywhere you look. Paso has lots of annual events so check the website, Paso Robles Wine County Alliance, for updates and plenty of info.

I’LL DRINK TO THAT!

In the last couple of weeks I have been able to taste the wines of the world without ever leaving LA. Although I didn’t have to deal with airport lines and security and didn’t have to pack a bag, there is always that nasty 405  to worry about.

Just off the 405 in LA is one of my favorite wine stores, the Wine House. Besides their huge selection of wines from every possible wine region, they also offer some of the best wine classes I’ve attended. The class entitled “Wine Tour of France - The Secret Regions” caught my interest so on a warm April evening I joined about 20 other guests on this tasting journey. Led by Mike Greene, a wine guru I had known from one of my other favorite wine shops in the valley, we tasted some very unusual wines starting with a Savagnin Arbois Jacques Puffeney 2005 from the Jura region of Eastern France. This wine was made from the Savagnin grape in a style that had the sweet, slightly oxidized nose of a Sherry with a long finish of vanilla and smoke. While lighter than a Sherry both in body and color, the food pairing suggested for this wine was chicken breasts cooked in a creamy sauce with morels. I would have loved to try that pairing - by itself I didn’t love the wine.

I did, however, really like the Mondeuse Arbin Domaine Trosset 2009 from the Savoie, located in the Rhone-Alpes region in the French Alps. Mondeuse makes a wine that is like a blend of Gamay and Cab Franc with a cherry Kool Aid bouquet and some well structured tannins. Those tannins were mellowed with some dry cheese and this wine would be a great pour with roast chicken.

With a plate of braised short ribs we sampled a Tannat,Cab Franc, Cab Sauvignon blend from Irouleguy Rouge Domaine, Illarria, 2008 and a 100% Negrette from La Folle Noire d’Ambat Chateau Le Roc, 2009. Until this time the only Negrette I had tasted was in a Port style offering from Roxo Port in Paso Robles. While obviously very different wines, the Negrette is delicious both ways.

My favorite of the night was the Cahors Clos La Coutale, 2009. Named by the locals, “the black wine of Cahor”, this wine is 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot and a great value at just $13.00.

On to Austria, a region I actually knew very little about. May 2 brought Austria Uncorked to the very  LA trendy SLS Hotel. With over 60 wineries represented, this event required some power tasting, but I like to chat with the winemakers and get an education at the same time. With some very heavy accents to get accustomed to I was able to learn some basic facts about the wines of Austria. First and foremost there is Grüner Veltliner, only just now gaining popularity in the US. This white wine, as I tasted, can be made anywhere from light and crisp to rich and full bodied. Any way, this wine offers good acidity and light spice with a bit of white flower. Some of the Gru-Vee’s I tried also had a bit of frizzante, making it just that much more fun for quaffing. This wine can be enjoyed by itself in its lighter form and will hold up to chicken, fish and light sauces in its more full bodied expressions. Generally great pricing on this wine as well. Of course there were Rieslings galore to try and many of them in the form of sweet dessert wines and ice wines. Norbert of the Cheese Store of Beverly Hills was on hand with a great selection of cheeses and suggested a delicious Osterblau to offset the sweetness of the dessert wines. Perfect!

Austria’s most popular red grape is Zweigelt. For the most part I enjoyed these wines, tasting a bit like Pinot Noir - Ruby in color with a fruity nose like cherries, dry on the palate with black fruits, medium tannins and a lengthy, slightly spicy finish.

Another red I became acquainted with was Blaufränkisch. One wine spent 12 months in oak, was complex and spicy with  substantial tannins and another had been made in the Late Harvest style and was delicious without being syrupy and heavy.

As luck would have it, the same hotel was playing host to the “Drink Ribera. Drink Spain” tasting event, so after 2 hours in Austria I walked down the hall to Spain. (Gotta love traveling like this!) The Ribera del Duero, located about two hours north of Madrid, is an area of extreme conditions - high elevation, good rainfall, cold winters and short but hot summers.  Great conditions for growing their flagship grape, Tempranillo, also known as Tinto Fino.  The wines are broken down into 5 classifications. Joven: wines that see little to  no oak and meant to be consumed young. Crianza: Aged at least 2 years, a minimum of 1 year in oak. Reserva: Aged 3 years, a minimum of 1 year in oak. Gran Reserva: Wines of outstanding quality, made in select vintage years only. Aged a minimum of 5 years, with a minimum of 2 years in oak.  Rosado: Rosé wines.

These are bold wines meant to be consumed with food - anything grilled. While pricing runs the gamut, many are value priced and readily available so experiment and try some this summer.

I’LL DRINK TO THAT!

It’s been a busy Spring so far, so I apologize for getting this review out a bit late. This is the second event I’ve attended at the popular Palate Food & Wine in Glendale, California. Steve Goldun, a wine mentor of mine for many years, and his partner Octavio Becerra, have created a hot spot for foodies and wine enthusiasts alike, with the emphasis on creativity served up in a casual way.

With only 20 wineries represented, this event, held April 3, 2011, was small by some tasting event standards, but well attended. In addition to the wines, Hitching Post Restaurant of Buellton was there with owner Frank Ostini at the grill turning out delicious wine tasting “go withs”.

Frank Ostini of Hitching Post Restaurant

Sponsored by the Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance, located in Santa Barbara County, this tasting focused on wineries representing a group of about 55 in total,  growing over 20 wine grape varieties planted on approximately 2500 acres. I love these “focused” tastings as it really gives me the opportunity to taste wines made with fruit from the same vineyards but by different winemakers, explaining their “whys” and hows”.

Kathy Joseph of Fiddlehead Cellars was there pouring her own wines, which were very good. The interesting thing was that there were several other wineries pouring Pinot Noir made from fruit from her Fiddlestix Vineyard. Again, a great opportunity to taste the different ways these wines were made. Of these, Pali Wine Co.’s 08 Pinot Noir, Fiddlestix Vineyard, was my favorite.

It was also a great pleasure to meet Wes Hagen of Clos Pepe. Wes has 28 acres of estate vineyards to work with - 24 are planted to Pinot Noir and 4 to Chardonnay. It was the Chardonnay that stood out for me on this day. While I really enjoyed the Chablis style 09 Estate Chardonnay, Barrel Fermented, it was their 2000 Estate Chardonnay, “Homage to Chablis” that stood out and was the most intriguing wine of the day. Not having tasted many 10 year old chardonnays to begin with, I was amazed at the fact that it not only had held up, but in fact had aged beautifully into a complex, multi-layered gem.

Xochitl with Wes Hagen of Clos Pepe

I very much enjoyed meeting newcomers Kessler-Haak Wines and tasting their inaugural releases of 08 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from their estate vineyards. Congratulations to Dan and Ellen Kessler, owners and winemakers.

So when you’re out there in your favorite wine shop looking for something new to try, think about exploring a specific area. It’s always interesting…..

I’LL DRINK TO THAT !