PERLIS PICKS: THE GARAGISTE FESTIVAL [Part Two]

August 11, 2018 by Michael Perlis Leave a Comment

Last week I gave you an introduction to the latest Garagiste Festival held in Santa Monica. Here now are some comments about the wines Karen and I enjoyed.

Ascension Cellars – winemaker Erick Allen continues to make consistently high quality wines from Paso Robles grapes. Primarily Rhone varietals, my favorites were the 2017 Siren Rose, the 2016 Enchantress Rhone White blend and the 2014 Trinity GSM blend.

Byron Blatty Wines – committed to making wines sourced from Los Angeles County vineyards, owners Mark & Jenny Blatty along with winemakers Steve Lemley & Nate Hasper (more on them below) are making some remarkable wines. The two wines listed in the program were poured recently at the Wine On The Roof event in Santa Clarita, so I didn’t taste those this time. But the other two that Mark Blatty poured were excellent as well –the 2016 Agenda (primarily Syrah with a little Tannat) and the 2016 Pragmatic (Malbec with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot).

Caliza Winery – Carl Bowker has been making his small production Rhones in Paso Robles for about ten years now and he has certainly got it down. I tasted his wines recently at Hospice du Rhone but I did try his two 2017 bottlings this time, the Pink GSM and the Kissin’ Cousins White Rhone Blend. Both were delicious, as was my revisit of the 2013 Estate Grenache.

Domane Kreger – this winery is based in Lancaster, CA and sources grapes from Santa Barbara County and Paso Robles. I really liked their 2014 Syrah and 2013 Tempranillo.

Dusty Nabor Wines – Dusty not only gets my vote for coolest winemaker name but is making excellent wines in Westlake Village from Central Coast grapes. He was pouring several wines but my favorite was his 2016 Grenache from Paso Robles.

Hoi Polloi Wines – Doug Minnick is not only one of the founders of the Garagiste Festivals but is one of the owners/winemakers of this winery with a tasting room in downtown Newhall. They have the distinction of making Karen’s all-time favorite Rose and the rest of the wines are pretty great too. The 2016 “Blue Velvet” Syrah from the iconic Larner Vineyard was a standout for me.

Leverage Wines – Paso Robles gets a lot of love at Garagiste and here is another one, focusing on Rhones [which always works for me]. Excellent 2017 Grenache Rose and 2015 Trajectory GSM.

Marin’s Vineyard – This Monterey County winery specializes in Syrah and Viognier. They do a pretty nice Malbec too. We’re talking Southern Monterey County, so think Paso as opposed to cool weather styles.

Mastro Scheidt – sourcing grapes from Sonoma and Mendocino counties, owner/winemaker David Scheidt makes delicious Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc as well as a Super Tuscan blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. And his Cabernet Sauvignons are pretty tasty too.

Monochrome Wines – I’m just going to say it: It takes balls to make only white wine in red wine country. Since I was focusing primarily on reds I almost skipped it. Fortunately, Karen insisted I try the wines. As usual…um, always…she was right. Especially loved the 2016 blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Marsanne as well as the 2016 blend of Marsanne and Chardonnay. They are pouring in Paso’s Tin City now and I highly recommend you check them out. We intend to.

Pulchella Winery – the men, the myths, the legends. Winemakers Steve Lemley and Nate Hasper put the Santa Clarita Valley wine scene on the map. Not ones to rest on their laurels, they just keep getting better, especially for me the 2015 Tannat.

Record Family Wines – with wines now being made by Jeff Strekas [of Onx] this Paso Robles winery is poised to break out big. The 2017 Grenache Rose was my favorite, but the others showed the capabilities of the family’s vineyard as well.

Stolo Family Vineyards – based in Cambria, this coastal winery produces wines more similar to Sonoma Coast’s style as opposed to nearby Paso Robles. The 2016 Estate Syrah and the 2015 Estate Hillside Reserve Syrah were both great examples of cool climate wines.

Sweetzer Cellars – An excellent example of consumers turned winemakers and named after the street they lived on in West Hollywood, I really enjoyed the 2017 Rose of Grenache as well as the 2016 Grenache from the Central Coast.

TLO Wines – good news for Bakersfield residents and those not far from there: TLO is opening a tasting room just for you. I especially liked the 2016 blend of Tempranillo, Syrah and Mourvedre as well as the 2014 Reserve Syrah.

TW Fermentation Co. – I’m admittedly more of a Rhone and Zin guy, but this Paso Robles winery is selling me on Paso Cab with the 2012-2014 vertical of Straight Cab as well as their 2014 Bordeaux blend.

Wildwood Oak Winery – it was nice to see some Lodi representation. Anita and Tony Matlock source their grapes from there; the winery is in Redlands. I enjoyed the 2016 “Dancing Queen” Syrah from the Abba Vineyard [get it?].

As I mentioned above, there were almost 50 wineries pouring so I if I didn’t mention a winery I probably didn’t get to it this time.

To bring this article full circle [see Part One], I haven’t read anywhere as to whether Jonathan Gold had an opinion about The Garagiste Festival. I like to think he would have approved. Not sure what he’d think of this article though. He was once quoted [tongue in cheek?] as saying: “Wine writing is what food writers do when their knees start to go.”

Michael Perlis has been pursuing his passion for wine for more than 25 years. He has had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show him the way, as well as a wonderful wife who encourages him and shares his interest. After a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as he possibly could, he had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Now, as Contributing Editor for Eve’s Wine 101, he does his best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers. Michael is also Vice President of Eve Bushman Consulting (fka Eve’s Wine 101 Consulting) http://evebushmanconsulting.com/ and President of MCP Financial. Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com or michael@evebushmanconsulting.com.

Vintage Eve Circa 7/2015: Tasting Treana

July 31, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Paso Robles’ Hope Family Wines has several wines in its cache: Liberty School, Cando, Troublemaker, Hope and Treana. This wouldn’t be the first time I’ve tried Treana, but it would be the first for me to try three from their newly released 2013 vintage. Check it out:

Tasting

Aromas and flavors separated by ;

2013 Chardonnay, Central Coast

100% Chardonnay, 14.5% alcohol

14k gold color, followed by a nose full of orange zest, tangerine, lemon preserves and lightly toasted oak; on the mouth I got orange slices, mango, lemon, white pepper, rye toast, with low acid and a medium finish. Would be nice with grilled halibut in a lemon pepper sauce, or cooked on a cedar plank. 87 Eve pts.

2013 White Wine, Central Coast

50% Marsanne, 50% Viognier, 14.5% alcohol

The color of a pale yellow rose with aromas that reminded me of pears, peaches, honey and hard lemon candy; flavors of pears in light syrup, peach, green apple, with medium acid and a rich viscosity. Would pair well with a fatty/oily fish, hard cheeses or a fruit tart. 88 Eve pts.

2013 Treana Red, Paso Robles

75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Syrah, 15% alcohol

Dark blackberry-colored and full aromas of that same blackberry followed in quick procession by cigar smoke, black licorice, black olive, stems and dust; silky, dusty, peppery, blackberry jam held together with firm tannins. Try it with filet and grilled mushrooms, BBQ ribs, a meat lover’s pizza and German chocolate cake. 89 Eve pts.

About the Hope Family

The Hope family has been farming in Paso Robles for more than 30 years. When they arrived in this barely discovered region, they planted apples and grapes. Little did they know that the rolling, oak-studded terrain of Paso Robles would one day become viticultural terroir of significance and one of the top winegrowing regions for quality red wine within the Central Coast.

Gone are the apple orchards. Today, the Hopes cultivate mature vineyards of the varieties best suited to their area including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Mourvedre and Grenache. Vine density has increased and each vine is asked to produce very little fruit. The terroir of this domain expresses itself in its unique regional character. Regardless of the varieties planted, the expression of Paso Robles is displayed in the glass with spice, licorice and berry in the nose, soft textures and silky tannins on the palate.

Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years. She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a guest judge for the L.A. International Wine Competition. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Frank Ostini Announces Hitching Post’s First Tasting Room to Open in July

June 10, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

BUELLTON, California – Frank Ostini, owner/chef of the Hitching Post 2 in Buellton, California, announces he has acquired the lease for 420 East Highway 246, also in Buellton, a property adjacent to the restaurant. Hitching Post Wines is expected to open its first- ever wine tasting room at the location in July 2018. Hitching Post 2 restaurant is also developing a take-out/delivery concept to offer a limited lunch menu at the new Hitching Post tasting room and picnic grounds.

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From Hitching Post II Restaurant’s Facebook page.

“Buellton has been our home base for Hitching Post Wines since 1986, and we are thrilled to now have a location that can focus on wine tasting and retail sales in the center of Santa Barbara Wine Country,” says Chef and Winemaker Frank Ostini.

Frank Ostini and Gray Hartley first made wine in 1979. The Hitching Post brand was born in 1984. They have made these wines at Au Bon Climat/Qupe, Central Coast Wine Services and Terravant Wine Company in Buellton with a primary focus on Pinot Noir from many of the finest vineyards in the Santa Rita Hills and the Santa Maria Valley. Winemaker Gray Hartley adds, “In this new location we are excited to feature many of our rare single-vineyard bottlings and special older vintages of Hitching Post Wines.”

Winemakers Gray Hartley and Frank Ostini | photo credit Jeremy Ball

ABOUT HITCHING POST WINES:

Hitching Post Wines are the creation of Gray Hartley and Frank Ostini, two friends that have been making wines in Santa Barbara County, California since 1979. Long before Hollywood discovered the winemaking landmark and its great wines, Gray Hartley, a former Alaskan salmon fisherman and Frank Ostini, the chef and owner of the famed Hitching Post 2 Restaurant in Buellton, were brought together through their love of wine and winemaking. Over the years their backyard hobby has turned into a highly acclaimed winemaking enterprise. In 1981 they discovered the wonder of Pinot Noir grapes; since then Pinot has been their primary focus. A great example of these wines is the Hitching Post Highliner. The “Highliner” is the best fishermen in the fleet, and this name honors the great men of the Alaskan Salmon Fishery alongside whom Gray Hartley worked for 28 years. A special wine, Highliner is meant to be the “best of their fleet” of Pinot Noirs. Along with ten selections of Pinot Noir, Hitching Post produces a dry Rosé called Pinks, a Syrah, and a Merlot-based blend named Gen Red.

Then came Sideways in 2004, the Academy Award® winning film set in Santa Barbara wine country, prominently featuring The Hitching Post 2 and Hitching Post Wines. Since Sideways exposure in the film, Hitching Post wines have gained in popularity. Currently, the winery has 1200 barrels and produces about 17,000 cases a year. Hartley and Ostini strive to create flavorful handcrafted wines that possess poise and balance, putting a slice of Santa Barbara in each glass, and a piece of their soul in every bottle of Hitching Post. Hitching Post Wines are enjoyed by an audience that reaches around the globe who admire Santa Barbara wines for their lively refreshing fruit, and their complexities of earth and spice. Hitching Post Wines are produced by Hartley Ostini Vintners, Buellton, California.

Perlis Picks: Hospice du Rhône [Part One]

June 9, 2018 by Michael Perlis Leave a Comment

INTRODUCTION

Over the years that I’ve been writing for Eve’s Wine 101, I’ve probably used the expression “if you only attend one event per year” often enough that it’s become almost a cliché.

Now I can say “if you only attend one event every two years, this is the one you should attend.”

GUIGAL

Hospice du Rhône is, per their website, “…a non-profit business league with the specific purpose of improving the business conditions of the grape growers and wine producers of Rhône variety wines and grapes throughout the world. We serve as an international vintners association, providing promotional and educational opportunities.”

Based on California’s Central Coast, HdR holds regular events at Blackberry Farm in Tennessee and last year participated in Découvertes en Vallée du Rhône in France’s Rhone Valley. Every two years, HdR brings it all back home to Paso Robles for a multi-day extravaganza to showcase wines made from Rhône grapes, not just from local wineries but from international ones as well.

I write a lot about Rhône varieties. Other than Zinfandel, the Rhônes are where my palate usually takes me. For a refresher, there are 22 Rhône varieties, called as such due to their origins in France’s Rhône Valley. Most well-known of these for the reds would be Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre and for the whites Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne and Grenache Blanc. If you’re interested, you can see the entire list here.

The most recent HdR event in Paso Robles took place April 26^th through April 28^that the Paso Robles Event Center. Attendees had options of attending seminars, onsite lunches, grand tastings, offsite dinners, or the onsite farewell dinner, in any combination. Most popular seemed to be the purchase of the weekend pass which gave the pass holder all seminars, both lunches, both grand tastings as well as the farewell dinner. Individual event tickets could also be purchased a la carte.

THE SEMINARS

The schedule of events covered by the weekend pass spanned Friday April 27^th and Saturday April 28^th. But the fun actually started on Thursday April 26^th with a group of seminars held at the nearby Paso Robles Inn. Not included with the weekend pass, these seminars could be purchased individually by those who were looking for a true immersion experience. Called the Focus 22 [after the 22 Rhone grape varieties] Master Classes, each of the three seminars focused on a different region producing Rhone-style wines.

Unfortunately, Karen and I were unable to attend the first two of these Master Classes, but they definitely looked interesting, featuring wineries and regions that I did not have much familiarity with.

The first was called Elevating Arizona: Height Matters, presented by Todd Bostock of Dos Cabezas WineWorks and Maynard Keenan of Caduceus Cellars and the second was The Rhône Rocketeers from Walla Walla, presented by Ali Mayfield of The Walls Vineyard, Billo Naravane of Rasa Vineyards, Steve Robertson of Delmas, Todd Alexander of Force Majeure and Dr. Kevin R. Pogue of VinTerra Consulting. Both classes were moderated by esteemed wine critic Jeb Dunnuck of JebDunnuck.com.

We did make it into town for the third Master Class, and I was definitely glad that we did. I suppose it would be technically incorrect to say that this class was also about a region that produces Rhône-style wines as we got to learn about the Rhone Valley itself: Romancing the Rhônes of Rhône Valley. Presented by Eileen Fabunan of Rhône Valley Wines along with Jeb Dunnuck, we got the opportunity to learn about the Rhône Valley and taste eight wines in total from both the North and South Rhône Valley. This was great for someone like me as I have had limited exposure to Rhônes other than those from California.

The HdR event officially kicked off bright and early Friday morning with Seminar One | South Africa’s Cinsault Renaissance. Moderated by Lauren Buzzeo of Wine Enthusiast, the presenters were Ryan Mostert of Silwervis, Andrea Mullineux of, Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines, Tremayne Smith of The Blacksmith and Danie Steytler of Kaapzicht Wine Estate.

Tasting through nine wines in various styles made from a grape that is usually [but not always] a blending grape in California was pretty interesting and gave additional exposure to a wine region that is still little known to many.

The second seminar on Friday was Seminar Two | A 6th Generation Crusade in the Barossa Valley. This seminar was moderated by Chuck Hayward of Vinroads and the presenters were Adrian Hoffmann of Hoffmann Vineyards, Paul Heinecke of Soul Growers, Russell Johnstone of RBJ Vintners, Chris Ringland of North Barossa Vintners Collaboration and Michael Twelftree of Two Hands Winery & Twelftree.

Karen and I used to drink a lot more Australian wine than we do now, so this was especially fun, made more so by the nine wines we tasted all being from one vineyard owned and managed by Adrian Hoffmann, a man as dedicated to growing great wine grapes as the winemakers making the wine.

Not to take anything away from any of the other sessions, Saturday morning’s first seminar was probably the one I was most excited about. Titled Seminar Three | Lost and Found: Old Vine Rhônes Across California, it was presented by Morgan Twain-Peterson, MW of Bedrock Wine Company and Tegan Passalacqua of Turley Wine Cellars and Sandlands. Tegan and Morgan are also two of the founding members of the Historic Vineyard Society, an organization near and dear to my heart and one that I have written about in the past. We got to learn about and taste through 10 wines from nine of these old vineyards. Some of the wines were made by Tegan, some by Morgan, but there were also wines made by Pax Mahle, Angela Osborne, Bruce Neyers and Ian Brand as well as two of my person favorites, Mike Officer of Carlisle and Joel Peterson of Once & Future Wines.

It was time for the final seminar of this year’s Hospice du Rhône event, Seminar Four | The Majesty of Guigal, kind of taking us full circle back to the Rhône valley and learn about this great winery and taste 11 of the wines made there.

Read more about the Paso Robles HdR event in my next article.

North of the Gate Wine Competition Announces Award Winning Wines

May 30, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

PETALUMA, Calif. (PRWEB) – Of the 302 wines entered in the North of the Gate Wine Competition in Petaluma, California an unprecedented 294 were honored with awards. And yet despite the overall quality of the wines entered, this year’s esteemed judging panel of 12 had no trouble at all selecting just one overall winner. This year’s Best of Show was awarded to Lewis Grace’s 2015 Petite Sirah, which also won Best of Show Red, Best of Class, Best of El Dorado County, and a Double Gold award.

The North of the Gate Wine Competition, produced by the Sonoma-Marin Fair held June 20-24, 2018, is known for attracting high end luxury wines. Competing wines come from grapes grown in the wonderful Sierra Foothills all across Northern California to the beautiful California Coast. We have the consistently best wine producing regions in the world. More and more varietals are being grown and this year the judges had a difficult time awarding the best wines since so many were exceptional.

Not only is the competition one of the oldest to include all of Northern California’s unique wine regions, but it also has one of the highest esteemed judging panels. This year four panels of professional wine judges met on April 26 to determine which would be worthy of their accolades.

The Best of Show White Wine was a racey 2017 Albarino from Imagery Estate Winery with bright acidity that enhances its peach and citrus flavors. It has won top awards at many wine competitions and should not be missed.

Rosé wines are making a come back and just in time for summer. This wine judging category has exploded and the Best of Show Rosé Wine was a beautifully colored 2017 Rosé of Pinot Noir made by Rodney Strong Vineyards. It is fresh and vibrant with aromas of strawberry and white peach as well as fresh acidity and a lasting juicy finish.

The Best of Show Red Wine also won the top award: Best of Show Wine, highlighting the incredible wine-making skills of two brothers: Trevor and Tyler Grace from the El Dorado region. Their 2015 Lewis Grace Petite Sirah steps out with an intense maroon color and an equally complex boysenberry and cedar nose. The friendly pomegranate opening and chocolate finish complement it’s characteristic peppery kick.

Winery owner Steve Grace received this highly coveted accolade humbly by sharing, “we are more than thrilled with the results. While it is a small competition compared to some, the judging panel is superb and it’s great to have exposure to that group.”

Case in point, last year Grace Patriot Wines received multiple awards including the Sweepstakes Award for their 2016 El Dorado Rosé of Pinot Noir.

Among the best by county this year were Brassfield Estate Winery 2016 Sauvignon Blanc for Best of Lake County, Handley Cellars 2015 Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir for Best of Mendocino County, My Italian Cousin 2015 Eugenio for Best of Napa County, Oak Farm Vineyards 2016 Tievoli for Best of San Joaquin County, Grindstone Wines 2017 Rosé of Syrah for Best of Colusa County, Lewis Grace 2017 Torrontes was Best for Sacramento County, and Schug Carneros Estate Winery 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon for Best of Sonoma County.

For a complete list of this year’s North of the Gate Wine Competition winners and more information on this year’s judging panel, please visit sonoma-marinfair.org.

Wine tasting of the top medal winners will be available during the Sonoma-Marin Fair in the beautifully landscaped Wine Garden. The best of the best will be poured on Saturday, June 23 during the fair’s annual Taste of the North Gate. Guests can mingle with wine makers, enjoy live music, and partake in a cheese and chocolate pairing. A separate ticket will be required and available for purchase at the gate the day of and in advance online.

The 2018 Sonoma-Marin Fair will be taking the summer fun “Beyond the Milky Way” from June 20-24, 2018. Enjoy 5 fun-filled days of FREE concerts, unlimited carnival rides, the World’s Ugliest Dog ® Contest, action-packed Pit Stop USA Sprint Car Racing, fun games & contests, delicious fair food, and more. For details, visit sonoma-marinfair.org or call (707) 283-3247. Be the first to know about all of the fun by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Plan for an out of this world experience!

Discover Your Wild Side in Cambria

May 23, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

CAMBRIA, Calif. (PRWEB) – Spring is on the way and with wildflowers blooming across the Central Coast, a wild weekend getaway is just the thing to spring for. With a fresh infusion of hoteliers, winemakers, brewers, restaurateurs, fitness instructors, and artists—along with some old-school dive bar fun—Cambria has everything for the perfect weekend with the girlfriends. You just have to know where to go to find the wildflower in you.

Stolo On day one of visitor’s wildflower weekend, they can sip on some wine and taste some beer, rock out to live music, eat pie, and indulge. In other words, treat themselves. Use day two of the weekend to relax and renew. Visitors can eat healthy, do a little yoga, take in the beautiful natural surroundings, and meditate on a great weekend of wildflower fun. By the time visitors leave Cambria, they’ll have had the perfect combination of wildflower fun and relaxation.

Day One: Get wild like the flowers!

Morning:
Stop for a steaming cup of coffee and a deliciously warm morning snack at the Cambria Coffee Roasting Company. The gourmet and specialty coffees offered at this quaint, local hotspot are roasted in-house, meaning visitors have likely never tasted fresher brews. Indulge in a tour of the decadent Hearst Castle. Only six miles north of Cambria lies Hearst Castle, overlooking the Pacific Ocean from atop the Santa Lucia Mountains. Craftsmen labored for nearly 28 years to create this grand estate, named after media mogul William Randolph Hearst.

Midday:
Fuel up for the wild night ahead and grab a monstrous sandwich or burger at the Café on Bridge Street. The Café is the perfect stop for inexpensive lunch fare, with sandwiches, salads and soups that everyone will love. Tucked away in a charming corner off the main thoroughfare, this eatery is an ideal lunchtime escape. Visitors can grab-and-go or sit down and enjoy. Later, embark on a walk along the Meander Trail to enjoy nature’s display of beautiful wildflowers before revving up for the rest of the evening. Wind along the wildflowers with this west-to-east, uphill trail that meanders from Marine Terrace Trail and connects to Ridge and Forest Loop Trails. Enjoy wide open space with Pacific Ocean views.

Afternoon:
Head east through the winding hills on Santa Rosa Creek Road for fine wine tasting at Stolo Family Vineyards. Sitting at the base of a sun-kissed nine-acre vineyard, the farmhouse and old dairy barn at Stolo Family Vineyards dates back to the late 1800s. Less than three miles from the Pacific Ocean, the vineyards thrive in Cambria’s unique microclimate, producing unmatched coastal-style Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. After wine tasting, pick up some signature sweet homemade pie or jam at Linn’s Fruit Bin. When it comes to dessert, visitors won’t want to miss Linn’s olallieberry pie. It’s a Cambria specialty, and incredibly popular, for good reason—it’s delicious! You can get pies, as well as all kinds of olallieberry delicacies, at the variety of Linn’s stores in town.

Evening:
Visitors can check into their lodging property and freshen up for a wild night out. Then, sip on an ice-cold beer at 927 Brewing Company. Sample some of the delicious brews offered by 927 Beer Company. They serve up some serious suds like Toyon, Mudhoney Oatmeal Stout, Nit Wit Wheat, Old #23 Robust Porter and Dakota Pale Ale. Stop in at the Black Cat Bistro for dinner. Simply elegant and sumptuously delicious, this intimate eatery opened in 2002 and has been the talk of the town ever since. Sample unusual appetizers, farm-fresh entrees and decadent desserts as visitors drink the regional wines that are central to the chef’s expression. Don’t miss the locally- sourced abalone from Cayucos.

Night:
Let the fun continue with drinks and dancing at Mozzi’s, Cambria’s historic biker bar. Established in 1866, Mozzi’s Saloon is the only historic biker bar in Cambria. Completely remodeled in 2007 with the original ambiance of yesteryear—full bar, live music, pool and snooker tables, friendly atmosphere, and bar menu—Mozzi’s has it all.

Day 2: Relax, renew, and detox!

Morning:
Visitors can clear their palette with a healthy and light breakfast at Centrally Grown. This restaurant nestled in the hills along the coast has edible gardens, custom sculptures, sustainable water features, and ocean-view patios, not to mention delicious food and a rustic vibe. Then, clear the mind with a yoga class on Moonstone Beach. Start the morning meditating on a wonderful weekend while listening to the calming ambiance of the waves gently lapping the shores of the Central Coast. Yoga on Moonstone Beach offers visitors the ultimate relaxation. After yoga, enjoy the breeze off the Pacific Ocean while taking a walk along the Bluff Trail at Fiscalini Ranch. At the main entrance to Fiscalini Ranch, the one-mile Bluff Trail boardwalk meanders above the coastal bluff from Windsor Boulevard. This scenic trail offers spectacular ocean views and is a good place to spot native wildlife, seabirds, migrating whales, sea otters and other marine life.

Midday:
Enjoy fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, and Instagram-worthy salads at Sandy’s Deli. This quaint deli and bakery is conveniently located in the heart of Cambria. Or enjoy an out-of-the-box health food option at Soto’s True Earth Market. Browse the shelves at Soto’s and curb cravings with fresh fruits and vegetables, cured meats, unique cheeses, and a variety of sandwiches. Grab whatever the heart (and stomach) desires, take it to-go, and enjoy on Moonstone Beach.

Evening:
Dine on light, global fare at Robin’s Restaurant, followed by a walk through the village, enjoying the breeze as you window shop. Robin’s is known for its creative international fare, farm-to-table selections, and charming atmosphere. It’s located in a historic building, but you’ll likely be distracted by the incredible food and wine selection.

Night:
The detox is complete! Spend the rest of the night relaxing and fall asleep early to the calming sound of the Pacific Ocean. No matter what visitors choose to do on their wildflower weekend getaway, Cambria has something for everyone. So, grab your girls, grab your wine, and get wild.

Vintage Eve Circa 1/2015: What’s Happening in Our Local Bonded Winery?

March 27, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

If you live anywhere in the Santa Clarita Valley, and you are into wine, you probably already know that we have a wine tasting room in downtown Newhall. You might even know that we have a licensed and bonded winery in the Valencia industrial center. But did you know that our only winery has become a home for many commercial and non-commercial wineries…many of which use our local winemakers as consultants? Maybe even up to 15 wineries?

The “unbreakable” Pulchella glasses, photo credit: Rick Lott

Yes, this is the growth that local winemakers Steve Lemley and Nate Hasper have seen since opening their TWO doors. You can taste Paso Robles wine at Pulchella Winery Thursday through Saturday evenings, and make an appointment to see the SCV Winery facility if you would like to make your own wine.

And to help you get started I asked Steve Lemley to give readers an update:

EB: Steve, please tell us a little (because I know you do a lot) about what you do at the winemaking facility.

SL: Nate and I fuel our passion and produce all of Pulchella Winery’s allocations here along with working with 15 other wineries as their consulting winemaker to produce their wine labels as well. Producing wines in small lots from fruit sourced primarily from the central coast. We are super excited to have invested in state of the art equipment, expanded the operation and opened it up to a select group of other wineries and vineyard owners who share our stylistic approach to winemaking.

EB: And do we get to taste the fruits of your effort in your Newhall tasting room? Tell us about your current releases and if club memberships are available.

SL: Absolutely! Pulchella Winery’s current releases are poured in our tasting room Thursday through Saturday from 5pm to 10pm without any appointment needed. We are currently pouring 8 wines. In spring, we will release the next allocation, which we are by far the proudest of as we have had time to focus the brand and make some really solid wines. Our wine club has recently re-opened to new members, which offers just two allocations a year, 20% off all purchases, free tastings and more. For a full list of current and upcoming wine releases, visit our website.

EB: How about a story of something funny that has happened during your years of winemaking…something wannabe winemakers might be interested in.

SL: We get asked a lot how the Westside Paso Robles, Cerro Prieto vineyard Pinot Noir named “Deadbeat”, fell into our program. In spring 2013 we took on a project with a new client and were asked to source some of the best quality Pinot Noir from the Paso Robles Willow Creek area. Making an extensive amount of Pinot Noir for clients in the past, we took the challenge and poured our hearts, souls and wallets into the project just to have the client inform us a few months later that he could not continue and would not be able to pay for any of the fruit and barrels. Given that we sourced and paid for the fruit, produced the wine and designed the barrel program for it, it only seemed right to release it under Pulchella Winery’s label and see what everyone thought. The now past client got the wine named after him and it was loved by everyone so much that it has now become a staple in our portfolio of wines.

EB: Can you give us an update on the vines you and Nate helped plant at College of the Canyons?

SL: For the last two years Nate and I have also expanded our operation to include full scale vineyard management for many of our clients. Donating our time as full time vineyard consultants for College Of The Canyons is a dream come true for us. The college shares a vision with us and the fruits of everyone’s labor is starting to take shape.

After the 50 year old zinfandel transplant project was completed, we have planted another zinfandel block and have completed the architectural design and installation of yet another Syrah block. We have had a 100% success rate with the vineyard and are very proud to have been given the freedom to establish an infrastructure that will offer a very complex curriculum of viticulture and enology in the future for COC students. We will continue to manage the project until COC has a program in place to take it over.

EB: What do you and Nate see for the future?

SL: It’s easy to increase production but we want to honor the support we have and will not increase our production so that we can offer the same quality wines year after year to everyone who supports us. We will continue to focus our brand and dedicate every waking moment to increasing the quality of our wines and the wines we produce for our clients.

Santa Clarita will soon have other very high quality brands to enjoy and we are humbled to be involved with the vision and production of them. Visit our website or come visit us in the tasting room and see what’s down our dirt road of passion.

The winery tasting room is located at: 24261 Main Street in the Old town Newhall historical district. (91321). For current tasting room hours, please call our tasting room at 661-799-wine. Closed most major holidays.

http://www.pulchellawinery.com

Customerservice@PulchellaWinery.com

Steve Lohr Named 2017 Paso Robles Wine Industry Person of the Year

January 25, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Steve Lohr, photo New York Times

(Paso Robles, CA) Each year Paso Robles Wine Country comes together to recognize one of their own who has exemplified the spirit of the Paso Robles wine community with outstanding leadership and vision in promoting the region. On Friday, January 19, Steve Lohr, CEO of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines received the 2017 Paso Robles Wine Industry Person of the Year award at the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance’s annual winter gathering.

A tireless advocate for the Central Coast, Steve has played an important role in introducing the wines of Paso Robles to a global audience, while championing practices that have established the California wine industry at the forefront of sustainable farming.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award,” says Steve Lohr. “I also know that what we have achieved here in Paso Robles has been accomplished collectively. We are a community of independently spirited individuals who have come together to realize the potential of this remarkable place. Working side by side, we have achieved levels of quality that would have been undreamed of just a few decades ago, and established Paso Robles as one of the world’s great wine regions.”

Steve has emerged as a visionary second-generation leader, culminating in his being named CEO of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines in 2013. During his tenure, Steve has helped build one of California’s most acclaimed estate programs, spanning more than 3,700 sustainably certified acres, including over 2,300 acres in Paso Robles. He has also cemented J. Lohr’s position as an industry leader, supporting pioneering viticultural research, building the wine industry’s largest photovoltaic solar tracking array, and as an early adopter of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) certification program.

Working locally, nationally, and internationally on behalf of Paso Robles and the American wine industry, Steve has also held several other important positions. A three-time past chairman of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance (PRWCA), Steve worked with 57 vintners and growers on the petition process that established the region’s 11 AVAs, while leading the charge to ensure conjunctive labeling. Today, Steve is the chair of both the CSWA and Wine Institute (the only person to ever hold both positions simultaneously). At Wine Institute, Steve brings together the resources of 1,000 wineries to support legislative and regulatory advocacy, market development, media relations, scientific research and education.

Steve Lohr was nominated and named the 2017 Paso Robles Wine Industry Person by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance membership which represents 450+ companies including wineries, vineyards, and associated businesses. Steve will be recognized by industry colleagues at the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance’s Annual Gala on Friday, January 19 at the Park Ballroom at 6 p.m. This event is open to members of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance and members of the media wishing to cover the event.

The Alliance’s Annual Gala hosts members of Paso Robles’ wine community with elected officials and representatives from national, state, and local offices on hand to commemorate the honor. Also set to take place is the installation of the Alliance’s 2018 Board of Directors.

Board of Directors Installation
This evening officially marks the “handing of the gavel” as Jason Yeager assumes the Chairman of the Board position and the Alliance recognizes outgoing Board Members. The incoming Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Board of Directors and Executive Team are as follows:

Jason Yeager – Chairman, Niner Wine Estates
Jason Haas – Vice Chairman, Tablas Creek Vineyard
Austin Hope – Secretary, Treana And Hope Family Wines
Sarah Kramer – Treasurer, Umpqua Bank
Tyler Russell – Director, Cordant|Nelle
Molly Scott – Director, Justin Vineyards & Winery
Bob Tillman – Director, Alta Colina Vineyards & Winery
Faith Wells – Director, Hospice Du Rhone
Jon Winstead – Director, Vineyard Professional Services

ABOUT PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance represents wineries, growers, and businesses in Paso Robles Wine Country. Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along California’s Central Coast, Paso Robles Wine Country encompasses more than 40,000 vineyard acres and 200 wineries. For more information, visit www.pasowine.com. @PasoRoblesWine, #pasowine

2018 World of Pinot Noir Tickets on Sale

January 21, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Santa Barbara, Calif. – The World of Pinot Noir (WOPN), the wine world’s foremost organization dedicated to advancing and celebrating Pinot Noir, has officially released tickets for its marquee event taking place March 2-3, 2018 at the seaside Ritz-Carlton Bacara in sunny Santa Barbara. Tickets can be viewed and purchased at WorldofPinotNoir.com.

The WOPN Board of Directors are proud to announce Joshua Greene, editor of Wine & Spirits Magazine, will lead a tasting seminar exploring the rich and exciting link between Oregon’s Pinot Noir and Burgundy; David Glancy, a Master Sommelier and founder of the San Francisco Wine School, will guide WOPN’s popular Burgundy tasting seminar; and Matt Kettmann, contributing editor at Wine Enthusiast magazine, will host a panel tasting of the 92-plus scoring Pinot Noirs from the preeminent cool-climate vineyards in California’s exciting Central Coast.

On pace to be the largest and most well-attended event in the organization’s 18-year history, the 2018 World of Pinot Noir will include two full days of pairing dinners prepared by renown chefs, Pinot Noir parties, two Grand Tastings featuring more than 250 premier Pinot Noir wineries from around the globe, and additional expert-led seminars.

There are multiple ways for Pinot Noir fans and aficionados to take part in the events throughout the weekend.

This first wave of tickets include all-access Weekend Passes, Day Passes, Grand Tasting tickets, and tickets for marquee seminars and lunches.

Currently available tickets include:

WEEKEND PASS
Includes an invitation to the Opening Night Celebration March 1; admission to the Friday and Saturday Tasting Seminars & Luncheons; VIP Admission to the Friday and Saturday Grand Tastings; and Pinot Noir Pairing Dinners on Friday and Saturday evenings.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY SINGLE-DAY PASSES

Includes admission to the day’s Tasting Seminar & Luncheon, VIP Admission to the day’s Grand Tasting, and a Pinot Noir Pairing Dinner.

FRIDAY SEMINAR & LUNCHEON: Exploring the Oregon-Burgundy Connection

Joshua Greene, Editor of Wine & Spirits Magazine, will lead a winemaker panel discussion and tasting that explores Oregon’s deep and growing ties to Burgundy, and the how this is influencing the current and future state of this exciting New World region. The seminar includes a three-course Pinot Noir-paired lunch prepared by the Ritz-Carlton Bacara culinary team, with wine service by World of Pinot Noir Sommeliers.

SATURDAY BURGUNDY SEMINAR & LUNCHEON: Tasting Through The Best of Burgundy

Founder of the San Francisco Wine School and Master Sommelier David Glancy – along with a panel of Burgundy experts and winemakers – will lead a fun and educational tasting of some of the most notable producers and most acclaimed vintages from France’s famed Pinot Noir region, and will discuss the varying classification systems of Burgundy’s sub-regions, their history, trends and the changing roles of growers and negociants. The seminar includes a three-course Pinot Noir-paired lunch prepared by the Ritz-Carlton Bacara culinary team, with wine service by World of Pinot Noir Sommeliers.

FRIDAY CENTRAL COAST SEMINAR: Discover the Cool Climate Terroirs of the Central Coast
Wine Enthusiast magazine’s contributing editor, and Central Coast expert, Matt Kettmann, will explore Pinot Noirs from the varied preeminent cool-climate terroirs of the vast Central Coast. Along with a panel of acclaimed winemakers, Kettmann will guide the tasting of award-winning wines he scored 92 points or above.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY VIP GRAND TASTINGS (Early Bird pricing through Nov. 5)
This exclusive VIP ticket provides you with early entry to the Ritz-Carlton Bacara’s Grand Ballroom, where you’ll be able to meet winemakers, be the first to bid on silent auction items, and taste through hundreds of Pinot Noir producers from around the world. Several other exclusive VIP experiences will be announced soon.

For more information about the World of Pinot Noir, please visit WorldofPinotNoir.com. Members of the media interested in covering the annual event, please contact mike@solterrastrategies.com.

About The World of Pinot Noir

WOPN, a non-profit trade organization, was established in 2001 by a small, dedicated group of winemakers from California’s Central Coast. The group’s mission is to bring together the world’s foremost Pinot Noir producers, and in a gorgeous setting, celebrate the delicious wine grape. Wineries, potential sponsors and wine enthusiasts interested in learning more, please visit WorldofPinotNoir.com, or contact info@wopn.com. Follow and tag us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. #wopn #wopn2018

Vintage Eve Circa 7/2014: Tasting the First Rhônes From Workman Ayer

December 19, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

A new Facebook contact, Michel Ayer, invited me to like his winery Facebook page and try a couple of his Rhônes. A brief explanation describing what they do reads, “Workman Ayer is dedicated to producing small lots of ultra premium Rhone style wines from the Central Coast of California.” From there I investigated their website and learned:

It is with great pride (and significant relief) that we wish to announce the inaugural release from Workman/Ayer.

Our wine is the result of a project dedicated to producing small lots of ultra- premium Rhone style wines from California’s Central Coast. “De facto” is a Latin phrase meaning in fact, indeed, actually, and a synonym for genuine, real, sure enough and true. The 2010 “de facto”, is a wine that exists solely according to the vagaries of the vintage and our minimalist winemaking techniques. It is a wine that must be accepted as well as appreciated simply for what it is. We believe that the 2010 “de facto” is the genuine article and hope that you will take this opportunity to enjoy our inaugural vintage release.

Our story began years ago with the joining of two great families. The Workman family has a long and broad history in the northern California wine business. The Ayer family has deep roots in agriculture in Iowa and California. These two families have come together to produce the 2010 Workman/Ayer “de facto” red wine.

The 2010 “de facto” is a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre from California’s central coast, a region known for producing Rhone-style wines of great depth and character. The Syrah brings power to the blend while the Grenache adds softness along with spicy berry flavors and the Mourvedre provides tannic structure. 74 cases of the 2010 “de facto” were produced.

The 2010 “de facto” is available to order for $46/bottle plus tax and shipping and we offer a 10% discount on purchases of 12 or more bottles. To place an order please join our mailing list and we’ll contact you with availability. Thank you for your support and we look forward to hearing from you.

The Tasting

2013 ipso facto white wine

100% Viognier

Central Coast

14.1 percent alcohol

Aroma: Sweetened pink grapefruit, white peach, kiwi, juicy apricot, cotton candy and the hint of wet stones.

Flavor: The same apricot, with the addition of cling peaches, giving a nice viscosity and mouthfeel; some acidity in the mid palate and lingering fruit in the back palate for a nice finish.

2011 de facto red wine

Syrah blend

75% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, 10% Grenache

14.5 percent alcohol

Aroma: The blackberry, blueberry, stewed mushrooms and oak tree bark made me want to linger over this one.

Flavor: Juicy blackberry with a backbone of green to black pepper and wonderful spice.

Conclusion

Surprised by this new winery and their first vintage. Find them online and give your senses a new winery to cuddle up to.