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VESPERA RESORT ON PISMO BEACH INTRODUCES VESPERA VINTNER’S CLUB

February 10, 2022 by evebushman

PISMO BEACH, Calif. – New for 2022, Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach introduces Vespera Vintner’s Club, which includes partnerships with some of the Central Coast region’s most exceptional winemakers – offering activities dedicated to local vintner’s wines including monthly wine dinners, complimentary Saturday tastings at Somerset Grill bar, monthly featured wines served by the glass and specially designed wine packages for overnight guests.

The monthly collaborative dinners, curated by Chef Frank Barajas, will be served in Somerset Grill’s private Barrel Room. Barajas and his team will meet with each winemaker to create multi-course dinners for these one-of-a-kind events showcasing Somerset Grill’s regionally inspired, classic seaside “Oceanside Americana” cuisine with the freshest ingredients from Central Coast California and beyond. Each featured winery will have a winemaker or other influential member at the dinner to interact with guests and share their pairing knowledge.

Discounts for monthly featured wines are available for wine club members who stay at Vespera, and Vespera Vintner’s Club offers special packages for wine dinner and tastings for overnight guests, as well as discounts when visiting partner wineries. Packages are as follows:

  • Vespera Vintner’s Club Wine & Dine Package includes two wine dinner tickets, overnight stay and bottle of featured monthly wine. Package price starts at $639.
  • Vespera Vintner’s Club Central Coast Wine Tasting Package includes two wine tastings at choice of featured vineyard, overnight stay and bottle of featured wine. Package price starts at $439.

For package reservations, visit vesperapismobeach.com/accommodations/packages.

The schedule of the first seven monthly wine dinners in Vespera Resort’s Barrel Room through July follows:

Laetitia Vineyard & Winery Wine Dinner

Wednesday, January 19 at 6 p.m.

Laetitia Vineyard & Winery will present premium estate wines that showcase the distinctive qualities of the Arroyo Grande Valley.

Daou Vineyards Wine Dinner

Tuesday, February 8 at 6 p.m.

Daou Vineyards produces its exquisite cabernet sauvignon on unrivaled terroir of Daou Mountain in Paso Robles.

Claiborne & Churchill Vineyards Wine Dinner

Tuesday, March 8 at 6 p.m.

Claiborne & Churchill Vineyards is a small, family-owned winery in San Luis Obispo, the heart of Edna Valley, known for using traditional European winemaking techniques.

Wolff Vineyards Wine Dinner

Tuesday, April 5 at 6 p.m.

Located in downtown San Luis Obispo, Edna Valley, Wolff Vineyards is ecologically friendly, certified sustainable and California Central Coast inspired.

Chamisal Vineyards Wine Dinner

Tuesday, May 3 at 6 p.m.

Chamisal Vineyards in San Luis Obispo specializes in chardonnay and pinot noir with its wines distinctively influenced by its soil types and proximity to the Pacific Ocean.

Hope Family Wines Dinner

Tuesday, June 7 at 6 p.m.

The Hope Family vineyards are in the Paso Robles region, and they have been producing high quality red wines for 30 years from the cool, rich, calcareous loam of the Templeton gap.

Qupé Wine Dinner

Dates To Be Determined

Since 1982, Qupé has been producing American Rhône varietals from the coastal regions of the Central Coast that are representative of its dedication to character, quality, balance and terroir.

Wine dinners are $129 plus tax and gratuity each and limited to 16 guests. Reservations are recommended by emailing Jaclyn.Dawson@vesperapismobeach.com or calling (805) 773-1011.

 Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach

147 Stimson Avenue

Pismo Beach, California 93449

(805) 773-1011

www.vesperapismobeach.com

About Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach

Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach, opened in late 2019, is an upscale beachfront resort on California’s Central Coast located in Pismo Beach along the city’s boardwalk and within walking distance to downtown Pismo Beach. The oceanfront resort offers 124 appointed guestrooms, most with private balconies overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and the hotel’s signature restaurant, Somerset Grill, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Vespera Resort can accommodate events including business meetings and weddings, and the resort has a state-of-the-art fitness facility, onsite pool and lawn with firepits overlooking the Pacific Ocean. More information can be found at www.vesperapismobeach.com, Instagram, and Facebook.

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White Wine After Labor Day! A Round Up of Your Favorites!

October 8, 2021 by evebushman

There was a funny graphic on Facebook that I shared recently, about how it’s okay to have white wine after Labor Day. (Some crazy rule from the “Clothing Police” states we can’t wear white after Labor Day. So it’s a joke on that.) I used the graphic to get people’s attention and to ask what their favorite white wines have been so far this year. This is a roundup of their answers and a final one from me.

A few whites I have at home right now.

Sergio L: I enjoy the Koehler Reserve Chardonnay but the best? That’s hard. I’ve always loved the Rombauer Chardonnay. I know some think it’s a little too much but I love it.

Michelle T: Eek, I drink so little white wine that I can’t recall.

Karen B: Trimbach Riesling (Alsace) and White Burgundy. Grüner Veltliner for fall!

Michel D: Sauvignon Blanc – Ghost Block Morgan Lee Vineyard 2015, (and another is Sauvignon Blanc) Route Stock Napa 2015. Not a SB – my favorite is Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc Viognier fantastic.

PS: 2012 Pierres-Yves Colin-Morey Corton Charlemagne after 45 minute decant. Stunning.

Lynan Z: Quilt Chardonnay. And Cursive Chardonnay. I placed an order on Whole Foods and it popped up as available. Price point is excellent for every day. It works.

Donald S: ONX Wines Field Day is my go to white.

Jennifer M: Any white from Trisateum or Stoller!

Chris K: It would have to be that J Wilkes Pinot Blanc for a refreshing delicious anytime wine…

Briana O: I just had a St. Michael Eppan Pinot Blanc that was crisp, well balanced and summery. I’m trying to stretch out summer as long as I can.

Kristin S: Picpoul!

Shauna C: Pulchella Winery Latitude is my go-to white. (We also both enjoy their sparkling.)

Gerardo Z: Vinos Zanzonico 2020 Chardonnay.

Toni P: Eve, one of my favorite whites is Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay Estate. Haven’t had it in a while, but no time like the present!

Benay L.: Yes! Brecon Albariño. It’s fantastic.

Betty S: Liquid Farm Four Chardonnay or their champagne.

Wayne L: Opolo Albariño frown in Edna Valley and Moon Vineyards Viognier from Manteca.

Michael H: Any number of white wines both commercial and from the home winery. Depends on Day, Dinner, and Company… Roussannes are serious enough whites for red wine enthusiasts. Orange-type whites with extended skin contacts are interesting challenges for food pairings. Bodega Paso Robles has a Granacha Blanc on the skins they’ve just released. Angeleno Wine Co usually has a white on the skins, the most recent one a Chardonnay.

Me: Like Michael H above I have a hard time only selecting a few specific white wines as there are there are so many good ones. Of the ones mentioned above I’m also a fan of white wines from our local Pulchella winery, J Wilkes Pinot Blanc made by winemaker Wes Hagen, the Trimbach Riesling and Chardonnay from Vinos Zanzonico delivered from Baja, California. Not a huge fan of overly-acidic or lemon-y Sauvignon Blanc, but been happy with one from Paso’s Justin recently and Entourage by Two Papas. An every day Chard we like is from J. Lohr, TW Ferm Chardonnay and a Hoyt Sparkling from our last Paso trip, Margerum white Rhone blends and all the whites made by Kunin that are both from Santa Barbara tasting rooms, Frank Family Chardonnay and Beringer’s Luminus label Napa Chard are currently in my cellar. We also like white Rhônes and white Bordeaux if we can get them conveniently. I’m absolutely positive that I haven’t remembered every white wine I’ve enjoyed lately, and for that I apologize to any winemaker reading this that did not see his winery listed!

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

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SLO Coast Wines’ Roll Out the Barrels Celebration Is Back — Refreshed and Reinvented for 2021

June 15, 2021 by evebushman

The longtime regional wine experience returns after a Covid hiatus, offering its first-ever auction of rare bottles and a series of new, exclusive experiences at the wineries.
The SLO Coast Wine Collective’s annual Roll Out The Barrels celebration, which has drawn thousands of wine lovers to San Luis Obispo’s wine country since 1990, returns this year with an all-new format: A series of exclusive events held at member wineries throughout the Central Coast, and for the first time, an auction of rare bottles curated by the winemakers. 
All of the events and the auction will take place June 24 through June 28.
As the region emerges from the 2020 Covid-19 shutdown, the SLO Coast Wine Collective is committed to restarting its popular yearly event, but in a way that is safe and comfortable for participants and winemakers. “Roll Out the Barrels is the perfect opportunity to taste new wines and say hello to our winemakers as Covid restrictions loosen up,” says Stephen Ross Dooley, President of the group’s Board of Directors. “We’re excited about being open again and seeing the people who’ve enjoyed our wines all these years.”
Roll Out the Barrels 2021 will offer unprecedented opportunities for wine lovers throughout the long weekend: Most events will be limited to 10 to 25 participants, allowing plenty of individual interaction with winemakers — and giving winemakers the chance to pour wines made in limited quantities and older bottles pulled from deep in their cellars. 
Among the wineries offering tasting flights of older vintages are Laetitia, Baileyana Wines, Edna Valley Vineyard, and Absolution Cellars. Other wineries will extend their hours into twilight, with tastings and tours that immerse you in the beauty of Edna Valley as the sun goes down. Sinor-LaVallee in Avila Beach will be featuring freshly shucked Pacific Gold oysters from Morro Bay Oyster Co, and at Center of Effort Winery, attendees will be guided through every step of the winemaking process — from grape to glass — while sipping current releases in the newly renovated facility.
Because attendance is limited and available by reservation only, we strongly suggest checking out the event list on the SLO Coast Wine Collective website at https://bit.ly/2TaC5Dp to secure reservations as soon as possible.
For the first time in history, Roll Out the Barrels will include an auction of exclusive wine lots curated by our members. And you don’t have to attend an event to bid: Anyone can take home our stellar selections of vintage Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Albariño, Grenache, Zinfandel, and more. Among the lots: large format bottles from Tolosa Winery, Biddle Ranch Winery, and Stephen Ross Wine Cellars; vertical collections from Talley Vineyards and Timbre Winery; mixed assortments from Croma Vera Wines, Absolution Cellars, Autry Cellars, and Saucelito Canyon Vineyard; plus some surprising bottles and limited releases. 
To view the lots and place bids, go to https://bit.ly/3hKXhKy. The auction site goes live 9 a.m. June 24 and closes at noon June 28.
Previously Roll Out the Barrels centered on a grand tasting in downtown San Luis Obispo featuring all of the wineries pouring their latest releases. This year, the SLO Collective emphasizes the one-on-one relationship wine lovers have with the wineries. Says Kathleen Naughton, the Executive Director of SLO Coast Wines: “We are ecstatic about the return of the event. We’ve put safety at the top of our list by shifting all of our events to the individual tasting rooms — with the happy result of everyone having a better chance to connect.”   
This year’s event also arrives as the region is on the verge of a new AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation, a coveted classification awarded by the Federal government that recognizes the distinct character of a region’s wines. It will put wines grown and made on the Central Coast in the company of AVA designates such as Napa Valley, Sonoma Coast, and Sta. Rita Hills.
“The SLO Coast is gaining great momentum as a wine region due in large part to the influence of the many incredible things to offer in San Luis Obispo,” Dooley says. “We’ve missed so much since the start of COVID and we urge all attendees to also explore the restaurants, shops, and galleries in the area when they’re visiting the wineries. We do hope you’ll come, enjoy the wines, stay and explore and fall in love with the SLO Coast.”
About The SLO Coast Wine Collective: SLO Coast Wine Collective is where the coast meets the vines. Our 30 wineries are in San Luis Obispo County on California’s Central Coast, encompassing vineyards and wineries along a 60 mile-long, 15 mile-wide stretch of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Lucia Mountain Range. This is the coolest-climate winegrowing region in California and has long been the source of some of the state’s most respected Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. It has recently won renown for its production of aromatic grape varieties such as Albariño, Grüner Veltliner, and Grenache. Website: https://slocoastwine.com/ 

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Learning About Cosmopolitan’s Wine, the Best Wines “you can afford to drink daily” and the Cab that Stole my Palate – With Guarachi Wine Partners

October 30, 2020 by evebushman

When was the last time you tasted wine with one of your favorite wine influencers? It’s been 8 years since I drove over to Woodland Hills to taste wine with Alex Guarachi, owner of both Guarachi Wine Partners, as well as his own Napa-based Guarachi Family Wines label. Alex’s portfolio of wines have been included in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 of the year, dozens of 90+ scored wines from reputable sources and he’s been named Wine Importer of the Year…

Eve and Alex Guarachi, 10/2020.

That paragraph above was one of my public social media posts ahead of my reconnecting with Guarachi. After that came two more posts, one was a video of all of the bottles we shared and the second was nine photos of our fun. This is the story behind it all now.

Guarachi has been kept pretty busy with his distribution company and his winemaking, he now had many more wines to share from both – it’s been 35 years of growth. In our meeting I learned about one wine brand while tasting three others. I’ll start with the one we didn’t taste: Uncorked by Cosmopolitan. Yes, Cosmopolitan magazine with “the largest young women’s media brand in the world.”

Uncorked by Cosmopolitan

Uncorked by Cosmopolitan

First look: the “Uncorked” wine label is silky smooth on one side, holographic on the other and a shape that is reminiscent of an open magazine…I think! We didn’t get to sample these as they are not yet released, so stay tuned as the magazine will surely be advertising their new babies made by Guarachi! And look for these reasonably priced wines on supermarkets and box stores everywhere. Varietals, with these cute little sayings on each, include 2019 “That’s enough todaying for today” Chardonnay, 2019 “Cheers to pour decisions” Rose, 2019 “Cuz Mercury’s always in retrograde” Pinot Noir and 2018 “This is totally one glass” Cabernet Sauvignon.

Parker Station ($15 range)

Parker Station makes a mighty tasty 2018 Chardonnay that has a mild acidity and benefited from four months in French Oak; a 2018 Pinot Noir that was an easy drinker and I could see why it was a #1 selling wine. Guarachi said the Pinot is the best in the price range. I liked the Pinot with a little chill on it and found it both fresh and fruity. Both wines are made with grapes from Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties; they also make a 2017 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon that had a great nose with a bit lighter flavor than most high alcohol Paso Cabs, and a lovely finish. Guarachi bought the label awhile back “but they’re still married” and he continues to purchase the grapes from the Santa Barbara County and Edna County. All labels proudly state, “The best (Chard, Pinot or Cab name is filled in here) you can afford to drink daily.” I agree.

Tenshen Wines ($20 to $25 range)

I was wowed by both a 2017 Central Coast White wine that was predominantly a white Rhone, with a twist (they added Chardonnay to it) that was aged six to seven months in French oak; and a yummy Cabernet Sauvignon made from Paso’s westside and had spent seven to eight months in French oak. These wines are from a partnership between Guarachi and winemaker Joey Tensley.

Guarachi Family Wines ($75 to $95 range)

Really enjoyed the buttery Guarachi 2018 Sun Chase Estate Vineyard, Petaluma Gap, Chardonnay. The wine is a new release, its grown at the highest elevation in the Sonoma Coast, spent 11 months in new French oak, and no barrel is over two years old; then came the 2018 Sun Chase Estate Vineyard, Petaluma Gap, Pinot Noir – an easy drinker, both rich and tannic.

Finally, the giant 2017 Meadowrock Estate Vineyard, Atlas Peak, Cabernet Sauvignon stole my palate. When we were on the Cab Guarachi commented, “Who doesn’t like it?” and I had to agree. It had spent 20 months in new French oak (65% new) and also benefited from all red volcanic soil. I found it rich, tannic and a length that never gave out. The 14.8% alcohol didn’t translate to heat, it gave the wine tremendous backbone. He had started this endeavor over a decade before, and those years of experience shows. Both the Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon have been richly awarded in wine competitions.

https://www.instagram.com/guarachiwinepartners/

https://www.facebook.com/guarachiwinepartners/

http://www.guarachiwinepartners.com

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

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Tolosa Winery Announces New Futures Program for 2019 Single Vineyard Wines

October 19, 2020 by evebushman

San Luis Obispo, Calif. — Tolosa winery, acclaimed producer of estate and single vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines from the Edna Valley, announced a look into the future of its much-anticipated 2019 Single Vineyard wines with private tastings of barrel samples.
Private seated tastings, available by appointment, are currently offered on the winery’s expansive outdoor patio, allowing guests the rare opportunity to explore these exclusive small-lot wines prior to release. The 2019 Single Vineyard wines will be released November 1, accompanied by the 2019 Primera, also scheduled to be released on November 1, 2020. Futures of the Primera and the Single Vineyard series wines are now available for purchase. Given the prestige of these limited-production bottlings, with under 250 cases of each produced, many of these wines are expected to sell-out prior to release.
“2019 was a textbook cool climate grape growing vintage. Harvest unfolded nicely, the mild weather letting us call for the perfect picking dates with no need to rush things, which is a nice feeling for once. In their youth, the wines are showing bright fruit (definitively on the red side for the Pinots and on the stone fruit one for the Chardonnays) and great freshness. And I am really excited about this, because it is also a guarantee of the aging potential they have,” said Winemaker Frederick Delivert.
Ideally situated close to the Pacific Ocean in California’s coolest wine region, Tolosa is blessed with a myriad of microclimates and soils that prove ideal for growing delicate Burgundian grapes. As a testament to the winery’s dedication to crafting exemplary Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Tolosa looks beyond Edna Valley for their Single Vineyard series, selecting the best sites and fruit for these varietals throughout California.
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The artisanal wines of the Single Vineyard series invite exploration of renowned appellations and acclaimed vineyards — including Tolosa’s own SIP Certified estate vineyard, Edna Ranch — confirming Edna Valley’s place in this distinguished company.
Through November, guests are invited to visit Tolosa to experience barrel samples of the 2019 Single Vineyard Series, each crafted with a similar approach in the cellar in order to capture the true essence of each vineyard and its unique terroir. The following wines are now available to taste:
Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley 2019
This iconic vineyard in Santa Barbara County’s Santa Maria Valley AVA benefits from one of the longest growing seasons in California. Located 16 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the vineyard was first planted in 1973 and is acclaimed for its world-class Chardonnay. Situated at 600 feet of elevation on the valley floor, the site is punctuated by mild sunny days, an afternoon sea draft, and foggy nights and mornings to moderate the temperature of the vines. These conditions translate into a wine with vibrant acidity, recognized through essences of grapefruit, nectarine and pineapple. Oak aging in 35% new, lightly toasted puncheons adds notes of vanilla and walnuts, while partial Malolactic fermentation reveals fresh green apple flavors on the mineral-driven mid-palate. Tolosa is honored to be one of the few producers to source fruit from this highly sought-after vineyard located just south of us in the Santa Maria Valley.
Poletti – Edna Ranch Chardonnay, Edna Valley 2019
The Poletti portion of Edna Ranch is located on the mountainside slopes of the Edna Valley — home to block 569, featuring own-rooted Tepesquet Chardonnay vines. The slopes offer more sun exposure, while the vineyard sits in the direct path of the coastal sea breeze, offering a cooler temperature to maintain natural acidity and citrusy aromatics. After completing malolactic fermentation, the wine was aged in 30% new, lightly toasted oak puncheons, allowing it to develop a creamy, seamless texture layered with notes of hazelnut, citrus and stone fruit. This elegant Chardonnay encapsulates the Edna Valley, with a refined structure and uplifting acidity that stands out on the finish.
El Coro Vineyard Pinot Noir, Petaluma Gap 2019
El Coro translates to “The Chorus” in Spanish. This site is farmed by the Keller family and is located within the Petaluma Gap AVA, the premier gateway to the Sonoma Coast. Located just 7.5 miles from San Pablo Bay, here maritime wind and fog roar into the region cooling off the vines, while less sun exposure from north-facing slopes contributes to the wine’s bright, complex berry fruit flavors. Adding to its appeal is a silky texture and racy acidity that lingers on the impressively long finish. In reverence to its name, this wine brings harmony to the palate.
Apex Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands 2019
Farmed by the Franscioni family, Apex Vineyard is located 28 miles from the cold water of Monterey Bay in the heart of the renowned Santa Lucia Highlands. The vineyard rests high atop a bench receiving morning sun exposure before being influenced ever so slightly by the daily fog and ocean winds. Typical of its region, this wine paints itself darker, lending more robust flavors of juicy fruit, ripened cherry and sweet spice. This is a Pinot Noir for the Cabernet lover.
Solomon Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley 2019
Solomon Hills Vineyard takes its name from Salomon Pico, a celebrated bandit who travelled frequently along the El Camino Real in the 1850s — and may have inspired the legend of Zorro. This acclaimed Santa Barbara County vineyard is located at the westernmost end of the Santa Maria Valley AVA, where its close proximity just 10 miles to the Pacific Ocean reveals itself through the wines that flourish in its sandy soils. Floral and red fruit aromas carry on through the palate, showcasing notes of pomegranate, raspberry, cherry and rose petals that integrate seamlessly into its fine-grained tannic structure.
Drum Canyon Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills 2019
Farmed by the Dierberg family, Drum Canyon Vineyard thrives in the eminent Sta. Rita Hills AVA of Santa Barbara County. Adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, the region is famous for its transverse mountain range, which allows strong coastal breezes to drift through the vines. These cooling influences, coupled with the vineyard’s sandy loam soils, produce a beautifully structured Pinot Noir with velvety tannins and signature notes of dark cherry, cola and raspberry. A more structured Pinot Noir than many others in the line-up, this is a wine with well-developed tannins that will soften beautifully as it ages.
Gunsalus Vineyard Pinot Noir Green Valley of Russian River Valley 2019
The newest single vineyard Pinot Noir in the series balances the collection as an excellent cellar addition for the wine enthusiast. This small vineyard resides 12 miles from the coast at an elevation of 242 feet in the Green Valley region of Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, known for its maritime fog that rolls in and lingers throughout the day. Big and bold in structure, this garnet-colored Pinot Noir leads with aromas of black cherry, strawberry, pine and rose petal. Bright red fruit, fig and tobacco flavors linger on the palate, accented by gentle mouth-coating tannins on the flawless finish.
Hollister – Edna Ranch Pinot Noir, Edna Valley
Located in the core of the Edna Valley, the Hollister section of Tolosa’s home vineyard, Edna Ranch, is the closest to the Pacific Ocean. Located just 5 miles away, it receives a moderating maritime influence to maintain composed acidity in the grapes, while varied soils, including chalky limestone and sand, contribute to the minerality and complexity in this wine. Made from a single block in the vineyard, Block 579, the wine displays aromas of blood orange, wild strawberry, anise and rose petals. Black cherry notes shine on the palate, which is layered with stone fruit and clove to express an exceptional sense of place.
Primera Pinot Noir, Edna Valley 2019
Tolosa’s flagship Primera demonstrates the full potential of the varietal, revealing what makes Pinot Noir one of the most coveted grapes in the world. Primera is a small-lot selection of the best of Tolosa’s estate vineyard, Edna Ranch, located a mere 5 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Here, daily fog and prevailing winds funnel into the transverse valley from Morro Bay, cooling off the vines. The result is a wine of power and length characterized by notes of hibiscus, strawberry and dried herbs, enhanced by a seamless mouthfeel and structure. This is truly a vintage-specific statement Pinot Noir for the oenophile looking to add a marquee wine to their cellar.
Futures of the Single Vineyard 2019 series as well as the Primera 2019 are available to taste by appointment through October 2020, with tastings available to both Club Members and non-members. Purchase of wine futures is available prior to their release, November 2020. Tolosa also invites qualified media to look behind the curtain at the winery with a tasting of the Single Vineyard Series. For media inquiries, please contact: Linda@parkersanpei.com.
About Tolosa
Cowboy dreams of owning a cattle ranch brought Robin Baggett to California’s Edna Valley over 40 years ago. The cold Pacific wind and soils from ancient seabed to limestone made him realize he was on a frontier of a different sort. Tolosa is the expression of his commitment to spare no effort to craft Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines of distinctive character to rival any in the world. Founded in 1998 and guided by the core values of integrity, teamwork and meticulous craftsmanship, Tolosa is committed to creating complex, balanced and nuanced wines that are the purest expressions of Edna Valley. The Tolosa winemaking team combines traditional winemaking techniques and cutting-edge technology to achieve the purest translation of place to taste. Tolosa supports numerous environmental and philanthropic initiatives and is an active member of the Central Coast community, welcoming guests daily to enjoy its trademark gracious hospitality and a variety of luxury tasting experiences surrounded by its Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified vineyard, Edna Ranch. Tolosa is open daily at 4910 Edna Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. You can find them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or visit the website at tolosawinery.com.

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Nathan Carlson, Head Winemaker, Center of Effort Wines Reflects on a Decade of Change + The New Influence of The Edna Valley Region

September 14, 2020 by evebushman

After a decade of working with Center of Effort Wine, time seems to have passed quickly. “As I think back, we have accomplished so much in that time. Our wines have found a rhythm, we understand the estate and the land, and we have begun to make adjustments based on deep knowledge of this place,” explains winemaker Nathan Carlson.

Photo from Exploring.wine.com

Carlson joined Center of Effort in late June of 2010, when the winery had been under the new ownership of Bill and Cheryl Swanson.  At his previous job, he oversaw winemaking for multiple brands in multiple facilities, and sourced grapes from growers from Lake County to Santa Barbara.

Center of Effort presented an opportunity to get back into the Edna Valley, a place that Nathan knows well.  This new opportunity gave me the chance to be involved nearly from the beginning with a new winery, owners who were committed to quality and to connecting with their customers. Most importantly, after years of working broadly with vineyards and growers across the state, this was clearly an opportunity to develop a deep understanding of one single estate location; maximizing quality and efficiency from the existing vines and implementing solutions that made sense in our circumstances.

There were challenges ahead, and new wineries can be filled with uncertainty. “I had experience working with fruit from the established vines on this property. I knew that there was potential for excellence here, if the details were attended to carefully.  And in particular I knew that there would be growth and learning for me by working for someone like Bill Swanson,” says Carlson.
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Early meetings with Mr. Swanson made it clear that he was direct, fair and that he had vast experience managing tens of thousands of people as the President and CEO of Raytheon. He approached and thought about things on a different scale than most people.

While working with the vineyards and wines, Nathan tried to understand what exists naturally, and draw on that strength rather than imposing any particular style on the fruit.  The existing vines were planted in 1997, according to production standards of that time.  From that first summer, the company paid close attention to soil, aspect and growth patterns.

In 2012 we implemented a major replanting of 8 acres to very high-density, high quality planting of additional Pinot Noir clonal selections, increasing the diversity of fruit available to our winemaking program.

From 2011, they enrolled in an audited sustainability program (SIP) that has been a useful metric to measure our longer-term goals for the vineyard and the business. They use very safe methods of crop protection, plant cover crops to minimize erosion and to feed the soil, return compost to the vines each winter to build organic matter in the soil, and track water use.  Canopy management is a major quality and vine health issue in a cool foggy region, and they retrofitted the vineyard to make shoot management and leaf pulling easier for the crews.  It is amazing to watch the soil come back to life; where it was previously a lifeless crust directly under the vines it now holds water and earthworms and smells clean and earthy.

“Our wines have been fortunate to receive acclaim right from the beginning.  Our inaugural release of the Estate Pinot Noir was rated 95 points by a major wine publication, and that praise has been a consistent part of our story ever since.  We have always made our mailing list customer/members our main focus, and present offers of the wines to them upon release and prior to the winter holidays. When we began to sell the wines in distribution, it was initially through our neighbor Lorraine Alban’s wine company – she and her team have been wonderful stewards of our wines, sharing them with businesses in our region and being mindful of what is best for us in the longer term,” says Nathan.

Over the past decade, CEOE has been constantly building and developing.  Wells, water infrastructure, vineyard redevelopment, a solar field to provide all winery power, upgrading facility and winery equipment, additional fermentation and storage tanks, all-new presses, and high-quality grape receiving equipment all happened largely in the background, but boosted the efficiency and quality of their wines and vineyards.

Since 2016, the company undertook a multi-million-dollar wholesale renovation of the winery and grounds.

Prior to launching this renovation, COE didn’t have a comfortable place to host visitors to the winery. “I want COE to have a place that matches the wine quality” Bill Swanson, Owner of COE said many times during meetings.

“We thought about the design of the public spaces from the desire to provide genuine hospitality and ease to our guests, with small semi-private spaces to sit comfortably, large outdoor patios and gardens for events and winery parties, and all of it open to our unmatched views of the Santa Lucia mountains.  The open kitchen with Chef’s bar has been a wonderful way to share culinary experiences with small groups of our members.  There truly is not another property like this in the region, and it is a special privilege to come to work here every morning,” adds Nathan.

COE is now an authentic ambassador for the Edna Valley. It is a magnificent place on the Pacific coast.  Nathan started as the only employee of the business. “We had contractors and outside service providers, but it took time to assemble the right crew of people.  And over time, we have had contributions from many amazing human beings who have built their experience with us at COE and eventually transitioned out into the larger world of our industry,” says Carlson.

COE’s close connection with California Polytechnic University and their Wine and Viticulture department has grown and bloomed to become a development ground for amazing talent that is moving into the industry.

“The Edna Valley AVA is a fairly small region; and because of that our voice may not have been as loud as others.

The wines from the Edna Valley tend toward elegance and longevity at their best, not bombast and hedonism, which tends to attract more attention.  But members of our industry who have a broad understanding of the world of wine appreciate the quality potential and ascendency of the wines. I am ultimately looking forward to developing Center of Effort’s special strengths and to telling their unique story,” says Nathan.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: clone, Edna Valley, fruit, grower, Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara, sip certified, soil, tasting room, vineyards, viticulture, wine club, winemaker

Chamisal Vineyards is All In for Sustainability

April 27, 2017 by evebushman

Atascadero, Calif., — Chamisal Vineyards in Edna Valley, California has achieved the Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified seal for their entire winery. Chamisal Vineyards is the second California winery to be recognized through this third-party sustainability program. SIP Certified has certified vineyards since 2008, and expanded its independent, third-party verification scope to include wineries in 2015.
12931000_10154926502424848_285757320541363518_nTo achieve SIP Certified for a winery, the company must undergo an in-depth assessment of their entire facility operations. This includes a rigorous evaluation of a variety of items including (but not limited to) facility establishment and management, energy uses, water efficiency, purchasing, recycling and waste reduction, marketing materials, event needs, and landscape decisions. All elements of social equity and financial sustainability are also taken into account, as with the current vineyard certification program.
“With their vineyards being certified since 2010, Chamisal Vineyards, has been a major proponent of SIP Certified for many years,” says Beth Vukmanic Lopez, SIP Certified Manager. “It continues to be a pleasure to work with their team as they put their sustainability beliefs to practice from the soil to the glass.”
“Deciding to go for the SIP Certified winery achievement, was a natural progression since we are an estate-based vineyard and winery already practicing sustainability in many areas,” notes Fintan Du Fresne, General Manager and Winemaker for Chamisal Vineyards. “This level allowed us to dive into our inner workings and look at our whole business from a holistic approach. Including on-site events to waste management and our solar project to waste water systems.”
By obtaining SIP Certified winery, Chamisal Vineyards will continue to undergo regular inspections to ensure their certifications stay current with all SIP Certified standards. In addition, the winery will be able to share their achievement with their current and potential buyers through their own marketing communications, furthering the education and importance of sustainability.
“By putting our sustainability beliefs into practice (at Chamsial Vineyard), we have the ability to help educate the consumer on why sustainability should be a decision maker in their purchases. notes du Fresne. “SIP Certified makes it easy for us to share this message as they are not only a trusted and credible program, they offer a variety of valuable resources for both the consumers and businesses alike.”
About SIP Certified 
Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified provides a way for vineyards and wineries statewide to verify their attention to sustainability through a commitment to environmental stewardship, equitable treatment of employees, and economic viability. Developed by the Vineyard Team, a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to sustainable winegrowing since 1994, this program represents one extension of the group’s many innovative programs. To learn more about SIP, please visit the website www.sipcertified.org. For more information about the Vineyard Team, please visit www.vineyardteam.org.
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Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: California, Edna Valley, sip certified, vineyard, winemaker, winery

Paso 2016: Sextant’s 7th Annual Lobster Boil and MORE

November 4, 2016 by evebushman

The culmination of my recent one-day turnaround trip to Paso was a hands-on Lobster dinner – as in my hands are still feeling a little rough while I type this out – at Sextant winery.

img_8104But let me start at the beginning. Wasn’t entirely prepared to crash the 7th Annual Lobster Boil at Sextant Wines along with dedicated winery club members, though I thought I was.

After taking the winding drive up to the tasting room (thank you Uber for managing that) we were greeted at the doors, checked off a list, handed our wine glasses and proceeded to taste the 2015 Grenache Blanc and 2013 Windemere MacGregor Pinot Noir – both excellent examples of these varietals.

From there we wandered into a salon filled with happy sipping guests. We snagged seats in front of the fireplace while enjoying tray passed hors d’Oeuvres of Pulled Pork Tartlets, Butternut Squash Shooters and Grilled Cheese Bites – all while being poured more tastes of the Grenache Blanc and Pinot Noir.

After the 30-minute pre-event we were asked to descend a twinkle lit staircase down to where we were to have our meal created by Chef Nick Nolan from Society Cuisine. The view: giant pots of boiling water, heat lamps, tables set with red and white gingham napkins, bibs, and black personalized aprons to wear for the hands-on eating.

The meal also included wild Mexican prawns, corn on the cob, fresh cut Ocean Mist artichokes and fresh dug mini fingerling potatoes – and accompaniments such as homemade lemon aioli, cocktails sauce and drawn butter.

What fun! Shellfish flew everywhere as guests cracked into their lobsters. I had two men helping me: one that did my claws while the other instructed me on how to get that lovely lobster meat freed from its shell.

The fun was accompanied by the 2014 Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay, 2013 “Holystone” Zinfandel (my personal favorite) and the 2014 “Kamal” Cabernet Sauvignon (this was the wine that give them a good reason to join Paso’s growing Cab Collective) that was presented to members as a pre-release offering. Rules about fish and red wine be damned at this point, people drank what they liked and the shellfish was the better for it.

While we happily ate and drank we heard some news from winery owner Craig Stoller: Though the crush pad was full, room had to be made for this special dinner. The new winemaker Michael Fay – with a pedigree that included time at Cambria Winery and Duckhorn’s Goldeneye – new expansions, three estate vineyards and a tasting room in Edna Valley as well, were cause for celebration.

And though there was no room for dessert we couldn’t possibly call for our Uber without diving into a Granny Smith apple bread pudding with cinnamon anglaise and the 2013 “Passage” GSM – another pre-release shared. Over-sated, we reluctantly said our adieus.

About Sextant

The true essence of Sextant Wines is found in its roots.

With premier growing grounds along the California Central Coast, proprietors Nancy and Craig Stoller take great pride in planting clean certified Sunridge Nurseries ENTAV/INRA nursery stock.  Allowing the rich terroir of the land to nurture the vines ensuring richness and unsurpassed quality which is honored by producing wines that reflect an uncompromised quality.

You can schedule a visit at their Edna Valley or Paso Robles locations here: http://www.sextantwines.com/Contact-Us/Tours–Tasting

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Filed Under: Eve Bushman Tagged With: cabernet sauvignon, caterer, Chardonnay, chef, crush pad, Edna Valley, estate wine, Grenache Blanc, gsm, Paso Robles, Pinot Noir, wine club, wine dinner, wine event, wine glasses, winemaker, Zinfandel

Perlis Picks: Rhone Rangers at the Skirball – Part 3

September 10, 2016 by evebushman

The seminar was informative and tasty. The lunch was a lot of fun and tasty as well. But now Karen and I were ready for the main event.

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Held in Herscher Hall, the size of the room and the layout of the tasting tables made for a very comfortable and enjoyable experience. For a tasting event of this magnitude, it often helps to have a plan, and I try, but ultimately I seek out a few that I am especially interested in and then just bounce in and out where I see openings at tables. At this event in particular, you can’t go wrong as the quality is always extremely high overall. I skipped some wineries on purpose as I had tasted them recently and many I just couldn’t get to due to time constraints and “palate fatigue.” But I did accomplish the twin goals of tasting great wines and having fun.

Of the wines I tasted, here were my favorites…

[Please note that by now I was only tasting red wines.]

Bonny Doon Vineyard – I wrote a lot about this winery at the beginning of this article, but still have a little bit to say. Enjoyed everything I tasted at Randall’s table – 2011 Le Cigare Volant Red Blend, 2011 Le Cigare Volant Reserve Red Blend, 2014 Clos de Gilroy Grenache, 2014 Old Telegram Mourvedre, 2011 Bien Nacido Vineyard “X-Block” Syrah and the 2013 Le Pousseur Syrah. A big thank you to Bonny Doon Director of Sales Keith Shulsky for the taste of the 1990 Old Telegram, which showed how well Mourvedre could age.

Calcareous Vineyard – the Tres Violet [Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre] and the Moose [Syrah and Petit Verdot] are typically my favorites from this winery. The 2013s were being poured this time – they were both outstanding. I picked the Tres Violet as my fave, barely.

Cass Vineyard & Winery – Ted Plemons was stealing the show as usual, but he couldn’t over shadow the wines he was pouring. Especially liked the 2014 Mourvedre.

Chacewater – I’ve become a fan of this winery fairly recently. The 2013 Syrah, 2012 Petite Sirah and 2010 Astel Petite Sirah were all very tasty. As an added bonus, these wines are extremely well-priced.

Epoch Estate Wines – Full disclosure here – I’ve been buying these wines since their first release. I had no real reason to taste them at this event, except I knew they would be really good so what the heck, right? And I was right…2012 Ingenuity Red Blend and 2013 Estate Blend were both outstanding.

Four Brix Winery – it was nice to see Gary Stewart and taste his wines. Especially enjoyed the 2011 and 2012 Rhondezvous Blends. Both were made from Paso Robles grapes and for some reason evoked in me a fond memory of visiting Paso in a more relaxed time back before the wine industry really took off. Very nice.

Kale Wines – Tasted Kale’s Grenache based wine at the seminar; it was a pleasure to taste the two he was pouring at the Grand Tasting. The 2013 Kale Home Run Cuvee from the Kick Ranch Vineyard was outstanding and the 2013 Kale Broken Axle from the Stage Coach Vineyard was even better – my favorite of the day!

Qupé – Santa Barbara County legend Bob Lindquist was pouring several wines, including two excellent Syrahs – 2012 Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard “Sonnie’s” from their vineyard in Edna Valley and 2011 Bien Nacido Hillside Estate, Santa Maria Valley.

Ridge Vineyards – the Ridge wines are always good, but a real eye opener for me was the 2014 Carignane from the Buchignani Ranch. I had to ask if it was 100% Carignane as I don’t think I’d had one that rich before it – it was.

Rock Wall Wine Company – I haven’t seen winemaker Shauna Rosenblum in some time; I expect her young family is keeping her very busy. While the tasting table might not be as entertaining when she is not there, the wines are just as good as ever, especially the 2012 Le Mur de Roche Petite Sirah.

The Withers Winery – based in Santa Rosa, the grapes for these wines were from El Dorado in the Sierra Foothills. Cooler climate and lighter in style, I recommend the 2013 Ruben Mourvedre Blend and the 2013 Mr. Burgess Syrah Blend.

Two Shepherds – I wasn’t planning to taste at William Allen’s table this time, as I had tasted his wines at Hospice du Rhone in Paso Robles and most recently at the Garagiste Event in Los Angeles. But, when he told me he had an orange wine for me to try, I couldn’t help myself – I’ve become a fan of orange wines of late. If this is a new term for you, let me try to explain at least what my understanding of them is, which may or may not be 100% accurate. Wines generally get their color from the grape skins, not the color of the juice. White wines are typically made from juice with little or no skin contact. Wines made from grapes traditionally used for white wines but made with extended skin contact will have a slightly orange hue to them, hence the term. They also have a level of complexity which I enjoy. In this case, it was the Two Shepherds 2013 Centime, a miniscule 35 case blend of 66% Grenache Blanc, 17% Marsanne and 17% Roussanne, fermented with skins and stems. Excellent wine.

Thanks to the Rhone Rangers and the participating wineries for putting on a great event and for finding an excellent venue in the Skirball. Hopefully, this will be the home of the event for years to come.

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.

Filed Under: Michael Perlis Tagged With: carignane, climate, Edna Valley, estate, garagiste, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, hospice du rhone, los angeles, marsanne, Mourvedre, palate, Paso Robles, petit verdot, red blend, rhone rangers, Roussanne, Santa Barbara, santa maria Valley, santa rosa, Syrah, vineyard, wine education, wine event, Wine tasting, winemaker, winery

Perlis Picks: Urban Exposure 3 – Part One

July 23, 2016 by evebushman

I’ve been writing about the Garagiste Festivals since they started in 2011, so I won’t bore you with too much of the history here. Summary: Focusing on small wineries, many with no tasting rooms, it started with an annual event in Paso Robles, expanded to Solvang, then to Los Angeles and most recently added an event in Oakland.View from the Wiltern stage

On July 9th, the 3rd iteration of the Los Angeles event, known as Urban Exposure, took place for the 2nd consecutive year at The Wiltern. This time, besides the VIP benefit of entering an hour early and tasting the Rare and Reserve wines as well as beating the crowds, there was an added option of attending a barrel seminar before the VIP session started.

Let me get this out of the way…

Standing on the stage of the Wiltern as Karen and I waited for the start of the seminar, I successfully [and thankfully] resisted the urge to pretend I was some rockstar and did not yell out “Helllooooo L.A.!!!”

[I think I used up my quota of rock and roll references in last year’s article, so I’ll try to skip those this time.]

Instead I sat back down with the other attendees as the curtain closed on us and we waited for the seminar to begin. Moderated by Garagiste Festival co-founder Stewart McLennan, the seminar “Understanding Oak Varieties – Tasting the Winemaker’s Spice Rack” was divided into two parts for us to learn and taste along with the experts. The first part was led by Michael Larner of Larner Vineyard, as we tasted three versions of his 2014 Syrah – one from wine aged in neutral barrels [the barrels having been used for several years and no longer impacting the smell and taste of the wine], one that had been aged in French Oak and the last in American oak. Similarly, in the second part of the seminar, led by Rendarrio Vineyards owner Ryan Rendar [who also reps French barrel maker Cadus], the wines were his Cabernet Sauvignon presented unoaked along with samples from barrels of medium grain and tight grain. In both cases, the wine were presented in order to show how the type of oak and the tightness of the grain impart oak characteristics to the finished wine, going from least to most. The winemaker then typically takes wine from barrels of these varying characteristics and blends them to result in the final wine for the consumer. This is a year-by-year process, as not only do barrels vary yearly, but grape harvests do too.

My own personal preference is for minimal oak treatment. I’m definitely all about the fruit and like to be able to taste the variances from year to year. But, understandably, the winemaker is not necessarily out to satisfy my tastes, but the tastes of the consumers of his or her wine, so he uses the whole “spice rack” of what he has available to make the best wine he can. And the big producers do everything they can to make their wine consistent from year to year, minimizing those vintage variations that I enjoy.

But no big producers at this event! As the seminar was wrapping up we could hear the activity on the other side of the curtain, so we hurriedly pushed and shoved….I mean carefully walked to the entrance to the main event.

 

Per the program, these wineries were pouring:

Alma Fria Vineyards [Sonoma]

Alma Sol Winery [Paso Robles]

Alta Colina Vineyards [Paso Robles]

Archium Cellars [Santa Barbara]

Artisan Uprising [Paso Robles]

Ascension Cellars [Paso Robles]

Bellissimo Cellars [Santa Barbara]

Bodega De Edgar [Paso Robles]

Brian Benson Cellars [Paso Robles]

Brophy Clark Cellars [Santa Barbara]

Caldera Cuvee [Paso Robles]

Caliza Winery [Paso Robles]

The Central Coast Group Project [Santa Barbara]

Chene Wines [Edna Valley]

Cholame Vineyard [Central Coast]

Cloak & Dagger Wines [Paso Robles]

Cordon Wines [Central Coast]

Coruce Vineyards [Antelope Valley]

Deno Wines [Paso Robles]

Dreamcote Wine Co. [Santa Barbara]

El Lugar Wines [California]

Golden Triangle [Paso Robles]

Graef Wine [Northern CA]

Hoi Polloi Wines [Central Coast]

JPIII Wines [Paso Robles]

Kaena Wine Co. [Santa Barbara]

Kaleidos Winery [Paso Robles]

Kimmel Vineyards [Mendocino]

Larner Winery [Santa Barbara]

Leverage Wines [Paso Robles]

Marin’s Vineyard [Monterey]

MCV Wines [Paso Robles]

On Your Left Wine Co. [Paso Robles]

Pagter Brothers Winery [Central Coast]

Per Cazo / Paso Port [Paso Robles]

Powell Mountain Cellars [Paso Robles]

Press Gang Cellars [Santa Barbara]

Pulchella Winery [Paso Robles]

Ranchita Canyon Vineyard [Paso Robles]

Rendarrio Wines [Paso Robles]

Rhythm Wines [California]

Ryan Cochrane Wines [Santa Barbara]

Tao Vineyards [Agoura Hills]

The Farm Winery [Paso Robles]

Theopolis Vineyards [Anderson Valley]

Tierra Y Vino [Santa Barbara]

Tlo Wines [San Luis Obispo]

Trail Marker Wine Co. [California]

Turiya Wines [Central Coast]

TW Fermentation Co. [Paso Robles]

Two Shepherds [Northern California]

Vinemark Cellars [Central Coast]

Vines On The Marycrest [Paso Robles]

Weatherborne [Santa Barbara]

West of Temperance [California]

 

As you can see, there were a lot of wineries pouring. Many from the central coast but some from farther afield as well. Many were Garagiste Festival regulars along with new participants. With so many wineries pouring multiple wines, I obviously couldn’t taste everything – my apologies to the ones I missed.

Next week, I’ll let you know my favorites.

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.

Filed Under: Michael Perlis Tagged With: barrels, cabernet sauvignon, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley, garagiste, harvest, los angeles, mendocino, Monterey, Oak, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, solvang, Sonoma, spice, Syrah, wine education, wine fest, winemaker

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